Christmas preparations

This one is making the rounds on FB: 

Just another way to gear up for the Christmas season....

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Invasion: Mega Carp Are Coming. So are killer shrimp.

Did anyone watch the SyFy Channel’s mega-hit, Mega Piranha?

(YouTube image)

Even if Great Lakes predatory invaders are too small to eat a helicopter, they are still a real threat. From PJ Media:

Bighead carp — a member of the Asian carp family that can fly through the air and grow as long as 60 inches and as heavy as 110 pounds, just two inches shorter and 15 pounds heavier than former child star Mary-Kate Olsen and her billionaire twin sister, Ashley — is just one of the invasive species worrying people who fish for fun or profit on the Great Lakes.

And there’s plenty of profit to be made on the Great Lakes if only from the $7 billion a year fishing industry.

But now a new critter has been added to the list of invasive species doing damage by natural resources officials in the states and Canadian provinces that surround lakes Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior.

It is much smaller but no less ugly, and it comes by its nickname because it is just as hungry.

The killer shrimp (scientists call it: dikerogammarus villosus) is an inch of pure hunger and fury that chews up and eats anything without a spine that is its own size.

Nick Popoff, the aquatic species and regulatory affairs manager for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, told PJ Media killer shrimp are aggressive little predators with sharp, serrated mouths that shred their prey and could completely alter the food chain in the Great Lakes.

. . .

As scary as the prospect of killer shrimp bottom feeding their way through the waters of the Great Lakes seems, it is the Asian carp that first rattled the invasive species alarm bells in nine states and two Canadian provinces.

Asian carp jump out of the water, seem to fly through the air, smashing hard into whatever or whomever is in their way, and they love to eat.

. . .

Photo: cleveland.com

. . .

Asian carp DNA was discovered in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan in 2013, and a live carp was caught in Flatfoot Lake near Chicago, located next to the Calumet River, which feeds directly into Lake Michigan.

A December 2013 joint Army Corps and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report showed that fish were moving through the electronic barrier in the Chicago Waterway meant to serve as Lake Michigan’s last line of defense against the carp.

In 2012, the electronic barriers temporarily malfunctioned, leaving the Great Lakes unprotected from infestation.

“Right now there are 180 invasive species and growing. Great Lakes fishing can’t afford another one,” Captain Denny Grinold of Fish “N” Grin Charter Service in Grand Haven explained. “If they go the way the sea lamprey did, they will destroy the fisheries.”

Canada is scared, too.

. . .

The Army Corps of Engineers has tried a variety of measures to beat the Asian carp from water cannon to electric fishing, but recommended in June the construction of permanent barriers that would cut off Lake Michigan from Chicago’s waterways, which seem to be a breeding ground for the carp.

But that won’t happen quickly or inexpensively. At a bare minimum, it’s an $18 million plan that would take 25 years to finish.

[By which time the invasion will already be complete.]

Critics say the barrier plan is also inadequate because it doesn’t take into account other waterways that feed into the Great Lakes.

. . .

Could Killer Shrimp-Nado, the Movie be next?

“Maybe you should call the SyFy Channel on that,” Popoff said.

More like Mega-Carp-Nado. Read the rest of the report here.

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Common Core updates: Ohio and Wisconsin

Art credit: www.redstate.com

The Heritage Foundation posted this from The Daily Signal:

On the heels of Republican victories last week, attempts to replace Common Core with homegrown standards are resurfacing in states across the nation.

Most prominently, elected officials in Wisconsin and Ohio are spearheading efforts to reclaim more control of education.

On Nov. 5, the day after the midterm elections, an Ohio House committee passed a bill to repeal the Common Core standards.

Although officials on both sides doubt the bill will garner enough support to pass by the end of the year, they are hopeful the legislature will take up the issue in 2015.

But to be safe, Common Core supporters such as state Rep. Gerry Stebelton, R-Lancaster, say they will double down on efforts to defeat the repeal bill. “It deserved to die,” said Stebelton of the bill. “It has no merit.”

Read the rest here. 

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Cleveland Tea Party Calls for Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neil To Step Down

With the complete election day failures of the Democrats in Ohio thanks to soon to be outgoing Ohio Democrat Party (ODP) Chairman Chris Redfern & his anchor of a candidate for Governor, Ed FitzGerald, that helped bring the whole statewide ticket down, the battle lines are being drawn for control of the Ohio Democrats. 

Showing the establishment Democrats & the establishment Republicans are equally sleazy when it comes to backroom deals and rigging the process, Senator Sherrod Brown's recent endorsement of his lobbyist friend Denny Wojtanowski as next ODP Chair was immediately squashed.

