Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Venture capitalist

2019-03-26T15:27:06Z

DerekE: redir to VC page

#REDIRECT [[Venture capital]]

Weekly Standard

2018-09-13T19:23:19Z

DerekE: intro update; added TWS Fact Check; external links added; references added

'''''The Weekly Standard''''' is a [[neoconservative]] weekly journal published by [[MediaDC]], which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of [[Clarity Media Group, Inc.]], and made its debut on September 17, 1995.<ref>[https://www.weeklystandard.com/about-us About Us], ''The Weekly Standard'', Accessed September 13, 2018.</ref> The magazine is edited by [[Stephen F. Hayes]], [[Richard Starr]] and [[Fred Barnes]], co-host of ''The Beltway Boys'' on [[Fox News]]. It is generally considered to be one of the top three right-leaning publications, along with [[William F. Buckley]]'s ''[[National Review]]'' and the ''[[American Spectator]]''. It features such writers as [[P.J. O'Rourke]], [[Irwin Stelzer]], [[Charles Krauthammer]] and Michael Goldfarb.

==TWS Fact Check==
TWS Fact Check is associated with ''The Weekly Standard'' and joined [[Facebook|Facebook's]] network of fact-checkers in 2017. It is signatory of the International Face Checking Network, which Media Bias Fact Check uses to determine factual reporting for outsource reviews.<ref>[https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/how-to-tell-if-an-online-article-is-real-fake-or-a-scam/ How to Tell If an Online Article is Real, Fake or a Scam], ''The Mac Security Blog'', September 7, 2018.</ref>

==External links==
* [https://www.weeklystandard.com The Weekly Standard Website]
* [http://mediadc.com MediaDC]
* [https://www.weeklystandard.com/tag/tws-fact-check TWS Fact Check]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Conservative Magazines]]

Intego

2018-09-13T19:04:11Z

DerekE: URL update; fixed broken link

'''Intego''' is a Mac security firm that has made a name for itself in the [[Internet]] security and privacy market for [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] Macintosh. Founded in 1997, Intego is the only [[company]] focusing solely on Mac security.<ref>[https://www.intego.com/company About Intego], intego.com, (Accessed September 13, 2018).</ref> Intego provides security [[software]] for [[Mac OS X]], including [[antivirus]] and [[Firewall (computing)|firewall]] to protect users against [[Mac Virus|viruses]] and [[malware]], [[hackers]] and vandals, [[spam]] and [[phishing]] attacks. The company also provides data protection, [[computer]] backup and parental control programs that allow children to use the Internet safely.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.intego.com/ Intego Website]
* [https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/ The Mac Security Blog], ''from Intego''
* [http://www.facebook.com/Intego Intego Mac Security] - [[Facebook]]
* [https://twitter.com/IntegoSecurity IntegoSecurity] - [[Twitter]]
* [http://www.youtube.com/IntegoVideo IntegoVideo] - [[YouTube]]

[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Software]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Companies]]

The Daily Caller

2018-09-13T18:59:17Z

DerekE: checkyourfact produced by Daily Caller journalists; added references

[[File:YYaU1nW5 400x400.png|thumbnail]]
'''''The Daily Caller''''', also known as ''The DC'', is a [[conservative]] news website co-founded by [[journalist]] and media personality Tucker Carlson. Formed in 2010, they gained nationwide prominence with the [[JournoList]] story. Their website is filled with clickbait type advertising and plenty of scantily clad pinup women pics. That aside, they offer a fair amount of breaking news, real journalism that the [[liberal media]] ignores.

In 2012, reporter Neil Munro of The Daily Caller hurled a question at [[Barack Obama]] after his amnesty speech in the Rose Garden. As Obama started walking away without taking questions, Munroe yelled, ''"Why'd you favor foreigners over Americans?"''. Obama turned around and said, ''“Excuse me, sir. It’s not time for questions."'' The palace guards (liberals media) had a fit that he would dare to challenge their beloved leader and framed the question as interrupting Obama.

==CheckYourFact==
Produced by the journalists of the Daily Caller, CheckYourFact is a well-sourced fact-checking news site with a non-partisan mission to fact check statements by influencers and reporting by other new outlets.<ref>[https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/how-to-tell-if-an-online-article-is-real-fake-or-a-scam/ How to Tell If an Online Article is Real, Fake or a Scam], ''The Mac Security Blog'', September 7, 2018.</ref>

{{cquote|Our mission is a non-partisan one. We're loyal to neither people nor parties -- only the truth. And while the fact-checking industry continues to grow, there are still countless assertions that go unchecked. We exist to fill in the gaps.<ref>[http://checkyourfact.com/about-us Check Your Fact, About Us], CheckYourFact.com, Accessed September 13, 2018.</ref>}}

==External links==
* [http://dailycaller.com/ The Daily Caller website]
* [http://www.KeithOlbermann.com KeithOlbermann.com (A Daily Caller Website)]
* [http://checkyourfact.com CheckYourFact]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Conservative Media]]
[[Category:Conservative News Organizations]]
[[Category:Conservative Websites]]

Global warming

2018-03-06T23:03:13Z

DerekE: /* Climategate */ wikilink

:''See also [[Counterexamples to Global Warming|Counterexamples to global warming]]''

[[File:Global temp chart.jpg|thumb|right|Graph showing temperature connections between solar activity and volcanic eruptions, against a backdrop of historical events.]]
'''Anthropogenic global warming''' (AGW) is a theory that suggests that human activity is causing the [[Earth]] to warm. The theory posits that greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor, trap solar warmth on the planet. Computer models suggest that industrial and vehicular emissions could lead to catastrophic warming. [[Leftist]]s use this theory as a basis to propose cuts in energy production and consumption and promote de-industrialization.

An average of radiosonde (weather balloon) and satellite data shows that the lower troposphere warmed by 0.44 degrees Celsius between 1979 and 2014. This corresponds to a rate of 1.7 degrees per century.<ref name="SpencerCSP">"[https://www.newcriterion.com//cm/images/THE%20CLIMATE%20SURPRISE%20PAMPHLET.pdf The Climate Surprise Pamphlet]", ''The New Criterion'', 2016. The trend was derived averaging two satellite data sets (RSS v.3.3 and UAH) with four radiosonde data sets.</ref> From 1979 to 2016 the lower troposphere warmed by 1.7 degrees per century, according to satellite-based measurements processed using the RSS software.<ref name=SpencerRSS>RSS v.4, released in June 2017. (Spencer, Roy, "[http://www.drroyspencer.com/2017/07/comments-on-the-new-rss-lower-tropospheric-temperature-dataset/ Comments on the New RSS Lower Tropospheric Temperature Dataset]").</ref>

If the AGW theory was correct, the lower troposphere would be warming at a rate of 3.1 degrees per century, according to an average of 102 climate models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).<ref name="SpencerCSP2">"[https://www.newcriterion.com//cm/images/THE%20CLIMATE%20SURPRISE%20PAMPHLET.pdf The Climate Surprise Pamphlet]", ''The New Criterion'', 2016. Taken from chart "All 3 Global Temperature Dataset Types Disagree with the Climate Model During the Period of Greatest Greenhouse Concentration."</ref>Despite the numerous flaws detailed in the "Harry Read Me" file, the IPCC still favors the CRU's HadCRUT4 temperature record. This record shows warming of less than 0.6 degree from 1979 to 2014. See "[[Global warming#The temperature record|The Temperature Record]]."</ref> The missing heat is sometimes said to be accumulating in the oceans. But a recent study by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography found that ocean temperature has risen by only 0.1 degree Celsius in the last fifty years.<ref>"[http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/05/new-study-shows-past-research-on-rising-ocean-temps-built-on-faulty-science/ New Study Shows Past Research On Rising Ocean Temps Built On Faulty Science]," ''The Daily Caller'', 01/05/2018.</ref>

Radiosonde and satellite data are the most accurate sources for global temperature. To go back further, other methods must be used. A reanalysis of weather station data for 1943 to 2012 by U.S. climate researcher Roy Spencer shows that the climate cooled in the 1960s and 1970s. More recently, the climate has warmed, allowing average temperature to return to its earlier level. Unlike the official weather station record, Spencer's data includes only those stations that recorded temperature at a consistent time of day.<ref name="Spencer" />

==Difficulties with the theory==
*'''Carbon dioxide is insignificant as a greenhouse gas.''' The level of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere is only 400 parts per million. Ninety to 95 percent of the greenhouse effect is due to water vapor.<ref>Friedenreich and Ramaswamy, "Solar Radiation Absorption by Carbon Dioxide, Overlap with Water, and a Parameterization for General Circulation Models," Journal of Geophysical Research 98 (1993):7255-7264</ref> The IPCC claims that water vapor acts as a "positive feedback," i.e. warming creates more humidity, which leads to additional warming. There are humidity measurements going back to 1948, and they show no upward trend.<ref>"[https://wattsupwiththat.com/global-climate/ global climate]," ''Watt's Up with That''</ref> More humidity could lead to more clouds and therefore to cooling and to negative feedback. So why assume positive feedback? AGW works only if water vapor is a positive feedback, so that is what the IPCC must claim. Although Obama has denounced elevated carbon dioxide levels as "carbon pollution," greenhouse operators commonly increase the level of CO2 to 1,000 ppm or more to enhance plant growth.<ref>"[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151210101819.htm Plant growth enhanced by increased carbon dioxide, but food webs give rise to significant variations]", ''Science News'', December 10, 2015. Harrison H. Schmitt and William Happer, "[http://arizonaskywatch.com/article/articles/In%20defense%20of%20carbon%20dioxide.pdf In Defense of Carbon Dioxide]," ''Wall Street Journal'', May 8, 2013.</ref>
[[Image:NASA-1024x933.jpg|thumb|right|A composite map of [[Antarctica]] showing areas of greatest warming in red. The Wilkins Ice Shelf lies off the peninsula in the top left corner, and shows extensive warming. Overall, Antarctica shows little warming, and many areas to the East (right) are almost cooling.<ref>Roberts, Greg (April 18, 2009). [http://www.news.com.au/antarctic-ice-is-growing-not-melting-away/story-0-1225700043191 "Antarctic ice is growing, not melting away."] News.com.au. Retrieved on September 25, 2014.</ref>]]
*'''The Earth has warmed or cooled many times. Historically, warm periods are associated with favorable climate.''' The [[Roman Warm Period]] (250 BC to 180 AD) featured temperatures comparable to those of modern times. This was followed by the Dark Ages Cold Period (450-950 AD).<ref>"[http://www.co2science.org/subject/d/summaries/dacpeurope.php Dark Ages Cold Period (Europe) - Summary]", ''CO2 Science'', 1 June 2005.</ref> The Medieval Warm Period was even warmer than the Roman period and lasted from 950 to 1300.<ref>John P. Rafferty, "[https://global.britannica.com/science/medieval-warm-period Medieval warm period (MWP)]", ''Britannica''</ref> From the 14th century to the early 19th century, there was a Little Ice Age.<ref>John P. Rafferty, Stephen T. Jackson, "[https://global.britannica.com/science/Little-Ice-Age Little Ice Age (LIA)]", ''Britannica''.</ref><ref>See the graphs at "[http://www.climate4you.com/ Global temperatures]," Climate4you.</ref><ref>Bastasch, Michael, "[http://dailycaller.com/2013/12/13/study-earth-was-warmer-in-roman-medieval-times/ Study: Earth was warmer in Roman, Medieval times]", ''The Daily Caller''. For a peer-reviewed paper, see Moberg, A., et al. 2005 "[ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/contributions_by_author/moberg2005/nhtemp-moberg2005.txt 2,000-Year Northern Hemisphere Temperature Reconstruction]", ''World Data Center for Paleoclimatology''. The Moberg data set is charted [https://i0.wp.com/i90.photobucket.com/albums/k247/dhm1353/Moberg-1.png here].</ref>
*'''For leftists, the attraction of the theory is that it supports their agenda.''' The environmentalist agenda of renewables, solar energy, conservation, and world government was put together in the 1970s in response to the energy crisis and to the overpopulation scare. At that time, most scientists thought the Earth was cooling.<ref>"[http://realclimatescience.com/the-corrupt-history-of-nasa-temperature-history/ The corrupt history of NASA temperature history]", ''Real Climate Science''.</ref><ref name="Time" /> When AGW came along, it was treated as an additional justification for this agenda. Steven Schneider, founding father of the AGW movement, was a global cooling believer in the early 1970s. "We have to offer up scary scenarios, make simplified, dramatic statements, and make little mention of any doubts we might have," he explained.<ref>This is from an article Schneider wrote for ''Discover'' magazine in 1989.[http://www.creationworldview.org/articles_view.asp?id=67]</ref> To Schneider, global cooling and global warming were just two "scary senarios." He could offer up whichever one was expedient.
*'''Carbon dioxide can be absorbed by promoting plant growth, an angle overlooked by the mainstream media.''' In fact, the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has already resulted in an increase in plant growth. If that's not enough, iron filings can be dumped at sea to encourage the growth of marine plants.<ref>Carrington, Damian, "[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/18/iron-sea-carbon Dumping iron at sea can bury carbon for centuries, study shows]" ''The Guardian'', 18 July 2012.</ref> Freeman Dyson, America's top physicist, has suggested genetically engineering trees to absorb more carbon.<ref>"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiKfWdXXfIs Freeman Dyson on the Global Warming Hysteria April, 2015]." Dyson recommends ''Cool It'' (2007) by Bjorn Lomborg as the best summary of the AGW issue.</ref>
*'''If the science was in fact settled, we would see less outrage at "deniers" and greater concern for scientific integrity.''' One climate science scandal after another has been exposed. The Climategate emails show hoaxers scurrying to "hide the decline."<ref name=MISH>"[http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2009/11/hackers-prove-global-warming-is-scam.html#quEdWPhB8b6cs07f.99 Beware The Ice Age Cometh: Hackers Prove Global Warming Is A Scam]", ''MISH'S Global Economic Trend Analysis''</ref> The "hockey stick" view of climate history, which holds that global temperature was constant for 2,000 years and then surged in the last century, has been repeatedly debunked.<ref>Muller, Richard A., "[http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/13830/ A Global Warming Bombshell]", ''Technology Review'' , Oct. 2004; calls into question famous graph by Michael Mann.</ref> No one's reputation is tarnished by these bloopers, no one pays any price. The first response of AGW backers is name calling and attempts to shut down the discussion. Argument is a last resort.<ref>Phil Plait, columnist for ''Discover'', is a good example. Plait has only contempt for those who express concerns about scientific integrity in climate research: "yawn," "non-event," etc. With no sense of irony, he can write, "these denialist claims are largely ad hominems." If you fail to show "the scientists" enough respect, then you are a "global warming denier." This name-calling-as-argument strategy is typical of AGW hacks. (Phil Plait, "[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/11/30/the-global-warming-emails-non-event/#.WHMkC9J97cs The global warming emails non-event]," ''Discover'', November 30, 2009.)</ref> The logical explanation is that they already know AGW is a hoax, and they don't care.

==History==
===Origin===
In 1827, French scientist [[Joseph Fourier]] suggested that although the atmosphere allowed sunlight to pass through to warm the Earth, it blocked "dark heat" (infrared radiation) from the Earth and thus prevented energy from being transferred back into space.<ref name=Fourier>Fourier, Jean Baptist Joseph, "On the Temperatures of the Terrestrial Sphere in Interplanetary Space", Translated in ''The Warming Papers: The Scientific Foundation for Climate Change Forecast''. The relevant section is pp. 12-13.</ref> Fourier did make an unfortunate analogy between the Earth's atmosphere and a space enclosed by glass. All the same, it may not be fair to blame Fourier for the greenhouse effect meme. He also discusses convection as an alternative explanation and, as a good scientist, recommends an experiment to resolve the issue.

In 1861, Irish scientist John Tyndall measured the absorption of radiant energy by various gases in the atmosphere. He concluded that water vapor was the gas primarily responsible. It could therefore be considered the warming agent that Fourier hypothesized. Tyndall suggested that changes in humidity could bring about climate change.

The AGW theory was first presented in 1896 in an article by Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius. Arrhenius predicted that a doubling of CO2 in the atmosphere due to fossil fuel burning would lead to a temperature increase of 3 to 4 °C (about 5 to 7 °F) after 500 years. Arrhenius attributes his misunderstanding of the science to Fourier: "Fourier maintained that the atmosphere acts like the glass of a hothouse."<ref>Arrhenius, Svante, "On the Influence of Carbonic Acid in the Air on the Temperature on the Ground", ''London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science,'' April 1896. Reprinted in ''The Warming Papers'', pp. 56-77.</ref>

The use of the Swedish word ''drivbänk'' (hothouse) by Arrhenius and his colleagues is likely to be the origin of the phrase "greenhouse effect." This phrase is first recorded in English in 1907.<ref>"[http://www.easterbrook.ca/steve/2015/08/who-first-coined-the-term-greenhouse-effect/ Who first coined the term “Greenhouse Effect”?]," ''Serendipity,'' August 2015</ref>

===The skeptics strike back===
Arrhenius ignored water vapor in his calculations, leading him to overestimate the effect of CO2 by 96 percent, as Knut Ångström observed in 1901.<ref>"[https://realclimatescience.com/2016/12/climate-scientists-celebrating-115-years-of-debunked-science/ Climate Scientists Celebrating 115 Years Of Debunked Junk Science]"</ref> More controversially, Ångström questioned whether CO2 could act as a greenhouse gas at all. He took a tube of carbon dioxide, shined black body radiation on it, and varied the pressure on the gas. Increasing the pressure led to only a slight increase in absorption. He concluded that radiation absorption by CO2 is already nearly saturated, so the emission of additional gas into the atmosphere would have little effect. Ångström thus became "the first denier."

Nils Ekholm, an associate of Arrhenius, had an answer to Ångström's point about saturation.<ref>Ekholm, Nils, "On the Variations of the Geological and Historical Past their Causes, ''Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society,'' January 1901. DOI: 10.1002/qj.49702711702.</ref> Ångström's tube was saturated because it was at ground level. High enough in the atmosphere, there must be an unsaturated layer of carbon dioxide capable of absorbing radiation. The greater the density of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the lower this layer would be. A lower layer would retransmit more radiation to the lower atmosphere and would therefore be responsible for greater warming. Ekholm's insight was lost on his fellow scientists. It was not rediscovered until the 1960s.<ref>"The Surface budget fallacy," ''The Warming Papers'', pp. 79-80.</ref>

As for Ångström's point concerning water vapor, Arrhenius insisted that CO2 rose higher in the atmosphere than water vapor could, so water vapor was not relevant. This argument never caught on. The idea that adding CO2 would change the climate, "was never widely accepted and was abandoned when it was found that all the long-wave radiation [that would be] absorbed by CO2 is [already] absorbed by water vapor," the American Meteorological Society concluded in 1951.<ref>American Meteorological Society, ''[https://www.questia.com/read/97549786/compendium-of-meteorology 1951 Compendium of Meteorology]'', p. 1016.</ref> Despite Ångström's debunking of his theory, Arrhenius won the Nobel prize for chemistry in 1903 for unrelated research. The Ångströms, meanwhile, are remembered for a miniscule unit of length named after Anders Ångström, Knut's dad.

===Disproving the greenhouse effect===
Finally performing the experiment Fourier had recommended a century earlier, Robert Wood showed in 1909 that energy is transferred from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere primarily through convection currents. In Wood's experiment, the temperature in a glass box was compared to that in a box with a top made of halite (rock salt). Halite allows sunlight to enter, but blocks infrared. Infrared re-radiation and the greenhouse effect play "a very small part," both in the atmosphere and in literal greenhouses, Wood concluded.<ref>Wood, Robert, "[http://www.tech-know-group.com/papers/Note_on_the_Theory_of_the_Greenhouse.pdf Note on the Theory of the Greenhouse]", ''Philosphical Magazine'', January—June 1909. "[http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.jp/2010/06/greenhouse-theory-disproven-in-1909.html Greenhouse Theory disproven in 1909, 1963, 1966, 1973...but still refuses to die]," June 28, 2010. Gerhard Gerlich and Ralf D. Tscheuschner, "[https://arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/0707/0707.1161v4.pdf Falsification Of The Atmospheric CO2 Greenhouse Effects Within The Frame Of Physics]"</ref> A greenhouse is warmer than the air outside because the roof limits convection and the walls restrict wind. "The acquired heat is concentrated, because it is not dissipated immediately by renewing the air," as Fourier himself explained.<ref name="Fourier" />

From 1909 until the 1960s, only a few additional papers on AGW were published. Research went forward as the lonely project of English scientist Guy Callendar. Callendar collected historical temperature readings and CO2 measurements and published the results in 1938.<ref>Callendar, G.S. (1938). "The Artificial Production of Carbon Dioxide and Its Influence on Climate." ''Quarterly J. Royal Meteorological Society'' 64: 223-40. Reprinted in ''The Warming Papers'', pp. 261-273.</ref>

===Sagan and Venus===
In 1932, Venus was shown to have an atmosphere of carbon dioxide.<ref>"Carbon Dioxide Discovered in Atmosphere of Venus", Astronautics, Vol. 2, No. 21 (1932), pp. 6-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/8.11921</ref> This finding prompted astronomer Rupert Wildt to propose in 1940 that a greenhouse effect operated on the planet. Radio telescope observations in 1958 showed that the temperature of Venus was even higher than Wildt's theory could explain. Astronomer Carl Sagan proposed in 1960 that the planet had a “very efficient greenhouse effect,” or runaway greenhouse as it later came to be called.<ref>Weart, Spencer, "[http://history.aip.org/history/climate/pdf/venus.pdf Venus & Mars]", June 2011.</ref><ref>Sagan, Carl, "[http://science.sciencemag.org/content/133/3456/849 The Planet Venus]", ''Science'', 24 March 1961.</ref> The Mariner 2 mission in 1962 measured the temperature of Venus as 500 degrees Celsius. The planet that had been considered "Earth's twin" just a few years earlier was revealed as a sulfurous vision of hell.

Mariner's findings were sensational because they had been predicted by Immanuel Velikovsky in ''Worlds in Collision'' (1950), which argues that Venus was ejected from Jupiter in mythological times. The scientific community had denounced Velikovsky and his theory in the strongest terms, and Sagan emerged as its champion. Sagan and Velikovsky faced off at a dramatic conference in San Francisco in 1974.<ref>AAAS Symposium: "Velikovsky's Challenge to Science" held on February 25, 1974.</ref>

By portraying carbon dioxide as a doomsday chemical, Sagan put a radically new spin on the issue. Both Arrhenius and Callendar had assumed that greenhouse warming would be beneficial. With Rachel Carson's ''Silent Spring'' (1962), Paul R. Ehrlich's ''The Population Bomb'' (1968), and the Club of Rome's ''The Limits to Growth'' (1972), this was an era when the reading public had an enormous appetite for spurious theories concerning human-initiated global catastrophe.

While the Venus discoveries ignited a burst of interest in AGW, they did nothing to shore up its scientific merits. In 1971, Russian climatologist Mikhail Budyko gave a speech to a large international conference in Leningrad in which he presented an alarmist AGW scenario. Reaction was strongly negative. It was clear that AGW was very much a minority opinion among scientists at this time. A quick look at Venus reveals that the atmosphere is opaque due to globe-spanning sulfur dioxide clouds. These clouds are 30 to 40 km thick. No sunlight reaches the surface.<ref>NASA's "[http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/venusfact.html Venus Fact Sheet]" gives the planet's diurnal temperature range as zero, i.e. no difference between night and day on the surface.</ref> It follows that the planet has no greenhouse effect whatsoever.

In a runaway greenhouse, the greenhouse effect vaporizes additional water, which in turn increases the greenhouse effect. This leads to even more water vaporization and so on in a cycle of positive feedback. Venus has very little water of any kind, so Sagan's runaway greenhouse is not possible.<ref name=pierre>*Raymond T. Pierrehumbert, ''[https://books.google.ca/books?id=bO_U8f5pVR8C&source=gbs_navlinks_s Principles of Planetary Climate]'', pp. 14-15. *Anthony Watts explains why Sagan's theory is "beyond absurd" in "[https://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/05/06/hyperventilating-on-venus/ Hyperventilating on Venus]," May 6, 2010.</ref> Whatever the chemistry of the Venusian atmosphere, water vapor absorbs a wider spectrum of radiation than carbon dioxide does and remains the primary greenhouse gas in the terrestrial atmosphere, as Tyndall showed long ago.

Venus research proved to be an incubator for AGW showboaters. James “Boiling Oceans” Hansen, who emerged as the public face of AGW in the late 1980s, was a NASA Venus researcher in the 1960s. Overlooking Hansen's history of following one kook theory after another, the mainstream media treated his talk of "runaway greenhouse" and "Venus syndrome" as serious science.<ref>Sullivan, John, "[https://johnosullivan.wordpress.com/2012/05/20/top-scientists-vent-on-nasas-sub-prime-greenhouse-gas-hoaxere-optional/ Top Scientists Vent on NASA’s Sub Prime Greenhouse Gas Hoaxer]", May 20, 2012. "The oceans will begin to boil," Hansen announces in [https://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/01/12/quote-of-the-week-dr-james-hansen-of-nasa-giss-unhinged/ this video]. In his book, ''Storms of my Grandchildren'', Hansen writes: "[I]f we burn all reserves of oil, gas, and coal, there is a substantial chance we will initiate the runaway greenhouse. If we also burn the tar sands and tar shale, I believe the Venus syndrome is a dead certainty."</ref>

Hansen's claim that continued CO2 emissions will trigger a runaway greenhouse on Earth is unlikely in view of the Earth's recovery after the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a huge natural spike in CO2 that occurred 55.5 million years ago.<ref>Kunzig, Robert, "[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/130729-runaway-greenhouse-global-warming-venus-ocean-climate-science/ Will Earth's Ocean Boil Away?]", ''National Geographic'', July 30, 2013.</ref> During PETM, the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere increased by about 700 ppm over 20,000 years and the planet warmed by 5–8 degrees Celsius.<ref>McInherney, F.A..; Wing, S. (2011). "A perturbation of carbon cycle, climate, and biosphere with implications for the future". Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 39: 489–516. Bibcode:2011AREPS..39..489M. doi:10.1146/annurev-earth-040610-133431</ref> Plant growth accelerated and there was a return to pre-PETM conditions after 200,000 years.<ref>Gabriel J. Bowen & James C. Zachos, "Rapid carbon sequestration at the termination of the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum", ''Nature'' Geoscience 3, 866–869 (2010) doi:10.1038/ngeo1014</ref> Although this event is sometimes presented as confirmation of the greenhouse concept, warming preceded the CO2 spike by about 3,000 years<ref>Sluijs, A.; Brinkhuis, H.; Schouten, S.; Bohaty, S.M.; John, C.M.; Zachos, J.C.; Reichart, G.J.; Sinninghe Damste, J.S.; Crouch, E.M.; Dickens, G.R. (2007). "Environmental precursors to rapid light carbon injection at the Palaeocene/Eocene boundary". Nature. 450 (7173): 1218–21. Bibcode:2007Natur.450.1218S. doi:10.1038/nature06400. PMID 18097406.</ref> and may have been initiated by a comet impact.<ref>[https://wattsupwiththat.com/tag/petm/ Study: Extraterrestrial impact preceded ancient global warming event]", October 13, 2016. Morgan F. Schaller, Megan K. Fung, James D. Wright, Miriam E. Katz, Dennis V. Kent, "[http://science.sciencemag.org/content/354/6309/225.full Impact ejecta at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary]", ''Science'', 14 Oct 2016:
Vol. 354, Issue 6309, pp. 225-229 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf5466.</ref>

===From cooling to warming===
Despite Venus-related attention, AGW was overshadowed by a cooling scare in the 1970s. Steven Schneider, who later emerged as a key player in AGW politics, confidently predicted more cooling in 1971:
{{cquote|[I]t is projected that man's potential to pollute will increase six- to eightfold in the next 50 years. If this increased rate of injection of particulate matter in the atmosphere should raise the present background opacity by a factor of 4, our calculations suggest a decrease in global temperature by as much as 3.5 ''°K''. Such a large decrease in the average temperature of Earth, sustained over a period of few years, is '''believed to be sufficient to trigger an ice age.''' However, by that time, nuclear power may have largely replaced fossil fuels as a means of energy production.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Rasool SI, Schneider SH |title=Atmospheric carbon dioxide and aerosols: effects of large increases on global climate |journal=Science |volume=173 |issue=3992 |pages=138–41 |date=July 1971 |pmid=17739641 |doi=10.1126/science.173.3992.138 |url= }}</ref>}}

By the late 1970s, the cooling scare had tapered off and Schneider was actively promoting AGW. The energy crisis, which began in 1973, put energy policy in the center of the political debate. In response, the left adopted a platform of conservation, renewables, and solar energy. Schneider and others noticed that AGW provided an additional justification for this platform.

By the late 1980s, Schneider and his fellow activists had transformed global warming from a fringe concern to a central political issue. He explained how in a 1989 interview:
{{cquote|And like most people we’d like to see the world a better place, which in this context translates into our working to reduce the risk of potentially disastrous climate change. To do that we need to get some broad based support, to capture the public’s imagination. '''That, of course, means getting loads of media coverage. So we have to offer up scary scenarios,''' make simplified, dramatic statements, '''and make little mention of any doubts we might have'''. This “double ethical bind” we frequently find ourselves in cannot be solved by any formula. Each of us has to decide what the right balance is between being effective and being honest. I hope that means being both.<ref>The quote is from ''Discover'', pp. 45–48, October 1989. See [http://www.weeklystandard.com/climategate-part-ii/article/610926 this link].</ref>}}

After Schneider abandoned his global cooling hobbyhorse and got on the global warming bandwagon, he never looked back. He was all about offering up "scary scenarios" in order to get "loads of media coverage." He had hoped to be honest, but, let's face it, nobody's perfect. Since he presents himself here as the high priest of climate science, it should be noted that Schneider's Ph.D. is in mechanical engineering.

===The IPCC===
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a UN agency that reports on climate science, was founded in 1988. IPCC reports are often cited as the gold standard of science in this field, proof that AGW is "settled science." But few journalists read the report itself. Instead, they rely on the "Executive Summary" or "Summary for Policymakers." This document is written, not by scientists, but by UN bureaucrats under the supervision of Rajendra Pachauri, the Indian railway economist who heads the IPCC. The Climategate II emails reveal that the summary is written first then material is added to the various chapters to support it.<ref>Hayward, Steven F., "[http://www.weeklystandard.com/climategate-part-ii/article/610926 Climategate (Part II)]," ''Weekly Standard'', Dec. 12, 2011</ref> This procedure makes a farce of the IPCC's stated mission, which is to review the published literature so as to determine the scientific consensus.

As for the main report, this is put together carelessly, according George Filippo: "I feel rather unconfortable about using not only unpublished but also unreviewed material as the backbone of our conclusions (or any conclusions)....IPCC is not any more an assessment of published science (which is its proclaimed goal) but production of results....I feel that at this point there are very little rules and almost anything goes." Filippo was a vice chair of the group from 2002 to 2008 and has contributed to all five IPCC reports.<ref>"[http://tomnelson.blogspot.jp/2012/01/don-miss-this-devastating-criticism-of.html Don't miss this devastating criticism of the IPCC]," January 02, 2012</ref>

===Climategate===
The AGW industry was exposed as a hoax by the release of the "[[Climategate]]" emails in 2009. The Climate Research Unit of East Anglia University in Britain prepared 156 megaybytes of email by their researchers for release under the Freedom of Information Act. This database was somehow leaked, either prematurely or by a whistleblower after the institution had second thoughts.

In the most notorious message, Phil Jones, director of the unit, wrote, "I've just completed '''Mike's Nature trick''' of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years (ie from 1981 onwards) amd from 1961 for Keith's to '''hide the decline'''."<ref name=MISH /> This should not be understood to mean that real temperature was declining, but rather that the researchers were attempting to cover up flaws in their tree-ring based data set. The graph in question was a version of the famous "hockey stick" that shows global temperature constant for 2,000 years, followed by a dramatic warming in the last century. ''Nature'' is considered one of the most authoritative science journals. So this quote suggests that a chart prepared for the magazine was faked with the approval of Jones as supervisor. An email by CRU researcher Tim Osborn clarifies what the ''Nature'' trick was: "Also we have applied a completely artificial adjustment to the data after 1960, so they look closer to observed temperatures than the tree-ring data actually were."<ref>"[http://tomnelson.blogspot.jp/2011/12/in-case-you-missed-it-damning.html In case you missed it, damning ClimateGate emails from Tim Osborne]", Tom Nelson, Dec. 06, 2011.</ref>

What's wrong with using tree ring data to created a climate record? The CRU researchers assumed that a tree grows faster when it's warmer. But rainfall has a stronger influence on tree growth than temperature does. Temperature is coorelated to tree growth only in the sense that it tends to rain more in warm eras. Critics call the CRU's approach the "tree-o-meter" theory.<ref>"[http://tomnelson.blogspot.jp/2012/02/email-3826-feb-2001-in-email-copied-to.html Email 3826, Feb 2001]," Tom Nelson, Feb. 04, 2012. "In one go, they tossed aside dozens of studies which confirmed the existence of the MWE [Medieval Warm Era] and LIA [Little Ice Age] as global events, and all on the basis of tree rings - a proxy which has all the deficiencies I have stated above."</ref>

In another Climategate email, Jones enthusiastically demands that the IPCC review process be rigged: "I can't see either of these papers being in the next IPCC report. Kevin and I will keep them out somehow - even if we have to redefine what the peer-review literature is!" Jones also admitted that the reason he claims the Earth is warming is political: "The scientific community would come down on me in no uncertain terms if I said the world had cooled from 1998. Okay it has but it is only seven years of data and it isn't statistically significant."<ref name=steyn14>Steyn, Mark, "[http://www.steynonline.com/2697/how-the-science-got-settled How the Science Got Settled]", December 6, 2014.</ref> Jones is ignoring the fact that 1998 was an unusually warm year due to an El Niño event. All the same, it's clear that he runs the CRU to produce made-to-order results rather than as a scientist.

==The temperature record==
Global temperatures are tracked by three methods: satellites, weather balloons, and weather stations. All three methods confirm a modest amount of warming in recent decades. Satellite data shows a warming trend of 0.11 K/decade for 1978 to 2015.<ref>Roy W. Spencer, John R. Christy, and William D. Braswell, "[http://www.drroyspencer.com/wp-content/uploads/Version-61.pdf Version 6.0 of the UAH Temperature Dataset Released]", 28 April 2015.</ref> Weather balloon data shows a warming trend of 0.18 K/decade for 1970 to 2015.<ref>The figure given is for RATPAC-A, surface to 700 mb. See "[https://wattsupwiththat.com/2015/12/14/gavins-admission-about-the-satellite-record-versus-the-surface-temperature-record/ Gavin’s admission about the satellite record versus the surface temperature record]," ''Watt's Up With That''. You can find a collection of global climate charts [https://wattsupwiththat.com/global-climate/ here].</ref>

A reanalysis of weather station data for 1943 to 2012 by Roy Spencer shows that after a cooler period in the 1960s and 1970s, U.S. temperatures returned to their earlier level. Unlike CRU, NASA, and NOAA, Spencer corrects for the fact that at most stations measurement time of day has changed over the years.<ref name=Spencer>Spencer, Roy, "[http://www.drroyspencer.com/2012/08/a-new-analysis-of-u-s-temperature-trends-since-1943/ A New Analysis of U.S. Temperature Trends Since 1943]," August 6th, 2012.</ref> So Spencer's analysis implies that the warmest year on record was 1934, the warmest year of the 1930s, not 2016 as the climate establishment maintains. Spencer is a prominent skeptic and a professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He maintains the UAH record, one of the two major satellite temperature records. As an active researcher at the center of the climate science community, Spencer is a standing rebuke to the claim that AGW represents the scientific consensus.<ref>Spencer, Roy, "[http://www.drroyspencer.com/my-global-warming-skepticism-for-dummies/ My Global Warming Skepticism, for Dummies]"</ref>

The temperature records preferred by the climate establishment were built up over many years and include numerous gaps, bugs, incompatible coding, and other errors. The problems of the CRU data set are memorably documented in the "Harry read me" file, part of the Climategate trove. According to this file, the premier global temperature record contains, "botch after botch after botch."<ref name=Brownlow>Brownlow, Andie, "[https://pjmedia.com/blog/climategates-harry_read_me-txt-we-all-really-should/?singlepage=true Climategate's Harry_Read_Me.txt: We All Really Should]", Dec. 11, 2009.</ref>

AGW is hardly the only explanation that has been proposed for recent warming. There are also explanations involving natural cycles such as the 11-year-sunspot cycle, the Pacific decadal oscillation,<ref>Bratcher and Giese, "Tropical Pacific decadal variability and global warming", ''Geophysical Research Letters''.</ref> and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).<ref>*72 percent of global temperature variation since 1958 reflects the influence of a Pacific Ocean weather cycle called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (McLean, J. D., C. R. de Freitas, and R. M. Carter--2009-07-23). "Influence of the Southern Oscillation on tropospheric temperature". ''Journal of Geophysical Research'' *Spencer, R.W. & Braswell, W.D., "[http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13143-014-0011-z The role of ENSO in global ocean temperature changes during 1955–2011 simulated with a 1D climate model]", Asia-Pacific J Atmos Sci (2014) 50: 229. doi:10.1007/s13143-014-0011-z</ref>

==Summary of arguments against anthropogenic global warming==
Natural periods of global warming and global cooling are expected to occur regardless of human activity, and not long ago liberals were demanding more government control to combat an alleged cooling in temperatures, with some scientists warning of a possible ice age.<ref name="Time">"Science: Another Ice Age?" (June 24, 1974). ''Time'' magazine. Retrieved on September 25, 2014.</ref> [[Global cooling]], a theory that predates global warming, obviously occurs naturally many times throughout [[Earth|Earth's]] geological history.<ref name="dissidents">"After any given warming phase begins, thousands of years later the cyclical [[Milankovitch]] decrease in the sun's heat kicks in. The warming stops, reverses and an [[ice age]] ensues." Cockburn, Alexander (June 9–11, 2007). [http://www.counterpunch.org/cockburn06092007.html "Dissidents against dogma"]. Counterpunch. Retrieved on September 25, 2014.</ref> The ease of refutation of anthropogenic global cooling claims foretells the eventual fate of the current global warming hysteria.

Many political activists use the term "global warming" to refer to [[anthropogenic global warming theory]] (AGW), which asserts that human activity such as spewing "[[greenhouse gases]]" is causing an increase in temperature and is more significant than natural causes. The AGW theory is supported by left-leaning political parties, as well as a majority of sovereign states, national agencies, and an intergovernmental panel (see [[IPCC]]). The reality is that there is no immediate global crisis, and even dire warnings by the UN's [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] (IPCC) admit that significant effects will not be manifested for at least 100 years. Predictions made by [[climate model]]s publicized by the IPCC have not come to pass in recent years. Many scientists, such as Hal Lewis, have decried global warming as a conspiracy for the purpose of securing trillions of dollars in grant money.

In November 2009, emails were disclosed that implicated a wrongful manipulation and concealment of data by scientists who have insisted that there is dangerous man-made global warming. Prior to [[ClimateGate]], both the Republican and Democratic party Platforms in 2008 suggested that global warming is happening, that it is caused by human activity, and that it should be counteracted. For example, in 2007, the Republican presidential candidate Senator [[John McCain]] called global warming "an issue we can no longer afford to ignore".<ref>"Issues" (September 1, 2007). www.JohnMcCain.com [2008 senate campaign website] quoted in [http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/John_McCain_Environment.htm "John McCain on environment"] OnTheIssues.org. Retrieved on September 25, 2014.</ref> In 2010, an independent analysis cleared the scientists involved of any wrongdoing ''as scientists'', but remarked upon their omissions as data-presenters. Accordingly, the effects of the scandal still linger.<ref>Whiteman, Hilary (July 7, 2010). [http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/07/07/climategate.email.review/?hpt=Sbin "'Climategate' review clears scientists of dishonesty"]. CNN World. Retrieved on September 26, 2014.</ref>

Former vice president [[Al Gore]], won a [[Nobel Prize]] in 2007 for claiming that there is a dangerous man-made global warming that threatens the world. However, it has since been revealed that he convinced many people through inaccurate information in his "documentary," i.e., he only won the Nobel Prize by lying. [See [[#Al_Gore.27s_Claims|Al Gore's claims]] below.]

The following facts can help dissuade even the most illogical of liberals from believing in the flawed theory of anthropogenic global warming.

=== Temperature flat ===
The overall temperature has been flat for about 16 years.<ref name="Rose">Rose, David (October 13, 2012). [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2217286/Global-warming-stopped-16-years-ago-reveals-Met-Office-report-quietly-released--chart-prove-it.html "Global warming stopped 16 years ago, reveals Met Office report quietly released...and here is the chart to prove it"]. MailOnline. Retrieved on September 26, 2014.</ref>

=== Data manipulation ===
Climate data stating otherwise has been proven to be manipulated.<ref>Multiple references:
*KUSI-TV (January 14, 2010). [http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=30000 "NASA caught in climate data manipulation; new revelations headlined on KUSI-TV climate special"]. SpaceRef. Retrieved on September 26, 2014.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jasZcNQqsw "Climategate 2-US Government involved in data manipulation"] (January 16, 2010). YouTube video, 10:00, posted by Bigone5555J. Retrieved on September 26, 2014.</ref>

=== Alternate causation ===
Even if global warming did actually exist, the overall effect of human activities on global warming are minimal, if not nonexistent.<ref>Byrne, Dennis (August 30, 2011). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-08-30/news/ct-oped-0830-byrne-20110830_1_cosmic-rays-aerosols-magnetic-field "The real science trashers"]. ChicagoTribune. Retrieved on September 26, 2014.</ref>

==Science of global warming==
===Presence of CO2===

One of the primary concerns of Global Warming research is the increased presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Original claims stated that the increase in carbon dioxide—which is a greenhouse gas—were caused primarily through the burning of [[fossil fuels]], and that such increases were the foremost cause of global temperatures rising. Historically, Global temperature changes precede changes in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.<ref>[http://www.skepticalscience.com/co2-lags-temperature.htm "CO2 lags temperature-what does it mean?"] (2007). SkepticalScience. Retrieved on September 26, 2014.</ref>

The most obvious way that this would occur would be through the heating of ocean water. The oceans are the single largest storage unit for carbon dioxide gas on the planet, containing about 93% of the Earth's carbon dioxide.<ref>[http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Bi-Ca/Carbon-Dioxide-in-the-Ocean-and-Atmosphere.html "Carbon dioxide in the ocean and atmosphere"] (2007). Water Encyclopedia. Retrieved on September 26, 2014</ref> As the temperature rises, the [[solubility]] of carbon dioxide in ocean water is reduced,<ref>[http://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/oceanography/ocean-earth-system/ocean-carbon-cycle/ "Carbon cycle"] (2010). NASA Science. Retrieved on September 26, 2014.</ref> causing the dissolved carbon dioxide gas to enter the atmosphere, and begin trapping radiation from the sun. Scientists now believe that this cycle causes a sort of chain effect, where increased temperature causes more carbon dioxide to enter the atmosphere, which in turn causes more temperature rise.

It is also noteworthy to point out that carbon dioxide, while not as abundant in the atmosphere, has a more significant effect on global warming than water vapor does. Carbon dioxide cannot form clouds, as water vapor does. When water vapor forms clouds, those clouds actually block some of the sun's radiation from reaching the Earth, causing water vapor to both contribute positively and negatively to global temperature rise. Carbon dioxide can only act as a greenhouse gas, causing the above-mentioned cyclic effect. According to the IPCC and others, the current concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere is about 392 ppm, which is the highest it has been in at about 800,000 years.<ref>Tans, Pieter and Keeling, Ralph (2010). [http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/mlo.html "Trends in atmospheric carbon dioxide"]. NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory Global Monitoring Division. Retrieved on September 26, 2014.</ref>

But other scientists have disputed this claim of modern-day record-high carbon dioxide readings:<ref name="dissidents"/>
<blockquote>Take Warsaw-based Professor Zbigniew Jaworowski, famous for his critiques of ice-core data. He’s devastating on the IPCC rallying cry that CO2 is higher now than it has ever been over the past 650,000 years. In his 1997 paper in the Spring ''21st Century Science and Technology'', he demolishes this proposition. In particular, he’s very good on pointing out the enormous inaccuracies in the ice-core data and the ease with which a CO2 reading from any given year is contaminated by the CO2 from entirely different eras. He also points out that from 1985 on there’s been some highly suspect editing of the CO2 data, presumably to reinforce the case for the "unprecedented levels" of modern CO2. In fact, in numerous papers prior to 1985, there were plenty of instances of CO2 levels much higher than current CO2 measurements, some even six times higher. He also points out that it is highly unscientific to merge ice-core temperature measurements with modern temperature measurements.</blockquote>

===The Modern Warm Period===
According to temperature reconstruction made within an [[Old Earth]] paradigm, there have been many cycles of naturally-caused global warming and cooling over many millions of years (see [[climate cycles]]). Some scientists, including [[Richard Lindzen]] of [[MIT]], [[Sallie Baliunas]] of [[Harvard]] and [[Fred Singer]] (independent), say that the recent warming could be part of another natural cycle or random fluctuations in the atmosphere.

Recent studies of the Milankovitch Cycles, which predict Earth's climate by studying changes in its orbit and axial tilt, suggest that we are currently 18,000 years into a 150,000 year period between ice ages. This would imply that we should expect the temperature to be rising anyway. A 2002 study by Berger and Loutre suggests 50,000 years of warmer weather before Earth begins to cool again, but that model incorporated anthropogenic forces and concluded:
<blockquote>While combinations of natural forcings produce a gradual warming up to about 1960, none of them leads to a warming over the last 30 years (this period containing three major volcanic eruptions). In contrast, simulations incorporating only anthropogenic forcings reproduce the warming over the last three decades at a rate consistent with that observed, but underestimate the early 20th century warming. As a consequence, only the use of both natural and anthropogenic forcings allows to reproduce much of the observed decadal scale variations of the annual mean hemispheric temperature over the last 150 years.<ref>Bertrand, Cédric, Loutre, Marie-France et al. (May 2002). [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1034/j.1600-0870.2002.00287.x/full "Climate of the last millennium: a sensitivity study"]. ''Tellus'' [Stockholm], vol. 54, iss. 3, pp. 221-244. Retrieved from Wiley Online Library on September 26, 2014.</ref></blockquote>

It should be noted, however, that computer simulated climate models are often tweaked so they agree with the historical temperature record. There is no way to completely simulate all of the Earth's climate with a computer program.

After a major set of temperature readings was found to be an incompatible mix of older and recent data (in the Climategate II scandal) in 2010, Judith Curry, chair of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Science at America’s Georgia Tech university examined new data causing her to state (as quoted by MailOnline):<ref name="Rose"/>

<blockquote>'Natural variability [the impact of factors such as long-term temperature cycles in the oceans and the output of the sun] has been shown over the past two decades to have a magnitude that dominates the greenhouse warming effect.</blockquote>

<blockquote>'It is becoming increasingly apparent that our attribution of warming since 1980 and future projections of climate change needs to consider natural internal variability as a factor of fundamental importance.'</blockquote>

The MailOnline article continued:

<blockquote>Professor Phil Jones, director of the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, who found himself at the centre of the ‘Climategate’ scandal over leaked emails three years ago, would not normally be expected to agree with her.... Prof Jones also admitted that the climate models were imperfect: ‘We don’t fully understand how to input things like changes in the oceans, and because we don’t fully understand it you could say that natural variability is now working to suppress the warming. We don’t know what natural variability is doing.’</blockquote>

===Sunspots===
Sunspot activity is a factor in climate fluctuations, however, little details were known about how much of an impact these fluctuations had on the Earth's climate. During the deepest solar minimum ever recorded, from 2005 to 2010, NASA measured the Earth's energy balance, i.e. the amount of energy absorbed by the sun subtract the amount of energy lost to radiation into space. They concluded:
<blockquote>If the Sun were the only climate forcing or the dominant climate forcing, then the planet would gain energy during the solar maxima, but lose energy during solar minima. The fact that Earth gained energy at a rate 0.58 W/m2 during a deep prolonged solar minimum reveals that there is a strong positive forcing overwhelming the negative forcing by below-average solar irradiance. That result is not a surprise, given knowledge of other forcings, but it provides unequivocal refutation of assertions that the Sun is the dominant climate forcing.<ref>Hansen, James, Sato, Makiko et al. (January 2012). [http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/briefs/hansen_16/ "Earth's energy imbalance"] nasa.gov/Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Retrieved on September 26, 2014.</ref></blockquote>
But heat energy is not the only force of the Sun affecting the Earth. The Sun also produces magnetic activity, the effect of which was not measured in this study, and which could affect the Earth's climate in little-understood ways.

==Economics of global warming==
===Unnecessary expansion of government===
The idea of dangerous anthropogenic (man-made) global warming (AGW) is promoted by liberals and socialists seeking greater government control over the production and use of energy, which is a substantial percentage of the economy. In economic terms, they would like to 'internalize' the 'externality,' which is to say that they think that producers of emissions should be directly connected to the consequences of those emissions, leading syndicated columnist [[Charles Krauthammer]] to warn of an impending "environmental shakedown".<ref>Krauthammer, Charles (December 11, 2009). [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/12/11/copenhagen_shakedown.html "The environmental shakedown"]. Real Clear Politics. Retrieved on September 27, 2014.</ref>

==Public stances on global warming==
===Climate change as a cult===
The zeal of climate-change advocates and lack of objectivity has led some observers to see it as a core belief in a new eco-theology, using themes of traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs. Columnist Deon Feder warns,<ref>Feder, Don (July 31, 2007). [http://archive.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=27579 "The cult of global warming"]. GrassTopsUSA.com. Retrieved from archive at FrontPageMag.com on September 27, 2014.</ref> that following other attempts such as Marxism, overpopulation, ''[[Silent Spring]]'',
<blockquote>now we have the Church of Global Warming, under the leadership of Pope Albert I and his college of cardinals (the [[Natural Resources Defense Council]], [[Sierra Club]] and editorial board of ''The New York Times'').</blockquote>

<blockquote>Its Office for the Propagation of the Faith works overtime, churning out books, movies (from the fictional “The Day After Tomorrow” to the fictional [[An Inconvenient Truth|“An Inconvenient Truth”]]), textbooks, concerts, congressional hearings, media pleading and inquisitions.</blockquote>

Commenting on the tendency to hastily issue dire warnings of Climate Change, seen in the coming [[Ice Age]] scare of the 70's, Maurizio Morabito<ref>Morabito, Maurizio (December 5, 2009). [http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/5592803/the-cias-global-cooling-files/ "The CIA’s ‘global cooling’ file"]. ''The Spectator''. Retrieved from The Spectator website on September 27, 2014.</ref> asked, "Is the problem with the general public, who cannot talk about climate except in doom-laden terms, and for whom the sky is the last animist god?"

Mark Steyn writes in ''Macleans'',<ref name="hot">Steyn, Mark (December 24, 2009). [http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/12/24/why-climate-change-is-hot-hot-hot/2/ "Why climate change is hot hot hot"]. Macleans. Retrieved on September 27, 2014.</ref>
<blockquote>
Forty years ago conventional religious belief was certainly in decline in what we once knew as Christendom, but the hole was not yet ozone-layer sized. Once the sea of faith had receded far from shore, the post-Christian West looked at what remained and found “Gaia.”</blockquote>

And while, "When man was made in the image of God, he was fallen but redeemable", among these devotees of [[Gaia]],
<blockquote>Anti-humanism is everywhere, not least in the barely concealed admiration for China’s (demographically disastrous) “One Child” policy advanced by everyone from the ''National Post''’s Diane Francis to Sir David Attenborough, the world’s leading telly naturalist but also a BBC exec who once long ago commissioned the great series ''The Ascent of Man''. If Sir David’s any guide, the great thing about man’s ascent is it gives him a higher cliff to nosedive off.</blockquote>

===Politics of global warming and dissent===
{{main|Politics of global warming}}

Christine Stewart—Canadian Environment Ministry, "'''No matter if the science is all phony''', there are collateral environmental benefits.... [C]limate change [provides] the greatest chance to bring about justice and equality in the world." <ref>Stewart, Christine (December 14, 1998). ''Calgary Herald''. Reprinted at "Match these quotes" (December 2004). ''Resource Roundup'', p. 8. Reprinted at [http://www.aim.org/wls/use-environmentalism-to-change-the-world/ "Use environmentalism to change the world"]. Accuracy in Media, "What liberals say" series. Retrieved on September 27, 2014.</ref>

'Global Warming Now World's Most Boring Topic' <ref>Sheppard, Noel (July 17, 2007). [http://newsbusters.org/node/14467 "Hysterical satire: 'Global warming now world's most boring topic'"]. MRC NewsBusters. Retrieved on September 27, 2014.</ref>

The need to fight "global warming" has become part of the dogma of the liberal conscience.<ref name="cato">Lindzen, Richard (Spring 1992). [http://www.cato.org/regulation/spring-1992 "Global warming: The origin and nature of the alleged scientific consensus"]. ''Regulation'', vol. 15, no. 2. Retrieved from Cato Institute website on September 29, 2014.</ref>

Clearly, "global warming" is a tempting issue for many very important groups to exploit.
... dealing with the threat of warming fits in with a great variety of preexisting agendas [like] dissatisfaction with industrial society (neopastoralism), ... governmental desires for enhanced revenues (carbon taxes), and bureaucratic desires for enhanced power.<ref name="cato"/>

Mark Steyn writes in "Why climate change is hot hot hot",<ref name="hot"/>
<blockquote>
What’s also changed since the seventies is the nature of the UN and the transnational bureaucracies...“Aid” is a discredited word these days and comes with too many strings attached. But eco-credits sluiced through an oil-for-food program on steroids offers splendid new opportunities for bulking up an ambitious dictator’s Swiss bank accounts.</blockquote>

The IPCC is desperate to claim the 20th century—the warmest on record. Thus, tying the progress of modern mankind to our supposed planet imbalance problem. Unfortunately for the IPCC, that point is disputed as well. In 2008, it was discovered that tree rings in Finland were more accurate record of the warmest century. The current era was not the warmest period—it was the period between 931 and 1180.<ref>Birdnow, Timothy (June 24, 2008). [http://tbirdnow.mee.nu/archive/2008/6?page=2 "The trees of Finland; temperature readings and historical reconstruction"]. Birdnow's Aviary blog. Retrieved on September 29, 2014. With links to actual data sources.</ref>

Assessments of climate science by the [[United Nations]] (see [[IPCC]] — ''Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change'') have claimed that scientists are 90% sure that over 50% of the observed global warming in recent decades is human-caused, and that continued global warming should be expected over at least the next century.

Several prominent scientists have pointed out the [[politicized science]] of the UN's assessment methods. The scientific reports are submitted to a panel of representatives appointed by each country in the IPCC. Several scientists whose research demonstrates that climate change is taking place have complained about their work being misrepresented by the U.N.

In addition, a number of the participants have testified to the pressures placed on them to emphasize results supportive of the current scenario and to suppress other results. That pressure has frequently been effective, and a survey of participants reveals substantial disagreement with the final report.<ref name="cato" />

Richard Lindzen wrote:
:Perhaps more important are the pressures being brought to bear on scientists to get the "right" results. Such pressures are inevitable, given how far out on a limb much of the scientific community has gone. The situation is compounded by the fact that some of the strongest proponents of "global warming" in Congress are also among the major supporters of science (Sen. Gore is notable among those).<ref name="cato"/>

[[Christopher Monckton]] wrote an article entitled "Climate sensitivity reconsidered" which states that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change studies are flawed.<ref>Monckton, Christopher (July 2008). [http://www.aps.org/units/fps/newsletters/200807/monckton.cfm "Climate sensitivity reconsidered"]. ''Physics & Society'' newsletter. Retrieved from American Physical Society/Forum on Physics and Society website on September 29, 2014.</ref>

:The present analysis suggests the models failure to predict other climatic phenomena arises from defects in its evaluation of radioactive forcing, no-feedbacks climate sensitivity parameter and feedback multiplier. In conclusion, that there may be no "Climate Crisis" and for governments to reduce emissions may be pointless or even harmful.

This was published on a forum of the American Physical Society with the following disclaimers: "The article has not undergone any scientific peer review" and "the APS disagrees with the article's conclusions". In fact, the APS disagrees with the article without ever reviewing it.

Ryan N. Maue:
:A doctoral student at the Department of Meteorology at Florida State University did a study of global tropical cyclone activity. Its conclusions state that global warming might be greatly overblown.<ref>Tribune-Review, The (March 21, 2009). [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/s_617111.html# "Global warming? More doubts"]. TribLive [''Pittsburgh Tribune'' website]. Retrieved on September 29, 2014.</ref> Mr. Maue found that tropical cyclone activity worldwide "has completely and utterly collapsed" during the past two to three years with energy levels sinking to those of the late 1970s.

Dr. Vincent Gray:
:A member of the IPCC’s expert reviewers’ panel asserts, "There is no relationship between warming and the level of gases in the atmosphere," and "there is no serious threat to the climate" <ref>Hendrickson, Mark W. (May 25, 2009). [http://townhall.com/columnists/markwhendrickson/2009/05/25/a_closer_look_at_climate_change "A closer look at climate change"]. Townhall.com. Retrieved on September 29, 2014. "The panic over global warming is totally unjustified" says Vice Chair, IPCC.</ref>

Joe D’Aleo: Climatologist:
:The International Climate and Environmental Change Assessment Project says new data "show that in five of the last seven decades since World War II, including this one, global temperatures have cooled while carbon dioxide has continued to rise," and "'''The data suggest cooling''', not warming, in Earth's future." <ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92557 "Shocker: 'Global warming' simply no longer happening"] (March 22, 2009). WND. Retrieved on September 29, 2014.</ref>

Dr. John S. Theon:
:Retired senior NASA atmospheric [[scientist]], Dr. John S. Theon, the former boss of global warming alarmist James Hansen of [[NASA]], rebukes him declaring “climate models are useless.” “My own belief concerning anthropogenic climate change is that the models do not realistically simulate the climate system because there are many very important sub-grid scale processes that the models either replicate poorly or completely omit,” “Furthermore, some scientists have manipulated the observed data to justify their model results." <ref>Blumer, Tom (January 28, 2009). [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2009/01/28/former-boss-rebukes-nasa-global-warming-alarmist-hansen-agw-skeptic "Former boss rebukes NASA global warming alarmist Hansen, is AGW skeptic"]. MRC NewsBusters. Retrieved on September 29, 2014.</ref>

Sammy Wilson—Ireland's environment minister
:He argues that global weather patterns are naturally cooling, not warming. He calls television ads that promote global warming as "an insidious propaganda campaign" peddling "patent nonsense." <ref>Pogatchnik, Shawn (February 9, 2009). [http://cnsnews.com/news/article/belfast-environment-chief-bans-climate-change-ads "Belfast environment chief bans climate change ads"]. Associated Press. Retrieved from CNSNews.com on September 29, 2014.</ref>

After the broadcast of his movie '[[The Great Global Warming Swindle]]', filmmaker Martin Durkin's statements read <ref>Goodenough, Patrick (July 22, 2008). [http://cnsnews.com/news/article/uk-broadcaster-scolded-film-global-warming-swindle "UK broadcaster scolded for film on global warming"]. CNSNews. Retrieved on September 29, 2014.</ref>

*“Everywhere you are told that man-made [[climate change]] is proved beyond doubt,” “But you are being told lies.”
*“This is a story of how a theory about climate turned into a political [[ideology]] ... it is the story of the distortion of a whole area of [[science]].”
*“as the frenzy over man-made global warming grows shriller, many senior scientists say the actual scientific basis for the [[theory]] is crumbling.”

In late 2008, the [[AP]] published an article by its Science Writer Seth Borenstein, which is seen by skeptics as another example of one-sided, uncritical reporting on the issue by [[liberal media]]. The report stated that global warming was "a ticking time bomb that President-elect Barack Obama can't avoid", and that "We're out of time", with Al Gore calling the situation "the equivalent of a five-alarm fire that has to be addressed immediately."<ref>Borenstein, Seth (December 14, 2008). [http://web.archive.org/web/20081215162025/http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D952LKOO1&show_article=1 "Obama left with little time to curb global warming"]. Associated Press. Reprinted at Breitbart.com. Retrieved from December 15, 2008 archive at Internet Archive on September 29, 2014.</ref> In response, Fox News (December 16, 2008) reported that scientists skeptical of anthropogenic global warming criticized the report as "irrational hysteria," "horrifically bad" and "incredibly biased", containing sweeping scientific errors and being a one-sided portrayal of a complicated issue. Geology professor [[David Deming]] stated, "If the issues weren't so serious and the ramifications so profound, I would have to laugh at it", and accused Borenstein of "writing a polemic and reporting it as fact." Deming noted that "the mean global temperature, at least as measured by satellite, is now the same as it was in the year 1980. In the last couple of years sea level has stopped rising. Hurricane and cyclone activity in the northern hemisphere is at a 24-year low and sea ice globally is also the same as it was in 1980." The AP responded to criticism by stating that, "It’s a news story, based on fact and the clearly expressed views of President-elect Barack Obama and others."<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,468084,00.html "Scientists call AP Report on global warming 'hysteria'"] (December 16, 2008). Fox News website. Retrieved on September 29, 2014.</ref>

Also in the discussion of the biased AP report, Michael R. Fox, a retired nuclear scientist and chemistry professor from the University of Idaho stated, "There is little evidence to believe that man-made carbon dioxide is causing temperature fluctuation. Other factors, including sun spots, solar winds, variations in the solar magnetic field and solar irradiation, could all be affecting temperature changes."

The year 2008 turned out to be the coolest year since 2000, yet the seventh to tenth warmest year on record, according to the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20110725075133/http://news.eoportal.org/research/090127_res3.html "2008 global temperature"] (January 21, 2009). EO [Earth Observation]. Retrieved from July 25, 2011 archive at Internet Archive on September 29, 2014.</ref> According to a preliminary analysis by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, the average June–August 2009 summer temperature for the contiguous United States was below average—the 34th coolest on record.<ref>[http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090910_summerstats.html "NOAA: Summer temperature below average for U.S."] (September 10, 2009). NOAA. Retrieved on September 29, 2014.</ref>

Richard S. Courtney, a U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) expert reviewer and a U.K.-based climate and atmospheric science consultant says "Rubbish! Global warming is not 'accelerating," and "...that anybody who proclaims that 'Global warming is accelerating' is a liar, a fool, or both."<ref>Brennan, Phil (December 16, 2008). [http://www.newsmax.com/brennan/global-warming-debunked/2009/12/12/id/341719/ "Global warming’s last gasp"]. NewsMax. Retrieved on September 29, 2014.</ref>

Don J. Easterbrook, Ph.D., emeritus professor of geology at Western Washington University, asked, "What does it take to ignore 10 years of global cooling....? The answer is really quite simple—just follow the money!"
==== Belief in global warming and political and religious views ====

The more religious an individual is, the more likely they are to disbelieve in global warming. In 2014, whereas 80% of American [[Atheism|atheists]] believed in climate change, only 56% of all very religious Americans did.<ref name="randalolson.com">[http://www.randalolson.com/2014/09/13/who-are-the-climate-change-deniers/ Statistics on belief in climate change], Randal S. Olson</ref>

In 2014, 86% of [[Democrats]] accepted climate change, whereas half of all [[Republican]]s disbelieve in global warming.<ref name="randalolson.com"/>

===== Evangelicals =====
In 2008 86 evangelical pastors, including Rev. Dr.[[Rick Warren]] signed a statement titled "Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action", which called on Christians to acknowledge the moral importance of action to counteract man-made climate change. the statement includes specific support for market-based CO2 reductions such as a cap-and-trade program.<ref>Evangelical Climate Initiative (2006). [http://web.archive.org/web/20140201232519/http://christiansandclimate.org/statement/ "ECI Statement"]. Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action. Retrieved from February 1, 2014 archive at Internet Archive on September 29, 2014.</ref> In contrast, a group of evangelical scholars, comprised of scientists, economists and theologians, contend that the liberal view of pending catastrophe caused by climate change is misleading and/or exaggerated.<ref>Vu, Michelle A. (December 4, 2009). [http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091204/evangelicals-push-back-against-climate-change-hoax/pageall.html "Evangelicals push back against global warming doom"] The Christian Post website. Retrieved on September 29, 2014.</ref>

===The Bill Nye challenge===

In April 2016 science popularizer "[[Bill Nye|Bill Nye the Science Guy]]" took the debate up to the "put your money where your mouth is" level. He issued two bets, of $10,000 each, with Joe Bastardi, a "climate change contrarian" and frequent critic of Nye. One bet was that "2016 will be in the top 10 of hottest years on record", and that "this current decade will be the warmest ever recorded".<ref>[http://time.com/4301258/bill-nye-sarah-palin-climate-change-bet/ The Bill Nye climate change bet].</ref> As of late May Mr. Bastardi has not taken up the offer.

==Inaccuracies of global warming evidence==
===Climate "science" fraud===
{{main|Climategate}}

The [[Climategate#Climategate scandal|Climategate scandal]] revealed how liberal scientists appeared to be deceiving the public with the use of fraudulent data for use as climate science. The [[liberal media]] has attempted to bury the story and discount it as the work of computer hackers illegally stealing data, however, [[FOIA|Freedom of Information]] requests is likely what led to the data being leaked — intentionally.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20091212190817/http://www.junkscience.com/ JunkScience.com] (December 12, 2009). Retrieved from December 12, 2009 archive at Internet Archive on September 29, 2014.</ref> Dr. Willie Soon, a [[physicist]], [[astronomer]] and climate researcher at the solar and stellar physics division of the [[Harvard University]]-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said in an interview, "[The Climatic Research Unit climate scientists] are making scientific progress more difficult now. This is a shameful, dark day for science." Dr. Soon also suggested that there has been systemic suppression of dissenting opinion among scientists in the climate change community, ranging from social snubs to e-mail stalking and even threats of harm.<ref>Koprowski, Gene J. (December 1, 2009). [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,578368,00.html "Global warming scandal makes scientific progress more difficult, experts say"]. Fox News website. Retrieved on September 30, 2014. See [[Fox News]].</ref>

[[Image:GoreFireBreathing.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Al Gore's [[Schlockumentary]] under fire; ''[[An Inconvenient Truth]]'' found to be an inconvenient [[lie]] based on [[junk science]] and digitally enhanced, totally faked scenes of polar icecaps melting.]]

===Liberal claims of "consensus"===
Reports of a scientific "consensus" among scientists are similar to their one-sided support of other [[liberal]] policies and beliefs. For example, nearly 100% of political donations from professors are to [[Democrats]] rather than Republicans. Similarly, according to NASA, 97% of climate scientists believe that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities.<ref>NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory-California Institute of Technology Earth Science Communications Team (2013). [http://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus "Consensus"]. NASA website/Global Climate Change. Retrieved on September 30, 2014.</ref> These liberal scientists believe, or say they believe, that the Earth is warming overall, and that this warming, as well as other changes in climate patterns, is largely caused by human activities.<ref>Multiple references:
*Anderegg, William R. L., Prall, James W. et al. (July 6, 2010). [http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/06/04/1003187107.full.pdf+html "Expert credibility in climate change."] ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences'', vol. 107, no. 27, pp. 12107-12109. Retrieved from PNAS.org on September 30, 2014.
*[http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/spmsspm-understanding-and.html "Working group I: The physical science basis/Summary for policy makers/Understanding and attributing climate change"] (2007). ''IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007.'' Retrieved from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change website on September 30, 2014.</ref> These allegations do not necessarily make the consensus true, as discussed throughout the referenced citation. Numerous scientists, especially those outside of university faculties, have been critical of anthropogenic global warming. However, according to some researchers, scientists who do not support the anthropogenic global warming theory offer a general lack of comparative credentials; proponents of man-made global warming argue that this has led to agreement that, among authorities in scientific disciplines, there is a "[[scientific consensus]]" supporting the theory for greater government control. Scientists skeptical of the theory question whether there is a financial incentive for supporting research.<ref>Chesser, Paul (October 25, 2007). [http://www.seattlepi.com/local/opinion/article/Be-wary-of-climate-policy-development-1253536.php "Be wary of climate policy development"]. Seattle Post-Intelligencer website. Retrieved on September 30, 2014.</ref> It has also been documented that on most college campuses criticism of the global warming theory is silenced or censored; evidence shows that scientists skeptical of AGW are being suppressed.<ref>Multiple references:
*O'Neill, Brendan (October 6, 2006). [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/1782/ "Global warming: The chilling effect on free speech"]. Sp!ked. Retrieved on September 30, 2014.
*Schilling, Chelsea (June 24, 2009). [http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=102031 "EPA's own research expert 'shut up' on climate change"]. WND. Retrieved on September 30, 2014.</ref>

It is well understood that most media companies do not offer balanced reporting. Many politicians have bought into the liberal claim of consensus, for example Barack Obama's views, "Few challenges facing America and the world are more urgent than fighting climate change. The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear." <ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20090331121618/http://www.cato.org/special/climatechange/ "Climate change reality"] (March 2009). Cato Institute website. Retrieved on September 30, 2014.</ref> In fact, many scientists disagree with the "facts," their certainty, and their interpretation. Over 100 of them have signed the statement that appears in the Cato Institute's newspaper ad. Liberals have failed to back up their claims with any scientific facts.

[[File:ad.jpg|center]]

According to 80 graphs published in 58 peer-reviewed scientific papers in the first five months of 2017 alone, catastrophic anthropogenic global warming does not exist.<ref>Delingpole, James (June 6, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/06/06/delingpole-global-warming-is-myth-58-scientific-papers-2017/ DELINGPOLE: ‘Global Warming’ Is a Myth, Say 58 Scientific Papers in 2017]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 7, 2017.</ref> By October 2017, the number of peer-reviewed papers rejecting global warming had increased to 400.<ref>Delingpole, James (October 24, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/24/delingpole-now-400-scientific-papers-in-2017-say-global-warming-is-a-myth/ Delingpole: Now 400 Scientific Papers in 2017 Say ‘Global Warming’ Is a Myth]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 24, 2017.</ref>

===Past speculation===

Speculation and warnings of catastrophic climate change are not unprecedented. In 2001 the ''Guardian'' noted that some 70s headlines shouted, "Brace yourself for another ice age". In 1971 the journal ''Science'' reported that the subsequent cooling effect resulting from a possible eightfold increased from atmospheric aerosol concentrations, "if sustained over a period of several years—is believed to be sufficient to trigger an ice age." <ref>George, Alison (June 28, 2001). [http://www.theguardian.com/science/2001/jun/28/physicalsciences.highereducation "Breaking the ice"]. The Guardian website. Retrieved on September 30, 2014. See [[Guardian (UK)]].</ref>

[[Richard Lindzen]] wrote in 1992 on the doubtfulness of man-caused warming on Earth.
{{Cquote|Indeed, a recent Gallup poll of climate scientists in the American Meteorological Society and in the American Geophysical Union shows that a vast majority doubts that there has been any identifiable man-caused warming to date (49 percent asserted no, 33 percent did not know, 18 percent thought some has occurred; however, among those actively involved in research and publishing frequently in peer-reviewed research journals, none believes that any man-caused global warming has been identified so far).<ref name="cato"/>}}

Oddly enough, even though 82% of US climate scientists refused to support the global warming theory then, [[liberal]] activists were already claiming a scientific consensus for [[anthropogenic global warming]]. (It's hard to understand how 18 percent credence in ''any'' global warming translates into "consensus" support for ''human-caused'' global warming.)

The campaign to convince the public (and their elected representatives) that the "science is settled" began in 1988 or 1989.

By the 2008 elections both candidates for the Presidency of the United States were proposing plans to mitigate climate change.

Over 31,000 American scientists have signed the petition rejecting global warming.<ref>[http://www.petitionproject.org/ "Global warming petition project"] (2008). Global Warming Petition Project. Retrieved on September 30, 2014.</ref>

[[Image:Teller_Card_100dpi.jpg|600px|center|thumb| Global Warming Petition]]

In June, 1974, ''[[Time]]'' magazine published its front-page article, ''Science: Another Ice Age?'',<ref name="Time"/> while a report by the [[CIA]] in the same year stated that, "The western world's leading climatologists have confirmed recent reports of a detrimental global climatic change”, noting such things as that the "world's snow and ice cover had increased by at least 10 to 15 percent", and in the "Canadian area of [[Arctic]] Greenland, below normal temperatures were recorded for 19 consecutive months", which was unique during the last 100 years. A "major climatic shift" was speculated, which would threaten the "the stability of most nations.” It further warned that "Scientists are confident that unless man is able to effectively modify the climate, the northern regions, such as Canada" to "major areas in northern China, will again be covered with 100 to 200 feet of ice and snow", within the next 2500 years—or sooner.<ref>Central Intelligence Agency (August 1974). [http://www.climatemonitor.it/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/1974.pdf ''A Study of Climatological Research as it Pertains to Intelligence Problems''], pp. 1, 5, 7, 16. Retrieved from Climatemonitor [Italy] on September 30, 2014.</ref>

Also in 1974, Nigel Calder, former editor of ''New Scientist'' and atmospheric researcher wrote in his book ''The Weather Machine'', "One might argue that there is a virtual certainty of the next ice age starting some time in the next 2000 years. Then the odds are only about 20-to-1 against it beginning in the next 100 years."

In 1975 the liberal magazine ''[[Newsweek]]'' reported that "Meteorologists disagree about the cause and extent of the cooling trend,...but they are almost unanimous in the view that the trend will reduce agricultural productivity for the rest of the century." These authorities were skeptical that political leaders would take any positive action to compensate for the [[climate change]], and they conceded that the more dramatic solutions, such as melting the arctic ice cap, might create worse problems than that which they were designed to solve.<ref>Gwynne, Peter (April 28, 1975). [http://denisdutton.com/newsweek_coolingworld.pdf "The cooling world"]. ''Newsweek''. Retrieved from DenisDutton.com on September 30, 2014. Caution: Copyrighted material; for fair educational use only.</ref>

===Natural variability of the climate system===
It is virtually universally accepted amongst secular climatologists that the earth has experienced numerous [[Ice Age|ice age]]s over two million years, during which global temperatures fluctuated created glacial and inter-glacial periods. The frigid temperatures allowed ice sheets to expand southward, covering much of [[Asia]], [[Europe]], and [[North America]]. The cooling associated with ice ages is gradual, while the terminations are relatively rapid. However, even the rapid terminations of ice ages take centuries to millennia.

===Natural climate change on other planets===

Since the [[Viking spacecraft]] reached [[Mars]] in the 1970s until recent readings were taken, the average temperature on Mars has risen {{temperature|0.6|1.1}} just as the average temperature on the earth has risen. Since human industrialization is clearly not to blame for the change on Mars, other causes are being considered. One possibility is that dust storms are changing the albedo of the planet, allowing it to warm, while another possibility is that solar variations from the sun are causing the warming.<ref>Multiple references:
*Than, Ker (April 4, 2007). [http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070404_gw_mars.html "Dust storms fuel global warming on Mars"]. Space.com. Retrieved on September 30, 2014.
*Taylor, James M. (November 1, 2005). [http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=17977 "Mars is warming, NASA scientists report"]. Heartlander Magazine. Retrieved on September 30, 2014.</ref>

Recently, it has also been found that similar to the Earth and Mars, [[Neptune]] is also undergoing global warming. Measurements taken at the Lowell observatory in [[Arizona]] have shown an increase in Neptune's brightness and temperature since 1980 following the same pattern seen on Earth and Mars. The researchers who discovered this warming suggest there may be a correlation between the warming and solar variations.<ref>Hammel, H. B. and Lockwood, G. W. (April 8, 2007). [http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2007.../2006GL028764.shtml "Suggestive correlations between the brightness of Neptune, solar variability, and Earth's temperature"]. ''Geophysical Research Letters''. Retrieved from Wiley Online Library on September 30, 2014.</ref>

[[Pluto]] has also been found to be undergoing global warming. The overall temperature increase on Pluto has been greater than that on the earth.<ref>Britt, Robert Roy (October 9, 2002). [http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/pluto_warming_021009.html "Global warming on Pluto puzzles scientists"]. Space.com. Retrieved on September 30, 2014.</ref>

On the other hand, [[Uranus]] has had no net change in temperature since 1977. A rapid increase in temperature reversed itself. The reasons for this are not understood.<ref>Young, Leslie A., Bosh, Amanda S. et al. (October 2001). [http://www.boulder.swri.edu/~layoung/eprint/ur149/Young2001Uranus.pdf "Uranus after solstice: Results from the 1998 November 6 occultation"]. ''Icarus'', vol. 153, iss. 2, pp. 236-247. Retrieved from Southwest Research Institute [Boulder, CO] website on September 30, 2014.</ref>

Global temperatures change on other planets even when there is no life, something which strongly supports the idea that humans are not necessarily the cause of earth's global warming. Moreover, the temperature on Uranus has fluctuated back and forth. There is no reason that fluctuations cannot occur on earth, too.

Although measurements have been made of the temperatures of other planets these are by no means thorough or comparable with the measurements used for earth. The short space of time over which measurements have been taken and the very limited spatial coverage means that reliable average figures have not been obtained. They have certainly not been taken extensively enough to produce a five-year average temperature, which is the standard when determining temperature trends on earth.

However, if accurate measurements could be made, and their accuracy and reliability is improving over time, then they may prove useful to climate science. Their different atmospheres and distances from the sun provide natural laboratories to study climatic changes without human influences. Though of course they will not be directly comparable due to the vast differences.

===Al Gore's claims===
[[File:Gore GlobalWarming.jpg|right|200px]]
The decision by the government to distribute Al Gore's film, ''An Inconvenient Truth'', became the subject of a legal challenge by [[New Party]] member Stewart Dimmock. A school governor from Dover and father of two, Dimmock charged the Government with brainwashing children with propaganda by presenting Gore’s sci-fi film as science. In October 2007, Mr Justice Burton of London's High Court found that while the film was "broadly accurate", it contained nine significant errors,“in which statements were made that were not supported by the current mainstream scientific consensus”, some of which had arisen in “the context of alarmism and exaggeration”. He also found the Guidance Notes drafted by the Education Secretary’s advisers only worked to exacerbate the political propaganda in the film.<ref>Multiple references:
*Sheppard, Marc (July 14, 2009). [http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/07/clearly_its_al_gore_whos_in_de.html "Clearly it's Al Gore who's in denial"]. American Thinker. Retrieved on October 1, 2014.
*Smith, Lewis (October 11, 2007). [http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/law/article2210175.ece "Al Gore’s inconvenient judgment"]. The Times website. Retrieved on October 1, 2014. Fee required to see article.
*Smith, Lewis (October 11, 2007). [http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/matnat/ifi/MNSES9100/h11/undervisningsmateriale/literature/Al%20Gore%E2%80%99s%20inconvenient%20judgement%20times%202007.pdf "Al Gore’s inconvenient judgment"]. The Times website. Retrieved from University of Oslo/Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science website on October 1, 2014. Caution: Copyrighted; for fair educational use only.</ref>

Taken from the official transcript,<ref>Burton, Mr Justice Michael (October 10, 2007). [http://noteviljustwrong.com/images/nejw/docs/22161.pdf "Stuart Dimmock and Secretary of State for Education and Skills"]. United Kingdom of Great Britain's High Court of Justice/Queen's Bench Division/Administrative Court. Retrieved from Not Evil Just Wrong on October 1, 2014.</ref> the nine errors the judge found were:

*1. Sea level rise of up to 20 feet (7 metres) will be caused by melting of either West Antarctica or Greenland in the near future. This is distinctly alarmist, and part of Mr Gore's 'wake-up call'. It is common ground that if indeed Greenland melted, it would release this amount of water, but only after, and over, millennia, so that the Armageddon scenario he predicts, insofar as it suggests that sea level rises of 7 metres might occur in the immediate future, is not in line with the scientific consensus.

*2. Low lying inhabited Pacific atolls are being inundated because of anthropogenic global warming. In scene 20, Mr Gore states "that's why the citizens of these Pacific nations have all had to evacuate to New Zealand". There is no evidence of any such evacuation having yet happened.

*3. Shutting down of the "Ocean Conveyor". According to the IPCC, it is very unlikely that the Ocean Conveyor (known technically as the Meridional Overturning Circulation or thermohaline circulation) will shut down in the future, though it is considered likely that thermohaline circulation may slow down.

*4. Direct coincidence between rise in CO2 in the atmosphere and in temperature, by reference to two graphs. In scenes 8 and 9, Mr Gore shows two graphs relating to a period of 650,000 years, one showing rise in CO2 and one showing rise in temperature, and asserts (by ridiculing the opposite view) that they show an exact fit. Although there is general scientific agreement that there is a connection, the two graphs do not establish what Mr Gore asserts.

*5. The snows of Kilimanjaro. The film asserted that melting snows on Mount Kilimanjaro evidenced global warming. The Government's expert was had to admit that this is not correct. Mr Gore asserts in scene 7 that the disappearance of snow on Mt Kilimanjaro is expressly attributable to global warming. It is noteworthy that this is a point that specifically impressed Mr Milliband (see the press release quoted at paragraph 6 above). However, it is common ground that, the scientific consensus is that it cannot be established that the recession of snows on Mt Kilimanjaro is mainly attributable to human-induced climate change.

*6. Lake Chad etc. The drying up of Lake Chad is used as a prime example of a catastrophic result of global warming. However, it is generally accepted that the evidence remains insufficient to establish such an attribution. It is apparently considered to be far more likely to result from other factors, such as population increase and over-grazing, and regional climate variability.

*7. Hurricane Katrina. In scene 12 Hurricane Katrina and the consequent devastation in New Orleans is ascribed to global warming. It is common ground that there is insufficient evidence to show that.

*8. Death of polar bears. In scene 16, by reference to a dramatic graphic of a polar bear desperately swimming through the water looking for ice, Mr Gore says: "A new scientific study shows that for the first time they are finding polar bears that have actually drowned swimming long distances up to 60 miles to find the ice. They did not find that before." The only scientific study that either side before me can find is one which indicates that four polar bears have recently been found drowned because of a storm.

*9. Coral reefs. In scene 19, Mr Gore says: "Coral reefs all over the world because of global warming and other factors are bleaching and they end up like this. All the fish species that depend on the coral reef are also in jeopardy as a result. Overall specie loss is now occurring at a rate 1000 times greater than the natural background rate." The actual scientific view, as recorded in the IPCC report, is that, if the temperature were to rise by 1-3 degrees Centigrade, there would be increased coral bleaching and widespread coral mortality, unless corals could adapt or climatize, but that separating the impacts of climate change-related stresses from other stresses, such as over-fishing and polluting, is difficult.

Dimmock's lawyer, Mr. Downes, argued that by schools making available such film to its teachers, and if teachers then showed such film to their pupils, then this would inevitably result "in the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in the school, which is thus not only not being forbidden by the local education authority (and the DES), but being positively facilitated by them."

Mr Justice Barton stressed that the “apocalyptic vision” presented in the film was politically partisan and not an impartial analysis of the science of climate change. “It is now common ground that it is not simply a science film—although it is clear that it is based substantially on scientific research and opinion—but that it is a political film.

Justice Barton also stated that, “I conclude that the claimant substantially won this case by virtue of my finding that, but for the new guidance note, the film would have been distributed in breach of sections 406 and 407 of the 1996 Education Act.”<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7037671.stm "Gore climate film's nine 'errors'"] (October 11, 2007). BBC News website. Retrieved on October 1, 2014.</ref>

In order for the film to be shown, the Government must first amend their Guidance Notes to Teachers to make clear that

*1. The Film is a political work and promotes only one side of the argument.

*2. If teachers present the Film without making this plain they may be in breach of section 406 of the Education Act 1996 and guilty of political indoctrination.

*3. Nine inaccuracies have to be specifically drawn to the attention of school children.<ref>[http://www.newparty.co.uk/articles/inaccuracies-gore.html "Inaccuracies in Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth'"] (October 2007). The New Party [U.K.]. Retrieved on October 1, 2014.</ref>

Science and Public Policy took issue with the response to the ruling by Al Gore’s spokesman and environment adviser, and asserted that his film contains ''35 Inconvenient Truths''.<ref>Monckton, Christopher (October 19, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20140915002809/http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/monckton/goreerrors.html "35 inconvenient truths: The errors in Al Gore's movie"]. The Science and Public Policy Institute website. Retrieved from September 15, 2014 archive at Internet Archive on October 1, 2014.</ref>

Regarding his claims that the snow cap atop Africa's Mt. Kilimanjaro is shrinking and that global warming is to blame, the November 23, 2003, issue of ''Nature'' magazine stated,

:Although it's tempting to blame the ice loss on global warming, researchers think that deforestation of the mountain's foothills is the more likely culprit. Without the forests' humidity, previously moisture-laden winds blew dry. No longer replenished with water, the ice is evaporating in the strong equatorial sunshine."

Many conservatives see Al Gore as an example of [[liberals]] using [[deceit]]ful tactics in important debates, in order to make a position seem more solid than it is.

===Scientists===

[[Image:Rogerrevelle.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Roger Revelle]]

{|
| valign="top" width="35%"|
* [[Roger Revelle]]
* [[Achim Steiner]]
* [[Fred Singer]]
* [[Richard Lindzen]]
* [[Sallie Baliunas]]
* [[Lonnie Thompson]]
| valign="top" width="33%"|
* [[James E. Hansen]]
* [[Michael Mann]]
* [[Charles Keeling]]
* [[Edwin A. Hernández-Delgado]]
|}

====Hal Lewis====
[[Liberal]] claims of global warming led to the resignation in October 2010 by Professor Hal Lewis from The American Physical Society because of "the global warming scam, with the (literally) trillions of dollars driving it, that has corrupted so many scientists, and has carried APS before it like a rogue wave. '''It is the greatest and most successful pseudoscientific fraud I have seen in my long life as a physicist'''."<ref>Lewis, Hal (October 8, 2010). [http://web.archive.org/web/20140212001321/http://www.thegwpf.org/hal-lewis-my-resignation-from-the-american-physical-society/ "Hal Lewis: My resignation from the American Physical Society"]. The Global Warming Policy Foundation website. Retrieved from February 12, 2014 archive at Internet Archive on October 1, 2014.</ref>

===Critique of the "Hockey Stick" reconstruction===
::''See also : [[Climategate#Hockey Stick Graph|Climategate: hockey stick graph]]''

*Shabecoff, Philip, [http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/26/us/us-data-since-1895-fail-to-show-warming-trend.html U.S. Data Since 1895 Fail To Show Warming Trend]", ''New York Times'', January 26, 1989
*[http://blogs.nature.com/climatefeedback/2007/05/the_decay_of_the_hockey_stick.html The Decay of the Hockey Stick by Von Storch] published on the journal ''Nature'''s blog, May 3, 2007.
Stephen McIntyre and Ross McKitrick, "[http://climateaudit.files.wordpress.com/2005/09/mcintyre.mckitrick.2003.pdf Corrections To The Mann et. al. (1998) Proxy Data Base And Northern Hemispheric Average Temperature Series], ''Energy & Enviornment'' volume 14, 2003.
*[http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/13830/ A Global Warming Bombshell] by Richard A. Muller, ''Technology Review'' , Oct. 2004; calls into question famous graph by Michael Mann.
*[http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/306/5696/679 Reconstructing Past Climate from Noisy Data] by Hans von Storch, Eduardo Zorita, Julie M. Jones, Yegor Dimitriev, Fidel González-Rouco, Simon F. B. Tett, ''Science'' magazine, 22 October 2004.
*[http://www.image.ucar.edu/~boli/manuscripts/2007-LNA-TeA.pdf The ‘hockey stick’ and the 1990s: a statistical perspective on reconstructing hemispheric temperatures] by Bo Li, Douglas W. Nychka and Casper M. Ammann, ''Institute for Mathmatics Applied to Geosciences''; (Manuscript received 22 March 2007; in final form 28 June 2007).
*[http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/2006_articles/IceCoreSprg97.pdf Ice Core Data Show No Carbon Dioxide Increase] by Zbigniew Jaworowski, Ph.D., Spring 1997; this article examines one of the main pillars of the global warming thesis.
*[http://climateaudit.files.wordpress.com/2005/09/mcintyre.ee.2005.pdf The M&M Critique of the MBH98 Northern Hemisphere Climate Index: Update and Implications] (''Energy & Environment'', vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 69–100, January 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
*[http://climateaudit.files.wordpress.com/2005/09/mcintyre.grl.2005.pdf Hockey sticks, principal components, and spurious significance] (''Geophysical Research Letters'', vol. 32, February 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick

*Dalmia, Shikha (December 2, 2009). [http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/01/climategate-scandal-science-obama-opinions-columnists-shikha-dalmia.html "Cringing over Climategate"]. Forbes website. Retrieved on September 25, 2014.
*Taylor, James (November 23, 2011). [http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2011/11/23/climategate-2-0-new-e-mails-rock-the-global-warming-debate/ "Climategate 2.0: New e-mails rock the global warming debate"]. Forbes website. Retrieved on September 25, 2014.
*Bailey, Ronald (December 26, 2012). [http://reason.com/blog/2012/12/26/34-years-of-satellite-temperature-data-s "34 years of satellite temperature data show global warming is on a plateau"]. Hit & Run Blog/Reason.com. Retrieved on September 25, 2014.
*Cole, Steve and McCarthy, Leslie (January 12, 2011). [http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2010-warmest-year.html "NASA research finds 2010 tied for warmest year on record"]. NASA website. Retrieved on September 25, 2014.
*Tisdale, Bob (August 10, 2012). [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/08/10/not-hot-ocean-sst-around-the-usa-not-anywhere-near-record-levels/ "Not so hot—ocean temperatures around the USA are not anywhere near record levels"]. Watts Up with That? Retrieved on September 25, 2014.</ref>


==Effects of global warming==
===Beneficial effects of global warming===
[[File:Autumn foliage.jpg|thumb|Canoing on a Colorful Day, (NY).]]
Some researchers point out that benefits of health global warming have been overlooked, or minimized. As far back as 1996, Thomas Gale Moore, Senior Fellow at Hoover Institution (Stanford University) contended that positive health and amenity effects would be a result of projected increases in temperature.<ref>Moore, Thomas Gale (May 30, 1996). [http://www.stanford.edu/~moore/health.html "Health and amenity effects of global warming"]. Stanford University/Thomas Gale Moore webpage. Retrieved on October 1, 2014.</ref>

Another source notes,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20081223011000/http://www.bionomicfuel.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-global-warming/ "What are the benefits of global warming?"] (November 3, 2008). Bionomicfuel.com. Retrieved from December 21, 2008 archive at Internet Archive on October 1, 2014.</ref>

<blockquote>In areas that see extreme cold temperatures, deaths related to colder weather would drop significantly, leading to decreased health care costs, while areas that already have hot climates will see no increase. Warmer temperatures would also mean less energy use to heat homes and buildings, helping to conserve energy as cooling is much more energy efficient. With the changes brought about by global warming more land that is not lost to desert and/or rising sea levels would become available for uses like farming and living. Forests and plants would grow stronger, healthier, and more abundant because of the warmer weather, and this would mean more oxygen being released into the atmosphere.</blockquote>

===Reported effects of global warming===

Reported past or expected/possible future environmental and societal consequences of man-made global warming include global cooling,<ref>72Jag (August 25, 2014). [http://web.archive.org/web/20090827143311/http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/global-warming-causing-global-cooling "Is global warming causing global cooling?"] NowPublic. Retrieved on October 1, 2014.</ref> decreased food production,<ref>Fred Pearce (April 26, 2005). [http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7310-climate-change-warning-over-food-production.html "Climate change warning over food production"] Newscientist website. Retrieved on October 1, 2014.</ref> increased food production,<ref>Booth, William (May 17, 1990). [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1127111.html "Global heating could benefit U.S. farmers; prices seen rising as production falls"]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved from HighBeam Research website on October 1, 2014.</ref> shrinking forest.,<ref>Adam, David (March 11, 2009). [http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/11/amazon-global-warming-trees/print "Amazon could shrink by 85% due to climate change"]. Theguardian [U. K.]. Retrieved on October 1, 2014. See [[The Guardian]].</ref> increased tree foliage,<ref>[http://www.greenfingers.com/articledisplay.asp?id=1734 "Global warming causes greening"] (2008). Greenfingers.com. Retrieved on October 1, 2014.</ref> increased productivity of high-elevation forests,<ref>Oregon State University (Oct. 20, 2009). [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091019163020.htm "Global warming may spur increased growth in Pacific northwest forests"]. ScienceDaily. Retrieved on October 1, 2014.</ref> melting glaciers.,<ref>Asian News International (June 6, 2007). [http://www.andhranews.net/Intl/2007/June/6/Global-warming-causing-3633.asp "Global warming causing hundreds of Antarctic Peninsula glaciers to melt"]. AndhraNews.net. Retrieved on October 1, 2014.</ref> growing glaciers,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/global-warming-causing-california-glacier-to-grow-scientists-say-1.749761?ref=rss "Global warming causing California glacier to grow, scientists say"] (July 9, 2008). CBCnews. Retrieved on October 1, 2014. Located by Sub-Driver of [http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2043047/posts?page=51 Free Republic].</ref> increasing landmass in Antarctica,<ref>[http://www.worldclimatereport.com/index.php/2005/05/27/antarctic-ice-a-global-warming-snow-job/ "Antarctic ice: A global warming snow job?"] (May 27, 2005). World Climate Report. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> colder winters,<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/climate-change-could-bring-colder-winters-1.363574 "Climate change could bring colder winters"] (March 13, 2003). CBCNews. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> a new ice age,<ref>McGuire, Bill (November 13, 2003). [http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2003/nov/13/comment.research "Will global warming trigger a new ice age?"] The Guardian website. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> prevention of an ice age,<ref>Thompson, Andrea (September 10, 2007). [http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,296060,00.html "Global warming may cancel next ice age"]. Fox News website. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> taller mountains.,<ref>Than, Ker (August 4, 2006). [http://www.livescience.com/938-taller-mountains-blamed-global-warming.html "Taller mountains blamed on global warming, too"]. LiveScience. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> a lop-sided planet,<ref>Britt, Robert Roy (June 29, 2005). [http://www.livescience.com/3884-global-warming-create-lopsided-planet.html "Global warming might create lopsided planet"]. LiveScience. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> stronger hurricanes,<ref>Florida State University (Sep. 4, 2008). [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903134323.htm "Global warming: Warmer seas linked to strengthening hurricanes, according to new research"]. ScienceDaily. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> weaker hurricanes,<ref>Schmid, Randolph E., AP Science Writer (April 17, 2007). [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/research/2007-04-17-globalwarming-hurricanes_N.htm "Study: Global warming may diminish Atlantic hurricane activity"]. USA Today. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> shorter days,<ref>Atkins, William (April 11, 2007). [http://www.itwire.com/science-news/climate/11220-researchers-say-global-warming-should-cause-shorter-days "Researchers say global warming should cause shorter days"]. iTWire. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> earthquakes and volcanoes, and other geological disasters. Attempts to prevent climate change may do the same,<ref>Fisher, Richard. (September 23, 2009). [http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327273.800-climate-change-may-trigger-earthquakes-and-volcanoes.html "Climate change may trigger earthquakes and volcanoes" [preview]]. Newscientist website. Preview retrieved on October 2, 2014. Subscription required for full article.</ref> shrinking brains,<ref>[http://www.albany.edu/campusnews/releases_286.htm "Study: Global warming could be reversing a trend that led to bigger human brains"] (March 15, 2007). State University of New York at Albany. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> shrinking sheep,<ref>Connor, Steve (July 3, 2009). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/how-global-warming-shrank-st-kildas-sheep-1729609.html "How global warming shrank St Kilda's sheep"]. The Independent [U. K.] website. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> tiger attacks.,<ref>Dhar, Sujoy (October 20, 2008). [http://southasia.oneworld.net/news/tiger-attacks-linked-to-global-warming "Tiger attacks linked to global warming"]. Reuters. Retrieved from OneWorld South Asia on October 2, 2014.</ref> shark attacks,<ref>Johnston, Bruce (August 31, 1998). [http://junksciencearchive.com/news3/shark.html "Shark attack on boat 'result of global warming'"]. Electronic Telegraph (U.K.) Retrieved from JunkScienceArchive on October 3, 2014.</ref> walrus stampede deaths,<ref>Associated Press (December 17, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20141003042107/http://6abc.com/archive/5839622/ "Global warming is blamed for walrus stampede deaths"]. 6abc Action News website. Retrieved from October 3, 2014 archive at Internet Archive on October 3, 2014. Located by digger48 of [http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1939754/posts Free Republic]</ref> imminent cannibalism,<ref>Baker, Brent (April 2, 2008). [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2008/04/02/turner-iraqi-insurgents-patriots-inaction-warming-cannibalism "Turner: Global warming will cause mass cannibalism, insurgents are patriots"]. MRC NewsBusters. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> the need for a drastic reduction of the earth’s population,<ref>[http://thisistheendoftheworldasweknowit.com/archives/one-less-child-environmental-extremists-warn-that-overpopulation-is-causing-climate-change-and-will-ultimately-destroy-the-earth "One less child? Environmental extremists warn that overpopulation is causing climate change and will ultimately destroy the Earth"] (November 17, 2009). The End of the World. Retrieved on October 2, 2014.</ref> a strong increase in people dying of [[AIDS]],<ref>McLean, Tamara (April 29, 2008). [http://web.archive.org/web/20110831093248/http://news.theage.com.au/national/global-warming-set-to-fan-the-hiv-fire-20080430-29eh.html "Global warming hoax set to fan the HIV fire"]. Theage.com.au. Retrieved from August 31, 2011 archive at Internet Archive on October 1, 2014. Located by
[http://web.archive.org/web/20110725075338/http://www.skepticsglobalwarming.com/?p=608 Skeptics Global Warning].</ref> increased risk of civil war in Africa,<ref>[http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/november23/climate-civil-wars-112309.html "Global warming increases risk of civil war in Africa"] (November 23, 2009). Stanford Report. Retrieved from Stanford News on October 1, 2014.</ref> child ''climate cops'',<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=70811 "Beware your children: They might be 'climate cops'"] (July 28, 2008). WND. Retrieved on October 1, 2014.</ref> increase in depression,<ref>Sohn, Emily (December 10, 2009). [http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Deadly+heat+waves%2C+home-wrecking+hurricanes%22&hl=en&gbv=2&oq=&gs_l= “Mental health to decline with climate change”]. Discovery.com News. Retrieved from Google Search on October 1, 2014.</ref> increase in psychiatric illness<ref>Press Trust of India (April 8, 2008). [http://www.sify.com/news/climate-change-leads-to-psychiatric-illness-news-national-jegnGhfjihasi.html "'Climate change leads to psychiatric illness'"]. Sify News. Retrieved on October 1, 2014.</ref> and increased anxiety and loss of sleep among many children.<ref>Jones, Alan (February 22, 2007). [http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/children-losing-sleep-over-global-warming-1-683217 "Children losing sleep over global warming"]. The Scotsman website. Retrieved on September 30, 2014.</ref>

{{liberalism}}
{{Climategate scandal}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== See also ==
*''[[Massachusetts v. EPA]]''
*[[Liberal hysteria#Global Warming Derangement Syndrome|Global Warming Derangement Syndrome]]
*[[Socialist Environmental Disasters]]
*[[Counterexamples to Global Warming]]
*[[Winter of 2010]]
*[[Reducing carbon dioxide emissions]]
*[[Essay:Global Warming]]
*[[Essay:Parallels between evolution and global warming]]
*[[Exaggeration of global warming]]
*[[Global warming and polar bears]]
*[[Global climate disruption]]
*[[Global warming research]]
*[[Global annual average temperature]]
*[[Warm period]]
*[[Liberal lies]]

==External links==

*[http://www.creationworldview.org/articles_view.asp?id=67 Global Warming? Absolutely No Truth To It!]
*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/global-warming/ What Liberals Say - Category: Global Warming], [[Accuracy In Media]]
*[http://global-warming.accuweather.com/2007/12/attempting_to_stop_global_warm_1.html Attempting to Stop Global Warming is Futile and a Mistake, says letter to the UN]
*[http://www.icr.org/creation-meteorology Clinate Change] by The Institute for Creation Research
*[http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,2032821,00.html The appliance of science] by Mike Hulme.
*[http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regv15n2/reg15n2g.html Global Warming: The Origin and Nature of the Alleged Scientific Consensus] - [[Richard S. Lindzen]], Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]
*[http://www.independent.org/publications/tir/article.asp?issueID=47&articleID=604 "Should We Have Acted Thirty Years Ago to Prevent Climate Change?", by Randall G. Holcombe].
*[http://www.independent.org/publications/tir/article.asp?issueID=25&articleID=296 "After Kyoto: A Global Scramble for Advantage," by Bruce Yandle].
*[http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=2319 The physical evidence of earth's unstoppable 1,500-year climate cycle]
*[http://www.independent.org/publications/article.asp?id=1714 "Is There a Basis for Global Warming Alarm?", by Richard Lindzen]
*[http://www.independent.org/publications/policy_reports/detail.asp?type=full&id=5 "New Perspectives in Climate Change: What the EPA Isn’t Telling Us"]
*[http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=17181 Survey Shows Climatologists Are Split on Global Warming]
*[http://www.magma.ca/~hurleyp/FightingTheHoax.htm Fighting the Hoax]
*[http://www.globalwarminghoax.com/news.php Refuting the Myth of Man-made Global Warming]
*[http://www.climateaudit.org Climate Audit], Steve McIntyre's blog
*[http://www.realclimate.org Real Climate], blog by a group of climatologists including Michael Mann
*[http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/01/co2_fairytales_in_global_warmi.html "CO2 Fairytales in Global Warming"]
*[http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/warmlist.htm A complete list of things caused by global warming]
*[http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2009/11/hackers-prove-global-warming-is-scam.html Hackers Prove Global Warming Is A Scam]
*[http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/266930/i-dont-believe-science-daniel-greenfield]

[[Category:Earth Sciences]]
[[Category:Environmentalism]]
[[Category:Liberal Bias]]
[[Category:Liberal Falsehoods]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]
[[Category:Man-Made Disasters]]

Climategate

2018-03-06T20:25:45Z

DerekE: Tidalgate

[[File:Gorelying.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Al Gore]] on CNN's ''American Morning'', December 9, 2009, in which he stated that snow is melting from the polar icecaps and glaciers at a rapid rate, and that the "global warming deniers" manipulated the emails from CRU out of context. 
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtdoPeYdNRA Al Gore Weighs In On Climate Gate], ''CNN'' interview pt.1 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3IRdkPkatE Al Gore Weighs In On Climate Gate], ''CNN'' interview pt.2]]
The '''Climategate''' scandal erupted on November 19, 2009, when a collection of [[email]] messages, data files and data processing programs were leaked from the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit (CRU) located in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], revealing [[scientific fraud]] and data [[manipulation]] by scientists concerning the [[Global Warming Theory]].<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/11/19/breaking-news-story-hadley-cru-has-apparently-been-hacked-hundreds-of-files-released/ Breaking News Story: CRU has apparently been hacked – hundreds of files released], ''Watts Up With That?'', November 19, 2009.</ref> The [[scandal]] that the suffix –'''gate''' implies is the state of [[climate science]] over the past decade, revealed by more than a thousand emails, documents, and computer code sets between various prominent scientists.<ref name=3things>Iain Murray. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/three-things-you-absolutely-must-know-about-climategate/ Three Things You Absolutely Must Know About Climategate], ''[[Pajamas Media]]'', November 24, 2009.</ref> The released information is evidence of [[deceit]] by climate scientists, which was kept a secret or hidden from the public until the data was leaked from the CRU. The CRU's apparent obstruction of [[freedom-of-information]] requests, as revealed by the leaks, was only the tip of the [[iceberg]].<ref>The global-warming scandal is bigger than one email leak. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704342404574576683216723794.html The Tip of the Climategate Iceberg], ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', December 08, 2009.</ref> Climategate is said to have revealed the biggest scientific [[hoax]] in world history as the worst scandal of this [[generation]].<ref>Christopher Booker. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/6679082/Climate-change-this-is-the-worst-scientific-scandal-of-our-generation.html Climate change: this is the worst scientific scandal of our generation], Telegraph.co.uk, November 28, 2009.</ref><ref>[[Glenn Beck]]. [http://www.glennbeck.com/content/videos/?uri=channels/338017/667734 The Biggest Scam In History (Video)], ''The Glenn Beck Program'', December 01, 2009.</ref>

The Climategate emails and climate data became the subject of intense debate, calling to question assumptions on [[Anthropogenic global warming theory|anthropogenic (man-made) global warming]]. The legitimacy of climate [[science]], and the charges leveled by the CRU and the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] (IPCC) which claim humans cause [[climate change]], was severely shaken by Climategate. Evidence revealed told the truth about man-made [[global warming]]: it's a [[fraud]].<ref>James Delingpole. [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100017393/climategate-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-of-anthropogenic-global-warming/ Climategate: the final nail in the coffin of 'Anthropogenic Global Warming'?], Telegraph.co.uk, November 20, 2009.</ref><ref>[[Rush Limbaugh]]. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_113009/content/01125109.guest.html Universe of Lies: Big Warmers Try to Whitewash ClimateGate Fraud], RushLimbaugh.com, November 30, 2009.</ref><ref>Marc Sheppard. [http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/11/crus_source_code_climategate_r.html CRU's Source Code: Climategate Uncovered], ''American Thinker'', November 25, 2009.</ref><ref>Steve McIntyre. [http://www.climateaudit.org/?p=7168 Yamal: A "Divergence" Problem], climateaudit.org, September 27, 2009.</ref><ref>Andrew Orlowski. [http://sweetness-light.com/archive/one-of-the-frauds-behind-the-cru One Of The Scandals In The CRU Emails], ''Sweetness & Light'', September 29, 2009.</ref>

Despite the significance of the scandal and its impact on the theory suggesting humans cause climate change, in a profoundly bizarre situation the [[Mainstream media]] attempted to bury the Climategate story.<ref name=accuracyinmedia>Allie Duzett. [http://www.aim.org/aim-column/media-ignore-climate-science-scandal/ Media Ignore Climate Science Scandal], [[Accuracy In Media]], November 23, 2009.</ref> At the same time, liberal [[Wikipedia]] quickly [[Censorship|censored]] Climategate and referred to it as an illegal "incident," as the work of computer hackers stealing data — contrary to [[Freedom of Information Act]] requests. In spite of the [[Liberal media|liberal media's]] [[bias]] attempt to hide the scandal, news of Climategate quickly spread because many other more notable sources of [[media]] covered the story. Commentators and others in the media covered news on Climategate, many of which outlined important takeaways about specific information valuable to the public.<ref>Larrey Anderson. [http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/revenge_of_the_computer_nerds_1.html Revenge of the Computer Nerds], ''American Thinker'', December 09, 2009.</ref>

==Climategate Scandal==
[[File:DetroitLakes 212142 North 01.JPG|right|200px|thumb|An example of a poorly-placed, poorly-maintained satellite temperature sensor and MMTS unit, placed next to a private home's air conditioning unit, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The placement of thousands of these units near man-made heat sources had the effect of skewing temperature readings.]]
[[File:Hansen50.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Example of an MMTS unit, placed directly above road pavement at the University of Arizona, Tucson. A desert environment, summer temperatures in Tucson are in excess of 100o; the sun can and does heat the pavement at considerably higher temperatures.]]
Climate science was troubled after news reports of the Climategate scandal went public, after the release of a thousand email messages and a collection of data and data processing programs from the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit.<ref>Christopher C. Horner. [http://biggovernment.com/2009/11/23/media-missing-the-plot-on-climate-gate-its-the-fraud-stupid/#more-35302 Media Missing the Plot on ‘Climate Gate’: It’s the Fraud, Stupid!], BigGovernment.com, November 23, 2009.</ref> The trustworthiness of the scientific community's global warming data pool was called into question. On November 29, with the publication of a report by ''The Sunday Times'' of [[London]], it was reported that scientists at the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit in the United Kingdom confessed to throwing out most of the raw temperature data on which the theory of global warming is founded.<ref>Gene J. Koprowski. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,578368,00.html Global Warming Scandal Makes Scientific Progress More Difficult, Experts Say], ''[[Fox News]]'', December 01, 2009.</ref> The admittance occurred following requests for the data under Freedom of Information legislation. [[Michelle Malkin]] detailed one of the many problems that will occur as a result of such data loss at the University of East Anglia, the research institution at the center of Climategate. She reported, "It means that other academics are not able to check basic calculations said to show a long-term rise in temperature over the past 150 years."<ref>[[Michelle Malkin]]. [http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/30/document-dump-a-palooza/ Document-dump-a-palooza], ''Michelle Malkin'', November 30, 2009.</ref>

The Climategate scandal revealed that corruption of climate science is a worldwide problem and is not confined to just Britain’s CRU climate research centre. For instance, it was discovered that the reported [[warming trend]] in [[New Zealand]] over the past 156 years (from 1853 to 2008) was created by man-made adjustments of the temperature data.<ref>P.J. Gladnick. [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2009/11/26/climategate-scandal-spreads-new-zealand-msm-continues-ostrich-act Climategate Scandal Spreads to New Zealand as MSM Continues Ostrich Act], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', November 26, 2009.</ref> The centerpiece of New Zealand's ''National Institute of Water & Atmospheric'' research temperature claims were proven false.<ref>The revelations were published on November 25, 2009, from ''The Climate Science Coalition'' of NZ: [http://www.climatescience.org.nz/images/PDFs/global_warming_nz2.pdf PDF] A paper collated by Richard Treadgold, of the ''Climate Conversation Group'', from a combined research project undertaken by members of the ''Climate Conversation Group'' and the [[New Zealand]] ''Climate Science Coalition''.</ref> This data contributes to global temperature statistics and the climate science reports by the [[IPCC]]. The false data was used by the [[Obama administration]] as a reason for remaining insistently stubborn on participating in the climate conference in [[Copenhagen]] in 2009-10.

