LimitGovNow

Updates from October, 2009

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  Hate Filled Racist Writings by ObamaCare Supporters

  Wes Nakagiri 1:38 pm on October 11, 2009 | 19 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: hate crime, Michigan (21), Obama (15), ObamaCare (16), racism (2), Tea Party (18)

  

  Hate Crime by Obama Supporter

  Yes, former President and Navy Officer Jimmy Carter, along with the rest of Obama’s minions have it right when they say the debate surrounding socialized medicine is full of hate and racism.  I have seen this first hand.  Yes, hate is being hurled full speed at American citizens, but it is coming from the port side not the starboard side.

   

  For those unfamiliar with nautical terms the port side of a ship is the left side when one is facing forward.  If one faces backwards, as is the case for left wing racists, then the port side appears to be on the right.  It is easy to see why Obama’s bigoted minions, with their backward facing point of view are confused­­­­—they don’t know left from right, let alone port from starboard.

   

  

  A Calling Card from Former Colleagues of Senator Robert Byrd (D) West Virginia

  Before I describe the hateful actions of Obama’s supporters, I need to provide you with some context.  I am an American of Asian descent.  For a number of months I have been exercising my 1^st Amendment rights by attending Tea Parties throughout Michigan and in Washington, D.C.  Further exercising my free speech rights I attached a banner across the rear of my van that shouts at the top of my lungs “Euthanize ObamaCare.”  This banner has generated lots of attention from passing motorists.  The vast majority of motorists that express an opinion give me the thumbs up.  Only a small fraction shows me an extended middle finger.  The typical ratio is 90% thumbs to 10% fingers.  Judging from the thumbs I see, Americans are giving ObamaCare the middle finger.

   

  I think Obama’s devout followers also sense there is a lack of public support.  They are getting desperate and feel the need to silence the opposition.  They saw my banner as a threat to their socialist utopia and attempted to scare me into silence by vandalizing my vehicle.  I guess I am not surprised that Obama’s followers would resort to thug-style tactics as public support of their dear leader’s plan continues to wane.

   

  While I was on business last week in Cranberry Township, PA, (north of Pittsburgh) some of Obama’s cronies attempted to intimidate me by scratching racist messages across my vehicle.  The words “White Power,” “KKK,” and “f___ you” greeted me as I approached my vehicle to depart the hotel where I stayed for the night.  At first, I thought some joker just wrote these messages in the morning dew.  When I reached my vehicle it was clear that the hate-filled rhetoric was of a permanent nature.  The perpetrators scratched and scribed their words into the paint, perhaps using a set of car keys.  I guess when Obama issues directives to “punch back twice as hard” his followers really take those commands to heart: they defaced every door, the back hatch, and a front fender.  I now see how an angry mob reacts when incited by a community agitator.

   

  

  Supporters of ObamaCare Expressing What They Think of American Citizens

  The police officer who came out and took my report stated that this vandalism was a hate crime.  This took me by surprise as I hadn’t thought of this as a hate crime.  Rather, I viewed this as an act of political vandalism.  But, as the officer explained, the words chosen by the perpetrators would definitely put this into the hate crime category.  The racist language etched on my vehicle by Obama supporters were meant to intimidate me, a minority, from expressing my point of view.  I wonder if Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson would be interested in probing into this civil right violation… probably not.

   

  Even though I was victimized by a hate crime I will not view myself as a victim.  I will not wallow in self-pity and blame white society for the shortcomings of our country—as left wing zealots commonly do.  I will press forward as a vocal advocate for true American freedom.  Even in in the face of left-wing racial intimidation, I will continue the fight against socialism and the erosion of individual liberty.  I’m on the starboard side.  I’m steering forward.  And I know I’m right.

   

  (You can confirm this incident for yourself by contacting the Cranberry Township Police Department at 724.776.5180.  Patrolman William Roberts (extension 1410) took the report.  The incident occurred on October 1, 2009. )

   

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  What's Next for Limited Government Activists After 912 March on Washington Tea Party

  Wes Nakagiri 9:09 pm on September 28, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Michigan (21), tactics (9), Tea Party (18)

  The recent Tea Parties have successfully mobilized millions of people to voice strong opposition to Obama Care. Collectively my wife and I have attended rallies across the state of Michigan in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Battle Creek, Brighton, and Troy. We also proudly attended the 912 March in Washington, D.C. During these events we chatted with numerous people who, like us, have serious concerns regarding the trajectory of our country. Everywhere we have traveled citizens are concerned with the growth in government and the inherent loss of individual freedom that accompanies it. They are fearful of what kind of nation will be left for their children given the socialist tendencies of the Obama administration.

