Macon County Patriots

Speaking of Freedom:Standing Up

2012-02-03T05:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings Patriots,
Recognize this guy? Probably not. It's Revolutionary era patriot James Otis. Why am I showing his picture here? I'm glad you asked.

Once, when asked why he and the others were risking everything in a venture with such little likelihood of success, Otis responded, "We do it so a man can stand up." As I was pondering what 2012 might hold in store for Macon County Patriots, these words of his kept coming to mind. What a great way to describe the freedom they eventually won and the legacy they passed on to their descendants! You might say that the job of each subsequent generation then became simply to remain standing.

But we have a problem doing that today that not all generations have had because over the course of time, through all manner of intimidation, legislation and judicial tyranny, We The People have been told to sit down and shut up. And through complacency, busyness, indifference and a host of distractions, we have to a great degree done so, thereby failing in the vigilance Thomas Jefferson told us would be the price of remaining free. And that, in a nutshell, is why we're in the pickle we're in today.

So what is needed to right the ship? We The People must get our feet back under us. We must stand up and step out if our beloved country is to be restored. But we must also plant them on solid ground. And that ground must be the Constitution. And that is where Macon County Patriots comes in because that is what we're all about.

So, in keeping with MCP's purpose of educating people on constitutional government, we are planning events this year that will help equip us to stand up and step out for freedom. A great first step would be to renew our memberships or to join for the first time, as the case may be. Dues are only $10 per person per year. A small price to pay to help make 2012 the year Americans stood up once again. You may send yours to:

PO Box 232

Macon, MO 63552

Or, if you prefer, you can pay when you come to a meeting, the first of which will be Saturday, February 18, from 10 to 2, at the Church of the Open Door on Highway 63 South in Macon. There will be 2 speakers at this meeting. One, Mindy Patterson, will tell us about the dangerous "Your Vote Counts" initiative that is currently being promoted in the state. The other, State Representative Paul Curtman, will inform us about the "Audit The Fed Resolution" and the "Sound Money Bill", both of which are currently under consideration in the Missouri Legislature. (See previous post of Feb 1 for more details on this meeting.) We will share a carry-in lunch at noon so bring a dish and join us. We always have a great time. I hope to see you then.

Richard Cochran, President
Macon County Patriots
February 3, 2012

February 18th - Next MCP Meeting

2012-02-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 18th

10:00 to 2:00

Lunch served at noon.

Featured Speakers:

Rep. Paul Curtman

on the

Audit the Fed Resolution and Sound Money Bill

also

Mindy Patterson

Exposing HSUS and the deceitful "Your Vote Count"

Location:

Church of the Open Door

(next to Quinn Lumber)

32310 Hwy 63 South

Macon, MO 63552

(Fellowship Hall behind the Church)

Paul believes that sound principles are the cornerstone of good government. Paul often says, “Elected office is reserved as a seat of service, not a seat of status. It’s a seat is for statesmen, not politicians.”
He goes on to say, “The Republican Party has traditionally stood for limited government, I am not a ‘Big Government’ Republican. I am an independent-minded conservative on the Republican ticket.”

Representative Curtman serves as a Deputy Whip in the Missouri House of Representatives and currently serves on the following committees:

Joint Committee on Terrorism, Bioterrorism, and Homeland Security
Appropriations - Health, Mental Health, and Social Services
Ways and Means
Economic Development
Downsizing State Government, Vice-Chairman
Special Standing Committee on Disability Services

Mindy Patterson is the president and co-founder of The Cavalry Group, an organization working to assist livestock producers, agricultural interests and animal owners in the fight against the radical animal rights movement nationwide.

Mindy served as the campaign manager for The Alliance for Truth Campaign Committee which was at the forefront of the hard fought campaign opposing the HSUS driven Proposition B in the Missouri 2010 election. Mindy also serves as the Director of Communications for the Missouri Federation of Animal Owners (MOFED), the Development Director for United Horsemen, and is currently Vice President on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Equine Council.

The Alliance For Truth campaign has reemerged to defeat the Missouri 2012 ballot initiative, “Your Vote Counts," a ballot measure that threatens Missouri’s sovereignty and constitutional Republic!

CALL TO ACTION: SB706 The Turner-Fix Bill

2012-01-30T11:20:00.000-08:00

From Senator Jane Cunningham:

We are getting great initial press coverage on the Turner-fix bill, SB706 (2 page cheat sheet of bullet points attached) and reporters are picking up and accepting our stated goal of making sure all children have access to a quality accredited school while protecting public school districts from being overwhelmed with applicants (just as the St. Louis county superintendents requested). They are reporting our "dramatic plan offered for failing schools" accurately, clearly and fairly. Links to articles are below:
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/dramatic-school-plan-offered-for-failing-schools/article_68f313f6-8e58-5dda-ba93-8069a26d8a71.html
FRONT PAGE OF THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, TOP, LEAD STORY
http://www.stlbeacon.org/issues-politics/95-Education/115671-new-proposals-could-bring-dramatic-changes-to-missouri-schools
http://www.stlbeacon.org/issues-politics/95-Education/115603-city-firefighters-sue-to-force-county-schools-to-accept-their-children
http://www.stlbeacon.org/voices/in-the-news/115465-private-school-choice-and-the-turner-decision
A surprising and most encouraging start!!

The hearing on SB706 is this coming Tuesday afternoon.

WHAT: Hearing on SB706, the Turner-fix bill

WHEN: Tuesday, January 31, 3pm

WHERE: Senate Committee Hearing Room 1

If you want to share your 3 minute (or less) comments in person with the committee or submit written comments for the record please contact Senator Cunningham:

(573) 751-1186

Jane.Cunningham@senate.mo.gov

If you cannot attend the hearing, you may email your comments or scan a letter and email them by Monday evening, Jan. 30th and they will be included in the committee record for SB706.

You can also fill out a Witness Appearance form here:

http://nicky.xsintrk.net/witnessform.pdf

Check the Senate box. Date, January 31, 2012. The bill number is SB706.

Fill out your name, address and phone number. Then down under "Testimony" simply put that you support SB706. You can also include a short statement of your support if you'd like.
Print it out and fax this form to Senator Cunningham's office by this evening:

Fax: (573) 526-9852

Senator Cunningham MUST have all correspondence in her office by this evening.

Above all please pray for Senator Cunningham as she faces this challenge.

From Missouri Family Network:

State Senator Jane Cunningham is fighting the education establishment on behalf of the many tens of thousands of students trapped in sub-standard failing school districts. These schools have been dysfunctional for years and bring shame on the Great State of Missouri. But to make matters worse is the added problem of neighboring school districts which don’t want to help these students by allowing them to be placed into their schools. The labor unions and education elitists will do anything to keep these students from getting help from private schools, while the leadership of our State’s inner city schools seem to be too busy fighting each other over who to blame, throwing each other under the bus in internal political squabbling, and/or refusing to reform their chronic incompetence thanks to the financial benefits of milking the taxpayers for more and more aid.

You can read and follow SB706 here:

http://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=643206

We will update this information when Rep. Scott Dieckhaus files this same bill in the Missouri House.

2012-01-24T13:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Fellow MCP Members,
Please look this invitation over and seriously consider registering for and watching this event. For those who may not be familiar with Hillsdale College, they are a private school that is providing one of the clearest voices anywhere calling for a return to the Constitution. In addition to this, they provide many free resources to help accomplish this goal. Notice that this is free, but you must register, and that it will be archived for future viewing afterward. Also, check out the other resources they have to offer while you're there.
Richard Cochran, President
Macon County Patriots
January 23, 2012

Our Choice Today: Bureaucratic Despotism or the Constitution

Saturday, January 28, 2012
11:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. EST

This event will be archived for later viewing.

