ET Williams

The Doctor of Common Sense

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Obama Administration Ignores Subpoena in order to Protect Illegal’s

Republican Threatens Legal Action Against DHS Over Immigrant-Data Subpoena

A top House Republican is threatening to enforce a subpoena for criminal immigrant information “to the fullest extent” of the law, after claiming the Obama administration “stonewalled” his request. 

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith for months has been seeking a comprehensive list of names and other information for the thousands of immigrants who are flagged, but not taken into custody or deported through a program known as Secure Communities. 

Earlier this month, a subcommittee on his panel subpoenaed the Department of Homeland Security for the information, claiming it was “not acting in good faith.” It was the first subpoena issued by the committee since it came under GOP control. 

The department ended up turning over documents by a Nov. 10 deadline — but Smith claimed all he received was a list of numbers. 

“Instead of providing this information, all DHS gave was a list numbered 1 through 220,995. Proving the administration can count is not what we asked for,” Smith said in a statement. 

He wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Friday urging her to “immediately comply” with the subpoena. 

“If you do not, the committee will be forced to seek enforcement of the subpoena to the fullest extent allowed by the law,” Smith wrote. 

Secure Communities is a program that allows federal immigration officials to check the names and fingerprints of suspects booked at federal, state and local jails against their immigration databases. 

Republicans want detailed information about criminal immigrants who were not pursued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, so they can then check their records and see if they went on to commit more crimes. 

Smith said he received a sprawling list from the department on Nov. 10 that included just three things for each entry — a “unique ID,” a date and time for each “encounter,” and the national origin for a few hundred of them. He said the “unique ID” was merely a number, from 1 to 220,955, which he described as “useless.” 

The Department of Homeland Security said it is trying to comply with Smith’s requests. 

“DHS previously told to the committee it would provide the data requested without being compelled by subpoena. We have begun to provide that data as it becomes available and will continue to do so,” DHS spokesman Matthew Chandler said in a statement Saturday. 

Chandlerstressed that ICE removed 216,000 criminal immigrants in fiscal 2011, described as an 89 percent increase from 2008. 

According to DHS, more than 107,000 immigrants convicted of crimes have been removed after being flagged through Secure Communities. 

The number represents a fraction of all immigrants flagged through the program. But DHS claims many immigrants who are flagged could not be arrested or deported. 

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Nelson Peacock earlier wrote a letter explaining to Smith that many of the immigrants whose names show up in their system through Secure Communities are legal and would simply not count as a “removable alien.” 

He said, for instance, that naturalizedU.S.citizens or legal permanent residents could show up. Peacock also noted that ICE would not take somebody into custody if they are already serving time for a criminal offense. 

Smith, though, wrote in his letter to Napolitano that it appears that either DHS “never planned to comply” with his request or that the White House intervened for “political reasons.”
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11/19/republican-threatens-legal-action-against-dhs-over-immigrant-data-subpoena/?test=latestnews#ixzz1eIjafBkl

 

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Occupy Wall Street Training Illegal Aliens

Written By Carolyn Salazar

Published November 18, 2011

Fox News Latino

 The Occupy Wall Street movement has made it its mission to include immigrants into their growing social movement.

But there is one segment of this population they have reluctantly, almost nervously, brought into the fold: the undocumented.

As images of mass arrests at Occupy Wall Street demonstrations across the country have dominated TV news, an unspoken question has been whether undocumented immigrants who rally should put themselves at risk of arrest, and possible deportation.

Once they know the issues and are aware of the risks, it is up to the people to make up their mind. Sometimes, the issues and the cause are more important than deportation.

The issue was put on the front burner this week when Francisco “Pancho” Ramos-Stierle, a former astrophysics doctoral student inCalifornia who happened to be undocumented, was arrested while meditating during a raid at an Occupy Oakland encampment. His charges were dropped but he was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after his fingerprints showed up in federal database.  

Ramos was released Thursday, though he could still be called for deportation proceedings at any time.

The Occupy movement has pointed to his case as a symbol of a broken federal system and they say his plight shows that social changes – from the financial system to immigration – needs to happen. And, they say, it shows the two go hand in hand.

“His intention was just to meditate. And he felt whatever needed to happen would happen,” said his friend Melissa Dickman, who organized a petition to free Ramos. “He was aware of the risks. But he refuses to live in fear, and he won’t let that fear control his life or prevent him from becoming involved in causes he believes in.”

