The tag line following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States by Islamic terrorist was “we need to do a better job of connecting the dots.” Well, it seems that 12 years later no one has gotten any better at connecting the dots; not the news media, not Congress, and not the President. Now we’re under attack again. However, this time it’s not Islamic terrorist attacking us. The attack is against the citizens of the United States from within by our own government. Scandal after scandal has erupted not just in the last few weeks, but over the last few years. Ignoring the Rule of Law has become the mantra of United States Big Government. There is no bigger threat to our Republic than unchecked lawlessness. There are almost too many scandals to list. Start with the firing of Inspector General Gerald Walpin for investigating a donor to the Obama campaign, http://hotair.com/archives/2009/06/15/the-curious-firing-of-gerald-walpin-gets-curiouser/ , the New Black Panther scandal, the Fast and Furious gun running scandal, the IRS scandal, the Benghazi, the Associated Press, Fox News reporter David Rosen scandals, the alias email accounts by senior government officials, the illegal solicitation of money by the DHHS Secretary, the collection of phone records by the National Security Agency, the collection of internet and email data by the National Security Agency and the FBI, and who knows what the next scandal will be? Many of these “scandals” have a common thread that may not be apparent on the surface. That thread is the collection of data from private citizens. NSA is building a huge computer facility in Utah to process all of this metadata (since their already massive computer systems in MD aren’t big enough), http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/56428311-79/data-nsa-government-phone.html.csp.

Before you dismiss the foregoing supposition as partisan politics, note that the erosion of privacy and freedom did not start with the Obama Administration. Nor did it start with the Bush Administration http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act in 2001, although President Bush and Congress moved the ball way down the field after 9/11 with the passage of the Patriot Act, , and then with the Patriot Act’s reauthorization in 2006, 2010, and 2011. The fact is that politicians from both parties have, and still, try to use information collected through the government bureaucracies to gain political advantage. But with these recent scandals, our government has taken great steps towards George Orwell’s 1984’s Big Brother. President Obama and Congress joined President Bush and Congress in eroding our freedoms.

When the Patriot Act was passed following the 9/11 Islamic terrorist attacks, many from both political parties embraced the promised “safety” of giving up a “little” freedom as an acceptable trade off to safety. One Senator, a Democrat, voted against the Patriot Act in 2001, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/07/the-only-senator-who-voted-against-the-patriot-act-seemingly-predicted-this-day-would-come/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=Share+Buttons. Former Senator Russ Feingold (D, WI) did not vote for the Patriot Act because the Act did not provide enough judicial oversight. Hindsight is 20:20, and now there is little doubt that Senator Feingold was the only one who was right. Even with the knowledge we have now about how a willing administration will “judge-shop” to find an appointed judge that will exceed their Constitutional authority. But even now, some like Senator’s Lindsey Graham (R, SC) (http://hotair.com/archives/2013/06/06/lindsey-graham-hey-im-glad-the-nsa-is-collecting-americans-phone-records/), Dianne Feinstein (D, CA) (http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-nsa-telephone-surveillance-revelation-20130606,0,2415540.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fpolitics+%28L.A.+Times+-+Politics%29), and Representative Mike Rogers (R, MI) ( http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/06/09/Congressional-intelligence-chairs-defend-NSA-monitoring-program/UPI-97731370802221/) see nothing wrong with collecting phone records, emails, and internet usage from millions of Americans.

Let’s connect a few of the dots (those in power will call this conspiracy theory to discredit the supposition) of some of the data collection efforts by the U. S. government, and extend that understanding to what a tyrannical government (not necessarily the current one) could do with this information. Note, it is not debatable that this data is being collected, but what is, or could be done with the metadata should be of concern. Watch on You Tube (transcript below) what U. S. Representative Maxine Waters said about data mining by the current administration, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIA1lQBqH1s

“The President has put in place an organization with the kind of database that no one has ever seen before in life,” Representative Maxine Waters told Roland Martin on Monday. “That’s going to be very, very powerful,” Waters said. “That database will have information about everything on every individual on ways that it’s never been done before and whoever runs for President on the Democratic ticket has to deal with that. They’re going to go down with that database and the concerns of those people because they can’t get around it. And he’s [President Obama] been very  smart. It’s very powerful what he’s leaving in place.” – Maxine Waters

