Author Archives: Admin

Equal Rights for unborn feminists!

When you’re on the wrong side of Planned Parenthood, you’re on the right side of history.

The left’s disingenuous and intellectually lazy “war on women” talking points have blown up in its face.  Most polls show Mitt Romney fast gaining on President Obama with female voters. Some polls even show him pulling ahead.

Still, it’s the multi-billion dollar abortion industry that may just give Romney the boost he needs to take a permanent lead.

Just days after pro-life investigative group Live Action released devastating evidence that Planned Parenthood systemically engages in the grisly practice of sex-selection abortion – a charge to which it now admits – the cash-flush abortion Goliath has done Obama an ironic disservice by endorsing his re-election bid. The group has additionally launched a $1.4 million advertising campaign to smear Mitt Romney.

Let’s put aside for a moment the scandalous disclosure that while Planned Parenthood receives over 350 million per annum in your taxpayer dollars, it nonetheless spends millions engaging in partisan politicking for the DNC. Troubling as that may be, utterly horrific is the revelation that this extremist organization – which absurdly presumes to defend “women’s rights” – has been caught red-handed torturing little girls to death in mamma’s womb, simply because mamma wanted a boy.

This discovery – eerily reminiscent of Communist China’s forced one-child sex-selection policy – has shocked the conscience of an entire nation. So disturbing are the facts that on Thursday the U.S. House of Representatives voted on the Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act (PRENDA), H.R. 354, introduced by Republicans in Congress. Unbelievably, because the bill required a two-thirds majority for passage, Democrats were able to narrowly abort the measure by a vote of 246-168.

The legislation, which would have outlawed sex-selection abortions altogether, was also opposed by President Obama. This comes as little surprise when you consider that, while a state senator, Obama repeatedly fought Illinois’ Born Alive Infant Protection Act. This law simply required that when a baby survives a botched abortion – when she is “born alive” – further attempts to kill her must immediately cease, and steps must be taken to save her life.

But according to our president – leader of the “civilized” world – a law preventing the abortionist from finishing her off is “really designed simply to burden the original decision of the woman and the physician to induce labor and perform an abortion.”

This, coupled with Democratic support for sex-selection abortion (now on record), represents the true “war on women.” This is misogyny at its deadly worst. Take note, America: Obama and Democrats have officially endorsed the Mengelian practice of explicitly targeting little girls – over boys – for live dismemberment.

Still, there is good news here. This entire saga has placed in the national spotlight the irreconcilable incongruities central to our nation’s ongoing policy of legalized abortion on demand.

Consider, for instance, that under current federal and state law, if an off-duty abortionist – if any man, for that matter – physically assaults a woman and her unborn daughter dies, that man has committed murder. Yet if mom walks into Planned Parenthood and authorizes that same man to rip her baby girl limb-from-limb, it’s her “choice.” First case: murder. Second case: “choice.” Both cases: dead baby girl.

Furthermore, consider that – as established by a 2006 Zogby International poll of over 30,000 Americans in 48 states – 86 percent support a law banning sex-selection abortion. Doesn’t it stand to reason, then, that since the vast majority recognize the objectively reprehensible nature of sex-selection abortion, they, too, might recognize that it’s equally reprehensible for mom to have baby killed for no reason at all? This is what current law allows, without restriction, through the ninth month.

Indeed, incongruities abound. Still, it is the indefensible nature of empty “pro-choice” rhetoric that, I believe, will ultimately end legalized abortion in America. Truth, even when buried for decades, eventually has a way of rising to the surface.

It’s inevitable. Roe v. Wade will, in time, be tossed, alongside the slavery-justifying Dred Scott decision, exactly where both shameful scars on Lady Liberty belong: in the trash heap of historical inhumanity.

Just as those who excused slavery are reviled by history, so, too, will be those who called themselves “pro-choice.”

Matt Barber (@jmattbarber on Twitter) is an attorney concentrating in constitutional law. He serves as Vice President of Liberty Counsel Action.