The CRU scientists deliberately falsified data, and then used the results of the falsification to obtain additional research funding. This is [[criminal]] [[fraud]] under [[English]] [[Law]]. Because of the worldwide fraud revealed from Climategate and the burden it caused to the global scientific community, on December 1, 2009, [[Phil Jones]], the director of the embattled Climatic Research Unit in the [[United Kingdom]] stepped down pending investigations into allegations that he overstated the case for man-made climate change.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,578486,00.html Facing Scandal, Head of Climate Research Lab to Temporarily Step Down], ''[[Fox News]]'', December 02, 2009.</ref> On January 28, 2010, from the ''London Times'', inquiry over the Climategate emails found Phil Jones broke the law by refusing to hand over its raw data for public scrutiny.<ref>Ben Webster, Environment Editor, and Jonathan Leake. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7004936.ece Scientists in stolen e-mail scandal hid climate data], ''The London Times'', January 28, 2010.</ref> [[Michael Mann]] was investigated by [[Pennsylvania State University]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/02/03/penn-st-investigating-scientist-research-misconduct/ Penn St. Investigating Scientist Over Research Misconduct], FOXNews.com, Updated: February 03, 2010.</ref>

Climategate fraud also extended to the [[United States]], and the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) had their attorneys file three Notices of Intent to File Suit against [[NASA]]. Chris Horner, representing CEI, said the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies failed to comply with the Freedom of Information Act for over three years.<ref>Tony Pann. [http://www.examiner.com/x-11224-Baltimore-Weather-Examiner~y2009m11d25-Climategate-CEI-to-sue-NASA-Goddard-for-Climate-Change-fraud Climategate: CEI to sue NASA Goddard for Climate Change fraud], ''Baltimore Weather Examiner'', November 25, 2009.</ref> The Climategate emails, originating from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, showed how all the data centers worldwide, including NOAA and NASA, conspired in the manipulation of global temperature records to suggest that temperatures in the 20th century rose faster than they actually did.<ref>Joseph D'Aleo. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/climategate-noaa-and-nasa-complicit-in-data-manipulation/ Climategate: NOAA and NASA Complicit in Data Manipulation], ''[[Pajamas Media]]'', January 29, 2010.</ref> NASA's two primary climate centers, the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, [[North Carolina|N.C.]], and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies at [[Columbia University]] in [[New York City]], "systematically eliminated 75% of the world's stations with a clear bias toward removing higher-latitude, high-altitude and rural locations."<ref>[http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=518890 A U.S. ClimateGate?], Investors.com, January 22, 2010.</ref>

:* The number of actual weather stations used to calculate average global temperatures was reduced from about 6,000 in the 1970s to about 1,500 today.

:* The number of reporting stations in Canada dropped from 600 to 35.

Stations in places such as the [[Andes]] and [[Bolivia]] were revealed to have virtually vanished, and temperatures from these areas became "determined by interpolation from stations hundreds of miles away on the coast or in the Amazon." Average temperatures were extrapolated from readings in other cities across the world. This selectivity of locations made NASA's data and [[climate change]] conclusions skewed to advance the global warming agenda rather than create data based on scientific facts. The Climategate emails showed that climatologists had conspired to suppress research that challenged the global warming [[orthodoxy]].<ref>NP Editor. [http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/29/steve-janke-more-unsettling-science-in-the-global-warming-camp.aspx Steve Janke: More unsettling science in the global warming camp], ''[[National Post]]'', January 29, 2010.</ref>
[[Image:RobinsonWhatWarmsTheEarth.gif|right|200px|frame]]
The CRU scientists, from the Climategate emails, on several occasions discussed methods of subverting the scientific [[peer review]] process to ensure that skeptical papers had no access to publication. As scientific data began showing a downtrend after 2001, the Climategate emails show a [[criminal]] intent to create fraudulent data, and defraud the public of massive amounts of money with a [[cap and trade]] scheme as part of a Global Warming movement. Climate scientists at the CRU worked to circumvent the Freedom of Information Act process in the UK. The Freedom of Information Act explicitly forbids deletion of any material subject to a [[FOIA]] request. The penalty for such a criminal act is a fine of up to £5,000. Presumably being found guilty of such an act, or even suggesting it, would also bring about significant disciplinary procedures at any reputable [[university]].

The ''CBC’s'' Rex Murphy discussed Climategate in an editorial on December 3, 2009.
{{cquote|...Climate science has shown to be, in part, a sub-branch of climate politics. It is a situation intolerable even to serious minds who are on side with Global warming. Such as Clive Crook, who wrote in Atlantic magazine about this scandal as follows: 'the stink of intellectual corruption is overpowering'. Climate science needs its own reset button. And Climategate should be seen not primarily as a set-back, but as an opportunity to cleanse scientific method, to take science away from politics, good causes and alarmists. And vest climate science in bodies of guaranteed neutrality, openness, real in vigorous debate; and away from the lobbyists, the advocates, the Gore's, and professional environmentalists of all kinds. Too many of the current leadership on Global warming are more players than observers, gatekeepers and not investigators, angry partisans of some global engineering, rather than the humble servants of the facts of the case. Read the e-mails, you'll never think of climate science quite the same way again.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/03/you-wouldnt-accept-that-at-a-grade-9-science-fair-cbc-finds-a-moment-of-clarity/ “You wouldn’t accept that at a grade 9 science fair…” – CBC finds a moment of clarity on Climategate], ''WUWT'', December 03, 2009.</ref><ref>Clive Crook, senior editor of ''The Atlantic Monthly'' and former deputy editor of ''The Economist'': "The closed-mindedness of these supposed men of science, their willingness to go to any lengths to defend a preconceived message, is surprising even to me. The stink of intellectual corruption is overpowering. And this scandal is not at the margins of the politicized Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change process. It goes to the core of that process." [http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/12/03/climategate-fallout.aspx Climategate fallout], ''[[National Post]]'', December 03, 2009.</ref>}}

[[Iain Murray]] at ''Pajamas Media'' pointed out three takeaways that people must know about Climategate.<ref name=3things/>
<blockquote>
#First, the scientists discuss manipulating data to get their preferred results. The most prominently featured scientists are [[Paleoclimatology|paleoclimatologists]], who reconstruct historical temperatures and who were responsible for a series of reconstructions that seemed to show a sharp rise in [[temperature]]s well above historical variation in recent decades.
#Secondly, scientists on several occasions discussed methods of subverting the scientific [[peer review]] process to ensure that skeptical papers had no access to publication. In 2003, [[Tom Wigley]] of the University Corporation for [[Atmosphere|Atmospheric]] Research in Boulder, [[Colorado]], complained that paleoclimatologist [[Hans von Storch]] was responsible for “the publication of crap science ‘in order to stimulate debate’” and that they “must get rid of von Storch” ([http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=307&filename=1051190249.txt 1051190249]) as an editor of the journal Climate Research (he indeed subsequently resigned).
#Finally, the scientists worked to circumvent the [[Freedom of Information Act|Freedom of Information]] process of the United Kingdom.<ref>[http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=893&filename=1212073451.txt Alleged CRU Email - 1212073451.txt]</ref><ref>[http://www.climate-gate.org/email.php?eid=490&keyword= Email - Re: For your eyes only]</ref>
</blockquote>

===Data Manipulation===
[[Image:Orange sun large.jpg|thumb|right|300px|On December 10, 2009, [[Roy W. Spencer]], Ph. D., showed the potential effects of sunspot activity on climate, detailing [http://www.drroyspencer.com/2009/12/geomagnetic-forcing-of-earth%E2%80%99s-cloud-cover-during-2000-2008/ solar geomagnetic to earth climate connections]. On the subject of solar activity affecting climate variations, the geomagnetic modulation of cloudiness has about 10 times the effect on the amount of sunlight absorbed by the Earth as does the solar cycle’s direct modulation of the sun’s output. It also rivals the level of forcing due to [[Anthropogenic global warming theory|anthropogenic]] [[Greenhouse effect|greenhouse gas emissions]], but with way more variability from year to year and decade to decade. (Can anyone say, “natural climate variability”?)]]
The primary issue from Climategate is the data manipulation. [[Science]] requires data, and inadequacy of the climate record was always a problem even before Climategate became known to the public. Dr. [[Tim Ball]] wrote in the ''Canada Free Press'' on the primary issue from Climategate:
{{cquote|Climatology recognizes three distinct periods: The very recent instrumental period; the historical period to 3000 years, and the geologic [and] biologic for the rest. The [Climatic Research Unit scientists] manipulated data in all three but the first is critical because it is the source of material for the computer models, the vehicle of their deception. [...] They claim [the emails] are taken out of context. In context the fullness of their criminality is exposed. They claim there’s nothing of consequence in the emails, but [the emails show] a litany of [[manipulation]] of, the data, the process, publications, [[peer review]], and [[personal attack]]s.<ref name=datamanipulation>Dr. Tim Ball. [http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17916 The New Big Lie: Climategate Emails Are Not Significant], ''Canada Free Press'', December 14, 2009.</ref>}}

Climategate shows strong evidence of fraud, and may show smoking-gun proof of a cover-up by CRU scientists to exaggerate the existence, causation, and threat of global warming.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,576009,00.html Climate Skeptics See 'Smoking Gun' in Researchers' Leaked E-Mails], FOXNews.com, November 21, 2009.</ref><ref>Marc Sheppard. [http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/11/the_evidence_of_climate_fraud.html The Evidence of Climate Fraud], ''American Thinker'', November 21, 2009.</ref><ref>Noel Sheppard. [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/11/25/climategate-smoking-gun-american-thinker-does-medias-job ClimateGate Smoking Gun Found, American Thinker Does Media's Job], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', November 25, 2009.</ref> From ''Cube Antics'', by Robert Greiner, who is a scientist and engineer "with an agnostic stand on global warming," he offered a statement about the research methods of the CRU scientists, attempting to show proof that they had the means and intent to falsify data. Greiner pointed out that the Climategate emails alone do not provide sufficient proof that the CRU was deliberately tampering with their data. What the Climategate emails do show is that climate scientists may have committed a [[felony]] using government funded money; moreover, within the collection of data and data processing programs revealed from Climategate, code from the CRU shows proof that valid [[temperature station]] readings were taken and skewed to fabricate the results the "scientists" wanted to believe, not what actually occurred.<ref name=codeproof>Robert Greiner. [http://cubeantics.com/2009/12/the-proof-behind-the-cru-climategate-debacle-because-computers-do-lie-when-humans-tell-them-to/ The Proof Behind the CRU Climategate Debacle], ''Cube Antics'', December 03, 2009.</ref> Analysis of the CRU's code revealed the foundation for the manipulated temperature readings. Greiner reiterated his findings:
{{cquote|First and foremost, this doesn’t necessarily prove anything about global warming as science. It just shows that all of the data that was the chief result of most of the environmental legislation created over the last decade was a farce. This means that all of those billions of dollars we spent as a global community to combat global warming may have been for nothing. If news station anchors and politicians were trained as engineers, they would be able to find real proof and not just speculate about the meaning of emails that only made it appear as if something illegal happened.<ref name=codeproof/>}}

On December 5, 2009, Robert Greiner pointed out the four most frequent concerns dealing with the CRU’s source code uncovered from Climategate:<ref name=codepart2>Robert Greiner. [http://cubeantics.com/2009/12/climategate-code-analysis-part-2/ Climategate Code Analysis Part 2], ''Cube Antics'', December 05, 2009.</ref>
<blockquote>
:1. The source code that actually printed the graph was commented out and, therefore, is not valid proof.
:2. No proof exists that shows this code was used in publishing results.
:3. Interpolation is a normal part of dealing with large data sets, this is no different.
:4. You need the raw climate data to prove that foul play occurred.
</blockquote>
After further analysis, his first concern pointed out that the source code that printed the graph was commented out and thus is not valid proof. On the second concern, Greiner clarified that, "Enough proof exists that the CRU had both the means and intent to intentionally falsify data. This means that all of their research results cannot be trusted until they are verified. Period." The third concern as pointed out by Greiner is not about the fact that the CRU researchers used [[Interpolated|interpolation]]; the issue is the weight of the "valadj" array with respect to the raw data. Greiner said, "valadj simply introduces '''too large''' of an influence to the original data to do anything productive with it." Fourthly, Greiner said that raw climate data is needed to prove that foul play has actually occurred. He said, "It simply doesn’t matter if the raw climate data are correct or not to demonstrate the extreme bias the valadj array forces on the raw data. So, the raw data could actually be temperature data or corporate sales figures, the result is the same; a severe manipulation of data."<ref name=codepart2/>

====Integrity of Data====
Climategate has jeopardized the [[integrity]] of worldwide scientific data on [[climate change]].<ref name=dataintegrity>Willis Eschenbach. [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/08/the-smoking-gun-at-darwin-zero/ The Smoking Gun At Darwin Zero], ''Watts Up With That?'', December 08, 2009.</ref><ref>On December 11, 2009, the ''Economist'' published an unsigned article attacking the work by Willis Eschenbach. This open letter is Eschenbach's reply. [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/12/sticky-for-smoking-gun-at-darwin-zero/ Willis: Reply to the Economist], ''WUWT'', December 12, 2009.</ref> There are two objections that question the validity of temperature data from the IPCC report released in 2007, one of which Climategate does not effect. The earth has generally been warming since the [[Little Ice Age]], around [[AD]] 1650 (Akasofu, 2007).<ref>Is the Earth still recovering from the “Little Ice Age”? (2007) A possible cause of global warming [http://www.iarc.uaf.edu/highlights/2007/akasofu_3_07/Earth_recovering_from_LIA.pdf PDF] by Syun-Ichi Akasofu, ''International Arctic Research Center'', University of Alaska Fairbanks.</ref> The second objection has questioned the integrity of the data, as pointed out from ''Watts Up With That?'' in an article written by Willis Eschenbach. There are three main global temperature datasets, as clarified by Eschenbach.

:* One is at the [[CRU]], Climatic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia.
:* Another one is at NOAA ([[GHCN]]), the Global Historical Climate Network.
:* The final one is at NASA ([[GISS]]), the Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

The three groups take raw data, and they "homogenize" it to remove temperature discrepancies that occur when a station is moved to a warmer or colder location. One of the things that was revealed in the released CRU emails is that the CRU basically uses the Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN) dataset for its raw data.<ref>[http://www.climate-gate.org/search.php?keyword=GHCN&topEmails=&submit=Search Search - GHCN], climate-gate.org, Climategate Document Database.</ref> This raw data is downloaded from GISS, but GISS uses the GHCN raw data as the starting point for their analysis. Both GISS and CRU get almost all of their raw data from GHCN. But the [[IPCC]] uses the "adjusted" data; GHCN adjusts the data to remove what it calls "inhomogeneities."

At [[Darwin]] Airport there are five separate individual station records that are combined to make up the final Darwin record.<ref>[http://data.giss.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/gistemp/findstation.py?datatype=gistemp&data_set=0&name=darwin GISS Surface Temperature Analysis], data.giss.nasa.gov.</ref> In 1941, a station was moved to Darwin Airport. The GHCN then removed the inhomogeneities to adjust the data. Of the five raw datasets at Darwin, the GHCN discarded two. The three remaining records were first homogenized and then averaged to give the "GHCN Adjusted" temperature record for Darwin. Before the GHCN homogenized the data, temperatures in Darwin were falling at 0.7 Celsius per century. After the homogenization, they were warming at 1.2 Celsius per century.

Willis Eschenbach investigated it and started with the earliest record, "Station Zero" at Darwin. The five different station records (raw data) covering Darwin from 1941 on all agreed almost exactly. What Eschenbach found was that there is "indisputable evidence that the 'homogenized' data has been changed to fit someone’s preconceptions about whether the earth is warming." The blatantly bogus GHCN adjustment for this one station shows that at least one part of the data is bad at Darwin Zero.
{{cquote|They’ve just added a huge, artificial, totally imaginary trend to the last half of the raw data! A six degree per century trend? What’s up with that? [...] The GHCN adjusted Station 1 to match Darwin Zero’s strange adjustment, but they left Station 2 totally untouched. They only homogenized two of the three. Then they averaged them. That way, you get an average that looks kinda real, I guess, it 'hides the decline.' [...] Care to know the way that GISS deals with this problem? They only use the Darwin data after 1963, a fine way to throw away all of the inconveniently colder data prior to 1941. Every time the data gets revised and homogenized, the trends keep increasing. What this does show is that there is at least one temperature station where the trend has been artificially increased to give a false warming where the raw data shows cooling.<ref name=dataintegrity/>}}
Separate from GHCN, GISS takes the raw temperature data and does their own adjustments. However, GISS verified that their adjusted, homogenized data is the same as GHCN.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/11/giss-raw-station-data-before-and-after/ GISS “raw” station data – before and after], ''WUWT'', December 11, 2009.</ref> The data is questionable because the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) manipulates the data prior to its use by others; this process was described as homogenizing. The CRU apparently "lost" their data. Scientists at the CRU, who produce global annual average temperatures, select stations that create the results they want, and then adjust the data again for fraudulent purposes.<ref name=datamanipulation/> Climategate revealed a fact that, until all of the station "adjustments" are examined, adjustments of CRU, GHCN, and GISS cannot be trusted if using homogenized numbers.

[[Image:GlobalTemps June2009.jpg|thumb|right|300px|'''8 Year Downtrend Continues in Global Temps.''' Dr. Roy Spencer in June 2009 announced on his [http://www.drroyspencer.com/2009/07/june-2009-global-temperature-anomaly-update-000-deg-c/ blog] that June's anomaly globally using the Aqua satellite dropped to 0.001C. '''This continued downtrend started after 2001''', and is another indicator [[Global Warming]] alarmists have certainly embodied a hoax. It was also reported: '''Sea Level Rise; A Major Non-existent Threat Exploited by Alarmists:''' Truth about sea level is a major casualty of the war to implement whatever is deemed necessary to implement legislation to increase [[Big government|Big Government]] power and control, including [[Socialist]] [[Income redistribution]] ideologies. [http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/12629 ''Canada Free Press''] - http://www.climatedepot.com/]]

====Hockey Stick Graph====
In one Climategate [[e-mail]] dated November 1999, CRU chief P.D. Jones wrote to [[Michael Mann]], Raymond Bradley, and Malcolm Hughes:
{{cquote|I've just completed Mike's Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years (ie from 1981 onwards) amd from 1961 for Keith's to '''hide the decline'''.<ref>Marc Sheppard. [http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/10/un_climate_reports_they_lie.html UN Climate Reports: They Lie], ''American Thinker'', October 05, 2009.</ref>}}

Michael Mann's [[hockey stick graph]] hid the real declining temperatures and instead showed a [[warming trend]].<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/12/historical-video-perspective-our-current-unprecedented-global-warming-in-the-context-of-scale/ Historical video perspective: global warming in the context of scale], ''WUWT'', December 12, 2009.</ref> Mann's graph portrayed temperatures as steadily declining since [[Medieval Warm Period|medieval times]] and then sharply rising in the last century and a half. Notably, his reconstruction fueled claims that 1998 and following years had the highest temperatures in 1,000 years. Once it became publicly known that man-made global warming is a hoax, as a direct result of the e-mail discussing a "trick" for adding data to each temperature series for the last 20 years, Climategate motivated the making of a video called, "Hide The Decline."<ref>Derek Erwin. [http://derekerwin.blogspot.com/2009/11/climategate-video-hide-decline.html Video of the Year: 'Hide The Decline' - Climategate], ''A 1-In-100 Blogger'', November 27, 2009.</ref>

====Critique of the Hockey Stick Reconstruction====

*[http://climateaudit.files.wordpress.com/2005/09/mcintyre.mckitrick.2003.pdf Corrections To The Mann et. al. (1998) Proxy Data Base And Northern Hemispheric Average Temperature Series] by Stephen McIntyre and Ross McKitrick, ''Energy & Enviornment'' volume 14, 2003.
*[http://blogs.nature.com/climatefeedback/2007/05/the_decay_of_the_hockey_stick.html The Decay of the Hockey Stick by Von Storch] published on the journal ''Nature'''s blog, May 3, 2007.
*[http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/13830/ A Global Warming Bombshell] by Richard A. Muller, ''Technology Review'' , Oct. 2004; calls into question famous graph by Michael Mann.
*[http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/306/5696/679 Reconstructing Past Climate from Noisy Data] by Hans von Storch, Eduardo Zorita, Julie M. Jones, Yegor Dimitriev, Fidel González-Rouco, Simon F. B. Tett, ''Science'' magazine, 22 October 2004.
*[http://www.image.ucar.edu/~boli/manuscripts/2007-LNA-TeA.pdf The ‘hockey stick’ and the 1990s: a statistical perspective on reconstructing hemispheric temperatures] by Bo Li, Douglas W. Nychka and Casper M. Ammann, ''Institute for Mathmatics Applied to Geosciences''; (Manuscript received 22 March 2007; in final form 28 June 2007).
*[http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/2006_articles/IceCoreSprg97.pdf Ice Core Data Show No Carbon Dioxide Increase] by Zbigniew Jaworowski, Ph.D., Spring 1997; this article examines one of the main pillars of the global warming thesis.
*[http://climateaudit.files.wordpress.com/2005/09/mcintyre.ee.2005.pdf The M&M Critique of the MBH98 Northern Hemisphere Climate Index: Update and Implications] (''Energy & Environment'', vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 69–100, January 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
*[http://climateaudit.files.wordpress.com/2005/09/mcintyre.grl.2005.pdf Hockey sticks, principal components, and spurious significance] (''Geophysical Research Letters'', vol. 32, February 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick


====Videos on Hockey Stick Graph====

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFbUVBYIPlI The Hockey Stick vs. Ice Core Data], the “unprecedented” temperatures of the present day when put in perspective of geologic time.
* ''Hi-Definition'': [http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/noaa_gisp2_icecore_anim_hi-def3.gif Historical perspective slide show (.GIF)], “unprecedented” global warming in the context of scale.
* ''Low-res'': [http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/noaa_gisp2_icecore_anim3.gif Historical perspective slide show (.GIF)], “unprecedented” global warming in the context of scale.


===Climategate Fraud===
Al Gore's "[[schlockumentary]]," ''[[An Inconvenient Truth]]'', is perhaps the earliest known Climategate fraud and most widely known global warming hoax. The film was designed to promote fear of global warming with false claims, [[junk science]] and digitally enhanced lies, proclaiming the end of the world. During Al Gore's promotional efforts for his film and to raise alarm on the effects of global warming, he boldly predicted we have ten years to doom.<ref>[[Rush Limbaugh]]. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/free_estack_pages/algore10yearstodoom.guest.html Algore: We Have Ten Years Left Before Earth Cooks], RushLimbaugh.com, January 27, 2006.</ref> At the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, [[Larry David]] commented on Gore's promotional efforts to raise awareness about his schlockumentary and said, "You know, Al is a funny guy, but he's also a very serious guy who believes humans may have only 10 years left to save the planet from turning into a total frying pan."

''An Inconvenient Truth'' inspired fear using junk science; Gore spread [[alarmist]] [[propaganda]] and claimed burning fossil fuels such as [[coal]], [[gas]] and [[oil]] have dramatically increased the Earth's temperatures. Scientific inaccuracies in the film were enhanced with [[Hollywood]] special effects, as a deceptive tactic, to spread fear of doom on his one-sided account of the anthropogenic global warming theory. Most notably, Al Gore created a scene in his movie that shows the [[Antarctic]] ice shelf breaking up and virtually disintegrating, supposedly providing visual evidence to back up his claim that glaciers are melting. The problem is that it wasn't real ice melting. It was styrofoam.<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2005744/posts Al Gore Fakes It], ''Free Republic'', April 23, 2008.</ref> ''[[ABC News]]'' reported Al Gore also took footage of digitally enhanced melting ice from the fictional movie, ''The Day After Tomorrow'', and then used it in his schlockumentary. The real truth behind this hoax is ideology, motivated by money and power.<ref>Steve Rowitt, Th.M., Ph.D. [http://www.creationstudies.org/operationsalt/global_warming_hoax.html Global Warming: The Biggest Hoax of the 21st Century], creationstudies.org, (2010).</ref><ref>Cliff Mason. [http://www.cnbc.com/id/28317874 War On Climate Change Over—And It Won], ''[[CNBC]]'', December 19, 2008.</ref>

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said in its 2007 benchmark report that even a slight change in rainfall could see swathes of the rain forest rapidly replaced by savanna grassland. However, the aftermath of Climategate forced the United Nations climate watchdog to admit to intentionally publishing false claims; the IPCC claims about melting ice in the [[Alps]], the [[Andes]], and in [[Africa]] did not come from [[peer review]]ed scientific literature—but from ''Climbing Magazine'', and from a student dissertation—written by a [[climate change]] [[activist]] who was studying for a degree in [[Geography]].<ref>[[Glenn Beck]]. [http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/35784/ Exclusive: Yet another climategate?], ''The Glenn Beck Program'', February 1, 2010.</ref> The IPCC claims that global warming might wipe out 40% of the [[Amazon River|Amazon]] [[Forest|rainforest]] was based on an unsubstantiated claim by green campaigners who had little scientific expertise.<ref>Jonathan Leake. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7009705.ece UN climate panel shamed by bogus rainforest claim], ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', January 31, 2010.</ref><ref>Richard Gray. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7111525/UN-climate-change-panel-based-claims-on-student-dissertation-and-magazine-article.html UN climate change panel based claims on student dissertation and magazine article], Telegraph.co.uk, January 30, 2010.</ref>

[[Greenpeace]] leader [[Gerd Leipold]] admitted that his organization issued misleading statements about man-made global warming, and he said the organization exaggerated information when it claimed that [[Arctic]] [[ice]] would disappear completely by 2030.<ref>Paul Joseph Watson. [http://www.infowars.com/greenpeace-leader-admits-organization-put-out-fake-global-warming-data/ Greenpeace Leader Admits Organization Put Out Fake Global Warming Data], ''Info Wars'', August 20, 2009.</ref> Despite the admission that a panel report warning [[Himalayan]] [[glaciers]] could be gone by 2035 was hundreds of years off, and regardless of the fraud, deceit and lies the Greenpeace organization spread about global warming, Gerd Leipold said he would not resign.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,583711,00.html U.N. Climate Change Expert Cites More Errors in Report], ''[[Fox News]]'', January 25, 2010.</ref>

In 2010, as the East Coast of the United States was hammered by strong winter storms of snow and ice, [[President Obama]] claimed this as further evidence of global warming. The president of the United States ignored facts to push a political agenda. Obama lied about global warming when he said it will cause some places to "end up being a little bit cooler," due to man-made climate change.
{{cquote|We just got five feet of snow in Washington and so everybody is like, a lot of people who are opponents of climate change, they say, 'See, look at that, there's all that snow on the ground, you know, this doesn't mean anything.' I want to just be clear that the science of climate change doesn't mean that every place is getting warmer. It means the planet as a whole is getting warmer. As the planet as a whole gets warmer you start seeing changing weather patterns. And that creates more violent storm systems, more unpredictable weather, so any single place might end up being warmer. Another place might end up being a little bit cooler, there might end up being more precipitation in the air, more monsoons, more hurricanes, more tornadoes.<ref>[[Rush Limbaugh]]. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_021910/content/01125116.guest.html Obama Lies About Global Warming], RushLimbaugh.com, February 19, 2010.</ref>}}

[[File:Climate scientist bombshell.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Professor]] [[Phil Jones]] admitted data shows 'no global warming since 1995']]

===Global Warming Facts===
{{main|Global warming}}

Scientists have cast doubt on the IPCC's claim that global temperatures are rising because of human pollution.<ref>Jonathan Leake. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7026317.ece World may not be warming, say scientists], ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', February 14, 2010.</ref>

:* Data for vital 'hockey stick graph' has gone missing
:* There has been no global warming since 1995
:* Warming periods have happened before - but not due to man-made changes

Professor Phil Jones admitted during an interview with the ''[[BBC]]'' his record keeping is "not as good as it should be," and that he "did not do a thorough job" of keeping track of his own records. Colleagues say that the reason Phil Jones refused [[FOIA|Freedom of Information]] requests is that he may have actually lost the relevant papers. The data is crucial to the famous [[hockey stick graph]] used by [[climate change]] advocates to support the [[theory]].<ref>Jonathan Petre. [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250872/Climategate-U-turn-Astonishment-scientist-centre-global-warming-email-row-admits-data-organised.html Climategate U-turn as scientist at centre of row admits: There has been no global warming since 1995], ''[[Daily Mail]]'', February 14, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1250813/MAIL-ON-SUNDAY-COMMENT-The-professors-amazing-climate-change-retreat.html MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: The professor’s amazing climate change retreat], [[Daily Mail|dailymail.co.uk]], February 13, 2010.</ref> Professor Jones also said that there is little difference between global warming rates in the 1990s and in two previous periods since 1860, leaving open the possibility that the world was warmer in medieval times than now – that the [[Medieval Warm Period]] from 800 to 1300 AD was warmer than the present period, and it could have encompassed the entire globe. Phil Jones also accepted a fact that from 1995 to 2010, for the past 15 years, there has been no statistically significant warming. He conceded the possibility suggesting [[global warming]] may not be a man-made phenomenon.

==Climategate Emails==
{{main|ClimateGate emails}}
The Climategate emails discussed methods of subverting the scientific peer review process to ensure dissenting papers had no access to publication. An email from [[Phil Jones]] to [[Michael Mann]] said, "... And don't leave stuff lying around on ftp sites — you never know who is trawling them. The two MMs have been after the CRU station data for years. If they ever hear there is a Freedom of Information Act now in the UK, I think I'll delete the file rather than send it to anyone."[http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=490] The Climategate emails show that climate scientists may have committed a [[felony]] using government funded money, deliberately falsified data then used the results of the falsification to obtain additional research funding. The collection of data and data processing programs, code from the CRU shows proof that valid temperature station readings were taken and skewed to fabricate the results the "scientists" wanted to believe, not what actually occurred.<ref>Steve Gilbert. [http://sweetness-light.com/archive/some-summaries-of-the-cru-emails A Few Summaries Of Some ‘CRU Emails’], ''Sweetness & Light'', November 22, 2009.</ref> Another email, in which Michael Mann wrote of his "Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series […] to hide the decline," correlated with evidence of intent to skew climate data.

===IPCC and the CRU's 'Trick'===
Further analysis of the word "trick" and how it was used in the Climategate emails from the CRU provided interesting feedback. It showed that CRU did indeed truncate tree ring data, so that the real decline in global temperature is not shown in the [[IPCC]] report, as referenced by Steve McIntyre.<ref>Steve McIntyre. [http://climateaudit.org/2009/12/10/ipcc-and-the-trick/#more-9483 IPCC and the “Trick”], climateaudit.org, December 10, 2009.</ref> McIntyre brought this to attention as an expert reviewer in the IPCC process in 2005, but at the time of inquiry his dissent was stifled and the discussion was never presented to external peer reviewers.

The explanation for the use of the word "trick" came quickly from CRU director Dr. Phil Jones in his official announcement on November 23. He claimed, "The word ‘trick’ was used here colloquially as in a clever thing to do. It is ludicrous to suggest that it refers to anything untoward." If Dr. Jones used such colloquialisms regularly, it stood to reason that further analysis should find a number of similar instances of the word "trick" in the CRU Climategate emails over the decade that the emails spanned. A file search program with a simple mission to scan the email folders for all file content with instances of the word "trick" used by itself (excluding other words like "Patrick" that would have "trick" embedded in it) returned eight files with that condition:<ref name=trickcount>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/10/counting-cru-tricks/ Counting CRU “tricks”], ''WUWT'', December 10, 2009.</ref>


* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=12&filename=843161829.txt 0843161829.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=154&filename=942777075.txt 0942777075.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=365&filename=1065206624.txt 1065206624.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=366&filename=1065636937.txt 1065636937.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=454&filename=1103236623.txt 1103236623.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=796&filename=1179416790.txt 1179416790.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=812&filename=1188508827.txt 1188508827.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=852&filename=1200162026.txt 1200162026.txt]


After a second file search was executed to double check how many of the Climategate emails contained some permutation of the letters "t r i c k," it revealed 29 emails out of the 1079 emails in the [http://junkscience.com/FOIA/ FOIA2009.zip] file. Only one instance was found where Dr. Jones used the word "trick" in reference to a procedure on data. There are other uses and variations of the word "trick" in other emails, but only one instance attributed to Jones where he refers to this data issue. As Dr. Jones put it: The word ‘trick’ was used in the lone instance colloquially as in a clever thing to do (e.g. "that’ll do the trick"). But it was questioned that one would expect to see it in general use by Dr. Jones in other emails if it was indeed a colloquialism. In the thousand plus Climategate emails, there’s no other use of the word "trick" by Dr. Jones related to data truncation or otherwise, though there are other colloquial uses of the word by other authors.<ref name=trickcount/>

===Themes===
On the climate science environmental agenda and the scandal that Climategate revealed all together, [[Glenn Beck]] commented on the [[e-mail|emails]]:
{{cquote|[The scientists] were asking each other to delete messages to avoid Freedom of Information Act requests. That doesn't sound legal. Scientists are working together to try and change the definition of [[peer review]] journals so that anybody who said global warming wasn't real couldn't get their papers published. ... [And then with] these thousands of E-mails ... Shouldn't this be - oh, I don't know - everywhere now? All of them are, to varying degrees, important. But how much could any of those actually cost you? This scandal will literally cost you trillions of dollars. That's what's at stake worldwide. It's on how we deal with the climate.<ref name=nbstaff>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb-staff/2009/11/24/glenn-beck-cites-newsbusters-bash-tvs-climategate-boycott Glenn Beck Cites NewsBusters to Bash TV's ClimateGate Boycott], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', November 24, 2009.</ref>}}

According to [[Rush Limbaugh]], another theme of the e-mails that have been released is how people at the Climatic Research Unit were constantly trying to "shake down" the oil companies (i.e. Exxon, Shell) for [[money]] and for partnerships.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/04/climategate-cru-looks-to-big-oil-for-support/ Climategate: CRU looks to “big oil” for support], ''WUWT'', December 04, 2009.</ref> On this reoccurring theme, Limbaugh mentioned the following:
{{cquote|They talk about it openly, how they're constantly trying to shake down the oil companies. The only thing man-made about global warming is the theory behind it. What you are going to do with people who are even willing to lie about the weather?<ref>[[Rush Limbaugh]]. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_113009/content/01125111.guest.html It's Not a Consensus, It's a Cabal], RushLimbaugh.com, November 30, 2009.</ref>}}

===Wikipedia===
Lawrence Solomon from the ''[[National Post]]'' discovered from the Climategate emails how a small band of [[climatologist]]s plotted to rewrite history as well as science, particularly by eliminating the [[Medieval Warm Period]].<ref>[http://www.climate-gate.org/search.php?keyword=Wikipedia&submit=Search Search - Wikipedia], climate-gate.org, Climategate Document Database.</ref> The Climategate emails revealed the enlistment of [[Wikipedia]] in their attempt at rewriting history. It was revealed how Wikipedia’s "green doctor," a U.K. scientist and [[Green Party]] activist, rewrote 5,428 climate articles. The recruited [[Wikipedia]] administrator, [[William M. Connolley|William Connolley]], literally rewrote history and then abused his administrative privileges to stifle criticism of the global warming orthodoxy.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/19/wikibullies-at-work-the-national-post-exposes-broad-trust-issues-over-wikipedia-climate-information/ Wikibullies at work. The National Post exposes Wikipedia climate information], ''WUWT'', December 19, 2009.</ref> Lawrence Solomon wrote on this revelation and on Wikipedia's loss of [[integrity]] as a source of factual information, and on the clear abuse of power from administrative authorities within Wikipedia:
{{cquote|Starting in February 2003, Connolley set to work on the Wikipedia site. He rewrote Wikipedia’s articles on global warming, on the greenhouse effect, on the instrumental temperature record, on the urban heat island, on climate models, on global cooling. On Feb. 14, he began to erase the Little Ice Age; on Aug.11, the Medieval Warm Period. In October, he turned his attention to the hockey stick graph. He rewrote articles on the politics of global warming and on the scientists who were skeptical of the band. Richard Lindzen and Fred Singer, two of the world’s most distinguished climate scientists, were among his early targets, followed by others that the band especially hated, such as Willie Soon and Sallie Baliunas of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, authorities on the Medieval Warm Period. All told, Connolley created or rewrote 5,428 unique Wikipedia articles. His control over Wikipedia was greater still, however, through the role he obtained at Wikipedia as a website administrator, which allowed him to act with virtual impunity. When Connolley didn’t like the subject of a certain article, he removed it — more than 500 articles of various descriptions disappeared at his hand. When he disapproved of the arguments that others were making, he often had them barred — over 2,000 Wikipedia contributors who ran afoul of him found themselves blocked from making further contributions.<ref>Lawrence Solomon. [http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/12/19/lawrence-solomon-wikipedia-s-climate-doctor.aspx Lawrence Solomon: Wikipedia’s climate doctor], ''[[National Post]]'', December 19, 2009.</ref>}}

==Global Reactions to Climategate==
{| border="1" align="right" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="350" style="margin-left:5px"
|align="center" colspan="2"|
|-
!colspan="2" align="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: lightblue no-repeat scroll top left;"|Climategate Scandal Spreads Worldwide
|-
! Nation!!Involvement in corruption of climate science
|- valign="center"
| [[File:50 star flag.png|50px]]||[[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]] [http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/02/03/penn-st-investigating-scientist-research-misconduct/ investigated] [[Michael Mann]] for his role in Climategate. [[Barack Obama]] is "doubling down" on his commitment to combat anthropogenic global warming; the [[Obama administration]] dumped [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2009/12/17/2009-12-17_us_will_contribute_to_100b_climate_fund_for_developing_countries_hillary_clinton.html more U.S. taxpayer dollars] into a global $100 billion [[European Union]] climate change fund.
|-
| [[File:Flag of Australia.png|50px]]||Liberal Party members within [[Australia|Australia’s]] parliament resigned their portfolios rather than voted for a cap and trade scheme based on flawed science.
|-
| [[File:Flag of India svg.png|50px]]||Recent scandals involving the [[IPCC]] have undercut its creditability to such an extent that the nation of [[India]] looked for an [http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/02/04/india-pull-ipcc-create-independent-climate-panel/ independent assessment].
|-
| [[File:Flag of Saudi Arabia.png|50px]]||[[Saudi Arabia]] called for an independent investigation into Climategate.
|-
| [[File:Flag of the PRC.png|50px]]||Where exactly 42 weather monitoring stations in [[China]] exist, and how it affects an important set of data on [[global warming]], has led to [http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/01/dispute-weather-fraud accusations of scientific fraud] and may yet result in a significant revision of a scientific paper that is still cited by the UN's top climate science body.
|-
| [[File:Flag of New Zealand.png|50px]]||The centerpiece of New Zealand's ''National Institute of Water & Atmospheric'' research temperature claims were proven false: [http://www.climatescience.org.nz/images/PDFs/global_warming_nz2.pdf PDF]
|-
| [[File:Union jack.jpg|50px]]||The [[UK|UK's]] CRU director Phil Jones stepped down.
|-
| [[File:Flag of Russia.png|50px]]||[[Russia]] admitted the [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235395/SPECIAL-INVESTIGATION-Climate-change-emails-row-deepens--Russians-admit-DID-send-them.html CRU emails were uploaded on a Siberian Internet server] and denied involved, but [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100020126/climategate-goes-serial-now-the-russians-confirm-that-uk-climate-scientists-manipulated-data-to-exaggerate-global-warming/ "confirmed" that UK climate scientists manipulated data] to exaggerate global warming.
|-
|}
===Copenhagen===
[[Sarah Palin]] called for President Obama to skip [[Copenhagen]], the climate summit in [[Denmark]], because of the information Climategate exposed. She commented on [[Facebook]] that the president should reconsider his trip until the e-mails can be investigated, "Boycotting Copenhagen while this scandal is thoroughly investigated would send a strong message that the [[United States]] government will not be a party to fraudulent scientific practices."<ref name=obamacopenhagen>Wendell Goler. [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/05/obama-s-shift-copenhagen-visit-defies-climate-gate-controversy/ Obama Ignores 'Climate-Gate' in Revising Copenhagen Plans], FOXNews.com, December 5, 2009.</ref> Instead, the [[The White House|White House]] attempted to downplay the controversial leaked e-mails of climate scientists. [[President Obama]] announced that he was "doubling down" on his commitment to the worldwide environmental agenda, pushing forward with a [[cap and trade]] scheme that is based on flawed science, and hoping to secure a "meaningful" agreement. The President made it clear that he will invest more energy and taxpayer dollars to help advance the global warming hoax.

Originally, the [[President of the United States of America|President]] was supposed to attend the U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen for the beginning of the conference, "bless the occasion and leave," said Roger Simon of ''[[Pajamas Media]]''. After Climategate became known, ''Pajamas Media'' reported that President Obama, "[S]witched his itinerary to be there at the end of the two weeks in order to give his blessing and impetus to the decision itself."<ref>Roger L. Simon. [http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2009/12/06/climategate-why-obama-switched-his-copenhagen-itinerary/ Climategate: Why Obama switched his Copenhagen itinerary], ''[[Pajamas Media]]'', December 06, 2009.</ref>

The ranking [[Republican]] on the House Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming, Congressman [[James Sensenbrenner]], attended the Copenhagen conference on [[climate change]] to inform world leaders that despite any promises made by President Obama, no new laws will be passed in the United States until the "[[scientific fascism]]" ends. Sensenbrenner demanded that researchers who authored the Climategate e-mails and documents that demonstrate climate change data were manipulated should not be allowed to participate in the [[U.N.]] panel on climate change. Sensenbrenner spoke during a press conference after learning of the Climategate scandal.
{{cquote|I call it 'scientific fascism.' The U.N. should throw a red flag. [...] They relied on these scientists unjustifiably in my opinion. Their behavior has caused grave damage to the public trust in climate science in general, and to the IPCC, in particular. They should not be allowed to do so in the future. I therefore request that you and the co-chairs of each of the three IPCC working groups ensure that none of the individuals involved in these nefarious e-mail exchanges participate as contributors, reviewers, or in any other capacity in the preparation of the next IPCC report.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/09/sensenbrenner-climate-fascism/ Sensenbrenner to Tell Copenhagen: No Climate Laws Until 'Scientific Fascism' Ends], FOXNews.com, December 09, 2009.</ref>}}

===Obama Administration===
In a case of see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing, the Obama administration showed commitment to [[climate change]] legislation and at the same time dismissive of Climategate. Though evidence revealed from the e-mail messages from the CRU shows that researchers manipulated data, suppressed data and stifled dissent, [[John Holdren]], Obama's science czar who is directly involved in the Climategate scandal stated boldly, "The science is proper and this is about a small fraction of research on the issue."<ref>Dr. Tim Ball, Judi McLeod. [http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17183 Obama’s Science Czar John Holdren involved in unwinding “Climategate” scandal], ''Canada Free Press'', November 24, 2009.</ref><ref>[[Michelle Malkin]]. [http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/24/science-czar-john-holdren-and-climategate-perfect-together/ Science czar John Holdren and ClimateGate: Perfect together], ''Michelle Malkin'', November 24, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/02/white-house-science-officials-defend-climate-change-data-amid-e-mail-scandal/ White House Science Officials Defend Climate Change Data Amid E-Mail Scandal], ''[[Fox News]]'', December 02, 2009.</ref> The [[reality]] is that this small 'fraction of research' — the theory which is the foundation of [[Anthropogenic global warming theory|anthropogenic global warming]] — the data used by CRU scientists, it is proven fraudulent. The [[theory]] which used to hold human beings responsible: it is nothing more than a Global warming scam, according to Jim O'Neill from the ''Canada Free Press''.<ref>Jim O'Neill. [http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17361 Attention Lawyers! Make Millions Off Of Climategate Crooks!], ''Canada Free Press'', November 30, 2009 .</ref> The scientists at the CRU, from the evidence found in their e-mails and documents, show a criminal intent to defraud the public of massive amounts of money, and at the same time advance an ideological [[Leftist]] agenda.<ref>Christopher Monckton. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/viscount-monckton-on-global-warminggate-they-are-criminals-pjm-exclusive/ Viscount Monckton on Climategate: ‘They Are Criminals’ (PJM Exclusive)], ''[[Pajamas Media]]'', November 23, 2009.</ref>

===U.S. Congressional Comments===
When House [[Republicans]] asked for a hearing or investigation into the Climategate scandal, independent from the Penn State University which is looking into the Climategate emails by its own researcher, [[Michael Mann]], calls for further investigation were criticized and then rejected by [[Democrats]]. U.S. Representative James Sensenbrenner ([[Republican|R]]-[[Wisconsin]]) said, "These e-mails show a pattern of suppression, manipulation and secrecy that was inspired by ideology, condescension and profit."<ref>Seth Borenstein. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010411091_apsciclimatehearing.html Obama science advisers grilled over hacked e-mails], ''The Seattle Times'', December 3, 2009.</ref> Democrats harbored ill will against the facts and continued to theorize that the [[earth]] is warming, insisting that the fraudulent data "[does] nothing to undermine the very strong scientific [[consensus]]," which showed a [[warming trend]] and claimed it is largely a result of human activity. The top [[Democrat]] on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, [[Barbara Boxer]], a global warming alarmist, said of the scandal, "You call it 'Climategate'; I call it 'E-mail-theft-gate." Rather than investigate the fraud and manipulation of scientific data that was used by climate science researchers, Boxer hoped to get her hands on the so-called 'real' criminals, those who released e-mails and data to the public.<ref>[http://polijamblog.polijam.com/?p=11748 Sen. Boxer Attempts to Turn Climategate Into ‘Email-Theft-Gate’ as Warmist Scandal Grows], ''The PoliJAM Times Blog'', December 2, 2009.</ref>

===Other Countries Take Notice===
While U.S. [[Democrats|Democratic]] politicians downplayed the Climategate controversy, and despite the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scoffing at Climategate by suggesting it provided no basis for questioning the science behind global warming, global reactions from other countries around the world took notice of the scandal. [[Saudi Arabia]] called for an independent investigation into Climategate, warning that the scandal over stolen e-mails threatened to undermine the global-warming negotiations. "The level of confidence is certainty shaken," said the Saudi Arabian negotiator. "We believe this scandal — or what has been referred to as the ‘Climategate’ scandal — we think this is definitely going to affect the nature of what could be trusted in our deliberations."<ref>Lisa Lerer. [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30291.html Saudi Arabia calls for 'climategate' investigation], ''[[Politico]]'', December 07, 2009.</ref>

[[Australia]] had planned on setting an example to lead in the fight on climate change, to become one of the first countries to install a [[cap and trade]] system. However, [[Liberal Party]] members within Australia’s parliament realized that cap and trade is based on flawed science, and resigned their portfolios rather than voting for an "emissions trading scheme".<ref>Emma Rodgers. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/26/2754654.htm Senior Liberals Desert Turnbull], ''[[ABC News]]'', November 26, 2009.</ref> According to a report from the ''Hindustan Times'', Environment Minister [[Jairam Ramesh]] believes his country cannot depend solely on reports from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). [[India]] plans to create its own panel to do an independent analysis of climate change science.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/02/04/india-pull-ipcc-create-independent-climate-panel/ India to Pull Back From IPCC, Create Independent Climate Panel], FOXNews.com, February 04, 2010.</ref>

[[File:GlobalWarmingLie.jpg|right|200px]]

==Climategate Media Coverage==
The Climategate media coverage refers to the journalistic methods used by the Mainstream media to deceive the public from learning more specific details about the fraudulent climate data. Climategate media coverage of the scandal is a [[media]]-focused overview from the most notable discussions covering Climategate: the revealed data, e-mails and manipulated code sets. As details emerged from the Climategate scandal, Climatic Research Unit scientists at the University of East Anglia were exposed. Despite the significance of the scandal and its impact on climate science, the leftist media ignored it, and then focused on pushing forward with the [[global warming]] [[hoax]].<ref name=climatehoax>[[Rush Limbaugh]]. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_120809/content/01125110.guest.html Hoax: Climate Change Makes Polar Bears Turn to Cannibalism], RushLimbaugh.com, December 8, 2009.</ref> Coverage of Climategate showed just how [[bias]] the [[liberal media]] has become in order to advance an environmental agenda.

In the wake of the Climategate scandal, a truly bizarre situation happened; the [[mainstream media]] stories about global warming pretended the uncovered documents never happened. This worldwide Climategate cover-up also occurred before the public had learned about Climategate, too. The [[U.K.]] ''[[Daily Mail]]'' pointed out that, a month prior to November 19, 2009, "The BBC received copies of some of the CRU emails more than a month ago, but did nothing about them, sitting on explosive evidence of fraud."<ref name=bbclie>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1231763/BBC-weatherman-ignored-leaked-climate-row-emails.html BBC weatherman ‘ignored’ leaked climate row emails], [[Daily Mail|dailymail.co.uk]], November 28, 2009.</ref> It was later revealed that the BBC had previously invested a lot of money in carbon offset programs, so the media organization was dependent on the global warming hoax being perceived as truth.<ref>Rush Limbaugh. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031110/content/01125111.guest.html ChiComs Order Journalists to Undergo Marxist Theory Training (American Media Already Trained)], RushLimbaugh.com, March 11, 2010.</ref> Ongoing coverage of the Climategate scandal also verified NASA and the state-run media knew about temperature data issues nearly three years ago; for example, ''[[USA Today]]'' received information about these issues but refused to report on it. ''USA Today'' and ''[[BBC News]]'' shirked their journalistic duties to push global warming in spite of evidence that the earth has not been significantly warming since 1995.
{{cquote|Email messages obtained by the Competitive Enterprise Institute via a Freedom of Information Act request reveal that the climate dataset of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) was considered — by the top climate scientists within NASA itself — to be inferior to the data maintained by the University of East Anglia Climate Research Unit (CRU). The NASA scientists also felt that NASA GISS data was inferior to the National Climate Data Center Global Historical Climate Network (NCDC GHCN) database. These emails, obtained by Christopher Horner, also show that the NASA GISS dataset was not independent of CRU data. Further, all of this information regarding the accuracy and independence of NASA GISS data was directly communicated to a reporter from USA Today in August 2007. The reporter never published it.<ref>Jim Hoft. [http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/03/junk-science-bombshell-nasa-media-knew-about-bogus-climate-data-3-years-ago/ Junk Science Bombshell: NASA & Media Knew About Bogus Climate Data 3 Years Ago], ''Gateway Pundit'', March 11, 2010.</ref>}}

As Climategate was totally ignored by most TV news outlets, ''[[Fox News]]'' appeared to be the only national news media in [[United States|America]] interested in the growing scandal.<ref name=accuracyinmedia/><ref>John Lott. [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/11/24/john-lott-climate-change-emails-copenhagen/ Why You Should Be Hot and Bothered About 'Climate-gate'], FOXNews.com, November 24, 2009.</ref> Perhaps the [[MSM]] felt that by ignoring Climategate entirely that it would have just gone away. However, just as the case was during the [[Tea Party Movement]], notably during the 2009 [[Tax Day Tea Party]], [[blog]]gers and the readers of the global warming stories kept bringing up the inconvenient truth of Climategate by mentioning the scandal "over and over and over again."<ref>P.J. Gladnick. [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2009/11/24/climategate-msm-writers-try-ignore-scandal-global-warming-stories-read Climategate: MSM Writers Try to Ignore Scandal in Global Warming Stories But Readers Bring Them Back to Reality], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', November 24, 2009.</ref>

[[File:GlobalWarmingFraud Newsbusters.jpg|thumb|left|200px|(Image from Newsbusters)]]

===Global Warming Hoax===
On December 8, 2009, the second day of [[Copenhagen]], news from the ''UK Telegraph'' headlined a Global warming hoax, "Starving Polar Bears Turn to Cannibalism."
{{cquote|New pictures show that polar bears are beginning to cannibalize each other as global warming destroys its hunting grounds. The images, taken in Hudson Bay, Canada, around 200 miles north of the town of Churchill, Manitoba, show a male polar bear carrying the bloodied head of a polar bear cub it has killed for food. Polar bears usually subsist on seals, which they hunt from a platform of sea ice. But the melting of sea ice as a result of rising global temperatures has made it more difficult for polar bears to hunt seals at sea.<ref>Jonathan Liew. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6760103/Starving-polar-bears-turn-to-cannibalism.html Starving polar bears turn to cannibalism], Telegraph.co.uk, December 08, 2009.</ref>}}

[[Rush Limbaugh]] blasted the Global Warming hoax and commented, "None of this is true" (Dyck, M.G., 2007).<ref>Dyck, M.G. et al., Polar bears of western Hudson Bay and climate change: Are warming spring air temperatures the ‘‘ultimate’’ survival control factor?, Ecol. Complex. (2007), doi:[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecocom.2007.03.002 10.1016/j.ecocom.2007.03.002]</ref> He rebuked the false claims about [[polar bears]] and at the same time pointed out the continuation of fraudulent stories from the media despite Climategate; Limbaugh revealed another hoax blaming a natural event on global warming.
{{cquote|If you know anything about polar bears, you know that there are any number of reasons why polar bears attack each other. But did you know that polar bear males are well known for eating their young if given half a chance? They do. The mother, the female polar bear has to protect the cubs from the father and other males. Polar bears are a vicious species. They're not this cuddly little old English sheepdog type thing. People go out on ice floes to study these things, and if they attack they have to shoot them. They're not at all in any way tame, and they're huge. They can rip you to shreds inside of five seconds, they wouldn't care, and Reuters would run a picture and blame it all on global warming, not the fact that a polar bear is a polar bear. Polar bears eat their young, if given half the chance, males do. So another hoax, 100% total fraud on the second day of Copenhagen.<ref name=climatehoax/>}}

===Climategate Unreported and Censored===
Fourteen days after the story broke worldwide, the Climategate scandal had been mentioned by [[ABC]], [[CBS]] and [[NBC]] a total of '''''zero''''' times. Because the story affected [[Cap and trade]] legislation, the [[White House]], in their daily collusion with [[liberal media]] sources, may have told news channels to bury the story.<ref>Diane Macedo. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,578990,00.html Comedy Central Scoops Network News on Climate-Gate Scandal], ''[[Fox News]]'', December 02, 2009.</ref> The Mainstream media began to show consistency in their censorship practices, so much so that [[Glenn Beck]] cited ''NewsBusters'' to "Demonstrate that much as in [the mainstream media's] boycott of the [[ACORN]] scandal and green jobs czar [[Van Jones|Van Jones's]] peculiar associations, the television press are once again hiding important information from the public hoping it will all just go away."<ref name=nbstaff>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb-staff/2009/11/24/glenn-beck-cites-newsbusters-bash-tvs-climategate-boycott Glenn Beck Cites NewsBusters to Bash TV's ClimateGate Boycott], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', November 24, 2009.</ref>

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txh_BXdeWBU ClimateGate... What??], Glenn Beck on ClimateGate censorship.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upkO0j3fN9A ClimateGate], Glenn Beck on ClimateGate scandal.

[[File:Leftist News.gif | right]]
The liberal [[Wikipedia]] has cited various references to contend against the facts uncovered with Climategate and has claimed that the e-mail files were illegally stolen by computer hackers, despite repeated requests for the data files under the [[FOIA]]. Though unreported by the [[MSM]] and at the same time [[censorship|censored]] by liberal Wikipedia, there is strong evidence to suggest the data was released by a fellow employee, a "whistle blower" within the Climatic Research Unit.<ref>[http://junkscience.com/climategate.html Those <s>"hacked"</s> released CRU files], JunkScience.com, December 03, 2009.</ref>

* There was no "security breach" at CRU that "stole" these files
* The files appear genuine and to have been prepared by CRU staff, not edited by malicious hackers
* The information was accidentally or deliberately released by CRU staff
* Selection criteria appears to be compliance with an or several FOIA request(s)

The [[U.K.]] ''Daily Mail'' pointed out the following:
{{cquote|The BBC received copies of some of the CRU emails more than a month ago, but did nothing about them, sitting on explosive evidence of fraud.<ref name=bbclie/>}}

===Liberal Media Missed the Mark===
The first liberal media source to openly discuss Climategate on [[United States|American]] [[television]] was during a segment on [[Comedy Central|Comedy Central's]] ''[[The Daily Show]]'' with [[Jon Stewart]], a slapstick entertainment news program. After more than two weeks had passed since Climategate went public, ''[[CBS News]]'' eventually reported on the scandal.<ref>Kimberly Dozier. [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/05/eveningnews/main5908487.shtml "Climate Gate" Casts Cloud on Change Meet], ''[[CBS News]]'', December 5, 2009.</ref><ref>Declan McCullagh. [http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/02/taking_liberties/entry5860171.shtml Fallout Over "ClimateGate" Data Leak Grows], ''[[CBS News]]'', December 2, 2009.</ref> ''CBS News'' aired a short video of an interview with Kevin Trenberth. Dr. Trenberth in the past has said this in one of the Climategate e-mails:
{{cquote|The fact is that we can’t account for the lack of warming at the moment and it is a travesty that we can’t.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/06/cbs-finally-reports-on-climategate-dr-trenberth-interviewed/ CBS finally reports on Climategate: Dr. Trenberth interviewed], ''WUWT'', December 06, 2009.</ref>}}

===Googlegate===
[[File:Gore firegloablawarminghoax.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Al Gore]] demonstrating his ability to spout fire is a parody of his fraudulent attempts to "prove" that 'global warming is man-made']]
It was reported that, despite Climategate related pages being the most-read articles of the UK's ''Telegraph'' entire online operation, mysteriously when attempting to search using [[Google]] – it didn't feature links related to Climategate.<ref>Anthony Watts. [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/11/28/climategate-surpasses-global-warming-on-google-autosuggest-still-blocked/ “Climategate” surpasses “Global Warming” on Google], ''Watts Up With That?'', November 28, 2009.</ref> James Delingpole from the ''Telegraph'' noted, "Instead, the top-featured item is a blogger pushing Al Gore’s AGW agenda. Perhaps there’s nothing sinister in this. Perhaps some Google-savvy reader can enlighten me."<ref>James Delingpole. [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100018263/climategate-googlegate/ Climategate: Googlegate?], ''Telegraph Blogs'', November 29th, 2009.</ref> Google.com has been accused before of interfering with its own search [[algorithm]]s in order to interfere with searches for material deemed "not [[politically correct]]."<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/x-28973-Essex-County-Conservative-Examiner~y2009m11d29-Google-blocking-climategate-autosuggestion Google blocking 'climategate' autosuggestion], examiner.com, November 29, 2009.</ref><ref>Danny Sullivan. [http://searchengineland.com/of-climategate-googlegate-when-stories-get-too-long-30755 Of Climategate, Googlegate & When Stories Get Too Long], ''search engine land'', December 01, 2009.</ref>

[[Al Gore]] is on the Google advisory board; Gore's position on Google's senior advisory board is likely bearing responsibility. On Al Gore's [[Web page]] in his biography he says:
{{cquote|A member of the Board of Directors of Apple Computer, Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Google, Inc. Gore is also Visiting Professor at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.<ref>http://www.algore.com/about.html</ref>}}
According to ''[[NewsBusters]]'', Al Gore has done some "advising" of Google’s search quality in the past.<ref>Noel Sheppard. [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/10/15/al-gore-advised-google-about-its-search-quality Al Gore Advised Google About 'Search Quality'], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', October 15, 2009.</ref> There is some history between Google and Al Gore that has some bearing on the current situation.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/02/google-trends-on-climategate-show-public-interest-increasing-but-troubling-questions-loom/ Google trends on “climategate” show public interest increasing – but troubling questions loom], ''Watts Up With That?'', December 02, 2009.</ref> In the case of "Climategate," Mr. Gore's ability to continue his current speaking engagements might be hampered. Thus, there could well be a motive for him doing some "advising" in this case. A phone call might be all it took.

== Climategate 2.0 ==

In 2011, Forbes declared in an article entitled ''Climategate 2.0: New E-Mails Rock The Global Warming Debate'':
{{cquote|A new batch of 5,000 emails among scientists central to the assertion that humans are causing a global warming crisis were anonymously released to the public yesterday, igniting a new firestorm of controversy nearly two years to the day after similar emails ignited the Climategate scandal.

Three themes are emerging from the newly released emails: (1) prominent scientists central to the global warming debate are taking measures to conceal rather than disseminate underlying data and discussions; (2) these scientists view global warming as a political “cause” rather than a balanced scientific inquiry and (3) many of these scientists frankly admit to each other that much of the science is weak and dependent on deliberate manipulation of facts and data.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2011/11/23/climategate-2-0-new-e-mails-rock-the-global-warming-debate/ ''Climategate 2.0: New E-Mails Rock The Global Warming Debate''], Forbes, 2011</ref>}}

== Tidalgate ==

[[Alarmist]] scientists were caught tampering with raw (unadjusted) data to fake a rise in sea level, according to two [[Australian]] [[scientists]].<ref>James Delingpole. [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/06/tidalgate-climate-alarmists-caught-faking-sea-level-rise/ Tidalgate: Climate Alarmists Caught Faking Sea Level Rise], ''Breitbart'', December 6, 2017.</ref> The scientists exposed how record gatekeepers at the global databank [[Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level]] (PSMSL), at the [[National Oceanography Centre]] in [[Liverpool]], [[England]], "adjusted" the sea level records from three gauges in the [[Indian Ocean]] to fabricate a nonexistent "sharp and dramatic" rise.<ref name=tidalgate>Parker, A. & Ollier, C.D. Earth Syst Environ (2017) 1: 18. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-017-0020-z Is the Sea Level Stable at Aden, Yemen?], ''Earth Systems and Environment'' (Journal no. 41748), December, 2017 (first online: November 6, 2017).</ref> The authors described the measurements from three gauges in the Indian Ocean as "highly questionable" and "suspicious."<ref name=tidalgate/> They revealed how, according to ''No Tricks Zone'', "PSMSL data-adjusters make it appear that stable sea levels [...] look like they are nonetheless rising at an accelerated pace."<ref>Kenneth Richard. [http://notrickszone.com/2017/12/04/whistleblower-scientists-psmsl-data-adjusters-are-manufacturing-sea-level-rise-where-none-exists/#sthash.36S66JGp.qR6KQEqK.dpbs Adjusters Are Manufacturing Sea Level Rise Where None Exists], ‘’NoTricksZone’, December 4, 2017.</ref>

==Videos==
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAlMomLvu_4&feature=player_embedded Hide The Decline], ''Censoring The Decrease in Global Temperatures''.
* [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/04/21/youtube-pulls-all-versions-hide-decline-climategate-videos "Hide the Decline II"], the ''No Cap and Trade Coalition'' posted a new version because Michael Mann threatened to sue ''Minnesotans For Global Warming'' for creating the YouTube video 'Hide the Decline'.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEZszGJHbK4 The Stroke Of A Pen], Lord [[Christopher Monckton]] closing statement at the Minnesota Free Market Institute.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmPSUMBrJoI 'The Twelve Days of Global Warming'], satire starring Al Gore.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpQXY4tWaoI It's A Climategate Christmas], satire on Global warming post-ClimateGate.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF5F6eYho8U Imagine There's No Global Warming], satire of John Lennon's song "Imagine" turned politically incorrect.
* Global Warming, Or A Lot of Hot Air? ''Fox News'' reporting: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqi7fxERiqk Part 1] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnCLQIYNYgo Part 2] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UisVhZHouq4 Part 3] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Pj6uWTgXM Part 4] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWYuZs6Idb8 Part 5] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BTS3K9DFy0 Part 6]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==

* Corrections to the Mann et al. (1998) Proxy Data Base and Northern Hemisphere Average Temperature Series (''Energy & Environment'', vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 751–771, November 2003) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
* The M&M Critique of the MBH98 Northern Hemisphere Climate Index: Update and Implications (''Energy & Environment'', vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 69–100, January 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
* Hockey sticks, principal components, and spurious significance (''Geophysical Research Letters'', vol. 32, February 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
* Reply to comment by Huybers on "Hockey sticks, principal components, and spurious significance" (''Geophysical Research Letters'', vol. 32, October 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
* Reply to comment by von Storch and Zorita on "Hockey sticks, principal components, and spurious significance" (''Geophysical Research Letters'', vol. 32, October 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
* Red Hot Lies: How Global Warming Alarmists Use Threats, Fraud, and Deception to Keep You Misinformed (November 11, 2008) by Christopher C. Horner ISBN 1596985380
* Climategate: A Veteran Meteorologist Exposes The Global Warming Scam (April 2010) by Brian Sussman ISBN 9781935071839


==External links==
* [http://wattsupwiththat.com/ Watts Up With That?] - Commentary on puzzling things in life, nature, science, weather, climate change, technology, and recent news by Anthony Watts
* [http://www.climatedepot.com/a/3943/Read-All-About-it-Climate-Depot-Exclusive--Continuously-Updated-ClimateGate-News-Round-Up Climate Depot] - Continuously Updated 'ClimateGate' News Round Up
* [http://www.PJTV.com/climategate PJTV Covers Climategate] - Full coverage of how scientists cooked data on climate change
* [http://www.nocapandtrade.com/ ClimateGate] - Facts on climate change
* [http://eastangliaemails.com/ The CRU emails] - East Anglia confirmed emails from the Climatic Research Unit
* [https://pjmedia.com/blog/climategate-3-0-more-mike-mann-emails-hit-the-internet Climategate 3.0: More Mike Mann Emails Hit the Internet]

{{Climategate scandal}}

[[Category:Global Warming]]
[[Category:Earth Sciences]]
[[Category:Ecology]]
[[Category:Science]]
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Semper Fi

2017-11-10T16:22:38Z

DerekE: redir page

#REDIRECT [[Semper Fidelis]]

United States Marine Corps

2017-11-10T16:20:03Z

DerekE: internal link

{{USMC infobox
| image =USMCsilent drill1.JPG
| fighters =[[AV-8B Harrier II]] [[F/A-18 Hornet]]
| officers =20,324 (2009)
| enlisted =181,699 (2009)
| reserves =40,000
| cadets =
| civilians =
| ocs =[[United States Naval Academy]] Annapolis, Maryland
| bootcamp =MCRD San Diego, California MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina
| secnav =Ray Mabus
| commandant =General James T. Conway
| acommandant =General James F. Amos
| smusmc =SgtMaj Carlton W. Kent
}}The '''United States Marine Corps''' (USMC) is a branch of the [[United States]] armed forces. Resolutions of the [[Continental Congress]] established the United States Marine Corps on November 10, 1775. The official mission of the U.S. Marine Corps was established in the National Security Act of 1947, amended in 1952.<ref>{{cite web |title=United States Marine Corps (USMC) Mission and Organization Fundamentals |url=http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/2dfssg/med/files/103.htm |publisher=Camp Lejeune |author=USMC |date= |accessdate= }}</ref><ref>Unclassified National Security Act of 1947. [http://intelligence.senate.gov/nsaact1947.pdf (PDF)],</ref> Marines are trained, organized and equipped for offensive amphibious employment and as a "force in readiness." The Marine Corps motto is ''[[Semper Fidelis]] ("always faithful")''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marine Corps Motto |url=http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/marine_corps_motto.htm |publisher=USMC Heritage |author=USMC Press |date= |accessdate= }}</ref> The U.S. Marine Corps operates under the United States [[Department of the Navy]], alongside the [[U.S. Navy]].

Concerned almost exclusively with shipboard security service and amphibious warfare in its formative years, the U.S. Marine Corps has evolved with war-tested, enhanced military strategies and [[American foreign policy]]; the Marines fill a unique, multi-purpose role within the modern United States [[military]]. By the early 20th century, the United States Marine Corps had become one of the most elite military forces in the world used for amphibious warfare. Its ability to rapidly respond to regional crises continues to make it an important body in the implementation and execution of [[American]] [[foreign policy]].

Each year, the Marine Corps marks November 10 with a [[celebration]] of the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend the [[country]] as United States Marines.

== History ==
=== Founding of the Marine Corps ===

During the [[American Revolution]], some of the most important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of [[Philadelphia]]. To support the 13 colonies in the struggle for [[independence]], a committee of the [[Continental Congress]] met at [[Tun Tavern]] to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore. The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.<ref>http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/usmc_heritage.htm</ref>

Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines, and Tun Tavern’s owner and popular [[patriot]], Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began recruiting to gather support and were ready for action by early 1776. Since then, the Marine Corps has been winning battles and defending the [[United States of America]].

=== American Revolution ===

In the fall of 1775, the British were occupying [[Boston]] and the young Continental Army was holed up in Cambridge, extremely short on arms and ammunition. At the [[Battle of Bunker Hill]], Washington's troops had been so low on gunpowder that they were ordered "not to fire until you see the whites of their eyes." In October, a merchant ship called The Black Prince returned to Philadelphia from a voyage to [[England]]. On board were private letters to the Second [[Continental Congress]] that informed them that the British government was sending two ships to America loaded with arms and gunpowder for the [[British]] troops.

Congress decided that [[General Washington]] needed those arms more than [[General Howe]]. A plan was hatched to capture the British cargo ships. They authorized the creation of a Continental Navy, starting with four ships. The frigate that carried the information from England, the Black Prince, was one of the four. It was purchased, converted to a man-of-war, and renamed to Alfred. To accompany the Navy on their first mission, Congress also authorized the mustering of five companies of Marines. The Alfred and its sailors and marines went on to achieve some of the most notable victories of the [[American Revolution]].

What's most patriotic about this story is of the symbols some of the Marines were seen with before and during these crucial battles: the [[Gadsden Flag]].<ref>Cpl. Scott Schmidt. [http://marinesmagazine.dodlive.mil/2010/06/28/the-gadsden-flag-’don’t-tread-on-me’/ The Gadsden Flag: ’Don’t Tread on Me’], ''Marines Magazine'', June 28, 2010, (Accessed January 25, 2012).</ref> The symbol of this flag serves as a warning and sign, first seen against an overbearing - and increasingly hostile - Federal government. By 1775, the snake symbol wasn't just being printed in newspapers. It was appearing all over the colonies; it appeared on uniform buttons, on paper money, and of course, on banners and flags. At the birth of the [[U.S. Navy]] and the U.S. Marine Corps, what's particularly interesting for American history, is that some of the Marines that enlisted the very first month in Philadelphia were carrying drums painted yellow, emblazoned with a fierce rattlesnake, coiled and ready to strike, with thirteen rattles, and sporting the motto "Don't Tread on Me."<ref>Chris Whitten. [http://www.foundingfathers.info/stories/gadsden.html#birth The birth of the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps], FoundingFathers.info, July 05, 2001, updated September 2002.</ref><ref>http://www.worldwar2history.info/Marines/</ref><ref>[http://www.gadsden.info/history.html Gadsden Flag History]</ref>

=== Famous Battles ===
==== The First Amphibious Raid ====
In 1776, just weeks after banding together, the Continental Marines successfully executed their first amphibious landing on a hostile shore. The [[British]] had stored large supplies of [[gunpowder]] at Fort Nassau in the [[Bahamas]] for later use against the thirteen colonies; Captain Samuel Nicholas and 234 Marines sailed with the Continental Navy on a mission to capture the supply. Within minutes of the Marines arrival, the British troops were outmatched and quickly surrendered. Captain Nicholas successfully acquired cannons and other military equipment, and the newly organized Marines completed their first amphibious raid.

==== To The Shores of Tripoli ====
In 1805, the United States government refused to meet the monetary demands of Barbary Coast [[pirates]] - a threat made by the pirates to refrain from raiding American merchant ships. Negotiations for a treaty failed. Thus, President [[Thomas Jefferson]] assembled an expeditionary force of Marines to respond. Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led his Marines across 600 miles of the Libyan Desert and successfully stormed the fortified Tripolitan city of Derna. Notably recalled in the first verse of the Marines Hymn, "From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli; we fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea,"<ref>{{cite web |title=The Marines Hymn |url=http://www.tricitymarines.com/hymn.htm }}</ref> the Battle of Derna was the Marines first battle on foreign soil and is a legendary expedition.

==== The Halls of Montezuma ====
The [[Mexican-American War]] played a critical role in defining the border between the two nations that remains in place today.

In 1847, the Marines strategically chose to capture [[Mexico|Mexico's]] "Palacio Nacional," knowing that a takeover would greatly disarm the Mexican army. Now known as the Battle of Chapultepec, the Marines stormed the enemy fortress during a 48-hour battle. After two days of continued fighting, the Marines gained control of the castle - better known as the "Halls of Montezuma." Victory at the Halls of Montezuma remains a part of Marine Corps [[tradition]], immortalized in the Marines Hymn.

==== Battle of Belleau Wood ====
During World War I, 1918, the Marine Corps fought relentlessly against German soldiers located deep in Belleau Wood, just outside of [[Paris]]. Four days into battle, Marines had suffered heavy casualties and were pinned down by machine-gun fire.
<blockquote>
'''"Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?"''' - GySgt. Daniel J. "Dan" Daly, USMC; near Lucy-`le-Bocage as he led the 5th Marines' attack into Belleau Wood, 6 June 1918.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
'''"I have only two men out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold."''' - 1stLt. Clifton B. Cates, USMC; in Belleau Wood, 19 July 1918.
</blockquote>
On 7 June 1918, with few grenades and no signal flares left, Marine forces launched an assault with fixed bayonets, seizing enemy positions. After 20 days of intense fighting, the Marines had won the Battle of Belleau Wood. Marine riflemen demonstrated their firing skills and resolve during the continuous oncoming of German troops. After the battle, the exhausted and wounded German survivors gave a fitting nickname to their relentless opponent: Teufelhunden (meaning, "Devil Dogs").<ref>{{cite web |title=The Relentless "Devil Dogs" |url=http://www.marines.com/main/index/winning_battles/history/missions/belleau_wood |publisher=marines.com }}</ref>

==== Battle of Iwo Jima ====
In 1945, the United States sent the Marines to capture the Japanese airfields at Iwo Jima. Fortified in a defensive maze of tunnels and steel bunkers, Japanese soldiers had turned the island into a trap.<ref>{{cite web |title=Battle of Iwo Jima |url=http://www.marines.com/main/index/winning_battles/history/missions/iwo_jima |publisher=marines.com }}</ref> The Battle of Iwo Jima lasted 36 days with heavy casualties before the Marines secured the island. Only four days into the battle, however, a team of Marines and one Navy Corpsman managed to reach the top of the summit and raised the [[Flag of the United States of America|American Flag]] to encourage troops below. A photo of the moment was taken, and since then the flag raising at Iwo Jima has become iconic with the Marine Corps showing their courage and determination.

==== Inchon Landing ====
In 1950, [[communist]] North Korea invaded South Korea. In return, in a surprise attack and amphibious assault, the Marines were sent in and landed behind enemy lines on the heavily defended shores of Inchon. Within hours, the Marines cleared the beach and began moving toward [[Seoul]]. In two weeks, they reclaimed the capital and put the North Korean army on the run.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inchon Landing |url=http://www.marines.com/main/index/winning_battles/history/missions/inchon_landing |publisher=marines.com }}</ref>

== Size ==
The U.S. Marine Corps, with 186,500 active duty and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2007, is the smallest of the United States' armed forces in the Department of Defense (the [[United States Coast Guard]], about 1/5th the size of the Marine Corps, is under the [[Department of Homeland Security]]). The Corps is nonetheless larger than the entire armed forces of many significant military powers.{{fact}}

== Rank and Pay Grade ==
{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
!colspan=11| '''Commissioned Officers'''
|- align=center
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!'''Pay grade'''||O-10||0-9||O-8||O-7||O-6||O-5||O-4||O-3||O-2||O-1
|- align=center
||Insignia
|| [[Image:DODOfficer10.JPG|120px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer9.JPG|100px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer8.JPG|80px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer7.JPG|60px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer6.JPG|90px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer5.JPG|60px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer4.JPG|60px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer3.JPG|60px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer2.JPG|30px]]
|| [[Image:DODOfficer1.JPG|30px]]
|- align=center
||Title
||General
||Lieutenant General
||Major General
||Brigadier General
||Colonel
||Lieutenant Colonel
||Major
||Captain
||1st Lieutenant
||2nd Lieutenant
|- align=center
||Cap device (worn by all officers regardless of rank)
|| [[File:Marine officer cap device.jpg|80px]]
|- align=center
|-
|colspan=5|
|}

----
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="center" width="100%"
!colspan=11| '''Warrant Officers'''
|-
!CWO-5
!CWO-4
!CWO-3
!CWO-2
!WO-1 (discontinued)
|-
!W-5
!W-4
!W-3
!W-2
!W-1
|-
|[[Image:USMC CWO 5.png|center|20px]]
|[[Image:USMC CWO 4.png|center|20px]]
|[[Image:USMC CWO 3.png|center|20px]]
|[[Image:USMC CWO 2.png|center|20px]]
|[[Image:USMC WO 1.png|center|20px]]
|}

----

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
!colspan=11| '''Enlisted'''
|- align=center
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
!'''Pay grade'''||E-9||E-9||E-9||E-8||E-8||E-7||E-6||E-5||E-4||E-3||E-2||E-1

|- align=center
||Sleeve patch
|| [[Image:371px-Marine Corp Sergeant Major of the Marine Corp.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:356px-Marine Corp Sergeant Major.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:353px-Marine Corp Master Gunnery Sergeant.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:392px-Marine Corp 1stSgt.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:412px-Marine Corp MSgt.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp GySgt.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp SSGT.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp SGT.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp CPL.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp LCpl.jpg|60px]]
|| [[Image:Marine Corp PFC.jpg|60px]]
||
|- align=center

|- align=center
||Title
||Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
||Sergeant Major
||Master Gunnery Sergeant
||First Sergeant
||Master Sergeant
||Gunnery Sergeant
||Staff Sergeant
||Sergeant
||Corporal
||Lance Corporal
||Private First Class
||Private (no insignia)

|- align=center

|-
|colspan=5|

|}

== Marine Corps Mission ==
The mission of the Marine Corps was set forth in the National Security Act of 1947 as amended (1952) and outlined in US Code collection [http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/10/5063.html § 5063]. Historically, Marine Corps preparedness has been characterized by the phrase, "The First to Fight," and the mission of a Marine rifle squad is "To locate, close with, and destroy the enemy..."<ref>{{cite news |title=Denying the Enemy Anonymity |url=http://www.marinecorpsgazette-digital.com/marinecorpsgazette/200904/?pg=30&pm=2&u1=conservapedia |publisher=Marine Corps Gazette |author=USMC |date=April 2009 }}</ref> There are the seven elements of the Marine Corps Mission:<ref>{{cite web |title=United States Marine Corps (USMC) Mission and Organization Fundamentals |url=http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/2dfssg/med/files/103.htm |publisher=Camp Lejeune |author=USMC }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Marine Corps Mission |url=http://www.tricitymarines.com/marinemis.htm }}</ref>
<blockquote>
1. Provide Fleet Marine Force with combined arms and supporting air components for service with the United States Fleet in the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and for the conduct of such land operations as may be essential to the execution of naval campaign.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
2. Provide detachments and organizations for service on armed vessels of the Navy and security detachments for the protection of naval property at naval Stations and bases.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
3. Develop, in coordination with the [[Army]], [[Navy]], and [[Air Force]], the doctrine, tactics, techniques, and equipment employed by landing forces in amphibious operations.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
4. Provide Marine forces for airborne operations, in coordination with the [[United States Army|Army]], [[United States Navy|Navy]], and [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], according to the doctrine established by the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]].
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
5. Develop, in coordination with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the doctrine, procedures, and equipment for airborne operations.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
6. Expand peacetime components to meet wartime needs according to the joint mobilization plans.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
7. Perform such other duties as the [[President of the United States|President]] may direct.
</blockquote>

== Oath ==
'''Enlisted''': "I (state your name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."<ref>http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/faq.asp#OathsE</ref>

'''Officer''': "I (state your name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me [[God]]."<ref>http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/faq.asp#OathsE</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island]]
*[[Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego]]
*[[1st Marine Division (United States)]]
* [[List of military strategies and concepts]]

==External links==
* [http://www.usmc.mil/ Official USMC website]
* [http://www.marines.com/ Official USMC Recruiting site]
* [http://www.forcerecon.com/ Force Recon Association], Headquarters
* [http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/ Leatherneck], Magazine of the Marines
* [http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/ Marine Corps Times], Online source for everything Marine
* [http://www.worldwar2history.info/Marines/ The U.S. Marine Corps in World War II]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:United States Armed Forces]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps]]
[[Category:Military]]
[[Category:Military Strategies and Concepts]]

Semper Fidelis

2017-11-10T16:18:37Z

DerekE: oops, spelling fix

'''Semper Fidelis''' (usually shortened to "'''Semper Fi'''") is best known as the motto for the [[United States Marine Corps]]; it is a Latin phrase that means always faithful or always loyal.

[[Category:United States Marine Corps]]
[[Category:Military]]

Semper Fidelis

2017-11-10T16:18:16Z

DerekE: Semper Fi definition

'''Sempter Fidelis''' (usually shortened to "'''Semper Fi'''") is best known as the motto for the [[United States Marine Corps]]; it is a Latin phrase that means always faithful or always loyal.

[[Category:United States Marine Corps]]
[[Category:Military]]

Talk:United States Marine Corps

2017-11-10T16:11:36Z

DerekE: Happy B-day Marines

I love this day. November 10, 1775-present. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 23:09, 10 November 2009 (EST)
:I still love this day - [[Semper Fidelis|Semper Fi]]! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 20:20, 10 November 2010 (EST)
::Happy birthday, United States Marine Corps -- Ooh-Rah! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 12:00, 10 November 2011 (EST)
:::Semper-Fi, Devil Dogs! Happy birthday USMC! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 21:24, 10 November 2012 (EST)
::::Love this day! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 20:31, 10 November 2013 (EST)
:::::Oorah! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 01:40, 10 November 2014 (EST)
::::::Happy 240th birthday, Marines! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] ([[User talk:DerekE|talk]]) 09:22, 10 November 2015 (EST)
:::::::Today the Marine Corps celebrates its 241st birthday - Oorah! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] ([[User talk:DerekE|talk]])
::::::::Oorah Marines! Cheers to 242 years. --[[User:DerekE|DerekE]] ([[User talk:DerekE|talk]]) 11:11, 10 November 2017 (EST)
The Royal Marines, meanwhile, don't exist. [[User:AlanE|AlanE]] 22:06, 17 January 2013 (EST)
: Alan, I'm sure you're welcome to remedy that problem! --[[User:DavidB4|David B]] ([[User talk:DavidB4|TALK]]) 16:18, 10 November 2016 (EST)

Trinity

2017-01-02T19:10:42Z

DerekE: Undo revision 1297216 by Rtyughjbnm (talk)

{{Christianity}}
[[File:El Greco The Holy Trinity 1577.jpg|thumb|left|175px|''The Holy Trinity'' by [[El Greco]]]]
The Christian '''Trinity''' consists of [[God the Father]], [[Jesus Christ|God the Son]], and God the [[Holy Spirit]], as established by the [[Nicene Creed]] of 325 AD. The Trinity refers to the three parts that make up the one God, all co-equal, and all forming one God.

Although it is never made explicit in the [[Bible]], the concept of the Trinity is embraced by the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Orthodox Church]], and nearly all [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations. The name was coined by the Church Father Tertullian (145-220 AD). It is based on inferences from texts emphasizing the closeness of God-the-Father and Jesus (such as Rom. 8:31-34), the role of the Holy Ghost, and especially the baptismal formula in Matt. 28:19
:Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

A good illustration is [[water|H2O]]. It can take three forms, all of which are considered water. In the same way, God exists as three distinct but united persons.

==Denials==
The [[Arian]]s of the 4th century denied the Trinity. They were condemned as heretics and they died out, but Arian ideas appeared in Europe after 1500. [[Isaac Newton]] was secretly an Arian. By the mid-18th century [[Unitarianism]] had emerged in England, and it spread to the U.S. by 1800. It dominated schools like Harvard by 1820.

In the 20th century [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] do not believe in the Trinity, and see it as contradicting the commandment to have no god but the one God.<ref>Watchtower, July 2008</ref> Jehovah Witnesses disparage the Trinity by depicting it as a three-headed creature and claim the doctrine as a corrupt addition by [[Satan]] to Christianity.

[[Islam]] has taught that the Trinity is Father, Son, and Mother (the [[Virgin Mary]]).

==Trinity Sunday==
The Trinity is remembered in [[worship]] in liturgical churches each year on Trinity Sunday, the Sunday after [[Pentecost]]. In 2013, this will be May 26.

==Further reading==
* Joyce, George. "The Blessed Trinity." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia''. Vol. 15. (1912) [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15047a.htm online edition]
*Kirn, O. "Trinity, Doctrine of the" in ''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911), [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc12.toc.html Vol. 12: pp18-22], Protestant interpretation
* Slovan, Gerald S. ''The Three Persons in One God'' (1964) scholarly study [http://www.questia.com/read/98585702?title=The%20Three%20Persons%20in%20One%20God online edition]

==See also==
*[[Arianism]]
*[[In the midst of a Maelstrom: the Holy Spirit and silence: an essay]]
*[[Johannine Comma]], rejected text of John
*[[Seven Spirits of God]]

== References ==

<references/>

[[Image:Murillo Two Trinities.jpg|frame|left|The Two Trinities by [[Bartolomé Esteban Murillo]], about 1675-1682.]]

{{trinity}}

[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Theology]]

John Birch Society

2017-01-02T19:10:10Z

DerekE: Undo revision 1297218 by Rtyughjbnm (talk)

The '''John Birch Society''' is an American paleoconservative organization founded in 1958 by Massachusetts businessman [[Robert Welch]] (1900-1985). Until the collapse of Soviet Communism in 1991, it focused on Communism as the enemy of American values, warning that Communism already exerted a powerful control on the United States federal government.

Originally based in [[Belmont, Massachusetts]], its headquarters are now in [[Appleton, Wisconsin]],<ref>{{Cite news|author = Dan Barry |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/us/26Land.html |title = Holding Firm Against Plots by Evildoers |work = [[The New York Times]] |date = June 25, 2009 |accessdate = January 1, 2017}}</ref> with local chapters throughout the United States. The organization owns American Opinion Publishing, which publishes ''[[The New American]]''.<ref name="newamerican">{{Cite web |url= http://www.thenewamerican.com/ |title = The New American }}</ref>

At its peak in 1964 the Society claimed to have hundreds of chapters throughout the country, 100,000 members, 400 American Opinion bookstores to distribute and sell its magazine and pamphlets, and an active cadre of speakers that crisscrossed the country. Welch ruled with an iron hand,<ref>Schoenwald, (2001) pp. 83-91</ref> sending out his agents to make sure the local units never engaged in operations on their own, such as endorsing candidates or lobbying for legislation. All the dues went to national headquarters in Belmont, Massachusetts and the members were to spend their energy writing letters that echoed Welch's thesis that that Communists were already in power in Washington and were about to fully take over the country. Welch sponsored "Support Your Local Police"
campaign which opposed civilian review boards to monitor police brutality.<ref>Some chapters without Welch's approval did organize opposition to fluoridation of local water supplies or pushed a slate for election to local school boards.</ref> The one notable national campaign was to demand the impeachment of Chief Justice [[Earl Warren]]. Not a single member of Congress was willing to present an impeachment resolution, and over the years only three Congressmen were members, most notably [[Larry McDonald]] (1935-1983), the Society president when his plane, [[Korean Airlines Flight 007]],was shot down by the Soviet Air Force on Sept. 1, 1983 in international air space in between Soviet [[Moneron Island]] and [[Sakhalin]] island.<ref>Since June of 2012, there is a petition drive, supported by Senator [[Scott Brown]], to be presented to President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner, to reopen the investigation into the shooting down of KAL 007 and reports of the survival of Congressman McDonald [http://www.change.org/petitions/president-barack-obama-speaker-of-the-house-john-boehner-conduct-an-investigation-of-flight-kal-007].

One of the society's most popular spokesmen was John Rousselot, a former Republican congressman from southern California. Another was John Schmitz (1930-2001), briefly a Congressman from Southern California.</ref>

==History==
The organization was founded by [[Robert Welch]] in 1958 to fight subversive infiltration of the United States.<ref>Welch said he named the Society after [[John Birch]], the first American to die in the [[Cold War]].</ref> He designed the Society like the Communist movement, with a strong leader at the top (himself), with each lower level following the orders they were given. Society literature denounced collectivist infiltration from Communists, the [[United Nations]], and various front groups.

==Conspiracies==
As leader of the society, Welch decided that the root cause of most of the troubles was a two-century-long conspiracy of the "Illuminati," a group supposedly founded in Bavaria in 1776. He declared it was responsible for the French and Russian Revolutions and the two world wars, as well as evils of Lincoln's income taxes, Wilson's Federal Reserve, and Roosevelt's New Deal. Most insidious of all was the United Nations. It also controlled the Communist party and the Trilateral Commission. The only member of the Illuminati he could identify by name was [[Nelson Rockefeller]]. Reagan was suspect because he picked for vice president the choice of the Illuminati, [[George H.W. Bush]]. Welch argued that the Illuminati was subversive of good government, destructive of religion, and used professional agitators and massive terror to destroy the good people, while manufacturing smears to destroy the brave souls who tried to expose it.<ref>There's more; see Stewart (2002).</ref>

In October, 2009, it exposed the diabolic totalitarian schemes of the Department of Homeland Security's TSA:
:''It’s not enough that the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) gropes us at checkpoints in airports, photographs passengers naked, steals from them, and even killed one. Now it’s recruiting the nation’s truck- and bus-drivers as snitches against us in a scheme it calls First Observer. The logic is diabolical, totalitarian, and simple...."<ref>Becky Akers, "Eyes on the Road" Oct. 15, 2009 [http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/opinion/948-becky-akers/1988-eyes-on-the-road on JBS official website]</ref>

===Eisenhower and Johnson===
Welch wrote in a widely circulated statement, ''The Politician,'' "Could Eisenhower really be simply a smart politician, entirely without principles and hungry for glory, who is only the tool of the Communists? The answer is yes." He went on. ""With regard to ... Eisenhower, it is difficult to avoid raising the question of deliberate treason."<ref>Quoted at [http://www.jbs.org/jbs-news-feed/1375-glenn-beck-talks-with-jbs-president-john-f-mcmanus "Glenn Beck talks with JBS President John F. McManus" Aug. 15, 2006]</ref>

In the 1960s Welch insisted that the Johnson administration's fight against communism in Vietnam was part of a communist plot aimed at taking over the United States. Welch demanded that the United States get out of Vietnam, thus aligning the Society with the far left.<ref>Stephen Earl Bennett, "Modes of Resolution of a 'Belief Dilemma' in the Ideology of the John Birch Society," ''Journal of Politics'' 1971 33(3): 735-772</ref>

==Rejected by most conservatives==
It was moderately active in the 1960s with numerous chapters, but rarely engaged in coalition building with other conservatives. Indeed, it was rejected by most conservatives because of the outlandish conspiracy theories of its leader [[Robert Welch]]. [[William F. Buckley]] and his ''National Review'' regularly attacked Welch, and by 1965 was attacking the Society as well. Starting with Welch considered conservative President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] a Communist stooge, it was deeply distrustful of all presidents since Franklin Roosevelt.

