Rockwall "tea party" event in Greenville?

To be published soon.

Dear Editor,

Well, the “Rockwall tea party rally” last night got off to a late
start. After a long session of listening to elected public servants
and candidates or their representatives, I was beginning to wonder
whether we’d ever get to the Q and A which was the main reason many of
us chose to attend. Almost two hours later the Q and A began which
was moderated by John Stacy, who did a great job. There were some
really good questions asked.

Some people were surprised to find that the event was not put on by me
and wondered why Rockwall would host an event in Greenville.


The best things I heard were from Rep. Jodie Laubenberg District 89,
Rockwall, she agrees that we should tell DC no about the Federal
health care mandate and that Texas should take care of Texans. She
also mentioned something I’ve been stressing - the importance of
showing up during the session. And from David Simpson, candidate from
District 7 - Longview, who won a real David and Goliath primary race
and has no formidable challenger this November. He spoke of the
importance of returning to the PROPER, LIMITED role of government and
more important than how to reform taxes is reducing spending. He
briefly mentioned choice in education. Let the money flow to good
schools and good teachers. Without competition in education we will
continue to suffer from mediocrity. We can increase teacher pay by
cutting out some non-teaching positions.

Our Rep. Dan Flynn, District 2, answered one of my questions about the
procedure and criteria to review and eliminate agencies and programs.
He has served on the Sunset Advisory Commission in the past.

So the work continues - educate yourself and others, show up, keep the
pressure on them. We will reap if we faint not.


The Greenville Area Patriots continue to meet every Monday at 6 PM at
the Greenville Public Library. “Securing the Blessings of Liberty:
An Examination of the US Constitution” is our current program. Our
meetings are free and open to all. Contact netxlc@gmail.com or
903.862.2214 for more info.


Debbie McKee
Greenville Area Patriots

my reply to a fear mongering WW3 forwarded email

Are you aware the CIA overthrew the government of Iran in 1953 to protect BP's interests?

A former USAF officer wrote this article:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/latulippe/latulippe41.html

...In essence, the United States had engaged in a massive covert operation designed to remove a democratically elected leader from power and reinstall an authoritarian monarch (a move which makes a mockery of our currently stated desire to "spread democracy" in the Middle East)....

More:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wg1WuPgFJQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js9mU8evhqs

Explanation of the CIA's term "Blowback", some of it's covert operations and the consequences:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5SoE9vBc6I&feature=related

For further digging into our intervention/foreign policy and protection of the multi-national corporations:
Major General Smedley Butler "War is a Racket"
John Perkins "Economic Hit Man".

There is always more to the story than we are lead to believe.

Letter to the Editor About Redistricting

At the bottom I added additional notes that weren't included in the originally published letter. GHB 10-3-10

I attended the Texas Redistricting committee hearing last week in Richardson. I testified, saying that although I’m a member or organizer for several different grassroots groups I was there to represent myself and I felt confident that I was speaking for millions of Texans.

1. I urged them to be fair, independent and non-partisan, do what is best for Texas. 40% of Texans consider themselves politically independent.

2. I urged them to get this worked out before the session starts and to not let this issue bog it down. There are many vital issues to address and we don’t want valuable time wasted fighting over this.

3. I urged them to put blindfolds on and do NOTHING to protect ANY seats. Too many have been in office for far too long, and if their district gets redrawn, they can run for office like anyone else. I urged them to be open and transparent about the entire process, no back room deals.

I neglected to mention one issue, frankly because I couldn’t imagine that it WAS an issue. The longer I sat (I was there for over 4 hours) and listened to comments from committee members (half of whom were not present at any given time), and the testimonies, the more I realized that it WAS an issue. Carving out districts for “communities of interest”. There are some genuinely racist folks in ALL groups, but I truly believe the vast majority of Texans are color blind. We look past skin color or last name and judge people based on their character.

The voting rights act was mentioned as the legal basis for this practice. If the lines are drawn fairly and impartially to keep cities and towns together as much as possible, no one can claim they are being disenfranchised.

I really don’t understand how any one group thinks it should have some special benefits from or access to the government. Our representatives should represent ALL of us. Doing what is best for an entire county or city will benefit ALL the residents. If government was limited to its proper role, there wouldn’t be such a fight to get our snouts in the trough.

What if I insisted that as a homeschooling family they should carve out districts that represent us – so that we can have our own representatives in office- how ridiculous does that sound? It’s just as ludicrous to think that your skin or heritage warrants that type of treatment. Groups don’t have rights; individuals in groups have individual rights.

