President Obama (Official Portrait)

On March 24, 2012, I sent An Open Letter to President Obama.

Since I have not yet gotten a response from the President, I Googled the definition of political intelligence and found a “News Release from Senator Grassley.” which states: “On Tuesday the Republican Majority Leader of the House and the Democrat Majority Leader of the Senate worked together to thwart the will of 60 Senators and 286 Members of Congress.

“First, the Majority Leader in the House said that the definition of political intelligence was so ‘vague’ that he couldn’t possibly figure out how to define it.

“That’s the excuse given for stripping any regulation of it from the STOCK Act. To me, that came as something of a surprise.

“I would like to read Section 7 part b of the version of the STOCK Act that was rammed through the House of Representatives:

“Definition – for purposes of this section, the term ‘political intelligence’ shall mean information that is derived by a person from direct communications with an executive branch employee, a Member of Congress, or an employee of Congress; and provided in exchange for financial compensation to a client who intends, and who is known to intend, to use the information to inform investment decisions.

“That seems pretty straightforward, doesn’t it?”

Those are the words of Senator Grassley, and they are easy to understand: The Majority leaders of the House and Senate decided that they did not want to give up the financial compensation from their clients who intend “to use the information to inform investment decisions.”

What is this financial compensation worth to Congress? The emasculated STOCK Act, which has gone to the President for signature, does not outlaw the “$402 million a year political intelligence industry”, one means of congressional enrichment.”

Senator Grassley calls this “unregulated political espionage.”

Mr. President, we are asking you to refuse to sign this bill in its present form and tell the world why you cannot. You can put an end to unregulated political espionage. Stand with Senators Burr, Coburn and Bingaman and Representatives Campbell and Woodall to send this bill back to the Senate for reinsertion of the critical political intelligence language.

________

Footnote: On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, President Obama signed the STOCK Act, although Eric Cantor, under the pretense of providing “further study,” had stripped out the $402 million political intelligence language.

What can you do—you are only one person? True, but you are only “six degrees of separation,” on average, from any other person on Earth. You become powerful when you share information with your friends and ask them to share it with their friends—it becomes a global revolution. As Stephen King suggests in The Long Walk, when these “society-supported sociopaths” come, step aside, and find the strength to run…

President Obama (Official Portrait)

Mr. President:

You are aware of the circumstances described in “Business as Usual.”

On Dec. 6, 2011, House Financial Services Chairman “Spencer Bachus (R-AL) scheduled a markup of the STOCK Act for Dec. 14, 2011.” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) indefinitely postponed the markup session on Dec. 7, 2011, stating that “a large group of bipartisan members of the committee felt the legislation was flawed and being recklessly moved solely in response to media pressure. Members of both sides of the aisle wanted more time to gather information and develop appropriate alternatives.” Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) described Cantor’s move as “absolutely unacceptable” and “petty,” while Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) stated that “last week we passed a bill worth hundreds of billions of dollars with less than a two day layover and no one knew what was in it. This bill has been around for six years.”

On Jan. 24, 2012, in your State of the Union address, you said “Send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress, and I will sign it tomorrow.” Immediately after the speech, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told reporters, “I think people should have enough sense not to do it [insider trading] without legislation, but I will support legislation.” On Feb. 2, 2012, a revised version of the STOCK Act passed in the Senate by a vote of 96-3 with Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Tom Coburn (R-OK), and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) dissenting. On Feb. 9, 2012, the STOCK Act passed in the House by a vote of 417-2 with Representatives John Campbell (R-CA) and Rob Woodall (R-GA) dissenting. On Mar. 22, 2012, the Senate unanimously consented to the House version of the STOCK Act.

Mr. President, I speak for myself and many other Americans who appreciate the leadership you have brought to the presidency. We know that this is probably the most difficult election year within memory, considering the economic forces affecting our nation and our world. You gave the STOCK Act a chance at life, and I know you have been following its passage. You are aware that this is not the bill you called for in your State of the Union address. The American people are asking you to stand with Senators Burr, Coburn and Bingaman and Representatives Campbell and Woodall to send this bill back to the Senate for reinsertion of the critical political intelligence language.

Sincerely,

Ann Ameri Can

What can you do—you are only one person? True, but you are only “six degrees of separation,” on average, from any other person on Earth. You become powerful when you share information with your friends and ask them to share it with their friends—it becomes a global revolution. As Stephen King suggests in The Long Walk, when these “society-supported sociopaths” come, step aside, and find the strength to run…

Seal of the US House of Representatives

The American Revolution II website is about political ethics, which is currently an oxymoron in Washington. Legislators have exempted themselves from laws which would send ordinary people to jail. But “our representatives” are there to serve themselves.

Currently, Congress is exempt from prosecution for insider trading, while many “non-elite” have gone to jail. The STOCK Act, now under consideration by Congress, would prohibit insider trading, as such, but does not outlaw the $402 million a year political intelligence industry, one means of congressional enrichment. Insider trading by members of Congress is one of the more egregious sins; however, many members of Congress are so small as to not pay their parking and traffic tickets in Washington DC. That speaks volumes about their level of integrity!

In his article entitled Maybe Congress Should Stop Worrying About Passing New Laws and Merely Obey Those Already in Place, L.J. Martin answers the question, why doesn’t Congress obey existing laws? His reason, “You need to remind yourself that Congress ignores the Constitution regularly so why should they obey a law?” For laws “…to have meaning there must be a negative sanction for failing to comply.” Every member of Congress who does not insist that fellow members are prosecuted for lawlessness is condoning criminality. He is as guilty as if he himself had violated the law.

Where is the House Ethics Committee? Well, it was investigated for “ineffectiveness at policing itself,” so it was replaced by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE).

So where is the OCE? Well, the OCE was established by the U.S. House of Representatives as an independent, non-partisan entity charged with reviewing allegations of misconduct against members of the House and their staff, and when appropriate, referring them to the Ethics Committee.

So what is the OCE doing? Well, the OCE was not given subpoena power and cannot prosecute. It must, therefore, refer alleged ethics violations back to the House Ethics Committee. This is the same House Ethics Committee that was so ineffective “at policing itself.” The Seattle Times has quoted a sales executive as saying, “…this may be the worst and most ingenuous Congress in history.”

This Congress has failed the American people!

Could this be part of the reason Congress’ job approval rating is the worst in Gallup history? Maybe we should just throw the bums out, starting with House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor. The people of Virginia’s 7th District, most assuredly, should be ashamed for not having recalled and prosecuted him as a common criminal.

A criminal Congress? Not totally, but certainly allowing itself to be controlled by a criminal element. What’s the difference? I can’t tell you.

Have a nice day!

What can you do—you are only one person? True, but you are only “six degrees of separation,” on average, from any other person on Earth. You become powerful when you share information with your friends and ask them to share it with their friends—it becomes a global revolution. As Stephen King suggests in The Long Walk, when these “society-supported sociopaths” come, step aside, and find the strength to run…