Yearly Archives: 2009

Quote of the Day: “The ground of liberty must be gained by inches.” — Thomas Jefferson (Source: cover of “Liberty” magazine, March 1998)

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Subject: We’re off to a roaring start

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We grew from 24,000 DC Downsizers to 25,000 in 176 days. Then we grew from 25,000 to 26,000 in just 59 days. Now, in just 8 days, part of which covers a holiday weekend, we’re already 50% of the way between 26,000 and 27,000. Incredible.

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We’re also 36% of the way to exceeding the number of new people who registered to use our Educate the Powerful System in June,

Media Alert: Tuesday, 7:10 AM Central, Downsize DC President Jim Babka will be on The Morning Big Show with Mike Cope and James Williams, KXYL, 96.9FM in Brownwood Texas. The live audio does not stream to the Net, but we’re told the interview will be posted to on the KXYL website after the fact. http://www.wendleebroadcasting.com/NT969.html

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Quote of the Day: “Bureaucracy, the rule of no one, has become the modern form of despotism” – Mary McCarthy

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Subject: When bureaucrats rewrite the law

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) has proposed a ruling that would re-define “switchblade” to include all pocket knives that can be opened with one hand. In doing so, they are arbitrarily reversing their own previous rulings. Worse, they are ignoring Congressional intent, will throw thousands out of work, endanger tradesmen and outdoorsmen, and make potential felons of tens of millions of Americans. It is just the latest reason we must pass the Write the Laws Act and prevent unelected bureaucrats from making law.

DownsizeDC.org President Jim Babka appeared on Freedom Watch With the Judge yesterday. Jim comes in by phone at around the 8:00 mark of the 5th segment and all of the sixth. You can watch the show here.

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Quote of the Day: “It [the Declaration of Independence] is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God, it shall be my dying sentiment. Independence now, and independence forever.” – Daniel Webster, in an August 2, 1826 eulogy to Thomas Jefferson and John Adams; both had died on July 4th.

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Subject: Does the government have your consent on this July 4th?

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Every Election Day tens of millions of Americans consent to be governed, at least in theory. The politicians constantly point back to the election as justification for the things they do. But is this really valid? What about all the people who now feel betrayed by the office-holder? What about all the people who…

Quote of the Day: “God is always on the side of the big battalions.” – ?? (sometimes ascribed to Voltaire, Napoleon, or others)

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Subject: You Grew the Downsize DC Army by 1,000 Net Members in Just 59 Days

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At DownsizeDC.org, you’re a MEMBER of our Army if you’re a SUBSCRIBER to our list. MEMBER = SUBSCRIBER.

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The subscription count has always been our most important number. The PRIMARY goal of DownsizeDC.org is to build an army.

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Not everyone visiting our site gets that. Some people look at DownsizeDC.org and go, “Oh, lobbying – that’s been done before.” But no one has done it like DownsizeDC.org!

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Sure, we enter every battle wanting to win; but we’re much more focused on emerging bigger and stronger than we were before we entered a particular fight. Why? Because victory tends to go the side with the bigger battalions. 

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We want to build our army so large that Congress cannot afford to ignore you… so big, that we (you and I) can get our message of smaller, Constitutionally-limited government out to everyone, everywhere, every day.

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The bigger the army, the larger YOUR voice is. That’s why we’re thrilled to report that this most important number of all numbers just reached another milestone.

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It took us

Quote of the Day: “Nobody can acquire honor by doing what is wrong” – Thomas Jefferson

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Subject: A Matter of Honor

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The overwhelming majority of Americans agree that Congress should read the bills they pass. Our mission is to tell them about DownsizeDC.org’s Read the Bills Act (RTBA). If we overwhelm Congress with demands to pass RTBA, Congress will have no choice but to follow our orders.

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Directly inspired by DownsizeDC.org, California businessman Jerrol LeBaron has the idea that his state legislators should also be required to read the bills.

PUBLIC APPEARANCES: On Thursday, July 2, and Saturday, July 4, Downsize DC President, Jim Babka, will be speaking at Tea Parties in Ohio. Details below the signature.

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Quote of the Day: “First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. And then they attack you and want to burn you. And then they build monuments to you.” – Mahatma Gandhi

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Subject: Helping the Mad Hatters Understand the Tea Party Phenomenon

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In April, a large number of well-attended Tea Parties drove the media mad. The movement has grown, and we can tell that these displays matter because the Mad Hatters aren’t ignoring them.

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* On air personalities with maturity-levels rivaling Beavis and Butthead could not resist the juvenile references of calling the attendees “Teabaggers,” which according to the Urban Dictionary is a sexual act. Gee, weren’t they clever?
:::* Other alleged reporters sought to portray the attendees as uncontrollable nut jobs who didn’t realize all this spending was good for them.  
:::* A Hollywood celebrity joined in the fun, labeling attendees small-brained, delusional people with a racist vendetta.

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As you can see, far from ignoring you, they’ve put your Tea Parties in Gandhi’s ridicule stage… verging on the attack and burn stage.

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Your Tea Parties are driving the media mad as a hatter. But if these rallies keep building, someday the Mad Hatters will be building monuments to you.  

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Here at DownsizeDC.org,

Quote of the Day: “When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl!” — Brad Templeton

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Subject: Goals and deadlines – Plus, House May Vote on Cap & Trade today!

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Constant progress means inevitable success. If we relentlessly increase…

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* The size of our army
:::* The amount of pressure we exert on Congress
:::* The amount of funding we have available to do outreach, education, and recruitment

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…then we cannot help but reach the point where we can overwhelm Congress and make our message heard by everyone, everywhere, every day

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Toward this end we strive to consistently accomplish more each month than we did the previous month. We have 3 work days left in June, so it’s time to bear down and make sure we meet our goals for the month. Here’s where we stand…

We received the following announcement:

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A panel of more than 20 distinguished physicians will talk will lead a discussion of doctors logging on from across the country for an unprecedented live National Physician Town Meeting.  They will tell specific stories of the negative impact on their practices & patients.

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A panel of more than 20 distinguished physicians will talk will lead a discussion of doctors logging on from across the country for an unprecedented live

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National Physician Town Meeting.  They will tell specific stories of the negative impact on their practices & patients.

Quote of the Day: “Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.” – P.J. O’Rourke

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Subject: Good offense is good defense

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When we tell Congress not to pass their planned health care legislation we’re playing good defense, but when we ask Congress to pass legislation that would help restore free market health care, we’re playing good offense and defense at the same time. This is very important to recognize…

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Saying YES to free market health care is the same as saying NO to further government meddling in health care.