PRESIDENT GETS AN 'F'

On a day when the President yet again tried to blame George Bush for his own shortcomings, international criticism of Barack Obama has started to work its way around the world. But before we get to that, let's talk about the President.

Have you noticed that every time something goes wrong it was the other guy's fault? And every time something he perceives to have gone well, he takes the full credit for it? It's an interesting trait in our Commander in Chief.

Today he said that the system that had been in place for years (yep - under George W Bush) - had clearly failed. Now wait just a damn minute Mr President. You've been in office for a year! If the system was so bad, why the heck didn't you change it? It is being run by YOUR people.

Maybe it has been changed by YOUR PEOPLE? Clearly it worked from 2002 to the end of 2008. Perhaps it is YOU? Certainly your Secretary of Homeland Security is an actual 100% certified moron, so perhaps she had something to do with it?

What you said is something like this (and based on my personal experience as a High School Tennis Coach). When I was appointed to be Head Coach of my local High School's tennis team I brought in my own assistants. I introduced a brand new pre season conditioning program. I had my players focus on winning. I had my players support each other and act like a team. I had my players socialize together and brought a team that had literally hated each other the season before I took over (and went 6-7) into a team that loved each other by the end of my first year (which we finished 10-3).

IF HOWEVER, something had gone wrong and I were to take my lead from you Mr President, then I would have been sat down with my Athletics Director and said "Those plays from the old coach really hurt us this year". He'd of fired me - just like we are going to fire you in 2012 and just like we're going to fire your assistants on November 2, 2010!

But back to the international criticism. Today I was reading the Daily Telegraph as I often do and discovered that Toby Harnden had given the President an "F" when it comes to protecting the American people. He wrote:

There is no more solemn duty for an American commander-in-chief than the marshalling of "all elements of American power" - the phrase Obama himself used on Monday - to protect the people of the United States. In that key respect, Obama failed on Christmas Day, just as President George W. Bush failed on September 11th (though he succeeded in the seven years after that).

Yes, the buck stops in the Oval Office. Obama may have rather smugly given himself a "B+" for his 2009 performance but he gets an F for the events that led to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab boarding a Detroit-bound plane in Amsterdam with a PETN bomb sewn into his underpants. He said today that a "systemic failure has occurred". Well, he's in charge of that system.

My point exactly Toby!

You can read his entire article right here.

If you'd like to comment on this blog you can do so by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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CHRISTMAS DAY TERROR ATTACK! PRESIDENT REMAINS ON VACATION!

Why is the President still in Hawaii? Where exactly is Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano?

Once again, the country is under attack by people who believe the only good American is a dead American.


Once again a Muslim terrorist - one already on the no fly list - has tried to murder thousands of American citizens - this time on Christmas Day no less.


All we are told is that the President has been briefed and the Homeland Security Secretary is monitoring the situation.

Excuse me? Are they frikkin serious? Yes I know it's Christmas. Yes I know they want to spend time with their families, but frankly NO ONE MADE THEM TAKE THE POSITIONS THEY HOLD. The fact is they do hold them and they are not doing their jobs right now.


WE ARE AT WAR!

And the enemy just launched another attack against this country. If you don't know, then briefly the plane which has Delta markings but is listed as Northwest Flight 253, originated in Nigeria and then stopped in Amsterdam before heading to Detroit.

As it was landing, one passenger - 23-year-old Abdul Mudallah (hmm - muslim man in his 20s or 30s- hopefully we didn't profile him), tried to set off an explosive device, but it failed to work. It is not clear if it was the passengers who did subdue him, who prevented the explosion or not.

What is clear is that Mudallah suffered second degree burns. What is clear is that he has strong links to Al Quieda. What is clear is that he IS CURRENTLY on our no fly list.

Where is Janet Napolitano again? Oh yeah - she's been "briefed" and she's "monitoring" the situation. How about you get your ass to the office Janet and start figuring out how a known terrorist ends up on a US Flagged plane heading here on Christmas Day? I guess you're taking your lead from the President!

And there are still people reading this who think we are safer now then when we had George Bush in the White House!

Just a quick reminder. After 9-11 there were NO TERRORIST ATTACKS on US soil for the remainder of his Presidency. In less than a year Obama - who thinks we should talk to the nice terrorists and move them to prisons in mainland communities and try them as regular criminals and actually, don't call them terrorists and don't mention the war on terror!!!ARRRGGHHHHHH!! Yeah - since that guy came into office, we have had TWO ATTACKS in less than 12 months.

If you'd like to comment on this blog you can e-mail me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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CHARLIE CRIST FINALLY AGREES TO DEBATE RUBIO

DAILY PATRIOT EXCLUSIVE!

After missing his appointment with me last Friday, Florida Governor, Charlie Crist did show up today for my exclusive interview with him. You can listen to the whole thing RIGHT HERE.

Overall the Governor confirmed that he still thinks he was right to take the stimulus money; tried to take the Conservative ground from his rival, former Florida Speaker Marco Rubio and told us how he was optimistic that SunRail was going to make a profit (I had a laugh over that one!).

But perhaps the biggest surprise is that when I challenged him to debate Rubio on a special show that I will be hosting on 540 WFLA, he agreed to do so. This is the first time that the Governor has agreed to debate his political rival and we will be fixing a date as soon as we get into the New Year.

We clashed over how Government spending can lead to real jobs, Stimulus Two, unemployment (now at 11.5% in Florida - the highest in more than 30 years), free enterprise and particularly SunRail. I specifically asked him (twice!) about who will pay the Bill for SunRail when it's not being subsidised Federally and when it's losing money. The Governor was quite convinced that SunRail (and TriRail) were going to make a profit. "I'm an optimist," he said.

Governor Crist confirmed that he would lead the charge for offshore drilling in Florida as long as it's "far enough, clean enough and safe enough. Its the kind of thing that we have a duty to at least explore," he said.

He did side step my term limits question, saying he would be "open to that" when I asked him if he was willing to limit himself to two terms in the Senate if he were to be elected. He did say that he thought Florida's GOP candidate for Senate WOULD be a Conservative - and he said he was that Conservative. "I've been a Conservative my entire life in the role of Ronald Reagan."

Overall it was a lively interview and I am obviously grateful to the Governor for taking the time out to do it.

If you would like to comment on this blog, please e-mail me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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CHARLIE CRIST LIVE - TAKE TWO!!

Once again I have received confirmation that Florida Governor, Charlie Crist, will be live and exclusive on the 50,000 Watt front porch tomorrow at 8.40am.

I have a lot to ask the Governor and I already have a lot of questions from the audience, but if there is some burning issue that you would like me to put to Charlie Crist, please e-mail me at simontalkshow@gmail.com and I will do my best to get to them all.

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MY PRIVATE CALL WITH THE GOVERNOR

So I was driving home from the studio today when my cell went off. "Simon Conway" I said as I answered it. "Simon - it's Charlie Crist here".

It would seem there was a bit of a mix up in scheduling so although I have three e-mail confirmations of the Governor appearing on the show AND a call at my home on Thursday night from his Press Secretary, Charlie Crist did not appear today as advertised.