Register today: ConstitutionTownHall.com

On January 28, join Hillsdale College for a FREE online town hall on this timely topic. You will hear from:

• U.S. Senator Mike Lee: "How the Federal Bureaucracy Undermines American Liberty"
• Hillsdale professor Kevin Portteus: "Is There a Place for Regulatory Agencies in the Constitution?"
• Hillsdale professor R.J. Pestritto: "How Did the Fourth Branch of Government Come to Be?"
• Hillsdale President Larry Arnn: "Returning to the Constitution"

THIS IS A FREE ONLINE WEBCAST. YOU CAN WATCH FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME. BUT YOU MUST REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS LIVE, NATIONAL EVENT.

Go to ConstitutionTownHall.com now to register. Invite your friends, family, neighbors, fellow Tea Party members, plus anyone else who is interested in this important conversation.

You will have a chance to submit your questions to the speakers, and by the end of the event you will better understand how we can recover the principles of the Constitution.

Submit your questions to: townhall@hillsdale.edu

Forward to a Friend

Connect with Us:




Copyright 2012 Hillsdale College. All Rights Reserved. Hillsdale College 33 East College St. \| Hillsdale, MI 49242 The Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship 227 Massachusetts Avenue, NE \| Washington, D.C. 20002

What an Internet Protest Looks Like

2012-01-18T13:39:00.000-08:00

There is an internet black out today protesting SOPA and PIPA.
Facebook (the government sell out social network) is NOT participating.

PIPA has already passed out of committee and is primed for
consideration by the full Senate on January 24. What does this mean?
PIPA is much farther along in the process than its House cousin the
"Stop Online Piracy Act," or SOPA.

On January 24th the Senate is voting on whether or not to move forward
on the PROTECT IP Act, or PIPA, the Senate version of the so-called
Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA.
Tell Congress that you oppose S. 968

This vote is one of the last stops on the way to PIPA becoming U.S. law.
Sign up to call your Senators on the 23rd and tell them to vote "no" on PIPA

More information on SOPA & PIPA:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:SOPA_initiative/Learn_more

http://www.publicknowledge.org/

http://www.publicknowledge.org/act-now

UPDATE: As of this afternoon, Senator Roy Blunt has withdrawn his co-sponsorship of PIPA.

"Senate Leader Harry Reid is pushing forward with legislation that is deeply flawed and still needs much work. That is why I’m withdrawing my co-sponsorship for the Protect IP Act."

Should have never got into bed with Reid in the first place and co-sponsored! But atleast he's listening and being vocal about his withdrawl.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-01-16T07:46:00.000-08:00

The progressives can't change history -- no matter how much effort they put into creating their illusions.

2012 Missouri Caucus

2012-01-15T22:53:00.000-08:00

How the Missouri Republican presidential caucus system will work:

Q: Who can go to a caucus?

A: Any registered voter in a county who says he or she is a Republican.

Q: What do I need to do to caucus?
You will need to be a registered voter in your county to caucus. This will be checked when you come to caucus. Please bring with you your voter registration card and your driver's license. There is no cost to caucus. The caucus can be a long process so plan for an all day event. There is no formal dress code for the caucus; dress comfortably.

Q: Where are caucuses held?

A: One caucus will be held in each of Missouri's 114 counties and the city of St. Louis at 10 a.m. on March 17. This caucus is to elect the delegates only.

Macon County will be held at the Macon County Courthouse - March 17th at 10 a.m.

Other counties contact your County Committee for the location:

http://www.mogop.org/resources/mo-gop/county-committees/

Q: How do caucuses work?

A: Once voters gather at a caucus location, they will decide as a group how delegates will be selected, whether delegates will run individually or as a slate of candidates, whether the vote will use a secret ballot or be conducted publicly and other details.

Q: How long will a caucus take?

A: That will be determined by how each caucus decides to select delegates. Allowing speeches, extended debate or multiple votes could prolong a meeting.

Q: How many delegates will be chosen at each caucus?

A: The number of delegates per county is determined by a formula worked out by the Missouri Republican Party. It is based on the number of votes for the GOP candidate for president in each county in 2008.
Macon County will elect 14 delegates.

Q: What happens after the caucuses?

A: One set of delegates chosen at the county caucuses will attend one of eight congressional district conventions on April 21. At those conventions, a total of 24 delegates (three from each district) will be chosen to attend the national convention in Tampa, Fla. Another set of delegates from the county caucuses will attend the state convention on June 2, at which time they will help chose 25 delegates to attend the national convention. The party chairman, national committeeman and national committeewoman are automatically delegates, bringing Missouri's total to 52.

Source: Missouri Republican Party

From Missouri Precinct Project (MOPP):

The delegate selection process, as agreed to by the state committee:

*The County Caucuses will take place on March 17, 2012. At these caucuses, which are open to any Republican who is registered to vote in that county, attendees will select delegates and alternates to the Congressional District Conventions and State Convention. No delegates to the national convention are selected at this time. The number of delegates and alternates per county is determined by the Missouri Republican Party based upon the number of GOP votes cast in the last presidential election. Presidential Election 2008 Republican Votes = 1,441,911

* The Congressional District Conventions will take place on April 21, 2012. At each of these 8 conventions, delegates chosen at the county level will select 3 delegates and alternates to the National Convention and 1 presidential elector. The delegates and alternates will be required to declare allegiance to a candidate prior to the voting, and they will be bound to that candidate on the first ballot—unless they are released prior to the convention.

*The State Convention will take place on June 2, 2012. At the convention, delegates chosen at the county level will vote on 25 at-large delegates and alternates to the National Convention and 2 at large presidential electors. The delegates and alternates will be required to declare allegiance to a candidate prior to the voting, and they will be bound to that candidate on the first ballot—unless they are released prior to the convention. In total, Missouri will have 52 delegates and 49 alternates to the Republican National Convention—24 selected at the congressional district caucuses, 25 selected at the state convention, and 1 delegate (but no alternate) for the state Party chairman, national committeeman and national committeewoman.

This Party action does not require legislative approval.

2012 Missouri Primary - What Happened?

2012-01-14T11:32:00.000-08:00

From The Source

January 3, 2012

http://bit.ly/zThApV

Primarily Wasteful

With primary season officially beginning tonight with the Iowa Caucuses it’s important to have an understanding of just how badly Missouri screwed the pooch when it comes to our primary decision.

As you are likely aware, the primary in Missouri was scheduled too early. So early, in fact, that the delegates would be meaningless come time for the convention.

This is why Missouri has opted instead for a caucus, after the imposed start date, to avoid the stripping of delegates that would have occurred otherwise.

But what happens to that primary?

In true bureaucratic fashion it will go ahead exactly as planned, despite having absolutely no relevance or standing whatsoever, because the state law requires a “primary” regardless of where the delegates are decided.

So how much will the bill for this primarily non-primary primary run?

[I]t appears that voters’ choices in a primary that will cost taxpayers $8 million will have little relevance.

Couldn’t something have been done about this giant mess?

During the regular session in 2011, the General Assembly passed legislation (Senate Bill 282) that called for moving the date of the presidential primary to March to comply with the rules of the national Republican and Democratic parties.
Gov. Jay Nixon said he supported that change. But, the bill also contained provisions that would have eliminated write-in candidates in many municipal elections and would have imposed costs for taxpayers to hold special elections. Because of those additional provisions, Nixon vetoed the bill. So, the primary remains scheduled for Feb. 7.

And so Nixon flushed $8 million down the drain with the stroke of a pen.

This primary means nothing. Absolutely nothing. But because the state mandates a primary we have a primary, with no concern for the inevitable allocation of delegates at the convention.

