The American Spectator

CB| 4.1.10 @ 6:40AM

The last paragraph of your article should be memorized by all conservatives....a terrible thing to waste, indeed!

blahblah| 4.1.10 @ 1:49PM

I wholeheartedly agree!!!

Rose Colombo| 4.1.10 @ 2:06PM

Such a true statement and I'd like to add, "conservatives [and the U.S. Constitution]....a terrible thing to waste, indeed!"

purpleguy| 4.4.10 @ 10:54PM

You mean like your Supreme Court buddies that just destroyed the Constitution - strict constructionist my foot. They are as activist as any Court has been.

Lindaisan| 4.7.10 @ 10:07PM

Let's not let liberalism and it's corrosive ideology blur your judgement. Our "buddies" , THANK G*D, have RESTORED order!

martin j smith| 4.1.10 @ 7:20AM

Bottom line in 2010 and 2012 vote against every Democrat in sight and make your vote count. That means, no third party ( or talk of ) this is a referendum Socialism yes or no. Vote NO otherwise you are stupid or a phony or a Socialist.

lagiusmeatius| 4.1.10 @ 2:02PM

I love the ultimatum you've put forth: "Vote NO otherwise you are stupid or a phony or a Socialist." Please, do you expect anyone to take a comment like that seriously? First of all, just because someone may vote YES, does not mean that they are stupid, rather they are in disagreement with you. They may be looking at a situation differently, and voting for the lesser of two evils (many times the case). Calling someone a "phony" for voting YES, even if that is truly what they believe and want to vote for would also be wrong. Last, calling someone a socialist...hmm...two things with this: First, socialism is just another form of government/economics like capitalism, communism, etc. Calling someone a socialist is truly "lumping them in" with many other groups of people that have implemented far beyond what this health care bill calls for. It would be short-sighted to say if someone does this or that, they are a automatically a "socialist". Also, every one in this country has a right to believe in socialism! Even if I don't, or you don't. That is a freedom in itself, and one with an open-mind can see that every form of government has its benefits and drawbacks. It comes down to ideological differences, and life experiences as to what you think is important. It's also a matter of opinion to assume that socialism is bad, or by calling someone a "socialist"--that it is treated as an insult by default--again that is another mistake. Rather than trying to use fear tactics, or saying things like: "If you don't do this or that, you are an enemy, or an idiot"--instead try to put forth a valid argument. There are some people in this forum that do deserve that kind of respect, and are smart enough to see the unintelligence in your rather simplistic and futile, and non-contributing commentary.

Peace to all of you!
-Lagius

Chris C| 4.1.10 @ 2:26PM

Lagius,

The rarefied air up there on your high horse has caused a lack of oxygen to your brain. I suggest you dismount.

I agree with the original poster (Smith). His logic is impeccable and to the point:

We're in a national emergency over whether the society plunges into socialism and ruin. Only voting NO on socialism (i.e., against Democrats) will stop the disaster. Voting for a third party keeps the socialists in power. Thus, it is time to vote for Republicans who are anti-socialist.

Doing anything else means you are either:

"Stupid" -- you don't understand a fairly simple situation. Or

a "phoney" -- you say you don't want socialism but you really don't care. Or

"a socialist" -- you actually agree with the other agenda.

These aren't "fear tactics," but good, seasoned analysis and advice.

Sue Palmer| 4.2.10 @ 4:34PM

Excellent retort!

There is NO time to mince words, Ladies & Gentlemen. In a crisis, you take a stand and not waffle. Vote NO on anything which even smells like socialism. We've been backed into a corner.

purpleguy| 4.4.10 @ 10:25PM

If you think a healthcare bill that helps the private market insurance companies is socialism, you need to go back to school. You are just the typical unimaginative ditto head that repeats what you hear and have not thought about what you mean at all.

George F| 4.1.10 @ 3:57PM

lagiusmeatius. The problem is that in my journeys through life I've discovered that socialism and communist beliefs are like a terrible disease that consumes the brain so no real thought is possible. Or maybe it's like a religion where the Socialist and communists are so sold on their beliefs they simply refuse to see the very real negatives to those systems.

The truth is Socialism and communism cause the culture to regress instead of progress and evolve.

Ralph Novy| 4.1.10 @ 5:14PM

"The truth is Socialism and communism cause the culture to regress instead of progress and evolve."

Yikes.

180 degrees wrong.

Consider yourself a Christian?

....or even a "human"?

BubbaWithaB| 4.1.10 @ 6:36PM

Mr. Novy:

Having studied a good deal of theology, philosophy and logic, I can adamantly say Christianity (and for that matter, Judaism) are diametrically opposed to any of the socialisms - communism, fascism, welfarism. I would suggest instead of argumentum ad hominem (an inductive fallacy) you do a little of the spadework required to acquire the basic philosophical tools to evaluate this argument, but essentially, the principle of imago dei means man is ontologically above the state, rather than its servant. You might also read Evans' "The Theme is Freedom" to see which worldview serves man better: free markets and limited government of the theistic, mostly-Christian Founders, or statism/collectivism. And yes, I am a Christian in the orthodox sense of the word. :)

purpleguy| 4.4.10 @ 10:31PM

So who was Jesus talking about when he said "give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and that which is God's unto God? " Who was Caesar? The state of course. Oh, and you forgot one, CapitalISM ... This Government, Bush and Obama combined saved all our asses from another Great Depression, and the sooner y'all wake up and realize that the better off y'all will be. And stop blaming the Government for all your problems - they are YOUR problems, the Government didn't cause your troubles - Greedy Capitalists did ... Remember 90% of the taxes in this country are paid by 10 % of the people. If you're not in the 10 %, you have little to complain about except what you see in the mirror.

R GIVENS| 4.5.10 @ 10:22AM

BubbaWithaB| 4.1.10 @ 6:36PM
Having studied a good deal of theology, philosophy and logic, I can adamantly say Christianity (and for that matter, Judaism) are diametrically opposed to any of the socialisms - communism, fascism, welfarism.

********************
I go by the Bible and I DO see many socialistic-communistic features in the Christian model as practiced by the Apostles. For one thing, they collected funds to care for widows. Also they were expected to help each other under all circumstances, even to the death. Perhaps the term cooperative is a better description.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:26-27 (in Context) James 1 (Whole Chapter)

The Choosing of the Seven
 Acts 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

There's a lot of information in these verses. First off, the Congregations were NOT a democratic institution. The Apostles set the regulations and issued instructions for dealing with day to day problems. At the same time, any complaint from the Congregations was taken very seriously and a real solution was quickly found. (The GOP does not have seven righteous men who can be trusted with anything.)

It would take a lot of space to explain the governmental set up the Christians used. It is a government with Christ as King of Kings. That means an end to all of man's (the devil's) governments when "let your Kingdom come, let your will be done on earth" comes to pass.

No current government has God's approval. All of man's governments will be destroyed to such an extent that the very memory of them will be erased.

While Biblical "socialism" is very different from other brands, there is definitely the Communistic notion that caring for your brother is an obligation. The idea of oppressing, exploiting and treating people as items in a balance sheet is not found in the descriptions of God's Kingdom I see in the Bible.

Sue Plamer| 4.2.10 @ 4:38PM

Part of the strategy is to "stymie" people:
Create much confused debate...turn and twist things...create guilt and doubt, etc.

You name it, they'll do it. Lies, deceit, and treason is not off the table - as long as it propels their agenda. They are hell-bent and on a roll.

What time is it? Is it November yet?

westcoast barbie| 4.1.10 @ 4:06PM

Lagius:

It doesn't take much of an argument to ask the question: Where ever in the world has socialism worked successfully? Where hasn't it sapped the creativity, imagination, self-reliance, and industry of the populous? Now before you cite European countries as examples, remember: the US is shouldering their defense costs and so from a monetary perspective, they can afford, for now, their social welfare programs. Look at Greece which probably is the worst off, but others are quickly realizing they can't continue. This is mostly due to an aging population greater than the younger population that's supporting them.

Ralph Novy| 4.1.10 @ 5:20PM

westcoast barbie:

"Where in the world has socialism worked successfully"?

duh

Damned near everywhere.

Look around.

You know where it DOESN'T work? Here, now. Nazi Germany/Austria some 70 years ago, the Soviet Union till just a while ago, Easter Island some 500 years ago.

"Socialism" is just another word for us all getting along as best we can.

duh

Stop throwing that term around like it's some form of particularly smelly hog shit.

OK?

Richard Sweetser| 4.1.10 @ 6:48PM

Please do most of us a favor & go back into the LALA land you came from and get a real job while your at it..

serge baruch| 4.2.10 @ 4:09AM

At last you are right on the money, Mr Novy! Socialism is exactly this - particularly smelly hog shit. I congratulate you for the exceptionally aphoristic but very precise definition.

purpleguy| 4.4.10 @ 10:41PM

Y'all are so off base. You don't even know what socialism is if you think Democrats have given you socialism. You have believed the Republicans who do not have your welfare at heart. 90% of the taxes in this country are paid by 10 % of the people, so unless you are independently wealthy, I posit that you are on the Federal Dole every day, whether you admit it or not. When taxes are lowered, how much do you get - 1000/year? that's 20 bucks a week roughly. Who do you think the Republicans are really giving the money to? Not you ... wake up America. The Democrats just gave you health protection and with Bush saved your asses from another Great Depression. You should be singing their praises - instead of the ingrates you apparently are.

Ed| 4.1.10 @ 4:08PM

Socialism is incompatible with America. There is no equivalence between a country based on our Constitution and capitalism with any other ideology (call it socialism, marxism, communism, totalitarianism, fascism, or "all of the above"). Anyone that prefers to live somewhere in which they are free from Capitalism and the Liberty and Freedom that our Constitution dictates, is free to relocate to the misery of their choice. It will never be welcome here. We have reached the point in time in which the stakes have been raised to the level of what Smith described -- Vote NO to socialism by voting against ALL democrats.

Ralph Novy| 4.1.10 @ 5:23PM

Wow.

Your diatribe is full of "isms."

But bereft of heart.

Shame on you.

JimE| 4.1.10 @ 10:31PM

Novy, another useful idiot.

Brian H| 4.3.10 @ 12:15AM

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Maggie

'Eventually' is already here.

Purpleguy| 4.4.10 @ 10:48PM

Why are you so obsessed with Socialism? No one in the US is promoting Socialism. Stop believing the Republican mantra ... haven't you heard enough of their lies in order to get elected? You should be thankful the Democrats had the guts to save us all from a Depression and provided market-based healthcare (not socialism - only a twit would believe it's socialism) for you, your children and grandchildren.

Gra| 4.1.10 @ 4:41PM

Socialism has been proven in every case to accomplish one of two things; 1) its implementation ushers in ever more government intrusion, lower standard of living for all, and a loss of personal liberty and choice., 2) The promoting of socialism by certain power crazed or motivated individuals is used as a carrot to attract the "average man" to believing he will get something for nothing, will benefit by his neighbor working more/harder/ or taxed more punnatively and thereby providing this or these unscrupulous "leaders" to take the reins of power in the name of the "greater good" or for the "people". Ultimately the push to a socialist nation morphs into a form of totalitarianism (National Socialism (Hitler), communism (Mao, Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot, etc. The most recent examples are Chavez in Venezuela and Castro in Cuba.
Is it I who points the finger at a socialist or those who advocate socialism, one (I) who is fearful of the reality of its consequences and should I be condemned as a "mind-numbed robot", or a mean/rude unthinking simpleton? Or is it thee who cheers on the catalyst and seed, the "anointed one" thateventually translates into the eventual end of my freedoms, liberties and aneconomic system that has historically produced the greatest potential for physical/social and spiritual well being that mankind has yet to experience ? (not just for a privileged few but generally available to most) Show me if you will the consequences of the "socialist dreams" that have been spawned. You will have to show me the end result which is "the killing fields" and the concentration camps. Some legacy huh? Do you wish to go down that "primrose path of dalliance"?

purpleguy| 4.4.10 @ 10:51PM

Why are you so obsessed with Socialism? No one in the US is promoting Socialism. Stop believing the Republican mantra ... haven't you heard enough of their lies in order to get elected? You should be thankful the Democrats had the guts to save us all from a Depression and provided market-based healthcare (not socialism - only a twit would believe it's socialism) for you, your children and grandchildren. You should be asking "where were the Republicans? "

F Krautner| 4.5.10 @ 9:36AM

Gra| 4.1.10 @ 4:41PM
Socialism has been proven in every case to accomplish one of two things; 1) its implementation ushers in ever more government intrusion, lower standard of living for all, and a loss of personal liberty and choice.

