Archive for February, 2012
Posted February 29th, 2012 by Fred
NETTP member Susan Peabody recently shared a letter that was written to her father, Douglass C. Peabody, when he was discharged from the Army after serving in WWII. The message is still relevant to patriots today…
HEADQUARTERS WAR DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL CENTER
Camp Fannin, Texas
FAREWELL MESSAGE TO SEPARATEES
You are being discharged from your Army today from a great Army. It is a great Army because your skill and your patriotism, your labor and courage and devotion have been some of the factors which have made it great. You have been a member of the finest military team in history. You have accomplished miracles in battle and supply. Your country is proud of you and you have every right to be proud of yourselves.
You have seen in the lands where you worked and fought and where many of your comrades died, what happens when the people of a nation lose interest in their government. You have seen what happens when they follow false leaders. You have seen what happens when a nation accepts hate and intolerance.
We all are determined that what happened in Europe and in Asia must not happen to our country. Back in civilian life you will find that your generation will be called upon to guide our country’s destiny. Opportunity for leadership is yours. The responsibility is yours. The nation which depended on your courage and stamina to protect it from its enemies now expects you as individuals to claim your right of leadership, a right which you earned honorably and which is well deserved.
Start being a leader as soon as you get home. If you see intolerance and hate speak out against them. Make your individual voices heard, not for selfish things, but for honor and decency among men; for the rights of all people.
Remember too, that NO American can afford to be disinterested in any part of his government, whether it is country, city, state or nation.
Choose your leaders wisely- that is the way to keep ours the country for which you fought. Make sure that those leaders are determined to maintain peace throughout the world. You know what war is. You know that we must not have another. As individuals, you can help prevent it, if you give to the task which lies ahead the same spirit which you displayed in uniform. We must never again be caught with our guard down.
Accept that trust and the challenge which it carries. I know that the people of America are counting on you. I know that you will not let them down.
And now in behalf of a grateful nation and the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the United States, I want to thank you personally for a job well done.
Goodbye to each and every one of you and to each and every one of you, good luck!
Posted February 27th, 2012 by Konni
The Obama White House says it hates tax “loopholes,” and the American people abhor them with good reason. They’re the ultimate in unfairness, allowing those in the know to wiggle their way out of playing by the same rules that apply to the rest of us. That’s why, at first glance, the Obama Administration’s latest “framework” to cut the corporate tax rate while closing corporate tax loopholes might sound like a good twofer.
Before you give the President a gold star for good governance, take a step back, turn up the lights, look around the room, and you’ll see that President Obama has replaced some of those tax loopholes with a giant trap door that’s just the right size for all of his political cronies to slip through.
Here are the details of Obama’s latest crony capitalist ploy. Yesterday, the President proposed reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 28 percent. That’s certainly a landmark moment – a liberal President calling for a lower corporate tax rate is a Nixon goes to China moment. It’s also long overdue, considering that the U.S. corporate tax rate is the second highest in the world, making it nearly impossible for American companies to compete in the global economy. But here’s where the trouble begins.
Under the President’s “framework,” he singles out specific industries he doesn’t like — oil and gas, insurance, and small aircraft manufacturers, for example — and proposes to close what he asserts are their loopholes, thereby raising their taxes. But with his other hand, he opens a trap door and waves his friends through, cutting their tax rates to 25 percent “and to an even lower rate for income from advanced manufacturing activities.”
The President’s best friends get access to second trap door leading to even lower rates. Who slides on through? Those who qualify for tax incentives designed to “encourage investment in clean energy.” The net effect of all this tax reform subterfuge will be a free pass for the “right” industries, a downfall for the “wrong” ones, and a windfall for lobbyists who can get their clients through the trap doors.
By the way, this new plan to make America’s businesses “more competitive” is slated to raise $250 billion over 10 years. You read that correctly: The President is trying to convince America he is lowering taxes to make America stronger by, well, raising taxes to make America weaker.
Another example of how Obama likes to slam those who offend is a set of disastrous proposals for U.S. multinational corporations — companies that earn income at home and abroad. Today, if a company earns money overseas, it is taxed by the foreign government, taxed again at home, and then run through some convoluted rules to prevent double taxation. Instead of eliminating that domestic double tax (like most countries have), President Obama wants to tax foreign earnings even more heavily. He says he wants to prevent companies from outsourcing around the world.
But instead of convincing those companies to keep their work in the United States, the President will encourage them to close up shop and sell the whole company to the highest foreign bidder. The result? A tax-induced fire sale on U.S. companies sold to foreign companies so that none of their profits will be subject to taxation, and U.S. tax revenues and economic fortunes will plummet.
