Is Rand Paul the only sane person in Congress?

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Tom Folden

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013, Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI) and John McCain (R-AZ) took issue with Apple, one of the most successful corporations in United States history, for not paying enough taxes. You may have a huge, puzzled expression on your face right now after reading that, and it would be understandable. Apple leads all corporations in paying taxes, handing over nearly $6 billion a year to the U.S. Treasury. That amounts to $16 million a day.

Do-gooders McCain and Levin cited a Senate panel report that claims Apple avoided paying billions of dollars in taxes “in the U.S. and around the world through a web of subsidiaries.” However, as Rush Limbaugh pointed out on his radio show yesterday, this is in regards to money earned outside the country that the U.S. has no right to anyway.

If anyone is at fault, it would be the government, i.e. Congress, for mismanaging the funds it receives and making it nearly impossible for companies to conduct business effectively and profitably.

It came to a head when Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) called his colleagues out on their gripes. So eloquently, he stated:

“Frankly, I’m offended by the tone and tenor of this hearing. I’m offended by a $4 trillion government bullying, berating, and badgering one of America’s greatest success stories … If anyone should be on trial here, it should be Congress. I frankly think the committee should apologize to Apple. I think Congress should be on trial here for creating a bizarre and byzantine tax code that runs into the tens of thousands of pages, for creating a tax code that simply doesn’t compete with the rest of the world.”

Sen. Paul also suggested that if they want to see the real problem, they should bring a giant mirror into the room for Congress to look into.

The audacity for some members of Congress to rail on Apple CEO Tim Cook for running a successful business that employs thousands of Americans and pays billions of dollars in taxes to the federal government is astonishing. All while many in Congress use Apple iPhones, iPads, iPods, and Apple computers in their daily lives.

Scandal After Scandal Defines Obama Administration Legacy

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Tom Folden

Never in American history has there been a White House administration so stained by scandal and controversy. From the Fast and Furious gun-running affair to the Benghazi cover-up to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) targeting conservative organizations to the Department of Justice (DOJ) invading Associated Press (AP) journalists’ phone records, controversy plagues them and it’s been their own doing.

These, however, are just some examples of current situations it’s gotten itself into. Let’s not forget the comments made by Obama early in his first term about an incident in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Harvard University Professor and personal friend of the president Henry Louis Gates was arrested for disorderly conduct after Cambridge Police Officer James Crowley responded to a call about someone breaking into a home. Unbecoming of a United States President, Obama stated that the officer “acted stupidly” by arresting Gates. Embarrassed by his unfounded claim, Obama invited both Gates and Crowley to a “beer summit” to smooth out the matter, but mostly to try to save face.

Then there is the DOJ lawsuit in 2010 against the state of Arizona in response to their wildly popular SB1070 bill which allowed law enforcement officers to find out if a person was in the country illegally. The bill was carefully crafted by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce to make certain it did not violate a person’s rights, not that illegal aliens have rights here. That didn’t matter to this administration and they went forward with helping illegal aliens carry on unlawfully inside the country, sending the message that we are no longer a nation of laws.

As if that’s not enough of a wake-up call to Americans that this White House is doing things completely backward, the administration became plagued with a series of questionable ventures involving grants to “green energy” companies. Apparently, they thought environmental science was the wave of the future so they risked billions of taxpayer dollars on an industry that was doomed to fail. Solyndra became the prime example after it was given over $500 million, much of that money going to executives’ salaries. The bucks didn’t stop there, though. Many other “green energy” companies received millions of dollars from the government, er, you and me, as responsible journalists like Michelle Malkin and others reported and exposed this famous but not forgotten scandal.

In any other White House administration, heads would roll, but not in this one. The scandals continued. Thanks in large part to Townhall.com News Editor and author Katie Pavlich, we soon learned about a very serious scandal known as Fast and Furious, a drug-running operation headed by the DOJ, where 2500 semi-automatic AK47-style weapons were trafficked through Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agents to Mexican drug cartels. Attorney General Eric Holder has continued to play dumb about this most egregious crime, even when it is known that he received memos about it. The most disturbing thing about Fast and Furious is that Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was killed by a Mexican drug cartel member using one of these ATF-trafficked rifles. Still no one has been held accountable for his death or this outrageous scandal.

