Baldwin: SPLC Publishes Patriot Hit List

By Chuck Baldwin

In a report on its web site dated April 2010, entitled "Meet The Patriots,"
the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) profiled "36 individuals at the heart of the resurgent [patriot] movement." (In reading the list, I counted only 35 "patriots" and 5 "enablers" for a total of 40. I'm not really sure how the SPLC came up with "36." Perhaps their ability to count is commensurate with their ability to appreciate patriotism and liberty.) The SPLC (founded by Morris Dees) sees itself as America's guardian against "right wing militias" and loves to label conservatives and libertarians that it doesn't like as "extremists." The SPLC is one of the most ultra-liberal organizations in the country and should be dismissed as a group of paranoid leftists, not worthy of thought or mention.

The sad truth is, however, our federal government has chosen to exalt the SPLC to the position of being its "go to" source for information regarding "potential domestic terrorists" and similar characterizations. As a result, the information and reports disseminated by SPLC wind up in police reports and bulletins all over the United States. As an example, the SPLC had its fingerprints all over the infamous MIAC report. One could even question whether the SPLC is merely a front organization for Big Brother.

Therefore, it is highly likely that the report negatively profiling 40 American patriots will find its way into Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fusion centers and be distributed to police agencies all across the country. So, should the 40 people who find themselves targeted by SPLC expect some kind of government/police attention? Are we really that close to Nazi-style persecution in America? If the SPLC has its way, the answer seems to be a definite yes.

I remind readers that in the book, Nazi Justiz: Law of the Holocaust (page 3), there were five steps to Hitler's plans for the destruction of European Jews. Step 1: Identification/registration of the targeted group as a public menace. Step 2: Ostracism of the targeted persons. Step 3: property confiscation. Step 4: Concentration of members into geographical locations. Step 5: Annihilation. In this latest report, SPLC seems quite willing to accomplish steps 1 and 2.

Here are the 40 names that are targeted in the SPLC report (and guess who is listed at the very top? Yours truly):

1. Chuck Baldwin, Pastor, Radio Broadcaster, Syndicated Columnist, 2008 Constitution Party Presidential nominee.
2. Joe Banister, former IRS special agent, tax protester.
3. Martin "Red" Beckman, tax protester
4. Catherine Bleish, head of the Liberty Restoration Project.
5. Chris Broughton, Second Amendment advocate, member of "We The People" group.
6. Bob Campbell, head of American Grand Jury.
7. Robert Crooks, Army veteran, retired commercial fisherman, anti-illegal immigration proponent.
8. Joseph Farah, CEO of World Net Daily
9. Gary Franchi, producer of "Camp FEMA: American Lockdown," national director of RestoreTheRepublic.com.
10. Al Garza, head of the Patriot's Coalition, an anti-illegal immigration group.
11. Ted Gunderson, retired FBI agent.
12. John Hassey, "The public face of Alabama's militia movement in the late 1990s," says SPLC.
13. Alex Jones, Radio Talk Show host.
14. Devvy Kidd, "prolific columnist, blogger, and public speaker."
15. Larry Kilgore, telecommunications consultant, former US Senate candidate from Texas, pro-secession advocate.
16. Cliff Kincaid, syndicated columnist and author, editor of AIM Report (Accuracy in Media's publication), founder and president of America's Survival, Inc., a UN watchdog group.
17. Mark Koernke, associated with the now-defunct Michigan Militia.
18. Richard Mack, former Graham County, Arizona, Sheriff, author, and public speaker.
19. Jack McLamb, former Phoenix, Arizona, police officer, author, and public speaker.
20. John McManus, former member of the US Marine Corps, president of the John Birch Society.
21. Daniel New, father of Michael New (the Army medic who refused to wear a UN uniform), author, public speaker.
22. Norm Olson, founder of the now-defunct Michigan Militia.
23. Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America.
24. Stewart Rhodes, Army veteran and Yale Law School graduate, founder of Oath Keepers.
25. Jon Roland, computer specialist, founder of the Constitution Society.
26. Luke Rudkowski, founder We Are Change.
27. Robert "Bob" Schultz, founder of We The People.
28. Joel Skousen, editor, World Affairs Brief.
29. Jim Stachowiak, Radio Talk Show host, "Longtime militia organizer,"
claims SPLC.
30. John Stadtmiller, founder, Republic Broadcasting Network.
31. Orly Taitz, California attorney, a leader in the push to make President Obama disclose his US birth certificate.
32. Amanda Teegarden, executive director of Oklahomans for Sovereignty and Free Enterprise.
33. Mike Vanderboegh, anti-Obama health care activist.
34. Paul Venable, former candidate for the Idaho House of Representatives.
35. Edwin Vieira, Jr., attorney, author, proponent of constitutional State militias, lecturer.
36. Michele Bachmann, US Representative from Minnesota.
37. Glenn Beck, Fox News Channel TV host.
38. Paul Broun, medical doctor, US Representative from Georgia.
39. Andrew Napolitano, attorney, former State judge in New Jersey, Fox News Channel legal analyist, lecturer.
40. Ron Paul, former member of the US Air Force, medical doctor, US Representative from Texas, 2008 Republican candidate for President.

