Then they came for the Jews, But I was not a Jew, So I did not speak out.
The three small lines bear witness to the Holocaust. They stun. They make us look inward to gauge our own capacity for passive, complicit evil. The poem in which the stanza appears is thought to have originated in various postwar speeches of German Pastor Martin Niemoller.
Likewise, who cannot be stunned when the following statement is uttered by popular shock-jock commentator Michael Savage over America's Talk Radio Network?
"They say, u2018Oh, there's a billion of them.' I said, u2018So, kill 100 million of them, then there'll be 900 million of them.' I mean, would you rather die — would you rather us die than them?"
He was talking about Muslims — all Muslims — in his April 17 broadcast. Okay, Savage is a nutjob, right? A worst-case example of the failure of the human soul. He's not like the rest of us.
But, apparently, he's like a lot of us here in the United States. The Michael Savage Show is the third largest syndicated radio talk show in the country. As U.S. media continue their slide into the moral sewer of ultra-right propaganda, Savage's brand of hate talk is rather routine.
U.S. evangelical leader Pat Robertson labels Islam, "a bloody, brutal kind of religion," on the Christian Broadcasting Corporation's televised 700 Club. Commentator Ann Coulter writes in the Jewish World Review that "[T]he government should be spying on all Arabs, engaging in torture as a televised spectator sport." Civilized people would like to believe that Coulter is an anomalous hatemeister, lurking from the shadows of an ill-designed blogsite, with iron crosses and ads for assault knives in the sidebars. But Coulter is a welcome guest on cable TV giants like Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN, and her column is syndicated by UPI.
James Madison, a founding father and fourth president of the United States, wrote, "When tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." For the sake of the republic, Madison would have been unswayed by the tinhorn patriotism and the anti-Muslim (in effect, anti-American) rants of today's media.
Consider a hater from another era:
"Let us make a new beginning today so that we can annihilate the Jew."
That was Julius Streicher, in a speech given in Nuremberg, 1925. Streicher was publisher of Der Stuermer, a viciously anti-Semitic newspaper. He was a favorite of Hitler in the buildup to the Third Reich. Like the United States' Talk Radio Network, Der Stuermer was a key player in the mass media of its day. And, like Julius Streicher before him, Michael Savage serves up a constant, genocidal background chant for an administration bent on imperial war.
Now the president claims that Iran's nuclear capability is a threat to the United States. Those who love this country will remember that he said the same thing about WMD in Iraq before sending the country's sons and daughters into the slaughterhouse.
Hardliners in Washington and Jerusalem cheer as the president announces, "You bet, we'll defend Israel," from Iran. But informed observers, like Israeli military expert Martin van Creveld and U.S. physicist Gordon Prather, have assured us that Iran is years away from creating a nuclear weapon if, indeed, they are creating one at all.
Lacking a legitimate casus belli, the administration knows that in order to wage war it must make the people hate. In order to control them, it must make them fear. So the administration offers up a decades-long war with "terrorists." And who are these terrorists? Why, "Islamofascists," according to media cheerleaders.
In its demonization of Jews, Nazi Germany bet on the moral somnolence of the German people, and it bet right. But the Third Reich collapsed under the weight of its own hatred and under the military might of the civilized world. U.S. citizens should pay heed.
If Pastor Niemoller were speaking today, would he add three more lines to his poem, for the sake, not only of Muslims, but of all humanity?
Then they came for the Muslims, But I was not a Muslim, So I did not speak out.
+ Our 43 Totalitarian Senators (Sly or Stupid?) + Bush's State Militias
1) When they took away the 4, 6, 2, & 1 Constitutional Amendments (Update of Niemoller) 2) FRAUD of Democracy 21(501 c.3) Pew/Soros 3) Who are the 43 Totalitarians in our Senate? 4) (Text) SEC. 220. DISCLOSURE OF PAID EFFORTS TO STIMULATE GRASSROOTS LOBBYING.
---------------
Freedom of speech - use it or lose it - A VICTORY.
The power of the internet is demonstrated. This trial balloon at censorship was squashed last night. But they will try again. ====
When they took away the 4th Amendment, we were quiet, because we didn't deal drugs.