Do what’s best for Texas! Who cares if the Feds think we should draw lines differently? As long as it’s fair and impartial there should be no complaint. It’s been over 30 years since it was enacted This KEEPS the wounds open, keeps us divided – let’s heal, come together, work together, grow up and get over it. As some testifying put it, “we work together, go to school together, shop together, play together, it’s time to move on”.

Additional notes not included in letter to the editor:

Rep. Marc Veasey, Ft. Worth, hurt his cause and his people when he exhibited such a disgraceful, arrogant and unprofessional attitude. I was shocked to watch how he disrespected people with his body language, facial expressions and words. When Barbara Harless spoke about the Constitution and the members’ oaths they had taken, he covered his face, turned away and began typing on a keyboard. He was the acting chair at that time. It was utterly disgraceful.

The fact that half the time half the committee wasn’t there and that so many didn’t even seem to pay attention to the people who took time out of their busy lives, took time from work to come and testify was very disappointing and disturbing. THEY are our elected public SERVANTS, we hired them to do a job and we expect them to take it seriously.

Do the right thing and follow the simple Golden Rule.

(Rep. Bryan Hughes -one of the members in attendance - is not included in this criticism.)

Would you like to sign a petition?

This is what the petition states:

We the people of the City of Gainesville Florida, and others everywhere who support freedom of religion, sincerely request that the Dove World Outreach Center Church not proceed with their plans to burn the Koran on 9/11 or at any other time. Freedom of religion is a founding principle of our Constitution and the burning of any people's sacred texts is in direct opposition to this principle. If you proceed with your plans to burn the Koran, please understand that this act will not serve to lessen our respect for the Muslim faith, but will only serve to lessen our respect for you and what you are preaching.

This is the link to the petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/PleaseDontBurnTheKoran/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And my comment was:
Your actions will only serve to foster more hostility toward the TRUE religion and teachings of Christ. This will not help you carry out the Great Commission and "make disciples of all the world". You are like the Pharisees of Jesus' day... who thought they were religious and chosen by God. Yes, they were religious and yes they were chosen by God, but chosen for damnation, not for life everlasting WITH HIM. We are to be salt and light, ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us. Who did Jesus have the harshest words for? The heathen? NO. The ones who thought they were religious. The ones who crucified Him.

To the Muslims who may read this, please know that this hateful attitude is representative of only a small number of extremist "christians". NOT true followers of Christ.

Not So Funnies (from thelibertyvoice.com)

Everyone should read his farewell address. He warned us about lots of things we are dealing with today. There really is nothing new under the sun.

Independent thinkers seek out thought provoking news and are willing to learn from those whose perspectives come from another angle. No one ever learns unless their presuppositions are challenged. Get outside the box, look at things from a bird's eye view. Be a "good Berean" and see whether these things are so. Don't just dismiss a commentator because he's a "liberal". Listen with an open mind to what he has to say. Don't just accept what the "conservative" talking head is saying just because he uses catch phrases you are familiar with.
Think for yourself.

Left and the Right Demagogue Mosque, Islam

by Congressman Ron Paul

Is the controversy over building a mosque near ground zero a grand distraction or a grand opportunity? Or is it, once again, grandiose demagoguery?

It has been said, "Nero fiddled while Rome burned." Are we not overly preoccupied with this controversy, now being used in various ways by grandstanding politicians? It looks to me like the politicians are "fiddling while the economy burns."

The debate should have provided the conservative defenders of property rights with a perfect example of how the right to own property also protects the 1st Amendment rights of assembly and religion by supporting the building of the mosque.

Instead, we hear lip service given to the property rights position while demanding that the need to be "sensitive" requires an all-out assault on the building of a mosque, several blocks from "ground zero."

Just think of what might (not) have happened if the whole issue had been ignored and the national debate stuck with war, peace, and prosperity. There certainly would have been a lot less emotionalism on both sides. The fact that so much attention has been given the mosque debate, raises the question of just why and driven by whom?

In my opinion it has come from the neo-conservatives who demand continual war in the Middle East and Central Asia and are compelled to constantly justify it.

They never miss a chance to use hatred toward Muslims to rally support for the ill conceived preventative wars. A select quote from soldiers from in Afghanistan and Iraq expressing concern over the mosque is pure propaganda and an affront to their bravery and sacrifice.

