NWI Patriots Blog

What is the Tea Party Movement?

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:43:48 +0000

What is the Tea Party Movement?
A Personal View by Martin Henrichs

Rick Santelli’s rant on the floor of Chicago Board of Trade broadcast on CNBC in early 2009 was the spark that ignited the Tea Party movement. The American people woke up!

I was motoring down I-75 in Florida in February 2009 when I heard a radio talk show host fired up about a “Tea Party”. It was the first I had heard of it. At the Residence Inn
I picked up a USA Today and read a timely article describing what this Tea Party mania was all about—a reassertion of values which make America exceptional in the world.

Doug Mainwaring, a Tea Party founder, recalls in the August 23, 2010, Washington Times that it was “Main Street America’s indictment against the ruling class.” It was an eruption of sanity and reason, of stewardship and goodwill.” It was “not Democrat or Republican, but about the American people versus the hubris of politics as usual in Washington.”

It is about individual freedom and the future of our nation. In 1900 government only took
3% of our income, meaning we were 97% free, by 2000 government took 40% leaving us 60% free, but the bonds are tightening around our wrists.

The Tea Party calls attention to this trend toward slavery, as Mainwaring so eloquently states, “Success or failure hinges on dealing with our grave internal threat—the Leviathan that our government has become, the unsustainable entitlements, the incomprehensible enormity of our debt, the conceit of social engineering and command-and-control governance, the profligacy of Washington spending and the resulting confiscatory taxation to pay for it all. Most of all, it is the annihilation of our children’s future prosperity and liberty.

The Tea Party movement is reasserting America’s founding principles in the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution–that our unalienable rights are from God, not the government. That these rights include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

According to Mainwaring, “There is a Grand Canyon-sized chasm between the mentality of Main Street America and that of our ruling class. Through the Tea Party movement, we are witnessing the rightful and necessary ascendancy of Main Street America over the Beltway, K Street (lobbyists) and Wall Street.—a cadre of legislators, members of the executive branch, lobbyists, union leaders, chief executives of for-profits and nonprofits, elitist members of media and academia.”

For too long we have witnessed the same tyranny our forefathers departed their home shores to escape—imposition of taxes and regulations without representation. Washington government is acting in complete disregard for constitutional limitations.

Mainwaring asks, “How much dead weight and cost are added through creating of enormous government bureaucracies, robbing the private sector of both capital and human resources? How much hard work and ingenuity has been stifled because of oversized welfare programs? How many people have been robbed of self-reliance and the joy of achievement because of entitlements? How much liberty, freedom and prosperity have we traded away over the years to fill the progressives voracious hunger to engineer our society?”

The Tea Party movement is not a few political firemen directing a hose of followers at a raging big government prairie fire. Rather, it is a rising tide of individuals who will peacefully smother what threatens to burn the American dream and exceptional way of life.

As Mainwaring puts it, “These are vast legions of confident, autonomous individuals who have experienced deep in their souls a very personal calling to preserve, protect and defend their nation.”

Permission is granted to reproduce this with proper acknowledgement.

Concerned Citizens,

Please forward this onto all your family and friends!!

God Bless America!!

Now they’re after the Electoral College

DebHiggins — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:12:30 +0000

Pissed off because Bush beat Gore in 2000 by the vote of the Electoral College, the left began looking for a way around the process. A college professor from Connecticut suggested that each state should simply pledge its electors to the winner of the national popular vote (the suggestion now known as the Connecticut Compromise). Since then, five blue state legislatures have enacted this into law: Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington. Massachusetts is poised to become number six. New York will probably be next. The Californoa legislature has tried twice, both times vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

But, thank goodness, the change can only take effect if the states that decide to go this route equal 270 electoral votes (enough to put someone over the top and into the Presidency). If all the above states decide for this option they total 147 electoral votes. The blue states that are left: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont, do not have enough votes to bring the total to 270.

Our Founders knew that pure democracies always fail. (We’re supposed to be a Republic, remember.) A major intent of the Electoral College system is to protect states with small populations from the tyranny of the large states with the “majority” of the population.

Legally, I think, a Constitutional Amendment is needed to change the Electoral College. But this administration, and the left in general, cares nothing for the law. Ironically, states may change the way their electors vote if it benefits the power of the Democrats; the feds will not challenge them. But they may not enforce federal law if Democrats lose power and votes thereby – meaning the Arizona immigration law.