But, Dickman acknowledged, she sees that fear keeping many undocumented from joining the movement. Where she lives, inArizona, she sees a large disconnect between the proactive immigration rights groups and the Occupy movement.

“They know that there is a threat of arrest, and they live in fear of deportation,” she said.

Occupy groups, who have said they need Hispanics and other immigrants to rally to their cause, have realized that the growing number of arrests could frighten undocumented immigrants – and they’ve taken steps to make sure they aren’t a neglected group.

Mariano Muñoz, who is part of the Spanish assembly for Occupy Wall Street inNew York, said it is an issue they are aware of and trying to address.

He said immigration training classes are offered to undocumented who want to join, where legal experts and lawyers address any questions they may have, any issues they could face and how to deal with worst-case-scenario cases. The classes offer police procedure and immigration rights instruction. 

“Once they know the issues and are aware of the risks, it is up to the people to make up their mind,” Muñoz said. “Sometimes, the issues and the cause are more important than deportation.”

Meanwhile, Ramos’ Free Pancho petition has gathered almost 8,500 signatures, and a website details his legal updates. And while he free and the threat of deportation still looms, he’s not letting that keep him from speaking his mind.

Once he was released, he had a vegan lunch, held a press conference, and did a few media engagements. And he may very well rejoin Occupy.

“What he saw out of this arrest,” Dickman said, “was a chance to bring the dialogue not only of immigration but to tie it into the Occupy movement and really help immigration, migration and also the Occupy movement understand that they are interrelated and they need to be the same movement.”

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/11/18/occupy-wall-street-are-undocumented-putting-themselves-at-risk/#ixzz1eIt3eayh

 

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Occupy Wall Street Idiots get help from Jimmy Hoffa Style Union

 

Idiots can be Useful

By: Meredith Somers

The Washington Times

With winter looming, labor unions fortify Occupy camp

Some of the country’s most powerful unions are providing the infrastructure and amenities to keep the Occupy D.C. encampment fortified going into the winter.

The camp’s portable toilets are being provided by the Service Employees International Union, the 2.1-million-member organization that helped Barack Obama win the presidency and recently backed his re-election bid.

The estimated 100 demonstrators staying each night in McPherson Square, just blocks from the White House, can take a hot shower at the AFL-CIO headquarters on16th Street Northwest.

“We happen to have a few showers associated with our small gym. From [10 a.m. to noon], we make those showers available,” said Jeff Hauser, a spokesman for the AFL-CIO, the labor federation with more than 12 million members. “It happened kind of naturally. We’ve talked with them about the needs they’ve expressed. This really helps them, and it’s not a heavy lift on our part.”

A demonstrator said the encampment has designated a “shower coordinator” who takes Occupy protesters to the union building.

Demonstrators with the Occupy D.C. take to the streets of downtownWashington,D.C., Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, to show support for the Occupy Wall Street movement. (Rod Lamkey Jr./TheWashingtonTimes)

The tent-filled encampment, established in early October, also has a first-aid station with supplies and voluntary medical assistance from the National Nurses United, the country’s largest union of professional nurses.

Spokeswoman Donna Smith said Wednesday that nurses are volunteering at Occupy encampments across the country.

“It’s the basic things, little things for people who are outdoors for a period of time,” she said. “And it’s good to have that kind of interaction.”

Although officials have dismantled similar camps inNew York CityandOakland,Calif., the Occupy D.C. camp appears to be getting more organized and fortified, with a library, a media center and its own newspapers.

“The rise of inequality, the job crisis — we’re thankful their creative energy and persistence has helped elevate these critical issues,” Mr. Hauser said. “We want to be supportive.”

Occupy D.C. plans to march Thursday afternoon to the Key Bridge, which connects the city with Northern Virginia, to rally with labor organizations. However, there are no plans to block traffic, said Occupy demonstrator Dan Newell.

A clash between Occupy demonstrators and D.C. police last week near theWashingtonConvention Centerresulted in several injuries and arrests. But many protesters said Wednesday that they did not expect a clash at the bridge demonstration.

“We plan to keep traffic moving and keep people safe,” said Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump. “While large crowds can swell very quickly and cause lengthy delays, we encourage motorists to consider alternate means of transportation during afternoon rush hour.”

