Tiahrt’s Churches under attack

The IRS is finally doing something about Kansas churches getting involved in the states political races, using donations, putting up political messages, attacking other religions and supporting candidates for office. All this with a tax exempt status which comes from being a religious institution. The church under attack is Spirit One Christian Center.
It’s about time. This community has had to deal with churches, as the one listed above, whose members continuously vote as a block to get the most disgusting politicians in office, including Todd Tiahrt.
These politicians can count on financial and voters support from Pastors whose followers vote like zombies on whoever they are told to vote for.
According to The Wichita Eagle, Aug. 17, 2007:

Audit may be part of IRS' investigation of church
BY JOE RODRIGUEZ
The Wichita Eagle
A Wichita church being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service for a possible violation of its tax-exempt status could soon be audited.
The IRS notified the church in a letter that it may need to examine the financial and accounting records of Spirit One Christian Center, the church's pastor said Thursday. The IRS is trying to determine whether the church violated rules against political campaign activity that tax-exempt organizations must follow.
In the letter, the IRS told Pastor Mark Holick that the church could meet with IRS officials to "try to resolve our concerns and alleviate the need for further action." The meeting also could "help define the issues and limit the scope of any examination," the letter said.

Spirit One organized anti-gay march

This is no accident. Opponents of this church have complained for years about the abuse of these churches and others like it abusing their tax exempt status. The put out voter guides which are extremely biased, inaccurate and make it obvious who they support.
Todd Tiahrt has continuously used these churches as a base of support along with support from large businesses such as Koch Industries, which gives him over $100,000 in any given election

Pay no attention to that man in front of the curtain

According to The Wichita Eagle, Aug. 8, 2007:

“The level of anger with the president has sidetracked Congress,” Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, told The Eagle editorial board recently. He said that the left has so pressed Democratic members of Congress that they’re having trouble making progress. “We’re not focused on getting good policy done,” he said.

He went on to say we should trust the president and stop waisting time focussing on his mistakes.
That’s easier said than done. He’s paid little attention to a war that leaves American soldiers dead almost everyday, not to mention any number of Iraqis killed. In the on-line blog section of The Eagle;

“No shortage of suicide bombers in Iraq
Monday’s truck bombing in Tal Afar, which killed at least 28 people, furthered the alarming trend in Iraq of suicide attacks. Newsweek reports that while there were fewer than 300 suicide bombings in the first three years of the war, the year that ended June 30 saw at least 540.”

So what is so important for the Republicans to get done if they and their leader can’t even manage a war they started.

Tiart saves the day for shifty gun dealers

According to The Wichita Eagle, Jul. 29, 2007:
“Having won his showdown with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg over federal gun data, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, now has a responsibility to make sure that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives actually does its job. To his credit, he pledges to do that.
"I'll be monitoring it," he told The Eagle editorial board last week.”

The first thing I notice is that the gun lobby and their money have won out over the will of the people once again. I guess that is the present shape of US democracy.
Tiahrt monitoring any agency as that is like asking a fox to guard a henhouse. Tiahrt has rarely kept a promise he makes, except for those who pay him well. It is Naive to think he will keep that promise.

Again The Eagle Said:

“Bloomberg led a national campaign of mayors and police organizations upset that the ATF stopped sharing valuable gun-trace data that could help cities fight crime. They campaigned unsuccessfully for Congress to remove the 2003 Tiahrt amendment, which the ATF claimed prevented it from sharing this data.
Tiahrt has contended that his amendment doesn't prohibit the ATF from sharing data, and he said he has "been a little frustrated by ATF as well."
"I think they took the liberty to sort of stonewall some of this in the past," he said.”

Once again, empty rhetoric. He makes such statements for the presses ears only. The gun lobby has him in their back pocket and Tiahrt knows that.

The Eagle also said:
“• Why won't Tiahrt release to the public his budget earmark requests, as did Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Topeka? Tiahrt said that earmarks are a negotiation process and that he likes to talk about his victories, not his losses. But what about transparency? "I'm transparent about the ones I get," he said.”

The answer to this is obvious. Why would the most corrupt politician representing Kansas want to disclose his anything to do with finances?

Another question from The Eagle:
“• If Tiahrt knew then what he knows now, would he still have wanted the United States to invade Iraq? "In hindsight, I hate to lose 3,000 young men and women," he said. "Could we have fought this war (against terrorists) cleaner somewhere else? Maybe. Hard to tell."
Tiahrt didn’t even give a real answer. When it comes to actual political decisions, that’s where Tiahrt falls short…..REAL SHORT!

