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BuzzFlash Mailbag for November 19, 2007

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG

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Subject: Nevada Debate

Hilary, Obama, Edwards; Hillary, Obama, Edwards ...I truly like and admire Hillary, Obama, and Edwards, but I am disgusted that according to the pundits, those three were the only ones who had anything important to say (and indeed that would be true in part simply because they were afforded the most opportunity to speak). And what about all this flap about the driver's licenses and who screwed up the most in this debate and the one before it, simply because they were trying to nuance a question that most certainly required nuance? (At least that's what thinking people tend to do!)

Didn't anyone notice that Bill Richardson gave a perfectly competent and confident answer when he said, yes, he had given licenses to undocumented workers, and then went on to explain the reasons for it, and the good results from it, including a lowering of traffic fatalities!

Didn't Chris Dodd come up with some excellent responses to that loaded question about teachers' unions and merit pay?

Is Dennis Kucinich not courageous? Aren't topics like these, called, uh, issues?

I am also noticing that every republican appearing on television these days is acknowledging, even admiring, Hillary's prowess in the debate, even going so far as to praise her work in the Senate. They smile so pleasantly when they speak her name. Of course! Their fervent hope is that she will win the Democratic nomination so they can immediately began to beat, tar and slime her. All that was proved false will become true. They will repeat over and over that the Clintons were convicted of wrongdoing in the Whitewater matter; Vince Foster will again become a victim of murder by Hillary and Bill; and Monica will re-appear as Hillary's lesbian lover!

They are COUNTING ON the right-wing and other irrational Haters of Hillary out there to squint their eyes, set their jaws, and even, as one republican famously said when Hillary was elected to the Senate, cause "lightning to strike!" And the media will repeat their allegations endlessly and dutifully, just as they have all along.

They will continue to fall over themselves to ignore the "lesser" candidates so they can elevate triviality to an unprecedented level and mesmerize the boob-tubers into forgetting the real issues! Why debate issues when we can analyze who "wins" the debate with the shortest and most simplistic "yes or no answer?"

They've got the corporate media folks!! They're Bush's kind of people! They are the masters of obfuscation for their corporate masters. They are going to churn this Hillary craze into whipped cream, letting those silly Dems relish a delicious win in which all women will vote for her because she is a Woman, and because she managed to come off as a little more confident than the too-thoughtful Obama or that trial lawyer (that's a diry word, you know) Edwards.

Yep, they're on their way! Well, what do you know! The Republicans are stealing yet another election with a complicit media. They may not even have to bother with too few machines causing too long lines or even caging voters or otherwise messing with voters' right to vote! They're laughing, because they know that the issues have been drowned out as effectively as those useless people who didn't know enough to evacuate New Orleans ( See, there was no use telling them about the breaking levees anyway.). They've got their wealthy base, and they've got their "Entertainment Tonight" mental midgets. They've got their God, who is a Republican, you know; and they've got their own version of of Executive Branch Fear Factor.

Sandcynch
Phoenix, New York
Subject: [Open Letter] Pelosi: You're Giving Bush & Cheney Free Pass To Commit High Crimes & Misdemeanors

Dear Speaker Pelosi:

Today I received the form letter you are sending to those urging you to change course and allow an impeachment investigation to proceed against Vice President Cheney - and, as I'm sure many are also urging, against President Bush.

Your continued explanation for your policy is that Congress has higher priorities. Since you are in the position to set what those priorities are (as opposed to what they possibly could or should be), there is no argument I can offer against that.

Instead of restating my belief that you're wrong in this regard, I will instead ask that you or your staff respond to a simple question - one that's being raised by many, many people here in San Francisco and beyond.

If you tell this President and Vice President that "impeachment is off the table," aren't you effectively giving them a free pass to do whatever they can and want to do - from now until their terms end?

If a board of directors at a publicly-held organization told its CEO that any discussion of his or her removal from office was "off the table" for the next 14 months - that CEO would be in a position to plunder the company, and that Board would be sued or removed from office by the stockholders for dereliction of duties.

Can you explain why that analogy is not applicable to how you are handling your duties to oversee the actions of the president and vice president of the largest publicly-held organization on earth: the United States Government?

Awaiting a response to this query, I remain

Respectfully yours,

Ben Bayol
San Francisco


Subject: Catholic Church

Hey, thanks, Will Wyche, for your great post on the Catholic Church, the church with hypocrisy writ large. Happened on this nugget while reading Michael Onfrey's "The Atheist Manifesto" and he states rather candidly that a priest blessed the Enola Gay before it took off. What happened to their pleas for the sanctity of life, because you know damned well they knew that plane was no hurricane hunter!!

