Month: October 2009

Cong. Ralph Hall: Blair Holt Firearms Act D.O.A.

Due to the viral nature of internet email that has been warning of impending loss of Second Amendment rights by passage of H.R. 45, the Blair-Holt Firearm Act, I asked Congressman Ralph Hall for clarification. His response below will put your mind at ease.

I take opportunity to thank Congressman Hall for taking time to explain the status of the Blair-Holt Firearm Act.

 RalphHall

October 30, 2009

Dear Mr. & Mrs. White:

            Thank you for writing regarding H.R. 45, the Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009. I always appreciate hearing from my constituents in the Fourth Congressional District of Texas.

            There has been much misinformation regarding this bill, so please allow me to set the record straight. H.R. 45 was introduced in January, referred to the House Judiciary Committee, and has had no action since then. Furthermore, this bill has no support in either the House or the Senate, and as a result will not likely ever make it out of committee. As a staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment and individual gun rights, let me assure you that I am opposed to H.R. 45, and in the highly unlikely event that it does survive through the committee process, I will do everything I can to make sure it does not succeed on a House Floor vote.

            You will be pleased to know that I have cosponsored several pieces of legislation that will protect our citizens’ rights to bear arms. One of these important bills is H.R. 17, the Citizens’ Self-Defense Act, which protects the right to obtain firearms for security purposes and use them in defense of one’s self and family. Two others are H.R. 197, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009, and H.R. 1620, the Secure Access to Firearms Enhancement (SAFE) Act of 2009, which both allow any person with a valid, state-issued concealed firearm permit or license to carry a concealed firearm in any other state.

            Again, thank you for sharing your views and concerns with me. If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me. With kind regards, I am,

                                                                        Sincerely,  

                                                                        Ralph M. Hall

                                                                        Member of Congress

 Contact the congressman

email – click on this link: http://www.house.gov/ralphhall/IMA/zipauth.htm

(972) 771-9118     Rockwall

(202) 225-6673   Washington, D.C.

Requiem for Democracy: Mel Zelaya Returns

Freedom Left Out

The Obama administration, in concert with leftist Central American and South American regimes, successfully broke the back of the Honduran economy – Mel Zelaya will return to power.

Facts – A Synopsis of Events

The Honduran constitution limits presidential terms to one four-year term. Leftist President Mel Zelaya, a man who gained his wealth in timber, became close friends with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. They two share common goals – they want to be dictators for life.

Honduras is a constitutional democracy, a government modeled after our own: Legislature branch, Executive branch and Supreme Court. Chavez conspired with Zelaya to hold a “referendum” on his re-election, an unlawful act. To this end, Chavez printed counterfeit ballots for a Honduran election. Zelaya’s party holds power in the Legislature and the Supreme Court. It was his own political party that kicked him out of office with assistance from the military and booted him out of the country.

Obama, working overtime to appease presidents of socialist countries, the likes of Lula (Brazil), Chavez (Venezuela), Ortega (Nicaragua), Castro (Cuba), Morales (Bolivia) and Correa (Ecuador), denied foreign aid and stifled Honduran tourism to break the back of one of the only two Latin American friends we had, Columbia the other.

MapOfHonduras

 Today, it was announced that leftist Zelaya had reached some unspecified agreement with the ruling party to return him to the office of president.

 ****

 It is hard to understand the foreign policy of this administration.

They send their diplomats to Cuba to see how they can work with those who have been oppressing the Cuban people for 50 years, and they send their diplomats to Honduras to put pressure on those who defended the Honduran Constitution and democracy, refusing to let Honduras become another Cuba or another Venezuela.

Maybe having a foreign policy that works with anti-American tyrants and puts pressure on those who are pro-American and want democracy, is the only way a U.S. president can win a Nobel Peace Prize.

In that case, I hope that this is the last time that a U.S. president wins such a prize, otherwise, we could end up losing our biggest prize of all: Our own freedom.

