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Archive for December, 2009

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If you don’t like getting body scanned, then fly on your own plane

In New York State on December 31, 2009 at 5:00 pm

(12-31-2009) It seems that Rep. Peter King is one of the few elected leaders left that actually have common sense.

Congressman Peter King

“If you’re looking for the IRA, you go to Irish bars and Catholic churches; if you’re looking for the Mafia, you go to Little Italy; if you’re looking for the Ku Klux Klan, you don’t go to Harlem,” he said.

“Odds are, A Scandinavian grandmother is not coming to bomb the U.S.”

Question: So is racial profiling a common sense approach to national security?

Answer: YES!

Racial profiling for national security purposes is not racism. The foreign terrorists that have killed thousands of innocent American lives have all come from the Middle East, and are of Islamic descent. These terrorists are hell bent on killing more Americans. It’s time to end the nonsensical political correctness.

Question: So if racial profiling is correct for national security, is it correct for private airline safety?

Answer: YES!

Behavioral profiling is very effective in fingering potential terrorists. Israel’s El Al airline uses profiling as part of a multi layered screening process that scrutinizes mannerisms, flier histories, and body language, among other variables, and has a highly successful record. (Newsday)

And what’s the deal with the body scans? The Netherlands and Nigeria have both announced that they will start using full-body scanners for passengers immediately.

Yet, the United States will add 150 machines sometime this year. Last June, the House – including most of the NY delegation – voted 310 to 118 to bar widespread use of full-body scanning technology, after it was opposed by civil libertarians. (Newsday)

I understand the whole invasion of privacy thing, but isn’t air traveling a choice? Isn’t an air traveler already giving up more privacy by simply purchasing the travel tickets with a credit card?

While airline travel is a means of public transportation, is it not run by private companies? Seems to me that if a private person wants to fly on someone else’s plane, then they should have to fly by that person’s rules.

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Congressman Peter King tells it like it is

In New York State on December 31, 2009 at 4:49 pm

(12-31-2009) From Newsday, by Elizabeth Moore

King makes media rounds in wake of air terror attempt

This was supposed to be the week Rep. Peter King spent talking with family and friends about whether to bow to his party’s wishes and run for the U.S. Senate.

The Seaford Republican has been talking, all right – with CNN, Fox, CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC and pretty much anyone in America with a television, keeping the Obama administration on the run over its terrorism policies and its handling of the Christmas Day bombing attempt of a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines passenger jet.

Members of the administration have said this week that the airline security system failed. President Barack Obama said there were deficiencies in the system that would be fixed and the overall system strengthened.

“The system did not work,” King told “Face the Nation” Sunday morning, in a pointed rebuke to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s televised assurances offered minutes earlier that the system had worked.

The following day, Napolitano conceded that the airline security system had in fact failed, allowing a Nigerian man with explosive materials sewn into his underwear to board the plane.

Speaking his mind

Not afraid to speak his mind, King the night before called CNN, asking why the president hadn’t yet appeared on TV to reassure the public. By the time Barack Obama emerged from his Hawaiian vacation Monday to pledge a full investigation in how Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, managed to walk onto the plane even though he was on a terror watch list, he was playing catch-up with King’s critique.

King said he isn’t just tossing the partisan football and strongly supports Obama’s approach in Afghanistan and Yemen. But as former chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and now its ranking Republican, King has found a home on media speed dials as the most vocal, quotable advocate for the “war on terror.”

That phrase, so often on the lips of former President George W. Bush, expresses a philosophy toward Islamic terrorism rejected by Obama, who commonly opts for the word “extremists.” And as the president, one year into his term, has had to defer his campaign promise to shut down Guantánamo, King has forcefully argued to keep it open.

‘A state of war’

“He is not afraid to call this what it is: . . . a state of war,” said Jeffrey Addicott, founder and director of the Center for Terrorism Law at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, and a supporter of King’s stance. “He certainly has essentially been the sole voice out there that is following the premise to its logical conclusion . . . that we’re at war, let’s use the war toolbox.”

Tuesday morning, King was on the “Today” show to urge that the bombing suspect be tried by a military tribunal – a position opposed by the Democratic chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). Later, King revived his call for religious profiling of air travelers, telling Newsday, “it’s common-sense screening.

“If you’re looking for the IRA, you go to Irish bars and Catholic churches; if you’re looking for the Mafia, you go to Little Italy; if you’re looking for the Ku Klux Klan, you don’t go to Harlem,” he said.

As for that Senate race: Weary King watchers note he has floated the idea of a run before – against Hillary Rodham Clinton in 1999, against Charles Schumer in 2003, and again last year, when Caroline Kennedy was the lead contender for Clinton’s seat. But this week, he rated his enthusiasm for a race against Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand as a “2.5″ on a scale of 1 to 10.

“It’s extremely difficult because Peter is enormously popular here on Long Island, but will that popularity translate to the $20 million he would need as a Republican to run a statewide campaign?” asked GOP consultant Desmond Ryan, who is skeptical about the party’s promises of support.

If all the TV jousting has pleased Republican leaders, pollsters say it has had little effect on King’s standing with voters outside his home turf.

Still, last weekend, stopping at the Melville Costco, King found himself swarmed by supporters urging him to run. He’s put off his decision by another week.

 


No Campaign Cash for You!

In New York State, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee on December 30, 2009 at 3:58 pm

(12-30-2009) From The Daily Politics, New York Daily News

By Elizabeth Benjamin

No Campaign Cash for You!

State elected officials are starting to see the effects of the ongoing Albany dysfunction on their efforts to raise campaign cash, with Long Island contractors and building trades unions flatly refusing requests for contributions heading into a crucial election year.

The Long Island Contractors Association has started sending out rejection letters in response to solicitations from senators, citing the “infrastructure funding crisis, coupled with an abdication of political leadership.”

The letters that appear here (after the jump) were sent to Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos and Sen. Owen Johnson – both Republicans.

But Marc Herbst, the association’s executive director, assured me this is a bipartisan effort. In fact, he said, Democratic Assemblyman Marc Alessi, “an ardent industry supporter” and member of the Assembly Transportation Committee, was the first lawmaker to get the brush-off in response to a request for his Jan. 7 fundraiser.

The association also sent a thanks-but-no-thanks response to an invitation to attend Gov. David Paterson’s holiday reception. In the e-mail, Herbst wrote:

“This decision was not easy, until I decided to emulate the Governor’s leadership example in dealing with his own Department of Transportation’s proposed five-year 2010-2015 capital program. Therefore, I trust you can appreciate my response. Unfortunately, your invitation (actually solicitation) is simply unaffordable given New York’s fiscal conditions.”

Herbst said this is a unified effort by all of the contracting firms and labor trades on Long Island. He couldn’t put a dollar amount on how much lawmakers will collectively lose as a result, but said it’s “significant” – perhaps somewhere in the six-figure range.

“Everyone says they’re supportive, but for the last legislative cycle we saw the focus on things like (Sen. Hiram) Monserrate’s misdemeanor while we’re sitting here struggling with 35 percent unemployment,” Herbst told me.

“They’re fighting over leadership, but meanwhile our members and workers on are the unemployment line.”

This isn’t the first time someone has said “no” to an ask from an Albany lawmaker and cited the mess that masquerades for state government as the cause.

In November, real estate mogul and ABNY Chairman Bill Rudin told Sen. Jeff Klein: “Until you get your house in order’ – I think this is the first time I’ve done this – ‘until you have a coherent plan, I’m not giving you any money.”

This is the first time that I’ve seen a coordinated effort to effectively starve state lawmakers into submission. If it catches on, it has the capacity to really make an impact, because nothing speaks louder in an election year that campaign cash.

 

The Liberty Bell is ringing, don't you hear it?

General George Washington crossing the Delaware at the Battle of Trenton on Christmas night 1776 by Emmanuel Leutze


New East End town supervisors face host of challenges

In East Hampton, Riverhead, Southampton on December 30, 2009 at 11:25 am

(12-30-2009) From Newsday, December 29, 2009, By MITCHELL FREEDMAN  

New East End town supervisors face host of challenges

Voter rebellion on the East End on Election Day, largely over fiscal mismanagement, will result in three new town supervisors taking office with the new year, and all will face some daunting financial realities.

Here’s a look at the new supervisors – and the issues they face:

Bill Wilkinson, who ran as a Republican, won with more than 60 percent of the vote. His message in part was that things had gotten much worse since he lost the race for supervisor by 10 votes two years ago. The town’s total debt now hovers around $28 million.

Since he and his two town board running-mates were elected, Wilkinson, 60 has been meeting almost daily with various town departments, looking for ways to cut expenses. One large, symbolic expense Wilkinson will have to live with is the new East Hampton town hall, a collection of six 18th and 19th century buildings that were donated to the town. It appears he has no choice but to use the buildings.

“Although it’s quite attractive and historic . . . we are spending $7.5 million to accommodate 26 employees,” said Wilkinson of the renovations. “It’s embarrassing to occupy such a beautiful facility when we are facing layoffs and a $28 million debt.”

Sean Walter, 43, a Republican who is the former head of the town Conservative Party, says his election shows that the nation is returning to conservative Republican principles.

A practicing attorney, he has a degree in environmental sciences from Binghamton University and was environmental manager for the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard. He served as deputy Riverhead town attorney from 2000 to 2006.

How Walter fares as supervisor will depend in large part on two big land deals involving the sale of town property at the Enterprise Park at Calverton.

A proposal by Repcal to buy 300 acres of land and build 2.5 million square feet of industrial space – slated to close in 2010 or 2011 – would bring in $18 million.

Another proposed sale of 750 acres to Riverhead Resorts to build a themed resort park is scheduled to go to closing this summer, and could bring the town $100 million or more.

Meanwhile, Walter has two ticking financial time bombs on his hands.

Riverhead’s municipal water system is old, and needs a major overhaul to the tune of millions of dollars. And, he says, the Suffolk County Water Authority wants to expand its own system by acquiring Riverhead’s water system.

But the Riverhead system needs to build several expensive new supply wells. For years, part of the cost of running the system has been shifted to developers who want to hook into it. Now, there are fewer developers to pick up that expense.

At the same time, the town is under a mandate to upgrade its sewer system to meet changing federal standards. It’ll cost $18 million, Walter says. The town still has four years to meet the new standards, but, so far, Walter says nothing is being done.

“I don’t think you will see a change overnight . . . we have not been investing in our infrastructure for the past six years,” he said.

What Walter will be doing is trying to get the town’s moribund economy moving. One way to do it, he said, is to change town regulations and procedures to “fast-track” development, especially in the downtown Riverhead business district.

Anna Throne-Holst, 49, who ran as a Democrat, is the only new supervisor now serving on a town board. The former executive director of the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreation Center, she also is co-founder of Hayground School, an alternative elementary and middle school in Bridgehampton. Throne-Holst is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., and Columbia University.

Her proposal for the town’s future – laid out in a 13-point plan on her Web site – involves cutting the budget by 15 percent by 2012, and maintaining a hiring freeze to reduce the town’s workforce by 20 percent by 2012.

However, she is only one vote on the five-member town board, and before any real political compromise is reached there will be a new special election. The minute she takes office, her town board seat becomes empty – and under a new town law an election must be held to fill that seat within 60 to 90 days.

Like neighboring East Hampton, Southampton is still conducting forensic audits to determine precisely how much money is owed to various accounts because of improper commingling of funds. Officials estimate the total debt will be around $10 million.

Throne-Holst said there have been recent signs that the high-end real estate market in Southampton is coming back to life, which could provide a big boost to the town. And, the town board recently cut about 50 jobs, reducing its expenses.

 


NYS “down to petty cash”

In New York State on December 30, 2009 at 11:10 am

(12-30-2009) From the Albany Times Union, December 29, 2009, by Casey Seiler

Dinapoli: NYS “down to petty cash”

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s latest “Cash Watch” bulletin suggests the state will deplete its cash resources to an “all-time low” after tomorrow’s scheduled $1.3 billion Medicaid payment and $2.2 billion in STAR and school aid payments.

“New York State is barely scraping by in December,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “While measures were taken by the Legislature and Governor to get the state through December, the state is literally down to petty cash. New York’s fiscal troubles are far from over.”

Here are the Comptroller’s numbers for today:

State Funds Available Cash Start of Business (amount of cash on hand to pay bills): $3.3 billion

Pending Payments Start of Business (vouchers payable today, does not include STAR, general purpose school aid and month-end Medicaid payments): $568.1 million

Estimated State Fund Receipts (tax, federal and misc. receipts from agencies received today): $488.8 million

Estimated State Funds Available End of Business (amount of cash on hand after paying bills and receiving in revenue: $3.2 billion

Sure, $3.2 billion sounds like a nice piece of change. But consider the Comptroller’s list of payments scheduled for tomorrow and due by Jan. 4:

STAR aid payments totaling $1.8 billion. “As ordered by the Governor, the state Division of the Budget issued a certificate of approval to the Comptroller’s office ordering a 19 percent reduction in STAR aid payments,” said the Comptroller’s release.

General support for public schools of $384.5 million, which is expected to be paid at 100 percent

Month-end Medicaid payments to providers totaling $1.3 billion, which the Comptroller’s office described as “one of highest Medicaid payments ever made by the state.”

That’s almost $3.5 billion, or some $300 million away from the state’s balance as of today.


Let the inaugurations begin

In Southampton on December 30, 2009 at 3:24 am

(12-30-2009) The following article was submitted by Jacques Ditte

Jacques Ditte is the founder of the New York State Sovereignty movement as well as the owner of Black Sheep Television Ltd., a production and advertising agency in Hampton Bays.

Southampton’s Anna Throne-Holst’s inauguration ceremony

It was barely a year and a half ago in 2008, that the world watched with awe, the historic demi-god like nomination acceptance speech of Democrat Barrack Hussein Obama. The dulcet tones of hypnotic meaningless words reverberated as He read them off the teleprompter. The masses swooned, as they watch Him pontificate with the perfect cinematic backdrop of roman styrofoam columns, a modest homage and setting, for our soon be new Caesar.  Ahhh what a great time to be alive!

A few months before that in Southampton, Linda Kabot put her hand on the bible and took her oath as Town Supervisor in standing room only crowd, at the Hampton Bays Community Center, right across from the Post Office.

Well, if you’re feeling a bit down right now and could use a Kool-Aid pick me-up or you desperately want to feel that tingling sensation up your leg once again, you are in luck!

On Jan 1st, 2010, Councilman Anna Throne-Holst will have her inauguration ceremony and take the mantle as the new Town Supervisor at the local home of world class super stars… the prestigious Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center! 

There on stage she will take the oath as our new Town leader. So get your tickets early! Whether it’s the balcony or the orchestra, there’s not a bad red velvet seat in the house. The hordes of unfortunate plebes who won’t manage to get in will have to settle for seeing Anna Throne-Holst in name only, on the brightly lit outdoor billboard. 

As Town Supervisors are elected only once every 730 days, this monumental event needed a special location. Ms. Holst said “We needed a spot that was big enough to accommodate 12 individuals, their families and friends. We wanted as many town employees to have room to be there, and the public as well”

It’s hard to believe that in a mere few days, history will be made right here in our sleepy little town, as Anna takes her oath of office on stage (no word on set design) and elevates her middle-hyphenated name to it’s just stature, and claims the Throne of Supervisor for hundreds of days to come.

Calling all writers and would be reporters!

Do you have opinions? Oh I know you do!

Please send your articles, reports, and opinions on Suffolk County Libertarian, Conservative, Republican, and Tea Party News!!!

The Suffolk County Liberty Report is looking to take this website to the next level. Need reporters for all Suffolk County towns!

The Liberty Bell is ringing, don't you hear it?


Bishop – an agent of the King

In CSA, Congressmen Tim Bishop, The 9-12 Project on December 29, 2009 at 1:56 pm

(12-29-2009) The Following article is submitted by Dr. Michael Creta

Dr. Michael Creta is a board certified Family Physician who has a private practice in Ronkonkoma. He has been a physician for 19 years and currently lives in Shoreham.

 

Long Live the King!

That’s what we will all be saying if this Health Care “reform” bill gets through. And who is expediting this betrayal: our own congressman, Tim Bishop.

This health care “reform” bill has one major problem: It has nothing to do with health care. It has everything to do with control, power, and money. First, any patriot of this great country should be as outraged as I am and demand an answer to the question: Where does the Federal Government get the authority to even address the health care of the people of the U.S.? Show me what article in the US Constitution deals with the federal governments ability to provide health care at all? You won’t find it. But even if you were the “living Constitution” breed, then why has Congress, and especially Tim Bishop, given all the power to the Executive Branch? He, along with his cronies in the Congress, just bowed down to the “king” and gave him all the power that he asked for to control an entire aspect of your lives, your health.

