Happy New Year! 2010 Is only Hours Away!

Happy New Year to all my family, friends, fellow Constitutional scholars (Barack Obama not included), and Patriots. May God bless you all (Barack Obama included) in the coming years. It's been a joy rediscovering American history with an emphasis on our Constitution with all of you in 2009. I hope you learned something along the way. Let's dedicate 2010 to restoring the Republic.

I am off to party, play some games, and enjoy family.

A Message From James Madison, Father of the US Constitution, on Health Care Reform

As 2009 ends in a few short hours, one of my memories this year that could haunt many Americans was Senator Claire McCaskill's definition of the General Welfare clause. Not one of the 18 enumerated powers granted specifically to Congress in Article One of the Constitution, McCaskill and other Democrats (as well as Republicans many times in the history of our country) ripped from the Preamble, simply a mission statement that contains the words General Welfare, and act as if it's the unofficial 19th enumerated power. It's many Democrat's justification for a yes vote to move closer to nationalized health care.

Without reading Federalist Paper #41, politicians like Senator McCaskill lie about the meaning of the General Welfare clause as if it's some kind of elastic power given to Congress that provides the unlimited powers. They are ruining our country in doing so, putting us more in debt, creating more government dependency, and robbing Americans of their freedoms.

Listening to Claire McCaskill's explain the General Welfare clause on her terms and not James Madison's sickened me this summer as she spoke at the Gilloz Theater in Springfield, Missouri. As much as I have begged Senator McCaskill and other members of Congress to read Federalist 41, I know they have not. Heck, they don't even read the legislation they vote on. Why would they care about Madison at this point in the game.

Of course, Madison was a man of great character. Something McCaskill and other members of Congress know little about these days. Considered the father of our Constitution, he understood what those words meant, and he knew the General Welfare clause and what the founding fathers meant by it as they debated the language of the US Constitution. Since members of Congress like Senator McCaskill won't take the time to read Federalist 41 and vote according to what the General Welfare clause means as defined by the Founding Fathers, I would like to share a short story about James Madison as my final blog of the year in hopes we can restore our Republic and kill the leviathan Claire McCaskill and others in Congress choose to create with this health care bill.

In 1794, six years after the ratification of the US Constitution, our Congress already began stretching the limits of their power. Congress appropriated $15,000 to help French refugees who fled from rebellion in San Domingo to Baltimore and Philadelphia. James Madison stood up and addressed the Congress. His words powerful--full of Constitutional wisdom, mainly that it's not the job of the federal government to provide welfare.

"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents."

Senator McCaskill and other health care bill supporters, it wasn't there in 1794, and it isn' there today. You can't place a finger on one article can you Senator McCaskill, nor can you prove from reading this lesson in history, that it is the job of Congress to provide welfare. The father of the Constitution clearly states that.

Where is James Madison today? I know one place he is not, and that is the Democratic party.

Obama Aged a Lot in 2009: The Mask Came Off

He was once considered youthful and energetic, and as we close in on the first calendar year of his first term we see in front of us a president who has aged very quickly in just over 11 months. The razor crisps speeches from the campaign trail have turned into blooper filled, bore fests. The dark hair has started to turn grandfatherly gray. Today's Associated picture of Barack Obama in Kaneohe, Hawaii, leaving a movie shows a profile not recognizable a year ago. Even the glasses steal the youth American enjoyed just a year ago. The presidency has quickly taken its toll on Barack Obama, or maybe its the stress of his inexperience incapable of filling the shoes.

As the face and the hair quickly change, so has Obama's favorable ratings among Americans. It's an interesting parallel--the two faces of Obama. The one a year ago that represented hope and change. The one today old and gray and the knowledge Obama is a war president bought and paid for by Wall Street and other special interests. It's like the mask came off, and Obama was like the rest, just a lot more radical.

A Classy Liberal on the Rush Limbaugh Death Wishes

I just caught Rochelle Riley’s blog at Freep.com. While Rochelle and I don’t share the same political views, we do share decency. Just like I would never wish death on Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, or Rachel Maddow and the rest of the wacky liberals I post about, she wishes no harm to the beloved Rush Limbaugh. In fact, she states it should stop. I am reposting her blog and today calling her a liberal with class. Here’s Riley’s blog with a few comments thrown in by yours truly!

Stop Wishing Rush Limbaugh Dead

This is when we know we're losing America. (I agree, we no longer celebrate free speech when we hope purveyors of free speech die.)

People have been wishing that a loudmouth who's free to speak would die.

Visiting the blogosphere following the news that talk-radio king Rush Limbaugh was rushed to a hospital with chest pains in Honolulu was like walking into a bar at 2 a.m. on New Year's Day, where only the rowdiest and drunkest remain.

I won't repeat any of the garbage here, but c'mon folks! Hateful rhetoric is for the political battles. It's for the blog wars. It's for CNN and radio waves. It is for manic arguments about universal health care and whether President Obama is doing a good job.

It is not to throw at people when they're down -- even someone like Limbaugh.

Yes, he has crossed the line before. He's made us mad as hell. (We are proud of Rush for it, although I disagree he has crossed a line, we can leave that debate for another day Ms. Riley.) But as he recovers in a hospital in Honolulu, where he was vacationing when he was stricken, America gives Rush Limbaugh the right to the same freedom of speech that I have, even if his speech makes my heart hurt.

Shame on anyone who wants the match between Limbaugh and the many who oppose him to be called on a technical knock-out. I'd rather he get back in the ring and eventually suffer an intellectual one.(You are welcome here to battle with your intellect Ms. Riley.)

To have America means having the Rush Limbaughs of the world. Stop wishing death on democracy. (As I have said before, that means have Rachel Maddow too. In fact, we all should feel a little sorry for Maddow for investing so much of her time and money at Oxford and having so little to show for it.)

Ms. Riley, you showed class today when many liberals proved they are intolerant, hateful, and mean. It’s funny they think they can get away saying the things about Rush they did and avoid looking in the mirror, isn’t it? To prove my sincerity Ms. Riley, I wished Bryant Gumbel well wishes on this blog as news came out about his lung cancer.

John Gibson Points out Keith Olbermann's Ignorance

John Gibson recently looked at Keith Olbermann's ignorance over the issue of radical Islamic terrorists, specifically at GITMO. Gibson points out bathtub boy, the insignificant little worm on television who should be forced back to sports broadcasting, (his affectionate terms for Olbermann) demanding that Bush and Cheney leave the country, as he scorns techniques that kept this country safe. The same techniques the Obama administration have attacked, now leaves America vulnerable.

I know its torture, that even a radical Islamic terrorist should have have to endure, listening to the arrogant Olbermann, even when he's talking football. Listen to how foolish Olbermann's rant is as he scoffs at future terrorist attacks.

What a Drunk!

No, this blog isn’t about Max Baucus. Rather, a Sturgis, South Dakota woman registered a .708 percent blood alcohol content, and the Rapid City Journal thinks it might be a state record. You mean they actually record the highest level of drunk in South Dakota? I know it’s not the center of the world, but come on people, a record like that is nothing to be proud of.