But this post is not to revel in the inner-party fighting of the Democrats in Ohio. 

This post is to serve the purpose of calling for Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neil to immediately step down from the Ohio Supreme Court.

While every citizen, elected official & party activist has the right to voice their opinion - judges and judicial candidates are bound by the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct.  

Recently weighing in on the inner-party fight of the Ohio Democrat Party, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neil, a Democrat, posted the following rants over the last several days....

O'Neil's above Facebook rants go way beyond the allowable activity for a sitting judge under the Ohio Code for Judicial Conduct.

Under Canon 2 Rule 2.4 (Pg 22) of the Ohio Code for Judicial Conduct it states.... (Emphasis Added)

RULE 2.4 External Influences on Judicial Conduct

(A) A judge shall not be swayed by public clamor or fear of criticism.

(B) A judge shall not permit family, social, political, financial, or other interests or relationships to influence the judge’s judicial conduct or judgment.

(C) A judge shall not convey or permit others to convey the impression that any person or organization is in a position to influence the judge.

[1] An independent judiciary requires that judges decide cases according to the law and facts, without regard to whether particular laws or litigants are popular or unpopular with the public, the media, government officials, or the judge’s friends or family. Confidence in the judiciary is eroded if judicial decision making is perceived to be subject to inappropriate outside influences.

From O'Neil's above rants it clearly shows that his political interests and relationships can effect his decision making process which can easily be perceived that he is subject to outside influences.

Further crossing the line of allowable activity, O'Neil's comments are in direct conflict with allowable political & campaign activity allowed under Canon 4 Rule 4.1.... (Emphasis Added)

RULE 4.1 Political and Campaign Activities of Judges and Judicial Candidates

[1] Though subject to public election, a judge plays a role different from that of a legislator or executive branch official. Rather than making decisions based upon the expressed views or preferences of the electorate, a judge makes decisions based upon the law and the facts of each case. Therefore, in furtherance of this interest, judges and judicial candidates must, to the greatest extent possible, be free and appear to be free from political influence and political pressure. Canon 4 imposes narrowly tailored restrictions upon the political and campaign activities of all judges and judicial candidates.

Participation in Political Activities

[3] Public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary is eroded if judges or judicial candidates are perceived to be subject to political influence. Although judges and judicial candidates may register to vote as members of a political party, they are prohibited by division (A)(1) from assuming leadership roles in political organizations.

[4] Divisions (A)(2) and (A)(3) prohibit judges and judicial candidates from making speeches on behalf of political organizations or publicly endorsing or opposing candidates for public office to prevent them from abusing the prestige of judicial office to advance the interests of others.

In O'Neil's Facebook rants he talks about his speaking out on the Democrat Party fight for control of Ohio as a "matter of honor."  

"As a sitting Ohio Supreme Court Justice," stated Ralph King co-founder of the Cleveland Tea Party Patriots, "in reverence to the honor of serving on Ohio's highest court & integrity of the judicial process which he is to uphold, as a 'matter of honor' - Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neil should very quietly, politely, stand up and resign his seat."

Jon Stewart: 2014 Post Election Report

A great post election report by Jon Stewart.  Stewart humorously highlights the election night wins and demographic breakdowns....

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show on Facebook,Daily Show Video Archive

Senator Rob Portman MIA while Cruz & Senate Conservatives Oppose Amnesty by Executive Order

Senator Ted Cruz has sent a letter to lame duck Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid opposing President Obama's threat of using an Executive Order granting amnesty to illegal immigrants to again undermine the power of Congress.

Joining in with Senator Cruz in standing strong against President Obama continued abuse of his Executive Powers are Sens. Mike Crapo, R-ID; Mike Lee, R-UT; Pat Roberts, R-KS; Jeff Sessions, R-AL; and David Vitter, R-LA. 

And in contrast, reminding us what spineless looks like, Senator John McCain has taken to pleading with President Obama not to use an Executive Order for granting amnesty to illegals.  

Being from Ohio, when speaking of spineless on illegal immigration - having been a keynote speaker at a pro-amnesty event last year, Senator Rob Portman leads the jelly fish jubilee. 

Though his voting record shows he would be a better nominee for the Democrats than the GOP, it is being widely reported that Senator Portman, instead of running to keep his U.S. Senate seat, has not ruled out running to be the GOP nominee for the White House in 2016.

When you stop laughing about Portman looking to run as the GOP nominee for POTUS, please contact his office and tell him - if he is looking to be reelected to anything -- now would be the time to at least act like a conservative and sign onto the letter from Senator Cruz.

Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)

DC Office: (202)224-3353
Contact: Click Here
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senrobportman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/portmanpress

From Senator Ted Cruz --

Don’t Enable Obama’s Executive Amnesty in Lame Duck


GOP SENATORS SEND WARNING TO HARRY REID AFTER RESOUNDING REFERENDUM

November 5, 2014

202-228-7561

WASHINGTON, DC - Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today sent a letter to Sen. Harry Reid, D-NV, the outgoing Senate Majority Leader, signed by Sens. Mike Crapo, R-ID; Mike Lee, R-UT; Pat Roberts, R-KS; Jeff Sessions, R-AL; and David Vitter, R-LA expressing opposition to President Obama's announced intention to take unilateral executive action by the end of this year to lawlessly grant amnesty to immigrants who have entered the country illegally.

"The Supreme Court has recognized that ‘over no conceivable subject is the power of Congress more complete' than its power over immigration," the letter said. "Therefore, President Obama will be exercising powers properly belonging to Congress if he makes good on his threat. This will create a constitutional crisis that demands action by Congress to restore the separation of powers."

The letter continued: "As majority leader of the Senate, you have the responsibility of not only representing the citizens of your State, but also of protecting the Constitution through vigilant exercise of the checks and balances provided under the Constitution. Therefore, we write to offer our full assistance in ensuring expeditious Senate debate and passage for a measure that preserves the power of Congress by blocking any action the President may take to violate the Constitution and unilaterally grant amnesty; however, should you decline to defend the Senate and the Constitution from executive overreach, the undersigned Senators will use all procedural means necessary to return the Senate's focus during the lame duck session to resolving the constitutional crisis created by President Obama's lawless amnesty."

The text of the letter is below:

November 5, 2014


Senator Harry Reid
Majority Leader
S-221, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20510


Dear Leader Reid:

We write to express our alarm with President Obama's announced intention to take unilateral executive action by the end of this year to lawlessly grant amnesty to immigrants who have entered the country illegally. The Supreme Court has recognized that "over no conceivable subject is the power of Congress more complete" than its power over immigration. Therefore, President Obama will be exercising powers properly belonging to Congress if he makes good on his threat. This will create a constitutional crisis that demands action by Congress to restore the separation of powers.

As majority leader of the Senate, you have the responsibility of not only representing the citizens of your State, but also of protecting the Constitution through vigilant exercise of the checks and balances provided under the Constitution. Therefore, we write to offer our full assistance in ensuring expeditious Senate debate and passage for a measure that preserves the power of Congress by blocking any action the President may take to violate the Constitution and unilaterally grant amnesty; however, should you decline to defend the Senate and the Constitution from executive overreach, the undersigned Senators will use all procedural means necessary to return the Senate's focus during the lame duck session to resolving the constitutional crisis created by President Obama's lawless amnesty.

Sincerely,

###

Action Alert: The Time for True Health Care Freedom in Ohio is NOW!

 Action Alert  

Now that the elections are over, it is time to get back to work on fighting for our healthcare freedom. With the election night victories by the GOP in the U.S. Senate, now that they have control, there should be no excuses on why they cannot get rid of Obamacare.

After using the often repeated refrain of "Repeal of Obamacare" & "Health Care Freedom" as a fundraising banner since the passage of Obamacare, the GOP must now make good on their promises. 

The health care system in our country was broken prior to Obamacare and Obamacare just made it worse. But even a full repeal of Obamacare will not fix the health care problem we face as a nation.

Freeing us from the chains of Obamacare is not enough - we need true health care freedom and that can only come through the Health Care Compact (HCC).

The Health Care Compact is the only Constitutional option that not only allows states to remove themselves from the chains of federal control, it empowers the member states to address the health care concerns, needs and costs at the state level regardless if Obamacare is repealed or not.

Currently at the federal level Congressman James Lankford (R-OK) has introduced the Health Care Compact (H.J. Res. 110).

Click to Enlarge

To date, nine states have joined the Health Care Compact (Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah), and legislation has either passed the state legislature or is being considered in 12 additional states.

Ohio is hoping to be the tenth state to pass the Health Care Compact with HB 227 having passed out of the OH House State & Local Government Committee and pending a full vote on the Floor of the OH House.

Having the support of 4 out of 6 in the OH House Majority Leadership, the HCC should be one of the first things on the House agenda when they return to session next week on 11/12/14.  

Passion to Action

We are asking everyone to contact your Ohio House Representative and ask that they support the Health Care Compact (HB 227) and true healthcare freedom in Ohio. 

For a county by county list of OH Rep's contact information, please click here.

Please sign the petition in support of the Health Care Compact to show Ohio legislators you support true health care freedom in Ohio. After you sign it please forward it your friends, family and social network.  To forward this post, click here.

Click to Sign the Petition