See the SPLC report at:

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/publications/the-patriots?page=0,0

The SPLC, no doubt, sees each person on the above list as being a leader of the "radical right," a "conspiracist," and "antigovernment." But understand, the SPLC makes its living off of big-government, leftist ideology. To say it is a shill for Big Government Liberalism is an understatement. The SPLC is so radical it makes the ACLU look conservative!

Again, this SPLC report would not even merit a mention (much less an entire column) except for the fact that the SPLC has become a source of information fuelling anti-freedom hysteria for countless bureaucrats at the DHS. Add this to the previously exposed MIAC and DHS reports, and the Army major's report blaming "millennialist" Christians for much of the ills of the world, and a disturbing trend is quickly developing: so-called right-wing ANYTHING is being targeted and demonized as a "public menace."

But the lists that you and I are not seeing are even more disturbing.

Joel Skousen quotes (Radar Magazine's) Christopher Ketcham's The Last Roundup as asking if the federal government is "compiling a secret enemies list of citizens who could face detention?" He goes on to say, "A number of former government employees and intelligence sources with independent knowledge of domestic surveillance operations claim the program that caused the flap between [former assistant attorney general under John Ashcroft, James] Comey and the White House was related to a database of Americans who might be considered potential threats in the event of a national emergency.

Sources familiar with the program say that the government's data gathering has been overzealous and probably conducted in violation of federal law and the protection from unreasonable search and seizure guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment.

"A veteran CIA intelligence analyst who maintains active high-level clearances and serves as an advisor to the Department of Defense in the field of emerging technology tells Radar that during the 2004 hospital room drama [between former Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Attorney General Ashcroft, in an attempt by Card to coerce a very ill Ashcroft to authorize President Bush's secretive domestic spying programs as his assistant--and acting--attorney general had refused to do so], James Comey expressed concern over how this secret database was being used 'to accumulate otherwise private data on non-targeted U.S. citizens for use at a future time.'"

The report further states, "According to a senior government official who served with high-level security clearances in five administrations, 'There exists a database of Americans, who, often for the slightest and most trivial reason, are considered unfriendly, and who, in a time of panic, might be incarcerated. The database can identify and locate perceived "enemies of the state" almost instantaneously.'" At this point, Skousen noted, "And that is precisely why the census bureau took a GPS coordinate on every front door in America, secretly linking this to dissidents and their known addresses."

This database of Americans who are perceived to be potential "enemies of the state" goes by the code name "Main Core." And according to the report, "One knowledgeable source claims that 8 million Americans are now listed in Main Core as potentially suspect. In the event of a national emergency, these people could be subject to everything from heightened surveillance and tracking to direct questioning and possibly even detention.

"Officials at the Department of Homeland Security begin actively scrutinizing people who--for a tremendously broad set of reasons--have been flagged in Main Core as potential domestic threats [sound familiar?]. Some of these individuals might receive a letter or a phone call, others a request to register with local authorities. Still others might hear a knock on the door and find police or armed soldiers outside. In some instances, the authorities might just ask a few questions. Other suspects might be arrested and escorted to federal holding facilities, where they could be detained without counsel until the state of emergency is no longer in effect."

The report also noted that former Assistant Attorney General James Comey "had concluded that the use of that 'Main Core' database compromised the legality of the overall NSA domestic surveillance project. 'If Main Core does exist,' says Philip Giraldi, a former CIA counterterrorism officer and an outspoken critic of the agency, 'the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is its likely home. If a master list is being compiled, it would have to be in a place where there are no legal issues--the CIA and FBI would be restricted by oversight and accountability laws--so I suspect it is at DHS, which as far as I know operates with no such restraints.' Giraldi notes that DHS already maintains a central list of suspected terrorists and has been freely adding people who pose no reasonable threat to domestic security."

So, is there a secret list of 8 million "unfriendly" Americans kept by DHS (if there is, dear reader, you are probably on it!)? Does anyone reading this column doubt that our federal government is more than willing and capable of doing such a thing? All of us are quite familiar with the government's "no fly" or "flagged" airline passenger list. I can personally attest to the authenticity of this list, as airport officials in San Antonio, Texas, told me that I'm on it. I also made it to the "list of three" that were named in the MIAC report (the other two were Ron Paul and Bob Barr). And now I am on the SPLC list of "patriots" (not a compliment in the SPLC lexicon). Wow! I never realize how popular I was! (With the exception of Ron Paul, I'm probably on more lists than anyone in America.)

Who would ever have thought that the day would come in America when to speak up for freedom, constitutional government, and the principles expressed by our Founding Fathers would land one on a government watch list? Well, that day is here, my friend! No doubt, the major media and federal government--in order to further ostracize patriotic, God-fearing Americans--will use the SPLC patriot hit list as a vehicle to carry our country further down the road of oppression.

