Ron Paul: Enough is Enough

Hat Tip: Drudge Report

Generally, I think that Congressman Ron Paul is a moron and those who worship him are idiots. This time, however, he does make sense. This is the rare case of a stopped clock being right at a particular time...

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NC General Assembly 11-18-2010 Legislative Calendar

Here are the committees that are scheduled to meet today, along with links to committee websites and agendas, if there are any available. I will not be covering any of these meetings live because they are not being held in rooms that have been wired to webcast audio to the Internet. 

10:00 AM	Child Fatality Task Force - Perinatal Health Committee [PDF of Agenda]	1027/1128 LB
10:00 AM	Subcommittee on Domestic Violence Funding	1425 LB
10:00 AM	Childhood Obestity Taskforce Planning Meeting	415 LOB
2:00 PM	Urban Growth Study Committee	1027/1128 LB

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US Senator Jay Rockefeller Wants You to Stop Looking Over His Shoulder

Among the things that I can agree with Senator Rockefeller on, is that the cost of subscribing to Cable and Satellite TV have gone through the roof, and that Cable and Satellite providers are not fair when it comes to carriage of retransmissions of local and independent TV Stations. 


Among the areas that I disagree with him is his belief that the government should be involved in fixing the problems by force and the idea that the government can mandate quality TV programming. Just how does he imagine that he can do that? 


Some people consider Wrestling as quality entertainment. I hate it and think that the people who like it are mentally deficient and emotionally broken people. I also belief that this is a free country (or was, the last time I looked) and if people ant to rot their brains by watching crap, that is the right. I simply don't watch it. 


I'm sure that there are people who think that the things I like to watch is crap. They don't have the right to try to tell me what I can and cannot watch anymore than I can them, or an uppity US Senator from West Virginia named Jay Rockefeller does. The difference is that the US Senator happens to have a bully pulpit and some measure of power to get things done. 


anyway, here is the video that started this whole rant, and a more complete copy and transcript is below that. 


I think that the biggest part of our problem is that people want their news delivered in sound bites rather than in more complete portions. This is a pet peeve of mine, and a big reason that when I cover the meetings of the local governing bodies in Macon County, that I do it as completely as I can. I try my best not to misrepresent what a local politician says, even if I can get political mileage out of it, in the interest of providing a more complete record of what they've said and done. 


I happen to think that it is a crime that most news programs are only 30 minutes in length, and most news stories are very incomplete snapshots that last, at most, two or three minutes. That is the real travesty.







I can't get my head around what he really wants just by this very short sound bite of his comments. I certainly sounds like that he doesn't want people to be engaged in paying attention to what our supposed servants in the government are doing. It sounds like he doesn't want us looking over his shoulder, and he would be willing to shut down news stations in order to do that.


I looked around to try and find a more complete video of his comments. I found his opening remarks at the Senate Commerce website, and here they are...along with a transcript of what he said, and you can judge for yourself what his intentions are:







Here is a transcript of the remarks:


Television is a powerful force. But I believe the system we have for developing television content, packaging that content, and distributing it to consumers is broken. It may serve companies well. But it does not serve us well as consumers. And I believe it serves us even less well as citizens. Let me explain why.


When it comes to developing content, our entertainment machine is too often in a race to the bottom. Even worse, our news media has all but surrendered to the forces of entertainment. Instead of a watchdog that is a check on the excesses of government and business, we have the endless barking of a 24-hour news cycle. We have journalism that is always ravenous for the next rumor, but insufficiently hungry for the facts that can nourish our democracy. As citizens, we are paying a price.


When it comes to packaging content, why do consumers have to order so many channels? Why do we have to pay for so many when our households watch so few? The old adage of 500 channels and nothing on has never been so true as it is today.


When it comes to delivering content, why do we pay so much? The Federal Communications Commission tells us that from 1995 to 2008 the average monthly price of popular cable service increased more than three times the rate of inflation. No wonder consumers are cutting the pay television cord in record numbers. They are turning back to over-the-air television and turning on to programming over the Internet. They are tired of paying rates that go up so much every single year.


In our hearing today, we do not get at the root of these problems. That is a broader discussion that we need to have. Indeed, it is a conversation that we owe to the citizens of this country. But today’s hearing is important and timely because we make a good faith effort to address one of the symptoms of these broader concerns. We will talk about retransmission consent.