  More than just expressing their great dissatisfaction with the current political leaders, everyone I spoke with expressed a desire to do more to fight off the left-wing attacks on our nation’s heritage. They vowed to keep up the fight well past the conclusion of the Tea Party rallies. While nearly all expressed a yearning to increase their contributions beyond what they have done to date, many were not 100% sure exactly what they might do next. What is the best course of action? What can be done to maximize the likelihood of success, not just now but well into the future?

  Tea Party attendees I spoke with were hesitant to necessarily embrace the GOP as the answer to our problems. Yes it is virtually certain that the Republican Party wouldn’t adopt Obama’s far left policies but it is not a slam dunk that government growth would be reversed. Many recalled their disgust with the growth in spending during the Bush administration, even when Team R controlled all the levers of power. So what is the answer? How do advocates of limited government best proceed?

  I will lay out my answers to these questions over the next few blog posts. My answers will not be presented as a series of detailed tactics, rather I will present an overall strategy that addresses key points covered during a seminar presented by The Leadership Institute on the evening before the 912 March in Washington, D.C. The instructor, Mr. Mike Rothfeld, President of Saber Communications, shared his insights regarding the ins and outs of political campaigns. A campaign veteran, Mr. Rothfeld, provided an insider’s view of the numerous facets one must consider as part of a political campaign. Of the many concepts Mr. Rothfeld spoke about, I’d like to elaborate upon those that are key to my strategy. Note that this proposed strategy doesn’t require us, the Tea Party movement, to necessarily field candidates immediately. It provides us with time to further build our grass roots power and political influence.

  To leverage the great success we have had thus far it is my belief that we need to coalesce around a strategy that brings together the following concepts:

  1.  In order to be politically respected we must be politically feared. We have done a good job thus far as politicians do fear angry voters. That Congress has delayed voting on Obama Care is a sure sign that Washington politicians, fearing for their jobs, view us with respect, at least for now. However, more must be done and it must be sustained. We must not only sustain, we must increase our recently acquired level of political respect. The entrenched politicians are betting against our staying power.

  2.  We need large numbers of people and they must be organized and coordinated. The Tea Party movement certainly has the numbers. Rallies across this great country of ours frequently drew crowds numbering in the thousands, sometimes in the tens of thousands. Our successful 912 March on Washington proved to the politicians that there are millions of motivated voters ready to take back our country. Looking forward, can we build upon our organization, increasing both our power and size?

  3.  We need funding, in a large enough amount, to use as leverage to hold our politicians feet to the fire. A superior level of funding enhances our political respect. Are we willing to part with more of our treasure to fight for our beliefs?

  4.  We must have credible alternative candidates waiting in the wings just in case our representatives fall off the wagon. Our political leaders must know we are serious about reining in the growth of government. Having serious alternatives in key districts will help keep our legislators on the right path. However, if their voting record doesn’t match their rhetoric then we need to have the ability, with our alternate candidates, to vote them out of office during the primary season.

  To summarize, the foundation of my proposal relies upon four concepts:

  • Sustained political respect.
  • Large and well coordinated ranks.
  • Adequate funding.
  • Viable alternative candidates.

  I will fill in the blanks with more details in upcoming posts. Share your comments in public by commenting on this post or in private by emailing wes@limitgovnow.com.

   
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  Brighton & Troy Tea Parties Ignored by Oakland Press

  Wes Nakagiri 2:58 pm on September 11, 2009 | 2 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: HR 3200 (12), Media Analysis (4), media bias (3), Michigan (21), Obama (15), ObamaCare (16), Protest (7), Tea Party (18)

  My wife and I, along with some of our neighbors attended Tea Party Express rallies in Brighton, MI and Troy, MI.  Our forces are growing as we recruited two more neighbors into our ranks.  These two first time rally-goers were exposed directly to the passion and the concerns of everyday Americans as they struggle to halt Obama Care and stop our nation’s slide into socialism.  They now have seen first hand that there are thousands in their communities that share their same point of view.  They now have first hand information that has not been processed through the filter of a potentially biased media organization.