We must add another item to the list of things to bother our state and federal representatives about. (Sigh) You might think Indiana would never go that way – but what happens if the legislature which is now pretty well evenly divided, should tilt left? Another reason to know exactly who we are voting for in this and all future elections.

Freedom requires eternal vigilance!

Here are some links for more information:

Electoral College Home Page

National Review Online: Massachusetts, the Electoral College, and the Lessons of History

Boston.com: Massachusetts Legislature Approves Plan to Bypass Electoral College

Atlantic Wire: Who Needs the Electoral College?

Real Clear Politics: Electoral College Modification Gains Steam

We’re All Journalists Now

DebHiggins — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:47:15 +0000

This is a theme I’m kind of developing. Right now these are almost random thoughts. More to come, I hope.

Earlier this week, the Daily Caller blog brought to light an interesting story. It seems that members of a liberal listserv known as Journolist conspired to kill the story of Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s racist rants during the 2008 Presidential campaign. You can read the full story here: http://dailycaller.com/2010/07/20/documents-show-media-plotting-to-kill-stories-about-rev-jeremiah-wright/.

For most people in the country, even those who lean to the left themselves, this really comes as no surprise. Except to the journalists themselves. Many apparently believe that their views are the only correct opinions and that anyone who disagrees is not only wrong, but evil.

Some, however, know exactly what they are producing – propaganda to further the cause of liberal progressivism. Once President Obama was elected, a good part of this group thought it was safe to come out of the closet. A famous example was Newsweek’s cover editorial in February 2009, We Are All Socialists Now. If you’ve forgotten, here’s a link: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2009/02/11/big-lie-newsweek-claims-cover-we-are-all-socialists-now

Main stream “news” these days consists of happenings of the day reported from the view of the left, polls taken by the news agencies themselves to back up what they already think, and puff-piece interviews that make the interviewee look good. Charlie Rangel was caught off guard when Luke Russert (son of the late Tim Russert) of NBC asked the hard-hitting questions. Rangle couldn’t believe it when Russert said he was from MSNBC. See the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s07eOyUeMFc

Enter the new media: internet, talk radio and cable TV. Mainstream journalists pooh pooh them, but the professionals and amateurs in these media do their homework and report what they find. You still have to read or listen with a critical mind-set, because here, too, there is bias. However, the bias is usually open; they tell you straight out which side they are on.

We have come full circle, back to the 18th century, when anyone with an opinion and access to a press could write news and commentary. And they weren’t worried about being objective, news and opinion were right out in the open. John Adams was accused in the news – not the editiorial section – of being a monarchist, wanting to put the new country back under the thumb of King George. Jefferson was accused of wanting to bring the French-style of revolution to America. (See this article: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2010/07/whats_so_bad_about_the_journol_1.html )

In my opinion, we all NEED to be journalists now. We can’t let the left put us back in the dark little box where only their ideas get in. We need a free and open media where ALL sides can express themselves and the listener can make up his or her own mind.

There can be no liberty without a free press. There can be no liberty without free debate. There can be no liberty without an educated and informed populace.

Do your homework. Don’t believe anyone just because of who they are or where they work. (Just because it’s on TV doesn’t mean it is automatically true.) Inform yourself and speak out!

Here are a couple more links if you like:

http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2010/07/20/journolist-jeremiah-wright-and-groucho-marx/

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_072010/content/01125107.guest.html

Federalism and the Incorporation Doctrine

Patriot KD — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:11:03 +0000

Most people do not understand the Incorporation Doctrine. This is, in part, because it is one of those fluid legal doctrines that the US Supreme Court makes up as it goes along. Sometimes we love it, other times we hate it. The recent cases involving the Second Amendment all involve the incorporation doctrine. I have drawn heat from some on message boards suggesting that the cases were wrong and that we cannot claim state’s rights when it is convenient for us, and claim Second Amendment rights when we choose to do so.

I thought I would outline, to the best of my limited ability, the history of the incorporation doctrine, what it is and what it is not. First, lets simply say that the incorporation doctrine refers to incorporation of the bill of rights into the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment states, in pertinent part:

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.

