New Orleans Rocks

I had the distinct pleasure recently of attending a concert in New Orleans sponsored by AARP, of all organizations, given the following of the ladies involved.

It was a concert by Melissa Etheridge, Gladys Knight and Stevie Nicks, in conjunction with the National AARP Convention.

It would appear an attempt to change the image of AARP and give it a much "younger" vibe, as the focus of the convention was for those 50 and over.

Melissa Etheridge barely made the cut, at 51, but rocked the house with her soulful guiter riffs and songs. She looks better than she has in years, and made reference to her past battle with breast cancer.

You wouldn't know it to look at her, really.

Next up was Gladys Knight, and the season on Dancing with the Stars appears to have given her more energy and could hardly believe she is over 65.

She has the moves, and her brother (one of the Pips) contribution really made the show.

Next up, one of my rock idols for many different reasons, Stevie Nicks.

All three of these particular ladies were actually born within a week of each other the end of May. Geminis, all.

Which perhaps makes this review a little biased.

My own birthday is May 30, and connect with their music on almost a spiritual level. The pain, and the angst, and the soul, that is.

Stevie was for many years a resident of my former home state, Arizona, whose father owned a concert venue there for many years, Compton Terrace.

She was absolutely incredible and sounds better than ever with the maturity her age and experience have given her.

Some of the "older" AARP members left during her set, which was a shame but then Stevie is a taste best left to the under 70 crowd, at least. She rocks and makes no bones about it.

She performed a particularly poignant song about New Orleans from her current album, which was well received and appreciated.

She also performed a song "Soldiers Angel" which was written after a visit some years ago to Walter Reed Hospital and speaking with wounded servicemen. She has become heavily involved in this cause, from what it appeared.

It was a more "national" crowd at this show, although the people of New Orleans and the surrounding area right now are pretty hard pressed to offer much in the form of donations - it was a very touching story and song.

As a matter of fact, I had gotten the tickets as a gift from a daughter who knew how strung out her mother was after Isaac and its aftermath, and caring part-time for elderly parents for months on end before that.

And although I had lived in Phoenix for over 45 years and graduated not but a few years behind Stevie, had never seen her live so when I mentioned the concert, sent me the tickets by return email.

But it was Ms. Nicks rock anthems and incredible voice that stole the show.

Rhiannon

Landslide

Stand Back

Edge of Seventeen

All poems set to music, actually, from an incredibly gifted poet.

I guess as a footnote, in order to truly help all those soldiers, and soldiers wives, mothers and families - I hope someday she will lend her incredible voice and support into stopping some of these senseless wars - as she should also know as one from the Vietnam era herself.

Since it does appear that neither party is willing to end one at this point, without shortly beginning another...

How many men have been lost through five decades of war?

Rock on, Stevie....

AARP isn't ready for us...

Not yet, anyway...

Memorial Day Memories

The Memorial Day holiday is probably more significant to me than it is to many Americans for one simple reason.

Historically, May 30th was designated as Memorial Day; however, the day in May has fluctuated during the last several decades due to a change in legislation in order accomodate U.S. businesses and their employees to afford a three day weekend.

Memorial Day remained May 30th for many years after I was born, since May 30th just happens to be my birthday.

I was born on the day which was designated to honor all those killed in the wars preceding my birth...which at that time were those who lost their lives in the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I and World War II.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

My birth and their deaths have been my legacy ever since.

While President Obama laid wreaths and rolled out the patriotic speeches, and Romney used the day to campaign on increases in federal governmental spending on defense, mention was made that this is also the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Viet Nam war.

Also a war in which I was an eyewitness to the events surrounding its beginning, progression and ending.

What I heard did not at all address this war for what it was.

The start of the wars for global dominance and offensive engagements rather than Constitutional defensive ones.

The service personnel from that war need recognition more so probably than any other group of servicemen and women.

After all, most of them were required to serve, or run off to Canada if they did not wish to be drafted.

Many came back having been the subjects of experiments in chemical warfare (Agent Orange), and with PTSD due to having to fight a war against an ill defined enemy, for an ill defined purpose, and against women and children who were used also as combatants.

