Published Letters Since Vol. 1

Los Angeles Times

Opinion LA

March 12, 2011

Lack of oil, gas and energy is not funny

Paul Whitefield's 'President Obama's news conference: All in a President's day' is humorous, but hardly appropriate journalism considering the gravity of our current circumstances -- particularly regarding oil, gas and energy.

President Obama's remarks at his March 11, 2011 news conference touting the increase in oil production under his watch is what "… doesn't match up with reality." The president is simply attempting to take credit for what the Bush administration managed to accomplish against decades of reduced production because of unreasonable restrictions from the environmental left.

Skirting the truth is bad enough. But playing politics as usual by making and breaking campaign promises in the face of instability among Middle East oil-producing nations, exacerbating our failing economy with rising oil and energy prices, is an unconscioable fraud against the American people -- who contrary to popular political belief, are not that naïve.

Indeed, President Obama's promises to boost domestic oil, gas and energy production is a deceptive reversal of what he is actually doing, which is delaying existing production, prohibiting new production, and pushing green energy. I'll believe the president is sincere about ensuring our national security and helping the economy, when he takes a shovel and personally breaks ground for a new coal mine, drilling in ANWR, and opens all of our resources.

Dan Jeffs

Apple Valley, CA

USA TODAY

March 3, 2011

Government officials share the blame in financial crisis

It’s curious that USA TODAY’s editorial "Why aren’t more meltdown moguls charged with crimes?" was published the day after filmmaker Charles Ferguson received the Academy Award for his documentary, Inside Job (Monday). In his acceptance speech Ferguson said, "I must start by pointing out that three years after a horrific financial crisis caused by massive fraud, not a single financial executive has gone to jail and that’s wrong."

USA TODAY’s rogues gallery of major 2008 financial meltdown players is misguided, just as the biased Inside Job misplaced the blame on Wall Street’s financial mortgage industry, which was the result of the crash, not the cause.

Indeed, the rogues gallery for the cause begins with former president Jimmy Carter’s Community Reinvestment Act, which was used by former president Bill Clinton to have his Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Andrew Cuomo, and then-Attorney General Janet Reno intimidate banks and mortgage lenders to lower standards for affordable housing. Of course, that was exacerbated by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchasing and reselling the toxic mortgages to Wall Street and others.

To complete the rogues gallery, congressional Democratic leaders Rep. Barney Frank and former senator Chris Dodd must be included for failing to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They helped perpetuate the affordable housing fraud, victimizing unqualified home buyers, which created the housing boom and bust — thus the financial collapse and foreclosures. Sadly, biased media, Hollywood, and left-wing ideologues end up being the false and superficial finger-pointers, when government is the guilty wild bunch.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

The Washington Examiner

February 24, 2011

Stop freezing domestic oil production

Re: "Oil, gold soar as Mideast tensions mount," Feb. 22

The price of oil went up more than $5 today surpassing $91 per barrel because of revolution in the Middle East, which means it is likely that our recession will deepen with inflation. Obviously, when the price of gas is headed for $4 or even $5 per gallon, the price of nearly everything goes up.

Oil companies and speculators are not to blame for raising prices when imported oil is at risk. Blame environmental zealots and government for freezing and reducing domestic oil exploration and production. That's why our dependence on imported oil is so high, and our national security is more at risk.

The push for costly and unreliable green energy only exacerbates the forthcoming energy crisis, which could have been ameliorated by increasing coal energy and opening up our substantial oil resources 10 years ago. Indeed, it takes five or 10 years to bring new on- and off-shore wells and more refineries into full production. Failure to start now will be tantamount to economic suicide.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif

Los Angeles Times

Opinion LA

February 21, 2011

Re: In Wisconsin: This time Democrats are obstructionists

By Dan Turner - Feb. 18, 2011

Wag the dog? NO!

Wisconsin Democrat legislators walking out of state in defiance of the governor, the intrusion of President Obama's political machine -- Organizing for America -- and the Democrat National Committee's interference in state employee matters are unconscionable actions against Wisconsin's state sovereignty, taxpayers and voters, there and across the nation.

Indeed, there was a time when public employees were paid equal to or less than the private sector and not unionized. Now, they are unionized and paid much more for being far less efficient. Particularly, failed public school teachers who frequently go on strike somewhere in the nation without justification.

Our economic crunch is making it painfully clear that public employees should never have been unionized, nor be allowed to strike or conduct job actions against taxpayer/public employers.

Unfortunately, in a past life as California governor, Jerry Brown approved state employee unions, including the teachers' union, which have become the selfish interest monsters raising the cost of government far beyond reason. Question is, are lemming voters still foolish enough to keep Gov, Brown and the Democrat Legislature in power long enough to lead the state and Californians over the economic cliff?

What public employees fail to understand is that -- along with their salaries and benefits -- their union dues are paid with taxpayer funds, which are used by untouchable unions against public interests and the public good. Wag the dog? NO! That is unacceptable and must be stopped.

Dan Jeffs

Apple Valley, CA

The Washington Times

February 18, 2011

Re: Obama's budget blarney - editorial

Obama's economic snake oil

Extension of the George W. Bush tax cuts was the only good thing that came out of the previous Congress and President Obama’s White House, but now the president is back to his overspending ways with his fiscal 2012 budget (“Obama’s budget blarney,” Comment & Analysis, Wednesday). The previous Democrat-controlled Congress hid behind closed doors to concoct a plan to take over health care. It drove up the national debt so high that monthly interest payments are in the billions. It put America on the path to insolvency with economy-busting rules and regulations for finance, industry and energy. Overall, the size of government and its spending increased 25 percent.

Now, after voters rejected the lame-duck Congress and passed control of the House to Republicans, Mr. Obama is making a veiled attempt at political triangulation. He’s using a dash of snake-oil doublespeak and budget blarney while wasting tax dollars on ineffective green energy, the rapid-rail-to-nowhere project and our failing education system. Thus, he is playing voters for fools, which makes his re-election chances even dimmer.

DANIEL B. JEFFS

Apple Valley, Calif.

Original letter:

Kangaroo Congress and presidential shell games

Lest we forget, extending the Bush tax cuts was the only good thing that came out of the previous Congress and beyond President Obama's White House desk, but it will only last until just after the 2012 presidential election.

Meanwhile, the Democrat-controlled Congress cranked out a costly grab at national health care from behind closed doors, cranked up the national debt to where It's costing $200 billion per month in interest payments, and put America on the presidential path to insolvency with economy-busting rules and regulations over finance, industry and energy -- not to mention a 25 percent increase in government size and spending.

Now, after voters rejected the Kangaroo Congress and passed control of the House to Republicans, President Obama is making a veiled attempt at the triangulation shell game, with a dash of snake oil double-speak and a blarney budget proposal, to cut spending here and increase spending there -- with tax increases on the wealthy (loss of more jobs) and oil companies (increasing gas prices) -- while wasting tax dollars on ineffective green energy (increasing energy prices), infrastructure (rapid rail to nowhere) and miseducation.

Indeed, with the shell game's public pea up his sleeve, Obama is playing voters for fools, which makes his re-election chances even dimmer.

San Bernardino Sun

February 17, 2011

Reagan had 'right stuff'

Comparing the presidencies of Reagan and Obama does little if anything to bolster Obama's image, particularly when liberals cannot escape the underlying contempt they have for conservatives. (Re: "Differently similar presidencies of Reagan and Obama," by Clarence Page, Feb. 7.)

Indeed, the condescending language is glaringly evident no matter how they attempt to mask it by likening President Obama's ability to restore Americans' faith in themselves as President Reagan did. That cannot be done, simply because Reagan had the "right stuff" of a patriot leader of the United States. Obama hasn't come close to claiming the same. When that happens, the American people know it.

The Washington Examiner

February 14, 2011

Our real problem is an overly intrusive government

Re: "Does America have a lawyer problem, or a law problem?" Sunday Reflection, Feb. 4

When there is one lawyer for every 272 people, we have a problem, one that is largely responsible for our deeply rooted social, political and economic dilemmas.

Our laws were meant to be simple and understandable, and to control criminal and civil behavior under constitutional limitations. They were never meant to be so numerous and complicated that they adversely effected our society. The Constitution never intended that laws would diminish our freedoms and control nearly every aspect of our lives, liberty and property. But over the decades, our system has become corrupted by political ideology, the unbridled growth of government, and selfish interests.

Lawyers are not the problem, but the proliferation of an overly expanded, insidious government legal system that passes too many laws, makes too many legislative decisions in court, and allows too many unreasonable product liability, medical malpractice, and class action cases wherein lawyers are the only winners.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif

Original letter:

Re: Does America have a lawyer problem, or a law problem?

By Glenn Reynolds

America has a legalized injustice problem

When America has one lawyer for every 272 people, we have a legal problem. Indeed, legal problems in the United States are largely responsible for our deeply rooted social, political and economic dilemmas. Which means that -- though we are a free constitutional republic under the rule of law, not man -- the Constitution never intended that laws would diminish our freedoms and control nearly every aspect of our lives, liberty and property.

Over the years and decades, our legal system has become corrupted by political ideology, the unbridled growth of government, and selfish interests. Our laws were meant to be simple and understandable. They were meant to control criminal behavior and civil behavior under constitutional limitations. They were never mean to be so numerous and complicated that they adversely effected our society.

Unfortunately, it's not the lawyers who are the problem, it's the proliferation of an overly expanded, insidious legal system of government passing too many laws, too many legislative court decisions -- court systems handling too many environmental and selfish interest litigations -- and law firms prosecuting too many unreasonable product liability, medical malpractice, and class action cases wherein lawyers are the only winners.

And that's why the costs of living, government, contracts, healthcare, doing business, probate and estates, patents, and legalized injustices in our lives are so high.

****

Riverside Press Enterprise

February 10, 2011

Just like Reagan? Hardly

Comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama, as is being done in the media, does little if anything to bolster Obama's image, particularly when liberals cannot escape the underlying contempt they have for conservatives.

Indeed, the condescending language is glaringly evident no matter how liberals attempt to mask it when they try to say President Obama is restoring the faith of Americans in the nation as President Reagan did.

Furthermore, Obama hasn't come close to leading like Reagan, and the American people know it.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

The San Diego Union-Tribune

January 26, 2011

Letters: State of the Union address, creating jobs and more

The president’s speech, pro and con

President Obama, in my opinion, struck the correct and proper note in his State of the Union speech, with nothing for the left or the right to get too excited about. He wants jobs, competition, innovation and creativity to get our economy out of the doldrums. His message was bipartisan and middle of the road, a common-sense road map to our future. Good luck if the GOP tries to demonize his message to the American people.

G.D. Morrill

Escondido

Masked by eloquent speaking skills and citizen props, President Obama’s speech was little more than empty gestures and devious rhetoric, launching his 2012 re-election campaign. The speech most Americans would like to have heard would have been an admission that he has been out of touch with the real social, political and economic problems in America, that he would wipe the slate clean of unconstitutional government actions, and that he would back off the insidious ideology undermining the country.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

The Washington Examiner

January 20, 2011

Quality entertainment is hard to find

Re: "Gervais stands his ground over Globes performance," Jan. 18

British comic/writer/actor Ricky Gervais' sharp-edged hosting of the Golden Globe Awards was a refreshing series of stabs at the shallow, self-congratulatory entertainment industry and its narcissistic players. He deserves praise, not condemnation, for his courage to say what most of the public is thinking.

With few exceptions, films have been reduced to unbelievable scripts of tripe, ugly plots, extreme violence, crude special effects, unrecognizable remakes, and incoherent story lines, with either a complete lack of imagination and original thought or drowned in political correctness. Independent films used to be unique, thought-provoking, informative and genuinely entertaining. Now their lack of redeeming value cast a toxic cloud over the film industry.

Television is even worse, with its unreal reality shows, stupid sitcoms, hollow dramas and trivial talk shows. Fortunately cable has managed to come up with a few riveting exceptions, even some with educational purpose.

Is it any wonder that our culture is turning into a superficial society of selfish interests, over-reaching government, failed public education, social aggression, political rancor and vile extremes?

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

San Bernardino Sun

January 16, 2011

Insanity runs deep

Gov. Brown's proposed cuts in spending notwithstanding, he certainly cannot expect voters to approve extending the tax increases on income, vehicles, and sales tax for 5 years. Indeed, attempting to tie tax extensions to protecting K-12 school funds simply won't cut it.

Particularly, when teacher unions funded Brown's election, and the education establishment refuses to rise above mediocre.

It should be clearly be noted that the defeat of Proposition 23, allowing the economy-busting-effects of implementing global warming (AB 32) to happen with no tax relief will surely wreak even more havoc in the worst of times.

Hopefully, misguided voters will understand that unreasonable environmental laws, rules and regulations have already contributed heavily to California's economic demise and job losses -- with businesses moving out of state to avoid punishing taxation -- and the painful cost of living rising.

There will be no restoration of voters' faith in California government's habitual malfeasance without restoring sanity to government. Unfortunately, that's unlikely to happen any time soon -- despite Governor Brown's efforts -- simply because it's too deeply engrained in the selfish-interest establishment.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times

January 13, 2011

Tough budget choices

Brown's intended cuts in spending notwithstanding, he certainly cannot expect voters to approve extending the tax increases on income, vehicles and sales.

Indeed, attempting to tie tax extensions to protecting school funds simply won't cut it, particularly when teachers unions funded his election and the education establishment refuses to rise above failing.

There will be no restoration of voters' faith in the state government without complete reform. The defeat of Proposition 23, and the voter-assisted economic suicide that will be AB 32's implementation, will see to that.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

Original letter:

Re: Gov. seeks cuts, tax extensions

L.A. Times - January 9, 2011 - A33

Governor Brown's intended cuts in spending notwithstanding, he certainly cannot expect voters to approve extending the tax increases on income, vehicles, and sales tax.

Indeed, attempting to tie tax extensions to protecting school funds simply won't cut it. Particularly, when teacher unions funded his election, and the education establishment refuses to rise above failing.

There will be no restoration of voters' faith in California government's habitual malfeasance absent complete reform. The defeat of Proposition 23 by the voter-assisted economic suicide-effects of implementing global warming AB-32 will certainly see to that.

San Francisco Examiner

January 11, 2011

California will soon learn error of its voting ways

To all the voters who elected Jerry Brown governor, and Kamala Harris attorney general at the campaign-financed behest of teacher's unions, other public employee unions, and the SEIU -- and/or based upon misguided ideology -- it will be too late for self-inflicted voter remorse when California finally crashes with Brown and the Democrat Legislature behind the wheel in the driver seat of their joy ride.

As Brown said, at this stage of his life, he will make the painful state budget cuts in all the wrong places and dump it on local governments, save the miseducation money pit to pay his union debts, call on the same voters to approve tax increases, and drive more businesses and jobs out of the sinking state.

And as former San Francisco Mayor, now Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom once said, "Like it or not," you will accept our rules. And as Attorney General Harris vowed, she will vigorously enforce environmental laws, including the AB32 cap-and-tax economy-buster.

Indeed, there are no unintended consequences of the failures of good intentions when they result in careless harm to the public good. Hopefully, truthfully informed voters won't forget the survival alternatives of ballot initiatives and recall.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

Riverside Press Enterprise

January 6, 2011

Losing governor no loss

Former RINO Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should simply fade away into his liberal fantasyland at home. His record is a betrayal of why he was elected. And he finished it off by commuting the 16-year sentence of former Assembly speaker Fabian Nunez's son -- who was convicted of participating in a gang stabbing murder -- to seven years ("Commuted sentence draws DA protest," Jan. 4).

It was a blatant injustice, and an unconscionable quid-pro-quo to political ally Nunez for helping Schwarzenegger get cap-and-tax global warming AB 32 passed -- which will certainly exacerbate California's government-induced failing economy.

Indeed, Arnold's performance was the antithesis of a job well done.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

The Washington Examiner

January 2, 2011

Goodbye to decade of domain, decline and decay

After the first decade of the 21st century, America suffers from the triple "D's" -- the decline of freedom, eminent domain, and social-economic decay. All things considered, it appears that we are in for a not-so-happy new year.

The 20 percent of our population responsible for the triple "D's" are the statist-driven, liberal/progressive/socialists who control and dominate politics, government, education and the media.

But they are being put on notice that this is not a 20 percent democracy. It is a constitutional republic in the process of restoration.

As Americans have done time and time again, the spontaneous Tea Party movement is awakening to revive American's unique history of freedom and self-reliance.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

NewsMax Magazine

January 2011 Issue

Obama's Power Grab

President Obama and company are an ideological malignant cancer metastasizing in America ("An Arrogant President," November). The Most disturbing realization for voters is that Obama's is becoming dictatorial, with monarchial declarations, edicts and executive orders.

The White House, coupled with the legislative mania of the Democratic-controlled Congress, grabs power over health care, the auto industry, finance and energy, leaving our failing economy and our country steeped in fear, anxiety and uncertainty.

I am afraid this malignant cancer will likely become terminal with a second term

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

Los Angeles Times

Opinion L.A.

December 21, 2010

Re: And the rich get richer

By Tim Rutten

Tim Rutten's hackneyed social justice notion that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer is simply absurd and irrelevant, particularly in these dire economic times. Indeed, in case he missed it, we have serious problems in government in America, such as the growing damages of over-reaching government.

Though the Tea Party-effect has taken a positive hold-back on increasing taxes, a bloated budget-as-usual, and implementing fiscally terminal Obamacare -- the looming Fannie and Freddie fiasco is still alive and threatening the overall economy.

Indeed, the years of irresponsible multi-billion dollar band aids for deeply-infected Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, banks and mortgage lenders have had little to no effect on the housing nightmare -- and government has yet to own-up to causing the housing and economic collapse.

Instead, the usual government suspects continue to ignore the Fannie and Freddie disease, while affordable housing entitlement activists go about the dirty business of intimidating banks and coercing lenders to modify home loans and forego foreclosures for unqualified borrowers who still cannot afford homes.

Jerking around the American people, our taxes, our property and our economy is far beyond the constitutional scope of government. Plunging the nation into insurmountable debt is malfeasance. Embezzling $billions and $trillions to fund 10 thousand unworkable government programs is criminal waste.

Breaking up Fannie and Freddie to privatization -- and seriously downsizing government and government programs -- would be significant steps toward reversing out-of-control federal power, restoring power to the states, and sanity to domestic affairs.

Dan Jeffs

Apple Valley

The Washington Examiner

December 20, 2010

A return to limited government is up to us

Re: "The GOP finds some backbone, but will it last?" editorial, Dec. 19

The answer to your editorial's question is: We'll see. During the past hundred years, America has been subjected to a liberal/progressive/socialist ideology and expanding government power.

That power is administered by unconstitutional social programs, public education indoctrination, punishing taxation, tyrannical lawmaking and regulations, and a legislating judiciary.

The ever-expanding federal government, which has usurped power from the states and shattered our liberties, peaked under a power-mongering 111th Congress and President Obama.

Fortunately most Americans have not forsaken our unique history and founding principles. It's time for a reckoning, as evidenced by spontaneous resistance to overreaching government exploiting an economic crisis in an era of extreme terrorism directed against us.

What's next is up to us.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

http://www.sbsun.com/pointofview/ci_16894638

San Bernardino Sun

Perspectives Section B1 - Is it time for sacrifice?

December 19, 2010

Why give more? I've given plenty

When asked what I would be willing to sacrifice, give up, or do without to help resolve the climbing deficit and looming national debt, I was stunned.

I thought, sacrifice what, when I am among most Americans being sacrificed by confiscatory government, which will take it?

What can I give up when I'm on a fixed retirement income, which could be threatened? What can I give up when the equity in my home vanished with the housing collapse, and I have little or no discretionary spending to give because of the economy, recession, and the increasing cost of living? What can I give up, when my health care insurance is going up, my taxes are going up, and the cost of energy is likely to skyrocket?

What can I give up when the nation is steeped in uncertainty, individual responsibility is at an all time low, and government irresponsibility is at an all time high? What can I give up when government's affordable housing crusade caused the housing crash, the economy to collapse, and plunged taxpayers into enormous debt? And What can I give up when I'm living in California, where our government and voters blindly exacerbate the problem with even more irresponsibility?

Considering what has happened to our country since the 9/11 attack on America in 2001, and what transpired long before that, I am deeply concerned by how government growth has systemically accrued so much intrusive power over our society and our daily lives -- with regressive ideology, tyrannical agencies, unreasonable laws, and destructive regulations attacking a struggling free market.

Let's face it. Even with the threat of terrorism and fighting wars to defeat it, we are living under the influence of a superficial society of selfish interests, social aggression, and extremes. Our education system has been reduced to costly factories of indoctrination and warehouses of ignorance.

And we are being consumed by runaway government. The good news is, there is a spontaneous awakening going in America that will overcome the worst because there is the fire of freedom burning inside us.

What I am willing to give is my time, energy and efforts to do what I can to help rescue our state and our country. And to restore our Constitution, our representative democracy, our republic, and the power of the people to limit government to only what we need for our security, liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness.

Along the way, I will continue to give what I can to worthy charities and the homeless.

Daniel B. Jeffs, founder

The Direct Democracy Center

Los Angeles Times

Opinion L.A.

December 11, 2010

Re: Obama locks horns with Democrats on tax-cut deal

Compromised government - unacceptable

President Obama made a deal with Republicans to extend current tax rates for two years with a $120 billion unemployment benefits extension attached. House and Senate Democrats attached $billions in subsidy and tax break amendments for ethanol, Hollywood and other political pork, raising the so-called $700 tax deficit to a $trillion. Yet the lame duck the socialists among them, such as Speaker Pelosi and filibustering Sen. Sanders (S) Vermont, are being spiteful and vindictive in resisting any compromise.

