The Patriot's Flag

I’m flying the Union Jack today. It flies today because an appointed (not elected, not vetted by Congress) official has cut, without the signature of the President, compensation inside private corporations and companies . Pure socialism … we’re on the slippery slope!

Lets take a look at Kenneth Feinberg, Obama’s Pay Czar

From Glenn Beck – (Item 22):

Kenneth Feinberg

Title: Special Master on executive pay
Salary: reportedly receiving no compensation for his work.
Reports to: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner
Appointed: June 2009
Department: Treasury

• Named to examine compensation practices at companies that have been bailed out more than once by the federal government
• Oversaw the payouts to the families of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
• Was the chief administrator to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, which commemorates the students who died in the April 2007 shooting rampage at Virginia Tech
• Founder and managing partner of Feinberg Rozen LLP (1992 to present), law firm specializing in mediation
• Was Chief of staff for Sen. Edward Kennedy (1978 to 1980)
• While working with the Feinberg Group, donated over $150,000, nearly all of which has gone to Democratic candidates and political action committees. In 2007, donated $2,300 to 2008 presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani (R).

Disturbing action: (From NY Times)

The Obama administration will order the firms that received the most aid to slash compensation to their highest-paid employees.

The plan, for the 25 top earners at seven companies that received exceptional help, will on average cut total compensation this year by about 50 percent. The companies are Citigroup, Bank of America, American International Group, General Motors, Chrysler and the financing arms of the two automakers.

Some executives, like the top traders at A.I.G., will face tight limits on their pay.

Tthe cash portion of the executives’ salaries will be slashed on average by 90 percent, and the rest will be replaced by stock that cannot be sold for years.

The plan would still permit multimillion-dollar pay packages.

It would have no direct impact on firms that did not receive government bailouts or that have already repaid loans they received from Washington.

And then there’s this: (Fox News)

White House pay czar Kenneth Feinberg was the driving force behind the move to order steep pay cuts from bailed-out executives, and did not even seek the president’s approval before making his decision.

I cut your pay because you ran up a huge debt then took the tax payer's money -- So did Congress!

The Man (in my opinion) is qualified and executing the job specifications he was given. He’s a Democrat, but what’s new? I see no “political” axe he may have to grind here. Ideologically, this man is plain vanilla (not a screaming left-wing radical) and from his record, seems very qualified to do the job.  I think he would have passed a congressional vetting process. (Too bad he didn’t for his own credibility!)

The Policy (in my opinion) is fair.  These corporations should have gone bankrupt, they should not have been bailed out, taxpayer funds should never be used in private enterprise.  But having “taken” the taxpayer’s money, and skirting bankruptcy, these executives are learning there is a harsh downside to socialism.  They wanted it, they got it.

The Arm Twisting (in my opinion) was unconstitutional. We were told the banks had no choice, they were told in a meeting at the White House that there was no choice and they were forced to sign the “bailout documents.”  This was wrong, and strictly a government takeover … not dissimilar to Chavez nationalizing the oil companies. But this is becoming something we, more or less, expect from the Obama administration.

The Powers Vested in this man are unconstitutional. He is now proving he is able to alter compensation in a private company or corporation WITHOUT the approval of the President or Congress.  Look at the “power” of this (Obama-created) job function … no appointed official in the United States of America should have the power to alter compensation inside a private enterprise. However, the Obama Hypocrisy is still intact. The President had “nothing to do” with this … it was all doing of  his “appointee.”  Give me a break!  Does that mean any government official can do anything they want?  It is starting to look that way isn’t it? No wonder the conspiracy theorists are sure the formation of a shadow government is taking place. This is the most blatant evidence for their theory to date. And when does a simple theory become a fact?

The Slippery Slope is now almost frictionless.  Precedent has been set, the government can control compensation in privately-held companies and corporations. A non-elected official can, without the direction of the President, reduce salaries in private corporations.  I wonder when people will start taking these actions to court … this is clearly unconstitutional, but it never seems to be contested. Maybe with the “big bucks” these guys lost by “playing with Socialists” they’ll combine what funds they might have left and get a lawyer!  THEY greed allowed themselves to let this happen, THEY should pay for fixing it!

Hey Corporate Democrats, Still enjoying the Hope and Change?

1st Navy Union Jack - Liberty Threatened

Today I’m flying the Fort Moultrie Flag. The citizens must trust their government and their leaders. When trust is breached, the contract between elected officials and those who elected them is broken. At the moment, trust is waning … and Liberty and Freedom are in jeopardy.