So on February 7, 2012, you will actually be able to witness – statewide – how the government wastes your money.

It’s an $8 million exercise in red tape.

What a waste.

- B.H.

So what happens now?

From Chron.com:

http://bit.ly/zWotsP

Missouri Republicans decided Thursday to use caucuses to choose presidential candidates, bailing out of a planned February primary that had threatened to cause confusion for the 2012 election calendar.

The Missouri Republican State Committee voted unanimously to switch to a caucus process in an attempt to avoid losing half its 52 delegates to the national convention and triggering a chain-reaction of states moving up their presidential contests. The March 17 county caucuses will be open to any Republican who is registered to vote in that county.

At the county caucuses, Republicans will select delegates to attend the state's congressional district conventions on April 21 and a state convention June 2. At those conventions, delegates will be selected to attend the party's national convention. Those delegates will be bound to support a particular presidential candidate. The state Republican Party chairman, national committeeman and national committeewoman also are delegates to the national convention.

"The Missouri Republican Party is committed to ensuring that the governor's veto of the elections bill and the General Assembly's failure to move our presidential primary will not disrupt the national nominating process," state GOP Chairman David Cole said. "A caucus will continue to protect the rights of Missourians to select the Republican nominee for president."

-Chris Blank, Associated Press

We are putting together information on Missouri's county caucus process and how you can get involved.

Yes! A New Year For Freedom!

2012-01-02T23:32:00.000-08:00

I love Rick Cochran's New Year's post! I've recently received a few emails containing powerful words of wisdom that fall right in line with what Rick said. One of the many things I respect about Rick and Cathy is that they live their convictions, they practice what they preach, they walk the walk. They understand that the greatest impact we can have is by strengthening ourselves first. Once we're armed with truth and unshakeable conviction we join forces with others and become a stronger force united. But it all begins with me. With you. Rick said, "If we are to be able to educate others we must first be educated ourselves. Therefore, I resolve to better equip myself..."

We absolutely canNOT sit back and think that other people are doing something to defend our Republic and our Liberty so we don't need to do anything. Now, more than ever is the time to get involved. What ever gifts, talents, ambitions you have, now is the time to put them to work. The new year ahead of us needs every ounce of energy to succeed in saving the Constitution freedom our Founders established. It's time to get out from behind the computer and "do [your] part in putting shoe leather to [the] goal[s] of Liberty]."

I'd like to share part of a message from a friend, the president of MidMo Patriots, James Coyne. At the year's end he was reflecting on what it is we are about and what it is we are fighting for. He said:

"What we fight against is not a person or a political party but the killing of the human spirit. We fight against those who would define each person, control their destiny and take the fruit of their labor.

All we need do is look at the hopelessness of each individual in the many totalitarian states around the world, or in fact, the living death of total dependency in many of our own cities, to see what is at stake when we loose our liberty and the responsibility for our own lives.

Often I feel tired and ready to give up when I see the corruption and lack of principals in both parties. Does what we do make a difference? I am reminded of the scripture that reads, “Do not grow weary in well doing, if you faint not you will reap in due season. Galatians 6:9"

Remember – one person can change the world when the truth is with him – and that person is you.

Let us be bold. Let us dream the big dreams and sharpen one another as steel sharpens steel in the days to come.

And to close I'd like to share a story sent to me from Andrew Palmer, a friend, KC public education teacher, Editor of KC blog CoMoPolitics:

A man decided that he would change the world.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change the country.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his community.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his street.
But, be wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change his family.
But, he wasn’t successful.
So he decided to change himself.
AND HE WAS SUCCESSFUL.
AND HIS FAMILY CHANGED AND THEY AFFECTED THEIR STREET.
AND THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET AFFECTED THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY AFFECTED THEIR COUNTRY.
AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY AFFECTED THE WORLD.

I look forward to learning, working with and serving along side of you.

Speaking of Freedom:A New Year for Freedom

2011-12-31T07:11:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Patriots,
With the busy, tumultuous and often whacky year of 2011 about to be relegated to the history books, it is time to ring in 2012. Beginning January 1, we patriots must busy ourselves with making sure it is a year that sets our beloved country back on a course where freedom and prosperity can once again thrive. With that in mind here are my "Patriot Resolutions for 2012" which I believe can help me do my part in putting shoe leather to that goal. I invite you to join me in so resolving.

The by-laws of MCP read, in part, "Our purpose is to promote the original intent of the Constitution in government at all levels. Our members work to educate voters on the original intent of the Constitution,... " If we are to be able to educate others we must first be educated ourselves. Therefore, I resolve to better equip myself to do so by reading from the Bible, and/or The Declaration of Independence, and/or The Constitution, and/or other relevant resources, daily.
I don't believe that politics is the answer. It is most of the problem. It is important, however, and since 2012 is an election year, it behooves us to be involved in the process. Therefore, I resolve to work individually and through MCP and/or with other like-minded groups and individuals to help elect candidates who revere the Constitution and consider it authoritative and/or to defeat those who do not; and to do the same with regard to ballot initiatives.

A short and sweet list, as you can see. Even so, these two simple things, multiplied many times over, by patriots everywhere, can make all the difference. Throughout 2012 MCP will be offering information and training that will help us keep these resolutions. Have a wonderful and safe New Year's celebration. After that's over, let's all resolve to hit the ground running in 2012. I'll see you along the way?!.

Richard Cochran, President
Macon County Patriots
December 31, 2011

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-22T08:49:00.000-08:00

Blessed are they who find refuge at the feet of a Living Master. Once His, He never leaves or forsakes us till He fulfills His promised duty of escorting, whoever comes to Him, to the True Home of the Father. Christmas is celebrated for Christ was born this day but the real Christmas will be celebrated when we really make up our minds to fulfill the aim of Christ's birth, viz., to enter the Kingdom of God, and bring the same on earth.

~Kirpal Singh

There is no doubt that we are in a spiritual battle for our country which was founded and secured on Christian principals. We live in a time when the most important preparation & priority in our lives should be to be certain, without doubt, that we are sure footed in Who's we are, Who we serve and where our strength and refuge come from. Now is the time to "bring the same on earth."

With the wide sweep of Islam take over and the commercialism of this holy season, Christianity is being muzzled. It's time for Christians to step forward and claim every single one of our foundations -- out loud.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRRhxvKMpQU

"I will love You, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies."

Psalm 18:1-3

Christmas blessings to you and your family

from Macon County Patriots.

Speaking of Freedom:Giving Thanks

2011-11-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

All,
With all that is wrong with and in the world, there is still plenty that is good. Today seems an appropriate time to mention a few of those things for which I am thankful.

First and foremost, I am thankful for my life and to the God of the Universe who chose to take on human flesh and come to this earth for the express purpose of dying for my sins so that I might have eternal life.

Secondly, I am thankful to that same God for the gift of a wonderful wife. (Even though she is 4'10" and I am 6'2", she is the one who married beneath herself.)

Next I am thankful for the 2 sons God has blessed us with and for the godly young men they have turned out to be. Thank you God and Cathy.

I am thankful for having been born an American and in and for such a time as this when my country needs all of her sons and daughters to come to her aid.

I am thankful for Macon County Patriots because through our group we have an outlet through which we can work together toward restoring our beloved nation.

I am thankful for young people like the Freedom Scholars who are taking up the mantle of freedom in their own generation.

Last but certainly not least, I am thankful for the sacrifices of our veterans who served so sacrificially and so well and for those who gave their last full measure of devotion to preserve our freedoms.

I just wanted to remind us all on this Thanksgiving Day to have an attitude of gratitude today and every day. God bless you and God bless the USA.