But what the radical left fearmongers at the Southern Poverty Law Center fail to realize is that the more they try to marginalize and ostracize American patriots such as you and me, the more they isolate themselves from America's future, because millions and millions of hard-working, God-fearing, liberty-loving Americans are not going to sit back and let Morris Dees and his cabal of Big Government elitists destroy the principles of freedom in our land.

So, people such as Morris Dees can put us on as many lists as they like; we will never let liberty die! And the more they try to demonize us, the more people will want to join with us. You see, freedom burns deep and strong in the hearts of real Americans. And that's something the SPLC can't extinguish--no matter how many lists it makes!

Now may be a great time for a good book.

The rats scurry as the ship goes down.

The blood is in the water with respect to Supervisor's Tim Johnson and Karl Banks, Engineer Rudy Warnock and now, Eric Hamer, who himself has not exactly been a good steward of taxpayer money during his time as Board Attorney. Johnson is under fire for his association with the now defunct FAIM charity (also see below article). Karl Banks is getting a close look for potential ethical violations, and Warnock's days are numbered as the State Auditor finally begins to look into his practices.

The best thing the other Supervisor Paul Griffin can hope to do right now is to join Supervisor's John Bell Crosby and DI Smith in ordering a full audit of Madison County's books, and hopes the voters reward him for his change of heart. Either that, or he can take the path of Administrator Mark Houston and jump ship. Otherwise, Griffin can expect to drown with the rest of the rats.

From the Madison County Journal:

Bill Murphy was the highest paid charity bingo director in the state until regulators determined he was operating the dump for personal gain and shut him down.

The Secretary of State ordered the charity shut and levied fines totaling $50,000 against the organization and Murphy.

FAIM paid Murphy $155,000 in 2008 and spent only $22,000 on actual charitable giving, testimony showed.

Murphy's actions are indefensible, but look who's lurking around the bingo hall, District 2 Madison County Supervisor Tim Johnson, the charity's PR hack and their former lobbyist.

Murphy's attorney, Eric Hamer, - who happens to be the attorney for the Madison County Board of Supervisors, Murphy's former employer, as it would happen - argued during hearings that Murphy's compensation shouldn't be in question, claiming there are no statutory rules governing such things. Perhaps, but decent people have morals and principles.

To make things even more interesting, an asset sharing agreement FAIM had with Lynn Johnson, Tim Johnson's wife, was the red flag for regulators, they said.

What kind of confidence can Mississippians have in charities - or our elected public officials (Tim Johnson is president of the Madison County Board of Supervisors) -with these kinds of shenanigans going on?

If bingogate wasn't enough of a scandal, Johnson has been threatening to sue the state Department of Transportation over the failed $37 million Reunion interchange the county was going to build and give to the federal government.

Nearly 300 Madison countians showed up at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors in January to protest "wasteful and misdirected spending" of county tax dollars, including Reunion.

Examiners from the State Auditor's Office are currently reviewing engineering contracts connected to Reunion. The real meat of that story will be found in the subcontracts the county engineer arranged.

Bill Murphy should be ashamed and so should Tim Johnson and Eric Hamer.

What kind of people stand behind the kind of fraud Murphy was committing?

Read the entire Editorial at the Madison County Journal

The wheels are coming off. Ain't it GRAND?

Local Blogger digging in Madison County Supervisors backgrounds uncovers potential ethics violations by Karl Banks

Kingfish over at Jackson Jambalaya continues his investigative digging in Madison County Supervisors dealings, and it looks like he may have found where some of the bodies are buried. It appears Supervisor Karl Banks buried some of them in shallow graves.

Former Bush advisor says GOP should back immigration reform

By CHARLES C. FOSTER

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

The political and economic climate in our country is right for American leaders to fix our broken immigration system. Although they don't always agree on the solutions, Democrats and Republicans are in a position to forge a much-needed bipartisan consensus that a problem exists, and our Texas congressional delegation should take the lead on a bipartisan basis. No state or city is more affected by immigration than Texas and Houston. And as unfortunate as it is, the current U.S. economic recession has resulted in an exodus of illegal workers who came to our country for jobs that now don't exist. Before the economy resumes steam and new jobs again attract large numbers of workers across our borders, it is essential we confront the problem.

Given the state of our economy, President Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress know they cannot pass immigration reform without significant Republican support, and that has been a tough sell to date. GOP congressional members will tell you that their base strongly opposes illegal immigration and are angry when illegal immigrants commit crimes and abuse our social services.

Unfortunately, merely being angry about illegal immigration does not constitute effective policy. Republican leaders should recognize that no one supports illegal immigration and we all agree that with an estimated 12 million illegal aliens in the United States, some break the law and use health care and other services (even if actual statistics show that they do so in percentages lower than other groups in society).

