Major MN Hitters - Bolo Punch ALEC

This one came out as a biggy in Minnesota.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale, a Democrat, joined former Gov. Arne Carlson, a Republican, and former U.S. Rep. Tim Penny, a Democrat-turned third-party member, in strongly denouncing the proposed constitutional amendment on Tuesday. They said it was an unneeded attack on a fair and honest system, a cookie-cutter plan that came from a national campaign stoked by moneyed conservatives.

SNIP

"It comes from the Koch brothers,'' said Carlson, referring to David and Charles Koch, owners of Koch Industries and major funders of a number of conservative causes nationally.

"This is an outside force, coming to Minnesota, telling us how our Constitution ought to be designed," added Carlson.

"Minnesota has the best record of openness, of honesty, of voter participation, of any state in the union," said Mondale. "This is a clean, solid, exemplary state. This constitutional amendment is designed to discourage voting."

SNIP

Carlson and Mondale said they became involved after reading about the proposed amendment and the push to get it on the ballot. Carlson blamed the issue on the American Legislative Exchange Council, a group of conservative legislators and business leaders that offers model bills to state legislators. Kiffmeyer is listed as the state chair for ALEC in Minnesota.

AND - Swallow your coffee first - I don't want you spitting on your computer screen and keyboard:

Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, a former election judge and secretary of state who has long pushed the amendment, said it is a homegrown movement to improve Minnesota's voting system. "I have no clue what the Koch brothers are," she said.

"It's ludicrous that I'm a blind little follower. ... My position on photo ID was an independent decision of my own, legislation that I worked on in my own way."

She is so slooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww
She hasn't figured out yet that the world knows that Voter ID is ALEC and because she is the STATE CHAIR of ALEC - well.............


No clue WHAT the Koch brothers are??????
Oh, Mary - can you see Russia from your porch in Big Lake?

 AND THEN THERE IS THIS.....

“Carlson blamed the issue on the American Legislative Exchange Council,”

That statement REALLY bothers me – because it is the reporters interpretation.  

 If Arne does blame ALEC – then give us a DIRECT QUOTE saying that.

The reason that I question this – is that I think the use of "blame"

 is journalistic license of the reporter.  

 I don’t think that Carlson used the word blame.

Why??????????????

Well, I don’t think Arne would blame ALEC for anything.

HE WAS A MEMBER – may still be who knows?

You see Good ol’ Arne has pretty much been given a pass – because he is the Minnesota Republican past Governor that most people really like - a moderate/conservative Republican.

When Common Cause of Minnesota released their report on ALEC – the Governor’s name was not listed  – cause Minnesota Nice is really strong here in the state of Minnesota.

Well, I’m not feeling so generous
I lost respect for this man over a year ago because of his affiliation with ALEC.

In 2001 and 2005 Carlson was listed in the Alumni section of the ALEC Leaders of States.

In 1995 – He was a confirmed speaker for the ALEC Annual Meeting  (Paul Weyrich was a confirmed speaker that year also.)

In 1997 – He was a keynote speaker at the ALEC Annual Meeting

In 1998 – in the ALEC 25^th Annual Meeting materials he was noted as "those who were involved in ALEC in its first few years" - we're talking 20 - 25 years of involvement at that point!

Somewhere - just somewhere along that line - he should have realized what was happening to that organization that he was so involved with.

Somewhere along that timeline -  - as a "Leader in the States" he should have come forward and said something or done something to stop what ALEC was becoming, what they are and tried to curtail what ALEC was doing to the United States.

Somewhere along the line - he should have done something and to me - this is a too little, too late!

Somewhere in the back of my mind I wonder if he is still a member.

Somewhere along the line I wonder if Carlson and Weyrich ever talked about this:

Please note that by playing this clip You Tube and Google will place a long-term cookie on your computer. Please see You Tube’s privacy statement on their website and Google’s privacy statement on theirs to learn more. To view the ACLU’s privacy statement, click here.

VA Dems - Adopt Anti-ALEC Resolution

Found this yesterday - and it's almost a month old.

