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Gibson Guitar Plant In Nashville Raided By Federal Wood Police

One Man's Thoughts — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:28:18 +0000

An international crackdown on the use of woods from the world’s rain forests to make musical instruments bubbled over to Music City on Tuesday with a federal raid on Gibson Guitar ’s manufacturing plant, but no arrests.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Webb said the search warrant was obtained based on information in a sealed affidavit outlining the investigation.

Agents of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service made a midday appearance and served a search warrant on company officials at Gibson’s Massman Drive manufacturing plant, where it makes acoustic and electric guitars.

Some hardwoods traditionally used in making premium guitars, such as rosewood from the rain forests of Madagascar and Brazil, have been banned from commercial trade because of environmental concerns under a recently revised federal law.

Under the U.S. Lacey Act, trading in such banned woods is a federal offense, punishable by civil and criminal penalties or the seizure of property. Last year, the U.S. Congress amended a turn-of-the-century wildlife protection law (the Lacey Act) to extend its reach to endangered timber species and plants. See the next post Where Were You When Wood Became A Felony?

Where Were You When Wood Became A Felony?

One Man's Thoughts — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:10:15 +0000

The following is a excerpt from the Classical Values Blog. It is very interesting and I highly recommend you read the entire article at http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2009/10/where_were_you_2.html

The 2008 Farm Bill (also known as the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, aka Public Law 110-246).

This amendment [to the Lacey Act] deals with illegal plants — the primary thrust being illegal wood. Henceforth, all wood is to be a federally regulated, suspect substance. Either raw wood, lumber, or anything made of wood, from tables and chairs, to flooring, siding, particle board, to handles on knives, baskets, chopsticks, or even toothpicks has to have a label naming the genus and species of the tree that it came from and the country of origin. Incorrect labeling becomes a federal felony, and the law does not just apply to wood newly entering the country, but any wood that is in interstate commerce within the country. Here are some excerpts from a summary:

The Lacey Act now makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any plant, with some limited exceptions, taken in violation of the laws of a U.S. State, or any foreign law that protects plants. The Lacey Act also makes it unlawful to make or submit any false record, account or label for, or any false identification of, any plant.

The definition of the term “plant” includes “any wild member of the plant kingdom, including roots, seeds, parts, and products thereof, and including trees from either natural or planted forest stands.”

[...]

Anyone who imports into the United States, or exports out of the United States, illegally harvested plants or products made from illegally harvested plants, including timber, as well as anyone who exports, transports, sells, receives, acquires or purchases such products in the United States, may be prosecuted. In any prosecution under the Lacey Act, the burden of proof of a violation rests on the government.

[...]

Violations of Lacey Act provisions for timber and other plant products, as well as fish and wildlife, may be prosecuted through either civil or criminal enforcement actions. Regardless of any prosecution, the tainted plants may be seized and forfeited.

Everyone means everyone, which includes every reader of this blog.

Obviously, this means that in the future, the Fish and Game guys will be able to accompany SWAT Team raiders to check all wood in homes and businesses for possible violations. Even if they’re wrong in their suspicions about the wood, it can still be confiscated. (Might that be a goal? To beef up employment at Fish and Game?)

Just think about the law enforcement possibilities alone. After kicking through and impounding your illegal wooden door, a federalized army of government termites could literally strip all wood paneling and flooring from every raided house as suspicious contraband, and haul away all the furniture, wood carvings, picture frames, tools, musical instruments! I can’t think of a better harassment tool. The list of potentially regulated items is mind-boggling:

the scope of products that will require a declaration under the Lacey Act is broad and includes certain live plants, plant parts, lumber, wood pulp, paper and paperboard, and products containing certain plant material or products, which may include certain furniture, tools, umbrellas, sporting goods, printed matter, musical instruments, products manufactured from plant-based resins, and textiles.

[...]

After September 30, 2009, based on experience with the implementation of the electronic system for declaration data collection, we will phase in enforcement of the declaration requirements for additional chapters containing plants and plant products covered by the Lacey Act, including (but not limited to) Ch. 12 (oil seeds, misc. grain, seed, fruit, plant, etc.), Ch. 13 (gums, lacs, resins, vegetable saps, extracts, etc.), Ch. 14 (vegetable plaiting materials and products not elsewhere specified or included), Ch. 45 (cork and articles of), Ch. 46 (basket ware and wickerwork), Ch. 66 (umbrellas, walking sticks, riding crops), Ch. 82 (tools), Ch. 93 (guns), Ch. 95 (toys, games and sporting equipment), Ch. 96 (brooms, pencils, and buttons), and Ch. 97 (works of art). We will announce a specific phase-in schedule for those chapters in a subsequent Federal Register notice.

Did they mention shipping pallets and cargo braces? Wood is not only in stuff, it’s in the stuff that the stuff comes in! Nearly everything is regulated.

Oh, and you firearm owners out there, let’s not forget gun handles!

Ch. 93 Headings (arms and ammunition).
9302 — Revolvers and pistols.
93051020 –Parts and accessories for revolvers and pistols.
Ch. 94 Headings (furniture, etc.).
940169 — Seats with wood frames.
Ch. 95 Headings (toys, games, & sporting equipment).
950420 — Articles and accessories for billiards.
Ch. 97 Headings (works of art).
9703 — Sculptures.

Glad I don’t own an art gallery, but my picture frames are not labeled, which means there are probably multiple potential felonies in progress in my home. (Perhaps I should be more careful about what I say.)

And while the NRA might not have noticed the impending crackdown on gun handles, at least IKEA is starting to speak up.

Between Wood Control and the Consumer Product Safety Nazis, I pity anyone in the secondhand business, including all Ebay and Craigslist sellers as well as people holding garage or yard sales.

In short, I pity the American people. This is not their fault, though, for no one has any control over what is going on. Not even the despicable fools we call “legislators” who cannot read the “laws” they pass because they are not meant to be read. As to the enforcers, they are only doing their job. They have to earn a living. And we are supposed to respect them, because they lay their lives on the line, “protecting” the public! From felonious wood!

Obviously, the full implications of this dramatic loss of freedom are beyond the capacity of a single post. After all, I am just one blogger, doing this by myself, without the kind of access to data that media organizations and think tanks might have. So, I cannot possibly hope to analyze everything. As things stand, I became exhausted last night just reading through the Lacey Act Amendment stuff pertaining to wood — and that was one mere fraction of an execrable, unreadable monstrosity. I don’t mean to whine, but slogging through such horrors is not exactly my idea of Saturday night fun. But who the hell else is going to do it? Flooring and furniture industry blogs? Who the hell reads them except people in the business? They’re all greedy tree haters and have no credibility. Besides, all big business is the enemy right now. We need to stand up not only against Big Cereal, but now Big Flooring! Big Siding! Big Furniture! (Is there such an industry as Big Chopstick?)

To read the entire article please go to: http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2009/10/where_were_you_2.html

South Carolina Offering Shoppers Tax-Free Weekend On Guns

One Man's Thoughts — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:50:56 +0000

South Carolina shoppers will get a second chance to buy tax-free guns.

The State Revenue Department sent out a reminder Wednesday of the upcoming “Second Amendment Weekend.” The 48-hour tax break begins just after midnight the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Shoppers will pay no state or local sales taxes on handguns, rifles and shotguns, which can tally 9 percent. Taxes still apply to ammunition and accessories.

South Carolina had the nation’s first tax holiday on guns last year, after legislators tacked it on to a tax break on energy-efficient appliances. But the State Supreme Court threw out that law in May because of an unrelated energy amendment. Lawmakers restored the tax break as a one-time event in the budget this year.

Louisiana followed this year with its own sales tax holiday for hunters in September. That break went further, applying to any item that can be used for hunting or fishing, including off-road vehicles, airboats, animal feed and ear plugs.

South Carolina is the only State to designate a tax-free weekend during two of the year’s biggest shopping days.

How much shoppers saved in the gun-friendly state last Thanksgiving weekend is unknown. State economic officials estimated it would cost the state about $15,000.

The National Rifle Association praises the idea.

“It allows gun owners in tough economic times to stock up on the hunting season and holiday season,” said NRA spokeswoman Alexa Fritts.

http://www.katu.com/outdoors/featured/70554207.html

Andy Martin delivers a “red meat” speech to a Springfield, Illinois audience

andymartinny — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:28:45 +0000

Martin tells Central Illinois conservatives that he is the only candidate with the experience to defeat Mark Kirk in the 2010 Republican Party primary.

U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin delivers a rousing speech to Central Illinois conservatives

Martin opened his Central Illinois campaign Saturday with a news conference outlining the first installment of his media strategy to defeat Mark Kirk

NEWS FROM:
ANDY MARTIN /2010
“The name you can trust”
Republican for U. S. Senator
30 E. Huron Street, Suite 4406
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
(312) 440-4124
www.AndyforUSSenator.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.blogspot.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.wordpress.com

www.MarkKirk.us
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Andy Martin “gets the blood flowing” with a “red meat” speech to a conservative audience

Martin ridicules his “conservative” opponents’ complete lack of national experience

(SPRINGFIELD, IL)(November 22, 2009) Republican U. S. Senate candidate and insurgent “Internet Powerhouse” Andy Martin was the lead off speaker at a forum of U. S. Senate candidates Saturday evening in Springfield. The forum was held at the I Worship Church and attracted conservative Tea Party/9-12 activists from the central part of the state.

Earlier Saturday afternoon Martin held a news conference and offered the first installment of his media strategy to defeat Mark Kirk. Martin announced that he planned to start purchasing advertising the first week of December if fund raising produced resources for a media campaign. “We are going on the attack he said.”

Martin ridiculed both Mark Kirk and his other opponents for their mendacity and lack of experience. “I am running again ‘Magic Slate’ and ‘Blank Slate,” Andy said. “As kids we used to play with a board with a plastic cover and a stylus. After you finished writing, you lifted up the plastic cover and erased everything you had written. I call mark Kirk ‘Magic Slate:’ As if by magic Kirk wants to erase his congressional career and pretends he is a red state, good ole boy conservative.

“But my other opponents collectively lack any national experience. If you believe the Pat Hughes story, earlier this year he had a vision and decided to become a U. S. Senator. Where was Hughes last year when we were fighting Obama? Hughes was nowhere to be found. Hughes has no record. He is a ‘blank slate.’

