Let’s Talk Frankly About Crime
Yes, there's no doubt that the prison population has grown during that period, but it's also true that its impact on crime has been substantial. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Americans experienced 44 million crimes in 1973. By 2007, that number had dropped to 23 million, even though the population grew by more than 75 million. In other words, those "tough on crime" policies reduced crime by almost half, while the country grew by about 30 percent. A research analyst and lead author of the new report admits that it is "intuitive" to attribute the huge reduction in crime to the amount of criminals behind bars. However, she added that some researchers have determined that incarceration rates account for no more than one-fourth of the drop in crime. Even accepting lowball estimates, a quarter of half is one eighth. One out of eight crime victims spared is not chopped liver.
AARP Staffers walk out on Members
Senior citizens who went to a meeting sponsored by AARP were left to themselves after the AARP hostess walked out. The seniors were trying to get answers concerning ObamaCare and why AARP would support a government controlled health system that many believe would lead to euthanasia and rationing of health care. Why would AARP, the nation's largest group, supposedly working for the elderly, support an ObamaCare bill? Here is what Dick Morris, former advisor to President Clinton, said: "The interest groups that usually speak up for the elderly, particularly AARP, are in Obama's pocket, hoping to profit from his program by becoming one of its vendors. Just as they backed Bush's prescription drug plan because they anticipated profiting from it, so they are now helping Obama gut the medical care of their constituents." Like the National Education Association, AARP has been taken over by liberals. With millions of members, AARP is using its clout to push ObamaCare on the elderly, even if it includes euthanasia. AARP supported homosexual marriage by opposing Prop 8 in California.
Democrat screams at constituent for asking tough question on health care
And by “constituent,” I of course mean crypto-Nazi political terrorist. You’ll find the full unedited exchange right here but I’m giving you the news segment because it provides important context. Like, for example, that the guy who asked Scott the question actually is one of his constituents, contrary to what the distinguished gentleman implies. And that his “hijacking” of this town hall (which wasn’t devoted to health care) came during a Q&A session in which attendees were in fact allowed to ask about anything. But aside from that, he’s very, very Nazi, baby.
Poll Shows Americans Support Right-to-Carry
It will come as a shock to the 39 senators who voted to deny law-abiding Americans their right to self-defense when traveling outside their home states, but the results showed that 83% of Americans support Right-to-Carry laws. The poll also revealed that support for Right-to-Carry crosses party lines, with 86% of independent voters and 80% of Democratic voters supporting Right-to-Carry. This is no surprise to gun owners, however, who have long known that the majority of Americans support the Second Amendment and the right to self-defense.
National Guard asked to explain 'internment' jobs
An ad campaign featured on a U.S. Army website seeking those who would be interested in being an "Internment/Resettlement" specialist is raising alarms across the country, generating concerns that there is some truth in those theories about domestic detention camps, a roundup of dissidents and a crackdown on "threatening" conservatives.
Congressmen Took Half Million Dollar Exotic 'Climate Change' Junket
Diving and snorkeling at Australia's Great Barrier Reef, watching New Year's fireworks in New Zealand and sleeping in a luxury Hawaiian hotel is the vacation of a lifetime – unless you're a member of Congress. Then it's a fact-finding mission to study climate change. Ten lawmakers – six Democrats and four Republicans – spent 11 days on an international junket in some of the most breathtaking spots on Earth, and then stuck taxpayers with the $500,000-plus bill. According to the Wall Street Journal, six spouses also made the journey at the end of 2007, and their expenses for lodging and travel also came out of taxpayers' pockets. “The trip we made was more valuable than 100 hearings," Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., to the Journal. “Are there members of Congress who take trips somewhat recreationally? Perhaps. Is this what this trip was about? Absolutely not.” Baird, the lead congressman on the exotic junket, was the chairman of the House Science Committee's subcommittee on research and science education at the time. The trip was ostensibly to gather information on global warming and how federal funds are used for scientific projects. Joining Baird were Reps. Frank Lucas, R-Okla.; Mike Ross, D-Ark.; Russ Carnahan, D-Mo.; Charlie Melancon, D-La.; John Tanner, D-Tenn.; Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas; Bob Inglis, R-S.C.; Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif.; and Adrian Smith, R-Neb. Ross, Carnahan, Melancon, Tanner, Neugebauer and Lucas were accompanied by their spouses.
Chamber of Commerce Opposed to Obama's Plans
If President Barack Obama wants to take the measure of his opposition, he only has to glance across Lafayette Park from the White House. There, behind 10 massive Corinthian columns, is the headquarters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce _ a leading critic of the administration's health care and banking overhaul plans. A fortress for the business community, the chamber has emerged as a multitasking, multimillion-dollar defender of the private sector against presidential initiatives. As lawmakers spend time at home during their August vacation hearing from constituents, the chamber is adding its own heat to the season.