The claim is that we are in the Middle East to protect our liberties is misleading. To continue this charade, millions of Muslims are indicted and we are obligated to rescue them from their religious and political leaders. And, we're supposed to believe that abusing our liberties here at home and pursuing unconstitutional wars overseas will solve our problems.

The nineteen suicide bombers didn't come from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iran. Fifteen came from our ally Saudi Arabia, a country that harbors strong American resentment, yet we invade and occupy Iraq where no al Qaeda existed prior to 9/11.

Many fellow conservatives say they understand the property rights and 1st Amendment issues and don't want a legal ban on building the mosque. They just want everybody to be "sensitive" and force, through public pressure, cancellation of the mosque construction.

This sentiment seems to confirm that Islam itself is to be made the issue, and radical religious Islamic views were the only reasons for 9/11. If it became known that 9/11 resulted in part from a desire to retaliate against what many Muslims saw as American aggression and occupation, the need to demonize Islam would be difficult if not impossible.

There is no doubt that a small portion of radical, angry Islamists do want to kill us but the question remains, what exactly motivates this hatred?

If Islam is further discredited by making the building of the mosque the issue, then the false justification for our wars in the Middle East will continue to be acceptable.

The justification to ban the mosque is no more rational than banning a soccer field in the same place because all the suicide bombers loved to play soccer.

Conservatives are once again, unfortunately, failing to defend private property rights, a policy we claim to cherish. In addition conservatives missed a chance to challenge the hypocrisy of the left which now claims they defend property rights of Muslims, yet rarely if ever, the property rights of American private businesses.

Defending the controversial use of property should be no more difficult than defending the 1st Amendment principle of defending controversial speech. But many conservatives and liberals do not want to diminish the hatred for Islam -- the driving emotion that keeps us in the wars in the Middle East and Central Asia.

It is repeatedly said that 64% of the people, after listening to the political demagogues, don't want the mosque to be built. What would we do if 75% of the people insist that no more Catholic churches be built in New York City? The point being is that majorities can become oppressors of minority rights as well as individual dictators. Statistics of support is irrelevant when it comes to the purpose of government in a free society -- protecting liberty.

The outcry over the building of the mosque, near ground zero, implies that Islam alone was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. According to those who are condemning the building of the mosque, the nineteen suicide terrorists on 9/11 spoke for all Muslims. This is like blaming all Christians for the wars of aggression and occupation because some Christians supported the neo-conservatives' aggressive wars.

The House Speaker is now treading on a slippery slope by demanding an investigation to find out just who is funding the mosque -- a bold rejection of property rights, 1st Amendment rights, and the Rule of Law -- in order to look tough against Islam.

This is all about hate and Islamaphobia.

We now have an epidemic of "sunshine patriots" on both the right and the left who are all for freedom, as long as there's no controversy and nobody is offended.

Political demagoguery rules when truth and liberty are ignored.

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=1077

'Mosque' Debate Is a "Red Herring"...

....All this posturing is getting tiresome. The "mosque" controversy isn't
about property rights or religious freedom. It's a bogus issue seized by
the GOP establishment to distract the rank-and-file from the party's
reluctance to shrink government.....It's all too typical: Feed the rubes conservative... identity politics,
and, with luck, they'll be too distracted to notice you've grafted a
Republican "K Street Project" atop the same old edifice of Big
Government.

The establishment Right wants to play the Tea Party movement for suckers. It remains to be seen whether they'll play along."

Click here to look at an article by Gene Healy

Have you read this book?

"Nullification: How to Resist Federal Tyranny in the 21st Century"

(click here to buy)

Unsustainable Empire

(I do not know if they will print this letter)

Dear Editor,

I appreciated your column on Sunday July 18^th about how the way things are going is unsustainable. I agree with you.

If only folks who supported Bush would look at his record as critically as they look at Obama’s AND VICE VERSA!!!

Until that happens we will never recover, regain or restore our country. What is the saying “those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it”? Well, we’ve been in a downward spiral of repetition for a good 100 -150 years.

Unfortunately, since the government controls education and the corporations control the media (and our government) the average Jane and Joe will never learn the truth. They are too distracted with their favorite TV shows and the kids’ sports activities. If they do catch the news or their favorite political pundits they are served up pre-approved, pablum from the “Ministry of Truth”. Yes, they have two “flavors” - left and right, something for most everyone.