Just think about what you have already disclosed about yourself to the government, and the FACT that we now know that the National Security Agency is collecting a small part of that information, but we don’t know what we don’t know. That is, what else might they be collecting, and what could they do with that information? If you’re a Star Trek fan you know about the Vulcan mind-meld. What about the NSA data-meld? If the NSA can so easily collect the phone records of who you are calling, who calls you, and when and from where the calls are made, then put that into a database what else could they compile in that mega-database? Well we know they and the FBI have collected your emails, your internet shopping habits, the sites you visit, your Facebook and Twitter. Might they then put that into their mega-database? It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that they could merge that mega-database with say your IRS tax records (and soon your IRS health care records), plus criminal and civil court records, gun background check, sale, and Conceal Carry permit records, plus maybe Voter registration data, data from Unemployment applications, Motor Vehicle records, employee union records, college applications, student loan applications, bank records, records for donations made to political and non-political organizations and charities, and even information on you and your children from school records like Common Core data mining questionnaires. From what was a mega-database, a meta database is born, and they compile a dossier on you, your children, your family, your friends, your neighbors, and even the people you don‘t like. You say this is not possible. You say that no government would ever do that. But yet we are seeing what we never imagined our government would do even six months ago. Put aside your partisan politics, use some common sense, and ask what the other party might do to you if they were in power and had your dossier.

A big question is, what will Congress do to stop all this data collection, and invasion of privacy if anything? Some are suggesting a formation of a new Church Committee (1975), http://pjmedia.com/blog/nsa-electronic-frontier-foundation-wants-new-church-committee/?utm_medium=twitter. The Church Committee was headed by Senator Frank Church (D, ID). Senator Church said over 35 years ago . . .

[The National Security Agency's] capability at any time could be turned around on the American people, and no American would have any privacy left, such is the capability to monitor everything: telephone conversations, telegrams, it doesn’t matter. There would be no place to hide.

Some lawmakers are expressing concern with the NSA surveillance. Senator Rand Paul (R, KY) says he will challenge in the Supreme Court the NSA surveillance activities, http://12160.info/page/rand-paul-on-nsa-spying-i-m-going-to-challenge-this-at-the-suprem. The question is, where are the Democrats like former Senator Feingold who prophetically warned against what we are seeing happen today? And why are so many Republicans not speaking out? Is it because they all want to have this power to hold over our head? The jackboot of tyranny is on our necks.

by Ken Lang

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/04/13/2823044/why-the-gop-is-going-after-the.html#storylink=cpy

This Is The Label That the Government Will Use As Their Trigger

via Beaufort Observer Online

H 494 and the Restoration Movement
Our GOP legislative leadership needs to get with the program

April 08, 2013

Thom Tillis may have just killed his chances of becoming North Carolina’s next U. S. Senator. Depending on how some other current trends play out, Tillis may find that H 494 may very well drive a stake through the heart of his run for the Senate. Here’s how we see that possibility playing out.

These are unusual days in American history. We have a president who has effectively annihilated the U. S. Constitution. If you have any doubt about the truthfulness of that statement simply click here and here. The inescapable conclusion any intellectually honest person must come to is that traditional precedents established and adhered to for years no longer are “the law.” Moreover, what is equally clear is that both the Federal judiciary and the Congress are totally impotent to “preserve and defend the Constitution, either as textually written or as interpreted by judicial precedent.”

	H 494 simply calls for the restoration of the original federalism upon which this nation was founded. Tillis is unwise and foolish to assert that duly elected members of the NC House have no such right to render an opinion on the constitutionality of any issue affecting their state.

The fact is that the original construct of federalism upon which the United States of America created the Union has been turned on its head. What we have today is most certainly not what the Founders intended, and what the sovereign states signed onto. No honest constitutional scholar would argue that “indefinite detention” or warrantless searches, no matter how justified, were envisioned by the Framers. And that list is virtually endless, all the way down to the light bulbs in your home.