Next step? American workers will be left holding the bag. Remember that President Obama said he wants to raise corporate taxes on net. Combined with his budget proposal to nearly triple the dividend tax rate, the net effect is likely to raise the hurdle rate on business investment, which means less business investment. Less investment means labor productivity growth slows, and so wage growth slows. In other words, the President would leave American companies less competitive, and he would leave American workers with lower wages.
Tax reform shouldn’t work this way. America shouldn’t work this way. The U.S. corporate tax rate is too high, and real reform can bring it down. Congress and the President should pursue revenue-neutral corporate tax reform centered on, reducing the corporate tax rate, and reducing the tax rate on small, non-corporate businesses as well, and work to make U.S. companies more competitive around the world. That’s a far fairer, far smarter plan than a trapdoor tax policy that benefits the few, the proud, and the privileged.
Posted February 27th, 2012 by Konni
by JoAnn Fleming
Chair, Advisory Committee to the TEA Party Caucus of the TX Legislature
Executive Director, Grassroots America – We the People
Where is the bold, focused, principled leadership we need in the Lone Star State? We are headed for the cliff – sure as shootin’ – but nobody in statewide leadership is saying a word.
Governor Rick Perry has once more departed from the Lone Star to be a stand-in for Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign. I have a big problem with that.
First, Governor Perry is being paid a state retirement benefit and as an employee of Texas. Perry officially “retired” this year for benefit purposes, a move that gives him about $90,000 more in annual retirement compensation – on top of his $150,000 salary as governor.
Yes, it’s true. Since this news broke during the ‘sugar plum and jingle bell fog’ of December, most Texans don’t know that Gov. Rick Perry officially retired in January so he could draw early pension benefits worth $7,699 a month. Our governor’s January “retirement” was revealed in December when the Federal Elections Commission released the financial disclosure statement he was required to file as a candidate for the Republican nomination for president. This retirement annuity brings Perry’s total state government income to $242,388 a year. In other words, Governor Perry gets paid twice…we commoners call it “double dipping.”
Is this legal? Sure. Is it right? Considering the times in which we live, does this represent what a true servant leader would or should do?
Second, Texas taxpayers were billed almost $1.1 million in travel costs for a security detail to travel with Gov. Rick Perry on out-of-state events tied to his failed presidential campaign. Now that he has left the state again to campaign for Newt, Governor Perry will accumulate higher security detail costs to add to the tab Texas taxpayers will have to pick up. All the while, Perry reportedly had millions left in his campaign account. Instead of repaying Texas taxpayers by reimbursing the state, he plans to form a Super PAC and spend that money on campaigns.
Is this legal? Sure. Is it right? Considering the times in which we live, does this represent what a true servant leader would or should do?
Meanwhile back at the ranch…we have serious issues going on in Texas.
Security – interior enforcement of the rule of law. News accounts abound that terrorist groups from the Middle East have camps in Mexico. Iran is making noise that it will strike the United States. Where’s Governor Perry on his own “emergency” legislative item from January 2011 – a ban on sanctuary cities? Governor Perry won’t even acknowledge the repeated calls from thousands of grassroots Texans to do something. Governor Perry should follow the leadership of governors of other states and just sign an executive order banning sanctuary cities in Texas. We’ve been begging, pleading, asking since June of last year. From him we get…the sound of crickets.
Considering the times in which we live, does this represent what a true servant leader would or should do?
Our fiscal house is not in order. Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs has issued a warning that the state’s Medicaid social safety net costs for the 2014 – 2015 biennium budget will likely require $15 – $17 billion in additional funding. This is the budget the legislature will be dealing with in less than a year! According to Texas Public Policy Foundation, “In Texas, Medicaid has grown 113 percent in the last decade alone and is on track to double costs every 10 years through 2040.”
Meanwhile, the state of Texas already has a planned $7.1 billion deficit for the current biennium because of the gimmicks used to artificially balance the budget last year.
Governor Perry has put forward no plan to deal with the red ink. What do we hear from Speaker Joe Straus? He channels Washington, D.C. lingo saying, “you can’t cut your way to prosperity.” Lt. Governor David Dewhurst says he thinks the budget for the 83rd legislative session won’t be a problem because sales tax revenues are up.
Considering the times in which we live, does this represent what true servant leaders would or should do?
It is a reasonable question to ask, “Where is the leadership we need to get our fiscal house in order? Where is the leadership that will protect Texas citizens and legal residents from the growing threat crossing our border and heading straight for sanctuary cities?”
I guess it’s more fun and glamorous running around campaigning for Newt, shaking your fist at the federal government, making speeches and doing TV appearances than to do what you were elected to do and took an oath to perform. Comparatively speaking, I guess the heavy lifting of real leadership and problem solving is just not that attractive.
