2nd Amendment and Newtown

Bill Stevens a Newtown resident has this testimony right!  Rather than re-writing his entire testimony before congress here, you need to listen to this.  He is absolutely right, there is a CONSTITUTION still in America and DUE PROCESS.  Legislation is NOT due process.  Wake up AMERICA!

"911 will be called AFTER the security of my home is established." - Bill Stevens.  He went on to say, "Charlton Heston made the phrase, 'from my cold dead hands' famous.  And I will tell you here today you will take my ability to protect my Victory 'from my cold dead hands'."

'Nuf said.

Benghazi and Accountability

So tell me again why so many defended Hilary and the president when they stood in the rose garden and blamed a video?  Used to be that when leadership were caught in their lies, they resigned before bringing disgrace on our nation.  Remember Watergate?  How many people were fired, removed and/or resigned?  Today we have four people dead in Benghazi and one is an Ambassador not to mention the two former Navy seals and yet it seems some just want to "sweep this under the rug and move forward" like nothing terrible has really happened.

"Sweeping things under the rug and moving forward" seems to be a "spell" over many these days, not only in politics but I have seen this personally in my family and even in the church.  What happened to accountability?  How about responsibility?  Integrity?  Repentance?  Restitution?  When we allow people/leadership to do this, we are basically saying that this "injustice" (whatever it may be) is no big deal and we hear them saying "get over it".

Really?  I have seen this same demon manifesting in pastors taking this same stance over issues in their church when it comes to family disputes.  They want to "sweep things under the rug".  No one wants to get their "hands dirty" and so they "wash their hands" of involvement in anything "messy" so they don't loose tithes or members because too many people today are not about truth; they are about easy.

It reminds me of Meg Ryan's line in "You've Got Mail".  Kathleen Kelly is dealing with the loss of her business and she keeps hearing this line as if it is truth.  She is told that it is nothing personal; it's business.  She finally responds with this dialog, "What is that supposed to mean? I am so sick of that. All that means is that it wasn't personal to *you*. But it was personal to me. It's *personal* to a lot of people. And what's so wrong with being personal, anyway?"

I have seen SO many things in the past few years (even aside from politics) where people act like personal attacks are nothing personal.  Really?  Or where accountability and leadership don't want to get involved with "this or that" because that is a "family issue" or they use the line of it's "personal".

"And what's so wrong with being personal, anyway?" - Kathleen Kelly

We seem to live in a day where accountability and restitution seem to be a thing of the past.  Tragic!

HOPE AND CHANGE TODAY!

HOPE AND CHANGE!

EVERYONE: PLEASE READ, COPY AND SHARE THIS. TODAY'S THE DAY WE MAKE A CHANGE...A REAL CHANGE!!!  (Posted by a friend on facebook.)

Quit trashing President Obama's accomplishments. He has done more than any other President before him. He has an impressive list of accomplishments:

First President to apply for college aid as a foreign student, then deny he was a foreigner.
First President to have a social security number from a state he has never lived in.

First President to preside over a cut to the credit-rating of the United States.
First President to violate the War Powers Act.
First President to be held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
First President to require all Americans to purchase a product from a third party.
First President to spend a trillion dollars on 'shovel-ready' jobs when there was no such thing as 'shovel-ready' jobs.
First President to abrogate bankruptcy law to turn over control of companies to his union supporters.
First President to by-pass Congress and implement the Dream Act through executive fiat.
First President to order a secret amnesty program that stopped the deportation of illegal immigrants across the U.S., including those with criminal convictions.
First President to demand a company hand-over $20 billion to one of his political appointees.
First President to tell a CEO of a major corporation (Chrysler) to resign.
First President to terminate America 's ability to put a man in space.
First President to cancel the National Day of Prayer and to say that America is no longer a Christian nation.
First President to have a law signed by an auto-pen without being present.
First President to arbitrarily declare an existing law unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it.

First President to threaten insurance companies if they publicly spoke-out on the reasons for their rate increases.
First President to tell a major manufacturing company in which state it is allowed to locate a factory.
First President to file lawsuits against the states he swore an oath to protect (AZ, WI, OH, IN).
First President to withdraw an existing coal permit that had been properly issued years ago.
First President to actively try to bankrupt an American industry (coal).
First President to fire an inspector general of Ameri-Corps for catching one of his friends in a corruption case.
First President to appoint 45 czars to replace elected officials in his office.
First President to surround himself with radical left wing anarchists.
First President to golf 73 separate times in his first two and a half years in office, 102 to date.
First President to hide his medical, educational and travel records.
First President to win a Nobel Peace Prize for doing NOTHING to earn it.
First President to go on multiple global “apology tours” and concurrent “insult our friends” tours.
First President to go on 17 lavish vacations, including date nights and Wednesday evening White House parties for his friends paid for by the taxpayer.
First President to have 22 personal servants (taxpayer funded) for his wife.
First President to keep a dog trainer on retainer for $102,000 a year at taxpayer expense.
First President to repeat the Holy Quran & tell us the early morning call of the Azan (Islamic call to worship) is the most beautiful sound on earth.
First President to tell the military men and women that they should pay for their own private insurance because they “volunteered to go to war and knew the consequences”.
Then he was the First President to tell the members of the military that THEY were UNPATRIOTIC for balking at the last suggestion.
First President to side with a foreign nation over one of the American 50 states (Mexico vs Arizona).

How is this hope and change working out for you?

Lesser of Two Evils

Praying for our nation, our election and our God to forgive our land. I can't tell you how many times in the last months my heart is gripped to pray for our nation. God has my attention - does He have yours? How can we (the church) really believe that God is OK with what we are doing as a nation? He rebuked Israel, His beloved, many times for having a heart that was far from him and we think, we in America, won't face the consequences of our luke-warmness? Church - WAKE UP! We can't have evil AND good. We can't be for things that God is against and expect God to bless us. We can't sit by and DO nothing! Remember the parable of the three servants? (Matthew 25:14-30). God rebuked the servant who DID NOTHING! God is a REWARDER of those that DILIGENTLY seek Him, not who casually talk about Him or have bumper-sticker on their car or a cross on their neck!

I am PRAYING for the Christians in this country to WAKE-UP, stop drinking the "kool-aid" and listening to the voice of deception (it is in the church you know) and VOTE for things that God DOES care about...like protecting LIFE, defending MARRIAGE, LOVING ISRAEL! These things DO matter. Remember the scripture in Matthew 6:33 " But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" - (by-the-way, these are written in RED) as Jesus was saying what matters in the KINGDOM not the ECONOMY! "Politically correct" will burn up in the presence of the fiery red, piercing eyes of Jesus when He comes back as KING!

I am SO into the love of God, but God is also a God of justice and this nation will be found wanting if we continue on this course of destruction, thumbing our nose at God and doing our own thing, seeking our own pleasure, and living life our own way. God made a way of escape for even one BEFORE He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, that is my hope, He will make a way of escape for me and my family too (I am even asking for my friends, my church, my neighborhood and my nation but they must humble themselves and bow their knees to the King of King and the Lord of Lords!) Father God, SAVE US from ourselves!