He was extremely apologetic and we are trying to get him back on the schedule for next week.

I am personally grateful to the Governor for taking the time to call me. We will get him on the air and ask him all those questions that my audience e-mailed to me today.

If you would like to comment on this blog, you can do so by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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CHARLIE CRIST EXCLUSIVE!

Florida Governor, Charlie Crist, will be my guest tomorrow (Friday) as I again fill in for Bud Hedinger on 540 WFLA between 6am and 9am

I have just received written confirmation that Charlie Crist will appear on the 50,000 Watt Front Porch tomorrow. There are no pre-approved questions and no subjects that I have been told not to cover by his office.

We will of course be covering the Senate race as well as other topics. What would you want to ask the Governor? You can e-mail me at simontalkshow@gmail.com and I will do my best to put your question to Governor Crist.

Don't forget - tune in tomorrow (FRIDAY) between 6am and 9am to hear my exclusive interview with Florida Governor Charlie Crist.

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REMEMBER THE ALAMO!

I know I will!

The system I use to post blogs onto this site doesn't allow me to insert the pictures where I would like to within the text, so just a quick re-cap. The top picture is of course the most famous one of the Alamo. Underneath that is the dedication carved onto the memorial which sits outside the walls.

It reads: In memory of the heroes who sacrificed their lives at The Alamo, March 6 1836, in the defense of Texas. "They chose never to surrender nor retreat; these brave hearts with flag still proudly waving, perished in the flames of immortality that their high sacrifice might lead to the founding of this Texas."

Underneath that we have the flag of Texas, waving proudly on top of an adjacent building and then finally - ME - something I almost never do, but here is a picture of me taken yesterday on this hallowed ground.

I learnt a lot yesterday. I discovered that the Alamo fell on my birthday! No, not in 1836. I'm old, but not quite that old! But the date is my birthday. It was a special and instant connection for me. It was a special day on so many levels. I also discovered that more than 10% of the defenders were in fact English. I truly had no idea. There were some Irish and Scots and even a couple of Germans, but there were a LOT of English. It's kind of funny to think that the people of the US and the UK have fought side by side in the name of freedom for so long - and so soon after that first fight for freedom FROM the British was successfully concluded north of the Texas border.

The Alamo. What do those words conjure up for you? Before yesterday it was about heroism of people who against overwhelming odds, stood and fought. It was courage or stupidity, I was never really sure which. But after yesterday, I gained a new understanding. It was about freedom.

There are few things that I would lay my life down for. My daughters are at the very top of this very short list. Right behind that though, comes freedom. I would fight and die so that others would be able to live in freedom in this greatest of nations. I know that now. I thought that before yesterday, but I know it to be true today.

You see within hours of the Alamo falling, news of this great battle had begun to spread across Texas and men by the hundreds rallied to the rebel cause.

"REMEMBER THE ALAMO" was the battle cry that rang out across the prairies. And it was a shout that made the world shudder.

I knew the battle cry when I was a young boy in England. I didn't know what it meant then and frankly, until yesterday I never truly understood what it meant at all.

What does this have to do with today? Well remarkably we have that same spirit in our fighting men and women. They are all prepared to die in the name of freedom. Remember Mikey Monsoor and William "Spanky" Gibson who I have written about in these pages. They would all defend a weak fortress against ridiculous odds so that you and I were able to continue living in freedom.

The major difference today is that we don't have the leaders we did then. No doubt our President would have felt it better to talk to General Santa Anna even though he had repeatedly displayed he was not worthy of trust. Even though he had repeatedly double crossed us and spoken out of both sides of his mouth. He would not have supplied the additional men requested by the Commander of the Alamo, William B. Travis. He would not be in awe of some of the defenders who laid down their lives that day. Men like Jim Bowie and frontiersman David Crockett. He probably wouldn't have let the siege continue for the 13 days that it did. He would have wanted a cut of date. Any of that sound familiar?

And he would never understand some of the last words I am going to leave you with today - written by Daniel Cloud on the day after Christmas in 1835 while en route to San Antonio and the Alamo.

"If we succeed, the country is ours. It is immense in extent, and fertile in its soil and will amply reward if we toil. If we fail, death in the cause of liberty and humanity is not cause for shuddering. Our rifles are by our side, and choice guns they are. We know what awaits us and we are prepared to meet it."

REMEMBER THE ALAMO Mr President. Freedom and humanity are causes worthy of fighting for. Unfortunately I don't believe that YOU believe either are true. You have paid lip service to your commanders and you have placed American lives in harms way for politics - not for victory. Shame on you sir! Shame on you.

If you would like to comment on this blog you can do so by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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CHRISTMAS AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

I am grateful to one of my regular e-mailers for the story I am about to tell you, but before I even get there, let me tell you where I am. I am in Texas right now and later on today, I will be going to the Alamo for the first time in my life.


I think the Alamo is one of those touchstones that we all need to visit at least once in our lives. Like Pearl Harbor and Ground Zero, I believe the Alamo will renew my understanding of what it means to be an American. I think of the three places I just mentioned, the Alamo will probably fill me with the spirit of being a Citizen of the greatest country in the history of the planet more than the other two. But, I don't want to pre-judge it. I will certainly be blogging about it tomorrow.


So let's get back to this - and more proof that the America we all love is still out there and has in fact been shaken from a sleep by what is taking place in DC.


Here's what my e-mailer sent me about the pictures I reproduce here: Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine .. The owner, Morrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one the poorest parts of the state.



There are no crowds when this happens. There is no advanced publicity and Mr Worcester has never served in any branch of our military. In 2006, he told the Washington Post: "It's just my way to say thank you and I've got a lot to be thankful for." When he started Worcester Wreaths in 1971, he sold 500 wreaths. This year, that number will top 500,000, mostly to the Maine-based retailer L.L. Bean.

After doing this quietly for a few years, Worcester received an e-mail which contained his story. But before the story and underneath the two pictures I print here were the following words.

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.

Know the line has held, your job is done.

Rest easy, sleep well.

Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.

Peace, peace, and farewell...

That e-mail became viral and after everyone had done their fact checking and found it to be true, others started to join in. And now there is a website dedicated to conducting similar ceremonies around the country - http://wreathsacrossamerica.org/ - a web site that coordinates similar rituals at more than 200 military cemeteries around the country.

"The veterans are going to get their due," Worcester told the Washington Post back in '06. "It's going to be quite something."

If you'd like to comment on this blog, you can do so my e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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I'VE LIVED THROUGH WHERE WE'RE HEADED

"I'VE LIVED THROUGH WHERE WE'RE HEADED"

You've probably heard me say these words before - especially if you've ever heard me on the radio. The truth is that I fear we Americans are indeed headed for European-style socialism which is something I grew up with and ultimately left behind when I became a proud United States Citizen.

Well this morning I received a reminder from the land of my birth of one of the fundamental differences between the UK and that "give me" mentality and the personal responsibility that marks Americans out as something to be proud of.

