Obama's birth letter: Is this thing for real?

By Joe Kovacs © 2009 WorldNetDaily In the ongoing quest to determine the exact birthplace of Barack Obama, the president's alleged personal effort to put the matter to rest is raising some interesting new questions. The latest concerns focus on a letter purportedly sent by Obama to Honolulu's Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children in which the commander in chief outright declares his birth at the facility. (Within an hour of the posting of this story, Kapi'olani removed the image of the letter from its website.) Barack Obama states in this letter on what appears to be White House stationery that he was born at the Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu. The letter was posted by the medical center on its website. In the message dated Jan. 24, the freshly inaugurated president is said to explain that he's "a beneficiary of the excellence of Kapi'olani Medical Center – the place of my birth ... ." The text of the letter was read aloud by U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, at the hospital's Centennial Dinner which took place on the evening of Jan. 24, and was recorded on video posted online by Kapi'olani, as well as excerpted now on YouTube. Abercrombie even posted the information on his congressional website, saying the letter would be "settling the question once and for all." U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, posted this message on his website explaining President Obama settled the question of his actual birthplace "once and for all" merely by declaring it in a letter he read to the Kapi'olani Medical Center's Centennial Dinner in Honolulu Jan. 24, 2009. WND can reveal the text of the letter read by Abercrombie has significant differences from what is touted online as President Obama's letter. In addition, the image online is not a picture of an actual paper letter, but is merely a computer-created likeness of a letter. Where's the proof Barack Obama was born in the U.S. or that he fulfills the "natural-born American" clause in the Constitution? If you still want to see it, join nearly 400,000 others and sign up now! According to the video, Abercrombie explains "that this is the first message to be sent from the Oval Office from President Barack Obama anywhere in the country." A young girl sporting a T-shirt proclaiming "Born at Kapi'olani" Medical Center claps and sings as part of the facility's Centennial Dinner on Jan. 24, 2009 He then proceeds to read the apparent text of the letter directly from a podium stand to the audience of more than 700 people, including children wearing T-shirts proclaiming, "Born at Kapi'olani." The video was edited by the hospital's production company to include just a few snippets from the letter, but the portions which are included all contain different wording than the letter displayed online. 1. Abercrombie reads: "Hawaii has always been home to me, and I'm pleased to take part in the celebration, even at a distance." But the actual text allegedly from Obama reads: "Hawaii has always been a home to me, and I'm pleased to take part in your celebration." The most significant change here is Abercrombie's mysterious addition of "even at a distance," which appears nowhere in the letter. Ambercrombie also did not mention the article "a," changing "Hawaii has always been a home to me" to just "Hawaii has always been home to me." He also read "the celebration" instead of "your celebration." 2. Abercrombie reads: "As a beneficiary of the excellence of Kapi'olani Medical Center – after all, the place of my birth – I am pleased to add my voice to the chorus of supporters." The actual text allegedly from Obama reads: "As a beneficiary of the excellence of Kapi'olani Medical Center –  the place of my birth – I am pleased to add my voice to your chorus of supporters." Abercrombie added the phrase "after all" before the "the place of my birth," and read "the chorus of supporters" instead of "your chorus of supporters." 3. Abercrombie reads the conclusion as: "With great Aloha, President Barack Obama." The actual conclusion allegedly from Obama reads: "Sincerely, Barack Obama." Instead of "Sincerely," Abercrombie stated "With great Aloha." He also read the word "president" before Barack Obama's name, when it's not displayed in the letter. "I have no doubt that Neil paraphrased and elaborated and digressed a little," said Abercrombie spokesman Dave Helfert when asked about the large number of differences. He indicated he personally had not seen any letter from the president but presumes the congressman was just reading it on behalf of the hospital. Helfert admits some people have contacted the office "in an insane and nonsensical rage" suggesting Obama "was born somewhere else and snuck into the United States." He says he can't understand why the public is demanding such a level of proof of natural-born citizenship, and when asked why he thought Obama just