So for those of you who get the question from friends and family about the struggle of voting "the lesser of two evils" or possibly you are struggling yourself, I wanted to share this piece by David Barton that he published today. Put's the matter into a very concise package. ENJOY!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Are we really dealing with a lesser of two evils this election?
by David Barton/WallBuilders on Friday, November 2, 2012 at 9:34am ·

I keep having people tell me that in this election, the only choice we have is to vote for the lesser of two evils. So, let me see if I have this right:

One is pro-abortion, one is pro-life; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

One is pro-gay-marriage, one is pro-traditional marriage; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

One is pro-Muslim, one is pro-Israel; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

One is for increasing debt, one is for reducing debt; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

One is against increased energy exploration, one is for it; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

One is for violating the rights of religious conscience, the other for preserving it intact; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

One is for dramatically cutting the size of the military, the other for strengthening it; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

One is against parental empowerment and school choice, the other is for it; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

One is for appointing judicial activists to the Supreme Court, the other for original intent constitutionalists; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

One is for the government takeover of private businesses, the other for entrepreneurship and free enterprise and private ownership; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

One is for an expanded role for the United Nations in American affairs, the other for a reduced role; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

One is against American Exceptionalism and wants to be like Europe, the other promotes American Exceptionalism and America as a unique, special, blessed nation; so, both positions are evil, but one is lesser so?

I'm not sure that I get the lesser of two evils thing, unless folks are deliberately excluding all of these (and many other) serious issues and just looking at the ones they want to pick and choose. The fantasy of two evils are our only choice can be sustained only if one denies the above issues.

David Barton

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For more information of this issue, please see:

http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/beware-the-lesser-of-two-evils-trap/

Starbuck Supports Gay Marriage

So I read today that Starbucks is supporting gay marriage legislation according to The Seattle Times.  This is just one new addition to a growing list of companies and corporations that are jumping on this legislation band-wagon.  To list of few of these Northwest employers doing this, there is: Microsoft, Concur, Group Health Cooperative, Nike, RealNetworks and Vulcan Inc.  The are all in support of Washington State legislation recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples. This is not surprising but noteworthy. The article went on to state that this position builds on our history of supporting corporate and public policies that promote inclusion and equality.

Inclusion and equality?  Why do the majority have to bend to this very small minority?  Why do my health costs have to go up to support a lifestyle that I am not in support of?  Why, as a business owner, am I being forced by legislation about the rules regarding MY private company.  People don't have to come work for me.  It's a free country yet now, legislation is being drafted that will make ME include them.  This is freedom?

These companies can choose what they desire to do, just as I can choose to shop where I want.  I certainly don't advocate harm to people who have different opinions from me, but I believe that marriage is a holy covenant between a man and women and I still believe that MOST people feel the way I do.  Even among the gay and lesbian community you find openly gay people who say that this lifestyle is a choice yet I am being forced to hire people who "choose" a lifestyle that I disapprove of.  What's fair about this?

Actress Cynthia Nixon (of Sex in the City) published an article in Sunday's New York Times magazine where she said, "[F]or me, it is a choice. I understand that for many people it’s not, but for me, it’s a choice, and you don’t get to define my gayness for me," Nixon went on to say. "… Why can’t it be a choice? Why is that any less legitimate?"

She is CHOOSING her lifestyle, which I believe we all do.  EVERYTHING that is an action is a choice.  Did you hear that?  Actions are choices.  People want to lump the homosexual lifestyle into this category with the civil rights movement but skin color is not an action.  It is a fact of life.  Actions are choices tho.  All actions get down to choices.  Some people even choose to NOT act on anything regarding their sexuality and CHOOSE a life of celibacy.  When it comes to sex, an action, it is ALL about choice.  Interesting how this same group advocates a woman's right to choice but when it comes to their own business, they want to say it is now a matter of birth, like skin color.

Nixon eded a 15-year relationship with the father of two of her children in 2003 and is now engaged to her long-time partner Christine Marinoni - a choice.  They have a son together nearly a year ago - again a choice.

Our society is spinning out-of-control.  People are doing what is right in their own eyes and this is dangerous.  God knew this is what people would do though and he said so in Proverbs 21:2 "Every man's way is right in his own eyes, BUT the Lord Weighs the hearts."

People, you have the RIGHT to choose, we all do but God will deal with those choices one day.  We ALL will answer for what we did while our spirit lived in the body.  II Corinthians 5: 9-10 says, "Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

 Judges 21:25 also states "...everyone did what was right in his own eyes."  When a society becomes ME oriented and "I have a right to" then they are going away from the good that selflessness brings.  Rome fell from within as people did what was right in their own eyes!

People will do what they want, this is true.  There is no way to legislate right and wrong yet, as a society we try, as we have laws against things like pedophilia, driving under the influence, stealing, you name it.  But just because there is a law that doesn't change the heart of man.  No laws don't seem to change people, money does.  It drives these businesses...the LOVE of money.  So,  I for one will be having less coffee and Nike will be passed by in our home as they "just do it".  I may be the only one in my silent "no buy zone" but I can't in good conscience promote a company that is taking such a bold stand on a social issue.



Starbucks' statement below:

To: U.S. partners
Date: January 24, 2012
Re: A Message from Kalen Holmes: Starbucks Supports Marriage Equality 

Dear partners, 

Starbucks is proud to join other leading Northwest employers in support of Washington State legislation recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples. Starbucks strives to create a company culture that puts our partners first, and our company has a lengthy history of leading and supporting policies that promote equality and inclusion. 

This important legislation is aligned with Starbucks business practices and upholds our belief in the equal treatment of partners. It is core to who we are and what we value as a company. We are proud of our Pride Alliance Partner Network group, which is one of the largest Employer Resource Groups for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) employees in the U.S., helping to raise awareness about issues in the communities where we live and work. 

For the last 20 years, our benefits program has offered domestic partner benefits in the U.S. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs and alternative health care coverage. All partners (part-time and full-time) in all work locations, whether in a store, a roasting plant or a corporate office, adhere to the same eligibility requirements for health coverage and have access to the same comprehensive health plans. 

We are deeply dedicated to embracing diversity and treating one another with respect and dignity, and remain committed to providing an inclusive, supportive and safe work environment for all of our partners.
We look forward to seeing this legislation enacted into law.

Regards, 

Kalen Holmes
executive vice president, Partner Resources

Live Nativity Scene

Ok - here is a new twist that I LOVE!  People still have the right to public assembly in this great country so in an effort to take back our Christian heritage, here is a new take on an old tradition.  Back on December 1st the Reverend Patrick Mahoney gathered a group of people to protest by creating a LIVE Nativity Scene to be displayed in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The Nativity Project is a reminder that our Constitution provides freedom 'of' religion not freedom 'from' religion. By encouraging people of good will to publicly display Nativity Scenes all across America, we are not only supporting religious liberty and First Amendment freedoms but we are loudly proclaiming the powerful message of Christmas." -Rev. Patrick Mahoney

This was a nationwide campaign to share the message of Christmas and to help confront the continuing erosion of expressions of faith and especially during the Christmas Season.