***************

How do you explain Denmark? The Danes have 100% health care, 30 days of paid vacation every year, a year off for paid maternity leave and a high standard of living. You don't see Danes losing their homes to pay for health care! (Tell me again how much better off I am with Anthem running health care.)

Sounds like your complaint is against certain political systems, not socialism itself.

Consider the kind of government-business involvement we have under GOP administrations.

Bush II refused to stop Enron's rape of California's power system when "Kenny Boy" Lay ran a $30 billion scam that wrecked California's budget and ruined thousands of businesses. Did I mention the old folks who died during their "rolling black outs." When the governor of California pleaded for help in stopping Enron, Bush said "That's a business matter. It's not political."

Bush was grateful for 911 distracting from the Enron fraud scandal that would have made him a one term President. Think about the fact that one of the biggest (up til then) business frauds in history was run by President Bush's pal Ken Lay. You do remember that Ken Lay was the biggest contributor to Bush's election campaign? Lay provided a 707 (?) or something like it for Bush's travel during the election. The plane use alone was valued at $2,000,000.

It paid off though. Bush protected Enron during the California electrical rip off and during their final thievery when Ken Lay et al caused hundreds of thousands of people to lose their retirement funds because of Enron.

In other words the business model approved by the GOP leaders is based on fraud, deception, theft and criminal activity. A Republican President and high ranking GOP officials can be counted on to run interference for Enron or whoever abuses the public for profit. The recent banking crisis proves the point perfectly that "self-regulation" is a buzz word for allowing big contributors to steal as they please.

Unfettered capitalism is just as dangerous as any form of Socialism. Without regulation big businesses can steal with impunity. When a major political party seeks to protect these brigands at all costs the future does not look bright.

The idea that bankers or anyone else can be trusted to do the right thing when they can make money doing the wrong things is a delusion and a deliberate lie.

The thing I wait to see is when the GOP will wreck the country beyond repair. When that happens, your fears of a tyrannical government will come true.

tip kirven| 4.1.10 @ 5:22PM

If you like socialism so much please move to a country that believes in it...the US population does not believe in it, and socialism will not suceed here.

purpleguy| 4.4.10 @ 10:50PM

Why are you so obsessed with Socialism? No one in the US is promoting Socialism. Stop believing the Republican mantra ... haven't you heard enough of their lies in order to get elected? You should be thankful the Democrats had the guts to save us all from a Depression and provided market-based healthcare (not socialism - only a twit would believe it's socialism) for you, your children and grandchildren.

Thomas Swartz| 4.1.10 @ 5:44PM

Lagius, I commend you on your open mind. Yes everyone has the right to be a socialist. Do you believe the socialist believe we have the right to an opposing opinion? No I think not, as conservitive speakers are silenced and the Fairness Doctrine is concidered. Just because someone puts an R by thier name does make them worthy of our support. Keep the faith and stay involved. We need thoughtful persons on the team.

Michael| 4.8.10 @ 10:25AM

Laguis is posing a classic diversion to the discussion. The underlying issue is Freedom vs Tyranyn. Socialism, Communism, Islam, etc, are all the same thing using different justification and technical definition. They are all the same on America's metric. Tyranny. We must vote no on any measure that promotes and supports Tyanny. Tyranny is the distruction of personal freedom. The costitution was carefully and skillfully constructed to protect us from the evil of Tyanny. We have allowed this protection to be destroyed and now we are suffering the consequences. Our task is to stop it and not be diverted by frivolous arguments.

Michael.

Elizabeth| 4.17.10 @ 7:11PM

Lagius,
I suggest you get your head out of the clouds and come down to the real world and understand this....We all have a choice and the right to believe what we will in this "rare" country that offers freedom to all who wish to come, the chance to flee repression, (caused by socialism and communism) and to live a dream that was impossible in their repressed countries. In simpler terms, "extreme" governmental control over all we do. Socialism and communism are not just another form of government, but ones that repress the free spirit and crush the incentive to make something of ones self. We have these rights because we are a free "republic" and are given these in our constitution by our forefathers and the blood of many who fought to free us from tyranny and those who died that we may remain free. There are no chains binding any who wish to leave and live the life offered by dictators who will control your life so that you will only have to keep up your end of the bargain and send most of what you make to governmental agencies, so they may tell you how, where, and when to do whatever it is, they "demand" you to do. I have no problem with your free thoughts, nor your verbalizing those thoughts. We still have our 2nd amendment and "freedom of speech". Here it ends! When you think that I and many others should subsidize our hard earned dollars to do the bidding of those in power, to "spread" the wealth, to those who wish to only take from the glass, but refuse to help fill the glass, those who refuse to take responsibility for their life and their actions in life and expect others to carry that responsibility and to fix the problems that they have caused by their lack of responsibilty........then I say, No, I believe in live and let live. We have a country like no other, that is a beacon of light to all, and should remain so. We have a government that is out of control with its spending and continues to send us further over the cliff with all that it intends to do. You mentioned voting for the lesser of two evils.....Its a shame that we have come to this in this country. This is our fault as a society, as most have kept their heads so firmly to their own interests that they haven't noticed when things got out of control in the "elite" halls of our "so called" representative government. It is up to each and everyone of us to do our share and to keep our country free from tyranny and greed.
I'll end here but want to add that we should all remember the blood that has been shed for you and I to be able to discuss this so freely and openly.
Peace be to you as well!

DanMingo| 4.1.10 @ 3:25PM

Make that vote against any incumbent and I'll agree.
Socialism yes or no.
We already have some socialism, otherwise there would be no roads to drive, no police, fire, etc. You may remember the library, a place funded by government where books, movies music and the internet can be accessed. FOR FREE.
We have many forms of socialism embedded in our current system, and it's senseless to pretend that we don't.

DLeach| 4.1.10 @ 3:58PM

No, Mr. Mingo, I beg to disagree. The only socialism we have now is Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and Temporary Aid to Needy Families aka welfare thru block grants to states. The library, police and fire departments are generally funded by local and state property taxes on a local level. Transportation is funded by national fuel taxes. You are not forced to pay if you don't drive. And the true socialist programs we have, the entitlements, prove out the folly and ignorance of such a system because they are bankrupt once you factor in unpaid liabilities of over 105 trillion for all three programs. A true ponzi scheme. You cannot trust your money to government. Government always finds something ridiculous to spend your money on such as "why pigs stink." Who do you think will make money in a socialistic society? Let's look at the USSR with millions starving and the ruling political class dining on steak and champagne.

The Anti-Fascist| 4.2.10 @ 1:36AM

Uh, let's look at the United States with 50 millions starving and using food stamps to eat, and the ruling class living on caviar, steak and champagne. So many of you are the prime example of useful idiots for your overlords: the elite 1% who control 85% of the wealth in this country. You pretend you have "rights" and "freedoms", yet the vast majority of you are undoubtedly debt slaves, if you would just stop your empty rhetoric and be honest for a second. All of you waxing on the vain philosophic about freedoms and individual rights and the evils of state intervention, still dreaming the adolescent myth of becoming millionaires (every one of you!) - while virtually every one of you flag-waving tools have no chance to ever have anything better than a mortgage and a pile of credit card debt. The numbers tell us that.

Yet blogger ofter blogger prattles on as if you really believe you will ever be on an even footing with the super-wealthy, whom you idealize and faun over - as if it were YOU who was pulling in a million a day and had a $500 million dollar golden parachute. What bullshit. You all support this false, perfect vision of society where 1-2% have everything, the best schools, the best food, the best homes, the best pussy - and blindly accept the "rule of the jungle" where the rest can just eat cake, claiming that anything else is "just socialism" when you don't even know what socialism is. And every one of you don't know what side of the line you are on. I'd bet half of you have been "downsized" in the last 24 months - either jobs, homes, wives... and yet here you are, ready to join the tea party and save 'merica!

You want to talk "true ponzi schemes"? I got no idea where you got 105 TRILLION in unfunded liabilities, but I don't watch Glen Beck, so who knows. Better, yet, "Mr. Free-Markets", please explain how those "free-market" banksters can be "money making capitalists" when they are on the upswing - when they are plundering the wealth of 95% of the suckers with mortgage securitization ponzi schemes and naked short selling ponzi schemes and derivative-trading ponzi schemes, all made possible under both democrats and republican rule.... - and yet, when they are on the downswing - these same banksters become plundering socialists who get their criminals from Goldman Sacks to hand out TENS OF TRILLIONS of interest-free tax dollars from the FED to bail them out. Riddle me this - how can you ever get out of debt when you have to borrow your money at 5%, 18.9%, or even 29.99% interest, yet the BANKSTERS don't pay a penny in interest? And riddle me this, if they aren't crooks, and they have that sort of deal, HOW THE HELL DID THEY GO BROKE? Answer to the riddle: They are thieves, supported and enabled by the thieves of the democrat and the republican parties. Now there's your pigs that stink.

We've been bamboozled, we've been horn-swaggled, you, me, everyone of us, will be forever debt slaves, and I bet hardly any of us ever owned a single share of CITICORP, or GOLDMAN SACKS, or any part of these multinational thriving oligarchical corporate empires. There is an idiot wind blowing through this blog - useful idiots arguing that the Republicans will save the "freedom lovers" from the Democrats - or that the Democrats can bring about some kind of useful social change... how fricking stupid are we? The democrats and republicans are two sides of the same coin, and we are like scullery knaves, arguing over which elitist, royalist master will leave more leftover scraps on his plate, which you can eat after they have finished their meal.

NEWSFLASH! The Republic is DEAD. America is gone. America's machine tools have been sold to China and Mexico. America's laws have been co-opted by NAFTA and CAFTA and the WTO. ALL THIS WAS DONE BY MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS. Thus, there is no more government left to govern, at least, not by us, THE PEOPLE. Democracy is dead because private Corporations secretly count your vote with computers. The PEOPLE let them do that. You want a tea party? This year, at election time, lets throw all the ESS and DIEBOLD voting machines into Boston Harbor, and vote with paper ballots.

NEWSFLASH! Supply side economics was a lie. Trickle down economics never did. The government has been captured by the corporations, which is, by my definition, Fascism. Enjoy your life as a serf, because with the PATRIOT ACT, and the phony "WAR ON TERROR", you, me, everyone in this country are now nothing but debt slaves to the G-20. From here on out, think of feudalism as your lifestyle model. And I got news for you... very very few people get to live in the castle...

Nick| 4.2.10 @ 1:39PM

Karl Marx is alive and well.

tollen| 4.3.10 @ 6:46PM

Hehehe

John Navratil| 4.1.10 @ 4:56PM

DanMingo,

Dleach addressed your point or fire, roads and libraries quite well. I would only add that you are free to leave a city which is spending more on libraries than you desire.

What you left off was the largest example of socialism in America (in my opinion) - public education. The goal is good; young people have children before they are wealthy and everyone benefits from an educated populace. The problem is that the state is the, all but, monopoly of classrooms. Look how well that has turned out.

If you want to see how Obamacare will turn out, look to public education.

Erik| 4.5.10 @ 7:16PM

Whoa! Wait a minute! Obama got a pretty strong majority vote in 2008 because he said he who provide health care for everyone.. When you get all revved up you seem to forget that he did what American voters elected him to do !!!!

Erik| 4.6.10 @ 10:37PM

Are you so stupid as to believe that even the most left wing Democrat has anything philosophically in common with a Socialist? The gap between the two is huge. How far did you get in school?

Deborah D| 4.1.10 @ 7:57AM

Paul Ryan is a breath of fresh air in the Republican Party. Contrast his direct, smart American views with David Frum's (someone I used to like until he became bizarre!) -- as described by Mr. Tyrrell in his column today.

This is nothing less than the fight for the soul of the country. Our Founders are looking down from heaven. Their spirit is found in the Tea Parties, the Heritage Foundation and young guns like Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio.

I've made enemies on Facebook just because I post articles folks can read or not. Well, Winston Churchill said: "You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

Don't be afraid -- stand up for what's right. Our children and their children ... on down the line deserve the same opportunities, freedom and liberty that we were blessed with. Pass it on.

Publius| 4.1.10 @ 2:03PM

You'll pardon me if I don't stand up and shout for the return of the Republican Party. They talk about "responsible government" - but only when they are out of power. The talk about fiscal responsibility, but they don't deliver. But, they will be Democrats whenever they want, as they can't wait to use big government to enforce their code of conduct, their morals and their agenda - just like the Democrats.

The sick part is they stand back and hurl bombs at the Kenyan fool for being a hypocrite while they postulate and connive to do the same thing.

They hate prostitution, but will use our contributions to pay the bar tab a the sicko sex club.

They hate gambling, but you'll see them at the casinos hunting down contributions for good government.