BUT it is very important

Virginia Democratic Party of Virginia - passed this resolution:

The 2012 Democratic Party of Virginia State Convention

Urges Legislators and Corporations to

Leave and Stop Funding the American Legislative Exchange Council

Action

The 2012 Democratic Party of Virginia State Convention urges:

1. Legislators and corporations to leave and stop funding ALEC; and

2. Legislators to expose and reverse or amend ALEC-drafted bills already passed in Virginia,

and to block future ALEC bills, as appropriate.

The whole resolution is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>HERE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

This resolution 
SHOULD BE INTRODUCED
across the United States 
at every Democratic Party Convention
including the NATIONAL Convention.

ALEC - A Dictatorship, Forever?

Sometimes you run into something – that just scares the crap out of you.

And yes – again – it has to do with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

In this little snip below – President Reagan is addressing his good buddies from ALEC in 1988.

ALEC and Reagan had a particularly cozy relationship.

Almost 25 years have passed - but that doesn't mean diddly to ALEC.

This read is not a skim - you need to read the whole four paragraphs, carefully,  to understand the total significance of this post.

My emphasis throughout

You can read the whole thing >>>>>HERE<<<<

SNIPS

Remarks at a White House Briefing for the American Legislative Exchange Council

April 22, 1988

The President:  Let me close by saying thank you for all you've done and all you will do, and with an appeal to each of you. This is my last meeting with you as President. You're not only today's leaders of our revolution in the States, you are the next generation on the Federal level. So, never forget how much we've done and how fast. Just a few years ago, most of us would have said that it would take decades to make as much progress as we've made in just 8 years. There's still much left to do. But if you persevere, it can be done. America is depending on you. The hopes of our young people are depending on you. And the cause of freedom is depending on you. In a way that few are ever privileged to know, the whole world is in your hands. So, again, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you, and God bless you.

Senator Johnson. Mr. President, we're very honored that you've met with us again as you have in the past. We're grateful for your longstanding support which you've rendered to ALEC. We'd like to take this opportunity today to present you with a token of our appreciation, and at this time I'd like to ask Don Totten to step forward -- your old friend, and our first chairman. He was going to unveil that picture. He doesn't have to unveil it -- [laughter] -- but I'll go through the motions as we rehearsed it.

Mr. President, for 8 years we've joined with you in striving for limited government, lower taxes, and more effective judicial and educational institutions. We're deeply appreciative of your achievements and your longstanding relationship with ALEC from your days as Governor of California to the present time. It's with great admiration and appreciation that we present you with this portrait, which you will receive for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, along with a set of 50 of the State flags in honor of your service to the country and your service to federalism. Thank you, and God bless you.

Mr. Totten. Mr. President, you've been an inspiration to us all, especially ALEC. We look forward to when you, constitutionally, can run again. [Laughter]

Be afraid – folks – be very afraid.

Amendment 22 of the US Constitution; Section 1
"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once."

________
Among ALEC researchers – ALEC’s tenther and fifth amendment movement has been seen as a way to nullify certain parts of the constitution.  This movement of ALEC's - referred to as federalism - is a very, very, very  scary part of ALEC.

In particular – one of the amendments that keeps coming up is the 17^th amendment.

The 17^th amendment allows you and I to VOTE for and elect our US Senators.

Alec wants them to be appointed to the Senate.  No more voting for you and me.

Just check out  ALEC member Senator Dan Liljenquist of Utah campaign webpage - for by the way - US Senate.

Dan does support the repeal of the 17th Amendment, and will be a committed advocate of state sovereignty. He will voluntarily hold himself accountable to the Utah legislature as he stands up for our state.

So think about it folks

  - if the 17^th amendment is vulnerable under ALEC fascist rule.

  - Why wouldn’t the 22^nd amendment section 1 be vulnerable under ALEC fascist rule.

Just think – ALEC/Koch  could put in their fascist dictator president – with no term limit!

AND fill the US Senate with APPOINTED Senators.

The people would probably still have the "privilege" (not right) to elect the US house or state legislators - but at that point - 

It won't matter anymore - at all.