The Nativity Scene, sponsored by Faith and Action and The Christian Defense Coalition, was held on Wednesday, November 30 at 10:30 A.M.

The groups met at 109, 2nd Street NE (right behind the Supreme Court) at 10:30 A.M., then they had a processional with live animals and actors, in front of the Supreme Court and past the U.S. Capitol Building which ended back at 109 2nd Street.

National Defense Authorization Act - Homeland Security Treason

Alright, if you are NOT awake yet America...it is time to AWAKEN!  Under the name of Homeland Security (and more attacks on Americans freedoms) we now have more elected officials throwing away the Constitution of the United States of America.

I was talking to my Uncle in Canada on Thursday and he was telling me about what MY US congress was proposing and I had not heard a word about it...not until a friend posted this link: Freedom Watch.  Seems that in secret John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.) have passed in a closed-door committee meeting, without even a sing hearing a new bill that declares that the entire United States of America is a Battlefield for the Military with the Military Detention of AMERICANS!  Chris Anders (Legislative Counsel for the ACLU) warns us that the worldwide indefinite detention without charge or trial provision is in S. 1867, the National Defense Authorization Act bill, which will be on the Senate floor on Monday (today) for the beginning of debate.

Anders states that the Senate will be voting on a bill that will direct American military resources not at an enemy shooting at our military in a war zone, but at American citizens and other civilians far from any battlefield — even people in the United States itself.  People WAKE UP!  Your Congressmen need to hear from you.  I don't think the “battlefield” should be in my front yard.  Who are the "good" guys and who are the "bad"?  And more importantly, WHO GETS TO DECIDE?

Ok, we all understand that Americans can be criminals and that they can even be criminals against our very fibers as Americans so our founders defined a class of criminals as "domestic enemies" in the "United States Constitution" for such a thing, but here today and OUR Congress is trying to pass laws that will make ALL American's loose our Constitutional rights!  HELLO - anybody out there??? Time to be CONCERNED!!!

"The homeland is part of the battlefield and people can be held without trial whether an American citizen or not." - Sen. Linsey Graham (R- S.C.).  Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) declared that the bill is needed because “America is part of the battlefield.”

The senate is to vote on this TODAY and they will define the whole of the United States as a "battlefield" and allow the US Military to arrest American citizens ANYWHERE, without charge or trial!

I am reminded of Hamen and the gallows.  What?  You don't know who Hamen is?  He was an Agagite nobel who lived around the 5th Century BC and was a vizier (a high-ranking political advisor in Muslim government) of the Persian empire under King Ahasuerus or better known as Artaxerxes II (King Xerxes).  Hamen was a descendent of Agag, the king of the Amalekites.  Ringing any bells yet? Hamen grew to hate the Jews, all Jews and especially he hated Mordecai and he crafted a plan to have his boss, King Xerxes help him rid the planet of Mordecai and all Jews.    

King Xerxes was the ruler of a massive Persian empire.  Here is the back history.  Xerxes holds a lavish party, initially for his court and dignitaries and afterwards for all inhabitants. He orders the queen (his wife) Vashti to "appear" at the party to show her beauty before the guests. She refuses. Worried all women will learn from this, the King removes her as queen and has her killed.  He then issues a royal decree sent across the empire that men should be the ruler of their households and should speak their own native tongue. He then orders all beautiful young girls to be presented to him, so he can choose a new queen to replace Vashti.

One of these beauties is Esther.  She had no parents and was being cared for by her cousin Mordecai (remember from above - the Jew).  Esther finds favor in the king's eyes, and is made his new queen through Mordecai's instructions.  Esther, of course is also Jewish but she does not reveal this to the King who ADORES her. 

Mordecai discovers a plot to assassinate the King. The conspirators are apprehended and hanged, and Mordecai's service to the king is recorded.  Now fast-forward to when Xerxes appoints Hamen as his new prime minister. Mordechai, who sits at the palace gates, falls into Haman's disfavor as he refuses to bow down to him. Having found out that Mordechai is Jewish, Haman plans to kill not just Mordechai but all the Jews in the empire. He obtains Xerxes' permission to execute this plan, against payment of ten thousand talents of silver, and he casts lots to choose the date on which to do this—the thirteenth of the month of Adar. On that day, everyone in the empire is free to massacre the Jews and despoil their property.

When Mordechai finds out about the plans he and all Jews mourn and fast. Mordechai informs Esther what has happened and tells her to intercede with Xerxes. She is afraid to break the law and go to the King unsummoned as she remembers what happened to the last queen. To go to the King without a summons would incur the death penalty. Mordechai tells her that she must. She orders Mordechai to have all Jews fast for three days together with her, and on the third day she goes to Xerxes who stretches out his scepter (allowing her to come in) to her which shows that she is not to be punished. She invites him to a feast in the company of Haman. During the feast, she asks them to attend a further feast the next evening. Meanwhile, Haman is again offended by Mordechai and consults with his friends. Now Haman listens to his wife's suggestion, and so he builds a gallows for Mordecai.

That night, Xerxes suffers from insomnia, and when the court records are read to him to help him sleep, he learns of the services rendered by Mordechai in the previous plot against his life. Ahasuerus is told that Mordechai has not received any recognition for saving the king's life. Just then, Haman appears, to ask the King to hang Mordechai, but before he can make this request, King Ahasuerus asks Haman what should be done for the man that the king wishes to honor. Thinking that the man that the king is referring to is himself, Haman says that the man should be dressed in the king's royal robes and led around on the king's royal horse, while a herald calls: "See how the king honours a man he wishes to reward!" To his horror and surprise, the king instructs Haman to do so to Mordechai. After leading Mordechai's parade, he returns in mourning to his wife and friends, who suggest his downfall has begun.

Immediately after, Xerxes and Haman attend Esther's second banquet, at which she reveals that she is Jewish and that Haman is planning to exterminate her people, including her. Overcome by rage, Xerxes leaves the room; meanwhile Haman stays behind and begs Esther for his life, falling upon her in desperation. The king comes back in at this moment and thinks Haman is assaulting the queen; this makes him angrier than before and he orders Haman hanged on the gallows that Haman had prepared for Mordechai. The previous decree against the Jews cannot be annulled, BUT the king allows the Jews to defend themselves during attacks. As a result, on 13 Adar, five hundred attackers and Haman's ten sons are killed in Shushan, followed by a Jewish slaughter of seventy-five thousand Persians, although they took no plunder. Esther sends a letter instituting an annual commemoration of the Jewish people's redemption, in a holiday called Purim (lots). Xerxes remains very powerful and continues reigning, with Mordechai assuming a prominent position in his court.  (The whole writing is found in the book of Esther.)