Eisenhower cabinet member [[Ezra Taft Benson]], a leading Mormon, spoke in favor of the John Birch Society, but in January 1963 the Mormon church issued a statement distancing itself from the Society.<ref>Gregory A. Prince, "The Red Peril, the Candy Maker, and the Apostle: David O. Mckay's Confrontation with Communism," ''Dialogue: a Journal of Mormon Thought'' 2004 37(2): 37-94,</ref>

==Liberal target==
The John Birch Society has always been a favorite target of liberals who want to embarrass the conservative movement by citing some ridiculous conspiracy theory on the right. Some liberals just laugh and employ misinterpretations of social anxieties to warn that Birchers are misfits; most warn darkly that the John Birch Society is a dangerous manifestation of the "radical right" that aimed to subvert democracy. In practice, the Society actually did little more than publish pamphlets and sponsor local discussion groups.

Historian [[Richard Hofstadter]] claimed the Birch Society was the leader of the right wing in the 1960s.<ref>Hofstadter himself later turned right. Hofstadter, ''The Paranoid Style in American Politics and Other Essays'' (1967) p. 70</ref> In 1968 Governor Pat Brown of California, about to be defeated for reelection by Reagan, unleashed a 13-page report calling Reagan a puppet of the John Birch Society. (Reagan considered the JBS leaders to be kooky and kept them out of his campaign.)<ref>Rick Perlstein, ''Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America'' (2008) p. 113</ref> As late as 1980, House Speaker [[Tip O'Neill]] warned that "John Birchers control the Republican Party," overlooking the fact that the only Birch Society member in Congress at the time was a Democrat from Georgia, [[Larry McDonald]] who caucused with O'Neill. In fact the John Birch Society never controlled the Republican party in any state at any level at any time.<ref>Steven F. Hayward, ''The Age of Reagan: The Fall of the Old Liberal Order, 1964-1980'' (2001) pp 101, 675;</ref> The John Birch Society has been labeled by the left as "racist", "fascist", and "anti-semitic". The John Birch Society has been falsely associated with the Ku Klux Klan and American Nazi Party by the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]] and at the 1964 Republican National Convention, establishment [[RINO]] candidate [[Nelson Rockefeller]] mentioned the John Birch Society's name with the Communists and the Ku Klux Klan. But the John Birch Society was never a hate group and the society accepts non-whites, Jews and Freemasons.<ref>https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VjtYovgRxF4</ref> And the reason it was called "racist" by leftists is its opposition to certain aspects of the Civil Rights movement that were communist-influenced. The JBS opposed the civil rights movement because it was campaigning for federal government legislation which would restrict the freedoms of all Americans, of all races as well as create federal government programs which would expand the government's power. They did not oppose rights for blacks, they opposed restriction of rights in the name of "anti-discrimination" and expansion of federal government power and spending.

==Ideology==
The Society works towards educating Americans about the original intent of the [[Founding Fathers]]. The John Birch Society strongly believes that the United States is a [[Constitutional Republic]], not a democracy. The John Birch Society opposes [[Communism]], [[Socialism]], [[Fascism]], and [[Collectivism]]. The John Birch Society supports free market Austrian economics as opposed to socialist Keynesian economics. [http://www.jbs.org/issues-pages/economy] The John Birch Society also advocates abolishing the federal reserve [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C6FMJRNfUUM].

Although the JBS is considered to be "right-wing", the group has vigorously attacked President [[George H. W. Bush]] as a pawn of neo-conservatism seeking a "New World order" that would swallow up America. <ref>[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=txukr5zgHnw]</ref> That is only the latest of a long line of conspiracy theories it has promoted.

Since June 2012, there is a petition drive, supported by Senator [[Scott Brown]], to be presented to President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner, to reopen the investigation into the shooting down of KAL 007 and reports of the survival of Congressman McDonald [http://www.change.org/petitions/president-barack-obama-speaker-of-the-house-john-boehner-conduct-an-investigation-of-flight-kal-007].

==Publications==
''[[The New American]]'' is the official magazine of the John Birch Society since 1985. It replaced ''American Opinion'', which was published from 1958 to 1985.

The Birch Society has an active publication and reprint program. Reflecting its distrust of national leadership over the last 70 years, many of its books blame the White House and national leaders for deliberately damaging the national interest—for example, by encouraging the Japanese to sink the American fleet at Pearl Harbor.

==Members==
There are unofficial JBS chapters on many college campuses throughout the United States.

One survey in the early 1970s found the typical John Birch Society member was middle or upper-middle class, Republican and Protestant. He was also fairly young and well educated: the majority of the sample was under 40 at time of recruitment and had completed at least three years of college. A later survey in the mid 1980s found the membership then was disproportionately Southwesterners, young, urban, male, and Catholic. They were consistently conservative on secular issues, antigovernment, and negative toward communism. The evidence does not support liberal notions that irrationality, social strains, or status anxiety explained their beliefs.<ref>Stone (1974); Wilcox (1988)</ref>

==Further reading==
* Grigg, William Norman. "Global Gun Grab: The United Nations Campaign to Disarm Americans". John Birch Society, 2001.
* Jasper, William F. "The United Nations Exposed". John Birch Society, 2001.
* McManus, John F. "Changing Commands: The Betrayal of America's Military". John Birch Society, 1995.
* Perloff, James. "The Shadows of Power: The Council on Foreign Relations and the American Decline". Western Islands, 1988.
* Smoot, Dan. "The Invisible Government". Western Islands, 1962.
* Stewart, Charles J. "The Master Conspiracy of the John Birch Society: From Communism to the New World Order," ''Western Journal of Communication'' (2002) v.66#4 pp 424+ [http://www.questia.com/read/5002503885?title=The%20Master%20Conspiracy%20of%20the%20John%20Birch%20Society%3a%20From%20Communism%20to%20the%20New%20World%20Order online edition]
* Stone, Barbara S. "The John Birch Society: a Profile," ''Journal of Politics'' 1974 36(1): 184-197,
* Wilcox, Clyde. "Sources of Support for the Old Right: a Comparison of the John Birch Society and the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade." ''Social Science History'' 1988 12(4): 429-450,
===Primary sources===
*Robert W. Welch Jr. ''The Blue Book of the John Birch Society''. Boston: Western Islands, 1961.
*Robert W. Welch Jr. and the John Birch Society ''The White Book of the John Birch Society for 1964.'' Belmont: John Birch Society, 1961.
*Robert W. Welch Jr. ''The New Americanism and Other Speeches.'' Boston: Western Islands, 1966.
*Gary Allen. ''None Dare Call It Conspiracy.'' G S G & Associates, Inc., 1971.
*[[Korean Airlines Flight 007]] - Congressman [[Larry McDonald]], the 2nd President of the JBS, was a passenger of this flight downed by the Soviets on Sept. 1, 1983 in international waters near [[Moneron Island]] west of Sakhalin Island. Since June 2012, there is a petition drive, supported by Senator [[Scott Brown]], to be presented to President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner, to reopen the investigation into the shooting down of KAL 007 and reports of the survival of Congressman McDonald [http://www.change.org/petitions/president-barack-obama-speaker-of-the-house-john-boehner-conduct-an-investigation-of-flight-kal-007].
*https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCD_PvRz7fvX9WOBL6T4P45Q The John Birch Society's YouTube Channel
*https://m.facebook.com/JohnBirchSociety The John Birch Society's Facebook page

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.jbs.org/ The John Birch Society Website]
*[http://www.thenewamerican.com/ The New American]
*[http://johnbirchsocietyvolunteers.org/ The JBS Volunteers]
*[http://www.thenewamerican.com/node/8694 "KAL Flight 007 Remembered" New American Magazine]
*[http://www.rescue007.org/ Website of the International Committee for the Rescue of KAL 007 Survivors]
*[http://politicalgraveyard.com/group/john-birch-soc.html members prominent in politics]
*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.com/2012/11/lawrence-patton-mcdonald-b_15.html A Forgotten Man: Congressman Larry McDonald]
*[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0HpDHmo5oNQ]
*[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mthj2Z7xqvM]
*[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dg6ixwmcMcc]

[[Category:Political Organizations]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Cold War]]
[[Category:1960s]]
[[Category:Conspiracy Theorists]]
[[Category:Conservative Organizations]]
[[Category:Conservatism]]
[[Category:Anti-Communism]]
[[Category:Pro Second Amendment]]

Michelle Obama

2017-01-02T19:09:11Z

DerekE: Undo revision 1297219 by Rtyughjbnm (talk)

{{Officeholder
|name=Michelle Obama
|image=Michelle Obama.jpg
|party=Democratic
|spouse=[[Barack Obama]]
|religion=[[Protestant]]
|offices=

{{Officeholder/misc
|office=First Lady of the United States
|terms=January 20, 2009 -
|preceded=[[Laura Bush]]
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
}}
'''Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama''' (born January 17, 1964) is the [[First Lady]] of the U.S. since her husband [[Barack Obama]]'s inauguration as president on Jan. 20, 2009. She is the first [[African American]] First Lady. As First Lady, she has repeatedly gone on extravagant vacations at enormous taxpayer expense, including a $100,000-per-day trip to [[Spain]] in the summer of 2010 to enjoy lavish accommodations.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1301302/Michelle-Obama-lunches-Spains-royal-family-backlash-extravagant-holiday-continues-home.html</ref>

A Christian, unlike her husband, Michelle was born and raised on the south side of [[Chicago]]. Michelle Obama attended Whitney Young High School in 1981, later majoring in [[sociology]] and graduating ''[[cum laude]]'' at [[Princeton University]]. She then went on to obtain her [[Juris Doctor|J.D. degree]] at [[Harvard Law School]] in 1988. She is also sister to Craig Robinson, coach of the [[Oregon State University]]'s men's basketball team.

Michelle's parents are Fraser Robinson III (died in 1991) and his wife, Marian, who married in 1960. The ''New York Times'' wrote, in an article entitled "In First Lady’s Roots, a Complex Path From Slavery," that Michelle's ancestry includes slaves: "Melvinia Shields, the enslaved and illiterate young girl, and the unknown white man who impregnated her are the great-great-great-grandparents of Michelle Obama, the first lady ... the more complete map of Mrs. Obama’s ancestors — including the slave mother, white father and their biracial son, Dolphus T. Shields — connects the first African-American first lady to the history of slavery, tracing their five-generation journey from bondage to a front-row seat to the presidency."<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/us/politics/08genealogy.html In First Lady’s Roots, a Complex Path From Slavery.]</ref> (Dolphus Shields was a very light skinned, church-going carpenter who could read, write and advance in an industrializing town.) Some of Michelle's relatives still reside in [[South Carolina]].
[[File:Robinson III and Marian.jpg|left|175px|Robinson III and Marian with their children.]]

Michelle was employed at the law firm [[Sidley Austin]] along with [[Weather Underground]] [[terrorist]] [[Bernardine Dohrn]],<ref>[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjY4YzdhMDBkZGQ3ZmU2MTUzYjdkMzc5ZjUzYmViZWM=#more ''Why Won’t Obama Talk About Columbia?],
The years he won’t discuss may explain the Ayers tie he keeps lying about.'' By Andrew C. McCarthy, [[National Review]], October 7, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/chicago-obama.pdf Communism in Chicago and the Obama Connection], Cliff Kincaid, America's Survival, Inc.</ref> where she met Barack Obama. In 1991 [[Valerie Jarrett]], Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Richard Daley, offered Michelle Robinson a job as Assistant to Mayor [[Richard Daley]].

She served as vice president of the University of Chicago Medical Center. Michelle earned $317,000. per year as a board member dealing with community relations. She had resigned those positions to campaign for Barack.

Marrying in 1992, Obama gave birth to two daughters: Malia (born in 1998) and Natasha "Sasha" (born in 2001). She committed to campaign only two days out of the week during the election campaign in order to stay home with their children.

Convicted terrorist [[Bill Ayers]] stated "Michelle Obama has become the queen not just of [[America]] but of the world."

==Militant Racism==
Michelle Obama attended Princeton University where she created her graduating thesis paper. Media requests to view the documents during Barack's presidential campaign were denied. The university stated suspiciously that it would be available to the public after the general election and for good reason. Michelle identifies with black militancy, utterly obsessed with race in [[America]] and her own blackness.<ref>[http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=1182 Michelle Obama’s Early Militant Racism Revealed, RightPundits.com, February 25th, 2008]</ref>

{{cquote|I have found that at Princeton, no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my white professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus; as if I really don’t belong. Regardless of the circumstances under which I interact with whites at Princeton, it often seems as if, to them, I will always be black first and a student second.}}

{{cquote|Attending Princeton has probably forced [black alumni] to compete intellectually with Whites more than with Blacks and, thus, they have probably become more familiar with Whites intellectually, but in other activities they are likely to have gained familiarity with Whites if they did not spend time with Whites in other activities besides intellectual ones.}}

Not only does she see separate black and white societies in America, but she elevates black over white in her world. Her attitude explains the very reason she felt comfortable attending Rev. [[Jeremiah Wright]]'s black liberation theology church for twenty years. Read the full thesis here: [http://www.politico.com/pdf/080222_MOPrincetonThesis_1-251.pdf Part 1] [http://www.politico.com/pdf/080222_MOPrincetonThesis_26-501.pdf Part 2] [http://www.politico.com/pdf/080222_MOPrincetonThesis_51-751.pdf Part 3] [http://dyn.politico.com/pdf/080222_MOPrincetonThesis_76-981.pdf Part 4]

Always eager to remind the world how racist America was and is, she told students while vacationing in [[China]] "Many decades ago, there were actually laws in America that allowed discrimination against black people like me, who are a minority in the United States." <ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/michelle-there-were-actually-laws-america-allowed-discrimination-against-black-people-me_785997.html Michelle: 'There Were Actually Laws in America that Allowed Discrimination Against Black People Like Me', WeeklyStandard.com, march 25, 2014]</ref>

In a 2014 speech to graduating Topeka Kansas high school students on the 60th anniversary of ''Brown v. Board of Education'', Michelle warned that [[segregation]] is on the rise, “We know that today in America, too many folks are still stopped on the street because of the color of their skin..." <ref>[http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/05/16/michelle-obama-to-students-brown-v-board-of-education-is-still-being-decided-every-single-day/ Michelle Obama to Students: Brown V. Board of Education Is ‘Still Being Decided Every Single Day’, TheBlaze.com, March 16, 2014]</ref>

==Ties to anti-Semitism==
While attending Princeton University, Michelle Obama joined two student groups, the Organization of Black Unity and the Third World Center. These groups were pro-Palestinian and had invited guest speaker Hassan Rahman of the [[PLO]] to the dismay of Jewish students. Rahman's comments were inflammatory, "reiterated the PLO’s position that the Palestinians deserve a homeland and that they are entitled to use terrorism [against Israel] to achieve their goal..." <ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2013/10/28/michelle-obama-and-cgi-federal-executive-belonged-to-student-group-at-princeton-that-hosted-pro-terrorist-speaker/#ixzz2jhb5Valn Michelle Obama and CGI Federal executive belonged to student group at Princeton that hosted pro-terrorist speaker, DailyCaller.com, 10-28-2013]</ref>

Michelle Obama wanted to honor the [[Antiamericanism|antiamerican]] and [[Antisemitism|antisemitc]] author [[Samira Ibrahim]]. Ibrahim had cited [[Adolf Hitler]] and was happy about the terrorist attacks on Israelis.<ref>http://nation.foxnews.com/samira-ibrahim/2013/03/07/michelle-obama-john-kerry-honor-author-anti-semitic-tweets</ref>

==University of Chicago Medical Center==
While Michelle was executive vice-president at the medical center, she connected with [[David Axelrod]]'s company "ASK Public Strategies" and along with Valerie Jarrett, promoted the Urban Health Initiative. The hospital gave their approval. Some are calling for an investigation because the result was a patient-dumping scheme to avoid dealing with Medicare/Medicaid patients.<ref>[http://hotair.com/archives/2009/07/23/video-did-michelle-obama-start-a-patient-dumping-program/ Video: Did Michelle Obama start a patient-dumping program? Hotair.com, July 23, 2009]</ref> In March 2009, the ''[[American Thinker]]'' wrote:
{{cquote|Substantial coverage was given to a recent indictment of the program by the American College of Emergency Physicians. ACEP's president, Dr. Nick Jouriles, released a statement suggesting that the initiative comes "dangerously close to ‘patient dumping,' a practice made illegal by the Emergency Medical Labor and Treatment Act, and reflected an effort to ‘cherry pick' wealthy patients over poor."<ref>http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/03/michelle_obamas_patientdumping_1.html</ref>}}

In September 2011 it was revealed that a close friend, advisor and donor of Barack Obama, Chicago's Dr. Eric Whitaker is facing financial fraud charges. Dr. Whitaker left his job in the Illinois Department of Public Health in 2007 to work with Michelle Obama as executive vice president at University of Chicago Medical Center.<ref>[http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2011/sep/close-obama-pal-embroiled-grant-fraud-scandal Close Obama Pal Embroiled In Grant Fraud Scandal, Judicial Watch, September 22, 2011]</ref>

==Support for Late Term Abortions==
Michelle Obama wrote a fund-raising letter during her husband's 2004 US Senate campaign claiming the [[partial birth abortion]] ban "is clearly unconstitutional" and "a flawed law." <ref>[http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/05/michelle_obamas.html Michelle Obama's partial birth abortion fund-raising letter, JillStanek.com, May 8, 2008]</ref> A late trimester abortion of a woman's pregnancy involves the jamming of scissors into the back of a child's head, Michelle describes it as "legitimate" medicine.

==Quotes While Campaigning==
* "Someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more." - 2008

* '''"For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback."''' <ref>http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/02/michelle-obam-1.html</ref><ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,331288,00.html</ref>

*"Before we can work on the problems, we have to fix our souls. Our souls are broken in this nation."

*"There is still a lot of hard work that we as a country need to do. They can't look to any one individual, whether it's Barack or it's the next new hope that's going to appear to be that '''savior'''."

*"No matter what the outcome is, we have to keep our eyes on the bigger picture. We need some kind of change. We can't cut off our noses to spite our faces."

*"We have this window of opportunity; we have a chance to make something real happen. Something possible happen, to live beyond our fear, think about that, and help us. Help lift us up, help us fight this fight to change, - transform - this country in a fundamental way. This chance won't come around again."

*"Millions of Americans who know that Barack understands their dreams; that Barack will fight for people like them; and that Barack will finally bring the change we need."

*"In my own life, in my own small way, I have tried to give back to this country that has given me so much,” she said. “See, that’s why I left a job at a big law firm for a career in public service."

*"We had a miraculous victory in Iowa. '''Ain't no black people in Iowa!''' Something big, something new is happening. Let's build the future we all know is possible. Let's show our kids that America is ready for Barack Obama right now."

==Michelle Obama and Liberal Elitism==

''For more information please see:'' [[Michelle Obama and liberal elitism]] ''and also see'' [[Barack Obama and liberal elitism]]

In 2008, the Huffington Post was reported that Michelle Obama wore $540 sneakers to a food bank.
<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/29/michelle-obama-wears-silv_n_193138.html</ref>

[[Powerline]] offers the following criticism of Michelle Obama:
{{cquote|She says that she and Barack were born to parents of modest means, not with "silver spoons" in their mouths. Nobody knows the trouble they've seen. The burden of paying for her undergraduate education at [[Princeton]] and her law school education at [[Harvard]] has scarred her. It remains a motif of her stump speech. No one is accorded a chance to ask her if she thought about attending the University of Illinois, or if she's grateful for any of the financial assistance that facilitated her and her husband's attendance at the finest institutions of higher learning in the United States.<ref>http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2008/05/020456.php</ref>}}

Michelle Obama's [[liberal elite|liberal elitism]] is not surprising given the [[Barack Obama and liberal elitism|high degree of liberal elitism that Barack Obama continually displays]].

===Vacationing abuse on the taxpayers credit card===
While the average American suffers under Obamanomics of low wages, no job growth, higher energy costs and higher food prices, Michelle Obama is living the high life with White House parties and tens of millions of dollars worth of vacations.

Michelle Obama has taken 17 vacations since 2008 and plans to take her 18th vacation in [[Las Vegas]].<ref>[http://weaselzippers.us/2012/03/29/its-good-to-be-queen-mooch-heads-to-las-vegas-for-yet-another-vacation/ It’s Good To Be Queen: Mooch Heads To Las Vegas For Yet Another Vacation, WeaselZippers.us, March 29, 2012]</ref>

Other lavish vacations include:
*Honolulu, Hawaii
*Aspen, Colorado
*Martha's Vineyard
*Las Vegas
*Africa
*Spain
*Mexico
*Ireland
*China

==Fashion Disaster==

Michelle has been consistently ridiculed for her fashion choices. Since the age of television, the press has been keen to report on the First Lady's appearance by noting regal, stylish and elegant dresses she wears. The opposite can be said of Michelle. She makes headlines for sleeveless gowns, hideous color matching, $500 sneakers, always wearing torso belts, and exiting [[Air Force One]] in shorts and a T-shirt, among others. She gives the impression that she is trying to be a Diva, but in reality, she is far from being a trend-setter. In fact, reviews always return negative statements such as gaudy, tacky, and unbecoming of the role the First Lady inherits.<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/chi-0226-sleeveless-michelle-obafeb26,0,3657652.story Some harrumph over Michelle Obama's sleeveless dress, Chicago Tribune, February 26, 2009]</ref><ref>[http://www.thehotjoints.com/2009/06/16/fashion-designers-keep-pretending-michelle-obama-has-style/ Fashion Designers Keep Pretending Michelle Obama Has Style, thehotjoints.com, JUNE 16, 2009]</ref><ref>[http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/huggett/090611 Michelle Obama: First Lady of fashion victims, RenewAmerica.com, June 11, 2009]</ref><ref>[http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article6470675.ece Michelle Obama's Abbey outfit: stacked like a wedding cake – but nice colours, The Times, June 10, 2009]</ref>

It was noted in April 2011 that Michelle has already replaced her first two fashion stylists.<ref>[http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2011/04/michelle_obama_may_have_switch.html Michelle Obama May Have Switched Stylists Again, NYMag.com, April 13, 2011]</ref>

==First Grandmother==
Michelle's mother moved into the [[White House]] to help raise her grandchildren.

==Bringing the Olympics to Chicago==
The First Lady, along with [[Oprah Winfrey]], traveled to [[Copenhagen]] to support Barack Obama's pitch for the Olympics in Chicago. She claimed that the trip was a sacrifice to visit for a few days.<ref>[http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Michelle-Obama-Its-a-sacrifice-to-travel-to-Europe-to-pitch-for-the-Olympics--For-Oprah-and-the-president-too--But-were-doing-it-for-the-kids-62928957.html Michelle Obama: It's a 'sacrifice' to travel to Europe to pitch for the Olympics. But I'm doing it for the kids, Washington Examiner, September 30, 2009]</ref> She would give a speech to Olympic officials saying, "Some of my best memories are sitting on my dad's lap, cheering on Olga and Nadia, Carl Lewis and others for their brilliance and perfection." <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/02/michelle.obama.olympics/ Michelle Obama steals the show in Copenhagen, CNN, October 2, 2009]</ref> It was noted that either she was lying or that it was a strange occurrence for her to be sitting on her dad's lap, since she was 20 years old when Carl Lewis first competed in the Olympics.<ref>[http://michellemalkin.com/2009/10/02/quote-of-the-day-the-first-ladys-tall-olympic-tale/ tall tale of the day: The First Lady’s weird Olympic memory, Michelle Malkin, October 2, 2009]</ref>

==Healthy Eating Initiative==

''See also:'' [[Overweight Obama administration officials]]

Michelle made the liberal media news cycle by promoting healthy eating from the White House garden. The food network filmed “Iron Chef America" showcasing Michelle's healthy food, cooking five dishes using the secret ingredient: produce from the [[White House]] garden. The two-hour special showed the chefs picking sweet potatoes, broccoli, fennel and tomatillos from the White House garden. An issue came to light that the foods were actually prepared in [[New York City]], speculating that the entire show was just staged to look like produce from her garden.<ref>[http://michellemalkin.com/2010/01/14/everythings-staged-michelle-obamas-garden-food-was-fake/ Everything’s staged: Michelle Obama’s garden food was fake, Michelle Malkin, January 14, 2010]</ref> Also, her campaign against obesity has not stopped her and Barack from [http://conservapedia.com/Liberal_hypocrisy#The_Obamas_and_obesity taking their children out for ice cream while on vacation].

In Michelle Obama's first interview on the [[Fox News]] network, she would tout her responsible-eating initiative for kids. She would highlight the Obama Administration's $400 million Healthy Food Financing Initiative and her "Let's Move" campaign, which educates the danger of obese children and healthy eating.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61I5E820100219 U.S. launches program to end "food deserts", February 19, 2010]</ref> She would tie the promises of the program to saying it would create 5000 jobs and pointed out that childhood obesity is a threat to national security. She urges children and parents to just skip "food desserts".

She would promote healthy eating initiatives for schools. Barack sought and passed legislation costing more than $4 billion. It is a horrible example of nanny state politics with draconian requirements on what can or cannot be sold at school bake sales and at the school cafeteria.

Psychiatrist Keith Ablow called Michelle too fat to preach about nutrition, "And how well could she be eating? She needs to drop a few", and "We’re taking nutrition advice from who?" <ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2014/08/13/fox-news-doc-calls-michelle-obama-too-fat-to-preach-about-nutrition-video/#ixzz3AP4fs56N Below The Belt? Fox News Doc Calls Michelle Obama Too Fat To Preach About Nutrition [VIDEO], DailyCaller.com, August 13th]</ref>

===Healthy Eating Failure===

Michelle's proposals have destroyed the lunch program of this nation's schools. The children refuse to eat what was recommended. The children have stopped eating school lunch. Children go hungry due to the small size portions. School districts have suffered enormous financial losses.

In 2014, Republicans in Congress have decided to strip her signature program. She stated that was 'unacceptable'. What wasn't unacceptable was the lunch her kids are fed in a private school. The prestigious Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., serves the following to students,<ref>[http://www.ijreview.com/2014/05/141806-public-school-kids-eat-healthy-lunches-obama-girls-dine-lunches-designed-chefs/ While Public School Kids Eat ‘Healthy Lunches,’ Washington Elites Served Meatball Subs, Ice Cream, ijreview.com, may 27, 2014]</ref>

*BBQ wings
*Meatball subs
*Ice Cream
*Crusted tilapia
*Herb roasted chicken
*Pesto cream & garden-fresh marinara sauce
*Roasted edamame & Shitake mushrooms
*BBQ sliders
*Pesto pasta
*All-natural rosemary chicken
*All-natural beef nachos
*Baked three-cheese lasagna
*Pepperoni flatbread pizza

=== Michelle Obama Greeted an overweight U.S. Surgeon General for a MyPlate initiative ===

''See also:'' [[Overweight Obama administration officials]]

In June 2011, Michelle Obama greeted an overweight U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin as they introduce the MyPlate initiative.<ref>http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2011/06/06/food_guide_efforts_are_a_waste/</ref>

=== Barack and Michelle Obama and a burger joint ===

In August 2011, [[Barack Obama]] and his staff ate a high calorie meal at a burger joint. Obama said concerning his wife, "Michelle eats here all the time".<ref>http://www.theblaze.com/stories/obama-celebrates-debt-deal-with-1700-calorie-staff-lunch-at-burger-joint/</ref>

==First Lady's staff of 22==
American taxpayers are shelling out a staggering total of $1,591,200 annually for the First Lady’s 22 member personal staff.<ref>[http://www.westernjournalism.com/how-big-is-michelle-obamas-staffs-budget/?utm_source=Western+Journalism&utm_campaign=502f59131d-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email How Big Is Michelle Obama’s Staff’s Budget?, WesternJournalism.com, March 27, 2012]</ref>

*$172,200 - Sher, Susan (CHIEF OF STAFF)
*$140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
*$113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL SECRETARY)
*$102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
*Winter, Melissa E. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
*$90,000 - Medina, David S. (DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
*$84,000 - Lelyveld, Catherine M. (DIRECTOR AND PRESS SECRETARY TO THE FIRST LADY)
*$75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (DIRECTOR OF SCHEDULING AND ADVANCE FOR THE FIRST LADY)
*$70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
*$65,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY SOCIAL SECRETARY)
*Reinstein, Joseph B. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY SOCIAL SECRETARY)
*$62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SCHEDULING AND EVENTS COORDINATOR FOR THE FIRST LADY)
*$60,000 - Fitts, Alan O. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADVANCE AND TRIP DIRECTOR FOR THE FIRST LADY)
*Lewis, Dana M. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT AND PERSONAL AIDE TO THE FIRST LADY)
*$52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY TO THE FIRST LADY)
*$50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR SCHEDULING AND TRAVELING AIDE TO THE FIRST LADY)
*$45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE FIRST LADY)
*Tubman, Samantha (DEPUTY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR,SOCIAL OFFICE)
*$40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
*$36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (STAFF ASSISTANT TO THE SOCIAL SECRETARY)
*Bookey, Natalie (STAFF ASSISTANT)
*Jackson, Deilia A. (DEPUTY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE FIRST LADY) <ref>[http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/12652 First Lady requires more than twenty attendants] Canadian Free Press, July 7, 2009</ref>

===Staff Turnover Rate===
In just under three years, she has gone through three chiefs of staff, three secretaries, two communication directors and a press secretary.<ref>[http://www.theblaze.com/stories/expert-blames-michelle-os-staff-turnover-on-race/ EXPERT BLAMES MICHELLE O’S STAFF TURNOVER ON….RACE?, THEBLAZE, May 27, 2011]</ref>

== External links ==

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1k3lmCE3HI America is Hell, compilation of Michelle Obama speeches]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kiGjE4_k0jI Michelle's Last Four Years - Lest We Forget]
*[http://www.life-in-spite-of-ms.com/fraserrobinson.html Fraser Robinson III ~ Michelle Obama's Father]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obama, Michelle}}
[[Category:Women]]
[[Category:Obama Administration]]
[[Category:First Ladies]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:Anti Second Amendment]]

Theodore Roosevelt

2017-01-02T19:06:10Z

DerekE: /* Direct Election of Senators */ what the 17th amendment represented

{{Officeholder
|name=Theodore Roosevelt
|image=Theodore Roosevelt by John Singer Sargent 1903.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Alice Hathaway Lee Edith Kermit Carow
|religion=Dutch [[Reformed]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/president
|country=the United States
|number=26th
|terms=September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909<ref>http://home.comcast.net/~sharonday7/Presidents/AP060301.htm</ref>
|vp=[[Charles W. Fairbanks]] (1901-1905)
|preceded=[[William McKinley]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[William Howard Taft]]
}}
{{Officeholder/vice president
|country=the United States
|number=25th
|terms=March 4, 1901 – March 4, 1801
|president=[[William McKinley]]
|preceded=[[Garret Hobart]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Charles W. Fairbanks]]
}}
{{Officeholder/governor
|number=33rd
|state=New York
|terms=January 1, 1899 – December 31, 1900
|lieutenant=Timothy Lester Woodruff
|preceded=[[Frank Swett Black]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Benjamin Barker Odell, Jr.]]
}}
{{Officeholder/secretary (cabinet)
|of=the Navy
|deputy=y
|president=[[William McKinley, Jr.]]
|terms=April 19, 1897 – May 10, 1898
|preceded=William McAdoo
|former=y
|succeeded=Charles Herbert Allen
}}
}}
'''Theodore Roosevelt''' was the 26th [[president of the United States of America]], 1901-1909, leader of the [[Republican party]] and (in 1912-16) the Progressive Party. Roosevelt is best known for his remarkable personality and commitment to democratic process. He was strongly committed to law and order, active leadership, civic duty and individual self-responsibility; he was more concerned with the process of change than its direction.

A strong and vigorous man both personally and in politics, it was through Roosevelt that the world identified America with cowboy values of courage, initiative and hardiness while it watched Roosevelt expand American influence in world affairs.

Roosevelt enlarged the presidency because he made it a "bully pulpit" for national uplift and inspiration. He preached as much as he politicked. He felt responsible for the well-being and morals of the whole country. He set an example of how a large, strenuous life could be led, and he invited others to renew their energies and apply them to public causes. He strongly endorsed motherhood and criticized women who had careers while neglecting motherhood.<ref>See "Theodore Roosevelt on Motherhood and the Welfare of the State," ''Population and Development Review,'' Vol. 13, No. 1 (Mar., 1987), pp. 141-147 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1972126 online]</ref>

In the contest between [[Conservation and environmentalism]], Roosevelt supported the conservation and optimum use of natural resources and opposed the environmentalists of the day, such as [[John Muir]].

==Family==
The Roosevelts could trace their family to Claes Martenssen van Rosenvelt, an immigrant from Zealand, Holland ([[Netherlands]]) who came to America in 1649, settling in New Amsterdam ([[New York City]]). Theodore was born on October 27, 1858, the second child of a very successful New York businessman, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., and his wife Martha Bulloch, a Southern belle from Georgia. His early childhood was marked by frequent illness and asthma, of which his father spent many an evening bundling up "Tedie" - as young Theodore was often called - and taking him out for carriage rides in the fresh air. By age 10 his father would have enough of the possibility of his son growing into an unhealthy weakling and forced on him a regimen of weights and daily physical exercise.
[[Image:Schoolpic.jpg|thumb|100px|left|Young Theodore Roosevelt]]
===Education===
Roosevelt was home schooled by tutors and his parents. He was solid in geography (thanks to his careful observations on all his travels) and very well read in history, strong in biology, French and German, but deficient in mathematics, Latin and Greek. He became one of the outstanding naturalists of the era, specializing in very careful study of birds.<ref>Brands (2001) p. 49–50</ref> He attended [[Harvard]] College, graduating in 1880 "magna cum laude". He lived very well—his annual $4000 allowance was higher than the president of the college—the days of equalitarian houses were decades in the future. His father's sudden death in 1878 was a stunning blow; Roosevelt redoubled his efforts.<ref>His inheritance was worth $8000 a year, about triple what the average doctor or lawyer earned.</ref> In academics he did well in science, philosophy and rhetoric courses, as well as German; but fared poorly in Latin and Greek. Harvard did not have majors, but he took all the advanced biology he could. Classmates considered him an odd bird—he kept snakes in his room and knew all about them. He also dressed in the latest fashions and kept his own horse and buggy. A crack shot, he brought his friends along on hunting parties to the north woods. The perfect gentleman, he was invited into the best clubs.

Roosevelt had amazing powers of concentration. He had a photographic memory and developed a lifelong habit of devouring books, memorizing every detail. He was an unusually eloquent conversationalist who, throughout his life, sought out the company of the smartest men and women. He could multitask in extraordinary fashion, dictating letters to one secretary and memoranda to another, while browsing through a new book. During his adulthood, a visitor would get a not-so-subtle hint that Roosevelt was losing interest in the conversation when he would pick up a book and begin looking at it now and then as the conversation continued.
[[Image:Alice Lee.gif|thumb|right|Mrs. Alice Roosevelt]]
===First marriage===

Roosevelt married Alice Lee of Boston in 1880. on February 14, 1884, Roosevelt's young wife died after giving birth to the couple's first child. Only a few hours earlier, his mother, Martha Bulloch Roosevelt had died in the same house. After the double funeral and the christening of his new baby daughter, Alice, on February 17, 1884, the bereaved husband wrote:''
:''For joy or for sorrow my life has now been lived out.''

He never again ever mentioned Alice Lee.

==Early career==
Given a chance to run for the state legislature in a "silk stocking" (rich) district in Manhattan, he astonished his upscale friends by dropping out of Columbia Law School and was elected. His goal, he explained, was to join the "ruling class" not merely watch it passively.

Young Roosevelt was a Republican reformer in the legislature, writing more bills than anyone. Already a major player in state politics, he attended the Republican National Convention in 1884 and fought alongside the [[Mugwump]] reformers; they lost to the Stalwart faction that nominated [[James G. Blaine]]. Refusing to join other Mugwumps in supporting Democrat [[Grover Cleveland]], the Democratic nominee, he stayed loyal to the GOP.<ref>Edward Kohn, "Crossing the Rubicon: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and the 1884 Republican National Convention." ''Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era'' 2006 5(1): 18-45. Issn: 1537-7814</ref>

Roosevelt held many offices. He was on the federal Civil Service Commission, then headed the New York City Police Department. After campaigning vigorously for [[William McKinley]] in the momentous 1896 presidential election, he became Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the #2 position. He loved ships and had written solid naval history; his goal was to modernize the Navy, bringing it up to world class standards.

==War with Spain, 1898, and Medal of Honor==
When the battleship ''Maine'' was blown up in Manila harbor on February 15, 1898, Roosevelt, immediately resigned as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and worked with Colonel [[Leonard Wood]] to recruit a volunteer cavalry regiment composed of his Ivy League friends and western cowboys for the [[Spanish-American War|coming war against Spain]]. Hundreds answered his invitation to join in this grand endeavor and, after brief training, the "Rough Riders" arrived in Cuba. On July 1, 1898, Roosevelt seized the initiative and led his men on the celebrated charge of San Juan Hill where 89 of the 490 who followed were killed. Nevertheless, the press and Roosevelt made this the most important battle of the campaign. The "splendid little war" (as termed by John Hay, State Ambassador to England<ref>Frank Freidel, ''The Splendid Little War'', (Boston: Little, Brown and Co. 1958)</ref>) was soon over and Roosevelt returned to a hero's welcome in New York City.

After the battles in Cuba, malaria, yellow fever and typhoid became an issue for the troops. Roosevelt, not constrained by a military career, complained to both the White House and the press about the need for the troops to return home for better care. This, coupled with a bias against volunteers, is most likely the reason that when Roosevelt was nominated for the Congressional [[Medal of Honor]] for his bravery during the battle at San Juan Hill, the nomination was not approved.<ref name="medal">[http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/medalofhonor.htm Roosevelt Medal of Honor]</ref>

President [[Bill Clinton]] posthumously bestowed the Medal of Honor to Roosevelt on January 16, 2001, saying,
<blockquote>
...TR was a larger-than-life figure who gave our nation a larger-than-life vision of our place in the world. Part of that vision was formed on San Juan Hill. His Rough Riders were made up of all kinds of Americans from all walks of life. They were considered unpolished and undisciplined, but they were true citizen soldiers. By taking San Juan Hill, eventually they forced the enemy fleet into the Battle of Santiago Bay, where it was routed. This led to the Spanish surrender and opened the era of America as a global power.<ref name="medal"/>
</blockquote>

Roosevelt and his eldest son, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., are one of only two father/son pairs to earn the Medal of Honor. Roosevelt Jr. posthumously received his for actions on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day during [[World War II]]. Roosevelt is the first and only president to receive the Medal of Honor.

==Governor of New York==
A few weeks after his return Roosevelt was elected governor of New York as a Republican in 1898. As governor of New York, Theodore Roosevelt promoted greater accountability and efficiency in government by ending patronage handouts, supporting an effective civil service system and forcing the Republican machine to hold fair elections.

==Vice president, 1900==
Senator Tom Platt and other party bosses distrusted him, and they forced his nomination as vice president on [[William McKinley]] in 1900. Roosevelt demonstrated his amazing energy by his campaign work. Nationally, Roosevelt covered 21,209 miles by train. In Nebraska alone, some 300,000 men, women and children turned out for his 673 speeches at 40 cities and towns as he covered 1,500 miles in the state. His arguments for McKinley prosperity and America's role in the Philippines were accepted wholeheartedly or dismissed scornfully by his audiences. The GOP ticket carried Nebraska, the home state of Democratic nominee [[William Jennings Bryan]], by 7,000 votes.

Once in office, He had little to do.

==President==
[[Image:Tr2006.jpg|thumb|290px|''Time'' July 3, 2006]]
In 1901, President McKinley was fatally shot by [[Leon Czolgosz]], an [[anarchist]]. Roosevelt automatically became President. He was reelected in [[United States presidential election, 1904|1904]] against a challenge by the Democratic candidate Alton B. Parker.

Roosevelt redefined the modern presidency by drawing attention to the office through his dynamic personality, thus creating a 'public obsession' over his executive actions and attracting a permanent public eye toward the presidency that endowed it with new power.

===Domestic policy===
Roosevelt was the chief leader of the [[Progressive Era|Progressive movement in politics]]—which in 21st century terms includes both liberal and conservative values. He tried to move the dominant Republican Party into the Progressive camp. He distrusted wealthy businessmen and dissolved 40 monopolistic corporations as a "trust buster". He did not disagree with trusts and capitalism in principle but was only against their corrupt, illegal practices. His "[[Square Deal]]" promised a fair shake for both the average citizen, including regulation of railroad rates and pure foods and drugs and the businessmen. As an outdoorsman, he promoted the conservation movement, emphasizing efficient use of natural resources.

In his last two years in office (1907-1908), Roosevelt moved left, attacking big business and suggesting the courts were biased against labor unions.
====Pure food and drugs====
{{main|Pure Food and Drug Act|Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906}}

Widespread outrage followed publication in 1906 of [[Upton Sinclair]]'s novel, ''The Jungle,'' which detailed the horrible conditions in Chicago’s packinghouses. Roosevelt sent Labor Commissioner Charles P. Neill and social worker James Bronson Reynolds<ref>[http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1906/06/05/page/4/article/conditions-in-stockyards-described-in-the-neill-reynolds-report Conditions in Stockyards Described in the Neill-Reynolds Report], [[Chicago Tribune]]</ref> to investigate the meat-packing industry in Chicago. Their report to the president was 'revolting,' but since Roosevelt feared the impact on ranchers and European meat importers, he withheld the Neill-Reynolds report from publication. Sinclair was so upset that he provided specific information to newspapers. Roosevelt then had the commissioners put their report in writing and sent it to Congress. This led to a hearing before Congress; witnesses were asked about seeing a dead hog slide partway into a men's privy. Although Sinclair was a Socialist and his main interest was in the stockyard workers, not consumers, the turmoil over tainted meat helped move Congress to enact the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. The act itself had been drawn up by experts in the Department of Agriculture and remains in effect in the 21st century.<ref>James Harvey Young, "The Pig That Fell into the Privy: Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' and the Meat Inspection Amendments of 1906." ''Bulletin of the History of Medicine'' 1985 59(4): 467-480</ref>

====Coal strike====
The [[Coal strike of 1902]] was a strike by the [[United Mine Workers of America]] in the anthracite coal fields of eastern Pennsylvania. The strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to all major cities.<ref>Most homes and apartments were heated with anthracite or "hard" coal because it had higher heat value and less smoke than "soft" or bituminous coal.</ref> Roosevelt jumped in and personally negotiated with the mine leaders and financiers. Acting as a neutral party, he set up a fact-finding commission that suspended the strike. The strike never resumed, as the miners received more pay for fewer hours; the owners got a higher price for coal but did not recognize the union as a bargaining agent. It was the first labor episode in which the federal government intervened as a neutral arbitrator and it made Roosevelt's reputation as a peacemaker.
[[Image:Coal-TR.JPG|thumb|300px|left|Roosevelt teaches the childish coal barons a lesson; 1902 editorial cartoon]]
====Railroad regulation====
{{main|Elkins Act|Hepburn Act}}

Roosevelt worked closely with Congress to pass important laws such as the 1903 Elkins Act and the 1906 Hepburn Act, that regulated railroad rates for the benefit of shippers and consumers. Ultimately, these bills injured the railroads (which were assumed to be so rich that they could always pay). The new laws retarded the growth of the South, which the railroads could no longer afford to subsidize.<ref>Albro Martin, "The Troubled Subject of Railroad Regulation in the Gilded Age - a Reappraisal." ''Journal of American History'' 1974 61(2): 339-371 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1903953 in JSTOR]</ref>

====Antitrust====
Roosevelt expressed an antitrust image within a pro business framework. Critics who have measured Roosevelt's success by the number of antitrust suits he brought or won miss the essentially rhetorical purposes of his involvement with corporate America. His primary emphasis involved the promotion of the proper attitude in corporate leaders and the general public regarding the role of big business in American society. This Roosevelt did in two ways. First, he argued metaphorically for the necessity of corporations and the restraint of muckraking journalists. Second, along with employing metaphors to chastise big business, Roosevelt assumed the role of moral guardian and preached to corporate leaders to adhere to an ethical standard in business. For Roosevelt, corporate America could be effectively regulated only by its leaders' sense of morality and spirit of public service.<ref>Dorsey, Leroy G., "Theodore Roosevelt and Corporate America, 1901-1909: a Reexamination," ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 1995 25(4): 725-739</ref>
====Executive Orders====
Roosevelt was the first President to issue over 1000 [[Executive Order]]s. According to Dr. Graham G. Dodds, a professor of political science at Concordia University,<ref>[https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/polisci/faculty.html?fpid=graham-dodds Graham Dodds, PhD]</ref> Roosevelt issued almost as many executive orders as all of his predecessors combined.<ref>{{cite book|title=Executing the Constitution: Putting the President Back Into the Constitution|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qgzmexCI734C&pg=PA53 |year=2006|publisher=State University of New York Press|pages=53|isbn=9780791481905}}</ref>

Prior to Roosevelt, only one President issued over 200 executive orders, [[Grover Cleveland]].(Cleveland issued a total of 253)<ref name=executiveorders>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/orders.php Executive Orders: Washington - Obama]</ref> Of the first 25 Presidents in total, 1262 executive orders were issued. Roosevelt issued 1081.<ref name=executiveorders />

Members of congress eventually got tired of Roosevelt's excesses in using executive orders to create policy. On February 25th, 1907, Senator Charles W. Fulton, a Republican from Oregon, added an amendment to the 1907 Agricultural Appropriations Bill<ref>[http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_007136.pdf Siuslaw National Forest], '''PDF'''</ref> declaring these activities as falling under the authority of congressional power, not executive power. Congressional leaders concluded that the president was out of control.<ref>{{cite book|title=Theodore Roosevelt: Preacher of Righteousness|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UiYRkL4GqP4C&pg=PA178 |year=2008|publisher=Yale University Press|pages=178|isbn=9780300145144}}</ref>

===Moving left===
[[File:TR-Farewell.jpg|thumb|320px|Roosevelt moves left in his 1908 Farewell Address]]
Roosevelt moved left in 1907-08, criticizing the courts, promoting labor unions and attacking big business. The Republican leadership in Congress ignored his radical proposals and waited for his successor-Taft-to take over the White House.
====View of the Constitution====
Roosevelt's administration marked the shift to a more activist conception of the presidency, in peace as well as war,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pyle|first1=Christopher H.|last2=Pious|first2=Richard M.|title=The President, Congress, and the Constitution: Power and Legitimacy in American Politics|date=1984|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-0029253809|pages=68–69}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/policy-report/2002/11/chapman.pdf |title=TR: No Friend of the Constitution |work=Cato Institute |date=November/December 2002 }}</ref> and was both internationalist and aggressive in asserting Presidential power.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dumbrell|first1=John|last2=Barrett|first2=David M.|title=The Making of US Foreign Policy|date=1997|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=978-0719048227|pages=56–57}}</ref> He would write in his Autobiography:
<blockquote>I declined to adopt the view that what was imperatively necessary for the Nation could not be done by the President unless he could find some specific authorization to do it. My belief was that it was not only his right but his duty to do anything that the needs of the Nation demanded unless such action was forbidden by the Constitution or by the laws. Under this interpretation of executive power I did and caused to be done many things not previously done by the President and the heads of the departments. I did not usurp power, but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power. In other words, I acted for the public welfare, I acted for the common well-being of all our people, whenever and in whatever manner was necessary, unless prevented by direct constitutional or legislative prohibition.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Roosevelt|first1=Theodore|title=Theodore Roosevelt, an Autobiography|date=1913|publisher=Charles Scribner's sons|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Io4fAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA357|pages=}}</ref></blockquote>
This view came to be known as the [[Stewardship Theory]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dodds|first1=Graham G.|title=Take Up Your Pen: Unilateral Presidential Directives in American Politics|date=May 2, 2013|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|isbn=978-0-8122-4511-0|pages=31–33}}</ref> by [[William Howard Taft]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Taft|first1=William H.|title=Our chief magistrate and his powers|date=1916|publisher=Columbia University Press|url=https://archive.org/details/ourchiefmagistra00taftuoft|pages=139–140}}</ref>

===Foreign Policy===
Roosevelt's administration was marked by an active approach to foreign policy. He followed four basic principles:
#promoting broadly defined American interests worldwide
#building American military and naval power and control over strategic points (especially the Panama canal and its approaches)
#cooperation with the British
#there was a social contract between the nation's citizens and its government, such that civilized nations had a right of intervention in cases in which such a contract had been broken. His foreign policy was well suited for the challenges of the world; he anticipated later attitudes and developments well into the 20th century and even the 21st century, as exemplified by [[John McCain]] in 2008.<ref>M. Patrick Cullinane, "Invoking Teddy: the Inspiration of John Mccain's Foreign Policy." ''Diplomacy & Statecraft'' 2008 19(4): 767-786</ref> He combined a credible realist and internationalist approach with great attention to detail and full appreciation of the importance of diplomatic finesse.

====Civilization and modernization====
Roosevelt saw it as the duty of more developed ("civilized") nations to help the underdeveloped ("uncivilized") world move forward. In [[Cuba]], the [[Philippines]], [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[Panama Canal Zone]], he used the Army's medical service, under [[Walter Reed]] and [[William C. Gorgas]], to eliminate the [[yellow fever]] menace and install a new regime of public health. He used the army to build up the infrastructure of the new possessions, building railways, telegraph and telephone lines, and upgrading roads and port facilities.
====Army and Navy====
Roosevelt and his Secretary of War [[Elihu Root]] modernized the Army by creating a general staff system and structuring the military away from small frontier forts to modern combat roles.

[[File:Tr-militarist-1904World.jpg|thumb|350px| The ''New York World'' newspaper, mouthpiece of liberal Democrats, blasts Roosevelt as a dangerous militaristic dictator in 1904]]

Roosevelt, convinced that American military preparedness hinged on the nation's ability to develop and exploit new technologies, worked to make the technology of the army and navy as modern as possible. Among other things, he took an active interest in the army's consideration of the role of the machine gun and the airplane and in the navy's development of both the submarine and a new and more powerful type of battleship.<ref>Matthew M. Oyos, "Theodore Roosevelt and the Implements of War." ''Journal of Military History'' 1996 60(4): 631-655 25p</ref>

By identifying and working with two talented junior officers in the Navy Department, Albert Lenoir Key and [[William S. Sims]], Roosevelt assembled an ad hoc staff on naval policy. This staff funneled technical information to Roosevelt that allowed him to dominate policy discussions with Congress and the senior Navy staff. The president annoyed his admirals by micromanaging their responsibilities and ignoring the chain of command.<ref>Peri E. Arnold, "Policy Leadership in the Progressive Presidency: the Case of Theodore Roosevelt's Naval Policy and His Search for Strategic Resources". ''Studies in American Political Development'' 1996 10(2): 333-359</ref>

Roosevelt dramatically increased the size of the navy, forming the new warships into a "Great White Fleet" for display purposes and sending it on a world tour in 1907. This display was designed as a show of force to impress the Japanese and even more to motivate Americans to support naval power and be aware of the new role in the Pacific. Yet, the ships were almost forced to return because of the inadequacy of American ports in the Pacific.<ref>James R. Reckner, "The Rebirth of the Fleet." ''Naval History'' 2007 21(6): 16-25 online at [[EBSCO]]; Edward S Miller,''War Plan Orange'' (1991)</ref>

====Britain====
Typical of his eagerness for closer cooperation with London was Washington's support for Britain in the [[Boer War]], despite public opinion that favored the underdog Boers. the British reciprocated, so that in settling the boundary dispute between Canada (controlled by Britain) and Alaska, the British sold out the Canadians to gain American favor—a stunning shock to the Canadians.
====Mediator====
Balance of power considerations shaped Roosevelt's role as the successful mediator who ended the 1904-05 war between Russia and Japan. Japan had clearly won, but was not allowed to grab too much, thus allowing Russia to keep a certain power base in the region. Roosevelt justified his actions as consistent with American interests and American values. Moral principles in politics and diplomacy, Roosevelt claimed, help make clear the inescapable tension between ideals and reality. The moral problem persists, he thought, because diplomacy involves choices often obscured by faulty perception, controlled by national interests and complicated by multiple purposes and goals.<ref>Greg Russell, "Theodore Roosevelt's Diplomacy and the Quest for Great Power Equilibrium in Asia." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 2008 38(3): 433-455</ref>

At the time Japan was consolidating its colonial rule over Korea. Roosevelt supported Japan because he viewed Korea as an backward nation fit to be a protectorate of Japan, which he hoped would protect American economic interests in Manchuria, where Japan was largely in control.<ref>Ki-jung Kim, "Theodore Roosevelt's Image of the World and United States Foreign Policy Toward Korea, 1901-1905." ''Korea Journal'' 1995 35(4): 39-53 1</ref>

====Roosevelt Corollary ====
The '''Roosevelt Corollary''' to the [[Monroe Doctrine]] was a substantial expansion in 1904. Roosevelt asserted the right of the United States to intervene to stabilize the economic affairs of small nations in the Caribbean and Central America if they were unable to pay their international debts and were at risk of intervention by European powers. The new policy primarily prevented intervention by Britain and Germany, which loaned money to the countries that did not repay. The catalyst of the new policy was Germany's aggressiveness in the Venezuela affair of 1902-03. The intervention took the form of takeover of the customs collection and disbursement of the funds to the debtors and claimants. The policy was unpopular abroad.<ref>Serge Ricard, "The Roosevelt Corollary." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 2006 36(1): 17-26. Issn: 0360-4918, online</ref>

Mitchener and Weidenmier (2006) show the economic benefits to the small countries. The average debt price for countries under the US "sphere of influence" rose by 74% in response to the pronouncement and actions to make it credible. That is, their bonds rose 74% because buyers now believed they would be repaid. The increase in financial stability reduced internal conflict because political factions could not count on winning control of the national treasury if they won a civil war. The program spurred export growth and better fiscal management, but debt settlements were driven primarily by gunboat diplomacy.<ref>Kris James Mitchener and Marc Weidenmier, "Empire, Public Goods, and the Roosevelt Corollary." ''Journal of Economic History'' 2005 65(3): 658-692. Issn: 0022-0507; online</ref>

<blockquote>
''“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”'' The phrase was initially used by Roosevelt to explain his relations with domestic political leaders; later the phrase was associated with him and came to refer particularly to his foreign policy with Latin America.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/65006/Big-Stick-Policy Big Stick Policy.]</ref>
</blockquote>

====Panama Canal====
[[Image:Panam2.JPG|thumb|350px|Roosevelt builds the canal—and shovels dirt on Bogota, the capital of Colombia]]
Roosevelt felt that the Panama Canal was his most important and historically significant international achievement.

Inspired by [[Alfred Thayer Mahan]]'s extraordinarily influential book ''The Influence of Sea Power upon History'' (1890), Roosevelt believed that American security and geopolitical power could be secured only through naval supremacy. This was particularly important in the Caribbean because of its proximity to the United States, European interest in the area and its status as a critical juncture of trade routes. Roosevelt was able to maintain US dominance of the Caribbean without resorting to major military action.<ref>James R. Holmes, "Roosevelt's Pursuit of a Temperate Caribbean Policy." ''Naval History'' 2006 20(4): 48-53 in [[EBSCO]]</ref>

In particular, Roosevelt understood the strategic significance of the [[Panama Canal]], which opened up the Pacific Coast and Asia to cheap shipping and made it possible for the Navy to move rapidly between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

A central issue was which route the canal would take; across Nicaragua and Costa Rica or through the Panama region of Columbia. Intense lobbying resulted in the Congressional decision to follow the Panama route. However, the Colombian Senate rejected the terms of the American Hay-Herran Treaty (1903) and tried to extort more money from the Americans. Roosevelt rejected Colombia's devious strategy and blocked Colombia from suppressing an insurrection in Panama against Colombia. With the success of the revolution, the United States initiated a treaty with the now independent Panama and began construction of the canal, which was completed in 1914.<ref>David McCullough, ''The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914'' (1978) [http://www.amazon.com/Path-Between-Seas-Creation-1870-1914/dp/0671244094/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250828638&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]</ref>

==Break with Taft==
When Roosevelt's term was up he decided not to run again but chose Secretary of War [[William Howard Taft]] as his successor.

Long-term disputes inside the GOP, especially regarding tariffs, and the tension between Eastern industry and Midwest agriculture, pulled the party apart. Whle Roosevelt was in Africa and Europe, his friends grew alarmed that Taft was betraying the progressive cause by collaborating with reactionaries in the GOP. Roosevelt finally broke with Taft in 1910 but was outmaneuvered by Taft, who won the GOP nomination in 1912. Roosevelt walked out of the convention and the party, running as an independent on his own "Progressive" ticket, nicknamed the "Bull Moose Party". Roosevelt was shot before giving in a speech in Milwaukee. The bullet lodged in a copy of the speech stuffed into his breast pocket, saving his life. He gave the speech anyway that day, beginning the speech with the famous line, "I don't know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose."

[[Dale Carnegie]] wrote, "{{tr-taft}}".

Both he and Taft lost to Democrat [[Woodrow Wilson]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1912|election of 1912]]. The Taft conservatives, however, kept control of the GOP.

==Exploration==

After leaving office, Roosevelt took a trip along the [[Amazon River]] and wrote a book about his experience, ''Through the Brazilian Wilderness''. While in [[South America]], Roosevelt contracted [[malaria]] and nearly died. At one point, he requested that his expedition leave him behind. His son, Kermit, helped nurse him back to health, and Theodore credited Kermit with saving his life.

==Conservation==
More than any president before or since, Roosevelt insisted that conservation of natural resources be high on the agenda. As a world-class hunter and explorer, he mobilized support among American hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen. He promoted both the national park system and the national forest system.

[[File:TR-Conservation.jpg|thumb|320px|Roosevelt was a leader in Conservation, fighting to end the waste of natural resources]]

In the early 20th century there were three main positions. The laissez-faire position held that owners of private property—including lumber and mining companies, should be allowed to do anything they wished for their property. The conservationists, led by Roosevelt and his ally [[Gifford Pinchot]], said that was too wasteful and inefficient. In any case, they noted, most of the natural resources in the western states were already owned by the federal government. The best course of action, they argued, was a long-term plan devised by national experts to maximize the long-term economic benefits of natural resources. The third position, led by the Sierra Club, held that nature was almost sacred, and that man was an intruder. It allowed for limited tourism (such as hiking), but opposed automobiles in national parks. It strenuously opposed timber cutting on most public lands and vehemently denounced the dams that Roosevelt supported for water supplies, electricity and flood control. Especially controversial was the Hetch Hetchy Dam in Yosemite National Park, which was built after Roosevelt had left politics. The dam still stands despite efforts by members of the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations as well as the Sierra Club to demolish the dam. Nancy Pelosi and the California Democratic Party have been staunch critics of these proposals, as the reservoir is used for a back up water supply for Pelosi's district (Don Pedro Reservoir is the main source).

==Race and Ethnicity==
Roosevelt was keenly sensitive to the issues surrounding race and ethnicity, particularly the heated debated on immigration restriction. He considered himself Dutch, not Anglo-Saxon . He welcomed the vitality of new immigration, while holding that America's first responsibility was to its literate, native-born, working poor. In balancing these competitive goals, the president backed legislation that limited the immigration of poverty- and disease-stricken people regardless of ethnicity. He blocked harsh anti-Japanese efforts in California, but negotiated an informal agreement whereby Japan would no longer send immigrants. During World War I he attacked certain "[[hyphenated American]]s," especially German-Americans and Irish-Americans, saying they put loyalties to their homeland above American interests.<ref>The German-Americans did not support Germany, but did want the U.S. to remain neutral. The Irish Catholics were so hostile to Britain that they did not want the U.S. to support it.</ref>
===Historian of the frontier===
In ''The Winning of the West,'' a four-volume history of westward expansion, Roosevelt developed the thesis that the western experience shaped and created a new ethnic group or people (what he called a "race"), the true American people. His ideas helped shape the popular culture, especially since his own cowboy persona exemplified all the strengths of the new people. Meanwhile, Professor [[Frederick Jackson Turner]] developed his famous [[Frontier Thesis]], based in part on Roosevelt’s ideas. Turner’s views came to dominate professional historiography and shaped the teaching of history for a century–and is still influential in the 21st century. Roosevelt and Turner shared the view that the frontier was the most significant force in America's cultural and political development, but Turner stressed the complex social and political processes simulated by the frontier, while Roosevelt emphasized that national growth and progress came from the West. Turner envisioned political problems that could befall America if cheap land resources were exhausted. Roosevelt saw a new, highly capable cohort of ruling elites growing out of the conquest of the frontier and leading America to new frontiers.<ref>Richard Slotkin, "Theodore Roosevelt's Frontier Hypothesis," ''European Contributions to American Studies'' 1989 16: 44-71</ref>

==Patriotism==
Roosevelt once declared:<ref>Theodore Roosevelt, "The Children of the Crucible," 14 Annals of America 1916-1928, 129, at 130 (1968).</ref>

:''We must have but one flag. We must also have but one language. That must be the language of the Declaration of Independence, of Washington’s Farewell address, of Lincoln’s Gettysburg speech and second inaugural. We cannot tolerate any attempt to oppose or supplant the language and culture that has come down to us from the builders of this Republic.''

In the last year of his life Roosevelt was quoted in the [[Kansas City Star]] newspaper about the need for truth in regards to the presidency:

:''The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.''

==Turn to the left==
[[Image:Youre No George Washington Mr Roosevelt.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A cartoon satirizes Theodore Roosevelt reversing his promise not to seek a third time in office.]]
About 1907, Roosevelt turned more to the left in domestic policy, and in his 1912 campaign he called for movement toward what would later be called a "welfare state." His move to the left annoyed conservatives and fueled the split in the GOP that exploded in 1912, with Roosevelt on the losing side. His "'''New Nationalism'''" and his chivalry predisposed him toward an enlarged protective state, along with his admiration for what the British were doing at the time.<ref>[[David Lloyd George]] and [[Winston Churchill]], key leaders of the British [[Liberal Party]], started the welfare state in Britain, 1908-11, with unemployment insurance and old age pensions; American conservatives accepted these policies by the 1950s..</ref> Roosevelt preached the manly protection of the family and a state led by manly men who insisted on protecting all women and children. He believed that "the ruin of motherhood and childhood by the merciless exploitation of the labor of women and children is a crime of capital importance." His solution was to support labor's right to bargain collectively and to denounce employers who mistreated women and child workers.<ref>Kathleen Dalton, ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life'' (2004)</ref>

===Direct Election of Senators===
The direct election of senators (which later became the [[17th amendment]]) was an important initiative for progressives of the era, representing a major shift in policy from the [[Founding Fathers]] [[Constitutional Republic]] to a form of direct [[Democracy]], with Roosevelt being among the supporters of the idea. He spoke frequently<ref>{{cite book |first1=Theodore |last1=Roosevelt |title=Who is a Progressive? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BIwxAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA809 |pages=8–9, 15 |date=April 3, 1912 }}</ref> on the campaign trail<ref>{{cite book |first1=Theodore |last1=Roosevelt |title=A Charter of Democracy: Address by Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, Ex-president of the United States, Before the Ohio Constitutional Convention on February 21, 1912 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qb4ZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA9 |year=1912 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |pages=9 }}</ref> about the issue, and it is included in the platform of the [[Bull Moose Party]].<ref>{{cite book |first1=Theodore |last1=Roosevelt |title=Progressive Principles: Selections from Addresses Made During the Presidential Campaign of 1912 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qLYJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA315 |year=1913 |publisher=Progressive national service |pages=315 }}</ref>

==Conservative or liberal?==
Metaphorically, there were 15 different Roosevelts; conservatives admire 10 of them, liberals admire 10, with some overlap. Conservatives are more apt to admire his patriotism, masculinity and military achievements, his stress on national greatness, his buildup of the nation's military forces, his resolution of the [[Coal strike of 1902|1902 Coal Strike]] without forcing business to recognize the unions, his attacks on hyphenated Americans (people with divided loyalty in wartime), and his bold histories of the frontier. Liberals are more likely to admire his trust-busting and hostility to big business, his promotion of liberal programs in 1907-8 and 1912, and his break with the GOP in 1912 when he denounced it as too conservative. [[Ronald Reagan]] noted in 1972, "I admire 'Teddy' greatly and quote him often."<ref>Text in Ronald Reagan [http://books.google.com/books?id=ZrRc_ABenS8C&pg=PP1&dq=inauthor:ronald+inauthor:reagan&lr=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES#PPA266,M1 ''Reagan: A Life in Letters'' (2004) p 266]</ref>

Conservation was always high on Roosevelt's agenda. His optimal use policy has largely been adopted by conservatives and businessmen, while the Sierra Club and related groups reject Roosevelt's policies.

Everyone admires his amazingly dynamic style and willingness to confront the issues of the day by bringing everyone to the negotiating table, his settlement of the war between Japan and Russia (which led to Roosevelt's winning the Nobel peace prize), and his building of the Panama Canal (though liberals complain he was too rough with Colombia).

== Sidelights ==
===Life in the White House===
Roosevelt relished the presidency and seemed to be everywhere at once. He took Cabinet members and friends on long, fast-paced hikes, boxed in the state rooms of the White House, romped with his children and read voraciously. In 1904, he was permanently blinded in his left eye during one of his boxing bouts, but this injury was kept from the public at the time.<ref>Brands, (1997) 565</ref> His many enthusiastic interests and limitless energy led one ambassador to wryly explain, "You must always remember that the President is about six."<ref>Cecil Spring Rice, ''The Letters and Friendships of Sir Cecil Spring-Rice,'' (1929) p 437</ref>

Roosevelt's oldest daughter, Alice Roosevelt, was a controversial character with a tart tongue and a spirit of adventure. When friends asked if he could rein in his elder daughter, Roosevelt said, "I can be President of the United States, or I can attend to Alice." In turn, Alice said of him that he always wanted to be "the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral."<ref>Carol Felsenthal, ''Princess Alice: The Life and Times of Alice Roosevelt Longsworth'' (1988) pp. 60, 105</ref>

Roosevelt rebuilt the White House building, adding a new West Wing to free up the second floor rooms in the residence that formerly housed the president's staff. To this day, "west Wing" signifies the presidential staff. He and Edith also had the entire house renovated and restored to the [[federal style]], tearing out the Victorian furnishings and details (including Tiffany windows) that had been installed over the previous three decades.

===Teddy Bear===
The Teddy Bear is named for Theodore Roosevelt. After it was reported that Roosevelt had refused to shoot a bear on a hunting expedition a toy shop owner placed a sign next to a toy bear in his shop window announcing that this was "Teddy's Bear". The name stuck.

===Spelling reform===

[[File:TRSpelling.jpg|thumb|390px|Roosevelt shoots holes in the dictionary as the ghosts of Chaucer, Shakespeare and Dr Johnson moan.]]

During his presidency, Roosevelt failed in efforts to simplify the spelling of common words. He (and other spelling reformers) wanted to replace "dropped" and "chased" with "dropt" and "chast" and replace "through" with "thru" and "thoroughly" with "thoroly." He tried to force government to adopt the system, sending an order to the Public Printer to use the system in all public documents. The reform annoyed the public, forcing him to rescind the order. Roosevelt told his friend, literary critic Brander Matthews, one of the chief advocates of the reform, "I could not by fighting have kept the new spelling in, and it was evidently worse than useless to go into an undignified contest when I was beaten. Do you know that the one word as to which I thought the new spelling was wrong — thru — was more responsible than anything else for our discomfiture?" Next summer Roosevelt was watching a naval review when a launch marked "Pres Bot" chugged ostentatiously by. The president waved and laughed with delight.<ref>Pringle 465-7; Brands 555ff</ref>

===Football reform===
Both Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson took an intense interest in the controversy over the reform of college football to make the game more efficient and less brutal. In the 1890s and early 1900s, football faced widespread harsh criticism over injuries and the exaggerated role of athletics in college life. Roosevelt and Wilson, loyal followers of Harvard and Princeton, had defended football in the 1890s. In the fall of 1905, however, Roosevelt called a conference of football experts at the White House to discuss brutality and unsportsmanlike conduct. Thereafter, Roosevelt worked behind the scenes to bring about sufficient reform to preserve football and insure that it would continue to be played at Harvard. In the years 1909-10, when college football again faced an injury crisis, Woodrow Wilson, president of Princeton University worked with the presidents at Harvard and Yale to make reasonable reforms. Both Roosevelt's and Wilson's approaches were consistent with their strategies for national political change. In the years that followed the reforms on the gridiron, football evolved rapidly into the 'attractive' game that Wilson had advocated and a far less brutal game than the unruly spectacle that Roosevelt had tried to control.<ref>John S. Watterson, "Political Football: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and the Gridiron Reform Movement." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 1995 25(3): 555-564</ref>

==Religion and character==
In a speech in 1911 Roosevelt said the King James Version was "the book to which our people owe infinitely the greater part of their store of ethics, infinitely the greater part of their knowledge of how to apply that store to the needs of our every-day life." The former president was characteristically dramatic:
:"No other book of any kind ever written in English—perhaps no other book ever written in any other tongue—has ever so affected the whole life of a people as this authorized version of the Scriptures has affected the life of the English-speaking peoples."

Roosevelt could base his conclusions less on ''specific'' Christian reasoning than on broad humanitarian appeal. He urged his auditors to study the Bible, not necessarily "as an inspired book," but as an essential volume for every person "who seeks after a high and useful life."<ref>Mark Noll, "'The Most Democratic Book in the World'" ''Christian History & Biography'' 2008 (99): 26-29 in [[EBSCO]]</ref>

Paradoxically however, Roosevelt was not sworn in on a Bible. He remains the only president in history not to do so.<ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pihtml/pinotable.html Library of Congress Presidential Inauguration Precedents and Notable Events]</ref>

Like his Roosevelt ancestors, Roosevelt was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. In Oyster Bay there was no Reformed church, and so from 1887 onward he went to Christ Church (Episcopal) with his wife Edith and the children, where he took part in the service, loudly singing the hymns. In Albany and Washington Roosevelt attended a Dutch Reformed church.

Unlike many presidents, Roosevelt was an enthusiastic churchmen. Biographer George Grant writes,
<blockquote>
He grew up in the church, raised his children in the church, and remained in the church into his dying day... His reasoning was simple and straightforward: man was made for covenant.

Roosevelt's personal experience with the Church was a happy one—and he grew great strength from it. As he confessed to his friends, "after a week of wrestling with perplexing problems, it does so rest my soul to come to the House of the Lord and to sing—and to mean it—Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.

[Roosevelt] refrained from hunting, fishing, playing games, or transacting any sort of business on Sunday.<ref>[http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/Religion.htm THE RELIGION of THEODORE ROOSEVELT] Relative little has been written on Roosevelt 's religion, although a book, ''ROOSEVELT'S RELIGION'' by Christian Reisner, [http://books.google.com/books?id=-rVEAAAAIAAJ&dq=ROOSEVELT%27S+RELIGION+by+Christian+Reisner&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=NaRpPqwPWv&sig=v-mVzmOukGfPAKjq6jZgfo4q3aM&hl=en&ei=x8-CSpiCOsaltgfD_rjMCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 George Grant, "The courage and character of Theodore Roosevelt. A hero among leaders."], pp. 170,71</ref>
</blockquote>
Roosevelt provided ''Nine Reasons Why a Man Should Go to Church'',<ref>http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/Church9reasons.htm</ref> such as

:''In this actual world, a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid down grade.''

:''He will listen to and take part in reading some beautiful passages from the Bible. And if he is not familiar with the Bible he has suffered a loss.''

:''He may not hear a good sermon at church. He will hear a sermon by a good man who, with his wife, is engaged all of the week in making hard lives a little easier.''

:''I advocate a man's joining in church work for the sake of showing his faith by his works.''

Various other quotes<ref>''The Works of Theodore Roosevelt - National Edition'', H-BAR Enterprises</ref><ref>http://thinkexist.com/quotation/a_thorough_knowledge_of_the_bible_is_worth_more/164715.html</ref><ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/theodore-roosevelt</ref> help express Roosevelt's character and values.

:''A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.''

:''To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.''

:''There is not in all America a more dangerous trait than the deification of mere smartness unaccompanied by any sense of moral responsibility.''<ref>Abilene, KS, May 2, 1903</ref>

:''A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.''

:''Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly gone down to the brink of the chasm of darkness to bring back the children in whose hands rests the future of the years.''<ref>The Great Adventure, 1918</ref>

:''The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name."<ref name="Chicago, IL, April 10, 1899">Chicago, IL, April 10, 1899</ref>

:''It is better to be faithful than famous.''

:''There are good men and bad men of all nationalities, creeds and colors; and if this world of ours is ever to become what we hope some day it may become, it must be by the general recognition that the man's heart and soul, the man's worth and actions, determine his standing.''<ref>Letter, Oyster Bay, NY, September 1, 1903</ref>

:''I have a perfect horror of words that are not backed up by deeds.''<ref>Oyster Bay, NY, July 7, 1915</ref>

:''Men can never escape being governed. Either they must govern themselves or they must submit to being governed by others.''<ref>Jamestown, VA, April 26, 1907</ref>

:''A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.''<ref name="An Autobiography, 1913">An Autobiography, 1913</ref>

:''This country has nothing to fear from the crooked man who fails. We put him in jail. It is the crooked man who succeeds who is a threat to this country.''<ref>Memphis, TN, October 25, 1905</ref>

:''No man can lead a public career really worth leading, no man can act with rugged independence in serious crises, nor strike at great abuses, nor afford to make powerful and unscrupulous foes, if he is himself vulnerable in his private character.''<ref name="An Autobiography, 1913"/>

:''Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable; but it can never take the place of action, or be even a poor substitute for it. The function of the mere critic is of very subordinate usefulness. It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger.(1894)''

:''I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life; I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.''<ref>Des Moines, Iowa, November 4, 1910</ref>

:''The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight.''

:''There is not a man of us who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother.''<ref>Pasadena, CA, May 8, 1903</ref>

:''Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.''

:''It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.''<ref name="Chicago, IL, April 10, 1899"/>

:''The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything.''

:''...any nation which in its youth lives only for the day, reaps without sowing, and consumes without husbanding, must expect the penalty of the prodigal whose labor could with difficulty find him the bare means of life.''<ref>Arbor Day - A Message to the School-Children of the United States" April 15, 1907</ref>

:''Conservation means development as much as it does protection. I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.''"<ref>The New Nationalism" speech, Osawatomie, Kansas, August 31, 1910</ref>

:''Is America a weakling, to shrink from the work of the great world powers? No! The young giant of the West stands on a continent and clasps the crest of an ocean in either hand. Our nation, glorious in youth and strength, looks into the future with eager eyes and rejoices as a strong man to run a race.''<ref>Letter to John Hay, American Ambassador to the Court of St. James, London, Written in Washington, DC, June 7, 1897</ref>

:''Now to you men, who, in your turn, have come together to spend and be spent in the endless crusade against wrong, to you who face the future resolute and confident, to you who strive in a spirit of brotherhood for the betterment of our Nation, to you who gird yourselves for this great new fight in the never-ending warfare for the good of humankind, I say in closing what in that speech I said in closing: We stand at Armageddon, and we battle for the Lord''<ref>A Confession of Faith, delivered in Chicago, Illinois, 6 August 1912</ref>

:''No abounding of material prosperity shall avail us if our spiritual senses atrophy. The foes of our own household shall prevail against us unless there be in our people an inner life which finds its outer expression in a morality like that preached by the seers and prophets of God when the grandeur that was Greece and the glory that was Rome still lay in the future.''<ref>Theodore Roosevelt, The Foes of Our Own Household, New York, 1917, p.132</ref>

:''Every thinking man, when he thinks, realizes that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole social and civic life that it would be literally impossible to figure what life would be like if these standards were removed. We would lose almost all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals.''<ref>James Willis, The Letters and Speeches of Theodore Roosevelt, 1937, p.86</ref>

:''There are those who believe that a new modernity demands a new morality. What they fail to consider is the harsh reality that there is no such thing as a new morality. There is only one morality. All else is immorality. There is only true Christian ethics over against which stands the whole of paganism. If we are to fulfill our destiny as a people, then we must return to the old morality, the sole morality. And if we are to do that the church must prepare us for the task.''<ref>David Johnson, Theodore Roosevelt: American Monarch, 1981, p.91</ref>

==In modern culture==
Joe Wiegand is a well known Roosevelt impersonator, who has traveled the country lecturing about the life of Theodore Roosevelt.<ref>[http://www.teddyrooseveltshow.com/ The Teddy Roosevelt Show - Joe Wiegand]</ref>

== See also ==
*[[American Antiquities Act of 1906]]

==Bibliography==
===Surveys===
* Buenker, John D. and Joseph Buenker, eds. ''Encyclopedia of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.'' (3 vol 2005), 1280pp; articles on all the major people, events and causes of Roosevelt’s era
* Mowry, George. ''The Era of Theodore Roosevelt and the Birth of Modern America, 1900–1912.'' (1954) general survey of era

===Biographies===
* Brands, H.W. ''T.R.: The Last Romantic'' (1998), scholarly biography [http://www.questia.com/read/98669157?title=T.R.%3a%20The%20Last%20Romantic online edition]
* Chessman, G. Wallace. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Politics of Power,'' (1969), short biography by scholar
* Cooper, John Milton ''The Warrior and the Priest: Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1983), well-written a dual scholarly biography [http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Priest-Woodrow-Theodore-Roosevelt/dp/0674947517/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220396273&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Dalton, Kathleen. ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life.'' (2002), full scholarly biography that stresses his late crusade for social welfare [http://www.amazon.com/Theodore-Roosevelt-Strenuous-Kathleen-Dalton/dp/0679767339/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752111&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Harbaugh, William Henry. ''The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1963), full scholarly biography; good on politics
* Keller, Morton, ed., ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Profile'' (1967) excerpts from Roosevelt and from historians.
* McCullough, David. ''Mornings on Horseback, The Story of an Extraordinary Family. a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt.'' (2001) popular biography to 1884 [http://www.amazon.com/Mornings-Horseback-Extraordinary-Vanished-Roosevelt/dp/0671447548/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752478&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]
* Morris, Edmund. ''The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt'', to 1901 (1979); vol 2: ''Theodore Rex'' 1901–1909. (2001); Pulitzer prize for Volume 1. Biography; unusually well-written and well-researched [http://www.amazon.com/Theodore-Roosevelt-Modern-Library-Paperbacks/dp/0375756787/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752478&sr=1-4 vol 1 excerpt and text search]
* O'Toole, Patricia. ''When Trumpets Call: Theodore Roosevelt after the White House.'' (2005). 494 pp. [http://www.amazon.com/When-Trumpets-Call-Theodore-Roosevelt/dp/0684864789/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752668&sr=1-16 excerpt and text search]
* Pringle, Henry F. ''Theodore Roosevelt'' (1932; 2nd ed. 1956), full scholarly biography [http://www.questia.com/read/270595?title=Theodore%20Roosevelt%3a%20A%20Biography online 1st edition]
* Putnam, Carleton ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Biography, Volume I: The Formative Years'' (1958), only volume published, to age 28; written by prominent conservative

===Scholarly studies ===
* Barsness,John A. "Theodore Roosevelt as Cowboy: The Virginian as Jacksonian Man." ''American Quarterly,'' Vol. 21, No. 3 (Autumn, 1969), pp. 609–619 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2711937 in JSTOR]
* Blum, John Morton ''The Republican Roosevelt.'' (1954). Influential essays that examine how Roosevelt did politics
* Brinkley, Douglas. ''The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America'' (2009), best coverage of Roosevelt and conservation [http://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Warrior-Theodore-Roosevelt-Crusade/dp/0060565284/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752478&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Burton, David H. ''Taft, Roosevelt, and the Limits of Friendship,'' (2005) [http://www.questia.com/read/112015842?title=Taft%2c%20Roosevelt%2c%20and%20the%20Limits%20of%20Friendship online edition]
* Chace, James. ''1912: Wilson, Roosevelt, Taft, and Debs - The Election That Changed the Country.'' (2004). 323 pp; popular account [http://www.amazon.com/1912-Roosevelt-Debs-Election-Changed/dp/0743273559/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220396215&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Cutright, Paul Russell. ''Theodore Roosevelt: The Making of a Conservationist'' (1985)
* Dorsey, Leroy G., and Rachel M. Harlow, "'We Want Americans Pure and Simple': Theodore Roosevelt and the Myth of Americanism," ''Rhetoric & Public Affairs,'' Volume 6, Number 1, Spring 2003, pp. 55–78 [http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/rhetoric_and_public_affairs/v006/6.1dorsey.html in Project Muse]
* Ellsworth, Clayton S. "Theodore Roosevelt's Country Life Commission." ''Agricultural History'', Vol. 34, No. 4 (Oct., 1960), pp. 155–172 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3741109 in JSTOR]
* Dyer, Thomas G. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Idea of Race'' (1980)
* Fehn, Bruce. "Theodore Roosevelt and American Masculinity." ''Magazine of History'' (2005) 19(2): 52–59. Issn: 0882-228x Fulltext online at Ebsco. Provides a lesson plan on TR as the historical figure who most exemplifies the quality of masculinity.
* Friedenberg, Robert V. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Rhetoric of Militant Decency'' (1990) [http://www.questia.com/read/71082317?title=Theodore%20Roosevelt%20and%20the%20Rhetoric%20of%20Militant%20Decency online edition]
* Gerstle, Gary. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Divided Character of American Nationalism," ''The Journal of American History,'' Vol. 86, No. 3, (Dec., 1999), pp. 1280–1307 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2568615 in JSTOR]
* Gosnell, Harold F. ''Boss Platt and His New York Machine: A Study of the Political Leadership of Thomas C. Platt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Others'' (1924) [http://www.questia.com/read/9489049?title=Boss%20Platt%20and%20His%20New%20York%20Machine%3a%20A%20Study%20of%20the%20Political%20Leadership%20of%20Thomas%20C.%20Platt%2c%20Theodore%20Roosevelt%2c%20and%20Others online edition]
* Gould, Lewis L. ''The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1991), standard history of his domestic and foreign policy as president
** Gatewood, Willard B. "The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. by Lewis L. Gould" ''Reviews in American History,'' Vol. 20, No. 4 (Dec., 1992), pp. 512–517 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2702868 in JSTOR]
* Havig, Alan. "Presidential Images, History, and Homage: Memorializing Theodore Roosevelt, 1919-1967 ". ''American Quarterly,'' Vol. 30, No. 4 (Autumn, 1978), pp. 514–532 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2712298 IN jstor]
* Johnson, Arthur M. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Bureau of Corporations". ''The Mississippi Valley Historical Review,'' Vol. 45, No. 4 (Mar., 1959), pp. 571–590 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1888711 in JSTOR]
* Millard, Candice. ''River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey''. (2005), exploring the Amazon
* Mowry, George E. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Movement''. (2001) focus on 1912
* Mowry, George E. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Election of 1910," ''The Mississippi Valley Historical Review,'' Vol. 25, No. 4 (Mar., 1939), pp. 523–534 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1892499 in JSTOR]
* Oyos, Matthew M. "Theodore Roosevelt, Congress, and the Military: U.S. Civil-Military Relations in the Early Twentieth Century," ''Presidential Studies Quarterly,'' Vol. 30, 2000 [http://www.questia.com/read/5001752826?title=Theodore%20Roosevelt%2c%20Congress%2c%20and%20the%20Military%3a%20U.S.%20Civil-Military%20Relations%20in%20the%20Early%20Twentieth%20Century online edition]
* Powell, Jim. ''Bully Boy: The Truth About Theodore Roosevelt's Legacy'' (2006). Denounces TR policies from libertarian perspective; poorly researched
* Rhodes, James Ford. ''The McKinley and Roosevelt Administrations, 1897-1909'' (1922) [http://www.questia.com/read/6404794?title=The%20McKinley%20and%20Roosevelt%20Administrations%2c%201897-1909 online edition]
* Scheiner, Seth M. "President Theodore Roosevelt and the Negro, 1901-1908," ''The Journal of Negro History,'' Vol. 47, No. 3 (Jul., 1962), pp. 169–182 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2716500 in JSTOR]
* Slotkin, Richard. "Nostalgia and Progress: Theodore Roosevelt's Myth of the Frontier," ''American Quarterly,'' Vol. 33, No. 5, (Winter, 1981), pp. 608–637 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2712805 in JSTOR]
* Testi, Arnaldo. "The Gender of Reform Politics: Theodore Roosevelt and the Culture of Masculinity," ''The Journal of American History,'' Vol. 81, No. 4 (Mar., 1995), pp. 1509–1533 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2081647 in JSTOR]
* Watts, Sarah. ''Rough Rider in the White House: Theodore Roosevelt and the Politics of Desire.'' (2003). 289 pp.

===Foreign and military affairs===
* Beale Howard K. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of America to World Power.'' (1956). standard history of his foreign policy
* Buchanan, Russell. "Theodore Roosevelt and American Neutrality, 1914-1917," ''The American Historical Review,'' Vol. 43, No. 4 (Jul., 1938), pp. 775–790 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1842528 in JSTOR]
* Burton, David H. "Theodore Roosevelt: Confident Imperialist" ''The Review of Politics,'' Vol. 23, No. 3 (Jul., 1961), pp. 356–377 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1405440 in JSTOR]
* Burton, David H. "Theodore Roosevelt's Social Darwinism and Views on Imperialism," ''Journal of the History of Ideas,'' Vol. 26, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1965), pp. 103–118 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2708402 in JSTOR]
* Collin, Richard H. "Symbiosis Versus Hegemony: New Directions in the Foreign Relations Historiography of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft." ''Diplomatic History'' 1995 19(3): 473-497 online in [[EBSCO]]
* Gould, Lewis L. ''The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1991), standard history of his domestic and foreign policy as president
* Holmes, James R. ''Theodore Roosevelt and World Order: Police Power in International Relations.'' 2006. 328 pp. case studies of intervention in the Philippines, Cuba, Venezuela, Panama, Santo Domingo, and Morocco
* Marks III, Frederick W. ''Velvet on Iron: The Diplomacy of Theodore Roosevelt'' (1979)
* McCullough, David. ''The Path between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870–1914'' (1977).
* Neu, Charles E. "Theodore Roosevelt and American Involvement in the Far East, 1901-1909," ''The Pacific Historical Review,'' Vol. 35, No. 4 (Nov., 1966), pp. 433–449 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3636977 in JSTOR]
* Oyos, Matthew M. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Implements of War," ''The Journal of Military History,'' Vol. 60, No. 4 (Oct., 1996), pp. 631–655 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2944659 in JSTOR]
* Ricard, Serge. "The Roosevelt Corollary." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 2006 36(1): 17–26. Issn: 0360-4918 [http://www.questia.com/read/5017146446?title=The%20Roosevelt%20Corollary online edition]
* Stillson, Albert C. "Military Policy Without Political Guidance: Theodore Roosevelt's Navy," ''Military Affairs,'' Vol. 25, No. 1 (Spring, 1961), pp. 18–31 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1984220 in JSTOR]
* Tilchin, William N. and Neu, Charles E., ed. ''Artists of Power: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Their Enduring Impact on U.S. Foreign Policy.'' Praeger, 2006. 196 pp. [http://www.questia.com/read/113233998?title=Artists%20of%20Power%3a%20%20Theodore%20Roosevelt%2c%20Woodrow%20Wilson%2c%20and%20Their%20Enduring%20Impact%20on%20U.S.%20Foreign%20Policy online edition]
* Tilchin, William N. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the British Empire: A Study in Presidential Statecraft'' (1997)

===Primary sources===
* Auchincloss, Louis, ed. ''Theodore Roosevelt, The Rough Riders and an Autobiography'' (Library of America, 2004) ISBN 978-1-93108265-5; ''Theodore Roosevelt, Letters and Speeches'' (Library of America, 2004) ISBN 978-1-93108266-2
* Brands, H.W. ed. ''The Selected Letters of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (2001)
* Butt, Archie. ''The Letters of Archie Butt, Personal Aide to President Roosevelt,'' (1924) [http://www.questia.com/read/6560284?title=The%20Letters%20of%20Archie%20Butt%2c%20Personal%20Aide%20to%20President%20Roosevelt online edition]
* Gould, Lewis L., ed. ''Bull Moose on the Stump: The 1912 Campaign Speeches of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (2008). 256 pages,
* Harbaugh, William ed. ''The Writings Of Theodore Roosevelt'' (1967). A one-volume selection of Roosevelt's speeches and essays.
* Hart, Albert Bushnell and Herbert Ronald Ferleger, eds. ''Theodore Roosevelt Cyclopedia'' (1941), Roosevelt's opinions on many issues; online version at [http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/]
* Morison, Elting E., John Morton Blum, and [[Alfred D. Chandler, Jr.]], eds., ''The Letters of Theodore Roosevelt'', 8 vols. (1951–1954). Very large, annotated edition of letters from TR.
* Roosevelt, Theodore. [http://www.bartleby.com/55/ ''Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography ''(1910)]''. online at Bartleby.com.
* Roosevelt, Theodore. ''The Works of Theodore Roosevelt'' (National edition, 20 vol. 1926); 18,000 pages containing most of TR's speeches, books and essays, but not his letters; a CD-ROM edition is available; some of TR's books are available online through [http://www.bartleby.com/people/RsvltT.html Project Bartleby]
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/r#a729 Theodore Roosevelt books and speeches on Project Gutenberg]
* Roosevelt, Theodore. "Theodore Roosevelt on Motherhood and the Welfare of the State," ''Population and Development Review,'' Vol. 13, No. 1 (Mar., 1987), pp. 141–147 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1972126 in JSTOR]
* Shaw, Albert, ed. ''A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career'' (1910) [http://books.google.com/books?id=QEIOAAAAIAAJ full text and cartoons online]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[http://faithandfreedom.us/documents/20thcentury/bigstick.htm "Big Stick" Policy.] Faith & Freedom Network.
*[https://librivox.org/author/1471 Works by Theodore Roosevelt - text and free audio] - [[LibriVox]]

{{USPresidents}}
{{USVicePresidents}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roosevelt, Theodore}}

[[Category:Presidents of the United States|Roosevelt, Theodore]]
[[Category:Vice Presidents of the United States|Roosevelt, Theodore]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Nobel laureates in Peace|Roosevelt, Theodore]]
[[Category:People who were Educated at Home]]
[[Category:Progressive Era]]
[[Category:Spanish-American War]]
[[Category:Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:Environmentalism]]
[[Category:New York Governors]]
[[Category:Gilded Age]]
[[Category:American war heroes]]
[[Category:Republican Governors]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Pro Second Amendment]]
[[Category:American Gun Rights Advocates]]
[[Category:Patriots]]
[[Category:Veterans]]
[[Category:Hunting]]

Theodore Roosevelt

2017-01-02T19:00:06Z

DerekE: /* Direct Election of Senators */ added a space

{{Officeholder
|name=Theodore Roosevelt
|image=Theodore Roosevelt by John Singer Sargent 1903.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Alice Hathaway Lee Edith Kermit Carow
|religion=Dutch [[Reformed]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/president
|country=the United States
|number=26th
|terms=September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909<ref>http://home.comcast.net/~sharonday7/Presidents/AP060301.htm</ref>
|vp=[[Charles W. Fairbanks]] (1901-1905)
|preceded=[[William McKinley]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[William Howard Taft]]
}}
{{Officeholder/vice president
|country=the United States
|number=25th
|terms=March 4, 1901 – March 4, 1801
|president=[[William McKinley]]
|preceded=[[Garret Hobart]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Charles W. Fairbanks]]
}}
{{Officeholder/governor
|number=33rd
|state=New York
|terms=January 1, 1899 – December 31, 1900
|lieutenant=Timothy Lester Woodruff
|preceded=[[Frank Swett Black]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Benjamin Barker Odell, Jr.]]
}}
{{Officeholder/secretary (cabinet)
|of=the Navy
|deputy=y
|president=[[William McKinley, Jr.]]
|terms=April 19, 1897 – May 10, 1898
|preceded=William McAdoo
|former=y
|succeeded=Charles Herbert Allen
}}
}}
'''Theodore Roosevelt''' was the 26th [[president of the United States of America]], 1901-1909, leader of the [[Republican party]] and (in 1912-16) the Progressive Party. Roosevelt is best known for his remarkable personality and commitment to democratic process. He was strongly committed to law and order, active leadership, civic duty and individual self-responsibility; he was more concerned with the process of change than its direction.

A strong and vigorous man both personally and in politics, it was through Roosevelt that the world identified America with cowboy values of courage, initiative and hardiness while it watched Roosevelt expand American influence in world affairs.

Roosevelt enlarged the presidency because he made it a "bully pulpit" for national uplift and inspiration. He preached as much as he politicked. He felt responsible for the well-being and morals of the whole country. He set an example of how a large, strenuous life could be led, and he invited others to renew their energies and apply them to public causes. He strongly endorsed motherhood and criticized women who had careers while neglecting motherhood.<ref>See "Theodore Roosevelt on Motherhood and the Welfare of the State," ''Population and Development Review,'' Vol. 13, No. 1 (Mar., 1987), pp. 141-147 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1972126 online]</ref>

In the contest between [[Conservation and environmentalism]], Roosevelt supported the conservation and optimum use of natural resources and opposed the environmentalists of the day, such as [[John Muir]].

==Family==
The Roosevelts could trace their family to Claes Martenssen van Rosenvelt, an immigrant from Zealand, Holland ([[Netherlands]]) who came to America in 1649, settling in New Amsterdam ([[New York City]]). Theodore was born on October 27, 1858, the second child of a very successful New York businessman, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., and his wife Martha Bulloch, a Southern belle from Georgia. His early childhood was marked by frequent illness and asthma, of which his father spent many an evening bundling up "Tedie" - as young Theodore was often called - and taking him out for carriage rides in the fresh air. By age 10 his father would have enough of the possibility of his son growing into an unhealthy weakling and forced on him a regimen of weights and daily physical exercise.
[[Image:Schoolpic.jpg|thumb|100px|left|Young Theodore Roosevelt]]
===Education===
Roosevelt was home schooled by tutors and his parents. He was solid in geography (thanks to his careful observations on all his travels) and very well read in history, strong in biology, French and German, but deficient in mathematics, Latin and Greek. He became one of the outstanding naturalists of the era, specializing in very careful study of birds.<ref>Brands (2001) p. 49–50</ref> He attended [[Harvard]] College, graduating in 1880 "magna cum laude". He lived very well—his annual $4000 allowance was higher than the president of the college—the days of equalitarian houses were decades in the future. His father's sudden death in 1878 was a stunning blow; Roosevelt redoubled his efforts.<ref>His inheritance was worth $8000 a year, about triple what the average doctor or lawyer earned.</ref> In academics he did well in science, philosophy and rhetoric courses, as well as German; but fared poorly in Latin and Greek. Harvard did not have majors, but he took all the advanced biology he could. Classmates considered him an odd bird—he kept snakes in his room and knew all about them. He also dressed in the latest fashions and kept his own horse and buggy. A crack shot, he brought his friends along on hunting parties to the north woods. The perfect gentleman, he was invited into the best clubs.

Roosevelt had amazing powers of concentration. He had a photographic memory and developed a lifelong habit of devouring books, memorizing every detail. He was an unusually eloquent conversationalist who, throughout his life, sought out the company of the smartest men and women. He could multitask in extraordinary fashion, dictating letters to one secretary and memoranda to another, while browsing through a new book. During his adulthood, a visitor would get a not-so-subtle hint that Roosevelt was losing interest in the conversation when he would pick up a book and begin looking at it now and then as the conversation continued.
[[Image:Alice Lee.gif|thumb|right|Mrs. Alice Roosevelt]]
===First marriage===

Roosevelt married Alice Lee of Boston in 1880. on February 14, 1884, Roosevelt's young wife died after giving birth to the couple's first child. Only a few hours earlier, his mother, Martha Bulloch Roosevelt had died in the same house. After the double funeral and the christening of his new baby daughter, Alice, on February 17, 1884, the bereaved husband wrote:''
:''For joy or for sorrow my life has now been lived out.''

He never again ever mentioned Alice Lee.

==Early career==
Given a chance to run for the state legislature in a "silk stocking" (rich) district in Manhattan, he astonished his upscale friends by dropping out of Columbia Law School and was elected. His goal, he explained, was to join the "ruling class" not merely watch it passively.

Young Roosevelt was a Republican reformer in the legislature, writing more bills than anyone. Already a major player in state politics, he attended the Republican National Convention in 1884 and fought alongside the [[Mugwump]] reformers; they lost to the Stalwart faction that nominated [[James G. Blaine]]. Refusing to join other Mugwumps in supporting Democrat [[Grover Cleveland]], the Democratic nominee, he stayed loyal to the GOP.<ref>Edward Kohn, "Crossing the Rubicon: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and the 1884 Republican National Convention." ''Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era'' 2006 5(1): 18-45. Issn: 1537-7814</ref>

Roosevelt held many offices. He was on the federal Civil Service Commission, then headed the New York City Police Department. After campaigning vigorously for [[William McKinley]] in the momentous 1896 presidential election, he became Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the #2 position. He loved ships and had written solid naval history; his goal was to modernize the Navy, bringing it up to world class standards.

==War with Spain, 1898, and Medal of Honor==
When the battleship ''Maine'' was blown up in Manila harbor on February 15, 1898, Roosevelt, immediately resigned as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and worked with Colonel [[Leonard Wood]] to recruit a volunteer cavalry regiment composed of his Ivy League friends and western cowboys for the [[Spanish-American War|coming war against Spain]]. Hundreds answered his invitation to join in this grand endeavor and, after brief training, the "Rough Riders" arrived in Cuba. On July 1, 1898, Roosevelt seized the initiative and led his men on the celebrated charge of San Juan Hill where 89 of the 490 who followed were killed. Nevertheless, the press and Roosevelt made this the most important battle of the campaign. The "splendid little war" (as termed by John Hay, State Ambassador to England<ref>Frank Freidel, ''The Splendid Little War'', (Boston: Little, Brown and Co. 1958)</ref>) was soon over and Roosevelt returned to a hero's welcome in New York City.

After the battles in Cuba, malaria, yellow fever and typhoid became an issue for the troops. Roosevelt, not constrained by a military career, complained to both the White House and the press about the need for the troops to return home for better care. This, coupled with a bias against volunteers, is most likely the reason that when Roosevelt was nominated for the Congressional [[Medal of Honor]] for his bravery during the battle at San Juan Hill, the nomination was not approved.<ref name="medal">[http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/medalofhonor.htm Roosevelt Medal of Honor]</ref>

President [[Bill Clinton]] posthumously bestowed the Medal of Honor to Roosevelt on January 16, 2001, saying,
<blockquote>
...TR was a larger-than-life figure who gave our nation a larger-than-life vision of our place in the world. Part of that vision was formed on San Juan Hill. His Rough Riders were made up of all kinds of Americans from all walks of life. They were considered unpolished and undisciplined, but they were true citizen soldiers. By taking San Juan Hill, eventually they forced the enemy fleet into the Battle of Santiago Bay, where it was routed. This led to the Spanish surrender and opened the era of America as a global power.<ref name="medal"/>
</blockquote>

Roosevelt and his eldest son, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., are one of only two father/son pairs to earn the Medal of Honor. Roosevelt Jr. posthumously received his for actions on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day during [[World War II]]. Roosevelt is the first and only president to receive the Medal of Honor.

==Governor of New York==
A few weeks after his return Roosevelt was elected governor of New York as a Republican in 1898. As governor of New York, Theodore Roosevelt promoted greater accountability and efficiency in government by ending patronage handouts, supporting an effective civil service system and forcing the Republican machine to hold fair elections.

==Vice president, 1900==
Senator Tom Platt and other party bosses distrusted him, and they forced his nomination as vice president on [[William McKinley]] in 1900. Roosevelt demonstrated his amazing energy by his campaign work. Nationally, Roosevelt covered 21,209 miles by train. In Nebraska alone, some 300,000 men, women and children turned out for his 673 speeches at 40 cities and towns as he covered 1,500 miles in the state. His arguments for McKinley prosperity and America's role in the Philippines were accepted wholeheartedly or dismissed scornfully by his audiences. The GOP ticket carried Nebraska, the home state of Democratic nominee [[William Jennings Bryan]], by 7,000 votes.