D.C. Department of Transportation spokeswoman Monica Hernandez said the agency, if needed, would dispatch traffic-control officers, deploy electronic detour signs and work with the Virginia Department of Transportation to identify alternate routes for commuters.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/16/unions-back-occupy-dc/

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Obama and Chu Rip-off Taxpayers

Shut up until after the Election

Chu offers no apology for fleecing taxpayers for Solyndra

By: Examiner Editorial

 

People can debate all day whether government should be in the business of picking winners and losers in the marketplace by selectively awarding loan guarantees. What’s beyond dispute is that any official decision that results in the loss of half-a-billion tax dollars should elicit an apology from somebody in government. Just don’t expect that somebody to be Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, even though he’s the guy who ignored multiple warnings beforehand and approved the $535 billion federal loan guarantee to the now-bankrupt Solyndra solar panel maker. He’s also the guy who approved a loan restructuring that resulted in private investors — including one of President Obama’s wealthiest campaign contributors — being repaid before the taxpayers, an arrangement virtually without precedent in the government.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton ofMichigangaveChuan opportunity during yesterday’s hearing by asking him “who has to apologize for the half a billion dollars in taxpayer money that’s out the door?” Here’s howChuresponded: “Well, it is extremely unfortunate what has happened with Solyndra. Was there incompetence? Was there any influence of a political nature? I would have to say no.” The cluelessChudisplayed not even the faintest hint of a regret that his decision lost more money than most Americans will earn in their lifetimes. Evidently,Chubelieves the old maxim: “Never apologize, never explain. Get it over with and let them howl.”

The energy secretary’s arrogance likely will inspire a lot more howling about Solyndra and a host of similar loan guarantees handed out by Chu and his fellow Obama appointees. What many of these loans have in common with Solyndra is that all used tax dollars to line the pockets of key Obama fundraisers and donors. Take, for example, Solar Reserve, which received an even bigger loan guarantee — $737 million — than Solyndra. Solar Reserve’s biggest investor is a company owned by Michael Froman, former deputy assistant to the president who bundled as much as $500,000 for Obama in 2008.

Then there is Abound Solar, which got a $400 million guarantee. A key investor in Abound Solar is Pat Stryker who contributed $87,000 to Obama’s inauguration festivities. Next up is Granite Reliable Wind Generation, which got $168.9 million loan guarantee. Granite’s majority owner is a firm formerly headed by Nancy Ann DeParle, deputy White House chief of staff and head of communications during the Obamacare campaign — and wife of New York Times reporter Jason DeParle. Finally, there’s BrightSource Energy, whose principal adviser is Robert Kennedy Jr., one of Obama’s earliest backers in 2008. Kennedy’s firm received $1.6 billion in loan guarantees.

Chuwants us to believe political influence had nothing to do with any of these decisions. He might as well tell us the moon is made of green cheese. Leave it to the Hoover Institution’s Peter Schweizer, who has studied the energy loans in detail, to state the obvious: “This is a payoff to people who are your political backers and supporters. And this is really a wealth transfer from middle class taxpayers to billionaires.”

http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/2011/11/chu-offers-no-apology-fleecing-taxpayers-solyndra#ixzz1e788tCiF

 

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Does Newt Gingrich have to much Baggage?

Gingrich: Freddie Mac Paid His Consulting Firm Up to $1.8M for ‘Strategic Advice’

By THOMAS BEAUMONT, Associated Press

November 16, 2011

 

URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has acknowledged receiving personal compensation from Freddie Mac, the federally backed housing agency, but says he doesn’t know exactly how much he was paid.

The former House speaker left open the possibility that his consulting firm received between $1.6 million and $1.8 million. Gingrich says he received a portion of that for providing “strategic advice for a long period of time” after he left Congress.

That amount is significantly higher than the $300,000 figure Gingrich was questioned about last week.

Gingrich spoke with reporters inIowaon Wednesday. He defended Freddie Mac’s role and said every American should be interested in expanding housing opportunities. The federally backed mortgage lender has become a focal point of anti-government sentiment because of the housing crisis

 

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The Millionaires and Billionaires are in Congress

Seven of the Top Ten Wealthiest Members of Congress Are Democrats

YesAmerica, there is a wealth gap. Seven of the top ten wealthiest members in Congress are Democrats.

The results are based on a new study released today by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. The Center did an analysis of the financial statements filed by members of Congress for 2010 income and net worth.

