Peninsula News – June 30th 2006

• Door County is projected to have a low yield crop this year by 40% since last year, according to Dale Seaquist of Seaquist Orchards. Door Peninsula Winery depends upon cherries from the orchards to make its famous cherry wines in the form of dry and sweet and even a customer favorite – chocolate cherry. Lower production is due to the rainy and windy weather that occurred during pollination this period. The grape vines seem to have been unaffected at the Door Peninsula Vineyard. Cherries grown on the Peninsula orchards are used for pies, drinks and available in buckets that are frozen to take home for various home baking and cooking needs.

Myth Blaster – The Case of the Toilet Seat Spider

Does the following look familiar? (Email via the chain-mail crowd) …

WARNING: From the University of North Florida
An article by Dr. Beverly Clark, in the Journal of the United Medical Association (JUMA), the mystery behind a recent spate of deaths has been solved. If you haven't already heard about it in the news, here is what happened.
Three women in North Florida, turned up at hospitals over a 5-day period, all with the same symptoms. Fever, chills, and vomiting, followed by muscular collapse, paralysis, and finally, death. There were no outward signs of trauma. Autopsy results showed toxicity in the blood. These women did not know each other, and seemed to have nothing in common. It was discovered, however, that they had all visited the same Restaurant (Olive Garden) within days of their deaths. The health department descended on the restaurant, shutting it down. The food, water, and air conditioning were all inspected and tested, to no avail.

Snippets – Politics, Treason, Terrorism, and Navy Chaplain

• Senator Hillary Clinton continues along with her Sociocrat colleagues in favor of a resolution that calls for a partial troop withdrawal, which the Bush administration has already been in the planning. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) wants total removal of the troops.
• On the illegal immigration issue, Republicans are correlating it with the disregard of the seriousness of the War on Terrorism. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) is to conduct hearings on July 5^th in San Diego and Laredo, Texas on July 7^th to protest against Senator Edward Kennedy’s (D-MA) proposal to push the immigration bill that will prevent or disrupt tracking of terrorists. Meanwhile, Rep. Tom Tancredo’s charge that Mexican drug cartels are buying legitimate businesses in US cities in order to launder money and using the proceeds to buy mayoral and city council seats has been “backed up by a veteran gang investigator.”

Myth Blaster – Professor Indrek Wichman Speaks Out

Joan Bartelson sent this that is going around in the email circuit. Knowing her she probably checked it out on her own before sending my way …

Hooray for Michigan State University (The Spartans) and Professor Wichman!!!
Well, what do we have here. Looks like a small case of some people being able to dish it out, but not take it. Let’s start at the top. The story begins at Michigan State University with a mechanical engineering professor named Indrek Wichman.
Wichman sent an e-mail to the Muslim Student’s Association. The e-mail was in response to the students’ protest of the Danish cartoons that portrayed the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist. The group had complained the cartoons were “hate speech.”
Enter Professor Wichman. In his e-mail, he said the following:

Rebuttal – Liberal Avenger and Other Closed-Minded Entities

In reference to Liberal Avenger’s Yawn: Wingnuts Claim to Find WMD in Iraq. Again – no, Gordo and others, not again, still. And it is not a “claim” it is documented in classified records that have been reclassified. For those of you who are not familiar with security measures, documents are examined periodically to see if they qualify to reclassification and that is how eventually it becomes public knowledge, available to those for the asking. The evidence has been there all along, but some of it has not been released or reclassified to “Unclassified” to be released. But mainstream media doesn’t report this because it would be against their bias anti-war stance concerning Iraq. And why are they still quibbling about the portion of the Iraq campaign that has been won? I am referring to the dethroning and capture of Saddam Hussein who is still on trial for the horrible crimes against humanity he committed – mostly against his own people. Liberal Avenger and other Sociocrat pundits have been using this (and other rhetoric) as a political tool in the form of character assassination against George W. Bush since the day he stood and gave his oath as President. In most cases, the complaint is there with no offer of an alternative solution. Just ridicule rhetoric. As I stated previously in another posting, thirty Russian jet fighters were buried in the sands of Iraq and was only found because a US military person stubbed his toe on the tail wing that protruded because of shifting sand. There is evidence that Saddam hurriedly sent WMDs in parts to various neighboring sympathetic nations.