The following is an e-mail I received from someone I had not heard from in three years. You will note that there are no questions about me, my health, my family or anything else. I remind you, THREE YEARS have passed since I last heard from this person. I have changed a couple of "British" words for American ones and I have done some currency conversion as well. Apart from that, this is cut and paste including the spelling issues!

Hi Simon

I will come straight to the point- in short I was laid off two weeks ago. This will compromise me severly on the 18th of December, as this has created a cash flow problem. Could please help me out with $5,000.00 via wire transfer. I realise this is unorthodox and totally out of the blue. I have been promised roles ( I am a contractor) and they subsequently will not materalize untill the New Year- by which time I will financially be back on track- so to speak. This is the wire information _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ For me personally ( among many) this year has been a humungous disaster- full of false promises and false starts. In- fact the last time we spoke, I told you I was planning to move over to the States. That is still very much on the cards, it has simply been put on hold. In the mean- time if you could get back to me on this, I would very much appreciate it.

So there you have it - the first communication in three years. The last communication by the way was about his plan to come into the US as a tourist and then not go home. I explained to him that illegal immigration was not something I could condone.

Anyway, I digress. The following is my reply to him. Here's hoping some of the "give me" Liberals are paying attention!

Hi ?????, and nice to hear from you after so long even if your news is not great. I am simply not in a financial position to be able to help, but I also want to point something else out to you. I think you have been living under the yoke of socialism for too long. I have responsibility to my family. My daughters are both at university and my job is to make sure they get out of there without huge debt. So far I am fulfilling my promise.

The thing is, I would quite literally go and flip burgers on the night shift at MacDonald’s to take care of my bills and to support my girls if that is what I had to do. I do understand that personal responsibility is knocked out of you when you have lived with socialism literally since the moment of your birth, but you aspire to be an American. And despite what President Obama would have you believe, this country will not be fundamentally changed by the time he gets his butt kicked out of office in 2012.

If you ever make it here then you will find out very quickly that you have to stand on your own two feet. I know a professional woman who sold dog food on the weekends and also rented out two rooms in her home to total strangers so she could make her mortgage payment. THAT is part of what being an American is all about. It's called personal responsibility. That story repeats itself over and over among REAL Americans.

If that is what you wish to be then I again urge you to come in through the front door and to completely understand the history of this great nation. Until you truly understand what the Founding Fathers intended for America then you have no reason to live here.

Finally, December 18 is more than a week away and it leads me to two questions. Are you not receiving government hand outs? Are they not paying your rent? And more importantly from my perspective, have you not been pounding the streets trying to find work? You say you were laid off two weeks ago – there has to have been hundreds of temporary jobs in all the Malls and high streets of London in the run up to Christmas. Did you even try and find one?

If I was in a position to help you I would do so, but the fact that I am not and the fact that you asked, both have enabled me to try and help you understand the country you wish to live in and be a part of one day. I really hope you find a way through your troubles and I also really hope that if you ever make it here you will become a truly great American.

Best wishes

Simon

It is possible that you think I was wrong in my response and I'd love to hear from you about that. I took it as a teaching moment for someone who has repeatedly told me he wants to be an American. I just wanted him to understand that REAL Americans don't have their hands held out to the Government. REAL Americans take responsibility for their own lives.

If you'd like to comment on this blog you can do so by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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WHERE DO WE EVEN BEGIN?

It is a rare thing for me to be at a loss for words. It is also rare for me to be indecisive. Today I am a little of both. There is so much stuff out there - yes stuff! - that it is a little hard to know where to begin.

I'd grab the popcorn and a drink and put your feet up as you start to read this. We're going to be here for a while.

We could go with Tiger. Eleven women and counting apparently and insulting e-mails to one of them about his wife. We could talk about Gatorade dropping the Tiger drink and could even ask if he will ever play golf again at a professional level (yes - he will).

We could talk about an apparent deal between Senate Democrats to drop the public option from health care reform to get it passed. Harry Reid looked so miserable last night when he made an announcement of some kind of deal, but then again Harry always looks like he's just been told he has three hours to live so its a little hard to tell.

We could talk about the CONVICTED FELON in the White House (yes, another one!) who is apparently the architect of health care reform. We could ask how all these literal criminals (this one was convicted of a $2.3m bank fraud) are allowed to get close to the President. We could even talk about how one of the President's closest advisers - Axlerod - could even think about saying this Felon's past doesn't make him a bad person!

We could talk about Global Warming and how our media simply refuses to do its job. This is one I will come back to again and again in these pages because it places the future of our country in real and potentially terminal danger. Once the press stops doing its job - either by regulation as in places like Venezuela and Russia - or voluntarily which is what is happening right here, right now, then the most important check on power is removed.

I was extremely proud to tell people I was a journalist when I was a very young man. I was respected because of it. Now I look on these people with disgust. Why do they continue to ignore the conspiracy to change the data to prove man made global warming which simply does not exist? Why? Is it embarrassment because they bought into it so completely, or have they been paid off? I really wonder.

We could talk about the nearly $6 million in stimulus money that was paid to two firms run by Mark Penn, Hillary Clinton’s pollster in 2008. Apparently it went to preserve jobs. THREE JOBS to be precise. No huge outcry about that either.

We could move to Florida and talk about Orlando's commuter rail which was passed by the Florida Legislature today. A Republican Legislature which has produced a Bill for a Republican Governor to sign (and he will) which demands Federal stimulus money for a rail project that NO ONE WILL USE and then when that money dries up, the State will have to fund in order to keep on the tracks because its shortfall in profit terms will also be huge. I repeat, these are REPUBLICANS and frankly their actions today are REPUGNANT!

So I considered all of that before deciding on the most important story of the day. And I take my lead from another Republican. He is in fact Texas Rep. Joe Barton, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Now I love Texas, but this guy needs to be thrown out of office. You see with everything facing our nation right now (please note I did not even touch on the economy or the war in Afghanistan, or the President's Nobel prize for peace which was followed by him finally announcing a troop surge, or even the myriad of problems we are facing as a nation), the most important issue according to Joe is whether or not College Football should have playoffs to decide which two teams fight for the National Championship.

Right on Joe! As a friend of mine said this morning over a different subject - ARE YOU ON CRACK? Now my personal preference would indeed be a playoff series, but for Congress to waste time and money on sticking their noses into college football at THIS time in our history, simply defies belief. Not only that, but Barton knows he has ZERO CHANCE of getting the legislation through the House. So why bother?

Is his profile not high enough in his Texas District? Is it even smart when Texas just made it to the National Championship against Alabama on January 7? CAN WE PLEASE HAVE OUR MONEY BACK FOR YOUR SALARY, JOE because you have clearly lost your freakin' mind!

AP reported the following today: At a May hearing, Barton warned college football officials that unless they took action toward a playoff system within two months, Congress would probably move on his bill. It took a little longer, but the timing of this week's vote isn't exactly a coincidence. "Part of it is because BCS is in the news," Barton said. He said he hasn't lobbied subcommittee members much but doesn't think there is much resistance to the idea that there should be a playoff in college football. But there is opposition to the bill. Subcommittee member Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., said he would prefer to see affected parties work out a playoff system themselves rather than have Congress do it.