What does this have to do with this new law?  These conservative law-makers are like Haman.  They are
building "gallows" to deal with law-breakers but those LOOSELY defined laws will become the very laws used against them in the end.  I don't want my government "arresting" citizens and not giving them "due process" and having them subject to a military style court.  I want the CONSTITUTION for ALL people, FOREIGN and DOMESTIC!  This is NOT a liberal or conservative issue - this is a NATIONAL FREEDOM of ALL AMERICAN'S issue!

To the right of this story is a list of links called IMPORTANT LINKS TO REMEMBER.  Find your representatives both at the local and national level and SPEAK UP!  Let your voice be heard and start ringing the bells and sounding the alarms!


Further reads on the subject:
Arrest McCain and Levin Now
Media's Blackout of the National Defense Authorization Act
Iron Curtain begins Descending onto the USA

Class War

Interesting e-mail that I received today. It reflects the feelings of a lot of people.  Class war at its best.  I have never heard this said as simply or as well.

The folks who are getting the free stuff, don't really like the folks who are paying for the free stuff, because the folks who are paying for the free stuff can no longer afford to pay for both the free stuff and their own stuff..

And, the folks who are paying for the free stuff want the free stuff to stop. And the folks who are getting the free stuff want even more free stuff on top of the free stuff they are already getting!

Now... the people who are forcing the people who pay for the free stuff have told the people who are RECEIVING the free stuff that the people who are PAYING for the free stuff are being mean, prejudiced, and racist.

So...the people who are GETTING the free stuff have been convinced they need to hate the people who are paying for the free stuff by the people who are forcing some people to pay for their free stuff and giving them the free stuff in the first place.

We have let the free stuff giving go on for so long that there are now more people getting free stuff than paying for the free stuff.

Now understand this. All great democracies have committed financial suicide somewhere between 200 and 250 years after being founded. The reason?

The voters figured out they could vote themselves money from the treasury by electing people who promised to give them money from the treasury in exchange for electing them.

The United States officially became a Republic in 1776, 231 years ago. The number of people now getting free stuff outnumbers the people paying for the free stuff.

We have one chance to change that in 2012. Failure to change that spells the end of the United States as we know it.

ELECTION 2012 IS COMING1  A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves!   I'M 100% for PASSING THIS ON !!! Let’s Take a Stand!!!

1. Obama: Gone!
2. Borders: Closed!
3. Language: English only
4. Culture: Constitution, and the Bill of Rights!
5. Drug Free: Mandatory Drug Screening before Welfare!
6. NO freebies to: Non-Citizens!

We, the people, are coming.  It is estimated that only 86% will send this on. Should be a 100%.  What will you do?

Edward Andrew Stumm's Parole

On facebook today a friend sent an urgent plea to have letters written to stop the parole of Edward Andrew Stumm.  Stumm is a 67 year old man who back in August of 1993 was found guilty of sexually assaulting eleven mentally-challenged adults who lived in a group home setting where he (Stumm) had a part-time job.  See, my friend's life was personally affected by Stumm's behavior as her brother (a Down's Syndrome man with an IQ of a 3 year old) was one of the victims terrorized by Stumm.  (If you happen to know my friend or more importantly the victim, please don't bring up this situation with him as it still too difficult.)


Many of you are already moved to compassion but there may be many of you who may ask, "What is that to me?"  Well, there is more to this story that you should know.  See, In 1992, Edward Andrew Stumm was a full-time Public School Administrator in Hood County! He used his part-time job as an opportunity to gratify his sexually deviant behavior.  He terrorized his victims through forces sexual acts, as well as threatening torture and violent death.  As I have stated, he was ultimately charged with sexually assaulting eleven of the clients and the jury returned with a guilty verdict and sentenced him to serve: one 99 year sentence for Aggravated Sexual Assault with a Deadly Weapon, three 99-year sentences for Aggravated Sexual Assault, and two 20-year sentences for Sexual Assault. The severity of the sentences deemed appropriate, by the jury who heard the evidence, are indicative of the heinous details of abuse disclosed during the trial.

The terror experienced by the victims of Edward Stumm were, and still are, very real to those he tormented through sexual and emotional abuse.  He came up for parole once already and people were up in arms then that Fifteen years was too little time to serve for all the crimes he committed. Justice demands that Stumm be required to serve his full sentence was the cry after 15 years of imprisonment. People launched a crusade to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to have him kept in prison, where many feel he belongs.

I did my own checking up on this case and as a Texas resident with children, this is a real threat and now with money being short in the prison system decisions are being made (many we don't know about) that are putting us as risk!  Keeping prisoners in prisons cost money...lot's of money and many think it's time to free up this money but letting criminals loose back into society is a troubling solution.  If we as a people would have dealt with atrocities such as this as crimes punishable by death, maybe people would think twice before dabbling in behavior that could end their own life.  I'm not saying all people would be stopped from their choices but eventually they would be stopped when caught and sentenced to pay with their life.

Back to the problem at hand, Stumm will be paroled UNLESS people rise up and begin to DO something.  What can you do?  Write a letter, send an e-mail or send a fax THIS WEEK (9-19-2011 until 9-23-2011) to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Victim Services Division.  Here is the address:

Texas Dept of Criminal Justice - Victim Services Division
Angela McCown, Director
8712 Shoal Creek Blvd, Ste 265
Austin, Texas 78757

Email: victim.svc@tdcj.state.tx.us

Fax: 512-452-0825

http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/victim/victim-home.htm

Please include the following:
Offender: Stumm, Edward Andrew
State ID: 04738957
TDCJ ID: 00648361

You still want more help with this?  Here is a sample letter:  

Dear Parole Board Members:

RE: Edward Andrew Stumm  TDCJ-ID# 00648361

As a concerned citizen, I am writing to ask that you DO NOT grant parole to Edward Andrew Stumm.  In 1992, Stumm was a full-time public school administrator who worked a part-time job caring for mentally-challenged adults.  Stumm used his part-time position as an opportunity to gratify his sexually deviant behavior.  He was ultimately charged with sexually assaulting eleven of his victims. He terrorized his victims through forced sexual acts, as well as threatening torture and violent death.  Stumm received an accumulative sentence of 436 years.  It is appalling that he is can even be considered for parole.  Stumm's heinous acts should preclude any such consideration.  Justice demands that Stumm be denied parole.

Please DO NOT grant parole to Edward Andrew Stumm.  To lessen the emotional trauma the parole review process has on the victims, please grant a five year or greater set-off for future parole reviews.

