Power to the People! The Tea Party Can't be Bought

The American people spoke loud and clear last November when they overturned the status quo of both parties and voted in 87 new citizen legislators. These freshmen/women vowed to bring some sanity to the swampland known as Washington DC. These new legislators see what the budget really is: A vote buying machine designed to keep the established political interests in power.

What is so evil about the country living within its means and having a balanced budget?

Some are saying the divide in America is greater than it has ever been, "a divide between those who work for a living...and those who vote for a living".

Washington is a checkerboard of special interests who pull the pork their way without regard for the general good of America. The Tea Party group of freshmen is a special interest group devoted to the common good of America...Isn't it about time America had it's own special interest group in the capital?

The usual bribery, cajoling, behind the scenes deals and outright bullying seem to have little effect on these freshmen. Seems the usual plum committee assignment, or pork barrel project for their district is not going to alter their campaign promise to their constituents. They are demanding change out of Washington and holding firm.... and Washington has been listening.

In Washington DC where up is down and down is up, where cut really means increase and balanced budget depends on what the meaning of is, is......Special interests squeal like indignant hogs when their government trough gets threatened and lawmakers scatter.

Simple math tells us we have a major problem, we are spending more than a thousand billion more than we take in, just to keep the doors open and the government/nanny state in operation.

Established long term Washington politicians, have aired their attitude toward the new legislators. SE Cupp said, "My head is going to explode", while watching John Kerry on MSNBC: "He's telling the 87 freshman to stay out of it", "We know what we're doing."......Really?

Isn't it the long time, deal making, entrenched politicians of DC that got us into this mess in the first place?

Senators from both parties called this week for the president to become more involved.

“We need leadership,’’ said Senator Scott Brown, Massachusetts Republican. “The president needs to be engaged in these things; he needs to sit down at the table and come up with a compromise that shows true, real leadership in tackling these budget proposals.’’

Well Senator Brown, you might not have gotten the message, but it seems the reason why the budget is in such an impasse is because President Obama got in the middle of negotiations.

Congressman Sonny Bono said "he longed for the sincerity and sanity of Hollywood after serving in Washington DC for a year". I am sure our new citizen legislators, fresh to the scene know exactly what Mr. Bono was talking about.

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America Should Demand Payment for it's Stolen Secrets

Pentagon officials are admitting that the Pakistanis (our allies) may have let the Red Chinese(our friends) examine and possibly take with them, the wrecked remains of the top secret helicopter left behind by Navy SEALS on their raid into the Osama Bin Laden compound.

This helicopter stealth technology developed by us, represents hundreds of billions of dollars in development and years of research. If the Chinese paid the Pakistanis for our technology, you can bet they didn't pay hundreds of billions for our most advanced technology.

A few weeks ago, it was reported that 24,000 top secret files had been stolen by a foreign intelligence service, the nations of origin were assumed to be China or Russia.. According to Pentagon sources this is one of the largest security losses we have ever suffered.

These are just the latest in a long series of top secret, classified technology losses our country has suffered. Of course the headlines we read are just the ones they let us know about.

Over the last few years some of the Pentagon's most sensitive systems have been compromised including surveillance technologies, satellite communications systems, military hardware, missile tracking systems and cutting edge aircraft design.

Who's minding the store? While our governments CIA agents are being well schooled in the PC world of racial sensitivity, gender awareness and LGBT respect, we have wholesale theft of our most major defense technology. This theft is by nations that have no respect for any rights, except their right to steal our precious technology.

Although it was never proven in a court of law, a man working at Los Alamos labs was accused of downloading all of our top nuclear technology secrets onto a flash drive. It was assumed that tech went straight to Red China.

Last week saw our nations credit rating downgraded the reasons behind this downgrade is the massive foreign debt we owe, which is like a 500 lb. gorilla on our back.

Since we owe money to just about everyone, lets focus our intelligence efforts on who got our super secrets. If it just happens that Red China got our top tech, they own over a trillion of our debt, how much is our top secret nuke tech worth, just for starters? How about wiping out that debt and sending them an invoice for the rest of the technology they stole from us?

While we're at it how about the countries of OPEC that we help prop up/protect with our military. We liberated the Iraqis it's only fair they pay for it. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE to name a few, are all enjoying high oil prices. In fact their very existence, is because of our protective umbrella.

Of course we are still in the process of "liberating Libya" with our kinetic military operation. Will we be giving them a detailed invoice for services rendered when the job finally gets done?

America owes a huge financial debt to the world...but the world owes America a huge debt and it needs to be reckoned with.

8/17 update: Today Donald Trump called for the United States to demand payment of the technology stolen by the Chinese.

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard:

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Last Space Shuttle Closes Pact with the Kennedys

On Thursday morning I appeared on Fox News to speak about the Shuttles final mission as it glided to final descent. Since I had written about how President Kennedy's vision for space had brought us to land on the moon, Fox wanted me to talk to their audience about it.

