Many of you have called or emailed asking if we are aware of the following story that broke this week. The story is that the FBI, through the FBI Citizens Academy gave a behind the scenes tour of the National Counterrorism Center to a known Hamas operative. We are aware of it and are checking into it. If this is true it is troubling but not surprising. This is the type of outreach that several federal agencies have been doing for some time now that shows a lack of discernment of the difference between Islamic and Islamist groups. We have found almost universal illiteracy withing the federal bureaucracy, law enforcement and military ranks as to the danger of outreaching to Islamist groups. Without this discernment, we are creating a clear and present danger to our national security. This is exactly why we held a round table last week with non Islamist Muslim groups in DC, to start educating the federal government agencies that those are the groups their Muslim outreach should be targeting, not the Islamist groups. Until they get this point, they will keep making mistakes like this FBI tour made. Will keep you posted as much as I can about what we find out about this situation. If you have not seen the original story I am referencing please check out the link below. Patrick Poole did a good job breaking this story. As a disclaimer, I too am a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy.
http://bigpeace.com/pspoole/2010/09/27/fbi-escorts-known-hamas-operative-through-top-secret-national-counterterrorism-center-as-outreach-to-muslim-community/
Sep 30, 2010
al-Qaida in the House?
In case you never saw this, the following article from IPT includes a video clip of Anwar al-Awlaki, the now famous Yemen cleric linked to two of the 9/11 hijackers, the Times Square Bomber, the Fort Hood shooter (Major Hasan), and who knows how many other would be jihadists, leading a prayer service back in 2001. Reminder: al-Awlaki is now considered to be the spokesperson and chief propagandist for al-Qaida of the Arabian Peninsula and is reportedly on the US hit list of terrorist individuals.
The service was in the basement of the US Capitol Building.
Read the accompanying article too please, as it points out a couple of other notable individuals spotted at the service.
Sep 28, 2010
GOP Job Openings in Washington, DC
HOUSE GOP JOB LIST
Compiled and distributed by Patrick Baugh, Financial Administrator for Cong. Anh "Joseph" Cao, John Fleming, Bob Goodlatte, Duncan Hunter, Lynn Jenkins, Jerry Moran, Tim Murphy, Sue Myrick, Pete Olson & Erik Paulsen.
September 27, 2010
Scheduler - Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) is seeking a Scheduler. Candidates must be extremely organized and have demonstrated ability to follow through on assignments in a timely manner; work well in a fast-paced environment under pressure; and be able to successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: managing incoming scheduling requests, scheduling the Congresswoman’s DC and District meetings and events, arranging flights and other travel for the Congresswoman, and submitting the Congresswoman’s expenses for reimbursement. Previous full-time Hill experience is required (does not include internships). Please send resume to granger.staff@hotmail.com with “Scheduler Opening” in the subject line. No calls, faxes, or drop-ins, please.
September 20, 2010
Military Legislative Assistant – A Republican Member of the House Armed Service Committee and Veterans’ Affairs Committee seeks a Military Legislative Assistant to handle his military and veterans’ affairs portfolio. Primary responsibilities include preparing member for committee hearings/briefings/mark-ups and floor activities, developing and managing legislative initiatives, tracking legislation, constituent correspondence, and representing the Member in meetings with interested parties. Candidate must be a team player and a self-starter willing to work in a fast-paced environment. Candidates must have prior experience as a military legislative assistant and/or military service. Colorado ties a plus. Applicant Instructions: Please e-mail resume, references and cover letter to Kristine.Michalson@mail.house.gov.
Scheduling Intern - Senator Scott Brown’s Washington D.C. office is immediately seeking a full-time intern to serve in the scheduling department. Candidates must have excellent people skills and must be courteous, detail-oriented, extremely organized and committed to confidentiality at all times. Previous scheduling experience or Massachusetts ties are strongly preferred but not required. This internship is unpaid, and applicants should be available through December. Please send resume and cover letter to scottpbrownresumes@gmail.com with “Scheduling Internship” in the subject line.
Fall interns - Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-09) is currently accepting applications from current college students or recent college graduates wishing to gain experience in a fast-paced office for a full-time or part-time fall semester internship. We are seeking applicants with strong organizational and interpersonal skills, and a high degree of professionalism. In addition to supporting the legislative and administrative staff with day-to-day activities, interns will conduct Capitol tours, attend legislative briefings, assist with constituent calls and requests, process incoming mail, and conduct legislative research. The internship is unpaid, but students will have an opportunity to earn college credit and gain valuable Capitol Hill experience. Florida and district ties are preferred but not required. Interested applicants should e-mail a resume and cover letter to Tim.Tracy@mail.house.gov with ‘Fall Internship’ in the subject. No Calls, Faxes or Drop-Ins.
September 20, 2010
Spring Interns - Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) is looking for spring interns for his Washington DC office. Applicants should possess conservative values, be personable, and have strong writing skills. Duties include administrative tasks, attending hearings, leading capitol tours for constituents, and helping legislative staff with research on important projects. There will also be an opportunity to work on issues that interest him or her. Position is great for Capitol Hill experience. Start and end dates are negotiable but preferably December start dates. Both part/full-time positions are available. Interested applicants should send resume and brief cover letter summarizing their interest in working for Rep. Graves to Caitlin.Callahan@mail.house.gov with “Spring Internship” as the subject.
Internship - Congressman Steve Austria (R-OH-7) has an immediate opening for a fall intern in his Washington, DC office. This internship will provide the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in a Congressional office and a greater understanding of the legislative process. Intern responsibilities generally include answering phones, logging and drafting constituent correspondence, conducting tours of the U.S. Capitol building, attending briefings and hearings, and aiding staff with various projects. The ideal candidate will be detail oriented and possess strong written and oral communications skills. Interns must be available to work 3 – 5 full days per week. Ohio ties are preferred, but not required. Interested candidates should send a brief cover letter and resume (including grade level, major and cumulative GPA) to Intern.OH07@gmail.com.
September 16, 2010
Internship – Congressman Roscoe Bartlett’s Frederick District Office is currently seeking internship applicants with a good work ethic to start immediately for the fall semester. This internship provides an opportunity to observe and interact with the inner-workings of a Congressional office, as well as provide learning opportunities though assisting office staff with various duties and projects. Interested parties should send a resume, cover letter, references, and a writing sample to Ashley.Collier@mail.house.gov. Frederick ties preferred but not required.
September 2, 2010
Legislative Correspondent - Conservative Republican Member of Congress seeks an experienced Legislative Correspondent for their DC office. Primary responsibilities include running a high volume constituent mail operation; implementing an unsolicited mail/outreach program; editing and writing constituent letters; and handling a small portfolio of legislative issues. Ideal candidates will have one year of Capitol Hill experience, excellent writing skills, and Internet Quorum (IQ) expertise. Please send a cover letter, resume, and two short writing samples to goplcposition@gmail.com.
Fall Interns – Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) is currently seeking fall interns with conservative values for his Washington, DC office. Interns will be responsible for maintaining general office duties including answering phones and sorting mail, conducting tours within the U.S. Capitol complex, assisting staff with office correspondence, attending legislative briefings, conducting research and other projects delegated by staff. Attention to detail and professionalism are highly valued. Wisconsin ties preferred but not required. This is an excellent opportunity for current college students or recent graduates interested in obtaining Capitol Hill experience. Interested candidates should direct their cover letter and resume to WI05Internships@gmail.com with Fall Internship in the subject line. No phone calls or drop-ins please.
Fall internship - Congressman Frank Lucas (R – OK) is seeking unpaid fall interns starting in September. Main responsibilities include answering phones, drafting letters, researching legislative issues, attending meetings/hearings as needed and giving tours of the Capitol. This is a great opportunity for those who are looking for experience in the legislative branch. Please send cover letter and resume to john.porter@mail.house.gov or fax to (202)225-8698.
Intern - The office of Congressman John Shadegg (AZ-03) is seeking candidates for internships starting immediately in his Washington, DC office. Applicants should have excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work diligently and upon instruction in a fast-paced work environment. The ideal candidates will be personable, detail oriented, and able to interact well with constituents. The intern will have the opportunity to interact with the legislative staff, learn about the legislative process on Capitol Hill, and attend briefings of interest. Responsibilities include answering the phone, giving tours of the Capitol, assisting with constituent correspondence, and supporting the legislative staff on various projects. Interested candidates should e-mail a resume and cover letter to az03internship@gmail.com .
Interns - Rep. Vern Buchanan’s D.C. office is seeking several interns to start working as soon as possible for the fall semester. Interns must be current college students or recent graduates. This unpaid internship will offer the opportunity to attend congressional hearings, assist with correspondence and legislative work, and network with congressional staff. Ideal candidates will demonstrate trustworthiness, good communication skills, a strong work ethic, and conservative values. Please email a resume and cover letter to Interndcfl13@ymail.com . Please note your dates and times of availability. We can accommodate part-time schedules and academic credit programs, but preference will be given to applicants who are available full-time.