When they took away the 6th Amendment, we were quiet, because we were innocent.
When they took away the 2nd Amendment, we were quiet, because we don't own guns.
Now they have taking away the 1st Amendment,and very soon, if we continue to be quiet, we will have no choice, but to be continue to be quiet. ==========
Amendment I - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Govt. for a redress of grievances. It appears the "grassroot lobbying" insertion will be expunged from the original S.1 Senate bill. It's not clear from the article below how this occurred or who expedited it. What is also of interest is WHO put it there from the start.
"The Senate, on a 55-43 vote, approved an amendment pushed by Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, to strip a provision requiring reporting of "grass-roots" lobbying."
It's right in between the two pictures of Obama.
It seems the non-profit group Democracy 21 furnished the citizen lobbying insertion in S.1
which was fortunately defeated by senators led by Bennett & Judd Gregg.
This statement from Democracy 21 laments this successful Amendment. Democracy 21 is registered with the IRS as a public charity 501(c)(3) org.
For want of no public outrage directed their way does not specify this 1st Amendment restriction directly.
It would seem Democracy 21 may have even written this portion. It might be revealing to see who hired them as "consultants" and who the leading contributors might be!
As president, Fred Wertheimer paid himself the taxpayer-subsidized annual salary of $175,167.
The 2005 Tax-Exempt Form 990 for Democracy 21 can be viewed here. Again, Democracy 21 is nothing more than another example of a fox among the hens.
Wertheimer's "public charity" gets large chunks of funding from the Pew Charitable trust and George Soros.
All of this under the self-righteous moniker of "ethics and lobbying reform", you understand.
You know about Soros' political leanings. Pew Trust is notorious for its funding of far left, anti-American foundations and groups. The most Marxist of all is Pew's funding of the Institute for Policy Studies. I have reported to you on IPS activities repeatedly. ---------------------------------------------------------- THE QUESTION IS: ARE THEY STUPID OR SLY?
Who are the Totalitarians in our Senate?
The Senators who voted to throttle the voices of grass roots groups, by to keeping the section 220 are shown below. Section 220 would have made it possible to have criminal penalties, and even jail time, for citizens who criticize or try to influence Congress.
The Senators in the list that is below, all voted for the SB 1 bill without the Bennet Amendment.
Only Coburn and Hatch voted against the SB 1 bill.
The Bennet amendment removed the most outrageously totalitarian part of the Senate bill S.1 .
Here are The Senators who voted NO on the Bennet amendment:
In the original post of this message one of the URLs was censored by an interesting tactic: The URL came through with "spaces" added to it. If any of the URLs in this post does not load, please REMOVE the added "spaces".
Totalitarianism is HERE: Criminal penalties, jail time, for citizens who criticize or try to influence Congress. U. S. Senate would impose criminal penalties, even jail time, on citizens who criticize Congress. Congress to Send Critics to Jail, Says Richard Viguerie Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The following is a statement by Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of GrassrootsFreedom.com , regarding legislation currently being considered by Congress to regulate grassroots communications:
"In what sounds like a comedy sketch from Jon Stewart's Daily Show, but isn't, the U. S. Senate would impose criminal penalties, even jail time, on grassroots causes and citizens who criticize Congress.
"Section 220 of S. 1, the lobbying reform bill currently before the Senate, would require grassroots causes, even bloggers, who communicate to 500 or more members of the public on policy matters, toregister and report quarterly to Congress the same as the big K Street lobbyists.
Section 220 would amend existing lobbying reporting law bycreating the most expansive intrusion on First Amendment rights ever. For the first time in history, critics of Congress will need toregister and report with Congress itself.
"The bill would require reporting of 'paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying,' but defines 'paid' merely as communications to 500 or more members of the public, with no other qualifiers.
"On January 9, the Senate passed Amendment 7 to S. 1, to createcriminal penalties, including up to one year in jail, if someone'knowingly and willingly fails to file or report.'
