Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-NY: “Fighting Dem”? Or Just Blowing Smoke for the Folks Back Home? (Guess…)

~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL

Yesterday, it really looked like we had a “Fighting Dem” as Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-NY went after the SEC over its failure to uncover the Madoff Ponzi scheme, didn’t it?  Ackerman is known for having a gift for making acerbic comments…but how much fight is really there?

First a bit of history on Ackerman. He was a supporter of Hillary Clinton during the primaries last year, endorsing her in late January 2008. On June 5, just a couple of days before Clinton suspended her campaign early on June 7, he endorsed Obama. (There were others who waited another day, by the way. Full list of who did what, when here.)

He showed real signs of life during the Caroline Kennedy/NY Senate saga. He was the first to question her qualifications with comments like these:

From the NY Post (December 11, 2008):

Rep. Gary Ackerman of Queens, a 25-year veteran of Congress, declared in a radio interview: “I don’t know what Caroline Kennedy‘s qualifications are.”

“Except that she has name recognition, but so does J.Lo,” Ackerman continued on Steve Malzberg’s radio show on WOR. “I wouldn’t make J.Lo the senator unless she proved she had great qualifications, but we haven’t seen them yet.”

He took the obligatory hit at Sarah Palin on Face the Nation as things moved forward (December 22, 2008):

WASHINGTON – A Democratic congressman compared Caroline Kennedy to Sarah Palin, saying the would-be senator hasn’t proved she has the “guts and the gumption” to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton. Rep. Gary Ackerman of Roslyn Heights said on CBS‘ “Face the Nation” yesterday that the Kennedy legend and connections won’t be enough to make her a successful senator if Gov. David A. Paterson appoints her to the U.S. Senate.

So, the fireworks yesterday at the Madoff hearing seem to be pretty typical of Ackerman’s style. (The video at his website is a shorter version of this clip, without the reference to “dung”):

One thing to be aware of is the fact that a lot of the money that has disappeared once belonged to a lot of folks from Ackerman’s district, so Ackerman’s umbrage will certainly play well at home!

Kanjorski-led panel reviews $50 billion fraud scheme

By MARCY GORDON
Associated Press Writer

Published: Monday, January 05, 2009
Updated: Monday, January 5, 2009 6:28 PM EST

WASHINGTON — Republican and Democratic House members said Monday that the alleged $50 billion fraud involving Wall Street figure Bernard Madoff reflects deep, systemic problems at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SNIP

The SIPC shortfall will only worsen the distrust of investors, already deepened by the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, said Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y. His district encompasses the affluent north shore of Long Island, home to many of Madoff’s alleged victims

(Note the reference to the Great Depression, the party line these days as part of the “fear stimulus” being used to pass the pork-laden “stimulus”  package.)

But beneath the brash, confrontational style that plays well on TV, we see a typical Democrat who’s sticking with the crowd:

From November 19th, 2008:

Think Progress » Rep. Ackerman: Auto Execs’ Private Jet Travel Like Guy At ‘The Soup Kitchen In High Hat And Tuxedo’.

But by December 5, 2008:

Automakers’ fourth-and-long plea

Last Updated: December 5, 2008: 8:06 PM ET

Even Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., who was the first to raise the issue of corporate jets at the earlier hearing, seemed more open to helping the auto industry in his opening comment this go round.

“One does not always have a second chance to make a first impression. Welcome back,” Ackerman said. “The last time you didn’t get it. By coming up with this plan, maybe you do.”

From September 11, 2008:

Mortgage Mess Unleashes Chain Of Lawsuits

By Tomoeh Murakami Tse and Carrie Johnson

Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, September 11, 2007; 10:34 AM

Credit agencies, which graded billions of dollars worth of mortgage-backed securities as safe investments throughout the recent housing boom, are also feeling the heat.

Members of Congress are calling for hearings and oversight, saying the rating agencies are conflicted because they are paid by investment banks that issue the securities the agencies rate. Institutional investors accuse the rating firms of being slow to downgrade securities.

“Essentially, the originators and credit raters shoved enough pigs and laying hens in with the beef herd that investors expecting prime ribs on their silver platter and money in their pocket ended up with pork ribs on their paper plate and egg on their face,” Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-N.Y.) said in an opening statement during a Financial Services Committee hearing last week.