doesn't end the controversy by releasing his long-form, hospital-generated birth certificate displaying the name of the hospital and doctor, Helfert said he couldn't speak for the president, but "if that were me, I'd tell people to stick it in their ear. It's none of their business. The documents online have been certified to show he was born in the U.S." "If you had a picture of him in the hospital [delivery room] with a hospital sign behind him, there would be a lot of people who wouldn't believe it, [thinking] that it was trick photography or something nefarious," he added. "If the hand of God appeared in the sky to write the birth certificate, they wouldn't believe it." In a local news report covering the Centennial Dinner, KHNL-TV anchor Diane Ako stated, "Even President Barack Obama was helped by the hospital. He was born there." But she did not expound on that point with any evidence. Regarding what is portrayed to be the letter itself, what is displayed online is not a photo or scanned image of an actual letter sent by regular mail. It is a pieced-together likeness of a letter using HTML code that routinely builds websites. Viewers can check this by several methods, including going to the original webpage, highlighting the "letter" there with a cursor, and noting the White House letterhead as well as Barack Obama's signature are both individual images. Dragging a cursor over the White House letterhead reveals the .jpg image Dragging a cursor over Barack Obama's purported signature reveals the .jpg image Readers can also view the HTML source code of the page. WND has taken a screenshot of the code where the text of the letter is displayed: A screen shot of the source code, indicating what is touted as a letter is not an image of any actual letter, but merely a computer-generated likeness of a letter. It also does not appear to be showing either a presidential or White House seal at the top. WND contacted both the White House and Kapi'olani Medical Center numerous times to authenticate the existence, authorship and contents of the letter and confirm the true birth hospital of the president, but neither responded. To date, Obama has not revealed his original long-form, hospital-generated "Certificate of Live Birth" that includes details such as the name of the medical facility and the doctor who delivered him. Here is an actual Hawaii birth certificate from 1963 (the same era as Obama's birth), which while redacted includes detailed information documenting a birth, including the name of the birth hospital and the attending physician. Beneath it is the short-form "Certification of Live Birth" offered by President Obama as proof of his Hawaiian birth. It is possible to have been born outside of Hawaii and still obtain the latter form, but not the former: Long-form birth certificate from state of Hawaii (Image courtesy Philip Berg) Here is the "Certification of Live Birth" presented by Obama: Short-form "Certification of Live Birth" WND has reported on dozens of legal challenges to Obama's status as a "natural born citizen." The Constitution, Article 2, Section 1, states, "No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President." Some of the lawsuits question whether he was actually born in Hawaii, as he insists. If he was born out of the country, Obama's American mother, the suits contend, was too young at the time of his birth to confer American citizenship to her son under the law at the time. Other challenges have focused on Obama's citizenship through his father, a Kenyan subject to the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom at the time of his birth, thus making him a dual citizen. The cases contend the framers of the Constitution excluded dual citizens from qualifying as natural born. Want to turn up the pressure to learn the facts? Get your signs and postcards asking for the president's birth certificate documentation from the "Where's the birth certificate?" store Complicating the situation is Obama's decision to spend sums estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to avoid releasing a state birth certificate that would put to rest all of the questions. Among the cases have been several from Democrat Philip Berg, who has alleged that not only is Obama ineligible to be president, he was unqualified to be the senator from Illinois and should be prosecuted under the False Claims Act. The key question in the dispute also is being raised on billboards nationwide. "Where's The Birth Certificate?" billboard in Pennsylvania The billboard campaign follows an ongoing petition campaign launched several months ago by WND Editor and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Farah. They are intended to raise public awareness of the fact that Obama has never released the standard "long-form" birth certificate that would show which hospital he was born in, the attending physician and establish that he truly was born in Hawaii, as his autobiography maintains.