When you’re Todd Tiahrt, you can do anything

When Elvis Costello did the song “Less than Zero” he based it on a British Nazi leader. He decided rather than to make a political statement or satire, he would simply ridicule the guy. I like that idea. So I hope my reader will enjoy this photoshoped picture.

And still, he has his supporters.

Two more Years?!!!!!!

It’s time for us to focus on one of Kansas most infuriating idiot, one who is up for re-election and probably about to win. Not because he’s hard to beat but the the Democrats have yet to come up with a decent candidate to defeat our own Kansas Rep. Todd Tiahrt. The asshole is like a sitting duck. He’s done virtually nothing for his constituents and spend a lot of their tax money on himself. He takes his whole family to vacations in Europe an Hawaii at the tax payers expense. All his votes are based on which business gives him the most money.

To put it another way, the Democratic party, at the lower level, is so inept that they couldn’t win an election against a roundworm if it ran. Tiahrt’s corruption rivals almost any Republican in office.

Any vote from Tiahrt can be bought. ANY!!!

Tiahrt mentioned in my new book available on the internet and many of the big chains

The Fight Over Needle Exchange Programs to Prevent AIDSAll of this raises health questions, as to the use of used and dirtyneedles. By 1990 there were an estimated 250,000 intravenous drug users.

My book is now available at Amazon.com and through Barnes & Noble and yes, Tiahrt is given his due.
The book can be ordered at www,Barnesandnoble.com
The book can probably be ordered through your local Borders as well.


Tiahrt is mentioned in
Chapter 8
Paraphernalia
Equipment or Art, They Are Used to Ingest



The Fight Over Needle Exchange Programs to Prevent AIDS

Here is a comprehensive reference book to songs, publications and objects of art that reflected the last century's counter-cultures as well as government and mainstream press attempts to censor them.
in New York City alone and more than half of them were estimated to
have AIDS. And even with these alarming statistics, the government,
under President Reagan, wanted to prevent clean needle exchange or
distribution programs. There were many AIDS activists who where
running needle exchange programs (exchanging clean needles for old
ones) and providing the use of bleach to clean old needles when new ones
were not available. They were often harassed by police for violating drug
paraphernalia laws. When various groups advocated government-funded
needle exchange programs to counter AIDS, Nancy Reagan, then first
lady who made a crusade against casual drug use, came out against any
type of exchange or even bleach to clean old needles. “That would send
the wrong message,” she said.427
There’s no doubt that needle exchange programs work. Since these
programs were started, there has been a 30 percent drop in AIDS among
intravenous drug users, according to the National Institutes of Health. At
least 60 federally funded studies have shown that such programs work in
reducing AIDS. At the same time, these studies show no significant
increase in drug use attributed to these programs.428
Still, President Clinton, despite all the evidence, took the position that
there should be no federal funding for needle exchange programs. This
policy was taken despite recommendations by the president’s own
Advisory Council on AIDS and Health and Human Services Secretary
Donna Shalala, that such programs work.429.
Kansas Representative Todd Tiahrt, Republican, angered AIDS
activists by pushing for a ban on programs that distribute needles to
addicts in Washington, DC. Tiahrt, who got the ban passed with the help
of other conservatives, complained that these programs encourage drug
use. AIDS activists claim this program saved lives and Tiahrt’s actions
would literally kill people. Presently, needle exchange programs are
endorsed by DC Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey and former Surgeon
General C. Everett Koop. Representative Albert Wynn, Democrat from
Maryland, called Tiahrt’s move “arrogant and misguided.” Washington,
DC, has one of the nation’s highest rates of new HIV infections.430
Tiahrt said these programs promote drug abuse and don’t work. He
cited a study done by the Office of National Drug Control Policy that
claims the public health risks of needle exchange programs outweigh
their benefits431.The ONDCP is a hawkish “war on drugs” organization.
By using them as a source, we see that Tiahrt is more concerned with his
twisted sense of morality than the public welfare. And this is not the first
time.
Besides the AIDS issue, Washington, DC’s, home rule advocates were
also angered that the federal government is dictating what programs they
can operate on the local level. Tiahrt’s bill also included a ban on the use
of medical marijuana. This is not the first time Tiahrt has led an effort to
halt needle exchange programs. Two years earlier, he voted for a House
amendment to ban the use of any tax money for needle exchange
programs.432