Often referred to as the equal protection clause, this provision was passed in 1868 after the Civil War. In 1897, the City of Chicago wanted to take some land for the widening of a road. Included in that land was some railroad property. Statute provided an opportunity for a hearing to ensure that land was taken for public purposes and to determine the value. The compensation awarded to the railroad by a jury was $1.00. ( Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad vs. City of Chicago http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=case&cou… )

The railroad appealed the trial court decision and the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the jury award of $1.00. Here is where it gets interesting. The railroad then asked the federal district court to examine the case under the 14th amendment. Were they deprived of ” . . . property . . . without due process of law?” The State of Illinois argued they had all the process they were due, a hearing and the ability to present the facts of their case. I am not going to go on ad nauseum about the facts or history of this case but suggest that you read it in its entirety yourself. Again, here is the link: (http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=case&cou… )

The legal principle which came out of the Chicago Burlington case was that the Federal Courts could review a state Court proceeding to ensure compliance with the Bill of Rights under the 14th Amendment. As is often the case, this is later expanded upon greatly by the Courts. While no one is disputing that individuals and corporations should be paid just compensation for property taken for public purposes, the question is whether the Federal Courts are the proper forum to determine what constitutes just compensation. Today we do not question the fact that the Federal Courts intervene in state decisions as to just compensation for a whole host of issues.

The incorporation doctrine was largely unused for 50 years after the Chicago Burlington case. Justice Hugo Black argued strongly in a dissent that the 14th Amendment incorporated all of the first 8 Amendments of the United States Constitution. (“‘no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States’ seem to me an
eminently reasonable way of expressing the idea that henceforth the
Bill of Rights shall apply to the States.” (Duncan v. Louisiana, 391 US 145 1968) The Court has always refused this “mechanical incorporation” principle but has since selectively incorporated much of the Bill of Rights into federal jurisprudence via the 14th Amendment. Today the 14th Amendment is the most frequently cited basis for federal jurisdiction. Several federal laws have been passed relying primarily on the principles of the 14th Amendment.

Although I do not agree with all of the statements in this article, I would suggest you check out the Wikipedia article on the incorporation doctrine at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incorporation_doctrine

In the 1950′s and 1960′s the Supreme Court began using the incorporation doctrine to declare that a number of federal rights applied to the states. Especially in the area of criminal law, the Court essentially rewrote state jurisprudence requiring the right to an attorney, the requirement of a search warrant, the right to a jury trial and a host of other procedural and substantive rights. Virtually EVERY federal decision that involves states relies on the incorporation doctrine. School busing, desegregation, fair housing, public employment cases . . . I could go on all day. Of course, Roe vs. Wade is the penultimate 14th Amendment decision.

I think it is extremely important for us to understand this principle. Many of the things we argue against are based on this relatively simple doctrine. As stated above, some of the things we argue FOR are based on this principle. I hope to provide and outline some of the more pertinent cases for comment in the coming weeks. I welcome your feedback on this issue.

The Game-Create a Program and Then Look for Funding

Patriot KD — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:21:29 +0000

The RDA and RBA put many of their meeting minutes online. You can read them yourself at http://www.indiana.gov/rda and http://www.rba-nwi.org/newsletter.cfm They are still pushing the extension of the South Shore Railroad into Lowell and Valparaiso despite the fact that these proposals were overwhelmingly rejected by the voters. As with all issues, we have to remain vigilant in keeping people informed as to what the unelected politicians are planning. The unelected RDA has spent about $1/2 BILLION dollars of your tax money in the past 5 years.

So that we all understand the relationship. The RDA is authorized, by statute, to fund the creation and start of transit systems. They are not authorized to fund the day to day operations. Beginning in 2011, the bus services that the RDA has funded will need new sources of funding. In the April RDA Board Meeting, Tim Brown was reminded that the RDA could not fund bus operations in Hammond, Gary, Valparaiso and Dyer beyond 2011. The Times reported that “The RBA has long pushed for a higher local tax on restaurant and bar tabs or some other means of support for local bus service.” (The Times April 21, 2010 http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/article_e1cf0cf5-7868-5c84-9138-f4296f4c3358.html ) We all know this political game, create a program and then watch people cry when funding goes away. The Times will feature a big color picture of a single mother saying she will have to quit her good paying job in Chicago if the Dash doesn’t get funded. Politicians will cave and millions more of our money will go down this bottomless pit.

