Rep. Pence: Dems 'So Desperate’ to Pass Health Care They'll ‘Trample Upon The Constitution’

CNSNEWS.com
Friday, March 19, 2010

By Edwin Mora


Washington, D.C. (CNSNews.com) -- Republican Conference Chairman Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said Thursday that the Democrats' plan to pass the Senate health care bill without a formal vote in the House goes against “our system of government” and shows that Democrats are willing to “trample upon the Constitution itself."
 
 
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Quartet urges Israeli settlement freeze

Editor's Note: "Behold, I will make Yerusalem a cup of trembling to all the  surrounding peoples, when they come in seige, both against Yehudah and Yerusalem.
And in that day I will make Yerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples; all who burden themselves with it will be cut to pieces, though all the peoples of the earth are gathered against it." 
 Zechariah 12:2-3


"And  the sixth Angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden alter which is before Yahweh,
Saying to the sixth Angel which had the trumpet: Loose the four Angels who are bound in the great river Euphrates!
And the four Angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, in order to slay the third part of men.
And the number of the army was two hundred thousand thousand: for I heard the number of them."
Revelation 9:13-16




Mideast peacemakers ‘condemn’ East Jerusalem building plan

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other members of the Quartet meet in Moscow on Friday.

msnbc.com news services



updated 2 hours ago

MOSCOW - The so-called Quartet of Middle East mediators called on Israel to freeze all settlement activities and denounced Israel's aim to build new housing in East Jerusalem Friday.



United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon read a joint statement by the members — Russia, the United States, the U.N. and the European Union — following a meeting of the group in Moscow.



"The Quartet urges the government of Israel to freeze all settlement activities ... and to refrain from demolitions and evictions," said the statement read by Ban.


It "condemns the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem."




Those plans this month caused prospects for indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks to collapse and prompted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is in Moscow for the talks, to strongly criticize Israel.



Friday's formal Quartet meeting involved Clinton, her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Ban, E.U. foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Quartet Representative Tony Blair, who also shared a closed dinner Thursday evening.



Israel unveiled the plans for 1,600 new Jewish housing units in East Jerusalem, which Palestinians view as the capital of their future state, during a visit by Vice President Joe Biden last week.



The Palestinians say they will not go ahead with indirect peace talks unless the housing scheme is scrapped.



The Quartet said that all parties should promote those talks as part of moves toward establishing a Palestinian state in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank within 24 months.



But the mediators did not say how they could ensure their calls, which have gone unheeded in the past, would be respected.



Hours before the Quartet met, Israeli aircraft struck at least six targets in the Gaza Strip in response to deadly rocket fire from the Hamas-ruled territory the previous day, which killed a Thai worker in Israel.



'Deeply concerned'

The Quartet statement condemned the rocket fire from Gaza and called for an "immediate end to violence and terror."



But it added: "The Quartet is deeply concerned by the continuing deterioration in Gaza, including the humanitarian and human rights situation of the civilian population and stresses the urgency of a resolution to the Gaza crisis."



Ban said he would travel from the Moscow meeting to Gaza on Sunday to see the situation on the ground there for himself.



Clinton discussed steps to improve the outlook for Israeli-Palestinian peace by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, after U.S. sources suggested he was refusing to respond to her request to call him.




Netanyahu's spokesman Nir Chefetz said the Israeli leader had proposed some "mutual confidence-building steps" that both Israel and the Palestinians could take in the West Bank. He declined to spell these out.




Clinton said Netanyahu had given a "useful and productive" response to her concerns on the settlement issue during a telephone conversation on Thursday, but similarly did not give details.



The Quartet was formed in 2002 in Spain to assist in mediating an end to escalating violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It last met on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly in September.



But its results so far have been meager, leading some analysts to dismiss it as an expensive club for diplomats.



Moscow had originally hoped to organize a full-scale international conference on the Middle East this year, but the lack of progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks has forced Russia to settle instead for hosting a Quartet meeting.

