From the “About Us” section of The Blaze site:

The goal of Glenn Beck and his staff at The Blaze is to “post report and analyze stories of interest on a wide range of topics from politics and culture, to faith and family.”

Does writing 5 out of the first 20 stories (see list below) for The Blaze on one issue, Muslims, constitute a “wide range?” Muslims represent 1% of all United States citizens yet constitute 25% of The Blaze first 20 stories.

Beck does say in the About Us section of the site that he would be reporting on stories concerning faith, but evidently he meant the faith of Muslims as that seems to be the beginning trend to The Blaze news articles.

Yet his speech at the Lincoln Memorial was directed primarily at Christians was it not? You would think since 80% of Americans are Christians (not all practicing mind you), he would at least have one story pertaining to their faith wouldn’t you? Instead, there were five stories related to the Muslim faith.

Which leads to the question, what is the difference between The Blaze and Fox News?

If there is any doubt as to Becks adherence to the neo-conservative message that Fox News continues to spout, this reporting by The Blaze, of what’s going on with Muslims in the world, seems to be the icing on the cake as to who Beck really is.

Who Is Glenn Beck?

When you do a search for “Glenn Beck” and “neo-conservative” you don’t find many articles on Beck. Sure there are a few videos of him floating around, attacking him for his support of the Bush bailout bill, the Patriot Act and his calling Ron Paul supporters “terrorists.”

Ironically Ron Paul supporters were the only real group that opposed the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Democrats just used it as a cause to get their man elected and then forgot about the issue once he was in office.

Anyone who thinks the situation is over in Iraq, just wait, it isn’t. And Obama seems to have a love affair with Pakistan that started well before he got elected and continues today as over 100 drone attacks have been ordered under his command.

You never saw Beck when he was on CNN say anything that would criticize Bush, the one who got us into the wars to begin with, as to why he went into Iraq in the first place. In fact, Beck has praised Bush, calling him a “smart man” after personally being invited to the White House. You also don’t see Beck criticizing Obama on what’s going on in Pakistan, let alone Iran.

To Becks’ credit, he did have one episode where he called for bringing the troops home. Like any good politician, he has to play to both sides. There are, believe it or not, Christians out there who are opposed to war.

Can Money Make You Who You Are?

If someone offered you $5 to do something illegal, that chances are no one would find out about, would you do it? Of course not. But what if they offered you $5,000? or $50,000? or $500,000? Would you have the least bit of temptation as the price offered increases?

When a man like Beck is paid $50 million by Rupert Murdoch to put on a show, he can’t stray too far from the News Corporation, owner of FOX News, mantra that has heavily influenced the Christian right. The right amount of money can sometimes change one’s views.

I would love to actually read that contract Beck signed with Murdoch. Sean Hannity’s too…

In the weeks and months ahead, I will begin exposing more of what Christians need to know to separate fact from fiction.

When you have one organization (Fox News) trying to hijack the Republican Party from its non-interventionist, conservative roots, and a faction of that organization (Glenn Beck’s; The Blaze) pretending to bring you the news from a different perspective , I have to wonder if the real intent isn’t to hijack Christians from their faith as they know it, substituting their own neo-conservative version in its place.

This is the issue Christians need to research and resolve for themselves. Maybe some of what I write in the future can help, and please share your thoughts on it.

The Verdict On Beck Is In

When The Blaze comes out with 5 out of 20 articles discussing a faith other than Christianity, I have to believe Beck’s hand has been played, and he’s holding three sixes.

As a Christian, I don’t trust him. I don’t trust him one bit.

Here is the list of the first 20 articles on The Blaze;

• Blair Book: ‘I Can’t Regret the Decision to go to War’ Government

• Ground Zero Imam Returns to US: ‘I Am Happy to Be American’ Faith
  

• Sen. Hatch Defends Muslim Right to Build Ground Zero Mosque Faith

• NY Residents Don’t Support Mosque at Ground Zero US

• MSNBC Host Vows He Could Draw Throngs to DC Like Beck Media & Culture

• UCSD Professors Want to Dissolve US — Give GPS Phones with Explicit Poetry to Illegals for Border Crossing
  

• Mets Trade Francoeur to Rangers

• Diamond in the Rough: Dolphins Players Comb Field for Missing Earring Sports

• FACT CHECK: Is Iraq Combat Really Over for U.S.? Politics

• Disqualified…By Himself Sports
  

• 10 Bailed-Out Banks Spent $16.3M Lobbying in First Half of 2010 Business

• ‘Little-Known’ Tea Party Candidate Defeats GOP Incumbent in Alaska Primary Politics
  

• Meghan McCain Calls Sarah Palin the ‘Time Bomb’ Politics

• Actor John Cusack Calls for ‘Satanic Death’ of Fox News, GOP Leaders

• US Muslim Group Releases Video Vowing Not to ‘Take Over This Country’

• Should Gibbs Be Nervous? Politics

• HOAs ‘Tread’ on Patriotic Symbols US

• Sebelius: It’s Time to ‘Reeducate’ You on ObamaCare Health

• AUDIO: Ground Zero Imam Sees Al-Qaeda & America like Squabbling Married Couples

• Love-Sick California Doctor Dies in Slide Down Boyfriend’s Chimney

Related posts:

1. Glenn Beck’s “Unity for All!” Unless of Course You’re Not Christian

Glenn Beck held a “restoring honor” rally in Washington D. C. over the weekend and thousands of people gathered at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to listen to what he and others, including Sarah Palin, had to say about helping to restore the values that founded this great nation.”

From the event announcement flier:

Forward: Understanding What America Is and Isn’t

As a surprise to many, the United States is not a democracy, but a representative republic with rule of law; the U.S. Constitution.

Despite the attempts by the U.S. government to spread democracy all over the world, the minority in a country cannot survive without the rule of law. When two wolves and a sheep decide what to have for dinner, what will the main course be? The sheep of course. This is essentially what democracy represents.

In attempts to restore her honor, as Glenn Beck puts it, keep these words from the Declaration of Independence in mind while reading this article;

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Every human deserves Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, as long as they aren’t breaking any law. While some Christians may think things have gone terribly wrong here in America, and they have to some extent, we also need to be tolerant of those who are not Christian, reaching out to them in love, not division as some in the media and elsewhere would have you do.

Christians in India

Just as there are Christian fundamentalist groups in the U.S., there are Hindu fundamentalist groups in India. What these groups try to do is maintain the status quo of nationalism. Rather than accepting those who think differently in a loving manner, they prefer to stop the progress of any other group that is different than their own.