Sort of like this ongoing conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan and wherever else the front in this Middle Eastern "War on Terror" moves.

It appeared to me that many of those governmental officials waving the flag interviewed on cable television were using terrorism tactics themselves.

Romney stating that "this country is no more safet today than it was ten years ago" and in need of bulking up its military defensive spending in order to guarantee Americans future safety and security from the Middle Eastern threat.

When over 4,000 men and women so far have died in this current war, in addition to those lost in 9-11...would appear the threat is greater over there than it would be if we were fighting this war on our own home soil, if needed.

I mean, what is the logic of losing another 4,000 lives after losing almost 3,000 and doubling down on the loss of life.

If what Mr. Romney states is true, just how many more lives will be needed?

Our own U.S. borders are still, for the most part, unsecure and more and more foreigners are being afforded entry in this country than ever before, under that U.S. free pass visa waiver program which was instituted during the last days of the Bush Administration.

From over 40 different countries.

We are now training foreign troops on U.S. soil for the first time in American history - just how secure is that making this country's defense?

If we are not any more secure today than we were ten years ago, just what was the point of Reagan's Star Wars program, and all the literally tens of billions of dollars that have been spent to buy the latest satellite technology, and all those gadgets and guns?

Just how many more American lives, and livelihoods, will it take?

The attached video on the Viet Nam conflict is as true today, as it was then....and it is the sons and daughters of Americans that continue to pay the price...

THIS was Viet Nam....and this Middle Eastern war will be this generation's Viet Nam...

And how many that paid tribute today, will not be here for the next Memorial Day?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnnLrmboOYE&feature=related

Iraq War Over? In Name Only, Perhaps

Contrary to what has been reported in the mainstream media, and especially the left wing Democrats on CNN, MSNBC and even those on that British Conservative station, Fox, the Iraq War is hardly over - nor is its reported "end" the result of Mr. Obama's stated campaign promises (except to promise what Bush had already agreed to before leaving office).

It was reported four short years ago that George Bush, during his last three months in office, quietly met with the "new" Iraqi government and agreed to a massive troop withdrawal beginning in 2010 and winding down by the first two weeks in December, 2011.

Which is exactly what has occurred, as agreed.

Just prior, of course, to the next presidential election in this country.

The mainstream media reported it, however, it appears the politicians in Washington hope and pray that Americans will buy this troop withdrawal as ending the War in the Middle East and crediting Mr. Obama for this massive coup.

Until, of course, there is another tragedy involving the U.S. in Iran, Pakistan, or wherever else the military decides it needs to go to bomb, and then rebuild.

The government contractors, of course, are still in Iraq and probably will be there for quite some time.

With, of course, military personnel still there also in order to not leave Iraq totally without a U.S. presence, and keep those government contractors and their safety as their primary priority now that the war is "over." With the convenient capture also of Osama bin Laden this year too (buried at sea in the Muslim tradition?) This has been quite a year for both Mr. Obama's party, and Mr. Bush's.

The AP also reported today in another article regarding a 662 Billion Appropriations Bill, not carried on the front pages or web alert pages:

"Highlighting a period of austerity and a winding down of decade-old conflicts, the bill is $27 billion less than Obama requested and $43 billion less than Congress gave the Pentagon. The bill also authorizes money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and national security programs in the Energy Department.

Frustrated with delays and cost overruns with the troubled F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft program, lawmakers planned to require the contractor, Lockheed Martin, to cover the expense of any extra costs on the next batch and future purchases of the aircraft. The Pentagon envisions buying 2,443 planes for the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, but the price could make it the most expensive program in military history — $1 trillion.

The legislation freezes $700 million for Pakistan until the defense secretary provides Congress a report on how Islamabad is countering the threat of improvised explosive devices."

You can read the entire article here:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iFsyaljotNCsnPSzq9tjRtOkPKZg?docId=e3c1b02ccc1a42b78e94120a4a2f53a5

It really shocked me that included in this article is a provision that in the event an American is involved in some terrorist plot (although it seems Washington's politicos are the greatest terrorists of all), they too can be detained indefinitely, and without bail or bond.

