Daily Job Cuts: October 10, 2012 Layoffs Report

Cummins announces plans to cut up to 1,500 jobs by end of 2012 http://trib.al/6a7AyE

FEDEX to cut thousands from workforce… http://drudge.tw/TycFJh

AP: American Airlines Notifies Thousands of a Layoff Risk as American goes through a bankruptcy reorganization.

KSL.com Nearly 300 employees laid off at EnergySolutions in Utah.

Orlando Sentinel: Lockheed Martin cuts 200 jobs.

These are just job layoffs. There’s another list of business closings…

Not convinced? Here are a few more statistics to ponder. This is every day life for many of us.

CNN: Home Ownership Falls to 1965 levels.

After a decades-long rise in in home ownership the rate dropped to 65.5% in the second quarter of 2012. A senior manager at Amherst Securities says if you include borrowers who have not made a mortgage payment in over a year and are facing foreclosure the ownership rate is actually 63.3%.

Nearly everyone knows someone who bought a home that is now worth less than they paid. The resulting foreclosures hurt all homeowners.

Bloomberg News: Food Stamp Recipients Jump in July.

About 46.68 million Americans received food stamps in July, the government said in a report released late on Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend, a traditional time for dumping bad news. The report for July, the most recent month that data was available, showed participation up by 11,532 from June and 2.9 percent higher than a year earlier.

The Obama legacy. Nearly 1 in 7 Americans are now on Food Stamps. That’s a record number!

Since when did we become dependent on the government to feed us? If we had jobs we wouldn’t need food stamps.

Consumer Reports: Price of gas in January 2009 $1.88.

National average price of gas on October 8, 2012 is $3.81. Californians are now paying average of $4.66 per gallon.

Ouch! My friend lives in Temecula, CA and drives into the city each day for work. There is no train. It’s a crazy $6.00 a gallon this week!

Reuters: US Loses Prized AAA Credit Rating.

In August, 2011 S&P dropped the credit rating for the United States of America due to concerns about the government’s budget deficit and the country’s rising debt burden. In September, 2012 ratings firm Egan-Jones cut its credit rating on the U.S. government further to “AA-” from “AA,” citing its opinion that quantitative easing from the Federal Reserve would hurt the U.S. economy and the country’s credit quality.

Young people might say, “So what?” But when they go to buy a car or get a loan they’ll discover that the better one’s credit rating the easier it is to get a loan and the less interest they’ll likely pay. A lower credit rating for the country means we’ll have fewer options for loans to pay off that whopping national debt. What happens when China wants us to pay up?

CNS News: Backlog Processing Vets Disability Claims Skyrockets.

The backlog of veterans’ disability claims has jumped by 179 percent during President Barack Obama’s first term in office, reaching 883,949 outstanding claims, according to Veterans Administration (VA) statistics.

Our veterans put their lives on the line so the rest of us can sleep in safety. Shouldn’t they be getting priority care instead of being met with more government bureaucracy?

Not a Vet? Do you know someone college age?

ASU: Tuition Nearly Doubles in 4 Years.

President Obama promised to make college more affordable. Tuition for a new undergrad student at Arizona State University was $5409 in 2008. Students entering fall of 2012 are paying $9208.

There’s more…the price of coffee, peanut butter, your McDonald’s Happy Meal (oh, but according to this administration you shouldn’t be eating those…)

So. Are you better off???? If you’re not, you’d better get out there and vote.

On August 16th, 2012, former Marine Brandon J. Raub was arrested at his home by the FBI, US Secret Service, and the Chesterfield County (VA) Police department. [Video below]

On of Brandon Raub’s Facebook postings

What was this Iraq and Afghanistan veteran arrested for – without a warrant?  The posts on his Facebook page.  Reportedly, the posts on his page – which consisted of controversial song lyrics, and his personal dissatisfaction with the US Government – were deemed controversial and “terrorist in nature.  Upon his detention, authorities brought Mr. Raub to the John Randolph Medical Center for evaluation

Virginia Cop Block – a site dedicated to educating citizens about their rights and exposing those who violate them – reported that these agencies used a “Green Warrant”, stating the follwoing:

Virginia CopBlock has learned that this form of arrest/detention is known as a “Green Warrant”, often known as a “Mental Health Warrant”.  If a person is credibly believed to be a potential threat to themselves or others, a “Green Warrant” can be issued.  This allows government authorities to arrest and detain the person for up to 72 hours; and have them evaluated to determine if they are “mentally unfit”, and would pose a threat if released.