“None of the candidates were fighting Obama in 2008. Now they all claim to be national material. They want to play in the Super Bowl without ever having participated in the regular season.”

Martin was asked the question “Is the Constitution a living document?” He responded with the observation that “The pretender in the White House is trying to kill the Constitution, so it must be alive. If conservatives do not fight back, Obama will kill our Constitution. We must be ready to fight Obama if we want America to survive,” he stated passionately.

Martin said the idea that someone with no experience could simply appear and challenge an experienced candidate such as Kirk was laughable.

Martin’s speech was taped by the debate sponsor.

Martin also unveiled his new brochure:

Andy Martin
“THE NAME YOU CAN TRUST”
U.S. SENATE 2010
Conservative Republican
Tel: 866-706-ANDY (2639) Fax: 866-707-ANDY (2639) E-mail: andyforsenator@aol.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.com

Fellow Patriots:

America is under attack. Our Constitution, our Military, our Values, our History and Heritage are under attack. In times of crisis, what do we turn to? One word says it all: Experience.

As an Illinois voter, you have a choice. You can support Mark Kirk or you can support me, Andy Martin, a patriot with the experience and ability to defeat Kirk in the Republican primary. Kirk is a cynical professional politician. He has $2 million in “dirty dollars” from Washington lobbyists to fool Illinois voters with false claims and misleading advertising. The liberal Kirk is trying to hide his liberal voting record in Congress by pretending he is a conservative.

I am the only challenger with experience to defeat Kirk in February 2, 2010 primary election. If you agree with me that our Constitution, Values and the very Fiber that has made America great are under attack, then you need to support Kirk’s only experienced opponent; Andy Martin.

I am the only candidate with the experience to rebuild our shattered economy. Obama’s billions for new bonuses on Wall Street, with bankruptcy for Main Street are disgraceful. I am the only candidate with forty years of corruption fighting experience. I have a record you can see, not just campaign promises. Voters will demand a real corruption-fighter as their next senator, a corruption-fighter with foreign policy and military experience that you can see; one with a proven record, not hollow promises.

I have been tested in the media and on the national stage. I have stood up to Barack Obama at a time when Kirk was afraid to. I fought back against Obama’s lies. My experience can be trusted, an experience that no other candidate has.

Ask yourself, when you need a doctor, a lawyer, a military leader or a United States Senator from Illinois, who will you choose? You will choose someone with experience; Andy Martin.

Please, help me defend America from all foreign and domestic enemies. And with your help, we will defeat Kirk in the February 2, 2010 primary and go on to defeat the Daley Machine Democratic candidate in the November 2010 general election.

I ask for your support and your vote in the February 2, 2010 primary. Any effort will be gratefully and truly appreciated.

ANDY MARTIN

—————————–
Andy Martin is a legendary Chicago muckraker, author, Internet columnist, radio talk show host, broadcaster and media critic. He has over forty years of broadcasting background in radio and television and is the dean of Illinois media and communications. He is currently promoting his best-selling book, Obama: The Man Behind The Mask and producing the new Internet movie “Obama: The Hawai’i years.” Andy is the Executive Editor and publisher of www.ContrarianCommentary.com.

Martin comments on regional, national and world events with more than four decades of experience. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law and is a former adjunct professor of law at the City University of New York.

UPDATES:
www.twitter.com/AndyMartinUSA
www.facebook.com/AndyMartin

Andy’s columns are also posted at ContrarianCommentary.blogspot.com; contrariancommentary.wordpress.com.
[NOTE: We try to correct any typographical errors in this story on our blogs; find our latest edition there.]

MEDIA CONTACT: (866) 706-2639 or CELL (917) 664-9329 (cell not always on)
E-MAIL: AndyMart20@aol.com
© Copyright by Andy Martin 2009.

Andy Martin unveils media strategy to defeat Mark Kirk

andymartinny — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:38:32 +0000

Martin says he is the only U. S. Senate candidate with a media plan to defeat Kirk. Martin has over forty years of broadcasting experience and has produced legendary TV commercials.

U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin will “slip the lid off” his coming media strategy to defeat Mark Kirk

Martin opens his Central Illinois campaign with a news conference on media strategy, “Meet and Greet” and candidate forum in the Capital city

Martin calls Kirk’s campaign cash the product of “honest graft”

www.MarkKirk.us
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ATTENTION DAYBOOK/ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF SATURDAY NEWS CONFERENCE IN SPRINGFIELD

Andy Martin begins to disclose his media strategy to defeat Mark Kirk

Martin will also hold the first of his central Illinois “meet and greet” sessions for area voters

(SPRINGFIELD, IL)(November 21, 2009) Republican U. S. Senate candidate and insurgent “Internet Powerhouse” Andy Martin will hold a Springfield news conference Saturday, November 21st to provide the first peek at his upcoming media strategy to defeat Mark Kirk.

Martin will also hold a “meet and greet” for the Capital region, and participate in a candidate forum Saturday evening.

“Mark Kirk has $2 million ‘dirty dollars’ from special interests and Washington lobbyists to deceive and defraud Illinois voters,” Martin says. “Another name for Kirk’s cash is ‘honest graft.’ The Kirkster is a master at selling his vote for special interest cash. Kirk took over $100,000 from Exelon, and then voted for Cap and Trade. Kirk’s defense? ‘Exelon made me do it.’ What a disgrace to democracy. What a disgrace to Republican Party values.

“But cash is cash. As near as I can determine, the other candidates have neither significant campaign cash nor a significant media strategy to ‘take down’ Kirk. We do.

“I began producing campaign commercials over forty years ago, and some of them have become classics. As a broadcaster, I have been involved in every aspect of the industry. The first thing I did after becoming a candidate was to map out a media strategy.

“Saturday we will take the first step in unveiling our media strategy. Unless we get lucky, we won’t have as much cash as Kirk to spend. But our dollars will do double duty. My campaign’s analysis of the media environment is detailed.

“Interestingly, Kirk takes me more seriously as an adversary than some media types. When Kirk released his ‘poll,’ he left my name out. I was beating him. Unlike Adam Andrzejewski, who put out a ‘poll’ showing he was in second place, Kirk’s colossal ego would not let him do that. So my name was expunged.

“Kirk must be muttering The Psychoed to himself. [‘As I was going up the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there. He wasn’t there again today. I wish, I wish he’d go away.’] Well I am not going away. I am going to Washington to clean up the corruption in that foul city,” Martin says.

“We will also have a ‘meet and greet’ opportunity for Central Illinois residents to meet me,” Martin notes. “Welcome.”

November 22nd Springfield news conference details:

WHO:

U. S. Senate candidate and Internet Powerhouse Andy Martin

WHERE:

Andy Martin suite at the State House Inn, 101 E. Adams Street, Springfield

WHEN:

Saturday, November 21, 2009:
3:00 P.M. News Conference
4:00-6:00 P.M. Meet and Greet
7:00 P.M. Candidate Forum I Worship church, Springfield

WHAT:

Internet Powerhouse and U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin will launch his Central Illinois campaign with a news conference, meet and greet and candidate forum appearances.

MEDIA CONTACT:

(866) 706-2639; Cell (917) 664-9329 (not always turned on)

WEBSITE:

http://www.AndyforUSSenator.com

E-MAIL:

AndyforUSSenator@aol.com
—————————–
Andy Martin is a legendary Chicago muckraker, author, Internet columnist, radio talk show host, broadcaster and media critic. He has over forty years of broadcasting background in radio and television and is the dean of Illinois media and communications. He is currently promoting his best-selling book, Obama: The Man Behind The Mask and producing the new Internet movie “Obama: The Hawai’i years.” Andy is the Executive Editor and publisher of www.ContrarianCommentary.com.

UPDATES:
www.twitter.com/AndyMartinUSA
www.facebook.com/AndyMartin

MEDIA CONTACT: (866) 706-2639 or CELL (917) 664-9329 (cell not always on)
E-MAIL: AndyMart20@aol.com
© Copyright by Andy Martin 2009.

Obama Reversed Policy On Wednesday And Said It Would Back Launching Talks On A Treaty To Regulate Arms Sales.

One Man's Thoughts — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:52:41 +0000

The decision, announced in a statement released by the U.S. State Department, overturns the position of former President George W. Bush’s administration, which had opposed such a treaty on the grounds that national controls were better.

The proposed treaty is opposed by think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, which said last month that it would not restrict the access of “dictators and terrorists” to arms but would be used to reduce the ability of democracies such as Israel to defend their people.

The National Rifle Association has also opposed the treaty.

See our previous post The OAS Treaty—Bluepriint For Dismantling The Second Amendment

Illinois newspaper editors unanimously endorse Andy Martin on Gitmo/Illinois transfer issue

andymartinny — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:28:03 +0000

“I am the only conservative Republican leader that wants to bring new federal jobs to Illinois,” Martin says. “I am gratified that Illinois newspaper editors unanimously endorse my position. I have taken a lot of heat from other Republicans, but for me bringing jobs to Illinois comes first. We know how to deal with any ‘wise guys’ that act up in our prisons. Journalists who used to respect Mark Kirk have now begun to ridicule him. Neil Steinberg calls Kirk ‘Al-Qaeda’s self-appointed representative in Congress.’ Ouch! Mark Kirk doesn’t really respect or understand Illinois; he says what his polls and handlers tell him to say. I love Illinois. I put Illinoisans, not politics, first.”

Illinois Newspaper editors endorse Andy Martin’s point of view on housing Al-Qaeda prisoners

Martin says “thank you”

Andy speaks with Thomson prison Superintendent

www.MarkKirk.us
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Andy Martin thanks Illinois newspaper editors for backing his stance on the transfer of Gitmo prisoners to Illinois

Thomson prison Superintendent calls Andy, assures Andy they can safely handle the Al-Qaeda thugs

(CHICAGO)(November 19, 2009) Illinois newspaper editors unanimously endorse Andy Martin’s position that Illinois can properly and safely house any Al-Qaeda prisoners that are brought here. Mark Kirk is being ridiculed for his alarmism and extremism. Neil Steinberg of the Chicago Sun-Times calls Kirk’s antics the action of “Al-Qaeda’s self-appointed representative in Congress.”

