Many reasons to reject union membership ... The Employee Free Choice Act does not protect the rights of individual employees, particularly in Connecticut, to not belong to a labor union. In that sense, the so-called “free choice” is “no choice.” No one can force you to join a political party. You have to choose to join and have the right to pick “none of the above” and remain independent unaffiliated. And you can change your party registration at any time. But unless you are a federal government employee, you can be forced to join a labor union and required to pay union dues, or forced to pay the equivalent “agency fee” to a union. And those fees, averaging $700 per year, are just another tax on workers. It is a tax that can be forced on you not by government, but by your co-workers. There are many reasons individuals may object to union membership. The too-close relationship between most unions and the Democratic Party is but one. (theday.com)| In case you missed it: The Union News weekend Sunday: Obama's inspiration revealed: Saul Alinsky Saturday: Paranoid, secretive Obama equates liberty to terrorism |
Chávez loaded up with Russian arms ... Venezuela says strengthening the country's military might is in line with its self-defense program after acquiring Russian-made missiles. "We don't want wars with anyone," President Hugo Chávez said at a military parade in Caracas on Sunday. "But we're obligated to equip ourselves and have a military that is increasingly dedicated to the country," he added. The Venezuelan President also announced the creation of an elite military unit trained to use the new surface-to-air missiles. The self-guided, portable missiles weighing about 42 pounds reach approximately 19,500 feet, according to Venezuela's state-run ABN news agency. "They have great power in the mountains, hills or coasts to stop any attempted aerial aggression against our country," Chávez said. He made the announcement during the military parade for celebration of the anniversary of the signing of the Independence Act. In recent years, Venezuela has bought over $4 billion in Russian arms, including Sukhoi fighter jets, helicopters and Kalashnikov rifles. (presstv.ir)Related video: U.S gets new Best Friend
Using Saul Alinsky to deconstruct Obama ... The President is a textbook narcissist. He presents himself as being secure and having high self-esteem but instead has crossed the “border of healthy confidence into thinking so highly of himself that he has put himself on a pedestal.” Obama’s deluded impression of himself causes an inability to handle criticism or disagreement. Narcissists demand constant praise and admiration, expect others to concur with their ideas and plans and are easily hurt and rejected. Alinsky’s tactics work to Obama’s advantage. He repeatedly utilizes the tenets of Rules for Radicals attacking and targeting those, be they individuals or groups, who do not agree with or approve of his political policy initiatives. Obama appears most content orating between two Greek columns, at an elevated podium, in a stadium full of weeping, cheering devotees, smoke machines puffing away while soaring violins play Handel’s Messiah at his entrance. Since Election Day, Obama has been acting the part of a narcissistic, alpha-male, marking territory like a dog racing around a hydrant claiming it as his own. If anyone tries to impede him, he shifts into bullying, aptly applying Alinsky's Rules for Radicals methods, insuring those perceived as a threat are aware he alone is the leader of the pack. (americandailyreview.com)Bonus links:
• Summary of Saul Alinsky's 'Rules for Radicals'
• More Saul Alinsky stories: here
• 'Rules for Radicals' at amazon.com
CNN Sucks ... And then there's reporter Susan Roesgen. Thank you so much for unveiling your scorn while playing tea party in Chicago. You made yourself famous by demonstrating what a poor playmate you are and thus how much CNN really does suck. You recited the JournoList script admirably, but unfortunately for you pulled the short straw at the assignment desk, and thus your performance was judged before a nation of tax-resisting Simon Cowells. Sorry, no save for you this week. While activists exercised their outspokenness against big spending, overtaxing, and over-regulating government, Susan Roesgen (thumbs up for Bush-Hitler; thumbs down for Obama-Hitler), Anderson Teabagger and even Ashton Kutcher helped them achieve a milestone that most of them don't realize. It's that the media formerly known as mainstream has seen its re-categorization completed. MSNBC, the New York Times, and other mainstream outlets joined CNN Sucks in either dissing or disregarding the tea party protests' newsworthiness. They now belong with semi-known far left publications such the Nation, Mother Jones, and American Prospect. Glad you confirmed it, Susan Roesgen. (spectator.org)Related video: The cost of leftwing CNN bias