Ruth Gottlieb
Laguna Woods


Subject: Watch-out, Muslims, The LAPD's Revised Muslim Mapping Plan
Is A Trap

The only difference is that, instead of the cops doing the dirty work, it'll be the city's social workers who'll be spying on you. The LAPD even has come up with a neat way to co-opt our leadership (and in so doing maybe even recruit a turncoat or two), which is to invite your community leaders to spend a week at the LAPD's downtown headquarters, the better to get to know one's tormentors.

"So what do we do?"

"Two choices, cave-in or just say no."

"What happens if we cave-in?"

"Gotcha!"

"And if we say no?"

"Hallalujah, amen."

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subject: The 5 Dumbest Rush Limbaugh Quotes of All Time 10/6

Just imagine what the GOP and MSM would have done if a Democrat had spoken any one of these malaprops! Of course, "dumbest" applies to Americans who believed (and still believe) Bush when he parroted the Oath of Office (which was, fortunately for him, recited to him).

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA


Subject: The Book "Nam"

Does anyone know where one might be able to get ahold of the book titled Nam? This book is a first person account of the conflict from the men and women that served during the conflict.

Steven Stiller
Norridgewock, Maine

[BuzzFlash Note: It was published in 1992 in the UK, so your best bet is libraries or rare book dealers. Here's a Google link to get you started. The ISBN # is 0349102392 The author is Mark Baker.]


Subject: Bush Silver Coins

The Bush Silver coin premium made of Genuine Silver should not be made of anything "genuine"!

It should be made of something as Bogus as Bush IS, maybe something like an Artificial Cow Chip!

Using the word "genuine" when used in conjunction to Bush lends him credibility.

Again, maybe something described as an artificial cow chip or even better, "Artificial Rat S**t" would better suit the phony crapola that Bush is!

The Official "Worst President Ever" Silver Coin

Peter Rosenberg
Bradenton, FL


Subject: A Direct Link Between Congressman Ron Paul's Sudden Fundraising And The Raid Upon Liberty Services By Federal Agents?

Early in the month of November, 2007, the news outlets were trumpeting the eyebrow-raising news that from out of campaign obscurity emerged Libertarian-leaning Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul whose supporters had somehow managed to raise four million dollars over the Internet in a single day.

About a week later, U.S. federal agents raided "Liberty Dollar" operations in Idaho and Indiana.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...

In Ron Paul Coins, Federal Agents Don't Trust (Washington Post)

Liberty Dollar, previously called the "National Organization for the Repeal of the Federal Reserve Act and Internal Revenue Code" (Norfed), is an organization which opposes the Federal Reserve and the IRS and has, for the past decade, been selling a sort of "private underground barter currency" of various denominations. These private underground barter pieces are stamped with the visage of the organization's hero who shares the organization's libertarian leanings, Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, although neither Congressman Paul nor his campaign have any affiliation with Liberty Dollars.

Now, the fact that this organization has been selling these private underground barter coins and paper notes for the past decade without interference from the Feds, and only now, after the campaign of Congressman Paul has successfully raised over four million dollars in a single day from supporters who are the very customers of Liberty Dollars, leads to the obvious question: Was the raid by federal agents on Liberty Dollars a direct result of the sudden boost in fund raising and resulting media spotlight placed on Congressman Paul's Republican Presidential bid?

Congressman Ron Paul is, understandably, very popular with Libertarian-leaning Republican voters, and could, should his campaign be given just the right impetus, both pose a problem for the "MSM anointed" candidate of Corporate-capitalist choice and elevate to public consciousness issues regarding the Federal Reserve, U.S. currency and the IRS, which the government is determined to keep suppressed.

A reasonable and alert person just might justifiably conclude the feds are afraid that the sudden spotlight on Congressman Ron Paul and his campaign will draw public attention to the anti-Federal-Reserve and anti-IRS underground movement supported by Liberty Dollars and its private currency. It stands to reason that such attention on Ron Paul, should it continue for any length of time, will inevitably lead to a greater public interest and examination of the questions regarding the legality of the Federal Reserve and the IRS which are posed by Congressman Ron Paul and the private barter currency underground movement supporters.

