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Name: American Sentry
Location: San Diego, CA
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Our Own Border Must Be a National Security Priority...Now!

In lieu of the recent murder of another Federal Agent, how many more Robert Rosa's are we going to tolerate being shot and killed in this country as our National Command Authority continues to wallow in indecision about whether necessary, effective, and responsive security implementation measures are warranted along our southern frontier? By doing nothing, or at least stagnating in the "paralysis by analysis" policies continued by this administration, we expose ourselves not only to the increased violence in Northern Mexico fueled by the Cartels, but also reveal just how vulnerable we are to infiltration and operational planning for potential terrorist activity that WILL come to us from the south if we do not do something meaningful, timely and broad reaching in its scope. The time for a new and more security oriented approach is now. For much of this year, I was both speaking in public forums and writing on the descending situation in Mexico. Below is a revised article that showed initially a glimmer of hope that the current Administration was actually considering some prudent and crucial steps to address this issue. I fear it was only that...a glimmer. I was encouraged to see that the President might decide to move on this issue, and not vote "present" on our deteriorating security situation on our own border. I fear I was wrong.
 
US Troops Considered For Deployment to US-Mexican Border

President Obama is seriously considering deploying troops and assets to US-Mexican Border to bolster anti-drug, anti Cartel activity.

By Frank Dowse, CEO, The Agemus Group (www.agemusgroup.com)

For months now, American Sentry has been reporting and commenting on the necessity for serious consideration for increased national security steps in the form of more troops and widening the scope of their operational involvement to address and impact the spiraling, bleed-over Cartel violence from Northern Mexico. The situation on the our own border illustrates the pervasive and dangerous mindset of politicizing our national security vice taking prudent and necessary steps to secure our southern border as Mexico struggles in a de facto civil war, and American politicians scramble to find a “politically correct” alternative to the de facto security threat posed from the Cartels. It appears the President, as reported by Fox News,(http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/30/report-national-guard-seek-volunteers-mexico-border/) might decide to vote other than “present” regarding the closest national security threat to US prosperity along our southern border.  

Mr. Obama has reportedly met and discussed with Defense Secretary Gates, and Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano, in some detail, ways the US can deploy and support efforts against the Cartels and sustained drug related violence. In light of the increasing affects of spillover incidents and crime directly related to Cartel violence in cities like Phoenix, Atlanta, Albuquerque, and San Diego, President Obama seems to be applying some of the same practical and reasonable options he has recently displayed in maintaining a modicum of Bush Administration legacy policies regarding Iraq and Afghanistan. Apparently the world is a bit starker from the Oval office than it is from a Corinthian pillared stage on the campaign trail. No doubt this will pop the circuit breakers of the hard left leaning political class like MSNBC-ers, Huffington Post-ers, and Daily Kos-ers. We can only hope that their vitriol and past influence will be outweighed by the real politick and practical understanding of US security affairs by key members within the Administration to counter the political pressures of maintaining the politically expedient yet irresponsible path of the status quo.

The standard friction points will be trotted out by the political naysayers and "progressive" punditry, such as Posse Comitatus, perceived “militarizing” of the border, affects on trade, etc. As the situation in Mexico continues, we, as a nation, and our National Command Authority specifically, can no longer wallow in the academic and “feel good” discussions while negating and ignoring this nation’s security. The proverbial foreign policy “smack downs” meted out by Iran, and the slow rolling and weak condemnation by the Administration, and North Korea, and the actual deployment of anti-missile assets to a US state for fear of possible nuclear attack, may have given the national Security team within the Administration a new perspective…weakness on our part only emboldens thugs, rogue regimes, and would be enemies against us.

Perhaps President Obama recognizes as we have been reporting for months; Mexico is not a law enforcement issue anymore. It is a national security issue and needs to be addressed aggressively now!

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Memo From The American People to The Main Stream Press

   

Subject: We No Longer will accept your Maligning Our Opposition Conviction as Intolerance and Racism.

