Author: Personal Liberty

03.10.10 07:01 PM

Even though most media commentators claim that the economy is turning around, the National Inflation Association (NIA) has said growing imbalances make it impossible to achieve a sustained recovery.

In particular, although U.S. consumer spending was up 0.5 percent in January, the national savings rate fell to a 15-month low of 3.3 percent. However, in order to spur a lasting recovery, the NIA believes the savings rate should exceed 10 percent.

The organization also points to decisions being implemented in countries such as Canada, which is trying to cut its government spending and reduce budget deficit in order to achieve a balanced budget by 2016. Similarly, Australia’s central bank has raised its benchmark interest rate to 4 percent.

According to a NIA press release, "If the U.S. doesn’t follow in the footsteps of Canada and Australia, instead of Zimbabwe, we could see massive emigration out of this country [as a result of hyperinflation].

Moreover, the NIA says that as the U.S. dollar is declining, China will be building up their gold holdings in order to ensure the stability of its foreign currency reserves. This will drive gold prices up, and provide great investment opportunities for Americans who are concerned about shielding their wealth and assets from the ravages of inflation.

"It is only a matter of time before the world wakes up and realizes the U.S. economic recovery is phony and the only way our debts will be paid back is through monetization," the release concluded.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…gold-19657110/

03.10.10 07:01 PM

In a potential reversal, advisors to President Obama are close to recommending that self-professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four other co-conspirators be prosecuted in a military tribunal rather than in a civilian court in New York City, The Washington Post reported on Friday.

Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to transfer Mohammed and other terrorist suspects from Guantanamo Bay to New York City has come under heavy scrutiny from Republicans, who have stated that military tribunals are a more appropriate venue for those accused of attacking America.

Representative Peter King (R-N.Y.) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have each proposed legislation that would prohibit any terror suspect from being tried in federal courts or in reformed military commissions located in the United States, according to Fox News.

In addition to GOP opposition, local city officials have resisted Holder’s decision because of costs, security and logistical concerns, the Associated Press (AP) reports.

Meanwhile, many liberal groups have lashed out at the president for even considering a change of venue for the 9/11 trials.

"If this stunning reversal comes to pass, President Obama will deal a death blow to his own Justice Department, not to mention American values," said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), quoted by the news source.

"Even with recent improvements, the military commissions system is incapable of handling complicated terrorism cases and achieving reliable results," he added. "President Obama must not cave in to political pressure and fear-mongering."

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…ects-19654534/

03.09.10 07:01 PM

According to a recent study, a high intake of potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, leafy green vegetables and soybeans, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and coronary artery disease.

Researchers from the University of Naples in Italy analyzed 10 studies that were published between 1966 and 2009 that included nearly 280,000 adults. They discovered that a diet high in potassium was associated with a 19 percent decreased risk of stroke and an 8 percent lower risk of coronary artery disease, according to Health Day News.

The study’s findings were presented on March 3 at the American Heart Association’s Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism conference in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, at the same conference, a study presented by researchers from the Wageningen University in the Netherlands found that a diet high in raw fruits and vegetables may also protect against stroke.

After monitoring more than 20,000 men and women, aged 20 to 65, over a 10-year period, the researchers found that people with a high intake of raw vegetables and fruits were 36 percent less likely to suffer a stroke than those with a low intake of the foods.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…ease-19657088/

03.09.10 07:01 PM

Just weeks after Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass.) was sworn in on Capitol Hill, his committee assignments have been announced, and they are heavily focused on defense and security.

Brown will serve on the Armed Services, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs committees, pending Senate approval through a resolution.

The choices were inspired by the fact that the senator has served 30 years in the National Guard and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He also championed veterans’ legislation for many years as a state legislator, according to the Needham Times.

"We are currently involved in two wars, and these committees are critical in keeping our country safe, as well as protecting the men and women who defend us," Brown said.

"It is equally important that the men and women in uniform receive the care and benefits they have earned through their selfless service," he added.

However, a Boston Globe editorial has expressed disappointment with the assignments, saying Brown’s new work "tilts too far" towards defense, and "doesn’t touch on many of the most vital domestic issues facing the country," such as healthcare reform. The latter was famously championed by the late Senator Edward Kennedy, whom Brown replaced in the special election held last January.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…ense-19654623/

03.09.10 07:01 PM

On March 10, 1748, during a church service in Warwickshire, England, the captain of the slave ship Greyhound converted to Christianity. John Newton, who was just 22 years old at the time, vowed to spend the rest of his life making amends for what he had done.