As things stand now, only a small percentage of the American polulation is even aware that the Federal Reserve Bank is a privately owned band or that there is a legitimate question regarding the Constitutional legality of the Federal Reserve Act or that there is a legitimate question regarding the legality of the IRS's existence. The issue regarding the IRS arises due to the *fact* - check it out - that the "head tax" or income tax, was never ratified by the states even though, at some point, someone in Congress made such a claim which went unchallenged by other members of Congress, and so, as the saying goes, if a lie is told often enough, it becomes the truth.

Of course, the government will immediately label anyone who raises these questions as subversive or part of the lunatic, conspiracy nut fringe. Most people just buy the official line and remain ignorant of the facts, nod their heads in agreement and look suspiciously at the "conspiracy nuts" so branded. In fact, there ARE some real wackos out there spewing some real howlers, but there are also some very legitimate questions that go unanswered or never even enter the public consciousness due to these tactics. One should be very conscious not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Should it ever reach the point that these questions are given a fair and open hearing before the American people and it is found that, indeed, the Federal Reserve Act violates the U.S. Constitution and the income tax was never ratified by a sufficient number of states to become law, does that mean that we should immediately throw the whole system out without first having a viable alternative in place?

Proponents of the current system would claim that, legitimate or not, the current system has been around for so long and is so deeply integrated into the whole structure of our government that to abandon the Federal Reserve system and the IRS would be to cause chaos. It would do no good and only cause harm to collapse the system and cause chaos simply because the current system is illegitimate under the Constitution and law.

But, Libertarians would counter that such an open and aired finding of illegitimacy would demand that such a replacement be immediately developed and implemented, and that the current system be abandoned when the alternative was workable. Many would demand that the current system be immediately abandoned.

Regardless, in the interests of preventing the perpetuation of an illegal and illegitimate system through stall tactics, Constitutional law and process would demand that the states be given a central role in the overhaul and that the replacement system be properly ratified. Fairness and public interest advocates would demand that public input be crucially included throughout the process.

No doubt, if left solely up to Washington D.C., the "workable replacement" would be delayed forever by supporters and profiteers of the status quo.

However, no change will occur in either the source of minting of U.S. currency (along with the U.S. interest debt implications) or the agency of taxation (along with the income tax implications) - which is undoubtedly the goal of the feds - until at least the legitimacy of the questions of people such as Congressman Ron Paul are acknowledged.

A BuzzFlash Reader


Subject: Howard Krongard Is A Former General Counsel At The Auditing
Firm Deloitte & Touche.

This is called neocon COWARDICE, Mr. Waxman. The fact that Howard Krongard (forget about conflict of interest, he's a suborner of murder) is a former general counsel at Deloitte & Touche is embarrassing enough (for Deloitte & Touche). To pan your committee with another alleged bad memory (aka Alberto Gonzales) shocks the conscience. And that's no "ugly rumor." Just ugly!

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA


Subject: MYOB

Ann Landers used to give the advice "MYOB" to people who believed they had a right to interfere in someone else's business -- business that had no effect on their lives. This is a piece of sage advice that was passed on to me by my father as I grew up. It's also a piece of advice I have given to people who have tried to stick their nose into my business or in to other people's business.

This should also hold true with our governmental policies on a whole range of issues -- from abortion, religion, personal medical decisions to foreign policy.

It is confounding to listen to our government representatives preach to the officials of other governments about how they should run their countries or what they should do when our government is guilty of the very same thing. At the very least you have to ask "Why is it our business" and at the very worst it is hypocritical and certainly contributes to an impression that "we" are living by the credo of "Do what I say not what I do."

The latest incident is Bush et al. (Rice, Negroponte) parroting the Bush Doctrine that Musharraf of Pakistan should reinstate elections and lift martial law. Excuse me -- it is Pakistan's business and it is up to them to resolve their internal problems.

To a degree the same thing holds true for Iraq -- however, our complicity in contributing the daily chaos especially leaves "us" in no position to be dictating to them. The very things the Bushies accuse others of and demand others do are the very same things they themselves are doing here. However, when "one" chooses to frame their reality based on their personal beliefs and convictions, rather than on clear and rational analyses of facts that consider the points of view of others, you are doomed to fail.

If an individual in their personal life made decisions on the above basis, the way our government does, it would be suggested that person seek psychological therapy or be tested for mental fitness. Why should the people holding elected office be held to a different standard? They shouldn't. They are, after all, human beings who are imperfect -- they are not demigods -- although they are demagogues. If they act in a manner that brings into question their ability to act in the best interest for which they were elected then we MUST question them. We MUST speak out. We MUST protest. We MUST demand action. To do anything less is to condone their actions.