We would posit that, at some point, enough knowledgeable and courageous people in this nation will reject this bastardization of the Founding Documents, and even the established precedents, and take a stand to return this nation’s laws to the original intent. Common sense would indicate that it will happen either peaceably or violently. If it is done peaceably it wil be operationalized by leaders stepping up and demanding that the illegal actions be overturned, nullified if you will, and state action interposed in their place. (continue reading…)

MINUTES
MOREHEAD CITY
APRIL 2, 2013

Jere Geurin opened with prayer and Bob led the Pledge of Allegiance.  There were 12 people in attendance.
Nancy reported that, according to Catie McCabe, Peggy Garner will be returning from Greenville tomorrow and will be receiving physical therapy in her home.  We will be sending flowers and cards may be sent to 1299 Nine Mile Road, Newport, 28570.
Bob reported that $100 donation was made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice in memory of Norm Sanderson’s mother and a card was sent to his home.
The Newport Pig Pickin’ is Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6, and we will be in 2A, behind the Newport Library, near the band.  A tent and cooker will be provided Friday by the men cooking the pig, the opening ceremony is at 5:30 Friday, and it is all over Saturday when the food runs out, about 3:00.  There will be an extra grill if anyone wants to use it, no booze allowed, and we cannot sell anything, but are welcome to hand out constitutions, business cards, etc.  Scott will be delivering flyers for distribution, also.
A discussion on declining attendance was led by Bob and reasons offered included the results of the last election, voter fraud, setbacks such as ObamaCare, and a general feeling of hopelessness.  Other topics discussed were NC politicians, the stock market, the crisis in Cyprus, expansion of wildlife habitat area and flood zones as they relate to Agenda 21, personal property rights, legalization of immigrants, and the liberalization of college students.
Bob reminded us that Mike Huckabee will be at the Convention Center in New Bern Friday speaking from noon-3:00.  The event runs from 6:30 am until 4:30 and will be broadcast live on 94.1.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:00.

Addendum: Peggy is home from the hospital. CCTPP provided lunch for Peggy and Howard on April 5, 2013. Thank you Ruth for your help.

CRYSTAL COAST TEA PARTY PATRIOTS
MEETING MINUTES OF
19 MARCH 2013

The meeting was held at the Golden Corral in Morehead City, NC
The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Chairman BOB CAVANAUGH
The invocation by given by NANCY BOCK
The pledge of allegiance was led by BOB CAVANAUGH
Attendance – 17

PEGGY said at the GOP County meeting last Saturday, Pat McElraft told us that most people say ‘One Nation’ – ‘Under GOD’ (with a pause between).  We should be saying ‘One Nation Under GOD’ as all one sentence.  PEGGY said she planned to make every effort to do this from now on.  Discussion – and BOB said Dwight Eisenhower had included ‘under GOD’ into the pledge when he was president.

BOB asked who went to the convention last Saturday (continue reading…)

As it turns out, this is not the original 2008 article that it claims to be, but it is no less appropriate and true…

 Charley  Reese’s final column for the Orlando Sentinel… He has been a  journalist for 49 years. He is retiring and this is HIS LAST   COLUMN.

Be sure to  read the Tax List at the end.

This is  about as clear and easy to understand as it can be. The article below is completely neutral, neither anti-republican or democrat. Charlie  Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, has hit the nail  directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final  analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact  each one of us every day. It’s a short but good read. Worth the time.  Worth remembering!

545 vs.  300,000,000 People
-By Charlie  Reese

Politicians  are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign  against them.

Have you  ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against  deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you  ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high  taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I  don’t propose a federal budget.  The President does.

You and I  don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The  House of Representatives does.

You and I  don’t write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I  don’t set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I  don’t control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred  senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court  justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are  directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the  domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded  the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was  created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its  Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally  chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded  all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have  no legal authority. They have no ability to  coerce a senator, a  congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t  care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The  politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the  lobbyist promises, it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine  how he votes.

Those 545  human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they  did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless  of party.

What  separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive  amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a  Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating  deficits.. ( The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force  the Congress to accept it.)

The  Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole  responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and  approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker  of the  House?( John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and  fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they  want. ) If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if  they agree to. [The House has passed a budget but the Senate has not  approved a budget in over three years. The President's proposed  budgets have gotten almost unanimous rejections in the Senate in that  time. ]

It seems  inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545  people who stand convicted — by present facts — of incompetence and  irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem that is  not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the  plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal  government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to  exist.

If the tax  code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair.

If the  budget is in the red, it’s  because they want it in the red.