All of this WMD stuff is old news, but when new evidence is found it should be reported, after confirmation. World Net Daily strives to sift out this sort of news that the mainstream media ignores. It also finds things that the media have left out, whether on purpose or poor research on their part; but the evidence is that they contrive their reporting to coincide with their political ideology – which means they are not objective.

Liberal Avenger and others may thumb their nose at Lighthouse Patriot Journal, but we don’t use contrived pictures (except at the Light Side of the Lighthouse as fun humor) to assassinate anyone’s credibility. I may address problems and point fingers, but it is non-partisan. I also try to come up with solutions to problems and issues, directly or indirectly.

So, Liberal Avenger, “yawn” all you want concerning serious issues, but there are others who seek the truth and do not let ourselves be blinded by fanatic political loyalty to any certain political party/entity. Since their viewpoint has been contradicted with facts, a typical progressive-liberal turns to satire and makes fun of those who do not think like them.

Date Correction – Teddy Roosevelt Quote

Jim Sullivan is a well-known blogger, in the blogging world, that is. He cross-referenced my article concerning Theodore (“Teddy”) Roosevelt’s quote and pointed out that the date attributed to the quote was not 1907, but 1919. Searching my database of quotes (sometime to become a printed book) I saw that I had it quoted in two places, one presented in a Washington Times article and another straight from a quotation. The quotation was correct as I listed (1919) in my database, but the Washington Times date (1907) was incorrect. To make a long story short, I used the wrong date, the one reprinted and not from my quotations database.

Myth Blaster – Perfume Scam

Diane S., Wisconsin sent this email concerning perfume and asked Myth Buster to get on the case, here is the message sent to her via chain mail …

“I know not all of you are women that I am sending this to, but am hoping you will share this with your wives, daughters, mothers, sisters,etc. Our world seems to be getting crazier by the day. Pipe bombs in mailboxes and sickos in parking lots with perfume. Be careful. I was approached yesterday afternoon around 5:30 PM in the Wal-mart parking lot by two males asking what kind of perfume I was wearing. Then they asked if I’d like to sample some fabulous scent they were willing to sell me at a very reasonable rate. I probably would have agreed had I not received an e-mail warning of a “Wanna smell this neat perfume?” scam.

Michael Reagan Speaks Out – Finger Pointing Concerning Iran

“If you’re looking for someone to point the finger at, look no further than James Earl Carter…[the] self-anointed evangelist for world peace, understanding, goodwill, and promoter of universal love-ins with dictators who hate us. Let’s begin with Iran, a boiling cauldron of hatred for everything associated with Western civilization. Recall that when Jimmah took office Iran was ruled by a strong ally of the United States, the Shah. Like most Middle Eastern potentates, the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, ruled with an iron hand. Under him, Iran was not the kind of democracy we’re now promoting for the Middle East. The Shah, however, was also the staunch friend and ally of the United States… But the Shah somehow offended Brother Carter’s exalted view of the inherent goodness of a mankind freed from the strictures imposed by dictatorial rules. With a wink and a nod, he arranged to have Pahlavi replaced by an exiled mullah—the Ayatollah Khomeini—who in Carter’s view would be a moderate leader who would democratize Iran. What Carter got for us was a Muslim fanatic seething with hatred for everything Western, who without blinking an eye spat on our national sovereignty when he took over the United States embassy in Tehran and held 52 American hostages for 444 days, until the U.S. came to its senses and elected my dad Ronald Reagan to replace the hapless Jimmy Carter. Thanks to Carter, Iran today constitutes a grave threat to the United States and to world peace.” Michael Reagan

Freedoms of Healthcare

Rebecca Hagelin may have the solution to America’s health care problems in terms of cost of obtaining insurance and the health care itself:

“Americans deserve the following four freedoms in healthcare: (1) FREEDOM to choose our own doctors. Health care is very personal, and no federal or insurance bureaucracy should interfere. Each American should be able to secure the services of a doctor who respects his moral beliefs. (2) FREEDOM from an impersonal and bureaucratic healthcare system. The regulatory systems governing health care should be simplified to allow more choices for more people. Individuals should have greater access to more healthcare plans, and healthcare dollars should be controlled by individuals and families, not employers or the government. (3) FREEDOM to choose health plans that reflect their moral beliefs. Ethical and moral issues are inseparable from healthcare. All Americans have a personal stake in these life-and-death decisions, and they should have financial control over these decisions so that they may act in accordance with their personal beliefs. (4) FREEDOM to pick a plan without government penalties. State and federal governments should stop using the tax code to play favorites between health plans. If every person had a refundable, individual healthcare tax credit, he would be truly financially free to choose the health plan that’s best for him.” [Patriot Post quote]

California Responds to Forest Fires in Mexico

Last weekend there were 23 blazes in the United States that burned more than 275,000 acres in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming and according to the National Interagency Fire Center there have been 54,686 wildfires that occurred on 3.2 million acres across the nation this year, which is three times the average of just over 1 million acres.

So, while these wildfires are occurring in the Southwest, the state of California sent more than four dozen firefighters 300 miles south of the border to battle fires in Mexico. Last week the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) dispatched two engine teams (total of ten engines and 54 personnel) with the office of California governor’s approval (Schwarzenegger) via Baja California Governor Eugenio Elorduy Walther. CDF Fire Captain Jesse Estrada stated that Border Agency Fire Council agreements allow US firefighters to fight blazes one mile over the border. He stated that California state “was able to fill the request while still remaining ready to respond to any wildfires here in California.” It seems everyone, even WMD who reported it, has failed to mention that the cost of this operation comes out of the California’s state treasury that is comprised of taxpayer funding. California has been suffering from a weak economy for some time and now the residents of that state can see one example of why the state has nearly gone bankrupt several times. Between welfare benefits being doled out to illegal immigrants and fund wasting operations such as this, it is a wonder that California residents are not besieging the California state government building. It seems that California’s state name should be changed to “Mexifornia” – the title of Victor Hanson Davis’ book. [Photo provided by Friend of LPJ, Joan B., Illinois]

Random Thought – Gordo and Ann Coulter’s Widow Comment

Ann Coulter is a conservative, a very verbal and dedicated conservative and has been known even by her conservative colleagues as the “Vipress” in the media. Gordo at Appletree, wrote a piece attacking Ann Coulter’s book (without ever reading it, and when questioned on this he stated in so many words that he doesn’t read trash) and in the article, linked above, Gordo accuses Coulter of plagiarism in the form of using pictures that he provides examples. Without ever reading any of her books, and specifically the one he is attacking, he has apparently obtained his information from a third-party viewpoint who may or may not have read Coulter’s book either.

Cliff Kincaid, in his article The Coulter Fallout, writes: “One of the most interesting reactions I got to my column on Ann Coulter’s vicious personal attack on the New Jersey 9/11 widows was, Why does Ann need ‘evidence’ for her opinion? The left doesn’t need ‘evidence’ for making ridiculous claims against the president of the United States in the media. … Coulter charged, without a sliver of evidence, that the widows enjoyed their husbands’ deaths. Such a charge, as Coulter knows, being a lawyer, is not only false but defamatory. The widows probably won’t sue because Coulter would use the controversy to sell more of her books. Curiously, a good conservative writer, Alan Caruba, devoted an entire column to defending Coulter … ”

But, if Ann Coulter is printing hear say or just plain hogwash in books like “Truth About Liberals” – what good does it do in the efforts against bias media reporting. On the other hand, Coulter was presenting an allegation going around that some members of the 9/11 victims’ families were using the economic windfall to make monetary gain. Whatever be the case, it doesn’t take away the tragedy of 9/11 and the widows comment shouldn’t have been printed. It was not only insensitive, but a true defamation against those widows.

 

It was a wrong thing to do, whether I agree with some of Coulter’s columns or not. As Kincaid stated: “But I do know that human decency requires that we criticize and condemn this hateful rhetoric.” Ann Coulter is not helping the fight against one-sided media reporting nor the usual hateful rhetoric coming from the Sociocrats with little or no “evidence.” Two wrongs do not make one right.

 

Light Side of the Lighthouse – Men are Simple Creatures & Chicago

Tara, Wisconsin says men are happier …

 What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character.

