What is a Congressional Caucus?

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6-24-2018

What is a Congressional Caucus?

Did you know that Congress had such a thing as Caucuses?

Unless you are “employed” in or by the Congress of the United States you may be like me wondering what in the world is going on in Congress that they get bogged down EVERY DAY? Until recently I didn’t know about Congressional Caucuses, but what I didn’t know then pales in comparison to what I still don’t know about them.

One reason Congress has such a difficult time agreeing on almost anything is because there are 241 Congressional Caucuses. Several are broken down by ethnicity, race, foreign nationality, hot button issues and so much more. I tried to separate them, but it would take so much time that I would have a hard time remembering what I was doing or what I was going to do with the information.

Look at the members of Congress, by legislative body, by state and/or districts and by political persuasion and then you will begin to see the difficulty on getting 60 of them to agree on anything, unless it’s a bill with “Trump” attached to the heading or in the body of the bill.

Maybe that’s what the bible meant when it says in the book of Matthew 12:25,

“But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

On June 16, 1858 in his House Divided Speech Abraham Lincoln made reference to this verse at what was then the Illinois state capitol. Lincoln would go on the become President of the United States.

There are some really interesting Caucuses so take a look at what a not totally reliable source Wikipedia has to say about Congressional Caucuses:

A congressional caucus is a group of members of the United States Congress that meets to pursue common legislative objectives. Formally, caucuses are formed as congressional member organizations through the United States House of Representatives and governed under the rules of that chamber. Caucuses are informal in the Senate, and unlike their House counterparts, Senate groups receive neither official recognition nor funding from the chamber. In addition to the term caucus, they are sometimes called coalitions, study groups, task forces, or working groups.[1]  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucuses_of_the_United_States_Congress

This is a list of congressional caucuses of the United States Congress, as listed by the U.S. House Committee on House Administration.[2] For caucus membership, see the articles at Caucuses of the United States Congress by term.