Maybe I can forgive Joe just a touch, because after all he is merely following in the footsteps of the President - THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!!! - who spoke very soon after his election in support of playoffs - "I'm going to throw my weight around a little bit. I think it's the right thing to do."

My point exactly - where do we even begin today?

If you'd like to comment on this blog you can do so by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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How many reminders do we need?

"December 7, 1941. A date that will live in infamy"

Perhaps one of the most famous lines in American history, marking the day that Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese and a date which saw the united States enter World War II.

It is interesting to note that these famous words by President Franklin D. Roosevelt were a last minute change of mind. Originally "infamy" was going to be "world history.

It is also interesting to think about the different America we lived in back then. The "don't mess with us" attitude that meant when we went to war, we did so to kick butt, to score a complete and total victory and to remind the world that we are not a nation to be trifled with.

Can you even in your wildest dreams imagine FDR standing before Congress and saying "we are going to war and we will be bringing the troops home in 18 months". It is such complete nonsense that he might not even have made it out of the building back then.

These days we have a President who thinks that particular military strategy is sound. What happened to us? How did we become this "PC-infested" shadow of THE United States of America?

I thought about not mentioning today's politics as I pay tribute to the men and women of our greatest generation. To the heroes who remain buried on board the USS Arizona (seen above on December 8, 1941), but I somehow think it is not possible to ignore.

Last week I posted a blog all about a 95-year-old Veteran called Harold Estes. Harold lives at the northern end of Pearl Harbor and served this nation for 23 years. Harold had a few things to say to the President which I reproduced. So in the end, I felt if it was important enough for Harold, then it was important enough for me.

Today I honor those who died in the Pearl Harbor attack. I honor those who died in the remaining years of World War Two and I honor those who have ever died defending and protecting our freedom to live in the greatest country the world has ever known.

THANK YOU!

Without you I would certainly not have been born. Without you the lights in Europe and the rest of the world would have gone dark as the planet endured pure satanic evil. Thank you and may God bless all of you.

To The President I have this - in the words of Harold Estes - "SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT".

If you wish to comment on this blog you may do so by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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NOW NASA ACCUSED IN CLIMATEGATE

And Boxer calls whistle blower a criminal hacker

The climate hoax continues to go largely unreported by the media in this country, but things are most certainly happening. Now it appears that our very own NASA has been implicated in a conspiracy of truly worldwide proportions.

The Washington Times reported yesterday that a US scholar - Christopher Horner - has given the Space Agency until the end of the year to grant his two year Freedom of Information Act request for research detailing NASA's climate data and to explain why the agency altered it's own numbers. Another one? Altering numbers?

This comes on the back of leaked e-mails and documents by a whistle blower at the UK's Climate Research Unit showed that the University of East Anglia scientists manipulated similar data and has now destroyed the very source material that would prove they did it. That unit's director has now stepped down.

Horner - a fellow with the Competitive Enterprise Institute - says he suspects NASA's information is "highly damaging".

Meanwhile Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif) is so out of touch and so rattled by the exposing of this global hoax, that she is trying to shift focus onto another non-existent thing - a hacker! Now while it is true that the first information to come out about the e-mails did indeed suggest that a hacker had found a way into the University's system, it became clear very quickly - by LAST FRIDAY in fact - that the e-mails and documents had come from a whistle blower - someone who is protected by LAW in both this country and in the UK.

But this did not stop Boxer from saying THIS WEEK perhaps the craziest words on the subject to date: "You call it 'Climategate'; I call it 'E-mail-theft-gate.'"

Thanks Barbara. That kind of thing shows exactly how sharp you are in this regard. But of course, you weren't done. You made yet another attempt to show us that the hacking - which as I've already said DID NOT HAPPEN - is the most serious part of this.

"We may well have a hearing on this, we may not. We may have a briefing for senators, we may not. Part of our looking at this will be looking at a criminal activity which could have well been coordinated. This is a crime," Boxer said.

Yes - it is a crime. You are just picking the wrong one. The crime is the hoax perpetrated on the people of planet earth. The crime is that the United States Senate STILL intends to try and get Cap and Trade passed to save the planet from a problem THAT DOES NOT EXIST!

And so now we have the President about to head out to 'Hoaxenhagen' to both sign away our freedom in a treaty which has a one world government at its core, and to commit us to reducing our emissions so we can bring the planet's temperature down - while screwing the American taxpayer in a way that has never happened in the history of our great nation EVER BEFORE!

One more time - WHERE ARE OUR JOURNALISTS? Parents of college students taking journalism. I'd be checking with your university right about now to make sure you are getting the education for your child that you are paying for. I suspect strongly that you are not.

If you'd like to comment on this blog you can do so by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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HOW DARE YOU MR PRESIDENT?

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

HOW DARE YOU MR PRESIDENT?

Yes - I'm talking to you. That's still legal in this country for now. HOW DARE YOU? How dare you put one single American life at risk in a war you have no intention of winning? How dare you say in one sentence that it is in our "vital national interest" and in the very next sentence say but we are coming home in 18 months?

You've already told us you have a problem with the word "victory" and so now you are paying lip service to being a war time leader and you are using American lives for your personal politics. I repeat...

How dare you?

Maybe you've heard of one of this nation's greatest ever generals - General Douglas MacArthur - who famously said "In war there is no substitute for victory." Perhaps you feel you know better than him when it comes to military matters? Clearly you think you know better than the very general YOU YOURSELF appointed because you failed to deliver to him what he told you he needed.

But it is MacArthur I keep coming back to who also said "It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it." Did you ever attend a history class Mr President? Did they teach you these famous and oh so true comments by one of the greatest Americans to have ever lived?

His words should be permanently engraved on the walls of the Oval Office as you decide the fate of our brave men and women who go off to fight for freedom under a Commander in Chief who apparently has no idea what the mission is.

What is the mission Mr President? What is of "vital national interest" that will not be there in 18 months? Do you really believe that the Taliban will be defeated and the terrorist garbage who I refuse to give a name to, be driven from the land or better still, DEAD, when you can't even come up with the troop numbers YOUR GENERAL has begged and pleaded for?

And what happens if in 18 months time (hmmm...there might be a Presidential election underway here at that time, obviously that had NO BEARING whatsoever on your decision) if the Taliban are still there and if the terrorists are still there as well? Will you change your mind or will that be determined by how well you are doing in the polls?

It was perhaps the very worst speech you have ever given. Speaking as a writer it was so clear that there were sections of the speech where the teleprompter told you to "pause for applause" but there was no applause. Just uncomfortable silence.

There were numerous people falling asleep - ASLEEP - because they clearly didn't believe a word you were saying. They were in the presence of the President of the United States - in fact our first ever "rock star" President - and they were falling asleep!