Iraq Winding Down – America’s Future – Exclusive Article by Molly McCarroll

An excellent article written by Molly McCarroll, Editorial Director of www.FamilySecurityMatters.org and a graduate of the Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC, writes:

“American soldiers will not always be in Iraq and as Iraqi security forces improve at a rate matched only by the howls of the American left to redeploy our troops yesterday, if possible, it looks as if the day when only a skeleton crew is left on the ground is growing ever closer. … But even if all of these accomplishments prove to be entirely successful, we will not be safe. … In his efforts to build support for the Iraq conflict, President Bush contributed to the misperception that they were one and the same. … Americans do not like war and it is reasonable to expect that our next generation of elected leaders may reflect the war-weariness of a population that believes it has done the job it set out to do. Unfortunately, that belief will be flat wrong, though perhaps not difficult to understand. The United States has never fought a conventional war against an idea before. …

Light Side of Lighthouse – Welcome, Zarqawi

Quills, Iowa, sends a picture depicting what and who will be awaiting Islamic fundamental terrorists in their perceived paradise of seven virgins …

Myth Blaster – Gore-nocchio’s Global Warming Obsession

Al Gore is the subject in this Myth Blaster. It has come up more often than not during his tenure as Vice President of the United States of America and then again when he ran against GW Bush in the 2000 presidential election. Recently he has produced a film concerning the Global Warming theory, which has proven over and over to be junk science, but Gore has decided to run a private crusade. But before I dwell on the myth busting aspect of “Prince Albert” alias “Gore-nocchio” – Al Gore, I would like to briefly outline his biography:

Light Side of Lighthouse – What Happened this Week in 1850 California?

Joan B., Illinois sends a question concerning California …

 Do you know what happened this week back in 1850, in California?
California became a state.
The State had no electricity.
The State had no money.
Almost everyone spoke Spanish.
There were gun fights in the streets.

So basically, it was just like California today except the women
had real breasts and men didn't hold hands.

 

 

Kritter Korner Feature – Pictures real, story a hoax

Quills, Iowa sent pictures of tiger and piglets courtesy of FunPics, which are posted at Myth Blaster Gallery. R. Gleason notified LPJ that the story is a hoax (see comment). Real story is located at Snipes.

Circumhorizontal Arc – What’s That? – Quills, Iowa sends Photo

A rare photo, depicted at LPJ Photo Gallery, of what is called a “circumhorizontal arc” in the terminology of the weather bureau was caught on film on June 3^rd, 2006 over Northern Idaho near the Washington border. This photo was passed to me by Quills, Iowa, but she didn’t say whether she had a chance to see this beautiful phenomenon. Thanks, Quills.

Myth Blaster – Swiffer WetJet Cleaning System

Myth Blaster examines, after a request from Kritter Girl, the email and gossip that the Swiffer Wet Jet Sweeper is toxic to dogs. Here is an example of the email … Warning for your animal's health:

I recently had a neighbor who had to have their 5-year old German Shepherd dog put down due to liver failure. The dog was completely healthy until a few weeks ago, so they had a necropsy done to see what the cause was. The liver levels were unbelievable, as if the dog had ingested poison of some kind. The dog is kept inside, and when he's outside, someone's with him, so the idea of him getting into something unknown was hard to believe. My neighbor started going through all the items in the house. When he got to the Swiffer Wet jet, he noticed, in very tiny print, a warning which stated "may be harmful to small children and animals." He called the company to ask what the contents of the cleaning agent are and was astounded to find out that anitfreeze is one of the ingredients. (Actually he was told it's a compound which is one molecule away from antifreeze). Therefore, just by the dog walking on the floor cleaned with the solution, then licking it's own paws, and the dog eating from its dishes which were kept on the kitchen floor cleaned with this product, it ingested enough of the solution to destroy its liver. Soon after his dog's death, his housekeepers' two cats also died of liver failure. They both used the Swiffer Wetjet for quick cleanups on their floors. Necropsies weren't done on the cats, so they couldn't file a lawsuit, but he asked that we spread the word to as many people as possible so they don't lose their animals.