Isn't that fundamentally unconstitutional, since Mr. Obama has also consented to "allow" these type actions, with the exception of any actions instigated by al Qaida or its affiliates, to be heard in the civil courts, rather than military courts. So that terrorism and those individuals defense costs can be "privatized," I guess, against all that foreign oil money from the countries that these individuals really call their home.

I mean I could understand having "open" military trials for those so accused who are not Americans but somehow got a visa and entered from one of the more than 40 countries the Bush Administration afforded free pass visa waivers during his term of office, under those "free trade" agreements using foreigners as commerce now that "commerce" and "people" have been so ill defined progressively.

Not to mention "foreigners" or "foreign enemies."

But affording the civil courts for these trials when our national security was and is so poor that a 9-11 could have even happened here in the first place, knowing just how much ill will there is in that part of the world against America and the West due to our decade upon decade presence there, force feeding our Western ideas of "freedom" - a definition of freedom that those in this country doubt the founding fathers would recognize as the inherent freedoms they were speaking of when our Constitution was ratified.

Many of these Middle Eastern countries, it appears, have little formal military for defense of their country and its people, but rather seems they are instead personal armies for the protection of the various dictators who progressively have ruled many of those countries.

From reading most of the web comments on the reported story of the "end of the War in Iraq," I'm not the only American both skeptical, and also with a longer memory than most of the mainstream media types and politicos give Americans credit for.

I predict that there will be another huge national security incident during Mr. Obama's next term of office (you don't really believe that old Newt, or Mitt, or Ron Paul even will take the coveted presidential prize this election, do you?).

So then we can have a Republican win the next election, and the status quo will then continue simply under a "change of face and party."

Perhaps against all odds by Iran (we are again beating the drums over Iran and its development of nuclear weapons - apparently a gigantic threat to this country even given our massive military might, and all the money we have spent on national defense and toys, and Reagan's Star Wars program in the 1980's). Or Pakistan (still a threat to India, apparently, another former British possession).

I guess that is why today, "The End of the War in Iraq Day", there were no parades...

Senator McCain: Reagan Aside, Libya Is Not America's War

After the presidential address attempting to "sell" the American people on yet another U.S. involvement in a foreign civil war, of course, there were analyses set forth by members of both political parties, the talking heads on the major cable news networks and others.

One from the Senator from Arizona, John McCain, defending again another foreign war sacrificing U.S. troops in the guise of protecting the civilian rebels for the "greater good" in Libya.

Reagan and his Reaganomics aside, which has literally at this point due to decisions made during that administration has cost a great many Arizonans their lives, property and livelihoods due to his first blanket amnesty move, and widening the interstate highways from Nogales to Flagstaff back in the 80's to facilitate the exchange of goods and people while leaving Arizona's open desert and borders for the most part open and unsecured - what has been left out is that the president of this country has no inherent authority whatsoever to engage American troops in any defense or intervention of any other nation other than our own.

Diplomacy and trade sanctions, yes. Direct troop involvement, no. Whether through NATO or presidential fiat.

At least without the consent of America's elected representatives, who also were to be cognizant of the strict provisions for defensive wars under which this country also was founded. Yet our standing army and its ranks continue to expand due to these serial foreign engagements, while our own borders are opened and for the most part unsecured?

Although, of course, there has been no true representatives in this country by legislative district for literally decades due also to the globalist progressives and their agendas low these many years, and some rather questionable Supreme Court rulings affording voice, funding and votes to global and national corporate entities even in local elections, many for the most part based outside the U.S.

Libya is not our war. And putting another British Parliament and puppet government in Libya or Iraq, for that matter, does not serve the interests of this country but is merely sacrificing our blood and treasure on behalf of global socialism, not even "democracy."

Remember, those founders did not believe in democracy - a form of government in their writings they predicted was doomed to fail and was nothing more than "gang rule."

Thus, those first ten amendments were provided in order to protect the citizenry and their lives and wallets.

