GDP PLUNGES TO 1.9%

Tags

gross domestic product

An unemployed people cannot support a bloated & obese GOVERNMENT. Someone should see about our over-sized Government, and leave the people to support only themselves! Oh ya … It’s TEA Party time!

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Commerce released a report chock full of weak growth figures and worrisome economic signals.

The gross domestic product (GDP) dropped from last quarter’s 3.0 percent to an anemic 1.9 percent. Over half of first-quarter growth came from automobile sales. When automobiles are removed from the calculation, the GDP grew at just 0.7 percent.

Second-quarter growth estimates of 2.0 percent growth, therefore, may be overly optimistic.
From Reuters:

The government lowered its previous forecasts for consumer spending and export growth, suggesting the economy had a bit less momentum as it entered the second quarter than previously thought.

Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, increased at a 2.5 percent rate in the first quarter, rather than the previously reported 2.7 percent pace.

With retail sales falling in April and May, consumer spending for the second quarter may prove softer.
The number of Americans receiving benefits under regular state programs after an initial week of aid stands at 3.3 million, a decline of just 15,000 individuals.

The U.S. Department of Commerce defines the gross domestic product as “the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States.”

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DOES YOUR FAITH FREE YOU FROM FORCED OBAMACARE?

Why Amish won’t have to purchase insurance, but Muslims will cry foul

The recent health-care reform legislation carries a controversial mandate that all Americans obtain health insurance, but careful study of the passed law reveals there are some groups – the Amish, for example – that can obtain an exemption.

For devout Muslims, however, whose religious beliefs forbid purchasing insurance, the mandate is still binding, religion or not. And most other religious, political or conscientious objectors will similarly find themselves out of luck if they hope to be excused from the requirement.

There is a clause in the fine print, however, that could provide an out for those willing to take it.

Section 1501 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act adds a new chapter to the Internal Revenue Code mandating all “applicable” individuals either obtain health insurance that meets the bill’s “minimum essential coverage” standards or pay a penalty on tax day.

Like to remind congressional leaders of the rules they’re supposed to follow? Send Congress copies of the Constitution today!

Section 1501 also spells out exceptions, those who are not considered “applicable” individuals, both for the mandate and for the penalty. Illegal aliens, foreign nationals and incarcerated prisoners, for example, are exempt from the mandate. The extreme poor and members of Indian tribes, while not exempt from the requirement, are nonetheless excused from paying the penalty.

But section 1501 also carries a pair of “religious exemptions” that will allow the Amish to escape the mandate but require Muslims and other religious objectors to get creative.

The law creates a religious exemption for those who are members and faithful adherents of a “recognized religious sect or division” with “established tenets or teachings” barring the “acceptance of the benefits of any private or public insurance.”

For individuals who do not belong to a denomination with specific bans on insurance, therefore, personal religious objections will not exempt them from the mandate.>>>>>> READ MORE

RELATED ARTICLES:

Bishops Prepare for Largest Civil Disobedience Since the 60′s

People of Faith Unite against ObamaCare

The Value of American Citizenship

Tags

immigrants, Independence Day

THE VALUE OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP
By Kyle Becker

The Supreme Court’s mostly adverse decision on Arizona’s immigration law was stark in the latitude it granted to the federal government to neglect enforcement of immigration and naturalization law. As the case yielded discretion to the executive branch to discern when it is desirable to deport “illegal” immigrants (if there are such persons any longer), we have become less a nation of laws and more a nation of men.

Failing to defend the rights and interests of the citizenry is an inappropriate dereliction of duty on the part of our Supreme Court. Expecting persons to obey the legal process of immigration is not a byproduct of a lack of “empathy,” but a matter of respect for the laws, culture, traditions, and government of the nation.

A century ago, millions of immigrants flocked all over the world to America, the beacon of liberty, through such ports of entry as Ellis Island and San Francisco. The diverse backgrounds of the immigrants, which represented all the historically quarrelsome nations of Europe, as well as far-fledged corners of the world from Africa to Asia, blended into American society, learned the language without complaint, and got to work without expecting a government handout.

The result? America became stronger because of the contribution of immigrants to the society, culture, and economy. Now, the Democrat Party is trying to turn immigrants into yet another victim group, whose grievances are to be harnessed for yet more economic and political control.