This is a policy that allows local broadcasters to negotiate with cable and satellite companies for carriage of their local stations. When it works, consumers see their local broadcast stations on their cable and satellite systems. But when it fails, consumers are saddled with dark screens and denied access to local news and sports programming. This is what happened to millions of television viewers in New York who turned on their sets to watch the World Series—but were stuck without service.


So let me caution our witnesses today: if you fail to fix this situation, we will fix it for you. But when we do, we will seek to do more than referee your corporate disputes. Because more than just retransmission consent ails our television markets. We need new catalysts for quality news and entertainment programming. We need slimmed down channel packages that better respect what we really want to watch. And we need to find ways to provide greater value for television viewers at a lower cost. Because people are tired of always escalating rates.


Thank you to our witnesses for being here today. In closing, let me also say that I appreciate the interest Senator Kerry has shown regarding retransmission consent. I thank him for his willingness to lead this hearing today.

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NC General Assembly Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee November 17, 2010 meeting Audio and Documents

The Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee met today in the NC General assembly and here is the audio and supporting documents (where they were made available beforehand):



1. Remarks by Co-Chairs
[There were no remarks]


2. Approval of Minutes – May 24, 2010
[approval was by acclaimation]


3. Presentation: University System Enrollment Change Formula
    Presenter: Michelle Beck Senior Program Evaluator

[Links to supporting documents (all in PDF format) that you can use to read along with the presenter]

Executive Summary

Final Report

Presentation

Handouts

4. Presentation: Audits by State Auditor, Beth Wood
     --- NC Department of Transportation Heavy Equipment Fleet Management


Audit Report


     ---Oversight & Administration of the Performance Management System


Audit Report


5. Presentation: NC Accountability Report – DPI Drivers Education Program
    Presenter: Larry Yates Principal Program Evaluator


[The documents and handouts were not available online at the time of the meeting]


6. Presentation: Director Report on current and pending PED activities
    Presenter: John Turcotte Director




[Supporting documents nor handouts were made available online at the time of the meeting]


Let me know if you like this format of reporting on the NC General Assembly or not.

Members

Co-Chairs
Rep. E. Nelson Cole (Co-Chair)	House Appointment
Rep. James Walker Crawford, Jr. (Co-Chair)	House Appointment
Sen. Daniel Gray Clodfelter (Co-Chair)	Senate Appointment
Sen. Fletcher Lee Hartsell, Jr. (Co-Chair)	Senate Appointment

Legislative Members
Rep. Larry D. Hall	House Appointment
Rep. Lindsey Hugh Holliman	House Appointment
Rep. Carolyn Hewitt Justice	House Appointment
Rep. James H. Langdon, Jr.	House Appointment
Rep. David R. Lewis	House Appointment
Rep. Paul Luebke	House Appointment
Sen. Charles Woodrow Albertson	Senate Appointment
Sen. Peter Samuel Brunstetter	Senate Appointment
Sen. Malcolm Graham	Senate Appointment
Sen. Samuel Clark Jenkins	Senate Appointment
Sen. Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr.	Senate Appointment
Sen. Richard Yates Stevens	Senate Appointment
Sen. Albin B. Swindell, IV	Senate Appointment

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John Batchelor Show Audio Excerpt: Dick Armey and the Tea Party

The host of my favorite radio show, The John Batchelor Show, interviews Kate Zernike, the author of Boiling Mad: Inside Tea Party America, about the Tea Party and the de facto leader of that movement, former Congressman Dick Armey of Freedom Works. The interview is a little over 8 minutes long and well worth your attention. 


One of the interesting things discussed in the interbiew is her description of Armey as a Libertarian and not so much of a Social Conservative. 
.
The audio:
I know that many Republicans have been taken in by this man, but I believe that he is poison to the movement, and he has raised up people like him who are equally poisonous to certain state and local chapters. Someday, I may tell the story of my experience with these people when I tried to start a local Tea Party. Since then, I have shunned all things Freedom Works.

