Thursday, March 29, 2012
The new Kentucky Fifth District to the U.S. House.
A short history of the Kentucky Fifth District in the U.S. House.
A chart on Wikipedia gave the following information about the Fifth District of the U.S. House for Kentucky's eighteen most recent U.S. Congressmen eleven Democrats and seven Republicans:
"Asa Grover
Democratic
March 4, 1867 - March 3, 1869
Boyd Winchester
Democratic
March 4, 1869 - March 3, 1873
Elisha Standiford
Democratic
March 4, 1873 - March 3, 1875
Edward Y. Parsons
Democratic
March 4, 1875 - July 8, 1876
Died
Henry Watterson
Democratic
August 12, 1876 - March 3, 1877
Albert S. Willis
Democratic
March 4, 1877 - March 3, 1887
Asher G. Caruth
Democratic
March 4, 1887 - March 3, 1895
Walter Evans
Republican
March 4, 1895 - March 3, 1899
Oscar Turner
Democratic
March 4, 1899 - March 3, 1901
Harvey S. Irwin
Republican
March 4, 1901 - March 3, 1903
J. Swagar Sherley
Democratic
March 4, 1903 - March 3, 1919
Charles F. Ogden
Republican
March 4, 1919 - March 3, 1923
Maurice Thatcher
Republican
March 4, 1923 - March 3, 1933
District redistricted to At-large district March 4, 1933
District re-established January 3, 1935 from At-large district
William V. Gregory
Democratic
January 3, 1935 - October 10, 1936
Redistricted from the At-large district, Died October 10, 1936
Brent Spence
Democratic
January 3, 1937 - January 3, 1963
Redistricted from the 8th district
Eugene Siler
Republican
January 3, 1963 - January 3, 1965
Redistricted from the 8th district
Tim Lee Carter
Republican
January 3, 1965 - January 3, 1981
Hal Rogers
Republican
incumbent.
The Kentucky Fifth District has a majority of the registered voters who are registered Democrats, and since 1867 a solid majority of the U.S. Congressmen representing the Kentucky Fifth District in the U.S. House have been Democrats. Perhaps the Kentucky Fifth District voters were better informed in the 1800's that they are now. Anyway, the Democratic candidates have the most to offer to ordinary people living in Kentucky. You can vote to benefit your grandchildren by electing Democrats, or you can vote to continue the downward spiral and declining population of Eastern Kentucky by keeping on returning Republicans to represent the Kentucky Fifth District in the U.S. House. This time, vote for your own self interest, and not for the special intersts of the big money-bosses who finance the expensive Republican campaigns. Kenneth Stepp.
"Asa Grover
Democratic
March 4, 1867 - March 3, 1869
Boyd Winchester
Democratic
March 4, 1869 - March 3, 1873
Elisha Standiford
Democratic
March 4, 1873 - March 3, 1875
Edward Y. Parsons
Democratic
March 4, 1875 - July 8, 1876
Died
Henry Watterson
Democratic
August 12, 1876 - March 3, 1877
Albert S. Willis
Democratic
March 4, 1877 - March 3, 1887
Asher G. Caruth
Democratic
March 4, 1887 - March 3, 1895
Walter Evans
Republican
March 4, 1895 - March 3, 1899
Oscar Turner
Democratic
March 4, 1899 - March 3, 1901
Harvey S. Irwin
Republican
March 4, 1901 - March 3, 1903
J. Swagar Sherley
Democratic
March 4, 1903 - March 3, 1919
Charles F. Ogden
Republican
March 4, 1919 - March 3, 1923
Maurice Thatcher
Republican
March 4, 1923 - March 3, 1933
District redistricted to At-large district March 4, 1933
District re-established January 3, 1935 from At-large district
William V. Gregory
Democratic
January 3, 1935 - October 10, 1936
Redistricted from the At-large district, Died October 10, 1936
Brent Spence
Democratic
January 3, 1937 - January 3, 1963
Redistricted from the 8th district
Eugene Siler
Republican
January 3, 1963 - January 3, 1965
Redistricted from the 8th district
Tim Lee Carter
Republican
January 3, 1965 - January 3, 1981
Hal Rogers
Republican
incumbent.
The Kentucky Fifth District has a majority of the registered voters who are registered Democrats, and since 1867 a solid majority of the U.S. Congressmen representing the Kentucky Fifth District in the U.S. House have been Democrats. Perhaps the Kentucky Fifth District voters were better informed in the 1800's that they are now. Anyway, the Democratic candidates have the most to offer to ordinary people living in Kentucky. You can vote to benefit your grandchildren by electing Democrats, or you can vote to continue the downward spiral and declining population of Eastern Kentucky by keeping on returning Republicans to represent the Kentucky Fifth District in the U.S. House. This time, vote for your own self interest, and not for the special intersts of the big money-bosses who finance the expensive Republican campaigns. Kenneth Stepp.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Congressman Rogers and the Health Care Bill!
Friday marks the two years since President Obama signed a controversial health care bill.
"WYMT talked to Congressman Hal Rogers about what is going on in Washington to change that bill.
"We're trying to repeal it. It's pervasive. It will be awfully hard root out the different roots that are planted here and there. But we are working on it," said Congressman Rogers.
On Thursday, Congressman Rogers says the House of Representatives passed a bill that gets rid of one of the chief features of the health care bill.
He says it will be tough, but they are aiming to repeal it piece by piece."
Elect Kenneth Stepp, Democrat, to the U.S. House and keep the Health Care Bill!
"WYMT talked to Congressman Hal Rogers about what is going on in Washington to change that bill.
"We're trying to repeal it. It's pervasive. It will be awfully hard root out the different roots that are planted here and there. But we are working on it," said Congressman Rogers.
On Thursday, Congressman Rogers says the House of Representatives passed a bill that gets rid of one of the chief features of the health care bill.
He says it will be tough, but they are aiming to repeal it piece by piece."
Elect Kenneth Stepp, Democrat, to the U.S. House and keep the Health Care Bill!
Campaign
How is the campaign coming, some ask.
I am running for Congress in the Fifth Congressional District for Kentucky of the U.S. House. I've run for that post three times. Once, I was the Democratic nominee. Once I was defeated in a Democratic Primary.
I plan to continue to make my views known on this Blogspot. My general election opponent is the "status quo" candidate. He is a Republican Congressman in a House of Representatives that has a Republican Majority. The Kentucky Fifth District is one of the poorest Districts in the Country. Why the District insists on having a Republican Congressman is beyond me. On the question of Social Security and SSI, the Republicans prefer to balance the budget by cutting Social Security and SSI benefits--not so the Democrats. The Democrats will stand up for the people receiving Social Security and SSI checks because the Democrats are populists, that means the Democrats stand up for the interests of ordinary people--ordinary people like you and me. Years ago, I saw a poster where they were trying to sell something and the poster asked "WHY BE ORDINARY?" Some joker had scratched out the word "ordinary" and added the word "normal". That made the poster read "WHY BE NORMAL?". Well, I'm normal, and you're normal, but the Republican in the U.S. House are a millionaire boys' club--why would you want to vote for them? In your selection of a school board member, do you always vote for the millionaire because you believe that the millionaire most closely represents your own view point? Of course not!
In a Church officer election, do you always vote for the millionaire because you believe that the millionaire most closely represents your own view point? Of course not!
In a city council race or a county magistrate race, do you always vote for the millionaire because you believe that the millionaire most closely represents your own view? Of course not!
Then why do you always vote for the millionaire when you are selecting your Congressman? Can a millionaire best understand your worries about whether you will be able to make next month's mortgage payment on your home? Of course not!
Can a millionaire best understand your worries that your children may be sent overseas and killed in some far-away place like Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan? Of course not!
Can a millionaire best understand your worries that your employer may go broke and you may lose your job? Of course not!
Next time, don't vote for the millionaires' candidate! Next time, don't vote for a millionaire! Next time, vote for an ordinary and normal person like yourself. Next time vote for Kenneth Stepp for the U.S. House for the Kentucky Fifth District!
I am running for Congress in the Fifth Congressional District for Kentucky of the U.S. House. I've run for that post three times. Once, I was the Democratic nominee. Once I was defeated in a Democratic Primary.
I plan to continue to make my views known on this Blogspot. My general election opponent is the "status quo" candidate. He is a Republican Congressman in a House of Representatives that has a Republican Majority. The Kentucky Fifth District is one of the poorest Districts in the Country. Why the District insists on having a Republican Congressman is beyond me. On the question of Social Security and SSI, the Republicans prefer to balance the budget by cutting Social Security and SSI benefits--not so the Democrats. The Democrats will stand up for the people receiving Social Security and SSI checks because the Democrats are populists, that means the Democrats stand up for the interests of ordinary people--ordinary people like you and me. Years ago, I saw a poster where they were trying to sell something and the poster asked "WHY BE ORDINARY?" Some joker had scratched out the word "ordinary" and added the word "normal". That made the poster read "WHY BE NORMAL?". Well, I'm normal, and you're normal, but the Republican in the U.S. House are a millionaire boys' club--why would you want to vote for them? In your selection of a school board member, do you always vote for the millionaire because you believe that the millionaire most closely represents your own view point? Of course not!
