I pledge allegiance to the flag....

One of my childhood memories in a small school in Boise, Idaho, was the daily pledge of allegiance. The class began every day, drawing attention to the American flag. We would put our hands over our hearts and begin, in unison, “I pledge allegiance to the flag....” I may not have understood all of the history of our great country, and how the pledge of allegiance came to be. But as a child, I do remember the quiet reverence and respect for our flag. And about the many that fought and died for our country.

Now, times are a changing. Our great nation has become filled with a society of wimps. People who are so bothered with the thought of offending someone that they will immediately stop whatever the offended claims is an "offense." We seem to always be compromising. But along with being politically correct, comes forgetting where you came from and how our nation came to be. One thing I'm sure of, our founding fathers were not sissies. They crafted a constitution that has enabled us to live free, and to be the envy of other nations. They understood the need for government with a balance, and many gave up everything they had to create a free nation.

It seems that most on the Oberlin School board have forgotten that. The educators clearly need some educating, starting with American history. Across this country it’s becoming acceptable in more and more schools to give children birth control pills and condoms without parental consent. They’re counseled on respecting those of different sexual orientation. They are taught to respect other cultures, but what about our own? When will people take a stand in Oberlin and use the pledge of allegiance as a daily reminder of respect for “our” nation, and “our” flag. The Oberlin school board has decided, and arrogantly I might add, that the pledge that could help teach respect for our country, and our flag, instead might offend. I would urge these board members to think very carefully about what their decision means.

Shawn Marsin has been in the thick of this debate with the Oberlin school board. Reporting on the last meeting, Shawn wrote what the Oberlin school boards initial "compromise" was.

"Citing the pledge of allegiance is not a part of each structured school day. However, at least once and no more than five times each month, as determined by the building principal, the pledge of allegiance shall be read over the public address system in each school building. The pledge of allegiance is an acknowledgment of the freedoms enjoyed by Americans, which includes the rights of dissent and freedom of expression. Teachers are responsible for ensuring that in each classroom no student is to be compelled to join in reciting the pledge, nor shall any student be compelled to refrain from reciting the pledge. Any incidence of hazing, discrimination, bullying, or other form of disparagement of a student choice regarding recitation of the pledge will be considered a major disciplinary infraction and will be referred to the principal for consequences.
The pledge of allegiance and the accompanying preamble will be read together on all occasions of recitation of the pledge: "All students are equally welcome to remain silent or to join in reciting the pledge of allegiance; I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In addition, the Superintendent shall issue Administrative Guidelines to assure that the Pledge of Allegiance and its historical context will be taught at an appropriate level of sophistication as part of the curriculum in each grade level.

To the Oberlin school board members: You either understand the significance of the pledge or you don’t. Writing a sanitized version by removing Under God, limiting the times it can be said, and bending over backwards to make sure somebody’s feelings don’t get hurt is wimpy and half-assed at best. There are however, people like Paula Jones, vice-president of the Oberlin board who does get it. She voted no to the proposed policy because of the changes and believes that the pledge of allegiance should be said not only daily, but in the way Congress intended.


If someone doesn’t want to show respect and recite the pledge, then that is their right. But the arrogance of rewriting a pledge from 1892, that was revised by President Eisenhower in 1952, to something you find more socially acceptable, is a slap in the face to the every man and women who have given their lives for this country. While you read this, someone is dying in defense of our freedoms while you cower because some find it distasteful and you choose the easier route.

Are you saying that it is bad to love our traditions, our heritage, our country, the flag of the United states of America for which literally hundreds of thousands have died? All because a small minority of people objects, the Oberlin School board will again choose to stomp on the traditions of our nation. I’m reminded of a quote, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” It’s time to stand up for right, or little by little, our freedoms and traditions will continue to be eroded by political correctness.