A state trooper found Marguerite Engle, 45, on Dec. 1, behind the wheel of a stolen delivery vehicle with nine times the legally drunk BAC. Yes, they do keep records. The state’s labs recorded a .53 prior to this.

She failed to show up for court on December 15, and you will never guess where they found South Dakota’s drunkest resident. She was behind the vehicle of another stolen vehicle passed out drunk. Please take this woman off the road for good!

Since it's New Years Eve, please don't drink and drive tonight.

Rush Limbaugh Update: Felt like a Heart Attack

The brilliant Walter E. Williams hosted the Rush Limbaugh show today. He updated the 20 million strong audience of the Rush’s condition. Williams said Rush described the pain like it felt like a “heart attack coming on.” Rush is resting a Hawaiian hospital, and his spokespeople claim Rush is planning to hit the airwaves again on Monday after the New Year festivities.

Praying for you Rush!

New Years Eve 2010 Times Square New York

With questions about the dependability of the federal government to stop radical terrorists from attacking the United States, over a million people are expected to gather at New York's Time Square to celebrate saying goodbye to 2009 and welcoming 2010. To prepare for the event, New York PD is working with FBI to provide more officers and plain clothed agents in the area.

They will use surveillance cameras and advanced sensors capable of detecting radiation or biological agents. Officers also went through worst case scenario drill on Wednesday, although I don't know how are you ever ready to deal with a million people.

Of course the event is bringing out concern and silliness for some people. Consider this answer to a question about attending the event.

"I don't know. There's a part of me that really wants to come and there's a part of me that really wants to live," tourist Geethka Dang said.

Haven't we learned by now if we let the terrorists change the way we live life we lose? Go out and celebrate the good times.

Discovering Rush!

I sat in a Political Science class taught by a self-described ‘Jefferson Democrat’—a very rare Democrat in 2009, but still a Democrat. (I wonder if the professor still considers himself a Democrat these days.) He wore a bowtie to class every day, and even took class time to show how the bowtie is tied.

I identified with the conservative side of the fence deeply rooted in admiration for Ronald Reagan. A huge change that would forever effect my life was about to take place. Unbeknownst to me, I sat by a vocal conservative who loved to challenge the authority of the liberal intelligentsia of Southwest Missouri State University. We became friends early on in the class, although we didn’t know it in the first days of class.

It was 1991. George H.W. Bush was POTUS, and the Clarence Thomas battle was beginning. It was going to be a great semester, especially since the professor had a box he left in front of the lecture hall to open political discussions during the open moments of class. Think of it as Open Line Friday for the classroom, except it occurred on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

In Missouri’s Universities, students are required to take a Constitution test and a Missouri Constitution test before they can graduate from college. I knew the temptation to push the professor’s political button might not be the best way to proceed with the open box. Use with caution I thought to myself.

Around that same period of time the new semester started, 60 Minutes conducted an interview with an up and coming broadcaster. I didn’t pay much attention until he started praising Ronald Reagan. By that time it was too later.

Monday’s PoliSci class opened with the bow tied professor reading questions out of the box. “Do you listen to the Rush Limbaugh show?”

The guy sitting next to me said “this should be interesting. It’s my question.”

The professor said he did not listen to Limbaugh. I forget the exact reasons why, and it doesn’t matter at this point. I just looked over the guy sitting next to me in the huge lecture hall asking is that they guy on 60 Minutes last night. He said it was and that he broadcasted on KWTO 560 in Springfield. Back in those days, Rush was on an hour delay.

I left the classroom at 1:50, and rushed to my car parked in the Northeast parking lot at SMS. You never forget where you are in these great moments in American history. I turned my radio on to the AM channel. It had never been there to my knowledge. I thought AM radio was dead. Since 1991, my radio has been in the AM position 75% of the time, and it would be 99% of the time if it wasn’t for Erich ‘Mancow’ Muller, a libertarian out of Chicago I immediately started listening to when I moved to Chicago in 1996.

I spent the good part of the next 18 years behind a windshield driving to a sale calls listening to the Excellence in Broadcast Network. Rush Limbaugh has been my co-pilot from 11:00 to 2:00 daily. Rush helped develop my own conservative views and introduced me to so many others who share these views. While this may sound like I am expecting the worst, I am not. I know we have many years left with Rush providing excellent conservative commentary. I write this as a celebration of Rush Limbaugh reflecting back on the 18 years spent driving around the United States inspired by Rush’s excellence.

KUDOS to Firestone on S. Glenstone in Springfield, MO for Excellent Service

Just over a year ago, I needed new tires for my PT Cruiser. I dropped my car off at Firestone at 814 South Glenstone in Springfield, MO. When I picked up my car the next day, I drove off without noticing the wheel cap on my aftermarket rims was missing. I called Firestone and told them it was missing. After a couple hours, they said they couldn’t find it and offered to purchase a new one.

I went buy Pep Boys to order a new one. The guy in the tire and wheel department said they couldn’t order them. I went off disappointed. This Christmas, I asked for gift cards to replace the rims on my car. I headed to Sears to order four American Racing rims, and before I got there, I drove by Pep Boys. I decided I would ask one more time. This time the woman at Pep Boys was more helpful. She looked up the cap in the catalog and ordered a set of four for me. I picked them up today.

I decided on my lunch break, I would drive by Firestone and see if they were still willing to replace the cap. Without any hesitation, they looked my name up in their computers and delivered on their promise made over a year ago. That’s good service. As you may have noticed, I like pointing out good customer service because it’s so hard to get these days.

Needless to say, I get to enjoy my gift cards in other ways.

Underwear Bomber's Father Provides Shocking Revelation

The father of Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab has come forward telling the media what he told US officials. Of all the things the father of the underwear bomber told US officials, one strikes me as alarming. Umar told his father this would be the last time he would hear from him. Why US federal security agencies and the FBI dropped the ball on this revelation needs to be examined, especially as they push full-body scanners on Americans because of this event. The underwear bomber should have been under the investigation of the federal government and he should have never been allowed on an airplane. The incompetence of the American government continues to shine.

New Year Greeting and Message to Barack Obama: Pakistani Journalist Describes the Pains of Living with Al Qaeda

I found this letter to Barack Obama written by Muhammad Khurshid, a journalist in Pakistan. In the letter, if you read it to its end, you discover the fear of people around the world who face the threat of Al Qaeda and other radical Islamic threats. Americans must understand Al Qaeda is a worldwide threat. It destroys communities around the world, and there will be no peace until this country comes to the understanding the threat must be totally removed. If you want peace, the threat is going to have to be destroyed. I wonder if Obama is up for the job.

Dear Barack Obama,

President of United States,

White House,

Washington

 

Respected Sir,

Please accept my warmest greeting on the New Year. Please accept greeting from wife Fatima and my children. We shall be praying that New Year may bring peace and happiness to the whole world.

"The Year that Peace was Born and I would begin it "Out of the fire of war intended to halt the cowardice of terrorists and governments who sanction terror, comes a new concept that our world has not seen in quite a while. It is the idea that Peace and Freedom can ring side by side and that all of Humanity can be free from the curse of oppression.