  1. Agriculture and Rural America Taskforce
  2. Ahmadiyya Muslim Caucus
  3. American Sikh Congressional Caucus
  4. Assyrian Caucus
  5. Auto Care Caucus
  6. Albanian Issues Caucus
  7. Bipartisan Congressional Task Force to Combat Identity Theft
  8. Bi-Partisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus
  9. Bipartisan Heroin Task Force
  10. Bipartisan Congressional Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus
  11. Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism
  12. Blue Collar Caucus
  13. Blue Dog Coalition
  14. California Democratic Congressional Delegation
  15. California Public Higher Education Caucus
  16. Carbonated and Non-alcoholic Caucus
  17. Cement Caucus
  18. Climate Solutions Caucus
  19. Congressional 21st Century Skills Caucus
  20. Congressional Access to Civil Legal Service Caucus
  21. Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus
  22. Congressional Adult Literacy Caucus
  23. Congressional Air Force Caucus
  24. Congressional Albanian Caucus
  25. Congressional Aluminum Caucus
  26. Congressional American Religious Freedom Caucus
  27. Congressional Animal Protection Caucus
  28. Congressional Army Caucus
  29. Congressional Arts Caucus
  30. Congressional Article I Caucus
  31. Congressional Assisting Caregivers Today Caucus
  32. Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus
  33. Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus
  34. Congressional Bike Caucus (CBC)
  35. Congressional Biofuels Caucus
  36. Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus
  37. Congressional Black Caucus
  38. Congressional Blue Collar Caucus
  39. Congressional Border Security Caucus
  40. Congressional Bourbon Caucus
  41. Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
  42. Congressional Building Trades Caucus
  43. Congressional Buy American Caucus
  44. Congressional Cambodia Caucus
  45. Congressional Cannabis Caucus
  46. Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus
  47. Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance
  48. Congressional Caucus for Middle Market Growth
  49. Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues (originally the Congresswomen’s Caucus until 1981)
  50. Congressional Caucus on Bosnia
  51. Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls
  52. Congressional Caucus on California High-Speed Rail
  53. Congressional Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka
  54. Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues
  55. Congressional Caucus on Long-Range Strike
  56. Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care
  57. Congressional Caucus on Poland
  58. Congressional Caucus on Public-Private Partnerships
  59. Congressional Caucus on Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan Americans
  60. Congressional Caucus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
  61. Congressional Caucus on the Deadliest Cancers
  62. Congressional Caucus on the Netherlands
  63. Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans
  64. Congressional Caucus on Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Technologies
  65. Congressional Central America Caucus
  66. Congressional Chemistry Caucus
  67. Congressional Chicken Caucus
  68. Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus
  69. Congressional Children’s Health Care Caucus
  70. Congressional Citizen Legislature Caucus
  71. Congressional Coal Caucus
  72. Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI)
  73. Congressional Coast Guard Caucus
  74. Congressional Community College Caucus
  75. Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus
  76. Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus
  77. Congressional Czech Caucus
  78. Congressional Dairy Farmer Caucus
  79. Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus
  80. Congressional Direct Selling Caucus
  81. Congressional Directed Energy Caucus
  82. Congressional Dyslexia Caucus
  83. Congressional Emergency Medical Services Caucus
  84. Congressional Estuary Caucus
  85. Congressional Everglades Caucus
  86. Congressional Financial Security and Life Insurance Caucus
  87. Congressional Fintech and Payments Caucus
  88. Congressional Fire Services Caucus
  89. Congressional Former Mayors Caucus
  90. Congressional Fragile X Caucus
  91. Congressional Franchise Caucus
  92. Congressional Freethought Caucus
  93. Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus
  94. Congressional Friends of Egypt Caucus
  95. Congressional Friends of Liechtenstein Caucus
  96. Congressional Friends of New Zealand Caucus
  97. Congressional Friends of Norway Caucus
  98. Congressional Georgia Caucus
  99. Congressional German-American Caucus
  100. Congressional Global Road Safety Caucus
  101. Congressional Green Schools Caucus
  102. Congressional Grid Innovation Caucus
  103. Congressional Hearing Health Caucus
  104. Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition
  105. Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance
  106. Congressional Hispanic Caucus (a Democratic group)
  107. Congressional Hispanic Conference (a Republican group)
  108. Congressional Homelessness Caucus
  109. Congressional House Cancer Caucus
  110. Congressional House Manufacturing Caucus
  111. Congressional Humanities Caucus
  112. Congressional Hungarian Caucus
  113. Congressional Independent Colleges Caucus
  114. Congressional Interstate 11 Caucus
  115. Congressional Invasive Species Caucus
  116. Congressional Inventions Caucus
  117. Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus
  118. Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus
  119. Congressional Lung Cancer Caucus
  120. Congressional Lupus Caucus
  121. Congressional Media Fairness Caucus
  122. Congressional Men’s Health Caucus
  123. Congressional Mentoring Caucus
  124. Congressional Military Family Caucus
  125. Congressional Military Mental Health Caucus
  126. Congressional Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus
  127. Congressional Mississippi River Caucus
  128. Congressional Motorcycle Caucus
  129. Congressional National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus
  130. Congressional National Parks Caucus
  131. Congressional Natural Gas Caucus
  132. Congressional Neuroscience Caucus
  133. Congressional New Americans Caucus
  134. Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus
  135. Congressional Ohio River Basin Caucus
  136. Congressional Opportunity Action Group
  137. Congressional Out of Poverty Caucus
  138. Congressional Pension Protection for Working Americans Caucus
  139. Congressional Pilots Caucus
  140. Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus
  141. Congressional Portuguese Caucus
  142. Congressional Pre-K Caucus
  143. Congressional Primary Care Caucus
  144. Congressional Progressive Caucus
  145. Congressional Public Health Caucus
  146. Congressional Public Transportation Caucus
  147. Congressional Puget Sound Recovery Caucus
  148. Congressional Ready Mixed Concrete Caucus
  149. Congressional Recycling Caucus
  150. Congressional Research and Development Caucus
  151. Congressional Rugby Caucus
  152. Congressional Scouting Caucus
  153. Congressional Second Amendment Caucus
  154. Congressional Semiconductor Caucus
  155. Congressional Serbian Caucus
  156. Congressional Shellfish Caucus
  157. Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus
  158. Congressional Singapore Caucus
  159. Congressional Ski and Snowboard Caucus
  160. Congressional Skin Cancer Caucus
  161. Congressional Slovak Caucus
  162. Congressional Small Business Caucus
  163. Congressional Smart Transportation Caucus
  164. Congressional Social Work Caucus
  165. Congressional Special Operations Forces Caucus
  166. Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus
  167. Congressional Submarine Caucus
  168. Congressional Taiwan Caucus
  169. Congressional Term Limits Caucus
  170. Congressional Transparency Caucus
  171. Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus
  172. Congressional U.S.-Mexico Friendship Caucus
  173. Congressional Urban Caucus
  174. Congressional US-China Working Group
  175. Congressional Values Action Team
  176. Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus
  177. Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus
  178. Congressional Warrior’s Caucus
  179. Congressional Western Caucus
  180. Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus (CWRC)
  181. Congressional Working Forests Caucus
  182. Congressional Zoo and Aquarium Caucus
  183. Connecting the Americas Caucus
  184. Conservative Opportunity Society (COS)
  185. Creative Rights Caucus
  186. Dutch Congressional Caucus
  187. Electromagnetic Pulse Caucus
  188. Florida Ports Caucus
  189. Friends of Finland Caucus
  190. Friends of Kazakhstan Caucus
  191. Friends of Wales Caucus
  192. Global Investment in America Caucus
  193. Historic Preservation Caucus
  194. House Aerospace Caucus
  195. House Automotive Caucus
  196. House Baltic Caucus
  197. House Decentralized Wastewater Recycling Caucus
  198. House Farmer’s Cooperative Caucus
  199. House Freedom Caucus
  200. House General Aviation Caucus
  201. House Liberty Caucus
  202. House Paper and Packaging Caucus
  203. House Republican Israel Caucus
  204. House Rural Education Caucus
  205. House Sugar Caucus
  206. House Textile Caucus
  207. House Wire and Wire Products Caucus
  208. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus
  209. Immigrant Servicemembers and Veterans Caucus
  210. International Religious Freedom Caucus
  211. Israel Allies Caucus
  212. Kurdish-American Congressional Caucus
  213. Law Enforcement Caucus
  214. Medical Technology Caucus
  215. Men’s Health Caucus
  216. Mental Health Caucus
  217. Missile Defense Caucus
  218. Municipal Finance Caucus
  219. National Service Caucus
  220. Northern Border Caucus
  221. New Democrat Coalition
  222. Public Works and Infrastructure Caucus
  223. Pro-life Caucus
  224. Planetary Science Caucus
  225. Real Estate Caucus
  226. Republican Main Street Partnership
  227. Republican Study Committee
  228. Romanian Caucus
  229. RV Caucus
  230. Serbian Caucus
  231. Skilled American Workforce Caucus
  232. Small Brewers Caucus
  233. Spina Bifida Caucus
  234. Task Force on Anti-Terrorism & Proliferation Financing
  235. Tea Party Caucus
  236. Tuberculosis Elimination Caucus
  237. Tuesday Group (a Republican group)
  238. Tunisia Caucus
  239. S.-Japan Caucus
  240. Veterinary Medicine Caucus
  241. Work for Warriors Caucus