Levin's Landmark Legal Foundation to File Immediate Constitutional Challenge If House Dems Try to Pass Health-Care Without Actually Voting on It

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

By Pete Winn, Senior Writer/Editor


(CNSNews.com) – Landmark Legal Foundation President Mark Levin, who served as chief of staff in the Reagan Justice Department, said he plans to file an immediate lawsuit if House Democratic leaders try to use an unconstitutional manuever to pass the Senate health care bill without actually having to vote on it.




“I cannot predict if we would win or lose--this is not as simple as some would have you believe--but I want to put the marker down right now and make it clear to members of the House of Representatives who think the quickest way to pass this is to adopt a rule that assumes that they voted on an underlying bill when they didn’t--that is going to be challenged if they do it,” Levin said on his nationally syndicated radio show Tuesday evening.



(A draft version of Landmark Legal's likely complaint is available on the organization's Web site.)






House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) indicated on Monday that she might attempt to use a procedure -- dubbed “deem and pass” – to pass the measure without actually having lawmakers vote on it.



Essentially, instead of House members casting their votes on the Senate version of the health-care bill, the House would vote on a package of “fixes” made to those parts of the Senate bill to which House members object.



Under the House’s “self-executing rule” provision, if the lawmakers pass a rule that says passing the “fixes” is the same as passing the actual bill -- then the House would magically "deem" the health-care bill to be “passed.” The "rule" itself would be sponsored by the chairman of the House Rules Committtee, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.).



Levin, who is also a prominent nationally syndicated talk-radio host in addition to heading the Landmark Legal Foundation, reiterated that “no one can predict the outcome,” and he said he was not going to tip his hand by revealing too much of the legal strategy behind the lawsuit.



“What I’m trying to do, though, is make it very clear to those Democrats who are on the fence, and who think that this somehow is going to protect them, that it won’t because we’re going to expose you,” Levin said.



Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution states: "Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively.”



House action could come by the end of the week

JOHN McCAIN'S ATTACK ON LIBERTY

By Chuck Baldwin


March 16, 2010

NewsWithViews.com



Anyone paying attention knows that John McCain has been a Big-Government Globalist Neocon (BGGN) for virtually his entire senatorial career. As with many BGGNs hiding out in the Republican Party, McCain likes to talk about smaller government, but his track record is littered with the promotion of one big government program after another. But, what else would one expect from a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)?



Lately, however, McCain has outdone himself. He has introduced two bills in the US Senate that are about as Machiavellian as they could be. I am referring to S.3081, a bill that would authorize the federal government to detain American citizens indefinitely without trial, and S.3002, a bill that would authorize the federal government to regulate vitamins, minerals, and virtually all health and natural food products.



According to Examiner.com, "Last week, John McCain introduced a bill into the U.S. Senate which, if passed, would actually allow U.S. citizens to be arrested and detained indefinitely, all without Miranda rights or ever being charged with a crime."



The Examiner report continued by saying "This bill, introduced by McCain, who despite overwhelming evidence, claims to be a 'conservative,' would not only take away our right to a trial, but would also allow the federal government to arrest and imprison anyone the current administration deems hostile.



"Of course, that would be the same administration whose Homeland Security Secretary has classified veterans, retired law enforcement, Ron Paul [and Chuck Baldwin] supporters, and conservatives as 'terrorists.'"


Read the entire story

WHIP COUNT: House Democrats' positions on the healthcare reform bill

The Hill

By The Hill staff - 03/16/10 08:41 AM ET


The Hill's survey/tracking of House Democrats' positions on healthcare reform legislation.

UPDATED: 3/17/10 at 10:31 a.m.



RECENT UPDATES: Reps. Dennis Kucinich, Ann Kirkpatrick, Tim Ryan, Gerry Connolly, Tom Perriello, Carol Shea Porter, Mike Doyle, Jason Altmire, Dan Maffei, John Boccieri, Steve Kagen, Dennis Moore, Suzanne Kosmas and Scott Murphy





House Democrats not on this list are expected to vote yes. However, some members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who are not mentioned below have threatened to vote no unless the Senate's immigration-related provisions are changed.





All House Republicans are expected to vote no.



If every member votes and all GOP lawmakers vote no, the maximum number of Democratic defections to pass a bill is 37, which would result in a 216-215 tally.