The Real Cuba – 30 October 2009
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It is hard to understand, indeed, how far left the government of the United States of America has swung. God, have mercy on America. – JW 

Further Study 

Library of Congress stands by report on Honduras coup – Miami Herald

 Beck criticizes Obama for being in the “company” of Cuba and Chavez in opposing Honduran coup

 Interview Roberto Micheletti Constitutional President of Honduras On The Record Fox News P1

 Interview Roberto Micheletti Constitutional President of Honduras On The Record Fox News P2 

THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

AbrahamLincolnFour score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poorLincolnDilveringGettysburgAddress power to add or detract.

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

President Abraham Lincoln – November 19, 1863

Del Pueblo, Por El Pueblo, Para El Pueblo

PALABRAS PRONUNCIADAS AL DEDICAR EL CEMENTERIO DE GETTYSBURG

AbrahamLincolnOchenta y siete años ha, nuestros padres crearon en este continente una nueva nación, concebida bajo el signo de la libertad y consagrada al principio de que todos los hombres nacen iguales.

 Estamos ahora envueltos en una vasta guerra civil que pone a prueba la idea de que esa nación, o cualquier otra así concebida y consagrada, pueda por largo tiempo subsistir. No hemos reunido en la escena de una de las grandes batallas de esa guerra. Hemos acudido para dedicar parte del campo de batalla a que sirva de última morada de quienes dieron sus vidas para que la nación viviese. Es enteramente justo y propio que obremos de este modo.

 Con todo, a decir verdad, mal podríamos dedicar, ni consagrar, ni glorificar este campo. Los valientes, vivos aun o muertos ya, que aquí combatieron, lo han consagrado muy por encima de nuestros escasos poderes. El mundo apenas si advertirá o recordará lo que aquí se diga, mas no podrá olvidar jamás lo que aquí hicieron aquellos. A los vivos nos corresponde, ante todo, dedicarnos a completar la obra que tan noblemente adelantaron los que aquí combatieron. Mas bien, nos corresponde a nosotros dedicamos a la ingente tarea que nos aguarda: que esos muertos venerados inspiren en nosotrosLincolnDilveringGettysburgAddress una mayor devoción a la causa por la cual dieron ellos la postrera suma de su fe; que aquí solemnemente proclamemos que estos muertos no habrán muerto en vano; que esta nación, bajo la guía de Dios, vea renacer la libertad, y que el gobierno del pueblo, por el pueblo y para el pueblo no desaparezca de la faz de la tierra.

 Presidente Abraham Lincoln – 19 de noviembre de 1863

Threat from Within GOP

Mirror Site http://community2.myfoxdfw.com/_Threat-From-Within-GOP/blog/1448233/78592.html

 

I repost an appeal from Tom Tancredo who warns conservatives that the RNC works to exclude grassroots conservatives from the process of selecting conservative candidiates. The RNC strategy is a formula for disaster, because conservative Americans, Democrat and Republican, are becoming engaged at the grassroots level, educating themselves and participating in activism like the TEA Parties.

Case in point: the Florida US Senate GOP race where the RNC ‘anointed’ RINO Charie Crist, but the PEOPLE, grassroots conservatives, are going to elect a true conservative, Marco Rubio. In a radio interview, Glenn Beck remarked to Rubio that the RNC, “the last time I looked” has all the money. Rubio thoughtfully replied, “Yes, but the last time I looked, we (conservatives) have all the votes.”

JW

 Team America works to preserve US national sovereignty.

Dear Friend,

I must tell you that we face a very serious threat to our goal of reversing open borders policies by electing men and women to office who will fight for our national sovereignty and for economic policies that will keep jobs here in America.

This threat doesn’t come from Barack Obama and the Democrats.

This time the threat is coming from within the Republican Party and its pro-open borders Establishment.

I am a Republican.  Every office I ever sought, from the Colorado legislature to the U.S. House of Representatives to the presidency, I proudly sought as a Republican. 