The neopublicrats frequently say that those of us who dare to question or to criticize should/must respect the "President." Bull cookies. If the person who is holding the office is worthy of that respect, he will be respected -- plain and simple. If he isn't worthy of that respect -- as it is obvious Bush isn't then he doesn't deserve that respect. Respect cannot be demanded -- it must be earned.

Whatever things are happening to each and every one of the government neopublicrats who have forgotten what their legal obligations are to We, the People, and to the US Constitution deserve every bit of disrespect and revulsion that We, the People, choose to heap upon them.

They reap what they sow.

Lisa Johnson
Tacoma, WA


Subject: Ex-Congressman "Kickass" - DWI w/24 yr. old woman

Hey BuzzFlash ...

Don't know if you've discovered this gem yet. Former Rep. John Sweeney of Albany, NY, who was nicknamed "Congressman Kickass" by Bush, was busted in his car last week. He told the cops, "Do you know who I am?"... doing his best Larry Craig impression. Have fun!

Sweeney makes plea, apologies (timesunion.com)

Howard


Subject: Tweety Goes Way Over The Line

Like her or not, Hillary Clinton is a former First Lady. Like her or not Hillary Clinton is the Junior Senator from New York. Like her or not Hillary Clinton is a viable, in fact the leading candidate, for President of the United States for the Democratic Party.

The pinheaded Pundidiot, Chris Matthews, that paean to mediocrity that is just one of a number of people that pollute our airwaves, has a rabid hatred and an obsession with Hillary Clinton that he bores us with regularly. Tweety spews spittle and commentary with all the character and integrity of a sideshow barker. Boring and stupid are common on television cable where people don't expect much in the way of quality, which is where Tweety dwells five days a week.

However, Sunday morning on ABC on the Chris Matthews show he went so far over the line that even Hillary Haters should be appalled. Matthews showed an old clip from Saturday Night Live where someone playing Bill Clinton seemed overjoyed at the thought of his wife dying in a helicopter crash like the President's wife in the movie Independence Day. At the thought of Hillary Clinton dying in such a way Chris Matthews sat there grinning moronically.

It was disgraceful, it was appalling and it was way over the line. Hillary Clinton is not my first choice for the Democratic Party's nomination. She isn't even my second choice. But by what right, by what moral compass does a sleazy piece of tripe like Chris Matthews get to go on national television and chortle with glee at the thought of her death? If you aren't appalled, if you aren't disgusted, then you are no better that Tweety, and worse I can say of no one.

This is the America we should all be ashamed of. This is not political discourse. This is the kind of television that turns our brains to mush and allows our integrity to deteriorate. Now I remember why I quit watching Saturday Night Live. They stopped being very funny and were just mean-spirited. Just like Tweety the Twit.

Marjorie Swanson
Kenosha, WI


Subject: Sign Of Bush's Economic Betrayal Of America: Dollars Now
Refused At Tourist Sites In India, Including The Taj Mahal

Hard evidence of the decline of America: loss, not of love, but of respect and the power to enforce it.

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA


Subject: Fraudulent Real Estate Foreclosures / Judicial Impediments To

Challenges

The following is being sent to Congress ...

Dear Member of the United States Congress:

PLEASE, PLEASE call for an investigation in disparities concerning FRAUDULENT FORECLOSURES and the Judicial impediments to challenging unlawful repossessions.

Unequivocally, IN CONJUNCTION with property foreclosure is the EMPLOYMENT of Debt Collectors. Particularly BY USE OF DEFUNCT Mortgage Companies, or via companies which are no longer holders of the note TOO MANY FORECLOSURES ARE EITHER FRAUDULENT, or the foreclosures should be postponed until compliance with repossession statutes. Yet, considering the social and far-reaching ramifications FORECLOSURES are continuing to make upon the entire national economy, I respectfully (and humbly) urge Congress to examine / case study Louisiana, and see what lessons and factors can help toward addressing the Nationwide Foreclosure Crisis.

The following email was either sent to your mailbox, or attempted to be sent throughout Capitol Hill. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your busy schedules and taking out time to confront Injustice here in LOUISIANA.

A TOO MUCH OVERLOOKED aspect of property foreclosure is White Collar Crime by DEBT COLLECTORS, which likely causes TRILLION DOLLAR losses to INVESTORS, BANKS, and CONSUMERS. Although all foreclosures entail employment of debt collector attorneys, NOT all collectors are ethical in their repossession of real estate property purportedly on behalf of MORTGAGE CREDITORS!

