577 S. COAST HWY, LAGUNA BEACH,
CA (949) 376-7632 or go to:
NATIVE TRIBE-PRIMITIVES LTD We now have Color
Diamonds
"FIND
THE VORTEX AND WALK THE RED ROAD SOFTLY ON
MOTHER'S BACK AND IN
BALANCE WITH HER NATURE THAN
YOU! MAY
CALL HER HOME." AKKEEIA
Go to: www.michaelwebster.net
click on Author/RedRoad
WHEN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VISIT
PRIMITIVES AT THE VILLAGE IN LAGUNA BEACH ON THE GOLD COAST.
OVER LOOKING THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
LEARN WHY ISAGENIX
PRODUCTS CREATE RESULTS AND FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN MAKE
EXTRA
INCOME For further
information on Isagenix visit www.akkeeia.isagenix.com and call
Amanda at 310-770-0011 for questions and free coaching.
PENDANTS ON CHOKERS: Some with
matching Bracelets, Rings and Earrings.
Gaspeite: also available in Denim , Lapis and Black
Onyx all on Sterling Silver.
Handmade American
Indian Products
Our Indian Jewelry is hand-made and many pieces are
one-of-a kind and most are signed. Our stock can change almost on a
daily bases. Our Catalog is up-dated regularly.
The Laguna Journal welcomes your
e-mails/Letters to the Editor.
Send letter to the
editor or Contact Us. Or Add Your Comments:
E-mail us at
: wibcom@aol.com
Office phone (949) 494-7121
Dear Editor:
Insane
Taxation
I was not alone when I watched the televised
presidential debates. One common comment during them by
Barak Obama was the pledge "No tax increases on the
middle class". The seats we not even warm for the
sitting of the 111th Congress House of Representatives
when the pledge was broken. The economy is weak, people
are loosing jobs and times in general are hard and the
first thing from this new Congress is a TAX INCREASE?
Who in the world is more out of touch then these people?
Historical low poll numbers for Congress shout loudly
about actions like this. Will the new President be a man
of his word and veto this proposal?
The US Senate will debate a revamp of the SCHIP Federal
Insurance plan for children and the poor soon. But in
some cases being poor can mean making up to $82,000 a
year and still have coverage. Partially paying for this
all is a proposed 61cent per pack federal excise tax
increase. This means a $6.10 per carton increase on all
cigarettes. In some areas, a carton already is close to
$80.00! Insanity!
Here we go again.
It is beginning to look like government has taken on the
tactics of the very people they love to hate and put in
prison, drug dealers.
Isn't it the nature of drug dealers to keep raising the
price of their product, after their consumer has gained
an "appreciation" of it, to insane levels? Welcome to
America in the new millennium, a nanny scolding state
that treat the freedom to smoke and smokers like toxic
waste. Smokers should be among the most celebrated
groups around because they are paying a higher
percentage of YOUR bills!
Prisons are built to protect good people from the bad,
as it should be. But what happens when the policy makers
act like criminals and tax at a criminal level? Where
are the prisons for them and who will put them there?
This behavior is wrong on so many levels. But who will
slam on the brakes? What happens when the poor, the ones
who struggle to put food on the table and a roof over
their heads, get smacked by every taxing authority above
them by never ending "feel good" and healthful excise
tax increases on tobacco? Too much of this kind of
health is a hazard to it. Shall we just quit playing
with words and tell it like it is? This is a QUIT
SMOKING DAMN IT! tax proposal. Where is free will in all
of this?
Every July 4th we as a nation celebrate Independence
day, a day to remember the freedoms America affords, if
you can afford them. Freedom means very little if
lawmakers on ALL levels say your free but pass laws and
levy taxes that squeeze you till you have little choice
but to live their version of your life. Government
spends fast and loose and if things get tight, they hit
up smokers first. And if you don't like it, quit!
A government for the people? Smokers say "With friends
like this, who needs enemies?"
Your US Senator Needs to hear for you soon!
Dave Pickrell
President and founder
Smokers Fighting Discrimination, Inc.
A not for profit organization
P O Box 5472
Katy, TX 77491
Phone: 281-347-8780 Eve 713-977-2456 Day
Email:
sfdsmoke@hal-pc.org
SFD is 100% grassroots funded
Pickrell has been an unpaid activist for the fair
treatment of smokers since 1993 and a crusader against
the use of junk science in public policy matters.
"We need to again put God first in this Nation. His
truth, His Integrity and His sense of fairness if we are
to survive."
Dave Pickrell
Dear Editor:
Palin
has recently stated that being mayor of Wasilla “wasn’t
rocket science.” We can perhaps take that comment in the
humble spirit it was intended, understanding that, with
the exception of Cheney, Vice Presidents are often
electoral window-dressing, and unless The Unthinkable
happens, are not required to do much.
But
looking closely at Sarah’s time as mayor reveals a lack
of skill. Palin’s prime legacy as mayor, a huge sports
complex, was built on land that the city didn’t quite
own. Rather than buy the land at the time that it was
first offered, Palin’s administration allowed developer
Gary Lundgren to snap it up. Then Wasilla rather
clumsily tried to seize the land through eminent domain,
and went to court over the matter. Purchase costs plus
court costs set the city ofWasilla back a good 1.7
million, all for land that could have been purchased for
one-tenth that cost. Indeed, to this day, the city of
Wasilla is still paying for this boondoggle, with
higher taxes and service cutbacks.
One may
ask why am I making such a big deal about something
Sarah did as Mayor? Well, because she has spoken so
highly of her executive experience, so it seems fair to
hold it to the test. Sarah’s successor claims something
similar, that running the town of Wasilla is “like
running the country.”
Sarah
Palin is a conservative. She believes in small
government, and believes that government’s chief job is
to get out of the way of the American people and not to
burden people with taxes and regulations. She probably
doesn’t lose sleep at night over her poor financial
judgment as mayor because conservatives tend to believe
that markets will work themselves out, and that as long
as taxes are low, we can be quite sure that things will
balance out in the long run. Similarly, I doubt if Sarah
is much bothered by her comment that Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac had to be bailed out because they had,
"gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers."
This comment is 100 % incorrect. Freddie and Fannie are
not taxpayer funded, but operate as private companies.
Indeed, the opposite of what Sarah said is true. Now
that the government has to bail them out, they will
become a taxpayer burden. I doubt if conservative
Sarah-watchers are bothered by her abysmal ignorance on
a topic that will cost us billions. Even with today’s
revelation that Mortgage giant Lehman Brothers might
founder, having been hit by a wave of sell-offs Tuesday
that reduced its equity by half. Such issues, while
costing the average taxpayer dearly, are really not
going to trouble the conservative mindset.
There
is a great deal of money to be made while government
looks the other way. The Enron debacle happened because
government stopped watching, stopped regulating. The
Iraq War happened because we stopped demanding that
Congress check the power of the President and to make
sure that the claims of WMD’s was not a fabrication.
These debacles cost the taxpayers billions.
Yet we
tend to base our electoral choices on personalities.
Right now, Sarah Palin is considered a compelling figure
and role model. Her policies do not interest us much.
That’s because as Americans, we tend to believe that
over time, all politicians become crooked, start
accepting bribes and aren’t worth anything. That’s why
we like the idea of a Washington full of fresh faces.
Since
the Reagan Revolution, Americans have been carefully
tutored that government is the enemy. This belief has
served the wealthiest among us very well. During such
time, the average worker’s wages have stagnated, and
during such time, the idea that a household of four
could survive on a single income, with the wife staying
home to raise the kids, that ideal has gone from the
norm to an unaffordable luxury. During such time, it has
become the norm for those of us who suffer catastrophic
illness to lose pretty much everything.
The
idea that less government is good has a romantic quality
to it. We enjoy the idea that as individuals, we can
make our own way, pay our own way, and don’t need
government to pay for things. We enjoy our ignorance of
the fact that every major road we drive on was built by
government. Community colleges and State Universities,
are a product of government, and until their funding was
slashed, were proud institutions. The G.I. Bill, one of
the most successful tools for reintegrating vets into
society, was a massive government expenditure. Every
time you buy a car that runs as advertised, purchase an
insurance policy that pays out, buy a home that doesn’t
leak or fall apart, you have government to thank,
agencies that can slap huge fines on dishonest
industries that openly lie about what they sell. Every
time you put money in a bank, you can be sure it will be
there later, because the government guarantees it. If
the economy tanks further and you lose your job and
home, you won’t have to live on the street because the
government guarantees a minimum income for those of us
hit by hard times, and government forces employers to
pay into a fund so that we citizens get a little
something, should the worst happen to us. You think
employers do that because they have big hearts? No. They
do it because the government forces them to.
America
has enjoyed a long period of unprecedented wealth and
unchallenged world power. But today, foreign banks own a
larger piece of our country than ever before. This
happened because government looked the other way. The
Feds refused to regulate the buying and selling of
entities that were the business of all of us. McCain
and Palin believe that America ’s hard times will end
soon on their own, that all we need is a little
perseverance, an little positive thinking, a good shot
in the arm of optimism. That’s why, If you look at
McCain’s platform on any issue at all, he promises to do
very little except cut taxes. This is not the type of
leadership we need.
So many people
have asked me about what I know about Sarah Palin in the
last 2 days that I decided to write something up . . .
SARAH PALIN
I am a
resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992.
Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say
we are on a
first-name basis. Our children have attended the same
schools. Her
father was my child’s favorite substitute teacher. I also am
on a
first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I
attended more
City Council meetings during her administration than about
99% of the
residents of the city.
She is
enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular
girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor
choice and
won’t vote for her can’t quit smiling when talking about her
because
she is a “babe”.
It is
astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret.
She
kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children
and parents
for seven months.
She is
“pro-life”. She recently gave birth to a Down’s syndrome
baby.
There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby.
She is
energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the
gym.
She is savvy.
She doesn’t take positions; she just “puts things out
there” and if they prove to be popular, then she takes
credit.
Her husband
works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a
champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is
highly
sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He
arranges his
work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a
month or
so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is
fishing their
major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been
anything
like that of native Alaskans.
Sarah and her
whole family are avid hunters.
She’s smart.
Her experience
is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000
(at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state
with about
670,000 residents.
During her
mayoral administration most of the actual work of running
this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had
been
pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers
after she had
gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings
which had
given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”.
During her 6
years as Mayor, she increased general government
expenditures by over
33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected
by the
City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low
inflation
(1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and
increased a
regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts
that she
promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more
than they
benefited residents.
The huge
increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration
weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though,
borrowed
money was needed, too. She
inherited a city with zero debt, but left it
with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin
encourage
the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure
that she said
she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city
lacked? or a
new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction
of a
multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build
on a piece
of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to,
that was
still in litigation 7 yrs later–to the delight of the
lawyers
involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to
the
community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she
claimed it
would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road
projects that
could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her
office
redecorated more than once.
These are
small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.
As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a
budget surplus
in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology
that will
make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as
Governor she
proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in
the state.
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses,
she
recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects,
even while
she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend
today’s
surplus, borrow for needs.