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The US Constitution Article 1, Section 8 Powers of Congress

If it isn't listed, the US Congress is operating outside its Constitutional Authority:

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;


To borrow money on the credit of the United States;


To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;


To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;


To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;


To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;


To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;


To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;


To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;


To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;


To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;


To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;


To provide and maintain a Navy;


To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;


To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;


To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;


To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And


To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

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NC General Assembly 11-17-2010 Legislative Calendar

**4.29pm** Here is the audio of the Joint select committee on Global Engagement:


There was no documentation available for this meeting. The committee will be meeting again on December 9, 2010.


**8.52am** I've decided to cover the meeting of the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee live this morning. I'll be using #NCLEG and you can see the agenda of this meeting by scrolling down. You can also follow along by listening to the live audio and following along on the twitter widget below or by using your favorite twitter client with the hashtag #NCLEG. So far, they've not uploaded any of the supporting documents to their webserver. I'll post those documents when/or if that occurs. I'll also be recording, so I'll be adding the audio of that meeting to this article.  --TP 


**12.24pm** Here is the audio for that committee meeting:










Here is the legislative calender for today in the North Carolina General Assembly. These are the last weeks of activity for the Democrats before the Republicans take over control of both houses in late January 2011. This will be the first time that has happened in more than 100 years.


If the meetings listed below take place in a room that has been wired for live sound, I've added a link to the audio player on the room number that you can click on and listen to the meeting as it happens. 

9:00 AM	Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee	544 LOB
1:30 PM	Global Engagement, Joint Select Committee on	544 LOB
6:00 PM	Public Hearing of the Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation - Asheville	N/A LOB

I'm also trying out a search widget that will display tweets by people who use the hashtags #NCGA or #NCLEG. Just be aware that #NCGA is also a hashtag that is used by other people, too. Most notably for the National Corn Growers Association. I'll be using the alternate tag #NCLEG so that I can use widgets during the next session and not have to worry about off-topic tweets appearing.


Agenda for the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee meeting:

Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee Agenda Nov. 17, 2010

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SSG Salvatore Giunta Will Receive Medal of Honor Watch Live at 2pm

**update** The event is over, and can be seen on the C-SPAN program page. If it becomes available in an embeddable player, I'll post that here as well. --TP


**update** Here is the video of the ceremony:

desmoinesregister on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Watch live here at 2pm.

SSG Salvatore Giunta, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade speaks with Pentagon reporters via satellite from Vicenza, Italy. SSG Giunta will become the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.





Official Narrative [from US Army]


On Oct. 25, 2007, Spc. Giunta’s platoon was conducting a movement to contact to interdict enemy forces on the Gatigal Spur, in order to provide over watch for 2nd and 3rd platoon’s exfil back to Combat Outpost Vimot, and the Korengal Outpost. While conducting their exfil from the platoon’s blocking position, Spc. Giunta’s platoon was ambushed by 10 to 15 enemy personnel who utilized an “L” shaped, near ambush that was within 10 meters of the platoon’s main body. The enemy fired 10 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and three PKMs (machine guns) from the apex of the ambush and additional AK-47s from throughout the ambush line.


The enemy initiated the contact with an RPG and a burst of PKM (fire), which immediately hit and wounded two members of the lead team, Sgt. Brennan and Spc. Eckrode. Another RPG in the initial volley hit extremely close to Spc. Giunta’s position. While Staff Sgt. Gallardo moved back to his Bravo Team to get situation reports, Spc. Giunta provided covering fire by leading his team in suppressing enemy positions, assigning sectors of fire and commanding his M-203 gunner to engage close targets. While advancing toward Spc. Giunta’s team, Staff Sgt. Gallardo was struck in the helmet by an AK-47 round, which caused him to fall to the ground. Despite being under heavy fire by PKM, RPG, and small arms, Spc. Giunta immediately left his covered position in order to render aid to his squad leader. As he moved to provide assistance, Spc. Giunta was struck by two bullets; one of which impacted his chest area but was stopped by his Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert (E-SAPI) plate, and one round which impacted the Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon-D (SMAW-D) rocket he was carrying across his back. Without hesitation, Spc. Giunta recovered from the impacts and ensured his squad leader was not injured. He then began bounding his team forward in an attempt to maneuver on the enemy.