Mr. Abercrombie, I can not believe my eyes in reading an article where you responded when asked  "why the public is demanding such a level of proof of natural-born citizenship," and when asked why you thought Obama just doesn't end the controversy by releasing his long-form, hospital-generated birth certificate displaying the name of the hospital and doctor, you responded "if that were me, I'd tell people to stick it in their ear. It's none of their business. The documents online have been certified to show he was born in the U.S." So I thought I would write to confirm that you actually uttered these words.  "None of our business?"  -- it is as much our business as it is the federal government's business to poke around the private lives of the citizens of this country.  You are government, and you work for us, the citizens.  You are held accountable for your actions, because you work for us.  And, you are responsible for what you do and say, because, sir, YOU WORK FOR US! It is obvious you have absolutely no respect for the Constitution of this great country, and thus, are in breach of the oath of office you took pledging to uphold the constitution and defend our nation against enemies both abroad and within. You, sir, are an enemy within, and your attitude is the reason why this great country is currently in peril.  You, and people like you, are ignorant, self serving, and absolutely corrupted to believe that this man in the Oval Office is what is best for this country. Until this man proves his citizenship, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT THAT OUR CONSTITUTION DEMANDS, you should be on notice that you, he, and his supporters will be held responsible for the damage that you do to this great republic. My grandfather gave his life in World War II so that our freedoms would be protected.  And all that you are doing by saying these things is pissing on his grave. I am further asking for your resignation on the grounds of treason, knowing full well that this man in the oval office is NOT eligible to be president, and you are enabling him to break the law. Resign and go pick coconuts! Xavier Holden Pennsylvania

