Musings of a Twisted Mind|Here you will find thoughts on current events, sports, politics, court system, theology, and other things.

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This is just amazing. I never would have imagined Massachusetts electing a Republican to replace Ted Kennedy. This should show the Democrats just how unpopular this health bill is with people. The only thing it does is give money to the insurance companies since it will force people to pay for it.

In an epic upset in liberal Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown rode a wave of voter anger to win the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Edward M. Kennedy for nearly half a century, leaving President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul in doubt and marring the end of his first year in office.

Addressing an exuberant victory celebration Tuesday night, Brown declared he was “ready to go to Washington without delay” as the crowd chanted, “Seat him now.” Democrats indicated they would, deflating a budding controversy over whether they would try to block Brown long enough to complete congressional passage of the health care plan he has promised to oppose.

“The people of Massachusetts have spoken. We welcome Scott Brown to the Senate and will move to seat him as soon as the proper paperwork has been received,” said Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin said he would notify the Senate on Wednesday that Brown had been elected.

I wonder how long the proper paperwork will take.

We’re going to make sure that EVERYONE has health insurance. That’s right everyone.

How are we going to do that?

Well you have to sign up for that health insurance policy that costs an arm and a leg. Or you’ll be fined.

Isn’t that great?

What a wonderful concept for the insurance industry.

We’ll decide how you spend your money so we can pat ourselves on the back and say we did something. YAY!!!!

Lets take a look at the First Amendment.

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.

Ok let’s look at the first part: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. In Britian at the time, there was religious tests on who could serve in the government and who could attend universities. If you were not a member of the Church of England you could not do either. And tax money went to the Church of England for their expenses. And in some places, you could find yourself in jail if you were not a member. How did you prove your membership? Attend one communion for the year.

Next is or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; That’s pretty clear. The government has no power over what the person believes or does not believe concerning God. And it cannot prevent someone from worshipping as they see fit because the government doesn’t like it. The government is quite simply to keep its nose out of a person’s religious beliefs.

Third we have or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; The government cannot stop someone or the media from criticizing the government. Frankly that’s the only kind of speech that the government would be afraid of. And thus the government must keep its hands off the person’s views or the media. It cannot pass laws that dictate what people can and cannot say.

Fourth we have or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,People can come together and talk to each other without fear of the government coming and telling them they cannot. At the same time, the assembly has to be peaceful so its not a mob to come together and lynch someone. People are allowed to freely communicate with one another as a group in peace.

Finally, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. We have the right to inform the government when they are doing something wrong. We cannot be thrown in jail for doing it. And we cannot be killed.

So San Diego, do you want to be part of the United States or do you want to be part of China?

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Its amazing to me the logic of our government bodies. The mayor of Pittsburgh wants to add to the work tax that it levies on people that work in Pittsburgh. Stealing $52 isn’t enough for them. Now they want $145. So one has to pay in order to work. Isn’t it great. This is like that wonderful insurance scam that I used to be under. You see you have to pay for a license from the state in order to sell insurance. Then you have to pay the insurance company fifty dollars in order to be appointed with them and allowed to sell their products so that they get to make money while you do a bunch of unpaid deeds like getting beneficiary forms updated. Oh and naturally you had to pay the occupation tax of Monaca $10 or $20 a year.

Oh and then you have your capita tax. You know just for being alive.

Then you have your income tax

Your sales tax.

Why don’t we all just accept we’re slaves and be done with it?

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According to CIA documents, House Comrade Nancy Pelosi was briefed in September 2002 on the torture tactics being used in terrorist interrogations. This contradicts her repeated claims of not knowing about them.

Sounds like someone needs to find a new job.

To bad lying is standard operating procedures for politicians so nothing will happen.

So yesterday in the post gazette there was a story about the transportation running out of money and that they were really concerned about it. Today, the Senate suggested using the money from the gas tax to balance the general budget. There is something wrong with this picture.

Got this in an email from a friend. This is beyond absurd.

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Oh, how I wish this were a joke! But it is a grim and looming, almost Orwellian, reality.

Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale of all children’s books (books intended for children ages 12 and under) is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed prior to the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books in production are required to include a “lead-free” certification and will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale.

What does this mean to the homeschooling family?

Well, for one, curriculum fairs across the country will be cancelled as book vendors scramble to figure out how to comply with the new ruling. Complete book inventories will have to be destroyed — the ruling even prohibits giving away the books! Local thrift stores will be hard hit — most will likely have to close their doors — yes, even Goodwill and Salvation Army.

