Thecla . . . When I worked for a Lobbyist in DC, I saw how the system really works. At the time, I thought...if people really knew how the political machine works, they would be sick.
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Ray Jozwiak . . . Tell me more, Thecla. Tell ALL OF US MORE! We need to be sick. . . sick and tired enough to ACT. Vote appropriately. Don't be buffalo-ed into thinking you 'wasted' your vote. You MUST vote your heart and your conscience or nothing will ever change! It won't happen in this election. Or the next. Or for a LONG time. BUT it has to start SOMEWHERE!! Let it start with us.
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OHO's
"Ocean City Ditty," the
CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
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It would appear that this once well-intentioned and possibly practical organization has strayed far from its original intent and has become a proponent of arms manufacturering much to the detriment of the society it was founded to serve.
Army and Navy Journal editor William Conant Church and General George Wood Wingate chartered the NRA in New York state in 1871. Its first president was Civil War General Ambrose Burnside, who had
worked as a Rhode Island gunsmith, and Wingate was the original
secretary of the organization.
Union Army records for the Civil War indicate that its troops fired about 1,000 rifle shots for each Confederate soldier hit, causing General Burnside to lament his recruits: "Out of ten soldiers who are perfect in drill and the manual of arms, only one knows the purpose of the sights on his gun or can hit the broad side of a barn." The generals attributed this to the use of volley tactics, devised for earlier, less accurate smoothbore muskets. After observing European marksmanship training, General Wingate was convinced that U.S. forces were in need of better training.
Recognizing a need for better training, Wingate traveled to Europe and observed European armies' marksmanship training programs. With plans provided by Wingate, the New York Legislature funded the construction of a modern range at Creedmore, Long Island, for long-range shooting competitions. Wingate then wrote a marksmanship manual.
The publicity generated by a long-range shooting match to determine an Anglo-American championship in 1874 helped to
establish breech-loading firearms (manufactured by match sponsors Remington Arms and Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company) as suitable for military marksmanship
training, and promoted the NRA to national prominence.
The organization has since metamorphosed into a highly financed and politically powerful group of extremists who value profits of gun sales (under the guise of protecting the U.S. Constitution) over that of human life and stop at nothing to ensure our spineless representatives are well compensated to be on board.
Witness below. . .
(from NBCNews.com)
". . . "Expanding background checks, at gun shows or elsewhere, will not reduce violent crime or keep our kids safe in their schools," top NRA lobbyist Chris Cox wrote in a letter sent to senators Wednesday night. "Given the importance of these issues, votes on all anti-gun amendments or proposals will be considered in NRA's future candidate evaluations. "The NRA rates lawmakers based on how they vote on the group's priorities. The letter grades are highly influential and carry particular weight in rural states with a strong gun culture. . . ."
I promptly wrote to my representatives in Congress and pleaded (paraphrasing), '. . . I wonder how your NRA evaluations look. I hope they look very BAD. . . '
(thanks to source Wikipedia.com)
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My latest release, Black & White Then Back,
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(from http://truth-out.org/news/item/11792-the-israel-lobby-and-how-it-operates)
". . . Step One: A lobbyist, in this case someone from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), approaches Congresspersons or Senators. At some point in time that means every single one of them has been approached: all 435 voting members of Congress and every one of the 100 voting members of the Senate. Party affiliation is not an issue here.
Step Two: The lobbyist offers to organize financial campaign assistance, positive media coverage, briefings on situations in the Middle East, trips to Israel, etc.
Step Three: All that is asked in return is that the recipient consistently vote in a pro-Israel way. In other words, AIPAC wants the politician to surrender a part of his or her mind to them — that part that might exercise critical and considered judgment on issues pertaining to Israel.
Step Four: There are several unspoken, but publicly acknowledged, consequences of turning down this offer, or alternatively, managing to get elected on your own and then voting the wrong way.
1. If you say no, the same offer will be made to your opponent both at the primary and general election levels.
2. If you are elected and vote against Israel, AIPAC will do all it can, sooner or later, to see you defeated. It has a good record of turning such people out of office.
Step Five: If you sign up for this Faustian bargain and are elected, the lobby becomes your permanent partner. It is a constant presence. Its agents are always hovering about, rating your performance, letting you know they are there. Prove yourself reliable and they will underwrite you for life. . .
President Obama made this bargain as solidly as have most other politicians in Washington. . ."
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AMBIENCE & WINE