If you want more information about ALEC and the role they played in the Reagan White House – suggest you read this from Daily Kos.

For more information on ALEC’s state sovereignty / constitutional amendment movement – I would suggest this author on Daily Kos.

ALEC - Utter Lack of Diplomacy

When you're feeling down, turn that frown upside down.

Just go searching the internet for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and it is sure to bring a smile to your face.

ALEC pissed off the Argentinians with one of their infamous "ALEC resolutions".

The temerity of ALEC never ceases to amaze me.

What a bunch of self righteous assholes!

I have no idea what AFTA is, and I don't care - but I love the tone of this letter.
If ALEC is involved - it's got to be questionable.

Because the pdf is not like ALEC legislation - available to cut and paste - I am giving you some pictures of the Argentinian Ambassador's response to ALEC - He basically told ALEC to mind their own damn business (my interpreation, of couse). 
God I love this guy - should send him flowers.

Wow - what a great find.

You can read the whole thing  >>>>>>>>>>HERE<<<<<<<<<

Letter to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) with regard to its "Resolution Supporting the Reevaluation of Argentina's General System of Preferences (GSP) benefits by the U.S. Trade Representative". - February 22, 2011

On February 22nd, 2010, Ambassador Chiaradia sent a letter to the President of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) rebutting a number of erroneous information and unfounded allegations against our country that had been included in ALEC’s document.

Picture snips for your enjoyment - If nothing else you HAVE to read the last pic in it's entirety.

We find it distrubing that in a conflict between interests of Main Street and those of non-US speculators - ALEC supports the latter.

we are appalled that ALEC would endorse AFTA's positions,
no questions asked,
"through a "Resolution" so blatantly biased that borders on defamation.

Give this guy a medal!

Note that the letter above was written in February 2011

Evidently ALEC had the balls to respond - in March 2011.

But so did the Ambassador of Argentina - good for him!!!!



And read the last paragraph and check out who all he copied on this second letter - Yazoo!!!

Even if for some particular reason you must continue to support non-U.S. debt profiteers.  I would appreciate that you refrain from accompanying such support with unwarranted rhetoric and falsehoods vis-a-vis the Argentine Republic.

ALEC Members - Stealing the World's Food Supplies

I wrote an entry at the beginning of the year about how Monsanto was taking over our US food supply by suing farmers and demanding that they not harvest the seeds that the farmer had grown  for replanting – Why? Because the farmers seed stock had been cross pollinated (I use the phrase polluted)  by Monsanto’s genetically modified  plants and therefore contained patent protected technology – which Monsanto would not give them the rights to replant.

Today I ran into an article posted on Common Dreams that tells

the exact same story – in Iraq.

One of the links in the Common Dreams article took me to this webpage

Health Impact Daily

You REALY need to read the articles that are on the page I linked to.

Here’s some snips from various stories on the Health Immpact Daily webpage linked above:

The collapse of native Iraqi agriculture, and the prosper of US Biotech and GMOs in Iraq

One more war crime: Death of Iraqi agriculture

by Richard Brenneman

Now, thanks to the American military conquest of Iraq and the installation of an American Big Agra corporate executive as the region’s agricultural overlord, Iraqi farming has collapsed, and industrially farmed GMOs have replaced the small farms that once supplied all of the nation’s food needs.

U.S. Policies — GMOs and the Detrimental Effects of Order 81

In fact, Order 81 was written to promote the patenting of seeds and the sale of GMOs. Before the U.S. illegally invaded and occupied Iraq, it was not legal to patent seeds. Now, under U.S. decree, to patent varieties of seed, all that is necessary is to be the first to “describe” or “characterize” them. Even though technically, the Iraqi farmer is not being stopped from saving and sharing seed from traditional crops at this time, nevertheless there is now also nothing stopping Monsanto, Cargill, Dow, Syngenta, Bayer and other multinationals from “describing” or “characterizing” those traditional seeds, and thereby patenting those seeds in the future. And, when they do, the Iraqi farmer then will be prohibited from saving and sharing those seeds that have been passed down from generations, and will have to buy them from “the company store,” “trapped into a high-cost cash crop economy from which he will find it impossible to escape.”9

Iraqi farmers can be sued now by Monsanto “if their non-GMO crops are polluted by GMO crops planted in their vicinity.”10 A Canadian farmer, Percy Schmeiser (http://percyschmeiser.com/), was sued for such. No one came to his aid, and so Monsanto was able to win judgment, even though the court waived monetary damages. So it is important that people defend small farmers against the corporations. And, if Iraqis ever get their country back, they must immediately repeal the 100 Orders of Paul Bremer.

