SEKULOW: FCC backpedals on wrongheaded newsroom-monitoring plan

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The Washington Times

Americans say no to the ‘monitoring’ of free speech

By Jordan Sekulow and Matthew Clark

Friday, February 21, 2014

A First Amendment victory over an intrusive federal government doesn’t come along every day, but thanks to a deafening outcry from the American people, the Obama administration has just backed down from an unconstitutional plan to put monitors in newsrooms in a dramatic fashion.
Recently, the Obama administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed a program, euphemistically labeled a “Multi-Market Study of Critical Information Needs,” to place government monitors in the newsrooms of TV networks, “news and talk-radio stations,” and newspaper companies across the United States.
Imagine FCC monitors peering over the shoulders of editors, producers and reporters as they make decisions about what news to air and how to communicate it to the public.
This monitoring program, as Orwellian as it sounds, moved along toward implementation this spring, completely out of the public spotlight. That is, until FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai sounded the alarm, exposing the FCC’s “plans to send researchers to grill reporters, editors and station owners about how they decide which stories to run.”
He was rightly concerned, and the American people took notice.
FCC monitors in newsrooms across America would pose a monumental threat to free speech and freedom of the press. The FCC already exercises immense control over broadcast stations through license renewal every eight years. These monitors would give the FCC the ability to intimidate the press on a daily basis.
The fact is, this was not a “study” in any sense of the word. The FCC began by developing eight categories of information that it prejudged as the “critical information needs” of the American public.
Sending monitors into newsrooms would be nothing more than a witch hunt to intimidate stations that don’t fall in line with programming that conforms to the predetermined “needs” of the Obama administration.
According to the program’s design, the station owners, managers and reporters would be asked intrusive questions about their “news philosophy” and “target audience.”
If these questions sound eerily familiar, it’s because they are some of the same questions demanded of Tea Party, pro-life and other conservative groups who have been wrongly targeted by the Internal Revenue Service: What is your philosophy? Who are your members? What issues do you promote?

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NOTICE: REPUDIATION OF PUBLIC DEBT AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAWS; AND CALL FOR COUNTER COUP

 


By Cheryl Nelson
Earthchanges.ning

I, Cheryl Nelson, a citizen of the United States of America, repudiate the unconstitutional laws and illegal debts forced upon the American people by the Obama Administration, an administration which does not, and never did, represent the will of the People.
I hereby further give notice that I am not, nor is any other American, "collateral" in any way, shape or form for the debts of the United States under the Obama Administration, or any prior administrations.  Each American is a sovereign being and is not in any way, shape or form owned by any other being(s) or government(s).
I further state that I, along with the American people, were unaware our national parks were being sold and, thus, have never agreed to their sale.  Americans are also generally unaware that American lands and businesses are being sold by the U.S. Government to foreign interests, which is against our laws.
I, along with most other Americans, do not support profligate spending and erosion of our Constitution and rights.
To United States Creditors:  DO NOT LEND THIS ADMINISTRATION ANY MORE MONEY.  WE RENOUNCE THE DEBT INCURRED THEREBY.
There are many more grievances against the Obama Administration, such as the scandals involving Benghazi, the IRS, Fast & Furious, the birth certificate issue, the using of terrorist language against political enemies, the Patriot Act, the NDAA, the NSA spying scandal, drones, Obamacare, funding the Muslim Brotherhood and other terrorist organizations, controlling mass media to influence our thoughts and beliefs, tampering with the justice system and obstructing justice, among other things.  Conduct unbecoming all, and should be listed in a bill of impeachment.
I declare the United States Government to be in the state of a coup d'etat and high treason against the People of the United States.  As a citizen, and along with all other citizens who agree with these statements, I petition the Provost Marshall to arrest the usurper, Barack Hussein Obama a/k/a Barry Soetero, now illegally occupying the office of the President of the United States and remove all members of Congress who have voted against the conscience and will of the American people and the U.S. Constitution.  The damage to this country is great and only immediate removal gives us a fighting chance to recover.
I declare a counter-coup is now in progress and call upon every able-bodied being to resist any unconstitutional laws to the best of your abilities and position to do so.  Let this be non-violent and bloodless, and conducted in accordance with the true Constitutional laws of the United States.
/signed/
Cheryl Nelson
Descendant of Thomas Nelson Jr,
Virginia Wartime Governor and
Signer of the Declaration of Independence

(c) Cheryl Nelson 2013.  Permission granted to republish, as long as a link to the original is given:  
http://earthchanges.ning.com/profiles/blogs/notice-repudiation-of-p...

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The New American Center: Why our nation isn't as divided as we think

Image Source  :  Wikimedia . Org

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NBC News

A new NBC News/Esquire poll shows that a majority of Americans are now in the political center. NBC News political director Chuck Todd discusses the findings with Matt Lauer.