I keep hoping and praying that more people will wake up and realize what’s going on before we come to total collapse and ruin. But that may be what it takes to finally get people’s attention.

Empires come crashing down eventually. We spend approximately ONE Trillion per year on our military budget. More than ALL other countries combined!!! We have bases/troops/outposts in over 150 countries/territories/regions and over 700 bases on foreign land. We give 7-8 million PER DAY to one wealthy ally in military aid (which of course provides corporate welfare to the US companies that fulfill the contracts.)

Just more ways we are being looted while the Empire is crumbling around us. This is unsustainable.

Don’t let them continue to distract you with the flag while they burn the Constitution. Read the Declaration of Independence for a refresher. It’s the duty of every American to criticize the government. The Federal government is not America. We the People are America.

Debbie McKee

Campbell, TX

Report on the 2010 RPT Convention, June 8-12

We started the week on Tuesday – attending the temporary rules committee meetings. Following the party rules and Texas election law is important and we were there to carefully observe the discussions and proceedings, testify and present amendments that would bring the party into compliance with the Texas Election Code (the subject of the lawsuit filed against the party in 2008) and strengthen the accountability the party has over candidates and elected public servants by requiring a pledge for ballot access. Both were rejected.


We spent a little time in the platform committee and also heard a challenge (Bruce Bollock, Brazoria County) in the credentials committee on Thursday. The challenge was over the refusal of a request for access to public record. The same challenge was filed in 2008, but was rejected on a technicality. It was rejected this time as well, but a minority report was filed. Many of those who voted against the challenge felt the punishment was too harsh – the only consequence allowed for breaking party rules is to have credentials removed and not be seated as a delegate. So it didn’t lose on the merit of the case, but for the required consequences.


The highlight of the week was the launch of former gubernatorial candidate, Debra Medina’s “We Texans” grassroots organization. The party denied her vendor space so she held a banquet Friday night and invited FOX news’ Judge Andrew Napolitano as the keynote speaker. The audible moans of dismay and surprise from the guests when he told us things you won’t hear in the mainstream news (yes, even FOX) was very encouraging.


The party chair race was a three way race. Many were unhappy with the current (and past) leadership, lack of progress, accountability and transparency. Anybody but the incumbent (Cathie Adams) was commonly heard.


Steve Munisteri won the nomination on the second ballot of the nominations committee. Each Senate district caucus nominated a candidate and sent a representative to the committee. The third candidate running, Tom Mechler, came out in support of Steve. Some wanted to nominate Cathie from the convention floor and although former parliamentarian Robert Johnson did not support her, he called for the chair to allow it according to the rules. Steve Munisteri won by almost 2 to 1. It was a clear mandate from the delegates present. Cathie never came out to address us or give a concession speech, which we thought was very odd. The convention ran very late for the speech filled, two day agenda didn’t leave much time for the actual convention business. Some people wanted to hurry up and leave while others cried from the microphone “this is what we came here for!”


Overall, much progress was made. The 2010 convention was run more fairly than the 2008 was. The (rules and credentials) committee chairs at least allowed testimony and discussion, the delegates were permitted some voice on the floor, parliamentary procedure was not followed exactly, but it was much improved (they didn’t cut the microphones or railroad us as much as in 2008). I think they realized they’d have mutiny on their hands if they didn’t straighten up somewhat.


One immediate change was noted. The SREC (representatives from each senate district make up the board of the state party) meeting held before the convention was held in a tiny room, barely space for the committee, and very limited space for observers. Our request to move to a larger room was denied. There were more people outside trying to get in than there were inside! I gave up my seat for the soon to become new state party chair. One very disgusted older man with a cane called the fire marshal! During the meeting motions were made to bring the convention agenda into compliance with the TEC and to open the books and see the expenditures of the party chair. Both were rejected.


The meeting held by the new chair upon adjournment of the convention was held in a much more adequate space. One third of the SREC was newly elected, mainly due to term limitations.


All in all, those who desire to see the party held to its stated principles and want transparency and accountability were not disappointed. We are hopeful that with further involvement and hard work we can turn this party (and our government at all levels) around. The political parties are the seedbeds for our public servants. We must clean them up and demand integrity and accountability, to do that we must become involved, as distasteful as that can be. For we know that “Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.”

