Politifragilistic

The History of the USA-IRAN Relationship

2012-02-23T22:17:00.002-08:00

Ron Paul's 2002 predictions came true

2012-01-25T22:22:00.000-08:00

This is Ron Paul's famous Predictions speech from April 24, 2002. This is the original video compiling recent images and video to give his speech a chilling effect. "I have no timetable for these predictions, but just in case, keep them around and look at them in 5-10 years. Let's hope and pray that I'm wrong on all accounts. If so, I will be very pleased. "

2011-12-12T09:57:00.000-08:00

The hilariously epic political/sci-fi artwork of Jason Heuser. Prints available on Etsy.

Let's Change Congress

2009-04-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

Change-congress.org is organizing a strike against donations to congress until legislation is passed that requires politicians to raise their funds from the people and not special interest groups. You may have heard of this movement on The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert.

An Appropriate slip up

2009-03-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

So we've poured billions into failing companies, the companies laugh in our faces, and we still think debt is a good idea. Times like these call for simple words.

How are we going to pay for all of the government's spending?

2009-02-27T08:23:00.000-08:00

Short answer: we can not pay for it!!!!!!!!!!! If you took ALL of the taxable income for EVERYONE in the US who made over $75,000 dollars a year, we still would fall short of paying for the government's current proposed budget. Read this article (you can skip the first paragraph if you want) to get the facts:

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/22036/

Folks, we are in serious trouble. This article was not even discussing the debt our nation already has, just this year's proposed budget! We need to pray for our leadership to have God-given wisdom.
Deric

Top Secret Twitter Threat

2009-02-11T22:38:00.000-08:00

Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra used Twitter to give real-time updates of his location while traveling with a group of other politicians in the Middle East. The Pentagon was stirred by of the possible threat of having these potential targets broadcasting their whereabouts to the world.

Until last summer representatives weren't allowed access to social websites. After Pete's little debacle you can understand why such a restriction would be in place, but the congressman is part of the new "open" government trend that is taking Washington by storm. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other social websites are providing some of the transparency Obama has promised.

President Obama's 3 Step Process to save the economy.

2009-02-09T23:32:00.000-08:00

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
In his first prime time press conference, President Barack Obama voiced his plan for saving the tumbling American economy.

1. Create 4 million Jobs by funding infrastructure projects.
It was exciting to here our President talk about making federal buildings energy efficient and weatherizing homes. Funding the alternative energy industry creates new jobs, lowers our dependence on foreign oil, and lowers our energy costs in the long run. I agree with step one of the President's plan. Let's build those roads, put up solar panels and say goodbye to being dictated by OPEC.

2. Help homeowners who can't pay their mortgages.
Step 2 is harder to swallow. This does bailout the little guy, which is a nice change, but it seems to be reinforcing bad decision making for the banker and the buyer.

3. Save the financial system by ending the credit crisis.
I didn't get a clear explanation of how President Obama planned on doing this. There was a lot of talk about "restoring confidence" and "rebuilding trust", but no concrete ways of accomplishing these things were suggested.

Overall, I came away from the press conference with a greater respect for the current POTUS. He displayed the same calm manner that helped him win the election. He did a great job of sounding genuine. I didn't vote for him, and I was moved by the level of conviction in his voice.

Now the media mentions Obama's weaknesses...

2009-01-22T07:23:00.000-08:00

You might (or might not) enjoy the following article. I predict the you will enjoy it (or that you won't, or you will be indifferent, one of those three...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090121/pl_politico/17714

Wow, what if the media had focused on these things before the election? Oh well. At least the media is not biased.
Deric

What We Don't Know About Obama....

2009-01-22T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone. I thought you might find this article from Politico very interesting:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090122/pl_politico/17769

I do not think we should really question the media on this. I mean, they only had a year to do some research on Obama, and ask him some hard, direct questions regarding policy and his ideological frame work. I mean, THEY ONLY HAD A YEAR TO DO THEIR RESEARCH, IT IS NOT LIKE THEY MAKE THEIR LIVING DOING THIS. Don't ask tough questions, that is biased, not nice, and partisan.
On a more serious note (actually, the previous stuff is very serious,) it sounds like a great deal of what we don't know about Obama is how much he will be like Bush. Well, this should be interesting.
Big government is like a coin, it has two sides, but those two sides are still both part of the same thing.
peace, etc. and so forth, and stuff....
Deric

The Freedom of Choice Act

2009-01-10T22:30:00.000-08:00

Today we change the world. Whatever you do, good or evil, it influences those around you. Like the proverbial pebble in a pond, your life choices eventually touch every person on earth. With that in mind, let's talk about one of the most country-splitting issues that exist– Abortion.

