Category Archives: Government

Government

NC lawsuit challenges marriage licenses, North Carolina marriage laws require state license, Jeff Thigpen, Reverends Keeney, Peeples, Koenig

NC lawsuit challenges marriage licenses, North Carolina marriage laws require state license, Jeff Thigpen, Reverends Keeney, Peeples, Koenig

The spirit of freedom is still alive in North Carolina.

From the Greensboro News Record, December 14, 2011.

“Suit challenges marriage licenses”

“Guilford County Register of Deeds Jeff Thigpen and 10 other people filed a lawsuit last week that challenges a requirement that marrying couples in North Carolina obtain a state-issued license.

The complaint, filed in Guilford County Civil Superior Court on Dec. 8, names state Attorney General Roy Cooper as the defendant. The plaintiffs include three Greensboro ministers and seven heterosexual and homosexual residents from Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Mocksville.

They argue in the complaint that state general statutes violate the U.S. Constitution and the principle of separation of church and state by requiring marrying couples to seek marriage licenses, by requiring religious leaders to fill out and sign them, and by prohibiting religious leaders from solemnizing the marriage of same-sex couples.

The complaint comes about five months before North Carolinians vote on a proposed amendment to the state constitution that bans same-sex marriage. The referendum will occur during the May Republican primary.

The complaint reads, “In order (to) adequately and fully protect the personal liberty and religious freedom of citizens of North Carolina and the United States, there must be a de-coupling and disentanglement of the state from the personal and religious institution of marriage. The institution of marriage should be solely in the dominion of citizens and their religious and secular organizations, except that the state should be permitted to carry out prohibitions of marriage for infancy, insanity, bigamy or polygamy, and incest, and marriage as a result of fraud, duress, joke or mistake; and the state should be permitted to adjudicate rights relating to support, child custody, and property in connection with marriages and their dissolution.””

http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/12/13/article/local_elected_official_joins_lawsuit_over_state_marriage_licensing_requir

From the print edition.

“The suit is not challenging the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage, said Guilford County Register of Deeds Jeff Thigpen and others in the lawsuit. Voters will decide that issue in next year’s primary.”

“”It’s not part of anybody else’s agenda,” said Norman Smith, a Greensboro attorney. “It’s part of the agenda of people in this suit who don’t like the state getting into people’s religious and personal affairs.”

“Thigpen said he joined the suit because of his concern about state -imposed obstacles that some people must overcome to get married. He acknowledged his involvement could risk his re-election in November.”

“Why would I want to do this?” asked Thigpen, whose office handles marriage licenses. “These issues have come to me, and I have the obligation to respond to them in a way that is reflective of what’s going on and be a leader in dealing with it.”

“What happens in that sanctuary is between me, the couple, those who are witnessing , and God, “Peeples said. “It has always struck me as very strange, if not contradictory, that I have to sign a legal document and act as an agent of the state. …What we are saying is let’s make a clean separation between those two acts.”

Blagojevich sentencing, Patrick Fitzgerald sentencing memorandum reveals much, Blagojevich prosecution delayed, Obama protected, Live coverage

Blagojevich sentencing, Patrick Fitzgerald sentencing memorandum reveals much, Blagojevich prosecution delayed, Obama protected, Live coverage

“The citizens of Illinois deserve public officials who act solely in the public’s interest, without putting a price tag on government appointments, contracts and decisions.”…Patrick Fitzgerald

“I was not going to wait until March or April or May to get it all nice and tidy”  “I think that would be irresponsible.””…Patrick Fitzgerald

“Governor Blagojevich has been arrested in the middle of what we can only describe as a political corruption crime spree. We acted to stop that crime spree.”…Patrick Fitzgerald

“I just think it’s very, very disturbing that we have these pay-to-play allegations going on for years.”…Patrick Fitzgerald

“By way of comparison, Antoin Rezko,…received a sentence of 126 months imprisonment for corrupt activity that he
engaged in directly with Blagojevich or with Blagojevich’s tacit approval. Yet, Rezko:
(a) held no elected office of trust;”…Patrick Fitzgerald Sentencing Memorandum

The 2 day sentencing hearing for Rod Blagojevich begins in a few minutes. Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department have done their best to delay the prosecution of Blagojevich and protect Obama. This should be clear to anyone paying attention, even the House Judiciary Committee. If you watch closely and pay attention, Patrick Fitzgerald let’s the cat out of the bag on several occasions.

From the Government’s Sentencing Memorandum, signed by Patrick Fitzgerald and filed on November 30, 2011.

“Over the course of a relatively brief period of time, during his machinations
surrounding the appointment of a United States Senator, and the shakedowns of
hospital and racetrack executives, the defendant revealed his corrupt, criminal
character. But, as the evidence and Blagojevich’s conduct at his trials established, these were not isolated incidents. They were part and parcel of an approach to public office that defendant adopted from the moment he became governor in 2002. In light of Blagojevich’s extensive corruption of high office, the damage he caused to the integrity of Illinois government, and the need to deter others from similar acts, the government suggests a sentence of 15 to 20 years imprisonment is sufficient but not greater than necessary to comply with § 3553.”
“Blagojevich’s criminal activity was serious, extended, and extremely damaging.
Blagojevich was the sitting governor of Illinois when he committed his crimes. As the chief executive of the state, Blagojevich was in a special position of responsibility to the public. His abuse of office is particularly grave given the faith put in him by the citizens of Illinois.”
“Blagojevich agreed to use his official powers for personal benefit from the very
moment he became governor. On the heels of one corrupt governor and after running on a campaign to end “pay-to-play,” Blagojevich took office and immediately began plotting with others to use the Office of Governor for his personal gain through fraud, bribery, and extortion. Blagojevich and others committed a variety of criminal acts for several years before Blagojevich became aware of the FBI investigation into his actions and the actions of his administration. As the evidence demonstrated, Blagojevich continued his criminal acts through 2008 despite his knowledge of the FBI’s investigation. Indeed, the arrest and conviction of various members of Blagojevich’s
inner circle did nothing to dissuade Blagojevich from continuing his criminal activity until the day of his arrest.3”
“Blagojevich held up funding to every children’s hospital in the State of
Illinois.”
“Further deprecating Blagojevich’s appreciation for his criminal conduct is his
request for a probationary sentence. See Statement of Aaron Goldstein on Chicago Tonight, 9/28/11. By way of comparison, Antoin Rezko, who voluntarily surrendered immediately after conviction to start serving what he knew would be a prison sentence, recently received a sentence of 126 months’ imprisonment for corrupt activity that he engaged in directly with Blagojevich or with Blagojevich’s tacit approval. Yet, Rezko:
(a) held no elected office of trust; (b) was not involved in any of Blagojevich’s 2008 criminal activity; (c) provided some cooperation to the government that proved valuable; (d) endured harsh conditions of confinement; and (e) ultimately accepted full responsibility for all of his criminal conduct. Blagojevich engaged in extensive criminal conduct with and without Rezko, provided no cooperation, perjured himself for seven days on the witness stand, and has accepted no responsibility for his criminal conduct. A probationary sentence would be entirely inconsistent with promoting respect for the law, and the request in itself demonstrates Blagojevich’s continuing refusal to recognize the seriousness of his criminal conduct.13”
“Blagojevich repeatedly committed serious criminal acts that have done
enormous damage to public confidence in Illinois government.”