The pledge of allegiance is an opportunity to teach American history. It is an opportunity to teach respect and gratitude for the flag and our nation. Especially in today’s society, when it’s needed more than ever, it would be nice to know that some Oberlin children can also experience that same daily moment of reverence and reflection for the freedoms we enjoy. I love my country, and I won’t apologize for it. One does not have to live here. But I do believe that whether you are here as a citizen or a visitor, respect for our heritage should be expected, as it is in every other country.

Too many seem to have forgotten, or just don’t know, that most of George Washington’s army fought through the winter of 1776 with little equipment, and without shoes on their feet. They suffered sickness and poverty, the likes of which I can barely comprehend. Many of them were just boys. They fought for their posterity, they fought for us. They fought and died for our flag and all it represents.

On Monday I attended the Parma Memorial Day parade with some of my fellow Cleveland tea party patriots. I had the opportunity to stand among veterans of Vietnam and Iraq. As the flag was raised, our hands went over our hearts and in unison we recited the pledge of allegiance. As I began the words “I pledge Allegiance to the flag…” I fought back tears as I thought of the unimaginable sacrifices these men standing in my midst made for everyone of us. I thought of what an incredible honor it was to be with them on that day. Many of them left quickly afterwards to go leave flowers on the graves of their buddies who fought and died beside them. The pledge of allegiance is not meaningless, outdated, irrelevent, or politically incorrect. The pledge of allegiance is an honor to have.

Contact the school board here.

http://www.oberlin.k12.oh.us/boardoffice.htm

Happy Memorial Day

The Tea Party Patriots salute all our veterans & soldiers. Please take time today & remember our fallen warriors...

Without their sacrifice - we would have no Nation for God to Bless!

The State of Ohio Budget Woes

The budget office has anounced a $912 million gap in the OH budget between now and June 3oth. For those that don't know - that is just what we are short this year. The budget proposals being worked out in the Ohio Senate are for the upcoming budget - and Gov. Strickland, the House and Senate are all using cherry-picked numbers in crafting that one.

Unemployment in OH has just hit 10.2% - an almost unheard of number in our states history. This will have a direct effect on predicted revenues coming in.... in other words - the estimated revenue numbers being used to craft the budget - will in no way be close to the actual revenues.

Fellow Ohio blogger Kyle Sisk took the time to scribble down some of his thoughts that will hopefully help awaken some of the brain dead Ohioans. Why? Because we will soon be seeing a huge tax increase to pay for the current shortfalls and to cover the stimulus funds once they run out, backward school funding fix, etc...

From Kyle Sisk Blog --

Hopefully this will at least get people thinking a little bit...

The "hole" for this budget is BIGGER than anyone has reported thus far.

No, I don't have access to Pari's numbers (in the spirit of full disclosure, I don't think she has access to real numbers either...I envision some geeky guy in a room with no windows throwing darts at a dart board with budget figures on it...but I digress), but I do have an inkling as to some of the things the Senate GOP caucus will and will not do.

1. The Senate will not be the first to utter the words "tax increase" and because of the shenanigans that both Strickland and the House dems have pulled they have the "high ground" to not have to be the ones who call for a tax increase.

2. The Senate will not take a shot at the Nursing Home Industry (sorry Ohio Business Roundtable...just not going to happen) because the Industry provides way too many much needed campaign funds to hit them...especially since Budish will just take care of them on the back end in Conference. That would give the Senate GOP and Batch and the House GOP Minority (SIDE NOTE: From hereon "Batch and the House GOP Minority" will be referred to on this blog as "The Land of Misfit Toys" until they can show they deserve a different title) the worst of both worlds (i.e. Harris and the Senate GOP make cuts to the Nursing Homes and then Budish saves them in Conference). I hope/believe the Senate GOP caucus is smarter than
that.

3. I am going to do a completely separate blog post on this group of people because I believe it is a core group for the GOP (Kasich especially) in the 2010 elections: 80,000 students in charter schools and the 14,000 students getting vouchers. The Senate MUST MUST MUST restore the full funding to these 94,000 students. This point needs to be a "line in the sand" kind of thing.