That's the way our government embezzles taxes and debt in Washington's business as usual -- for the last two years on steroids -- to pass the $800 billion stimulus bill, and the $trillion(s)? national health careless law. And that's why voters are replacing Democrats with committed Republicans in the House and Senate, and in state houses across the country. The American people don't want tax increases now, two years from now or ever, and neither does our beleaguered economy. We want tax cuts and downsized government.

Lest tenuous tax and spend office holders forget -- and fail to follow the voters' marching orders -- they and President Obama will be removed from office in 2012. The only deal the people want is responsible, constitutional and honest government, limited to what we need, not what we don't need or want. Clean, single purpose legislation written in plain unfettered language is a start. Legislation filled with legalese, bulk fine print, and dirtied with add-ons and costly clutter is unacceptable.

Dan Jeffs

Apple Valley

The Washington Examiner

December 7, 2010

GOP should insist on permanent tax cuts

Re: "Senate rejects Democratic tax-break proposal," Dec. 5

Republicans in Congress should hold fast to making the Bush tax cuts permanent. All of them. Lest we forget, in order to get those cuts in the first place, President Bush had to compromise with congressional Democrats by allowing them to expire on Dec. 31, 2010. Those cuts were good for the American people and the overall economy then, and they are even more important now in this recession.

But at the 11th hour, President Obama and the short-lived Democrat-controlled Congress are playing spiteful games by bringing bills to a vote under the guise of making the middle-class tax cuts permanent and allowing the tax cuts for the rich expire. The problem is that taxpayers making over $250, 000 are considered rich by Democrats, when in fact they are the backbone of job creation.

Extending the tax cuts for a year or two is unacceptable. President Obama and Congress have been playing fast and loose with health care, the deficit and the national debt for two years, with no results for either jobs or the economy.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

Riverside Press Enterprise

December 6, 2010

Leaks are treason

President Barack Obama and his attorney general, Eric Holder, should have indicted WikiLeaks' founder, Julian Assange, for espionage immediately after the first release of classified documents ("U.S. tries to contain damage from leaks," Nov. 30). Also, our historical ally Australia should take action against its treacherous citizen.

In addition, Pfc. Bradley Manning should be considered a traitor. Sneaking those documents to Assange was treason against the United States.

Instilling fear in potential violators of our national security and world security is an appropriate deterrent, as long as there are consequences. Denouncing the leaks is not enough when lives are at stake.

No one can opt out of a world steeped in terrorism and insecurity as if it were merely a computer game.

Fierce faith and loyalty to country -- defending America and patriotism -- means everything to our freedom, liberty and survival.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

(Original letter sent)

Denouncing leaks is not enough

President Obama and his attorney general, Holder should have indicted WikiLeaks founder, Assange for espionage immediately after the first release of classified documents -- and our historical ally, Australia should take action against its treacherous citizen. PFC Manning is definitely a traitor. Sneaking those documents to Assange was treason against the United States for "….adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort."

Instilling fear in potential violators of our national security and world security is an appropriate deterrent, as long as there are consequences -- including Sweden for allowing WikiLeaks to get away with it. Denouncing any of it is not enough when lives are at stake, if not lost already. No one can opt-out of a world steeped in terrorism and insecurity as if it were merely a computer game.

Traitors such as Major Hasan, the Time Square and Portland bombers should be indicted for treason. Indeed, ungrateful and treasonous Americans such as Jane Fonda, Harry Belafonte, Sean Penn and Danny Glover should suffer the consequences of their blatant betrayals -- loss of citizenship and banishment at least. Fierce faith and loyalty to country -- defending America and patriotism -- means everything to our freedom, liberty and survival.

New York Post

December 2, 2010

Clash of the Koreas: Weakness won't win

North Korea's saber-rattling against South Korea signals the looming collapse of the Communist regime, similar to what happened to the Soviet Union.

Both consumed their country's wealth with overreaching communism, arms and armies. Hopefully, North Korea won't go down by launching nuclear attacks.

We must have the best intelligence, deterrents and strong wisdom in leadership to prevent the worst from happening.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

****

Original letter sent:

North Korea and al-Qaeda

North Korea's saber-rattling against South Korea signals the looming collapse of the Communist regime, similar to what happened to the Soviet Union. Both consumed their country's wealth with over-reaching communism, arms and armies -- starving their people.

Hopefully, North Korea won't go down by launching nuclear attacks. Hopefully, China will prevent that from happening. But hope is not enough.

Meanwhile, al-Qaeda and a nuclear Iran pose a greater threat to us, Israel, the Middle-East and the world. Al-Qaeda's obsession with crashing aircraft in America has been an over-reaction distraction for the United States. However, the terrorists are bound to attack us in other ways, by other means, with greater damage, soon and often.

We must have the best intelligence, deterrents and strong wisdom in leadership to prevent the worst from happening. Indeed, we have serious problems.

San Bernardino Sun - A7

December 1, 2010

Insult to injury

When Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor in the Governor Gray Davis recall election, it was because Davis mishandled the California energy crisis and raised taxes, all of which was a devastating blow to California's economy and its people.

Since being re-elected Schwarzenegger betrayed the voters with tax increases and a potentially worse blow to the economy with the passage of AB-32 Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Then -- in the face of an already mortally wounded economy -- he was instrumental in defeating Proposition 23, which would have delayed implementation of the Act until unemployment was reduced to at least 5.5% for a year.

Adding insult to injury, the governor is still crusading for highly questionable claims of global warming, with his "Governors' Global Climate Summit 3," which was held recently at UC Davis.

Like most environmental zealots, Schwarzenegger's shameless push for costly carbon regulation and unreasonable green energy requirements will only serve to devastate California's economy further. Still, the irony is that it didn't deter the hapless majority of voters from electing Jerry Brown to lead his newly elected wrecking crew in knocking down the state, and grinding the people into the ground of economic ruin.

Alas, the only thing worth looking forward to is not having to spell Arnold's last name anymore, and letting him be known as just another political jerk. In this case, a RINO Republican with a lot of liberal baggage at home, and the audacity to suggest amending the Constitution so he can run for president. Amend the Constitution? Yes. With a series of amendments restoring the strict constitutional limitations on the federal government, power to the states and to the people.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times

Opinion L.A.

November 30, 2010

Re: Was the latest Wikileaks really necessary?

Denouncing leaks is not enough

Dan Jeffs

Apple Valley

Daily Press

November 24, 2010

Power corrupts

Too much personal power corrupts. That's what happened to Rep. Charles Rangel -- and too many people holding public office -- simply because government is too big and over-reaching at nearly every level.

Each house of Congress is supposed to police itself. It hasn't worked because they have become the political elite in the most exclusive clubs.

Rep. Rangel should be expelled from the House, but that won't happen. Government is supposed to police itself, but it seldom happens.

The American people and the states are the only safeguard, however, we are too limited by the corrupted institutions which have compromised our Constitution and usurped power from the states: Congress, the presidency, and the federal judiciary.

We must look out for ourselves, which will take a few serious amendments to restore the Constitution. Congress won't do it. Only the states can make that happen. It's a matter of survival, liberty and freedom. We need a Tea Party of the states and a constitutional convention.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

The Washington Times

November 23, 2010

Rangel part of corrupt Capitol culture

Too much personal power corrupts. That's what happened to Rep. Charles Rangel, New York Democrat, and too many other people holding public office simply because government is too big and overreaching at nearly every level.

Mr. Rangel should be expelled from the House, but that won't happen. Government is supposed to police itself, but it seldom happens.

The American people and the states are the only safeguard. We are too constrained by the corrupted institutions, which have compromised our Constitution and usurped the power of the states.

DANIEL B. JEFFS

Apple Valley, Calif.

The Washington Examiner

November 18, 2010

George Soros wants a legalocracy

Re: "Soros uses billions to undermine democracy," Nov. 14

If financier George Soros had his way, America would be ruled by the liberal legal establishment, not the rule of law. Soros is making every effort to undermine democracy by having the states appoint all judges rather than having them elected to their positions, and/or confirmed or rejected by voters.

Indeed, in addition to influencing public and political media with his millions, the Hungarian-American anti-American billionaire power monger is doing everything he can to undermine our constitutional democratic republic by every insidious way possible.

Unfortunately for freedom and most Americans, the legal establishment has far too much power already without any help from Soros. The federal judiciary has usurped power from the states and become a Star Chamber legalocracy, which is more damaging to our country and society than anything else.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

(Original letter sent)

George Soros wants a legalocracy

Indeed, in addition to influencing public and political media with his millions, the Hungarian-American/anti-American billionaire power-monger is doing everything he can to undermine our constitutional democratic republic by every insidious way possible.

Unfortunately for freedom and most Americans, the legal establishment has far too much power already, without any help from Soros. The federal judiciary has usurped power from the states. It's become a Star Chamber legalocracy, which is damaging our country and society as much or more than anything else.

Lest we forget, the powerful selfish interests of trial lawyers, legal professionals and the courts have so complicated and over-involved our laws, rules and regulations, contracts, torts and class-action lawsuits -- they are responsible for much of the high cost of living, and loss of liberty.

The shame of good deeds is they are not appreciated for generations. The tragedy of bad deeds is they are not resisted until it's too late.

San Bernardino Sun

November 16, 2010

Revolution is on

Deeply concerned and frustrated voters swept out many Democrats in the nation's congressional elections Nov. 2, clearly signaling that the Tea Party revolution is under way.

Indeed, Republicans took the majority in the House, and narrowed the gap in the Senate. However, if they don't hold fast and true to our founding constitutional principles, they will be replaced with those who do.

Surely, the same goes for President Obama and many Democrats who were barely re-elected, and those in the Senate who are up for re-election in 2012.

If the president, the Congress and for that matter, the Supreme Court, don't take the pathway to right the wrongs they've done to society, the economy, our constitutional democracy and the American people, they should certainly be voted out of office and/or otherwise impeached and removed from office.

Alas, the Tea Party revolution is unlikely to keep California lemmings from blindly running off the cliff and pushing the rest of us with them.

DANIEL B. JEFFS
Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times

November 13, 2010

Re “Republicans tussle over House post,” Business, Nov. 9

GOP leadership

Republican House Speaker-to-be John A. Boehner should urge the selection of committee chairs who have the experience and voting records to lead the committees so important to our future. Certainly the selection to succeed Rep. Barney Frank as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee deserves scrutiny.

Republicans and Democrats must comply with a voter mandate to pull in the reins on regressive finance reform and hideous healthcare legislation by utilizing the best of the best among them to lead the efforts against runaway government, regardless of seniority.

Lest they forget, if they fail, there will be a “tea party” movement working diligently to usher them out in 2012.

The Washington Examiner

November 12, 2010

New chairmen should not be chosen by seniority

Re: "Upton is wrong for Energy and Commerce," editorial, Nov. 8

The Examiner is correct in denouncing Rep.Fred Upton, R-Mich., to succeed Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Upton is little more than a Republican sellout to the Pelosi Democrats' extreme legislation and abuse of power by imposing unreasonable limits on oil, gas and coal energy resources, and unleashing the economy-busting Environmental Protection Agency.

In these dire times, Republican House-Speaker-to be, John Boehner should urge the selection of committee chairs with the experience, credentials and voting record to lead our economic recovery. The same scrutiny should also be applied to whoever is selected to succeed Public Enemy Number One, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.

Republicans and Democrats must comply with a voter mandate to pull the reins on regressive finance reform, health careless legislation and other over-reaching measures by utilizing the best of the best representatives among them to lead the efforts against runaway government -- regardless of seniority -- and replace selfish interests and personal power with common sense, constitutional compliance and accountability.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/nov/9/tea-party-will-take-congress-to-task/

The Washington Times

November 10, 2010

Tea Party will take Congress to task

Deeply concerned and frustrated voters swept out many Democrats in the nation's congressional elections Nov. 2, clearly signaling that the Tea Party revolution is under way. Republicans took the majority in the House, and narrowed the gap in the Senate. However, if they don't hold fast and true to our founding constitutional principles, they will be replaced with those who do.

The same goes for President Obama and for Democrats who were barely re-elected, including those in the Senate up for re-election in 2012. If the president and the Congress don't take the pathway to right the wrongs they've done to society, the economy, our constitutional democracy and the American people, they should certainly be voted out of office.

DANIEL B. JEFFS

Apple Valley, Calif.

Riverside Press Enterprise

November 4, 2010

Voters choose suicide

As if voters aren't suffering enough from the economic crash, the worst case scenario for California is the election of Jerry Brown and the slate of Democrats in the executive branch, the retention of a large Democrat majority in the Legislature, the passage of Prop. 25, and the defeat of Prop. 23's delay of the AB32 global warming law.

This certainly amounts to voter-assisted, job-killing suicide when coupled with the state implementing forced Obamacare and enforcing AB32's skyrocketing energy costs, which will raise the cost of living to new heights.

Indeed, driving the national economy into a ditch will be mild compared to our state government and political zealots driving California's economy over a 2,010-foot cliff, in a union-driven green machine. Problem is, the indoctrinated and deceived majority of voters are pulling the rest of us over the cliff with them.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley

Los Angeles Times

Opinion L.A.

November 4, 2010

The Tea Party revolution is on

Deeply concerned and frustrated voters swept-out many Democrats in the nation's congressional elections November 2nd, clearly signaling that the 'Tea Party' revolution is underway. Indeed, Republicans took the majority in the House, and narrowed the gap in the Senate. However, if they don't hold fast and true to our founding constitutional principles, they will be replaced with those who do.

Surely, the same goes for President Obama and many Democrats who were barely re-elected, including those in the Senate who are up for re-election in 2012. If the President, the Congress and for that matter, the Supreme Court, don't take the pathway to right the wrongs they've done to society, the economy, our constitutional democracy and the American people, they should certainly be voted out of office and/or otherwise impeached and removed from office.

Even though there was also a Republican shift in state governments, New York and other hopeless states held fast to their liberal decline. Indeed, clueless Californians kept Sen. Boxer and elected hapless Jerry Brown to lead the Sacramento Democrat hole-in-the-wall-gang, as a defiant gesture of voter-assisted economic suicide. Alas, the Tea Party revolution is unlikely to keep California lemmings from blindly running off the cliff and pushing the rest of us with them.

The Washington Examiner

November 3, 2010

Re: Jon Stewart gets laughs, but now the joke in on Obama

Editorial - October 31, 2010

Political inmates now in charge of the asylum

Coupled with President Obama's hapless appearance the "Daily Show," Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity" in Washington is clear and convincing evidence that America's doctors of democracy have lost control, and that the political inmates are now in charge of the nation's asylum.

Surely, the bad joke is on everyone, and it certainly isn't funny. President Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress have practiced over-reaching government without a constitutional license since the 2008 elections, miring the country in even more tyrannical laws, rules, regulations, in insurmountable debt.

Indeed, malfeasance, nonfeasance, misfeasance and political malpractice have run rampant over the American people to such an extent, that a change in the political party guard may not be enough to resolve the malignant problems in this election cycle. Hopefully, cutting out the remaining cancers in 2012 will stop them from metastasizing.

Los Angeles Times

Opinion L.A.

November 3, 2010

California's worst case scenario: Voter-assisted economic suicide

As if voters aren't suffering enough from the economic crash -- and Washington-aggravated aftermath -- the worst case scenario for California is the election of Jerry Brown and the slate of Democrats for the executive branch, the retention of a large Democrat majority in the Legislature, the passage of Proposition 25, and the defeat of Proposition 23's delay of the AB-32 Global Warming laws.

Coupled with the State implementing forced Obamacare -- and enforcing AB-32's skyrocketing energy costs -- raising the cost of living to new heights, that certainly amounts to voter-assisted -- job-killing -- economic suicide.

Indeed, driving the national economy into a ditch will be mild compared to our state government and political zealots driving California's economy over a 2010-foot cliff, in a union-driven green machine. Problem is, the indoctrinated and deceived majority of voters are pulling the rest of us over the cliff with them.

Los Angeles Times

Opinion L.A.

October 31, 2010

Re: Analyzing the midterm elections with editorial board member, Jim Newton

By Alexandra Le Tellier

October 28, 2010

Voter remorse won't help when you're broken

The 2010 campaigns and elections will undoubtedly be the nastiest in recent history -- replete with lies, deception, personal attacks, abuse of power and voter fraud.

For all those who blindly voted for a Congress that put Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in charge, then elected Barack Obama as President: Voter remorse won't help when you're broken.

Indeed, if you haven't wised-up to the dirty deeds passed by the Congress and signed by the President -- and you vote for them again in this election and in the 2012 presidential election -- you might as well step up on a chair, put the economic noose around your neck, and step off.

Alas, beating your head against the symbolic social, political and economic walls leaves your ideals bruised, your freedoms bleeding, your liberty legs wobbling and your wallet empty.

Tea Party people know what's at stake, and that means the vast majority of Americans are determined to survive and prosper. And that's why it's so important to have truthfully informed voters in charge of government by consent of the governed.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, CA

The Washington Examiner

October 18, 2010

End of moratorium designed to help endangered incumbents

Re: "Salazar's sleight of hand on Gulf drilling," Editorial, Oct. 14

The Washington Examiner is correct to be skeptical over the measured lifting of the Gulf drilling ban shortly before the November elections. The political caveats against actual drilling and production are overwhelming.

This is simply a deceitful campaign gesture by the Obama administration to help fellow Democrats, primarily threatened incumbents. New regulations will be so onerous that they will inhibit most, if not all, offshore oil drilling, even in shallow waters.

The marching orders for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar are painfully clear: Halt and/or endlessly delay permits for exploration, drilling and production of oil, natural gas, and coal while you march ahead with any and all green energy projects no matter what they cost.

The Washington Examiner

October 5, 2010

California green dreaming

Re: "Big Green Special Reports," Oct. 1

The Examiner should be commended for its series of special reports and extended efforts to expose the Big Green movement that is bent on strangling our economy with extreme propaganda, environmental laws, fees and regulations.

Taken together, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's green dream for California -- which is still the same old radical California agenda -- is the same old toxic formula for economic suicide, slowly being carried out by the blind ambition of extreme environmentalists and over-reaching government.

Indeed, as if it wasn't bad enough that former Gov. Gray Davis threw Californians under the bus with the 2000 energy crisis and tax increases, Gov. Schwarzenegger has added insult to injury with AB32 global warming legislation and more tax increases that will throw us over the economic cliff from which we have been teetering since the economy crashed. Even if Proposition 23 passes, effectively repealing AB32, SB722 is poised to bring it back in another form.

Surely, Arnold betrayed those who elected and re-elected him, yet he still lives in celebrity and political fantasy-land, without financial worry, dreaming about his next job as green energy czar for the Obama administration. Alas, nothing will change in California or the nation until indoctrinated and deceived liberal voters feel enough economic pain to discover where it really came from.

Certainly, there is little or no relief to hope for if either Meg Whitman or Jerry Brown is elected governor, and the liberal status quo remains in the Sacramento legislature.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/letters/From-our-readers-1109876-104305888.html#ixzz11S1IO3d8

Note: Everyone should read the series of Washington Examiner Special Reports on 'Big Green' -- Environmentalists aren't really about clean air and water.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/special-editorial-reports/Examiner-Special-Report---Big-Green-Environmentalists-arent-really-about-clean-air-and-water-103848559.html

The Washington Examiner

October 3, 2010

Health care law is health careless

Re: "If you like your health insurance, too bad," editorial, Sept. 28

It is clearly obvious from a year-by-year look at the new health care law that the raise in costs and decline in health care are avoided to get around the 2010 congressional elections and the 2012 presidential election, and back-loaded to hit the nation beginning Jan. 1, 2013. Indeed, this is not only political gaming, it is a detrimental careless move to nationalize health care at enormous expense.

My particular complaint is the manner in which Medicare Advantage is being toyed with. Candidate and President Obama made it painfully clear that he was going to cut the plan -- covering about 11.3 million seniors of the 46 million covered by Medicare -- and he has. Even though premiums for Medicare Advantage are to drop 1 percent in 2011, rates will be frozen at 2010 levels to cut $136 billion from Medicare Advantage over 10 years.

Surely, all Americans will feel the pain -- Medicare beneficiaries, private health plans, employers, 30 million additional Medicaid recipients, states, and all taxpayers -- in reduced health care at much higher costs. As candidate Obama put it, "... health care costs will necessarily skyrocket." However, why should he be concerned? By Jan. 1, 2018, when the 40 percent excise tax is imposed on high-cost health plans, he will be securely retired with free quality health care for life -- at struggling taxpayers' expense.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

The New York Post

September 30, 2010

Republicans’ worthless pledge

Republicans' "Pledge to America" lacks tough choices on soaring public debt.

Republicans have lacked fiscal responsibility and failed at curtailing government growth nearly as much as Democrats since the expansion of the Eisenhower era.

It's not the party -- it's the political culture's long-term addiction to personal power, taxing and spending, and sustaining the insatiable appetite of government growth.

Republicans were remiss in resisting the affordable-housing monster. The perfect recession storm was created, and the economy was devastated.

Alas (Tea Party common sense notwithstanding), the future is bleak, as long as the political elite control our future.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

(Original letter sent)

Republicans' "Pledge to America" lacks tough choices on soaring public debt. Indeed, Republicans (Reagan notwithstanding) have lacked fiscal responsibility and curtailing government growth nearly as much as Democrats (JFK notwithstanding) since the expansion of the Eisenhower era (FDR notwithstanding).