* -- Voted for Stupak amendment in November


(Y) -- Voted yes in November


(N) -- Voted no in November



Firm No, Leaning No, Likely No (36)

John Adler (N.J.) (N) Citing cost containment, Adler told the Courier-Post that he will vote against Senate measure

Michael Arcuri (N.Y.) (Y) Some reports have him as firm no, but Rules Committee member hasn't closed the door yet

John Barrow (Ga.) * (N) Voted no last year in committee and on floor. Likely no

Marion Berry (Ark.) * (Y) Has been critical of the president since announcing his retirement. Strong backer of Stupak language. Voted yes in Budget Committee markup on March 15

Dan Boren (Okla.) * (N) Won't be changing his mind — firm no

Rick Boucher (Va.) (N) GOP target who has told local press outlets in Virginia he has major problems with Medicare cuts and "unsavory dealmaking" that benefited Nebraska, Louisiana and Florida. Leaning no

Bobby Bright (Ala.) * (N) Voted against House health bill, stimulus and climate change. Firm no

Allen Boyd (Fla.) (N) Facing primary challenge. Voted no on education reform bill expected to move with healthcare reform as part of reconciliation. Voted no on March 15 during Budget Committee markup

Chris Carney (Pa.) * (Y) Carney told the Scranton Times-Shamrock, "As I said publicly, I can't vote for a bill that will publicly fund abortion."

Ben Chandler (Ky.) * (N) His office told The Hill on March 15: “Congressman Chandler’s position on the bill remains the same. He expects to vote against the legislation.”

Travis Childers (Miss.) * (N) In toss-up reelection race

Jerry Costello (Ill.) * (Y) Told the Akron Telegraph March 14 that White House and leadership "bungled" healthcare reform. Most of the calls, e-mails and letters he has received have advised a no vote. Says he opposes Senate bill, but doesn't sound like an absolute no

Artur Davis (Ala.) * (N) Running for governor, but will make sure to return to D.C. to vote no

Lincoln Davis (Tenn.) * (N) Voted no first time, and most expect him to vote no again. He has not commented publicly.

Joe Donnelly (Ind.) * (Y) Among the Stupak dozen — will vote no unless abortion language in Senate bill is changed, according to The Rochester Sentinel

Steve Driehaus (Ohio) * (Y) In toss-up race in November who is ardent backer of Stupak language. Now sounds like a very firm no. Told the Cincinnati Enquirer, "They are going to have to do it without me and without the other pro-life Democrats."

Chet Edwards (Texas) (N) Perennial GOP target. Edwards spokesman told CNN he will vote no. Votes no at March 15 Budget Committee markup

Luis Gutierrez (Ill.) (Y) Citing immigration language, Gutierrez said on MSNBC that "I can't support this bill." Lawmaker has lambasted the president on not moving immigration reform yet. Warned that other Hispanic lawmakers will also vote no

Larry Kissell (N.C.) (N) GOP target, but reelection chances on the rise. Firm no

Frank Kratovil (Md.) (N) Voted for climate change; says he will vote no

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (S.D.) (N) Congresswoman told the Rapid City Journal she's a no, noting she is not a fan of reconciliation. She also voted no on education reform bill expected to move in reconciliation with healthcare reform

Tim Holden (Pa.) * (N) Voted against healthcare and climate change in 2009. Told The Republican Herald that he is a no, citing abortion and "significant" cuts to Medicare and Medicaid

Daniel Lipinski (Ill.) * (Y) Will not vote for abortion language in Senate bill, but has other concerns as well. Democratic leaders cannot count on Lipinski

Jim Marshall (Ga.) * (N) Perennial GOP target, but favored to win reelection. Told The Hill he's a no

Jim Matheson (Utah) * (N) President Obama this year tapped brother for post, but Matheson still a likely no

Mike McIntyre (N.C.) * (N) Seven-term lawmaker rejected House health bill and climate change. Spokesman tells The Hill McIntyre is a no. Expected to win reelection easily even though Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won district

Mike McMahon (N.Y.) (N) Suggested last month he was a no to the Staten Island Advance. McMahon told The Hill on March 12 he is leaning no. Voted no on education reform bill that is expected to move with healthcare reform in reconciliation