The House Bill creates a new federal bureau, led by the “Health Choices Commissioner”, who will have sole power as to what in health care is covered. Now we already have a Secretary of Health and Human services in the Federal Government, but Tim Bishop wants to have a NEW agency with a new budget requiring new taxes to pay for it. But don’t we have a huge federal budget deficit? So how is this going to be paid for? By more borrowing? And this is not even mentioning the jurisdictional conflicts that will arise between this new Health Care “Czar” and the Secretary. Who actually will be in charge of health care?

They claim that it will be paid for by cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. I’m sorry, what was that? Cuts in Medicare? So our seniors will get less health care than they already get? And the AARP supports this bill, supports Democrats, and supports Tim Bishop. If I were an AARP member, I would tear up my card and never send them another dollar.

This bill actually forces every person in the US to have (purchase) health insurance. It doesn’t mandate employers to provide it, and well it shouldn’t, since this will cause almost every small business to go bankrupt. But it mandates every person to purchase it, whether you can afford it or not. And if you don’t, you get a fine, a penalty. So they have just likened it to the mandatory car insurance that you need here in New York. Now what kind of a free country do we live in? And what was Tim Bishop elected for? To give away our freedom to the King? I have a right to have or not have health insurance. I may want to pay as I go. Maybe I can’t afford it. Either way, I am not going to be told that I have to have more insurance. That means more of my dollars are going to another insurance company. As if they are not already rich enough. Tell me Mr. Bishop, whose side are you on?

And Mr. Bishop is proud of the fact that a health insurance plan is not going to be able to deny you coverage based on a pre-existing condition. And they are not going to be able to kick you off the plan just because you have many medical problems that are costing them too much. Oh, the Democrats are real proud of this. But one fact that they’re not telling you is this: They have not told the insurance company that they can’t raise rates. They can raise your insurance premium, as long as it’s done across the board, and everyone’s rate goes up, not just the people with the expensive problems. So where are we back to? If you live a healthy lifestyle: Eat healthy, exercise, take vitamins, don’t smoke, drink alcohol only moderately, instead of getting a discount on your insurance, you will still have to pay “through the nose” for the guy who sits on his butt, smokes three packs a day, drinks a fifth of vodka with dinner alone, and eats McDonalds every day of the week, who has heart disease, high blood pressure, Diabetes, and emphysema or lung cancer. Oh, this is very good for the people isn’t it Mr. Bishop? And we are doing it again, just like we, who work and are productive, are paying for the people who don’t want to work and collect their check every month.

Mr. Bishop is not a representative of the people of the first congressional district. He is a representative of President Obama. He is supposed to act as a check on the Executive Branch, so that the President does not become a tyrant, or a king. With his support of this health care bill, he has definitely failed to represent the people. He must be removed from office and a suitable replacement found.


War for control over Suffolk County Police Department continues

In Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Police on December 29, 2009 at 12:43 pm

(12-29-2009) The Suffolk Conservative Party, County Sheriff, Exec. Levy, and Legislature all in ongoing war for control over Suffolk County Police Department.

see related stories from Newsday.

 

Suffolk Conservatives back in court as booted members re-up

From Newsday, By Rick Brand

Suffolk Conservatives have returned to court because 179 voters who were ousted from party membership by court order for illegal raiding. People who allegedly didn’t subscribe to the Conservative party’s ideology are now trying to reaffiliate.

This comes after the Conservative Party spent nearly a year and hundreds of thousands of dollars to conduct hundreds of hearings to remove police union members and their families who’d joined the minor party after Conservative Sheriff Vincent DeMarco took over highway patrols from county police.

But the previous court order from State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Whelan did not specify how long the more than 1,421 voters ousted from the Conservative rolls would be barred from re-enrolling.

Steven Leventhal, the Conservatives’ attorney, said the party would seek their removal again, by arguing they are still not in sympathy with party principles and that not enough time has passed to require new hearings. A hearing is scheduled before State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Whalen Jan. 8.

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle-1.812042/suffolk-conservatives-back-in-court-as-booted-members-re-up-1.1674126

Suffolk bill moves power over cops to legislators

From Newsday, By REID J. EPSTEIN  

Suffolk police commissioners would serve five-year terms and be subjected to approval by the Legislature under a bill submitted Monday by Legis. Jon Cooper.

Cooper (D-Lloyd Harbor) said commissioners would better serve the county if they were accountable to legislators, who he said have more direct contact with their constituents than does the county executive.

“The police commissioner right now is only answerable to the executive,” Cooper said. “The Legislature really has no influence directly or indirectly on decisions the police commissioner makes.”

In the last year, lawmakers frequently have criticized Police Commissioner Richard Dormer for cost-cutting moves he made at the behest of County Executive Steve Levy.

Levy, who regularly accuses legislators of doing the bidding of the Suffolk Police Benevolent Association, said legislative control over the commissioner would lead to increased police costs.

“This would be the Legislature’s ultimate salvo in ceding our government to the PBA,” Levy said in a prepared statement. “This is a full-frontal assault on the taxpayers of Suffolk County. Nothing bloats a budget more than a lack of accountability, and that’s what this bill promotes.”

PBA president Jeff Frayler said police commissioners need some level of independence from the county executive.

“He needs some autonomy,” Frayler said. “He can’t be worried about his job if he doesn’t do exactly what he’s told.”

Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) supports the bill, said his spokeswoman, Kara Hahn.

Cooper’s bill came the same day as a Newsday story in which Legis.-elect Thomas Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma) pledged to push for similar legislation once in office. Muratore said he is glad to see his idea attracting Democratic support.

“They’re copying off me already,” he quipped.

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/suffolk-bill-moves-power-over-cops-to-legislators-1.1674287


NY Dems, GOP spar over health bill

In CSA, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 28, 2009 at 4:26 pm

(12-28-2009) From The Associated Press
Published: December 28, 2009


The landmark federal health reform care bill being negotiated in Washington is heating up New York politics, pitting the state’s two top Democrats against each other and giving Republicans an opportunity to snipe at a side deal that swayed a key vote in the U.S. Senate.

Gov. David Paterson and Sen. Charles Schumer are at odds over how good — or bad — the Senate version of the bill is for New York. And the GOP is trying to enlist Democratic Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to help dismantle the bill by challenging a big break given to Nebraska.

“It leaves New York in the lurch,” Paterson told The Associated Press. “I don’t think anyone with any integrity can deny that’s what’s going on. … We’ll lose over $1 billion dollars if they don’t fix that health care reform act.”

The Democratic governor cited a proposed lower rate of federal reimbursement for New York’s Medicaid services to the poor. Because the program is relatively generous, reimbursements under the Senate version would be less than for most other states and below the national average.

But Schumer said in an interview that the only specific item Paterson refers to is $400 million in federal stimulus money for Medicaid.

He said that’s funding Paterson “wanted to take from the counties and give to Albany. And we protected the counties because New Yorkers would rather the money go directly to counties rather than to Albany, where they often never see it again.”

Schumer also said Paterson is counting as cuts items included in the House version of the bill, but not the Senate’s.

He pointed to New York’s wins in the Senate version: Fending off a cut in $30 billion for teaching hospitals statewide, protecting 800,000 seniors from Medicare cuts, and funding health centers in rural areas where there is a severe need for medical care. He said he will work for more as a conference committee works out a compromise version of the bills passed in the House and Senate.

State Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos of Nassau County joined the fray last week. He formally asked the state to join seven others considering a challenge to the so-called “Nebraska compromise” that helped secure Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson’s support in a vote that blocked a GOP filibuster. The deal included an amendment to the bill that shields his state from the expected $45 million annual cost of expanding Medicaid programs.

“An unfair federal Medicaid reimbursement level already shortchanges our state,” Skelos stated in his request. “And now, because of a questionable vote-buying deal, that burden could increase significantly.”

“New York should join other states in any legal challenge to a Washington deal that could only add to New York’s tax burden and fiscal problems,” he said. “The taxpayers deserve no less.”

As the state’s lawyer, Cuomo is reviewing the request, forcing the popular Democrat into a dicey political spot between Schumer, the state’s most influential Democrat, and Paterson, who Cuomo may challenge for governor next year.

South Carolina, Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, North Dakota, Texas and Washington state — all with Republican attorneys general — are jointly taking a look at the deal.

The Liberty Bell is ringing, don't you hear it?


Altschuler fires first shot of campaign season

In CSA, Congressmen Tim Bishop, Randy Altschuler for Congress, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 28, 2009 at 2:46 pm

(12-28-2009) 1st Congressional District candidate Randy Altschuler is up and running with his first campaign ad. The campaign video will begin airing today on local television.

 

Mr. Altschuler also continues to garner media attention. See (2) related stories below.

Bishop challenger on the attack

POLITICO, December 28, 2009

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) barely managed to celebrate the holidays before being reminded he’s facing his toughest challenge since first elected in 2002.is already up with his first campaign ad – with over 10 months until the election. The ad, which begins airing today, ties Bishop to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the dysfunctional political culture in Albany.

Bishop’s Republican opponent, businessman Randy Altschuler,

“Tim Bishop is all about the old way: big government, more taxes, more spending,” Altschuler says in the ad. “My top priority is to create a pro-growth environment, lower taxes and more jobs.”

Altschuler, who worked as a bundler for John McCain’s presidential campaign is one of the most well-financed Republican challengers in the country. He ended September with over a half-million dollars in his campaign account, aided by a $450,000 personal donation to the campaign.

Bishop’s eastern Long Island district is one of the most Republican-friendly districts in the New York metropolitan area, only giving President Obama 52 percent of the vote last year. Last month, Republicans scored a shocking upset on Long Island, ousting popular Nassau County executive Tom Suozzi from office.

Gunning for Bishop

New York Daily News, The Daily Politics, By Elizabeth Benjamin

December 28, 2009

Technically speaking, the 2010 campaign season doesn’t officially begin for another week (at least), but the GOP’s effort to oust Democratic Long Island Rep. Tim Bishop has been underway for months already.

Now Bishop’s opponent, businessman Randy Altschuler, has taken things up a notch by releasing his first TV ad of the race. The spot, entitled “The Storm”, is scheduled to start airing in the 1st CD today, according to Altschuler’s campaign.

(No word so far on the size of the buy or where, exactly, this will be airing, although if it’s restricted to the district it can’t be very big).

The ad is nothing fancy – basically a combination bio spot/hit in an attempt to both introduce a political neophyte and draw first blood against the four-term incumbent by tying him to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

A recent poll released by Altschuler’s campaign and conducted by McLaughlin & Associates showed Bishop ahead by 20 points but winning under 50 percent, which the GOP takes as an encouraging sign – particularly in the wake of the Nov. 3 elections, in which the party had an unusually strong showing on the island.

There have been rumors of late (I heard them from a GOP lobbyist) that Bishop might not have the stomach for the fight, but Suffolk County Democratic Chairman Rich Shaffer assured me last week the congressman is gearing up for a big campaign year and is more than ready to defend himself. 

 
 

 


Senate Health Care Bill to cost New York $1 Billion per year

In CSA, North Country Patriots, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 28, 2009 at 12:53 am

(12-28-2009) The Senate’s 60-39 passage of the health care reform bill early Dec. 24th could be very well be unconstitutional.

The attorneys general of seven states said they will jointly take a look, at whether the special provisions inserted in the bill, as well as the “bribing” of senatorial votes are constitutional.

But the Senate Health Care Bill is also real bad for New York.

Last Thursdays Newsday actually said differently, claiming the rare Christmas Eve morning vote was GOOD for New York. Newsday should no longer be considered to be a reliable news source because it clearly is engaged in liberal propaganda. Without an appropriate disclaimer on their front page indicating so, the paper that Newsday’s ink is printed on should be relegated to a more appropriate function. That is toilet paper.

The following has been reported by Charles Hurt, NY Post:

Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson have both been railing about what they see as the bill’s destructive impact on New York, while New York Sens. Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer have been praising the plan.

Paterson has called the legislation a “disgrace,” claiming it will “devastate” state medical care and cost New York more than $1 billion a year in Medicaid funds.

Bloomberg last week said the Senate legislation could force the closure of “hundreds” of health facilities.

 

See another article from NY POST, by Charles Hurt:

Vital $igns wrong in fuzzy Dem math: CBO

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are using phony accounting to claim their health-care legislation isn’t a budget buster, Congress’ own nonpartisan auditors charged in a letter yesterday.

The Congressional Budget Office said rosy projections by Senate Democrats that their health-care bill will cut the deficit by $132 billion while still being able to fully meet future Medicare obligations is mathematically impossible.

“To call this ‘reform,’ you would have to call Bernie Madoff honest,” said Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH).

The bill includes some $500 billion in projected savings for Medicare, leading sponsors to say it will make a huge cut in the deficit.

But in the small print of the more than 2,000-page bill, Democrats turn around and essentially spend that savings twice, according to the CBO letter.

Democrats overstate “the improvement in the government’s fiscal position” based on Medicare cuts, wrote the CBO.

“The true increase in the ability to pay for future Medicare benefits or other programs would be a good deal smaller.”

Gregg said: “We’ve heard a lot of talk from the other side of the aisle about how Medicare’s not being cut and if it is being cut, it’s just being used to help finance a new entitlement and therefore it should be counted as part of the basic effort to bring fiscal responsibility to this bill.

“Well, that’s hokum.”

The accounting in the Senate health-care bill — which is scheduled for a vote this morning and is expected to pass — is strikingly similar to the accounting used to run and expand Social Security and Medicare. Both programs could face insolvency in the near future, watchdogs say.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) first asked the CBO to evaluate the accounting practices used in the health-care bill. He said of the Medicare math: “If a private company had done this, if a president of a private company had proposed such a bogus scoring system, they’d be going to jail.”

A spokesman for Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) downplayed the importance of the CBO analysis by saying it only pertained to cuts to Medicare and didn’t look at the overall deficit.

Meanwhile, the attorneys general of seven states said they will jointly take a look at whether the special provisions inserted into the bill to purchase the vote of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) are constitutional.

The officials, all Republicans, said that since the federal government is picking up the full tab for an expansion of Medicaid in Nebraska, it will have to do the same for other states.

 

 


Meet the new Brookhaven Town Democratic chief

In Brookhaven Republican Committee, CSA, Congressmen Tim Bishop, North Country Patriots, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 27, 2009 at 8:26 pm

(12-27-2009) New Brookhaven Town Democratic leader named.

 On December 13, a large Liberal Democratic fundraiser took place at Danford’s Restaurant, in Port Jefferson to pay tribute to Marsha Laufer, former leader of the Brookhaven Town Democratic Committee

Many prominent Liberals in Suffolk County were in attendance. So what direction do the liberal dots go in now?

Who’s the new Brookhaven Democratic leader?

Meet Jon Schneider, a liberal accomplice of Tim Bishop

New Brookhaven Town Democratic Party Chairman Jon Scheider, from Newsday

From NEWSDAY:

It’s all uphill for new Brookhaven Democratic chief

December 26, 2009 By RICK BRAND rick.brand@newsday.com

Jon Schneider has his work cut out for him as the new Brookhaven Democratic chief.

Jon Schneider won his first battle as Brookhaven’s Democratic chairman in an unexpected floor fight for his own election earlier this month. It was a shutout.

But it’s the last easy win the 29-year-old party operative will see in the coming year. In short order, Schneider, an aide to Rep. Tim Bishop (D-Southampton), faces races to fill the town board vacancy left by the unexpected death of Keith Romaine, and a state Assembly seat left vacant by incumbent Patricia Eddington’s election to town clerk.

On the horizon, Republicans, giddy from last month’s election gains, are eyeing an all-out effort to oust freshman State Sen. Brian X. Foley (D-Blue Point) and have a potential foe for Schneider’s boss, Randy Altschuler, who has already raised a half-million dollars.

Schneider also has the unenviable task of replacing Marsha Laufer, after eight years in which she energized the party and raised millions of dollars from her Old Field estate overlooking Long Island Sound, becoming the first town leader to elect two successive Democrats as town supervisor.

In the biggest laugh at the party convention, Schneider acknowledged that he was inheriting the mantle of party leader from Laufer, but asked, “Is there anything else I can inherit from you?”

Backers say that the former Sierra Club lobbyist, who has not only worked for Bishop but has been deputy town supervisor, is a hard-nosed grassroots organizer.

“He cannot only whip up a campaign piece in a matter of minutes,” said county Democratic leader Richard Schaffer, “he’ll also show up at a train station at 5 a.m. to hand out literature.”

