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Columbus Rally: Support Obama's Economic Recovery Plan
By: Dave Harding, ProgressOhio
Posted Jan 5, 08:29 PM
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The Pullins Report
The Pullins Group LLC Online Newsletter
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Cross posted at The Pullins Report.
I could say a lot on this topic, but the email I've reproduced below says it much better than I ever could. It is long past time for my fellow Republicans to stand up and reject this kind of barbaric behavior. Being a Republican, especially a conservative one, has to be more than just "following the advice of the generals", or reflexively "supporting the troops", or "supporting the president."
We can begin by rejecting torture, especially the torture of waterboarding as described here.
Scott A. Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
From my email inbox:
I love America. I'm guessing you do too. But for me America is not a place, a piece of land, or a pretty flag. It's not a military parade or a stirring anthem.
For me, America is an idea. America is the one place where the huddled masses can come to breath free -- that is, if they're not subject to the "water cure."
Orwellian euphemism reaches its zenith as the war criminals who now run our government call water-boarding an "enhanced interrogation technique." Water-boarding is said to simulate drowning. But it really simulates dying.
French journalist Henri Alleg was a victim of water-boarding torture in 1957. His description of it is chilling. His torturers strapped him to a plank, put a cloth over his face, and turned on a water faucet over his head. Here is what followed, in his own words . . .
"The rag was soaked rapidly. Water flowed everywhere: in my mouth, in my nose, all over my face. But for a while I could still breathe in some small gulps of air. I tried, by contracting my throat, to take in as little water as possible and to resist suffocation by keeping air in my lungs for as long as I could. But I couldn't hold on for more than a few moments. I had the impression of drowning, and a terrible agony, that of death itself, took possession of me. In spite of myself, all the muscles of my body struggled uselessly to save me from suffocation. In spite of myself, the fingers of both my hands
shook uncontrollably. "That's it! He's going to talk," said a voice.
"The water stopped running and they took away the rag. I was able to breathe. In the gloom, I saw the lieutenants and the captain, who, with a cigarette between his lips, was hitting my stomach with his fist to make me throw out the water I had swallowed." [Source: Wikipedia] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterboarding >
Side effects of this torture can include heart attack, asphyxiation, damage to the lungs, cell damage from oxygen-deprivation, and even death. Long term psychological effects can include panic attacks, depression, and post-traumatic stress syndrome. In one case a water-boarding victim panicked every time it rained.
I'm told that a TV reporter was water-boarded on camera and didn't think it was that bad. But he wasn't the victim of determined interrogators who would continue the torture long past his breaking point. The reporter knew he would be okay. Those kidnapped into hostile hands do not.
Judge Evan Wallach <http://preview.tinyurl.com/2gjxzz > has reminded us that the United States prosecuted Japanese military and government figures for water-boarding at the Tokyo War Crimes Trials. If it was torture then, it's torture now, no matter what the President wants to call it.
Water-boarding is torture. Water-boarding is a crime. Our government is committing crimes.
Sadly, many retired military officers say that our soldiers now faced increased risk of being tortured in the same way we are torturing others.
Remember that on this Veteran's Day.
The politicians in Congress continue to go along with this charade. One could hardly expect better from a bunch of sociopaths attracted to the organized crime of tax-looting, influence peddling, and domination and control.
But what about the rest of us who claim to be "good people?" What does our toleration of torture, abandonment of Fourth Amendment warrant requirements, and willingness to toss aside the ancient right of habeas corpus say about our national character?
Congress claims to represent us. Perhaps they are right. Perhaps criminality has become our national character. But . . .
There is one bill in House, put forth by one principled man, Ron Paul of Texas, that bans torture, rehabilitates the Fourth Amendment, and restores habeas corpus. But Ron Paul has no co-sponsors for this bill. We repeat, he has NO co-sponsors. And there is no companion bill introduced in the United States Senate.
This is unconscionable and reflects badly on us as a nation. (Source - Downsize DC Inc.)
We've all read the horror stories about the problems with Chinese made toys. Even my four year old daughter asks if a toy is made in China or not, when she looks at it in a toy store.
My friend and client Susie Little of A Natural Home is doing something about it. Susie's company began a few years ago by selling a line of organic furniture and mattresses. She's now expanded her products to include baby and toddler toys made from safe, organic renewable products. What's even better about this company is that it is located right here in north Central Ohio, employing local residents at good wages.