Hey Barak. Your meat is on the OTHER side of the freezer…

 

Akron police investigate teen mob attack on family

By Phil Trexler Beacon Journal staff writer POSTED: 07:44 p.m. EDT, Jul 07, 2009 Akron police say they aren't ready to call it a hate crime or a gang initiation. But to Marty Marshall, his wife and two kids, it seems pretty clear. It came after a family night of celebrating America and freedom with a fireworks show at Firestone Stadium. Marshall, his family and two friends were gathered outside a friend's home in South Akron. Out of nowhere, the six were attacked by dozens of teenage boys, who shouted ''This is our world'' and ''This is a black world'' as they confronted Marshall and his family. The Marshalls, who are white, say the crowd of teens who attacked them and two friends June 27 on Girard Street numbered close to 50. The teens were all black. ''This was almost like being a terrorist act,'' Marshall said. ''And we allow this to go on in our neighborhoods?'' They said it started when one teen, without any words or warning, blindsided and assaulted Marshall's friend as he stood outside with the others. When Marshall, 39, jumped in, he found himself being attacked by the growing group of teens. His daughter, Rachel, 15, who weighs about 90 pounds, tried to come to his rescue. The teens pushed her to the ground. His wife, Yvonne, pushed their son, Donald, 14, into bushes to keep him protected. ''My thing is,'' Marshall said, ''I didn't want this, but I was in fear for my wife, my kids and my friends. I felt I had to stay out there to protect them, because those guys were just jumping, swinging fists and everything. ''I'm lucky. They didn't break my ribs or bruise my ribs. I thank God, they concentrated on my thick head because I do have one. They were trying to take my head off my spine, basically.'' After several minutes of punches and kicks, the attack ended and the group ran off. The Marshalls' two adult male friends were not seriously hurt. ''I don't think I thought at that moment when I tried to jump in,'' Rachel Marshall said. ''But when I was laying on the ground, I was just scared.'' Marshall was the most seriously injured. He suffered a concussion and multiple bruises to his head and eye. He said he spent five nights in the critical care unit at Akron General Medical Center. The construction worker said he now fears for his family's safety, and the thousands of dollars in medical bills he faces without insurance. ''I knew I was going to get beat, but not as bad as I did,'' Marshall said. ''But I did it to protect my family. I didn't have a choice. There was no need for this. We should be all getting along. But to me, it seems to be racist.'' Akron police are investigating. Right now, the case is not being classified as a racial hate crime. There were no other reports of victims assaulted by the group that night. The department's gang unit is involved in the investigation, police said. ''We don't know if it's a known gang, or just a group of kids,'' police Lt. Rick Edwards said. The Marshalls say they fear retaliation at home or when they go outside. They are considering arming themselves, but they're concerned about the possible problems that come with guns. For now, they are hoping police can bring them suspects. They believe they can identify several of the attackers. ''This makes you think about your freedom,'' Marshall said. ''In all reality, where is your freedom when you have this going on?'' Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com. Martin Marshall (right) recounts the attack by a group of teens on himself and his family while they were watching a Fourth of July fireworks display in Firestone Park. His daughter, Rachel Hopson, 15, (left) and wife, Yvonne Marshall, listen. (Michael Chritton/Akron Beacon Journal) View larger version>> Akron police say they aren't ready to call it a hate crime or a gang initiation. But to Marty Marshall, his wife and two kids, it seems pretty clear. It came after a family night of celebrating America and freedom with a fireworks show at Firestone Stadium. Marshall, his family and two friends were gathered outside a friend's home in South Akron. Out of nowhere, the six were attacked by dozens of teenage boys, who shouted ''This is our world'' and ''This is a black world'' as they confronted Marshall and his family. The Marshalls, who are white, say the crowd of teens who attacked them and two friends June 27 on Girard Street numbered close to 50. The teens were all black. ''This was almost like being a terrorist act,'' Marshall said. ''And we allow this to go on in our neighborhoods?'' They said it started when one teen, without any words or warning, blindsided and assaulted Marshall's friend as he stood outside with the others. When Marshall, 39, jumped in, he found himself being attacked by the growing group of teens. His daughter, Rachel, 15, who weighs about 90 pounds, tried to come to his rescue. The teens pushed her to the ground. His wife, Yvonne, pushed their son, Donald, 14, into bushes to keep him protected. ''My thing is,'' Marshall said, ''I didn't want this, but I was in fear for my wife, my kids and my friends. I felt I had to stay out there to protect them, because those guys were just jumping, swinging fists and everything. ''I'm lucky. They didn't break my ribs or bruise my ribs. I thank God, they concentrated on my thick head because I do have one. They were trying to take my head off my spine, basically.'' After several minutes of punches and kicks, the attack ended and the group ran off. The Marshalls' two adult male friends were not seriously hurt. ''I don't think I thought at that moment when I tried to jump in,'' Rachel Marshall said. ''But when I was laying on the ground, I was just scared.'' Marshall was the most seriously injured. He suffered a concussion and multiple bruises to his head and eye. He said he spent five nights in the critical care unit at Akron General Medical Center. The construction worker said he now fears for his family's safety, and the thousands of dollars in medical bills he faces without insurance. ''I knew I was going to get beat, but not as bad as I did,'' Marshall said. ''But I did it to protect my family. I didn't have a choice. There was no need for this. We should be all getting along. But to me, it seems to be racist.'' Akron police are investigating. Right now, the case is not being classified as a racial hate crime. There were no other reports of victims assaulted by the group that night. The department's gang unit is involved in the investigation, police said. ''We don't know if it's a known gang, or just a group of kids,'' police Lt. Rick Edwards said. The Marshalls say they fear retaliation at home or when they go outside. They are considering arming themselves, but they're concerned about the possible problems that come with guns. For now, they are hoping police can bring them suspects. They believe they can identify several of the attackers. ''This makes you think about your freedom,'' Marshall said. ''In all reality, where is your freedom when you have this going on?'' Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.

I am in no way a racist. This gang mentality is exactly what the Obomo administration has ushered into our lives. Starting with the thugs at the voting booths in Philadelphia, to the intimidation by the ACORN Group, this is just another example of the mentality that exists because we have a black president (well, I don’t consider him to be president until he shows me his birth certificate….” What can you expect?  And why are we all afraid to talk about this?  Every single one of you reading this article knows that this type of black / white intimidation exists.  But we all hide, and bury our heads because we are afraid to speak our feelings for fear of ridicule or worse – intimidation. Unfortunately, Racism exists.  It will ALWAYS exist.  When one group is envious of another, and that group is “grouped” by skin color, of course there are going to be rivalry. It is the nature of humanity.  The “us” versus “them” mentality.  Its the Steelers versus the Ravens – everyone picks a side. This group picking just so happens to exists because people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and others promote it.  They are the first to call the “race card” and hence, keep stoking the flames.  Why?  Because they make money. You see, it actually comes down to money and power.  As long as individuals can capitalize on racism, it will always be a problem in our society. Money – The reparations push.  Money – ACORN and housing.  Money – Obomo and Power. Its all tied together, and there isn’t much we can do about it. To the Marshall Family – protect yourselves and heal.  Its not your fault, and you probably could never have done anything to prevent it.  Keep your faith, and your guns at your side. Xavier