However, Schaffer also admitted Schneider cannot match Laufer’s fundraising.

“You’re all invited to his house for the first fundraiser,” he said. “You’ll just have to come two at a time.”

Early in his career, Schneider could also be overzealous – once a Southampton Town police officer accused him of pilfering campaign signs of Bishop foe William Manger. There was no arrest.

However, Schneider, in his maiden speech, said Republicans may be overestimating their appeal, noting it was GOP nationally that drove the economy into the ground and locally gave town taxpayer “no bid” insurance contracts that cost millions and a string of officials “taken out of town hall in handcuffs.”

He added that some of the GOP new leaders are former town officials, who refused to seek re-election.

But new Suffolk GOP chairman John Jay LaValle, Brookhaven’s former supervisor, immediately returned fire, questioning how Schneider could work full time for Bishop and also be party leader.

“I find it very concerning,” said LaValle, “I think it’s virtually impossible to work as a political leader and work in a congressional office.”

LaValle warned that Republicans will be scrutinizing Schneider’s role and may even file a federal lawsuit to seek discovery of his work product.

“It’s a very big problem for Bishop,” said LaValle, “He choosing to walk through very dangerous land, and he’s been forewarned.”

Bishop, reached in Washington, discounted LaValle’s threats, saying that Riverhead Democratic leader Ernest “Butch” Langhorne, worked for him for three years without incident and now works for county Sheriff Vincent DeMarco. “I have no concerns, I have had a series of conversation with Jon, and he and I are very clear about the separation of politics and government.”

Democrats also say Republicans are the last ones who should be raising the issue, since Brookhaven Republican chairman Jesse Garcia and Smithtown GOP chairman William Ellis work at the board of elections, and Islip GOP chairman heads the Islip planning board.

Said Schneider: “I’d take ethical advice from John LaValle about the same time I would take marriage advice from Tiger Woods.”

, , ,

Where do the liberal dots lead?

In CSA, President Obama, Socialism Growing, The 9-12 Project on December 26, 2009 at 12:36 pm

(12-26-2009)  While we often talk of the “Liberal Dots Across America”, it is important for us to always remind ourselves of this vast liberal socialist conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. Constitution.

Reid: Passing unpopular bill through legal bribery.

The Culture of Corruption

From Commentary Magazine, by Peter Wehner  

When it comes to the public outrage that will emerge based on the deals that took place to secure passage of the Senate health-care bill, the degree of tone-deafness among Democrats is nothing short of startling. Senator Tom Harkin calls it “small stuff.” House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said, “Rather than sitting here and carping about what Nelson got for Nebraska, I would say to my friends on the other side of the aisle: Let’s get together and see what we can get for South Carolina.”

And Majority Leader Harry Reid has said, “I don’t know if there is a Senator that doesn’t have something in this bill that was important to them. And if they don’t have something in it important to them, then it doesn’t speak well of them.”

These people strike me as hermetically sealed off from how most of the rest of the country view this subject. As these backroom deals become more and more widely known, anger will swell up among voters. It is bad enough to jam through a bill on a strict party-line-vote against overwhelming opposition from the public; for it to have happened only because various Members of Congress were (legally) bribed will magnify the intensity of the opposition. And for politicians to take such obvious pride in the pay-off will make things even worse. The populist, anti-Washington wave out there, which is already quite large, will only grow, and grow, and grow.

The Democrats are doing everything they can to make “the culture of corruption” a GOP campaign slogan in 2010. This week Democrats have added immeasurably to the Republican case and cause.

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/wehner/203961

see also the following NY Post Editorial:

 A butcher under the mistletoe

Wonder how the White House explains this security breach.

Mao Zedong, the late Chinese Communist dictator responsible for the deaths of some 70 million of his own people (give or take), has found his way onto one of the ornaments adorning the official White House Christmas tree.

Mao Zedong, the late Chinese Communist distator responsible for murdering 70 million of his own people.

What’s next? Pol Pot in the Rose Garden?

The first lady’s office, which is responsible for the display, says that the ornaments were decorated by outside community groups — and that it was unaware it was Mao in the picture.

Or, perhaps, who Mao was.

It’s a sad consequence of the Left’s long love affair with Communist utopianism, however, that butchers like Mao, Stalin and Che Guevara don’t inspire nearly the revulsion that they deserve.

Former Obama communications chief Anita Dunn even once cited Mao as one of her “favorite political philosophers.”

Disconcerting, to be sure — even if this latest incident was an innocent mistake.

The adminstration really needs to connect with reality on things like this.

I ask you, after all of the confirmed reports of President Obama’s known socialist and marxist ties, does anyone actually believe that this was an innocent mistake?

,

Dems Question GOP Lawmakers Who Changed Tune on Health Care

In CSA, North Country Patriots, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 26, 2009 at 11:28 am

(12-26-2009) I’m trying to remain a local news source but I still had to relay this story from Fox News. Bottom line is our nation is in this mess because of Republicans that had stopped acting like Republicans. It is important for us on a local level to expose and vote out RINOS. Because the same way that the RINOS have ruined this country by aiding and abetting the liberals, they have also ruined our quality of life here at the local level.

From FOX NEWS

Dems Question GOP Lawmakers Who Changed Tune on Health Care

Democrats are troubled by the inconsistency of Republican lawmakers who approved a major Medicare expansion six years ago that has added tens of billions of dollars to federal deficits, but oppose current health overhaul plans.

Democrats are troubled by the inconsistency of Republican lawmakers who approved a major Medicare expansion six years ago that has added tens of billions of dollars to federal deficits, but oppose current health overhaul plans.

All current GOP senators, including the 24 who voted for the 2003 Medicare expansion, oppose the health care bill that’s backed by President Barack Obama and most congressional Democrats.

The Democrats claim that their plan moving through Congress now will pay for itself with higher taxes and spending cuts and they cite the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office for support.

By contrast, when Republicans controlled the House, Senate and White House in 2003, they overcame Democratic opposition to add a deficit-financed prescription drug benefit to Medicare. The program will cost a half-trillion dollars over 10 years, or more by some estimates.

With no new taxes or spending offsets accompanying the Medicare drug program, the cost has been added to the federal debt.

Some Republicans say they don’t believe the CBO’s projections that the health care overhaul will pay for itself. As for their newfound worries about big government health expansions, they essentially say: That was then, this is now.

Six years ago, “it was standard practice not to pay for things,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. “We were concerned about it, because it certainly added to the deficit, no question.” His 2003 vote has been vindicated, Hatch said, because the prescription drug benefit “has done a lot of good.”

Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, said those who see hypocrisy “can legitimately raise that issue.” But he defended his positions in 2003 and now, saying the economy is in worse shape and Americans are more anxious.

Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, said simply: “Dredging up history is not the way to move forward.” She noted that she fought unsuccessfully to offset some of President George W. Bush’s deep tax cuts at the time.

But for now, she said, “it’s a question of what’s in this package,” which the Senate passed Thursday in a party-line vote. The Senate bill still must be reconciled with a House version.

The political situation is different now, Snowe said, because “we’re in a tough climate and people are angry and frustrated.”

Some conservatives have no patience with such explanations.

“As far as I am concerned, any Republican who voted for the Medicare drug benefit has no right to criticize anything the Democrats have done in terms of adding to the national debt,” said Bruce Bartlett, an official in the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He made his comments in a Forbes article titled “Republican Deficit Hypocrisy.”

Bartlett said the 2003 Medicare expansion was “a pure giveaway” that cost more than this year’s Senate or House health bills will cost. More important, he said, “the drug benefit had no dedicated financing, no offsets and no revenue-raisers. One hundred percent of the cost simply added to the federal budget deficit.”

The pending health care bills in Congress, he noted, are projected to add nothing to the deficit over 10 years.

Other lawmakers who voted for the 2003 Medicare expansion include the Senate’s top three Republican leaders, all sharp critics of the Obama-backed health care plans: Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Jon Kyl of Arizona and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. Eleven Democratic senators voted with them back then.

The 2003 vote in the House was even more divisive. It resulted in a nearly three-hour roll call in which GOP leaders put extraordinary pressure on colleagues to back the prescription drug addition to Medicare. In the end, 204 Republicans and 16 Democrats voted for the bill.

Democrats certainly have indulged in deficit spending over the years. They say they have been more responsible over the last two decades, however. Bill Clinton’s administration was largely constrained by a pay-as-you-go law, requiring most tax cuts or program expansions to be offset elsewhere with tax increases and spending cuts.

Clinton ended his presidency with a budget surplus. But it soon was wiped out by a sagging economy, the Iraq war, GOP tax cuts and the lapsing of the pay-as-you-go restrictions.

Obama and many Democrats in Congress have vowed to restore those restrictions. But they waived them this year for programs, including heavy stimulus spending meant to pull the economy from the severe recession of 2008-09.

The 2010 deficit is expected to reach $1.5 trillion, and the accumulated federal debt now exceeds $12 trillion. When the Republican-led Congress passed the Medicare expansion in 2003, the deficit was $374 billion and projected to hit $525 billion the following year, in part because of the new prescription drug benefit for seniors.


Patriot Groups visit Northport VA Hospital, Dec 26th

In CSA, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 25, 2009 at 5:35 pm

(12-25-2009) This Saturday, The Conservative Society for Action, the Suffolk 9-12 Project, and North Country Patriots will be joining the Patriot Guard Riders and will be visiting the Northport VA hospital on December 26th.

While the Patriot Guard Riders were there last week, the American Legion canceled their Christmas party for the residents there only minutes before it was scheduled due to the weather. So what they would like to do is give our friends there a small party and let them know once again that there are people who care about them. What they would like to do is have everyone bring something, whether its food, snacks, drinks, music, anything you can think of to help make this a festive event.

They are scheduled to begin at 1pm.

Lucy Christiano (HOTH Coordinator – Region 9)
LIBSM@gmx.com
631.774.9049

There will be one staging for region 9 .
12:30pm KSU – Saturday – 12/26/09
Staging area details – Public parking area on Wicks Rd, entrance is apprx 50 yards south of the Long Island expressway south service road, on the west side, Use exit 53 off the LIE (either direction) There is a gas station across the street if you need to fuel up or get a cup of coffee.

Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement

The Patriot Guard Riders are a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. They have one thing in common besides motorcycles. They have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join them.

They don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Their main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission they undertake has two basic objectives:

Show their sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.

Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.

They accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that they are backing you.  They honor and support you with every mission they carry out, and are praying for a safe return home for all.


“Twas the Night Before Christmas”, by Judyann Joyner

In CSA, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 25, 2009 at 5:12 pm

(12-25-2009) Another excellent version of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, this time by Judyann Joyner

T’was the night before Christmas,
And all through the house,
Not a rodent was stirring,
Not even a louse.
 
The stockings in which,
Our kid’s futures’ reside,
Lay ransacked and looted,
In the blink of an eye.
 
On Pelosi, On Reid,
Board their luxury jet,
Back home to your mansions,
Not a single regret.
 
Health care at all costs,
Be it beg, borrow, steal.
While people are starving,
Kobe beef your next meal?
 
Bribes and extortion,
A grand bag of tricks,
Lay fallow a wasteland,
By a depraved gang of pricks.
 
Back at the house,
I guarantee this.
Christmas in future,
Back from the abyss.
 
Dine upon your last meal,
As vultures do,
As you pick at the bones,
Prepare your Adieu.
 
We’re keeping a list,
And checking it twice.
Trickery and deceit,
Comes with a price.
 
Hope we’ll all forget?
Mark my words now,
We WILL rock your world,
We, The People, to wit, avow.


“Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Chris Cantwell

In CSA, The 9-12 Project on December 24, 2009 at 12:29 pm

(12-24-2009) An excellent version of, “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Chris Cantwell

Chris Cantwell is a Libertarian running for Congress.

‘Twas the day before Christmas, in the United States Congress”

A Crime was committed, but the left called it progress,

The votes were decided, before the bill read,

Though most real Americans, hoped it was dead,

They called it Affordable, they called it a choice,

Though they knew that the money, had been counted twice

Though Stalin in Hell, Karl Marx in His Grave, seemed they’d been resurrected that Christmas Eve Day,

‘Twas 7 in East, and 4 in the West, when American’s woke to observe such a mess

They all watched astonished, as newsmen announced,

That an idea once so foreign, was now in their house

“This is socialism”, so many would say

But the US has been socialist, for many decades

I said communism is the one proper term, abolition of property here now for sure

There are no more owners, no more ownership

No means of production, no way to get rich

There is no more freedom, no more making choices

All hail the recipient, arose left wing voices

They called it a victory, like they didn’t know

In less than a year we would head to the polls

I don’t mean the North, I don’t mean the South,

But within our districts to vote the bums out!

And not like the past, to replace D’s with R’s

But to make a real difference, for once and for all

“We are not stupid” we’ll tell politicians, who toy with our lives to fulfill their ambitions

You might take our money, you might take our lives

But deep in our hearts is where Liberty thrives

It needs not a license, it pays not a tax

It cannot be taken, by how congress acts

Inherent within us, the true rights of man

Our lives and our Liberty are not in your hands

They cannot be granted by parchments or seals

Nor can they be taken by Democrats deals

And think not Republicans, that we have forgotten

About all your sins, you are just as rotten

The Patriot Act, The War, and the Watch Lists

Don’t think that the Dems will make us your hostage

For we have arisen, not dozens but hundreds

Libertarians rise, to take back the Congress

And not just the feds, but also the states

We’ll end income tax, if thats what it takes

The States Represented, Republic Restored

The War Will Be Ended, and Jurors Informed

We’ll Keep and Bear Arms, and Speak Without Fear

And you’ll need a warrant to search over here

For Freedom my friends, is the law of the land

It’s why blood was shed, by so many a man

 We’ll honor their spirits, and the Spirit of Christ

Merry Christmas to All, and to All A Good Night!


Great American Christmas Stories

In Christian on December 24, 2009 at 12:39 am

(12-24-2009) Two great American stories that should be remembered every Christmas.

The Prayer at Valley Forge

The Prayer at Valley Forge – an eyewitness account

“I was riding with Mr. Potts near to the Valley Forge where the army lay during the war of ye Revolution, when Mr. Potts said, ‘Do you see that woods & that plain? There laid the army of Washington. It was a most distressing time of ye war, and all were for giving up the Ship but that great and good man. In that woods (pointing to a close in view) I heard a plaintive sound as of a man at prayer. I tied my horse to a sapling & went quietly into the woods. To my astonishment I saw the great George Washington on his knees alone, with his sword on one side and his cocked hat on the other. He was at Prayer to the God of the Armies, beseeching to interpose with his Divine aid, as it was ye Crisis & the cause of the country, of humanity & of the world. Such a prayer I never heard from the lips of man. I left him alone praying. I went home & told my wife. We never thought a man could be a soldier & a Christian, but if there is one in the world, it is Washington. We thought it was the cause of God & America could prevail.”

Source: Eyewitness testimony of Isaac Potts, a Valley Forge resident who shared the following story with the Rev. Nathaniel Randolph Snowden (1770-1851), who then recorded it in his “Diary and Remembrances.”

General George Washington crossing the Delaware

General George Washington crossing the Delaware at the Battle of Trenton on Christmas night 1776 by Emmanuel Leutze

December 1776 was a desperate time for George Washington and the American Revolution.

The ragtag Continental Army was encamped along the Pennsylvania shore of the Delaware River exhausted, demoralized and uncertain of its future.

During the night of December 25, Washington led his troops across the ice-swollen Delaware about 9 miles north of Trenton. The weather was horrendous and the river treacherous. Raging winds combined with snow, sleet and rain to produce almost impossible conditions. To add to the difficulties, a significant number of Washington’s force marched through the snow without shoes.

The next morning they attacked to the south, taking the Hessian garrison by surprise and over-running the town. After fierce fighting, and the loss of their commander, the Hessians surrendered.

The news of the American victory spread rapidly through the colonies reinvigorating the failing spirit of the Revolution.

 http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/washingtondelaware.htm


A Ronald Reagan Christmas Address

In Christian on December 24, 2009 at 12:15 am

(12-24-2009) Ronald Reagan’s Christmas Address, 1981

Special thanks to Brian Mills for the heads up.

Good evening.

At Christmas time, every home takes on a special beauty, a special warmth, and that’s certainly true of the White House, where so many famous Americans have spent their Christmases over the years. This fine old home, the people’s house, has seen so much, been so much a part of all our lives and history. It’s been humbling and inspiring for Nancy and me to be spending our first Christmas in this place.

We’ve lived here as your tenants for almost a year now, and what a year it’s been. As a people we’ve been through quite a lot — moments of joy, of tragedy, and of real achievement — moments that I believe have brought us all closer together. G. K. Chesterton once said that the world would never starve for wonders, but only for the want of wonder.