429 Clarence Lusane, “Right Turn on Clean Needles,” The Wichita Eagle, 4 May 1998, p. 6A.
430 New York Times News Service, “Tiahrt Angers AIDS Activists,” The
Wichita Eagle, 1 August 1999, p. 19A
431 Ibid.
432 “Tiahrt Gets Support for Ban on Needles,” The Wichita Eagle, 8
August 1998, 3A.
433 Eleanor Krohn

Tiahrt: defender of gun toting criminals

Once again Rep. Todd Tiahrt is defending unscrupulous gun dealers against further regulations. His new amendment is meant to shield small time shading gun dealers from having to be able to trace the source of the guns they sell. His interest is once again, purely business related and as usual, public safety comes a distant last.
According to the The Wichita Eagle:

Jun. 18, 2007


SHARING OF CRIME DATA
Tiahrt, Bloomberg clash over gun data
BY DAVID GOLDSTEIN
McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON - Rep. Todd Tiahrt of Kansas and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are waging a gunfight.
It's not quite pistols at 20 paces; it's more like political sniping via long distance.
Their feud is over an amendment that Tiahrt wrote in 2003 that puts strict limits on how broadly the government can share gun-tracing data. The information identifies the original dealer and buyer of a weapon used in a crime.
Tiahrt and others say the restrictions are necessary because disclosure could reveal names of undercover officers and informants or tip off targets involved in investigations related to those weapons.
Bloomberg and more than 200 other mayors counter that the measure handcuffs their anti-crime efforts where illegal guns are involved because they cannot trace their source.
"That's why trace data is so important in the post-9/11 era," said John Feinblatt, Bloomberg's criminal justice coordinator. "Why wouldn't you let cops connect the dots?"
Once again Tiahrt’s excuses are flimsy, illogical and just plain profit motivated. Once again Tiahrt has embarrassed the state of Kansas by protecting criminals.

CITYPAPER. Sells out to Tiahrt and other useless conservatives

It never fails. Some one starts a newspaper to provide the other side of issues a voice, it starts loosing money, then a conservative buys it and scoops out the same dog shit we get every day in our daily newspaper, not to mention other weeklies and the newspapers of the religious wing-nuts or fundis.
Our latest victim is the CITYPAPER. It was originally a decent paper that replaced F5. It had always been geared to entertainment, but it did provide a forum for the disenfranchised reader. Now it’s a straight out piece of crap.
It’s put out by a couple, Ron and Sheryl Nut. And just to let the Nuts know, we don’t need more conservative fish wrap in Wichita. We have enough manure that passes for political politics as it is.
The best example of duplication is a column by Congressman Todd Tiahrt. As if he doesn’t get enough uncritical publicity in the local media, this stupid rag has designated him the “Capitol Report” – As if we don’t already have enough biased congressional reporting from one of the worst politicians ever allowed to serve on behalf of Congress. We already pay to send his whole family to Hawaii and Europe for vacations and listen to him spout off about issues he knows nothing about due to his blinded fundamentalist rhetoric. Now a small alternative paper gives him yet another voice.

Well, CityPaper of Wichita, we don’t need another useless conservative rag and many of us have no use for you at all.

Tiahrt helps the Gun lobby

Usually when a lone gunman shoots up a school killing lots of people, the locals don't want pro-gun nuts coming around and trying to make an issue of gun rights while people are still burying their dead. But National Riffle Association and others do and of course our own idiot Kansas Rep. Todd Tiahrt has gotten into the mess arguing against keeping tabs on who buys guns. The NRA would be proud
For Kans. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, it's the wild west and may the best gun win. There has been the argument that if the students had guns they could have ended this early. Well, most are too young to buy them and those who aren't may have just snuck out the window with the rest of the students rather than face a hallway of bullets coming from a mad man. But Don't Tell Tiahrt that. He's busy protecting his gun lobbyist interest.

In The Wichita Eagle Saturday:
"Debate over sharing gun data turns a little testy
BY DAVID GOLDSTEIN
Eagle Washington bureau
WASHINGTON - Rep. Todd Tiahrt of Kansas and Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City are waging a gunfight.

It's not quite loaded pistols at 20 paces; more like political sniping via long distance.

Their feud: an amendment that Tiahrt wrote in 2003 that puts strict limits on how broadly the government can share gun tracing data. The data identifies the original dealer and buyer of a weapon used in a crime.

Tiahrt and others say the restrictions are necessary because disclosure could reveal names of undercover officers and informants, or tip off targets involved in investigations related to those weapons.