Notice above that Patrick Fitzgerald helps make the case for Blagojevich being prosecuted first.

“By way of comparison, Antoin Rezko,…received a sentence of 126 months imprisonment for corrupt activity that he engaged in directly with Blagojevich or with Blagojevich’s tacit approval. Yet, Rezko:
(a) held no elected office of trust;”

Yes, indeed, Patrick Fitzgerald allowed Blagojevich to remain in office until December 8, 2008 even though they knew as early as late 2003 that the Blagojevich Administration was involved in widespread corruption. If you are still not convinced, here is a Citizen WElls article from November 13, 2011.

Tony Rezko, Rod Blagojevich and other Chicago corruption figures are scheduled for sentencing in a few days. The US Justice Department knew about corruption in the administration of Governor Blagojevich by at least the latter part of 2003. Here is what we know from US Justice Department and court records and media reports.

2002

From the Blagojevich arrest press release.

Pay-to-Play Schemes

“The charges include historical allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others – including previously convicted defendants Antoin Rezko, Stuart Levine, Ali Ata and others – since becoming governor in 2002 to obtain and attempt to obtain financial benefits for himself, his family and third parties, including his campaign committee, Friends of Blagojevich, in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state employment, state contracts and access to state funds.”

2003

From the Washington Post December 22, 2008.

The wide-ranging public corruption probe that led to the arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich got its first big break when a grandmother of six walked into a breakfast meeting with shakedown artists wearing an FBI wire.
Pamela Meyer Davis had been trying to win approval from a state health planning board for an expansion of Edward Hospital, the facility she runs in a Chicago suburb, but she realized that the only way to prevail was to retain a politically connected construction company and a specific investment house. Instead of succumbing to those demands, she went to the FBI and U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald in late 2003 and agreed to secretly record conversations about the project.

Her tapes led investigators down a twisted path of corruption that over five years has ensnared a collection of behind-the-scenes figures in Illinois government, including Joseph Cari Jr., a former Democratic National Committee member, and disgraced businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/21/AR2008122102334.html?wpisrc=newsletter

2004

  • March – May 2004: FBI chart presented to the Rezko Trial jury on April 28, 2008, shows 257 calls from Rezko’s phones to Blagojevich’s chief of staff, Lon Monk, between March 2004 and May 2004
  • June 7, 2004: Stuart Levine, a longtime Republican reappointed to the powerful Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, abruptly resigns on the eve of several important hospital expansion votes. The revelation is the first indication that the Blagojevich administration is under federal criminal investigation.
  • June 27, 2004: The Chicago Tribune discloses that an official for one hospital seeking permission to expand was wearing a federal bug during meetings in an effort to expose extortion attempts by Levine and others for contributions to Blagojevich.
  • July 2, 2004: Levine resigns from his seat on the board of the state Teachers’ Retirement System. It remains undisclosed that federal authorities had secretly taped Levine’s conversations.

Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich indicted in 2005?

  • May 9, 2005: Levine is indicted on corruption charges. Federal subpoenas are issued to numerous administration sources, including top Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
  • May 20, 2005: The governor’s office acknowledges to the Tribune that Rezko has an ongoing eight-year professional relationship with Patricia Blagojevich’s home-based real estate brokerage, River Realty Inc.
  • September 15, 2005: Prominent Democratic fundraiser Joseph Cari and a former lawyer for the state’s teacher’s pension board pleads guilty in an extortion scheme that steered state pension business to favored companies in exchange for campaign contributions to a high-ranking public official described in court documents only as “Public official A.”
  • October 25, 2005: The Tribune discloses a federal grand jury investigation into the alleged political hiring practices of the Blagojevich administration, including the governor’s top hiring aide, Joseph Cini.

Or

2006

  • August 5, 2006: The Chicago Tribune reports that Stuart Levine is cooperating with the federal investigation of state government.
  • October 11, 2006: Stuart Levine pleads guilty. Levine is cooperating with the government. Patrick Fitzgerald: “This indictment describes a frenzy of corrupt scheming, particularly in April and May 2004, in which political insiders sought to manipulate the activities of two state boards to fleece investment firms and individuals. The defendants and their associates put the word out loud and clear: you have to pay to play in Illinois.”  http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2006/pr1011_01.pdf

Or

2007

  • January 16, 2007:”Judicial Watch filed an open records lawsuit against the office of Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL), who is under federal investigation on several fronts, including corrupt hiring practices. Judicial Watch’s lawsuit, filed on January 16, 2007 in the Cook County, Illinois Circuit Court, specifically seeks, among other documents, any and all grand jury subpoenas received by the Governor’s office or any state agencies under the Governor’s control. The subpoenas reportedly were issued by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s office.Governor Blagojevich’s office refuses to release the subpoenas, claiming they are exempt from public disclosure. In a letter to Judicial Watch dated December 7, 2006, Allison Benway, Legal Counsel for Governor Blagojevich stated, “This Office cannot confirm or deny the existence of the documents requested, and even if this Office were to have documents responsive to your request, such documents would be exempt from release…””  http://www.judicialwatch.org/blagojevich
  •  March 9, 2007: Anita Mahajan, with business ties to Patti Blagojevich, received six felony charges.
  • December 13, 2007: Blagojevich fundraiser Christopher Kelly is indicted on federal tax evasion charges.

Or prosecuted in spring of 2008 instead of Tony Rezko.

Rod Blagojevich was governor of Illinois and had been monitored since late 2003. Tony Rezko was a businessman and never called as a witness.

Despite the doubletalk coming from Patrick Fitzgerald about protecting the citizens of Illinois, Blagojevich was arrested after the 2008 election in December.