Obama trips up over Russian leadership tandem

MOSCOW (Reuters) - In a slip of the tongue, U.S. President Barack Obama described Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday as president, echoing the widely held view that he remains Russia's most powerful man. Putin surrendered the presidency to protege Dmitry Medvedev last May to take the lesser post of prime minister, but most political analysts say Putin remains Russia's ultimate decision maker. The dual leadership has left foreign leaders to walk a difficult diplomatic tightrope. In line with protocol Obama met Medvedev ahead of talks with the lower ranking Putin. At a news conference Obama gave a carefully worded reply about the effectiveness of the leadership tandem when a U.S. journalist bluntly asked "who is really in charge here in Russia?" But minutes later, speaking about Medvedev's objections to a controversial missile defense system planned for central Europe, Obama slipped: "I suspect when I speak to President..eh.. Prime Minister Putin tomorrow, he will say the same thing." (Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by Richard Williams;)

Obomo – You are such a disgrace.  I guess you didn’t have your teleprompter there to enunciate the correct words for you? Perhaps your tongue slipped on Larry Sinclair too?  (www.larrysinclair.org)

Italy targets illegal immigrants

The Moviemento Sociale Italanio believes Italy would be a better country if it stopped immigration A restaurant called White sits on a small side street in the centre of Rome. While people on the ground floor order their pastas and salad, a meeting is being held upstairs. Amid shouts of "victory" and straight-armed salutes, the Moviemento Sociale Italanio party (MSI), which believes Italy would be a better country if it stopped immigration and cracked down on those who sneak in illegally, is celebrating the fact that new legislation passed by the Italian senate has met many of their wishes. The law makes illegal immigration a crime punishable with a maximum fine of $14,000 and raises to six months the amount of time that illegal migrants can be detained in holding centres before being kicked out of the country. Gaetano Saya, a MSI member, has been investigated by police for posting racist material on a website. He once said "immigration is the biggest threat to our race". In charge of today's gathering, as we sit in the cool of the café he tells me: "We think the immigrants are very dangerous. When we come to power we will stop all immigration and begin to send back those who arrived here after a certain date. "We have a new phrase. These people are not immigrants, they are non-Italians and we don't want any more non-Italians on Italian territory." Worry and fear There may be as many as 600,000 illegal immigrants in Italy; they don't exactly announce their presence. Many live unnoticed, unremarkable lives. But under the new legislation, Italians must turn them over to the authorities if they try to register their children for school, or look for medical treatment. Abdul says he fears Italians will feel they have to turn him in if he goes to hospital Bari Abdul arrived in Rome three years ago from Guinea and lives on the streets. We met near a soup kitchen where hot meals are handed out to others like him. He doesn't speak much but is very worried about the new law. "I can't even go to get treatment at hospital now - the Italians there will feel they have to turn me in," he says, ignoring the fact that he is in the country illegally. Esquilinho is a rough neighbourhood in central Rome that is home to many immigrants. Alphousseyn Sonko was born here. He has Senegalese parents but an Italian passport. Sonko believes the new law will make life tougher for people like him: "This so-called security law is more about those with papers and how they live rather than how you stop those coming across the Mediterranean Sea." 'Really bad law' Mario Marazziti works for the Sant Edidio charity which offers help to those who need it - wherever they come from. For many it provides the only hot meal of the day. There may be as many as 600,000 illegal immigrants in Italy In the pretty courtyard, Italians and immigrants mingle, and for a few short minutes, their lives mesh, backgrounds forgotten, their needs exactly the same.  Mario can barely disguise his contempt for politicians. "The so-called security law that has been just passed by the Italian parliament is a really bad law. It's a big signal to the population; it says immigrants are a potential risk, potential criminals. The crime this law is targeting is the crime of hope and the desire for a better life," he says. Immigrants and immigration are not on the agenda for this week's G8 summit in Italy. But a number of charities and aid agencies believe that with the financial crisis and the rise of support for right-wing parties across Europe, it is one factor that will influence many of the decisions that will be made here.