   
  The crowds at both rallies were huge.  An estimate of 4,000 people (at Brighton) was provided the Livingston County Press and Argus.  Having been to many large rallies I believe this estimate to be accurate.  By my first hand account, the Troy rally was even larger than the Brighton rally.

  The Tea Party Express rallies have generated a lot of enthusiasm and momentum in Michigan among an eclectic array of citizens all fighting to beat back Obama’s big government agenda.  Much media attention, both national and local, has been generated due to the large crowds.  As expected, some media organizations do a better job than others in capturing both the facts and the feel of these events.  I’ve personally read print articles, run the day after the rally, from the Livingston County Press and Argus, the Oakland Press, and the Detroit News.  It is fascinating to compare their writings with what I saw first hand.  The Livingston paper provided the most comprehensive and accurate coverage capturing both the facts and the essence of the Brighton rally, while the Detroit paper covered both rallies but not in great depth.  I have no objections to these two articles, although I’d like to have seen more detail from the Detroit paper.  The same cannot be said for the coverage in the Oakland Press.

  The Oakland Press’ coverage of the Troy rally widely missed the mark.  They chose to focus on an Obama Care support rally which they stated drew a crowd of 50 people.  Their coverage included a front page photo of a solitary supporter holding her Obama Care sign.  Coverage of the Tea Party rally was relegated to the tail end of the article.  This type of coverage is analogous to giving front page headlines to the team that lost the Super Bowl while barely mentioning the team the won.  And, oh by the way, the victors won by a score of 72-0.
   

  In addition to focusing on the losers, the Oakland Press grossly misstated the size of the crowd.  They claimed there were 200-300 people when there were closer to 4,000 for the Tea Party rally.  A mistake of this magnitude makes me wonder if the reporters viewed this event through heavily tinted sunglasses, perhaps a nice rosy shade of red Kool-Aid.

   

  Given the total mischaracterization of the Troy events I examined the byline to see who actual wrote this literary masterpiece.  The byline indicated that the authors were John Garcia and Shaun Byron, Special to the Oakland Press.  Hmm, “Special to the Oakland Press.” What does the term “Special to the Oakland Press” mean?  The word “special” implies that this article is above and beyond that which is normally published.  Does the Oakland Press consider these two journalists to be special or does this newspaper consider this article to be special? 

  Whatever the case, I too would use the term “special” in describing this piece of journalistic malpractice.  This article does appear to have a unique and special level of fraud and deceit, unusual by even mainstream media standards.  Of course I could be off the mark as this level of charlatan writing may be just run of the mill for this publication.  Having been at the Troy event in person allows me to unequivocally state that this story is not just a piece; it is the whole steamy pile.  I’m very lucky as my first hand knowledge enabled me to nimbly side step this stinking mess.  Unfortunately for Oakland Press readers that did not attend the rally in person, they will have to scrape off the soles of their shoes.

  I close this blog post with a comment from an Obama Care supporter at the rally in Brighton, Michigan.  She told the Livingston County Press and Argus that many people are ill-informed about Obama Care.  You know, she is probably correct.  Wow!  Did I actual say that?  It is very rare that I’m in agreement with someone with a “Yes We Can” point of view.  Even though I disagree vehemently with Obama’s socialist policies I will tip my hat to his supporters when they are correct. 

  Yes, there are many ill-informed people.  This is likely because they get their information from biased media organizations like the Oakland Press.  These readers are exposed only to the party line of those that want American citizens to give up their health care rights to bureaucrats of the federal government.  These people consider themselves to be informed because they read a newspaper or watch TV.  They don’t even realize they are being propagandized and lied to because of the extent to which left wing tentacles have woven their way into mainstream media organizations.  To these readers a left wing bias is just par for the course. These uninformed people believe they are reading the unvarnished truth when in fact they should disinfect their shoes and keep an eye out for where they step next.

  Link to Oakland Press story. Note: The Oakland Press did not have an on-line version of their story. It appears that the Oakland Press used a story published by the Daily Tribune. (This link takes you to the Daily Tribune story).  The text in the print edition of the Oakland Press is identical to the text in the on-line version of the Daily Tribune.  The photo used by these two media organizations are different.  Looks like readers have two piles they need to avoid stepping into.