They hate drugs, but drink like fish and smoke cigarettes.

Spare us the moralizing; we know the truth. Our children will only be served if we adopt Libertarianism that is at the heart of what the Founders sought. We haven't been the party of Lincoln for more than a century; just a bunch of cheap pretenders who seek to use us for their exclusive profit and at our exclusive risk and expense.

We know the socialists and Obama are dangerous and need to be wiped out without mercy or further consideration, but let's be honest (at least here) and admit the path to the promised land isn't going through the Republican Party's door; only more corruption and hypocrisy and all of us know it.

ralph| 4.1.10 @ 2:17PM

i have to agree. i've seen too many republics use the system for their own and their freinds gain. dump all the long time incumbents (anyone that makes a living/career off of the public needs to find a new job, get a new crew in that you want (hey even if they lie at least ya can kick em out next time and they won't be in long enough to screw things up, hopefully)

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.1.10 @ 2:20PM

Publius you are a foolish twerp.

...I suppose we just have to accept that a certain tiny group like you would bring us nothing but slavery..... or a bloody bloody civil war that will sweep you lunatics away in the midst of it.

.....but fortunately, very very few adults will follow you lunatic perfectionist whiners.

We patriots instead are going to try very hard to find and elect very fallible men and women to represent us. Just like we are all flawed and fallible.
So, just go throw your votes away and pout in the corner.

Purpleguy| 4.5.10 @ 9:33AM

Luckily, y'all are in the minority - loud mouths and nasty, but a minority. Patriot? Then support your President - we only have one at a time. And, stop listening to Fixed News, the political propaganda machine for the fascists. You might learn something

RiverKing| 4.1.10 @ 2:20PM

It has ever been and ever will be so, Publius, until electors like us learn to treat the elected as our employees (which they are). Do you not inspect your car before you accept it from the car wash? Do you not check to see that your grass was cut before you pay the person you hired to mow? Why have we for so long hired Congressmen to represent us and then ignored them for 2 (or 6) years?

Even if your man (or woman) is elected, don't trust them! Look over their shoulder continuously and "offer constructive criticism" when they are not doing what you want, when they are not representing YOU.

Petronius| 4.1.10 @ 2:21PM

Hey P
Damn right we need to get back to controlling behavior. Eliminate the predators. Banish all perverts and parasites. I am none of these, and doubt you are either. But we pay for the results of that behavior in treasury, property, and blood. You can sin to the extent that you can afford it and the effects don't cost the rest of us anything. The first time anything you do is detrimental to my standard of living, look out. We've had it. This country needs an Oliver Cromwell to take the helm or else the middle class will perish at the hands of the current regime. That goes double for Mr. Steele and the RNC hierarchy.

Miriam| 4.1.10 @ 4:13PM

oliver Cromwell darn near ruined England-moral philosophies are to be lived -not imposed!!

Petronius| 4.2.10 @ 1:24AM

Enjoy your serfdom then, M.
Let this parasitic government with it's clientele of supplicants keep on confiscating your earnings and driving up the cost of living to the point where you have nothing for yourself and family. Like I said, your right to do anything you want ends when others have to bear the cost, be it monetary or social. What does it take to make people understand that the taxes confiscated from the producers to allegedly solve the problems caused by predators, perverts, and parasites is good living lost by those who are honest, industrious, and virtuous. Consider for just 1 minute what you could do with the money taken from us by this government and given to the indolent lowlife in our midst who just take up space and keep us from climbing the social food chain. Not having the financial means to insulate ourselves from them, the quality of our lives and happiness are subject to them.
As to the rule of Old Noll's protectorate: He founded the New Model to defeat Charles I after he bankrupted his kingdom and took full power after deposing the corrupt rump parlaiment.
FYI: Cromwell's Solicitor General, one John Cooke, who prosecuted King Charles for tyranny is credited as the father of the 5th Amendment to Our Constitution. Sad to say, that document is now as mute as Magna Carta.

The Anti Fascist| 4.2.10 @ 1:55AM

I quote, from the gilded voice of that lofty sage of the global elite, Petronius:

"What does it take to make people understand that the taxes confiscated from the producers to allegedly solve the problems caused by predators, perverts, and parasites is good living lost by those who are honest, industrious, and virtuous. Consider for just 1 minute what you could do with the money taken from us by this government and given to the indolent lowlife in our midst who just take up space and keep us from climbing the social food chain. Not having the financial means to insulate ourselves from them, the quality of our lives and happiness are subject to them."

Wow, Petronius, you are a pure, royalist of the enlightened elite nobility! You are exactly what the American Revolution was fought to defeat.

May we never see the day when you have power, for with it would come concentration camps and ovens, all for you to burn the "indolent lowlife" who are so sadly keeping you from "climbing the social food chain." Its always a frightening thing to listen to a true sociopath, especially one like you, whose fantasies include kings and monarchs and other "entitled dignitaries" who you fancy to be in your league.

I got a suggestion, Petronius. Drive down into the nearest ghetto and donate a few hours of your time at the civic center, helping the needy instead of just trying to suck up everything for yourself. You need to re-humanize yourself.

serge baruch| 4.2.10 @ 4:38AM

Hey Antifascist,

several sociopaths is not a problem, but mass movements of "true believers" in collectivism are. It's them who - when in power - bring along ovens, slave labor and death camps, killing fields... and f*** up in every area from economy to civil rights.

It doesn't matter much which hyphenated kind of socialism takes over a country: national-socialism, euro-socialism or islamo-socialism (like in the case of Saddam's Baath party). Results are invariably disastrous.

Erik| 4.6.10 @ 10:33PM

Are you so stupid as to beleive that even the most left wing Democrat is a socialist of any kind. The gap between the left wing Democrat and a run of the mill socialist is phenomenally huge. How far did you go in school?

Petronius| 4.2.10 @ 4:04PM

To A-F et.al.
I HAVE the RIGHT to live by and for Myself without hindrance from you. Unlike you, I Obey the 10th Commandment that my erstwhile church repealed. I do not confiscate, expropriate, or otherwise take one penny that is not rightfully Mine. I do not treat any demands that anybody else be taxed to subsidize my deficiencies. Nobody is "entitled" to things. You say I should be compelled to provide. Who elected You?
I am charitable to the extent that the beneficiary merits my support with clear evidence that the circumstances faced cannot be overcome at the personal level. You are a collectivist. So what.
But you do it with your own chips. Keep your pseudocompassionate claws to yourself and mind your own damned business!!!
And while you're at it, quit misinterpreting history. Those Gentlemen who founded this nation held common interest in economic liberty and social autonomy, and so do I. Admit it. You HATE the concept of empire building at the personal level. You intellectual snots cannot abide a tradesman or any average person sans post graduate degree accumulating enough wealth to become a law unto him or herself. I would not dare to look any person in the face and say I oppose or resent their success. The current Regime, empowered by an infantile electorate is ruining middle America with sandbox economic policies and over regulation halting the growth necessary to foster entry level employment for those people "at the bottom of the food chain". They want to turn the United States into Never-neverland for the wellfare dependents they whore for votes dragging us down with them so they can't be voted out. Not knowing your age, I'll tell you something you probably never heard. It is incumbent upon all and singular to establish and maintain yourself in society Individually. The government is Not Your Mommy! It does Not exist to take care of you!! Those with infirmities preventing them from learning, participating, and earning a living get a pass. The real world is an arena. So being of sound mind and body you are obliged to compete man to man. Repeal the so called "civil rights and affirmative action laws."

Erik| 4.7.10 @ 7:27PM

The wealthy almost always earned their wealth of the backs or misfortunes of others or through market manipulations and deceptions impoverishing vast numbers. There are honest and deserving wealthy people but they are a small majority among the ranks of the wealthy. And you idiots want to let these thieves keep the loot. How stupid are you?

Chris C| 4.1.10 @ 2:39PM

Badly misinformed comment.

First, Lincoln would have rejected libertarianism. He was a constitutional conservative.

Second, and more importantly, libertarianism is founded on the same faulty assumption as socialism: both are utopian delusions.

Republicans aren't perfect, but on the whole they offer the most realistic and workable view of liberty within social order.

Libertarians offer an unattainable, perfect utopian Swiss watch where humans will behave with pristine predictability and most government is unnecessary. This betrays a stunning misreading of human evil, and is in direct contradistinction to Federalist 51 and the clear-eyed realism of our founders.

Ron Paul, Lew Rockwell, and their ilk are delusional and have nothing to offer our country. The quicker people who want to save freedom recognize this, the better.

AZCloud| 4.1.10 @ 3:46PM

Wow! Your misunderstanding of Libertarianism is astounding.

Chris C| 4.1.10 @ 4:06PM

I've been a libertarian and have continued to keep up with their writings.

I have great respect for many of them, and I know there are different strains, but in general --and especially lately -- the political generals of libertarianism have swerved into utopianism and kookiness.

For example, anyone who thinks we can take a Paulian non-interventionist path in foreign policy doesn't understand the nature of human evil, upon which our founders based the separation of powers. In general, libertarians understand the concept of self-interest, but underestimate the concept of evil. That's just the beginning of their misreading of human nature. Most libertarians simply don't "get" the implications raised in documents like Federalist 51. They like the "government obliged to control itself" part (as do I), but ignore the "control the governed" part. You have to have balance, and they don't understand that.

That said, I do agree there's a difference between the Cato Institute folks (though I disagree with them on some issues) and the Campaign for Liberty cultists. Sadly, Campaign for Liberty is becoming the political driver of libertarianism.

Brian H| 4.3.10 @ 12:28AM

The commonality between (imaginary) utopias of the Left and Right (i.e., libertarians) is that they can operate only in small 'tribal' contexts, where mutual trust and social bonds are real and strong.

The effort of the Founders (as they were quite explicit in stating in many different forms and contexts) was to construct a model which would work at the nation-state scale without presuming or producing a submissive populace. There are many dire and somewhat pessimistic comments in their papers about the consequences of a lulled, debased, or passive citizenry. They knew that no structure can operate without informed, intelligent, and committed participation by large majorities of the citizenry, and were unsure about whether that could be sustained when the crises were past. de Toqueville also speaks to this.

Libertarians dream of mass individualism; statists dream of mass conformism. The real world is an unending battle between those preferences and visions.

Laura| 4.1.10 @ 3:07PM

I think the time of "party loyalty" is over. Hypocrisy and corruption is rampant in both parties. The only way to drain the swamp is for the voter to become informed about the candidates and get in on the selection of candidates.

I used to identify myself as Republican. No more. I will vet candidates by their voting records, their character and then listen to their rhetoric. I'll be looking for those pesky closet skeletons which are often clear indicators of shoddy character.

If we ignore "little character flaws" or the occasional lie, and vote for the candidate, we'll be getting just what we deserve. This is how we ended up where we are.

Time to get engaged, America! Reacquaint yourself with the Constitution. Read about the Founding Fathers. Hold your politicians feet to the fire. Let's take back our country!

Ron| 4.1.10 @ 3:39PM

Absolutely right! If the candidate even hints at anti-Americanism or socialism, or communism (which is the advanced stage of socialism), or anti-Christian; or if he/she is a tax evader, embezzler, adulterer, or just plain self absorbed because he/she thinks he or she is above the law, he/she has lost my vote and I will work hard against him or her. I AM AN AMERICAN!

Scott| 4.2.10 @ 9:33AM

Anti-Christian? Or does that mean NOT Pro-Christian, aka social conservative?

Where does that leave the limited-gov't agnostics of our country?

Brian H| 4.3.10 @ 12:33AM

Then the level at which you need to work is the nominating stage, and the local "party executive" level. Take charge of those, and you have a chance of bypassing the filters and "shared dirty hands" cabals which turn elections into choices of the lesser of two or more evils.

Chris C| 4.1.10 @ 3:53PM

Laura,

I wholeheartedly agree with your strategy to examine candidates and not just accept what the powers-that-be hand down.

However, I disagree with your not IDing as a Republican, because 98%-plus of the candidates who are going to actually make a difference are Republicans. If we're serious about making things better, there's no choice but to reform the GOP. That's where the big potential lies.

But how are you going to do that if you officially "don't belong" to the party anymore? You aren't? You're cutting off your own power at the knees.

My counsel would be to actually double-down on your Republican ID. Get more involved at the precinct and state level. I did, and you would be AMAZED at what one person or even a small group of allies can do.

I went to my first precinct meeting, ended up on my county's platform resolutions committee, am a delegate to the state convention, and my views get a hearing from many people. And I'm just one person.

Plus, it's a good way to network and find out the truth about candidates that you don't find elsewhere.

But if you say, "I'm not a Republican," you are pouring all that potential power out of your hands and on to the ground.