Perhaps our Government should look and learn what they COULD be doing to help reduce debt, waste, and crime.

Baghdad 'returning to normal'

By Faiza Ali*, Baghdad resident It was late Thursday afternoon when my friend Amal called to talk about our weekend plans. For the past several months, we had grown accustomed to 'hanging out' at the bustling shopping centres in my neighbourhood, the Al-Saydiyah district in southwest Baghdad. But just three years ago, violence and a lack of security in Baghdad and the rest of the country would have made such leisurely activities impossible. People were unable to leave their homes except to buy food and seek emergency medical attention; the number of government-imposed curfews meant it was unsafe to even cross the street to a pharmacy. Life was particularly difficult for women who were intimidated by militia groups into wearing long sleeves and head scarves. Men avoided wearing the latest fashions fearing attacks by over-zealous armed groups. Between 2006 and 2007, Al-Saydiyah turned into a ghost-town as the once-famous shopping district in my neighbourhood shut down. Despite the kidnappings, executions and bomb attacks it was the summer heat and lack of electricity which proved to be our deadliest enemies. We were barely able to provide blocks of ice to keep drinking water cold through blazing summer days. During the night, we escaped the heat by sleeping on the roof of the house but even that came to an abrupt halt when the sound of bullets and shooting would wake us up and we would frantically hurry downstairs carrying our mattress and pillows. But as security improved in the past year-and-a-half, many residents of Baghdad began to emerge from the darkness, aware that they had survived the violence which nearly tore their capital apart. My once-volatile neighbourhood is now flourishing slowly day by day with police forces deployed everywhere, inspiring a sense of security and relief. Illuminating the darkness The solar-powered street lights in central Baghdad flicker on shortly after sunset, illuminating the darkness that once brought fear to the capital. These days, sundown is a time to celebrate. Cars jam Karrada Street in central Baghdad as fashionable young Iraqi men and women cruise the streets. Families burst into clothing shops in the Mansour, Al-Adhamiyah, Baya'a, and Jama'a neighbourhoods, which were once the battlefields between different armed groups. Tea houses and restaurants now host parties and wedding receptions. Liberal-minded youth seek out a handful of nightclubs and bars scattered around the city. As security has improved and curfews have eased, Baghdad's once-famous nightlife has slowly re-emerged. It is now a symbol of normal times returning to a city long brutalised by war and still tormented by bombings. The capital's residents have adopted carpe diem as their daily motto, in contrast to the violence of 2006-2007, when according to one resident "people locked their doors at 4pm and huddled at home". Abu Nawas Park has been rebuilt and is undergoing renovation and refurbishment. With its flora and colourful benches, it offers Iraqis a pleasant venue to socialise despite the soaring temperatures of summer. Fast food popularity Fast food restaurants and snack canteens can now be found throughout Baghdad. One such restaurant is Crispy, which provides western dishes in Al-Wathiq Square. It is usually very crowded throughout the night and has been one of the favourite spots for my friends and I to frequent. Nightclubs, which were closed in 1994 when Saddam Hussein, the deposed president, tried to woo Islamist support after the first Gulf War, have recently re-opened and are once again holding parties that last well into the pre-dawn hours. The customers do not seem to care how much money they spend at these establishments, believing the chance to relax and unwind is well worth the cost. One such place called Bayarat Al-Sham in the Al-Jadriyah district south of Baghdad has been particularly popular in recent months; it was nearly destroyed in the early years of the war but has now been completely remodelled. Cautious optimism Many Iraqis celebrated the US withdrawal from their cities [GALLO/GETYY] But Iraqis cannot help looking over their shoulders every once in a while. Going out at night carries a sense of optimism as well as apprehension, particularly following the recent upsurge in violence. A bomb targeting civilians just a few weeks ago killed several people including students who had just finished their final exams and were returning home from Sadr City. However, the violence has not stalled the constant procession of patrons to restaurants, nightclubs or liquor stores. In the past few decades, through war and strife, Iraqis developed a unique characteristic, learning how to live in heaven and hell simultaneously. Young Iraqi men and women have also developed new ways to approach the opposite sex. When I was walking home the other day, I saw a young man giving what appeared to be his business card to a young girl. But it wasn't a business card at all - young Iraqi men have started printing cards with their names and contact details which they then hand over to the young ladies who have caught their fancy. Suddenly, a gust of air blew the card out of the young man's hand leaving him embarrassed as people stopped and stared. I considered this to be a healthy indication that life was slowly returning to normal in Baghdad. Surviving the worst For the most part, many Iraqis believe that Baghdad has survived the worst and are cautiously optimistic about the US withdrawal from the country's urban centres. Noor Hasan, a 20-year-old medical student, believes that the US military withdrawal is "just a first step toward a better future". Her father, an engineer in the ministry of industry, urges patience. "We can't get everything at once. People are belittling this [withdrawal] step on the pretext that Americans are still there in the suburbs, but I believe that they are going to leave the country completely when the right moment comes." But some believe US forces will always play a central role Iraq. "They crossed hundreds of thousands of miles, and lost many of their soldiers to occupy Iraq. That withdrawal is only a show, something on paper, and will never materialise into something real," Nadia Abdulraheem, an employee in a health club, told me on June 30 as the US troops began to withdraw from Iraqi cities. Shopping! I met Amal ten minutes after she called and spent the next three hours going from boutique to boutique trying on the latest imported fashions. After an exhaustive shopping spree, we decided to take a short break and headed to one of the many cafeterias dotting the Al-Saydiyah district - she had a fruit cocktail and I opted for some ice cream. By the time I decided to return home, the streets were quickly filling with shoppers and families looking for a cool escape from the summer heat. Faiza Ali is the pseudonym of a young writer who requested that her real name not be used for fear of repercussions. She is a graduate from the department of linguistics at Baghdad University.