But I believe in a Republican Party that stands for the rule of law and stands up for American citizens . . . not in a party that sells our country out to the highest bidder, ships our jobs overseas and supports the same open border policies that the Democrats do! 

I am writing to you today with a special sense of urgency, because the Republican establishment is trying to clear the field of grassroots conservative candidates and to anoint their own favorites, months ahead of the first Republican primary, as the inevitable Republican nominees for both state and federal offices. 

Incredible as it seems, the establishment Republicans that run groups like the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) would rather get behind an almost certain general election loser like open-borders Republican Rob Portman than let a grassroots conservative like Tom Ganley win the GOP nomination. 

And the situation in Ohio is being repeated in other states, including Florida and my own home state of Colorado. 

My friend, we cannot let this moment of genuine conservative resurgence be co-opted by the same Republicans who drove our Party into the ditch during the last Republican administration and the last Republican-controlled Congress! 

This is our moment to reclaim the Republican Party on behalf of conservative principles and create a powerful Party platform from which we can offer the American people clear alternatives to Barack Obama and the Democrats:a real choice between open-borders and secure-the-borders policies;

  • a real choice between amnesty for illegals and no amnesty for illegals; and
  • a real choice between trade deals that sell out American workers or trade deals that keep jobs for Americans in America!

Conservatives constantly reach out to me and Team America co-chair, Bay Buchanan, looking for help and advice (recently including two former GOP congressmen who are with us 100% on immigration reform and jobs issues).  We are happy to travel and help them in any way we can.

But what populist GOP candidates really need right now is financial support. 

Team America endorses candidates based on their commitment to core conservative issues like border security and immigration enforcement that protects American jobs, property, and communities.  We give financial help to candidates based on their understanding of the threat Washington is to this nation and their willingness to fight to defend and preserve this great country, not on their adherence to the agenda of the corporate elites. 

Your most generous gift today — of $50, $100, or even $500 — would be a huge help to us as we help patriotic conservatives reclaim the Republican Party and stand firm against the pro-amnesty, pro-open borders agenda of the party establishment. 

You are a great supporter of Team America.  Bay Buchanan and I know you are a special friend of our cause, and we know that you will help us if you possibly can. 

We have it in our power now to finally unleash the GOP from the control of its establishment and offer voters a real choice on illegal immigration, one-sided trade deals and national sovereignty. 

But we must first give conservative candidates our financial help.  We cannot let good candidates be marginalized by the GOP establishment for lack of funds! 

I deeply hope that you will stand with me, Bay Buchanan and Team America in support of the courageous conservatives who are taking up our cause and running for office.  Thank you in advance for helping us at this critical time! 

Sincerely,
TomTancredoSignature

Tom Tancredo

 P.S.  The GOP elite is literally moving heaven and earth to shut down primary challenges to their anointed candidates from conservative Republicans.  This really is the time that Team America’s support can help patriotic conservatives win big victories for our cause and our nation.  I urge you to help us with your best gift as soon as you possibly can!  Thank you, again, for your support and your friendship.
 ________________________________________

CONTRIBUTE NOW 

Paid for by Team America PAC

501 Church Street | Suite 315 | Vienna | VA | 22180
(703) 255-9119| http://www.teamamericapac.org

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

TEXAS T.E.A. FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF – GOALS

Fellow Patriots,

Nicholas Kreekon heads Texas T.E.A. For Property Tax Relief. A growing chorus of Rockwall County community leadership that meets at TRNicholasKreekon Restaurant & Grill, 101 N. Goliad, Rockwall, Texas 75087, every First Saturday at 8:00 am to learn about taxation and to cooperatively develop practical strategies to hold down government spending, while assuring our citizens are reasonably served by local and state agencies.

You can contact Nicholas via email: nkreekon@verizon.net

It’s all about your money, your family and your future. Join us to conserve our God-blessed country for future generations. Please review Nicholas’ schedule of goals and make plans to join us at TR Restaurant & Grill, where you can enjoy great coffee drinks and tasty breakfast while you participate in the discussion.