Be idealistic, but not perfectionistic. Be demanding, but not disinvolved. It's going to take hard-headed realism -- in pursuit of our ideals -- to get us out of this mess.

Margie| 4.1.10 @ 8:13PM

It's great to read your posts, and I couldn't agree more. I've been saying it too, for months. It's easy to throw stones, but it's our party and we need to restore it and build it back up. After all, we're a government of the people and by the people.. if we don't do it right, who will?

westcoast barbie| 4.1.10 @ 4:39PM

Laura:

Good intentions, pretty bad policy. There are two parties and their basic ideals differ greatly, notwithstanding the foolishness and ill-advised actions of those within both parties. The idea of voting for the person and not the party has some very critical consequences. One is the Supreme Court. If you want to ensure the continuation of our rapidly disappearing Constitution, by all means, vote for the Democrat who says the right things and has a spotless personal record. But to overlook a Republican who has stumbled but who would preserve at all costs our freedoms doesn't make much sense.

Another reason is to cite one of the most intelligent Senators of our times -- Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. He correctly predicted that welfare as constructed under the Great Society would destroy the Black family. And, lo, it did. (And it has made huge inroads in destroying the white family as well. ) This is just one example. He waxed eloquently in speech and print alike on many subjects, and most often was on the right side of the issue. But, when it came time to vote, he always, as WFB, Jr., once said, "returned to the bosom of the Democratic Party."

It's the votes against what is fast becoming durn near a banana republic that's most important. It's the preservation of what the Founding Dads gave us that must take precedence.

JD| 4.1.10 @ 4:51PM

Laura, will you Please get out of my Head!
I beg you........lol

Sue| 4.2.10 @ 2:32PM

Laura,
You have hit the nail on the head.
Research before you vote. Good Americans can be from either party, but you need to be an informed voter.
Love this!
"Time to get engaged, America! Reacquaint yourself with the Constitution. Read about the Founding Fathers. Hold your politicians feet to the fire. Let's take back our country! "

Robert| 4.2.10 @ 2:31AM

What you talked about, Publius, is why we need to TAKE OVER the Republican party, and populate it with real Americans, who will represent real Americans, and shed the squishy "moderates" who are way too willing to go along to get along with evil. The threat the Democrats pose to liberty is so extreme and so dire now that they must be defeated now, not in a century, and people with conservative/libertarian attitudes running on the Republican ticket are the best we have to defeat the Democrats, who have shown unmistakably with their supreme act of defiance in passing an egregious people-control bill that they are the ENEMY, and irredeemable. They deserve to have every last one of the fascists they have placed in Congress defeated and replaced with someone who will at least respect the Constitution. Throwing away our votes on third parties only serves the "divide" portion of the enemy's "divide and CONQUER" strategy. Once the Democrat party has shriveled up and died (if it happens), THEN we can pay attention to building more perfect parties. Frankly, I would love to see the Libertarians become the chief alternative to the Republicans. What a country we would have then! The debate would be over small government, versus even smaller government, rather than the other end of the spectrum.

lagiusmeatius| 4.1.10 @ 2:15PM

One thing I can't stand is people making arguments for what our founding fathers would do, or how they would have wanted it to be. First off, there are things that some politicians have tried to eliminate in terms of founding father ideas. Let's take any and all of the amendments for example. These are all changes to the founding father's beliefs. Republicans in 1993 passed the CAA (Congressional Accountability Act) which forces congressmen to follow certain laws pertaining to civil rights, anti-harassment, etc. Yet, congressional immunity from laws (other than felonies, treason, or "breach of the peace") was a founding father principle (Article I - section 6 of the constitution). So when people try to use the "founding father" argument, some republicans/conservatives need to be careful, because they have changed some of those founded principles themselves--thus making the arguments less and less effective. The foudning father's lived in a time when slavery was the norm--look how the world is today. Our founding fathers used to grow hemp on farms for its many uses as a durable material (rope, clothes, etc.), look at the world today (the much less durable cotton replaced it, also a scam--another argument for another time---growing any kind of hemp is frowned upon these days). We can not simply look at our founding fathers for how to live, as we've changed so many of those things that were wrong, and un-just since then. We have no choice but to modify our system as time goes on, and as we evolve ourselves (whether policitally, mentally, etc.) That is my two-cents.

Peace to you all!
-Lagius

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.1.10 @ 2:24PM

Lagius,

...and peace to you. One problem though. I shall not kneel to a man, but only to God. You can wimp out and kneel if you want to. We will try to protect you.

Chris C| 4.1.10 @ 2:44PM

And two cents is about all your comments are worth.

Please go troll a liberal website.

westcoast barbie| 4.1.10 @ 5:24PM

Lagius:

Next you'll be telling us the Constitution is a 'living document.' That would be akin to sitting in a poker game and having someone tell you mid- hand that the rules had changed and that their two pair beats your full house. No, the basic principles of the Constitution remain unchanged; it's those the Founding Fathers gave us in that document that are so precious -- and have to be preserved.

westcoast barbie| 4.1.10 @ 5:29PM

Lagius:

BTW, you asked for arguments, not glib comments regarding socialism -- yet you never answered the basic question above: Where has it been successful and not sapped the the creativity, imagination, self-reliance, and industry of the populous?

SHA| 4.1.10 @ 7:38PM

Actually, Paul RINO is more like a breath of cow poop with Chanel 5 sprayed on it. Have you not seen this man's voting record? Do you not know what is in the Roadmap? Why are you praising a man you know nothing about? In other words, why are you such a sucker?

Scott| 4.2.10 @ 9:36AM

Yeah, I know whats in the roadmap. The most serious, conservative effort I've seen to reform entitlement spending.

wodiej| 4.1.10 @ 8:22AM

Ryan is super smart and knows what he's talking about. Get ready to take back your country Patriots!!

SHA| 4.1.10 @ 7:39PM

Sure he does! It's called big government conservatism, which you would know if you had ever checked his record or his Roadmap! But I'm ready to take the country back with another candidate!

Scott| 4.2.10 @ 9:38AM

What are you smoking that says that the Roadmap is big gov't?

Hell, it privatizes Medicare entirely, how is that big-gov't?

Charity in Truth| 4.1.10 @ 9:20AM

Obamacare/PelosiCare/Reidcare was not about health care but about the government take-over of 1/6th of our economy and student loans; 7 billion tax-payer dollars to Planned Parenthood and abortions etc. Why would we give our health care to a government that believes in killing babies and does not know when life begins? With all the lies, injustices, briberies and lack of transparency this health care needs to be repealed. Abortion is not health care. The redistribution of wealth is stealing. Charity without justice is a false charity. We and our children and the generations to come cannot afford all this entitlement through health care, illegal immigration/amnesty, cap & trade etc. We need to shine the truth to those who still do not know and vote against every Democrat in view of their disrespect and disregard for the people and the natural and moral laws and the Constitution and vote for people who have a 100% pro-life voting record and did not vote for this health care bill, cap & trade, fiscal irresponsiblity and big government. We need to vote for people who believe in the pledge of allegiance: One Nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

lagiusmeatius| 4.1.10 @ 2:26PM

1/6th of the economy is not affected by this bill. Healthcare comprises 1/6 of the economy, however this bill does not grossly effect this portion. At most 1/12 or less--just to get the facts straight. It would be the same to pass a bill that taxes food (lets say food represents 1/6 of the economy) --a bill to tax food an additional 1 cent per pound, and say that "this bill affects 1/6 of the economy". It is true that there is money in insurance plans that help fund abortion. This bill does not do that directly. I don't want there to be conservatives out there lying or giving themselves a bad name by believe false propaganda. I definitely don't believe that abortion is right or ok by any means. But the facts around this debate need to be straight nevertheless. Many people (not me in this case) including catholics believe that contraceptives like condoms are against "God's law" and prohibiting the natural pro-creation of life that would have occured had we not "intervened". Do you think contraceptives are a bad idea, or "not health care", or "injustice to the babies that should have been...." ? You can look at it a number of ways...I still believe abortion is wrong, but one could use the same argument about contraceptives. Even though they may help prevent many, many children from being born that people can't afford--forced to live a life of poverty because those contraceptives weren't available at the clinic. This is my only point, otherwise I agree that abortion is BAD and shouldn't be paid for with taxpayer dollars.

Peace to you all!
-Lagius

Scott| 4.2.10 @ 9:41AM

Gov't takeover of student loans? That's absurd. They are called "Federally Backed Student Loans" for a reason. The government takes all of the risk. They were just letting the banks do the paperwork on the loans and taking a fee.

I don't know how anyone that's a true fiscal conservative thinks that a wise system. It costs more money, and has the same result.

Stephen Zierak| 4.1.10 @ 10:00AM

Well, excuuuse me, but before we canonize the likes of Paul Ryan and Eric Cantor, perhaps we should remember that they ultimately voted FOR the Bush-Paulson TARP monstrosity. As I said at the time, this piece of garbage crony capitalist bailout has "legitimized" all the subsequent nonsense of bailout nation. If we are expecting the Ryans and Cantors to save us from Obamasocialism, we are looking to the wrong people. They have already fouled the nest.

Kathy Leicester| 4.1.10 @ 10:28AM

And your answer to the problem would be? Do you know some saint who's never had an error in judgment?

SHA| 4.1.10 @ 7:35PM

Fool, it wasn't an error in judgment. It was a habitual pattern. He voted for Sarbanes-Oxley, Medicare Part D, the bailouts, increased regulation during the financial crisis, and the Bush stimulus. Have you seen the details of his Roadmap? Or do you take your candidates on faith?

Paul RINO.

Karen Novak| 4.1.10 @ 1:00PM

If you think back, we were all scared and all told that the financial market was going to collapse. Why do you think they weren't led to believe the same thing?

Brian H| 4.3.10 @ 12:42AM

http://www.kingworldnews.com/k.....dcast.html

The Fed and banks have been playing fast and loose with the precious metals markets, and biting that bullet is going to do serious "harm" to the greenback. But better the truth than a perpetual Ponzi scheme.

Short form: the metals markets have 100X more paper warrants and claims on gold than there is metal to cover them. The first big player(s) to short the market and force a call to cover the metal wins big (Ts, not Bs).

Nobama| 4.1.10 @ 1:16PM

I understand your position. But you should re-think it for this reason: When Lehman was allowed to fail, all that Lehman owed to other institutions was wiped away. What had been a performing asset on the books of other institutions immediately became a loss, and were weakened or made insolvent . I'm all for letting fools fail. But if the domino effect had been allowed to occur, it's very possible we would have lost all or nearly all financial institutions. Think about what this means. You wouldn't be able to draw from your accounts, your credit cards wouldn't work, savings and investments might vaporize. Nothing except the cash in your pocket.

Paulson chose to prop up capital rather than unload toxic assets onto taxpayers. Excellent choice. With rates this low, we've already gotten some of the money back, and may get much of it back. Of the initial 750B, Bush and Co had spent less than 400B when the Marxist took office. Not a bad deal to save the entire US economy.

Publius| 4.1.10 @ 1:57PM

Amen. They are one and the same; just like the Democrats, they have become corrupt hypocrites who cannot be trusted to do anything other than sell us out, reduce our freedoms and force us to swallow more government in the name of enforcing "their" morals instead of the Democrats' morals.

Just wait until the sledding gets tough; when the going gets tough, tough Republicans sell out and abandon their principles.

roger| 4.1.10 @ 10:13AM

ObamaCare making you sick? This podcast will make you feel better! www.cashbeechcroft.podomatic.com

From a rising star in the Tea Party movement.

Tom Spence| 4.1.10 @ 10:38AM

I was at Paul Ryan's talk in Dallas yesterday, and Bill Murchison is absolutely right about his effect on the crowd. Dazzlingly articulate. He managed to be both brutally honest about the danger we're in and confident and optimistic. Does that remind you of anyone we all knew and loved?

Publius| 4.1.10 @ 1:55PM

Heard it all before. Same people, same hypocritical policies. The only difference is that they promise to just put more of us in jail while the liberals promise to take our money and put us in jail. Thanks, but there is nothing compelling here to believe in - more of the "trust us" line that has always ended in disaster.

Chris C| 4.1.10 @ 3:00PM

Sorry Publius, but I don't fall for liberal trolls on conservative websites trying to stir dissension and depress or split our vote.

Only a troll or a mental myopic would say that Paul Ryan is the same as Delay or Mark Foley. And frankly, only a troll or a fool would say that Obama is the same as what we would have with McCain, as flawed as he was.

So if you don't have anything constructive to say, go report to your HuffPo friends that your trolling didn't work . . . or if you are authentically disillusioned, be quiet and get out of the way of those who are working for reform.