Charlie Melancon (La.) * (N) Senate hopeful voted no in November and no in committee. Likely no

Walt Minnick (Idaho) (N) One of the House's most conservative members. Firm no

Collin Peterson (Minn.) * (N) Ag chairman not shy in bucking leadership. Firm no

Mike Ross (Ark.) * (N) Voted for bill in committee, but not since. Firm no

Heath Shuler (N.C.) * (N) CNN reporting Shuler is a no. Doesn't hold his tongue when he opposes Democratic leaders. Critic of reconciliation

Ike Skelton (Mo.) * (N) GOP targeting his seat. Armed Services Committee chairman is a firm no

Bart Stupak (Mich.) * (Y) No deal with leadership on abortion = no vote on final bill for Stupak and other Democratic opponents of abortion rights

Gene Taylor (Miss.) * (N) Has been a firm no all Congress. Constituents last summer urged him to get others to vote no

Harry Teague (N.M.) * (N) Told The Hill that he will review bill to see if final bill brings costs down. If "we are in the same place — a no"









Firm Yes (8)

Dale Kildee (Mich.) * (Y) Not one of Stupak's Dozen

Steve Kagen (Wis.) (Y) Told Fox 11 in Wisconsin that he prefers more incremental approach. But on March 13 he said, "We're going to find and secure enough votes to pass healthcare..."

Ann Kirkpatrick (Ariz.) (Y) Congresswoman on March 16 said she's a yes, asserting bill will enhance the healthcare of children and seniors. Kirkpatrick voted against climate change bill in 2009. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won Kirkpatrick's district by 10 points in the 2008 presidential election

Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) (N) His yes vote, announced on March 17, is a huge boost to the chances of healthcare reform passing. Kucinich is first no vote in 2009 to commit to voting for yes. Before supporting bill, Kucinich had blasted it on cable news networks

Dan Maffei (N.Y.) (Y) On March 16, Maffei said, "I'm proud to support this legislation."

Silvestre Reyes (Texas) * (Y) Intelligence panel chairman on board

Tim Ryan (Ohio) * (Y) On March 16, Ryan said on the House floor, "We need to pass this bill." Congressman voted for Stupak language

Carol Shea-Porter (N.H.) (Y) Spoke out favorably on healthcare reform on the House floor on March 16. In a toss-up reelection race, according to Cook Political Report.



Leaning Yes or Likely Yes (17)

Joe Baca (Calif.) * (Y) Must-have for leadership. Said recently country can't wait any longer for reform. Voted for Stupak language

Russ Carnahan (Mo.) (Y) In competitive race this fall, but should win

Gerry Connolly (Va.) (Y) Obama to visit Connolly's Fairfax, Va.-district on Friday. But Obama doesn't have to worry about Connolly's vote. He is a very likely yes. Voted yes in Budget Committee markup on March 15

Joe Courtney (Conn.) (Y) Wary of excise tax, but likely yes

Mike Doyle (Pa.) * (Y) Doyle told The Hill on March 16 that he will likely vote yes

Bob Etheridge (N.C.) * (Y) Passed up Senate run. Voted yes in Budget Committee markup on March 15

Jim Himes (Conn.) (Y) Must-have vote for leadership. Likely yes

Jim Langevin (R.I.) * (Y) Langevin's seat not in danger this fall. He has previously fended off primary challenges. Voted yes in March 15 Budget Committee markup

Mike Michaud (Maine) * (Y) Likely yes

Dennis Moore (Kan.) (Y) Retiring this year. New Budget Committee member voted yes in March 15 markup

Jim Oberstar (Minn.) * (Y) Wants to vote yes, but also wants Stupak language. Oberstar sounds like a firm yes vote

David Obey (Wis.) * (Y) Waiting to review bill language; likely yes

Vic Snyder (Ark.) * (Y) Not seeking reelection. Snyder said on Fox News he is leaning yes

John Spratt (S.C.) * (Y) Budget Committee chairman is in competitive reelection race. Spratt will soon be trying to collect votes for his budget resolution. Voted yes in Budget Committee markup on March 15