If this sounds harsh, so be it. We live in harsh times – times that cry out for bold, principled leadership – not mere rhetoric.
Where is the vision? Where is the leader who will boldly lead Texas forward?
Posted February 24th, 2012 by Julie
Many of us share the same frustration over immigration reform. Why isn’t anything being done? What CAN be done? What are the responsibilities of the state government as opposed to the federal government? What should we be demanding from our elected officials? Let’s find out!
NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting
Guest Speaker: Joyce Mucci on Immigration Reform
and
Bill Ames on the History Textbook Battle
June 11, 2012, 6:30-8:00pm
$5 dinner served at 6pm
Grace Community Church
251 Countryside Ct, Southlake 76092
Joyce Mucci is the Field Representative for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). She grew up in Washington, D.C. but has called Kansas City her home for the last twenty-years. She was a former lobbyist in Missouri but switched gears to pursue a public relations career. She was the Public Relations Coordinator for the International Council of Cruise Lines in Arlington, VA, and the former Director of Communications for the Center for the America Founding in Washington, D.C. Joyce also did a stint as a radio talk show host.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is a national, nonprofit, public-interest, membership organization of concerned citizens who share a common belief that our nation’s immigration policies must be reformed to serve the national interest.
FAIR seeks to improve border security, to stop illegal immigration, and to promote immigration levels consistent with the national interest—more traditional rates of about 300,000 a year.
With more than 250,000 members and supporters nationwide, FAIR is a non-partisan group whose membership runs the gamut from liberal to conservative. Their grassroots networks help concerned citizens use their voices to speak up for effective, sensible immigration policies that work for America’s best interests.
FAIR’s publications and research are used by academics and government officials in preparing new legislation. National and international media regularly turn to us to understand the latest immigration developments and to shed light on this complex subject. FAIR has been called to testify on immigration bills before Congress more than any organization in America.
*****************************************
Bill Ames grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1962, with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Bill completed his 27 year career in IBM management in 1992. During the 1990s, Bill & wife Lynette became political activists. They have been involved in gun rights, property rights, and opposing illegal immigration.
Bill was very active in the Texas social studies textbook review cycle in 2002. He personally reviewed two books in detail, and recommended over 200 changes to the publisher, some 100 of which were accepted. Most of the changes made were traceable to flawed social studies standards.
In 2009, Bill therefore became a member of a United States history standards review panel, missioned to review and rewrite history standards for the 11th grade course. His efforts in this project earned him a leadership position, successfully fighting against the leftist education lobby’s agenda to transfer its overall contempt for America to a generation of Texas students.
Bill concludes that individual activists, armed with determination and conviction, can truly make a difference in fighting the cultural decline that America faces today.
Bill’s book,
Texas Trounces the Left’s War on History, is about how education, media, and legislator leftists attempted to dominate the standards process, and continue to portray America through their prism of contempt.
The book describes how they lost.
And how Texas won.
Posted February 24th, 2012 by Julie
Please note: This meeting is in our NEW meeting facility at Grace Community Church, 251 Countryside in Southlake! It’s in the southwest corner of Hwy 114 and White Chapel, just about a block away from our old location!
There is an ongoing war against the United States taking place right under our noses, and it is going unnoticed—a war of financial terrorism. America’s enemies are taking a different angle on warfare, using tactics stealthier than the old-fashioned bombs, to collapse our economy. In 2008, hostile foreign governments had the means, motive, and opportunity to hit a vulnerable U.S. stock market in a way we didn’t think possible. Without correcting our market’s many weaknesses, America will again fall victim to economic warfare, and this time it will be much more devastating.
NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting
Guest Speaker: Kevin Freeman on Economic Terrorism
Candidate Interview: Jonathan Stickland (HD92)
Candidate Interview: Grant Stinchfield (CD24)
April 9, 2012, 6:30-8:15pm
$5 dinner served at 6pm
251 Countryside, Southlake 76092
(SW corner of Hwy 114 and White Chapel)
Kevin Freeman is the Founder & CEO Freeman Global Holdings, LLC. Due his unique understanding of world financial markets, following the stock market crash of 2008 he was contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to research external causes. In 2009 Kevin’s research culminated in a report submitted to the DOD titled “Economic Warfare: Risks and Responses” which concluded that hostile foreign entities had the means, motive, and opportunity to hit a vulnerable U.S. stock market in ways we didn’t think possible. Kevin has since briefed members of Congress, U.S. senators, and past and present members of the CIA, DIA, FBI, SEC, Homeland Security, Justice Department, and state and local law enforcement on his findings. In April 2011, Kevin’s DOD report was made public, after which he appeared on multiple international television and radio media outlets including CNBC, Fox News, Glenn Beck, the Counter Terrorist, the Washington Times, and the UK’s Daily Mail and Times of London.