A Republican policy of opposing both illegal immigration and at the same time any meaningful immigration reform results in a dangerous affirmation of the status quo. That is a critical point missed by radio and TV commentators and other shrill anti-immigrant groups that fail to offer realistic answers. When pressed in one of the GOP presidential primary debates about his proposal for the estimated 12 million illegal workers here, Mitt Romney could only say that if elected president, he would issue an executive order giving all illegal aliens 90 days to depart the country. Ultimately, all sides agree that having risked their lives and treasure, illegal workers will not leave on their own and it would be logistically impossible, inhumane and economically insane for the government to round up 12 million men, women and children and deport them.

Just building a longer, higher, more durable fence is no answer, either. Candidly, fence contractors and Border Patrol officials concede that no barrier is foolproof. Illegal aliens will climb over, around, under and even through any fence that is built as long as there is the powerful magnet of higher-paying jobs in the U.S. Ironically, as we have increased border enforcement over the last several decades, the primary beneficiary has been organized crime, which simply charges a greater premium for smuggling services. Further, a harder border only fences illegal immigrants inside our country rather than allowing them to return home and maintain family ties. Legislation mandating use of electronic verification (E-Verify) of all new hires by itself would only push illegal workers further into the underground economy.

Any serious proposal to deal with illegal immigration should include the following points:

* A reliable forge-proof identity document. To dry up the job magnet, Congress should provide a uniform forgery-proof biometric document in the form of an upgraded Social Security card so employers can determine on the spot who is authorized to work. Congress failed in 1986 when it designated the easily copied Social Security card as the primary document to establish U.S. work authorization and did not require that it be upgraded. At the same time, Congress should increase penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants and address the independent-contractor loopholes that allow employers to bypass verification laws. That alone would be far more effective than quadrupling the Border Patrol.

• Temporary worker program. Most illegal workers who come to get a job only want to work, save money and go home. Yet there is no viable temporary worker program for semi- or low-skilled workers. Congress should restrict same to applicants from North America, thus permitting circular immigration, and protect U.S. workers by requiring proof of prior recruitment of U.S. workers at the prevailing wage.

• Registration of illegal workers. Congress should require those here illegally to come forward within a reasonable time frame to be identified, registered and fingerprinted. Those without criminal records would be eligible for an interim status that would allow them to work, pay taxes and travel in and out of the country. Such status could be extended only upon payment of a fine for violating U.S. immigration law and back taxes and registering in English-language and civics courses. Further extension would also be conditioned upon completion of the latter.

• No automatic citizenship. No one would be allowed to cut in line and apply for lawful permanent residency (LPR) or so-called green-card status ahead of someone who has already legally applied through family ties or a U.S. employer. Thus, at best it would take eight to 12 years to establish eligibility to apply for LPR. Furthermore, with interim status and authorization to work in the United States and travel home, many would never seek to apply for LPR. Those who did would not be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship for another five years. Based upon current statistics, a smaller percentage of those individuals who achieve LPR would gradually apply for citizenship. Thus, immigration reform would not result in an increase in any new voters in our country for decades, but their U.S. citizen children will vote.

By being viewed as obstructionists, Republicans risk alienating Hispanic-American voters who interpret the heated anti-immigrant rhetoric as anti-Hispanic. In the not-too-distant future, this growing generation of Texans will attain political power just as other ethnic groups did in the past. While those voters share many values with the Republican Party, they could condemn the Republican Party in Texas to minority status for years unless it can find a way to support realistic, common-sense immigration reform.

Foster was the senior immigration policy adviser to President George W. Bush during the 2000 and 2004 elections and today chairs the Immigration Task Force of the Greater Houston Partnership.

A Lesson In Deflection

Under pressure from Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler and a number of Madison County residents for a too-cozy relationship with County Engineer Rudy Warnock, Board of Supervisor's President Tim Johnson is deflecting accusations by pointing the finger back at the Mayor. Pointing to a legal contract between the City of Madison and developer Richard Skinner and calling it "extortion" doesn't make it so. In fact, Skinner and the Mayor on behalf of the city both voluntarily signed the agreement.

Unless someone comes forth to claim they witnessed the Mayor pointing a gun at Skinner's head and demanding he sign, this is much ado about nothing. In fact, if Madison County, under the leadership of Supervisor Johnson, would uphold their end of the deal on the Reunion Parkway project and complete it by December of 2011, then the money would be returned to Mr. Skinner as the deal clearly states (posted on Jackson Jambalaya). Then again if the State Auditor would subpoena the UNapproved subcontracts for enviromental work that Engineer Warnock ordered and then way overbilled for on the Reunion project and a couple of others, it would go a long way to help return money to the county that could then be used on construction.

It is a typical response from Johnson: create a problem by using your position to provide a loop hole for your friends to gouge the taxpayer, while shifting money from the original project to others which in turn slows the project (further providing your buddy the engineer with a chance to re-engineer the project). And then, when it comes to light what you have done and bites you in the rear end, blame it on the accuser.  Of course the tactic is used often by the other two Supes in the voting block of three, as well, as my friend Kingfish at Jackson Jambalaya reports and is busy uncovering today.