Another perspective

(I've been following this situation for several years. Getting info from various sources (outside the mainstream US media). This was from Jewish Voice for Peace where I first learned about Israeli young people willing to go to jail instead of serving to occupy Palestine. At least look at another perspective....)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lying About The Gaza Flotilla Disaster

June 02, 2010 1:31 pm ET — MJ Rosenberg

It's been one lie after another in the US media about the Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound relief flotilla. No matter that the Israeli media views the whole incident as a debacle for Israel, in this country the Israel-can-do-no-wrong crowd is on overdrive defending the operation. As usual, facts don't matter to them.

Except they do.

The first thing you need to know about the Gaza flotilla disaster is that the intention of the activists on board the ships was to break the Israeli blockade. Delivering the embargoed goods was incidental.

In other words, the activists were like the civil rights demonstrators who sat down at segregated lunch counters throughout the South and refused to leave until they were served. Their goal was not really to get breakfast. It was to end segregation.

That fact is so obvious that it is hard to believe that the "pro-Israel" lobby is using it as an indictment.

Of course the goal of the flotilla was to break the blockade. Of course Martin Luther King provoked the civil authorities of the South to break segregation. Of course the Solidarity movement used workers' rights as a pretext to break Soviet-imposed Communism.

The bottom line is that the men and women of the flotilla had every right to attempt to destroy an illegal blockade that Israel had no legal standing to impose and which was designed to inflict collective punishment on the people of Gaza. (There is no truth to the story that Israel would have delivered the goods on the ships to Gaza if asked; the Israelis never made that offer and, judging by years of precedent, would have blocked any delivery.)

As for the Israeli argument that its soldiers were attacked, that is ridiculous. Israeli commandos were ordered to board a civilian ship in international waters and the government that sent them claims that the resisting passengers attacked them without provocation. This is like a carjacker complaining to the police that the driver bashed him with a crowbar that was under the seat. Neither carjackers nor hijackers should expect their victims to acquiesce peacefully.

Here are the facts about life in Gaza today -- facts that only can be changed by breaking the blockade. These data come from the American Near East Relief Association (ANERA), which provides relief to Gazans to the extent permitted by the Israeli (and American) authorities. ANERA is neither "pro-Israel" nor "pro-Palestinian." It has no political agenda at all. It merely determines what human needs are and tries to respond to them.

8 out of 10 Gazans depend on foreign aid to survive.

The World Food Program says Gaza requires a minimum of 400 trucks a day to meet basic nutritional needs - yet an average of just 171 trucks worth of supplies enters Gaza every week,

Clothes that were held in the port of Ashdod for over a year were released into Gaza but arrived covered with mold and mildew, unusable.

95% of Gaza's water fails World Health Organization standards leaving thousands of newborns at risk of poisoning.

Anemia for children under the age of 5 is estimated at 48%.

75 million liters of untreated sewage are pumped into the Mediterranean Sea every day - because piping and spare parts are not permitted.

During the 2009 bombing:

More than 120,000 jobs were lost as Gaza's industrial zone was destroyed... 15,000 homes and apartments were damaged or destroyed... 1/3 of all schools were destroyed.

None of these can be rebuilt, because construction supplies are kept out by the Israeli authorities.

Also, check this out from The Economist. It is a partial list of commodities allowed into Gaza and commodities banned.

So what is the blockade about?

It is not about stopping terrorism. Hamas has repeatedly offered Israel an indefinite cease-fire in exchange for lifting the blockade. And, on a half dozen occasions, Israel accepted the deal but did not live up to its side of it. In fact, the 2009 war began after Israel ignored its commitments under the Gaza cease-fire agreement, continued the blockade, and then provoked the resumption of attacks on Sderot through a series of targeted assassinations of Palestinians (Israel claims that no cease-fire agreement curtails its right to kill any Palestinian it deems to be a terrorist).

Israel asserts that it will not accept any long-term cease-fire agreement with Hamas because Hamas does not recognize its right to exist.

But Israel does not need the permission of anyone -- let alone Hamas -- to exist. All it needs from Hamas is an end to violence and that is precisely what Hamas is offering, in exchange for lifting the blockade.

This is not to say that Hamas need never recognize Israel. It should. But it is ridiculous to insist on recognition as a precondition for anything. Recognition would be the end result of negotiations, not a precondition for it.

But that is not what Israel wants. It wants to destroy Hamas because it is a terrorist organization. And that makes sense until one realizes that the African National Congress, Sinn Fein, the Israeli Irgun, the Algerian FLN and a host of other resistance movements were called terrorist organizations before negotiations brought them to power. Former Israeli Prime Ministers Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir were both unabashed terrorists prior to their entrance into respectable politics. And so what? If dealing with terrorists -- as Israel has repeatedly done with Hezbollah -- will help achieve a worthy goal, why not do it? After all, if negotiations fail, one can always walk away.