Nice, but what was 13 term Congressman Ackerman doing when there were calls for “oversight” when Democrats took charge of Congress a couple of years ago?  I don’t see any mention of a crusade for oversight in Ackerman’s bio and list of accomplishments at his website. I don’t have the time or inclination at this point to see how he voted when the whole business of pushing bad loans was originally put together way back when, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Ackerman went along with it all then…(See his new legislation introduced January 27, below.)

And he’s right in line with all the rest on other aspects of current economic issues (Also, seee voting pattern, below):

LI House delegation to back $700B bailout

BY JENNIFER MALONEY |jennifer.maloney@newsday.com

September 29, 2008

“We, the taxpayers, will get back our investment,” said Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Roslyn Heights). “Any shortfall where we don’t get our money back is going to be paid for by Wall Street.”

Really???

Ackerman Running for Re-election to Congress

Manhasset Press  October 24, 2008

Following his interview with the Great Neck Record, Congressman Ackerman was to head to Washington to vote on the “bailout.” With the financial crisis at the forefront, he was quick to note: “We have to correct the errors of the past.” He emphasized that the country must “restore confidence and put liquidity in the market” so that “people can pay for education, pay bills, pay mortgages, run businesses …”

With his background on financial service committees, the congressman emphasized that the country “must come up with solutions even before a crisis.”

Congressman Ackerman told how he had put in financial legislation even before this current financial crisis came to a head. His bill calls for credit agencies to be required to put like loans in a package, and prohibiting them from “rating what is not ratable.” And he emphasized that “We must hold credit agencies responsible for what they do.”

Congressman Ackerman termed this “common sense regulation.”

Blah, blah, blah…”correct the errors of the past”…Not without oversight, I’m afraid.

And in the run-up to the now “Bad Bank” which is in the works, we saw how Ackerman was already on board:

Rep. Steve LaTourette seeks help from President Bush to stop National City sale

Posted by Sabrina Eaton, Stephen Koff and Teresa Dixon Murray/ Plain Dealer Reporters November 18, 2008 09:51AM

Other committee members grilled Paulson on his failure to use money in the $700 billion bailout package to reduce mortgage foreclosures. Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the committee, put in the hearing record a letter from Rep. Dennis Kucinich in which the Cleveland Democrat urged Congress to withhold more TARP money from the Treasury Department because of its failure to act on foreclosures.

New York Democratic Rep. Gary Ackerman called the Treasury Department’s decision to avoid buying troubled mortgages from banks, as it originally promised, “the second-largest bait-and-switch scheme that history has ever seen, second only to the reasons given us to vote for the invasion of Iraq.”

Paulson said that the money had to be used to prevent a collapse in the financial system and that the Treasury Department is still looking for ways to reduce foreclosures.

Rep. Ackerman can display all the “righteous anger” that he wants for the TV cameras and the folks back home, but I have to ask–isn’t he really just part of “diversion” along with all the huffing and puffing about capping executive salaries?  The Madoff  issue is important, of course, but Ackerman’s brash style seems to be only style when it comes to many economic issues and, like others,  late to the party with his protests.

Eleven Democrats in the House voted against the stimulus bill…you won’t find Ackerman’s name among them.

***

ADDENDA

Rep. Gary Ackerman’s Official Website biography

According to GovTrack.us, Ackerman is a “rank and file” Democrat; OpenCongress cites a 98% record of voting with party (Votes most often with Ellen Tauscher, D-CA)

Rep. Ackerman introduced this bill on January 27, 2009 Source: GovTrack.us

H. R. 710

To secure additional Tier I capital for the United States banking system from parties other than the Federal Government by providing authority to the Secretary of the Treasury to guaranty certain new preferred stock investments made by public pensions acting in a collective fashion, and for other purposes.

If you have a public pension, watch this bill:

(2) INSTITUTION ELIGIBLE FOR INVESTMENTS- Only an investment in preferred stock that meets the requirements of subsection (e) and has been issued by a financial institution which meets the definition of a qualifying financial institution under the TARP Capital Purchase Program established under the authority of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 may be treated as an eligible investment for purposes of this Act.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-710

The Past Week: January 18-24, 2009 (Condi Rice Getting Booked; Pat Paulsen, We Need You!; VOA and wwiTV.com; Questions)

Well, we’re already seeing the arrogance of Obama and Pelosi and some signs of life from the New York governor as Caroline Kennedy fades from the scene of diversion…

***

As you’ve probably heard, Condi Rice has signed on with the William Morris Agency…here is her page at the WMA site:

			Condoleezza Rice

<!– –> <!– –> <!– –> <!– –>		full bio

	Copyright © 2009 William Morris Agency. All rights reserved. WMA

OK,  she JUST signed on, so there’s nothing there now as  I write this…but she already is listed in the roster of people speaking on “Domestic and Global Issues.”