Angry Leftist baggage won't fit into the overhead compartment ... National Socialism is not a rightwing ideology or even an extreme rightwing ideology … It does not belong to the Right of the Political spectrum at all. It is a leftist ideology and the opposite side of the same coin as Communism. National Socialism is Fascist first of all. It rejects the individual’s right to property ownership and undermines his pursuit of happiness. Fascism is the public ownership of all property except in name. It allows citizens to pretend that they own property, but they must use it in accordance with the wishes of the state. National Socialism, as an ideology is based on hatred and therefore self-destructive. The ideology of National Socialism preaches the destruction of races and inferior citizens (even their own) and promotes the concept of eugenics to breed a “Master Race”. This ideology is flawed, because as soon as all the other races are wiped out, they will turn on their own people (the inferior ones) and seeing that there will always be one who considers himself “superior” and others “inferior”, in the end there will be only one man left standing, the King of the world. National Socialism is therefore self destructive, just like Communism. It also has a record of massive slaughter, scapegoats, starvation, and destruction of wealth. (globalpolitician.com)
U.S. preps national socialism ... Presumably to give themselves more time to sweeten the idea of slavery or indentured servitude for future “volunteers,” Congressmen have dropped a provision from the GIVE Act, HR 1388, to establish a commission to study the idea, and included it in HR 1444 and called the provision the “Congressional Commission on Civic Service Act.” “GIVE’ is the acronym for the hokey, cumbersomely named “Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act,” passed by the House in March. That bill is intended to rope all Americans into servitude, regardless of age. The HR 1444 commission’s focus, however, is specifically Americans about to embark on adulthood. It is to ruminate on: “The effect on the Nation, on those who serve, and on the families of those who serve, if all individuals in the United States were expected to perform national service or were required to perform a certain amount of national service. Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.” This bill and its predecessor are absolutely immoral and antithetical to the idea of this country being a society of free individuals. (capmag.com)
Driver mistakes Tax Day Tea Party protesters for scabs ... The Florida Highway Patrol has charged a woman who hit a man taking part in a "Tea Party" tax protest with careless driving. According to a crash report, 23-year-old Melanie Schrey was trying to turn off U.S. Highway 19 into Mel's Diner last Wednesday while about 50 protesters, including 62-year-old Joseph Sprowls, were standing in the driveway. As Schrey turned into the diner, the front of her car struck the New Port Richey man. Sprowls was taken to Community Hospital with minor injuries. There was no damage to Schrey's car. (abcactionnews.com)
Pro-union conservative blasts EFCA ... Last week union organizers professed themselves astonished that 300 people, instead of the "maybe 50" expected, turned out to march up the Boulevard of the Allies. They were headed for Sen. Arlen Specter's office, to encourage the Pennsylvania Republican to change his mind and support the so-called "Employee Free Choice Act." The turnout is not so astonishing when you consider that what's at stake is a potentially vast expansion of the labor movement's reach. But it is astonishing when you consider that one of the bill's key provisions is grossly undemocratic. Mr. Specter's reason for voting to stymie (temporarily) this bill's progress -- through a Democrat-controlled Congress intent on rewarding the Democratic Party's biggest voting bloc -- is "the elimination of the secret ballot," he said, "the cornerstone of how contests are decided in a democratic society." Exactly right, and those who pretend otherwise are either disingenuous or perhaps misguided by the ghosts of battles won long ago. (post-gazette.com)
Teamsters, News Union OK tree-killer cuts, give-backs ... The union representing Chronicle delivery truck drivers ratified an agreement Sunday that will allow the newspaper to cut between 90 and 100 driver positions. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 853 voted 179-10 in favor of a contract that will reduce the number of drivers to about 130, according to Rome Aloise, secretary-treasurer of Local 853. Aloise said the company had originally proposed laying off all drivers who deliver the newspaper directly to homes. But Sunday's agreement allows union drivers to keep delivering papers to San Francisco homes. Outside the city, The Chronicle is now permitted to hire subcontractors to make home deliveries. Last month, members of the newspaper's largest union - California Media Workers Guild Local 39521 - agreed to similar contract concessions that allowed for the removal of about 150 positions. More than 100 of those have been achieved through voluntary buyouts. Layoffs are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. (sfgate.com)
Typical Beltway fraud at AARP ... The former director of national events for AARP has been charged with defrauding the group of tens of thousands of dollars to help pay for an affair with his boyfriend, according to court filings. Bruce A. Sanders was charged with a single count of fraud and faces up to 10 years if convicted. Sanders was charged via criminal information, meaning that a plea agreement with prosecutors is likely in the works because the document can only be filed with the defendant’s consent. He could not be reached Sunday. In the charging documents filed in D.C. federal court last week, prosecutors said Sanders used a “sham” Nevada corporation to funnel event-planning contracts to himself. The company was created in November 2006, one month after Sanders was promoted to the job of top events coordinator for the nonprofit organization, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons. The president, and only employee, of the Nevada company was listed as a young man with whom Sanders was having a romantic relationship, documents said. (washingtonexaminer.com)