Once in office, He had little to do.

==President==
[[Image:Tr2006.jpg|thumb|290px|''Time'' July 3, 2006]]
In 1901, President McKinley was fatally shot by [[Leon Czolgosz]], an [[anarchist]]. Roosevelt automatically became President. He was reelected in [[United States presidential election, 1904|1904]] against a challenge by the Democratic candidate Alton B. Parker.

Roosevelt redefined the modern presidency by drawing attention to the office through his dynamic personality, thus creating a 'public obsession' over his executive actions and attracting a permanent public eye toward the presidency that endowed it with new power.

===Domestic policy===
Roosevelt was the chief leader of the [[Progressive Era|Progressive movement in politics]]—which in 21st century terms includes both liberal and conservative values. He tried to move the dominant Republican Party into the Progressive camp. He distrusted wealthy businessmen and dissolved 40 monopolistic corporations as a "trust buster". He did not disagree with trusts and capitalism in principle but was only against their corrupt, illegal practices. His "[[Square Deal]]" promised a fair shake for both the average citizen, including regulation of railroad rates and pure foods and drugs and the businessmen. As an outdoorsman, he promoted the conservation movement, emphasizing efficient use of natural resources.

In his last two years in office (1907-1908), Roosevelt moved left, attacking big business and suggesting the courts were biased against labor unions.
====Pure food and drugs====
{{main|Pure Food and Drug Act|Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906}}

Widespread outrage followed publication in 1906 of [[Upton Sinclair]]'s novel, ''The Jungle,'' which detailed the horrible conditions in Chicago’s packinghouses. Roosevelt sent Labor Commissioner Charles P. Neill and social worker James Bronson Reynolds<ref>[http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1906/06/05/page/4/article/conditions-in-stockyards-described-in-the-neill-reynolds-report Conditions in Stockyards Described in the Neill-Reynolds Report], [[Chicago Tribune]]</ref> to investigate the meat-packing industry in Chicago. Their report to the president was 'revolting,' but since Roosevelt feared the impact on ranchers and European meat importers, he withheld the Neill-Reynolds report from publication. Sinclair was so upset that he provided specific information to newspapers. Roosevelt then had the commissioners put their report in writing and sent it to Congress. This led to a hearing before Congress; witnesses were asked about seeing a dead hog slide partway into a men's privy. Although Sinclair was a Socialist and his main interest was in the stockyard workers, not consumers, the turmoil over tainted meat helped move Congress to enact the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. The act itself had been drawn up by experts in the Department of Agriculture and remains in effect in the 21st century.<ref>James Harvey Young, "The Pig That Fell into the Privy: Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' and the Meat Inspection Amendments of 1906." ''Bulletin of the History of Medicine'' 1985 59(4): 467-480</ref>

====Coal strike====
The [[Coal strike of 1902]] was a strike by the [[United Mine Workers of America]] in the anthracite coal fields of eastern Pennsylvania. The strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to all major cities.<ref>Most homes and apartments were heated with anthracite or "hard" coal because it had higher heat value and less smoke than "soft" or bituminous coal.</ref> Roosevelt jumped in and personally negotiated with the mine leaders and financiers. Acting as a neutral party, he set up a fact-finding commission that suspended the strike. The strike never resumed, as the miners received more pay for fewer hours; the owners got a higher price for coal but did not recognize the union as a bargaining agent. It was the first labor episode in which the federal government intervened as a neutral arbitrator and it made Roosevelt's reputation as a peacemaker.
[[Image:Coal-TR.JPG|thumb|300px|left|Roosevelt teaches the childish coal barons a lesson; 1902 editorial cartoon]]
====Railroad regulation====
{{main|Elkins Act|Hepburn Act}}

Roosevelt worked closely with Congress to pass important laws such as the 1903 Elkins Act and the 1906 Hepburn Act, that regulated railroad rates for the benefit of shippers and consumers. Ultimately, these bills injured the railroads (which were assumed to be so rich that they could always pay). The new laws retarded the growth of the South, which the railroads could no longer afford to subsidize.<ref>Albro Martin, "The Troubled Subject of Railroad Regulation in the Gilded Age - a Reappraisal." ''Journal of American History'' 1974 61(2): 339-371 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1903953 in JSTOR]</ref>

====Antitrust====
Roosevelt expressed an antitrust image within a pro business framework. Critics who have measured Roosevelt's success by the number of antitrust suits he brought or won miss the essentially rhetorical purposes of his involvement with corporate America. His primary emphasis involved the promotion of the proper attitude in corporate leaders and the general public regarding the role of big business in American society. This Roosevelt did in two ways. First, he argued metaphorically for the necessity of corporations and the restraint of muckraking journalists. Second, along with employing metaphors to chastise big business, Roosevelt assumed the role of moral guardian and preached to corporate leaders to adhere to an ethical standard in business. For Roosevelt, corporate America could be effectively regulated only by its leaders' sense of morality and spirit of public service.<ref>Dorsey, Leroy G., "Theodore Roosevelt and Corporate America, 1901-1909: a Reexamination," ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 1995 25(4): 725-739</ref>
====Executive Orders====
Roosevelt was the first President to issue over 1000 [[Executive Order]]s. According to Dr. Graham G. Dodds, a professor of political science at Concordia University,<ref>[https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/polisci/faculty.html?fpid=graham-dodds Graham Dodds, PhD]</ref> Roosevelt issued almost as many executive orders as all of his predecessors combined.<ref>{{cite book|title=Executing the Constitution: Putting the President Back Into the Constitution|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qgzmexCI734C&pg=PA53 |year=2006|publisher=State University of New York Press|pages=53|isbn=9780791481905}}</ref>

Prior to Roosevelt, only one President issued over 200 executive orders, [[Grover Cleveland]].(Cleveland issued a total of 253)<ref name=executiveorders>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/orders.php Executive Orders: Washington - Obama]</ref> Of the first 25 Presidents in total, 1262 executive orders were issued. Roosevelt issued 1081.<ref name=executiveorders />

Members of congress eventually got tired of Roosevelt's excesses in using executive orders to create policy. On February 25th, 1907, Senator Charles W. Fulton, a Republican from Oregon, added an amendment to the 1907 Agricultural Appropriations Bill<ref>[http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_007136.pdf Siuslaw National Forest], '''PDF'''</ref> declaring these activities as falling under the authority of congressional power, not executive power. Congressional leaders concluded that the president was out of control.<ref>{{cite book|title=Theodore Roosevelt: Preacher of Righteousness|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UiYRkL4GqP4C&pg=PA178 |year=2008|publisher=Yale University Press|pages=178|isbn=9780300145144}}</ref>

===Moving left===
[[File:TR-Farewell.jpg|thumb|320px|Roosevelt moves left in his 1908 Farewell Address]]
Roosevelt moved left in 1907-08, criticizing the courts, promoting labor unions and attacking big business. The Republican leadership in Congress ignored his radical proposals and waited for his successor-Taft-to take over the White House.
====View of the Constitution====
Roosevelt's administration marked the shift to a more activist conception of the presidency, in peace as well as war,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pyle|first1=Christopher H.|last2=Pious|first2=Richard M.|title=The President, Congress, and the Constitution: Power and Legitimacy in American Politics|date=1984|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-0029253809|pages=68–69}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/policy-report/2002/11/chapman.pdf |title=TR: No Friend of the Constitution |work=Cato Institute |date=November/December 2002 }}</ref> and was both internationalist and aggressive in asserting Presidential power.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dumbrell|first1=John|last2=Barrett|first2=David M.|title=The Making of US Foreign Policy|date=1997|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=978-0719048227|pages=56–57}}</ref> He would write in his Autobiography:
<blockquote>I declined to adopt the view that what was imperatively necessary for the Nation could not be done by the President unless he could find some specific authorization to do it. My belief was that it was not only his right but his duty to do anything that the needs of the Nation demanded unless such action was forbidden by the Constitution or by the laws. Under this interpretation of executive power I did and caused to be done many things not previously done by the President and the heads of the departments. I did not usurp power, but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power. In other words, I acted for the public welfare, I acted for the common well-being of all our people, whenever and in whatever manner was necessary, unless prevented by direct constitutional or legislative prohibition.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Roosevelt|first1=Theodore|title=Theodore Roosevelt, an Autobiography|date=1913|publisher=Charles Scribner's sons|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Io4fAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA357|pages=}}</ref></blockquote>
This view came to be known as the [[Stewardship Theory]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dodds|first1=Graham G.|title=Take Up Your Pen: Unilateral Presidential Directives in American Politics|date=May 2, 2013|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|isbn=978-0-8122-4511-0|pages=31–33}}</ref> by [[William Howard Taft]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Taft|first1=William H.|title=Our chief magistrate and his powers|date=1916|publisher=Columbia University Press|url=https://archive.org/details/ourchiefmagistra00taftuoft|pages=139–140}}</ref>

===Foreign Policy===
Roosevelt's administration was marked by an active approach to foreign policy. He followed four basic principles:
#promoting broadly defined American interests worldwide
#building American military and naval power and control over strategic points (especially the Panama canal and its approaches)
#cooperation with the British
#there was a social contract between the nation's citizens and its government, such that civilized nations had a right of intervention in cases in which such a contract had been broken. His foreign policy was well suited for the challenges of the world; he anticipated later attitudes and developments well into the 20th century and even the 21st century, as exemplified by [[John McCain]] in 2008.<ref>M. Patrick Cullinane, "Invoking Teddy: the Inspiration of John Mccain's Foreign Policy." ''Diplomacy & Statecraft'' 2008 19(4): 767-786</ref> He combined a credible realist and internationalist approach with great attention to detail and full appreciation of the importance of diplomatic finesse.

====Civilization and modernization====
Roosevelt saw it as the duty of more developed ("civilized") nations to help the underdeveloped ("uncivilized") world move forward. In [[Cuba]], the [[Philippines]], [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[Panama Canal Zone]], he used the Army's medical service, under [[Walter Reed]] and [[William C. Gorgas]], to eliminate the [[yellow fever]] menace and install a new regime of public health. He used the army to build up the infrastructure of the new possessions, building railways, telegraph and telephone lines, and upgrading roads and port facilities.
====Army and Navy====
Roosevelt and his Secretary of War [[Elihu Root]] modernized the Army by creating a general staff system and structuring the military away from small frontier forts to modern combat roles.

[[File:Tr-militarist-1904World.jpg|thumb|350px| The ''New York World'' newspaper, mouthpiece of liberal Democrats, blasts Roosevelt as a dangerous militaristic dictator in 1904]]

Roosevelt, convinced that American military preparedness hinged on the nation's ability to develop and exploit new technologies, worked to make the technology of the army and navy as modern as possible. Among other things, he took an active interest in the army's consideration of the role of the machine gun and the airplane and in the navy's development of both the submarine and a new and more powerful type of battleship.<ref>Matthew M. Oyos, "Theodore Roosevelt and the Implements of War." ''Journal of Military History'' 1996 60(4): 631-655 25p</ref>

By identifying and working with two talented junior officers in the Navy Department, Albert Lenoir Key and [[William S. Sims]], Roosevelt assembled an ad hoc staff on naval policy. This staff funneled technical information to Roosevelt that allowed him to dominate policy discussions with Congress and the senior Navy staff. The president annoyed his admirals by micromanaging their responsibilities and ignoring the chain of command.<ref>Peri E. Arnold, "Policy Leadership in the Progressive Presidency: the Case of Theodore Roosevelt's Naval Policy and His Search for Strategic Resources". ''Studies in American Political Development'' 1996 10(2): 333-359</ref>

Roosevelt dramatically increased the size of the navy, forming the new warships into a "Great White Fleet" for display purposes and sending it on a world tour in 1907. This display was designed as a show of force to impress the Japanese and even more to motivate Americans to support naval power and be aware of the new role in the Pacific. Yet, the ships were almost forced to return because of the inadequacy of American ports in the Pacific.<ref>James R. Reckner, "The Rebirth of the Fleet." ''Naval History'' 2007 21(6): 16-25 online at [[EBSCO]]; Edward S Miller,''War Plan Orange'' (1991)</ref>

====Britain====
Typical of his eagerness for closer cooperation with London was Washington's support for Britain in the [[Boer War]], despite public opinion that favored the underdog Boers. the British reciprocated, so that in settling the boundary dispute between Canada (controlled by Britain) and Alaska, the British sold out the Canadians to gain American favor—a stunning shock to the Canadians.
====Mediator====
Balance of power considerations shaped Roosevelt's role as the successful mediator who ended the 1904-05 war between Russia and Japan. Japan had clearly won, but was not allowed to grab too much, thus allowing Russia to keep a certain power base in the region. Roosevelt justified his actions as consistent with American interests and American values. Moral principles in politics and diplomacy, Roosevelt claimed, help make clear the inescapable tension between ideals and reality. The moral problem persists, he thought, because diplomacy involves choices often obscured by faulty perception, controlled by national interests and complicated by multiple purposes and goals.<ref>Greg Russell, "Theodore Roosevelt's Diplomacy and the Quest for Great Power Equilibrium in Asia." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 2008 38(3): 433-455</ref>

At the time Japan was consolidating its colonial rule over Korea. Roosevelt supported Japan because he viewed Korea as an backward nation fit to be a protectorate of Japan, which he hoped would protect American economic interests in Manchuria, where Japan was largely in control.<ref>Ki-jung Kim, "Theodore Roosevelt's Image of the World and United States Foreign Policy Toward Korea, 1901-1905." ''Korea Journal'' 1995 35(4): 39-53 1</ref>

====Roosevelt Corollary ====
The '''Roosevelt Corollary''' to the [[Monroe Doctrine]] was a substantial expansion in 1904. Roosevelt asserted the right of the United States to intervene to stabilize the economic affairs of small nations in the Caribbean and Central America if they were unable to pay their international debts and were at risk of intervention by European powers. The new policy primarily prevented intervention by Britain and Germany, which loaned money to the countries that did not repay. The catalyst of the new policy was Germany's aggressiveness in the Venezuela affair of 1902-03. The intervention took the form of takeover of the customs collection and disbursement of the funds to the debtors and claimants. The policy was unpopular abroad.<ref>Serge Ricard, "The Roosevelt Corollary." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 2006 36(1): 17-26. Issn: 0360-4918, online</ref>

Mitchener and Weidenmier (2006) show the economic benefits to the small countries. The average debt price for countries under the US "sphere of influence" rose by 74% in response to the pronouncement and actions to make it credible. That is, their bonds rose 74% because buyers now believed they would be repaid. The increase in financial stability reduced internal conflict because political factions could not count on winning control of the national treasury if they won a civil war. The program spurred export growth and better fiscal management, but debt settlements were driven primarily by gunboat diplomacy.<ref>Kris James Mitchener and Marc Weidenmier, "Empire, Public Goods, and the Roosevelt Corollary." ''Journal of Economic History'' 2005 65(3): 658-692. Issn: 0022-0507; online</ref>

<blockquote>
''“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”'' The phrase was initially used by Roosevelt to explain his relations with domestic political leaders; later the phrase was associated with him and came to refer particularly to his foreign policy with Latin America.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/65006/Big-Stick-Policy Big Stick Policy.]</ref>
</blockquote>

====Panama Canal====
[[Image:Panam2.JPG|thumb|350px|Roosevelt builds the canal—and shovels dirt on Bogota, the capital of Colombia]]
Roosevelt felt that the Panama Canal was his most important and historically significant international achievement.

Inspired by [[Alfred Thayer Mahan]]'s extraordinarily influential book ''The Influence of Sea Power upon History'' (1890), Roosevelt believed that American security and geopolitical power could be secured only through naval supremacy. This was particularly important in the Caribbean because of its proximity to the United States, European interest in the area and its status as a critical juncture of trade routes. Roosevelt was able to maintain US dominance of the Caribbean without resorting to major military action.<ref>James R. Holmes, "Roosevelt's Pursuit of a Temperate Caribbean Policy." ''Naval History'' 2006 20(4): 48-53 in [[EBSCO]]</ref>

In particular, Roosevelt understood the strategic significance of the [[Panama Canal]], which opened up the Pacific Coast and Asia to cheap shipping and made it possible for the Navy to move rapidly between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

A central issue was which route the canal would take; across Nicaragua and Costa Rica or through the Panama region of Columbia. Intense lobbying resulted in the Congressional decision to follow the Panama route. However, the Colombian Senate rejected the terms of the American Hay-Herran Treaty (1903) and tried to extort more money from the Americans. Roosevelt rejected Colombia's devious strategy and blocked Colombia from suppressing an insurrection in Panama against Colombia. With the success of the revolution, the United States initiated a treaty with the now independent Panama and began construction of the canal, which was completed in 1914.<ref>David McCullough, ''The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914'' (1978) [http://www.amazon.com/Path-Between-Seas-Creation-1870-1914/dp/0671244094/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250828638&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]</ref>

==Break with Taft==
When Roosevelt's term was up he decided not to run again but chose Secretary of War [[William Howard Taft]] as his successor.

Long-term disputes inside the GOP, especially regarding tariffs, and the tension between Eastern industry and Midwest agriculture, pulled the party apart. Whle Roosevelt was in Africa and Europe, his friends grew alarmed that Taft was betraying the progressive cause by collaborating with reactionaries in the GOP. Roosevelt finally broke with Taft in 1910 but was outmaneuvered by Taft, who won the GOP nomination in 1912. Roosevelt walked out of the convention and the party, running as an independent on his own "Progressive" ticket, nicknamed the "Bull Moose Party". Roosevelt was shot before giving in a speech in Milwaukee. The bullet lodged in a copy of the speech stuffed into his breast pocket, saving his life. He gave the speech anyway that day, beginning the speech with the famous line, "I don't know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose."

[[Dale Carnegie]] wrote, "{{tr-taft}}".

Both he and Taft lost to Democrat [[Woodrow Wilson]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1912|election of 1912]]. The Taft conservatives, however, kept control of the GOP.

==Exploration==

After leaving office, Roosevelt took a trip along the [[Amazon River]] and wrote a book about his experience, ''Through the Brazilian Wilderness''. While in [[South America]], Roosevelt contracted [[malaria]] and nearly died. At one point, he requested that his expedition leave him behind. His son, Kermit, helped nurse him back to health, and Theodore credited Kermit with saving his life.

==Conservation==
More than any president before or since, Roosevelt insisted that conservation of natural resources be high on the agenda. As a world-class hunter and explorer, he mobilized support among American hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen. He promoted both the national park system and the national forest system.

[[File:TR-Conservation.jpg|thumb|320px|Roosevelt was a leader in Conservation, fighting to end the waste of natural resources]]

In the early 20th century there were three main positions. The laissez-faire position held that owners of private property—including lumber and mining companies, should be allowed to do anything they wished for their property. The conservationists, led by Roosevelt and his ally [[Gifford Pinchot]], said that was too wasteful and inefficient. In any case, they noted, most of the natural resources in the western states were already owned by the federal government. The best course of action, they argued, was a long-term plan devised by national experts to maximize the long-term economic benefits of natural resources. The third position, led by the Sierra Club, held that nature was almost sacred, and that man was an intruder. It allowed for limited tourism (such as hiking), but opposed automobiles in national parks. It strenuously opposed timber cutting on most public lands and vehemently denounced the dams that Roosevelt supported for water supplies, electricity and flood control. Especially controversial was the Hetch Hetchy Dam in Yosemite National Park, which was built after Roosevelt had left politics. The dam still stands despite efforts by members of the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations as well as the Sierra Club to demolish the dam. Nancy Pelosi and the California Democratic Party have been staunch critics of these proposals, as the reservoir is used for a back up water supply for Pelosi's district (Don Pedro Reservoir is the main source).

==Race and Ethnicity==
Roosevelt was keenly sensitive to the issues surrounding race and ethnicity, particularly the heated debated on immigration restriction. He considered himself Dutch, not Anglo-Saxon . He welcomed the vitality of new immigration, while holding that America's first responsibility was to its literate, native-born, working poor. In balancing these competitive goals, the president backed legislation that limited the immigration of poverty- and disease-stricken people regardless of ethnicity. He blocked harsh anti-Japanese efforts in California, but negotiated an informal agreement whereby Japan would no longer send immigrants. During World War I he attacked certain "[[hyphenated American]]s," especially German-Americans and Irish-Americans, saying they put loyalties to their homeland above American interests.<ref>The German-Americans did not support Germany, but did want the U.S. to remain neutral. The Irish Catholics were so hostile to Britain that they did not want the U.S. to support it.</ref>
===Historian of the frontier===
In ''The Winning of the West,'' a four-volume history of westward expansion, Roosevelt developed the thesis that the western experience shaped and created a new ethnic group or people (what he called a "race"), the true American people. His ideas helped shape the popular culture, especially since his own cowboy persona exemplified all the strengths of the new people. Meanwhile, Professor [[Frederick Jackson Turner]] developed his famous [[Frontier Thesis]], based in part on Roosevelt’s ideas. Turner’s views came to dominate professional historiography and shaped the teaching of history for a century–and is still influential in the 21st century. Roosevelt and Turner shared the view that the frontier was the most significant force in America's cultural and political development, but Turner stressed the complex social and political processes simulated by the frontier, while Roosevelt emphasized that national growth and progress came from the West. Turner envisioned political problems that could befall America if cheap land resources were exhausted. Roosevelt saw a new, highly capable cohort of ruling elites growing out of the conquest of the frontier and leading America to new frontiers.<ref>Richard Slotkin, "Theodore Roosevelt's Frontier Hypothesis," ''European Contributions to American Studies'' 1989 16: 44-71</ref>

==Patriotism==
Roosevelt once declared:<ref>Theodore Roosevelt, "The Children of the Crucible," 14 Annals of America 1916-1928, 129, at 130 (1968).</ref>

:''We must have but one flag. We must also have but one language. That must be the language of the Declaration of Independence, of Washington’s Farewell address, of Lincoln’s Gettysburg speech and second inaugural. We cannot tolerate any attempt to oppose or supplant the language and culture that has come down to us from the builders of this Republic.''

In the last year of his life Roosevelt was quoted in the [[Kansas City Star]] newspaper about the need for truth in regards to the presidency:

:''The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.''

==Turn to the left==
[[Image:Youre No George Washington Mr Roosevelt.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A cartoon satirizes Theodore Roosevelt reversing his promise not to seek a third time in office.]]
About 1907, Roosevelt turned more to the left in domestic policy, and in his 1912 campaign he called for movement toward what would later be called a "welfare state." His move to the left annoyed conservatives and fueled the split in the GOP that exploded in 1912, with Roosevelt on the losing side. His "'''New Nationalism'''" and his chivalry predisposed him toward an enlarged protective state, along with his admiration for what the British were doing at the time.<ref>[[David Lloyd George]] and [[Winston Churchill]], key leaders of the British [[Liberal Party]], started the welfare state in Britain, 1908-11, with unemployment insurance and old age pensions; American conservatives accepted these policies by the 1950s..</ref> Roosevelt preached the manly protection of the family and a state led by manly men who insisted on protecting all women and children. He believed that "the ruin of motherhood and childhood by the merciless exploitation of the labor of women and children is a crime of capital importance." His solution was to support labor's right to bargain collectively and to denounce employers who mistreated women and child workers.<ref>Kathleen Dalton, ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life'' (2004)</ref>

===Direct Election of Senators===
The direct election of senators (which later became the [[17th amendment]]) was an important initiative for progressives of the era, with Roosevelt being among the supporters of the idea. He spoke frequently<ref>{{cite book |first1=Theodore |last1=Roosevelt |title=Who is a Progressive? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BIwxAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA809 |pages=8–9, 15 |date=April 3, 1912 }}</ref> on the campaign trail<ref>{{cite book |first1=Theodore |last1=Roosevelt |title=A Charter of Democracy: Address by Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, Ex-president of the United States, Before the Ohio Constitutional Convention on February 21, 1912 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qb4ZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA9 |year=1912 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |pages=9 }}</ref> about the issue, and it is included in the platform of the Bull Moose Party.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Theodore |last1=Roosevelt |title=Progressive Principles: Selections from Addresses Made During the Presidential Campaign of 1912 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qLYJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA315 |year=1913 |publisher=Progressive national service |pages=315 }}</ref>

==Conservative or liberal?==
Metaphorically, there were 15 different Roosevelts; conservatives admire 10 of them, liberals admire 10, with some overlap. Conservatives are more apt to admire his patriotism, masculinity and military achievements, his stress on national greatness, his buildup of the nation's military forces, his resolution of the [[Coal strike of 1902|1902 Coal Strike]] without forcing business to recognize the unions, his attacks on hyphenated Americans (people with divided loyalty in wartime), and his bold histories of the frontier. Liberals are more likely to admire his trust-busting and hostility to big business, his promotion of liberal programs in 1907-8 and 1912, and his break with the GOP in 1912 when he denounced it as too conservative. [[Ronald Reagan]] noted in 1972, "I admire 'Teddy' greatly and quote him often."<ref>Text in Ronald Reagan [http://books.google.com/books?id=ZrRc_ABenS8C&pg=PP1&dq=inauthor:ronald+inauthor:reagan&lr=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES#PPA266,M1 ''Reagan: A Life in Letters'' (2004) p 266]</ref>

Conservation was always high on Roosevelt's agenda. His optimal use policy has largely been adopted by conservatives and businessmen, while the Sierra Club and related groups reject Roosevelt's policies.

Everyone admires his amazingly dynamic style and willingness to confront the issues of the day by bringing everyone to the negotiating table, his settlement of the war between Japan and Russia (which led to Roosevelt's winning the Nobel peace prize), and his building of the Panama Canal (though liberals complain he was too rough with Colombia).

== Sidelights ==
===Life in the White House===
Roosevelt relished the presidency and seemed to be everywhere at once. He took Cabinet members and friends on long, fast-paced hikes, boxed in the state rooms of the White House, romped with his children and read voraciously. In 1904, he was permanently blinded in his left eye during one of his boxing bouts, but this injury was kept from the public at the time.<ref>Brands, (1997) 565</ref> His many enthusiastic interests and limitless energy led one ambassador to wryly explain, "You must always remember that the President is about six."<ref>Cecil Spring Rice, ''The Letters and Friendships of Sir Cecil Spring-Rice,'' (1929) p 437</ref>

Roosevelt's oldest daughter, Alice Roosevelt, was a controversial character with a tart tongue and a spirit of adventure. When friends asked if he could rein in his elder daughter, Roosevelt said, "I can be President of the United States, or I can attend to Alice." In turn, Alice said of him that he always wanted to be "the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral."<ref>Carol Felsenthal, ''Princess Alice: The Life and Times of Alice Roosevelt Longsworth'' (1988) pp. 60, 105</ref>

Roosevelt rebuilt the White House building, adding a new West Wing to free up the second floor rooms in the residence that formerly housed the president's staff. To this day, "west Wing" signifies the presidential staff. He and Edith also had the entire house renovated and restored to the [[federal style]], tearing out the Victorian furnishings and details (including Tiffany windows) that had been installed over the previous three decades.

===Teddy Bear===
The Teddy Bear is named for Theodore Roosevelt. After it was reported that Roosevelt had refused to shoot a bear on a hunting expedition a toy shop owner placed a sign next to a toy bear in his shop window announcing that this was "Teddy's Bear". The name stuck.

===Spelling reform===

[[File:TRSpelling.jpg|thumb|390px|Roosevelt shoots holes in the dictionary as the ghosts of Chaucer, Shakespeare and Dr Johnson moan.]]

During his presidency, Roosevelt failed in efforts to simplify the spelling of common words. He (and other spelling reformers) wanted to replace "dropped" and "chased" with "dropt" and "chast" and replace "through" with "thru" and "thoroughly" with "thoroly." He tried to force government to adopt the system, sending an order to the Public Printer to use the system in all public documents. The reform annoyed the public, forcing him to rescind the order. Roosevelt told his friend, literary critic Brander Matthews, one of the chief advocates of the reform, "I could not by fighting have kept the new spelling in, and it was evidently worse than useless to go into an undignified contest when I was beaten. Do you know that the one word as to which I thought the new spelling was wrong — thru — was more responsible than anything else for our discomfiture?" Next summer Roosevelt was watching a naval review when a launch marked "Pres Bot" chugged ostentatiously by. The president waved and laughed with delight.<ref>Pringle 465-7; Brands 555ff</ref>

===Football reform===
Both Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson took an intense interest in the controversy over the reform of college football to make the game more efficient and less brutal. In the 1890s and early 1900s, football faced widespread harsh criticism over injuries and the exaggerated role of athletics in college life. Roosevelt and Wilson, loyal followers of Harvard and Princeton, had defended football in the 1890s. In the fall of 1905, however, Roosevelt called a conference of football experts at the White House to discuss brutality and unsportsmanlike conduct. Thereafter, Roosevelt worked behind the scenes to bring about sufficient reform to preserve football and insure that it would continue to be played at Harvard. In the years 1909-10, when college football again faced an injury crisis, Woodrow Wilson, president of Princeton University worked with the presidents at Harvard and Yale to make reasonable reforms. Both Roosevelt's and Wilson's approaches were consistent with their strategies for national political change. In the years that followed the reforms on the gridiron, football evolved rapidly into the 'attractive' game that Wilson had advocated and a far less brutal game than the unruly spectacle that Roosevelt had tried to control.<ref>John S. Watterson, "Political Football: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and the Gridiron Reform Movement." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 1995 25(3): 555-564</ref>

==Religion and character==
In a speech in 1911 Roosevelt said the King James Version was "the book to which our people owe infinitely the greater part of their store of ethics, infinitely the greater part of their knowledge of how to apply that store to the needs of our every-day life." The former president was characteristically dramatic:
:"No other book of any kind ever written in English—perhaps no other book ever written in any other tongue—has ever so affected the whole life of a people as this authorized version of the Scriptures has affected the life of the English-speaking peoples."

Roosevelt could base his conclusions less on ''specific'' Christian reasoning than on broad humanitarian appeal. He urged his auditors to study the Bible, not necessarily "as an inspired book," but as an essential volume for every person "who seeks after a high and useful life."<ref>Mark Noll, "'The Most Democratic Book in the World'" ''Christian History & Biography'' 2008 (99): 26-29 in [[EBSCO]]</ref>

Paradoxically however, Roosevelt was not sworn in on a Bible. He remains the only president in history not to do so.<ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pihtml/pinotable.html Library of Congress Presidential Inauguration Precedents and Notable Events]</ref>

Like his Roosevelt ancestors, Roosevelt was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. In Oyster Bay there was no Reformed church, and so from 1887 onward he went to Christ Church (Episcopal) with his wife Edith and the children, where he took part in the service, loudly singing the hymns. In Albany and Washington Roosevelt attended a Dutch Reformed church.

Unlike many presidents, Roosevelt was an enthusiastic churchmen. Biographer George Grant writes,
<blockquote>
He grew up in the church, raised his children in the church, and remained in the church into his dying day... His reasoning was simple and straightforward: man was made for covenant.

Roosevelt's personal experience with the Church was a happy one—and he grew great strength from it. As he confessed to his friends, "after a week of wrestling with perplexing problems, it does so rest my soul to come to the House of the Lord and to sing—and to mean it—Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.

[Roosevelt] refrained from hunting, fishing, playing games, or transacting any sort of business on Sunday.<ref>[http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/Religion.htm THE RELIGION of THEODORE ROOSEVELT] Relative little has been written on Roosevelt 's religion, although a book, ''ROOSEVELT'S RELIGION'' by Christian Reisner, [http://books.google.com/books?id=-rVEAAAAIAAJ&dq=ROOSEVELT%27S+RELIGION+by+Christian+Reisner&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=NaRpPqwPWv&sig=v-mVzmOukGfPAKjq6jZgfo4q3aM&hl=en&ei=x8-CSpiCOsaltgfD_rjMCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 George Grant, "The courage and character of Theodore Roosevelt. A hero among leaders."], pp. 170,71</ref>
</blockquote>
Roosevelt provided ''Nine Reasons Why a Man Should Go to Church'',<ref>http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/Church9reasons.htm</ref> such as

:''In this actual world, a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid down grade.''

:''He will listen to and take part in reading some beautiful passages from the Bible. And if he is not familiar with the Bible he has suffered a loss.''

:''He may not hear a good sermon at church. He will hear a sermon by a good man who, with his wife, is engaged all of the week in making hard lives a little easier.''

:''I advocate a man's joining in church work for the sake of showing his faith by his works.''

Various other quotes<ref>''The Works of Theodore Roosevelt - National Edition'', H-BAR Enterprises</ref><ref>http://thinkexist.com/quotation/a_thorough_knowledge_of_the_bible_is_worth_more/164715.html</ref><ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/theodore-roosevelt</ref> help express Roosevelt's character and values.

:''A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.''

:''To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.''

:''There is not in all America a more dangerous trait than the deification of mere smartness unaccompanied by any sense of moral responsibility.''<ref>Abilene, KS, May 2, 1903</ref>

:''A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.''

:''Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly gone down to the brink of the chasm of darkness to bring back the children in whose hands rests the future of the years.''<ref>The Great Adventure, 1918</ref>

:''The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name."<ref name="Chicago, IL, April 10, 1899">Chicago, IL, April 10, 1899</ref>

:''It is better to be faithful than famous.''

:''There are good men and bad men of all nationalities, creeds and colors; and if this world of ours is ever to become what we hope some day it may become, it must be by the general recognition that the man's heart and soul, the man's worth and actions, determine his standing.''<ref>Letter, Oyster Bay, NY, September 1, 1903</ref>

:''I have a perfect horror of words that are not backed up by deeds.''<ref>Oyster Bay, NY, July 7, 1915</ref>

:''Men can never escape being governed. Either they must govern themselves or they must submit to being governed by others.''<ref>Jamestown, VA, April 26, 1907</ref>

:''A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.''<ref name="An Autobiography, 1913">An Autobiography, 1913</ref>

:''This country has nothing to fear from the crooked man who fails. We put him in jail. It is the crooked man who succeeds who is a threat to this country.''<ref>Memphis, TN, October 25, 1905</ref>

:''No man can lead a public career really worth leading, no man can act with rugged independence in serious crises, nor strike at great abuses, nor afford to make powerful and unscrupulous foes, if he is himself vulnerable in his private character.''<ref name="An Autobiography, 1913"/>

:''Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable; but it can never take the place of action, or be even a poor substitute for it. The function of the mere critic is of very subordinate usefulness. It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger.(1894)''

:''I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life; I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.''<ref>Des Moines, Iowa, November 4, 1910</ref>

:''The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight.''

:''There is not a man of us who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother.''<ref>Pasadena, CA, May 8, 1903</ref>

:''Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.''

:''It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.''<ref name="Chicago, IL, April 10, 1899"/>

:''The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything.''

:''...any nation which in its youth lives only for the day, reaps without sowing, and consumes without husbanding, must expect the penalty of the prodigal whose labor could with difficulty find him the bare means of life.''<ref>Arbor Day - A Message to the School-Children of the United States" April 15, 1907</ref>

:''Conservation means development as much as it does protection. I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.''"<ref>The New Nationalism" speech, Osawatomie, Kansas, August 31, 1910</ref>

:''Is America a weakling, to shrink from the work of the great world powers? No! The young giant of the West stands on a continent and clasps the crest of an ocean in either hand. Our nation, glorious in youth and strength, looks into the future with eager eyes and rejoices as a strong man to run a race.''<ref>Letter to John Hay, American Ambassador to the Court of St. James, London, Written in Washington, DC, June 7, 1897</ref>

:''Now to you men, who, in your turn, have come together to spend and be spent in the endless crusade against wrong, to you who face the future resolute and confident, to you who strive in a spirit of brotherhood for the betterment of our Nation, to you who gird yourselves for this great new fight in the never-ending warfare for the good of humankind, I say in closing what in that speech I said in closing: We stand at Armageddon, and we battle for the Lord''<ref>A Confession of Faith, delivered in Chicago, Illinois, 6 August 1912</ref>

:''No abounding of material prosperity shall avail us if our spiritual senses atrophy. The foes of our own household shall prevail against us unless there be in our people an inner life which finds its outer expression in a morality like that preached by the seers and prophets of God when the grandeur that was Greece and the glory that was Rome still lay in the future.''<ref>Theodore Roosevelt, The Foes of Our Own Household, New York, 1917, p.132</ref>

:''Every thinking man, when he thinks, realizes that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole social and civic life that it would be literally impossible to figure what life would be like if these standards were removed. We would lose almost all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals.''<ref>James Willis, The Letters and Speeches of Theodore Roosevelt, 1937, p.86</ref>

:''There are those who believe that a new modernity demands a new morality. What they fail to consider is the harsh reality that there is no such thing as a new morality. There is only one morality. All else is immorality. There is only true Christian ethics over against which stands the whole of paganism. If we are to fulfill our destiny as a people, then we must return to the old morality, the sole morality. And if we are to do that the church must prepare us for the task.''<ref>David Johnson, Theodore Roosevelt: American Monarch, 1981, p.91</ref>

==In modern culture==
Joe Wiegand is a well known Roosevelt impersonator, who has traveled the country lecturing about the life of Theodore Roosevelt.<ref>[http://www.teddyrooseveltshow.com/ The Teddy Roosevelt Show - Joe Wiegand]</ref>

== See also ==
*[[American Antiquities Act of 1906]]

==Bibliography==
===Surveys===
* Buenker, John D. and Joseph Buenker, eds. ''Encyclopedia of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.'' (3 vol 2005), 1280pp; articles on all the major people, events and causes of Roosevelt’s era
* Mowry, George. ''The Era of Theodore Roosevelt and the Birth of Modern America, 1900–1912.'' (1954) general survey of era

===Biographies===
* Brands, H.W. ''T.R.: The Last Romantic'' (1998), scholarly biography [http://www.questia.com/read/98669157?title=T.R.%3a%20The%20Last%20Romantic online edition]
* Chessman, G. Wallace. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Politics of Power,'' (1969), short biography by scholar
* Cooper, John Milton ''The Warrior and the Priest: Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1983), well-written a dual scholarly biography [http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Priest-Woodrow-Theodore-Roosevelt/dp/0674947517/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220396273&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Dalton, Kathleen. ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life.'' (2002), full scholarly biography that stresses his late crusade for social welfare [http://www.amazon.com/Theodore-Roosevelt-Strenuous-Kathleen-Dalton/dp/0679767339/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752111&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Harbaugh, William Henry. ''The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1963), full scholarly biography; good on politics
* Keller, Morton, ed., ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Profile'' (1967) excerpts from Roosevelt and from historians.
* McCullough, David. ''Mornings on Horseback, The Story of an Extraordinary Family. a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt.'' (2001) popular biography to 1884 [http://www.amazon.com/Mornings-Horseback-Extraordinary-Vanished-Roosevelt/dp/0671447548/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752478&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]
* Morris, Edmund. ''The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt'', to 1901 (1979); vol 2: ''Theodore Rex'' 1901–1909. (2001); Pulitzer prize for Volume 1. Biography; unusually well-written and well-researched [http://www.amazon.com/Theodore-Roosevelt-Modern-Library-Paperbacks/dp/0375756787/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752478&sr=1-4 vol 1 excerpt and text search]
* O'Toole, Patricia. ''When Trumpets Call: Theodore Roosevelt after the White House.'' (2005). 494 pp. [http://www.amazon.com/When-Trumpets-Call-Theodore-Roosevelt/dp/0684864789/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752668&sr=1-16 excerpt and text search]
* Pringle, Henry F. ''Theodore Roosevelt'' (1932; 2nd ed. 1956), full scholarly biography [http://www.questia.com/read/270595?title=Theodore%20Roosevelt%3a%20A%20Biography online 1st edition]
* Putnam, Carleton ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Biography, Volume I: The Formative Years'' (1958), only volume published, to age 28; written by prominent conservative

===Scholarly studies ===
* Barsness,John A. "Theodore Roosevelt as Cowboy: The Virginian as Jacksonian Man." ''American Quarterly,'' Vol. 21, No. 3 (Autumn, 1969), pp. 609–619 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2711937 in JSTOR]
* Blum, John Morton ''The Republican Roosevelt.'' (1954). Influential essays that examine how Roosevelt did politics
* Brinkley, Douglas. ''The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America'' (2009), best coverage of Roosevelt and conservation [http://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Warrior-Theodore-Roosevelt-Crusade/dp/0060565284/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752478&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Burton, David H. ''Taft, Roosevelt, and the Limits of Friendship,'' (2005) [http://www.questia.com/read/112015842?title=Taft%2c%20Roosevelt%2c%20and%20the%20Limits%20of%20Friendship online edition]
* Chace, James. ''1912: Wilson, Roosevelt, Taft, and Debs - The Election That Changed the Country.'' (2004). 323 pp; popular account [http://www.amazon.com/1912-Roosevelt-Debs-Election-Changed/dp/0743273559/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220396215&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Cutright, Paul Russell. ''Theodore Roosevelt: The Making of a Conservationist'' (1985)
* Dorsey, Leroy G., and Rachel M. Harlow, "'We Want Americans Pure and Simple': Theodore Roosevelt and the Myth of Americanism," ''Rhetoric & Public Affairs,'' Volume 6, Number 1, Spring 2003, pp. 55–78 [http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/rhetoric_and_public_affairs/v006/6.1dorsey.html in Project Muse]
* Ellsworth, Clayton S. "Theodore Roosevelt's Country Life Commission." ''Agricultural History'', Vol. 34, No. 4 (Oct., 1960), pp. 155–172 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3741109 in JSTOR]
* Dyer, Thomas G. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Idea of Race'' (1980)
* Fehn, Bruce. "Theodore Roosevelt and American Masculinity." ''Magazine of History'' (2005) 19(2): 52–59. Issn: 0882-228x Fulltext online at Ebsco. Provides a lesson plan on TR as the historical figure who most exemplifies the quality of masculinity.
* Friedenberg, Robert V. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Rhetoric of Militant Decency'' (1990) [http://www.questia.com/read/71082317?title=Theodore%20Roosevelt%20and%20the%20Rhetoric%20of%20Militant%20Decency online edition]
* Gerstle, Gary. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Divided Character of American Nationalism," ''The Journal of American History,'' Vol. 86, No. 3, (Dec., 1999), pp. 1280–1307 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2568615 in JSTOR]
* Gosnell, Harold F. ''Boss Platt and His New York Machine: A Study of the Political Leadership of Thomas C. Platt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Others'' (1924) [http://www.questia.com/read/9489049?title=Boss%20Platt%20and%20His%20New%20York%20Machine%3a%20A%20Study%20of%20the%20Political%20Leadership%20of%20Thomas%20C.%20Platt%2c%20Theodore%20Roosevelt%2c%20and%20Others online edition]
* Gould, Lewis L. ''The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1991), standard history of his domestic and foreign policy as president
** Gatewood, Willard B. "The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. by Lewis L. Gould" ''Reviews in American History,'' Vol. 20, No. 4 (Dec., 1992), pp. 512–517 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2702868 in JSTOR]
* Havig, Alan. "Presidential Images, History, and Homage: Memorializing Theodore Roosevelt, 1919-1967 ". ''American Quarterly,'' Vol. 30, No. 4 (Autumn, 1978), pp. 514–532 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2712298 IN jstor]
* Johnson, Arthur M. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Bureau of Corporations". ''The Mississippi Valley Historical Review,'' Vol. 45, No. 4 (Mar., 1959), pp. 571–590 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1888711 in JSTOR]
* Millard, Candice. ''River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey''. (2005), exploring the Amazon
* Mowry, George E. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Movement''. (2001) focus on 1912
* Mowry, George E. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Election of 1910," ''The Mississippi Valley Historical Review,'' Vol. 25, No. 4 (Mar., 1939), pp. 523–534 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1892499 in JSTOR]
* Oyos, Matthew M. "Theodore Roosevelt, Congress, and the Military: U.S. Civil-Military Relations in the Early Twentieth Century," ''Presidential Studies Quarterly,'' Vol. 30, 2000 [http://www.questia.com/read/5001752826?title=Theodore%20Roosevelt%2c%20Congress%2c%20and%20the%20Military%3a%20U.S.%20Civil-Military%20Relations%20in%20the%20Early%20Twentieth%20Century online edition]
* Powell, Jim. ''Bully Boy: The Truth About Theodore Roosevelt's Legacy'' (2006). Denounces TR policies from libertarian perspective; poorly researched
* Rhodes, James Ford. ''The McKinley and Roosevelt Administrations, 1897-1909'' (1922) [http://www.questia.com/read/6404794?title=The%20McKinley%20and%20Roosevelt%20Administrations%2c%201897-1909 online edition]
* Scheiner, Seth M. "President Theodore Roosevelt and the Negro, 1901-1908," ''The Journal of Negro History,'' Vol. 47, No. 3 (Jul., 1962), pp. 169–182 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2716500 in JSTOR]
* Slotkin, Richard. "Nostalgia and Progress: Theodore Roosevelt's Myth of the Frontier," ''American Quarterly,'' Vol. 33, No. 5, (Winter, 1981), pp. 608–637 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2712805 in JSTOR]
* Testi, Arnaldo. "The Gender of Reform Politics: Theodore Roosevelt and the Culture of Masculinity," ''The Journal of American History,'' Vol. 81, No. 4 (Mar., 1995), pp. 1509–1533 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2081647 in JSTOR]
* Watts, Sarah. ''Rough Rider in the White House: Theodore Roosevelt and the Politics of Desire.'' (2003). 289 pp.

===Foreign and military affairs===
* Beale Howard K. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of America to World Power.'' (1956). standard history of his foreign policy
* Buchanan, Russell. "Theodore Roosevelt and American Neutrality, 1914-1917," ''The American Historical Review,'' Vol. 43, No. 4 (Jul., 1938), pp. 775–790 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1842528 in JSTOR]
* Burton, David H. "Theodore Roosevelt: Confident Imperialist" ''The Review of Politics,'' Vol. 23, No. 3 (Jul., 1961), pp. 356–377 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1405440 in JSTOR]
* Burton, David H. "Theodore Roosevelt's Social Darwinism and Views on Imperialism," ''Journal of the History of Ideas,'' Vol. 26, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1965), pp. 103–118 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2708402 in JSTOR]
* Collin, Richard H. "Symbiosis Versus Hegemony: New Directions in the Foreign Relations Historiography of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft." ''Diplomatic History'' 1995 19(3): 473-497 online in [[EBSCO]]
* Gould, Lewis L. ''The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1991), standard history of his domestic and foreign policy as president
* Holmes, James R. ''Theodore Roosevelt and World Order: Police Power in International Relations.'' 2006. 328 pp. case studies of intervention in the Philippines, Cuba, Venezuela, Panama, Santo Domingo, and Morocco
* Marks III, Frederick W. ''Velvet on Iron: The Diplomacy of Theodore Roosevelt'' (1979)
* McCullough, David. ''The Path between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870–1914'' (1977).
* Neu, Charles E. "Theodore Roosevelt and American Involvement in the Far East, 1901-1909," ''The Pacific Historical Review,'' Vol. 35, No. 4 (Nov., 1966), pp. 433–449 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3636977 in JSTOR]
* Oyos, Matthew M. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Implements of War," ''The Journal of Military History,'' Vol. 60, No. 4 (Oct., 1996), pp. 631–655 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2944659 in JSTOR]
* Ricard, Serge. "The Roosevelt Corollary." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 2006 36(1): 17–26. Issn: 0360-4918 [http://www.questia.com/read/5017146446?title=The%20Roosevelt%20Corollary online edition]
* Stillson, Albert C. "Military Policy Without Political Guidance: Theodore Roosevelt's Navy," ''Military Affairs,'' Vol. 25, No. 1 (Spring, 1961), pp. 18–31 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1984220 in JSTOR]
* Tilchin, William N. and Neu, Charles E., ed. ''Artists of Power: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Their Enduring Impact on U.S. Foreign Policy.'' Praeger, 2006. 196 pp. [http://www.questia.com/read/113233998?title=Artists%20of%20Power%3a%20%20Theodore%20Roosevelt%2c%20Woodrow%20Wilson%2c%20and%20Their%20Enduring%20Impact%20on%20U.S.%20Foreign%20Policy online edition]
* Tilchin, William N. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the British Empire: A Study in Presidential Statecraft'' (1997)

===Primary sources===
* Auchincloss, Louis, ed. ''Theodore Roosevelt, The Rough Riders and an Autobiography'' (Library of America, 2004) ISBN 978-1-93108265-5; ''Theodore Roosevelt, Letters and Speeches'' (Library of America, 2004) ISBN 978-1-93108266-2
* Brands, H.W. ed. ''The Selected Letters of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (2001)
* Butt, Archie. ''The Letters of Archie Butt, Personal Aide to President Roosevelt,'' (1924) [http://www.questia.com/read/6560284?title=The%20Letters%20of%20Archie%20Butt%2c%20Personal%20Aide%20to%20President%20Roosevelt online edition]
* Gould, Lewis L., ed. ''Bull Moose on the Stump: The 1912 Campaign Speeches of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (2008). 256 pages,
* Harbaugh, William ed. ''The Writings Of Theodore Roosevelt'' (1967). A one-volume selection of Roosevelt's speeches and essays.
* Hart, Albert Bushnell and Herbert Ronald Ferleger, eds. ''Theodore Roosevelt Cyclopedia'' (1941), Roosevelt's opinions on many issues; online version at [http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/]
* Morison, Elting E., John Morton Blum, and [[Alfred D. Chandler, Jr.]], eds., ''The Letters of Theodore Roosevelt'', 8 vols. (1951–1954). Very large, annotated edition of letters from TR.
* Roosevelt, Theodore. [http://www.bartleby.com/55/ ''Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography ''(1910)]''. online at Bartleby.com.
* Roosevelt, Theodore. ''The Works of Theodore Roosevelt'' (National edition, 20 vol. 1926); 18,000 pages containing most of TR's speeches, books and essays, but not his letters; a CD-ROM edition is available; some of TR's books are available online through [http://www.bartleby.com/people/RsvltT.html Project Bartleby]
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/r#a729 Theodore Roosevelt books and speeches on Project Gutenberg]
* Roosevelt, Theodore. "Theodore Roosevelt on Motherhood and the Welfare of the State," ''Population and Development Review,'' Vol. 13, No. 1 (Mar., 1987), pp. 141–147 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1972126 in JSTOR]
* Shaw, Albert, ed. ''A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career'' (1910) [http://books.google.com/books?id=QEIOAAAAIAAJ full text and cartoons online]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[http://faithandfreedom.us/documents/20thcentury/bigstick.htm "Big Stick" Policy.] Faith & Freedom Network.
*[https://librivox.org/author/1471 Works by Theodore Roosevelt - text and free audio] - [[LibriVox]]

{{USPresidents}}
{{USVicePresidents}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roosevelt, Theodore}}

[[Category:Presidents of the United States|Roosevelt, Theodore]]
[[Category:Vice Presidents of the United States|Roosevelt, Theodore]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Nobel laureates in Peace|Roosevelt, Theodore]]
[[Category:People who were Educated at Home]]
[[Category:Progressive Era]]
[[Category:Spanish-American War]]
[[Category:Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:Environmentalism]]
[[Category:New York Governors]]
[[Category:Gilded Age]]
[[Category:American war heroes]]
[[Category:Republican Governors]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Pro Second Amendment]]
[[Category:American Gun Rights Advocates]]
[[Category:Patriots]]
[[Category:Veterans]]
[[Category:Hunting]]

Theodore Roosevelt

2017-01-02T18:57:16Z

DerekE: /* Turn to the left */Added wiki link

{{Officeholder
|name=Theodore Roosevelt
|image=Theodore Roosevelt by John Singer Sargent 1903.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Alice Hathaway Lee Edith Kermit Carow
|religion=Dutch [[Reformed]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/president
|country=the United States
|number=26th
|terms=September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909<ref>http://home.comcast.net/~sharonday7/Presidents/AP060301.htm</ref>
|vp=[[Charles W. Fairbanks]] (1901-1905)
|preceded=[[William McKinley]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[William Howard Taft]]
}}
{{Officeholder/vice president
|country=the United States
|number=25th
|terms=March 4, 1901 – March 4, 1801
|president=[[William McKinley]]
|preceded=[[Garret Hobart]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Charles W. Fairbanks]]
}}
{{Officeholder/governor
|number=33rd
|state=New York
|terms=January 1, 1899 – December 31, 1900
|lieutenant=Timothy Lester Woodruff
|preceded=[[Frank Swett Black]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Benjamin Barker Odell, Jr.]]
}}
{{Officeholder/secretary (cabinet)
|of=the Navy
|deputy=y
|president=[[William McKinley, Jr.]]
|terms=April 19, 1897 – May 10, 1898
|preceded=William McAdoo
|former=y
|succeeded=Charles Herbert Allen
}}
}}
'''Theodore Roosevelt''' was the 26th [[president of the United States of America]], 1901-1909, leader of the [[Republican party]] and (in 1912-16) the Progressive Party. Roosevelt is best known for his remarkable personality and commitment to democratic process. He was strongly committed to law and order, active leadership, civic duty and individual self-responsibility; he was more concerned with the process of change than its direction.

A strong and vigorous man both personally and in politics, it was through Roosevelt that the world identified America with cowboy values of courage, initiative and hardiness while it watched Roosevelt expand American influence in world affairs.

Roosevelt enlarged the presidency because he made it a "bully pulpit" for national uplift and inspiration. He preached as much as he politicked. He felt responsible for the well-being and morals of the whole country. He set an example of how a large, strenuous life could be led, and he invited others to renew their energies and apply them to public causes. He strongly endorsed motherhood and criticized women who had careers while neglecting motherhood.<ref>See "Theodore Roosevelt on Motherhood and the Welfare of the State," ''Population and Development Review,'' Vol. 13, No. 1 (Mar., 1987), pp. 141-147 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1972126 online]</ref>

In the contest between [[Conservation and environmentalism]], Roosevelt supported the conservation and optimum use of natural resources and opposed the environmentalists of the day, such as [[John Muir]].

==Family==
The Roosevelts could trace their family to Claes Martenssen van Rosenvelt, an immigrant from Zealand, Holland ([[Netherlands]]) who came to America in 1649, settling in New Amsterdam ([[New York City]]). Theodore was born on October 27, 1858, the second child of a very successful New York businessman, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., and his wife Martha Bulloch, a Southern belle from Georgia. His early childhood was marked by frequent illness and asthma, of which his father spent many an evening bundling up "Tedie" - as young Theodore was often called - and taking him out for carriage rides in the fresh air. By age 10 his father would have enough of the possibility of his son growing into an unhealthy weakling and forced on him a regimen of weights and daily physical exercise.
[[Image:Schoolpic.jpg|thumb|100px|left|Young Theodore Roosevelt]]
===Education===
Roosevelt was home schooled by tutors and his parents. He was solid in geography (thanks to his careful observations on all his travels) and very well read in history, strong in biology, French and German, but deficient in mathematics, Latin and Greek. He became one of the outstanding naturalists of the era, specializing in very careful study of birds.<ref>Brands (2001) p. 49–50</ref> He attended [[Harvard]] College, graduating in 1880 "magna cum laude". He lived very well—his annual $4000 allowance was higher than the president of the college—the days of equalitarian houses were decades in the future. His father's sudden death in 1878 was a stunning blow; Roosevelt redoubled his efforts.<ref>His inheritance was worth $8000 a year, about triple what the average doctor or lawyer earned.</ref> In academics he did well in science, philosophy and rhetoric courses, as well as German; but fared poorly in Latin and Greek. Harvard did not have majors, but he took all the advanced biology he could. Classmates considered him an odd bird—he kept snakes in his room and knew all about them. He also dressed in the latest fashions and kept his own horse and buggy. A crack shot, he brought his friends along on hunting parties to the north woods. The perfect gentleman, he was invited into the best clubs.

Roosevelt had amazing powers of concentration. He had a photographic memory and developed a lifelong habit of devouring books, memorizing every detail. He was an unusually eloquent conversationalist who, throughout his life, sought out the company of the smartest men and women. He could multitask in extraordinary fashion, dictating letters to one secretary and memoranda to another, while browsing through a new book. During his adulthood, a visitor would get a not-so-subtle hint that Roosevelt was losing interest in the conversation when he would pick up a book and begin looking at it now and then as the conversation continued.
[[Image:Alice Lee.gif|thumb|right|Mrs. Alice Roosevelt]]
===First marriage===

Roosevelt married Alice Lee of Boston in 1880. on February 14, 1884, Roosevelt's young wife died after giving birth to the couple's first child. Only a few hours earlier, his mother, Martha Bulloch Roosevelt had died in the same house. After the double funeral and the christening of his new baby daughter, Alice, on February 17, 1884, the bereaved husband wrote:''
:''For joy or for sorrow my life has now been lived out.''

He never again ever mentioned Alice Lee.

==Early career==
Given a chance to run for the state legislature in a "silk stocking" (rich) district in Manhattan, he astonished his upscale friends by dropping out of Columbia Law School and was elected. His goal, he explained, was to join the "ruling class" not merely watch it passively.

Young Roosevelt was a Republican reformer in the legislature, writing more bills than anyone. Already a major player in state politics, he attended the Republican National Convention in 1884 and fought alongside the [[Mugwump]] reformers; they lost to the Stalwart faction that nominated [[James G. Blaine]]. Refusing to join other Mugwumps in supporting Democrat [[Grover Cleveland]], the Democratic nominee, he stayed loyal to the GOP.<ref>Edward Kohn, "Crossing the Rubicon: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and the 1884 Republican National Convention." ''Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era'' 2006 5(1): 18-45. Issn: 1537-7814</ref>

Roosevelt held many offices. He was on the federal Civil Service Commission, then headed the New York City Police Department. After campaigning vigorously for [[William McKinley]] in the momentous 1896 presidential election, he became Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the #2 position. He loved ships and had written solid naval history; his goal was to modernize the Navy, bringing it up to world class standards.

==War with Spain, 1898, and Medal of Honor==
When the battleship ''Maine'' was blown up in Manila harbor on February 15, 1898, Roosevelt, immediately resigned as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and worked with Colonel [[Leonard Wood]] to recruit a volunteer cavalry regiment composed of his Ivy League friends and western cowboys for the [[Spanish-American War|coming war against Spain]]. Hundreds answered his invitation to join in this grand endeavor and, after brief training, the "Rough Riders" arrived in Cuba. On July 1, 1898, Roosevelt seized the initiative and led his men on the celebrated charge of San Juan Hill where 89 of the 490 who followed were killed. Nevertheless, the press and Roosevelt made this the most important battle of the campaign. The "splendid little war" (as termed by John Hay, State Ambassador to England<ref>Frank Freidel, ''The Splendid Little War'', (Boston: Little, Brown and Co. 1958)</ref>) was soon over and Roosevelt returned to a hero's welcome in New York City.

After the battles in Cuba, malaria, yellow fever and typhoid became an issue for the troops. Roosevelt, not constrained by a military career, complained to both the White House and the press about the need for the troops to return home for better care. This, coupled with a bias against volunteers, is most likely the reason that when Roosevelt was nominated for the Congressional [[Medal of Honor]] for his bravery during the battle at San Juan Hill, the nomination was not approved.<ref name="medal">[http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/medalofhonor.htm Roosevelt Medal of Honor]</ref>

President [[Bill Clinton]] posthumously bestowed the Medal of Honor to Roosevelt on January 16, 2001, saying,
<blockquote>
...TR was a larger-than-life figure who gave our nation a larger-than-life vision of our place in the world. Part of that vision was formed on San Juan Hill. His Rough Riders were made up of all kinds of Americans from all walks of life. They were considered unpolished and undisciplined, but they were true citizen soldiers. By taking San Juan Hill, eventually they forced the enemy fleet into the Battle of Santiago Bay, where it was routed. This led to the Spanish surrender and opened the era of America as a global power.<ref name="medal"/>
</blockquote>

Roosevelt and his eldest son, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., are one of only two father/son pairs to earn the Medal of Honor. Roosevelt Jr. posthumously received his for actions on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day during [[World War II]]. Roosevelt is the first and only president to receive the Medal of Honor.

==Governor of New York==
A few weeks after his return Roosevelt was elected governor of New York as a Republican in 1898. As governor of New York, Theodore Roosevelt promoted greater accountability and efficiency in government by ending patronage handouts, supporting an effective civil service system and forcing the Republican machine to hold fair elections.

==Vice president, 1900==
Senator Tom Platt and other party bosses distrusted him, and they forced his nomination as vice president on [[William McKinley]] in 1900. Roosevelt demonstrated his amazing energy by his campaign work. Nationally, Roosevelt covered 21,209 miles by train. In Nebraska alone, some 300,000 men, women and children turned out for his 673 speeches at 40 cities and towns as he covered 1,500 miles in the state. His arguments for McKinley prosperity and America's role in the Philippines were accepted wholeheartedly or dismissed scornfully by his audiences. The GOP ticket carried Nebraska, the home state of Democratic nominee [[William Jennings Bryan]], by 7,000 votes.

Once in office, He had little to do.

==President==
[[Image:Tr2006.jpg|thumb|290px|''Time'' July 3, 2006]]
In 1901, President McKinley was fatally shot by [[Leon Czolgosz]], an [[anarchist]]. Roosevelt automatically became President. He was reelected in [[United States presidential election, 1904|1904]] against a challenge by the Democratic candidate Alton B. Parker.

Roosevelt redefined the modern presidency by drawing attention to the office through his dynamic personality, thus creating a 'public obsession' over his executive actions and attracting a permanent public eye toward the presidency that endowed it with new power.

===Domestic policy===
Roosevelt was the chief leader of the [[Progressive Era|Progressive movement in politics]]—which in 21st century terms includes both liberal and conservative values. He tried to move the dominant Republican Party into the Progressive camp. He distrusted wealthy businessmen and dissolved 40 monopolistic corporations as a "trust buster". He did not disagree with trusts and capitalism in principle but was only against their corrupt, illegal practices. His "[[Square Deal]]" promised a fair shake for both the average citizen, including regulation of railroad rates and pure foods and drugs and the businessmen. As an outdoorsman, he promoted the conservation movement, emphasizing efficient use of natural resources.

In his last two years in office (1907-1908), Roosevelt moved left, attacking big business and suggesting the courts were biased against labor unions.
====Pure food and drugs====
{{main|Pure Food and Drug Act|Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906}}

Widespread outrage followed publication in 1906 of [[Upton Sinclair]]'s novel, ''The Jungle,'' which detailed the horrible conditions in Chicago’s packinghouses. Roosevelt sent Labor Commissioner Charles P. Neill and social worker James Bronson Reynolds<ref>[http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1906/06/05/page/4/article/conditions-in-stockyards-described-in-the-neill-reynolds-report Conditions in Stockyards Described in the Neill-Reynolds Report], [[Chicago Tribune]]</ref> to investigate the meat-packing industry in Chicago. Their report to the president was 'revolting,' but since Roosevelt feared the impact on ranchers and European meat importers, he withheld the Neill-Reynolds report from publication. Sinclair was so upset that he provided specific information to newspapers. Roosevelt then had the commissioners put their report in writing and sent it to Congress. This led to a hearing before Congress; witnesses were asked about seeing a dead hog slide partway into a men's privy. Although Sinclair was a Socialist and his main interest was in the stockyard workers, not consumers, the turmoil over tainted meat helped move Congress to enact the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. The act itself had been drawn up by experts in the Department of Agriculture and remains in effect in the 21st century.<ref>James Harvey Young, "The Pig That Fell into the Privy: Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' and the Meat Inspection Amendments of 1906." ''Bulletin of the History of Medicine'' 1985 59(4): 467-480</ref>

====Coal strike====
The [[Coal strike of 1902]] was a strike by the [[United Mine Workers of America]] in the anthracite coal fields of eastern Pennsylvania. The strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to all major cities.<ref>Most homes and apartments were heated with anthracite or "hard" coal because it had higher heat value and less smoke than "soft" or bituminous coal.</ref> Roosevelt jumped in and personally negotiated with the mine leaders and financiers. Acting as a neutral party, he set up a fact-finding commission that suspended the strike. The strike never resumed, as the miners received more pay for fewer hours; the owners got a higher price for coal but did not recognize the union as a bargaining agent. It was the first labor episode in which the federal government intervened as a neutral arbitrator and it made Roosevelt's reputation as a peacemaker.
[[Image:Coal-TR.JPG|thumb|300px|left|Roosevelt teaches the childish coal barons a lesson; 1902 editorial cartoon]]
====Railroad regulation====
{{main|Elkins Act|Hepburn Act}}

Roosevelt worked closely with Congress to pass important laws such as the 1903 Elkins Act and the 1906 Hepburn Act, that regulated railroad rates for the benefit of shippers and consumers. Ultimately, these bills injured the railroads (which were assumed to be so rich that they could always pay). The new laws retarded the growth of the South, which the railroads could no longer afford to subsidize.<ref>Albro Martin, "The Troubled Subject of Railroad Regulation in the Gilded Age - a Reappraisal." ''Journal of American History'' 1974 61(2): 339-371 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1903953 in JSTOR]</ref>

====Antitrust====
Roosevelt expressed an antitrust image within a pro business framework. Critics who have measured Roosevelt's success by the number of antitrust suits he brought or won miss the essentially rhetorical purposes of his involvement with corporate America. His primary emphasis involved the promotion of the proper attitude in corporate leaders and the general public regarding the role of big business in American society. This Roosevelt did in two ways. First, he argued metaphorically for the necessity of corporations and the restraint of muckraking journalists. Second, along with employing metaphors to chastise big business, Roosevelt assumed the role of moral guardian and preached to corporate leaders to adhere to an ethical standard in business. For Roosevelt, corporate America could be effectively regulated only by its leaders' sense of morality and spirit of public service.<ref>Dorsey, Leroy G., "Theodore Roosevelt and Corporate America, 1901-1909: a Reexamination," ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 1995 25(4): 725-739</ref>
====Executive Orders====
Roosevelt was the first President to issue over 1000 [[Executive Order]]s. According to Dr. Graham G. Dodds, a professor of political science at Concordia University,<ref>[https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/polisci/faculty.html?fpid=graham-dodds Graham Dodds, PhD]</ref> Roosevelt issued almost as many executive orders as all of his predecessors combined.<ref>{{cite book|title=Executing the Constitution: Putting the President Back Into the Constitution|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qgzmexCI734C&pg=PA53 |year=2006|publisher=State University of New York Press|pages=53|isbn=9780791481905}}</ref>

Prior to Roosevelt, only one President issued over 200 executive orders, [[Grover Cleveland]].(Cleveland issued a total of 253)<ref name=executiveorders>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/orders.php Executive Orders: Washington - Obama]</ref> Of the first 25 Presidents in total, 1262 executive orders were issued. Roosevelt issued 1081.<ref name=executiveorders />

Members of congress eventually got tired of Roosevelt's excesses in using executive orders to create policy. On February 25th, 1907, Senator Charles W. Fulton, a Republican from Oregon, added an amendment to the 1907 Agricultural Appropriations Bill<ref>[http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev7_007136.pdf Siuslaw National Forest], '''PDF'''</ref> declaring these activities as falling under the authority of congressional power, not executive power. Congressional leaders concluded that the president was out of control.<ref>{{cite book|title=Theodore Roosevelt: Preacher of Righteousness|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UiYRkL4GqP4C&pg=PA178 |year=2008|publisher=Yale University Press|pages=178|isbn=9780300145144}}</ref>

===Moving left===
[[File:TR-Farewell.jpg|thumb|320px|Roosevelt moves left in his 1908 Farewell Address]]
Roosevelt moved left in 1907-08, criticizing the courts, promoting labor unions and attacking big business. The Republican leadership in Congress ignored his radical proposals and waited for his successor-Taft-to take over the White House.
====View of the Constitution====
Roosevelt's administration marked the shift to a more activist conception of the presidency, in peace as well as war,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pyle|first1=Christopher H.|last2=Pious|first2=Richard M.|title=The President, Congress, and the Constitution: Power and Legitimacy in American Politics|date=1984|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-0029253809|pages=68–69}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/policy-report/2002/11/chapman.pdf |title=TR: No Friend of the Constitution |work=Cato Institute |date=November/December 2002 }}</ref> and was both internationalist and aggressive in asserting Presidential power.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dumbrell|first1=John|last2=Barrett|first2=David M.|title=The Making of US Foreign Policy|date=1997|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=978-0719048227|pages=56–57}}</ref> He would write in his Autobiography:
<blockquote>I declined to adopt the view that what was imperatively necessary for the Nation could not be done by the President unless he could find some specific authorization to do it. My belief was that it was not only his right but his duty to do anything that the needs of the Nation demanded unless such action was forbidden by the Constitution or by the laws. Under this interpretation of executive power I did and caused to be done many things not previously done by the President and the heads of the departments. I did not usurp power, but I did greatly broaden the use of executive power. In other words, I acted for the public welfare, I acted for the common well-being of all our people, whenever and in whatever manner was necessary, unless prevented by direct constitutional or legislative prohibition.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Roosevelt|first1=Theodore|title=Theodore Roosevelt, an Autobiography|date=1913|publisher=Charles Scribner's sons|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Io4fAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA357|pages=}}</ref></blockquote>
This view came to be known as the [[Stewardship Theory]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Dodds|first1=Graham G.|title=Take Up Your Pen: Unilateral Presidential Directives in American Politics|date=May 2, 2013|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|isbn=978-0-8122-4511-0|pages=31–33}}</ref> by [[William Howard Taft]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Taft|first1=William H.|title=Our chief magistrate and his powers|date=1916|publisher=Columbia University Press|url=https://archive.org/details/ourchiefmagistra00taftuoft|pages=139–140}}</ref>

===Foreign Policy===
Roosevelt's administration was marked by an active approach to foreign policy. He followed four basic principles:
#promoting broadly defined American interests worldwide
#building American military and naval power and control over strategic points (especially the Panama canal and its approaches)
#cooperation with the British
#there was a social contract between the nation's citizens and its government, such that civilized nations had a right of intervention in cases in which such a contract had been broken. His foreign policy was well suited for the challenges of the world; he anticipated later attitudes and developments well into the 20th century and even the 21st century, as exemplified by [[John McCain]] in 2008.<ref>M. Patrick Cullinane, "Invoking Teddy: the Inspiration of John Mccain's Foreign Policy." ''Diplomacy & Statecraft'' 2008 19(4): 767-786</ref> He combined a credible realist and internationalist approach with great attention to detail and full appreciation of the importance of diplomatic finesse.

====Civilization and modernization====
Roosevelt saw it as the duty of more developed ("civilized") nations to help the underdeveloped ("uncivilized") world move forward. In [[Cuba]], the [[Philippines]], [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[Panama Canal Zone]], he used the Army's medical service, under [[Walter Reed]] and [[William C. Gorgas]], to eliminate the [[yellow fever]] menace and install a new regime of public health. He used the army to build up the infrastructure of the new possessions, building railways, telegraph and telephone lines, and upgrading roads and port facilities.
====Army and Navy====
Roosevelt and his Secretary of War [[Elihu Root]] modernized the Army by creating a general staff system and structuring the military away from small frontier forts to modern combat roles.

[[File:Tr-militarist-1904World.jpg|thumb|350px| The ''New York World'' newspaper, mouthpiece of liberal Democrats, blasts Roosevelt as a dangerous militaristic dictator in 1904]]

Roosevelt, convinced that American military preparedness hinged on the nation's ability to develop and exploit new technologies, worked to make the technology of the army and navy as modern as possible. Among other things, he took an active interest in the army's consideration of the role of the machine gun and the airplane and in the navy's development of both the submarine and a new and more powerful type of battleship.<ref>Matthew M. Oyos, "Theodore Roosevelt and the Implements of War." ''Journal of Military History'' 1996 60(4): 631-655 25p</ref>

By identifying and working with two talented junior officers in the Navy Department, Albert Lenoir Key and [[William S. Sims]], Roosevelt assembled an ad hoc staff on naval policy. This staff funneled technical information to Roosevelt that allowed him to dominate policy discussions with Congress and the senior Navy staff. The president annoyed his admirals by micromanaging their responsibilities and ignoring the chain of command.<ref>Peri E. Arnold, "Policy Leadership in the Progressive Presidency: the Case of Theodore Roosevelt's Naval Policy and His Search for Strategic Resources". ''Studies in American Political Development'' 1996 10(2): 333-359</ref>

Roosevelt dramatically increased the size of the navy, forming the new warships into a "Great White Fleet" for display purposes and sending it on a world tour in 1907. This display was designed as a show of force to impress the Japanese and even more to motivate Americans to support naval power and be aware of the new role in the Pacific. Yet, the ships were almost forced to return because of the inadequacy of American ports in the Pacific.<ref>James R. Reckner, "The Rebirth of the Fleet." ''Naval History'' 2007 21(6): 16-25 online at [[EBSCO]]; Edward S Miller,''War Plan Orange'' (1991)</ref>

====Britain====
Typical of his eagerness for closer cooperation with London was Washington's support for Britain in the [[Boer War]], despite public opinion that favored the underdog Boers. the British reciprocated, so that in settling the boundary dispute between Canada (controlled by Britain) and Alaska, the British sold out the Canadians to gain American favor—a stunning shock to the Canadians.
====Mediator====
Balance of power considerations shaped Roosevelt's role as the successful mediator who ended the 1904-05 war between Russia and Japan. Japan had clearly won, but was not allowed to grab too much, thus allowing Russia to keep a certain power base in the region. Roosevelt justified his actions as consistent with American interests and American values. Moral principles in politics and diplomacy, Roosevelt claimed, help make clear the inescapable tension between ideals and reality. The moral problem persists, he thought, because diplomacy involves choices often obscured by faulty perception, controlled by national interests and complicated by multiple purposes and goals.<ref>Greg Russell, "Theodore Roosevelt's Diplomacy and the Quest for Great Power Equilibrium in Asia." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 2008 38(3): 433-455</ref>

At the time Japan was consolidating its colonial rule over Korea. Roosevelt supported Japan because he viewed Korea as an backward nation fit to be a protectorate of Japan, which he hoped would protect American economic interests in Manchuria, where Japan was largely in control.<ref>Ki-jung Kim, "Theodore Roosevelt's Image of the World and United States Foreign Policy Toward Korea, 1901-1905." ''Korea Journal'' 1995 35(4): 39-53 1</ref>

====Roosevelt Corollary ====
The '''Roosevelt Corollary''' to the [[Monroe Doctrine]] was a substantial expansion in 1904. Roosevelt asserted the right of the United States to intervene to stabilize the economic affairs of small nations in the Caribbean and Central America if they were unable to pay their international debts and were at risk of intervention by European powers. The new policy primarily prevented intervention by Britain and Germany, which loaned money to the countries that did not repay. The catalyst of the new policy was Germany's aggressiveness in the Venezuela affair of 1902-03. The intervention took the form of takeover of the customs collection and disbursement of the funds to the debtors and claimants. The policy was unpopular abroad.<ref>Serge Ricard, "The Roosevelt Corollary." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 2006 36(1): 17-26. Issn: 0360-4918, online</ref>

Mitchener and Weidenmier (2006) show the economic benefits to the small countries. The average debt price for countries under the US "sphere of influence" rose by 74% in response to the pronouncement and actions to make it credible. That is, their bonds rose 74% because buyers now believed they would be repaid. The increase in financial stability reduced internal conflict because political factions could not count on winning control of the national treasury if they won a civil war. The program spurred export growth and better fiscal management, but debt settlements were driven primarily by gunboat diplomacy.<ref>Kris James Mitchener and Marc Weidenmier, "Empire, Public Goods, and the Roosevelt Corollary." ''Journal of Economic History'' 2005 65(3): 658-692. Issn: 0022-0507; online</ref>

<blockquote>
''“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”'' The phrase was initially used by Roosevelt to explain his relations with domestic political leaders; later the phrase was associated with him and came to refer particularly to his foreign policy with Latin America.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/65006/Big-Stick-Policy Big Stick Policy.]</ref>
</blockquote>

====Panama Canal====
[[Image:Panam2.JPG|thumb|350px|Roosevelt builds the canal—and shovels dirt on Bogota, the capital of Colombia]]
Roosevelt felt that the Panama Canal was his most important and historically significant international achievement.

Inspired by [[Alfred Thayer Mahan]]'s extraordinarily influential book ''The Influence of Sea Power upon History'' (1890), Roosevelt believed that American security and geopolitical power could be secured only through naval supremacy. This was particularly important in the Caribbean because of its proximity to the United States, European interest in the area and its status as a critical juncture of trade routes. Roosevelt was able to maintain US dominance of the Caribbean without resorting to major military action.<ref>James R. Holmes, "Roosevelt's Pursuit of a Temperate Caribbean Policy." ''Naval History'' 2006 20(4): 48-53 in [[EBSCO]]</ref>

In particular, Roosevelt understood the strategic significance of the [[Panama Canal]], which opened up the Pacific Coast and Asia to cheap shipping and made it possible for the Navy to move rapidly between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

A central issue was which route the canal would take; across Nicaragua and Costa Rica or through the Panama region of Columbia. Intense lobbying resulted in the Congressional decision to follow the Panama route. However, the Colombian Senate rejected the terms of the American Hay-Herran Treaty (1903) and tried to extort more money from the Americans. Roosevelt rejected Colombia's devious strategy and blocked Colombia from suppressing an insurrection in Panama against Colombia. With the success of the revolution, the United States initiated a treaty with the now independent Panama and began construction of the canal, which was completed in 1914.<ref>David McCullough, ''The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914'' (1978) [http://www.amazon.com/Path-Between-Seas-Creation-1870-1914/dp/0671244094/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250828638&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]</ref>

==Break with Taft==
When Roosevelt's term was up he decided not to run again but chose Secretary of War [[William Howard Taft]] as his successor.

Long-term disputes inside the GOP, especially regarding tariffs, and the tension between Eastern industry and Midwest agriculture, pulled the party apart. Whle Roosevelt was in Africa and Europe, his friends grew alarmed that Taft was betraying the progressive cause by collaborating with reactionaries in the GOP. Roosevelt finally broke with Taft in 1910 but was outmaneuvered by Taft, who won the GOP nomination in 1912. Roosevelt walked out of the convention and the party, running as an independent on his own "Progressive" ticket, nicknamed the "Bull Moose Party". Roosevelt was shot before giving in a speech in Milwaukee. The bullet lodged in a copy of the speech stuffed into his breast pocket, saving his life. He gave the speech anyway that day, beginning the speech with the famous line, "I don't know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose."

[[Dale Carnegie]] wrote, "{{tr-taft}}".

Both he and Taft lost to Democrat [[Woodrow Wilson]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1912|election of 1912]]. The Taft conservatives, however, kept control of the GOP.

==Exploration==

After leaving office, Roosevelt took a trip along the [[Amazon River]] and wrote a book about his experience, ''Through the Brazilian Wilderness''. While in [[South America]], Roosevelt contracted [[malaria]] and nearly died. At one point, he requested that his expedition leave him behind. His son, Kermit, helped nurse him back to health, and Theodore credited Kermit with saving his life.

==Conservation==
More than any president before or since, Roosevelt insisted that conservation of natural resources be high on the agenda. As a world-class hunter and explorer, he mobilized support among American hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen. He promoted both the national park system and the national forest system.

[[File:TR-Conservation.jpg|thumb|320px|Roosevelt was a leader in Conservation, fighting to end the waste of natural resources]]

In the early 20th century there were three main positions. The laissez-faire position held that owners of private property—including lumber and mining companies, should be allowed to do anything they wished for their property. The conservationists, led by Roosevelt and his ally [[Gifford Pinchot]], said that was too wasteful and inefficient. In any case, they noted, most of the natural resources in the western states were already owned by the federal government. The best course of action, they argued, was a long-term plan devised by national experts to maximize the long-term economic benefits of natural resources. The third position, led by the Sierra Club, held that nature was almost sacred, and that man was an intruder. It allowed for limited tourism (such as hiking), but opposed automobiles in national parks. It strenuously opposed timber cutting on most public lands and vehemently denounced the dams that Roosevelt supported for water supplies, electricity and flood control. Especially controversial was the Hetch Hetchy Dam in Yosemite National Park, which was built after Roosevelt had left politics. The dam still stands despite efforts by members of the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations as well as the Sierra Club to demolish the dam. Nancy Pelosi and the California Democratic Party have been staunch critics of these proposals, as the reservoir is used for a back up water supply for Pelosi's district (Don Pedro Reservoir is the main source).

==Race and Ethnicity==
Roosevelt was keenly sensitive to the issues surrounding race and ethnicity, particularly the heated debated on immigration restriction. He considered himself Dutch, not Anglo-Saxon . He welcomed the vitality of new immigration, while holding that America's first responsibility was to its literate, native-born, working poor. In balancing these competitive goals, the president backed legislation that limited the immigration of poverty- and disease-stricken people regardless of ethnicity. He blocked harsh anti-Japanese efforts in California, but negotiated an informal agreement whereby Japan would no longer send immigrants. During World War I he attacked certain "[[hyphenated American]]s," especially German-Americans and Irish-Americans, saying they put loyalties to their homeland above American interests.<ref>The German-Americans did not support Germany, but did want the U.S. to remain neutral. The Irish Catholics were so hostile to Britain that they did not want the U.S. to support it.</ref>
===Historian of the frontier===
In ''The Winning of the West,'' a four-volume history of westward expansion, Roosevelt developed the thesis that the western experience shaped and created a new ethnic group or people (what he called a "race"), the true American people. His ideas helped shape the popular culture, especially since his own cowboy persona exemplified all the strengths of the new people. Meanwhile, Professor [[Frederick Jackson Turner]] developed his famous [[Frontier Thesis]], based in part on Roosevelt’s ideas. Turner’s views came to dominate professional historiography and shaped the teaching of history for a century–and is still influential in the 21st century. Roosevelt and Turner shared the view that the frontier was the most significant force in America's cultural and political development, but Turner stressed the complex social and political processes simulated by the frontier, while Roosevelt emphasized that national growth and progress came from the West. Turner envisioned political problems that could befall America if cheap land resources were exhausted. Roosevelt saw a new, highly capable cohort of ruling elites growing out of the conquest of the frontier and leading America to new frontiers.<ref>Richard Slotkin, "Theodore Roosevelt's Frontier Hypothesis," ''European Contributions to American Studies'' 1989 16: 44-71</ref>

==Patriotism==
Roosevelt once declared:<ref>Theodore Roosevelt, "The Children of the Crucible," 14 Annals of America 1916-1928, 129, at 130 (1968).</ref>

:''We must have but one flag. We must also have but one language. That must be the language of the Declaration of Independence, of Washington’s Farewell address, of Lincoln’s Gettysburg speech and second inaugural. We cannot tolerate any attempt to oppose or supplant the language and culture that has come down to us from the builders of this Republic.''

In the last year of his life Roosevelt was quoted in the [[Kansas City Star]] newspaper about the need for truth in regards to the presidency:

:''The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.''

==Turn to the left==
[[Image:Youre No George Washington Mr Roosevelt.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A cartoon satirizes Theodore Roosevelt reversing his promise not to seek a third time in office.]]
About 1907, Roosevelt turned more to the left in domestic policy, and in his 1912 campaign he called for movement toward what would later be called a "welfare state." His move to the left annoyed conservatives and fueled the split in the GOP that exploded in 1912, with Roosevelt on the losing side. His "'''New Nationalism'''" and his chivalry predisposed him toward an enlarged protective state, along with his admiration for what the British were doing at the time.<ref>[[David Lloyd George]] and [[Winston Churchill]], key leaders of the British [[Liberal Party]], started the welfare state in Britain, 1908-11, with unemployment insurance and old age pensions; American conservatives accepted these policies by the 1950s..</ref> Roosevelt preached the manly protection of the family and a state led by manly men who insisted on protecting all women and children. He believed that "the ruin of motherhood and childhood by the merciless exploitation of the labor of women and children is a crime of capital importance." His solution was to support labor's right to bargain collectively and to denounce employers who mistreated women and child workers.<ref>Kathleen Dalton, ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life'' (2004)</ref>

===Direct Election of Senators===
The direct election of senators(which later became the [[17th amendment]]) was an important initiative for progressives of the era, with Roosevelt being among the supporters of the idea. He spoke frequently<ref>{{cite book |first1=Theodore |last1=Roosevelt |title=Who is a Progressive? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BIwxAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA809 |pages=8–9, 15 |date=April 3, 1912 }}</ref> on the campaign trail<ref>{{cite book |first1=Theodore |last1=Roosevelt |title=A Charter of Democracy: Address by Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, Ex-president of the United States, Before the Ohio Constitutional Convention on February 21, 1912 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qb4ZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA9 |year=1912 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |pages=9 }}</ref> about the issue, and it is included in the platform of the Bull Moose Party.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Theodore |last1=Roosevelt |title=Progressive Principles: Selections from Addresses Made During the Presidential Campaign of 1912 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qLYJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA315 |year=1913 |publisher=Progressive national service |pages=315 }}</ref>

==Conservative or liberal?==
Metaphorically, there were 15 different Roosevelts; conservatives admire 10 of them, liberals admire 10, with some overlap. Conservatives are more apt to admire his patriotism, masculinity and military achievements, his stress on national greatness, his buildup of the nation's military forces, his resolution of the [[Coal strike of 1902|1902 Coal Strike]] without forcing business to recognize the unions, his attacks on hyphenated Americans (people with divided loyalty in wartime), and his bold histories of the frontier. Liberals are more likely to admire his trust-busting and hostility to big business, his promotion of liberal programs in 1907-8 and 1912, and his break with the GOP in 1912 when he denounced it as too conservative. [[Ronald Reagan]] noted in 1972, "I admire 'Teddy' greatly and quote him often."<ref>Text in Ronald Reagan [http://books.google.com/books?id=ZrRc_ABenS8C&pg=PP1&dq=inauthor:ronald+inauthor:reagan&lr=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES#PPA266,M1 ''Reagan: A Life in Letters'' (2004) p 266]</ref>

Conservation was always high on Roosevelt's agenda. His optimal use policy has largely been adopted by conservatives and businessmen, while the Sierra Club and related groups reject Roosevelt's policies.

Everyone admires his amazingly dynamic style and willingness to confront the issues of the day by bringing everyone to the negotiating table, his settlement of the war between Japan and Russia (which led to Roosevelt's winning the Nobel peace prize), and his building of the Panama Canal (though liberals complain he was too rough with Colombia).

== Sidelights ==
===Life in the White House===
Roosevelt relished the presidency and seemed to be everywhere at once. He took Cabinet members and friends on long, fast-paced hikes, boxed in the state rooms of the White House, romped with his children and read voraciously. In 1904, he was permanently blinded in his left eye during one of his boxing bouts, but this injury was kept from the public at the time.<ref>Brands, (1997) 565</ref> His many enthusiastic interests and limitless energy led one ambassador to wryly explain, "You must always remember that the President is about six."<ref>Cecil Spring Rice, ''The Letters and Friendships of Sir Cecil Spring-Rice,'' (1929) p 437</ref>

Roosevelt's oldest daughter, Alice Roosevelt, was a controversial character with a tart tongue and a spirit of adventure. When friends asked if he could rein in his elder daughter, Roosevelt said, "I can be President of the United States, or I can attend to Alice." In turn, Alice said of him that he always wanted to be "the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral."<ref>Carol Felsenthal, ''Princess Alice: The Life and Times of Alice Roosevelt Longsworth'' (1988) pp. 60, 105</ref>

Roosevelt rebuilt the White House building, adding a new West Wing to free up the second floor rooms in the residence that formerly housed the president's staff. To this day, "west Wing" signifies the presidential staff. He and Edith also had the entire house renovated and restored to the [[federal style]], tearing out the Victorian furnishings and details (including Tiffany windows) that had been installed over the previous three decades.

===Teddy Bear===
The Teddy Bear is named for Theodore Roosevelt. After it was reported that Roosevelt had refused to shoot a bear on a hunting expedition a toy shop owner placed a sign next to a toy bear in his shop window announcing that this was "Teddy's Bear". The name stuck.

===Spelling reform===

[[File:TRSpelling.jpg|thumb|390px|Roosevelt shoots holes in the dictionary as the ghosts of Chaucer, Shakespeare and Dr Johnson moan.]]

During his presidency, Roosevelt failed in efforts to simplify the spelling of common words. He (and other spelling reformers) wanted to replace "dropped" and "chased" with "dropt" and "chast" and replace "through" with "thru" and "thoroughly" with "thoroly." He tried to force government to adopt the system, sending an order to the Public Printer to use the system in all public documents. The reform annoyed the public, forcing him to rescind the order. Roosevelt told his friend, literary critic Brander Matthews, one of the chief advocates of the reform, "I could not by fighting have kept the new spelling in, and it was evidently worse than useless to go into an undignified contest when I was beaten. Do you know that the one word as to which I thought the new spelling was wrong — thru — was more responsible than anything else for our discomfiture?" Next summer Roosevelt was watching a naval review when a launch marked "Pres Bot" chugged ostentatiously by. The president waved and laughed with delight.<ref>Pringle 465-7; Brands 555ff</ref>

===Football reform===
Both Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson took an intense interest in the controversy over the reform of college football to make the game more efficient and less brutal. In the 1890s and early 1900s, football faced widespread harsh criticism over injuries and the exaggerated role of athletics in college life. Roosevelt and Wilson, loyal followers of Harvard and Princeton, had defended football in the 1890s. In the fall of 1905, however, Roosevelt called a conference of football experts at the White House to discuss brutality and unsportsmanlike conduct. Thereafter, Roosevelt worked behind the scenes to bring about sufficient reform to preserve football and insure that it would continue to be played at Harvard. In the years 1909-10, when college football again faced an injury crisis, Woodrow Wilson, president of Princeton University worked with the presidents at Harvard and Yale to make reasonable reforms. Both Roosevelt's and Wilson's approaches were consistent with their strategies for national political change. In the years that followed the reforms on the gridiron, football evolved rapidly into the 'attractive' game that Wilson had advocated and a far less brutal game than the unruly spectacle that Roosevelt had tried to control.<ref>John S. Watterson, "Political Football: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and the Gridiron Reform Movement." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 1995 25(3): 555-564</ref>

==Religion and character==
In a speech in 1911 Roosevelt said the King James Version was "the book to which our people owe infinitely the greater part of their store of ethics, infinitely the greater part of their knowledge of how to apply that store to the needs of our every-day life." The former president was characteristically dramatic:
:"No other book of any kind ever written in English—perhaps no other book ever written in any other tongue—has ever so affected the whole life of a people as this authorized version of the Scriptures has affected the life of the English-speaking peoples."

Roosevelt could base his conclusions less on ''specific'' Christian reasoning than on broad humanitarian appeal. He urged his auditors to study the Bible, not necessarily "as an inspired book," but as an essential volume for every person "who seeks after a high and useful life."<ref>Mark Noll, "'The Most Democratic Book in the World'" ''Christian History & Biography'' 2008 (99): 26-29 in [[EBSCO]]</ref>

Paradoxically however, Roosevelt was not sworn in on a Bible. He remains the only president in history not to do so.<ref>[http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pihtml/pinotable.html Library of Congress Presidential Inauguration Precedents and Notable Events]</ref>

Like his Roosevelt ancestors, Roosevelt was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church. In Oyster Bay there was no Reformed church, and so from 1887 onward he went to Christ Church (Episcopal) with his wife Edith and the children, where he took part in the service, loudly singing the hymns. In Albany and Washington Roosevelt attended a Dutch Reformed church.

Unlike many presidents, Roosevelt was an enthusiastic churchmen. Biographer George Grant writes,
<blockquote>
He grew up in the church, raised his children in the church, and remained in the church into his dying day... His reasoning was simple and straightforward: man was made for covenant.

Roosevelt's personal experience with the Church was a happy one—and he grew great strength from it. As he confessed to his friends, "after a week of wrestling with perplexing problems, it does so rest my soul to come to the House of the Lord and to sing—and to mean it—Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.

[Roosevelt] refrained from hunting, fishing, playing games, or transacting any sort of business on Sunday.<ref>[http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/Religion.htm THE RELIGION of THEODORE ROOSEVELT] Relative little has been written on Roosevelt 's religion, although a book, ''ROOSEVELT'S RELIGION'' by Christian Reisner, [http://books.google.com/books?id=-rVEAAAAIAAJ&dq=ROOSEVELT%27S+RELIGION+by+Christian+Reisner&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=NaRpPqwPWv&sig=v-mVzmOukGfPAKjq6jZgfo4q3aM&hl=en&ei=x8-CSpiCOsaltgfD_rjMCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 George Grant, "The courage and character of Theodore Roosevelt. A hero among leaders."], pp. 170,71</ref>
</blockquote>
Roosevelt provided ''Nine Reasons Why a Man Should Go to Church'',<ref>http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/Church9reasons.htm</ref> such as

:''In this actual world, a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid down grade.''

:''He will listen to and take part in reading some beautiful passages from the Bible. And if he is not familiar with the Bible he has suffered a loss.''

:''He may not hear a good sermon at church. He will hear a sermon by a good man who, with his wife, is engaged all of the week in making hard lives a little easier.''

:''I advocate a man's joining in church work for the sake of showing his faith by his works.''

Various other quotes<ref>''The Works of Theodore Roosevelt - National Edition'', H-BAR Enterprises</ref><ref>http://thinkexist.com/quotation/a_thorough_knowledge_of_the_bible_is_worth_more/164715.html</ref><ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/theodore-roosevelt</ref> help express Roosevelt's character and values.

:''A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.''

:''To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.''

:''There is not in all America a more dangerous trait than the deification of mere smartness unaccompanied by any sense of moral responsibility.''<ref>Abilene, KS, May 2, 1903</ref>

:''A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.''

:''Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly gone down to the brink of the chasm of darkness to bring back the children in whose hands rests the future of the years.''<ref>The Great Adventure, 1918</ref>

:''The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name."<ref name="Chicago, IL, April 10, 1899">Chicago, IL, April 10, 1899</ref>

:''It is better to be faithful than famous.''

:''There are good men and bad men of all nationalities, creeds and colors; and if this world of ours is ever to become what we hope some day it may become, it must be by the general recognition that the man's heart and soul, the man's worth and actions, determine his standing.''<ref>Letter, Oyster Bay, NY, September 1, 1903</ref>

:''I have a perfect horror of words that are not backed up by deeds.''<ref>Oyster Bay, NY, July 7, 1915</ref>

:''Men can never escape being governed. Either they must govern themselves or they must submit to being governed by others.''<ref>Jamestown, VA, April 26, 1907</ref>

:''A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.''<ref name="An Autobiography, 1913">An Autobiography, 1913</ref>

:''This country has nothing to fear from the crooked man who fails. We put him in jail. It is the crooked man who succeeds who is a threat to this country.''<ref>Memphis, TN, October 25, 1905</ref>

:''No man can lead a public career really worth leading, no man can act with rugged independence in serious crises, nor strike at great abuses, nor afford to make powerful and unscrupulous foes, if he is himself vulnerable in his private character.''<ref name="An Autobiography, 1913"/>

:''Criticism is necessary and useful; it is often indispensable; but it can never take the place of action, or be even a poor substitute for it. The function of the mere critic is of very subordinate usefulness. It is the doer of deeds who actually counts in the battle for life, and not the man who looks on and says how the fight ought to be fought, without himself sharing the stress and the danger.(1894)''

:''I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life; I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.''<ref>Des Moines, Iowa, November 4, 1910</ref>

:''The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight.''

:''There is not a man of us who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother.''<ref>Pasadena, CA, May 8, 1903</ref>

:''Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.''

:''It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.''<ref name="Chicago, IL, April 10, 1899"/>

:''The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything.''