It gets worse, if that’s even possible. On September 11, 2012, the 11^th anniversary of this country’s most devastating terror attack on American soil, al Qaeda terrorists attacked our embassy in Benghazi, Libya, killing four Americans including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. Five days later Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice went on five different Sunday morning “news” programs to claim that this attack was a demonstration, a protest which was the result of an anti-Islam short movie posted on YouTube.com. That is such a far-fetched theory; I wouldn’t expect even Obama supporters to fall for it. The Libyan president even commented that this was not a protest, but an attack. Many raised the point that people don’t just bring rocket-propelled grenades to protests. This was a planned attack. Given the day this happened, how does one not conclude this fact?

This quickly escalated into a cover-up by the White House administration, although they have vehemently denied it to this very day. In early January 2013, then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was grilled by Congress about the incident and her role in it. Curiously, she asked “What difference, at this point, does it make?” Well, when four Americans are dead, her employees, I think it makes a huge difference, especially to the families of those who died. This administration has stalled and stonewalled this investigation and have kept the American people from finding out the who, what, where, when, how and why of this dreadful event. Eight months later we are finally getting to the bottom of this. Hopefully, those responsible will be held accountable.

No sooner than when the country’s finally finding out the truth about Benghazi, and what most already knew, another scandal hits the White House, this time with the IRS targeting conservative groups that are trying to establish 501(c) status. The targeting took place in the middle of election season. The plan was to keep conservative groups, tea party organizations and constitutional affiliations from being able to organize, lest they educate enough people and gain enough support for Mitt Romney. The prevailing wisdom is that Team Obama was desperate and feared losing the election. After all, Romney destroyed Obama in the debates and the prospect of winning a second term didn’t look good.

Obama again went on the defensive and stated that if it’s true that the IRS is targeting certain groups, then that is outrageous. As a reporter pointed out to White House press secretary Jay Carney at a briefing on Tuesday, there is no if there. The IRS has already admitted to it and apologized, as if that is sufficient. But it isn’t sufficient. This is not just standard party politics. It’s much worse. I don’t remember the IRS targeting ACORN, MoveOn.org, Media Matters, Planned Parenthood, or any of George Soros’ organizations during President George W. Bush’s terms. This truly is beyond outrageous.

What’s even more outrageous is that yet another scandal has hit the White House. This one involves the Department of Justice again. The DOJ has unconstitutionally infiltrated the phone lines and records of many AP journalists. The reason for the intrusion may be in connection to a May 7, 2012 story by the AP about a foiled terror plot, wherein details of a CIA operation in Yemen were disclosed. The bottom line, however, is that there is a 1^st Amendment right to freedom of the press, as well as a 4^th Amendment right against unlawful search and seizure. The DOJ seems to care less about the Constitution, as they have exemplified in the past.

When questioned about this latest atrocity, AG Holder reminded the press that he previously recused himself. That’s convenient for him. It’s usually the same song and dance with Obama and Carney. The answer to almost every serious matter they’re up against seems to be to authoritatively state that “there will be an investigation” and “they’re working to get to the bottom of this.” The problem is that the investigation is usually conducted by someone they personally appoint. So there remains a lack of accountability either way.

With every controversial issue that emerges, a White House briefing is held with Carney skating around the truth, avoiding the issue at all costs. Talking in circles, he uses buzz words and the same tired talking points in an effort to escape his responsibility to inform reporters and the American people of the truth.

And while Obama mocks people warning of government tyranny and complains of the ongoing discussion of Benghazi talking points being a “political sideshow,” I wonder if any of this will ever sink in with the American people. It should. It’s time for Americans to wake up.

After this latest scandal, the mainstream media quite possibly will. And if the mainstream media turns against Obama, the DOJ, the IRS and other governmental agencies, we the people just might stand a chance of freedom the way our founding fathers envisioned it.

Obama’s Untimely Visit to Mexico

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Tom Folden

On Thursday, May 2, 2013 President Barack Hussein Obama visited Mexico, gave a speech and met with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. When I heard the 44^th president was going to Mexico to meet with the third-world president, I wondered what their conversation would entail.

Would President Obama raise the issue of illegal immigration and discuss how Mexico’s citizens and others who enter the U.S. illegally are destroying our economy, committing felonies and other criminal offenses, applying for and receiving social welfare benefits not even our own citizens can attain, and showing disrespect for the country they are unlawfully residing in?

Would he then examine each respective country’s immigration policies and compare them, seeing which one is radical and which one is reasonable? And when he realizes that Mexico’s policy is extreme while the United State’s policy is very loose, will he demand cooperation from President Pena Nieto to work toward keeping his citizens from unlawfully entering our country?