I was struck by the emotion of the momentous and somber occasion that closed this chapter on America's pioneering history. Afterwards, with reflection, I was struck by the thought that even though America had given the Kennedy family great wealth and power, the Kennedy's have given back...Greatly. It seems they struck a pact with America and honored their end of the bargain with the ultimate sacrifice.

Joe Kennedy Sr. was born in a land where intelligence, ambition and drive could make up for, a royal name, unlike his parents homeland, Ireland. America was a land of opportunity for him and he made his mark in a huge way, wildly successful and wielding great power.

During his rise to wealth and power Joe had four Sons with his wife Rose: Joe, Jack, Bobbie and Ted and five Daughters, Eunice, Jean, Rosemary, Kathleen and Pat. They were were born into wealth and wouldn't have to know what it took to struggle financially. They could have lived an idyllic lifestyle never bothering with the mundane worries of life.

Joe taught his kids to love and respect America and give back to this country that had given them so much. With that wealth and power, they could have used it to shield themselves from the same challenges that ordinary Americans had to face.

But when World War II broke out, two Kennedy young men, joined the American armed forces to fight for their country and they chose front line combat positions. Joe became a pilot in the European war theater where his aircraft exploded in mid air killing him. Jack became a commander of a PT boat in the dangerous waters near the Philippines. His boat was cut in half by an enemy destroyer. He and his crew were left to die in the middle of the ocean. They survived but Jack had excruciating back injuries that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Jack went on to become President, probably one of the most charismatic and visionary leaders we have had. A hawk, he defended America like a pit bull and stood up to the worlds bullies. Brother Bobbie became the Attorney General and during his command he waged war on the organized crime syndicates that permeated our country.

Both of these Brothers were struck down by assassins bullets while they were doing what they loved to do, giving back to the country that had given them so much.

Ted was the surviving Brother and I know the toll it took on him from the loss of his Brothers. Although I agreed with little that Ted Kennedy did politically, I do respect him very much for picking up the mantel and trying to give back to the country that their Dad adopted for them.

With the recent passing of Ted and the final Space Shuttle mission. I think the Kennedy's have closed their end of the pact with America.

I will be appearing on Fox and Friends again this Sunday, to talk about President Kennedy and the Space shuttle mission.

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard:

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Nanny Staters have made playgrounds too safe

Most people with a lick of sense, could tell you we have been insulating our children from the realities of life for far too long. The results of this over protective insulation are being reflected in our society.

The nanny state has gradually tried to ban dodge ball, tag and sports in general in some schools, because "educators" say they can be too "risky" & "dangerous". Additionally, these games can promote a winner and loser mentality and some children might feel "left out". So we can't have any losers in nanny state land.

A new study suggests that efforts to regulate playgrounds into "safety first" areas, may actually stunt children's development. The "new "risk free" playgrounds that have replaced the playgrounds of our youth reflect this attitude. Children are being deprived of challenges and a sense of accomplishment by not allowing them to face challenges on the playgrounds. This over protective mentality can leave children with a sense of anxiety and fear that is far more harmful than cuts, scrapes or broken bones.

We grew up with rope swings from a tree, ten foot high play structures, playground teeter totters and swings, bike riding, tag, dodge ball and contact sports. Our trusty dogs followed us everywhere playing right along with us. We learned the "ropes" early, through trial and error, via: cuts, scrapes, dog bites, an occasional broken bone, just how to play with others and how to compete.

We found at an early age there were consequences to bad decisions, especially those decisions involving fire and touching. Heights and falling. Speed and collisions.

In our childhood we discovered the art of competition, what a sense of accomplishment we felt to win by our own efforts. But very importantly, what it felt like to lose and suffer those consequences. But the key to losing was to learn from the experience and get back in the game and try again and again. That was so preparatory for what we would expect in the real world.

You can witness the result of the nanny state as America drowns in debt trying to prop up a society where there can be no losers. We bail out companies, institutions & governments that are "too big to fail". We reward the bad behavior which lead those entities to failure in the first place.

The real playground of life has winners and losers and occasionally you get cuts, scapes and broken bones. Deal with it.

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard:

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Conservative Irish American Thaddeus McCotter running for President

There are a growing number of prominent and talented patriotic Irish Americans who have broken the stereotype of the Irish being in the sole realm of liberal Democrats.

http://www.irishrepub.org/members.htm

Five term Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, from the Detroit suburbs, is one of those conservative rising stars. McCotter recently announced that he will be running for President and America is in for a surprise when they get to know this man a little better.

If you have ever listened to him, you will know he is Mensa quality intelligent. He is clever, quick witted, logical and modest. A lawyer by trade, he is also a skilled musician and a "Guitar Hero" when he plays lead on that instrument. His record as a lawmaker is impressive, with a strong conviction for conservative free market values. He is a strong personality and does not shy away from sticking up for his beliefs.