4. With much of the backbone of the GOP's voter support coming from school districts that are not treated all that kindly in the Ted version or House version of the school funding proposals be looking for some dramatic shifts from the Senate on who will get funded, major changes in Ted's "not even remotely based in reality plan for today to 2017"

5. Don't look for many changes to the higher education budget. Look for some rearranging with proprietaries and privates, but the overall number will be about the same.

6. No one has been talking about prisons, but I just wanted to put my two cents in on the issue. For some background, I'm a card carrying GOPer who is pro-death penalty and I'd even be for firing squads for rapists (DNA proof) and pedophiles (I know...I'm a bit extreme on punishment of certain offenses, but I only throw this info out at you for what I'm about to say). That said, it is uber expensive to house non-violent drug offenders in our prisons. If this trend continues then our prison (already at or past critical mass with current prison populations) system will not be able to handle the number of prisoners. We will either have situations way worse than Lucasville or in this time where our leaders are trying to find places to make cuts we will be in a position where we will ... gasp ... have to build more, new prisons (how politically popular do you think that is going to be???).

Something has to be done differently with non-violent drug offenders and I can't think of any better time to address this issue than at a time like now when budgets are being scrutinized. That said, I don't think anything will happen on this issue in time for this budget so for the sake of this blog post we will say that no one will cut the prison budget.

7. The Senate won't touch this "slots at the tracks" stuff. It doesn't make sense politically for anyone to do this. Follow my line of thinking here: If the amount created by doing the slots at the tracks actually filled the hole entirely then it would be a no-brainer move. They do it and take shit for doing it, but it solves the budget hole. Done and done. That is not the reality of the situation though. Slots at tracks will not even come close to filling the hole so if the Senate went ahead with it they would get whacked for doing it AND still have the problem/issue of having to still come up with a huge chunk of funds to fill the rest of the hole (i.e. they would be proactively creating two headaches instead of creating just one headache).

Here is what I think will happen with the Senate. They will look at their situation and say,

"Ted & Pari played reindeer games and gave the House a budget not based in reality. Budish then played even more reindeer games and handed the Senate a budget based even less in reality than Ted's budget. Why should we be the adults in this situation? What is the political advantage to doing anything other than operating the same way Ted & the dems have acted? There isn't any....so...we'll continue this game of Fantasyland and take the budget back to Ted's numbers (or maybe a little bit better than that) and we'll essentially start over (sorry lobbying community) in Conference Committee."

If the Senate does that then basically they'll knock off the House dem $91 million, probably do something with Aging &/or the Regents, get rid of some of Ted's onerous fee increases, maybe even do an across the board minimal "window dressing" type cut across state gov't (probably will not do this) and really play with the numbers by adjusting the Medicaid caseload (they will do this because it is an easy way to play with the numbers in the short run).

Doing those types of things will make the Senate look at least quasi-responsible and will get this budget to Conference Committee where the real dirty work will occur.

The thing that will be funny about Conference Committe this budget cycle is that anyone with a brain in their head will be doing everything within their power to make sure they are NOT on the Conference Committee.

Cuts alone will not balance this budget in 38 days. Cuts combined with slots at tracks and all the messing around with figures everyone wants to do will not get us there this time.

The ONLY way to get there is with additional revenue (aka tax increase for those of you on the short bus who do not know what "additional revenue" means).

They will either do a tax increase in Conference Committee OR everyone will be back in Columbus addressing the budget again by say...hmm...no later than October...and then it will probably be even uglier than it is today.

Taxes WILL be increased. It is not a question of IF. It is a question of WHEN and HOW MUCH.

Tea Party Patriots take on California GOP

Since first getting involved with the Tea Party Patriots I have always said and believed - this must not be a partisan group - but it must be a political group. It must be a group that will get involved with all level of politics. This means having fellow Tea Party Patriots on county party central & executive committees.