Interns - Midwestern Republican member’s Washington DC office is seeking unpaid intern applicants for the fall 2010 semester. Interns can expect wide-ranging opportunities to explore the legislative branch and enrich their understanding of the Federal government. A typical day of work can include: basic administrative tasks, giving tours, constituent correspondence, legislative research, hearing attendance, and otherwise assisting the staff as required. Successful applicants will have good interpersonal skills, a strong grasp of written language, and a positive work ethic. Priority will be given to Illinois applicants. Cover letter, resume, and a short writing sample should be sent to matt.leighton@mail.house.gov. Please include “Internship” in the subject line.
Compiled and distributed by Patrick Baugh, Financial Administrator for Cong. Anh "Joseph" Cao, John Fleming, Bob Goodlatte, Duncan Hunter, Lynn Jenkins, Jerry Moran, Tim Murphy, Sue Myrick, Pete Olson & Erik Paulsen.
September 27, 2010
Scheduler - Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) is seeking a Scheduler. Candidates must be extremely organized and have demonstrated ability to follow through on assignments in a timely manner; work well in a fast-paced environment under pressure; and be able to successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: managing incoming scheduling requests, scheduling the Congresswoman’s DC and District meetings and events, arranging flights and other travel for the Congresswoman, and submitting the Congresswoman’s expenses for reimbursement. Previous full-time Hill experience is required (does not include internships). Please send resume to granger.staff@hotmail.com with “Scheduler Opening” in the subject line. No calls, faxes, or drop-ins, please.
September 20, 2010
Military Legislative Assistant – A Republican Member of the House Armed Service Committee and Veterans’ Affairs Committee seeks a Military Legislative Assistant to handle his military and veterans’ affairs portfolio. Primary responsibilities include preparing member for committee hearings/briefings/mark-ups and floor activities, developing and managing legislative initiatives, tracking legislation, constituent correspondence, and representing the Member in meetings with interested parties. Candidate must be a team player and a self-starter willing to work in a fast-paced environment. Candidates must have prior experience as a military legislative assistant and/or military service. Colorado ties a plus. Applicant Instructions: Please e-mail resume, references and cover letter to Kristine.Michalson@mail.house.gov.
Scheduling Intern - Senator Scott Brown’s Washington D.C. office is immediately seeking a full-time intern to serve in the scheduling department. Candidates must have excellent people skills and must be courteous, detail-oriented, extremely organized and committed to confidentiality at all times. Previous scheduling experience or Massachusetts ties are strongly preferred but not required. This internship is unpaid, and applicants should be available through December. Please send resume and cover letter to scottpbrownresumes@gmail.com with “Scheduling Internship” in the subject line.
Fall interns - Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-09) is currently accepting applications from current college students or recent college graduates wishing to gain experience in a fast-paced office for a full-time or part-time fall semester internship. We are seeking applicants with strong organizational and interpersonal skills, and a high degree of professionalism. In addition to supporting the legislative and administrative staff with day-to-day activities, interns will conduct Capitol tours, attend legislative briefings, assist with constituent calls and requests, process incoming mail, and conduct legislative research. The internship is unpaid, but students will have an opportunity to earn college credit and gain valuable Capitol Hill experience. Florida and district ties are preferred but not required. Interested applicants should e-mail a resume and cover letter to Tim.Tracy@mail.house.gov with ‘Fall Internship’ in the subject. No Calls, Faxes or Drop-Ins.
September 20, 2010
Spring Interns - Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) is looking for spring interns for his Washington DC office. Applicants should possess conservative values, be personable, and have strong writing skills. Duties include administrative tasks, attending hearings, leading capitol tours for constituents, and helping legislative staff with research on important projects. There will also be an opportunity to work on issues that interest him or her. Position is great for Capitol Hill experience. Start and end dates are negotiable but preferably December start dates. Both part/full-time positions are available. Interested applicants should send resume and brief cover letter summarizing their interest in working for Rep. Graves to Caitlin.Callahan@mail.house.gov with “Spring Internship” as the subject.
Internship - Congressman Steve Austria (R-OH-7) has an immediate opening for a fall intern in his Washington, DC office. This internship will provide the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in a Congressional office and a greater understanding of the legislative process. Intern responsibilities generally include answering phones, logging and drafting constituent correspondence, conducting tours of the U.S. Capitol building, attending briefings and hearings, and aiding staff with various projects. The ideal candidate will be detail oriented and possess strong written and oral communications skills. Interns must be available to work 3 – 5 full days per week. Ohio ties are preferred, but not required. Interested candidates should send a brief cover letter and resume (including grade level, major and cumulative GPA) to Intern.OH07@gmail.com.
September 16, 2010
Internship – Congressman Roscoe Bartlett’s Frederick District Office is currently seeking internship applicants with a good work ethic to start immediately for the fall semester. This internship provides an opportunity to observe and interact with the inner-workings of a Congressional office, as well as provide learning opportunities though assisting office staff with various duties and projects. Interested parties should send a resume, cover letter, references, and a writing sample to Ashley.Collier@mail.house.gov. Frederick ties preferred but not required.
September 2, 2010
Legislative Correspondent - Conservative Republican Member of Congress seeks an experienced Legislative Correspondent for their DC office. Primary responsibilities include running a high volume constituent mail operation; implementing an unsolicited mail/outreach program; editing and writing constituent letters; and handling a small portfolio of legislative issues. Ideal candidates will have one year of Capitol Hill experience, excellent writing skills, and Internet Quorum (IQ) expertise. Please send a cover letter, resume, and two short writing samples to goplcposition@gmail.com.
Fall Interns – Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) is currently seeking fall interns with conservative values for his Washington, DC office. Interns will be responsible for maintaining general office duties including answering phones and sorting mail, conducting tours within the U.S. Capitol complex, assisting staff with office correspondence, attending legislative briefings, conducting research and other projects delegated by staff. Attention to detail and professionalism are highly valued. Wisconsin ties preferred but not required. This is an excellent opportunity for current college students or recent graduates interested in obtaining Capitol Hill experience. Interested candidates should direct their cover letter and resume to WI05Internships@gmail.com with Fall Internship in the subject line. No phone calls or drop-ins please.
Fall internship - Congressman Frank Lucas (R – OK) is seeking unpaid fall interns starting in September. Main responsibilities include answering phones, drafting letters, researching legislative issues, attending meetings/hearings as needed and giving tours of the Capitol. This is a great opportunity for those who are looking for experience in the legislative branch. Please send cover letter and resume to john.porter@mail.house.gov or fax to (202)225-8698.
Intern - The office of Congressman John Shadegg (AZ-03) is seeking candidates for internships starting immediately in his Washington, DC office. Applicants should have excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work diligently and upon instruction in a fast-paced work environment. The ideal candidates will be personable, detail oriented, and able to interact well with constituents. The intern will have the opportunity to interact with the legislative staff, learn about the legislative process on Capitol Hill, and attend briefings of interest. Responsibilities include answering the phone, giving tours of the Capitol, assisting with constituent correspondence, and supporting the legislative staff on various projects. Interested candidates should e-mail a resume and cover letter to az03internship@gmail.com .
Interns - Rep. Vern Buchanan’s D.C. office is seeking several interns to start working as soon as possible for the fall semester. Interns must be current college students or recent graduates. This unpaid internship will offer the opportunity to attend congressional hearings, assist with correspondence and legislative work, and network with congressional staff. Ideal candidates will demonstrate trustworthiness, good communication skills, a strong work ethic, and conservative values. Please email a resume and cover letter to Interndcfl13@ymail.com . Please note your dates and times of availability. We can accommodate part-time schedules and academic credit programs, but preference will be given to applicants who are available full-time.
Interns - Midwestern Republican member’s Washington DC office is seeking unpaid intern applicants for the fall 2010 semester. Interns can expect wide-ranging opportunities to explore the legislative branch and enrich their understanding of the Federal government. A typical day of work can include: basic administrative tasks, giving tours, constituent correspondence, legislative research, hearing attendance, and otherwise assisting the staff as required. Successful applicants will have good interpersonal skills, a strong grasp of written language, and a positive work ethic. Priority will be given to Illinois applicants. Cover letter, resume, and a short writing sample should be sent to matt.leighton@mail.house.gov. Please include “Internship” in the subject line.
Sep 27, 2010
Connect the Dots
Enjoyed presenting Connect the Dots last night in Charlotte to a good group of concerned citizens. Many thanks to my host. Good conversation during and afterward and more opportunities will come from it.
Ahmedinejad and The 12th Imam
We have blogged before about Iranian President Ahmedinejad and his views on the return of the 12th Imam (Mahdi). This past week he spoke with Fox News about the event. In case you missed it, here is the brief video:http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=475761781014
Sep 26, 2010
Connect the Dots Presentation Tonight (Sunday, September 26th)
For those of you who have requested to know dates and times for the Connect the Dots presentation, I have another one tonight, Sunday, September 26th in the South Charlotte area. Starts at 7:00 pm. If you are interested email me at hweatherman@hotmail.com and I will happy to send you the details.
Sep 25, 2010
Sue Myrick Campaign Kickoff Photos
Sue with State Rep. candidate Bill Brawley. Long time friend of Sue and crew.