Anthony Weiner (N.Y.) (Y) On March 12, Weiner noted that 290 times this Congress, the Senate has failed to act on bills passed by the House, adding, "Fool us once, shame on you, fool me 290 times, shame on us." Regardless, Weiner is a very likely yes

Charlie Wilson (Ohio) * (Y) Considered less vulnerable this fall than other Ohio Democrats. Sounds like a yes vote, telling CQ he is willing to vote for Senate bill

John Yarmuth (Ky.) (Y) Considered a team player. Likely yes. Voted yes in Budget Committee markup on March 15



Undecided (53)

Jason Altmire (Pa.) * (N) On March 16, Altmire told Fox Business Network that he has major problem with Democrats' apparent "deem and pass" strategy, calling it "wrong." Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told McClatchy he is targeting Altmire, who many view as key to passage. Voted no in committee and on floor, but bottom line is his yes vote is gettable.

Brian Baird (Wash.) (N) Retiring member who bucked party on Iraq war surge. Another target of Clyburn

Melissa Bean (Ill.) (Y) Conservative Democrat well-positioned for midterm election

Shelley Berkley (Nev.) (Y) Told Politico she does not like the Senate bill

Sanford Bishop Jr. (Ga.) * (Y) Favors Stupak provision

Tim Bishop (N.Y.) (Y) Must-have vote for leadership. Bishop's office told CNN that the New York lawmaker wants major changes to Senate bill. Voted yes in March 15 Budget Committee markup

John Boccieri (Ohio) * (N) In a bad sign for the White House, Boccieri did not appear with President Barack Obama at his March 15 speech in Ohio. Boccieri, a GOP target, told Foxnews.com, "I'm not afraid to cast a tough vote..." Clyburn has publicly said he is leaning on Boccieri, whose vote could go a long way in determining whether healthcare reform will pass

Michael Capuano (Y) Wanted to be a senator, but doesn't trust the Senate. TPM reported that Capuano is leaning no. In an e-mail to supporters, Capuano said he has many problems with Senate measure

Dennis Cardoza (Calif.) * (Y) Secured language for district before last year's vote

Jim Cooper (Tenn.) * (Y) Has had up-and-down relationship with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)

Jim Costa (Calif.) * (Y) Secured project for his district before November vote

Henry Cuellar (Texas) * (Y) Cuellar backs Stupak language but undecided. Cuellar's vote has been one of rampant speculation, but the office told The Daily Caller he is undecided. Under pressure from Speaker and the president, Cuellar backed the climate change bill and House healthcare measure last year.

Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.) * (Y) GOP target. Her yes vote could be key to passage. Strong backer of Stupak language

Brad Ellsworth (Ind.) * (Y) Senate hopeful who is big supporter of Stupak language

Bill Foster (Ill.) (Y) GOP target

Marcia Fudge (Ohio) (Y) Fudge is undecided, according to wkyc.com. Obama lobbying for her vote, giving her a ride on Air Force One on March 15

Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.) (Y) GOP target

Bart Gordon (Tenn.) * (N) Retiring committee chairman. Clyburn especially wants his vote

Raul Grijalva (Ariz.) (Y) Despite many threats, Arizona liberal expected to vote yes

John Hall (N.Y.) (Y) Democratic leaders may lose other Dems from N.Y., but need to keep Hall on board

Debbie Halvorson (Ill.) (Y) Politically vulnerable, but favored to win her reelection race

Baron Hill (Ind.) * (Y) Passed up Senate run

Paul Kanjorski (Pa.) * (Y) GOP target. Also voted with education reform bill that will move with healthcare reform in reconciliation

Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) * (Y) Voted with leadership first time around, but doesn't toe the party line. Wants Stupak language but that's not a deal breaker. Voted yes during Budget Committee markup. Likely to move to lean yes category soon

Mary Jo Kilroy (Ohio) (Y) In toss-up race this November

Ron Kind (Wis.) (Y) Represents competitive district. Voted against bill in committee

Ron Klein (Fla.) (Y) GOP target

Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.) (N) President Obama urges her to vote yes in the Oval Office, according to March 16 AP report

Betsy Markey (Colo.) (N) Was a late no last time. In early March, Markey declined to be interviewed by Denver Post on her position on bill. Likely target for Democratic leaders

Jerry McNerney (Calif.) (Y) Waiting for final language. There are false reports of him being a firm no

Harry Mitchell (Ariz.) (Y) GOP target

Alan Mollohan (W.Va.) * (Y) In November, seat was considered safe. Now, he's in a tight race

Chris Murphy (Conn.) (Y) GOP target

Scott Murphy (N.Y.) (N) President Obama urges Murphy to vote yes in Oval Office meeting, according to March 16 AP report. Reelection race looks good, for now. Told local media he might vote yes

Richard Neal (Mass.) * (Y) Better vote yes if he wants to take Ways and Means gavel; fan of Stupak language

Glenn Nye (Va.) (N) In toss-up race

Solomon Ortiz (Texas) * (Y) Was a late yes last time around

Bill Owens (N.Y.) (Y) One of first votes in Congress was yes on House health bill; media reports have him as undecided

Tom Perriello (Va.) * (Y) Took a step toward a yes by endorsing Senate abortion language on March 16. Still has not said how he will vote. In toss-up race this fall; Pelosi had long talk with the Virginia Democrat on March 10 on the House floor

Earl Pomeroy (N.D.) * (Y) Voted against bill in committee, and for it on the House floor

Nick Rahall (W.Va.) * (Y) Another panel chairman on the fence

Ciro Rodriguez (Texas) * (Y) Considered by Cook Political Report to "likely" retain seat

John Salazar (Colo.) * (Y) GOP target

Loretta Sanchez (Calif.) (Y) Was a late yes in November

Mark Schauer (Mich.) (Y) In toss-up race this fall

Kurt Schrader (Ore.) (Y) Budget Committee member didn't vote during March 15 markup. In competitive reelection race.

Zack Space (Ohio) * (Y) Voted yes in committee and yes on the floor last year

Adam Smith (Wash.) (Y) Was a late yes in November

Betty Sutton (Ohio) (Y) GOP target

John Tanner (Tenn.) * (N) House deputy whip not running for reelection, but he still will need to be convinced to get to yes. Voted no in committee and on floor

Dina Titus (Nev.) (Y) Her office told The Hill the congresswoman is undecided. Voted no in committee and yes on the floor last year

Paul Tonko (N.Y.) (Y) Waiting for Congressional Budget Office numbers

David Wu (Ore.) (Y) Was undecided for three hours during 2003 Medicare drug vote, then voted with the GOP







Bob Cusack, Molly K. Hooper, Jeffrey Young, Jared Allen, Mike O'Brien, John Owre, Jennifer Swift, Drew Wheatley, Jurgen Boerema and Tony Lange contributed to this list.

In Austerity We Trust

SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS!!!
By Mark Matheny

In economics, austerity is when a government reduces its spending and/or increases user fees to pay back creditors. Austerity is usually required when a government's fiscal deficit spending is felt to be unsustainable.
Wikipedia

Austerity measures have been implemented in Greece as a result of the economic mess they have fallen into, or should I say they have been pushed into. The people of Greece have taken to the streets in protest as their government has decided to make them pay for the plundering of their wealth and retirement. Greece is now under intense pressure from the EU, International Monetary fund, European Central Bank, and financial institutions to lower its budget gap, which is currently an estimated 12.7% of GDP last year.

If austerity is a measure taken by governments to reduce spending when a governments's spending is felt to be unsustainable, then where does that leave the United States?


Austerity measures are typically taken after a government's bond rating is downgraded, making it more expensive to borrow money. Government bonds are typically downgraded when debt grows substantially as a portion of GDP. Government debt grows as spending exceeds tax revenue. Such excess occurs when tax rates are cut or kept low while government spending is increased. Such excess can also occur when the economic activity stagnates or decreases, such as in a recession, thereby reducing the government's tax revenue.
Wikipedia


Does this not describe America? We are being threatened with AA status from AAA rating, Our Current total credit-market debt stands at more than 340 percent of total GDP, The debt ceiling is at $14 Trillion, meanwhile the Fed keeps rates low. Our unemployment levels are unsustainable and growing despite what the "official" unemployment rate says, and America's economy is stagnate.