Being a conservative, for me this would be on a Republican county Central Committee - which I am. For me, I believe most of our politicians are lost and more concerned with getting re-elected, but I am more upset, disappointed and disgusted with do-nothing Republicans more concerned about renaming the Democrat Party the Democrat Socialist Party on a national level and the complete incompetence of the GOP at the state and local level.

As a Central Committee member of the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County (RPCC) I have been very outspoken and vocal critic against the 'social club' that has rendered the party ineffective. This would range from taking the powers of the party to task for spending over $400k in salaries and operating expenses and being unable to get anyone elected or effect policy, buckling to the 'social club' members and failing to come out against a forced sales tax increase for the proposed MedMart, completely silent on the recent domestic registry created in Cleveland, and my favorite -- our party chairman condoning officers and members of our party financially supporting Democrat candidates running against endorsed Republican candidates.

It is because of this crap - I knew the only way to have effective change is at this level. Why? Because it is from within the party structures (D & R) that the candidates come, get their initial financial and grass-roots support.

Let's put it this way.... how often is it that when you go to the polls, you find yourself choosing between what you feel is the lesser of two evils? Pretty often huh? So, if this is where, on both sides of the ticket (D & R), we can effect the candidates from which we choose - wouldn't it only make sense that this would be one of the most important tasks we could accomplish?

It is having a say and a vote in these forums where we can challenge the potential candidates. This is where the candidates are given their endorsements - having voting members of Tea Party Patriots on these committees - is where we can force them to earn their endorsements.

Currently we are allowing the party members (Social Clubs) of the Donkey Brigade & Elephant Clan dictate too us the direction of our country. This is ass-backwards! We are to dictate too them - the direction of our country. The County Central & Executive Committees of both parties is where we can have a direct effect. Though I know many Democrats with conservative values it is the Republican hacks that fear this the most - this is why they try to be dismissive of the Tea Party Patriots.

Unlike some groups, the Tea Party Patriots - not only understand this - but are acting. You will see below how Ron Nehring, Chairman of the CA Republican Party, was thrilled spitless when confronted by Mark Meckler, one of the National Coordinators for the Tea Party Patriots and some San Diego Central Committee members...

Apparently, Ron Nehring, the Chairman of the California Republican Party made an appearance at the San Diego County Central Committee meeting on Monday night. In addition to refusing to answer Central Committee member questions about his party "expenses" which have been raised in the media, Nehring was also dismissive of the questions of large numbers of Tea Party Patriots who were present.

Some believe he might have been in attendance to thwart a rumored no confidence vote against the County Chairman, Tony Krvaric. In any event, Nehring refused to answer Central Committee Member questions regarding his personal expenses, which have been raised in the media and left unaddressed by the Chairman. He was also apparently somewhat dismissive of questions by Tea Party Patriot, Sarah Bond regarding the Party's actions on the tax hike propositions on the upcoming special ballot. When asked directly by a Sarah about what the California Republican Party has done to defeat Proposition 1A after being so late to the party to take a stand against it, our Patriot activist reports,

"So after Nehring left the stage (he wouldn’t take my question in front of the meeting), I asked him point blank, “…We are holding a NO-ON-1A Tax Revolt here in San Diego this Saturday. What can we tell the Tea Party Patriot protesters, about what the California Republican Party has done for and spent on NO-ON-1A?”

Nehring’s answer, “What would be enough? One million? Two? I can’t give a number that will satisfy them. That’s not what this is about.”

You can read the whole torrid story here.

While it makes for amusing reading, it also shows how desperately out of touch the leadership of the California Republicans remains, in their continuing disdain for and dismissal of the tea party movement. But the story doesn't end there. Mr. Nehring wasn't yet done digging this hole. More...

As you can see, this is where the fight starts and where we can have a direct effect.

Good Job guys!!!

Contact Your State Senator about the Ohio Budget

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots

For Immediate Release

May 10, 2009

Contact: Cleveland Tea Party
clevelandteaparty@gmail.com

Tea Party Patriots - Our Time Has Come!