Some funded Caucuses are in the House and while others in the Senate are not funded. I fail to see the purpose of Caucuses as they have the appearance of special interests written all over them and are surely comprising the Washington Swamp. – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog

Liberally Celebrating the 4th of July

time54

6-24-2018

Liberally Celebrating the 4th of July

So American Independence Day is approaching and I wonder how wonderful it will be to throw on the proverbial feed bag liberal style? Traditionally Americans become patriotic with outdoor festivities, parades, fire crackers, BBQ’s and diverse activities planned for the entire weekend, but 2018 will be different.

How so you might ask? Why would this year be different? Are we not the same country we were last year and the year before and the year before that?

My answer is emphatically – NO, we are not!

Oh the people are the same they have not moved or changed their names, but they themselves have changed. We have ceased to be simply Americans. We are no longer neighbors, trusting neighbors. We no longer throw out the welcome mat for strangers. Yes America we have changed.

Long gone are the days of standing and saluting the American flag. No more reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, because according to past governmental decrees we are a selfish, spiteful and vengeful society. Any nation that is isolated from the rest of the world is a hateful place to live and we, America, are no different than say Iran, Turkey or North Korea.

Americans are tired of the Rule of Law in our land. We have become a land of Sanctuary Cities, Sanctuary Counties and Sanctuary States; Sanctuary, Sanctuary, Sanctuary – sanctuary from what?  It would appear it is sanctuary from good old fashion common sense.

As I said earlier American Independence Day is fast approaching. WooHoo!

Now if we are in such a sorry state of affairs as some would have us to believe, why would anyone want to leave their homeland and immigrate here? And why would so many spend countless days walking, hitching rides on trains, buses and trucks in order to make it to the U.S. border, if we are such a bad place to live?

Now back to July 4th, 2018 why do we celebrate? What is independence; Independence from what or whom? Why is it even relevant in our day and time? I won’t try to answer those questions, because they are different for each of us. Remember we aren’t just Americans we are citizens of the United States of America.

Did you know that until recently our southern neighbor Mexico had been officially called The United States of Mexico? Now they have changed their name officially to Mexico, so as not to be confused with the United States.

Yes if you’re a left leaning liberal with Communist or Socialistic tendencies I don’t see how you would compromise your beliefs and call yourself an American Patriot or be able to enjoy an old fashioned BBQ or picnic. Or how you could stand or sit through a disgusting parade honoring our nation, our troops and our heritage? There’s no way you could recite the pledge or salute the flag which you hold in such disgust!

But look at the bright side. July 4th, 2018 is the second Independence Day of the Trump presidency and conservatives across “flyover country” will be proudly flying our flags, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and reading our Bibles while thanking Almighty God for the freedoms we enjoy in America. We will pray for our nation’s leaders, and for our country that has given so much to make this world a better place with the help of God Almighty. We will enjoy breaking bread with our family and friends in an attitude of humbleness. We will pray for you, our liberal brothers and sisters and ask God to bless you and make you fruitful in this land we all love.

Yes indeed Independence Day is rapidly approaching. – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog

 

What Are The Rights of Citizenship?

Constitution

6-23-2018

What are The Rights of Citizenship?

Stop Look and Listen!

There is a difference between basic human rights and the rights of citizenship. Everyone has a basic human right that is given by Almighty God. This is called the “Right to Life”. It is evidenced by the life blood flowing through the human body, and upon birth the breath of life which is breathed into each person’s lungs. Nobody has the right to end life prematurely.