It's not the political party, stupid! It's the long term corruption of the political culture's addiction to personal power, taxing and spending -- sustaining the insatiable appetite of government growth. Surely, Republicans were remiss in steadfast resistance to the affordable housing monster developed by President Carter's Community Reinvestment Act, accelerated by the Clinton Administration, and brought to fruition by the likes of Rep. Barney Frank, Sen. Chris Dodd, and Fannie Mae's CEO, Franklin Raines.

Taken together, the perfect recession storm was created, devastating the economy -- exacerbated by Republican-assisted Democrat ideology, borrowing, spending and debt -- forcing the American people into an untenable situation. Alas, (Tea Party common sense notwithstanding), the future is bleak as long as the combined cultures of the social, economic, legal, political, academic and media elite control our future. Surely, there are no Americans more out of touch with our reality. Hopefully, it's not the result of intended consequences.

The New York Post

September 16, 2010

Paying the price for Obamacare

There are no unintended consequences to nationalizing health care, as evidenced by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' threat against private insurance companies ("ObamaCare Extortion," Michael Tanner, PostOpinion, Sept. 16).

Along with overloading the health-care and welfare systems, President Obama is going to devastate our economy with tyrannical, agenda-driven financial and energy policies, the national debt and job losses.

He will devastate America along with it.

Nothing could be more intentional than that.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.

The Washington Examiner

September 9, 2010

Crisis in education is worse than economy

(Re: "Higher education bubble poised to burst," Sept. 3)

Michael Barone's analysis of America's higher education problem is on the mark, particularly in exposing the academic elite and bloated sinister dilemma: dumbing-down students, socialist indoctrination, and creating armies of young social justice activists.

Higher education did not simply abandon a coherent content-rich general education curriculum. It was as intentional as anything could be. Indeed, students who manage to graduate from high school without being functionally illiterate and go on to college are the meat and potatoes for academia to dupe and consume.

The education crisis is far more dangerous to our free society than the current economic crisis. It's a combined social, political, economic and education crisis that, if not corrected and overcome, will eventually enslave us with the tyranny of government. Alas, it has been planned and slowly carried out for a century.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

(Original letter):

Re: Higher education bubble poised to burst

By Michael Barone

Michael Barone's analysis of America's higher education problem is on the mark, particularly in exposing the academic elite and bloated college administrations. However, the core of the problem is more of a sinister dilemma of dumbing-down students, socialist indoctrination, and creating armies of young social justice activists.

Surely, higher education did not simply abandon a coherent content-rich general education curriculum. It was as intentional as anything could be. Indeed, those students who manage to graduate from high school without being functionally illiterate -- and go on to college -- are the meat and potatoes for academia to dupe and consume.

Certainly, the education crisis is far more dangerous to our free society than the current economic crisis. It's a combined social, political, economic and education crisis that -- if not corrected and overcome -- will eventually enslave us with the tyranny of government. Alas, it has been planned and slowly carried out for a century.

Newsmax Magazine

September 2010

Gingrich for President

Dick Morris is on the mark ("We Need Gingrich as President in '12," August)! We need Gingrich now more than ever. He has been increasingly the most qualified to be president and one to lead us out of the modern wilderness into a liberated, prosperous future.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

The Washington Examiner

August 4, 2010

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/letters/Letters-from-readers-1007037-99888299.html

President Obama should militarize the border Re: "White House provides a back door to amnesty," Aug. 2

Instead of using an executive order to abdicate his duty to protect our southern border from the illegal alien invasion, President Obama should stop intimidating Arizona's attempt at self- defense, militarize the entire border, slam the door and keep it shut. This is a serious matter of national security.

In addition, for the sake of the states and the national debt, all federal aid -- including health care and education for illegal aliens -- should be stopped. In these dire economic times, such aid is simply overwhelming federal and state budgets.

American citizens' message to Obama should be: "Do your job or abdicate your position as president."

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

The New York Post

July 28, 2010

THE ISSUE: Whether Democrats will support Rep. Rangel following ethics charges against him.

Charlie on the spot: Will Dems ditch him?

"Charlie's Fading Friends" (Editorial, July 24) comes as no surprise.

Once a credible liberal voice, Rep. Charlie Rangel has become a prime example of self-corrupting politics in the House, which, along with the Senate, has turned the people's chamber into an exclusive club replete with personal power, selfish interests and arrogance.

Rather than policing themselves in the people's interest, Congress is overly protective of its members.

Daniel B. Jeffs

Apple Valley, Calif.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/letters/Letters-from-Readers-1003044-99126009.html

The Washington Examiner

July 25, 2010

America is well on the way to bankruptcy Re: "A cure for the federal debt cancer," Editorial, July 19

Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, who was appointed to co-chair President Obama's fiscal commission, not only said the $13 trillion national debt is like a cancer from within, he declared that if something isn't done to change course, America is headed for bankruptcy.

Most Americans already know that, but what will likely happen after the November elections is that the lame-duck Congress will push through the rest of Obama's spending agenda, which will push America beyond bankruptcy to hyperinflation and economic death.

Liberal policies are taking us from capitalism, to socialism, to social, political and economic cannibalism. They will eat their own, and have the rest us for dessert.

USA TODAY

July 21. 2010

Letters

Financial reform will lead to more government intrusion

Contrary to USA TODAY’S opinion, the financial reform bill passed last week does little for consumers or economic soundness. Rather, it lays the groundwork for federal meddlers to increase the ranks of regulators and corrosive bureaucracies. Indeed, coupled with increased taxation and the movement toward a takeover of other sectors of the economy such as health care, there won’t be much left in the shrinking arena of individual liberties (“Mindless partisanship mars passage of banking reform,” Editorial, Friday).

Members of Congress who pass these laws — signed by the president — are representing their own interests and agenda, not the people they are supposed to be responsible for and accountable to. Over time, when the federal government morphs into an authoritarian octopus, sustained by tax-and-spend growth hormones, its tentacles will suck the breath of life from a free society.

Clearly, the only reforms necessary to stop the federal monster is to cut its grip on finance, housing, health care, welfare, education, interior, energy and the environment.

Original letter:

Contrary to USA TODAY'S opinion, this financial reform bill does little for consumers or economic soundness. Rather, it lays the groundwork for federal meddlers to increase the ranks of regulators and corrosive bureaucracies -- not so different from the health care plan. Indeed, coupled with commensurate taxation and the takeover of energy and housing, there won't be much left in the shrinking arena of individual liberties.

Those who pass these laws in Congress -- signed by the president -- are representing their own interests and agenda, not the people they are supposed to be responsible for and accountable to. Over time, when the federal government morphs into an authoritarian octopus, sustained by tax and spend growth hormones, its tentacles will suck the breath of life from a free society.

Clearly, the only reforms necessary to stop the federal monster is to cut its (eight tentacle) grip on finance, housing, healthcare, welfare, education, interior, energy and the environment. [Otherwise, we will be reduced to a giant underclass that is broke, homeless, unhealthy, ignorant, cold in winter, hot in summer, and immobile without justice or Constitutional protections.]

Time Magazine

July 5, 2010 Issue

Gulf-Spill Blame

Why didn't President Obama waive the Jones Act--which requires that only U.S. vessels engage in commercial activity in U.S. waters--within days of the BP explosion and request all available oil-spill-cleanup boats and equipment from around the world? President Bush waived the Jones Act immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit. Why has the media not pressed Obama to do so?

Original Letter

Sent June 14, 2010

Re: Cover story: Gulf disaster: Who's asses need kicking? - another letter

Calling all clean-up boats and equipment?

The nation's news media has been saturated with non-stop disastrous coverage of the massive uncontrolled BP oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, yet the mainstream media has yet to ask a crucial question or make a strong suggestion for President Obama to make a major decision to lessen the damages.

Why didn't President Obama waive the Jones Act within days of the BP explosion and request all available oil spill clean-up boats and equipment from around the world? President Bush waved the Jones Act immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit. Why has President Obama not done so, and why has the media not pressed him to do so? Why isn't Congress pressing him for it?

I have asked this question in several letters to the editors of major newspapers. No response. Smaller conservative newspapers are asking why. Could it be that the Obama administration, congressional Democrats and complicit media want to take advantage of this crisis, to play itself out against oil drilling and big oil, to advance their green energy climate change legislation? It's on the way. The clean-up boats and equipment are not. How about a brainstorm to plug the hole?

San Bernardino Sun

July 2, 2010

Monumental waste

Though he was summarily dismissed by President Obama and replaced by General Patraeus, we must remember that Gen. Stanley McChrystal has been the best weapon we've had for the war in Iraq and the nearly impossible war in Afghanistan.

McChrystal's lapse in judgment for allowing Rolling Stone reporters around him and his staff notwithstanding, the magazine is a treasonous rag for publishing anything that gives aid and comfort to the enemy, which it did with a condescending profile of McChrystal: "The Runaway General seized control of the war by never taking his eye off the real enemy: The wimps in the White House." Unfortunately, the commander-in-chief only exacerbated the problem.

Lest we forget, it was then Sen. Obama who condemned Gen. Petraeus for the surge in Iraq that he claimed was not working. Indeed, Obama's premature snap judgment was wrong then, and he is wrong now. Even though he replaced Gen. McChrystal with Petraeus, President Obama is tacitly admitting his lack of grasping serious military judgment and common sense.

President Obama's plan to pull out of Afghanistan next year is another plan he can't carry out simply because his determination to fundamentally change the country with nation-building diplomacy is simply impossible. Afghanistan is unique in that it will always go back to its ancient tribal ways, regardless of what any foreign power does.

Remaining at war in a hopelessly barbarian country is a monumental waste of American lives and defense funds. The president should cut our losses, get out now, send the 90,000 troops to our southern border, build a wall, slam the door and keep it shut.

The Washington Examiner

June 29, 2010

Same rules of engagement will yield same results Re: "President Obama took command," June 24

I disagree with Michael Barone. President Obama is painting himself in a corner as the captain of chaos. He can't limit his warrior general and troops with unreasonable rules of engagement and expect them to win a war against fanatic barbarians without overwhelming force and collateral damage. With the same restrictions in place, General Petraeus won't make a difference. Plus, he seems beleaguered, nearly passing out in front of a congressional committee. Our troops should kill as many Taliban as they can, herbicide the opium poppy fields, and leave Afghanistan. Then they can step up intelligence, find Osama bin Laden and go after al Qaeda and its terrorist training camps with Predator drones and cruise missiles.

Washington Times

June 22, 2010

Re: Obama's Gulf War - Editorial

O-blah-blah-blah-ma's green energy crusade

President Obama's Oval Office address to the nation was little more than what has become meaningless "O-blah,blah,blah-ma" talk -- this time promoting the administration's, "Never let a crisis go to waste" mantra to further his economy-busting green energy plan by telling us to alter our ways. Yet, he is exacerbating the Gulf oil leak crisis.

Obama said nothing about waiving the Jones Act to attract all the outside help we can get to clean up and control the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. And nothing was said about using the underground nuclear option the Russians have used to seal similar uncontrolled gushers. The intention appears to be demonize BP and big oil, while riding-out the growing calamity on environmental rhetoric, and saddling the nation with energy legislation and the regulatory whip of the EPA.

If the president and Congress blindly pursue green energy at the expense of suppressed domestic oil production and refineries, our reliance on imported oil -- and the price of gas -- will continue to increase, just as it doubled from 30% in 1972 to the current 60%. Indeed, instead of calling on the nation to alter its ways, President Obama must alter his, lest we all suffer the long-term consequences.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/22/EDHQ1E1KJU.DTL#ixzz0raikGSG3

San Francisco Chronicle

June 22, 2010

Out of Afghanistan

Re: "A war we're not winning" (Editorial, June 19) Afghanistan is unique in that it will always go back to its ancient tribal ways regardless of what any foreign power does.

Remaining at war in a hopelessly barbarian country is a monumental waste of American lives and defense funds. We should spray all their opium poppy fields with herbicides, get out of the country, use predator drones to police terrorist training camps with missiles and use smart herbicide bombs above the poppy fields each time they plant again.

That's cutting the heads off the terrorist snakes and the poppies off the drugs that fund them -- from a safe distance. Case closed.

Riverside Press Enterprise

June 20, 2010

Expect energy mess

The Merchant Marine Act (Jones Act) of 1920 prohibits foreign ships from working in U.S. waters. That's why foreign oil spill cleanup ships are waiting to help with the BP Gulf disaster. Saudi Arabia used all available cleanup ships and equipment available worldwide to deal with an oil spill from the 1991 Gulf War.

The Jones Act was waived for Katrina. Why isn't President Obama waiving the act for all the help we can get? Could it be that he is bending to union pressure and wants this disaster to linger to advance his green energy program at big oil's expense, while Gulf drilling is cut off, Gulf states' economies wither, and gasoline prices rise?

Meanwhile, the Senate just authorized EPA enforcement -- global warming regulatory tyranny -- of carbon emissions and other environmental administrative laws against the U.S. economy and the American people. Taken together, it is an energy disaster in the making -- one which could boomerang on congressional Democrats in November and President Obama in 2012.

Washington Examiner

June 16, 2010

Why didn't Obama ask for help in BP oil spill?

The nation has been saturated with nonstop coverage of the massive uncontrolled BP oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, yet the mainstream media has yet to ask a crucial question: Why didn't President Obama waive the Jones Act within days of the BP explosion and request help from all available clean-up boats around the world?

President Bush waived the Jones Act immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit. Why has President Obama not done so, and why has Congress and the media not pressed him to do so?

Could it be that the Obama administration, congressional Democrats and complicit media want to take advantage of this crisis to advance their green energy climate change legislation?

That's on the way. The clean-up boats are not.

Daily Press

June 11, 2010

The best democracy money can buy

Who on earth -- being of sound mind -- would want to be governor of the collapsing state of California? Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner spent tens of millions to win the Republican Party nomination. The Democratic Party will spend millions more to seat their candidate, Jerry Brown -- even though he failed as attorney general and governor in a former political life. It can't be for the fame and glory. Gray Davis went down in the flames of an energy crisis, and his recall successor, Arnold Schwarzenegger failed with all his good intentions and the unintended consequences of his glaring mistakes.

Yet Whitman and Brown will spend millions more in the battle for November, as will the many candidates for the state assembly and senate. Why do they do it? Certainly not for the people they pretend to represent. They do it for the personal power and influence, as most elected officials do at every level of government -- local, state and federal. Indeed, the higher the office, the more personal power comes with it. The failure of good intentions is simply not good enough for the people -- and the arrogance of deciding what is best for us regardless of the consequences is worse.

The collapsing economy and grossly inept government is bringing the people to a rude awakening. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and is not subject to straying from its original intent. Government crossed the line for many years, which brings us to a reckoning and notice to all those who are supposed to represent us. Shape up, or ship out!

The Washington Examiner

June 8, 2010

Insulting former president in White House was rude Re: "Dim Bulb," June 4

It was profoundly ignorant and condescending for former Beatle Paul McCartney to say that former President George W. Bush does not know what a library is.

Bush has a B.A. from Yale, an MBA from Harvard and is married to a former librarian with a master's degree in library science. Bush may not be well spoken, but he is honest, forthright, well educated and well read.

It was arrogant and rude of McCartney to insult the presidency in the White House, whether or not the current president agreed. Mr. McCartney is clearly very talented at making music, but he is certainly no intellectual giant himself.

The Washington Examiner

June 3, 2010

America is becoming more vulnerable Re: "Activists send new boat to challenge Gaza Blockade," June 1

Memorial Day was marked by an oil disaster, an act of war, and increased tensions in the Middle East. All Americans ought to be deeply concerned about the uncontrolled BP oil leak in the Gulf, the provocative naval attack by North Korea, and the Hamas (Iranian)-backed conflict with Israeli troops.

Coupled with a world economic crisis, increasing anxiety, tension and violence around the globe, restrictions on our domestic energy resources, and our military forces thinned by the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and the war against terrorism, America is becoming more vulnerable by the day.

What if the instabilities and provocations turn into an all-out attack against Israel by Iran & Company, or against South Korea by North Korea? How will the United States react? And what if al Qaeda steps up its attacks on America? President Obama's weak stance on the U.S. response to attacks using weapons of mass destruction is certainly not reassuring.

San Diego Union-Tribune

June 1, 2010

Regarding troops to the border

President Obama’s gesture to send 1,200 National Guard troops and $500 million to support border security is all but empty political tactics to temporarily relieve public criticism of federal border and immigration enforcement failures, and support for Arizona’s stand against the flow of illegal aliens, drugs and violence.

There is only one way to stem the tide of illegal immigration – 90 percent of which is from Mexico – and that is to stop it by any means necessary. Significant federal and state action is necessary to resolve the problem by cutting off all benefits to illegals. Only then, and with the elimination of intentional anchor baby citizenship, should reasonable immigration reform be considered.

(Edited from original letter sent)

Re: National Guard set to deploy to border

By Leslie Berestein

San Diego Union-Tribune - May 26, 2010

President Obama's gesture to send 1,200 National Guard troops and $500 million to support border security is all but empty political tactics to temporarily relieve public criticism of federal border and immigration enforcement failures, and support for Arizona's stand against the flow of illegal aliens, drugs and violence.

There is only one way to stem the tide of illegal immigration -- 90 percent of which is from Mexico -- and that is to stop it by any means necessary. First, a secure wall must be built along the entire border, coupled with electrified walls in high volume areas, security technology, intelligence, surveillance and monitoring.

Second, substantial increases in ICE and Border Patrol personnel and equipment, supplemented with trained National Guard troops as needed. And last, but not least, increased enforcement against employers of illegals, increased deportations, stopping legal immigration until the wall is built, then lowering legal immigration from 1 million per year to 100 thousand per year.

Significant federal and state action is necessary to resolve the problem by cutting off all benefits to illegals. Only then -- including the elimination of intentional 'anchor baby' citizenship -- should reasonable immigration reform be considered -- carefully.

San Bernardino Sun

May 27, 2010

Slap in the face

The Mojave Cross is stolen - how low can you get?

Despicable thieves in the night - the unforgivable cowards that removed the Mojave Cross symbol memorializing American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives for their country - regardless of their motives, committed a dastardly, unconscionable act.

A slap in the face of the military and the American people.

Nevertheless, the Mojave Cross was stolen before the ink dried on the Supreme Court decision allowing the cross to remain in the Salazar v. Buono case involving a constitutional challenge to the presence of the 8-foot Christian cross in the Mojave National Preserve.

The case arose when Frank Buono, a former assistant superintendent of the preserve filed a lawsuit demanding the National Park Service remove the cross.

Of course, the vexatious, anti-Christian, un-American ACLU got involved.

Indeed, Buono is a prime example of the institutional arrogance of many park service employees, and most other federal departments, agencies and institutions who believe they, not the public, are the owners of public lands, and the overseers of the public in general.

Who did it? Common sense makes the call.

USA TODAY

May 27, 2010

Intrusive controls

Financial reform legislation -- without reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- is simply another political fraud against the American people, to secure permanent power in government, supported by the indoctrinated lemmings of the left ("Senate guts out financial reform," Money, Friday).

Indeed, the idea is to exacerbate crisis and outrage, frustrate, confuse divide and distract the nation while government continues with sweeping legislation that will put the people in a bind from which they cannot resist or escape.

[Original letter sent - last sentence edited out]

Re: Senate guts out financial reform - Money

[Anyone who doubts this insidious process need only read the left’s political pocket guide, Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals."]

Riverside Press Enterprise

May 20, 2010

Reject poor budget plan

Governor Schwarzenegger and the Democrat-controlled legislature are simply unable to deal with California's budget problems, simply because it's not in their agenda-driven political DNA to do so ("Welfare to work cut in new state budget plan," May 15).

But, what else is new? That's been California's irresponsible political problem for decades.

As long as the state is held hostage by extreme environmental regulations, implementing the economy-busting AB-32 emission control law, and increasing taxes on oil companies instead of gaining revenue from increased on and off-shore drilling, the people of California will lose.

Tap-dancing around the inevitable by failing to make cuts, while yielding to the education establishment and dumping costs on counties and cities, will certainly accelerate California crashing.

The Wall Street Journal

May 19, 2010

Oath Compels Empathy Restraint

The May 17 letters share doubts about the absolute prohibition of any role for the personal empathies of Supreme Court justices.

Rather than restraint, President Obama's "trailblazing" Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, represents what is wrong with the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary. They have gone far beyond the limits of the Constitution, usurped power from the states and allowed the legislative and executive branches to do the same.

That's why the limited government specified in the Constitution has been turned into a growth industry.

(Unedited letter sent May 17, 2010):

The Constitution does not support judicial empathy, activism, philosophy or anything else but support for what is written in our founding document.

Rather than 'restraint,' President Obama's 'trailblazing' Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan represents what is wrong with the Court and the federal judiciary, which have gone far beyond the limits of the Constitution, usurped power from the states and allowed the legislative and executive branches to do the same.

Legacy-obsessed presidents come and go, however, their Senate-confirmed Supreme Court justice life-appointees can support or break constitutional law. Indeed, that's why limited government has been turned into a socialist growth industry, and that's what brings many judges of the Supreme and inferior courts 'good behavior' into impeachable question.

Los Angeles Times

May 18, 2010

California's cash crunch

Schwarzenegger and the Democrat-controlled Legislature are unable to deal with California's budget problems simply because it's not in their agenda-driven political DNA to do so. But what else is new?

As long as the state is held hostage by extreme environmental regulations, implementing the economy-busting AB 32 emission control law and increasing taxes on oil companies instead of gaining revenue from increased on and offshore drilling, the people of California will lose.