Over the course of the twentieth century, immigrants were largely grateful to make it to America, where they could seek refuge from overly domineering and dysfunctional societies. What made the country exceptional is what also made it desirable: liberty.

And second- and third-generation sons and daughters of immigrants were well aware of the value of American citizenship. They had heard the horror stories of their German, East European, and Asian parents and grandparents and were among the most patriotic of Americans.

Every Independence Day, one could count on immigrants speaking broken English to proudly fly their bright red, white, and blue flags, to belt out the lyrics of the Star-Spangled Banner by heart, and to blow a wad of cash on spectacular fireworks. Now the Fourth of July has become just another day on the calendar when Americans don’t have to work, and it is barely more revered in the culture than May 1st, Labor Day, or Earth Day.

Whereas immigrants used to cry out of pride and gratitude at citizenship ceremonies, immigrants are now virtually made to cry from believing that most of the country hates them, seeks to oppress them, and will probably deport them by stealth of night if they don’t vote Democrat.

Such ideas are insinuated in their minds by a president whose background displays shallow American roots indeed, and who has gone so far as to call Republicans “enemies” to a Hispanic audience.

The president has been shy displaying his supposed pride in the nation. Proclaiming his desire to “fundamentally transform” the country, declaring himself a “citizen of the world,” failing to salute the flag at public ceremonies, bowing overseas to foreign heads of state, and alienating our historical allies are all signs that point to someone who has more than a slight grudge against the nation. >>> read more

A Muslim in the White House ~ A Morality Tale

Audio: Lieutenant General Jerry Boykin Slams Dearborn, Michigan’s Muslim Population

Over the weekend, Lieutenant General Jerry Boykin (retired) was interviewed on a radio program (audio below) out of Bakersfield, California ahead of a scheduled appearance at a local church to discuss his anti-Islam conspiracy theories.

During the interview, Lieutenant General Boykin warned listeners that every serious Muslim was determined to enshrine Sharia law wherever they lived and that they were making great progress in establishing it in America.

This prompted one of the co-hosts to ask Lieutenant General Boykin about Dearborn, Michigan which he claimed was “almost one hundred percent Muslim and operating under Sharia law now.”

Lieutenant General Boykin agreed: “If you walk down the streets, you would think you were in Beirut or Damascus.”

OBAMA’S RAMADAN DINNER GUEST LIST HIDES ATTENDANCE OF STEALTH JIHADISTS TIED TO HAMAS AND MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD

The White House’s published guest list for this year’s Ramadan Iftar dinner was much shorter than previous years’ roster. It excluded the names of several controversial advocates who have attended the event in the past, including some who The Daily Caller can confirm did attend on Wednesday night.
“It was a squeaky clean list,” said Durriya Badani, director of the U.S.-Islamic World Forum, an annual event organized by the Brookings Institution’s Saban Center and the Qatari government. The guests on the published list are “not controversial at all,” said Badani, whose name is on the list the White House provided to reporters.

“It was a lot more low-key … It was a more intimate event this year,” said Haris Tarin, the Washington director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, whose invitation was kept off the published list. “I have no idea why they didn’t publish [MPAC’s invite] … I’m going to learn about that a little bit more,” he told The Daily Caller.

>>> READ MORE

Why Islam is Taking Over America

**APRIL 22, 2011

Beware America, I bring you news of your own death; “a pale shroud laid out by your own hand”. IDIOTICALLY, you have given religion status to an enemy invader called Islam; thereby egregiously violating the foremost principles of national security, sovereignty and warfare: An enemy invader must never (never) be classified as a religion.

Doing so is equivalent to a mad doctor injecting deadly cancer cells into a healthy patient in this case America. Look how Muslims are “shoving mosques down our throat” even at the hallowed “ground zero” of 9/11. They “thumb their noses” and jeer us, adding insult to injury. Why? Islam is “programmed” to bring down America and knows no limits. M.A. Khan in his excellently informative book, Islamic Jihad: A Legacy Of Forced Conversion, Imperialism And Slavery states:

“the perpetuation of a global Islamic rule for eternity is the ultimate goal of Allah”

Perhaps this is why Dr. Wafa Sultan has named her book A GOD WHO HATES emphasizing Islam’s God (Allah) hates all things non-Muslim and utilizes this hatred to fuel the fervor for global Islamic rule mentioned by M.A. Khan above. Needless to say, any ideology with a bigoted, hateful and murderous God should be prohibited religion status in all civilized nations. Please see my article, “Demoting Islam’s Religion Status” for further clarification.