She’s not very
tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas
or compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t
generated by
her or her staff. Ideas weren’t evaluated on their merits,
but on the
basis of who proposed them.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our
highly respected
City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider
removing from
the library some books that Sarah wanted removed (MY NOTE:
Stephen
King books and some books about evolution, I believe.). City
residents
rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against
Palin’s
attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and
withdrew
her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to
oust the
Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first
ran for
Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of “old
boys”. Palin
fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the
City and as
Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure
people,
creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and
eternally
grateful and fiercely loyal–loyal to the point of abusing
their power
to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the
case of pressuring the State’s top cop (see below).
As Mayor,
Sarah fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because he “intimidated”
her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of
Alaska’s top
cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her
pleasure
and she had every legal right to fire him, but it’s pretty
clear that
an important factor in her decision to fire him was because
he wouldn’t
fire her sister’s ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under
investigation
for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2
dozen
contacts were made between her staff and family to the
person that she
later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law.
She tried to
replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been
reprimanded
for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she
withdrew
her support.
She has bitten
the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in
help. The City Council person who personally escorted her
around town
introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla
City Council
became one of her first targets when she was later elected
Mayor. She
abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who
didn’t
like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.
Fear of
retribution has kept all of these people from saying
anything
publicly about her.
When
then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums,
Sarah got
the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation
Commission: one
of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She
had no
background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring
this great
job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press
about the
high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the
commute, the
structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member
of this
Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican
Party)
engaged in unethical behavior on the job. In a gutsy move
which some
undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah
solved all
her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated
and
garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of
ethics and as a
gutsy fighter against the “old boys’ club” when she
dramatically quit,
exposing this man’s ethics violations (for which he was
fined).
As Mayor, she
had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from
Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his
pork-barrel
politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the
“bridge to
nowhere” after it became clear that it would be unwise not
to.
As Governor,
she gave the Legislature no direction and budget
guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item
vetoing
projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further
legislative
action restored most of these projects–which had been vetoed
simply
because she was not aware of their importance–but with the
unobservant
she had gained a reputation as “anti-pork”.
She is solidly
Republican: no political maverick. The State party
leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and
humiliated
them. Other members of the party object to her
self-description as a
fiscal conservative.
Around Wasilla
there are people who went to high school with Sarah.
They call her “Sarah Barracuda” because of her unbridled
ambition and
predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very
ugly
stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled
to be made
point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah’s
mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community
and
experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse
her.
As Governor,
she stepped outside of the box and put together of package
of legislation known as “AGIA” that forced the oil companies
to march
to the beat of her drum.
Like most
Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National
Wildlife
Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked
to
global warming. She campaigned “as a private citizen”
against a state
initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon
streams from
pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining
in the
state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the
State’s
lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior’s decision to list
polar
bears as threatened species.
McCain is the
oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a
heartbeat away from being President.
There has to
be literally millions of Americans who are more
knowledgeable and experienced than she.
However,
there’s a lot of people who have underestimated her and are
regretting it.
CLAIM VS FACT
•”Hockey mom”: true for a few years
•”PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in
elementary
school, not since
•”NRA supporter”: absolutely true
•social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT
vetoed a bill
that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex
relationships
(said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
•pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as
Governor to
promote it.
•”Pro-life”: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down’s
syndrome baby
BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some
pro-life
legislation
•”Experienced”: Some high schools have more students than
Wasilla has
residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of
Alaska.
No legislative experience other than City Council. Little
hands-on
supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city
administrator to run town of about 5,000.
•political maverick: not at all
•gutsy: absolutely!
•open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good
at
explaining actions.
•has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
•”a Greenie”: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box
stores
and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and
in ANWR.
•fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
•pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park
in a city
without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system.
Built
streets to early 20th century standards.
•pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax
burden on
residents
•pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of
city
government in Wasilla’s history.
•pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works
union
doesn’t make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support
any claim
that she is pro-labor/pro-union.
Anne
Kilkenney
Dear Editor:
Hello everyone,
As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted
to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan for
about an hour on his visit to 'The War Zone'. I wanted to
share with you what happened.
He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle,
got to the area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who
is the commander here at Bagram.
As the Soldiers where lined up to shake his hand he blew
them off and didn't say a word as he went into the
conference room to meet the General. As he finished, the
vehicles took him to the Clam Shell (pretty much a big
top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work
out in with weights) so he could take his publicity pictures
playing basketball. He again shunned the opportunity to talk
to Soldiers to thank them for their service.
So really he was just here to make a showing for th e
American's back home that he is their candidate for
President. I think that if you are going to make an effort
to come all the way over here you would thank those that are
providing the freedom that they are providing for you.
We got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the
Dallas Cowboy Cheer leaders than from one of the Senators,
who wants to be the President of the United States. I just
don't understand how anyone would want him to be our
Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he was scared to
be around those that provide the freedom for him and our
great country.
If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted
you all to know what kind of caliber of person he really is.
What you see in the news is all fake.
In service,
CPT Jeffrey S. Porter
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier
Dear Editor:
During his visit to
Mexico this week, Senator McCain should meet with the
Mexican people who work with the human rights group
Witness for Peace. Then he would talk with some of the
more than two million small farmers who have been
displaced since NAFTA or with the nearly 270,000
Mexicans whose NAFTA-created factory jobs have moved to
Asia. Then he will hear the stories of indigenous
communities in southern Mexico where no working age
people remain - they all have made the dangerous journey
to look for work in the U.S.
If he met those brave people and heard those tragic
stories, he would realize that NAFTA has harmed the vast
majority of Mexicans, as well as working people in the
U.S. He'd learn that our trade policy has led to more
desperation, which has driven more immigration to the
U.S. He would also learn why the "Merida Initiative" is
the wrong way to address coca cultivation and
distribution and will lead to greater human rights
abuses.
The next
President of the United States needs to rethink U.S.
trade policy, beginning with a renegotiation of NAFTA.
THANKS TO THE JOURNAL THIS VERY
TROUBLING STORY IS GETTING OUT. THIS IS WHAT IS COMING INTO
THE COUNTRY BRINGING PROSTITUTION AND MAKING INCREDIBLE
AMOUNTS OF MONEY THROUGH PEOPLE SMUGGLING AND DRUG
SMUGGLING. THIS MONEY IS USED TO BY UP AMERICAN LAND AND
BUSINESSES AND TO PUT IN AND LOBBY FOR CANDIDATES OF THEIR
OWN MEXICAN ETHNICITY TO HELP IN THE RECONQUISTA AND THE
DESTRUCTION OF OUR NATION:
THIS IS A MUST SEE VIDEO:
LISTEN TO HIS WORDS: "BEHEADING A LITTLE GIRL FOR RESISTING
RAPE AND LEAVING HER BEHEADED BODY WITH THE OTHER GIRLS."
THIS IS WHAT IS COMING FROM MEXICO; THIS IS WHY YOU CANNOT
DETACH HOMELAND SECURITY FROM OUR UNSECURED BORDER.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRGC4KCt2s0
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE MEDIA! WHY ISN'T IT? WHY
ARE THEY HIDING THIS?
I HOPE ALL THE JOURNAL'S READERS WILL SEND THIS OUT TO ALL
YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND ELECTED OFFICIALS. THIS MUST STOP. WE
MUST CLOSE OUR BORDER IF NECESSARY WITH MEXICO AND PUT OUR
MILITARY ON IT NOW!
Dear Editor:
Mr. Webster,
In reading your article about the horrors encountered by
Americans in Mexico, I have changed my mind about the fence.
I think perhaps cages would be more appropriate. It is
unconscionable that this is happening to citizens of this
country and that the corruption is spilling over into our
nation. What is more unthinkable is that our President, rather
than even mentioning what is going on, smiles and throws a Cinco
de Mayo fiesta at the White House. I often think we live in a
parallel universe
from this administration. It was not the first to close its eyes
to the creeping destruction of this country, but after 9/11, it
should have been the last. Our borders should have been sealed
and a moratorium declared on all immigration. Illegal aliens
should be deported. The United States WILL survive. But if it is
to survive as our forefathers wanted, we must put into office
those
who have our interests at heart. I am constantly amazed at those
who seek to bring us down to the level of those who
disregard our laws as their first crime. Then, by presenting
false documents, names, IDs and Social Security numbers, they
become felons.
Yet, our politicians rush to award them our most precious
birthright - citizenship.
I've lived a long time, but surely there are those in Washington
who must recall the bracero program. They were temporary workers
who did seasonal jobs then went home. Period. Now, the bleeding
hearts and open borders fanatics can't be satisfied with this,
They insist we hand out the whole enchilada, and not only to the
lawbreakers, but to their large extended families.
My 4th great-grandfather, who fought with the South Carolina
Militia in the Revolutionary War, would not be very happy that
I just saw in my local market products that are entirely in
Spanish. I am saddened that this is what I am leaving to my
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and I hope they know I
fought for them.
Upon review of numerous articles on the
rising of kidnappings in Mexico, I find your articles
and experience to be the most helpful while
contemplating if we should travel and outsource much of
our operations (telecommunications company) to
Hermosillo, Sonora in Mexico. To be more specific, the
company we would be outsourcing to is Vangtel, the
newest member to their parent company, The Offshore
Group (www.vangtel.com).
Although most of the abductions seem to happen around
the borders, you specifically mention Hermosillo by
stating 70+ drug trafficking related executions have
occurred there between 1/07-7/07 (American
Chronicle…article 59356).
Again, with all of your experience as an investigative
reporter and being a world renowned expert on globlal
economics, illicit drugs, and terrorism, I would be
honored with any of your opinions, suggestions, and or
comments you may offer on this company and/or the
risk/safety factor of doing business in Hermosillo.
> Hi Michael,
>
> You have written -- by far -- the best article on the LAPD
Home Invasion ring.
> I'm looking for someone that has followed the case and has
some additional
> details about how the robberies were conducted and how the
ring organized
> themselves and profited.
>
> I saw your article here:
>
http://www.borderfirereport.net/michael-webster/another-so.cal-police-officer-
> sentenced-in-the-wake-of-rampart-corruption-scandal.html
>
> Please let me know if you have additional details or articles
about the case.
> Thank you.
>
> Glen
glen@newsreeltv.com
Thank you for the very
interesting coverage of border security issues. I am deployed
with Operation Border Star working in a Joint Operations
Intelligence Center and use your articles to aid me in my daily
work. Often, I have been able to get the "Big Picture" by
comparing your news articles and other sources available to me.
Keep up the great work!
Respectfully,
KENNETH D. JOHNSON
MAJOR,CA,TXSG
OIC OBS V (EL PASO)
If Not But for... Rense.com.... I would
not have been privileged to yet another of your
magnificent reports -- Great Work!! Where the hell is
the MSM on this? Or maybe I should say Lame Stream
Media, as it is known?
Way up here in Montana, we too are experiencing some of
the invasion, and all that goes with it.
Yet, I must say -- for the most part, I really like the
Latin People -- and wish, at times, I were in
Margaritaville -- as we fondly refer to it from the
infamous Jimmy Buffett song. Yes, this pristine little
island lies just off the coast of another of our
soon-to-be enemies -- Venezuela.