Spc. Giunta and his fire team were quickly pinned down by effective enemy machine gun and small arms fire from multiple positions at close range. Spc. Giunta, along with Pfc. Clary and Staff Sgt. Gallardo, quickly prepared fragmentation grenades and continued the assault by throwing two volleys of them at enemy positions that were approximately 15 meters to their west. They then assaulted forward through those positions, secured Spc. Eckrode, and began treating his wounds. Realizing that Sgt. Brennan was missing, Pfc. Clary and Spc. Giunta continued to push forward along the enemy’s ex-filtration route, despite taking small arms fire from enemy personnel who were attempting to cover their withdrawal. Moving in the lead and rapidly closing with the enemy, despite receiving effective fire, Spc. Giunta overtook two enemy combatants attempting to drag off Sgt. Brennan, who had been incapacitated by his wounds. Spc. Giunta engaged one enemy combatant at close range and killed him, which cause the other enemy combatant to drop Sgt. Brennan and flee. Spc. Giunta then began immediate first aid on Sgt. Brennan, and also helped his squad leader to adjust security, further consolidate casualties, and prepare for Medical Evacuation operations.


Spc. Giunta’s selfless actions and personal courage were the decisive factors in changing the tide of the battle, ensuring that Sgt. Brennan was not captured by the enemy, and preventing the lead fire team from being destroyed by the enemy’s near ambush. Despite bullets impacting on and around himself, Spc. Giunta fearlessly advanced on the enemy and provided aid to his fallen comrades. His actions saved the lives of multiple paratroopers and changed the course of the battle in his platoon’s favor.


For exceptionally valorous actions during Operation Enduring Freedom VIII while assigned as a rifle team leader in Battle Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry. Spc. Giunta’s unwavering courage, aggressiveness, selfless service, and leadership while under extreme enemy fire were decisive in his platoon achieving fire superiority, defeating an enemy near ambush, and preventing the capture of a fellow paratrooper by the enemy. His actions reflect great credit upon himself, the Rock Battalion, the Bayonet Brigade Combat Team, Combined Joint Task Force-82, and the United States Army.

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Macon GOP Executive Committee Selects Kevin Corbin for Macon County Commissioner

Press Release

Macon County Republican Party

November 15^th, 2010

Gary Dills, Chairman of the Macon County Republican Party announced the Macon GOP Executive Committee's unanimous selection of Mr. Kevin Corbin to replace Dr Jim Davis on the Macon County Board of Commissioners.  Mr. Corbin will replace Dr Davis on the Commission  upon Dr Davis's resignation, expected in January 2011, when he takes the oath as NC Senator for District 50.

Mr. Corbin is a Macon County native and is active in numerous civic and community organizations.  Corbin is a graduate Franklin High School, class of 1979, an Honors graduate of Appalachian State University (ASU) where he majored in Marketing and Business Management, served as News Editor of the university’s “Appalachian” newspaper and interned for the university as a Public Information Officer.  Corbin also represented ASU in the North Carolina Student Legislature. He graduated from Appalachian with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.  

He has served four years on the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees, is a past Chairman of the Macon County SchoolBoard (14 years) winning five county wide elections and currently serves of the Board of Directors for Southwestern Community College and the Franklin Chamber of Commerce Board .  In 2010 Corbin was appointed to the Blue Cross Blue Shield NC Agents Advisory Board where he was involved in developing lower cost plans for citizens of North Carolina.  He is also an active member of the Franklin Rotary.

Mr. Corbin  is married to Beth and they have two children, Matt and Maggie.  They are members of the Holly Springs Baptist Church where Kevin serves as deacon.   The Corbins own and operate Corbin Insurance Agency and he is a partner in Blue Ridge Insurance group, Inc.  Mr. Corbin is also a founding member of the successful gospel group Blue Ridge.

Chris Murray, Public Affairs

Macon County Republican Party

Phone:  828-421-2191

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News and Commentary From Around The Internet: (Because I'm Too Lazy to Blog Edition)

Here are a few links and a tidbit of what I've found interesting this morning...



NRCC/NRSC Post-Election study shows the GOP Pledge to America Broke Through in 2010 midterms

A Note to GOProud and Other Libertarian Tea Partiers

GOP Freshmen Say They Were Not Invited to Tea Party Patriots Event

Our Best Advisor Says It’s All Over.