The lack of ethics in DC ain't got nothing on us!



CLASSY!

Related Posts: Madison County Supervisor's lobbying adds to county's woes

Obama's likely nominee will have to defend stance on military recruitment

Foes may target Kagan's stance on military recruitment at Harvard

Four months after becoming dean of Harvard Law School, Elena Kagan sent an e-mail to students and faculty lamenting that military recruiters had arrived on campus, once again, in violation of the school's anti-discrimination policy. But under government rules, she wrote, the entire university would jeopardize its federal aid unless the law school helped the recruiters, despite the armed forces' ban on openly gay members.

"This action causes me deep distress," Kagan wrote that morning in October 2003. "I abhor the military's discriminatory recruitment policy." It is, she said, "a profound wrong -- a moral injustice of the first order."

Her stance put Kagan squarely in sync with professors at Harvard and other law schools -- and wholly out of sync with the Supreme Court, which later ruled unanimously that the schools were wrong. Four years after that ruling, Kagan, now the U.S. solicitor general, is a leading candidate to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. Conservatives have signaled that if President Obama nominates her, her stance on this issue -- like perhaps no other in her career -- dangles as ripe fruit that opponents would grab to thwart her confirmation.

"For someone who has been so guarded on so many issues, she used strikingly extreme rhetoric. 'Moral injustice of the first order' would seem fit for something like the Holocaust," said Ed Whelan, president of the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center. "This is one issue that provides some jurisprudential clues as to how much her reading of the law will be biased by her policy views. If she is the nominee, that is an angle that I would press."

The Washington Post

Corn farmers enjoy nice weather, increased acreage

Mississippi’s 2010 corn crop is off to a promising start after recent sunny skies and favorable soil conditions gave farmers a chance to plant and manage their fields.

“The nice weather during the past week has allowed a tremendous amount of field work to get done, particularly in North Mississippi where farmers can finally begin planting corn,” said grain crops agronomist Erick Larson of the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “This was the first good weather that many farmers have had in a while.”

Corn planting is rapidly concluding in many areas of the state where rainfall has been light for a few weeks. Young corn plants are growing quickly in response to warm weather, and growers are applying fertilizer and preparing for the next phase of production.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts Mississippi will be one of eight states to increase corn acreage in 2010. The planting intentions report estimate for the state corn crop is 800,000 acres.

Mississippi Business Journal

Madison County Administrator's Resignation: Timing is Everything.

Makes you wonder if the ongoing audit has anything to do with it, huh? Houston is the man in charge of making sure the county books are in order with respect to roadwork and, considering he just took the job three months ago, it seems like a hasty retreat. It was Houston who sent out an email to the Board of Supervisors before the State Auditor's Audit Response Team moved in to "review" some subcontracts, giving the Board Pres and his buddy Warnock a chance to get their press releases ready.

Houston resigns as County Administrator

Madison County Administrator Mark Houston will resign at the end of the month to take a job in the private sector.

Houston offered his resignation to the Board of Supervisors Monday with members saying they were unsure when or if they would name a permanent replacement for Houston.

He called the position one of the most rewarding experiences of his life, but said the opportunity to work in the private sector was to good to pass up.

Houston was named County Administrator in January after former County Administrator Donnie Caughman retired.

The Madison County Journal

Extramarital sex, earthquakes and blindness.

As an adolescent, the old guys at deer camp would always warn me that too much of a certain thing would cause you to go blind. I won't elaborate on exactly what the elder members were speaking about. But needless to say I didn't grow hair in my palms either.

The warning that "you'll go blind" also extended to just about anything a grandparent or elderly person didn't want you to do.

Looks like the old timers in Iran have decided the blindness trick wasn't doing it so they have moved on to outright Armageddon.

Extramarital sex fuels earthquakes, warns Iran cleric

A SENIOR Iranian cleric has claimed that dolled-up women incite extramarital sex, causing more earthquakes in Iran, a country that straddles several fault lines, newspapers reported today.

"Many women who dress inappropriately ... cause youths to go astray, taint their chastity and incite extramarital sex in society, which increases earthquakes," Ayatollah Kazem Sedighi told worshippers at overnight prayers in Tehran.

"Calamities are the result of people's deeds," he was quoted as saying by reformist Aftab-e Yazd newspaper.

"We have no way but conform to Islam to ward off dangers."

The Islamic dress code is mandatory in Iran, which has been under clerical rule for more than three decades.

The Australian

Undoubtedly, there is also a connection to Global Warming. Maybe all those dolled-up women are causing men to get "heated" which in turn is causing the earth to warm, and the Earthquakes to wreak more havoc.

Today's Quakes Deadlier Than In Past


Study: Seismic Activity 5 Times More Energetic Than 20 Years Ago Because Of Global Warming

(AP) New research compiled by Australian scientist Dr. Tom Chalko shows that global seismic activity on Earth is now five times more energetic than it was just 20 years ago.