A quarter of a century later then ordained Rev. Newton delivered a New Year’s Day sermon on the subject of faith. Although the text of that sermon has been lost, a hymn he wrote based on his notes went on to become one of the most popular gospel songs of all time. “Amazing Grace” has been recorded more than 1,800 times by such disparate musicians as Aretha Franklin, Rod Steward, the Dropkick Murphys and the Blind Boys of Alabama. In the early 1970s, a version by Judy Collins spent 67 weeks on the single chart in the United Kingdom. In 1972 an instrumental version by the Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards was No. 1 in England for five weeks.

In the past 237 years, Newton’s grateful, graceful lyrics have given comfort and inspiration to many millions of people. And they no doubt will continue to do so for many centuries to come. We’re all familiar with the first stanza of that lovely, memorable hymn. But here is the complete text:

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

“Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

“The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

“Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

“The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.”

May you be richly blessed, too.

—Chip Wood

http://www.personalliberty.com/this-…r-inspiration/

03.09.10 07:01 PM

Last month marked the one-year anniversary of the stimulus bill, or the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, passing into law.

It was to cost a whopping $787 billion. True to form it has actually cost more, some $862 billion.

The question remains: did it work, or at least did it work well enough to seed recovery? The Federal Reserve doesn’t believe it did.

According to the Globe & Mail, “We have an economic recovery that (Fed Chairman) Mr. Bernanke does not believe is self-sustaining.”

Then again, how could Bernanke think otherwise? Consider that:

• The United States dollar continues to break down against other currencies while gold is near its all-time high. Meanwhile, prices for raw materials jumped 50 percent last year, more than doubling the advance in the S&P 500. That was their best year since 1971.
• Mortgage applications for new homes are down 13 percent from last year and were down 30 percent the year before. This despite record low interest rates and housing prices that are cheaper than they have been in a generation.
• Even with Soviet-style financing, many banks’ balance sheets remain weak. More than 140 banks failed last year. The potential exists for hundreds, perhaps even thousands of more banks to fail over the next two years.
• U.S. unemployment is running at 9.7 percent and the true unemployment rate is more than double if you count those who have given up looking for work and the underemployed. According to The Atlantic that is the highest unemployment rate since the 1930s.

The only good news is that personal spending grew faster than expected in January by 0.5 percent—the fourth consecutive monthly rise. Wait… wasn’t it too much spending that got us in trouble in the first place?

Of course it was, but Americans are not spending frivolously says Keith Hembre, chief economist with First American Funds in Minneapolis. “This is not a credit binge. Bank loans continue to contract.”

According to Hembre, Americans are pulling cash out of their savings accounts just to get by.

But wait, our government has a solution. If you said more spending you are not clairvoyant, just cognizant.

Most of the Democrats simply can’t wait to spend enough to make the nation prosperous once again. Last summer, Nobel prize winner and liberal lapdog Paul Krugman was arguing that the country was in desperate need of another stimulus package.

“Getting another round of stimulus will be difficult. But it’s essential,” wrote Krugman. And if we don’t? Well Krugman and plenty in the Obama administration are ready to slam the Great Depression horn; that blaring siren that screams of soup lines, dust bowls and hobos.

Last year Christina Romer, the chairwoman of the Council of Economic Advisers, published an article on the “lessons of 1937.” That was the year that Franklin Delano Roosevelt started deficit spending in earnest.

There is a chorus from the Left that screams we need another stimulus package or we face Hell—an economic condition so severe that old-timers will recall the Great Depression with fondness.

One might argue that the Obama plan really hasn’t been given a chance. Heck, a trillion dollars here or there isn’t really enough to test a theory, is it?

On the other hand one might say that Obama’s plan has worked perfectly. Not because it has improved the economy, but because it accomplished exactly what it set out to do—to make the Federal government even fatter, greasier and more bloated than it was before. If that is the case then call it Mission Accomplished!

If you think I am crazy consider this: last year former labor secretary Robert Reich wrote on his blog that the recovery might have to rise from ashes like the Phoenix. Riech’s argument is that there can be no recovery until we find an entirely new model for the economy. He didn’t spell out what that model will be, but you can bet one thing—Big Government is a big part of it.