This revelation of extreme wealth by Democratic politicians is completely contrary to the public image of the Democratic Party. President Obama has castigated “millionaires and billionaires,” suggesting they are evil people, largely Republican or conservative. The issue of the Democratic Party as the millionaire party has not yet made it into the mainstream media. But the facts are indisputable. Democratic members of Congress tend to be wealthier than their Republican counterparts.

According to the Center, 36 Senate Democrats and 30 Senate Republicans reported an average net worth in excess of $1 million in 2010. The median estimated net worth among members of the Senate Democrats was $2.58 million. Senate Republican median net worth was $2.43 million.

And, the wealthy Democrats tend to inherit their money.  Republicans tend to earn it.

Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) all came by their fortunes through marriage or inheritance.  Senator Kerry, who was born into wealth, has listed his net worth as high as $281 million, while his wife Teresa is estimated to be worth $1 billion.  Ms. Heinz did not earn her wealth either. She inherited the money from her husband Senator John Heinz, who died in an airplane crash.

Senator Rockefeller, representing dirt poorWest Virginia,  inherited his fortune from his family. He is reported to be worth $136 million.

While the economy continued to tank in 2010, Rep. Pelosi reported her own wealth to grow by 62%. Pelosi’s husband, Paul, is a financier.  They own a multi-million dollar vineyard and a number of million dollar homes. They have a net worth of $196 million.

Former Democrat Rep. Jane Harmon (D-CA), who in 2010 was listed as the third wealthiest member of Congress, was married to the late stereo magnate Sidney Harman of Harman-Karmen fame. Together they were worth $493 million.

Only Republican Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) married into major money. His net worth went from $12 million to $502 million in two years.  The explanation? He married an heiress to the Clear Channel radio empire.

Among those who actually got their money by earning it, Republicans were in the slight majority. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), a self-made millionaire earned his wealth by creating the Viper car security system. He is estimated to be worth more than $700 million.  Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) started as a rancher and attorney.  His wealth is cited as $88 million.

Rep. Vernon Buchanan (R-FL), one of only three Republicans to make the top ten earned his money through real estate and car dealerships.  He is estimated to be worth over $323 million.

Much has been made about Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) being the wealthiest Republican in the U.S. Senate. But he is ranked only number 14 because there are so many wealthier Democrats ahead of him. He doesn’t make the Top Ten. He worked as a construction superintendent.  Then started his own company. Today he is worth $107 million.

Among Democrats who earned their income, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) first made his money as a mobile phone franchiser, later as a high tech venture capitalist in Northern Virginia just outside ofWashington.

Warner is reported to have learned about the telecommunications industry while working for Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT).  Sen. Dodd decided not to run for re-election as he was under a cloud for taking a below-market mortgage from the CEO of now bankrupt Countrywide Financial.

For those who are keeping score, Dodd recently landed a sweet job as the head of the Motion Picture Association of America after he declined to run for re-election in 2008.  The Hollywood Reporter says his annual salary will be pegged at $1.5 million.

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), earned his fortune in the flower and greeting card business. He was the founder of Pro-Flower and an e-commerce greeting card company which he sold to Excite.com for more than $700 million.

New Jersey’s long time Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) rounds out the top ten.  He originally was with a high tech company and is worth $116 million.  New Jersey, considered one of the most corrupt states in the country, has had many home-grown Democratic gazillionaires for a long time.

Former Democratic Senator and New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine last week resigned as CEO of MF Global, a well established company he ran into the ground. As of last week federal investigators were trying to determine why the company is missing $900 million.  It closed its doors last week and laid off more than 1,000 employees.

The issue of politics and money has been a complicated one.  President Barack Obama brought in far more money from Wall Street in his 2008 campaign than his Republican opponent Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).  Obama raked in $1 million from Goldman Sachs employees that year.  While his numbers are lower this year, the President has attracted $15.2 million from the financial services industry that he attacks so frequently.

Many Democrats run institutions on Wall Street.  Jamie Dimon, the CEO of J.P. Morgan has been a long-time Democratic supporter. So too has Goldman Sachs Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lloyd C. Blankfein.

When will the mainstream media figure out that Democrats are part of a millionaire’s club too? Maybe someone should tell the Occupy Wall Street protesters, if they are still in their park.

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2011/11/15/seven-of-the-top-ten-wealthiest-members-of-congress-are-democrats/2/