#all texas republicans do in office is work to entrench themselves

[shirkers2018dirsanditan]

Jesus Christ himself could run against greg abbott and abbott would still win. enough of this analysis of texas state elections that pretends like we have a democracy in this state

[meetnategreen]

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is under investigation for bribery and abuse of office, filed a baldly seditious lawsuit calling for the Supreme Court to overturn the election results in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and hand their electoral votes to Trump. It was flatly an attempt to overturn the 2020 election, end constitutional government, and install Trump in power. Before the Supreme Court threw the suit out Friday night, 17 other Republican state attorneys general had joined him, along with 126 members of the Republican caucus in the House, while Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has agreed to represent Trump. And this is just one of dozens of attempts that Republicans at all levels of government have concocted to overturn Trump's loss .In short, material conditions in this country have not been this bad since 1932 at least, and the political situation has not been this bad since 1860. The logical endgame of the rapidly-accelerating Republican attempt to destroy democracy while the country burns would be civil war — if it weren't for the high probability that Democratic leaders would be too cowardly to fight. But it's worth thinking about what a party seriously committed to preserving democracy would do when faced with a seditious opposition party — namely, cut them out of power and force them to behave. Democrats could declare all traitors ineligible to serve in national office, convene a Patriot Congress composed solely of people who have not committed insurrection against the American government, and use that power to re-entrench democracy. The reasoning here is very simple. All members of Congress swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, which establishes a republican form of government. The whole point of a republic is that contests for power are conducted through a framework of rules and democratic elections, where all parties agree to respect the result whether they lose or win. Moreover, the premise of this lawsuit was completely preposterous — arguing in effect that states should not be allowed to set their own election rules if that means more Democrats can vote — and provides no evidence whatsoever for false allegations of tens of thousands of instances of voter fraud. Indeed, several of the representatives who support the lawsuit were themselves just elected by the very votes they now say are fraudulent. The proposed remedy — having Republican-dominated legislatures in only the four states that gave Biden his margin of victory select Trump electors — would be straight-up election theft. In other words, this lawsuit, even though it didn't succeed, is a flagrant attempt to overturn the constitutional system and impose through authoritarian means the rule of a corrupt criminal whose doltish incompetence has gotten hundreds of thousands of Americans killed. It is a "seditious abuse of the judicial process," as the states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin jointly wrote in their response to Texas trying to steal their elections. The Constitution, as goofy and jerry-rigged as it is, stipulates that insurrectionists who violate their oath are not allowed to serve in Congress. Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, written to exclude Confederate Civil War traitors, says that "No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress … who … having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress … to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same[.]" How the Supreme Court ruled, or whether Republicans actually believe their lunatic claims, is irrelevant. It's still insurrection even if it doesn't work out. Democrats would have every right, both under the Constitution and under the principle of popular sovereignty outlined in the Declaration of Independence, to convene a traitor-free Congress (also including similar acts committed by Republican senators like Lindsey Graham, David Perdue, Kelly Loeffler, and others), and pass such laws as would be necessary to preserve the American republic. That might include a national popular vote to decide the presidency, ironclad voting rights protections, a ban on gerrymandering either national or state district boundaries, full representation for the citizens of D.C. and Puerto Rico, regulations on internet platforms that are inflaming violent political extremism, a clear legal framework for the transfer of power that ends the lame duck period, and so on. States would be forced to agree to these measures before they can replace their traitorous representatives and senators. If the Supreme Court objects, more pro-democracy justices can be added.This wouldn't be the first time such a thing has happened, either.

[arcticdementor]

In the late 1990s, Michael Lind wrote about different “republican” epochs in American history: the Anglo-American republic (from the Founding to the 1920s), the Euro-American republic (1920-1965), and the multicultural American republic (1965 to the present). Lind hoped the fourth American republic would be a transracial one based on the idea of what he called “liberal nationhood”—classically liberal in respect to human rights, individual property, free speech and markets, but also liberal in the more statist, New Deal-like economic sense.

If the United States is to survive as a unified state under its present configuration, something like Lind’s idea of liberal nationhood will have to coalesce. But there’s one big problem with constructing a new concept of American-ness centered around liberal ideals, no matter how one defines them: Americans hate each other.

…

A short list of American civil sectors operating in a state of total inadequacy and on the verge of revolution-inspiring dysfunction would include health care, higher education, housing, job training, water (and agriculture), infrastructure, and public transit. In other words, nearly every service and institution on which the majority of citizens depends.

Without question, replacing Trump with President Joe Biden represents a restoration of America’s ancien régime, but for how long? Whether due to incompetence, a lack of strong leadership, or genuine political hurdles, the Biden administration will almost certainly enact only a small fraction of its purported agenda prior to next year’s midterm elections. Then there is the question of who exactly this agenda would actually benefit.

…

Perhaps a version of Lind’s liberal nationhood was possible back when Barack Obama took office in 2009. But Trump’s 2016 election should have illustrated the extent of Obama’s failure to reconstruct New Deal-level social safety nets, move the country past race, and mount a sustained attack on corporate power. Instead of FDR 2.0—which most of America was ready for by 2008—the country witnessed the birth of woke corporatism, with Obama as condescending frontman. The result was the entrenchment of racial division and racialist doctrines along with the exponential growth of corporate power and oligarchical wealth.

So if the dream of rebuilding America around notions of liberal nationhood is likely a mirage; if postmodern multicultural nationalism has clearly failed; and if rebuilding a more hard-edged version of U.S. nationhood around Reagan and Trump-style nostalgia for the Anglo-American past remains repugnant—what, then?

The answer is separation: Red and blue America finally accept that for the past 60 years they’ve grown irreconcilably apart, and that they are in fact separate nations—each worthy and deserving of independence from the other. Dissolve the United States, I say, and start an American Union that works more like its European counterpart. The breakup, in fact, has already begun.

In June, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sued the federal government and the Centers for Disease Control over COVID-related restrictions preventing the cruise ship industry from reopening. DeSantis also recently sent Florida state troopers to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas and Arizona at the request of the governors there. Not long after, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem followed suit. In the same month, five rural Oregon counties voted in favor of joining Idaho. The plan for a “Greater Idaho” also includes six counties in Northern California that fancy themselves as a breakaway “State of Jefferson.”

A few weeks later, 11 heavily armed men wearing tactical gear were arrested in a standoff with police on Interstate 95 in Massachusetts. The group holds to the “Moorish sovereign ideology,” believing that the United States has no right to force them to adhere to any laws. One of the members could be heard challenging the fictions of America’s racial pentagon, declaring, “I’m not ‘Black,’ I’m not ‘Hispanic,’ I’m not ‘Latin-American.’ ... I am a Moors national.” Another member of the group proclaimed America’s 13th and 14th Amendments “fictitious entities.”

…

The marketing of the smartphone represents the greatest instigation of mass addiction in world history. Predictably, it has brought with it socially deleterious consequences that rival those of the Opium Wars. Silicon Valley’s massive data-mining efforts don’t just create “filter bubble” echo chambers that sire political division based on petty grievances and clickbait sold as news; they also provide the means to manipulate the nation’s “consumers” (a group we used to refer to as “people”) into impulse-buying items they often don’t need and routinely cannot afford. Often the items are manufactured in China, destroying the American industrial and retail sectors that employ—or should employ—millions of Americans. Hence the only sizable employers left in many American towns are prisons, Amazon distribution centers, and fast-food outlets, with the unemployed and underemployed being shuttled around the corners of this new American labor triangle.

On a national level, the centi-billion-dollar social media industry is one of the biggest contributors to our national demise, routinely allowing sociopathic halfwits to organize online mobs to enforce groupthink and destroy the lives of others at a speed and frequency unfathomable 20 years ago. Social media’s detrimental effect on our political culture should be obvious, yet Americans exhibit nowhere near enough skepticism regarding the encroaching role of corporate technology in their lives—regardless of whether they are being constantly surveilled by multinational companies or turned into human data farms and spied on by government agencies.

…

In the mid-1990s, around the same time Lind wrote The Next American Nation, the Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam published “Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital,” one of the most widely read academic essays of the era and later transformed into a bestseller respected and cited by academics, the rarest of feats in American publishing.

In his work, Putnam documented the many troubling ways modern life was eliminating civic engagement and healthy social interactions that used to come about through participation in groups like bowling leagues and organizations like the Masons or the Rotary Club. Americans were bowling more often but—how poignant—they were doing it alone. In the 1990s, Americans were still joining groups, but not ones that provided any close social contact. Rather than joining the Elks Club, Americans in the 1990s were participating in organizations with more activist missions—like the Sierra Club or the NRA—that required little besides paperwork and a mail-in donation. Rather than cavorting with their neighbors in meeting halls where they broke bread together, danced, and spoke to people with differing political views, Americans were spending far more time isolated and alone.

The release of Apple’s iPhone was nearly a decade away when Putnam began writing about the decline of America’s “social capital.” Still, by the end of the Clinton era, it wasn’t hard to see the future: a society plagued by dopamine-device addiction, obsessed with the self, and yearning for social attention, but with no clue how to acquire it in a healthy or sustainable way. Technology and suburban living had transformed leisure into an insulated experience taking place inside American households: children frozen in front of the Nintendo, teenagers sitting in their rooms with headphones on, and parents glued to the television set.

In his new book, The Upswing, Putnam charts the course of America’s sense of community and civic-minded togetherness over time, and discovers that “bowling alone” is nothing new. According to his findings, American society exhibited weak social, political, and cultural ties throughout most of the 19th century until about the mid-1890s. At the end of the Gilded Age, American culture gradually started to turn away from its selfish “I” focus. By the 1920s, the positive trends became distinct. The country moved away from a selfish, individualistic orientation toward a more egalitarian-minded one—cooperative in everyday behaviors, cohesive in expression, and characterized by a more altruistic mindset.

…

Like most in the field of political science, Putnam is not a prognosticator. But he appears to believe that because the progressive and New Deal eras coincided with the birth of America’s brief “we” orientation, a new progressive era would be just the trick to jump-start a new upswing in American togetherness. Robert Reich, secretary of labor in the Clinton administration, maintains a similar, more economically focused position; it’s a standard line of thought for boomers and early Gen Xers of the establishment left. Barack Obama and the entire oeuvre of his presidency were the embodiment of this mindset (which, given what happened in 2016, should tell you a lot about how it went).

As a proud prognosticator, I’d like to offer up a different thesis than the “I-we-I” curve Putnam found: that the precipitous rise and fall of American cohesion was a brief accident of history in an otherwise selfish, narcissistic, liberal-individualist “I” oriented nation, to borrow Putnam’s term. The decades of American cohesion experienced mainly between 1920 and 1960 were an anomaly; the success of Franklin Roosevelt, the New Deal, and the “liberal consensus” that followed briefly afterward were the result merely of Roosevelt’s unique political genius and the tail winds of winning two world wars while all most of Eurasia was reduced to rubble.

…

What’s more, the specific dates of Putnam’s historical curve of American cohesion align almost perfectly with the country’s legislation on immigration restriction—a fact that neither the political scientist nor his readers want to think about too thoroughly. The first American restrictions on immigration started in the 1880s and 1890s, and piecemeal changes were made throughout the oughts and 1910s. By the early 1920s, harsh and highly limiting restrictions were put in place even as Anglo America culturally destroyed German America. The eradication of German culture in the United States established firm ethnopolitical expectations for all Americans going forward: Conform to Anglo individualist political norms, speak English, and think like a Protestant—or get the hell out.

These nationally dominant WASP norms defined and held together the so-called “Greatest Generation,” which created unparalleled wealth and opportunity for their boomer children. In the 1960s, prosperous young boomers began dismantling this Anglo-Protestant system of norms, but had offered little of substance to take its place. In the rapture of what Tom Wolfe called America’s “Third Great Awakening,” self-righteousness disguised itself as “social activism” and new-age enlightenment. Spoiled elites—highly unappreciative of the New Deal’s populist approach and the decades of labor battles that created the pressure for change—turned a blind eye while corporate America worked diligently to return the American economy to Gilded Age levels of inequality and worker disdain.

The idea that America’s inherent hyperindividualism was concealed during the “we” period of 1890-1960 by historical contingency is supported by Putnam’s own major study on ethnic diversity and its effect on community togetherness from 2007. Given Putnam’s progressive political commitments, he seems to have initially conducted the research hoping to prove that more immigration and ethnic diversity strengthens American communities. But what he found was nearly the opposite.

…

Yet despite the data he and his research team found, Putnam insisted that diversity and more immigration benefit American society as long as we overcome certain behaviors and attitudes—a claim based on the progressive assumption that people’s natural reactions can be conquered in the long run through deliberate effort and ideology promoted, presumably, through education.