Sue and County Commission candidate and our friend Corey Thompson
A great and enthusiastic crowd. Hungry too.
Sue greets Mecklenburg Sheriff candidate Chris Hailey
Pat and Hal
Muslim Brotherhood Panel Discussion
For those of you who have attended a Connect the Dots presentation, the following video will resonate well with you. Great linear overview of the nature of the threat posed by the rise of the non-violent Islamist movement in America. Please watch an share with your elected officials at all levels.
Sue Myrick Kicks Off Campaign Today
We expect a great crowd today for our kickoff event. The event is today (Saturday, Sept 25) at noon at the Reid House in downtown Matthews. Go to http://www.suemyrick.com/ for details and to RSVP. Hope to see you there.
Sep 22, 2010
Speech to Charlotte Christian Moms
Had a wonderful time last night at Providence Country Club with a new group of Charlotte Christian moms (and their husbands). Presented the Connect the Dots presentation and then took questions. We went very long, but I am encouraged by their interest and enthusiasm to do something. Gives me hope.
Sep 21, 2010
Tea and Me
I will be speaking at a Eastern North Carolina Tea Party Get Out the Vote Rally on Oct 2nd in Little Washington (2:00 - 4:00 pm rally time). I will be covering illegal immigration and terrorism issues in my remarks. For those of you whom I've recently met down East, come on out. I look forward to seeing you. Supposed to be a fairly large event.
Sep 19, 2010
Politic-ing with Pendergraph
We attended a fundraising event last night with our good friend Jim Pendergraph who is running for Mecklenburg County Commissioner. As many of you know, Sue and Jim worked very close together on fighting illegal immigration when Jim was Sheriff. Let's hope he wins and can help clean up the county government!
Sep 18, 2010
Code Words For Amnesty
In light of Sen. Reid's announcement this week to push for Amnesty, Sue Myrick has released the following video: http://www.youtube.com/Suemyrick4congress
New Job Search Leads on Capitol Hill
HOUSE GOP JOB LIST
This e-mail will be distributed twice weekly. Compiled and distributed by Patrick Baugh, Financial Administrator for Cong. Anh "Joseph" Cao, John Fleming, Bob Goodlatte, Duncan Hunter, Lynn Jenkins, Jerry Moran, Tim Murphy, Sue Myrick, Pete Olson & Erik Paulsen.
September 16, 2010
Press Secretary - Senior Republican member of House Energy & Commerce Committee has immediate opening for press secretary. Seeking candidate with superior writing skills, energy, and initiative – a self-starter who is politically astute and can quickly master a range of issues and situations and articulate and deliver focused messages. Candidate should have experience as a press secretary in a government, political or business environment. This is a senior level position in the office, and only candidates with appropriate experience and credentials should apply. Please send resumes to Houseofrep.jobs@mail.house.gov
Internship – Congressman Roscoe Bartlett’s Frederick District Office is currently seeking internship applicants with a good work ethic to start immediately for the fall semester. This internship provides an opportunity to observe and interact with the inner-workings of a Congressional office, as well as provide learning opportunities though assisting office staff with various duties and projects. Interested parties should send a resume, cover letter, references, and a writing sample to Ashley.Collier@mail.house.gov. Frederick ties preferred but not required.
September 7, 2010
Floor Monitor - Senate Republican Leadership office seeks a Floor Monitor to monitor all floor proceedings in the U.S. Senate and provide specific procedural updates to Senators and staff in relation to floor speeches, votes, Senate scheduling and details with respect to consent agreements between the Senate Majority Leader and Minority Leader that impact Senate proceedings. The floor monitor also provides support to Senators and staff as requested, including periodical inquiries and interpretations of the parliamentary situation on the Senate floor as well as assisting in the development of various briefing materials supporting Senate Republican Leadership. This is an entry to mid-level position. Strong communication and organizational skills needed. Salary is commensurate with experience. Interested candidates should send cover letter and resume to srcresumes@src.senate.gov.
September 2, 2010
Legislative Correspondent - Conservative Republican Member of Congress seeks an experienced Legislative Correspondent for their DC office. Primary responsibilities include running a high volume constituent mail operation; implementing an unsolicited mail/outreach program; editing and writing constituent letters; and handling a small portfolio of legislative issues. Ideal candidates will have one year of Capitol Hill experience, excellent writing skills, and Internet Quorum (IQ) expertise. Please send a cover letter, resume, and two short writing samples to goplcposition@gmail.com.
Constituent Services Assistant – The Medford District Office of Greg Walden (OR-02) seeks a Constituent Services Assistant to handle a broad portfolio including front desk reception; answering constituent questions and dispatching casework; coordinating the district calendar and booking travel reservations for Congressman Walden and district staff; maintaining office equipment and inventory; managing the local internship program; and other various clerical, administrative, travel, and research duties. Must be highly organized and detail oriented, able to manage multiple tasks with consistent follow-through on long term activities, have strong verbal and written communication skills, and be a team player who is flexible in meeting the changing needs of a busy office. Submit inquiries to rob.patridge@mail.house.gov.
Fall Interns – Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) is currently seeking fall interns with conservative values for his Washington, DC office. Interns will be responsible for maintaining general office duties including answering phones and sorting mail, conducting tours within the U.S. Capitol complex, assisting staff with office correspondence, attending legislative briefings, conducting research and other projects delegated by staff. Attention to detail and professionalism are highly valued. Wisconsin ties preferred but not required. This is an excellent opportunity for current college students or recent graduates interested in obtaining Capitol Hill experience. Interested candidates should direct their cover letter and resume to WI05Internships@gmail.com with Fall Internship in the subject line. No phone calls or drop-ins please.
Fall internship - Congressman Frank Lucas (R – OK) is seeking unpaid fall interns starting in September. Main responsibilities include answering phones, drafting letters, researching legislative issues, attending meetings/hearings as needed and giving tours of the Capitol. This is a great opportunity for those who are looking for experience in the legislative branch. Please send cover letter and resume to john.porter@mail.house.gov or fax to (202)225-8698.
Intern - The office of Congressman John Shadegg (AZ-03) is seeking candidates for internships starting immediately in his Washington, DC office. Applicants should have excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work diligently and upon instruction in a fast-paced work environment. The ideal candidates will be personable, detail oriented, and able to interact well with constituents. The intern will have the opportunity to interact with the legislative staff, learn about the legislative process on Capitol Hill, and attend briefings of interest. Responsibilities include answering the phone, giving tours of the Capitol, assisting with constituent correspondence, and supporting the legislative staff on various projects. Interested candidates should e-mail a resume and cover letter to az03internship@gmail.com .
Interns - Rep. Vern Buchanan’s D.C. office is seeking several interns to start working as soon as possible for the fall semester. Interns must be current college students or recent graduates. This unpaid internship will offer the opportunity to attend congressional hearings, assist with correspondence and legislative work, and network with congressional staff. Ideal candidates will demonstrate trustworthiness, good communication skills, a strong work ethic, and conservative values. Please email a resume and cover letter to Interndcfl13@ymail.com . Please note your dates and times of availability. We can accommodate part-time schedules and academic credit programs, but preference will be given to applicants who are available full-time.
Interns - Midwestern Republican member’s Washington DC office is seeking unpaid intern applicants for the fall 2010 semester. Interns can expect wide-ranging opportunities to explore the legislative branch and enrich their understanding of the Federal government. A typical day of work can include: basic administrative tasks, giving tours, constituent correspondence, legislative research, hearing attendance, and otherwise assisting the staff as required. Successful applicants will have good interpersonal skills, a strong grasp of written language, and a positive work ethic. Priority will be given to Illinois applicants. Cover letter, resume, and a short writing sample should be sent to matt.leighton@mail.house.gov. Please include “Internship” in the subject line.
This e-mail will be distributed twice weekly. Compiled and distributed by Patrick Baugh, Financial Administrator for Cong. Anh "Joseph" Cao, John Fleming, Bob Goodlatte, Duncan Hunter, Lynn Jenkins, Jerry Moran, Tim Murphy, Sue Myrick, Pete Olson & Erik Paulsen.
September 16, 2010
Press Secretary - Senior Republican member of House Energy & Commerce Committee has immediate opening for press secretary. Seeking candidate with superior writing skills, energy, and initiative – a self-starter who is politically astute and can quickly master a range of issues and situations and articulate and deliver focused messages. Candidate should have experience as a press secretary in a government, political or business environment. This is a senior level position in the office, and only candidates with appropriate experience and credentials should apply. Please send resumes to Houseofrep.jobs@mail.house.gov
Internship – Congressman Roscoe Bartlett’s Frederick District Office is currently seeking internship applicants with a good work ethic to start immediately for the fall semester. This internship provides an opportunity to observe and interact with the inner-workings of a Congressional office, as well as provide learning opportunities though assisting office staff with various duties and projects. Interested parties should send a resume, cover letter, references, and a writing sample to Ashley.Collier@mail.house.gov. Frederick ties preferred but not required.