Ron Paul probably sums it up best: “The administration also claims that thousands of jobs have been created or saved by this massive spending bill, but these are just more government jobs, and counterproductive in the long run. Funding for the public sector necessarily comes at the expense of an overtaxed private economy… But the more the burden, the closer the government parasite comes to killing its host.” (You can read all of Dr. Paul’s comments in Whiskey and Gunpowder by clicking here.).

You can’t deny that the federal government is not only more indebted, but also bigger than ever. Last month The Washington Times wrote: “The era of big government has returned with a vengeance, in the form of the largest federal work force in modern history.”

According to the Obama administration the government will employ 2,150,000 employees this year, thousands more than when President Clinton declared that “the era of big government is over” in the 1990s. The growth is not coming to our overstressed military, but in the form of thousands of new civilian jobs.

I didn’t graduate from an Ivy League school like many in the Obama administration and I don’t even know who this year’s nominees are for the Nobel Prize, or even if they have nominees. But I do know that it’s named for Alfred Nobel—the guy who invented dynamite—and that is exactly what the Obama administration is playing with in trying to spend us toward prosperity.

Every government that has tried socialism has suffered for it.

I saw all I needed to see of it growing up in Canada. In the late 1960s Pierre Elliott Trudeau became Prime Minister. His Liberal government seeded socialism for 16 years.

Trudeau was convinced of the superiority of a socialist planned economy over free enterprise. He wrote in 1957, “As far as I go, it seems evident to me that the regime of free enterprise has shown itself incapable of adequately resolving problems posed in education, health, housing, full employment, etc.”

He made his vision a reality, instituting huge deficit spending, a massive welfare class and socialized medicine. And he damn near destroyed the Canadian dollar.

When Trudeau took office in 1968 the Canadian dollar was selling at par with its U.S. counterpart. By the time Trudeau left office in 1984 the Canadian dollar was selling for 70 cents U.S. That was the Canadian dollar’s first marked decline in 100 years! During the 16 years that Trudeau was Prime Minister the Canadian dollar lost more than half of its purchasing power.

Consider what would have happened to two Canadians: one who put $10,000 Canadian cash into his mattress and the other who bought gold in April 1968 when Trudeau was first elected. By June 1984, when Trudeau left office, the investor with the cash would have had the equivalent of $2,350 in constant 1968 dollars. Meanwhile our gold bug would have had $36,000—or 15 times more—in constant 1968 dollars.

If Obama’s vision of government is successful I have no doubt that the results will be even worse for the dollar and better for gold investors. It is ironic, but big creditors like China and Russia, who know better than anyone the ills of socialism, are selling off dollars and buying up resources.

They understand what Milton Friedman meant when he said: “If you put the Federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there’d be a shortage of sand.”

Yours for real wealth and good health,

John Myers
Myers’ Energy and Gold Report

http://www.personalliberty.com/john-…ey-well-spent/

03.09.10 07:01 PM

On March 4, the House of Representatives approved the Keeping All Students Safe Act by a vote of 262 to 153. The legislation is aimed at protecting children from inappropriate uses of disciplinary practices in schools.

The law was inspired by a government investigation that found widespread allegations that children were being abused through misuses of restraint and seclusion in classrooms.

Prepared by the Government Accountability Office, the report stated that children as young as 3 and 4 were disciplined using ropes, duct tape and chairs with straps and bungee cords to restrain or isolate them. The experience was nearly universal, affecting students with disabilities and without disabilities, and those who attended both public and private schools.

"This critical piece of legislation confronts the unimaginable situation in schools across the country whereby some of our nation’s most vulnerable children are treated in an inhumane and degrading manner," said Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), original sponsor of the bill.

However, the organization American Principles in Action did not agree, saying it will limit freedoms enjoyed by private and religious schools.

Its executive director, Andresen Blom, said that 80 percent of Catholic schools and a large number of independent private schools accept federal government funding. "Americans do not pay their hard-earned money to private schools in order to subject them to burdensome and subjective regulations written by unelected federal and state bureaucrats," he stated.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…-act-19654626/

03.09.10 07:01 PM

As the Tea Party movement grows in strength and shows promise to affect the outcome of elections across the country, a new report from the Sam Adams Alliance has sought to understand its supporters’ political motivations.