The fact that diversity apparently reduces social outgoingness for most people—and greatly increases social anomie—illustrates something wrong with the Anglo-liberal individualist project, namely that it is largely at odds with the nature of the human (and animal) enterprise. The idea that there are aspects of humanity and nature itself that resist the “fixes” of new social constructs is something progressives, with their devotion to often one-dimensional understandings of science and Enlightenment rationalism, have a lot of difficulty accepting.

No matter how it’s framed, though, Putnam’s findings on diversity and social cohesiveness contrast with the woke ideals that now dominate the country’s elite class. The woke crowd would have us believe that constantly focusing on racialist differences—whether real or imagined—will light the path toward a just American society. But if we examine the lessons of Putnam’s research without the filter of contemporary progressivism, what we find is a lucky country whose otherwise destructive cultural tensions and character flaws have been cantilevered by blessings of history outside its control.

…

Last month, I spoke by phone with a political operative who runs the blog Red State Secession under the pseudonym Chris Rhodes, where he advocates, among other things, for the secession of Southern Illinois. “Some of my clients are liberals and would be pretty upset,” he explained, never giving me his real name. In our conversation, Rhodes explained how seriously some conservatives plan to push back against a political imbalance they feel gives them “little or no voice at all.”

When it comes to universities, the legacy media, Hollywood, and Big Tech, it’s hard not to see where Rhodes is coming from. But in terms of elected representation, the notion that red state conservatives do not receive adequate voice is one from a parallel universe. The states of Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Utah, Nebraska, and New Mexico have 16 senators between them, despite combining for a total population smaller than that of Los Angeles alone. Meanwhile, the state of California—with a population nearly 3 million larger than all the provinces in Canada combined—is provided with just two senators. New York is similarly underrepresented at the federal level.

…

Perhaps American elites refrain from challenging the Constitution, generation after generation, because in the end, they admire the Framers’ design of the “most exclusive club in the world.” Coastal leftists like Nikole Hannah-Jones can dye their hair the color of a tomato frog and offer up the pose of a punky radical, but in their backgrounds and approach, the “anti-racist” crowd is cut from the exact same cloth as the authors of the Federalist Papers: educated elites contemptuous of democracy and all the rebellious messiness it inevitably brings. The now out-in-the-open alignment between the social justice set and business elites helps explain why red-state populists loathe Pulitzer Prize winners who try to control—from the comfort of democratically unaccountable private institutions—what children learn in public school.

In my conversation with Rhodes, he laid out two different scenarios for how rural secession in America could work. In states dominated by blue urban centers, more rural counties could break off, join with other rural counties on their borders and form new, larger rural states, such as a Greater Idaho. That’s scenario No. 1. In scenario No. 2, Rhodes described the possibility of rural counties declaring independence together—maybe as one country, maybe as separate countries, or maybe as separate states. This makes little sense, but such are the considerations of a desperate and frustrated movement.

“There’s an enormous pool of conservative resentment that hasn’t been expressed yet. The pandemic put many people out of work. If there’s another economic collapse [like 2008] many of these people will have nothing to lose,” Rhodes told me. That prediction seems a bit more realistic.

“There’s widespread belief on the right that the election was stolen,” Rhodes continued, repeatedly reminding me it’s a position he agrees with. “There’s a growing sense that there’s no point in participating in federal elections. Our goals for governance are not compatible with the blue people. We accept that now.” Rhodes then gave me the cellphone number of the leader of the Greater Idaho movement and emailed me a long list of secession-related materials. “Given what happened last summer, I’m personally amazed at how restrained the American right has been thus far,” he said.

Disturbed, I reached out to Michael Lind, hoping he’d provide some answers, even if they weren’t palliative. Over the phone, I told him about my prediction that a breakup of the country was inevitable in the medium to long term. He politely disagreed.

“Basically, all the cities even in the red states are liberal, and if you drive out a few miles, the suburbs surrounding them are red,” he told me. “Unless you have an archipelago of cities connected by underground tunnels, or a Berlin airlift, secession doesn’t work. In terms of class and culture there is a secession going on, though. That’s where we’re headed with the melting pot: You’re going to have a working-class melting pot that’s frozen out of power and lives out in the boondocks. Then you’re going to have an urban college-educated elite melting pot [with all the power and wealth].”

…

“If secession won’t work, what happens if we don’t solve our economic and political divide?” I asked him.

“We become Peron’s Argentina,” he answered, without missing a beat. “It’s where I think we’re going to end up anyway. We’re showing signs of it ... your capitalists are mostly a rentier class, living off unearned income from banking, agriculture, finance, or stock sales … elites tied to the military and a nationalist coalition of interests. The working class is immobile. It cannot move at all.”

The American future Lind and I discussed was increasingly Latin American in character—a state of affairs where the threat of instability and violence is perpetual. Left and right are rarely meaningful distinctions. Political parties and movements merely represent the facades of elite factions tied to various competing parts of the corporate and security states. Dysfunction and power entrenchment rule the day, and there’s little hope of individual mobility across class lines. Maybe underground tunnels aren’t such a bad idea after all.

[thisdaynews]

How Republicans learned to love a pot bill

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/how-republicans-learned-to-love-a-pot-bill/

How Republicans learned to love a pot bill

Rep. Ed Perlmutter first introduced the legislation in 2013. | David Zalubowski/AP Photo

Republicans in Congress, who have stonewalled pro-marijuana legislation for years, are now emerging as the cannabis industry’s most valuable allies.

In a historic vote Wednesday, 91 Republicans joined 229 Democrats to pass legislation that would finally give marijuana businesses access to banks — a critical tool that the industry needs to grow.

Story Continued Below

The vote came after the cannabis banking bill’s lead sponsors had spent months trying to draw GOP support, walking a tightrope to avoid casting the legislation as a weed legalization bill. The hope was that their backing would boost momentum in the Republican-led Senate.

The Republican turnout for the bill is stark evidence that the politics around cannabis are rapidly shifting after 33 states — and likely more to come — have legalized marijuana in some form. Long-running stigmas around pot are fading as cannabis becomes increasingly entrenched in local economies.

“The genie is out of the bottle,” said Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), who led efforts to build the bill’s Republican coalition even as he remains opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana.

Republicans have long been the staunchest opponents of legalization, with GOP leaders in Congress refusing in the past to consider even the narrow safe harbor that the House approved on Wednesday. The bill, which passed in a 321-103 vote, would shield banks from federal prosecution for serving marijuana businesses in states where the drug is legal. The federal prohibition on the sale of marijuana remains.

Now, the seal of approval by so many Republicans is giving the bill’s backers real hope that the Republican-led Senate will pass the legislation in some fashion.

President Donald Trump has sent positive signals and is not expected to stand in the way. A turning point last year was Trump’s ouster of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who while in office reversed an Obama-era policy that allowed for legal marijuana businesses to operate.

House Republican leaders declined to try to stymie the bill, giving members freedom to vote in favor of the legislation. Among its supporters was Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the top Republican on the House Financial Services Committee, said he didn’t try to dissuade GOP lawmakers from supporting the bill. McHenry voted against the legislation.

McHenry’s predecessor, Jeb Hensarling, a Texas Republican who chaired the committee for six years, was widely seen as a major obstacle to the legislation, which Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) first introduced in 2013. The bill received its first committee hearing shortly after Democrats took control of the House in January.

“What I’ve told Republican members is you need to listen to your constituents and your conscience and make the best decision you see fit,” McHenry said.

Several factors helped deliver significant Republican backing, which was reinforced by a major lobbying push by banks, credit unions and the cannabis industry.

The rapid moves by states to permit the sale of cannabis has created public safety concerns because, without access to bank accounts, marijuana businesses have been forced to transact in cash, making them a target for criminals. It has also made it hard for regulators and state officials to track revenue from the industry.

But the legalization of marijuana at the state level has also made it an issue for a growing number of vendors and service providers that may not sell marijuana themselves but do business with the increasingly lucrative cannabis industry.

The knock-on effects have helped make it a key issue for bank lobbyists and skeptical Republicans alike.

“The most compelling arguments have been centered around these secondary relationships,” said American Bankers Association President and CEO Rob Nichols. “It’s the local plumber, it’s the local electrician, it’s the attorney, it’s the accountant who are doing business with a cannabis grower or dispensary who are then having challenges associated with getting banking products and services.”

Stivers said he decided to get involved early this year after a nutrient seller in his district informed him they were at risk of losing their bank accounts because they sold to cannabis-related businesses.

“We’re starting to hear from landlords, hardware stores down the street and a whole bunch of other folks,” he said.

After a March committee vote that attracted support from 11 Republicans, the bill’s backers looked for other ways to make the legislation more appealing to the GOP and Senate Republican leaders.

They focused on selling the bill to GOP lawmakers as a piece of banking legislation — not marijuana legalization.

They settled on two additions, which helped bring on more GOP lawmakers and may win over senior Senate Republicans.

One new set of provisions would establish specific banking protections for hemp products, which, like marijuana, are derived from cannabis. Hemp is an increasingly important crop in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s home state of Kentucky, and he ensured it was legalized as part of a recent farm bill.

“I’ve been very, very consistent about opposing the legalization of marijuana but supporting the legalization of industrial hemp,” said Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), who decided to support today’s bill after winning the hemp addition. “This is the vehicle that’s moving. This is the way I can help industrial hemp.”

The other addition to the bill would prohibit bank regulators from discouraging lenders from serving businesses based on reputational risk. It’s legislation that Republicans have been seeking for years to prevent a revival of an Obama-era Justice Department program known as “Operation Choke Point,” which critics said pressured banks to cut ties with payday lenders, gun retailers and other customers that were out of political favor.

Trump administration officials have said that initiative is over, but Republicans argue they don’t want the next administration to resurrect it.

Among the program’s chief critics was Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who is now chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. Crapo has no legal cannabis industry in his state and was first seen as a potential obstacle to cannabis banking legislation. But he recently told POLITICO he had been convinced to take up the bill in his committee — an announcement that House members believe helped move the needle further with Republicans in their chamber.

“It’s one thing to vote for this knowing it’s going to a deep and watery death,” said Rep. Denny Heck (D-Wash.), who has been working on the legislation with Perlmutter since its inception. “It’s another thing if it looks like, ‘Hey, maybe this is a viable issue.’ … For him to say something, for the president to say something, it all added fuel to our fire. They were all wood pellets in the burner.”

Before the House vote, Stivers said the “Choke Point” addition helped raise his estimate of likely Republican support from 50 votes to at least 80.

“It changed the math,” he said.

The addition brought around Republicans like Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.). He voted against the bill in committee and opposes recreational marijuana but has been trying to pass anti-“Choke Point” legislation for years.

Luetkemeyer isn’t convinced that the underlying legislation will resolve the cannabis industry’s problems in accessing financial services. But he’ll take the win. Like other lawmakers, he’s also well aware of the potential medicinal benefits. His granddaughter has seizure problems, and a cannabis product known as cannabidiol, or CBD, is used to treat epilepsy.

“Sometimes you weigh the good and the bad in a bill and you find there is more good than there is bad,” he said.

