Click here
to listen to the September 11th, 2010 Ozarks Virtual Town
Hall
Transcript and Analysis of the President's Weekly
Radio Address:
"President Obama Commemorates the Ninth
Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks"
The
White House Press Office: – In this week’s address,
President Obama marked the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks as
a National Day of Service and Remembrance to honor those who lost
their lives. If there is a lesson to be drawn on this
anniversary, it is that the United States is one nation and one
people united by common ideals. By keeping our commitment to those
protect the country and their families, by giving back to our
communities, and by serving people in need, we reaffirm those ideals
in defiance of those who would do us harm.
Today, we pause to remember a
day that tested our country. On September 11, 2001, nearly
3,000 lives were lost in the deadliest attack on American soil
in our history. We will never forget the images of planes
vanishing into buildings; of photos hung by the families of the
missing. We will never forget the anger and sadness we
felt. And while nine years have come and gone since that
September morning, the passage of time will never diminish the
pain and loss forever seared in the consciousness of our nation.
That is why, on this day, we
pray with the families of those who died. We mourn with
husbands and wives, children and parents, friends and loved
ones. We think about the milestones that have passed over
the course of nine years – births and christenings, weddings
and graduations – all with an empty chair.
On this day, we also honor
those who died so that others might live: the firefighters and
first responders who climbed the stairs of two burning towers;
the passengers who stormed a cockpit; and the men and women who
have, in the years since, borne the uniform of this country and
given their lives so that our children could grow up in a safer
world. In acts of courage and decency, they defended a
simple precept: I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s
keeper.
And on this day, we recall that
at our darkest moment, we summoned a sense of unity and common
purpose. We responded to the worst kind of depravity
with the best of our humanity.
We should never
assume that "depravity" exists on only one side.
So, each year at this time, we
renew our resolve against those who perpetrated this barbaric
act of terror and who continue to plot against us – for we
will never waver in defense of this nation. We renew our
commitment to our troops and all who serve to protect this
country, and to their families. But we also renew the true
spirit of that day. Not the human capacity for evil, but
the human capacity for good. Not the desire to destroy,
but the impulse to save.
That is why we
mark September 11th as a National Day of Service and
Remembrance. For if there is a lesson to be drawn on this
anniversary, it is this: we are one nation – one people –
bound not only by grief, but by a set of common ideals.
And that by giving back to our communities, by serving people in
need, we reaffirm our ideals – in defiance of those who would
do us grave harm. We prove that the sense of
responsibility that we felt for one another was not a fleeting
passion – but a lasting virtue.
This is a time of difficulty
for our country. And it is often in such moments that some
try to stoke bitterness – to divide us based on our
differences, to blind us to what we have in common. But on
this day, we are reminded that at our best, we do not give in to
this temptation. We stand with one another. We fight alongside
one another. We do not allow ourselves to be defined by
fear, but by the hopes we have for our families, for our nation,
and for a brighter future. So let us grieve for those we’ve
lost, honor those who have sacrificed, and do our best to live
up to the values we share – on this day, and every day that
follows.
Thank you.
The problem with
this address is not what is said, but what is unsaid.
Response of the Republican Party
Saturday Morning Radio Address
Saturday, September 11th, 2010
Once again, the Republican
Party leadership has asked Congressman
Ron Paul to deliver . . . wait a minute . . . I'm sorry . .
.
Geoff Davis, Congressman from Kentucky’s 4th Congressional
District, delivered the
GOP Weekly Address
Good morning. I'm
Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona.
On this date nine
years ago, Islamist terrorists hijacked four commercial jets and
killed almost 3,000 innocent people. Americans finally
realized that the sporadic attacks that had occurred earlier
were not isolated events – they were all part of a war that
had been declared by leaders of militant Islamist groups and had
to be confronted as such.
What if
a group of "tree-huggers" in Portland, Oregon, had
bombed the World Trade Center. What if this environmentalist
group issued a press release saying they had "declared
war" on a nation that wastes paper and cuts down trees.
Should Congress resolve that Oregon "could no longer
serve as a sanctuary" for enviro-terrorists? Should the 4th
Amendment of the Constitution be set aside to prosecute a
"war on enviro-terrorism" which Congress never
declared (following the Constitution)?