Pete Hegseth , CEO of Concerned Veterans for America said the following:

“It’s not surprising that the majority of military voters are aware of Admiral Mullen’s powerful statement. Our warfighters and veterans understand that our military might comes from economic strength. That’s why we’re fighting for policies here at home that will preserve the precious freedom and liberty we risked our lives to defend.”

Key findings:

• Concern about the future of the U.S. economy is reflected in military voters’ views that economic threats are greater dangers to national security than terror threats.

  Greatest threats to national security (combined first and second choices):

  •      Economy – 42 %
  •      Debt – 30 %
  •      Cuts to the military – 30 %
  •      Traditional powers like China, Russian and Iran – 30 %
  •      Foreign terror groups – 29 %
  •      Cyber terror – 14 %

• 54% of military voters were aware of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mullen’s statement the national debt was the most significant threat to our national security. There was a clear agreement with his statement in that 71% agreed and only 20% disagreed.  Among those who agreed, 46% strongly agreed.
• There are serious concerns about where the U.S. is headed both longer term and with economic threats to the future of the country. In thinking about the U.S. economy in the next 20 years, 54% believe the economy will either be weaker (34%) or about the same as it is now (20%).
• Takeaway: Military voters view the economy and fiscal issues as part of the overall security of the country, are clearly interested in the national discussion about the economy, and are looking for solutions to address the economy and debt.

This survey was conducted  July 18-22, 2012  and the results noted above are from 800 military voters both veterans and active duty.

For more information…and maybe a job application… read this link:

CANADA WANTS U.S.VETERANS FOR PIPELINE WORK

In honor of Wednesday’s July 4th holiday marking the anniversary of our nation’s independence, Concerned Veterans for America has prepared the following web video that deals with the same question

Earlier in the week one of my grandsons asked me to pick him up for school about 15 minutes earlier than normal. Mrs. Cheri Robinson’s 5th grade class at Claremont Elementary School in Claremore, Oklahoma was putting on a program for their Sunrise Assembly, an event held every Friday morning. He needed to be there early to get into his costume for the program. He didn’t say much else and I didn’t really ask any questions. I naturally thought of it again this morning and asked him what they were doing. “We’re having a ‘President’s Day’ play”. Okay, this should be interesting. Probably a cute little skit to start everyone’s day, I thought. I go to events involving all of my grandchildren when I can, and even go out of my way to attend. I am glad I went to this one.

A few days ago I read about a school somewhere, don’t remember or care where, that had a ruckus over children being taught to sing and chant praises to Barack Obama. Parents were outraged and put a stop to it. This is not the first time I have heard about this kind of thing happening in recent years. It seems to have become pandemic in our nation’s public school system, but has it?

For those of us born in the immediate post World War II era, this has a chilling effect. I remember my parents talking about, and remember growing up seeing newsreel films about, elementary school children in cute little swastika adorned uniforms giving the Nazi salute, and singing and chanting praises to Adolph Hitler. The school children singing and chanting praises to Hitler in the newsreels were the young adults who implemented the Holocaust. This is beginning in our own country.

Outrage is the proper attitude of parents at this kind of indoctrination. This kind of school activity is what gets reported in all of the national news, they love it. This promotion of the adoration of Obama, or any politician, is what the media is interested in for the most part.

The incident I just related to you isn’t the end of the story. I have another story to tell you- set in the “Bible Belt”, the “Breadbasket of America”, “flyover country”, the land of “bitter people clinging to their Bibles and guns”. This is the story of a much different message being taught to our children.

Let me take you back to tiny Claremore, Oklahoma on a windy and chilly Friday morning; and the 5th grade class of Mrs. Cheri Robinson, Claremont Elementary School. The Sunrise assemblies are held in the school gymnasium/cafeteria, probably the one area in any structure in this entire nation that has no acoustic values at all. In this gymnasium every child’s whisper sounds like a shout and every shuffle of an elementary student sounds like a load of books being dropped.