Read More

[dwdelaney-blog]

apr2019

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1p2j-CCi3_fu7HnEvCHB9Am3hS7GGMnwm

timeline 2019

- intro - several sections - 2019 analysis

- mm sportstalkmans - dm nsa - hart basketball - greco baise vala - we knew it all along - addiction frame mental illness frame - they knew theyd lose - shark smere -  and see generally trump elected on a platform of fucking w/ me - note esp usccb pres named kurtz from louisville - baise leaves for ideas illinois - laffers silly - mark denzler - 2p - topaz - ii - whigs - wide awakes Timeline 2019 - brings new info into old sites - important links b/t pages Focus - "hot coffee" mcds poison - corp liability - chamber ic - cringeworthy - scrp says "treatment" - addiction frame - mental illness - 2019 analysis says they knew theyd lose - what does that mean - given the facts - scso jail etc - xa fop "enablers" and caths * wojcicki - this page links the others together - xa month named sites - esp month where it was suggested I won in court -and see esp 4 mo period without posting to web 2019 - Things to add from recent events - sanctuary cities - denver riggleman bigfoot porn - emoji the movie - roddavis & eric hall - dirt - bmsk - roger stones - trump cabinet perry et al - russian collusion -

Spk Spkattys - spkgop - inginspk - carlson

see generally link to slu spitzer - new guy at usccb - paprocki wojcicki - sheriffs - pence antique mall - fop - roth dragoo - vigilantism - color - shgfootball - xa carlson analysis links kaiser to tx - hurwitz seidl - hotubtom - note esp inginspk ovp - sere & 2019 update haspel rewarded destruction of video in spk - now dci - xa basketball analysis mark few Tx Tx22 - galveston - donna - texas

Updates - perry is dir - agricolae

Fla

Sd

California - sd - oclincs -

Spfld

xa street names - and see generally fox simpsons - ailes - cletus

Spfld is sang cty - big picture - scb - scrp - erve - libri - 33rd - ierc - chamber - cl&e - nabors - riggleman - dustin does porn - scso - spd - sfd 37 - xa political

Political

Scrping - ierc - spfldconsulting - youngrepublicans - scsodefendants - williamsonvicari - dirt - partisanbadgers - ilfopngaoi - teaparty - publicrelations -

Orgs

Orgs includes caths and other nationwide/regional influences involved in the background of the case - following - coordination - communication - recruitment - matls methods etc - and see esp fraternal orgs ie kc and po - fop - this would include gop but im placing that on a separate page

- caths - wal - mcds - wm - guards wackenhut - securitas - fop - labor liuna ibt et al - dod - Im thinking of making this its own page - I think a lot of people involved in this may be deps or reserve - big picture distinction b/t corp/dod and other - chamber

Legal

Big picture legal timeline -

I have to leave spk dec 03/jan 04 - very bad - I just start driving south - complained to faculty at gu - didnt help

Spring and summer in tx - galv area - spring 04 tried complaint at hou pd- went to galv - aug 04 tried to file in galv - no luck - have to go to spfld

Go to spfld - file case - pro se - ifp - Write questions - bring them the people I want to answer them - nothing - complaint at county starts 2005 runs to 2006

I appeal and the page mentions the time and place of the appeals as well as the docs themselves - appls run to about 2008 at ussc

See esp - Docs - consider also voice recorder - see also gmail and saved docs like interrogatories

Legal involves doj and my complaint - I may split these but im keeping this here til I start adding things to the page - importantly - 2006 seems to play a large role in legal situation - complaint filed in 2005 - usattys - goss bails - cofer black also leaves to work for fresh prince - cunningham - cifa - scooter

Political links to the locations and publicrelations and partisanbadgers - spfld is key - scrp - scso jail - scb - ierc - yrs - gopattys - burkhart -

Tx - 2004 ifp - usarec - ororke longies is gwb link - homicidal threats frame - perry - usss copeland - threats also gwb - xa spk link carlson - txgop johnson - sere guy - shark smear -

Spfld

Sites under spfld - scrping - ierc - scsodefendants - spdefendants -note irv moves to ftl - note spfld links to other places ie kevin vann in ft worth - hanson locations - carlyle in spi - chigop - spfldconsulting

This where I would point out that it wasnt til later that scso put me in jail for no reason - I dont remember the year but I think it was after my last legal appeal - paper notes start in tx in 04 - cant remember when page started - start page around time case - maybe later - they put me in jail after the case - if I could remember when they did that it might explain other events in the timeline

4/5

wpp - h/k - omnimedia - Omnicom - Fleischman Hillard - mercury public affairs - terry nelson - duane Gibson - wal - smiley - tlg - Garfield - Wilkinson - copper green - blessing swift - Ackermann - fl - brooks bros - duane the rock was at ftl - xa stone - irv - xa bc 04 - kjell - chigop - pr - wpp - inginspk - dod - Petraeus - petra - optics - troop surge - sere guy - rock man - paprocki - Charles Dutton - bonilla - Carlyle tx - longies - ororke - phone calls - terr frame - homicidal threats frame - perry is cabinet

4/8

Part of the 2019 add to the site is following some people

Starting w/ these 4 people rove cambone perry agag

The rove  stuff is linked at crossroads as reticle crosshairs and 24/7 - the new stuff is american crossroads which is a reference to  ac - operant

4/10

Denver riggleman

Denver eagleman - air force - forced air - hvac - operant cond - ann colder - academies - consent as legal strategy - they knew theyd lose - cringeworthy - ecole - kohls - ipi - baise - denzler - facio - make america - facere usa - xa boulder rock - mu - roddavis - eric hall - wojcicki - ilfopngaoi roth dragoo - rauner kingmaker - greco baise vala - dont piss on my head and tell me its rainin

Resistance to Trump vs. bipartisanship: Starkly different missions drive Virginia congressional hopefuls

Laura Vozzella Washingtonpost.com. (Sept. 21, 2018): Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 The Washington Post Listen Full Text: Byline: Laura Vozzella MADISON, Va. -- Democrat Leslie Cockburn vowed to resist President Trump while Republican Denver Riggleman promised "common sense" and bipartisanship as the rivals for the 5th Congressional District seat met for their second debate Thursday. Cockburn, a former "60 Minutes" producer, and Riggleman, a former Air Force intelligence officer and craft distillery owner, are political newcomers vying for the seat being vacated by freshman Rep. Thomas Garrett (R). Garrett announced in May that he is an alcoholic and would abandon his run for a second term so he could focus on recovery and his family. From her opening statement to her closing an hour later, Cockburn invoked Trump as the driving force behind her bid. "I am one of those women who stood up because Donald Trump came into office," she said at the outset. She wrapped up by declaring that "2018 is a blue wave, and it is a wave for women." Unless Democrats retake power, she said, "we are going to lose our democracy because we have people in power who have no respect for institutions." Riggleman took a markedly different tack, contending throughout the hour-long debate that he would bring a willingness to work across the aisle in Washington. Riggleman, who ran unsuccessfully for governor last year, traces his entry into politics to his battles with government bureaucracy and entrenched liquor interests as he opened Silverback Distillery in 2014. He said his goal was to make the system work for ordinary people. "Actually, Leslie and I agree on a few things," he said when the discussion turned to health care, noting that they both believe it is a primary issue. "I don't think we need an Obamacare. I don't think we need a Trumpcare. I think we need a 'Bipartisancare.'" As for Trump, Riggleman said he would support the president's policies when they benefit the district, and oppose them when they don't. He called Trump's tariffs a mixed bag -- benefiting some farmers but hurting others. The candidates appeared before a packed auditorium at Madison County High School, with supporters on each side sporting offbeat T-shirts that sought to make light of campaign controversies. Some Cockburn supporters wore shirts emblazoned with "Semites for Leslie," an attempt to push back on allegations, based on a book she co-authored that was highly critical of Israel, that she is anti-Semitic. Some of her backers also wore shirts that played off the slogan used by Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state who lost to Trump in 2016: "I'm with Leslie."

Some Riggleman fans wore shirts with an image of Bigfoot plastered on a Virginia map.

                "Riggleman '18," they read. "You have to believe!"

It was a reference to a satirical book that Riggleman wrote -- before running for office -- about the mating habits of Sasquatch. Riggleman and Cockburn are competing to represent a largely rural district that stretches from wealthy Washington exurbs to struggling communities on the North Carolina line. Trump won the 5th by 11 points in 2016, even as Clinton took the state by more than five points. Amid a blue wave the next year, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie won the district by nine points, even though Democrat Ralph Northam won Virginia overall by the same nine-point margin. Independent analysts rate the race as "leans Republican." The debate was moderated by Stephen Farnsworth, a University of Mary Washington political scientist and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies. Farnsworth would throw out a broad topic and then give each candidate the chance to speak for a few minutes. "What would you do to address education?" he asked at one point. Cockburn responded that if Democrats could flip control of the House, Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.) would become chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and that would improve "the education system." She called for universal pre-kindergarten, saying it would help narrow the achievement gap between low-income children and their more affluent peers. She also called for tuition-free community college. She did not put a price tag on the pre-K or college plan. Riggleman said children who attend underperforming schools should have the right to transfer to a better one, although he didn't explain how that would work. He also said he opposes linking education funding to standardized test scores -- a practice Congress ended three years ago. He said that he wants to offer tax credits to families that home-school their children and that the credit would equal the average per-student cost of education in the local school district. Asked after the debate if that would drain tax revenue used for public education, he said: "It would make the public schools have to be a little bit more competitive, wouldn't it? And really, not a whole lot of people home-school. I think we're talking about a very small slice of the population." Cockburn declined to take questions after the debate. "I'm not going to do an interview right now," she said.

Congressman Denver Riggleman elected to serve on two Financial Services Subcommittees US Official News. (Feb. 4, 2019): Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Plus Media Solutions Listen Full Text: Washington: Office of the MP Denver Riggleman has issued the following news release: Congressman Denver Riggleman (R-VA) was elected to two subcommittees on the House Committee on Financial Services this morning. Congressman Riggleman was named Vice-Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy and will also serve on the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions. "It is an honor to be selected to serve on these prestigious subcommittees," said Congressman Riggleman. "I will use my position on these committees to fight for 5th district consumers and small businesses. As a small business owner, I understand the burden unnecessary regulation can cause and I plan to help push legislation through that promotes economic freedom." Congressman Riggleman is the only freshman Republican to be named a ranking member on a subcommittee, which puts him in a good position to produce legislation to help the 5th district. The Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions is considered one of the most prestigious subcommittees on the

Financial Services Committee.

Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition) "Congressman Denver Riggleman elected to serve on two Financial Services Subcommittees."

Congressman Denver Riggleman Recommended to House Financial Services CommitteeTargeted News Service. (Jan. 17, 2019):Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Athena Information Solutions Pvt. Ltd.http://targetednews.com/Full Text: WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Denver Riggleman, R-Virginia, issued the following news release:

Yesterday, Congressman Denver Riggleman (VA-05) was recommended by the Republican Steering Committee to serve on the House Financial Services Committee, one of only four exclusive Committees in Congress.

"I am honored by this appointment and thankful for the opportunity to serve the 5th district on the House Financial Services Committee," said Congressman Riggleman. "As a small business owner, I learned firsthand the problems that are caused by overreaching government regulation. On this committee, I will fight for the economic freedom of consumers and small businesses across the 5th district."

Ranking Republican Member Patrick McHenry said, "As a business owner, Denver can provide critical input and expertise to the Financial Services Committee. I'm glad to see him, and his fellow freshman members, recommended to join so we can continue to build on the gains we've already achieved for hardworking taxpayers. I thank him for his continued service to our country and look forward to working alongside him in the 116th Congress.

4/11

ICYMI: CHENEY: DEMOCRATS SHOULD STAGE AN INTERVENTION WITH THE SPEAKER States News Service. (Jan. 24, 2019): Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 States News Service Listen Full Text: WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by House Republican Conference Chairmen Liz Cheney: Chris Martin Today, House Republican Conference chair

Liz Cheney called on House Democrats to stage an intervention with Speaker Nancy Pelosi over her irrational, destructive actions

and her refusal to negotiate an end to the shutdown: Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney: "We are here, as you all know, still in shutdown mode, still in a situation where the Democrats won't even talk It is absolutely untenable and unreasonable for them not to even come to the table and I really hope that the Democrats will recognize soon the damage that Speaker Pelosi's doing to their party, that she's doing to this institution, that she's doing to the House of Representatives, and to the United States by absolutely refusing to negotiate, by doing something nobody's ever done before, cancelling the State of the Union appearance of the President. I think it's time for the Democratic party to have an intervention with the Speaker and ask her to do what's right for the nation, what's right for their party, and what's right for this institution. We hope they will come to the table, but we have not seen any indication that they're even willing to be

4 12

Whos extortng who

The excuse theyre using is the addiction frame. They have to claim consent. Thats what they claimed at trial and its why I write this page. They know its not true. they say I consent and wont listen when I say I dont. For years theyve tried to gather evidence to support their claim. All efforts have failed. Instead the evidence has shown the chem and theother actions of the defs arent trying to help

4/13

Its the same argument they lost so badly at trial. All this time - since the trial. I guess there was a trial. Theyve continued to do the same thing that constituted the basis of the original claim. A lot of happened around 2005 - 2006. That fits the legal timeline of my first complaint - as ive talked about - they say I consent - I dont. 953. no means no. For all the effort that is spent watching me - following me everywhere I go. When I say something specifically about whether I consent to their "treatment" - they dont want to hear it. How many pages how many years is it going to take

Apr17

Riggleman denzler

cheney comment re intervention & extortion - addiction frame - issue at trial - cringeworthy - usattys - rove - agag - legal timeline of my complaint - note esp handwritten notes - offered in person - made while in spfld - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - complaints made in writing and brought to cdil office in person - complaints also made at spfld fbi office - I couldnt get anyone to answer my questions - that I sent as interrogatories - I asked for people to investigate my complaint - as early as 2004 - see also complaint at hpd and complaint at spd dia - note esp guys running dia - stone at kopec at kopec stone - link to about schmidt - pbpa5 - links from po to mp - 233 - 183 fw - fuel specialists - denver eagle man - ecole - ipi - lincoln era gop - ierc - wide awakes - link from ing to scrp - austin is adj genl - apptd by - cellinis wife - I cant make this stuff up - 404 chem batt is celleti - cl&e - kcs are - gk karl kemme - how to train your dragon - terr frame - op - sleep deprivation - mrt addictionframe - dirt - nix alums - thompson alums - springfieldconsulting - cellini blessac ift - xa hardy pisano liuna isea 2002 - deposition for dennispmoore collision - hardy caruso steil durako - veseling - xa shgfootball - blagoliuna - schaive anda herr cutt - nethercutt - kaiser carlson - gallatin seidl hurwitz - hotubtom - pesticides - op tyle man - paprocki at ipi - mustache - liuna furman milburn - furman schuh - wojcicki - hendren - sheriffs - ilfopngaoi - roth dragoo - tea party - xa h/k usccb spk - spkattys - spkgop - timeline - james elmer mitchell - swimmers - sharktopus - panther - samuel charles - sharmin at the y - ad - riggle waivering - torriceli - wharton - carnduff - ecks - bw - lrs cis - bw is busted hard - xe - citic - note esp joe cofer hire afterdo job and job at state - he fits timeline - so does the goss bail -

