Doing A Job That Americans Won't Do

It is reported today by ABC15 that a lightly-weathered book was spotted in the Arizona desert on January 25 by a U.S. Border Patrol Agent who was "patrolling a route known for smuggling illegal immigrants and drugs." An official with DHS confirmed the discovery of the book titled "In Memory of Our Martyrs", which is published in Iran according to FoxNews.com. and "consists of short biographies of Islamic suicide bombers and other Islamic militants who died carrying out attacks."According to internal U.S. Customs and Border Protection documents, "The book also includes letters from suicide attackers to their families, as well as some of their last wills and testaments." Each biographical page contains "the terrorist's name, date of death, and how they died."

The article also recalls that U.S. officials, including FBI director Robert Mueller, have raised serious concerns in recent years over "OTMs" -- or illegal immigrants other than Mexicans -- who have crossed the southwest border at alarming rates.

Mueller testified before the House Appropriations Committee in March 2005 that "there are individuals from countries with known Al Qaeda connections who are changing their Islamic surnames to Hispanic-sounding names and obtaining false Hispanic identities, learning to speak Spanish and pretending to be Hispanic."

Just last year, the Department of Homeland Security had in custody thousands of detainees from Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. U.S. Border Patrol statistics indicate that there were 108,025 OTMs detained in 2006, compared to 165,178 in 2005 and 44,614 in 2004.

Authorities would not release a picture of the book (158 pages, published by the Ministry of Islamic Guidance) to Fox News, or reveal how long they believe it was lying in the desert. Immigration officials have previously discovered items along the U.S.-Mexico border from Middle Eastern origin, including Iranian currency in Zapata, Texas, and a jacket found in Jim Hogg County, Texas, that was covered in patches including an Arabic military badge that illustrates an airplane flying into a tower.

Keeping The Heat On Sanford Bishop

From Andrew Breitbert's BigGovernment

Here’s the quick pitch — Sanford Bishop is the congressman who admitted he knew about massive fraud in the Pigford settlement that was supposed to help black farmers but when confronted by farmers hurt by the Pigford settlement, he says it’s not his job to do anything about fraud.

Why is Pigford important? Because it’s a perfect example of everything conservatives and libertarians — and, hopefully, honest liberals — hate about government spending programs that cost billions, create fraud and waste, promote vote buying and don’t even solve the problem they set out to fix.

And it’s been covered up and falsely promoted by the media for over a decade now. Repeat after me: The actual black farmers were intentionally hurt more by Pigford.

For 12 years of politicians touting the “social justice” for the black farmer have systematically subverted their justice. The politicians and the lawyers and the “black farmers advocacy groups” have known this very, very well. They are Pigford flim flam artists.

I am committed to getting justice for the bona fide black farmers who faced government sponsored discrimination and land loss. These American heroes were betrayed by the so-called ‘black leadership’ like the Congressional Black Caucus, who sold them out at every opportunity. CBC member Sanford Bishop is a perfect example of the back stabbing that these men have faced.

We’ve issued reports, we’ve posted video interviews and now we’re drawing a line in the sand. Sanford Bishop is a symbol of the Congressional Black Caucus member who has sold out his constituency, both black and white. We’re talking bold action against Bishop and we’d like your help.

We want to inform the people who are most aggrieved by the Pigford scam and by Sanford Bishop. We’ve produced this 30 second campaign-style ad as a way to shed more heat and light on what Bishop has been getting away with in southwestern Georgia for nearly two decades.

And we want to start airing this video on television in Sanford Bishop’s home district in Georgia later this week

We think that by focusing on the easy to understand problem of Sanford Bishop, we can generate interest in the wider story of Pigford. If you support this move, please us know in comments.

In the meantime, please share this video. Put it on your blog, send it to your friends, tweet, like and buzz it. This isn’t about just one congressman in just on district, but that’s where it can start.

6 dead, 18 wounded, and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.

From James4America:
UPDATE: University responds to FOXNation.com:

Many Americans were startled to see University of Arizona students distributing t-shirts at the memorial service in Tucson yesterday. On the front of the shirts, “Together We Thrive” was printed, along with a trendy logo.

University spokeswoman Jennifer Fitzenberger told FoxNation.com “it was our idea to do the t-shirts.” She said distributing merchandise at a memorial was appropriate and rejected the charge that the University over-commercialized the service. “Our intention was to have something to remember after the event…something that symbolizes our community’s spirit…which would live on.” When asked if the University had worked with the White House or any partisan groups on any level regarding the t-shirts she said “no.”

Fitzenberger insisted the University made no money from the “Together We Thrive” t-shirts and they weren’t for sale. “We took the idea to University of Arizona BookStores and they contracted it out with a vendor.” Reports put the cost of the t-shirts at $60,000.