Bill Spence| 4.1.10 @ 2:21PM

Thanks Tom: Good comments from another Spence who knows what's going on...Bill Spence from the Memphis, TN area.

SHA| 4.1.10 @ 7:32PM

Yes. It reminds me of Obama. And he is about as sincere, because Paul Ryan speaks equally flattering about Ayn Rand as he does about the Progressive Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Do any of you people bother to check the record of these RINOs you are trying to foist upon the rest of us? I will not tolerate Paul Ryan on a Presidential ticket, and if you fools try to ignore the bad winds blowing on this, it is going to be McCain '08 all over again.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.1.10 @ 10:49AM

Tom,
What do you think? Is he Presidential stuff?

I'm going to his website now to get another glimpse of him. Thanks

Lu Dumak| 4.1.10 @ 11:35AM

Being from Wisconsin, I love Paul Ryan. I have had many opportunites to hear him speak and personally talk tohim

Ray| 4.1.10 @ 12:31PM

Maybe he'll run for president? He's got my vote.

Karen Novak| 4.1.10 @ 1:02PM

Paul Ryan and Jim DeMint!

bull-gator| 4.1.10 @ 1:17PM

I'd support and vote that ticket in a nanosecond.

SHA| 4.1.10 @ 7:27PM

I would lose respect for DeMint if he ever took that RINO on his ticket.

MKS| 4.1.10 @ 1:52PM

Vote against Democrats, not only in 2010 and 2012, but also in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and so on, until they are ALL OUT OF OFFICE.

The we can choose our candidates from among Constitutionalists, Libertarians, and Republicans, and debate the issues in a more reasonable political spectrum.

Publius| 4.1.10 @ 1:53PM

I'll say "no" to the GOP wares for the first time in my entire life. I've had enough of the hypocrisy of the GOP and will encourage my fellow teabaggers to walk away. Like Obama and Congress, they don't care about our needs, just our votes and money. The Republican Party has gone to the well once too often for my tastes and the continued conservative hypocrisies will only end once we walk away and make them treat with us as equals. Today, we are just someone for them to coop and swallow for THEIR benefit.

I wish you well, Mr. Ryan, but you won't be getting any of my money or support.

artfuldodger| 4.1.10 @ 2:18PM

I agree with some of what you say but your answer seems to be just walk away and hand the Obamacrats the tools of power forever. Saying that all Republicans are exactly the same is cynical and untrue. It appears that in your world Paul Ryan is no different than Tom Delay. Not in my world.

Chris C| 4.1.10 @ 2:48PM

Publius,

My bet is that you are a liberal plant ("teabaggers").

Lots of them troll conservative sites to try to split the conservative vote and ensure the socialists get reelected.

Take warning, all who read.

DanMingo| 4.1.10 @ 3:36PM

Some people who disagree with you actually can think for themselves, and have no desire to "split the conservative vote and ensure the socialists get reelected. "
It is the 'teabaggers' that are doing that.
Liberals are just enjoying the show and the meltdown some of you are experiencing.
We suffered through 8 years of Bush, now it's your turn to suffer.

Chris C| 4.1.10 @ 4:16PM

Please go troll a liberal site, or actually prove you can, in fact, think for yourself.

Interesting how leftists like you see everything in terms of "your turn to suffer" as if politics is a game of winners and losers.

What a warped view.

And a tragic one, because you will suffer along with the rest of the country. You and your relatives will get lower quality healthcare as MRIs become less available (like in Germany, where palliative care is appaling as people suffer), as taxes get higher, and as rationing starts.

It will rain on the liberal and conservative alike. You and your loved ones will suffer with us.

Now go away, please.

Brian H| 4.3.10 @ 12:49AM

Right. If anyone thinks healthcare has been expensive up till now, just wait till it's free!

A couple of stats for you: 1) France, the socialist medicine poster child of the WHO, actually spends ~25% of GDP on it, not the 10.4% advertised (the rest is buried, very shallowly, in the Social Services ministry). 2) Excluding gunshots and auto fatalities, the US has the highest average lifespan in the world.

The system needs fine tuning, not Revolution or Hopey-Changey!

lydia| 4.1.10 @ 4:07PM

Publius, I'm sure the only candidate to get your vote will be one that supports legalizing drugs. So vote libertarian in Nov. if your not too stoned to know what day it is.

Chris C| 4.1.10 @ 4:18PM

Lydia,

I agree 100%. Great comment.

JimE| 4.1.10 @ 10:38PM

Publius,
How much do you get a post? Hit the road troll boy.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.1.10 @ 2:08PM

Ladies and gentlemen,
I tripped over this youtube video trying to find a way to help you non-Texans understand why we are so "ungovernable". heh

It is the very first scene in a movie about the birth of Texas at the Alamo. If you put it up on your full screen, you can track the scenes in the movie either on the video face or on the right side.
Please pay attention to "half scenes" 2 and 1/2 etc. and you can watch the whole movie.
Enjoy, and perhaps understand who we Texicans truly are...heh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related

Hello Its Me| 4.1.10 @ 2:17PM

Paul Ryans looks to be a cross between JFK and R.R. He's a sharp as a tack. And has at least as much experience as the community organizer turned Senator and now President. Why not Paul Ryan to represent all of us instead of just those fortunate enough to live in his Wisconsin district??

SHA| 4.1.10 @ 7:25PM

Because he is a serious RINO.

Gerald Stephens| 4.1.10 @ 2:24PM

TAKING CONTROL...

of either the House or Senate or both is critical to the Nation's continuance in freedom. It is the first step. With either or both everything Obama puts his hand to can be DE-FUNDED.

And for those who ridicule the 'eligibility question' and impeachment, I say we require every sledgehammer in reach. Walk your computer fingers through the online offerings.

CHANGE is a marvelous word!

Gerald Stephens
Hartford, CT

FiscalC| 4.1.10 @ 2:44PM

I will believe it when I see it. When Republicans are genuinely contrite for the ruin and big government they heaped upon us during the Bush years and again adopt a manifesto based on small government and fiscal responsibility, I will return to the fold. All I see right now are Republicans who will not support PAYGO nor to put earmarks into abeyance for a few years. Until the GOP returns fully to true fiscal conservatism, you will not be seeing my vote, nor I am sure, those of other Independent fiscal conservatives. Your call.

Chris C| 4.1.10 @ 2:53PM

The GOP will only return fully to true conservatism when fools like you stop pouting, and stop discouraging those who could make a difference, and get the hell involved in the process. Go become a precinct chairman (it's not hard) or key worker . . . or shut up.

Not trying to be nasty, just offering some tough love.

Fence-sitters like you will play your role, along with the RINOs, in wrecking the country.

Stop whining and be the change. Voting 3rd party will only get more socialism. Reforming the GOP is doable and the only answer.

Majito| 4.1.10 @ 2:47PM

Well I say yep to getting involved and walking the beat to get a candidate that mirrors ones values...however, I'm not too sure I'm sold to the GOP. After all, was not GHB and later GWB who gave us Clinton and then Obama? What about Gingrich, Frist and DeLay ethical dilemmas? So please don't expect me to jump into the ship because the other is sailing to the left...I will like to see energy going to influence the democratic party back to the center where it should be...just like the GOP should be in the center...I don't agree with having uncle sugar be my daddy but I also don't agree with allowing the Mr. Geckos of Manhattan dictate what life should be...who gave away the factories? Surely not the unions...Who gave away our jobs? surely not the it workers...these were all done to benefit Mr. Ca$h while destroying the middle class...so before I jump for joy because some rich cat comes to town telling me to not support regulation, i need to know what drives his business ethos? what does he think? does he/she believes if it's ethical then its good or does he/she thinks if it makes money then it must be good...America is at a crossroads...no doubt about it...but we must not go back to the rich man's paradise that existed before the last Bush...the new America must be American for Americans first and then we can aid the world...not the other way around...and one more thing, what is our military doing in Korea and Western Europe? What is our navy doing in the persian gulf?? It's time for those folks to worry about their security and we worry about ours...

Chris C| 4.1.10 @ 3:07PM

You are obviously a liberal trolling this site. Or, perhaps, just a very confused individual.

If you are just confused, go read a book like Levin's "Liberty and Tyranny" or Spalding's "We Still Hold These Truths".

My guess is that you won't because from your comments you sound like a socialist trolling this site.

Daniel Burke| 4.1.10 @ 3:30PM

I live in Mr. Ryan's district and we are very proud of him. He will win his reelection in a walk and we will all help him do so. I would love to see him offer to debate Obama on Health Care. Obama, of course, would never agree to such a debate. Obama's arrogant, incompetent, corrupt, but he's not stupid.

Brian H| 4.3.10 @ 12:58AM

Obama can't handle anyone who doesn't, as McCain initially did, grant him the benefit of the doubt as a good, sincere man. Finally, McCain began to get that was not true when Obama said he'd "look at" a suggestion or idea made. McCain responded, "You're very smooth; one has to parse everything you say very carefully. "Look at" does not mean "act on" or even "consider seriously."" Or SLT.

Barack is like Gore; no actual informed opposition allowed. He showboated, ignored, and sneered his way through the "bipartisan" conference, because it's all he can do.

Ryan would eat him for lunch.

Wally| 4.1.10 @ 3:47PM

Let's remember two things about Ryan:
1) He voted for TARP, Medicare Advantage and two wars without ever proposing ANY way to pay for them. Something for nothing is a disease in Congress on both sides of the aisle.
2) Ryan's "budget" would lower taxes on the very wealthy and raise the % amount that the middle class would pay to fund the budget. Of course Heritage Fdtn. donors love him. He will lower their taxes. But not the taxes of teh average Joe reading these comments.

Nick| 4.1.10 @ 7:37PM

Let's remember two things about President
Dither:

1) He pushed for TARP, as Senator Dither.

2) And, he pushed for letting babies die, if by some miracle they survived the abortionists scalpel, as Illinois State Senator Dither.

sims| 4.1.10 @ 3:51PM

Rep. Paul Ryan has been adamant that he has no plans to run for president (many have said that before-maybe he will be convinced?) and that he wants to stay in the House and continue his work there. He has been a good spokesperson for his own health care reform initiatives.
Many in the Republican party have disagreed with him or will not stand with him. Many politicians don't like to stand up for anything that seems a little controversial until they see which way the, political, wind is blowing. Which means that Ryan has an uphill battle on his hands; convince enough Americans that yes, you can use common sense, market driven ideas to reform health care/insurance and convince enough members of Congress to vote for that plan.

JoeR| 4.1.10 @ 4:41PM

If you think the socialist are just knocking at one door, politically, think again. Did you hear Pelosi credit United Methodist Church with support for the healthcare bill? Well, it's not true. Only one socialist advocate group in UMC supports it; and they railroaded resolutions through conference to get 'UMC' support. Waited till almost the end of the conference, got the rules and debate suspended. Sound familiar? Many UMC members have departed or are debating leaving because of this.

jimmy d| 4.1.10 @ 4:45PM

Good comments. I just read a lot of thought about socialism and it made my head hurt. The fact is socialism was actually used in this country when the first colonies were established. The James Town Colony tried it first and it did fail. Socialism this not something new when implenting some form of government control of a civalized society. The fact is that if you expect a society to grow and prosper then a totally socialist government is not the right way to go. It can make you feel good for a while and when everyone else's money is gone it fails and you starve. I think Margaret Thatcher made a quote similar to that.

Ralph Novy| 4.1.10 @ 5:32PM

jimmy d:

I know you're well-meaning, but.....do some MORE reading about "socialism," etc. OK? There's a LOT more to it. OK?

BTW.....those Jamestown people were essentially gold-diggers.

Check out Howard Zinn's stuff, eh?

Eye-opening.

Nick| 4.1.10 @ 7:40PM

Howard Zinn?!!!!Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Why not check out Mao's "Little Red Book?"

You probably thing Oliver Stone's "JFK" was a documentary, don't you Ralph?

Nick| 4.1.10 @ 7:44PM

That should be: probably THINK Oliver....

Ralph Novy| 4.1.10 @ 5:28PM

"Socialism has been proven in every case..."

Wrong.

Right off the bat.

Back it up or shut up. Eh?

Read the rest. Did NOT back that up.

Jeez.

JimE| 4.1.10 @ 10:39PM

Zinn? You really are a loser.

Ralph Novy| 4.4.10 @ 2:37AM

JimE:

So "Zinn = loser"?

Are you actually asserting that?

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.1.10 @ 5:54PM

Chris C.

Thank you for your efforts today. You have been about as clear as a man can be concerning the "useful idiots" of the communists, (pardon the shorthand), who are whining here today.