What’s next? Don’t be surprised if Muslims demand it’s their religious right to tear down the White House and replace it with a mega mosque, give them an inch and they will take a mile. In the same way that a blood thirsty tiger cannot survive without devouring its prey. Islam cannot sustain itself without devouring other nations and ideologies. This is a fact — not an opinion — 1400 years of Islamic history prove the case a million times over. Steven Emerson’s Investigative Project on Terrorism gives hundreds of up to date examples verifying the dubious nature of Allah’s minions. I dare say, that those so called experts who consider Islam to be a religion are not competent in the field of ideology, philosophy, religion, history, sociology or warfare.

And now … the rest of the story…

Obama Calls Muslim Brotherhood ‘Milestone of Democracy’
by Tom McGregor

The Muslim Brotherhood seeks to implement ‘sharia law’ (Muslim rule) in Egypt. Hence, those who commit adultery would be stoned to death. Those caught stealing get their hands chopped off and women lose all their political and property rights.

Nevertheless, President Barack Obama calls the Muslim Brotherhood’s election sweep in Egypt a “milestone of democracy.” The White House even praises itself for allegedly sparking the “first phase of a democratic transition and opening a new struggle with the still-dominant military rulers.

The Houston Chronicle reports that, “Islamist Mohammed Morsi was declared the winner Sunday in Egypt’s first free presidential election in history, closing the tumultuous first phase of a democratic transition and opening a new struggle with the still-dominant military rulers who recently stripped the presidency of most of its powers.”
>>> MORE HERE

Once upon a time, there was an amazing nation that sought to provide each individual with the opportunity to go, and be, and do anything they could dream. For years, it flourished under the banner of FREEDOM. Then, slowly, the people were lulled into complacency and took their FREEDOMS for granted. One by one, the individual liberties were stripped away without the population even noticing until one day, the elected President spat on the flag and those who fight & die to preserve it. He circumvented the LAW of the land with Executive orders more numerous and odious than ever before, and still the people slept. The ‘War on Terror’ raged on in the Middle East while the President celebrated Ramadan with select members of the Muslim Brotherhood, conspiring with the enemy? And still the people sleep on …

OBAMA TO SOLDIERS: PAY UP!

Tags

TRICARE, US Military

“Commander in Chief” – Throughout Obama’s tenure, he has taken every opportunity to DIS our military. Clearly, he has no understanding or appreciation for the sacrifices our service members and their families make on a daily basis, year after year! To him, that is not enough sacrifice! Now, he wants them to give MORE! November 2012 we will see how much the Military appreciates his command!

Obama wants military to pay more for health care

The Obama administration on Friday threatened to veto a defense appropriations bill in part because it does not include higher health care fees for members of the military.

“The Administration is disappointed that the Congress did not incorporate the requested TRICARE fee initiatives into either the appropriation or authorization legislation,” the White House wrote in an official policy statement expressing opposition to the bill, which the House approved in May.

President Obama’s most recent budget proposal includes billions of dollars in higher fees for members of TRICARE, the military health care system, and is part of the administration’s plan to cut nearly $500 billion from the Pentagon’s budget.

OBAMA TO SOLDIERS: PAY UP
THREATENS TO VETO BILL UNLESS IT HIKES
HEALTH CARE FEES FOR SERVICE MEMBERS

The Obama administration on Friday threatened to veto a defense appropriations bill in part because it does not include higher health care fees for members of the military.

“The Administration is disappointed that the Congress did not incorporate the requested TRICARE fee initiatives into either the appropriation or authorization legislation,” the White House wrote in an official policy statement expressing opposition to the bill, which the House approved in May.

President Obama’s most recent budget proposal includes billions of dollars in higher fees for members of TRICARE, the military health care system, and is part of the administration’s plan to cut nearly $500 billion from the Pentagon’s budget.

Some fear the administration’s proposal is an effort to increase enrollment in the state-run insurance exchanges mandated under the president’s controversial health care law.

The administration urged the House to “reconsider” to fee increase, arguing they are “essential for DOD to successfully address rising personnel costs.”