In the unity that
immediately followed September 11, a number of actions were
taken. Congress and the nation resolved that Afghanistan could
no longer serve as a sanctuary for Al Qaeda. So Congress
authorized the use of force and also passed the Patriot Act
allowing our intelligence and law enforcement communities to
work together. The president directed our intelligence agencies
to better use modern technology to gather information.
The U.S. military
drove the Taliban and Al Qaeda from Afghanistan. After the
defeat of Saddam Hussein, the surge of forces into Iraq helped
turn the tide against the Al Qaeda in Iraq. Key Al Qaeda leaders
were captured and provided information useful in thwarting
additional attacks.
Actually,
immediately following 9/11, the U.S. military allowed Bin Laden
to escape Afghanistan into Pakistan.
Al Queda was not in Iraq until the U.S. went there.
These and other
actions have made us safer; but, ironically, the very fact that
we have less fear of being attacked has frayed the bonds of
unity that enabled us to act so boldly in the aftermath of the
attack. The fact that none of the subsequent attempts to attack
us have succeeded seems to have removed some of the urgency and
commitment so necessary to succeed in war.
Some in our
government have even refused to speak the name of our adversary
lest they somehow offend. Yet, one of the first rules of war is
to know your enemy, the better to confront him on your terms
than his.
Good point.
The enemy is the militant
Islamist ideology that candidly, boldly and
uncompromisingly seeks to destroy liberal
Western culture and governments and replace them with the
medieval concept of an Islamist caliphate governed by Sharia
law.
Good point.
So what is the best way to battle an "ideology?"
Guns, or ideas? Is America more or less "liberal" (free)
under the Patriot Act?
Like communism
before it, the concept is totalitarian and relies on brute
force, intimidation and subtle manipulation. A failure to
appreciate what the enemy wants and how it intends to win would
be fatal to our efforts to combat this ideology. It is also
important to differentiate this militant political ideology from
the Muslim faith practiced by over a billion people all around
the globe. Focus on Islam rather than the real adversary diverts
attention and insults those Muslims.
Good point.
Terrorism is but
one of the tactics of the militant Islamists. The insidious
effort to gain political influence, not just in the Middle East,
but in Europe and the U.S. as well, could sap our capacity to
respond. Even now, some
Western countries have tolerated the imposition of
aspects of Sharia law in their Muslim communities, thus denying
some of their citizens the protection of their liberal laws and
constitutional rights.
Good point. So why
a "war on terrorism?" Why not a "war on
caliphate-ism?"
The "war on terrorism" has denied American citizens
"the protection of ... liberal laws and constitutional
rights." Is martial law better than Sharia law?
The ninth
anniversary of 9/11 should cause us to think hard about the
enemy that attacked us and will do so again if we relax our
efforts. And we need to remember that direct terrorist attacks
are but one of the tactics of this determined enemy.
Today we should
remember the victims of 9/11 and their families. We should also
recall the sacrifice of
those in our military, including the loved ones of those
lost. Others, civilians and intelligence officers, deserve our
deepest gratitude.
I would like to
see a poll that reveals what percentage of the modern volunteer
military is there as a result of a calculated "career
move," and what percentage are purely
"sacrificial."
Tomorrow and
beyond, we should recapture the unity that allowed us to come
together as a nation to confront a determined enemy.
That is neither a
Republican nor a Democrat challenge -- that is an American
challenge. ####
"America"
is a country. The enemy is an "ideology" -- a false
religion -- that affects other "Western
countries." It is not a U.S. challenge, it is a religious
challenge.
What Ozarks Candidates Are Saying
About These Issues
Billy
Long
Another
Perspective:
"Liberty
Under God"
"I believe deeply in our
civil liberties and they should be fully protected. The purpose of
America, our Constitution, and our government, is to make and keep
us all free. However, we can preserve freedom while pursuing
terrorists. I believe we should aggressively monitor terrorist
threats in this country and abroad. I do not agree with
those who would extend our rights and privileges that we enjoy as
Americans to terrorists." Where
Billy Long stands on 9 key issues | KSPR - News, Weather,
Sports Springfield, MO | Local News
Rights
come from God, and are given to every human being created in
His Image, including "terrorists." The Fourth Amendment
has been annulled by the "war on terrorism." That means
we have lost the war.