Trying to hear and understand lines from nervous students who are speaking very softly and meekly into the microphone in this environment isn’t a walk in the park for these old ears. As I walked in I saw my grandson, his teacher, and his classmates on the stage, all decked out in colonial looking costumes, some with construction paper hats depicting the style of the time.

The program started out with the Pledge of Allegiance, a salute to the flag of the State of Oklahoma, the school creed, the 8 steps of character building , and the teacher’s creed; all led by Mrs. Robinson’s students. I noticed the children around me during the Pledge of Allegiance. Each of them stood razor straight, hand over heart, looking at the flag, and saying the pledge like they meant it. These are K-5th kids, 5-11 year olds. This all finished up and a student stepped up to the microphone.

As the first student began to speak you could have heard a pin drop. About 300 or so kids 5-11 years old sat riveted like what was being said was important and mattered. The students stepped up to the microphone, each at their time, and spoke clearly, concisely, loudly, and sincerely about the flag of The United States of America and those men and women who gave us this great nation.

Their tribute to our flag, our nation, our founders, and our veterans brought tears to this old soldier’s eyes and a lump the size of a basketball to his throat. I was so proud at that moment to be a grandfather, to be a veteran, to be a guest at this assembly; and most of all, proud to be an American. I was particularly proud of my grandson, Jacob. He stood so tall, and spoke with such volume, clarity, and meaning. The expression on his face and the way he carried himself when he spoke showed a genuine sincerity in his heart. This was a boy of 11, one of about 25 children, all with a genuine joy in their hearts to be doing this, to be honoring those who gave so much for freedom.

I have tried to instill an appreciation and a love of this nation in all of my children and grandchildren. I have talked a lot with this particular grandson about our nation’s past, present, and future; sometimes much to the chagrin of his mother and grandmother. I am often told, “too much information for an 11 year old”. I have wondered how much of it really got through and how much was “okay, Grandpa, that’s great, can I go play now?” Today I found out.

I was also once again reminded that I am not alone in my quest to see my grandchildren grow up with a love and appreciation of our founders, our heritage, and for those who keep us safe and free. This is not an isolated case in the Claremore School System. This is very much the rule here. This needs to be the rule rather than the exception in every school. Mrs. Robinson is teaching our children the true values that made this nation great. I can’t say “THANK YOU” strongly enough.

I hope this program of patriotism at Claremont Elementary School gets as much, or more, national attention as the activities of a school promoting dictatorship, and the worship of a ruler. Claremont’s play from this morning is the kind of activity we need to be publicizing. These students weren’t paying tribute to a leader or a political party, or even a flag. They were paying tribute to an idea, a concept of freedom, to a value system, and to the great men and women who “pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their Sacred Honor” for future generations. This is what students are taught in the Claremore Public Schools.

I submit this in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, in faith, with the responsibility given to me by Almighty God to honor His work and not let it die from neglect.

Bob Russell
Claremore, Oklahoma
February 24, 2012

Hiring Our Heroes also welcomes today Capital One’s partnership in executing this effort.  Capital One, a company with a long record of supporting veterans and their families both in hiring and transition support, joins with the Chamber and dozens of companies from every major industry and sector to support Hiring Our Heroes and to fund local, free hiring fairs for veterans and military spouses.

“We began this program with the mission to connect our heroes and their spouses with new career and job opportunities,” said Schmiegel.  “Capital One is the perfect example of a company that gets it.  With their assistance, we have the opportunity to connect hundreds of thousands of veterans this year with thousands of companies across the nation.  Without Capital One and all of our corporate partners stepping forward, this program would not be possible.”

In March 2011, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched its Hiring Our Heroes program, a nationwide effort to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. The Chamber started the program to improve public-private sector coordination in local communities, where veterans and their families are returning every day. Working with our extensive network of state and local chambers and public, private, and non-profit partners, we will do a better job of matching veteran and military spouse talent with career opportunities in the private sector.