I am upset. At the end of the day, the Republicans nominated a McCain to run...limp.....against Obama. OOPS.

You and I evidently grew up with the same idea in our minds: "cream rises to the top".

Well, if you have ever been around a sewage pond, hmmm...other things also rise to the top....

Specifically, "solid waste with a large component of methane gas". heh.

Right now, we gotta' focus on 2010 in my estimation. If we can't get a conservative..."restorationist minded" congress in place, our country is going to be in a heap of trouble, and very quickly.

Chris,
I am not sure we can endure two more unfettered years under Obama and crew without that Republican congress majority. If we fail to get our act together this year, then I fear a shooting civil war against slavery.
Did you notice the whining little twerp mumbling about "rich guys" ? Just another distraction and another "class warfare" proponent.

You know, Chris, these idiots don't realize what they are bringing down on their own heads. If they "win" the argument in November, hundreds of thousands of employers just like me.....go galt.

If that doesn't get the job done, what horrible choices must we make?

I honestly believe November 2010 is our last chance to avoid catastrophe, not only for the US, but for the world, whether they realize it or not.

If the beacon of liberty goes out in New York harbor, we are looking a thousand years of darkness..........perhaps eternity.......... squarely in the eye.

Again, thank you for nailing the points.

Chris C| 4.2.10 @ 1:14AM

Ken (Old Texican),

If you're still here, I'm a Texican too! Maybe that's the solution: everyone migrate to Texas. Contra Hank Johnson, it won't tip over like Guam! I was at the Heritage lecture and luncheon yesterday with Spalding and Ryan.

I agree with you. Although now I'm worrying about the period before the election. Obviously Obama's game has been to jam through as much "change" as possible, willing to gamble that he could lose the Congress and White House by 2012 and yet have accomplished his historic goal. So I don't think he's finished and could try to use the same legislative tricks to push through cap and trade, immigration reform, ENDA, and who knows what else. Or, just try immigration reform in an attempt to save the 10 and 12 elections.

I waver between panic and sobriety a lot.

Ideally, we have to win substantial seats in the Congress this year (I don't know that we can get, or need to get, the majority, but we need to get close), and then keep pushing to win the White House in 12.

If unemployment is below about 6.5 or so in 12 I don't know that Obama is beatable. If it's still high (and I think it really could be), then he's very beatable, even by a "boring, competent" candidate like Pawlenty, Barbour, Thune, etc. But we also might need 60 seats in the Senate to repeal ObamaCare. A tall order, but we have to try.

If that doesn't happen, I think the alternatives are:

1. America sinks into an entitlement morass and we have to be content to be "salt and light" (Matthew 5:13-16) in a decaying, darkening society. If that's our cross, we'll have to bear it.

2. America semi-craters for until the late 20-teens, but then backlashes against the entitlements. Yet it will take a sustained decade to dig out. Some of Europe, for all its horrors, is still kicking; if they started now, they could still dismantle socialism there, so maybe we could. The thing that scares me about here, though, is the demographics. But perhaps the iron crowbar of reality will even wake up enough minorities to what's happened.

But the best remedy, as you say, is to WIN NOW.

That means no third party.

We need solid conservatives, but not perfect ones.

A lot of people in 08 wouldn't help McCain saying, "I'm sick of the lesser of two evils." Well, how's that "greater evil" workin' for them now?!

The key for conservatives is to get the GOP in with as many true conservatives as feasible, then keep pushing them right.

Otherwise, you are right -- we'll either see a zombie state . . . or serious civil unrest.

Brian H| 4.3.10 @ 1:05AM

There's another alternative. Have someone in a VERY public forum ask directly, "Barry, you co-sponsored SR511 which specified that McCain had to have 2 American citizen parents to qualify as a POTUS candidate. Why didn't you need them?"

Ralph Novy| 4.4.10 @ 2:34AM

Chris:

"Obviously Obama's game has been to jam through as much "change" as possible, willing to gamble that he could lose the Congress "

You have GOT to be kidding.

As a "progressive" of the Lafollete/Hightower ilk, I couldn't disagree more. He's kissed more big-money ass than I would ever want to have imagined.

What friggin' planet are you from?

Jeez.

Ralph Novy| 4.4.10 @ 2:40AM

Hey.....leave us not forget the unspoken......although McCain was a POW for a long time -- WHY was he a POW for such a long time?

.....because 1) He was a consummate high-altitude war criminal; and 2) he was the son of an admiral.

He was/is NOT any kind of "hero." He's a "survivor," by privilege, at best.

Judith Hofbauer| 4.1.10 @ 5:57PM

Wow, lots of in-depth comments based on knowledge and fact versus other sites bases on emotions and fuzzy thinking. I feel for our country to survive we must come together regardless of the past actions of the GOP. This will be our most effective tool. And stop applying the litmus test; we come in a myriad of thoughts and opinions. "United we stand; divided we fall". Say that to yourself ten times daily if you have any doubts whatsoever. GBA!!

Sceptic 3| 4.1.10 @ 6:28PM

Socialism sounds good to begin with, but it always ends in tears because they never know when to stop. But who ever you vote for, be sure not to vote for someone who has a chip on their shoulder, or anyone who feels they have something to prove for whatever reason, for they are bound to be a malcontent and by definition that usually means a socialist. And certainly do not vote for someone who says they are "going to change America". Because that means they are not happy with the America they have, or the people in it.

100,000,000 people murdered during the twentieth century because left wing visionaries wanted to change the world. But still we churn them out, and still people vote for them because they say life will be easier, fairer, more just. It takes tragedy and turmoil before people realise that they have to earn your own living and you cannot go on living off someone elses labour, and that fairness and justice come from earning your own living and standing on your own two feet. That doesn't mean you can't help a guy when he's down, just so long as he doesn't make a meal of it.

SHA| 4.1.10 @ 7:22PM

Paul Ryan is a RINO and always has been. He put up some fast-lipped opposition to Obamacare, so some conservatives have Stockholm Syndrome to him. Get a grip. He proposed a VAT tax in his Roadmap, for crying out loud. His plan is to set federal expenditures at a whopping 24% of GDP. He just wants to tweak things to keep the welfare state solvent while pretending to be a free market conservative. His record is littered with big government junk. The blind and ignorant trust some people are placing in him is just embarassing.

But the BIG question is: Why is a think tank turning to a Congressman for ideas? That is backwards. Heritage should be formulating plans to give to Congressmen, but they can't because they are intellectually bankrupt. Even their opposition to Obamacare was weak. They tried to say that states should be running socialized medicine plans.

Ken (Old Texican)| 4.2.10 @ 12:18PM

SHA
I shall not let your absolute lies go unanswered.
You are a liar communist, (pardon the shorthand).

Every assertion you made above is a lie, as well as a cheap smear. I know the guys at Heritage.

Ralph Novy| 4.4.10 @ 2:30AM

Ken:

Oh, yeah, being a "lying, greedy, 'capitalist' bastard" is EVER so much better than being a "commie" one, eh?

gdi

Laine| 4.2.10 @ 12:01AM

"Obama, of course, would never agree to such a debate (on health care facing Paul Ryan). Obama's arrogant, incompetent, corrupt, but he's not stupid".

Well he's certainly too stupid to win any fair debate on any substantive issue. He is the most poorly educated (at Harvard etc) poorly informed POTUS ever.

He's a salesman who sells stuff of which he has no glimmer of understanding except that it's part of a marxist agenda. THAT he understands very well.

Ralph Novy| 4.4.10 @ 2:28AM

Laine:

As I understand it, Obama already challenged that punk Ryan to a debate.....and Ryan chickened out.

As Gomer Pyle might say......"Surprise, Surprise, Surprise."

Ryan, like Scott Walker in Milwaukee County, is a conservative-talking-points shill for big monied interests.

You don't get that?

Sheesh.

Yosemeti Sam| 4.2.10 @ 1:46AM

With any GOP politician who benefits charismatically and presents themselves as 'conservative', let Reagans' succinct words be an
allegorical guide: Trust - but Verify!

IOW, it's called a - background check!

IOW, behavioral - history.

To be factored into PRIMARIES - presidential
or otherwise!

Oakley| 4.2.10 @ 1:56AM

Oakley Sunglasses are being sold at low prices. you will get Oakley Impatient, try to keep a pair of Ray Ban Sunglasses. http://www.sunglasses-shopping.com/

Claire Solt PhD| 4.2.10 @ 2:22AM

Try asking yourself why the checks and balances seem so impotent in facing constitutional challenges.

One reasons is that our parties have been weaked and effectively neutered. Instead of vetting by peers in parties, now we have a system where anybody can stand for election and present a false, crafted propaganda that sways masses. It was only a matter of time before we electe4d a smooth talking demagogue financed by an evilo genius like Soros.

Michael Suede| 4.2.10 @ 10:31AM

Paul Ryan's proposal is just as unconstitutional.

The constitution is clear.

No government involvement in healthcare PERIOD.

The massive state interventions in the healthcare market are what have cause all of our problems in the first place. Its time for the state to get the hell out of my life and get back to its Constitutional duties of protecting my free actions from interference from others.

Ralph Novy| 4.4.10 @ 2:24AM

Michael:

Yeah, I too think the Constitution is clear.

Your right to be "entrepreneurial" ends where you start to interfere with my grandma's right to continue to live without having to eat cat food.

Get it, asshole?

Or do "we" really need to drag out the guillotines again?

MainStreet| 4.2.10 @ 12:20PM

It is good to see conservatives energized and hope it lasts at least through 2012. I'm thinking Paul Ryan will be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.

Purpleguy| 4.4.10 @ 11:07PM

It won't, because it's based on lies and half-truths, and will be seen for what it is - sour grapes after having lost the election ....

Somuchblatherand hot air| 4.3.10 @ 2:44AM

All you who complain about being hauled off to jail if you do not buy health insurance or pay the tax should actually read the bill. There is NO ENFORCEMENT CLAUSE. The mandate does not really exist. Yet you are all screaming like scared little school girls at the socialistic spider dangling in your face. You must all realize eventually your scare tactics will become obvious and boring. Will you all pledge to resist using socialist medicare and social security for yourself and your parents? After all you are willing to use your money to pay for ALL your own services correct? How about the socialist roads , infrastructure, college loans? Stop socialist tax breaks for large profitable industries? Socialist military? Socialist government handouts to YOUR districts? You conservatives have no intellectual purity because you follow the creed of self interest. Whatever works to your present self interest is the idea you are for no matter how you have claimed to have viewed it yesterday. What ever "facts" or lies you can mangle twist and distort to help you get your way you will believe wholeheartedly until it no longer serves you. Paul Ryan is your man alright he fits all the qualifications for all the prevarications you could ever need. He will lie and look pretty while doing it the perfect conservative candidate!

Purpleguy| 4.4.10 @ 11:08PM

Exactly! They are low-information voters who just parrot what the commentators or politicians tell them they should believe. One day I hope they wake up and smell the coffee ...

W.P.Koch| 4.3.10 @ 12:31PM

WHAT `SHOULD HAPPEN

Congress and the White House should stop squandering the people’s money first and improve quality of basic invested entitlements. No new taxes. Congress should stop vote bribery and restart the process. Citizens come first. Vote opponents to this “out”.
It is time the U.S. limits its human rites and military policeman for the World by lobbying the United Nations and NATO to “take on more”. 800 bases across the world should be reduced. Starting with Iraq, remove most troops in 2010 and continue consulting for self reliance. After a surge in Afghanistan repeat, remove corruption and substitute same value food crops for drugs. Reduce forces in selected areas such as Germany, Bosnia and Okinawa.
Cut bureaucracy. Combine CDC, EPA and FDA. Combine the FAA and Transportation Department. No CZARS Mr. president.
Contribute to only one of: The World Bank or International Monetary Fund.
Reduce foreign aid. For example, no aid to oil rich -Iraq.
Reduce the “stimulus” by halting ridiculous earmarks. The earmark cost to date is nearly 3 billion!
Please- no private or military jets for congress including Pelosi’s family at taxpayer expense. The leaders should set travel standards and control expenses.
Stop the “bailout”. “To big to fail” is obsolete. No more executive bonuses of losing companies at taxpayer expense.
Reduce medical costs by; insurance buying anywhere in U.S., “tort reform”, and limiting “red tape”.
Enforce immigration laws. Entitlements or benefits are for citizens. Deport criminal “illegals”. Workers with visas should receive only needed medical benefits.
Improve medical expense tax deduction for citizens reaching age 65. Provide employer tax reduction incentives for company healthcare.
Full funding will support “Medicaid”,” Medicare”, and “Veteran’s Affairs”.
Healthcare quality should be at least that for Congress or the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). A result: no drug “benefit hole”, dental coverage, improved visual coverage and no co-pays except for extended skilled level nursing.
The savings can also aid unemployment compensation, and stabilize Social Security.