According to Time magazine;

India’s right-wing Hindu groups and political parties allege that Christian groups are forcing Hindus to convert against their will, in an effort to change the nature of India. “They want to convert people to Christianity and convert the country into a Christian land,” Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, head of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council), one of India’s biggest Hindu nationalist groups, told Indian reporters.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas day, Hindu nationalists in the Kandhamal area attacked churches and convents and set fire to houses belonging to Christians, killing one person and injuring at least two dozen more. Since then, more than forty Christian houses have been set ablaze despite curfews and increased police patrols. Local Hindus say the violence began after Christians attacked a Hindu leader. Christians say the attacks — the latest in several bouts of religious violence that have plagued the state over the past few years — were sparked by church plans for a performance to celebrate Christmas.

Christians in China

China has come a long way in their tolerance of Christianity, yet many Christians in China still will not profess their religion openly for fear of losing their government job. Christians also don’t have the freedom to publish books without government restrictions.

The following is an excerpt from Dr. G. Wright Doyle’s article, “Are Chinese Christians Being Persecuted?”

Though Buddhists and Daoists practice their religions openly, and sometimes with government sponsorship, Christians must submit to close supervision and severe restrictions. You can’t just publish any Christian book; the censors still have the determining voice in the issuance of a Chinese ISBN. Some topics are still just too “sensitive.”

Being too open about your Christian faith could stunt your career. Discrimination against believers is still widespread. Party members and government officials are not allowed to profess faith in Christ, though many do privately.

There is also the fear that these groups of Christians can become too powerful and subsequently pose a threat to the government. Dr. Doyle goes on to say in a review he wrote about the book, “How “Dangerous” Are Chinese House Churches?”

Everyone familiar with the Chinese house churches knows just how a-political they have been – so far. It would be a great shame if, because of history, government fears that they will coalesce into a popular rebellion with aspirations to political power leads to greater repression. It would be a horrible tragedy if those fears became a reality.

Christians in Iran

Iran is a country where 98% of the citizens are of the Islam faith. According to Open Doors USA, since 2005, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president, things have become worse.

Gradually their (Christians) freedom to practice their faith has been restricted. Ordinances curtailing the rights of Christians were in existence since the revolution of 1979. They are now more rigorously enforced than before. Christians can not meet with Muslims in order to share their faith; Muslims are not allowed to visit a Christian church. Ahmadinejad applies the laws more stringently in order to prevent Muslims from converting to Christianity.

There has even been talk of a death penalty for apostasy, meaning anyone who questions the regime’s religious ideology, could be put to death.

You won’t find many Iranians talking negatively about their leaders as the Islamic Penal Code of Iran imposes a severe penalty;

Article 514- Anyone who somehow insults the founder of Isla mic Republic of Iran – Khomeini, or the Supreme Leader of the country should be sentenced to imprisonment from six months to two years.

After reviewing the above, are you happy that you live in a free America where no matter what religion you are, you can practice freely, as long as you obey the rule of law? This what our great nation is all about. Wouldn’t it be nice if this tolerance of others beliefs could be practiced everywhere in the world today? Should not the United States lead by example?

As a Christian, we are taught to love all mankind, despite their differences. Our leaders today need to practice what they preach if they are going to use Christianity as a crutch.

Glenn Beck’s Hidden Agenda

When Glenn Beck was on stage pronouncing “unity for all,” including the African American, Native American and Latino speakers speaking and in attendance, it would have been nice to see representatives from the Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu community, among others. While the heritage of our nation was and still is Christian, it is also a heritage tolerant of all religions.

This event that Beck put on was advertised as a “non-political” event but  looked more like a religious event with some military praise thrown in. It seems to me that Beck has an ulterior motive despite his saying this was not a Tea Party gathering;

There is no mention of Christianity in this description, but he did say on his show a few days before the event the following;

Saturday’s message — shhh! It’s a big secret. I’ve only talked about it for six months on one of the biggest cable news shows in history and the third largest radio show in America — but only six months, so — shhh, keep it down. Just between us. Don’t tell anyone in the media: The secret is God.

Glenn Beck does say he wants to “unite the American People.” But it is who he wants to unite that I challenge each and every Christian to question.

Does Glen Beck wish to unite just those Christians who support war, or can he unite Americans no matter what their view of war or religion is? This I believe is Beck’s hidden agenda. His intention is not to unite those who are not of the Christian faith that do not agree with fighting unnecessary, undeclared wars.

The Glenn Beck Majority

Remember Reverend Jerry Falwell’s “Moral Majority?” It was Falwell who put together the “I Love America” rallies across America. It was this effort that eventually got Republican presidents elected in 1980, 1984 and 1988. Falwell put his support behind George H.W. Bush instead of Robertson and Robertson lost in his bid to become president to Bush. Robertson  subsequently formed the “Christian Coalition” and Falwell passed away along with the moral majority.

80% of American may be Christians in America today, but not all 80% of Christians support the wars we are fighting. It seems that Beck is trying to form his own Christian party, one that supports the wars and neo-conservative thinking that “we must attack them before they attack us.” Or, along with many Tea Party leaders, are these people just Christian conservatives in wolves clothing?

Glenn Beck’s Unity for Neo-Conservatives

Becks ego is so inflated that he believes he is the chosen one to lead America back to what he claims our Founding Fathers envisioned. He was on stage saying things like, “And I testify to you this day” and  repeatedly chanting, “unity for all!”

I believe it is this “unity” that Beck is trying to accomplish ala Jerry Falwell in trying to capture the vote of the Christian right. This is the same neo-conservative Christian right who gave us two wars under the Bush leadership and set our nation up for the economic downturn that is now being blamed on the Obama administration. Of course the Obama administration is making things worse, but back in the days of the Bush administration, you didn’t see Hannity, Beck or anyone else questioning what our leaders were doing. Christians were duped then, just as they are being led down the same path again by those who are trying to convince them through Christian messages, ala Falwell, to “trust in me.” Sorry Glenn, I don’t trust you. I know where your bread is buttered and you are receiving much more than 30 pieces of silver for your betrayal to what the Bible teaches.

Beck continuously speaks to what our Founding Fathers have said on his show in trying to build a following that he personally feels he can lead to the promised land. But is he trying to take our nation down a path of no return in adherence to the neo-conservative “New Republican” mantra of war first and ask questions later?