Bloomberg and more than 200 other mayors counter that the restrictions handcuff their efforts against violent crime where illegal guns are involved because they can't trace their source.

"That's why trace data is so important in the post 9-11 era," said John Feinblatt, Bloomberg's criminal justice coordinator. "Why wouldn't you let cops connect the dots?"

The tone of their debate has grown testy. Now Tiahrt wonders about the "motive" behind Bloomberg's strong stand beyond just getting "guns off the street."

And Feinblatt questions who Tiahrt is "trying to protect" by backing a rule that appears to shield illegal gun dealers from exposure."


To the gun nuts the answer is always give people more guns and the bad guys will get shot. How far do we take this? Do you give first graders guns so they can shoot trouble makers in the school yard?

As war strategy fails, Tiahrt doesn’t get it

It was inevitable that the Fighting in Iraq would spill over to Lebanon. The war in Iraq is like a fire that is out of control. Now organizations are spreading to nearby countries where stability is fragile. There is also fighting in parts of Palestine now.
This is the results of the so called “American Century” that President George Bush’s people believed they could force on the whole Middle-East.
From the BBC




"Thousands flee Lebanon violence
Thousands of people have been fleeing from a refugee camp in northern Lebanon after three days of heavy fighting between troops and Islamist militants.

Palestinian residents of the Nahr al-Bared camp were trapped as troops exchanged fire with Fatah al-Islam fighters holed up in the camp.
Witnesses said many took advantage of a lull in the fighting to leave.
UN head of humanitarian affairs John Holmes appealed to the warring sides to allow aid supplies into the camp.
He said it was outrageous that a relief convoy had been forced to turn back after coming under fire on Tuesday.
There was a reduction in the fighting, although sporadic clashes were reported.
UN aid convoys entered the camp to deliver food and water, but one was forced to leave after shells exploded near its vehicles.
'No power, no food'
Witnesses said that as the fighting lessened, a mass exodus began."

Of course Tiahrt is the same boot licker he always was:

Congressman Todd Tiahrt’s U.S. Capitol Update
January 12, 2007

Discussing Iraq War Strategy with President Bush
On Wednesday, President Bush addressed our nation to discuss the new U.S. strategy in Iraq. I am pleased the President’s plan includes moving Iraqi security forces to the front, with U.S troops serving in a support role. This is something I have been proposing for months and reiterated with the President when I met with him at the White House on Tuesday.
In our meeting, I told the President that I want to bring our troops home as soon as possible. I also told him that when it comes time to kick the doors down, I want that job to be done by Iraqi forces instead of by American troops.
Some Democrat House Members have talked about cutting funds for U.S. troops in Iraq. As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I will continue to support our troops by working to see that they receive adequate funding.

MoveOn pressures Tiahrt to vote for ending the war

Dear MoveOn members,

This afternoon the House is going to vote on their latest plan for Iraq. We received word late last night that there could be a vote today on an amendment that would call for a mandatory withdrawal from Iraq by early 2008—the strongest attempt to end the war we've seen come to the floor of this Congress. At the same time, Republicans are trying to strip out any measures that hold the president accountable on the war.
Can you call Rep. Tiahrt right now and tell him to vote for the McGovern amendment to mandate a withdrawal from Iraq? Make sure he understands that we want to end the war quickly—not hand the president another blank check for Iraq.

Congressman Todd Tiahrt
Phone: 202-225-6216

Then, please report your call by clicking here:
http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FHKS_04&cp_id=496&id=10306-3189845-5GTaOr&t=3
As more and more Republicans break with the president, Congress should strengthen their efforts to impose a mandatory timeline for withdrawal.
Just yesterday, 11 Republicans went to meet with the president to send him a message that he needs to change direction in Iraq.1 And a CNN poll released yesterday showed that 57 percent of Americans favor continued Democratic efforts to attach a timeline to any additional funding for the war.2 It's a moment to keep pushing, not cave in.
Please call Rep. Tiahrt and tell him to vote for a mandatory swift withdrawal from Iraq.