Richard Cochran, President
Macon County Patriots
November 24, 2011

Faces of Freedom 2nd Annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner

2011-11-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

The second annual Faces of Freedom event, Veterans Appreciation Dinner will be held November 11th, 2011 at the Macon County Expo Center, located at the Macon County Fairgrounds. The event this year will begin at 5 PM and last through 8 PM.

Dinner will be served from 5-8 PM

Faces of Freedom is honoring our men and women veterans from all service, foreign and domestic, for their brave and unselfish giving of themselves, for all that we have in this great country of the United States of America.

The entire evening is free of charge to all Veterans and their spouses, current and retired. The evening will begin with a catered meal provided by Noland's Catering of Macon followed by guest speakers: Missouri Representative, Marine Sgt., Paul Curtman, Pastor Larry Page, Shadow Riders, retired Missouri Senator David Doctorian and U.S. Army Major Hector Maldonado. Emcee for the evening will be Jace Weber of Macon County.

The evening entertainment will be provided by "Just Friends." Just Friends is a group of 9 very talented local musicians from the Macon area, playing a wide genre of music that appeals to all ages. National Anthem by Matt Carroll.

Free tickets for the event are available at several local businesses including Macon-Atlanta State Bank, 1513 N. Missouri Street, Greg Berglund Co., 52 S. Missouri Street, and Dr. Tom Thurman Chiropractic & Rehab Clinic, 1604 Gary Street in Macon. Please stop by one of these places and pick up your tickets prior to November 11th. There is limited seating at the Expo Center so please pick up your tickets early.

First come first serve.

For any further information regarding Faces of Freedom Veterans Appreciation, please call 660-651-5638

If you would like to support or be a sponsor of this event please call 660-651-5695

Or mail to:

Macon County Patriots
FoF Veterans Appreciation Event
P.O. Box 232
Macon, MO 63552

Speaking of Freedom: Venerating Our Vets

2011-11-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

Greetings Patriots,
I hope that you are as excited as I am about the opportunity we are going to have on 11-11-11 to honor our veterans. Especially for us non-vets, it will be a small way we can serve those who have served us so sacrificially and so well. Thanks to Sally Weber for responding to the call God placed on her heart to put this together. It is going to be great! If you are a vet, I hope you, (and your spouse if you're married), will come and let us serve you a fine dinner free of charge. (See Sally's post of October, 25 for ticket info.) There will also be musical entertainment and some great speakers. If you're not a vet and are able, please come and help serve them. I hope you'll make plans now to attend.

I wish that was all I had to report but, alas, there is much else going on that concerns us as patriots. In this post I'll be pointing out some of the deceptions and dangers of the so-called "Occupy" movement as well as some of the differences between them and the Tea Party. Here are some of those which I consider to be the most obvious and important ones.

First, the Tea Party has a clearly stated purpose and agenda; constitutionally limited, fiscally responsible government, and a free market economy. By contrast, the goals and objectives of the Occupiers are as many, varied and inconsistent as the participants themselves.

Next, Tea Party gatherings are typically peaceful, respectful, (even reverent), usually leaving the sites of their gatherings cleaner than they found them. Occupy gatherings are typically characterized by chanting, ranting and raving and leave in their wake litter, human waste, damaged property and injuries. This distinction exemplifies what the Founders did and did not intend by the including in the First Amendment the rights to "peaceably assemble" and to seek "redress of grievances".

Finally and perhaps most importantly, the Tea Party is a spontaneous bottom-up, grass roots movement consisting of individuals who know who they are, what they believe and why they are there, brought together by a shared concern for the future of their beloved country.

The Occupy movement is top down, ginned up and largely made up of individuals who do not know why they are there and are demanding that the government give them what they want, whatever that might be. (I would contend that it is an example of the mob mentality I warned of in my post of 7/15/11 entitled "Mr. Potter or George Bailey". You can see that by going www.maconcountypatriots.com and scrolling down to the "Archives" section on the left side of the page.)

To be sure, there are some points the protesters raise that are legitimate and on which both can agree, i.e. we are all against corruption on wall street, (or any other street, for that matter.) But even on those issues, they differ fundamentally about how to address them. The occupiers look to government, as if politicians were pure, uncorrupted and incorruptible. Tea Partiers, realizing that all humans are given to corruption, understand that solutions must originate with individuals practicing true American patriotism, (i.e. doing what is right because it is right, day by day, as best they are able), and that this alone will form a foundation upon which America can be rebuilt.

By way of analogy, here is a comparison for your consideration. Tea Partiers are like family and friends who come together to help see a loved one through a crisis. Occupiers are like the spoiled child protesting that he deserves more than he got in the will. America doesn't exist to guarantee every spoiled child what he thinks he deserves. She was established to be a place where each person can have the opportunity to make of their own life what they will. Opportunity? Yes! Guarantee? No!

[I said in that previous post that it was going to get ugly. Ugly is here! As I write this there is video playing on the news of fires in the streets of Oakland at the Occupy gathering there, and of the Oakland police chief commenting that "anarchists" are circulating through the crowd instigating the chaos.]

Mobs threaten to destroy all that those we venerate on Veteran's Day sacrificed so much to preserve. As they proliferate and expand their activities George Baileys will be needed to stem the tsunami of chaos they will invariably leave in their wake. May we each and all be ready, willing and able to stand up to the onslaught that is coming.

Richard Cochran, President
Macon County Patriots
November 3, 2011

Speaking of Freedom: A Christian Nation.?

2011-09-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

Greetings Patriots,

Nowadays people of all stripes and beliefs seem to have something to say about whether or not America is a Christian nation. So, who is right? Is America, or is she not, a Christian nation?

Actually, a case can be made that both are right and both are wrong. Those who say yes are correct if they mean that she was founded on Christianity. The record is clear on that. But if they are saying that she still is a Christian nation, they are wrong. We are today living in post-Christian America. That should be equally obvious. If this is the case, so what? Does it matter? And what can we do about it, anyway?

Let me say emphatically, yes it does matter. Christianity is the foundation this country was built on and it is a serious matter anytime the foundation of a structure is undermined or compromised. Therefore it is a matter is of fundamental importance to America's past, present and future.

What the Founders understood that we have by and large forgotten today is that the American experiment would succeed or fail based upon the ability of the people to order their lives according to Christian principles. Having said that, this does not mean that they intended that only Christians should be allowed to be citizens. They explicitly stated as much in Article VI of the Constitution which says in part that religious affiliation is not to be a condition of citizenship or public service. So, what did they mean?

The Christian principles upon which the American experiment would depend are universally understood. They are summed up in The Ten Commandments and the Bible says they are written on the consciences of all human beings. Everyone knows without being taught that it is wrong to steal, murder, lie, etc... Therefore, these guidelines for living can be adopted and applied by anyone regardless of race, religion, nationality or any other distinction without violating the religion or conscience of anyone. This is the simple genius of the American way.

And the way to keep them is equally simple as explained by Jesus in what we have come to know as The Golden Rule. Everyone knows what "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you" means. It is the doing that is the hard part.

¹² "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."(Matthew 7:12)

This understanding was the conventional and common wisdom of the Founding era and it is what the whole American experiment depended upon. Conventional wisdom today in America has devolved into the notion that anything with a "religious" connotation is out of bounds in public discourse and cannot be allowed to influence policy or action. (In practice, this ban only applies to Christianity, while other religions are given preferential treatment.) How ironic it is that the very thing that can set one free is in the process of being abolished from the "Land of the Free"!

So, what can we do about all of this? Practice true American patriotism! What's does that mean? If you are an American citizen who is not a Christian, choose to order your life according to the Big Ten and the Golden Rule. No one, Christian or non, can do so perfectly but anyone can make that their goal. And it will make all the difference.