My wife and I first found A Natural Home when we encountered problems with our daughter's brand new name brand mattress. Name brand mattresses today, per federal regulations, are saturated with chemicals to make them fireproof. The chemicals in that mattress permeated our house causing breathing problems for our entire family.
We sent it back to the retailer and began scanning the internet looking for alternatives. To our surprise, we found Susie Little and A Natural Home just minutes from our home. We quickly visited Susie's showroom in downtown Fredericktown, Ohio and ordered a new organic, hypoallergenic mattress. Susie and her family even delivered it to our door themselves.
Susie Little and A Natural Home have recently been profiled on Columbus Channel 10 WBNS. She emailed this morning to let me know the story was even picked up on CNN. Great job Susie!
Scott A. Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
My friend and client Susie Little of A Natural Home is doing something about it. Susie's company began a few years ago by selling a line of organic furniture and mattresses. She's now expanded her products to include baby and toddler toys made from safe, organic renewable products. What's even better about this company is that it is located right here in north Central Ohio, employing local residents at good wages.
My wife and I first found A Natural Home when we encountered problems with our daughter's brand new name brand mattress. Name brand mattresses today, per federal regulations, are saturated with chemicals to make them fireproof. The chemicals in that mattress permeated our house causing breathing problems for our entire family.
We sent it back to the retailer and began scanning the internet looking for alternatives. To our surprise, we found Susie Little and A Natural Home just minutes from our home. We quickly visited Susie's showroom in downtown Fredericktown, Ohio and ordered a new organic, hypoallergenic mattress. Susie and her family even delivered it to our door themselves.
Susie Little and A Natural Home have recently been profiled on Columbus Channel 10 WBNS. She emailed this morning to let me know the story was even picked up on CNN. Great job Susie!
Scott A. Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
This week The Pullins Report joined with 35 other center, left, and right organizations in demanding that all 18 presidential candidates sign the Oath of Presidential Transparency. Read our letter and the pledge here.
Scott Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
Scott Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
Republican congressional candidate Fred Dailey will have to answer lots of questions from conservative primary voters in the next few months. For example, why did the Ohio Department of Agriculture, under his leadership, launch a legal assault on raw milk? Was he a shill for factory farms as some have alleged? Did he support the Voinovich/Taft tax increases? What does he think about corporate welfare? And how can a candidate that claims to be a conservative drink at the big government trough of farm subsidies?
Public records indicate that Dailey took in just under $20,000 from 1995 through 2005 in corn subsidies for his family farm. I can see the Club for Growth ad campaign now.
At the same time, Dailey indicates that ethics will be an issue in the district.
Dailey says ethics are a major concern to voters he meets on the campaign trail.
"People speak openly," Dailey said. "They feel betrayed and some of them are quite bitter about it."
Dailey said voters' ethical concerns mean any blemish on a candidates record could be a tremendous disadvantage. "You have to have a candidate that is ethical and honest with people," Dailey said. (Campaigns and Elections Magazine).
Scott Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
In 2005, I was hired by the DCI Group, LLC and the Concerned Veterans Communications Coalition to work on military payday lending issues. Our goal was to have then Attorney General Jim Petro investigate claims that these payday lenders were violating Ohio's Consumer Protection Statutes. He declined to undertake this investigation. I later learned that Ohio payday lenders were some of his largest campaign donors.
That was unfortunate, in Ohio and across the nation these companies are targeting vulnerable military families. Here's an AP article that describes one soldiers experience.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Army Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Burden needed money. He had just been through a divorce, his credit was bad and he couldn't qualify for a conventional loan. So he turned to a payday lender - one of dozens within a mile of his base at Fort Hood, Texas. Thus began a vicious cycle of getting quick cash advances at high interest rates.
His first $300 loan cost a fee of $60 every two weeks. More loans and fees at the equivalent of 520 percent interest per year soon swelled the debt to more than $1,400.
"It just kind of keeps snowballing if you don't have the money to cover it," said Burden, 35.
Payday lenders set up shop just outside of military bases under deceptive trade names like Military Lending, Armed Forces Financial, and so on. Young spouses believe they are dealing with official government agencies when borrowing funds.