War on Terror This war has lasted too
long and cost too much. Now is the time to aggressively pursue our
military course to stabilize and secure Iraq for its citizens and
for our troops to transition home.
That said, I do not support
setting a firm deadline for withdrawing our troops. The last thing
anyone wants is to undermine the progress we have made to this
point. As the saying goes, "We have all the watches, but
they have all the time." Our brave service men and
women have paid a great price for the gains we have made. It
would dishonor their service and sacrifice to allow political
pressure and expediency to take the place of sound judgement and
compromise the progress both countries have made thus far. Positions
- Scott Eckersley for U.S. Congress in Missouri 7th District
Individual Freedoms vs Terrorism It's a delicate
balance. We live in a free country. The government is
expected to protect its citizens. The government and its
agencies need to share information and take the least intrusive
approach to safeguarding America and protect its principles of
freedom. Positions
- Scott Eckersley for U.S. Congress in Missouri 7th District
Iraq
under Saddam Hussein gave Christians freedom to worship and
evangelize. The Federal Government has converted Iraq into an
Islamic Theocracy, destroying the largest Christian community in
the Arab world.
There is no balance here at all. The government did not protect
us on 9-11. Instead of humble repentance, the federal government
demanded more power and took more rights from us.
Update!
After the Ozarks Virtual Town Hall live presentation, Scott
Eckersley posted the following:
I
hope unity finds all Americans today and call upon us all to
observe a moment of silence to remember those who lost their
lives during the horrible events that took place on September
11, 2001.
Please pray for the families who lost family and friends as
they must relive that day once again. Remember the heroes
who sacrificed their lives and pray for the heroes who risked
their lives to minimize the casualties on that sad day. Few
know what they endured.
It saddens me our republic in all her greatness needs a
terrible event such as 9/11 for Americans to unify together
and throw out our differences. We would be a much better
country if we learned to come together and work together
without one event forcing everything in perspective.
American patriot John Dickinson’s lyrics from the The
Liberty Song (1768) are sung “Then join hand in hand,
brave Americans all! By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall!”
Those words ring as true today as the day they were penned as
we remember the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Please honor
the fallen, the survivors, and the heroes.
-Scott
As with the
President's and the GOP statement, nobody can argue with what was
said. But again, nothing is said about how to prevent such
tragedies in the future. Nothing is said about U.S. foreign policy
in the Mideast, which has resulted in the deaths of more than one
million innocent non-combatant men, women and children. We
dishonor those who died on 9/11 by not doing what we can to
prevent more deaths.
Is it possible that there could have been
individuals within the U.S. Federal Government -- in
sufficient numbers and with sufficient authority --
to intentionally permit thousands of Americans to be
killed -- even though these deaths could have been
prevented -- to protect what these
highly-placed individuals would call "U.S.
interests?"
Why did the Bush Administration oppose an
inquiry into the causes of 9-11? If your house had been
burned to the ground by arson, wouldn't you want to know who
did it? Wouldn't your insurance company want to know? What
is the purpose of Government if not to investigate and
prosecute criminals?
NORAD and FAA knew of the multiple hijackings in
progress by 8:25 am. Bush and Cheney agreed on issuing a
shoot-down order against two planes still in attack mode
after 9:05 am, when everyone in the country knew what
the nature of the threat was. No such orders were
conveyed to pilots or carried out if they were.
Standard hijack intercept procedures were not followed
by NORAD or military ready-alert scrambler planes.
Virtually no defense of any kind was made inside the
most restricted air space in the US, the P-56 area
around DC and the Pentagon despite the presence of
combat ready aircraft at local bases. Nor were other
defense measures, including surface-to-air missiles at
the White House and Pentagon deployed. There was a
stand-down on 9/11.
Planes scrambled to intercept were sent long after the
threat was known, so that they arrived too late to stop
the attack. There were at least two cases of this: Otis
AFB fighters who turned and targeted Flight 77 after
reaching NYC too late, and Pomona NJ AFB combat planes
on military exercises heading into NYC after 8:45 am,
were called back to base or off the pursuit. There are
additional indicators that many combat-ready planes and
units were disarmed and called down shortly before 9/11.