Chris Matthews from your 'State run MSNBC' described your visit to West Point as entering the "enemy camp". Has any President in the history of this great nation been described in that way? When people who get "tingles" running down their legs when they think about you, to describe your visit in that fashion, it is perhaps time for you to wake up and understand the significance of the home you share with your family right now at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

"Vital national interest". Really Mr President? You were asked for 60,000. You were told 40,000 minimum and you gave 30,000 to support this "vital national interest". I am ashamed today. I am ashamed that we have a President who is either so dumb - which by the way I do not believe - or so self absorbed (which I do believe) that he is willing to place American lives on the line for (a) something he doesn't believe in and (b) so he can't be accused in some forthcoming election of being unable to make a decision.

Disgraceful! You clearly don't want victory in Afghanistan and so you MUST do the right thing.

BRING THEM HOME!

I still have hope that you will see the light. I have hope that you understand that this nation was born under the grace of God. I still have hope that you understand that this is still - despite your best efforts - the greatest nation in the history of the planet. I still have hope that you understand there is NO WAR WE CANNOT WIN if the will to win it exists.

If you see that light and understand what office you hold and want to crush the last breath out of every single Taliban and terrorist in Afghanistan, then send 60,000 with a seek and destroy mission. Better still - a seek and turn them into dust mission. Our brave men and women could well be home in 18 months if you chose that route.

Simon L Conway
Still a proud American Citizen

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SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT!

I am grateful to a very good friend of mine for forwarding this e-mail to me. I saw it about two weeks ago, but at that time I was unable to confirm whether or not it is authentic. I even tried to find the author in Hawaii and have him on our Thanksgiving Show on 540 WFLA.

And then just today I received it on e-mail again. This time when I checked it I was able to come up with the following. The author was featured in Fore 'n Aft Magazine and its publisher confirmed that Harold Estes is both real and wrote the letter. He in fact dictated it to a secretary, but personally signed it.

It speaks for itself and needs to further additions from me apart from to thank Mr Estes for his incredible service to our nation.

Dear President Obama,

My name is Harold Estes, approaching 95 on December 13 of this year. People meeting me for the first time don't believe my age because I remain wrinkle free and pretty much mentally alert. I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1934 and served proudly before, during and after WW II retiring as a Master Chief Bos'n Mate. Now I live in a "rest home" located on the western end of Pearl Harbor , allowing me to keep alive the memories of 23 years of service to my country.

One of the benefits of my age, perhaps the only one, is to speak my mind, blunt and direct even to the head man. So here goes. I am amazed, angry and determined not to see my country die before I do, but you seem hell bent not to grant me that wish. I can't figure out what country you are the president of.You fly around the world telling our friends and enemies despicable lies like:

• "We're no longer a Christian nation"
• "America is arrogant"
• Your wife even announced to the world. . .
• "America is mean-spirited."

Please tell her to try preaching that nonsense to 23 generations of our war dead buried all over the globe who died for no other reason than to free a whole lot of strangers from tyranny and hopelessness.)

I'd say shame on the both of you, but I don't think you like America, nor do I see an ounce of gratefulness in anything you do, for the obvious gifts this country has given you. To be without shame or gratefulness is a dangerous thing for a man sitting in the White House.

After 9/11 you said: "America hasn't lived up to her ideals." Which ones did you mean? Was it the notion of personal liberty that 11,000 farmers and shopkeepers died for to win independence from the British? Or maybe the ideal that no man should be a slave to another man, that 500,000 men died for in the Civil War? I hope you didn't mean the ideal 470,000 fathers, brothers, husbands, and a lot of fellas I knew personally died for in WWII, because we felt real strongly about not letting any nation push us around, because we stand for freedom.

I don't think you mean the ideal that says equality is better than discrimination. You know the one that a whole lot of white people understood when they helped to get you elected. Take a little advice from a very old geezer, young man. Shape up and start acting like an American. If you don't, I'll do what I can to see you get shipped out of that fancy rental on Pennsylvania Avenue .

You were elected to lead not to bow, apologize and kiss the hands of murderers and corrupt leaders who still treat their people like slaves. And just who do you think you are telling the American people not to jump to conclusions and condemn that Muslim major who killed 13 of his fellow soldiers and wounded dozens more.

You mean you don't want us to do what you did when that white cop used force to subdue that black college professor in Massachusetts , who was putting up a fight? You don't mind offending the police calling them stupid but you don't want us to offend Muslim fanatics by calling them what they are, terrorists.

One more thing. I realize you never served in the military and never had to defend your country with your life, but you're the Commander-in-Chief now, son. Do your job. When your battle-hardened field General asks you for 40,000 more troops to complete the mission, give them to him. But if you're not in this fight to win, then get out.

The life of one American soldier is not worth the best political strategy you're thinking of. You could be our greatest president because you face the greatest challenge ever presented to any president. You're not going to restore American greatness by bringing back our bloated economy. That's not our greatest threat. Losing the heart and soul of who we are as Americans is our big fight now.

And I sure as hell don't want to think my president is the enemy in this final battle.

Sincerely,
Harold B. Estes

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CLIMATE HOAX - TEMP DATA DUMPED

On Friday of last week, I was hosting BHL on 540 WFLA and my guest was one of the world's leading authorities on the planet's climate - Lord Christopher Monckton - who apart from anything else, is the former Science Adviser to Margaret Thatcher's government.

You can listen to that interview by CLICKING HERE.

One of the things we kept returning to was the now proven hoax of the whole Global Warming fiasco - a problem that could easily lead to the biggest tax bill in the planet's history in the form of Cap and Trade, and perhaps more importantly, the president going over to Copenhagen and signing a treaty that would cede United States sovereignty to an unelected world government body.

A whistle blower released more than 1,000 e-mails and more than 70 documents which prove that the data on temperature has been manipulated to prove a lie - that the planet is warming. The reality is that the planet is cooling.

And now today we find that the same scientists who wrote the 70 plus documents and exchanged the 1,000 plus e-mails, destroyed the very source data they say proved their point - making it impossible for anyone to check their so-called work.

The UK's Sunday Times reported the following: SCIENTISTS at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have admitted throwing away much of the raw temperature data on which their predictions of global warming are based.

It means that other academics are not able to check basic calculations said to show a long-term rise in temperature over the past 150 years.


The UEA’s Climatic Research Unit (CRU) was forced to reveal the loss following requests for the data under Freedom of Information legislation.


The data were gathered from weather stations around the world and then adjusted to take account of variables in the way they were collected. The revised figures were kept, but the originals — stored on paper and magnetic tape — were dumped to save space when the CRU moved to a new building.

Look at this again - "The data were gathered from weather stations around the world and then adjusted . . ." Adjusted? really?

The only truly shocking thing left is that despite the lies; despite the proof of manipulation; despite the fact that those who wish to literally take over the world have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar; despite all of that, the mainstream media continues to ignore what I really think is perhaps the biggest story of the 21st century so far and the President still intends to go to Copenhagen and sign away our freedom.

I was a journalist in various places around the world for a very long time. I am simply left wondering where the journalists are right now? CNN thought the most important story over the weekend after Tiger Woods, was the bad spelling on the menus at the gate crashed White House State Dinner!