The research proves that destructive ability of earthquakes on Earth increases alarmingly fast and that this trend is set to continue, unless the problem of "global warming" is comprehensively and urgently addressed.

The analysis of more than 386,000 earthquakes between 1973 and 2007 recorded on the US Geological Survey database proved that the global annual energy of earthquakes on Earth began increasing very fast since 1990.

Dr. Chalko said that global seismic activity was increasing faster than any other global warming indicator on Earth and that this increase is extremely alarming.

CBS

More comparisons to '94

Mistrust in Government: 'Perfect Storm'

Last time the weather got this bad (1980 and 1994), big things happened.

Only 22 percent of all Americans surveyed say they trust the government in Washington almost always or most of the time -- among the lowest measures in half a century - according to a new Pew Research Center survey released tonight.

The results point to "a perfect storm'' of public unrest, Pew reports -- "a dismal economy, an unhappy public, (a) bitter, partisan-based backlash and epic discontent with Congress and elected officials.

There have been political ramifications in the past when the public mood grew this sour: In 1980, Ronald Reagan unseated President Jimmy Carter. In 1994, the GOP won the House.

The current level of public skepticism was matched previously only in the periods leading up to both events -- from 1992 to 1995 (reaching a low of 17 percent trust in government in the summer of 1994), and from 1978 to 1980 (bottoming out at 25 percent in 1980).

The Swamp

Politico runs piece on Barbours possible run for White House in 2012

Barbour, advisers privately mull 2012 run

POLITICO has learned that Barbour is weighing the prospect of a 2012 White House bid, and convened a private meeting last Thursday with a group of some of his oldest and closest advisers, some of whom flew in from the East Coast to Jackson. The gathering stretched for six hours, during which time the topic of a presidential run was discussed.

One adviser familiar with the state capital sit-down said that Barbour concluded that he did not need to make a decision now and that the group should meet again after this fall’s election.

“He’d instantly be in the top-tier of candidates,” said Fred Malek, one of the GOP’s leading moneymen who is working with Barbour on governor’s races this year but is also close with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

“Haley starts with enormous credibility,” said former Bush adviser Karl Rove. “He has been a very successful governor, a very successful party chairman, and his stewardship at the RGA has put him in touch with some movers and shakers he may not have known before. And every one of those experiences has broadened his army of advisers and deepened the commitment of the ones he already had.”

Barbour is already being urged to consider a run by some of the GOP’s top donors, say multiple sources inside and outside his camp.

“To the degree that there is an establishment that is still relevant, a lot of those people have said to him, ‘I don’t want to get involved in 2012 until I know what you’re doing,’” said one Barbour adviser.

Further, Barbour has warmed to the possibility in part because the Republican competition for the nomination still is sparse.

“There’s no dominant frontrunner and there’s even debate about who came in second last time,” said Ed Rogers, Barbour’s former lobbying partner and friend dating back to their work together on President Ford’s 1976 campaign.

As formidable as he would be in a GOP primary—particularly if he becomes the only Southerner in the race—Barbour’s vulnerabilities in a general election would be considerable.

As a former corporate lobbyist with a roster of controversial clients, he’d have Democratic oppo researchers salivating. More than that, is the question of appearance: does the GOP really want to nominate the governor of Mississippi—one who looks and sounds every bit like the Yazoo City, Mississippi, native he is—to take on the country’s first black president?

Democrats appear to relish the contrast and are already seizing on the race issue.

“Being someone who maintains that slavery was an ‘insignificant’ episode in history that didn't ‘amount to diddly’ isn't the type of profile I'd base a national campaign on,” said Democratic National Committee spokesman Hari Sevugan, alluding to Barbour’s comments on CNN Sunday about Virginia GOP Gov. Bob McDonnell’s controversial recognition of Confederate history. “But, hey, he can always fall back on the fact that he's a former lobbyist.”

What Barbour actually said in the interview was that McDonnell’s resolution—which originally made no mention of slavery—was “not significant” and that the flap amounted to “trying to make a big deal out of something doesn't amount to diddly.”

He also said that “anybody that thinks that you have to explain to people that slavery is a bad thing—I think that goes without saying.”

Still, Barbour’s breezy treatment of the delicate issue, and the Democrats’ aggressive response, illustrates what he’d face in a matchup with Obama.

Read more at Politico

DNC to pour money into midterms while RNC Chairman Steele's downward spiral affects GOP message

Politico is reporting that the DNC and President Obama are preparing to pour in large sums of cash to buy the November midterms. This is a good sign that the Dems are scared of the potential loss of seats this November, and that they are fully aware that the new Health Care Law provided them little to no bounce. If anything it is becoming more of an albatross as the days pass.

The Democratic National Committee will contribute more than $50 million in cash and services for November’s midterm elections, a top Democratic official tells POLITICO.

