Tea Party Patriots Ordinary citizens reclaiming America's founding principles.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Justice Department Partying on your Dime!

Absolutely unbelievable! No wonder President Obama says he & his Administration never rest -- they're partying on our dime like they've never partied before!

From Senator Coburn's Office --
Dr. Coburn has released a new oversight report “Party at the DOJ” that describes how DOJ is wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on recreational activities that are undermining DOJ’s core mission to enforce the law, prevent crime and administer justice.

Dr. Coburn writes in the report:

With our nation facing the heightened threats of domestic terrorism and unprecedented debt and financial challenges, taxpayers should be shocked to learn DOJ crime prevention grant programs are paying for parties and rollercoaster rides for children rather than focusing on investigating crimes, locating and prosecuting terrorists, and administering justice.

This report, “Party at the DOJ,” examines a number of recent recreational activities funded by DOJ and a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) review that found DOJ does not track the amount spent on recreational activities or the outcomes associated with those activities. The report also makes recommendations to help DOJ better adhere to its mission and protect taxpayers’ funds from misuse.

Craft-making, bowling, and trips to water parks were among the activities GAO identified as being paid for by DOJ. The Department’s own manual for grantees even recommends spending federal crime prevention funds on parties and trips. A review of recent activities sponsored by DOJ grantees identified luaus, a Mardi Gras party, block parties, a film festival, a carnival, skateboarding, dancing, fashion shows, and even a doughnut eating contest as among the recreational activities made possible with federal crime prevention funding.

While many of these may be fun or even educational, there is little data to demonstrate how these types of initiatives advance the mission of DOJ, which is “to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.”

Click here to read the full report.

Golden RINO Award

Once again the curious conservative from Ohio, Senator George Voinovich, turns a deaf ear on the voice of American citizens when it comes to Illegal Immigration.

For these antics, for siding with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and for refusing to uphold the Constitution regarding the State of Arizona's Sovereign Rights, we hereby bestow upon Senator Voinovich the newly commissioned Cleveland Tea Party Patriots -- "Golden RINO Award"


With a well polished horn, Senator RINOvich, being one of two Republican Senators, voted in support of allowing the use of federal dollars to pay for the Justice Dept's lawsuit against Arizona being allowed to protect their borders....

The Senate voted against Arizona's right to enforce immigration laws, 55-to-43, by allowing Justice Department funds to be used in the lawsuit against the state. The vote prevented a floor vote on Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) amendment to the unemployment extension bill making its way through Congress. The amendment would have blocked funding to the Justice Department from being used in its lawsuit against Arizona.

Five Democrats crossed party lines and voted with Republicans and showed their support for Arizona's latest effort to deal with the its large illegal alien population. Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), and John Tester (D-Mont.) voted in support of Arizona.

Republican Senators George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) voted with the Democratic majority and against Arizona. (Right Side News)

Congratulations Senator RINOvich -- we are looking forward to your retirement... it won't come soon enough!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Gene Simmons USO Military Tribute

Gene Simmons from the Greatest Band in the Land -- KISS -- rocks out with our troops...

Friday, July 23, 2010

President Obama Misleads Public on Major Energy & Environmental Issues

Well now here's a real shocker... The Administration has been misleading the public to push their agenda!

From National Center for Policy Analysis --
It is no surprise that a federal appeals court refused to reinstate the Obama Administration's deepwater drilling moratorium, since the scientist cited in support of the moratorium actually rejected the policy, according to NCPA Senior Fellow, H. Sterling Burnett.

"The Obama Administration claimed that the moratorium followed the findings of a scientific advisory panel," Burnett said. "However, it was revealed that a majority of the panel members had recommended against the moratorium, arguing that the potential harms from a moratorium outweighed the risks of continued drilling."

"President Obama has strayed far from his promises made both as a Presidential candidate and as president, especially in the area of energy and environmental policy," Burnett continued. "The president claimed that his actions would be transparent and follow the science, yet on issue after issue, he has ignored the science and flouted the law."

For President Obama, the law presents no limit to his authority, Burnett noted. Three recent actions by the administration highlight this tendency to place Presidential authority above the law. First, the Obama Administration had the department of energy discontinue the plans to build the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. Second, the administration unilaterally placed a moratorium on new offshore oil exploration and production. And third, the EPA withdrew its approval of Texas' clean air flexible permitting system.

