I want to take this opportunity to thank my readers and friends who visit here for a wonder 2009.  So much has happened this year and we’ve shared so much.  We were together for the swearing in of our new president, we watched American Idol together and shared our favorites, we watched from start to finish my mom build her house, we debated health-care, the stimulus bill, and the troop surge in Afghanistan, we discussed Tiger Woods and ClayAiken’s voter fraud… together, we welcomed 2009 and together, we say goodbye  to 2009 and welcome 2010.

For 2010, I have many things that I hope for and here are my top 10.

1.  I hope for good health for my family, friends, and readers.

2.  I hope for the safety of our men and women who sacrifice each day to protect us.

3.  I hope that the principals and foundation of our Constitution be adhered to and followed.

4.  I hope that Republicans take over the Congress.

5.  I hope for the failure of the health-care legislation proposed by this Congress.

6.  I hope for the return of economic prosperity for our country.

7.  I hope for God’s continued blessing on our nation.

8.  I hope that Democrats will come to their senses.

9.  I hope that Adam Lambert will tour.

10. I hope that Clay Aiken continues to blog every month.

Happy New Year everyone and again, that you for making 2009 fantastic and thank you for your support.  I’m very appreciative.

Best,

John Paulus

Internationally known blogger

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Obama's Agriculture Department wants to convert this farmland to forest to stem global warming. Will it work?

I could write to you tonight about the disaster that is the Obama national security, but you already know that.  Even some of you liberals are beginning to recognize that.  I could write tonight about the liberal Congressman Barney Frank who was one of six Democrats responsible for the banking crisis who just drafted a bill that would give bankers a whopping $4,000,000,000,000.00. but the incompetence and machinations of Barney wouldn’t surprise you.  Then again, I could write tonight about the $3.8 billion that the Obama Treasury is about to give to GMAC, the financial arm of GM.  Yes, the GM who went bankrupt and that is now owned by the government and the unions… but that would only get you upset thinking why we continue to throw money down a rat hole.

Well, tonight I want to write about your stomach and how liberals are about to make it more expensive to feed it.  We all remember how liberals pushed through legislation that rewarded farmer who grew corn that could be converted to ethanol in lieu of cattle feed, barley, oats, wheat, etc. causing prices of those commodities to rise…. well, in an effort to save the planet from global warming and control that even pollutant that our bodies naturally blow out, CO2, Obama’s Agriculture Department wants to pay farmers to turn their farms into forest.  Yes, you read it right, liberals have now concluded that we should turn farms into forest so that there will be more trees to absorb that awful pollutant CO2.

Now I know some of you think I’m making this up and others want to dismiss this as hyperbole, but, in fact, this is in the climate bill passed by the House and supported by Obama.  Here, read this from the Washington Times:

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has ordered his staff to revise a computerized forecasting model that showed that climate legislation supported by President Obama would make planting trees more lucrative than producing food.

The latest Agriculture Department economic-impact study of the climate bill, which passed the House this summer, found that the legislation would profit farmers in the long term. But those profits would come mostly from higher crop prices as a result of the legislation’s incentives to plant more forests and thus reduce the amount of land devoted to food-producing agriculture.

According to the economic model used by the department and the Environmental Protection Agency, the legislation would give landowners incentives to convert up to 59 million acres of farmland into forests over the next 40 years. The reason: Trees clean the air of heat-trapping gases better than farming does.

Mr. Vilsack, in a little-noticed statement issued with the report earlier this month, said the department’s forecasts “have caused considerable concern” among farmers and ranchers… continued here if your blood pressure can handle it.

Basically, the latest cockamamie idea from this liberal Congress is to plant trees on farms that would normally grow food for our survival, because it just might reduce CO2 which is hypothesized to cause global warming.  Oh, but it gets better than that.  The Secretary of Agriculture wants the models that concluded that food prices would increase to be “reviewed” and “updated”.  Let me make it simple, he’s wants them to fudge the numbers to show that you can convert 59 million acres of farmland into a forest and have no real impact on the price of food.

Mr. Vilsack said he has directed his chief economist to work with the EPA to “undertake a review of the assumptions in the FASOM model, to update the model and to develop options on how best to avoid unintended consequences for agriculture that might result from climate change legislation.”

Do these people have the slightest clue about micro and macro economics?  Do they have just the slightest clue about how supply and demand work?  Do they not realize that if you wipe out our farmland you’ll reduce the supply of food and drive up the cost?  Do they understand how higher food prices will hurt those who are already struggling to make ends meet– actually, I think they do.  The more people who are hurting and struggling the more who will become slaves to the government, reliant on Big Brother rather than themselves.  When will some voters finally wake up.