She’s sharing the roster with the likes of Al Franken, Arianna Huffington, Larry King, Diane Dimond, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Winnie Mandela, Ed Koch, Joe Scarborough, James Cramer, Rita Crosby, Gen. Claudia Kennedy and George Lakoff.  Oh, and Prince Edward of Essex.  And there are many more in the club…

Condi is also listed on the “Women’s Issues” roster (and so is Jennifer Lopez!).  My old chum Peggy Noonan is with a whole crew of people to ignore over on the “Mass Communications” roster.

According to Reuters, Condi won’t be going on shows as a policy analyst, but is going to concentrate on “philanthropic efforts involving classical music and college educations for disadvantaged students, as well as initiatives to help U.S. children become global citizens.” And, she reportedly is negoatiating a book deal, which will possibly include a memoir of the Bush years.

Wonder if she’ll include the August memo prior to 911, you know, the one about planes, buildings, etc. etc.

***

I see the pilot of the jet that ditched into the Hudson has finally been released to the public by investigators.  One wonders about the delay…

***

I was watching the show “Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America” on PBS last night and really was caught up in the segments on Lenny Bruce and the censorship… and the Smothers Brothers and the censorship…and George Carlin and the censorship. In the middle of all this, the name of Pat Paulsen comes up. Remember Pat Paulsen and his run for President??

Well…his son carries on….Check out the website “Pat Paulsen for President“…

Looks like Pat’s son, Monty Paulsen, is gearing up for a 2012 run for the White House. Here he hits the campaign trail to find the pulse of American voters.  (video follows)

According to Tommy Smothers (Tommy Smothers Says Paulsen Saved the Show):

It’s debatable who actually urged Paulsen to run for commander in chief of the free world starting in 1968 through 1996, Smothers said.

“It could have come from a whole bunch of people,” he said. “But his ‘68 run was one of the best satirical things ever done in politics.”

[Trivia from IMBD: In 1968 Paulsen first ran for President of the United States under the Straight Talking American Government (STAG) Party, first as a “gag” candidate, then apparently for real. Some critics claim that he stole votes from Hubert H. Humphrey and caused Richard Nixon to be elected (in the televised election returns of that year, he was referred to as a “minor party candidate”). Until his death, he ran as a perennial write-in candidate. His last campaign slogan was “Send Pat Paulsen to the White House! He has to sleep somewhere!”…His last running mate in 1996 was Tiny Tim.]

In the article, Smothers opines that the McCain-Obama race could have used Paulsen added to the mix….I agree!!

Paulsen delivered a series of “Editorials” as V.P. while on the Smothers Brothers Show and the texts are preserved on the web. Here is an excerpt that was shown on the PBS special. It’s on the subject of the draft:

Are Our Draft Laws Unfair?

October 29, 1967

A good many people feel our present draft laws are unjust. These people are called soldiers…Now the crux of the criticism is based on the premise that an ineptitude without gross regress tends to efficiate and gorge masical…and frankly, we find this a bit cloudy.

Let’s take this step by step…When we talk about the draft, we are talking about a law duly enacted by Congress, in which men should be drafted first…women second…and Congressmen last. And what are the arguments against the draft? We hear that it is unfair, immoral…discourages young men from studying, ruins their careers, and their lives…picky…picky…picky.

MORE

Paulsen was awarded a Comedy Legends Award posthumously in September 2008 (he died of cancer in 1997). Will Durst remembers:

“I remember Pat when he first announced he was running for president on ‘The Smothers Brothers Show’ in 1968. He did these double-talk speeches that were so hysterical because he had that look of a ’60s-era politician,” Durst said. “It was hysterical. That was satire.”

One of his choice quotes:

Assuming either the Left Wing or the Right Wing gained control of the country, it would probably fly around in circles.
Pat Paulsen

***

Tired of the media? Well, you can get your propaganda directly from the new and improved Voice of America site…you can listen to what’s being piped into Afghanistan, for example, and many other places in many languages.

The Confluence had a great piece up yesterday on the subject of the status of women in Afghanistan, which never seems to improve.  Do check out  Saturday: A little thing for the girls.