We in Pakistan have seen our homes and villages destroyed. In America, Americans have faced the scourge of terrorists coming to their shores.

It has been a time where all of us citizens and tribesman, face evil and injustice.

I lost my home in the operation when I and my wife discovered it was destroyed the army of by my own Country. In my life I never thought I'd see the day my own country destroyed my land and my property. My people are a proud tribe of the Uthmankehl, and we did not deserve this, we did nothing. "Americans, millions of them, have lost their homes due to foreclosure...

Now we hope the new year will bring peace to the United States, tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border and whole world.

Love and blessing

Yours sincerely

Muhammad Khurshid

Voice For Peace,

Khar, Bajaur Agency.

The Latest Carbon News From Science Daily: No Fractional Rise of Atmospheric CO2 in 150 Years

Most of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activity does not remain in the atmosphere, but is instead absorbed by the oceans and terrestrial ecosystems. In fact, only about 45 percent of emitted carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere.

You mean we aren’t destroying the Ozone with all the CO2? You mean the earth balances the CO2 we produce?

However, some studies have suggested that the ability of oceans and plants to absorb carbon dioxide recently may have begun to decline and that the airborne fraction of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions is therefore beginning to increase.

OK, you got my attention. I am listening.

Many climate models also assume that the airborne fraction will increase. Because understanding of the airborne fraction of carbon dioxide is important for predicting future climate change, it is essential to have accurate knowledge of whether that fraction is changing or will change as emissions increase.

To assess whether the airborne fraction is indeed increasing, Wolfgang Knorr of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol reanalyzed available atmospheric carbon dioxide and emissions data since 1850 and considers the uncertainties in the data.

In contradiction to some recent studies, he finds that the airborne fraction of carbon dioxide has not increased either during the past 150 years or during the most recent five decades.

You mean some scientists may have fixed their studies to show otherwise? Tell me it isn’t so. First Hadley CRU and now this? Al Gore is going to be destroyed. How could you ruin Al Gore’s New Year’s Celebration? Don’t you know he has billions of dollars to make by pushing the CO2 man-made global warming fraud?

Italicized text taken from Science Daily, December 31, 2009 and is published in is published in Geophysical Research Letters.

AT&T Ends Partnership With Tiger Woods

The fallout for Tiger Woods’ wild sexcapades with multiple women keeps costing him. AT&T has dropped its association with Tiger. While Luke Wilson does most of the advertising on television, Tiger had a special deal—a deal that you could call NASCAResque. Tiger got paid to keep an AT&T logo on his golf bag. The deal was signed in early 2009, and AT&T will immediately opt out of the contract while continuing to promote the PGA.

A Happy New Year Greeting and Message

I want to thank all my readers and friends that I have met in 2009 because of this blog. This year has brought success beyond my wildest imagination, and I feel confident in our cause knowing like-minded people support the causes of freedom and liberty and hope to return to the foundation of our Constitution. I wish you all a Happy New Year and blessings for 2010.

I am nearing 200,000 hits for the year and 30,000 hits this month. I couldn't do this without any of you, and I am going to work to repay the friendships with a new look blog which I plan on creating tomorrow that features a blog list. I am sorry it has taken this long to accomplish this. I have been busy fighting the good fight.

Mythbusters' Erik Gates Dies From Fall

One of my favorite shows on Television is Mythbusters. In fact, when I had cable, my channel usually was locked to the Discovery Channel. Erik Gates, who appeared as the show’s amateur rocket expert died when he fell off the Xirrus Inc. builing in Newberry Park.

Erik was working on the building when he suddenly feel off. He died from blunt force injuries to the chest.

EcoSnoop: Empowering Citizens with Big Brother's Tools

Yesterday, I touched on EcoSnoop, a new iPhone application that encourages environmentalists to report their neighbors and local businesses of environmental offenses. This tool is nothing more than a big brother tool in the hands of normal citizens. The organization that produces the application, is promoting militant environmentalism as they encourage harassment of business owners. Here is their promotion video.

Notice in the video they call this big brother tool a new social networking tool. It's as fun as Facebook right? You tell me.

If I was a business owner, and one of these idiots came into my business harassing me, they would be hauled off by the local police department for trespassing and I would look into slander charges.

Rush Limbaugh Dead?

Wikipedia reported today that Rush Limbaugh had died. I guess that's wishful thinking on the part of liberals and Barack Obama.

Within a short period of time after the news broke out about his chest pains, Wikipedia writers reported he was dead.

Rush Hudson Limbaugh III (pronounced /ˈlɪmbɔː/;born January 12, 1951, died December 30, 2009) is an American radio host and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Rush Limbaugh Show, the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United States. It airs throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks.

The report posted around midnight (EST) and was removed 15 minutes later. There is a good reason college professors tell you not to rely on Wikipedia. It is a free for all. Rush is alive and in a Hawaiian hospital at this time.

TSA Thugs Go After Bloggers for Over Directive to Increase Security

Bloggers beware! The laptop of travel bloggers Steve Frischling and Chris Elliott have been confiscated by the federal government, most specifically the Transportation Security Administration. After the Flight 253 incident, the bloggers wrote of the TSA's directive to increase security. The government is demanding the two bloggers reveal who leaked the security directive to them.

Frischling explained to the AP, "It literally showed up in my box. I do not know who it came from." He said he provided the agents a signed statement to that effect.

The directive went out on the same day of the attempted attack. IT'S AMAZING HOW GOVERNMENT IS SO SLOW TO DO EVERYTHING EXCEPT ROB AMERICANS OF MORE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS. Remember how quickly the Patriot Act came to be?

The directive outlined the new security measures that went into effect on the same day as the attempted bombing. It including new techniques including more frisking of the upper legs and torso, physically inspecting all passenger belongings, looking closer at powders and liquids, and requiring all passengers to stay in their seats one hour before landing while disabling all on board communications including communications provided by the airplane.

That last one is very peculiar when you think of 9/11 and Flight 93 whose passengers used the planes phones to call their homes and media outlets to explain what was happening on board. Why would the government want to silent the phones on the plane? So many strange things continue to surface because of Flight 253. We know from witnesses accounts, like Kurt and Lori Haskell, some strange things occurred from the gates at Amsterdam all the way to exiting the plane in Detroit.

Now, was this a matter of national security? It doesn't seem like it to me, but it does show the government is watching the blogs and they are ready to silence us at a moment's notice and prepared to confiscate the tools of the trade--our computers.

God Gave Us a Voice to Sing, and a Trigger Finger to...: I Like Guns

My friend Jeff just shared with me this fun music video called I Like Guns by Steve Lee. Enjoy! Remember the Second Amendment isn't just a right, it's a responsibility. Read the Second Amendment. Live the Second Amendment.

New Years Eve in Springfield, MO

Looking for the hot spot to celebrate New Years Eve in Springfield tonight? Check out Three 20's Club. Covergirlz will rock in the New Year at Springfield's hottest night club.