A bipartisan group of Ohio legislators are expected to soon introduce legislation to rein in these out of control companies. This legislation is long overdue and needed to protect our fragile military families. Ohioans of all political stripes should join together in supporting this important bill. Thank you.
Scott Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Group
That was unfortunate, in Ohio and across the nation these companies are targeting vulnerable military families. Here's an AP article that describes one soldiers experience.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Army Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Burden needed money. He had just been through a divorce, his credit was bad and he couldn't qualify for a conventional loan. So he turned to a payday lender - one of dozens within a mile of his base at Fort Hood, Texas. Thus began a vicious cycle of getting quick cash advances at high interest rates.
His first $300 loan cost a fee of $60 every two weeks. More loans and fees at the equivalent of 520 percent interest per year soon swelled the debt to more than $1,400.
"It just kind of keeps snowballing if you don't have the money to cover it," said Burden, 35.
Payday lenders set up shop just outside of military bases under deceptive trade names like Military Lending, Armed Forces Financial, and so on. Young spouses believe they are dealing with official government agencies when borrowing funds.
A bipartisan group of Ohio legislators are expected to soon introduce legislation to rein in these out of control companies. This legislation is long overdue and needed to protect our fragile military families. Ohioans of all political stripes should join together in supporting this important bill. Thank you.
Scott Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Group
As just reported in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, mega gaming company Penn National Gaming has agreed to be acquired for nearly $9 billion in cash. Penn National owns and operates Argosy casino, near downtown Cincinnati and the Toledo Raceway Park.
While Ohio politicians continue to place roadblocks into expanded gaming in Ohio, Wall Street continues to value this sector highly. The deal here calls for payment of a 31% premium over the stock's latest closing price along with the repayment of nearly $3 billion in Penn National debt.
Scott Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
The Pullins Group LLC, the publisher of this newsletter, tracks legislation and provides expert analysis to private sector clients on Ohio gaming issues.
You would think that Ohio Republicans would have learned by now. Ted Strickland and Marc Dann are playing for keeps.
First, Strickland vetoed legislation that capped lawsuits against manufacturers of lead paint based upon legal advice from Dann. Here's the visual, Strickland and Dann stand up for consumers and sick children, Republicans stand with greedy, evil paint manufacturers with their high powered lobbyists and big campaign contributions.
Today, Strickland and Dann did it again. Ohio voters have three times rejected efforts to expand gambling in Ohio, most recently a proposal last fall to allow slot machines at Ohio horsetracks. This spring Ohio Senate Republicans passed legislation to allow slot like devices at Ohio racetracks and the House was poised to pass it too. Strickland had promised not to veto the language.
This morning Governor Strickland and Attorney General Dann reversed course and announced their support for legislation to ban prizes from gaming machines, including so called "skill games". At the same time, Strickland stated that voters have spoken and threatened to veto the slots like Senate bill.
Again, here's the visual. Strickland and Dann stand with voters, while Republicans stand with lobbyists and special interests.
It's called triangulation, Strickland style. Strickland cuts into the GOP base, which generally opposes gambling, while at the same time promising property tax cuts for seniors, another core GOP issue.
Meanwhile, in the runup to the 2008 elections, Republicans are portrayed as corrupt, out of touch, and promoters of an extreme social agenda that wants to outlaw strip clubs and gay adoption. Ohio Republicans better wake up before it's too late.
Scott Pullins
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
First, Strickland vetoed legislation that capped lawsuits against manufacturers of lead paint based upon legal advice from Dann. Here's the visual, Strickland and Dann stand up for consumers and sick children, Republicans stand with greedy, evil paint manufacturers with their high powered lobbyists and big campaign contributions.
Today, Strickland and Dann did it again. Ohio voters have three times rejected efforts to expand gambling in Ohio, most recently a proposal last fall to allow slot machines at Ohio horsetracks. This spring Ohio Senate Republicans passed legislation to allow slot like devices at Ohio racetracks and the House was poised to pass it too. Strickland had promised not to veto the language.
This morning Governor Strickland and Attorney General Dann reversed course and announced their support for legislation to ban prizes from gaming machines, including so called "skill games". At the same time, Strickland stated that voters have spoken and threatened to veto the slots like Senate bill.
Again, here's the visual. Strickland and Dann stand with voters, while Republicans stand with lobbyists and special interests.
It's called triangulation, Strickland style. Strickland cuts into the GOP base, which generally opposes gambling, while at the same time promising property tax cuts for seniors, another core GOP issue.