By Tony Dokoupil, Senior Staff Writer, NBC News

It’s the most conventional wisdom in Washington, the unchallenged idea that America is a divided nation, a country ripped into red and blue factions in perpetual conflict. The government shutdown this fall would seem like only the latest evidence of this political civil war. But is the idea of two Americas even true? Not according to a new Esquire-NBC News survey.
At the center of national sentiment there’s no longer a chasm but a common ground where a diverse and growing majority - 51 percent  - is bound by a surprising set of shared ideas.
“Just because Washington is polarized doesn’t mean America is,” says Robert Blizzard, a partner at Public Opinion Strategies, the lead pollster for Mitt Romney in 2012. His firm co-created the survey with the Benenson Strategy Group, pollsters for President Obama, and the result is a nation in eight distinct segments: two on the far right ("The Righteous Right" and "The Talk Radio Heads"), two on the far left ("The Bleeding Hearts" and "The Gospel Left"), and four in the middle that represent nothing less than a new American center ("Minivan Moderates," "The MBA Middle," "The Pick-up Populists, and "The #WhateverMan.")
The people of the center are patriotic and proud, with a strong majority (66 percent) saying that America is still the greatest country in the world, and most (54 percent) calling it a model that other countries should emulate. But the center is also very nervous about the future, overwhelmingly saying that America can no longer afford to spend money on foreign aid (81 percent) when we need to build up our own country.
Take an interactive quiz to find out where you stand. 
Pluralities believe that the political system is broken (49 percent), and the economy is bad (50 percent) and likely to stay that way a while (41 percent). Majorities fear another 9/11 or Boston-style bombing is likely (70 percent), and that their children’s lives will be more difficult than their own (62 percent), which are either stuck in place or getting worse (84 percent) — while the rich keep getting richer at the expense of everyone else (70 percent).
The new American center has a socially progressive streak, supporting gay marriage (64 percent), the right to an abortion for any reason within the first trimester (63 percent), and legalized marijuana (52 percent). Women, workers and the marginal would also benefit if the center had its way, supporting paid sick leave (62 percent); paid maternity leave (70 percent); tax-subsidized childcare to help women return to work (57 percent); and a federal minimum wage hike to no less than $10 per hour (67 percent).
But the center leans rightward on the environment, capital punishment, and diversity programs. Majorities support offshore drilling (81 percent) and the death penalty (64 percent), and the end of affirmative action in hiring and education (57 percent). Most people in the center believe respect for minority rights has gone overboard, in general, harming the majority in the process (63 percent). And just one in four support immigration reforms that would provide a path to citizenship for those who came here illegally.


Read More  and Watch Video Here

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Senate Hair Care Services has cost taxpayers about $5.25 million over 15 years. But hair care is just the tip of the iceberg. Following you will find other ways that our politicians are living the high life at your expense...

The Economic Collapse

$5.25 Million For Senate Hair Care And 21 Other Ways Politicians Are Living The High Life At Your Expense

By Michael Snyder, on September 25th, 2013

If you want to live the high life, you don't have to become a rap star, a professional athlete or a Wall Street banker.  All it really takes is winning an election.  Right now, more than half of all the members of Congress are millionaires, and most of them leave "public service" far wealthier than when they entered it.  Since most of them have so much money, you would think that they would be willing to do a little "belt-tightening" for the sake of the American people.  After all, things are supposedly "extremely tight" in Washington D.C. right now.  In fact, just the other day Nancy Pelosi insisted that there were "no more cuts to make" to the federal budget.  But even as they claim that things are so tough right now, our politicians continue to live the high life at the expense of U.S. taxpayers.  The statistics that I am about to share with you are very disturbing.  Please share them with everyone that you know.  The American people deserve the truth.
According to the Weekly Standard, an absolutely insane amount of money is being spent on the "hair care needs" of U.S. Senators...

Senate Hair Care Services has cost taxpayers about $5.25 million over 15 years. They foot the bill of more than $40,000 for the shoeshine attendant last fiscal year. Six barbers took in more than $40,000 each, including nearly $80,000 for the head barber.

Keep in mind that there are only 100 U.S. Senators, and many of them don't have much hair left at this point.
But hair care is just the tip of the iceberg.  The following are 21 other ways that our politicians are living the high life at your expense...
#1 According to Roll Call's annual survey of Congressional wealth, the super wealthy in Congress just continue to get much wealthier even though they are supposedly dedicating their lives to "public service"...

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) is the richest Member of Congress for the second year in a row, reporting a vast fortune that in 2011 had a minimum net worth surpassing $300 million for the first time.
McCaul is followed by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who reported a minimum net worth of $198.65 million, and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who reported a minimum net worth of $140.55 million. The two lawmakers swapped places since last year's list.
The lawmakers who round out the top five, Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), also flipped positions from 2010 to 2011, with Warner's reported minimum worth rising about $9 million to $85.81 million and Rockefeller's minimum worth rising slightly to $83.08 million.