Bad Honeymoon Sex

They call the first few months to the first year the ‘honeymoon period.’ The excitement of the long courting process that begins anywhere from two years out has come down to these first few months where the tests begin. Will this change bring fulfillment or will it bring disappointment. The first nights of the honeymoon are often a time of learning full of forgiveness for fumbling, bumbling as the partner learns to get comfortable with the other. You have to expect that when you first start, but if a partner fails to satisfy after a number of months, they soon fall out of favor.

Disappointed Americans everywhere are waking up to bad honeymoon sex. So many promises centered around ecstasy and pleasure, feeling great was assured in those two years leading to the honeymoon test. Now Americans are waking up wondering what the hell! He doesn’t have a clue. It feels like he asked us to bend over and forced himself upon us. Now the honeymoon period feels like a bad hangover.

Obama’s poll numbers show just that. His approvals in the first few days of this marriage with America neared 70%. As Obama fumbled and bumbled through the presidency, those numbers fell fast. Without a doubt, Obama’s falling approval numbers is one of the top stories of 2009. America has fallen out of love with the demagogue, and they realize, especially after the latest [lack of] leadership examples with Flight 253, Obama isn’t just an empty suit, he’s an empty head.

Rasmussen’s latest presidential approval tracking poll (December 30, 2009) shows only 25% of Americans strongly approve of the job Barack Obama is doing. 52% of Americans disapprove of Obama’s performance. With 47% somewhat approving of Obama (I guess these are the people who are slower in waking up to realize hope is dead.) No other American, including George W. Bush has fallen out of favor faster than Barack Obama. Without a doubt, Obama’s bad honeymoon sex should be one of the top stories of 2009, but I doubt they even touch on it in the mainstream media.

Most Politicians in Washington Disgrace Washington the Man

He could have been king. It was his for the taking. It was endorsed by many of the founding fathers. Yet, George Washington had the wisdom to turn the power directed towards him down.

In a conversation with the American painter Benjamin West, a defeated King George III asked West what Washington would do after winning Independence. West replied, "They say he will return to his farm.”

“If he does that,” King George III replied, “he will be the greatest man in the world.”

George Washington's decision not to take the honor of being King of America shaped the Republic for many years to come. Even today, we are still blessed with this decision; although some argue if we still truly live in a Republic. Judging from what I saw in politicians this last decade, I tend to believe the Republic is failing. It's going to take passion from freedom-loving Americans to restore it--passion from people with the character of George Washington.

You see character defined George Washington. Unfortunately, in the city named after him, character is not something that is easy to find in Washington DC these days. Where Washington would have been happy stepping away and going back to the farm, too many people in Washington today are there because of the power it offers. They forget and don't understand the humility of the city's namesake. For this our country suffers.

Far too many politicians forget where their farms are in the states they represent once they get to Washington. In fact, it's many of their goals never to return. That's why senile old men like Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd maintain their positions of power without acknowledging what made George Washington great. You see it was never about Washington. It was about the greater good of freedom and liberty. It was about the Republic. It's unfortunate the President, Congress, Supreme Court Justices and most people representing the power of Washington DC forget the basic lessons found in George Washington's life.

Flight 253: More Details the Government Knew an Attack and Failed to Stop It

The following details once again show America has let her guard down under the direction of Barack Hussein Obama. The New York Times was critical this morning of the inability of the federal government to piece the clues together to stop Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from boarding Flight 253.

Four months ago, the National Security Agency (NSA) picked up conversation between Al Qaeda leaders in Yemen who discussed a Nigerian man coming to to the United States to commit terrorism. Of course, a Nigerian banker warned the US Embassy that his Nigerian son had intentions after joining the dark side of Islam. The NSA failed to put any of this together.

The NSA is blaming the issue on a computer which failed to analyze the data and present evidence of the attack. Gee, that makes you feel really good about the brains working at the government doesn't it? The problem came when the computer didn't connect the data with the claim the underwear bomber's father brought to the US Embassy in November.

The underwear bomber's father even had text messages on his cell phone from his son he showed to US and Nigerian officials showing his son was in Yemen and became a radical. A family cousin said US officials blew them off.

“Look at the texts he’s sending. He’s a security threat. They promised to look into it. They didn’t take him seriously.”

Obama called this “human and systemic failures.” I call it plain stupidity the United States government didn't take this matter more seriously. The Federal Government has two jobs according to the Constitution. Regulate trade disputes between the states and defend the states. I guess they are too busy doing all the other things they aren't given the authority to do, and once again dropped the ball in defending the union.

Tiger Woods' Fat Lip: Abusive Relationship or Just a Steering Wheel

The media is looking to get as much out of the Tiger Woods story as possible. Now that the mistress list has slowed down, they are reexamining what took place on Thanksgiving weekend, possibly in hopes of reinventing Tiger Woods.

The story line makes you believe that Tiger Woods was in an abusive relationship with Elin Nordegren. "Report: Tiger had 'fat lip' 4 days after accident." Until you read on.

Police officers in Florida are now talking about the event in more detail. That's how we know about the fat lip. Police said they saw Tiger with a fat lip just four days after his accident as they issued his citation for reckless driving. The police upon visual examination said they saw no signs or reasons to investigate for domestic violence.

So is this really news? Or is this just milking Tiger Woods for as much as they can get out of the story? I think everyone knows that answer. Just wait until the divorce begins. Something tells me there will be more coverage of the divorce than Obama talking soft on terrorism.

Chicago O'Hare Gets TSA Present: Full Body Scanning Begins at ORD

It didn't take long for the TSA to decide where they are going to put the 30 full body scanners purchased just weeks before the Nigerian underwear bomber attempted to take Flight 253. Chicago O'Hare, an airport I used to fly out of almost weekly, will receive the first round of full body scanners which detail a person's genitals with its captured image.

"They are coming, but they're not here yet," said Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino during a press event Tuesday.

We find out as well, the scanners were planned long in advance. Isn't it interesting these unpopular scanners now have the underwear bomber attached to them as more Americans scream keep us safe to the United States government making the scanners introduction easier to justify?

This time I am going to agree with the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU say the machines are a 'classic invasion of privacy.' I happen to agree. I know I won't be flying anytime soon having to face the humilation of a TSA thug strip me down with a computer.

To give the illusion you still have freedom at the airport, you can tell a TSA agent no to the x-ray. Of course, at that point, they engage you in a full-body frisk.

We also find out that RapiScan isn't the only manufacturer the Federal Government purchased full-body scanners from prior to Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab. They also purchased scanners from L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. Other airports receiving scanners are Albuquerque, N.M.; Las Vegas; Miami; San Francisco; Salt Lake City; and Tulsa, Okla. (You know the Tulsa airport is to screen all those Christian, pro-life, conceal and carry types that Janet Napolitano and the Department of Homeland Security has been profiling since Barack Obama took office.)

A Disney Digital Camera Christmas Present Contained Child Porn

In Yukon, Oklahoma, parents who bought their child a Disney digital camera received a huge shock when they discovered child pornography stored in the camera's memory. Andrew Graham and his wife purchased the camera as a last-minute gift for their son at Walmart, and now deal with explaining to the young boy what was on the Pirates of the Caribbean digital camera.