3 Words: BUSH WAS RIGHT!

An Email from Glenn Beck

As the July 4th Holiday is less than 6 hours away, i received this email from Glenn Beck (www.glennbeck.com) and wanted to share it with you, my readers.  Please send a link to my blog to your friends so they too can read these fine words from another great American Patriot, Glenn Beck:

 

Dear Xavier,

Here it is, another Fourth of July. Traditionally, this is a day to gather with friends, maybe fire up the barbeque and play with kids until the sun sets and the fireworks start. But in thinking back on the meaning behind this day, we must never forget that our nation was baptized in the blaze of a very different kind of "fireworks." Yes, this is a day of rest and relaxation, as well it should be, but this year…I'd like to ask you a favor. At some point during the day, I hope you'll take time to think and reflect on what it is we're truly celebrating on the 4^th of July -- our Independence Day. Of course the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4^th, 1776 but it's so much more than that. On this day, 233 short years ago, a small group of men dedicated themselves to a higher purpose, an ideal they believed in so greatly, they signed their name to its expression and in doing so put their very lives at risk.

Never has a simple act of signing one's name carried such weight, such a profound commitment. By signing the Declaration of Independence, 56 men stood in direct defiance of the British government. They became marked men, and willingly so. As I was doing some research on the significance of July 4^th, I came across some interesting facts about these men. Today as we all enjoy the freedom our forefathers guaranteed us, join me in honoring the extraordinary sacrifice of 56 extraordinary Americans.

Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence:

Five were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes burned to the ground. Two lost sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, and two more had sons captured. Nine fought and died in the Revolutionary War.

If you ever feel like your lone voice can never be heard, that the political system isn't set up for "regular" Americans to change the course of history, remember: The signers were flesh and blood, mortal men with a divinely-inspired aim.

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, eleven were merchants, and nine were farmers and large plantation owners. They were well educated, smart enough to know that by signing the Declaration of Independence, they were signing their own death warrants. They did it anyway, and God bless them for it.