Give me a break!!!!!

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THE FIRST RECORDED FAILURE OF SOCIALISM - THE ORIGINAL THANKSGIVING

By now my regular readers will be aware that I'm a relatively new citizen of the United States (I promise I won't say that after January 1!) and as such I like to investigate the real history of our nation.

So we all know the traditional story of the original Thanksgiving, but it was a bit too perfect for me to accept on face value.

And so I decided to dig a little. And if you are going to really dig into that time, then you have to read the written account by William Bradford - the first Governor of the colony.

You see William wrote a book on the first 30 years of the colony known as "Of Plymouth Plantation". Simplistically the real story is this. Everyone worked the fields and the harvest and everything that was taken was put into a central store and all members of the colony could take what they needed from the store. Not a shock to me that this didn't work. You see what happened was that the lazy realized that they didn't have to do anything. They could sit back and live off the labors of others. And those doing the laboring were not at all happy about it and overall it simply didn't work. There was not enough food to go around. And Bradford realized this too - the slackers wanted to take but not to give. And they system meant they didn't have to.

And so William Bradford as Governor changed things. He gave each family their own piece of land an they could keep everything they needed from that piece of land and then - and only then - if there was anything left over, they could contribute it to a general store (we call this charity today). And once the success had been achieved, the Indians were invited over for some food. So to recap, Socialism failed and people went hungry. Capitalism replaced it and was a huge success. Liberals want to take us back to Socialism! Why is it so hard for the people of this country of all the countries in the world to get it?

What follows are the original words in case you think I'm making this up. The language is a little difficult to get through, but the message is clear. And if we knew this in the 1600s, then when did we forget it?

All this while no supply was heard of, neither knew they when they might expect any. So they began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtain a better crop than they had done, that they might not still thus languish in misery. At length, after much debate of things, the Governor (with the advice of the chiefest amongst them) gave way that they should set corn every man for his own particular, and in that regard trust to themselves; in all other thing to go on in the general way as before. And so assigned to every family a parcel of land, according to the proportion of their number, for that end, only for present use (but made no division for inheritance) and ranged all boys and youth under some family. This had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to set corn; which before would allege weakness and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.

The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato's and other ancients applauded by some of later times; and that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this community (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For the young men, that were most able and fit for labor and service, did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense. The strong, or man of parts, had no more in division of victuals and clothes than he that was weak and not able to do a quarter the other could; this was thought injustice. The aged and graver men to be ranked and equalized in labors and victuals, clothes etc., with the meaner and younger sort, thought it some indignity and disrespect unto them. And for men's wives to be commanded to do service for other men, as dressing their meat, washing their clothes, etc., they deemed it a kind of slavery, neither could many husbands well brook it. Upon the point all being to have alike, and all to do alike, they thought themselves in the like condition, and one as good as another; and so, if it did not cut off those relations that God hath set amongst men, yet it did at least much diminish and take off the mutual respects that should be preserved amongst them. And would have been worse if they had been men of another condition. Let none object this is men's corruption, and nothing to the course itself. I answer, seeing all men have this corruption in them, God in His wisdom saw another course fitter for them.

So with all of this in mind, it just leaves me to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Don't eat too much and please do remember those less fortunate than you.

If you'd like to comment on this blog, you can do so by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

Image courtesy everythingflex.com

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MORE DITHERING - NOW UK UPSET

Britain's Defense Secretary has launched a scathing and unprecedented attack on our President. Normally I would be upset about this and would be telling Bob Ainsworth that it is not smart to attack your closest ally.

But the thing is it is not just the American public that has become at best, uneasy, with the President over Afghanistan. It's not just the troops - exposed by lack of manpower and equipment - who are wondering what their Commander in Chief is up to. Now it's World Leaders who simply cannot understand a President who appoints his own General and then ignores his pleas for more troops over an almost four month period. This would be the same general that the president virtually ignored for months and months.

So we have a war that the President doesn't want to see "victory" in - HIS WORDS - and yet he continues to put our brave men and women in harms' way.

WHY?? EXPLAIN YOURSELF MR PRESIDENT!

And after you've explained yourself and we all understand that "victory" is a dirty word, then BRING THEM HOME!

The feeling of unease is spreading throughout the world. Does this guy (that would be OUR President) have a clue about what he is doing? Our allies have voters too and those voters are uneasy as their own nation's death toll rises. Britain - with some 9,000 troops in country - recently added another 500 in an effort to put pressure on the President.

And now he tells us he's reached a decision. The decision is he is going to make a decision on December 1! Well you get a "Standing O" from me Mr President! That's the kind of decisive leadership we all wanted. SHEESH!

Meanwhile Britain's Defence Secretary, Bob Ainsworth, is speaking of a “period of hiatus” in Washington - and a lack of clear direction - which had made it harder for UK Government ministers to persuade the British public to go on backing the Afghan mission in the face of a rising death toll.

Relations between the two countries are now strained which is actually kind of funny. You see the political power in charge in the UK is the equivalent to the Democrats. The close relationship between President Bush and Prime Minister Blair was extremely close - despite their political differences. Now we have the parties in power in the two countries coming from roughly the same place and we have strained relations with our best friend.

The most important thing here is not the President's inexperience; not his lack of judgement; not even his personal socialist agenda that threatens to take this great nation over the abyss. No the most important thing here are the brave men and women who daily fight for our freedom without anything even close to the full support of their own Commander in Chief.

Shame on you Mr President. Shame on you!

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PALIN CLOSES IN ON OBAMA

The LA Times is worried! Don't lose any sleep over that, but know it to be true! They've taken a look at the numbers and they don't like what they are seeing. Sarah Palin has silently closed the gap on the President in an imaginary 2012 election. Some polls even have her ahead!

But, this is the LA Times and so obviously it couldn't resist the urge to unleash the attack dogs again. Read this! "Not that it matters politically because obviously she's a female Republican dunce and he's obviously a male Democratic genius".

Now I have to remind you that I was a journalist in the UK. These days I get paid for my opinion and you read my opinion here, but back in the good old newspaper days, NO POLITICIAN knew my politics. The first lesson in the first class in journalism school used to be the Fox News mantra - "fair and balanced". I have no idea what they are teaching in our universities these days that would allow a comment like the one I just reprinted from the LA Times to appear in print. If one of my reporters had done that when I was editing three newspapers, I would have fired them.

Anyway - sidebar over and back to the main story here.

And the main story for me is quite simple. The left simply doesn't understand Sarah Palin or the way she resonates with the people. They have done everything they can think of to destroy this woman and indeed her family, and yet here we are on a nationwide book tour with people standing in line for more than 24 hours just to get 30 seconds with her while she signs the book.

How can this be? The leftist elite tells us she's an idiot. They make fun of her. They try oh so hard to prove she has a bad marriage. That she's a bad mom; that she was a terrible Governor; that she broke the law and on and on and on and on. And yet, the people love her. The left has NO RESPECT for the people, because of course the people are incredibly dumb. The leftist elite knows best what's good for you. You can't possibly know better than them. So how can the dumb American people simply not get it after everything the left has done to take Palin down?