Opioid is a reference to me - op is dod talk for chem - organophosphates - its the same stuff thats in pesticides and insecticides - bobentomology - hotubtom - huizenga servicemaster - chemlawn - xa terminix team nix - team mack - steering comte puts riggle man on financial services - liz gets a job in ldrshp - thats the 2019 analysis - theyre not sorry - are they - they knew I wasnt a terrorist - and they know im not addicted to drugs or alcohol -

Whos extorting who

Congressman Denver Riggleman, Rep. Trone Announce Freshmen Working Group on Addiction US Official News. (Feb. 16, 2019): Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Plus Media Solutions Listen

Full Text:

Washington: Office of the MP Denver Riggleman has issued the following news release: Congressman Denver Riggleman announced today that he would be joining the Freshmen Working Group on Addiction, a bipartisan group working to find and promote policies that will help end the opioid addiction crisis in this country. Started by Democratic Rep. David Trone of Maryland, the group is a place where freshman members have come together in an effort to find workable policies that can help make a difference in the fight against opioid addiction. The group is made up of 36 members of the newly-elected freshman class, including members from both parties and all corners of the nation. "The crisis of opioid addiction affects all people, regardless of race, sex, religion, ethnicity, financial status or political party affiliation. Fighting to end the scourge of opioids isn't a political issue, it's a human issue," said Congressman Riggleman. "I am proud to be in this working group of freshman members who are committed to taking real steps to address this crisis in a bipartisan and actionable way." Congressman David Trone, the group's founder added: "Over a third of the freshman class has joined this bipartisan group that understands the importance of coming together to fight the addiction problem in our country. With 192 deaths every day, my colleagues and I are ready to fight back. I'm looking forward to working with Congressman Riggleman to bring fresh eyes and new ideas to take action against this epidemic." As part of the working group, Members will meet on a regular basis to hear from experts and stakeholders, make site visits to institutions focusing on research and treatment, and promote legislation in order to tackle the epidemic. Current members of the Freshmen Working Group on Addiction include Reps. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Ben Cline (R-VA), TJ Cox (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Jason Crow (D-CO), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Antonio Delgado (D-NY), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Deb Haaland (D-NM), Jahana Hayes (D-C), Katie Hill (D-CA), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), Susie Lee (D-NV), Mike Levin (D-CA), Ben McAdams (D-UT), Dan Meuser (R-PA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Denver Riggleman (R-VA), Max Rose (D-NY), Donna Shalala (D-FL), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Van Taylor (R-TX), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI),

Lori Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition) "Congressman Denver Riggleman, Rep. Trone Announce Freshmen Working Group on Addiction."

US Official News, 16 Feb. 2019. Infotrac Newsstand Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Plus Media Solutions Full Text:

Washington: Office of the MP Denver Riggleman has issued the following news release: Congressman Denver Riggleman announced today that he would be joining the Freshmen Working Group on Addiction, a bipartisan group working to find and promote policies that will help end the opioid addiction crisis in this country. Started by Democratic Rep. David Trone of Maryland, the group is a place where freshman members have come together in an effort to find workable policies that can help make a difference in the fight against opioid addiction. The group is made up of 36 members of the newly-elected freshman class, including members from both parties and all corners of the nation. "The crisis of opioid addiction affects all people, regardless of race, sex, religion, ethnicity, financial status or political party affiliation. Fighting to end the scourge of opioids isn't a political issue, it's a human issue," said Congressman Riggleman. "I am proud to be in this working group of freshman members who are committed to taking real steps to address this crisis in a bipartisan and actionable way." Congressman David Trone, the group's founder added: "Over a third of the freshman class has joined this bipartisan group that understands the importance of coming together to fight the addiction problem in our country. With 192 deaths every day, my colleagues and I are ready to fight back. I'm looking forward to working with Congressman Riggleman to bring fresh eyes and new ideas to take action against this epidemic." As part of the working group, Members will meet on a regular basis to hear from experts and stakeholders, make site visits to institutions focusing on research and treatment, and promote legislation in order to tackle the epidemic. Current members of the Freshmen Working Group on Addiction include Reps. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Ben Cline (R-VA), TJ Cox (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Jason Crow (D-CO), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Antonio Delgado (D-NY), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Deb Haaland (D-NM), Jahana Hayes (D-C), Katie Hill (D-CA), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), Susie Lee (D-NV), Mike Levin (D-CA), Ben McAdams (D-UT), Dan Meuser (R-PA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Denver Riggleman (R-VA), Max Rose (D-NY), Donna Shalala (D-FL), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Van Taylor (R-TX), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Lori Gale Document Number: GALE|A575420634 Copyright and Terms of Use: https://www.gale.com/terms-of-use

4/18

someone stole my tablet last night. I sleep with it next to me, physically touching it. it was in a purple bag with a portable battery and some other stuff. it was cheap and old. the stuff ive been gathering lately is about winston and thompson. in particular the relationship between rove and winston and doj around the time period of usattys - i think thats when my case was. ill have to write without the tablet. things will take longer and the stuff on the table that wasnt backed up is gone. i dont have anything of value, but the tablet, and thats gone now

4/27

ackerman mcqueen - xa ackerman senterfitt - danaloesch - cam & co - NRATV - IGOLD

usatoday - cimperman - you keep it cold in here peg

Wall Street Journal: NRA chief executive says he was pressured to resign by group's president CNN Wire. (Apr. 27, 2019): Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 CNN Newsource Sales, Inc.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/tag/the-cnn-wire/

Listen Full Text: Byline: Kate Sullivan, CNN (CNN) -- The chief executive of the National Rifle Association told the group's board he is being extorted and pressured to resign by the organization's president, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Wayne LaPierre, who has been the head of the NRA for decades, wrote in a letter to NRA board members on Thursday that he refused a demand to resign by Oliver North, the recently installed president of the association. LaPierre wrote in the letter,

"the exhortation was simple:

resign or there will be destructive allegations made against me and the NRA." North also sent a letter to the board on Thursday, according to the Journal, in which he said his actions were in the best interest of the NRA and he was forming a crisis committee to look at the organization's finances. North had previously sent a letter to the board's executive committee accusing LaPierre of more than $200,000 in wardrobe purchases that were charged to a vendor, the Journal reports. LaPierre wrote that North called his office to relay that unless he resigned, advertising agency and NRA contractor Ackerman McQueen Inc. was prepared to release a damaging letter to the NRA board, the Journal reports. "I believe the purpose of the letter was to humiliate me, discredit our Association, and raise appearances of impropriety that hurt our members and the Second Amendment," LaPierre wrote. "The letter would contain a devastating account of our financial status, sexual harassment charges against a staff member, accusations of wardrobe expenses and excessive staff travel expenses." The feud between the two high-profile conservatives comes in the middle of the NRA's annual meeting in Indianapolis. The NRA's full 76-member board is set to meet on Monday, and insiders tell the Journal they expect the issue to come to a head then. It is not clear whether North has the support to oust LaPierre, The New York Times reports. The NRA presidency has previously been a ceremonial post, but the Times reports North has asked for it to be a paid position. Contributions to the NRA are lagging, The New York Times reports, and the organization is facing an increasingly well-financed opposition movement in the wake of several mass shootings. The dispute between LaPierre and North originated in part from a dispute between the NRA and Ackerman McQueen Inc., the Journal reports, which resulted in a lawsuit filed earlier this month by the NRA. In the lawsuit, the NRA claimed Ackerman McQueen did not justify its billings with records, according to the Journal. Ackerman McQueen called the lawsuit "frivolous" and "inaccurate," the Journal reports.

Wall Street Journal: NRA chief executive says he was pressured to resign by group's president

REMARKS BY VICE PRESIDENT PENCE AT THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP FORUM / INDIANAPOLIS, IN

States News Service. (Apr. 26, 2019):

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 States News Service

Listen

Full Text:

WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by the White House:

Lucas Oil Stadium Arena

Indianapolis, Indiana

11:40 A.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, hello, NRA! (Applause.) Thank you, Chris, for that great introduction. Chris and I have been friends for a lot of years. I have great respect for him. But he knows the introduction I prefer is a little bit shorter: I'm a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order. (Applause.)

And as Vice President of the United States, it's my great honor to be back home again in Indiana with so many freedom-loving Americans at the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association. Welcome to the Hoosier State. (Applause.)

It really is great to be here with so many friends. Chris, and Ollie North, and Wayne LaPierre, and, really, with some outstanding leaders that we respect greatly and admire every day, like Governor Eric Holcomb of Indiana (applause) Governor Matt Bevin of Kentucky, and so many distinguished members of the United States Congress, including the House Minority Whip, the courageous Steve Scalise. (Applause.)

And speaking of friends of mine, it's especially great to be here with another friend, a great champion of freedom who I can tell you personally gets up every day and fights to keep the promises that he made to all the American people. I can't wait to join you to welcome the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump (applause) back to the Hoosier State.

You know, the President and I stand with the NRA because, like all of you, we stand for freedom. And the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a freedom that is at the heart of the American story.

Our Founders won our independence with the power of their ideas and with the powder in their muskets. Our pioneers won the West with their daring, their courage, and their Springfields, Winchesters, and Colts.

Our forebears have fought our nation's wars and defended our way of life with the skills they learned on the rifle range, in a deer stand, at the knee of a father, a mother, or a grandparent back home.

And in our own day, there are no greater champions of America's tradition of responsible gun ownership than all of you and the 5 million proud men and women of the NRA. Thank you for your stand. (Applause.)

And I'm here today to tell you: We're with you. President Trump and I are with the NRA today, and tomorrow and always, because the National Rifle Association stands for freedom.

Nowhere is this ongoing struggle for freedom more visible every day than in the struggle to defend the Second Amendment. Firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens don't threaten our families, they protect our families. (Applause.) And we know that firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens make our communities more safe, not less safe. (Applause.)

You know, at this podium, nearly two decades ago, Charlton Heston said those famous words, and I quote, "I'll give you my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hands." (Applause.)

Well, I'll make you a promise: Under this President and this Vice President, no one is taking your guns. (Applause.) Under this President and this administration, the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. (Applause.)

And the truth is, from the first day of this administration, President Trump has been fighting for freedom, and you all know that. And, really, I couldn't be more proud to be Vice President to a President who fights every day not just for freedom but for those who defend it.

I mean, think about it: This President stood with those who defend our freedom when he signed the largest increase in our national defense since the days of Ronald Reagan. (Applause.)

Thanks to the President's leadership, we're once again giving our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard the resources and the support they need to accomplish their mission and come home safe. (Applause.)

And this President has stood with those who defend our freedom her at home, who protect and serve on the Thin Blue Line. And under President Trump's leadership, we're giving all the men and women of law enforcement at every level the resources and the respect that they deserve every single day as they protect our families. (Applause.)

I know there's a lot of law enforcement members who are here today, who have taken time to be at this convention. Why don't you all just show them how much we appreciate the men and women who serve on the Thin Blue Line and protect our families every day? (Applause.) God bless you all.

And this President has stood for freedom in the American economy as well. President Trump has already cut more federal red tape in the last two years than any President in American history. We've unleased American energy. And President Trump signed the largest tax cuts and tax reform in American history. (Applause.) And the results are in: Businesses large and small have created 5.5 million new jobs. More Americans are working than ever before. And it was just reported this morning: The American economy grew by 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2019. (Applause.)

And beyond our security and our prosperity, this President has also strengthened the very foundation of our freedom. At this point, President Trump has already appointed to our federal courts more principled conservatives in the last two years than any President in American history. And they are all conservatives who will uphold the God-given liberties enshrined in our Constitution like the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms. (Applause.) It's an incredible group.

But despite the fact that this President has faced unprecedented opposition, obstruction, and resistance, I believe that when this President's story is written, when he finishes his term in office, six years from now (applause) I believe history will record: No other President in all the modern era has done so much for so many in so little time. President Donald Trump has delivered. (Applause.)