I’m not a pessimist but our top and best advisor who seems to be always correct offers the following.  If he is correct, and I suspect he is, we have a long slow Japan-style slog in the economic mud with a major system breakdown, like Russia’s bust-up some years ago. I suspect somewhere along the trail in this movie, the USA Sheeple go to pitchforks and torches. I sure hope not but it almost seems inevitable. What a shame that a few Marxists can do so much permanent damage to my beloved America. All political parties are guilty.

“The midterm elections are anticlimactic and change nothing. In the short term, it makes no difference how many Congressional seats the GOP captures.  The Dumb-O-Crats have already won.  Since taking control of Congress in 2006, Hussein and his wrecking crew have jammed through more socialist legislation than all the past liberal agendas combined (had) ever hoped to accomplish.  It's a done deed.”

“If anyone thinks that changing the mix of Congress with more elected conservatives will fix things; (they are) dreaming. The new Congress will be just as clueless, incompetent, corrupt, and swayed by the lobbyists. The only priority will be to get re-elected, as usual. Any hopes and promises will be dashed by reality. The reality is any legislation that the new Congress passes to try to undo Hussein's Marxist programs will be simply vetoed.  The GOP will not have the votes to over-ride a Presidential veto. This is a Dead-End.”

“The Constitution gives the responsibility of appropriating funds to the House. They may be able to shut-off any additional funds for existing programs, such as Obamacare, etc., but the basic funding of those programs is already the law of land. Control of the Federal purse strings is of no help to undo the damage already done.”

“So, there will be two years of legislative gridlock.  In the mean time, Hussein will expand (entrench) his new socialist programs with a blizzard of Presidential executive orders and appointees by-passing Congress. These Dumb-O-Crat political appointees in charge of hundreds of Federal agencies, set policy that interprets, and bends the intent of new and existing programs to the socialist ideology...encasing them in concrete.  It will require literally decades of political dedication and action to undo the damage…and that is not likely to happen.” 

Source: Kitco: Roger Wiegand

Paul Krugman Recommends 'Death Panels' to Help Balance Budget

Daily Kos: The American Dream Is a Virus Like AIDS, and Rick Perry is Satan

US Oil Production Gearing Up

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Erika Franzi, Tim Peck Resign From Asheville Tea Party and ATPAC

PRESS RELEASE






It is with great reluctance to announce that Founder, Erika Franzi, and Board member, Tim Peck have resigned from Asheville Tea Party and Asheville Tea PAC. It has been Erika's vision, leadership and unwavering belief in our mission that propelled the
Asheville Tea Party and the Asheville Tea PAC to its successes, presence and influence.


It is hard to measure the countless hours and tireless effort that Tim Peck has devoted to both organizations. There are few who are as philosophically astute and grounded in our founding documents as Tim. He was always a guidepost.


They both have left a legacy that will guide the Asheville Tea Party and the Asheville Tea PAC going forward.


That legacy of accomplishments includes:

 

That legacy of accomplishments includes:

• building two organizations, the Asheville Tea Party and the  Asheville Tea PAC
• redesigning the organization to a project oriented structure
• rallying for our rights
• e-mailing and phoning campaigns to our representatives
• meeting with Congressman Heath Schuler and Senator Kay Hagan to voice our concerns over the Health Care Bill
• unveiling journalistic conflicts of interest in the press
• educating us about our Founding Documents by organizing forums and speeches
• attending the National Tea Party Conference and giving presentations
• implementing a successful pre-primary debate for the District 11 Congressional candidates
• supporting Congressional candidate Dr. Dan Eichenbaum in the 2010 Primary to within single digits of victory
• endorsing, campaigning, and successfully getting four of ATPACs endorsed candidates elected in November, 2010
• educating the public and our subscribers to the Independence Caucus candidate assessment process in a forum with IC founder, Frank Anderson
• influencing Asheville City Council to put on hold their annexation plans of Royal Pines for twelve months
• revealing the excessive expenses the Airport Authority was spending to send people to an airport conference in Maui
• sending bus loads to DC to gather with more than 1.2 million other patriots on the Mall
• gathering patriots for the first successful "We Read The Constitution" Day

We will do our best to continue the fine work Erika and Tim have begun and to bring this country back to the place our Founders would be proud.  We wish them good health and success in their next endeavors. 