I Call Into Question Beck’s Motives

As long as Beck continues to impress upon Christians that unity does not include those who think differently than we do, I question his motives.

Questions for Christians: What solutions do you have in obeying the commandment of “Love thy neighbor as thyself?” How would you approach those of a different religion? Would you approach them in “love” as the commandment dictates, or would you listen to media and political leaders who prefer to attack countries first on false pretenses and ask questions later? Is there a difference between patriotism and nationalism? Can an Muslim be a patriot?  Do Muslims in America celebrate July 4th along with everyone else? What about the Hindu’s, Chinese and Iranians that were born in the United States? Can they be patriotic too?

My reason for writing this article is to question why you think the way you do. Is it because you follow the patterns of how your parents think or does what Glenn Beck say really influence you? Does what your parents say and think or what Glenn Beck says resemble the words taught to us in our youth;

“Blessed are the peacemakers.” Matthew 5:9

And you shall  love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’[a] This is the first commandment.

And the second, like it, is this:  ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[a] There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:30,31

Related posts:

1. Glenn Beck’s “The Blaze” 5 of First 20 Stories Muslim Related

During the 2008 Presidential election, the Democrats rallied against the war and Republicans, except for one who said these wars will help contribute to bankrupting our nation, all approved of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. That one individual who everyone knew just wanted to “bring our troops home,” was Ron Paul (this is the part where neo-conservatives reading this cringe).

As we all know, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost us over $1 Trillion since their beginning and Obama hasn’t ended any of the wars as promised, but escalated them by sending more troops to Afghanistan. Not to mention, of course, the countless innocent victims and the deaths of thousands of our armed forces.

The following is one of those forwarded emails from a friend and my polite discussion with him that follows. I know why he thinks like he does because he has family who has served in the Armed forces. Many of us typically follow the patterns set by our parents, whether we are aware of them or not.

For quick proof of this, I’ll bet most reading this are of the same party, democrat or republican, as their parents were. To this I simply ask why? Do you agree with the basic platform of the party? Is there a real reason why you are one or the other? Or do you hate the other side just because, well, they’re the other side? Are they really the “other side?”

In the weeks and months to come, I want to start challenging democrats and republicans, from a Christian perspective as to why they think the way they do, and in particular, see if this thinking is Biblical in its structure.

Here’s the discussion I had with my friend, starting with the email he sent, and my replies. All of these discussion took place on 4/22/2009.

My friends comment to this email was: “I agree with her sentiments completely!!”

My reply:

Hey Mike….(if I may respond my friend….)

Did you know that Osama bin Laden is not being sought after by the FBI for 9/11?

Personally, as a Christian, I don’t like the attempt by the author of this piece associating Jesus Christ with “soldiers.”  Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament, never utilized wars to justify his message.  He was the “Prince of Peace!”

The reason I reply to these kinds of email is because I’m writing about it in my book…, exposing how Republicans used to be against war, but this new “neoconservative” Republican party is pro-war. It was their downfall in the 2006 mid-term elections and is their downfall today with Sean Hannity, Neal Boortz (who calls him self a libertarian, but isn’t), Michael Medved, Michelle Malkin, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levine and even Ba Ba O’Reilly spreading their propaganda in support of war to this day.

Most Republicans have not researched the Bible, let alone just war theory.  And believe it or not, this war was never “declared” as our Constitution mandates.  Neither was the Vietnam war or the Korean war (both started by Democrats) and we both know how those ended up with over 50k U.S. soldiers killed.

The goal of that section of my book is “To Love Thy Neighbor!”

IMO, it is the Left and the Right that are bankrupting our Country.  I’ve been saying this for some time as you know mi Amigo….

Peace!

Doug

P.S.  Always open to your thoughts.  I debated Republicans (I’m not a democrat by the way) on this all last year leading up to the election of Obama. Now all of a sudden, free markets are important again to them, but they still don’t get the pro-war issue.  I’m more of an old school Republican, not this new version.  I won the debates and recommended people read the book, “The Betrayal of the American Right” by Murray Rothbard, which showed that this “new” Republican party’s roots can be traced back to Irving Kristol and company, father of Bill Kristol, a guy who really, really likes war.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyDx1WJiSRw

His Reply;

Doug, good thoughts and I agree with the bulk of what you say … certainly the sentiments.  I do agree however that we can’t fight the irrational global terrorism machine without firm tactics.  The key question is what to use and how far to go.  The answer is not backing off all together!  Independent of if this is a “War” or not, we have a solid responsibility to protect American lives both here and abroad, especially from those who have openly declared War on us and who’s sole purpose is to kill Americans!  Any other theoretical argument is secondary to stepping up to this severe threat across many fronts.  The Bible does say “eye for an eye” (among many other passages that related to confronting evil )… does it not?!

My Reply:

Hi Mike…appreciate the feedback and conversation!  It’s not easy to talk about some of these emotionally charged issues….

Yes, the Bible does speak about an “eye for an eye.”  However, I’ll quote how that Bible Verse should be interpreted;  “It was saying that the penalty imposed on a person should be in line with the damage that they caused. If they killed a cow, they were to repay the value of the cow. If they burned a field, they were to repay the value of any crops of future production lost from the land. If they damaged a person’s tooth, they were to pay the cost of any medical bills, etc. connected with the injury. If they damaged an eye, they were to pay medical bills and any loss of income. If they harmed another person, they were to repay that person the value “a cow for a cow, a field or a field, a tooth for a tooth, and an eye for an eye.”

By the time Jesus came along, people had begun to misuse that scripture, and to claim it gave them the right to take revenge on another person. They were twisting the quote (as people often do even today) to mean that “if you damage my tooth, I can damage yours.”

The old testament is full of war. When God’s people were with Him, they won the wars. When they were against him, they lost.

With the introduction of the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus Christ, came this verse; “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Keep in mind that this is different than if one is attacked where you are allowed to defend yourself.

Luke 22: 35-36: Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”  “Nothing,” they answered.  He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”

Iraq did not attack us. Afghanistan did house the Taliban who were blamed for the attack (not individually). But congress were derelict in their duty by not “declaring” war per the U.S. Constitution, Article 1 Section 8.

What’s interesting is that most of the hijackers from 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia, a country that houses the most radical terrorist organization on earth, the Wahibbi’s. The Wahibbi’s definition of rape is that 4 males must witness “penetration,” and he women can’t testify.  Not 3, not 2, but “4!” They also say that “if you don’t believe what I believe, then I have a right, according to their interpretation of the Qu’ran, to kill you.”