JNW

OCTOBER 19, 2009

IMMEDIATE GOALS

IMMEDIATE ACTION

IMMEDIATE RESULT

MID TO LONG TERM

LONG TERM GOALS

 

 

 

ACTION

  

FREEZE TAX RATE

(LOCAL)

INTERVIEW ALL LOCAL PRIMARY CANDIDATES FOR THEIR RESPONSE (COUNTY)

PUBLISH RESPONSE

OR ENDORSE CANDIDATES

STATE TO FUND GREATER PERCENT OF SCHOOLS TO REDUCE PROPERTY  TAX

 

 

INTERVIEW ALL CANDIDATES IN PARTISAN AND NON PARTISAN ELECTION

(COUNTY, SCHOOL, CITY)

PUBLISH  RESPONSE OR ENDORSE CANDIDATES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPRAISALS

(LOCAL)

TALK TO RCAD ABOUT APPRAISING ON MARKET VALUE

STATE LAW REQUIRES MARKET VALUE

PUBLISH RESPONSE

 

 

INDIVIDUALS PROTEST APPRAISALS BASED ON MARKET VALUE  AND WITH TEA HELP

ELIMINATE ALL COUNTY CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICTS STATE TO FUND ALL LOCAL ENTITIES TO CAP LOCAL PROP TAXES TO 1% OF PURCHAS PRICE.

 

 

 

 

 

RETURN FUEL TAX TO COUNTIES

(STATE WIDE)

SPREAD WORD STATE WIDE

ELECT ONLY STATEWIDE CANDIDATES THAT AGREE

IN 2011 LEGISLATURE VOTE IN TO EFFECT

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROYALTIES TO LAND OWNERS IN PATH OF TOLL ROADS.

STATE WIDE

ELECT ONLY STATEWIDE CAND. WHO AGREE

IN 2011 LEGISLATURE

 

 TALKING POINTS

 

1) FREEZE TAX RATE: PRESENT TAX RATE IS ABOUT 2.5% ON APPRAISED VALUE OF HOME. THIS TRANSLATES INTO ABOUT 6 TO 12% OF ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME ON YOUR IRS TAX FORM. AND FALL BEHIND ON TAXES, HOME CAN BE TAKEN AWAY AND SOLD FOR TAXES. PROPERTY TAX IS INDEXED TO GO UP AN AVERAGE OF 5% PER YEAR, THANKS TO APPRAISALS AND TAX RATE INCREASES.

ASSUMING THIS SCENARIO CONTINUEs, A BUYER TODAY STARTS WITH PAYMENTS ON PROPERTY TAX EQUAL TO ½ THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT. IN 15 YEARS THE PAYMENTS WILL BE EQUAL TO MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.  WHEN HE RETIRES, THE PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS WILL EQUAL 4 TIMES HIS FINAL MORTGAGE PAYMENT.

 PROPERTY TAX IS THE RENT YOU PAY TO STAY IN THE HOME YOU THOUGHT YOU OWNED.

 THE LARGEST RECIPIENT OF LOCAL TAXES (SCHOOLS) DETERMINES POLICY AT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

 SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED AS FOLLOWS:

            25% OF FUEL TAX

            100% BUSINESS FRANCHISE TAX.

            60% OF PROPERTY TAXES

            STATE FUNDING VS PROPERTY TAX = 40% TO 60%

APPRAISALS

ROCKWALL COUNTY TAX APPRAISAL DISTRICT DOES NOT USE MARKET VALUE TO APPRAISE YOU HOUSE.  THEY USE A COMPLICATED FORMULA THAT NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND.  IF YOU HAVE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, LIKE EASEMENTS THAT PREVENT YOU FROM BUILDING.  PROXIMITY TO HOSPITALS, ETC. APPRAISAL DISTRICT WILL NO ACCEPT THAT AS AFFECTING YOUR PROPERTY VALUE. HOWEVER, THE STATE ARBITRATOR WILL.