Thank you for your consideration,

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

Here is another sample letter for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles:

Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
c/o Ms Angela McCown, Director
TDCJ-Victim Services
P.O. Box 13401
Austin, TX 78711
Fax # 512/452-0825
E-mail to: victim.svc@tdcj.state.tx.us

Dear Parole Board Members:

RE: Edward Andrew Stumm TDCJ-ID# 00648361

As a concerned citizen, I am writing to ask that you DO NOT grant parole to Edward Andrew Stumm. In 1992, Stumm was a full-time public school administrator who worked a part-time job caring for mentally-challenged adults. Stumm used his part-time position as an opportunity to gratify his sexually deviant behavior. He was ultimately charged with sexually assaulting eleven of his victims. He terrorized his victims through forced sexual acts, as well as threatening torture and violent death. Stumm received an accumulative sentence of 436 years. It is appalling that he is can even be considered for parole. Stumm's heinous acts should preclude any such consideration. Justice demands that Stumm be denied parole.

Please DO NOT grant parole to Edward Andrew Stumm. To lessen the emotional trauma the parole review process has on the victims, please grant a five year or greater set-off for future parole reviews.

Thank you for your consideration,

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

If you want to view for yourself some information on this case and others go to the Texas Tribune and read about it.  Here is some specific information on Edward Andrew Stumm from the Texas Tribune.  To view information on sample letters go to: Take Action...and make a difference.

TSA and the Powers that Be...

Well it is all over the news that Osama Bin Ladin has been killed by American forces in Pakistan and there have been a wide range of emotions and postings related to the news of this terrorist's demise.

Because of the atrocities that he orchestrated on our soil back on that tragic September 11th morning in 2001 our lives have been changed, forever.  Out of fear of further attacks, Americans have willingly given up our freedoms one-by-one in the effort to "FEEL" safe.

What is troubling about all of this is now we have further and further infringements on our freedoms and it is beginning to cross some cultural lines that are raising some eyebrows.  Here is a link of a six-year-old girl who was "patted" down and drug-tested before being allowed to fly on one of our national airplanes.  We are a far cry from the days when me and my teen-age friends would play a friendly game of "trench-coat" at the airport or boldly storm a departing plane to sing a song for a traveling singer!

I have heard that some are talking about bringing litigation against the powers-that-be for pedophile crimes as these TSA agents can view "pornographic" images of children and also for fondling these same children in routine pat-downs.  We would NEVER allow teachers, priests, baby-sitters or any stranger out there the rights that we have given these TSA agents yet people continue along thinking these things are making us safe.

Israel, the country with the biggest target on their back doesn't do these silly and freedom stealing things.  They address the issue and TARGET the terrorist.  They PROFILE them!  If you have mean friends and you travel to slimy places in the world and you fellowship with known creeps then you will be targeted.  Seems like a plan to me!  Let's make this about the people DOING the crimes, not making us, the U.S. citizen the criminals.  Ridiculous!

Act Like a Patriot!

Many of us have heard about the Patriot Act and you may or may not know all that it deals with or what exactly is it suppose to do. 

Well, here is a light-hearted clip to get you up to speed with some of what is contained in the Patriot Act.  I believe this legislation needs a second look.  Let your US representatives know how you feel about it.

the Internet and the Power of the Government

As many of you watched, Hosni Mubarak's administration "pulled the plug" on the Internet during the beginning of the uprisings that took place in Egypt recently.  Many in the country could hardly believe as we watched the citizens there get thrown back into total communication darkness.  The reporters there were the only voices that were able to get the story playing there in that country to the rest of the world.  The citizens were unable to communicate to each other via wireless means yet alone to the world.

Why is this news today to you?  Well because the Obama administration has successfully empowered the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) with the Net Neutrality Act.  This Act was voted on December 21, 2010 and was passed by a 3-2 majority (along party lines) which gives the authorization to our government to "kill" our Internet.  The full impact of this Act was not to take place until 60 days after the date of passing or this February 21 of 2011.

So tomorrow our United States Federal Government will have the authority to control the Internet if they so choose.  The Government will have the ability to regulate the Internet and other interstate communication services they choose, WITHOUT Congressional oversight or input.

As Americans, we need to join together to challenge this Act and that is being organized right now.  The Conservative Action Alert is organizing the faxes.   Please FAX your representatives in the US Congress.  There are 100 Senators, 246 Democrat or Independent Congressmen & Senators, 289 Republican Congressmen & Senators or you can contact all 435 Congressmen.  Here is a map for you to use to find out the number for YOUR representation.


Here is a sample FAX to send:

[TITLE] [FIRST NAME] [LAST NAME] 

The Capitol 

RE: REIN IN THE FCC! 

Dear [TITLE] [LAST NAME] 

Please look into the FCC's unconstitutional and unprecedented power grab, including the potentially devastating Internet "Kill-Switch" regulation. I urge you to introduce whatever legislation is needed to reverse what Obama and the FCC have done to-date. 

I do not want my freedom to use the Internet taken away, or restricted, by the FCC or by Mr. Obama. 

The Obama administration feels that they have the right to regulate what I can do, what I can say, and what I can see on the Internet. Already, as you know, the FCC has started the implementation of its power over our Internet. 

I totally disagree with these new rules and regulations by the FCC, that were arbitrarily decided by an "aye" vote by three of the five FCC Commissioners, who lacked the authority to even have such a vote. 

Freedom and openness should continue to be the governing principles of the Internet. Already, three different federal judges, in three different court cases, have ruled that the Internet deserves the same First Amendment freedoms as printed material. And, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has told the FCC that they have no Congressional or Constitutional standing to regulate the Internet. 

Please, ACT NOW---before we experience demonstrations like we're now seeing in Egypt. The Internet shutdown was key to what is going on there; and, in America, the Internet must be kept free, for our Constitutional freedoms to flourish. 

Thank you for your time, and for your consideration and support, 

[YOUR NAME]

[ADDRESS]

[CITY], [STATE] [ZIP] 

Presidential Eligibility and Election ID Card

In all my life I would have never thought how dishonest people would become when dealing with the top of our own National identity.  I guess it is being young and naive that you believe that all people in America LOVE America and want to keep her free and established as our founders did.  In recent years, it has become clear to all of us that there are just as many agendas here in America as there are agendas in the world.  Nothing is new.  Nothing is surprising. Tyranny is always looking to raise it's head and there will always be a group that is trying to conquer the other.

Yesterday, I saw that Arizona is taking the lead with some of the most advanced legislative action regarding proof of eligibility to hold the highest office in the land, president.  Representative Judy Burges has introduced another bill (as her last one fell short last year because of some last minute political maneuvering) that has 16 members of the Senate as co-sponsors.  It will only take 16 votes in the Senate to pass.  In the House there are 50 co-sponsors with the need for only 31 votes for passage.  There are ten other states who are addressing this issue as well (controlling 107 of the electoral college votes).  Seems many are interested in fixing a gap in the current interpretation of the demands set by the U.S. Constitution regarding federal election procedures that allowed Barack Obama to be nominated, elected and inaugurated without providing proof of his qualifications for the office of president in the 2008 elections.