Patrick Fitzgerald’s own words are damning.

“I was not going to wait until March or April or May to get it all nice and tidy”  “I think that would be irresponsible.””

“Governor Blagojevich has been arrested in the middle of what we can only describe as a political corruption crime spree. We acted to stop that crime spree.”.

“I just think it’s very, very disturbing that we have these pay-to-play allegations going on for years.”

And perhaps one more.

“We make no allegations that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/blagojevich-prosecution-delayed-us-justice-department-patrick-fitzgerald-conspiracy-tony-rezko-fall-guy-rezko-attorneys-contact-me/

Susan Berger, a freelance journalist, will be covering the hearing live and reporting on Twitter. The live reports can be found here:

http://es.twitter.com/Msjournalist

NC unemployment worst since Great Depression, UNCG and government spending spree, Other people’s money, Obama supporters predictable

NC unemployment worst since Great Depression, UNCG and government spending spree, Other people’s money, Obama supporters predictable

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“…and Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They [socialists] always run out of other people’s money. It’s quite a characteristic of them.”…Margaret Thatcher

Spending other People’s Money.

From Citizen Wells November 16, 2011.

“UNCG proposes 10 percent hike in tuition, fees”

“Tuition would rise 10 percent for UNCG students next year according to a proposal the university’s tuition and fee committee presented Tuesday night to the Student Government Association.

In-state undergraduates would see a $660 increase in their bills next year — an extra $345 for tuition and $315 for fees, bringing total tuition and fees to $6,158.

The increase would generate $7.4 million, with half of it used to offset budget reductions. The rest of the money would be used for need-based financial aid and pay increases for faculty, who have gone without raises in recent years.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/uncg-10-percent-tuition-fee-hike-proposal-660-increase-in-state-university-of-nc-at-greensboro-spending-like-drunken-sailors-out-of-control-expansion/

From Citizen Wells December 3, 2011.

From Rush Limbaugh December 2, 2011.

“Regime Manipulates Numbers to Get Unemployment Headline Under 9%”
“Bloomberg News is even reporting this means that more people left the workforce than got jobs.  Now, stop and think of this.  More people left the workforce than got jobs, and the unemployment rate goes down?  We’re dealing here with a serious form of corruption, manipulation of data; but, we all knew it was coming.  After all, we’re talking about the regime.  We knew this was coming.  We know the fact, we know the histoire, that no president’s been reelected with an unemployment rate higher than 8%.  So here we are 11 months away from the next election, voila! Heading into the Christmas, slash, holiday season, and we’re at 8.6%, the 0.6 doesn’t matter, we’re at 8%.  And the media is having orgasms out there, O-gasms.”

 https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/12/03/unemployment-rate-lies-exagerations-obama-lies-315000-americans-left-the-labor-force-worst-jobless-figures-since-great-depression-in-nc/

The Greensboro News and Record on December 2, 2011 presented an interesting juxtaposition of insanity on the front page followed by a moment of clarity from an informed citizen.

Left front top.

“UNCG students would see a 10 percent increase in tuition next year under a plan the university’s board of trustees will vote on today.

But they could see additional increases as high as 10 percent annually for three years beyond that under a proposal the trustees are also considering.”

Later in the day we learn.

“Update: UNCG trustees approve tuition, fee hikes”

“UNCG’s trustees this morning unanimously approved a plan to increase tuition 10 percent next year, as well as a proposal that could boost tuition as much as 10 percent for three years beyond.

Following a recommendation from UNCG’s tuition and fee committee, trustees voted to raise tuition by $345 for in-state undergraduates and fees by $315 for 2012-13, bringing total tuition and fees to $6,153.

But they also approved a proposal from Chancellor Linda Brady that would allow her to seek additional increases of up to 3.5 percent for another three years. That supplemental increase would be in addition to any other campus- initiated tuition increase the university seeks.”
http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/12/02/article/uncg_approves_extended_fee_hikes

On the top right front of the December 2 edition we have:

“Jobless figures worst in 80 years”

“data released Thursday by the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina show that Guilford appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits.

Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.

“I suspect we would have to go back to the 1930’s (to find that),” said Don Jud, professor emeritus at UNCG’s Bryan School of Business and Economics.”

 I would provide a link but when I last checked this site was the only one that I found reporting this on the internet.

Anyone else see the irony, stupidity and connections to the Obama administration in this?

In the same December 2 edition of the News and Record on December 2 on the Opinion page the following astute observation was made:

“Athletic department drains UNCG”
“By Christopher C. Tew

Let’s examine Chancellor Linda Brady’s 10 percent solution to UNCG’s education costs:
Knowing that the new legislative majority wouldn’t sufficiently fund any level of education, UNCG proposed a 2011-12 tuition and fees schedule that has forced out several hundred students whose families couldn’t afford increases of more than $500, about what students must pay, after a 10.6 percent increase, to subsidize an athletic department of 250 athletes and 70 coaches and staff.
With incredibly poor timing, UNCG also limited enrollment “educational opportunities,” and thus income, to raise standards in an economic climate where college graduates have better chances of finding work.
To reconcile these incompatibilities, Brady proposes a 10 percent solution: increases raising $7.5 million; increases redistributing some families’ income to provide loans and grants for others; increases giving to UNCG’s athletic department, which teaches no credit courses, employs no one who addresses UNCG’s educational or research missions, and redistributes mainly North Carolina income to mainly out-of-state athletes because UNCG’s teams don’t generate enough interest and earned revenue to cover costs.
This 10 percent solution is typical of an administration that has botched the mergers of two academic divisions, demoralized and alienated its faculty and staff with heavy-handed arrogance, and plans to force students to pay for extravagant discretionary construction, most of it more suitably funded, accomplished and managed by free-enterprise firms, while the campus library goes without books and journals and is left to raise its own funds for a long-needed media center.
UNCG should simply disband its athletic department. The freed-up resources would exceed Brady’s 10 percent solution with no net increase in student costs. Long-term savings from salaries, benefits and NCAA obligations could fund ample intramural sports and improve neglected faculty compensation.
Brady might also augment the $324,000 compensation she apparently finds too meager.”

http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/12/01/article/athletic_department_drains_uncg

Unemployment rate lies exagerations, Obama lies, 315000 Americans left the labor force, Worst jobless figures since Great Depression in NC

Unemployment rate lies exagerations, Obama lies, 315000 Americans left the labor force, Worst jobless figures since Great Depression in NC

“Guilford (Large NC County) appears on it’s way to a third consecutive year with annual jobless rates in double digits. Economists say that likely hasn’t happened since the Great Depression.”…Greensboro News Record December 2, 2011

“the Times of the nineteenth of December had published the official forecasts of the output of various classes of consumption goods in the fourth quarter of 1983, which was also the sixth quarter of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. Today’s issue contained a statement of the actual output, from which it appeared that the forecasts were in every instance grossly wrong. Winston’s job was to rectify the original figures by making them agree with the later ones.”…George Orwell, “1984”

From Gallup November 17, 2011.