"In each of the three cases, the Obama Administration claimed to be following the science and acting to protect the environment, yet nothing could be further from the truth," Burnett said. "Fortunately, a backlash has begun with the courts, administrative panels, as well as state governments challenging the Obama Administrations legally and scientifically questionable actions."

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals seems to understand the profound harm an offshore drilling moratorium would impose to the economy when they rejected the moratorium, Burnett said. In addition, a regulatory panel ruled that the administration violated the law when it withdrew the Yucca Mountain permit without legislative approval.

"Two wrongs don't make a right, and since there is no evidence that offshore operators routinely make the same errors in judgment, the rig workers, the workers in ancillary fields and the public as a whole should not be faced with collective punishment in order to satisfy the anti-energy appetites of environmentalists and their allies in the administration."

Lacking votes on Energy Bill Democrats take a step back

Our sources tell us the Harry Reid is behind closed doors writing his own version of an energy bill and will force to have it passed before they go on August recess. There is a possibility he will be coming out with it this Monday.

Stay tuned -- if he does we will be all over it!

From the Washington Post --
Conceding that they can't find enough votes for the legislation, Senate Democrats on Thursday abandoned efforts to put together a comprehensive energy bill that would seek to curb greenhouse gas emissions, delivering a potentially fatal blow to a proposal the party has long touted and President Obama campaigned on.

Instead, Democrats will push for a more limited measure that would seek to increase liability costs that oil companies would pay following spills such as the one in the Gulf of Mexico. It also would create additional incentives for the development of natural gas vehicles and would provide rebates for products that reduce home energy use. Senate Democrats said they expected to find GOP support for the bill and pass it in the next two weeks.

Democrats have not ruled out pushing for a more extensive measure when Congress returns from its August recess or in the session after the November midterm elections, although it's not clear that any of the Democrats or Republicans who now oppose a more expansive measure would change their minds. Republicans have long argued that the bill, by seeking to limit emissions, would lead to higher energy costs,
a view that some conservative Democrats have also taken.


The decision to abandon the proposal was another concession to the difficult political environment that party leaders face, as many rank-and-file congressional Democrats are wary of casting any votes that could be used in Republican attacks. More...

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services proposes Fee Waiver on Immigration Benefits


From the USCIS --
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed for the first time a standardized fee waiver form in an effort to provide relief for financially disadvantaged individuals seeking immigration benefits. USCIS has published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on the proposed form – Form I-912, Request for Individual Fee Waiver.

The proposed fee waiver form is the product of extensive collaboration with the public. In meetings with stakeholders, USCIS heard concerns that the absence of a standardized fee waiver form led to confusion about the criteria that had to be met as well as the adjudication standards. USCIS worked with stakeholders in developing the fee waiver form that is now posted for comment.

“Our goal is to bring clarity and consistency to our processes,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “We are doing so now in the critical area of providing the financially disadvantaged with access to immigration benefits.”

Mayorkas further stated that the method by which the proposed fee waiver form was devised – through extensive collaboration with the public – will be a hallmark of his approach to improving agency processes.

Currently, applicants requesting a fee waiver must do so by submitting an affidavit or unsworn declaration requesting a fee waiver and stating the reasons why he/she is unable to pay the filing fee. The new proposed fee waiver form is designed to verify that an applicant for an immigration benefit is unable to pay the fee for the benefit sought. The proposed form provides clear criteria and an efficient way to collect and process the information. The public is encouraged to comment on the proposed fee waiver form at www.regulations.gov. The comment period closed on September 13, 2010.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Who is their Leader & Why should we Care about CAIR?

The other day we posted on how the anti-American group, the Council for Arab Islamic Relations (CAIR) has come out in support of the NAACP Resolution condemning the Tea Party movement as racist.

We now want to give you a little more information on this group and who their leader is.