He is a member of: Ancient Order of Hibernians - Patrick Ryan Division, Incorporated Society of Irish American Lawyers, National Rifle Association, Right to Life of Michigan, Fraternal Order of Police, Monaghan Knights of Columbus, Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, State Bar of Michigan, United States Holocaust Museum, etc.

Whether McCotter can win is questionable at this time, but certainly he will leave his mark along the campaign trail. He is not afraid to speak his mind, even if it clashes with the powers that be in his own party, like when he castigated Bush for the Wall Street bailouts.

McCotter told TheDC’s Alex Pappas in mid-June that his would not be a vanity campaign but one with a singular goal, victory. “If I run, I would be in to win it,” he said.

McCotter was a frequent guest on Fox News’ popular 3 a.m. show"Red Eye". Host Greg Gutfeld was one of the first commentators to float the idea of a McCotter presidency:

“In my mind he is one of the few politicians who seems less interested in impressing celebrities or making cheap points of sentimentality than preserving the freedoms unique to our delightful island nation,” said Gutfeld.

Whatever the outcome of his Presidential bid, McCotter exemplifies the rising prominence of conservative Irish in American politics. Just like we do in the rest of the world when we blend into societies, we rise to the top and bring our own brand of intelligence, humor and tenacity to the host countries we adopt.

Here's a link to listen to his guitar playing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXcJs3DwNn4

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard:

http://www.carrollstandard.com/

John F. Kennedy said rising tide will lift all boats

Today's leadership in Washington seems determined to lower the tide in order to make everyone equal...It is so counter intuitive to what we have always known as a country of greatness. That attitude is so Carteresque, putting America in an economic and spiritual malaise....I am wearing my sweater as I write this.

The launching of the last shuttle, our last manned space vehicle, made me think of President Kennedy who challenged us as a nation to land mankind on the moon....and we did it!

Our charismatic, short lived leader made an indelible mark on our country. He had a vision for us and was able to state it in such a way that we could believe in ourselves. In his brief time, he inspired us to push beyond our limitations as a country to reach our full potential.

President Kennedy urged us to become active participants and workers in the American dream. His motto of "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what can you do for your country", was as inspiring then as it is now, for those of us who remember.

Todays leadership is a far cry from that of JFK's. Now it seems the mentality is: "ask not what you can do for your country, but what can your country do for you". "Shared sacrifice" is the new mantra.

Would President Kennedy, if he was our leader today, let our manned space program be grounded? I think not. Especially if we had now put ourselves at the mercy of the Russians to launch our Astronauts into space. Possibly we can ask the Iranians for a lift since they have their own space program.

Until we get better leadership in Washington, look for more scaling back of America's greatness and innovation.

More government doesn't lead us out of these doldrums, that is never the answer. But a great leader knows how to inspire the American spirit and once that spirit is awakened, we can do anything.

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard:

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Ireland Needs Private Sector Experience at the Helm

Last election saw the people of Ireland and in the U.S. for that matter, rise up and vote for as much sweeping change as they could.

Isn't it about time to take the next step? I say for both countries, but talking about Ireland particularly at this time. You had a person contemplating a run for President, with real world experience in the private sector, who knows what it's like to be on the other side of those laws written in the capitals.

When Niall O'Dowd floated his idea of running for President I was genuinely excited at the prospect of seeing someone without the trappings of a professional politician step forward to lead Ireland. But it seems the political powers that be, are not quite ready for such a steep transition. But are the people of Ireland ready?

Sometimes it takes quite a bit of heat before we see the light.

A native Son who is not an international industrialist, nor banker, nor a CEO of a mega corporation. He has dealt with business on the personal level and knows what it's like to have to promote a business and run it. The responsibilities of being in the private sector, where there isn't a never ending pool of other peoples money/borrowed money to tap into. He also has had the responsibility of making decisions which he is solely responsible for. He has felt the burden and responsibility of having employees.

The flip side of the coin is that he has experience in the political world and has rubbed shoulders with the movers and shakers of Ireland and America and can speak their language. But in the process, he hasn't been tainted by it.

He has demonstrated the ability to be a peacemaker when he took a key roll during the times of trouble and helped bring an end to the violence with the "Good Friday Peace Agreement".

But key could be Niall's contacts with Irish all over the world, who would love to step up to the plate and help Ireland become a viable economic force to be reckoned with on the worldwide stage.

As a conservative leaning person, I do not agree with all of Nialls stands or some of the politicians he has called friend. But I have seen something in him, which marks a man as a statesman rather than a politician: He has the ability to step back and look at issues fairly and in my opinion, see issues for what they really are. I certainly respect the man as a person of honor and integrity, something badly needed these days, regardless of political beliefs.

So Ireland, you have let your selves be governed by "nanny staters" who have brought you to your economic knees. How much heat are you going to bear, before you see the light?

For other points of view visit Carroll Standard:

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