And interesting that while incarcerated and many times plea bargained civilian prisoners in America's federal prisons have been progressively denied their "voting" rights and freedom in the piling on of charges many times, some even for lower level felony offenses, and the dissenters in the United States who continue to protest this illegal and unconstitutional foreign policy are being arrested on domestic shores, our leadership once again fails to truly see the forest for the trees and what is truly going on in their own backyard.

Obama Defends Ground Zero Mosque on Religious Grounds?

It was reported in the mainstream media that Barack Obama has come out of the closet with respect to the ongoing controversy over the building of a Muslim mosque near the Ground Zero site of the 9-11 attacks on this nation nine years ago.

While we are still in an expanded war under Mr. Obama in Afghanistan and Iraq purported still seeking those directly responsible for those planned attacks, with no end really in sight after pledging to end this war as "responsibly" and quickly as possible.

It does appear that if any true movement in this direction will occur, it will occur next year during the uptick for the presidential run for the roses once again either toward the end of this year or beginning of 2011.

What has been lost in this debate is the fact that we ARE still in this war, and in using the "freedom of religion" provisions of our Constitution, it appears that Mr. Obama is tone deaf to the objections of the general citizenry who just might feel that such an enterprise so near the site of the death of over 2,000 American civilians whose religious beliefs might also be violated by such a venture are being ignored for what can only be characterized as a "political" move not a "religious" one.

This is a prime piece of real estate, and in the financial district in New York, so just why would this site be chosen by those in the Muslim community to begin with rather than a site nearer to their flock in a residential or less commercial area?

To those who lost relatives or close family members with religious beliefs, that site has created controversy ever since the debris from Ground Zero was eventually cleared away. Most would like a memorial to the victims constructed there permanently, and it would not appear that any Muslims were killed in that disaster other than the perpetrators, although still rather unclear to the general public just who was ultimately involved, and just who was truly behind that vicious attack on primarily the civilian population, after all.

The bulk of those lost lives were those working within the financial industry, and not government or public sector employees.

Mr. Obama's stance is quite incredible given the fact that this site does have religious meaning to many across the nation and the actual "zoning" that was in effect for this particular site as a commercial district, without asking the fundamental question.

Of all the sites in New York that might be available for such a venture, in areas in which there are far more Muslims residing in residential communities rather than the business district, just what is the ultimate aim here?

Creating a house of worship for the Muslim community, or making a "political" statement?

And just who in the New York state government is also so totally wacked to entertain such an idea while this war is continuing?

To me and most other Americans, a Muslim mosque would be blasphemy on all those lives lost at the hands of Middle Easterners, Muslim or not, since it is quite possible that unnaturalized Middle Easterner's without any fealty or loyalty to this country just might be worshipping there.

Mayor Bloomberg, Mr. Obama, just what ARE you thinking?

A memorial, or another commercial building in a commercial area is what is called for here.

No Christian, Jewish or Muslim church if freedom of religion is the basic precept behind our First Amendment, since this was an attack that involved the loss of life of believers and non-believers alike, and also was directed at our economy most of all.

No Christian Church or Jewish Synagogue were the targets, so it wasn't religion based fundamentally as has continued to be portrayed by the mainstream media.

It was the financial industry and our economy and apparently those working within the global banking industries who were targeted, and our military secondarily.

Maybe reviewing just how and why those particular buildings were targeted for those attacks is what is called for here and what the ultimate agenda actually was an just who would benefit from such an attack since it does appear even with the 9-11 report much has been kept from the general public surrounding what led to those attacks, and it is not simply "conspiracy theorists" that are speaking up in light of this ongoing war - and the detrimental effects of merging our economies with the rest of the world that has placed the lives of the general citizenry and civilians in peril PROGRESSIVELY, while giving away through "free trade" agreements our own oil reserves to the British also PROGRESSIVELY.

And this support in this name of "freedom of religion" is not PROGRESSIVE, nor is it an act that would facilitate greater healing of the wounds of this nation post 9-11.

This is rather "in your face," not a healing gesture at all - nor in any manner with any basis in "freedom of religion" in a country that already has many, many Mosques built in far more suitable residential communities in New York and elsewhere.