So why didn’t the U.S. go into Saudi Arabia?  GW and his father have deep ties with the Saudi Royalty.  It wasn’t in their best “interest.”  You never hear anything from Limbaugh, Hannity, etc. about Saudi Arabia and the Wahibbi’s.  Why is that?

The other ironic thing is we have our troops protecting 130 other countries borders, at the taxpayers expense, but leave our borders unprotected.

Lastly, “worry” is a sin according to the Bible.  My goal in the book I’m writing is to stop believing the propaganda that is espoused by the media that plays on ones fears.  As a Christian, “don’t worry, be happy” and go about doing His work. The worst that can happen, if you are a believer, is you die and go to heaven.  How cool is that?

Personally, I don’t live in fear.  I don’t believe a word a politician or media pundit says and I am “Fed Up!” with where they have taken this great nation and I’m trying to “enlighten” those who will listen (there’s much more to it than just this issue).

I’m also having fun with it….and I pin much of what is happening on the Federal Reserve and Congress, because without “golden handcuffs,” they have the ability to print as much money as they want to fund their wars.  Take away that ability, and they won’t go “marching off to war” as they’ll have to choose between spending money on unnecessary things like war and rather where it is needed at home on infrastructure and things of that nature.

Hope that clears things up a bit Mike….and I don’t claim to know everything…but I do feel the wool has been pulled over my eyes long enough in countless ways, and I’m exposing it as much as I can.  It takes much convincing to reverse the years and years of propaganda touted by media, government and especially our education system (that I was a victim of).  I really think you’ll like the book! (not a sales pitch, lol…but I can’t wait to get it out to the public!)….

Peace!…and thanks for the exchange as I’m always open to opinions…..

Doug

My friends reply;

Doug, I really appreciate the range of your ideas!  Can’t wait for the book.

End

While neo-conservatives or this “new” republican party may mock Ron Paul and those who are against these unnecessary wars, I challenge them from a Biblical basis for their infatuation with death and destruction. If anyone wants to take the position that an “eye for an eye” is justified Biblically, then let them show what Bible verses from Jesus teachings in the New Testament back up this point of view. I’m all willing to listen to that for which I do not know.

I am still working on the book that I mentioned in that email exchange. I have just completed my first book, “Buy Gold and Silver Safely” that is available soon on Amazon.com or my website; http://buygoldandsilversafely.com

Since that book is finished, I can start concentrating on this political/Christian book and hopefully make a difference in this world.

I’m not sure if I’ll keep the name “Fed Up!” as Texas governor Rick Perry is coming out with a book of the same title later this year. Being that Rick Perry was a big spender governor, it doesn’t make sense that he’s “Fed Up” with big government. Yet he’s writing about the problems of big government despite having “doubled state debt and accepted almost $23 billion in stimulus dollars.”

I do have a second title that I think will work. I’ll keep it a secret for now.

Related posts:

1. Conversations With A Neo-Con, Circa 2010
2. The Left and Right Love and Need War

During the 2008 election, I battled it out with the neo-con’s on Michelle Malkin’s site. The moment I mentioned anything about the war, they immediately tried to paint me as a democrat (of course they can’t do that any longer).

I learned that before making comments on these types of neo-conservative sites, I need to write a disclaimer for each reply. The moment I mentioned Ron Paul’s name, the same disclaimer had to be expanded to include; “I’m not a conspiracy nut, don’t wear a tin foil hat, and I’m not a racist, let’s debate the issues.”

With that said, I weeded out 95% of the responders. The other 5% and I had good “discussions” with. Which leads me to the topic of this post; how to approach the neo-cons circa 2010.

Since facebook is more prevalent than it was in 2008, this is a good place to have these types of discussions. The importance here is to keep it as a discussion, and not an argument. Human emotion takes control of us sometimes and a simple reply of malice intent can ruin the whole effort to convert to your point of view.

It is not easy to enlighten some of the neo-cons. I consider the following facebook conversation (see below) with a friend of mine, to be a perfect example. Not too many people reply to his constant, pro-Republican, pro-war, pro-Israel posts. He knows where I stand on things because I do reply. While he tries to spin my comments into a mocking of myself (I’m sure if he were in charge, I would have been accused of being a heretic and burned at the stake if in another era), I try to keep on track and make my points with solid facts. Because of our friendship, I don’t reply to ALL his posts…but pick and choose.

I haven’t won him over, but with some of these neo-conservative types, it won’t be possible to do so. But the important thing is, all of his 100 or so friends are reading what he and I are writing. And that I believe is a good way to win people over…without ever meeting them.

If I choose to make him look like a fool, which I could easily do, it is I who looks like the fool to all HIS friends.

This is the message I’d like to convey moving forward. Keep your cool and have a good discussion. Keep the friendship…and know others are watching (also, when they make a comment like “I’m done,” which has happened with a couple of these people I have spoken with, take it as a silent victory, and don’t gloat!).

Here was my latest conversation – he already knows I’m a Ron Paul supporter from prior conversations – and so do his friends (last names withheld):

Jim (first post):
New UK Prime Minister David Cameron gets it: succeed in Afghanistan, secure economic growth and fight protectionism. Any chance we can trade Obama for Mr. Cameron? We will likely need to throw in some cash and a player to be named later.

Doug:
Succeed in Afghanistan while Rome burns?

Jim:
Isolationism is not a solution.

Doug:
At a cost of over $1 Trillion since the war began, our politicians choose non-declared war interventionism against no country, but a group (al-qaeda). The Russians tried fighting this group and it bankrupted their country. At some point we will walk away from these wars and some in power will claim victory. The question is, will it be before or after said bankruptcy that is hurried along by the Obama administrations spending spree (including increasing the presence of the troops in Afghanistan). Hey…that’s something you and Obama do agree on! lol
Time will tell Jim…

From a Christian standpoint…and the thesis of my second book, I will state the case against the wars despite Billy Kristol’s (not Billy Crystal to anyone reading this) best efforts. The same goes for Warlord Sean Hannity.

Isolationism and non-interventionism are two separate things. I’m all for trading with “all” neighbors…we could use some of them buying our stuff to help out GDP!

Jim
Islamic extremists have declared WWIII. We can ignore them and continue to pay the consequences, or stick our head in the sand because they are an untraditional enemy without defined borders. Losing this war will cost exponentially more in dollars and lives than the cost of fighting back. Semantics aside, your “non-intervention” strategy is a loser on every level.