Clothing, toys and books — even CDs and DVDs are included in the ruling. Thrift stores will no longer be able to accept or process anything (including clothing) that would be intended for a child.

No more library sales. Libraries will not be permitted to give away or sell book donations. It is unsure yet, however, how the libraries’ shelves themselves will be impacted (the ruling doesn’t explicitly mention “loaning” books, just selling or giving them away). The key word, however, is “distribution” – libraries may well be required to destroy books from their shelves.

(The ruling that originally passed was about toys, but the EPA has since made a statement that clothing, books and media are included in “children’s toys”.)

Just how serious is this new law?

Amazon.com has already notified all vendors of their need to comply. No book can be sold at the Amazon site that was printed prior to compliance. And the “compliance” must be coordinated at the manu- facturing stage. At the time of this article there is no clause to be able to grandfather-in older books or even rare out-of-print books. It can cost between $500 and $1500 to test a book for lead.

I happen to own a children’s bookstore specializing in living books from the 1950s and ’60s. My punishment for selling a book after February 10th? Up to $100,000 and 5 years in jail. And yes, it is a felony charge. For selling a SINGLE book.

(Although I don’t think the S.W.A.T. team scenario would become a reality overnight, at the same time I would be leery of blatantly violating Federal law.)

So what can you do to help save your local used bookstore that sells children’s books? Or that homeschool curriculum business? Or your EBay business selling children’s items?

ACT NOW before the quickly approaching deadlines:

1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman at 888-531-9070. http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx

Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30, 2009. Or email: Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov

2) Contact your local representatives. For their contact informa-tion, just enter your zip code. http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/

3) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama. http://change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

4) Sign the petition.

http://ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

5) Spread the word! Forward this article. Send an email. Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and encourage them to do the same.

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For the complete story, read the following links:

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Consumer Product Safety Commission Summaries on Legislation Index page for Children’s Products Containing Lead; Lead Paint Rule and other rulings

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/legislation.html#summaries

Office of the General Counsel FAQ on retroactive inventory require- ments — The use of forward effective dates appears to force current inventories to adhere to the ruling on February 10th, 2009

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/summaries/101brief.html

Specific FAQ on their interpretation of books and other media to be

included in the testing of lead based products

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/101faq.html

Effective Date: Lead content limit of 600 ppm becomes effective 180

days after enactment. An advisory opinion regarding the application

of the new lead limit to inventory existing at the effective date

can be found on our web site at

http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/advisory/317.pdf

Getting the Lead out: There is no lead in children’s books

http://news.bookweb.org/news/5695.html

There is no lead in Children’s books: From a Pedtrician

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/childhealth/3955/is-there-lead-in-baby-books

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Do you have comments to share? Please do!

Send your emails to: mailto:heather@familyclassroom.net

• At one point, Mr. Ickes implied that Mr. Obama had his name removed from the Michigan ballot to “curry favor” with participants in Iowa’s first-in-the nation caucuses on Jan. 3, which he won.

  Allan Katz, a committee member from Florida who was wearing an Obama pin during the hearings, said no one should compare the current dispute with Florida’s 2000 recount mess.

  “That election was stolen,” he said, citing a common refrain among state Democrats who believe former Vice President Al Gore defeated then Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

Yet they don’t see the same thing occuring when someone that wasn’t voted for gets nearly half the delegates. He wasn’t on the ballot because he took his name off the ballot on his free will and now gets the delegates anyway. Must be nice having special rules just for you when you run for office.

• Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan writes in a new memoir that President Bush relied on an aggressive “political propaganda campaign” instead of the truth to sell the Iraq war, it has been reported.

  The Bush White House made “a decision to turn away from candor and honesty when those qualities were most needed” — a time when the nation was on the brink of war, McClellan writes in the book entitled “What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception.”

  The way Bush managed the Iraq issue “almost guaranteed that the use of force would become the only feasible option,” the book contends, according to accounts Wednesday in The New York Times and Washington Post.

  “In the permanent campaign era, it was all about manipulating sources of public opinion to the president’s advantage,” McClellan writes.

And who enabled him to do this? Why the spin doctor otherwise known as the press secretary.

Because you know a state daring to decide when to hold their primary is wrong. The party is all that matters and its law is the law of the land. And when it says you can’t do something, the country bows down and kisses the feet of the party.