“I am the mainstream, Midwestern Republican,” Martin says. “Kirk has become a shrill extremist. He stands for nothing but his poll-driven fund raising and self-aggrandizement. I actually care about the people of Illinois. I spoke personally with the Superintendent of the Thomson prison.

“We Illinoisans have a ‘can do’ attitude. Mark Kirk has never been downstate. Kirk doesn’t know us. He is a Washington outsider.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/
opinion/editorials/chi-1117
edit1nov17,0,5529461.story

http://www.suntimes.com/news/
commentary/1887512,CST-EDT-edit17a.article

http://www.pjstar.com/opinions/
x1659502163/Our-View-Giving-Thomson-
prison-a-use-at-long-last

http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/
x206845991/Our-Opinion-Hysteria-over-
Thomson-idea-way-off-base

http://www.suntimes.com/news/
steinberg/1889631,CST-NWS-stein18.article
—————————–
© Copyright by Andy Martin 2009.

Andy Martin zings an opponent, again

andymartinny — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:38:55 +0000

U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin’s lawsuit charging “money laundering” by an opposing campaign has been transferred to federal court from state court by the opponent. Martin’s opponent has confessed that he is “Candidate X.”

Patrick Hughes confesses: “I am Candidate “X”

Hughes transfers Andy Martin’s “Money laundering” lawsuit to federal court

www.MarkKirk.us
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Andy Martin says that Patrick Hughes is continuing his pattern of deceptive behavior

Hughes admits he is “Candidate X” and transfers Martin’s “Solo” lawsuit from state court to federal court

(CHICAGO)(November 9, 2009) Republican U. S. Senate candidate and insurgent “Internet Powerhouse” Andy Martin announced today that his primary opponent Pat Hughes has transferred the “Solo Family” lawsuit, originally filed in the Circuit Court of DuPage County, to federal court.

“Mr. Hughes is taking my lawsuit very seriously,” Martin noted. “He made a ‘federal case’ out of my claims that ‘Candidate X’ was breaking the law. Hughes has admitted he is ‘Candidate X.’ Amusingly, Hughes moved the lawsuit to federal court even before the sheriff could serve the Solo Family defendants. Both Solos admitted they are Hughes operatives.

“Hughes has established a pattern of deceptive and manipulative behavior. Last summer he paid D. Paul Caprio to recruit ‘pro-family leaders’ to his campaign. Caprio did not disclose he was acting as a paid agent of the Hughes campaign.

“Hughes then sent ‘consultant’ Jon Zahm out to attack me when I filed a meritorious complaint against Hughes because of his fraudulent behavior as an attorney. Zahm appeared to be acting as a paid spokesman for Hughes, though Zahm now denies that claim. Hughes was forced to admit I was legally correct. He had to pay his dues as an ‘active’ attorney or face professional discipline.

“Then Hughes falsely claimed that Mike Ditka had both ‘endorsed’ Hughes and agreed to serve on his ‘Finance Committee.’ Ditka denied both claims, although he later issued a lukewarm ‘endorsement’ of Hughes. Ditka has kept his distance from Hughes since ‘endorsing’ him. Some endorsement. Ditka flatly refused to serve on Hughes Finance Committee.

“Then Hughes demanded that the two African-American candidates withdraw from the Republican Party senate primary. Hughes claimed he had a secret deal with Arrington and Wallace for them to withdraw. Both men denied Hughes’ claim.

“Hughes then tried to use a straw man to order petitions from the State Board of Elections. When I offered Hughes the option of admitting he was ‘Candidate X’ and avoiding a lawsuit, Hughes chose to be sued. Now that he has been sued, he has been forced to make an admission that he was indeed ‘Candidate X.’ We will be deposing his ‘workers’ to find out how they paid for the petition copies.

“In addition to manifesting a continuously deceptive personality, Hughes also manifests gross incompetence as a lawyer. He was unlawfully holding himself out as a ‘General Counsel’ at a time when he had suspended his law license and gone on ‘inactive’ status. That was a serious legal violation.

“Hughes now claims he has a right to ‘copy petitions.’ I agree he has that right. What Hughes does not have a right to do is launder money to pay for petitions in a way that disguises his payment for the petitions. If Hughes can’t even comprehend the basic ethical requirements of an attorney or federal candidate, how is he going to deal with the complexity of being a U. S. Senator?” Martin asks.

“Obviously, Hughes is out of his depth, and drowning. But then Hughes was unable to cope with the complexities of voting either, until he decided to become a candidate for U. S. Senator. He voted for the first time as a Republican in 2008. What took him so long? He’s 40 years old.”
—————————–
© Copyright by Andy Martin 2009.

Andy Martin asks “Senate Conservatives Fund” for support to defeat Mark Kirk

andymartinny — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:18:26 +0000

U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin says he is the only Republican who can defeat Mark Kirk in the Illinois Republican party primary.

ANDY MARTIN
“The name you can trust”
Republican for U. S. Senator/2010
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Toll-free tel. (866) 706-ANDY
Toll-free fax (866) 707-ANDY
Web site: http://www.AndyforUSSenator.com
E-mail: AndyforUSSenator@aol.com

Please donate:

www.AndyforUSSenator.com

Blogs:

www.AndyforUSSenator.blogspot.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.wordpress.com
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

www.MarkKirk.us

November 16, 2009

Senator Jim DeMint
Senate Conservatives Fund
P.O. Box 388
Alexandria, VA 22312
via fax (202) 228-5143
(866) 578-2631

Dear Senator DeMint:

I would like to ask for your support, and also suggest why one of my primary opponents should not receive your support.

PATRICK HUGHES

One of my primary opponents, Patrick Hughes, has been running around for the past couple of months saying he is a “conservative:”

FACT: Hughes never voted in a Republican primary until last year (2008). He has only voted a handful of times in his entire life, says he was “too busy to vote.” Other than parroting a list of talking points he has no conservative record.

FACT: Earlier this year, Hughes created an anti-tax “committee” that he claims is the sole basis of his experience to seek statewide office. The Committee has no track record to speak of. Try and contact Hughes’ “committee.”

Fact: Hughes said on August 20th he had “$400,000” in “commitments.” These “commitments” vanished by September 30th when he produced $130,000 in contributions.

FACT: Hughes claimed he had the support of Mike Ditka, who then denied that fact, and then reversed himself again. Ditka has kept his distance from Hughes since the fracas. Hughes claimed Ditka was on his “finance committee,” which Ditka denied and has never revoked.

FACT: Hughes asked the two African-American candidates in the senate primary to withdraw, thereby casting a racist tint on his candidacy. Nice “image” for a novice Republican to project.

FACT: Hughes lacked the petition signatures to file for the senate primary, and was forced to file on the last day because he didn’t have the necessary signatures. Hughes tried to paper over this failure by claiming he was “trying to file last, for last place on the ballot,” but ended up not filing last. Hughes is now trying to have the people who filed after him thrown off the ballot. He is a laugh-a-minute.

FACT: Your committee is apparently conducting some sort of poll this week. Hughes is asking his supporters to rig the poll in his favor.

FACT: Hughes has used fraudulent campaign tactics. He hired a “consultant” to organize an endorsement, but the consultant failed to tell the people he was soliciting that he had been paid by Hughes to do so. Another black eye for Hughes. On and on it goes.

FACT: Hughes has never before run for any office and he is a totally inexperienced candidate. He is not a “natural” candidate. There is no way he will come up to speed in the remaining seventy-five days of the campaign.

How can anyone on your staff seriously consider endorsing such a clown?

II.

ANDY MARTIN

There are a number of reasons why you might not want to support me, and there is only one reason why you might back my candidacy: I can defeat Mark Kirk.

That’s all that counts. If I take Kirk down on February 2nd, we will launch a conservative revolution. Join the A-Team.

FACT: Earlier today I lunched with a key media representative in Chicago. He was astounded by the brilliancy and boldness of my campaign strategy against Kirk, and will quietly assist. I actually have a media plan in effect to topple Kirk. All we need is the cash to rip him apart. No other primary candidate else even knows how to approach media. Ask to see Hughes’ media plan.

FACT: I have over forty years of experience in radio and TV. Later this month we are launching a movie on Barack Obama, “Obama: The Hawai’i Years.” If you want to see a rough cut, just ask and we will let you see what it will look like.

FACT: My appearance on Hannity’s America in 2008 became one of the defining moments of the 2008 presidential campaign. The hard left is still fuming over me. Obama was concerned that my media activity was costing him millions of votes. Obama sent Robert Gibbs on national TV to attack me by name, and trumped up negative front-page coverage in the New York Times. I am as tough a campaigner as they come. I do not need a crash course in how to campaign or how to defend myself. I threw Obama’s mud right back at him. If John McCain had run a minimally competent campaign, he could have won.

FACT: Mark Kirk is a savvy and slippery opponent. The leftover political rumdums behind Hughes have no idea how to bring him down. No one else in Illinois politics has the means or the guts to take on Kirk and drop him the way I do. Period.

FACT: I am controversial. My opponents love to use 25 year-old and 35 year—old court cases to attack me. Obama and/or Kirk have flooded the Internet with attack videos. If I am so inconsequential, why is someone doing so much and working so hard to try to stop me? Obviously, “someone” knows I am the real threat to Obama/Kirk. I have the “ultimate endorsement:” I am Obama’s worst nightmare in his former senate seat.

FACT: I have over forty years of political experience. I helped send crooked Illinois politicians to jail (www.AndyMartin.com). I have made a lot (a lot) of enemies, and I earned very one of them. But you of all people know that “enemies” can be used to advantage. In 2010 the public mood demands a reform candidate with an authentic anti-corruption record, not a sheet of talking points. I have that background. I worked in the senate for U. S. Senator Paul Douglas.

FACT: I lived in Baghdad part of 2003 and was a critic of the invasion. I was Paul Bremer’s first critic. Go on the Internet and see for yourself. I know the truth about Kirk’s “military record.” I have actually been in the places Kirk claims to have been. I am not sure Hughes has wandered much beyond the local Dairy Queen. Hughes is totally lacking in credentials.

To support Hughes is to make Kirk look good by comparison. In 2004, Illinois Republicans brought in an outside clown to run against Barack Obama. The clown made Obama look good by comparison. If you support Hughes you will be making Kirk look good. Watch out for the “Obama effect.” It’s real.