“U.S. Unemployment Ticks Up in Mid-November

Underemployment is at 18.2%, with 9.7% working part time but seeking full-time jobs
by Dennis Jacobe, Chief EconomistPRINCETON, NJ — Unemployment, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, is 8.5% in mid-November — up from 8.3% in mid-October, but down significantly from 9.2% in mid-November 2010. Gallup’s mid-month unemployment measure suggests the government is likely to report no change in its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November 2011.
An additional 9.7% of U.S. employees work part time but want full-time work, up from 9.2% in mid-October. The current reading is significantly higher than the 8.5% of mid-November 2010.
Underemployment, a measure that combines the percentage of workers who are unemployed with the percentage working part time but wanting full-time work, is 18.2% — up from 17.5% a month ago. Underemployment stood at 17.7% in mid-November 2010.
Implications

Gallup’s analysis suggests that the deterioration in November unemployment is essentially the result of seasonal factors. In turn, this implies the government is likely to report on the first Friday in December that there was no change in the U.S. unemployment rate for November.”

http://www.gallup.com/poll/150794/unemployment-ticks-mid-november.aspx

From the US Labor Department December 2, 2011.

“The unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 8.6 percent in November, and nonfarm payroll employment rose by 120,000, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment continued to trend up in retail trade, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and health care. Government employment continued to trend down.”

“Household Survey Data

In November, the unemployment rate declined by 0.4 percentage point to 8.6 percent. From April through October, the rate held in a narrow range from 9.0 to 9.2 percent. The number of unemployed persons, at 13.3 million, was down by 594,000 in November. The labor force, which is the sum of the unemployed and employed, was down by a little more than half that amount.”

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

From Bloomberg December 3, 2011.

“Household Survey
 
The unemployment rate, derived from a separate survey of households, was forecast to hold at 9 percent. The decrease in the jobless rate reflected a 278,000 gain in employment at the same time 315,000 Americans left the labor force.

“While the rate is certainly a very favorable rate, I would highlight that a lot of it is because people pulled out of the workforce,” Eric Rosengren, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, said in a speech yesterday.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-03/payroll-gains-improve-as-u-s-unemployment-rate-drops-economy.html

From Rush Limbaugh December 2, 2011.

“Regime Manipulates Numbers to Get Unemployment Headline Under 9%”

“BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: I don’t want to be an I told you so, but I told you so, and I told you so five weeks ago.  Gallup, every week, puts out their own unemployment numbers and Gallup has been signaling that this day unemployment below 9% was coming.  They’ve been blatantly saying so, based on their own unemployment data, which is not related to the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.  It’s their own surveys; and in the last five weeks, occasionally they will say that their numbers that they come out with on a Wednesday or Thursday indicate that we’re getting very close to a Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment number of under 9%.  I said, “The regime needs this, and when we finally get to under 9%, it will be eight-point-something, but the point-what won’t matter.  The only number that’s going to matter is the eight.

“It could be 8.9; it won’t be 8.9, it will be ‘8.’”  Well, it’s 8.6, but it doesn’t matter, it’s eight; and predictably, the media’s all over it, and that’s the headline.  You know, I got up this morning and I did the show prep routine and one of the first places I always go is Drudge and I saw it right there in red, and it’s 8.6, and that’s all it said, and I knew what it was. It’s Friday, and I didn’t need to know anything else.  I knew that was the unemployment number, 8.6, and that’s all anybody else is gonna hear. They’re not gonna dig deep and find out how it happened.  Some people have, some people are. There’s a slight bit of reservation in certain sectors of the Drive-By Media.  But most of the Drive-By Media is doing hosannas and hallelujah and merry…

Well, Happy Holidays. They don’t do Merry Christmas in the media.  But we’re back, it’s done, they got the headline: “Unemployment, 8.6%!” Now, the truth of the matter is — and Bloomberg News even points out that the only way — it’s a corrupt number.  It is a corrupt number. Folks, the number of people who have quit looking for work in the last few weeks is 315,000.  Those are the people have thrown up their hands after 99 weeks or more of being unemployed; and they’ve said, “I’m quitting.  I’m not looking.”  So they’re not counted.  Therefore, the universe of jobs available in the country is down by 315,000.  That is the labor force participation rate.  The labor force participation rate is a meager 64%.  It fell to 64% from 64.2%.  So the 0.2% drop equals 315,000 people leaving the workforce.

That means there are 315,000 fewer jobs to have, so the universe of jobs has been steadily shrinking.  What was the number of jobs created?  It’s 120,000 jobs.  It’s 120, 126,000, whatever. That’s in the ballpark.  That number of jobs created can lower unemployment rate 0.4%, almost one half of a percent? Creating 120,000 new jobs can do that?  That alone tells us how small the labor force participation rate is.  That tells us how small the universe of available jobs in the country is, when creating 120,000 — and we still have, don’t forget, over 400,000 applications for unemployment compensation reported yesterday.  So just 120,000 new jobs can lower the unemployment rate almost a half a point.  That’s not possible without that 315,000 figure, the 315,000 people who have just walked away.

Bloomberg News is even reporting this means that more people left the workforce than got jobs.  Now, stop and think of this.  More people left the workforce than got jobs, and the unemployment rate goes down?  We’re dealing here with a serious form of corruption, manipulation of data; but, we all knew it was coming.  After all, we’re talking about the regime.  We knew this was coming.  We know the fact, we know the histoire, that no president’s been reelected with an unemployment rate higher than 8%.  So here we are 11 months away from the next election, voila! Heading into the Christmas, slash, holiday season, and we’re at 8.6%, the 0.6 doesn’t matter, we’re at 8%.  And the media is having orgasms out there, O-gasms.