But Israel will not change its self-defeating policies until we change ours. And there is no evidence that is happening (at least, not until after the November elections, for obvious reasons).

For now, our policies are joined at the hip with Israel's. We support the blockade of Gaza. We oppose any efforts at reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. We even back Israel's opposition to the Arab Peace Initiative, which offers Israel full peace and normalization of relations with every Arab country in exchange for the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.

Enough is enough. The Obama administration needs to join the rest of the world in demanding an end to the Gaza blockade as a first big step toward the resumption of negotiations.

The attack on the flotilla was one of the most disastrous blunders in Israel's history. At last, the whole world sees Israel's policy of collective punishment for what it is -- a means to perpetuate the occupation forever. Only the United States government has chosen to close its eyes.

The occupation is killing Israel. And we are on the sidelines letting it happen. Some ally!

I am thinking about daytime curfews........

From a pragmatic stand point, yes, it could seem necessary, but from a liberty stand point, it's just moving us further from where we ought to be. The government will always come up with a "good reason" to limit our freedom. For safety, security, etc. But then we end up a LONG way from where we should be. And it happens little by little, unnoticed by most people. Frogs in the kettle.

We have truancy laws in place - there is no need for a daytime curfew. If the current laws aren't sufficient then that should be addressed.

If kids don't want to stay in school, then we should address the reasons for that.

Infringing upon parental responsibility will do nothing to encourage it.

In the Dallas city council meetings they were telling us, don't worry we won't bother your neighborhoods (meaning white neighborhoods), that's not the point. Then they said we won't bother homeschoolers, they can get an ID! That's the last thing we want!

Curfews only limit the freedom of law abiding people, those bent on committing crimes will continue to do so. They just change their working hours.

Studies have shown there is no conclusive evidence that curfews are effective.

Whether or not you mind being stopped and ID'd is not the issue. The right to freely travel and assemble is infringed upon when people are inconvenienced unnecessarily by the police. We are talking about basic unalienable rights.

No one should live in fear of being caught doing something that isn't a crime. We should feel free to go about our lives and not feel apprehensive when we see a patrol car or someone in uniform.

I for one don't appreciate being pulled over late at night so they can check on me and ask where I'm going and where I've been. That is none of their business. If I'm not committing a real crime or suspected of it, then they have no business to approach me or stop me or ask me anything. No matter what hour. Same goes for our youth. Especially young adults who could pass for children.

We don't think of curfews as a form of martial law, but that's really what it is. We don't think of where the easy acceptance of such policy can lead.

Our youth have the same basic unalienable rights we do.

Our country is becoming more and more over criminalized. Laws that aren't enforced teach us to disregard the law. Encroaching or unconstitutional rules teach us to disrespect the law and its agents.

Isn't this quote the truth?

The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.
Ayn Rand

...Thanks to our media and many government officials, Americans have become conditioned to view the state as our protector and the solution to every problem. Whenever something terrible happens, especially when it becomes a national news story, people reflexively demand that government do something. This impulse almost always leads to bad laws and the loss of liberty. It is completely at odds with the best American traditions of self-reliance and rugged individualism.

Do we really want to live in a world of police checkpoints, surveillance cameras, and metal detectors? Do we really believe government can provide total security? ..... Or can we accept that liberty is more important than the illusion of state-provided security?...

Freedom is not defined by safety. Freedom is defined by the ability of citizens to live without government interference. Government cannot create a world without risks, nor would we really wish to live in such a fictional place. Only a totalitarian society would even claim absolute safety as a worthy ideal, because it would require total state control over its citizens’ lives. Liberty has meaning only if we still believe in it when terrible things happen and a false government security blanket beckons. Ron Paul

For liberty and justice for all,

Debbie McKee

Patriot Movement Needs Deputies

Published again! Wow, I don't know why I've received such favor from the local newspaper. This is a taste of what I've been doing locally with the "tea party" I organized in my area for a year now. Well, since before that with the Ron Paul meetup community outreach events. Anyway, the point is that anyone can do this. Just get out there and get busy! If you plan it, they will come. (If they see you on the busiest street corner and/or see the article in the newspaper!)Feel free to comment: http://heraldbanner.com/letters/x1271725116/Patriot-movement-needs-deputies

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The Greenville Area Patriots thank you for the coverage of our Tax Day event and follow up editorial dated April 18th. I also thank everyone who came out and signed our letter to Governor Perry and the passersby who encouraged us with their enthusiastic honks and waves.