###

Hat Tip: @Tim Peck

Commentary

Erika Franzi has been a passionate political activist since the Ron Paul run for President in 2008 and her entry into blogging in late 2008 with her Jane Q Republican (http://janeqrepublican.com) blog (since changed to Jane Q Public). She was one of the founders of the Asheville Tea Party in and its political fund raising arm, ATPAC. She was a vocal supporter of Dr Dan Eichenbaum during the 11th Congressional District Republican party 2010 primary. Since then, she has been involved in a sometimes very public series of attacks on the chairman of the Buncombe County Republican party, Chad Nesbitt...who is himself no stranger to launching very public attacks on political opponents. My personal opinion on the matter is that some of these attacks were designed to hurt the winner of the Republican primary, Jeff Miller. She found a willing accomplice in the Mountain Xpress online community. She also has had a period of bad health recently. The Asheville Tea Party and ATPAC will be better off without her involvement.

I wish her luck in her new endeavors and good health in the future. 

Tim Peck is another matter. He has had a history of generating controversy that is far too long to go into detail  here. Suffice it to say that the Asheville Tea Party and ATPAC will be better off without him. I would, however, like to see him to continue commenting on public forums. He does have a knack for generating extreme rage in progressives. See this screenshot of the thread dedicated to mocking him by the progressives on the Mountain Xpress Forums.

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Schoen and Caddell Advise Obama Not to Seek Re-election in 2012

President Obama must decide now how he wants to govern in the two years leading up to the 2012 presidential election.


In recent days, he has offered differing visions of how he might approach the country's problems. At one point, he spoke of the need for "mid-course corrections." At another, he expressed a desire to take ideas from both sides of the aisle. And before this month's midterm elections, he said he believed that the next two years would involve "hand-to-hand combat" with Republicans, whom he also referred to as "enemies."


It is clear that the president is still trying to reach a resolution in his own mind as to what he should do and how he should do it.


This is a critical moment for the country. From the faltering economy to the burdensome deficit to our foreign policy struggles, America is suffering a widespread sense of crisis and anxiety about the future. Under these circumstances, Obama has the opportunity to seize the high ground and the imagination of the nation once again, and to galvanize the public for the hard decisions that must be made. The only way he can do so, though, is by putting national interests ahead of personal or political ones.


To that end, we believe Obama should announce immediately that he will not be a candidate for reelection in 2012.

Source: Washington Post (please click through and read the rest)
Hat Tip: Drudge Report

Commentary 

I think that some Democrats see the train wreck that is coming for them in 2012. They trying to get convince Obama to go peacefully so as to limit their losses in the next election cycle. As for me, I'd love to see a sitting Democrat President have to fight a primary battle. It would certainly provide an opportunity for plenty of extra sound bites of him defending his actions. It would even provide sound bites of other Democrats criticizing him. 


Will he forgo a second run for President in 2012? I don't know.

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Rob on the Road: National Parks

Rob Stewart (KVIE) of Rob on the Road discovers national parks in California. Rob explores the worlds tallest trees and amazing cavernous caves at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, hikes the stunning Lassen Volcanic National Park, captures the beauty of Yosemite Valley and delves into the personal journals of John Muir. For more visit Ron on the Road


One of these days, I'd like to visit these places...but for now, this is as close as I can get.


I'd love to spend a month shooting video and photos of Yosemite.

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Statue Unveiling at Macon County Veterans Memorial Park

The ceremonial unveiling of the statue by Alexei Kazantsev was short and sweet. Here is the entire event below, which ran just under ten minutes...



And here is a slide show of photos I took at the unveiling today:

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Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day.


It is the day we set aside to honor all those who have served our nation in the armed forces.


In my hometown, we are having a parade down Main Street at 10 am. There will be speeches at the Town Gazebo and a Wreath Laying Ceremony in front of the Macon County Courthouse. Later, at noon, there will be a ceremonial unveiling of the centerpiece in the Veterans Memorial in the Macon County Veterans Memorial Park.


It is the very least we can do for those who have preserved our freedoms. 


We owe you our lives, our freedom. What we do to honor you pales in comparison to what you did.






The Soldier


It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.


It is the soldier, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.


It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.


It is the soldier, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.


It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag,
who serves under the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.


By Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC

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