In a Church officer election, do you always vote for the millionaire because you believe that the millionaire most closely represents your own view point? Of course not!
In a city council race or a county magistrate race, do you always vote for the millionaire because you believe that the millionaire most closely represents your own view? Of course not!
Then why do you always vote for the millionaire when you are selecting your Congressman? Can a millionaire best understand your worries about whether you will be able to make next month's mortgage payment on your home? Of course not!
Can a millionaire best understand your worries that your children may be sent overseas and killed in some far-away place like Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan? Of course not!
Can a millionaire best understand your worries that your employer may go broke and you may lose your job? Of course not!
Next time, don't vote for the millionaires' candidate! Next time, don't vote for a millionaire! Next time, vote for an ordinary and normal person like yourself. Next time vote for Kenneth Stepp for the U.S. House for the Kentucky Fifth District!
Treachery
Afghan Soldier Killed a U.S. Marine Last Month, But Pentagon Didn’t Reveal the Treachery
By ROBERT BURNS, Associated Press
March 16, 2012
The transfer case containing the remains of Marine Lance Cpl. Edward J. Dycus, 22, of Greenville, Miss., arrive at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Feb. 2, 2012. An Afghan soldier shot Dycus at an outpost in southwestern Afghanistan in February in a previously undisclosed case of Afghan treachery that marked at least the seventh killing of an American military member by his supposed ally in the past six weeks, Marine officials said. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) - An Afghan soldier shot to death a 22-year-old Marine at an outpost in southwestern Afghanistan last month in a previously undisclosed case of apparent Afghan treachery that marked at least the seventh killing of an American military member by his supposed ally in the past six weeks, Marine officials said.
Lance Cpl. Edward J. Dycus of Greenville, Miss., was shot in the back of the head on Feb. 1 while standing guard at an Afghan-U.S. base in the Marja district of Helmand province. The exact circumstances have not been disclosed, but the Dycus family has been notified that he was killed by an Afghan soldier."
Marine officials discussed the matter on condition of anonymity because it is still under investigation.
When the Pentagon announced Dycus' death the day after the shooting, it said he died "while conducting combat operations" in Helmand. It made no mention of treachery, which has become a growing problem for U.S. and allied forces as they work closely with Afghan forces to wind down the war.
The Associated Press inquired about the Dycus case after Maj. Gen. John Toolan, the top Marine commander in Afghanistan at the time, said in an AP interview March 7 that the Afghan government has been embarrassed by recent cases of Afghan soldiers turning their guns on their supposed partners.
"I had one just a month ago where a lance corporal was killed, shot in the back of the head, and the Afghan minister of defense was here the next day" to discuss custody of the shooter, Toolan said, speaking from his Regional Command-Southwest headquarters at Camp Leatherneck.
After a negotiation aimed at ensuring the Afghan suspect is prosecuted, the Americans turned him over to Afghan government custody, another official said.
Toolan did not further identify the victim. He mentioned the case while explaining the importance of stopping Afghan treachery as U.S. forces step back from a direct combat role in Helmand and other areas of Afghanistan to a new mission of advising and assisting Afghan soldiers and police. That role, which is in full swing in Helmand, puts U.S. and other NATO troops in closer contact with Afghans at a time when tensions between the two sides have been heightened by an American soldier's alleged killing Sunday of 16 Afghan civilians.
NATO has approved a series of measures to help reduce the risks of attacks. They include embedding counterintelligence officers in the Afghan army and its training schools to detect people behaving suspiciously, increasing the number of Afghan intelligence officers, and making sure Afghan troops are paid regularly and get regular leave. Random drug testing will also be implemented.
"The Marines and soldiers that are doing the advising work out here understand that if they can't live side by side and operate day in and day out with the Afghans, then they are not going to be able to achieve what they need to achieve as far as relationship building," Toolan said.
A central premise of the war strategy is that success cannot be achieved until Afghan forces are capable of providing security largely on their own and that this will not happen unless American and other coalition forces partner with Afghans at every level to train, advise and mentor them.
In the latest setback, an Afghan civilian interpreter at a British base in Helmand province stole a coalition pickup truck, drove it at high speed onto an airfield ramp and crashed it just as a plane carrying Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was landing Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparotti, the No. 2 overall commander in Afghanistan, told reporters that the truck was headed toward a group of U.S. Marines assembled on the tarmac for Panetta's arrival. Neither the Marines nor others in Panetta's welcoming party were injured; the Afghan died of burns sustained in the crash.
Dycus was assigned to 2nd battalion, 9th Marine regiment, 2nd Marine Division from Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Known to friends and family as "Eddie," he graduated from Riverside High School in Greenville in 2008. According to a Mississippi state Senate resolution honoring his life and service, Dycus deployed to Afghanistan on his 22nd birthday, Dec. 12, 2011.
Dycus' killing happened nearly three weeks before the burning of Muslim holy books at Bagram air base, an event that American officials said was accidental but that triggered a wave of protests across Afghanistan and is linked to six other killings of American troops by Afghans.
Two U.S. soldiers were gunned down by an Afghan soldier Feb 23 in Nangahar province; an Air Force lieutenant colonel and an Army major were killed inside the Afghan government office in Kabul and two Army paratroopers were killed by Afghan soldiers in Kandahar province on March 1.
In none of those cases did the Pentagon's casualty announcement mention that the Americans were killed by their supposed Afghan allies. It said, for example, that the two killed Feb. 23 died of "wounds suffered when their unit came under small arms fire." It happened amid an anti-American protest outside the Americans' base. Two protesters were killed by Afghan police there before the Afghan soldier turned his gun on U.S. troops.
(Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)."
Bring them home. Bring the U.S. troops all home now!
By ROBERT BURNS, Associated Press
March 16, 2012
The transfer case containing the remains of Marine Lance Cpl. Edward J. Dycus, 22, of Greenville, Miss., arrive at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Feb. 2, 2012. An Afghan soldier shot Dycus at an outpost in southwestern Afghanistan in February in a previously undisclosed case of Afghan treachery that marked at least the seventh killing of an American military member by his supposed ally in the past six weeks, Marine officials said. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) - An Afghan soldier shot to death a 22-year-old Marine at an outpost in southwestern Afghanistan last month in a previously undisclosed case of apparent Afghan treachery that marked at least the seventh killing of an American military member by his supposed ally in the past six weeks, Marine officials said.
Lance Cpl. Edward J. Dycus of Greenville, Miss., was shot in the back of the head on Feb. 1 while standing guard at an Afghan-U.S. base in the Marja district of Helmand province. The exact circumstances have not been disclosed, but the Dycus family has been notified that he was killed by an Afghan soldier."
Marine officials discussed the matter on condition of anonymity because it is still under investigation.
When the Pentagon announced Dycus' death the day after the shooting, it said he died "while conducting combat operations" in Helmand. It made no mention of treachery, which has become a growing problem for U.S. and allied forces as they work closely with Afghan forces to wind down the war.
The Associated Press inquired about the Dycus case after Maj. Gen. John Toolan, the top Marine commander in Afghanistan at the time, said in an AP interview March 7 that the Afghan government has been embarrassed by recent cases of Afghan soldiers turning their guns on their supposed partners.
"I had one just a month ago where a lance corporal was killed, shot in the back of the head, and the Afghan minister of defense was here the next day" to discuss custody of the shooter, Toolan said, speaking from his Regional Command-Southwest headquarters at Camp Leatherneck.
After a negotiation aimed at ensuring the Afghan suspect is prosecuted, the Americans turned him over to Afghan government custody, another official said.
Toolan did not further identify the victim. He mentioned the case while explaining the importance of stopping Afghan treachery as U.S. forces step back from a direct combat role in Helmand and other areas of Afghanistan to a new mission of advising and assisting Afghan soldiers and police. That role, which is in full swing in Helmand, puts U.S. and other NATO troops in closer contact with Afghans at a time when tensions between the two sides have been heightened by an American soldier's alleged killing Sunday of 16 Afghan civilians.
NATO has approved a series of measures to help reduce the risks of attacks. They include embedding counterintelligence officers in the Afghan army and its training schools to detect people behaving suspiciously, increasing the number of Afghan intelligence officers, and making sure Afghan troops are paid regularly and get regular leave. Random drug testing will also be implemented.