Talk Risking Liberty

Disapproval of this administration and congress is increasing across the country. The latest CNN poll has half the country not agreeing with Obama’s policies. Rasmussen on Oct 21 had a minus thirteen percent approval rating for Obama. Approval is going down both on the Left and the Right … Obama is just a campaigner, making promises … he’s not a President, making decisions. Historically, he has voted “present” when he couldn’t decide. Through his inability to keep his promises and hesitate making decisions … trust continues to slide away.  Hope and Change were just campaign slogans after all.

CNN: According to the CNN Poll of Polls, 47 percent approve of how the president’s dealing with health care reform, with 44 percent disapproving.

Gallup: In fact, the 9-point drop in the most recent quarter is the largest Gallup has ever measured for an elected president between the second and third quarters of his term, dating back to 1953.

Rasmussen: Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -13

Why is the trust waning? Sometimes we need to “look back” to better understand how we arrived at this moment in history. Lets look back in time over our shoulder for the answer.

We start with a short (2 minute) video:

In a two minute video (campaign speech) …promises and misstatements?

1. Open and Transparent Government, when I am President.
2. Justice Brandeis didn’t say “Sunlight is the greatest disinfectant”
3. When I am President, I will make it impossible for lobbyists or congress to slip pork barrel projects or corporate welfare into bills when no one is looking.
4. Meetings will be more open to the public, no more secrecy, that’s a commitment I’ll make to you as President. No more secrecy!
5. The public will have 5 days to look at any bill online that gets to the President’s desk.
6. When there’s a tax bill before congress, you will know the names of who will benefit.
7. All corporate tax breaks and pork barrel projects will be posted online so you can decide if your representative is representing you.

And then there’s the President’s “wobble” on Afghanistan:

"68,000 Reasons why the President should "listen to the generals" as Candidate Obama Promised"

“If the Afghan government falls to the Taliban – or allows al-Qaeda to go unchallenged – that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can.”

Five months later, in August of this year, speaking at the VFW, the President made a promise to America’s armed forces. “I will give you a clear mission,” he said, “defined goals, and the equipment and support you need to get the job done. That’s my commitment to you.”

• … and now? Now we “wait” … 57 days and counting since Obama has gotten General McCrystal’s report asking for 40,000 more troops and additional equipment that he committed to previously. Obama is “carefully weighing” his decision.  And as he carefully weighs it … while he’s flying off to Copenhagen to get a bogus Nobel Peace Prize, or jetting off to Paris or NYC for a date with Michelle … our troops are dying in a God-forsaken country half way around the world.  … and would you blame them if they were wondering “WHY?” (Aren’t we wondering “Why?”)

Do you see a pattern here? If you don’t see it yet, go to BROKEN PROMISES and you’ll get an even clearer picture of what is going wrong.

The definition of Trust:

Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

confident expectation of something; hope.

confidence in the certainty of future payment for property or goods received; credit: to sell merchandise on trust.

a person on whom or thing on which one relies: God is my trust.

the condition of one to whom something has been entrusted.

the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed: a position of trust.

charge, custody, or care: to leave valuables in someone’s trust.

something committed or entrusted to one’s care for use or safekeeping, as an office, duty, or the like; responsibility; charge.

Trust. Notice the words in the definition: reliance, integrity, committed, entrusted, safekeeping, duty, responsibility, confidence, certainty … words have meanings. This President speaks  the words very well, as we can see in the campaign speech above. But his words are proving “empty” and have no  “meaning. … just white noise without substance. He is still acting the “candidate” … making empty promises he has no ability to keep, campaigning with Corzine in NJ instead of making a decision on Afghanistan.  He’s an empty suit, just another politician … all promise, no substance … and the polls show America is finally waking up and noticing!

And his approval along with America’s trust in “hope and change” is going, going ….

Maybe Gone Already?

Ft Moultrie Flag - Liberty Risky Discussion

The Navy Union Jack stays on the flagstaff today.  Another day, another Czar, Ron Bloom … Manufacturing Czar.   Who, other than President Obama would appoint (without congressional approval) a man to be charge of U.S. manufacturing that states free trade is a “joke,” that the free market is “nonsense,” and competition is “pablum for suckers?”  Liberty and Freedom are indeed again threatened by this more-trending-toward-Socialism administration each day.

Liberty Threatened

Hard to believe? Here’s his quote …

Mau Enthusiast

• “Generally speaking we get the joke. We know that the free market is nonsense. We know that the whole point is to game the system, to beat the market, or at least find someone who will pay you a lot of money because they’re convinced that there is a free lunch. We know this is largely about power, that it’s an adults only, no limit game. We kind of agree with Mao that political power comes largely from the barrel of a gun. And we get it that if you want a friend, you should get a dog.”
• “In today’s world the blather about free trade, free markets & the joys of competition is nothing but pablum for the suckers.”