Since the launch of our program in March 2011, the Chamber has hosted 91 hiring fairs in 44 states and have dozens more scheduled before the end of March 2012. Thus far, the Chamber hiring fairs have hosted more than 90,000 veterans and military spouses and given them the opportunity to meet with over 4,600 different employers. As a result, the Chamber has helped more than 8,000 veterans and military spouses find employment. Our efforts have only one measure of success: jobs for America’s veterans and military spouses.

“Capital One is privileged and honored to have veterans of every branch of service as colleagues, team members and leaders throughout our company,” said Jory Berson, Capital One’s Chief Human Resources Officer.  “The tremendous problem-solving and leadership skills that are central to so many military careers apply exceptionally well to the private sector. We hope that through this partnership we can help more companies put these skills and talents to work.”

Through Capital One and all of the Chamber’s corporate partners, Hiring Our Heroes will continue to grow beyond its 400 hiring fairs in the coming year.  On March 28, the initiative will mark its 1st anniversary with hiring fairs in New York, Chicago, Fort Hood, and Stuttgart, Germany (via a virtual online hiring fair).  At the fair aboard the USS Intrepid in New York City, Hiring Our Heroes will make another significant veterans hiring announcement.

Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR racing may be the most patriotic sport in America. The U.S. flag being towed around Homestead raceway before the start of the Ford 400 this past weekend is but proof (image left).

NASCAR also has a longstanding tradition of including prayers before each and every race, and is the only American sport to continue to do so in recognizing the importance of our Christian beliefs that have been a mainstay in America since our founding. We are a Christian nation, and will remain so despite the current anti-American, leftist agenda to dismantle our Christianity that is becoming so prevalent in parts of our society today.

Michelle Obama and Jill Biden appeared at the final NASCAR race of the year as part of the (supposed) White House  initiative, Joining Forces. Joining Forces is all about joining together to support our nation’s military families, as the above-linked taxpayer-funded website tells us. Here is an info-byte for the Obama administration: America’s businesses and citizenry have faithfully supported our brave military families since our troops started coming back from WWI. Veterans have been given preferences in hiring long before Obama took office. This is nothing new, but to hear Obama tell it today, Americans are nothing but lazy, troop-disrespecting capitalists, especially Republicans, so vote Liberal in 2012. This whole charade of leftists expressing sudden concern for out military is nothing more than vote-pandering in it’s ugliest form. Obama and the Democrats are desperate to remain in power, and it shows.

Have we forgotten how our brave troops were constantly called murderers and war criminals by Liberals posing as Democrats upon their return from the Vietnam war? Liberal activists were doing exactly that ( calling our military war criminals) as recently as last week at the Obama-approved anti-capitalism Occupy Wall Street class warfare project being run by the DNC, Obama’s Union bed-pals and Marxist-Anarchists that was created in the very same mold as Obama’s lifelong mentor, domestic terrorist and murderer Bill Ayers and documented in his domestic terrorist/community organizing training manual, Prairie Fire.

The headlines today will speak more of the booing of Michelle Obama as opposed to actually reporting on the miraculous, dogged comeback of Tony Stewart to win the championship by winning the last Sprint Cup Chase race of the year by beating second place finisher Carl Edwards. Keep in mind that NASCAR racing receives very little coverage by the mainstream media, and is only reported upon by sports channels such as ESPN. Today, that will change.

Expect to see Chris Mathews and company over at MSNBC calling NASCAR fans racists, disrespectful and a whole slew of nasty adjectives because they booed Michelle Obama’s husband’s heavy-handed far left radical policy agenda. The leftists posing as reporters will not only play the class warfare-inducing race card, but they will also play the victim card heavily, as Michelle Obama also used children as stage props once again at this ceremony. When the NASCAR fans booed Michelle Obama, the children were conveniently front and center so the left can falsely claim the nasty NASCAR fans were booing the children.

FACT: NASCAR is a family sport, championing the family values that have been at the root of America’s greatness for over 200 years, while Liberals champion things like abortion. Liberals love those stage props that they constantly use to inject their Socialistic agenda upon America, especially when they are desperately vote-begging to remain in power. If it isn’t the “Oh the poor children” it’s the ‘Oh those poor blacks and minorities” horse manure they use to further their agenda constantly. Throw into that mix the Hispanic vote-begging scheme of Democrats making statements like “Illegals are not illegal” and it isn’t hard to see through their desperate vote-pandering to the military to remain in power in 2013. NOTE: It was in fact, Obama’s very own Illinois Democrats that denied the counting of military votes in the 2010 elections.