For those of us who are Christians the same thing is true, with one very important caveat. For us, it is not only something we may choose to do, but something we are commanded to do by our Lord, the one to Whom we owe absolute obedience. For us it is our duty. It is not optional.

Few today seem to understand these things. We tend to think the problems are so complex that the solutions must necessarily be equally so. The truth is that both the problem and solution are simple. But that is not to say easy. And that is where the problem lies. Maybe my fishing experience can help see what needs to be done.

I've never enjoyed fishing very much because it seems I spent all my time dealing with tangled lines. When this happens you can unsnarl it, for a while. But, there comes a point where the tangle is so snarled that the only thing to do is cut the line ahead of the tangle and tie on new tackle. Then, and only then, will you be able to continue fishing.

I believe we are at the point in America today where things have become so snarled that there is no untangling them. All our efforts are just making the snarl worse. Those we have entrusted to deal with our problems have tied our fortunes to the failed ideas of men. We must cut the snarl off and reattach our line to the principles that America was originally tied to. This is the only way America can be restored.

The magnitude of the snarl, when contrasted to the fact that each of us is only one person, makes it seem an impossible task. Still, the truth is that one person at at time, resolving to do what is right because it is right, day by day, is the only solution that will work. That is the test of true patriotism. Happy fishing, everyone.

Richard Cochran, President
Macon County Patriots
September 26, 2011

PS:I received this in an e-mail from Aaron Baker as I was preparing this post and wanted to pass it along to everyone, just in case you didn't get it, too. We will be in Florida on this date and regrettably won't be able to attend but I urge everyone to go if you possibly can.RC

Historian & Author on Islam to speak in Macon

“Are We Still a Christian Nation?” will be the featured topic at an upcoming dinner event on October 5, 2011.

Dr. William “Bill” Federer, a historian and author of books on Islam. will provide a program at United Trinity Church at 31592 Lily St. east of Macon. The church is located off of East US Highway 36 just north of the Coca-Cola distributorship and Macon Health Care.

Locals may know Dr. Federer as a TV and Radio Commentator of “The American Minute.” His presentation will include the historical and Biblical context of current events as they relate to Islam in America.

Dinner will be served prior to the program at 6:00 P.M.; tickets are $10 and must be ordered by Thursday, September 29. Tickets are available at US Bank, Linda’s Fashions & Wyatt’s Automotive.

The program portion of the evening is free and open to the public at 7:00 P.M.

2011-09-21T17:04:00.000-07:00

Concealed Carry Training Course

Sunday, September 25,2011

Course begins at 1:00 p.m.

LOCATION:

Church of the Open Door

32310 Hwy 63 South

Macon, MO 63552

(Fellowship Hall behind the Church)

Open to the public

You must be 21 and a Missouri resident for 6 months

Course Instructor: Mr. Greg Liles

NRA Certified instructor in Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun

instructing Concealed Carry in Missouri.

Member of Oath Keepers

Greg served with 1st/75th Ranger (ABN), Instructor Reconnaissance/Commando

(RECONDO) School - 101st Airborne Division, Operations Sergeant.

Requirements to bring to class:

Hand gun

70 rounds of ammo for same

Hearing and eye protection

Drivers License

$100 - (Cash, please.)

If you have questions, need a gun or any required item for the class please contact

Greg Liles

(660) 676-7903

FAQ's Regarding the CCW Permit Course

Once I take this course will I then have a license to carry a concealed weapon?

No. The 8 hour CCW course is required by law to be completed in order to apply for your certificate of qualification with the county sheriff's office.

Greg Liles will go into detail about the procedure to obtain your CCW permit.

This is a good site to review the Concealed Carry Laws:

http://www.tlso.net/tlso_ccw_faq_mo.html

Do I need to have my own gun to take this course?

No, a gun + 70 rounds of ammo will be provided for you if you need one for an additional $20.

Would this class be appropriate for beginners or those who need a refresher?

This course is flexible and is geared for ALL skill levels.

Freedom Scholars Go to Camp

2011-09-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

Back in April we told you about the Freedom Scholars. An incredible group of youth doing extraordinary things preparing to inherit the responsibilities of defending and protecting our Republic. These young people are my inspiration!!
This summer Haley (16) and Tabitha (15) Gatts went to camp. Not your typical youth summer camp, they got to go to a legislative camp! Haley wrote about their experience and I'm proud to be able to share it.

If any of you have young people in your lives, I strongly encourage you to have them contact Freedom Scholars and get involved with these remarkable young men and ladies.

Haley & Tabitha Gatts

Generation Joshua

IGovern west 2011

Haley Gatts

This year my younger sister Tabitha and Iattended IGovern west in Colorado Springs, 9,000 feet above sea level, in theRocky mountains at Eagle Lake camp site owned and operated by the Navigators.We were two of one-hundred and four students between the ages of thirteen andeighteen. All of these students except for one (yes, we teased her for it) werehome schooled, and all were conservative. We were there for one week, andbelieve me, we crammed about a half a year’s worth of work into it.

IGovern is a political camp hosted by HSLDA(Home School Legal Defense Association) helping young teens gain experience andknowledge in the realm of politics and government. The camp is a simulation ofgovernment where all students are a member of congress. Through the week we hadspeakers, classes, committees, senate and house sessions, activities, and muchmore.

The first step in the process there was tobreak into our parties, gold and blue; I was in the gold party and so wasTabitha. After we were all sorted correctly we divided into caucuses of aboutfive people, then we elected a caucus chair and secretary. Tabitha and I wereboth caucus chairs. In the caucus we discussed issues to be in our platform.After we had about ten topics for the platform in each caucus, the chairs gottogether and made a roughly drafted party platform out of all the issuesdiscussed. At the same time that was taking place the party was working onelecting a party chair. After the chair was elected he appointed a party whip,a secretary and treasurer were appointed by votes, I was then appointed aschair of a legislative policy team and I appointed five people to be in thecommittee with me. After all that took place we were mostly done withappointing and such.

Tabitha and I were both in the senate. Iattended the legislative techniques class, and Tabitha took the partyleadership class. This helped me personally to get acquainted with some smallbut important senate rules that I would apply in session. The classes lastedall week and were educational as well as fun.

Along with being in congress, writing bills,moving them through committees and the houses, we also had a scenario. This issomething that added a lot more work to our job and a bit of fun too. Ourscenario was that China went to the moon and was starting to build a lunarcolony for the purpose of mining helium three. As congress we had to decidewhat we were going to do. Looking at it from the outside it doesn’t seem verycomplex, but there are a lot of details and complication to this scenario. Itturns out that we handled everything very well and the outcome was practicallypicturesque.

We weren’t completely secluded from theworld on our little mountain that week, we had a number of speakers come andgive us some great advice on leadership, Christianity, politics, and much more.

One of the bigger projects we had to tackleafter we got our parties lined out was a campaign. We had the primary withinour party, then the presidential elections. (We ran everything just like a realcampaign.)

Another interesting set up at camp was thatwe had money, we had to pay for everything, every meal, every snack, and wealso had to pay fines. It was a complicated process so I won’t go into detail,but it became very important when the elections came. All through camp we hadto raise money ourselves to pay for our fines. This meant getting money fromdifferent PAC’s (political action committees) and lobbyists. We had a formalgala halfway through the week to raise tons of dollars for our party’scampaign; we had a whole three and a half hours!

At the beginning of the week we received aletter from the President (our former session President) telling us that heneeded a budget bill passed quickly so he could sign it before the deadline; healso said he would veto it if it cut more than twenty percent from anydepartment. That was another task to accomplish before the week ended, and wedid. The president vetoed our budget bill, and we overrode it with a unanimousvote.