FACT: You and I will disagree on some issues. So what? We disagree on Gitmo. That’s good. I think for myself. Hughes gets up and reads of a sheet of “conservative” talking points. He has no ideas and no experience to present to the public. As a senator, you know that we don’t have to agree on everything to work together to defeat a common foe: Kirk.

I think I can convince you in a 15-minute meeting that I am your man. You will take some heat for supporting me, or even leaning in my direction. But if the cash flows, a public endorsement is unnecessary. Just send money and watch us take Kirk apart.

Unlike Hughes, I have done my negative research, and I have a suitcase full of anti-Kirk material to use. Hughes has nothing. Sadly, given all of his peregrinations, Hughes doesn’t even have a campaign.

I am available next week to meet with you in Washington. I can hop on a plane and be there Monday or Tuesday. I don’t know when the senate adjourns and you leave for South Carolina.

Just say the word and I’ll be there. I think you will agree after a 15-minute meeting: I am your man.

Respectfully submitted,

ANDY MARTIN

AM:sp

Ted Nugent on KLRU speaking on Gun Control

One Man's Thoughts — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:58:25 +0000

NEWS CONFERENCE: Andy Martin leads bipartisan effort to bring federal jobs to Illinois

andymartinny — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:51:28 +0000

U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin condemns his opponent Mark Kirk for a “complete abdication of leadership.” Martin promises both vigorous partisanship on domestic matters and vigorous bipartisanship on national security issues. Martin says Illinois can handle Guantanamo prisoners at our Thomson Correctional Facility. “Mark Kirk should stop scaring Illinoisans,” Martin says. “Western Illinois can sure use thousands of new federal jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new payrolls.”

NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY: U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin will lead Republican efforts to bring federal prisoners to Illinois

Martin says that the People of Illinois can handle Guantanamo inmates and civilize the savages in their midst

Illinois patriots rally to Andy’s side

www.MarkKirk.us
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ATTENTION DAYBOOK/ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF MONDAY NEWS CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO

Andy Martin says he will assume leadership of Republican Party efforts to bring thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of federal payrolls to Illinois

Martin says Mark Kirk has “failed his first test as a statewide leader”

Martin says local Republicans and patriots will rally to support his views

(CHICAGO)(November 16, 2009) Republican U. S. Senate candidate and insurgent “Internet Powerhouse” Andy Martin will hold a Chicago news conference Monday, November 16th to announce that he will lead the Republican Party side of bipartisan efforts to bring federal prisoners to the Thomson Correctional Facility if Guantanamo is closed.

“There are several things that need to be addressed,” Martin will state. “First, this is an opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to work together as Americans and Illinoisans. I have already received offers of local Republican support from the Thomson community. I want to bring the thousands of federal jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in federal payrolls that will come with a transfer of the Guantanamo prisoners.

“Second, the war against terror was thrust upon us. We did not seek to harm any nation. The American people are at peace with the world. But if we must fight, fight we must. If we must take prisoners, we must arrange to hold them. The efforts to scare Americans into maintaining a ‘Devil’s Island’ in Cuba are irresponsible. We must be united and appear united as a nation if we are going to defeat the terrorist threat to civilization.

“Third, Illinoisans have a long history of running secure correctional facilities. If the administration makes a decision to close Guantanamo, we should welcome thousands of federal jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in federal payrolls. Illinoisans already manage one of the nation’s most secure facilities, U. S. Penitentiary Marion, where the ‘worst of the worst’ are held. Illinoisans have a ‘can do’ spirit.

“Fourth, I support humane treatment even for prisoners who have committed inhumane acts. We are not going to win the war against terror by showing we are as evil and deranged as our adversaries. We are going to win by showing the religious extremists that terrorism will not intimidate or disrupt our society. Our civilization and our values are more powerful than the doctrines of hate and murder advocated by terrorists.

“I unhesitatingly condemn torture and abuse of prisoners, not because I love the evil doers but because I love our Constitution and I respect and love the strength of our national institutions. America will prevail. Our values will prevail. We will defeat and destroy the terrorists wherever we find them.

“I regret that some Republicans seek to scare Illinoisans and seek partisan profit in the upcoming primary for U. S. Senator.

“I condemn Mark Kirk for his abdication of responsibility as a potential statewide leader. Mark Kirk’s behavior has been disgraceful. He claims to be a military man and ‘intelligence officer’ but he becomes a panicked child at the first opportunity to demonstrate senatorial statewide leadership. Mr. Kirk does not act like an Illinoisan; most recently he has been a de facto Virginia Democrat where he maintained some sort of arrangement with his former spouse.

“I represent Illinois values, Kirk does not. We are the State that sent Lincoln to Washington to save the Union and defeat slavery. I hope the people of Illinois will entrust me with the duty of serving as U. S. Senator. On partisan issues, I will be respectfully but vigorously partisan. But on matters of national security I will always extend an open hand to my Democratic colleagues. The safety of Americans and America’s world leadership should stop being a matter of partisan rancor.

“We should work to ensure that every Illinoisan helps us bring federal payrolls to Thomson. Illinois will do our fair share in the war against terror.

“Illinois leaders complain we do not get enough federal dollars back from Washington. But at the first opportunity to take a federal facility, Kirk is shrieking ‘no.’ Kirk has failed his first test as a statewide leader. Maybe Kirk should move back to Virginia. Except that Virginians may be practical enough to take the federal prisoners if Illinois refuses,” Martin says.

Martin will also condemn the biased and one-sided coverage of the Thomson controversy by Abdon Pallasch of the Chicago Sun-Times and Rick Pearson of the Chicago Tribune. “What’s in their wallet?” Martin asks. “Kirk cash?”

November 16th news conference details:

WHO:

U. S. Senate candidate and Internet Powerhouse Andy Martin

WHERE:

Sidewalk news conference, SE corner of Huron and Wabash,
Chicago

WHEN:

Monday, November 16, 2009 5:00 P.M.

WHAT:

Internet Powerhouse and U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin will lead efforts to develop a bipartisan approach to bringing federal prisoners to Illinois and fighting the war on terror

MEDIA CONTACT:

(866) 706-2639; Cell (917) 664-9329 (not always turned on)

WEBSITE:

http://www.AndyforUSSenator.com

E-MAIL:

AndyforUSSenator@aol.com
————————————
Andy Martin is a legendary Chicago muckraker, author, Internet columnist, radio talk show host, broadcaster and media critic. He has over forty years of broadcasting background in radio and television and is the dean of Illinois media and communications. He is currently promoting his best-selling book, Obama: The Man Behind The Mask and producing the new Internet movie “Obama: The Hawai’i years.” Andy is the Executive Editor and publisher of www.ContrarianCommentary.com.

Martin comments on regional, national and world events with more than four decades of experience. He has over forty years of experience in Asia and the Middle East, and is regarded overseas as America’s most respected independent foreign policy, military and intelligence analyst. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law and is a former adjunct professor of law at the City University of New York.

UPDATES:
www.twitter.com/AndyMartinUSA
www.facebook.com/AndyMartin

Andy’s columns are also posted at ContrarianCommentary.blogspot.com; contrariancommentary.wordpress.com.
[NOTE: We frequently correct typographical errors and additions/subtractions on our blogs, where you can find the latest edition of this release.]

MEDIA CONTACT: (866) 706-2639 or CELL (917) 664-9329 (cell not always on)
E-MAIL: AndyMart20@aol.com
© Copyright by Andy Martin 2009.

Andy Martin rips Mark Kirk in Skokie forum of city/suburban Republicans

andymartinny — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:09:43 +0000

Martin ridicules Kirk’s current campaign, and points out that Kirk claims he was “forced by his district” to vote for cap and trade. “Well, you are his district (Evanston Township). Did you force Kirk to vote for cap and trade? Did you force Kirk vote for gay rights? Did you force Kirk to vote for gun control?” Republicans cheered Martin’s litany of Kirk’s inconsistencies. “We need a Republican candidate for United States Senator, not a Democrat,” Martin said. Martin plans to escalate his attacks on Kirk as the campaign continues. Martin’ speech Sunday was based on the following letter:

Please donate:

www.AndyforUSSenator.com

Blogs:

www.AndyforUSSenator.blogspot.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.wordpress.com
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

www.MarkKirk.us

Dear Republican:

Thank you for inviting me to your endorsement meeting. I would urge you not to endorse any candidate today. The campaign really began on November 9th when the ballot was finally determined. Now the real campaigning begins. Watch the candidates in November and December; consider holding an endorsement meeting in January, when you have a basis to decide whom to support.

Illinois voters are concerned with corruption. Only one candidate has a consistent, clear record of fighting corruption in our state. I do. The other Republicans have no record at all.

Illinois voters are concerned with our foreign policy challenges. Mark Kirk has a record of being consistently wrong on international issues and lacking any real experience. Patrick Hughes on foreign policy? Don’t ask. It’s embarrassing.

Well, what about Kirk and Hughes?

Mark Kirk is the “Magic Slate” candidate. As children most of us played with a toy called “magic slate.” You can write on a slate, and then lift up the plastic screen and erase what you have just written. Kirk is trying to run as a “conservative.” Kirk wants you to forget and “erase” his vote for cap and trade. Kirk says his district “forced” him to vote for cap and trade.
Kirk wants you to forget his support for gay rights “hate crime” legislation. Did the “gays” force Kirk to take the lead on hate crimes the same way he was forced to support cap and trade? Kirk supports gun control. Who “forced” him to support gun control? On and on it goes. According to Kirk, someone “forced” him to vote liberal for the last ten years. Maybe Kirk should start by telling us who that “someone” is. Kirk is a de facto Democrat.

Kirk calls himself a “fiscal conservative.” Yet he voted for skyrocketing deficits during the Bush years. He voted for the biggest tax increase in history: Barack Obama’s cap and trade boondoggle. Fiscal conservative?

Patrick Hughes? He voted Republican for the first time last year. He has no public record. This year Hughes paid a promoter to set up a state “anti-tax” committee for him. Now Hughes claims he is national material. Hughes’ candidacy is a joke. He claimed to be a brilliant attorney, until we disclosed he had registered as an “inactive” lawyer. He had to go back and revive his legal registration and pay his fees. Hughes said he has $400,000 in “commitments,” but only $130,000 of that showed up in cash. Hughes is now claiming he has $1 million “in the mail.”