In the United States of America enshrined in the Constitution (the Rule of Law) are what we have termed the Bill of Rights that are guaranteed to every citizen in the Amendments and we commonly refer to them as “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” where citizens enjoy the right to bear arms, to vote and a host of other benefits afforded all U.S. citizens. These are some of the reasons that draw people to our great nation.

So what are the rights of immigrants coming into the United States? They enjoy basic human rights, and must live peaceably and obey the laws of the land. Many are afforded the opportunity to apply for citizenship where they are then covered by the Bill of Rights. That’s it! Failure to comply with U.S. laws can result in fines and imprisonment or deportation and expulsion.

A direct result of the miseducation of the youth of our nation, as well as the ignorance of our citizens when it comes to knowing federal and state laws allow for the rise in misinformation and false narratives being pass on the internet and by the main stream media outlets nationwide this leads to today’s political climate which stems from a prolonged attack on the Constitution. Attacks to weaken our resolve for continued self-government and systematically attempting to remove the very rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

The United States of America is not a Democracy as some have eluded to, but as a Republic, to be more precise a “Constitutional-Republic” in which everyone is created equal by the Creator God. It is not wrong for our governmental leaders to look out for and protect the Constitution and the people of the United States while not succumbing to the pressures of public opinion which cries otherwise.

Our government is one “By the people and For the people”, not “To the people” and when the government becomes unresponsive to the people, they have the “Right” to petition for a governmental change.

“A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.” (unknown)

You may find this hard to believe, but everyone does not have the right to enter the boundaries of the United States. Just because someone wants to come here, they are not allowed to just come on in. They are afforded the opportunity to petition for entry, whether it is for clemency, employment, and residency or as a tourist. There are well established procedures that have worked quite well since our nation was established over 200 years ago. Even though the procedures have been changed and updated over the years, they are still effective when followed.

Currently those wishing to immigrate into this country should start with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate and fill out the necessary application paperwork and clearly spelling out why they want to come to the United States.

Many people falsely reference coming to the United States as “Coming to America”, but America in the technical sense covers the South, Central and North American continents. American citizens are not necessarily citizens of the United States, yet citizens of the United States are indeed citizens of America.

The United States of America is a nation of laws that are based upon biblical principles. Obedience of those laws is the essence of a healthy society. Disobedience leads to anarchy and the crumbling of an unhealthy society.

The foundation of our society has been built upon the backs of our citizens. It is protected by our first responders and the men and women of our nation’s military, who pledge their very lives for its defense. I urge you to consider where you are, where you live, work and play. Our strengths and weaknesses as a nation are only as strong or weak as our people, our citizens.

Stop letting the ultimate right or ultimate left define you. To paraphrase the words of former President Barack Obama, “There is not an African-American America, not a White America, not a Hispanic-American America, not an Asian-America. There is only the United States of America.” – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog

 

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Is There A Need?

gettyimages-947960842

6-22-2018

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Is There A Need?

On January 12, 2018 President Donald Trump held a meeting with select legislators to discuss Immigration and DACA. All of the big names were there, Pelosi, Schumer and a host of others from across the aisle. Among the things discussed while reporters were in the room was a need for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill that included funding for the wall, enhanced enforcement personnel and equipment and a permanent solution for DACA. Everyone smiled and nodded and several spoke their piece about whether or not they supported the president’s recommendation. With the photo opportunity over and after reporters left the room the group got down to an actual discussion.

Later in a demonstration and show of political bias what was said about the meeting had nothing to do with the substance of the meeting, but a statement by a democrat member of congress who misquoted the president in order to stir up racial division and public sentiment against Donald Trump. What resulted was an orchestrated series of reports against the president and virtually shutting down what should have been a very productive meeting on Immigration Reform.

On several occasions since that January meeting the president has challenged the congress to prepare a bill, containing the four pillars discussed in the meeting, and he would sign it into law. The resistance of the democrats in congress is simply disgraceful. As a matter of record the republican controlled house and senate have been unable or unwilling to examine current immigration laws to determine errors that should be corrected by a new piece of legislation. Instead, democrats have proposed a bill to ban plastic straws from the capitol cafeteria!

So my question is Comprehensive Immigration Reform actually needed, or does it simply need enforcement and funding? Republicans say yes, CIR is needed to stem the flow of unlawful entry of foreign nationals into the country. Democrats say no, CIR is not needed we just need to allow everyone into the country, without regard to country of origin, nationality and especially if they are traveling with children. We should then allow them to run freely in the country, because detaining and vetting them through the current immigration process is un-American and in-humane.  So you be the judge?

Have you recently traveled outside the United States? Was it walking or by car, boat or air?

  • Walking you can cross over into Mexico or Canada, but you need a passport and federal or state issued identification.
  • By car you can go to Mexico or Canada, but you need a passport and federal or state issued identification.
  • By boat you can cruise the Caribbean, or off the coast of Mexico, or even up along the coast to Alaska, but you need a passport and federal or state issued identification.
  • By air you can travel to destinations around the world, but you still need a passport and federal or state issued identification.

What about returning from a trip outside the United States?