Author’s Note: This is a revised version of an article originally written 23 July, 2009

Like hundreds of thousands of my fellow Americans, I am an American who happens to be a Caucasian, Christian, conservative, military veteran, and small business owner. I have lived and traveled all over the world. I have many close friends that happen to be from different ethnic backgrounds and experiences. My family is a mix of those who can trace their ancestry to the Mayflower, to those who are legal immigrants and recently became US citizens. Yet, it is simply unconscionable to me that Media continue to ardently skew any opposition or disagreement with President Obama as something latent in racism, jingoistic xenophobia, anti-immigration, intolerance, and fear mongering.  I categorically reject your incipient propaganda of passive and direct innuendos that if you oppose President Obama, you must be intolerant, a racist, right wing, and of course, nuts. The irony is, while the Main Stream Media busily deflects the charges of the increasing perception of the Administration’s liberal, even socialist, agenda, this tactic of maligning your political opponents as immoral, even evil, in their God given right to opposition under the Constitution, is classically Bolshevik in its approach. One only needs to study and familiarize themselves with the works of Saul Alinsky to unpeel this ideology.

I, and hundreds of thousands of my fellow hard working, small business owners, on the economic "precipice", maliciously maligned by "reporters" on your networks, are becoming increasingly fed up and taxed, both figuratively, and literally, by this President and this Administration's clear policies cloaked in "needed drastic change now”.  While all along it is abundantly clear it is a concerted attack to fundamentally shift the socio-economic structure that resulted in immeasurable success of hundreds of millions of Americans and citizens of allies abroad over two centuries by way of the free market economy, rule of law, and a Republic form of government that is the greatest single achievement in the history of the human endeavor. Mr. Obama's own words, however, leading up to the election were, "We are 5 days away from fundamentally changing the course of America." Yet, those of us, from all ethnic backgrounds, struggling to achieve the American dream, and share it with our employees, B2B partners, and communities will be irreversibly stunted economically as "health care", more "stimuli" and "cap and trade" will eviscerate the already razor thin margins we balance on as the "distribution agenda” leviathan proceeds while masked in the mantra of "change and hope". As we become strapped by the President's policies that are fervently supported by your networks, what do you think millions of small business owners will do as they are taxed beyond the margins, and forced to slim their expenses as cap & trade, health care and more bail outs for large organizations, such as yours, require? That's right, Kids... lay off workers...

 I am filled with conviction on this issue, Ladies and Gentlemen, and not intolerance as your networks insidiously, yet desperately, attempt to portray me and millions of my fellow Americans as bigoted, xenophobic, and narrow minded. I attended a Tea Party despite Anderson Cooper's and MSNBC commentator's "dirty jokes for little folks" attempts to marginalize and demonize the Tea Party participants as they expressed their 1st Amendment rights. Your networks minimized and ridiculed these protesters as fringe, racist, dimwitted NASCAR-watching, agitated evangelical white people, but gave ample and wide spread positive coverage of the anti "AIG", ACORN sponsored, paid participants and their orchestrated "rage" against "The Man". The thousands of people with whom I attended the Tea Party were people of conviction; multiracial, multi-ethnic, yet all bound by their inalienable right to protest their government as Americans, not motivated as depicted in some feign attempt to slander and libel them as "intolerant". It is abominable that your networks can be so biased and yet pretend to be so impartial toward tens of millions, perhaps hundreds of millions, of their fellow citizens. If there is any doubt of this blatant race and class baiting in the Media, just watch a YouTube of Bill Maher, Janeane Garofalo, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Chris Mathews, David Gregory, Susan Roesgen, and scores of other “journalists” on major, main stream channels. Less blatant, but equally as incipient in their classic race baiting, code wording, divisive class envy, and anti-traditional American rhetoric are CNN, NBC, MSNBC, CBS, and NPR, and of course the print media such as most major US newspapers and weekly national periodicals. Fox News, though certainly afflicted with its own hyperbole, seems to address some "other perspective" issues, and truly strives to be balanced in its news coverage, though its commentators are clearly conservative and openly supportive of traditional American morals, values, and historic exceptionalism. I watch that network routinely, and they go to great lengths to not “racial-ize” issues as is done routinely on the other networks.