I appreciate the Herald Banner's encouragement to focus our energies on the local level. I have encouraged that as well.The main effort we focused on Thursday, April 15th was to pressure the state to keep the Feds at bay. People are realizing that we have no true representation in DC and the state government must do its duty to protect its residents from the ever increasing unconstitutional Federal actions by using the tools of nullification and interposition.Most people still think that DC is the main culprit, so you will see that as the focus of many people. I hope to help folks see the bigger picture as they get involved.

Excerpts from the "mission statement" I try to make sure everyone receives:
GREENVILLE AREA PATRIOTS - Standing in the G.A.P.

We came out today, now what???? If we don't work for our God-given freedoms now, what will our grandchildren do??? Never let it be said that we did nothing!!!

1. Educate yourself - the Constitution, Bastiat's the Law, monetary system, true history. Books by Judge Andrew Napolitano, Thomas E. Woods. When listening to the news pundits or politicians, ask yourself "who benefits if I believe what they are telling me"? Think outside the box.

2. Stay connected for future events, alerts, etc. SIGN UP!!!

3. Set differences aside - we must WORK together where we can agree. We MUST realize that the battle is BIG government vs. the people, not left vs. right. Don't let them continue to distract and divide us. Work to reform the party with which you are most closely aligned for the benefit of ALL Americans, not for the sake of the party.

4. Tell others! We must step outside our comfort zones and reach people! Carry flyers or business cards around. Send emails, write the editor. Get together for discussions.

5. Put pressure on our legislators and governor. Concentrate on Austin, DC hasn't paid attention.

6. Show up to city council, commissioner's court, school board meetings and insist on transparency. Our presence will let them know we are watching and will hold them accountable!

I cannot attend every meeting, I need "deputies" to attend and report back their findings. Our numbers are growing, people must realize that demonstrating and reading or forwarding emails is a start, but it won't be enough.

I've been asked why I changed the name (from tea party) to Patriots. I think it's more positive sounding. Some of us have been working to restore our republic for many years. We understand our true history, see the big picture AND the need to find common ground and work together.

Thank you for the encouragement.

Debbie McKee
Greenville Area Patriots organizer

www.lewrockwell.com

www.medinafortexas.com

(By the time this is(or it is) printed, it may be too late, but I feel it’s my duty to write it anyway.)

Mr. Editor:
I, for one, am very disappointed by the way our Congressman has conducted himself in this campaign.

To claim he’s been lied about and say he won’t sling mud and then to proceed to do just that is dishonorable.

To claim he is for term limits and stay in office for 30 years is laughable at best. If he really believed in the principle then he would have term limited himself one or two DECADES ago.

To say he’s a tea party guy when the only contact I (organizer of the Greenville Area Tea Party) had from him was when he called requesting an endorsement is insincere at best. Nine months after we held our first tea party here and delivered hundreds of tea bags and messages to his office he called to plead for my endorsement. He offered to put on an event and pay for everything. Tried to tempt me with publicity and crowds. I was disgusted and would have no part of it. If I hadn’t had a prior engagement (which he knew I had) I would have attended and asked him some hard questions.

So, I had decided I could not support him before I even met the candidate I did choose to support. (It was a difficult decision, there are some fine men running.)

A man who sincerely wants to serve the people. A man who understands the Constitution and the intent of our Founding Fathers. A man who supported Ralph in the past with his money and friendship only to have him turn on him when it was clear he was a real threat to his re-election.

Steve Clark is that man I gladly cast my vote for.
Debbie McKee

www.votesteveclark.com

(The Paper probably won't print it, but I just had to write them, and thought I'd share with you. Food for thought, anyway.)

Mr. Editor,
When the mainstream media ignores, labels as crazy or not viable the REAL statesmen/public servants who truly desire to serve the people and instead serve up the career politicians for us to choose from over and over again, it’s a shame. It’s also a shame that more people haven’t caught on.

Rick and Kay have each been telling us for months now why we shouldn’t vote for either of them- so how many of you will support the candidate who takes the high road and focuses on what we need to do in Texas to keep us from economic disaster and restore our God given rights and liberties?