Doug:
Moving stuff into storage now Jim…obviously we see things differently. But you already know that. Will reply later…

Doug:
Islamic extremism is today what communism was in decades past. The elite always need a cause to “defeat” in order to keep their well funded military industrial complex well oiled (if you get my drift).

We defeated communism without war. All “they” want is the reasoning and people like Billy Kristol, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity from the right and all the folks from the left who forgot what Obama’s campaign promises were are just as guilty.

Be careful what you wish for: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/nick-cle…

Jim:
So your position is that Islamic extremists are the victims of America’s elites? Suicide bombers, terrorist training camps, exploitation of women, 9/11…perpetrated by a conspiracy of Dick Cheney and his ilk…and Sharia Law is as harmless as Communism. Okay, I’m sold.

Doug:
As far as Islamic extremist go, if America wanted to, they would have gone after the 17 out of 19 terrorists who were from Saudi Arabia, part of the most radical Islamic group in the world, the Wahabbis. But instead, Bush took the war to Iraq? This isn’t a conspiracy, it’s fact.
What neoconservatives want to do is take the war everywhere to fight an enemy that is fueled further by the innocent victims seeking revenge (read the book “Blowback” to understand this). They should also study just war theory, especially those who call themselves Christian.

It’s as if these folks never played the game of Risk. Meanwhile, China, if they wanted to, will just wait for America to implode. And implode we will Jim. The right will blame Obama. The left won’t have a leg to stand on. Both the right and the left are complicit. When they come to require the youth to fight their bloody wars, that will be the last straw. The youth won’t go for it. Meanwhile, the police state grows, TSA lackies frisk 12 year old girls and Homeland Security lets gang members cross the borders by the hundreds every day. Don’t you think our priorities are a little ass backwards?

“The victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory.” Sun Tzu

Jim:
The 9/11 terrorists and many others are Saudis, but train in Afgan, Sudanese and Somali camps. Bush’s recognition of the Islamic threat and vision was soundly documented in his National Security Strategy documents of 2002 and 2006, and his Iraq strategy was endorsed by 17 mostly-unanimous UN resolutions over three years. Unfortunately it helps to be right AND execute well. Either way, your NeoCon conspiracy theories (and lingo) are straight out of 1996 and your isolationist solutions date back to 1916, though your extremist appeasement leanings smack of Obama 2010. I am an optimist and I trust the American people to swing the pendulum back to common sense (vs. PC), economic growth (vs. wealth redistribution) and the principles outlined by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution. It’s not rocket science, it is not a conspiracy and the U.S. will not “implode” (whatever that means). Agree to disagree. I’m done.

Doug:
It’s ok Jim… I’ll let my book do the talking… But the wars were not “declared” per the Constitution. Have a good one…

(I could have easily addressed the issues of his last post, but chose to take up the battle, erm, discussion, at a later time, respecting the fact that it is his facebook page I’m commenting on).

Share your thoughts and tactics…would love to hear them…

Related posts:

1. Conversations With A Neo-Conservative From A Christian Perspective

This attack by Weiner on Beck could just as well have been attributed to many other radio and television personalities from both sides of the aisle who have relationships with unscrupulous gold dealers.

Updating Website and Introducing Gold and Silver Bullion Sales Company

I’ll also be updating my website and introducing my gold and silver bullion sales company, “Buy Gold and Silver Safely.”

The mission of the company is to offer gold and silver at the lowest possible rates in the industry. I plan on being the Walmart to the gold and silver industry because I believe everyone should own physical gold and silver.

I should return in a couple weeks. If you are new to this site, click on the “gold” tab and read my past articles where I have openly challenged CFP’s, CFA’s, financial advisors, journalists and gurus like Dave Ramsey on the negative articles they have written about gold.

My goal is to educate people so they can take the worry out of buying gold and silver.

Special Offer

If anyone wants to read the current edition of my books on gold and silver, they can purchase both for $19.97 and I’ll send them a copy of the forthcoming hard cover book free of charge once it is finished (including postage for U.S. residents only). The updated book is to bring it current for 2010 and make it ready to sell on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, etc.

The current gold and silver ebooks can be purchased by clicking here. Include your mailing address in the “comment” box so I know where to send the hard copy book once it’s finished.

Coming soon:

Related posts:

1. All Gold, Investment and Economic Articles Moved To New Website

Would the media be lauding the passing of this bill that would once and for all let the American people know what goes on at the Federal Reserve, or would they let the good citizens know this bill is lacking the necessary audit of monetary policy, the one thing that could prevent the Federal Reserve from causing future busts in the economic cycle.

Leave it to the mainstream media, both sides of the aisle, to misinform. Look at the following headlines for proof positive there are big money sources working against letting the Federal Reserve cat out of the bag.

Washington Post: “Victory for Audit the Fed”

Forbes: “Ron Paul Gets His Wish – The Fed Will Be Audited”

Huffington Post: “Ron Paul Backs Fed Audit Compromise”

Source

Source

Source

Every single one of those title’s is misleading and plain wrong.

What Ron Paul Really Said

Ron Paul did not approve of the Sanders amendment.  He knew it didn’t go far enough. Sure, he would have voted for it, but the Vitter amendment was the carbon copy of the original H.R. 1207 bill that received bipartisan support in the House.  This is what Ron Paul wanted to pass, but failed to win support in the Senate.

Taxpayers are sick and tired of bailing out privileged, dysfunctional institutions that should be allowed to fail in order to stop their ability to wreak havoc on our economy.  Perpetuating these corporations at taxpayer expense is not just wasteful, it is actively harmful.  It would be good to know what went on in the past, but what about accountability in the future?  A one-time disclosure now will not do us a lot of good down the road when the cycle repeats itself and friends of the Fed find themselves in trouble again.

More importantly, agreements with foreign central banks are not touched by the new Sanders Amendment language.  At a time when Greece, Portugal, Spain and other countries are experiencing dire financial crises and have their hands out to the international community, we need to know if our Federal Reserve is at all involved in bailing them out.  As weary as we are of bailing out companies, the American people would not stand for bailing out entire countries. Our government is wasteful enough in its own affairs without contributing to the waste of other countries.  Yet the Fed currently has the tools it needs to do just this, and to do it in secret.

Ron Paul Source

Is anyone else putting the pieces of the puzzle together?

What are you going to do about it come November?