I have included the entire Freedom of Choice Act below, along with a few videos about this act that I found on YouTube.com. The first video features Barack Obama assuring Planned Parenthood listeners that his FIRST act as president will be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act. The next video has Alan Keys expressing his disagreement with Obama's views on abortion and more specifically, infanticide. Where do you stand on the issue of choice / abortion / life / death / baby murder / infanticide / women's rights / pregnancy termination?

Before you break out the picket signs or life tape, watch these videos and read the Freedom of Choice Act (and other legislation) for yourself:

let's look at what our new president, Barack Obama said about the issue of abortion and the Freedom of Choice Act while speaking to Planned Parenthood:

Barack Obama Adresses Planned Parenthood

Now, for a different view on the subject. I give you... Alan Keys:

Alan Keys on Hannity and Colmes

You've heard two very different views on abortion and the Freedom of Choice Act, but what does FOCA actually say? Well, put your knowledge face on and get educated:

Freedom of Choice Act
(Introduced in Senate)

S 2020 IS
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2020

To prohibit, consistent with Roe v. Wade, the interference by the government with a woman's right to choose to bear a child or terminate a pregnancy, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 22, 2004

Mrs. BOXER (for herself, Mr. CORZINE, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mrs. CLINTON, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. JEFFORDS, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. SARBANES, and Ms. MIKULSKI) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To prohibit, consistent with Roe v. Wade, the interference by the government with a woman's right to choose to bear a child or terminate a pregnancy, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Freedom of Choice Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) The United States was founded on the principles of individual liberty, personal privacy, and equality. Such principles ensure that each individual is free to make the most intimate decisions free from governmental interference and discrimination.

(2) A woman's decision to commence, prevent, continue, or terminate a pregnancy is one of the most intimate decisions an individual ever faces. As such, reproductive health decisions are best made by the woman, in consultation with her medical provider or loved ones, without governmental interference.

(3) In 1965, in Griswold v. Connecticut (381 U.S. 479), and in 1973, in Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113) and Doe v. Bolton (410 U.S. 179), the Supreme Court recognized the right to privacy protected by the Constitution and that such right encompassed the right of every woman to weigh the personal, moral, and religious considerations involved in deciding whether to commence, prevent, continue, or terminate a pregnancy.

(4) The Roe v. Wade decision carefully balanced the rights of women to make important reproductive decisions with the state's interest in potential life. Under Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, a woman's right to choose to terminate her pregnancy is absolute only prior to fetal viability, with the state permitted to ban abortion after fetal viability except when necessary to protect the life or health of a woman.

(5) These decisions have protected the health and lives of women in the United States. Prior to the Roe v. Wade decision, an estimated 1,200,000 women each year were forced to resort to illegal abortions, despite the known hazards that included unsanitary conditions, incompetent treatment, infection, hemorrhage, disfiguration, and death.

(6) According to one estimate, prior to 1973, as many as 5,000 women died each year in the United States as a result of having an illegal abortion.

(7) In countries where abortion remains illegal, the risk of complications and maternal mortality is high. According to the World Health Organization, of the approximately 600,000 pregnancy-related deaths occurring annually around the world, 80,000 are associated with unsafe abortions.

(8) The Roe v. Wade decision expanded the opportunities for women to participate equally in society. In 1992, in Planned Parenthood v. Casey (505 U.S. 833), the Supreme Court observed that, `[t]he ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the Nation has been facilitated by their ability to control their reproductive lives.'.

(9) Even though the Roe v. Wade decision guaranteed a constitutional right to choose whether to terminate or continue a pregnancy, threats to that right remain, including possible reversal or further erosion by the Supreme Court of the right, and legislative and administrative policies at all levels of government that make abortion more difficult and dangerous to obtain.

(10) 87 percent of the counties in the United States have no abortion provider.

(11) Legal barriers to the full range of reproductive services endanger the health and lives of women.

(12) Women should have meaningful access to reproductive health services to prevent unintended pregnancies, thereby reducing the need for abortions.

(13) To ensure that a woman's right to choose whether to terminate a pregnancy is available to all women in the United States, Federal protection for that right is necessary.

(14) Although Congress may not create constitutional rights without amending the Constitution, Congress may, where authorized by its enumerated powers and not prohibited by the Constitution, enact legislation to create and secure statutory rights in areas of legitimate national concern.