"The Marines and soldiers that are doing the advising work out here understand that if they can't live side by side and operate day in and day out with the Afghans, then they are not going to be able to achieve what they need to achieve as far as relationship building," Toolan said.
A central premise of the war strategy is that success cannot be achieved until Afghan forces are capable of providing security largely on their own and that this will not happen unless American and other coalition forces partner with Afghans at every level to train, advise and mentor them.
In the latest setback, an Afghan civilian interpreter at a British base in Helmand province stole a coalition pickup truck, drove it at high speed onto an airfield ramp and crashed it just as a plane carrying Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was landing Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparotti, the No. 2 overall commander in Afghanistan, told reporters that the truck was headed toward a group of U.S. Marines assembled on the tarmac for Panetta's arrival. Neither the Marines nor others in Panetta's welcoming party were injured; the Afghan died of burns sustained in the crash.
Dycus was assigned to 2nd battalion, 9th Marine regiment, 2nd Marine Division from Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Known to friends and family as "Eddie," he graduated from Riverside High School in Greenville in 2008. According to a Mississippi state Senate resolution honoring his life and service, Dycus deployed to Afghanistan on his 22nd birthday, Dec. 12, 2011.
Dycus' killing happened nearly three weeks before the burning of Muslim holy books at Bagram air base, an event that American officials said was accidental but that triggered a wave of protests across Afghanistan and is linked to six other killings of American troops by Afghans.
Two U.S. soldiers were gunned down by an Afghan soldier Feb 23 in Nangahar province; an Air Force lieutenant colonel and an Army major were killed inside the Afghan government office in Kabul and two Army paratroopers were killed by Afghan soldiers in Kandahar province on March 1.
In none of those cases did the Pentagon's casualty announcement mention that the Americans were killed by their supposed Afghan allies. It said, for example, that the two killed Feb. 23 died of "wounds suffered when their unit came under small arms fire." It happened amid an anti-American protest outside the Americans' base. Two protesters were killed by Afghan police there before the Afghan soldier turned his gun on U.S. troops.
(Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)."
Bring them home. Bring the U.S. troops all home now!
Kenneth Stepp salutes Second Lieutenant Clovis Ray!
"Schofield soldier killed in Afghanistan
"Posted: Mar 17, 2012 3:42 PM EDT Updated: Mar 19, 2012 9:45 AM EDT
"2nd Lt. Clovis Tim Ray of San Antonio, Texas. Source: U.S. Army
"HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A 34-year-old Schofield Barracks Soldier has been killed in Afghanistan.
"2nd Lt. Clovis Tim Ray of San Antonio, Texas died March 15 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked a dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device.
"Ray was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
"2nd Lt. Ray's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (posthumous), Purple Heart (posthumous), two Army Commendation Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal (posthumous), Combat Infantry Badge and Parachutist Badge.
"2nd Lt. Ray joined the Army April 20, 2010, and is survived by his wife and 5-year-old son.
"Copyright 2012 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved."
Kenneth Stepp salutes Clovis Ray. It is time to bring our troops home. What better way to honor our heroes than to bring them home and let them live among us, rather than sending them to die in some far-away land. Bring them home!
"Posted: Mar 17, 2012 3:42 PM EDT Updated: Mar 19, 2012 9:45 AM EDT
"2nd Lt. Clovis Tim Ray of San Antonio, Texas. Source: U.S. Army
"HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A 34-year-old Schofield Barracks Soldier has been killed in Afghanistan.
"2nd Lt. Clovis Tim Ray of San Antonio, Texas died March 15 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked a dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device.
"Ray was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
"2nd Lt. Ray's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (posthumous), Purple Heart (posthumous), two Army Commendation Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal (posthumous), Combat Infantry Badge and Parachutist Badge.
"2nd Lt. Ray joined the Army April 20, 2010, and is survived by his wife and 5-year-old son.
"Copyright 2012 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved."
Kenneth Stepp salutes Clovis Ray. It is time to bring our troops home. What better way to honor our heroes than to bring them home and let them live among us, rather than sending them to die in some far-away land. Bring them home!
No money for bailing out the Euro Zone!
"Heritage Foundation, Economic Freedom, and Greece P
by Inoljt , Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 11:50:40 PM EST
"By: inoljt, http://mypolitikal.com/
"(Note: I strongly encourage you to click the image links on this post when reading; they're essential to understanding what I'm saying.)
"What country cut government spending the most in 2011?
"Most people would generally agree that the answer is Greece. Smack in the middle of a debt crisis, Greece’s government has been forced to take an axe to government spending. Month after month has been marked by budget cut after budget cut.
"The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank which publishes a ranking of economic freedom according to each country. These rankings are based on conservative economic values, such as low government spending. According to the Heritage Foundation, the less your government spends, the more economically free your country is.
"So, after three years of cutting government spending to the bone, how’s Greece doing on the Heritage Foundation’s ranking of economic freedom?
"Pretty Poorly.
"In fact, the Heritage Foundation states that Greece has recorded the “largest score decline in the 2012 Index.” Why is this? Well:
"Greece’s economic freedom score is 55.4, making its economy the 119th freest in the 2012 Index. Its score is 4.9 points lower than last year, reflecting declines in six of the 10 economic freedoms with particularly acute problems in labor freedom, monetary freedom, and the control of government spending.
"This pattern is not only limited to Greece. The four other Eurozone countries in trouble (Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain) have all been slashing their budgets to the bone. Austerity and cuts in government spending have been the main preoccupation of their governments and will continue to be for probably all of next year.
"Unfortunately, all of these countries have also suffered corresponding declines in the Heritage Foundation’s rank of economic freedom. Here is Ireland:
"Here is Ireland.
"Italy.
"Portugal.
"And Spain.
"Why has this happened?
"Well, the answer is kind of ironic. Here’s what the Heritage Foundation says:
"Ireland’s economic freedom score is 76.9, making its economy the 9th freest in the 2012 Index. Its score has decreased by 1.8 points from last year, reflecting poorer management of government spending and reduced monetary freedom.
"Italy’s economic freedom score is 58.8, making its economy the 92nd freest in the 2012 Index. Its overall score is 1.5 points lower than last year, with significant declines in freedom from corruption and the control of government spending.
"Portugal’s economic freedom score is 63.0, making its economy the 68th freest in the 2012 Index. Its score is 1.0 point worse than last year, mainly due to deterioration in the management of government spending, labor freedom, and fiscal freedom.
"Spain’s economic freedom score is 69.1, making its economy the 36th freest in the 2012 Index. Its score is 1.1 points lower than last year, with a significant deterioration in the management of government spending overwhelming a modest gain in business freedom.
"After cutting government spending by enormous amounts, the scores of these five European countries have gotten worse…because they can’t control government spending.
"Indeed, the vast majority of the decline in economic freedom of Italy, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain occurs due to lower scores on government spending. Here’s a table that specifically shows how much worse their scores on government spending have gotten since 2011:
"Score Changes Since 2011 Country Government Spending Greece -18.1 Ireland -16.7 Italy -9.2 Portugal -10.7 Spain -12.2
It’s pretty undeniable that these countries have been cutting government spending. And yet their scores on the control of government spending keep on getting worse. What gives?
"Well, it has to do with the way that Heritage Foundation measures government spending. Specifically it uses government spending as a percentage of GDP; as a government spends more relative to GDP, its score gets exponentially worse.
"What’s happening with these five European countries is that while they have indeed cut government spending, their economies have fallen into recession (coincidence?). So government spending, while numerically less, ends up composing a larger percentage of their GDP (which is declining even faster than spending).
"Poor Greece. It cuts government spending to the bone for three years, falls into a depression that will be remembered for one hundred years, only to default on its debt anyways. And worst of all, its score on the conservative Heritage Foundation’s economic freedom ranking falls more than any other country because – wait for it – Greece has failed to control government spending adequately."
These problems with the decline of Europe and the Euro area are sad, but they are not ours to bail out. We should not be building up an American government reserve of Greek currency, or European currency. Greece and Italy are American NATO allies, and we remain allies. We should promote American independence by not keeping troops in Greece nor Italy, and not making an attempt to "bail out" Greece nor Italy. It is sad that their consumption has outrun their ability to pay, but that is not our problem. America needs to get our own house in order rather than running around throwing our money at other people's problems trying to bail out the rest of the world. America First. No money for bailing out the Euro Zone. We have become the world's banker. We need to act like a banker--and not like a drunken sailor. If we cannot afford something, we should not get it--whether a bailout in Greece, a war in Iraq, a war in Afghanistan, or a war in Iran. We cannot afford these things, and we should avoid them.
by Inoljt , Sun Mar 04, 2012 at 11:50:40 PM EST
"By: inoljt, http://mypolitikal.com/
"(Note: I strongly encourage you to click the image links on this post when reading; they're essential to understanding what I'm saying.)