Kevin will share his experiences over the past three years first discovering and then reporting on financial terrorism and its role in the 2008 market collapse. He has uncovered further evidence of an economic war underway that could threaten our very way of life. He will provide key points and unique insights from his private briefings to the national security community. He will also touch on some of his personal journey throughout concluding with recommended solutions to address this serious threat.
Posted February 22nd, 2012 by Julie
This latest article from Empower Texans (Michael Quinn Sullivan) makes my day. Why? Because in citing examples of the effectiveness of the Texas tea party movement, he uses NE Tarrant County. That’s us, folks! NE Tarrant Tea Party! We got it goin’ on! Thank you, Vicki Truitt, for providing us with so much opportunity to prove ourselves. 
Also mentioned in the article is the Oust Straus effort from last year, which NETTP participated in. NETTP is everywhere! And the establishment is freaking out about it…
STRONG TEXAS TEA by Michael Quinn Sullivan
They just won’t go away, these tea-party-types so intent on reclaiming their government. The tea party movement’s political obituary was being written before the birth announcement was printed. Yet they keep getting stronger, freshly influencing politics and policy.
The tea party has focused their policy message on the radical ideas of our founding fathers: that government should do only a few things and do them well; that progress is defined by more liberty, not higher taxes or bigger budgets; and that the power of government rests with the people, not the politicians or bureaucrats.
It was assumed (hoped?) by the ruling-class establishmentarians that the tea party would go away once the signs waved at rallies got too heavy. The rallies may have died down, but citizen-led activism has only ramped up.
A key indicator of the tea party’s staying power is how many Republican incumbents try to cloak themselves in the messages of the movement.
For example, State Rep. Vicki Truitt of Tarrant County has a legislative record largely antithetical to the tea party movement. During the 2009 legislative session – just as the national tea party movement was coming into being – Rep. Truitt was actively pushing a massive new tax hike in the legislature. She wanted more money flowing to boondoggle fake-transportation projects.
A poll by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram found 96 percent of Tarrant County voters – Truitt’s home district – opposed the tax hike measure. Nevertheless, she promised to return in 2011 to fight for the tax hike.
Back home, tea party folks in her district saw Rep. Truitt had been unopposed in her 2008 primary, so they went to work against her. She ended up with three opponents in the 2010 primary. Ms. Truitt out-spent her rivals nearly 10-to-1 (her $300,000 to their combined total of less than $35,000), yet she garnered just 52 percent of the vote.
So after all that, and after bad-mouthing the tea party activists who defeated her tax hike, she sent campaign mailers describing herself as… a tea party candidate.
More significantly, when Truitt (barely) returned to the legislature in 2011 she somehow forgot to fight for that promised tax hike legislation. She won the election, but the tea party won the policy fight.
(click the More button to keep reading)
Posted February 16th, 2012 by Julie
Agenda 21 is bad news for America and our local communities. It’s a UN initiative that has silently been chipping away at our sovereignty, and it must be stopped! Come learn all about it at our May meeting, and learn how YOUR city is already involved.
NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting
Guest Speaker: Wayne Richard on Agenda 21
May 14, 2012, 6:30-8:00pm
$5 dinner served at 6pm
Grace Community Church
251 Countryside Ct, Southlake 76092
Wayne Richard is President of ICglobal, a self funded corporation which has been conceptualizing and launching advanced Internet based technology solutions since its founding, 21 years ago.
Wayne is also owner of Liberty Radio and Broadcasting, LLC. Wayne hosts the StandWithWayne & StandForLiberty Talk Radio Show which will début March 10th on his new station 1190 AM Saturdays at 2:00pm.
In addition, he is founder and editor of the National Coalition for the Defense of American Sovereignty (NCDAS). He is a former candidate for the Texas House of Representatives and a delegate to the 2010 GOP Texas Convention. Wayne has testified before the Texas Board of Education and The House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Senate Select Committee on Redistricting.
Wayne is also a Republican political strategist and public speaker.
A graduate of The Cox School of Business at SMU, Wayne is a former Chairman of the Cox Alumni Board of Directors and is a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board.
He has been married to his wife, Susan, for 20 years and they are members of Prestonwood Church in Plano, Texas.
www.ICglobal.net
www.StandWithWayne.com
Posted February 12th, 2012 by Julie
The lapel pin shown above is available for $10. For every pin sold, $5 goes towards Matt Beebe’s campaign to oust Joe Straus! You can order yours by sending your payment to John Tweedel at 1606 Pineview Ln, Hideaway TX 75771.