The young boy took a few pictures, and when he went to review them, he took the camera into where his dad sat and said he didn't know who the young girl in the pictures was. Something tells me the previous owner left them there as his sick joke. Let's hope they find the sick jerk and put him away.

You know how careless Walmart is about putting things back on the shelf. Back in the day they would take back nearly anything without a close inspection, and in recent years they have improved. This is just not acceptable. They should have turned the camera on and checked it before restocking it. I bet there is a change in policy.

Sending Out Best Wishes to Rush Limbuagh

Rush Limbaugh is in a Hawaiian hospital this morning after suffering chest pains yesterday. His radio show announced, "Rush was admitted to and is resting comfortably in a Honolulu hospital today after suffering chest pains. Rush appreciates your prayers and well wishes and will keep you updated via rushlimbaugh.com and on his radio program."

Honolulu's KITV reported an ambulance took Rush to The Queens Medical Center in serious condition from the Kahala Hotel and Resort.

You are in my prayers Rush!

And the Winner of Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberal of the Year is Chris Matthews

It was Rachel Maddow's honor to lose. She had it wrapped up with her more hateful, intolerable silliness that's beyond your average liberal pundit. Whoever issued Rachel Maddow's diploma needs their head examined (Oxford), but 2009 just wasn't meant to be for Maddow. She narrowly lost Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberal of the Year to another MSNBC bully--Chris Matthews.

Ordinarily, I probably wouldn't have mentioned Matthews name in the yearly round up of the wackiest liberals. We know what to expect from Matthews. He is so predictable. If you are a conservative appearing on his show he is going to do two things. First, he is going to ask so many questions in a single breath that you have no clue what he is really asking. It's a tactic used to confuse people.

Surprisingly enough, most know how the interview is going to go before they go in, so they come prepared, which is when Chris Matthews' bully quality goes to work. He often rudely interrupts with a negative remark in a form of censorship to his conservative guest. Nothing new here.

Matthews beat out Maddow with just a few words. He referred to the United States Army as the enemy. After Obama gave his speech that put West Point Cadets asleep, Matthews made Obama sound like the celebrated warrior Beowulf headed into Grendel's cave. How sad Chris.

"He went to maybe the enemy camp tonight to make his case," said Matthews. "I thought it was a strange venue."

I served in the Army, and I was never the enemy to any American. Neither were my brothers I served with. My family has a proud heritage of service to this country. They were never the enemy either. What a dreadful use of words, but once again liberals show us how they really feel about this country and the people who make it great.

It's because of these few words, Chris Matthews has earned Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberal of the Year. I wouldn't be too proud Mr. Matthews. It's nothing to celebrate! Chris Matthews wacky world is viewed nightly on MSNBC by fewer and fewer viewers. Most recently Matthews was seen praising Saul Alinsky. We weren't surprised. Matthews is a bully, taught by Alinsky and displayed by others like Barack Obama.

The Space Elevator: Private Sector Takes on NASA

The local NBC affiliate is doing story about the research being done to create a space elevator. The concept is basically an elevator like structure that powers from a laser beam upwards along a ribbon to a structure in space. I have always said when the private sector gets involved in space travel they will show NASA up, and considering the costs of current NASA program to taxpayers, it's time for a better strategy.

Under NASA's current structure, it costs $1100 per pound to get into space, but researchers for the space elevator claim they can get that same pound into space for just $100 per pound. See how the free market always makes the government look silly. It's no wonder we are nearly $13 trillion in debt.

Researchers believe they can complete the project in 10 years, and best of all, the price tag is a reasonable $10 billion. Considering the cost of NASA to taxpayers, and knowing this consists of primarily of private investments, I give a thumbs up to the Space Elevator. The name sounds silly but the concept looks like it could provide a safer way into space.

Northwest Delta Flight 253 Timeline: Opens the Doors for Lots of Questions

October 14, 2009 - Forbes publishes article showing the US Government through the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) orders 30 full body scanners for airports across the United States. Scanners are unpopular with the American people since they show naked body parts in a gray scale like image.

December 23, 2009 - American Airlines Flight AA331 skids off the runway in a heavy rainstorm in Jamaica. The US Government is quick to send National Transportation Board investigators to the scene to investigate an INTERNATIONAL incident, that seem cut and dry from the reports. The mission statement of the National Transportation Board cites that it investigates air accidents withing the boundaries of the United States--not foreign countries like Jamaica.

December 25, 2009 - Flight 253 leaves from Amsterdam to Detroit. Near the end of the flight Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab begins to light a bomb sewn into his underwear. Throughout the flight, an unknown person records the entire flight with a video camera for reasons unknown, and has yet to be found with the video tape. Three passengers prevent the man from carrying out the bombing.

When the plane lands, federal officials and Detroit Police leave the passengers on the plane for over 20 minutes, obviously not having any concern for more bombs on the plane. Witnesses also see federal officials escort a second man off the airplane. Passengers are allowed to remove their personal belongings from the scene of the crime.

Early federal reports don't point to radical Islamic terrorist, specifically Al Qaeda. It is unknown why Mutallab's name shows up on the terrorists watch list but not on the no fly list. Also, there were no questions at the Amsterdam airport why he didn't carry more than a small carry on for an international flight.

December 26, 2009 - Reports start coming out the Obama administration was informed of the intentions of Abdulmutallab. His father alerted the US Embassy in Nigeria he worried his son might attack the United States or another target through radical Islamic forces.

December 27, 2009 - Obama administration officials begin embarrassing themselves with comments that show their incompetence. Robert Gibbs asks the nation not to turn this terrorist attempt into a political battle, obviously to protect Obama's incoherent leadership. Janet Napolitano says the system worked perfectly.

Also, a man created chaos on Northwest Delta Flight 253, the same flight Mutallab flew on two days before. The crew questioned the Nigerian man after he remained in the plane's lavatory longer than an hour. The man became verbally abusive to the flight crew. He later claimed he was sick.

December 28, 2009 - Napolitano changes her the system works perfectly statement to the system is broken. Obama issues a statement from Hawaii that ignores the Al Qaeda and radical Islam ties.

December 29, 2009 - The media tries to get the public to sympathize with Mutallab by running stories of his personal life citing he was a lonely man.

Key witnesses and Flight 253 passengers Kurt and Lori Haskell begin to describe the inconsistencies of what is coming out of the government's account of what took place on Flight 253.

Democrats look to place blames on Republicans and claim it's Senator Jim DeMint's fault because he didn't approve of a TSA head because they looked to unionize the TSA. In doing so, the nation finds out Senator Chris Dodd (D) cut money from the airport security budget. The media claims Obama issues his sharpest words yet. He still fails to address the problem as an act of radical Islamic terrorism.

More stories are coming out of the loss of freedoms that are coming because of the account including full body scanners at the airport. You mean the same full body scanners the TSA ordered earlier in the fall? Yup!