Tap-dancing around the inevitable by failing to make necessary cuts, stop spending and lowering taxes — while yielding to the education establishment, dumping costs on counties and cities and continuing to pay for illegal immigration — will certainly accelerate California's decline.

The Washington Times

May 14, 2010

Court nominees bound to heed Constitution

President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, has clearly exercised moderation and 'restraint' of convenience on her ambitious road to the Court. ("Kagan gets Obama nod as pick for high court," Page 1, Tuesday)

However, once confirmed by the Senate, this 'trailblazing lady' will undoubtedly be on the hunt for new constitutional ground in her ideological quest to push Mr. Obama's brand of socialism into the federal government.

Alas, it is highly disturbing that for a hundred years or more, both liberal and conservative ideologies of Supreme Court justices have usurped power from the states and strayed dangerously from their sworn duty to support the Constitution and the laws pursuant to it, which is the supreme law of the land.

The make-up of the Court may be politically correct, but our Constitution was never supposed to be subjected to the injustice of being a 'living document' to be circumvented, manipulated, altered or ignored by the Supreme Court, the federal and state judiciary, or other branches of government.

Los Angeles Times

May 13, 2010

Re: What the cross theft proves

By Michael McGough

Opinion L.A.

May 12, 2010

The Mojave Cross is stolen - how low can you get?

Despicable thieves in the night -- the unforgivable cowards that removed the Mojave Cross symbol memorializing American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives for their country -- regardless of their motives, committed a dastardly, unconscionable act. A slap in the face of the military and the American People.

Nevertheless, the Mojave Cross was stolen before the ink dried on Supreme Court decision allowing the cross to remain in the Salazar v. Buono case involving a constitutional challenge to the presence of the eight-foot Christian cross in the Mojave National Preserve. The case arose when Frank Buono, a former assistant superintendent of the preserve filed a lawsuit demanding the National Park Service remove the cross.

Of course, the vexatious, anti-Christian, un-American ACLU got involved. Indeed, Buono is a prime example of the institutional arrogance of many park service employees, and most other federal departments, agencies and institutions who believe they, not the public, are the owners of public lands, and the overseers of the public in general.

Who did it? Common sense makes the call.

The New York Post

May 5, 2010

Drill spill in the Gulf: O's oily 'answer'

Obama and his progressive congressional Democrats will undoubtedly use the coal mine deaths and Gulf of Mexico oil spill to permanently eliminate all new natural gas and oil exploration and drilling and increase the big squeeze against coal energy.

With that, and the high cost of green energy being imposed, we can surely expect an escalation in gas and electric-power prices, which translates to inflation, an overall increase in the cost of living and the loss of more jobs.

If the progressive political and corporate elite are able to finish their insidious cultural, political and economic transformation, most of the American people will be transformed into a giant underclass.

The Washington Times

April 28, 2010

Return to limited governance

President Obama's push for a financial overhaul of the United States is yet another goal of his grow-government, anti-free market agenda to take over the lives of the people under his protection ("Dodd pushes to get bill on derivatives to the floor," Nation, Thursday)

Indeed, this, along with healthcare, welfare, housing and Environmental Protection Agency control of energy, water and the environment, is simply a fast and furious scheme to force protection upon us whether we like it or not.

To pay for it, this president and Congress undoubtedly will pass a value-added tax (VAT) on all goods and services, which will cause hyperinflation and reduce us to a giant underclass.

As if America was not steeped in enough fear, anxiety and uncertainty, there is a real danger of Mr. Obama reducing and compromising our defenses, forcing the American people to take on enormous debt, risking a total market collapse, making us vulnerable to further terrorist attacks and generally using the economic crisis to enhance the power of his office.

The Washington Examiner

April 15, 2010

Supreme Court pick is all about ideology

Re: "Obama emboldened for another Supreme Court pick," April 13

Replacing Justice John Paul Stevens on the Supreme Court is all about ideology. President Obama surely intends to replace him with another justice who is infected by the terminal cancer in the federal judiciary that has been eating away the original intent of the Constitution.

It is simply unconscionable that so many judges and elected officials have blatantly betrayed their oaths of office to support, protect and defend the (original intent) of the Constitution of the United States by usurping power from the states, infringing on the rights, liberty and freedom of the people, and concentrating all power in Washington.

Alas, the legal community of law schools and the proliferation of lawyers has grown -- as government has grown -- not only beyond the limitations of what the Constitution prohibits, but beyond control. This was done by the manipulation, circumvention, revision and the reconstruction of our history, our founding documents and what America is all about. This is common sense, and not a matter of ideology, philosophy or interpretation.

USA TODAY

April 13, 2010

FOCUS ON SECURING INTERNET FOR VOTING

Re: "Don't let the cable guys decide what you see on the Web." Our View, 'Net neutrality' debate, Friday)

Instead of tampering with the Internet and free speech, the Obama administration, the Federal Communications Commission and Congress should use broadband to establish secure voting networks in every state.

Every registered voter should have access, and elections should be conducted over the networks. There is no excuse not to have such a system to enhance democracy and voter participation.

San Bernardino Sun

April 13, 2010

Empty gestures

President Obama's offshore drilling plans for oil and natural gas are surely empty gestures - replete with deceit - which is far from comforting to those of us who are suffering from years of rising electric bills and pain at the pump.

Interior Secretary Salazar has already reduced on- and offshore drilling leases to near nothing, along with more limitations on coal resources. And, of course, the West Coast will be exempt from new drilling, as will the potentially most productive resources in Alaska.

Surely, if our energy resources had been opened up over 20 years ago, we would not have been forced into this unconscionable mess and a fast track to ruin.

Coupled with relentless tyranny of environmental extremists, energy costs will skyrocket by the thrust of solar and wind, our economic engines will run out of gas, and our country will go into free-fall from the weight of lies, fear mongering, insurmountable public debt and irresponsible government.

Indeed, it is well known and understood that energy companies, businesses and the people are going to be increasingly squeezed by President Obama and the power of his Interior Department, Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency - to the last drop of our collective economic blood.

San Francisco Chronicle

April 2, 2010

Still pained at the pump

President Obama's offshore drilling plans for oil and natural gas are empty gestures - replete with deceit - which is far from comforting to those of us who are suffering from years of rising electric bills and pain at the pump.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has already reduced drilling leases to near nothing along with more limitations on coal resources. And, of course, the West Coast will be exempt from new drilling, as will the potentially most productive resources in Alaska.

If our energy resources had been opened up over 20 years ago, we would not have been forced into this unconscionable mess and a fast track to ruin. Indeed, it is well known that energy companies, businesses and the people are going to be increasingly squeezed by Obama and his Interior Department, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency - to the last drop of our economic blood.

The Washington Examiner

March 31, 2010

Last thing we need is Fannie, Freddie reform

Re: Reform Fannie and Freddie -- now!

editorial - March 25, 2010

It is refreshing to read the Examiner's analysis of the major role Government Sponsored Entities (GSE's) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac played in the economic meltdown, and the government intrusion that caused it. Indeed, Clinton administration officials, HUD Secretary, Andrew Cuomo, and Attorney General Janet Reno pushed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to lower lending standards, and they threatened private banks and mortgage lenders to do the same.

Thus, the affordable housing bubble began for those who could not afford the mortgages, continuously supported by irresponsible congressional banking committee members such as Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and Chuck Schumer. The combination increased the GSE's government-backed mortgage holdings to $5.4 trillion (46 percent of all residential mortgage debt), which encouraged the risk-taking on Wall Street and caused the bubble to burst.

Now that the damage is done, government wants to reform Fannie and Freddie or replace them with something else. Stop right there! Government reform programs are killing us economically, and they want to do more of them? Surely, the failure of President Obama's $75 billion Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) to aid 8 million people having trouble making payments is another of many red flags, since a report indicates that it has only helped 169,000 homeowners. No thanks!

Riverside Press Enterprise

March 28, 2010

(lead letter)

Fear government control

I just observed Congress pass national health care legislation that is blatantly unconstitutional ("Democrats sealing health care win," March 26). That was not an unintended consequence. It was intentional.

President Barack Obama and the Democrats don't care about the unintended consequences of their actions. They care about increasing government power and control of everything in the nation for our own good because they know what is best for us.

The unintended consequences of good intentions is a political cliché. That's what national health care and the intentions of big government are all about.

There is nothing unintended about the consequences of Obama's health care edict.

King Obama and the kangaroo Congress have spoken. Obey or suffer the consequences.

The Washington Times

March 19, 2010

Show Congress the door

Why are President Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress obsessed with passing a costly health care bill and pushing for costly green-energy and carbon regulations based upon phony global-warming speculation? All of these will only exacerbate the real crises affecting beleaguered Americans, which are the economy, housing and job losses - caused primarily by overreaching government.

Why do our elected representatives also continue to bury us with insurmountable debt? Well, that one I can answer: It's because they can. It isn't reckless; it's intentional. And that's where the real change must be made. In the November 2010 elections and in the 2012 presidential election, we have to tell them that's not the philosophy of the American people - and show them the door.

The Washington Examiner

March 19, 2010

King Obama, kangaroo Congress ignore public opinion

Re: "House Democrats looking at 'Slaughter Solution' to pass Obamacare without a vote on Senate bill!" March 10

Too many Democrats have put personal and party power over the will of the people by attempting to "deem" the nightmare health care bill has already passed.

Indeed, considering the sweeping government intrusions already in place or on the table, their health careless bill is making it painfully clear that President Obama is living out his magnificent deception by playing King of America with a kangaroo Congress.

That's not freedom, liberty or representative government. By any definition, that's unconstitutional tyranny.

60 Minutes – CBS News

March 15, 2010 – comment posted

Re: Inside the Collapse segment

Sunday, March 14, 2010

URL: http://atlantis2.cbsnews.com/8618-18560_162-6292458.html?assetTypeId=30&messageId=9155403

After watching and listening to the 60 Minutes 'Inside the Collapse' segment, I was troubled by the fact that author, Michael Lewis made no mention of the primary cause of the housing/economic collapse, which was government's intrusion into the mortgage market for affordable housing at any cost. The Carter and Clinton administration's started the ball rolling with Carters Community Reinvestment Act, which was used by the Clinton administration to bully mortgage lenders and banks into making home loans to those who could not afford them.

That was carried out by HUD's Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Janet Reno, who threatened banks and lenders. And, of course, it was extensively carried out by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac who -- with the backing of Congressional operatives such as Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and Chuck Schumer -- caused the making of the Wall Street monster of many methods of incentives and greed that popped the enormous bubble.

It was more than an oversight that Steve Kroft didn't ask the questions or make the statements, as it was disturbing that the special treatment of Goldman Sachs was attributed to President Bush's alumni secretary of the treasury, without the same being said of President Clinton's Goldman Sachs alumni treasury secretary Rubin.

Lastly, and unconscionable, was ignoring the many ties the Obama administration has with Goldman Sachs, and the fact that the usual suspects are at it again with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- all at our expense. Shame on 60 Minutes. It's certainly not was it once was. A premier investigative public watchdog. Now, more than ever, we need in-depth exposure of government machinations and corruption.

The Washington Examiner

March 15, 2010

Voters must reform, transform government

Re: Rep. Patrick Kennedy

Patrick Kennedy's outburst in Congress makes a confusing point. The Congress is passing mass incomprehensible legislation, the press is a mess, and the people don't trust either of them. Indeed, the public sphere is being strangled by political propaganda, lawyers, intellectual idiots, celebrity obsession, crazy activists and criminals.

Meanwhile, the people are left swimming against a rip-tide of government growth and intrusion, struggling to breathe from the suffocation of taxation, and fighting to keep from drowning from the loss of liberties.

REFORMING and TRANSFORMING AMERICA are supposed to be the political words of wisdom, but they are entirely misdirected. Surely, the media needs to reform itself. And if we are to survive the reckless failures of social, political and economic good intentions, the voters must REFORM and TRANSFORM government back to the limitations intended by our FOUNDERS, our CONSTITUTION, and WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, then and now.

Los Angeles Times

March 13, 2010

Viewers weigh in on Oscars

Fortunately, the greatest snow job on earth was not a total wash. It was a pleasure to see Jeff Bridges rewarded for playing out a crazy heartfelt story with a winner song, original thought, imagination and class -- that which is sorely missing in the badly broken realm of Hollywood, where a constant stream of social and political junk flow as bitter excuses for entertainment.

San Bernardino Sun

March 6, 2010

Obama's edict

This independent voter found little confidence in watching and listening to President Obama's so-called bipartisan health care summit. Indeed, it was more like a staged platform grand stand, which came as no surprise.

However, President Obama's health care summit proved the overriding truth about the health care issue, which was declared to be in crisis by candidate Obama in the 2008 election, and continued as a presidential edict to reform health care after the election. The economic meltdown and job losses was the crisis and is the crisis, not health care.

Health care needs simple reforms, such as those presented by the Republicans throughout the debate, but ignored by the media.

If President Obama's plan passes, health care will become a burden of enormous cost and taxation, replete with rules and regulations, diminishing the quality and access to health care, and exacerbating the overall economic crisis. Indeed, if President Obama and his Democrat minions push this on us, I will certainly be among the voters who push back in the 2010 November elections, and again in 2012.

The Washington Examiner

February 28, 2010

Health care is not the main crisis facing U.S.

Re: "Ho-hum health care summit," Editorial, Feb. 26

Ho-hum? Not from this independent voter's perspective. President Obama's health care summit proved the overriding truth about the health care issue, which was held out as a crisis by candidate Obama before and after the 2008 election. The economic meltdown and resulting job losses was - and is - the crisis, not health care. When the president concluded the summit by saying "We cannot have another year-long debate about this...We have honest disagreements about the vision for the country and we'll go ahead and test those out over the next several months till November," he made it clear that, like it or not, he was going to get his health care plan passed. And if voters don't like it, they can vote Democrats out. Health care needs simple reforms, such as those presented by the Republicans. If President Obama's plan passes, health care will become a crisis of unfair taxation, rules and regulations, diminishing health care, and increasing costs that exacerbate the overall economic crisis. We can vote out all those who voted for the plan in November, but it must be made clear to those we elect to replace them that the health care takeover bill must be repealed.

Riverside Press Enterprise

February 25, 2010

Stop government growth

I agree that any sweeping health care plan that will undoubtedly lead to more federal power is a dud ("Health dud," Our Views, Feb. 23).

President Obama's nearly $950 billion restart on health care reform is merely the tip of another federal iceberg poised to strike deeply into our ship of individual liberties.

Indeed, government's intrusion in the housing market caused the economic collapse, which has been exacerbated by intrusions in the financial and auto industries and mismanagement of debt and spending throughout the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program and the $787 billion stimulus bill. All of it has proved to be mostly fruitless, leaving us saddled with incredible debt and rising costs.

A federal takeover of health care? No. Open health insurance to out-of-state competition and control of junk lawsuits that increase costs? Yes. A federal takeover of energy and the cost of living? No way.

Voters aren't stupid. The pain of overbearing government makes things very clear to us. Government will realize this in coming elections.

San Bernardino Sun

February 8, 2010

Empty words

President Obama's State of the Union speech wreaked of arrogant, condescending rhetoric throughout. It was little more than flashy, but empty, words of deceit, while continuing his hard-line campaign in Washington's wonderland of "I know what's best for the ignorant people," supported by Nancy Pelosi in a "Queen of Hearts" pop-up box, Harry Reid's cloak and dagger, and Joe "Cheshire Cat" Biden's grin.

Indeed, he has assumed the role of commanding an intellectual pirate ship of thieves conducting raids on the American people, particularly the middle class.

Seriously, President Obama was not being truthful about the Supreme Court decision on campaign limits, off-shore drilling for oil, health care, cap-and-trade energy and finance takeovers, education and taxes. Lest we forget, the sorry state of the union was caused by government intrusion through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the intimidation of banks and mortgage lenders, which blew the housing bubble to the bursting point. Wall Street simply couldn't handle it.

We in the middle class are the heart and soul of America. Most of us are independents, and along with Tea Party people, we are united against President Obama's agenda. No matter what he says to the contrary, he is masking his contempt for us. He clearly intends to turn us into a giant underclass, along with the working poor, and dependent on the growing government/ruling class.

However, we are well-informed by seeking and finding the truth, assisted by skilled patriots, and the fairness and balance of media sources such as Fox News. We elected Scott Brown. President Obama and congressional progressives will hear from us in the 2010 and 2012 elections.

The United States of America and our Constitution belong to us, not centralized federal power in Washington.

Boston Globe

January 31, 2010

Brown victory is start of a national referendum against Obama, progressives

RE “ANARCHY in the Bay State’’ (Letters, Jan. 26): Anthony J. Frascino’s condescending contempt for middle-class independent voters is typical progressive fear rhetoric used by intellectual regressives, progressively eroding our Constitution and our freedoms by smothering us with government.

We in the middle class are the heart and soul of America. Most of us are independents, and along with Tea Party people, we are united against President Obama’s agenda. No matter what the president says to the contrary, he is masking his contempt for us. The progressive movement intends to turn us and the working poor into a giant underclass, dependent on government and ruled by it.

But that’s not going to happen. Independent voters elected Scott Brown by exercising real democracy. This indeed is the beginning of a national referendum against President (we know what’s best for you) Obama and arrogant congressional progressives. They will hear from us in the 2010 elections, and Obama will hear from us in 2012.

The Washington Times

January 29, 2010

Timing of political ad ruling couldn't be better

The outrage expressed by those opposed to the Supreme Court's decision to lift the limitations on corporate and union spending on political ads for elections ("High court voids curbs on political ad spending," Page I, Friday) is misplaced and naive. Indeed, it is ironic when activism by the courts is lauded if seen as liberal but condemned if viewed as conservative, even though unions were included in the decision.

Nevertheless, the high court's decision was decided, correctly, as free speech, and the timing couldn't be better. This comes at a time when the president and Congress are in the process of doing their utmost to dismantle free enterprise and exact unreasonable laws and regulations against health care, energy and finance, which certainly will deepen the recession and raise the cost of living for all people.

Clearly, what we really need in this age of computer technology is voting networks wherein voters would elect well-compensated, nonpartisan and professional government managers instead of professional politicians. There would be no campaign financing and the voters would decide matters of public policy and taxation. Of course, it would take a constitutional amendment. However, that may be the only way we can survive, especially when we are threatened by the age of terrorism.

Los Angeles Times

Opinion L.A.

January 25, 2010

Re: Just spell it "$upreme Court of the United $tate$ of America"

by Patt Morrison - January 22, 2010

Correct decision by Supreme Court - outrage misplaced

The outraged expressed by those opposed to the Supreme Court's decision to lift the limitations on corporation spending on political ads for elections is misplaced and naïve. Indeed, irony is not lost when liberal activism by the courts is lauded, but condemned when viewed as conservative. Unions were included in the decision, without objection from the left, even though most unions are government unions, anti-business and corrupt.

Of course President Obama's reaction to the decision was that it's a blow to democracy, and that he will work with the Congress to reinstate the limitations on corporate spending. And, of course, union spending was not mentioned in the reaction of the president or Democrat congressional leaders.

Nevertheless, the Court's decision was correctly decided as free speech and the timing couldn't be better. Particularly, when the president and the Congress are in the process of doing their utmost to dismantle free enterprise, and exact unreasonable laws and regulations against business, health care, energy and finance, which will certainly deepen the recession and raise the cost of living for all the people.

The Washington Times

January 20, 2010

Kudos for climate-change contrarians

Unlike the political left, Denis Ables ("Climate Conspiracies," Letters to the Editor, Monday) and honest climate scientists not influenced by the politics of flawed conventional wisdom and research grants are among millions of common-sense, independent thinkers who refuse to subscribe to the mass hysteria and indoctrination of extreme environmentalists and global-warming fanatics.

Of course, the lead actor in the climate-change farce is former Vice President Al Gore. However, he is merely dancing from the strings of leading global-warming activist and puppeteer James Hansen, who heads the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. On the side of truth is the foremost authority on climate change, Richard S. Lindzen, atmospheric physicist and Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was the lead author of "Physical Climate Processes and Feedbacks," a chapter of the Third Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and has long been a critic of global-warming theories and the political pressures on climate scientists. Examples of Mr. Lindzen's opinion can be found in the Wall Street Journal ("Don't believe the hype - Al Gore is wrong. There's no 'consensus' on global warming," July 2, 2006, and "The climate science isn't settled," Nov. 30, 2009).

It's bad enough when the education establishment, government and courts reconstruct, compromise, circumvent and revise our Constitution and American history in the worst possible light or else simply ignore the truth. But when that erroneous way of thinking means the fundamental transformation of our health care, energy, finances, free market and economy, it is tantamount to the tyrannies of socialism in the name of social justice.

Alas, it's more than sad. While in the midst of this transformation, the ignorant, the foolish and the naive will suffer enough to realize they have been used and abused, duped and dumped upon by the intellectual elite and pompous progressives, just like the rest of us. Fortunately, there is now an awakening and a powerful hope in the wisdom and collective judgment of the people to survive and reverse the insanity. After all, this is America.

San Bernardino Sun

January 10, 2010

Serves wrong side

Re: "We will do better," Jan. 6.

President Obama's feigned outrage at intelligence failures comes as empty words from an empty suit, discouraging vigilance in the war on terror.

The airliner homicide bomber should have been immediately put on the "no-fly" list with his father's warning. Al-Qaida terrorists should not be prosecuted in civilian courts. And the Guantanamo Bay enemy combatant facility should not be closed.

Lowering the bar in the war against terrorism only serves the cause of terrorists, not the security of America. The best offense is an aggressive defense. And, needless to say - when our lives are at stake - no holds barred.