Posted February 9th, 2012 by Julie
Patriots,
Yesterday I had the opportunity to bring in 60 grassroots and tea party leaders from all over the state of Texas to interview Rick Santorum, candidate for POTUS. After his 3 big wins on Tuesday, the media demanded a lot of his attention, which unfortunately meant he had much less time to share with us, but we did get to fire off a few questions of him, and I wanted to share it with you. It is a big responsibility to educate yourself on all the candidates. Please watch and listen in at the video link by clicking here.
Our own NETTP member, Tom Moore, was on-hand to do a write-up of the event, and below is what he’s put together…
Momentum–Rick Santorum has it. Energized by significant wins in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado, he brought his campaign for the presidency to North Texas. Santorum met with area Tea Party leaders for a “grassroots” question and answer session. Julie McCarty, President of the NE Tarrant Tea Party, organized the event and led the discussion.
Santorum responded to the four most popular questions submitted by tea party members.
- When asked to what extent the US should be involved in the United Nations, he responded that most of what the UN does goes against our interests in terms of values and national security. He says its role should be limited to international security and in that regard we need to continue to be involved even though it’s not optimal. He pledge to take a systematic look at all of the other things the UN is involved with and reevaluate funding and participation. The UN undermines US sovereignty and funding of the UN should be reevaluated. (See his full response at the 0:28 mark of the video link).
- On the question of Right-to-Work legislation, he responded that he has signed a Right To Work pledge and as President he’ll sign a Right To Work bill. He supports it, and is not in favor of public employee unions because the taxpayers do not have a seat at the negotiating table. (See his full response at the 1:35 mark of the video link).
- When asked what he would do to encourage domestic energy production he replied that he has recently met with Boone Pickens to discuss the natural gas industry and its implications for job creation and the development of abundant, cleaner energy sources. He said we have a tremendous amount of energy in this country that we can and should get out to make us as self-sufficient as possible. Production from the Alaska pipeline is dramatically decreasing and new sources must be brought online to provide the energy independence that we need to decrease our reliance on OPEC. The Keystone pipeline and natural gas development are high priorities. (See his full response at the 2:50 mark of the video link).
- When asked if the 2nd Amendment is only for hunting and sports he emphatically responded that the 2nd Amendment is there to protect the 1st Amendment. He asserted that if Obama is reelected the Supreme Court’s Heller Decision which holds that the individual has a right to possess a firearm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home, is in jeopardy. (See his full response at the 8:18 mark of the video link).
Santorum had time to take a couple more audience questions (which unfortunately are not on the video), and then he closed the event with a response to an ad claiming he is against the tea party. He explained that he is against those who believe we need NO government (folks who believe that people should be allowed to do anything they want as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone). He fully supports the tea party stance of limited government. This is one of 5 defined beliefs for NETTP.
Santorum’s victories provide momentum and increased stature as the credible conservative candidate. This provides the opportunity to obtain the donations necessary to develop the organization and infrastructure required to move forward as the primary process gathers steam. Considering the overreach and abuses of Barack Obama to date, imagine the consequence of an Obama administration freed from restraint without the fear of reelection.
As a side note, Rick Santorum was a guest at NE Tarrant Tea Party back in October. You can see the link to that presentation by clicking here (
Part 1 – presentation) and here (
Part 2 – Q&A). I re-watched it recently and got more out of it the second time…
If we are able to interact with any of the other Presidential candidates, we’ll be sure to let you know!
Thank you,
Julie McCarty
Posted February 9th, 2012 by Julie
On February 13, one of our favorite conservative watch dog groups in Texas will join us at our NETTP meeting!
NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting
Guest Speaker: Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans
on the significance of the Primary Election vote for Texas
AND
a brief Townhall/Interview of
Giovanni Capriglione, candidate for State House Rep, Dist 98
February 13, 2012, 6:30-8:00pm
$5 dinner served at 6pm (see below for info re: free dinner)
1060 E Highland, Southlake 76092
(bldg 1020 of Highland Meadow Montessori Academy)
Mr. Sullivan will speak to us on the importance of the upcoming primaries in Texas as well as issues we face in the upcoming Texas legislative session.
Mr. Capriglione will be joining us at this meeting for an interview, but his opponent, Vicki Truitt, has refused to even acknowledge our request for a forum.
Don’t miss this meeting!
Did you receive one of these?
If so, please let us know that you’re planning to attend so we can make sure to save you a dinner! Send an email to heyjuliesue@gmail.com to rsvp.
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