FoxNation.com spoke to representatives at University of Arizona BookStores who revealed the vendor they used….”Youth Monument,” a Los Angeles-based company specializing in “the hottest” college brands. “I don’t feel comfortable commenting on the story,” said Nick Ventura when contacted by FoxNation.com. Ventura called himself “a partner” at Youth Monument. When asked if the University of Arizona was a regular client and if there was any contact with the White House or any political group he responded “no comment.”

http://nation.foxnews.com/arizona-shooting-rampage/2011/01/13/t-shirts-handed-out-tucson-memorial

Here's the page of "Organizing for America" dated February 2008, showing John Berry's contribution: Together We Thrive. James writes, "Interestingly enough, the post...was being “floated” as the campaign slogan for Obama’s 2008."

Maybe the White House had nothing to do with "branding" a memorial service. But I bet the DNC did.

Stay classy, Progressives.

Like, this is my book and you should totally read it.

This is a totally serious book about politics. If you don't know it already, I am John McCain's daughter (well, the blonde and not fat one, anyway) and I have like, spent so much time around politics that I had to write a book about it! My book is a whole 193 pages long, and there are like no pictures in it, so stupid mouth-breathing conservatives will probably not like it very much.
In case you don't know it, I am a Progressive Republican, which means that I am like, way more tolerant and inclusive than those other kinds of Republicans. Except that I don't really like those squeaky-clean wholesome Mormons very much 'cause I think they probably look down on my drinking and my crazy-sex and partying and foul language, and who needs that stuffy old bigotry? And I really don't like the Palin family very much 'cause it's like, always about them and the kids and like, "stop cursing around the children", and "do you have to drink so much when the kids are around?" and "can you put on some clothes when the kids are here?" and nag, nag, nag. Omigod! Freaking conservatives are so rigid!
Anyway, you are probably a Progressive Republican if you don't scream in fear when a gay person says "hi" to you, or if you have some black or hispanic friends. If you don't hate people for being different and if you don't want to kill all foreign immigrants who come to this wonderful land of Freedom you are probably a Progressive Republican like me. And if you think abstinence is stupid, and crazy-sex is totally awesome, you are a Progressive!
This book will make you sad to read about how badly I was treated on the campaign and how, like, I had to spend my own money and shlep my own bags and sometimes walk up stairs in crappy hotels! I know, right? Total buzzkill! But then it will make you happy to know that there are wild individualistic and freedom-loving Republicans out there like me who don't hate people with tattoos or women who wear pants. I am a totally different kind of Republican who accepts gays and doesn't want to burn them with fire. I love rock and roll music, and getting really drunk, and making out with the guy who's been following me for weeks to write a story in Newsweek! I think everyone deserves free health care for their whole lives, and I think rich people are greedy and should pay more in taxes, and I love black people. Religious people scare me.
I am ready to help my readers learn that there is no bigotry at all in Progressive Republicans like me and we are totally inclusive. Please don't be put off by my edginess. If you keep an open mind we can all have a totally awesome (Republican) party together!

Some Things Never Change, Like "Free Eats"

Earlier this week, TCM had a marathon showing of Hal Roach Studios' "Our Gang" short films. I viewed some and DVR'ed others, finding these shorts a welcome break from news coverage and whatever Netflix has sent me.

I had to laugh when the reel called "Free Eats" aired. It's the one where two midgets (or "fidgets", as Stymie calls them) dress as babies and, with the aid of two other con artists dressed as a husband and wife (the "wife" is a man in drag), rob a series of wealthy ladies of their jewelry. The kids have all been invited to a big party at a wealthy woman's estate for a day of cake and ice cream, balloons, a monkey and games. She's the wife of a Democratic mayoral candidate, and she wants to increase her husband's chances of attaining office by hosting a feed for the poor children of the area.

It reminded me of one of several incidents occurring this past fall where Democratic candidates had their support groups "buy" votes through feeds and promises of other goods. At the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Harry Reid gave free pizza to university students. http://www.lvrj.com/news/reid-makes-pitch-for-young-voters-and-hits-hard-at-gop-challenger-105322203.html Early voting was taking place at the Lied Library, next door to where the free eats were being given out. More on Nevada Democrat shenanigans can be found here. Booze, crack and pork rinds get you votes elsewhere. Mmmm, free food!

01-01-11

Happy New Year, interwebbers! And to the two followers I've managed to pick up (despite practically no updates made to the blog since it's inception), a big "THANKS!"
I resolve to update this blog a lot more frequently, even if it means only making short haiku posts.

I am looking forward to the 112th Congress and the 63 new members starting Wednesday, and likewise to the job of harangueing them into doing what they're supposed to do- reduce spending, cut taxes, shrink government. Census data showed that the population of NY has decreased, probably due to high taxes, high cost of living and the usual blue-state woes, with the result being that NY lost a congressional seat. I haven't yet researched just who will be getting the boot.

I look forward to another year of marital bliss with my husband.

I anticipate spending more time trying to figure out 1) exactly what is coming in the way of economic calamity and 2) how to prepare for it.

And the usual (except this time I really will work at it), more exercise and better dietary habits.