  • Whether walking or by car, you must pass through an authorized entry point where they check your credentials and your passport and federal or state issued identification.
  • By boat you must go through an authorized entry point at the pier where they check your credentials and your passport and federal or state issued identification.
  • By air you must pass through an authorized entry point where they will check your passport and federal or state issued identification and you will be required to stand in front of a camera where your picture will be taken and your index finger scanned using biometric software, then they will collect your customs declaration and inspect of your luggage for contraband. Violations can result in fine or imprisonment.

What happens if you want to travel outside the United States and do not have documentation, such as a passport and federal or state issued identification? You will be denied and if you make a fuss or a scene you will be apprehended then arrested and could face imprisonment on federal charges.

Let us examine the so called “asylum seekers” and “refugees” who come through Mexico to authorized border crossings into the United States. The main stream media would have you to believe that these are people who have made the long and arduous journey over a period of many months, facing extreme and unimaginable hardships, escaping oppressive conditions and should be allowed into the United States without question or documentation.

The liberal legislators in congress would have you to believe that America has an obligation to allow entry to these people and that President Trump is standing at the border ripping children from the arms of their mothers and locking them up in cages while deporting the adults without reuniting families – Unimaginable! Unconscionable! Disgraceful! And the liberal left makes their plea in front of news cameras which adds to the effect. That is what we see minute by minute, hour by hour on TV.

Well I hate to burst your bubble (yes your bubble), but that is all hype. Those are real people alright, and yes they want to come to the United States to live a better life, and many are escaping oppressive conditions back in their homeland. Yes those who enter without documentation are being detained and vetted for entry into the United States. BUT………..

  • Why didn’t these people apply for amnesty or residency at the FIRST COUNTRY of their journey?
  • Why didn’t these people go to the nearest US Embassy or US Consulate and apply for amnesty?
  • Why didn’t any of the countries these people pass through offer them amnesty or residency?
  • Why did these countries allow or even assist these people transit to the United States?
  • Why do people think that everyone who WANTS to come to the United States MUST be allowed entry?
  • Why do liberal democrats who see the issue not seek to fix it, rather than pass the blame to the president?

The issue of immigration is not a new issue. After World War II immigration laws changed to allow quotas of immigrants from various countries, with varying job skills permanent or temporary (residency or work visas) and a path to citizenship for those who qualify.

What has changed?

I can think of only one single incident in the history of the United States that would be the cause of this dilemma, and it wasn’t the events on September 11, 2001, although that even caused stricter procedures to insure anyone wishing entry into the United States was not intent on her destruction.

It is the job of every American and our elected and government officials and agencies to keep America safe, and to protect the Constitution of the United States of America.

The single event that brought all of this to a head and has Americans raising their hands in total anger has nothing to do with the way in which immigration is being enforced it has everything to do with the biased media coverage after the election of President Donald J. Trump.

Donald Trump made a number of campaign promises, he said he would build the wall (along our southern border and Mexico would pay for it) and he would “Drain the Swamp”. Nobody expected him to have to keep those promises because Hillary Clinton would soon be the next president and that didn’t happen.

The Constitution is the rule of law in the United States of America. The three branches of government are the Legislative Branch (who make laws), the Executive Branch (president signs into law), and the Judicial Branch (insure the constitutionality of the laws). They are designed as a check and balance against any one branch overpowering any other branch.

The president sets the foreign policy of the United States, and with the backing of congress and the American people the world sees our nation as that “light upon the hill” talked about by President Reagan.

President Lincoln once invoked a bible verse when he said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. That is why we honor our nation with a pledge, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”.

Veterans of the United States military have taken an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, and to obey the orders of the President and the officers appointed over us.

We stand in the gap for America and for Freedom, which is never free.

A people who stand not for the nation, will fall for anything! – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog

 

 

Trekking North America

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6-21-2018

Trekking North America

How many folks grab their gear and begin trekking across North America? Doesn’t that sound exciting? Have you thought about walking from Hometown USA to say Panama City, Panama? What about driving? What if MS-13 or the Cartel was hot on your tail? What if they held your hand? What if……?

What kinds of images are conjured up by merely suggesting this kind of journey? A few years back I was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. I was talking to a neighbor, who had family make the trip south in their RV, pulling a jeep.

If I remember correctly they were stopped at every border crossing and forced to bribe their way from country to country, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and finally Panama. At one border the border police wanted to charge a “tax” on their spare tire and extra gasoline can full of gas. Refusing to pay the fee, the Gringos simply poured the gasoline out all over the tire and light it on fire. No more “tax” and the angry border police reluctantly let them continue on their journey.

One of the hazards was sleeping in the RV on the road. They were awakened in the middle of the night by someone rocking the RV or attempting to access the little sky light vent in the roof. Banditos ravaged their pour jeep and stripped what they could before being chased off. This was on the way down to Panama. I can’t imagine their return trip back to the states.

You might be saying, nice story but why does it matter anyway (sound familiar)?