At this special time of year, we all renew our sense of wonder in recalling the story of the first Christmas in Bethlehem, nearly 2,000 year ago.

Some celebrate Christmas as the birthday of a great and good philosopher and teacher. Others of us believe in the divinity of the child born in Bethlehem, that he was and is the promised Prince of Peace. Yes, we’ve questioned why he who could perform miracles chose to come among us as a helpless babe, but maybe that was his first miracle, his first great lesson that we should learn to care for one another.

Tonight, in millions of American homes, the glow of the Christmas tree is a reflection of the love Jesus taught us. Like the shepherds and wise men of that first Christmas, we Americans have always tried to follow a higher light, a star, if you will. At lonely campfire vigils along the frontier, in the darkest days of the Great Depression, through war and peace, the twin beacons of faith and freedom have brightened the American sky.

At times our footsteps may have faltered, but trusting in God’s help, we’ve never lost our way.

Just across the way from the White House stand the two great emblems of the holiday season: a Menorah, symbolizing the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, and the National Christmas Tree, a beautiful towering blue spruce from Pennsylvania. Like the National Christmas Tree, our country is a living, growing thing planted in rich American soil. Only our devoted care can bring it to full flower. So, let this holiday season be for us a time of rededication.

Christmas means so much because of one special child. But Christmas also reminds us that all children are special, that they are gifts from God, gifts beyond price that mean more than any presents money can buy. In their love and laughter, in our hopes for their future lies the true meaning of Christmas.

So, in a spirit of gratitude for what we’ve been able to achieve together over the past year and looking forward to all that we hope to achieve together in the years ahead, Nancy and I want to wish you all the best of holiday seasons. As Charles Dickens, whom I quoted a few moments ago, said so well in “A Christmas Carol,” “God bless us, every one.”

Good night. 


One Solitary Life

In Christian on December 23, 2009 at 5:16 pm

In an obscure village,

He was born to a peasant woman.

He grew up in another obscure village,

where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty.

For three years, He was a preacher.

He never had a family or owned a home.

He never traveled two hundred miles from his birthplace.

He never wrote a book or held office.

He never traveled to a big city.

He did none of the things considered to be a part of greatness.

While he was still young,

the tide of popular opinion turned against him.

His friends deserted him.

He was turned over to His enemies.

He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.

When he was dead,

He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave.

Two thousand years have passed,

and today

He is still the central figure for much of the human race.

All the armies that ever marched

and all the navies that ever sailed

and all the parliaments that ever sat

and all the kings that ever reigned,

put together,

have not affected the life of man as powerfully as

this “One Solitary Life.”

This essay was adapted from a sermon by Dr James Allan Francis in “The Real Jesus and Other Sermons” © 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia (pp 123-124 titled “Arise Sir Knight!”).


Bring Wang’s NY Islanders and Lighthouse Project to EPCAL!

In Nassau County Republican Committee, Riverhead, Riverhead Republican Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee on December 23, 2009 at 12:33 am

(12-23-2009) The Town of Hempstead continues to stall and place every obstacle in the way of Charles Wang and Scott Rechlers Lighthouse project. (see attached Newsday article – bottom)

In the mean time, the Town of Riverhead is still contractually tied to Riverhead Resorts and the indoor ski mountain at EPCAL (Enterprise Park at Calverton).

All while the Shinnecocks are moving forward quickly on casino plans.

Could an economic windfall be in the stars for EPCAL? Could this be the economic miracle Riverhead has long hoped for?

If Riverhead is sincere in its plans to make EPCAL a world class tourist destination, then the incoming Town Board members should be making phone calls and whispering sweet nothings to Wang and Rechler.

Because an indoor ski mountain resort, with a Casino, and professional ice hockey team with with a brand new arena and 1.5 million square feet of additional retail and office space, would be economic gift from God himself.

What an economic legacy this incoming Republican Town Board could leave.

Read the rest of this entry »


Council Districts Defeated! Residents vote overwhelmingly to keep Huntington whole

In CSA, Huntington, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 22, 2009 at 11:46 pm

(12-23-2009) With overwhelming support from the Conservative Society for Action, the Keep Huntington Whole organization defeated a proposal to divide Huntington into council districts!

The Huntington Chamber of Commerce and property rights advocates also came out strong against this measure.

Huntington Chamber of Commerce against council districts

http://frankseabrook.com/2009/12/16/huntington-chamber-of-commerce-against-council-districts/

Town Council Districting would be bad for Huntington

by Clifford Sondock, President of the Land Use Institute.

http://frankseabrook.com/2009/11/25/town-council-districting-would-be-bad-for-huntington/

Read the rest of this entry »


A liberty candle in your window

In CSA, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 22, 2009 at 12:00 am

(12-22-2009) An inspiring Christmas message by Brian Mills

A Christmas to Remember

As a conservative, living in these troubled and trying times, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on a deeper meaning of Christmas.  I realize that as conservatives, we fear that everyday brings new and unprecedented challenges, challenges that we have never experienced.  We live in fear twenty-four hours a day. 

We have seen disgraceful bailouts, terrifying Omnibus bills, financial regulation of magnitudes that we can’t comprehend, and now we are witnessing a takeover of over one-sixth of our economy.  By the end of 2009, the Federal Government would have wrapped its muscular biceps around seventy percent of our economy. 

We wake up early every morning, all throughout the year, to refresh the Drudge Report and see what we missed in the overnight hours, or we click on those email’s from Frank Seabrook to see what new trouble is brewing on the east end.  We get caught up in the moment, reciting rhetoric from sources that no ordinary person has heard of (i.e. Breitbart or MyWay News).  But we must not forget that we are Americans. 

Read the rest of this entry »

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NRCC Robos Against Bishop

In Randy Altschuler for Congress, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee on December 21, 2009 at 11:40 pm

(12-22-2009) Christmas will come early for Tim Bishop tomorrow in the form of phone calls inside of the First Congressional District from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), detailing Bishop’s staunch support of Nancy Pelosi’s liberal agenda. 

From New York Daily News, December 21, 2009

The NRCC will unleash a round of robocalls tomorrow against Long Island Rep. Tim Bishop, who is one of several Democrats on the GOP’s 2010 target list.

Read the rest of this entry »


Fire District Election Shuts Out Neighborhood?

In Nassau County Republican Committee on December 21, 2009 at 12:05 am

(12-21-2009) The following article has been submitted by Richard Cooper   

About the author: Richard Cooper is an international trade executive with a manufacturing firm on Long Island, New York, USA. He is active in the Libertarian Party www.lp.org on eminent domain and other issues. He was chair of the Libertarian Party of New York http://.ny.lp.org

Fire District Election Shuts Out Neighborhood?

Last December 2008 I went to the firehouse on Newbridge Road in East Meadow and discovered that I am not in the East Meadow, New York fire district.  This year on December 8th I went to vote in the Westbury Water-Fire District election at the Maple Avenue firehouse opposite my post office in Westbury.  There I was told that my Salisbury neighborhood doesn’t get to vote for fire commissioners. 

Read the rest of this entry »


WILL TEA PARTY BECOME AMERICA’S THIRD POLITICAL PARTY?

In CSA, North Country Patriots, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 20, 2009 at 7:04 pm

(12-20-2009) From Fox News

A new Wall Street Journal poll says there is a big political change going on in America right now. Thirty-five percent of Americans see the Democratic Party favorably. Twenty-eight percent say they like the Republican Party. But a whopping 41 percent now say they support the Tea Party, which is stunning when you think about it.

“There’s a lot wrong with the GOP. The GOP Isn’t acting like the GOP anymore, and the Republican leadership, many men and women I admire, are acting like we have to go to the middle.”

Read the rest of this entry »


On a freezing cold dark December night, 150 Tea Partying Patriots protest Liberalism

In CSA, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 18, 2009 at 2:55 am

(12-18-2009) On a freezing cold dark December night, one week before Christmas, 150 Tea Partying Patriots showed up at the “mother of all Liberal events”, to protest Liberalism.

Like any other cancer, Liberalism must be stopped dead in its tracks by cutting it out from the root. And the root of Liberalism lies in the town halls.

http://frankseabrook.com/2009/10/22/the-liberal-dots-across-america/

Read the rest of this entry »

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I want you to act like a Republican

In Brookhaven Republican Committee, CSA, North Country Patriots, Riverhead Republican Committee, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 18, 2009 at 1:22 am

(12-18-2009) I have a great story to share with all of you.

Suffolk County isn’t the only place where RINO’s (Republican-In-Name-Only) cross endorse liberal Democrats and accept endorsements from liberal socialist parties like ACORN.

Read the rest of this entry »


Shinnecocks moving forward quickly on casino plans

In Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, Riverhead, Riverhead Republican Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee on December 17, 2009 at 12:43 pm

 (12-17-2009) I said it before, and I’ll say it again. And I’ll keep on saying it.

If the Town of Riverhead in sincere with their intentions of making EPCAL (Enterprise Park at Calverton) a world class tourist destination, then no other single project is capable of bringing in the numbers of tourists that a casino could deliver. Read the rest of this entry »


In Suffolk County, the Working Family Party game is up

In CSA, North Country Patriots, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 17, 2009 at 10:43 am

(12-17-2009) There is absolutely no way, no reason, nor any excuse that any true Republican or Conservative can ever accept a Working Family Party Endorsement.

The WFP platform defies the principals and platform of both Republican and Conservative Parties.

Working Family Party = ACORN Read the rest of this entry »


Huntington Chamber of Commerce against council districts

In CSA, North Country Patriots, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 16, 2009 at 9:45 pm

(12-16-2009)  Huntington Chamber of Commerce issues white paper on Pros and Cons of Council Districts .

On October 20, 2009, Concerned Citizens of Huntington filed a sufficient number of petitions to require an election be held to decide whether Huntington should be divided into a ward system of separate councilmanic districts. Because under the Town Law of the State of New York the election is required to be held no less than 60 days and no more than 75 days from the date the petitions are filed, the vote on this ballot issue could not be held on Election Day and has instead been scheduled for December 22, 2009.

This December 22nd election is perhaps the most important election effecting our Town’s governance ever. Therefore, below we have stated the various reasons articulated “For” and “Against” having a ward form of Town government here in Huntington.

What The Proponents Say:

The ward system will provide better representation as our 4 Town Board members each now represent the whole Town, but not individual communities. With wards, each community and school district would have a representative on the Town Board. Wards will also distribute where Board Members live across the Town

What The Opponents Say:

Under our current system each Town Board member is a representative of every resident Townwide, and answers to every voter. They, therefore, must base decisions upon the greater good of the entire Town. Moreover, most matters voted upon by the Town Board — the budget, finances, code enforcement, contracts, etc –effect the entire Town and are not relevant only to a single ward within the Town.

Further, under a ward system, each individual’s voting power and influence would be reduced by 60%, as each voting resident would only be voting for 2 members of the 5-person Town Board, that is, the Supervisor and a single councilperson. Likewise, the other 3 Board members would not be answerable to the opinions or needs of residents residing in other wards. This will promote NYMBYism as concern for what is best for the Town will be usurped by a “what’s best for my ward” mentality.

The current Town Board members live in 5 different areas of the Town, including the northern, southern, eastern and western parts of Huntington. 

There are eight school districts in the Town of Huntington: Commack, Half Hollow Hills, South Huntington, Huntington, Cold Spring Harbor, Harborfields, Elwood, and Northport. There are 18 hamlets: Cold Spring Harbor, Huntington Village, Lloyd Harbor, Lloyd Neck, Huntington Bay, Centerport, Northport, Eaton’s Neck, Ashroken, East Northport, Elwood, Dix Hills, Melville, West Hills, Cold Spring Hills, Huntington Station, South Huntington, and Greenlawn.  It is impossible for each school district and community to have a representative, and it is possible some could be split between to separate wards. .

What The Proponents Say:

Council districts would increase accountability as residents would have a ward representative who would answer directly to them. Residents would know who to call with a question, and that councilperson’s ability to get re-elected will depend on how well he/she represent his/her ward. Under the current system, Town Board members could ignore whole sections of the Town and still be re-elected.

What The Opponents Say:

Under a ward system, 3 members could ignore 75% of the Town, as 75% of the Town will have no say in electing them. Correspondingly, a Town Board member will be elected by only the 25% of residents that he/she represents, yet would have a say in matters of Townwide concern. Currently, Board members jmust represent the greater majority of all residents of the Town. Residents know who to call, and they have 5 persons answerable and at work for them — not just 1. Also, under a ward system, if a Board member is in the minority and only represents 25% of Town residents, its highly questionable as to how effective he/she can be. The ward system causes derisiveness as wards are pitted against each other in a competition for limited Town resources.

What The Proponents Say:

A ward system will encourage openness in Town government. The board’s nearly 100% voting record does not reflect our diverse community and interests. There is little or no debate at Town Board meetings. A ward system would encourage more public input and debate.

 What The Opponents Say:

Dividing the Town into 4 wards would not ensure every community or hamlet would have its own individual representative. Everyone presently has an opportunity to be heard at Town Board meetings, on all public hearings and on any matter they wish to address. Wards will not change a person’s or group’s ability to address the Town Board on any matter, nor will it provide a reason or opportunity for public input that does not already exist. Further, 95% of Town Board votes are on administrative matters, concerning contracts, personnel, State mandates, and the like. These are Town wide matters not germane to individual locations. The Town Board’s recent unanimous voting record is more a result of debating and working out differences in pre-board workshop meetings, which are open to the public and held earlier the same day as the general meeting. A ward system will not change this.

What The Proponents Say:

A ward system would take the big money out of Town politics And level the playing field. Given the size of the Town, candidates for the Town Board currently must raise more than $220,000 in each election cycle. This tends to leave elected officials relying on politically connected, big donors, with challengers and “citizen legislators” unable to compete. With the ward system, community ties would matter more than money.

What The Opponents Say:

There is no guarantee that Council Districts would take big money out of Town politics. Those interests would have the ability to use that same money in a more focused and direct manner, thereby giving them even more influence over a particular candidate. Since a small number of persons will be able to elect a Town Board member, a special interest group will be better able to capture ward elections. Further, community ties would be subject to the configuration of the ward districts. A candidate cannot reasonably be expected to have strong ties across an entire ward, as each ward would have to cross multiple hamlets and communities (for example, possibly across Huntington Station, Cold Spring Harbor, and Lloyd Harbor).

What The Proponents Say:

A ward system is used at every other level of government.

What The Opponents Say:

Ward districts are used at other higher levels of government because the Federal, State and County governments cover much larger geographic areas and diverse populations that also cross Town boundaries. The Town of Huntington is a single community and homogeneous political sub-division, and its citizens have to its credit elected a Council member from the minority community. There is no need for a ward system to provide minority representation on the Town Board. The whole Town has provided for this already. Ward districts would, instead, only divide the community. We already have too many special districts (i.e., fire, school, and water), which has driven-up the cost of government and caused out taxes to sky rocket. Why do we want more? If anything, there should be consolidation in local government, not the creation of new and additional districts.

What The Proponents Say:

Ward districts would bring benefits without any new costs. Eleven towns have made the switch in New York State, and none have added new offices, staff or layers of government because of ward districts. Since Brookhaven established wards, there has been no tax increase in the general fund. This experience shows that larger towns, such as Huntington, are better off under a ward arrangement, and all of these towns, including the Town of Brookhaven, have been pleased with the outcomes. No town has contemplated reversing the change.

What The Opponents Say:

A ward system is simply a more expensive form of local government than an at-large system, where efficiencies of scale are possible. These increased costs begin with the cost for the special election, which is estimated at more than $250,000. There would also be the administrative costs associated with the formation of the boundaries for the wards. There would also be added costs for the election in 2 years, when all Council members will be up for election – 2 for 4 years and 2 for 2 years. These are only the immediate costs.

To date, only 11 towns out of 932 in New York State have made this change, and proponents for a ward system have failed to account for the geographic size of these Towns or their total population or demographic breakdown — an important element in what form of representation best serves a town. To say that all 11 Towns are pleased with the outcomes is unscientific, misleading and disingenuous. How was “satisfaction” determined? Who was polled? How long have they been functioning under a ward system? These towns are all fairly new with the system, are distinctively different than Huntington, and only time will tell how this system will serve them and their particular needs. The example of Brookhaven has been offered as a “success” story, but this is a Town of far greater geographic area and population and which has a diverse minority population which was underrepresented. Huntington is far different from Brookhaven, and for that matter any of the other towns that have opted for this system. Moreover, there is evidence that Brookhaven town council’s various administrative costs have increased more than 150% in the first 4 years of Brookhaven’s ward system, due to increased staff costs under the ward system.