Tim Brown explains the RBA and RDA relationship in a Guest Commentary in The Times:

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/guest-commentary/article_edf76249-06bd-53fe-a6e7-9401251a395e.html

The RBA recently spent $4.8 Million to take over and expand Hammond Transit: http://www.nwitimes.com/article_7b33cf07-af22-56a2-a72f-6f0fff893a14.html
“Last year, the Hammond City Council approved two years of funding for the RBA when that agency assumed responsibility for local bus service in Hammond. The city is paying the RBA $900,000 in 2010 and 2011 with the money coming from gaming revenue. When Hammond ran its own transit service, the annual budget was $2.4 million.”

Happy Cookout Day

Patriot KD — Mon, 31 May 2010 15:49:53 +0000

Happy first official day of summer, happy Monday off . . . Happy Memorial Day.

For most of my life the United States was fortunate to not be engaged in armed conflict. Throughout the 1970’s, 1980’s and most of the 1990’s we were at peace internally and externally. During that time, we became complacent. Memorial Day became the start of summer, a day to cookout, watch baseball and drink beer. We could afford that luxury and we felt we were entitled. No mother had recently experienced the trauma of a son coming home from a foreign land in a casket. No father had to watch his adult daughter learning to walk again with artificial legs. No husband learned of his child’s first steps on a webcam from thousands of miles away.

Many Americans work hard and deserve a relaxing day off with family and friends. That is an important part of Memorial Day. That is the liberty that those who have served in our armed forces, in peace or in combat, have protected. I would like to take a moment to remind you of the other part of Memorial Day.

It is easy to believe that our volunteer soldiers know what they are getting into today. The Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts have been going on for almost ten years now. No Marine, Soldier, Sailor or Airmen has enlisted or re-enlisted not knowing that combat will likely be a part of his or her mission. It is easy to disagree with the political philosophy of the conflicts. Some are morally opposed to any war. Others are opposed to any conflict that does not involve direct self-defense. These opinions should not overshadow the individual stories of great sacrifice that our young men and women make every day.

God has given us the unique ability to empathize-to feel what another is experiencing. In doing so we take our own experiences and apply them to the situation of another. Sometimes, however, what someone else is going through is unimaginable to us because we have no life experience with which to compare. Unless you have served in a hostile zone (I have not), there is no way to imagine the day to day stress of knowing that someone is trying to kill you every second of the day and night. No way of understanding that the next step that you take may set off an improvised explosive device which could kill and maim you and your friends.

The Boston Globe has done a tremendous job of documenting the day-to-day activities of soldiers in Afghanistan http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/05/afghanistan_may_2010.html This Memorial Day I would implore each of you to take a moment to view the pictures, think about what each of these young men and women sacrifice for you and, if you are so inclined, say a prayer that they return safely home soon.

If you have a story of a soldier, sailor, marine or airmen you would like us to post, I welcome you to send it to me at kwd1964@yahoo.com

Financial Reform Bill

DebHiggins — Thu, 27 May 2010 13:50:03 +0000

The House and Senate are working on a compromise bill for their two bills just passed.

Here’s what they want to give us:

1) Nothing is done about the problems of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

2) However, the government can seize any private financial firm that they arbitrarily determine in danger of default. This is basically seizure of private property without judicial review.

3) The Financial Stability Oversight Council created by the bill expands the reach of the government beyond what one typically considers financial firms. It includes insurance companies and hedge funds, among others. They can, agan arbitrarily, determine a company to be in trouble and turn it over to the Treasury for regulation.

4) Too Big To Fail (like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) – Anyone this Council deems too big gets federal funds (our tax money) to stay afloat.

5) Gives the Treasury a line of credit for additional government funding. They can access your tax dollars without going through Congress for approval.

6) Regulators can guarantee the debt of solvent banks. Think takeover.

7) Creates the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Among other things it will determine what types of financial services and products can be offered to consumers. You no longer get to choose what you want to do with your money, plus it will make credit more expensive and hard to get.

Non-financial firms would be subject to financial regulations. What is the definition of a non-financial firm?

I believe it also, somewhere in its 1500+ pages gives the government the right to look at your bank transactions any time it wants.

And when do they plan to give us this little present? They hope to have all the kinks worked out and a bill to the President on: July 4. So much for liberty.

I know that it is almost impossible to influence our present Congressmen and Senators. I almost despair of writing to Visclosky, Bayh and Lugar yet again. But we need at least to let them know that we are aware of what they are doing – and they will be held accountable in November.

But folks, WE HAVE TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER!!!!!!!

