Don't forget the Advisor meeting at 1:00pm Saturday
SOUTHERN CROSS CONFERENCE
We attended the first Southern Cross Conference this past weekend in Charleston. Dad attended to represent Texas ABATE Confederation. The concept of the conference was to get all federal legislators on the same page concerning issues of importance to the southern states. Bikers of course will spearhead that effort.
The conference brought out a lot of new riders from several states and the workshops were brand new from any you normally get at these type conferences. All seminars were very well prepared and were backed by volumes of written material. All were aimed at who the southern legislators are, their voting records and how to contact them. A female State Rep from SC started off by addressing the Conference. I believe someone should have given her some guidelines prior to her address. She stated that when bikers venture into the world of politics they should dress the part. She stated that when she went to bikers for their support she wore jeans and T-shirt into their world. She further stated that when we come into her world we should dress the part.
This old man was sitting up front on the chair for speakers and I was about to scream. (but didn't) She was giving the impression that she dressed down for us and we should dress up for her. I wasn't the only one who was getting that impression. When she finished I immediately told her if she would sit down now I would tell her how it really worked as I was the next speaker. She left.
The banquet consisted of a fine variety of food and was very plentiful. The evening speaker was the SC Lt. Governor and his talk was a 180 degree turnaround from that previously offered by the Rep. Everything about his talk was positive.
The Hospitality Room while being a place to party and enjoy snacks were primarily used as a place to discuss each political view espoused by each person present. It was several round table discussions and moving from one table to the next brought several points front and center. Despite a few glitches the concept was very well accepted by all present. The next conference will be held in Kentucky the last weekend of July. There will be a National Conference of Legislators held on that weekend. Plans are to hold the Southern Cross Conference in a hotel directly across the street from their conference.
The Hospitality Room will be open to the legislators and Kentucky Legislature Mitch McConnell will host a Hospitality Room in the Legislator's hotel at which bikers will be welcome. Should be a whole new experience in bikers rights and you are urged to attend if at all possible.
CIA SECRET UNDERGROUND PRISONS
It has been revealed that the CIA has secret underground prisons scattered around the world where they are holding prisoners without charges being filed and apparently those prisoners are being tortured. Remember the revelation that FEMA has been using their budget to build concentration camps in this country as well as other purposes? Are these secret prisons also being built out of that budget?
MSNBC
The Senate has passed an Amendment (by senator John McCain) to the Defense Appropriations Act to prevent the CIA from using torture on those being held by that agency. President Bush reportedly is opposed to that Amendment and has said he would use his veto power for the first time. The House version does not have that Amendment in their Appropriations Bill and the Bill is currently in Conference Committee. We have contacted senator Huchison's office and they have verified the basic contents of the MSNBC Report. They did say the President opposes the Amendment but would not Veto the Appropriation Bill.
If you believe that our country should not sink to the depths that we so loudly protest being employed by other countries against our citizens it is time to contact your congressman and let them know you support Senate Amendment # 1977 to the Defense Appropriations Act. This whole revelation demonstrates how low our federal leaders have sunk in the past few years.
GOVERNOR SAYS FEMA NOT DOING THEIR JOB
Governor Perry has gone on record condemning FEMA for not furnishing housing for those displaced by the storms. He says about 28% of those in temporary housing will be evicted by Christmas because the motels have not received rent payments. Christmas is no time to be putting those people out in the street.
The head of FEMA says this is just grandstanding. Records indicate that each person placed in these motels was given enough money to pay several months of rent but have not used the money as intended. This is like the $2000 emergency checks that ended up being spent on extravagant shopping sprees and in topless bars.
Foot in mouth again.
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Sputnik
State Chair