ELIMINATE APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND TAX ONLY ON THE PRICE PAID FOR THE HOME. HOMES TURN OVER ON AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 7 YEARS. (COULD CONSIDER A SMALL TAX ON THE PROFITS MADE AT THE TIME OF SALE.)

FUEL TAX RETURNED TO COUNTIES

 WE PAY 18 CENTS AND 20 CENTS PER GALLON TO FED AND STATE RESPECTIVELY.  THE FEDS KEEP 15% AND RETURN TO THE STATE.  THE STATE EARMARKS 25% OF STATE TAX TO SCHOOLS.  THE REST OF THE FED AND STATE TAX IS DIVERTED TO OTHER ENTITIES THAT SHOULD BE FUNDED FROM THE STATE GENERAL FUND.

 BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSION OF FUNDS, TXDOT HAS NO MONEY TO BUILD STATE HIGHWAYS. THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY OUT OF BUSINESS FOR BUILDING NEW HIGHWAYS, AND HAS BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS.  LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE GOVERNOR CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION TO DEAL WITH TXDOT.  THE GOVERNOR NEARLY “SUNSET TED” TXDOT.  HE GAVE THEM ENOUGH FUNDING TO OPERATE THE DEPARTMENT BUT NOT ENOUGH TO BUILD HIWAYS.

 TWO YEARS AGO TXDOT TOLD ROCKWALL COUNTY LEADERS THAT IF ROCKWALL COUNTY PAID FOR THE DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES FOR STATE HIGHWAYS IN ROCKWALL COUNTY, THEN TXDOT WOULD COME UP THE REMAIN FUNDING TO BUILD ALL THE STATE HIWAYS IS ROCKWALL COUNTY.  THIS AMOUNTED TO 100MM CONTRIBUTION FOR THE COUNTY AND 400MM BY THE STATE.  THERE WOULD BE NO CONTRACT; THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO INVEST $100MM GAMBLING THAT TXDOT WOULD HAVE MONEY IN THE FUTURE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A “BAIT AND SWITCH” IN THAT THE COUNTY WILL COMES BACK TO THE TAX PAYERS FOR MORE FUNDING OR JUST BUILD A PART OF THE PROJECT.

 IF THE STATE RETURNED ALL FUEL TAX TO THE COUNTIES, THE COUNTIES THEMSELVES COULD MAKE UP THEIR MINDS REGARDING HIWAYS VS THE STATE DECIDING WHO GETS THE MONEY.

 I ESTIMATE THAT COUNTIES COULD REVOKE 75% OF FUEL TAX SENT TO THE STATE. OR ABOUT $10MM A YEAR.

ROYALTIES PAID TO LANDOWNERS IN PATH OF TOLL ROADS

 IF OWNER OWNED AND LIVED IN HIS LAND, THEY HE WOULD RECEIVE A ROYALTY EQUAL TO THE VALUE OF THE LAND PAID BY THE STATE IN ACQUIRING HIS LAND.

How do you scream on Twitter?

“How do you scream on Twitter?” was one of the first messages I sent to discover the potential of expressing myself within 140 characters.

 Today, I have to ask: How do you sing the mobilizing anthem of a people on the web? How can I show to those people afar this desire to change (that I see) on faces around me? Before, the sound of trumpets, the galloping of horses and a few verses called the people of Bayamo (eastern Cuba) to “die for the homeland”; but now everything is different.

 It occurred to me to use the kilobytes, opting for the sword of the word to grow precepts that are sharper and more durable than the machete. These five points of the blog run around the internet so as to ‘slit the throat’ of (oppressive) control, authoritarianism and censorship:

 – Freedom of opinion

– Freedom of access to the Internet

– Freedom to enter and exit Cuba

 – Freedom of Association

– Freedom for prisoners of conscience

 – Freedom for Cuba

 Source: Blog Generation Y, Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez