New Figures--Unemployment Soars!

The new figures have been released from the government concerning the jobless rate in America.

A key fact to remember is that the way these figures are calculated has changed since the 1930s through the early 1990s. Since that time the government does NOT figure in those who were laid off and were forced to settle for part-time jobs, or those who gave up looking for work altogether out of sheer despair.

The jobless rate, according to the present method of calculation, is now 9.8%. Roughly 230,000 more jobs were lost in the month of September alone.

But when the old method of calculating joblessness is used, the unemployment rate in the U.S. stands at a whopping 17%--the highest since the 1930s.

Obama told Americans all across the land during the campaign that his 'stimulus package' would prevent any more jobs from being lost. So far, the opposite has happened as the unemployment rate keeps moving upward.

Strange Bedfellows--Unlikely Patriots

A growing chorus of Americans are waking up to the danger to the nation posed by Barack Obama and the Democratic Party leadership in Congress.

Today, at Columbia Conservative Examiner, we take a look at some people in the news who are very different in terms of background, lifestyle, and views, but they all have one major thing in common.

Glad to see more people waking up.

WILD CHILD! How Long Can These Girls Live?

With the 'wild child' Hollywood girls of drugs, sex, and parties apparently still rocking out like there's no tomorrow, the question is how long can they be expected to live.

Lindsey Lohan was reported to have 'fallen off the wagon' after her lengthy and expensive stay in a rehab facility. Paris Hilton has been spotted back on the party scene and reportedly posed for some nude pics. Britney Spears has been acting, well, weird.

As this unholy trinity of party animals grows a bit older, it is unrealistic to expect that they will escape the consequences of a lifestyle characterized by orgies involving drugs and alcohol. They will either have to get their act together, and soon, or die.

This is not to say that one or more of the party girls are not serious about their rehab programs. Addiction is deadly and very difficult to manage. But when it's life or death, you do what you have to do to survive.

And these girls are down to their last hurrah. We can only hope they will bite the bullet and do the hard work of recovery.

Second Amendment News Roundup for 4/8/08

Focusing on guns and politics, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

As previously reported, one of Barack Obama's mentors is the infamous Snuffy Pfleger, the notorious gun-grabbing Catholic priest. Sebastian has more on this story that is of growing interest to the gun rights community:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/04/08/obama-ties-to-snuffy-pfleger/

And it seems that the Snuffy-Obama connection has also caught the attention of the Volokh Conspiracy:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_04_06-2008_04_12.shtml#1207631070

Bitter reports that the NRA Convention is headed to Phoenix in 2009:
http://www.thebitchgirls.us/?p=8088

Traction Control blogs on .75 caliber technology:
http://tractioncontrol.well-regulatedmilitia.org/?p=1034

Breda thinks she may have found a small automatic pistol to her liking:
http://thebredafallacy.blogspot.com/2008/04/search-might-be-over.html

Uncle says to get over it already! We have some allies in the government. In fact, The Liberty Sphere was paid a visit today by someone in the U.S. Government. But I have never been investigated nor have I been a target. Read Uncle's words of wisdom:
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2008/04/08/gun_blogging_notes/

Nicki comments on the growing smoking bans around and about, and yes, it is an issue of personal liberty. But this post is written only as Nicki can:
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2008/04/lets-kill-all-lawyers.html

Who says there is no slippery slope? Alphecca writes about a handgun ban petition in Canada:
http://www.alphecca.com/?p=709

Michelle Malkin has the complete, infuriating blow by blow of Petraeus' appearance on Capitol Hill. Democrats came out swinging, heckling the General, even as they made sure hecklers were given access to the hearing room to stage yet another stupid 'protest':
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/08/petraeus-on-the-hill/

John Lott reports that the Brady Bunch has been stopped by Virginia Tech. Good for them!:
http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2008/04/virginia-tech-blocks-plans-brady.html

Second Amendment News Roundup for 4/7/08

Focusing on guns and politics, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

Musician and writer Jack Pribek's blog has been 'accused of excellence.' Go have a look:
http://pribek.net/2008/04/06/pribek-accused-of-excellence/

Cap'n Bob and the Damsel have a moving and personal tribute to Charlton Heston:
http://capnbob.us/blog/2008/04/06/from-my-cold-dead-hands/

Sebastian has the quote of the day:
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/04/06/quote-of-the-day-39/

Bitter Bitch comments on Bob Barr's potential entry into the Presidential race as a Libertarian:
http://www.thebitchgirls.us/?p=8075

David Codrea comments on the latest gun news out of Ohio:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2008/04/two-ohio-developments.html

Traction Control reminds us that Buy a Gun Day is quickly coming:
http://tractioncontrol.well-regulatedmilitia.org/?p=1033

Say Uncle reports that some leftist rag in the country formerly known as 'Great' Britain thinks that Charlton Heston's love for guns meant he was no longer interested in civil rights:
http://www.saysuncle.com/archives/2008/04/07/i_do_not_think_it_means_what_you_think_it_means-3/

On the other hand, Alphecca has an example of a Brit that gets it right:
http://www.alphecca.com/?p=707

Mike McCarville point to a poll that shows Hillary and Obama tied in Pennsylvania:
http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2008/04/clinton-obama-tied-in-pennsylvania.html

It seems Barack Obama is showing that he is even more lacking in scruples than Hillary. Michelle Malkin reports that Obama is selling himself in Pennsylvania as the 'pro-gun candidate.' ROFL!! And I suppose Hillary is the Reagan Conservative in the race! What a complete, unadulterated charlatan!:
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/07/what-obamessiah-now-sells-himself-to-rural-pennsylvania-as-the-pro-gun-candidate/

Of interest to environmentalist wackoes and their enemies--'A Tale of Two Houses,' (my title), written by John Lott...a MUST-read!:
http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2008/04/some-more-environmental-hypocrisy.html

Syd at Front Sight, Press announces he is taking a break from blogging and broadcasting, and sending out emails...a tiresome, time-consuming, and often thankless task. His contribution to the gun rights movement has been incalculable, and we will miss his regular posts, although he will continue to write from time to time. Read all about it here:
http://www.snubnose.info/wordpress/news/taking-a-break/

Armed and Safe comments on 'Snuffy and the Commies':
http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2008/04/snuffy-and-commies-not-such-strange.html

All American Blogger posts 'The Nanny State and the Purpose of Law':
http://www.allamericanblogger.com/2539/the-nanny-state-and-the-purpose-of-law/

Democrats Surging for McCain?

The latest Gallup poll shows that:

22% of Democrats want Hillary to drop out of the race.

22% want Obama to drop out of the race.

Upwards of 40% of Democrats either already support McCain or would support him if either Hillary or Obama loses to the other.

Does this mean that potentially a move could be set into motion to draft Algore?

Bring him on. He couldn't even win his home state of Tennessee in 2000.

Top Stories for Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Good Morning!

On today's Liberty Sphere you will find the following news stories and commentary for Tuesday:

**Why John McCain Will Never Be President

**Duncan Hunter--'Israel Should Not Give Up One Inch of Land'

**The Vanishing American--A Coup in the Making? An explosive take on the immigration compromise bill you simply MUST read!

**'CONVERT OR DIE!!' The Mantra of Muslim Extremists...read this account of what the Taliban told Pakistani Christians over the weekend...

SCROLL DOWN to read these stories and commentary by D. Martyn Lloyd-Morgan.

Have a great day!

Top Stories for Monday, May 21, 2007

Good Morning!

On today's Liberty Sphere for Monday, May 21, 2007, you will find the following top stories:

**The Carbon Issue in the Global Warming Debate--why Al Gore is WRONG

**Utah Law Enforcement Targets Gun Dealers in Salt Lake Trolley Mall Terrorist Attack

**A Sensible Approach to Immigration--and why the current compromise is bad for U.S.

**Illegal Aliens Commit 90% of Murders in Los Angeles! the shocking report

Scroll down for these news stories and commentary by D. Martyn Lloyd-Morgan.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Global Warming Debate Over Carbon Dioxide

Washington, DC (TLS). A key element in the debate over the cause of global warming is the carbon dioxide issue. Doomsday alarmists of the 'consensus' scientists, who maintain mankind is the cause, point to carbon data as proof that what we are putting into the air has caused temperatures to rise.

'Scientists' of this ilk are behind Al Gore's new movie, which I understand has become required viewing in some colleges for graduation, and is being shown in class after class--sometimes forcing students to see it four times in one day in a variety of classes--in high schools.

The propaganda machine is hard at work attempting to indoctrinate the young that mankind is responsible for global warming and that the carbon we put in the air causes temps to rise.

Hard science, i.e., the study of actual verifiable data, shows otherwise.

Scientists who look at the facts and let the facts dictate their policy proposals, rather than allowing their policy bias to dictate how they view science, state that a rise in carbon is a direct RESULT of rising temperatures and NOT the CAUSE of it.

In short, most reliable and honest scientists know that a rise in carbon does not cause a rise in temperatures, but a rise in temperatures causes a rise in carbon dioxide.

This fact is proved in the geological record. During those periods of the earth's history when the planet has been at its warmest, the presence of carbon dioxide is at very high levels. Yet this was long before current lifeforms were even on the planet. There were no man-made emissions going into the atmosphere to cause such a rise in carbon.

Long after Man appeared on the earth, during those cyclical periods when the temperatures rose significantly, we also see a rise in the amount of carbon. Yet these periods in human history pre-date the industrial era. Once again, there were no man-made emissions going into the atmosphere.

Thus, the observable data proves that rising temperatures cause a concomitant rise in carbon. There is to date NO valid historical scientific data that remotely suggests that a rise in carbon creates a rise in temperatures.

The 'consensus scientists,' therefore, have it exactly backwards.

A Sensible Approach to Immigration

Washington, DC (TLS). Most of the proposals put forth by politicians thus far to address the nation's bizarre and uncontrolled immigration problem simply do not address the pertinent issues. At the top of this list is the latest so-called 'compromise' bill on immigration reform put forth by Kennedy-McCain and the White House.

Amnesty is clearly NOT the answer.

An entirely sensible, workable, and cost-effective approach to the problem has been put forth by Jessica M. Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies.

Vaughan made the proposal public in the summer of 2006. It has gone largely unheeded except for a few lone voices in the Republican Party, such as Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, and others.

It is time to re-examine her proposal, which is provided here:
http://www.cis.org/articles/2006/back406.html

IMMIGRATION REALITY CHECK! Mexican Bloodbath

Washington, DC (TLS). Gangs of Mexican criminals, drug runners, and smugglers perpetrated a bloodbath in a small Mexican town south of the border on Friday. Rumors suggest that this gang has formed a convoy headed north toward the U.S. border, intent on continuing the bloodbath within the United States.

This should be a wake-up call to the imbecilic Washington politicians in BOTH Parties who are pushing the latest amnesty bill. The Ted Kennedy-Nancy Pelosi-Harry Reid-John McCain-Lindsay Graham-George W. Bush immigration bill for granting amnesty is a slap in the face to all law-abiding Americans and to all LEGAL immigrants who stood in line to wait their turn to become citizens the RIGHT WAY.

Read about the Mexican convoy of barbarians here:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55781

Fred Thompson Blasts Cuba, Castro, Ridicules Michael Moore

Washington, DC (TLS). Fred Thompson just may be THE candidate conservatives and independents are looking for. In the video you can watch below, Thompson takes a swipe at Communist Cuba, Commie-Dictator Fidel Castro, and proceeds to get us laughing at Michael Moore by suggesting that his continued trips to the island nation may result in his being thrown into a Cuban mental institution!

The video is really hilarious, smooth, and professionally done.

To see it, click here:
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=611

Hillary, Pelosi Lying About Gas Price-Gouging

Washington, DC (TLS). Two of Washington's premier Socialists, Senator Hillary Clinton and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have been decrying so-called 'price-gouging' by the big oil companies.

First, it was Hillary with her now-infamous line from her stump speech concerning oil company profits--'We are going to take that money and put it in a fund for the development of alternative forms of energy.'

Spoken like a true Socialist.

Now it is Nancy Pelosi's condemnation of the oil companies this week, reacting to a new national average price of $3.07 per gallon of gas.

Pelosi was incensed by the fact that in her home district of San Francisco, the highest price of gasoline stood at $3.49 per gallon. Thus, she introduced a bill in the House, H.R. 1252, to 'protect consumers from price-gouging.'

Time for a reality check, Ms. Clinton and Ms. Pelosi.

When adjusted for inflation over a 25-year period, the national average for a gallon of gas is actually LOWER today than it was in 1981, just as Jimmy Carter was leaving the White House.

In addition, apparently consumers need protection from GOVERNMENT price gouging rather than gouging by the oil companies!

If anyone would bother to check the actual figures, one would find that the big oil companies make roughly 13 cents per gallon on the gasoline that is sold in America. Out of an average price of $3.07 per gallon, the big oil companies themselves gain a profit of just 13 CENTS PER GALLON.

Would anyone like to guess what THE GOVERNMENT makes on a gallon of gas?

Remember, a huge chunk of what you and I pay at the pump is for TAXES, both state and federal. Thus, for each gallon of gas sold, the federal government makes 18.4 cents per gallon. That is 5.4 cents per gallon higher than what those 'price-gouging' oil companies make!

On top of that, in the state of California, 40.2 cents per gallon goes to the state government. In other words, the state of California makes THREE TIMES the amount of profit the oil companies get from a gallon of gas.

And we are not through yet. Let's look at Pelosi's district alone, shall we? In the San Francisco Congressional district, which Pelosi represents, consumers pay a LOCAL tax on top of the state and federal tax. San Francisco residents pay another 8.2% in local sales taxes for their gasoline.

Thus, for every gallon of gasoline you purchase, you are going to pay at least 58.6 cents per gallon in federal and state taxes, plus 8.2% of the total for your local taxes.

For one gallon of gas, the government gets 58.6 cents plus 8.2% as compared to the 13 cents in profit that goes to the oil companies.

So who is actually doing the gouging here?

This is why I say that Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi are lying, deliberately attempting to deceive the American people.

Let's do the math in a hypothetical situation. Let's say you pull up to the pump in San Francisco in your eco-friendly hybrid, and it so happens you have found one lone gas station selling gasoline at the national average of 3.07 per gallon. Let's say you purchase ten gallons of gas for the total price of $30.70.

Out of that total price of $30.70, the oil companies make a whopping $1.30 in profit. ONE DOLLAR AND THIRTY CENTS out of your tank of gas.

The federal government makes $1.84 in federal taxes...54 cents higher than the 'profit' the oil companies make.

As for the state of California, out of your $30.70 purchase, the state government will get $4.02. Don't let this one escape your attention. The oil companies make one dollar and thirty cents' profit out of your purchase, but the state of California makes FOUR DOLLARS AND TWO CENTS.

We're still not finished yet. We still have to add two dollars and forty-eight cents for the 8.2% local sales tax for San Francisco.

Thus, out of your purchase of $30.70 in gasoline, you will pay $8.34 in federal, state, and local sales taxes. Yet you have paid the big oil companies a mere $1.30 out of your purchase.

And this brings us back to the central point. Why would Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi lie to the American public about so-called 'price gouging' by the big oil companies? In fact, they really do have a great amount of gall to suggest such a thing when the government will get over SIX TIMES that amount per gallon of gas sold.

Naturally, neither Clinton nor Pelosi would view such a thing as highway robbery. As long as the government does it, it is automatically for the 'greater good.' But the minute you let a corporation make a profit--and a tiny one at that--then that company is automatically a price-gouging, evil, corrupt, and malevolent example of capitalism.

Do you want to pay lower prices at the gas pump? Well, you are targeting the wrong people if you strike out at the oil companies. Get these gasoline taxes either lowered or eliminated, and you will automatically save 8 bucks per tank (10 gallons) in the state of California.

If you drive a large vehicle you will save about 16 bucks per tank.

Thus, when you feel the pain at the pump, be sure to remember just what is the biggest source of that pain--the government and not the oil companies.

Gag Order in Ware Shoals-Jill Moore-Jane Blackwell Case

Ware Shoals, SC (TLS). A Greenwood County court has issued a gag order which will amount to a total news blackout in the Jill Moore-Jane Blackwell-Ware Shoals High School cheerleader sex scandal. The order comes in the wake of the airing of a videotape on a local TV station, showing Jill Moore's interrogation by Greenwood County Sheriff's officials.

The content of the portion of the video that was shown on TV directly involves former Ware Shoals High School principal Jane Blackwell and what she may have known about the activities of former cheerleader coach Jill Moore.

Moore was charged with giving alcohol and cigarettes to minors and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

But it was allegations of sexual misconduct that led to the investigation into Moore's activities, which eventually led to a charge of obstruction brought against Blackwell.

State's attorney Jerry Peace stated that the airing of the video that shows law enforcement interrogation of Moore severely compromises the case and that a change in venue may be necessary. In an effort to drastically reduce the likelihood of further compromises, the Court issued the gag order.

This is not the first time that a local television station became part of this story in Ware Shoals. When Principal Jane Blackwell gave testimony before the Ware Shoals School Board, a local TV station refused to shut off its cameras during the testimony as requested. This led to the meeting going behind closed doors, which angered the 200 or so attendees who were then deprived of hearing Blackwell's testimony.

With today's gag order, a television station or a news source that compromises the integrity of the case will result in legal action by the court.

Show Me the Money--Campaign Funds Raised So Far

Washington, DC (TLS). The Liberty Sphere has reported many times that each candidate for President will need a campaign war-chest of at least 100 million dollars by January 1, 2008 in order to mount a competitive campaign.

Let's see who has the most money thus far, in order of their rank in total funds raised:

Over 20 Million, but under 30 Million
--Hillary Rodham Clinton
--Barack Hussein Obama
--Mitt Romney

Over 10 million, but under 20 million
--Rudy Giuliani
--John Edwards
--John McCain

Over 5 million, but under 10 million
--Bill Richardson

Under 5 million
--Chris Dodd
--Joe Biden
--Sam Brownback
--Tom Tancredo
--Ron Paul
--Mike Huckabee
--Duncan Hunter
--Dennis Kucinich
--Tommy Thompson
--Jim Gilmore
--Mike Gravel

As you can see by these official rankings, the three candidates who are well on their way to raising the necessary funds by Jan. 1 are Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Hussein Obama, and Mitt Romney. Those who are lagging a bit behind but are still easily within reach are Rudy Giuliani, John Edwards, and John McCain.

It is our opinion that anyone who at this point has less than 10 million dollars on hand in campaign cash is going to have a very tough time raising the amount needed by that all-important deadline.

For example, in order for Bill Richardson to have 100 million by Jan. 1 he will have to raise at least 14 million bucks PER MONTH between now and Dec. 31, 2007. That is roughly twice as much per month as the TOTAL he has raised thus far.

By anyone's estimation that is an exceedingly tall order.

This is why with each passing day I am growing more and more pessimistic about the prospects of a viable candidacy out of anyone who has raised less than 5 million by now. This bodes ill for candidates such as Duncan Hunter, Ron Paul, and Mike Huckabee, I am sorry to say.

Yet this is not an entirely impossible scenario. If a dark horse candidate catches on with a large segment of the electorate, the campaign cash will come rolling in in fairly short order.

But the time is growing short. We can thank the almighty intellects at the helm of both Parties for this sorry state of affairs. Jan. 1 is way too early to start primaries. But the Parties all moved up their primary dates in the name of attempting to be 'the very first one.'

As much as I hate the scenario they have created with primaries taking place as early as January, this is the reality we must face. And reality dictates that in this election cycle a candidate is going to need 100 million by January 1 in order to be competitive in those early primaries.

CAIR IS NOW THOROUGHLY DISCREDITED

Washington, DC (TLS). Now that the identities and the religious affiliation of the 'Fort Dix Six' terrorists have been thoroughly and irrefutably documented, there is now absolutely no doubt that CAIR (the Council on American-Islamic Relations) is a disgraced and totally discredited organization.

Most thinking people knew this already. But Democrats in Congress have been playing cozy with them. So have the mainstream media.

When the story broke about the Fort Dix Six, the Muslim terrorists who planned to murder hundreds, if not thousands of U.S. soldiers on our own bases, CAIR launched a major blitz to 'instruct' the media not to refer to the terrorists as Islamic.

In fact, CAIR is on record as stating that the terrorists are not Muslim at all and that their planned attacks had nothing to do with their religious affiliation.

This was in spite of the fact that all six are, indeed, Muslim, and that they used Al Qaeda training tapes to get ready for the attacks. They also referred to Osama bin Laden as their hero.

CAIR has just shown the entire world its true colors.

As we have stated repeatedly here at The Liberty Sphere, CAIR is nothing but a terrorist front organization. The fact that they would attempt to influence the manner in which the foiled terrorist plot was reported, when everyone knows the terrorists are Muslim, only points to their sordid, underhanded mode of operation as an apologist organization for terrorism.

And remember, my friends, the Democrats in Congress consult with these people on a regular basis.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes, if ever, for the Democratic leadership in Congress to totally disavow itself of any connection to CAIR.

Stupid Questions

Washington, DC (TLS). Everyone knows that Chris Matthews of NBC is a partisan, biased, Leftwing nutcase. He has never attempted to hide the fact. He was seen recently on a late-night talk show using expletives to describe Republicans. He has done this before.

But the questions Matthews issued to the Republican candidates during their first debate cannot be described in any other way but 'stupid.'

'How would you feel about Hillary Clinton in the White House?'

'Well, ah, gee whiz there, Chris, I would just LOVE it if Hillary were in the White House! After all, that's why I'm running for President, you IDIOT!'

I wish someone had had the guts to answer the stupid question in that manner.

However, now it is Mike Wallace's turn to ask the stupid questions. In an upcoming 60 Minutes interview on CBS with Mitt Romney, Wallace reportedly asks Romney if he and his wife 'ever had premarital sex.'

Excuse me, Mr. Wallace, but with all due respect this is an IDIOTIC question that demeans your entire distinguished career.

So does it all come down to this? I suppose the start of it all was the question put to Bill Clinton in 1992, 'Boxers or briefs?'

The news business has reached a very low ebb. Not only do they think we want to know what type of underwear the candidates wear, but they have the unmitigated gall to ask an opponent what he/she thinks if their rival wins the White House. DUH!

And who cares if Mitt Romney and his wife had premarital sex!

We can only hope that with Fox News sponsoring the next debate, we will get some questions that are worthy of a serious dialogue concerning the nation's future. It would be hard to imagine Britt Hume or John Gibson asking the candidates such blatantly mindless questions that have nothing to do with their ability to be President.

No wonder none of the Democrats want to face Fox News reporters asking the questions!

But, since apparently the Dems have insisted that only so-called 'mainstream' news organizations sponsor their debates--you know, the ones that want to know about premarital sex--I have come up with a few stupid questions the mighty heavy-weights of ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN could ask the Democrats.

'Mrs. Clinton, are you presently taking prescription hormonal therapy for post-menopausal women? And could this medication impair your decision-making?'

'Mr. Obama, which brand of smokes do you prefer? Winstons? Benson and Hedges? Would you offer Hillary a smoke if you were to light up after the debate?'

'Mr. Biden, are you standing there lusting after Hillary while waiting for your next question? And would you describe Hillary as an attractive woman or more of a bulldog?'

'Mr. Dodd, have you ever engaged in cross-dressing?'

'Mr. Edwards, if elected, would you disclose just who it is that does your hair? Chris Matthews and others of us want to know.'

'Mr. Kucinich, how many more times do you think you will have to position yourself to be photographed with President Bush before people remember who you are?'

'Mr. Gravel, do YOU even remember who you are?'

And finally.....

'Mr. Richardson, since you served in the Clinton White House and are friends of Bill (and we all know Bill talks)....tell us what all of America wants to know...does Hillary wear thong panties?'

Who Is Ron Paul?

Washington, DC (TLS). Although polls show that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney came out the winner in the first Republican Presidential debate, another name has surfaced among the eight announced candidates as one who is gaining some support. His name is Ron Paul from Texas.

Ron Paul serves the U.S. House, representing the 14th Congressional district of Texas. Since 1997 he has served the district with distinction as one who never compromises his principles and as an unwavering advocate for upholding the tenets of the U.S. Constitution.

Trained as a medical doctor, graduating from the Duke University School of Medicine, Dr. Paul served his country as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force during the 1960s. He subsequently practiced medicine in Brazoria County, Texas for a number of years as a gynecologist/obstetrician.

Dr. Paul entered politics in the late 1970s and served in the U.S. House until 1984, when he voluntarily relinquished his seat in order to return to his medical practice. He returned to the House in 1997 and has carved out a solid reputation among his colleagues and constituents as a principled man of character who exhibits strong libertarian values. Those values include low taxes, small government, gun rights, strong defense, secure borders and immigration control, and a commitment to the pro-life position.

It is Dr. Paul's views on the Iraq War, however, that is causing the great stir among potential supporters. He has consistently said that the war is illegal according to the U.S. Constitution. His votes have portrayed that conviction. Paul voted against the Iraqi invasion and has repeatedly called for the war's end. He has even been known to say that President Bush should be impeached for sending troops to war.

Polls have shown that many who watched the Republican debate were impressed with Dr. Paul. The reason, I believe, is not simply the Iraq War. Politicians like Ron Paul are rare in America today. He does not jump on anyone's bandwagon, and proposed legislation is always put to the test of the Constitution.

Does the Constitution allow this sort of legislation? Is it consistent with the Founders' original intent?

The sudden interest in the candidacy of Ron Paul may be a signal that a significant portion of the American population is taking a new look at the Constitution as the basis for all law. Perhaps they are tired of big-government socialism AND big-government conservatism.

IF it is really true that the vast majority of the country wants 'change,' as many polls suggest, it is hard to conceive of anyone else in politics today who more fully embodies a complete change in the way government is viewed than Ron Paul.

The majority of candidates in both Parties represent business as usual, the same-old, same-old, a rehashing of old, failed ideas of an ideology that claims big government can solve the nation's ills.

One of the most solidly socialistic nations of Western Europe, France, recently showed the world that European styled Socialism does not work. For the first time in nearly 50 years, a conservative was elected as President of France. This speaks volumes.

To varying degrees ALL of the Democratic candidates are European-styled Socialists. And while the Republicans cannot be lumped together with them, they have their own baggage to carry as purveyors of 'big government conservatism,' which the Bush Administration, I am sorry to say, perfectly portrays.

Ron Paul has been a voice crying in the wilderness in the midst of both Democrats and Republicans, calling them back to the founding principles of small government and fiscal conservatism.

But Paul's philosophy is actually nothing new. It is called 'Constitutional Republicanism,' and it was embraced and espoused by the Founders of a nation called the United States of America.

For more information on Ron Paul, go to his official government website at:
http://www.house.gov/paul/bio.shtml

Feinstein Scandal Won't Go Away Despite Media Blackout

Washington, DC (TLS). The Dianne Feinstein conflict of interest scandal that led to her husband's pocketing of millions of dollars' worth of government contracts is not going away, say government watchdog groups.

In spite of the mainstream media blackout of the story, and the Democrat-controlled Senate's attempt to hide it, this scandal just keeps building steam.

According to California law, the funds that went to the spouse of Senator Feinstein are considered to be hers as well as her husbands, according to a legal statute known as 'community property law,' which maintains that all benefits, assets, and profits accumulated by one partner in a marriage is considered the joint property of both spouses.

This means, in short, that by channeling government contracts to her husband's companies, not only was Feinstein helping her husband's businesses, but she was helping herself...a clear conflict of interest.

To read more about this still-growing scandal, click here:
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200705/POL20070508a.html

The Fred Thompson Speech to Lincoln Club of Orange County, California

Washington, DC (TLS). Former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson chose the setting of The Lincoln Club of Orange County, California, to give a major speech on a variety of issues concerning public policy, in anticipation of his upcoming announcement as a candidate for the Republican nomination for President.

The former Tennessee Senator was unusually low-keyed in this address in comparison to his normally energetic and engaging persona. However, this address was not about fluff. This was heady stuff.

Thompson's 30-minute address touched on everything from the War in Iraq to globalization to immigration control, and everything in between. One might think that nothing of great substance could be conveyed in such a short speech that covered so many topics. However, the Senator proved that a few carefully-chosen words can convey great substance.

Lincoln himself proved the point in the Gettysburg Address.

Rather than recapitulate the speech here, we feel it is best that you read it for yourself. You will see that it was, indeed, a powerful speech of great national significance.

Click here for the complete text of Thompson's address:
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