:''...any nation which in its youth lives only for the day, reaps without sowing, and consumes without husbanding, must expect the penalty of the prodigal whose labor could with difficulty find him the bare means of life.''<ref>Arbor Day - A Message to the School-Children of the United States" April 15, 1907</ref>

:''Conservation means development as much as it does protection. I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.''"<ref>The New Nationalism" speech, Osawatomie, Kansas, August 31, 1910</ref>

:''Is America a weakling, to shrink from the work of the great world powers? No! The young giant of the West stands on a continent and clasps the crest of an ocean in either hand. Our nation, glorious in youth and strength, looks into the future with eager eyes and rejoices as a strong man to run a race.''<ref>Letter to John Hay, American Ambassador to the Court of St. James, London, Written in Washington, DC, June 7, 1897</ref>

:''Now to you men, who, in your turn, have come together to spend and be spent in the endless crusade against wrong, to you who face the future resolute and confident, to you who strive in a spirit of brotherhood for the betterment of our Nation, to you who gird yourselves for this great new fight in the never-ending warfare for the good of humankind, I say in closing what in that speech I said in closing: We stand at Armageddon, and we battle for the Lord''<ref>A Confession of Faith, delivered in Chicago, Illinois, 6 August 1912</ref>

:''No abounding of material prosperity shall avail us if our spiritual senses atrophy. The foes of our own household shall prevail against us unless there be in our people an inner life which finds its outer expression in a morality like that preached by the seers and prophets of God when the grandeur that was Greece and the glory that was Rome still lay in the future.''<ref>Theodore Roosevelt, The Foes of Our Own Household, New York, 1917, p.132</ref>

:''Every thinking man, when he thinks, realizes that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole social and civic life that it would be literally impossible to figure what life would be like if these standards were removed. We would lose almost all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals.''<ref>James Willis, The Letters and Speeches of Theodore Roosevelt, 1937, p.86</ref>

:''There are those who believe that a new modernity demands a new morality. What they fail to consider is the harsh reality that there is no such thing as a new morality. There is only one morality. All else is immorality. There is only true Christian ethics over against which stands the whole of paganism. If we are to fulfill our destiny as a people, then we must return to the old morality, the sole morality. And if we are to do that the church must prepare us for the task.''<ref>David Johnson, Theodore Roosevelt: American Monarch, 1981, p.91</ref>

==In modern culture==
Joe Wiegand is a well known Roosevelt impersonator, who has traveled the country lecturing about the life of Theodore Roosevelt.<ref>[http://www.teddyrooseveltshow.com/ The Teddy Roosevelt Show - Joe Wiegand]</ref>

== See also ==
*[[American Antiquities Act of 1906]]

==Bibliography==
===Surveys===
* Buenker, John D. and Joseph Buenker, eds. ''Encyclopedia of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.'' (3 vol 2005), 1280pp; articles on all the major people, events and causes of Roosevelt’s era
* Mowry, George. ''The Era of Theodore Roosevelt and the Birth of Modern America, 1900–1912.'' (1954) general survey of era

===Biographies===
* Brands, H.W. ''T.R.: The Last Romantic'' (1998), scholarly biography [http://www.questia.com/read/98669157?title=T.R.%3a%20The%20Last%20Romantic online edition]
* Chessman, G. Wallace. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Politics of Power,'' (1969), short biography by scholar
* Cooper, John Milton ''The Warrior and the Priest: Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1983), well-written a dual scholarly biography [http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Priest-Woodrow-Theodore-Roosevelt/dp/0674947517/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220396273&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Dalton, Kathleen. ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life.'' (2002), full scholarly biography that stresses his late crusade for social welfare [http://www.amazon.com/Theodore-Roosevelt-Strenuous-Kathleen-Dalton/dp/0679767339/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752111&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Harbaugh, William Henry. ''The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1963), full scholarly biography; good on politics
* Keller, Morton, ed., ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Profile'' (1967) excerpts from Roosevelt and from historians.
* McCullough, David. ''Mornings on Horseback, The Story of an Extraordinary Family. a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt.'' (2001) popular biography to 1884 [http://www.amazon.com/Mornings-Horseback-Extraordinary-Vanished-Roosevelt/dp/0671447548/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752478&sr=1-3 excerpt and text search]
* Morris, Edmund. ''The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt'', to 1901 (1979); vol 2: ''Theodore Rex'' 1901–1909. (2001); Pulitzer prize for Volume 1. Biography; unusually well-written and well-researched [http://www.amazon.com/Theodore-Roosevelt-Modern-Library-Paperbacks/dp/0375756787/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752478&sr=1-4 vol 1 excerpt and text search]
* O'Toole, Patricia. ''When Trumpets Call: Theodore Roosevelt after the White House.'' (2005). 494 pp. [http://www.amazon.com/When-Trumpets-Call-Theodore-Roosevelt/dp/0684864789/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752668&sr=1-16 excerpt and text search]
* Pringle, Henry F. ''Theodore Roosevelt'' (1932; 2nd ed. 1956), full scholarly biography [http://www.questia.com/read/270595?title=Theodore%20Roosevelt%3a%20A%20Biography online 1st edition]
* Putnam, Carleton ''Theodore Roosevelt: A Biography, Volume I: The Formative Years'' (1958), only volume published, to age 28; written by prominent conservative

===Scholarly studies ===
* Barsness,John A. "Theodore Roosevelt as Cowboy: The Virginian as Jacksonian Man." ''American Quarterly,'' Vol. 21, No. 3 (Autumn, 1969), pp. 609–619 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2711937 in JSTOR]
* Blum, John Morton ''The Republican Roosevelt.'' (1954). Influential essays that examine how Roosevelt did politics
* Brinkley, Douglas. ''The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America'' (2009), best coverage of Roosevelt and conservation [http://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Warrior-Theodore-Roosevelt-Crusade/dp/0060565284/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250752478&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Burton, David H. ''Taft, Roosevelt, and the Limits of Friendship,'' (2005) [http://www.questia.com/read/112015842?title=Taft%2c%20Roosevelt%2c%20and%20the%20Limits%20of%20Friendship online edition]
* Chace, James. ''1912: Wilson, Roosevelt, Taft, and Debs - The Election That Changed the Country.'' (2004). 323 pp; popular account [http://www.amazon.com/1912-Roosevelt-Debs-Election-Changed/dp/0743273559/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220396215&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Cutright, Paul Russell. ''Theodore Roosevelt: The Making of a Conservationist'' (1985)
* Dorsey, Leroy G., and Rachel M. Harlow, "'We Want Americans Pure and Simple': Theodore Roosevelt and the Myth of Americanism," ''Rhetoric & Public Affairs,'' Volume 6, Number 1, Spring 2003, pp. 55–78 [http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/rhetoric_and_public_affairs/v006/6.1dorsey.html in Project Muse]
* Ellsworth, Clayton S. "Theodore Roosevelt's Country Life Commission." ''Agricultural History'', Vol. 34, No. 4 (Oct., 1960), pp. 155–172 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3741109 in JSTOR]
* Dyer, Thomas G. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Idea of Race'' (1980)
* Fehn, Bruce. "Theodore Roosevelt and American Masculinity." ''Magazine of History'' (2005) 19(2): 52–59. Issn: 0882-228x Fulltext online at Ebsco. Provides a lesson plan on TR as the historical figure who most exemplifies the quality of masculinity.
* Friedenberg, Robert V. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Rhetoric of Militant Decency'' (1990) [http://www.questia.com/read/71082317?title=Theodore%20Roosevelt%20and%20the%20Rhetoric%20of%20Militant%20Decency online edition]
* Gerstle, Gary. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Divided Character of American Nationalism," ''The Journal of American History,'' Vol. 86, No. 3, (Dec., 1999), pp. 1280–1307 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2568615 in JSTOR]
* Gosnell, Harold F. ''Boss Platt and His New York Machine: A Study of the Political Leadership of Thomas C. Platt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Others'' (1924) [http://www.questia.com/read/9489049?title=Boss%20Platt%20and%20His%20New%20York%20Machine%3a%20A%20Study%20of%20the%20Political%20Leadership%20of%20Thomas%20C.%20Platt%2c%20Theodore%20Roosevelt%2c%20and%20Others online edition]
* Gould, Lewis L. ''The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1991), standard history of his domestic and foreign policy as president
** Gatewood, Willard B. "The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. by Lewis L. Gould" ''Reviews in American History,'' Vol. 20, No. 4 (Dec., 1992), pp. 512–517 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2702868 in JSTOR]
* Havig, Alan. "Presidential Images, History, and Homage: Memorializing Theodore Roosevelt, 1919-1967 ". ''American Quarterly,'' Vol. 30, No. 4 (Autumn, 1978), pp. 514–532 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2712298 IN jstor]
* Johnson, Arthur M. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Bureau of Corporations". ''The Mississippi Valley Historical Review,'' Vol. 45, No. 4 (Mar., 1959), pp. 571–590 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1888711 in JSTOR]
* Millard, Candice. ''River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey''. (2005), exploring the Amazon
* Mowry, George E. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Movement''. (2001) focus on 1912
* Mowry, George E. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Election of 1910," ''The Mississippi Valley Historical Review,'' Vol. 25, No. 4 (Mar., 1939), pp. 523–534 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1892499 in JSTOR]
* Oyos, Matthew M. "Theodore Roosevelt, Congress, and the Military: U.S. Civil-Military Relations in the Early Twentieth Century," ''Presidential Studies Quarterly,'' Vol. 30, 2000 [http://www.questia.com/read/5001752826?title=Theodore%20Roosevelt%2c%20Congress%2c%20and%20the%20Military%3a%20U.S.%20Civil-Military%20Relations%20in%20the%20Early%20Twentieth%20Century online edition]
* Powell, Jim. ''Bully Boy: The Truth About Theodore Roosevelt's Legacy'' (2006). Denounces TR policies from libertarian perspective; poorly researched
* Rhodes, James Ford. ''The McKinley and Roosevelt Administrations, 1897-1909'' (1922) [http://www.questia.com/read/6404794?title=The%20McKinley%20and%20Roosevelt%20Administrations%2c%201897-1909 online edition]
* Scheiner, Seth M. "President Theodore Roosevelt and the Negro, 1901-1908," ''The Journal of Negro History,'' Vol. 47, No. 3 (Jul., 1962), pp. 169–182 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2716500 in JSTOR]
* Slotkin, Richard. "Nostalgia and Progress: Theodore Roosevelt's Myth of the Frontier," ''American Quarterly,'' Vol. 33, No. 5, (Winter, 1981), pp. 608–637 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2712805 in JSTOR]
* Testi, Arnaldo. "The Gender of Reform Politics: Theodore Roosevelt and the Culture of Masculinity," ''The Journal of American History,'' Vol. 81, No. 4 (Mar., 1995), pp. 1509–1533 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2081647 in JSTOR]
* Watts, Sarah. ''Rough Rider in the White House: Theodore Roosevelt and the Politics of Desire.'' (2003). 289 pp.

===Foreign and military affairs===
* Beale Howard K. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of America to World Power.'' (1956). standard history of his foreign policy
* Buchanan, Russell. "Theodore Roosevelt and American Neutrality, 1914-1917," ''The American Historical Review,'' Vol. 43, No. 4 (Jul., 1938), pp. 775–790 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1842528 in JSTOR]
* Burton, David H. "Theodore Roosevelt: Confident Imperialist" ''The Review of Politics,'' Vol. 23, No. 3 (Jul., 1961), pp. 356–377 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1405440 in JSTOR]
* Burton, David H. "Theodore Roosevelt's Social Darwinism and Views on Imperialism," ''Journal of the History of Ideas,'' Vol. 26, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1965), pp. 103–118 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2708402 in JSTOR]
* Collin, Richard H. "Symbiosis Versus Hegemony: New Directions in the Foreign Relations Historiography of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft." ''Diplomatic History'' 1995 19(3): 473-497 online in [[EBSCO]]
* Gould, Lewis L. ''The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (1991), standard history of his domestic and foreign policy as president
* Holmes, James R. ''Theodore Roosevelt and World Order: Police Power in International Relations.'' 2006. 328 pp. case studies of intervention in the Philippines, Cuba, Venezuela, Panama, Santo Domingo, and Morocco
* Marks III, Frederick W. ''Velvet on Iron: The Diplomacy of Theodore Roosevelt'' (1979)
* McCullough, David. ''The Path between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870–1914'' (1977).
* Neu, Charles E. "Theodore Roosevelt and American Involvement in the Far East, 1901-1909," ''The Pacific Historical Review,'' Vol. 35, No. 4 (Nov., 1966), pp. 433–449 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3636977 in JSTOR]
* Oyos, Matthew M. "Theodore Roosevelt and the Implements of War," ''The Journal of Military History,'' Vol. 60, No. 4 (Oct., 1996), pp. 631–655 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2944659 in JSTOR]
* Ricard, Serge. "The Roosevelt Corollary." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 2006 36(1): 17–26. Issn: 0360-4918 [http://www.questia.com/read/5017146446?title=The%20Roosevelt%20Corollary online edition]
* Stillson, Albert C. "Military Policy Without Political Guidance: Theodore Roosevelt's Navy," ''Military Affairs,'' Vol. 25, No. 1 (Spring, 1961), pp. 18–31 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1984220 in JSTOR]
* Tilchin, William N. and Neu, Charles E., ed. ''Artists of Power: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Their Enduring Impact on U.S. Foreign Policy.'' Praeger, 2006. 196 pp. [http://www.questia.com/read/113233998?title=Artists%20of%20Power%3a%20%20Theodore%20Roosevelt%2c%20Woodrow%20Wilson%2c%20and%20Their%20Enduring%20Impact%20on%20U.S.%20Foreign%20Policy online edition]
* Tilchin, William N. ''Theodore Roosevelt and the British Empire: A Study in Presidential Statecraft'' (1997)

===Primary sources===
* Auchincloss, Louis, ed. ''Theodore Roosevelt, The Rough Riders and an Autobiography'' (Library of America, 2004) ISBN 978-1-93108265-5; ''Theodore Roosevelt, Letters and Speeches'' (Library of America, 2004) ISBN 978-1-93108266-2
* Brands, H.W. ed. ''The Selected Letters of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (2001)
* Butt, Archie. ''The Letters of Archie Butt, Personal Aide to President Roosevelt,'' (1924) [http://www.questia.com/read/6560284?title=The%20Letters%20of%20Archie%20Butt%2c%20Personal%20Aide%20to%20President%20Roosevelt online edition]
* Gould, Lewis L., ed. ''Bull Moose on the Stump: The 1912 Campaign Speeches of Theodore Roosevelt.'' (2008). 256 pages,
* Harbaugh, William ed. ''The Writings Of Theodore Roosevelt'' (1967). A one-volume selection of Roosevelt's speeches and essays.
* Hart, Albert Bushnell and Herbert Ronald Ferleger, eds. ''Theodore Roosevelt Cyclopedia'' (1941), Roosevelt's opinions on many issues; online version at [http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/]
* Morison, Elting E., John Morton Blum, and [[Alfred D. Chandler, Jr.]], eds., ''The Letters of Theodore Roosevelt'', 8 vols. (1951–1954). Very large, annotated edition of letters from TR.
* Roosevelt, Theodore. [http://www.bartleby.com/55/ ''Theodore Roosevelt: An Autobiography ''(1910)]''. online at Bartleby.com.
* Roosevelt, Theodore. ''The Works of Theodore Roosevelt'' (National edition, 20 vol. 1926); 18,000 pages containing most of TR's speeches, books and essays, but not his letters; a CD-ROM edition is available; some of TR's books are available online through [http://www.bartleby.com/people/RsvltT.html Project Bartleby]
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/r#a729 Theodore Roosevelt books and speeches on Project Gutenberg]
* Roosevelt, Theodore. "Theodore Roosevelt on Motherhood and the Welfare of the State," ''Population and Development Review,'' Vol. 13, No. 1 (Mar., 1987), pp. 141–147 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1972126 in JSTOR]
* Shaw, Albert, ed. ''A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career'' (1910) [http://books.google.com/books?id=QEIOAAAAIAAJ full text and cartoons online]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*[http://faithandfreedom.us/documents/20thcentury/bigstick.htm "Big Stick" Policy.] Faith & Freedom Network.
*[https://librivox.org/author/1471 Works by Theodore Roosevelt - text and free audio] - [[LibriVox]]

{{USPresidents}}
{{USVicePresidents}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roosevelt, Theodore}}

[[Category:Presidents of the United States|Roosevelt, Theodore]]
[[Category:Vice Presidents of the United States|Roosevelt, Theodore]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Nobel laureates in Peace|Roosevelt, Theodore]]
[[Category:People who were Educated at Home]]
[[Category:Progressive Era]]
[[Category:Spanish-American War]]
[[Category:Medal of Honor recipients]]
[[Category:Environmentalism]]
[[Category:New York Governors]]
[[Category:Gilded Age]]
[[Category:American war heroes]]
[[Category:Republican Governors]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Pro Second Amendment]]
[[Category:American Gun Rights Advocates]]
[[Category:Patriots]]
[[Category:Veterans]]
[[Category:Hunting]]

Talk:United States Marine Corps

2016-11-10T19:46:14Z

DerekE: Happy b-day Marines

I love this day. November 10, 1775-present. [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 23:09, 10 November 2009 (EST)
:I still love this day - [[Semper Fidelis|Semper Fi]]! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 20:20, 10 November 2010 (EST)
::Happy birthday, United States Marine Corps -- Ooh-Rah! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 12:00, 10 November 2011 (EST)
:::Semper-Fi, Devil Dogs! Happy birthday USMC! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 21:24, 10 November 2012 (EST)
::::Love this day! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 20:31, 10 November 2013 (EST)
:::::Oorah! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] 01:40, 10 November 2014 (EST)
::::::Happy 240th birthday, Marines! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] ([[User talk:DerekE|talk]]) 09:22, 10 November 2015 (EST)
:::::::Today the Marine Corps celebrates its 241st birthday - Oorah! [[User:DerekE|DerekE]] ([[User talk:DerekE|talk]])
The Royal Marines, meanwhile, don't exist. [[User:AlanE|AlanE]] 22:06, 17 January 2013 (EST)

Harriet Tubman

2016-04-20T20:49:00Z

DerekE: fixed typo

{{bio
|name=Harriet Tubman
|image=3a10453r.jpg
|image-width=200px
|yob=1820
|dob=
|yod=1913
|dod=
|husband=
|husband-raw=
|birthplace=
|birthplace-raw=Dorchester County, [[Maryland]]
}}

'''Harriet Ross''', later known as Harriet Tubman, was an escaped [[slave]] and [[abolitionist]] who played an important role in the [[Underground Railroad]].

According to ''Christianity Today'': "Tubman's friends and fellow abolitionists claimed that the source of her strength came from her faith in God as deliverer and protector of the weak. "I always tole God," she said, "'I'm gwine [going] to hole stiddy on you, an' you've got to see me through.'"<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/activists/tubman.html Harriet Tubman - bio]</ref>

== Harriet's Life as a Slave ==
Harriet began to work as a house servant around the age of 6, and by the time she was 13 she was working in the fields. Harriet, like most slaves, was constantly abused. At the age of 13, she attempted to prevent another slave from being punished, and as a result had a two pound iron weight thrown at her by the slave's chaser. The weight struck Harriet in the side of the head and caused her to suffer periodic blackouts for the rest of her life. In 1844, Harriet married a free black man, named [[John Tubman]]. Harriet remained a slave, but was allowed to live with him in his cabin.

==Escape From Slavery==
Like any other slave, Harriet lived in constant fear of being shipped off to the deep [[the South|South]]. As a result, she decided to run away, hiking through ninety miles of swamps and woodlands. In 1849, Harriet finally reached [[Philadelphia]]. While working as a dishwasher to earn money, she made plans to save the rest of her family. She returned the next year and rescued her sister and her sister's family. After returning to rescue her brothers, she went to her husband to see if he would come with her. John had remarried and refused to come with her. In 1857, Harriet rescued her parents and settled them in Auburn, [[New York]].

==Life as a Free Black Woman==
Although Harriet was wanted at the price of $40,000, she was a master of disguise and even a former owner did not recognize her. She was nicknamed the "[[Moses]] of her people" from the Bible story of Moses leading the Israelites from slavery ([[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] chapters 1-35). Harriet became a spy for the union army when the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] began. Harriet later worked in Washington as a government nurse. She did not receive a government pension for more than 30 years. When the war ended, Harriet returned to her parents in Auburn. The profits of a book titled ''Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman'' by Sara Bradford, kept Harriet from poverty. Harriet was married again in 1870 to a man named Nelson Davis. They were happily married until, 18 years later, Nelson died. Harriet purchased land in 1896 to build a home for sick and needy blacks. Unable to raise enough money for the home, she gave the land to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. They completed the home in 1908, and Harriet soon after, moved into it. She died in 1913 from pneumonia. She was 93 years old.

==see also==
* [[Abolitionism]]
==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT: Tubman, Harriet}}

[[category:Abolitionists]]

The Counter Jihad Report

2016-03-19T23:52:02Z

DerekE: Great site for learning about Islam

'''The Counter Jihad Report''' is a [[news]] aggregating [[Web site]] that also includes an extensive [[library]] of resources for studying [[Islam]], in addition to becoming a hub for Counter Jihad activists.<ref>[http://counterjihadreport.com/about/ About The Counter Jihad Report], counterjihadreport.com/about, Accessed March 18, 2016.</ref>. The Counter Jihad Report was founded by [[Leslie Burt]] on February 29, 2012.<ref name=facebook>[https://www.facebook.com/counterjihadreport/info/?tab=page_info About The Counter Jihad Report], [[Facebook]], Accessed March 19, 2016.</ref>

==Quotes From Facebook Page Info==
{{cquote|Islam is at war with Western Civilization. Educate yourself, share what you learn and get involved.<ref name=facebook/>}}
{{cquote|Al Qaeda and other violent jihadi groups fight to (1) implement Islamic Law and (2) re-establish the global Islamic state (Caliphate). There is also a subversive Information War driven by front groups posing as peaceful Muslim organizations, led by the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). The MB was created in Egypt in 1928 to (1) implement Islamic Law worldwide and (2) re-establish the Caliphate. Al Qaeda and the MB have the same objectives – the difference in achieving them is timing and tactics.<ref name=facebook/>}}

===The Muslim Brotherhood’s Creed===

{{cquote|God is our objective; the Koran is our law; the Prophet is our leader; jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations.<ref name=facebook/>}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External Links==
*[http://counterjihadreport.com The Counter Jihad Rport], ''Official Website''
*[https://www.facebook.com/counterjihadreport/ The Counter Jihad Report], ''[[Facebook|Facebook page]]''
*[https://twitter.com/LeslieBurt Leslie Burt], ''[[Twitter|Twitter page]]''

[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:websites]]
[[Category:Conservative Media]]
[[Category:Conservative News Organizations]]

Essay:Worst Liberal Movies

2016-02-26T22:37:13Z

DerekE: /* Political */ White House Down

While many [[Essay:Greatest_Conservative_Movies|great conservative movies]] are produced every year, [[Hollywood values|Hollywood]] continues to create many movies which promote, normalize and aggrandize bad behavior and poor values. Below is a list of some of the more egregious examples:

==Political==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Film
!Year
!Rating
!Comments
!Gross (Domestic)
|-
|''Game Change''
|2012
|Not Rated
|[[Liberal]] haters playing [[conservative]]s in an [[HBO]] movie about [[Sarah Palin]]. Many debunked controversies are highlighted in the plot. Both [[John McCain|McCain]] and Palin call it fiction.
|NA - TV
|-
|''[[Frost/Nixon]]''
|2008
|R
|A liberal movie meant to further tarnish the reputation of [[Richard Nixon]].
|$18,622,031
|-
|''[[W.]]''
|2008
|PG-13
|A movie designed to denigrate the role of [[Christianity]] in U.S. [[politics]] and particularly in the life of [[George W. Bush]].
|$25,534,493
|-
|''[[Fahrenheit 9/11]]''
|2004
|R
|A [[Michael Moore]] movie, which distorts the tangential link between the [[Bush]] family and the [[Bin Laden]] family.
|$119,194,771
|-
|''The Motorcycle Diaries''
|2004
|R
|A fawning monument to [[Communist]] terrorist and mass murderer [[Che Guevara]].
|$16,781,387
|-
|''The Contender''
|2000
|R
|Political movie turned into pro-[[Al Gore]] propaganda by liberal studio executives and [[Hollywood values]].
|$17,872,723
|-
|''V for Vendetta''
|2005
|R
|Blatantly glorifies [[anarchism]], [[socialism]], [[communism]] and [[homosexuality]].
|$70,511,035
|-
|''Dead Man Walking''
|1995
|R
|A senseless criticism of [[capital punishment]], with an ending that left some liberal viewers even more confused.
|$39,363,635
|-
|''Dogville''
|2003
|R
|[[Anti-American]].
|$16,680,836
|-
|''Manderlay''
|2003
|R
|Anti-American sequel to ''Dogville''. Star [[James Caan]] refused to be apart of this, describing director Lars von Trier as Anti-American and stated that he himself is an "ultra-conservative".
|$674,918
|-
|''Z''
|1969
|R
|Liberal propaganda that blames the [[military]] for liberal wrong doing.
|$14,283,305
|-
|''Nixon''
|1995
|R
|A historically inaccurate biography of [[Richard Nixon]] directed by liberal filmmaker [[Oliver Stone]].
|$13,681,765
|-
|''Milk''
|2008
|R
|An extremely pro-[[homosexual]] biography of openly homosexual politician [[Harvey Milk]], with [[Sean Penn]] playing the title character.
|$31,841,299
|-
|''Tout va Bien''
|1972
|NR
|[[Jane Fonda]] "art film" directed by [[Jean-Luc Godard]], whose notoriously anti-American and idolizes [[Karl Marx]], is nothing more then a propaganda film for Communism, as it sympathizes with the youths who partook in the May 1968 Communist uprisings in [[France]] and features blunt anti-American imagery.
|
|-
|''[[Capitalism: A Love Story]]''
|2009
|PG-13
|A typical Michael Moore hatchet-job where he relentlessly attacks America's [[capitalist]] [[economy]] with claims of alleged financial inequality.
|$14,363,397
|-
|''The China Syndrome''
|1979
|PG
|The movie depicts a meltdown of a fictional [[nuclear power]] plant. The film greatly over-hypes this risk of a [[nuclear accident]]/meltdown and the resultant damage. This film along with the [[Three Mile Island]] incident (which occurred shortly after the film's release) are often credited for killing the nuclear power industry in America.
|$51,718,367
|-
|''[[SiCKO|Sicko]]''
|2007
|PG-13
|Another Michael Moore film which spread many falsehoods about American [[healthcare]] while unduly glorifying the so-called benefits of [[socialized medicine]] such as now found in [[Obamacare]]. Memorably referred to [[Cuba]]n healthcare as being better than American healthcare.
|$24,540,079
|-
|''Apocalypse Now''
|1979
|R
|Overindulgent anti-war diatribe. Portrays U.S. servicemen as corrupt, incompetent [[drug addiction|drug-users]].
|$78,784,010
|-
|''Fair Game''
|2010
|PG-13
|Another Bush bash flick starring [[Communist]] Sean Penn. 2010 film rehashes the lead up to the [[Iraq War|war in Iraq]] and [[Valerie Plame]]'s role. Typical un-American Hollywood film "The narrative that [[Karl Rove]] and [[Dick Cheney]]'s Chief of Staff [[Scooter Libby]] were nefarious behind-the-scenes players intent on destroying innocent reputations while pushing the nation into war on false pretenses."
|$9,540,691
|-
|''Recount''
|2008
|Not Rated
|The 2008 [[HBO]] movie on the [[United States presidential election, 2000|2000 Presidential election]] and its aftermath in [[Florida]], presented from a [[Liberal bias|liberal-biased]] viewpoint. A look into how [[Democrats]] and their [[Mainstream media|liberal media]] supporters claim the [[Republicans]] "stole" the [[election]] and the alleged role of its party members that the Democrats claim "made it happen" (although in reality, it was the Democrats themselves who tried to steal the election for their candidate [[Al Gore]] [[United States presidential election, 2000#Recount|by attempting to commit vote fraud in Florida through ordering selective recounts in Democrat-friendly areas while ignoring Republican-strong areas]], only to be stopped when the US Supreme Court ruled the Democrats' end-run attempt around election rules to be illegal). Republicans are portrayed as ghoulish and cited as manufacturing demonstrations. Both the real [[Warren Christopher]] and [[James Baker]] contend the film's portrayal of the former is hopelessly untrue.
|NA - TV
|-
|''Redacted''
|2007
|R
|Brian De Palma’s 2007 fictional anti-Iraq War film funded by Mark Cuban. The film is credited with inspiring a [[terrorist]] attack that killed two U.S. servicemen in [[Germany]].
|$65,388
|-
|''U-571''
|2000
|PG-13
|Had a plot which was based on the first capture of a [[German]] [[Enigma machine]] in [[World War Two]]. However, in the film the capture is made by Americans. In fact the first Enigma machine was captured by the [[British]] in 1941 prior to the Americans entering the war.
|$77,122,415
|-
|''Born on the Fourth of July''
|1989
|R
|Radically anti-[[Vietnam War]] film.
|$70,001,698
|-
|''The Matrix'' trilogy
|1999 (''[[The Matrix]]''); 2003 (''The Matrix Reloaded'' and ''The Matrix Revolutions'')
|R
|Glorifies anarchism and [[nihilism]] (even including a brief nod to [[Jean Baudrillard]]'s "On Nihilism" chapter from Simulacra and Simulation), as well as containing several hints towards a pro-Communist, anti-American/[[anti-Christian]] view, despite the salvation narrative. In addition, the Architect scene tries to give a "devastating critique/twist" to salvation myths with the Architect as a malevolent allegorical substitute for the Christian [[God]]. This same scene also implicitly compares [[George W. Bush]] to Hitler during a discussion of evil in the world (on the panel of screens in the background.), and featured wars that America was specifically involved in. Far-[[leftist|Left]] [[race-baiting]] scholar Cornel West was also hired to play a role in the film specifically because the [[The Wachowskis|Wachowski Brothers]] (as they were known at the time) were influenced by his pro-Socialist/Communist and anti-American rhetoric. In addition, the first film had throwaway dialogue between the main villain Agent Smith and the treasonous freedom fighter Cipher that implied that Cipher would become [[Ronald Reagan]] should he succeed in betraying his fellow allies to the Agents in a clear attempt at an anti-Reagan statement.
|
|-
|''The Lone Ranger''
|2013
|PG-13
|Attacks [[capitalist]]s and the [[military]], portraying the former as ruthless, greedy railroad executives and the latter as 'thugs' who support their actions. Also distorts the messages of its source material by displaying the [[Lone Ranger]], shown to be a smart intellectual character in the original TV show and radio show, as dumb-founded and unintelligent, instead featuring his sidekick [[Tonto]] (played by [[liberal]] [[marijuana|pot]]-smoker [[Johnny Depp]]) as not only the "star" of the film, but as the Lone Ranger's voice of reason.
|$89,302,115
|-
|''Blue State''
|2007
|R
|Encourages the false idea that [[liberalism]] must be established in America.
|
|-
|''Das Boot''
|1981
|R
|The German Side of [[World War II]], shown in a positive view, and is Anti-American.
|$11,487,676
|-
|''The Ant Bully''
|2006
|PG
|Promotes Communism, main message of the movie is the power of the individual to be more powerful than one another is a bad thing.
|$28,142,535
|-
|''The Iron Giant''
|1999
|PG
|Espouses anti-war themes and also brief but strong anti-hunting sentiments. Firearms in general are shown in a negative light, with the phrase "guns kill" being repeated a total of three times throughout the film. The titular giant is referred to as a "big gun that walks." Nevertheless, he is a poor metaphor for a real gun - unlike a law-abiding citizen owning a gun, the giant has no choice in his actions; he is an automatic killing machine, programmed with the inability to use his weapons for good, only for senseless destruction. The conclusion of the story is that he learns to hide his weapons and "not be a gun." Then, to protect the public from an incoming missile, he must fly into it and kill himself instead of using his destructive powers against the missile. As it is explained, "It's bad to kill, but it isn't bad to die." Also features some swearing and foul language as well.
|$5,732,614
|-
|''Midnight in Paris''
|2011
|PG-13
|The main character, a liberal author, is portrayed as open-minded and intellectual. He has an unsuccessful relationship with a woman whose family is Republican and are portrayed as materialistic, selfish, narrow-minded and hateful towards any country that is not the United States.
|$56,816,662
|-
|''Cars 2''
|2011
|G
|Demonizes oil companies while promoting ethanol (mentioned as Allinall).

On the film's political agenda, director John Lasseter commented: "Why isn't alternative fuel more... Why isn't everybody jumping on that bandwagon? It makes so much sense: Electricity, solar, whatever. There's ethanol. There's all this stuff you could be doing. And so I thought, well, that could be really cool in that you could have big oil versus alternative fuel. That's when we kind of crafted the bad guy's story."
| $191,450,875
|-
|''The Naked Gun 2½''
|1991
|15
|A "comedy" which pushes environmentalism and demonizes productive businesses and especially the oil industry.
|$86,930,411
|-
|''Pokémon: Zoroark - Master of Illusions''
|2010 (Japan); 2011 (America)
|G
|The film demonizes capitalism by making the main villain a successful businessman. In addition, one of the main protagonists of the film, Karl, was based on the radical left-wing schlockumentarist Michael Moore.<ref>http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/blog/art/</ref>
|
|-
|''The Legend of the Titanic''
|1999
|Not Rated
|Bastardizes a tragic historical event in the name of making an anti-whaling statement.
|
|-
|''White House Down''
|2013
|PG-13
|Mocks conservatives with a liberal plot twist that makes the [[TEA Party]] out to be terrorists. This movie was made to counter Olympus Has Fallen, which depicts Islamic terrorists as the bad guys.
|
|}

==Social==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Film
!Year
!Rating
!Comments
!Gross (Domestic)
|-
|''South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut''
|1999
|R
|A disgusting celebration of [[obscenity]].
|$83,137,603
|-
|''Dazed and Confused''
|1993
|R
|Promotes [[promiscuity]] and [[drug abuse]].
|$7,993,039
|-
|''Mulholland Drive''
|2001
|R
|Nonsensical art film that thinks homosexuality is "sexy" and promotes it as a societal norm, as well as fornication.
|
|-
|''Boyhood''
|2014
|R
|Downplays the role of the father. Mocks Conservative Christians and promotes underage drinking and pot smoking.
|$44,400,000
|-
|''The Normal Heart''
|2014
|TV MA
|Another [[homosexual agenda|homosexual propaganda]] film that criticizes the [[Reagan Administration]] and general Conservative ideology. The GLBT community was a strong promoter of this film and insists its artful, when really it is decadent.
|N/A
|-
|''Howl''
|2010
|R
|Film about homosexual poet, [[Allen Ginsberg]]. Promotes the homosexual agenda and the idea that writing about [[pornography]] is protected under the [[First Amendment]] and has literary value.
|$617,334
|-
|''Glen or Glenda''
|1953
|Not rated
|Promotes cross dressing and transsexualism.
|N/A
|-
|''Mad Max: Fury Road''
|2015
|R
|Feminist propaganda that endorses and celebrates anarchy.
|
|-
|''Ed Wood''
|1994
|R
|Glorifies the cross dressing filmmaker Ed Wood.
|$5,887,457
|-
|''Elysium''
|2013
|R
|Criticizes Big Business and supports [[illegal immigration]].
|$93,050,117
|-
|''[[Avatar (film)| Avatar]]''
|2009
|PG-13
|A movie with many destructive messages. The movie promotes [[environmentalism]], claiming that nature is God, and [[feminism]]. It also ridicules the military and large businesses. The hero of the film also forms a rather creepy romance with the native princess, who is of another species, perhaps a symbol for bestiality.
|$760,507,625
|-
|''District 9''
|2009
|R
|Attacks the military and large corporation, shows humans as the villains to aliens.
|$115,646,235
|-
|''Blow''
|2001
|R
|Glorifies the life of drug dealer, and suspected murderer, George Jung.
|$52,990,775
|-
|''Pineapple Express''
|2008
|R
|Shows [[drug abuse]] to be "cool".
|$87,341,380
|-
|''The Princess and the Frog''
|2009
|G
|Disney first African American Princess, it main message is promoting feminism, and is very insulting to Christianity, being filled with Louisiana Voodoo. Instead of having a fairy godmother, it contains a blind voodoo priestess. Mocks traditional values, and portrays capitalism and war in a negative viewpoint.
|$104,400,899
|-
|''Billy Elliot''
|2000
|R
|The film is about a boy who wants to be a ballet dancer rather than play sports. Very poor family values shown as the family is constantly cursing at one another, it also promotes homosexuality
|$21,995,263
|-
|''The Organizer''
|1963
|Not Rated
|Italian film that promotes [[trade union]]s. The movie also promotes [[infidelity]].
|Unknown
|-
|''The Dallas Buyers Club''
|2013
|R
|Egregiously supports the homosexual agenda
|$27,298,285
|-
|''Natural Born Killers''
|1994
|R
|Riddled with violence, drug abuse and sexual references, this movie's main characters are brutal serial killers who are viewed as heroes.
|$50,282,766
|-
|''Sex and the City''
|2008
|R
|Very disturbing film promoting the use of sex everywhere.
|$152,647,258.
|-
|''[[Brokeback Mountain]]''
|2005
|R
|Showing that [[liberals]] will [[shoehorning|shoehorn]] the homosexual agenda into anything, even cowboys.
|$83,043,761
|-
|''Boogie Nights''
|1997
|R
|Made the porn industry and exploitation of women look cool.
|$26,400,640
|-
|''The Social Network''
|2010
|PG-13
|Glorifies the [[gossip]] website [[Facebook]], which feeds [[narcissism]] and destroys marriages. Also portrays drug use and [[misogyny]] in a positive light.
|$96,962,694
|-
|''Hairspray''
|2007
|PG
|Poor [[moral]]s shown, encourages homosexual agenda, bad behavior, such as smoking, drinking, cursing. Many sexual comments are shown. It portrayals conservatives and those with high expectations in a negative viewpoint.
|$118,871,849
|-
|''Bio-Dome''
|1996
|PG-13
|Stoner film with an environmentalism theme.
|$13,427,615
|-
|''The Day After Tomorrow''
|2004
|PG-13
|Overdramatic, nonsensical portrayal of the consequences of fictional [[climate change]].
|$186,740,799
|-
|''Battle for Terra''
|2007
|PG
|Children’s movie that pushes an environment theme, and portrayals a Bible-quoting, American type military general as the villain.
|$1,647,083
|-
|''The People vs. Larry Flynt''
|1996
|R
|Idealizes [[pornography]] mogul [[Larry Flynt]] and argues that pornography is protected by the [[First Amendment]].
|$20,300,385
|-
|''But I'm a Cheerleader''
|1999
|R
|Portrays [[homosexuality]] as a legitimate lifestyle, attacks and ridicules [[reparative therapy]] and religious people.
|$2,205,627
|-
|''Nymphomaniac''
|2014
|NR
|This two part movie features 4 hours of non-stop sex and glamorizes the lifestyle of the titular sex addict. It portrays other [[San Francisco values]], such as homosexuality and S&M, in a positive light. In general, this film was labeled as NSFW. Director, Lars von Trier, is known for being Anti-American and slightly hints at this throughout the film.
|$17,584,083
|-
|''Orgazmo''
|1997
|NC-17
|Portrays the porn industry in a positive light, mocks [[Mormon]]s and the religiously devout.
|$602,302
|-
|''Superbad''
|2007
|R
|Promotes the teenage use of drugs, smoking, alcohol and sex. The whole point of the movie is for a couple of guys to lose their virginity
|$121,463,226
|-
|''Wall-E''
|2008
|G
|Children’s movie that shows mankind as evil, and blames capitalism for the total destruction of earth.
|$223,808,164
|-
|''Blue is the Warmest Color''
|2013
|NC-17
|French film that promotes the [[homosexual agenda]] and graphically shows lesbian sex. Additionally, it falsely idealizes the idea that homosexuals can be sound mentors to young children. At the Cannes Film Festival, which was headed by liberal [[Steven Spielberg]] and had a board that included [[Brokeback Mountain]] director, Ang Lee, it was unanimously awarded the top prize. It is widely believed that this victory was due to France's legalization of [[homosexual marriage]] eight days prior. At least one of the stars for the film admitted that she felt disgusted by her role in it.
|$2,199,787
|-
|''Rent''
|2005
|PG-13
|Promotes [[homosexuality]] and transvestitism as normal lifestyle.
|$29,077,547
|-
|''Pink Flamingos''
|1972
|NC-17
|Embraces horrifying people, who engage in such acts as [[incest]] and [[bestiallity]], as well as promoting the homosexual agenda, since it stars transvestite Divine and shows homosexuals in a positive light. This film has toilet humor, finding it funny when a character literally eats poo, and extremely offensive language, one character is even named after a racial slur against white people. Characters promote anarchy and violence as an everyday thing. A very graphic film, even for most liberals, showing close ups of genitalia unlike any non porno film. Liberals call it a comedy, but it is more like an act of [[Satan]].
|$7,000,000
|-
|''Kids''
|1995
|NC-17
|Pornographic film concerning five underage teenagers in [[New York City]] engaging in graphic sex, violent acts, [[drug]]/[[alcohol]] use and homosexual activities.
|$7,412,216
|-
|''Spring Breakers''
|2013
|R
|From the creator of ''Kids'', this film is similar in its pornographic nature and glamorization of drug abuse, only this film takes it to a new extreme. Furthermore, this film promotes feminism and glamorizes the gangster/[[ghetto]] [[rap music]] lifestyle, while condemning Christians, labeling them as weak and insecure.
|$31,724,284
|-
|''[[Clerks]]''
|1994
|R
|Filled with constant vulgar [[profanity]]. Previously rated NC-17 before being appealed for an R rating.
|$3,151,130
|-
|''Clerks 2''
|2006
|R
|Sequel to the liberal comedy, filled with more profanity and even more disgusting acts that could not be in the budget of the original film.
|$24,148,068
|-
|''The Kids Are All Right''
|2010
|R
|Portrays homosexuality and gay parenting as normal lifestyle.
|$20,811,365
|-
|''Trash H*****s''
|2010
|NR
|Shows decadent behavior in a positive light and glamorizes sexual deviancy. Also the film is riddled with profanity, even the title has a naughty word (which was censored here).
|
|-
|''Beginners''
|2011
|R
|Promotes homosexuality and "[[coming out of the closet]]".
|$5,790,894
|-
|''FernGully: The Last Rainforest''
|1992
|G
|Environmental [[propaganda]], with an anti-industry message, is being indoctrinated to children in the animation film.
|$24,650,296
|-
|''The Secret World of Arrietty''
|2010
|G
|Japanese animated film is about a tiny homeless family that steals from regular people. Demonizes capitalism and promotes redistribution of wealth.
|$19,202,743
|-
|''4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days''
|2007
|NR
|Romanian film baselessly supports [[abortion]]. Liberals praised it when it won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival
|$1,198,208
|-
|''The Day After''
|1983
|Not Rated
|Attacks the military and conservative politicians, and encourages negotiation with communists.
|NA - TV
|-
|''Project X''
|2012
|R
|Shows teen drinking, [[drug]] use, sex, vulgar profanity and anarchic behavior to be "cool".
|$54,731,865
|-
|''Boys Don't Cry''
|1999
|R
|Glorifies the choice of a young girl to embrace homosexual and transgender life choices, dishonesty and pre-marital relations; as well as unfairly caricaturing and exaggerating natural reactions to her perversion; all in aid of promoting the [[homosexual agenda]].
|$11,533,945
|-
|''W.R.: Mystery of the Organism''
|1971
|NR
|Essentially a plotless film riddled with disgusting orgies.
|
|-
|''Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle''
|2004
|R
|The adventures of the pot-smoking duo that play up ethnic stereotypes.
|$18,250,550
|-
|''American Pie''
|1999
|R
|First installment of a long-running film franchise primarily dealing with teenage sex and alcohol. It relies on jokes about sex and bodily functions.
|$102,561,004
|-
|''There's Something About Mary''
|1998
|R
|Contains gratuitous sex and jokes about bodily functions.
|$176,484,651
|-
|''Philadelphia''
|1993
|PG-13
|Homosexual agenda setting drama.
|$77,446,440
|-
|''Salo: Or the 120 Days of Sodom''
|1975
|NR
|Adaptation of the [[sadist]] and atheistic text by [[Marquis de Sade]] from Communist homosexual filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini, who was killed shortly after completing this movie.
|
|-
|''[[Jackass]]: The Movie''
|2002
|R
|Essentially a montage of ridiculous stunts and pranks with no coherent story.
|$64,255,312
|-
|''The Breakfast Club''
|1985
|R
|Promotes use of drugs, smoking, and sex.
|$51,525,171
|-
|''The Wolf of Wall Street''
|2013
|R
|Blatantly promotes excessive, endless drug use, portraying it in a positive light and claiming that illegal drugs such as heroin give people the will to keep working hard and stay focused and positive, as well as various forms of graphic and illicit sexual activity and voyeurism, (both heterosexual and in one scene, homosexual) and non-stop use of the f-word and hundreds of other profanities throughout. Portrays capitalists on [[Wall Street]] as greedy self-absorbed criminals obsessed with sex, drugs and violence in the form of the protagonist Jordan Belfort. Many audiences were shocked that this did not receive an 'NC-17' rating upon it's release, especially since morality-deprived director [[Martin Scorsese]] broke the ''[[South Park]]'' movie's record for most uses of the f-word with his film. Christina McDowell, the daughter of Tom Prousalis, one of the people involved in Belfort's crimes, wrote a memoir on the subject specifically to call out Scorsese and DiCaprio for failing to recognize the victims of Belfort in the film, something even the most praiseworthy critics of the film admitted was a flaw.
|$116,900,694
|-
|''[[Good Will Hunting]]''
|1997
|R
|Left-wing film made by Left-wing actors/writers [[Matt Damon]] and [[Ben Affleck]], as well as staring Matt Damon. Also notable as being the main reason why [[Howard Zinn]]'s anti-American textbook ''A People's History to the United States'' became both public knowledge and provided in all universities and high schools across America, due to Matt Damon's character, Will Hunting, telling [[Robin William]]'s character in a pivotal scene "You wanna read a ''real'' history book, read Howard Zinn’s ''People’s History of the United States''. That book’ll f**kin’ knock you on your ass.”
|$225,933,435
|-
|''Pocahontas''
|1995
|G
|Feminist story about [[Native American]] [[Pocahontas]] with an environmental message, and also the Native American’s view against English settlers
|$141,579,773
|-
|''Jennifer's Body''
|2007
|R
|Promotes feminism and glorifies Satanism, contains a lesbian kiss and them making out
|$16,204,793.
|-
|''Bad Teacher''
| 2011
|R
|An awful high school teacher, who is always getting high and drunk, tries to get breast-implant surgery, and encourages cheating and stealing from her students. The movie contains no [[morals]], and is filled with offensive sexual content.
| $100,292,856
|-
|''Being John Malkovich''
|1999
|R
|Promotes homosexuality and includes a large amount of extremely vulgar humor.
|$637,721
|-
|''The Perks of Being a Wallflower''
|2012
|PG-13
|Promotes homosexuality and also demonizes those opposed to a homosexual lifestyle.
|$17,738,570
|-
|''The Nightmare Before Christmas''
|1993
|PG
|Aims to be nothing less than the most iconic and thorough degradation of the sacred holiday in the history of cinema. Originally released under Disney's Touchstone Pictures brand, it has recently been quietly swapped to the Disney brand in order that its poisonous content might reach as many children as possible.
|$75,082,668
|-
|''Edward Scissorhands''
|1990
|PG-13
|A prominently featured Christian character - the only character in the movie ever identified as Christian - is portrayed as fanatical and bigoted against people with scissors for hands.
|$56,362,352
|-
|''Sex Tape''
|2014
|R
|Anti-family. The main premise of the film was two nymphomaniacs trying to create a sex tape of themselves after getting kids killed the sex drive, and then recovering iPods that accidentally uploaded their tape online for everyone to see. The ending also has brief yet graphic sex scene showing what exactly was on the sex tape.
|$38,543,473
|-
|''Rise of the Planet of the Apes''
|2011
|PG-13
|Anti-business (the company the main character works for is painted in an extremely negative light), a lot of environmentalism throughout (including a more anti-human agenda being pushed), and the actor who played Caesar, Andy Serkis, as well as director Rupert Wyatt, both compared Caesar positively to the Marxist Argentinian revolutionary terrorist and mass murderer [[Che Guevara]].
|$481,801,049
|-
|''Bad Santa''
|2003
|R
|Lots of coarse language, sexual escapades, drunkenness, and also the main plot involved a conman posing as a Mall Santa so he and his dwarf accomplice can rob the mall's safe. It was bad enough that critics panned Disney for allowing the trashing of a cultural icon like Santa Claus as well as even then-Disney CEO, Michael Eisner, to be disgusted with the resulting film, acting as one of the main reasons for Miramax being cut loose from Disney alongside Kill Bill.
|$60 million
|-
|''[[The Laramie Project]]''
|2002
|Unrated
|An adaptation of the play of the same name made by HBO to promote the homosexual agenda, including giving a one-sided, extremely biased perspective on the murder of Matthew Shepherd implying that his murderers had homophobia as a motive. It also has a significant anti-religious bent in it, where two of the documentarists (implied to be gay) tried to talk to a priest specifically to "piss him off," and also had one of the members breaking down from a priest being "hateful" simply because he implied the possibility that Matthew Shepherd will go to hell if he didn't repent for his homosexual activities.
|-
|''That's My Boy''
|2012
|R (originally NC-17)
|Depicts pedophilia, statutory rape, gerontophilia, child neglect, incest, and other forms of aberrant sexuality as funny.
|$57.7 million
|-
|''Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna)''
|2007
|PG-13
|Baselessly supports illegal immigration despite a pro-family sentiment.
|$23,311,391
|-
|''Gnomeo and Juliet''
|2011
|PG
|Contains a joke that could be interpreted as passing off bestiality as funny.
|$194 million
|-
|''Maleficent''
|2014
|PG
|Unabashedly promoting the feminist agenda to the extent that most of the males are either villains or useless, and even going as far as to heavily hint at a transgender philosophy; promotes hard-core environmentalism, moral relativism and even Marxism; pretty much ruins the morality tale for ''Sleeping Beauty''. ''The Federalist'' also had a field day with the film stating how it promoted the leftist agenda and citing point by point its agenda.<ref>http://thefederalist.com/2014/06/06/maleficent-once-upon-a-screed/</ref>
|$241,410,378
|-
|''Spare Parts''
|2015
|PG
|It's about illegal immigrant students who win a Robotics competition.
|
|}

==Schlockumentary==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Film
!Year
!Rating
!Comments
!Gross (Domestic)
|-
|Almost any movie by [[Michael Moore]]
|
|
|
|
|-
|''[[An Inconvenient Truth]]''
|2006
|PG
|[[Al Gore]]'s [[global warming]] alarmist [[schlockumentary]].
|$24,146,161
|-
|''[[The Road We’ve Traveled]]''
|2012
|Not rated
|[[Tom Hanks]] directs & narrates Barack Obama's supposed achievements
|NA
|-
|''[[Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup]]''
|2009
|
|[[Truthers]] Dylan Avery and Korey Rowe blame America for [[9/11]]
|Unknown
|-
|''Super Size Me''
|2004
|PG-13
|Blames [[obesity]] on great capitalist paragons like [[McDonald's]] and [[Sodexo]].
|$11,536,423
|-
|''Religulous''
|2008
|R
|[[Jewish]] "Comedian" [[Bill Maher]] tries to convince the audience of the folly of all religion, with special focus on Christianity.
|$13,011,160
|-
|''[[Jesus Camp]]''
|2006
|PG-13
|Baselessly attacks Conservative Christianity; incited [[liberal vandalism]] of the Bible camp shown in the film.
|$902,544
|-
|''Inside Job''
|2010
|PG-13
|A 2010 film by Democrat donor Charles Ferguson. Blames the Great Recession on Wall Street, unspecified deregulations, the Bush Administration, and so on. Whitewashes [[Fannie Mae]] and [[Freddie Mac]]'s role and virtually eschews any mention of the Community Reinvestment Act. Despite claims of being nonpartisan, it contains various interviews with Democratic politicians while including none with Republican politicians. Claims the financial system corrupted politics; capitalists are the bad guys.
|$4,312,735
|-
|''She's Beautiful When She's Angry''
|2014
|NR
|Nothing more then feminist propaganda being passed off as truth.
|
|-
|''[[The 11th Hour]]''
|2007
|PG
|Environmental schlockumentary produced and narrated by actor [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] which endorses the theory of [[Anthropogenic global warming]].
|$707,343
|-
|''Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God''
|2012
|NR
|Anti-Christian schlock directed by liberal Alex Gibney
|
|-
|''Years of Living Dangerously''
|2014
|N/A
|Environmental schlockumentary spearheaded by ultra-liberal, [[James Cameron]], and featuring several proponents of [[Hollywood Values]] trying to preach the false idea of [[climate change]].
|
|-
|''[[Bowling for Columbine]]''
|2002
|R
|A 2002 schlockumentary directed by and starring [[leftist]] propagandist Michael Moore. It is a pro-[[gun control]] film, and distorts facts in favor of gun-grabbing. Also included a "Brief history of the USA" segment using animation mirroring that of [[South Park]], that distorted historical facts to make it seem as though guns were implemented by racists, which actually led to the South Park [[libertarian]] creators to condemn him, enough to give Moore a cameo in Team America as a suicide bomber and make his death especially graphic.
|$21,576,018
|-
|''The Tillman Story''
|2010
|R
|A liberals view of the circumstances surrounding the death of football star and [[Army Ranger]] [[Pat Tillman]]. The film portrays each and every fact as sinister. Plus, each and every fact is evidence of a conspiracy. Typical Hollywood [[George W. Bush]] bashing flick. The [[liberal bias]] was clear, make Tillman a liberal [[atheist]] anti-war hero that was cannon-fodder for the government. Tillman's actions speak louder than any twisted accusations presented in this documentary.
|$802,535
|-
|''Better This World''
|2011
|Not Rated
|2011 documentary "feature length lie" is a [[PBS]] film regarding the thwarted domestic terrorist attack at the 2008 [[Republican National Convention]] and liberals attempt to re-write history.
|NA - TV
|-
|''Winter Soldier''
|1972
|Not Rated
|The 1972 film about U.S. troops from [[Vietnam]] put on record as baby killers, [[human rights]] violators, and general disservice to America. This myth was propagated by a few anti-war activist liberal actors that never did see combat in Vietnam and some were never in the country. The initial result was to hold hearings in [[Congress]] over the matter. All allegations were proven fabrications, falsehoods, and lies.
|Unknown
|-
|''Lost in Tel Aviv''
|2008
|Not Rated
|A film depicting a couple intent on making a filthy [[South Park]]-esque cartoon as heroes.
|Unknown
|-
|''Hearts and Minds''
|1974
|Not Rated
|A documentary about the Vietnam War that was inherently anti-American in its nature. Also depicts [[Catholic]]s as bigots. It also had a brief clip at the beginning which had the rolling crew having one of the higher officers forced to talk to them with the false promise that they'd burn the tape once he is finished with it. It also has several moments of graphic sex between soldiers and Vietnamese prostitutes. It also implies throughout the film that several atrocities conducted by the North Vietnamese communists were done by Americans, including the footage where a girl ends up burned by [[napalm]] and running out naked. Noteworthy for being almost single-handedly responsible for forcing America out of Vietnam (even having the NVA mailing the producers thanking them for "ensuring peace" in Vietnam) as well as it being an influence for far-left schlockumentarist/propagandist Michael Moore, with some of its filming techniques even being reused for ''Farenheit 9/11''.
|Unknown
|}

==Anti-Christian==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Film
!Year
!Rating
!Comments
!Gross (Domestic)
|-
|''Dogma''
|1999
|R
|Mocks religion and [[Catholic]]ism in particular, with cheap smutty jokes and portraying [[God]] as female.
|$30,652,890
|-
|''Cloud Atlas''
|2012
|R
|Supports the idea of reincarnation and features anti-Christian undertones. Additionally, supports the idea of homosexuality and [[transvestitism]], as many of the characters are resurrected as the opposite sex, while still played by the same actor. This idea of supporting homosexuality is further brought to the forefront as one of the movie's directors recently came out as having had a sex change operation as a way to promote the movie.
|
|-
|''2001: A Space Odyssey''
|1968
|G
|Controversial upon its release for its atheistic themes and is notorious for its support of the [[Theory of evolution]].
|
|-
|''Breaking the Waves''
|1996
|R
|States that God rewards and endorses adulterers and prostitution. Demonizes devout Christians, portraying them as villains.
|
|-
|''The Golden Compass''
|2007
|PG-13
|Based on the atheistic ''His Dark Materials'' series.
|$70,107,728
|-
|''Hail Mary''
|1985
|NR
|Marxist filmmaker, Jean-Luc Godard, decided to retell the story of Mary and Joseph in modern day. As per his business casual, it was ultra controversial upon its release. [[Pope John Paul II]] condemned it, claiming it was likely to offend the deeply religious because of its explicit nudity. Additionally, it depicts Joseph as a womanizing man whore and Mary in a similar light, as there is a montage where she is completely in the nude for no apparent reason. The film was banned in deeply religious countries such as [[Brazil]] and [[Argentina]].
|
|-
|''Priest''
|1994
|R
|Blatantly anti-Catholic and pro-gay.
|$4,165,845
|-
|''Noah''
|2014
|PG-13
|Liberals take on the classic story from the [[Book of Genesis]]. Going along with their usual M.O., this film shoehorns harmful messages that had nothing to do with the original story, such as [[environmentalism]], living on a vegan diet, and most notably, the promotion of the [[Theory of Evolution]] as fact.
|-
|''Exodus: Gods and Kings''
|2014
|PG-13
|Depicts the prophet Moses as an atheist and a terrorist. Glenn Beck said that this movie essentially turned Moses into "an al-Qaeda member" who "doesn't want to rely on God anymore".
|
|-
|Almost any movie directed by Luis Bunuel
|
|
|Luis Bunuel was an atheist and was a bigot towards Christians. He would unjustly ridicule Christians in all of his movies and was a pioneer in making this schlock being considered art when really it is just liberal smut.
|
|-
|''Paul''
|2011
|R
|The moral of the film is that there is no God and anyone who believes in him is an ignorant boob.
|$97,984,015
|-
|''Antichrist''
|2009
|NR
|Gruesome movie with horrifying imagery juxtaposed to Christian symbols.
|$791,867
|-
|''[[The Da Vinci Code]]''
|2006
|PG-13
|Promotes the false theory that [[Jesus]] Christ married [[Mary Magdalene]].
|$217,536,138
|-
|''[[Monty Python's The Meaning of Life]]''
|1983
|R
|Do we really need to explain?
|-
|''Inherit the Wind''
|1960
|Not Rated
|Hollywood perpetuated complete lies about the [[Scopes Trial]] in this film in order to smear Christianity, including: portraying [[William Jennings Bryan]] as being ignorant, harsh and punitive, based on a false portrayal of his actions and testimony, falsely claiming that at the end Bryan, in a senseless fit of madness, died in the courtroom amid caring and reasonable [Darwin]]ists and falsely portraying the Darwinists in a positive light and the Christians as deceitful. In real life, Bryan and the Christians won the trial and were charitable to the end, while the Darwinist Darrow was deceitful in reneging on his deal to take the witness stand after Bryan did.
|Unknown
|-
|''After Earth''
|2013
|PG-13
|Blatantly promotes the theory of evolution and [[scientology]] themes. Also notorious for being a huge box office flop.
|
|-
|''The Ledge''
|2011
|Not Rated
|Blatantly promotes atheism by depicting, as atheist screenplay writer Matthew Chapman explicitly put it, the first openly atheist hero in American cinema. Also depicted Christianity, via the character Jon, as being bigoted, abusive, and domineering. It is also to be noted that it received a lot of poor reviews and sales.
|
|-
|''Forty Days and Forty Nights''
|2002
|R
|A vulgar sex comedy where the main character has to give up sex for Lent, with his ex-girlfriend trying to tempt him throughout the entire time. Also had the noteworthy aspect of actually being released ''during'' the lent season. This resulted in President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights William Donohue requesting to both then-[[Disney]] CEO [[Michael Eisner]] and Harvey Weinstein that they reschedule the airing of the film, citing that "To show a film that parodies Lent in a most vulgar way is bad enough, but to show it during Lent is outrageous."<ref>http://www.catholicleague.org/appeal-to-michael-eisner-and-harvey-weinstein-reschedule-40-days-and-40-nights/</ref> In addition, despite the inflammatory material in the movie, the [[Anti-Defamation League]] head Foxman did not call out the film.
|
|-
|''Dead Poets Society''
|1989
|PG
|A worldly literature professor, Peter Keating (Robin Williams) shown as inspiring and open-minded, is contrasted with the conservative Christian boarding school where he teaches, portrayed as conformist, oppressive, and materialistic. The film also appears to promote teen suicide, as one of the main characters is able to commit suicide without a negative word ever being uttered against his actions by any positive character.
|$95,860,116
|-
|''The Truman Show''
|1998
|PG
|Promotes both atheism and humanism. Truman doesn't realize his seemingly ordinary life is a reality TV show, overseen by Christof, the show's heartless and manipulative creator. Christof lives in the fake sky above Truman, watching over him, controlling everything from the weather to Truman's destiny. He is an allegorical substitute for the Christian God. (Notice "Christ" in his name.) Truman must escape from the false world of the show (Christianity) and triumph over Christof. As Truman appears to walk on water in the ending, the film is displaying the false, human-worshipping sentiment that man can replace God and be Lord of his own life.
|$31,542,121
|-
|''September Dawn''
|2007
|R
|Anti-Mormon propaganda that blatantly distorts history. The Mountain Meadows Massacre was perpetrated by a group of Mormons, but, despite what this movie says, Church authority did not authorize such an act, and they still condemn it to this day. This movie was strategically released in order to muddy the waters of Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign.
|$1,066,555
|-
|''Sunshine''
|2007
|R
|Anti-religious apocalyptic film full of scientific inaccuracy. Christianity is embodied in a homicidal psychopath, who believes that it is the will of God for the world to end. This Christian is willing to kill anyone who gets in the way of what he believes is the will of God. Atheism is portrayed as sympathetic, kind, and pro-humanity.
|$32 million
|-
|''The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc''
|1999
|R
|Distorts history, portraying the prominent historical figure Joan of Arc as psychologically and emotionally unstable, impulsive, prone to mood swings, and having led the French army to victory purely out of selfishness, cruelty, and vengeance, despite all historical evidence proving the contrary. Anti-Catholic.
|$66,976,317
|-
|''The Haunting of Molly Hartley''
|2008
|PG-13
|Depicts Christians as either starry-eyed kooks or homicidal maniacs while depicting implied-to-be-Satanism as a happy lifestyle.
|$15,418,749
|}

please add more!

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
* [[Essay:Greatest Conservative Movies]]
* [[Essay:Worst Liberal TV Shows]]

[[Category:Essays about Liberals]]
[[Category:Cinema]]
[[Category:Hollywood]]
[[Category: Worst Liberal Movies]]

Malicious software

2016-02-26T22:28:16Z

DerekE: New section; citation added

'''Malicious software''' (or '''malware'''), often generically called viruses, is [[computer]] [[software]] which deliberately does something harmful to your computer.<ref>malware. Dictionary.com. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware], (accessed: July 13, 2011).</ref> Once downloaded, malware can be passed from one computer to another. Malware is usually downloaded to a computer by hiding inside rogue (and sometimes legitimate) software packages: the ''Trojan horse'' (or ''Trojan'').<ref>Definition: [http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/Trojan-horse Trojan horse], searchsecurity.techtarget.com, (Accessed July 13, 2011).</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307602,00.html Apple Macintoshes Targeted by Porn-Based Computer Virus], [[Fox News|FOXNews.com]], November 02, 2007.</ref>

==Symptoms==
If a [[Windows (operating system)|Windows]] or [[Mac OS X]] [[operating system]] gets infected by malware, it could cause the loss of important files; business files, digital music and movies, and pictures could be wiped out by a single infection.<ref>''The Mac Security Blog''. [http://blog.intego.com/2008/12/04/do-you-need-an-antivirus-for-your-mac-definitely-yes/ Do You Need an Antivirus for Your Mac? Definitely, Yes.], blog.intego.com, December 4, 2008.</ref> The malware may slow down the computer or become annoying by sending [[email]] to all of the infected users contacts. Worse, it may delete or copy sensitive information on the infected computer or mobile device.

===Infectious Mobile Devices===
[[Android]] devices and some versions of the [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] iOS mobile operating system are vulnerable to malicious code contained in PDF files.<ref>Amy Gahran. [http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-11/tech/gahran.ios.malware_1_pdf-files-ios-iphone?_s=PM:TECH iPhone, iPad users: Watch out for malicious PDF files], ''[[CNN]]'', July 11, 2011.</ref><ref>''The Mac Security Blog''. [http://blog.intego.com/2011/07/07/iphone-pdf-vulnerability-creates-security-risks-allows-easy-jailbreaks/ iOS PDF Vulnerability Creates Security Risks, Allows Easy Jailbreaks], blog.intego.com, July 7, 2011.</ref> Security researchers at [[Intego]] noted that while there is currently no known malware for iOS, files that flow through mobile devices and into [[home]] and [[office]] computers by email or remote storage can contain malware and worms that are harmful to the Mac and Windows operating systems.<ref>Killian Bell. [http://www.cultofmac.com/integos-virusbarrier-for-ios-will-stop-your-iphone-from-being-a-typhoid-mary/104264 Intego’s VirusBarrier for iOS Will Stop Your iPhone From Being A Typhoid Mary], ''Cult of Mac'', July 12, 2011.</ref> For example, once infected, an [[iPhone]] would act as an [[asymptomatic carrier]], allowing [[criminal|cybercriminals]] to access confidential information, intercept phone conversations or take over other aspects of the infected device.

=== Mac Malware ===
While Mac malware is scarcer than [[Windows (operating system)|Windows]] malware, over the last ten years threats targeting Mac OS X have been on the rise and have become more sophisticated.<ref>[https://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/10-years-of-mac-malware-how-os-x-threats-have-evolved/ 10 Years of Mac Malware: How OS X Threats Have Evolved (Infographic)]</ref> In addition, Macs can pass on files that contain malware to Windows users. For this reason, a layered approach to security is the best defense, including the use of a [[firewall]] and Mac [[Anti-virus software|antivirus]] that detects and stops Windows viruses as well as Mac malware.

===Other Malware===
In addition to the [[Linux Virus]], [[Macro Virus]], [[Windows Virus]], and [[Mac Virus]], a number of other types of malware exist for computer operating systems. This includes spyware, adware, keyloggers, and scareware (rogue software that claims to serve a purpose, usually pretending to be security software).

==References==
<references/>

==See Also==
* [[Tails (operating system)]] ([[Linux]]-based) and [[Tor (anonymity network)]] [[Firefox]] [[browser]] [[encryption]] for [[Internet]] [[anonymity]] to protect [[unalienable rights]]
* [[Botnet]]

[[category:computers]]
[[category:software]]
[[Category:Police State]]

Climategate

2016-02-26T22:09:11Z

DerekE: Moved external link to appropriate section

[[File:Gorelying.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Al Gore]] on CNN's ''American Morning'', December 9, 2009, in which he stated that snow is melting from the polar icecaps and glaciers at a rapid rate, and that the "global warming deniers" manipulated the emails from CRU out of context. 
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtdoPeYdNRA Al Gore Weighs In On Climate Gate], ''CNN'' interview pt.1 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3IRdkPkatE Al Gore Weighs In On Climate Gate], ''CNN'' interview pt.2]]
The '''Climategate''' scandal erupted on November 19, 2009, when a collection of [[email]] messages, data files and data processing programs were leaked from the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit (CRU) located in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], revealing [[scientific fraud]] and data [[manipulation]] by scientists concerning the [[Global Warming Theory]].<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/11/19/breaking-news-story-hadley-cru-has-apparently-been-hacked-hundreds-of-files-released/ Breaking News Story: CRU has apparently been hacked – hundreds of files released], ''Watts Up With That?'', November 19, 2009.</ref> The [[scandal]] that the suffix –'''gate''' implies is the state of [[climate science]] over the past decade, revealed by more than a thousand emails, documents, and computer code sets between various prominent scientists.<ref name=3things>Iain Murray. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/three-things-you-absolutely-must-know-about-climategate/ Three Things You Absolutely Must Know About Climategate], ''[[Pajamas Media]]'', November 24, 2009.</ref> The released information is evidence of [[deceit]] by climate scientists, which was kept a secret or hidden from the public until the data was leaked from the CRU. The CRU's apparent obstruction of [[freedom-of-information]] requests, as revealed by the leaks, was only the tip of the [[iceberg]].<ref>The global-warming scandal is bigger than one email leak. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704342404574576683216723794.html The Tip of the Climategate Iceberg], ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', December 08, 2009.</ref> Climategate is said to have revealed the biggest scientific [[hoax]] in world history as the worst scandal of this [[generation]].<ref>Christopher Booker. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/6679082/Climate-change-this-is-the-worst-scientific-scandal-of-our-generation.html Climate change: this is the worst scientific scandal of our generation], Telegraph.co.uk, November 28, 2009.</ref><ref>[[Glenn Beck]]. [http://www.glennbeck.com/content/videos/?uri=channels/338017/667734 The Biggest Scam In History (Video)], ''The Glenn Beck Program'', December 01, 2009.</ref>

The Climategate emails and climate data became the subject of intense debate, calling to question assumptions on [[Anthropogenic global warming theory|anthropogenic (man-made) global warming]]. The legitimacy of climate [[science]], and the charges leveled by the CRU and the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] (IPCC) which claim humans cause [[climate change]], was severely shaken by Climategate. Evidence revealed told the truth about man-made [[global warming]]: it's a [[fraud]].<ref>James Delingpole. [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100017393/climategate-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-of-anthropogenic-global-warming/ Climategate: the final nail in the coffin of 'Anthropogenic Global Warming'?], Telegraph.co.uk, November 20, 2009.</ref><ref>[[Rush Limbaugh]]. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_113009/content/01125109.guest.html Universe of Lies: Big Warmers Try to Whitewash ClimateGate Fraud], RushLimbaugh.com, November 30, 2009.</ref><ref>Marc Sheppard. [http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/11/crus_source_code_climategate_r.html CRU's Source Code: Climategate Uncovered], ''American Thinker'', November 25, 2009.</ref><ref>Steve McIntyre. [http://www.climateaudit.org/?p=7168 Yamal: A "Divergence" Problem], climateaudit.org, September 27, 2009.</ref><ref>Andrew Orlowski. [http://sweetness-light.com/archive/one-of-the-frauds-behind-the-cru One Of The Scandals In The CRU Emails], ''Sweetness & Light'', September 29, 2009.</ref>

Despite the significance of the scandal and its impact on the theory suggesting humans cause climate change, in a profoundly bizarre situation the [[Mainstream media]] attempted to bury the Climategate story.<ref name=accuracyinmedia>Allie Duzett. [http://www.aim.org/aim-column/media-ignore-climate-science-scandal/ Media Ignore Climate Science Scandal], [[Accuracy In Media]], November 23, 2009.</ref> At the same time, liberal [[Wikipedia]] quickly [[Censorship|censored]] Climategate and referred to it as an illegal "incident," as the work of computer hackers stealing data — contrary to [[Freedom of Information Act]] requests. In spite of the [[Liberal media|liberal media's]] [[bias]] attempt to hide the scandal, news of Climategate quickly spread because many other more notable sources of [[media]] covered the story. Commentators and others in the media covered news on Climategate, many of which outlined important takeaways about specific information valuable to the public.<ref>Larrey Anderson. [http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/revenge_of_the_computer_nerds_1.html Revenge of the Computer Nerds], ''American Thinker'', December 09, 2009.</ref>

==Climategate Scandal==
[[File:DetroitLakes 212142 North 01.JPG|right|200px|thumb|An example of a poorly-placed, poorly-maintained satellite temperature sensor and MMTS unit, placed next to a private home's air conditioning unit, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The placement of thousands of these units near man-made heat sources had the effect of skewing temperature readings.]]
[[File:Hansen50.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Example of an MMTS unit, placed directly above road pavement at the University of Arizona, Tucson. A desert environment, summer temperatures in Tucson are in excess of 100o; the sun can and does heat the pavement at considerably higher temperatures.]]
Climate science was troubled after news reports of the Climategate scandal went public, after the release of a thousand email messages and a collection of data and data processing programs from the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit.<ref>Christopher C. Horner. [http://biggovernment.com/2009/11/23/media-missing-the-plot-on-climate-gate-its-the-fraud-stupid/#more-35302 Media Missing the Plot on ‘Climate Gate’: It’s the Fraud, Stupid!], BigGovernment.com, November 23, 2009.</ref> The trustworthiness of the scientific community's global warming data pool was called into question. On November 29, with the publication of a report by ''The Sunday Times'' of [[London]], it was reported that scientists at the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit in the United Kingdom confessed to throwing out most of the raw temperature data on which the theory of global warming is founded.<ref>Gene J. Koprowski. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,578368,00.html Global Warming Scandal Makes Scientific Progress More Difficult, Experts Say], ''[[Fox News]]'', December 01, 2009.</ref> The admittance occurred following requests for the data under Freedom of Information legislation. [[Michelle Malkin]] detailed one of the many problems that will occur as a result of such data loss at the University of East Anglia, the research institution at the center of Climategate. She reported, "It means that other academics are not able to check basic calculations said to show a long-term rise in temperature over the past 150 years."<ref>[[Michelle Malkin]]. [http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/30/document-dump-a-palooza/ Document-dump-a-palooza], ''Michelle Malkin'', November 30, 2009.</ref>

The Climategate scandal revealed that corruption of climate science is a worldwide problem and is not confined to just Britain’s CRU climate research centre. For instance, it was discovered that the reported [[warming trend]] in [[New Zealand]] over the past 156 years (from 1853 to 2008) was created by man-made adjustments of the temperature data.<ref>P.J. Gladnick. [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2009/11/26/climategate-scandal-spreads-new-zealand-msm-continues-ostrich-act Climategate Scandal Spreads to New Zealand as MSM Continues Ostrich Act], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', November 26, 2009.</ref> The centerpiece of New Zealand's ''National Institute of Water & Atmospheric'' research temperature claims were proven false.<ref>The revelations were published on November 25, 2009, from ''The Climate Science Coalition'' of NZ: [http://www.climatescience.org.nz/images/PDFs/global_warming_nz2.pdf PDF] A paper collated by Richard Treadgold, of the ''Climate Conversation Group'', from a combined research project undertaken by members of the ''Climate Conversation Group'' and the [[New Zealand]] ''Climate Science Coalition''.</ref> This data contributes to global temperature statistics and the climate science reports by the [[IPCC]]. The false data was used by the [[Obama administration]] as a reason for remaining insistently stubborn on participating in the climate conference in [[Copenhagen]] in 2009-10.

The CRU scientists deliberately falsified data, and then used the results of the falsification to obtain additional research funding. This is [[criminal]] [[fraud]] under [[English]] [[Law]]. Because of the worldwide fraud revealed from Climategate and the burden it caused to the global scientific community, on December 01, 2009, [[Phil Jones]], the director of the embattled Climatic Research Unit in the [[United Kingdom]] stepped down pending investigations into allegations that he overstated the case for man-made climate change.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,578486,00.html Facing Scandal, Head of Climate Research Lab to Temporarily Step Down], ''[[Fox News]]'', December 02, 2009.</ref> On January 28, 2010, from the ''London Times'', inquiry over the Climategate emails found Phil Jones broke the law by refusing to hand over its raw data for public scrutiny.<ref>Ben Webster, Environment Editor, and Jonathan Leake. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7004936.ece Scientists in stolen e-mail scandal hid climate data], ''The London Times'', January 28, 2010.</ref> [[Michael Mann]] was investigated by [[Pennsylvania State University]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/02/03/penn-st-investigating-scientist-research-misconduct/ Penn St. Investigating Scientist Over Research Misconduct], FOXNews.com, Updated: February 03, 2010.</ref>

Climategate fraud also extended to the [[United States]], and the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) had their attorneys file three Notices of Intent to File Suit against [[NASA]]. Chris Horner, representing CEI, said the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies failed to comply with the Freedom of Information Act for over three years.<ref>Tony Pann. [http://www.examiner.com/x-11224-Baltimore-Weather-Examiner~y2009m11d25-Climategate-CEI-to-sue-NASA-Goddard-for-Climate-Change-fraud Climategate: CEI to sue NASA Goddard for Climate Change fraud], ''Baltimore Weather Examiner'', November 25, 2009.</ref> The Climategate emails, originating from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, showed how all the data centers worldwide, including NOAA and NASA, conspired in the manipulation of global temperature records to suggest that temperatures in the 20th century rose faster than they actually did.<ref>Joseph D'Aleo. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/climategate-noaa-and-nasa-complicit-in-data-manipulation/ Climategate: NOAA and NASA Complicit in Data Manipulation], ''[[Pajamas Media]]'', January 29, 2010.</ref> NASA's two primary climate centers, the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, [[North Carolina|N.C.]], and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies at [[Columbia University]] in [[New York City]], "systematically eliminated 75% of the world's stations with a clear bias toward removing higher-latitude, high-altitude and rural locations."<ref>[http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=518890 A U.S. ClimateGate?], Investors.com, January 22, 2010.</ref>

:* The number of actual weather stations used to calculate average global temperatures was reduced from about 6,000 in the 1970s to about 1,500 today.

:* The number of reporting stations in Canada dropped from 600 to 35.

Stations in places such as the [[Andes]] and [[Bolivia]] were revealed to have virtually vanished, and temperatures from these areas became "determined by interpolation from stations hundreds of miles away on the coast or in the Amazon." Average temperatures were extrapolated from readings in other cities across the world. This selectivity of locations made NASA's data and [[climate change]] conclusions skewed to advance the global warming agenda rather than create data based on scientific facts. The Climategate emails showed that climatologists had conspired to suppress research that challenged the global warming [[orthodoxy]].<ref>NP Editor. [http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/01/29/steve-janke-more-unsettling-science-in-the-global-warming-camp.aspx Steve Janke: More unsettling science in the global warming camp], ''[[National Post]]'', January 29, 2010.</ref>
[[Image:RobinsonWhatWarmsTheEarth.gif|right|200px|frame]]
The CRU scientists, from the Climategate emails, on several occasions discussed methods of subverting the scientific [[peer review]] process to ensure that skeptical papers had no access to publication. As scientific data began showing a downtrend after 2001, the Climategate emails show a [[criminal]] intent to create fraudulent data, and defraud the public of massive amounts of money with a [[cap and trade]] scheme as part of a Global Warming movement. Climate scientists at the CRU worked to circumvent the Freedom of Information Act process in the UK. The Freedom of Information Act explicitly forbids deletion of any material subject to a [[FOIA]] request. The penalty for such a criminal act is a fine of up to £5,000. Presumably being found guilty of such an act, or even suggesting it, would also bring about significant disciplinary procedures at any reputable [[university]].

The ''CBC’s'' Rex Murphy discussed Climategate in an editorial on December 03, 2009.
{{cquote|...Climate science has shown to be, in part, a sub-branch of climate politics. It is a situation intolerable even to serious minds who are on side with Global warming. Such as Clive Crook, who wrote in Atlantic magazine about this scandal as follows: 'the stink of intellectual corruption is overpowering'. Climate science needs its own reset button. And Climategate should be seen not primarily as a set-back, but as an opportunity to cleanse scientific method, to take science away from politics, good causes and alarmists. And vest climate science in bodies of guaranteed neutrality, openness, real in vigorous debate; and away from the lobbyists, the advocates, the Gore's, and professional environmentalists of all kinds. Too many of the current leadership on Global warming are more players than observers, gatekeepers and not investigators, angry partisans of some global engineering, rather than the humble servants of the facts of the case. Read the e-mails, you'll never think of climate science quite the same way again.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/03/you-wouldnt-accept-that-at-a-grade-9-science-fair-cbc-finds-a-moment-of-clarity/ “You wouldn’t accept that at a grade 9 science fair…” – CBC finds a moment of clarity on Climategate], ''WUWT'', December 03, 2009.</ref><ref>Clive Crook, senior editor of ''The Atlantic Monthly'' and former deputy editor of ''The Economist'': "The closed-mindedness of these supposed men of science, their willingness to go to any lengths to defend a preconceived message, is surprising even to me. The stink of intellectual corruption is overpowering. And this scandal is not at the margins of the politicized Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change process. It goes to the core of that process." [http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/12/03/climategate-fallout.aspx Climategate fallout], ''[[National Post]]'', December 03, 2009.</ref>}}

[[Iain Murray]] at ''Pajamas Media'' pointed out three takeaways that people must know about Climategate.<ref name=3things/>
<blockquote>
#First, the scientists discuss manipulating data to get their preferred results. The most prominently featured scientists are [[Paleoclimatology|paleoclimatologists]], who reconstruct historical temperatures and who were responsible for a series of reconstructions that seemed to show a sharp rise in [[temperature|temperatures]] well above historical variation in recent decades.
#Secondly, scientists on several occasions discussed methods of subverting the scientific [[peer review]] process to ensure that skeptical papers had no access to publication. In 2003, [[Tom Wigley]] of the University Corporation for [[Atmosphere|Atmospheric]] Research in Boulder, [[Colorado]], complained that paleoclimatologist [[Hans von Storch]] was responsible for “the publication of crap science ‘in order to stimulate debate’” and that they “must get rid of von Storch” ([http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=307&filename=1051190249.txt 1051190249]) as an editor of the journal Climate Research (he indeed subsequently resigned).
#Finally, the scientists worked to circumvent the [[Freedom of Information Act|Freedom of Information]] process of the United Kingdom.<ref>[http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=893&filename=1212073451.txt Alleged CRU Email - 1212073451.txt]</ref><ref>[http://www.climate-gate.org/email.php?eid=490&keyword= Email - Re: For your eyes only]</ref>
</blockquote>

===Data Manipulation===
[[Image:Orange sun large.jpg|thumb|right|300px|On December 10, 2009, [[Roy W. Spencer]], Ph. D., showed the potential effects of sunspot activity on climate, detailing [http://www.drroyspencer.com/2009/12/geomagnetic-forcing-of-earth%E2%80%99s-cloud-cover-during-2000-2008/ solar geomagnetic to earth climate connections]. On the subject of solar activity affecting climate variations, the geomagnetic modulation of cloudiness has about 10 times the effect on the amount of sunlight absorbed by the Earth as does the solar cycle’s direct modulation of the sun’s output. It also rivals the level of forcing due to [[Anthropogenic global warming theory|anthropogenic]] [[Greenhouse effect|greenhouse gas emissions]], but with way more variability from year to year and decade to decade. (Can anyone say, “natural climate variability”?)]]
The primary issue from Climategate is the data manipulation. [[Science]] requires data, and inadequacy of the climate record was always a problem even before Climategate became known to the public. Dr. [[Tim Ball]] wrote in the ''Canada Free Press'' on the primary issue from Climategate:
{{cquote|Climatology recognizes three distinct periods: The very recent instrumental period; the historical period to 3000 years, and the geologic [and] biologic for the rest. The [Climatic Research Unit scientists] manipulated data in all three but the first is critical because it is the source of material for the computer models, the vehicle of their deception. [...] They claim [the emails] are taken out of context. In context the fullness of their criminality is exposed. They claim there’s nothing of consequence in the emails, but [the emails show] a litany of [[manipulation]] of, the data, the process, publications, [[peer review]], and [[personal attack]]s.<ref name=datamanipulation>Dr. Tim Ball. [http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17916 The New Big Lie: Climategate Emails Are Not Significant], ''Canada Free Press'', December 14, 2009.</ref>}}

Climategate shows strong evidence of fraud, and may show smoking-gun proof of a cover-up by CRU scientists to exaggerate the existence, causation, and threat of global warming.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,576009,00.html Climate Skeptics See 'Smoking Gun' in Researchers' Leaked E-Mails], FOXNews.com, November 21, 2009.</ref><ref>Marc Sheppard. [http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/11/the_evidence_of_climate_fraud.html The Evidence of Climate Fraud], ''American Thinker'', November 21, 2009.</ref><ref>Noel Sheppard. [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/11/25/climategate-smoking-gun-american-thinker-does-medias-job ClimateGate Smoking Gun Found, American Thinker Does Media's Job], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', November 25, 2009.</ref> From ''Cube Antics'', by Robert Greiner, who is a scientist and engineer "with an agnostic stand on global warming," he offered a statement about the research methods of the CRU scientists, attempting to show proof that they had the means and intent to falsify data. Greiner pointed out that the Climategate emails alone do not provide sufficient proof that the CRU was deliberately tampering with their data. What the Climategate emails do show is that climate scientists may have committed a [[felony]] using government funded money; moreover, within the collection of data and data processing programs revealed from Climategate, code from the CRU shows proof that valid [[temperature station]] readings were taken and skewed to fabricate the results the "scientists" wanted to believe, not what actually occurred.<ref name=codeproof>Robert Greiner. [http://cubeantics.com/2009/12/the-proof-behind-the-cru-climategate-debacle-because-computers-do-lie-when-humans-tell-them-to/ The Proof Behind the CRU Climategate Debacle], ''Cube Antics'', December 03, 2009.</ref> Analysis of the CRU's code revealed the foundation for the manipulated temperature readings. Greiner reiterated his findings:
{{cquote|First and foremost, this doesn’t necessarily prove anything about global warming as science. It just shows that all of the data that was the chief result of most of the environmental legislation created over the last decade was a farce. This means that all of those billions of dollars we spent as a global community to combat global warming may have been for nothing. If news station anchors and politicians were trained as engineers, they would be able to find real proof and not just speculate about the meaning of emails that only made it appear as if something illegal happened.<ref name=codeproof/>}}

On December 05, 2009, Robert Greiner pointed out the four most frequent concerns dealing with the CRU’s source code uncovered from Climategate:<ref name=codepart2>Robert Greiner. [http://cubeantics.com/2009/12/climategate-code-analysis-part-2/ Climategate Code Analysis Part 2], ''Cube Antics'', December 05, 2009.</ref>
<blockquote>
:1. The source code that actually printed the graph was commented out and, therefore, is not valid proof.
:2. No proof exists that shows this code was used in publishing results.
:3. Interpolation is a normal part of dealing with large data sets, this is no different.
:4. You need the raw climate data to prove that foul play occurred.
</blockquote>
After further analysis, his first concern pointed out that the source code that printed the graph was commented out and thus is not valid proof. On the second concern, Greiner clarified that, "Enough proof exists that the CRU had both the means and intent to intentionally falsify data. This means that all of their research results cannot be trusted until they are verified. Period." The third concern as pointed out by Greiner is not about the fact that the CRU researchers used [[Interpolated|interpolation]]; the issue is the weight of the "valadj" array with respect to the raw data. Greiner said, "valadj simply introduces '''too large''' of an influence to the original data to do anything productive with it." Fourthly, Greiner said that raw climate data is needed to prove that foul play has actually occurred. He said, "It simply doesn’t matter if the raw climate data are correct or not to demonstrate the extreme bias the valadj array forces on the raw data. So, the raw data could actually be temperature data or corporate sales figures, the result is the same; a severe manipulation of data."<ref name=codepart2/>

====Integrity of Data====
Climategate has jeopardized the [[integrity]] of worldwide scientific data on [[climate change]].<ref name=dataintegrity>Willis Eschenbach. [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/08/the-smoking-gun-at-darwin-zero/ The Smoking Gun At Darwin Zero], ''Watts Up With That?'', December 08, 2009.</ref><ref>On December 11, 2009, the ''Economist'' published an unsigned article attacking the work by Willis Eschenbach. This open letter is Eschenbach's reply. [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/12/sticky-for-smoking-gun-at-darwin-zero/ Willis: Reply to the Economist], ''WUWT'', December 12, 2009.</ref> There are two objections that question the validity of temperature data from the IPCC report released in 2007, one of which Climategate does not effect. The earth has generally been warming since the [[Little Ice Age]], around [[AD]] 1650 (Akasofu, 2007).<ref>Is the Earth still recovering from the “Little Ice Age”? (2007) A possible cause of global warming [http://www.iarc.uaf.edu/highlights/2007/akasofu_3_07/Earth_recovering_from_LIA.pdf PDF] by Syun-Ichi Akasofu, ''International Arctic Research Center'', University of Alaska Fairbanks.</ref> The second objection has questioned the integrity of the data, as pointed out from ''Watts Up With That?'' in an article written by Willis Eschenbach. There are three main global temperature datasets, as clarified by Eschenbach.

:* One is at the [[CRU]], Climatic Research Unit of the University of East Anglia.
:* Another one is at NOAA ([[GHCN]]), the Global Historical Climate Network.
:* The final one is at NASA ([[GISS]]), the Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

The three groups take raw data, and they "homogenize" it to remove temperature discrepancies that occur when a station is moved to a warmer or colder location. One of the things that was revealed in the released CRU emails is that the CRU basically uses the Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN) dataset for its raw data.<ref>[http://www.climate-gate.org/search.php?keyword=GHCN&topEmails=&submit=Search Search - GHCN], climate-gate.org, Climategate Document Database.</ref> This raw data is downloaded from GISS, but GISS uses the GHCN raw data as the starting point for their analysis. Both GISS and CRU get almost all of their raw data from GHCN. But the [[IPCC]] uses the "adjusted" data; GHCN adjusts the data to remove what it calls "inhomogeneities."

At [[Darwin]] Airport there are five separate individual station records that are combined to make up the final Darwin record.<ref>[http://data.giss.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/gistemp/findstation.py?datatype=gistemp&data_set=0&name=darwin GISS Surface Temperature Analysis], data.giss.nasa.gov.</ref> In 1941, a station was moved to Darwin Airport. The GHCN then removed the inhomogeneities to adjust the data. Of the five raw datasets at Darwin, the GHCN discarded two. The three remaining records were first homogenized and then averaged to give the "GHCN Adjusted" temperature record for Darwin. Before the GHCN homogenized the data, temperatures in Darwin were falling at 0.7 Celsius per century. After the homogenization, they were warming at 1.2 Celsius per century.

Willis Eschenbach investigated it and started with the earliest record, "Station Zero" at Darwin. The five different station records (raw data) covering Darwin from 1941 on all agreed almost exactly. What Eschenbach found was that there is "indisputable evidence that the 'homogenized' data has been changed to fit someone’s preconceptions about whether the earth is warming." The blatantly bogus GHCN adjustment for this one station shows that at least one part of the data is bad at Darwin Zero.
{{cquote|They’ve just added a huge, artificial, totally imaginary trend to the last half of the raw data! A six degree per century trend? What’s up with that? [...] The GHCN adjusted Station 1 to match Darwin Zero’s strange adjustment, but they left Station 2 totally untouched. They only homogenized two of the three. Then they averaged them. That way, you get an average that looks kinda real, I guess, it 'hides the decline.' [...] Care to know the way that GISS deals with this problem? They only use the Darwin data after 1963, a fine way to throw away all of the inconveniently colder data prior to 1941. Every time the data gets revised and homogenized, the trends keep increasing. What this does show is that there is at least one temperature station where the trend has been artificially increased to give a false warming where the raw data shows cooling.<ref name=dataintegrity/>}}
Separate from GHCN, GISS takes the raw temperature data and does their own adjustments. However, GISS verified that their adjusted, homogenized data is the same as GHCN.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/11/giss-raw-station-data-before-and-after/ GISS “raw” station data – before and after], ''WUWT'', December 11, 2009.</ref> The data is questionable because the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN) manipulates the data prior to its use by others; this process was described as homogenizing. The CRU apparently "lost" their data. Scientists at the CRU, who produce global annual average temperatures, select stations that create the results they want, and then adjust the data again for fraudulent purposes.<ref name=datamanipulation/> Climategate revealed a fact that, until all of the station "adjustments" are examined, adjustments of CRU, GHCN, and GISS cannot be trusted if using homogenized numbers.

[[Image:GlobalTemps June2009.jpg|thumb|right|300px|'''8 Year Downtrend Continues in Global Temps.''' Dr. Roy Spencer in June 2009 announced on his [http://www.drroyspencer.com/2009/07/june-2009-global-temperature-anomaly-update-000-deg-c/ blog] that June's anomaly globally using the Aqua satellite dropped to 0.001C. '''This continued downtrend started after 2001''', and is another indicator [[Global Warming]] alarmists have certainly embodied a hoax. It was also reported: '''Sea Level Rise; A Major Non-existent Threat Exploited by Alarmists:''' Truth about sea level is a major casualty of the war to implement whatever is deemed necessary to implement legislation to increase [[Big government|Big Government]] power and control, including [[Socialist]] [[Income redistribution]] ideologies. [http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/12629 ''Canada Free Press''] - http://www.climatedepot.com/]]

====Hockey Stick Graph====
In one Climategate [[e-mail]] dated November 1999, CRU chief P.D. Jones wrote to [[Michael Mann]], Raymond Bradley, and Malcolm Hughes:
{{cquote|I've just completed Mike's Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years (ie from 1981 onwards) amd from 1961 for Keith's to '''hide the decline'''.<ref>Marc Sheppard. [http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/10/un_climate_reports_they_lie.html UN Climate Reports: They Lie], ''American Thinker'', October 05, 2009.</ref>}}

Michael Mann's [[hockey stick graph]] hid the real declining temperatures and instead showed a [[warming trend]].<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/12/historical-video-perspective-our-current-unprecedented-global-warming-in-the-context-of-scale/ Historical video perspective: global warming in the context of scale], ''WUWT'', December 12, 2009.</ref> Mann's graph portrayed temperatures as steadily declining since [[Medieval Warm Period|medieval times]] and then sharply rising in the last century and a half. Notably, his reconstruction fueled claims that 1998 and following years had the highest temperatures in 1,000 years. Once it became publicly known that man-made global warming is a hoax, as a direct result of the e-mail discussing a "trick" for adding data to each temperature series for the last 20 years, Climategate motivated the making of a video called, "Hide The Decline."<ref>Derek Erwin. [http://derekerwin.blogspot.com/2009/11/climategate-video-hide-decline.html Video of the Year: 'Hide The Decline' - Climategate], ''A 1-In-100 Blogger'', November 27, 2009.</ref>

====Critique of the Hockey Stick Reconstruction====

*[http://climateaudit.files.wordpress.com/2005/09/mcintyre.mckitrick.2003.pdf Corrections To The Mann et. al. (1998) Proxy Data Base And Northern Hemispheric Average Temperature Series] by Stephen McIntyre and Ross McKitrick, ''Energy & Enviornment'' volume 14, 2003.
*[http://blogs.nature.com/climatefeedback/2007/05/the_decay_of_the_hockey_stick.html The Decay of the Hockey Stick by Von Storch] published on the journal ''Nature'''s blog, May 3, 2007.
*[http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/13830/ A Global Warming Bombshell] by Richard A. Muller, ''Technology Review'' , Oct. 2004; calls into question famous graph by Michael Mann.
*[http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/306/5696/679 Reconstructing Past Climate from Noisy Data] by Hans von Storch, Eduardo Zorita, Julie M. Jones, Yegor Dimitriev, Fidel González-Rouco, Simon F. B. Tett, ''Science'' magazine, 22 October 2004.
*[http://www.image.ucar.edu/~boli/manuscripts/2007-LNA-TeA.pdf The ‘hockey stick’ and the 1990s: a statistical perspective on reconstructing hemispheric temperatures] by Bo Li, Douglas W. Nychka and Casper M. Ammann, ''Institute for Mathmatics Applied to Geosciences''; (Manuscript received 22 March 2007; in final form 28 June 2007).
*[http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/2006_articles/IceCoreSprg97.pdf Ice Core Data Show No Carbon Dioxide Increase] by Zbigniew Jaworowski, Ph.D., Spring 1997; this article examines one of the main pillars of the global warming thesis.
*[http://climateaudit.files.wordpress.com/2005/09/mcintyre.ee.2005.pdf The M&M Critique of the MBH98 Northern Hemisphere Climate Index: Update and Implications] (''Energy & Environment'', vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 69-100, January 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
*[http://climateaudit.files.wordpress.com/2005/09/mcintyre.grl.2005.pdf Hockey sticks, principal components, and spurious significance] (''Geophysical Research Letters'', vol. 32, February 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick


====Videos on Hockey Stick Graph====

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFbUVBYIPlI The Hockey Stick vs. Ice Core Data], the “unprecedented” temperatures of the present day when put in perspective of geologic time.
* ''Hi-Definition'': [http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/noaa_gisp2_icecore_anim_hi-def3.gif Historical perspective slide show (.GIF)], “unprecedented” global warming in the context of scale.
* ''Low-res'': [http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/noaa_gisp2_icecore_anim3.gif Historical perspective slide show (.GIF)], “unprecedented” global warming in the context of scale.


===Climategate Fraud===
Al Gore's "[[schlockumentary]]," ''[[An Inconvenient Truth]]'', is perhaps the earliest known Climategate fraud and most widely known global warming hoax. The film was designed to promote fear of global warming with false claims, [[junk science]] and digitally enhanced lies, proclaiming the end of the world. During Al Gore's promotional efforts for his film and to raise alarm on the effects of global warming, he boldly predicted we have ten years to doom.<ref>[[Rush Limbaugh]]. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/free_estack_pages/algore10yearstodoom.guest.html Algore: We Have Ten Years Left Before Earth Cooks], RushLimbaugh.com, January 27, 2006.</ref> At the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, [[Larry David]] commented on Gore's promotional efforts to raise awareness about his schlockumentary and said, "You know, Al is a funny guy, but he's also a very serious guy who believes humans may have only 10 years left to save the planet from turning into a total frying pan."

''An Inconvenient Truth'' inspired fear using junk science; Gore spread [[alarmist]] [[propaganda]] and claimed burning fossil fuels such as [[coal]], [[gas]] and [[oil]] have dramatically increased the Earth's temperatures. Scientific inaccuracies in the film were enhanced with [[Hollywood]] special effects, as a deceptive tactic, to spread fear of doom on his one-sided account of the anthropogenic global warming theory. Most notably, Al Gore created a scene in his movie that shows the [[Antarctic]] ice shelf breaking up and virtually disintegrating, supposedly providing visual evidence to back up his claim that glaciers are melting. The problem is that it wasn't real ice melting. It was styrofoam.<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2005744/posts Al Gore Fakes It], ''Free Republic'', April 23, 2008.</ref> ''[[ABC News]]'' reported Al Gore also took footage of digitally enhanced melting ice from the fictional movie, ''The Day After Tomorrow'', and then used it in his schlockumentary. The real truth behind this hoax is ideology, motivated by money and power.<ref>Steve Rowitt, Th.M., Ph.D. [http://www.creationstudies.org/operationsalt/global_warming_hoax.html Global Warming: The Biggest Hoax of the 21st Century], creationstudies.org, (2010).</ref><ref>Cliff Mason. [http://www.cnbc.com/id/28317874 War On Climate Change Over—And It Won], ''[[CNBC]]'', December 19, 2008.</ref>

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said in its 2007 benchmark report that even a slight change in rainfall could see swathes of the rain forest rapidly replaced by savanna grassland. However, the aftermath of Climategate forced the United Nations climate watchdog to admit to intentionally publishing false claims; the IPCC claims about melting ice in the [[Alps]], the [[Andes]], and in [[Africa]] did not come from [[peer review|peer reviewed]] scientific literature—but from ''Climbing Magazine'', and from a student dissertation—written by a [[climate change]] [[activist]] who was studying for a degree in [[Geography]].<ref>[[Glenn Beck]]. [http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/35784/ Exclusive: Yet another climategate?], ''The Glenn Beck Program'', February 1, 2010.</ref> The IPCC claims that global warming might wipe out 40% of the [[Amazon River|Amazon]] [[Forest|rainforest]] was based on an unsubstantiated claim by green campaigners who had little scientific expertise.<ref>Jonathan Leake. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7009705.ece UN climate panel shamed by bogus rainforest claim], ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', January 31, 2010.</ref><ref>Richard Gray. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7111525/UN-climate-change-panel-based-claims-on-student-dissertation-and-magazine-article.html UN climate change panel based claims on student dissertation and magazine article], Telegraph.co.uk, January 30, 2010.</ref>

[[Greenpeace]] leader [[Gerd Leipold]] admitted that his organization issued misleading statements about man-made global warming, and he said the organization exaggerated information when it claimed that [[Arctic]] [[ice]] would disappear completely by 2030.<ref>Paul Joseph Watson. [http://www.infowars.com/greenpeace-leader-admits-organization-put-out-fake-global-warming-data/ Greenpeace Leader Admits Organization Put Out Fake Global Warming Data], ''Info Wars'', August 20, 2009.</ref> Despite the admission that a panel report warning [[Himalayan]] [[glaciers]] could be gone by 2035 was hundreds of years off, and regardless of the fraud, deceit and lies the Greenpeace organization spread about global warming, Gerd Leipold said he would not resign.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,583711,00.html U.N. Climate Change Expert Cites More Errors in Report], ''[[Fox News]]'', January 25, 2010.</ref>

In 2010, as the East Coast of the United States was hammered by strong winter storms of snow and ice, [[President Obama]] claimed this as further evidence of global warming. The president of the United States ignored facts to push a political agenda. Obama lied about global warming when he said it will cause some places to "end up being a little bit cooler," due to man-made climate change.
{{cquote|We just got five feet of snow in Washington and so everybody is like, a lot of people who are opponents of climate change, they say, 'See, look at that, there's all that snow on the ground, you know, this doesn't mean anything.' I want to just be clear that the science of climate change doesn't mean that every place is getting warmer. It means the planet as a whole is getting warmer. As the planet as a whole gets warmer you start seeing changing weather patterns. And that creates more violent storm systems, more unpredictable weather, so any single place might end up being warmer. Another place might end up being a little bit cooler, there might end up being more precipitation in the air, more monsoons, more hurricanes, more tornadoes.<ref>[[Rush Limbaugh]]. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_021910/content/01125116.guest.html Obama Lies About Global Warming], RushLimbaugh.com, February 19, 2010.</ref>}}

[[File:Climate scientist bombshell.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Professor]] [[Phil Jones]] admitted data shows 'no global warming since 1995']]

===Global Warming Facts===
{{main|Global warming}}

Scientists have cast doubt on the IPCC's claim that global temperatures are rising because of human pollution.<ref>Jonathan Leake. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7026317.ece World may not be warming, say scientists], ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', February 14, 2010.</ref>

:* Data for vital 'hockey stick graph' has gone missing
:* There has been no global warming since 1995
:* Warming periods have happened before - but not due to man-made changes

Professor Phil Jones admitted during an interview with the ''[[BBC]]'' his record keeping is "not as good as it should be," and that he "did not do a thorough job" of keeping track of his own records. Colleagues say that the reason Phil Jones refused [[FOIA|Freedom of Information]] requests is that he may have actually lost the relevant papers. The data is crucial to the famous [[hockey stick graph]] used by [[climate change]] advocates to support the [[theory]].<ref>Jonathan Petre. [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250872/Climategate-U-turn-Astonishment-scientist-centre-global-warming-email-row-admits-data-organised.html Climategate U-turn as scientist at centre of row admits: There has been no global warming since 1995], ''[[Daily Mail]]'', February 14, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1250813/MAIL-ON-SUNDAY-COMMENT-The-professors-amazing-climate-change-retreat.html MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: The professor’s amazing climate change retreat], [[Daily Mail|dailymail.co.uk]], February 13, 2010.</ref> Professor Jones also said that there is little difference between global warming rates in the 1990's and in two previous periods since 1860, leaving open the possibility that the world was warmer in medieval times than now – that the [[Medieval Warm Period]] from 800 to 1300 AD was warmer than the present period, and it could have encompassed the entire globe. Phil Jones also accepted a fact that from 1995 to 2010, for the past 15 years, there has been no statistically significant warming. He conceded the possibility suggesting [[global warming]] may not be a man-made phenomenon.

==Climategate Emails==
{{main|ClimateGate emails}}
The Climategate emails discussed methods of subverting the scientific peer review process to ensure dissenting papers had no access to publication. An email from [[Phil Jones]] to [[Michael Mann]] said, "... And don't leave stuff lying around on ftp sites — you never know who is trawling them. The two MMs have been after the CRU station data for years. If they ever hear there is a Freedom of Information Act now in the UK, I think I'll delete the file rather than send it to anyone."[http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=490] The Climategate emails show that climate scientists may have committed a [[felony]] using government funded money, deliberately falsified data then used the results of the falsification to obtain additional research funding. The collection of data and data processing programs, code from the CRU shows proof that valid temperature station readings were taken and skewed to fabricate the results the "scientists" wanted to believe, not what actually occurred.<ref>Steve Gilbert. [http://sweetness-light.com/archive/some-summaries-of-the-cru-emails A Few Summaries Of Some ‘CRU Emails’], ''Sweetness & Light'', November 22, 2009.</ref> Another email, in which Michael Mann wrote of his "Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series […] to hide the decline," correlated with evidence of intent to skew climate data.