There is much to be learned from the example set in Louisiana: It is HIGHLY COMMON for some debt collector attorneys to file foreclosure (called "Executory Process") proceedings: (i) in the name of a DEFUNCT mortgage company; (ii) in the name of a mortgage company which is NO LONGER holder of the security interest / the promissory note; or (iii) file foreclosure proceedings wherein those attorneys AFFIX a 'ransom' amount (their fee) far exceeding what the promissory note "Acceleration Clause" authorizes. When either of those 3 illegalities occurs in foreclosures, the property owner IS UNLAWFULLY LOSING HIS / HER PROPERTY.

In addition to those scenarios, 2 OTHER UNLAWFUL means of accomplishing Louisiana foreclosures are: (i) the LACK of statutory Notice of Seizure, and some attorneys (ii) file in bankruptcy court a "Motion To Lift Stay" by use of a non-existing mortgage company's name, or by use of a mortgage company which NO LONGER is the "holder of the note." Thus, foreclosures achieved by these means ALSO are unlawful means of repossessing property!

In almost all instances whereby the fraudulent foreclosures are being accomplished, some MORTGAGE LENDER benefit because it then becomes enabled to FLIP the fraudulently obtained foreclosed property. Notwithstanding, properties which become flipped as a result of fraudulent acquisition ACTUALLY entitle the property owner to challenge the loss of his / her home; BUT property owners lack information, the Court System is refractory, and there is a shortage of attorneys with acumen to pursue this area of Consumer Law.

Further, often accompanying fraudulent foreclosures are tortuous acts such as privacy invasion and sometimes criminal extortion by corporation attorneys who use the court system and other means to persecute people who fall on hard times. These kinds of corporation attorneys rack up large legal fees which chip away some of the profits Investors in Securities Investors could reap.

In the State of Louisiana, CRONYISM and JUDICIAL CORRUPTION are the salient reasons why unlawful foreclosures are sanctioned. FURTHERMORE, in Louisiana, 2 mortgage companies that benefit from fraudulent foreclosures are Wells Fargo and FREDDIE MAC! In fact, the Louisiana Division of the Justice Department, as well as various legislators -- including U.S. Senator David Vitter repeatedly has been informed about fraudulent real estate activities in this State. Still, it appears that fraudulent activities which involve FREDDIE MAC are covered up or ignored. Moreover, in New Orleans where I lived prior to being displaced due to Katrina, approximately 90% of the properties illegally taken were African-Americans. As an African-American, non-attorney myself, I have suffered severe reprisals for exposing what is going here, but the truth needs to be exposed.

Please know that IRREFUTABLE (prima facie) EVIDENCE, FACTS, Excerpts from COURT TRANSCRIPTS, COURT DOCUMENTS & PLEADINGS, addresses of properties and MUCH MORE corroboration of everything I have written here is posted at http://www.lawgrace.org/

With all respect to your authority, and as seriously as I can possibly state, I beg of you please look at the facts and the proof for yourself, and see if by so doing you will see some factors useful toward addressing our NATIONAL FORECLOSURE CRISIS here in the United States.

Here are a few links for my site which clarify this correspondence:

"ILLEGAL REAL ESTATE FLIPPING, UNFAIR ENRICHMENT, etc.

"No One Should Be Required To Be A Law Abiding Citizen. . ."

"Anatomy of Judicial Corruption,. . ."

"New Orleans Federal Agents: Who Will Be Their Next 'Going Jacques Morial' Victim?"

Another helpful website I discovered may be of interest to you: MORTGAGE SERVICING WEBSITE.

See: "Limiting Abuse and Opportunism By Mortgage Servicers," AND "Private Property Rights Deferred: Has Predatory Mortgage Servicing Destroyed The American Dream" by Rawle Andrews, Jr, Esq.,and Leroy Jones, Jr., J.D.

Very truly yours,

Barbara Ann Jackson
Shreveport, LA

The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. You can write to Mailbag at http://www.BuzzFlash.com/contact/mail.html. Guidelines for submissions are at BuzzFlash FAQ #18.

BUZZFLASH MAILBAG


RIVER RANCH LANDLORD GETTING CITY TO REFUSE SERVICES

RIVER RANCH LANDLORD GETTING CITY TO REFUSE SERVICES

Lafayette Louisiana, “high class” area getting city to refuse us trash pick up!
Today, the BFI picked up everyone else’s trash on this block except ours. FBI missed certain days or were late, but never singled one address out. The landlord did not have any trash out today. As far as any “legitimate” explanation, an objective investigation tracing all communications from anyone associated with her, would lead to supporting evidence of my allegations.