Related posts:

1. An Open Letter To Sellout Congressman Bernie Sanders On Auditing the Fed
2. Why Don’t The Elite Want the Fed to be Audited?
3. Limbaugh and Hannity Still Favor The Fed and War While Most In America Don’t

Unfortunately, what Sanders facebook fans don’t realize is this amendment does not audit monetary policy, the one thing that H.R. 1207 and the Vitter amendment would have audited. In other words, the folks at the federal Reserve are smiling, including Ben Bernanke who approved of the Sanders amendment.

To rub salt in the wound to all who have worked hard at getting the original  “Audit the Fed” bill to pass the House with bipartisan support, Senators Bernie Sanders and Judd Gregg were doing the media circuit today receiving pats on the back.  They were enjoying congratulatory remarks from all the journalists who don’t have a clue about the monetary policy of the Fed and their manipulation of interest rates being one of the main culprits for the bust to begin with.

The Federal Reserve is just a con game and We the People will pay for their past and future mistakes through higher taxes and higher inflation.  Thank you Sanders and Judd….and future generations will be thanking you too for decades to come…except not in the manner you expect!

Mr. Sanders,

People are cheering for your victory with the passing of your bill 96-0 but in reality the Paul/Grayson amendment, H.R. 1207, would have gone much further in addressing auditing Federal Reserve monetary policy. Your bill does nothing towards that end.

Even though you voted for the Vitter amendment, you are a sell out to the Dodd and Gregg power elite of the Senate who refuse to work on behalf of the People in restraining the Federal Reserve, the cause of the bust to begin with.

The result of such negligence will be seen in a weakening dollar, a Federal Reserve balance sheet full of risk and more and more power handed to the entity that wreaks havoc on the entire economic system.

Congress has no clue what will occur because they can’t see the forest through the trees. We the People can and will remove from office those who do not adhere to the principles of Sound Monetary Policy.

It’s a shame you had no fight in you to stand for the principles of H.R. 1207, Ron Paul and Alan Grayson. Our nation will reap what Dodd, Gregg and the others who voted “NAY” to the Vitter amendment sow.

Thank you for voting yes. It falls short of me recommending anyone vote for you in the future because of your succumbing to the power elite. J.P. Morgan is smiling in his grave.

Related posts:

1. Left and Right Media Misinforming Public About Auditing the Fed
2. Senate Shoots Down Vitter Amendment; Vote the Bums Out!
3. Limbaugh and Hannity Still Favor The Fed and War While Most In America Don’t

An attempt at pulling the wool over the People’s eyes I had discussed yesterday has succeeded.   See The Federal Reserve Con Game

Don’t be fooled by the media’s attempt to sugar coat any audit with a quasi attempt like what is being pushed through Congress now and supported by the White House.

Know the difference.  Contact your senator now!

Watered Down Version Passes

It turns out, the Sanders Amendment, known as the watered down version of the original Audit the Fed bill, H.R. 1207 that passed the House in a bipartisan vote, was passed with a 96-0 vote.

The concern from those who wanted the Fed to be audited was the fact the Sanders amendment would not address monetary policy.  Monetary policy is the one thing Bernanke and the Fed have been keen on keeping out of any Fed audit bill. They succeeded.

Who Was Most Vocal Against the Original Audit the Fed Bill?

Two of the most vocal against the original Audit the Fed bill proposed by House members Ron Paul and Alan Grayson were Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Judd Gregg (R-NH).  These two senators had nothing to lose with their outrage at this bill from the get go as neither of them are running for reelection in their states.

Excerpt from that video:

Gregg; You know the only thing that’s not audited is monetary policy.”

Paul; It’s the only thing that counts.”

Gregg; The only part that’s not subject to the political influence of the Congress auditing it, is monetary and open market.  Why?  Because an independent Fed is critical to a stable monetary system.

Paul; Look what you have. Where’s the stability?

Paul; The Constitution puts the responsibility of the value of the dollar on the Congress, not some secret body or international orginization to deal with our money (Paul is referring here to IMF, Special Drawing Rights to be discussed in a forthcoming article).

Result of Sanders Amendment: No Monetary Policy Audit

Good Riddance Dodd and Gregg

Dodd would have been annihilated by Peter Schiff in the Connecticut Senate race come November.  Judd was not looked upon favorably in New Hampshire.

What I really ponder is what hidden deals have these outgoing Senators have made with their corporate masters in setting up the next leg of their careers.  You can bet they will somehow be taken care of.

Please note that Senator Brown from Massachusetts voted with the Democrats….again.  Talk about your one time Senator.

Defeat Can Only Lead To Victory

In the end, the failure of the Vitter amendment to pass is not going to stop me from going after those who voted “nay” to this bill.  These people need to be voted out of office.  They are allowing an entity that is quasi-government in nature to garner more and more power while at the same time causing the bust to begin with.

At some point this will come crashing down on all of us.

Will I be writing an article at that point in time telling everyone “I told you so?”  The answer is no.  Why?  Because I’m going to be doing something about it now in completing my book “Fed Up!” with the intent of waking people up to what’s really going on with Congress and the Federal Reserve.

Don’t Vote for Any of Those Who Voted “NAY” Below Come November – Throw the Bums Out!

Grouped By Vote Position

Related posts:

1. An Open Letter To Sellout Congressman Bernie Sanders On Auditing the Fed
2. Left and Right Media Misinforming Public About Auditing the Fed
3. Limbaugh and Hannity Still Favor The Fed and War While Most In America Don’t

While people have laughed at former President George Bush’s attempt in getting a quote right in the above video, it looks like Bush is also wrong in saying “you can’t be fooled again.”

Are we Americans getting fooled again? If so, by whom?

To answer these questions, take a look at what’s been going on at the Federal Reserve that past few years and see how their quest for more power and control is just an attempt at fooling the American public into thinking they have everything under control.  In reality, the Federal Reserve has brought us to the brink of collapse.  You just can’t see it yet.

RECENT HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF FEDERAL RESERVE QUEST FOR MORE POWER

3/29/2008 -Bush Proposes More Power for Fed

On March 29th 2008, the Bush administration proposed a sweeping overhaul of the way the nations financial industry would be regulated, including recommending more powers for the Federal Reserve.

The Fed would become the government’s “market stability regulator,” given sweeping powers to gather information on a wide range of institutions so that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues could better detect where threats to the system might be hiding.