The source of the "systemic failure" on counter-terrorism is the Obama administration's feckless philosophy and reckless disregard for the magnitude of the terrorist threat against our country.

Result: al-Qaida wins.

Daily Press

December 27, 2009

Climate change junk science

Re: “Lies and global warming” (Our Opinion, Nov 27).

The fears imposed on us by global cooling and global warming alarmists, backed by junk science, lies and statistical deceit have imposed environmental laws, rules and regulations by reactionary government and legislation and activist court decisions that have increased the cost of living for all Americans, particularly in California. The fraud created and perpetuated by climate scientists, knee-jerk activists and politicians like former vice president Al Gore for personal power and financial gain has been challenged by a growing number of credible climate scientists regardless of the hateful pressure brought to bear against them, including the irresponsible news media.

Now that the grand scheme is being exposed by their own documents and e-mail communications made public by computer hackers, corrective actions should take place. Environmental laws and all that have been unnecessarily imposed upon us and the economy should be reviewed and reversed. (Edited for length)

(The original letter went on to say) Cooking the books is simply wrong, which has been emphasized with the phony numbers being put forth by the Obama administration regarding jobs created by the stimulus bill and the reasons behind health care legislation in Congress -- not to mention the proposed cap and tax environmental emissions fraud.

Mark Twain aptly observed that "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." Cooking statistics to further the liberal agenda is certainly nothing new for environmental extremists and big government enthusiasts. Manipulated or false statistics are to tools of fear and deceit absolutely necessary to perpetuate lies and accomplish socialist schemes. But when is costs lives, grows government, destroys the economy, and reduces or threatens our liberties with the tyrannies of taxes, laws and regulations, it is unconscionable and must be stopped.

Unfortunately, the promise of meaningful change is unlikely if the DDT debacle is any indication. The long term fraud of outlawing DDT has cost 50 million lives lost to Malaria in Africa and around the world. It has long been proven that DDT did no harm to bird eggs, and little or no harm to people, yet the alarmist myth lives on because the insidious ideology that caused it never admits it was wrong about anything -- ever…. Case in point: GOVERNMENT CAUSED THE HOUSING MARKET AND THE ECONOMY TO COLLAPSE -- and government is now making it worse. Indeed, the insipid ideology and government 'can't handle the truth.' There is no truth in moral relativism….

The Washington Times

December 27, 2009

To be frank

Though most people could ignore his rancorous political narcissism before, there is no ignoring Sen. Al Franken, Minnesota Democrat, now. The machinations of the Democratic leadership aside, Mr. Franken is more than an aberration. He is a vindictive demagogue with a history of doing anything to get attention.

Indeed, his clumsy disrespect for Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut independent, while presiding over the chamber by refusing to grant Mr. Lieberman an extra minute to finish his remarks on the health care debate - because he, as a senator from Minnesota, objected - is the first sign of Mr. Franken's inability to contain himself as a senator. He certainly is no statesman.

The reason most of the liberal media ignored the story is that Mr. Franken is an embarrassment to them. Not knowing whether they elected a Franken or a Frankenstein, Minnesota voters undoubtedly will be embarrassed until the end of his term. Then again, they elected Jesse Ventura as their governor, and he certainly betrayed them. The question is: When will they learn?

The Washington Examiner

December 24, 2009

Franken shows his mean, vindictive side

Most people could ignore Al Franken's rancorous political narcissism, but there is no ignoring him now. The machinations of the Democrat leadership aside, the freshman senator from Minnesota is not a statesman, but a vindictive demagogue with a history of doing anything to get attention. Indeed, his clumsy disrespect for Senator Joe Lieberman while presiding over the chamber by refusing to grant Lieberman an extra minute to finish his remarks on the healthcare debate - because the senator from Minnesota objected - is the first sign of Franken's inability to contain himself. The reason the Washington Post, the New York Times and most of the left-stream media essentially ignored the story is because Franken is an embarrassment to them. Minnesota voters will undoubtedly also be embarrassed until the end of Franken's - or is it Frankenstein's? - term. Then again, they elected Jesse Ventura as governor. When will they learn?

Press Enterprise – Riverside

December 23, 2009

Franken seeks attention

Most people could ignore freshman Sen. Al Franken's rancorous political narcissism; however, there is no ignoring him now. The machinations of the Democrat leadership aside, Franken, D-Minn., is a vindictive demagogue with a history of doing anything to get attention.

Indeed, Franken clumsily disrespected Sen. Joe Lieberman by refusing to grant him an extra minute to finish his remarks on the health care debate. This is a sign of Franken's inability to contain himself as a senator.

Franken is not a statesman, and he can hardly be called a friend or gentleman from Minnesota.

Not knowing whether they elected a Franken or a Frankenstein, Minnesota voters will undoubtedly be embarrassed until the end of his term. Then again, they elected Jesse Ventura as their governor, and he certainly betrayed them. The question is, when will they learn? (Letter was edited)

San Francisco Chronicle

December 22, 2009

Mockery of Democracy

The Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate wolves, dressed in Santa Claus clothing, are poised to pass health care legislation as a Christmas gift to the country. When reconciled with the House bill, this will be the groundwork for the government takeover of health care in America. Next, of course, will be the "Happy New Year" of nationalizing our energy to comply with the climate change hoax and bullying by EPA regulators.

Indeed, as if the demolition of the housing market, and the damages to the financial and auto industries wasn't enough government tampering with the economy, capitalism and the lives of the people, the "we know what is best for you and, like or not, you will take it" gang is embarking upon ideological missions that will surely destroy our society and bankrupt our nation.

Those of us who object, such as the "Tea Party" people, make up a spontaneous movement of grievances by concerned citizens against overreaching government. That's what America was founded upon, and that's what the vast majority of the American people are all about.

(Original letter submitted)

Mockery of democracy and the tyranny of the minority over health care

The Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate wolves, dressed in Santa Claus clothing, are poised to pass healthcare legislation as a Christmas gift to the country, which in fact -- when reconciled with the House bill -- will be the groundwork for the government takeover of health care in America. Next, of course, will be the "Happy New Year" of nationalizing our energy to comply with the climate change hoax and bullying by EPA regulators.

Indeed, as if the demolition of the housing market, and the damages to the financial and auto industries wasn't enough government tampering with the economy, capitalism and the lives of the people, the "we know what is best for you and, like or not, you will take it" gang, the president and the Congress are embarking upon ideological missions that will surely destroy our society and bankrupt our nation.

Those of us who object, such as the so-called "Tea Party" people are not so-called "Astro Turf" or a political party. We comprise a spontaneous movement of grievances by concerned citizens against overreaching government. That's what America was founded upon, and that's what the vast majority of the American people are all about.

Those who demonize and ridicule the people who want to prevent the dismemberment of the Constitution and the United States of America, stand as the tyranny of the minority in power over the majority, who repudiate our republic with a mockery of democracy.

San Francisco Chronicle

December 9, 2009

EPA's ruling just political extortion

The EPA ruling that greenhouse gases feed global warming and therefore threaten public health ("EPA finds greenhouse gases pose health risk" (Dec. 8), giving the Obama administration power to regulate smokestack and tailpipe emissions, is little more than a blatant act of political extortion against Congress to quickly pass cap-and-trade legislation.

Moreover, it sends a message to the international climate change conference in Copenhagen, telling other nations that President Obama can control U. S. emissions whether or not Congress acts to do so.

The real threat here is the arrogance of power directed against the real target: coal-, oil- and natural gas-burning power plants and industry. It doesn't seem to matter that coal power plants supply over half of the country's electric energy.

Or that the increase in electricity rates will be overwhelming to us and our economy, which is already in shreds.

Or that the whole greenhouse gases/global warming thing is a fraud based on alarmist junk science.

(Last paragraph edited out) There is a real alarm, however. Washington has turned into a political gangland, and godfather Obama just ordered another hit, this time by his hit woman administrator of the EPA. Does dictatorship and tyranny come to mind? How about the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941?

San Bernardino Sun

December 7, 2009

Give people the power

Re: "Money big factor for ballot initiative process," by James Rufus Koren, Nov. 24.

California Constitution, Article II (Voting, Initiative and Referendum, and Recall), Section 1 (Purpose of Government) states that, "All political power is inherent in the people.

"Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and they have a right to alter or reform it when the public good may require."

The intent of Article II was to empower voters to alter or reform government when the public good requires it, including the recall of elected officials who are failing in their responsibility to the people. However, the people have been marginalized or excluded from the process because they are unable to qualify measures for the ballot because it costs at least $1 million to gather enough voter signatures, leaving the process dominated by moneyed/special interests - and the governor and Legislature, who can get any measure requiring bond or tax approval of voters on the ballot.

What we need is one simple ballot initiative to actually give the people all the political power.

That would take most, if not all, of the corrupt campaign financing out of government. And most importantly, it would enable us to clean house, reduce government and taxes, recover from economic chaos, and put us back in charge the way it was intended.

The convenience of voting networks and an instant source of information and communications would provide the incentive of voter empowerment, and would surely increase voter participation in deciding the most important issues of our lives, our liberty and our pursuit of happiness. That's democracy, pure and simple.

(ORIGINAL LETTER sent to the SB SUN)

Re: Money big factor for ballot initiative process

By James Rufus Koren

November 24, 2009

"All political power is inherent in the people"

(California Constitution Article II, Section 1)

James Koren correctly observed that it takes a lot of money to qualify a ballot initiative for the ballot, which rules out most, if not all, grassroots voter efforts. Indeed, it takes too much money and campaign funding to do anything in politics or government, particularly candidates getting elected and re-elected to public office, which sustains the self-corrupting political process and partisan politics. That ugly truth aside, back to ballot initiatives.

California Constitution, Article II (Voting, Initiative and Referendum, and Recall), Section 1 (Purpose of Government) states that, "All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and they have a right to alter or reform it when the public good may require." The Article outlines the procedures for recall, ballot initiatives and referendums.

The intent of Article II was to empower voters to alter or reform government when the public good requires it, including the recall of elected officials who are failing in their responsibility to the people. However, the people have been marginalized or excluded from the process because they are unable to qualify measures for the ballot because it costs at least $1 million to gather enough voter signatures, leaving the process dominated by moneyed/special interests -- and the governor and legislature, who can get any measure requiring bond or tax approval of voters on the ballot.

Considering California's long, glaring history of inept government and irresponsible elected officials, especially in these dire economic times, it is not enough to vote down government's tax measures as we recently did. Government just finds a way to increase our taxes in other devious ways. What we need is one simple ballot initiative to actually give us all the political power inherent in the people as stated in Article II, Section 1.

We need to qualify a voter initiative that enables voters to get initiatives, referendums and recalls on the ballot by means of a secure California signature gathering and voting network on an Intranet connected to voter's homes. Such a voting network could enable voters to communicate with other, and our elected representatives, and all elections could be held over the voting network. That would take most, if not all, of the corrupt campaign financing out of government. And most importantly, it would enable us to clean house, reduce government and taxes, recover from economic chaos, and put us back in charge the way it was intended.

Historically, voter apathy and a sense of hopelessness have caused an average of only about half of eligible voters to vote, which means that slightly over 25 percent of voters decide the outcome of elections. The convenience of voting networks and an instant source of information and communications would provide the incentive of voter empowerment, and would surely increase voter participation in deciding the most important issues of our lives, our liberty and our pursuit of happiness. That's democracy pure and simple….

USA TODAY

November 18, 2009

Terror trial in N.Y. will put U.S. at risk

Bringing 9/11 mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, to trial in a New York federal court will highlight the perversions of the Islamic religion and our criminal justice system (“Plans to try 9/11 suspect in NYC draw fire,” News, Monday).

This trial will be made possible by by anti-American lawyers and the moral relativism of President Obama. The case will also incite more terrorism and unnecessarily put our national security at extreme risk.

Riverside Press Enterprise

November 15, 2009

Correctness costs lives

Nidal Malik Hasan let his religion go fanatic on him ("Blame game starts in Fort Hood probe," Nov. 11). He chose Islamic fascist terrorism and jihad against his own country in its highest form, murdered his enemies and committed the highest treason against America.

The Defense Department and the Army bear much of the responsibility. They did not heed the obvious red flags and immediately discharge him. Rather, they were politically correct and deployed him to Afghanistan, which set him off.

Our soldiers paid the unconscionable price for nothing. There is no place for moral relativism here.

San Bernardino Sun

November 13, 2009

Soldiers paid the price

Major Hasan let his religion go fanatic on him. He chose Islamic fascist terrorism and jihad against his own country in its highest form, and is accused of murdering his enemies and committing the highest treason against America.

The Defense Department and the Army bear much of the responsibility by not heeding the obvious red flags and immediately discharging him, rather than politically correct hesitation and an Iraq/Afghanistan deployment transfer that apparently set him off.

Stupid is as stupid does. And our soldiers paid the unconscionable price for nothing. There is no place for moral relativism here.

Daily Press

October 12, 2009

Out of touch

President Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after only 8 months in
office with no real accomplishments comes as no surprise. It is merely Nobel
candy with costly strings attached.

Obama, along with former president Carter (2002) and former vice president
Gore (2007) were given their Nobel Peace Prizes, not for their achievements
in making peace, but as European cheap tricks to put the burden of world
problems -- real or imagined -- on the backs of American taxpayers.

The leaders of Egypt and Israel, Sadat and Begin, had already made an
agreement before they went to Carter to host the so-called Camp David
Accords because they needed us to pay the costs. Likewise, Al Gore together
with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change were jointly awarded the
prize so that America would bear the primary costs of questionable global
warming. It didn't matter that the awards were based upon fraud and deceit.

Of course the Peace Prize Committee followed that up by saddling President
Obama and the United States with what Obama already put in motion to battle
climate change and the proliferation of nuclear weapons, which if carried
out would certainly break our economic back and leave us defenseless.
Indeed, the Committee has turned the Nobel Peace award into a corrupt
political tool rendering it irrelevant, and damaging most of the other Nobel
categories.

Daily Press

October 5, 2009

Small enough to fail

It is troubling to realize that, considering his economic recovery failures
and his obsessions with economy-busting, strong-arm government programs,
President Obama seems destined to give away the American farm rather than
guarding it and helping it prosper by any means necessary. Delusions of
omniscience and playing his world-view games in a world replete with
dangerous serial cheaters is naive, self-involved and foolish.

As the hurt wises up the American people, they will realize that President Obama is not too big to fail, that voters made a big mistake, and that the White House cabal and the gang of liberal Democrats controlling Congress are wrong for us.

Opinion L.A. - Los Angeles Times

September 30, 2009

Re: When a Medicare cut isn't exactly a cut

By Jon Healey

Medicare Advantage should not be cut
It is troubling to know that most of the press is ignoring the potential
plight of seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage, most of whom are low
income, while President Obama throws us under the bus. Medicare Advantage is
a program wherein private health insurance companies contract to manage
Medicare patients' healthcare, allowing us to obtain complete health
insurance at lower insurance premium rates.

President Obama accuses the insurance companies of unjustly profiting from
the programs, which is not true. Most insurance companies, particularly the
Kaiser Senior Advantage program, manage Medicare better than Medicare does,
at a lower cost with better care. Kaiser has also spend $5 billion over 5
years to computerize all their medical records for their entire system of
health care. Kaiser is the model for good health care system.

President Obama lied when he promised that there will be absolutely no
change for all of us who have health insurance. My personal concern is that,
in the name of waste, fraud and abuse, Obama intends to eliminate Medicare
Advantage for 10 million seniors, which will double or triple our premiums.
If the congressional committees working on health care legislation propose
to reduce or eliminate the Medicare Advantage program, they should
reconsider their actions or suffer the consequences.

Press Enterprise

September 29, 2009

Resist Iranian ploys

Iran, not unlike North Korea, has proven time and time again that it does not negotiate ("Defiant Iran tests missiles," Sept. 28). To the contrary, Iran welcomes diplomacy as a mere diversion and opportunity to delay action until it gets what it wants, which is nuclear arms power.

And what Iran really wants is to destroy Israel and dominate the region. For President Obama to think otherwise is an exercise in delusions of his omniscience in his quest for a nuclear weapons-free world.

Israel, on the other hand, will survive by any means necessary. It is troubling to realize that Obama seems destined to give away the American farm rather than guard it and help it prosper by any means necessary.

San Diego Union-Tribune

September 4, 2009

Inadequate fire funding makes outbreaks worse

It's bad enough that the California taxmasters are after us again with added
gasoline and diesel fuel taxes, even though it won't keep state government
from crashing, but with California burning -- again -- we should be
questioning the limits on fire fighting personnel and fire fighting
equipment. Indeed, it wasn't that long ago when the state cut CAL Fire
funding for new engines and firefighting aircraft to the tune of $27 million
including the final year of DC 10 tanker aircraft stationed at the SCLA in
Victorville.

Considering the rapid devastation caused by wild fires -- and the added
availability of the Boeing 747 water dropping aircraft and a second DC 10
tanker -- the state ought to create a massive fire fighting air force to
respond to these fires, which would certainly reduce the cost and losses.

Indeed, reducing the big aircraft to an as-needed basis is more costly and
time-delaying. Aircraft should be among the first-in to knock out brush and
forest fires before they get out of control, which happens more often than
not. Instead of being arrogant and stupid by thumbing its nose at revenue
from off-shore drilling for oil and natural gas, the state would be wise to
welcome the millions and billions of dollars to fund fire fighting, police
and other emergency services.

USA TODAY
September 1, 2009
(Re: "A final farewell," News, Friday, August 29, 2009).

Praise is overblown
Daniel B. Jeffs - Apple Valley, Calif.

The tragic death by cancer of any human being notwithstanding, Sen. Edward
Kennedy was little more than a member of the most corrupt political family
of privilege in U.S. history. The senator's legacy is a prime example of how
too many of our elected officials stand for representing themselves in
gaining personal power and self-aggrandizement far more than representing
the people.

Unfortunately, supported by the celebrity-obsessed news media, the Obama
administration and the Democratic Congress will undoubtedly immortalize
Kennedy and his years of promoting national health care to pass their health
care dreams, which would surely become a socialized medicine nightmare for
the American people.

The O’Reilly Factor

August 10, 2009

Daniel B. Jeffs' letter to Bill O'Reilly about his article in Parade Magazine was selected by O'Reilly for the August 10, 2009 mail segment of the O'Reilly Factor show. The August 9, 2009 Parade Magazine article, What President Obama Can Teach America’s Kids, praised President Obama's life as a role model for kids. I disagreed as follows:

"Sorry, Bill, the article was wrong-headed. Obama is abusing his power. Wise-up, you have angered your base."

Daniel Jeffs
Apple Valley, CA

Bill O'Reilly's reply: "I don't think so, Dan. The article was direct toward children. And everything written is true. My base wants the truth."

I posted my original letter posted on billoreilly.com and as mail to Bill. Many of the postings were similar to mine. Bill's base was definitely angry about the article:

"Sorry, Bill, your article in Parade magazine was ill-conceived and wrong-headed.

Overall, President Obama's life is not a positive teaching moment or a role model for America's kids. Particularly, when he is increasingly representing abuses of political power and government empire building, day by day, week by week, and month after month.

Wise up, Bill. You're angering your base."

Riverside Press Enterprise

August 8, 2009

(Lead letter)

Lament lost trust

With the loss of Walter Cronkite -- and other news anchors with objective integrity who kept their ideology to themselves -- the liberal media betrayed their responsibility to free-press journalism and the American people, and trust was lost ("America loses its anchor, 'the most trusted man,' " July 18).

If the media's blind allegiance to Barack Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress continues, they will surely run our country all the way into social, political and economic ruin.

As Cronkite said at the conclusion of his news broadcasts, "That's the way it is." Indeed, "the way it was" was far better than the way it is. I miss the comfort of trust that he imbued.

San Francisco Chronicle
July 8, 2009
(Lead letter to the editor)

Michael mania -- a social sickness

The media-driven mania over Michael Jackson's death is an indictment of
extreme celebrity obsession and all the damage done by spreading what has
become a destructive social sickness. Beginning with Elvis Presley's tragic
death from drug abuse -- then John Belushi, and more recently, Keith
Ledger -- Michael Jackson's tragic demise of a tortured soul was the product
of hyper-stardom exploitation and commercial greed.

Most human beings simply can't handle the endless pressure, yet none of it
matters to the unconscionable chase-the-buck corporate media and
entertainment industry's bottom lines, followed by the attendant vulture
culture. Indeed, even when it becomes terminal, the callousness doesn't miss
a beat.

"American Idol", the endless proliferation of shallow reality programs, and
the Facebook/Utube Internet explosions of reckless behavior are playing out
the seduction of instant celebrity and fame for a day, a week or a month at
any cost. Shame on us for Twittering away our values, common sense and
democracy, when it's time make the most of it.

Press Enterprise (Riverside CA)
July 7, 2009

The Joke is on voters

Al Franken is now U.S. Senator-elect Al Franken, which tips the power in the
Senate to the Democrats ("Senate win gives Democrats big lift," July 1)..

How ironic is the Saturday Night Live Stuart Smalley "people like me" image?
Al Franken is a political hero in his own mind.

In reality, he is a rancorous partisan and a joke. But like the power
of overwhelming government being wrought upon the country, the joke will be
on those who will undoubtedly suffer from it.

Los Angeles Times
July 4, 2009

Franken's new gig
(Lead of five letters)

Al Franken is now U.S. Senator-elect Al Franken, which tips the power in the
Senate to the Democrats. Franken may be a political hero in his own mind; I
think he is a rancorous partisan. But like the power of overwhelming
government being wrought upon the country, the joke will be on those who
will undoubtedly suffer from it -- most of us.

San Bernardino Sun
July 4, 2009

Forgotten soldier?

