Chairwoman of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Southern Utah, Lora Tom explained that due to fear of Church reprisals the tribe kept silent on the issue, and they were never asked for their account of the killings where 120 men woman and children were killed as they moved West from Arkansas and Missouri.

Look for Black Diamond Pictures release of September Dawn starring Jon Voight and Terence Stamp. Directed by Chris Cain, who has the Young Guns movie to his credit said he “hopes groundwork is laid for reconciliation –and recognition of the dangers of religious extremism in any form.”

We’ll keep you informed of this and other entertaining news.

“I can guarantee you that If we don’t make this change eventually there will come a time that someone will come across the border, exploiting the vulnerabilities in the system and some bad stuff will happen and then there’ll be another 9-11 commission…”

What would you expect from a guy who owes his commission to Terrorism and Fear? That everything is hunky-dory? One could not help but get the feeling that Mr. Chertoff is feeling some of the pressures to move forward against the slower moving progress of government.

Mr Chertoff said some harsh and seemed to brandish non-negotiable words in his recent press conference saying; “It is time to grow up and recognize that if we are serious about this stuff, we’ve got to take reasonable measures” then, as though he realized that he caught himself saying “reasonable measures” – or something that was open to negotiation- went further to say “but nevertheless determined steps to get better security.”

At the third continental congress in 1787 –later known as the Constitutional Convention of the United States, arguments erupted over the need for federal courts. All the states already had judicial systems and it seemed to be another layer of bureaucracy for the states to bear. Pierce Butler objected however unsuccessfully that: “We must follow the example of Solon, who gave the Athenians not the best government he could devise, but the best that they would receive.”

Determined steps will always get the job done, but perhaps those same steps are a short walk beyond the tipping point of equity in constitutionally guaranteed rights. If there are delays in the process, perhaps a step back is required, and the reasoning more thoroughly examined.

Source:
AP Video

There are 99 counties in Iowa. Every two years, in each of the 1784 precincts within these counties, there is a political meeting called a caucus. Every other caucus year is the presidential preference meeting. The Iowa Caucuses receive the most attention because they are currently first of the US presidential primaries in the nation –and have been since 1974. There is a different process for the Democratic and Republican caucus, and it can change in each from year to year, but here is the basic framework:

Currently, the Democratic process involves forming groups in a room and members of the parties try to convince the other members why their candidate is better. Undecided voters then listen to the arguments set forth by the different candidates’ supporters and make a vote. The result is reported through the county system and eventually to the state tally, where it is reported to the media. Republican conventions are much the same. The main difference seems to be that the Democratic is done by an open headcount where the Republicans cast their vote by secret ballot.

2008 Participants in the Iowa Caucus follow (in alphabetical order by last name):

Democrats: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson

Republicans: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson

Past Winners:

Democrat:
2004 – John Kerry
2000 – Al Gore
1996 – Bill Clinton
1992 – Tom Harkin
1988 – Richard Gephardt
1984 – Walter Mondale
1980 – Jimmy Carter
1976 – “Uncommitted”
1972 – “Uncommitted” and Edmund Muskie tie

Republican:
2004 – George W. Bush
2000 – George W. Bush
1996 – Bob Dole 
1992 – George H. W. Bush
1988 – Bob Dole
1984 – Ronald Reagan
1980 – George H. W. Bush
1976 – Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan

Ron Paul is running for President as a Republican. He has been a member of the US House of Representatives for 18 years. In 1988 he ran for President on the Libertarian Ticket. People are taking note of his cause. Since October 2007 he has raised over 19 million dollars which is more than any Republican Candidate for President. He has said repeatedly that he believed our government at the Time of the Civil war should have come up with non-violent means to end slavery.

On Taxes: Wants to Get Ride of he the IRS and the Income Tax and fund the government first by cutting spending. There are tariffs, excise taxes, and user fees. Says by reducing the tax we would have a constitutional sized government.

On the Military: Says bring home the troops from around the world and stop being “The policemen for the World.” This could save hundreds of billions per year.

On Isreal: Stop economically supporting Israel so that we can end the dependence they have for us. Arabs get three times as much aid as the Israelis get, they would lose their support too.

On Drugs: Decriminalize on the national level and allow the states to decide their direction on currently illicit drugs.

While most would be refreshed by his plain speaking logic approach, his controversial stand on issues will make a successful run for president difficult.

Catholicism has a notorious past in England. Guy Fawks, a catholic terrorist in England, attempted to blow up the Parliament buildings on November 5 1605. His plan was foiled by the righteous powers of government at the time, and after a confession obtained under torture, he and his conspirators were summarily executed.

The day is commemorated in England with a bonfire, and is known nationally as “bonfire night.” In the early days of the celebration, the effigy was a likeness of the Catholic Pope. Today it’s an accepted notion that the effigy is that of Guy Fawks. The anti-Catholic sentiments have long since abated, and today is more of a good reason to have a nice fire in the Autumn night. We’ll be looking on November 5th 2008 for burning Effigies of Tony Blair.