September 7, 2010
Floor Monitor - Senate Republican Leadership office seeks a Floor Monitor to monitor all floor proceedings in the U.S. Senate and provide specific procedural updates to Senators and staff in relation to floor speeches, votes, Senate scheduling and details with respect to consent agreements between the Senate Majority Leader and Minority Leader that impact Senate proceedings. The floor monitor also provides support to Senators and staff as requested, including periodical inquiries and interpretations of the parliamentary situation on the Senate floor as well as assisting in the development of various briefing materials supporting Senate Republican Leadership. This is an entry to mid-level position. Strong communication and organizational skills needed. Salary is commensurate with experience. Interested candidates should send cover letter and resume to srcresumes@src.senate.gov.
September 2, 2010
Legislative Correspondent - Conservative Republican Member of Congress seeks an experienced Legislative Correspondent for their DC office. Primary responsibilities include running a high volume constituent mail operation; implementing an unsolicited mail/outreach program; editing and writing constituent letters; and handling a small portfolio of legislative issues. Ideal candidates will have one year of Capitol Hill experience, excellent writing skills, and Internet Quorum (IQ) expertise. Please send a cover letter, resume, and two short writing samples to goplcposition@gmail.com.
Constituent Services Assistant – The Medford District Office of Greg Walden (OR-02) seeks a Constituent Services Assistant to handle a broad portfolio including front desk reception; answering constituent questions and dispatching casework; coordinating the district calendar and booking travel reservations for Congressman Walden and district staff; maintaining office equipment and inventory; managing the local internship program; and other various clerical, administrative, travel, and research duties. Must be highly organized and detail oriented, able to manage multiple tasks with consistent follow-through on long term activities, have strong verbal and written communication skills, and be a team player who is flexible in meeting the changing needs of a busy office. Submit inquiries to rob.patridge@mail.house.gov.
Fall Interns – Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) is currently seeking fall interns with conservative values for his Washington, DC office. Interns will be responsible for maintaining general office duties including answering phones and sorting mail, conducting tours within the U.S. Capitol complex, assisting staff with office correspondence, attending legislative briefings, conducting research and other projects delegated by staff. Attention to detail and professionalism are highly valued. Wisconsin ties preferred but not required. This is an excellent opportunity for current college students or recent graduates interested in obtaining Capitol Hill experience. Interested candidates should direct their cover letter and resume to WI05Internships@gmail.com with Fall Internship in the subject line. No phone calls or drop-ins please.
Fall internship - Congressman Frank Lucas (R – OK) is seeking unpaid fall interns starting in September. Main responsibilities include answering phones, drafting letters, researching legislative issues, attending meetings/hearings as needed and giving tours of the Capitol. This is a great opportunity for those who are looking for experience in the legislative branch. Please send cover letter and resume to john.porter@mail.house.gov or fax to (202)225-8698.
Intern - The office of Congressman John Shadegg (AZ-03) is seeking candidates for internships starting immediately in his Washington, DC office. Applicants should have excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to work diligently and upon instruction in a fast-paced work environment. The ideal candidates will be personable, detail oriented, and able to interact well with constituents. The intern will have the opportunity to interact with the legislative staff, learn about the legislative process on Capitol Hill, and attend briefings of interest. Responsibilities include answering the phone, giving tours of the Capitol, assisting with constituent correspondence, and supporting the legislative staff on various projects. Interested candidates should e-mail a resume and cover letter to az03internship@gmail.com .
Interns - Rep. Vern Buchanan’s D.C. office is seeking several interns to start working as soon as possible for the fall semester. Interns must be current college students or recent graduates. This unpaid internship will offer the opportunity to attend congressional hearings, assist with correspondence and legislative work, and network with congressional staff. Ideal candidates will demonstrate trustworthiness, good communication skills, a strong work ethic, and conservative values. Please email a resume and cover letter to Interndcfl13@ymail.com . Please note your dates and times of availability. We can accommodate part-time schedules and academic credit programs, but preference will be given to applicants who are available full-time.
Interns - Midwestern Republican member’s Washington DC office is seeking unpaid intern applicants for the fall 2010 semester. Interns can expect wide-ranging opportunities to explore the legislative branch and enrich their understanding of the Federal government. A typical day of work can include: basic administrative tasks, giving tours, constituent correspondence, legislative research, hearing attendance, and otherwise assisting the staff as required. Successful applicants will have good interpersonal skills, a strong grasp of written language, and a positive work ethic. Priority will be given to Illinois applicants. Cover letter, resume, and a short writing sample should be sent to matt.leighton@mail.house.gov. Please include “Internship” in the subject line.
Sep 15, 2010
Shelby Tea Party Presentation Photos
I really enjoyed last night's Connect the Dots presentation to the Shelby Tea Party. Great group. Enthusiastic, curious and motivated group of people. Gives me faith in the future of our country. The Tea Party movement needs to pick up this message and help deliver it to the heart of America. The answer to this problem lies in the hands of the American public, they just need the information and the will to fight back.
Sep 13, 2010
Tolerance without Discernment is Ignorance
The following article is a re-post of the breaking story put out by our friends over at the Investigative Project on Terrorism. Credit Steve Emerson and his crew for again informing our country of the stories behind the stories we are feed from the mainstream news outlets.
Apparently Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the leader of the Ground Zero mosque effort, in his one man quest for religious reconciliation and bridge building failed to point out his association with an individual who believes 9/11 was an inside job, perpetrated by America. Rauf has apparently allowed this same man to lead the Friday prayers at the mosque where Rauf served as Imam. Rauf also jointly founded an organization with this man back in 1997 (details below), so the association is more than casual.
I believe a series of fair questions are in order here: Is this the type of person who would lead the prayers and interfaith outreach efforts in the new Ground Zero Mosque? Is this the type of information and preaching that Americans can expect from this facility at the base of Ground Zero? Did the State Department know of this association before it sanctioned and paid for sending Imam Rauf around the world to talk of American values? Are these the values that Imam Rauf holds? If the State Department did not know about this, what does that say about the vetting process they are using for their potential emissaries? Does the State Department have a vetting process? If he was vetted and passed the process, who is the person responsible for vetting and what is the process for firing him?
Enjoy the excellent article below:
Ground Zero Mosque Group Includes 9/11 Denier
IPT NewsSeptember 13, 2010
In his interview with CNN's Soledad O'Brien on Wednesday, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf defended his plans to build a mosque and Islamic center near Ground Zero, saying "You cannot heal a trauma by walking away from it. We have to sit down. We have to talk about it. We have to dialogue about it and find a way to move through it and beyond it."
But a trove of videos and writings available on the Internet shows that a longtime partner of Rauf believes the 9/11 terror attacks were "an inside job" by U.S. government and corporate interests, the Investigative Project on Terrorism found.
Faiz Khan, a physician who claims to have been a first responder after the September 11 attacks, is a founding member of the Muslim-Jewish-Christian Alliance for 9/11 Truth and is on the advisory board of the Muslims for 9/11 Truth. In an essay on the Alliance's website, he argued that "the prime factor for the success of the criminal mission known as 9/11 did not come from the quarter known as 'militant Islam' although the phenomenon known as 'militant Islamic networks' may have played a partial role, or even a less than partial role - perhaps the role of patsy and scapegoat."
In speeches, Khan says people in the Third World, where the "sleaze of governance" is more of a given, few people question whether 9/11 was an inside job.
Khan also helped form the American Sufi Muslim Association in 1997 with Rauf, a group now known as the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA). ASMA and Rauf's Cordoba Initiative are leading the mosque effort in lower Manhattan.
Khan has led Friday prayers at the Al Farah Mosque, where Rauf is the imam, for years. That practice continued at least through December – after the mosque proposal was unveiled -- when Khan was cited and photographed in an article in the German magazine Der Spiegel on the project.
Khan and Rauf also are members of the Sufi Circle, created in 2004 to promote "a Divine Love, unity and tolerance for a happy and meaningful life." In an announcement for a pending appearance, Khan's photograph on the Sufi site comes from this 2005 speech he gave explaining his beliefs about the 9/11 attacks. Cropped out is a sign behind Khan that reads "Expose the 9/11 Cover-Up."
In that speech, Khan claimed people he meets in the Middle East and North Africa take government responsibility for 9/11 as a given and ask what Americans don't understand. In the Third World, he explained "the sleaze of governance is a lot more transparent" and accepted by the public. He also urged people not to get hung up on the concept of nation states:
"There's no such thing as a Saudi nation, there is a royal sleazy family there. And there is no such thing as the American nation when it comes to 9/11 because there's a sleazy mob, if you will, in the White House that co-opts Washington, D.C. and actualizes the agendas of Wall Street. That is the way things have worked all throughout history."
Rauf and Daisy Khan did not respond to emails seeking comment. In an email received late Friday afternoon, Khan said he was no longer an ASMA officer and had not preached at Rauf's Al Farah mosque "for several years now." He indicated that he dropped out of the 9/11 truth movement to focus on his medical career. But his views have not changed:
"I am not sure what happened on 911, and as I have stated in articles, and other sources you may have come across - the 'official explanation' is demonstrably false...since multiple facets of it have been shown to be thus by independent investigators."
