Chet Edwards Blocks Drilling Motion

This is the jackalope's first video editing project. However, the truth of the project stands clear. While Chet Edwards talks "moderate" here in District 17, he has aspirations of higher positions in the Democratic Party and will vote against the best interest of the people to achieve that goal.

Pelosi Book Tour

The jackalope loves seeing these protestors outside a Borders Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while Nancy Pelosi is inside on her book signing tour. Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less!

This is a movement of the people and by the people. This is a (r)epublican Revolution made up of rugged individuals committed to the cause of freedom. Without Economic Freedom, political freedom is not possible. Congress must not be allowed to stand in the way of their constituents Economic Freedom.

Call Back Congress, Madam Speaker

Please sign the petition to have Congress come back from their vacations to vote on The Energy Crisis and solutions. The Republicans are behaving like adults when faced with a problem. Speaker Pelosi is merely running the clock out for the 110th Congress until Obama can be elected President.

High gas prices not only affect Americans at the pump, but every product we buy.

Sign the petition and spread to friends and family.

The Nancy Pelosi [a.k.a. Marie Antoinette] Book Tour

Rather than stay in Washington to work on legislation to solve the nation's energy crisis, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is promoting her new book - "Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters".

Pelosi provides hints of her leadership style only in one instance: her 2005 confrontation with Bush over his proposal to create private retirement accounts in place of the Social Security system.

America's daughters must understand that this woman stopped a wonderful plan to allow America's young men and women to place part of the Social Security taken from their paychecks by the government into a PRIVATE account of their own choosing. The President's plan would have guaranteed that upon reaching retirement age, at least that personal account would actually contain money, rather than an I.O.U. that's in the government's account.

But, solving a foreboding financial meltdown was not the purpose of this paragon of Democratic Party strategery. Assuming power, for the sake of power is Nancy Pelosi's political strategy with the financial security of America's daughters and sons.

But she and her allies chose another strategy.

"First, you must take down the ratings of your opposition," Pelosi writes. "Second, you must differentiate yourselves from them.

"And third, only when the time is right do you present your platform."

Pelosi assumed power in 1996 with the Democratic Party spin of "Culture of Corruption". Any plan to make America more prosperous and secure for the future has been bottled up in the 110th Congress, while spending/bailout legislation has skyrocketed. Pelosi needs to meet the power of America's daughters and sons voting to repudiate Pelosi and her brand of political scheming.

The republican revolution of France [falsely] accused Marie Antoinette of telling the starving peasants crying for bread, "Let Them Eat Cake". Marie unfortunately met her end upon the guillotine. Multi-millionaire Nancy Pelosi, offered no counter plan to President Bush's superb idea, thereby allowing the government to continue to "rob" young people of their hard earned money in the name of Social [In]Security. She's got hers, but she denied you a portion of your own.

The 109th and 110th Congress has stood in the way of sound investments in the future of America and the people. Chet Edwards (D-17 TX) has been a voting asset to Nancy Pelosi.

This is a call to arms of all America's young people - Know Your Power - elect a conservative to Congress.

In Texas District 17 - elect Rob Curnock a real conservative.

Real Time News and Its Enemies

We are entering the next step of personalized news. Rather than waiting for your congressman to be chosen for an interview by Fox News or the New York Times, you can interview your own congressman in "real time." Watch this video from John Culberson (R-TX), who uses an internet-connected video camera and a Blackberry to "broadcast" his side of a news interview. Imagine the possibilities, and the accountability!

What are the ramifications of this new technology? The first major benefit is that we no longer have to wait until the MSM decides to interview our congressman. Real time technology allows us to interview him or her directly. We can watch our representatives and senators explain their votes, make speeches, or even observe a chat in the hallway as it happens. The second benefit is that we can disseminate this information to friends via the internet. This activity is the essence of classical republicanism which is based on individual equality and self-interest bound by morality. Ideas and events otherwise hidden in the netherworld of uncovered MSM news are brought into the light and into the hands of everyday citizens.

Real time can become your personal news source. Micro-blogging platforms such as Twitter, where short text messages are used to spread information about what is happening right now. Twitter is used by the firefighters in California to relay information and by the people being evacuated to tell family and loved ones where they are and where they are going. The Red Cross uses Twitter and so do Congressmen from the floor of the House. Sign up for Twitter and search, monitor, and communicate with anyone you choose, on your computer or cell phone. You don't have to be a geek or have a bunch of spare time--Twitter is quicker and easier than email.

In Congress, only leaders are allowed to use this technology. All other members are currently not allowed under the archaic House franking rules. For example, because email has the word "mail", it must be reviewed by the Franking Commission before it is sent. However, there are two congressmen, Representatives Culberson and Tim Ryan (D-OH), who are skirting the gray area by using Twitter, Facebook and Qik Video to talk directly with those members of the public that have signed up to do so. Culberson and Ryan send messages about what's happening on the House floor in real time, bypassing the MSM and, so far, leadership approval. This is the essence of the internet--free flowing information in real time. And as with Tivo, if you don't catch it live, watch the recording.

But not all is flowing smoothly. Full congressional use of this technology is being challenged in the Democratic-controlled House. At issue are concerns regarding decorum. The House doesn't want racy content or political advertisements adjacent to official congressional communications. Oddly, these same rules do not apply to print, radio or television. Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA), Chairman of the Commission, wrote this letter to Rep. Robert Brady (D-PA), Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, recommending no actual changes in the rules. This sparked a flurry of activity on Twitter last week, with even the left-leaning Sunlight Foundation joining the fracus with the Let Our Congress Tweet campaign. YouTube has also responded by offering to provide a separate platform for Congressional use without advertising. Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) fully supports the use of this technology, and issued this letter (pdf) to Speaker Pelosi saying:

"I believe Members of Congress should have the ability to choose whichever service they believe will best assist in communicating with their constituents, and not be limited to only services "approved" by the House Administration Committee or any other government entity. We must encourage, not restrict, the free and open flow of uncensored information between the American people and their elected leaders over the Internet."

Speaker Pelosi replied with this letter, castigating the Republicans for supposed false allegations:

Unfortunately, inaccurate rumors have been circulated asserting that the suggested standards allowing for web video outside of the House.gov domain would affect Member blogging or use of sites such as Twitter. Dissemination of this false information does a disservice to the vital dialogue on using technology to increase citizen involvement, education, and transparency in the House.

The above link from "inaccurate rumors" goes to a blog post in which the Capuano letter is sanitized by someone telling us what Capuano "meant" to say. Culberson writes in at comment #5 stating that he spoke directly with Capuano to confirm that oversight over all congressional electronic communication is the ultimate goal. According to Congress Daily, "He [Capuano]said that he is not seeking to regulate anything other than video — not blogs, chat rooms or any other written communication – “but [at] some point we may have to.” [emphasis added]

Culberson has since written this letter (pdf) to Speaker Pelosi in which he chronicles the fact that the rules placed upon internet communications are not, and rightfully so, applied to print,radio, or television. He believes Congressmen were elected by the people because of their good judgment and that Congress should place no burden restricting that judgment.

Real time is where it's at. Every rugged individualist should have the power to find their own personal news and then spread it among friends. Such ability is the true design of an engaged electorate in a free democratic republic. It is both the voice of democracy and the sublime nature of a republic when the leaders and the electorate can speak in an open dialog unedited into sound bites. The republic is then protected by a transparency that quickly reveals actions done for selfish motives for amassing control and power. Imagine a future in which congressmen who refuse to use this technology of transparency being viewed not only as Luddites but as suspect. Congress should act soon to allow its use.