The payments — for House, Senate and governor’s races — will start in June. Aides are negotiating the split between cash and services.

The report also indicates that the Republican National Committee will be far behind in spending due to the lack of leadership from Chairman Michael Steele.

GOP campaign committees are preparing to get less cash from the Republican National Committee than in the past, in part because big donors are frustrated with the leadership of Chairman Michael Steele.

Steele's most recent decision to speak at Al Sharpton's National Action Network conference has only added fuel to what is now a very big fire.

Reuters: Obama, Clinton fundraiser admits $292 million fraud

A wealthy businessman who raised money for leading Democratic Party politicians, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, pleaded guilty on Thursday to defrauding three major banks out of $292.2 million in loan transactions.

Hassan Nemazee, 60, who once ran a private equity firm, admitted in Manhattan federal court to defrauding Bank of America Corp of more than $142 million, Citigroup Inc of $74.9 million and HSBC Holdings Plc of $74.9 million to pay his debt to Citigroup.

During the plea proceeding, Iranian-born Nemasee, who owned several multimillion dollar properties and had interests in various companies and hedge funds, said he had tried to get out of financial difficulty starting in the 1990s.

Read more at Reuters

JJ: Stacy Pickering: What the hell?

Why exactly would Pickering notify a target of an examination three days before the examination he was coming? Any auditor worth his salt knows such audits are unannounced so the subject can't "prepare" for the audit. If this is standard procedure, then maybe we need a new State Auditor.

Jackson Jambalya

Related Posts: Warnock tells WLBT he embraces audit, but will there be a full investigation?

Mississippi’s foreclosures more than double

The number of Mississippi homeowners facing or hit by foreclosure has more than doubled over the past year.

That is according to RealtyTrac, which tracks foreclosures nationwide.

In March, 518 Mississippi properties were targeted for some kind of foreclosure action, ranging from a notice of default to outright repossession. In March 2009, there were 221 such actions in the state.

Last month, 224 properties were actually taken from their owners. That is down from 333 in February, but up from only 42 in March 2009.

Mississippi ranks 45th on the foreclosure list.

Nationally, foreclosure actions are up 16 percent from a year ago. RealtyTrac says that is due to foreclosure moratoriums ending and banks working through problem loans.

Mississippi Business Journal

AP: Barbour signs transportation bill

JACKSON — Gov. Haley Barbour has signed a bill authorizing more than $300 million in bonds to finance highways, bridges and other transportation projects.


It includes $90 million to improve highways leading to a Toyota plant that has been built, but not yet opened, near Blue Springs in Northeast Mississippi. Barbour calls Toyota roads “very, very important.”

The bill has $100 million to repair or replace state highway bridges, $20 million for local bridges and $20 million for county roads.

It also funds improvements to U.S. 49 near Camp Shelby south of Hattiesburg, and to build new interchanges at the camp’s north and south gates.

A commission made up of the governor, the treasurer and the attorney general will vote later on issuing the bonds.

Despite attempts to brand TEA Partiers, the only thing that sticks is the truth.

The Boston Herald's Michael Graham covered the TEA Party in Boston yesterday and reports that the lefties are getting desperate. Even though Sarah Palin was the keynote speaker, it seems the classiness of the participants to stay focused on the reason for the event made them the real stars of the show.











Yolk’s on the lefties

By Michael Graham

Sarah Palin, star of the Boston Tea Party? Hardly.

And it wasn’t me or any of the other talk show types populating the stage on Boston Common, either.

No, it was the Tea Party crowd itself who stole the show. And not just with their numbers. They proved that the Tea Partiers are ready for prime time.

I’m not talking about the organization, though Holliston mom Christen Varley and her volunteers did an amazing job on a shoestring budget. Were there some technical glitches? Sure. But it didn’t throw the thousands of attendees off their game.

Nothing did. Not even flying eggs.

“I dodged the first one, but couldn’t get away from the second,” said Jack Lambert, a retired Navy vet from Natick. “It nailed me right on the chest.”

But Jack said no thanks when offered a paper towel. “I’m going to wear this badge with honor.”

How classy, how smart. For the rest of the day, the classlessness and anger of the Tea Party foes spoke for itself from his jacket.

Not that the handful of lefty nuts needed any help. Their ignorance was on full display in their vile signs, signs that had they not been about Palin, would have been denounced as sexist by these same Cambridge libs. But instead of inspiring anger among the Tea Partiers, the counter-protests inspired good humor and sincere interest. Attendees reported that attempting to debate with the protesters was a waste because they knew so little about Obamacare, the stimulus, the debt or any of the issues motivating the Tea Partiers.

So why were they there? Ironically, they appeared to be drawn by Palin’s celebrity. “They were the kind of people who think Palin really said she could see Russia from her house,” one caller told me.

Then again, given that The Boston Globe-Democrat made that same suggestion on its front page. . .