So, under the President's leadership here at home and around the world, America is winning again. But to keep on winning, I came here today to say that we need you to stay in the fight. Because the truth is, we live in a time when freedom is under assault. And it's not just the freedom that the NRA so nobly defends, but the freedom to live, to work, and to worship God are all being threatened by the radical Left every day. It's true.

And the same people who threaten your right to self-defense want to stifle our economy by raising taxes and increasing regulation. The same people who want to take away your unalienable rights routinely denigrate the faith of millions of Americans and advocate late-term abortion and even infanticide.

But I'll make you a promise: Under this President and this administration, we will stand without apology for the sanctity of human life. (Applause.)

But our freedom is under assault every day in other ways. The same blue states and cities that are trying to bankrupt the NRA have become sanctuaries for illegal immigrants, including dangerous gang members and human traffickers. And the same people who want to restrict the right to keep and bear arms of law-abiding citizens believe the Boston Marathon bomber should be given the right to vote on death row.

AUDIENCE: Booo

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I got news for you, Bernie: Not on our watch! (Applause.)

Violent convicted felons, murderers, and terrorists should never be given the right to vote in prison not now, not ever. (Applause.)

You know, I heard the other day that another Vice President actually said that "we're in a battle for the soul of our nation." And, for once, I agree with him but not for the reason he thinks. We are in a battle. We're in a battle for the soul of America, but it's a battle between liberty and tyranny. As the President has said before, it's a battle between independence and government control. And, ultimately, it's a battle between freedom and socialism.

You know, under the guise of the Green New Deal and Medicare for All, the same Democrats who want to take away your freedom openly advocate a failed economic system that has robbed the liberty and impoverished millions of people around the world.

But let's be clear: It was freedom, not socialism, that gave us the most prosperous economy in the history of the world. (Applause.)

It was freedom, not socialism, that ended slavery, won two world wars, and stands today as a beacon of hope for all the world. (Applause.)

It was freedom, not socialism, that's moving us beyond the prejudices of the past to create a more perfect union and extend the blessings of liberty to every American, regardless of race or creed or color.

And it was freedom, not socialism, that gave us the highest quality of life, the cleanest environment, and improved the health and wellbeing of millions around the world.

You know, what Medicare for All really means is quality healthcare for none. And the only thing green about the so-called Green New Deal is how much green it's going to cost all of us if they ever sign it into law. (Applause.)

You know, Margaret Thatcher probably said it best: "The trouble with socialism is [you] eventually run out of other people's money." (Applause.)

So I say, from my heart, to all of you freedom-loving Americans gathered here: The moment America becomes a socialist country is the moment America ceases to be America. And as President Trump said in his State of the Union Address, so we must say with one voice: "America will never be a socialist country." (Applause.)

So, men and women of the NRA, the stakes have never been higher, but the choice has never been clearer.

It won't be enough just to win the next election; we've got to win the next generation. And this is our challenge. It won't be easy. But it never has been.

Thomas Paine explained, during the American founding, that the battle for freedom is always arduous. As he said, quote, "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." And then Thomas Paine added, "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly" and that "Heaven knows how to put a [proper] price upon its good[s]; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated."

It's really about freedom that we gather here today, and preserving the freedom that's at the heart of America. But as you'll hear in just a few minutes, President Donald Trump and I are ready for the fight. (Applause.) We are ready to stand with all of you and fight to defend and expand freedom for every American. (Applause.)

But we can't do it alone so keep doing your part. Talk to your neighbors and friends and tell them what we've been able to accomplish over the last two years. And tell them about the challenges that we face, and tell them what the opposition offers. I mean, tell them this President and this administration have been fighting for all the liberties you hold dear. Tell them we're setting things right in Washington, D.C. Tell them we're draining the swamp (applause) because we are. (Applause.) And tell them the forgotten men and women of America are forgotten no more, because it's the God's honest truth. (Applause.) Go tell them.

So thank you for the opportunity to be with you today. Thank you for coming here to the Hoosier State and giving me a chance to be home.

You know, it's amazing for me to think about the journey that my wife and I have been on. Five years ago, when I was governor of the state of Indiana, I stood at this podium in that role. And I have to tell you, for this small-town boy from southern Indiana, the grandson of an Irish immigrant, it's hard to describe how humbling it is to have the privilege. So I want to I want to thank you for the honor of serving as your Vice President. And I want to thank you for your support. (Applause.)

And because of your support of this President, his Vice President, and this administration, I'm proud to report America is standing strong again. America is prospering again.

The Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States is secure again. And freedom is winning all across America. (Applause.)

And I know we're going to keep on winning. I know we're going to keep on winning because I have faith faith in this President I serve alongside every day. I mean, I got to tell you, somebody said to me the other day, "Tell the President to keep on going, keep on fighting." And I said to them, "That's not something you got to tell him." (Laughter.)

You know, as we say here in the Hoosier State, all the reverse is stripped out of that pickup truck. It is straight ahead, straight forward. He's bringing the energy, the leadership, and the fight for the American people. And I promise you we're going to do it every day in the next two years. (Applause.)

But I got faith in my friend. I got faith in conservative leaders that you've helped elect all across this country, who have been standing with us for the principles and the ideals that we hold dear.

And lastly, I've got faith in all of you. As I travel across this country, I see Americans every day who are standing with us, encouraging us. I meet them at grocery stores. I meet them on rope lines at airports. I meet them at rallies and in diners. And they're folks just like you and me who always knew that we could be strong again; who knew that we could be prosperous again; who knew that we could be standing tall again. And they're standing with us every step of the way.

And so, for their sake, I just want to encourage all of you: Be confident as we go into the days that lie ahead in the next year and a half. Because I have faith that if we hold the banner of freedom high, if we put into practice those words inscribed on the Liberty Bell to "proclaim liberty throughout all the land [and] unto all the inhabitants thereof," those same Americans will rally to our cause again and we'll keep on winning a great victory for the American people.

And remember, as you leave Indiana and go to your homes, and all of you that are looking on from afar, remember that when we fight for freedom, we do not fight alone because where the spirit of the Lord is, there's freedom. (Applause.) And that means freedom always wins. (Applause.)

So thank you for the honor. Thank you for the honor of addressing you today. Thank you for the stand that you've made and the stand that each one of you take. We're proud to stand with you.

And I truly do believe that with your continued support, with President Donald Trump in the White House for four more years (applause) with freedom-loving leaders serving at every level all across this nation, and with God's help, we'll finish what we've started. We will make America safe again. We will make America more prosperous than ever before. And as I know you'll hear in just a few minutes, we will make America great again.

FULL TRANSCRIPT: PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S SPEECH FIRES UP THE NRABY

MICHELE GORMAN

ON 4/28/17 AT 5:45 PM EDT

President Donald Trump delivers his remarks at the National Rifle Association Leadership Forum at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on April 28. He was the first president to do so in 34 years, when President Ronald Reagan last addressed the gun group in

1983.

JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS

Below is the full transcript of his Friday remarks from the Georgia World Congress Center​ in Atlanta, per the White House.​

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Chris, for that kind introduction and for your tremendous work on behalf of our Second Amendment.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)  I want to also thank Wayne LaPierre for his unflinching leadership in the fight for freedom. Wayne, thank you very much. Great. (Applause.)

I'd also like to congratulate Karen Handel on her incredible fight in Georgia 6.  (Applause.)  The election takes place on June 20th. And, by the way, on primaries, let's not have 11 Republicans running for the same position, okay? (Laughter.) It's too nerve-shattering.  She's totally for the NRA and she's totally for the Second Amendment.  So get out and vote. She's running against someone who's going to raise your taxes to the sky, destroy your healthcare, and he's for open borders—lots of crime, and he's not even able to vote in the district that he's running in. Other than that, I think he's doing a fantastic job, right?  (Laughter.)  So get out and vote for Karen.

Also, my friend—he's become a friend, because there's nobody that does it like Lee Greenwood.  Wow.  (Applause.)  Lee’s anthem is the perfect description of the renewed spirit sweeping across our country.  And it really is, indeed, sweeping across our country.  So, Lee, I know I speak for everyone in this arena when I say, we are all very proud indeed to be an American.  Thank you very much, Lee.  (Applause.)

No one was more proud to be American than the beloved patriot—and you know who I'm talking about—we remember on gatherings like today, your former five-term President, the late Charlton Heston.  How good was Charlton?  (Applause.)  And I remember Charlton, he was out there fighting when maybe a lot of people didn’t want to be fighting.  He was out there for a long time.  He was a great guy.

And it's truly wonderful to be back in Atlanta, and back with my friends at the NRA.  You are my friends, believe me.  (Applause.)  Perhaps some of you remember the last time we were all together.  Remember that?  We had a big crowd then, too.  So we knew something was happening.  But it was in the middle of a historic political year, and in the middle of a truly historic election.  What fun that was—November 8.  Wasn’t that a great evening?  Do you remember that evening?  (Applause.)  Remember that?  (Applause.)

Remember they were saying, "We have breaking news: Donald Trump has won the state of Michigan."  They go, "Michigan?  How did that"—"Donald Trump has won the state of Wisconsin, whoa."  But earlier in the evening, remember, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, all the way up—we ran up the East Coast.  And, you know, the Republicans have a tremendous disadvantage in the Electoral College, you know that.  Tremendous disadvantage.  And to run the whole East Coast, and then you go with Iowa and Ohio, and all of the different states.  It was a great evening, one that a lot people will never forget—a lot of people.  (Applause.)  Not going to forget that evening.

And remember they said, “There is no path to 270.”  For months I was hearing that.  You know, they’re trying to suppress the vote.  So they keep saying it, so people say, you know, I really like Trump, he loves the Second Amendment, he loves the NRA; I love him, but let’s go to the movie because he can’t win.  Because they’re trying to suppress the vote.

But they’d say—I mean, hundreds of times I heard, there is no—there’s no route.  They’d say it, “There is no route to 270.”  And we ended up with 306.  So they were right:  Not 270, 306.  (Applause.)  That was some evening.  Big sports fans said that was the single-most exciting event they’ve ever seen.  That includes Super Bowls and World Series and boxing matches.  That was an exciting evening for all of us, and it meant a lot.

Only one candidate in the General Election came to speak to you, and that candidate is now the President of the United States, standing before you again.  (Applause.)  I have a feeling that in the next election you’re going to be swamped with candidates, but you’re not going to be wasting your time.  You’ll have plenty of those Democrats coming over and you’re going to say, no, sir, no thank you -- no, ma’am.  Perhaps ma’am.  It may be Pocahontas, remember that.  (Laughter and applause.)  And she is not big for the NRA, that I can tell you.

But you came through for me, and I am going to come through for you.  (Applause.)  I was proud to receive the NRA’s earliest endorsement in the history of the organization.  And today, I am also proud to be the first sitting President to address the NRA Leadership Forum since our wonderful Ronald Reagan in 1983.  (Applause.)  And I want to thank each and every one of you not only for your help electing true friends of the Second Amendment, but for everything you do to defend our flag and our freedom.

With your activism, you helped to safeguard the freedoms of our soldiers who have bled and died for us on the battlefields.  And I know we have many veterans in the audience today, and we want to give them a big, big beautiful round of applause.  (Applause.)

And, like I promised, we are doing a really top job already—99 days—but already with the Veterans Administration, people are seeing a big difference.  We are working really hard at the VA, and you’re going to see it, and you’re already seeing it.  And it’s my honor.  I’ve been telling you we’re going to do it, and we’re doing it.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

The NRA protects in our capitols and legislative houses the freedoms that our servicemembers have won for us on those incredible battlefields.  And it’s been a tough fight against those who would go so far as to ban private gun ownership entirely.   But I am here to deliver you good news.  And I can tell you that Wayne and Chris have been fighting with me long and hard to make sure that we were with you today, not somebody else with an empty podium.  Because believe me, the podium would have been empty.  They fought long and hard, and I think you folks cannot thank them enough.  They were with us all the way, right from the beginning.  (Applause.)

But we have news that you’ve been waiting for for a long time:  The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end.  (Applause.)  You have a true friend and champion in the White House.  No longer will federal agencies be coming after law-abiding gun owners.  (Applause.)  No longer will the government be trying to undermine your rights and your freedoms as Americans.  Instead, we will work with you, by your side.  We will work with the NRA to promote responsible gun ownership, to protect our wonderful hunters and their access to the very beautiful outdoors.  You met my son—I can tell you, both sons, they love the outdoors.  Frankly, I think they love the outdoors more than they love, by a long shot, Fifth Avenue.  But that’s okay.  And we want to ensure you of the sacred right of self-defense for all of our citizens.  (Applause.)