REGARDING THE COMPLAINT I MADE ABOUT GUIDRY INSURANCE IN CROWLEY LOUISIANA.

I just got back from my workout. There were about seven people in the bike trail ride, two adults, a baby and about four kids. One of those kids when he got even with me came into my path, deliberately trying to run into me. This kid is within the age of reason to be charged with juvenile endangerment if it is proven this was a rehearsed plan. I know it was, proving it is something else. The woman on the end says “oh we are so sooooorrrrryyyyyy!” I said nothing, and continued walking.

Once again, I know this is a way to explain away my complaint against Guidry Insurance. I cannot prove it, but someone with the security clearances can.

Another thing about Louisiana-that fire and 1-10 shut down till December 4, just happens to be a tragic occurrence that started when everything about ULL’s president is up in air again. “Circumstantial?” The people over in Louisiana will believe it though.

I know before anyone starts, all of my complaints has good explanations attached to it. They made up the explanations before they planned stunts.

Great post, Will!

Will, that was a fantastic summary. I hope you don't mind, but I saved it for future reference, because I thought it so eloquently addressed the Constitutional aspects. Well done! I hate how so much discourse lately turns on the misinformed idea (propagated by the Religious Right) that this is a 'Christian' nation, founded by 'Bible-believing Christians'. It's enough to make one scream at times!

And thanks to Buzzflash and all the mailbag writers for all you do!

Broadcast the 1st Amendment Near and Far

By all means, silenpawz. And I mean it. I only regret that the true history of the separation clause isn't clearly taught, first, in all schools and PTA meetings, where it is so sorely needed, and then, second, in the legislatures and churches where it's so sorely perverted and routinely condemned as "liberal."

You're Welcome, Ruth Gottlieb of Laguna Hills

And thank you, Ruth, for the compliment indeed!

Having been raised a Catholic (but, fortunately, never molested by one), I am well aware of the depths of hypocrisy and revisionist history this most vile institution lowers itself, habit and all.

We are well into World War III, the cultural war of church and state separation, when the big boy on the block, the Roman Catholic Church, takes advantage of the freedom of religion clause of the First Amendment in order to spiritually enslave its Joe Six-pack "flock" to advance its oppressive political agenda disguised in threats of spiritual damnation. Sickening!

Nevertheless, along with the phrase “all men are created equal,” the First Amendment remains the greatest statement of the last millennium. It has been the political vaccine that has uniquely immunized our country from the scourge of religious conflict historically:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Note that the word “national” is absent, and, second, the word “thereof” references the free exercise clause back to the establishment clause. Therefore, religion means all religion. And no religion is the business of the government. Third, all clauses are in a particular order. The first clause is NOT the one that guarantees freedom OF religion. The first clause is the one that guarantees freedom FROM religion. And all the other clauses on speech, press, assembly and petition follow these. Why? Because the right to freely exercise your religion is guaranteed SO LONG AS that exercise does not intrude or transgress upon the rights of others to be free FROM YOUR or any religion. So, even if it were true, for example, that prohibiting student organized prayer over the loudspeaker at public school football games was a violation of free speech and freedom of religion, it must give way to the guarantee to be free from religion vis-à-vis government action or inaction.

Consequently, the current Catholic agenda of threatening the souls of its faithful dependent on what politicians they vote for can be argued as a positive success of the First Amendment. At least, these pediphile bishops aren't getting away with burning the contrarians of their dioceses at the stake or otherwise physically or economically injuring them.

However, the First Amendment’s success has anesthetized much of the electorate into trivializing the growing swell of insidious half-truths, shibboleths, myths, and historical revisionism propaganda through every media form. Little of which is true or based on fact. We’ve all heard, for example, that America is “a Christian Nation” or “Judeo-Christian based.”

Taking each one one at a time:

First, America was NEVER a Christian nation and that fact is the key to its success. Allusions to “God”, “Christianity” or “Christian”, “Jesus Christ”, “holy”, or “Bible” or “Biblical” are absent from the Constitution. The Constitutional presidential oath of office neither contains the phrase “so help me God” nor requires swearing on a Bible. And all references to religion ARE EXCLUSIONARY as in Article VI on religious oaths.

Second, the Declaration of Independence is not a governing document.

Third, references to “Nature’s God,” “Creator,” and “Divine Providence” in the Declaration of Independence are alien to the Christian revelation and endorse neither Christianity nor religion. Its purpose was to “dissolve political bands” and not set up a religious nation. Where, for example, is “divine” influence when “governments are INSTITUTED AMONG MEN, deriving their just powers from the CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED?”