(15) Congress has the affirmative power under section 8 of article I of the Constitution and section 5 of the 14th amendment to the Constitution to enact legislation to facilitate interstate commerce and to prevent State interference with interstate commerce, liberty, or equal protection of the laws.

(16) Federal protection of a woman's right to choose to prevent or terminate a pregnancy falls within this affirmative power of Congress, in part, because--

(A) many women cross State lines to obtain abortions and many more would be forced to do so absent a constitutional right or Federal protection;

(B) reproductive health clinics are commercial actors that regularly purchase medicine, medical equipment, and other necessary supplies from out-of-State suppliers; and

(C) reproductive health clinics employ doctors, nurses, and other personnel who travel across State lines in order to provide reproductive health services to patients.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) GOVERNMENT- The term `government' includes a branch, department, agency, instrumentality, or official (or other individual acting under color of law) of the United States, a State, or a subdivision of a State.

(2) STATE- The term `State' means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and each territory or possession of the United States.

(3) VIABILITY- The term `viability' means that stage of pregnancy when, in the best medical judgment of the attending physician based on the particular medical facts of the case before the physician, there is a reasonable likelihood of the sustained survival of the fetus outside of the woman.

SEC. 4. INTERFERENCE WITH REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROHIBITED.

(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY- It is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child, to terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or to terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect the life or health of the woman.

(b) PROHIBITION OF INTERFERENCE- A government may not--

(1) deny or interfere with a woman's right to choose--

(A) to bear a child;

(B) to terminate a pregnancy prior to viability; or

(C) to terminate a pregnancy after viability where termination is necessary to protect the life or health of the woman; or

(2) discriminate against the exercise of the rights set forth in paragraph (1) in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information.

(c) CIVIL ACTION- An individual aggrieved by a violation of this section may obtain appropriate relief (including relief against a government) in a civil action.

SEC. 5. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act, or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which the provision is held to be unconstitutional, shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 6. RETROACTIVE EFFECT.

This Act applies to every Federal, State, and local statute, ordinance, regulation, administrative order, decision, policy, practice, or other action enacted, adopted, or implemented before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.

Ok, now that we are clear on what's being proposed, let's take a look at the opposing view:

FightFOCA.com has developed detailed resources and counter legislation to combat The Freedom of Choice act:

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) would eliminate every restriction on abortion nationwide.

FOCA will do away with state laws on parental involvement, on partial birth abortion, and on all other protections.
FOCA will compel taxpayer funding of abortions.
FOCA will force faith-based hospitals and healthcare facilities to perform abortions.

Barack Obama believes this legislation will "end the culture wars." To him, "ending the culture wars" means eradicating every state and federal law on abortion — laws that the majority of Americans support.

And finally, let's discuss:
You've read some facts, heard plans, and opinions, but what do you think?
Leave your opinions about the Freedom of Choice Act in the comments section.

End the war on drugs

2009-01-05T23:01:00.001-08:00

From change.org's Ideas for Change in America:
"We have the highest non-violent incarseration rate in the world. We need to free up our police, jails and courts to deal with people who actually pose a clear and present danger to life and liberty. Stop persecuting non-violent drug users. Prefer regulation to prohibition and give up on this "war" that can never be won."

Change the world with Change.org

2009-01-04T20:32:00.000-08:00

What do you want to change in the world?

How about peace in the middle east, better education, or the end of genocide? These are just a few of the causes Change.org has featured on their website and are actively pursuing. This site is basically the "causes" section of Facebook on steroids. While visiting www.change.org you can:

: Learn about the most urgent causes of our time through our blog network.
: Connect to other people and nonprofits fighting for the causes you're passionate about.

: Take action by joining grassroots campaigns, making personal pledges or fundraising.

I've enjoyed being on the site and seeing people from across the globe brainstorming on how to solve the world's problems. It's inspiring to see so many people passionate about changing the world for the better. Of course I don't agree with everything on the site, but its interesting to watch the array of ideas pass back and forth.

The best part about www.Change.org is that you can actually be a part of causing real change to happen in our world through spreading knowledge and resources.

An easy way to save BILLIONS on education

2008-03-04T21:33:00.000-08:00

How? Well to put it simply:

Switch to open source!

Open source software is all over the place. It is software that does very powerful helpful things, but for free. Google Apps being a prime example. It provides individuals or organizations (like schools) with free email, homepage, document editing, and other nifty things that organizations find useful all for the price of $FREE. A school could virtually replace their Microsoft Office software with free open source software.