Think of the immigrants originating from Africa, South America and various countries in Central America. Immigrants with children; single mothers; brothers and sisters; grade schoolers and middle school age children deciding on their own to leave home, their families and everything familiar and head north to “America”, actually to the United States of America.

This is a journey which is unfathomable to Americans here, but often a necessity if your life or the lives of your family are threatened. The will to live, to survive will drive you to do the unthinkable. The distance from Panama, Central America to Juarez, Texas is just over 51 hours DRIVING.

These families who flee their homeland for their very lives for fear of persecution are now refugees seeking asylum. My heart is broken for them, as the journey ahead is more than 3 months long. It is no walk in the park.

According to international law the first country they enter must give them asylum when they flee. So with 5 countries between Panama and the USA, why are they not given asylum, but given a pass to traverse these nations on their quest north?

Now in each country there is an American Embassy or Consulate where real refugees can go to seek asylum. Why do they not go there? Think about the adults, children, & infants traveling with just the clothes on their backs, and quite possibly a small back with essentials or mementos from family and home. Where do they get water to sustain themselves, food to eat, or other costs? Many if not all must pay the Coyote an exorbitant amount of money PER PERSON for the opportunity to try.

There are drug cartels and gang members posing as “family” for children, and many times they have been deported multiple times from the USA, so they know the ropes, yet with children they cannot be stopped or detained at the border? Come on now, what kind of sense does that make?

The entire “Flow of Migrants” is designed to flood the border with enough refugees that the INS will be forced to “catch and release”. This is what is happening now.

Contrary to what is being flouted in the media, Congress has the power to make laws. Once laws are created and passed in both the House and Senate the President has the power to sign or veto and Congress can override a Presidential veto.

What has been proposed in the Congress for more than 20 years is an “eVerify” system that will create a database of immigrants entering the United States. Liberal members of Congress have repeatedly shot this method down or refused funding for the program.

Other nations worldwide already use an eVerify process, you must stand in front of a camera, place your forefinger in the scanner and your information appears. Then you are either admitted or locked up.

In fact we use it for immigrants entering and citizens returning by air to the USA. You must have documentation in the form of a passport AND picture ID (state or federally issued). Try skipping this step at the international concourse and try doing so WITHOUT documentation. It doesn’t work.

So why do we collect immigrants without documentation along our southern border, house and feed them and buy them new clothes when they show up wanting into the United States?

Maybe what we need built into the wall are a series of “Walkup Windows” with a kiosk where immigrants and refugees (same thing) can select their language, enter their personal data, and press ENTER so that after processing (internal whirring of the computer) a green or red light will come on that says either “ENTRÉE” or “NO ENTRÉE”. Problem solved. Immigrants are on Mexico soil and the Mexican government can care, feed and shelter them, or transport them back across the border with Guatemala.

There is no reason for the debacle that is occurring on our southern border with immigration and/or amnesty “hearings”.

Build the wall. Stop the flow of people and drugs from crossing illegally (unlawfully). – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog

Rampant Misinformation versus the Truth

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6-21-2018

Rampant Misinformation versus the Truth

Today it becomes harder and harder to see through the smoke and past the mirrors of misinformation to find the truth in any matter big or small. What we see on TV, in the news outlets or on the internet is not even close to reporting what has and is happening.

Oh you hear from the left and from the right, but what you hear is clearly debatable. A politician speaks and the left reports “this”, while the right reports “that”, and the public goes “What”? Then to make matters even worse ask someone about it, based on their mood, feelings or hunger pains you will get at least one or two “opinions” about everything. (You are still reading this, Right?)

What I encourage everyone to do is treat information as with a grain of salt, not too much, or not too little. You can often find out real quick who your real friends are by the feedback you receive on subjects you discuss. Sheep don’t fare well when walking past hungry lions.

The old saying, “You can’t sour with eagles if you’re hanging around with turkeys”.

The hottest news today has to do with the Attorney General’s Inspector General’s Report on the Hillary Clinton Email Scandal. You might disagree and say it’s with immigration and the kids, or its North Korea and nuclear weapons, or its tariffs. It depends on what the media places emphasis.

I say it’s the IG Report because the information being covered involved national security, proper protocol for handling classified material and at a time of a national election and within the DOJ’s major investigative agency the FBI and senior level management and key investigative agents.

There is the AG IG Report that is 568 pages and is available to download and/or read online. It contains a lot of legal babble, but information that clearly shows a certain level of mismanagement or missteps by government officials at various levels.

Also there are the Congressional Oversight Committee hearings going on in Washington, where legislators are able to question the AG IG over his report. You will hear a lot of names and finger pointing, but nothing changes the report, only ones perception of it.

Lastly there is media coverage, not much really as the media has chosen to focus on any number of the above mention issues, rather than this seemingly boring hearing about something that happened way back in 2016.

So I suggest that if you are interested in what’s in the report, you download it for free, or wait until it becomes a best seller on Amazon or another publishing outlet. It’s better to muddle through the report at your leisure, then digest what you have read and in the end draw your own conclusions (I’m up to page 34).