Mitt Romney announces Indiana Endorsements

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:47:45 +0000

Today, Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC announced the endorsement of the following five candidates in Indiana and announced it is sending them a total of $15,000 in contributions:

Dan Coats: Dan Coats has a long history of public service, having represented the people of Indiana in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, and having served as a U.S. Ambassador to Germany. He is now running once again for U.S. Senate. For more information about him and his campaign, please visit www.coatsforindiana.com.

Larry Bucshon: Larry Bucshon, a successful heart surgeon, is now running to represent Indiana’s 8th Congressional District. For more information about him and his campaign, visit www.bucshonforcongress.com.

Todd Rokita: Todd Rokita currently serves as Indiana’s Secretary of State and is running to represent Indiana’s 4th Congressional District. For more information about him and his campaign, visit www.toddrokitaforcongress.com.

Todd Young: Todd Young, a Marine veteran and attorney, is running to represent Indiana’s 9th Congressional District. For more information about him and his campaign, please visit www.toddyoungforcongress.com.

Jackie Walorski: Jackie Walorski currently serves as an Indiana State Representative and is running to represent Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District. For more information about her and her campaign, please visit www.standwithjackie.com.

The PAC also announced that it is sending Dan Coats a maximum $5,000 general election contribution toward his U.S. Senate campaign, and that it is sending Larry Bucshon, Todd Rokita, Todd Young, and Jackie Walorski each a $2,500 general election contribution toward their respective Congressional campaigns.

“At a time when we need pro-growth leaders who will keep taxes low, cut wasteful spending and foster job creation, we instead have leadership in Washington which is more focused on expanding the scope and size of government. That is why it is critical that we elect leaders like Dan Coats, Larry Bucshon, Todd Rokita, Todd Young, and Jackie Walorski, who will work to create an environment conducive to creating jobs and turn our economy around,” said Romney.

These Indiana endorsements are another in a series of state rollouts of the PAC’s 2010 endorsements, which are aimed at electing conservative candidates who will work to lower taxes and spending, restore commonsense principles to healthcare and get our economy moving again. As part of this program, Romney’s PAC also has announced endorsements in Ohio, Missouri, California, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Nevada, Illinois, Georgia, and Texas.

Cap and Trade is “ALIVE”…Let’s stop it!!

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:20:27 +0000

Dear Patriots

Heading into this summer, it appears we are closer than ever to having a cap and trade bill become law. The Kerry-Lieberman Global Warming Bill was introduced this month in the Senate and it will tax you at the pump as well as on your electricity bills. We absolutely must stop this bill in the Senate or face several decades of skyrocketing tax increases.

American Solutions will once again be on the front lines of this legislative battle, and we are going to need your help to stop Kerry-Lieberman. Here is our simple three step plan to accomplish this:

1.) Tell the truth about this bill being a tax: Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman continue to deny that this bill is tax using clever political spin. We plan on making a full-court press in the media through TV appearances, op-eds, and letters-to-the editors from members like you to get the truth out to as many people as possible.

2.) Target swing votes in the Senate: We have identified twenty-three Senators who could likely vote either way on this piece of legislation. We plan to target these members in their home states with a variety of ads that will lead to a dramatic increase of pressure from their constituents.

3.) Grassroots Blitz: With your help, we want to make over 150,000 phone calls to members of the Senate in opposition to this bill. We also will help organize on-the-ground activities in key states as well as get American Solutions members to attend townhalls so we can get Senators on the record about whether they support or oppose this legislation.

We need to raise $100,000 dollars online in the next 72 hours to implement this plan. Will you please consider making a small donation to help reach our goal?

The battle to stop the Kerry-Lieberman energy tax will be especially challenging since the liberals in Congress are doing everything they can to get it passed. They are trying to deceive the public by denying it a tax. They are exploiting the tragic BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as an excuse to penalize every American who drives a car or pays utility bills. It’s time for us to start fighting back.

We have several donors willing to give $2 for every $1 we raise online between now and Thursday. This means that if you make a secure donation you can triple your impact on stopping this job killing bill. Please make a donation today.

We hope you will participate in this fight over the next few months. Together we can stop their new energy tax.

Your Friend,

Newt Gingrich

WE ARE SILENT NO MORE!

Northwest Indiana Patriots — Sat, 15 May 2010 13:15:35 +0000

This email is directly from me, Faith Jones.