Damn --- what friggin mess we have created for
ourselves -- speaking as a former combat 'air-cavalry'
scout helicopter pilot in VN (Custer's Alma Matta) and
later -- attack helicopter test pilot -- tough
decidedly "not" a military man -- as in " we're
kicking ass" -- and "Bring em On" -- God, how stupid!
Oh well.... thanks for your continued efforts toward
"awakening" the slumbering masses.
You totally fail to answer the question of "why" Bush
won't shut down our Southern Border and stop the 5,000
to 10,000 illegal aliens (not "immigrants", by the way)
from breaking into the U.S. every day. The answer is as
plain as the nose on your face:
Bush is a globalist sell-out traitor. As he demonstrated
recently by trying to block the execution of an illegal
alien Mexican murderer in Texas by siding with the
Socialist One Worlder UN Court, he wants no part of
nationalism or patriotism to tarnish his treasonous
acts. The Border stays open because it's all part of his
NAU plan to merge Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.
Hi Michael,
Thanks for that great article! Even as somebody who is living in Cd.
Juarez I learned some new details from it.
Though there is something that surprises me. You most likely know that
the EPIC (El Paso Intelligence Center), the office that coordinates
all US efforts against drug smuggling and dealing, is located just
about 3-4 miles from the border, on Biggs Airfield, Fort Bliss, El
Paso, TX.
There neighborhood should be a deterrent to drug dealers, shouldn't
it? Unless...
Hope to read something about it in your next article.
Uwe ubrunjes@gmail.com
Dear Editor:
Dear Michael,
I just read an article you wrote on Santiago Vasconcelos the head of the federal
anti-organized crime unit known as SIEDO on February of 2008. We just got
called that my uncle Jesus Hernandez from Juarez, Chihuahua Mexico was kidnapped
last night. I don't know much about the capture but I do know that he owns a
bar right by the border of El Paso. I visited with him two years ago and by what
I witnessed he had a close connection with the police officers (at least some of
them). His wife, who he is currently seperated from him and lives in Seattle,
Washington phoned my uncle to inform him about the news. I have tried to get
some sort of information or who I can contact in Juarez to see if my uncle has
been detained by the police in Juarez. We really need your help, anything you
can do would be greatly appreciated. I don't have that many resources but if
you could point me in the right direction I could take it from there.
PLEASE HELP US!!
Veronica Calderon vcalderon5@ca.rr.comDear Editor:
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Mr.
Webster
Your
article, “U.S. Military Being Sent to the Border with Mexico”, is inaccurate and
contains erroneous data that was taken out of context from the information that
was provided by Gen Renuart to El Paso Times Journalist, Chris Roberts, during
the commander's recent visit to Joint Task Force North, based at Fort Bliss,
Texas.
The
article is erroneous when it states that a special U.S. Military Task Force has
been created to protect our southern border with Mexico; no such special task
force has been created. In addition, the information pertaining to the F-22
Raptors and AWACs is also erroneous -- these aircraft are not conducting patrols
over the southern border under the auspices of USNORTHCOM.
As an
element of U.S. Northern Command, Joint Task Force North, established in 1989,
continues to provide homeland security support to the federal law enforcement
agencies throughout the U.S. Northern Command area of responsibility, to include
both borders and within the Continental United States. Mission focus,
counter-drug and narco-terrorism support to the Primary Federal agency tasked
with boarder security due to unique capabilities that exist within the U.S.
Armed Forces.
In
addition, the National Guard continues to provide support to the U.S. Border
Patrol as part of Operation Jump Start, in Texas, California, Arizona and New
Mexico. The National Guard is helping to secure the southern border by providing
surveillance, construction, and logistics support to the U.S. Border Patrol.
Please
contact me if you would like further clarification or visit www.northcom.mil
for correct information on the command. You have done your audience a
disservice in disseminating erroneous information.
v/r Mr. Michael Kucharek, YC-2 Chief of Current Operations(Media Relations and Web Management) NORAD and U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs w: 719.554.9618 c: 719.330.5136
michael.kucharek@northcom.mil
Mr. Kucharek:
I
don't normally feel the need to explain or give reasons for my articles and
sources. As I've been an investigative reporter for over 35 years. Your e-mail
got my attention due to the actuations it contains. So in the interest of my
readers and more accuracy in journalism I respond in hopes that you and/or your
dept can develop into a reliable source for me for many of the same matters we
are addressing here and so I can be more accurate lets keep the channel of
communications open. More often than not when I try to contact someone at the
DOD they do not come to the phone and often don't return my calls. So hopefully
we can develop a professional relationship in the interest of truth. I would
hope that in the future the General and his staff would contact all the media in
the area not just his favorite. After reading the article you refer to I
contacted some of my sources at Ft. Bliss, FBI and DEA these contacts verified
the general information in my story. We also have reports from citizens that
claim they are seeing Rapters flying on or near the border with Mexico. I myself
have seen Awax aircraft in and around the El Paso and other areas. I have also
talked with troops who say they have been working near the border. Your taking
issue with the headline of the story is interesting in as much as most folks in
the media understand editors write most of them.
You say that the article is erroneous when it states that a special U.S.
Military Task Force has been created to protect our southern border with Mexico;
no such special task force has been created. Yet in the very next paragraph you
flatly state in your e-mail “As an element of U.S. Northern Command, Joint Task
Force North, established in 1989, continues to provide homeland security support
to the federal law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. Northern Command
area of responsibility, to include both borders and within the Continental
United States. Mission focus, counter-drug and narco-terrorism support to the
Primary Federal agency tasked with boarder security due to unique capabilities
that exist within the U.S. Armed Forces”.
You go on to say “In addition, the information pertaining to the F-22 Raptors
and AWACs is also erroneous -- these aircraft are not conducting patrols over
the southern border under the auspices of USNORTHCOM”. You should know, so tell
me if USNORTHCOM is not doing it than what air force division is? As I stated
above many citizens are reporting seeing them. So if you truly feel there are
erroneous statements in the article or any in the future you can help me avoid
that by you and other U.S. Government departments by responding to my questions.
Your charge of the article in question as being taken out of context, inaccurate
and contains erroneous data is false. And I stand behind my article.
So
lets take this opportunity to give the General a chance to accurately reply to
his following statement and please tell us what he is referring to: Renuart, who
visited Joint Task Force-North, which is under his command, declined to discuss
any details of threats uncovered along the border with Mexico, but he said many
agencies, including JTF-North, have made "it a very difficult border for someone
to take advantage of." My questions are: 1. What threats uncovered along the
border with Mexico he was referring to? And 2. What agencies including JTF-North,
have made "it a very difficult border for someone to take advantage of?" And 3.
In what way have they made it very difficult?
Please contact me should you have any further issues and please provide what
you can that is true and timely information on what USNORTHCOM is actually
doing or not doing.
Michael Webster: Investigative Reporter:
Dear Editor:
F-22's are laden with very sophisticated sensors which broadcast
to a Network Centric control point for sharing in real-time whatever is being
observed. The F-22 pilot, free to just fly, doesn't have to work the sensors on
his aircraft as they are communicating to and receiving updated information from
the control center.
All the pilot has to do is fly a proficiency training mission over areas which
intelligence and control center personnel deem worthy of observing.
I'm writing on behalf
of Robert Rosenkranz to invite you to attend, and possibly
cover, the next Intelligence Squared US debate on April 15,
2008.
The topic will be
“Islam is dominated by radicals” and will feature Daveed
Gartenstein-Ross, Paul Marshall and Asra Q. Nomani. speaking
for the motion, and Reza Aslan, Richard W. Bulliet and Edina
Lekovic, speaking against it. The debate will be moderated
by Robert Siegel.
Intelligence Squared
is a series of Oxford-style debates that aim to raise the
level of discourse on serious topics. The debates take place
before a live audience, which is asked to vote on the
question at hand both before and after the debate takes
place.
Previous debates have
featured such notable names as Liz Cheney, Natan Sharansky,
Nadine Strossen, Daniel Ayalon, Michael Crichton and
Christopher Hitchens, among many others. Motions debated
have included "Global warming is not a crisis" and "Better
more domestic surveillance than another 9/11," among others.
The debates are held
at Asia Society and Museum,
725 Park Avenue
at 70th Street in New York City . The event begins at 6:00
p.m.; the debate begins at 6:45 p.m. and ends promptly at
8:30 p.m.
Please let me know at
your earliest convenience if you can attend. We'll be happy
to reserve a seat for you and provide access to the
panelists.
Renuart's quote "who visited Joint Task Force-North, which is
under his command, declined to discuss any details of threats uncovered along
the border with Mexico, but he said many agencies, including JTF-North, have
made "it a very difficult border for someone to take advantage of." That would
explain why there have been recent reports of U.S. military being seen on the
border".
He is blowing sunshine up our posteriors!
The risk is not a military attack and it has not been ever since we sent General
Blackjack Pershing after Poncho Villa almost 100 years ago.
The risk is infiltration by terrorists who will camouflage themselves among the
thousands of illegal immigrants who our government allows to cross our borders
anonymously every night. How is a squadron of F-22 Raptors going to have any
impact on this risk? When these terrorists eventually attack, their deeds likely
will not be anywhere close to the border.
These guys are going to sit on their base waiting for an attack that is never
going to happen.
This is just another example of the government pretending like they are taking
action when in fact they are doing everything possible to keep the border open
and the cheap labor flowing.
If they really wanted to protect the border they would keep the National Guard
deployed and they would actually give them a security mission rather than just
giving them administrative duties. Instead, the Administration is withdrawing
the few remaining National Guard in July.
The military training comes in handy with the arms the Zetas
carry, including 9mm weapons and infrared technology - all parts of an armory
equivalent to an American SWAT team. Drug money pays for it all.
The Zeta arsenal could make the group attractive to other groups, like al-Qaeda
or the Mara Salvatruchas.
According to one of there own jailed members during an interview with law
enforcement said, “there are some of the Maras and al-Qaeda inside the
organization". The phenomenon of the Maras, is a violent Central American gang
that originated in Los Angeles and has become a nightmare in the region. ...
The article seemed to be focusing on the military for use against
terrorist/rogue nation assault (anti-ballisitic missiles; air-air and
air-ground defense; Mexican military and criminal drug caretl incursions).
Perhaps I read it wrong but I did not get a sense that they had any intent
to focus on or significantly participate in the mundane illegal alien
operations of the Border Patrol.
Use of the military in 'local disasters' is a recent Administration fiat and
violates the posse comitatus restriction of our Constitution.
__________________
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
This is the way the world ends...not with a bang but a whimper. ~ t s
eliot
Principle is a terrible thing, because it demands not what is convenient
but what is right. ~ Jonathan Turley
Once we reined in government to unleash individual freedom; now we rein
in the individual to unleash state power. ~ Gen LaGreca
Oooooooo wee, wait 'till La Raza hears about this! US
military on the southern border. Long overdue. Warning to drug dealers and
the Mexican Federales who back them: These folks don't shoot you in the butt
with a popgun. Mess with them and it's the last thing you'll do.
Answer to The Maryhunter...our government is
not going to do anything about it under the current regime Bush and company! The
governors in each state have a lot to do with helping to stop this genocide of
our people. It is up to us to stop what is occurring to our nation.