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Did any of you catch the audio speech that Obama gave just a bit ago addressing the failed attack on an American airline over Christmas?  Obama confirmed reports that an intelligence official at the US embassy in Nigerian was informed by the father of the terrorist that his son was a threat. Obama admitted that there was a systemic failure in properly disseminating that information and connecting the dots.  But, as we all know, we can’t expect Obama to accept blame.  Instead, Obama said that procedures that were put in place “for years now is not sufficiently up to date”.  Yes, another backhanded way of blaming Bush.

Let’s be clear, if the President admits that there was a systemic failure in communicating the threat, and if all the signs were there that would set alarm bells that this guy was a risk, ie one-way ticket, paying in cash, flying the same day, no check in baggage, temporary visa, no passport… if Obama’s government did their job then the procedures that were put in place would have been sufficient.  And let’s understand something else, Obama said earlier that this guy was on a watch list that contains thousands of names, but not the no fly list– AND?  What the hell is the sense of having a watch list if you’re not going to “watch” or pay particular attention to those people on the list?

The failure lies not in the procedures themselves, but with Obama and his government.  It’s their warped way of looking at the threat that we face. We are at war.  These terrorist do not care how many times you apologize or how many times you try them in court, they are looking to kill us.  They are looking to destroy our way of life.  They do not care.

If any of you doubt that Obama’s understanding of this threat isn’t flaw, let me just share that the Obama administration has sent some of the newly released Gitmo detainees to…. YEMEN!!! Yes, in fact, it’s the Obama policy to release these suspected terrorist and send them back to Yemen if there isn’t sufficient evidence to try them in court. Because, you know, according to Obama and his liberals cohorts, it’s better to release them and risk them planning attacks against us then to hold them indefinitely.  Shhh… you probably haven’t heard this on the mainstream news, unless you watch Fox, but two of the Gitmo detainees released helped to plan this latest failed attack.

So let’s rehash the Obama policy with regard to terrorism:

1.  If we catch terrorist, we don’t treat them as Prisoner of War, but as criminals.

2.  We will provide these criminals with their Miranda Rights and provide them an attorney.

3.  We will ask them for any information they may have, but will not do anything that would remotely make them uncomfortable, like say… keeping them up for hours at a time or blowing smoke in their face.  Mustn’t do anything that would offend these terrorist criminals.

4.  We will put them in jail and try them in our courts and keep them in jail until they served their time and then release them.

5.  If we catch these terrorist criminals on the battlefield in our country plotting, but don’t have enough evidence to detain them, we must let them go.  In fact, we just send them to Yemen.  After all, we have to close Gitmo, because having Gitmo makes us look evil and mean for imprisoning those who want to kill us.  I mean, our “image” in the world to these pacifist who are just as ignorant as Obama and these liberals about what this war is about, is more important than protecting our citizens.

6. Now, instead of paying particular attention to young Muslim men buying one-way tickets with cash, we are asking passengers to close their laptops an hour prior to landing (We don’t want these terrorist criminals to know when the aircraft is about to land so that they won’t ignite a bomb… please don’t tell Secretary Napolitano that one only needs to look out their window to see the airplane is preparing to land or to feel the popping in ones ears). Also, we can no longer have blankets on one hour out– tell that to a mother with a baby.  Yes, these are the new rules that have been implemented to prevent a terrorist attack by the Obama government.   We don’t want to offend, remember.  Never mind offending the mother with the baby or the businessman with the laptop, we must not offend those who belong to a specific group that have been killing us.

Listen, I could go on with my list, but let me just sum it up– Liberals are of the ideology that we can’t offend anyone.  It’s this weakness that these TERRORIST are taking advantage of.  Screw people being offended.  This is about survival and if you don’t like it go the hell back to where you came from and tell YOUR people to stop their war, don’t get offended at the rest of us for trying to protect ourselves.

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Democrats and their liberals allies in Congress love to boast how they are strong on security, however, truth is always larger than fiction.  Most of you are familiar with Chris Dodd– he’s the liberal Democrat Senator from Connecticut who threatened to filibuster any additional regulations the Bush administration was calling for on the banks only to find that he and other Democrats were getting plum loans from the banks they were protecting.