When camp was over we had successfullypassed five bills including the budget bill, we tied up all the loose ends withthe scenario, we elected a president, and we had a bunch of unkept promises toa whole lot of lobbyists.

September 11, 2006

2011-09-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Something beautiful happened in America on September 11, 2006. We received a gift from Russia. A monument "To the Struggle Against World Terrorism." An incredible creation by a man named Zurab Tsereteli. Presented to America by Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

This man, Zurub Tsereteli, was at his home in Moscow the morning of September 11, 2001 getting ready for work with his television on. He watched the attack on America and was moved to tears by the horror he witnessed against the American people.

Shortly after, Zurub came to America and saw the devastation. He wanted to create something for the victims and after researching the area found waterfront land in New Jersey. The peninsula at Bayonne. With the Statue of Liberty in line and the New York skyline as the backdrop Zurub found the place for his Tear Drop Memorial.

The ground breaking ceremony was held September 16, 2005. The keynote speaker was President Vladimir Putin. With the Statue of Liberty behind him, President Putin said in his speech, “...Four years ago, the criminals thought they would plunge American and all civilized humanity into chaos. They were wrong. On the contrary, we became more united than ever and we created an actively functioning anti-terrorist coalition. I fully agree with you, Mr. Mayor - Just as we vanquished fascism, so shall we defeat terrorism together."

On September 11, 2006, the monument "To the Struggle Against World Terrorism" was dedicated to America. The monolithic block of vertical, earth-colored stone is over 100 feet high. It appears rent in the center from top to bottom and in the gap is a 40 foot, four ton nickel-plated tear drop. The base of the monument is a multi-faceted onyx pedestal inscribed with the names of all of those that perished on 9-11-01, from Flight 93 in Pennsylvania to the Pentagon to the twin Trade Towers. (American Thinker)

Please go to the site and read the whole story about this beautiful gesture of love for humanity.
http://www.911monument.com/

This all took place 3-4 years ago. I just heard about it a couple of days ago. If you also never heard of it I bet you're like me and wondering why such a magnificent gift was never given the appropriate press coverage. Instead of me coming up with the words to describe/explain how the ball got dropped and by whom (MSM), I'm going to lead you over to American Thinker to read the piece by Troy Nelson. He wrote it up perfect and used all the words and descriptions I would have used.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/09/a_beau_geste_the_911_tear_drop.html

A few years late but
Thank You Russia!

September 11, 2001

2011-09-11T21:05:00.000-07:00

"Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining." ~GW Bush 9/11/2001

EVER!!

http://youtu.be/1yVG3nX8MJI

Family Preparedness Course -- Wrap Up

2011-09-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

Bringing our Family Preparedness courses to a close,
Macon County Patriots invites you to a workshop offering tools
and suggestions to prepare your family

for emergency situations.

This month's workshop will wrap up our courses on:

Food Preparation & Preservation
Security
Communication
Firearm Maintenance & Safety
Medical Emergency

Saturday, September 10th

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Church of the Open Door

32310 Hwy 63 South

Macon, MO 63552

(Fellowship Hall behind the Church)

There is indescribable peace knowing that you have the knowledge

and are prepared to take care of yourself, family and loved ones

in any emergency event.

If you have any questions or suggestions please join us as we bring

this series of workshops to a close.

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life,
not a sudden, spectacular program.

Spencer W. Kimball, 1976

11:00 Flag Disposal Ceremony

The United States Flag Code states:

"The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning"

At 11:00 a.m. we will take a break from the workshop and hold a flag disposal ceremony. This is open to everyone who has worn out flags and would like to be a part of disposing of them properly.

12:00 Lunch will be provided

You're welcome to bring a dish to pass.

And, as always,

Macon County Patriot workshops are non-partisan,

always free and open to the public.

Speaking of Freedom:A River Runs Through It.

2011-09-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

Greetings Patriots,
In the first chapter of Romans the Apostle Paul writes of those who "...worship the creation rather than the Creator...". He explains why people do that and what the consequences are for doing so. There have always been those who do this. Today we call some of them "environmentalists". And today as always, the consequences of doing this are very real, as I hope to illustrate in this post. While it may sound noble and righteous on the surface to claim to be trying to preserve the earth, there is a profound difference between caring about and for the environment, which we should all do, and worshiping the same.

One example of earth-worship that is playing out as we speak is right in our own backyard and it shows some of these real consequences. (Please read the article linked to below.)

http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/06/the_purposeful_flooding_of_americas_heartland.html

As the article points out, over the years the governing bodies of the Corps of Engineers and other agencies have become stacked with environmentalists. The dream of these largely unseen and virtually unaccountable bureaucrats is to see rivers revert to their natural, pre-human-intervention courses.

I have observed what this article is referring to this year on my job. I had noticed before reading this that, as we have traversed the Missouri River bottom this year, the flooding has been different than usual. Normally, heavy rains cause waterways to rise, the water flows downstream and, as it does, the flood waters recede. That's normal. There was some of that earlier this year.

This year the tributaries have been in flood stage all year-before, during and after the spring rains. But the water has had no flow or current to it. It looks more like ponds and lakes than streams, creeks and rivers. This is because it is all backwater from the Missouri River. After reading this article I now know what is going on! This has been a largely man-caused tragedy! It is purposeful and could have been prevented. (Do a search for "Missouri River flooding of 2011" and you can find hundreds of photos and articles detailing this flood.)

The result of this "purposeful flooding" has been devastation for many farmers as miles of beautiful crops lie in ruin and acres and acres of some of the most fertile land in the world has been turned into lakes and swamps, potentially to be declared wetlands, and thus taken out of production forever. Will that affect food supplies and prices? Will there be remuneration to the landowners? If so, with what would they be paid? We have no money!

Beyond this there has been great inconvenience and expense to thousands of others who live and work in the affected areas because of road closures. To name just two, Interstate 29 in northwest Missouri has been closed for 2 months and remains so, as the photo below shows.

I have personally witnessed the closure of Missouri highway 10 near Carrollton for well over a month because our tracks run right next to the affected portion of the road. You can go to www.modot.org to see a map of Missouri road closings and see that there are many more roads that are still closed. No doubt the same is true for the other affected states of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and the Dakotas. This has cost and is costing untold thousands of people untold millions of dollars in extra expense to go around the flooding.

Also, railroads have had to reroute lots of traffic because of line-closures caused by the flooding. Just one example on just one railroad, of which I am aware: BNSF trains between Omaha and Kansas City/Tulsa, etc... now have to go by way of Galesburg, Illinois, more than tripling the distance between the two points. Taken together, these re-routes have resulted not only in hundreds of thousands of gallons of extra fuel consumption, but also in congestion on the lines that remain open, causing slowed traffic and delayed deliveries. In addition there will be millions, possibly billions, of dollars in expenses to repair the damaged infrastructures of both roads and railroads. (Go to the link below to see some amazing video of the BNSF's fight with the river this year.)

http://www.bnsf.com/media/video/images/thumb_rising-above.jpg

And we now find ourselves in September and, though it has been weeks since significant rainfall, Mighty Mo where we cross it is just now getting back in her banks. Even so, the roads, tracks, crops and farmland remain in jeopardy as even moderate autumn rains could mean that the worst is yet to come. And to think that much of this was purposeful, intentional and could have been prevented.

This is just one example of what happens when we forget and/or reject the One True God and replace worship of Him with worship of someone/something else. It is the way pollywogs become more important than people. When this happens, we all suffer for it, bureaucrats and pollywogs included. I believe this is the more important lesson of the Missouri River floods of 2011.