"What country cut government spending the most in 2011?
"Most people would generally agree that the answer is Greece. Smack in the middle of a debt crisis, Greece’s government has been forced to take an axe to government spending. Month after month has been marked by budget cut after budget cut.
"The Heritage Foundation is a conservative think tank which publishes a ranking of economic freedom according to each country. These rankings are based on conservative economic values, such as low government spending. According to the Heritage Foundation, the less your government spends, the more economically free your country is.
"So, after three years of cutting government spending to the bone, how’s Greece doing on the Heritage Foundation’s ranking of economic freedom?
"Pretty Poorly.
"In fact, the Heritage Foundation states that Greece has recorded the “largest score decline in the 2012 Index.” Why is this? Well:
"Greece’s economic freedom score is 55.4, making its economy the 119th freest in the 2012 Index. Its score is 4.9 points lower than last year, reflecting declines in six of the 10 economic freedoms with particularly acute problems in labor freedom, monetary freedom, and the control of government spending.
"This pattern is not only limited to Greece. The four other Eurozone countries in trouble (Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain) have all been slashing their budgets to the bone. Austerity and cuts in government spending have been the main preoccupation of their governments and will continue to be for probably all of next year.
"Unfortunately, all of these countries have also suffered corresponding declines in the Heritage Foundation’s rank of economic freedom. Here is Ireland:
"Here is Ireland.
"Italy.
"Portugal.
"And Spain.
"Why has this happened?
"Well, the answer is kind of ironic. Here’s what the Heritage Foundation says:
"Ireland’s economic freedom score is 76.9, making its economy the 9th freest in the 2012 Index. Its score has decreased by 1.8 points from last year, reflecting poorer management of government spending and reduced monetary freedom.
"Italy’s economic freedom score is 58.8, making its economy the 92nd freest in the 2012 Index. Its overall score is 1.5 points lower than last year, with significant declines in freedom from corruption and the control of government spending.
"Portugal’s economic freedom score is 63.0, making its economy the 68th freest in the 2012 Index. Its score is 1.0 point worse than last year, mainly due to deterioration in the management of government spending, labor freedom, and fiscal freedom.
"Spain’s economic freedom score is 69.1, making its economy the 36th freest in the 2012 Index. Its score is 1.1 points lower than last year, with a significant deterioration in the management of government spending overwhelming a modest gain in business freedom.
"After cutting government spending by enormous amounts, the scores of these five European countries have gotten worse…because they can’t control government spending.
"Indeed, the vast majority of the decline in economic freedom of Italy, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain occurs due to lower scores on government spending. Here’s a table that specifically shows how much worse their scores on government spending have gotten since 2011:
"Score Changes Since 2011 Country Government Spending Greece -18.1 Ireland -16.7 Italy -9.2 Portugal -10.7 Spain -12.2
It’s pretty undeniable that these countries have been cutting government spending. And yet their scores on the control of government spending keep on getting worse. What gives?
"Well, it has to do with the way that Heritage Foundation measures government spending. Specifically it uses government spending as a percentage of GDP; as a government spends more relative to GDP, its score gets exponentially worse.
"What’s happening with these five European countries is that while they have indeed cut government spending, their economies have fallen into recession (coincidence?). So government spending, while numerically less, ends up composing a larger percentage of their GDP (which is declining even faster than spending).
"Poor Greece. It cuts government spending to the bone for three years, falls into a depression that will be remembered for one hundred years, only to default on its debt anyways. And worst of all, its score on the conservative Heritage Foundation’s economic freedom ranking falls more than any other country because – wait for it – Greece has failed to control government spending adequately."
These problems with the decline of Europe and the Euro area are sad, but they are not ours to bail out. We should not be building up an American government reserve of Greek currency, or European currency. Greece and Italy are American NATO allies, and we remain allies. We should promote American independence by not keeping troops in Greece nor Italy, and not making an attempt to "bail out" Greece nor Italy. It is sad that their consumption has outrun their ability to pay, but that is not our problem. America needs to get our own house in order rather than running around throwing our money at other people's problems trying to bail out the rest of the world. America First. No money for bailing out the Euro Zone. We have become the world's banker. We need to act like a banker--and not like a drunken sailor. If we cannot afford something, we should not get it--whether a bailout in Greece, a war in Iraq, a war in Afghanistan, or a war in Iran. We cannot afford these things, and we should avoid them.
A killing spree which should never have happened!
"Fri Mar 23, 2012 at 07:30 PM PDT.
"Naming names in Afghanistan
"by Meteor Blades.
"Think for a moment what the national conversation might be like if Staff Sgt. Robert Bales had camouflaged himself and gone out to kill 17 kids and adults near his home in Lake Tapps, Wash., instead of Kandahar Province.
"You can be sure of two things: the media coverage would be far less sympathetic; and everybody would by now know the names of every single victim. None of them would likely be called Nazia or Faizullah or other names unfamiliar to most American ears. They would have names like Sandra, Latoya, Kenneth or Juan. We would know their life stories. Photos and videos of them would be circulating on social media. The focus on the children would be poignant, heart-rending. We would be saturated with 17 tragic stories, and their faces would peer out at us from special sections of Time and other publications. Relatives would express their grief on "The View."
"Of the 17 Afghan dead, however, we know next to nothing. Their names have not gained wide circulation. Just like the names of other civilians killed in Afghanistan, the latest "collateral damage" in this endless, useless war would remain nameless in most of our media. But they all had names. And we should not be shy about saying them aloud:
"• Akhtar Mohamed (son of Murrad Ali)
• Esmatullah, age 16 (son of Mohamed Wazir)
• Essa Mohamed (son of Mohamed Hussain)
• Faizullah, age 9 (son of Mohamed Wazir)
• Farida (daughter of Mohamed Wazir)
• Khudaydad (son of Mohamed Juma)
• Masooma (daughter of Mohamed Wazir)
• Mohamed Dawood (son of Abdullah)
• Nabia (daughter of Mohamed Wazir)
• Nazar Mohamed
• Nazia (daughter of Dost Mohamed)
• Palwasha (daughter of Mohamed Wazir)
• Payendo
• Robeena
• Shatarina (daughter of Sultan Mohamed)
• Zahra (daughter of Abdul Hamid)
"Only Wednesday did the military add a 17th victim to the 16 previously reported. There has been no statement regarding why, and no name has been made available.
"Whatever ultimately happens to Bales, whatever his rationale or irrationality were for going on his shooting spree, his name will not likely be forgotten in the years ahead. Sadly, those of the men, women and children whom he murdered will soon fade.
•••"
Concerning that last name, I used to know a fella named "Tahir Hamid". Anyway, there were a couple of Hamid Brothers on the team, I believe. I believe he was on the Clemson Soccer Club team back when I was. The team had a mixture of Middle Easterners, South Americans, A Frenchman, and a few local rednecks--including myself. That was a good many years ago.
As I have continued to say on my blogspots, we need to bring our American troops home. We are not building up much goodwill for ourselves. We are not improving life for the average Afghanisti. We are supposed to be out if Iraq, but we lost a lot of our men in Iraq this month. Our enemies claim we are just on a killing spree. When our own people--like the Sergeant that killed all these people--think we are in Afghanistan to be on a killing spree, it's time to get our troops out.
Let's look at the origins of the United States of America. In 1776, we were a rag-tag army led by General Washington, fighting the largest empire in the world (actually, the largest empire that had ever existed, because the British Empire had more people and more land than the Roman Empire ever had). If you read the speeches and writings of America's founding fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry, and, yes, Samuel Adams, it becomes obvious that the goal of our revolutionary founding fathers was not to have a North American coalition replace the British Empire, but, rather, it was to secure the blessings of liberty and independence for ourselves and our posterity.
America helped to secure the independence of the peoples of Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. It is not our destiny to replace one conquering empire with another. The Roman Empire, the Spanish Empire, the French Empire, the Portuguese Empire and the British Empire have all crumbled. Our forefathers fought for independence. We should recognize the rights of other peoples to independence and bring our troops home. I'm sure many neo-cons would dismiss George Washington, but he was first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.
"Naming names in Afghanistan
"by Meteor Blades.
"Think for a moment what the national conversation might be like if Staff Sgt. Robert Bales had camouflaged himself and gone out to kill 17 kids and adults near his home in Lake Tapps, Wash., instead of Kandahar Province.