  Link to Detroit News Story

  Link to Livingston County Press story

   
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  Tea Party Express Stops in Battle Creek, MI

  Wes Nakagiri 9:36 am on September 8, 2009 | 1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: HR 3200 (12), Obama (15), ObamaCare (16), Tea Party (18)

  The Tea Party Express bus was met with roaring approval at Friendship Park in Battle Creek, MI. This Labor Day rally in Battle Creek occurred on Day 11 of a 16-day nationwide tour.

  

  What Are the Chances?

  This bus tour started on August 28 in Sacramento, CA and it will culminate on September 12, 2009 with a Taxpayer March on our nation’s capitol in Washington D.C. The organizers of the Tea Party Express are leaders in the fight against Obama Care, Cap and Trade, out of control spending, and Obama’s socialist agenda.

  The bus arrived around 8:45 PM, about 75 minutes past the scheduled arrival time of 7:30. Despite the overdue arrival the crowd stayed put and remained enthusiastic. In fact additional attendees continued to stream in even as the bus arrived. Even intermittent periods of light rain didn’t dampen spirits. I would estimate the crowd size to be in the neighborhood of 1500. It was a great turnout as the crowd filled the park’s amphitheatre and overflowed along the street and across the way.

  My wife and I arrived early, about 6:30, to get a good vantage point and talk with other likeminded individuals before the event formally started. Arriving early also gave me an opportunity to use my Sony boom box to serenade the crowd with sound bytes of Obama elaborating on his plans for America. Among other topics, these bytes included Obama lecturing a woman about how it might be better to give her elderly mother pain killers rather than surgery to correct her ailment, and how his Cap and Trade plan would necessarily cause electricity rates to skyrocket.

  During the actual festivities there were speeches and musical entertainment. My hats off to the leaders and organizers of this bus tour as they are performing a great service for patriotic Americans all across our great nation. They are the catalyst bringing Americans of all political stripes together to combat Obama’s socialist agenda. They deserve our thanks and our financial support.

  

  Statue of Liberty Costume

  This rally is receiving national press coverage. Mark Williams, one of the leaders of the Tea Party Express, mentioned that there were reporters from CNN and the New York Times at

  

  Young Kid with Obama Mask. The Sign Says it All!

  the Battle Creek rally today. It is great to see this movement getting national press coverage. Will the coverage be fair or will it have the typical tilt to the left? I’ll report back after their stories are released. I also saw a Fox News reporter and cameraman, but I think they were a local station, and a man who appeared to be a local newspaper reporter. So the Battle Creek viewing area and newspaper should see coverage as well.

  National media coverage is a great indicator of success for this grass roots movement. Coverage makes it difficult for our elected officials to ignore the will of the American people. While we should be proud of our accomplishments there is still much work to be done. As the evening came to a close an important reminder was given to all attendees. We must continue to grow this movement. We cannot return home satisfied that our efforts are generating nationwide attention. We must build on our successes and organize into a stronger electoral force. The entrenched powers in D.C. are betting that we won’t have the staying power required to either influence their votes or boot them out of office. We must and we will prove them wrong. Join your local Tea Party organization. Better yet, get your neighbor to join with you. If you are not from the Battle Creek area (I know of one couple from Warren, MI) and would like to stay involved, albeit closer to home, please email me at admin@limitgovnow.com and I’ll help find an organization with the optimum geographic fit for you.

   
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  McCotter Proposes ObamaCare for Your Pet

  Wes Nakagiri 10:17 am on September 7, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Michigan (21), Tax Policy (3), Thaddeus McCotter

  Thaddeus McCotter (R ), representing Michigan’s 11^th Congressional District, appears to be living a “dog’s life.”  While he and our other political elites enjoy a fluffy omelet with hollandaise sauce we, the citizens of the United States of America, are getting a “dog’s breakfast.” 

  About a month ago Mr. McCotter introduced legislation to provide pet owners with a $3500 tax deduction for qualified pet-care expenses.  With all of the major issues facing our nation why does Mr. McCotter expend legislative effort to provide the equivalent of ObamaCare for pets?  Well perhaps this description is a bit over the top.  After all, Mr. McCotter is not trying to nationalize the entire pet care industry, nor is he proposing to take your pet care away and redistribute it undocumented strays.    Further, in contrast to President Obama, Mr. McCotter is proposing a tax break.  Hmm… maybe I should tone down my criticism just a bit?  I don’t think so!  That this is a tax break rather than a tax increase is somewhat irrelevant to the issue at hand.  It still remains that a Congressman should be focused upon critical issues rather his own pet project.