As the media continues its obsession with celebrity deaths, there has been
no follow-up to the brief coverage of the revenge murder of Pvt. William
Long by an American Islamic terrorist convert. It seems as though Pvt.
Long's death while defending his country is almost meaningless, as is the
act of treason by his killer.

The murder of Pvt. William Long
Little Rock, Arkansas
June 1, 2009

(Ignored or buried by the major news media)

Daily Press

June 10, 2009

A different report

The attack by a U.S. citizen -- convert to a radical Islamic terrorist
faction at war with America -- on a U.S. Army recruiting station killing one
U.S. soldier and wounding another was treason. It's time to prosecute
traitors for who and what they are, and to take away their citizenship.

San Bernardino Sun
May 30, 2009

Freedom undermined

San Diego Union-Tribune
May 28, 2009

Naming Judge Sotomayor to U.S. Supreme Court

Taken together, the California Supreme Court's weak Proposition 8 decision
regarding same-sex marriage, and President Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia
Sotomayor for the United States Supreme Court, are glaring examples of a
class of people demanding special rights over equal rights and liberals
using activist judges to legislate policies, special rights and making laws
they cannot get through constitutional legislation. It's simply insidious
and a systemic undermining of the rights and protections of our
Constitution, limited government and our freedom.

Riverside Press Enterprise
Published May 25, 2009
Re: California state government

Shake up government

We should fix state government, beginning with a voter initiative to create
secure voting networks that would also allow the collection of voter
signatures via the Internet. The power of voter initiative and referendum
was meant for the people, not for special, selfish or moneyed interests.

Because our government has failed to comply with its constitutional
responsibilities, for the public good, we should reform it with voter
initiatives to reduce it to core provisions.

Public education under a government/union monopoly has failed. Therefore, we
should repeal Prop. 98's grip on the budget. We should privatize and
subsidize education as needed.

We need well-compensated, nonpartisan professional government managers, not
professional partisan politicians, as our elected officials. Also, official
decision-making on all matters of taxation, spending and public policy
should devolve back to counties and cities, under approval of voters.

(Original letter sent May 21, 2009)

We need to balance state government, which should begin with a voter
initiative to create secure voting networks that would also allow the
collection of voter signatures via the Internet. The power of voter
initiative and referendum was meant for the people, not special, selfish or
moneyed interests.

Lest we forget, our California Constitution, Article II, Section 1. (Purpose
of Government) states: "All political power is inherent in the people.
Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and
they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require."

Since our government has failed to comply with its constitutional
responsibilities, the public good requires us to alter and reform it with
voter initiatives to reduce it to core provisions. Public education under a
government/union monopoly has failed. Therefore, Proposition 98's grip on 40
percent of the budget should be repealed. Education should be privatized and
subsidized as needed.

Elected representatives should be well-compensated nonpartisan professional
government managers, not professional partisan politicians. Decision making
on all matters of taxation, spending and public policy should devolve back
to counties and cities, and subject to the approval of voters.

TIME MAGAZINE
May. 18, 2009

(Two very different letters)

How's Obama Doin'?

In his first 100 days, President Barack Obama has had to address such issues
as torture, pirates, increasing unemployment, trouble in the Big Three car
companies and corruption on Wall Street [May 4]. And yet for the first time
in a long while, I have seen Americans begin to have hope for a stronger
America. Congratulations, Mr. President, for giving Americans something they
were seeking and sorely lacking.

Anthony P. Johnson
PHILADELPHIA

President Obama aptly characterized the current recession recently as one
caused by a "perfect storm of irresponsibility and poor decision-making that
stretched from Wall Street to Washington to Main Street." Yet the Obama
phenomenon could be brewing a more perfect storm, wherein an
F.D.R.- L.B.J.-- style government would promote intrusions that could inflict
great social, political and economic devastation on us.

Daniel B. Jeffs
APPLE VALLEY, CALIF.

Original letter sent April 26, 2009
Time Magazine
Re: President Obama's First 100 Days - Cover
Sizing Up Obama's First 100 Days
By Joel Stein

Joel Stein's almost glowing report on President Obama's first 100 days in
office comes as no surprise. However, the media-driven excitement glosses
over troubling distractions and diversions, seemingly designed to dazzle the
press, while confusing the public mind by tap dancing around looming
national security problems gaining steam in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and
North Korea.

On the economic front, President Obama aptly characterized this recession as
"different" in his speech at Georgetown University on April 14, 2009. "This
recession was not caused by a normal downturn in the business cycle. It was
caused by a perfect storm of irresponsibility and poor decision-making that
stretched from Wall Street to Washington to Main Street."

However, we must remember one thing: the Obama phenomenon could well be
brewing a more perfect storm, wherein the magnificent obsession with
FDR-LBJ-style government expansion is in fact a malignant deception, which
will surely promote so much intrusive government expansion that -- if we let
it -- could exact more social, political and economic devastation upon us
than we can handle.

The Press-Enterprise

Riverside, CA

April 18, 2009

Bias pervades media

The Daily Press

April 20, 2009

Dissing the tea parties

San Bernardino Sun

April 29, 2009

Shudder to think

The left-wing media establishment attacked or ignored the tax day "tea
parties" because it is a product of the liberal schools of journalism and
most of the nation's secular-progressive colleges and universities:
Condescending and dismissive of anything opposed to their ideology.

Contrary to popular belief, the First Amendment is not exclusive to the
left, and real journalism is not dead. Thankfully, we have objective local
and regional newspapers, the fair and balanced Fox News Channel and others
looking out for us.

If it were not for the far-left tyrannies and entitlement-driven government,
there would be very little media-driven hate and discontent in America. I
shudder to think of what it would be like without the truth.

San Bernardino Sun
March 16, 2009

Deceit on coal power

According to a recent report, Congress has reduced its energy consumption of
coal from 49 percent in 2007 to 35 percent by using more natural gas in the
Capitol Power Plant. However, in light of the anti-coal demonstrations in
Washington today, it seems that green environmentalists are not satisfied,
and won't be until coal-burning power is eliminated.

Problem is, coal power supplies more than 50 percent of the nation's
electricity, clean-coal technology is on the increase and our country
contains one of, if not the, largest coal reserves. Obviously that doesn't
matter to well-indoctrinated environmental zealots led by the likes of
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on a freezing day at Capitol Hill.

Nor does it matter that it has been proven that global temperatures have
steadily fallen over the past decade, since their peak in 1998, or that a
recent MIT analysis of the effects of carbon cap and trade taxes on the
economy show that there will be a gasoline price increase of $1.27 per
gallon, and increases in electricity rates of more than 60 percent.
Democracy cannot be a one-way street of deceit.

San Diego Union-Tribune

March 13, 2009

Bernard Madoff's Wall Street Ponzi schemes were not so different from
congressional tax and spend schemes. Move other people's money around
without them knowing what hit them until it's too late. More prosecutions
anyone?

San Bernardino Sun

March 5, 2009

The one Republican hold out, sold out

Republican Senator Maldonado from Santa Maria sold out to Democrat tax
hikers to break the budget deadlock. Though there was one concession to
eliminate the 12 cent per gallon gas tax increase, that still leaves us with
the increases in vehicle registration tax, income tax and sales tax.

Of course, hardest hit by the tax increases will be small businesses, middle
income taxpayers and retired people on fixed incomes.

But that doesn't seem to matter to the big spenders in Sacramento
who are bound and determined to sink California under the weight of
miseducation, socialism, environmentalism and insurmountable debt much
like what is going on in Washington. We simply can't take it from both ends.

Other than eliminating the gas tax increase, the only bright spot in the
budget deal was Maldonado's insistence on voters getting the chance to
approve open primary elections, which would give us the chance to clean
house in Sacramento.

Press Enterprise (Riverside, CA)

February 23, 2009

Oscars still push politics

San Francisco Chronicle

February 24, 2009

Oscars: Politics trumps entertainment

It was a pleasant change to see some Broadway musical style entertainment
courtesy of Oscar host, Hugh Jackman, along with the overall upbeat
improvements in the event, including the nominations of supporting and best
actors/actresses by 5 previous winners. "Slumdog millionaire" was certainly
deserving of Best Picture for 2008, with a great story.

However, it was abundantly clear that Hollywood's social and political
agenda is as alive and judgmental as ever. Best Actor winner, Sean Penn
certainly didn't disappoint his critics with his condescending attitude and
scolding of Proposition 8 supporters. Nor did the comments of the original
screenplay winner, Dustin Lance Black

Nevertheless, the liberal agenda was pushed forward with anti-Catholic,
"Doubt," environmentalist, "WALL-E," beating dead conservatives,
"Frost/Nixon," and the Boomer wish film, "The Curious Case of Benjamin
Button."

Regardless of what the overall audience may want, the Academy Awards honors
itself for political activism at the expense of great movies and
entertainment. Awarding Best Actor to Sean Penn instead of Mickey
Rourke for "Wrestler" was not only wrongheaded and selfish, it was shameful
and cruel. Alas, the art of filmmaking, imagination, meaningful original
stories, and sincere acting are simply fading away, replaced by superficial
preach-movies, re-makes and junk films. It's sad...

Daily Press

February 20, 2009

Offshore drilling budget solution - avoid tax increases

On January 29, 2009, a state panel rejected a proposal that could have led
to the first new oil drilling project off the California coast in 40 years.
The State Lands Commission voted against a request by the Plains Exploration
& Production Co.'s request to expand drilling off Platform Irene in the
Santa Barbara Channel which, alone, would have meant $billions in revenue
for California.

There are large oil and natural gas resources off the California coastline
in state waters that could have been developed, which would have avoided the
former governor Gray Davis budget and energy crisis that led to his recall.
And would have avoided the current budget crisis.

Nevertheless, Californians' economic well being continues to be held hostage
by environmental zealots, including cowardly politicians, such as the
Democrat majority in the legislature, the current governor, and both U.S.
Senators. In addition, California Democrat Speaker of the House, Nancy
Pelosi and the Democrat Congressional delegation were against the Santa
Barbara proposal because it would have undercut their efforts to reintroduce
a federal drilling moratorium that was lifted by the Bush administration.

Regardless, there are enough offshore oil and natural gas resources under
state waters to provide the billions of dollars needed for budget
shortfalls, and the future assets that could be borrowed against to resolve
this $42 billion problem and avoid tax increases. All the state needs to do
is make the deals. More importantly, California would have the constant oil
and natural gas resources to lower and stabilize gasoline prices, and
natural gas prices for electric power plants, upon which the state relies
heavily.

Not to do it is simply stupid and unconscionable. But that's what most
environmentalists, (public officials and private radicals) are. Most
California voters now favor offshore drilling, so we ought to get busy with
a voter initiative to make it happen, and vote the obstructionists out while
we're at it. It's just common sense.

Los Angeles Times
February 19, 2009

Stimulus fight, and fears

Rahm Emanuel was correct when he said, "You never let a serious crisis go to
waste. What I mean by that is you can do things you couldn't do before."
That is exactly what the president and Congress are doing.

What is disturbing is how Democrats are using the economic crisis to spend
billions on new healthcare, welfare and environmental programs. The programs
will stay, expand and grow in cost.

Worse, the so-called recovery package is undoubtedly the first installment
of more government expansion, which means the recession will deepen and last
much longer.

President Obama and his people took serious economic problems, turned them
into a social, environmental and political crisis, exacerbated the crisis,
and immediately began using it to grow and expand government.

Even worse, the liberal media contributed to the overall depth of economic
failure. Government and media-driven fear works!

Daily Press (Victorville, CA)

February 4, 2009

Re: "More theft by California" (Letters, H Messinger, Feb. 2)

Tax rebate deductibility

H. Messinger's letter regarding excess tax witholding is on target.
California government's shameless and irresponsible spending created the $42
billion deficit, yet there has been no move toward preventing future
irresponsible spending. Meanwhile, the state has no money for income tax
refunds.

If and when the refunds are made, the same interest and penalties that the
state charges taxpayers should apply to the refunds. And the same formula of
interest and penalties should apply to federal tax refunds.

As for the federal fiasco in Washington, the near $trillion stimulus package
should stripped of all pork and replaced with tax cut legislation that
should include the return to all interest paid being deductible when filing
tax returns. All interest earned by taxpayers must be declared as income, so
all interest paid by taxpayers should be deductible, not just interest paid
on mortgages.

Indeed, the federal tax insanity should be mitigated even further. State tax
refunds should not be considered income. And all city, county and state
sales taxes, and federal sales and excise taxes should be deductible.

Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA)
January 10, 2009

As a former member of the Sheriff's Department, I wish Sheriff Gary Penrod the very best in his retirement ("S.B. County sheriff to retire this month," Jan. 8).

He has done a progressively outstanding job throughout his career, for which the people of San Bernardino County should be grateful and proud. Whoever succeeds Penrod would do well to follow his example.

On the other hand, San Bernardino County assessor Bill Postmus should step down from his position immediately ("Embattled assessor 'humbly' apologizes," Jan. 7).

His costly drug addiction problem has obviously clouded his judgment and common sense, and he could present a severe liability to San Bernardino County taxpayers by driving a county vehicle.

USA TODAY
January 9, 2009

CIA Director's importance

A breakdown of intelligence was said to be at fault in the failure to prevent the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and in the misguided invasion of Iraq.

So the thought of Leon Panetta as a CIA director doing on the job training is a scary one.

Daily Press
January 8, 2009
The SUN
January 11, 2009

Bad fuel tax timing

Re: Panel wants to hike fuel taxes to fund highways

Government by crisis

$14 billion in proposed state taxes on income, sales, gasoline, vehicle registration, other taxes and tax refund IOU's come at the worst possible time. Particularly when the federal government is proposing large increases in federal gasoline and diesel taxes, while the economy continues to decline and the cost of living increases.

If the state had saved and not spent the increased revenue taken in during the housing and economy bubble, there would be no budget crisis. It has happened before, and it will happen again. The question is, how long will California voters continue to accept irresponsible elected officials and representatives who govern by crisis?

Daily Press
December 24, 2008

Barney Frank lit the fuse
Re: Praising the regulators -
December 15, 2008 letter

Mike Ranger must be overdosing on liberal Democrat kool-aid when he says Barney Frank and Chris Dodd are innocent heroes and blames the Republicans for the housing meltdown. Or maybe he uses the New York Times as his bible.

In the lastest New York Times special series on the financial crisis (three pages), "The Reckoning; White House Philosophy Stoked Mortgage Bonfire," published on December 20, 2008, the Times blamed President Bush for the mortgage meltdown. Either it was a mistake, or the Times must be the most naive newspaper in the nation. President Bush and congressional Republicans tried to rein-in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's massive risky lending, but the Democrats blocked it. The only mistake Bush made was being a compassionate conservative and not trying harder to stop the bleeding.

In case the Mr. Ranger and Times missed it, the seed to the housing collapse was planted by President Carter with the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977.

President Clinton used the Act to intimidate banks and mortgage lenders which made it worse. Then Barney Frank, Christopher Dodd and Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines knowingly lit the slow-burning fuse.

Daily Press
December 21, 2008

Reform or Fail

As usual, California state government has failed voters, taxpayers and students, again. The last time there was a housing boom and housing inflation, California's elected betrayers spent the increases in tax revenues as fast or faster than they received them, which resulted in a budget crisis when housing price corrections came, as it always does. Now, it's happened again, only it is a much bigger problem because of overpriced, underperforming public education, and the overall economic meltdown.

It would be kind to say that our elected representatives are sorely lacking in judgment and common sense, when the truth of the matter is that we are being represented by a bunch of fools. Indeed, fools who circumvent the California Constitution to pay for their mistakes. It's bad enough that we are suffering from severe economic stress, but when our government exacerbates our problems with increases in gas, sales and income taxes, it's tantamount to being criminally inept. Simply put, California's government and public education are proven failures, which makes it time to reform both.

Press Enterprise
December 14, 2008
(edited for space)

Slugging democracy

Poking democracy in the eye has risen to punching the electorate and the Constitution in the face.
Indeed, the mafia tactics of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his ilk clearly demonstrate how deeply corrupt Chicago politics are.

Barack Obama and his crew took a more sophisticated approach and were belched out of the belly of the beast.

Blatant betrayal of democracy does not bode well for the survival of our society.

(Original letter - sent December 11, 2008)

Poking democracy in the eye has risen to punching the electorate and the Constitution in the face. Indeed, the mafia tactics of Illinois governor Blagojevich and his ilk clearly demonstrates how deeply corrupt Chicago politics have long been aligned with gangland style operations.

Barack Obama and his crew took a more sophisticated approach to the new politics of superficial propaganda for the masses, nevertheless, they were belched out of the belly of the beast. Blatant betrayal of democracy does not bode well for the survival of our society and our country, particularly in these dire economic and perilous times.

Daily Press
November 30, 2008

Fool's gold

As if California's economic train wreck isn't bad enough, the governor and the legislature are poised to increase the sales tax, triple vehicle taxes, and break consumers' backs with unreasonable energy costs.

What should be called "Taxifornia's" government, simply doesn't get it. The People of California do, and we're getting it where it hurts the most. The cost of living and jobs.

Thanks to decades of incessant raids and claim jumping by tax and spending Democrats, California's gold has been reduced to little more than fool's gold.

Daily Press
November 23, 2008

Democrats protect their own

Those who wonder why House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, Senator Chuck Schumer, former Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines and many others aren't being investigated for their participation in the collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- and the domino-effect on the financial market, which caused the economic meltdown -- need only look as far as Jimmy Carter's Community Reinvestment Act, Bill Clinton's perversion of the CRA, ACORN, the Left-wing of the Democratic Party and others of their ilk. Indeed, a corrosive nanny government culture has become firmly entrenched throughout the entire government bureaucracy. With rare, unavoidable exceptions, they simply don't investigate or punish their own.

As if the economic train wreck wasn't bad enough, government environmentalists and their private activist counterparts are bent on making it even worse. Unreasonable regulations have escalated the cost of living for all Americans. Now that they are in control of government, the highly questionable global warming crowd are stepping up the crusade for alternative renewable energy sources to replace existing energy resources.

And to do it immediately without taking the time to advance technology, to consider the massive costs of energy transmission infrastructure, or to expand existing resources to soften the economic blow. Of course, California government learned nothing from the previous energy crisis. Instead, the state's incompetent ideologues are blindly pushing for inflated energy costs with legislation to drastically reduce greenhouse gases -- with conservative turncoat Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger now leading the way -- regardless of the consequences, or consideration of voters' clear rejection of excessive alternative energy proposals.

Albert Einstein said that insanity is doing something again, expecting a different result. Surely, applying radical environmentalists' disoriented thinking is what will undoubtedly drive California's economy on a fast track to bankruptcy.

USA TODAY
November 20, 2008 (edited)

Hopeful for Obama

I did not vote for President-elect Barack Obama. Even so, I'm hoping he will prove to be an extraordinary president. He will have to be, or America's economic and national security problems will deepen.

What concerns me is the potential for left-wing political pressure on one side and fruitless nit-picking on the other.

Laying blame on the Bush administration will go only so far over the next four years. I hope that Obama's historic election to the White House will mean something more.

I am hopeful he will sort out conflicting influences; take the ominous responsibility of the presidency as a crash course in wisdom, careful choices and thoughtful decision-making. I'm also hopeful that Obama will do the right thing for America, despite stormy social, political and economic changes.

(Letter before editing)

Re: This moment in history - Obama's first term

I did not vote for president-elect Barack Obama, however, I'm hoping that my negative expectations are wrong, and that he will prove to be an extraordinary president. Indeed, he will have to be or America's economic and national security problems will certainly deepen, likely, beyond repair.

What concerns me most is that the media was instrumental in Obama's election, which tells me that the media has a stake in the perceived success of his first term, real or imagined. Of further concern is the left-wing political pressure that will be exerted by extremists from one side, and fruitless nit-picking from the other side. Laying blame on the Bush administration to cover mistakes will only go so far over the next four years.

Hopefully, Barack Obama's historic election will mean something more. Hopefully, he will sort out conflicting influences and clear his young, intelligent mind. Hopefully, he will take the ominous responsibility of the presidency as a crash course in wisdom, careful choices, and thoughtful decision-making. Hopefully, he will do the right thing for America, despite the stormy social, political and economic climate changes.

The Daily Press
November 5, 2008

HISTORY WAS MADE - WHAT'S NEXT?

President-elect Barack Obama, far left Democrats and the liberal media got their way. History was made on November 4, 2008. What's next? An independent voter's prediction: Unless Obama is able to overcome the powerful expectations of selfish interests and extremists in his efforts to create a positive legacy for himself and our country, which he undoubtedly wants, political rancor will prevail over common sense. Indeed, the down side will be one-party rule, even bigger government, and the experiment in socialist capitalism will be elevated beyond what our founders could have ever feared or imagined.

Taxing and spending will deepen the wounded economy. Our national security will be compromised, and state and local governments will go asunder. The betrayal of democracy will be realized. Voters will suffer much more than buyers' remorse, and they will attempt to exercise their own brand of change in coming elections. The question is, will it be too late?

Press Enterprise
October 19, 2008
(letter edited for space)

Scrap income taxes

A citizens group in Massachusetts has qualified a measure for the ballot to abolish the state's income tax. The group attempted it in 2002, and it nearly passed. The group calls the state, "Taxachusetts."

California citizens should do the same in "Taxifornia." We have good reason to put such a measure on our ballot, and to pass it, just as we did Prop. 13 in 1978 to slow state thieves from taxing us out of our homes.

Considering the growing tax-and-spend monster California legislators have created, it's certainly time to cut off the legislative lunatics who sit in Sacramento plotting the next looting of taxpayers.