Case in point...CNN's "Black in America" series...to whom exactly is that targeted? Is it for “informational purposes” only? Or is it a politically motivated “propa-mentary” by just another Obama-adoring "news" organization. Will it be a much needed argument for African Americans to embrace true change emphasizing policies and ideologies as professed by the likes of Thomas Sowell, Condoleezza Rice, Harry Alford, Bill Cosby, even Juan Williams, or will it be another tired old regurgitation of the same old policies, producing the same old excuses and results that insinuate "liberation theology" and other continued failed liberal approaches from the same old characters like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Tavis Smiley, and many others that claim they speak for the "black community".  Will it just be a "glossed up" version of the eye rolling diversity training many of us have been subjected to, cursing ourselves that we will never get back those crucial 2 hours of our precious "life points"? I can tell you as a small business owner, former government official, and public school education recipient, I, like millions of my fellow Americans, was "afforded" gobs of diversity training, EEO discussions and panels et al, ad nauseum. I learned more about Asian Pacific Month, Hispanic Heritage Week, and Gay-Lesbian-Transsexual Awareness than I ever would have imagined. It was always a bit over the top and not very productive. Most of it was inaccurate, blatantly ethnocentric, and ideologically driven, and nearly always premised with the notion that every American is secretly biased, racist, and steeped in an intolerant Neanderthal mindset. As we bombard our youth, young leaders and employees with politically correct liberal-biased re-education “diversity” training, we sheepishly observe that many young Americans don’t even know the most basic civic, geographic, and historic facts that make this country, and our form of government, our mark on world history and the contributions to international justice and freedom for hundreds of millions of oppressed peoples, the most envied and sought after political and economic structure of all time. Despite dark marks on our unique history as Americans, regarding issues like slavery, Jim Crow, harsh treatment of Native Americans, Women’s suffrage, among others, Americans naturally capitalize on the attributes that continue to make us and our nation truly exceptional, and have overcome injustices through the political and social systems offered by America herself by accentuating our strengths and holding firm to our convictions, all powered by the rights bestowed upon us by the Constitution. I learned more from my friends and acquaintances about their unique heritages and life styles in the hospitality of their homes and amidst their families and friends while attending Little League games, community celebrations, Church outings, Scouts, etc, than any government mandated, force-fed, guilt-laden, heterosexual Christian white man bashing politically correct "seminar" could ever portray. Since I, and nearly every single friend and acquaintance of mine throughout the years hadn't, nor would they have, acted in an inappropriate way regarding the proud and rich heritages of their respective multi-ethnic friends and colleagues, the whole "diversity" training thrust appears to be some kind of re-education program, where the Three Cs (Caucasian, Christian, and Conservative) can and are attacked with impunity and all the ills of every single difficulty America experienced in its proud and tumultuous history can be traced to the "evil white man".

So many young American minority students and would-be entrepreneurs are coddled and "institutionalized" to see only hopeless skepticism in their lives and taught to tacitly, and in some cases, openly dislike and loath their own country. Instead of being guided and enlightened by the greatest gift a founding body such as our Founding Fathers have given us, and in many cases with their own lives and livelihoods, their potential is robbed by crooked politicians, biased bureaucrats, and liberal policies that usurp their very freedom in order to control their "entitlements" in exchange for votes and power.   

I'm sure, as with many Americans from different backgrounds and ethnicities, I have about 5 to 7 real mentors and positive role models as a slightly than lower middle class kid from the San Francisco Bay Area...one was of Mexican heritage, one was of Filipino heritage, and one, was an African American. This is not unique, but uniquely American. My proudest letter of recommendation I received for a military officer program early in my career was written by an American of Japanese descent who was an occupant of the Interment Camps in California as a child. I had a rich and wonderfully diverse upbringing, and all of us were proud Americans... and with NO-hyphens...Therefore, as with millions of my fellow Americans, being of the Three C's does not automatically classify one as racist, intolerant, narrow minded, or ignorant to the rich and diverse fabric that makes America truly great. It is clear to me that the vast majority of present day racism and intolerance comes from the very sources that claim they abhor it. Opposition to policies and programs is not racism, even if it is embodied by some of color. However, more and more, they, and their proponents in the media, government, and various "rights" groups quickly attempt to categorize those in opposition of the President's agendas as "racist." I am not a racist, and I will not accept your labeling me thus any more. I am, however, becoming increasingly determined with conviction to express my rights to oppose your agenda and your unmitigated support to the Administration's policies advocating detrimental "fundamental" change.

So, perhaps the blatantly Liberal-biased, Administration-worshipping, Media can stop the race baiting and concentrate on those issues that effect ALL Americans...Here's an idea...since small businesses employ more people in the US than any other sector, why don't the Liberal Media do a series on Minority Small Business Owners, and how they might be affected by the Administrations blatantly liberal socialist policies, specifically health care "reform", Cap & Trade, The Energy Bill, and their long term detrimental effects. If you did that, I, along with millions of other Americans, might actually tune back into the more traditional, once respected, once professional news outlets, on a regular basis and not be forced to only watch them as we languish in an airport, while racing to make our monthly budgets to pay for the increasing taxes you and your networks seem to have no problem with us paying.