#2 Amazingly, the 50th most wealthy member of Congress has a net worth of 6.14 million dollars.
#3 At this point, more than half of those "serving the American people" in Congress are millionaires.
#4 In one recent year, an average of $4,005,900 of U.S. taxpayer money was spent on "personal" and "office" expenses per U.S. Senator.
#5 Once they leave Washington, former members of Congress continue to collect huge checks for the rest of their lives...

In 2011, 280 former lawmakers who retired under a former government pension system received average annual pensions of $70,620, according to a Congressional Research Service report. They averaged around 20 years of service. At the same time, another 215 retirees (elected in 1984 or later with an average of 15 years of service) received average annual checks of roughly $40,000 a year.

#6 Speaker of the House John Boehner would bring home a yearly pension of close to $85,000 if he left Congress when his current term ends in 2014.
#7 At this point, quite a few former lawmakers are collecting federal pensions for life worth at least $100,000 annually.  That list includes such notable names as Newt Gingrich, Bob Dole, Trent Lott, Dick Gephardt and Dick Cheney.
#8 The U.S. government is spending approximately 3.6 million dollars a year to support the lavish lifestyles of former presidents such as George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
#9 Nearly 500,000 federal employees now make at least $100,000 a year.
#10 During one recent year, the average federal employee in the Washington D.C. area received total compensation worth more than $126,000.
#11 During one recent year, compensation for federal employees came to a grand total of approximately 447 billion dollars.
#12 If you can believe it, there are 77,000 federal workers that make more than the governors of their own states do.


Read More Here

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Obama To Millennials Stuck Living At Home: I've Got Nothing For You

He's  got  nothing  for  them, huh ?

However, Billions of  dollars in  foreign aid  will continue  as  planned. 

The  Administrations  vacations and  expense  accounts  will continue  as  planned. 

Congress will continue living  high on the  hog with their  Gold Standard  Health Care , nice  fat  salaries and travel expense accounts on the  taxpayers  dime will continue  as planned. 

Drone  strikes  and their  millions of  dollars in bombs price tag will continue as  planned.

Taking  money  from lobbyists  and  kickbacks from  Wall Street  and  Corporate American  will continue  as  planned. 

But you  there on  Main Street looking  for  a  way to make a  living  and  pay  your  debts.  Stuck at  home  with a  degree  a  huge  student  loan to  pay  and  no  jobs because they have  all been  shipped  overseas.  You  can  all take a long  walk on a  short  pier  cause  he  has  NOTHING  for  you!

~Desert Rose~

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45 percent of recent college grads are living with their parents

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Business Insider

Walter Hickey

Aug. 7, 2013, 2:44 PM 

President Barack Obama fielded questions today from Americans in an interview organized by Zillow's CEO Spencer Rascoff.
His answer to a question from a recent college graduate should be gut churning for Millennials to listen to.
The question of interest was from a recent grad who is still stuck living with his parents, a situation endured by one in three Millennials. He wanted to know what the president planned to do to help his generation.  
"We need more affordable, quality rental housing," said the President.  "Jacob looked like a pretty young guy, renting is probably the best option."
Then, he correctly said "What for their parents would have been the down payment on a home right now is going to service their student loan debt. ," an observation that I can personally attest to. 
Great, one might think. So what do we do now?
The president then pivoted to his suggestions for student loan reform, and, even more perplexedly, immigration reform.
"If we get immigration reform done, suddenly you’ve got all kinds of families coming out of the shadows," which the President argued would help to raise the cost of real estate.
Which, by the way, is the opposite of what our Millennial questioner really wants. How, precisely, does more expensive real estate aid young renters screwed over by student loans seeking affordable housing?
But let's first look at the student loan proposal that the President said should give that young professional faith.
You can read the whole proposal here. It would limit payments to 10% of income, forgive debt that remains after 20 years (10 years for nurses, teachers and military folks), and give out more Pell grants.
Sounds awesome.
But here's the thing: None of that affects the people who already have student loan debt.
The key caveat is that it only affects students enrolling in 2014 or later. 
Are you in college or recently out of college? Are you one of the many, many millennials who retreated into grad schools instead of braving a failing or mediocre economy? Well, you're out of luck then.
This isn't a small segment of the economy, either.
Roughly 10% of the country is in the age bracket of a recent college graduate, according to the Census. These are people aged 21-26 years old, with college graduation years somewhere between the economic wasteland the 2009 graduating class walked into and the economic "meh" the forthcoming 2014 graduating class is about to join.
So when the president is asked by a member of this huge segment of the American people what he hopes to do with them, then goes on to acknowledge the fact that this is a problem, but then states his proposals to fix two other problems that don't help this 10% in any way, shape, or form, that cuts somewhat deep.
And the striking answer is the President doesn't actually have a solution for this problem at all.
It's understandable that he wants to fix the problem — crippling student loan debt — at the source, which I imagine is potentially great for my younger sister, someone currently looking at schools.


Read More Here

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