***

If you want to see television from Afghanistan, check out World Wide Internet TeleVision from the Netherlands at  wwiTV.com.  This site has the most incredible collection of foreign and U.S. TV that can be viewed via the web that I have ever seen.  I love the CCTV from China. Check out the English feed.  Today I learned that China is hoping to boost its economy by promoting breakfast–Chinese-style breakfast, not American fast food offerings.  One man said that the state-run restaurant breakfasts were very good and one woman said that for only 3 yuan…well, it’s a bargain!  Sure looked great to me…lots of food and who can beat that price?? (But first I’d check for melamine…)

***

I leave you with two questions:

Why am I suddenly getting emails again from the JRE Grassroots group? In case you don’t remember, this was a thing put together by John Edwards.  Well, according to the emails, they want to figure out what to do so they are contacting people on their email list for suggestions.  My suggestion is that they ask John Edwards if HE has any idea on the subject…

And, who would be looking at this little blog at about midnight MT from Andrews Air Force Base (the base the Presidents all fly from)?

Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland landed on https://insightanalytical.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/obama-a-lo… 23:45:02 — 4 minutes ago

Maybe they’ll come back for a visit again?

THE PAST WEEK

*By everyone at IA–Kenosha Marge, Grail Guardian, American Lassie, Leslie Chicago Correspondent, and IA-GRL

**By IA-GRL, Leslie Chicago Correspondent, & Kenosha Marge

I’ve Been Tagged…So Here Are Six Things About Me….

Obama’s Entitlement “Reform”– the Social Security-Medicare Nexus and Health Freedom

T.A.R.P, Recovery Plan, Term Limits Action…All Obscured Under the Cover of Media Hoopla

Come and Get it! “Idiot Wings” Served Up by Republicans & Democrats…(Update 1X: Lyrics from Stealers Wheel)

*Welcome to…THE IA INAUGURATION DAY SAFE-ZONE!

**Throwing Things as We Think of Other Historic Events on January 20th We Don’t Plan to Celebrate (A Joint Post by IA-GRL, Chicago Correspondent Leslie, and Kenosha Marge)

REMINDER: Inauguration Day is an OBAMA-FREE SAFE-ZONE Here at IA!

The Past Week: January 11-17, 2009 (Al Jazeera Hooks up with PBS; House vs. Senate/Obama and Bailout Oversight; “Everyman” Biden; Non-GMO Verification Project; “The Prisoner” is Free; Extra Anatomical Tube Bypass

Hip-Hop Inaugural Events Start TONIGHT (1/14/09)…Ludicras Co-Hosting “Urban Ball”

~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL

Hey, guess what’s starting today??  The first of a week-long series of HIP-HOP Inaugural events!

I happened to get onto this when I visited The Black Agenda Report, saw a graphic and clicked on it.

As it turns out, there are at least TWO hip-hop groups running events.  Tonight, January 14, the “Hip-Hop Caucus…Politics for a New Generation” holds its “kick-off” party.

By Saturday (January 17), the schedule begins to rev up as the Congressional Black Caucus gets involved in a “roundtable” discussion of hip-hop and politics; that evening, Mary J. Blige is featured in a nighttime event.

Hip Hop & Politics Roundtable

Return soon more information, or sign up here for Inauguration updates.  The Source Mind Squad, Chuck D, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. and Members of the Congressional Black Caucus
Time: 1pm-4pm

Venue: TBD

---

Then on the 19th there’s an event to honor MLK  being held in partnership with the Presidential Inaugural Committee….

Mon. Jan 19th

National Day of Service in Honor of Dr. King

In partnership with the Presidential Inaugural Committee the Hip Hop Caucus will organize community service efforts nationally and in Washington, DC.
Return soon more information, or sign up here for Inauguration updates.

There’s also a pricey “scholars” party being held during the week titled “Dreams from My Father” after Obama’s bio mostly made-up life story:

Sun. Jan 18th

“Dreams from My Father” American Scholars Inaugural Ball @ The “5 Diamond” Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown

Hosted By the National Intellectual Property Institute, the Hip Hop Caucus, Dave & Ray Ent., with The Source Magazine Time: 8pm – 2am Cost: Doctorate Level – $550 ($1000 for Couples) | Graduate Level – $350 ($600 for Couples) | Bachelor Level – Student Discounts Available (visit www.americanscholarsball.org) Venue Address: 2800 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20007

Then there’s THIS action being held by another Hip-Hop organization: the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball.

