Those who criticize this decision have lost sight of a basic truth: the answer to speech they disagree with is not to restrict that speech, but to answer it with more speech.

Unfortunately, some in Congress are using this decision to push for a government takeover of political campaigns through the misnamed “Fair Elections Now Act,” which has over 100 sponsors (all but three of them Democrats) in the House. This legislation would use tax dollars to fund congressional campaigns.

Apparently the democrat congress are the only ones that don’t see the wisdom in this decision. The ACLU joined with the NRA, and the AFL-CIO joined with the Chamber of Commerce in support of Citizens United and the First Amendment. Strange bedfellows all fighting for the same good.

By Linda Golz
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Thursday, Aug 20, 2009

CUYAHOGA FALLS:

About 7,000 people crowded into Falls River Square Wednesday night for the first Akron Tea Party.

Organizers said it was the largest Ohio Tea Party so far.

Many in the crowd wore patriotic hats and shirts, waved American and ”Don’t Tread On Me” flags and carried homemade signs protesting policies in Washington, D.C., and the direction the country is headed in general.

”I was not born in a socialist country, and I will not die in a socialist country,” Republican state Sen. Tim Grendell of Geauga County said. ”And neither will my children.”

The crowd roared its approval.

He said it is ”all American” to get involved in government and let politicians know what policy changes voters would like to see.

”It’s called the First Amendment,” Grendell said.

Instead, he charged, the government is trying to keep the people ignorant and apathetic.

Grendell also urged the crowd to support strong states’ rights and to protect their freedoms.

”I want my country back,” he said.

Other speakers included Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Robart; American Policy Roundtable Vice President Rob Walgate; Republican candidate for Ohio’s 27th Senate District Frank LaRose; and businessmen Greg Knox of Dayton and Jason Wise of Stark County.

Robart said that former President George W. Bush’s bailout ”has been a total failure” and that President Barack Obama’s stimulus bill
”has been worse.”

He promised the crowd that ”cap-and-trade will be the largest tax increase in our history.” Robart said it should be renamed ”the China-India stimulus bill” and accused it of being ”based solely on a myth called global warming.”

”We’re not drinking the Kool-Aid no more,” attendee Barry Bugh of Akron said.

Cristina Shreve of Strongsville came to the Tea Party because, she said, she moved to the United States from Brazil with her parents and siblings as a child in 1965 ”to get away from socialized health care and everything.”

”I just don’t want government in everything we do. I don’t like the illegal immigrants. They should have to do what we did [to enter the country legally]. It took a long time,” Shreve said. ”I get so ticked off at these politicians that think they’re so special.”

Democrat joins ranks

Eileen Crilley, a Democrat from North Canton, said she came because her friend Phil Green of Minerva had urged her.

”I am here to see what it’s all about,” she said.

She said Green persuaded her to really check out President Obama’s health-care plan.

”Some people just hear the bits and parts they want to hear,” Crilley said. ”If you really dig deep, you’ll see what they’re really saying.”

Crilley said she was being swayed by her Republican friend and becoming more conservative.

”I’m just not happy with the way the government has been doing things,” said Aaron Kopp of Ravenna. He said he was not happy about taxes, the health-care plan and Obama’s policies in general, a feeling expressed by many.

Signs could be seen all around the huge gathering, including ”Pucker up D.C. Kiss Our Grass Roots,” ”The Opposite of Progress is Congress” and ”There’s nothing unpatriotic about caring for your grandma.”

Naomi Storob of Akron and friend John Welfley of Munroe Falls said government officials pay no attention to the people, and that Congress won’t have to be on the same health insurance as other U.S. citizens.

”I shudder to think what’s happening to our country,” Storob said.

Phil Bennett of Canton came wearing a costume hat like the crown on the Statue of Liberty.

”I just want to get my voice heard. I don’t agree with what’s going on right now,” he said.

 

Sam Williams of Akron dons a colonial hat for the Akron Tea Party held at the Falls River Square on Wednesday, August 19, 2009, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. “I disagree with where our country is going. It’s a little more change than I had wanted.” (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal)

View more photos>>

CUYAHOGA FALLS:

About 7,000 people crowded into Falls River Square Wednesday night for the first Akron Tea Party.