Boortz passes torch

Atlanta: Popular talk show host Neal Boortz announced on his show this morning that he will step down after 42 years on the air, citing a desire to spend time with his family.  Businessman and former presidential frontrunner Herman Cain will take full-time command of the Boortz microphone when he officially retires this January. 

“It has been a great ride, but it’s time for me and my wife Donna to hit the road and travel in ways that thus far have been impossible,” said Boortz. “As my listeners know, we love traveling, and the restraints created by my daily radio show commitment have kept us on a rather short leash.”

Cain acknowledged the mark Boortz has made over those 42 years. "Neal has spent his career serving as a bold, vocal advocate of what is right in this world, and condemning that which is not. I promise the torch Boortz is handing off to me will blaze as bright, as bold, and as loud as ever."
 
Not only will Cain inherit Neal’s microphone, he’ll also inherit the Boortz syndicated radio audience. The show currently airs on more than 200 radio stations, with six million listeners a week.

“I am ecstatic that Neal has kept the radio host’s chair warm for me all these years," Cain joked. “He may be ‘The TalkMaster,’ but Neal’s listeners know I’m the ‘The Dean of the University of Common Sense.’”
 
Cain formerly hosted a radio show on News/Talk WSB in Atlanta prior to his run for the presidency, a qualification Dan Kearney, Vice President and Market Manager of News/Talk WSB, said adds to the impressive list of reasons Cain is the logical successor for Neal. 

“Cain is very well known, passionate about his beliefs, not afraid to speak his mind – and our listeners have shown they love him” Kearney said. “We’re thrilled at his return.”
 
Boortz’s last day hosting The Neal Boortz Show will be January 18, 2013.  Cain will launch his nationally syndicated radio show on January 21, 2013 – Inauguration Day.  Until then, Cain will continue joining Boortz for their Monday and Friday 10:35am ET segments, and will remain as Boortz’ primary fill-in host.
 
In addition to the new gig, Cain today revealed his revamped website, www.HermanCain.com. Visitors to the site will be treated to new features, previews of upcoming, exciting events, and a refreshed, easy-to-navigate update to his previous website. 

Bill to end subsidies for conventions

U.S. Senators Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) and Mark Udall (D-CO) today will introduce a bill that would prohibit the use of Presidential Election Campaign Funds (PECF) for Party Conventions.

Specifically for elections occurring after December 31, 2012 public funds will be disallowed and funds
dispersed before that time could be returned to the Treasury for the
purpose of deficit reduction.

“Voluntarily returning convention funds would be a great act of leadership and statesmanship for both parties.  Nevertheless, it’s time for Congress to act and end the practice of subsidizing annual convention parties with taxpayer dollars,” Dr. Coburn said.  “With a languishing recovery and unsustainable debt, there is no justification for spending public funds on booze, balloons and confetti. I hope my colleagues will support this common sense legislation that says the ‘party is over’ when it comes to travel and meetings paid for by taxpayers.”

Despite our $15.6 trillion national debt, political parties received a
$36.6 million check ($18.3 million per party) from taxpayers to pay for
the costs of political conventions occurring this summer. The funds that
are used to cover these conventions come from the Presidential Election
Campaign Fund (PECF). According to the Congressional Research Service
(CRS), “Federal law places relatively few restrictions on how PECF
convention funds are spent, as long as purchases are lawful and are used
to ‘defray expenses incurred with respect to a presidential nominating
convention.’”[1] Besides funding the event itself, the money is used to
pay for entertainment, catering, transportation, hotel costs,
“production of candidate biographical films,” and a variety of other
expenses.[2]  These events will be weeklong parties paid for by
taxpayers, much like the highly maligned GSA conference in Las Vegas.

“Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to maintain the integrity and fairness of the presidential nomination process,” Udall said. “Over the past several decades, political party nominating conventions have become elaborate celebrations devoted to partisanship. The American taxpayer should not be responsible for footing the bill for these partisan events. I chose to cosponsor this bill because it is a common sense, bipartisan proposal that will save taxpayer millions of dollars at a time when we need to exhibit more fiscal discipline.”