The study entitled “The Early Adopters: Reading the Tea Leaves” found that activists are motivated by feelings of responsibility to future generations and belief in America’s founding principles. It also discovered evidence that they are a diverse group composed of individuals who—often for the first time in their lives—are becoming involved to change the political landscape and hold elected officials more accountable.

"A lot of surveys have focused on the Tea Party movement, but they’ve been about what others think of them," said Sam Adams Alliance chairman Eric O’Keefe.

"We decided to learn what the Tea Party leaders are up to [by asking them]," he added.

When queried about what issues are "very important" to them, a total of 92 percent of respondents said "budget," some 85 percent pointed to "economy," and 80 percent singled out "defense."

The poll’s authors also found that 86 percent oppose the formation of a third-party and that 62 percent identified themselves as Republicans. However, only a minority (36 percent) support Sarah Palin’s potential presidential bid in 2012.

Sam Adams Alliance is a non-profit organization that works to raise awareness of free market principles and policies.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…oals-19652119/

03.07.10 07:01 PM

Texas Governor Rick Perry resoundingly won the Republican gubernatorial primary on March 2, beating Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison in what has been described as a show of strength of the Tea Party movement.

Commentators have attributed Perry’s win to the anti-Washington sentiment among the state’s conservatives, which has been fueled by the activism of Tea Party supporters who are fighting for small government, oppose the federal deficit as well as tax increases.

On announcing his victory, Perry said the message to Washington was simple: "Quit spending all the money," and "stop trying to take over our lives and our businesses," according to media reports.

If he wins reelection in November, it will mark the latest in the string of high-profile losses suffered by Democrats in recent months, including the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, and the Massachusetts special Senate election.

Perry’s opponent will be former Houston mayor Bill White who won the Democratic primary. In anticipation of the line Perry may take in the upcoming campaign, White said the governor will try to exploit the popular disillusionment with the Obama administration.

However, he told CNN that it would be for Perry’s "own political career."

"[The election] shouldn’t be about a party or who’s doing what to whom in Washington. I’m just running for the people of Texas," he added, quoted by the news provider.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…ment-19649320/

03.07.10 07:01 PM

The National Rifle Association (NRA), America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group, has announced that the 2010 Annual Meetings and Exhibits will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C. in mid-May.

This year’s event is expected to attract some 70,000 attendees to approximately 400 exhibits, and will feature leading firearm manufacturers who will display the firearm industry’s latest products. Visitors will also have a chance to view various hunting and shooting accessories and an extensive private collection by NRA-affiliated gun collector clubs.

NRA’s Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum will take place again this year, followed by the Celebration of American Values Freedom Event. Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is expected to headline one of the meetings.

"Governor Palin is one of the most requested speakers in America today," Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s executive director, told CNN.

"She’s an outdoorsman, hunter and a steadfast supporter of our Second Amendment freedom," he added.

Among other noteworthy events during the three-day convention, there will be presentations on methods of concealed carry, hunting in Africa, firearms law, the grassroots workshop as well as Refuse to Be a Victim seminars.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…alin-19644152/

03.07.10 07:01 PM

Results of a newly released study have suggested that garlic consumed in large quantities may serve as a natural remedy to help ward off cancer.

United States researchers have developed a urine test capable of measuring the extent of a potential carcinogenic process, and found that a decreased risk of cancer development was directly proportionate to an increased intake of garlic.

In the study, researchers from Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center set out to measure garlic’s affect on the body’s level of cancer-causing agents known as nitrates. Groups of participants were treated with varying levels of garlic and then had their urine tested for toxins.

The results of the study showed that respondents who consumed garlic on a daily basis had lower concentrations of nitrate markers than did those who were given no garlic. Moreover, though the differences were slight, the highest consumption of the vegetable was associated with the lowest levels of toxins related to cancer development.

"The precise mechanism by which garlic and other compounds affect nitrosation is under extensive investigation, but is not clear at this time," said Earl Harrison, senior author of the study.

"What this research does suggest, however, is that garlic may play some role in inhibiting formation of these nitrogen-based toxic substances," he added.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…xins-19649256/

03.07.10 07:01 PM

According to a recent study, a daily dose of vitamin D may help people in northern climates better combat the long winter.

Researchers from Loyola University’s Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (MNSON) found that the nutrient can help lift mood during the winter months when days are short and access to sunlight is at a premium.