Not in a lower Manhattan financial and business district, which makes the true intent of such a proposal abundantly clear.

Politicos and their financial "global" backers love war, whether civil, commercial or foreign. It makes no difference ultimately.

Maybe what is truly called for here is a monument and memorial to Wall Street, the true profiteers post 9-11 that are still cleaning up post 9-11 over the bodies of those innocent victims who it appears clear now nine long years after 9-11 were sacrificed ultimately for the "greater global good," of the "global economy" since our presence in that region and focus has fundamentally changed since that tragic day those many years ago.

While the foreign bankers more so than even the domestic ones continue to profit PROGRESSIVELY.

Correction: Of the over 3,000 lives lost in the 9-11 attacks not counting those which have been publicly announced as the perpetrators and members of the Taliban (since bin Laden as the "mastermind" was portrayed as a Taliban leader, not al Qaida), according to published but unconfirmed sources, approximately 60 people were identified as followers of the Muslim faith which were killed - most of which were either on the planes, or working as police cadets or in the hospitality fields, so less than 2% of the total victims.

http://islam.about.com/blvictims.htm

Obama On Image Rebuilding Tour Of Afghanistan?

Am I the only American that found it interesting that as soon as the ink was dried on the most controversial, and egregious unconstitutional taxation law against the American people since FDR, Mr. Obama immediately went on an "unscheduled" visit to Afghanistan in a highly publicized meeting with the U.S. troops still stationed there now nine long years after 9-11.

Could this just possibly be an image tour created by Mr. Obama's marketing team in order to deflect attention from the travesty of this past two weeks, and also hope to gain a little support from those independent vote casting Baggers that still support the war in its present form, absent any real focus on capturing Osama bin Laden as occurred with the Bush Administration?

Much was made of this trip, a "surprise" one at that.

And much hype publicized over Mr. Obama's speech to the troops asking them to "perservere" and using the flag and patriotism once again with the "Americans don't quit" jargon for these men and women, some of which are on their third or fourth tours of duty, with no end to this war yet in sight.

Nor any real focus on bin Laden whatsoever.

Gracious accolades were also heaped upon the American people by the Afghanistan government, thanking all the taxpayers for funding the rebuilding efforts there for those government contractors that are rebuilding Afghanistan now from the ground up after the American invasion post 9-11.

Before, of course, the focus was shifted to Iraq and Saddam Hussein's past transgressions on the guise that he was harboring Taliban members and was friendly toward Al Qaeda.

Seems to me the consensus of those on the Hill that spend their hours devising political strategy and maneuvers (which are also paid by the American taxpayers) in advising our leaders in ways to skirt around the Constitution for political party and individual governmental officials campaign benefits most of all, must have advised Mr. Obama after the absolute desecration of the United States Constitution this health deform legislation engenders, to "get outta Dodge."

And wave the flag with the troops for the folks back home until things cool down.

Do you think?

America's Economy Continues To Tank While Wall Street and Global Socialists Prosper

While Mr. Obama and his appointed financial czar, Timothy Geithner, continue to rally round the stock ticker proclaiming that the Bush/Obama agendas of stimulating the global economy at the expense of America's own is "working", there are quite a few signs now that things are getting far, far worse than most Americans have yet to realize.

As one who has much experience in what is occurring in the border states as a former 45 year resident of Arizona with the increases in crime and drug trafficking which have been the result of the last Reagan amnesty yet even eight years now after 9/11 continuing in its failure to adequately secure over 500 miles of open desert between the U.S. and Mexico especially, it appears that even though the American people - primarily those on the front lines living in the border states and who have been progressively affected by this agenda and now losing their homes right and left due to increases in insurance and the fraudulent and usurous loans and lending practices promoted by the Fed and global bankers for their socialism agendas and profits most of all, and who were scammed due to lack of regulation of those underwritten by California lenders, are blatantly and clearly being sacrificed by the Global Socialist Party.

And apparently haven't sacrificed enough according to Washington and the merged Democratic and Republican parties per Mr. Obama's and the Fortune 500 media reps "we all must sacrifice" continued pulls at Americans heartstrings.