[John
Judge]
Human
casualties -- 6,000 Americans have lost their lives
over 19 terrorists who lost theirs.
"Enemy" Casualties -- who is "the
enemy?" Perhaps one
million human beings have unnecessarily lost their
lives as a result of the U.S. military's response to
9-11.
The federal government only has the powers granted to it
-- "enumerated" --
in the Constitution.
The "General Welfare" clause is no
exception to this principle.
"States Rights"
-- most government should be carried out on a local level.
The Constitution created a federal government
with very limited powers, bound
down by the "chains of the
constitution." The Bush-Obama Regime believes it has
vast, unlimited powers to cure all diseases, fund all causes,
and bring salvation.
From this aspect, therefore, the whole of economics can
be reduced to a single lesson, and that lesson can be
reduced to a single sentence. The art of economics
consists in looking not merely at the immediate but at the
longer effects of any act or policy; it consists in
tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one
group but for all groups.
These are the reasons given by Osama bin Laden for
declaring a "fatwah" (holy war) against the U.S.
All of these accusations are true.
All of these government actions are contrary to the
Constitution.
The biggest cause of terrorism
-- and the most dangerous threat to the personal safety and
security of ordinary Americans like you and me -- is the
Federal Government of the United States.
America's Founders envisioned the American people, acting
as businessmen, humanitarians, and missionaries, engaging in
commercial and charitable activities around the world,
bringing peace and receiving the admiration of the world.
"The
great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign
nations is in extending our commercial relations to have
with them as little political connection as
possible."
— Washington, Farewell Address (1796) [Washington’s
emphasis]
"I
deem [one of] the essential principles of our
government, and consequently [one] which ought to shape
its administration,…peace, commerce, and honest
friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with
none."
— Jefferson, First Inaugural Address (1801)
Bush's unconstitutional military invasion
of Iraq has destroyed Christianity in that country.
Under Saddam Hussein's secular government, Christians
in Iraq had greater freedom than in most other Arab
nations, and one of the largest Christian populations in
the Muslim world was in Iraq.
Iraq is now an Islamic theocracy under Sharia law. The
Christian population has been destroyed. Christian
Churches are burned and terrorized with impunity.
Obama is following in Bush's unconstitutional,
anti-Christian footsteps.
This money-creation system is immoral and unconstitutional.
It steals from the poor and elderly.
America's Founding Fathers would conclude that The First
Amendment had been repealed
There is no freedom of religion: the U.S. is officially atheistic.
There is no freedom of the press: the media is the
lapdog of "the
Establishment."
Everyone who signed the Constitution, if they were here
today, would urge the repeal of the Constitution and the abolition
of the government created by that document.
“Why
Americans Should
Celebrate Christmas
365 Days
a Year”
The word "Christ" means "King." The Message
of Christmas and the Principles set forth by the Christ (the
Messiah) who came that first Christmas are the real solution to
America's problems. The Federal Government is at war with Christmas
and "The
Way of Peace" announced by the Prince
of Peace. The Government should be on His
shoulders (Isaiah
9:6-7). Abolishing a Messianic State
is the only appropriate way to honor the Messiah. Otherwise
Christmas becomes mass hypocrisy.
The Word became flesh. The Creator of the universe
becomes a human being. He came to His own, but His own did
not receive Him, preferring darkness rather than light.
John the Baptist prepares the way for the Messiah, as
prophesied of Elijah.
As you read the
Gospel accounts, ask yourself how you would react if you knew
these accounts were really true. Not just true in some
"religious" sense, but reported in the New York
Times, proven in a court of law, or acknowledged by your
personal hero. (How do you know something
is true? Do you even have any "heroes?") How should
you change your life if your Creator became a human being? How
should Washington D.C. react if this human being claimed to be
the true Ruler?
The Prophet Micah predicted
that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Jesus'
parents lived in Nazereth. Therefore God predestined
Caesar to issue a decree (probably relating to taxes) that
would bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem before Jesus was
born.