When I spoke to this forum last year, our nation was still mourning the loss of a giant, a great defender of the Constitution:  Justice Antonin Scalia.  (Applause.)  I promised that if elected, I would nominate a justice who would be faithful and loyal to the Constitution.  I even went one step further and publicly presented a list of 20 judges from which I would make my selection, and that’s exactly what we did.

And, by the way, I want to thank, really, Heritage.  And I want to thank also all of the people that worked with us.  Where’s Leo?  Is Leo around here?  Where is he?  He’s got to be here.  Where is he?  He has been so good.  And also from Heritage, Jim DeMint.  It’s been amazing.  I mean, those people have been fantastic.  They’ve been real friends.  (Applause.)  The Federalist people—where are they?  Are they around here someplace?  They really helped us out.

I kept my promise, and now, with your help, our brand-new Justice—and he is really something very special—Neil Gorsuch, sits on the bench of the United States Supreme Court.  (Applause.)  For the first time in the modern political era, we have confirmed a new justice in the first 100 days.  (Applause.)  The last time that happened was 136 years ago, in 1881.  Now, we won’t get any credit for this, but don’t worry about it, the credit is in the audience, right?  The credit is in the audience.  (Applause.)  All of those people.  They won’t give us credit, but it’s been a long time, and we’re very honored.

We’ve also taken action to stand up for America’s sportsmen.  On their very last full day in office, the previous administration issued an 11th-hour rule to restrict the use of lead ammunition on certain federal lands.  Have you heard about that, folks?  I’m shocked to hear that.  You’ve all heard about that.  You’ve heard about that.  On his first day as Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke eliminated the previous administration’s ammunition ban.  (Applause.)  He’s going to be great.  Ryan is going to be great.

We’ve also moved very quickly to restore something gun owners care about very, very much.  It’s called the rule of law.  (Applause.)  We have made clear that our administration will always stand with the incredible men and women of law enforcement.  (Applause.)  In fact, countless members of law enforcement are also members of the NRA, because our police know that responsible gun ownership saves lives, and that the right of self-defense is essential to public safety.  Do we all agree with that?  (Applause.)

Our police and sheriffs also know that when you ban guns, only the criminals will be armed.  (Applause.)  For too long, Washington has gone after law-abiding gun owners while making life easier for criminals, drug dealers, traffickers and gang members.  MS-13—you know about MS-13?  It’s not pleasant for them anymore, folks.  It’s not pleasant for them anymore.  That’s a bad group.  (Applause.)  Not pleasant for MS-13.  Get them the hell out of here, right?  Get them out.  (Applause.)

We are protecting the freedoms of law-abiding Americans, and we are going after the criminal gangs and cartels that prey on our innocent citizens.  And we are really going after them.  (Applause.)

As members of the NRA know well, some of the most important decisions a President can make are appointments—and I’ve appointed people who believe in law, order, and justice.  (Applause.)

That is why I have selected as your Attorney General, number one, a really fine person, a really good man, a man who has spent his career fighting crime, supporting the police, and defending the Second Amendment.  For the first time in a long time, you now have a pro-Second-Amendment, tough-on-crime Attorney General, and his name is Jeff Sessions.  (Applause.)

And Attorney General Sessions is putting our priorities into action.  He’s going after the drug dealers who are peddling their poison all over our streets and destroying our youth.  He’s going after the gang members who threaten our children.  And he’s fully enforcing our immigration laws in all 50 states.  And you know what?  It’s about time.  (Applause.)

Heading up the effort to secure America’s borders is a great military general, a man of action:  Homeland Security Director [sic], John Kelly.  (Applause.)

Secretary Kelly, who used to be General Kelly, is following through on my pledge to protect the borders, remove criminal aliens, and stop the drugs from pouring into our country.  We’ve already seen -- listen to this; it never happened before, people can't even believe it.  And, by the way, we will build the wall no matter how low this number gets or how this goes.  Don't even think about it.  Don't even think about it.  (Applause.)

You know, they're trying to use this number against us because we've done so unbelievably at the borders already.  They're trying to use it against us.  But you need that wall to stop the human trafficking, to stop the drugs, to stop the wrong people.  You need the wall.  But listen to this:  We've already seen a 73 percent decrease -- never happened before -- in illegal immigration on the southern border since my election -- 73 percent.  (Applause.)

You see what they're doing, right?  So why do you need a wall?  We need a wall.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Build the wall!

THE PRESIDENT:  We’ll build the wall.  Don't even think about it.  Don't even think about it.  Don't even think about it.  That's an easy one.  We're going to build the wall.  We need the wall.

I said to General Kelly, how important is it?  He said, very important.  It’s that final element.  We need the wall.  And it’s a wall in certain areas.  Obviously, where you have these massive physical structures you don't need, and we have certain big rivers and all.  But we need a wall, and we're going to get that wall.  (Applause.)

And the world is getting the message.  They know that our border is no longer open to illegal immigration, and that if you try to break in, you’ll be caught and you’ll be returned to your home.  You're not staying any longer.  And if you keep coming back illegally after deportation, you will be arrested, prosecuted, and you will put behind bars.  Otherwise it will never end.  (Applause.)

Let’s also remember that immigration security is national security.  We’ve seen the attacks from 9/11 to Boston to San Bernardino.  Hundreds of individuals from other countries have been charged with terrorism-related offenses in the United States.

We spend billions and billions of dollars on security all over the world, but then we allow radical Islamic terrorists to enter right through our front door.  That's not going to happen anymore.  (Applause.)  It’s time to get tough.  It’s time we finally got smart.  And yes, it’s also time to put America first.  (Applause.)

And perhaps -- I see all of those beautiful red and white hats --- but we will never forget our favorite slogan of them all:  Make America Great Again.  All right?  (Applause.)

Keeping our communities safe and protecting our freedoms also requires the cooperation of our state leaders.  We have some incredible pro-Second Amendment governors here at the NRA conference, including Governor Scott of Florida.  Where is Governor Scott?  Great guy doing a great job.  Governor Bryant of Mississippi.  What a wonderful place.  Governor Bryant is here.  Thank you.  Governor Deal of Georgia.  (Applause.)  And we're also joined by two people that -- well, one I loved right from the beginning; the other one I really liked, didn't like, and now like a lot again.  (Laughter.)  Does that make sense?  Senator David Perdue -- he was from the beginning -- and Senator Ted Cruz -- like, dislike, like.  (Applause.)  Where are they?  Good guys.  Good guys.  Smart cookies.

Each of these leaders knows that public officials must serve under the Constitution, not above it.  We all took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States -- and that means defending the Second Amendment.  (Applause.)

So let me make a simple promise to every one of the freedom-loving Americans in the audience today:  As your President, I will never, ever infringe on the right of the people to keep and bear arms.  Never ever.  (Applause.)  Freedom is not a gift from government.  Freedom is a gift from God.  (Applause.)

It was this conviction that stirred the heart of a great American patriot on that day, April, 242 years ago. It was the day that Paul Revere spread his Lexington alarm -- the famous warning that "the British are coming, the British are coming." Right?  You've all heard that, right?  The British are coming.

Now we have other people trying to come, but believe me, they're not going to be successful.  That I can tell you.  (Applause.)  Nothing changes, right, folks?  Nothing changes.  They are not going to be successful.  There will be serious hurt on them, not on us.

Next, came the shot heard around the world, and then a rag-tag army of God-fearing farmers, frontiersmen, shopkeepers, merchants that stood up to the most powerful army at that time on Earth.  The most powerful army on Earth.  But we sometimes forget what inspired those everyday farmers and workers in that great war for independence.

Many years after the war, a young man asked Captain Levi Preston, aged 91,

why he’d fought alongside his neighbors at Concord.  Was it the Stamp Act?  Was it the Tea Tax?  Was it a work of philosophy?  "No," the old veteran replied. “Then why?” he was asked.  “Young man,” the Captain said, “what we meant in going for those Redcoats was this:  We always had governed ourselves, and we always meant to" govern ourselves.  (Applause.)

Captain Preston’s words are a reminder of what this organization and my administration are all about:  

the right of a sovereign people to govern their own affairs, and govern them properly.  (Applause.)  

We don’t want any longer to be ruled by the bureaucrats in Washington, or in any other country for that matter.  In America, we are ruled by our citizens.  We are ruled by each and every one of you.

But we can’t be complacent.  These are dangerous times.  These are horrible times for certain obvious reasons.  But we’re going to make them great times again.  Every day, we are up against those who would take away our freedoms, restrict our liberties, and even those who want to abolish the Second Amendment.  We must be vigilant.  And I know you are all up to the task.

Since the first generation of Americans stood strong at Concord, each generation to follow has answered the call to defend freedom in their time.  That is why we are here today:  To defend freedom for our children.  To defend the liberty of all Americans.  And to defend the right of a free and sovereign people to keep and bear arms.

I greatly appreciated your support on November 8th , in what will hopefully be one of the most important and positive elections for the United States of all time.  And to the NRA, I can proudly say I will never, ever let you down. .

NRA - xa name of nratv host - dir - dana loesch - thomas the tank engine - cam & co - lapierre - used the word extortion to describe the discussion between him and north - re ackerman mqueen - AM - whos extorting who - Custom Newspaper:N.R.A. Sues Operator of 'Voice of the N.R.A.'

Inboxx

noreply@cengage.com <noreply@cengage.com>

2:28 PM (53 minutes ago)

to me

N.R.A. Sues Operator of 'Voice of the N.R.A.' Danny Hakim The New York Times. (Apr. 16, 2019): Business News: pB3(L). Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 The New York Times Company

http://www.nytimes.com

Listen Full Text: It's the N.R.A. versus NRATV. The National Rifle Association sued one of its largest and most enduring contractors late last week and raised concerns about the contractor's relationship to the association's own president, Oliver North, in a stunning breach within the normally buttoned-up organization. The suit was filed late Friday by the N.R.A. in Virginia, where it is based, against Ackerman McQueen, the Oklahoma ad firm that operates NRATV, the group's incendiary online media arm. The suit asserts that Ackerman has concealed details from the N.R.A. about how the company is spending the roughly $40 million that it and its affiliates receive annually from the association. The suit creates uncertainty about Mr. North's future at the organization. And it leaves the future of NRATV in doubt, given the new acrimony in the Ackerman relationship. Since Ackerman created NRATV in 2016, it has often been ''perceived by the public as the voice of the N.R.A.,'' according to the rifle association's complaint. It has also taken on an apocalyptic tone, warning of race wars, calling for a march on the Federal Bureau of Investigation and portraying the talking trains in the children's show ''Thomas & Friends'' in Ku Klux Klan hoods. The New York Times reported this year that two prominent N.R.A. board members were among those voicing alarm inside the association that NRATV was often straying beyond gun rights. The Times article also revealed that Ackerman had a previously undisclosed financial relationship with Mr. North. The association is untangling broader problems as well, including a legal fight in New York with the administration of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo over an insurance program the N.R.A. offers to gun owners. The new state attorney general, Letitia James, has also repeatedly threatened to investigate the tax-exempt status of the organization, which was incorporated in New York. Facing this regulatory backdrop, the association began a review of its financial relationships with hundreds of vendors in August to ensure that it was in compliance with best practices. The N.R.A. complaint alleges that Ackerman refused to turn over a number of financial records, including those detailing out-of-pocket expenses ''that lacked meaningful documentation of N.R.A. approvals, receipts or other support.'' The association also wants documents that it says could allay its concern that it was being invoiced for the full salaries of Ackerman employees who also did work for other Ackerman clients. In addition, the complaint alleges that Ackerman has refused to provide data about NRATV's unique visitors and various other performance measures. ''The N.R.A.'s patience has run out,'' the suit says. Ackerman, in a statement, sharply disputed the contentions in the lawsuit, whose filing was earlier reported by The Wall Street Journal. ''During a three-week review, an N.R.A. forensic auditing firm received every single piece of information they [the N.R.A.] requested,'' the statement said. ''Further, the N.R.A. has had consistent access to any and all documents regarding NRATV analytics. Despite the representation set forth in their lawsuit, the N.R.A. had the personnel contract they claim AM withheld last week before they filed their lawsuit.'' The complaint details a peculiar standoff with Ackerman over Mr. North, who took over as president last year. The N.R.A. claims it was aware that Mr. North had a contract to act as the host of a web series for Ackerman, but that Ackerman has refused to provide a copy of the contract for nearly six months. Additionally, Mr. North's counsel told the N.R.A. that ''he could only disclose a copy of the contract'' if Ackerman said he could, the suit says. Subsequently, Ackerman allowed the N.R.A.'s general counsel to view the contract but not keep a copy; the viewing added to N.R.A. concerns that it had not previously received an accurate summary of the document. The association was also concerned that Mr. North's relationship to Ackerman could ''supersede his duties to the N.R.A.'' A standoff persists over additional details about the relationship, according to the complaint. The lawsuit is further complicated by family ties. The N.R.A.'s outside lawyer, William A. Brewer III, is the son-in-law of Angus McQueen, a co-chief executive of Ackerman, and the brother-in-law of Revan McQueen, its chief executive. Ackerman called the relationships an ''irreconcilable conflict of interest'' and said some kind of family dispute ''pervades the Brewer firm's dealings with Ackerman McQueen.'' Travis Carter, a spokesman for Mr. Brewer's law firm, said ''the familial relationship'' had ''no bearing whatsoever on the N.R.A.'s litigation strategy.'' He added, ''Any suggestion to the contrary is contrived and a red herring.'' The suit culminates the fracturing of a more than three-decade relationship between Ackerman and the N.R.A., going back to the shaping of such memorable lines as Charlton Heston's proclaiming that his gun would have to be pried ''from my cold, dead hands.'' Wayne LaPierre, the longtime chief executive of the N.R.A., had previously been a steadfast champion of the Ackerman relationship. ''I think it says something about Wayne's character, even though he's had a long-term working business relationship with a vendor, he's willing to do what is right and necessary for the N.R.A. and its members,'' said Todd Rathner, a board member of the rifle association. Joel Friedman, another board member, said he was dismayed that the documents had not been turned over. ''It leaves you questioning, and you can come up with all these potential different scenarios as to why, but none of them are good,'' he said. ''My mind goes to: Are they overcharging us? That's one,'' he added. ''Two, are there things charged to us that were not part of the contract? Then, No. 3, has there been a misallocation of personnel?''