Debra Medina has been fighting to:
~Restore our property rights -eliminate the rent we pay to the government
~Restore our gun rights - shall not be infringed
~Restore the right to life - from conception to natural death
~Restore the rule of law - so that ALL are equal under the law
~Protect property rights by protecting our borders
~Protect Texas from unlawful Federal actions/unconstitutional laws

We have a real choice this time. A people’s candidate or more of the same career politicians.
Which will you choose for Liberty and Justice for all in Texas?
Debbie McKee

I spoke for Debra Medina at our GOP club forum last night. I was asked to speak first and that's probably a good thing, then I wasn't fretting and getting more nervous all night! I tailored my presentation for the audience I knew I was addressing.

I did receive the appropriate chuckles and a little applause during the speech, and did a pretty good job. I'm not comfortable with public speaking, but I did it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good evening, I’m Debbie McKee, Hunt County volunteer coordinator for the Debra Medina campaign for governor. She sends her regrets that she was unable to be here tonight. She will be in Greenville and Sulphur Springs next week, so I hope you’ll take the opportunity to meet and visit with her in person then.

I’ve known Debra for 2 years now. I’ve known her to be a woman of wisdom and integrity, and not afraid to speak truth to power. In fact, that boldness has earned her some enemies. Debra must be considered a threat, because you wouldn’t believe some of the outrageous lies we’ve heard. I’ve also heard that if you aren’t a target, then you aren’t on the right track. Debra must be on the right track.

Debra grew up on a farm in Beeville, she milked cows and gathered eggs among other farm chores all her growing years. She learned the value of hard work and that your word was your bond. She worked as a registered nurse, started and still runs her own medical billing/consultation business, is a cattle rancher and she home schooled her two grown children.

She’s been working hard during this campaign. Criss-crossing the state with multiple events each week and each day. Keeping up her medical billing business and studying policy and meeting with key people in between.

When she heard one of the lies that’s being spread (that Perry was funding her campaign to harm Kay’s run) she just laughed! Well, if he is, then he isn’t doing a very good job was her answer! It wasn’t long before we heard another version of the same lie (that Kay was funding her campaign to harm Perry!) It’s incredible the things people will come up with and that others will fall for.

Truth is, this has been a shoe string campaign, we don’t have the millions from special interest groups that will expect favors in return. But we have an ever growing army of excited Texans who are working hard to get someone like us, someone who represents our best interests into office. Money can buy media and favors, but money doesn’t vote.

I urge you to do the research yourself, don’t take others’ word for it when you hear something negative about her positions on the issues. You owe it to yourself and to your fellow Texans to do due diligence and make a truly informed decision.

Here’s something not everyone pays attention to and we haven’t heard from our governor.

Did you know that spending on socialized health care in Texas has doubled in the last 8 years - eating up one third of our budget? Did you know that our bonded debt has almost tripled as well? How can we say the picture is rosy when we can barely make our credit card payments? And we took billions of that bailout money to “balance” our budget last year?

We need leadership that will let us know what the state of Texas really is and help us get things turned around before we find ourselves like California. Leadership that is willing to stand up and tell the FEDS no, you’ve overstepped your bounds. We will not have Obamacare or Tax and Trade in TEXAS. It’s up to Texas to decide what is constitutional NOT the Federal Supreme Court. Read Jefferson and Madison about that. It’s called nullification and thousands of Texans will be in Austin this Saturday calling Perry and our state legislators to get busy on this. At least a dozen other states are preparing to do the same thing.

I’ll briefly mention two of her points. We are not truly a free people if we can’t own our property (we lease it from the state) or if our inalienable rights are chipped away (what part of shall not be infringed includes licenses and registration?). We have drifted far from our moorings and we need to get back to the place our founding fathers secured for us. If you want more info about where she stands on the issues, please see http://www.medinafortexas.com/ and her you tube channel medina for Texas. You will find pages of info and dozens of interviews and speeches to help you make an informed decision.

Remember also that she will be in Greenville on the 20th and Sulphur Springs on the 19th. Also, Debra will be included in the KERA debate this Thursday evening at 7 PM.

As discontent with self-serving politicians grows it is VITAL that we clean house in MARCH, otherwise we are very likely to see that the 40% of Texans who consider themselves independent will clean house in November.

The question isn’t can Debra win in March, the question needs to be who can win in November? Texans are ready for REAL change.

Thank you for your time. I’ll be around to answer your questions.