Just where is that sacrifice coming from with respect to those for which the American people are paying six figure salaries, for the most part, in either wages or benefits, since it does appear the only ones economies who are improving are those holding public office at this point, at also the continuing bankruptcy of the citizenry at large.

The buzz is out once again that Mr. Obama intends to again bring up an "amnesty" for those foreigners now living in this country.

Without, of course, at all addressing the open borders once again.

In fact, the sums for the monies under the Secure Fence Act instead apparently went to buy Blackberries for most of the state legislators throughout the country, and upgrade their personal websites.

While in Lousiana due to a family member's illness, headlines proclaimed that there is a move on to increase the state gasoline taxes now in order to repair a good deal of the roadways that were affected by both Katrina and Gustav.

However, nothing was mentioned about the fact that the entire focuse of that "stimulus" was also promoted and defended over the American people's objections at the amounts as being necessary for infrastructure needs such as the repair work in Louisiana.

I received an interesting response from one of their legislators there on an unrelated issue prior to this announcement over the listings now of the historic homes in the French Quarter which are being handled and brokered by Sotheby's, a British property and investment company - mostly marketing those homes to Canadians and the British.

As an American, I did have a problem with the fact that some of America's foremost historic buildings and more valuable real estate is being sold right and left to foreign interests such as is occurring with those homes.

The legislator who did respond sent me his response via text messaging with a note that the message was being provided by AT&T.

Now it appears, our state and federal legislators are actually unabashedly publicizing their "sponsors" via their email responses.

I wonder if during the next meeting of Congress or on the floor of the state legislature soon we will be seeing our "misrepresentatives" with patches sort of like the drivers in the Indy 500 wear in exchange for the funding they receive for their careers.

While Mr. Obama meets with the Iraqi leaders one week in order to reaffirm his commitment to the Bush agenda for withdrawal of troops prior to the next American presidential election cycle, one week later another attack is made on a Iraqi government building (one in which U.S. contractors were making repairs apparently, and in which in the accord and agreement Mr. Bush agreed and stated that U.S. contractors would not be under U.S. directives, but those of the Iraqi government interestingly enough, thus the political ramifications of this attack also neglected by the U.S. global socialist owned media and press corp).

In essence, Washington not only went into a joint venture in that GM deal, but is now subcontracting and/or "leasing" out American contractors to the Iraqi government in the terms of the accord such as the one executed by Mr. Bush his last 100 days in office.

In which our Constitution provides that such treaties and agreements are the actual duties of Congress, not the president, at all - nor can that power be "shifted" to the executive branch without an actual amendment to the U.S. Constitution actually itself. So much for the Bush/Obama understandings of our actual intended form of government as legally provided in that torn and tattered document residing under glass less than two miles from the hallowed halls of Congress itself.

I wonder if some of those men who were working for those contractors had any idea of their chain of command prior to the bombing?

I don't believe that this is quite what the Americans had in mind when voting last election, and it appears that more and more civilians are instead being offered up as sacrifices for the Global Socialists now agendas, in addition to those living in the border states and those lives lost on September 11, 2001.

I'm wondering also when shares of the Grand Canyon will be listed on the NYSE for foreign ownership and investment.

Obama To Speak At ASU, Notre Dame and U.S. Naval Academy

It was announced recently that Barack Obama has scheduled appearances within the next two weeks at three major U.S. universities in order to speak at their commencement exercises. Arizona State University, a large Southwestern public college; Notre Dame, a private Catholic university; and the U.S. Naval Academy, a military academy.

Let's examine the three universities hand picked and selected out of the literally thousands of graduations which will occur this month throughout the nation:

Arizona State University is located in Tempe, Arizona and is the largest public university in the nation. It also just so happens to be a state that is and has been facing severe economic crisis due to both the housing and foreclosure crisis, and also the illegal immigrant situation and drug cartel wars which have erupted on the American Southwestern border.

It has been announced that despite the fact that over 74% of the American people are opposed to any amnesty of the estimated over 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, primarily from Mexico, that Mr. Obama, Ms. Pelosi and Congress are geared up to push and pass such legislation over the American citizens objections.