But a trove of videos and writings available on the Internet shows that a longtime partner of Rauf believes the 9/11 terror attacks were "an inside job" by U.S. government and corporate interests, the Investigative Project on Terrorism found.
Faiz Khan, a physician who claims to have been a first responder after the September 11 attacks, is a founding member of the Muslim-Jewish-Christian Alliance for 9/11 Truth and is on the advisory board of the Muslims for 9/11 Truth. In an essay on the Alliance's website, he argued that "the prime factor for the success of the criminal mission known as 9/11 did not come from the quarter known as 'militant Islam' although the phenomenon known as 'militant Islamic networks' may have played a partial role, or even a less than partial role - perhaps the role of patsy and scapegoat."
In speeches, Khan says people in the Third World, where the "sleaze of governance" is more of a given, few people question whether 9/11 was an inside job.
Khan also helped form the American Sufi Muslim Association in 1997 with Rauf, a group now known as the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA). ASMA and Rauf's Cordoba Initiative are leading the mosque effort in lower Manhattan.
Khan has led Friday prayers at the Al Farah Mosque, where Rauf is the imam, for years. That practice continued at least through December – after the mosque proposal was unveiled -- when Khan was cited and photographed in an article in the German magazine Der Spiegel on the project.
Khan and Rauf also are members of the Sufi Circle, created in 2004 to promote "a Divine Love, unity and tolerance for a happy and meaningful life." In an announcement for a pending appearance, Khan's photograph on the Sufi site comes from this 2005 speech he gave explaining his beliefs about the 9/11 attacks. Cropped out is a sign behind Khan that reads "Expose the 9/11 Cover-Up."
In that speech, Khan claimed people he meets in the Middle East and North Africa take government responsibility for 9/11 as a given and ask what Americans don't understand. In the Third World, he explained "the sleaze of governance is a lot more transparent" and accepted by the public. He also urged people not to get hung up on the concept of nation states:
"There's no such thing as a Saudi nation, there is a royal sleazy family there. And there is no such thing as the American nation when it comes to 9/11 because there's a sleazy mob, if you will, in the White House that co-opts Washington, D.C. and actualizes the agendas of Wall Street. That is the way things have worked all throughout history."
Rauf and Daisy Khan did not respond to emails seeking comment. In an email received late Friday afternoon, Khan said he was no longer an ASMA officer and had not preached at Rauf's Al Farah mosque "for several years now." He indicated that he dropped out of the 9/11 truth movement to focus on his medical career. But his views have not changed:
"I am not sure what happened on 911, and as I have stated in articles, and other sources you may have come across - the 'official explanation' is demonstrably false...since multiple facets of it have been shown to be thus by independent investigators."
Rauf and Daisy Khan never discussed 9/11 theories with him, Faiz Khan wrote. Despite being cited in the December 2009 Der Spiegel article about the mosque project, Khan said he hasn't spoken with Rauf or Daisy Khan "for several years now."
On June 3, 2006, Khan spoke at a 9/11 truth summit called "Revealing the Truth/Reclaiming our Future" in Chicago. In his remarks, he acknowledged that there is a militant Islamist movement, but "the most logical explanation" for 9/11 is that the hijackers were "working for us" in furtherance of a corporate-controlled schemes involving gigantic stock trades, billions of dollars in heroin sales and interest in Caspian Sea resources.
The speech was videotaped and remains available on the Internet. In it, he traced his doubts about the attack to the days and weeks immediately afterward, explaining how he stopped serving as a clergyman at memorial services for 9/11 victims because "I would ruffle a lot of feathers at a memorial service if he got up there and said it wasn't just angry Muslims gone bad. There's a lot more to this." He provided a similar account at another meeting captured on video.
A month later, he moderated a panel at a joint ASMA/Cordoba Initiative conference in Copenhagen. The conference was part of ASMA's Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow program. His biography identified Khan as a member of ASMA's board of directors and "Assistant Imam at the Al-Farah Mosque in Manhattan and the Islamic Center of Long Island. Since 9/11 where he treated victims of the tragedy he has embarked to dispel misunderstandings about Islam."
A month later, he moderated a panel at a joint ASMA/Cordoba Initiative conference in Copenhagen. The conference was part of ASMA's Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow program. His biography identified Khan as a member of ASMA's board of directors and "Assistant Imam at the Al-Farah Mosque in Manhattan and the Islamic Center of Long Island. Since 9/11 where he treated victims of the tragedy he has embarked to dispel misunderstandings about Islam."
In his 9/11 truth activities, Khan stresses the greatest misunderstanding is about what really happened in 2001. Faiz Khan's multi-faceted conspiracy theories include:
It's a mistake to blame the attack on "angry Muslims gone bad." There is a strain of militant Islam. But "are these the guys the one who brought down the WTC or are they the patsy?" The most logical explanation for 9/11, he said in Chicago, is "that they are still working for us. And this goes into, well, who's us and who's them? Right? How do you define America, how do you define nation-state anymore? Has this become a kind of trans-national phenomena at this point? So they're still working for 'us,' but we're not 'us.' But who is us? Corporate interests is us. Special interests is us. But that's not us, the American people. So that is the most logical explanation – that these people are still working for working for us."
It's a mistake to blame the attack on "angry Muslims gone bad." There is a strain of militant Islam. But "are these the guys the one who brought down the WTC or are they the patsy?" The most logical explanation for 9/11, he said in Chicago, is "that they are still working for us. And this goes into, well, who's us and who's them? Right? How do you define America, how do you define nation-state anymore? Has this become a kind of trans-national phenomena at this point? So they're still working for 'us,' but we're not 'us.' But who is us? Corporate interests is us. Special interests is us. But that's not us, the American people. So that is the most logical explanation – that these people are still working for working for us."
Intelligence failures were the result of benign neglect or worse fueled by Wall Street, corporate America and the banking industry. "The fact that all the directors and all the highest ranking officials of the national security apparatus are from that sector. This CIA, the NSA, is a creature of corporate America. It is not a creature of the American interest."
The heroin trade creates billions of dollars which are laundered by Citicorp and Procter and Gamble. "They all launder."
"The state of Israel, its criminal establishment, its secret service and its use and marriage with false flag operations."
The heroin trade creates billions of dollars which are laundered by Citicorp and Procter and Gamble. "They all launder."
"The state of Israel, its criminal establishment, its secret service and its use and marriage with false flag operations."
The latest posting on the website for Muslims for 9/11 Truth is by a Dr. Syed Zaidi who proposed that after a "neutral" United Nations investigation of the 9/11 attacks, if it is determined the U.S. government was complicit in the attacks, a huge mosque should be built at the very Ground Zero site itself as a measure of atonement to the world's Muslims.
Rauf has not expressed similar views, but his critics point to his 2001 statement on "60 Minutes" that American policy served as "an accessory" to the attacks. Pressed about that in Wednesday's CNN interview, Rauf seemed to accept the notion that Osama bin Laden was an American creation:
Rauf has not expressed similar views, but his critics point to his 2001 statement on "60 Minutes" that American policy served as "an accessory" to the attacks. Pressed about that in Wednesday's CNN interview, Rauf seemed to accept the notion that Osama bin Laden was an American creation:
RAUF: Well, I mean, Osama bin Laden was something, you know, we had worked with before and we seen what bin Laden did. And the sentiment certainly was bin Laden has shifted and we see what has happened and we have to understand what has happened in order to solve it. But we -- we -- the work that we have to do now is not about pointing fingers.O'BRIEN: People always say that to me, I don't want to point fingers, when they don't want to necessarily answer the question, which is do you think the U.S. was responsible for those attacks on its own soil by terrorists?RAUF: I was also trying to say -- to share part of my role in bridge building, Soledad, is like what I do when marital couple comes to me, you know, when they've had some discord, for counseling. And part of what I have to do is to speak the truth to each side, or to tell them, when you say this, your husband hears that. When you, sir, when you say this, your wife hears that.It is part of my responsibility as a bridge builder to speak the truth about what's great about America, what we've done right, and what our less glorious moments. And many people feel that the Iraq adventure, for example, has been one of our less glorious moments. But unless we're able to look and speak truthfully and understand the issues, then the conversation is going to devolve into a situation where we're not going to be able to work and build bridges towards peace.
Faiz Khan has maintained a low profile as the mosque debate intensified but his writings and speeches remain available and overlap with his work with ASMA and his preaching in Rauf's mosque. The Der Spiegel article quotes him marveling about the "wonderful potential" of the mosque site and his belief that "New York can be a place of healing."
What Khan thinks caused the wound is not in sync with most New Yorkers.
But to Khan, there is nothing to debate. "I don't speak in conspiracy theory," he said at the Chicago truth event. "I speak in terms of conspiracy fact." By delving into it, he told an audience, they are conducting "the most exalted jihad."
Read more at: http://www.investigativeproject.org/2172/ground-zero-mosque-group-includes-9-11-denier
What Khan thinks caused the wound is not in sync with most New Yorkers.
But to Khan, there is nothing to debate. "I don't speak in conspiracy theory," he said at the Chicago truth event. "I speak in terms of conspiracy fact." By delving into it, he told an audience, they are conducting "the most exalted jihad."