So what can we do about it? Call our representatives/senators, etc...? Tell people about it? Forward the article to everyone you know? Yes. Yes. And, yes. We must become actively involved. But I believe that, more important than what we do is how we do it. We must be sure that we do what we do with integrity, as our forefathers did. A prime example of what I mean is the so-called "Boston Massacre" of 1774.

In that incident British troops fired on unarmed American civilians, killing several. The victims are sometimes referred to as the first casualties of the American Revolution. But we sometimes forget that John Adams defended those British troops at trial. And won their acquittal. Why did he do that? Was Adams a Tory? A British loyalist? No. He did it because the victims instigated and provoked the shooting. He did it because it was the right thing to do.

Adams and the other Founding Fathers understood the importance of integrity. They knew that if they were to prevail in this fledgling freedom movement, they must be above reproach and righteous in their actions. It would have been easier in the short term to condemn those soldiers and exact a measure of revenge on them. But to do so would have been to yield to mob rule. If they had done that, what we now know as the American Revolution would have been stillborn. Aborted. Killed in the womb. And there would never have been an America!

If our nation is to be restored and government "of, by and for the people is not to perish from the earth", we must again be a people who recognize and honor God and whose actions are distinguished and characterized by the kind of integrity exemplified by our Founding Fathers. It wasn't easy for them. It won't be easy for us. It is never easy! But it is worth it. And there is no other way.

Richard Cochran, President
Macon County Patriots
September 1, 2011

2011-08-31T08:27:00.000-07:00

All,
I came across this article this morning and thought it significant so I'm passing it along. Please read the article linked to below and pay special attention to the fact that this event was organized by a Muslim group and that they were notified of the ban specifically, in advance, by the park.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/new-york/muslims-police-scuffle-rye-playland-over-amusement-park-123309825.html

While this may sound harmless, it is one example of a concerted plan on the part of Muslim groups known as "Stealth Jihad", which is designed to undermine our Constitution and way of life, replacing them with Shariah Law. Muslims are admonished in the Koran to do this in places where they are not strong enough to impose it by force. But only until they are strong enough.

The law suit that will no doubt arise from this incident, taken together with hundreds of other such lawsuits currently working their way through our court system, are intended to have the cumulative effect of undermining the Constitution and our way of life, ultimately replacing it with Shariah Law. This is no happenstance event but is being orchestrated by Muslim groups, virtually all of which are linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is also the parent group of virtually every Islamic terrorist group in the world.

Their plan is that, while our attention is focused on preventing violent attacks, we will be almost completely unaware of the Stealth Jihad that is going on right under our noses. Do you think it's working? Ultimately, this poses a far greater threat to our freedom and everything we hold dear than the military threat posed by these groups. It is one way that the destruction of America is taking place from within. We had better wake up to this threat. And soon.

Richard Cochran, President
Macon County Patriots
August 31, 2011

The Boot of Government Now on the Throat of Rural America

2011-08-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

While America was focusing on Weinergate and the side shows surrounding it, Obama issued and signed and Executive Order 13575, Establishment of the White House Rural Council.

Here is the actual copy of the EO:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/DCPD-201100431/pdf/DCPD-201100431.pdf

It's only a few pages and I highly recommend you go in and read it for yourself.

Paragraph 2 of Section 1 states:

"To enhance the Federal Government's efforts to address the needs of rural America, this order establishes a council to better coordinate Federal programs and maximize the impact of Federal investment to promote economic prosperity and quality of life in our rural communities."

What this means is the Federal Government will determine if you are using your property to achieve their specification of "economic prosperity" and they will set the standard of what your "quality of life" is.

And who will be designing these specifications? Well this Rural Council will, of course.

Tom Vilsack, the current Secretary of Agriculture, will chair the group, but let us review the list of members appointed to serve on this new council – according to the order, the heads of the following groups have been appointed:

(1) the Department of the Treasury; Timothy Geithner
(2) the Department of Defense; Robert Gates
(3) the Department of Justice; Eric Holder
(4) the Department of the Interior; Ken Salazar
(5) the Department of Commerce; Gary Locke
(6) the Department of Labor; Hilda Solis
(7) the Department of Health and Human Services; Kathleen Sebelius
(8) the Department of Housing and Urban Development; Shaun Donovan
(9) the Department of Transportation; Ray LaHood
(10) the Department of Energy; Dr. Steven Chu
(11) the Department of Education; Arne Duncan
(12) the Department of Veterans Affairs; Eric Shinseki
(13) the Department of Homeland Security; Janet Napolitano
(14) the Environmental Protection Agency; Lisa Jackson
(15) the Federal Communications Commission; Michael Copps
(16) the Office of Management and Budget; Peter Orszag
(17) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; John Holdren
(18) the Office of National Drug Control Policy; R. Gil Kerlikowske
(19) the Council of Economic Advisers; Austan Goolsbee
(20) the Domestic Policy Council; Melody Barnes (former VP at Center for American Progress)
(21) the National Economic Council; Gene B. Sperling
(22) the Small Business Administration; Karen Mills
(23) the Council on Environmental Quality; Nancy Sutley
(24) the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs; Valerie Jarrett
(25) the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs; and such other executive branch departments, agencies, and offices as the President or Secretary of Agriculture may, from time to time, designate. Chris Lu (or virtually anyone to be designated by the 24 people named above)

It appears that not a single department in the federal government was excluded from the new White House Rural Council, and the wild card option in number 25 gives the president and the agriculture secretary the option to designate anyone to serve on this powerful council.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_juUVKKBw-k

In yesterday's news:
8/22/2011

"WASHINGTON -- After much delay, the White House has finally released a proposed rule that would update child labor regulations in agricultural work.
A group of more than 25 public health officials and advocates signed a letter last week to the White House's Office of Management and Budget official and regulatory czar, Cass Sunstein, who oversees rule review at the agency, urging him to move the child labor rule along."

The Rule: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201010&RIN=1235-AA06

We also have the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposing to regulate agricultural vehicles as Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs).

http://youtu.be/UiFnnR_gpvg

The Rule: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/rulemakings/notices/Agriculture-Regulatory-Guidance.pdf

"What the FMCSA is trying to do will end family farms in our country whose children contribute to planting and harvesting their crops; their children would not be able to operate agricultural vehicles if classified as CMVs. Although the FMCSA is backing off due to pressure from the public and from Senators, they’ll try again when they think we’re not paying attention. [Watch the other hand]"

Senators standing up: http://fleetowner.com/equipment/news/farm-truck-senate-group-0804/

Also, we must not forget that when the government decided to blow up the Birds Point levee and flood people out of their houses and farms, Obama’s Federal government offered to buy their land… and George Soros was buying up the flooded farms too.

Why all the intense Federal Government interest in Rural America?

"Warning bells should have been sounding all across rural America when the phrase “sustainable rural communities” came up. As we know from researching the UN plan for Sustainable Development known as Agenda 21, these are code words for the true fundamental transformation America."

I'm going to do a separate post on the George Soros sponsored Agenda 21 plan, this is the Mother Plan that this is all tied into.

Do some homework, Google: Agenda 21 and ICLEI.

My people perish from a lack of knowledge.
Hosea 4:6

Macon County Patriots Meeting

2011-08-22T21:36:00.000-07:00

Macon County Patriots Meeting

Thursday, August 25th

6:00 - 8:00 pm

Church of the Open Door

(next to Quinn Lumber)

32310 Hwy 63 South

Macon, MO 63552

(Fellowship Hall behind the Church)

Our next meeting will be an organizational meeting for our

October and November events.

We'd like to invite you to be a part of the planning for the next Faces of Freedom, Veterans Day event to be held at the Expo Center in Macon on November 11th.