Look what I read in the times today - its like shooting fish in a barrel - not addicted to anything - not struggling / addiction issues

NRA

Nyt art re tv channel for nra - nratv - under wild skies - kies x2 - kick y - kick & kick - kick me sign - kicks - root 66 - thomas the tank engine - Dana loesch- d' anal - turn - easy - confirmed/ve ri tas - Ve ri tas.

You keep it cold in here peg -

Nypost - frontpage - smoking gun kitty - the ffs and po are upside on this thing - trying to get unstuck - its coming - the truth is coming

You have been given an opportunity to do the right thing - your call

What Is Making N.R.A. Cringe? Its Own Videos: [National Desk] Hakim, Danny. New York Times, Late Edition (East Coast); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]12 Mar 2019: A.1. Publisher logo. Links to publisher website, opened in a new window. Full text Details Hide highlighting Translate Full textTurn on search term navigation The flash point was Thomas the Tank Engine. Last September, the National Rifle Association's famously combative spokeswoman, Dana Loesch, provoked widespread outrage when she took to the gun group's streaming service to mock ethnic diversity on the popular children's program "Thomas & Friends," portraying the show's talking trains in Ku Klux Klan hoods. Now, growing unease over the site's inflammatory rhetoric, and whether it has strayed too far from the N.R.A.'s core gun-rights mission, has put its future in doubt. The site, NRATV, is a central part of the organization's messaging apparatus. Since its creation in 2016, it has adopted an increasingly apocalyptic, hard-right tone, warning of race wars, describing Barack Obama as a "fresh-faced flower-child president," calling for a march on the Federal Bureau of Investigation and comparing journalists to rodents. In recent weeks, in a rare airing of internal debate at the N.R.A., two prominent board members expressed concerns about NRATV to The New York Times. Their statements were released through the N.R.A. itself, amid what was described as an internal review of NRATV and its future. "Since the founding of NRATV, some, including myself and other board members, have questioned the value of it," Marion Hammer, the group's most formidable lobbyist and a key adviser to its chief executive, Wayne LaPierre, said in a statement. "Wayne has told me and others that NRATV is being constantly evaluated -- to make sure it works in the best interest of the organization and provides an appropriate return on investment." The reassessment underscores a debate within the N.R.A. over how broad its activism should be. And it comes as the organization faces a storm of challenges, including a series of mass shootings that has created a new generation of gun-control activists. Congressional investigations into the N.R.A.'s possible Russia ties were energized after Maria Butina, a suspected Russian agent, pleaded guilty in December to using the N.R.A. in a political influence operation. And the organization, incorporated in New York, may have a potent foe in Letitia James, the state's recently elected attorney general, who has vowed to investigate the N.R.A.'s tax-exempt status. As falling membership dues put the N.R.A. under further strain, board members have also expressed concern about the size of payments to the ad firm that produces NRATV, Ackerman McQueen. The firm and its affiliates pocketed $40 million from the N.R.A. in 2017; billings directly to Ackerman have increased nearly 50 percent since 2015. One prominent host, Dan Bongino, left amid cutbacks at NRATV, but he said the site had tried to retain him. Ackerman, a partner to the gun group since the "I'm the N.R.A." campaign of the 1980s, runs the NRATV Twitter account, has done polling work for the organization and revamped its gun safety program for children. It has also been credited with a slick makeover of Mr. LaPierre -- who, in the words of one former N.R.A. lobbyist, previously resembled an "introverted chess champion." Mr. LaPierre's wife, Susan, has worked for an Ackerman subsidiary, and there has come to be a revolving door between the two companies, with many employees having worked by turns for both NRATV and Ackerman. Oliver L. North, the N.R.A. president, has a contract with Ackerman, though the N.R.A. would not disclose its size. As part of the relationship, Mr. North, a former Fox News pundit, hosts media programming and special events, like the show "American Heroes," which recently began airing on NRATV. The N.R.A., a nonprofit, has also directed $18 million since 2010 to a private company jointly owned by executives of Ackerman and the N.R.A., according to records and interviews. "It is clear to me that NRATV is an experiment and Wayne is evaluating the future of the enterprise," Willes K. Lee, a board member who leads the N.R.A. Outreach Committee, said in a statement to The Times. After the Thomas the Tank Engine video, he said, Mr. LaPierre appeared "livid and embarrassed" in a meeting with the outreach group. "He apologized to the entire committee and spent hours listening to our concerns." 'Red Meat for the Hard Right' Ms. Loesch has emerged as NRATV's most visible host, deriding gun-control advocates as "tragedy-dry-humping whores" and vowing to combat the left with what she called the "clenched fist of truth" -- a body part that the comedian John Oliver said was located "a little past the bent elbow of nonsense." In one video, she warned The Times, "We're coming for you"; in another, she threatened to burn a copy of the newspaper. Chuck Holton, an NRATV correspondent, attributed terrorist activity in Europe to "the broader problem of multiculturalism and socialism" and to "gender-bending." He also claimed that left-wing groups, the billionaire George Soros and the Venezuelan government were trying "to influence the 2018 midterms by sending Honduran migrants north in the thousands." Grant Stinchfield, a host, claimed that "all radicalized terrorists are Muslims," overlooking mass shooters like Dylann Roof, who killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston, S.C., in 2015. Such far-ranging commentary has raised questions among some N.R.A. members about the scope of the organization's messaging. "The N.R.A. shouldn't be putting this out," said Jeff Knox, an N.R.A. member who runs the Firearms Coalition, a smaller advocacy organization. "It's not gun rights; it's red meat for the hard right." Mr. Knox's father, Neal, was an N.R.A. board member who played a leading role in an effort to fire Ackerman in the 1990s amid discontent over its growing influence. A faction loyal to Mr. LaPierre ultimately prevailed, leading to a purge of the board and allowing the two organizations to become more deeply intertwined. "Why are we getting so involved in left-right politics instead of sticking close to our issue, the Second Amendment?" the younger Mr. Knox asked. Ackerman declined to comment, but in a recent interview in The Oklahoman, Revan McQueen, the firm's chief executive, said his company's approach was evolving from pure advertising to a "philosophy of branded news." As Ackerman's website puts it, "Every brand must be its own media company." To that end, the firm has created video networks for the Chickasaw Nation and the Integris health care system of Oklahoma, though their content is relatively benign. A recent episode of ChickasawTV, for example, featured a visit to an art gallery. Over on NRATV, a host was calling liberalism "a mental disorder." Beyond NRATV, the N.R.A. backed Ackerman's performance. "When Ackerman McQueen began working with the N.R.A., the association was little more than a fledgling grass-roots operation," Andrew Arulanandam, an N.R.A. spokesman, said in a statement. "The N.R.A. is now the most effective advocacy organization of its kind," he said, adding that the firm had created "a national platform for the N.R.A." and that it was "an important partner." Taxing Questions During the N.R.A. power struggle in the 1990s, a board member filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, claiming that an N.R.A. contract with an Ackerman subsidiary "was done without any 'request for proposals'; any bidding process; and no competitive bidding." The commission decided in a 6-0 vote not to take action, but criticisms have persisted. "The N.R.A. is willing to play fast and loose with tax regulations," said Marcus S. Owens, a partner at Loeb & Loeb who served for a decade as director of the Exempt Organizations Division of the Internal Revenue Service. Ms. James, the New York attorney general, presents a new threat. Last year, she told Ebony magazine that the N.R.A. held itself "out as a charitable organization" but was actually "a terrorist organization." William A. Brewer III, the N.R.A.'s outside counsel, said Ms. James had given no indication when she was a candidate that "the N.R.A. had done anything improper," adding that she had instead promised "a taxpayer-funded fishing expedition." A number of transactions could draw scrutiny. Since 2010, the N.R.A. has paid $18 million to a company that produces "Under Wild Skies," a hunting show on NRATV. Tyler Schropp, the N.R.A.'s advancement director, came to the organization in 2010 from Ackerman, and had a stake in the production company until at least 2017, but "no longer holds any interest," Mr. Brewer said. Federal rules restrict transactions that confer economic benefits on key executives of tax-exempt organizations. Mr. Brewer described Mr. Schropp's stake as "a minuscule interest" that the N.R.A. found not to be objectionable. Payments related to "Under Wild Skies" emerged only recently in N.R.A. tax filings. Other issues unrelated to Ackerman could also surface. The N.R.A. has transferred more than $100 million since 2012 from an affiliated charity that also lent the N.R.A. $5 million in 2017. Donations to the charity, the N.R.A. Foundation, are tax-deductible, while those to the N.R.A. are not. "If you're doing a program that's charitable, you run it through the charity," said David G. Samuels, a partner at Duval & Stachenfeld who served in the charities bureau of the New York Attorney General's Office, which oversees tax-exempt organizations. Such practices raise "red flags," he said. Like some nonprofits, the N.R.A. has been lucrative for its top executives. Mr. LaPierre's compensation rose from less than $200,000 in the mid-1990s to nearly $1.5 million in 2017. It spiked to more than $5 million in 2015, largely because of a retirement plan payout. A review of public records found that the N.R.A., which has about 550 employees, has disclosed that 41 employees, contractors, vendors or consultants have relevant family relationships to others connected to the organization, including a "niece-in-law" of Mr. LaPierre who was hired as a consultant. "The N.R.A. strives to comply with all applicable regulations," Mr. Brewer said, adding that the organization has a "conflict-of interest-policy" and that "vendor agreements are reviewed and approved" by the board's audit committee when appropriate. With New York regulators circling, it's no surprise that the state's politicians have become fodder for NRATV -- particularly the governor, Andrew M. Cuomo, whose administration is already engaged in a legal fight with the gun group. Recently, the site even targeted Albany, describing it as "Graft City." Whatever happens to NRATV, few expect the N.R.A. to become much less combative. Mr. LaPierre, in a speech this month, described the organization's approach as "full-contact advocacy," adding, "We are going to fight back against anyone who attempts to silence us." Credit: DANNY HAKIM; Susan C. Beachy and Jack Begg contributed research. Photograph Above, Dana Loesch, an N.R.A. spokeswoman, mocked ethnic diversity on "Thomas & Friends" by portraying the show's talking trains in Ku Klux Klan hoods. Left, Wayne LaPierre, the N.R.A. chief executive, was said to be "livid and embarrassed." (PHOTOGRAPH BY TAMIR KALIFA FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES) (A17) Word count: 1721 Copyright New York Times Company Mar 12, 2019 NRA Slipping With Voters, Though Many Have Moved on From Gun Control Bonazzo, John. The New York Observer; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]10 Sep 2018. Eugene Robinson: Don't let the absurd ploy to arm teachers distract you Robinson, Eugene. The Sun; Lowell, Mass. [Lowell, Mass]28 Feb 2018. The NRA's worst nightmare is here Obeidallah, Dean. CNN Commentary; Atlanta [Atlanta]25 Feb 2018. Editorial Exchange: Not afraid of the NRA The Canadian Press; Toronto [Toronto]28 Feb 2018. Common sense about guns and other views: Letters Orlando Sentinel (Online), Orlando: Tribune Interactive, LLC. Mar 23, 2018. Show more related items Subject Lobbyists Congressional investigations Multiculturalism & pluralism Mass murders Firearm laws & regulations Firearms Streaming media Video recordings Nonprofit organizations Location United States--US People Loesch, Dana LaPierre, Wayne Company/organization National Rifle Association--NRA Contact UsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy PolicyCookie Policy Cookie Preferences Accessibility Copyright © 2019 ProQuest LLC.

