"I've noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born." -Ronald Reagan

Here is our wonderful Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi on Sunday talking about abortion. Regardless of your views of pro-Life or pro-Choice, I doubt either side would like to be represented by someone with so little understanding of the subject. Watch the clip of the interview, then read on...



It doesn't take much searching to realize that she is either lying about her research or lying about her findings. "The Catholic catechism is extremely clear on the nature of its position on human life, and has been remarkably consistent on this point for almost 2,000 years, and it finds that position in the Old Testament. Human life begins at conception, not at birth, and not at some point consistent with Roe for convenience. In Psalm 51, David refers to his sinfulness beginning at the moment of conception, and sinfulness requires physical life and a soul to exist."

Once again, this is not an argument for or against abortion, yet an example of how our leadership makes things up to suit their needs. If our leaders in the Federal government don't understand it, then they should stay out of it.

US Constitution - Amendment 10
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Economic Stimulus Act of 2008

For those of you that own a business, make sure you pay attention to the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. After the tech-bubble of 2001, the government allowed a "special" depreciation bonus on new equipment purchased for businesses. They are doing that again for 2008.
Section 179 equipment can be expensed up to $250,000 this year and if the asset doesn't qualify for section 179, you can write off 50% in depreciation in the first year (2008).

I know this is probably boring for most of you, but for those with small businesses that need extra equipment, this should be good news!



Also, note that the federal standard mileage rate went up to 58.5 cents on July 1st through December 31st. It usually is adjusted once per year, but because of the high cost of gas, they adjusted it early. So, if you get reimbursed mileage from your company (or track your miles for your own business), make sure you are getting the appropriate rate!

"He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good." Confucius

Austin's Congressman Kirk Watson supporting Obama. HA HA.

Fairness Doctrine - "Man is not free unless government is limited.... As government expands, liberty contracts." Ronald Reagan

For those not familiar with the Fairness Doctrine, here is the history:

Originally established during FDR's administration as part of the FCC, the Fairness Doctrine was enacted to require broadcast licensees (primarily radio stations) to present controversial issues of public importance in a manner deemed by the FCC to be honest, equitable, and balanced. Simply put... those stations that air conservative talk radio would also need to allocate equal time to opposing viewpoints.

Under the disguise of honest, equitable, and balanced information, the Fairness Doctrine is simply a way to shut down free speech (so radio stations don't deal with the hassle of the requirement to balance air time).

Ronald Reagan's Administration was successful in repealing the Fairness Doctrine and it has remained so ever since; however, certain members of Congress, including the current Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, are making efforts to re-enact the Fairness Doctrine.
In an interview, Speaker Pelosi was asked, "Do you personally support revival of the ‘Fairness Doctrine?", to which she responded, “Yes,” without hesitation.

Conservatives currently dominate the air waives with radio programs such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and others, so the enactment of the Fairness Doctrine would ultimately stop their ability to broadcast (as radio stations would find it too cumbersome to balance their programs with equal liberal programs).

Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana is leading the fight to secure free speech on the airways and limit governments ability to interfere. His website contains lots of good information, including a petition, history, and facts. See his site here: http://mikepence.house.gov/fairnessdoctrine/fairnessdoctrine.htm


What can you do?
Call/email your representative and tell them to support HR 2905, the Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2007.

Can this really be that bad?
Bill Ruder, an assistant secretary of commerce under John F. Kennedy, admitted to CBS News producer Fred Friendly that "our massive strategy was to use the Fairness Doctrine to challenge and harass right-wing broadcasters and hope the challenges would be so costly to them that they would be inhibited and decide it was too expensive to continue."

Border Patrol Agents - "It does seem like the government overreacted here..." Presiding Judge Jolly

A quick summary for those not familiar with this story...

Two former US Border Patrol Agents, one of whom shot an allegedly unarmed illegal alien and drug smuggler on the US/Mexico border, were convicted of causing serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, and a civil rights violation. One agent was sentenced to prison for 12 years, the other 11 years.

Aldrete Dávila, the "victim", had been found with nearly 800 pounds of marijuana in the back of his van. He then fought with these agents and ran. Following the incident, he was granted a temporary conditional visitors visa (and immunity) in exchange for giving his testimony against Ramos and Compean, as well as his medical bills were all paid by our government. He was later caught and convicted for additional drug smuggling and sentenced to prison for 9.5 years.

These two men have been in prison for over 560 days now, and while they continue to fight through the court system, they were moved to solitary confinement due to beatings they were receiving from fellow inmates. There family has lost their health insurance and had to declare bankruptcy.

Some of the controversy surrounding this case was due to alleged tampering of evidence and attempted cover up of the shooting; however, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the obstruction of justice sentence, but allowed the remainder to stay, even after the presiding judge indicated, "it does seem like the government overreacted here...".

At this point, they can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. If that fails, President Bush is the only person who could shorten their sentences. The president has shown little interest in the case.

Watch this video for more information:

What can you do?
1. Call/email your federal representative and demand they support HR 6367, which amends Title 18 of the US Code 924c, introduced by Congressman Kevin Brady of Texas. Here is the bill for you to read: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.6367:Ltr_of_Support_FHLEOA-FOBP_KBrady_924cBill.pdf

2. Call/email President Bush and ask for their sentence to be pardoned or commuted!

"There are not enough jails, not enough policemen, not enough courts to enforce a law not supported by the people." Hubert Humphrey

The Oklahoma 3 - “This indictment is not about the law, but about politics—ugly, anti-democratic politics.” Paul Jacob

Here is a quick summary of the story (some copied from Paul Jacob's account of events)

In 2005, two Oklahoma initiative campaigns were launched, designed to end eminent domain and cap the rate of government spending growth, allowing greater spending only with voter approval.

Petitioners were having a hard time getting signatures, so a number of petitioners moved to Oklahoma, declared residency, and proceeded to gather signatures on the various petitions. In Oklahoma, you must be a resident to gather signatures on a petition. However, Oklahoma isn't very clear on what constitutes a "resident".

Ultimately, both the spending cap and the property rights measure garnered enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Then the petition was challenged and the Oklahoma Supreme Court provided a much different standard for residency then in the past. The judges now equated residency with a “permanent home.”

How permanent was “permanent”? One petitioner, who moved to Oklahoma in September of 2005 and was still living there in July of the following year, was ruled not to be a resident.

The court thus struck enough signatures from the 300,000 gathered to deny the people of Oklahoma a vote on the spending cap measure.

Then three petitioners, Susan Johnson, Rick Carpenter and Paul Jacob were charged with conspiracy to defraud the state of Oklahoma for allegedly “willfully” violating the state’s residency statute. For this alleged crime Attorney General Drew Edmondson seeks to imprison them for up to ten years.

For the full story, see this link:
http://www.freepauljacob.com/the-story

Constitution: Amendment 1

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.