===IPCC and the CRU's 'Trick'===
Further analysis of the word "trick" and how it was used in the Climategate emails from the CRU provided interesting feedback. It showed that CRU did indeed truncate tree ring data, so that the real decline in global temperature is not shown in the [[IPCC]] report, as referenced by Steve McIntyre.<ref>Steve McIntyre. [http://climateaudit.org/2009/12/10/ipcc-and-the-trick/#more-9483 IPCC and the “Trick”], climateaudit.org, December 10, 2009.</ref> McIntyre brought this to attention as an expert reviewer in the IPCC process in 2005, but at the time of inquiry his dissent was stifled and the discussion was never presented to external peer reviewers.

The explanation for the use of the word "trick" came quickly from CRU director Dr. Phil Jones in his official announcement on November 23rd. He claimed, "The word ‘trick’ was used here colloquially as in a clever thing to do. It is ludicrous to suggest that it refers to anything untoward." If Dr. Jones used such colloquialisms regularly, it stood to reason that further analysis should find a number of similar instances of the word "trick" in the CRU Climategate emails over the decade that the emails spanned. A file search program with a simple mission to scan the email folders for all file content with instances of the word "trick" used by itself (excluding other words like "Patrick" that would have "trick" embedded in it) returned eight files with that condition:<ref name=trickcount>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/10/counting-cru-tricks/ Counting CRU “tricks”], ''WUWT'', December 10, 2009.</ref>


* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=12&filename=843161829.txt 0843161829.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=154&filename=942777075.txt 0942777075.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=365&filename=1065206624.txt 1065206624.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=366&filename=1065636937.txt 1065636937.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=454&filename=1103236623.txt 1103236623.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=796&filename=1179416790.txt 1179416790.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=812&filename=1188508827.txt 1188508827.txt]
* [http://www.eastangliaemails.com/emails.php?eid=852&filename=1200162026.txt 1200162026.txt]


After a second file search was executed to double check how many of the Climategate emails contained some permutation of the letters "t r i c k," it revealed 29 emails out of the 1079 emails in the [http://junkscience.com/FOIA/ FOIA2009.zip] file. Only one instance was found where Dr. Jones used the word "trick" in reference to a procedure on data. There are other uses and variations of the word "trick" in other emails, but only one instance attributed to Jones where he refers to this data issue. As Dr. Jones put it: The word ‘trick’ was used in the lone instance colloquially as in a clever thing to do (eg. "that’ll do the trick"). But it was questioned that one would expect to see it in general use by Dr. Jones in other emails if it was indeed a colloquialism. In the thousand plus Climategate emails, there’s no other use of the word "trick" by Dr. Jones related to data truncation or otherwise, though there are other colloquial uses of the word by other authors.<ref name=trickcount/>

===Themes===
On the climate science environmental agenda and the scandal that Climategate revealed all together, [[Glenn Beck]] commented on the [[e-mail|emails]]:
{{cquote|[The scientists] were asking each other to delete messages to avoid Freedom of Information Act requests. That doesn't sound legal. Scientists are working together to try and change the definition of [[peer review]] journals so that anybody who said global warming wasn't real couldn't get their papers published. ... [And then with] these thousands of E-mails ... Shouldn't this be - oh, I don't know - everywhere now? All of them are, to varying degrees, important. But how much could any of those actually cost you? This scandal will literally cost you trillions of dollars. That's what's at stake worldwide. It's on how we deal with the climate.<ref name=nbstaff>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb-staff/2009/11/24/glenn-beck-cites-newsbusters-bash-tvs-climategate-boycott Glenn Beck Cites NewsBusters to Bash TV's ClimateGate Boycott], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', November 24, 2009.</ref>}}

According to [[Rush Limbaugh]], another theme of the e-mails that have been released is how people at the Climatic Research Unit were constantly trying to "shake down" the oil companies (ie. Exxon, Shell) for [[money]] and for partnerships.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/04/climategate-cru-looks-to-big-oil-for-support/ Climategate: CRU looks to “big oil” for support], ''WUWT'', December 04, 2009.</ref> On this reoccurring theme, Limbaugh mentioned the following:
{{cquote|They talk about it openly, how they're constantly trying to shake down the oil companies. The only thing man-made about global warming is the theory behind it. What you are going to do with people who are even willing to lie about the weather?<ref>[[Rush Limbaugh]]. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_113009/content/01125111.guest.html It's Not a Consensus, It's a Cabal], RushLimbaugh.com, November 30, 2009.</ref>}}

===Wikipedia===
Lawrence Solomon from the ''[[National Post]]'' discovered from the Climategate emails how a small band of [[Climatologist|climatologists]] plotted to rewrite history as well as science, particularly by eliminating the [[Medieval Warm Period]].<ref>[http://www.climate-gate.org/search.php?keyword=Wikipedia&submit=Search Search - Wikipedia], climate-gate.org, Climategate Document Database.</ref> The Climategate emails revealed the enlistment of [[Wikipedia]] in their attempt at rewriting history. It was revealed how Wikipedia’s "green doctor," a U.K. scientist and [[Green Party]] activist, rewrote 5,428 climate articles. The recruited [[Wikipedia]] administrator, [[William M. Connolley|William Connolley]], literally rewrote history and then abused his administrative privileges to stifle criticism of the global warming orthodoxy.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/19/wikibullies-at-work-the-national-post-exposes-broad-trust-issues-over-wikipedia-climate-information/ Wikibullies at work. The National Post exposes Wikipedia climate information], ''WUWT'', December 19, 2009.</ref> Lawrence Solomon wrote on this revelation and on Wikipedia's loss of [[integrity]] as a source of factual information, and on the clear abuse of power from administrative authorities within Wikipedia:
{{cquote|Starting in February 2003, Connolley set to work on the Wikipedia site. He rewrote Wikipedia’s articles on global warming, on the greenhouse effect, on the instrumental temperature record, on the urban heat island, on climate models, on global cooling. On Feb. 14, he began to erase the Little Ice Age; on Aug.11, the Medieval Warm Period. In October, he turned his attention to the hockey stick graph. He rewrote articles on the politics of global warming and on the scientists who were skeptical of the band. Richard Lindzen and Fred Singer, two of the world’s most distinguished climate scientists, were among his early targets, followed by others that the band especially hated, such as Willie Soon and Sallie Baliunas of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, authorities on the Medieval Warm Period. All told, Connolley created or rewrote 5,428 unique Wikipedia articles. His control over Wikipedia was greater still, however, through the role he obtained at Wikipedia as a website administrator, which allowed him to act with virtual impunity. When Connolley didn’t like the subject of a certain article, he removed it — more than 500 articles of various descriptions disappeared at his hand. When he disapproved of the arguments that others were making, he often had them barred — over 2,000 Wikipedia contributors who ran afoul of him found themselves blocked from making further contributions.<ref>Lawrence Solomon. [http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/12/19/lawrence-solomon-wikipedia-s-climate-doctor.aspx Lawrence Solomon: Wikipedia’s climate doctor], ''[[National Post]]'', December 19, 2009.</ref>}}

==Global Reactions to Climategate==
{| border="1" align="right" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="350" style="margin-left:5px"
|align="center" colspan="2"|
|-
!colspan="2" align="center" style="color: black; height: 30px; background: lightblue no-repeat scroll top left;"|Climategate Scandal Spreads Worldwide
|-
! Nation!!Involvement in corruption of climate science
|- valign="center"
| [[File:50 star flag.png|50px]]||[[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]] [http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/02/03/penn-st-investigating-scientist-research-misconduct/ investigated] [[Michael Mann]] for his role in Climategate. [[Barack Obama]] is "doubling down" on his commitment to combat anthropogenic global warming; the [[Obama administration]] dumped [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2009/12/17/2009-12-17_us_will_contribute_to_100b_climate_fund_for_developing_countries_hillary_clinton.html more U.S. taxpayer dollars] into a global $100 billion [[European Union]] climate change fund.
|-
| [[File:Flag of Australia.png|50px]]||Liberal Party members within [[Australia|Australia’s]] parliament resigned their portfolios rather than voted for a cap and trade scheme based on flawed science.
|-
| [[File:Flag of India svg.png|50px]]||Recent scandals involving the [[IPCC]] have undercut its creditability to such an extent that the nation of [[India]] looked for an [http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/02/04/india-pull-ipcc-create-independent-climate-panel/ independent assessment].
|-
| [[File:Flag of Saudi Arabia.png|50px]]||[[Saudi Arabia]] called for an independent investigation into Climategate.
|-
| [[File:Flag of the PRC.png|50px]]||Where exactly 42 weather monitoring stations in [[China]] exist, and how it affects an important set of data on [[global warming]], has led to [http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/01/dispute-weather-fraud accusations of scientific fraud] and may yet result in a significant revision of a scientific paper that is still cited by the UN's top climate science body.
|-
| [[File:Flag of New Zealand.png|50px]]||The centerpiece of New Zealand's ''National Institute of Water & Atmospheric'' research temperature claims were proven false: [http://www.climatescience.org.nz/images/PDFs/global_warming_nz2.pdf PDF]
|-
| [[File:Union jack.jpg|50px]]||The [[UK|UK's]] CRU director Phil Jones stepped down.
|-
| [[File:Flag of Russia.png|50px]]||[[Russia]] admitted the [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235395/SPECIAL-INVESTIGATION-Climate-change-emails-row-deepens--Russians-admit-DID-send-them.html CRU emails were uploaded on a Siberian Internet server] and denied involved, but [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100020126/climategate-goes-serial-now-the-russians-confirm-that-uk-climate-scientists-manipulated-data-to-exaggerate-global-warming/ "confirmed" that UK climate scientists manipulated data] to exaggerate global warming.
|-
|}
===Copenhagen===
[[Sarah Palin]] called for President Obama to skip [[Copenhagen]], the climate summit in [[Denmark]], because of the information Climategate exposed. She commented on [[Facebook]] that the president should reconsider his trip until the e-mails can be investigated, "Boycotting Copenhagen while this scandal is thoroughly investigated would send a strong message that the [[United States]] government will not be a party to fraudulent scientific practices."<ref name=obamacopenhagen>Wendell Goler. [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/05/obama-s-shift-copenhagen-visit-defies-climate-gate-controversy/ Obama Ignores 'Climate-Gate' in Revising Copenhagen Plans], FOXNews.com, December 5, 2009.</ref> Instead, the [[The White House|White House]] attempted to downplay the controversial leaked e-mails of climate scientists. [[President Obama]] announced that he was "doubling down" on his commitment to the worldwide environmental agenda, pushing forward with a [[cap and trade]] scheme that is based on flawed science, and hoping to secure a "meaningful" agreement. The President made it clear that he will invest more energy and taxpayer dollars to help advance the global warming hoax.

Originally, the [[President of the United States of America|President]] was supposed to attend the U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen for the beginning of the conference, "bless the occasion and leave," said Roger Simon of ''[[Pajamas Media]]''. After Climategate became known, ''Pajamas Media'' reported that President Obama, "[S]witched his itinerary to be there at the end of the two weeks in order to give his blessing and impetus to the decision itself."<ref>Roger L. Simon. [http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2009/12/06/climategate-why-obama-switched-his-copenhagen-itinerary/ Climategate: Why Obama switched his Copenhagen itinerary], ''[[Pajamas Media]]'', December 06, 2009.</ref>

The ranking [[Republican]] on the House Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming, Congressman [[James Sensenbrenner]], attended the Copenhagen conference on [[climate change]] to inform world leaders that despite any promises made by President Obama, no new laws will be passed in the United States until the "[[scientific fascism]]" ends. Sensenbrenner demanded that researchers who authored the Climategate e-mails and documents that demonstrate climate change data were manipulated should not be allowed to participate in the [[U.N.]] panel on climate change. Sensenbrenner spoke during a press conference after learning of the Climategate scandal.
{{cquote|I call it 'scientific fascism.' The U.N. should throw a red flag. [...] They relied on these scientists unjustifiably in my opinion. Their behavior has caused grave damage to the public trust in climate science in general, and to the IPCC, in particular. They should not be allowed to do so in the future. I therefore request that you and the co-chairs of each of the three IPCC working groups ensure that none of the individuals involved in these nefarious e-mail exchanges participate as contributors, reviewers, or in any other capacity in the preparation of the next IPCC report.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/09/sensenbrenner-climate-fascism/ Sensenbrenner to Tell Copenhagen: No Climate Laws Until 'Scientific Fascism' Ends], FOXNews.com, December 09, 2009.</ref>}}

===Obama Administration===
In a case of see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing, the Obama administration showed commitment to [[climate change]] legislation and at the same time dismissive of Climategate. Though evidence revealed from the e-mail messages from the CRU shows that researchers manipulated data, suppressed data and stifled dissent, [[John Holdren]], Obama's science czar who is directly involved in the Climategate scandal stated boldly, "The science is proper and this is about a small fraction of research on the issue."<ref>Dr. Tim Ball, Judi McLeod. [http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17183 Obama’s Science Czar John Holdren involved in unwinding “Climategate” scandal], ''Canada Free Press'', November 24, 2009.</ref><ref>[[Michelle Malkin]]. [http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/24/science-czar-john-holdren-and-climategate-perfect-together/ Science czar John Holdren and ClimateGate: Perfect together], ''Michelle Malkin'', November 24, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/02/white-house-science-officials-defend-climate-change-data-amid-e-mail-scandal/ White House Science Officials Defend Climate Change Data Amid E-Mail Scandal], ''[[Fox News]]'', December 02, 2009.</ref> The [[reality]] is that this small 'fraction of research' — the theory which is the foundation of [[Anthropogenic global warming theory|anthropogenic global warming]] — the data used by CRU scientists, it is proven fraudulent. The [[theory]] which used to hold human beings responsible: it is nothing more than a Global warming scam, according to Jim O'Neill from the ''Canada Free Press''.<ref>Jim O'Neill. [http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17361 Attention Lawyers! Make Millions Off Of Climategate Crooks!], ''Canada Free Press'', November 30, 2009 .</ref> The scientists at the CRU, from the evidence found in their e-mails and documents, show a criminal intent to defraud the public of massive amounts of money, and at the same time advance an ideological [[Leftist]] agenda.<ref>Christopher Monckton. [http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/viscount-monckton-on-global-warminggate-they-are-criminals-pjm-exclusive/ Viscount Monckton on Climategate: ‘They Are Criminals’ (PJM Exclusive)], ''[[Pajamas Media]]'', November 23, 2009.</ref>

===U.S. Congressional Comments===
When House [[Republicans]] asked for a hearing or investigation into the Climategate scandal, independent from the Penn State University which is looking into the Climategate emails by its own researcher, [[Michael Mann]], calls for further investigation were criticized and then rejected by [[Democrats]]. U.S. Representative James Sensenbrenner ([[Republican|R]]-[[Wisconsin]]) said, "These e-mails show a pattern of suppression, manipulation and secrecy that was inspired by ideology, condescension and profit."<ref>Seth Borenstein. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010411091_apsciclimatehearing.html Obama science advisers grilled over hacked e-mails], ''The Seattle Times'', December 3, 2009.</ref> Democrats harbored ill will against the facts and continued to theorize that the [[earth]] is warming, insisting that the fraudulent data "[does] nothing to undermine the very strong scientific [[consensus]]," which showed a [[warming trend]] and claimed it is largely a result of human activity. The top [[Democrat]] on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, [[Barbara Boxer]], a global warming alarmist, said of the scandal, "You call it 'Climategate'; I call it 'E-mail-theft-gate." Rather than investigate the fraud and manipulation of scientific data that was used by climate science researchers, Boxer hoped to get her hands on the so-called 'real' criminals, those who released e-mails and data to the public.<ref>[http://polijamblog.polijam.com/?p=11748 Sen. Boxer Attempts to Turn Climategate Into ‘Email-Theft-Gate’ as Warmist Scandal Grows], ''The PoliJAM Times Blog'', December 2, 2009.</ref>

===Other Countries Take Notice===
While U.S. [[Democrats|Democratic]] politicians downplayed the Climategate controversy, and despite the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scoffing at Climategate by suggesting it provided no basis for questioning the science behind global warming, global reactions from other countries around the world took notice of the scandal. [[Saudi Arabia]] called for an independent investigation into Climategate, warning that the scandal over stolen e-mails threatened to undermine the global-warming negotiations. "The level of confidence is certainty shaken," said the Saudi Arabian negotiator. "We believe this scandal — or what has been referred to as the ‘Climategate’ scandal — we think this is definitely going to affect the nature of what could be trusted in our deliberations."<ref>Lisa Lerer. [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30291.html Saudi Arabia calls for 'climategate' investigation], ''[[Politico]]'', December 07, 2009.</ref>

[[Australia]] had planned on setting an example to lead in the fight on climate change, to become one of the first countries to install a [[cap and trade]] system. However, [[Liberal Party]] members within Australia’s parliament realized that cap and trade is based on flawed science, and resigned their portfolios rather than voting for an "emissions trading scheme".<ref>Emma Rodgers. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/26/2754654.htm Senior Liberals Desert Turnbull], ''[[ABC News]]'', November 26, 2009.</ref> According to a report from the ''Hindustan Times'', Environment Minister [[Jairam Ramesh]] believes his country cannot depend solely on reports from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). [[India]] plans to create its own panel to do an independent analysis of climate change science.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/02/04/india-pull-ipcc-create-independent-climate-panel/ India to Pull Back From IPCC, Create Independent Climate Panel], FOXNews.com, February 04, 2010.</ref>

[[File:GlobalWarmingLie.jpg|right|200px]]

==Climategate Media Coverage==
The Climategate media coverage refers to the journalistic methods used by the the Mainstream media to deceive the public from learning more specific details about the fraudulent climate data. Climategate media coverage of the scandal is a [[media]]-focused overview from the most notable discussions covering Climategate: the revealed data, e-mails and manipulated code sets. As details emerged from the Climategate scandal, Climatic Research Unit scientists at the University of East Anglia were exposed. Despite the significance of the scandal and its impact on climate science, the leftist media ignored it, and then focused on pushing forward with the [[global warming]] [[hoax]].<ref name=climatehoax>[[Rush Limbaugh]]. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_120809/content/01125110.guest.html Hoax: Climate Change Makes Polar Bears Turn to Cannibalism], RushLimbaugh.com, December 8, 2009.</ref> Coverage of Climategate showed just how [[bias]] the [[liberal media]] has become in order to advance an environmental agenda.

In the wake of the Climategate scandal, a truly bizarre situation happened; the [[Mainstream media|mainstream media]] stories about global warming pretended the uncovered documents never happened. This worldwide Climategate cover-up also occurred before the public had learned about Climategate, too. The [[U.K.]] ''[[Daily Mail]]'' pointed out that, a month prior to November 19, 2009, "The BBC received copies of some of the CRU emails more than a month ago, but did nothing about them, sitting on explosive evidence of fraud."<ref name=bbclie>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1231763/BBC-weatherman-ignored-leaked-climate-row-emails.html BBC weatherman ‘ignored’ leaked climate row emails], [[Daily Mail|dailymail.co.uk]], November 28, 2009.</ref> It was later revealed that the BBC had previously invested a lot of money in carbon offset programs, so the media organization was dependent on the global warming hoax being perceived as truth.<ref>Rush Limbaugh. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_031110/content/01125111.guest.html ChiComs Order Journalists to Undergo Marxist Theory Training (American Media Already Trained)], RushLimbaugh.com, March 11, 2010.</ref> Ongoing coverage of the Climategate scandal also verified NASA and the state-run media knew about temperature data issues nearly three years ago; for example, ''[[USA Today]]'' received information about these issues but refused to report on it. ''USA Today'' and ''[[BBC News]]'' shirked their journalistic duties to push global warming in spite of evidence that the earth has not been significantly warming since 1995.
{{cquote|Email messages obtained by the Competitive Enterprise Institute via a Freedom of Information Act request reveal that the climate dataset of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) was considered — by the top climate scientists within NASA itself — to be inferior to the data maintained by the University of East Anglia Climate Research Unit (CRU). The NASA scientists also felt that NASA GISS data was inferior to the National Climate Data Center Global Historical Climate Network (NCDC GHCN) database. These emails, obtained by Christopher Horner, also show that the NASA GISS dataset was not independent of CRU data. Further, all of this information regarding the accuracy and independence of NASA GISS data was directly communicated to a reporter from USA Today in August 2007. The reporter never published it.<ref>Jim Hoft. [http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/03/junk-science-bombshell-nasa-media-knew-about-bogus-climate-data-3-years-ago/ Junk Science Bombshell: NASA & Media Knew About Bogus Climate Data 3 Years Ago], ''Gateway Pundit'', March 11, 2010.</ref>}}

As Climategate was totally ignored by most TV news outlets, ''[[Fox News]]'' appeared to be the only national news media in [[United States|America]] interested in the growing scandal.<ref>John Lott. [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/11/24/john-lott-climate-change-emails-copenhagen/ Why You Should Be Hot and Bothered About 'Climate-gate'], FOXNews.com, November 24, 2009.</ref><ref name=accuracyinmedia/> Perhaps the [[MSM]] felt that by ignoring Climategate entirely that it would have just gone away. However, just as the case was during the [[Tea Party Movement]], notably during the 2009 [[Tax Day Tea Party]], [[blog|bloggers]] and the readers of the global warming stories kept bringing up the inconvenient truth of Climategate by mentioning the scandal "over and over and over again."<ref>P.J. Gladnick. [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2009/11/24/climategate-msm-writers-try-ignore-scandal-global-warming-stories-read Climategate: MSM Writers Try to Ignore Scandal in Global Warming Stories But Readers Bring Them Back to Reality], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', November 24, 2009.</ref>

[[File:GlobalWarmingFraud Newsbusters.jpg|thumb|left|200px|(Image from Newsbusters)]]

===Global Warming Hoax===
On December 08, 2009, the second day of [[Copenhagen]], news from the ''UK Telegraph'' headlined a Global warming hoax, "Starving Polar Bears Turn to Cannibalism."
{{cquote|New pictures show that polar bears are beginning to cannibalize each other as global warming destroys its hunting grounds. The images, taken in Hudson Bay, Canada, around 200 miles north of the town of Churchill, Manitoba, show a male polar bear carrying the bloodied head of a polar bear cub it has killed for food. Polar bears usually subsist on seals, which they hunt from a platform of sea ice. But the melting of sea ice as a result of rising global temperatures has made it more difficult for polar bears to hunt seals at sea.<ref>Jonathan Liew. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6760103/Starving-polar-bears-turn-to-cannibalism.html Starving polar bears turn to cannibalism], Telegraph.co.uk, December 08, 2009.</ref>}}

[[Rush Limbaugh]] blasted the Global Warming hoax and commented, "None of this is true" (Dyck, M.G., 2007).<ref>Dyck, M.G. et al., Polar bears of western Hudson Bay and climate change: Are warming spring air temperatures the ‘‘ultimate’’ survival control factor?, Ecol. Complex. (2007), doi:[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecocom.2007.03.002 10.1016/j.ecocom.2007.03.002]</ref> He rebuked the false claims about [[polar bears]] and at the same time pointed out the continuation of fraudulent stories from the media despite Climategate; Limbaugh revealed another hoax blaming a natural event on global warming.
{{cquote|If you know anything about polar bears, you know that there are any number of reasons why polar bears attack each other. But did you know that polar bear males are well known for eating their young if given half a chance? They do. The mother, the female polar bear has to protect the cubs from the father and other males. Polar bears are a vicious species. They're not this cuddly little old English sheepdog type thing. People go out on ice floes to study these things, and if they attack they have to shoot them. They're not at all in any way tame, and they're huge. They can rip you to shreds inside of five seconds, they wouldn't care, and Reuters would run a picture and blame it all on global warming, not the fact that a polar bear is a polar bear. Polar bears eat their young, if given half the chance, males do. So another hoax, 100% total fraud on the second day of Copenhagen.<ref name=climatehoax/>}}

===Climategate Unreported and Censored===
Fourteen days after the story broke worldwide, the Climategate scandal had been mentioned by [[ABC]], [[CBS]] and [[NBC]] a total of '''''zero''''' times. Because the story affected [[Cap and trade]] legislation, the [[White House]], in their daily collusion with [[liberal media]] sources, may have told news channels to bury the story.<ref>Diane Macedo. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,578990,00.html Comedy Central Scoops Network News on Climate-Gate Scandal], ''[[Fox News]]'', December 02, 2009.</ref> The Mainstream media began to show consistency in their censorship practices, so much so that [[Glenn Beck]] cited ''NewsBusters'' to "Demonstrate that much as in [the mainstream media's] boycott of the [[ACORN]] scandal and green jobs czar [[Van Jones|Van Jones's]] peculiar associations, the television press are once again hiding important information from the public hoping it will all just go away."<ref name=nbstaff>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb-staff/2009/11/24/glenn-beck-cites-newsbusters-bash-tvs-climategate-boycott Glenn Beck Cites NewsBusters to Bash TV's ClimateGate Boycott], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', November 24, 2009.</ref>

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txh_BXdeWBU ClimateGate... What??], Glenn Beck on ClimateGate censorship.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upkO0j3fN9A ClimateGate], Glenn Beck on ClimateGate scandal.

[[File:Leftist News.gif | right]]
The liberal [[Wikipedia]] has cited various references to contend against the facts uncovered with Climategate and has claimed that the e-mail files were illegally stolen by computer hackers, despite repeated requests for the data files under the [[FOIA]]. Though unreported by the [[MSM]] and at the same time [[censorship|censored]] by liberal Wikipedia, there is strong evidence to suggest the data was released by a fellow employee, a "whistle blower" within the Climatic Research Unit.<ref>[http://junkscience.com/climategate.html Those <s>"hacked"</s> released CRU files], JunkScience.com, December 03, 2009.</ref>

* There was no "security breach" at CRU that "stole" these files
* The files appear genuine and to have been prepared by CRU staff, not edited by malicious hackers
* The information was accidentally or deliberately released by CRU staff
* Selection criteria appears to be compliance with an or several FOIA request(s)

The [[U.K.]] ''Daily Mail'' pointed out the following:
{{cquote|The BBC received copies of some of the CRU emails more than a month ago, but did nothing about them, sitting on explosive evidence of fraud.<ref name=bbclie/>}}

===Liberal Media Missed the Mark===
The first liberal media source to openly discuss Climategate on [[United States|American]] [[television]] was during a segment on [[Comedy Central|Comedy Central's]] ''[[The Daily Show]]'' with [[Jon Stewart]], a slapstick entertainment news program. After more than two weeks had passed since Climategate went public, ''[[CBS News]]'' eventually reported on the scandal.<ref>Kimberly Dozier. [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/05/eveningnews/main5908487.shtml "Climate Gate" Casts Cloud on Change Meet], ''[[CBS News]]'', December 5, 2009.</ref><ref>Declan McCullagh. [http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/02/taking_liberties/entry5860171.shtml Fallout Over "ClimateGate" Data Leak Grows], ''[[CBS News]]'', December 2, 2009.</ref> ''CBS News'' aired a short video of an interview with Kevin Trenberth. Dr. Trenberth in the past has said this in one of the Climategate e-mails:
{{cquote|The fact is that we can’t account for the lack of warming at the moment and it is a travesty that we can’t.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/06/cbs-finally-reports-on-climategate-dr-trenberth-interviewed/ CBS finally reports on Climategate: Dr. Trenberth interviewed], ''WUWT'', December 06, 2009.</ref>}}

===Googlegate===
[[File:Gore firegloablawarminghoax.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Al Gore]] demonstrating his ability to spout fire is a parody of his fraudulent attempts to "prove" that 'global warming is man-made']]
It was reported that, despite Climategate related pages being the most-read articles of the UK's ''Telegraph'' entire online operation, mysteriously when attempting to search using [[Google]] – it didn't feature links related to Climategate.<ref>Anthony Watts. [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/11/28/climategate-surpasses-global-warming-on-google-autosuggest-still-blocked/ “Climategate” surpasses “Global Warming” on Google], ''Watts Up With That?'', November 28, 2009.</ref> James Delingpole from the ''Telegraph'' noted, "Instead, the top-featured item is a blogger pushing Al Gore’s AGW agenda. Perhaps there’s nothing sinister in this. Perhaps some Google-savvy reader can enlighten me."<ref>James Delingpole. [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100018263/climategate-googlegate/ Climategate: Googlegate?], ''Telegraph Blogs'', November 29th, 2009.</ref> Google.com has been accused before of interfering with its own search [[algorithm|algorithms]] in order to interfere with searches for material deemed "not [[Politically correct|politically correct]]."<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/x-28973-Essex-County-Conservative-Examiner~y2009m11d29-Google-blocking-climategate-autosuggestion Google blocking 'climategate' autosuggestion], examiner.com, November 29, 2009.</ref><ref>Danny Sullivan. [http://searchengineland.com/of-climategate-googlegate-when-stories-get-too-long-30755 Of Climategate, Googlegate & When Stories Get Too Long], ''search engine land'', December 01, 2009.</ref>

[[Al Gore]] is on the Google advisory board; Gore's position on Google's senior advisory board is likely bearing responsibility. On Al Gore's [[Web page]] in his biography he says:
{{cquote|A member of the Board of Directors of Apple Computer, Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Google, Inc. Gore is also Visiting Professor at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.<ref>http://www.algore.com/about.html</ref>}}
According to ''[[NewsBusters]]'', Al Gore has done some "advising" of Google’s search quality in the past.<ref>Noel Sheppard. [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/10/15/al-gore-advised-google-about-its-search-quality Al Gore Advised Google About 'Search Quality'], ''[[NewsBusters]]'', October 15, 2009.</ref> There is some history between Google and Al Gore that has some bearing on the current situation.<ref>[http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/02/google-trends-on-climategate-show-public-interest-increasing-but-troubling-questions-loom/ Google trends on “climategate” show public interest increasing – but troubling questions loom], ''Watts Up With That?'', December 02, 2009.</ref> In the case of "Climategate," Mr. Gore's ability to continue his current speaking engagements might be hampered. Thus, there could well be a motive for him doing some "advising" in this case. A phone call might be all it took.

== Climategate 2.0 ==

In 2011, Forbes declared in an article entitled ''Climategate 2.0: New E-Mails Rock The Global Warming Debate'':
{{cquote|A new batch of 5,000 emails among scientists central to the assertion that humans are causing a global warming crisis were anonymously released to the public yesterday, igniting a new firestorm of controversy nearly two years to the day after similar emails ignited the Climategate scandal.

Three themes are emerging from the newly released emails: (1) prominent scientists central to the global warming debate are taking measures to conceal rather than disseminate underlying data and discussions; (2) these scientists view global warming as a political “cause” rather than a balanced scientific inquiry and (3) many of these scientists frankly admit to each other that much of the science is weak and dependent on deliberate manipulation of facts and data.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2011/11/23/climategate-2-0-new-e-mails-rock-the-global-warming-debate/ ''Climategate 2.0: New E-Mails Rock The Global Warming Debate''], Forbes, 2011</ref>}}

==Videos==
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAlMomLvu_4&feature=player_embedded Hide The Decline], ''Censoring The Decrease in Global Temperatures''.
* [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/04/21/youtube-pulls-all-versions-hide-decline-climategate-videos "Hide the Decline II"], the ''No Cap and Trade Coalition'' posted a new version because Michael Mann threatened to sue ''Minnesotans For Global Warming'' for creating the YouTube video 'Hide the Decline'.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEZszGJHbK4 The Stroke Of A Pen], Lord [[Christopher Monckton]] closing statement at the Minnesota Free Market Institute.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmPSUMBrJoI 'The Twelve Days of Global Warming'], satire starring Al Gore.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpQXY4tWaoI It's A Climategate Christmas], satire on Global warming post-ClimateGate.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF5F6eYho8U Imagine There's No Global Warming], satire of John Lennon's song "Imagine" turned politically incorrect.
* Global Warming, Or A Lot of Hot Air? ''Fox News'' reporting: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqi7fxERiqk Part 1] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnCLQIYNYgo Part 2] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UisVhZHouq4 Part 3] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Pj6uWTgXM Part 4] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWYuZs6Idb8 Part 5] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BTS3K9DFy0 Part 6]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Also See==

* Corrections to the Mann et al. (1998) Proxy Data Base and Northern Hemisphere Average Temperature Series (''Energy & Environment'', vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 751-771, November 2003) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
* The M&M Critique of the MBH98 Northern Hemisphere Climate Index: Update and Implications (''Energy & Environment'', vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 69-100, January 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
* Hockey sticks, principal components, and spurious significance (''Geophysical Research Letters'', vol. 32, February 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
* Reply to comment by Huybers on "Hockey sticks, principal components, and spurious significance" (''Geophysical Research Letters'', vol. 32, October 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
* Reply to comment by von Storch and Zorita on "Hockey sticks, principal components, and spurious significance" (''Geophysical Research Letters'', vol. 32, October 2005) - Stephen McIntyre, Ross McKitrick
* Red Hot Lies: How Global Warming Alarmists Use Threats, Fraud, and Deception to Keep You Misinformed (November 11, 2008) by Christopher C. Horner ISBN 1596985380
* Climategate: A Veteran Meteorologist Exposes The Global Warming Scam (April 2010) by Brian Sussman ISBN 9781935071839


==External Links==
* [http://wattsupwiththat.com/ Watts Up With That?] - Commentary on puzzling things in life, nature, science, weather, climate change, technology, and recent news by Anthony Watts
* [http://www.climatedepot.com/a/3943/Read-All-About-it-Climate-Depot-Exclusive--Continuously-Updated-ClimateGate-News-Round-Up Climate Depot] - Continuously Updated 'ClimateGate' News Round Up
* [http://www.PJTV.com/climategate PJTV Covers Climategate] - Full coverage of how scientists cooked data on climate change
* [http://www.nocapandtrade.com/ ClimateGate] - Facts on climate change
* [http://eastangliaemails.com/ The CRU emails] - East Anglia confirmed emails from the Climatic Research Unit
* [https://pjmedia.com/blog/climategate-3-0-more-mike-mann-emails-hit-the-internet Climategate 3.0: More Mike Mann Emails Hit the Internet]

{{Climategate scandal}}

[[Category: Global Warming]]
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[[Category: Featured articles]]
[[Category:Banksters]]
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Second Amendment

2016-02-26T02:45:41Z

DerekE: Moving "gun control" to comments.. It does belong above the second amendment

The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' to the [[United States Constitution]] states:<ref>This is the most-often quoted form of this Amendment, but note later in this entry the significant objection to including three commas rather than just one.</ref>
{{cquote|'''A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.'''}}

== Individual or Collective Right? ==
For several decades, the lower federal courts had interpreted the Second Amendment as protecting merely a collective right of state militias.<ref>http://www.davekopel.com/2A/LawRev/35finalpartone.htm</ref> However, the [[U.S Supreme Court]] has always called it an individual right. The 2008 Supreme Court decision of [[District of Columbia v. Heller]] ruled 5-4 that the Second Amendment protects an individual right.

==Where the Second Amendment comes from==
In 1786, the [[United States]] existed as a loose national [[government]] under the [[Articles of Confederation]]. This confederation was perceived to have several weaknesses, among which was the inability to mount a Federal military response to an armed uprising in western [[Massachusetts]] known as [[Shays' Rebellion]].

In 1787, to address these weaknesses, the [[Constitutional Convention]] was held with the idea of amending the Articles. When the convention ended with a proposed [[Constitution]], those who debated the ratification of the Constitution divided into two camps; the [[Federalist]]s (who supported ratification of the Constitution) and the [[Anti-Federalists]] (who opposed it).

Among their objections to the Constitution, anti-Federalists feared a standing army that could eventually endanger [[democracy]] and [[civil liberties]]. Although the anti-Federalists were unsuccessful at blocking ratification of the Constitution, through the Massachusetts Compromise they insured that a [[Bill of Rights]] would be made, which would provide constitutional guarantees against taking away certain rights.

One of those rights was the right to bear arms. This was intended to prevent the Federal Government from taking away the ability of the states to raise an army and defend itself and arguably to prevent them from taking away from individuals the ability to bear arms.

==Comments==
''See also [[gun control]]''.

The meaning of this amendment is controversial with respect to [[gun control]].

The [[National Rifle Association]], which supports gun rights, has a stone plaque in front of its headquarters bearing the words "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." The slogan means that individual citizens have the right to own and use guns.

American law has always said that the militia includes ordinary private citizens, and gun rights advocates say that the amendment means individuals have the right to own and use guns. Gun control advocates began in the late 20th century to say it means only that there is only some sort of collective or state-controlled right.

[[Supreme Court]] opinions have all been consistent with the individual rights interpretation of the Second Amendment, but the lower court opinions are mixed.

As of 2007, people argue about the meaning of the Second Amendment, but there is no definitive answer. The latest ruling is Parker v District of Columbia, in which the DC Circuit court of appeals ruled on March 9, 2007 that the [[Washington, D.C.|DC]] gun ban violated individual rights under the Second Amendment.

'''''The One Comma vs. The Three Comma Debate

'''''A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.''''''''''

Quoted from:
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39388c210c1b.htm

Down to the Last Second (Amendment)

Participants in the various debates on firearms, crime, and constitutional law may have noticed that the Second Amendment is often quoted differently by those involved. The two main variations differ in punctuation- specifically, in the number of commas used to separate those twenty-seven words. But which is the correct one? The answer to this question must be found in official records from the early days of the republic. Therefore, a look into the progression of this declaratory and restrictive clause from its inception to its final form is in order.

Before beginning, one must note that common nouns, like "state" and "people," were often capitalized in official and unofficial documents of the era. Also, an obsolete formation of the letter s used to indicate the long s sound was in common usage. The long 's' is subject to confusion with the lower case 'f' ,therefore, Congress" is sometimes spelled as "Congrefs," as is the case in the parchment copy of the Bill of Rights displayed by the National Archives. The quotations listed here are accurate. With the exception of the omission of quotations marks, versions of what is now known as the Second Amendment in boldface appear with the exact spelling, capitalization, and punctuation as the cited originals.

==Chronological History==

During ratification debates on the Constitution in the state conventions, several states proposed amendments to that charter. Anti-Federalist opposition to ratification was particularly strong in the key states of New York and Virginia, and one of their main grievances was that the Constitution lacked a declaration of rights. During the ratification process, Federalist James Madison became a champion of such a declaration, and so it fell to him, as a member of the 1st Congress, to write one. On June 8, 1789, Madison introduced his declaration of rights on the floor of the House. One of its articles read:

The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country: but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person.1

On July 21, John Vining of Delaware was appointed to chair a select committee of eleven to review, and make a report on, the subject of amendments to the Constitution. Each committeeman represented one of the eleven states (Rhode Island and North Carolina had not ratified the Constitution at that time), with James Madison representing Virginia. Unfortunately, no record of the committee's proceedings is known to exist. Seven days later, Vining duly issued the report, one of the amendments reading:

A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, being the best security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but no person religiously scrupulous shall be compelled to bear arms. 2

In debates on the House floor, some congressmen, notably Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts and Thomas Scott of Pennsylvania, objected to the conscientious objector clause in the fifth article. They expressed concerns that a future Congress might declare the people religiously scrupulous in a bid to disarm them, and that such persons could not be called up for military duty. However, motions to strike the clause were not carried. On August 21, the House enumerated the Amendments as modified, with the fifth article listed as follows:

5. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the People, being the best security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; but no one religiously scrupulous of bearing arms, shall be compelled to render military service in person. 3

Finally, on August 24, the House of Representatives passed its proposals for amendments to the Constitution and sent them to the Senate for their consideration. The next day, the Senate entered the document into their official journal. The Senate Journal shows Article the Fifth as:

Art. V. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, being the best security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed, but no one religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person. 4

On September 4, the Senate debated the amendments proposed by the House, and the conscientious objector clause was quickly stricken. Sadly, these debates were held in secret, so records of them do not exist. The Senators agreed to accept Article the Fifth in this form:

...a well regulated militia, being the best security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall net be infringed. 5

In further debates on September 9, the Senate agreed to strike the words, "the best," and replace them with, "necessary to the." Since the third and fourth articles had been combined, the Senators also agreed to rename the amendment as Article the Fourth. The Senate Journal that day carried the article without the word, "best," but also without the replacements, "necessary to." Note that the extraneous commas have been omitted:

A well regulated militia being the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. 6

With two-thirds of the Senate concurring on the proposed amendments, they were sent back to the House for the Representatives' perusal. On September 21, the House notified the Senate that it agreed to some of their amendments, but not all of them. However, they agreed to Article the Fourth in its entirety:

Resolved, That this House doth agree to the second, fourth, eighth, twelfth, thirteenth, sixteenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, twenty-fifth, and twenty-sixth amendments... 7

By September 25, the Congress had resolved all differences pertaining to the proposed amendments to the Constitution. On that day, a Clerk of the House, William Lambert, put what is now known as the Bill of Rights to parchment. Three days later, it was signed by the Speaker of the House, Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, and the President of the Senate, Vice President John Adams. This parchment copy is held by the National Archives and Records Administration, and shows the following version of the fourth article:

Article the Fourth. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. 8

The above version is used almost exclusively today, but aside from the parchment copy, the author was unable to find any other official documents from that era which carry the amendment with the extra commas. In fact, in the appendix of the Senate Journal, Article the Fourth is entered as reading:

Art. IV. A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.9

Also, the Annals of Congress, formally called The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, show the proposed amendment as follows:

Article the Fourth. A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.10

Further, once two-thirds of both chambers of the Congress agreed to the proposed amendments, the House passed a resolve to request that the President send copies of them to the governors of the eleven states in the Union, and to those of Rhode Island and North Carolina. The Senate concurred on September 26, as recorded in their journal:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be requested to transmit to the executives of the United States, which have ratified the constitution copies of the amendments proposed by Congress, to be added thereto; and like copies to the executives of the states of Rhode Island and North Carolina.11

Fortunately, an original copy of the amendments proposed by the Congress, and sent to the State of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations, does survive. Certified as a true copy by Assembly Secretary Henry Ward, it reads in part:

Article the Fourth, --A well regulated Militia being neceffary to the Security of a free State, the Right of the People to keep and bear Arms fhall not be infringed. 12

And so, the proposed amendments to the Constitution were sent to the states for ratification. When notifying the President that their legislatures or conventions had ratified some or all of the proposed amendments, some states attached certified copies of them. New York, Maryland, South Carolina, and Rhode Island notified the general government that they had ratified the fourth amendment in this form:

Article the Fourth. A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. 13

Articles the First and Second were not ratified by the required three-fourths of the states, but by December 15, 1791, the last ten articles were. These, of course, are now known as the Bill of Rights. Renumbering the amendments was required since the first two had not been ratified. The 1796 revision of The Federalist on the New Constitution reflects the change as such:

ARTICLE THE SECOND

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.14

This version is carried throughout the 19th Century, in such legal treatises as Joseph Story's Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States (1833) and Thomas Cooley's Principles of Constitutional Law (1898). It is also transcribed in this manner in the 1845 Statutes at Large, although the term "state" is capitalized in that text. The latter are the official source for acts of Congress.15,16, 17

This version still appears today, as is the case with the annotated version of the Constitution they sponsored on the Government Printing Office web site (1992, supplemented in 1996 and 1998). The Second Amendment is shown as reading:

A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed. 18

(The Senate-sponsored GPO site does carry a "literal print" of the amendments to the Constitution showing the Second Amendment with the additional commas. The punctuation and capitalization of the amendments transcribed there are the same as those found on the parchment copy displayed in the Rotunda of the National Archives.)19

Thus, the correct rendition of the Second Amendment carries but a single comma, after the word "state." It was in this form that those twenty-seven words were written, agreed upon, passed, and ratified.

Why the Commas are Important

It is important to use the proper Second Amendment because it is clearly and flawlessly written in its original form. Also, the function of the words, "a well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state," are readily discerned when the proper punctuation is used. On the other hand, the gratuitous addition of commas serve only to render the sentence grammatically incorrect and unnecessarily ambiguous. These points will be demonstrated later in the Second Amendment Series.

Footnotes to Comment section:

1. Amendments Offered in Congress by James Madison, June 8, 1789. The Constitution Society. http://www.constitution.org/bor/amd_jmad.htm, 16 January 2000.

2. Amendments Reported by the Select Committee. July 28, 1789. The Constitution Society. http://www.constitution.org/bor/amd_scom.htm, 16 January 2000.

3. U.S. House Journal. 1st Cong., 1st sess., 21 August 1789.

4. U.S. Senate Journal. 1st Cong., 1st sess., 25 August 1789.

5. U.S. Senate Journal, 1st Cong., 1st sess., 4 September 1789.

6. U.S. Senate Journal, 1st Cong., 1st sess., 9 September 1789.

7. U.S. House Journal. 1st Cong., 1st sess., 21 September 1789.

8. Bill of Rights. National Archives and Records Administration. http://www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/billrights/bill.jpg, 22 January 2000.

9. U.S. Senate Journal. 1st Cong., 1st sess., Appendix.

10. Annals of Congress, 1st Cong., 1st sess., Appendix

11. U.S. Senate Journal. 1st Cong. 1st sess., 26 September 1789.

12. A True Bill. The Constitution for the United States, Its Sources and Its Applications. http://www.nidlink.com/~bobhard/billofrt.jpg, 27 January 2000.

13. U.S. House Journal, 1st Cong., 3rd sess., Appendix Note: Maryland and South Carolina capitalized the "m" in "Militia."

14. The Federalist on the New Constitution, 1796. The Constitution for the United States, Its Sources and Its Applications. http://www.nidlink.com/~bobhard/f16b1234.jpg, 17 February 2000.

15. Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution Society. http://www.constitution.org/js/js_344.htm, 18 February 2000.

16. Quotes from Constitutional Commentators. Gun Cite. http://www.guncite.com/gc2ndcom.html, 2 February 2000.

17. Statutes at Large 1845, 21.

18. Second Amendment--Bearing Arms. The Constitution of the United States of America. http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/constitution/amdt2.html, 18 February 2000.

19. Text of the Amendments (Literal Print). The Constitution of the United States of America. http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/constitution/conamt.html, 18 February 2000.

==Liberal targeting==
Liberals have made various efforts to subvert the Second Amendment by enacting unconstitutional gun laws which restrict the ability of individuals to protect themselves against the excesses of government. Examples include:
* news reports appealing predominately to emotion in the aftermath of mass shootings while ignoring merits of self-defense
* celebrity-showings demanding a plan to end mass shootings
* gun "buy back" programs officiated by city police

See also [[List of celebrities against Second Amendment|list of celebrities against Second Amendment]]
== Footnotes ==
<references/>

==See Also==
* [[United States Constitution]]
* [[Castle Doctrine]]
* [[National Rifle Association]]
* [[Gun Owners of America]]
* [[Veterans]]
* [[Oath Keepers]]

{{US amendments}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.nraila.org/Issues/SecondAmendment.aspx Second Amendment Center], [[NRA|nraila.org]].
* [http://www2.law.ucla.edu/volokh/2amteach/sources.htm Professor Eugene Volokh's comprehensive compilation of resources on the Second Amendment]

[[Category : Second Amendment]]
[[Category : Pro Second Amendment]]
[[Category : Bill of Rights]]
[[Category : United States Constitution]]
[[Category : Constitutional Carry]]
[[Category : Firearms]]
[[Category : Anti-Communism]]
[[Category : American Redoubt]]
[[Category : Survivalism]]
[[Category : Everyday Carry]]
[[Category : Veterans]]

{{Template:Firearms topics}}

Second amendment

2016-02-26T02:40:01Z

DerekE: Redirect

#REDIRECT [[Second Amendment]]

User:DerekE

2016-02-26T02:39:25Z

DerekE: Trump

{{welcome|sig=--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 22:41, 5 October 2009 (EDT)}}
Thanks for the hat-tip earlier TCOT Report. --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 22:41, 5 October 2009 (EDT)

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 '''I support [[Ted Cruz]] for [[2016 presidential election|President, 2016]], but if I have to, I would also vote for [[Donald Trump]]''' because he claims, and therefore appears to be strong against [[illegal immigration]], aware of a threat that is the rise of [[Islam]] in America, and very pro-[[second amendment]]. But is Trump only saying what he knows he needs to say to get the votes, and as president become a typical [[Hollywood]] [[democrat]]? Time will tell. 
 
'''''Question: ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOg3HM5jzKo&NR=1 Who is the worst president ever?]'''''''
 
 
'''''Answer:''''' ''The'' [http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/06/the_agitatorinchief.html Agitator and Chief], also known as [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2012/01/05/the_lawless_obama_regime The Lawless One]: [[Barack Hussein Obama]].''
 
 
 

 
[[File:Gopcon.jpg|150px|center]]

Donald Trump

2016-02-26T02:24:17Z

DerekE: /* Immigration */ citation added; ill expand on this more later, something like 10% or so of "refugees" are sympathetic to Islamic State terrorism

[[File:031711trump.jpg|right]]

'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nickname "The Donald," (or simply - "The Don") is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimates that his net worth is $10 billion.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and then completing his studies at the prestigious Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Trump has five children.

In February 2011, he announced that he is [[pro-life]], but on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead). On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics.</ref>

The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.<ref>Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. Reuters website.</ref> But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.

Unlike most other candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. In 2011, Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], and it caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating the [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] may not have warmed up to him. <ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most [[conservatives]] oppose.

==Early life==

Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref>

==Career==

Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Trump Taj Mahal

*Trump Marina

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Plaza

*Trump Park Avenue

*Trump Entertainment Resorts

*TrumpStreet Casino & Entertainment Complex, Philadelphia

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Trump International Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump owns the Miss Universe Pageant. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has appeared on many TV shows and movies for guest appearances. He generally appears as himself.

==Political positions==

====Abortion====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref>

====Affordable Care Act====

Trump intends to "repeal and replace" [[Obamacare]].<ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, Trump has also said, "I like the mandate,"<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/ "Trump On Obamacare: ‘I Like The Mandate’"]</ref> so it is difficult to tell how he would deal with the law as President.

====Controversy with Barack Obama====

Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be President, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref> Trump questioned whether the Obama Administration was successful in negotiating with foreign countries.

====Department of Education====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

====Global warming====

Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Second Amendment rights====

Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[leftist]] [[gun control]] and gun free zones. As president, Trump has promised to re-arm military personnel on all American military bases as well as [[ROTC]] recruitment centers, which were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/>

====Homosexual agenda====

For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====

See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref>

Trump has also proposed to temporarily ban [[Muslims]] from entering the United States, until "our leaders figure out what the hell is going on," in order to protect Americans from the threats posed by [[Islamic]] [[refugee|refugees]] (and those pretending to be<ref>[http://m.washingtonexaminer.com/isis-fighters-infiltrating-syrian-refugees-uk-is-warned/article/2572051 ISIS fighters infiltrating Syrian refugees, UK is warned]</ref>) entering the country.<ref>[http://www.donaldjtrump.com/media/donald-trump-insists-muslim-ban-is-about-safety-not-religion Donald Trump Insists Muslim Ban Is About Safety, Not Religion]</ref>

====Political contributions====

He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignficant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

====Tariffs====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/>

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.
==== Eminent domain====
Trump believes that the government has the right to take private property upon paying just compensation for both infrastructure and to promote economic development.
==== Supreme Court====
Trump opposes filling the Supreme Court seat held by [[Antonin Scalia]] before the next President takes office. When asked who he might select to the Supreme Court, he said that his sister, a sitting federal court judge, would make a great Supreme Court justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/423196/trump-praises-his-sister-pro-abortion-extremist-judge-ramesh-ponnuru|title=Trump Praises His Sister, a Pro-Abortion Extremist Judge|date=Aug 27, 2015|accessdate=February 21, 2016}}</ref>

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President==
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."
*"I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct."<ref>http://video.foxnews.com/v/4406746003001/watch-a-replay-of-fox-news-prime-time-presidential-debate/?#sp=show-clips</ref><ref>https://www.google.com/search?q=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&oq=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64l3.8295j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=119&ie=UTF-8</ref>

==Quotes from Twitter==
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)

==Other quotes==
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}}

[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:2016 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Marco Rubio

2016-02-25T20:53:00Z

DerekE: /* Muslims and Islam */ cite

{{Officeholder
|name=Marco Rubio
|image=000MarcoRubio.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Jeanette Dousdebes
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Florida
|terms=January 5, 2011 - Present
|preceded=[[George LeMieux]]
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=Florida
|district=111th
|terms=January 25, 2000 – January 2, 2009
|preceded=Carlos Valdes
|former=y
|succeeded=Erik Fresen
}}

}}

'''Marco Antonio Rubio''' (born May 28, 1971, [[Miami]], [[Florida]]) is the junior [[United States Senator]] from Florida. Rubio is previously served as Speaker of the [[Florida]] House of Representatives from 2007 through 2009. He won the Florida [[U.S. Senate]] seat in the [[2010 midterm elections]], defeating [[RINO]] [[Charlie Crist]] in the Republican primary. Rubio is of Cuban descent.

[[Conservatives]] helped Rubio win his upset victory for [[U.S. Senate]], but soon after his election Rubio quickly catered to the [[Establishment]] instead. He became part of the "Gang of Eight" that promoted phony "immigration reform," at the urging of [[liberal]] [[Democrat]]s. He also quickly became a [[neocon]]. He declared that he would not run for reelection, but would run for president instead.

During his tenure in the state legislature (2001-2009), he advocated an overhaul of the Florida [[tax]] system that would have eliminated all property taxes in favor of a flat consumption tax. Americans for Tax Reform called him "the most pro-taxpayer legislative leader in the country."<ref>http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/10/State/On_special_session_st.shtml</ref> Additionally, he is a strong advocate of limited government and private property rights.

Rubio supports the teaching of the [[Young Earth Creationism|young earth theory]] rather than allowing [[atheist]]s and [[liberals]] to impose [[censorship]] in [[public school]].<ref>http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/268679-rubio-ok-to-teach-qmultiple-theoriesq-on-earths-age</ref>

On April 13, 2015, Rubio announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>http://www.c-span.org/video/?325251-1/senator-marco-rubio-rfl-presidential-campaign-announcement</ref> Originally supported by the [[Establishment]], Rubio later obtained independent financial backing and stayed in the race longer than the Establishment wanted, which then used [[Chris Christie]] to destroy Rubio at the key debate before the [[New Hampshire primary]].

== Background ==
Rubio's parents came to the United States in 1956, two and a half years before the [[communist]] takeover of Cuba by [[Fidel Castro]].<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/marco-rubios-compelling-family-story-embellishes-facts-documents-show/2011/10/20/gIQAaVHD1L_story.html</ref> In Florida, his father worked as a bartender, and his mother worked as a waitress. They relocated to [[Las Vegas]] in 1979 when Marco was 8 years old, where his father worked as a bartender at Sam's Town, and his mother worked as a housekeeper at the Imperial Palace. Six years later, the Rubio family returned to Miami where Marco's father found work at the Mayfair Hotel.<ref>http://www.lvrj.com/news/gop-s-young-gun-rubio-lived-in-lv-106674913.html</ref>

Rubio earned a bachelor of science degree from the [[University of Florida]] and a juris doctor from the [[University of Miami]]. He is married to Jeanette Dousdebes, and they have 4 children: Amanda Loren, Daniella, Anthony, and Dominick.

== Endorsement ==
The ''Miami Herald'' wholeheartedly endorsed Rubio during the 2010 Senate race:

<blockquote>
"At this critical juncture in the nation’s economy, Mr. Rubio offers a welcome dose of fiscal restraint. He has exhibited common sense on Social Security, where he proposes raising the retirement age as a way of keeping the program solvent. Neither Mr. Crist nor Mr. Meek has dared to make take such a clear stand. ''Mr. Rubio has the potential to be the kind of statesman Floridians can be proud to call a native son -- much like another [[conservative]], former Senator Connie Mack."'' <ref> [http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/24/1887397/for-us-senate-the-miami-herald.html#ixzz13GnxeIES For U.S. Senate, The Miami Herald recommends Marco Rubio.] </ref>
</blockquote>

==Political Views==
Rubio supports the [[Tea Party Movement]]. He does not believe in [[Global warming]], opposes [[Gun control]] and is [[Pro-life]].<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Marco_Rubio.htm</ref> He withdrew his support from the [[liberal]] [[PIPA]] entertainment bill after hearing from citizens opposed to it.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2012/0119/SOPA-and-PIPA-protest-power-why-Marco-Rubio-backed-off-piracy-bill Marco Rubio Drops Support for PIPA</ref>

=== Foreign Policy ===
Rubio wants to give more support to [[Israel]] to fight [[Hamas]].

=== Immigaration ===
Rubio wants to give undocumented immigrants brought as minors a form of temporary legal status, but he stressed then it would not be a pathway to citizenship.<ref>http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/slideshow/2013/01/29/key-players-in-quest-for-immigration-reform/#slide=4</ref>

=== Muslims and Islam ===
Marco Rubio has downplayed the threat to America posed by migrating Muslims and [[Islamic]] ideology, and has proposed a new plan for helping [[Barack Obama]] resettle Syrian refugees in the United States.<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/11/22/marco-rubio-syrian-refugees-bring-young-old/ Marco Rubio on Syrian Refugees: Bring in the Very Young and the Very Old]</ref> During a presidential forum with [[Fox News]] host [[Megyn Kelly]], Rubio also condemned a recreational gun range that banned Muslims from their facility, and claimed, "The bottom line is there are millions of patriotic Muslim Americans."<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/25/marco-rubio-it-is-wrong-and-immoral-to-ban-muslim-americans-from-gun-ranges/ Marco Rubio: It Is ‘Wrong’ And ‘Immoral’ To Ban Muslim-Americans From Gun Ranges]</ref>

==External Links==
*[http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/ Senate Website]
*[http://www.facebook.com/MarcoRubio Facebook page]
*[http://twitter.com/marcorubio Twitter page]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/MarcoRubio YouTube channel]
*[https://marcorubio.com Marco Rubio 2016 campaign website]

==References==
{{reflist|}}

[[Category:United States Senators]]
[[category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:2010 Midterm Elections]]
[[Category:The 100 Americans The Left Hates Most]]
[[Category:Tea Party Movement]]
[[Category:Florida]]
[[Category:113th United States Congress]]
[[Category:114th United States Congress]]
[[Category: 2016 Presidential Candidates]]

{{DEFAULTSORT: Rubio, Marco}}
{{Conservatism}}

Marco Rubio

2016-02-25T20:48:36Z

DerekE: /* Political Views */ view of Muslims

{{Officeholder
|name=Marco Rubio
|image=000MarcoRubio.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Jeanette Dousdebes
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Florida
|terms=January 5, 2011 - Present
|preceded=[[George LeMieux]]
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=Florida
|district=111th
|terms=January 25, 2000 – January 2, 2009
|preceded=Carlos Valdes
|former=y
|succeeded=Erik Fresen
}}

}}

'''Marco Antonio Rubio''' (born May 28, 1971, [[Miami]], [[Florida]]) is the junior [[United States Senator]] from Florida. Rubio is previously served as Speaker of the [[Florida]] House of Representatives from 2007 through 2009. He won the Florida [[U.S. Senate]] seat in the [[2010 midterm elections]], defeating [[RINO]] [[Charlie Crist]] in the Republican primary. Rubio is of Cuban descent.

[[Conservatives]] helped Rubio win his upset victory for [[U.S. Senate]], but soon after his election Rubio quickly catered to the [[Establishment]] instead. He became part of the "Gang of Eight" that promoted phony "immigration reform," at the urging of [[liberal]] [[Democrat]]s. He also quickly became a [[neocon]]. He declared that he would not run for reelection, but would run for president instead.

During his tenure in the state legislature (2001-2009), he advocated an overhaul of the Florida [[tax]] system that would have eliminated all property taxes in favor of a flat consumption tax. Americans for Tax Reform called him "the most pro-taxpayer legislative leader in the country."<ref>http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/10/State/On_special_session_st.shtml</ref> Additionally, he is a strong advocate of limited government and private property rights.

Rubio supports the teaching of the [[Young Earth Creationism|young earth theory]] rather than allowing [[atheist]]s and [[liberals]] to impose [[censorship]] in [[public school]].<ref>http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/268679-rubio-ok-to-teach-qmultiple-theoriesq-on-earths-age</ref>

On April 13, 2015, Rubio announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>http://www.c-span.org/video/?325251-1/senator-marco-rubio-rfl-presidential-campaign-announcement</ref> Originally supported by the [[Establishment]], Rubio later obtained independent financial backing and stayed in the race longer than the Establishment wanted, which then used [[Chris Christie]] to destroy Rubio at the key debate before the [[New Hampshire primary]].

== Background ==
Rubio's parents came to the United States in 1956, two and a half years before the [[communist]] takeover of Cuba by [[Fidel Castro]].<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/marco-rubios-compelling-family-story-embellishes-facts-documents-show/2011/10/20/gIQAaVHD1L_story.html</ref> In Florida, his father worked as a bartender, and his mother worked as a waitress. They relocated to [[Las Vegas]] in 1979 when Marco was 8 years old, where his father worked as a bartender at Sam's Town, and his mother worked as a housekeeper at the Imperial Palace. Six years later, the Rubio family returned to Miami where Marco's father found work at the Mayfair Hotel.<ref>http://www.lvrj.com/news/gop-s-young-gun-rubio-lived-in-lv-106674913.html</ref>

Rubio earned a bachelor of science degree from the [[University of Florida]] and a juris doctor from the [[University of Miami]]. He is married to Jeanette Dousdebes, and they have 4 children: Amanda Loren, Daniella, Anthony, and Dominick.

== Endorsement ==
The ''Miami Herald'' wholeheartedly endorsed Rubio during the 2010 Senate race:

<blockquote>
"At this critical juncture in the nation’s economy, Mr. Rubio offers a welcome dose of fiscal restraint. He has exhibited common sense on Social Security, where he proposes raising the retirement age as a way of keeping the program solvent. Neither Mr. Crist nor Mr. Meek has dared to make take such a clear stand. ''Mr. Rubio has the potential to be the kind of statesman Floridians can be proud to call a native son -- much like another [[conservative]], former Senator Connie Mack."'' <ref> [http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/24/1887397/for-us-senate-the-miami-herald.html#ixzz13GnxeIES For U.S. Senate, The Miami Herald recommends Marco Rubio.] </ref>
</blockquote>

==Political Views==
Rubio supports the [[Tea Party Movement]]. He does not believe in [[Global warming]], opposes [[Gun control]] and is [[Pro-life]].<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Marco_Rubio.htm</ref> He withdrew his support from the [[liberal]] [[PIPA]] entertainment bill after hearing from citizens opposed to it.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2012/0119/SOPA-and-PIPA-protest-power-why-Marco-Rubio-backed-off-piracy-bill Marco Rubio Drops Support for PIPA</ref>

=== Foreign Policy ===
Rubio wants to give more support to [[Israel]] to fight [[Hamas]].

=== Immigaration ===
Rubio wants to give undocumented immigrants brought as minors a form of temporary legal status, but he stressed then it would not be a pathway to citizenship.<ref>http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/slideshow/2013/01/29/key-players-in-quest-for-immigration-reform/#slide=4</ref>

=== Muslims and Islam ===
Marco Rubio has downplayed the threat to America posed by migrating Muslims and [[Islamic]] ideology. During a presidential forum with [[Fox News]] host [[Megyn Kelly]], Rubio even condemned a recreational gun range that banned Muslims from their facility, and claimed, "The bottom line is there are millions of patriotic Muslim Americans."<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/25/marco-rubio-it-is-wrong-and-immoral-to-ban-muslim-americans-from-gun-ranges/ Marco Rubio: It Is ‘Wrong’ And ‘Immoral’ To Ban Muslim-Americans From Gun Ranges]</ref>

==External Links==
*[http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/ Senate Website]
*[http://www.facebook.com/MarcoRubio Facebook page]
*[http://twitter.com/marcorubio Twitter page]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/MarcoRubio YouTube channel]
*[https://marcorubio.com Marco Rubio 2016 campaign website]

==References==
{{reflist|}}

[[Category:United States Senators]]
[[category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:2010 Midterm Elections]]
[[Category:The 100 Americans The Left Hates Most]]
[[Category:Tea Party Movement]]
[[Category:Florida]]
[[Category:113th United States Congress]]
[[Category:114th United States Congress]]
[[Category: 2016 Presidential Candidates]]

{{DEFAULTSORT: Rubio, Marco}}
{{Conservatism}}

Supreme Court of the United States

2016-02-24T21:51:21Z

DerekE: /* Current Members */ Sadly, no longer a current member

[[Image:Supreme Court.jpg|thumb|200px|US Supreme Court Building]]
The '''Supreme Court of the United States''' (SCOTUS) is the highest court of the judiciary of the [[United States of America]]. Between 1800 and 1935, it met primarily in the basement of the United States [[Capitol]] building, then in the Old Senate Chamber, until it moved into its present location at One First Street NE, [[Washington, D.C.]]. [[Alexander Hamilton]] originally described the federal judiciary as the "least dangerous branch" due to the fact that it does not have the power to enforce or controls the country's [[finance]]s.<ref>http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa78.htm Federalist #78</ref> However, the Supreme Court does have significant power and has grown to now rivals or even exceed that of the other branches of government.

== Decisions by Term ==

*[[Supreme Court 2011 Term]] ''(more to come)''

==Structure==
By custom, the Court is composed of eight [[Associate Justice]]s and one [[Chief Justice of the United States of America|Chief Justice]]. To assist them there are many clerks, guards, and staff. Cases are heard ''[[en banc]]'' whenever the Court is in session. Historians generally divide Court history into eras named after the Chief Justice then presiding (e.g., the [[Rehnquist Court]] and the [[Warren Court]]).
[[Image:SCOTUS.jpg|300px|left|thumb|The Supreme Court of the United States, 2010 Back Row (l-r):Sotomayor, Breyer, Alito, Kagen Front Row(l-r):Thomas, Scalia, Roberts, Kennedy, Bader-Ginsburg]]
Justices are appointed by the U.S. [[President]] with the advice and approval of the [[U.S. Senate]], which means that confirmation by a vote of a simple majority of the Senate is required before one can be sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

A list of pending cases to be heard on their merits by the Supreme Court, also known as petitions for which [[certiorari]] has been granted, is available on its website.<ref>[http://www.supremecourtus.gov/orders/07grantednotedlist.pdf Cases pending for the 2007 term]</ref>

==Opinions==
Prior to the [[Marshall Court]], the Court issued [[opinion|opinions]] in ''seriatim''. This means that each Justice wrote his own opinion and delivered it from the bench. Currently, the Court issues one opinion, said to be "the opinion of the Court". Opinions tend to have the history of the case, followed by the Court's reasoning and action. Generally the opinion will be written by a member of the majority, chosen by either the Chief Justice or the most senior Justice in the majority.

When a majority of Justices agrees to the opinion, it is called the [[Majority Opinion|majority opinion]]. Occasionally, a majority of Justices agrees to the [[remedy]], yet a minority of Justices agrees with the main opinion. This is called a [[plurality opinion]].

Justices that disagree with the Court's action can and frequently do write [[dissenting opinion]]s, which state their objections to the ruling. When a Justice agrees with an action, but not the reasoning behind it, he may write a concurring opinion, which states the reasoning he would have used. Such opinions have no bearing on the case at bar, but are often used later in time as justification for legal rulings.

==Conservative and liberal votes==
[[File:Judges-over-time.jpg|thumb|200px|How judges became more conservative (moving up) or liberal (moving down) over time. Click to enlarge.]]

Four of the five most conservative justices to serve on the court since 1937, out of a total of 43 justices, are on the court right now: Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] and Justices [[Antonin Scalia]], [[Clarence Thomas]] and [[Samuel Alito]] The fifth was Chief Justice [[William Rehnquist]], whom Chief Justice Roberts replaced in 2005.<ref> see Adam Liptak, "To Nudge, Shift or Shove the Supreme Court Left," [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/weekinreview/01liptak.html?_r=1&hp ''New York Times'' Jan. 31, 2009] Data from a 2008 study by William M. Landes, who teaches law and economics at the University of Chicago, and conservative Judge Richard A. Posner of the federal appeals court. </ref> Looking at votes in divided cases on ideologically charged issues like criminal procedure, civil rights and the First Amendment shows Justice Thomas, the most conservative justice. He voted for the conservative position in those cases 82% of the time. Justice Marshall, the only other African-American to serve on the court, was by this measure the most liberal, voting for the conservative side 21% of the time.

In ten of the last eleven appointments, the new justice was more conservative than the one replaced.

==Current Members==
{|class="wikitable"
!Name!!Date of Accession!!Appointed by!!Title!!General ideology
|-
|[[Anthony Kennedy]]||February 18, 1988|||[[Ronald Reagan]]|||[[Associate Justice]]|||[[moderate]]/swing
|-
|[[Clarence Thomas]]||October 23, 1991|||[[George H. W. Bush]]|||[[Associate Justice]]|||[[conservative]]
|-
|[[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]]||August 10, 1993|||[[Bill Clinton]]|||[[Associate Justice]]|||[[liberal]]
|-
|[[Stephen Breyer]]||August 3, 1994|||[[Bill Clinton]]|||[[Associate Justice]]|||[[liberal]]
|-
|[[John Roberts]]||September 29, 2005|||[[George W. Bush]]|||[[Chief Justice of the United States of America|Chief Justice]]|||[[moderate]]/swing
|-
|[[Samuel Alito]]||January 31, 2006|||[[George W. Bush]]|||[[Associate Justice]]|||[[conservative]]
|-
|[[Sonia Sotomayor]]||August 6, 2009|||[[Barack Obama]]|||[[Associate Justice]]|||[[liberal]]
|-
|[[Elena Kagan]]||August 7, 2010||[[Barack Obama]]||[[Associate Justice]]||[[liberal]]
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==See Also==
*[[State supreme court]], usually the corresponding court in a [[state court]] system
*[[Supreme Court]] for supreme courts generally
*[[28 U.S.C. § 1254(1)]]
*[[2007 key issues]]
*[[American Trucking Ass'ns v. Scheiner]]
*[[Anderson v. Liberty Lobby]]

==Further Reading==
* Hall, Kermit L., ed. ''The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States'' (2005) [http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Companion-Supreme-United-States/dp/0195176618/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525239&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search], complete text online at many academic libraries.
** Patrick, John J. ed. ''The Young Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States'' (1994)
* Hall, Kermit L., and James W Ely Jr., eds. ''The Oxford Guide to United State Supreme Court Decisions'' (2009) [http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Guide-United-Supreme-Decisions/dp/019537939X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525239&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search], complete text online at many academic libraries.
* Rehnquist, William H. ''The Supreme Court'' (2002), a popular introduction [http://www.amazon.com/Supreme-Court-William-H-Rehnquist/dp/0375708618/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525459&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Savage, David G. ''Turning Right: The Making of the Rehnquist Supreme Court'' (1993) [http://www.amazon.com/Turning-Right-Making-Rehnquist-Supreme/dp/0471595535/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525459&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

{{Supreme Court|jay=y|ellsworth=y|marshall=y|taney=y|chase=y|waite=y|fuller=y|white=y|taft=y|hughes=y|stone=y|vinson=y|warren=y|burger=y|rehnquist=y|roberts=y}}

[[category:United States Supreme Court Cases]]
[[category:United States Supreme Court]]
[[Category:United States Law]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:New Deal]]
[[Category:Reagan Era]]
[[Category:United States History]]

User:DerekE

2016-02-24T21:44:58Z

DerekE: user boxes added

{{welcome|sig=--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 22:41, 5 October 2009 (EDT)}}
Thanks for the hat-tip earlier TCOT Report. --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 22:41, 5 October 2009 (EDT)

<div style="float: right; background-color: #74c0fa; width: 35%; height: 730px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: left; padding-top: 25px;">
{{userboxtop
| backgroundcolor = #fff
}}
{{User American}}
{{User USMC}}
{{User TEA Partier}}
{{User limited govt}}
{{User progun}}
{{User Republican}}
{{User patriot}}
{{User cpoverother}}
{{User rightwingex}}
{{User hot air}}
{{userboxbottom}}
</div>

 '''I support [[Ted Cruz]] for [[2016 presidential election|President, 2016]], but if I have to, I would also vote for [[Donald Trump]].''' 
 
'''''Question: ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOg3HM5jzKo&NR=1 Who is the worst president ever?]'''''''
 
 
'''''Answer:''''' ''The'' [http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/06/the_agitatorinchief.html Agitator and Chief], also known as [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2012/01/05/the_lawless_obama_regime The Lawless One]: [[Barack Hussein Obama]].''
 
 
 

 
[[File:Gopcon.jpg|150px|center]]

Donald Trump

2016-02-24T21:28:23Z

DerekE: /* Immigration */ citation fix

[[File:031711trump.jpg|right]]

'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nickname "The Donald," (or simply - "The Don") is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimates that his net worth is $10 billion.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and then completing his studies at the prestigious Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Trump has five children.

In February 2011, he announced that he is [[pro-life]], but on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead). On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics.</ref>

The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.<ref>Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. Reuters website.</ref> But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.

Unlike most other candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. In 2011, Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], and it caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating the [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] may not have warmed up to him. <ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most [[conservatives]] oppose.

==Early life==

Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref>

==Career==

Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Trump Taj Mahal

*Trump Marina

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Plaza

*Trump Park Avenue

*Trump Entertainment Resorts

*TrumpStreet Casino & Entertainment Complex, Philadelphia

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Trump International Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump owns the Miss Universe Pageant. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has appeared on many TV shows and movies for guest appearances. He generally appears as himself.

==Political positions==

====Abortion====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref>

====Affordable Care Act====

Trump intends to "repeal and replace" [[Obamacare]].<ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, Trump has also said, "I like the mandate,"<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/ "Trump On Obamacare: ‘I Like The Mandate’"]</ref> so it is difficult to tell how he would deal with the law as President.

====Controversy with Barack Obama====

Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be President, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref> Trump questioned whether the Obama Administration was successful in negotiating with foreign countries.

====Department of Education====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

====Global warming====

Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Second Amendment rights====

Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[leftist]] [[gun control]] and gun free zones. As president, Trump has promised to re-arm military personnel on all American military bases as well as [[ROTC]] recruitment centers, which were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/>

====Homosexual agenda====

For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====

See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref>

Trump has also proposed to temporarily ban [[Muslims]] from entering the United States, until "our leaders figure out what the hell is going on," in order to protect Americans from the threats posed by [[Islamic]] [[refugee|refugees]] entering the country.<ref>[http://www.donaldjtrump.com/media/donald-trump-insists-muslim-ban-is-about-safety-not-religion Donald Trump Insists Muslim Ban Is About Safety, Not Religion]</ref>

====Political contributions====

He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignficant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

====Tariffs====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/>

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.
==== Eminent domain====
Trump believes that the government has the right to take private property upon paying just compensation for both infrastructure and to promote economic development.
==== Supreme Court====
Trump opposes filling the Supreme Court seat held by [[Antonin Scalia]] before the next President takes office. When asked who he might select to the Supreme Court, he said that his sister, a sitting federal court judge, would make a great Supreme Court justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/423196/trump-praises-his-sister-pro-abortion-extremist-judge-ramesh-ponnuru|title=Trump Praises His Sister, a Pro-Abortion Extremist Judge|date=Aug 27, 2015|accessdate=February 21, 2016}}</ref>

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President==
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."
*"I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct."<ref>http://video.foxnews.com/v/4406746003001/watch-a-replay-of-fox-news-prime-time-presidential-debate/?#sp=show-clips</ref><ref>https://www.google.com/search?q=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&oq=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64l3.8295j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=119&ie=UTF-8</ref>

==Quotes from Twitter==
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)

==Other quotes==
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}}

[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:2016 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Donald Trump

2016-02-24T21:26:55Z

DerekE: /* Immigration */ stylistic

[[File:031711trump.jpg|right]]

'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nickname "The Donald," (or simply - "The Don") is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimates that his net worth is $10 billion.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and then completing his studies at the prestigious Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Trump has five children.

In February 2011, he announced that he is [[pro-life]], but on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead). On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics.</ref>

The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.<ref>Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. Reuters website.</ref> But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.

Unlike most other candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. In 2011, Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], and it caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating the [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] may not have warmed up to him. <ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most [[conservatives]] oppose.

==Early life==

Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref>

==Career==

Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Trump Taj Mahal

*Trump Marina

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Plaza

*Trump Park Avenue

*Trump Entertainment Resorts

*TrumpStreet Casino & Entertainment Complex, Philadelphia

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Trump International Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump owns the Miss Universe Pageant. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has appeared on many TV shows and movies for guest appearances. He generally appears as himself.

==Political positions==

====Abortion====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref>

====Affordable Care Act====

Trump intends to "repeal and replace" [[Obamacare]].<ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, Trump has also said, "I like the mandate,"<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/ "Trump On Obamacare: ‘I Like The Mandate’"]</ref> so it is difficult to tell how he would deal with the law as President.

====Controversy with Barack Obama====

Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be President, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref> Trump questioned whether the Obama Administration was successful in negotiating with foreign countries.

====Department of Education====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

====Global warming====

Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Second Amendment rights====

Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[leftist]] [[gun control]] and gun free zones. As president, Trump has promised to re-arm military personnel on all American military bases as well as [[ROTC]] recruitment centers, which were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/>

====Homosexual agenda====

For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====

See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref>

Trump has also proposed to temporarily ban [[Muslims]] from entering the United States, until "our leaders figure out what the hell is going on," in order to protect Americans from the threats posed by [[Islamic]] [[refugee|refugees]] entering the country.<ref>[http://www.donaldjtrump.com/media/donald-trump-insists-muslim-ban-is-about-safety-not-religion]</ref>

====Political contributions====

He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignficant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

====Tariffs====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/>

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.
==== Eminent domain====
Trump believes that the government has the right to take private property upon paying just compensation for both infrastructure and to promote economic development.
==== Supreme Court====
Trump opposes filling the Supreme Court seat held by [[Antonin Scalia]] before the next President takes office. When asked who he might select to the Supreme Court, he said that his sister, a sitting federal court judge, would make a great Supreme Court justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/423196/trump-praises-his-sister-pro-abortion-extremist-judge-ramesh-ponnuru|title=Trump Praises His Sister, a Pro-Abortion Extremist Judge|date=Aug 27, 2015|accessdate=February 21, 2016}}</ref>

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President==
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."
*"I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct."<ref>http://video.foxnews.com/v/4406746003001/watch-a-replay-of-fox-news-prime-time-presidential-debate/?#sp=show-clips</ref><ref>https://www.google.com/search?q=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&oq=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64l3.8295j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=119&ie=UTF-8</ref>

==Quotes from Twitter==
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)

==Other quotes==
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}}

[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:2016 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Donald Trump

2016-02-24T21:25:42Z

DerekE: /* Immigration */ ban on islamists

[[File:031711trump.jpg|right]]

'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nickname "The Donald," (or simply - "The Don") is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimates that his net worth is $10 billion.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and then completing his studies at the prestigious Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Trump has five children.

In February 2011, he announced that he is [[pro-life]], but on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead). On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics.</ref>

The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.<ref>Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. Reuters website.</ref> But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.

Unlike most other candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. In 2011, Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], and it caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating the [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] may not have warmed up to him. <ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most [[conservatives]] oppose.

==Early life==

Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref>

==Career==

Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Trump Taj Mahal

*Trump Marina

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Plaza

*Trump Park Avenue

*Trump Entertainment Resorts

*TrumpStreet Casino & Entertainment Complex, Philadelphia

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Trump International Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump owns the Miss Universe Pageant. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has appeared on many TV shows and movies for guest appearances. He generally appears as himself.

==Political positions==

====Abortion====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref>

====Affordable Care Act====

Trump intends to "repeal and replace" [[Obamacare]].<ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, Trump has also said, "I like the mandate,"<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/ "Trump On Obamacare: ‘I Like The Mandate’"]</ref> so it is difficult to tell how he would deal with the law as President.

====Controversy with Barack Obama====

Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be President, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref> Trump questioned whether the Obama Administration was successful in negotiating with foreign countries.

====Department of Education====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

====Global warming====

Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Second Amendment rights====

Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[leftist]] [[gun control]] and gun free zones. As president, Trump has promised to re-arm military personnel on all American military bases as well as [[ROTC]] recruitment centers, which were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/>

====Homosexual agenda====

For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====

See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref>

Trump has also proposed to temporarily ban [[Muslims]] from entering the United States, until "our leaders figure out what the hell is going on," in order to protect Americans from the threats posed by [[Islamic]] [[refugee|refugees]] entering the United States.<ref>[http://www.donaldjtrump.com/media/donald-trump-insists-muslim-ban-is-about-safety-not-religion]</ref>

====Political contributions====

He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignficant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

====Tariffs====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/>

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.
==== Eminent domain====
Trump believes that the government has the right to take private property upon paying just compensation for both infrastructure and to promote economic development.
==== Supreme Court====
Trump opposes filling the Supreme Court seat held by [[Antonin Scalia]] before the next President takes office. When asked who he might select to the Supreme Court, he said that his sister, a sitting federal court judge, would make a great Supreme Court justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/423196/trump-praises-his-sister-pro-abortion-extremist-judge-ramesh-ponnuru|title=Trump Praises His Sister, a Pro-Abortion Extremist Judge|date=Aug 27, 2015|accessdate=February 21, 2016}}</ref>

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President==
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."
*"I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct."<ref>http://video.foxnews.com/v/4406746003001/watch-a-replay-of-fox-news-prime-time-presidential-debate/?#sp=show-clips</ref><ref>https://www.google.com/search?q=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&oq=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64l3.8295j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=119&ie=UTF-8</ref>

==Quotes from Twitter==
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)

==Other quotes==
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}}

[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:2016 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Donald Trump

2016-02-24T21:00:26Z

DerekE: /* Supreme Court */ Trump didn't say it "jokingly," he simply offered his opinion.

[[File:031711trump.jpg|right]]

'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nickname "The Donald," (or simply - "The Don") is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimates that his net worth is $10 billion.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and then completing his studies at the prestigious Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Trump has five children.

In February 2011, he announced that he is [[pro-life]], but on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead). On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics.</ref>

The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.<ref>Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. Reuters website.</ref> But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.

Unlike most other candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. In 2011, Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], and it caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating the [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] may not have warmed up to him. <ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most [[conservatives]] oppose.

==Early life==

Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref>

==Career==

Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Trump Taj Mahal

*Trump Marina

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Plaza

*Trump Park Avenue

*Trump Entertainment Resorts

*TrumpStreet Casino & Entertainment Complex, Philadelphia

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Trump International Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump owns the Miss Universe Pageant. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has appeared on many TV shows and movies for guest appearances. He generally appears as himself.

==Political positions==

====Abortion====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref>

====Affordable Care Act====

Trump intends to "repeal and replace" [[Obamacare]].<ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, Trump has also said, "I like the mandate,"<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/ "Trump On Obamacare: ‘I Like The Mandate’"]</ref> so it is difficult to tell how he would deal with the law as President.

====Controversy with Barack Obama====

Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be President, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref> Trump questioned whether the Obama Administration was successful in negotiating with foreign countries.

====Department of Education====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

====Global warming====

Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Second Amendment rights====

Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[leftist]] [[gun control]] and gun free zones. As president, Trump has promised to re-arm military personnel on all American military bases as well as [[ROTC]] recruitment centers, which were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/>

====Homosexual agenda====

For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====

See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref>

====Political contributions====

He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignficant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

====Tariffs====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/>

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.
==== Eminent domain====
Trump believes that the government has the right to take private property upon paying just compensation for both infrastructure and to promote economic development.
==== Supreme Court====
Trump opposes filling the Supreme Court seat held by [[Antonin Scalia]] before the next President takes office. When asked who he might select to the Supreme Court, he said that his sister, a sitting federal court judge, would make a great Supreme Court justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/423196/trump-praises-his-sister-pro-abortion-extremist-judge-ramesh-ponnuru|title=Trump Praises His Sister, a Pro-Abortion Extremist Judge|date=Aug 27, 2015|accessdate=February 21, 2016}}</ref>

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President==
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."
*"I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct."<ref>http://video.foxnews.com/v/4406746003001/watch-a-replay-of-fox-news-prime-time-presidential-debate/?#sp=show-clips</ref><ref>https://www.google.com/search?q=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&oq=a+big+problem+with+our+country+is+too+politically+incorrect&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64l3.8295j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=119&ie=UTF-8</ref>

==Quotes from Twitter==
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)

==Other quotes==
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}}

[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:2016 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Marco Rubio

2016-02-23T03:08:45Z

DerekE: Gang of 8, not 6

{{Officeholder
|name=Marco Rubio
|image=000MarcoRubio.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Jeanette Dousdebes
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Florida
|terms=January 5, 2011 - Present
|preceded=[[George LeMieux]]
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=Florida
|district=111th
|terms=January 25, 2000 – January 2, 2009
|preceded=Carlos Valdes
|former=y
|succeeded=Erik Fresen
}}

}}

'''Marco Antonio Rubio''' (born May 28, 1971, [[Miami]], [[Florida]]) is the junior [[United States Senator]] from Florida. Rubio is previously served as Speaker of the [[Florida]] House of Representatives from 2007 through 2009. He won the Florida [[U.S. Senate]] seat in the [[2010 midterm elections]], defeating [[RINO]] [[Charlie Crist]] in the Republican primary. Rubio is of Cuban descent.

[[Conservatives]] helped Rubio win his upset victory for [[U.S. Senate]], but soon after his election Rubio quickly catered to the [[Establishment]] instead. He became part of the "Gang of Eight" that promoted phony "immigration reform," at the urging of [[liberal]] [[Democrat]]s. He also quickly became a [[neocon]]. He declared that he would not run for reelection, but would run for president instead.

During his tenure in the state legislature (2001-2009), he advocated an overhaul of the Florida [[tax]] system that would have eliminated all property taxes in favor of a flat consumption tax. Americans for Tax Reform called him "the most pro-taxpayer legislative leader in the country."<ref>http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/10/State/On_special_session_st.shtml</ref> Additionally, he is a strong advocate of limited government and private property rights.

Rubio supports the teaching of the [[Young Earth Creationism|young earth theory]] rather than allowing [[atheist]]s and [[liberals]] to impose [[censorship]] in [[public school]].<ref>http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/268679-rubio-ok-to-teach-qmultiple-theoriesq-on-earths-age</ref>

On April 13, 2015, Rubio announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>http://www.c-span.org/video/?325251-1/senator-marco-rubio-rfl-presidential-campaign-announcement</ref> Originally supported by the [[Establishment]], Rubio later obtained independent financial backing and stayed in the race longer than the Establishment wanted, which then used [[Chris Christie]] to destroy Rubio at the key debate before the [[New Hampshire primary]].

== Background ==
Rubio's parents came to the United States in 1956, two and a half years before the [[communist]] takeover of Cuba by [[Fidel Castro]].<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/marco-rubios-compelling-family-story-embellishes-facts-documents-show/2011/10/20/gIQAaVHD1L_story.html</ref> In Florida, his father worked as a bartender, and his mother worked as a waitress. They relocated to [[Las Vegas]] in 1979 when Marco was 8 years old, where his father worked as a bartender at Sam's Town, and his mother worked as a housekeeper at the Imperial Palace. Six years later, the Rubio family returned to Miami where Marco's father found work at the Mayfair Hotel.<ref>http://www.lvrj.com/news/gop-s-young-gun-rubio-lived-in-lv-106674913.html</ref>

Rubio earned a bachelor of science degree from the [[University of Florida]] and a juris doctor from the [[University of Miami]]. He is married to Jeanette Dousdebes, and they have 4 children: Amanda Loren, Daniella, Anthony, and Dominick.

== Endorsement ==
The ''Miami Herald'' wholeheartedly endorsed Rubio during the 2010 Senate race:

<blockquote>
"At this critical juncture in the nation’s economy, Mr. Rubio offers a welcome dose of fiscal restraint. He has exhibited common sense on Social Security, where he proposes raising the retirement age as a way of keeping the program solvent. Neither Mr. Crist nor Mr. Meek has dared to make take such a clear stand. ''Mr. Rubio has the potential to be the kind of statesman Floridians can be proud to call a native son -- much like another [[conservative]], former Senator Connie Mack."'' <ref> [http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/10/24/1887397/for-us-senate-the-miami-herald.html#ixzz13GnxeIES For U.S. Senate, The Miami Herald recommends Marco Rubio.] </ref>
</blockquote>

==Political Views==
Rubio supports the [[Tea Party Movement]]. He does not believe in [[Global warming]], opposes [[Gun control]] and is [[Pro-life]].<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Marco_Rubio.htm</ref> He withdrew his support from the [[liberal]] [[PIPA]] entertainment bill after hearing from citizens opposed to it.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2012/0119/SOPA-and-PIPA-protest-power-why-Marco-Rubio-backed-off-piracy-bill Marco Rubio Drops Support for PIPA</ref>

=== Foreign Policy ===
Rubio wants to give more support to [[Israel]] to fight [[Hamas]].

=== Immigaration ===
Rubio wants to give undocumented immigrants brought as minors a form of temporary legal status, but he stressed then it would not be a pathway to citizenship.<ref>http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/slideshow/2013/01/29/key-players-in-quest-for-immigration-reform/#slide=4</ref> R

==External Links==
*[http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/ Senate Website]
*[http://www.facebook.com/MarcoRubio Facebook page]
*[http://twitter.com/marcorubio Twitter page]
*[http://www.youtube.com/user/MarcoRubio YouTube channel]
*[https://marcorubio.com Marco Rubio 2016 campaign website]

==References==
{{reflist|}}

[[Category:United States Senators]]
[[category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:2010 Midterm Elections]]
[[Category:The 100 Americans The Left Hates Most]]
[[Category:Tea Party Movement]]
[[Category:Florida]]
[[Category:113th United States Congress]]
[[Category:114th United States Congress]]
[[Category: 2016 Presidential Candidates]]

{{DEFAULTSORT: Rubio, Marco}}
{{Conservatism}}

Gun control

2016-02-20T04:06:53Z

DerekE: Leftist term; also removed "including those acquired for defensive or sporting purposes" b/c that's implied (it doesn't matter why we own guns, it's our God given right.)

'''Gun control''' is [[leftist]] [[doublespeak]] and a term used when advocating [[unconstitutional]] laws designed to disarm the American people by restricting the lawful purchase, ownership, or carrying of guns, under the guise of "public safety." Studies show that increasing lawful access to guns results in less crime,<ref>''Shall issue: the new wave of concealed handgun permit laws'', Cramer C and Kopel D. Golden CO: Independence Institute Issue Paper. October 17, 1994</ref> but, despite the fact that gun ownership is a [[civil right]], leftists and [[liberals]] alike push gun control because it increases the dependency of voters on government for protection while disarming citizens capable of fighting back against [[tyranny]]. The political effect of gun control is to shift voters leftward, and hence the primary supporters of gun control are the [[liberal media]] and [[leftist]] politicians.<ref>[http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/wew/quotes/repeal.html Quotes of Leftists Demanding Gun Control]</ref> In the [[United Kingdom]], which already has the strictest gun control in Europe, [[leftists]] demand control over 120,000 ''deactivated'' guns, although their activation and use constitute only 0.04% of all gun offenses there. But leftists want gun control because fewer guns means greater dependency on government.<ref>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3168607.ece</ref>

Gun control is a denial or limitation by [[government]]s of the right to armed [[self-defense]],<ref name="Washington University Law Quarterly"> "In contrast to most other weaponry, firearms are preeminently defensive in effect." [http://www.constitution.org/2ll/2ndschol/76holo.htm Washington University Law Quarterly]</ref> as promised by the [[Second Amendment]] of the Constitution of the [[United States of America]]. Genocide has occurred only after gun control first disarmed the citizenry.<ref name="Washington University Law Quarterly"/>

Proponents use the discredited - but superficially appealing - claim that fewer lawfully-owned guns lead to less crime, although guns are primarily defensive weapons<ref>People who support gun control claim that gun control laws significantly reduce violent crime. [http://home.sprynet.com/~owl1/irrationality.htm Why People Are Irrational about Politics]</ref><ref>Gun control primarily restricts the lawful acquisition and use of guns. Over 99% of the guns restricted by most gun control regulation are used in a lawful manner.</ref> (see [[Concealed carry]]).

Gun control laws cause enormous hardships. In May 2012, a gun control law resulted in a 20-year prison sentence against an [[African American]] woman for merely firing warning shots against her husband, and there was widespread outrage in [[Florida]] against this unconscionable sentence.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/11/justice/florida-stand-ground-sentencing/index.html?hpt=hp_t3</ref>

In the United States the three primary [[federal]] gun control laws are:
* [[National Firearms Act]] (1934)
* [[Gun Control Act]] (1968)
* [[Brady Bill]] (1993)

These laws have further been amended by other laws such as the Firearms Owners Protection Act (1986) and the Omnibus Crime Bill (1994).

Fed up with federal gun control, in 2009 States began considering (Utah) or passing (Montana) laws "making guns that are made and kept within state boundaries exempt from federal regulations" including "background checks, licensing and registration."<ref>http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6367553</ref>

== The Fallacy and Motivation for Gun Control ==
[[Image:No Weapons Allowed.gif|right]]
Gun control potentially causes an increase in crime by restricting its main deterrent: [[self-defense]]. A study by Professor Gary Kleck, initially a liberal critic of gun control, caused him to change his mind on this issue when the evidence showed that crime was predominantly ''prevented'' when people could carry guns. ''See Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America''.<ref>http://www.largo.org/effects.html</ref> In the United States, law-abiding uses of guns outnumber criminal uses by about a factor of 1000 to 1,<ref>http://www.americanselfdefense.com/gunfacts3.0.pdf (p. 60)</ref> and the removal of guns from everyone eliminates the lawful use of self-defense and its deterrent effect. "[[Americans]] use firearms to defend themselves from criminals at least 764,000 times a year."<ref name="Gallup_LAT">"This figure is the lowest among a group of 9 nationwide surveys done by organizations including Gallup and the Los Angeles Times." (Just Facts - [http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp Gun Control])</ref> Specific examples of guns being used successfully in [[self-defense]] are easy to find.<ref>Two 70-ish store owners stopped armed robberies of their stores by shooting at the bandits. "The person came in and pointed the gun at him and my father shot him. I'm proud of him." [http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/253849.html Buffalo News]</ref><ref>[http://sittingduckpolicy.com/ Sitting Duck Policy: True Stories of Self-Defense]</ref> "In 1982, a survey of imprisoned criminals found that 34% of them had been "scared off, shot at, wounded or captured by an armed victim."<ref name="Gallup_LAT"/> When [[Florida]] began allowing its citizens to carry a concealed weapon, [[Florida]]'s firearm homicide rate fell by 37% while the national average ''increased'' by 15%.<ref name="Gallup_LAT"/> As explained below, the political effect of gun control is to cause voters to become more dependent emotionally on government and more supportive of bigger government.

Studies by [[John Lott]] and others indicate that gun control causes higher crime rates.<ref>[http://www.johnrlott.com/ John Lott's Website]</ref> [[Washington, D.C.]] has one of the highest crime rates in [[America]] even though it completely bans private handguns.<ref>[http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/dccrime.htm District of Columbia Crime Rates 1960 - 2006]</ref> "Switzerland, Israel, Denmark and Finland, all of whom have a higher gun ownership rate than America, all have lower crime rates than America, in fact, their crime rates are among the lowest in the Western World."<ref>Slashdoc - [http://www.slashdoc.com/documents/71244 gun control]</ref> Lott demonstrates that in [[Britain]], [[Australia]] and [[Canada]], increased gun control in the late 1990s led to increased crime, the exact opposite of what the proponents of the gun control promised.<ref>John R. Lott Jr. and Eli Lehrer - [http://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/IBDGunConFailure.html Add Gun Control To Litany Of Misbegotten Gov't Plans]</ref> States in the [[U.S.]] that have enacted concealed-carry laws enjoy lower crime rates.<ref>[http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=4706 Cato report]</ref>

[[image:Robbery victims per 100K.png|300px|thumb|Source data: Australian Bureau of Statistics]]
[[image:Robbery victims.png|300px|thumb|Source data: Australian Bureau of Statistics]]

In [[Australia]], where gun ownership was less widespread and the gun control measures were less strict, there was an immediate increase in robbery and armed robbery after the gun control went into effect in 1996 (see chart at right).<ref>

Gun control passed in Australia because "public was immediately whipped into a gun control frenzy by the press" after the "Port Arthur massacre" in Tasmania on April 28, 1996, in which 32 were shot dead and 19 injured. "Although polls done prior to the massacre indicated that the public was satisfied with the amount of 'gun control' they already had, a major newspaper did a poll just a few days after the massacre (while all minds were "clear") and, not surprisingly, found high levels of support for extreme gun control measures. This poll would be used forever by the commonwealth government and other gun controllers to claim that Australians supported the new gun laws to come." - [http://www.gunsandcrime.org/aussiegc.html Gun Control in Australia] (by gunsandcrime.org)</ref>

There is no clear evidence supporting a decrease in crime from gun control.<ref name="Results">[http://www.gunsandcrime.org/auresult.html Results of the Australian Gun "Buyback" & New Gun Laws], October 2001</ref><ref>[http://bjc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/azl084v1 Study showing lack of promised benefits from gun control]</ref> Although from 1979 to 1996, 11,110 Australians died by gunshot representing an annual average of 617. In the seven years after new gun laws were announced (1997 to 2003), the yearly average almost halved, to 331. In the decade up to and including Port Arthur There have been 11 mass shootings where 100 people were shot dead and another 52 wounded, while in In the 10 years since 1996 and the new gun laws, not one mass shooting (more than five victims) has occurred in Australia (although in 2002 a gunman killed two and wounded four at Monash University) <ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04/27/1145861484114.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1</ref>

Subsequent to gun control in England:<ref>http://www.reason.com/news/show/28582.html</ref>
[[File:Send_a_gun_to_a_British_home.jpg|thumb|right|[[Second Amendment]]-supporting [[American]] [[citizen]]s gifted their [[firearm]]s to [[gun free zone]]-[[gun control]] supporting [[British]] citizens during [[World War II]] via [[The American Committee for the Defense of British Homes]]]]

:"from 1997 to 2001, the rate of violent crime more than doubled. Your chances of being mugged in London are now [as of 2002] six times greater than in New York. England's rates of assault, robbery, and burglary are far higher than America's, and 53 percent of English burglaries occur while occupants are at home, compared with 13 percent in the U.S., where burglars admit to fearing armed homeowners more than the police. In a United Nations study of crime in 18 developed nations published in July, England and Wales led the Western world's crime league, with nearly 55 crimes per 100 people."<ref>However this increase in recorded violent crime between 1997 and 2001 is explained by the Home Office as a result of changes in the definition of violent crime and new counting rules introduced in 1998. [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/rdsolr1804.pdf Violent Crime in England and Wales] According to the British Crime Survey, which is considered a more reliable guide to trends in crime[http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/crime-statistics-independent-review-06.pdf], violent crime fell 24% between 1997 and 2001/02, and burglary fell 40% over the same period.[http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb1105tab201.xls Trends in BCS incidents of crime]</ref>

Gun control in [[Britain]] and [[Australia]] has been followed by a predictable shift to the left politically by voters as they lost their instrument of self-defense and became more emotionally dependent on government. Contrast that with the [[United States]], where an effort to push gun control after the [[Columbine massacre]] failed in 2000 and the government has remained as [[conservative]] -- if not more so -- ever since.

The emasculation of the citizenry by gun control also arguably reduces the resistance of a society to intimidation, and exacerbates fear of consequences from causing offense. Subsequent to the passage of strict gun control in [[England]] some teachers have avoided teaching controversial subjects such as the [[Holocaust]], the Arab-Israeli conflict and the [[Crusades]] during history classes.<ref>http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RW100.pdf</ref>
Teaching Emotive and Controversial History 3-19] (p.15) The anti-self-defense attitude of British authorities has also turned criminals into "victims" and victims who fight back into "criminals." One particularly egregious case involved a farmer being sentenced to life imprisonment for defending himself in his home after the home was repeatedly burglarized <ref>http://www.theinternetparty.org/commentary/c_s.php?td=200107200000&section_type=com</ref>

== Trends ==
After decades of increasing gun control laws, the current trend in the [[United States]] is in the direction of more gun rights. The 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill included a ban on certain new rifles labeled assault rifles solely because of features of their appearance, and on new high-capacity magazines. This law recently expired and was not renewed by [[Congress]]. Also, Washington D.C.'s gun ban was struck down as unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals on March 9, 2007.<ref>The New York Times - [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/09/washington/09cnd-gun.html?hp Appeals Court Says Gun Ban Violates 2nd Amendment]</ref><ref>The Washington Post - [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/09/AR2007030902416.html D.C.'s Ban On Handguns In Homes Is Thrown Out]</ref>

By removing the deterrent effect of guns, gun control causes dramatic increases in crimes committed with other weapons:<ref name="bbc">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2656875.stm</ref>

:You are now six times more likely to be mugged in [[London]] than [[New York]]. Why? Because as common law appreciated, not only does an armed individual have the ability to protect himself or herself but criminals are less likely to attack them. They help keep the peace. A study found American burglars fear armed home-owners more than the police. As a result burglaries are much rarer and only 13% occur when people are at home, in contrast to 53% in England.