New Hampshire has created a simple legislation to address the issue requiring an affidavit from a candidate stating that their qualifications including age, residence and being a "natural born citizen".  Georgia has gone quite a bit further with legislation HB37 by Representative Bobby Franklin that not only demands original birth certificate documentation but it also provides a procedure for and declares that citizens have "standing" to challenge the documentation.  They go on to state that each political party shall provide each candidate ... original documentation that he meets the qualifications of Article 2, Section 1, Paragraph 1 and Article 2, Section 1, Paragraph 5 of the U.S. Constitution to serve as president of the USA if elected to such office.

So according to the "liberal" media it is just a "minority" of "right-wing" conspiracy theorist who think that Obama was not eligible under the U.S. Constitution to serve as Commander and Chief.  Hmmm - so why are TEN states forming legislation to have candidates PROVE eligibility to serve?  Because the liberal media has is WRONG again!

California Welfare Funds

So have you ever wondered why such a prosperous state like California could have gotten itself into so much financial trouble?  I have.  They have plenty of income coming into that state but it appears that someone has been giving away money to the "needy" faster than you can imagine.

David Spady is the State Director for Americans for Prosperity and what he has to say on this clip entitled,  Common Sense could cause your blood to boil.  Unbelievable how much money Californians are paying for some to have the easy life.  Too many people have gotten something for nothing and it seems that this should stop and soon.  Even the Bible says that if man doesn't work, he shall not eat.  Seems they need to get back to basics, quick!

Repeal the Health Care Bill

This is a great chance for you to let your voice be heard regarding the ObamaCare bill that was passed under the last congressional legislative session.  It is reported that 65% of doctors think it (ObamaCare) will "deteriorate" care, according to this week's Thompson-Reuters poll.

With the help of three Democrats, the ObamaCare repeal cruised through the House (245-189) on Wednesday with more support than the bill ever had when it was created.  I understand that many liberals are saying that this vote was "symbolic" but as the Wall Street Journal stated "that is not the same thing as meaningless.  The sunning political reality is that a new entitlement that was supposed to be a landmark of liberal governance has been repudiated by a majority of one chamber of Congress only 10 months after it passed.  This sort of thing never happens."

Interesting that the house has already dealt with the biggest agenda item of the year and the Senate has yet to meet.  Please click on the link here: REPEAL THE HEALTH CARE ACT NOW.  Tell Congress how YOU feel!

Vote NO for TX Speaker Joe Straus

You voice must be heard regarding this current Speaker of the Texas House, Joe Straus.  Please, contact YOUR representative!  Here are three easy steps to follow regarding the matter:
1.    Contact your state representative. http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/

2.    Send them a copy of the SREC resolution. http://www.unifiedrepublicans.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=2

3.    Ask your Representative PUBLICLY to announce their support of the resolution for Republicans to select the Republican Speaker by signing on to the website provided for that purpose. http://www.unifiedrepublicans.com/

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I received the following letter today and had to share it.  Here is another Representative, Leo Berman, in his own words, declaring why we conservatives need to un-seat this current Speaker of the Texas House. 

STATE REPRESENTATIVE LEO BERMAN
2109 Dover Lane
Tyler, Texas 75703

November 8, 2010

FROM CONSERVATIVE STATE REPRESENTATIVE LEO BERMAN

Dear Joe:

Abe Lincoln said, “You can fool all of the people some of the time; some of the people all of the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”.

As a 22 year combat veteran, this is an appropriate week for me to prove the veracity of Abe Lincoln’s wisdom in your particular case and those who compromised their integrity along with you.

At the beginning of last session you and 10 of your cohort Republicans, RINOS would be the proper term, decided you did not want my good friend Tom Craddick, a solid conservative Speaker, to preside over the session. You met and voted among yourselves as to who would be your Speaker candidate.

It fell upon you since you were the least controversial although you were the one with the least service in the House. You had 11 votes but needed 65 more to make the 76 it takes to elect a Speaker.

You decided to go to the Democrats who eventually gave you the 65 votes to win. What did you give them? You gave them a promise not to bring legislation dealing with ILLEGAL ALIENS, PRO-LIFE ISSUES, or VOTER-ID to the House floor and that is exactly what happened during the session. The Democrats loved that deal because they opposed all three issues vehemently.

When I saw that no bills on illegal aliens were coming out of the State Affairs Committee Chaired by Rep. Burt Solomons, I did notice that Democrats were bringing bills to the floor that would have funneled millions of dollars directly to illegal aliens. I started to amend those bills immediately, with simple words which said, “These benefits are for U.S. citizens only”.

Excuse the term, but the Democrats went “nuts” over my amendments and Joe, you tried to come to their rescue. You came to my desk on the House floor and asked what you can do for me (like hearing one of my bills in Solomon’s committee) to get me to stop amending the Democrats’ bills. I could not believe what I heard from you. I asked you if you took the same oath of office that I did and then requested that you leave my desk quickly before I really got angry.

Finally, you single-handedly killed the Voter –ID Bill, a bill that 96% of Republicans in the 2008 Primary election voted to have considered in the next session.

Your Elections Committee Chair Todd Smith, another RINO, finally brought out a Voter-ID Bill with two weeks remaining in the session. You allowed the Democrat Speaker Pro-Tem, Rep. Craig Eiland, to delay the session by 5 full days, which automatically killed the Voter-ID Bill.

You could have stopped that from day 1 through day 5 but you sat on your hands somewhere behind the House Chamber. Your tenure as Speaker was a disaster as far as the fact that you called yourself a Republican.

On the first day of any session, it is a custom in the House that everyone votes for the Speaker candidate with 76 votes. There was not a Red Light on the board. You received every vote according to custom.

However, you and your cohorts, who were now positioned on every major committee, punished conservative leaders like me. Most did not get any major bills out of committee even though all followed the House custom and voted Yes for your Speakership.

Now, you have changed that custom! If you survive and there is a vote on you for Speaker, my vote will light up Red meaning NO. I believe there will be many NO’s on the board since you and your remaining 6 RINOS will keep conservative legislation from the floor.

By the way, the remaining 6 RINOS are Reps. Byron Cook, Charley Geren, Burt Solomons, Rob Eissler, Jim Keffer and you. Closely affiliated with this group are Reps. Dan Branch, Todd Smith, Vickie Truitt, Lois Kolkhorst and others who have written glowing statements about your service as Speaker.

They are all looking for something for themselves and will compromise their integrity for personal gain. I will NEVER compromise my integrity by giving you a green light if it comes to that. My vote will be a strong NO.

Recently, in the days prior to the General election [Nov. 2, 2010] you supported with your presence and funds Democrats who were opposed by substantial Republican candidates. Remember you promised the Democrats that you would not personally oppose one of their incumbents.

When I announced for Speaker and you realized that you had opposition, you shelled out over $700,000 to Republicans some of whom were actually conservatives, but I believe you did so in violation of State law and I filed an Ethics Commission violation against you with both the Ethics Commission and the District Attorney of Travis County. One of your spokesman said my complaint has no merit. We shall see!