If Kirk is the Magic Slate candidate, seeking to erase his entire voting record in Congress and pretending he is a conservative for the next 80 days, Hughes is the man without an engine under the hood. There’s nothing there. Not liberal, not conservative, nothing.

Fighting corruption is not easy. I have the scars to prove it. Jesus himself reminds us that prophets are often without honor. He knew what he was talking about. But I do have the very real privilege of offering you a forty-year record of honorable service to the people of Illinois. Go to our web site and see for yourself. I would like you to watch how the campaign unfolds and how the candidates react to the competing campaigns. Watch us debate on Channel 7. Then and only then can you make an informed decision on whom to support. Don’t be stampeded into an early endorsement that can embarrass you later.

And, if you have any questions about me, just pick up the phone. I am the only statewide candidate in either party you can actually get on the phone. I will serve you the same way as a United States Senator in Washington: one-on-one, helping solve one problem at a time. Unlike Mark Kirk I don’t have to repudiate my prior record to run as a Republican.

Forty years ago the FBI called me a “leading spokesman for conservatives.” That’s a consistent record you can be proud of. I don’t have to change who I am or what I am to be your candidate. Kirk? Hughes? Be serious.

Best wishes,

ANDY

“Crybaby Mark Kirk” starts the tear ducts flowing with threats of “Al-Qaeda in Illinois”

andymartinny — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:07:33 +0000

U.S. Senate candidate and Internet Powerhouse Andy Martin calls Mark Kirk the “Crybaby Candidate” for senator. Martin says Kirk’s scare tactics demonstrate the man’s unfitness for the senate. Martin supports locating a federal prison in Illinois, where a large federal payroll would benefit Northwestern Illinois citizens. Martin notes that during Word War II, Nazi prisoners were housed in Missouri. Today, the “worst of the worst” are held in Marion, Illinois, where nary a peep is heard from Southern Illinoisans who are too busy cashing their federal paychecks.

U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin calls Mark Kirk the “Crybaby Candidate” for senator

Martin says Kirk’s pandering to public fears about bringing Al-Qaeda prisoners to Illinois is “nauseating”

www.MarkKirk.us
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Andy Martin says Kirk is using his usual campaign tactic of pandering to public fears to win votes in the senate primary

Martin ridicules Mark Kirk for suggesting that “Al-Qaeda in Iraq” is about to move its offices to “Al-Qaeda in Illinois”

Martin says the last thing Illinois needs is “Crybaby Kirk” in Washington

(CHICAGO)(November 16, 2009) One of the downsides, or condign punishments if you will, of being a candidate for office is that you have to listen to your opponents’ speeches, over and over again. Sunday I was nauseated by Mark Kirk’s crybaby appeal to public fear over incarcerating Al-Qaeda prisoners in Illinois.

There are two aspects to the Al-Qaeda-prisoner-in-Illinois issue.

First, bringing Al-Qaeda prisoners to a vacant Illinois prison would create 1,000 new high-paying federal jobs. Northwest Illinois is starved for quality employment. Federal jobs come with goods salaries, excellent benefits and outstanding retirement payments. Where’s the problem with that?

The second issue is whether these dangerous prisoners can be handled properly. Guess what? Illinois has been handling the “worse of the worst” for decades. The nation’s successor to Alcatraz Penitentiary was built in Marion, Illinois. Have you heard any southern Illinoisans crying lately that desperate criminals are housed in their midst? No, they are too busy cashing their paychecks.

During World War II, German POW’s were housed in Missouri. How do I know? After the war, the University of Illinois purchased the POW camp and trucked it to Memorial Stadium for married student housing. Is there any record that Missourians were crying out of fear that “Nazis” were housed in their state? I seem to remember the Nazis killed a lot of people too, a lot more than Al-Qaeda.

Or is it all right to house “white” Germans in the United States, but it is also acceptable conduct to a campaign against housing “dark” Muslims under the same conditions? Mark Kirk has a history of pandering to racial stereotypes. “There you go again, Mark.”

And there he was Sunday, “Crybaby Kirk,” crying because the Sears Tower (now known as the “Willis Tower”) had been “targeted by Al-Qaeda.” For good measure Kirk cried that O’Hare Airport was also “targeted by Al Qaeda.” In fact, if you believe Kirk, the entire United States is “targeted by Al-Qaeda.” Whooda thunkit? Cry, cry, cry. The Kirkster is a master of crying. Boo hoo. Cry, baby, cry.

I guess I have too much respect for Illinoisans to think we would cry our hearts out at having to do our patriotic duty and house the people we capture on the battlefield. Kirk, of course, is a stranger to Illinois. He and his former wife lived in Virginia. Until he decided he needed a place to run for senator Kirk had never traveled outside his “Kenilworth cocoon” on the north shore of Chicago where, of course, they don’t want prisoners housed in their lakeside mansions. Kirk is definitely not Illinois.

Kirk has company with his crybaby screaming. He was actually applauded for his asinine campaign stunt on Sunday. Do Illinois Republicans really want to “cry, cry, cry” at the prospect of incarcerating our enemies in the continental United States? That Republicans might be so hypocritical is something to cry about.

Are we outsourcing yet another function to foreign soil? The crybaby congressman from Rockford, Don Manzullo, is also crying about “terrorists” being housed in northwest Illinois. Will their crying never cease?

Republicans nationally are also crying about incarcerating prisoners in the United States. What are they worried about? Al-Qaeda airplanes buzzing the Quad Cities? The Al-Qaeda Navy sailing up the Mississippi and staging an amphibious assault on the Illinois prison? Perhaps Osama Bin Laden will move his headquarters to the cornfields of Whiteside County?

There are times when I am embarrassed to be a Republican.

First, if we are going to take prisoners, we need to house them in the United States, not Cuba. The image of am American “Devils Island” in a foreign county has damaged our national image. Obama is not right very often, but he is right on that issue.

Second, a prisoner is a prisoner. The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Prisons deals with the worst of the worst. They will develop protocols to handle the bad guys. I seem to remember that the blind cleric who plotted the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center is safely tucked away in a super-max prison in Colorado. Or is Osama bin Laden really hiding in the Rockies, where he is planning an attack on Denver? I don’t see the prospect of an Al-Qaeda naval assault on Colorado, but give Mark Kirk tine, he’ll concoct a threat there too. “Al-Qaeda has targeted ______ (fill in the blank for the Kirkster).

Third, I have my doubts about trying the Al Qaeda prisoners in New York. If they wanted to build a court complex adjacent to the prison, it would make more sense to try the prisoners in Western Illinois, where controlling movement is much easier than it is in the crowded streets of New York City.

Fourth, international law will not allow us to hold prisoners indefinitely based on some endless “war” that Obama denies even exists. I do believe the war on terror exists, but I also believe we need to act in a rational manner to address the long-term consequences of holding dangerous individuals.

Finally, Obama’s decision to try many of the bad guys in civilian courts is actually good for the United States. I will address the “trial” issues in a separate column, after I have finished drying off the tears I had listening to Mark Kirk on Sunday.

People, if you want a crybaby candidate for U. S. Senator, “Crybaby Kirk” is your man. Please don’t vote for me.

If you want a sensible, experienced, down-to-earth U. S. Senator who will work through the problems we face in a bipartisan manner, I am your man. I am Illinois.

A vote for me is a vote to end your tears. A vote for Kirk, well to makes me cry to even contemplate the thought.

Mark Kirk faces new attacks Sunday November 15th at Skokie forum

andymartinny — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:04 +0000

Andy Martin will continue his relentless attacks on Mark Kirk’s liberal voting record and lack of love for the State of Illinois. Martin says that Mark Kirk is a “Virginia Democrat,” not an Illinois Republican. Martin says Kirk has spent almost his entire working life as a career politician and coat-holder in Washington. Kirk does not know and does not love Illinois. “Who you gonna believe, Mark Kirk or yourself?” Martin asks. “Kirk issued a poll claiming he had ‘won,’ but left Martin’s name out of the poll. Hmmmm. Maybe because Martin won Kirk’s poll.

Mark Kirk faces new attacks from Andy Martin in a Sunday candidates’ forum

Andy Martin says “Republicans want a conservative candidate, not a left-wing Democrat, as their candidate for U. S. Senator”

www.MarkKirk.us
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Martin will speak at an endorsement session Sunday being sponsored by suburban townships and Chicago wards

Martin won the first “firefight” of the 2010 election campaign on Saturday at the Winnetka Community House

Martin attacks “Kenilworth Kirk” for opposing 1,000 new federal jobs for western Illinois

Did Andy Martin win Mark Kirk’s “poll?” Why did Kirk leave Martin’s name out of Kirk’s news release on his bogus “poll?”

(SKOKIE, IL)(November 15, 2009) Republican U. S. Senate candidate and insurgent “Internet Powerhouse” Andy Martin will launch new attacks on his principal opponent, liberal Democrat Congressman Mark Kirk, at a Sunday candidates’ forum in Skokie.

“Republicans do not want a liberal Democrat to be their candidate for U. S. Senator,” Martin will charge. “Mark Kirk has a more liberal voting record than Barack Obama had in the senate:

“Kirk led the fight for the gay agenda to enact ‘hate crimes’ legislation;

“Kirk voted for cap and trade, until he reversed himself under pressure;

“Kirk voted for infanticide, an extreme form of pro-choice legislation;

“Kirk favors gun registration and de facto confiscation;

“Saturday Kirk said he opposes 1,000 new jobs for western Illinois;

“Kirk shares many contacts with the Obama administration, such as a campaign contribution from convicted Obama operative Tony Rezko and a close relationship with Obama Chief-of-staff Rahm Emanuel. Kirk is Obama’s strongest supporter in the Republican Party.

“Why would Republicans want to nominate a liberal Democrat to be their candidate for U. S. Senate in 2010? Why indeed?

“With all due respect, Mark Kirk is entitled to his opinions and entitled to his votes. But Kirk is not ‘entitled’ to run as a Republican when he has the voting record of a Democrat.

“We will be telling the truth about Mark Kirk, and disclosing the facts about his political career.

“As Harry Truman once said about his opponents, ‘I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.’ Kirk has never run a statewide campaign. He has never traveled this state. He does not love this state. I plan to give Kirk ‘hell’ during the primary by telling the truth about him.