Logically then, if America has a “religious” base, that “religion” IS DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM, not Christianity! America is one nation UNDER A CONSTITUTION, not God. ["One Nation under God” was congressionally (NOT constitutionally) mandated in the Pledge of Allegiance during the McCarthy Era of the 1950s along with “In God We Trust” on our paper money.]

The First Amendment does not only deal with Congress and the Federal Government, but is applicable to all state and local government through The Fourteenth Amendment due process clause.

The phrase, “Separation of Church and State” is a constitutional principle. And so are “interstate commerce,” “right to privacy,” and “separation of powers.” Yet none of these other phrases appear in the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson first used the phrase in an 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists (not Catholic priests as sanctimonious Tony Snow has ignorantly editorialized), and American Courts up the line have liberally peppered all major First Amendment decisions with it. Its meaning was also laid out by Jefferson: “the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions.” Government can neither compel nor interfere with PRIVATE beliefs. Private beliefs do NOT include public demonstrations of such beliefs when they interfere with, compel, or impose on others. That’s why there are churches for religion (and bedrooms for sex).

Our American law, government, culture and values are GRECO-ROMAN or ANGLO-SAXON, NOT Judeo-Christian, based. Where, in the Bible, reside the words “Democracy,” “Congress,” “Representative,” “Senator,” “Constitutional,” “President,” “Rights,” “Vote,” “Jury,” or even “Tolerance,” “Independence,” or “Privacy?” Contrast, for example: Bill of Rights with Ten Commandments; Separation of Powers with Omnipotent; Due Process with Prophesized; Trial by Jury with Inquisition; Free Enterprise with Tithes; “All Men are Created Equal” with “Saved;” Liberal Democracy with Kingdom of God; E Pluribus Unum with “The Chosen People.” Get the picture?

“Schools became violent when ‘they took prayer out’” is a fallacy of logic. The Latin phrase, “Post hoc, ergo proper hoc” means “after this, therefore because of this,” illustrates the principle. For example, “After the Smithsonian purchased the Hope diamond, America went into space.” Even though the sentence is true, any causal connection is a nonsequitur.

Prayer was NEVER TAKEN OUT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS since children have and always have had the right to pray in school so long as it is not disruptive. What was taken out was government sponsorship forbidden by the Establishment Clause. So, if it is true that schools have become more violent since the Supreme Court ruling, where is the nexus of proof? Far more logical reasons include broadened teacher liability laws, economic disparities, increased class sizes, poor funding.

Voters guides, religious freedom amendment, school vouchers, charitable choice and other subversive doublespeaks have been perrenially introduced. They all require taxpayers to support religion, force children to pray in schools and allow government to display religious symbols on public property. In 2000, 12 states tried to pass school prayer laws or other schemes designed to turn the public schools into centers of preaching instead of learning. Several states have already approved the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools and government offices and each year more are on the brink of doing so.

School vouchers and tuition tax credits that provide tax dollars to private religious schools. While most have been defeated, they continue to proliferate across the nation.

Charitable choice disguises delivery of social services paid for with tax dollars to religious organizations without any safeguards of mixing their particular brand of venom with the services and programs people need.

More than a half dozen states have restricted the teaching of evolution in public school science classes and promote “creation science.”

Voter Guides developed by Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition and now endorsed on pain of damnation by the Roman Catholic Church have been perennially passed out through other fundamentalist churches all over America. In 2000 the IRS revoked the Christian Coalition’s tax-exempt status only to have it reemerge as another tax-exempt organization.

Bet You Didn’t Know They Said It:

"When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obliged to call for help from the civil power, ‘tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one.” BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

“Persecution is not an original feature of any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law.” THOMAS PAINE.

“I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved—the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!” JOHN ADAMS.

“During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.” JAMES MADISON.

“The national government…will maintain and defend the foundations on which the power of our nation rests. It will offer strong protection to Christianity as the very basis of our collective morality. Today Christians stand at the head of our country. We want to fill our culture again with the Christian spirit. We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theatre, and in the press—in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of LIBERAL excess during the past (few) years.” ADOLPH HITLER.

From Nazis to Newtzis: It’s been time to act for the past 10 years!