To my colleagues in the House, I say you all know what Straus and his 10 cohorts did last session. They compromised their integrity. Don’t compromise yours by voting with Straus and writing fictitious statements about the service he provided. It was a farce! My military career forced me to detest those who would compromise their integrity for personal gain. You all know what I mean!

Sincerely,

/s/Leo Berman

Leo Berman

Time for a New Texas Speaker of the House

As many of you know, Joe Straus has been the speaker of the house for the Texas legislature these past few years and he is in this position as a Republicans.  What you may not know is all the politics that went on behind the scene to get him elected.  Many democrats voted him into this seat as they knew that the speaker appoints the key positions over all the committees.  He is able to appoint all the "chairs" and he did so by giving key Democrats chairmanship over key committees.  Each committee chair sets up the docket or the agenda of bills and sets the of b
ills to be discussed.  With a liberal republican as the speaker the Democrats got their agenda in without the people being the wiser. 

Well this maybe worked when the house was sitting with 76 Republicans to the 74 Democrats as was the case in the last legislature when the "special eleven" Democrats came across the isle to "help" elect him.   These special eleven have been known to call themselves as the "cardinals" and the speaker is their "pope".  They joined together with the other liberal Republicans and with all the Democrats (who were in the minority) and together they created a working majority and elected this liberal Republican (Joe Straus) as House Speaker – that is, he was the choice of Democrats more than of Republicans.

Well now we have a 99 Republicans and YOU the voter need to be made aware of what is going on here in our Texas house and what you can do to fix it.  There is very little about Speaker Straus that would show him to be a republican except for the capital "R" that is put in parenthesis behind his name.  What better way to express my point than to show you his own voting history. 

Here are a few of the bills that this current speaker has supported:

• SB 419 - vote 672 in 2005:  A bill that would make it easier to perform late-term abortions.
• SB 6 - vote 327 in 2005:  A bill regarding homosexuals as foster parents.
• HB 10 - vote 929 in 2007:  A bill regarding expanded casino gambling.
• HB 2265 - vote 749 in 2007: Increased gaming and gambling.
• HB 168 - vote 357 in 2005: Increased sale and consumption of alcohol during Sunday morning church hours.
• SB 1626 - vote 852 in 2005: Making it easier to sell alcohol without community approval as is currently required.
• SB 1 - vote 946 in 2005: Increasing the state budget spending by an amazing 19% over only two years.Groups that supported the speaker:
• In the 2007 session he received a 100% voting record from the radical pro-abortion group NARAL.
• The pro-abortion group Planned Parenthood contributed to his re-election campaign.

Here are some of the bills he opposed:

• HB 2685 - votes 384, 437 and 1407 in 2007: Using statistically-proven methods to strengthen marriage and reduce divorce by encouraging premarital counseling.
• HB 2136 - vote 592 in 2007:  Parental rights, opposing a bill to let parents kno w the service-referrals that school counselors are making for their children.

Some additional facts regarding the Speaker and Bills that were killed:

• Voter ID - which had a 90% support rate among Republicans and had passed the Republican Senate and Governor Perry was ready to sign but it was killed in the house by him and his liberal group of politicians.
• A popular pro-life bill which had 70% support among Republicans and had passed the Republican Senate and Governor Perry was ready to sign but was killed in the house by him and his liberal group of politicians.
• An independent political science professor (Dr. Mark Jones of Rice University) has now statistically proven just how successful the Democrats have been under this Republican Speaker and has authoritatively documented that the Democrats passed more of their agenda under Republican Speaker Joe Straus than they did when Democrat Pete Laney was their Speaker.

So with 99 Republicans elect this year, this issue is resolved, right?  WRONG!!
The following information came from David Barton (former Vice-President of the Republican Party of Texas)and rather than re-writing his entire letter, I thought I would just copy it here for you...

The State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) of the Republican Party of Texas just passed a resolution calling on Republican members of the State House to select their Speaker in Republican Caucus and then carry that selection to the floor of the House and pass it there. http://www.unifiedrepublicans.com/
In this manner, Republicans rather than Democrats will select the Republican Speaker of the Republican-controlled House. If the Republicans in caucus choose Joe Straus as their Speaker, that is fine; at least the decision will have been made by Republicans rather than Democrats.

Regrettably, however, following the passage of that common-sense resolution by the State Party, Speaker Straus' liberal Republicans called the State Party and threatened to withhold $170,000 they had pledged unless the Party rescinded its call for a Republican Speaker to be chosen by Republicans.

Republicans have worked too hard to allow a handful of liberal Republican State Representatives to give the House over to Democrats. In fact, in this election, there will be a significant increase in the number of conservative Republicans elected to the House, making it even more important that the Speaker be chosen by Republicans. In order for our last decade of hard work in electing conservative Republicans to not go to waste, I urge you to:

1.    Contact your state representative. http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/

2.    Send them a copy of the SREC resolution. http://www.unifiedrepublicans.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=2

3.    Ask your Representative PUBLICLY to announce their support of the resolution for Republicans to select the Republican Speaker by signing on to the website provided for that purpose. http://www.unifiedrepublicans.com/

Texas has become the envy of the nation by enacting conservative economic and social policies in the legislature. Let's not let liberal Republicans join with Democrats to stop that progress. Please act today to contact your state representative. After all, what is controversial about Republicans simply meeting together, deciding who will be the Speaker candidate, and emerging with a single voice?  What could be more unifying?

Please act today. And please share this information with your conservative friends.

---end of letter from David Barton.

There are 150 State Representatives in our Texas House so 76 is the magic number.  Speaker Strauss has already announced that he has more than enough support to win re-election as the chamber's leader as he has 122 lawmakers (more than 4/5th of the House membership) who promise to vote for him when the Legislature convenes in January.  Immediately after the elections newly elected Republicans were being "wined and dined" regarding all the "opportunities" that would be available to them if they would "pledge" their support.

With redistricting as one of the many items on the upcoming agenda for this legislature, we NEED a Conservative Speaker MORE than ever before. Voter ID and Pro-life agenda were already stopped under his leadership.

Finally,  here is a list of the 25 members of the Texas House (listed below) who have NOT pledged (this number is now less than 25 as some have now pledged) to Straus.  Look for YOUR representative and see if they have pledged support or not.  Either way (if your rep's name is here or not), contact them and express YOUR opinion and then make the phone call and send them a copy of the resolution that David Barton stated above.  Ask them to PUBLICLY state their support of the resolution and while you have them on the phone voice your outrage if they support Straus!  What we saw in this last election is that WE THE PEOPLE need to continue to SPEAK UP!  We need to make our ELECTED officials HEAR US!