Would he remind President Pena Nieto that while Mexico keeps a tight record of the immigrants in their country, the United States’ record consists of an estimated 10-20 million “undocumented” foreigners it knows little or nothing about?

Would he iterate the fact that Mexico admits only foreigners who will be useful to its society, economy and national interests?

Would he question why foreign visitors to Mexico are not allowed to take part in the country’s internal politics, but foreign visitors to the United States are free to protest in the streets, cause obstruction and make ridiculous demands that go against the United States Constitution?

Would he raise the point that while there is an ongoing scandal involving guns and firearms sent to Mexico, known as Fast and Furious, he and Attorney General Eric Holder are at the heart of it?

Would he also mention that because he and AG Holder, along with others, are in collusion regarding this scandal, he has essentially placed a gag order on anyone in his administration from testifying to Congress about this most serious crime?

And would President Obama demand retribution for the murders of Border Patrol Agents Jaime Zapata, Brian Terry and Robert Rosas, all killed in the line of duty by Mexican nationals? Or for Jamiel Shaw and countless others killed by illegal aliens?

Would he encourage Pena Nieto to clean up the corruption in his country so that Mexicans could enjoy comfortable and rewarding lives after they take advantage of the rich resources they have that could enable them to gain wealth?

Would he reprimand President Pena Nieto for the antics and abuses by his country’s law enforcement agents against tourists and vacationers from whom they extort money and jail unnecessarily?

Would he come down especially hard on President Pena Nieto for what former U.S. Marine Jon Hammar went through while traveling through Mexico when he was arrested and imprisoned for possessing an antique shotgun he intended to register with the authorities, and demand an apology and an oath that this never happens again?

Would he condemn Pena Nieto for not doing his part in reeling in the drug traffic from Mexico to the United States and the ensuing violence and death it has caused?

Would he refuse to talk about a cooperation to find a way to import more of Mexico’s citizens into America in an effort to “reform” our own immigration system?

Would he do any of this? He would absolutely not. He would rather apologize for America’s perceived evils and keep our enemies laughing at us while our allies trust us less.

Obama has already shown his true colors and where his loyalties stand. With the so-called Gang of Eight proposing an immigration bill, he is all too eager to sell out the American people in favor of allowing millions upon millions of illegal aliens to become new citizens who eventually will be able to realize full benefits and rights of American citizenship. And when that is fulfilled there will be 10-20 million new Democratic voters.

Like many of Obama’s trips, this one was just another attempt to look good to other countries by belittling his own. The American people deserve better.

Open Letter to Senator Marco Rubio

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Tom Folden

I recently responded to Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) request for comments and suggestions pertaining to the awful “immigration reform” bill proposed by the seemingly self-serving and so-called “Gang of Eight.” Below is my comment.

Senator Rubio,

I want to believe you but I don’t. I respected you when you came onto the political scene and appeared to be very genuine to the conservative cause. But you have let many of us down. We thought you were here to uphold the law, not to drastically change it.

We don’t need “immigration reform.” We need “immigration enforcement.” We have laws that work very well when properly and diligently enforced. Keep these laws enacted. Trash the idea of a “pathway to citizenship” and implement a “pathway back to the home country.” When there, illegal aliens can take the proper steps to become American citizens. (I’m being generous and democratic with that.)

The problem with many, if not most, illegal aliens is that they do not wish to become Americans and assimilate into the American culture. That is something that must be addressed.

Let’s not sugarcoat what illegal aliens are by euphemizing them into an undocumented status. Those who snuck into the United States are 1) illegal and 2) aliens. They are not immigrants in the correct sense of the word.

With regard to legal immigration, consider only those who are able and willing to make a positive contribution to our country. And keep control of the number that we can sensibly and economically handle.

When we need immigrants they should come here legally. Perhaps the system by which that happens can use some work, but giving up and just writing a bill that allows and rewards lawbreakers is just bad policy. It’s not good for America and especially not good for a strong national security.

The temporary worker visa program can be dealt with after properly securing the border, not with a simple fence, but with a highly guarded 20- to 30-foot wall constructed of impenetrable material.

We need to take illegal immigration very, very seriously. With all due respect, this bill does not correctly do that.

Obviously there is a lot more to securing our borders and keeping Americans safe, but this is my perspective. Thank you for the forum you’ve allowed for We the People to express our views, opinions and suggestions. It is very important that Americans are heard by their elected leaders. So please, Senator, listen to the People and take our suggestions seriously.

Respectfully,

Tom Folden