Continue to make yourself aware of what is going on in our nation and in the world, because what you knew yesterday may not be true today. – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog

The Swamp Just Got Bigger

6-20-2018

The Swamp Just Got Bigger

This morning the liberal left and both democrats and republicans were berating President Trump for tearing families apart, locking up children and prosecuting parents, unthinkable they said, disgraceful they said.

President Trump took that message to heart and signed an executive order giving Congress an opportunity to change immigration laws to prevent family separation. Good job Mr. President they said – NOT.

In fact before the ink had dried on the executive order liberal democrats were crying foul. That’s not enough, you can’t incarcerate entire families forever they said, you must let them go they said.

President Trump declares that “zero tolerance” will continue and illegal entry will not be allowed. The media continues to blitz a false narrative, of numerous and massive concentration camps reminiscent of the Nazis of WWII Germany, all over the news, chastising President Trump and his administration for dastardly deeds and major misdemeanors.

The legislators in both the House and in the Senate have drafted multiple bills which will fix much of the immigration issues, but guess who is not doing their part, Senator Chuck Schumer and Company, and the Representative Nancy Pelosi and CBC gang. They are not only not playing, but not even showing up for the vote. Well why doesn’t both the House and the Senate LOCK THE DOORS TO THE CHAMBERS and not unlock them until a majority of THOSE PRESENT cast their votes? (Remember how voting was done on Obamacare?)

While they’re at it, how about a resolution (or bill) be presented, voted on and passed that would dock the pay of legislators who intentionally and willingly refrain from attending the proceedings and casting their votes?

It becomes very clear that there is a movement within the legislature, aided by the media and compounded by various cabinet agency senior officials to stop the Trump administration at all costs, and to tear down the national borders of the United States and overturn the Rule of Law as mandated by the Constitution of the United States.

We have seen what will happen when senior FBI officials decide to go rogue, sabotage official investigations, guide along fake inquiries, and repeatedly lie to congressional oversight committees in a covert and overt attempt to disrupt a national election, unseat a sitting president and bring the federal government to a halt in disgrace and now subvert the immigration laws of the United States by overwhelming the entire immigration process.

A critical component of this silent coup is the disarming of Americans by insane gun control laws which allow law enforcement to seize weapons of non-compliant citizens who are unwilling to simply hand over their very means of self-defense.

I say this in all seriousness, you are either the solution or you are the problem. Stand by, do nothing and then you will surely have no leg to stand on when America is no longer “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave”. – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog

Executive Order on Ending Family Separations

Executive Order 6-20-2018

6_20-2018

 Executive Order on Ending Family Separation

Today President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order that ends the separation of families at the border who unlawfully enter the United States. This order does in no way end or lighten the policy of border enforcement, but provides Congress an opportunity to put aside political division and work together on substantive legislation to correct obvious issues with immigration laws.

I’m stunned that the Congress sees this as a major problem that required immediate action, yet lacks the political will to put their words into action, and action into a bill that the President will sign.

I’m also disappointed at American’s who believe all the political rhetoric spewed by the political right and the political left, without challenging the logic of congressional legislators in their home districts. If keeping families together is the desired result, why not support the administration’s stance on preventing unlawful entry of foreign nationals into the United States? – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog

 Executive Order

Affording Congress and Opportunity to Address Family Separation

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of this Administration to rigorously enforce our immigration laws. Under our laws, the only legal way for an alien to enter this country is at a designated port of entry at an appropriate time. When an alien enters or attempts to enter the country anywhere else, that alien has committed at least the crime of improper entry and is subject to a fine or imprisonment under section 1325(a) of title 8, United States Code. This Administration will initiate proceedings to enforce this and other criminal provisions of the INA until and unless Congress directs otherwise. It is also the policy of this Administration to maintain family unity, including by detaining alien families together where appropriate and consistent with law and available resources. It is unfortunate that Congress’s failure to act and court orders have put the Administration in the position of separating alien families to effectively enforce the law.

Sec. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this order, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Alien family” means

(i) any person not a citizen or national of the United States who has not been admitted into, or is not authorized to enter or remain in, the United States, who entered this country with an alien child or alien children at or between designated ports of entry and who was detained; and

(ii) that person’s alien child or alien children.

(b) “Alien child” means any person not a citizen or national of the United States who

(i) has not been admitted into, or is not authorized to enter or remain in, the United States;

(ii) is under the age of 18; and

(iii) has a legal parent-child relationship to an alien who entered the United States with the alien child at or between designated ports of entry and who was detained.

Sec. 3. Temporary Detention Policy for Families Entering this Country Illegally.

(a) The Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary), shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, maintain custody of alien families during the pendency of any criminal improper entry or immigration proceedings involving their members.

(b) The Secretary shall not, however, detain an alien family together when there is a concern that detention of an alien child with the child’s alien parent would pose a risk to the child’s welfare.