We will have a fund raiser event to cover expenses on October 22nd,

also to be held at the Expo Center.

We welcome you to come and be a part the planning and participating in this community event to honor and thank our Veterans.

Macon County Patriot meetings are non-partisan,

always free and open to the public.

Senator David Doctorian - My Life Journey

2011-07-28T22:28:00.000-07:00

My Life Journey

From the Streets of Jerusalem to the Halls of the Missouri Senate

An incredible life story written by a truly incredible man. This is a story that defines what makes America so great and undeniably exceptional.

Senator Doctorian's story begins with background about his family.

"David was born to Armenian parents who became orphans when they were young. His grandparents refused to convert to the Islamic religion and were executed for their faith during the Armenian Genocide. David's father, Paul, 9 years old, was rounded up with other women and children of the village and forced to walk through the Syrian Desert. A Turkish soldier recognized him as the son of a doctor who had cared for his own family and he was pulled from the group, taken to a Turkish family to be a slave. He was beaten and left for dead when he attempted to run away. Found by American Missionaries he was taken to an orphanage in Beirut, Lebanon. David's mother, Mary, 5 years old, experienced a similar story, also being rescued by a Turkish soldier and taken to the same orphanage as his father. There is where they met, grew up together and later married and lived in Beirut."

The story ends with Senator Doctorian's Epilogue.

"I love my adopted country,the United States of America. I have had the privilege to speak to numerous groups and organizations about my devotion to the United States of America. This great land gave me opportunities....
However, it would be a disservice for me to not express my concern about the current direction of our country. If our nation wants to be prosperous and healthy, we need to fulfill II Chronicles 7:14 which says, "If my people which are called by my name shall humble them selves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." I do believe America's best days are ahead if we seek God's will and follow His direction."

And everything in between is awe inspiring. The book is also filled with lots of excellent photographs from early childhood to today, which adds to the impact of this extraordinary story.

Senator Doctorian acknowledges from beginning to end that it was by God's guidance and providence that has led him on his "Life Journey."

Senator Doctorian will be at a special book signing

Saturday, July 30th

8:00 a.m to Noon

Special Days Flower & Gifts

104 Broadway Street

Macon, Missouri

(660) 385-2214

"My Life Journey" is available at Special Days Flower & Gifts and Admired Evergreen, South of Kirksville on Hwy 63.

Freedom Jamboree

2011-07-22T13:36:00.000-07:00

All,
At our July 16 meeting we made mention of the "Freedom Jamboree" to be held September 28-October 2 in Kansas City. I am sorry to report that this event has been canceled. You can find out the particulars at their website, www.freedomjamboree.com.
Richard Cochran, President
Macon County Patriots

Speaking of Freedom: Mr. Potter or George Bailey. Which'll it be?

2011-07-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

Hey, Patriots, recognize this guy?

Yep, it's the amicable George Bailey, the lovable small town guy in Frank Capra's classic 1946 film, "It's A Wonderful Life". All George wanted in life was to "see the world" but, as it turned out, he was never to get out of the "crumby little town" of Bedford Falls. George's life didn't go the way he had planned. Even so, his was a wonderful life. So what does this have to do with Macon County Patriots? I'm glad you asked.

I recently began reading Ann Coulter’s new book, “Demonic”, which is a study of mob mentality. Based on a sociologist’s research on the topic, she explains that mobs are unruly, unreasonable and, perhaps most importantly, that individuals caught up in a mob will do things, sometimes terrible things, that they otherwise would not do. As I was reading I was reminded of George Bailey.

In the aforementioned film, Jimmy Stewart plays George Bailey, the owner/operator of a small town building and loan who in one scene finds himself confronted with a potential mob. We could take some pointers from the way he dealt with the situation. Below is a link you can go to to view this scene.

First though, for those who may not be familiar with the movie, here's the set up. Greedy Mr. Potter wants to see the Bailey Brothers Building and Loan go under because they are his competition. The news of the stock market crash of 1929 is reaching the people and, out in the streets, peaceful Bedford Falls is showing signs that the mob mentality is beginning to set in. Mr. Potter wastes no time springing into action to try and exploit the situation. The only thing standing between him and achieving his goal is George Bailey. (Please click on this link to watch the run on the bank scene before continuing to read. The clip runs 7 minutes.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu2uJWSZkck&NR=1

Here are a few observations and comparisons to Bedford Falls circa 1929 and what we see happening in America today.

One thing we can see is that there are many "Potters" today in Washington, in the liberal media, in academia, etc... who regularly gin up and/or exploit a sense of urgency which enables them to enact some terrible legislation, (i.e., the Stimulus Plan and Obama Care), and/or further their own agenda, whatever that might be.

Another case in point is the recent turmoil in Wisconsin, which might well be seen as a dress rehearsal for how the "mobsters" intend to prevail in the 2012 election cycle and beyond. Even though in the Wisconsin case the governor and legislature ultimately stood their ground, don't be surprised to see a lot more of such mobs in the near future as economic uncertainty continues to increase.

It's just a fact of life that when things get really bad, people are susceptible to the influence of people like Mr. Potter who would exploit the situation. The thing I want us to learn from George Bailey, the thing that made the difference and saved the building and loan and all those people’s investments, was that George kept his head in the midst of the crisis. He was able to see the situation for what it was. And in so doing he was able to calm the people and allay their fears.

In the times to come, if there are no George Baileys, the "mobsters" will almost certainly prevail. But where will they come from? Not from Washington! They will have to come from the grassroots. That's us. I believe we must be the real-life George Baileys.

George never wanted the crisis he found himself embroiled in. None of us wants the one that is coming our way today. Nevertheless, it is our lot, the calling of our time. In my view, the greatest potential fruit that our group and our preparations can yield is that we will have the opportunity to be the voices of reason, the George Baileys that will be so desperately needed. I say "potential" because we must seize the opportunities as they arise. And I'm pretty sure that if we don’t do it, it won't get done.

Don't worry. Because of what we have learned together, I believe we are up to the challenge. In the end, if we keep preparing, praying and trusting in God as we do, we too will have wonderful lives. And our beloved country will be restored in the process. May He bless, encourage and strengthen us each and all, day by day, as we prepare for what lies ahead.

Richard Cochran, President

Macon County Patriots

July 27, 2011

Legislative Workshop 7/23/2011

2011-07-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

...invite you to join us for a

JULY 23, 2011

10:30 am - 4:00 pm

Capitol Bldg Rotunda

201 West Capitol Ave.

Jefferson City, MO

Registration will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Topic to be presented will run from an overview of the legislative process to the crafting and moving a bill to final approval. Particular emphasis will be placed on citizen involvement and collaborating with legislators. There will be time following the workshop for questions and answers.

There will be a one hour lunch break at Noon

The workshop starting promptly a 1:00.

When signing in at the event,

an optional box lunch will be available for a nominal charge.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR CONSTITUTION CONSERVATIVE AMERICANS

TO GET EDUCATED & GET INVOLVED!!

This event is non partisan, free and the public is cordially invited to attend.

For further information contact:

314-246-0194

Family Preparedness Course: Medical Emergency

2011-07-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

Continuing our Family Preparedness courses,

Macon County Patriots

invites you to a workshop offering tools and suggestions to prepare

your family for emergency situations.

This month's workshop:

Medical Emergency

Saturday, July 16th

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Church of the Open Door

32310 Hwy 63 South

Macon, MO 63552

(Fellowship Hall behind the Church)

Macon County Patriot workshops are non-partisan,

always free and open to the public.

Lunch will be provided

You're welcome to bring a dish to pass.

Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, 

not a sudden, spectacular program. 

Spencer W. Kimball, 1976