Organizers said it was the largest Ohio Tea Party so far.

Many in the crowd wore patriotic hats and shirts, waved American and ”Don’t Tread On Me” flags and carried homemade signs protesting policies in Washington, D.C., and the direction the country is headed in general.

”I was not born in a socialist country, and I will not die in a socialist country,” Republican state Sen. Tim Grendell of Geauga County said. ”And neither will my children.”

The crowd roared its approval.

He said it is ”all American” to get involved in government and let politicians know what policy changes voters would like to see.

”It’s called the First Amendment,” Grendell said.

Instead, he charged, the government is trying to keep the people ignorant and apathetic.

Grendell also urged the crowd to support strong states’ rights and to protect their freedoms.

”I want my country back,” he said.

Other speakers included Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Robart; American Policy Roundtable Vice President Rob Walgate; Republican candidate for Ohio’s 27th Senate District Frank LaRose; and businessmen Greg Knox of Dayton and Jason Wise of Stark County.

Robart said that former President George W. Bush’s bailout ”has been a total failure” and that President Barack Obama’s stimulus bill
”has been worse.”

He promised the crowd that ”cap-and-trade will be the largest tax increase in our history.” Robart said it should be renamed ”the China-India stimulus bill” and accused it of being ”based solely on a myth called global warming.”

”We’re not drinking the Kool-Aid no more,” attendee Barry Bugh of Akron said.

Cristina Shreve of Strongsville came to the Tea Party because, she said, she moved to the United States from Brazil with her parents and siblings as a child in 1965 ”to get away from socialized health care and everything.”

”I just don’t want government in everything we do. I don’t like the illegal immigrants. They should have to do what we did [to enter the country legally]. It took a long time,” Shreve said. ”I get so ticked off at these politicians that think they’re so special.”

Democrat joins ranks

Eileen Crilley, a Democrat from North Canton, said she came because her friend Phil Green of Minerva had urged her.

”I am here to see what it’s all about,” she said.

She said Green persuaded her to really check out President Obama’s health-care plan.

”Some people just hear the bits and parts they want to hear,” Crilley said. ”If you really dig deep, you’ll see what they’re really saying.”

Crilley said she was being swayed by her Republican friend and becoming more conservative.

”I’m just not happy with the way the government has been doing things,” said Aaron Kopp of Ravenna. He said he was not happy about taxes, the health-care plan and Obama’s policies in general, a feeling expressed by many.

Signs could be seen all around the huge gathering, including ”Pucker up D.C. Kiss Our Grass Roots,” ”The Opposite of Progress is Congress” and ”There’s nothing unpatriotic about caring for your grandma.”

Naomi Storob of Akron and friend John Welfley of Munroe Falls said government officials pay no attention to the people, and that Congress won’t have to be on the same health insurance as other U.S. citizens.

”I shudder to think what’s happening to our country,” Storob said.

Phil Bennett of Canton came wearing a costume hat like the crown on the Statue of Liberty.

”I just want to get my voice heard. I don’t agree with what’s going on right now,” he said.

Ohio.com – All stirred up at Tea Party.

Back in February, talk show host Glenn Beck spoke to a caller who was obviously distressed over the rapid fire changes the new administration and Congress was forcing down our throats.  The caller stated her case clearly but also said that she felt so alone and wondered if there was someone, anyone else that felt the way she did.  Glenn understood the callers concerns and vowed to prove to the caller that she was not alone. 

The next few weeks listeners were asked to consider 9 principles and 12 values and whether they were willing to commit to them. 

Then Glenn had a special broadcast in mid March announcing the 9/12 project.  The idea is for concerned citizens to meet with each other, communicate, plan, strategize, all to help steer the country back to the values and principles we believe in.

The 9/12 Projects are still in their infancy.  Most of the groups are planning “Tea-Parties” for April 15th (tax day).  As time passes they will no doubt be planning additional strategies.