Thanks for all you do,
–Nita, Tom, Justin, Marika and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Thursday, May 10th, 2007
1. "NBC: 11 Republicans Berate Bush Over Iraq In Private White House Meeting," Thinkprogress, May 9, 2007
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/09/iraq-meeting/
2." Poll: Most back Congress over Bush in war funding fight," CNN.com, May 9. 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2568&id=10306-3189845-5GTaOr&t=4
Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.2 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you'd like to support our work, you can give now at:
http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=10306-3189845-5GTaOr&t=5
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Tiahrt waist tax-payers money on un-necessary flood control

More praise for the Idiot Todd Tiahrt from a letter writer to The Wichita Eagle, This Friday. He has, according to his fan; Tiahrt has provided funding for a 300 foot wide Channel near West Maple and Maize Road, to relive the flooding problem along the Cowskin Creek.
What this fan fails to look at is that the flooding problem started when the city allowed land developers to build homes in the Cowskin Creek floodplain. This Republican nincompoop praised Tiahrt for looking out for his 4th district. What he fails to mention is that if Tiahrt hand been looking out for his district, he would have made an effort to stop the city from allowing developers to build in a floodplain and that would have saved the taxpayers a lot of money on an un-necessary flood control project that would have never been needed if the city planners were more responsible and less corrupt.



Cowskin Creek flooding.

April Fools

Our representative in Congress

Todd Tiahrt. The picture says it all.

MoveOn targets Tiahrt

Once again MoveOn has targeted Rep. Todd Tiahrt for his atrocious stands on the issues. This one is to get Tiahrt to sign onto the Iraq Accountability Act, which seems unlikely since Tiahrt is such a suck up to President George Bush and the far right of the Republican Party.


Dear MoveOn member,

Yesterday you saw the results of our poll—85 percent of MoveOn members want to work to pass Speaker Pelosi's plan for Iraq. Today, we have to get to work. This vote is going to be incredibly close and it'll be one of the most important ones of the year. Every member of Congress should hear from their constituents today.
The critical piece of this plan is that it sets a timeline for withdrawing our troops from Iraq—it sets a date certain to end the war. President Bush doesn't want to set a deadline to exit Iraq1—his policy would strand our troops in the middle of what has become a religious civil war.
Can you call Rep. Tiahrt and ask him to support the Iraq Accountability Act to set a date certain to bring our troops home?
Congressman Todd Tiahrt
Phone: 202-225-6216Then please click below to let us know that you called:
http://political.moveon.org/call?tg=FHKS_04&cp_id=468&id=10050-3189845-rfs9H9&t=2
When you call, tell the person who answers that you don't support the President's position of endless war. Our troops are stuck in a civil war and it's time to set a date and bring them home. Congress must rein in the president on his failed policy in Iraq.
By the way, you may have heard about a possible "Lee Amendment" that would end the war on an even shorter timetable. So far, the amendment hasn't been offered—there won't be a vote on it—but if it is, we'll encourage everyone to vote for it. And you can mention on your call that you want Rep. Tiahrt to support anything that strengthens the Iraq Accountability Act, too.
Over the last weeks, progressive members of Congress worked to make this bill a real step forward. And they succeeded, for the first time, in getting a bill with a timetable that would end the war in Iraq. It doesn't go as far as we'd like—this will be a long fight. But it's a first step toward bringing the troops home.
Please call Rep. Tiahrt today.
Thanks for all you do.
–Nita, Eli, Karin, Marika and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Wednesday, March 21st, 2007

MoveOn wants Tiahrt to oppose escalating the war.

Dear MoveOn member,
The fight to end the war quickly is at a precarious point and we need your help.
Progressives in Congress are pushing for a swift, responsible exit that brings the troops home by the end of 2007. But Dick Cheney and his allies in Congress are on an all-out assault—saying that Democrats are "undermining the troops" by trying to end the war.1 Avoiding a date certain to end this war is supporting a war without end.
Can you call Rep. Tiahrt and tell him that you don't want an endless war? We need to let him know his constituents want to support our troops by bringing them home safely this year. Here is the number:
Congressman Todd Tiahrt
Phone: 202-225-6216
After you call, please report it here so we know how many calls they've received:
http://political.moveon.org/call?tg=FHKS_04&cp_id=463&id=10010-3189845-uZ_GTn&t=3
It just takes a few minutes, but if we all work together, we can take a big step toward ending the war.
Thanks for all you do,
–Nita, Eli, Karin, Joan and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Wednesday, March 14th, 2007
Sources:
1. "Opposition Undercuts Troops, Cheney Says of Spending Bill," New York Times, March 13, 2007
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=2419&id=10010-3189845-uZ_GTn&t=4
2. "Poll: 58 percent want Iraq withdrawal by 2008 or sooner," CNN.com, March 13, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/13/iraq.poll/
Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.2 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you'd like to support our work, you can give now at:
http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=10010-3189845-uZ_GTn&t=5
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.