"You can be sure of two things: the media coverage would be far less sympathetic; and everybody would by now know the names of every single victim. None of them would likely be called Nazia or Faizullah or other names unfamiliar to most American ears. They would have names like Sandra, Latoya, Kenneth or Juan. We would know their life stories. Photos and videos of them would be circulating on social media. The focus on the children would be poignant, heart-rending. We would be saturated with 17 tragic stories, and their faces would peer out at us from special sections of Time and other publications. Relatives would express their grief on "The View."
"Of the 17 Afghan dead, however, we know next to nothing. Their names have not gained wide circulation. Just like the names of other civilians killed in Afghanistan, the latest "collateral damage" in this endless, useless war would remain nameless in most of our media. But they all had names. And we should not be shy about saying them aloud:
"• Akhtar Mohamed (son of Murrad Ali)
• Esmatullah, age 16 (son of Mohamed Wazir)
• Essa Mohamed (son of Mohamed Hussain)
• Faizullah, age 9 (son of Mohamed Wazir)
• Farida (daughter of Mohamed Wazir)
• Khudaydad (son of Mohamed Juma)
• Masooma (daughter of Mohamed Wazir)
• Mohamed Dawood (son of Abdullah)
• Nabia (daughter of Mohamed Wazir)
• Nazar Mohamed
• Nazia (daughter of Dost Mohamed)
• Palwasha (daughter of Mohamed Wazir)
• Payendo
• Robeena
• Shatarina (daughter of Sultan Mohamed)
• Zahra (daughter of Abdul Hamid)
"Only Wednesday did the military add a 17th victim to the 16 previously reported. There has been no statement regarding why, and no name has been made available.
"Whatever ultimately happens to Bales, whatever his rationale or irrationality were for going on his shooting spree, his name will not likely be forgotten in the years ahead. Sadly, those of the men, women and children whom he murdered will soon fade.
•••"
Concerning that last name, I used to know a fella named "Tahir Hamid". Anyway, there were a couple of Hamid Brothers on the team, I believe. I believe he was on the Clemson Soccer Club team back when I was. The team had a mixture of Middle Easterners, South Americans, A Frenchman, and a few local rednecks--including myself. That was a good many years ago.
As I have continued to say on my blogspots, we need to bring our American troops home. We are not building up much goodwill for ourselves. We are not improving life for the average Afghanisti. We are supposed to be out if Iraq, but we lost a lot of our men in Iraq this month. Our enemies claim we are just on a killing spree. When our own people--like the Sergeant that killed all these people--think we are in Afghanistan to be on a killing spree, it's time to get our troops out.
Let's look at the origins of the United States of America. In 1776, we were a rag-tag army led by General Washington, fighting the largest empire in the world (actually, the largest empire that had ever existed, because the British Empire had more people and more land than the Roman Empire ever had). If you read the speeches and writings of America's founding fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry, and, yes, Samuel Adams, it becomes obvious that the goal of our revolutionary founding fathers was not to have a North American coalition replace the British Empire, but, rather, it was to secure the blessings of liberty and independence for ourselves and our posterity.
America helped to secure the independence of the peoples of Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. It is not our destiny to replace one conquering empire with another. The Roman Empire, the Spanish Empire, the French Empire, the Portuguese Empire and the British Empire have all crumbled. Our forefathers fought for independence. We should recognize the rights of other peoples to independence and bring our troops home. I'm sure many neo-cons would dismiss George Washington, but he was first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
The Kentucky Fifth District of the U.S. House.
Tonight I have been examining a more current map of the Fifth District. We have lost several counties including Wolfe County and Bath County. I had received sixty per cent of the vote in Bath County in the Kentucky Fifth District of the U.S. House, last time I was on the General Election Ballot. We have gained a few counties also in Northwestern Kentucky. We don't quite reach to the Ohio border. I'll try to broadcast a map of it soon. It is available on the Kentucky legislature site on the internet. Kenneth Stepp.
Voter Registration Statistics.
5 (Eastern Kentucky) District 5 of U.S. House
210,920 Registered Republicans
236,069 Registered Democrats
15,133 Registered Democrats minus Registered Republicans
462,122 Registered Democrats plus Registered Republicans
11.92% Democratic Advantage; there are 11.92% more Registered Democrats than Registered Republican voters in the Kentucky Fifth Congressional District.
These are based on the 2010 Congressional District Boundaries. I understand several Democratic Counties have been added to the Kentucky Fifth Congressional District. That should mean that we have an even larger majority of Fifth Congressional District Democratic voters. Don't vote for the special interests. Don't vote for the vested interests. Vote for your interests. It is time for the Fifth Congressional District of Kentucky, where a majority of the registered voters are registered Democratic voters, to elect a Democratic Congressman. This time vote for a member of your own political party and elect Kenneth Stepp to the U.S. House.
210,920 Registered Republicans
236,069 Registered Democrats
15,133 Registered Democrats minus Registered Republicans
462,122 Registered Democrats plus Registered Republicans
11.92% Democratic Advantage; there are 11.92% more Registered Democrats than Registered Republican voters in the Kentucky Fifth Congressional District.
These are based on the 2010 Congressional District Boundaries. I understand several Democratic Counties have been added to the Kentucky Fifth Congressional District. That should mean that we have an even larger majority of Fifth Congressional District Democratic voters. Don't vote for the special interests. Don't vote for the vested interests. Vote for your interests. It is time for the Fifth Congressional District of Kentucky, where a majority of the registered voters are registered Democratic voters, to elect a Democratic Congressman. This time vote for a member of your own political party and elect Kenneth Stepp to the U.S. House.
Stepp and Dershowitz comment on torture and assassination.
Tags: Dershowitz Legalize Torture and Targeted Killing Dershowitz: Legalize Torture and Targeted Killing
Saturday, 17 Mar 2012 03:39 PM
By Martin Gould and Kathleen Walter
Both torture and the targeted killings of American terrorists should be legal and subject to the prior approval of a judge, leading law professor Alan Dershowitz told Newsmax.TV in an exclusive interview. Kenneth Stepp says NO NO NO! The current laws outlawing torture and assassination should remain on the books and be strictly enforced!
"Both should be used only extremely rarely and under extreme circumstances, the civil rights advocate said during a visit to Newsmax’s headquarters in West Palm Beach, Fla.NO NO NO! general practice attorney and candidate for U.S. House Stepp explained. Torture and assassination should never be used as U.S. Government policy!
"Giving the hypothetical example of capturing a terrorist who revealed that he knew the location of a nuclear bomb that was about to be detonated in a major American city, any president might have to resort to torture to extract the information. Kenneth Stepp replies that one of my favorite movie scenes was when the American POW's were given the opportunity to cooperate with the Nazi's--each was given a set of aviator's wings and told to break it in half and drop it into the hat being passed in order to show cooperation with the Nazis; the result was that all the sets of aviator's wings were put into the hat unbroken and none of the American POW's agreed to cooperate with the Nazis. Policies of government-sanctioned torture or assassination are evil whether done by Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Ho Chi Minh, Castro, or anyone. The United States should not participate in torture or rendition, nor send out roving gangs of assassins to eliminate people whose lives are inconvenient for the U.S. Having a blacked-robe judge accompany a roving gang of assassins or a roving gang of torturers does not make it right and should not be tolerated by the American people.
“I don’t care who is the president,” Dershowitz said. “Every single president would authorize whatever it took to stop that bomb from going off.” As that is the case, he said, the process should be formalized. “If we are going to do it, let’s have a torture warrant.” NO TORTURE WARRANTS and NO ASSASSINATION WARRANTS says Kenneth Stepp. Having a black-robed judge bless a torture or and assassination does not make it right.
"Dershowitz pointed out that the New York Times had made a similar suggestion about the targeted killings of Americans on foreign soil, and he agreed with the paper." Kenneth Stepp doubts that the Greenville News nor the Times Picayune have advocated assassinations of Americans on foreign soil by the U.S. Government and Kenneth Stepp opposes such also.
“Let’s have a warrant, let’s require a judge to pass on the need, so the decision is not made just by a local CIA agent on the ground or even by the president of the United States,” he said. “It has to go through a judicial process, there has to be affidavits indicating what the information is and how we know the information." Kenneth Stepp replies dressing up torture or assassinations with legal mumbo-jumbo by men wearing black robes does not make it right, and it should not be done!
“When we authorize the targeted killing of an American citizen – which I think is justified if the American citizen has become an enemy of the United States and is involved in ongoing terrorism – I would agree with the New York Times that we should have a judicial process,” he added. The judge would then have to consider the case on its merits, deciding if the evidence is strong enough, why there is an immediate threat and the reason he cannot be arrested and tried." Kenneth Stepp replies that Osama Bin Laden could have been arrested and tried, and any 9/11 conspirators surviving should be arrested, brought to Manhattan, tried, and sentenced. I'm sure a Manhattan jury (or a D.C. jury for any trial relating to the 9/11 explosion in the Pentagon) would give any alleged terrorist a fair trial and their just desserts.