As we enjoy our liberty on this 4^th of July, or any day of any month, we must never take that liberty for granted. Too many have given too much. In the words of the Signers themselves, "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

Their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor -- I think that's a price paid worth a few minutes of reflection, don't you? But let's not be solemn in that reflection. I say rejoice and share this information with your friends and family, especially your kids. The Signers asked for nothing in return for their pledge, but I say that we show our thanks with a pledge of our own:  To remember, to be grateful, and to carry on in their spirit. America is the greatest country this world has ever and will ever know, and it will stay that way so long as "we the people" remember that just like in 1776.

It's US that surrounds them, and we'll never back down.

Happy Independence Day, and God bless America.

Glenn

Senate Bill Would Fine People More Than $1,000 for Refusing Health Care Coverage

WASHINGTON -- Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fines will raise around $36 billion over 10 years. Senate aides said the penalties would be modeled on the approach taken by Massachusetts, which now imposes a fine of about $1,000 a year on individuals who refuse to get coverage. Under the federal legislation, families would pay higher penalties than individuals. In a revamped health care system envisioned by lawmakers, people would be required to carry health insurance just like motorists must get auto coverage now. The government would provide subsidies for the poor and many middle-class families, but those who still refuse to sign up would face penalties. Called "shared responsibility payments," the fines would be set at least half the cost of basic medical coverage, according to the legislation. The goal is to nudge people to sign up for coverage when they are healthy, not wait until they get sick. In 2008, employer-provided coverage averaged $12,680 a year for a family plan, and $4,704 for individual coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation's annual survey. Senate aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the cost of the federal plan would be lower but declined to provide specifics. The legislation would exempt certain hardship cases from fines. The fines would be collected through the income tax system. The new proposals were released as Congress neared the end of a weeklong July 4 break, with lawmakers expected to quickly take up health care legislation when they return to Washington. With deepening divisions along partisan and ideological lines, the complex legislation faces an uncertain future. Obama wants a bill this year that would provide coverage to the nearly 50 million Americans who lack it and reduce medical costs. In a statement, Obama welcomed the legislation, saying it "reflects many of the principles I've laid out, such as reforms that will prohibit insurance companies from refusing coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and the concept of insurance exchanges where individuals can find affordable coverage if they lose their jobs, move or get sick." The Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions bill also calls for a government-run insurance option to compete with private plans as well as a $750-per-worker annual fee on larger companies that do not offer coverage to employees. Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said in a letter to colleagues that their revised plan would cost dramatically less than an earlier, incomplete proposal, and help show the way toward coverage for 97 percent of all Americans. In a conference call with reporters, Dodd said the revised bill had brought "historic reform of health care" closer. He said the bill's public option will bring coverage and benefit decisions driven "not by what generates the biggest profits, but by what works best for American families." The Congressional Budget Office, in an analysis released Thursday evening, put the net cost of the proposal at $597 billion over 10 years, down from $1 trillion two weeks ago. Coverage expansions worth $645 billion would be partly offset by savings of $48 billion, the estimate said. However, the total cost of legislation will rise considerably once provisions are added to subsidize health insurance for the poor through Medicaid. Those additions, needed to ensure coverage for nearly all U.S. residents, are being handled by a separate panel, the Senate Finance Committee. Bipartisan talks on the Finance panel aim to hold the overall price tag to $1 trillion. The Health Committee could complete its portion of the bill as soon as next week, and the presence of a government health insurance option virtually assures a party-line vote. In the Senate, the Finance Committee version of the bill is unlikely to include a government-run insurance option. Bipartisan negotiations are centered on a proposal for a nonprofit insurance cooperative as a competitor to private companies. Three committees are collaborating in the House on legislation expected to come to a vote by the end of July. That measure is certain to include a government-run insurance option. At their heart, all the bills would require insurance companies to sell coverage to any applicant, without charging higher premiums for pre-existing medical conditions. The poor and some middle-class families would qualify for government subsidies to help with the cost of coverage. The government's costs would be covered by a combination of higher taxes and cuts in projected Medicare and Medicaid spending.

Ok, is anyone even paying attention at this point?  Or are we all just sitting back, completely stunned and in shock? What is going on folks?  The answer is easy – this country is DOOMED.