USCCB Prolife Chief Draws 'Lines in the Sand' on Healthcare
The Executive Director of the USCCB Prolife Office today demands explicit exclusion of abortion from any health care reform proposals. He makes the very good point that Medicaid had funded 300,000 abortions a year at a time when "abortion" was not even mentioned in the Medicaid statute. It took the Hyde Amendment to stop abortion in Medicaid.
Wind Promises Blackouts as Obama Strains Grid With Renewables
President Barack Obama’s push for wind and solar energy to wean the U.S. from foreign oil carries a hidden cost: overburdening the nation’s electrical grid and increasing the threat of blackouts. The funding Obama devoted to get high-voltage lines ready for handling the additional load of alternative supplies is less than 5 percent of the $130 billion that power users, producers and the U.S. Energy Department say is needed. Without more investment, cities can’t tap much of the renewable energy from remote areas, said Jon Wellinghoff, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He serves as the administration’s top official on grid issues and recognizes the dilemma it faces. “As we add more and more wind power, the grid will get more stressed, and there’s going to be a point where the grid can’t handle any more,” Wellinghoff said at an energy conference in Chicago. “The first thing we need is to build out transmission.”
New documentary recounts courageous women religious under communism
A new documentary tells the stories of Greek and Roman Catholic women religious who lived their faith under communist harassment and persecution in Eastern and Central Europe. The one-hour documentary, “Interrupted Lives: Catholic Sisters Under European Communism,” will be distributed to ABC television stations and affiliates on September 13. It will be scheduled at the discretion of local stations. Between World War II and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, many women religious endured imprisonment, exile to Siberia, forced farm and factory labor, deportation, seizure of their schools and hospitals and even expulsion from their convents.
Catholic Organizations' Support for Health Care Reform Follows the Money Trail
A clash between Catholic pro-life groups and major Catholic organizations on whether Congress should enact immediate health care reform has drastically muddled the Catholic response to the debate raging on Capitol Hill. But as one Catholic editor has noted, the conflicting messages on whether to push health care reform could be traced to at least one organization's monetary interest in such reform. The struggle came to a head last week with news of an "action alert" released by Catholic Charities USA, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and the Catholic Health Association (CHA) calling on constituents to contact Congressmen urging the passage of health care reform "now." Jack Smith, editor of the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocesan newspaper The Catholic Key, says part of the problem lies in "confusion over the nature of the Catholic Health Association and [CHA president] Sister Carol [Keehan]'s role." The Catholic Key reported on Aug. 6 that Sister Carol's "compensation at Catholic Health Association is $856,093. This in an organization whose expenses are only $17,660,797. Three other employees at CHA each make more than $300,000." "CHA is not a repository of Catholic social teaching with regard to health care or an association of moral theologians or a charity in service of the poor," wrote Smith. "It is a trade association."
'Health Care Reform Must be Abortion-Free,' says Supreme Knight
"A health care system designed to save lives on the one hand must not become a vehicle for taking lives through abortion and euthanasia," Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson said in his annual report at the organization's 127th annual convention yesterday. Referring to health care legislation now being considered in the U.S. Congress, he declared that "Health care reform must be abortion-free."
Expanding Double Jeopardy
Welcome to a new age of double jeopardy. The hate-crime statute just passed by Congress expands the potential for federal prosecutions to chilling new levels, and even creates the possibility of retrials for crimes that have already been ruled on by state courts. In one fell swoop, lawmakers have virtually ensured legal proceedings that obviously violate the Bill of Rights and this, for some reason, is being widely hailed as a triumph of justice.
Riot at California Prison Injures 250 Inmates
A California state prison near Los Angeles remained on lockdown after a riot sent 55 prisoners to hospitals. Prison spokesman Lt. Mark Hargrove said 80 officers responded to the riot Saturday night, which involved some 1,300 inmates in seven barracks at the prison, which is about 35 miles east of Los Angeles. The uprising lasted for about four hours, and at least one unit caught fire. More than 250 inmates suffered injuries ranging from stab wounds and slashes to head trauma. Some injuries were considered life-threatening.
TKF Special Report
TKF In Tranisition
Soon, TKF will be sent from a new e-mail address -- editor@kansasfederalist.com. Put this address in your addressbook to ensure you receive future updates.
TKF on Facebook
Look for the "Kansas Federalist" on Facebook and become a Fan!
Wounded Vet Gilyeat considering run for Congress
One of Kansas City, Kan.'s biggest celebrities could use his newfound name recognition for a run for U.S. Congress. Daniel Gilyeat, a Marine who's story of perseverance earned him a spot on ABC's "Extreme Makeover- Home Edition" television show, has set up a Web site indicating he is considering challenging incumbent Dennis Moore ( D - Kansas) for the 3rd Kansas Congressional District seat in next year's general election, "Since 1999 Dennis Moore has spent his career in Congress supporting his do-nothing liberal agenda while claiming to reach across party lines," his Web site says. "The people of Kansas have paid dearly for Moore's irresponsible support of destructive policies.
Roeland Park Shows Fiscal Leadership
Despite a projected decline in revenue, Roeland Park residents won’t see an increase in city taxes next year. The City Council unanimously approved a 2010 budget on Monday night with the same mill levy as this year. The levy will remain at 18.783, the same as 2009.