First, we must vote intelligently for our next
leader and not base our vote on religion, race, gender, or politics. The only
one I have researched to help us, the citizens (patriots) in this devastation is
Senator Barack Obama.
If he does not win the Presidential election we
will have to fight this One World Order plan by ourselves...thus the forthcoming
21st Century Revolution to bring down our current government.
I
guess now mainstream American will know that in addition to al-Qaeda terrorists
crossing into Texas by the dozens, we now have commando-style heavily-armed
foreign soldiers regularly violating our border and attacking our citizens. When
will our government say enough is enough? How many American deaths will it take?
Our sovereignty is violated on a regular basis. It is appalling and beyond
negligent - I’d call it a severe dereliction of duty - for President Bush to
ignore our border crisis.
In recent weeks articles
have appeared in the Media that the State of California
is twenty billion in debt. The word from Sacramento
that taxes have to be raised or tax items that have
never before been taxed, such as
personal services.
The people
of California certainly don’t need
any new taxes with the
economy in such bad shape, however
something has to be done.
Assemblyman Lloyd Levine
introduced to the Assembly AB2026
Ca-intra-state online poker study.
(would offer online poker
site for
those who reside in California.
The Governmental
Organiza-tion
Committee unanimously sent the bill forward to Assembly
Appropriations Committee. If
a online poker site bill is
passed
by the State legislators the revenue would be in the
millions.
The State of California
already has a Gaming Commission in
place. The state has more poker
players than any other.
Although the above will
not solve the deficit, it certainly would
help. Keep in mind when the
Federal issues concerning online poker
are settle, and they will be. The
California Internet Poker Site could
offer services to other states and
the world, bringing in billions.
The first state to
a online poker site will have
a great advantage.
I urge all to contact
their Assembly and Senators and ask for their
Support of AB2026.
This is Petty Officer Brahm with the US Coast Guard. I just
wanted to let you know that Nick McConnell from Laguna Beach
helped save lives from the fishing vessel Alaska Ranger.
The Coast Guard Cutter Munro is currently in port in Dutch
Harbor. I have multiple numbers for the ship.
When you get through just ask for Mr. Schrader (shray-der). He
can get you in touch with whoever you need and hopefully they
can get you a photo as well.
Here are the phone numbers to the Coast Guard Cutter Munro in
Dutch Harbor.
907-581-9898/5634/5448/5370
If you want to contact me for any reason feel free too.
907-487-5700
Dear Editor:
Answer to The Maryhunter...our
government is not going to do anything about it under the
current regime Bush and company! The governors in each state
have a lot to do with helping to stop this genocide of our
people. It is up to us to stop what is occurring to our nation.
First, we must vote
intelligently for our next leader and not base our vote on
religion, race, gender, or politics. The only one I have
researched to help us, the citizens (patriots) in this
devastation is Senator Barack Obama.
If he does not win the
Presidential election we will have to fight this One World Order
plan by ourselves...thus the forthcoming 21st Century
Revolution to bring down our current government.
I guess now mainstream American
will know that in addition to al-Qaeda terrorists crossing into
Texas by the dozens, we now have commando-style heavily-armed
foreign soldiers regularly violating our border and attacking
our citizens. When will our government say enough is enough? How
many American deaths will it take? Our sovereignty is violated
on a regular basis. It is appalling and beyond negligent - I’d
call it a severe dereliction of duty - for President Bush to
ignore our border crisis.
I'd like to tell you about the travesty of justice that
I experience with the California justice system and the
sham I believe the bar is. I'll start at the
beginning. I met a man, a property invester who I will
refer to as BA, I did some work for BA and we became
friends and over the course of fifteen years we flew
airplanes, traveled and bought properties together among
other things. We traveled to Thailand alot and BA built
some condos there of which I bought one from him. In the
year 2000 a property came up that I liked. It was a
small strip mall with about 150 storage units and a
small managers house. So I sold my house got together
all the money I had and invested in the property. BA and
I signed a short one page agreement saying I would
manage the property and BA would basicly do the legal
end. This was good since BA was a law professor from
Canada and also owned ten other facilities and is worth
15 million dollars.
Meanwhile I had invented a hook to use on Bungee
cords. If you ever used a bungee cord you know that they
never fit anywhere you want them to fit. With this hook
that I call Bungee Adjuster the bungee cords fit
anywhere. Everyone liked the Bungee Adjuster. So I
called some manufacturer's to get a price to manufacture
the Bungee Adjuster. The price was forbiding by the time
it hit the retail market the price would be so high no
one would buy the Bungee Adjuster. So I thought I would
see how much it would cost to manufacture in Thailand.
To my surprise the manufacture and shipping was about
10% of the U.S. price to manufacture. I now knew why all
the big business's were going overseas.
So its Christmas eve night 2004. I'm at BA's home.
I'm tired and wanting to go to bed. On my mind is about
going to Thailand the next day to work out a deal to
manufacture the Bungee Adjuster. Not thinking I had any
reason to distrust BA a friend of fifteen years I signed
a paper that I didn't read. After I was lead to believe
it was and insurance application. BA slipped it by me
real quick like when I'm on my way out ready to go to
bed next door. Signing this agreement happened so quick
I didn't even remember signing it. I later found out it
was a one sided agreement saying that I owned 25% of the
business, BA owned 74% of the business and a Texas
corporation owned 1% of the business. The agreement said
that if any two partners got together they could expel
the other partner for no reason at a cheap buyout price.
Well I'm one partner, BA is another partner and, who is
this Texas corp. that owns 1%? It just happens to be
BA's corp. owned by BA with his daughter as president.
Now BA can get together with BA and throw me out when
ever. Then BA gives me a notice saying essentialy nice
doing business with you and we are buying you out at
about one fourth of your worth. I had no idea what BA
was talking about. I didn't work the place five years to
be bought out when BA felt like it. I didn't pay him any
attention and I went back to work. About three weeks
later I'm served an eviction notice. Get out of the
managers house where I lived and worked for five years.
BA then serves a restraining order on me saying to stay
out of the office. The restraining order signed under
penalty of perjury said I harrassed the office manager,
I was running off the good help, irrated everyone, and
did untold damages to the business. I had all my money
invested in this business and was not about to
jeopardize it. While I managed the business it more than
tripled in value. And BA said that I didn't work there.
I just hung out. Never mind I got paid every year. Plus
BA gave me 5% more of the business for a job well done.
BA then filed a civil suit for breach of contract. BA
then files another suit for some money I owe him on my
condo. So I hired a lawyer and we file a counter suit
for fraud and breach of fudicary duty to be honest.
We then take depositions. The office manager says I
did all the outside work and did a good job. As far as
harrasment went her husband had a heart attack and I,
doing her job, called her at the hospital three times
and it bothered her. Another employee who collected the
cash from the laundry and carwash, who BA said was
giving me my share of the cash every week, said she
never gave me a nickle and gave it all to BA or his
daughter to put in a reserve account. Which means alot
of money is missing. She also said I did all the outside
work and did a great job. BA's daughter tried to act
like she and BA ran the business while I just hung out
living in the manager's house for free. But nobody could
ever remember seeing her on the property in all of five
years. BA tried to say he and I went over this agreement
twice before. I would like to meet the person that would
read this agreement three times and then sign it. Each
person's deposition, including BA's, made a lier out of
BA and his lawyer being there for every deposition knew
it. And by the way nobody was found that I irrated. And
all the good help quit within three months after I left.
They all said they had no problem working for me.
All of the depositions took about an hour. My
deposition took over six hours. Starting with what did I
do when I was in the U.S. Army in Viet Nam 40 years ago
and onward. I didn't realize it at the time. But BA's
lawyer was trying to wear me down so I would make a
mistake. Then he could motion for a summary judgement (
a summary judgement basicly means I have no case so why
waste the courts time and just give BA the judgement).
I'm ready to go to court and I asked for a trial by
jury. BA's lawyer then motions for a summary judgement
on Rosenthal, some people, Rosenthal's, walked into a
bank bought some securities and never read the small
print was tricked and sued. What does this have to do
with business partners for fifteen years and slipping a
contract by me for a signature?. The judge denied the
summary judgement and we are ready to go to court in a
couple of weeks. This is about nine months from the
start of this issue. BA then drops the restraining order
and dismiss's the case. My lawyer petitions the court to
put this case together with the case BA filed for the
money I owe on the condo and resolve everything at once.
BA then dismiss's that case. My lawyer say's I have to
sue BA now to get what belongs to me. But before this
happens BA and his lawyer run to a different county and
filed the same case there. Knowing if I filed the case
the summary denial would still be valid and BA would
have to go to court. This BA would not like. In legal
jargon this is called "Forum Shopping".
We now have a new Judge in a different county.
Apparently the new judge didn't care about the forum
shopping or the summary denial in the other county. I
sometimes wonder if it was because we were in BA's
lawyer's territory since we were now in the town he
practices law in and somebody maybe owed a favor.
BA signed a fictious name statement registered in the
courthouse saying the business was a general
partnership. We had a bank we had to sue. BA's lawyer
did the case in my name and BA's name. Nothing was said
about a limited partnership or a Texas corp. BA's lawyer
knew our business was a general partnership because he
did all BA's legal work. But he didn't draft the
document I signed Christmas eve. It would make him part
of this case and he couldn't represent BA when he tried
to enforce the document. Therefore BA would have to hire
an honest lawyer that playes by the rules. So BA went to
another lawyer to draft the document.
Now BA shows up with a document that says our
partnership was a limited partnership. The document I
signed on Christmas eve night was an amendment to that
document. BA said I signed this document. BA said he had
the document but couldn't find it for a year and a half.
But then he found it in a bank vault somewhere. It had
my name on it but you can see it was not my signature.
So now BA and his lawyer change tactics. My lawyer said
BA had a fiduciary duty to be honest and not slip
something by me for my signature. BA's lawyer now say's
as a limited partner BA had no duty to be honest so why
should he. So the new judge accepts that the business is
a limited partnership and rejects some of my issues.
This rendered my case hopeless.
My lawyer said to go to court now would be like going
to a dog and pony show. So we gave BA the judgement on a
stipulation that we can go directly to appeals court. A
year later we go to appeals court. BA's lawyer wrote a
brief saying essentially that BA as a limited partner
had no duty to be honest so why should he. I denied the
whole time that the business was a limited partnership
and that no Texas corp owned 1% that I knew of. The
evidence pointed to a general partnership. All BA had
was a document with a bogus signature that took him a
year and a half to find saying the business was a
limited partnership. These judges that called themselfs
justicies bought into this limited partnership bunk to
our dismay and denied my whole appeal. It was apparent
these justices never looked over the case properly. In
my honest opinion if the judges take the place of a jury
they should go over the case thoroughly before rendering
their judgement.
Meanwhile I''m trying to get the bar to do something
about BJ's lawyer using the court system to help BA
cheat me. I looked on their webpage and it stated The
State Bar’s discipline system is designed to protect the
public, the courts and the profession from attorneys who
violate ethical rules covering their professional
conduct. Consumers with complaints about an attorney may
call the bar’s toll-free number (1-800-843-9053).