"Vitamin D deficiency continues to be a problem despite the nutrient’s widely reported health benefits," said Sue Penckofer, professor at MNSON. "[Northern] winters compound this issue when more people spend time away from sunlight, which is a natural source of vitamin D."

Loyola researchers plan to take their vitamin D study a step further by assessing whether supplementation with the nutrient can improve blood sugar and mood in women suffering from diabetes. They state that there is evidence to suggest that vitamin D may decrease insulin resistance, which has been linked to depression in previous studies.

It has been proven that women tend to have poorer blood sugar control and greater rates of anxiety than men with diabetes.

Recent studies have also found that vitamin D may provide protection from high blood pressure and several autoimmune diseases.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…nths-19651924/

03.04.10 07:01 PM

As the immigration reform issue continues to create controversy among Washington’s lawmakers, the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) has released a report on the likely partisan consequences of continued mass immigration.

For the purpose of the study, James G. Gimpel, a professor of government at the University of Maryland, College Park, examined the Republican share of the vote and the foreign-born share of the population over three decades in all U.S. counties.

In his report for CIS entitled “Immigration, Political Realignment and the Demise of Republican Political Prospects,” he revealed that the electoral impact of immigration has been greatest in counties with large populations, where most immigrants settle. In these locations, Republicans have lost 0.58 percentage points in presidential elections for every one percentage-point increase in the size of the local immigrant population.

In fact, among counties with at least 50,000 residents, where the immigrant share increased by at least two percentage points from 1980 to 2008, a total of 62 percent saw a decline in the Republican percentage. In counties with at least a six percentage-point gain in the immigrant share, approximately 83 percent saw a decline in the GOP vote share.

However, Republicans have remained competitive in presidential elections because losses in high-immigration counties have been offset by gains in low-immigration counties, the report also found.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…port-19646770/

03.04.10 07:01 PM

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s top adviser and spokeswoman Meg Stapleton, who was rumored to have a "difficult" relationship with the media and some Republicans, has resigned.

Officially, Stapleton cited family commitments and the need to spend more time with her 2-year-old daughter as the reason for the resignation.

"Taking care of the governor was my priority for the last [few years] and now I just want to personally refocus and spend some time with my precious little one," she said, quoted by The Associated Press (AP).

However, others have pointed out that Stapleton has been increasingly unable to handle the growing amount of scrutiny surrounding Palin since the end of the 2008 presidential campaign.

In particular, media have reported journalists’ frustration with Stapleton who frequently failed to answer phone calls and emails and when she did, her answers appeared "terse and combative," according to CNN.

Moreover, although the former spokeswoman’s performance earned praise from some Palin advisers—including Fred Malek who said Stapleton "has been a one woman band and deserves much credit and admiration"—other commentators were less generous.

According to Geoffrey Dunn, writing for The Huffington Post, Stapleton was considered "incompetent" by senior McCain officials during the 2008 presidential campaign, and her feud with GOP fundraiser Becki Donatelli, of the Washington D.C.-based Campaign Solutions, reportedly led to Donatelli breaking off her relationship with Palin’s Political Action Committee.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…igns-19644154/

03.04.10 07:01 PM

Thank goodness for a conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., last week. I had day-long duties as the master of ceremonies—which meant I was not able to watch Barack Obama’s seven-hour healthcare summit on TV.

If you did, please tell me what you thought of it. (If you’ve never joined our comment club before, it’s easy to do. Just go to the end of this Straight Talk column, type in your raves, rants or whatever, and click “Submit Comment.” Assuming your remarks aren’t obscene, you’ll see them posted a few moments later.)

The analysts I trust—and even a few I don’t like—say the whole affair was bor-ing. Apparently our president came across as smug, arrogant and condescending. Do you agree? This doesn’t surprise me; I think that’s pretty much what he’s actually like.

Peggy Noonan, a conservative commentator who is frequently much kinder to our opponents than am I, said of Obama’s manner, “The president has entered a boorish phase.”

But boors don’t win in politics. I’m beginning to wonder if some of the president’s most avid supporters don’t see the handwriting on the wall. (The word they’re seeing is “failure.”)

In the television coverage of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, Obama’s water carriers in the Senate and House, both looked as though they had been sucking on lemons all morning. No jovial, back-slapping, “glad to have you here” gushing for them. It was more like “Line up the victims, boys, and let’s get this execution underway.”