“I would apply the same analysis to targeted killing as to torture.” Kenneth Stepp, as stated above, applies the same condemnation to assassination and to torture.
"Dershowitz pointed out that “targeted killing is much better than untargeted killing,” as it generally leads to fewer innocent casualties. “It’s better than dropping bombs all over the place and just killing everybody in the area,” he said. Kenneth Stepp says that it is better to kill a few than many; but Dershowitz is just making a 'straw man'. I don't know of any Americans seriously advocating nuking Arabs or any city in the Moslem world.
“It should be used only against ongoing terrorists who are in the course of preparing for terrorist attacks, when it’s impossible to arrest them and when we can do it without having too much collateral damage – that is too many uninvolved civilian people killed in the process. Those are the three rules.” Kenneth Stepp says let's bring the troops home. Switzerland doesn't get attacked by terrorists because they mind their own business and keep a strong military, as we should.
"Dershowitz,the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, was presented with Menachem Begin Award of Honor in December for his stalwart support of Israel. He said he is convinced that President Barack Obama is equally supportive of the Jewish state’s security." Kenneth Stepp doubts that Felix Frankfurter would have approved of assassinations nor torture.
***"
© 2012 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
Read more on Newsmax.com: Dershowitz: Legalize Torture and Targeted Killing Kenneth Stepp continues to oppose torture and assassination!
Saturday, 17 Mar 2012 03:39 PM
By Martin Gould and Kathleen Walter
Both torture and the targeted killings of American terrorists should be legal and subject to the prior approval of a judge, leading law professor Alan Dershowitz told Newsmax.TV in an exclusive interview. Kenneth Stepp says NO NO NO! The current laws outlawing torture and assassination should remain on the books and be strictly enforced!
"Both should be used only extremely rarely and under extreme circumstances, the civil rights advocate said during a visit to Newsmax’s headquarters in West Palm Beach, Fla.NO NO NO! general practice attorney and candidate for U.S. House Stepp explained. Torture and assassination should never be used as U.S. Government policy!
"Giving the hypothetical example of capturing a terrorist who revealed that he knew the location of a nuclear bomb that was about to be detonated in a major American city, any president might have to resort to torture to extract the information. Kenneth Stepp replies that one of my favorite movie scenes was when the American POW's were given the opportunity to cooperate with the Nazi's--each was given a set of aviator's wings and told to break it in half and drop it into the hat being passed in order to show cooperation with the Nazis; the result was that all the sets of aviator's wings were put into the hat unbroken and none of the American POW's agreed to cooperate with the Nazis. Policies of government-sanctioned torture or assassination are evil whether done by Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Ho Chi Minh, Castro, or anyone. The United States should not participate in torture or rendition, nor send out roving gangs of assassins to eliminate people whose lives are inconvenient for the U.S. Having a blacked-robe judge accompany a roving gang of assassins or a roving gang of torturers does not make it right and should not be tolerated by the American people.
“I don’t care who is the president,” Dershowitz said. “Every single president would authorize whatever it took to stop that bomb from going off.” As that is the case, he said, the process should be formalized. “If we are going to do it, let’s have a torture warrant.” NO TORTURE WARRANTS and NO ASSASSINATION WARRANTS says Kenneth Stepp. Having a black-robed judge bless a torture or and assassination does not make it right.
"Dershowitz pointed out that the New York Times had made a similar suggestion about the targeted killings of Americans on foreign soil, and he agreed with the paper." Kenneth Stepp doubts that the Greenville News nor the Times Picayune have advocated assassinations of Americans on foreign soil by the U.S. Government and Kenneth Stepp opposes such also.
“Let’s have a warrant, let’s require a judge to pass on the need, so the decision is not made just by a local CIA agent on the ground or even by the president of the United States,” he said. “It has to go through a judicial process, there has to be affidavits indicating what the information is and how we know the information." Kenneth Stepp replies dressing up torture or assassinations with legal mumbo-jumbo by men wearing black robes does not make it right, and it should not be done!
“When we authorize the targeted killing of an American citizen – which I think is justified if the American citizen has become an enemy of the United States and is involved in ongoing terrorism – I would agree with the New York Times that we should have a judicial process,” he added. The judge would then have to consider the case on its merits, deciding if the evidence is strong enough, why there is an immediate threat and the reason he cannot be arrested and tried." Kenneth Stepp replies that Osama Bin Laden could have been arrested and tried, and any 9/11 conspirators surviving should be arrested, brought to Manhattan, tried, and sentenced. I'm sure a Manhattan jury (or a D.C. jury for any trial relating to the 9/11 explosion in the Pentagon) would give any alleged terrorist a fair trial and their just desserts.
“I would apply the same analysis to targeted killing as to torture.” Kenneth Stepp, as stated above, applies the same condemnation to assassination and to torture.
"Dershowitz pointed out that “targeted killing is much better than untargeted killing,” as it generally leads to fewer innocent casualties. “It’s better than dropping bombs all over the place and just killing everybody in the area,” he said. Kenneth Stepp says that it is better to kill a few than many; but Dershowitz is just making a 'straw man'. I don't know of any Americans seriously advocating nuking Arabs or any city in the Moslem world.
“It should be used only against ongoing terrorists who are in the course of preparing for terrorist attacks, when it’s impossible to arrest them and when we can do it without having too much collateral damage – that is too many uninvolved civilian people killed in the process. Those are the three rules.” Kenneth Stepp says let's bring the troops home. Switzerland doesn't get attacked by terrorists because they mind their own business and keep a strong military, as we should.
"Dershowitz,the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, was presented with Menachem Begin Award of Honor in December for his stalwart support of Israel. He said he is convinced that President Barack Obama is equally supportive of the Jewish state’s security." Kenneth Stepp doubts that Felix Frankfurter would have approved of assassinations nor torture.
***"
© 2012 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
Read more on Newsmax.com: Dershowitz: Legalize Torture and Targeted Killing Kenneth Stepp continues to oppose torture and assassination!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Kenneth Stepp salutes the five American soldiers killed in Iraq this week!
"from The Journal Gazette. Go to www.journalgazette.net/newsletter
"Last updated: June 9, 2011 3:09 p.m.
"2 Ohio soldiers killed in Iraq
"John Milburn | Associated Press
"TOPEKA, Kan. – Army officials on Thursday announced the names of five soldiers from Fort Riley’s 1st Infantry Division who were killed this week in Iraq.
'The attack on Monday was one of the deadliest days for soldiers assigned to Fort Riley since the war in Iraq began in 2003.
'1st Infantry Division officials said the men were killed when insurgents attacked their base. The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment.
'Killed were Spc. Emilio Campo, 20, a combat medic from Madelia, Minn.; Pfc. Michael Cook, 27, a field artillery data systems operator from Middletown, Ohio; Pfc. Christopher Fishbeck, 24, a field artillery data systems operator from Victorville, Calif.; Spc. Robert Hartwick, 20, a combat medic from Rockbridge, Ohio; and Pfc. Michael Olivieri, 26, a field artillery data systems operator from Chicago.
'“We are deeply saddened by the loss of these young heroes and our thoughts and prayers go out to their families,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Gainey, the soldiers’ battalion commander. “They were all outstanding soldiers, outstanding people and most importantly, our good friends.”
'The soldiers deployed to Iraq in November 2010. They were part of the 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, supporting the development of Iraq forces and the improvement of civilian life in central Iraq.
'Each of the soldiers had served less than two years and each was on his first deployment.
'U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, noted that the soldiers died on the 67th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France in 1944. During that invasion, soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division were among the first to wade ashore.
“These brave young men answered the call to serve our country, and Americans are forever indebted to them for their service and sacrifice,” Moran said in a statement.
'The deaths were among the highest single-day casualty totals for Fort Riley soldiers since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began.
'Five soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 1st Engineer Battalion were killed on March 31, 2004, when a bomb exploded under their M-113 armored personnel carrier in Malahma, an area in the Sunni Triangle.
'More than 18,000 soldiers are assigned to Fort Riley, located about 60 miles west of Topeka."
Kenneth Stepp salutes the five American soldiers killed in Iraq this week. The best way we can honor our soldiers is to bring them home alive. It has been said that our part of the war in Iraq is over, yet the deaths of American soldiers in Iraq continue. If we are not in combat, we need to quit losing troops to such incidents. If we are in combat in Iraq, we need to bring our troops home. Peace!
"Last updated: June 9, 2011 3:09 p.m.
"2 Ohio soldiers killed in Iraq
"John Milburn | Associated Press
"TOPEKA, Kan. – Army officials on Thursday announced the names of five soldiers from Fort Riley’s 1st Infantry Division who were killed this week in Iraq.