“Kirk voted to devastate the economy of Illinois by supporting cap and trade, and then said ‘so sorry.’ Kirk made it extremely clear that before he voted, he read the entire cap and trade statute. If, by his own admission, Kirk studied the bill carefully, read all of it and still got it wrong, why do we need Kirk the Jerk as our senator? He can’t even read a bill and understand the language, after 10 years in congress. What makes Kirk think his reading skills will improve in the senate?

“Kirk says he is a great ‘fund-raiser.’ Kirk is just skillful at selling his vote to special interests to raise campaign cash. He sells out Illinoisans to put campaign dollars in his pocket. And he thinks that’s great? ‘Kenilworth Kirk’ is out of touch with Illinois.

“Kirk is a Washington interloper who treats Illinois as ‘fly-over’ country. He has spent almost his entire working life as a career politician and coat-holder in Washington, not Illinois. His former wife was a resident of Virginia, not Illinois. Maybe Kirk should run as a Democrat in Virginia,” Martin will helpfully suggest.

The Republican candidates’ forum is being sponsored on November 15th by several suburban townships and Chicago wards at the Oakton Park Community Center, 4701 Oakton Street, Skokie.

Mark Kirk is ambushed in his own back yard

andymartinny — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:58:12 +0000

U.S. Senate candidate and Internet Powerhouse Andy Martin wins the first campaign firefight of the 2010 election. Martin attacks Mark Kirk at a Saturday meeting of New Trier and Northfield Township Republicans. Martin berates Kirk for opposing 1,000 new federal jobs for Illinois. Martin condemns Wheeling Township Republicans for “dis-inviting” U. S. Senate candidates and being “bought and sold to Mark Kirk.” “Republicans want a real primary,” Martin says, “not a fixed Daley-style campaign. I proved Saturday we can defeat the Kirkster in his own back yard. We won the first battle of the 2010 election campaign. We will also win the last battle of the Illinois primary on February 2nd.”

Mark Kirk fails in effort to muzzle Andy Martin as the two candidates collide in a campaign that is going to sizzle through February 2nd

Andy Martin’s “A-Team” wins applause in the heart of Kirk’s congressional district: the Winnetka Community House

www.MarkKirk.us
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Martin speaks at the Northfield/New Trier Townships’ combined endorsement session, and blasts Kirk for supporting Cap and Trade legislation

Martin wins the first “firefight” of the 2010 election campaign

Martin attacks “Kenilworth Kirk” for opposing 1,000 new federal jobs for western Illinois

(CHICAGO)(November 15, 2009) The 2010 election season began Saturday, November 14th with an unexpected confrontation in an improbable location. Mark Kirk was ambushed in his own congressional district by his leading challenger, Andy Martin.

Kirk operatives tried to prevent Kirk’s primary opponents from being heard at Saturday’s Republican Party endorsement meetings. Martin blasted through Kirk’s efforts to silence his opposition. Martin spoke in the heart of Kirk’s own congressional district at the Winnetka Community House and lashed out at Kirk for being a phony and hypocrite.

Republican U. S. Senate candidate and insurgent “Internet Powerhouse” Andy Martin told a combined meeting of New Trier and Northfield Township Republicans that Martin, unlike Kirk, had “not been for ‘cap and trade’ before I was against it.”

Martin then berated Kirk for being a hypocrite by seeking to exclude Illinois as a prison site for Guantanamo detainees. “Kirk was playing to the prissiness of the wealthy,” Martin says. “Kirk told the affluent North Shore crowd that he would fight to keep a federal prison from being located 150 miles away in western Illinois.

”Well, Mr. Kirk as a lot to learn about the State of Illinois. He has never campaigned statewide, I have. I may live in Chicago but I know downstate from one tip of Illinois to the other. Kirk has lived his entire life in a small, rich enclave known as the ‘North Shore.’ I know Illinois. Period.

“Kirk really doesn’t know the state. Until recently, Kirk had never traveled across Illinois and had never lived anywhere outside the wealthy community where he was born. ‘Kenilworth Kirk’ has no idea of the real world outside his own little bubble. Kirk is a stranger to ordinary folks and they look strange to him.

“I am Illinois: a hard fighter and a tough adversary, but an honest and honorable one. I love this state and its people.”

Martin told Northfield/New Trier Republicans that it was wrong for Illinois to turn down 1,000 well-paying federal jobs. “Federal jobs have good salaries, excellent benefits and outstanding pensions. There is lifetime security looking after terrorists. They are not going anywhere. Ever. I will fight to bring those jobs to western Illinois.

“Illinois families are struggling financially. Moms and dads need to put food on the table. They can’t. And Kirk wants to keep federal jobs from locating in Illinois?

“Kirk’s campaign contributors are putting up our electric bills after buying his support in Congress with over $100,000 in ‘dirty dollars.’ People need work. Why is Kirk against bringing well-paying federal jobs to Illinois? Why indeed.”

Kirk supporters tried to ban U. S. Senate candidates from being heard by Wheeling Township and Republican endorsement meetings. “But I could not have been treated more graciously in Kirk’s own congressional district,” Martin said. “When I attacked Kirk for supporting cap and trade, and when I attacked Kirk as a hypocrite, people applauded. I pointed out that although local people might like their congressman he had no experience running a statewide campaign. I have.

“I do not deny that Kirk has some support in his own district. But he also has massive opposition.

“Nevertheless, the situation in Wheeling Township was depressing. All of the candidates for statewide and local races were welcome. Except U. S. Senate candidates. This is a disgrace to the Republican Party. Kirk is trying to hijack democracy.

“In the past, Wheeling Township has been an ‘open’ community where all candidates were welcome. Saturday Wheeling was a closed township, where U. S. Senate candidates were shunned. I was the only U. S. Senate candidate to confront and attack Kirk for his malignant behavior in seeking to muzzle his opponents. Kirk is un-Republican. The little critter is a tin pot dictator,” Martin says.

“I intend to attack Kirk anywhere and everywhere in this state. But I will only attack with the facts and the truth. The facts about Kirk’s own legislative and voting record, and the truth about who Mark Kirk really is. The Democrats already know who Kirk is; Republican voters also have a right to know the truth about Kirk before they cast their ballots on February 2nd.

“Mark Kirk and Barack Obama can attack me all they want. We will fight back. The ‘A-Team’ showed Saturday we are fully capable of ambushing the Kirkster in his own backyard. And telling the truth to New Trier/Northfield Republicans. Republican voters want a primary; they do not want a liberal media coronation for their U.S. Senate nomination. Republicans do not like Kirk’s strong-arm and strongman tactics of seeking to exclude his opponents from full participation in party functions.

“Saturday New Trier/Northfield Republicans learned why Kirk cannot hold his own against me. Now they also know how Kirk ‘won’ his own ‘poll.’ By excluding my name from his bogus ‘poll’ (go back and read Kirk’s press clippings and see for yourself). I beat Kirk in his own poll.

“Saturday we ambushed Kirk in the fire firefight of the 2010 election season. And we will defeat Mark Kirk on February 2nd. Mr. Kirk should stop measuring the draperies for his ‘senate’ office.

“On February 3rd, we are going to put Mark Kirk on the unemployment line, the same way Kirk wants to put downstate Illinoisans on the unemployment line with his vote for cap and trade and against new federal jobs in our state.

“I am fighting for jobs; Kirk confirmed Saturday he is fighting to keep federal jobs away from our state. Which person does downstate Illinois want to represent them? The answer is obvious. Kirk has until December 3rd to withdraw his name.

“By February 2nd, even affluent New Trier/Northfield Township Republicans will agree I am the right man to tackle the Daley Machine candidate for U. S. Senator. The only ‘endorsement’ that counts is the endorsement of Illinois primary voters on February 2nd. With my campaign, ‘The People Win.’”

Republican U. S. Senate candidates “locked out” of “endorsement” sessions

andymartinny — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:31:37 +0000

Mark Kirk supporters have barred other candidates from speaking at suburban “endorsement” meetings Saturday. Andy Martin calls the exclusion “totalitarian” tactics. Martin will confront Kirk at the endorsement sessions. Kirk’s own poll shows Martin leading the congressman. “We have an upset-in-the-making,” Martin says, “and the Kirkster knows that. That’s why he has resorted to dirty tricks and slimy tactics so early before the election.”

U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin will confront Mark Kirk at suburban “endorsement” sessions Saturday

Martin says Kirk’s opponents have all been “locked out” of the bogus “endorsement” meetings

NEWS FROM:
ANDY MARTIN /2010
“The Name You Can Trust”
Republican for U. S. Senator
30 E. Huron Street, Suite 4406
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
(866) 706-2639
www.AndyforUSSenator.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.blogspot.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.wordpress.com

www.MarkKirk.us
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ATTENTION DAYBOOK/ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF SATURDAY NEWS CONFERENCES IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS AND WINNETKA

Andy Martin’s investigation shows Kirk supporters are rigging endorsements like “Chinese elections”

Martin says that Kirk supporters have “locked out” all of his opponents from bogus “endorsement” sessions Saturday

Andy Martin demands that Pat Brady “Free Wheeling Township Republicans! Free Northfield Township Republicans! Free New Trier Township Republicans!”

Martin says “There is an upset-in-the-making, and Mark Kirk knows it.”

(ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL)(November 14, 2009) Republican U. S. Senate candidate and insurgent “Internet Powerhouse” Andy Martin will hold Arlington Heights and Winnetka news conferences Saturday, November 14th to expose that Mark Kirk supporters are planning massive “endorsement” fraud on Saturday, November 14th.

“I received calls from other candidates telling me they had not been invited either,” Martin states. “Kirk is hijacking the Republican Party by holding ‘closed’ endorsement sessions where his opponents are barred from speaking.

“When did suburban Republican committeemen become dancing bears for Mark Kirk?

“How is it that in Illinois in 2010 the office which is at the top of the ballot is being locked in the closet? Gubernatorial candidates are welcome but senate candidates are unwelcome? What is happening?

“So far as I can determine, no one but Kirk was invited to appear Saturday, and no candidates for U.S. Senator will appear except Kirk or his supporters. The little critter thinks he’s a banana republic dictator.

