In the old detective series called, "Dragnet," I was reminded of Detective Joe Friday's constant admonition to witnesses.  It was , "Just the Facts M'am, Just the Facts." That statement represents a discipline that media and citizens alike had to revisit during the horrible events of last week in Boston.  As the media competed with themselves, and time, they wound up with proverbial egg on their collective faces by reporting that a suspect was in custody on Tuesday.  There was not.  We as citizens tried to take the hundreds of unrelated facts and fit them into a picture that made sense out of acts were so senseless.  As events continued to unfold on Friday, and we learned of the identity of at least these two terrorists, we added our own biases, plus not-necessarily-related mosaics , and once again tried to jump the gun by placing them into the picture of terrorism's status quo.  At the end of this experience, what we found out was that there is a lot of information that will take time to piece together, eliminating that which is misleading or false, and connecting that which is true.  Unlike the one-hour crime shows, the case does not get solved that quickly.  All of us, the media and citizenry combined, must simply be patient and discipline, and wait for "Just the Facts" before any other action in defense of our way of living is taken. 

Six years ago, a group of Senators led by John McCain and Edward Kennedy worked behind closed doors and crafted a massive amnesty bill.  The legislation was billed as "The Grand Bargain" on immigration and enjoyed the backing of leaders of both houses of Congress.  Through your voices and the alerts of Talk Radio Show Hosts unveiling this plan around the country, this bill was shown to be what it was, a backhanded slap to the rule of law complete with blanket amnesty.  Today, we are at the same point with Senators working together to craft legislation which seems more intent on getting votes, and providing a sub-class working group than solving a problem.  Here is the outline of what has been presented.  Read it, then call your Senators or Representatives and congratulate them or tell them you want it shut down.  Here is the outline:
 

Gang of Eight Immigration Bill Summary

Amnesty, Low-Wage Labor, and Worthless Enforcement Promises

Amnesty

§     Illegal aliens who entered the country before December 31, 2011 will be granted temporary legal status and be permitted to work. A $500 fee would be assessed.

§     Illegal aliens who have previously been deported for non-criminal offenses will be allowed to apply for reentry and will also be granted temporary legal status and permitted to work.

§     Illegal aliens who are in removal proceedings, or who have pending orders of deportation will be eligible for temporary legal status.

§     Illegal aliens may also choose to leave the country. If they choose this option, they will be eligible to apply for green cards after five years.

§     Illegal aliens who remain in the U.S. in temporary legal status will be eligible to apply for green cards after ten years, irrespective of whether enforcement promises have been kept.

§     Only at the time they apply for green cards will amnestied aliens be required to pay a $2,000 fine.

§     Illegal aliens who entered the country before age 16 - so-called DREAMers - are eligible for a special amnesty. They would qualify for green cards after five years and be immediately eligible to apply for citizenship.

§     Illegal aliens who worked in agriculture would also be eligible for a special amnesty. They, too, would qualify for green cards after five years.

§     Illegal aliens who do not qualify for the special DREAM Act or agricultural amnesty would be eligible to apply for citizenship after 13 years.

More Foreign Workers

§     The number of H-1B visas available to employers would increase from 65,000 to 110,000 annually. That number could increase to 180,000, based on demand for these workers. These increases would incur in spite of the fact that we have historically high levels of unemployment.

§     The bill creates a new W visa for low-skilled workers. W visa workers, would be admitted to fill “labor shortages,” but would not be required to remain in the jobs they were brought here to fill. After one year, W visa holders could self-petition for green cards and remain permanently.

§     After five years, the number of new low-skilled W visa workers could reach 200,000 annually. In addition to the principal W visa holder, spouses and dependent minor children would be eligible for admission.

§     The W visa program would be managed by a new bureaucracy, known as the Immigration and Labor Market Research Bureau, within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This new government bureaucracy would determine where workers are needed and help determine wages.

§     Would establish “dual intent” visas for foreign students making them eligible for green cards after completion of bachelor’s degrees.

Enforcement

§     Bill would establish “goal” of 90 percent effectiveness in apprehending illegal entrants in “high risk” sectors of the southern border.

§     DHS would be required to submit a plan for border enforcement within 180 of enactment, including plans for additional fencing, technology and manpower (even though these are already required under current law).

§     If border security goals are not met within five years, a commission will be established to make recommendations. Failure to achieve border security goals will have no bearing on the legalization process for illegal aliens.

§     Phased-in implementation of E-Verify for all U.S. employers. Companies with more than 5,000 employees would be required to use E-Verify within two years of enactment. Companies with fewer than 5,000 workers would be required to use E-Verify within five years of enactment.

Remember Thomas Paine, the famous writer of the pamphlet , "Common Sense"  that kept patriot spirits alive during the Revolutionary War?  I saw something recently that he wrote about the Entrepreneurial Spirit that caused me to stop and think.  I am including it for your digestion and comment below.  Do you think this Founding Father had it right?  Enjoy.  GS

“Entrepreneur’s Credo

I do not choose to be a common man,
It is my right to be uncommon … if I can,
I seek opportunity … not security.
I do not wish to be a kept citizen.
Humbled and dulled by having the
State look after me.
I want to take the calculated risk;
To dream and to build.
To fail and to succeed.
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole;
I prefer the challenges of life
To the guaranteed existence;
The thrill of fulfillment
To the stale calm of Utopia.
I will not trade freedom for beneficence
Nor my dignity for a handout
I will never cower before any master
Nor bend to any threat.
It is my heritage to stand erect.
Proud and unafraid;
To think and act for myself,
To enjoy the benefit of my creations
And to face the world boldly and say:
This, with God’s help, I have done
All this is what it means
To be an Entrepreneur.”
― Thomas Paine, Common Sense