Well, Chris Dodd has done it again, this time he helped steer money away from aviation security and into the coffers of the pockets of one of his biggest campaign contributors.  I mean, who really needs to worry about aviation security anyways, right?

From the Washington Examiner:

Now that our attention is focused on airline security measures thanks to the failed airline attack on Christmas Day, it’s worth mentioning that one Senator took money away from aviation security to line the pockets of a constituency that supported his presidential campaign in a big way.

Back in July, Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., proposed an amendment reducing aviation security appropriations by $4.5 million in favor of firefighter grants — a notoriously inneffective program. In fact, the money was specifically “for screening operations and the amount for explosives detection systems.” The amendment was also sponsored by Sen. Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sen. Carper, D-Del., but Dodd deserves to be singled out here because the firefighters union is a pet constituency of his. In 2007 he campaigned all through Iowa with the firefighters union. It was one of the few distinguishable features of Dodd’s ill-fated presidential bid.

The text of the amendment is below:

(Purpose: To provide additional funds for FIRE grants under section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974)On page 77, between lines 16 and 17, insert the following:

SEC. X (a) The amount appropriated under the heading “firefighter assistance grants” under the heading “Federal Emergency Management Agency” under by title III for necessary expenses for programs authorized by the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 is increased by $10,000,000 for necessary expenses to carry out the programs authorized under section 33 of that Act (15 U.S.C. 2229).

(b) The total amount of appropriations under the heading “Aviation Security” under the heading “Transportation Security Administration” under title II, the amount for screening operations and the amount for explosives detection systems under the first proviso under that heading, and the amount for the purchase and installation of explosives detection systems under the second proviso under that heading are reduced by $4,500,000.

(c) From the unobligated balances of amounts appropriated before the date of enactment of this Act for the appropriations account under the heading “state and local programs” under the heading “Federal Emergency Management Agency” for “Trucking Industry Security Grants”, $5,500,000 are rescinded.

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There’s so much to cover in today’s news round-up, but let’s get started with the Obama’s.  After years of sitting in the pews of Reverend Wright, listening to him preach his hate and intolerance and never walking out, the Obama’s seems to have given up on church.  Perhaps, they have found it difficult to locate a church like Reverend Wright’s where the preachers beliefs mirror their own, or maybe… maybe the Obama’s just used the church for political reasons– to help build a base of support in the black community.  Some may point out that past Presidents skipped church while in the White House, because it was a burden for other attendees and, like other presidents, Obama doesn’t want to have them affected. But… past Presidents have attended Christmas mass, not the Obamas.  I guess church served its purpose for the Obamas.

Here’s a perfect example of how liberals try to have it both ways.  In this first video, left wing dumba*s and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano states that the system worked and in the second video, she lets us know that the system failed miserably.

Do you recall how the liberals proclaimed, “Bush ruined our international relationships” and “how the world hated us”?  Obama was supposed to come  in and change all that.  Of course, Obama’s approach was to tell the rest of the world just how terrible a country we were, to apologize for everything we’ve ever done, and of course placate our enemies by weakening our defensive posture.  Well, it seems like none of that a*s kissing and bending over to grab the ankles is working.  We already know how Obama pissed off the British, the Polish, the Czechs, the Canadians, the Germans, the Australians, how the Chinese told Obama to hit the road, the Dutch cried foul, etc. well, it’s now the French.  Pro Bush and close ally French President Sarkozy is now anti-Obama.  Looks like words from a teleprompter will only get you so far before your actions need to start carrying you.

Columnist Clive Cook writes that Barack Obama’s first year as president has been failure. He notes that his only accomplishment has been to unite the left and the right in their disappointment in him.  Cook writes, “Many Americans – conservatives, liberals and centrists – are dismayed by Barack Obama’s first year. Republicans call Mr Obama a tax and spend liberal. Progressives say he surrendered to corporate interests, and his foreign policy is a continuation of George W. Bush by other means. Independents feel let down because Mr Obama said he would bridge the partisan divide and unite the country.”  Obama pissing off the left, right, and independents doesn’t shock me.  When you don’t stand for anything and you have no convictions and promise everything to everyone with no real plan just words on a teleprompter you’ll never deliver.  Thank you Democrats for electing another Jimmy Carter.

Former Congressman Mark Foley comments on Max Baucus’s drunken speech on the Senate floor, “This is the senator that hired his staffer and then took her on trips…and divorced his wife….and they had me run out of town.”  Hey Mr. Foley, don’t you know that liberals and their allies in the media hold Democrats to a much lower standard?  You can lie, cheat on your wife, pay the girlfriend with campaign contributions, and not only do you keep your job, but you’re given a chairmanship.  Liberals are hypocrites.