“When did the Illinois Republican Party start ‘locking out’ candidates for statewide office from presenting their credentials at township meetings? This behavior is a disgrace to our men and women in uniform who are fighting for our freedoms. Kirk is a complete hypocrite.

“Sadly, the Republican Party today may be even more corrupt than the Democrats. Kirk, who is a de facto Democrat, may not be the lesser of two evils. He is the greater of two evils,” Martin will charge as he attempts to be heard at the “locked out” endorsement sessions.

Media wishing to verify the “lockout” can contact other U. S. Senate campaigns:
Arrington (708) 932-8559
Lowery (618) 771-6734
Thomas (217) 414-9303

Kirk previously issued a bogus “poll” that claimed he was winning the primary, but which excluded Martin’s name from the list of opponents. Kirk was obviously losing his own poll—to Andy Martin.

Martin is asking suburban committeemen to delay endorsements until January.

November 14th news conference details:

WHO:

U. S. Senate candidate and Internet Powerhouse Andy Martin

WHERE:

[1] Arlington Heights, 909 E. Rand Road,
[Wheeling Republican Party headquarters],

[2] Winnetka, Winnetka Community House,
620 Lincoln Avenue

WHEN:

Saturday, November 14, 2009
8:30 A.M. Arlington Heights
9:30 A.M. Winnetka

WHAT:

Internet Powerhouse and U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin says that Mark Kirk’s supporters are “locking out” other candidates from Saturday endorsement sessions

MEDIA CONTACT:

(866) 706-2639; Cell (917) 664-9329 (not always turned on)

WEBSITE:

http://www.AndyforUSSenator.com

E-MAIL:

AndyforUSSenator@aol.com
——————————–
ANDY MARTIN
“The name you can trust”
Republican for U. S. Senator/2010
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Toll-free tel. (866) 706-ANDY
Toll-free fax (866) 707-ANDY
Web site: http://www.AndyforUSSenator.com
E-mail: AndyforUSSenator@aol.com

Please donate:

www.AndyforUSSenator.com

Blogs:

www.AndyforUSSenator.blogspot.com
www.AndyforUSSenator.wordpress.com
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

www.MarkKirk.us

Dear Committeeman:

Your leaders are preventing me from speaking at your “endorsement” session. The meeting is rigged to endorse Mark Kirk although Kirk faces substantial opposition within the party. As near as I can tell, all of the other senate candidates were prevented from speaking at your endorsement meeting. What kind of democracy is this? Why the rush?

Kirk took a “poll,” claimed he was winning, and left my name out of the list. I was beating Kirk in his own poll.

Here are my three (3) basic requests.

1. Vote “no” on any endorsement today.
2. Demand that all U. S. Senate candidates be heard.
3. Delay any endorsement until mid-January.

What is happening today makes a travesty of the Republican Party and is an embarrassment to anyone whose endorsement “vote” is being used to defraud Republican primary voters.

Respectfully,

ANDY MARTIN

AM:sp

Illinois U. S. Senate primary explodes with Mark Kirk’s dirty tricks

andymartinny — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:04:08 +0000

Mark Kirk faces defeat and begins desperate campaign to block endorsements for his principal rival Andy Martin. Martin calls Kirk a “de facto Democrat.”

U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin says Mark Kirk’s Wheeling Township backers are trying to block precinct committeemen from endorsing Andy Martin

Martin says Mark Kirk is afraid to face Andy Martin on a level playing field

www.MarkKirk.us
www.IllinoisHighSpeedTrains.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ATTENTION DAYBOOK/ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF FRIDAY NEWS CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO

Andy Martin says Mark Kirk’s slimy tactics are backfiring

Martin asks “Why is State Chairman Pat Brady not condemning dirty tricks by Mark Kirk supporters? Does Brady support dirty tricks by his own candidates?”

Martin says the Republican Party’s “addiction to dirty tricks and back stabbing” is going to ensure defeat in November, 2010

Martin says it is time for Kirk to join the Democratic Party

Andy Martin demands that Pat Brady “Free Wheeling Township Republicans!”

(CHICAGO)(November 13, 2009) Republican U. S. Senate candidate and insurgent “Internet Powerhouse” Andy Martin will hold a Chicago news conference Friday, November 13th to expose efforts by de facto Democrat Mark Kirk to prevent Wheeling Township precinct committeemen from endorsing Martin.

“Mark Kirk is so afraid of my campaign, his supporters in Wheeling Township are trying to rig the endorsement process on November 13th to prevent precinct committeemen from endorsing me,” Martin will state.

“I received the following redacted e-mail:

Prior to the endorsement session, [committeemen] are to hear from each of the competing candidates for the respective major political offices. Republicans of Wheeling Township (“ROWT”) sent invitations to each of the respective candidates.

Apparently, ROWT officials decided not to include Martin on the invite list.

This response was disappointing in that, regardless of ROWT official’s opinions, as a bone-fide candidate, it should be up to the ROWT Precinct Captains to decide whether to support or reject Martin’s candidacy. So, at this Saturday’s endorsement session, Precinct Captains will probably see Martin’s name on the list, but will not have had the opportunity to hear his views as they have the other candidates

“This attempt to rig and fix the endorsement process shows that the Republican Party is crooked-to-the-core,” Martin says. “Pat Brady is asleep at the switch. Or is Brady encouraging efforts to bogus-up ‘endorsements’ for Kirk that lock out other candidates? Brady has ‘endorsed’ Kirk. A conflict of interest?

“When will the jokers who support Kirk learn that rigging endorsements and fixing the process to prevent committeemen from endorsing me will not save the little critter from certain defeat in November, 2010? Kirk is not electable statewide in Illinois.

“Kirk should do the right thing and join the Democrats. His attempts at a ‘90-day makeover’ as a ‘conservative’ are sad. The man is an embarrassment to himself. Kirk can’t put on lipstick and claim he has become a ‘red stater.’ He can’t deny his extreme liberal voting record.

“Let’s look at Kirk’s peculiar campaign behavior:

“Kirk recently released a ‘poll’ showing he was beating his ‘opponents,’ and left my name off his ‘poll’. Obviously, in Kirk’s own polls I was defeating him, so he tried to hide that fact by leaving out my name. Nice try, Markie.

“Now Kirk is trying to prevent Wheeling Township Committeemen from endorsing my campaign as the only genuine alternative to Kirk’s left-wing travesty. Kirk is so out of touch with reality he thinks his transparent dirty tricks will succeed. They won’t.

“Kirk’s own polls show me beating him; that is why he is trying to fix the Republican Party primary process. Kirk purchased Pat Brady’s loyalty and the so-called ‘State Central Committee’s’ loyalty with his fifty thousand pieces of silver, his $50,000 bribe to the state organization.

“Kirk loves to pass out bogus ‘endorsement’ sheets claiming people have endorsed his candidacy when they have not done so. Prominent among Kirk’s false claims was an ‘endorsement’ from Kirk Dillard. But Senator Dillard denies endorsing Kirk. If Mark Kirk is a liar on the small stuff, how can anyone trust him on the big issues? Oh, I forgot, we can’t trust Kirk on anything. One day he’s ‘for,’ and the next day he’s ‘against.’

“No one has to take my word for my electoral strength in the primary. Mark Kirk is trying to rig the wheeling Township endorsement to prevent committeemen from endorsing me. Kirk is running a ‘scorched earth’ campaign to save himself from defeat. His dirty tricks are going to boomerang on him from one end of the state to the other. Kirk is the ‘Combine Candidate,’ a Daley Machine confection that is addicted to corruption and dirty tricks, and to undermining the Republican Party.

“I call on Pat Brady to condemn Kirk’s dirty tricks and ‘Free Wheeling Township Republicans’ so they can endorse my candidacy for U. S. Senator and send Mark Kirk a message he doesn’t want to hear: Join the Democrats, Markie; that’s where you belong. Stop running away from your voting record and face reality. Ask your butt boy Rahm Emanuel for a job with Obama. They love ya.”

November 9th news conference details:

WHO:

U. S. Senate candidate and Internet Powerhouse Andy Martin

WHERE:

Sidewalk news conference, SE corner of Huron and Wabash,
Chicago

WHEN:

Friday, November 13, 2009 3:00 P.M.

WHAT:

Internet Powerhouse and U. S. Senate candidate Andy Martin says Wheeling Township supporters of Mark Kirk are trying to prevent precinct committeemen from endorsing Andy Martin

MEDIA CONTACT:

(866) 706-2639; Cell (917) 664-9329 (not always turned on)

WEBSITE:

http://www.AndyforUSSenator.com

E-MAIL:

UPDATES:
www.twitter.com/AndyMartinUSA
www.facebook.com/AndyMartin

Murder By Lead Poisoning.... A Red Action Entry

lilabyrd — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:18:58 +0000

Condor *81

I want to start this by saying right up front, I am NOT a vegetarian nor a vegan and I firmly believe that there is not one thing wrong with hunting and fishing….. as long as it is done for food or “catch and release” if fishing and say, you have your limit but still want to enjoy the out doors. It’s great as long as you are following the laws that are there for the benefit of future generations to enjoy. I think there is nothing wrong with having guns….. as long as you follow the laws and are trained and keep them locked up when not in use. Now with that out-of-the-way, I have a MAJOR bone to pick with the National Rifle Association and their stance on the continuation of the use of leaded ammunition. Just why do they feel it’s OK to use something that is directly causing the profound suffering and long drawn out death to our endangered…. NO let me change that….endangered or not …..birds of prey and other wildlife? There is not even ONE GOOD REASON FOR THIS!!!! They leave the carcass of their kill with the spent lead still in the animal, that then poison the dead carcass and everything that then feeds on that carcass. Changing to ammunition that doesn’t contain lead is not a big deal….. so why not DO IT? I just don’t understand this behavior. Why call the Center for Biological Diversity ”extremist” for pushing to stop this lead poisoning. WHY put a multi-million dollar legal team together to fight over this horrible, senseless murder? Don’t they have a better use for their money? If they need help thinking of some just ask me. I’ll gladly work on putting a list together of some very worthwhile projects that millions would be a God send. But no, instead they want to keep on with this insanity and have now put some very special critters basically on death row. Because that is what this is really all about, the California Condor is such a beautiful bird. Some don’t think so but when you take time to watch them as the soar through the sky so very graceful and yes majestic works well to describe them too. They were on the edge of extinction in the 1980’s and only with much hard work by captive breeding and release they have started to grow in numbers…… that is until the hunting with lead ammunition started killing them off. But only after long agonizing torturous suffering. Oh yeah, a few do live…. after multiple painful blood transfusions, that are as costly as they are painful. Don’t think they are the only ones, because they are not, even our American Bald Eagle is killed by the same type of lead poisoning. All of this continues to happening while the Condor is still on the Endangered Species List! So, someone maybe from the NRA might like to explain themselves…… because as I have said their actions make NO sense….why waste all those millions. I want to thank the CBD for some of the back ground information and all the hard work they do for all critters great or small and all the places those critters live. If you would like to help…. PLEASE click here http://www.BiologicalDiversity.org and look around their web site and see what you might be able to do to help these wild critters and their homes. Also feel free to look around my blog for other environmental posts, my “critter tales” or “just a look on the lighter side…. of the dark…” and may you walk in peace and harmony with all critters great and small until our paths cross again…… Lila