Supporters of gun control argue that homicide with guns is much less in [[England]] than in the [[United States]],<ref>In 2005/06, the total number of victims of homicide by shooting (including crossbows) in England and Wales was 50 and there were 212 victims of homicide by sharp instruments. [Home Office Statistical Bulletin - [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb0207.pdf Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2005/2006][http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb0104.pdf] The data for gun deaths in the United States include guns used in self-defense, as in fending off an assault, robbery or rape, and there were a total of 11,350 gun deaths (including deaths of criminals) in 2005.[US Department of Justice, FBI - [http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_01.html Crime in the United States by Volume and Rate per 100,000 Inhabitants, 1986 - 2005]</ref> but that was true even before gun control and is likely due to cultural reasons. "A study comparing New York and London over 200 years found the New York homicide rate consistently five times the London rate, although for most of that period residents of both cities had unrestricted access to firearms. When guns were available in England they were seldom used in crime. A government study for 1890-1892 found an average of one handgun homicide a year in a population of 30 million."<ref name="bbc" />

Gun control laws are often seen to conflict with the [[Second Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], which recognizes the right to bear arms. The Second Amendment reads: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a [[Free States Movement|free State]], the [[unalienable rights|right]] of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

The "right to keep and bear arms" is a right guaranteed to the American citizen by the Bill of Rights through the virtue of a selective reading of said Bill. The phrase "a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state" precedes the statement, and most federal Courts of Appeals have held that this phrase requires that the "right to bear arms" relates to the collective rights of state militias, as opposed to the individual's rights to have any weapon desired. Just recently, the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit went against nine other circuits in holding that the Second Amendment constitutes an individual right.<ref>The New York Times - [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/washington/10gun.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Court Rejects Strict Gun Law as Unconstitutional]</ref><ref>FOX News - [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258067,00.html Appeals Court Strikes Down Washington, D.C. Handgun Ban]</ref> However, according to the judge writing for the majority in this case, its decision does still allow for "reasonable restrictions" on gun ownership and use, such as carrying of guns by intoxicated individuals, or in churches.

Only six cities in the [[United States]] ban handguns: [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Chicago]], and four of its suburbs.<ref>David Kopel, "The Democrats and Gun Control," Wall St.J., Page A19, April 17, 2008 [http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB120839466717921537-lMyQjAxMDI4MDE4NzMxOTc0Wj.html]</ref>

==Overview==
"Gun control" can include:

* Restricting which persons can own firearms.
* Restrictions on the number of firearms a person may own, or purchase during a given time period
* Requirements that privately owned firearms be registered with the government.
* Bans on certain types of firearms; for example, "handguns" or assault rifles
* Restrictions on where firearms may be carried, for example into restaurants or post offices
* Requiring a "background check" and/or a "waiting period" to purchase a firearm
* Restricting when and where firearms may be bought and sold, for example banning their sale through the mail
* Requiring licenses or some other form of permission from the government to buy and/or sell a firearm
* Requiring some form of permission from the government to carry a firearm in public, either concealed or openly
* Laws granting special gun rights for some people, for example retired law enforcement officers, which are denied the rest of the public, which was used in several southern states.
* Outright bans on carrying firearms in public
* Outright bans on private possession of firearms, though this has never occurred in the United States

===Arguments in favor===
"The only purpose of a gun is to kill people."

Another oft overlooked argument is that of suicide prevention. Guns are highly effective tools for committing suicide with a reported success rate of over 95%, whereas other common methods such as overdoses and cutting have a less than 10% success rate. People who attempt and fail to commit suicide do not usually try again.

===Arguments against===
{{coulter-armed-self-defense}}

[[Emily Miller]] wrote,
"New York City Mayor [[Michael R. Bloomberg]] has spent tens of millions of his billions trying to get his gun bans instituted in the rest of America, even though these laws have never stopped criminals from getting guns."<ref> [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/26/miller-bloomberg-loses-stop-and-frisk-and-nra-gets/ Bloomberg loses stop and frisk, and NRA gets blamed: The mayor’s default disgust for gun owners tarnishes his life-saving program] - [[Emily Miller]]</ref>

==Constitutional Debate==
The [[Second Amendment]] reads:

"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Most constitutional scholars agree that since the amendment refers to "the right of the People" instead of the right of the militia, it protects an individual right to own guns. The reason for this was the fact that the supplying of guns for the military and militas was already provided for in Article I Section 8 as a power of Congress. The extent of that right was something hotly debated for decades, until the Supreme Court ruling of 26 June, 2008, Heller v District of Columbia.

The majority opinion, written by Justice [[Antonin Scalia]], held for the first time that the Constitution provides an individual right to bear arms, such as for self-defense, rather than a right that applies only to a state militia.

The decision upheld an appellate court ruling striking down Washington, D.C.'s 1976 handgun ban. The case marked the first time in more than 70 years that the Supreme Court had addressed the Second Amendment ''and the first time it spoke directly about the implication of an individual right''. The court struck down two of the District of Columbia's gun control laws: its handgun ban and its requirement that other firearms kept at home have a trigger lock or be disassembled.

Relying on the broader historical record, Justice Scalia wrote:
{{cquote|'''putting all of these textual elements together, we find that they guarantee the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation.'''}}

Scalia noted that the ruling should not be interpreted to "cast doubt on long-standing prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons or the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings." <ref>[http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf Supreme Court Opinion, District of Columbia v Heller]</ref>

==Racism of gun control==
In the [[United States of America]], gun control has a strong racist origin and reasoning. Before the Civil War ended, State "Slave Codes" prohibited slaves from owning guns. After President [[Abraham Lincoln]] issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and after the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishing slavery was adopted and the Civil War ended in 1865, States persisted in prohibiting blacks, now freemen, from owning guns under laws renamed "Black Codes." They did so on the basis that blacks were not citizens, and thus did not have the same rights, including the right to keep and bear arms protected in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as whites. This view was specifically articulated by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in its infamous 1857 decision in ''[[Dred Scott v. Sandford]]'' to uphold slavery.

The United States Congress overrode most portions of the Black Codes by passing the Civil Rights Act of 1866. The legislative histories of both the Civil Rights Act and the Fourteenth Amendment, as well as The Special Report of the Anti-Slavery Conference of 1867, are replete with denunciations of those particular statutes that denied blacks equal access to firearms. [Kates, "Handgun Prohibition and the Original Meaning of the Second Amendment," 82 Mich. L. Rev. 204, 256 (1983)] However, facially neutral disarming through economic means laws remain in effect.

After the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1878, most States turned to "facially neutral" business or transaction taxes on handgun purchases. However, the intention of these laws was not neutral. An article in Virginia's official university law review called for a "prohibitive tax...on the privilege" of selling handguns as a way of disarming "the son of Ham," whose "cowardly practice of 'toting' guns has been one of the most fruitful sources of crime.... Let a negro board a railroad train with a quart of mean whiskey and a pistol in his grip and the chances are that there will be a murder, or at least a row, before he alights."<ref>Comment, Carrying Concealed Weapons, 15 Va L. Reg. 391, 391-92 (1909); George Mason University Civil Rights Law Journal (GMU CR LJ), Vol. 2, No. 1, "Gun Control and Racism," Stefan Tahmassebi, 1991, p. 75.</ref> Thus, many Southern States imposed high taxes or banned inexpensive guns so as to price blacks and poor whites out of the gun market.

Today, "gun control" laws continue to be enacted so as to have a racist effect if not intent:

* Police-issued license and permit laws, unless drafted to require issuance to those not prohibited by law from owning guns, are routinely used to prevent lawful gun ownership among "unpopular" populations.
* Public housing residents, approximately 3 million Americans, are singled out for gun bans.
* "Gun sweeps" by police in "high crime neighborhoods" whereby vehicles and "pedestrians who meet a specific profile that might indicate they are carrying a weapon" are searched are becoming popular, and are being studied by the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] as "Operation Ceasefire."
* Some U.S. cities with high minority populations, such as Washington, D.C., are singled out for gun bans.
* "Project Exile" began in the U.S. city of Richmond, Virginia and mandated that people arrested for technical firearms violations (note: not for violent crimes committed with a firearm, but for technical violations of the law) be tried in federal court where they would be subject to lengthy mandatory minimum sentences rather than in state court under the more lenient Virginia laws. As with many other restrictions this was aimed primarily at the city's Black residents. It has since been copied in many other cities.

The [[Ku Klux Klan]] began also as a gun-control organization.<ref>http://www.examiner.com/article/kkk-began-as-gun-control-organization-confirms-racist-roots-of-gun-control</ref>

== Sexism of gun control ==

Firearms, especially lower recoiling ones such as many handguns, allow any person to wield enough power to stop another person from attacking them.<ref name="genderDiscrimination1">http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2008/03/19/firearms-rights-are-a-gender-equality-issue-too/ </ref> Many women (quite reasonably) fear the threat of attack by a physically stronger man, and a firearm could prevent many of these attacks, but gun bans leave these women vulnerable. Take the case of the “North Side Rapist” in Chicago, a city where hand guns are banned, as an example: The rapist broke in to the womens homes, and at least one of the women heard him break in and then climb the stairs. Had this woman had a handgun, she almost certainly could have stopped the rapist before it was too late. This would have prevented her from enduring such a horrific crime, as well as preventing the rapist’s future victims from experiencing the same thing. Instead, Chicago law prevented her from being able to defend herself, and gave the advantage to the rapist/home-invader. This is not an isolated incident, and similar events happen every day across the county.

== Elitism of gun control ==

Many of the most ardent American anti-gun politicians, such as Chicago’s Mayor Daley, are protected by taxpayer-sponsored armed body guards, but deny law abiding citizens the right to defend themselves with a gun. <ref name="classDiscrimination1">http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2008/04/16/a-double-standard-anti-gun-politicians-and-their-gun-toting-bodyguards/ </ref> These politicians seemingly believe themselves to be part of an elite group who deserve to be protected against violent criminals, while ordinary law-abiding citizens are left with less-effective means to defend themselves, and must instead rely on the police arriving in time.

== Gun control outside the United States ==

Gun control advocates cite foreign countries to argue that gun control can reduce crime, but such comparison can be difficult due to the presence of other factors. For example, they cite [[Singapore]] as having gun control and a lower crime rate than the [[United States]], but Singapore has less than 5 million persons and one of the highest literacy and average wealth in the world. It lacks many of the freedoms found in the [[United States]] and strictly imposes harsh physical punishment, such as caning and the [[death penalty]], for crimes that are not punished so harshly in the [[United States]]. The real issue of the security in Singapore is its tight criminal control, not the gun control itself.

Gun control supporters also cite [[Gun Control in Japan|Japan's gun control laws]], which severely restrict gun ownership and crime rates are relatively low. But [[Japan]] also lacks many freedoms and diversity which exist in the [[United States]], and [[Japan]] has strong cultural deterrents to crime. Ironically, [[Japan]] is home to [[Tokyo Marui]], the world's largest airsoft gun manufacturer, which designs airsoft guns that are made to the same scale and with the same materials as the real counterpart and which have been mistaken by police for real guns.

In the [[European Union]], gun control is more strict than in the United States, but gun ownership differs widely between member states, from 36 per 100 people in [[Cyprus]] to one per 100 in [[Poland]]." In [[Switzerland]], on the other hand, gun ownership is quite widespread, which no doubt contributes to its reputation as a peaceful and neutral country.<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/09/27/switzerland.shooting Gun control in Switzerland]</ref> In November 2007, the [[European Parliament]] passed legislation to tighten and harmonize gun control across the EU, and oblige each member state to set up a computerized database of firearms, as it "hoped to prevent Europe from becoming a gun-friendly culture like the United States". Parliament wanted to limit cross-border trade from states with less control to those with tougher laws, such as from [[Lithuania]], where replica guns can cost as little as [[Euro|€]]100 (US$150), to the [[United Kingdom]], where most replicas are outlawed.

In Australia, gun violence has always been significantly lower than other types of violence.<ref>http://www.gunsandcrime.org/aussiegc.html</ref>. Australia has not experienced considerable violence problems with legally purchased guns. It has always had a much lower homicide rate than the more violent culture in the [[United States]].<ref>In Australia the gun related homicide rate is 0.44 per 100,000 of population. In the US it is about 8 times as high at 3.72 per 100,000 of population.</ref> From 1979 to 1996, 11,110 Australians died by gunshot representing an annual average of 617. In the seven years after new gun laws were announced (1997 to 2003), the yearly average almost halved, to 331. In the decade up to and including Port Arthur There have been 11 mass shootings where 100 people were shot dead and another 52 wounded, while in In the 10 years since 1996 and the new gun laws, not one mass shooting (more than five victims) has occurred in Australia (although in 2002 a gunman killed two and wounded four at Monash University).<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04/27/1145861484114.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1</ref>

Gun control began in Australia in response to fears that guns would be used by home-grown Communist Revolutionaries.<ref>http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1083528 This study discusses the parallel policies of early-mid 20th century Britain and Australia.</ref> The most restrictive reforms were made in 1996 and 2002, following highly publicized shootings.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04/27/1145861484114.html</ref>

Both sets of reforms (1996 and 2002) were lead by Prime Minister [[John Howard]] of the Coalition(Australia’s conservative government). Howard was well known as an anti-gun advocate.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/anger-lingers-among-those-who-lost-their-firearms/2006/04/27/1145861489398.html</ref> The move offended gun supporters, many of whom had traditionally supported the Coalition.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/anger-lingers-among-those-who-lost-their-firearms/2006/04/27/1145861489398.html</ref> Despite the loss of this voting group, Howard won elections following both reforms (in 1998 and 2004).

There is controversy over the success of Australia’s gun restrictions. Studies suggest overall gun violence has decreased since the 1996 and 2002 bans.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04/27/1145861484114.html</ref> However, Australia’s bike and drug gangs, the main perpetrators of gun violence, still easily access illegal firearms.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/a-disarming-cause/2006/04/27/1145861489519.html</ref> Further, the overall homicide rate remains constant.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04
/27/1145861484114.html?page=2</ref>

== Gun Control and Genocide ==

Gun control "contributes to the probability of its government engaging" in [[genocide]], including the three worst instances in the 20th century:<ref>"[A] society's weapons policy might be one of the institutional arrangements that contributes to the probability of its government engaging in some of the more extreme varieties of outrage. ... [I]t is [] an arresting reality that not one of the principal genocides of the twentieth century, and there have been dozens, has been inflicted on a population that was armed." [http://ls.wustl.edu/WULQ/75-3/753-4.html Washington University Law Quarterly]</ref>

*In 1911, [[Turkey]] imposed gun control and then, from 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million defenseless Armenians were killed.

*In 1929, the [[Soviet Union]] imposed gun control and over the next 24 years about 20 million defenseless dissidents were killed.

*In 1935, [[China]] established gun control from 1948-1952 20 million political dissidents were killed.

*In 1938, [[Germany]] imposed gun control and then over the next seven years 13 million defenseless Jews and other victims were exterminated. <ref>[http://www.thegunzone.com/rkba/rkba-12.html The True Face of Gun Control], Dean Speir, The Gun Zone RKBA, Accessed December 26, 2007</ref>

*In 1956, [[Cambodia]] established gun control and between 1975 and 1977 one million oppositionals were exterminated.

*In 1970, [[Uganda]] imposed gun control. Between 1971 and 1979 300,000 Christians and political oppositionals were killed.<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/66751/gun-control-amin/dave-kopel#</ref>

"The Nazis made only two important changes to the Weapons Law that was in place when they came to power. First, they forbade Jews from owning guns or any other weapon. Second, they exempted members of the Sturmabteilung (SA) and many Nazi party officials from the law's strictures."<ref name="Washington University Law Quarterly"/> The German Firearms Act of 1937 stated "No civilian is to have a firearm without a permit and permits shall not be issued to persons suspected of acting against the state. ''For Jews, this permission will not be granted.'' Those people who do not require permission to carry weapons include the whole of the SS, and the SA - including the Deaths Head group, and the officers of the Hitler youth." <ref name="Volokh">[http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a38d04d5c7c40.htm The Journalist's Guide to Gun Policy Scholars and Second Amendment Scholars], Professor Eugene Volokh, FreeRepublic.com, March 15, 2000</ref>

Adolf Hitler said, "The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so." <ref name="Volokh" />

[[Josef Stalin]], former dictator of the [[USSR]] and murderer of over 20 million people, infamously supported gun control in the fear that his evil regime might be torn down and so only soldiers could have firearms.

== Gun Control and young mass murderers ==

''Main article: [[Young mass murderers]]''

Strict gun control failed and still fails to prevent mass murderers from starting killing sprees while the victims are unable to defend themselves.

Compare the cases of Pekka-Eric Auvinen ([[Finland]]) and Robert Steinhäuser ([[Germany]]) with the case of Matthew Murray. The latter was stopped by an armed citizen before he could harm more victims; Auvinen killed 8 people and Steinhäuser killed 16. Both Finland and Germany have gun control laws.

==Other terms==
Other terms sometimes used by those who are opposed to gun control include:
* "Gun grabbing"
* [[Unalienable rights|Rights]] restriction
* Victim disarmament

==See Also==
* [[Gun control quotes]]
* [[Gun free zone]]s: [[Essay:France Pays Dearly - Liberal Gun Control Laws and Gun Free Zones that Welcome Terrorists]]
* [[Essay:The Politically Corrected Firearms and Second Amendment Glossary]]
* [[Essay:US Armed Citizens and Crime Control]]
* [[National Rifle Association]] - [[Gun Owners of America]] - [[Second Amendment Foundation]]
* [[John Lott]]
* [[Second Amendment]]: [[Self-defense]], [[Home security]], and [[Defense]] against [[Tyranny]]
* [[Gun Control in Nazi Germany]]
* [[Ammunition control]]
* [[1994 National Defense Authorization Act]]
* [[Fourth generation warfare]]
** [[Essay:World War III has already started]]
** [[Essay:The coming Islamic Tet Offensive in Europe]]

==External Links==

=== Opposed to gun control ===
*[http://www.2asisters.org/ Second Amendment Sisters]
*[http://www.nra.org/ The National Rifle Association]
*[http://www.nrapublications.org/AC/index.asp Armed citizens defending themselves.]
*[http://www.a-human-right.com/ A Human Right] Discussion of the human right to self defense with a firearm.
*[http://www.learnaboutguns.com/ Learn About Guns] Firearm information and politics.
*[http://www.gunowners.org/ Gun Owners of America] A no-compromise pro-gun lobby in Washington, D.C.
*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/gun-control/ What Liberals Say - Category: Gun Control]
*[http://www.guncite.com/ GunCite: Gun Control and Second Amendment Issues]
*[http://jpfo.org/ Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership]
*[http://nssf.org/ National Shooting Sports Foundation]
*[http://concealedcampus.org/ Students for Concealed Carry]
*[http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/the-long-racist-history-of-gun-control-in-america/ The Long, Racist History of Gun Control in America]

=== In favor of gun control ===
*[http://www.guninformation.org/ Gun Control and the Second Amendment]
*[http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-switzerland.htm Myth: Switzerland proves that high gun-ownership doesn't increase murder]
*[http://www.bradycampaign.org/ Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence]
*[http://www.vpc.org/ Violence Policy Center]
*[http://www.lwv.org/ League of Women Voters]

==Bibliography - Further Reading==
* [[Boston T. Party|Party, Boston T.]], [[Boston's Gun Bible]]. [[Wyoming]] [[American Redoubt]] [[Javelin Press]], 2008. Contains several chapters related to gun control
* [[Boston T. Party|Party, Boston T.]], [[Molon Labe!]]. [[Wyoming]] [[American Redoubt]] [[Javelin Press]], 30 January 2004, 454 pp (first edition, paperback), ISBN 1-888766-07-7 - Conservative [[Christian]] [[Libertarian]] [[dystopian]] fiction novel entirely based around the issue of [[States' rights]] and the [[Tenth Amendment]]'s connection with the [[Second Amendment]] right to [[firearms|armed]] [[citizen]] defense against federal [[tyranny]]. Contains several chapters related to the gun control.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

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Donald Trump

2016-02-20T03:45:11Z

DerekE: /* Second Amendment rights */ grammar and clarity

[[File:031711trump.jpg|right]]

'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nickname "The Donald," (or simply - "The Don") is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimates that his net worth is $10 billion.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and then completing his studies at the prestigious Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Trump has five children.

In February 2011, he announced that he is [[pro-life]], but on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead). On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics.</ref>

The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.<ref>Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. Reuters website.</ref> But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.

Unlike most other candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. In 2011, Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], and it caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating the [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] may not have warmed up to him. <ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most [[conservatives]] oppose.

==Early life==

Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref>

==Career==

Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Trump Taj Mahal

*Trump Marina

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Plaza

*Trump Park Avenue

*Trump Entertainment Resorts

*TrumpStreet Casino & Entertainment Complex, Philadelphia

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump owns the Miss Universe Pageant. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has appeared on many TV shows and movies for guest appearances. He generally appears as himself.

==Political positions==

====Abortion====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref>

====Affordable Care Act====

Trump intends to repeal [[Obamacare]].<ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, Trump has also said, "I like the mandate,"<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/ "Trump On Obamacare: ‘I Like The Mandate’"]</ref> so it is difficult to tell how he would deal with the law as president.

====Controversy with Barack Obama====

Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be president, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref>

====Department of Education====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

====Global warming====

Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Second Amendment rights====

Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[leftist]] [[gun control]] and gun free zones. As president, Trump has promised to re-arm military personnel on all American military bases as well as [[ROTC]] recruitment centers, which were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/>

====Homosexual agenda====

For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====

See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref>

====Political contributions====

He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignficant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

====Tariffs====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/>

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President==
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."

==Quotes from Twitter==
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)

==Other quotes==
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}}

[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:2016 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Donald Trump

2016-02-20T03:41:30Z

DerekE: /* Gun rights */ second amendment is more accurate

[[File:031711trump.jpg|right]]

'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nickname "The Donald," (or simply - "The Don") is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimates that his net worth is $10 billion.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and then completing his studies at the prestigious Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Trump has five children.

In February 2011, he announced that he is [[pro-life]], but on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead). On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics.</ref>

The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.<ref>Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. Reuters website.</ref> But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.

Unlike most other candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. In 2011, Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], and it caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating the [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] may not have warmed up to him. <ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most [[conservatives]] oppose.

==Early life==

Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref>

==Career==

Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Trump Taj Mahal

*Trump Marina

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Plaza

*Trump Park Avenue

*Trump Entertainment Resorts

*TrumpStreet Casino & Entertainment Complex, Philadelphia

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump owns the Miss Universe Pageant. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has appeared on many TV shows and movies for guest appearances. He generally appears as himself.

==Political positions==

====Abortion====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref>

====Affordable Care Act====

Trump intends to repeal [[Obamacare]].<ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, Trump has also said, "I like the mandate,"<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/ "Trump On Obamacare: ‘I Like The Mandate’"]</ref> so it is difficult to tell how he would deal with the law as president.

====Controversy with Barack Obama====

Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be president, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref>

====Department of Education====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

====Global warming====

Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Second Amendment rights====

Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[gun control]] and gun free zones and promises as President to re-arm the soldiers on American military bases and [[ROTC]] recruitment centers who were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/>

====Homosexual agenda====

For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====

See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref>

====Political contributions====

He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignficant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

====Tariffs====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/>

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President==
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."

==Quotes from Twitter==
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)

==Other quotes==
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}}

[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:2016 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Donald Trump

2016-02-20T03:40:37Z

DerekE: /* Gun control */ gun control is a leftist, bigoted term used to attack gun owners; gun rights are our civil rights, and is correct

[[File:031711trump.jpg|right]]

'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nickname "The Donald," (or simply - "The Don") is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimates that his net worth is $10 billion.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and then completing his studies at the prestigious Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Trump has five children.

In February 2011, he announced that he is [[pro-life]], but on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead). On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics.</ref>

The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.<ref>Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. Reuters website.</ref> But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.

Unlike most other candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. In 2011, Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], and it caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating the [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] may not have warmed up to him. <ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most [[conservatives]] oppose.

==Early life==

Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref>

==Career==

Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Trump Taj Mahal

*Trump Marina

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Plaza

*Trump Park Avenue

*Trump Entertainment Resorts

*TrumpStreet Casino & Entertainment Complex, Philadelphia

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump owns the Miss Universe Pageant. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has appeared on many TV shows and movies for guest appearances. He generally appears as himself.

==Political positions==

====Abortion====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref>

====Affordable Care Act====

Trump intends to repeal [[Obamacare]].<ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, Trump has also said, "I like the mandate,"<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/ "Trump On Obamacare: ‘I Like The Mandate’"]</ref> so it is difficult to tell how he would deal with the law as president.

====Controversy with Barack Obama====

Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be president, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref>

====Department of Education====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

====Global warming====

Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Gun rights====

Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[gun control]] and gun free zones and promises as President to re-arm the soldiers on American military bases and [[ROTC]] recruitment centers who were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/>

====Homosexual agenda====

For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====

See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref>

====Political contributions====

He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignficant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

====Tariffs====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/>

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President==
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."

==Quotes from Twitter==
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)

==Other quotes==
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}}

[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:2016 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Donald Trump

2016-02-20T03:14:21Z

DerekE: /* Affordable Care Act */ oops, second fix

[[File:031711trump.jpg|right]]

'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nickname "The Donald," (or simply - "The Don") is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimates that his net worth is $10 billion.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and then completing his studies at the prestigious Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Trump has five children.

In February 2011, he announced that he is [[pro-life]], but on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead). On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics.</ref>

The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.<ref>Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. Reuters website.</ref> But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.

Unlike most other candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. In 2011, Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], and it caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating the [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] may not have warmed up to him. <ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most [[conservatives]] oppose.

==Early life==

Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref>

==Career==

Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Trump Taj Mahal

*Trump Marina

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Plaza

*Trump Park Avenue

*Trump Entertainment Resorts

*TrumpStreet Casino & Entertainment Complex, Philadelphia

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump owns the Miss Universe Pageant. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has appeared on many TV shows and movies for guest appearances. He generally appears as himself.

==Political positions==

====Abortion====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref>

====Affordable Care Act====

Trump intends to repeal [[Obamacare]].<ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, Trump has also said, "I like the mandate,"<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/ "Trump On Obamacare: ‘I Like The Mandate’"]</ref> so it is difficult to tell how he would deal with the law as president.

====Controversy with Barack Obama====

Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be president, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref>

====Department of Education====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

====Global warming====

Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Gun control====

Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[gun control]] and gun free zones and promises as President to re-arm the soldiers on American military bases and [[ROTC]] recruitment centers who were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/>

====Homosexual agenda====

For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====

See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref>

====Political contributions====

He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignficant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

====Tariffs====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/>

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President==
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."

==Quotes from Twitter==
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)

==Other quotes==
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}}

[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:2016 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Donald Trump

2016-02-20T03:13:31Z

DerekE: /* Political positions */ source fix

[[File:031711trump.jpg|right]]

'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nickname "The Donald," (or simply - "The Don") is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimates that his net worth is $10 billion.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and then completing his studies at the prestigious Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Trump has five children.

In February 2011, he announced that he is [[pro-life]], but on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead). On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics.</ref>

The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.<ref>Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. Reuters website.</ref> But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.

Unlike most other candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. In 2011, Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], and it caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating the [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] may not have warmed up to him. <ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most [[conservatives]] oppose.

==Early life==

Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref>

==Career==

Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Trump Taj Mahal

*Trump Marina

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Plaza

*Trump Park Avenue

*Trump Entertainment Resorts

*TrumpStreet Casino & Entertainment Complex, Philadelphia

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump owns the Miss Universe Pageant. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has appeared on many TV shows and movies for guest appearances. He generally appears as himself.

==Political positions==

====Abortion====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref>

====Affordable Care Act====

Trump intends to repeal [[Obamacare]].<ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, Trump has also said, "I like the mandate,"<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/ "Trump On Obamacare: ‘I Like The Mandate’ [VIDEO]"]</ref> so it is difficult to tell how he would deal with the law as president.

====Controversy with Barack Obama====

Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be president, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref>

====Department of Education====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

====Global warming====

Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Gun control====

Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[gun control]] and gun free zones and promises as President to re-arm the soldiers on American military bases and [[ROTC]] recruitment centers who were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/>

====Homosexual agenda====

For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====

See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref>

====Political contributions====

He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignficant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

====Tariffs====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/>

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President==
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."

==Quotes from Twitter==
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)

==Other quotes==
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}}

[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:2016 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Donald Trump

2016-02-20T03:08:59Z

DerekE: /* Affordable Care Act */

[[File:031711trump.jpg|right]]

'''Donald J. Trump''' (b. [[Queens]], [[New York]], on June 14, 1946), nickname "The Donald," (or simply - "The Don") is a successful businessman, entrepreneur, outspoken politician, and [[television]] personality. He has engaged in many financial pursuits and estimates that his net worth is $10 billion.<ref>LoGiurato, Brett (July 25, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-net-worth-2015-7 "We finally know a lot more about Donald Trump's 'massive' net worth"]. Business Insider website.</ref> He graduated from the New York Military Academy in 1964 and first attended college at [[Fordham University]] for two years before transferring to the more competitive [[University of Pennsylvania]] and then completing his studies at the prestigious Wharton School of Finance and Commerce. Trump has five children.

In February 2011, he announced that he is [[pro-life]], but on August 11, 2015, he indicated that he might support taxpayer funding of [[Planned Parenthood]] for its non-[[abortion]] activities (which builds its brand and funds its overhead). On June 16, 2015, he declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/16/trump-announces-white-house-bid-joins-crowded-gop-field/ "Trump announces White House bid, joins crowded GOP field"] (June 16, 2015). Fox News website/Politics.</ref>

The front-runner in a record-breaking field of 17 [[Republican]] candidates, Trump announced that he did not anticipate "throwing punches" against his rivals in the first GOP debate.<ref>Chiacu, Donna and Torbati, Yeganeh (August 2, 2015). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/02/us-usa-election-debate-idUSKCN0Q70NI20150802 "Trump says won't be 'throwing punches' in U.S. Republican debate"]. Reuters website.</ref> But at the debate the [[Fox News Channel]]—particularly its [[feminist]] non-journalist [[Megyn Kelly]]—ambushed Trump with out-of-context quotations designed to smear him as somehow being anti-women. This ignited a national controversy that lasted for days, and Trump called upon Kelly to apologize, which she refused to do.

Unlike most other candidates, Trump sharply criticizes the media and talks about issues that no elected official dares touch. In 2011, Trump persistently doubted whether [[Barack Obama]] had been born in the [[United States]], and it caused Obama's approval ratings to drop below 40% until Obama finally caved in to Trump and produced what Obama claimed was his birth certificate. Trump then scoffed at Obama's conduct.

Trump's central campaign theme has been to oppose [[illegal immigration]], and he enlisted Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] as an adviser on this issue. As reported by [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]], "Sen. Sessions, Chairman of the Senate’s Immigration Subcommittee, is widely regarded as the gold standard on immigration. Sessions has also become the intellectual thought leader in the Republican Party on appealing to the blue collar voters who have been abandoned by their political leaders." <ref>Hahn, Julia (August 14, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/14/game-change-trump-consults-with-sen-jeff-sessions-on-immigration-strategy/ "Game change: Trump consults with Sen Jeff Sessions on immigration strategy"]. Breitbart website/Big government.</ref> However, in recent months, Trump has focused more on [[ISIS]] and terrorism.

In the 2015 [[Value Voters Debate|Value Voters]] poll, Trump performed poorly, coming in fifth, indicating the [[Christian]] [[conservatives]] may not have warmed up to him. <ref>Flores, Reena (September 26, 2015). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-conservative-poll-donald-trump-could-not-win/ "The conservative poll Donald Trump could not win"]. CBSNews website.</ref> Trump is a big supporter of [[gambling]], which most [[conservatives]] oppose.

==Early life==

Donald Trump attended the First [[Presbyterian]] Church in Jamaica, [[Queens]]. He told the [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] that he still considers himself a [[Presbyterian]] and attends services for all major holidays and Sundays, and that "The [[Bible]] is certainly THE book." He receives Bibles from fans in the mail, and he either stores them or gives them away to others.<ref>Haberman, Maggie (April 11, 2011). [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52942.html "Donald Trump talks about religion"]. Politico website.</ref>

==Career==

Donald Trump began his career at Trump Organization. In his college years, he helped revitalize one of his father's failing real estate ventures. Trump began opening hotels and casinos, which provided him with the cash flow to engage in other ventures. He owns the world-famous Trump Tower and is the founder of the publicly traded Trump Hotel Casinos & Resorts. Trump also owns the Trump brand, which sells a variety of items, such as bottled water, steak, and even mortgages. Trump has authored a number of books and weathered changing business fortunes, but despite the challenges that he has encountered, he has continued to be a successful businessman and entrepreneur.

Trump considered [[presidential election 2012|running for President in 2012]] as a [[Republican]]. He, among others, questioned the citizenship of [[Barack Obama]], citing his failure to produce his birth certificate. After Obama produced his birth certificate, Trump and the other [[birther]]s continue to doubt its authenticity. Obama's approval ratings were around 40% during the peak of the controversy. Trump later exited the race, and gave the customary endorsement to [[Mitt Romney]] as the other [[Republican]] contenders did.

==Major properties==

*Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.

*Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Personal Residence

*Trump Taj Mahal

*Trump Marina

*Bank of America Center (San Francisco)

*The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street

*Trump Plaza

*Trump Park Avenue

*Trump Entertainment Resorts

*TrumpStreet Casino & Entertainment Complex, Philadelphia

*AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

*Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

*Mar-A-Lago Palm Beach

*Four golf courses in the U.S.

==Media==
[[File:Donald Trump star.JPG|thumbnail|left|Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 2003 Trump began as the host and executive producer of the reality [[television]] show ''The Apprentice'' and ''The Celebrity Apprentice'', where contestants compete for a position in Trump's organization. On this show, Trump popularized his catchphrase "You're fired!"

Trump owns the Miss Universe Pageant. Controversy arose when one of the winners, Tara Conner, was caught breaking pageant rules by drinking and other activities. Trump gave her a second chance after personally speaking with her and allowed her to retain her crown as she attended rehabilitation. For several weeks after this, [[Rosie O'Donnell]] berated Trump for his decision on ''The View''. A bitter media war ensued with the two exchanging insults.

Trump has appeared on many TV shows and movies for guest appearances. He generally appears as himself.

==Political positions==

====Abortion====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, Trump announced he is [[pro-life]].<ref>Rahn, Will (February 10, 2011). [http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/10/trump-at-cpac-points-to-white-house-run/ "Trump at CPAC points to White House run"]. The Daily Caller website.</ref>

====Affordable Care Act====

Trump intends to repeal [[Obamacare]].<ref name=Educ>Breitbart.tv (February 9, 2011). [http://www.breitbart.com/video/2011/02/09/pro-life-donald-trump-would-eliminate-dept-of-education-impose-25-tax-on-china-imports-if-president/ "Pro-life Donald Trump would eliminate Dept of Education, impose 25% tax on China imports if president"]. Breitbart.com.</ref> However, Trump has also said, "I like the mandate,"<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/19/trump-on-obamacare-i-like-the-mandate-video/]</ref> so it is difficult to tell how he would deal with the law as president.

====Controversy with Barack Obama====

Trump has also questioned Barack Obama's constitutional eligibility to be president, in light of the ongoing questions surrounding his birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=280533 "Trump: Obama spending millions to hide his past"] (March 28, 2011). WorldNetDaily website.</ref>

====Department of Education====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he wants to eliminate the Department of Education.<ref name=Educ/>

====Foreign policy====
Trump wants to improve relationships with [[Russia]]n president [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>Johnson, Simon (July 31, 2015). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11775145/Donald-Trump-Id-get-on-very-well-with-Putin-if-I-were-president.html "Donald Trump: I'd get on 'very well' with Putin if I were president"]. The Telegraph [U.K.] website.</ref>

Trump says the [[Iran]] deal is bad, but as president he would enforce it anyway.

====Global warming====

Trump does not believe in the [[Climate Change]] hysteria, once stating the "Nobel committee should take the Nobel Prize back from [[Al Gore]]."

====Gun control====

Trump is strongly pro-[[Second Amendment]] and against [[gun control]] and gun free zones and promises as President to re-arm the soldiers on American military bases and [[ROTC]] recruitment centers who were disarmed by the [[Clinton Administration]] policy.<ref name=Educ/>

====Homosexual agenda====

For all practical purposes, Trump seems to be on the side of the [[homosexual agenda]]. He supports the creation of new law by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], as in a new right to [[homosexual marriage]], and declares it the "law of the land" even though Congress passed no such law.

Trump has attended multiple [[same-sex marriage]] ceremonies, but has also said in the past that he opposes same-sex marriage. Trump's views are not yet known on other aspects of the [[homosexual agenda]], such as whether Trump would ban [[conversion therapy]] for minors as [[Chris Christie]] did. The [[Fox News Channel]] debate in August avoided these issues, but future debates will probably require Trump to declare his position.

====Immigration====

See the discussion in the introduction above. This is Trump's main campaign issue.

A central part of his immigration plan is to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Trump estimates it will cost $8 billion, approximately 35 to 40 feet high and stretch 2000 miles. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/02/09/donald-trump-the-wall-is-probably-8-billion Trump Border Wall]</ref>

====Political contributions====

He has been criticized for his substantial contributions to [[Democrat]] lawmakers; the majority of those lawmakers are located in the states he resides in: New York and Florida. The amount he has donated since 2008 is $25,000, which is insignficant considering his wealth.<ref>Allin, Olivia (April 30, 2011). [http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Donald-Trump-calls-nations-leaders-stupid-people-and-blood-sucking-politicians/8104644 "OTRC: Donald Trump calls nation's leaders 'stupid people' and 'blood-sucking politicians'"]. OnTheRedCarpet [news]. Retrieved from ABC7 [KABC Television, Los Angeles] website.</ref>

====Tariffs====

At the 2011 [[CPAC]] conference, he stated that he supports a 25% tariff on Chinese goods.<ref name=Educ/>

====Vaccines====
Trump believes that [[vaccines]] cause [[autism]]<ref>Ferris, Sarah (September 16, 2015). [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/253980-trump-links-vaccines-to-autism-epidemic "Trump links vaccines to autism 'epidemic'"]. The Hill website/Policy/Healthcare.</ref> and has argued against requiring that so many vaccines be given to infants.

==Books==
''Trump: The Art of the Deal'' with Tony Schwartz (1987) 
''Trump: Surviving at the Top'' with Charles Leerhsen (1990) 
''Trump: The Art of the Comeback'' with Kate Bohner (1997) 
''The America We Deserve'' with Dave Shiflett (2000) 
''Trump: How to Get Rich'' with Meredith McIver (2004) 
''Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know about Success, Real Estate and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2005) 
''Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men, One Message'' with Meredith McIver and Robert T. Kiyosaki (2006) 
''Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life'' with Bill Zanker (2007) 
''Trump: Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success'' with Meredith McIver (2008) 
''Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life'' with Meredith McIver (2009) 
''Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich—and Why Most Don't'' with Robert T. Kiyosaki (2011) 
''Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again'' (2011) 
''Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again'' (2015)

==Quotes from the 2016 campaign for President==
*"I think we have a president who, as a president, is totally incompetent, and he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I think he has no idea what he’s doing. And our country is going to [[hell]]."<ref>http://time.com/4210983/republican-debate-barack-obama-incompetent/</ref>
*"I will be the greatest jobs president that [[God]] ever created."
*"I’m using my own money. I’m not using the lobbyists. I’m not using donors. I don’t care. I’m really rich."
*"Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people."
*"Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump. Nobody. Within our military, I will find the General Patton, or I will find General MacArthur, I will find the right guy."
*"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have [[Mexico]] pay for that wall."

==Quotes from Twitter==
[[File:Screenshot 2015-09-28-12-11-31-1.png|right|300px|Thumb|Tweet from Billionaire Carl Icahn]]

{{Cquote| '''Somebody said I’m the Ernest Hemingway of 140 characters.'''}}

* "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (August 6, 2012, 1:23 pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/232572505238433794 "An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (November 13, 2012, 12:23pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/268449146711703553 "It’s amazing how people can talk about me but I’m not allowed to talk about them."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."<ref>Trump, Donald J. (January 1, 2014, 4:39pm). [http://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/418542137899491328 "This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bull**** has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice."] Tweet by @realDonaldTrump.</ref>
* "So many 'politically correct' fools in our country. We have to all get back to work and stop wasting time and energy on nonsense!" (August 8, 2015)
* "Notice that illegal immigrants will be given ObamaCare and free college tuition but nothing has been mentioned about our VETERANS #DemDebate" (October 13, 2015)
* "They laughed at me when I said to bomb the ISIS controlled oil fields. Now they are not laughing and doing what I said." (November 13, 2015)
* "President Obama said 'ISIL continues to shrink' in an interview just hours before the horrible attack in Paris. He is just so bad! CHANGE." (November 14, 2015)
* "Refugees from Syria are now pouring into our great country. Who knows who they are - some could be ISIS. Is our president insane?" (November 17, 2015)
* "Eight Syrians were just caught on the southern border trying to get into the U.S. ISIS maybe? I told you so. WE NEED A BIG & BEAUTIFUL WALL!" (November 19, 2015)
* "Hillary said that guns don't keep you safe. If she really believes that she should demand that her heavily armed bodyguards quickly disarm!" (January 3, 2016)

==Other quotes==
* "[T]he country is going to hell."<ref>Cassidy, Chris (March 19, 2015). [http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/03/country_is_going_to_hell_claims_donald_trump "'Country is going to hell,' claims Donald Trump"]. BostonHerald.com website.</ref>
* "We have no leader in this country.”<ref>Reisner, Hiram (April 22, 2011). [http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/donaldtrump-karlrove-gop-birther/2011/04/22/id/393742 "Trump: I'd just take Libyan oil"]. NewsMax website.</ref>
* "Our leaders are stupid, they are stupid people."<ref>Pierce, Tony (April 29, 2011). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/04/donald-trump-in-vegas-our-leaders-are-stupid-they-are-stupid-people.html "Donald Trump in Vegas: 'Our leaders are stupid; they are stupid people'"]. Los Angeles Times website/Top of the Ticket blog.</ref>
* "I can tell you I am [the 2012 Obama campaign's] worst nightmare."<ref>Mooney, Alexander (April 11, 2011). [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/11/trump-says-he-is-obama-campaigns-worst-nightmare/comment-page-6/ "Trump says he is Obama campaign's worst nightmare"]. Cable News Network website/politicalticker blog.</ref>
* "Obama has no solutions."<ref>Coz, Steve (August 19, 2012). [http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/trump-gibbs-fox-obama/2012/08/19/id/449050/ "Trump fires back at Obama campaign smear"]. Newsmax website/Newsfront.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Donald Trump's religious views]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://www.trump.com Official website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw8c2Cq-vpg The Untruth About Donald Trump] by [[Stefan Molyneux]], Published on Jan 18, 2016
* [http://www.untruthaboutdonaldtrump.com UntruthAboutDonaldTrump.com]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yyoauXmzjg Do Emotions Trump Facts?] [[Thomas Sowell]] on Donald Trump - Rebutted! by Stefan Molyneux
* [http://shouldtrumprun.com/ Should Donald Run? Polling]
* [http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/04/trump-explains-conversion-on-abortion.html Trump explains his pro-life conversion]
* [https://www.donaldjtrump.com Donald Trump 2016 campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}}

[[Category:Celebrities]]
[[Category:Business People]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:2016 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Best Selling Authors]]
[[Category:Liberal conservatism]]
[[Category:Billionaires]]

Democrat Party

2016-02-20T02:58:15Z

DerekE: Proper use of comma

'''Democrat Party''' is the grammatically correct term for the [[Democratic Party]]. The Party is not "democratic," and proper nouns like "Democrat" are not converted into adjectives by adding "ic" as a suffix. It is not the "Republicanic Party," or the "Libertarianic Party," or a "Smith-ic Wedding." Predictably, many Democrats dislike the term "Democrat Party," perhaps because the official name is the "Democratic Party of the United States" since 1844<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x897044|title=The Official History of the Democratic Party and the DNC|date=December 13, 2003|accessdate=August 5, 2014}}</ref> and perhaps they prefer the false illusion that their party is somehow more "democratic" than other parties.

==History of usage==
"Democrat Party" has a long history of usage by critics of the Democratic Party — mostly Republicans, but also third party leaders like [[Ralph Nader]].<ref>See "Transcript: Ralph Nader on 'Meet The Press' Sunday, May 7, 2000" at [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/050800-03.htm](Nader repeatedly uses the term "Democratic Party" in the transcript); "Presidential candidate Ralph Nader makes stop in Minnesota; sees little difference between Bush, Kerry," Oct 27, 2004, at [http://www.hometownsource.com/2004/October/27nader.html] </ref> The history has been traced by scholars and commentators to the early 20th century.<ref>including Feuerlicht (1957), Lyman (1958), Safire (1993), Sperber and Trittschuh (1962), Numberg (2005) and Hertzberg (2006).</ref> The earliest known use of the term, according to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'', was in Britain in 1890: "Whether a little farmer...is going to rule the Democrat Party in America."<ref>under "Democrat" 4 citing ''Spectator'' 15 Nov. 1890 p 676. </ref> The term was used by [[Herbert Hoover]] in 1932, and in the late 1930s by Republicans who used it to criticize Democratic big city machines run by powerful political bosses in what they considered undemocratic fashion. Republican leader [[Harold Stassen]] said in 1940, "I emphasized that the party controlled in large measure at that time by [Frank] Hague in New Jersey, [Tom] Pendergast in Missouri and Kelly-Nash in Chicago should not be called a 'Democratic Party.' It should be called the 'Democrat Party.'"<ref>Hertzberg (2006) citing Safire</ref>

The noun-as-adjective has been used by numerous Republican leaders since the 1940s and appears in most GOP national platforms since 1948.<ref>''National Party Platforms, 1840-1996'', editors Kirk H. Porter, and Donald Bruce Johnson, (1996).</ref> In 1947 the Republican leader Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] said, "Nor can we expect any other policy from any Democrat Party or any Democrat President under present day conditions. They can not possibly win an election solely through the support of the solid South, and yet their political strategists believe the Southern Democrat Party will not break away no matter how radical the allies imposed upon it."<ref>Robert Taft, ''The Papers of Robert A. Taft'', edited by Clarence E. Wunderlin, Jr., 2003, 3:313.</ref> President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] used the term in his acceptance speech in 1952 and in partisan speeches to Republican groups.<ref>''Washington Post'', October 28, 1958, page A8.</ref> Ruth Walker notes how [[Joseph McCarthy]] repeatedly used the phrase "the Democrat Party," and critics argue that if McCarthy used the term in the 1950s then no one else should do so. <ref> Walker (2005).</ref>

==Current usage==
In recent decades, however, the Republican Party has sometimes used the phrase "Democrat Party" in referring to its opposition. The Republican Party web site www.gop.com gets 82 Google hits for "Democrat" and 350 hits for "Democratic".<ref> See [http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=10&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=Democrat+Party&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=www.gop.com&as_rights=&safe=images] and [http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=10&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=Democratic+Party&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=www.gop.com&as_rights=&safe=images]</ref> The White House since 2001 has often used the noun-as-adjective when referring to the opposition party, and President Bush has used it almost exclusively.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,126757,00.html "Bush Courts Black Voters at Urban League"] AP July 23, 2004; [http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/1/212536/7288 List of 356 uses of Democrat as an adjective by President Bush]</ref> Likewise it is in common use by former House Majority Leader [[Tom DeLay]],<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,92971,00.html "DeLay: Democratic Party Unfit to Lead"], [[Fox News]], July 26, 2003.</ref> House Minority Leader [[John Boehner]],<ref>[http://www.slate.com/id/2156949/fr/rss/ "Pelosi's Big Day"], [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]], January 4, 2007.</ref> Senator [[Chuck Grassley|Charles Grassley]],<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181052,00.html "Alito: No Person Is Above the Law"], [[Fox News]], January 9, 2006.</ref> Congressman [[Steve Buyer]]<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/18/transcripts/index7.html "Transcript: House debates articles of impeachment"], [[CNN]], December 18, 1998.</ref> and others. George W. Bush spoke the phrase "Democrat majority" in his [[2007 State of the Union Address]].<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070123-2.html Official 2007 State of the Union Transcript]</ref> (The advance copy that was given to members of Congress read "Democrat''ic'' majority".)<ref name="Copeland">{{cite news | first=Libby |last=Copleand |title = President's Sin of Omission? (Dropped Syllable in Speech Riles Democrats) | date = 2007-01-25 | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/24/AR2007012402469.html | publisher = [[The Washington Post]] | accessdate = 2007-03-31}}</ref> Bush joked about his leadership of the "Republic Party" the following month.<ref> Noam H. Levey [http://www.latimes.com/news/la-ex-bush3feb04,1,4457343.story?ctrack=1&cset=true "Bush reaches across Partisan divide"]; LA Times, February 4, 2007 </ref>

Aside from partisan usage, the term can also be found used in non-partisan media. [[Media Matters for America]] has documented the occasional use of "Democrat Party" by CNN, ''The New York Times'', ''The Wall Street Journal'', ''The Chicago Tribune'', and the Associated Press. Abroad the term is occasionally used by the [[BBC]].<ref>[[Media Matters for America]], August 16, 2006. [http://mediamatters.org/items/200608160005 "GOP strategists christen 'Democrat (sic) Party' -- and the media comply"] On BBC see [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4259291.stm], on ''[[USA Today]]'' see [http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-11-reid_x.htm]; on [[Fox News]] see [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227961,00.html]</ref>

Some state and local Democratic organizations use the noun-as-adjective on their web pages in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Indiana.<ref>[http://www.jeffcodems.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=117&Itemid=2 ''Chair's Newsletter--March 31-April 11, 2006'']. Jefferson County Democratic Party. Retrieved 2007-01-26. [http://www.il-democrats.org/DeWitt/calendar.html ''DeWitt County Democrat Party'']. Retrieved 2007-01-25. Indiana. [http://democrat.whitleynet.org/ ''Whitley County Democrat Party'']. Retrieved 2007-01-25. [http://www.ksdp.org/node/3044] regarding "The Kansas House Democrat Caucus" and "The Democrat Leadership Team" in 2007. On Missouri see [http://missouridems.org/calendar/] for "February 15, 2007: Saline County Democrat Club" and "March 2, 2007: Missouri Democrat Days."</ref> Lyman (1958) noted that "Democrat party" is common local usage in Maryland. In Indiana numerous "Democrat clubs" have filed incorporation with the Secretary of State, indicating widespread non-controversial usage among local Democrats.<ref> In Indiana there are 34 incorporated groups with "Democrat" as part of their legal name) versus 226 that use "Democratic"). These seem to be active local clubs. (Brown County is the official county organization). Alphabetically the first few are as follows: 17th District Democrat Club, Inc.; Indianapolis, 17th Ward Democrat Club Inc.; Andrew Jackson Democrat Club Of Tippecanoe County; Bloomfield Democrat Incorp.; Brown County Democrat Central Committee Corporation; City Of Portage Democrat Club; Clark County Democrat Men's Club, Inc.; Clinton County Democrat Club Inc., etc. Source: [https://secure.in.gov/sos/bus_service/online_corps/name_search_results.aspx?search_name=democrat&search_type=exact&client_id=&search_mode=search&submit.x=0&submit.y=0]. </ref>
===Democrats using "Democrat" as adjective===
Although nationally prominent Democrats carefully avoid "Democrat party," they have started to use "Democrat" as an adjective, as in the phase, "not a Democrat or Republican problem." Thus Vice President-elect Joe Biden, speaking of the [[recession of 2008]], said "This is not a Democrat or Republican problem, we’ve got ourselves a problem." Likewise Rep. Charles Rangel in prepared remarks said regarding the recession of 2008, "This is not a Democrat or Republican problem, but an American problem."<ref>see [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/tag/cnn-political-producer-alexander-marquardt/ Biden Statement of Dec. 2, 2008]; also see [http://waysandmeans.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=release&ID=862 Rangel statement of Feb. 13. 2009] </ref>

Regarding the New Jersey budget crisis, "It’s not a Democrat or Republican problem," said Governor Jon Corzine.<ref>see [http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=corzines_choice June 20, 2008 interview.</ref>

President Obama used "Democrat" as an adjective parallel to "Republican" in formal remarks at the White House in 2009:
:[Executives] "understand that what makes an idea sound is not whether it's Democrat or Republican, but whether it makes good economic sense for their workers and companies."<ref> Barack Obama, "Remarks by the President on the Economy after Meeting with Business Leaders, January 28, 2009," [http://www.whitehouse.gov/ceos_at_the_white_house/ online]</ref>

==Issues of grammar==
Some believe that the use of the noun "Democrat" as an adjective is ungrammatical.<ref> Copperud (1980)</ref> Using a noun as a modifier of another noun is not grammatically incorrect in modern English in the formation of a compound noun, i.e. "shoe store," "school bus," "peace movement," "Senate election," etc. Americans commonly speak of "the Iraq war" rather than "the Iraqi war."<ref name=walker>Walker (2005); [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0812097203&id=efMpTxl3n2cC&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64&dq=%22nouns+used+as+adjectives%22&sig=7SOy_ENpfdI1iBit9e4yF36KwGM ''Master the Basics: English''] by Jean Yatets, 1996, page 64.</ref>

In American history many parties were named by their opponents (Federalists, Loco-Focos, Know Nothings, Populists, Dixiecrats), including the Democrats themselves, as the Federalists in the 1790s used "Democratic Party" as a term of ridicule.<ref> Nunberg (2006); Safire, (1993), 176, 391-2, 595-6; Sperber and Trittschuh. 118-9, 150, 231-2. </ref>.

The use of "Democrat Party" could be part of a broader linguistic trend. As one linguist explained, "We're losing our inflections – the special endings we use to distinguish between adjectives and nouns, for instance. There's a tendency to modify a noun with another noun rather than an adjective. Some may speak of "the Ukraine election" rather than 'the Ukrainian election' or 'the election in Ukraine,' for instance. It's 'the Iraq war' rather than 'the Iraqi war,' to give another example."<ref>Walker (2005)</ref>

==Response==
Members of the Republican Party, from political commentators to President Bush himself, made especially extensive use of the term "Democrat Party" during the run-up to the 2006 midterm elections. In response to the growing use of the epithet in late 2006, a corresponding epithet for the Republican Party, the "Republic Party", began to circulate in liberal parts of the blogosphere; the previous Republican waves of usage had inspired the "Publican Party", but this failed to catch on.<ref>Feuerlicht, 1956</ref>

Democrats complained about the use of "Democrat" as an adjective in the 2007 State of the Union address by President Bush. "Like nails on a chalkboard," complained Clinton White House Chief of Staff John Podesta. Political analyst Charlie Cook attributed its usage to force of habit rather than a deliberate epithet by Republicans: "They have been doing it so long that they probably don't even realize they're doing it."<ref>Copeland </ref> On February 4, 2007, Bush joked in a speech to House Democrats, stating "Now look, my diction isn't all that good. I have been accused of occasionally mangling the English language. And so I appreciate you inviting the head of the Republic Party."<ref>''Washington Post'' Feb 4, 2007 at [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/03/AR2007020300701.html</ref> Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-[[NY]]) repeatedly invoked the phrase "The Republic Party" on the floor of the House in February 2007 while lambasting Congressional Republicans.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsqprEihjXg Youtube - Anthony Weiner Rips the "Republic Party"].</ref>

Another corresponding noun-as-adjective response has also begun to circulate on the Internet: "The Republicans Party."<ref> [http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1018-02.htm][http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/10/28/112436.php][http://www.ironweedfilms.com/node/525]</ref> Members of the Democratic Underground have proposed that "Republicon Party" be used as a counter to the Republican adoption of Democrat Party as a putdown.<ref>[http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3190412 Democratic Underground thread]</ref>

==Objections in the [[Lamestream media]]==
Complaints about the term "Democrat Party" can be found in the [[lamestream media]]. ''New Yorker Magazine'' commentator Hendrik Hertzberg wrote: "There’s no great mystery about the motives behind this deliberate misnaming. 'Democrat Party' is a slur, or intended to be - a handy way to express contempt. Aesthetic judgments are subjective, of course, but 'Democrat Party' is jarring verging on ugly."<ref> Hertzberg (2006)</ref>

==References==
* Roy H. Copperud, ''American Usage and Style: The Consensus'' 1980, pages 101-102.
* Ignace Feuerlicht. "Democrat Party," , ''American Speech'', Vol. 32, No. 3 (Oct., 1957), pp. 228-231 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-1283%28195710%2932%3A3%3C228%3ADP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0 online in JSTOR]
* Bryan A. Garner, ''A Dictionary of Modern American Usage'' 1998, p. 196.
* Hendrik Hertzberg. [http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/060807ta_talk_hertzberg "The 'IC' Factor"] ''The New Yorker'', August 7, 2006.
* John Lyman, "Democrat Party," ''American Speech'', Vol. 33, No. 3 (October 1958), pp. 239-40 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-1283%28195810%2933%3A3%3C239%3ADP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-T in JSTOR] notes term as used by some Democrats in Maryland.
* ''Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage'', 1994, pp 328-29, page 667.
* Geoffrey Nunberg. [http://www-csli.stanford.edu/~nunberg/democrats.html "The Case for Democracy"] in "Fresh Air" commentary, January 19, 2005 (radio broadcast).
* Geoffrey Nunberg, ''Talking Right: How Conservatives Turned Liberalism into a Tax-Raising, Latte-Drinking, Sushi-Eating, Volvo-Driving, New York Times-Reading, Body-Piercing, Hollywood-Loving, Left-Wing Freak Show'' 2006.
* William Safire, ''Safire's New Political Dictionary'' (1993).
* Hans Sperber and Travis Trittschuh. ''American Political Terms: An Historical Dictionary'' (1962) pages 117-23.
* Walker, Ruth. [http://blogs.csmonitor.com/verbal_energy/2005/01/index.html "Republicans, Democrats, and the Afghan on the couch"] ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', January 27, 2005
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904EFD61538F934A2575BC0A962948260 "Democrats Find Ally In Republican Camp"], ''UPI'', August 17, 1984.
* Democratic Underground http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3190412 March 31, 2007
====notes====
<references/>

[[category:Democratic Party]]

Barack Hussein Obama

2016-02-20T02:44:20Z

DerekE: /* Reverses Clinton gay discrimination rule */ saying he reversed descrimination implies he fixed something that was wrong

{{Officeholder
|name=Barack Hussein Obama
|image=President Barack Obama.jpg
|party=[[Democratic Party]]
|spouse=[[Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama]]; may have had a prior marriage.<ref>Corsi, Jerome R. (July 19, 2012). [http://www.wnd.com/2012/07/was-barack-obama-married-in-college/ "Was Barack Obama married in college?"]. WorldNetDaily website. See [[WND]]</ref>
|religion=unknown (see [[Obama's religion]])
|offices={{Officeholder/president
|country=the United States
|number=44th
|terms=January 20, 2009-Present
|vp=[[Joe Biden]]
|preceded=[[George W. Bush]]
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Illinois
|terms=January 3, 2005 – November 16, 2008
|preceded=Peter Fitzgerald
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Roland Burris]]
}}
}}

'''Barack Hussein Obama II''' (reportedly born in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]] on August 4, 1961) is the 44th President of the [[United States]]. Through heavy use of [[early voting]] by the Democrat political machine, Obama was elected president in 2008 with 365 [[electoral vote]]s and 53% of the popular vote. In 2012 he was elected to a second term with 332 electoral votes and 51% of the popular vote, losing 5 million voters from four years earlier. Promoted heavily by [[liberals]], as demonstrated by his unjustified receipt of the 2009 [[Nobel Prize|Nobel Peace Prize]], Obama clutched the presidency despite a short and unremarkable political career by outspending his opponent, [[John McCain]], by hundreds of millions of dollars in 2008,<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contriball.php?cycle=2008 "Candidate comparison: Top contributors 2008 cycle"] (betw. September-November 2013). OpenSecrets.org website.</ref> and spending more than a billion dollars from special interests to snag reelection in 2012.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/candidate.php?cycle=2012&id=N00009638 "Barack Obama (D): Candidate summary, 2012 cycle/Source of funds"] (betw. March-June 2013). Opensecrets.org website. 34% Individual contributions, 67% large and corporate.
*[http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/index.php "2012 presidential race/Overall spending"] (betw. August-September 2015). OpenSecrets.org website. This special interests count of over $1 billion may have decreased at least for a time since August-September 2015, where a grand total of individual contributions of less than $1 billion is reflected, but the grand total is presumably incomplete (shown, for example, by the uncounted University of California contributions revealed when comparing the subtotal from the time before August-September 2015 to the time afterwards, the subtotal thus ''increasing''), has every chance of remaining close to its precise revised estimated amount at the beginning of that time (of $964 million) and does not include Super PAC contributions, which is ''indirect'' spending.
**([http://web.archive.org/web/20150304050735/http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?cycle=2012&id=N00009638 Link to version of this reference] on March 4, 2015 [whose pertinent subtotal which follows was the same back to the time indicated in the first bulleted reference] which shows $1,212,245 in contributions from the University of California. This is ''vs.'' $1,350,139 in contributions shown in the version indicated by the Internet Archive to have been published between August-September 2015 and shown in versions at least for a time thereafter [version retrieved on February 7, 2016 shows the same amount].)</ref>

The [[liberal claptrap]] that helped elect Obama as president seems silly today. It was claimed, for example, that Obama has millions of followers on Twitter, when allegedly some 70% of them are fake.<ref>Jackson, David (August 24, 2012). [http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/08/obama-has-millions-of-fake-twitter-followers/1#.UDfQVqA2et_ "Obama has millions of fake Twitter followers"]. USA Today website/The Oval blog. See [[USA Today]].</ref> And although the [[lamestream media]] promoted Obama as a great orator, in fact he relies almost entirely on teleprompters for his speeches and press conferences, and at one point even had teleprompters set up for him in a middle school classroom in order to speak to the media.

Obama is [[pro-abortion]]. In fact, he is the most pro-abortion president yet<ref>[http://www.sba-list.org/suzy-b-blog/obama-most-pro-abortion-president-ever "Obama: The most pro-abortion president ever"] (July 12, 2011). The Susan B. Anthony List website/The Suzy B Blog.</ref>. Obama has dedicated himself to promoting abortion—rather than reduce them as he promised. Just to name a few of the administrative actions by which he has done this would include expanding abortions through [[Obamacare]], appointing many pro-abortion judges and officials, moving to strip medical professionals of rights of conscience, and forcing taxpayers to support the pro-abortion movement around the globe. During his campaigns Obama said that he intended to "[[Redistribution of wealth|spread the wealth around]]" and has been portrayed as saying that entrepreneurs and employers deserve no credit for building their businesses.<ref>Multiple references:
*Zuckerman, Mortimer B. (July 16, 2010). [http://www.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2010/07/16/obamas-anti-business-policies-are-our-economic-katrina "Obama's anti-business policies are our economic Katrina"]. ''U.S. News and World Report'' website.
*Barnes, Fred (July 22, 2009). [http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/619dvjlm.asp "An anti-business president"]. ''The Weekly Standard''. Vol. 14, No. 38. Retrieved at the The Weekly Standard website. See [[The Weekly Standard]].
*Shedlock, Mike (August 20, 2010). [http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/08/small-businesses-are-not-hiring-why.html "Small businesses are not hiring—Why should they?"] Blogspot website/Mish's global economic trend analysis.
*Wright, C. Edmund (February 12, 2012). [http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/02/dear_mr_president_why_we_are_n.html "Dear Mr. President: Why we are not hiring"]. American Thinker website. See [[American Thinker]].</ref> On March 1, 2013 Obama issued [[Executive Order|executive orders]] to implement his [[Budget sequester|sequester]] of budget cuts which<ref>Bedard, Paul (February 27, 2013). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/dnc-boosts-obama-job-cut-threat-of-750000-to-2-million/article/2522664?custom_click=rss "Sequester hype: DNC adds 1.25 million job cuts to Obama's 750,000"]. ''Washington Examiner'' website. Article located by Weasel Zippers website.</ref> has been widely criticized for destroying jobs in what was an anemic and fragile recovery.<ref>Foys, Bob (February 26, 2013). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-02-26/news/chi-20130226-foys_briefs_1_sequester-president-obama-press-secretary-jay-carney "President Obama's sequester"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website. See [[Chicago Tribune]].</ref>

Warren L. Dean Jr., an adjunct professor of law at [[Georgetown University]] Law Center, wrote:
*{{obama income inequality}}

Obama's bizarre gaffes, or [[Obamaisms]], are frequent and embarrassing, but typically unreported by the [[liberal media]]. Some examples are: spelling respect as R-S-P-E-C-T when he was attempting to sing that line from [[Aretha Franklin]]'s famous song, spelling Ohio as O-I-H-O, and saying that we built the Intercontinental Railroad instead of the Transcontinental Railroad, saying "How's it going, Sunshine" when he was in the city of Sunrise, Florida. <ref>Kurtzman, Daniel (March 6, 2014 or aft.) [http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/barackobama/a/obama-isms.htm "Obamaisms: Dumb quotes and gaffes by Barack Obama"]. About.com webiste/About entertainment/Political humor/Funny political jokes/Political gaffes.</ref>. Many hardworking American businessmen took offense to a 2012 campaign speech about the economy where, referring to infrastructure improvements, he said "You didn't build that." Obama offended [[Poland]] by referring to the [[Nazi]] death camps there as "Polish death camps." Later Obama apologized.<ref>Sink, Justin (June 1, 2012). [http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/europe/230419-obama-letter-says-he-regrets-polish-death-camp-gaffe "Obama apologizes in writing for 'Polish death camp' verbal gaffe"]. The Hill website/Policy/International.</ref>

The number of jihadis worldwide has grown by a factor of 4 or 5 at least, since Obama took the reins of power as Commander-in-Chief.<ref>The number of Islamic extremists susceptible to jihadist recruitment during the George W. Bush administration worldwide was estimated at 12,000; the Islamic State alone by 2015 had estimates of a standing army of jihadis as high as 70,000 to 200,000. </ref> Remarkably, the ''[[New York Times]]'' was critical of Obama's incessant boasting about the killing of [[Osama bin Laden|bin Laden]].<ref>Baker, Peter and Shear, Michael D. (April 27, 2012). [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/28/us/politics/critics-pounce-on-obamas-trumpeting-of-bin-laden-death.html?_r=0 "Obama trumpets killing of Bin Laden, and critics pounce"]. ''The New York Times'' website. See [[The New York Times]].</ref>

According to a [[NBC News]] poll, from August of 2014, Obama's approval rating was a dismal 40%<ref>Murray, Mark (August 5, 2014). [http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/poll-americans-dissatisfied-economy "Poll: Obama’s approval rating hits all-time low"]. MSNBC website. See [[MSNBC]]</ref>, showing that six in ten Americans disapproved of his [[liberal]] policies. Given that liberals frequently engage in [[Liberal lies|deceit]], the actual approval ratings could be much lower.

==Biography==
===Birth===
{{TOC right}}
:''Main article : [[Early life and career of Barack Hussein Obama]]''
:''See also : [[Barack Obama's Muslim Heritage]]''
Obama claims to have been born in Hawaii to Stanley Ann Dunham and [[Barack Obama Sr.]]—who had married just six months prior—on August 4, 1961 in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]].<ref name=msnbc>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23257295/ns/msnbc_tv-documentaries/t/obama-becomes-rising-star-among-democrats/ "Obama becomes rising star among Democrats: Transcript of 'The Candidates: Barack Obama'"] (February 20, 2008). MSNBC. Retrieved from NBC News website/MSNBC TV documentaries. See [[MSNBC]].</ref> Some contend that this story is a complete fabrication. After many leading conservatives—including the leadership of this site and [[Donald Trump]]—called for Obama to release his birth certificate he produced a document that he claimed was his birth certificate on April 27, 2011. Sheriff [[Joe Arpaio]] of Maricopa County in Arizona conducted an investigation of Obama's eligibility and questioned whether the alleged "birth certificate" was a fake; however, no charges have been filed. [[Obama]] was reportedly assigned a social security number whose area code was assigned to applications coming from zip codes in Connecticut.<ref>Beginning in 1972, all [[Social Security]] numbers were issued from a central office in Baltimore, Maryland. [http://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/geocard.html "The SSN numbering scheme"] (March 2001 or bef.) Social Security: Official Social Security website/History/Social Security Numbers.</ref>

As an interesting side note, the Hawaii official (Loretta Fuddy, State Health Department Director) who verified Barack Obama’s birth certificate died in a plane crash.<ref>[http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/20131211_Small_aircraft_crashes_off_Kalaupapa.html?id=235500801 "State Health Director killed in plane crash, 8 others survive"] (December 11, 2013). Honolulu Star-Advertiser website/News/Breaking.</ref> Besides Fuddy, Health Department Deputy Director Keith Yamamoto was also on board. The plane's engine had failed right after take off and crashed about a half-mile off Molokai's north shore on Dec 11, 2013 at about 4:00 p.m. Interestingly enough, Health Director Loretta Fuddy was the only death of the nine people on board; she died of "cardiac arrhythmia".

The original claims that Obama was born in [[Kenya]] come from the Obamas themselves. In 1991, Obama's literary agent, Acton & Dystel, published a promotional booklet that stated that Obama was born in Kenya.<ref>Multiple references:
*Pollak, Joel B. (May 17, 2012). [http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/17/The-Vetting-Barack-Obama-Literary-Agent-1991-Born-in-Kenya-Raised-Indonesia-Hawaii "The vetting—exclusive—Obama's literary agent in 1991 booklet: 'Born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii'"]. Breitbart website/Big government. See [[Breitbart.com]].
*Newby, John (May 17, 2012). [http://www.examiner.com/article/publisher-s-1991-booklet-says-barack-obama-was-born-kenya "Publisher's 1991 booklet says Barack Obama 'was born in Kenya'"]. Examiner.com website/News/Politics/Republican.</ref> The claim that Obama was born in Kenya remained on the agent's web site until 2007. <ref>Shapiro, Ben (May 17, 2012). [http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/17/Obama-pamphlet-in-use-2007 "Obama's lit agency used 'born in Kenya' bio until 2007"]. Breitbart website/Big government. See [[Breitbart.com]].</ref> Internet archives confirm this information.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070403190001/http://www.dystel.com/clientlist.html "Client list"]. Dystel and Goderic Literary Management website. Retrieved from April 3, 2007 archive at Internet Archive.</ref> In addition to the information from literary agents, Michelle Obama stated in a speech that Kenya is Obama's "homeland".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLzJz2A2N1c "Michelle Obama: Kenya is Barack Obama's homeland!"] (Michelle Obama speaking at the 2008 LGBT Democratic Convention delegate luncheon hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign: "The world as it should be", August 26, 2008) (April 7, 2010). YouTube video, 0:30, posted by Rubystars0000. See [[Human Rights Campaign]].</ref>

Barack Obama Sr. was not a [[Natural born citizen|citizen of the United States]]. At the time of Obama's birth, Kenya was a British colony, meaning that not only was Obama Sr. a British subject, but he passed that status on to his son. When Kenya gained independence, Obama and his father both ceased to be British subjects and became Kenyan citizens. Barack Obama was a dual citizen of the United States and Kenya until his Kenyan citizenship automatically expired in 1984, as he had failed to renounce US nationality and swear loyalty to Kenya. Even if he had been born with US citizenship through his mother, it has been argued that as he was born with dual nationality, he is not a natural-born citizen of the United States and thus constitutionally ineligible to become President. Despite this, no court that has considered such arguments has accepted the proposition that Obama is not a natural-born citizen.<ref>See [http://www.scribd.com/doc/88910250/Purpura-Moran-Initial-Decision-of-ALJ-Masin Initial Decision by Jeff S. Masin] in ''Purpura and Moran v. Obama'' at 7 ("Thus, accepting for the point of this issue that Mr. Obama was born in Hawaii, he is a “natural born Citizen” regardless of the status of his father."), Tisdale v. Obama (E.D.Va 2012) Order at 2 ("It is well settled that those born in the United States are considered natural born citizens." (citing ''United States v. Wong Kim Ark'', 169 U.S. 649)), ''aff'd per curiam'' by 4th Cir., ''Ankeny v. Governor of the State of Indiana'', 916 N.E.2d 678, 685 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) ("With regard to President Barack Obama, the Plaintiffs posit that because his father was a citizen of the United Kingdom, President Obama is constitutionally ineligible to assume the Office of the President....we hold that the Plaintiffs' arguments fail to state a claim upon which relief can be granted")</ref>

===Early Life===
Obama's birth parents divorced in 1963 when his mother discovered Barack Obama Sr. was already married to a woman living in Kenya.<ref>Birrell, Ian (August 12, 2011). [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-2024819/Barack-Obamas-father-Bigamist-drunk-wife-beater.html "Barack Obama's father: Bigamist, drunk and wife-beater, [review of] ''The Other Barack'' by Sally H. Jacobs (Pubic Affairs £20)"]. MailOnline/U.K./Books [U.K.] This is one of the first misleading statements about Barack Obama when he was introduced to America as Keynote Speaker at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Advance publicity billed him as the "son of Kenyan economist" when infact Obama Sr. was forced out of the graduate program at Harvard because of his bigamy. He returned to Kenya. Obama at the age 9 once briefly met his father who served in the corrupt Kenyan socialist regime's Department of [[Economic Planning]]. Obama Sr. killed himself in a drunken car accident.</ref> When Obama was 2 years old his mother married Lolo Soetoro, an [[Indonesian]] geologist. At age 6 his mother and adoptive father took him to Jakarta, Indonesia for 4 years while his mother pursued a Ph.D. in Anthropology requiring fieldwork there.<ref name="db mother">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-05-03/a-singular-woman-by-janny-scott-review-by-stacy-schiff/#|publisher=The Daily Beast website|date=May 3, 2011|title="Dreams of his mother": Review of ''A Singular Woman'' by Janny Scott|author=Stacy Schiff}} See [[The Daily Beast]].</ref> His mother then abandoned him in Hawaii with his grandparents (Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, who had moved to Hawaii in 1959) <ref name=revealed>Malveaux, Suzanne (August 20, 2008). [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/20/se.02.html Transcript of "Barack Obama Revealed"]. CNN website/Transcripts. See [[CNN]]</ref> so she could return to Indonesia after her divorce. Obama's grandfather arranged for his friend, the noted communist writer [[Frank Marshall Davis]], to serve as a mentor and role model for an impressionable African-American youth.

Other siblings of Obama's include his half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng and 7 other children born to his father by 4 different women.<ref name=raisingobama>Purdum, Todd (March 2008). [http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/03/obama200803 "Raising Obama"]. ''Vanity Fair''.</ref> For much of his early life, prior to his transfer to [[Columbia University]], he went by his nickname, "Barry." In the summer of 1988, before attending [[Harvard Law School]] (he'd just been accepted), he visited Kogelo, Kenya, to learn more about his father's family. When his mother died in 1995, he and his sister Maya scattered her ashes over Hawaii's south shore.<ref name=revealed />

===Personal Life===
[[Image:Michelle Obama.jpg|frame|right|Michelle (Robinson) Obama, wife of Barack Obama.]]
Barack Obama met his future wife, an attorney named Michelle Robinson, herself a recent Harvard Law School graduate, while he was an intern and she was on staff at Sidley Austin LLP, a prestigious corporate law firm.<ref name=msnbc /> Despite company policy prohibiting relations between staff and interns, the two started dating. The two continued dating long-distance while he finished law school, and on October 18, 1992,<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/03/obama-anniversary-20-years-married_n_1935840.html "Obama anniversary: Barack & Michelle celebrate 20 years of marriage (photos)"] (October 3, 2012). Huffington Post website. Huffington Post says it was October 3, 1992. See [[Huffington Post]].</ref> were married by Reverend [[Jeremiah Wright]] at Trinity United Church.<ref name=revealed /> In 1999, their first child was born, Malia, and in 2001, another daughter, Natasha (often called Sasha).<ref name=msnbc />

Obama attended [[Jeremiah Wright|Reverend Jeremiah Wright]]'s Trinity United Church from 1984-1988 during his time as a [[community organizer]] (''See [[Barack_Obama#1984-1988.2C_Community_Organizer|1985-1988, Community Organizer]] section''). Obama credits Wright with his alleged conversion to Christianity, and had both his daughters, Sasha and Malia, baptized there.<ref name=revealed />

===Education===
At age 6, Obama attended schools in Indonesia, the first a Catholic School while he was in Kindergarten, and later a public school. The school had mostly Muslim students (since most Indonesians are Muslim). In ''[[Dreams From My Father (autobiography)|Dreams from My Father]]'', Obama writes, "In the Muslim school, the teacher wrote to my mother that I had made faces during [[Koran]]ic studies."<ref>Obama, Barack (1995). ''Dreams from My Father'' (New York: Times Books), p. 14. Quoted at [http://www.ontheissues.org/Archive/Dreams_From_My_Father_Principles_+_Values.htm "Dreams from my father: On principles & values"]. OnTheIssues website. See [[Dreams From My Father (autobiography)|''Dreams from my Father'']]</ref> ''Insight'' magazine first reported [[Hillary Clinton]]'s organization had "questions about Obama’s Muslim background: ''Are the American people ready for an elected president who was educated in a [[Madrassa]] as a young boy and has not been forthcoming about his Muslim heritage?"''<ref>Schlussel, Debbie (January 19, 2007). [http://www.debbieschlussel.com/2899/hillary-clinton-agrees-with-schlussel-obama-suspicious-deceptive-on-muslim-background/ "Hillary Clinton agrees with Schlussel: Obama suspicious, deceptive on Muslim background"]. Debbie Schlussel website. See [[Debbie Schlussel]].</ref>

In 1971, at age 10, Barack Obama moved to Hawaii, and his grandparents helped him gain entrance to the prestigious Punahou Academy in Honolulu where he began substance abuse and illegal drugs.<ref>Johnson, Luke (May 25, 2012). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/25/obama-pot-smoking-details_n_1545904.html "Obama pot-smoking details revealed in David Maraniss book"]. The Huffington Post website. See [[Huffington Post]].</ref> He was accepted through a scholarship for disadvantaged minorities while he was in 5th grade.<ref name=revealed /> At this elite high school with 1,200 students he was just 1 of 3 black students, and couldn't make the starting lineup of the state champion basketball team his senior year. He wrote a poem for the school's literary magazine, ''Ka Wai Ola''.<ref name=raisingobama />

In 1979, he began a 2-year stint at Occidental College college in Los Angeles,<ref name=msnbc /> and then transferred to Columbia University in New York, which he graduated from in 1983.<ref name=pragmatic>Scott, Janny (July 30, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html?pagewanted=all "In Illinois, Obama proved pragmatic and shrewd"]. ''The New York Times'' website. See ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref> During this time he published an anti-military tirade embracing Soviet General Secretary [[Leonid Brezhnev]]'s <ref>Obama supported [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] General Secretary Brezhnev's foreign policy over both Presidents [[Jimmy Carter]] and Ronald Reagan's decision to deploy the MX Missile in Europe.
* See Pond, Elizabeth (November 24, 1981). [http://www.csmonitor.com/1981/1124/112439.html "Brezhnev offers Schmidt moratorium on nuclear missiles"]. ''Christian Science Monitor''. See also ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]''.
* See also Obama, Barack (March 10, 1983). [http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/images/nytint/docs/obama-s-1983-college-magazine-article/original.pdf "Breaking the war mentality"]. Columbia [University] ''Sundial''. Retrieved from archive at ''The New York Times'' website. See also ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> proposal for a nuclear freeze in the campus newspaper and allegedly spoke at an Anti-Apartheid rally,<ref name=revealed /> although several prominent student leaders said they did not remember him there. Professor Michael L. Baron was impressed by Obama and wrote him a recommendation for Harvard Law School.<ref name=differs>Scott, Janny. (October 30, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/us/politics/30obama.html?pagewanted=all "Obama's account of New York years often differs from what others say"]. ''The New York Times''. See ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> In the winter of 1988 Barack Obama decided to attend Harvard Law School, and left Chicago for Cambridge, Massachusetts. In his 2nd year a power struggle broke out among the dominant white liberals over control of the ''[[Harvard]] Law Review''. Obama was elected its first black president as a compromise candidate largely with help of conservatives following a "marathon voting session" in which he finally won on the 19th ballot.<ref name=raisingobama /> This led to national attention and numerous job offers, which Obama passed up, at age 30, to pursue his political career in Chicago.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23257295/ns/msnbc_tv-documentaries/t/obama-becomes-rising-star-among-democrats/ "Obama becomes rising star among Democrats: Transcript of 'The Candidates: Barack Obama'"] (February 20, 2008). MSNBC. Retrieved from NBC News website/MSNBC TV documentaries. See [[MSNBC]].
*Malveaux, Suzanne (August 20, 2008). [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/20/se.02.html Transcript of "Barack Obama Revealed"]. CNN website/Transcripts. See [[CNN]]</ref>

===Early Employment===
====1983-1984, Financial Analyst and Writer====
In 1984 Obama worked as a writer and financial analyst for Business International Corporation to help pay off some of his student loans. Business International Corporation was a small newsletter-publishing and research firm which aided multinational companies in understanding overseas markets. Obama served as a writer/researcher for a company reference service, Financing Foreign Operations, and wrote for their newsletter, ''Business International Money Report''. His supervisor was Cathy Lazere. <ref>Multiple references:
*Scott, Janny (October 30, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/us/politics/30obama.html?pagewanted=all "Obama's account of New York years often differs from what others say"]. ''The New York Times''. See ''[[The New York Times]]''.
*Henig, Jess (June 21, 2008). [http://www.factcheck.org/2008/06/obama-polishes-his-resume-2/ "Obama polishes his resume"]. FactCheck.org website.
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20091003011550/http://www.analyzethis.net/2005/07/09/barack-obama-embellishes-his-resume/ "Barack Obama embellishes his resume"] (July 9, 2005). Analyze This website. Retrieved from October 3, 2009 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>

====1984-1988, Community Organizer====
In 1984, Obama was hired by the New York Public Interest Research Group, a non-profit organization promoting environmental, consumer, and government reforms. He also was paid just under $10,000 annually as a full-time organizer for Harlem's City College to mobilize student volunteers.<ref name=differs />

From 1985-88, Obama worked as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago <ref>The Developing Communities Project (DCP) of the Calumet Community Religious Conference (CCRC)</ref> funded with a $25,000 grant by [[Bill Ayers]]' Woods Fund. ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported he was paid $1,000 a year, with $2,000 extra for a car<ref>Multiple references:
*Malveaux, Suzanne (August 20, 2008). [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/20/se.02.html Transcript of "Barack Obama Revealed"]. CNN website/Transcripts. See [[CNN]].
*Scott, Janny (September 9, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/us/politics/09obama.html?pagewanted=all "In 2000, a streetwise veteran schooled a bold young Obama]." ''The New York Times''. See ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> however stories vary wildly. Jerry Kellman, who hired him, says it was "$10,000 a year and a $2,000 car allowance". Obama himself gave different numbers; his memoir says $10,000 (as well as the car), in his Wesleyan speech he gave it as "$12,000 a year plus $2,000 for an old, beat-up car", and when he announced his candidacy for president, it was "a group of churches had offered me a job as a community organizer for $13,000 a year".

Ryan Lizza at ''[[The New Republic]]'' reported that "Jean Rudd of the Woods Fund...had provided Kellman with his original $25,000 to hire Obama". Ari Berman reported in ''[[The Nation]]'' that the "[Woods Fund] gave a $25,000 grant to the Developing Communities Project, which hired Obama". CBS Channel 2 in Chicago ran a story with a document showing that Obama's proposed salary in 1987 was $25,000, a number that the Obama campaign confirmed while insisting at the same time his original salary was $13,000.<ref>Beckwith (April 23, 2008 or bef.). [http://theobamafile.com/obamaworks.htm "Community organizing"]. The Obama File website/Politics.</ref>

During this time Obama joined Reverend Wright's Trinity United Church because in the words of Suzanne Malveaux of ''[[CNN]]'', "It was the church to join if you wanted to be one of Chicago's black movers and shakers." At the time, community organizing involved close affiliation with churches, which was how Obama met Wright. Obama abandoned the fight against asbestos contamination in the Altgeld Gardens housing project to pursue personal interests and a career by enrollment at Harvard Law School in the winter of 1988.<ref name=revealed />

====1988-1996, Law Practice====
In 1988 Obama gained work as a Summer Associate at one of the most prestigious corporate law firms in the world, Sidley Austin LLP<ref>Multiple references:
*Lattman, Peter (May 11, 2007). [http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2007/05/11/sidley-austin-when-barack-met-michelle/ "When Barack met Michelle"]. Wall Street Journal website/Business/Law Blog/Lawyers and Law Firms. See ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''.
*Malveaux, Suzanne (August 20, 2008). [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/20/se.02.html Transcript of "Barack Obama Revealed"]. CNN website/Transcripts. See [[CNN]]</ref>, owned by Newton Minow, thanks to the recommendation of Minow's daughter Martha, a professor at Harvard Law School. It was at Minow's law firm that Obama would meet Michelle Robinson, his future wife.<ref name=raisingobama /> From 1993-96 he practiced civil rights law including suing Citibank to force them into making [[Subprime loan|subprime mortgage]]s to unqualified minority borrowers.<ref>Schweizer, Peter (October 5, 2009). [http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/03/community-reinvestment-act-mortgages-housing-opinions-contributors-peter-schweizer.html "A poisonous cocktail: Expanding the Community Reinvestment Act"]. ''Forbes'' website. See [[Forbes]]. In ''Selma S. Buycks-Roberson v. Citibank'', lead attorney Obama alleged that although his clients had been denied mortgages "because of delinquent credit obligations and adverse credit," they were really victims of institutional racism. The suit was brought about by the Community Reinvestment Act, so called affirmative action mortgage lending. The plaintiffs won $60,000, Obama and two other attorneys were paid $950,000.</ref> After graduating from Harvard he was hired by Miner, Barnhill, & Galland, a small politically-connected law firm.<ref>Lattman, Peter (May 11, 2007). [http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2007/05/11/sidley-austin-when-barack-met-michelle/ "When Barack met Michelle"]. Wall Street Journal website/Business/Law Blog/Lawyers and Law Firms. See ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''.</ref> It was at Miner, Barnhill, & Galland that he would meet influential real estate developer Tony Rezko.<ref name=revealed />

====1991-1992, Project Vote====
In 1991 Obama was recruited by Sandy Newman to head the Chicago chapter of Project Vote!<ref name=revealed />, and in 1992 was the Executive Director, overseeing a voter registration drive which registered 125,000 black voters and was credited with defeating an incumbent Democrat in the primary and electing U.S. Senator Carol Mosely Braun.<ref name=PurdumandScott>Multiple references:
*Purdum, Todd (March 2008). [http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/03/obama200803 "Raising Obama"]. ''Vanity Fair''.
*Scott, Janny (July 30, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html?pagewanted=all "In Illinois, Obama proved pragmatic and shrewd"]. ''The New York Times'' website. See ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref>

====1995, Nation of Islam====
According to the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', prior to the information being scrubbed from its website in mid-April 2008 during the Democratic Presidential Primaries, Obama was one of three prominent organizers of the [[Nation of Islam]]'s [[Million Man March]] on Washington, D.C.<ref>Hoft, Jim (April 2, 2008). [http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2008/04/wright-obama-helped-organize-march-with-louis-farrakhan/ "Wright & Obama helped organize march with Louis Farrakhan"]. Gateway Pundit website. See [[Gateway Pundit]]</ref>

====1992-2004, Lecturer at University of Chicago====
Obama taught part-time at the [[University of Chicago]] Law School<ref name=raisingobama /> from 1992-2004. Though Obama erroneously describes himself as a "constitutional law professor"<ref>Whiteman, Timothy (April 5, 2013). [http://www.examiner.com/article/obama-complains-of-being-constrained-by-a-system-founding-father-put-place "Obama complains of being 'constrained by a system' Founding Fathers put in place"]. Examiner.com/News/Politics/Republican.</ref>, he was actually only a senior lecturer and the class he taught the most times was called "Current Issues in Racism and the Law".<ref>Holt, Mytheos (September 20, 2012). [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/09/20/obamas-favorite-course-to-teach-at-the-university-of-chicago-revealed/ "Obama’s favorite course to teach at the University of Chicago revealed"]. The Blaze/Stories/Media. See [[The Blaze]].</ref> He was a Lecturer from 1992-96, teaching 3 courses per year<cite>, and a senior lecturer from 1996-2004. After Obama was criticized for lying about his job title, the University of Chicago released a statement stating that senior lecturers are considered Law School faculty and regarded as professors but not full-time or tenured. Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time, tenured track position several times during this period but declined each time.<ref>[http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media "Media inquiries: Statement regarding Barack Obama"] (March 2008 or bef.). University of Chicago Law School website. See [[University of Chicago]]</ref>

====1995, Author====
In 1995 Obama published ''[[Dreams From My Father (autobiography)|Dreams From My Father]]'' about his life and family background.<ref name=msnbc />

===Personal Awards===
====2009 Nobel Peace Prize====
On October 9, 2009 Barack H. Obama became the third sitting U.S. President<ref name=wilsons>Wilson, Scott (October 10, 2009). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100900914.html "President Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize"]. ''Washington Post'' website. See [[Washington Post]].</ref> to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "''for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples''".<ref>[http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/press.html "The Nobel Prize for 2009: Press release"] (October 9, 2009). Nobel Prize website [Oslo, Norway]/Nobel Prizes/Peace/Laureates/2009. Accessed May 13, 2012.</ref> Obama stated that he was "surprised and deeply humbled" to receive the unexpected award,<ref>CNN (October 9, 2009). [http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/09/nobel.peace.prize/index.html?eref=ib_us "Obama: Nobel Peace Prize is 'Call to Action'"]. CNN website/World/Europe. See [[CNN]].</ref> and also said, "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize—men and women who have inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace".<ref name=wilsons /> The award was widely criticized given Obama's then lack of accomplishments.<ref>Multiple references:
*Chazan, Guy and MacDonald, Alistair (October 11, 2009) [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125509603349176083.html "Nobel Committee's decision courts controversy"]. ''The Wall Street Journal'' website/World. See ''[[Wall Street Journal]].
*Associated Press (October 9, 2009). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/09/obamas-peace-prize-draws-criticism-liberals/ "Obama's Peace Prize draws criticism, even from some liberals"]. Fox News website/Politics. See [[Associated Press]].</ref>

==1996-2003, Illinois State Senate==
===1996 Election===
{{main article|Radical roots of Barack Hussein Obama}}
In 1995 a cadre of like minded individuals gathered for a fundraising event in the early career of Barack Obama hosted by [[Weather Underground]] (WUO) [[terrorist]] [[William Ayers|William "Bill" Ayers]]. Besides Obama, those in attendance were Ayers wife [[Bernardine Dohrn]],<ref>Geyer, Georgie Anne and Beech, Keyes (October 1970). "Cuba: School for U.S. Radicals [five part series]". ''Chicago Daily News''/''Chicago Sun-Times''. Excerpted in
[http://vault.fbi.gov/Weather%20Underground%20(Weathermen) ''Foreign Influence: Weather Underground Organization (WUO)''] (August 20, 1976), pp. 113-115. FBI. Retrieved from "Weather Underground (Weathermen)" webpage PDF rendering, part 3 of 6, pp. 5-7 at FBI website/FBI Records: The Vault. Located by The Real Barack Obama blog. See ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''.</ref> and Carl Davidson, veterans of [[guerrilla warfare]] training in [[Cuba]] just prior 1968 Democratic National Convention riots. Ayers and Dohrn have taken credit for, and never denied, bombing the [[U.S. Capitol]], the [[Pentagon]] and the [[State Department]].

Ayers and Dohrn used their celebrity status among [[leftist]]s to launch Obama's career. Ayers, Dohrn and [[Jeff Jones]]<ref>Klein, Aaron (August 13, 2009). [http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=106653 "Obama's 'green jobs czar' worked with terror founder"]. WorldNetDaily website. "[[Van Jones]]...served on board of..." "activist group where ex-Weatherman serves as top director"'. See [[WorldNetDaily]].</ref> are authors of ''[[Bill_Ayers#Prairie_Fire_Organizing_Committee_and_Maoist_thought|Prairie Fire: The Politics of Revolutionary Anti-imperialism]]'', the title taken from [[Quotations from Chairman Mao|''The Sayings of Mao Zedong'']].<ref>[http://archive.org/details/QuotationsFromChairmanMaoTse-tung/ ''Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung''] (1966), 2nd ed. Retrieved from Internet Archive.</ref> The book declares "we are [[communist]] men and women."<ref>Klehr, Harvey (1988). ''Far Left of Center: The American Radical Left Today'' (New Brunswick: Transaction Books), p. 109.</ref> Ayers later jokingly, publicly admitted to ghostwriting Obama's book, ''[[Dreams From My Father (autobiography)|Dreams From My Father]]''<ref>Cashill, Jack (March 28, 2011). [http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/03/ayers_affirms_he_wrote_dreams.html "Ayers affirms he wrote ''Dreams from my Father''"]. American Thinker website/Blog. See [[American Thinker]].</ref> and Obama was to appoint several openly avowed Maoists to prominent White House and Executive Branch positions.<ref>Fund, John (October 21, 2009). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704597704574487431322664964.html "From Mao to Obama"]. ''Wall Street Journal'' website. See ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''.</ref>

====Knocking Candidates Off the Ballot====
Barack Obama ran for the Illinois state senate in 1996. He was initially supported by incumbent [[Alice Palmer]], who declared she would run for the U.S. Congress. However, when her bid for Congress failed on November 28, 1995, she tried to run for her old seat in the March 1996 election. Her supporters asked Obama to step aside, although whether this was with her permission remains uncertain.<ref name=pragmatic /> Not only did Obama not step down, he gathered a team of high-priced lawyers, including fellow Harvard Law School graduate Thomas Johnson, to challenge his opponent's petition signatures on technicalities after the filing deadline had passed. Such tactics are legal and frequently used in Chicago; in 2006 they eliminated 67 of the 245 aldermanic candidates;<ref name=bareknuckle>Jackson, David and Long, Ray (April 4, 2007). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-04-04/news/0704030881_1_petitions-voter-rights-candidates "Barack Obama: Showing his bare knuckles"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website. See ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.</ref> yet nevertheless led to the term "hardball" by ''[[The New York Times]]''<ref name=pragmatic /> and "cutthroat" by David Mendel as reported by both [[CNN]]<ref name=revealed /> and [[MSNBC]].<ref name=msnbc /> The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' declared Obama had mastered "the bare-knuckle arts of Chicago electoral politics", noting "The man now running for president on a message of giving a voice to the voiceless first entered public office not by leveling the playing field, but by clearing it."<ref name=bareknuckle /> As one of Obama's four opponents, eliminated through his ballot challenges, would put it: {{cquote|"Why say you're for a new tomorrow, then do old-style Chicago politics to remove legitimate candidates? He talks about honor and democracy, but what honor is there in getting rid of every other candidate so you can run scot-free? Why not let the people decide?"
—Gha-is Askia, 1996 Illinois Senate candidate<ref>Jackson, David & Long, Ray (April 3, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130123154440/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070403obama-ballot-archive,0,5297304,full.story "Obama knows his way around a ballot"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website. Retrieved from January 23, 2013 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>}} Mark Ewell, another candidate, filed 1,286 signatures, and Obama's challenges left him 86 short of the minimum requirement (757)<ref name=spivak>Spivak, Todd (February 28, 2008). [http://www.houstonpress.com/2008-02-28/news/barack-obama-screamed-at-me/ "Barack Obama and me"]. ''Houston Press'' website.</ref>. Ewell filed a federal lawsuit contesting the election board's decision but Tom Johnson intervened, and Ewell's case was dismissed just a few days later. Ewell and other Obama opponents were using early 1995 polling sheets to verify signatures of registered voters, but city authorities had just purged 15,871 unqualified people from the 13th district list, and Obama's challenges used the more recent, updated list. Askia was left 69 signatures short of the requirement. If names were printed instead of signed in cursive, they were declared invalid. If they were good but the person registering the signatures wasn't a registered voter (e.g. underage) they were invalid.<ref name=hardball>Griffin, Drew & Johnston, Kathleen (May 29, 2008). [http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/29/obamas.first.campaign/ "Obama played hardball in first Chicago campaign"]. CNN website. See [[CNN]]. Article text begins: "When the Democratic National Committee meets Saturday on the thorny issue of seating the Florida and Michigan delegations..."</ref> Palmer had according to Obama campaign consult Ronald Davis, used two children to help gather her petition signatures. To this day Palmer denies the challenges were valid, and maintains she could have overcome the objections with more time and resources.<ref name=bareknuckle /> Thanks to his lawyers, Obama would win the election without a single other candidate on the ballot.

===2000 Election===
: ''Main Article: [[Illinois 1st congressional district election, 2000]]''
In 2000, Obama lost his only political election when he chose to run against experienced incumbent and former [[Black Panther]] and Bobby L. Rush for the U.S. Congress in a 65% black district. Rush's name recognition began at 90%, Obama's at 11%. Michelle Obama opposed taking on an such an iconic figure dear to the community and threatened divorce.<ref>Bates, Daniel (May 16, 2012). [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2145035/Michelle-Obama-prepared-divorce-papers-separate-Barack-leaving-suicidal.html "New book claims Michelle Obama prepared divorce papers to separate from Barack—leaving him so depressed friends feared he'd kill himself"]. ''Daily Mail'' website. See ''[[Daily Mail]]''.</ref> Establishment Democrats considered Obama "a white man in blackface".<ref>Gilmore, Jim (reporter, producer). (October 9, 2012). [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/government-elections-politics/choice-2012/transcript-29/ "Transcript of 'Barack Obama' in Kirk, Michael and Wiser, Mike (producers) '''Frontline'': The Choice 2012'"]. PBS website/WGBH/Frontline/film/The Choice 2012.</ref> Rush said of Obama, “He went to Harvard and became an educated fool,” adding, “We’re not impressed with these folks with these eastern elite degrees.”<ref>Ballasy, Nicholas (March 28, 2012). [http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/28/bobby-rush-in-2000-obamas-a-harvard-educated-fool-who-thinks-he-knows-all-about-the-civil-rights-protests/ "Bobby Rush in 2000: Obama a Harvard ‘educated fool’ who ‘thinks he knows all about’ the ‘civil rights protests’"]. Daily Caller website. See [[Daily Caller]].</ref>Todd Spivak would give voice to this impression of Obama, noting that
{{cquote|"My view of Obama then wasn't all that different from the image he projects now....One thing I can say is, I never heard him launch into the preacher-man voice he now employs during speeches. He sounded vanilla, and activists in his mostly black district often chided him for it."<ref name=spivak />}}
Rush would go on to win the Primary with 61.02% of the vote; Obama received 30.36%.<ref>Scott, Janny (September 9, 2007). [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/us/politics/09obama.html?pagewanted=all "In 2000, a streetwise veteran schooled a bold young Obama]." ''The New York Times''. See ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> The loss led to Obama considering dropping out of politics altogether, particularly after the September 11, 2001 attacks, since his name sounds similar to "Osama bin Laden".<ref name=msnbc />

===State Senate Voting Record===
Obama entered the Illinois Senate promising change to a corrupt system. He mixed often radical votes with more pragmatic agreements. Possibly one of his most radical votes was against requiring medical care for aborted children who survive [[abortion|the procedure]] - in fact the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council ascribed him a 100% rating for his consistently pro-choice votes.<ref name="cbs illinois">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml|title="Obama record may be gold mine for critics"|publisher=CBS News website|last=Clark|first=Amy|date=January 17, 2007}} See [[CBS News]].</ref> He was criticized for using the statehouse as a stepping stone for a more illustrious career: Steven J. Rauschenberger, a [[Republican]], said prior to Obama's election as president: “He is a very bright but very ambitious person who has always had his eyes on the prize, and it wasn’t Springfield. If he deserves to be president, it is not because he was a great legislator.”<ref name="nyt illinois">{{cite web|publisher=''The New York Times'' website|title="In Illinois, Obama proved pragmatic and shrewd"|last=Scott|first=Janny|date=July 30, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html}} See [[New York Times|The ''New York Times'']].</ref>

The statehouse was majority Republican, so the Senator was sometimes forced to compromise. He formed allegiances across party lines to pass [[campaign finance]] reform that banned most gifts by lobbyists, prohibited spending campaign money for legislators’ personal use and required electronic filing of campaign disclosure reports.<ref name="nyt illinois"/> Obama also helped pass a so-called “driving-while-black bill”, which required the police to collect data on the race of drivers they stopped as a way to monitor [[racial profiling]].<ref name="nyt illinois"/>

Obama established himself as a chief spokesperson in opposition to the [[War on Terror]] during an October 2002 rally at Federal Plaza in Chicago<ref>The rally was organized by Chicagoans Against War in Iraq (CAWI) later renamed Chicagoans Against War and Injustice. See Davidson, Carl (November 2, 2006). [http://web.archive.org/web/20100811115415/http://www.noiraqwar-chicago.org/?page_id=2 "About CAWI"]. Chicagoans Against War and Injustice website. Retrieved from August 11, 2010 archive at Internet Archive.</ref> [[community organizing|organized]] by veteran [[Mao]]ist and webmaster of [[Progressives for Obama]],<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/carldavidson Carl Davidson] (2010 or bef.) LinkedIn [Profile page/Experience/Webmaster]. Retrieved March 13, 2010 and February 13, 2016.</ref> [[Carl Davidson]].