The House bill has significant bipartisan support, and easily passed by a margin of 299 to 120.

NOTE: It seems that everyday, this President finds new ways to inspire opposition to his regime. It boggles the mind! Apparently this man is so stuck on himself that he cannot conceive the possibility that Americans might refuse his Progressive agenda and cling, with our God and guns, to the America our Founding Fathers envisioned, the America represented by Lady Liberty and Old Glory, the America known as the “melting pot,” the America that millions and millions of People around the world long to experience and share. America is still the most sought after destination, in spite of our failing economy and raging & divided population. It is time we put our differences aside long enough to recognize the greatest danger to our nation and our way of life has found his way into the White House. He MUST be removed!

Oh, and for all my military friends overseas, if you have any questions about your absentee ballot, there is a website just for you at MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT!

Obamacare Complicated? Check Out The Flow Chart

Obamacare Complicated? Check Out The Flow Chart!

Obamacare Complicated? Check out the Flow Chart

As this graphic shows, the new law creates 68 grant programs, 47 bureaucratic entities, 29 demonstration or pilot programs, 6 regulatory systems, 6 compliance standards and 2 entitlements. What could possibly go wrong with something so-well organized?

This chart was meticulously compiled over the last four months after perusing the 2,841 pages of Obamacare that no one who voted for the bill bothered to read. This so-called “reform” has morphed into a new monstrosity of mandates, taxes & rationing, it will hurt seniors and hand healthcare into a bureaucracy which has now taken over 1/6 of our economy. This is a massive expansion of government & the bewildering complexity of this new law is overwhelming.

The HHS czar, Kathleen Sebelius, has 2200 references in the law and 600 new authorities which cannot be challenged. On the chart everything in dark blue to the left are expansions, orange are those empowered with rationing healthcare in the future. In the bottom left hand corner in blue, 150 new bureaucracies and boards have been created between doctor and patient. Those in yellow are specific mandates and there are 17 new mandates on insurance. Rep. Brady stated this law is so complex he couldn’t get the chart to fit on one page, the chart is only actually 1/3 of the size of the law so he shows “bundles of bureaucracy.” For example, one brown bundle hides 59 grant programs. Green diamonds are the taxes this law has created. In the far right corner are 19 special interest provisions, including the “Louisiana Purchase” and special interests for unions. All the lines are there because of the complexity, a la Glenn Beck’s chalkboard presentations.

Buried deep in the law are 19 special sections that cannot be challenged by the courts or any regulatory system. What the public is being sold and what the law actually has are 2 totally different things. House Republicans are dedicated to repealing this law. If they take back the House they plan to block the most egregious parts of this law & replace it with common sense reform. They are also backing states who want to block this law. Rep. Brady stated if these mandates are allowed to stand there are no boundaries to what this government can do.

And jobs created? Yes. Many. 16,500 new IRS agents to police the law and an explosion of jobs in the HHS Department with probably no jobs created in the private sector. This law will eventually need even more taxes to fund it and the US will have an “anchor around Her neck” with difficulty competing with other countries.

Please print out copies of this chart and hand to your friends, families and pass out wherever. The public needs to be educated about the impact of this law and what it will mean for their future.

Proof

nuff said

War!

BLOGGER’s NOTE: I know I don’t need to tell most of you what a travesty today’s ruling on Obamacare is to the future of our nation. My eyes spontaneously filled as the ruling was declared and the shock of the twisted interpretation (legislation) of a new definition for TAX was made clear. My eyes filled, and it became obvious that WAR had been declared. No, not WAR with guns and bullets (at least, not yet,) but with ideals, words, intellect, and … COURAGE! The enemies of FREEDOM have declared war on our remaining liberties and those of us who appreciate them. We must stand strong! We must be courageous! We cannot give up or wax doubtful. We cannot use the weapons our opponents use – the divisive & slanderous language that has brought us to the precipice of self-annihilation. This is the WAR: What America will we pass on to our children and grandchildren? A divided, nasty, lethargic beaten down population or … one that is worthy of our Founding Fathers, and the millions of brave men and women who have sacrificed their honor, their fortunes, and their very lives, or the cause of FREEDOM!

Then, I read this …

By Mark J. Fitzgibbons @ American Thinker

America is now at war. It is a civil war, but no shots will be fired. It’s a war over the Constitution, yet it will be through the Constitution that the winner will be determined.