All of our Federal, State and County elected representatives have local offices with their own staff and operating budget. Why would it not be logical to assume that down the road our elected Town representatives under a ward system would want to be closer to their constituency so that they could better service them and be more easily available? So, the costs for adopting a ward system form of government cannot be estimated, and may be far greater than we anticipate. 

The Chamber of Commerce believes that this issue (that is, whether Huntington should adopt a ward system) would best be decided in a general election, when there would be a far greater turnout than can be expected from an election 3 days before Christmas. It is too important an issue to be decided by the very small turnout of residents who will likely vote on December 22. Moreover, the tremendous costs which will be caused by the special election are not welcome. That said, with Concerned Citizens of Huntington’s filing of petitions, this is a critical decision which now must be made. We encourage all Chamber members to learn about the issues, and to vote on December 22.


Please join Lee Zeldin in supporting 2 great veterans causes

In Brookhaven Republican Committee, CSA, Islip Town Republican Committee, North Country Patriots, Randy Altschuler for Congress, Riverhead Republican Committee, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 16, 2009 at 12:01 pm

(12-16-2009) Please join Lee Zeldin in supporting 2 great veterans causes

1. This Saturday, December 19, the American Patriot Heroes Fund will be hosting their first annual Holiday Party at Blacksmith Tavern (197 Terry Road in Smithtown).

“This event will be held in honor of those individuals who selflessly answered the call to protect our freedom, some of whom gave their lives, while others were seriously disabled in the defense of our nation.”

The event begins at 7pm and a minimum donation of $50 will cover your ticket for the evening.

All proceeds will go directly to the Northport VA wish and selected soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Donations are tax deductible.

Please let me know if you will be able to make it.

2. Help Build the Armed Forces Memorial at William Floyd High School

I am currently helping to sell bricks for $55 (per  brick) which will help defray the cost of construction.

Each brick can be engraved at no additional cost if you wish to dedicate it to a person you care about. You may wish to dedicate the brick to a veteran or a non-veteran and there is absolutely no requirement that the individual went to the William Floyd School District or lives (or lived) in the Mastic-Shirley community.

Your $55 donation goes to a very worthwhile cause and also serves as a great gift if you choose to dedicate it to someone else.

You can purchase 1 brick, 20 bricks, 100 bricks or more to help the school district complete this very special project. These donations are also tax deductible.

 Please contact Lee Zeldin if you are interested in placing your order for bricks today.

Sincerely,

Captain Lee Zeldin, U.S. Army Reserves 

Law Offices of Lee M. Zeldin, Esq.

1038 West Jericho Turnpike

Smithtown, New York 11787

631-645-1380 (Office)


Breaking News – Feds recognize Shinnecocks: Casino coming to EPCAL?

In Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, Riverhead, Riverhead Republican Committee on December 16, 2009 at 11:42 am

(12-16-2009) If Riverhead Town Hall is sincere about making EPCAL a successful first class tourist destination, then there is no other anchor type project like a casino that could bring in this many visitors.

From Long Island Business News

Feds recognize Shinnecocks

by The Associated Press
Published: December 15, 2009

The federal government gave preliminary approval Tuesday to formally recognize a small tribe of Indians based in the Hamptons, a decision seen as a key step toward the tribe eventually opening a casino in New York.

Shinnecock Indian tribal leaders first tried to open a casino on their reservation in Southampton in 2003, but they were told the Bureau of Indian Affairs must first formally recognize them as a tribe.

The preliminary approval received Tuesday sets off a series of hearings and a review that could bring final recognition by next spring.

Shinnecock leaders have said they are willing to negotiate an appropriate site for a casino, either on Long Island or in the Catskills upstate. They did not immediately comment on the ruling.

“The Shinnecock petitioner has met all seven mandatory criteria for federal acknowledgment,” BIA official George Skibine said in a statement.

He said the criteria included that the Shinnecocks have been continuously identified as an American Indian entity since 1900; have been a distinct community since historical times; and have maintained political influence over members.

About 500 Shinnecock tribal members live in modest homes on a 1,200-acre reservation in Southampton. Nearby, some of the richest people in the world, including Wall Street power brokers and Hollywood celebrities, have sprawling estates worth tens of millions of dollars.

BIA officials reviewed ancestral records and other historical documents of the tribe before determining whether the Shinnecocks met the recognition criteria. The tribe had sought to circumvent the federal approval process by seeking recognition in federal court, but a judge rejected that effort in 2007.

Even with federal recognition, the tribe needs additional federal and state approvals before operating a casino. In addition to being able to operate a casino, federal recognition makes the Shinnecocks eligible for federal grants and other funding.

The Shinnecocks, whose earlier plans for a casino in Southampton sent shudders through their wealthy neighbors in 2003, reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Interior last May that sped up the process for formal recognition by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The tribe has been seeking federal recognition since 1978 but stepped up its efforts in recent years.

Tribal leaders have been reticent about discussing their plans for a casino but previously indicated they are willing to negotiate with state leaders on a location. Belmont Park in neighboring Nassau County, as well as various sites on eastern Long Island, have been floated as possible locations for gambling.

The Shinnecocks’ reservation is situated at a narrow strip of waterfront land in Southampton where traffic nightmares — once only an issue for summertime visitors — have become standard year-round.

The BIA also found that the nation “has a governing document describing its governance procedures and membership criteria; and has provided a list of its current members who descend from an historical Indian tribe and are not members of another federally recognized tribe.”

When the Shinnecocks broke ground in 2003 on their proposed Southampton casino, town officials raced into federal court and got an injunction to stop it. Since then, Suffolk County officials formed a task force to study the issue; County Executive Steve Levy said he is waiting for the results of that study before taking a position.

“I think they are well aware and recognize that putting gaming at the reservation is troublesome,” said Suffolk County Legislator Wayne Horsely, who helped organize the task force. “The quality of life and traffic would be just awful.”

BREAKING NEWS: 10th Amendment Sovereignty Resolution submitted to NY Senator Ken LaValle.

In Uncategorized on December 16, 2009 at 12:21 am

(12-15-2009) BREAKING NEWS: 10th Amendment Sovereignty Resolution submitted to NY Senator Ken LaValle.

What is the 10th Amendment Sovereignty Resolution?

Tenth Amendment

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. – Amendment X, United States Constitution

In response to increasing federal encroachment, a growing number of states have passed and proposed resolutions to assert the Tenth Amendment and the Bill of Rights of the Constitution.

The Tenth Amendment is part of the Bill of Rights and was ratified on December 15, 1791. It states the Constitution’s principle of Federalism by providing that powers not granted to the national government nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states and to the people. It is based on an earlier provision of the Articles of Confederation: “Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.”

Why is the 10th Amendment so important? Because it is the Constitutional, stealth backdoor method of regaining our Liberties by stopping the Federal Government from exceeding it’s authority.

Watch this excellent explanation of the 10th Amendment by Congressman Sam Rohrer:

Today across our Union, 38 States are reasserting their Constitutionally guaranteed Sovereignty under the 10th Amendment.

We need to push Albany to pass similar legislation to defend, reassert and protect the Constitutional rights of the State of New York and it’s citizens.

A special message from

Jacques Ditte,

founder of New York State Sovereignty

I have sent New York State Senator Ken LaValle a letter asking him to sponsor a 10th Amendment New York State Sovereignty Resolution.
The letter and resolution follow below.

The action I respectfully ask you to take is the following:

Call AND if you can, FAX a quick letter asking Senator LaValle to sponsor the resolution I have submitted.

If you are a resident of another part of NY State, please ask your State Senator to co-sponsor with Senator Ken LaValle this resolution. Include a copy of this email which you will find under “Files” as a downloadable pdf.
Or click on this link http://www.meetup.com…

Thank you for your support, and please post any feedback regarding this effort.

Semper Fidelis,
Semper Vigilante,

Jacques Ditte
Founder
New York State Sovereignty

Letter sent to Senator Ken LaValle:

December 14, 2009

Ken LaValle
New York State Senator
631 852-1550
Fax: (631) 696-2307
518 455-3121
Fax:(518) 426-6826

RE: “New York State Sovereignty Resolution”

Dear Senator LaValle,

As founder of New York State Sovereignty, a grassroots organization of like-minded members across New York State, we respectfully ask you to sponsor a 10th Amendment Sovereignty resolution for the State of New York.

Across our Union, 38 States, including Massachusetts, currently have such resolutions that are either under consideration or have been passed by their Legislatures and signed by their Governors.

We have customized for New York State, such a resolution for your review and consideration.

Appreciating the reality that getting the Assembly and Senate to agree to such a resolution, will be a challenge, therefore we have included additional language.

Through the inclusion of a unique “Made in New York State” clause (see full resolution below), the New York State Sovereignty resolution should have a better chance of garnering bipartisan support as well as the support of unions.

This “Made in New York State” language should be seen favorably by citizens, businesses and unions which could take pride in the New York branding of their products. Furthermore, products bearing the Made in New York State markings, will bring attention and promotion to our State and it’s economy. Citizens and businesses from other states will notice that products were produced in the Sovereign State of New York as opposed to another sovereign state.

I look forward to setting up a meeting with you, as we ask for your help and support in furthering this goal.

Respectfully,

Jacques Ditte
Founder
New York State Sovereignty

“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have”— Thomas Jefferson

The 10th Amendment.

Freedom starts at home.


Lee Zeldin – Press Release

In CSA, North Country Patriots, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 15, 2009 at 5:53 pm

Zeldin for Senate

P.O. Box 628, Shirley, NY 11967

zeldinforsenate.com

FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, December 15, 2009

***Press Release***

Statement from Lee Zeldin Candidate for New York State Senate 3rd SD

Today, Senator Brian X. Foley finally admitted he was wrong when he cast the deciding vote to pass the MTA Payroll Tax. During his announcement today of his intention to introduce legislation to reduce the MTA Payroll Tax, the voters of the 3rd Senatorial District witnessed one of the most clumsy and amateurish flip flops in the history of New York state politics.

Just a few months ago, Senator Foley cast THE deciding vote to pass the MTA Payroll Tax. That now, only months later, he wants to reduce the tax that he himself imposed –is an insult to the voters of the 3rd Senatorial District. I find it difficult to believe that, after today, the Senator expects to be taken seriously. His actions are a vivid reminder why voters all across Long Island are fed up with the current government in Albany.

Senator Foley owes the constituents of the 3rd Senatorial District answers to 4 questions:

Was he also wrong to impose new taxes on personal income, health insurance, LIPA bills, small businesses, drivers licenses, hospitals, non-profit organizations, fishing, beer and bottled water?

Was he also wrong to eliminate the STAR Rebate? Will Senator Foley also introduce legislation to repeal or reduce his new taxes on personal income, health insurance, LIPA bills, small businesses, drivers licenses, hospitals, non-profit organizations, fishing, beer and bottled water?

Will Senator Foley also introduce legislation to reinstate the STAR Rebate?

Today’s flip flop by Senator Foley reminds voters of the 3rd Senatorial District why we need new leadership in Albany.


The mother of all liberal events

In CSA, Congressmen Tim Bishop, Randy Altschuler for Congress, Socialism Growing, The 9-12 Project on December 13, 2009 at 1:16 am

(12-13-2009) Remember the Liberal dots across America?

It is vital for all patriots to realize that the liberal dots on the map of our once great country are not scattered indiscriminately without rhyme or reason.

These liberal dots are connected from President Obama right down to Congressmen Tim Bishop and Steve Israel, straight thru the counties, all the way down to local town halls.

These liberal dots starting at the town halls fester, connect, and feed into a liberal cancer that has seeped into every nook and cranny of our United States.

Like any other cancer, Liberalism must be stopped dead in its tracks by cutting it out from the root. And the root of Liberalism lies in the town halls.

http://frankseabrook.com/2009/10/22/the-liberal-dots-across-america/

Recently obtained documents indicate a very large Liberal fundraising event will take place on December 16th, 2009.

So who is Marsha Laufer?

Published records indicate Ms. Laufer has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to liberal democrats over the last few years alone.

Ms. Laufer is no ordinary political fundraiser; she is the life blood of Suffolk County Liberals, the George Soros of Long Island.

Check out the links below and follow the money.

Newsmeat

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=East+Setauket&st=NY&last=LAUFER&first=MARSHA

Huffington Post

http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Laufer

CampaignMoney.com

http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/marsha-laufer.asp?cycle=08

Federal Elections Commission

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/qindcont/2/(lname%7CMATCHES%7C:LAUFER*:)%7CAND%7C(fname%7CMATCHES%7C:MARSHA*:)

But there is more.

According to the New York Times

(11-27-2005) A speech pathologist and mother of three, Ms. Laufer, 62, fell into a second career in politics about six years ago, after holding a fund-raiser for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s first run for the Senate. Since then, Ms. Laufer has helped a nearly moribund and severely demoralized town party find its voice and a path to power.

‘I’m as partisan as they come,”

.. the central role she played in Brian X. Foley’s election as supervisor and the victories by three other Democrats in Town Board races…

Ms. Laufer has helped a nearly moribund and severely demoralized town (Democratic) party find its voice and a path to power.

some Republicans criticized Ms. Laufer ”for essentially buying the election” by contributing heavily to the party herself.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E7DC1631F934A15752C1A9639C8B63

Ms. Laufer is also no ordinary democratic town leader; she is the architect of the Long Island Liberal Democratic revival.

In fact she was instrumental in Tim Bishop’s victories in ‘02 and ‘04

But wait, there is still more

From the North Shore Sun

(11/13/2009) Marsha Laufer will surely be missed

Brookhaven’s Democrats suffered a big blow with the resignation of party chair Marsha Laufer this week.

More than just a dynamic woman with a tireless work ethic and bold vision, Ms. Laufer is also a class act.

Like all party leaders, Ms. Laufer certainly has had her share of critics. But her significant contribution to her party cannot be denied.

Before Ms. Laufer took over in 2002, Brookhaven Democrats hadn’t seen a majority on the Town Board in more than 30 years.

That changed in just her second election season as chairwoman.

Since 2005, Democrats have won nine of 10 town wide races, a level of success the party hadn’t seen in anyone’s lifetime.

While she said this week that she will continue to play a part time role within the party, Ms. Laufer will surely be missed in Democratic circles.

After all, without Marsha Laufer, Brookhaven might still be a one-party town.

http://digital.timesreview.com/pdfEdition_show_pdf.php?file=sun_11132009_a_08.pdf

So if Ms. Laufer, stepped down as democratic party chair, why is she having this fundraiser? What are her future plans? And why is every democrat in Suffolk County going?

Look at all of the money this event is going to raise, then think how much of that money will feed the liberal cancer across Long Island.


200+ patriots protest Bishop Fundraising event

In CSA, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 12, 2009 at 10:38 pm

(12-12-2009) On Thursday, December 10th  approximately 200+ patriots protested the Bishop Fundraising event held held in Riverhead.

Chants of “Bye Bye Bishop” could be heard many blocks away. And as fund raising guest’s arrived the chants from the crowd grew louder and louder.

Only one problem. Bishop never arrived and left all his guests hanging.

A message from Bob Meyer, President Suffolk 9-12 Project

To All Members,

Let me begin by extending my most sincere thanks for braving the frigid weather on Thursday evening to those that attended the Bishop demonstration. It further exemplifies how Suffolk 9-12 members are the most dedicated and inspirational group of civic-minded citizens who will always show in full force their unwavering spirit and patriotism.

Bob Meyer


John Faso – Albany Times Union Blog

In CSA, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 12, 2009 at 10:18 pm

(12-12-2009) John Faso, the former Republican Conservative NYS Assembly Minority Leader (1987–2002),  has a blog with the Albany Times Union.

The link to this blog has been added on the right side of this webpage.


Attorney General Eric Holder here on Long Island

In CSA, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 12, 2009 at 9:21 pm

(12-12-2009) It has been publicized on News 12 that Eric Holder, our Attorney General, will be here on Long Island on Sunday, December 13.

He will be speaking at a public meeting being held at the Memorial Presbyterian Church located at 189 Babylon Turnpike, Roosevelt, NY 11575.

The meeting is open to the general public and will be commencing at 11:00 a.m. MPC’s phone # is 516-623-9561.

As of yesterday, no announcement had been made as to the nature of his speech. 


Let the American economy revitalize itself.