In fact, the New York Times said as much in its coverage the next day. One of its lead stories started this way:

“Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she is confident she will be able to get the votes needed to pass sweeping healthcare legislation in the House, even if it threatens the political careers of some members of her party.”

I put that last part in bold italics because I wanted to be sure you saw it—and recognized the significance of it. How would you like to be a moderate Democrat facing a tough reelection battle this November and read those words? Think it might send a chill up your spine?

Nasty Nancy has already lost at least one vote. Representative Marion Berry (D-Ark.) announced last month that he won’t be running for reelection this year. In his remarks, he lambasted the White House for pushing Blue Dog Democrats “into the abyss.” His words, not mine.

One astute analyst of the Washington scene commented thusly:

“The thing to know about President Obama’s health talk-fest is that it had zero to do with Republicans or their ideas. The GOP came, it spiritedly debated, it left. The president never budged. He never intended to.”

Precisely!

If the president had actually meant for the summit to lead to compromise and accommodation he would have said so up front. He knew that every Republican in Washington—not to mention an overwhelming majority of Americans—wants to toss out those two disasters that the House and Senate approved under extreme pressure.

But instead of agreeing to kill those bills and, as the Republicans have insisted, “start with a clean sheet of paper,” the president has made it clear it’s “my way or the highway.”

It was apparent to me long before the summit started that the Democratic leadership had absolutely no intention of achieving a “compromise” with the Republicans. The White House had been dropping hints for days that the president was going to set aside the velvet glove and instead take out his heaviest hammer. In this case, that means endorsing an odd legislative practice called “reconciliation” to get his health-care bill passed by both branches of Congress.

I’ve written about reconciliation before. Basically, it means rigging the rules so that legislation already approved in the Senate by 60 votes can be ratified—when it comes back from a House-Senate conference committee—by a simple majority.

Normally, neither side would attempt this parliamentary slight-of-hand when major changes have been made in a bill. But apparently the powers-that-be in the Democratic camp have decided that this is the only way they’re going to get Obamacare passed this year. So the heck with precedent, the public, or the outraged cries of the opposition. It’s “damn the torpedoes, guys, full speed ahead.”

In an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal, former Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist wrote that using “reconciliation” to get Obamacare approved would be “an unprecedented, dangerous and historic mistake.”

Actually, Bill, I kind of hope they’ll go for it. I can’t imagine anything the Obamacrats could do that would stir up the opposition more than to cram this odious piece of legislation down our throats. You think the Tea Parties, town hall meetings and other gatherings have shown some spirited opposition? You ain’t seen nothin’ compared to what will happen if this happens. It’s going to take a lot more than a few hundred million in Cornhusker kickbacks to bully this bill through Congress. It’s going to take a few dozen acts of political suicide.

We’ve already seen the first sign that the deal is breaking down. Both Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are insisting that the other one be the first to bring the bill up for a vote. Watching them toss this hot potato back and forth would be amusing, if the situation weren’t so serious. (Actually, it’s pretty amusing even so.)

I’m sure many of you are getting all sorts of anxious emails from all of sorts of conservative groups, organizations and coalitions urging you to “write your Senators” and “call your Congressman.” Far be it from me to dissuade you—even though you can be certain they already know their constituents don’t like this sleazy effort to socialize medical care in this country.

Instead of telling them to “just say no,” how about we try a little legislative ju-jitsu here? Ask your elected representatives to support an amendment by Representative John Fleming (R-La.) that would require all members of Congress and their staffs to enroll in any new government-run health plan.

I can’t think of anything that would get these pompous planners to switch sides faster. They already know—as most of their constituents do not—that they have exempted themselves from most of the legislative shackles they’ve been so eager to foist on us. Enough of this “some pigs are more equal than others.” Let’s level the playing field and see how they like it.

As soon as we get Fleming’s amendment passed, let’s take away their fancy pensions and force them to join Social Security and Medicare. That will teach them to fuss with our freedoms!

Until next time, keep some powder dry.

—Chip Wood

http://www.personalliberty.com/chip-…econcile-this/

03.04.10 07:01 PM

Two gun violence prevention organizations have announced they are joining forces in an effort to strengthen state-level advocacy efforts.

Freedom States Alliance (FSA) merged with States United to Prevent Gun Violence (SUPGV) and assumed its name on Feb. 23. The new organizations’ stated goal is to support existing state-based gun violence prevention organizations and expand the network of groups working to reduce gun violence in America.