  It rankles me anytime I see an official of our Federal government, regardless of political affiliation; meddle in affairs that are none of his business.  Where in our Constitution does it say that Congress shall provide for pet care?   Interestingly enough, Mr. McCotter is the sole sponsor of HR3501, also known as the Humanity And Pets Partnered Through the Years Act (HAPPY Act).  It seems to me that this esteemed legislator has obviously misinterpreted the most widely known passage written in our Declaration of Independence.  This passage states that we have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  It does not state that we have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of HAPPYness.

  As an advocate of limited government it is disappointing to see Mr. McCotter, a member of the political party that purports to oppose big government, introduce such a ridiculous piece of legislation.  This legislation provides us all with a clear cut understanding of why a piece of legislation is referred to as a “bill.”  The more bills that Congress passes the more bills the citizens pay.  The general population should not be asked to subsidize pet care for their neighbors.  What extraordinary public policy concern is addressed with this tax break?   This situation reminds me of how the Republicans “screwed the pooch” when they controlled the purse strings and let spending get out of control.  Republican Party leaders need to put a leash on members who have lost their way.  The American People are looking for limited government, not a slightly smaller version of big government.  Extra time spent paper-training now will prevent bigger messes in the future.

  © 2009 LimitGovNow. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to LimitGovNow with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

   
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  Don't Just Whisper Your Opposition to Socialism!

  Wes Nakagiri 1:00 pm on August 29, 2009 | 3 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: HR 3200 (12), Obama (15), ObamaCare (16), Protest (7), tactics (9), Tea Party (18)

  

  This is Not Your Dad's Bumper Sticker!

  Are political bumper stickers effective? Up until recently my answer would have been no, bumper stickers are not effective. As a matter of fact I have never placed a sticker on the bumper of any car I’ve owned because I didn’t want the hassle of removing a stale message after the political campaigning concluded. In my estimation the time it would take me to remove the sticker outweighed the benefit derived from “getting out the message.”

  Times have certainly changed my outlook. The fear of socialism has motivated me to do more than just complain about left-wing policies. I started attending Tea Party protests, but I thought that I had the capability to do more. As one who believes in the virtues of conservatism and individual self-determination I felt the need to ratchet up my personal effort and make my voice heard in a more public manner. Thus, I came to the conclusion that I’m going to use the bumper sticker strategy to advertise my disdain for all things socialist. Businesses that advertise can impact people’s thoughts and perceptions. Think about the impact that Nike advertising and marketing has upon the American marketplace. Better yet, think about the impact that marketing had upon Obama’s image during the 2008 Presidential campaign. If every third vehicle on the road had an anti-socialist bumper sticker do you think it would affect the thinking of others? I do!

  Having decided to use mobile signage I wanted to maximize its effectiveness. Maximizing effectiveness meant two things to me. First, I wanted a LARGE sticker so I could reach out and touch as many passersby as possible. We won’t defeat socialism by just politely whispering our message. We need to show the undecided in our midst that the vast majority of Americans hold center-right views not Marxist-leftist views. Second, I wanted the flexibility to change my message to keep up with the issues of the day. In addition to ObamaCare, I wanted to be able to speak out on issues such as Cap and Trade, Illegal Immigration, Terrorism, etc. I didn’t want to advertise a stale message that had lost both relevance and popularity. Speaking of a message that has been losing relevance and popularity can anybody say “OBAMA ’08.” If I had been suckered into voting for Obama in ’08 I’d make damn sure I peeled off the bumper sticker, disinfected the area, and shredded the evidence by now!  Although, maybe if I left the sticker in place my car might qualify as a clunker!

  After a few prototypes I came up with a bumper sticker that met my two criteria. Actually it’s more like a billboard than a bumper sticker. Further, I designed this mobile signage with the hope that you’ll copy this cost effective sign and help spread the word. I can also, at no cost to you, alter the size of the sticker and the message on it. More detail on this later.