CAIR was named unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism finance trial, which resulted in guilty verdicts on all 108 counts against the defendants. During the trial, FBI Agent Lara Burns testified that CAIR was a front for HAMAS. As a result of the substantial evidence presented during the trial tying CAIR to the international Islamic terrorist network, the FBI recently cut its ties to CAIR, as has the Columbus Police Department and Police Academy. (H/T COAT)

(Side Note: The American Criminal Liberties Union (ACLU) has recently issued a sympathetic report claiming CAIR was smeared in the Holy Land case. Here is a link to the report.

You can click here for a 2006 video montage & click here for a bibliography highlighting CAIR's activities and why every American citizen should be very concerned about them. As you read the articles and/or watch the video, please keep in mind that the NAACP feels there is nothing wrong with CAIR, but with the Tea Party movement. We would ask you draw your own conclusion about CAIR.

CAIR has a long history of not only supporting terrorist groups but of being blatantly anti-American. After the Fort Hood attacks a fire brand cleric associated with CAIR, Zaid Shakir, not only applauded the attacks on our soldiers, but called for attacks on Fort Bragg...

A Council on American-Islamic Relations adviser and regular speaker at its events has suggested Islamic law permits Muslims to attack C-130 military transport planes carrying the 82nd Airborne out of Fort Bragg, N.C., according to a stunning new book exposing Washington-based CAIR's inner workings.

Acceptable targets of jihad, he says, include U.S. military aircraft.

"Islam doesn't permit us to hijack airplanes filled with civilian people," Shakir once told a Muslim audience. However, "If you hijack an airplane filled with the 82nd Airborne, that's something else." (WND)
Shakir has also stated that, "if there is a benefit, civilians are a legitimate target."

Before we go on to who is the current leader of CAIR we would like to note the NAACP has sat silent on CAIR calling for attacks on U.S. military bases & killing of U.S. citizens but felt compelled to condemn the whole Tea Party movement as racist over a small handful of tasteless signs.

And who is the lead man at CAIR? Buckle up & hold your Gadsden Flags tight my fellow Tea Party & 9.12 Sparky's -- it is a State Senator from North Carolina! Yes, you read that right -- a State Senator from North Carolina! And yes, that would be the same North Carolina where Fort Bragg is located.

The current Chairman for CAIR is NC State Senator Larry Fisher. Fisher is also chairman of the Transportation Committee, vice-chairman of the Finance Committee and was a former NC House member.

After serving on Cair's national board for three years and being elected the new Chairman in March 2009, Fisher offered up this completely ridiculous propaganda piece....

“CAIR exists to uphold the right to liberty that Americans are guaranteed under the Constitution. We will challenge any attempts to erode constitutionally-protected liberties. We will also continue to work to ensure that American Muslims play a positive and productive role in our society.

“In carrying out our mission of promoting justice and mutual understanding, we honor and will continue to learn from groups who have faced similar challenges, including African-Americans, Asian-Americans and many others.

“CAIR embraces the cultural and religious pluralism that is a hallmark of America and repudiates any misuse of Islam to falsely justify violence or intolerance. “We look forward to partnering with the Obama administration to help defend civil liberties and to project to the world the best of our nation’s universal, constitutional and pluralistic values of freedom and justice.” (Muslim Media Network)

That CAIR repudiates any misuse of Islam for justifying violence and is working for pluralistic values of freedom and justice is not propaganda -- but a flat out LIE!

Can it get more disturbing? You betcha!

Fisher appears to be accurate in stating that CAIR will be partnering with the Obama Administration. Earlier this year, after the FBI has severed all ties with CAIR, Attorney General Eric Holder spoke at an event sponsored by a group affiliated with CAIR.

Given Fisher's long time ties with CAIR and his unabated support for this extremist Muslim group, the FBI severing ties with them over extremist behavior and, federal prosecutors having confirmed these suspicions as true -- one must ask and demand answers to the following questions....
  • "How can a sitting State Senator legally & morally be the Chairman of a group that espouses attacks on U.S. bases, soldiers and our citizens as justifiable 'jihad'?"

  • "How can & why would, the 'Top Cop' of the United States, AG Holder, speak at CAIR sponsored events and continue having a friendly relationship with a group that espouses attacks on U.S. bases, soldiers and our citizens as justifiable 'jihad'?"

  • "How can the NAACP, using any sound judgement, associate with this type of anti-American group?"
I believe Jeff Foxworthy said it best.... "Here's yer sign!"