I feel the need to speak to you directly, from my own personal experience as the “volunteer” organizer/founder of Northwest Indiana Patriots.

I need to let you know of the personal experiences I have had, some good, some not so good.

I got up off my couch over 400 days ago, inexperienced as a public speaker or organizer. My hope was to find out if anyone out there felt like I did. On April 15, 2009 approximately 1,000 concerned citizens attended the Northwest Indiana Patriots event at the Valparaiso Court House. I was stunned with the turnout and hoped the momentum demonstrated by concerned citizens continued. A couple of the speakers at that event were referred to me by a local pundit and businessman whom I thought had NWIP’s best interests in mind. I found out later that that was not true.

After the event, emails and phone calls encouraged me to continue. I signed up on the national TEA Party Patriots site: http://teapartypatriots.ning.com/profile/FaithJones. These social networks often serve to move a mission forward, corrdinate like-minded people nationally and to stay up to date on current issues facing America. In addition to joining national groups, I created a mission statement and my daughter built a website for me, for us. I purposely did not coordinate efforts with the Lake County TEA Party as I saw no clear cut mission for the good of the people, but saw a person using the tea party movement for personal gain.

I have met many wonderful people as we assembled in front of Visclosky, Bayh’s, Donnelly’s office and even in Washington DC.
It was not longer after our first rally that the personal attacks started. I was completely unprepared for them. My social network on national ning TEA PARTY PATRIOTS site was hijacked and a post was made defaming President Obama. I reported the hijack to the police and have a paper trail demonstrating that I was not the author of that disparaging post. More attacks have come and continue to this day from the very person who spoke at first TEA Party: I was wrong and feel duped as they now show he shows his true colors.

I have spent a lot of time explaining to the media, and bloggers, the ‘who’ we are, the ‘why’ we are and reading the mission statement to them, repeatedly, with no indication that they understand any of it. NWIP is a collection of displaced Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, etc. and some people who have never voted before. We are young and old, some richer than others and some very strained with finances. Some practice one religion, some another and some believe in a “Higher Power”. Some believe Obama is not a citizen and some say: “Get over it!” Some want believe G.W. Bush took down the Twin Towers and some say: “Get a life!” NWIP encourages free speech and with that, many topics not related to our mission statement are discussed on public message boards. We want to remind everyone again that those topics are not part of our “MISSION STATEMENT”. We have one common thread that holds us together and we focus on that…”COUNTRY!!”

As we have assembled, many have come to me and told me why they are in the streets with me. They say: I am afraid for my grandchildren. Some have said: I am afraid for my grandparents. Some, I am afraid for our Country. My response uniformly has been: this very well might be the best thing that has ever happened to America. We are “Silent No More”, we are awake!!

Personal attacks are hard to ignore, but I do my best. When my social network site got hijacked June of 2009, that got scary and was only the beginning. When I read comments posted on newspaper sites, after they have reported on NWIP, there is a person who stood out and they posted using names such as “PO”, “CPCP”. Reading comments from that person made me more aware of how hateful and hurtful some factions of our society can be. When our sponsor, Holiday Inn Express, received an email complaint from a “George Bishop” as did my boss about my participation in “Waking Up America”, I became even more aware of my surroundings. My friends investigated and found that ‘George Bishop’ was the organizer of “Organizing for Obama” which is basically, moveon.org. You will remember MoveOn, we counter-protested them on September 2nd, 2009

Organizer: Christopher Pupillo – “PO”, “CPCP” = George Bishop = newspaper commentator = emails to Holiday Inn corporate = emails to my boss = many other actions = stalker-like behaviors.

Connecting the dots?

Well, all that is overwhelming at times, but I will not live in fear.

All that information is just to get you to the meat of this email.

Many of you have read and believe in Northwest Indiana Patriots mission statement. To say that: “Limited Government, Fiscal Responsibility and Accountable Representation” is just for Governors or Senators or a Mayor would be incorrect. Our mission statement applies to all levels of government including our recent primary where we vetted County Commissioners and Sheriffs and precinct committee representatives, to mention a few.

Folks, “Accountable Representation” goes for “SCHOOL BOARD” members as well! I know many, many parents who were outraged on September 8th, 2009 regarding the topic: Critics Decry Obama’s ‘Indoctrination’ Plan for Students.

