NetRight Daily: Today's Top News on NRN

Why Is the State Department Getting a Pass?:  As I mentioned yesterday, my syndicated column today spotlights the abysmally lax visa issuance policies at Hillary Clinton's State Department -- a problem that festered before 9/11 under GOP and Democrat administrations alike and continues now (hello, James Riady).

The ObamaCare Albatross:  Fueled by voter dissatisfaction over the government takeover of the nation's health system and the unbridled expansion of government as a whole, 2010 is already shaping up to be a plus-year for Republicans. A growing consensus in Washington suggests that Republicans stand to pick up a windfall of seats in both houses of Congress..

VIDEO:  Jill Biden Clueless on DC School Voucher Program.

Book Review - Colossus by Niall Ferguson:  When most Americans hear the word empire, they think of the Romans or the British. They do not think of their own nation, the United States. So it was no shock when Niall Ferguson published "Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire" in 2005, he received lots of criticism from both the left and the right. But to read this book, the reader must open his or her mind to big ideas that are truly outside of the box.

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ALG Applauds DeMint Hold on "Errant, Arrogant threat to freedom" Arturo Valenzuela

Jim DeMint is to be commended for standing

against this arrogant and errant Ivy Tower elitist."

Bill Wilson, president ALG

ALG Applauds DeMint Hold on "Errant, Arrogant

threat to freedom" Arturo Valenzuela

Americans for Limited Government (ALG) today commended Sen. Jim DeMint for putting a hold on the nomination of Arturo Valenzuela to be "Western Hemisphere Czar," terming the nominee, "a dangerous threat to democracy throughout Latin America."

Valenzuela, nominated by Barack Obama to the post of Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, would exercise broad powers over U.S. policy throughout Latin America and the Caribbean Basin. In the recent past, Valenzuela has argued for "dialogue and opening" towards Cuba, defended Hugo Chavez' crackdown on press freedom in Venezuela, and denied that violence was a major issue in Mexico.

Most recently, Valenzuela vigorously defended impeached president Manuel Zelaya of Honduras after the strong-arm ruler was impeached for violating the nation's Constitution. Under tough questioning by DeMint In hearings on the Honduras crisis, Valenzuela claimed that his 40 years as a college professor had made him an expert on "military takeovers." [SEE ATTACHED Washington News Observer VIDEO]. DeMint reminded the nominee that the Honduran military was acting under orders of the legislature and courts and at no time assumed power.

"Arturo Valenzuela has never met a Marxist dictator that he didn't embrace," said ALG's Wilson. The very thought that he would be in a position to push his despotic agenda throughout Latin America is an anathema to all who value freedom.

"In fact, it seems that the only governments Mr. Valenzuela has problems with are those that adopt democratic constitutions and then embrace and defend the freedoms they assure," Wilson said. "As long as Manuel Zelaya was violating Honduras' democratic safeguards, Arturo Valenzuela was nodding in silent consent. But, the moment the courageous people of that country rose up to defend freedom, Valenzuela was suddenly outraged. That's appalling."

The controversial Valenzuela first came to national attention in November, 2008, when widely respected journalist Martin Edwin Andersen resigned from Freedom House to protest the nominee's being an "apologist" for corruption in Argentina and throughout Latin America. Valenzuela at the time was a Freedom House advisor.

"When it comes to Latin America," Andersen wrote, "I truly hope the Obama team will give a pass on including former Hillary Clinton supporter Arturo Valenzuela on its foreign policy team. Not only is Valenzuela's dandyish personal style both boorish and pedantic; he has been proven dead wrong on several issues critical to democracy in Latin America and to U.S. security."

Said Wilson of the Valenzuela nomination, "Barack Obama has appointed scores of 'czars' with extra-legal powers to work outside of the normal channels of government to enforce his will. But, the nomination of Valenzuela is one of the most chilling of all.

"He, and he alone, will have nearly dictatorial powers to determine U.S. policy towards Latin America. And his open support for Marxist tyranny – whether in Cuba, Venezuela, or Honduras – proves him to be a clear and present threat to freedom. Jim DeMint is to be commended for standing against this arrogant and errant Ivy Tower elitist."

Attachments:

Letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from 17 Senators with attached Charges against Zelaya, and Supreme Court Order to Arrest Zelaya, July 8th, 2009.

Legal Background, "Legal situation of the transition government in Honduras," June 29th, 2009.

Arturo Valenzuela Background, Americans for Limited Government, July 2009.

ALG Urges Senate Committee to Reject Valenzuela Nomination to State Department

Americans for Limited Government wanted to specially bring your attention to a nominee that deserves the mutual, editorial condemnation of journalists across the nation and around the world: Arturo Valenzuela, Barack Obama's nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Why?

According to a former colleague, "He had also loudly defended Venezuela's narcissist-leninist Hugo Chavez on press freedom in previous meetings at Freedom House." This is no small matter, and should be cause for concern for anyone that values the freedom of the press.

Hugo Chavez's record on press freedom is atrocious. Just this year, Chavez has threatened to shut down Globovision because the television station criticized the Venezuelan dictator. Globovision is the only channel left in Venezuela where citizens can hear criticism against Chavez.

Valenzuela is on the wrong side of this and other issues critical to liberty in the Americas, and ALG urges you to take a sharp line against this very poor nomination to the State Department.

ALG News Bureau

Shea-Porter Announces More than $2.5 Million in Funding for Portsmouth Passport Facility

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter today announced that the Portsmouth National Passport Center will receive $2,570,000 for facility renovations. This funding is provided through the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

NetRight Daily: Today's Top Stories on NRN

Obama Stimulates the Deficit: President Obama's much-ballyhooed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – the economic stimulus plan - isn't stimulating much of anything except federal employment, despite having been rammed through Congress as emergency legislation in February. That's the only conclusion to be drawn from the most recent Labor Department unemployment figures. Since the $787 billion spending measure was approved, 1.2 million Americans have lost their jobs and unemployment has ratcheted up to 8.9 percent – the highest it's been since 1983.

Audit the Fed: I have been very pleased with the progress of my legislation, HR 1207, which calls for a complete audit of the Federal Reserve and removes many significant barriers towards transparency of our monetary system. This bill now has nearly 170 cosponsors, with support from both Republicans and Democrats. Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced a companion bill in the Senate S 604, which will hopefully begin to gain momentum as well. I am very encouraged to see so many of my colleagues in Congress stand with me for greater transparency in government.

Video - Rep. John Carter: In this video, Rep. John Carter discusses the "culture of corruption."

Obama Chooses Radical Koh: President Obama's nomination of left-wing academic Harold Koh to be the top lawyer at the State Department represents a choice based on ideology instead of national interest. Koh is a terrible pick for this important position. Koh is a radical transnationalist who, based on his writings and statements, aims to use international and foreign law to deprive Americans of our rights as American citizens.

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