In CSA, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 12, 2009 at 8:52 pm

(12-12-2009) The following article is written by Brian Mills

Thanks, But No Thanks

Following the Great Depression, in 1933, Congress saw the need to enact legislation that would aid in preventing another financial disaster of that magnitude.  Thereby, through the Securities Acts of 1933 and 1934, congress set up an organization known as the Securities and Exchange Commission, better known today as the SEC.  The role of this governing body was to require corporations, that issue their own securities (i.e. stocks and bonds), to disclose certain information to investors, prior to the sale of that particular security.  Information regarding assets, income, and sales were required to be disclosed to individuals wanting to invest in a specific security through the use of a prospectus.  Also, included in the role of the SEC, was to identify insiders of these corporations and thus place trading restrictions on shares they may own, as these insiders were privy to information that ordinary investors were not.  The concept behind this act was to “level the playing field” between insiders and everyday investors. 

While there were many other cumbersome rules and regulations mentioned in the Securities Act of 1934 the underlying concept remained the same.  Curb, and if possible completely prevent, manipulation in the ever evolving, highly complicated, financial markets.  To this day, many would argue that these regulations have served a great purpose, as we have not experienced a financial meltdown, the magnitude of the Great Depression, ever since.

Now, fast forward to yesterday, December 11, 2009, whereby the 111th Congress, under pressure from not just the Speaker of the House, but the White House as well, passed the largest and most restrictive financial regulations seen since the Securities Act of 1934.  Of course, the only challenge is that, since 1934, both major Securities acts have been amended numerous times to reflect the changing times, so it was not as if those acts had been outdated.  But, as with any liberal bill that is run though congress at light speed so that no ordinary citizens have an opportunity to read and understand it; this one sets up yet another government bureaucracy, the Consumer Financial Protection Agency.  This bureaucracy is to be set up with the sole purpose of dismantling companies that the government deems to be too large, in addition to overseeing everyday banking transactions and impose further monitoring on the mortgage industry.  According to the Financial Times, there is included a provision which allows regulators to impose a loss on creditors of institutions which need to be seized by government.  Many have argued that this approach may continue to cause credit to be less liquid and more expensive.  Though, like every bill that emerges in Washington these days, this bill was approved on party lines at 223-202 (with 27 Democrats voting with the entire Republican Caucus).

So, what does all this mean for the ordinary investor, ordinary employee, and ordinary small business owner? The Democrats in Washington would tell us this type of “sweeping” regulation is needed to further prevent abusive and manipulative type practices that have occurred in all financial markets from the banking system, to the mortgage industry, to the stock market, to the insurance industry.  Congressman Barney Frank, who himself has been manipulating these markets successfully all through the run up and the meltdown, states that “one of the responsibilities of the consumer agency will be to issue rules to prevent the kind of abusive mortgages that had such a contributing role in our crisis.” 

One would think that, as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Barney Frank would have some understanding of the impact that the financial services committee would have on small business and the less fortunate, especially being that that is who he claims to represent. But, yet again, Barney Frank was absent the day that economics was taught in economics class.  Due to the complexity of financial markets it is of utmost importance that they operate efficiently, meaning that the true laws of supply and demand are able to prevail.  Dating back to the Community and Reinvestment Act, under the Carter Administration, Congress and government bureaucrats have made it their mission to manipulate financial markets for the sole benefit of their constituency, and alienate simple laws of supply and demand.  Through strong-arming banks to issue loans, which private financial institutions ordinarily would not issue due to their risk, the banking community was engaging in an era of bad business.  Without getting into the cumbersome history of the mortgage meltdown, it is fair to say that these types of manipulative schemes continued all throughout the 80’s, 90’s, and into today.  But, almost like overinflating a balloon, if too much air is placed inside it, it will inevitably explode, as such was the case. 

Now, in an effort to identify the financial services community as the enemy, the Democrat Party, all the way from the White House down to lowly liberal Congressman like Barney Frank and Tim Bishop, have made it their mission to further box in the industry.  Today, through a series of onerous taxes and regulation, Congress has made it their mission to give these markets no environment in which to operate efficiently.  Then, they can’t understand why the banks fail to issue loans to small business, which naturally translates into less job availability, and high unemployment.  The answer to the problem is not more regulation, but rather less regulation, with the rules being spelled out in plain and simple terms.  If this liberal congress fails to produce a favorable business environment for the financial services community and Wall Street, then these pressures will continue to be felt on Main Street.  While Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and President Obama continue to talk of Wall Street and Main Street, they fail to realize they are both connected at the hip, and vital the reemergence of the American economy.  Without Wall Street banks issuing loans, no businesses will emerge on Main Street.

The task at hand is clear.  Congress needs to focus on one issue, that being job creation and getting American back to work.  These removed individuals need to create an environment where business is incentivized to innovate, earn profit, and create jobs.  This translates into overall success and wealth creation for the American economy.  The answer is not Cap and Trade, it is not a “sweeping” reform of the Healthcare system, it is not bailouts, it is not more regulation, it is not more spending, and it is not more taxing.  As a nation we need to get “back to basics”, and send a message to Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama that they need to step aside and let the American economy revitalize itself.                  

Brian Mills moved to Wading River two years ago, where he established two businesses (The Mills Agency and The Mills Group), which specialize in providing insurance and financial services to middle income families.  Brian is also an active committeeman with the Riverhead Republican Committee as well as being the Vice-President of the Riverhead Republican Club.


When can’t New York take your land

In Architecture, Planning, and Preservation on December 11, 2009 at 1:58 am

(12-11-2009) From the NY Post

By STEVEN MALANGA, Dec. 7, 2009

When can’t New York take your land

A New York appellate court last week harshly rejected the state’s effort to take property from businesses in upper Manhattan and give it to Columbia University for its campus expansion, calling it a “scheme” hatched by the university and the state and labeling their arguments in favor of invoking eminent domain, the government power to seize private property, as “mere sophistry.”

Yet for decades the state has confiscated private property on the slimmest of pretexts, often vastly underpaying, and in the process ruined businesses and lives. The Institute for Justice, an Arlington, Va.-based, public-interest group, recently called New York one of the worst eminent-domain abusers in the country.

Only the state Legislature can fix this problem with a new law to rein in these abuses.

The “takings clause” in the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution allows governments to seize private property for the “public good.” That right was long exercised mostly when government needed land to build essential infrastructure projects like new roads. But in the 1950s and 1960s, a new kind of takings gathered momentum as states and cities began using eminent domain law to declare whole areas as blighted and in need of renewal.

New York City politicians and bureaucrats of that era worked furiously to remake the landscape by tossing people out of their homes and storefronts. In East Harlem alone, authorities took possession of and then razed 1,000 small businesses to make way for a dozen public-housing developments.

In most cases, these businesses received little in the way of compensation; the majority simply disappeared. In 1957, New York Times reporters went in search of those displaced by government. They found Ramon Caro, who’d operated a restaurant in East Harlem until the government seized it and was now working as a dishwasher because the amount awarded to him wasn’t enough to open a new restaurant.

Others with the wherewithal to reopen often faced steep drops in business. As Harry Schichman, who ran a repair shop in East Harlem that he relocated in 1957, told the Times after the move: “Carfare I don’t even make.”

Little has changed, especially in the case of businesses that don’t own their own locations. For them, eminent domain is often a death knell because the state pays little in takings cases. To take one recent example, many of the estimated 55 businesses the city displaced to make way for the New York Times tower on Eighth Avenue between 40th and 41st streets either never reopened or relocated and have since succumbed.

One casualty was a Theater District institution, Arnold Hatters, which had been in business for 44 years. After closing in June, owner Mark Rubin said in an online posting: “I’m positive if I was still in the old location, I’d be weathering this economy. Instead, with three kids and a mortgage, I’m writing the first resume of my life.”

Yet, in the case of the Times building, the government argued vigorously in court against claims by the merchants that their original locations were a boon to their businesses, even disputing claims of how much street traffic the merchants enjoyed.

Unfortunately, the problem has only gotten worse since the US Supreme Court’s 2005 ruling in the Kelo case that state and local governments have the right to seize property and transfer it to other private owners for the sake of new developments that potentially create jobs and more tax revenue. Politicians around the country have been invoking eminent domain as a way to clear land and build their favorite megaprojects.

In New York, Mayor Bloomberg has proposed displacing businesses in a 62-acre tract in Queens known as Willets Point in order to make way for a proposed retail and subsidized housing project. In Patchogue, authorities used the threat of eminent domain to persuade business- and residential-property owners to sell land on which a private developer then built subsidized housing. In Schenectady, officials began the condemnation process this summer for a historic building that government wants to seize and tear down to replace with a retail project.

Even the owners of property that Columbia is eyeing aren’t safe: Columbia will almost certainly appeal to New York’s highest court, which last month upheld the state’s right to take properties in Brooklyn for the Atlantic Yards project. Around the country, state legislators have responded to Kelo with legislation limiting what officials can do. New York’s is one of the few legislatures that hasn’t acted, but the need is clear.

Reform would include:

* A stricter definition of “blight” land so that officials can’t declare even a thriving neighborhood to be devastated just so they can seize property in it.

* A ban on government taking property from one private citizen to transfer to another private citizen for redevelopment merely to enhance the value of the land.

We should all shudder at the notion that state or local officials could one day seize our property simply because they think someone else could make it more valuable.

Steven Malanga is senior editor of the Manhattan Institute’s City Journal.


Big turnout for Altschuler fundraising event

In CSA, Congressmen Tim Bishop, North Country Patriots, Randy Altschuler for Congress, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 11, 2009 at 1:47 am

(12-11-2009) So I had a pretty good assignment last night.

While most members of the Suffolk 9-12 and CSA were outside braving the cold weather at various “call to action” locations throughout Suffolk County, I was in Stony Brook’s Three Village Inn Tavern attending a Randy Altschuler fundraising event.

Mr. Altschuler had extended an invitation in anticipation of my upcoming interview with him.

Going in, I really didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that the event had a special guest, former New York State Assembly Leader John Faso. Mr. Faso, a long time Conservative Republican, lost the last NYS Governors race to Elliot Spitzer.

The event was $250 per ticket.

Once inside it was pretty difficult to navigate my way around. There were about 70-80 guests. Do the math on that and they raised some pretty good money.

So who was in attendance? Many leaders from the various town Conservative and Republican Committees. A few elected officials. Smithtown and Brookhaven Republicans had some big numbers. Bob and Mary Meyer from the Suffolk 9-12 Project were also in attendance. My buddy from Riverhead, Brian Mills, was also there.

So after about an hour of shaking hands, the time had come to listen to Mr. Atschuler.

He left a pretty good impression. What struck me most was his personal life. The human side of the story.

Altschuler had a very modest childhood. His grandparents were first generation Americans. His grandfather sold newspapers on the street corner until he changed careers late in life and became a vacuum cleaner salesman. The grandfather made sure he put his daughter, Altschuler’s mom, in college.

Altschulers father left him when he was 8 years old. His mom worked hard supporting both of them.

Altschuler is self made.

Altschuler continued speeking of the government’s destructive deficit spending, taxation, health care, and what kind of future is in store for our children. He was on the money.

Before I left, I was able to grab Altschulers ear. I told him that from what I’ve been hearing, the biggest obstacle for him to overcome is going to be his former company Office Tiger and the outsourcing of jobs.

Altschuler explained that he fully understood the concerns, “but not one American job was lost to Office Tiger’s outsourcing.”

We then shook hands and agreed to talk about it more in our upcoming interview.


The Albany cesspool

In CSA, New York State, North Country Patriots, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 9, 2009 at 9:33 pm

(12-09-2009) On our great march back to Washington, let’s take back Albany too.

The Albany cesspool

NY POST, December 9, 2009

And so Joe Bruno, the former state Senate majority leader, now joins the ever-lengthening line of politicians so clumsy and inept as to be convicted of a major crime in one of the most cynical and ethically permissive environments in America.

That would be Albany.

Bruno was convicted Monday on two counts of violating a new federal law: He had not provided “honest services” in connection with a private business he ran.

Now, the statute is so confusing and vague that the US Supreme Court may soon toss it out altogether — which would likely get Bruno off the hook.

But a dismissal on appeal wouldn’t overturn the record developed by prosecutors during trial: Bruno grievously abused the office he held for 14 years.

In that regard, he’s hardly unique.

Indeed, if the feds thought Bruno took advantage of his position — and he did — in all fairness shouldn’t they also take a peek at the “honest services” Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver provides as part-time “counsel” to one of the nation’s most lucrative trial-law practices?

On another level, though, that would be missing the point: Albany’s real problem isn’t so much that lawmakers take bribes, but that they give them.

Using tax dollars.

This year alone, they spent $170 million in public funds on “member items” — pork-barrel projects — intended chiefly to buy votes in their districts.

And they routinely appropriate hundreds of millions in pension and work-rule sweeteners for public-employee unions, while lavishing billions more on New York’s well-connected health-care cartel.

Now, nobody ever said they weren’t a cheap date: They only get pennies back on the dollar in campaign donations and in-kind services.

But it adds up to enough to get the job done: Incumbents are re-elected literally 98 percent of the time.

In the wake of the Bruno trial come sincere calls for tougher ethics laws. But corruption is embedded in Albany’s DNA — it’s systemic, pervasive and quite impervious to the quick fix.

Change won’t come without a cleansing of the political establishment — a process voters may well have begun last month by booting some entrenched pols, like Westchester Executive Andrew Spano and Nassau Executive Tom Suozzi.

If that continues, there’s hope.

If it doesn’t — well, there isn’t.

It’s that simple.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/the_albany_cesspool_3cpoS3tgL4mIHFVVpRxSvO


Meet Lee Zeldin

In CSA, North Country Patriots, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 9, 2009 at 9:01 pm

(12-09-2009) Join Team Zeldin.

Join the fight to take back Albany.

Lee Zeldin. A great American and a  Tea Party warrior.

Gordon Heights Fire Commissioner Election results are in!

In Uncategorized on December 8, 2009 at 11:40 pm

(12-09-2009) The tax fighting team of Alex Hanson and Maryanne Owens win!

Alex Hanson is also a member of the Suffolk 9-12 Project and Conservative Society for Action!!!!!

Some very interesting facts provided by Judy Pepenella of the CSA

Normally 3% of the voters come out in a Fire District election. In a community of approximately 1,800 voters, Alex and his running mate, Maryanne, received over 200 votes each, which represents 12%.

Gordon Heights was the only fire district that ran candidates that were considered outsiders Outsiders meaning they do not hold any as fire department position.

Average fire taxes per home in Brookhaven is $390.

Average fire taxes per home in Gordon Heights is $1,400, with some paying as high as $2,600.

For every dollar of taxes every other district goes up, Gordon Heights taxes go up 4 or 5 times faster.

This district is only 17 city blocks in size.

Gordon Heights fire district is about 10 square miles in size and has commercial property to offset the taxes. Gordon Heights has only residential homes and Churches.

Alex and Maryann have proven that if you care enough, and want to make a difference, you CAN!

SILENT NO MORE


Tea Party movement threatened by internal rifts

In CSA, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 8, 2009 at 10:52 pm

(12-09-2009) Even though I found this in CNN, (you know, the communist news network), I thought it was still a good read.

Tea Party movement threatened by internal rifts

By Ed Hornick, CNN, December 7, 2009

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/07/tea.party/index.html

 Washington (CNN) — It emerged in anger and it threatens to split in anger.

One major group in the Tea Party movement — named after the famous Boston Tea Party — is set to host its first convention in February, with former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin as its keynote speaker.

But there are fractures in the movement that threaten its future. And if history’s any guide, such movements tend to flame out.

The Tea Party movement erupted on April 15 – tax day — over criticism of President Obama’s economic policies and what organizers called big government out of control. The movement, made up of local, state and national groups, continues to protest what it considers fiscally unsound policies.

And the movement is well funded. Action groups like FreedomWorks — chaired by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey — helped organize and fund its April 15 rally in Washington.

Other groups, including Americans for Prosperity, Tea Party Nation and Tea Party Patriots, are also vying for the helm of the movement, and it’s creating what some are calling “competitive chaos.”

Some Tea Partiers have voiced anger and concern over whether the powerful groups are “astroturfing” what is supposed to be a grass-roots coalition — the idea that the movement is being organized by old-fashioned GOP bigwigs to promote their agenda.

Donna Klink, of the Golden Triangle Tea Party-Texas, said in a post on the Tea Party Patriots Web site that the chaos needs to be addressed.

“We must craft a simple coalition message that we can all agree on. … We should all remember the simple principles of ‘Strength in Numbers’ and ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall,’ ” she wrote.

Klink added that individual Tea Party groups can keep their own identity and beliefs while “still reaching out to and working with other groups that share common goals.”

“We MUST stop this battle within and fight together,” she insists.

The factions, however, have said they are only trying to engage citizens in fiscal conservatism — and disagreements are inevitable.