This is from the Telegraph.co.uk :

The credit ratings agency cautioned that if the US were to grow at slower pace levels than expected, the largest economy in the world’s already-extended finances could be over-stretched, in turn damaging its AAA credit rating.


Were the US to lose its AAA rating, it could cause further financial damage, by increasing the cost of borrowing money, a necessary evil for a country predicted to have a $1.56 trillion (£980bn) budget deficit this year.

According to the Wall Street Journal, a VAT (Value Added Tax) may be imposed upon Greeces' citizens in order to pay their debt.

Since the EU issued its rhetorical support for Greece on Feb. 12, EU members including Germany and France have demanded that Greece take further steps to close its budget gap before they commit to any specific financial support for the country. The new measures are likely to include an increase in the current value-added tax rate of 19%, more cuts in civil service entitlements, and higher duties on luxury items, like boats and expensive cars.

Glenn Beck and Bill O'reilly apparently work for the EU now and have decided that Austerity should come to America as well to pay for the crimes of Wall Street and The Fed:



During this interview, Glenn was asked by Oreilly if America was in decline. Glenn responded by saying that America will either "reset" or "restore" itself. He then went on to say that if we reset ourselves as a nation, we will reset as something "unrecognizable". This reminded me of an Alex Jones Show (October 19, 2009) where Lindsey Williams was interviewed by Alex. Lindsey explained that he talked with an insider oil company CEO who has attended G8, G20, Bilderberg meetings etc. One of the things told to Lindsey by the insider was

"within two years you will not recognize America."

Glenn then says "We need to RESET". Reset as opposed to restore? If we were to restore the country wouldn't that mean restoring the Constitution? Isn't that what our founding fathers instituted? Instead Glenn goes on to say that as a nation, we will either cease to be, or we will reset! No room is left for restoration! This adds New meaning to the Obama campaign slogan  "Change we can believe in!"

Glenn also states that it should be by constitutional amendment! No mention of investigating FRAUD in the FEDERAL RESERVE, or GOLDMAN SACHS!!! No, but he is willing to have Americans fit the bill!!!

Austerity in my opinion, is just another type of bailout where the Wall Street Banksters fill their coffers, and the people pay in the form of taxes to shore up the debt, or lose their shirts! It's time for Americans to stand up now, and demand an audit of the Federal Reserve before we have to take to the streets like those in Greece who have  said enough is enough! 

The desire of Global Elitists through the last century - men and women such as Marx, Lenin, Mao, Hitler,Blavastky, Huxely, the Rothchilds, the Rockefellers, Maurice Strong, Bush family, Soros, and many others in the Elite bent on establishing a New World Order,- are now seeing the final stages of their dream unfolding. Soon, as nations lose confidence in all paper currencies (by design), there will be a call to establish a global currency that will be purely electronic, and headed by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. A cashless society - and every transaction recorded. It's up to us to stop it.

With the debt ceiling at 14Trillion, and a power-hungry Administration hell-bent on breaking the American people with National healthcare - it seems to me that our Fiat currency should instead be printed with the words
"IN AUSTERITY WE TRUST" .

  


Mark Matheny is Editor of SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS!!!  and WE'RE HIT!!! TELEVISION

Will oil hit $200 a barrel after all?

Those 2008 predictions of sky-high prices may not have been as wrong as they were premature. Plus: Investing ideas for crude's comeback.


By Jim Jubak

What ever happened to $200-a-barrel oil?



Maybe it's just been delayed in transit. A recession in the world's developed economies can do that.



Remember Arjun Murti's time in the sun when, in May 2008, the analyst at Goldman Sachs predicted that oil would soon hit $200 a barrel? A number of other prognosticators weren't far behind. T. Boone Pickens predicted in 2008 that oil would hit $150 before the year was out. Some guy named Jim Jubak in April 2008 called for $180 a barrel within two years.



In case you haven't noticed, all of us were wrong. Oil peaked at $147 a barrel in summer 2008 and then plunged to $35 a barrel by June 2009.


Let me rephrase that: We weren't wrong; we were early. (All financial fortunetellers are told over and over again in their training at the Frogwarts School for Financial Wizards that you never, never, never forecast both a price and a date. One or the other. Never both.)




A little thing called the Great Recession killed global demand for oil. For a while.