The Office of the Chief Trial Counsel, which is
responsible for reviewing charges of lawyer misconduct,
then investigates and prosecutes these complaints."
So I called the bar, then I had to write them about this
case that any fool could see BJ's attorney was using the
court system to try and cheat me and was violating the
rules of professional conduct in doing so. Rule 1.16 A
lawyer shall not represent a client . (B), (1) the
client persists in a course of action involving the
lawyer's services that the lawyer reasonably believes is
criminal or fraudulent (2) the client has used the
lawyer's services to perpetrate a crime or fraud. Rule
8.44 Misconduct : (C) To engage in conduct involving
dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation (D) to
engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the
administration of justice. The bar wrote back to me
saying it's out of their jurisdiction and wouldn't look
at the case and to hire a lawyer and sue him. What would
I sue him for but violating the rules of professional
conduct? Which is the bars job to make sure no lawyer
does this, so their webpage say's. Or maybe I read the
webpage wrong and should of had a lawyer read it to me.
So I wrote to the president of the board of govenors, he
can't do anything he's not the president anymore. So I
wrote to one of the govenors. It's not his job and sent
me to another govenor who I never heard from.
I then read further on their web page it said "How
is the State Bar funded? The bar’s programs are
financed primarily by fees paid by attorneys and
applicants to practice law." I then believed I was
dealing with a sham. And I knew that these people had no
intention of chastizing the persons paying their
saleries. I began to wonder how many people got ramed
because dishonest lawyer's knew the bar would do
nothing. Who are the lawyers that they can watch over
themselfs? Since everyone else in this country has some
government agency watching over them, why not the
lawyers?
So I wrote to governor Schwarzenegger explaining why
I thought the bar is a sham and something should be done
about it, he likes to hear from his constituents but
it's out of his jurisdiction and I should write to the
Attorney General. So I wrote to the Attorney General,
the Honorable Edmond G Brown Jr., he can't do anything
it's out of his jurisdiction and I should write to the
bar association. Since the bar has exclusive authority
to investigate and prosecute allegations of attorney
misconduct. But I wasn't complaining about an attorney's
misconduct. I was complaining about the Bar's
misconduct. If Edmond G. Brown Jr. can't understand a
simple one page letter then why is he the Attorney
General?
After three years of this and what I got in return,
I'm beginning to think the whole justice system is a
sham.
If I
had the money I'd sue the bar. But then again where
would I find a lawyer that would help me sue the people
protecting him? And besides that, you can't practice law
if you are not a member of the bar, they might disbar
anyone who tried.
Three years of my life has been wasted, I'm out an
untold amount of money. My Bungee Aduster project has
been stalled till now. I believe if the bar would have
done what their webpage says they are to do,their job.
This wouldn't have happened.
I guess it's true when they say " there is no justice
exept for the rich." When I was in Viet Nam I was told
we were fighting for for liberty and justice for all " I
don't think so". This could happen to anybody!
Jessica: Not only am I interested in Bradley Roland
Will, a 36-year-old journalist-activist from New York, who was
killed in October 2006 while filming unrest in Oaxaca state,
where protesters had been fighting for months to oust Gov.
Ulises Ruiz for alleged electoral fraud.
But am running your piece on the front page of the Laguna
Journal. His family have my heart felt condolences and my
concern and if I can help in any other way please let me know.
M.W.
Dear Editor:
Dear Mr.
Webster,
I always include articles about opium in my
blog,
Index on Afghanistan.
What is interesting about your article is that you do
not mention the US interests in the drug trade in
Afghanistan.
"Unlike their counterparts in Colombia, the terrorists
in Afghanistan enjoy the benefits of a trafficker-driven
economy "
WHO IN US BENEFITS FROM TRAFFICKER-DRIVEN ECONOMY?
"Those involved in the drug trade in the Middle East are
as serious about their investment as their violent
counterparts in countries such as Colombia, Mexico and
the Golden Triangle cartels. "
Sarah:
I agree with you. I suspect and have all along that the
reasons the war on drugs have totally failed is because
people in high places are involved. I think the CIA,
Contra, high level officials in America and around the
world many benefit. How ever to prove it or to be able
to have enough reliable sources is difficult at best. I
direct you to
www.lagunajournal.com
(war on drugs) where you can read more of my writings on
the subject. Also very important to me is if you have
any details or know anyone who does, I would be very
interested so keep me in mind as I'm always looking for
connections that will help me do a better job for my
readers. I thank you for your interest. I Remain.
M.W.
PS: By the way I really like England my daughter
attended Oxford and she and her Mother and I who visited
with her on more then one occasion all fall in love with
England, Oxford, London and the country side.
Dear Editor:
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
announced last week that Al-Qaeda in Baghdad had been
defeated thanks to a security plan launched a year ago.
Although there continues to be violent spots in Baghdad,
deaths are decreasing dramatically in Baghdad just as they
have in the AnBar province. The offensive by Iraqi troops
and coalition forces in Mosul a few weeks ago against
insurgents is encouraging that the Iraqi security forces are
trying to rid the country of terrorists.
Recent news reports have noted
the success of liberating Fallujah and Ramadi, both cities
previously controlled by terrorists. I have personally
listened to stories of the liberation of these cities from
Marines who have fought there over the last three years.
Iraq is changing for the better and there is hope for the
Iraqi people to become independent. Change takes time.
Considering the oppression the Iraqi people have lived under
for so many years, recent stories are evidence that they are
making strides in controlling their own destiny. As a
mother of a Marine deployed to Iraq, I would love to see the
troops come home tomorrow. But I know that is not the best
decision for Iraq, the security of the American people, and
the legacy of the almost 4,000 men and women of our armed
forces who lost their lives fighting the war on terror in
Iraq.
I hope that the American people
will continue to believe that coalition forces, led by the
United States, are doing a good job leading Iraq towards
self government. Our troops are training Iraqi forces to
defend themselves against insurgents. The Middle East is a
complicated region with many tribal, religious, and
political factions that must be encouraged to cooperate for
a peaceful existence. This effort will take generations to
evolve into a cohesive democratic existence.
But be encouraged that it is
working, especially since the surge last year in Baghdad by
the U. S. Army and the incredible victories in the AnBar
province by the Marines. As a personal testimony of the
attitude of the Iraqi people, let me share a letter from my
son (with his permission) who is serving in Iraq as a
Weapons Platoon Commander:
"I can thank only
God for the safety of every Marine in our battalion. Thus
far, our greatest challenge has been fighting complacency
and boredom. If there were any other way to spell "victory"
it would be "Al Anbar". In nearly one year's time, I have
watched attacks, improvised explosive devices (IED) and
direct action attacks go from frequent to rare. Daily, we
patrol through the streets of Al Anbar, finding no
resistance. Most of our days are spent with local civilians
pointing out where the insurgents used to live before they
were killed or fled. They lead us to weapons caches,
hideouts, and people who used to help insurgents. Our job
has regressed from fighting in a war to peacekeeping.
I have no way of describing the appreciation and heartfelt
thanks the Iraqi people show us as we patrol through their
towns. For the first time in their life, they have no fear
for their family's life. They no longer fear going to the
market to buy food or fuel. They are building the
foundations of democracy at the highest levels and we are
watching it trickle down to the provincial and civic
levels. The young men are joining the Army and Police in
larger and larger numbers. People are participating and
believing in their government.
I will close with a story of how I spent my unforgettable
Christmas. My company was tasked with performing a ten day
clearing operation into an area along the Syrian border. We
would have ten days of riding in HMMWV’s looking for
smugglers, foreign fighters, and insurgent safehavens. The
average temperature at night was in the teens with the
windchill. The operation started on the 21 December, so no
talking to families on Christmas. Morale was not exactly at
an all time high.
On Christmas eve,
during one fo our searches of a Beduoin camp, the father of
the family asked if we would stay for dinner. Arabs being
amazingly hospitable people, constantly insist on the best
treatment for their guests. If was getting dark and the
Marines were exhausted, so we decided to join them. The
father ordered a fine meal (fresh lamb) be prepared. While
eating this amazingly prepared meal (it being our first hot
meal in days), our interpreter told the man that it was
Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Christ. The man
declared that the meal was in honor of Jesus Christ.
There are so many
things, good and bad, that I will remember about this war.
I am glad that some of the memories will be like this one.
Every day I am here, makes me appreciate that much more the
country we live in. I am convinced, we live in the greatest
country in the world."
Be encouraged, fellow
Americans, that we are being protected by our military who
are willing to sacrifice themselves for our freedom so that
the radical terrorist groups may be defeated in other
countries and not allowed to attack the U.S. again.
Your Article
About ... Adult Stem Cells delivered in speech at UCLA
Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter at the request
of the Alliance Defense Fund to ask your
help on a huge project that, if
successful, will impact every church in
America for the better.
As you know, churches in America are
automatically exempt from federal
taxation under section 501 (c) (3) of
the IRS code. However, in 1954 Congress
passed the so-called "Johnson amendment"
conditioning tax exempt status on a
requirement that churches effectively
remove themselves from certain aspects
of the "political" arena. The 1954 law
redefined the traditional role of
American churches, limiting them in
their historical role as the conscience
of the nation-leading the fight to end
slavery, leading the fight to protect
young children working in the coal mines
and factories, and leading the fight for
women's rights including the right to
vote. Because of the threat of IRS
sanctions or loss of tax exemption, most
pastors today are fearful of speaking
out-even in the pulpit-on the great
moral and social issues of the day.
We believe that the federal government is required to give tax
exempt status to churches because of
protections that exist in the United
States Constitution. And most
significantly, we believe that the IRS
cannot threaten revocation of tax exempt
status even if churches speak out on
political and social issues relevant to
voters.
ADF is looking for churches that will
work with them in launching a lawsuit
challenging the IRS's ability to
restrict churches from preaching on
scripture based-"political" issues
relevant to the body of Christ in the
next federal election cycle. Please let
ADF know if you have an interest in
working with their constitutional
lawyers active in the courts to return
the church to its rightful place as the
voice of the body of Christ on the great
political and moral issues of the day.
If you are interested in
participating in this project, please
contact ADF Chief Counsel Ben
Bull at 480-388-8035, fax 480-444-0028
or email him for more information.
Please contact ADF. I do not have more
information to give.
What
do you think about Michael Ruppert’s findings about the
CIA’s involvement in using cocaine sales to finance the
Iran-Contra affair?
What
about allegations coming out of Russia today that the
United States is involved in drug traffic from
Afghanistan? Obviously taking it with a grain of salt
given the source, yet at the same time being open minded
about how drug money can be used to finance covert
operations.
Iran-Contra
secret war was covered at the time by our investigative reporter
Michael Webster, well it was happening during the Reagan
admenistration. If you are aware of any new developments we
would be interested in hearing them. As far as the allegations
coming out of Russia today that the United States is involved in
drug trafficking from Afghanistan we are very interested and
please tell us more and lead us to where we can found out more
of the details and facts. So the Journal can share it with our
readers. James Fine editor: Laguna Journal
Did the church ever need to seek permission from
the government to be exempt from taxes? Were
churches prior to 1954 taxable? No, churches have
never been taxable. To be taxable a church would
first need to be under the jurisdiction, and
therefore under the taxing authority, of the
government. The First Amendment clearly places the
church outside the jurisdiction of the civil
government: "Congress shall make NO LAW respecting
an establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the
free exercise thereof."