Meanwhile, in the runup to the 2008 elections, Republicans are portrayed as corrupt, out of touch, and promoters of an extreme social agenda that wants to outlaw strip clubs and gay adoption. Ohio Republicans better wake up before it's too late.
Scott Pullins
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
Right Angle Blog this morning links to an excellent PD article on how Ohio's turnpike is seriously behind the times. The article discusses how turnpike bureacrats have resisted implementation of an EZpass system like most states have.
The article just touches the surface of Ohio's seriously outdated transportation system. While other states are building roads and investing in high speed passenger rail, Ohio is doing nothing. Ohio's roads are decrepit, rail transportation is nonexistent, and turnpike and highway facilities are dirty and old.
It's pretty bad when the nicest, cleanest rest areas in the region are in West Virginia. For more information on how Ohio can improve its transportation system, visit our friends over at Road to Work Ohio.
Some think that turnpike privatization will help solve Ohio's transportation problems. Others think it will only lead to more governmental corruption. Nonetheless, Ohio's transportation problem is neither a Republican or Democrat issue that needs serious debate and attention from all.
Thank you.
Scott Pullins
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
For the past year, my family and I have been under attack. These thugs have sent threatening emails and phone calls, driven up and watched our home, and posted thousands of online messages. These online messages have constituted not just direct threats but have alleged every despicable thing about us imagineable.
When we tried to fight back using proper legal means, these thugs tried to turn the tables on us. They pulled strings and called in favors and tried to file charges with the Knox County Prosecutor. Our biased liberal media chimed in by running sensational front page stories and daily breaking news features on the radio.
Former Reagan era Labor Secretary Ray Donovan, after being exonerated in a bogus investigation, famously asked, "Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?" Today, I'm asking that question too. Here is part of the text from an order I received from the Knox County Common Pleas Court:
Attorney Scott Pullins appeared in open court at the appointed time in response to this court's order for him to defend against a suggestion by the Clerk of Court of an abuse of process. In view of the fact that Mr. Pullins, though denying wrongdoing, has apologized "without qualification" for the issuance of two subpoenas in question on December 26, 2006, at a time which this case was in suspense, this court accepts the apology. The issue therefore has been concluded. It is to be noted that this issue was an inquiry and had not yet developed into a show cause order.
For months, individuals had posted that I would be disbarred, suspended, sanctioned or thrown in jail. People laughed and joked that this hearing was a public execution, a public hanging, and that I should dress for a funeral. As I stated from the beginning it was all bull!
Many of the perpetrators of this attack have been identified. They include local criminals, local attorneys that I compete with, and representatives and supporters of the Apple Valley Property Owners Association, which I have bested in court. Those individuals will be dealt with properly within the legal system.
In the meantime, I just wanted to write and update you, and thank you for your continued support and friendship.
Scott A. Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
When we tried to fight back using proper legal means, these thugs tried to turn the tables on us. They pulled strings and called in favors and tried to file charges with the Knox County Prosecutor. Our biased liberal media chimed in by running sensational front page stories and daily breaking news features on the radio.
Former Reagan era Labor Secretary Ray Donovan, after being exonerated in a bogus investigation, famously asked, "Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?" Today, I'm asking that question too. Here is part of the text from an order I received from the Knox County Common Pleas Court:
Attorney Scott Pullins appeared in open court at the appointed time in response to this court's order for him to defend against a suggestion by the Clerk of Court of an abuse of process. In view of the fact that Mr. Pullins, though denying wrongdoing, has apologized "without qualification" for the issuance of two subpoenas in question on December 26, 2006, at a time which this case was in suspense, this court accepts the apology. The issue therefore has been concluded. It is to be noted that this issue was an inquiry and had not yet developed into a show cause order.
For months, individuals had posted that I would be disbarred, suspended, sanctioned or thrown in jail. People laughed and joked that this hearing was a public execution, a public hanging, and that I should dress for a funeral. As I stated from the beginning it was all bull!
Many of the perpetrators of this attack have been identified. They include local criminals, local attorneys that I compete with, and representatives and supporters of the Apple Valley Property Owners Association, which I have bested in court. Those individuals will be dealt with properly within the legal system.
In the meantime, I just wanted to write and update you, and thank you for your continued support and friendship.
Scott A. Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
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