And in spite of the failure of the Bush Administration in the last McCain/Kennedy amnesty attempt in 2006 in a move to extend such privileges to foreigners who entered this country illegally, for which as in its provisions again as "undocumented," and here using counterfeit IDs, includes no really viable method of screening these individuals for any prior criminal activity either in this country or their former country of origin.

These workers have displaced literally thousands of U.S. workers, many legal Mexican-Americans, in both the construction and tourism industry in the border states, states which rely heavily on those industries and are facing increasing joblessness and homelessness as a result.

Iraq war veterans working on the reconstruction in Iraq are returning home now to find many of their jobs also now "outsourced" to foreign workers. Some of those same students graduating in the technology fields will find even limited success due to the degree of outsourcing in the technology fields which have occurred progressively under the Bush and prior administrations.

Arizona also has the highest property theft and drug related crime rate in the nation due to the continuing open border situation from both the auto theft rings, and drug cartel operations which have impacted both the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas substantially since the first Reagan amnesty back in the 1980's.

The second college selection, the University of Notre Dame, also appears politically motivated. As a Catholic university which teaches also religion classes, Mr. Obama's positions on both abortion and stem cell research resulted in petitions being circulated at the university requesting that the "invitation" be withdrawn and was signed by over 11,000 students.

Although as a Catholic university, the Pope and church also have come out in support of Mr. Obama's illegal immigrant positions due to the fact that the majority of those illegal immigrants are of the Catholic faith.

In fact, the Pope in his last visit to this country used the opportunity to address the situation with his Church members with respect to Catholic church teachings, although with respect to border security, a separate but somewhat related issue due to the negative impact it has had on border residents, the Pope himself has a fortress surrounding Vatican City separating his country from Italy.

Border fencing and true security for those living in the border states, however, are not part and parcel of the intended legislation from all reports now coming out of Washington. Increased domestic screenings on American citizens, however, have increased at unprecedent levels instead rather than securing and limiting U.S. international ports of entry in placing global commerce and Big Business concerns over the lawful citizens rights to basic domestic and national security.

Due to this Constitutional federal negligence, the borders states are now hardest hit but the ramifications of which has been spreading at a rapid pace throughout the country due directly to those open borders.

With increasing American unrest with the progression and increases in troop levels for the Middle East war in direct opposition to Mr. Obama's stated positions while running as a candidate, the choice of the U.S. Naval Academy as the third selected university also appears to be a public relations appearance in order to gain further support from those graduates for the ongoing conflicts which are now occurring and continuing with increases and shuffling of troop levels.

The Anti-Bush appears to be needing some future military support, and the Naval Academy graduates will most likely be involved in the continuing conflict and eventually stationed within the Middle East who are obligated to serve in the military in some capacity upon their graduations.

And to this writer using America's children for governmental agendas due to the political climate with many Americans now questioning some of Mr. Obama's policies since gaining office in the war, stimulus, bailouts and his positions on illegal immigration and border security in spite of a lack of genuine citizen support for any of those recent measures or stated intentions, appears to be the lowest of the low in political posturing and public relations propaganda.

James Madison on Stimulus, War, Property Rights

Since the founding fathers quotes with respect to their views on our country, and reasons for many of the provisions in our Constitution can be ascertained from historical records which are in the public domain for all to see, publish or expound on at will, below are some of James Madison's comments with respect to Congressional legislation (such as the recent stimulus), war and citizen's property rights.

Mr. Madison is credited with being the father of the Constitution actually, so felt his thoughts in light of the challenges America is now facing might be of interest to those of you who believe still in the America of the founders rather than the America it has become:

"It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood."

"With respect to the two words "general welfare," I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators."

"The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war."

"The personal right to acquire property, which is a natural right, gives to property, when acquired, a right to protection, as a social right."

"The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted."

"War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of the government which is to reap its fruits."

"Wherever there is interest and power to do wrong, wrong will generally be done."

"Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions."

Source: George Mason University
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/wew/quotes/govt.html