  I use a graphic arts software package to print my message across several sheets of transparency material—like the transparencies used for overhead projectors. The graphic arts software enables me to print across as many sheets as I want while not having to worry about whether or not the lettering will line up correctly on adjacent transparencies. The software seamlessly prints from one page to the next. The sign, or should I say billboard, shown on the back of my van was printed using six sheets of 8.5 x 11 inch material. The letters are printed in 500 font which produces capital letters that are about six inches tall and lower case letters that are about four inches tall. This bumper sticker on steroids is easily readable from over 100 feet away.

  When I go to a restaurant I try to park in full view of the entrance so I can watch the expression of patrons as they come and go. There’s a sense of personal satisfaction, as I’m eating breakfast, watching people point with amazement at the equivalent of a political neon sign attached to my vehicle.

  Longevity was a big consideration when I came up with this design. Maximizing the life of the sign is one reason for using transparency material as it is made of plastic and is thus waterproof. Using transparency material also enabled me to incorporate another life-extending feature in that I print on the “backside” of the clear sheet material. Printing on the backside protects the lettering from direct exposure to moisture from rain or dew. This moisture protection design feature is made possible by the use of the graphic arts software. In addition to printing across several pages, the software allows lettering to be printed in a mirror image fashion. Using this mirror imaging feature, lettering printed on the backside of the transparency shows up as normal text when viewed from the front side.

  Longevity, durability, and size are certainly strengths of this design, but what about cost effectiveness? I believe this base has been covered also. You do not need to purchase any software to print these signs because I have converted the graphic arts file into a .PDF file. You can download the .PDF file and then print it at home using your own printer. Downloadable files are stored in the page named Bumper Stickers (Download Files). If you would rather have a sign with your own customized message or size just email your request to bumpersticker@limitgovnow.com.  You can also submit your request by posting a comment.

  Here is a summary list or materials needed to print your own billboard:

  1. Print using a laser printer. Ink from an ink jet printer will rinse off with water. Even though the lettering is not directly exposed to rain, condensation could form and wash away your text. If you don’t have a laser printer print the .PDF file with an ink jet printer and then copy this print out onto overhead transparencies using a standard copier.
  2. Purchase the lowest cost transparency material that is compatible with the high temperatures associated with a laser printer.   Retail office supply stores appear to be around $30 for a box of 100. If you belong to Sam’s Club you can get it for about $10 for a box of 50.
  3. Use clear packaging tape to join adjacent transparencies together. 
  4. Attach the sign to glass using packaging tape. If you have tinted glass (which most cars do) you will need to place a white background in back of the transparency material. The white background maximizes contrast with the black lettering and increases visibility. A white plastic kitchen-size garbage bag works well for this background.
  5. Packaging tape or magnets can be used to secure the sign to metal surfaces.
  6. All in all, I estimate that it will cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $3 for a billboard-style sign that delivers your customized message in a truly noticeable fashion.

  In the four days I’ve had my current sign (Euthanize ObamaCare) I’ve received thumbs up from numerous other motorists and no extended middle fingers. So, I know I’m making a difference. You can easily make a difference too. Increase the reach of the Tea Party effort and use a customized billboard to help influence the undecided by giving them the “right” perspective.

  © 2009 LimitGovNow. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to LimitGovNow with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

   
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  Rally Against ObamaCare Was a Booming Success!

  Wes Nakagiri 12:19 am on August 24, 2009 | 1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Gary Peters (4), HR 3200 (12), Michigan (21), Obama (15), ObamaCare (16), Protest (7), Tea Party (18)

  The Recess Rally in Birmingham, MI on Saturday August 22, 2009 was a huge success. This rally was part of a nationwide day of protest against ObamaCare, as well as President Obama’s socialist policies in general. The rally was scheduled to start at noon and end at 3 pm. When my wife and I first arrived we couldn’t find the exact location of the rally. After about 5 minutes of driving around we stumbled upon what was clearly the correct location as there were hoards of people with protest signs lining Woodward Ave. It was quite impressive as we arrived exactly at the scheduled start time and there was already a huge crowd that increased over the next hour or so.

  My wife and I split up so we could collectively see more of the rally. She took her protest sign and camped out along Woodward Avenue where there was plenty of automobile traffic driving by. I established my position along Old Woodward Avenue which had less auto traffic and hence was quieter, with less road noise coming from the street. One might wonder why I chose to protest where there was less traffic. After all, isn’t the purpose of a protest to get as much exposure as possible? Well in addition to my protest sign I brought a new tool with me to this rally. My new tool was a Sony Boom Box complete with audio clips of President Obama and an assortment of his henchman all discussing various aspects of ObamaCare!