"Despite the tragic and ongoing epidemic of gun violence in this country, policymakers remain unwilling to take any meaningful action to address this urgent public safety issue," said Sally Slovenski, executive director of SUPGV.

She added that the merger will increase opportunities for the sharing of resources and strategies for state groups with a view of influencing anti-gun agenda "in state houses across the country."

As a an example of grassroots success, SUPGV cited Ceasefire New Jersey whose advocacy helped pass a one-gun-a-month law in the state.

However, in one commentary after the announcement, a blogger writing for GunPoliticsNY.com, dismissed the move by stating that "fresh off their defeat with the new federal law allowing guns in national parks, [these]organizations are merging in an attempt to remain relevant."

The amendment to the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009, authored by Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), which permits national park visitors to possess firearms consistent with the laws of the state in which the park is located, went into effect on Feb. 22.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…orts-19643432/

03.03.10 07:01 PM

According to top international human rights groups there is evidence that key congressional members knew about the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) interrogation and detention programs, and that the United States government covered up the details of its cooperation with Polish authorities in the so-called rendition flights.

The groups—led by Amnesty International USA (AI USA)—received the documents in response to their Freedom of Information Act litigation. Among other things, they reportedly show that in one of his first acts as chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) discontinued efforts by previous chair to implement greater oversight of CIA detention and interrogation programs, failing to fulfill the role of Congress in overseeing the agency.

"These documents reveal that members of Congress colluded in covering up evidence of the U.S. government’s torture program," said Tom Parker, policy director for AI USA. He also called for a "full and impartial investigation" as Congress could not be trusted "to properly investigate itself."

Meanwhile, Open Society Justice Initiative, an advocacy group, said that official flight records—provided by Polish Air Navigation Services Agency in response to a freedom of information request filed by a human rights group—confirm that at least six CIA flights landed in Poland in 2003.

It is the first time a Polish government agency has confirmed that CIA aircraft landed repeatedly close to a suspected CIA secret detention and interrogation site for "high-value detainees."

"These records reinforce the troubling findings of official European enquiries and global human rights groups, showing complicity with CIA abuse across Europe," said Adam Bodnar of the Warsaw-based Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…fair-19643453/

03.03.10 07:01 PM

Since the beginning of time people have searched for the secret to extending their lifespan. Whether exploring the location of the fabled Fountain of Youth so they can live longer, or seeking out the latest medical surgery so they can appear younger than their actual age… the quest still continues for longevity and vitality, often with dangerous consequences.

Now recent scientific studies have discovered a simple compound that can help enhance, improve and even lengthen your life—without any negative side effects. Imagine living five… 10… or 15 years longer than the average-age man or woman. It’s not fantasy or science fiction… it’s now medically proven by specialists from the Mayo Clinic and Harvard University that a miracle nutrient called resveratrol found in red wine could be the elixir to extend your life. Resveratrol can also be found in grapes, peanuts, seeds, various Chinese and Japanese herbs, raspberries, blueberries and cranberries.

It all started with a series of molecular breakthroughs discovered by researchers from the University of California’s Irvine and San Francisco campuses and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the late 1980s. The researchers found that in laboratory testing, mice presented a specific set of genes that protected cells from free radical damage and self-destruction after the cell reproductive phase. A single gene was found to literally alter the rate of aging. This gene became known as the “survival gene.”

Some 20 years later, testing at Harvard University conducted by Joseph Baur, Ph.D., and David Sinclair, Ph.D., found that the compound resveratrol contained powerful antioxidants to help protect and activate the survival gene without starving the gene of calories.

By supplementing with resveratrol you can help shut down sick cells and prevent them from multiplying… repair cells faster and keep healthy cells living longer and stronger… increase your lifespan by decades… and virtually wipe out old-age health concerns including blood sugar imbalances, abnormal cell growth, memory loss and cholesterol problems.

Joseph Maroon, M.D., in his book The Longevity Factor: How Resveratrol and Red Wine Activate Genes For a Longer and Healthier Life, states that the life expectancy in the U.S. is roughly 77 years of age. In the 1780s, most people could expect to live to around 35 years old before dying of pneumonia, tuberculosis, chronic diarrhea or enteris—now referred to as the digestive disorder Crohn’s disease. Maroon goes on to explain that during the last 200 years we as a culture have experienced great strides in medicine, nutrition, accident prevention and infection control. However, there are a great many more chemicals, toxins and pesticides in our environment, as well.