Original letter submitted:

Abolish "Taxifornia" income tax

The Committee for Small Government, a citizen group in Massachusetts, has qualified a measure (Question 1) for the state ballot to abolish the state's income tax. The group attempted it in 2002, and it nearly passed. They have labeled the state, "Taxachusetts."

California citizens should do the same in "Taxifornia." We certainly have good reason to put such a measure on our ballot, and to pass it, just as we did Proposition 13 in 1978 to slow state thieves from taxing us out of our homes.

Considering the growing tax and spend monster California legislators have created over the years, it's certainly time to cut off the greedy income tax hands reaching into our pockets and paychecks. The word, budget seems to be an oxymoron to the legislative lunatics who sit in Sacramento plotting the next looting of taxpayers.

San Bernardino Sun
October 8, 2008

Depression of our own

After the excesses of the "Roaring 20's" and the stock market crash of 1929, President Herbert Hoover fumbled, Franklin D. Roosevelt took advantage of it, was elected and began his New Deal with a Democrat-controlled Congress, in which government took over the economy, changed the banking system, increased business taxes and prolonged the depression until World War II. The economy didn't fully recover until the 1950's.

What has happened in our economy since the the "Roaring 90's," the Clinton administration's stimulation of irresponsible Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac-driven subprime lending, and the turn of the century stock market and congressional-driven mortgage meltdown and government bailout takeover, is disturbingly similar to what turned into the previous depression.

President Bush and congressional Republicans made several attempts to avoid this economic train wreck with recommended controls and regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which were blown-off by House and Senate Democrats. President Bush is the antithesis of President Herbert Hoover's failures and cannot be blamed or viewed in the same light.

Therefore, burning question is, if elected, will Barack Obama and the usual suspects of the Democrat-controlled Congress turn this recession into a new, New Deal for the next 30 years? More than likely, and it would be a very bad deal of CHANGE we can least afford.

Hopefully, voters who have been indoctrinated by the hypocrisy of the socialist education establishment, government and media will realize that they are being played as fools. Hopefully, they will realize that the state of the union is a disgusting betrayal of democracy. Not to realize it would surely result in a long, self-imposed social and economic depression.

San Francisco chronicle
October 4, 2008
Press Enterprise
October 6, 2008

Debate Blunders

'F' for the candidates

Editor - In the 2008 vice presidential debate, when asked the first question, regarding what caused the mortgage financial meltdown, neither Sen. Joe Biden nor Sarah Palin would place the blame where it belongs: The three F's. The failures of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Sen. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

Los Angeles Times
September 29, 2008
(Headline Letter)

Government should keep its nose out of our business and the free market.

Since FDR's New Deal and LBJ's Great Society injected socialist cancers into American society, they have metastasized. The Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debacle is a prime example.

The massive, $700-billion bailout of worthless subprime mortgage assets simply confirms how inept big socialist-style government is and adds to what could become a terminal financial meltdown of our country. Sadly, too many people have come to depend on easy credit and giant handouts that hurt them in the end.

The country should undergo financial therapy with tight credit and more pay-as-you-go rehabilitation. Indeed, by being free of unreasonable government interference, regulations and mandates, the free market can work just fine. It is already showing signs of recovery, such as Bank of America buying Countrywide Financial, Warren Buffett shoring up Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase acquiring Washington Mutual.

Meanwhile, Congress should eliminate the capital-gains tax, pass a comprehensive energy bill that will create jobs and make us energy self-sufficient, then go on a long-term tax-and-spend reduction diet -- and stay out of our lives.

Daily Press
September 28, 2008

The road to meltdown

During the Clinton administration, HUD Secretary, Andrew Cuomo pressured banks and mortgage lenders to make home loans to those who could not afford them. Clinton's Attorney General Janet Reno threatened to vigorously investigate banks and mortgage brokers who did not comply with Cuomo's requests.

Four years ago, Clinton's former budget director, Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines was fired for mismanagement and lack of accountability. Congressional Republicans attempted to pass regulations, which included prohibiting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from accepting risky home loans and selling them banks and mortgage companies. Congressional Democrats defeated the proposed legislation.

Federal Reserve chairman, Alan Greenspan warned the Congress about what is happening to the economy right now. The Congress ignored the warning. The Democratic-controlled Congress did nothing to prevent the current melt-down of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the banks and mortgage industry. Neither did the Bush administration. Democrats started the mess and nobody cleaned it up. As usual, the taxpaying Citizens, investors, and small businesses of the United States are expected to pay for it when we can least afford it.

The first installment of nearly one trillion dollars is being proposed by the President and the Congress so Congressional incumbents can be re-elected on November 4th. The common sense thing for voters to do would be to vote all incumbents out and send a message to the next Congress and the next president that we are not going to take it any more.

Daily Press - Letters
September 1, 2008

Palin will represent all of the people

Senator John McCain exercised presidential judgment and common sense when he
selected Alaskan Governor, Sarah Palin as his candidate for vice-president.
Palin represents the best of American ideals and competent representation in
our democratic republic. Her stellar personal and political background is a
genuine inspiration to our country's men, women, children and families. Most
of all, Governor Palin demonstrates the character, integrity and proven
confidence that she can handle the responsibility, including the office of
president if necessary.

Compare Governor Palin's record in government with Barack Obama's and she
wins. Among her accomplishments, she single-handedly busted political
corruption in Alaska's state government, promoted environmentally-conscious
production of energy, cut spending, and returned Alaska's tax surplus to the
taxpayers.

My wife and I were Republicans until we were disappointed by President
George H.W. Bush and betrayed by Ross Perot in 1992. As independent voters,
we will now vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin. Our children are taking my
wife and I on a cruise to Alaska next July to celebrate our 50th wedding
anniversary. Like Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, we too were high school
sweethearts. Hopefully, Sarah Palin won't be there, but in Washington doing
what she does best. Representing all of us.

San Bernardino Sun
August 28, 2008
Featured Letter

We're tapped out

Re: "State eyes area water, Aug 14.

Lt. Governor John Garamendi's declaration at the second annual San
Bernardino County Water Conference, that we will have to share our
groundwater with the rest of the state, is troubling at best. Particularly,
when he is just now recognizing the state water crisis, and blaming it on
highly questionable global climate change, which is partisan at best.

San Bernardino County does not have any water to spare. And if there is any,
it should be shared within the county and immediate areas. More importantly,
property owners/taxpayers in this county along with other counties in
Central and Southern California, paid for the California State Water Project
bringing water from Northern California. We not only paid our share for the
project, we also pay for maintenance of the project and for annual water
allotments to county SWP contractors in the valley, mountains and desert.

The real problem is, we depend on SWP water. In the face of California's
water crisis -- exacerbated by an environmentalist/federal court cutting 30
percent of the water delivery on behalf small fish in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta -- and the lack of a peripheral canal bypassing the Delta,
it's only going to get worse without some course of action. At the very
least, there should be a lawsuit regarding the court's unconstitutional
interference with legal contracts and water rights.

If the voters don't do something, unconscionable environmentalists -- who
value insignificant species over the human species -- activist courts, state
government thieves and regulators, and federal accomplices will continue to
commit crimes against local humanity. Certainly this -- along with pending
state budget raids on local government -- is a glaring example of why most
government should be local. Trim bulging state and federal government to the
constitutional minimum, get rid of the tax and spend bullies, and let us
attend to our own business.

Daily Press
August 4, 2008

Ethanol and government insanity

Mandating ethanol production that would increase the current consumption of 23 percent of America's corn crop to 40 percent by 2022 -- while subsidizing ethanol production with 51 cents per gallon of taxpayer dollars -- is simply inept government regulation compounded by intentional insanity. Particularly, when it is already disrupting the corn-based food supply here and around the world.

Do the math. When our government wants the current 9 billion gallons of all ethanol stepped up to 36 billion gallons in our gas tanks by 2022 -- which will only replace 15 percent of the nation's gas consumption -- and when it costs more to produce ethanol than the energy it produces, we will be getting hosed at the pumps much worse than we are now.

Even worse, the EPA ignored the MTBE additive's destructive impact on groundwater, and they are still unclear on the toxic effects of ethanol. The solution is to stop corn ethanol production, stop costly seasonal gas additives, and put all efforts into fast-tracking domestic oil and natural gas production (1-3 years), new refineries, clean coal, oil shale and nuclear.

If any alternative energy sources are substantially subsidized to develop, they should be infinite resources such as highly efficient nano solar power, tidal energy, nitrogen fuel cells, and sun algae fuel. It just takes sane, common sense for a change. Surely, we can't afford not to.

San Bernardino Sun
July 28, 2008

Hurting neighborhoods

Re: Reports that dumping illegal-immigrant criminals in Yucaipa enrages officials. Reports of eight illegal aliens convicted of selling crack cocaine in San Francisco walking away from a Yucaipa group home is a glaring example of government intrusion into people's neighborhoods.

Indeed, California is rife with such abuses of power. San Francisco didn't place the criminals in San Bernardino County. The state did. It's simply another case of Northern California socialists dumping their garbage in Southern California.

Together with homes purchased by the federal government and occupied by freeloaders and gangsters, state-licensed group homes are a plague on single-family residential neighborhoods throughout the state. Counties and cities have no say in the matter, and residents are completely ignored. Homeowners are put at risk and their property values are adversely affected.

Some years ago, a friend purchased a nice home for his family in a new housing tract in Apple Valley. Then HUD came in and bought up the remaining new homes. The state placed welfare families in the homes - in some cases, there were two or three families in one home. The neighborhood turned sour and the home values plummeted. For the security of his family, my friend had to sell and move at a substantial loss.

Since moving into our neighborhood, HUD has taken over at least two homes. The state established a group home for juvenile offenders and a group home for mentally disabled people. And there may be more, all within a block of our home. Though these programs were undoubtedly established by HUD and the state with good intentions, they have failed miserably. They have turned into deceitful - and probably unconstitutional - seize, decay and destroy projects tantamount to reckless eminent domain over any and all neighborhoods.

Press Enterprise
July 18, 2008

Snow leaves a void

I was deeply saddened by Tony Snow's passing ("Journalist embraced press secretary role," July 13).

I knew he was a good man the first time I listened to him filling in for Rush Limbaugh. Since then, he was the only political commentator who held my full, undivided attention.

He spoke the honest, educated truth. He was the human bright spot in a dark, phony business. I sorely miss him.

San Diego Union Tribune
July 20, 2008

Partisan politics and foreign oil need

When the OPEC oil embargo was imposed against us in 1973 for supporting Israel, we were importing about 20 percent of our oil. Since President Carter's term ended with a false promise to end our dependence on foreign oil, our inept government not only failed to make us energy independent - partisan politics have caused us to more than triple our dependence on imported oil. Clearly, it is time for the American people to demand results.

Instead of obstructing our domestic energy resources, our state and federal governments must fast-track permit approvals. Provide generous incentives and tax credits for our energy industries to develop our abundant resources of coal, coal to fuel, oil shale and natural gas. Develop all available oil resources. Build oil refineries, nuclear power plants and transmission lines. And support the immediate development of high-efficiency solar cells and batteries, nitrogen fuel cells, advanced wind power and tidal power.

There is simply no excuse for our over-dependence on foreign energy resources, particularly in this era of terrorism and instability. We must become energy independent, and we must do it now, before it's too late. Partisan politics simply cannot be tolerated when our national security and our survival are at stake.

Daily Press
July 13, 2008

Throw the bums out

With a $15 billion deficit and an $8 billion proposed tax hike on the legislative table, there are those who condemn us ignorant voters and the Republican tyranny of the minority for obstructing the will of Democrat majority to pass the California State Budget. I use the term "budget" loosely. It would be more accurate to say there are those who want to, "Turn the tax dogs loose."

Indeed, if it were not for us ignorant voters -- who require a two-thirds majority vote to inflict punishing tax and spend legislation upon California's beleaguered middle class, small businesses and corporations who create jobs -- the Golden State would have become a government-induced, over-regulated economic wasteland long before now.

The truth is, the tyranny of the socialist Democrat majority is responsible for duping the voters with unreasonable, self-destructive environmentalism that has caused California's energy crisis, the highest gas and utility prices in the nation, the water crisis, and a hostile business climate. And they are bound and determined to make it worse.

Alas, adding insult to injury, California's failed education system is simply an unconscionable disgrace -- replacing core academics with social/political indoctrination -- and an insatiable funding appetite backed by a constitutionally guaranteed 40% of the state budget, regardless of performance. That is a costly voter mistake that surely needs to be rectified with privatized education.

As for term limits, voters ought to throw all the bums out and start over with nonpartisan government, elected professional government managers, and truthfully informed voter approval of all taxation and public policy matters.

San Bernardino County Sun
Letters to the Editor
June 26, 2008

Power of coal

In the face of rising natural gas and coal costs to produce electricity, it is baffling that President Bush's energy plan didn't include the potentially devastating impact on our cost of living. Increased demand from China and India have caused the rise in oil prices, and the rise in the prices of coal and natural gas utilities.

Half of our electricity is produced from coal, and the other half is produced primarily from natural gas. We have the largest coal reserves, followed by Russia and China, enough to power America for 200 years, yet more clean coal power plants are held back. More coal power means more natural gas available to homes and businesses, and more time to develop viable alternatives.

Coal-to-liquid fuel technology has been developed and should be used in this country. South Africa's coal-to-liquid provides 30 percent of the fuels used in their cars and trucks, and China is building coal-to-liquid fuel plants. The blame for our energy crisis must be attributed to politicians from both parties who have pandered to the obstructionist cartel of environmentalists.

Indeed, over the past three decades, they have been responsible for restrictive laws and unreasonable regulations that have prevented our ability to become more energy independent.

Daily Press
June 22, 2008

Time for government to get out of the way on energy

Though it amounts to little more than last wishes in his 8-year job as chief executive, President Bush is correct in his proposals to lift the ban on offshore drilling, permit drilling in ANWR, the exploration of oil shale reserves, and speeding up the permit process for the construction and expansion of oil refineries.

The down side is, Congressional Democrats and the sublime ignorance of California obstructionist environmentalists will probably never let it happen, regardless of what the people want, or the national security and economic implications. Saying that it won't work because it will take too long and it won't be enough oil to matter is absurd, particularly when they are the primary reason this mess developed over that past two decades or more.

According to Utah Congressman, Chris Cannon, there are at least 800 billion barrels oil shale reserves in the Green River Basin of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. Ongoing technology and processing advances will allow for significant oil production within 3 years if the 7-year permit process was cut to several months. It's time for government to start working for the people instead of against us, for a change. Just get out of the way for the sake of our national security and before the economy collapses.

Daily Press
June 14, 2008

Nether candidate will address economic disarray

No matter who is elected president in 2008, the leading candidates have made it disdainfully clear that the United States government will do nothing to save America from economic ruin. Indeed, foolish congressional ideology, judicial activism, environmental zealotry and self-serving guilt merchants have buckled our country's political will to become energy self-sufficient.

When any society, particularly America's society, is laboring under the relentless political pressure of dishonest doomsday scenarios, such as global warming and environmental habitat fear mongering -- which have the unintended consequences of social and economic collapse -- the inescapable conclusion is disastrous.

Why are the American people doing little or nothing to stop it? Are we too busy looking after selfish interests, yielding to indoctrination, and ignoring the the continuous failures of good intentions? For the answer, look in the mirror, and think about it.... before it's too late.

In the wake of ever-increasing oil demand from China and India increasing the price of oil, the solution is obvious. Stop making expensive ethanol that raises the cost of fuel and food. Lift economy-busting environmental regulations and restrictions against building new power plants, new refineries and drilling for oil. Develop nuclear energy. Expand cleaner coal power plants. Develop synthetic fuel from our vast coal resources. And open the doors to innovation and advanced energy technology. Certainly, if this had been done 10 or 15 years ago, we wouldn't be in this inexcusable mess.

Victor Valley Daily Press
June 10, 2008
Renewables cannot replace energy demand

San Diego Union-Tribune
June 11, 2008
Who's to blame, who will resolve energy crisis?

Los Angeles Times
June 14, 2008
Solving our energy problems

Contrary to popular belief, Saudi Arabia and OPEC are not responsible for America's energy crisis. The vast increase in oil demand from China and India notwithstanding, Far left environmentalists, judicial activists and Democrat-dominated government are the obstructionists in this senseless play for ruinous power.

Indeed, if it were not for the self-righteous delusionists and nature's la-la-landers preventing the development of domestic energy resources from protected areas (which few can even visit) for the past two or three decades, we would not be in this mess with disastrous consequences.

Renewable energy resources simply cannot produce the demand for energy to sustain us in the foreseeable future. Corn ethanol is an unsustainable and costly failure. We have one of the world's largest immediate energy resource in coal, clean coal and coal to fuel technologies. Surely, we must tap our own oil resources, and build refineries and nuclear power plants without delay. Failure to do so will inevitably cause our economy to collapse.

Stepping up oil production from Iraq, which has one of the largest oil reserves, would certainly help re-build and secure Iraq, while at the same time, help our immediate needs for oil.

USA TODAY
April 29, 2008

Calm 'eco-frenzy'

Eco-friendly events that leave behind "trails of waste" serve as evidence of the "eco-frenzy" that has been hurting our country's economy for many years ("When eco-friendly events go unfriendly," Life, April 22).

Indeed, shades of green are more often shades of gray painted red by extreme environmentalists and global warming alarmists.

Reasonable environmental concerns notwithstanding, common sense should tell us that the escalating cost of nearly everything can be connected to environmental restrictions and reactionary regulations. It has become painfully clear that the only way to stop the damage is for environmentalists to calm down a little.

I agree with Ron Mader, founder of the journal Planeta.com, who told USA TODAY: "The dialogue is cheapened when environmental events themselves do not showcase some environmental criteria for how they are implemented."

Daily Press

April 21, 2008

Carter should no longer be subsidized by government

What is it with former president Jimmy Carter? He brokered the first peace accord between Egypt and Israel and won the Nobel Peace Prize. Then, among other blunders, he coddled terrorists who seized our embassy in Iran and took hostages, gave away the Panama Canal, and left America in economic shambles when he left office.

Since leaving office, Carter thinks he has license to meddle in U.S. foreign policy whenever he chooses. In his latest brush with what is tantamount to treasonous behavior, and against the wishes of the State Department, Carter embarked on a nine-day tour of the Middle East, which will include a visit with Hamas terrorist leaders in Syria.

Carter ought to be stripped of his former president title, along with any and all compensation at taxpayers expense, including costly secret service protection. America should not subsidize anti-American zealots, particularly former presidents. Indeed, the Constitution prohibits granting titles of nobility000">

USA TODAY

April 10, 2008

Give Big Oil a break

It appears that USA TODAY has joined the congressional inquisition against Big Oil. This makes it painfully clear that USA TODAY has lost its common sense. Though oil profit percentages are up, taxes on the industry have long been double those percentages.

Big Oil and most large corporations are owned by many millions of middle-income Americans who are invested in retirement programs and savings accounts. They are the ones being punished, not the corporations.

Why do we shoot ourselves in the foot by voting people into power who advocate for more taxes and regulations? Reasonable efforts to produce renewable energies, which are better for the environment, are good. But when these efforts escalate into prohibiting Americans from using readily available oil, coal and natural gas, then it is clear that the USA is headed down a dead-end road to economic collapse.

USA TODAY
March 31, 2008

Hold public servants accountable to words

Considering the lies and distortions of the presidential candidates, it has become painfully clear that there is a double standard at work ("Clinton acknowledges sniper 'misstatement,' " Electionline, News, Tuesday).

If a person lies on his or her employment application, then he or she likely will not be hired. The words of those campaigning for office become an employment application, of sorts. Sen. Hillary Clinton isn't doing so well on hers.

Her recent "misstatement" about ducking sniper fire and running for cover in Bosnia is appalling. If we don't do something about the corrupt behavior of office seekers, our complacency could very well be our undoing.

San Diego Union-Tribune
March 31, 2008

Considering our declining history and the lies, distortions and embellishments of the candidates for president, it has become painfully clear that there is a double standard applied to the people and those who are elected to represent us. If we lie on our employment applications, we would not be hired. What is said by those who campaign for public office is their employment application.

Honorable intentions aside, it has also become painfully clear that too many of those who are elected to public office, re-elected or seek higher office are doing so to gain more personal power in what has become a highly partisan, self-corrupting two-party political system of ideologues, which has betrayed the very foundation of our Constitution.

If we don't do something about it, our complacency could very well be our undoing. The solution is simple. Make all elected offices nonpartisan. Elect the most qualified professional government managers to represent us and truthfully inform us. Give them the task of downsizing our laws, regulations and bloated bureaucracies of inefficient government. And have the voters decide matters of taxation and public policy.

Los Angeles Times
May 26, 2007

Smoking on the big screen

Re: 'Smoking's sinful sensuality in movies' Meghan Daum 5-19-07

Meghan Daum's half-hearted attempt to defend smoking in movies for the sake
of history in the art of movie-making doesn't address what is going on in
real life. Indeed, in the end, she gives-in to the inevitability of
surrender to the tyranny of anti-smoking zealots.

Even though smoking has been cut in half over the past 40 years, there are
50 or 60 million people who smoke. Smokers have been demonized as social
outcasts, subjected to punishing taxes, and held up to public hatred and
ridicule by the behavior police. Yet they still exist and fat people are
being targeted for the same fate.

So what's the point in adding movies to the denial of reality? People from
all walks of life smoke, some more than others. It would be a shame to make
believe they don't, as it's depicted in most television programming. But it
is still permissible to show alcohol use and drug abuse on a regular basis,
even to extremes. No problem, as long as the great evil of smoking is going
on somewhere out there behind the lens, with fat people.