It's real simple - SHE'S ONE OF US!

Not only that, but she communicates with us on an equal footing. She NEVER talks down to us. NEVER assumes she knows better than us. And NEVER tries to find a way around the CONSTITUTION. Wake up lefties! We're coming to take our country back. It starts in less than a year. Tick...tock...tick...tock...tick...tock...

I got side tracked again. The LA Times! They even reported today that the President's numbers are down to 48% while Palin's are up to 47%. It's also early enough in his Presidency for the Times to report the following without having an effect on his chances in 2012. "Although presidential incumbency has hardly kept Obama chained to the Oval Office, he and Joe Biden now own the U.S. economy, where their much-vaunted $787 billion economic stimulus package has so far stimulated unemployment to grow from 8% to more than 10%."

Amazing!

Having said that, the Times is also clearly concerned about the 2010 elections and shot across the President's bow today in an extremely direct way. "Historically, the White House party loses about 17 House seats in a normal midterm election cycle. That wouldn't change control of the House.

George W. Bush's GOP actually gained seats in 2002. Democrat Bill Clinton's first midterm election was a political Katrina, producing the Contract with America and so-called Republican revolution that saw the GOP take control of both houses of Congress after years of minority status.

Much of that turnaround was attributed to Clinton having run in 1992 as a centrist and then immediately pushed a more liberal agenda involving something called healthcare reform.
But that couldn't possibly happen again because of the popularity of Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi whose current favorable poll ratings are -- let's see here -- OMG, only about half of Palin's."

I repeat.....

Wake up lefties! We're coming to take our country back. It starts in less than a year. Tick...tock...tick...tock...tick...tock...

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Picture is a link from the LA Times

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SHARE THANKSGIVING WITH THE MILITARY

I've said it before - Thanksgiving is two words! There is still time to share your Thanksgiving with members of our military who are far from home.

You see at this time of year there are thousands of men and women who serve in our armed services who are hundreds of miles from home and only have what the military are able to dish up.

I did think about this last year too and I called a Vet I know and asked how I could help. And the answer is really simple.

So if you are interested, call the First Sergeant of your nearest military base and let them know that you have two spare seats at your Thanksgiving table available for any serving military. Really that's it. The First Sergeant will find the right two and set the whole thing up.

This is truly a great way to remember that Thanksgiving is indeed two words. This will certainly help you fulfill the giving part and you will find it extremely rewarding. Oh and it works at Christmas too!!

Certainly you might find it a little awkward for a couple of minutes, but once the ice is broken it is indeed extremely rewarding. There is still time to set this up and so I urge you to contact the First Sergeant of your nearest base today.

If you'd like to comment on this blog, you can e-mail me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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GOT $100M? BUY A SENATE VOTE!

Well at least now we know the price. For around $100m you can buy yourself a vote in the United States Senate. At least that's what Harry Reid spent to secure the vote of moderate democrat Mary Landrieu from Louisiana.

You see Senator Landrieu has not been cooperating with Harry over the health care bill and so Harry added two pages of COMPLETE GARBAGE to the bill to ensure that Mary would come on board.

Interestingly, you have two pages which speak about how help for States recovering from a disaster would be helped. BUT - it only applies to Louisiana.

It actually appears on page 432 of the Bill and speaks of increasing federal Medicaid subsidies for “certain states recovering from a major disaster.”

It then spends two entire pages telling us how a State would qualify. It's written in a way that it actually could only ever apply to one State and I've already told you which one.

The biggest problem is of course that America will simply sleep through this as it has done through many others. There are increasing numbers of people who are standing up and are demanding their voice be heard. Unfortunately - for now at least - the people in power are ignoring you as they go about the systematic destruction of the United States.

If all that wasn't bad enough, the language is incredible. The following is from ABC News:

SEC. 2006. SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT TO FMAP DETERMINATION FOR CERTAIN STATES RECOVERING FROM A MAJOR DISASTER.

Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d), as amended by sections 2001(a)(3) and2001(b)(2), is amended— (1) in subsection (b), in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘subsection (y)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (y) and (aa)’’; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:‘‘(aa)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (b), beginning January 1, 2011, the Federal medical assistance percentage for a fiscal year for a disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State shall be equal to the following:

‘(A) In the case of the first fiscal year (or part of a fiscal year) for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), increased by 50 percent of the number of percentage points by which the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year after the application of only subsection (a) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5 (if applicable to the preceding fiscal year) and without regard to this subsection, subsection (y), and subsections (b) and (c) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5.

‘‘(B) In the case of the second or any succeeding fiscal year for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection for the State, increased by 25 percent of the number of percentage points by which the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection.

‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State’ means a State that is one ofthe 50 States or the District of Columbia, for which, at any time during the preceding 7 fiscal years, the President has declared a major disaster under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and determined as a result of such disaster that every county or parish in the State warrant individual and public assistance or public assistance from the Federal Government under such Act and for which— ‘‘(A) in the case of the first fiscal year (or part of a fiscal year) for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year after the application of only subsection (a) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5 (if applicable to the preceding fiscal year) and without regard to this subsection, subsection (y), and subsections (b) and (c) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5, by at least 3 percentage points; and ‘‘(B) in the case of the second or any succeeding fiscal year for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection by at least 3 percentage points.

‘‘(3) The Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State under paragraph (1) shall apply for purposes of this title (other than with respect to disproportionate share hospital payments described in section 1923 and payments under this title that are based on the enhanced FMAP described in 2105(b)) and shall not apply with respect to payments under title IV (other than under part E of title IV) or payments under title XXI.’’.

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WELCOME TO OUR FUTURE

"Simon Conway - the human time machine. We're headed to a place I've already lived through!" If you've listened to me on the air a few times, then you will probably have heard me say that. But what I'm about to tell you, I have not lived through. It does however, come from a place which tends to be a future predictor of what is coming here.

Just like here, the UK has an Environmental Agency. Just like here, the agency is completely out of step with the beliefs and the will of the people.

Right now just two in five of the UK population believes that global warming is caused by human activity.

Despite that, the serious proposal on the table right now is that everyone in the UK should have an annual carbon RATION. If you overspend on it, then you will be fined. If you underspend on it, then you can sell your unused carbon to someone who uses more!

Everyone would be issued with a unique number - "I am not a number - I am a MAN" (if you can tell me where that comes from you win the prize of being really hip!) - and you would have to give your number (the Nazis did something with numbers too - I forget right now) when you were buying stuff that contributes to your carbon footprint. Now of course, this is Government so although it may start off as gas and airline tickets, you know they will see the tax potential and eventually include candy because of course candy takes energy to make and therefore increases your footprint! ARRRGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Somebody shoot me now!!

The proposal further suggests that just like with your bank account, you are going to be sent a monthly statement (errr...did anyone figure out that takes trees and stamps and gas to deliver?) to "help people keep track of what they are using" according the the UK Telegraph. And here's the kicker. If your account hits zero, then you have to pay to get more credits.