Religion cannot be free if you have to pay the
government, through taxation, to exercise it. Since
churches aren't taxable in the first place, why do
so many of them go to the IRS and seek permission to
be tax-exempt? It occurs out of:
Ignorance ("We didn't know any better")
Bandwagon logic ("Everyone else is doing it")
Professional advice (many attorneys and CPAs
recommend it)
Does the law require, or even encourage, a church to
organize as a 501c3? To answer that question let's
turn to what the IRS itself has to say.
Churches Need Not Apply
In order to be considered for tax-exempt status by
the IRS an organization must fill out and submit IRS
Form 1023 and 1024. However, note what the IRS says
regarding churches and church ministries, in
Publication 557:
Some organizations are not required to file Form
1023. These include:
Churches, interchurch organizations of local units
of a church, conventions or associations of
churches, or integrated auxiliaries of a church,
such as a men's or women's organization, religious
school, mission society, or youth group. These
organizations are exempt automatically if they meet
the requirements of section 501(c)(3).
Churches Are "Automatically Tax-Exempt"
According to IRS Code § 508(c)(1)(A):
Special rules with respect to section 501(c)(3)
organizations.
(a) New organizations must notify secretary that
they are applying for recognition of section
501(c)(3) status.
(c) Exceptions.
(1) Mandatory exceptions. Subsections (a) and (b)
shall not apply to—
(A) churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and
conventions or associations of churches.
This is referred to as the "mandatory exception"
rule. Thus, we see from the IRS' own publications,
and the tax code, that it is completely unnecessary
for any church to apply for tax-exempt status. In
the IRS' own words a church "is automatically
tax-exempt."
Churches Are "Automatically Tax-Deductible"
And what about tax-deductibility? Doesn't a church
still need to become a 501c3 so that contributions
to it can be taken as a tax deduction? The answer is
no! According to IRS Publication 526:
Organizations That Qualify To Receive Deductible
Contributions
You can deduct your contributions only if you make
them to a qualified organization. To become a
qualified organization, most organizations other
than churches and governments, as described below,
must apply to the IRS.
In the IRS' own words a church "is automatically
tax-deductible."
Churches Have a Mandatory Exception To Filing Tax
Returns
Not only is it completely unnecessary for any church
to seek 501c3 status, to do so becomes a grant of
jurisdiction to the IRS by any church that obtains
that State favor. In the words of Steve Nestor, IRS
Sr. Revenue Officer (ret.):
"I am not the only IRS employee who's wondered
why churches go to the government and seek
permission to be exempted from a tax they didn't owe
to begin with, and to seek a tax deductible status
that they've always had anyway. Many of us have
marveled at how church leaders want to be regulated
and controlled by an agency of government that most
Americans have prayed would just get out of their
lives. Churches are in an amazingly unique position,
but they don't seem to know or appreciate the
implications of what it would mean to be free of
government control."
from the Forward of In Caesar's Grip, by Peter
Kershaw
www.hushmoney.org
Dear Editor:
Please keep up the good work your doing on the Carona case. When
I want to know the latest I go to the Journal. Carona, Hunt,
Anderson, Jaramillo, Haidl and Calvallo all have similarities.
They were all cozy together and kissed the brass ring of Carona
and the OCGOP. One by one they all fell out of grace with Carona
(except Anderson). They all had serious ethics lapses. Now the
Board of Supes need to do the right thing. Hold a special
election for Sheriff instead of catering to the wants and lusts
of the Lincoln Club and OCGOP. The new sheriff appointee
Anderson is a high up in the republican party. Orange county
needs new blood from outside of the county.
Praying The Psalter Today 2008. Pastor Wiley Drake Calls for Imprecatory
Prayer against So-Called Religious Liberty Watchdog
Groups
Contact: Wiley Drake, 714-865-8132
In
light of the recent attack from the enemies of God I
ask the children of God to go into action with
Imprecatory Prayer.
Especially against Americans United for Separation
of Church and State, and the ACLU as well as others
who attack God's people. I made an attempt to go to
them via Matt 18:15 but they refused to talk to me.
Specifically target Joe Conn or Jeremy Learing and
their leader Rev. Barry Lynn. They are those who
lead the attack. (You can see their press release
attack at
www.au.org )
Imprecatory prayer, is now our duty
Now that all efforts have been exhausted, we must
begin our Imprecatory Prayer, at the key points of
the parliamentary role in the earth where we live.
John Calvin gave the church its marching orders from
Scripture. The righteous have dominion, but only
through imprecatory prayer against the ungodly.
David as our Old Testament shepherd gives us many
Imprecatory prayers, and can be found to be in best
focus in Psalm 109. Also chapters 55, 58, 68, 69,
and 83
Pray these back to God and He will answer.
Jesus in Matthew 23: 13, 15, 16, 23, 24, 27, and 29
gave us our New Testament marching orders as well.
Let us join Paul and declare anathema upon anyone"
who loves not the Lord Jesus." I Cor 16:22
Church father Martin Luther, led us by saying…"If
any of the enemies of God's people belong to God's
election, the church's prayer against them giveth
way to their conversion, and seeketh no more than
that the judgment should follow them, only until
they acknowledge their sin, turn, and seek God."
How to pray Please join us, with Bible in hand, and let
us do battle against the enemies of God.
Everyday telephonic prayer meeting
(for those who want to pray)
Every Day 5:00 to 6:00 a.m. Pacific time zone
Call- 1-605-772-3900
Put
in access code # 399430
(Come on the telephone line for a few minutes or all
of the time, but let us all pray.)
Discussion on this event can be heard daily Monday
through Thursday at 9:00 am PST "The Wiley Drake
Show" on
www.crusaderadio.comLet us pray and see what our God will do.
Dear
Editor:
We want
to thank the Laguna Journal and investigative reporter Michael
Webster for alerting the public through many articles he has
written in the past about our former Sheriff Michael Carona and for
breaking the news of the indictment of Carona on federal
corruption charges stemming from a lengthy investigation into
allegations that he had misused his office for financial gain.
We
again want to thank Mr. Webster for reporting and keeping the
Journal’s readership up to date and not giving up on Carona’s
misdeeds and for years gave much more detail then the main
stream news media provided. According to the Journal and others
Carona also appears to be well known by Vegas notorieties who
have homes in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, including Rick
Rizzolo owner of Crazy Horse too strip club and contributor to
Sheriff Carona and now a resident of a Federal penitentiary. The
list includes past Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones, current Mayor
Oscar Goodman, MGM CEO Terry Lanni, Stations Casino owner Frank
Fertitta, Jr. just to name a few that we have read about in the
Journal. Keep up the good work informing your readers.
Professor James Femia Ph.D 949 494-7456
Long
time Laguna Beach teacher and resident.
Dear Editor:
I enjoyed your article THE PATRIOT ACT AND YOU.
Regarding the Monetary Instrument Log (MIL), if I go into a bank
and cash (not deposit) 4 cashier's checks or money orders made payable to me,
and the total of the 4 checks together is over $3,000 but under $10,000, is the bank required to
report the transaction to the MIL? Thank you. Lynne lynnesiclari@hotmail.com
Lynn. Thank you for your kind words about my article " The
Patriot Act and You". I'm not an attorney and you should
seek a professionals advice. My opinion is it does not!
However a bank can report any transactions they want to.
Amounts of over $5,000 total are often reported. Thx
M.W.
For other articles on similar and other related subjects
visit;
www.lagunajournal.com
Scroll down lift and click on "Michael Webster's other
writings"
Dear Editor:
The California Coastal Commission meeting Wed, Feb 6 starts
at 9 a.m., but the meeting location has been changed to the
Del Mar Fairgrounds’ Wyland Hall, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.,
in the city of Del Mar (just off I-5 in Del Mar at Via de la
Valle exit). It holds 3,000 people so we all can attend and
get a seat. Arrive well before 9 and get labels and signs
from Sierra Club table.
Should a six lane toll roll go through the fifth most
popular CaliforniaState Park,
San Onofre State Park?
According to the Los Angeles Times January 17, 2008
“In September, the [California Coastal] commission’s staff
recommended against approval, saying that building a
six-lane toll road through San Onofre [State Park] would
cause widespread violations of state environmental laws by
threatening endangered species, marring natural resources
and compromising recreational opportunities.”
It ought to be a slam-dunk decision, but it is really
crucial that we pack the hearing room and let the
Commissioners know our concerns.
Volunteer to drive your car to
Del Mar or get a ride by calling
939-7257 and we’ll organize carpools.
An alternative is to go on buses that the Sierra Club is
organizing that will leave from the entrance to
TrestlesBeach in San
Clemente starting at 7 a.m. Call
Robin Everett at 949-361-7534 for details and to save your
seat.
Please join me in
Del Mar at 9 a.m on Wednesday, Feb
6.
Gene Felder, Vice-President
LagunaCanyon
Conservancy
Dear Editor:
To anyone who has
followed the “Save Trestles” campaign: This Wednesday is the
Big Showdown. If you want to make a difference on
whether a six-lane toll road is allowed to plow directly
through San Onofre State Park and ruin the famed Trestles
surf break and destroy a popular campground and surrounding
wilderness, you need to attend the California Coastal
Commission meeting in Del Mar this coming Wednesday.
We know people care
deeply about this issue, and have expressed loads of
support. However, this time we need bodies; it’s that
simple. A former CCC chairperson said the current commission
is much more likely to deny permission to the toll road
developers (the TCA) if there are a lot of people at this
meeting, as in hundreds, possibly thousands. She said in
past high profile CCC cases around the state, the vote went
with the environmentalists when there were throngs of
supporters in the audience. Otherwise, she said, the
commissioners think no one really cares, and are more likely
to vote with the slick lobbyists who have been wining and
dining them.
This vote also could
impact all state parks and protected open spaces we believed
were set aside forever (including our own greenbelt!).
Apparently, it is open season on these public lands, and we
need to draw a line in the sand now, or watch it all blow
away. Especially with the current budget crunch, the heat is
on. Even our “green” governor has caved into the pressure
from special interests and sacrificed our state park and
beach for a billion-dollar toll road to nowhere.
Who is left to defend
these last remaining fields and meadows, streams and
wetlands, beaches and waves? Us! Me. You.
So if you care about
protecting one of the most popular California State Parks,
and Trestles, please plan to head south on Wednesday and
show your support in person. If you are a surfer who loves
Trestles and clean water and access to public waves, don’t
hang back and think other people will be there. We need you
to show up! (Someone said surfer’s flu is going around.)
If you really care, be
there! We might not get another opportunity to save this
park and beach!
Let's be serious
here.. Are any of you truly surprised? The Good Ole Boys
have been dropping like flies since early 2007..Thanks to
the Journal. Finally these money hungry, bustards
despicable, hypocrites are being found out and they go hide
behind what money they have in their lawyers basement. I
know a guy who used to brag about being tight with Mike and
deep down inside I was thinking how idiotic this guy was to
think he was so connected by being friends with this
criminal in uniform. They are no different than any of the
illegal's or any other degenerate that we chastise for their
felonious behaviors. The only difference is of course the
all time evil "money"...I am so happy to see the entire
Republican Party fall flat on their well educated and
connected face as it serves these pompous parrots perfect..