I know many of you have read the controversy in the newspaper and some saw the Channel 2 report about “me” and Portage High School Board Member Cheryl Oprisko. This all started because I “asked” if the JROTC could post the colors at our TEA Party event on April 14th. That is all I did, I “ASKED” and permission was granted.

On March 30th, 2010, Cheryl Oprisko, (elected), member of the Portage School Board, brought up her objection of the JROTC posting the colors to our TEA Party event under “other” on the meeting agenda. The story went “ROGUE”.

I ask, if you do nothing more, watch the video clips of that meeting. Cheryl Oprisko has intentionally, in bad faith, defamed, slandered, and unequivocally distorted the truth of Northwest Indiana Patriots and the entire movement itself. She played the part of educator and informer as to who the Tea Party is and she passed some kind of paper out at that meeting. What were those papers? Was it a screen print of the hijacked social network? Do you smell a political agenda, a conspiracy here?

Please watch all three of these Youtube Video to completely understand!!>>>>

PART ONE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4VF5eMw2Ww

THREE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwp0Wl-Zrk0

If you have just watched the Youtube videos, you have a clear understanding I will not “STAND DOWN”. Enough is Enough!!

I led an email campaign in early April asking citizens to write the school board asking them to stand by the Major’s decision to allow the cadets to post the colors. While I received plenty of copies of those emails, they were never read at any school board meeting because Cheryl Oprisko’s determination to silence citizens and stop the cadets prevailed. She went around and above the entire school board and contacted Washington with her request to deny the JROTC from presenting the colors.

Were Cheryl Oprisko and her husband Mark operating alone or was ‘PO/CPCP/George Bishop behind this mission to slander the people of NWIP? Did PO contact Cheryl and give her what he thought would be damaging information? Where did Cheryl get her supposed info on NWIP? Not much of what she has said about NWIP is true and it has been heard before, by the like of PO/George Bishop. The similarities are too hard to ignore. Is it Mission Accomplished by one single voice, “Oprisko”. Or was PO, CPCP, George Bishop her helper? Curious how all that comes into play, isn’t it? Remember, it took a small group of people to stop prayer in our schools.

The school board has yet to hear from us who live us outside of their community because their by-laws apparently supersede the Constitution of the Unites States. The school board will not allow all of the citizens affected and slandered by Cheryl Oprisko to speak at a school board meeting because they do not reside in the school district.
The school board is scheduled to meet again on May 19th, 2010 to discuss the possibility of opening the floor to concerned citizens injured Oprisko’s behavior and slanderous comments.

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

I am leading another email campaign called: “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?” Tell the school board to open the floor to all the citizens. Please email a copy of your email to:
operationschoolboard@gmail.com

Email each member:

http://www.portage.k12.in.us/15981011514592410/site/default.asp

This is not a matter of “LEFT VS RIGHT” or “Rights vs Wrong”, this is a matter of simple ‘Rights’ to face your accuser.

National Day of Prayer ruled unconstitutional

Franklin Graham uninvited by Army

Navy SEAL on trial

Students sent home for wearing American flags

Prayer banned at high school graduation

That is why I fight. It is about principals, integrity and accountability which equal FREEDOM. At the risk of sounding like a song…”If you don’t stand for something, then you will fall for anything!!”

I never got in this movement for a popularity contest. I could care less if the GOP likes me or not. I don’t care if Oprisko likes me. I have never met her, though Channel 2 news somehow distorted that too and claimed that we knew each other. It is all about “when does all this stop?” When will we unite? If not now, then “WHEN?”

I could very well just leave this movement and go back to doing what I was doing. Pretending none of this affected me and believing I really can’t make a difference, and maybe I really can’t. After all, the turnouts on May 4th, 2010, Election Primary was awful!!

I will tell you, if one woman can get her voice to Washington to change the outcome that was to be made by a school board, I will default to what I have been telling concerned citizens from the beginning: “I would rather die standing up, than live life on my knees”: George Washington.

If you are with me, please send a copy of your email to the mentioned email address and I will see you on May 24th, 2010 because “WE ARE SILENT NO MORE”.

If you are interested in some really good reading material, you will hear voices of everyday concerned citizens: http://onenerveleft.couragetosee.com/tag/cheryl-oprisko/

Please pass this email onto every family, friend who is interested in “Justice for all” and “Free Speech”.

God Bless you, and God Bless America…the Land of the Free…because of the Brave!!