Contact Your Senator About Ohio's Gaping Hole of a Budget

Already burdened with federal spending and programs that will bankrupt our country - The State of Ohio legislators are proposing a budget(s) that will 'one up' the Feds in feckless, irresponsible spending.

Unable to pay the bills for even this year - about $300 million in discretionary spending left out of the $3.8 billion in spending still to be done in fiscal 2009 - and unable to explain the proposed spending or funding for the upcoming budget - it is time for the Tea Party Patriots to let our elected officials know the Silent Majority will be Silent No More!

We, the Tea Party Patriots, must stand firm and resolute that any budget proposal put forth, be it from the Ohio House, Senate or Governor Strickland, be fiscally prudent and not bankrupt our future. Anything less is unacceptable!

We are asking that you, signing your letter as a Tea Party Patriot and in your own words, contact State Senators on the Finance Committee and Senate President Bill Harris urging them to reject any budget proposal that is not fiscally responsible. Using one-time stimulus money to fill the budget gap is not only fiscallly irresponsible -- it is a violation of our State's rights. The future of our State, our lives and our children depend on our actions!

We can only hope that our State Senators not only hear our message loud and clear, but act as wise stewards of our money. If not, they can be sure we will deliver the message in person.

Please find below the contact information for Senate President Bill Harris and all member of the Ohio Senate Finance Committee...

Senate President Bill Harris
StatehouseRoom #201, Second Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-8086
Email: SD19@senate.state.oh.us

Senate Finance Commitee

Senator John Carey, Chairman
Senate Building
Room #127, First Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-8156
Email: SD17@senate.state.oh.us

Senator Mark Wagoner, Vice Chair
Senate Building
Room #129, First Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-8060
Email: SD02@senate.state.oh.us

Senator Dale Miller
Senate Building
Room #048, Ground Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-5123
Email: SD23@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Senator Ray Miller
Senate Building
Room #228, Second Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-5131
Email: rmiller@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Senator Thomas F. Patton
Senate Building
Room #140, First Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-8056
Email: SD24@senate.state.oh.us

Senator Shirley Smith
Statehouse
Room #223, Second Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-4857
Email: senatorsmith@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Senator Gary Cates
Senate Building
Room #132, First Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-8072
Email: SD04@senate.state.oh.us

Senator Kieth Faber
Senate Building
Room #138, First Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-7584
Email: SD12@senate.state.oh.us

Senator Jason H. Wilson
Senate Building
Room #050, Ground Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-6508
Email: senatorwilson@maild.sen.state.oh.us

Senator Tom Niehaus
Senate Building
Room #220, Second Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-8082
Email: SD14@senate.state.oh.us

Senator Chris Widener
Senate Building
Room #041, Ground Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-3780
Email: SD10@senate.state.oh.us

Senator Jimmy Stewart
Senate Building
Room #040, Ground Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-8076
Email: SD20@senate.state.oh.us

Senator Bill Seitz
Senate Building
Room #143, First Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-8068
Email: SD08@senate.state.oh.us

Again, in your own words and expressing your heartfelt feelings, contact the above State Senators by phone, mail or email. Let them know that as a Tea Party Patriots, no longer will we sit silent.

The Cleveland Tea Party Patriots
clevelandteaparty@gmail.com

Ohio's titanic budget

The one issue that defies all my logic, is how increasing taxes can ever create jobs. To me it's simple mathematics. Take the idiots, I mean representatives in Ohio. They've run the state budget for years into the ground. They've now got us so far in the hole that both sides say the only way to plug the holes in the sinking ship is to significantly raise taxes. They will turn Ohio, which is already rated one of the worst business friendly states, into an all out assault on small business.

First we have a budget that was submitted by the house that is complete BS. I'm not a genius, and even I know that when the economy is down, people earn less money, and the state will collect less in taxes. Yet the house, and Governor Tax'em Ted Strickland pushed it through anyway with a wink wink and a smile. Only the government can operate this way. And only when enough people, taxpayers, don't pay attention.