Once again, no Congressional approval for a key appointment. Do you remember “candidate” Obama making this promise?

“The biggest problems that we’re facing right now have to do with George Bush trying to bring more and more power into the executive branch and not go through Congress at all. And that’s what I intend to reverse when I’m president of the United States.” – Sen. Barack Obama, March 31, 2008

And Ron Bloom’s recent qualifications?

• Ron Bloom was a key part of the team that advised the White House on the struggling U.S. auto industry, (and the TARP (bailout) will not be paid back!)
• Bloom and team pushed U.S. automakers General Motors and Chrysler to come up with viable plans for the future (GM’s sales fall 16%).
• Pushed the CEO of GM to resign, (threatened with no bailout funds).
• Pushed the U.S. government that agreed to become a major shareholder in GM, ponying up $50 billion.(UAW becomes major stockholder).

Mao is their hero. Why are Obama’s advisors choosing Mao as a role model? Once again a key advisor quotes Chairman Mao Ze Dong, not exactly the best role model for a USA with Freedom and Liberty:

Mao Ze Dung

• From 1949 onwards, through a succession of failed economic experiments, notably the calamitous ‘Great Leap Forward,’ and ever more Byzantine political campaigns to suppress ‘counter-revolutionaries’ – code for anyone perceived to be against the Chairman [Mao Ze Dong]- the citizens of the People’s Republic of China went to their deaths in their millions, by execution, starvation or despairingly by their own hands in repeated waves of suicide. About half starved to death during 1959 and 1960.
• 40 million dead. Chairman Mao Ze Dung launched the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in 1966, in what appeared to be a massive cleansing policy to ensure the final victory of Mao and his clique over the rest of the Chinese Communist party. Over the next decade, literally millions of people were sacked, imprisoned and otherwise reviled for hitherto hidden ‘bourgeois tendencies’ while tens of thousands were executed.

During the 2008 Presidential campaign Barack Obama told audiences:

“Judge me by the people with whom I surround myself”

OK, we’ll Judge you …

Rasmussen Oct 21, 2009

Done!

1st Navy Union Jack - Liberty Threatened

Today I am flying the Navy Union Jack.  I fly this flag when Liberty and Freedom are directly threatened.  Kevin Jennings, the President’s appointment as “Safe Schools Czar” is actually DANGEROUS to our schools and our children.

Liberty Threatened

Kevin Jennings is the Safe Schools Czar, appointed by President Barack Obama.  There is serious doubt about his qualifications for this position as outlined in the following talking points from the Family Research Council (full text here).  The vetting process being used by this administration once again comes into serious doubt, as once again a person with extreme viewpoints has been chosen … and this time, in charge of our schools! You will see why Kevin Jennings is not qualified for the position to which he has been appointed. The article was written by Peter Sprigg.  Below are the 7 reasons Jennings should be disqualified for this position according to FRC:

Unqualified Safe School Czar

From the Family Research Council
Reasons why Jennings is Not Qualified
Article by By Peter Sprigg

Jennings’ and GLSEN’s* concept of “safe schools”means special protections for privileged groups (especially homosexuals), rather than safety for all.

The Jennings/GLSEN concept of “safe schools” actually extends far beyond the prevention of “harassment” and “bullying” to active “affirmation” and “promotion” of homosexuality.

Jennings is viciously hostile to religion.

Jennings wants only pro-homosexual viewpoints to be tolerated in schools.

Jennings favors indoctrinating even elementary-age children in pro-homosexual ideology.

By his own account, Jennings failed to protect the “safety” of a homosexual student he once counseled when working as a teacher.

Jennings’ own youthful drug use calls into question his suitability for promoting “drug-free schools.”

*(GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian Straight Education Network)

Note: You should read the FULL TEXT of Peter Sprigg’s article for full understanding.

Fox News: Fifty-three House Republicans on Thursday urged President Obama to fire his “safe schools czar,” citing their concerns that Kevin Jennings wants to promote a “homosexual agenda” and that as a schoolteacher years ago he did not report that a young student told him he was romantically involved with an older man.

“Kevin Jennings cannot gain the approval of parents who want their children safe and their schools drug free. You should replace him with someone who has a record of educating children in a safe and moral environment,” they wrote.

Extremist Appointed (Again!) One more time a person with extreme views has been appointed to a key position in the Obama Administration. This time a person documented extreme views has been appointed to keep our schools “safe.”

• You can see Kevin Jenning’s views here in his book called “Queering Elementary Education“. Don’t believe it? You can buy it here. (Amazon.com)

This President cannot seem to pick “normal” people … only the most radical seem to pass his “personal vetting process.”