Read more at: http://www.investigativeproject.org/2172/ground-zero-mosque-group-includes-9-11-denier
Sep 9, 2010
Connect The Dots Presentation Schedule
For those of you in the Charlotte area who have expressed an interest in sitting through one of the Connect the Dots: Radicalization 101 Seminars, I have three coming up, one each week for the next three weeks. All are privately hosted events, but are good venues and if you are interested email me and I will get you a seat. For those of you in the Gaston / Cleveland County areas, I will be giving it in Shelby Tuesday of next week. Again, email me if you want details.
Texas Radio Interview Sunday Night
For those of you in my old stomping grounds of Texas, I will on KJCE 1370 Talk Austin this Sunday night during the 7:00 - 8:00 pm time slot (Central Time). I will be on the Laurie Horvath show and will be talking about terrorism related issues. Should be a good time, hope you can listen in.
Sep 8, 2010
Our Lips Are Sealed...
If you have followed this blog for any time or if you know me personally, you will know the significance and importance of the following story. I am re-posting Politico's Josh Gerstein's August 30th article on the actions of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals down in New Orleans. The implications of this court decision are huge and clear if you follow this issue. Please read.
August 30, 2010Secret showdown set for Islamic charity (re-posting of Josh Gerstein article)
One of the nation’s most prominent Muslim organizations, the North American Islamic Trust, is set to face off with the U.S. government in a federal appeals court Monday.
The reputation of the group, known as NAIT, may well hang in the balance, but don’t bother trying to attend the court session this afternoon before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. In a highly unusual move, judges have — without explanation — ordered the arguments closed to the public. The jurists have also put under wraps all of the briefs the two sides filed in the appeal.
The legal battle stems from federal prosecutors’ decision in 2007 to place NAIT and two other prominent Islamic organizations, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Islamic Society of North America, on a publicly filed list of about 300 unindicted co-conspirators in a Dallas trial of a defunct Islamic charity accused of being a front for Hamas, the Holy Land Foundation.
NAIT, CAIR and ISNA rejected any suggestion of ties to terrorism or other crimes and denounced the list as a smear tactic. In public legal briefs filed with the district court, they also contended that the public designation violated Justice Department regulations.
Prosecutors responded in kind, arguing that the designations were justified because of evidence showing ties between the Islamic groups and an international political movement known as the Muslim Brotherhood, which gave rise to Hamas. The American groups and some individuals on the list have suggested that the evidence of such ties is flimsy and dates to an era before Hamas was first designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. in 1995. NAIT, CAIR and ISNA also noted that since they were never charged with any crime, they had no obvious way to clear their names.
The groups’ request to have the co-conspirator list formally renounced by the district court seems to have languished through a trial and retrial for the Holy Land Foundation and five of its top officers. However, after they were convicted on terrorism-support charges in 2008, Judge Jorge Solis issued a secret ruling in July 2009 on the groups’ demands to strike the Justice Department filing.
I reported exclusively on this blog last year that Solis had, to some degree, split the baby in his decision. “The ruling was ambiguous,” a knowledgeable source told me. “The judge acknowledged the way the whole thing was handled by the prosecutors was not appropriate. On the other hand, he did not really go ahead and reverse the decisions.”
Of the three major Islamic groups, NAIT, which holds title to the land used by a series of American mosques, is the only one that appealed Solis’s ruling.
The appeal to the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit has ground on in nearly total secrecy, though, in a strange twist, neither of the parties to the appeal appears to favor its being sealed. For that matter, though, neither seems to have done much to stop the secrecy in the case from metastasizing. In court filings, NAIT has said it opposes the secrecy but feels compelled to respect Solis’s decision to put his order and some filings related to it under seal. The Justice Department appears to have been silent on the secrecy issue, but the secrecy itself makes that impossible to know for sure.
It’s unclear what precisely is behind Solis’s decision to keep his opinion secret. Perhaps he was concerned that more attention to the unindicted co-conspirator designation could further harm the groups’ reputations. Or perhaps the sealed filings and ruling discuss sensitive information — such as indications that CAIR has been the subject of an FBI investigation relating to international sanctions laws.
But the secrecy applied in the middle of the process, after briefs on the issue were filed publicly by both sides, seems like an effort to close the barn door after the horse has escaped. The closed-door proceedings are also likely to fuel both the widespread suspicion about Islam that many Americans have expressed in recent polls triggered by the New York mosque controversy and the perception among many Muslims that they aren't being dealt with fairly or forthrightly by the justice system.
The zeal for secrecy in the case has produced a series of procedural irregularities. When Solis issued his ruling in July 2009 on the request from NAIT and the other Islamic groups, the decision was not noted at all in the district court’s public docket — a procedure frowned upon or prohibited by many courts. The fact that a ruling took place became apparent only after NAIT appealed. When I inquired with the court last October about the decision, an entry describing the ruling in vague terms suddenly appeared, but the judge’s opinion remained under seal.
In addition, the first order placing briefs under seal in the appeals court was issued by a single judge of that court — in apparent violation of court rules that don’t give a single judge such power.
Full disclosure: I sent a letter to the appeals court in May outlining these issues and asking for the veil of secrecy surrounding the case to be lifted. The court initially said it would take the request under consideration, but last month it issued an order summarily rejecting the request and ordering that oral arguments take place in a closed courtroom. The order doesn’t say explicitly which judges made the decision to persist in and expand the secrecy, but it appears to be the panel set to hear arguments Monday afternoon: Judges Emilio Garza, Fortunato Benavides and Marcia Crone.
Garza was appointed to the bench by President George H.W. Bush; Benavides, by President Bill Clinton. And Crone — who sits on a district court in eastern Texas and was drafted for the appellate panel — was nominated by President George W. Bush. (Solis was named by Bush 41.)
Expected to be on hand for today's closed-door arguments are Vijay Shanker and Elizabeth Shapiro of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, NAIT counsel Tim Maggio and Kevin Wisniewski, NAIT Executive Director Mujeeb Cheema and trustee Bassam Osman. Maggio and Wisniewski are from Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, the law firm that is home to former White House counsel and Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers.
CORRECTION: The initial version of this post mistakenly referred to ISNA as the only group to appeal Solis’s ruling. NAIT was the group that appealed.
UPDATE: I've updated to make clear that the government seems to have taken no position on the secrecy of the briefs or the closure of Monday's arguments.
Sep 5, 2010
If It Can Happen In France...
Excellent story about the situation in France. Re-posting this from CBN News. http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/August/Islamization-of-Paris-a-Warning-to-the-West/
Sep 3, 2010
Sue Myrick on Hezbollah in Mexico
Following is an op-ed that ran in yesterday's Washington Times. Sue wrote a letter recently to Janet Napolitano asking her to investigate mounting information that seems to show that the terrorist group Hezbollah is operating just south of the US border. DHS has not officially replied to Sue's letter but twice told members of the press corps through a spokesperson that they have no "credible information" that Myrick's concerns are true. But here is the interesting thing... last week in New York, the federal district court indicted a man for trying to swap weapons for drugs with the terrorist group known as F.A.R.C. Get this, the weapons (several thousand - including C-4 explosives and hand grenades) were discovered and captured in the home of a Hezbollah operative in Mexico. How can the Department of Homeland Security say there is no credible evidence that Hezbollah is in Mexico, while at the same time the federal courts are issuing indictments because of credible evidence that Hezbollah is in Mexico? Does the right hand not know what the left had is doing? Isn't Sue right to call for an investigation to clarify these conflicting reports? And don't you think the American people need to know about Hezbollah in Mexico before any Amnesty deal comes before Congress?
MYRICK: Hezbollah car bombs on our border
Why isn't Obama's Department of Homeland Security concerned?
By Rep. Sue Myrick
-
The Washington Times
6:59 p.m., Wednesday, September 1, 2010
An indictment was handed down Aug. 30 by the Southern District Court of New York that shows a connection between Hezbollah - the proxy army of Iran and a designated terrorist organization - and the drug cartels that violently plague the U.S.-Mexico border.
In short, a well-known international arms dealer was trying to orchestrate an arms-for-drugs deal in which cocaine from FARC - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which works with Mexican drug cartels to take cocaine into America - would be traded for thousands of weapons housed by a Hezbollah operative in Mexico.
This most recent case brings up several questions: Why would a member of Hezbollah be in Mexico? Why would Hezbollah need thousands of weapons in Mexico? Why are members of Hezbollah willing to work with FARC? Perhaps to exchange weapons for drugs? If Hezbollah has guns in Mexico and wants drugs, isn't it logical to assume that it is trading with more accessible Mexican drug cartels?
This is just the most recent incident in which it's clear that Hezbollah may have a presence in Mexico and along our southern border. There have been more incidents - which have been ignored by the Obama administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
On June 23, I sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano asking her to establish a task force to investigate the presence of Hezbollah along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The evidence is there: Hezbollah's cooperation with countries across South America. Highly sophisticated tunnels for transferring drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border, ones very similar to the tunnels dug by Hezbollah into Israel. The close relationship between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the increase in Iranian nationals traveling through Venezuela to receive false documents, which they use to cross into the United States. Mexican officials raising concerns about Hezbollah operatives possibly training Mexican drug cartel enforcers in making car bombs.