The opponents in this war are not Republicans against Democrats. This war is between the American people and their government. Some of the American people, though, will choose — have chosen — sides with the government.

Too many Republicans have sided wrongly in this war. They justify their choice by calling themselves “compassionate conservatives,” and such.

The government has many advantages over the people in this war. It has the authority to make law — the very rules of this war. Government is legislator, prosecutor and judge, yet it is a contestant, too. Our government has clearly shown its contempt and disregard for the rule of law. In other words, our government cheats.

Obama doesn’t merely cheat; he plays dirty.

Another advantage that the government has is the power to tax. As we saw today with the ObamaCare decision, the government institutes fines and calls them taxes, all in the name of “complying” with the Constitution. Our government lies.

Government routinely violates our First Amendment, Second Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment and many rights endowed on us by our Creator. Government cannot take them from us. Our government steals.

This war can only be won by the people through the very Constitution over which we fight.

We will not, however, win by litigating. The courts are not merely on the side of our opponent, they are part of our opponent’s arsenal. In upholding ObamaCare, Chief Justice John Roberts essentially said that himself:

Members of this Court are vested with the authority to interpret the law; we possess neither the expertise nor the prerogative to make policy judgments. Those decisions are entrusted to our Nation’s elected leaders, who can be thrown out of office if the people disagree with them. It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices . . . .

In essence Roberts said, “You’re on your own, suckers.”

James Madison’s Federalist 44 foresaw what just happened. In The Law That Governs Government: Reclaiming The Constitution From Usurpers And Society’s Biggest Lawbreaker, Richard Viguerie and I describe Madison’s remedy:

If it be asked what is to be the consequence, in case the Congress shall misconstrue this part of the Constitution, and exercise powers not warranted by its true meaning, I answer . . . . In the first instance, the success of the usurpation will depend on the executive and judiciary departments, which are to expound and give effect to the legislative acts; and in the last resort a remedy must be obtained from the people who can, by the election of more faithful representatives, annul the acts of the usurpers. The truth is, that this ultimate redress may be more confided in against unconstitutional acts of the federal than of the State legislatures, for this plain reason, that as every such act of the former will be an invasion of the rights of the latter, these will be ever ready to mark the innovation, to sound the alarm to the people, and to exert their local influence in effecting a change of federal representatives.

The remedy — “election of more faithful representatives” — began in the states in 2009, and burgeoned federally in 2010. This war to reclaim the Constitution will not be completed in 2012. It could take a generation. The war will be won only by boots on the ground. It will require running constitutional conservatives in the primaries and defeating those on the side of government. It’s get-out-the-vote efforts, manning the polling stations so that elections aren’t stolen, etc.

The remedy — “election of more faithful representatives” — began in the states in 2009, and burgeoned federally in 2010. This war to reclaim the Constitution will not be completed in 2012. It could take a generation. The war will be won only by boots on the ground. It will require running constitutional conservatives in the primaries and defeating those on the side of government. It’s get-out-the-vote efforts, manning the polling stations so that elections aren’t stolen, etc.

This war will require more of each of us than what we currently do. We’re losing, but we’ve yet to invest the best of our energies, talent and intelligence.

The “alarm to the people,” as Madison described it, has been sounding for some time now. Today we heard the siren of war. [… or the LIBERTY BELL ringing a call to action!]

RECLAIM THE CONSTITUTION

The responsibility to CHOOSE men and women of integrity or crooks and liars is on us, on We-the-PEOPLE, according to the Constitution!

Bachmann “Obama stole over $500 billion out of Medicare to switch it over to ObamaCare!”

Obamacare Upheld – Constitution Trampled

The Camp Of The Saints

The Supreme Court upheld, by a five to four margin, the Socialized Health Care Law known as Obamacare.

The decision may be found in PDF format here.  It is one hundred and ninety-three pages, with the Justice Scalia’s dissent starting at about page 128.

I will be offering an aggregation of the best analysis and commentary tomorrow, and my thoughts as well, but I want more time to read and think.

I would urge you all, however, to go to The Right Scoop and listen to Mark Levin’s commentary and analysis.  I’ve been listening to it and it is brilliant.

The first segments can be found here and the rest here.

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