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Democrat Senator and Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus, was drunk on the Senate floor as he debated the health-care bill.  Who knew when the Democrats said that they wanted to pass health-care in the spirit of Ted Kennedy they literally meant it.

And for you Clay Aiken fans,  it appears Clay Aiken’s mother  uninvited Clay to Christmas Eve dinner because he wanted to bring his boyfriend.  You can read all about it at ClayAiken411.

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Would it surprise you if I told you that the Obama government was warned about the terrorist charged with trying to destroy a jetliner four weeks ago.  In fact, the man’s father went to the embassy with concerns about his son and yet the Obama government did absolutely nothing.  They even determined that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to place him on the “no-fly list”.  Uh what?!!!

After 9-11 one would expect that our government would take every precaution necessary to keep the American people safe, but apparently a father’s warnings of his radical Muslim son’s behavior was not enough for Obama and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.  Perhaps the duo were too busy watching those evil right wing Christian former military guys that the Secretary warned us about earlier this year.  We all know how they have a propensity to engage in terrorist activity.  Did you catch sight of them at those tea parties with their signs of hate demanding less government?

Here what the Associated Press is reporting:

U.S. government officials tell The Associated Press that the Nigerian man charged with trying to destroy a jetliner came to the attention of U.S. intelligence in November when his father went to the U.S. embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, to express his concerns about his son.

A congressional official said Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian, popped up in U.S. intelligence reports about four weeks ago as having a connection to both al-Qaida and Yemen.

Another government official said Abdulmutallab’s father went to the embassy in Abuja with his concerns, but did not have any specific information that would put him on the “no-fly list” or on the list for additional security checks at the airport.

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1.  Five days into Winter and record snow fall has blanketed much of the United States much to the disappointment of liberals like Al Gore who has made 100′s of millions of dollars scaring the world with his nonsense of melting ice caps.

2.  Charlie Sheen appears to have relapsed as Aspen police were called out at 8:34 Christmas Day.  Sheen was arrested for felony domestic battery after being up all night boozing. Sheen, who has been an outspoken critic of war and supporter of diplomacy,  should take some of his own advice.

3.  Apple stock hit an all-time high on Thursday as rumors are circulating that the innovative company will be announcing “iPad”– a tablet computer that is said to operate on the iPhone software and is said to be a computer, digital book reader, and portable video device all wrapped up in one.  Of interesting note, Apple is also rumored to have purchased the domain name, iSlate.com.  Looks like the Kindel will become so yesterday after the iPad is launched if the rumors prove to be true.

4.  Retailers are expecting a strong December 26th since the day after Christmas falls on a Saturday.  Best Buy and Walmart are extending their holiday discounts in an effort to lure more shopper into their stores.  Take it from me, the best deals can be found after the third week of January.

5.  Terror in the skies over the United States struck again on Christmas as a radical Muslim attempted to kill hundreds of Christians on their most holy of days.  Saved by a miracle, the plane was able to land safely and the terrorist oppressed gentleman was taken into custody where he will surely be provided his Miranda rights,  an attorney paid for by US taxpayers,  his Koran, hot cooked meals appropriate for his faith, a warm bed, and a comfortable living environment.

The Obama Intelligence agency failed to stop a terrorist who attempted to blow up Northwest flight 253 carrying 278 passengers on Christmas.  The terrorist was identified as Abdul Mudallad a Nigerian who claims to have been carrying out the orders of Al Qaeda.  Passengers subdued the man when the explosives he had mixed failed to detonate.  Passengers on board the flight were grateful for the miracle.

Questions  are being asked of the Homeland Security Secretary on how and why this incident occurred and where the breakdown in security occurred.  The Obama government has decided to end the “War on Terrorism” terminology seeing terrorism more as a legal issue and not a war issue.

Speaking to CNN, Rep. King, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, said that Abdul Mudallad’s name did appear in the database showing terrorist connections.  ”My understanding is … that he does have al Qaeda connections, certainly extremist terrorist connections, and his name popped up pretty quickly” in a search of intelligence data bases, King said.

Blame for this near disaster will soon fall on Bush and comparisons to Bush’s past handling of a similar terrorist act will begin  in an effort to shield Obama from any criticism.  After all, this administration isn’t responsible for anything.

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I want to wish all of you a very merry Christmas.

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