Ralph Novy| 4.4.10 @ 2:19AM

Mr. Koch:

You're a worthless, hypocritical crybaby.

Stop. Use what you've been bequeathed -- NOT "earned" -- to do well by your fellow humans, eh?

Goddamnit.

Be a man.

W.P.Koch| 4.4.10 @ 12:54PM

Please calm down Mr. R . Novy. As a tax payer ,I am suggesting the various steps the government needs to take for stopping the debt to improve the existing national health care. You too should be concerned on how your federal tax dollars are spent. Perhaps Walmart executives need to manage the federal government. Remember its "your money" out of "your pocket". Please join the majority "for affordability" and without becoming naughty do you have any additional constructive suggestions?

purpleguy| 4.4.10 @ 11:05PM

Wow... you wander in an out of so many conservative and liberal ideas, talking points and bumper stickers. I could argue each point, but I don't have the time or energy to correct you. I'm just wondering why you think you have the final word on all the above?

W.P.Koch| 4.5.10 @ 6:21PM

Dear purpleguy, It is not a case of a final word. It is a case where the legislative and executive branches must find ways to reduce waist and save money such that health care improvement can become affordable. It is your and your heirs money and hence the American citizen comes first. Any additional cost saving suggestions?

anne m erskine| 4.3.10 @ 2:27PM

PAUL RYAN/ERIC CANTOR FOR 2012!!!
Finally, two men Americans can actually trust - who actually are pro-American, fiscal conservatives who will cut the size of government and get the USA back to Constitutional guidelines.

Purpleguy| 4.4.10 @ 10:57PM

HA! Throw grandma in the street you mean, starve your children, anti-American communists who want to overthrow the government and create a totalitarian state who's motto will be "Our way or the Highway" .

The same old same old| 4.3.10 @ 9:14PM

Wow so more of the same BS you all have been pushing for the last 40 years. Yeah thats what I call change. You realize you had your way with that crap for the 8 of the last 9 years? And we got the worst disaster for this country since the civil war? Hows the nopey samey thing working for ya?

Ralph Novy| 4.4.10 @ 2:17AM

"Alternative ideas for making health care coverage more general and more affordable."

Swinish liar.

There were none.

And you know it.

Tim Lebsack| 4.5.10 @ 4:01PM

Go here http://www.theadvocates.org/celebrities.html to see some of those libertarians too stoned to know what day it is.

Rick Thorne| 4.6.10 @ 9:09AM

http://web.mac.com/rthorne2/Si.....D_MINISTRY!.html VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/user/rt.....Se95TAr8IY

Rick Thorne| 4.6.10 @ 9:11AM

TRUTH REVEALED MINISTRY:
http://web.mac.com/rthorne2/Si.....D_MINISTRY!.html

allan guida| 4.6.10 @ 9:21AM

Hi Everyone...What's wrong with redistributing the wealth? Suppose your job is to peel potatoes for a small restaurant. Should you get paid a trivial salary while some guy making $10 million per year never does a hard days work? The rich guy has found a clever way to beat the system so that you can be his slave when he goes to eat at the restaurant you work in. Could you convince him to come in one day a week and peel potatoes while you sit at the nice table and enjoy your favorite dinner? As I see it, slavery is still around. You just don't notice it. Have fun. Allan

wers| 4.13.10 @ 10:38AM

Come on, people, self promotion is as human as egotism (something we all share to some degree), and, in the case of name recognition, as important as eating. Can any of you name a single politician, writer, sports figure, actor or actress, media darling, and the like, chi straightener buy now who DIDN'T indulge in a bit of self-promotion?

WANGSIR| 4.19.10 @ 3:22AM

Free download AVI to iPad, convert kinds of videos to iPad for playing.

Rick Thorne| 12.30.10 @ 8:56AM

1
JUSTICE DENIED FOR A DISABLED VIETNAM ERA VETERAN IN STURGIS, SOUTH DAKOTA!
! Rick Thorne served in the U.S. Navy in the late 1960ʼs. He was discharged for medical reasons on 1/15/1969. Having struggled with countless jobs and his failing health. He and his wife moved to Mountain View Mobile Home Park in Sturgis, South Dakota early in 2008.
! For the past 43 years Rick has battled the Veteranʼs Affairs for service connected disability. Finally in the spring of 2010 Rick was given 10% service connected disability. Heʼs now appealing for a 100% since Rick hasnʼt worked for 3 years and has mental issues stemming back from 1968 while in the Navy.
! Rick has walked with a cane for sometime because he has arthritis in his ankles, back and now his left shoulder. This was do from a fall from a four story hospital window in 1984 that nearly killed him. Rick and Rose Mary Moved into the before mentioned mobile home park hoping too retire there in the peace and safety of the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.

! Rick and Rose Mary moved into the mobile home sight unseen. They didnʼt know at the time there was no on site manager or any formal security. They had no idea there wasnʼt a park manager living on the premises. Before long, They felt like they were living in the “Wild West.” It never failed! Every few days police cars would arrive for one reason or another. The two senior Vietnam era veterans now realized theyʼd made a big mistake moving to Sturgis, South Dakota
! Now the Black Hills wasnʼt so pretty anymore as far as they were concerned. Even though there were animal control laws preventing them from freely roaming the mobile home park, no one was around to enforce the laws. In the summer of 2009 Rick had had enough of a neighbors cats spraying and defecating around his mobile home. It was making his wife sick so Rick placed a note on the neighborʼs car windshield.
! Rick placed “NO TRESPASSING SIGNS” in front of his mobile home for safety and security reasons along with video cameraʼs. Suddenly this tall husky stranger came walking up too Rick as he
2
tried to remove some snow from the front of his mobile home. Rick looked up and said, “How are you doing?” ! Suddenly the intimating guy blurts out, “Iʼm gonna kick your ass!” Stunned, Rick Then said, “I donʼt even know you!” The insane stranger man then said, “You killed my sisters cats!” Rick then said, Iʼve never killed an animal in my life. Further more! You sisters cats keep coming over and spraying and defecating on my property. Donʼt you know thereʼs laws here in Sturgis that animals canʼt roam free?”

! The stranger then blurted out with the smell of alcohol on his breath, “Iʼm still gonna kick your ass!” I raised my shovel hoping to scare him when he then shouted out, “Youʼre a dumb Kentuckian!” I then said, “Iʼm calling the police if you donʼt leave now!” The insane individual finally left my property.
! Rick went into his mobile home and it was then his wife Rose Mary asked, “What in the world is going on. I heard a stranger yell out youʼre a dumb Kentuckian.” Rick then said some stranger came up and threatened too kick his ass because of a note he placed on the guys sisters car last summer about the cats.”
! Rose Mary then said, “You need to call the off site manager and tell her what happened.” A few minutes later Rick called the manager and told her what happened and she said, “Bryan Vansickle is the person you described and weʼve had trouble with him before. Go ahead and call the police too protect you and your wife.”
! Rick called the Stugis police department and spoke with a LT. Adam Martin. After Rick stated his concerns LT. Adam Martin replied, I will call Bryan Vansickle and get his side of the story.” Rick then said, Iʼll give you the managers phone number for a contact.” Lt. Martin then said, “Weʼre well aware of Bryan Vansickle and have his phone number.”

! About an hour later LT. Martin called back and said Mr. Vansickle was extremely sorry and he would never bother Rick or his wife again. Rick then asked about a protection order and officer Martin said he didnʼt think it was necessary but if he wanted too he could go to the courthouse and file for one.
! Rick then asked, “Can you warn Vansickle too stay away from my wife and I?” LT. Adam Martin then said, “I can document a “NO TRESPASS ORDER” and tell Mr. Vansickle about it.” Rick then said, “Please do it for the safety of my wife and I” About an hour later LT.
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Martin called back and said he warned Bryan Vansickle to stay away from Rick and his wife.
OFFICER LT. ADAM MARTINʼS ORIGINAL INCIDENT REPORT DATED 12-28-09, REFERENCE TO ORI NUMBER- SDO460100. “I returned a phone call to Rick Thorne who called dispatch and wished to make a complaint on Bryan Vansickle. Rick and Bryan live at 3220 Lazelle. Rick (lot 114) stated Bryan (lot 106) came over to his residence and threatened to ʻkick his assʼ leaving a note on Brianʼs sisterʼs car.
The note was reference Brianʼs sisters cat pooping in Rickʼs yard. Rick stated he left a note , but it was some time ago. Rick had questions about a restraining order on Bryan. I advised him if he wished to apply for a temporary restraining order it could be completed at the couthouse. I answered Rickʼs questions and advised him I would call Bryan and speak to him about the incident. Rick also requested Bryan be given Notice of trespass from his lot.
I made contact with Bryan who stated Rick had left a note stating his sisterʼs cats would come up missing. Bryan apologized and stated he over reacted. Bryan stated he would not go back to the residence and has advised his kids to stay away as well. I also advised Bryan Notice of Trespass as Rick requested. I will pass this information on to Rick. No other action... (Rick said in the original note he would get rid of the cats by calling animal control. Last summer Bryan Vansickleʼs sister was evicted from Mountain View trailer court. and she took her cats with her). NOTE: This document wasnʼt entered into evidence by my attorney or the prosecutor at the time of the trial.
! On August 10, 2010 during the Sturgis, rally Rick was coming back from taking pictures and about a block from his mobile home. Rick pulled his vehicle to the side of the road and waited as his wife, their neighbor Lynne Bertalot and her three young children came up to the car. Rick was talking about taking photos when all of a sudden this dark purple truck slowly passed by and an insane stranger with two young children in the car screamed out, “Get the F- - - off the road!”
! The insane man nearly mowed down Rickʼs wife and Lynne along with her three children. Rick and the others quickly realized it was Bryan Vansickle. All of them were terrified at that instant. A few
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seconds later the bully pulled into his mobile home lot. Rick drove home to drop a few things off and he then backed up his car to where Bryan Vansickle was standing and said, “You have no respect for my wife and I and should apologize!”
! Rick took a deep breath then said, “Remember! Officer Adam Martin has a “NO TRESPASS ORDER AGAINST YOU!” Suddenly Bryan Vansickle aggressively approached Rickʼs vehicle and thatʼs when Rick pointed a mace weapon at the assailant to keep him from coming closer. Instantly Vansickle screamed out at Rick, “I got you now! Oh boy! I got you now!”
! Rick instantly realized Bryan Vansickle had a vendetta against him from the December 27th, 2009 cat incident. Rick quickly pulled away and drove to his mobile home. He dropped off his back back with the mace in it that he carried to protect him from rattlesnakes and other wild animals in the area. Suddenly Rick remembered his wife was not far from the Vansickle residence.
! He got back into his car and saw Bryanʼs wife Tammy Vansickle on her cellphone. He stopped and said, “Your husband is going to be arrested.” Tammy Vansickle then declared, “You stay here because the police are coming!” Rick drove near his wife when all of a sudden 10 police cars and one motorcycle officer with sirens screaming came flying into the trailer park.
! Rick waved one of the police cars down and suddenly several cops jumped out of their police cars with guns pointed directly at Rick. Officer Douglas Quarve approached Rick with gun in hand and said, “Where the gun!” Rick then replied, “I donʼt have a gun but I do have a mace pistol.” Officer Quarve then asked, “Whereʼs the pistol?” Rick Then said, “Itʼs at my mobile home.”
! Officer Quarve then said, “Show me where it is.” Rick removed his cane from his vehicle. Instantly, several cops started tearing Rickʼs vehicle apart and didnʼt ask for permission to search his car. Several more cops were milling around during this time disinterested in what was going on at the time.
! Rick labored down the road with his cane with three cops in tow. It wasnʼt long before he entered the mobile home a gave officer Quarve the mace. A few minutes later Rick found himself in hand cuffs in the back of a sturgis police car. During this entire time Rick
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wasnʼt read his “MIRANDA RIGHTS,” and yet he was asked several questions concerning the incident at hand. ! As Rick gazed out of the squad car window he noticed an officer giving Lynne Bertalot a witness form. At no time did any officer question Rickʼs wife or offer her a witness form even though she stood right by Mrs. Bertalot at that time. When arresting Officer Quarve climbed into his squad car Rick asked him, “Did you offer my wife an incident report form?” Office Quarve said, “NO.”
! Rick could see his wife was distraught as the police car slowly pulled away with her disabled husband handcuffed inside of the vehicle. It wasnʼt long before Rick was removed from the squad car and wasnʼt allowed to have his hand cuffs removed. Rick also wasnʼt given his cane to help him walk. He limped down the steep stairs leaning his body against the wall.
! Limping every step of the way and feeling very unstable. Rick finally made it into the booking room a short time later. It was then the cuffs were removed and Rick had to remove everything from his person. He limped through a scanner and was seated a short time later. It was there an inventory was taken of his possessions and he was photographed and finger printed, his DNA was taken awhile later. ! Rick asked if anyone had taken a statement from his wife yet and the attendant said she didnʼt know. Rick had brought his VA medications with him but the Sturgis Police Department refused him his medication. He said he had to have the medication or he couldnʼt eat or sleep. The answer was still no!
! About an hour later Rick was placed in a bleak jail cell. Several minutes after that officer Quarve entered the jail cell and asked, Mr. Thorne! I feel the charge of felony assault isnʼt justified in this case. Therefore, Iʼm going to issue you a ticket for “Simple Assault.” Rick thanked the officer and then officer Quarve asked, Mr. Thorne, would you be willing to make a statement for me now?”
! Rick then replied, “I would be more than glad to answer any questions you have.” Officer Quarve then read Rick his Miranda Rights and asked questions over the next few minutes. During the course of the night Rick kept demanding his VA medication and he was ignored each time. Finally, around midnight Rick was given a couple of tylenol pills. This was the equivalent of taking a couple of sugar pills as far as Rick was concerned.
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! During the entire evening several drunken, smelly unruly motorcycle bikers from the rally entered the confining jail cell. Several of them were laying all over the floor and there wasnʼt hardly any room too move at the time. With no sleep, finally morning arrived and Rick had to be placed in a wheel chair because he was extremely weak from being denied his medication and having virtually no food in his stomach.
! About an hour later Rick pleaded ʻNOT GUILTY” and Judge Percy then said, Mr. Thorne! Are you aware that if youʼre found “GUILTY” I can sentence you too a year in jail and a $2,000 dollar fine?” Rick then said, Madame! Iʼm not guilty!” Judge Percy set another court date and Rick was finally wheeled into the processing room to be released.
! About two hours later Rick, his wife Rose Mary, Lynne Bertalot and her three children were standing in the lobby of the Sturgis police department. All three of them filed formal incident reports with the Sturgis Police Department against Bryan Vansickle for assault with a vehicle and for verbally assaulting them by screaming; “Get The F- - - Off The Road.”