Rest well you plastic jerks, I hope the judge actually
throws the book away when it comes to dealing out your
punishment. These idiots need not go to some plush facility
where they can pay 130 per day and rent movies and have
outdoor time, Like the sheriff's criminal buddy
Rick Rizzolo owner of Crazy Horse too strip
club of
Las Vegas fame, they need to be humiliated in the publics
eye so they can really feel the wrath. Let's not allow them
to hide in a country club lock up, they need to perform
thousands of hours of freeway cleanup or perhaps chopping
trees and shrubs off Ortega hwy..
Let's see them punished the way us TAXPAYERS would be
punished had we been found guilty and or in the same
predicament...Folks if you haven't noticed, we are in
serious trouble when you can't trust your appointed or
elected officials.. Don't forget to vote for Huckebee to
implement the all important Fairtax.
In regards to the
Save Trestles
campaign and the
bogus proposed
extension of the 241
toll road in South
Orange County.
Please, PLEASE
everyone who lives
in Orange and San
Diego County's go to
www.savetrestles.org
or
www.savetrestles.com and
educate yourself on
what a mammoth
mistake the
extension of this
toll road will be.
This Save Trestles
campaign is not just
a bunch of angry
surfers pissed off
because someone is
going to ruin one
our waves. This will
have an impact on
everyone who lives
in, or is traveling
through Orange and
San Diego County's.
The 241 extension is
proposed to be a $12
to $20 toll
road depending on
traffic, that will
connect at
interstate 5 at
Baseline Road ( Just
outside San Clemente
and right on top of
Trestles and San
Onofre State
Park!!!!!). The idea
is so traffic can
completely bypass
the 5, 405, and 55
freeway's and
connect with 91 in
Riverside county.
But really what will
that solve!! Really
the problem is when
the carpool lane
suddenly disappears
on the 5 heading
south into San
Clemente, and then
not making an
appearance again
until the 5 - 805
interchange in Del
Mar. Imagine the
crap-pot of traffic
those heading
southbound into San
Diego would have to
sit in if even more
people were coming
straight from
Riverside County!!
Also $12 to
$20!!!!! Who in
there right mind is
going to pay $20 to
bypass OC from San
Diego only to come
in into more heavy
traffic on the 91
freeway??? Really,
why must we all pay
for Cal Trans stupid
mistakes and poor
planning?! Fix the 5
Cal Trans!!!
Another issue is
are governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger
lobbying to approve
this project!! He is
willing close
countless State
Parks, cut
educational funds.
Hell, he'll even
release prisoners
from State Prisons
all in the name of
saving California's
budget. But he is
willing to approve a
billion dollar
project that will
make traffic worse,
destroy the most
visited State Park
in CA, and cause an
unknown amount of
pollution to our
beaches and oceans.
If that makes sense
to anybody out there
please let me know!!
The ironic thing
about this is that
Ronald Regan, a
political figure our
current governor has
undoubtedly admired,
fought to preserve
San Onofre State
Park in the 1970's.
Again ,why must we
all pay for our
state officials miss
spending and stupid
mistakes? Why must
all pay for a
politician's
political agenda?
The other issue is
obviously the
sentimental damage
this project will
cause. The toll road
is proposed to be
built over the last
natural watershed in
Southern CA. The San
Mateo Creek runs
from the foothills
straight out into
the water at the
Upper Trestles Surf
Spot. Now' if
someone told you
they were going to
build a six lane
freeway with huge
concrete pillars
bored into the
ground right in, on,
or around the San
Mateo Creek, but it
won't cause any run
off or pollution
problems would you
believe it? Please,
Do the developers
really think the
public is that
stupid?
The last issue is
the huge, HUGE,
impact this will
have on the surfing
culture. Lower
Trestles is widely
regarded as the best
surf spot in
California, and is
one the best waves
in the world. This
place hosts two ASP
World Tour events
annually, as well as
a national amateur
event ( The NSSA
Nationals). Surfers
come from literally
all over the world
to surf in these
events, which gives
a huge boost to the
local economy in
nearby San Clemente,
as well as the San
Onofre State Park.
With the completion
of the proposed toll
road all of this
WILL disappear!!!
All the surf spots
in the Park are well
known surfing
destinations for
surfers worldwide.
Trestles and San
Onofre State Park is
to surfers as
Yosemite National
Park is to
backpackers,
campers, and rock
climbers. Can you
imagine someone
building a six lane
freeway through
Yosemite Valley!!!!
Not to mention
charging you money
to drive on it!!!!
We are
realistically
talking about the
destruction of
natural land and
wildlife, including
marine wildlife. We
are realistically
talking bout the
destruction of the
States most
frequently visited
State Park! We are
realistically
talking about the
destruction of one
the worlds best surf
spots, Lower
Trestles. And for
what????? More
traffic on the 5 ???
A toll road no one
is going to use
because it's too
expensive??? Because
really that is all
the public stands to
gain out of this
proposed toll road
from hell!!
If you live in
Southern CA you will
be affected by this.
Even if you don't
care about the
environment, or the
surfspots this
project will have a
HUGE negative impact
on your drive
through Orange
County and San Diego
County. To find out
what you can do
visit the above
websites, or show up
at the Del Mar
Fairgrounds near San
Diego on Feb. 6,
2008 at 9AM. Please
help any way you
can. Southern CA is
crowded enough as it
is. We don't need
more traffic!
rs)
and
Sen.
Hillary
Clinton
(four
years,
potentially).
Dear Editor:
SENIOR ARTISTS ARE SENSATIONAL
Whatever you do, don't miss the 2008 Senior
Art Exhibit, now showing on the second floor of
Wells Fargo Bank, on Ocean Avenue. Take the
elevator up to the second floor or walk up the
grand staircase and you will be surprised and
happy you took time to see what is really a
wealth of good art done by local seniors, open
to the public when the bank is open.
I was having a delicious blueberry bagel, on
the bench under the Irma Nofziger memorial
pepper tree on Ocean and two people came by and
were talking about the Senior Art show, so I
walked down to Wells Fargo, went up the grand
staircase, in this one of our most unusual
downtown buildings, and was surprised and happy
to see such beautiful and artistic work. Patty
Koss, our city's Senior Services Coordinator and
many others have done a great job putting the
exhibit together and now it's our turn to enjoy
the talents of many senior artists, including 16
new entrants. The exhibit closes Jan. 31 (too
bad it can't run longer) so take some time out
and treat yourself.
War and Republicans go together. The
"war president", Bush, in his rush to drag
the U.S. into another war before his term
ends brings on the specter of WWIII in a fit
of insanity.
Death and destruction seem to mean
nothing to the President as he plays with
unsubstantiated facts and figures. Every
time W. tosses out more uncorroborated
information about
Iran, U.S. intelligence agencies are
quick to step in and contradict it.
Bush's phony facts about Iran's
weapons of mass destruction are as
non-existent as they were about Iraq's WMD's.
Will Americans be duped again by
Bush and his cabal and its propaganda?
Ron Lowe Santa
Monica 530-277-0776
Dear Mr. Webster:
Thank you for
contacting me to express your support for the Fair
Tax Plan. I appreciate hearing from you on these
matters.
I
agree that the current income tax system is broken
and we need real reform. As a CPA with a Master's
Degree in Business Taxation, I appreciate and
support many of the theoretical underpinnings of the
Fair Tax and share the desire to see an alternative
system of taxation put in place. Although the Fair
Tax would shift the focus from taxing work to taxing
consumption and is preferable to what we have now,
the move would be very dramatic and could have some
unintended consequences.
My
fear is that a drastically different system having
millions of retailers collect a 23 percent federal
tax and an approximate 8 percent state tax on tens
of millions of transactions per day would create an
incentive for individuals to conduct cash
transactions in a gray market in hopes of avoiding
the taxes. In order to enforce this system, we would
need a huge Internal Revenue Service that would be
more intrusive since it would need to be able to
audit this massive number of transactions.
Also,to
not have both a national sales tax and income tax,
we would need to simultaneously repeal the 16th
Amendment to the Constitution, which authorized the
income tax, and implement the Fair Tax. These
difficulties and hurdles have led me to propose a
different, more politically viable,
approach to tax reform, known as the
AMT Repeal and Taxpayer Choice Act.
The
AMT Repeal and Taxpayer Choice Act
would create a voluntary Alternative Simplified Tax
(AST) that would give individuals the option of
paying either the AST or the regular income tax as
it is structured in current law, beginning in
tax-year 2007. The bill would give taxpayers the
choice of paying either the current, regular income
tax, with standard tax rates and more available
deductions; or, the AST that has fewer available
deductions but lower tax rates. In general, the AST
would look a lot like a rudimentary two-tiered flat
tax.
Should one tax system work better for you one year,
choose it. If the other system works better in
another year, choose that. Tax payers would choose
the system every year at the time of filing their
income tax returns regardless of the system they
chose in the prior year. My hope is that it would
introduce taxpayers to the virtues of a simpler tax
code while not abruptly forcing everyone to a
completely different way of doing business. Once
Americans see the benefits of a simple system, any
system, including the Fair Tax, would be easier to
implement.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Having the benefit of your views is important, and I
appreciate you sharing them with me.
I remain respectfully yours,
JOHN CAMPBELL
Member of Congress
Oct 17, 2007
Representative John Campbell
United States House of Representatives
1728 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0001
Dear Representative Campbell,
While I'm pleased to see Congress again discussing tax
reform, the
current focus on just the Alternative Minimum Tax misses
the point. No
doubt, the AMT is a problem for many, but worrying about
the AMT --
when the whole federal income tax system needs to be
replaced -- is
not going to solve the real problems facing all American
taxpayers.
As a voting constituent of yours, I support a real
alternative, the
FairTax, and would suggest you study and co-sponsor this
proposal. The
FairTax is a progressive alternative to our current
system that is
better for everyone: Citizens, businesses, and
most of all our
economy, which would be unshackled from the endless
volumes of
regulations and rules that comprise our federal tax code
today. It
will help save the "Made in America" label and protect
the
poor and middle class with a monthly prebate.
I urge you to consider and actively support a real
income tax
alternative: The FairTax. This tax reform plan, embodied
in H.R. 25,
already has 65 co-sponsors and is the only true
alternative to our
current flawed tax code. The taxpaying public --
individuals, farmers,
schoolteachers, seniors, small business owners, and
others -- will
thank you for your co-sponsorship of the FairTax (H.R.
25).
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael Webster
Laguna Journal
301 Forest Ave
Laguna Beach, CA 92651-2115
To the
Editor:
October 30, 2007
The anti-immigration movement is a
shrill chorus of self-righteous white
xenophobics (people afraid of foreigners) who
have been sucked into a divsive nationalist
agenda.
The immigration debate about brown
skinned Mexicans and Latinos is no different
than the social unrest over blacks in the 50's.
