All your heroes are corrupt...it is time for America to sit down.
In the last few days I have once again felt the sting of despair.
America learns nothing it seems.
Traficant is released from prison and is given a heroes welcome. I guess his home town and apparently America is willing to forget that he was convicted of serious crimes. He is being embraced.
Oh, Fox News played the game. They granted him quarter with Greta and she pretty much asked a lot of softball questions culminating her side show with a touchy-feely interview with the heroes wife who faithfully stood by her man until his 7 years hitch was up.
CNN? No they were not to be out done...they granted him audience today also.
If those people think they're providing amusement, a bit of bread and circus for their viewing audience, they may be right. It seems America is in love with its corrupt politicians, its criminal sports stars, and its rich white collar robbers. But they do more than amuse when they fail to show blunt perspective; they elevate criminals to the podium and by doing so, they grant them a certain safe harbor.
America must regain its moral values and shun criminals, thugs, robbers, and thieves. The public forums should be used to elevate this country, not amuse it, with charismatic felons.
We learn nothing. Instead we continue to sink in a cesspool of non-leadership and flashy, corrupt cons disguised as office holders, sports stars, hip-hop heroes, and actors/actresses. We love our creeps; we can't get enough of them. We are easily amused.
I once heard a local man say, "Yea, Traficant is a crook, but he's my crook."
Bread and circus was enough for Rome and it is clearly enough for Americans too.
If we go down, we deserve it. We have allowed the lunatic fringe to take control and we embrace them and their charismatic catch phrases about a "greener world" and a "new world order."
Maybe our time is done. We can no longer think beyond our next meal. We are a nation of whores willing to sell our values for a bag of cheap pretzels and couple of beers. It is no wonder we are so divided. We care nothing about our future, we trade tomorrow for today.
America, go to the Peanut Gallery where you belong.
COLUMBIANA — Former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. had some advice for those opposed to big government bailouts, a growing federal deficit and costly programs.
Don’t just expound on what you oppose, he said.
“Advocate what you propose, that which you want to see happen,” Traficant told hundreds of area residents attending a Taxed Enough Already party Saturday afternoon in Firestone Park.
Traficant, released from federal prison Sept. 2 after serving seven years for racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice and tax evasion, was the last of seven speakers to address the event, and it was clear that many in the crowd were there to hear him speak.
He was greeted with a standing ovation as he walked from a park pavilion to the rally, and there were plenty of “Welcome Home Jimbo” signs and T-shirts to be seen.
He was greeted by many as a hero, and there were calls for him to run again for the House of Representatives or the Senate, and, although he addressed those calls indirectly, he offered no commitment.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said in response.
“If I do go, you don’t have to give me any money. You just get me those votes,” he said, as the crowd roared its approval.
Members of Tri-County TEA said the crowd numbered around 1,500, but a more conservative estimate put the number at closer to 800.
Ed Wilhelm of Austintown, owner of YCS Concrete in Youngstown, said he came to hear Traficant speak, but he also supports the TEA party.
“I’m saying that we’re taxed enough,” he said, as he sat waiting for the rally to begin.
Wilhelm said he opposed the stimulus package for the banking and auto industries.
Other countries ended their economic depressions by a cash infusion to the public who spent the money they were given. That’s how it should have been done here, he said.
Traficant said he might disagree on certain issues with some of the other speakers, but he had high praise for their daring to stand up in public to tell their stories and say what they think.
They all agreed on one thing, and Traficant voiced it:
“It’s time the American people take the government back, because you don’t own it anymore,” he told the crowd.
That was a common rallying cry among the speakers who included Dr. Chuck McGowan, a retired physician; Dave Johnson, Columbiana County Republican Party chairman and a small business owner; grocer Henry Nemenz; Dr. Donald Allen, a veterinarian and small business owner; Roger Martig, a dairy farmer; and Bill Johnson, executive director of the Ohio Sales Tax Reform Incentive.
It’s time to announce loudly and clearly that, “We’re taking back our government,” Bill Johnson said, claiming that politicians aren’t listening to the people.
“They spend and spend and we pay and pay,” he said.
McGowan challenged the Obama administration’s claims about its proposed federal health-care plan, charging that it will limit health care to senior citizens and increase the cost of health care.
Obama is pushing socialism, McGowan said.
Dave Johnson called for “a revolt at the polls,” urging people to get organized now to recruit responsible candidates for all levels of government.
Nemenz predicted that the proposed “cap-and-trade” legislation that would penalize all emitters of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will destroy small business in this country, just as big-box stores have destroyed American jobs by importing products made in overseas manufacturing facilities.
Allen suggested that it is time to tell the elected officials to, “Do as we ask, or clear out your desk.” Cap and trade will filter down to the individual, he said, predicting that it will result in higher costs for every service that people require.
Ken Hale, a welder from McDonald, attended the rally with his wife, Lorraine, and son, Zach, 12.
“People have lost their voice over the years,” he said, adding that it has become “big government telling us what we can and can’t do.”
He came to the TEA party to voice his opinion about big government and big spending, he said.
Lorraine, sitting behind a large cardboard sign that said, “Obama lies,” said she is concerned the president has put the country trillions of dollars in debt.
Our children and grandchildren will have to pay it off, she said, estimating that her 12-year-old son’s share of that debt is already $38,000, and he doesn’t even have a job.
By Paul Singer The Associated PressCLEVELAND — Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. was convicted Thursday of taking bribes and kickbacks from businessmen and his own staff after a raucous trial in which the fiery congressman insisted on serving as his own lawyer.
The nine-term Democrat was found guilty of all 10 federal charges he faced, including racketeering, bribery and fraud. The jury also ordered him to forfeit $96,000 in ill-gotten gains.
I fail to see the connection here. I don't support crooks, I don't knowingly vote for crooks, if someone I supported is exposed as a crook I will no longer support them and will be in line to push for their punishment........but I deserve what I get if a crook gets elected?
My America doesn't belong in any "peanut gallery". That has got to be the saddest statement I've ever seen on this board, especially coming from someone who normally displays a level head and cognizant thought process. I refuse to just roll over and give up.
Chad
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"We can have no '50-50' allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all."-- Theodore Roosevelt
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Ecclesiasties 10:2
The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican........I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats
All your heroes are corrupt...it is time for America to sit down.