Order 81 was not written to rejuvenate Iraq’s agriculture nor protect biodiversity, but to protect the “intellectual property rights” of U.S. biotechnical and agribusiness corporations, such as Monsanto and Cargill. Iraqis were blocked from having any input regarding the language of Order 81. To compound this injurious legislation, the Bush administration issued an “executive order” to indemnify corporate looters from prosecution.

Cargill and Monsanto

Taking over the food supply in the United States and around the world – doesn’t this terrify any one else?

Patenting the food supplies – doesn’t this terrify any one else?

All we will have left are GMO's - doesn't that terrify any one else?

Both ALEC members - past or present it doesn't matter to me - once an ALEC member always an ALEC member. 

Why am I not surprised?

Every organzation that has supported ALEC is an accomplice in the crimes that ALEC is perpretrating around the world in the name of "education".

AND we still don't know which corporations are financing ALEC.

And we know from the story that I wrote yesterday about ALEC interference in Australia - that ALEC is all about protecting the inteleectual property of the profit sector members.

AND

Did you know that ALEC went to Iraq in 2009?

Yes, they did!

Endnote:

Cargill also disputed MinnPost’s reporting in an e-mail asking that we correct a story reporting that Common Cause had called on Cargill and several other Minnesota companies to withdraw from ALEC. Cargill was never an ALEC member, according to a corporate spokeswoman.

In response, Common Cause supplied us with a copy of what appears to be the program for ALEC’s 1998 annual meeting listing Cargill as a "director-level" sponsor and a new member. We forwarded the document [PDF] to Cargill, which again replied that it has never been an ALEC member.

We called ALEC and asked whether it could confirm or deny any Cargill association, but got no reply.

I have the same ALEC document:

Annual Meeting Sponsors

ALEC would like to offer its appreciation to the

following 1998 Annual Meeting sponsors

for their generous support!

DIRECTOR

Cargill , Inc

ALEC Private Sector Members

Cargill , Inc*

               *New Members in 1998

Write an Editorial About ALEC - Please

Today was a good day for editorials by normal everyday people – not the suits – who are trying to educate their neighbors across the United States

As you can see below – there are six – only six – and that is a good day for anti-ALEC editorials.

The first editorial below tells why this is important.

People still don’t know about ALEC.

And remember, people don’t surf the web for stuff about the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) – unless they already know about  ALEC.  It is our job to educate others about ALEC.

A one – three  paragraph editorial is something every single one of us can do, and it gets local exposure.  Many of the papers have online letters to the editor and that is a great venue.  Online editorials let you put in links like one to ALEC Exposed.

If you are editorially challenged – then cut and paste what these folks wrote – change the words by substituing your own words, your voice,  and add a few of your own – these editorials give you the place to start.  Look, when it comes to writing editorials - I don't care if you paraphrase without citations - but please don't plagiarize (copy an editorial exactly and reprint it as your own work).

You can do it – I know you can.
Educate your neighbors about ALEC!!!

WISCONSIN

Letter: Citizens don't know about current events

Sometimes the failure comes from citizen apathy and failing to pay attention. I still find people who have not heard about the American Legislative Exchange Council, despite the coverage and the huge influence of ALEC in our politics. In this case, the corporations and wealthy interests are drafting the legislative bills, not our elected officials.

Sometimes the failure is the lack of press coverage.