25 Members (Number is the District and the "X" = new member):

• 2 Flynn
• 3 Cain X
• 6 Berman
• 7 Simpson
• 9 Christian
• 12 White X
• 26 Howard, Charlie
• 30 Morrison
• 45 Isaac X
• 61 King
• 66 Taylor, Van X
• 74 Gallego (now has pledged to Straus)
• 82 Craddick
• 83 Perry
• 85 Landtroop X
• 88 Chisum
• 96 Zedler X (he withdrew his initial pledge to Straus)
• 101 Burkett X
• 106 Anderson X
• 107 Sheets X
• 117 Garza (now has pledged to Straus)
• 134 Davis X
• 136 Woolley

Here are the names of the infamous eleven: (as published and distributed at the State Republican Convention in Dallas 2010).
BEFORE the primaries and the elections, these were the remaining ten of the original eleven...Reps. Jim Pitt,s Rob Eissler, Byron Cook, Edmund Kuempel, Jim Keffer, Burt Solomons, Charlie Geren, Tommy Merritt (lost his primary), Delwin Jones (lost his primary) and Brian McCall (resigned to take an appointment to head a Texas college).  If Speaker Straus would have been "elected" among only Republicans, he would never have won this seat.  There were only 10 liberal Republicans who joined Democrats to elect him and he rewarded these ten with choice assignments and committee chars.  The gang of 10 was now down to the gang of 7 (again BEFORE this November election).

A Final List of Reasons Why We Don't Want Joe Straus as our Republican Speaker: (as published and distributed at the State Republican Convention in Dallas 2010).

• He joined John Sharp (D) to host a fundraiser for Patrick Rose (D-incumbent) to defeat conservative challenger Jason Isaac (R - who WON!)
• Texans for Economic Development (TED) is a pro-gambling PAC run by the former head of the State Democratic Party.  Last cycle TED spent $3000,000 in their attempt to defeat conservative House members including Reps. Betty Brown, Nathan Macias, Bill Zedler and Rep. Phil King.  Three of these conservatives lost because the Straus family gave $80,000 to TED. Rep. Phil King was the lone survivor.
• TED ran large amounts of its money through Parent PAC, whose consultant is Roy Fletcher - a business partner with Bil Clinton campaign strategist James Carville.  Like TED, Parent PAC also targets conservatives in the Texas House (and on the State Board of Education), having spent almost $1 million to remove Conservative Republicans.  (Several of Straus' Republican lieutenants also wrote out large contributions to Parent PAC.)
• Speaker Straus' political director is Gordon Johnson, a Democrat who ran TED.  Straus chose as his original Chief of Staff former Democrat State Rep. Clyde Alexander; his new Chief of Staff is Denise Davis, who was a central figure in the House coup to overthrow former conservative House Speaker, Tom Craddick.
• In the spring primaries, Speaker Straus used his resources in attempts to defeat the more Conservative candidate (such as as Van Taylor, Charles Perry and David Simpson) running against a liberal Republican House member.
• This year, 64 Conservative state legislators formed GOPAC-TX in "increase the number of Republicans serving the Texas Legislature by recruiting, training and funding conservative candidates."  After an excellent and effective beginning, Austin lobbyists report that the Speaker put out the word they were to give NO more money to GOPAC-TX; hence, funding has dried up for this outstanding conservative organization committed to defeating Democrats.
• Conservative State Senator Dan Patrick formed Independent Conservative Republicans of Texas (ICROT) for a purpose similar to GOPAC-TX; ad while 90% of House and Senate Republicans joined the group as charter members, Speaker Straus and six of his lieutenants refused to do so.
• Rene Oliveira is a big tax and spend Democrat House member, receiving an abysmal 35% rating from Texas for Fiscal Responsibility.  Nevertheless, Speaker Straus made Oliveira Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee with the responsibility of handling all tax policy; Oliveira has announced that he is seeking $3-4 billion in new tax revenues.
• Speaker Straus made lieutenant Todd Smith Chairman of the Elections Committee and Smith was able to prevent the Voter ID bill from coming to a vote, even though that measure had received the support of 93% of Republican voters in the primary.
• Speaker Straus made Republican lieutenant Burt Solomons Chairman of State Affairs Committee and Solomons kept the pro-life sonogram bill as well as all immigration legislation from coming to a vote.  Incidentally, as a reflection of his philosophy, Solomons had previously even objected to teaching that American is a blessed and unique nation (i.e., American Exceptionalism) and he also adamantly opposed a house bill to have Texas students recite portions of the Declaration of Independence.
• Speaker Straus made Republican lieutenant Edmund Kuempel Chairman of the Licensing Committee and while Straus' other lieutenants kept measure such as Voter ID, immigration and the pro-life sonogram bill from coming to the floor, Kuempel did get pro-gambling bills to emerge from his committee.  (The Straus family owns racetracks and gambling interest across the state and supports gambling and VLTs).
• Control of redistricting for the next ten years and Texas is expected to gain 4 new US congressional seats as well as draw improved prospects for Republican  state legislative districts, Speaker Straus made Delwin Jones (former Democrat and most liberal Republican in the House) Chairman of the Redistricting Committee.
• Speaker Straus inexplicably appointed Democrats Mike Villarreal and Aaron Pena to head redistricting hearing in cities such as San Antonio, Corpus Christi, McAllen, Lubbock, etc. (The testimony collected in those hearings will unquestionably be used in lawsuits filed by Democrat and liberals to contest the redistricting lines that will be drawn next year by Republican leaders and Speaker Straus is aiding this inevitable Democrat challenge.)
• Straus' Republican lieutenants were dispatched into primary races to work against conservative candidates; and in seats where conservative Republican members were retiring (e.g., David Swinford, Frank Corte, Joe Crabb, etc.), they worked to replace the retiring conservative with moderates and liberals.
• Straus Republican lieutenants Charlie Geren, Jim Keffer and Byron Cook aired radio ads supporting Democrat Mark Homer over conservative Republican Kirby Hollingsworth, helping the Democrat to a narrow win.
• Straus Republican lieutenant Jim Keffer did mail pieces for Democrat Mark Strama to help him defeat his Republican opponent.
• Straus lieutenants Dan Branch and Jim Pitts are helping Democrat Ellen Cohen against her Republican challenger, doing events with her in her district.
• Power Houston Democrats Sylvia Garcia (Democrat County Commissioner in Harris County) and Elyse Lanier (wife of the former liberal Democrat mayor Bob Lanier) sponsored a Democrat fundraiser for Speaker Straus with numerous Democrat officials and high ranking union officials.

There are additional examples, but these are sufficient to affirm tat the greatest threat to the conservative Republican gains in the Texas State House is not from Democrats but instead may be from Speaker Straus and his "Republican" lieutenants.

In closing, "Once...I said, 'This is a wonderful time to be alive,' and I meant that.  I meant that we're lucky not to live in pale and timid times.  We've been blessed with the opportunity to stand for something - for liberty and freedom and fairness.  And these are things worth fighting for - worth devoting our lives to.  And we have good reason to be hopeful and optimistic.  We've made much progress already!  So, let us go forth with good cheer and stout hearts - happy warriors out to seize back a country and a world to freedom!" - Ronald Reagan's words from March 8, 1985.