The Religious Right has stated again and again that they will “take back America.” So, where’s the “E Pluribus Unum” in that? When was America theirs in the first place? And from whom are they taking it back? Why, through all their well-funded hate media (Dr. Laura, Lou Penrose, Cal Thomas, Mona Charen, Ann Coulter, Tony Snow), do they accuse those, who oppose illegal imposition of their intolerance, fantasies, hatreds and myths, of violating their rights of free speech and religion, and of being irrational, short-sighted, evil and, of all things, uneducated? Why are some of our vulnerable kids becoming like Elian Gonzales and pressured, if not besieged, in the public schools to convert to enslaving religious dogmas? Although churches (of the Creator) and (Bob Jones) universities have always freely flourished, why does the evangelistic nature of the Christian religion continually conflict with the First Amendment? Why are those they disagree with stigmatized with pouting pejoratizations like “liberal,” “socialist,” “elitist,” and “secular humanist?” And why, when the Religious Right loses, do we hear them demonize and whine about the “liberal” press, courts, and ACLU?

And why is the Religious Right successfully changing the rules of engagement? Why does money and political guile now intimidate public enforcement agencies (particularly the FCC re free access and the IRS re tax money or tax exempt status to promote political agendas)? Why have they made our legislatures and school boards eternal battlegrounds? Why, when they fail on the merits in court, do they not only persist but also attempt to circumvent laws through political, rather than truly judicial, appointments or delays. This is not just extremism. It’s subversion.

HOW EVILLY DANGEROUS IS ANY BELIEF SYSTEM THAT DECEITFULLY WRAPS ITSELF IN THE CLOAK OF MORAL VALUES, HISTORICAL REWRITES, AND FALLACIES OF LOGIC IN ORDER TO POLITICALLY SUBVERT, LEGISLATIVELY ATTACK AND LEGALLY CHALLENGE CONTINUALLY A CHERISHED RIGHT THAT THE FOUNDERS STRUGGLED SO HARD TO ACCOMMODATE WITH THE NARROWEST OF LIMITATIONS!

The fundamentalist Christian neocons have been in the White House now for 7 years. What's happened? Not "only" scandal, waste, fraud, religious discrimination in jobs, housing and accommodations, along with Dover PA and dumbdown Kansas, but intelligent design supports TORTURERS! ENDLESS, PREEMPTIVE, AGGRESSIVE WAR! WAR CRIMES! CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY! In one form or another, we read about THE CONSEQUENCES OF TEARING DOWN THE WALL OF SEPARATION almost every day. Right now, it's abroad. However, if these eroding holes in the Wall of Separation are not effectively plugged, physics and human nature dictate an eventual irresistible torrent gutting all purpose to our First Amendment freedoms. The violence that the blind self-righteous have caused abroad will inevitably slice through the veneer of what appears to us today as only black collared comedy at home. When the First Amendment was drafted, the greatest war up to that time was the Catholic v. Protestant Thirty Years War (1617-1648) that, among other things, killed half of Germany. The Founders didn't want to see anything like that ever happen in the New World. And it hasn't--yet. Eventual restitution to the Arab world as a whole and the Iraqi people specifically will be a first step to mitigate against such a coming calamity.

Non-profit, non-political organizations that counteract assaults on the First Amendment include Americans United, 518 C St, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002; ACLU, 125 Broad St, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004; Freedom From Religion Foundation, PO Box 750, Madison, WI 53701; People For the American Way, 2852 S Barrington Av, Los Angeles, CA 90064.

Well, thanks again, Ruth--this time for plowing through this diatribe. LOL!

Sincerely,

Will Wyche
Palm Springs, CA

UNTOUCHABLE BY THE LAW

River Ranch, Lafayette, Louisiana!

Last night a truck driver parked directly in front of our apartment for about 30 minutes. He was not delivering anything to anyone’s house, he just parked. This is nothing more than the ballet professor from University of Louisiana at Lafayette, letting me know she is going to harass me, follow me and there is nothing the law is going to do about it. She has no official reason to know anything about me since I left that university. In the three years we lived here, no truckdriver ever pulled up directly in front of out apartment and sat there.

HOW AM I TRACING THIS TO HER?

In ballet classes, especially the level 6-10, where the graduating seniors could not do a split or double pirouette, she was always talking about truck drivers. That ballet teacher was so obsessed with truck drivers. Anyone insisting I am lying, I can play several audio recordings of her making any excuse to talk about a truck driver. She did mention one of her friends was a truck driver and her friend had to go to see a psychiatrists, or counselor, and then asked the class, in ballet, if that situation applied to anyone there.

Regarding the people in Lafayette, the stores in Lafayette, such as Target in the River Ranch, last night in the checkout, video cameras should be available online to show how the people in Lafayette act.