Kevin Jennings is not qualified to be in charge of keeping our schools safe. He does not represent the view of most Americans and he should be removed immediately. He is a threat to our children, which represent our future. When liberty and freedom are threatened, the threat must be removed for liberty and freedom to prevail.

1. Gateway Pundit: 12/4/09 – Safe Schools Czar promoting Child Porn in Classrooms
   

1st Navy Union Jack - Liberty Threatened

Today I am flying the Fort Moultrie Patriot Flag.  I fly this flag when liberty is at risk through “risky discussion.”  Today a discussion is happening behind closed doors, the result of which could affect every citizen and 1/6th of the economy of the USA. A classic “Star Chamber.”

Talk Risking Liberty

• Wikipedia Star Chamber: In modern usage, legal or administrative bodies with strict, arbitrary rulings and secretive proceedings are sometimes called, metaphorically or poetically, star chambers.
  

Pick four people with whom you vehemently disagree, people who have a track record of being opposed to your points of view. Now imagine them in a dark room behind a closed door preparing a plan that will directly affect your future.  Disturbing?  I would hope so.  Is it any wonder why Conservatives are getting even more angry each day?  Wonder no more!  If you just look at the facts, it is very easy to understand the growing anger toward, and loss of confidence in, this administration.

Wikipedia: Transparency, when used in a social context, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Transparent procedures include open meetings, financial disclosure statements, the freedom of information legislation, budgetary review, audits, etc.

Opacity: The antonym of transparency is opacity it means: impervious, dense, cloudy, muddy, milky, misty, smoky, solid, thick, obscure, unclear, dense, difficult, impenetrable, incomprehensible and hard.

Today, with the promise of governmental transparency still on their lips from the Democrat win, four Democrats, each in his own way a “suspect” to the safety of Liberty and Freedom, are meeting behind closed doors working on legislative details of a Health Care Reform bill that could bankrupt the country and destroy the finest health care system in the history of the world.  Take a closer look:

Closed Door

• Sen Max Baucous … has emerged as a leading recipient of Senate campaign contributions from the hospitals, insurers and other medical interest groups hoping to shape the legislation to their advantage. Health-related companies and their employees gave Baucus’s political committees nearly $1.5 million in 2007 and 2008, when he began holding hearings and making preparations for this year’s reform debate. (Source)
• Sen Chris Dodd – Banking Committee chairman got a sweetheart mortgage from Countrywide; he has received $280,000 in campaign contributions from troubled insurer AIG; and he made sure that AIG executive bonuses were untouched by Congress — then claimed for 24 hours that he knew nothing about it, before reporters forced him to admit the truth. (Source)
• Sen Harry Reid The AP catches Harry Reid without a disclosure on real-estate deals that netted him $700,000 in profit: (Source )
• Rohm Emanuel…made $16 million in less than two years. This sum is in addition to the $250,000 Emanuel made at financially troubled Freddie Mac, which was plagued by scandals involving campaign contributions and accounting irregularities while he was on its board. Emanuel was there when they were cooking the books, And the legislation they are working on is Health Care Reform, which will affect every inhabitant of the United States (citizen and non-citizen) … every inhabitant that is except for their health care plans which are different than those of the average citizen. (Source)

These are the fine and upstanding, honest, trustworthy people who are “deciding” the combined version of the Health Care Reform bill for you and me. They are doing this without input from “bipartisan” sources (Geez, they even didn’t invite Graham or Snowe! … must REALLY be a secret meeting!).

Obama’s Promise: To achieve health care reform, “I’m going to have all the negotiations around a big table. We’ll have doctors and nurses and hospital administrators. Insurance companies, drug companies — they’ll get a seat at the table, they just won’t be able to buy every chair. But what we will do is, we’ll have the negotiations televised on C-SPAN, so that people can see who is making arguments on behalf of their constituents, and who are making arguments on behalf of the drug companies or the insurance companies. And so, that approach, I think is what is going to allow people to stay involved in this process.”

From bobmccarty.com/

Debate? There is no Debate!

Televised on C-SPAN? Didn’t happen!

Discussion? There is no Discussion!

Exchange of Ideas? There is no exchange of Ideas!

Bipartisanship? There is no Bipartisanship!

Transparency in Government? There is no Transparency in Government!

Doubt? There is no doubt!  Not any longer.  The radicals have taken over the government in a bloodless coup and we are witnessing the result.  Total government control of all institutions including the legislative process.

Instead of Transparency in Government, we get Opacity in Government

Four Democrats behind closed doors constructing the bill in secret!

When does a Campaign Promise simply become a lie?

Ft Moultrie Flag - Liberty Risky Discussion