  Even with the audio power of my new Boom Box I realized I should camp out along the street with less vehicle traffic and road noise as I wanted my “message” to be heard. So I showered passersby, on foot and in car, with clips of Obama stating how it would be better to give grandma a pain pill rather than have her undergo surgery to correct her ailment. This was my favorite clip but there were others that received a lot of play. Other favorites included another clip of Obama, this time talking about death panels, and a clip of John Conyers stating that it was a waste of his time to read the health care bill. I also played a clip of Hillary Clinton screaming about her right to disagree with the Bush administration; however, this did not get as much play as I could only take so much of her grating voice.

  My highlight from this rally was my audio “duel” with some supporters of socialized medicine. There couldn’t have been more than twenty ObamaCare supporters in the crowd of about 1,000. Out of these twenty “Yes We Can” types, a squad of about 4-5 ladies, dressed in costume, descended upon me to voice their support for surrendering our health care rights to cult leader Obama. These women, decked out in quaint dresses that you might have seen in the 1800’s, started singing to me about the virtues of a single payer system. Being somewhat startled I don’t recall many of their lyrics but I do recall they seemed to be able to carry a tune. When I fully realized that I was the target of their assault I pivoted to face this adversary head on. Perhaps they didn’t realize that I was not defenseless. As I turned toward this threat I powered up my electronic friend and engaged them with the full force and volume from my boom box. It must have been quite a sight to behold; a squad of kool-aid drinkers versus a foot soldier of limited government, locked in audio combat. It was no contest! A deluge of decibels, direct from the mouth of their own deviant director easily drowned out this disheartened choir. My only regret, I did not have a camera to capture this precious Kodak moment.

  My wife and I headed for home at about 2:30. We listened to the radio hopeful that the day’s events might be reported in the news. We were in luck as WWJ, the local all-news radio station, was already running a story. I would characterize their coverage as decent; however the story did not adequately capture the passion or the numbers of the anti-ObamaCare forces. WWJ reported that there were 300-400 protesters. While this may have been true at the time of their report it understated the peak attendance by about 600-700 people. WWJ also report that there were ObamaCare supporters at this rally but they chose not to mention their miniscule numbers. Additional media coverage was shown on Fox 2 News in Detroit.

  Upcoming events in Michigan where you can make your voices heard include:

  Tea Party Express Bus Tour with stops in Battle Creek on Sept 8 (Labor Day), and Jackson, Brighton, and Troy on September 8.

  Tea Party Patriots shows events for Port Huron on August 25, Sanford on August 29, and Sault Saint Marie on September 12.

  I haven’t decided how many of these events I will attend. But come out for some fun – maybe you’ll see me with my boom box!

  © 2009 LimitGovNow. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to LimitGovNow with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

   
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  Buy a Used Car from the Free Press?

  Wes Nakagiri 3:15 am on August 14, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: HR 3200 (12), illegal aliens (2), Media Analysis (4), media bias (3), Michigan (21), Obama (15)

  The Detroit Free Press published an article that omitted some key information regarding ObamaCare. Was it just a coincidence that this omission helped to portray ObamaCare in a more favorable light? Was this omission a planned attempt to deceive or just incomplete journalism? I’ll never know for sure but I have my suspicions. I’m sure you’ll have your suspicions also.

  What I can say is that I’ve written a couple of letters to the editors of the Free Press regarding past inaccuracies. I’m not surprised that the Free Press chose not to publish my letters as they pointed out obvious misrepresentations contained within their stories. When a news organization portrays itself as an “arbiter of truth” they are unlikely to publish letters that point out their incomplete or biased reporting as that could impact their bottom line. If enough readers viewed their news articles as incomplete or biased it could reduce the number of readers willing to pay for their products. Wait a minute! This has happened already as the Free Press has had a decline in readership such that it implemented a drastic cut back in their home delivery.