Supporting documents

Congressional Research Service report on 2008 Democratic and Republican national convention spending and data provided by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on PECF expenditures used for party conventions.

Dr. Coburn called for the elimination of taxpayer subsidies for party conventions in his 2011 Wastebook report, citing this report from the Congressional Research Service on federal funding for 2012 Presidential nominating conventions. 

Primus delights Brady Theater crowd

Those who were lucky enough to be inside the Brady Theater on Wednesday night were treated to a different, yet fantastic night of music from Primus. The group has churned out a unique brand of music off and on for nearly 30 years, drawing a large following throughout the world. A trio made up of guitar (Larry “Ler“ LaLonde), bass (Les Claypool) and drums (Jay Lane), the roles seem to be reversed for Primus with Claypool and his bass taking the lead and the guitar and drums seemingly keeping time.

As anticipation built, fans chanted their own personal welcome to the group, shouting “Primus sucks!” Two giant astronauts with faces that scanned the crowd framed the stage for the night as various psychedelic images and old video footage ran across a large video screen behind Lane’s drum kit.

Opening with “American Life” Primus took the medium-sized, yet raucous crowd through two hours of music, exploring the majority of their catalog. The band leaned heavily on both their first studio album as well as their most recent album. “Frizzle Fry” produced four songs on the set list, as did “Green Naugahyde.” “Tales From the Punchbowl,” and “Brown Album” saw three songs each played, while “Sailing the Seas of Cheese,” and “Pork Soda” had two each.

Claypool’s vocals were muffled a bit at times, as he frequently used a distorted microphone, but the crowd didn’t seem to mind. To them, his bass-playing skills made up for it. The show didn’t pack a lot of flash – no spotlights were used and there was not a great amount of lighting involved. But then again, no one seemed to mind because a Primus show is about the music.

The show was broken up into two eight-song sets, with a roughly 30-minute intermission. Fans were entertained during the break by watching a few Popeye cartoons on the big screen. Just as the crowd seemed to grow tired of watching Popeye fighting Bluto, the band jumped back on stage and powered through the second set.

Primus slideshow.

{gallery}entertainment/2012/primus/gallery{/gallery}

Photos by: Kevin Pyle

“Frizzle Fry” was a crowd favorite during the opening set, as was the immediately following “Mr. Krinkle” when Claypool switched over to a small upright bass and worked the bow across the strings while wearing a pig mask. “John the Fisherman,” “Southbound Pachyderm,” and “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver” drew the loudest applause during the second set, with a small mosh pit breaking out during the latter.

Closing with “Over the Electric Grapevine,” the crowd cheered loudly, prompting them to return for a two-song encore. “Golden Boy” got heads bobbing again as Primus worked towards the night’s finale. The crowd cheered loudly and bounced along as the group finished with “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver.”

AdSurf Daily admited fraud

Tulsa Today first reported in July of 2008 on a specific fraud within a clever Ponzi scheme headed to Tulsa.  Just weeks later, the multi-national company closed as agents of the Secret Service and St. Cloud, Fla. IRS-Secret Service Task Force seized AdSurf Daily (ASD) assets and bank accounts pursuant to a court order.  

Following years of additional seizures and court proceedings; on May 18, 2012 Thomas A. Bowdoin, Jr., also known as Andy Bowdoin (founder and operator of ASD) plead guilty to a federal charge of wire fraud stemming from the Internet-based advertising scheme that generated more than $110 million from thousands of people across the United States and other countries. 

As events warranted, Tulsa Today published five stories and is credited by the Havana Herald of Gadsden County, Florida as breaking the original news.  ASD was headquartered in Gadsden County until the Secret Service raid.

ASD had scheduled a rally and sales effort in Tulsa and, shortly before that event; a reader called to say he suspected ASD was a Ponzi scheme and demanded we warn people.  This writer as publisher agreed and we began.  Then our email exploded with angry denials of any impropriety by ASD employees and friends.