7/30/2008 – Congress Votes To Keep People in their Homes

Shortly after this Bush proposal, Congress, in a bipartisan effort, passed Nancy Pelosi’s bill, H.R. 3221, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.  The vote was 72-13, with 15 Senators not voting, including McCain and Obama.

This is the bill that was passed to keep people in their homes and try and get more individuals suckers to purchase homes with only a 3.5% down payment through an FHA program.  People who bought homes at the wrong time are thus rewarded and people who don’t have the wherewithal of knowing when is the best time to buy real estate were given free gifts from the U.S. taxpayer.  The rest of you paid for it.

Embedded in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act was the first granting of power to the Federal Reserve under Sec. 1118.

CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY AND THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM TO ENSURE FINANCIAL MARKET STABILITY

9/23/08 – Stock and Real Estate Market Continue To Fall

As the stock and real estate markets continued to fall, on September 23rd, 2008, Treasury Secretary Paulson and Bush appointee Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke went on the record urging Senators to pass some sort of rescue plan with the intent of giving the Federal Reserve even more power to manipulate the markets.  In reality, it was the Federal Reserves  manipulations to begin with that was causing the market turmoil as Thomas Woods pointed out in his book, “Meltdown.”

Thomas Woods takes the Austrian economic approach as to why the markets failed.  In a nutshell, the Fed kept interest rates too low for too long rather than let the free market dictate.  This encouraged/fooled businesses into taking on more credit, expanding the boom period, which was followed by the inevitable bust we are experiencing now when the carpet was pulled from underneath them.

Only the pompous folks at the Federal Reserve would have the gall to ask for more power while causing the bust to begin with.  The fact that many in America don’t see the connection; “Fool me once.”

The housing and stock market continued to fall in 2008 despite the attempt by Congress and the Fed collusion in helping homeowners.  Certain derivative bets were falling apart causing the collapse of Bear Stearns, Lehman and AIG and threatening many other financial institutions while investors were running to Treasuries for safety.

Paulson, Bernanke Urge Senators to Pass Rescue Plan

10/08/2008 - “Emergency, Emergency” Gomer Pyle the Paulson, Bernanke, Geithner Show

Congress passes the H.R. 1424 – Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 aka TARP.   Almost all Democrats and 47 Republicans voted for this bill.

On a side note, does it make sense to vote for those who are in favor of such bills that would threaten the system?  Why not vote them out?  But you may not be convinced yet as to the reasons why they need to be voted out.  Digging deeper might shed some light.

This Emergency act gave the Federal Reserve even more power to stabilize the financial markets through the purchase of troubled assets:

TROUBLED ASSETS- The term ‘troubled assets’ means–

(A) residential or commercial mortgages and any securities, obligations, or other instruments that are based on or related to such mortgages, that in each case was originated or issued on or before March 14, 2008, the purchase of which the Secretary determines promotes financial market stability; and

(B) any other financial instrument that the Secretary, after consultation with the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, determines the purchase of which is necessary to promote financial market stability, but only upon transmittal of such determination, in writing, to the appropriate committees of Congress.

If you own a flower shop or local restaurant and business has slowed down to a halt because of the economy, you are not deemed necessary to financial market stability and failure is your only option.  If you have given millions to politicians on both the left and the right showing loyalty to the Parties in charge, you’re allowed to survive.

Who Allows Your Business to Survive?

The Financial Stability Oversight Board was established under this bill to decide which assets were deemed troubled.  This Board is comprised of–  (1) the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;  (2) the Secretary;  (3) the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency;  (4) the Chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission; and  (5) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Congress Is Assured Transparency and Disclosure by the Fed

This bill was also supposed to make the Federal Reserve provide some sort of transparency so the public could see what shenanigans the folks at the Federal Reserve were up to.

SEC. 114. MARKET TRANSPARENCY.

(a) Pricing- To facilitate market transparency, the Secretary shall make available to the public, in electronic form, a description, amounts, and pricing of assets acquired under this Act, within 2 business days of purchase, trade, or other disposition.

(b) Disclosure- For each type of financial institutions that sells troubled assets to the Secretary under this Act, the Secretary shall determine whether the public disclosure required for such financial institutions with respect to off-balance sheet transactions, derivatives instruments, contingent liabilities, and similar sources of potential exposure is adequate to provide to the public sufficient information as to the true financial position of the institutions. If such disclosure is not adequate for that purpose, the Secretary shall make recommendations for additional disclosure requirements to the relevant regulators.

11/11/2008 – Federal Reserve Gone Wild

Instead of transparency and disclosure, we ended up with the Fed refusing to disclose anything to anyone.  If any other entity did this, the media would be all over it exposing such a con.  Where is the media exposure?  The media for the most part has been silent, but there are some people reporting what’s going on daily. While others are doing their part to expose the truth. and the Campaign for Liberty keeps folks on track offering their own transparency of Congress and the Fed.

For the most part, who really believes Bernanke and the Federal Reserve would abide by any rules set forth to begin with?  Did the congressmen and women who voted for it believe the words of Paulson and Bernanke?  Did they even read the bills they passed into law?  The self interest of these folks is evident by their actions.  But for whose benefit, yours?

“Just the Facts”

“Fed Defies Transparency Aim in Refusal to Disclose [$2 Trillion in taxpayer loans to banks]

“The Federal Reserve is refusing to identify the recipients of almost $2 trillion of emergency loans from American taxpayers or the troubled assets the central bank is accepting as collateral.” … “Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said in September they would comply with congressional demands for transparency in a $700 billion bailout of the banking system. Two months later, as the Fed lends far more than that in separate rescue programs that didn’t require approval by Congress, Americans have no idea where their money is going or what securities the banks are pledging in return.” … ““The collateral is not being adequately disclosed, and that’s a big problem,” said Dan Fuss, vice chairman of Boston- based Loomis Sayles & Co., where he co-manages $17 billion in bonds. “In a liquid market, this wouldn’t matter, but we’re not. The market is very nervous and very thin.”” … “Bloomberg News has requested details of the Fed lending under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act and filed a federal lawsuit Nov. 7 seeking to force disclosure.” … “The Fed made the loans under terms of 11 programs, eight of them created in the past 15 months, in the midst of the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression.” … ““It’s your money; it’s not the Fed’s money,” said billionaire Ted Forstmann, senior partner of Forstmann Little & Co. in New York. “Of course there should be transparency.”” -By Mark Pittman, Bob Ivry and Alison Fitzgerald; Bloomberg

But it’s not just 2 Trillion the Fed is playing with.  They have managed to put the U.S. Taxpayers at risk for $9.7 Trillion in future pledges, or as Bloomberg put it, “enough to pay off more than 90 percent of the nation’s home mortgages.”