Michael Braun, a former Drug Enforcement Administration chief of operations, has even been quoted as saying, "Hezbollah relies on the same criminal weapons smugglers, document traffickers and transportation experts as the drug cartels. ... They work together; they rely on the same shadow facilitators. One way or another, they are all connected."
Only a few weeks after I sent this letter, it was reported that Jameel Nasr, a Mexican national with ties to Hezbollah in Lebanon, "entrusted with forming a base in South America and the United States to carry out operations against Israeli and Western targets," was arrested by the Mexican government. Days later, a cell-phone-detonated car bomb - the first of its kind reported used by Mexican drug cartels - was deployed just across the U.S.-Mexico border in Juarez. On Aug. 27, another car bomb exploded in a U.S.-Mexico border state. These car bombs show an evolution in the tactics being used by the drug cartels and bear a strong resemblance to those employed by Hezbollah, raising questions as to who trained the cartels.
Doesn't the protection of the American public deserve answers? The primary role of the federal government is to protect its citizens. Unfortunately, the administration continues to sit by idly while security threats go uninvestigated. And that's all I'm requesting - an investigation to find out what's going on along our southern border.
To date, I have not received a response from the Department of Homeland Security informing me of any decision to investigate. How much more is it going to take?
Why isn't Obama's Department of Homeland Security concerned?
By Rep. Sue Myrick
-
The Washington Times
6:59 p.m., Wednesday, September 1, 2010
An indictment was handed down Aug. 30 by the Southern District Court of New York that shows a connection between Hezbollah - the proxy army of Iran and a designated terrorist organization - and the drug cartels that violently plague the U.S.-Mexico border.
In short, a well-known international arms dealer was trying to orchestrate an arms-for-drugs deal in which cocaine from FARC - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which works with Mexican drug cartels to take cocaine into America - would be traded for thousands of weapons housed by a Hezbollah operative in Mexico.
This most recent case brings up several questions: Why would a member of Hezbollah be in Mexico? Why would Hezbollah need thousands of weapons in Mexico? Why are members of Hezbollah willing to work with FARC? Perhaps to exchange weapons for drugs? If Hezbollah has guns in Mexico and wants drugs, isn't it logical to assume that it is trading with more accessible Mexican drug cartels?
This is just the most recent incident in which it's clear that Hezbollah may have a presence in Mexico and along our southern border. There have been more incidents - which have been ignored by the Obama administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
On June 23, I sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano asking her to establish a task force to investigate the presence of Hezbollah along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The evidence is there: Hezbollah's cooperation with countries across South America. Highly sophisticated tunnels for transferring drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border, ones very similar to the tunnels dug by Hezbollah into Israel. The close relationship between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the increase in Iranian nationals traveling through Venezuela to receive false documents, which they use to cross into the United States. Mexican officials raising concerns about Hezbollah operatives possibly training Mexican drug cartel enforcers in making car bombs.
Michael Braun, a former Drug Enforcement Administration chief of operations, has even been quoted as saying, "Hezbollah relies on the same criminal weapons smugglers, document traffickers and transportation experts as the drug cartels. ... They work together; they rely on the same shadow facilitators. One way or another, they are all connected."
Only a few weeks after I sent this letter, it was reported that Jameel Nasr, a Mexican national with ties to Hezbollah in Lebanon, "entrusted with forming a base in South America and the United States to carry out operations against Israeli and Western targets," was arrested by the Mexican government. Days later, a cell-phone-detonated car bomb - the first of its kind reported used by Mexican drug cartels - was deployed just across the U.S.-Mexico border in Juarez. On Aug. 27, another car bomb exploded in a U.S.-Mexico border state. These car bombs show an evolution in the tactics being used by the drug cartels and bear a strong resemblance to those employed by Hezbollah, raising questions as to who trained the cartels.
Doesn't the protection of the American public deserve answers? The primary role of the federal government is to protect its citizens. Unfortunately, the administration continues to sit by idly while security threats go uninvestigated. And that's all I'm requesting - an investigation to find out what's going on along our southern border.
To date, I have not received a response from the Department of Homeland Security informing me of any decision to investigate. How much more is it going to take?
Sep 1, 2010
Presentation Thursday Night
I will be speaking at the next meeting of the Lake Norman Republican Women this Thursday night (September 2nd) at 7:15 pm. The meeting is at the Hilton Gardens (conference room), Exit 33 in Mooresville. Hope you can make it.
Latest Job Listings for Republican Offices on Capitol Hill
HOUSE GOP JOB LIST
Compiled and distributed by Patrick Baugh, Financial Administrator for Cong. Anh "Joseph" Cao, John Fleming, Bob Goodlatte, Duncan Hunter, Lynn Jenkins, Jerry Moran, Tim Murphy, Sue Myrick, Pete Olson & Erik Paulsen.
August 30, 2010
Experienced Legislative Assistant - Midwest Republican Member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee seeks a Legislative Assistant to handle a broad portfolio including Transportation, Telecommunications, Health Care, Science and Technology and Environment. Successful candidates will possess a solid knowledge base and strong ability to interact with constituents and interest groups. Must possess strong written and oral communications skills, be flexible and creative, be capable of working under tight deadlines, and be able to work as a team player. Prior legislative experience is a must. This is not an entry level position. Interested applicants should email a resume and cover letter to midwestrepublican@mail.house.gov.
Internships - Texas Republican is looking for full time, unpaid fall interns. Internships will last start in September and last through the beginning/middle of December. Interns in the Washington, D.C. office will be responsible for assisting with general office duties (answering phones, passing out mail, and assisting legislative staff with research and writing) and performing constituent services (scheduling tours, processing flag requests, and legislative correspondence). Additional duties are available and will be assigned according to an intern’s interest and ability. Must be highly motivated, self-starter, detail oriented, possess excellent organizational and communication skills, a strong work ethic, a positive attitude and will have the ability to manage multiple tasks on a deadline. Texas ties are preferred. Please email resume and cover letter to andy.taylor@mail.house.gov with "Internship" in the email subject line. No phone calls please.
Internship - The Office of Congressman Mike Pence (IN-06) is accepting applications for positions in his Washington, DC office this fall semester. Candidates should be self-motivated, team players that are ready to perform duties with a servant’s attitude. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: answering phones, sorting constituent mail, attending committee hearings and briefings for staff, assisting in legislative research, and giving tours of the Capitol. Interested candidates should go to http://mikepence.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1223&Itemid=105 and submit the online application, their resume, and cover letter to pence.intern.appilcant@mail.house.gov.
August 26, 2010
Intern - The Office of Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-09) is seeking interns for the Fall of 2010 in his Washington, DC office. Candidates should be self-motivated, team players that are ready to work in a faced-paced environment. The internship will provide individuals with an opportunity to gain a hands-on experience in a Congressional office while gaining a valuable understanding of the Legislative Branch of the Federal Government. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: answering phones, sorting constituent mail, attending committee hearings and briefings for staff, data entry, and giving tours of the Capitol. Although this position is unpaid, we will work with the student to fulfill requirements for school credit programs. Interested candidates should e-mail a cover letter, resume, and 1-3 page writing sample to PA09jobs@gmail.com with Spring Internship in the subject line.
August 23, 2010
Legislative Director - Congressman Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) seeks a Legislative Director to manage experienced legislative team. Must have 5 years of Hill and/or financial services industry experience and extensive knowledge of financial services issues. Candidates should have excellent writing skills and must be able to use IQ system. Should be proactive, independent and excited to work in a fast-paced office. Texas ties preferred, but not required. Please send resume and cover letter to tx19jobs@mail.house.gov. No drop-ins or calls please.
Scheduler - The office of Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart is seeking a D.C. Scheduler. This position is responsible for managing the Member’s DC schedule, making travel arrangements, coordinating the DC intern program, answering phones, and assisting constituents. Candidates must possess meticulous attention to detail, have excellent communications skills, be proactive, and have the ability to multitask. Please send resume, and cover letter to: FL25Jobs@yahoo.com and place “scheduler” in the subject line. No calls please.
Internship - Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA) is currently seeking interns for the fall of 2010 for his Washington DC office. The internship involves assisting with incoming mail, researching legislative issues, attending lectures and hearings, giving tours, working with legislative staff on special projects and assisting with other general office duties. Candidates must be self-starters, detail oriented, have excellent writing and communication skills, and be able to multi-task. This is a great opportunity for college students and graduates seeking Capitol Hill experience. Please email your cover letter and resume to herger.intern@gmail.com
Interns – Congressman Charles K. Djou is seeking fall interns for his DC office. Applicants must be available to start immediately. An internship provides a unique opportunity to observe and learn the inner-workings of a Congressional office. You will be challenged and given practical tools for career and academic success. Candidates should have a strong work ethic and be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, answering phones, mail sorting/data entry, conducting tours of the Capitol, and other projects delegated by staff. While internship positions are unpaid, they provide an invaluable experience. Hawaii ties are preferred but are not required. Interested candidates should email a cover letter and a resume to DjouInterns@gmail.com with “Fall Internship” in the subject line. Please include the dates and times of availability in your cover letter.