WISCONSIN

Middle-class Wisconsinites will soon realize state’s been bought, they’ve been duped

Dear Editor: Much of the legislation that is passed in state houses today is not cooked up by our representatives. It is drafted by rich and powerful organizations like the American Legislative Exchange Council and other lobbyists who present their model bills to radical right-wing governors. They use their unlimited funds to purchase elections that place conservative representatives in a position to push their special interest bills through the legislative process. This pays off well for both the representatives and the special interests, while hurting the middle class.

Out-of-state money purchased Wisconsin and now we are governed by the wishes of the billionaires from around the country.

IDAHO

Process suffers from suppression

It is obvious that the Republican Party thinks that it has a better chance of electing its members by selective voter suppression.

Republicans in 12 states have passed legislation, written by the American Legislative Exchange Council, that will make it harder for the elderly, the poor, students and minorities to register by requiring a government-issued photo ID. In urban areas, many people do not own cars and have no need for a driver’s license, therefore do not have a photo ID. This is especially true of the elderly and the poor. Most of these states require proof of citizenship that people will have to pay to obtain.

MICHIGAN

Sensible and civil decorum and statesman like purpose has been lost. TeaPublican rogues, the useful 'tools' of corporatists and the Koch Bros. ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council)/The secretive masters behind the Mackinac Center, may glory in their short lives as "political fruit flies" however their contribution to damage will multiply and live on, eating the vital heart out of our once great state.

LOUISIANA

'Education for Sale': Gannett Louisiana series explores public-school reform

Education is big business in Louisiana, as it is elsewhere.

The intent: Follow the money that has come into the state and identify the companies and agencies that are benefiting, or poised to benefit, under the Louisiana Believes, the umbrella name for the state's efforts to reform K-12 public education.

--June 3, ALEC model: Gov. Bobby Jindal's education legislation has been criticized by some because it reflects model legislation formed by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a nationwide association of public-sector officials and private-sector representatives. Similarities include school vouchers, charter schools and new charter school authorizers, performance-based teacher tenure, and greater authority for local superintendents to hire and fire personnel, without regard to seniority.

NEW YORK

Young People are Our Future

June 24, 2012

To the Editor:

(Oneida, NY) Because our regressive economic policies serve the millionaires and billionaires in the “top 1 percent” and do not protect the interests of the “99 percent,” young Americans are under terrific stress from bad economic conditions and do not have a secure economic future. Consider these facts:

College students are the target of voter suppression laws sponsored by the American Legislative Exchange Council funded by billionaires Charles and David Koch. These laws are being actively promoted in about a dozen states, according to the Center for Media and Democracy. They cripple voter registration drives by groups like the League of Women Voters; end same-day voter registration, often used by students returning home from college at election time and prohibit the use of student identification cards when registering to vote.

_____________________
It is important to start educating our neighbors so that ALEC legislators don’t get re-elected or elected in November.

If you are completely and utterly editorially challenged and want to do something you have my permission to cut and paste the editorial below and use it for your own.  Please - I would be flattered that you used it and very pleased to see more antii-ALEC hits on the web.  I'd love to see it in all 50 states.

I am writing today because too many of my neighbors do not know about the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

We are all familiar with the work of lobbyists who work to push through legislation that benefits their companies.  ALEC is much more dangerous than that.  At ALEC meetings the lobbyist don't just try to influence the passage of legislation.  At ALEC meetings corporate lobbyists bring legislation written by corporations to the meetings and then give it to ALEC legislators to bring back to our state to introduce.  Then, ALEC posts the corporate written legislation in a "members only" section of their website so legislators who can't make it to an ALEC meeting can copy and paste the corporate written legislation and introduce the corporate written legislation into our legislature.  This is done without us - the constituents - every knowing - that corporations WROTE the legislation.

We have legislators that belong to ALEC, go to ALEC meetings, bring back and use  ALEC legislation in our state and we have to stop this corporate control of legislation.  If you want more information please go to this webpage  http://alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed 

It is important to start educating our neighbors so that ALEC legislators don’t get re-elected or elected in November.

Reading about ALEC is the first step

- writing about ALEC takes YOUR activism to a whole new level - an important level.

We can't rely only on "the suits" to fight our battles - this is a local fight.

Go forth and write!
(PS - This post got a lot of hits - now lets see some action !!!)