Snippets – Congressional Updates

• Republican leadership in the House has announced that they will be holding field hearings later this summer to discuss illegal immigration. These hearings will take place around the country in an attempt to get more public opinion. This is the time to reiterate your stance on this issue with your state reps in Washington. Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader John Boehner stated that there is no time line to put the bill together. Does this mean that they are truly considering changing or rewriting the Senate bill or does this mean the usual political ploy of waiting until American citizens lose interest?

Myth Blaster – Area Code Scam Warning

CJ, Wisconsin wants to know if the “scam busting” area code scam is real.

The claim is, according to Urban Legends, “unsuspecting phone customers have been gulled by scam artists into placing calls to area codes in the Caribbean that result in hefty charges.”

The following is what was sent to CJ:

Myth Blaster: The Truth Concerning “Net Neutrality”

The Senate, having already passed an outrageous bill concerning immigration, is now on the move to put the federal government in charge of regulating Internet traffic, considered a “major new telecommunications reform bill.” Advocates of the so-called “net neutrality” (MoveOn.org is all for it, so that should send a red flag) that will be a regulation attempt to amend the Consumer’s Choice and Broadband Deployment Act to include provisions that will slow broadband deployment and limit consumer choice. CEI writes:

“Implementing net neutrality would prohibit Internet service providers – the owners and developers of the Net’s infrastructure – from charging different price for different levels of service. The plan could also end up preventing individuals and organizations from setting up private networks and screening out content they deem objectionable. … Content providers such as Google, eBay and Amazon have supported the adoption of federal regulations which would allow them to avoid paying increased rates for more demanding services, like high definition video. Internet service providers, however, are preparing plans to cater to the needs of an array of different users. Content providers with minimal network demands will, as now, be able to get their access at reasonable price while those offering content requiring priority delivery will pay accordingly for their enhanced access.”

Snippets – There’s Progress in the War on Terrorism – Despite Leftist Rhetoric

The American media, as you have read in the previous post, has not been doing its job reporting the progress of the war on terrorism – in fact, one usually reads or sees on TV or hears on the radio mostly the negative news concerning our troops or the series of raids and events against our troops. But there are some good reports still filtering through …

• USA Today reports:

“The relatively low cost of mounting terrorist attacks makes even cash-strapped militant organizations dangerous, but a five-year effort to staunch terrorist money is having an effect, U.S. officials and terrorism experts say. The reduced flow of terrorism money is the result of a ‘relentless grinding away at other essential components of the terrorist networks – the couriers, the facilitators, the fundraisers, the safe house keepers, the technicians,’ John McLaughlin, deputy CIA director from 2000-2004, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.”

See also, My Way – reporting the much needed information found recently. 

• Reuters – A Lebanese man has confessed to assassinating a series of senior Hezbollah and Palestinian guerillas over a seven-year period on behalf of Israeli intelligence, the Lebanese Army said. It said Mahmoud Rafeh, arrested along with three others in connection with the May 26 killing of a ‘terrorist network’ behind at least three other major assassinations in Lebanon.
• The Herald (UK) – Iraq’s premier launched a security crackdown against al-Qaeda in Baghdad Wednesday (6/14) but held out an olive branch to Sunni rebels in a twin strategy to ease violence. Backed by tanks and armored vehicles, about 50,000 Iraqi security forces and 7200 US-led troops were deployed across Baghdad, setting up checkpoints and patrolling streets in the strife-torn capital.

Finally Positive Media Representation – the Other Side of the Story

A multi-media advertising campaign sponsored by www.MoveAmericaForward.org will be on air tonight June 22^nd. It is the alternate site of the Left, anti-war stance of www.MoveOn.org. It is also the opposite viewpoint of Cindy Sheehan’s campaign of not only anti-war, but anti-American ideology concerning parents and those who lost loved ones in what the Pentagon has named the “Long War.” The first television ad will air on the Fox News Channel television network with a 60-second TV spot that features a listing of major terrorist figures killed, captured or arrested as a result of the American-led war against terrorism. The ad campaign will then be aired on CNN/Headline News and local affiliates of the major television networks like NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, WB, UPN. Needless to say, this venture will cost a lot of money, but thus far because of generous funding from individuals, organizations and institutions Americans can see more balanced and positive media coverage on the war against terrorism. To date more than 1,000 individuals have contributed to this specific advertising effort.