But everybody in the country knows the economy is not growing, that new jobs are not being created a massive, robust way that signals, or feels like economic growth.  But the sad thing is that all these details that I have provided — probably, sadly — won’t even matter because the regime has gotten the headline that it wanted.  It got 8.6.  The regime got unemployment 8.6%.  That’s what they wanted; that’s what they got.  All these other details are irrelevant.  Now, this is the U3 unemployment rate.  The U6 unemployment rate counts the 315,000.  The U3 is a government marker.  U3 is what is reported.  The U6 unemployment number counts the 315,000 who have given up looking for a gig.  The U6 unemployment number is around 16, 17% — and that’s real unemployment.

The job universe from January 2009 when Obama was immaculated to the present is down about 2.5 million jobs.  There are 2.5 million fewer jobs in our country in the two and a half, almost three years now that Obama has been in orifice — and that’s the dirty little secret.  You shrink the workforce by two, 2.5 million people is the only way you can report the unemployment rate going down.  More people leave the workforce than found jobs, and the unemployment rate went down a half a point.  So again we are being massaged, we are being spun, we are being inundated with corrupt numbers, but it was all predictable, all understandable.  Again, so small has the employment universe become — so small, so many people having dropped out of the system altogether…

No longer counted, is what that means, as being unemployed. No longer counted as being alive in terms of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When you quit looking for a job, you’re only counted in that U6 number, which is not the one that’s reported.  The U3 number is.  So you drop out of the system altogether, you’re no longer counted by the Obama regime.  A mere 126,000 job increase drops unemployment rate almost one half of a percentage point.  This is nothing more than the government manipulating the real work situation that exists in the country.  It’s all calculated to create a false impression of economic recovery and a healthier job market.  It’s truly outrageous — and watch how the Obama media cronies regurgitate this propaganda for the most part.  Watch how they’ll all fall in line. You’ve probably heard it already this morning.  I have examples of it here in the sound bite roster, but I don’t… Ah, I’ll probably play a couple of them just for the fun of it.”

Read more:

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/12/02/regime_manipulates_numbers_to_get_unemployment_headline_under_9

Belmont Abbey sues feds over Obama care provision, Birth control, Federal mandate forces religious institutions opposed to birth control to violate their beliefs or face penalties

Belmont Abbey sues feds over Obama care provision, Birth control, Federal mandate forces religious institutions opposed to birth control to violate their beliefs or face penalties

Belmont Abbey, a Catholic college just west of Charlotte, NC is challenging ObamaCare over a provision that requires employer insurance plans to cover contraception and other birth control.

From the Charlotte Observer November 18, 2011.

“Belmont Abbey sues feds over birth control rule”

“Belmont Abbey College has filed a broad legal challenge to the part of President Barack Obama’s health care reforms that requires employer insurance plans to cover contraception and other birth control.

The Catholic college in Gaston County says the federal mandate forces religious institutions opposed to birth control to violate their beliefs or face penalties. The rule goes into effect next August.

The school has sued a number of federal agencies. The defendants include Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

Keith Maley, an HHS spokesman, said the agency doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a nonprofit, public-interest law firm.

The debate began in 2007, when a group of Belmont Abbey faculty members challenged the school’s refusal to include prescription contraceptives in its health care plan.

In 2009, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that Belmont Abbey was violating federal law.

The school’s recent suit focuses on Obama’s 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which requires preventative health coverage on procedures like mammograms and cervical screenings, along with contraception and sterilizations.

A religious organization can be exempted if its spiritual values are central to its mission and if it primarily employs or serves “people who share its religious tenets.””

Read more:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/11/18/2784162/belmont-abbey-sues-feds-over-birth.html

One of my uncles attended Belmont Abbey College on a baseball scholarship many years ago. I went to a performance there several years ago. It is a beautiful small school.

Go get em Belmont Abbey. If I can be of assistance, let me know.

Wells

Belmont Abbey website.

http://www.bac.edu/

Obama eligibility, Dumbing down Constitution for Obama’s sake?, World Net Daily, Constitution amended by fiat

Obama eligibility, Dumbing down Constitution for Obama’s sake?, World Net Daily, Constitution amended by fiat

“Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise
that it will last; but nothing in this world is certain but death and
taxes.”…Benjamin Franklin

“If in the opinion of the People, the distribution or modification of the Constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation, for through this in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed.”…George Washington

“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.”…Abraham Lincoln

From Joseph Farah of World Net Daily November 06, 2011.


•”He’s clearly a citizen of the United States.”
•”We’ve seen his birth certificate.”
•”Without question, Barack Obama was born in the U.S.”
•”Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, and that settles it.”
•”It’s nuttiness and counterproductive to question the president’s eligibility for office.”
These are some of the phrases we hear from Barack Obama’s ardent defenders – people like Anderson Cooper and nearly all his colleagues in the news media.
We hear the same drivel from the Republican establishment – people like Karl Rove, who insist the important principle of constitutional integrity should not be a “distraction” in efforts to defeat Obama at the polls.
 
But what happens when the national debate is systematically stifled by these gatekeepers is that we allow Barack Obama’s clear lack of basic qualifications for office dumb down the rule of law, set a new lower standard of constitutional eligibility and redefine what the Constitution says and what the Supreme Court has ruled on its meaning?

In effect, we are allowing the Constitution to be amended by fiat – all because there is no political or legal mechanism in place to ensure candidates for president are constitutionally fit to serve.

Barack Obama is not a “natural born citizen,” as required by Section 2, Article 1, of the Constitution. It has nothing to do with where he was born. It has to do with what Barack Obama has consistently represented to the American people about his birth – that his father was a citizen of Kenya. This is a disqualifier for office because that fact means he is not a “natural born citizen,” the offspring of American citizens. It wouldn’t matter if he were born in Kansas on the Fourth of July or on the dark side of the moon.

As we mercifully approach the end of the Obama regime, it’s time to get serious about the bigger issue of presidential eligibility for the future of this country. If we allow the Obama eligibility standard to become the de facto law of the land, we lose one more important component of constitutional integrity – and we’re on our way to being a nation adrift from any legal moorings.

When I first set out on the lonely course to make this a national issue, against all odds, I predicted that it would not go away. I predicted it would be a major issue in the 2012 presidential election. I also predicted it would not be settled in any court in America. In other words, I was three for three in my predictions.

Today, there remains a total political disconnect between the American people, who understand Obama is an illegitimate pretender to the highest office in the land, and the elite media and political establishment – both Republican and Democrat – which simply doesn’t care what the Constitution requires.

But the Constitution and its clear intent and purpose are much bigger and more important to the future of America than is Barack Obama.”

“It’s not a choice between Democrat and Republican. It’s a choice between right and wrong.”