The event has big name sponsors, Heineken and Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. HSAN’s mission statement:

Mission Statement:

Founded in 2001, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) is dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of Hip-Hop music to serve as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns fundamental to the empowerment of youth. HSAN is a non-profit, non-partisan national coalition of Hip-Hop artists, entertainment industry leaders, education advocates, civil rights proponents, and youth leaders united in the belief that Hip-Hop is an enormously influential agent for social change which must be responsibly and proactively utilized to fight the war on poverty and injustice.

(“Social change”–like we’ve seen in Ludacris’ enlightened view of women??)

This event has big ticket prices, too…The “cheap” seats at $250 are sold out, but tickets at $500, $1000 General) , and $2500 (VIP) are still available!!!  ( I guess the VIPs get to drink more…)

CELEBRATING THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA…

(If you can’t see it, the banner reads: ” And the Hip-Hop Community for Inspiring the Transformation of America“)

Now, you might be wondering if Ludacris will be showing up! Oh, yeah, he’ll be in D.C.  Back in December the plans were set to have 2 American Music Inaugural Balls: one will be hosted by Dionne Warwicke (the one for the older crowd) and the other will feature our FAVORITE hip-hopper Ludacris along with OutKast’s Big Boi. From MTV:

On January 20, D.C.’s Marriott Wardman Park Hotel will hold two American Music events. Luda and Big Boi will co-host the Urban Ball, which is reportedly slated to include appearances from David Banner, Bobby Valentino, Lil Jon, T-Pain, Cedric the Entertainer, the Cheetah Girls, Fantasia and Monica. A number of former NBA players will also reportedly be on hand, including Jalen Rose, Kenny Smith and Alonzo Mourning. Tickets for the ball will run you $350. Spokespeople for Luda and Big Boi could not be reached for comment at press time.

The lineup for the Legends Ball, co-hosted by Dionne Warwick and Yolanda Adams, is slated to feature appearances by Chaka Khan, George Clinton, Kirk Franklin, Harold Melvin & Blue Notes, the Temptations with Dennis Edwards, Isaiah Washington and Reggie Miller. Tickets for this event will cost $450.

Here are our guys!!

Big Boi (L) and Ludacris (R)

MTV will be hosting its own ball…

One thing is for sure: MTV will be hosting its own “Be the Change Inaugural Ball,” co-hosted by ServiceNation, to celebrate the massive youth-voter turnout in this year’s presidential election.

I’m getting chills all over, aren’t you?  Somehow, I’m getting the feeling that all this is ONE aspect of the Obama-JFK “connection” made by Caroline Kennedy that is not quite on a par with what Jackie-O would have signed on for.  Ain’t no Pablo Casals in sight…

And what about all those poorer Obama supporters who can’t cough up all the money and/or don’t have “black tie”?  Well, there will be plenty of bars  open, of course. Although the original plan to let bars stay open for extended hours has been scaled back by one hour, there’s a lot of apprehension  about law enforcement personnel being stretched too thin.    You have to wonder if we’re going to see the scary stuff we saw on election night in Philly(see video of Election Night in Philly here).

From the Washington Post:

Inaugural ‘Last Call’ Moved Up

David Nakamura

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 17, 2008; Page B01

D.C. bars and nightclubs will be allowed to serve alcohol until 4 a.m., not 5 a.m., during inauguration week after the D.C. Council voted last night to modestly scale back the emergency legislation it approved two weeks ago.

Under the revised rules, nightlife establishments will still be allowed to remain open for food service round-the-clock from Jan. 17 to 21.

(SNIP)

Terry Lynch, executive director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations, an ecumenical association, said his members strongly oppose allowing nightlife establishments to stay open later than normal.

Pointing to recent violence in Adams Morgan, Lynch said: “It just doesn’t make sense, given the situation we’re currently facing. There is a lack adequate police currently, and add to that the overwhelming nature of duties they’re going to face during the inaugural.”

If anything happens in the street on January 20, I doubt you’ll see it.  The “news” organizations are already drunk on Obama and won’t be paying attention to anything that might spoil THEIR ratings party…

On Reflection: These Are The Times That Try Men’s (and Women’s) Souls

~~By American Lassie

On December 10, 2008, Grail Guardian posted an article  entitled How Long Has This Been Going On? (”What They Want is the World”…The Roots of Our Current Coup d’Etat) .  The post opened with this quote:

“What is past is prologue.”