Racism has just spiraled around again and taken
on a new shape.
An example of what most Americans are
not seeing as they ride in the comfort of their
SUV. I ride public transportation and many of
the passengers are Mexican. They don't wear
signs saying I am a legal or illegal immigrant.
They are hard working and courteous fellow
passengers. But, there are others who ride the
same buses who have an agenda; white, rude,
belligerant, and obnoxious anti-immigrationists
who spew out obscenities on Mexican men, women
and children. The police have had to be called
on occasion.
So, who would you rather sit next to, be
with? A respectful immigrant or one of these
white hatemongers? This is not an extreme and
isolated case.
Ron Lowe Santa
Monica 530-277-0776
Letter to Editor,
It's good I didn't have a cup of coffee in my hand
when I read the headline: "Bush raises specter of 'WWIII' if
Iran develops nuclear weapons". The man
is drunk with power or not playing with a full deck. Will
George Bush, the other nabobs in
power win the day?
Are Iranian people any different than American
people - do they want war any more than we do? No, it is the
two idiosyncratic and fundamentalist leaders of United
States and
Iran, Bush and Ahmadinejad, who are
setting the stage for another war.
How long will Americans continue to stand
by apathetically and let war professionals and fearmongers
in the White House have their way?
Ron Lowe Santa Monica
530-277-0776
Today is the Day for "Sicko"
June 29, 2007
Friends,
This is it! Two years in the making!
The day that our new film, "Sicko,"
arrives in theaters all across North
America!
Click here to see where the
nearest one is to you.
After you go, let me know what you
think. Oh, and
send us a photo or a video from
your cell phone to show us what it
looked like at your theater. We'd
love to post a photo from each of
the 440 movie theaters showing "Sicko."
Here's what this morning's review in
the L.A. Times said: "It's likely
his most important, most impressive,
and most provocative film." Okay,
what do they know? I prefer to trust
the assessment of E! Television
Online: " 'Sicko' - the best movie
ever? Maybe." Maybe? MAYBE?! When
will they ever give me a break?
It's been a weirdly funny week.
First Larry King bumped me for Paris
Hilton. Then today, when CNBC
invited me to the floor of the New
York Stock Exchange for an
interview, the stock exchange said I
was barred from the building. On top
of that, Tony Blair is gone, Cheney
says he's no longer answerable to
anyone's elected government, and I
simply don't want an iPhone. Just
another week in America.
Sincerely
appreciate your help with "Post Press"
Highlighting the HOT Fashion show held at Mandarin Fine art Gallery
In Laguna Beach for "Sandie Ward's Original" designs for women, on Saturday
May 19th, 2007. Funds were raised for "Friendship Shelter" a
local charity.
Please call if you need this in any other format
to print and I will be happy to forward.
Just starting out, we can use all the help we
can get!
Picture #8, 7731 is Designer, Sandie Ward.
Picture #9 is John Tabacek and Kimberly
Harlot from Mandarin Fine Art.
Thanks Kindly!
Sandie Ward Studio 949-494-5571
Dear Editor:
Even though Jerry Falwell had a lighter
side one tends to remember the other side, the
public persona of the preacher we came to know
so well.
Falwell spotlighted everything that is
wrong with Christian conservatives and the
fundamentalist right. The preacher spent years
fanning the flames of hate. Falwell led the
charge of those trying to tear down the wall
between church and state.
Falwell was a major player in the
frontline of the anti-abortion crazies and had a
serious case of homophobia. If the right
reverend had had his way we would have prayer in
school. Let's not mince words and try to glorify
Jerry Falwell.
Ron Lowe Santa
Monica, CA 310-451-3738
Dear Editor:
This week,
baby seals started loosing their lives in Canada as
fisherman hunters took to the ice. If this hunt
is like last year, over 350,000 harp seals will die
-- almost all of them babies as young as 12 days.
These newborn seals are skinned or bled alive, clubbed
to death, or shot and left to die under the ice!
Why is a boycott powerful and effective? Seal hunting is
an off-season activity for Canada's east coast
commercial fishermen. Only a small fraction of their
income comes from selling seal skins to the fur
industry. [1] The majority of
their annual income is made through seafood products
such as snow crab, cod, scallops and shrimp.
This financial connection between the commercial fishing
industry and the seal hunt means that people
all over the world have the power to end the hunt by
choosing not to buy seafood products from the hunters.
When you put the pressure on Canada's fishing industry,
you'll be joining the more than 350,000 people who have
pledged not to buy Canadian seafood products until this
cruel hunt ends for good. Together, we are making a
difference to these beautiful, intelligent creatures!
Robyn E.
Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team
[1]
Only a reported $17.5 million (Canadian) annually,
compared to the nearly $3 billion taken in by the
Canadian fishing industry from seafood exports to the
United States.
Dear
Editor:
Dear Mr. President: Send Even MORE Troops (and you go,
too!) ...from Michael Moore
Dear Mr. President,
Thanks for your address to the nation. It's good to
know you still want to talk to us after how we behaved
in November.
Listen, can I be frank? Sending in 20,000 more troops
just ain't gonna do the job. That will only bring the
troop level back up to what it was last year. And we
were losing the war last year! We've already had over a
million troops serve some time in Iraq since 2003.
Another few thousand is simply not enough to find those
weapons of mass destruction! Er, I mean... bringing
those responsible for 9/11 to justice! Um, scratch that.
Try this -- BRING DEMOCRACY TO THE MIDDLE EAST! YES!!!
You've got to show some courage, dude! You've got to
win this one! C'mon, you got Saddam! You hung 'im high!
I loved watching the video of that -- just like the old
wild west! The bad guy wore black! The hangmen were as
crazy as the hangee! Lynch mobs rule!!!
Look, I have to admit I feel very sorry for the
predicament you're in. As Ricky Bobby said, "If you're
not first, you're last." And you being humiliated in
front of the whole world does NONE of us Americans any
good.
Sir, listen to me. You have to send in MILLIONS of
troops to Iraq, not thousands! The only way to lick this
thing now is to flood Iraq with millions of us! I know
that you're out of combat-ready soldiers -- so you have
to look elsewhere! The only way you are going to beat a
nation of 27 million -- Iraq -- is to send in at least
28 million! Here's how it would work:
The first 27 million Americans go in and kill one
Iraqi each. That will quickly take care of any
insurgency. The other one million of us will stay and
rebuild the country. Simple.
Now, I know you're saying, where will I find 28
million Americans to go to Iraq? Here are some
suggestions:
1. More than 62,000,000 Americans voted for you in
the last election (the one that took place a year and
half into a war we already knew we were losing). I am
confident that at least a third of them would want to
put their body where there vote was and sign up to
volunteer. I know many of these people and, while we may
disagree politically, I know that they don't believe
someone else should have to go and fight their fight for
them -- while they hide here in America.
2. Start a "Kill an Iraqi" Meet-Up group in cities
across the country. I know this idea is so early-21st
century, but I once went to a Lou Dobbs Meet-Up and, I
swear, some of the best ideas happen after the third
mojito. I'm sure you'll get another five million or so
enlistees from this effort.
3. Send over all members of the mainstream media.
After all, they were your collaborators in bringing us
this war -- and many of them are already trained from
having been "embedded!" If that doesn't bring the total
to 28 million, then draft all viewers of the FOX News
channel.
Mr. Bush, do not give up! Now is not the time to pull
your punch! Don't be a weenie by sending in a few
over-tired troops. Get your people behind you and YOU
lead them in like a true commander in chief! Leave no
conservative behind! Full speed ahead!
Let the resounding defeat of Senator Joe Lieberman send a
cold shiver down the spine of every Democrat who supported the
invasion of Iraq and who continues to support, in any way, this
senseless, immoral, unwinnable war. Make no mistake about it:
We, the majority of Americans, want this war ended -- and we
will actively work to defeat each and every one of you who does
not support an immediate end to this war.
Nearly every Democrat set to run for president in 2008 is
responsible for this war. They voted for it or they supported
it. That single, stupid decision has cost us 2,592 American
lives and tens of thousands of Iraqi lives. Lieberman and
Company made a colossal mistake -- and we are going to make sure
they pay for that mistake. Payback time started last night.
I realize that there are those like Kerry and Edwards who
have now changed their position and are strongly anti-war.
Perhaps that switch will be enough for some to support them. For
others, like me -- while I'm glad they've seen the light --
their massive error in judgment is, sadly, proof that they are
not fit for the job. They sided with Bush, and for that, they
may never enter the promised land.
To Hillary, our first best hope for a woman to become
president, I cannot for the life of me figure out why you
continue to support Bush and his war. I'm sure someone has
advised you that a woman can't be elected unless she proves she
can kick ass just as crazy as any man. I'm here to tell you that
you will never make it through the Democratic primaries unless
you start now by strongly opposing the war. It is your only
hope. You and Joe have been Bush's biggest Democratic supporters
of the war. Last night's voter revolt took place just a few
miles from your home in Chappaqua. Did you hear the noise? Can
you read the writing on the wall?
To every Democratic Senator and Congressman who continues to
back Bush's War, allow me to inform you that your days in
elective office are now numbered. Myself and tens of millions of
citizens are going to work hard to actively remove you from any
position of power.
P.S. Republicans -- sorry to leave you out of this letter.
It's just that our side has a little housecleaning to do. We'll
take care of you this November.
Dear Editor:
I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of
the September 11 casualty and those who die serving our country
in Uniform are profound. No one is really talking about it
either, because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11. Well, I
can't let the numbers pass by because it says something really
disturbing about the entitlement mentality of this country. If
you lost a family member in the September 11 attack, you're
going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum
guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million.
If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier
killed in action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death
benefit, half of which is taxable.
Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving
spouse, you get $833 a month until you remarry. And there's a payment of
$211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt.
Keep in mind that some of the people who are getting an average
of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are complaining that it's not
enough. Their deaths were tragic, but for most, they were simply in the
wrong place at the wrong time. Soldiers put themselves in harms way
FOR ALL OF US, and they and their families know the dangers.
We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from
the Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization asking for
the same deal that the September 11 families are getting. In addition to
that, some of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now
asking for compensation as well.
You see where this is going, don't you? Folks, this is part and
parcel of over 50 years of entitlement politics in this country. It's
just really sad. Every time a pay raise comes up for the military,
they usually receive next to nothing of a raise. Now the green
machine is in combat in the Middle East while their families have to survive
on food stamps and live in low-rent housing. Make sense?
However, our own U.S. Congress voted themselves a raise. Many of
you don't know that they only have to be in Congress one time to
receive a pension that is more than $15,000 per month. And most are now
equal to being millionaires plus. They did not receive Social Security on retirement because they didn't have to pay into the system. If
some of the military people stay in for 20 years and get out as an E-7,
they may receive a pension of $1,000 per month, and the very people who
placed them in harm's way receives a pension of $15,000 per month.
I would like to see our elected officials pick up a weapon and
join ranks before they start cutting out benefits and lowering pay
for our sons and daughters who are now fighting . " When do
we finally do something about this?" If this doesn't seem
fair to you, it is time to forward this to as many people as you can.
www.lagunajournal.com
ON THE GOLD COAST.
OVER LOOKING THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