'The attack on Monday was one of the deadliest days for soldiers assigned to Fort Riley since the war in Iraq began in 2003.
'1st Infantry Division officials said the men were killed when insurgents attacked their base. The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment.
'Killed were Spc. Emilio Campo, 20, a combat medic from Madelia, Minn.; Pfc. Michael Cook, 27, a field artillery data systems operator from Middletown, Ohio; Pfc. Christopher Fishbeck, 24, a field artillery data systems operator from Victorville, Calif.; Spc. Robert Hartwick, 20, a combat medic from Rockbridge, Ohio; and Pfc. Michael Olivieri, 26, a field artillery data systems operator from Chicago.
'“We are deeply saddened by the loss of these young heroes and our thoughts and prayers go out to their families,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Gainey, the soldiers’ battalion commander. “They were all outstanding soldiers, outstanding people and most importantly, our good friends.”
'The soldiers deployed to Iraq in November 2010. They were part of the 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, supporting the development of Iraq forces and the improvement of civilian life in central Iraq.
'Each of the soldiers had served less than two years and each was on his first deployment.
'U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, noted that the soldiers died on the 67th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France in 1944. During that invasion, soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division were among the first to wade ashore.
“These brave young men answered the call to serve our country, and Americans are forever indebted to them for their service and sacrifice,” Moran said in a statement.
'The deaths were among the highest single-day casualty totals for Fort Riley soldiers since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began.
'Five soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 1st Engineer Battalion were killed on March 31, 2004, when a bomb exploded under their M-113 armored personnel carrier in Malahma, an area in the Sunni Triangle.
'More than 18,000 soldiers are assigned to Fort Riley, located about 60 miles west of Topeka."
Kenneth Stepp salutes the five American soldiers killed in Iraq this week. The best way we can honor our soldiers is to bring them home alive. It has been said that our part of the war in Iraq is over, yet the deaths of American soldiers in Iraq continue. If we are not in combat, we need to quit losing troops to such incidents. If we are in combat in Iraq, we need to bring our troops home. Peace!
Kenneth Stepp salutes Sgt. Jerry D. Reed II
"11:26 AM, Feb. 18, 2012
From USA TODAY
"LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (WTW) — The military says a soldier from Russellville has been killed in Afghanistan.
The Department of Defense announced Saturday that 30-year-old Sgt. Jerry D. Reed II died Feb. 16 in Paktika province.
The department did not release details of Reed's death.
He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade based in Germany."
Greater Love hath no man, than that he lay down his life for his friends. Jerry D. Reed II has made the supreme sacrifice when he laid down his life fighting wearing the American uniform in Afghanistan on Feb. 16. Kenneth Stepp salutes Sgt. Jerry D. Reed II.
Note:
Thanks, J.C. I believe this is the correct soldier picture. We strive for accuracy. There have been at least two Jerry Reeds killed over there and I salute them both.
Do you want to decrease SSI, SSD, and Social Security Beneifits?
While I'm not blogging, I represent people in Social Security cases and do other things, too. As a Social Security Representative, I am a member both of NADR (National Association of Disability Representatives) and NOSSCR (National Organization of Social Security Claims Representatives). Both provide useful information for a person, like myself, who represents people in Social Security Administration hearings.
The NADR NEWS, Winter 2012, p. 2, explains:
"SOCIAL SECURITY SOLVENCY
"The House Social Security Subcommittee, under the chairmanship of Sam Johnson (R-TX), over the past several months has held a series of hearings on the solvency of the Social Security trust funds. While these hearings have taken testimony from actuarial and budget experts, comments by Subcommittee Members reflect a partisan divide in which Republicans insist on achieving solvency exclusively through benefit reductions, while Democrats are demanding to preserve benefits and instead raise revenues. Middle ground appears elusive, at lest for now.
"While we expect continued hearings in both Houses on Social Security solvency in the new year, it is unlikely that Congress will enact legislation to address the solvency issue until after the 2012 elections."
The Fifth District of Kentucky of the U.S. House is now represented by Republican Hal Rogers. Generally, a member of Congress votes with his party leaders on budget questions. Is that what you want? Do you want the Republican majority in the U.S. House to vote to cut your Social Security and SSI benefits? If you want your benefits cut, then re-elect Republican Rogers to the U.S. House. If you want your benefits to remain the same or increase then elect Kenneth Stepp the Democrat to the U.S. House. It's your choice: for lower SSI, SSD, and Social Security payments vote for Republican Rogers; for the same or higher SSI, SSD, and Social Security payments vote for Democrat Kenneth Stepp.
Kenneth Stepp.
The NADR NEWS, Winter 2012, p. 2, explains:
"SOCIAL SECURITY SOLVENCY
"The House Social Security Subcommittee, under the chairmanship of Sam Johnson (R-TX), over the past several months has held a series of hearings on the solvency of the Social Security trust funds. While these hearings have taken testimony from actuarial and budget experts, comments by Subcommittee Members reflect a partisan divide in which Republicans insist on achieving solvency exclusively through benefit reductions, while Democrats are demanding to preserve benefits and instead raise revenues. Middle ground appears elusive, at lest for now.
"While we expect continued hearings in both Houses on Social Security solvency in the new year, it is unlikely that Congress will enact legislation to address the solvency issue until after the 2012 elections."
The Fifth District of Kentucky of the U.S. House is now represented by Republican Hal Rogers. Generally, a member of Congress votes with his party leaders on budget questions. Is that what you want? Do you want the Republican majority in the U.S. House to vote to cut your Social Security and SSI benefits? If you want your benefits cut, then re-elect Republican Rogers to the U.S. House. If you want your benefits to remain the same or increase then elect Kenneth Stepp the Democrat to the U.S. House. It's your choice: for lower SSI, SSD, and Social Security payments vote for Republican Rogers; for the same or higher SSI, SSD, and Social Security payments vote for Democrat Kenneth Stepp.
Kenneth Stepp.
The Graccus Brothers, and the Kennedy Brothers.
I have been listening to audio disks on famous Greeks and famous Romans to improve myself and, hopefully, to make myself an excellent Congressman for you.
Today I was listening to a discussion of the Graccus Brothers--more specifically Tiberius Graccus. I remember in the 1960's in an editorial in the Greenville (South Carolina) News--a normally Republican paper--they complained that the Kennedy Brothers (then prominent in national politics) were just like the ancient Roman Graccus Brothers--political leaders who use the taxpayers' money to buy themselves into office. The more recent audio disk concerning the Graccus Brothers seems to be sympathetic to them (although the author seems also sympathetic to the ancient Roman custom of invading, sacking, and conquering neighboring peacable kingdoms before they become enemies). The audiodisk complains that the Graccus Brothers lived in a time when high offices like that of Senator were openly bought and sold. I hope that situation does not sound familiar to anyone. The Graccus Brothers--reformers or mere opportunists? I note with sadness that the two Graccus Brothers were both assassinated--the same thing that happened to the two middle Kennedy Brothers in our (o.k. my, young readers) own time.
Anyway there is a lot to learn by studying the Athenian and Roman Empires. Athens, Greece was a Democracy, but established an Empire and collected tribute from surrounding city states--that was their form of foreign aid. At the time of Tiberius Graccus, the Romans were the citizens of the Roman Republic but there was a big push to make the other Italians full citizens of the Roman Republic. Can lessons be learned from the past? Can America avoid the mistakes of Athens, Sparta, and Rome? Can America avoid the ultimate collapse that faced Rome, Constantinople, Sparta, and Athens?
Remember, the best way to terminate an enemy is to make them your friends. The American policy toward vanquished enemies is much more Christian and much more enlightened than the policies of the ancient Romans, who completely destroyed cities, and put men, women, and children to the sword.
Another brief note: actually Afghanistan was conquered by Alexander the Great and was a part of his empire--from the Indus River to Macedonia and Egypt. The problem with Alexander the Great was that he never designated a successor, so that his empire was divided into four parts by his four generals, and later three of those nations (Macedonia, Syria, and Egypt) were later easily conquered by the Romans.
The question of citizenship arose during the Graccus' Brothers time in ancient Rome, and it arises again in modern America. John Kennedy once said that America is a nation of immigrants. That's true. My English ancestor arrived in Virginia Colony around 1670. So, I'm descended from immigrants--as you probably are also. Who should be citizens of America? Should we keep our number of citizens at about 300 million? Isn't it true that a billion people in the planet would prefer to live in the United States? Should we turn our backs on them? Should we only admit certain types of people as immigrants such as famous athletes? or accountants? or medical doctors? or Corporation CEO's? or union members? or Hindus? or Buddhists? or descendants of Europeans? or descendants of Indonesians? Where do you see America fifty years from now? Still number one?
