Tony’s Rants

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Those words are at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence. While these are some of the most significant and important parts of this document and in the history of this nation, there’s one part that doesn’t get quoted as often nor with the same emphasis. It comes at the end of the Declaration and reads as follows:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor”.

233 years ago, 56 men representing the 13 colonies stood in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia (now Independence Hall) and put these words on paper. With a pledge of their lives, their fortunes and their honor, these men pledged everything they had. The closing of the Declaration of Independence shows that our Founding Fathers knew that freedom would not be won with words alone. We were going to have to fight for it and some would make the ultimate sacrifice.

It is important that we remember all of these words and the sacrifices of those 56 men and the millions of men and women who have proudly sacrificed in service to this nation.

Sarah Palin has announced she will resign as Alaska's governor at the end of the month.

In a bit of a shocker, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced she would not run for a second term and in fact will be resigning at the end of the month.  The move instantly raised speculation that the former vice presidential candidate would be making a run for the presidency in 2012. 

In a statement released by the governor’s office, Palin said, “Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional Lame Duck status in this particular climate would just be another dose of politics as usual, something I campaigned against and will always oppose.” 

I’m not sure what Palin is thinking but this is certainly an unexpected move.  Being in Alaska she certainly would have a hard time garnering national attention leading up to the election so in some ways this makes sense.  This gives her all the time she needs to move around freely in the lower 48 and ensure she stays in the public eye and part of the debate over the direction the nation is headed. 

One thing is for sure: The next three and a half years just got a lot more interesting!

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More Americans are now unemployed than at any time since 1983.

The latest unemployment numbers from the Labor Department provide sobering numbers and continue to be a referendum on President Barack Obama’s economic policies. Yesterday it was announced 467,000 more Americans joined the ranks of the unemployed in June as the unemployment rate shot up to 9.5 percent – a rate not seen since 1983.

Adding to the stress is analysis that shows that unemployment will likely reach the 10 percent mark by the end of the year and likely exceed it in 2010 as it continues to grow. Already the nation has shed 6.5 million jobs since December 2007, the largest drop in any economic slump since World War II.

Perhaps even more telling is the nation’s actual unemployment rate which rose from 16.4 to 16.5 percent. That less cited number and one which many Americans are unfamiliar with reflects the true number of unemployed Americans. It includes those that are considered ‘marginally attached workers’ – workers who are working part time but want a full time job but cannot get one, those who have flat out given up looking for a job (not surprising considering the state of the economy) and other ‘discouraged workers.’ In other words, it is a more accurate reflection of the state of unemployment.  

• Click here for a good explanation of the difference between the more publicized unemployment rate and the actual unemployment rate.

Amid bailouts for failing businesses, punitive new taxes and policies and a ballooning national debt, the country continues to whither in the short five and a half months under Democratic leadership. The only payrolls in the nation that are growing are those drawing government paychecks and the president would be wise to wake up and see the writing on the wall.  His economic policies continue to plunge the nation deeper in the recession and are doing nothing to help Americans that are hurting.

Recently released documents and emails show dissent within the Environmental Protection Agency over the manmade climate change theory.

The Environmental Protection Agency, keen to advance President Barack Obama’s climate change initiatives, apparently suppressed a report from leading experts calling into question the science behind the theory of manmade climate change. The 98-page report, submitted to agency leaders just prior to it recommending regulation of carbon dioxide emissions, continues to call into question the ‘consensus’ many have said the scientific community has about the theory.

Alan Carlin, the report’s primary author, was told via email from superiors in the agency to not “have any direct communication” with anyone outside his group at the EPA. The well-published PhD has experience in environment and public policy dating back to 1964 but after submitting the report was told to discontinue working on climate change entirely.

In reviewing the report, it is obvious why the administration would find the report very untimely leading up to its decision on CO2 and its push for climate change legislation. The report authors saw the rush to judgment and urged caution saying their “concerns and reservations are sufficiently important to warrant a serious review of the science by EPA before any attempt to reach conclusions on the subject.”

See the complete story with links to the report and emails on Examiner.com.

Dan Tang, Owner of Heaven Dragon restaurant in Thornton is accused of money laundering in the state's largest pot bust ever.