Last weekend my husband and I had a famous "Whiteys" burger with some fellow Cleveland tea party patriots. At one point, while talking about our business, my husband shared that his biggest professional regret was that we moved our business to Ohio. Now, that's a whole other blog, but, there is something our representatives need to be reminded of. Just as easily as we sold a house, bought another, packed an office, and moved our key people here, we can do it again and go elsewhere. Do we want to? No. But it does come down to a funny fact call math.

I'm sick of watching politicians throw money around like everyday is Christmas. I'm sick of politicians trying to make the case that increasing taxes and inventing new ones will solve the worlds woes. Every single dollar they take is another dollar you have to play catch up to earn. At what point do you cut bait and run?? Well, it's already been happening. People have been fleeing Ohio for years. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article,

Research from Richard Vedder of Ohio University, found that from 1998 to 2007, more than 1,100 people every day including Sundays and holidays moved from the nine highest income-tax states such as California, New Jersey, New York and Ohio and relocated mostly to the nine tax-haven states with no income tax, including Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire and Texas. We also found that over these same years the no-income tax states created 89% more jobs and had 32% faster personal income growth than their high-tax counterparts.

So, while unemployment rises in our state, our elected officials continue to raise the taxes, making it all but impossible for people like me and my husband to give raises, offer more benefits or increase bonuses. The money simply isn't there. Our officials have made damn sure of that.

Did the greater prosperity in low-tax states happen by chance? Is it coincidence that the two highest tax-rate states in the nation, California and New York, have the biggest fiscal holes to repair? No. Dozens of academic studies -- old and new -- have found clear and irrefutable statistical evidence that high state and local taxes repel jobs and businesses.

More recently, Barry W. Poulson of the University of Colorado last year examined many factors that explain why some states grew richer than others from 1964 to 2004 and found "a significant negative impact of higher marginal tax rates on state economic growth." In other words, soaking the rich doesn't work. To the contrary, middle-class workers end up taking the hit.

More...

While we flounder, there are states who are getting it right. States with officials who have respect for the funds that are collected and dispersed. Officials that treat a state budget like it was their own money and not a monopoly game. Look at Texas.

Gov. Perry and Texas have the jobs and prosperity model exactly right. Texas created more new jobs in 2008 than all other 49 states combined. And Texas is the only state other than Georgia and North Dakota that is cutting taxes this year.

Hopefully Ohio can get it right. If not, Texas is looking better and better. Plus, I've always had a thing for warmer climates and cowboys...

Calling All Tea Party Patriot Veterans

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots

For Immediate Release

5/16/09

Contact: Doug Angyal

madhatterl7@yahoo.com

Cleveland Tea Party Patriot Veterans Wanted

Join us in the Parma Memorial Day Parade

Our veteran coordinator, Doug Angyal (U.S. Army) is inviting all fellow Tea Party Patriots who are veterans, and all veterans who support the Tea Party Patriots, to march in the Parma Memorial Day Parade.

The Parma Memorial Day Parade is being sponsored by the Parma Disabled American Vets (#116). The .75 mile parade will start at 9:00am and will proceed down Ridge Rd. to Parma City Hall where there will be a Flag raising and Memorial Day ceremonies.

The Vietnam Veterans of America (Chapter 15) will be doing the Honor Guard duties and Mr. Tommy Farkas, the last known living Iwo Jima veteran in the Cleveland area, will be the Grand Marshall.

Military uniforms and fatigues are welcome and encouraged, but not required. If you have a classic car and wish to drive it in the parade please inform Doug when you RSVP.

Please RSVP to Doug (madhatterl7@yahoo.com) no later than Friday 5/22/09.

For all others, please join us in honoring and remembering our soldiers and veterans. For without them and the sacrifices they have made for our country we would not have a USA for God to Bless!

Thank You

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots
www.clevelandteaparty.com

The Cleveland Tea Party Patriots are a non-partisan, grass roots group of private citizens committed to smaller government and responsible spending.