Respectfully,

F. Dowse

Soon to be Former Small Business Owner

 
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What I learned in The President's Teachable Moment

 

As I sat and watched the President of the United States, also the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the Land, pick up the proverbial bat, and try to un-swing it at the hornet’s nest he so blindly swung and smacked at yesterday responding to a question about the arrest of his friend and a Harvard law professor, I can’t help but focus on his most unimpressive attempt to “calm” the masses. This issue, that is so blatantly straight forward as the facts of the event become detailed and verified by several organs of the law enforcement community, underscores the skewed and biased approach made by those in liberal academia, left-dominated government, and the Obama adoring media as to, once again, how more often than not, the “issue” is about race.

I wrote an article yesterday “American Communiqué to the Main Stream Press” on www.americansentry.blogtownhall.com that makes a plea to the Media to stop accusing anyone who disagrees with the President must be a racist. I wrote this before the controversy erupted and the President sprayed the press core with unsubstantiated rhetoric about an issue he had admittedly no clear understanding of, and then today tried to put the Silly String back in the can by declaring his own poor choice of words and atrocious timing as a “teachable moment”.  How many times might I have kicked the ball into the stands in some decision or action and then be able to claim a “teachable” moment as my excuse for acting so unbelievably dense and insensitive. The incredulous aspect to all this is that this is supposed to be the President’s schtick, right? He was to eschew in a new era of “post racial” understanding, and that he is uniquely equipped, supposedly because of his multi-racial ethnicity and upbringing, experiences as having grown up outside the US for a time…etc…etc…yet, the first thing he does, his first instinct was to blame the “white cop”….So much for post racial transcendence.

            Ok Mr. President, since you have put on your “Professor” hat once again, providing your unique and qualified perspective on this sensitive issue, I will don my “student” hat and share a bit what I learned from your “teachable moment”…ok?

  1. You believe there can be no circumstance where a Caucasian cop can ever be justified to respond to a call from 911 where either the black victim or perpetrator can be wrong.
  2. You displayed such ignorance, or insensitivity, to a tensioned filled situation, that instead of not commenting, you exacerbated the situation,  while impugning the reputations of thousands of police officers, while empowering true criminals to say “ See, even the President says you are all racists…”
  3. Professor Gates is a racist…by immediately defaulting to racially incendiary rhetoric to the police officer in the first seconds of their discourse, the professor assumed that because he is black, the white officer was unable or unwilling in applying his experience or training to this situation, and was destine to default to his “historical” position to naturally “abuse” his power and authority to make life and liberty purposefully difficult for the professor…specifically because he is black. Pesky however, that it is revealed that the officer is actually a paid expert in the field of police/race relations and teaches other officers how to defuse and handle just this kind of issue. Of course, he walked into the proverbial political-academic nexus “band saw”, which brings me to another “learning point”…   
  4. Professor Gates is an elitist crony… “Do you know who I am?” he is said to have threatened Officer Crowley as he swirled farther down into his tirade on the “injustice” of the situation. I guess one was supposed to be intimidated or at least forced to ponder “who” he said he is.  A snobby Harvard professor? A political and academic crony colleague and friend of the President of the US? Can you just hear the 24 hour cable coverage if a “friend” of a republican President had been recorded having said that to a minority police officer? Oy!!
  5. You can take the organizer out of the “community”, but not the “community” out of the organizer. This whole issue underscores a couple of very poignant “teaching points”
    1. With no real national, full spectrum exposure and experience other than the Chicago, race-rhetoric fueled, corruption prone politics and identity ideology, the President didn’t even miss a beat in his condemnation of the “police” and then settle into the whole “community relations history” mantra that is some how supposed to assuage the American people; 85% who do not subscribe to the racial-based, identity rhetoric that he had so comfortably referred to and expounded on.  
    2. Since the President enjoys a virtual complete approval rating within the African American community (96%, according to latest polls), perhaps he figured he might only upset “white” voters in his quick verdict on the situation involving the professor, therefore no real consequence would come from it. After all, most Americans will just plod along, working to feed their families, and pay their increasing taxes. Yet if he had been more “impartial” and not acquiesced to his initial default position of pre-judging “stupidly” acting cops,  he may have been facing outcomes as seen in the acquittal of cops in the Rodney King trial, or the O.J. “outrage”, or having to do light saber battles with the usual suspects, such as Sharpton, Jackson, NAACP, Black Caucus, et al…”No justice, no peace” would be the new mantra, certainly whipped up by the people just like Professor Gates, and others that sincerely believe there can be no impartiality from a Caucasian police officer, interacting with a black suspect or victim.
  6. Last, and probably the most useful “teaching point” I learned is that I shall not pick up a bat, and swing it at a hornet’s nest, then wonder why the hornets are so upset and stinging me…then try to put them back in the nest…hoping it will all just go away over a beer. Once again, the President has personalized some poor “schmuck” who’s just trying to do his job (Joe the Plumber come to mind), and now has the Press foot-scrogging the lawn he, no doubt, mows himself. I’m sure we will now have stories coming from the Obama press about the intimate details of Officer Crowley’s life, family, history, background, all scrutinizing every decision, policy, and action he ever participated in, and he will be forever tainted having just done his job!  
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Joe Legal vs. Jose Illegal`