If schools switched from paying for software like Microsoft Office to these open source alternatives, the savings would be substantial. Easily into the billions after accounting for software upgrades.

This eventually comes back around and saves the tax payers money. At the least, it would be a more efficient use of it.

This is an easy one America. Make the switch. It's a good idea for everybody. So contact your representatives and let's change the world.

Resource:
::ComputerWorld

The California GOP Debate

2008-01-31T18:58:00.000-08:00

Well, the final GOP debate before super Tuesday was held yesterday at the Ronald Reagan library. The debate was basically two men arguing and bickering the entire time: Mitt Romney and John Mccain had almost all the air time, and most of the debate was spent arguing about national security. I thought that even though they had little time to talk, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul looked a lot better than Mitt Romney and John Mccain. Mike Huckabee sounded classy and intelligent as always, and Ron Paul had a couple of great/funny remarks about Romney and Mccain's bickering. Even though the media will try and tell you John Mccain "won" the debate (which is laughable if you even watched a little bit of it) he was the big loser. He had a rude/nasty tone to his voice the entire time, and every time he said something, he tried to make Romney look bad. Romney on the other hand while still joining in on the childish argument, held his own on a lot of Mccain's allegations. He was defending his position on the Iraq policy for a considerable amount of time due to Mccains accusations, but i though he came off pretty strong on his economic plan. HERE is a good sum-up of the debate.

Mike Huckabee, while not getting a lot of air time came off pretty strong in my opinion. He answered all the questions they asked him, and did all he could do to get his point out there. Ron Paul had some good comments regarding the whole debate being a big back and forth argument between Romney and Mccain. The questions the candidates were asked were pretty dumb, but what can you expect, it was a Republican debate hosted by CNN. HERE is an good article on Huckabee in the debate.

Super Tuesday is Febuary 5, with 24 states holding their elections or caucuses on the same day.

Any comments about the debate or the election in general are welcome.

On The Issues

2008-01-29T11:49:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen this site, you're missing out. It provides a very helpful view of all the politicians views on any given issue. OnTheIssues

Agenda for the 2008 Democratic National Convention (Just Released)

2008-01-24T08:44:00.000-08:00

7:00 pm Opening flag burning

7:15 pm Pledge of Allegiance to the U.N. in Spanish

7:20 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

7:25 pm Nonreligious prayer and worship with Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton

7:45 pm Ceremonial tree hugging

7:55 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

8:00 pm How I Invented the Internet - Al Gore

8:15 pm Gay Wedding - Barney Frank presiding

8:35 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

8:40 pm Our Troops are War Criminals - John Kerry

9.00 pm Saddam Memorial Rally - Cindy Sheehan and Susan Sarandon

11.00 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

11:05 pm Collection for the Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund - Barbara Streisand

11:15 pm Free the Freedom Fighters from Guantanamo Bay - Sean Penn

11:30 pm Oval Office Affairs - William Jefferson Clinton

11:45 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

11:50 pm How George Bush Brought Down the World Trade Towers - Howard Dean & Rosie O'Donnell

12:15 am "Truth in Broadcasting Award" - Presented to Dan Rather by Michael Moore

12:25 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

12:30 am Satellite address by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

12:45 am Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Nancy Pelosi

12:50 am Speech and toast by Hugo Chavez to the departure of "the great Satan," 'W' Bush

12:55 am Hillary proposes a toast to our 89 million new Democratic Mexican voters

1:00 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast to the extinction of the Republican party

1:05 am Coronation of Hillary Rodham Clinton

1:30 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

1:35 am Bill Clinton asks Ted Kennedy to drive Hillary home

*The author of this spoof is unknown. After getting this in my email earlier today, I had to share it. Even a democrat could enjoy this. ...Okay, a light-hearted free-thinking democrat, maybe.

The Flordia GOP debate

2008-01-24T06:08:00.001-08:00

Hey guys, I was just looking on Real Clear Politics, and saw that there was the Florida GOP debate tonight. Here is the link to the article

After the debate post your thoughts and who you thought won/lost.

Find the presidential candidate that's right for you.

2008-01-14T07:18:00.000-08:00

VoteHelp tells you which presidential candidate has the most in common with your political views. There are several of these on the internet, but this is the best candidate finder I've came across so far. It's straight forward, easy to understand, and gives you the option to answer more or less questions about the issues.
VoteHelp.org