Bush claims the same global
power of confiscation and migration as Caesar did. Thousands
of Christians have been forced to move out of Iraq to make way
for Bush's Islamic Theocracy.
An army of angels announces the birth of the Messiah,
saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace
to those with whom He is pleased!”
Man's chief
end is to glorify God and live in
peace. The Bush Administration's chief end is to erect a
"wall of separation"
between God and government so that the State gives no glory to
God, and to wage war, thereby "stimulating the
economy."
“Now when they had seen Him, they made widely
known the saying which was told them concerning this
Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things
which were told them by the shepherds.”
When Herod got word of the birth of a rival king, he
behaved in a perfectly logical way (for someone who wants
to protect his power): he massacred all male babies
the age of Jesus. Herod recognized that Jesus was a threat
to Herod's power.
Every day in America 4,000
unborn babies are murdered. These babies must threaten
something.
Millions of Americans who call themselves Christians, on
the other hand, are no threat to tyranny.
None of them are being killed. Bush has killed a thousand
times more human beings than Herod did, and confiscated a
billion times more wealth than Herod did.
Herod's son Antipas played a small role in the execution
of Jesus Christ. But Jesus rose from the dead, was
enthroned on the throne of David at the right hand of God,
and assumed the rightful role of King over all nations.
"Beginning today and
culminating on Sunday morning, Christians will celebrate with
their families the resurrection of Christ, His victory over
death. We will remember that He gave His body and His blood—washing
clean the faults and the shortcomings of
the world. In our rejoicing we will renew the hope that is
ours through the risenLord." Ronald
Reagan: Statement on the Celebration of Passover and Easter
Every American could be born with a comfortable
inheritance for education, a first home, or medical care; instead,
every American is born in great debt.
Washington D.C. central planning increases debt, does not create
the "Vine &
Fig Tree" life.
The men who threw tea into the Boston Harbor over a tax of 3 pence
per pound would not be happy with a tax ten times greater on
every gallon of gas. Those who took up muskets over a total tax burden
of less than 3% would not be happy with
the fact that the federal government now takes more
than half of everything you earn.
Today it is illegal for public school teachers to teach their
students that the Declaration of Independence is really true (and not
just an outdated historical document). The federal government is
clearly at war with everything the Founding Fathers stood for.
America's greatest Americans would abolish
today's federal government.
Muskets are Not an Option
There are two reasons why we should not take up arms to pull off
the violent overthrow of the federal
government, even if America's Founders would surely do so. First, the
feds have nukes. Second, violent revolution is unChristian and
unBiblical. We must beat our swords into
plowshares and use persuasion to
abolish tyranny. This is time for a
revolution of ideas.
Revolution Won't Come in a Day
John Adams once wrote that the American
Revolution began in 1761, when Massachusetts attorney James Otis
began legal challenges to the Writs
of Assistance. He lost the case, but "American
independence," Adams wrote, "was
then and there born." Now do the math. That means it took 15
years to convince the rest of America to declare Independence
(1776). Then another seven years of war was required before a
Peace Treaty was signed (1783), and then six years before the
Constitution was finally ratified (1789). That's almost 30 years. (And
Jefferson said we shouldn't go 20
years without another rebellion!) How can we hope to convince
Americans to fight for principles they were never taught in government
schools? We need to be in this battle for the long term. "Eternal
Vigilance is the Price of Liberty."
GeorgeWashingtonCoaching.com
Every great athlete has a coach.
If you want to be a great American you need a coach.
If you want to achieve great things for your country, you need a
coach.
Imagine what you could do if George Washington, "the Father of
his Country,"
could travel through time and be your personal coach.
The results could be extraordinary.
Find out why you need a personal coach, and why GeorgeWashingtonCoaching.com
is the foundation for an extraordinary life.
Contact Congress --
this is from the JBS website, powered by "CapWiz," from
Capitol Advantage. Lots of organizations use capwiz. If you don't
want to go through the JBS, search for capwiz
on Google and find another organization that uses it.
Notice that you can also contact media through this webpage.
Action E-List Sign up for the JBS Action E-List and be notified when you can
make a critical difference on important issues.