If the Army  & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it’s because they want them  in Iraq and Afghanistan ..

If they do  not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not  available to the people, it’s because they want it that way.

There are no  insoluble government problems.

Do not let  these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and  whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they  can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and  from whom they can take this power.
Above all,  do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied  mystical forces like “the economy,” “inflation,” or “politics” that  prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545  people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have  the power.

They, and  they alone, should be held  accountable by the people who are  their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their  own employees… We should vote all of them out of office and clean up  their mess!

Charlie  Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

What you do  with this article now that you have read it… is up to you.
This might  be funny if it weren’t so true.
Be sure to  read all the way to the end:

Tax his  land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the  table,
At which  he’s fed.

Tax his  tractor,
Tax his  mule,
Teach him  taxes
Are the  rule.

Tax his  work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts  anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his  goat,
Tax his  pants,
Tax his  coat.

Tax his  ties,
Tax his  shirt,
Tax his  work,
Tax his  dirt.

Tax his  tobacco,
Tax his  drink,
Tax him if  he
Tries to  think.

Tax his  cigars,
Tax his  beers,
If he cries
Tax his  tears.

Tax   his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other  ways
To tax his  ass.

Tax all he  has
Then let him  know
That you won’t be done
Till he has no dough.

When he  screams and hollers;
Then tax him  some more,
Tax him till
He’s good  and sore.

Then tax his  coffin,
Tax his  grave,
Tax the sod  in
Which he’s laid…

Put these  words
Upon his  tomb,
‘Taxes drove  me
to my  doom…’

When he’s  gone,
Do not  relax,
Its time to  apply
The  inheritance tax.
Accounts  Receivable Tax
Building  Permit Tax
CDL license  Tax
Cigarette  Tax
Corporate  Income Tax
Dog License  Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal  Income Tax
Federal  Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing  License Tax
Food License  Tax
Fuel Permit  Tax
Gasoline Tax  (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross  Receipts Tax
Hunting  License Tax
Inheritance  Tax
Inventory  Tax
IRS Interest  Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of  tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage  License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal  Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate  Tax
Service  Charge Tax
Social  Security Tax
Road Usage  Tax
Recreational  Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income  Tax
State  Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone  Federal Excise Tax
Telephone  Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone  Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone  Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone  Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone  State and Local Tax
Telephone  Usage Charge Tax
Utility  Taxes
Vehicle  License Registration Tax
Vehicle  Sales Tax
Watercraft  Registration Tax
Well Permit  Tax
Workers  Compensation Tax

STILL THINK  THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of  these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most  prosperous in the world.

CRYSTAL COAST TEA PARTY PATRIOTS
MEETING MINUTES OF
12 March 2013

The meeting was held at the Golden Corral in Morehead City, NC
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 by Chairman BOB CAVENAUGH
Invocation by JERE GEURIN
Pledge of Allegiance was led by BOB CAVANAUGH
Attendance – 25

BOB announced the death of Jim Ferrell.  Many of those in attendance knew Jim, a former Highway Patrolman, former member of Newport Pig Cookin’ committee, plumber and sign salesman.  BOB had been a neighbor of Jim’s several years ago and told of a few instances he remembered with Jim…example….the time BOB accidentally set fire to Jim’s yard.  Many joking comments were made as to BOB and his fire problems….started with yard fire, then shed fire….what is next?  JERE said we need to introduce BOB to Smokey the Bear.

BOB turned the floor over to KEN LANG.  KEN reminded everyone that the county commissioners meeting is this coming Monday night.   They are going to pass a resolution on supporting the 2nd Amendment.  Right now it is on the Consent Agenda, so there it will not be any discussion on it, unless we can get a Commissioner to move if off the Consent Agenda and say a few words about it.  He is going to talk to a couple of them and see if we can’t get it off so they will have to vote on it separately and so we can see who actually votes for it.  The meeting is at 6:00 in the Court House in Beaufort on the second floor in the Commissioner’s Meeting Room.  Recommend you get there early.  Someone asked if Jennifer Hudson planned to speak again this time.  HOWARD said according to the letter to the editor she wrote recently, she planned to speak.  Discussion on the article in the paper about the Commissioner’s meeting where Jennifer had spoken….indicating and assuming that she had spoken as a TEA Party member.  She emphasized that she had spoken as a Carteret County voter and not affiliated with any party.  She did say she appreciated our attendance and support though.