"That amendment was introduced by Senator David Vitter (R-LA). Senator Vitter, however, is now a co-sponsor of Amendment 20 by Senator RobertBennett (R-UT) to remove Section 220 from the bill.
Unless Amendment 20 succeeds, the Senate will have criminalized the exercise of FirstAmendment rights. We'd be living under totalitarianism.
"I started GrassrootsFreedom. com to fight efforts to silence the grassroots. The website provides updates in the legislation and has apetition to sign opposing Section 220.
"Thousands of nonprofit leaders, bloggers, and other citizens have hammered the Senate with calls in opposition to Section 220, which seeks to silence the grassroots.
The criminal provisions will scare citizens into silence.
"The legislation regulates small, legitimate nonprofits, bloggers, andindividuals, but creates loopholes for corporations, unions, and large membership organizations that would be able to spend literallyhundreds of millions of dollars, yet not report.
Lobbying Bill Will Violate Free Speech And The Right To Freely Petition Government Washington, DC –
"The Traditional Values Coalition is deeply concerned about the grassroots lobbying requirements in Section 220 of S.1, Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act," said TVC Chairman Rev. Louis P. Sheldon today.
"Section 220 is a Direct Assault on the First Amendment and the right of citizens to freely petition their government for a redress of grievances!
"This legislation will place onerous reporting requirements on individuals and organizations that lobby our national leaders on issues of importance to them. And, it will impose draconian fines – - including potential criminal penalties - - for failure to obey these new lobby restrictions. "
Rev. Sheldon points out that Section 220 will target any organization with more than 500 supporters or if a communication reaches 500 or more individuals.
Those affected include every blogger, every church, every non-profit or any group that uses direct mail, telephone calls, newspaper or print ads, paid organizers, radio and TV ads and Internet comms.
"The reporting requirements and penalties in Section 220 will place incredible financial and time burdens on grassroots groups as well as potential fines – thus making it less likely that these groups risk communicating with their members on important issues.
This cleverly-written section doesn't directly assault free speech, but it creates a climate of fear that chills free speech," said Rev. Sheldon. "Will a small grassroots group speak out if it fears being fined for failing to file the correct reports to Congress? This legislation is a subversion of our First Amendment rights."
Rev. Sheldon notes that this will have a serious impact on pastors!
"A pastor, for example, who uses the church bulletin to oppose an anti-Christian bill, will be considered a lobbyist and must register his church as a lobbying firm!
This is unacceptable!
"The curious thing about this legislation is that it exempts - Labor Unions, Corporations and even Foreign Companies - from these reporting requirements.
Yet, these are the entities that are most likely to engage in unethical lobbying activities – not small grassroots groups," said Rev. Sheldon.
SEC. 220. DISCLOSURE OF PAID EFFORTS TO STIMULATE GRASSROOTS LOBBYING.
(a) Definitions- Section 3 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1602) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by adding at the end of the following: `Lobbying activities include paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying, but do not include grassroots lobbying.'; and (2) by adding at the end of the following: `(17) GRASSROOTS LOBBYING- The term `grassroots lobbying' means the voluntary efforts of members of the general public to communicate their own views on an issue to Federal officials or to encourage other members of the general public to do the same.
`(18) PAID EFFORTS TO STIMULATE GRASSROOTS LOBBYING- `(A) IN GENERAL- The term `paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying' means any paid attempt in support of lobbying contacts on behalf of a client to influence the general public or segments thereof to contact one or more covered legislative or executive branch officials (or Congress as a whole) to urge such officials (or Congress) to take specific action with respect to a matter described in section 3(8)(A), except that such term does not include any communications by an entity directed to its members, employees, officers, or shareholders.
`(B) PAID ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR SEGMENTS THEREOF- The term `paid attempt to influence the general public or segments thereof' does not include an attempt to influence directed at less than 500 members of the general public.