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=364953

Well said and amen Mr. Farah.

Thanks to commenter GORDO

Jesus Diaz persecution, US Justice Department corruption?, Distortion of Constitution, Where are USDOJ records?, Where is House Judiciary Committee?

Jesus Diaz persecution, US Justice Department corruption?, Distortion of Constitution, Where are USDOJ records?, Where is House Judiciary Committee?

From The Blaze October 27, 2011.

“‘Treasonous in Its Actions on the Border’: Beck‘s Passionate Interview
With Imprisoned Border Agent’s Wife”
“Imprissoned border agent Jesus Diaz.

As the Blaze recently reported, Jesus Diaz, a former U.S. border
agent, is serving a two-year prison sentence after being accused of
using excessive force in handcuffing a juvenile drug smuggler back in
2008. Diaz’s detention, which has come under fire from many who
believe that he isn’t guilty of the violence charges waged against
him, has become a hot-button issue.

This morning, Glenn Beck interviewed Diaz’s wife, Diana, on his radio
show to get the entire story, and by the end he was visibly
frustrated.

But before delving into the video of their exchange, let’s review some
brief background information on the case.

Diaz, who is now imprisoned and separated from his wife and six
children, was found guilty of inflicting pain on a known 16-year-old
Mexican drug smuggler in an effort to obtain more information about
where marijuana was being hidden. Authorities also claim that the
former agent kicked the teen and dropped him face-first on the ground.

But these accounts and the charges associated with them have come
under fire (GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has said she
would work toward Diaz’s release). The Examiner has more about the
confusion surrounding the case:

According to the Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council, the
government’s case is based on false testimony that is contradicted by
the facts. This includes the charge that Agent Diaz was physically
abusive to the then minor “MBE” as noted by court documents and
transcripts that Diaz allegedly put his knee on his back and pulled
back on his handcuffs.
“However, given the time of day during the incident, October 16, 2008
at about 2 a.m. and lack of lighting it would be impossible to have
actually seen much if anything. The agent who stood next to Mr. Diaz,
Marco Ramos testified that he did not see anything that was claimed to
have taken place,” Andy Ramirez, president of LEOAC explained.

A web site has been setup to advocate for Diaz’s release.

In the beginning of his discussion with Diana, Beck said, “I’m sorry
for what this government is doing to you…your family and your
husband.” Diana went on to explain what seems like a tragic story of
justice gone awry.

The Mexican government had apparently filed a complaint following the
incident, which the U.S. government then acted on. In the end, the
16-year-old avoided detention and was apparently sent back to his
homeland. Even more bizarrely, Diana claims that the young man was
brought back to America to testify (with immunity) against her
husband.”
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/treasonous-in-its-actions-on-the-border-becks-passionate-interview-with-imprisoned-border-agents-wife/

From Free Agent Diaz.

“To summarize, U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton and his minions used an
extremely weak charge, claiming Agent Diaz violated the civil rights
of an illegal alien doper under the color of law. Sutton and his
successor under the Obama Administration then put the full weight of
the Justice Department behind this prosecution, solely to give the
Mexican Government a Border Patrol Agent’s scalp. Law enforcement
officers commonly pull on a perps or suspects handcuffs. If this is
the new standard for a 10 year prison sentence, then all departments
either need to be questioned by the DOJ about this, or they need to
support Agent Diaz’ appeal and his family’s quest for justice.”

 http://www.freeagentdiaz.com/

From the Gateway Pundit April 21, 2011.

“In what appears to be yet another case of the Mexican Government
orchestrating a fake crime against one of their drug smuggling
criminals hauling dope into the U.S., Border Patrol Agent Jesus Diaz,
a 7-year Border Patrol veteran, was convicted in Federal Court on
February 24 of one count of excessive force (under color of law) and 5
counts of lying to Internal Affairs.  He is facing a maximum of 35
years in prison when he is sentenced in November.  Meanwhile, he’s
been in jail since the verdict nearly two months ago.  He’s in
solitary confinement 23 hours per day for his safety. So far, the
judge has refused to allow bond while Diaz awaits sentencing.”
“Diaz was tried in September 2010, but the case ended in a mistrial.
The DOJ tried the case again in February 2011 and this time they got
their conviction, even though federal agent witnesses admitted they
had lied to a grand jury.  The judge did not allow the fact that they
had committed perjury into the second trial.”

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/04/the-war-on-the-border-continues-the-war-on-our-border-patrol-officers-that-is/

Jesus Diaz Indictment press release:

“U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Texas
John E. Murphy, U.S. Attorney

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Daryl Fields, Public Information Officer On the web: www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/index.html (210) 384-7440

November 20, 2009

DEL RIO SECTOR CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL AGENT INDICTED
FOR ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTING A 15 YEAR OLD

United States Attorney John E. Murphy announced that 31-year–old U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agent Jesus E. Diaz, Jr., stands charged by federal grand jury indictment with deprivation of rights under color of law.
The indictment, returned this week by a federal grand jury sitting in Del Rio, alleges that on October 16, 2008, Diaz assaulted a 15 year old depriving him of his constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by one acting under color of law.
Upon conviction, Diaz faces up to ten years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Office of Internal Affairs and the Office of Professional Responsibility. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Blackburn is prosecuting the matter for the Government.”

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/2009/Diaz_ind_DR.pdf

I tried to obtain more information on this case yesterday. Here is what I know thus far, aside from articles on the web.

A. From the press release: “Diaz assaulted a 15 year old depriving him of his constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by one acting under color of law.”

  1. Illegals aliens do not have constitutional rights.
  2. The Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242, states: “This law further prohibits a person acting under color of law,
    statute, ordinance, regulation or custom to willfully subject or cause
    to be subjected any person to different punishments, pains, or
    penalties, than those prescribed for punishment of citizens on account
    of such person being an alien or by reason of his/her color or race.”    Alien refers to a person visiting from another country legally or legally here on some kind of visa. This is not intended to protect someone in violation of the law.

B. Aside from the press release, I could find no other reference to the Jesus Diaz prosecution. Contrast this to the  Compean and Ramos Prosecution.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/index.html

C. Something smells about this. We know the USDOJ cannot be trusted, especially under the control of Obama and Holder.

When I learn more, I will share it.