USA TODAY
May 23, 2007

American Idol exacerbates social dilemma

America was already celebrity-obsessed before American Idol came along and
shifted the hysteria into hyper-drive. And as if that wasn't enough
enticement for people's hopes and aspirations to be famous, even for a
limited time, television networks leaped into the lazy and shallow, high
profit business of reality shows for people who seek fame for anything.

Reality shows such as Survivor and Big Brother are not about real life
because they are all staged freak shows depicting people at their worst,
plotting and scheming to overcome their competitors. Shows about the highly
dysfunctional Osborne and Gotti families, and the late Anna Nicole Smith are
simply carnival side shows. And shows like Dancing with the Stars are
redundant because the people dancing with the stars are professional
dancers. What's the point, other than stars making fools of themselves,
propped up by real dancers?

American Idol is more than that. It's a serious concern for the social
stability of thousands of hopeful young people who compete for fame and
certain failure. Only the top ten have any chance at careers in the
entertainment business. And it's a waste of time for millions more who
simply wish they were there.

On the surface, America has become a tasteless, superficial society of bad
music, bad clothes, bad hair, bad art, social aggression and extremes. Deep
down, we are better than that...

Washington Times
May 23, 2007

Jimmy Carter's opinions

Former president Carter's revision of his remarks about the Bush
administration being the "worst in history" is typical of his history of
inept thinking. He's done it many times before. When it comes to the worst
administration in history, Carter is certainly in the running. He did
nothing about the terrible recession on his watch but blame the American
people. He did nothing about the militant Islamic revolution in Iran that
set up the hostage crisis and put Iran on the track to terrorism. And he
gave away the Panama Canal to China. It has always been understood that
former presidents do not criticize sitting presidents. They can certainly be
available for counsel and advice, but that as far as it should go,
particularly when the taxpayers are paying his way. Carter doesn't get it,
nor should he have gotten the Nobel Peace Prize. He's simply a meddling
self-absorbed fool who needs to shut up.

USA TODAY
May 10, 2007

France rejects socialism

Nicolas Sarkozy will help the French change their severe social, political
and economic problems. French voters rejected what would have been their
first woman president simply because she was a socialist who would have
worsened their dilemma. With 85 percent voter turnout, the French send a
strong message about how they feel about socialism.

USA TODAY
April 26, 2007

Pathetic ploys for power

The congressional freak show exploiting Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is
little more than the latest pathetic round of persecution politics aimed at
President Bush and his administration. The Democrat and Republican struggle
for power in Washington, and throughout the several states, is an
unconscionable waste of political capital at the people's expense.

Indeed, nothing could be a more vivid example of inept government than our
elected representatives throwing selfish interest political rocks at each
other in this unique time of war, amid growing terrorism and high risk
national security. Politics in the United States is turning our democratic
republic into an over regulated wasteland of petty politics in a dangerous
landscape of politically correct mine fields. America is better than that.

Daily Press
March 18, 2007

Privatization, not more money, will fix public education

The state of public education in California is unconscionable. Indeed,
little or no progress has been made in the quality of education in our
entire country since the scathing 1983 report, "A Nation at Risk." Yet,
California continues to wallow in the cellar, ignoring calls for real
reform, while students continue to be robbed of their education at
relentlessly higher costs to taxpayers. Still, the latest study says it will
take $1.5 trillion per year, 25 times current extortion costs, to make it
better.

Lack of funding is not the problem. The education establishment is the
problem. Fundamental education has been replaced by social and political
ideologies, which have nothing to do with the necessary skills students must
have function in society. Therefore, most students who graduate from high
school are functionally illiterate. That, along with demands for more money
is simply criminal.

In order to communicate properly and hold a job, our children must be
proficient in reading, writing and math. They should also be educated in
basic science, geography, history and government. And they should be
schooled in good behavior and relationships, and law and order. Replacing
social and political indoctrination with functional education is what our
students need, and they could have it without pouring more money into the
black hole of the education establishment.

We simply cannot tolerate an inept educational system consisting of
factories of ignorance and warehouses of violence. Now is the time for all
concerned voters to come to the aid of our children. We must privatize
education to get quality education at half the cost.

****

Following are letters published in the Victor Valley Daily Press:

(letter debate between Daniel B. Jeffs and other local residents)

March 2, 2007

Rants about Gore's Oscar denial of reality

When the Oscar went to "An Inconvenient Truth," I knew that the right-wingers would throw a fit even though none of them had actually seen the movie. However, even I was amazed at how quickly the Daily Press dedicated its Opinion page to the rants of those insisting that the whole thing was some kind of massive conspiracy by left-leaning Hollywood elitists to push the "myth" of global warming on an unsuspecting public and to blame President Bush for hurricanes and earthquakes.

These people don't want a reasoned debate on the issues. They refuse to even look at the sound and solid scientific evidence behind the warnings of the threat of global warming (over 1,000 American scientists signed a letter stating that climate changes we are currently seeing are not part of a natural cycle but largely the result of burning fossil fuels). All they offer is the same thing they usually offer - denial of reality and attacks on anyone providing facts that undermine what they believe.

And for the record, the last time Al Gore ran for president the American people elected him by over 500,000 votes. It was the Supreme Court, in a decision split down party lines, that made George W. Bush president and we have been suffering the consequences ever since.

****

Rick Benefield
Apple Valley

March 2, 2007

A Convenient Deception

Former Vice President Al Gore's self-aggrandizing academy reward documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," is not only rife with lies regarding his so-called "moral issue" of global warming, it is simply further evidence of the entertainment industry's blatant moral relativism and their convenient deceptions and distortions of the truth.

The truth is, Al Gore is holding himself up as the savior of the world, while he and other "Lords of Liberalism," from the news media, the education establishment, and government are in fact waging a social, political and economic war of indoctrination to control our behavior and our lives. It is painfully clear that it's time to say, "No more!" to left-wing tyrants before it's too late save our American culture.

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

****

March 4, 2007

Gore just the narrator, not the perpetrator

The rant of Apple Valley resident Daniel B. Jeffs about the Oscar-winning documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," was typical right-wing tactics; attack the messenger but do not acknowledge the message he brings. In this case, Jeffs decides Al Gore is the messenger, but Gore was just the narrator. The film crew, Gore and 400 scientists world-wide bring the message.

I suppose Jeffs thinks there is a debate about global warming. Ninety-nine per cent of scientists say it is here and one per cent say it is merely a weather cycle. This is a debate? Would it help Jeffs to know that the one per cent reside in this country and receive checks from oil companies? With air pollution staying at the same rate it is now New York City, Washington D.C. New Orleans, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle will be under water in a few decades.

The documentary won another Oscar for Original Song, "I Need to Wake Up" to global warming. They want Jeffs and others to wake up and smell the bacon; rise and shine, and get with the program. It is going to take a Manhattan Project in each of the world's industrialized countries to put the brakes on global warming.

Tom Freeman
Pinon Hills

****

Re: "Rants about Gore's Oscar denial of reality (Letters, March 2) and "Gore just the narrator, not the perpetrator" (March 4)

Rick Benefield's and Tom Freeman's letters defending Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" comes as no surprise, since they are obviously among millions of people who have simply accepted decades of left-wing propaganda as truth. Indeed, when the indoctrination comes from most of the education establishment, entertainment industry, news media and government, the infection is understandable. It is, however, surprising that they incessantly beat the drums of truth when they redundantly believe and teach that there is no truth.

Contrary to Mr. Benefield's assumption, prior to writing my letter of criticism, I did watch Al Gore's so-called documentary to see why the film industry crowd was so enamored by it. Considering the industry's closed society and disturbing roots of socialist political bias -- along with an ongoing decline in quality of product -- the Gore award came as no surprise to me.

Mr. Freeman's assertion that Gore was merely the narrator, not the messenger, is simple being naive about just how narcissistic and hypocritical Gore and other "limousine liberals" really are. To dismiss challenge, disagreement, criticism and common sense as conservative or right-wing rants is typical arrogance from the Left, wherein anyone who disagrees with them is evil, is nothing less than another tyranny of a radical mindset. And as for suggesting that we "wake up and smell the bacon," and to nuke "each of the world's industrialized countries to put the brakes on global warming" with "Manhattan Projects," Mr. Freeman's rant is a little frightening and crosses dangerous left-wing lines in their current war against fat people and their long term war against anything nuclear.

Mr. Benefield and Mr. Freeman, and other mindless Democrat and Republican fear merchants, seem to overlook the fact that growing numbers of mindful nonpartisan voters and other independent thinkers are deeply concerned about how much liberal progressives and the two-party system have steadily increased uncertainty about our national security, the cost of living and control of our lives. They should also understand that independent voters are increasing, that we decide most elections, that we are fed-up with politics as usual, and that when the majority -- regardless of their political persuasion -- is pushed so far that it really hurts, changes will certainly come. Hopefully, in this era of terrorism, it won't be too late...

Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley

Daily Press
February 13, 2007

The Freak Show of Anna Nicole Smith

It's a relief to see that our local newspaper, the Daily Press, has chosen not to cover the Anna Nicole Smith freak show that is consuming television news and other programming.

Smith's tragic death notwithstanding, this is simply another indictment against our society, news media and entertainment industry, already stricken by a culture of political hostility, social aggression, shallow behavior, and superficial extremes.

We should demand better from them and ourselves. Indeed, as Edmund Burke wisely observed, the only thing necessary for evil to exist is for good people to remain silent...

Daily Press
November 6, 2006

What was John Kerry's 'joke' referring to?
(John Kerry: un-American)

John Kerry's contempt for our military expressed this week comes as no surprise. His condemnation of our troops in Vietnam in 1971 and his condescending comments about our troops in Iraq are merely the reflection of the privileged liberal elite looking down their noses at the vast majority of people in our country who are real Americans.

Indeed, Kerry's remarks about our military being less educated than others is a contradiction in terms, particularly when the anti-establishment revolutionaries of his generation ruined public education and left subsequent generations functionally illiterate.

Sadly, little has changed in education -- and our society is worse -- thanks to people like Kerry, radical environmentalists like Al Gore, fraudulent politicians like the Clintons, the academic and corporate elite, and those in the news media and entertainment industry -- who are terminally infected by narcissism and social engineering.

Only in America can they be that way and get away with it. Being grateful Americans like the rest of us simply isn't their long suit. However, we don't have to put up with letting them run our country into the ground, particularly in this dangerous world of terrorism. On November 7th, we must start voting for our freedom, our security and our future. Our survival is at stake.

San Francisco Chronicle
October 11, 2005
U.S. News & World Report
October 31, 2005 issue.

Confirm Harriet Miers

What's so bad about Supreme Court nominee, Harriet Miers? Liberal Democrats and activists from the Left are opposed to Miers because she may be against abortion, because she's a Bush crony, and she doesn't have the Left judicial experience. Conservative Republicans and activists from the Right are against Miers because she might turn liberal, because she's Bush's friend, and she doesn't have the Right judicial experience.

The Left think they are doing the Left thing. And the Right think they are doing the Right thing. They're both wrong. Under the circumstances, White House Counsel, Harriet Miers is probably the best choice for a justice of the Supreme Court because of her Left and Right experience, her character and integrity, being a trustworthy legal advisor to a governor and a president, and because of her lack of judicial contamination.

Our government's problems are the result of endless political battles that result in little more than more government. We did not make this enormous mess, yet it was allowed to happen by the consent of the governed. Maybe it's time to give our consent to only those committed to cleaning it up.

U.S. News & World Report
November 7, 2005 issue

Quit the political nit-picking

During former president, Bill Clinton's second term, he was assaulted with attack politics and nit-picked to such a degree that he was dangerously distracted from protecting America and our national interests against repeated acts of terrorism, which left us open to the 9/11 attacks.

Now, in President Bush's second term, he and his administration are being relentlessly nit-picked and attacked to such an extent that it has emboldened our terrorist enemies, exacerbated the war in Iraq, and it is making us more vulnerable than ever.

Adding cheap shots (disguised as serious allegations) at Bush's handling of the Katrina Hurricane disaster, at his right-hand-man, Karl Rove, and the Republican leaders in the Congress -- which were then hyped by nagging news media -- amounts to little more than self-serving hate-mongering by political gangs of small people.

Reasonable criticism is one thing. But if childish political revenge and the fierce battle over power in Washington (at any cost) isn't stopped, the American people will surely suffer the consequences. Politics has become an unconscionable, deadly business. It's time for reasonable people with common sense to exercise more democracy in the coming elections.

Newsweek Magazine
October 3, 2005 issue

Re: How Bush Blew it
By Evan Thomas
Newsweek September 19, 2005 issue

Katrina and the Blame Game

THERE IS PLENTY OF BLAME to go around in the lack of immediate local, state and federal response to the Hurricane Katrina crisis. President Bush has accepted responsibility for federal failures. However, his well-known enemies continue to target him without holding the Louisiana governor or New Orleans mayor's feet to the fire.

Clearly, the Katrina disaster has been reduced to mindless, hateful politics beyond reason and common sense, deepening social, political and economic divisions that are dangerous to our national health and security. Maybe the time has come for nonpartisan elections and government. Our survival may very well depend on it.

***

Below is the unedited letter sent to Newsweek on September 14, 2005:

The lack of immediate local, state and federal response to the Hurricane Katrina crisis notwithstanding, there is plenty of blame to go around. President Bush has accepted responsibility for federal failures, however, his well-known enemies continue to target him without holding Louisiana's governor or New Orleans' mayor's feet to the fires generated by the same partisan reactionaries.

Unfortunately, there are dangerous, yet painfully familiar, games being played in the process. Using a horrific natural disaster for rancorous partisan attacks by biased news media, racial antagonists, radical activists and opportunistic politicians is simply unconscionable.

Indeed, the escalating blame, shame and demonization game going on over the tragic losses and devastation caused by Katrina amounts to little more than self-serving exploitation of human suffering for political gain.

Clearly, the Katrina disaster has been reduced to mindless, hateful politics beyond reason and common sense, deepening social, political and economic divisions, which is dangerous to our national health and security. Maybe the time has come for nonpartisan elections and government, and more democracy. Our survival may very well depend on it.

Washington Times
August 13, 2005

Cindy Sheehan, Bush and Iraq

The left-elite news media are not interested in Cindy Sheehan as the grieving mother of a son killed in Iraq who has been wronged by the evil Bush administration ("Vacaville speaks," Inside Politics, Nation, Wednesday). Rather, they are doing their best to lose the war in Iraq here on the home front, just as they did during the Vietnam War, turning every victory into a defeat. Why else would the media emphasize the victimization of our dead soldiers?

What's even more unconscionable is that the media fails to recognize our fallen troops as heroes who liberated Iraq, fought terrorists and defended freedom and their country. Even though Cindy Sheehan has chosen to dishonor her son in favor of anti-Bush activities, 24-year-old Army Spc. Casey Sheehan is a hero for volunteering to be part of a quick response team to a riot in Baghdad. He was killed in a firefight outside Baghdad.

Only a few media accounts note that, according to his sister Carly, Spc. Sheehan was an Eagle Scout who wanted to serve God and his country his whole life. Spc. Sheehan was also active in the Catholic Church. "He would do anything for anybody. He'd give you the shirt off his back," Carly said.

It is simply sickening to read and hear about antiwar, anti-Bush, anti-American organizations, activists and the media using a willing Cindy Sheehan as a poster woman for such a shabby, partisan political cause. Winning back the White House and the Congress at any cost is simply unconscionable, if not treasonous. Particularly in these perilous times.

Newsweek Magazine

July 2005
(Lead letter)

The Legacy of a Historic Supreme Court Justice

Before the ink dried on Sandra Day O'Connor's resignation, political adversaries fired the first shots of what will undoubtedly be an unprecedented, uncivilized war over President Bush's nominee to replace her ("O'Connor's Odyssey," July 11, 2005). The troubling conclusion is that the court is too powerful.

We should remember that Thomas Jefferson was deeply concerned that the federal judiciary would usurp power from the states, consolidate all government power in Washington and "become as venal and oppressive as the government from which we separated." Unfortunately, Jefferson's fears are becoming prophetic.

Most disturbing is that the three branches of our government have all but abdicated their constitutional responsibilities to political extremes and the seduction of personal power. Our government was never intended to be exclusive to the few.

The Washington Times
July 7, 2005

How to help Africa

Rock concerts and President Bush's proposed $1.2 billion plan to fight malaria in Africa over the next five years are almost meaningless, not because the money is sure to be misspent, but because there has been, is and will be only one way to really combat and control the mosquito-borne killer: with DDT ("Live 8 concerts rock the globe for Africa," Page 1, Sunday).

How much more death and disease must Africa and other malaria-plagued areas endure from the decades-old environmental crusade against DDT and other pesticides?
Malaria was nearly under control as a result of widespread spraying of DDT in a worldwide anti-malaria campaign until the cancer-scare reactionary anti-DDT and anti-pesticide campaign effectively halted the use of DDT. Since the use of DDT began more than 60 years ago, an abundance of scientific evidence has been accumulated that has shown no ill effects from human contact with DDT.

Yet the arrogance and irresponsibility of environmental zealots plus inept government have prevailed at a cost of more than 30 million lives since the 1972 ban on DDT was imposed in the United States and quickly spread throughout the world.

Indeed, must we wait until other mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus reach epidemic levels in America before the intelligent use of DDT is restored?

Adding insult to death and injury, environmental extremists have caused the ban of the most effective insecticides, such as chlordane, which was the best control for termites, ants and other crawling pests. Then lindane, which controlled tree borers. Then diazinon, which acted like chlordane but was much weaker. As a result, we have to endure invasions of relentless pests such as termites and Argentina ants and the loss of many trees.

The Washington Times
July 1, 2005

The President's Speech
(On Iraq June 28, 2005)

In his address to the nation, President Bush gave a thorough and informative explanation about our purpose in Iraq and what is being accomplished. Being presidential and a man of integrity, he did not say why the American people seem to be losing faith in his efforts to protect our country.

The reason the majority of Americans do not approve of Mr. Bush's performance in the conflict in Iraq is because of the news media's relentless bias and negative reporting, minimizing foreign terrorists' role and maximizing the role of insurgents and the concerted effort to demoralize the military, their families and our civilian population.

Add to the equation the overall demonization of Mr. Bush and Republicans by Democrats and the successful efforts to discourage military recruitment and then the true motives are revealed: ugly political campaigns to take back the presidency and the Congress in the 2006 and 2008 elections at any cost. That is unconscionable in these perilous times and something I will not forget when choosing news sources and when voting.

San Diego Union-Tribune
June 10, 2005

'Deep Throat': heroic or not?
W. Mark Felt is no hero.

Richard M. Nixon's abuse of power notwithstanding, he and his administration were no exception to a long history of presidential abuse of power, up to and including William Jefferson Clinton.

Assumed or denied power corrupts, or at least makes people do stupid things. Felt, or "Deep Throat," was little more than a disgruntled employee who didn't get the FBI director's job he thought was his after the death of J. Edgar Hoover. So, in his mentor's style, he authorized illegal searches of people's homes and surreptitiously took down a president.

Felt is certainly a hero to anti-establishment revolutionaries, anti-Vietnam War radicals and the media revitalized by Watergate. However, he did not earn the status of a national hero. That title belongs exclusively to the men and women of the military who defend our freedom.

Washington Times
May 19, 2005

Newsweek's blunders send troubling message

Although it was highly disturbing to read and hear about Newsweek's blunder reporting a Koran was flushed down a toilet at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which caused unnecessary riots and deaths in Afghanistan and other Muslim countries, it comes as no surprise ("Newsweek apologizes for Koran article," Nation, Monday).

Newsweek not only got it wrong, but it poured salt in the wounds when its entertainment critic followed up by declaring a link between the Bush administration and the "dark side" in the new "Star Wars" movie.

It is becoming painfully clear that America's so-called mainstream news media have been recklessly advancing an anti-Bush political agenda with relentless negative reporting about the conflict in Iraq - demoralizing our people, our military and their families, hurting military recruitment, and inflaming non-Iraqi terrorists to cross the border. This has undoubtedly caused additional deaths of our soldiers and innocent Iraqi civilians, and increased the threat to our national security.

USA TODAY
May 18, 2005 Page 10A
(Lead letter of four letters - other letters included)

Eschew (avoid, shun) filibuster - and partisan politics

Many voters are undoubtedly fed up with the ravage-politics of the two-party system. Amid all the vitriol slung by partisan zealots over the filibuster and confirmation of judicial nominees, it has become abundantly clear that the "tyranny of the majority" is nonsense and the "tyranny of the minority" is painfully real ("Qualified conservatives or judicial fanatics?" Our view; "It's time for up-or-down vote," Opposing view, Court nominees debate, Monday).

The Constitution does not extend the Senate's "advice and consent" role for presidential nominees and appointments beyond a simple majority vote. Surely advice and consent were never intended to be extended to the supermajority vote required for treaties, as willful senators would like.

Simply put, the filibuster is hardly an appropriate method for the most deliberative body of the Congress to use, particularly with its checkered history of political machinations, chicanery and self-serving interests against proposed legislation and judicial nominees.

It's time for the Senate and the rest of government to concentrate on what's best for America, particularly in these perilous times, rather than focusing on selfish interests, intimidation and gaining political advantage at any cost.

In addition to dispensing with the obstructionism of the filibuster, maybe it's time to replace the hopelessly contentious two-party system with the common sense of non-partisan elections and government, and the collective judgment of the voters. Contrary to elitists’ belief, we are not stupid.