(c) The Secretary of Defense shall take all legally available measures to provide to the Secretary, upon request, any existing facilities available for the housing and care of alien families, and shall construct such facilities if necessary and consistent with law. The Secretary, to the extent permitted by law, shall be responsible for reimbursement for the use of these facilities.

(d) Heads of executive departments and agencies shall, to the extent consistent with law, make available to the Secretary, for the housing and care of alien families pending court proceedings for improper entry, any facilities that are appropriate for such purposes. The Secretary, to the extent permitted by law, shall be responsible for reimbursement for the use of these facilities.

(e) The Attorney General shall promptly file a request with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to modify the Settlement Agreement in Flores v. Sessions, CV 85-4544 (“Flores settlement”), in a manner that would permit the Secretary, under present resource constraints, to detain alien families together throughout the pendency of criminal proceedings for improper entry or any removal or other immigration proceedings.

Sec. 4. Prioritization of Immigration Proceedings Involving Alien Families. The Attorney General shall, to the extent practicable, prioritize the adjudication of cases involving detained families.

Sec. 5. General Provisions.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

June 20, 2018.

 

Watch Where You Point!

Finger pointing

6-20-2018

Watch where you point!

I’ve written about this before, but still nobody pays attention. All the posturing and finger pointing does is indict the pointer. No convinced? Just look around at all the so called “hot spots” that have become visible since the 2015-2016 presidential campaign and after the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

We’ve had sexual allegations and scandals, women claiming abuse, business dealings with a questionable foreign nation (Russia), claims of incompetence and unfitness to be president, foreign trade and tariffs, posturing with the nuclear DPRK, and immigration debacles like the wall (Mexico’s going to pay for it, really they will) and now the children pulled from their mommies arms and placed in cages, right?

In fact every tweet or word that comes out of the president’s mouth becomes a front page smear. So much so that comedians who haven’t had a success talent-wise have to resort to Trump impersonator renditions just to drum up media attention. Actors, actresses and entertainers likewise have lost their box-office touch and have to dig deep within themselves just to find a way to connect with an audience about Trump related material.

Not to be left out, but we have legislators who are sleighed because after their financial buddy became president, they have nobody left to bum money from, unless you believe those campaign ads. Yes even Chucky, Nancy, Diane and Hillary were at one time or another craving just to be seen with “The Donald” as it was a status thing.

Now rather than do sit-ins and sleep-ins for one cause or another ON THE FLOOR OF CONGRESS, they are now content to think of themselves as “Resistance Fighters”, rising up to engage in literary combat with the President of the United States.

The cry of Trump tweeting is un-presidential, well it’s funny but Obama began tweeting before Trump and nobody seemed to care. Maybe it was the presidential thing to do back in 2007. I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump was paying attention, but didn’t start tweeting until 2009 after observing the master-blaster at work. Bill and Hillary got started tweeting in 2013, so they were playing catchup back then.

I’ve noticed that when someone points at Trump this…..or Trump that…. The one doing the pointing is actually playing on what THEY are doing. i.e. Obama and Hillary cry “Trump Collusion Russia” after handing over cash and uranium to the Russian government (I’ll bet Putin laughed all the way to the bank on that one).

Democrats shout “Trump Sex Scandal”, after paying an aging “stage performer” to bring up false charges, and by coincidence a Democrat or two have to leave their cushy “public sector” jobs because of sexual scandals of their own.

Now Democrats cry “Trump jailing babies”, and it’s the Democrats who stand in the way of immigration reform that would fix the entire problem. I’ll bet if Trump pulls an Obama and uses Executive Order to “fix” it, they will cry “Impeach Trump”. (Wait they are crying Impeach Trump for Obstruction of Justice?) Why, because he threatened to drain their congressional wading pool, aka “The Swamp”?

Now all the while America is being made just a little bit safer every day. Now all those who disagree can exit stage right and make their way to the nearest exit – San Diego, El Paso or maybe Canada? I hear Cuba is a great place to live if you’re a liberal, or maybe Venezuela?

I guess the old saying “Pointing one finger at someone, leaves 3 fingers pointing back at you” really is true. The saying I like better is for the democrats in congress, “If you can’t stand the heat, get away from the fire”! – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog

My Simple Solution

detention-cage-675x381

6-20-2018

My Simple Solution

I guess all the money spent on training lawyers and legislators in congress has failed to instill common sense in our legislative body when it comes to immigration. So I’m going to have a stab at fixing the issue of illegal immigration, child separations from parents and even the unlawful practice of “lawyers” who instruct immigrants on how to appear to be refugees in order to enter the United States.

“All immigrants who unlawfully enter the United States of America will be detained, fingerprinted, mug shots, and personal data recorded into a central immigration database and deported to nearest immigration entry point. Second or subsequent offense will result in prosecution.”

That’s it.

Oh and one more thing, “American citizens who aid and assist immigrants to gain entry into the U.S. by fraudulent or other means will be prosecuted.”

I don’t play that “Ring around the Illegal Immigrant” game! – I am the Real Truckmaster!

Realtruckmaster.blog