Occupy Greensboro protest, Saturday October 15, 2011, Downtown Greensboro NC, Government and institutions for sale to the highest bidder

Occupy Greensboro protest, Saturday October 15, 2011, Downtown Greensboro NC, Government and institutions for sale to the highest bidder

The crowd at Occupy Greensboro was a fairly diverse group of people very different from the bulk of attendees at the Occupy Wall Street protest in NY City. Many of the Tea Party folks would have felt at home with signs blaming government. Of course the Che Guevarra flag  would not have been so inviting. I  am still watching the union and Obama camp involvement in NC and will continue to monitor it. Recently the ACLU was spotted near the University of NC at Greensboro with petitions against some form of job discrimination in NC. What they failed to mention is that NC is a right to work state. An employee can be fired for any reason. This keeps the unions out and companies in the state.

Morgan Freeman and other racists, most of the people in attendance were white since, duh, the majority of the population is.

From the Greensboro News Record October 15, 2011.

“When the Occupy movement that began on New York’s Wall Street comes to downtown Greensboro today, it will come with a head of steam that’s been building for weeks.

Organizers and supporters of Occupy Greensboro say the protests of economic inequity happening across the country inspired them to put together a local event.

Organizers say it also inspired them to do it the right way.”

“The group rented space at the park and the neighboring YWCA parking lot to avoid the standoff with police that happened at Occupy events in Boston and New York.

“The city greatly reduced its rental fee for us — from $700 a day to I believe around $200,” Wright said. “And we’ll have the YWCA parking lot for camping, which is private property.”

Initially, some in the group argued protesters should simply occupy the park without paying rent — under the theory there would be too many people for police to eject.

“In the end, we decided it was more important to have a good relationship with the city and the police,” Wright said.

Wright, a 29-year old who coaches lacrosse at Grimsley High and Wake Forest, said this is the first protest movement in which he’s taken part.”

Read more:

http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/10/14/article/occupy_organizers_want_family_event

From the Greensboro News Record October 16, 2011.

“Hundreds of protesters surrounded the Bank of America building downtown Saturday afternoon as part of the “Occupy Greensboro” protest.

“Banks got bailed out, we got sold out,” they chanted to the beat of a marching drum corps, raising handmade signs and unfurling banners.

“Lobbyists Eat the Constitution for Breakfast” read one.

“Eight Years of College and Laid off Twice,” another read. “Where’s My Bailout?”

Those who marched from the Phill G. McDonald Plaza to Festival Park said they were inspired by the movement that began on New York’s Wall Street and has spread all over the world.

Police Chief Ken Miller, who oversaw his officers at Festival Park and spent some time chatting with protesters, estimated the crowd at about 600.

Organizers had expected between 500 and 1,000 people.

Some of the targets of the protest: fraud in the financial industry, economic inequality, and elected officials who protesters said serve donors and lobbyists rather than the American people.

“It’s hard to live in America today without coming to the conclusion that our government and all of our institutions are for sale to the highest bidder,” said Michael Duncan, 22.

Duncan said he was lucky to find a job in computer technical support after he graduated from college two years ago — many of his friends didn’t.

But he was laid off just a few months later as the company he worked for downsized. He found another job after a few months but was laid off again within a year.

“Our economy is on the verge of collapse,” Duncan said. “And it’s because of a housing bubble created by bankers and people on Wall Street who sold us a bill of goods, defrauded the American people and then were bailed out by our government along with a lot of other major corporations as average workers were laid off, their pay cut, and their houses foreclosed.

“Anyone who isn’t angry about that hasn’t been paying attention.”

The demonstration remained peaceful. No arrests were made as of Saturday night.

The event’s organizers worked closely with police and city officials to be sure the demonstration would be safe, family friendly and nonviolent.”

“A few area elected officials and political candidates also were among the crowd, including at-large Greensboro City Council candidate Marikay Abuzuaiter and Guilford County Register of Deeds Jeff Thigpen.

Thigpen’s crusade against mortgage fraud and improper documentation by major national banks in Guilford County has gotten national media coverage.

“The people who started this aren’t the protesters,” Thigpen said. “They’re on Wall Street and they ran our economy into the ground. I believe in an America where there isn’t one standard for banks and another standard for the rest of us.””

Read more:

http://www.news-record.com/content/2011/10/15/article/600_march_downtown

Jeff Thigpen, the Guilford County Register of Deeds, is a good guy and a friend of mine. He has been doing some good work in the area of “robo signatures” and circumventing of chain of title in mortgages. However, he continues to repeat the party line in terms of placing the majority of blame for the economy and housing crisis on the lenders. More guilty in this sham are people like Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, Maxine Waters and Barack Obama in sync with organizations like ACORN who pressured banks to make loans to unqualified and risky borrowers. Jeff, I will be discussing that with you soon.

William Cellini trial and Obama’s past, Obama Rezko problem, Stuart Levine and Cellini indictment, Rezko leads to Obama

William Cellini trial and Obama’s past, Obama Rezko problem, Stuart Levine and Cellini indictment, Rezko leads to Obama

“Why did the Illinois Senate Health & Human Services Committee, with Obama as chairman, create and push Bill 1332, “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act,” early in 2003, which reduced the number of members on the Board from 15 to 9, just prior to rigging by Tony Rezko and Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells

“I believe I’m more pristine on Rezko than him.”…Rod Blagojevich

“There is enough corruption in Illinois so that all it takes is someone who is serious about finding it to uncover it. If a U.S. attorney is not finding corruption in Illinois, they’re not seriously looking for it.”…Northwestern Law Professor James Lindgren

Diversions Diversions Diversions.

Is it any wonder that we have the Obama camp protesting Wall Street and a probable manufactured Iranian assassination plot? Despite the best efforts of Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department to protect him, Obama still has a Rezko problem.

Daniel Frawley has not been sentenced.

From Citizen Wells August 20, 2011.

“Daniel T. Frawley once teamed with Tony Rezko — the political fixer
who’s now in jail — in what turned out to be a doomed effort to open a
training school for Iraqi security forces in western Illinois. Now,
Frawley faces a federal prison stretch of his own.”

“Still, federal prosecutors are seeking a reduced sentence for Frawley
— of a year and a half in prison, rather than the 35 years he could
face — apparently because Frawley has been secretly cooperating since
at least 2006 in their investigation of Rezko, who was found guilty in
June 2008 of having used his clout with the Blagojevich administration
to enrich himself and his business associates.

Details about Frawley’s cooperation with the U.S. attorney’s office,
the FBI and the Illinois attorney general’s office can be gleaned from
a 65-page court deposition he gave seven months ago…”

“Frawley: “Yes, I had a conversation with Mr. Weaver where he
instructed me not to cooperate.”
Frawley: “I was on the phone, making a phone call to Tony Rezko. I had
a luncheon engagement with him.”