These foreign invaders can be responsible for the death of our body’s trillions of disease-fighting cells. Free radical damage and self-destruction mean the death of the cell, and ultimately the end of human life. But Cynthia Kenyon, director of the Hillblom Center for the Biology of Aging at the University of California in San Francisco, stated to Maroon, “If you understand the mechanisms of keeping things repaired, you could keep things going on indefinitely.”

This is why the nutrient resveratrol is so vital to the extension of your life expectancy. Resveratrol can neutralize free radicals to protect your cells, therefore extending cell life—and your life! And resveratrol, as mentioned earlier, can activate the survival gene. The gene can then increase the strength of your cells—especially your brain cells—so you can extend your life expectancy and sharpen your mind because you won’t have lost those essential cells.

For those of you worried about your outward appearance of aging, resveratrol can also help your skin look and feel younger. By increasing your cells’ ability to repair themselves, your skin will appear more vibrant.

Resveratrol blocks free radical damage to all your cells, as Sinclair and Baur discovered, and that includes your skin cells. Environmental factors such as chemicals, toxins, pollution and tobacco smoke are just a few elements your skin can be exposed to every day. This is why daily supplementation of resveratrol is essential—your cells are constantly bombarded by damaging free radicals and continue to die off on a daily basis. But with the miracle antioxidant protection from resveratrol, your skin may begin to lose the appearance of discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles caused by cell damage and destruction.

The amazing and astounding benefits of the red wine compound resveratrol can have a significant and far-reaching effect on the health of your entire body. Resveratrol has been shown to not only protect and repair your body’s cells, but actually enable them to repair themselves while ensuring the sick and dying cells don’t multiply. This could lead to a longer, healthier lifespan for you and your family. If you want to look and feel younger, and continue to celebrate birthday after birthday well beyond your 90s, then put the healing power of resveratrol to work for you.

—Layne Lowery

http://www.personalliberty.com/healt…aging-miracle/

03.03.10 07:01 PM

Results of a recent study have suggested that bitter melon extract, a common dietary supplement, may help protect women from breast cancer cell growth.

"Our findings suggest that bitter melon extract modulates several signal transduction pathways, which induces breast cancer cell death," said lead researcher Ratna Ray, professor in the department of pathology at Saint Louis University. "This extract can be utilized as a dietary supplement for the prevention of breast cancer."

In the study, researchers found that bitter melon extract, which is commonly used in the East as a folk remedy for diabetes because of its blood sugar-lowering properties, was capable of decreasing cell growth and division, and even induced death in some breast cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

Although Ray believes that the supplement will not cure cancer, she does feel that it may delay or even prevent cancer cell metastasis.

However, the researchers stress that their findings were established in a laboratory, and haven’t been tested on humans. They note that it is important to first establish the validity of their results in animal models before recommending the addition of bitter melon extract to a person’s diet.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…owth-19635877/

03.02.10 07:01 PM

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has found that Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jay Bybee, then working as a DOJ lawyer, exercised "poor judgment" when he prepared legal memos regarding the use of torture on detainees in United States custody. Although the document failed to recommend disbarment, it has fueled an independent and long-running campaign to have Bybee disbarred.

At the forefront of the push is the organization called DisbarTortureLawyers.com, which last year filed a disciplinary complaint against Judge Bybee seeking his disbarment in Washington, DC. After the DOJ announcement, it has vowed to supplement that complaint with the new report.

"Until [he] resigns or is removed from the bench, we call on all lawyers of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to file motions to disqualify Judge Bybee, should he be assigned to their cases, on the basis of these official findings of poor judgment," said attorney and campaign spokesperson Kevin Zeese.

DisbarTortureLawyers has also promised to work with jurisdictions outside the U.S. to indict other top Bush administration lawyers, including John Yoo, David Addington, William Haynes, Alberto Gonzales and Stephen Bradbury, as well as former Vice President Dick Cheney, for violating the UN Convention Against Torture.

But the idea is strongly opposed by many Republicans, such as Representative Lamar Smith of Texas, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, who said that "it is important that future government lawyers know that their efforts to protect Americans will not be criminalized by future administrations," quoted by CNN.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/…duct-19635648/