No matter. The Tea Partiers knew why they were there. Their signs were about government power, individual freedom and fiscal sanity. You’d have to be illiterate to leave Wednesday’s rally still asking the media’s favorite question: “Why are the Tea Partiers really angry?” Which means that unless you work for MSNBC, you should know what’s up.

My two favorite signs? I loved the Tea Partiers’ embrace of inept mockery in: “I can see November from my house.” (They can.)

The Boston Herald

Democrats Have Increased Taxes by $670 Billion and Counting…

List Includes 14 Tax Hikes Totaling Over $316 Billion on Middle Class Families.

Since January of 2009, President Obama and Congressional Democrats have enacted into law gross tax increases totaling more than $670 billion, or more than $2,100 for every man, woman and child in the United States. The list of tax increases includes at least 14 violations of the President’s pledge not to raise taxes on Americans earning less than $200,000 for singles and $250,000 for married couples.



TAX INCREASES ENACTED

•New tax on individuals who do not purchase government approved health insurance

•New tax on employers who fail to fully comply with government health insurance mandates*

•New 40% excise tax on certain high cost health plans *

•New ban on the purchase of over the counter drugs using funds from FSAs, HSAs and HRAs*

•Increase the Medicare tax on wages and self employment income by 0.9% and impose a new 3.8% surtax on certain investment income (for individuals over $200,000 and couples over $250,000)

•Increase, from 7.5% to 10% of income, the threshold after which individuals can deduct out of pocket medical expenses*

•Impose a new $2,500 annual cap on FSA contributions *

•New annual tax on health insurance *

•New annual tax on brand name pharmaceuticals *

•New 2.3% excise tax on certain medical devices *

•New 10% tax on indoor UV tanning services *

•New tax on insured and self insured health plans *

•Double the penalty for non qualified HSA distributions *

•Eliminate the deduction for expenses allocable to Medicare Part D subsidy

•Limit the deduction for compensation to officers, employees and directors of certain health insurance providers

•Require information reporting on payments to corporations

•Impose additional requirements for section 501(c)(3) hospitals

•Make “black liquor” ineligible for cellulosic biofuel producer credit

•Codify economic substance doctrine and impose penalties for underpayments

•Tobacco tax increase and expanded enforcement authority*

•Repeal guidance allowing certain taxpayers to claim losses of an acquired corporation

•Federal Unemployment surtaxes extended through June 2011 *

•Delay of rules to reduce the double taxation of worldwide American employers until 2018 (worldwide interest allocation)

•Delay of rules to reduce the double taxation of worldwide American employers until 2021 (worldwide interest allocation)

TOTAL = $670.341 BILLION AND COUNTING…

*VIOLATES PRESIDENT’S PLEDGE TO NOT INCREASE TAXES ON MIDDLE CLASS

Click here to see a breakdown of the numbers from the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee

Now it's the established Repubs who want to be like Ron Paul

Brad Jackson of the New Ledger responds as if the latest Rasmussen Poll showing Texas Congressman Ron Paul would give President Obama a run for his money in a general election is a surprise. A quick look at Paul's history both as a Congressman and a Presidential candidate show he was TEA Party when TEA Party wasn't cool.

Paul already had a band of unlikely allies in his run for the Presidency in 2008 that included Conservatice Republicans, disenchanted Democrats and Libertarians who just want to be left the hell alone. Those three groups are what now make up the core of the TEA Party movement.

Jackson's referral to Paul as looney doesn't seem to take into account that the "ole' bird" has led the fight for some pretty popular TEA Party type legislation in the Fed Audit Bill, or ideas of smaller government, less intrusion in our lives, better monetary policy, and bringing an end to world interventionism. He doesn't seem to take into account that it is the Republicans that have moved toward Paul's message, a message that has been far more consistent for not just years, but decades.

Ron Paul and Obama Neck and Neck in Rasmussen Poll

by Brad Jackson

No, this is not a joke. A new Rasmussen poll shows that in a race between Barack Obama and perennial GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul, that the nutty Texas Congressman would come within one point of the current President. According to Rasmussen, “42% of likely voters would vote for Obama and 41% would vote for Paul. This, despite the fact that Paul gets lower support from Republicans (66%) than Obama does from Democrats (79%).”

That’s right, Obama and RON PAUL would be practically tied. Now of course, Ron Paul will not be the GOP nominee, but this has to look bad if your in Camp Obama and surveying 2012. If you’re neck and neck with the local looney, God knows how you’ll fair against a serious contender.

Rasmussen also says that within the Political Class, the Paul/Obama matchup would be a blowout. While 58% of Mainstream voters favor Paul, 95% of the Political Class vote for Obama. However, it is that very "Political Class" that is on the outs with mainstream voters, and why Republicans are on the outside trying to fight their way into the TEA Party movement.

Mainstream voters numbers have grown, and they have grown weary of the pendulum. Memories of George W. Bush's spendthrift bailouts are still fresh. So, it is Republicans trying to convince the TEA Party movers and shakers that they are, well . . . more like Paul.