Again, America’s citizenry and businesses have faithfully supported our military families and veterans ever since we went to war against the British to declare out independence. We do not need a billion-dollar taxpayer funded arm of the DNC to tell us to do this, thank you very much. There are currently hundreds of programs designed to help our brave troops and military families, the majority of them run by honest private citizens and ex-military with no political agenda. The last thing we need is for citizens to start giving their hard earned money and time to the DNC arm of our government for their vote-begging scheme just because Michelle Obama wants to get her husband reelected. (by acting like they actually care about our troops) Here is a simple fact: Barack and Michelle Obama have never shown support for our military in their entire lives before his reelection campaign of 2012 came along. Zero, nada, no support, not one statement, not one plug nickel donated to the help the military programs cross America, EVER. Believing in the Obama’s sudden discovery of their long-lost love for our military (sarc) is about as ignorant as seniors believing that Liberals and Barack Obama are now their best friends after they stole $500 billion dollars of their medicare funding to fund Obama’s Socialistic healthcare reform.

Hiding from the truth: The booing of Michelle Obama was the result of we the people of the United States being ignored while her husband and their political operatives ram their socialistic agenda down our throats while also hiding from the very people they are supposed to serve to avoid hearing the truth: They do not like the direction this country is going today. Obama runs around the country in perpetual campaign fund-raising mode, while denying the people the chance to speak out against him in public. He insulates himself from the public by making sure his blind sheep followers are the only ones that get near him in public. When is the last time anyone heard our President answer direct, unprepared questions asked by the citizenry? The last time that happened was when Joe the plumber exposed Obama’s wealth redistributive agenda back 2008. The Marxist-in-Chief running for reelection is not about to let that happen again. So the public expressed their displeasure with the Obama agenda of the past three years by booing Michelle Obama at a NASCAR race. Good for them!

2012 just can’t get here fast enough !

REDDING, CALIFORNIA

FREE CONCERT HONORING OUR VETERANS

Featuring

Chris McCandless and the Back To Basics Band

Saturday, September 3
4:00pm-7:00pm
Library Park behind Lady Lorenz Downtown Redding
(Same place where Market Fest was held)

Bring your lawn chairs * No Alcohol Please

Special Guest:
Joe Nunes singing hits from the Frank Sinatra era
Brianne Hicks singing the National Anthem and other hit songs

Visit Chris McCandless’ website

Rich Mitchell is the Sr. Managing Editor of Conservative Daily News. His posts may contain opinions that are his own and are not necessarily shared by Anomalous Media, CDN, staff or .. much of anyone else. Find him on twitter, facebook and google+

Sergeant James Hackemer- photo courtesy of www.dailymail.co.uk

There is a song that that hit the charts in 1982 that became quite popular during that time, titled “War is Hell (On the Homefront Too)” . It was written by Curly Putman, Bucky Jones and Dan Wilson, and was recorded by T.G. Sheppard in 1982.

The song does not necessarily depict the life of the war hero this article is about, but the title, which is the chorus of the song, could depict the tragic way his life ended. However, from all reported accounts, this young man would not have said that.

Sergeant James Hackemer’s life ended yesterday when he fell from a roller coaster at a theme park in Syracuse, New York. Seartgeant Hackemer was enjoying an outing at the theme park with his daughters, sisters and other members of the family. His nephew was on the ride with him when the tragedy occurred.

Sergeant Hackemer’s mother, Nancy Hackemer, said:
‘It’s going to help a little bit that he was happy. We shouldn’t have had him for these last three years and four months. After he was hit by the IED, he died once in the field and once on the operating table.’

When discussing the theme park ride, Mrs. Hackemer said:

‘He was assisted on to the ride. He was doing what he wanted to do.’

Mrs. Hackemer also said that the family members are planning a ‘Celebration of Life’ for Sergeant Hackemer.