The
"Enumerated Powers Act" (EPA) Each member, upon the start of his term of office,
takes an oath, promising to protect and
uphold the Constitution. Yet virtually every day that Congress
is in session these same oath-takers become law-breakers --
passing laws and expending funds on items that are not
Constitutionally permissible. Background
page.
Help
End the Mexican Civil War
Black-market profits caused by drug prohibition fund a civil
war in Mexico that's threatening to spill over our borders.
Drug profits also fuel the terrorists who are killing U.S.
soldiers in Afghanistan. It's time to dry up the black-market
profits. It's time to end drug prohibition.
Make
Congress Read Their Bills Before Voting
Make Congress read every word of every bill they create before
they vote on it.
Urge your Representative and your Senators to sponsor
DownsizeDC.org's “Read the Bills Act” (RTBA).
End
the FED
The Federal Reserve System constantly inflates and deflates the
supply of money and credit, causing booms and busts. It's time
to get off this roller-coaster. It's time to end the Fed.
No
Bailouts!
No government money, whether borrowed or taxed, should ever be
used to bailout private financial interests. If you agree,
please send Congress a message telling them so.
TWIC
- A Backdoor Real ID Card
Real ID is dying. But the Department of Homeland Security has a
new plan to subject every American to a national ID card anyway.
They plan to pick off one occupational field at a time, starting
with the maritime industry. One man is fighting back. Meet him,
and help stop this backdoor Real ID plan.
Repeal
the campaign finance laws
Campaign finance laws are really incumbent protection laws. They
make it almost impossible for challengers to raise competitive
funding, while doing almost nothing to control the true causes
of government corruption. We were told that the campaign finance
laws—the contribution limits and the reporting requirements—would
curtail or even prevent corruption. Now, with 40 years of
experience, we know that they do the exact opposite.
End
Asset Forfeiture
If the government suspects you used your house or car in a
crime, they can take it and sell it at auction. They don't even
have to prove your guilt. They call this practice civil asset
forfeiture, but it's really theft. It violates the 4th, 5th,
6th, 8th, 9th and 14th Amendments. It also encourages law
enforcement to put profits before justice. Tell Congress to end
civil asset forfeiture.
Cap-and-trade
is not the way to control carbon emissions.
Even if you accept that human CO2 emissions are causing
problematic global warming, a government run "cap and
trade" system is not the way to deal with this problem.
• An increase in your electricity and gasoline bills
• New tools for politicians to control the economy, hand out
favors, and punish enemies
• Almost no improvement in reducing overall CO-2 emissions
(if the example of Europe is a reliable guide) Learn
more »
Make Congress read every word of
every bill they create before they vote on it.
Urge your Representative and your Senators to sponsor
DownsizeDC.org's “Read the Bills Act” (RTBA).
Unelected bureaucrats create
tens-of-thousands of new dictates each year. Making rules is
the job of Congress, not bureaucrats.
DownsizeDC.org has drafted the “Write the Laws Act” to
end bureaucratic “legislation without representation.”
Click here . . .
Restore
consumer controlled health care
The politicians tell us free market health care doesn't
work, but we haven't had a free market in decades.
• Starting with depression era wage and price controls,
and continuing with government tax policies, the politicians
have made Americans dependent on their jobs to get health
insurance.
• The government already pays for nearly half of all
health care. This means we're half-socialized already Learn
more »
Stop
the War for Terror
U.S. policy has inflamed the Middle East. It has made
terrorism more likely rather than less. We seem to be fighting
a war for terror, rather than on
terror. This policy must stop. The place to start stopping is
with Iran. We must not attack Iran. War with Iran
would devastate our economy, disrupt world oil supplies, and
recruit more terrorists. Click
here to stop this war before it starts.
Preserve
the Freedom to Farm
Crops grow in dirt. Animals don't take showers or use toilets.
Food is made from yucky stuff.
This means there's always a risk of contamination. We can reduce
this risk, but not eliminate it. Attempts to make everything
perfectly safe are Utopian fantasies that carry a high price in
increased costs, reduced variety, diminished supply, and . . .
increased risk.
The free market already provides you with multiple ways to
balance risks and costs.
Learn more »
Click herefor a replay of this edition of the Ozarks
Virtual Town Hall
Saturday,
September 11, 2010 at 06:45PM