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Polarized Florida Senate passes bill to ban ‘sanctuary cities’

Miami Herald27 Apr 2019BY SAMANTHA J. GROSS sgross@miamiherald.com Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau SCOTT KEELER Tampa Bay Times Florida senators debate bills in the Florida Senate chamber, in this 2017 file photo. After months embroiled in emotional testimony, protests, controversy and national news coverage, Sen. Joe Gruters’ version of a bill to ban “sanctuary cities” in Florida passed 22-18 in was called. The Senate and the House, which passed its version of the bill Wednesday, still need to iron out differences in their proposals, particularly on a tougher stance taken by the House when it comes to penalties. The House’s bill builds in a rule that local government em The state Senate passed a bill Friday that would ban “sanctuary cities” in Florida. The bill would require state and local law enforcement to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement orders to hold people. ployees or elected officials who permit sanctuary-city policies may be suspended or removed from office. The proposal also includes fines of up to $5,000 for each day that a sanctuarycity policy is in place. Identical bills must pass both chambers before hitting the governor’s desk. In this case, differences will have to be negotiated and “bounced back” between the House and Senate until they come to an agreement on a piece of legislation. While the House has tried to pass a similar ban the last four years, it died in the Senate the last time around. But Gov. Ron DeSantis has made “sanctuary cities” a key talking point from the start of his campaign to swearing in, an element Gruters says was key. “That’s why this is moving forward,” Gruters said earlier this week. “It has opened up some doors that weren’t previously available.” The bill creates rules relating to federal immigration enforcement by prohibiting “sanctuary” policies and requiring state and local law enforcement to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under this bill, local law enforcement would be required to honor federal law enforcement’s request for an “immigration detainer,” meaning a request that another law enforcement agency detain a person based on probable cause to believe that the person is a “removable alien” under federal immigration law. The bill would essentially make the “request” a requirement. Florida is part of a recent trend of states pushing such policies. Arkansas recently banned “sanctuary cities,” and Republicans in Michigan, Montana and North Carolina are pushing similar bans. “I’m just glad to be the catalyst to help this happen,” Gruters told reporters earlier this week. Gruters’ bill passed with an amendment that would give DeSantis the authority to “initiate judicial proceedings in the name of the state” against local or state officials who do not cooperate with enforcing immigration laws. CONTROVERSY THROUGHOUT Since its origin, Gruters’ effort has been embroiled in controversy. In March 27, the News Service of Florida published portions of emails between Gruters and hard-line immigration groups that helped shape portions of the bill and the bill’s staff analysis Then at a press conference in April, he borrowed a Trump tactic of speaking alongside “angel parents” whose children were killed by undocumented immigrants. The Southern Poverty Law Center then posted a Twitter thread noting two speakers at the press conference belonged to anti-immigrant groups. DeSantis — a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump who aired a campaign ad in which he helped his young daughter build a tiny border wall — has also used the examples of people killed by undocumented immigrants to make his point. “We do not want to be in a situation where we have more angel parents,” DeSantis said during a March press conference. “I hope that the Legislature moves quickly this session to pass legislation.” Then in the middle of the bill hearing process, a report by the American Civil Liberties Union showed that federal immigration authorities have asked Miami-Dade to hold at county jails hundreds of people who are listed as U.S. citizens. The group cited data provided in a lawsuit filed by a U.S. citizen, Garland Creedle, who was wrongly held for deportation after spending a night in a Miami-Dade jail in March 2017. Amid the news items on Gruters and the bill, arguments erupted into protests at the Capitol, sit-ins at lawmakers’ district offices and even an ACLU-issued travel warning for travelers and non-citizens to stay away from Florida. The American Business and Immigration Coalition, backed by Miami billionaire and healthcare magnate Mike Fernandez, says the bill will hurt the economy by $3.5 billion in GDP. More than 120 business leaders signed a letter by ABIC urging lawmakers to stop SB 168 and HB 527. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the state’s top Democrat, also spoke out against the bill, calling it “divisive rhetoric … pushed by the president.” VIGOROUS FLOOR DEBATE Miami Sen. José Javier Rodríguez has been one of the most outspoken opponents of the bill, and filed nearly three dozen amendments over the past few weeks to address some of his concerns. In a surprising vote Thursday, one of his amendments was adopted — a first for Democrats fighting against the bills in both chambers. The amendment exempts the Department of Children and Families or employees of the department from being compelled to comply with an ICE request. Gruters said he doesn’t think the amendment “makes a difference.” Some of Rodriguez’s other amendments would have built in more protections for other groups like crime witnesses, victims of sex crimes and victims of human trafficking. He said protecting witnesses was key. He made mention of a recent incident in Pembroke Pines, where it was discovered Thursday that a youth pastor is accused of raping a teenager for a year and threatened to report her family’s illegal immigration status if she reported the crime. “Law enforcement is telling us that the incidence of reporting of crimes has gone down. Among immigrants, underreporting of crime is a bigger problem,” Rodriguez said. His amendment failed, but two others with language to protect witnesses passed: One by Sen. Manny Diaz, R-Miami, and one by Sen. Jason Pizzo, DMiami Beach. Sen. Annette Taddeo, another vocal critic of the bill, filed an amendment to exempt people who have temporary protected status or are recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In a speech on the floor Friday, she said the bill is “mean” and ignores moments in America’s history of turning people away and treating minorities poorly. “Our history of ugly moments when it comes to immigration is something we should learn from,” she said. “I ask you to not make this a moment we will regret ... We are better than this.” Rodriguez said his Republican colleagues don’t have a willingness to move on the bill, citing DeSantis’ support. “The reason he’s in the governor’s office is because he ran an anti-immigrant campaign just like Trump did,” Rodríguez said. “Demonizing immigrants is core to their primary electoral strategy.” Republicans argued on the floor that immigration policy was not for the state to make, and that the bill simply addresses a problem facing Florida. “How do we solve this problem? There is one way,” said Sen. David Simmons, an Altamonte Springs Republican. “We do not have individuals who have committed crimes be given a free pass.” Simmons suggested the Legislature take up proposals in the future that would help immigrants attain legal status, like a bill to allow more work permits or drivers licenses. “None of us condone a system that is out of control,” he said. Sen. Tom Lee, however, was less certain on his vote. He said listening to debate on sanctuary cities bill was like switching between Fox News and MSNBC. He added that he was “really on the fence” about whether the bill would solve the problem. “I’ve never been more confused,” the Thonotosassa Republican and twotime Senate President said. “I felt like we let ideology and. partisanship take over the plain words of a piece of legislation. We couldn’t be more far apart.” Lee said he’s hopeful the language gets tightened up since he thought Gruters made sense in his statements. The bill language, however, was less clear, he said. “In the end, I didn’t have a yellow button so I chose to trust Senator Gruters’ interpretation,” he said. IMMIGRANTS IN GALLERY REACT After the vote was called, immigrant families and advocates left the chamber in tears. Amy-Patricia Morales, an FSU student from Miami, said she has shown up to the Capitol over the past few months to protest the bill in honor of her father, who was deported when she was 9 years old. She said she thinks senators did not do enough to address the trauma families face when someone is deported. “When you’re 9, how do you put it into simple terms? You can’t,” she said. “For me, it’s being 9 and coming home from school to a parent missing.” Nataly Chalco Lopez, a Florida State University student and DACA recipient from Peru, talked about her fears for her undocumented parents. Lopez, who is from Broward County, said her parents will likely never come to visit her at school or even attend her graduation as to avoid driving a far distance without a driver’s license. She said lawmakers see people like her parents as criminals. “They believe that what they’re doing isn’t wrong. They’re in denial of the fact that they are racist,” she said. “They have convinced themselves that the way that they think is correct ... they’re too far gone.” Samantha J. Gross: 850-222-3095, @samanthajgross

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Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) - Interview

Your World with Neil Cavuto (FOX News).

2015.Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 CQ-Roll Call, Inc.

http://www.thenewsroom.com

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BRENDA BUTTNER, FOX NEWS HOST: I bet this is a hot topic at your Thanksgiving table right now. What to do with ten thousand Syrian refugees to make sure ISIS doesn`t sneak in with them. The president already threatening to veto a bill that would vet them further, something not sitting well with Florida Republican Congressman Ron DeSantis. Congressman, thank you so much for joining us.

You voted with the majority on that bill to further vet, basically, our vetting process for refugees. 47 Democrats voted along with you. Is that a sign that the president is becoming more isolated on thos issue?

REP. RON DESANTIS (R-FL), COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Well happy Thanksgiving, Brenda.

BUTTNER: You, too.

DESANTIS: Yeah, I think without question, if you look at the numbers that the president is talking about, 10,000 people, if only one percent of those mean to do us harm or intending to commit terrorist acts, that means you`re bringing in 100 terrorists into the country, and we talked to the FBI director, even before the Paris attack, and he testified in front of Congress that the government cannot vet these people adequately because there isn`t enough information to do it.

So, I think the prudent policy is to err on the side of protecting the American people, and here`s the thing, Brenda. We can help about four or five refugees over in that theater for the cost of bringing one over here. So even if we didn`t have these terrorism concerns, I think there`s an argument our money is probably better spent by sending it over there and having people directed to safe zones.

BUTTNER: What happens if the Senate doesn`t take up this bill? It may not get traction. Minority Leader Harry Reid doesn`t really want to take it up. Then the president plans to veto it. What can you do?

DESANTIS: Well, first of all, I think that it`s likely to get to the president`s desk. He is going veto it and he`s going to have to explain and I think you see his poll numbers are dropping precipitously given how he`s handled this issue. I think he`s like -- 35 percent approve of how he is handling terrorism. So if he vetoes the bill and the public responds negatively to him, I think that`s going to put even more pressure on the Democrats in the Congress to join with us if we put funding prohibitions on the next budget bill that comes down the pike, not allowing the president to spend money to bring any unvetted refugees over to our country, and we could potentially end up with veto-proof majorities. We already got that in the House with our bill. This could potentially get us there in the Senate if the president vetoes a bill and then there`s a public backlash.

BUTTNER: There`s a move afoot in our northern neighbor in Canada to basically say, we won`t take any single men, we`re only taking women and children. But we have a very porous border and does that really stop the terrorists from getting in? Women -- we have seen in Paris -- can be terrorists, too.

DESANTIS: You have to vet everybody. You absolutely do have female suicide bombers. And so the idea that just because it`s a female that you`re not going to vet them, that doesn`t work. So yes, I think we have to be concerned, and not only with the refugee situation. It`s very easy for people to fly into Canada from some of these troubled spots and then they can come across our northern border. So I think it`s absolutely a cause of concern.

BUTTNER: And what do we do about that?

DESANTIS: Well, I think that we have to look at how you can gain entry into our country. The refugees is one. The legal immigration system is another. And then we also have visa waiver and people coming over on visas. I think all that has to be vetted in a way that errs on the side of protecting the American people. If there`s a chance that someone may be inclined to be an enemy of the country, then I think you have to err on the side of caution.

BUTTNER: You know, the argument on the other side is that we, as Americans -- our values are that it`s our obligation to bring in refugees, those who have been in war-torn situations and need help. How do you answer that?

DESANTIS: Well, we actually have been way more generous than pretty much every country in the world combined. But simply because there`s a war, that`s never been necessarily the test. We`ve accepted people who qualified for asylum because they were persecuted, say, like the Christians in Syria are being persecuted because of their faith or their ethnicity, but simply because they`re a war, that doesn`t necessarily mean that everybody gets to come to the United States, and as I mentioned earlier, I think you can help a lot of these people in a more cost-effective way. You can help more of them by administering that aid overseas rather than flying them halfway across the world.

BUTTNER: Right. Now what about the issue of giving state governors the choice whether or not to take the refugees in? That would require basically amending the Refugee Act of 1980. Do you support that?

DESANTIS: I do. Here`s why. State and local law enforcement are the primary protectors of the health, safety, and welfare of the people in the individual states. So they have a significant responsibility to keep their citizens safe, such as at the Mall of America, as you mentioned earlier on the show. So I think that they should absolutely have a voice in whether people are coming into their state that could potentially pose a problem.

BUTTNER: Do you think you might have the votes in Congress to do that?

DESANTIS: I think we could definitely pass it out of the house. Whether we could pass it out of the Senate, I`m not sure. And I would imagine, given the president`s posture on this, that he would threaten to veto such a bill.

BUTTNER: All right. Congressman, thank you very, very much. I hope you have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.

DESANTIS: Same to you.