If We Have Sequestration, Why do We need a Congress?
When it comes to matters of how to handle money, one must admit that the Congress of the United States has been an abysmal failure.  They have regularly run up a debt that is now over $16 Trillion , they have spent money on projects of questionable value to society without even reading the bills (See Obamacare), and in the case of the Senate, they have not even been able to pass a budget over the past three years.  So, with the American people asking why the Congress cannot prioritize and live within their means nationally as citizens must do on Main Street, one begs the question, why do we really need them when it comes to expenditures of money?  Don't the states do most of that themselves, anyway, by dealing with their own unique problems.  Oh, but wait.  I forgot.  The Congress has given us the concept known as "sequestration."  What is sequestration?  It is a vehicle used by the Congress which says that if they cannot come up with priorities on reasonable cuts for programs affecting the American people, then the sequester will do that for them by mandating cuts across the board on all areas except entitlements like social security, medicare, and welfare programs.  In short, the Congress has said that they do not have the ability to conduct policy and responsibly handle our money, so they'll let a device do it. By using that method , no one of them will face the heat for decisions that should be made by representatives of the people on their behalf.  How spineless!  This is like an overeater saying, "I can't diet myself, so I'll let the diet in the book do it for me," or an alcoholic who can't stop drinking who says , "Let the Alcoholic Anonymous do it for me; I just don't have the discipline, or courage."  Get the point.  Without the will to change, change will never happen.  The will comes from people elected to represent the true government; the citizens of this country.  We are supposed to be a nation "Of the people, By the people, and For the people."  I never saw the word sequestration  anywhere in there.  Besides, a nation "of the sequestration, by the sequestration, for the Congress because they won't do it themselves" isn 't as catchy.  How low a point we have come to when our leaders have turned their responsibility for policy over to something called "sequestration."  What a shame!  GS

I recently received this request, and then responded.  You may think I was too harsh, or maybe not.  Feel free to comment either way.  GS

My name is Rob Collins, and it is my honor to take over as the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s Executive Director.

I wanted to write you today and fill you in on our plans for the future.

Gary, Senator Moran and I are counting on you to serve as a leader for the NRSC, so I hope you still count yourself among our top activists.

There is only one goal for me: a new Senate Republican Majority elected in November, 2014.

Here’s how Senator Moran and our whole staff plan to make that a reality:

FIRST, improve the political environment for 2014 Senate candidates by winning political battles against the Obama-Reid Democrats this year. We need to make sure the American people know that today’s sluggish economy and massive debt are the predictable results of the Obama-Reid left-wing agenda.

SECOND, recruit great candidates. We want candidates who have the kind of background and experience that voters are looking for right now.  We are only interested in candidates who really know how to articulate our conservative principles and build a winning coalition by connecting with voters.

THIRD, upgrade our voter targeting, education, and turnout capacity.  The Democrats enjoyed a technological advantage in 2012. We must eliminate that, starting right now.

FOURTH, build a large financial warchest. The Democrats have a lot of incumbents on the ballot who have spent years raking in huge amounts of money. We’ve seen an explosion in left-leaning PAC’s funded by union bosses, Hollywood, and ultra-rich liberals like George Soros. We’ll need an aggressive advertising campaign and a powerful voter-turnout operation to compete.

To do all this, we’re going to need your help, Gary.

Stick with us, and remember, the NRSC is the only organization in America solely dedicated to electing a new Senate Republican Majority.

And winning that Majority is the only way we can repeal ObamaCare, pass a Balanced Budget Amendment, get rid of all the Obama-Reid job-destroying regulations, keep your taxes low, and much more.

That’s why I am excited to take the reins for the next two years and I hope you will continue your record as a loyal NRSC member.

I look forward to working with you in support of our critical mission. Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,

Rob Collins

Executive Director, NRSC

*****************************************************************************************************************************************

Rob,
I am not a proponent for any party, especially the Republicans and Democrats.  I am a person who thinks that both of you have lost your way, and that is the philosophy I consistently express on my talkshow.  The people will ultimately change the paradigm , and it will take a long time, but it cannot be done through the same old broken machinery where two parties are far more alike in their polar greed than they are interested in the people they were supposed to represent.  If you would like to debate out in the open on my show York's Morning News 6-9am weekdays, I will be glad to welcome you.  Thanks for allowing me to vent, but out here on Main Street, the people have tired of watching the political games being played that leave us only as spectators.  When someone proves that they are deserving of our money or support , we will be there.  Until then, change the paradigm.
Best regards,
Gary Sutton/York's Morning News on Newsradio910/WSBA

Just Some Questions While Listening to the State of the Union Address?

Just Thoughts that Came to Mind Last Night as I watched the SOTU from President Obama.

Here is a simple thought from last night's SOTU; Who does a better job handling the nation's money; the people or the government?  

When has our nation worked best?  When government was taking more of our money or less of our money?

Should there be a moratorium on spending until we get some semblance of control over our debt?

Was there one proposal in the President's SOTU last night that made each citizen more independent, and gave them back more freedom, and keep more of what they earn?

Were there specific courageous proposals last night that dealt with the true pressing issues of our time?

How does the Middle Class get stronger if you enable the so-called poor to remain dependent and demonize the so-called Rich of Society?

Does government create jobs?

Our governmental representatives in the Executive and Legislative Branch don't seem to be able to answer these questions.  CAN YOU?

GS