Internships - Congressman Thomas Petri (WI-06) is currently seeking unpaid interns for the 2010 fall session (late August/early September-December) in his Washington, DC office. Duties include greeting visitors, answering telephones and recording constituent comments, researching legislation and policy issues, assisting legislative staff, and giving Capitol tours. Must be highly motivated, self-starter, detail oriented, and possess excellent organizational and communication skills, a strong work ethic, and a positive attitude. Ideal candidates will also posses a strong interest in national politics and will have the opportunity to attend hearings and briefings. This is a great opportunity for college students and recent graduates seeking Capitol Hill experience. Interested students should submit a cover letter and resume to Melanie Baier, at melanie.baier@mail.house.gov with "Fall Internship" in the subject line. No phone calls please.
Fall internship - Congressman Frank Lucas (R – OK) is seeking unpaid fall interns starting in September. Main responsibilities include answering phones, drafting letters, researching legislative issues, attending meetings/hearings as needed and giving tours of the Capitol. This is a great opportunity for those who are looking for experience in the legislative branch. Please send cover letter and resume to john.porter@mail.house.gov or fax to (202)225-8698.
August 16, 2010
Fall Interns - The office of Congressman Patrick McHenry is seeking interns for fall 2010. The internship will provide college students and recent graduates with knowledge of the workings of a Congressional office and the legislative process. Responsibilities will include answering phones, sorting mail, giving Capitol tours, data entry, assisting legislative staff with research, letter writing, and attending various briefings and hearings. College credit is available upon request. North Carolina ties are preferred but not required. Interested candidates should email resume and cover letter to Krista.stafford@mail.house.gov.
Interns - Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) is currently seeking fall interns with conservative values, who are available to start at the beginning of September. Interns will be responsible for maintaining general front office duties including answering phones, conducting and scheduling tours, logging and writing office correspondence, and a variety of other administrative tasks. Applicants should be detail oriented, punctual, and have excellent communication skills. Wisconsin ties are preferred. Interested candidates should direct their cover letter and resume to Matthew Mohr at WI05Internships@gmail.com with Fall 2010 internship in the subject line. No phone calls please.
Compiled and distributed by Patrick Baugh, Financial Administrator for Cong. Anh "Joseph" Cao, John Fleming, Bob Goodlatte, Duncan Hunter, Lynn Jenkins, Jerry Moran, Tim Murphy, Sue Myrick, Pete Olson & Erik Paulsen.
August 30, 2010
Experienced Legislative Assistant - Midwest Republican Member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee seeks a Legislative Assistant to handle a broad portfolio including Transportation, Telecommunications, Health Care, Science and Technology and Environment. Successful candidates will possess a solid knowledge base and strong ability to interact with constituents and interest groups. Must possess strong written and oral communications skills, be flexible and creative, be capable of working under tight deadlines, and be able to work as a team player. Prior legislative experience is a must. This is not an entry level position. Interested applicants should email a resume and cover letter to midwestrepublican@mail.house.gov.
Internships - Texas Republican is looking for full time, unpaid fall interns. Internships will last start in September and last through the beginning/middle of December. Interns in the Washington, D.C. office will be responsible for assisting with general office duties (answering phones, passing out mail, and assisting legislative staff with research and writing) and performing constituent services (scheduling tours, processing flag requests, and legislative correspondence). Additional duties are available and will be assigned according to an intern’s interest and ability. Must be highly motivated, self-starter, detail oriented, possess excellent organizational and communication skills, a strong work ethic, a positive attitude and will have the ability to manage multiple tasks on a deadline. Texas ties are preferred. Please email resume and cover letter to andy.taylor@mail.house.gov with "Internship" in the email subject line. No phone calls please.
Internship - The Office of Congressman Mike Pence (IN-06) is accepting applications for positions in his Washington, DC office this fall semester. Candidates should be self-motivated, team players that are ready to perform duties with a servant’s attitude. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: answering phones, sorting constituent mail, attending committee hearings and briefings for staff, assisting in legislative research, and giving tours of the Capitol. Interested candidates should go to http://mikepence.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1223&Itemid=105 and submit the online application, their resume, and cover letter to pence.intern.appilcant@mail.house.gov.
August 26, 2010
Intern - The Office of Congressman Bill Shuster (PA-09) is seeking interns for the Fall of 2010 in his Washington, DC office. Candidates should be self-motivated, team players that are ready to work in a faced-paced environment. The internship will provide individuals with an opportunity to gain a hands-on experience in a Congressional office while gaining a valuable understanding of the Legislative Branch of the Federal Government. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: answering phones, sorting constituent mail, attending committee hearings and briefings for staff, data entry, and giving tours of the Capitol. Although this position is unpaid, we will work with the student to fulfill requirements for school credit programs. Interested candidates should e-mail a cover letter, resume, and 1-3 page writing sample to PA09jobs@gmail.com with Spring Internship in the subject line.
August 23, 2010
Legislative Director - Congressman Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) seeks a Legislative Director to manage experienced legislative team. Must have 5 years of Hill and/or financial services industry experience and extensive knowledge of financial services issues. Candidates should have excellent writing skills and must be able to use IQ system. Should be proactive, independent and excited to work in a fast-paced office. Texas ties preferred, but not required. Please send resume and cover letter to tx19jobs@mail.house.gov. No drop-ins or calls please.
Scheduler - The office of Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart is seeking a D.C. Scheduler. This position is responsible for managing the Member’s DC schedule, making travel arrangements, coordinating the DC intern program, answering phones, and assisting constituents. Candidates must possess meticulous attention to detail, have excellent communications skills, be proactive, and have the ability to multitask. Please send resume, and cover letter to: FL25Jobs@yahoo.com and place “scheduler” in the subject line. No calls please.
Internship - Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA) is currently seeking interns for the fall of 2010 for his Washington DC office. The internship involves assisting with incoming mail, researching legislative issues, attending lectures and hearings, giving tours, working with legislative staff on special projects and assisting with other general office duties. Candidates must be self-starters, detail oriented, have excellent writing and communication skills, and be able to multi-task. This is a great opportunity for college students and graduates seeking Capitol Hill experience. Please email your cover letter and resume to herger.intern@gmail.com
Interns – Congressman Charles K. Djou is seeking fall interns for his DC office. Applicants must be available to start immediately. An internship provides a unique opportunity to observe and learn the inner-workings of a Congressional office. You will be challenged and given practical tools for career and academic success. Candidates should have a strong work ethic and be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, answering phones, mail sorting/data entry, conducting tours of the Capitol, and other projects delegated by staff. While internship positions are unpaid, they provide an invaluable experience. Hawaii ties are preferred but are not required. Interested candidates should email a cover letter and a resume to DjouInterns@gmail.com with “Fall Internship” in the subject line. Please include the dates and times of availability in your cover letter.
Internships - Congressman Thomas Petri (WI-06) is currently seeking unpaid interns for the 2010 fall session (late August/early September-December) in his Washington, DC office. Duties include greeting visitors, answering telephones and recording constituent comments, researching legislation and policy issues, assisting legislative staff, and giving Capitol tours. Must be highly motivated, self-starter, detail oriented, and possess excellent organizational and communication skills, a strong work ethic, and a positive attitude. Ideal candidates will also posses a strong interest in national politics and will have the opportunity to attend hearings and briefings. This is a great opportunity for college students and recent graduates seeking Capitol Hill experience. Interested students should submit a cover letter and resume to Melanie Baier, at melanie.baier@mail.house.gov with "Fall Internship" in the subject line. No phone calls please.
Fall internship - Congressman Frank Lucas (R – OK) is seeking unpaid fall interns starting in September. Main responsibilities include answering phones, drafting letters, researching legislative issues, attending meetings/hearings as needed and giving tours of the Capitol. This is a great opportunity for those who are looking for experience in the legislative branch. Please send cover letter and resume to john.porter@mail.house.gov or fax to (202)225-8698.
August 16, 2010
Fall Interns - The office of Congressman Patrick McHenry is seeking interns for fall 2010. The internship will provide college students and recent graduates with knowledge of the workings of a Congressional office and the legislative process. Responsibilities will include answering phones, sorting mail, giving Capitol tours, data entry, assisting legislative staff with research, letter writing, and attending various briefings and hearings. College credit is available upon request. North Carolina ties are preferred but not required. Interested candidates should email resume and cover letter to Krista.stafford@mail.house.gov.
Interns - Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) is currently seeking fall interns with conservative values, who are available to start at the beginning of September. Interns will be responsible for maintaining general front office duties including answering phones, conducting and scheduling tours, logging and writing office correspondence, and a variety of other administrative tasks. Applicants should be detail oriented, punctual, and have excellent communication skills. Wisconsin ties are preferred. Interested candidates should direct their cover letter and resume to Matthew Mohr at WI05Internships@gmail.com with Fall 2010 internship in the subject line. No phone calls please.
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