Read the entire story

Your new Facebook ‘friend’ may be the FBI

Agents are logging on to exchange messages with suspects, and more


By Richard Lardner

AP News

updated 2 hours, 56 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Feds are on Facebook. And MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter, too.



U.S. law enforcement agents are following the rest of the Internet world into popular social-networking services, going undercover with false online profiles to communicate with suspects and gather private information, according to an internal Justice Department document that offers a tantalizing glimpse of issues related to privacy and crime-fighting.



Think you know who's behind that "friend" request? Think again. Your new "friend" just might be the FBI.



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RBS to award 100 bankers £1m bonuses despite losses

HERALDSCOTLAND

TIM SHARP, CITY EDITOR




Published on 26 Feb 2010



More than 100 bankers at Royal Bank of Scotland will receive bonuses of more than £1m, the part-nationalised bank revealed yesterday as it reported a reduced £6.2 billion operating loss for 2009.



At least 30 bankers working in the UK are set for a seven-figure pay-out. Most of the others are in the United States.

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To War, to War, America’s Going to War—with Iran

The LRC Blog

Posted by David Kramer on March 15, 2010 10:27 AM


At least it sure looks like it according to this news release. It seems that the United States has shipped 387 “Blu” bombs to a U.S. military base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. These “Blu” bombs are used specifically for destroying hardened and underground structures (like, uh, alleged underground nuclear bomb facilities in Iran?).



“They are gearing up totally for the destruction of Iran,” said Dan Plesch, director of the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London, co-author of a recent study on US preparations for an attack on Iran. “US bombers are ready today to destroy 10,000 targets in Iran in a few hours,” he added. The preparations were being made by the US military, but it would be up to President Obama to make the final decision. He may decide that it would be better for the US to act instead of Israel, Plesch argued. [emphasis mine]



This should certainly “endear” us even more to the Muslims in the Middle East. Oops, I keep forgetting: Middle Eastern Muslims don’t hate us because of our interference in their political affairs, they hate us because we are rich. (By the way, since Iran does not have the capability to bomb the United States, when exactly did the United States’ Department of Defense become the Department of Israeli Defense?)

Obama Heads To Ohio Looking For Health Care Votes

EDITOR'S NOTE: BE SURE TO SAY NO WHEN HE GETS HERE!!!!!


By Associated Press


NBC 4

updated 1 hour, 41 minutes ago

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio—Still seeking votes for his proposed health care overhaul, President Barack Obama appears ready to reverse his position and allow unpopular deal-sweetening measures in the hopes of finding Democratic support for legislation whose future will be decided in coming days.



Increasingly eager to finish work on his top domestic priority, Obama was set to head to northeast Ohio on Monday with a final sales pitch for health care legislation that the top Democratic vote-counter in the House said lacked support to pass. Obama’s top political adviser, David Axelrod, said he was “absolutely confident” the measure would pass during a make-or-break week that already saw the president delay his trip to Indonesia, Australia and Guam.



“This is the week where we will have this important vote,“ White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said. “I do think this is the climactic week for health care reform.“


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Pentagon gun was from Tenn. police

AP Associated Press


By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer Devlin Barrett, Associated Press Writer – 39 mins ago


WASHINGTON – Two guns used in high-profile shootings this year at the Pentagon and a Las Vegas courthouse both came from the same unlikely place: the police and court system of Memphis, Tenn.



Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that both guns were once seized in criminal cases in Memphis. The officials described how the weapons made their separate ways from an evidence vault to gun dealers and to the shooters.

The use of guns that once were in police custody and were later involved in attacks on police officers highlights a little-known divide in gun policy in the United States: Many cities and states destroy guns gathered in criminal probes, but others sell or trade the weapons in order to get other guns or buy equipment such as bulletproof vests.



In fact, on the day of the Pentagon shooting, March 4, the Tennessee governor signed legislation revising state law on confiscated guns. Before, law enforcement agencies in the state had the option of destroying a gun. Under the new version, agencies can only destroy a gun if it's inoperable or unsafe.  



Kentucky has a similar law, but it's not clear how many other states have laws specifically designed to promote the police sale or trade of confiscated weapons.

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