 ”There are disagreements over the exact direction of the movement. There are some big battles between some of the national organizations happening,” said Brendan Steinhauser of FreedomWorks. “But ultimately I think 90 percent of the Tea Party movement — the grassroots members and state and national leaders — are all moving in the same direction. But there are certainly divisions that need to be worked out.”

While anger over economic issues sparked the movement, it has come to represent anger in general — from anger over health care reform to just anger against politicians, like Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

At rallies over the summer and fall, crowds carried signs portraying Obama as Hitler and likening his policies to those of Nazi Germany. In one case, heavy criticism forced a Tea Party group in Danville, Virginia, to cancel a bonfire in which an effigy of Pelosi was to be burned.

And there’s the threat that fringe members will taint the public’s perception of the movement.

“The Tea Party combines the best elements of civic activism with some of the worst elements of fringe extremism,” said GOP strategist and CNN contributor John Feehery in a CNN.com commentary. “While most Tea Party activists are genuinely concerned about the future of the country, some others see conspiracies around every corner and use unacceptable rhetoric to communicate their displeasure with the president.”

Steinhauser noted that the fringe elements only make up a small part of the movement and should not come to represent the cause.

“If you have 500,000 people at a rally or say you have 10,000 people at a rally, there’s always going to be less than one percent or some small percentage of people that are there that have some fringe voice or issue.”

That issue is similar to what other populist movements in the U.S. have faced over time.

Jon Avlon, author of “Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics,” has said that history shows that Tea Party-esque movements and “demagogues rise when the economy turns south.”

“They specialize in blaming others for the troubles with wild accusations. It’s a time-honored formulation, a powerful narcotic for the nervous and dispossessed, with violent side effects,” he wrote in a CNN.com commentary.

The populist movement started in the 19th century. The Populist Party later emerged, made up largely of farmers, and coalesced around opposition to the gold standard as currency.

Its ties to the free-silver movement, among other things, failed to resonate with a broader base of Americans — especially urbanites in populous states.

There’s always … some small percentage of people that are there that have some fringe voice or issue. –Brendan Steinhauser of FreedomWorks

Later in the 20th century, populist anger rose up during the Great Depression, focused on big business’s role in the 1929 stock market crash and its subsequent effect on American society. And in the late 1960s, populist anger was geared against big government.

“But now we’ve got both — anger at big business and big government,” said Avlon, a columnist for The DailyBeast.com. “It’s a perfect political storm, primed for a return to pitchfork politics. … The fringe is blurring with the base, creating leverage on the party leadership.”

Nathan Gonzalez of the Rothenberg Political Report said that in order for Tea Party activism to blossom into a lasting movement, it “has to exhibit some real influence that goes beyond a set of rallies.”

He said that while there’s the risk of fading away — based on the divisions within the movement — it has growth potential.

“There’s certainly a risk of dying out [like many populist movements] but there’s the potential for having some staying power as well,” he said. “If they become larger or more organized there’s a potential to have more influence. It depends on how they’re able to harness the energy that’s there now and translate that into future success.”

And part of that organization could come from having a face to associate with the Tea Party name.

Palin, Fox News’ Glenn Beck and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minnesota, have emerged as Tea Party darlings.

Gonzalez said the Tea Partiers need to have a one person to identify with their message — much in the way Obama became identified with “change” in the 2008 presidential election.

If the Tea Party movement wants to develop into a political party or force, Gonzalez added, it should take the lessons of the populists and other third-party movements to heart.

“I think if a third party wants to take off, there has to be a face with it. And Ross Perot was a good example of that in 1992 and 1996. It’s become more difficult [with this movement].”


A very important announcement

In The 9-12 Project on December 8, 2009 at 2:13 pm

(12-09-2009) Bishop fundraiser confirmed!

Tim Bishop is having a fund raiser at the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium on Main Street in Riverhead.

On December 10, 5:00 pm

Tim Bishop, Congressman 1st District

This man, this congressman, this liberal has the audacity to hold a fundraiser in our Riverhead.

Not in our town!

The level of disrespect Bishop has shown to his constituents will absolutely be neither forgotten nor forgiven.

Remember when Bishop bused in union goons and Acorn criminals from Nassau County to fill the seats at his town hall meeting, while CD1 residents languished in the parking lot…we will not forget.

Remember when we called, and wrote, and practically begged to be heard, only for him to turn a deaf ear… we will not forget.

Remember when we spoke up and expressed sincere concerns, he laughed at us. We told him “no,” he said “yes” … because he knows better….we will not forget.

Remember how this liberal congressman votes 97% of the time with the communist Nancy Pelosi….we will not forget.

A Call to Action

An important message from the Suffolk County 9-12 Project

We at the Suffolk County 9-12 Project have never before taken this approach but this rally is critical. We are insisting that all members attend this event. Get up off the couch, put the Christmas shopping off for 1 day, put on some warm clothes and meet up with us at Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead. We must demonstrate to Tim Bishop and his supporters that the 1ST District can no longer allow his legislation to continue to destroy this great community. Continue to destroy this great country.

He and his contributors must be made aware that Tim Bishop is no different than having Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid making the same decisions for the 1ST congressional District.

We are asking; please if you don’t attend another event this year please attend this rally.

We must make the Setauket Town Hall meeting look like a picnic compared to what this event can and will be.

Yours in Liberty

An important message from the Conservative Society for Action

Bring your signs and voices!
Bring your friends, family and neighbors.

Our message MUST be loud and clear…BISHOP, PELOSI, FRANK NO DIFFERENCE.

Its time to DUMP BISHOP!

Make sure to dress warm as the 5 day forecast is calling for windy and cold.

We put Long Island on the political map back on June 22nd at Tim Bishop’s Town Hall meeting in Setauket. We need to make sure his donors and the Nation know that we will not go away quietly. Let’s make history again.

Hope to see all of you there on Thursday at 5:30 PM.

SILENT NO MORE


Lee Zeldin, “I believe”

In CSA, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 8, 2009 at 12:45 am

(12-08-2009) I believe that Lee Zeldin is a son of liberty.

Lee Zeldin has captured the hearts and souls of the entire Tea Party movement.  A movement that is growing stonger every day.


Eminent No-main

In Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, CSA, The 9-12 Project on December 8, 2009 at 12:27 am

(12-08-2009) The following stories from the NY POST

A win for the people

Columbia’s land grab stopped

By NICK SPRAYREGEN, December 5, 2009

In a scathing decision, the state Supreme Court’s Appellate Division yesterday ruled against the threatened use of eminent domain by New York state to benefit one private party, Columbia University, at the expense of another private party — my family.

For over five years we (along with the whole Manhattanville community in West Harlem) have fought Columbia’s attempts to use the state’s powers of eminent domain in order to take over property that it couldn’t otherwise buy in the open market in order to build a new campus.

Unfortunately, this decision comes late in the game — after the mere threat of condemnation has already gotten Columbia most of what it wants. Out of 35 or so independent property owners five years ago, there now remain only my family and one other. So, despite this ruling, Columbia will still undoubtedly build a huge new campus — albeit “only” on the 95 percent or so of Manhattanville it now controls.

The court was clear in its ruling: The state may not take property from one private party merely to hand it over to another private party. To do so is not only a violation of the state and federal Constitutions, but it is anathema to the very construct of our great country — the vital importance of private property rights.

Columbia pretended that this neighborhood was blighted (and thus an appriopriate place for the use of eminent domain), yet nothing was further from the truth. The court saw this, stating, “The blight designation was utilized [by the state] years after the scheme was hatched to justify the employment of eminent domain but this project has always primarily concerned a massive capital project for Columbia.” In short, the project was a land grab — and the use of eminent domain was a means to fix the outcome.

Yesterday’s ruling represents a repudiation of the routine abuse of eminent domain — after years in which courts across the country have often allowed governments to use eminent domain to favor powerful private interests.

Court after court after court, in the name of judicial restraint, refused to look closely enough at these tangled relationships. But in doing so, these courts were undermining the rights of the nation’s citizens.

However, with yesterday’s courageous ruling, a New York court has said, Enough!

The court system exists to protect the rights of all citizens, not merely rubber stamp back-room deals made by the powerful — and yesterday it did just that.

Nick Sprayregen is the president of Tuck-It-Away Associates, LP, in West Harlem.

Eminent No-main

By DAREH GREGORIAN, December 5, 2009

The fix was in.

The state and Columbia University conspired “in bad faith” to use eminent domain to seize six properties in West Harlem, the state Appellate Division ruled yesterday in a harshly worded decision that slams the brakes on the controversial plan.

“The exercise of eminent domain power” by the Empire State Development Corp. “to benefit a private elite education institution is violatitive” of the US and New York state constitutions and should not be allowed, the Appellate Division ruling said.

The state agency in charge of eminent domain and the school even “predetermined the unconstitutional outcome” by cooking up findings that the neighborhood was “blighted” and that the school’s $6 billion expansion plan, therefore, served a “civic use.”

“The record overwhelmingly establishes that the true beneficiary for the scheme to redevelop Manhattanville is not the community that is supposedly blighted but rather Columbia University, a private elite education institution,” says the 3-2 ruling, which chops down Columbia’s 17-acre expansion plan by about 9 percent.

The state and the school used the same environmental consulting firm to come up with the finding that the area was “blighted” and, therefore, a candidate for eminent domain, the ruling says.

There’s “no evidence whatsoever that Manhattanville was blighted prior to Columbia gaining control over the vast majority of the property therein.”

Since 2005, the decision says, “Columbia not only purchased or gained control over most of the properties in the area, but it also forced out tenant businesses, ultimately vacating, in 17 buildings, 50 percent or more of their tenants.”

Reps for Columbia did not return a call for comment.

Warner Johnston, a spokesman for the ESDC, called the ruling “wrong and inconsistent with established law.” He said the agency plans to appeal the ruling to the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals. Because two of the five judges dissented, the agency and the school have an automatic right to go to the high court.

The Court of Appeals recently upheld the use of eminent domain in the controversial Atlantic Yards project.

Norman Siegel, a lawyer for businesses fighting property seizure, said the ruling shows “property owners can fight back against the state when eminent domain is thrust upon them.”


It’s time for Gordon Heights to take back their fire department

In The 9-12 Project on December 7, 2009 at 8:17 am

(12-07-2009) Vote Hanson and Owens the tax fighting team!

Alex Hanson is a member of the Suffolk 9-12 Project and Conservative Society for Action!!!!!

The following article is from the North Shore Sun.

Candidates run for commissioner in fire district they want dissolved. 

Five candidates up for a pair of seats in Dec. 8 Gordon Heights election
BY PEGGY SPELLMAN HOEY |STAFF WRITER 

 

Two supporters of the petition to dissolve the Gordon Heights Fire District announced this week that they are running for seats on the Board of Fire Commissioners in next month’s election.

The Gordon Heights Fire District, which is a special taxing district that funds the Gordon Heights Fire Department, has the highest fire taxes in the state. Residents who oppose the high fire tax recently filed petitions with the Town of Brookhaven to dissolve the fire district and form a fire protection district in its place. The town has since agreed to study all of the issues involved with the scenario, including whether or not a fire protection district would provide a financial benefit to taxpayers.

Gordon Heights Fire District secretary Diana Brown said Tuesday that petitions to run for the Board of Fire Commissioners have been filed by Alex Hanson, a proponent of the dissolution of the fire district, and incumbents Philip Gordon and Frank Swinton for a five-year term. Maryanne Owens, who is also a proponent of the dissolution of the fire district and who lost a bid for election by just three votes a year ago, will oppose first-time candidate Patricia Wilson Brown for a one-year term.

The elections will be held Dec. 8.

Mr. Hanson, 48, is production manager for a manufacturing company and is also the husband of Rosalie Hanson, a community member who led the drive to collect signatures for the dissolution of the fire district and the creation of a fire protection district in its place. Mr. Hanson said he and Ms. Owens are running on the same ticket as a “tax fighting team.” Mr. Hanson said he is running for the spot because he would like to work toward reducing residents’ taxes, and also to “bring some sunlight” to issues involving the fire district.

“You have a one-way voice now,” said Mr. Hanson of the five-member board that manages the fire district. “I’m just trying to get in there and balance the tables.”

But Mr. Gordon, a five-year member of the board, said he does bring balance and credited himself for having an independent mind. Mr. Gordon, 48, is a registered nurse at Stony Brook Hospital Medical Center and is seeking his second five-year term in office. Mr. Gordon said he is seeking re-election because he would like to continue bringing an independent voice to the board.

“I’m very independent,” Mr. Gordon said. “Independent in a sense that I don’t always go along with what the other people want me to.”

Mr. Gordon, who is also a volunteer firefighter in the department, said he loves all aspects of the fire service and wants to continue to serve the community in the capacity that he has for the past five years. If re-elected, Mr. Gordon said he will continue to represent the community with “sincerity” and will work toward reducing taxes.

“I love the position of fire commissioner,” Mr. Gordon said.

Mr. Swinton, who was appointed to the board earlier this year after Harriet Wilson resigned from her five-year term, could not be reached for comment before presstime.

Ms. Owens said her close defeat in 2008 did not deter her from running this time around. As The North Shore Sun previously reported, it was later revealed that three individuals who voted in the election were not eligible to vote because they lived just outside the fire district’s boundaries, in the Middle Island Fire District. Although there is no way to tell how the three individuals cast their votes, Ms. Owens decided to run again after the district refused to call for another election. Ms. Owens, 49, a senior credit representative with a Ronkonkoma company, said she is running again for the spot because she is seeking to increase transparency in the fire district and also to make the Board of Fire Commissioners more accountable to the residents.

“It’s time for the community of Gordon Heights to take back their fire department,” Ms. Owens said.

Ms. Wilson Brown could also not be reached for comment before presstime.

The election will be held at the Gordon Heights firehouse on Hawkins Avenue in Medford. Polls will be open between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. The election is only open to residents of the Gordon Heights Fire District. For questions or more information about the election, call 631-698-6303.

peggy@northshoresun.com


Rally against Obama and Holders KSM trial – Sliwa, “We want justice!”

In CSA, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 6, 2009 at 10:31 pm

(12-06-2009) From http://www.911neverforget.us/

Thank you to all the members of the Suffolk 9-12, Conservative Society for Action, and North Country Patriots that attended this important event!

Despite Cold, Heavy Rain and Wind, Large Crowd Gathers To Protest Trying Terrorists as Civilians

NEW YORK, DECEMBER 5, 2009 — Today, several thousand protesters gathered at Foley Square in New York City to rally against Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and 4 other 9/11 co-conspirators as civilians in federal court.

Despite bitter cold, strong winds and heavy rain the crowd stayed through the 2-hour rally. The event was organized by the 9/11 Coalition to Never Forget and featured speakers representing 9/11 family members, first responders and our troops.

Among the notable moments: actor Brian Dennehy read a statement from Judea and Ruth Pearl, the parents of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. Dennehy, reading their words, said “We, who witnessed the darkest side of hell, and have since spent every moment of our lives studying the anatomy of terror, we refuse to accept the strategy of normalization that Holder’s decision represents. Terror is a crime against society, and should not be tried in the same court as crimes against individuals or against a particular country.”

Dennehy was one of several entertainment stars who issued a statement challenging Holder’s decision to bring the terrorist detainees to New York City for civilian trials, along with Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, Danny Aiello, Robert Davi, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Ben Stein.

As the rain continued to pour and the wind howled, the crowd’s enthusiasm never waned, sending a powerful message to those seeking to bring war criminals like the 9/11 mastermind to trial in US civilian court: New Yorkers and their fellow Americans view this issue as one of national and Constitutional survival, and they will fight Holder’s decision all the way.

Great speech by Curtis Sliwa from the NYC rally against Obama and Holder’s agenda to destroy the CIA and THIS COUNTRY..

See entire event http://www.c-spanarchives.org/program/290460-1


Lee Zeldin begins fight to take back State Senate

In Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee on December 5, 2009 at 10:14 pm

(12-05-2009) The following article was submitted by Brian Mills.

The Shot Heard Throughout Suffolk County

From Fire Island, to Ronkonkoma, to Farmingville, to West Sayville, at approximately 9:30am, at 120 West Main Street in Patchogue, in the presence of roughly 200 of his closest family, friends, and supporters, Lee Zeldin formally announced his run for New York State Senate against incumbent Senator Brian Foley.  In the mud and torrential run, in an over packed campaign headquarters, enthusiastic supporters came from far and wide to hear ringing endorsements of Mr. Zeldin from prominent Suffolk County elected officials and grass roots organizations.  Among those in attendance were Suffolk County Conservative Party Chairman Ed Walsh, Steve Flanagan from The Conservative Society for Action, Bob Meyer from Suffolk County 9-12, and New York Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos. 