But perhaps the most scary and Orwellian stuff is this. And of course, there has to be a bad guy right? Listen to this OFFICIAL Government quote.

A spokesman for the Agency said the following: "A lot of people who cycle will get money back. It will probably only be bankers and those with extravagant lifestyles who would lose out."

The scheme is part of - wait for it - Britain's "Green New Deal" - again, I am not joking.

It does have it's critics of course. One of those evil Bankers weighed in with the following. She is an economist with the Arbuthnot Banking Group and she told the UK Daily Mail: "This is all about control of the individual and you begin to wonder whether this is what the green agenda has always been about. It is Orwellian. This will be an enormous tax on business."

You can comment on this blog by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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AMAZING WEEKEND!

Imagine you are 22 years old. You're still a kid really in so many ways. And then your country sends you off to a foreign land to fight for the freedom of those people and the people "back home". Imagine then that you are caught up in a fire fight and then get shot in the head.

Perhaps now you are imagining why the headline on this story is "amazing weekend".

Well you see I was at an event on Friday and Saturday. At the same hotel there was also a military banquet. I ended up with sore hands thanking everyone I met for their service to our great nation.

Late in the evening, I stepped outside for some air and there was this young man. He looked extremely young, but was in fact 25. That says more about me than it does about him! He was a sergeant in the Army and was in full dress uniform.

We got to chatting when I noticed an almost perfectly round - about the size of a nickel - circle of baldness towards the back of his head. I asked him if his buddies had played a shaving prank on him. "no", he said. "I was shot in the head" as he proceeded to show me the entry wound on the left side of his temple. The exit wound was the patch of baldness.

He told me he had undergone brain surgery and then I noticed the purple heart bar on his uniform standing proudly at the top of a whole host of other medals.

In some respects he is a lucky guy. He is perfectly normal with no impairment of his functions following his brain surgery. He has in fact been back to combat since his recovery and would go again.

He told me a lot of things in the hour we spent together. He told me about military members of other countries and how they joke with each other all the time "our Army is better than your army". And he also told me how all that stops and how they all come together and respect the traditions of either the religion or the country involved during what they call "angel flights". These are the flights that bring the bodies of our dead heroes back home.

We also talked about Fort Hood. I could see how angry he was about that. I asked him what made him the most angry about it and he said "the excuses". Take note apologists!

It was perhaps one of the most amazing hours of my life. I was honored to be in the presence of this young man and I hope he and I stay in touch. I was also struck by the sense of THIS is exactly the kind of person we want on the wall. Each generation produces more of them and the sacrifice they have all made for our freedom should never go without comment.

If you wish to comment on this blog, you can do so at simontalkshow@gmail.com

The picture of the Purple Heart is a link from knol.google.com

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HAVE THE KLEENEX READY

I can barely contain myself. Barely hold back the tears. You see after those poor Acorn people lost funding - millions of Dollars in funding - someone decided that Congress had breached the Constitution!

Yesterday the Community Organisers - made famous on all kinds of levels - filed suit against the Federal Government. It claimed that the revealing "prostitute" videos where a young couple posing as a Hooker and her pimp were offered all kinds of illegal advice on how to obtain housing and a loan - was used by Congress to "convict" the group and therefore take away its funding.

Anyone need a Kleenex yet? No? Me neither.

Thursday's lawsuit claims that Congress violated the right to due process enshrined in the Fifth Amendment -- declaring the group guilty of a crime and punishing its members without completing an investigation within the Department of Justice or the IRS. "It's not the job of Congress to be the judge, jury, and executioner," said Jules Lobel, an attorney representing the Center for Constitutional Rights. That from Fox News.

So now I guess more Federal tax Dollars will be spent on this group - this time fighting them over OUR money.

We all of course hope that the Federal Government puts up a strong defense. It's just hard to sleep knowing that Acorn is feeling the pinch. Maybe I should send them something? Some "change" perhaps? Maybe that will lead to "hope" for them?

Let me know what YOU think!

You can comment on this blog by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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REMEMBER!

As a fairly new citizen of this country I am perhaps more aware than some lucky enough to have been born here of the value of being here. I chose to be here and to embrace my new land and its culture. Our way of life; our democracy; our ability to know right from wrong and to stand up for justice and our freedoms which so many of us take for granted.

As we approach the Holidays we have Veterans Day. So many don't even know why it is today. Why November 11? It is sad that our schools don't do a good enough job to make sure each new generation understands the significance. Our citizens need to understand that without the sacrifice of so many who have laid down their lives to protect our freedoms, we would not be enjoying the coming Holiday season.

The greatest generation of both this country and indeed the United Kingdom where I was born – was undoubtedly the generation that fought for us in World War II. All they knew was that without victory there would be tyranny. Without victory there would be evil. Without victory there would be no freedom.

The victory was a victory for freedom, but it was a victory won at an enormous cost in lives. That generation understood way better than we do now that however much you may hate violence and war – and let’s be honest, only the truly insane love either one of them – sometimes wars have to be fought and evil has to be stamped out to preserve the greater good.


The victory allowed us to continue with our way of life. To attend schools and colleges; churches, synagogues and mosques. It allowed us to continue to hand power from one President to another no matter what the political party without violence. One Congress to another in a similar way as the politicians bow to the will of the people. The victory allowed us to raise our families and build our communities and chase our dreams and even to reach for the stars – and get there.

You who laid down your lives in the name of freedom have given us all of this and so much more. You bought these things for us with your blood and most of us don’t think about you when we are at the beach or on the lake enjoying the freedom to enjoy which you bought for us with your blood. We think about the laughter of our children and not your cries of pain. We look in wonder as the sunlight sparkles across the water and we certainly do not see your limbs spread across a battlefield.

We rarely, if ever, pause and think about the great American Sacrifice. It was Lincoln who referred to it as “The last full measure of devotion”.

September of 2001 taught us that freedom has a price as the descendants of the evil of World War Two brought death and destruction to our land. And just last week we saw what happened at Fort Hood - another terrorist attack. 2001 was perhaps a wake up call and we did wake up.

Will last week wake us up or will we be falling asleep all over again? Even after Fort Hood we have some who are telling us to feel sympathy for the shooter.

The parallels between Europe of the 1930s and the World of right now is too close for my personal comfort at least. And so today more young men and women are paying the price of freedom on our behalf. I wish they had the full backing of the White House - and frankly if that is not there, then bring these heroes home.

I have already mentioned Lincoln in this short piece and as I think about how to pay tribute to those who gave everything for this country, I am drawn once again to his words – words written enroute to a Cemetery filled with thousands of graves in a small Pennsylvania town called Gettysburg.

He said: "We cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . . we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men - living and dead - who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. . . . "

"It is for us - the living - to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. . .that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from the earth."

This was Lincoln’s challenge in 1863 and it remains ours today. I for one know for sure that it is because of their sacrifice that we are still able to shout out...

Let Freedom Ring!

You can comment on this blog by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com

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