Abraham Lincoln's Dark Side: How Lincoln Could Haunt America Today

For many years of my life I looked at Abraham Lincoln as an American Hero. But now, with a greater understanding of the Constitution and state’s rights, I see I am a victim of American revisionism of history in American classrooms. Abraham Lincoln cared nothing about the slaves, he only cared about expanding the powers of the federal government and the taxes the federal government received from the south, who rightfully seceded from the union. For Lincoln’s greed for power and taxes, led to a war that killed 93,000 Confederate troops and 110,000 Union troops in combat. (Most of the deaths during the Civil War, totaling over 620,000 people was because of disease.)

During the last couple decades, the spin has been against waving the Confederate flag is if it’s some kind of racial symbol. I now believe this is a careful plan by the Federal Government who knows the greatest threat to their power are educated people willing to stand up against their quest for power. The Confederate flag is really a symbol of state’s rights and sovereignty—bad words in today’s America according to the Department of Homeland Security. When you start looking at the truth behind the Southern States, you soon discover the Confederate Constitution
For years, the most basic lesson of the Civil War taught you empty minds the war was a battle for slavery. The Northern States fought for freedom while the Southern States fought for slavery.

Yet, Article 1, Section 9 of the Confederate Constitution reads: 1. The importation of negroes of the African race from any foreign country other than the slaveholding States or Territories of the United States of America, is hereby forbidden; and Congress is required to pass such laws as shall effectually prevent the same. How many new the Southern State’s Constitution had a provision to stop the African slave trade.

So I think we should take a different look at Lincoln. Let’s throw out this glorified image of freedom associated with Lincoln as the Great Emancipator who kept the union together. Rather, let’s look how Lincoln increased slavery in the United States by destroying states rights, the union, and creating a huge federal government that began looking at the states as a nation rather than sovereign states that worked together for commerce and defense. Abraham Lincoln is the father of big government.

For far too many years, the Southern States have been portrayed as the antagonist, the villain. How could they break up the union? In reality they are the protagonist of this period in history. They had every right to secede from the union and the fact Lincoln fought a war to pull them back into the union in not only a violation of the Constitution specifically dealing with state’s rights, but also proves Lincoln’s disregard of the founding fathers and suggests Lincoln was somewhat tyrannical in his decisions. Sure the Confederates fired the first shots, but Lincoln made the decision to send Union Troops to Fort Sumter to bully the Confederates to surrender Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

The initial shot was consistent with Lincoln’s word. Lincoln said he would do whatever it took to keep the Union together, including war, but it would have to be the South that fired first. Lincoln’s troops may not have fired the first shot, but they instigated the first shot.

So what interest did Lincoln have in keeping the Union together? What was so important about the south that he would send the Secretary of War to Fort Sumter to agitate Confederate soldiers? The answer is not based on the moral quest to end slavery as the history books have fooled Americans in to believing. In fact, it’s quite the opposite as documented in a letter to Horace Greeley and Lincoln’s original intent as he sent troops to Fort Sumter—to save the Union—not free the slaves. Lincoln didn’t care one way or another if the slaves were freed. This was about economics and of course we see the outcome of that today as the federal government continues to put the Treasury before the people.

The fact is redistribution of wealth was already occurring in the United States before the Civil War, and it was done through unfair taxation. The South was exporting its agriculture and making huge profits with their crops. The Northern States found a way to dip into the pockets of Southerners through heavy taxation. Former Vice-President John C. Calhoun put it this way, "The North had adopted a system of revenue and disbursements in which an undue proportion of the burden of taxation has been imposed upon the South, and an undue proportion of its proceeds appropriated to the North… the South, as the great exporting portion of the Union, has in reality paid vastly more than her due proportion of the revenue."

This is the main reason the South left the union. It had nothing to do with slavery. The issue of slavery transferred the South from the protagonist to the antagonist in our history books. Under the Bill of Rights, the South had every right to escape this unfair taxation through secession, just like any state has the right to leave the union today. Notice how the federal government and the mainstream media brainwash people today into believing secession is bad.

In fact, when the taxes from the South dried up in Northern states, things became dire for the remaining United States. A March 1861 New York Evening Post describes just how bad it got once the taxes dried up from Southern States.

That either the revenue from duties must be collected in the ports of the rebel states, or the port must be closed to importations from abroad, is generally admitted. If neither of these things be done, our revenue laws are substantially repealed; the sources which supply our treasury will be dried up; we shall have no money to carry on the government; the nation will become bankrupt before the next crop of corn is ripe. There will be nothing to furnish means of subsistence to the army; nothing to keep our navy afloat; nothing to pay the salaries of public officers; the present order of things must come to a dead stop.

The tariffs imposed on the South, affectionately known as the "Tariff of Abomination" pushed by Henry Clay ranged from 20 to 30%. When Lincoln took office he immediately raised these tariffs through the Morrill Tariff Act, and the South began their secession. There is an amazing irony between Lincoln and Barack Obama that goes much farther than the role of Great Emancipator and free black man, which Obama played upon prior to his inauguration.

Just the fact Obama identifies with Lincoln proves Obama knows little about American history in terms of black history but how much he does know about getting away with unconstitutional actions. Obama's chosen connection to Abraham Lincoln is a slap in the face to all black Americans. The irony of the connection is of course the division Obama creates and the discussions of secession taking place in America over more federal controls, bailouts of fiscally irresponsible states through taxation of other states, and of course higher taxes. Obama is the new Lincoln in many ways beyond his Illinois connection.

There is a lesson to learn in this. If you want to take control back from the modern-day oppressive government, secession may be the best economic choice. When taxes dry up for the federal government, they will have a hard time operating just like they did in 1861. It should remain a viable choice for any state that has practiced fiscal responsibility and Constitutional law, especially in a time where these states are being required to bailout states like California and New York. Not much has changed in the federal tax practices. They just have new names for the taxes. Each state can stand up to the federal government just like Governor of Texas Rick Perry is doing after Senator Ben Nelson’s deal for a yes vote with the current health care bill. Secession is a right and a responsibility each state must be will to use. The real truth of the Civil War is the North should be viewed as the patriots and colonists viewed Mother England during the Revolutionary War.

The myth that Abraham Lincoln cared about black people is one of the largest lies of the Civil War period of American history. It’s well documented Lincoln cared less about the issue of slavery.

On August 29, 1862, New Yorker Horace Greeley wrote an editorial in “The New York Tribune” called “The Prayer of the 20 Millions.” In his editorial, Greeley wrote the reasons why slavery must end in the United States. Greeley believed ending slavery would weaken the south to end the war and help the economies of the northern states. He did gain the attention of President Lincoln. Lincoln responded:

Hon. Horace Greeley:

Dear Sir.

I have just read yours of the 19th addressed to myself through the New York Tribune. If there be in it any statements, or assumptions of fact, which I may know to be erroneous, I do not, now and here, controvert them. If there be perceptable in it an impatient and dictatorial tone, I waive it in deference to an old friend, whose heart I have always supposed to be right.

As to the policy I "seem to be pursuing" as you say, I have not meant to leave any one in doubt.
I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be "the Union as it was." If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I don't believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be error; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.

I have here stated my purpose according to my view of Official duty: and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free.