Suddenly Bryan Vansickle entered the Sturgis Police station. Rick quickly yelled out, “Get him out of here! He had me arrested!” Instantly! A Sturgis police officer escorted Vansickle off the premises. A short time later Rick found himself in the sheriffʼs office being served a protection order against himself from Bryan Vansickle.
! About an hour later Rickʼs wife and Lynne Bertalot filed their own protection orders on Bryan Vansickle. On August 31, 2010, Rick , his wife Rose Mary, Lynne Bertalot and Bryan Vansickle appeared before Judge Johnson. During the course of the hearing Bryan Vansickle denied under oath he screamed out for Rick, Rose Mary, Lynne and her three children to: “GET THE F- - -OUT OF THE ROAD” which means he perjured his testimony.
! The judge was extremely condescending towards Rick, his wife Rose Mary and Lynne Bertalot. The final ruling was Judge Warren granted a five year protection order against Bryan Vansickle in regard to Rose Mary Thorne. He also granted a one protection order against Bryan Vansickle concerning Lynne Bertalotʼs children. Penny Nyberg, off site manager of Mountain View Mobile Park instructed Mrs. Bertalot not to have her to be covered by the protection order.
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! For some strange reason, Bryan Vansickle removed the protection order off himself and placed it on his children. As witnessed in the 911 call made by Bryan Vansickle. He claimed to be terrified of Rick Thorne. Why would he remove his protection order off himself if he was in fear of his life at the time? Evidentially! Bryan Vansickle wasnʼt so scared of Mr. Thorne after all.
! Rick Thorne went through holly hell that night in the Sturgis Police Department jail. He appeared in 6 courtrooms within a 5 month period and all this nonsense for a SIMPLE ASSULT CASE! Why? If Bryan Vansickle had followed the “NO TRESPASS ORDER,” issued by LT. Adam Martin of the Sturgis Police Department a year earlier, and if Vansickle hadnʼt verbally assaulted and almost run down innocent victim's with his purple vehicle. None of this insanity would have taken place!
! The following is the actual (INCONSISTENT) police report issued by officer Douglas Quarve of the Sturgis police department:
REPORT NARRATIVE
Case Report#: 10-5293 Date: 10 August 2010 Officer: Douglas Quarve 492-15
Narrative: Simple Assault
While on patrol I was dispatched to a “Man with a Gun” call 3220 Lazelle Lot #106. While in route dispatch advised an individual was holding a gun on the RP. Prior to arriving dispatch advised the assailant was leaving the trailer court in a silver SUV. I made contact with the SUV upon arrival in the trailer court.
I made contact with the driver of the SUV, Richard Thorn DOB 9-11-48, and asked him where the gun was. He stated he did not have a it on him. I asked him if it was in the truck, he said no. He stated further stated it was a Mace Gun and it was in his trailer. I asked him what happened and he replied he he lost his templr with his neighbor (not true! Rick was scared for his family and himself). His neighbor had yelled at him (Rick told the officer that Bryan Vansickle told all of
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them to “GET THE F- - - OFF THE ROAD) as he was sitting in his car talking to his wife and friend. He said he went back to his neighborʼs house and pointed the Mace Gun at him (I said I pointed the mace at Bryan only after he was coming toward me). Thorne was escorted to his trailer and the Mace Gun was recovered. The gun had a full cartridge of mace in the chamber and ready to use.
! I made contact with the RP, Bryan Vansickle DOB: 06-14-69, at his residence Lot#106. Vansickle stated his neighbor had pointed a gun at him and threatened to kill him (A LIE!). Vansickle was visibly shaken and distraught. Vansickle stated he was arriving home to his trailer with his son when he passed Thorn on the road. As Vansickle passed Thorn (Rickʼs name Mis-spelled) he stated he swore at him, then pulled into his driveway at lot #106. As Vansickle was returned and pointed a gun at Vansickle and threatened to kill him (a lie!). Vansickle thought Thorn had a gun and was in fear for himself and his son. Vansickle called 911 and reported the incident. Vansickle stated he wanted to press charges.

Thorn was placed under arrest--- NOTE: (NO MIRANDA RIGHTS WERE READ TOO RICK THORNE AT THIS TIME) and transported to the Meade County Jail. After he was processed I read Thorn his Miranda Warning at 1730 hours. Thorn agreed to waive his rights and talk to me. Vansickle state he lost his temper (NOT TRUE AS EARLER STATED) and pointed the Mace Gun at Vansickle. I asked Thorn to fill out a statement and he complied. Thorn was charged with violation of 22-18-1 Simple Assault. NOTE: Jennifer Beving, my attorney nor the prosecutor entered this document into evidence.
! December 16, 2010 was a day in infamy in the life of DISABLED VIETNAM ERA VETERAN RICK THORNE! After jury selection the fireworks finally began. After opening statements were heard Meade County States attorney Kasey Sorensen.
! Bryan Vansickle was called to the witness stand and during his inconsistent testimony. Vansickle once again stated he didnʼt blurt out to the defendant and those with him on the day in question for them to: “GET THE F - - -OUT OF THE ROAD.”
! During the trial, the defendantʼs attorney failed to introduce the 2nd Amendment and the Castle Doctrine. These laws would have
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justified a “SELF DEFENSE CASE FOR THE DEFENDANT.” Instead, the prosecutor and the judge read a few case laws blocking the disabled veteranʼs right to a fair trial regarding, HIS RIGHT TO A SELF DEFENSE CASE. Because of this discriminatory ruling the disabled defendantʼs case was now destroyed.
! Mrs. Beving, the defendantʼs court appointed attorney seemed ill prepared for the up hill challenge before her now. She also failed to introduce key documents that would have added further credence to the defendants case. The defendant also observed on several occasions. His attorney happily fraternizing with prosector Kasey Sorensen and her assistant.
! On cross examination Bray Vansickle admitted he did in fact scream out the above vicious statement against the defendant and those with him on the day in question. Neither the judge nor the prosecutor or the defendantʼs attorney brought this vicious lie out as a matter of perjury.
! Testimony wasnʼt introduced that Bryan Vansickle and his witness, Chuck Loy transacted a business deal for a vehicle about two weeks before the trial. The defendant bright this to light through his attorney and the prosector, Kasey Sorensen ruled this transaction wasnʼt “WITNESS TAMPERING.”
! Under oath Bryan Vansickle stated he was driving a blue Ford truck during the August 10, 2010 incident almost running over Rose Mary Thorne, Lynne Bertalot and her three small children. Once again, Bryan Vansickle perjured himself. The vehicle he was driving was a purple truck of another brand.
! Neither the prosecutor or the defendants attorney questioned this overt lie by Bryan Vansickle. Although the defendant photographed the purple truck. His attorney failed to introduce these photos into evidence on the day of the trial. Bryan Vansickleʼs purple truck disappeared several weeks ago and hasnʼt been seen.
! One thing prosecutor Sorensen asked Rick, His wife Rose Mary and Lynne Bertalot was; “You understand this case isnʼt about the defendant and the plaintiff Bryan Vansickle. This case strictly involves the State of South Dakota verses the Defendant Richard Thorne. That claim blew Rickʼs mind when he heard it.
! Rick wondered how the case couldnʼt involve Bryan Vansickle since he was the one who originally instigated the original contact
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back in December of 2009 with the cat incident. It was as if the State of South Dakota was deliberately trying to destroy Vietnam Veteran Rick Thorne. ! Bryan Vansickle could have deliberately sold the truck involved in the August 10, 2010 incident knowing full well it would be implicated in the trial against the defendant. The defendantʼs attorney (Jennifer Beving) never once objected when the prosecutor Sorensen badgered the defendant and his witnesses.
! On August 10, 2010, the Sturgis Police officers didnʼt get permission from the defendant to search his vehicle. They also failed to ask for permission to enter his home when they secured the mace weapon. As a disabled veteran, the defendant wasnʼt aware he could refuse the police entry into his vehicle and home unless they had a search warrant.
! When the verdict was read Rick was found guilty! The jury had painful looks on their faces at that instant. They had to go be the law even though true justice wasnʼt served that ungodly day. To add insult to injury of a disabled Vietnam veteran. Nearly the full brunt of the law was administered.
! The defendant had no prior record and NO MERCY was served on this broken man. THE SENTENCE IS:
4 ADDITIONAL DAYS IN JAIL
$84.00 court costs (the Judge did waive the $500.00 fine however that the state had asked. $129.20 prosecution costs $$2727.88 attorney fees
ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES could be several hundred dollars. Especially since the defendant has to drive to another city for the classes.
! The defendant is living in a 23 year old mobile home and driving 11 year old vehicle. The defendant pays back child support and he and his wife barely have enough money to live on. Especially since Obama froze the cost of living increases for Social Security. Itʼs shocking to think the Sturgis, South Dakota would financially destroy a Vietnam disabled veteran that is incapable of working.
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! No Veteran or military personnel should ever again come to the Sturgis Rally, knowing how this disabled Vietnam Veteran was financially, mentally and physically destroyed by the legal system here. Rick and his wife plan to leave South Dakota when this legal mess has ended and they will never ever return again.
! Rick plans to ask the governor of South Dakota for clemency. They are honorably discharged and donʼt deserve such harsh treatment so late in their life. Please pass this article onto everyone you know and you can listen to the original 911 call that follows:
CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE CALL:

FEEL FREE TO VOICE YOUR OPINION TO THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS:
DEFENDANTS ATTORNEY
Jennifer C. Beving Attorney 2811 Whitewood Service Road Sturgis SD 57785 Phone: 605-206-0438 Fax : 605-385-0025 jen@northernhillslaw.com www.northernhillslaw.com
CASEY SORENSEN, PROSECUTOR
Phone: (605) 347-4491 Fax: (605) 347-6815 E-Mail: jsondreal@meadecounty.org Address: 1425 Sherman St.
Sturgis, SD 57785
Fourth Judicial Circuit State of South Dakota
78 Sherman Street - PO Box 626 Deadwood, SD 57732-0626 Phone: 605-578-2044 Fax: 605-578-3613
Judge Percy who ruled in the case:
CLERK OF COURTS 1425 SHERMAN ST. STURGIS, SD 347-4411
RICK THORNE
DEFENDANT AND VIETNAM DISABLED VETERAN
E-Mail: rthorne2@mac.com

PLEASE SEND TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW.................

MY WEBSITE: http://web.mac.com/rthorne2/Si.....ISTRY.html