Monthly Archives: February 2008

Quote of the Day:::::::“In the long run, men only hit what they aim at. Therefore, though you should fail immediately, you had better aim at something high.”:::– Henry David Thoreau::::::Subject: Wow, we hit some big targets this month::::::In a matter of hours we will probably eclipse our January numbers for recruiting new Downsizers.

Today’s Downsizer Dispatch . . .::::::Quote of the Day:::::::“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”:::- Ronald Reagan ::::::Subject: Growth rings::::::I called a Congressional office the other day. Even though I’d never spoken with this staffer, I didn’t need much of an introduction. He knew about DownsizeDC.org. He knew about us because we’re making a growing noise. ::::::YOUR VOICE is being heard. YOU are penetrating the Congressional echo chamber. ::::::If Downsize DC was a tree, the growth ring for 2008 would be looking pretty fat right now.

Downsize DC Conference Call – February 24, 2008

Today’s Downsizer Dispatch . . .::::::Change the political environment. Recruit more Downsizers. Share this message with others.::::::Quote of the Day:::::::“It will be necessary for us to be a nation of men, and not laws.”:::— Vice President Richard Cheney, reacting to the 9-11 attack (reported on “Frontline”)::::::Subject: The Fear Merchants::::::Since 9/11/2001 some of our politicians have been in the business of selling fear. The profit they have gained from this business has come in the form of vast new powers and massive new resources with which to reward friends and punish opponents. ::::::Other politicians, while not participating in the fear business directly, have nevertheless failed to do all that they could to oppose the fear merchants. They have been passive, out of a fear of their own, that they would be blamed for the next terrorist attack when it comes. ::::::But the next terrorist attack has not happened yet, and so the sales pitch for fear has grown tiring. Fortunately, some in Congress have started to resist. The biggest example of this so far was the decision of the House Democratic leadership to allow the “Protect America Act” to sunset out of existence. ::::::We have applauded and supported this decision, and must continue to do so, because . . .

When you read words like “Maverick,” “straight talk,” and “reformer,” what or who comes to mind?
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:::Well, we’re going to talk about him on today’s (Sunday) Downsize DC Conference Call, my two-hour RADIO show. Appearances can be deceiving.
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:::I have different words in mind — “appearance of corruption.” These words are seminal to our modern campaign finance laws.
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:::The Maverick thinks the rules apply only to you.
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:::The media plays along.
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:::How is this possible?
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:::Will the media continue their farce indefinitely? …or is the Maverick doomed? 
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:::ONLY on my entertaining and educational radio show will you discover the answers. If you listen today, starting at 3:06 PM Eastern (2:06 PM Central, 1:06 PM Mountain, and 12:06 PM Pacific), you’ll have that delightful Eureka experience — that Ah-Ha! moment of new insight.
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:::Also, I’m going to be joined, for but a half-hour, probably right in the middle of the program, by Lisa Graves of the Center for National Security Studies.
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:::CNSS has been one of more than 20 coalition partners, with DownsizeDC.org, as we’ve fought, since the summer of 2006, to stave off things like warrantless surveillance and telecom immunity. For the most part,

Campus shootings again? Jack Mullen is my go-to guest here. He’s a gun enthusiast who understands the need for these tools. He’s also a father of a late son with a severe mental illness. We previewed this episode here.::::::The Gun Owners of America Update was about the Heller vs DC case. :::

This episode was about the future after Ron Paul’s campaign. When we polled our members last Summer, 80% of them indicated they were supporting Paul. And our declining levels of financial support proved it. ::::::I WILL (probably) AIR THIS EPISODE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. I believe it’s that important. ::::::The key concept discussed was “friction.” DownsizeDC.org, as compared to political campaigns, has lower friction. We also discussed the trap of zero sum games — particularly in the final segment of the show. All political campaigns are zero sum. ::::::To discover why friction and zero sum matter, please click on the “attachments” — mp3 versions of hours one and two of the show. ::::::My thanks as always to Gun Owners of America for their sponsorship.

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::Media Alert: Jim Babka will be on Straight Talk with Jerry Hughes at 3 PM Eastern today. See below the signature for details on how you can listen.
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:::Subject: Don’t even know what they’re voting for
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:::Last week the Senate passed the Conference Report of the 137-page Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2082). The big media story about the bill is its ban on waterboarding, which will apparently prompt a Presidential veto.
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:::If so, President Bush would veto the bill for the worst possible reason, but it may give Congress a fresh start. The problem with H.R. 2082 is that it could just as well be called the Don’t Read the Bill Act. Or maybe, the Not Really a Bill Act.
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:::You see, the bill authorizes funding for the federal government’s various intelligence agencies, but it doesn’t tell us the amount that will be spent.

Better late than never. “Attached” to this post are the mp3s — one for hour 1 and one for hour 2.::::::Jack Mullen, Chairman of the Downsize DC Foundation, radio station owner, and entrepreneur (currently building a free service for file storage www.FileMojo.com), is also an investor who follows the markets closely. ::::::This episode was an attempt to prepare DC Downsizers for the coming economic earthquake. ::::::As always, the show was sponsored by DownsizeDC.org and Gun Owners of America.

OK, I’m behind on getting these archived episodes published. I’m sorry. “Attached” to this post are the mp3s — one for hour 1 and one for hour 2. ::::::This episode was the debut of the two hour version of my show. It was different, for sure. But it was more relaxing. I always used to feel we couldn’t delve as deeply as I wanted to with the shorter show, and the constant interruptions. ::::::My main topic was the things that matter most” if we want to Downsize DC.::::::As always, the show was sponsored by DownsizeDC.org and Gun Owners of America.:::