Well, Torch and Fork is proud to say that we’ve been with the 9/12′ers right from the start and we’re proud of the work that they are doing for America.

Torch and Fork is offering sponsorship for your 9/12 group.  (There’s always going to be expenses.)  Groups that place a link to purchase Freedom Fighter Lapel Pins receive $1 for each pin purchased! 

If your group is interested, please contact me for details.  We need to set up a special ordering page for your group so the sales are properly registered.

Thanks again 9/12′ers for your service to your country!

American citizens from coast to coast are beginning to stir, they are finding their voice and demanding to be heard! 

This really quite exciting to be a part of it, to experience the energy, to watch it all come together. 

While it’s great to see all the activity, it’s important to note that we’ve only begun.  We need to keep stirring the bucket, talking to friends and co-workers, attending rallies, calling Congress. 

I can see we’re already having some effect.  Arlen Specter has said that he will NOT support the Card Check Bill; that’s huge.  We now have enough on the right side (assuming we all stick together on this) and filibuster and kill it.

If you are not up on the details, of a story Deacon Greg writes “landed like a grenade, yesterday”, here it is, in a nutshell:

According to the First Amendment and the Establishment Clause, the government has no business dictating to religious organizations how they should structure themselves. In Connecticut, though, some lawmakers seem to have skipped over the Constitution. A new bill will require Catholic parishes and dioceses — and only Catholics — to organize their parish leadership in a way that pleases the Connecticut legislature;

The [Democrats] Lawlor-and-McDonald-controlled Judiciary Committee has introduced Raised Bill 1098, a bill aimed specifically at the Catholic Church, which would remove the authority of the bishop and pastor over individual parishes and put a board of laymen in their place…

…Lest you think this is a joke, American Papist has Lawlor’s response to criticism. He admits that the state legislature wants to dictate the structure of this volunteer organization…

via CT Gov’t wants to control the Church – UPDATED | The Anchoress.

It is horrific that the government would show such blatant disregard for the First Amendment -

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The good news is that the legislators scurried away like cockroaches when citizen freedom fighters responded strongly against the bill. 

The bill has been tabled; for the time being.  Legislators have shown their colors; they are willing to void the Constitution to get a measure of control of the church.  I have no doubt in my mind that they would ultimately destroy the church altogether. 

So, enjoy your victory Freedom Fighters – you’ve done a good job; but stay vigilant.

A few minutes of the presentation is available below.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Fairfax, Va. – The United States Senate has voted, with overwhelming bipartisan support, to adopt an amendment offered by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) that seeks to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens in the District of Columbia. The amendment, attached to S.160, the D.C. Voting Rights Act, will repeal restrictive gun control laws passed by the District of Columbia’s (D.C.) city council after the landmark D.C. v. Heller Supreme Court decision. The vote margin was 62-36.

“Today’s vote brings us one step closer to restoring the Second Amendment freedom of law-abiding D.C. residents,” said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. “It’s ludicrous that good people in our nation’s capital continue to be harassed as they try to defend themselves and their loved ones in their own homes. This vote reinforces the historic Heller ruling.”

After the Heller ruling, the D.C. city council passed a law requiring would-be gun owners to pay a registration fee, pass a 20-question multiple choice test, take a five-hour training course, undergo an invasive background check every six years, re-register any firearm every three years, and finally, submit all handguns for ballistics testin

via NRA-ILA :: U.S. Senate Votes to Uphold Second Amendment in Washington, D.C..

Governor Jindal comes across like a real person.  He tells it like it is.  He sees the government bureaucracy for what it is; inefficientand over reaching.  He has taken on quite a challenge in governing Louisiana.  He’s cleaned up a lot of corruption that Louisinana politics had been infamous for.  He’s found ways to save money by trimming away at unecessary goverment spending.  Exactly what the federal government should be doing.  In fact Governor Jindal is carefully analyzing the stimulus bill and has announced his intentions to take a pass.  We’ll have to see if the Fed’s allow that or if like typical mobsters force it on states that don’t want it.

If you missed his address, please take a moment to watch it now.