Getting a Concealed Weapons License, Part II.

therealedwin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:30:41 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

At the beginning of October, I wrote part one in a two part series on what it takes to get a concealed weapons license (CWL from now on) in the state of Florida. The first part dealt with planning, requirements and qualifications. Basically a lot of paperwork. The most important part of getting a concealed weapons license is finding a good instructor or gun shop that has classes. When I say good, I mean that they take their time to actually teach the class. I’ve spoken to far too many people that just paid some guy to sign off the paperwork and never got trained or even tested! With my limited interactions with these license holders, they knew their stuff so I am not as worried about them. It’s everyone else who doesn’t know how to properly handle a firearm and just wants a license for whatever reason and doesn’t receive proper training that I worry about. If I were a proper media outlet with resources, I would be there with the undercover camera to show how some people skirt the line on this.

My experience was very pleasant. I called my local gun shop, Security Arms International in Pinecrest, and told them I wanted to take the concealed weapons class. I took the opportunity to put $20 down to reserve my spot in the class. Our instructor was an older gentleman called Cappy. His real name was actually Al. Al is one of the security officers at SAI Ops, and has been an NRA instructor for years, so he knew his stuff. Once everyone showed up to the class we got underway. But before we talk about the class I want to give you an analysis on the students. I find this to be the most interesting part.

Let’s start with me. Young twenty something geek that never owned a gun until a year ago when I purchased my first one after over a year of research. I was interested but afraid of them. It wasn’t until many months after I purchased my first handgun that I took my class. The day of my class was the first time I had fired a handgun. My previous firearm experience was in the boy scouts, which I assume we fired .22LR rifles. My first handgun is a Ruger Mk II 22/25 with a bull barrel. My second and newest one is a GSG-5. Both are chambered in tiny .22LR. My goal was to learn about firearms, safety and maintenance. I don’t think I will actually conceal carry, as getting my CWL was more of an academic exercise. Plus now when I do buy a gun, I don’t have to wait a week for a background check as I’ve already been vetted by Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the FBI.

My first classmate to show up is a thirty something transplant from Illinois. He actually came to the class because he inherited two pistols from his passed away father in law. Lanky with receding thin hair and thick glasses, this guy wasn’t the stereotypical gun owner. Though I soon realize that there is no sterotypical gun owner except for the one we come to believe on tv. My second and third classmate was a mother-son duo. The husband/father is a regular to the shop and wanted his family to be able to protect themselves and have the knowledge to handle a firearm safely. That was it, only four students. I honestly thought there would be more students given the amount of firearm sales and wait times reported for your license to come from the state.

We started off with the anatomy of a pistol and the different types (revolver, semi-auto) and moved on to the parts of cartridges (incorrectly called bullets; see #1 in above figure). The overwhelming majority of the class involved talking about when you can and can not kill another person. I may be simplifying it a bit, but I don’t feel like I am. We discussed everything from previous cases that caused the evolution of concealed carry laws and what has happened in the past that covers your ass. Another tidbit that was covered briefly in the previous post was the kinds of weapons you can and can not concealed carry. Guns are usually the first things people think about but the license also covers blades, sprays, etc. The class itself lasted till about 3:30 PM when I finished my qualifier at the range.

In the end the experience was fun and informative. If anyone is curious about weapons, legal history or just wants to remove the fear of weapons, I highly suggest you find a good place to take your class. This course did far more to educate me about a segment of life and society that I did not know about, than any other source of information I’ve found to date.

A Shortage Of Ammunition

One Man's Thoughts — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:39:28 +0000

In a year of job losses, foreclosures and bag lunches, Americans have spent record-breaking amounts of money on guns and ammunition. The most obvious sign of their demand: empty ammunition shelves.

Gun owners have bought about 12 billion rounds of ammunition in the past year, industry officials estimate. That’s up from 7 billion to 10 billion in a normal year.

The rush for bullets, like this year’s increase in gun sales, says something about how suspicious the two sides in the gun-control debate are of each other, even at a time when the issue is on Washington’s back burner.

The Obama factor

Democrats prompt sales of both guns and ammo. The U.S. government taxes both to support wildlife conservation, and those receipts are on pace to set a record in 2009, according to Treasury Department data, with tax revenue due from guns up 42 percent and revenue due from ammunition at 49 percent.

For gun owners, the run on ammunition has created shortages and price increases on everything from cheap .22-caliber bullets used for target shooting to the expensive hollow-point 9mm rounds bought for home defense.

Reason for alarm?

“I think it’s Katrina. I think it’s terrorism. I think it’s crime. And I also think that it’s people worrying about [whether] they’ll be attacked by politicians,” said Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association. “They’re suspicious, and justifiably so.”

ACLU For Conservatives

Rick Schroeder — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:32:54 +0000

I’m sure I caught you wondering why the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) would possibly be for conservatives, well they’re not. Probably never will be. Yeah, if you go to work, pay your taxes and mow your lawn they want you to die quickly. But if you’re any kind of twisted nutjob they are here for you to turn your sick desires into mainstream reality.

No what I meant by that title is that we need a group like the ACLU only for conservatives. As I watch the American way of life quickly head south that thought occurred to me. We need a group like the ACLU. I don’t know if there is such a group out there but I would gladly donate to it as I’m sure many of you would.

You see, as a conservative you encounter many circumstances during the course of your life where you are just overwhelmed by evil. They seem to have all the money and resources in the world to wear you down and make you allow the deviated things in life to be practiced right out in the open. Sometimes you have the wherewithal to fight it and win but more times than not you are out gunned and out manned.

I realise that there are some groups out there who stand up for certain demographics or a single right such as the National Rifle Association (NRA)or the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC, a group very much like AARP only for conservatives). But the ACLU is a sort of catchall when it comes to litigation in defending or aiding the liberals in winning in their quest for communism.

I’m not saying I’m going to start such a group and I’m not suggesting that you do. All I’m doing right now is throwing it out there to see how people react. If you know of such an organization let me know, let everyone know, because this is something we desperately need right now.

Hunter Kills Himself, Deer Survives.

Rake Morgan — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:55:55 +0000

No one likes to see animals of any kind — including humans — needlessly die. However, when men — why is it always men? – go out into the woods with guns, hide in trees, and use other means to create an unfair advantage over trusting animals that are then killed, I am not going to lament the death of such a person.

According to today’s Union Leader, a New Hampshire hunter shot and killed himself while he was acting out his childish hunting fantasy. I am sorry for his family. On the other hand, I rejoice that another deer — supposedly being “managed” with these government-sanctioned slaughters — escaped to see another day.

On the same day, according to the newspaper report, another hunter in a separate incident shot himself in the hand.

Given the number of hunting accidents each year, I wonder if most hunters are both cruel and stupid. Or perhaps the two character flaws always go together?

NRA License Plates Now Available in Mississippi!

One Man's Thoughts — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:20:30 +0000

Mississippi NRA Members support the NRA by purchasing a specialized tag today!

NRA license plates are now available through your county tax collector’s office. The cost is $31, with $24 of that going to the NRA Foundation State Account to promote firearms training, youth hunter education, shooting range development and other programs specifically in Mississippi.

For a list of county tax collectors and office locations, please visit
http://www.mstc.state.ms.us/info/offices/mvlinfo.htm

Gun Ownership As A Cost Of Health Care Reform

Carl — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:28:08 +0000

The National Institute Of Health (NIH) recently began studying the relationship between gun ownership and health issues.

At one time, this sort of research was done by the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) until Congress cut funding for the program, after it was found that the flawed research done by the CDC was shown to be biased against gun ownership.

Since it has been ten years since the CDC lost it’s funding for this program, why is there suddenly renewed interest in this type of research?

Some of us, (myself included) see this as yet another backdoor ploy by the “gun grabbers” in Congress and the Obama administration for yet another attack on the Second Amendment.

They will tout the implementation of stricter gun control laws as a means of reducing health care costs, due to the reduction in violent crime that would be the result of additional restrictions on firearms ownership.

They will attempt to make their case by presenting statistics showing that gun violence causes health care resources to be spent in ways that could be better utilized in other areas.

Of course, many of the American public will fall for this gibberish, not realizing that it is simply another ploy by the Obama administration to drum up support for an increasingly unpopular health care reform bill, while having the added bonus of being an assault on Second Amendment rights as well.

However, anyone who, rather than simply believe what they are told, would take the time to study the relationship between gun ownership and it’s resulting effect on health care costs would find quite a different answer than what they would assume to be the case.
Anyone holding the opinion that less gun ownership would result in less violent crime and therefore less of a strain on health care resources would learn that just the opposite is the case.

There is a direct correlation between…Read the rest of this entry

I Think We Have More People

Christopher Burg — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:48:22 +0000

Joe Huffman does a quick Internet approved survey to determine popularity between the gun rights crowd and the anti-gunners. He uses the number of followers each have on Twitter which is the Internet excepted method of determining everything.

Well we’re winning. In fact the Brady Bunch’s actual Twitter account is almost eclipsed in popularity by Mr. Huffman’s own daughter. Of course Mr. Huffman doesn’t take into consideration another possible meaning behind this. Anti-gunners are too stupid to understand how to use a service that involves sending 140 character messages. I guess typing is hard for any group of people who are using both of their hands to cover their ears while they scream, “I CAN’T HEAR YOU LA LA LA!” at the stop of their lungs.