Her last statement in the article stuck in my mind and I couldn’t get past it. She said,  “The good news is America has been at it for 122 years, and some of us have no intention of letting go of our belief in our Constitution.”

A link in a comment by “Music Producer” on December 12, 2008, at 5:15 pm, following InsightAnalytical’s re-post of An Open Letter to Caroline Kennedy–July 13, 2008 (Reposted and Updated 12/11/08) pushed Grail’s statement to the front of my mind and I had to go back and read her post again. I’m sorry to say I missed the real gist of the post the first time because the reference to Oliver Stone turned me off.  My mistake – and I’m ashamed to say that took my attention away from the true message of the article, which was fabulous – and a little scary. But I’m finding many things scary these days.

> Vodpod videos no longer available.

Grail’s post and this video from “Music Producer” plus the disturbing comment on www.DemocraticDisaster.com from an asinine elector from North Carolina named Wayne Abraham  really ticked me off. (Abraham said that since the SCOTUS hasn’t defined “natural born citizen” he would use his own definition for the term. This elector is a hand-picked elector chosen by the Obama camp.) His reply is too long for me to repeat.  The comment that I saw when the site was operating is a sad example of  who made the choice for us on December 15, 2008. (Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, something strange has happened to www.DemocraticDisaster.com.)

A story from 11/26 in the Christian Science Monitor also quotes Abraham:

Wayne Abraham, a Democratic elector in Greensboro, N.C., says he’s received three letters – two signed, one not – and one phone call about Obama’s citizenship.

“I was surprised, but I’m not worried about it,” he says, dryly. “As I said to the lady on the phone, I figured that the Bush administration had ample opportunity to investigate Senator Obama, and if they had discovered he was not truly a citizen they … would have let us know.”

Wayne Abraham (L) Voting 12/15

The idiotic comments by this elector made me think of Thomas Paine and his passage which includes “These are the times that try men’s souls” quotation.  Of course Paine wasn’t referring to electors, but to those men and women of the colonies who were not convinced that the fight for freedom could be won.

Thomas Paine (January 29, 1737 – June 8, 1809) was an English pamphleteer, a participant in the American Revolution and a great patriot.

Paine wrote the following on December 23, 1776. The timing is important. It was written just before Washington’s Christmas attack on the British.

“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered, yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap (sic) we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods, and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated.”

He goes on to say:

“Tis surprizing to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. All nations and ages have been subject to them. Britain has trembled like an ague at the report of a French fleet of flat bottomed boats; and in the fourteenth (sic) (it was actually the fifteenth) century the whole English army, after ravaging the kingdom of France, was driven back like men petrified with fear; and this brave exploit was performed by a few broken forces collected and headed by a woman, Joan of Arc. Would that Heaven might inspire some Jersey maid to spirit up her countrymen, and save her fair fellow sufferers from ravage and ravishment.

(This  written while he was serving with the army on a narrow neck of land between the North River and the Hackensack, thus the reference to the “Jersey maid.”)

We could say this was prophetic in a way. We could have had a Joan of Arc, but we just didn’t have enough patriots to overcome the king’s forces. That doesn’t mean we have to give up, we can keep fighting for our Constitution as long as we remember what it really means and refuse to let those who want to undermine it win the  battle.

Our poor Joan of Arc has taken a different path now, but she should be wary. She is dealing with a devious crowd, and you know what happened to France’s Joan.

I have no illusions that the electors or the SCOTUS will have the guts of our forefathers to do the right thing about honoring our Constitution. I only pray that there are enough people left believing as Grail Guardian does (and many others, myself included) to keep the fight going even in light of the decisions made on December 15, 2008.

God Bless and keep our Constitution safe from those who would trash it, dishonor it, and condemn it to the dust bin of history. What our forefathers fought so hard for should not be allowed to be lost because a group of scoundrels wants to re-make America to suit themselves.

***

Click here for a report on North Carolina’s Wayne Abraham and the electors’ vote.

“The Night Before Fitzmas” (Or… “A Visit from Saint Fitz”)

Adapted by InsightAnaltytical-GRL from the poem by Clement C. Moore

…on the occasion of the arrest of Rod Blagojevich and John Harris …and in “HOPE” of  what may transpire in the future…

***

‘Twas the night before Fitzmas, when

all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a

mouse;

The stockings of PUMAs hung by the chimney

with care,

In hopes that St. Fitz would soon safely be

there;

The PUMAs were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of indictments danced in

their heads;

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long

winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a

clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the

matter.