The $9.7 trillion in pledges would be enough to send a $1,430 check to every man, woman and child alive in the world. It’s 13 times what the U.S. has spent so far on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Congressional Budget Office data, and is almost enough to pay off every home mortgage loan in the U.S., calculated at $10.5 trillion by the Federal Reserve.

Bloomberg along with the NyTimes ended up suing the Fed to get full disclosure.

A federal judge in Manhattan ruled in Bloomberg’s favor last November, and a three-member panel of appellate judges upheld that ruling in March. But last week the Fed asked the full United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to take up the case.

The Fed will go to all ends to keep the truth from U.S. taxpayers.  These same Congressmen and women who gave the Fed more powers through the bills described above are still at it today pulling the wool over your eyes by offering a watered down Audit the Fed bill instead of the original version offered by Alan Grayson and Ron Paul.

The Truth Be Known – It’s All a Con Game

When an investor makes a decision on buying company A over Company B, they do their due diligence, look at each companies financial balance sheets and make an informed decision as to whether to put their hard earned money into the company in anticipation of seeing it grow in value.

Those who are more adverse to risk, like many seniors these days, will put their money in Treasuries and assume the small amount of interest they receive will go towards paying their bills and keeping pace with inflation.

What would an investor or senior do if they didn’t have access to a companies balance sheet or didn’t know anything about the assets on the balance sheet?  Would they invest?

Well guess what folks…if you have money in a bank, money market or in Treasuries, you don’t know what’s in the Fed’s balances sheet and you are that investor. But after some digging, I did find what’s in the Fed’s wallet.

The Federal Reserve’s Balance Sheet

Since 1971, the Federal reserve has kept a balance sheet consisting of about 70% in U.S. Treasury Securities as seen in the chart below.

That started to change towards the end of 2007.  By the end of 2008, the Federal Reserve had approximately 22% in Treasuries, a 48% decrease in the levels experienced the last 40 years .   Are seniors aware of this?  Is anyone?

Author Peter Stella: Monetary and Capital Markets Department

Just What Are the Assets the Fed Carries on Their Books if Not Treasuries?  Are They Safe?

Take a look at the following chart and you’ll see that instead of Treasury Securities, 78% of the Federal Reserves balance sheet consists of approximately $2.2 Trillion of all those assets they’ve been accumulating under the TARP program thanks to Congress giving them the authority to do so.

For better viewing click here (will open in new window)

Perhaps some of you reading this today feel safe with your investments believing Bernanke and the Federal Reserve have indeed pulled us out of this recession.  But if you really sit down and analyze the green shoots pushing the stock market higher, they are fueled only by the false hopes provided by government spending.

Whether it be cash for clunkers, appliances, homes or buyouts of failed institutions, they are the same false hopes the Federal Reserve provides time and time again, the hopes that turn to fear and despair as the inevitable bust arrives.

Don’t expect anything different this time around except a harder fall.  Just look at the Fed’s balance sheet for proof.  Then add to that Fannie and Freddie’s future obligations.

Sorry GW…you can get fooled again and thanks a bunch for making sure of it. But you don’t have to be fooled twice…

If you want to see an end to this Congressional and Federal Reserve madness then you must contact your senators now and have them vote YES for Congressman David Vitter’s amendment which contains the Audit the Fed language that passed the House last fall.

Don’t be fooled by the media’s attempt to sugar coat any audit with a quasi attempt like what is being pushed through Congress now and supported by the White House.

Know the difference.  Contact your senator now!

No related posts.

I want to reiterate the point this $100 Billion was approved by congress just 8 months after receiving $700 Billion from U.S. taxpayers for TARP.  I would also like to point out that the banks who received money from us taxpayers did not use the gift to pay off toxic assets, but instead used it to shore up their cash balances and fend off the FDIC.  The banks are still in trouble.

It turns out, Ron Paul asked the question, “Where does the money come from (to fund the IMF)?” to Ben Bernanke in April of 2010.  Bernanke confirms the Federal Reserve had nothing to do with it as the money was approved by congress.  But where does Congress get the money from?  Higher taxes and/or higher inflation, caused by the Federal Reserve of course…with the help of wiling Congressmen.

So Bernanke, in this case, is right.  The money wasn’t printed out of thin air via the Treasury and the Fed, but allocated by Congress.

I wanted to know who in Congress voted for this gift to the IMF.  Was it along party lines or, like the TARP $700 billion bailout for the financial industry, was it both the Republicans and Democrats who joined together in favor of passing this bill?

When the bill, H.R.2346 came to the House of Representatives vote, it passed by a roll call vote on May 14th, 2009 with 368 Ayes, 60 Nays, 5 Present/Not Voting. 168 Republicans and 200 Democrats combined together to vote for this bill.  Ron Paul (R) and Alan Grayson (D), both who are working to Audit the Fed, voted against it.  See how each congressmen voted.

The Senate was a bipartisan vote as well with 86 Ayes, 3 Nays, 10 Present/Not Voting, passing on May 21, 2009.

Obama signed the bill into law on June 24, 2009.

Congress Is Either With Us or Against Us

There is a connection here that’s important to voters.  Which Congressmen and women are casting their votes for the Constitution and We the People and which are voting against the Constitution and the People?  Knowing the difference come election time will dictate whether we remain We the People or become We the Serfs.  Do not vote for any of the folks who voted Yes to the TARP funding or Yes to this bill.

One point that brings this all into perspective for the common man is Ron Paul’s exchange with Bernanke involving Greece.

Quote from the video above:

Ron Paul; “The irony of this promise, in the new arrangement, this increase, Greece is going to put $2.5 billion dollars in there (the IMF fund).  Only a fiat monetary system worldwide can up and have Greece help bailout Greece.”

The smile that comes to Bernanke’s face at 2:29, right after Ron Paul made that statement is an acknowledgment Bernanke knows Ron Paul is spot on with his assumptions.  If only We the People could be spot on with their votes, we could wipe this smile off Bernanke’s face for good.

“Information is a treasure for our people. The promise of the journalist is not with popularity.  It is with the truth.” Daniel Coronell

Related posts:

1. Congress Gives IMF Your Tax Dollars to Bailout Greece
2. Vote For Those That Voted “NO” To the Bailout Come November
3. A Solution for Ron Paul Supporters?