  This post will elaborate on the omission I observed in the ObamaCare article. You won’t have to just take my word for it as I provide links to sources where you can verify the information yourself. The Free Press article, written August 9 by Todd Spangler, is titled, “Plenty of misinformation in health care debate”. This article tries to present the impression that the Free Press will clear up the misinformation and provide the reader with the unvarnished truth. As part of their analysis the Free Press concludes that illegal immigrants will not have access to free health care under HR3200 (ObamaCare). The Free Press wrote:

  Here’s what we found: That page of the bill prohibits discrimination in health care. And in Section 246 — on Page 143 — federal health care payments for people in the country illegally are explicitly prohibited.

  While the Free Press’ findings may be true it does not mean that illegal immigrant won’t get free health care. How can that be?! Well, the Free Press did not publish the whole story. They left out some key information. As pointed out in a previous post, Rat Out Gary Peters to flag@whitehouse.gov , the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted down an amendment to HR3200 that would have explicitly denied Medicaid health care benefits to illegal aliens. This amendment, introduced by Nathan Deal (R-Ga), was defeated in committee by a 29-28 vote. When presented with an opportunity to clarify their position on this topic, Congress chose not to.

  So, at the end of the day, will illegal immigrants have access to free health care? It certainly appears that way to me. But the Free Press concludes otherwise without presenting the full story.

  This sort of reminds me of what it’s like to buy a used car. You look at it. Kick the tires. Maybe you take a test drive. You ask the salesman about it. He says it had a minor repair to the door after a fender bender. But when you drove it there was a lot of wind noise. The paint was off-color just slightly on the entire driver’s side. And, a few other things just didn’t add up. He wasn’t being dishonest—he told you about the accident and that the door was repaired. But he didn’t tell you about all the other repairs that evidently were made or how extensive the damage really was.

  Isn’t the Free Press a lot like a used car salesman? Would you buy a car from the Free Press?

  In the interest of full disclosure the following links are provided:

  Congressman Deal’s comments on his amendment.
  See how your Congressman voted on the Deal Amendment.
  View the entire Free Press article.

  © 2009 LimitGovNow. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to LimitGovNow with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

   
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  Nationwide Townhall - Sat. Aug 22

  Wes Nakagiri 3:33 pm on August 12, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: HR 3200 (12), Michigan (21), Obama (15), ObamaCare (16), Protest (7), Tea Party (18)

  Congress is on recess during the month of August. Traditionally during this summer recess our elected representatives travel from DC back to their home districts to meet with their constituents. These meetings often have taken shape using the “town hall” type format where the representative meets with hundreds of constituents at a time, fielding questions from those in attendance. Due to the public uprising against ObamaCare very few Congressmen will conduct town halls – they don’t want to have to explain their support for this piece of socialist legislation. I touched upon this in an earlier post titled Rallying Against ObamaCare in Michigan.

  Fear not, even without a town hall meeting you can still make your voice be heard and help prevent a government bureaucrat from dictating what you can and cannot do regarding your healthcare and that of your family! (Government dictating your health care is analogous to your neighbor, whom you may not personally know, telling you which treatments are allowed for your child. Nothing against my neighbors, but it is my right to make these decisions.) Simultaneous protest rallies against ObamaCare are being conducted in every Congressional District. Most rallies are being held outside of the Congressman’s office; however, there are many that are being held at alternate locations. These rallies are being held Saturday August 22, 2009. From what I’ve observed the rallies start at noon – go to recessrally.com to find details for your specific location.
  Your attendance at a rally will make a difference in shaping public opinion. If you are reading this post you are probably quite aware of the dangers of socialized medicine. Not all Americans are as aware of these dangers as you. A larger turnout makes a larger impact upon public opinion – it makes it harder for our leaders and the media to ignore our concerns.

  A couple of final thoughts: 1) Bring a sign with you. It doesn’t have to be large or fancy. It could just be an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper written in crayon. 2) If you are geographically close to two rally locations then I’d recommend you select the rally that has a Democrat Representative, especially a freshman Democrat. Click here for a listing of freshmen in the 111th Congress.

  © 2009 LimitGovNow. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to LimitGovNow with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

   
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  Tell Gary That Gov't Care is an Obamanation!

  Wes Nakagiri 1:52 am on August 10, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Gary Peters (4), HR 3200 (12), Michigan (21), Obama (15)

  Let Congressman Peters know your opinion of HR 3200 (ObamaCare). Click here to obtain a .PDF file with Mr. Peters’ own survey. Then fax, mail, or email to his office.