With glowing enthusiasm from all speakers as well as campaign volunteers, the message directed at Senator Foley was loud and it was crystal clear.  Through casting votes in support of an MTA bailout payroll tax, elimination of STAR rebate checks, and reduction in funding to Long Island schools, Senator Foley has much explaining to do.  All speakers referenced the fact that Senator Foley has voted 100% of the time with, not just his party, but also with the representation from New York City, thus alienating his own constituency in both Brookhaven and Islip.  It is important, within the 3rd Senatorial District, to have a strong voice that is well equipped to stand up to the Liberal base in New York City, for New York City has nine million people while Suffolk County has a mere one and half million.  Casting votes in favor of the above referenced issues has blatantly damaged the economy of Suffolk during a time when it is imperative to be laser focused on job creation.  Lee Zeldin is ready to battle Senator Foley on these issues, in what is sure to be a long and arduous fight.

The final issue that must be brought to light, which is perhaps the most important issue to any Republicans, Conservatives, grass roots organizations, and simply anyone that wishes to see true representation restored to all of Suffolk County, is the census.  If Senator Foley is re-elected, and the Liberals retain control in Albany, the process of redistricting is sure to occur.  The ramifications of this will be extremely damaging, as Republicans will be locked out of control for perhaps another decade.  It is important to note that this would affect all districts from statewide Senatorial Districts to national Congressional Districts.  Therefore the call to action is urgent.  We are in the middle of a true battle, not just a political battle, but more so a battle between right and wrong.  If we want to restore New York, The Empire State, to what it once was, and what it could be for our children and grandchildren then we to need mobilize.  Please visit the website, www.zeldinforsenate.com, and learn what you could do assist in this noble cause.

Brian moved to Wading River two years ago, where he established two businesses (The Mills Agency and The Mills Group), which specialize in providing insurance and financial services to middle income families.  Brian is also an active committeeman with the Riverhead Republican Committee as well as being the Vice-President of the Riverhead Republican Club.

Lee Zeldin - A Son of Liberty


NRCC Press Release

In Randy Altschuler for Congress on December 4, 2009 at 12:48 am

(12-04-2009)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tim Bishop Standing on Shaky Ground After Voting with Pelosi 97 Percent of the Time

Poll Shows Bishop’s Re-election Hopes Diminishing as Support Back Home Plummets

Washington- New polling from McLaughlin & Associates shows New York Democrat Tim Bishops’ reelection prospects at an all-time low. After supporting a series of big-spending, anti-jobs policies, the four-term incumbent is standing on shaky ground with his Long Island electorate. Bishop’s support for the Democrats’ failed trillion-dollar stimulus, national energy tax and healthcare takeover has put him at odds with Long Islanders who want a voice in Congress that understands how to create jobs. With unemployment at 9 percent and new jobless claims filed every day, New Yorkers are rightly holding Bishop accountable for spending the economy into the ground and are still asking: Where are the jobs?

Republican challenger and businessman Randy Altschuler’s entry into the race is not helping Tim Bishop’s reelection prospects. Polling shows Long Islanders prefer a businessman who has created jobs and will stand for fiscal responsibility. The polling also shows Republican candidate Altschuler leading the incumbent Democrat 40 percent to 31 percent on an informed ballot:

“On the informed ballot, there is a net 29 point change where Tim Bishop is now losing to Randy Altschuler, 40% to 31%.

“The majority of voters, 55%, are more likely to vote for a businessman who has created jobs, never held office, and is running to force Democrats to be more fiscally responsible.  Only 23% of the voters would be more likely to vote for a career government official running on experience.” (McLaughlin & Associates Polling, 12/02/2009)

“Tim Bishop’s subservient support of Nancy Pelosi’s big-government, big-spending policies is proving to be costly,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Bishop’s partisan support for Pelosi’s reckless economic policies has forced Long Island families into unemployment and in search of jobs. Despite already voting to impose billions of new taxes on struggling middle-class families, Bishop continues to push his party’s reckless spending spree that is creating government, not jobs. His engagement in unpopular anti-business, anti-job policies has clearly driven a wedge between him and his Long Island constituency.”

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1st Congressional District campaign notes and analysis

In CSA, Congressmen Tim Bishop, Randy Altschuler for Congress, Suffolk County Conservative Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee, The 9-12 Project on December 4, 2009 at 12:14 am

(12-04-2009) We are all on the same team.

I have been reporting on the various news reports that I come across regarding the 1st CD. And in doing so, I also share with you my opinion.

My opinion so far has been based on the reality of what’s been happening. Unfortunately there are some people that believe I’m pushing forward propaganda or PR for a particular candidate. That I might have some sort of vested interest. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The truth is, as I have said recently, Randy Altschuler is the only candidate that is garnering positive attention from outside this Tea Party group.

No one else is. No one else has. If anyone else is or has, then where is it? Someone please produce something. Anything. I will gladly report on it.

Yet it seems that whenever I report on any Altschuler news, the same backlash of vilifying comments, questions, and statements are directed about his wealth, his outsourcing, and warnings about whatever. It sounds to me that there are some preconceived opinions.

That’s fine but let’s continue.

I was recently asked on the comment section of this blog to provide a brief synopsis of exactly how candidates are chosen by their respective parties.

So I reached out to Ed Walsh, the Suffolk County Conservative Party Chairman, and asked him a few questions regarding their nominating and endorsement process.

Mr. Walsh stated that;

1. The Suffolk County Conservative Party will be screening candidates sometime in January.

2. The SCCP does not have any registered conservatives running.

3. Regardless, the SCCP does not want a 23rd district scenario happening in the 1st district. The #1 goal of the Conservative Party is to defeat the Liberal Tim Bishop. Because of this, most likely, the SCCP will be endorsing a Republican candidate.

The key to that whole statement is that the SCCP candidate screening will take place in January. Normally the screening would take place in March.

That would then lead you to believe that the nominating convention which usually takes place in May, would also then get pushed up.

Maybe March?

This is obviously being done because of the desire to get to work beating Bishop as soon as possible.

Why would the Suffolk County Republican Party do anything different? Look for the SCRP nominating process to be pushed up also.

This leaves little time for late go-ers. Who are the late go-ers? Well let’s see.

(1) The legal time frame is up for someone to register now as a conservative, and then run on the conservative line for this congressional campaign.

(2) For an already registered conservative to step forward now and declare a candidacy, so close to the screening, is highly unlikely.

That leaves only Republican candidates.

Only two Republican candidates are registered with the Federal Elections Commission. They are Randy Altschuler and George Demos.

Altschuler is a successful businessman.

Demos is a successful prosecutor.

Both are Ivy League graduates.

Let’s continue.

Who is better funded? Answer. Altschuler

Who is the only candidate with an operating campaign? Answer. Altschuler

Who has been getting press? Answer. Altschuler

Who has been getting endorsements? Answer Altschuler

Who is running out of time to get all those things in order? Answer. Demos

Where do the candidates stand with the party platform? Answer. My guess is this is a tie.

Based on this reasoning, Altschuler is the clear front runner.

Most importantly remember this.

We  must beat Bishop and we are all on the same team!

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Altschuler campaign gaining momentum

In Randy Altschuler for Congress, Suffolk County Republican Committee on December 2, 2009 at 11:11 pm

(12-03-2009) Randy Altschuler’s candidacy to unseat Bishop continues to receive favorable local and national press. This is a clear indication that the Altschuler campaign is beginning to carry momentum into the New Year.

In yesterday’s POLITICO, Josh Kraushaar notes the credibility of Altschulers’s candidacy and links Tom Suozzi’s ill-fated reelection campaign in Nassau County with the even more competitive trends and political environment found throughout Suffolk County and in New York’s First Congressional District. 

POLITICO

Tom Suozzi concedes defeat

By Josh Kraushaar, 12-01-2009

It’s a final in Nassau County: County Executive Tom Suozzi, a rising star in New York Democratic politics, conceded the race to little-known Republican Edward Mangano after nearly a month of post-election uncertainty.

Suozzi, who had saved up millions in campaign cash to prepare for a future statewide campaign, was losing by 377 votes to Mangano.

It’s unclear whether the voter angst that fueled Mangano’s upset win will translate to next year’s political landscape.

But the results are a warning sign for Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), who is facing a credible challenge from well-funded Republican businessman, Randy Altschuler. Bishop’s district is also based in Long Island, one county over in eastern Suffolk County.

While Nassau County overwhelmingly supported President Obama, Bishop’s district is more Republican and only gave Obama a narrow four-point victory over John McCain, 52 to 48 percent.

 http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1209/Tom_Suozzi_concedes_defeat.html#comments


Outrage! NYPD not consulted prior to AG Holder decision

In CSA, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 2, 2009 at 9:04 pm

(12-02-2009) BREAKING NEWS

Failure to consult NYC Police Commissioner shows AG Holder trial decision put politics over security

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Bill Zeiser at bill.zeiser@gmail.com or (516) 448-5489
Website: www.911neverforget.us

Coalition expresses shock at breaking reports that NYC Mayor Bloomberg and NYPD Commissioner Kelly were not consulted prior to Holder’s 9/11 trial announcement

New York, December 2, 2009 — According to breaking news reports, New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has stated that city officials were not consulted prior to announcing a decision to bring the 9/11 terrorist conspirators to trial in a New York City civilian court.

Commissioner Kelly was asked whether U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder consulted with the NYPD in advance about security concerns surrounding the possibility of holding the terror trial in New York. Kelly responded: “The fact is we weren’t asked. And we will make the best of a situation. We weren’t.”

A spokesperson for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has asserted that the Mayor was informed of the decision only on the very morning Attorney General Holder made his announcement.

“There was no consultation, no consultation with the police department. That decision was made. We were informed,” Commissioner Kelly added on Tuesday.

Debra Burlingame, co-founder of 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America, who is organizing a massive rally this Saturday, December 5th, at Foley Square, stated today, “This shocking revelation makes it crystal clear that the Attorney General’s decision to bring Khalid Shaikh Mohammed to New York City was pre-ordained, and he wasn’t about to ask for input that would have resulted in his having to defend the indefensible.”

According to the New York Daily News, New York City spends $300 million per year for ordinary counterterrorism operations. “The Attorney General told 9/11 families that bringing these monsters to NYC is a ‘trust me situation,’ ” said Burlingame. “The American people should not trust the judgment or competence of the nation’s chief law enforcement officer who revealed that he consulted his wife over the decision but not the government officials who are entrusted with our safety and security and who will have to deal with the consequences of that decision.”

On Saturday at noon, thousands will rally at Foley Square at the federal courthouse where the trial, if the decision is not reversed, will take place. Two weeks ago, the 9/11 Never Forget Coalition sent a letter signed by 300 family members of 9/11 victims to the President, Attorney General and Defense Secretary Robert Gates asking them to reverse

“KSM describes a grandiose original plan … KSM himself was to land the tenth plane at a U.S. airport and, after killing all adult male passengers on board and alerting the media, deliver a speech excoriating U.S. support for Israel, the Philippines, and repressive governments in the Arab world. Beyond KSM’s rationalizations about targeting the U.S. economy, this vision gives a better glimpse of his true ambitions. This is theater, a spectacle of destruction with KSM as the self-cast star — the superterrorist.” — page 154, 9/11 Commission Report

The letter has now been signed by over 135,000 Americans and is posted at 911familiesforamerica.org

“KSM describes a grandiose original plan … KSM himself was to land the tenth plane at a U.S. airport and, after killing all adult male passengers on board and alerting the media, deliver a speech excoriating U.S. support for Israel, the Philippines, and repressive governments in the Arab world. Beyond KSM’s rationalizations about targeting the U.S. economy, this vision gives a better glimpse of his true ambitions. This is theater, a spectacle of destruction with KSM as the self-cast star — the superterrorist.” — page 154, 9/11 Commission Report


Tax Revolt

In Nassau County Republican Committee, Suffolk County Republican Committee on December 2, 2009 at 8:02 am

(12-02-2009) Wait until you see 2010!

The following story from the NY  Post.

Suozzi’s not the last

The Election-Day tax revolt that ripped through New York like a surprise nor’easter claimed its biggest casualty yesterday: After a four-week-long recount, two-term Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi conceded defeat to Republican challenger Ed Mangano.

The loss upset the plans of the ambitious Suozzi, who’d been eyeing another statewide race, despite an ignominious flameout in his 2006 gubernatorial primary against Eliot Spitzer.

Suozzi had cast himself as the poster-boy for property-tax reform, hoping to capitalize on voter anger at the crushing levies.

He created the Fix Albany political action committee five years ago, seeking to force the Legislature to mitigate the impact of state policies on county budgets. That produced mixed results: A few candidates he backed won — but you’d be hard-pressed to see what they’ve done to “fix Albany.”

Then-Gov. Spitzer subsequently appointed his former rival to head up a property-tax reform commission, which settled on the idea of a property-tax cap.

A year and a half later, there’s still no cap in place.

Bottom line: Suozzi seemed more to talk reform than to actually produce it.

And it looks like his Nassau County constituents — who still live in one of the highest-taxed counties in America — noticed. Suozzi paid the price for his inability actually to deal with the issue of greatest concern to voters.

That’s why the once-rising Democratic star had to deliver a concession speech yesterday. It’s also why Nassau’s Legislature flipped to the Republicans on Election Day.

Tom Suozzi only talked the talk, and now he’s taking a walk.

 Who’s next?

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/suozzi_not_the_last_pHT1Asa46vkXkDQcz5zQeI


In America we say Merry Christmas!

In CSA, Christian, North Country Patriots, The 9-12 Project on December 2, 2009 at 1:09 am

(12-02-2009) You are a citizen of the United States of America. We are a Christian Nation.

In America we say Merry Christmas!

For the whole month of December, let’s celebrate Christmas. Please forward all your Christmas events.

Operation Merry Christmas: 1st Announcement

Christmas Tree Lighting

The Ridge Full Gospel Christian Church will be officially lighting their 80′, 11,000 led colored light live Christmas tree on Sunday, Dec., 6 at 6:30pm.

Everyone is invited to attend this family outing complete with Christmas caroling, hot chocolate, cookies and candy canes.

We are asking people, if they want, to bring a small toy for a boy or girl and place it under the Christmas tree. The toys will be given to boys and girls who attend our annual Children’s Christmas Party.

We did some research and we believe this is the tallest lighted live Christmas tree in Suffolk County. The tallest tree is the EAB tree in Uniondale.

Catherine Tenek

Location:
Ridge Full Gospel Christian Church
Ruth Lane
Ridge, NY 11961
631-924-1842

http://www.ridgefullgospel.org/

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Revenge of the taxpayers

In Nassau County Republican Committee on December 1, 2009 at 10:30 pm

(12-02-2009) Every tax and spend big government incumbent elected official watch out. Here we come.

You may tell us how fiscally conservative you are, but then why do our taxes keep going up?

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

The following is taken from Newsday.

Suozzi concedes; Mangano to take helm in Nassau County

Incoming Republican county executive, Edward Mangano, said he won because county residents were fed up with big government and more taxes, and he was going to do something about it.

“My administration will put the taxpayer first,” Mangano said after Suozzi conceded at midday. “That is my mandate and all those that come aboard [his administration] will have to share in that philosophy.”

Mangano, 47, an attorney from Bethpage, said his first job would be to fulfill his campaign promise and eliminate the 2.5 percent sales tax on home energy that was imposed by Suozzi and the Democrats in the legislature earlier this year. It was intended to bring in $39 million.

“Reform is on the way, and that’s what I can pledge to you,” he said. “And tax relief will come in the form of cutting the home energy tax.”

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/suozzi-concedes-mangano-to-take-helm-in-nassau-1.1631322

Mangano attributes his victory to a grassroots campaign.

He and others attribute his upset victory over Suozzi in part to a solid grassroots campaign that relied on Mangano’s deep roots in the community and his everyman image. Badly outspent by Suozzi, he capitalized on voter anger over property taxes, among other issues, and organized Latinos and volunteer firefighters to help him win, he said.

“He went back to basics, to grassroots politics,” Blakeman said. “A lot of people rolled their eyes at him and said it’s about money. He said money is important, but grassroots, community and coalition are more important. He proved everybody wrong and he was right.”

Mangano, who also ran on the Tax Revolt Party line, said the critics’ doubts only fed his appetite to succeed.

“I’ve never let anyone tell me I can’t do something,” he said. “When people tell me [that] it’s like something in me says, ‘Now I gotta win.”

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/mangano-s-life-from-janitor-to-nassau-s-leader-1.1632167