The numbers underscore a very different argument for supporting "immigration reform". The "feel good" leftists certainly won't feel very well as this illustrates a stark reminder of the cost of "do nothing" immigration policy.

This was sent to me by a dear friend, who has been rather passionate about the need for "restraint" by the "illegal alien" opponents. He viewed their banter and rhetoric as "incendiary" and "jingoistic" and ultimately NOT helpful for proponents of realistic "immigration reform". He sheepishly now admits this satirical and "loose" depiction below of the "citizen vs. resident" obligations and entitlements does illustratate a very bleak and rather insidious erosion of our basic economic structure, highlights "rights" vs. responsibilities, and skews the whole notion of "fair play" vs. compassion regarding "immigration reform". If you want to get a grasp of the severe challenges the hard working people of California are dealing with in their unfolding economic implosion, this captures the spirit of the frustration and smoldering resentment toward our state officials, and more sadly, "illegals" caught in the cross fire.
 
 

Joe Legal vs. Jose Illegal`

Here is an example of why hiring “Illegal`” an alien is not economically productive for the State of California...

You have 2 families..."Joe Legal" and "Jose Illegal`". Both families have 2 parents, 2 children and live in California.

"Joe Legal" works in construction, has a Social Security Number, and makes $25.00 per hour with payroll taxes deducted...."Jose Illegal`" also works in construction, has "NO" Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash "under the table".

Joe Legal...$25.00 per hour x 40 hours $1000.00 per week, $52,000 per year

Now take 30% away for state federal tax

Joe Legal now has $31,231.00

Jose Illegal`...$15.00 per hour x 40 hours $600.00 per week, $31,200.00 per year

Jose Illegal` pays no taxes...

Jose Illegal` now has $31,200.00

Joe Legal pays Medical and Dental Insurance with limited coverage

$1000.00 per month

$12,000.00 per year

Joe Legal now has $19,231.00

Jose Illegal` has full Medical and Dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year

Jose Illegal` still has $31,200.00

Joe Legal makes too much money is not eligible for Food Stamps or welfare

Joe Legal pays for food

$1,000.00 per month

$12,000.00 per year

Joe Legal now has $ 7,231.00

Jose Illegal` has no documented income and is eligible for Food Stamps and Welfare

Jose Illegal` still has $31,200.00

Joe Legal pays rent of

$1,000.00 per month

$12,000.00 per year

Joe Legal is now in the hole

minus (-) $4,769.00

Jose Illegal` receives a $500 per month Federal rent subsidy

Jose Illegal` pays rent

$500.00 per month

$6,000.00 per year

Jose Illegal` still has $25,200.00

 Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work.

Jose Illegal` has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family.

Joe Legal's and Jose Illegal`'s children both attend the same school. Joe Legal pays for his children's lunches while Jose Illegal`'s children get a government sponsored lunch.

Jose Illegal`'s children have an after school ESL program. Joe Legal's children go home (perhaps to a parent, perhaps not depending on Mrs. Legal's availability).

Joe Legal and Jose Illegal` both enjoy the same community services such as Police, Fire, trash, sewers, infrastucure maintenance, but Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.

Then he further depletes our country’s wealth by sending the $25,000 back "home".
 
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