“George was outside of the room where I was making the telephone call,
and the purpose of the call was for me to keep my luncheon engagement
with Tony Rezko and to go over and to record Tony Rezko.”

“George saw and heard me on the phone, came running in and went like
this [demonstrating]: Cut it,”

Franklin: “For the record, the deponent is crossing his hands across
his throat.”

Konicek: “And Tony Rezko was where when you were speaking to him?”

Frawley: “He was on the other end of the phone. I don’t recall where he was.”
Konicek: “I’m assuming the information is about the payments made by
Rezko to Obama, so we know we’re talking about the right conversation,
right?”

Konicek: “Am I correct it was about Obama being paid by Rezko?”

Frawley: “I’m not answering that question, based upon my attorney’s
instructions.”

Konicek: “But on March 13, 2006, you’ve already indentified for me
being at 219 South Dearborn. You’re talking to Tony rezko on the
phone, and Mr. Weaver makes this gesture to you, right?”

Frawley: “Mr. Weaver made the gesture and told me to get off the
phone, to end the phone call.”
Konicek: “Okay. And then where were you instructed not to cooperate?”

Frawley: “In the same building, at 219 South Dearborn….in a different room.”
Konicek: “Did you bring to Mr. Weaver in Hinsdale a statement showing
payment to Tony Rezko in the amount of $ 1.5 million?”
Konicek: “Are you going to answer?”

Frawley: “No.”

Konicek: “Are you asserting your Fifth Amendment privilege?”

Frawley: “Yes.””

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/08/20/obama-thrown-under-bus-by-democrats-or-daniel-frawley-or-tony-rezko-or-rod-blagojevich-or-stuart-levine-or-william-cellini-obama-exits-2012-race/

The William Cellini Indictment is loaded with Rezko references.

“It was further part of the conspiracy that CELLINI later told Levine that Rezko and Co-Conspirator A had agreed to the proposal to use their influence with high-ranking State of Illinois officials to oppose the pension consolidation plan in exchange for CELLINI’s agreement to use his influence at TRS and Levine’s position at TRS to ensure that TRS invested money with and hired firms chosen by Rezko and Co-Conspirator A. CELLINI and Levine understood that Rezko and Co-Conspirator A were going to expect under the agreement that CELLINI would use his influence at TRS and Levine would use his position at TRS to help firms that made contributions for the benefit of Public Official A.”

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1030_01a.pdf

Stuart Levine mentioned Rezko in testimony yesterday.

As reported by Natasha Korecki of the Chicago SunTimes.

“Levine says he’s ripped off a dead man’s estate, charities, schools, taken bribes. Says he and Tony Rezko agreed to split bribes.”
“Levine says both he and Cellini went to Tony Rezko to ask he make sure Levine was reappointed.”

“Stuart Levine says Tony Rezko was “delighted” when Levine said he would ask Tom Rosenberg for a $2 million kickback for state work.”

http://citizenwells.net/2011/10/11/william-cellini-trial-live-coverage-by-natasha-korecki-of-chicago-suntimes/

The elephant in the room.

Where is Tony Rezko?

If the prosecution insists on going forward, I have two words for them: Rezko and Levine,” Cavise said. “They know where all the bodies are buried.””…Leonard Cavise,  DePaul University professor

“Simply put – Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko is the only witness that can bury Blagojevich and the Chicago Political Thuggery Machine. Why is Fitzgerald holding back Rezko? What has been promised or implied to Fitzgerald as a ‘reward’ for Fitzgerald’s blatant sandbagging efforts?”…Thomas R. Bennett

http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/05/wheres-tony-rezko#ixzz1NauAHwxa

Keep The Change, Hank Williams Jr., Glenn Beck plays song and blasts Fox and ESPN, Fox and friends hypocrisy, Beck keeps soul

Keep The Change, Hank Williams Jr., Glenn Beck plays song and blasts Fox and ESPN, Fox and friends hypocrisy, Beck keeps soul

From Citizen Wells July 3, 2011
“Did Fox make a deal with the devil?”

“Glenn Beck, on his radio show Thursday, June 30, 2011, made the following statements.

““You cannot solve anything if you are not dealing in an honest system,” Glenn said. While FOX is the most honest system out, Glenn said that he wanted to operate in a complete different fashion than every other cable news network.”

“I know enough now to know it doesn’t work.”

“Mark Halperin’s apology for making a disparaging remark about Obama is a perfect example of why traditional cable networks will fail. “I’m more offended that you’re apologizing for something that you actually believe.  Say it.  That’s why these systems are going to fail,” Glenn said. The fact that Halperin has now been suspended for telling the truth is baffling to Glenn.”

“I’m not going to play the game anymore.”

http://www.glennbeck.com/2011/06/30/glenn-im-not-playing-the-game-anymore/

Glenn Beck stated he was  leaving with his soul on his last Fox TV show.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/07/03/fox-and-obama-controlled-by-saudis-glenn-beck-leaves-with-soul-beck-seeks-honest-system-i%e2%80%99m-not-going-to-play-the-game-anymore/

I heard part of the Glenn Beck Radio Show this morning. He was on a roll. He played the new Hank Williams song, “Keep The Change” several times. He also blasted Fox and ESPN.  

LYRICS:

“I’ll keep my freedom
I’ll keep my guns
Try to keep my money
And my religion too

Try to keep on workin’
Try to keep on smilin’
I will keep my Christian name and y’all can keep the change

I will keep my heroes
Pictures on the wall
I’ll keep my family safe
You bluff when I call
I’m gonna keep my big V8
Keep my friends the same
Keep the government outta my business
And y’all can keep the change

This country sure as hell been goin’ down the drain
We know what we need
We know who to blame
United Socialist States of America
How do ya like that name?
I’ll keep the USA and y’all can keep the change

So FOX and friends
Wanna put me down
Ask for my opinions
Then twist it all around
Supposed to be talkin’ about my father’s new CD
Well two can play that “Gotcha’ Game” just wait and see
Don’t tread on me

This country sure as hell been goin’ down the drain
We know what we need
We know who to blame
United Socialist States of America
Don’t ya just LOVE that name?
I’ll keep the USA and y’all can keep the change

I’ll keep the USA and y’all can keep the change

Yeah, you can keep FOX and friends and ESPN outta your homes too
Cuz Bocephus and all his rowdy friends and his song is outta there!”

I do not watch Fox or ESPN. I suggest that you follow suit.