Last week Westword did a really fascinating piece into the investigation of Dan Tang and his alleged marijuana growing operation.  The article is by far the most in depth piece on what was a years-long effort into investigating eventually arresting dozens of players in the scheme. 

As was alluded to in previous coverage by other outlets, the most troubling aspect of the investigation is the fact that someone from within the North Metro Task Force, presumably a police officer, tipped off Tang about the investigation.  The Westword story covers the topic in depth and is worth reading.

• Westword: A multimillion-dollar weed ring goes down — and threatens to take a prominent restaurant owner with it

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and the state's Democrat controlled legislature are driving the oil and gas industry out of the state.

Thanks to Governor Bill Ritter and the Colorado State Legislature, the state has plummeted from first to last in a ranking of states’ attractiveness for oil and gas investment.  The continually shifting political environment, last minute regulatory changes, punitive measures and rising costs have seen many oil and gas companies close up shop in Colorado and head for neighboring states.

In just two short years, the study from the Fraser Institute says that Colorado now ranks last or second-to-last in six of 16 categories in comparison to the 27 producing states.  Our neighboring states of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Utah all rated much more favorably. 

The oil and gas industry employs more than 70,000 people in the state and provides $23 billion in economic benefit to the state annually.  We have already seen the results of the unfriendly environment Colorado has created as many of these companies flee for the friendly environs of our neighboring states. 

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Just in case you were wondering how much longer until the end of President Obama’s first term – and hopefully his presidency:

Former Thornton mayor and  current RTD director Noel Busck spoke Fox 31 News last week and addressed his involvement in holding $400,000 in cash from accused drug ring leader Dan Tang.  In the interview, Busck says that he did so without question simply as a measure of his 20 year friendship with Tang. 

The interview is not very flattering pointing out that red flags should have been raised and they question Mr. Busck’s judgment. Fox spoke to Dan Recht, a criminal defense attorney, who said he was shocked that Busck had not been charged for his part in the scheme.

Here’s the video:

Be sure not to call Senator Barbara Boxer 'ma'am'.

In one of the absolutely most comical and asinine displays ever seen in the halls of the Senate, California Senator Barbara Boxer directed an Army brigadier general to call her ‘Senator’ – not ma’am.  Brig. Gen Michael Wash of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers was testifying about the restoration of the Louisiana coast and was quickly remanded for daring to show respect to the senator.  Watch video of the exchange below.

As the general was responding to a question for Boxer she interrupted.

“You know, do me a favor,” an irritated Boxer said. “Could say ’senator’ instead of ‘ma’am?’”

“Yes, ma’am,” Walsh interjected.

“It’s just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I’d appreciate it, yes, thank you,” she said.

“Yes, senator,” he responded.

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Former Thornton mayor Noel Busck is a witness in the case against Dan Tag after he was given $400,000 for safe keeping by the accused drug ring leader. Image: RTD

In an interesting development in the case of Dan Tang, owner of Heaven’s Dragon, former Thornton mayor Noel Busck is said to have accepted $400,000 from Tang for safe keeping.  Court documents list Busck as a witness saying he accepted the money so Tang could “have money to live on, to pay bills, to pay employees.”

The Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel reported:

Former Thornton Mayor Noel Busck confirmed on Wednesday a statement by Tang in the affidavit that the restaurateur asked Busck to hold approximately $400,000 in mid-February 2008. Busck, who has been close friends with Tang since 1986, said he accepted the money with great apprehension.

“He and his wife (Xiu Ying Li) came over to my house with a black plastic bag and said he had taken money out of safety deposit boxes because police were going to confiscate it,” Busck said. “He said, ‘I need to give it to you to have money to live on, to pay bills, to pay employees. Would you hold it?’”

Busck said he accepted the money in the afternoon and placed it in a safety deposit box. Busck said Tang called the next morning to say he had told the police he had given the money to Busck, and that he needed it back. Busck said he returned the cash to Tang.

Tang returned later that same evening, Busck believes in an attempt to deliver more money.

“He said, ‘Hi, Noel,’ and started to walk to his truck,” Busck said. “I told him that I wouldn’t take the money this time, that I didn’t want to get involved. He said, ‘OK’ and drove away.”

Busck, who is listed as a witness in the court documents, said he has given sworn statements to the U.S. Attorney handling the case.

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