Organizing for America sending invites Congressman Moore won’t
The E-mail below was sent to me in the last hour by a concerned citizen who is deeply troubled that Congressman Moore has violated privacy rights by sharing contact information with Organizing for America. This concerned citizen called Congressman Moore’s office on several occasions asking to talk to the Congressman about this issue. This concerned citizen filled out the online form asking for dialog about health care reform. This citizen is now confused as to why Organizing for America from a web address baraackobama.com is now sending an invitation for a meeting when a direct request was ignored. This concerned citizen has never asked to receive E-mail from Organizing for America.
Parkinson, Bremby quietly kill Kansas' crisis pregnancy program
Kansas Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson has once again demonstrated he has an approach to "life" issues that is almost identical to Kansas' former Democratic governor, abortion supporter Kathleen Sebelius.
Parkinson, along with Roderick Bremby, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, completely defunded the Sen. Stan Clark Pregnancy Maintenance Initiative, which helped women facing crisis pregnancies. The move came with no formal announcement only weeks after Parkinson vetoed a measure that would have defunded Planned Parenthood clinics in Kansas in favor of community health facilities. Planned Parenthood is an abortion provider.
The purpose of the initiative was to provide services for pregnant women so they could carry their unborn children to term. The program included counseling services where alternatives to abortion, such as adoption, are discussed. The initiative served a significant portion of women living below the federal poverty level.
Moore has voted with Pelosi 98% of the time
So much for the self styled “Blue-Dog” theme. U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, the lone Democrat in Kansas’ congressional delegation, is among a group of 70 Democrats who have been targeted for defeat in 2010 by the National Republican Congressional Committee. Despite the fact that he’s an entrenched, veteran member of Congress, a spokesman for the NRCC said Moore was vulnerable because of his almost universal support for the agenda of leftist Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a record that contradicts his assertions that he serves his district as a conservative, Blue Dog Democrat. “Moore voted for a $1 trillion wasteful stimulus bill that has yet to produce jobs but has done plenty to burden future generations of Kansans with debt,” Lindsay said. “The 98 percent voting record that Moore has accumulated in favor of Nancy Pelosi’s agenda assures that he will face a stiff challenge next year.”
St. Agnes Student Shows Great Faith
Twelve-year-old, St Agnes student Julie Brock-Garcia took a long, slow breath before she tried to describe her illness. It’s a story of love and faith!
Godsey: Mo. Dept. Of Natural Resources Let Us Down
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has let us down. The attorney general is looking into whether laws were violated when the DNR, as it is called, withheld information about high levels of E. coli in the Lake of the Ozarks. Test samples for the bacteria were taken the last week in May, but results were not released to the public for a month. Some have suggested that the results may have been withheld because their release could have damaged tourism at the start of the summer vacation season. Whatever the reason, the DNR's decision to delay release of the information was a bad call. Public safety was compromised. The DNR had a moral obligation to inform the public as soon as the information became available. As citizens, we trust and rely on our government to inform us when there are threats to our health. That's one of the reasons we pay taxes. This behavior by the DNR is an example of why trust in government continues to diminish.
"They hear their baby's heartbeat; they see their baby's head and fingers. They know that their baby is a child, not a choice."
– Supreme Knight Carl Anderson of the Knights of Columbus
Gospel of St. John 6:41-51
41 The Jews therefore murmured at him, because he had said: I am the living bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said: Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then saith he, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore answered, and said to them: Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, draw him; and I will raise him up in the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard of the Father, and hath learned, cometh to me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father; but he who is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Amen, amen I say unto you: He that believeth in me, hath everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven; that if any man eat of it, he may not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
Over the past few months, the Obama Administration has made several moves, which have caused Kansans great concern over their future. Topping the list is the announcement that GITMO detainees may be moved into our very own backyard at Ft. Leavenworth. Closing GITMO and transferring 200 of the world’s most dangerous terrorists to American soil without proper consideration is grossly irresponsible.
Yesterday, the Kansas Congressional delegation sent an invitation to President Obama inviting him to visit Leavenworth to understand the implications of housing detainees in Kansas. Rep. Moore quietly added his name to that letter. Why then has he failed to join his fellow Representatives in their outcries against President Obama and the Democrats’ flawed plan? Why has Rep. Moore failed to schedule listening sessions while in his home district to hear the grave concerns of Kansans?
There is also genuine anger over the passage of the so-called ‘Cap-And-Trade’ legislation. When the EPA auctions off emission allowances to utility companies, that cost will pass on directly to the consumer. So let’s call this what it is – a tax on small business owners and utility consumers. During his break from Washington, Rep. Moore will host an annual small business consortium, but Dennis Moore is clearly no friend of small business.
Rep. Moore should be more concerned with fulfilling his obligation to the people of Kansas than falling in line with President Obama and the Democratic Leadership. I am hopeful that the people of the 3rd district will call the Congressman’s office and demand a public forum to address these issues.