Yours,

A. Lincoln

Words covered up by Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln cared nothing about the slaves—only saving the Union, even it meant trampling the Constitution which he did. The truth about Abraham Lincoln is masked in his Jeffersonian tone of these two great American events.

It gets worse for Lincoln in a tyrannical way. Lincoln also suspended Habeas corpus laws. He made slaves out of Americans by arresting them without warrant against the Constitution. They were held in jail without access to a judge to decide if they were guilty beyond any claims made by the Union under Lincoln’s leadership. (We hear possibilities of this in America today.) Lincoln locked up thousands of people who he considered threats without due process—no trial. Lincoln arrested political opponents, southern sympathizers, and anyone suspected of disloyalty to the Union. The real Lincoln appears more like Josef Stalin rather than the image taught in school that earned him a place on the five-dollar bill and a monument in Washington DC.

Lincoln also shut down newspapers that disagreed with his policies. Over 300 papers were censored through closure under Lincoln’s leadership. Lincoln turned into an enemy of the First Amendment. Maybe this truth is why Washington celebrates him with monuments and an image on our money. Lincoln helped mold this country today into an oppressive state, and we once again see another Illinois occupant of the Oval Office hoping to control media outlets, especially talk radio and the Internet.

In the book, His Dark Side --Lincoln's Illegal Imprisonment Of Baltimore's Mayor & Legislators by Chet Dembeck, examines the arrests ordered by President Lincoln of key Baltimore political opponents. Even with a Supreme Court decision with an opinion written by Chief Justice Roger Taney informing Lincoln he was in violation of the Constitution. Lincoln ignored Taney’s opinion and continued arresting political opponents. It’s really amazing a bullet didn’t find Lincoln sooner considering Lincoln’s crimes. Lincoln’s secret police (Union troops) continued to arrest political enemies.

In the end, the Emancipation Proclamation became nothing more than rhetoric geared to save Lincoln’s image and the fact he trampled all over the Constitution to save the Union. The proclamation is nothing more than a mask to cover the truth of Lincoln’s intentions and hide the fact that over 600,000 Americans died. Nothing good came out of the Civil War because Federalism died.

In the late 1980s, Hollywood had a fascination with the Soviet takeover of the United States. Movies like The Day After and Amerika attempted to scare Americans into believing Reagan was dangerous. I recall watching Amerika, a 12-hour miniseries on ABC, watching flags of Vladimir Lenin with Abraham Lincoln’s image waved by Soviet propagandist. I remember being offended by the flags because I believed Lincoln was a great man, a real American hero. Some 20 years later, I am not offended. In fact, I understand the connection. Lincoln’s oppressive governing style killed the vision of our founding fathers. Looking at the true Lincoln it’s easy to see why his image was placed on the flag.

Recap of Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberals of the Year

In just six short hours, the top wacky liberal of the year will be announced. Who will it be? Any guesses?

So why we are waiting the count down for this year's Bungalow Bill's Wacky Liberal of the Year, let's look at the nine finalist:

10. Adam Lambert

.9 Claire McCaskill

.8 The Climate Crooks

.7 Mam Barbara Boxer

.6 Susan Roesgen

.5 Diane Watson

.4 Obama's Tax Cheats

.3 Nancy Pelosi

.2 Rachel Maddow

.1 ????? Stay Tuned. The Winner will be announced 12:00 CST.

The EcoSnoop iPhone Application

Love that iPhone and the environment? Why not become an environmental narc with it!

A new iPhone application encourages people to spy on their neighbors and local businesses and report them for such things as using too much electricity or other carbon nightmare scenarios that any little weenie environmentalist who hasn't figured out carbon dioxide is a necessary for life king of gas. The idea is to use the application with the camera on the iPhone to take photos of the environmental violator. The pictures then get posted to the their EcoSnoop Web site in hopes of embarrassing the violator. More of this conditioning people to report to a higher authority BS!


So I would like to nominate an environmental polluter. Here's the picture and the description of the violator:



EcoSnoop: an organization on the World Wide Web that is using too much electricity to post pictures from people who also use electricity to charge their iPhones to report other users of electricity.

Updated 5:18 CST, December 30, 2009


Categories, Wasteful server use of electricity transmitting nonsense across the World Wide Web to other idiotic environmentalist who don't see Al Gore is getting rich from this nonsense and still flies in private airplanes and rides around in SUVs while living in a huge mansion.


Description: This Web site is a waste of time and waste of valuable electricity, and the people encouraging this are hypocrites. If they really believed what they preached they would realize their Web site is creating dangerous CO2 and encouraging others to turn off their computers and iPhones, not report their neighbors.

Peddling The 'Naked Scanner': Forbes Story on TSA Ordering 30 Full Body Scanners Weeks Before Underwear Bomber

Forbes published a story on October 14, 2009, that may be of great interest to Americans as we learn we are about to sacrifice freedoms for the illusion of safety. The TSA ordered 30 full-body scanners just weeks before the underwear bomber. Now it seems the US Government can easily use this technology with little debate all thanks to the underwear bomber.

Airport Security

Peddling The 'Naked Scanner'

Parmy Olson, 10.14.09, 02:00 PM EDT

RapiScan Systems is putting 30 of its unusual body-scanning devices into American airports.

LONDON -- If you ever noticed the staff at British airport security giggling, they might have had good reason. RapiScan Systems, which makes walk-through metal detectors and baggage inspection systems, has been trialing a range of scanners at U.K. airports that are set to be distributed in America, which can detect any opaque objects underneath a traveler's clothing.

It takes away the need for people to go through the relative indignity of slipping off their belts and shoes--but also means that security staff, albeit in a separate room, will see them nearly stark naked.

The Single Pose Scanner works by taking a reflection of the body being screened. "It's enough to penetrate any clothing but not to penetrate body," said Terry Whittock, the managing director of RapiScan systems in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The amount of clothing worn is irrelevant, and there's no discrimination between materials such as leather or linen. It then shows a white image of the person's body, along with any objects they may be carrying under their clothing, as shown here.

Use of the Scanner has already attracted the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union, who remarked in response to early U.K. trials in 2002 that the security measures were "extremely intrusive."

Yet two weeks ago, RapiScan sold 30 of its scanning systems to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration for $25 million, or about $160,000 each. The company doesn't know which airports they will be distributed to, only that they will be spread across the U.S. and will be notified as where in the coming weeks.

The Single Pose Secure scanner currently represents just under 4% of RapiScan's sales, but that proportion could increase significantly following the rollout in the U.S., and if the company can sell more to the Transport Security Administration. RapiScan, which has about 1,000 employees around the world, is headquartered in Torrance, Calif., and owned by OSI Systems.

"[The scanner] has got some huge opportunities for this year," said Whittock. "Traditionally airports use metal detectors, but should a passenger be boarding a plane with a plastic explosive or plastic knives, they are just as dangerous. This technology would help us find it."
RapiScan's technology has been around for about five years, but its deal with America's TSA represents the first time it is being sold for public use. Till now the scanners have only been trialed at Britain's Heathrow airport (between 2004 and 2008 when thousands of travelers were given the option to jump the security line) and from earlier this week, Manchester Airport, grabbing the attention of the U.K. press.