Reading his mother’s last statement really hit home for me. She did not say the family was planning a funeral for this young hero. She said they are planning a “Celebration of Life”.

I did not personally know this young hero who sacrificed his time and service for my freedoms, but I am saddened that his life ended while he was having a fun outing with his family and friends. He made it through the war- yes, with many adversities along the way, but he made it home alive, only to die while having fun. So as I sit, lamenting this young man’s life with a chorus about war being hell on the home front too, I can imagine that he would prefer we sing something along the lines of, “Life’s A Dance”.

It is quite obvious that this young hero did not allow his great loss to stop him from getting out in the world and having fun. In fact, he died… having fun.

I think we could all take a hint from Sergeant Hackemer life, and death. He is a hero in many ways. Yes, he was a brave soldier that fought for our freedoms. But he lived his life to the fullest until the day he died. He never allowed his adversities to hold him back.

May you rest in peace, Sergeant Hackemer. This nation needs many more people with your tenacity. Thank you for your service. It was not in vain!

I remember several years ago while looking to buy a house the realtor kept bring up properties that had HOA’s (Home Owners Association). I told her don’t even worry about pulling the files on the properties. I knew then that it would just cause grief and trouble if someone tried to tell me what I could do on the property I paid for.

In a single day I read two separate news reports where an HOA is being tyrannical and downright un-American. In one case the HOA is demanding that Fred Quigley- a veteran who fought in Korea and Vietnam- take down his flag pole. Mr. Quigley  proudly flies the flag that he so honorably served, the flag of The United States of America, on this pole.

In the other case, the HOA has halted construction on the home that was to be built by Homes for Our Troops for Sgt. 1st Class Sean Gittens who was paralyzed by an IED.

The HOA in Macedonia, Ohio told Mr. Quigley (I am sorry I could not find out the rank he attained or I would address him as such) he could fly his flag from a stanchion from his home but Mr. Quigley would not hear of it. In a statement concerning the matter, he stated:

“To me, a flagpole is a thing of boldness and is substantial. Putting a flag on your house is like putting a wreath on your door. It doesn’t mean as much.”

The HOA even stated that “landscapers have to work around it” and it would require electricity to be ran to the pole for illumination. OH MY GOSH! A landscaper would have to do what he is paid to do and run a line to the pole for a light. I was actually surprised that the HOA knew that flag etiquette deems that the flag be illuminated in the event it is flown at night.

I am proud to say that Mr. Quigley’s community have rallied around him. Many of his supporters gathered together with him as The American Legion performed a Flag Raising Ceremony at Mr. Quigley’s flag pole.

Sgt. Gittens and his family have been up against a very determined HOA. The HOA in the Evans, Georgia neighborhood have stated that because the Gittenses’ house would be smaller than most of the houses in the area, it would bring down property values even though the house exceeds the minimum square footage. The HOA even had the audacity to request that they build a second story on the house. REALLY?! A disabled veteran who is bound to a wheelchair or bed at all times should be required to build a second story?! The Gittens Family decided to build their new home elsewhere to end the conflict. Homes For Our Troops will now be able to build a home for the good Sgt. And his family without having to battle the HOA the entire time.

John Gonsalves, president and founder of Homes for Our Troops, made a statement saying:

“This home is about freedom and independence adapted to the Gittenses’ needs, but it’s also about roots. Luckily we can enjoy the [American] dream because of people like Sgt. Gittens. So who deserves it more than him?”

I would personally like to take these HOA presidents behind the woodshed and give them a few lessons on how to honor our veterans and OUR flag. There should be no other held in higher regards than those who have put his/her life on the line to defend our great nation and/or do her bidding. It is because of these individuals that we have the freedoms we have today. All of our freedoms have been bought and paid for with the literal blood, sweat, tears of our great men and women who make up our great military. Many have even given their very lives so that you might be free today.

July 4 Update: Ohio Veteran Wins Fight To Fly American Flag On Pole Outside His House

_______________________________________________________________

For those of you that own firearms, train hard and well and teach those that do not know how.
Be good stewards of the right to bear arms, for we are the last line of defense against tyranny.

-Benjamin Wallace