My favorite critic, Ronald, damned personally in the name of God saying in the last lines of a long email, “What is at stake here is your Eternal Soul.  This is my concern. The Holy Spirit of God has sent me to tell you, ‘even if you are right . . . you are still wrong.’ Repent and Come Home, I Love You . . . My Prodigal Son!” 

At the suggestion of a reporter from the Oklahoman, I framed that email and hung it on the Tulsa Today office wall.

Another telephoned the office later in the series saying in an angry tone, “You cost me $4,000.”  Then he paused adding in a softer voice, “but you saved me $15,000 and having to apologize to my family for the rest of my life.  Thanks.”

Bowdoin’s plea was announced by Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, and James Glendinning, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Orlando Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service.

Bowdoin, 77, of Quincy, Fla., entered the plea before the Honorable Rosemary M. Collyer in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. No sentencing date was set. Under terms of the plea agreement, which were approved by the Court, Bowdoin faces a maximum sentence of 78 months in prison and fines of up to $175,000. He remains free pending a hearing on June 12, 2012 to determine if he should be incarcerated pending his sentencing.

According to a statement of offense, signed by the government as well as the defendant, Bowdoin ran a Ponzi scheme disguised as an online advertising company. AdSurf Daily, Inc., or ASD, drew in large numbers of investors by promising huge returns on their investment.

Bowdoin admitted that he operated ASD from September 2006 until August 2008, when agents from the Secret Service and the St. Cloud, Fla. IRS-Secret Service Task Force seized ASD’s assets and bank accounts pursuant to a court order.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia subsequently obtained civil forfeiture of $80 million in proceeds of Bowdoin’s schemes, including numerous bank accounts, real property, luxury vehicles, and watercraft. The Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia established a program to return the fraudulently obtained money to victims. Approximately $55 million in forfeited assets has been returned to 8,400 victims.

These proceeds are now being returned to victims through an administrative process called “remission,” which was overseen by the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and the Secret Service.

Havana Herald Reporter Byron Spires notes that while Bowdoin presented ASD as an online advertising company; in reality he was running an investment Ponzi scheme in which he referred to himself as a “money magnet,” and encouraged prospective ASD members to refer to themselves that way as well, and stated that it was his “goal” to “make 100,000 millionaires in three years.”

In order to avoid regulatory scrutiny, the indictment stated Bowdoin referred to ASD’s investors as “members,” and referred to the investor’s money, payment and investment principle as “ad packages.”

Under the program, Bowdoin, through ASD, agreed to pay a return of 125% (initially 150%) on each dollar each member provided to ASD, as long as each member agreed to view a couple of websites themselves for a couple of minutes each day.  Bowdoin also promised to pay commissions to members who referred others to join ASD.

In reference to how the money was used, the indictment stated that more than $31 million of that revenue was used to make payments to early members, more than $8 million to operate ASD and promote ASD to subsequent members and more than $1 million for his own personal benefit or the benefit of his family.

In
addition to Tulsa Today, Lynn Edgington authored a very detailed book
of computer crime and the Internet.  “Robbing You With A Keyboard Instead Of A Gun
covers ASD in part in Chapter 11 as a “Pay-to-Click/Auto-Surf Program.”  It is a very detailed analysis of computer
fraud schemes online.

I recommend
Edgington’s book for all law enforcement assigned to both cyber-crime and general
fraud.  It shows how fraud works in
detail and how it can be sold by a small group of insiders to an unsuspecting
public and it provides a set of standards by which to judge claims of massive
rewards for minimum effort.

As Abraham
Lincoln once said, “It’s the old story: You work – I’ll eat” which on an
individual scale is theft and, in mass, plunder upon the people.

Thus
justice finds Andy Bowdoin.

In order of publishing, from first to last, here are the Tulsa Today stories covering ASD.

ASD Cash Generator considered fraud

Feds halt ASD Cash Generator

Secret Service agents raid ASD

ASD internet ad fraud grows to $93.5 million

AdSurf Daily Indictment