Labor-state adds another union thug subsidy ... A prevailing wage provision in Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle’s state budget proposal is generating concern among some local government leaders, who are balking at a requirement that would force public entities to seek bids for all contracts greater than $2,000. The issue was one of many touched upon Saturday at a summit of county and municipal officials organized by County Executive Jim Kreuser. Dubbed the Council of Governments, the meeting at the Kenosha County Center allowed leaders from all of the county’s municipalities to sound off on issues of concern. In the case of the prevailing wage proposal, Twin Lakes trustee Tom Connolly and others said it would tie the hands of local governments, forcing a cumbersome bid process for even the most mundane projects. The change is supported by labor unions. (kenoshanews.com)
Big Gov't: GOP can't compete with Dems ... I was surprised to see my congressman, Roscoe Bartlett, at the “TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party” you described in the April 16 article “TEA Party draws hundreds.” Mr. Bartlett seems to support the protest and would like to use it to send a message to President Obama. Apparently Mr. Bartlett, a Republican, thinks we are taxed too much. Gene Lyons’ opinion piece on the editorial page, “The Knothead Party,” reminds us all that 90 percent of the existing national debt was created under Presidents Reagan and the two Bushes. Lyons opines that most Republicans rediscovered the evils of deficit spending only after President Obama’s election. Where has Mr. Bartlett been the last eight years? (times-news.com)
P2P bigger than Obama ... A politically connected firm run by a moneyman linked to former President Bill Clinton has scored millions of dollars in state pension-related fees, the Daily News has learned. Diamond Edge Capital Partners was paid at least $3.25 million in middleman placement fees for three pension fund deals in 2005 and 2006 when Alan Hevesi was state controller, records show. A fourth deal that brought the New York City-based firm additional fees was also approved during Hevesi's tenure. Marvin Rosen, a corporate and securities lawyer and Democratic fund-raiser, is listed as a partner for Diamond. In 1992, Rosen worked as Clinton's Florida co-finance chairman. He went on to serve as finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee in 1995 and 1996 - where he was tied to approving sleepovers in the White House's Lincoln Bedroom as rewards for deep-pocketed donors. More recently, he was one of Hillary Clinton's "Hillraisers" - committing to raise at least $100,000 for her presidential bid. (nydailynews.com)International Collectivism
Leftists now prefer non-violent overthrow of democracy ... Bolivia's leftist president was headed to the airport Sunday when Barack Obama gave him what he requested the day before: public repudiation of an alleged attempt on his life. The U.S. president went out of his way at a news conference capping a 34-nation hemispheric summit to respond to Evo Morales' plea. "Specifically on the Bolivia issue," said Obama, "I just want to make absolutely clear that I am absolutely opposed and condemn any efforts at violent overthrows of democratically elected governments, wherever it happens in the hemisphere." (google.com)
Obama makes collectivism 'cool' again ... Please forgive me for a very angry column. I truly apologize for losing my temper at Barack Obama. I don't often feel ashamed of the United States and frustrated with the American people, but I feel ashamed and angry today. Gullible Americans voted for an enemy of the United states to sit in the White House: Barack Obama. We will pay the price in blood soon enough. Our men and women in uniform will die as a result of the world chaos being created by Obama. Please don't misconstrue my views on foreign policy. Diplomacy is essential, and diplomacy means dealing with your enemies as well as your friends. I have no problem with the State Department dealing with Venezuela, or Iran, or Cuba or North Korea. I would encourage State to do so. That’s what our representatives are supposed to do. But dealing with your enemies takes a deft hand. Barry Obama’s groveling to dictators exposes him as an enemy of the American people and an enemy of freedom all around the world. Obama is a socialist saboteur who is deliberately destroying America’s image and the hopes of freedom-loving people everywhere. Who is he going to grovel to next? Those are some of the more complimentary things I can say about him today. (pr-inside.com)
Striking gov't unionists volunteer to work ... A CUPE union official estimates residents have dumped 40 car-lengths of garbage in front of the Central Avenue transfer station off E.C. Row Expressway. The growing pile — dubbed “Mount Francis” to mock the mayor — began smouldering Saturday afternoon, and striking picketers helped firefighters put it out. “People were just driving by throwing garbage out the window,” said Jim Wood, CUPE Local 82 president representing almost 400 outside workers. “Something happened there. Maybe it was a barbecue with coals still in it or a cigarette,” he added. (windsorstar.com)