The Manchester scanner is faster than the Heathrow version, in which a traveler had to stand in two different poses within the scanner; now they only need to stand in one, and for up to five seconds.

RapiScan, which gets about 50% of its sales in the U.K., is still waiting for British regulators and a European Union committee to approve the technology for commercial use in British and European airports, but it's not expecting any major developments until next year.
Regulators are the company's biggest challenge right now, followed by concerns about safety. The company says its Single Pose Secure scanner uses an extremely low-dose X-ray, equivalent to spending two minutes on an aircraft.

Understandably, there are also worries about traveler dignity, but the scanner gets around that in several ways: It has a "privacy algorithm" that conceals a person's private parts, images on the system are destroyed soon after each person passes through the scanner and the operator of the system should be based in a separate room so that they never actually see the person walking through.

"There's no eye contact, no way for them to see each other," said Whittock, adding that the company would set up the hardware specifically in this way.
Worth bearing in mind next time you walk through an airport security checkpoint, and find some of the key staff are suspiciously absent.

TSA Buys 30 Full Body Scanners for Airports Just Weeks Before Underwear Bomber

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) ordered 30 full body x-ray scanners just weeks prior to the underwear bomber. RapiScan, the full-body scanner's manufacturers, sold the machines for approximately $160,000 that past fall. The transaction was reported by Forbes.

Why would the United States Government order 30 full-body scanners just weeks before the underwear bombing? Isn't it funny they are ready to go--almost a seamless transition?

For more information read: US Airports Order 30 Full Body Scanners Weeks Before Underwear Bomber

US Airports Ordered 30 Full Body Scanners in Fall 2009 Weeks Before Underwear Bomber

Upon doing some research for full-body scanners and how they relate to child pornography laws, I found this interesting tidbit. RapiScan, the manufacturer of airport full-body scanners, sold 30 units the US Transportation Security Administration at a cost between $160,000 to $174,000 just weeks before the underwear bomber attempted to bring down Flight 253.

Now you have question why they were ordered at this time, when the machines were still very controversial in the United States. Then suddenly we have the underwear bomber and we are asked to give up more of our rights, including agreeing to a fully naked image of our bodies, to get on the airplane.

What did the US Government really know about Flight 253 in the weeks leading up to the attempted bombing? These are a huge investment for an airport to order without knowing something was coming down the line, don’t you think?

Source: Naked airport scanners in child porn uproar, Moses, Asher, The Age, October 16, 2009 (full text below)

Manchester Airport has been forced to rethink trials of its invasive new X-ray machine after claims the “naked” images of airline passengers could violate child pornography laws.

This week, the airport began a year-long trial of the full-body scanner, which can instantly detect any hidden weapons or explosives without passengers having to remove any of their clothing – such as shoes and belts – for a search.

It effectively does away with the need to frisk passengers and is expected to speed up the security process at airports, but the cost of that is passengers are starkly naked in front of security staff. Genital outlines are clearly visible on the screen.

The scanner’s manufacturer, RapiScan, is already eyeing further airports around the world. A few weeks ago it sold 30 of the $US160,000 ($174,000) scanners to the US Transportation Security Administration, Forbes reported.

The Times in Britain reported that the number sold to the US was closer to 1000.

The technology has already been trialled at Heathrow airport and if the trials are successful it could be rolled out across Britain.

But British children’s advocate Action on Rights for Children (ARCH) said the technology would fall foul of the country’s Protection of Children Act, which states it is an offence to “’show” and “make” an indecent image of a child.

The group said it was irrelevant that the naked images were not stored and that parents’ permission was required before children could be scanned. It pointed to a provision in the act outlawing “pseudo-photographs”.

A child rights campaigner, Shy Keenan, told Sky News: “We can’t allow a line to be crossed in case perverts try to say they were only looking at images for a short time and weren’t storing them.”

Manchester Airport initially argued that its scanner was lawful and exempt from the child pornography laws because it was used for the “prevention and detection of crime”. ARCH said a good reason was required to qualify for this exemption.

The airport admitted on Thursday that it might be illegal for children to use the scanner. It said it would not allow anyone under 18 to use the device if it is advised the practice is unlawful.

“Since a number of people have been in touch and pointed out that there might be a problem, we have ourselves been in touch with charities working in this area to take further advice,” an airport spokesman told The Register.

“As far as Manchester Airport is concerned, we are not in the business of endangering children – our only interest is in making sure all passengers get on the plane safely. We will abide by the advice given by experts in this area.”

Surrendering Rights for Safety: Full Body Scanning

So I am listening to Sirius AP News in between segments of the Sean Hannity Show (By the way, I really like Herman Kane). The news story of the hour is the increased security that will soon find its way in international airports across the fruited plain. They find two women to interview for the story who are travelling in an airport together.

They ask the women if they mind being exposed with these full body scanners, that basically produces a black and white fully naked picture of you as you step through it. These women in a very happy tone (I picture smiles on their faces) say they are perfectly okay with their privates shown as long as they know they can fly safely. Isn’t that sad.

A total invasion of your privacy in the name of national security and these two women answer the question in good spirits, happily giving the bureaucrats at the TSA more power. (Can’t you see a new porn Web site that features the best breasts exposed at the TSA checkpoints?) While they smile giving this mindless answer, I am saddened. I am saddened at how much liberty and freedom Americans are willing to give up for the illusion of safety.

Americans surrendered plenty of freedoms with the Patriot Act, and now we face more loss of freedoms knowing the Patriot Act and the institutions initiated after 9/11 failed. They called in the Patriot Act using the most shameful form of rhetoric. Attach the word Patriot to it to make people believe it’s an obligation to your country’s security to sacrifice more freedom. Now we are going to sacrifice more security to create the illusion of safety. I think George Carlin said it best on airport security and terrorists. (Language warning if you press play.)




So once again, Americans are surrendering rights so the government can keep us safe. Well they haven’t exactly done a good job have they? Why are they going to start now. Here’s an idea, instead of robbing Americans to create the illusion of safety why don’t we take this war on terrorism more seriously? Why do our rights have to be robbed from us because the government once again has failed. No big headline there. I am kind of use to the headline that reads GOVERNMENT FAILS AGAIN.

So it’s come to this point. All because some guy wanted to blow up his testicles and everything else around him at 30,000 feet we have to show our balls, breasts, and other uglies to the TSA agent to abuse. If the TSA and other government officials want to see big breasts they should go to strip clubs, and let us have what little privacy is left at the airport. There is a risk to leave the earth and soar at 30,000 feet, and no matter how much airport security there is, it will never change that fact. Why not just require each flier take off all our clothes and go through each piece with every piece of clothing to ensure people aren’t hiding bombs on board? You know it’s coming the instance the full-body scan fails. By that time we will be conditioned enough to show our privates it won’t even matter as happy people run through the airport believing they are safe.

Let’s remember what Benjamin Franklin said about all this. Yes, Franklin does provide some insight. He said, “those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.” Someone should tell that to the happy women at the airport who have fallen for this belief the United States government can keep you safe.