`(C) REGISTRANT- For purposes of this paragraph, a person or entity is a member of a registrant if the person or entity-- `(i) pays dues or makes a contribution of more than a nominal amount to the entity; `(ii) makes a contribution of more than a nominal amount of time to the entity; `(iii) is entitled to participate in the governance of the entity; `(iv) is 1 of a limited number of honorary or life members of the entity; or `(v) is an employee, officer, director or member of the entity. `(19) GRASSROOTS LOBBYING FIRM- The term `grassroots lobbying firm' means a person or entity that-- `(A) is retained by 1 or more clients to engage in paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying on behalf of such clients; and `(B) receives income of, or spends or agrees to spend, an aggregate of $25,000 or more for such efforts in any quarterly period.'. (b) Registration- Section 4(a) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1603(a)) is amended-- (1) in the flush matter at the end of paragraph (3)(A), by adding at the end the following: `For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii), the term `lobbying activities' shall not include paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying.'; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
`(4) FILING BY GRASSROOTS LOBBYING FIRMS - Not later than 45 days after a grassroots lobbying firm first is retained by a client to engage in paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying, such grassroots lobbying firm shall register with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.'. (c) Separate Itemization of Paid Efforts To Stimulate Grassroots Lobbying- Section 5(b) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604(b)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (3), by--
(A) inserting after `total amount of all income' the following: `(including a separate good faith estimate of the total amount of income relating specifically to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying and, within that amount, a good faith estimate of the total amount specifically relating to paid advertising)'; and (B) inserting `or a grassroots lobbying firm' after `lobbying firm'; (2) in paragraph (4), by inserting after `total expenses' the following: `(including a good faith estimate of the total amount of expenses relating specifically to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying and, within that total amount, a good faith estimate o f the total amount specifically relating to paid advertising)'; and (3) by adding at the end the following: `Subpara.(B)& (C) of para (2) shall not apply with respect to reports relating to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying activities.'. (d) Good Faith Estimates and De Minimis Rules for Paid Efforts To Stimulate Grassroots Lobbying- (1) IN GENERAL- Section 5(c) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604(c)) is amended to read as follows: `(c) Estimates of Income or Expenses- For purposes of this section, the following shall apply:
`(1) Estimates of income or expenses shall be made as follows: `(A) Estimates of amounts in excess of $10,0000 shall be rounded to the nearest $20,000. `(B) In the event income or expenses do not exceed $10,000, the registrant shall include a statement that income or expenses totaled less than $10,000 for the reporting period. `(2) Estimates of income or expenses relating specifically to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying shall be made as follows: `(A) Estimates of amounts in excess of $25,000 shall be rounded to the nearest $20,000. `(B) In the event income or expenses do not exceed $25,000, the registrant shall include a statement that income or expenses totaled less than $25,000 for the reporting period.'. (2) TAX REPORTING- Section 15 of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1610) is amended-- (A) in subsection (a)-- (i) in paragraph (1), by striking `and' after the semicolon; (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting `; and'; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: `(3) in lieu of using the definition of paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying in section 3(18), consider as paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying only those activities that are grassroots expenditures as defined in section 4911(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.'; and (B) in subsection (b)-- (i) in paragraph (1), by striking `and' after the semicolon; (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting `; and'; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: `(3) in lieu of using the definition of paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying in section 3(18), consider as paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying only those activities that are grassroots expenditures as defined in section 4911(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.'. SEC. 222. EFFECTIVE DATE. This subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle shall take effect January 1, 2008.
========================= Useful Idiot wrote: -- Must Register like BIG K Street lobbyists
(Excerpt) The amendment is currently on hold. This latest attack on bloggers comes hot on the heels of Republican Senator John McCain's proposal to introduce legislation that would - FINE BLOGS up to $300,000 for offensive statements, photos and videos posted by visitors on comment boards. ====== Take action: As well as calling the Senate you should go to GrassrootsFreedom.com which has a petition http://www.grassrootsfreedom.com/gw3/petition/petition.php?PetitionID=25 that you can sign against Section 220 of S. 1, the lobbying reform bill
Centralized, paternalistic government was a bad Soviet Communist idea, so why does AWOL Bush favor it? Here are portions of a news article appearing at http://www.stateline.org
by Kavan Peterson A little-noticed change in federal law packs an important change in who is in charge the next time a state is devastated by a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina.
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