KEN said he had met with Lockwood Phillips this afternoon and told him about the Resolution.  He did not know about it, so KEN is hoping he will look into it and put something on his radio program.  The main reason KEN met with Lockwood is about the insurance rate hike in NC and the big hit eastern NC is going to take.  (continue reading…)

CRYSTAL COAST TEA PARTY PATRIOTS
MEETING MINUTES OF
5 MARCH 2013

Meeting was held at Golden Corral in Morehead City, NC
Meeting was called to order at 6:02pm by Chairman BOB CAVANAUGH
Invocation by LYN BAKER
Pledge of Allegiance was led by BOB CAVANAUGH
Attendance – 23

BOB announced that STEVE BEST would be showing another movie at his “Cave” theater -
Apostle Peter and the Last Supper on Saturday, March 23 at 5:00pm.  Steve’s address is 103 Washington Ave., Newport and his phone number is 252-723-0493.

BOB said he had mentioned last week that he had ordered the “First in Freedom” book from the John Locke Foundation.  It came in this week and he hasn’t had the opportunity to read it yet; however, it would be available from our TEA Party ‘rolling’ library for anyone wishing to read it.

Comments were made on the letter to the editor by Tim Buck and all questioned why he did it.
It was just a little short paragraph that said “Note to the GOP. The GOP will live by the TEA Party or die by the TEA Party.  To the TEA Party – go crawl back under the rock you came from”.  Several members wanted to know who Tim Buck was.  They were told that Tim used to come to our meetings and had worn our Uncle Sam outfit in the parades we participated in.  One night he came and returned the outfit and told us he would not be wearing it anymore…and he has not been to a meeting since.  None of us know what happened or why he got upset but he has avoided us ever since.  It is presumed that since he was not re-elected Precinct Chairman, that he lashed out at the TEA Party (since BOB was elected chairman of the Broad Creek precinct), but we do not know for sure.

Discussion on the number of various TEA Parties now springing up around the country and all are asking for funding.  This is creating a bad name for the original TEA Party groups (the grass roots groups).  Someone said, since we are in need for money, maybe we should fall in line with them.  All others said ‘no way, we prefer to stay broke and honest and stay true to our convictions.  BOB said the TEA Party was supposed to be a bottom up organization – not a top down organization.   A lot of  the other groups are trying to assume some sort of leadership role. (continue reading…)

CRYSTAL COAST TEA PARTY PATRIOTS
MEETING MINUTES OF
26 FEBRUARY 2013

Meeting was held at Golden Corral, Morehead City, NC
Meeting called to order at 6:00pm by Chairman BOB CAVANAUGH
Invocation by STEVE BEST
Pledge of Allegiance led by BOB CAVANAUGH
Attendance – 24

BOB said when he attended the meeting in New Bern the other night, he noticed that they had the Invocation prior to the pledge and someone commented about we should always put GOD first, so from now on we will have our Invocation first.

All in attendance sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to RUTH PARKER (whose birthday is tomorrow) and to BOB CAVANAUGH (whose birthday was yesterday).

BOB acknowledged that VERNE THOMPSON, after threatening for several weeks, had finally brought in the book “American Sniper” by Chris Kyle, to be included in our TEA Party library.   Anyone wishing to check it out, please see BOB.

BOB said he had ordered several books from the John Locke Foundation and they are only $10.00 each plus $3.00 tax.  The latest one is called ‘First in Freedom’.  It lays out a road map for North Carolina’s agenda for going forward with fiscal responsibility and getting back to sound government.  The books were written by John Hood.  The first book was ‘Our Best Foot Forward’,  (an investment plan for NC economic recovery).  It provides historical context and a broad outline for a conservative reform agenda for the state.  ‘First in Freedom’ offers analysis and recommendations from the John Locke research team of the biggest fiscal and economical issues facing NC in 2013.  It is time for our state to become First in Freedom once more. When he receives his copy of ‘First in Freedom’ book he will add it to our library.  If anyone is interested in purchasing a copy you can go to John Locke web site (just Google John Locke Foundation and it will take you to the web site).  Go to the ‘store’ and you can read the reviews  on the various booklets.    (continue reading…)