Quills, Iowa – Receives letter from Senator Harkin, Iowa

The following was sent to me by Quills, Iowa, and an answer to her correspondence to her state senator concerning the Senate Immigration Bill. I also will provide the link to the letter sent from my senator to compare notes. Before you read the letter, here are my points against the bureaucratic rhetoric from Senator Harkin trying to validate a bill that should never have passed the Senate:

Correction at Kritter Korner Page

I have been informed that Pat Flippo is not a retired "tugboat" captain, but a retired "tow boat" captain. My mistake. I should order one of Kathy's interesting books and be more informed. Kathy also has an column at this website: Tow Talkin' – which should have given a key indication that "tow" and "tug" are different.

Kathy Flippo’s books:

Beaver Island Remembered

Between the Saints: Louis and Paul

Back to Beaver Island

And her newest book:

Between the River and the Rails: South Clinton

For those of you who missed it, I posted an article concerning the plight of the historical district of South Clinton and Kathy’s personal story of having to trade off her beloved historical home for a new one by the ADM Corporation that has developed a revolutionary method of making plastic out of corn instead of petroleum. See LPJ Archived story.

Going Bananas

Diane S, Wisconsin sent an interesting email concerning bananas, some of which I already knew, some of which I haven’t verified – but nonetheless, I like bananas (and other fruit), so just passed this on to Friends of LPJ. A couple of years ago, HM, Illinois sent something similar about the wonderful fruit we call bananas or maybe it is just an ad for banana companies – there is even a website called the Banana Republic; there is no doubt that bananas are good for you …

Randomly Thinking on a Warm Morning at the Peninsula

• Hope all you fathers had a great day yesterday. Here, things were kept simple. We spent an evening together at Pizza Hut and I received a carved wooden seagull sitting on a pier that will be destined to a spot in our rock-walled garden which is themed “nautical’ – placed in front of the wooden lighthouse I received last Father’s Day. I also received two coffee cups, one a replacement of one that broke and another with a beautiful picture of a wolf mug. They were all purchased at Pet Expressions, the establishment where Sharon works.
• I received several email comments on how much they enjoyed the Door Peninsula wines, and Quills, Iowa told me that she hadn’t had cherry juice like that in quite a while. If you ever visit our beautiful peninsula, be sure you stop by and try the sampling bar – don’t forget to take the tour and see how we make and bottle our wines. Door Peninsula Winery has the largest vineyard on the peninsula. And, if you are hungry, you can eat dinner starting at 5 PM from Thursday through Mondays at the Vineyard Restaurant in the same building as the Winery.
• I want to pause for a moment and thank Friends of LPJ – fellow Americans – for their concentrated efforts and support in the fight against bad legislation concerning the illegal immigrant issue. If we are not united on this matter and don’t ever think your voice doesn’t count. Politicians are counting on Americans to think in that line of thought, and develop political amnesia as we too often do. A snowball starts small until it is rolled in the snow, and then it becomes a boulder.

Snippets – Terrorism, Education, Earmarks

• It’s an Islamic Jihad, Stupid, writes Diana West: “Discussing the ‘war on terror’ has been endlessly awkward. Terror – like a blitzkrieg, sneak-attack or disinformation – is a tactic, not an enemy. But in our politically-correct era, we dwell on the tactic, never defining the enemy. Drop 500-pound bombs on his head if we must – and we must – but don’t describe him as an Islamic jihadist in the age-old tradition of Islamic jihads going back to Muhammad. Such historical precision might be hurtful and insensitive, and we wouldn’t want that.”

Snippets – Immigration Policy Update

• “The humanitarian argument for increasing immigration appeals to many people of deep religious sensibilities. According to this argument, the United States is morally obligated to admit any poor suffering people of the world who manage to make it into the United States. Here is an analogy that illustrates the limitations of that moral obligation.” Read Jennifer Roback Morse’ article.
• There’s more that meets the eye in the illegal immigrant instant citizen and amnesty movement. “Mexican drug cartels are operating in cities in the U.S. and are buying legitimate businesses to launder money and using some of the proceeds to win local mayoral and city council seats for politicians who can shape the policies and personal decisions of their police forces,” according to Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo, who is leading the fight to secure our border and enforce the immigration laws. Check out WND exclusive story.