We should have a goal of America remaining number one. Number one in science. Number one in patents. Number one in average personal disposable income. Number one in war capabilities. Number one in peace. Number one in undersea exploration, polar exploration, and space exploration. We are a predominately Christian nation, and that has shaped our character. We were able to maintain the upper hand against our most recent foes, the Communists, the Nazis, and the Imperial Japanese. We have been fairly generous with the former Communists, and the Chinese "Corporate Communists", the former Nazis, and the former Imperial Japanese. If they had defeated America and had gained the upper hand over us, I doubt they would have been so generous and friendly to us; I believe there would have been blood in the American streets. America should have a goal of remaining number one--even if we have to pull a lot of other people up with us.
Kenneth Stepp.
Today I was listening to a discussion of the Graccus Brothers--more specifically Tiberius Graccus. I remember in the 1960's in an editorial in the Greenville (South Carolina) News--a normally Republican paper--they complained that the Kennedy Brothers (then prominent in national politics) were just like the ancient Roman Graccus Brothers--political leaders who use the taxpayers' money to buy themselves into office. The more recent audio disk concerning the Graccus Brothers seems to be sympathetic to them (although the author seems also sympathetic to the ancient Roman custom of invading, sacking, and conquering neighboring peacable kingdoms before they become enemies). The audiodisk complains that the Graccus Brothers lived in a time when high offices like that of Senator were openly bought and sold. I hope that situation does not sound familiar to anyone. The Graccus Brothers--reformers or mere opportunists? I note with sadness that the two Graccus Brothers were both assassinated--the same thing that happened to the two middle Kennedy Brothers in our (o.k. my, young readers) own time.
Anyway there is a lot to learn by studying the Athenian and Roman Empires. Athens, Greece was a Democracy, but established an Empire and collected tribute from surrounding city states--that was their form of foreign aid. At the time of Tiberius Graccus, the Romans were the citizens of the Roman Republic but there was a big push to make the other Italians full citizens of the Roman Republic. Can lessons be learned from the past? Can America avoid the mistakes of Athens, Sparta, and Rome? Can America avoid the ultimate collapse that faced Rome, Constantinople, Sparta, and Athens?
Remember, the best way to terminate an enemy is to make them your friends. The American policy toward vanquished enemies is much more Christian and much more enlightened than the policies of the ancient Romans, who completely destroyed cities, and put men, women, and children to the sword.
Another brief note: actually Afghanistan was conquered by Alexander the Great and was a part of his empire--from the Indus River to Macedonia and Egypt. The problem with Alexander the Great was that he never designated a successor, so that his empire was divided into four parts by his four generals, and later three of those nations (Macedonia, Syria, and Egypt) were later easily conquered by the Romans.
The question of citizenship arose during the Graccus' Brothers time in ancient Rome, and it arises again in modern America. John Kennedy once said that America is a nation of immigrants. That's true. My English ancestor arrived in Virginia Colony around 1670. So, I'm descended from immigrants--as you probably are also. Who should be citizens of America? Should we keep our number of citizens at about 300 million? Isn't it true that a billion people in the planet would prefer to live in the United States? Should we turn our backs on them? Should we only admit certain types of people as immigrants such as famous athletes? or accountants? or medical doctors? or Corporation CEO's? or union members? or Hindus? or Buddhists? or descendants of Europeans? or descendants of Indonesians? Where do you see America fifty years from now? Still number one?
We should have a goal of America remaining number one. Number one in science. Number one in patents. Number one in average personal disposable income. Number one in war capabilities. Number one in peace. Number one in undersea exploration, polar exploration, and space exploration. We are a predominately Christian nation, and that has shaped our character. We were able to maintain the upper hand against our most recent foes, the Communists, the Nazis, and the Imperial Japanese. We have been fairly generous with the former Communists, and the Chinese "Corporate Communists", the former Nazis, and the former Imperial Japanese. If they had defeated America and had gained the upper hand over us, I doubt they would have been so generous and friendly to us; I believe there would have been blood in the American streets. America should have a goal of remaining number one--even if we have to pull a lot of other people up with us.
Kenneth Stepp.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Stop Republican Obstructionism on Federal Judges!
Dear Blogreader,
Our courts need judges with a demonstrated commitment to equal justice — not empty seats. Because when judges’ seats are empty, cases aren’t heard and justice is delayed for countless Americans.
Regrettably, as of today, an astounding 83 seats on the federal bench are empty. Nearly half of those empty seats are considered "judicial emergencies."
But instead of taking swift action and prioritizing the judicial crisis in this country, Senate action has been stalled by politically-motivated tactics that block confirmation of highly qualified judges.
This is unacceptable and must stop... now!
Tomorrow, the Senate is poised to vote on a group of these nominees — highly qualified jurists with a strong commitment to equal justice for all.
That’s why we urge you call your senators today at 1-866-338-5720.
Tell your senators not to waste another minute, and to start confirming judicial nominees right now. Make sure they know that obstructing the placement of highly qualified judges must stop.
Call 1-866-338-5720 today.
Thank you for all that you do.
Sincerely,
/S/ Kenneth Stepp
Our courts need judges with a demonstrated commitment to equal justice — not empty seats. Because when judges’ seats are empty, cases aren’t heard and justice is delayed for countless Americans.
Regrettably, as of today, an astounding 83 seats on the federal bench are empty. Nearly half of those empty seats are considered "judicial emergencies."
But instead of taking swift action and prioritizing the judicial crisis in this country, Senate action has been stalled by politically-motivated tactics that block confirmation of highly qualified judges.
This is unacceptable and must stop... now!
Tomorrow, the Senate is poised to vote on a group of these nominees — highly qualified jurists with a strong commitment to equal justice for all.
That’s why we urge you call your senators today at 1-866-338-5720.
Tell your senators not to waste another minute, and to start confirming judicial nominees right now. Make sure they know that obstructing the placement of highly qualified judges must stop.
Call 1-866-338-5720 today.
Thank you for all that you do.
Sincerely,
/S/ Kenneth Stepp
Monday, March 12, 2012
Hannibal!
I claim to be a trivia master. I'll quiz the readers today. I've been listening to an audiodisk concerning Hannibal on my drives to nearby courthouses. It makes interesting listening. Hannibal with his thirty nine elephants. What a man!
Trivia question 1: Who was Hannibal?
2. Who was Hannibal Smith?
3. Who was Hannibal Hamlin?
4. What is special about Hannibal Missouri?
hints:
1. He and his thirty nine elephants fought the Romans in Italy.
2. Mr. T's buddy.
3. Famous Republicans (the Lincoln-____ ticket of 1860).
4. A famous author concerning Tom Sawyer lived there.
Gentlemen and Ladies, make your comments below. Kenneth Stepp.
Trivia question 1: Who was Hannibal?
2. Who was Hannibal Smith?
3. Who was Hannibal Hamlin?
4. What is special about Hannibal Missouri?
hints:
1. He and his thirty nine elephants fought the Romans in Italy.
2. Mr. T's buddy.
3. Famous Republicans (the Lincoln-____ ticket of 1860).
4. A famous author concerning Tom Sawyer lived there.
Gentlemen and Ladies, make your comments below. Kenneth Stepp.
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Bring them home.
Fallen Soldiers
Posted: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 3:50 pm | (0) Comments
The following are the names of fallen U.S. service people killed in service this week. We honor them and will remember their contribution to our freedom.
Sgt. Jerry D. Reed II, 30, of Russellville, Ark.
Petty Officer First Class Paris S. Pough, 40, of Columbus, Ga.
Capt. Ryan P. Hall, 30, of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock, 29, of Newnan, Ga.
1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkens, 26, of Bend, Ore.
Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten, 26, of Upper Marlboro, Md.
Sgt. Allen R. McKenna Jr., 28, of Noble, Okla.
.
Copyright 2012 CasperJournal.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed."
It's time to bring them home. Enough is enough. Peace. Bring home the troops now. Kenneth Stepp.
Posted: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 3:50 pm | (0) Comments
The following are the names of fallen U.S. service people killed in service this week. We honor them and will remember their contribution to our freedom.
Sgt. Jerry D. Reed II, 30, of Russellville, Ark.
Petty Officer First Class Paris S. Pough, 40, of Columbus, Ga.
Capt. Ryan P. Hall, 30, of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock, 29, of Newnan, Ga.
1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkens, 26, of Bend, Ore.
Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten, 26, of Upper Marlboro, Md.
Sgt. Allen R. McKenna Jr., 28, of Noble, Okla.
.
Copyright 2012 CasperJournal.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed."
It's time to bring them home. Enough is enough. Peace. Bring home the troops now. Kenneth Stepp.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