===2003 Emil Jones Deal===
: ''Main Article: [[2003 Barack Obama deal with Emil Jones]]''
When Illinois' U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald announced he would be retiring in April 2003, Obama jumped at the opportunity, declaring that he would be a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004.<ref name=msnbc /> To boost his chances Obama approached the newly crowned president of the Illinois Senate, Emil Jones Jr., with a proposal. According to Jones, whom Obama has since called his "godfather"<ref name=godfather>Associated Press (March 31, 2008). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obamas-political-godfather-in-illinois/ "Obama's political 'godfather' in Illinois"]. CBS News website. See [[Associated Press]], [[CBS News]].</ref> the conversation went as follows:
{{cquote|"After I was elected president, in 2003, he came to see me, a couple months later. And he said to me, he said, ‘You’re the senate president now, and with that, you have a lot of pow-er.’ And I told Barack, ‘You think I got a lot of pow-er now?,’ and he said, ‘Yeah, you got a lot of pow-er.’ And I said, ‘What kind of pow-er do I have?’ He said, ‘You have the pow-er to make a United States sen-a-tor!’ I said to Barack, I said, ‘That sounds good!’ I said, ‘I haven’t even thought of that.’ I said, ‘Do you have someone in mind you think I could make?,’ and he said, ‘Yeah. Me.’"<ref name=PurdumandScott/>}}
Because of the deal, Obama's entire Illinois Senate legislative record was, as longtime Obama reporter Todd Spivak put it, built in a single year. During his 7th and final year in the Illinois Senate, Obama sponsored an incredible 26 bills into law, including many he now points to when criticized as inexperienced<ref name=spivak />—as CNN's Suzanne Malveaux observed, "With help from on high, Obama got his name on hundreds of bills that he pushed through."<ref name=revealed /> Jones not only had Obama craft legislation addressing daily tragedies to raise his political profile<ref name=godfather />, he also appointed Obama head of almost all high-profile legislation in the Illinois Senate, angering other state legislators with more seniority who'd spent years supporting the bills.<ref name=spivak /> Illinois State Senator Rickey Hendon, the original sponsor of the famous racial profiling bill requiring videotaped confessions in police interrogations, complained bitterly about Jones' decision.<ref>Multiple references:
*Malveaux, Suzanne (August 20, 2008). [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/20/se.02.html "Transcript of 'Barack Obama Revealed'"]. CNN website/Transcripts. See [[CNN]].
*Spivak, Todd (March 25, 2004). [http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-922-in-the-black.html "In the black"]. ''Illinois Times''.</ref> Jones' influence had a major impact on Obama's chances in the 2004 elections, preventing major political players from backing Obama's opponents. To quote Emil Jones,{{cquote|"He knew if he had me in the run for the Senate, it would put a block on the current mayor. The current mayor and the father of the controller, which was Dan Hynes, they were roommates in Springfield when the mayor was a state senator, so they had a relationship. Another big financial backer for the governor was Blair Hull. Barack knew if he had me it would checkmate the governor, ’cause the governor couldn’t come out and go with Blair Hull, ’cause the governor needs me. Same with the mayor. So he had analyzed and figured all of that out. He knew I could help him with labor support. And I could put a checkmate on some of the local politicians that didn’t know him, but they couldn’t really go against me."
—Emil Jones<ref name=raisingobama />}}

==2004-2008, U.S. Senate==
:''See also: [[Early_life_and_career_of_Barack_Hussein_Obama#U.S._Senate_.282004-2008.29|Barack Obama:U.S. Senate (2004-2008)]], [[United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004]]''
[[Image:obama.jpg|thumb|left|Senator Barack Obama]]

===2004 Primary Election===
Despite initially trailing in the polls to frontrunner [[Blair Hull]]<ref>Spivak, Todd (March 25, 2004). [http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-922-in-the-black.html "In the black"]. ''Illinois Times''.</ref>, Obama greatly benefited from what the ''Chicago Tribune'' called "the most inglorious campaign implosion in Illinois political history"<ref name=mendell>Mendell, David (March 17, 2004). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-03-17/news/0403170332_1_blair-hull-gery-chico-blacks-and-liberal-whites "Obama routs Democratic foes"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website. See ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.</ref> when pressure from journalists and opposing candidates, just weeks before the election, forced the unsealing of Hull's messy divorce files.<ref name=blairhull>Voegeli, William (March 19, 2004). [http://web.archive.org/web/20070826095930/http://www.claremont.org/publications/pubid.339/pub_detail.asp "The rise and fall of Blair Hull"]. The Claremont Institute website. Retrieved from August 26, 2007 archive at Internet Archive. See [[Claremont Institute]].</ref> The files revealed Hull's ex-wife's accusations of verbal and physical abuse.<ref name=spivak /> Hull would afterwards criticize the media, stating, "As for the press, I will never read the newspaper the same way again."<ref name=mendell /> Obama would go on to win the Primary with 53% of the vote.<ref name=blairhull /> Obama's unexpected victory led to him being termed a "rising star" by the media.<ref>Howlett, Debbie (March 18, 2004). [http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-03-18-obama-usat_x.htm Dems "See a rising star in Illinois Senate Candidate"]. ''USA Today'' website/News/Politics-Elections/Nation/Campaign 2004. See ''[[USA Today]]''.</ref>

===2004 General Election, Jack Ryan===
Once again Obama found himself trailing to popular frontrunner [[Jack Ryan]], and once again a candidate's campaign imploded thanks to media intervention. In an unprecedented move, the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' and local TV station WLS sued to force the unsealing of Ryan's divorce files, despite opposition from both Ryan and his wife, Jeri Ryan, who in the files accused Jack Ryan of trying to coerce her to perform sex acts in public. Though Ryan advisors told him he could still win if using a negative attack on Obama, Ryan refused to engage in what he considered dirty politics.<ref name=abandon>Associated Press (June 26, 2004). [http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/state/2004-06-25-ryan_x.htm "Jack Ryan abandons Senate bid"]. ''USA Today'' website/News/Politics-Elections/State/Campaign 2004. See [[Associated Press]].</ref> Ryan then dropped out of the race (per request by the Illinois GOP<ref name=idealist>Sangwan, Rahul (October 1, 2004). [http://web.archive.org/web/20060924232703/http://www.dartmouthindependent.com/archives/2004/10/jack_ryan_81_th.html "Jack Ryan '81: The conservative idealist"]. ''Dartmouth Independent'' website. Retrieved from September 24, 2006 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>), following which the Illinois GOP scrambled to find a replacement, leaving Obama uncontested for weeks to campaign and build up public support. On top of all this, Obama was selected to give the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention (July 27<ref>Obama, Barack (June 26, 2004). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19751-2004Jul27.html "Transcript: Illinois Senate candidate Barack Obama [Keynote address at 2004 Democratic National Convention]"]. Transcribed by FDCH E-Media. ''Washington Post'' website. See ''[[Washington Post]]''.</ref>), catapulting him into the national spotlight, and leading to further media publicity terming him a "rising star".<ref>Page, Susan and Despeignes, Peronet (July 28, 2004). [http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-07-28-obama-speech_x.htm "Rising star brings Democrats to their feet"]. ''USA Today'' website/News/Politics-Elections/Nation/President/Campaign 2004. See ''[[USA Today]]''.</ref>

===2004 General Election, Alan Keyes===
: ''Main Article: [[Obama born alive controversy]]''
After a number of candidates including former [[Chicago Bears]] coach Mike Ditka declined to run<ref>CNN (August 9, 2004). [http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/08/senate.illinois.keyes/ "Keyes challenges Obama for Illinois Senate seat"]. CNN website/Politics/America Votes 2004. See [[CNN]].</ref>, the Illinois GOP finally settled on fiery [[Alan Keyes]], a former Ambassador to the Economic and Social Counsel of the United Nations<ref name=spivak />, with less than 3 months left before the November 2004 election.<ref name=msnbc /> His sudden entrance into the state for the election was initially attacked in the press as "carpetbagging".<ref>Multiple references:
*"[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-08-06/news/0408060313_1_mr-keyes-judy-baar-topinka-alan-keyes "The GOP's rent-a-senator"] (August 6, 2004). ''Chicago Tribune'' website. See ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50885-2004Aug8.html "Mr. Keyes the carpetbagger"] (August 9, 2004). ''Washington Post'', p. A14. Retrieved from ''Washington Post'' website. See ''[[Washington Post]]''.
*Pearson, Rick (September 5, 2004). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-09-05/news/0409050304_1_selfish-hedonist-alan-keyes-illinois-republican-party "Keyes, state GOP gearing up blame campaign"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website/News. See ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.</ref> Keyes repeatedly claimed his primary motivation for entering a race he had seemingly no chance of winning was his disgust at Obama's votes on the popular [[Born Alive]] bills.<ref>Keyes, Alan (August 18, 2004). [http://www.mail-archive.com/newsandviews@chuckmuth.com/msg00699.html "How YOU can help Alan Keyes for Senate!"] Message from Keyes2004 Inc. to multiple internet mailing lists. Retrieved from archive of newsandviews internet mailing list at The Mail Archive website.</ref> Keyes, from his first day of arriving in Illinois (August 9, 2004)<ref name=assails>Associated Press (August 9, 2004). [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5654128/ "Keyes assails Obama's abortion views"]. NBC News website/Politics.</ref>, accused Obama of having voted against bills mandating medical care for newborn children, and supporting "infanticide" (the term twice used in the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act<ref>United States Congress (October 21, 2003). [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/108/s3/text/enr "S. 3 (108th): "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003"], sec. 2, subsec. 14, paras. G and O. Govtrack.us website/Congress/Bills/108th Congress/Senate bill 3/Text.</ref>) where hospitals left newborn infants to die like garbage.<ref>Multiple references:
*Keyes, Alan (June 2008 or bef.) [http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=341 "Alan Keyes on the Tavis Smiley Show"]. Alan Keyes Archives website. Transcript of interview by Tavis Smiley. ''Tavis Smiley Show'' (New York City: National Public Radio, August 31, 2004). See [[NPR]].
*Keyes, Alan (June 2008 or bef.) [http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=337 "Alan Keyes on CBS2 Chicago This Morning"]. Alan Keyes Archives website. Transcript of interview with ''CBS This Morning'' show. ''CBS This Morning'' (Chicago: CBS 2, August 30, 2004).</ref> Obama in a debate on October 13, 2004, defended himself against Keyes' accusations of infanticide by claiming that Illinois law was already sufficient.<ref>[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-10-13/news/0410140004_1_alan-keyes-senate-race-first-of-three-debates "Debate or discussion?"] (October 13, 2004). ''Chicago Tribune'' website/News. See ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''</ref>

However, Keyes' rhetoric, calling Obama's votes "the slaveholder's position"<ref name=assails /> and saying "Jesus Christ would not vote for Obama"<ref>Keyes, Alan (June 2008 or bef.). [http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=348 "Alan Keyes on the Scott Thomas Show (AM1160 - WYLL)"]. Alan Keyes Archives website. Transcript of interview by Scott Thomas. ''Scott Thomas Show'' (Chicago: WYLL, AM 1160, September 7, 2004).</ref> was widely ridiculed by the press. Keyes' unabashed criticism of homosexuality as "selfish hedonism" was also targeted.<ref>Multiple references:
*Pearson, Rick (September 5, 2004). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-09-05/news/0409050304_1_selfish-hedonist-alan-keyes-illinois-republican-party "Keyes, state GOP gearing up blame campaign"]. ''Chicago Tribune'' website/News. See ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.
*Associated Press (September 2, 2004). [http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5897569/ns/politics/t/keyes-cheneys-gay-daughter-practicing-selfish-hedonism/#.VsR94_krKWg "Keyes: Cheney's gay daughter practicing selfish hedonism"]. NBC News website/Politics. See [[Associated Press]].
*Pallasch, Abdon M. (September 2, 2004). [http://web.archive.org/web/20040903052923/http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-keyes02.html "Keyes' gay slam roils GOP"]. ''Chicago Sun-Times'' website/News/Elections. Retrieved from September 3, 2004 archive at Internet Archive. See ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''. This article misquotes [[Liz Cheney]]; previous bulleted reference in this multiple reference gives full quote verified by CNN transcript.</ref> Obama would ultimately win the election, 70% to 27%.<ref>[http://cnn.hu/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/IL/S/01/index.html "America votes 2004: Election Results, U.S. Senate/Illinois"] (November 2, 2004). CNN Hungary website/Elections. See [[CNN]].</ref>

===U.S. Senate Voting Record===
Obama's incomplete term in the U.S. Senate was largely not noteworthy. In voting against raising the [[debt limit]] in 2006 Obama famously said, "The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. government can’t pay its own bills. ... I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit."<ref>Multiple references:
*''Washington Post'' FACT CHECKER, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/annotating-obamas-2006-speech-against-boosting-the-debt-limit/2013/01/14/aa8cf8c4-5e9b-11e2-9940-6fc488f3fecd_blog.html Annotating Obama’s 2006 speech against boosting the debt limit], [[Washington Post]], Glenn Kessler, 01/15/2013.
*Kaplan, Rebecca (April 11, 2011). [http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/04/obama-once-opposed-debt-ceiling-hike/237129/ "Obama once opposed debt ceiling hike"]. ''The Atlantic'' website/Politics.</ref> In 2008 as candidate for president Obama called George W. Bush's request to raise the debt limit "irresponsible" and "unpatriotic".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kuTG19Cu_Q "Obama says adding $4 trillion to debt is unpatriotic [July 3, 2008]"] (August 23, 2011). YouTube video, 0:38, posted by maywhitley31.</ref>

The ''National Journal'' ranked him the most liberal senator in 2007.<ref name="ranked">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-502163_162-3775451-502163.html|title="''National Journal'': Obama most liberal senator in 2007"|author=Montopoli, Brian|date=January 31, 2008|publisher=CBS News website}}. See [[CBS News]].</ref>

Obama frequently used the [[filibuster]] to obstruct the operations of government,<ref>O'Keefe, E. (2010, February 4). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020303801_pf.html Obama criticizes Senate Republicans for delaying confirmation votes]. ''[[Washington Post]]''.</ref> and voted against the [[minimum wage]] bill<ref>Multiple references:
*Gill, Kathy (May 26, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20070905140628/http://uspolitics.about.com/od/legislatio1/a/HR2206.htm "HR 2206 - Emergency appropriations [110th Congress, House of Representives, signed into law May 25, 2007]"], About.com website/News & Issues/U. S. Politics: Current Events/Legislation. Retrieved from September 5, 2007 archive at Internet Archive.
*[http://more.gov.mtopgroup.com/2007/05/votes-hr-2206-iraq-supplemental.html Votes - H.R. 2206: Iraq Supplemental], May 28, 2007. Retrieved from Deeper Inside the Mountain, June 4, 2007.</ref> he introduced because it included a provision to pay active duty U.S. troops. He voted for the $700 billion TARP program to bailout the big banks after receiving more than $120,000 in contributions from [[Fannie Mae]], a government sponsored entity<ref>more than any other political candidate for office since 1989. [http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/09/update-fannie-mae-and-freddie.html Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Invest in Lawmakers], By Lindsay Renick Mayer, September 11, 2008. opensecrets.org</ref> taken into conservatorship for mismanaging its affairs and responsible for all the big banks' problems.

According to Opensecrets.org, of the 671,269 contributions to Obama during his time in the Senate, [[Goldman Sachs]], JP Morgan, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley were among the top 20 biggest money donors to his campaigns. <ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cid=N00009638&cycle=2008 Top 20 Contributors, 2007-2008]
*[http://www.votesmart.org/finance.php?can_id=9490 Barack Obama II's Campaign Finances]</ref> All four subsequently received approximately $70 billion in taxpayer assisted [[bailout]] money from the [[TARP]] program he voted for.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/10/14/business/14bailout.graphic2.html ''Beneficiary Banks'', ''[[The New York Times]]''. 2008-10-14.]</ref> UBS AG, a foreign bank and the 12th largest donor to Obama,<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638 Top 20 Contributors, 2007-2008]</ref> was fined $780 billion in February 2009 in a U.S. Federal Court on charges it helped thousands of Americans evade taxes.<ref>[http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20090219/FREE/902199983 ''UBS fined $780 million in tax evasion scandal,''] Investment News, February 19, 2009.</ref>

==2008 Presidential Election==
{{main article|Barack Hussein Obama 2008 Presidential campaign}}
Unlike Democratic contenders Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, Obama's hands were not "stained" with the Iraqi war resolution; a number of Democrats wanted to punish candidates for acting [[bi-partisan]] and called for his candidacy. His only career accomplishment til then had been the delivery of a speech at the 2004 [[Democratic National Convention]].

Former [[Democrat]] Presidential candidate [[Joe Lieberman]] endorsed Obama's opponent [[John McCain]] in 2008 and declined to endorse Obama for the [[Presidential Election 2012|2012 presidential election]].<ref>Lillis, M. (2012, April 22). [http://thehill.com/video/campaign/222929-lieberman-declines-to-endorse-in-presidential-race Sen. Lieberman declines to endorse in presidential race]. ''The Hill''.</ref>

===Primary Election===
In 2007-08, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton competed for the Democratic nomination. Hillary Clinton cleverly resurrected the "Born Alive" controversy surrounding Obama that had lain largely dormant since 2004 (notwithstanding the continuing mentions by [[Jill Stanek]]), by accusing Obama of not being pro-choice for voting "Present" on a number of abortion-related bills<ref>Bettelheim, Adriel (2008, February 13). "[http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/feb/13/obamas-present-tension/ Obama's 'Present' Tension]." ''PolitiFact''.</ref>—including the Born Alive ones,<ref>Multiple references:
*Berman, Russell (2008, January 17). "[http://www.nysun.com/national/clinton-obama-should-vote-no-on-abortion-issue/69700/ Clinton: Obama Should Vote 'No' On Abortion Issue She Backed]." ''[[New York Sun]]''.
*Hernandez, Raymond & Drew, Christopher (2007, December 20). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html?pagewanted=all It's Not Just 'Ayes' and 'Nays': Obama's Votes in Illinois Echo]." ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> and cowardly ducking the votes.<ref>Multiple references:
*''Politi-Fact''. "[http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/feb/13/hillary-clinton/yes-but-its-complicated/ Response to Hillary Clinton Comment for January 21st, 2008]." Truth-o-Meter.
*Dorning, Mike (2007, December 20). "[http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/12/criticism_of_obama_present_vot.html Clinton Camp Criticizes Obama 'Present' Votes]." The Swamp. ''Chicago Tribune''.</ref> This led to criticism of Obama by two pro-choice organizations, Emily's List, and the [[National Organization for Women]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Dorning, Mike (2008, January 14). "[http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/obama_campaign_mounts_defense.html The Swamp: Obama Campaign Defends His Abortion-Rights Record]." ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.
*Dorn, Michael (2008, February 6). "[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/02/obamas_voting_record_on_aborti_1.html Obama's Voting Record on Abortion]." ''[[Washington Post]]''.
*Newton-Small, Jay (2008, January 14). "[http://swampland.time.com/2008/01/14/obama_campaign_defends_present/ Obama Campaign Defends 'Present' Abortion Votes]." ''[[Time Magazine]]''.</ref> However, Pam Sutherland, the long-time head of Illinois Planned Parenthood, came to Obama's aid, criticizing Clinton for making the attack, and stating repeatedly that Obama's present votes were part of a broader strategy used by Planned Parenthood to keep Illinois voters from knowing their state senators were voting against the controversial and popular bills.<ref>Hernandez, Raymond & Drew, Christopher (2007, December 20). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20cnd-obama.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin Obama's Vote in Illinois Was Often Just 'Present']." ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref><ref>Follmer, Max (2008, March 28). "[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/14/obama-emphasizes-prochoic_n_81460.html Obama Emphasizes Pro-Choice Voting Record as Clinton Questions 'Present' Votes]." ''[[Huffington Post]]''.</ref>
{{cquote|"He came to me and said: ‘My members are being attacked. We need to figure out a way to protect members and to protect women. A ‘present’ vote was hard to pigeonhole which is exactly what Obama wanted. What it did was give cover to moderate Democrats who wanted to vote with us but were afraid to do so" because of how their votes would be used against them electorally. A ‘present’ vote would protect them. Your senator voted ‘present.’ Most of the electorate is not going to know what that means."
-Pam Sutherland, President/CEO of Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, 1980-2012<ref>Davis, Teddy (2007, July 17). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20130414215754/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2007/07/obama-abortion/ Obama Abortion Dodges Blessed by Planned Parenthood], ''[[ABC News]]''.</ref>}}As the contest in Iowa drew near and the former First Lady's inevitability was being usurped by a challenger, Hillary Clinton organizers began circulating rumors that Obama was secretly a Muslim.<ref>[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/barackemail/ Obama Under the Clinton Microscope], By JEFF ZELENY, ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 10, 2007</ref><ref>[http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/06/clinton-volunteers-anti-obama-e-mail-causes-stir/ Clinton volunteer's sending of anti-Obama e-mail causes stir]. December 6, 2007. [[CNN]]</ref><ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=92143 Hillary Clinton Press Release - Sen. Obama Rewrites History], December 2, 2007, references Obama in the Muslim school in Indonesia in 3rd grade, quoting the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 3/15/07</ref><ref>[http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/americas/article1995587.ece Obama ‘was educated in madrassa’], Tim Reid and Tom Baldwin, ''[[The Times of London]]'', January 20, 2007.</ref> Clinton also made the claim repeatedly that while Obama was leading in Delegates she was winning the Popular Vote<ref>Koffler, Daniel (2008, May 28). "[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-koffler/hillary-clinton-and-the-p_b_103913.html Hillary Clinton and the Popular Vote: Not Wrong, but Meaningless]." ''[[Huffington Post]]''. Barone, Michael (2008, March 28). "[http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/barone/2008/03/28/projection-clinton-wins-popular-vote-obama-wins-delegate-count Projection: Clinton Wins Popular Vote, Obama Wins Delegate Vote]." ''U.S. News''.</ref>, though this was in part because Obama hadn't been registered in Michigan.<ref>Romano, Andrew (2008, August 2). "[http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/blogs/stumper/2008/06/02/clinton-s-popular-vote-claim-close-but-not-quite.html Clinton's Popular Vote Claim? Close--But Not Quite*]." ''[[Newsweek]]''.</ref><ref>''[[RealClearPolitics]]''. "[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/democratic_vote_count.html 2008 Democratic Popular Vote]."</ref> Obama's advantage with super-delegates over Clinton was about 2-to-1.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Superdelegate endorsements for Friday 6/6|work=Democratic Convention Watch|url=http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/06/superdelegate-endorsements-for-friday.html}}</ref> Obama was able to attract the support of [[liberals]] by pointing out that he had come out against the [[Iraq War]] "from the beginning" whereas Clinton had voted in favor of the war in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-31-democrats-debate_N.htm|title=Obama, Clinton stress differences on Iraq, issues|author=David Jackson|work=[[USA Today]]|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref> On June 7, 2008, Hillary Clinton withdrew from the Primaries, conceding the race and endorsing her opponent<ref>''Associated Press''. "[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24993082/ns/politics-decision_08/t/clinton-ends-historic-bid-endorses-obama/ Clinton Ends Historic Bid, Endorses Obama]." [[MSNBC]]</ref>, when Obama passed the 2,118 Delegates required; winning 2,201 delegates to Clinton's 1,896.<ref>''[[CNN]]''. "[http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#D Election Center 2008].</ref>

===Born Alive Record Resurfaces===
On June 30, 2008, Obama's voting record on the "Born Alive" bills came once more to the forefront when CNN gave voice to the growing controversy and revealed the defense Obama had been using since 2004-2008, that the Illinois bills he'd voted against were different from the federal bill, was false, since he'd brought up for a vote a bill word for word identical to the federal bill in the Health and Human Services Committee he chaired, and voted against it, defeating it.<ref>''[[CNN]]''. "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZCXcTwZPY How He Really Voted on Abortion: Obama's Record Under Attack]." ''The Situation Room''. Uploaded to ''YouTube'' by [[Jill Stanek]].</ref><ref>''[[CNN]]''. "[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0806/30/sitroom.02.html Transcripts: June 30, 2008]." The Situation Room.</ref> This led in August to a confrontation between Obama and the [[NRLC]].<ref>''[[National Right to Life Committee]]''. "[http://www.nrlc.org/news/2008/NRL08/ObamaCoverup.html Obama Cover-up Revealed on Born-Alive Abortion Survivor's Bill]." NRL News, Vol. 35, Issue 7-8, pg. 5.</ref> After Obama accused critics of 'lying'<ref>Brody, David (2008, August 16). "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skq5M1Ksp_c McCain/Obama Forum]." ''[[CNN]]''. Uploaded to ''YouTube'' by [[Jill Stanek]]. David Brody (August 16, 2008). "[http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2008/08/16/obama-gets-heated-on-born-alive-infant-protection-act.aspx Obama Gets Heated on Born Alive Infant Protection Act]." ''[[CBN]] News''. The Brody File.</ref> the NRLC challenged the assertion, and the Obama campaign conceded he "misspoke" and had voted against an identical bill to the "federal bill that everybody supported" but focused on Obama's new claim, that Illinois law was already sufficient to protect newborn children.<ref>Berman, Russell (2008, August 18). "[http://www.nysun.com/national/obama-facing-attacks-from-all-sides-over-abortion/84059/ Obama Facing Attacks From All Sides Over Abortion Record]." ''[[New York Sun]]''.</ref> The NRLC promptly declared "Senator Barack Obama's four-year effort to cover up his full role in killing legislation to protect born-alive survivors of abortions continues to unravel."<ref>Johnson, Douglas (2008, August 18). "[http://www.nrlc.org/ObamaBAIPA/Obamacoveruponbornalive.htm Obama Cover-up on Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Continues to Unravel After Sen. Obama Says NRLC is 'Lying']." ''[[National Right to Life Committee]]''.</ref>

===Jeremiah Wright===
:''See also: [[Barack Obama and Liberation Theology]]''
One major dilemma that arose for Obama during his campaign was his connection to his preacher [[Jeremiah Wright]]. Obama and his wife (raised a Baptist) were members of the Trinity [[United Church of Christ]]<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776246/posts Trinity United Church of Christ Website (Barack Hussein Obama's Church)]</ref> in Chicago, a church that embraced [[black liberation theology]] and its emphasis on empowering so-called "oppressed groups" against "establishment forces". This denomination was the first in America to ordain gays as ministers.<ref>[http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/31079.html Obama's church pushes controversial doctrines], March 20, 2008</ref> Church pastor Jeremiah Wright had been making inflammatory comments and posting his sermons online for sale. These include the statement "G-d damn America," and in describing the September 11th attacks, "We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black [[South Africa]]ns, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost."<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4443788 Obama's Pastor: G-d Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11], [[ABC News]]</ref> In addition, Rev. Wright blamed America saying "We supported Zionism shamelessly while ignoring the Palestinians and branding anybody who spoke out against it as being [[anti-Semitic]]."

In April 2008, after 20 years in the church, candidate Obama made public statements poised to set him at odds with the man who conducted his wedding and baptized his children. With the negative publicity persisting, a month later Obama ended the friendship, left Wright's church, and blamed the media.<ref>[http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/31/obama-resigns-church-membership-in-chicago/ Obama Drops Church Membership in Chicago], [[Fox News]] May 31, 2008</ref> Obama claimed “It’s not fair to the other members of the church who seek to worship in peace...", and distanced himself from Wright's sermons as "a bunch of rants that aren't grounded in the truth."<ref>[[USA Today]], [http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080430/1a_offlede30_dom.art.htm ''Obama breaks with former pastor, Candidate cites rants on U.S. role in terror, AIDS''], by Kathy Kiely and David Jackson</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081211092533/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_080430.htm ''Obama Says He Is Outraged By Wright's "Rants"'']</ref>

===Result===
Obama made an effort to portray John McCain as similar to George W. Bush, drawing attention to McCain's refusal to criticize the unpopular president. McCain was particularly criticized for saying of how many years we should be willing to stay in Iraq, "Make it a hundred."<ref>Dobbs, Michael (2008, April 2). "[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/04/mccains_100year_war.html FactChecker: McCain's '100-Year War']." ''[[Washington Post]]''.</ref>{{cquote|"John McCain went on television and said that there has been great progress economically over the last seven-and-a-half years. John McCain thinks our economy has made great progress under George W. Bush? How could somebody who has been traveling across this country, somebody who came to Erie, Pennsylvania, say we’ve made great progress?"
-Barack Obama<ref>Zeleny, Jeff (2008, April 18). "[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/obama-criticizes-mccain-on-economic-stance/ Obama Criticizes McCain on Economic Stance]." ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>}} On August 22nd, Obama selected [[Joe Biden]] as his running mate for the vice presidency<ref>''[[CNN]]'' (2008, August 23). "[http://articles.cnn.com/2008-08-23/politics/biden.democrat.vp.candidate_1_biden-john-mccain-barack-obama?_s=PM:POLITICS Obama Introduces Biden as Running Mate]."</ref>, which would be contrasted one week later with John McCain's selection of [[Sarah Palin]].<ref>Cooper, Michael & Bumiller, Elisabeth (2008, August 29). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/29palin.html?pagewanted=all Alaskan is McCain's Choice; First Woman on G.O.P. Ticket]. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>

On November 2, 2008, Barack Obama won the presidential election with 365 electoral votes to John McCain's 173.<ref>(2008, November 14). "[http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/explorer.html Electoral Explorer]." Election Results 2008. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> Obama received 53% of the popular vote to John McCain's 46%.<ref>(2008, November 17). "[http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/ President]." Election Center 2008. ''[[CNN]]''.</ref>

==2009-: U.S. Presidency==
{{main article|Obama administration}}
[[File:Obama and George H. W. Bush.jpg|thumb|right|300px|President Barack Obama meets with former President George H. W. Bush in the Oval Office, Feb. 15, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).]]
Five years into Obama's presidency the number of people holding jobs still was 3 million below the all time high of 138 million<ref>The effectiveness of [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|Stimulus]] and deficits: [http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/fredgraph.png?graph_id=112811 Job growth under President Obama's first term;] Source: [[United States Department of Labor]].</ref> workers - despite an increase of 10 million people in population over the same period of time.<ref>[https://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/fredgraph.png?graph_id=112809 U.S. Population growth during Obama's first four years in office.] Source: [[U.S. Census Bureau]].</ref> Under Obama and Senate Democrats<ref>The Democratic controlled Senate did not propose, vote on, or pass a budget for nearly five years. [http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/23/politics/senate-budget-bill/index.html Senate passes its first budget proposal in four years,] Ted Barrett and Alison Harding, [[CNN]], March 23, 2013.</ref> budget management, the United States suffered its largest [[Federal budget deficit|deficit]]s<ref>Edwards, B. et. al. (2009, November 6). [http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10708/11-06-mbr.htm Monthly Budget Review: Fiscal Year 2009]. ''[[Congressional Budget Office]]''. Delisle, E.C. et. al. (2010, November 5). [http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/118xx/doc11873/NovemberMBR.pdf Monthly Budget Review: Fiscal Year 2010]. ''[[Congressional Budget Office]]''.</ref> in history and its credit-worthiness downgraded from [[Standard and Poor's]]. Obama assured Americans that unemployment would not rise above 8% if his [[economic stimulus]] program was adopted, however it rose and stagnated in the 8-10% range<ref>Di Leo, L & Lynch, S.N. (2010, August 20). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704476104575439172480870774.html Jobless Claims Jump in New Sign Recovery is Sputtering]. ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''.</ref><ref>[[United States Bureau of Labor Statistics]]. [http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS11300000&years_option=specific_years&include_graphs=true&to_month=1&from_month=2 Databases, Tables & Calculators by Subject: Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey]. ''[[United States Department of Labor]]''. Data extracted on: July 19, 2010 (4:31:11 PM).</ref> for the entirety of his first term.

Patrick H. Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen, writing in the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', noted, "Rather than being a unifier, Mr. Obama has divided America on the basis of race, class and partisanship." The commentators also note Obama's approach to governance has encouraged radical leftists to pursue a similar strategy on his behalf. Mary Frances Berry, former head of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, acknowledged that the [[Obama administration]] has taken to polarizing America around the issue of race as a means of diverting attention from other issues, saying, "Having one's opponent [[race card|rebut charges of racism]] is far better than discussing [[Unemployment|joblessness]]."<ref>Berry, M.F. (2010, July 20). [http://www.politico.com/arena/perm/Mary_Frances_Berry_91E3D9D5-C40D-440C-9D48-1C50CBC60C87.html Energy Arena, Driving the Conversation: Contracting Out U.S. Security? And will Branding Tea Party Racist Work?] ''[[Politico]]''.</ref> Caddell and Schoen, who worked for President Carter and Clinton, respectively, further stated, "Mr. Obama has also cynically [[class warfare|divided the country on class lines]]. He has taken to playing the populist card time and time again. He bashes Wall Street and insurance companies whenever convenient to advance his programs, yet he has been eager to accept campaign contributions and negotiate with these very same banks and [[corporation]]s behind closed doors in order to advance his political agenda... President Obama's divisive approach to governance has weakened us as a people and paralyzed our political culture."<ref>Caddell, P.H. & Schoen, D.E. (2010, July 28). [http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748703700904575391553798363586.html Our Divisive President]. ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''.</ref>
===Domestic policy===
====Economic policy====
[[File:Keynes.jpg|thumbnail|right|190px|[[Barack Obama]] advocates the use of discredited [[Keynesian economics|Keynesian economic concepts]]<ref>[http://centurean2.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/fabian-john-maynard-keynes-the-stealthy-enemy-of-human-freedom/ John Maynard Keynes the stealthy enemy of human freedom]</ref><ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-02-22/deathbed-of-keynesian-economics-will-be-in-u-k-matthew-lynn.html Deathbed of Keynesian Economics will be in the UK]</ref><ref>[http://www.iwf.org/inkwell/show/23102.html Will the G8 Repudiate the Philosophy of Living Beyond Our Means?]</ref><ref>[http://www.keynesatharvard.org/book/KeynesatHarvard-ch09.html KEYNES AT HARVARD Economic Deception as a Political Credo BY ZYGMUND DOBBS]</ref>]]

{{see also|Obamunism|American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009}}
Critics of the Obama administration have coined the word "[[Obamunism]]" to describe Barack Obama's [[socialism|socialistic]] and "[[fascism]] light" [[economic planning]] policies.<ref>[[Benito Mussolini]] defined fascism as the wedding of state and corporate powers. Accordingly, trend forecaster [[Gerald Celente]] labels [[Obama administration corporate bailouts|Obama's corporate bailouts]] as being "fascism light" in nature.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/daily-intel/2009/07/20/obamunism-inc|work=The Big Money|publisher=[[Washington Post]].[[Newsweek]] Interactive Co. LLC|format=HTML|language=English|title=Obamunism, Inc.|author=David Sessions|date=July 20, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com/small-business-interviews/gerald-celente-6944|author=Jim Blasingame|title=Is the government creating a bailout bubble?}}</ref> Obamunism can also refer to Obama's [[Obama administration fiscal policy|ruinous fiscal policies]] and [[Obama administration monetary policy|reckless monetary policies]].<ref name="gerard">{{cite web|url=http://seekingalpha.com/article/120883-monetary-policynot-obama-s-stimulusis-what-needs-watching|title=Monetary Policy-Not Obama's Stimulus-Is What Needs Watching|author=Gerard Jackson|date=February 16, 2009|work=Seeking Alpha}}</ref><ref name="bam">{{cite web|work=[[New York Post]]|date=May 17, 2009|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/05172009/postopinion/editorials/bams_wise_words_169731.htm|title=BAM'S WISE WORDS}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/24/bush-deficit-vs-obama-deficit-in-pictures/|title=Bush Deficit vs. Obama Deficit in Pictures|work=The Foundry|publisher=[[Heritage Foundation]]|author=Conn Carroll|date=March 24th, 2009}}</ref> As seen in his own actions, Barack Obama instructed his advisors to find loopholes that would enable the president to act as a [[dictator]] by pushing through legislation and increases in spending without congressional authority.<ref>Naked Emperor News (2011, October 12). [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/executive-dictatorship-obama-instructs-advisers-to-push-through-stimulus-projects-without-pesky-congressional-authorization/ Exclusive Dictatorship: Obama Instructs Advisors to Push Through Stimulus Projects Without Pesky 'Congressional Authorization']. ''[[The Blaze]]''.</ref>

Nevertheless, budgets passed under President Obama have included the smallest average annualized growth of federal spending (1.4%) since before President Reagan. Federal spending grew an average of 8.7% per year during Reagan's first term and an average of 8.1% per year during George W. Bush's second term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/05/24/who-is-the-smallest-government-spender-since-eisenhower-would-you-believe-its-barack-obama/|title=Who Is The Smallest Government Spender Since Eisenhower? Would You Believe It's Barack Obama?|publisher=[[Forbes]]|author=Rick Ungar|date=May 24th, 2012}}</ref>

[[Wall Street]] firms and banks that were bailed out were among Obama's biggest campaign supporters.<ref>''OpenSecrets.org''. [http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638 Barack Obama: Top Contributors]. The Center for Responsive Politics.</ref> Therefore, the Obama administration bailouts of corrupt, unproductive, and reckless Wall Street firms was hardly surprising, and many argue that it was not helpful in making the United States economy more productive and prosperous by encouraging more risk taking through letting banks off with a slap on the wrist. Others argue that bailing out the banks kept credit flowing and prevented a much deeper recession and a total collapse of the financial system. The government will recoup some though not all of its capital infusions over time. A 2005 study found that government corporate bailouts are often done for mere political considerations and the economic resources allocated exhibit significantly worse economic performance than resources allocated using purely business considerations.<ref>Faccio, M. et. al. (2005, March 1). [http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=676905 Political Connections and Corporate Bailouts]. ''Social Science Research Network''.</ref> Proponents of [[free market]] capitalism said Bernanke should not have bailed out failing firms and instead should have allowed free market capitalism to quickly recover as it did in the depression of 1920 without government intervention (free market capitalists assert that government intervention drags out economic recessions and depressions).<ref>Woods, T.E. (2009, April 10). [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czcUmnsprQI Why You've Never Heard of the Great Depression of 1920]. ''[[Ludwig von Mises Institute]]''. Hosted on ''YouTube''.</ref>

The Obama administration has been sharply criticized for [[Obama administration deficit spending|its massive deficit spending]] and [[Obama administration monetary policy|its reckless monetary policy]] via vast increases in the [[money supply]], although inflation under Bernanke has been below the historic mean.<ref name="gerard"/><ref name="bam"/><ref>Carroll, C. (2009, March 24). [http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/24/bush-deficit-vs-obama-deficit-in-pictures/ Bush Deficit vs. Obama Deficit in Pictures]. ''The Foundry''. [[Heritage Foundation|The Heritage Network]].</ref> Celente predicts that if a "second American Revolution" occurs in a peaceful and productive manner, it may include a [[Third Party System|third party movement]] of governance that will advocate a more [[free market]] [[capitalism]] approach to the American economy and a more strict interpretation of the [[United States Constitution|United States constitution]] as far as the authors' [[original intent]].

During what the [[White House]] billed as [[Recovery Summer]], one half million workers per week continued losing their jobs. His signature legislative achievement, [[ObamaCare]],has been found to be [[unconstitutional]]<ref>Schoenberg, T. & Fisk, M.T. (2010, December 13). [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-13/u-s-health-care-law-requirement-thrown-out-by-judge.html Obama's Health-Care Law Ruled Unconstitutional Over Insurance Requirement]. ''Bloomberg''.</ref> by several judges and constitutional by others, and is credited as a major cause of uncertainty, high [[unemployment]],<ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33220 Obamacare: Unemployment You Can Believe In], [[Human Events]]</ref> lagging job creation,<ref>Foster, J.D. (2010, August 5). [http://blog.heritage.org/2010/08/05/it%E2%80%99s-official-medicare%E2%80%99s-finances-shadowed-by-uncertainty/ It’s Official: Medicare’s Finances Shadowed by Uncertainty]. ''The Foundry''. [[Heritage Foundation|The Heritage Network]].</ref> and risk of a credit default crisis.<ref>Samuelson, R.J. (2010, March 29). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/28/AR2010032802353.html With health bill, Obama has sown the seeds of a budget crisis]. ''[[Washington Post]]''.</ref><ref>Cramer, J. (2010, March 19). [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2010/03/19/mad-money-cramer-health-care-passage-will-topple-stock-market 'Mad Money' Cramer: Health Care Passage 'Will Topple the Stock Market']. ''[[Newsbusters]]''.</ref>

His 2012 Budget plan has been roundly criticized in the mainstream and liberal press as not a serious effort to deal with the nation's economic crisis.<ref>[http://www.republican.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/blog?ID=1551d6f5-2ac9-4b8d-97ab-74def354024e Newspapers Call Out White House: ‘What Would That Path Be, Mr. President?’]</ref>

[[Jeffrey Tucker]] wrote, "President Obama's economic policy has been catastrophic for liberty, enterprise, and the American dream—the very archetype of what not to do to end recession." <ref>[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118186176/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=anncoulter-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118186176 Debacle: Obama's War on Jobs and Growth and What We Can Do Now to Regain Our Future]</ref>
=====Stimulus=====
:''See also: [[Recovery Summer]]''
In early 2009, Obama lobbied Congress and the public to pass a sweeping Stimulus package<ref>(2009, January 3). "[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28479998/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-urges-congress-pass-stimulus-plan/ Obama Urges Congress to Pass Stimulus Plan]." ''[[Associated Press]]''. Parsons, C. & Nicholas, P. (2009, February 10). "[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28479998/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-urges-congress-pass-stimulus-plan/ Barack Obama Sternly Urges Congress to Pass Economic Stimulus]." ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.</ref> known as ''The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009'' (H.R. 1).<ref>"[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.1: Bill Text Versions: H.R. 1]." 111th Congress (2009-2010). ''[[Library of Congress]]''. "[http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204335,00.html The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information Center]." ''[[IRS]]''.</ref> The report of the Congressional Budget Office mandated by law stated that the legislation would ultimately harm the economy.<ref>Dinan, S. (2009, February 4). "[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/04/cbo-obama-stimulus-harmful-over-long-haul/ CBO: Obama Stimulus Harmful Over Long Haul]." ''U.S. News''.</ref> Contrary to his promise of bipartisanship,<ref>Dinan, S. (2009, March 28). "[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/28/mccain-obama-breaks-campaign-promises-shuns-bipart/?page=all McCain: Obama Breaks Promise of Bipartisanship]." ''[[Washington Times]]''.</ref> the bill passed the House 244-188 on January 28, 2009 with 11 Democrats voting with the entire Republican caucus against,<ref>Calmes, J. (2009, January 28). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/us/politics/29obama.html House Passes Stimulus Plan With No G.O.P. Votes]." ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> and received just 3 Republican votes when passing the Senate 61-37.<ref>Herszenhorn, D.M. (2009, February 10). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/washington/11web-stim.html Senate Approves Stimulus Plan]." ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> One third of the massive $838 billion bill consisted of [[Backdoor_spending_authority#Backdoor_tax_expenditures|backdoor tax expenditures]]<ref>(2009, February 11). "Senate Passes $838 Billion Stimulus Bill]." ''[[Associated Press]]''.</ref> and the rest direct [[new spending]] on "just about every pent-up Democratic proposal of the last 40 years."<ref>(2009, January 28). "[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123310466514522309.html A 40-Year Wish List]." ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''.</ref> In responding to criticism of the broken bipartisanship promise at the time, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously quipped, "We won the election. We wrote the bill."<ref>Kane, P. (2009, January 23). "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/22/AR2009012203961.html Stimulus Plan Meets More GOP Resistance]." ''[[Washington Post]]''.</ref> On February 18, 2009, the Stimulus was signed into law by Obama.<ref>(2009, February 17). "[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29231790/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-stimulus-lets-americans-claim-destiny/ Obama: Stimulus Lets Americans Claim Destiny]." ''[[Associated Press]]''.</ref> In August 2009, Republicans and Democratic Senator David Obey drew attention to mistakes on the Recovery.gov site claiming millions of Stimulus jobs created that didn't exist. Obama responded by saying the errors just indicate his accounting is an "inexact science".<ref>(2009, November 18). "[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/18/obama-calls-stimulus-data-errors-issue-says-focus-job-growth/ Obama Calls Stimulus Data Errors 'Side Issue,' Says Focus Is on Job Growth]." ''[[Fox News]]''.</ref>
=====[[Sequestration]]=====
According to [[Pulitzer Prize]] winning journalist [[Bob Woodward]] of the ''[[Washington Post]]'', Obama misled the American people in a Presidential debate only two weeks before the 2012 election when he said, "The sequester is not something that I’ve proposed,”<ref>[http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-22/opinions/37238840_1_jack-lew-treasury-secretary-rob-nabors Obama’s sequester deal-changer,] By Bob Woodward, ''[[Washington Post]]'', February 22, 2013.</ref> when in fact his chief budget negotiator and current Chief of Staff, [[Jack Lew]], made a call to Democrat [[Harry Reid]] at 2:30 pm on July 27, 2011 with the proposal after clearing it with Obama,<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2012/10/22/fact-check-woodward-wrote-that-obama-administration-proposed-sequester/ Fact-check: Woodward wrote that Obama administration proposed sequester]. [[The Daily Caller]]</ref> as fully documented in Woodward's book, ''The Price of Politics''. Federal Reserve Chairman [[Ben Bernanke]] warned of immediate jobloss of about 750,000 jobs - about the same level as under George W. Bush<ref>[http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/fredgraph.png?graph_id=109262 Monthly Jobloss under George W. Bush, Jan 2007 - Jan 2009]. See also [http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/fredgraph.png?graph_id=109266 Initial Unemployment Claims] over the same period, annualized. Source: [[U.S. Department of Labor]], Bureau of Labor Statistics.</ref> - if Obama's budget and economic plans were allowed to take effect.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/26/news/economy/bernanke-burden-recovery/ Bernanke: Spending cuts add 'significant' burden to recovery,] By Annalyn Kurtz, [[CNN]] February 26, 2013.</ref>

Woodward, who's reporting on [[Watergate]] is credited with toppling the administration of [[Richard Nixon]], told Wolf Blitzer of [[CNN]] he was told by a senior White House official he'd regret talking about the President Obama's positions on the sequester.<ref>[http://www.businessinsider.com/bob-woodward-obama-sequester-white-house-reporting-price-politics-2013-2 Bob Woodward: White House Threatened Me On Sequester,] businessinsider.com </ref>
=====Spreading the poverty=====
Following the 2011 debt ceiling standoff between Obama and House Republicans,<ref name=Swann-Aug>{{cite web|url=http://www.standardandpoors.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobheadername3=MDT-Type&blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobheadervalue2=inline%3B+filename%3DUS_Downgraded_AA%2B.pdf&blobheadername2=Content-Disposition&blobheadervalue1=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobheadername1=content-type&blobwhere=1243942957443&blobheadervalue3=UTF-8 |title=United States of America Long-Term Rating Lowered to 'AA+' on Political Risks and Rising Debt Burden; Outlook Negative |publisher=[[Standard and Poor's]] |date=August 5, 2011 |accessdate=April 3, 2013}}</ref> the United States Government's credit rating was, for the first time in its history, downgraded from AAA to AA+, and [[poverty]]<ref>[http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2009/pov09fig04.pdf Figure 4: Number in Poverty and Poverty Rate: 1959-2009]. ''[[U.S. Census Bureau]]''. Current Population Survey, 1960 to 2010 Annual Social and Economic Supplements.</ref> increased markedly. By and large his programs, said to combat the recession, unemployment, slow growth, and deficits, have failed<ref>"The vast majority (73%) of respondents reported the fiscal stimulus enacted in February 2009 has had no impact on employment to date. While 68% also believe a jobs bill, such as the one recently enacted into law, will have no impact on payrolls, 30% do believe it will boost payrolls moderately". [http://www.nabe.com/press/ind1004.pdf Industry Survey], ''National Association for Business Economics'', April 2010, p. 2.</ref> leaving the the country saddled with an $18 trillion [[national debt]] and climbing.<ref>During Obama's first two years in office, the rate of new U.S. federal debt added per year to its total tripled the rate of new debt accumulated by Bush to place the U.S. on a war footing, and during Obama's first six years in office, the total National Debt has nearly doubled ($7.5 trillion added). See [[National Debt]].</ref> One of his most well known tactics is blaming someone else, such as George W. Bush, for all his failures instead of taking responsibility. Also on the domestic front, Obama passed an expensive [[health care]] bill in 2010 with no national consensus or [[bipartisan]] support and 34 Democrats dissenting. Recently, the [[Congressional Budget Office]] wrote an open letter to [[John Boehner]], the Speaker of the House, outlining the effects of repealing [[Obamacare]] and explaining why net loss of over 100 billion dollars would occur from the repeal. <ref>[http://cbo.gov/publication/43471 Letter to the Honorable John Boehner providing an estimate for H.R. 6079, the Repeal of Obamacare Act], [[Congressional Budget Office]]</ref>

====Healthcare mandates====
{{main article|Obamacare}}
On March 23, 2010, Obama signed the unpopular Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The act originated in the [[Democratic]]ally controlled House and was amended and passed the Senate just prior to Sen. [[Ted Kennedy]]'s death largely along party lines with a significant number of Democrats voting to oppose. In what was construed as a de facto rejection of the bill, [[Massachusetts]] voters elected a [[Republican]] candidate, [[Scott Brown]], who promised to vote against the bill if given the chance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/scott-brown-wins-massachusetts-senate-race.html|work=[[Washington Post]]|author=Chris Cillizza|date=January 19, 2010|title=Scott Brown wins Massachusetts Senate special election race|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref> After Obama made a promise to issue an [[executive order]] that would ultimately prohibit the use of taxpayer subsidies to pay for [[abortion]] services,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/22/nation/la-na-healthcare-passage22-2010mar22/3|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|format=HTML|language=English|title=House passes historic healthcare overhaul|date=March 22, 2010|author=Noam N. Levey and Janet Hook}}</ref> the Democratic [[House of Representatives]] would pass the bill as it left the Senate 219-212, with 34 Democrats and all other parties dissenting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-21/politics/health.care.main_1_health-care-entire-house-democratic-caucus-pre-existing-conditions?_s=PM:POLITICS|date=March 21, 2010|author=Alan Silverleib|work=[[CNN]]|format=HTML|language=English|title=House passes health care bill on 219-212 vote}}</ref>

Amongst other things, the act mandated that everyone purchase health care coverage or face punitive tax measures, and was upheld by the [[Supreme Court]].

====Regulatory reform====
Obama criticized the "revolving door" of government and business.<ref>"We need to close the revolving door that lets lobbyists come into government freely, and lets them use their time in public service as a way to promote their own interests over the interests of the American people when they leave." [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-welcoming-senior-staff-and-cabinet-secretaries-white-house REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN WELCOMING SENIOR STAFF AND CABINET SECRETARIES TO THE WHITE HOUSE,] January 21, 2009. [[White House]]</ref> After appointing [[Peter Orszag]] his first Budget Director to dole out the stimulus cash, Orszag resigned to become Citigroup's Vice Chairman of Global Banking. Citigroup was the recipient of $476 billion in [[bailout]] money - more than any other bank - after the disastrous [[Financial crisis of 2008]].<ref>[http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2011/03/citibank_received_more_bailout.html Citigroup Received More Bailout Money Than Any Other Bank,] By Nitasha Tiku, 3/16/11. </ref> Before the bailout, Orszag's expert opinion of the chances of a mortgage meltdown were 1 in 500,000.<ref>[http://www.pierrelemieux.org/stiglitzrisk.pdf Implications of the New Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Risk-based Capital Standard,] by Joseph E. Stiglitz, Jonathan M. Orszag and Peter R. Orszag. Fannie Mae Papers, Volume 1, Issue 2, March 2002, Conclusion p.6. </ref>

====Environment and energy====
{{main article|Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster}}
President Obama authorized offshore oil drilling in the [[Gulf of Mexico]]<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0430/Gulf-of-Mexico-oil-spill-imperils-Obama-s-offshore-drilling-plan Gulf of Mexico oil spill imperils Obama's offshore drilling plan,] By Mark Clayton, ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', April 30, 2010.</ref> stating, "oil rigs today generally don’t cause spills"<ref>White House Press Release, [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-a-discussion-jobs-and-economy-charlotte-north-carolina Remarks by the President in a Discussion on Jobs and the Economy in Charlotte, North Carolina,] Office of the Press Secretary, April 02, 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 3 May 2010.</ref> and was widely criticized for his mishandling of the "[[Gulf oil spill disaster|worst environmental disaster]] in US history."<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/x-33986-Political-Spin-Examiner~y2010m4d29-Worst-environmental-disaster-in-US-history-Oil-slick-in-Gulf-of-Mexico-is-set-on-fire Worst environmental disaster in US history,] Maryann Tobin, ''Examiner'', April 29, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/the-oil-spill-is-obamas-fault/?src=twt&twt=NytimesKrugman Conscience of a Liberal: The Oil Spill Is Obama’s Fault,] Paul Krugman, ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 30, 2010.</ref>
====Reverses Clinton's 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Policy====
{{main article|Don't Ask Don't Tell}}
Candidate Obama promised to repeal a policy that originated with President Clinton and passed by a Democratically controlled Congress that prohibited inquiries into military personnel's [[sexual orientation]] while barring openly gay [[homosexuals]] from serving in the military. [[Liberals]] expressed anger when time passed and no effort to repeal the law was seen;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/21/obama-to-delay-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell/|work=[[Washington Times]]|format=HTML|title=Obama to delay ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal|language=English|author=Rowan Scarborough|date=November 21, 2008}}</ref> in fact, Obama's [[justice department]], as part of their duty to defend all laws passed by any administration, filed a brief arguing against the [[Supreme Court]] granting a [[writ of certiorari]] to a gay soldier challenging the law (the writ was not granted). In response, the soldier, James Pietrangelo II, a former Army infantryman and lawyer, said, “[Obama's] a coward, a bigot and a pathological liar. This is a guy who spent more time picking out his dog, Bo, and playing with him on the White House lawn than he has working for equality for gay people."<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Time Magazine]]|publisher=Time Inc.|format=HTML|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1903545,00.html?imw=Y|title=Dismay Over Obama's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Turnabout|author=Mark Thompson|date=Jun. 09, 2009}}</ref>

On December 15th, 2010, a bill was introduced in the [[House of Representatives]] to repeal the law - it passed a day later by a vote of 250-175;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll638.xml|title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 638|format=HTML|work=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives}}</ref> it passed the Senate three days later 65-31.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00281|work=The U.S. Senate|title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref> Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 on December 22nd.<ref name="g dadt">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/22/obama-repeals-dont-ask-dont-tell|work=[[The Guardian]]|format=HTML|language=English|title='Don't ask, don't tell' repealed as Obama signs landmark law|date=22 December 2010}}</ref> The [[Pentagon]] itself could not immediately implement the repeal and questioned whether it would hurt combat readiness.<ref name="g dadt"/>

====Labor law and compensation to 9/11 first responders====
Obama's first act of office was to sign the [[Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (2009)|Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act]] - effectively nullifying the [[Supreme Court]] case ''Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'', which ruled that Ledbetter had to have filed a pay [[discrimination]] suit within 180 days of the first time Ledbetter was paid less than her male peers;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/us/politics/30ledbetter-web.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|format=HTML|language=English|title=Obama Signs Equal-Pay Legislation|author=Sheryl Gay Stolberg|date=January 29, 2009}}</ref> the law made corporations subject to suit within 180 days of each time the employee was unfairly paid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://writ.news.findlaw.com/grossman/20090213.html?=features|work=FindLaw|author=Joanna L. Grossman|date=Feb. 13, 2009|format=HTML|language=English|title=The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009}}</ref>

On January 2, 2011, Obama signed the James Zadroga [[9/11]] Healthcare and Compensation Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2011/jan/02/obama-signs-zadroga-act-law/|publisher=New York Public Radio|title=Obama Signs Zadroga Act into Law|author=Fred Mogul|date=January 02, 2011|work=wNYC|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref> The act, which afforded 9/11 first responders who were sickened by the dust from the collapse of the [[World Trade Center]] health care and compensation, passed [[Congress]] after its sponsors agreed to scale down the pricing from 7.4 to 4.2 billion dollars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2010/dec/22/zadroga-911-bill-passes-senate/|publisher=New York Public Radio|work=wNYC|format=HTML|language=English|title=Congress Approves 9/11 Health Bill|date=December 22, 2010}}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
Unlike Presidents [[Abraham Lincoln]] and [[Franklin Roosevelt]], Barack Obama has shown scant concern about the revival of [[slavery]] which took place on his watch shortly after his "apology tour", intended to diminish U.S. influence in the world.<ref>[http://womensenews.org/story/international-policyunited-nations/150527/un-sex-violence-envoy-focusing-syria-iraq UN Sex Violence Envoy: Focusing on Syria, Iraq]</ref><ref>[http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2009/06/barack-obamas-top-10-apologies-how-the-president-has-humiliated-a-superpower Barack Obama's Top 10 Apologies: How the President Has Humiliated a Superpower], [[Heritage Foundation]]</ref> Obama, who was raised a Muslim<ref>[http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2007/01/was_obama_blood.html Was Obama bloodied by madrassa story?]</ref><ref>[http://www.danielpipes.org/11952/obama-muslim-childhood Obama's Muslim Childhood]</ref> and is not a descendent of slaves, criticized Christians and the Crusades as reports of thousands of women and girls being captured, sold, and raped flooded in.<ref>[http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/579393/ISIS-Michelle-Obama-prostitute-justifies-raping-slave-girls-Koran ISIS calls Michelle Obama a PROSTITUTE and justifies raping slave girls with the KORAN]</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-speech-at-prayer-breakfast-called-offensive-to-christians/2015/02/05/6a15a240-ad50-11e4-ad71-7b9eba0f87d6_story.html Critics pounce after Obama talks Crusades, slavery at prayer breakfast], [[Washington Post]]</ref>

====Commander-in-chief====
As Senator, Obama was highly critical of President Bush and promised change. As President, Obama has tripled down in Afghanistan, widened the war into Pakistan, multiplied drone attacks, bombed Yemen and Somalia, and started an undeclared NATO war in Libya. On presidential war powers, surveillance questions, Guantanamo, detention policy and habeas corpus, Obama has similarly stayed the course, or expanded Bush's precedents. In a speech on May 19, 2011 Obama fully embraced the [[Bush Doctrine]] of preventative war.<ref>Krauthammer, C. (April 19). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-news-in-obamas-speech/2011/05/19/AF4dFN7G_story.html The News in Obama's Speech]. ''[[Washington Post]]''.</ref>
From the Boston Globe:
<blockquote>
'The New America Foundation, which tracks the strikes, has listed 23 raids since the beginning of April, 2011, all but one in Pakistan’s tribal regions of North and South Waziristan. A June 20 attack was reported in Kurram, an area north of North Waziristan along the Afghanistan border.'
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
'The drone program has become increasingly controversial as the Obama administration has expanded its use beyond the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Lethal missiles have been launched from unmanned aircraft in at least five countries in addition to Pakistan: Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and, most recently, Somalia. The military’s Joint Special Operations Command used a drone last June to attack what officials said were two senior members of the Al Shabab militant group on the Somali coast.' <ref>DeYoung, K. (2011, July 4). [http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2011/07/04/cia_halts_drone_launches_from_pakistan_base/ CIA Halts Drone Launches From Pakistan Base]. ''[[The Boston Globe]]''. </ref>
</blockquote>
A commentator says:
<blockquote>
'Obama is commendable when he says he wants to avoid war. His policies, however, favor war by destabilizing the Middle East making it extremely hostile and favoring radical Islam over America’s ally, Israel, and American interests in the region... The president has chosen a very dangerous path for every American and one that promises great difficulty for Israel.' <ref> [http://www.thejerusalemconnection.us/blog/2012/03/14/obamas-words-disguise-his-israel-foreign-policy-actions.html Obama's words disguise his Israel foreign policy actions.] </ref>
</blockquote>
By Obama's third year as Commander-in-Chief, over 1200 American troops died in Iraq and Afghanistan - significantly more than the number who died during President [[George W. Bush]]'s term of office. And growing numbers of civilian contractors also have fallen. In the first half of 2010, 250 contractors reportedly died in Iraq and Afghanistan - more than the 235 military personnel who fell during the same period.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/24/114662/what-price-war.html#ixzz1Nz07pg5O</ref>
====National Defense====
President Obama signed into U.S. law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), only after his administration successfully lobbied to remove language from the bill that would have protected American citizens from being detained indefinitely without trial.<ref>Aaron Dykes. [http://www.infowars.com/president-obamas-ndaa-signing-statement-i-have-the-power-to-detain-americans-but-i-wont/ Obama’s Signing Statement on NDAA: I have the power to detain Americans… but I won’t], Infowars.com, January 1, 2012. </ref> After the legislation cleared Congress, the ACLU commented that if President Obama signed the bill it "will damage both his legacy and American’s reputation for upholding the rule of law," while executive director of the ''Human Rights Watch'' blasted the President for being ‘on the wrong side of history,’ noting that "Obama will go down in history as the president who enshrined indefinite detention without trial in US law."<ref>President Decides to Sign Ill-Conceived National Defense Authorization Act. [http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/12/14/us-refusal-veto-detainee-bill-historic-tragedy-rights US: Refusal to Veto Detainee Bill A Historic Tragedy for Rights], ''[[Human Rights Watch]]'', December 14, 2011. </ref><ref>[http://www.aclu.org/national-security/white-house-backs-away-defense-bill-veto-threat White House Backs Away from Defense Bill Veto Threat], ''[[ACLU]]'', December 14, 2011.</ref>

Section 1031 of the NDAA bill, which itself defines the entirety of the United States as a “battlefield,” allows American citizens to be snatched from the streets, carted off to a foreign detention camp and held indefinitely without trial. As reported by Infowars.com, the bill states that “any person who has committed a belligerent act” faces indefinite detention, but no trial or evidence has to be presented, the White House merely needs to make the accusation.<ref>Paul Joseph Watson. [http://www.infowars.com/obama-administration-demanded-power-to-indefinitely-detain-u-s-citizens/ Obama Administration Demanded Power To Indefinitely Detain U.S. Citizens], Infowars.com, December 12, 2011.</ref><ref>S.1867 [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c112:2:./temp/~c1122VN0Iv:e548990: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Engrossed in Senate [Passed Senate] - ES)], ''[[Library of Congress]]'' THOMAS, 112th Congress (2011-2011), Accessed January 25, 2012.</ref><ref>Text of S.1867 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. [http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s1867/text?version=es&nid=t0:es:281 Sec. 1031. Affirmation of authority of the Armed Forces of the United States to detain covered persons pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force.], [[U.S. Congress]], ''OpenCongress.org'', (Accessed January 25, 2012).</ref>
====More deaths in "dumb wars"====
American deaths in [[Afghanistan]] more than doubled in Obama's first few years compared with the preceding eight years of George Bush <ref>Chesser, S.G. (2012, July 12). [http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41084.pdf Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians - CRS Report for Congress]. Pg. 3. ''Congressional Research Service'''.</ref> as he increased troop strength for no discernible purpose and to "win" unstated objectives. Against his own Defense Secretary's advice, Obama [[Libyan uprising 2011|attacked Libya]] and forced regime change without Congressional authorization in violation of the post-Nixon era reform measure, the [[War Powers Act]].

After he took personal credit for killing [[Osama bin Laden]], the [[U.S. State Department]] warned of increased risk to the lives and safety of Americans.<ref>''KABC-TV/DT'' (2011, July 27). [http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=8273909 Risk of anti-US violence up after Osama bin Laden's death]. On ''ABC7 News''.</ref> Bin Laden's successor, [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]] confirmed the [[Benghazi Attack]] which took place on the anniversary of 9/11 and killed more Americans, was motivated by al-Qaeda's desire for revenge.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/12/world/africa/libya-attack-jihadists/index.html Pro-al Qaeda group seen behind deadly Benghazi attack], By Nic Robertson, Paul Cruickshank and Tim Lister, [[CNN]], September 13, 2012.</ref> Bin Laden's death, as Obama's advisers warned, freed up jihadis who swore an oath of allegiance to the 9/11 mastermind to swear allegiance to rival and competing factions. The competing factions advocated the immediate establishment of the Islamic State, rather than after the overthrow of the Saudi monarchy and retaking of Mecca. As was well known, bin Laden always held a controversial and minority position among jihadis on the strategy for global jihad by attacking the United States first. Bin Laden's killing, intended as an election year gimmick, brought Obama no improvement in approval ratings and spawned unprecedented growth in global terror and jihadi recruiting.

====Al Qaeda and Libya====
{{main article|Libyan uprising 2011}}
In February 2011, the political unrest that spread through the Arab world showed up as protests in Libya. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, leader of Libya for 41 years, responded to the violence<ref>[http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28376.htm There Was No Libyan Peaceful Protest, Just Murderous Gangs and Nic Robertson]</ref> with legitimate steps.<ref name="nyt libya">{{cite web|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/libya/index.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|publisher=The New York Times Inc.|format=HTML|language=English|title=Libya — Protests and Revolt (2011)}}</ref> The [[United Nations Security Council]] voted to impose [[sanctions]], and later passed a resolution to protect civilians. Obama, without approval from Congress and over the objections of his own National Security staff,<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gates-libyan-no-fly-zone-means-attacking-libya/ Gates: Libyan no-fly zone means attacking Libya], [[CBS News]]</ref> directed American forces to take out Libya's air defense system.<ref name="nyt libya"/> Secretary of Defence [[Robert Gates]], National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough, and [[White House]] counterterrorism chief [[John O. Brennan]] all opposed the action. Obama later said, "if we waited one more day Benghazi, a city nearly the size of Charlotte, could suffer a massacre that would have reverberated across the region and stained the conscience of the world."<ref>{{cite web|author=Barack Obama|url=http://www.npr.org/2011/03/28/134935452/obamas-speech-on-libya-a-responsibility-to-act|title=Obama's Speech On Libya: 'A Responsibility To Act'|date=March 28, 2011|publisher=National Public Radio ([[NPR]])|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref> [[Alan J. Kuperman]], in an editorial for the ''[[Boston Globe]]'', suggested this statement was false, writing, "intervention did not prevent genocide, because no such bloodbath was in the offing. To the contrary, by emboldening rebellion, US interference has prolonged Libya’s civil war and the resultant suffering of innocents."<ref name="kuperman">{{cite web|author=Alan J. Kuperman|work=The Boston Globe|url=http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-14/bostonglobe/29418371_1_rebel-stronghold-civilians-rebel-positions|title="False pretense for war in Libya?"|date=April 14, 2011}}</ref> Kuperman, a professor of public affairs at the [[University of Texas]] who authored a book called ''The Limits of Humanitarian Intervention'', further stated that the rebels had tricked the world into thinking a bloodbath was at hand and that Obama had lied to the American people in order to act on this theory.<ref name="kuperman"/>
<blockquote>
Gaddafi [never] threaten[ed] civilian massacre in Benghazi, as Obama alleged. The “no mercy’’ warning, of March 17, targeted rebels only, as reported by ''The New York Times'', which noted that Libya’s leader promised amnesty for those “who throw their weapons away.’’ Gaddafi even offered the rebels an escape route and open border to Egypt, to avoid a fight “to the bitter end.’’ <ref> [http://politicalcartel.org/2011/04/17/libya-and-the-obama-doctrine/ Libya and the “Obama Doctrine”.] </ref>
</blockquote>
Gaddafi wrote to Obama and told him he bore no ill will. "We have been hurt more morally than physically because of what had happened against us in both deeds and words by you," he wrote. "Despite all this you will always remain our son whatever happened. We still pray that you continue to be president of the USA. We endeavour and hope that you will gain victory in the new election campaign."<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/06/gaddafi-obama-nato-libya?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 Gaddafi begs Obama to halt 'unjust war' ], [[The Guardian ]]</ref>
=====Aid to violent Islamists=====
A March 29, 2011 article in the ''[[Washington Post]]'' included these paragraphs:
{{Cquote|"It’s almost a certitude that at least part” of the Libyan opposition includes members of al-Qaeda, said Bruce Riedel, a former senior CIA analyst and adviser to President Obama. Riedel said that anti-Gaddafi elements in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi have had “very close associations with al-Qaeda” dating back years....I would hope that we now have a good sense of the opposition in Libya and can say that this is 2 percent, not 20 percent,” Riedel said. “If we don’t, then we are running the risk of helping to bring to power a regime that could be very dangerous.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/libyan-opposition-includes-a-small-number-of-al-qaeda-fighters-us-officials-say/2011/03/29/AFRlXWyB_story.html Libyan opposition includes a small number of al-Qaeda fighters, U.S. officials say], [[Washington Post]]</ref>}}

This set off a fierce debate in the [[Obama administration]] over the wisdom of arming terrorists.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/world/africa/30diplo.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss Washington in Fierce Debate on Arming Libyan Rebels], [[The New York Times]]</ref> It is now known sometime prior to March 31, 2011,<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/africa/31intel.html?_r=2&hp C.I.A. Agents in Libya Aid Airstrikes and Meet Rebels], [[The New York Times]]</ref> at the urging of Hillary Clinton<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/africa/19policy.html?_r=3&hp& Obama Takes Hard Line With Libya After Shift by Clinton], [[The New York Times]]</ref> and over the objections of his National Security Council, Obama signed a Presidential Finding authorizing support for the rebel jihadis.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-libya-usa-order-idUSTRE72T6H220110330 Exclusive: Obama authorizes secret help for Libya rebels], [[Reuters]]</ref>

By October 2011, [[Libyan rebel fighting group]]s with support from [[NATO]] overtook the capital and toppled the government. Gaddafi was captured and brutally and sadistically murdered.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPzeLLL9V-c Leading from behind - a critique of Obama foreign policy]</ref> The jihadis were immediately recognized by the U.S. and the U.N. as the new legitimate government. Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council, announced [[Sharia]] will be the source for all legislation and all laws conflicting with Sharia are null and void.<ref name="Sharia">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8861608/Libya-Al-Qaeda-flag-flown-above-Benghazi-courthouse.html Libya: Al Qaeda flag flown above Benghazi courthouse] - [[Daily Telegraph]]</ref> Abdel Rahim al-Kib, the country's interim prime minister, echoed Jalil's words days later.<ref>[http://www.presstv.ir/detail/207953.html New Libyan PM backs Islamic sharia law]</ref> The al Qaeda flag was flown above the Benghazi courthouse, and reports surfaced that the Libyan jihadis had imposed Sharia law in some parts of the country even earlier.<ref name="Sharia" /> By February 17, 2013, four foreign nationals were arrested for distributing Christian literature, a charge that could carry the death penalty<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/17/libya-arrests-suspected-foreign-missionaries Libya arrests foreign 'missionaries' Four foreign nationals accused of distributing Christian literature] a charge that could carry the death penalty, Chris Stephen [[The Guardian]], Sunday 17 February 2013.</ref>

=====Terrorist attack on American soil=====
:{{main|Benghazi Attack}}
With several U.S.embassies besieged on the anniversary of the [[September 11 attacks]], White House Press Secretary [[Jay Carney]] declared there was no reason to believe the attack on the sovereign territory of the United States consulate in Benghazi, less than two months before the [[2012 Presidential election]] which killed Americans, was a terrorist attack.
{{Cquote|The unrest that we’ve seen around the region has been in reaction to a video that Muslims, many Muslims, find offensive.}}
This became the official White House line. Between laughs with [[Jon Stewart]] on [[Comedy Central]], Obama said the death of Americans was "not optimal".<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/10/18/Obama-Benghazi-murders-not-optimal Interview with Jon Stewart of the ''Daily Show''], [[Breitbart.com]]</ref> When pressed by reporters, who pointed out evidence that the violence in Benghazi was a terrorist attack, Press Secretary Carney argued “the unrest around the region has been in response to this video.”

Leading suspected jihadis in the murders and terrorist attack were the local Benghazi branch of Ansar al-Shariah, known to have ties to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121023114113/http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2012/10/19/when-an-obama-adviser-called-benghazi-an-al-qaeda-hotbed/?cxntfid=blogs_political_insider_jim_galloway When an Obama adviser called Benghazi an al-Qaeda hotbed]</ref> A commander of the terrorist group boasted jovially about the attack over drinks with reporters for the ''[[New York Times]]'' in Benghazi<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/world/africa/election-year-stakes-overshadow-nuances-of-benghazi-investigation.html?pagewanted=2&ref=world Election-Year Stakes Overshadow Nuances of Libya Investigation], [[The New York Times]]</ref>.<ref>[http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/10/frappe-libya-attack/ Frappe-Sipping Libyan Militant Laughs at U.S. Manhunt for Benghazi Killers], [[Wired (magazine)]]</ref>

=====[[Al Qaeda in the Maghreb]]=====
Two more Americans were killed, along with 35 others, after being taken hostage by rebel jihadists in Mali shortly after the Libyan upheaval.<ref>[http://world.time.com/2013/01/21/algeria-37-foreigner-hostages-killed-in-attack/ Algeria: 37 Foreigner Hostages Killed in Attack], Associated Press, Jan. 21, 2013. ''[[Time Magazine]]''.</ref>

Hillary Clinton testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the wake of the Benghazi murders under her stewardship, that weapons and fighters equipped by the Obama administration made their way to [[Mali]] and [[Algeria]]:
{{cquote|There is no doubt that the Algerian terrorists had weapons from Libya. There is no doubt that the Malian remnants of AQIM [Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb] have weapons from Libya.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/clinton-says-militants-used-weapons-libya-algeria-attack-154222664.html Clinton says militants used weapons from Libya in Algeria attack] [[Reuters]], Jan 23, 2013.</ref>}}

====Afghanistan====
{{main article|Afghanistan War}}
Obama escalated troop strength<ref name="pbs">{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/obamaswar/themes/strategy.html#ixzz1LhWNImZp|title=Obama's New Strategy (March '09)|author=George Packer, Seth Jones, David Kilcullen, Rory Stewart, Andrew Exum, Col. Andrew Bacevich (Ret.)|work=[[PBS]]|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref> and defense costs in Afghanistan from $43.5 billion in George Bush's last year to $113.7 billion for 2011.<ref>Congressional Research Service, quoted in Gregory Anthony, ''What price war?''</ref> Adviser to General [[Stanley McChrystal]] David Kilcullen wrote, "One of the big strategic shifts is the use of language now which talks about Pakistan and Afghanistan as the same theater. Now we talked about Af-Pak long before the Obama administration came about, but the public use of that term, and the description of it as the Afghanistan-Pakistan campaign, sends a new message to people about how the administration is going to think about Afghanistan and Pakistan."<ref name="pbs"/> T

====Mexico====
[[File:Eric Holder.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Eric Holder]] resigned as Attorney General in light of Fast & Furious<ref>[http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/10/fast_and_furious_in_a_rotten_nutshell.html#ixzz27iRBCN28 Fast and Furious in a Rotten Nutshell], Ronald Kolb, ''[[American Thinker]]'', October 7, 2011,</ref> and other scandals.]]
:''Main article:'' '''[[Operation Fast and Furious]]'''
In May of 2010, President Obama promised Mexican President [[Felipe Calderon]] that his administration would assist Mexico in curbing drug cartel violence, which has led to 30,000 deaths in Mexico. "President Calderon and I . . . stand together against the drug cartels that have unleashed horrific violence in so many communities," Obama said on May 19. "Mexico can count on the United States as a full partner in this effort."

The ''[[Washington Post]]'' has reported however that White House officials stopped a requirement for gun dealers to report bulk sales of high-powered semiautomatic rifles commonly used by illegal drug cartels. [[Justice Department]] officials had asked for White House approval to require thousands of gun dealers along the border to report the purchases to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives. ATF investigators expected to get leads on suspected arms traffickers. Senior law enforcement sources said the proposal from the ATF was held up by then White House chief of staff [[Rahm Emanuel]].<ref>Horwitz, S. & Grimaldi, J.V. (2010, December 17). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121706598.html White House Delayed Rule Meant to Stop Gun Flow to Mexico]. ''The [[Washington Post]]''.</ref> Gun dealers have been required for decades to report the sales of multiple handguns to the ATF.

====Guantanamo Bay====
{{main article|Guantanamo Bay}}
One of Obama's campaign promises was that he would close the American detention center at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba - detainees would be flown to other countries while the ones awaiting trial would enter the American court system. Two days after taking office he signed an order directing the military to do so.<ref name="salon">{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/04/25/obama_guantanamo_rhetoric|work=Salon|title=The Obama/Gitmo timeline|author=Natasha Lennard|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref> But, in November 2009 Obama admitted that his self imposed deadline of January 2010 would be missed, and in March 2011 the president went back on his campaign promise, signing an executive order to create a formal system of indefinite detention for the prisoners.<ref name="salon"/>
====Russia====
Obama criticized president of [[Russia]], [[Vladimir Putin]] for carrying out a referendum for the seizure of [[Crimea]] to Russia.<ref>[http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-calls-rethinking-crimea-vote Obama calls for a 'rethinking' on Crimea vote]. [[Cybercast News Service]]</ref>
===Congressional Relations===
Obama has maintained tense relations with Congress throughout his term as President. Each of his budgets have been voted down, and many of his judicial appointments have not come to a vote. When Supreme Court Justice [[Antonin Scalia]] died on February 13, 2016, Obama made a point of addressing the nation to say that he would nominate a replacement, which drew criticism and rebuke from Republican Senators and Presidential candidates. Obama executive action in areas such as immigration policy have drawn extensive criticism as infringing upon Congressional legislative powers.

==2012 Presidential Campaign==
: ''Main article: [[Presidential Election 2012]]''
===2011: Birth Certificate Released===
: ''Main article: [[Barack_Obama_Controversies#Birth_Certificate]]''
On April 27, 2011<ref>CNN Political Unit (2011, April 27). "[http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/27/white-house-releases-obama-birth-certificate/ White House Releases Obama Birth Certificate]." ''[[CNN]]''.</ref>, a long-running controversy surrounding Obama's birth was largely put to rest<ref>Winter, J. (2011, April 29). "[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/29/expert-says-obamas-birth-certificate-legit/ Expert: No Doubt Obama's Birth Certificate is Legit]." ''[[Fox News]]''. Tuchman, G. (2011, April 25). "[http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-25/politics/birthers.obama.hawaii_1_birther-controversy-obama-opinion-research-corporation?_s=PM:POLITICS Obama Birther Claims Have No Merit]." ''[[CNN]]''. (2011, April 27). "[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42779923/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-releases-detailed-us-birth-certificate/ Obama Releases Detailed U.S. Birth Certificate]." ''[[MSNBC]]''.</ref> when Obama had his long-form birth certificate posted at WhiteHouse.gov.<ref>"[http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/birth-certificate-long-form.pdf Certificate of Live Birth]." State of Hawaii. Retrieved from ''WhiteHouse.gov''.</ref> [[Donald Trump]], who had attacked Obama on the Birth Certificate issue and was then leading Republicans in polls for the upcoming GOP primary<ref>James, F. (2011, April 15). "[http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2011/04/15/135446314/poll-donald-trump-birther-darling-leads-gop-field-at-26 Donald Trump, Birther In Chief? Poll Has Him Leading GOP Field with 26 Percent]." ''[[NPR]]''.</ref>, was effectively knocked out of the race because of this.<ref>Kapur, S. (2011, May 10). "[http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/05/10/trumps-popularity-tanks-after-obama-releases-long-form-birth-certificate/ Trump's Popularity Tanks After Obama Releases Long-Form Birth Certificate]." ''RawStory.com''.</ref>

The following is a timeline of previous events leading up to the release:

* In June 2008 the Obama campaign allowed FactCheck.org to look at his “Certificate of Live Birth” and take photos.<ref>Henig, J. (2008, August 21). [https://web.archive.org/web/20080823190312/http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html Born in the U.S.A.], FactCheck.org.</ref>
* In July 2008 a blogger discovered a birth announcement from the ''Honolulu Advertiser'' from August 13, 1961 for Barack Obama. It has since been discovered another newspaper, the ''Star Bulletin'', also documented the birth.<ref>[[Snopes.com]]. [http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthcertificate.asp Barack Obama Birth Certificate]</ref>
* PolitiFact went to extreme lengths to verify Obama’s citizenship, attaining scanned copies of his 1992 marriage certificate from Cook County, IL, his driver’s license record, and his registration and disciplinary record. PolitiFact also addressed a number of concerns about the documentation.<ref>Hollyfield, A. (2008, June 27). [http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/jun/27/obamas-birth-certificate-part-ii/ Obama’s birth certificate: Final chapter], PolitiFact.</ref>
* In October 2008 Hawaii’s Department of Health released a statement by Dr. Chiyome Fukino verifying that Obama’s birth certificate was on record.<ref>[http://hawaii.gov/health/about/pr/2008/08-93.pdf Hawaii Department of Health. News Release: Statement by Dr. Chiyome Fukino.]</ref>
* In August 2009 it was revealed that an alleged Kenyan birth certificate for Obama was a hoax.<ref>[[Snopes.com]]. [http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/birthers/kenyacert.asp Kenyan Mistake]</ref> Another website allows you to create your own imitation Kenyan birth certificates online.<ref>[http://kenyanbirthcertificategenerator.com/ KenyanBirthCertificateGenerator.com], Blue Collar Industries.</ref>

===2011: Death of Osama bin Laden===
On May 1, 2011, Obama misled the public when he announced <ref>Obama, B. (2011, May 2). "[http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/05/02/osama-bin-laden-dead Osama Bin Laden Dead]." ''[[White House]]''.</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf1SLhNoUNY Nobel Prize Winner with a kill list].</ref> that Osama bin Laden was "killed in a firefight" after a U.S. special operations group infiltrated a compound in [[Abbottabad raid|Abottobad]], Pakistan.<ref>Baker, P., Cooper, H., & Mazzetti, M. (2011, May 1). "[Bin Laden is Dead, Obama Says]." ''[[The New York Times]]''. "[http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Osama_Bin_Laden/ Target Bin Laden: The Death of Public Enemy #1]." ''ABC News''. ''[[NPR]]''. "[http://www.npr.org/series/135908383/osama-bin-laden-dead Special Series: Osama Bin Laden Killed]." </ref> Attacks, murders, and kidnappings of Americans have since escalated as reprisals for bin Laden's death. [[Al Qaeda]], once broken and on the run, operates openly as the jihad has now become global. Relations with Pakistan, a longtime ally throughout the Cold War and War on Terror, became strained. The government of Pakistan denied White House claims it allowed Americans to kill Muslims on its territory.<ref>''[[Associated Press]]'' (2011, May 10). "[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/05/10/pakistani-president-claims-bin-laden-deal/ Former Pakistani President Claims There Was Never Bin Laden Deal With U.S.]." Retrieved from ''[[Fox News]]''.</ref> For all his duplicity and criticism of the War on Terror, Obama experienced only a temporary blip in approval ratings.<ref>Dao, J. & Sussman, D. (2011, May 4). "[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/us/politics/05poll.html For Obama, Big Rise in Poll Numbers After Bin Laden Raid]." ''New York Times''. ''Pew Research Center'' (2011, May 2). "[http://www.people-press.org/2011/05/03/public-relieved-by-bin-ladens-death-obamas-job-approval-rises/ Public 'Relieved' by Bin Laden's Death, Obama's Job Approval Rises]." Jones, J.M. (2011, May 5). "[http://www.gallup.com/poll/147437/obama-approval-rallies-six-points-bin-laden-death.aspx Obama Job Approval Rallies Six Points to 52% After Bin Laden Death]." ''Gallup''.</ref><ref>''[[CBS News]]/[[Associated Press]]'' (2012, May 1). "[http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57424622/1-year-after-osama-bin-laden-killed-still-no-answers-from-pakistan/ 1 Year After Osama bin Laden Killed, Still No Answers from Pakistan]."</ref>

An NBC investigation revealed Obama was informed of bin Laden's whereabouts one full year before he attempted to use it as an election year issue. NBC further reported that there was no "firefight" at all, contradicting what the president told the nation.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3077864/NBC-investigatin-says-bama-DID-edit-role-Pakistan-killing-Bin-Laden-change-facts-credit.html NBC investigation claims Obama knew where bin Laden was ONE YEAR before 2011 raid and backs Seymour Hersh's claim Pakistan intelligence hid al-Qaeda chief], [[Daily Mail ]]</ref> As early as the day after bin Laden was executed, it was learned bin Laden was not armed in the alleged "firefight" that Obama claimed took place.

=== 2012: Possible Ties to ACORN ===
According to Stanley Kurtz - author of ''Radical-in-Chief: Barack Obama and the Untold Story of American Socialism'' (2010) Obama in 1995 sought and obtained the endorsement of a left-wing third party, the [[New Party]] in his quest to be elected to the Illinois State Senate.<ref>Kurtz, S. (2012, June 7). [http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/302031/obamas-third-party-history-stanley-kurtz Obama's Third-Party History]. ''[[National Review Online]]''.</ref> Obama's "Fight the Smears" campaign has denied this, as has [[Politico]]'s Ben Smith.<ref name=pollack>Pollack, J.B. (2012, June 7). [http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/06/07/Obama-Caught-Lying-Again-He-WAS-Member-of-New-Party-Says-Kurtz Obama Caught Lying Again: He WAS Member of 'New Party', Says Kurtz]. ''[[Breitbart.com]]'' Smith, B. (2008, October 25). [http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/The_dread_New_Party.html The Dread New Party]. ''[[Politico]]''.</ref> Others who claim he was affiliated with the New Party/ACORN include [[The Blaze]]'s Billy Hallowell<ref>Hallowell, B. (2012, June 7). [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/report-new-documents-show-obama-was-a-member-of-the-far-left-new-party/ News Docs Reportedly Show Obama Was a Member of the Far-Left 'New Party']. ''[[The Blaze]]''.</ref>, [[Breitbart News Network|Breitbart]]'s Joel Pollack, [[Human Events]]' Erick Erickson<ref>Erickson, E. (2008, June 10). [http://www.humanevents.com/2008/06/10/obama-and-the-new-party/ Obama and the New Party]. ''[[Human Events]]''.</ref>, Newsbusters' P.J. Gladnick<ref>Gladnick, P.J. (2008, October 12). [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2008/10/08/will-msm-report-obama-membership-socialist-new-party#ixzz21JfE3z1z Will MSM Report on Obama Membership in Socialist New Party?] ''[[Newsbusters]]''.</ref>, Rick Moran at AmericanThinker.com<ref>Rick Moran. [http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/06/obamas_alliance_with_marxists.html Obama's Alliance with Marxists], ''[[American Thinker]]'', June 03, 2008.</ref>, and various writers at [[Discover the Networks]] (which include Kurtz and Erickson).<ref>[http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7434 NEW PARTY (NP)], ''[[Discover the Networks]]''.</ref>

Kurtz in 2012 has claimed to find minutes of the New Party Chicago chapter that say, "''Barack Obama, candidate for State Senate in the 13th Legislative District, gave a statement to the membership and answered questions. He signed the New Party 'Candidate Contract' and requested an endorsement from the New Party. He also joined the New Party.''"<ref name=pollack /> Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod responded to Kurtz with silence and when asked if that meant "yes or no", Axelrod stated, "You can take that as I have no idea what you are talking about."<ref>Pollack, J.B. (2012, June 7). [http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/06/07/Exclusive-Axelrod-Plays-Dumb-on-Obama-and-Socialist-New-Party Exclusive: Axelrod Plays Dumb on Obama and Socialist New Party]. ''[[Breitbart.com]]''.</ref>

===2012: "You didn't build that" Controversy===
{{main|You didn't build that}}
On July 13, 2012, at a campaign event in [[Virginia]], Obama gave a speech that immediately stirred up controversy. Speaking about the government's role in the success of private business, he said:<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/07/13/remarks-president-campaign-event-roanoke-virginia Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event in Roanoke, Virginia], [[White House]]</ref>
{{cquote|If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business - you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.}} The [[Romney]] campaign has used "If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that" in ads to show America that Obama believes it is government that creates business rather than hard-working individuals. The Obama campaign has alternatively stated that the sentenced was poorly worded since he was not giving a scripted speech and that when Obama said "that" he was referring to roads and bridges. Obama points to a later portion of his speech in which he said, "The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together," to support his claim.

===Results===
On November 6, 2012 Barack Obama won reelection with 332 electoral votes to Mitt Romney's 206.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/2012-election/results/map/ 2012 Presidential Election], [[Politico]]</ref> Obama received 51% of the popular vote (65,899,660 votes) to Romney's 47% (60,932,152 votes).<ref>[http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2012/2012presgeresults.pdf Official 2012 Presidential General Election Results], [[Federal Election Commission]]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Political positions of Barack Obama]]
*[[Barack Obama and uncharitableness]]
*[[Barack Obama and abortion]]
*[[Essay:Born Outside the U.S.A.!]]
*[[Essay: The Special Interests Candidate]]
*[[Lobbyists ties to the Obama administration]]
*[[Obama doublespeak]]
*[[Obama inauguration]]
*[[Religion of Barack Hussein Obama]]
*[[The Honorable James David Manning]]
*[[Al Qaeda in the Maghreb]]
*[[Essay:The Obama Manifesto]]
*[[Obama syndrome]]
*[[Barack Obama's past dog meat eating and 2012 election campaign]]
*[[Barack Obama's "Last chance at dinner" fundraising letter]]
*[[Essay: Does Barack Hussein Obama care if America defaults on credit?]]
*[[Essay:The lie that we are safer under Obama]]
*[[Essay: Foes Want Obama to Fail, A Republican Perspective]]
*[[Essay:Impeach Obama]]
*[[Obama's second term agenda]]
*[[ObamaRail]]
*[[Obama sequester]]
*[[Obama (disambiguation)]]
*[[Essay: President's speech after the defeat of two tyrants]]
* [[Unconstitutional]] [[Executive amnesty]] via Obama [[Executive Order]]s
* [[Universal health care]] for [[Illegal immigration|illegal aliens]] via [[ObamaCare]]

==External links==

*[http://barackobamadoubletalk.com/ Barack Obama Doubletalk]
*[http://hotair.com/archives/2013/07/03/national-journal-obama-facing-crisis-over-incompetence/ National Journal: Obama facing crisis over incompetence]
*[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/6130/ The New Cult of Personality]
*[http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/06/23/che-obama-and-the-revolutionary-agenda/ Che, Obama, and the Revolutionary Agenda]
*[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/09/americas-first-muslim-president/ GAFFNEY: America's first Muslim president?] Washington Times
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-l-esposito/barack-obama-and-islam_b_212519.html Barack Obama and Islam.] by [[John L. Esposito]].
*[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78931 Democrat: Obama's grandma confirms Kenyan birth.]
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/barack_obama.htm Barack Obama on the issues.]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{USPresidents}}
{{2008 presidential candidates}}
{{2012 presidential candidates}}
[[Category:Barack Hussein Obama]]
[[Category:Obama Presidency]]
[[Category:Obama Administration]]
[[Category:Current Heads of government]]
[[Category:Current Heads of State]]
[[category:Nobel laureates in Peace]]
[[Category:Abortion Advocates]]
[[Category:Muslims]]
[[Category:Socialists]]
[[Category:Homosexual Agenda]]
[[Category:Chicago]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:Anti Second Amendment]]
[[Category:Liberal Authors]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obama, Barack Hussein}}

Shine Technologies

2016-02-20T01:40:56Z

DerekE: /* Reactions */ and vs bus

'''Shine Technologies''' is an [[Israeli]] company that makes [[Ad blocking]] security software for mobile phone carriers. The three “principal goals” for mobile carrier deployment: <ref>[http://techcrunch.com/2016/02/18/shine-bags-first-european-carrier-as-three-uk-deploys-network-level-ad-blocking/ Shine Signs First European Carriers To Its Network-Level Ad Blocking Tech, Tech Crunch, February 17, 2016]</ref>

*eliminating data charges for ads for its customers;
*protecting customer [[privacy]] and security;
*swatting “excessive, intrusive, unwanted or irrelevant adverts.”

Shine’s CMO Roi Carthy, “customers should be entitled to receive advertising that is relevant and interesting to them, and not to have their data experience in mobile degraded”. The company claims to be the only one offering network-level mobile ad blocking.

== Reactions ==

Mobile operators like the concept, but ad companies loathe it. The mobile carriers say [[Facebook]] and [[Google]] generate huge ad revenues, which are not shared with mobile phone operators. This technology levels the field, forcing ad companies to negotiate while giving the user the best possible data experience. Threats of [[Net Neutrality]] violations are regularly leveled against the company.

== External links ==

* [https://getshine.com/ Official website]

== References ==
<References/>

[[Category:Software]]

Counterexamples to Global Warming

2016-02-20T01:37:50Z

DerekE: /* See also */ added a example

[[File:GlobalTemps June2009.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Despite an increase in atmospheric CO2, the earth has been cooling slightly for the past decade.]]

[[Global warming]] is the theory that the earth is gradually warming up due to human influence. Unusual cold weather disproves the politically motivated claim by [[liberal|liberals]] that the [[Earth]] is rapidly warming.

[[Liberal bias]] is severe for this issue: the [[lamestream media]] are far more likely to report on unusually hot weather than unusually cold weather. When there is strikingly cold weather, the [[lamestream media]] headlines distort the truth by calling it "nasty" or "severe", rather than "very cold."

== Cold Weather Patterns ==
====North America/United States====

Many record-breaking cold temperatures and snowstorms have occurred in the last 10 years:

*About as many snowfalls have occurred in Florida in the past 10 years as in the 100 years before that.

*Prior to [[Thanksgiving]] 2013, a snowstorm ravaged the southwest and Texas, while temperatures in the northeast were about 15 degrees below normal.

*In January 2014, "the Midwest shivered through the region's lowest temperatures in two decades."<ref>http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/01/05/3854506/savage-cold-spreads-and-florida.html#storylink=cpy</ref>

*In the first half of 2011, West Coast temperature have been consistently running at least 10-15 degrees below normal. Many have theorized that this is [[God]] sending a message to [[liberals]].

*In Truckee-Tahoe in the second half of June 2011, every day the temperatures have been colder than normal, '''''often nearly 30 degrees below average'''''.<ref>http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KTRK/2011/5/30/MonthlyHistory.html</ref>

*Though unreported by the [[lamestream media]], temperatures in [[New Jersey]] at the beginning of July 2011 are about ten degrees below normal.

*In January 2010, "coldest weather in 12 years hits North Texas."<ref>http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Coldest-Weather-in-12-Years-Descends-on-North-Texas-80828417.html</ref>

*In early February 2011, snow and ice pummeled Dallas and Houston, Texas, in a nearly unprecedented fashion.<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-04/houston-gripped-by-ice-under-winter-storm-forecast-to-turn-toward-new-york.html?nstrack=sid:5028563|met:104|cat:247|order:1</ref>

*February 2010, 241-mile Lake Erie was completely frozen over for the first time in 14 years.<ref>http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100213/NEWS02/302129904</ref>

*Lake Michigan had not frozen over since the 1970s until ... 2009, when it froze over, and then again in 2010 and 2011.

*[[New York City]] had its sixth-largest snowstorm '''''ever''''' on the day after [[Christmas]] in 2010, and the [[liberals]] in charge were unprepared.<ref>http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/snow_and_snowstorms/index.html</ref>

*In February 2011, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/26/us-weather-sanfrancisco-idUSTRE71P1NH20110226 some parts of San Francisco witnessed snow], though it was too little to count for an official measurement. San Francisco has not witnessed a recordable snow fall since 1976.

*Meteorologists did a thirty-year study of California forecast data. 75% of measurement sites saw a reduction in temperatures. <ref>[http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/07/long-term-california-cooling-trend-blamed-on-global-warming/ Long-term California Cooling Trend Blamed on Global Warming, Gateway Pundit, July 6, 2011]</ref>

*In late October of 2011, a [[Northeaster]] dumps 2+ feet of snow in much of the region, and leaves over 3 million people without power.<ref>Melia, Michael. "3M powerless as October snow surprises Northeast." October 30, 2011. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/10/30/snow_smacks_northeast_power_could_be_out_for_days/</ref>

*In January 2014, a huge storm dropped over two feet of snow in some parts of the Northeast, while record low temperatures occurred in other parts of the country. Just a couple of weeks later, another storm dumped over a foot of snow over the same region.

====Australia====

In spite of predictions, 2011 is shaping up to be a cold year for [[Australia]]. It saw the [http://www.qt.com.au/story/2011/06/24/ipswich-shivers-on-years-coldest-day/ coldest day on record for the east], the [http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/coldest-june-night-on-record-20100628-zdz9.html coldest June on record in the west], the [http://www.smh.com.au/national/coldest-may-on-record-for-darwin-20110531-1fe1x.html coldest May on record in the north], only *almost* record breaking [http://www.smh.com.au/national/coldest-may-on-record-for-darwin-20110531-1fe1x.html in the middle of the country], likewise for the [http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2011/05/31/260901_news.html south] and nationally it was [http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/season/aus/summary.shtml the coldest Autumn on record, ever].

But, but, but global warming! Maybe the west should burn ''more'' fossil fuels to heat things up? Or maybe they can use the hot air coming out of Al Gore's mouth?

Even SMH, a notoriously Liberal men's magazine, is asking [http://globalfreeze.wordpress.com/2011/05/20/australia-wakes-to-a-deep-freeze/ "Where's my Global Warming, Dude?"].

====Europe====

*The North-Western part of the European continent had [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/snow-brings-parts-of-britain-to-a-standstill-2144267.html an unusually cold November and December in 2010], leaving even the most convinced "global warming" believer to ask "If everything is heating up and we're all going to die in a matter of a few years, why have these months been so cold!?" The global-warming alarmist "answer": [http://andyrussell.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/why-has-this-winter-been-so-cold-in-europe/ "It's hotter, therefore it's colder. No really!"]

*In February of 2012, temperatures in Eastern Europe reached below -22 F. "Blizzards and the bone-chilling cold have resulted in the deaths of over 550 people so far, with rooftop-high snow drifts trapping tens of thousands of villagers in their homes and cutting off access to entire towns. It has even snowed as far south as North Africa."<ref>"Europe Hammered by Winter, Is North America Next?" February 16, 2012. NASA Science News. http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/16feb_deepfreeze/</ref>

====South America====

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-10749124 Cold waves in Peru are so bad they have to issue safety warnings about them.]

Tom Rowan from the American Thinker asks, [http://arcticsnap.com/index.php?id=65&linkbox=true&position=7 will 2011 be the year without Summer?]

Thirty-two inches of snow fell on the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert in [[Chile]]. They record less than 50mm of rain per year, 80cm of snow July 2011. <ref>[http://beforeitsnews.com/story/792/905/32_Inches_Of_Snow_Falls_In_Driest_Place_On_Earth.html 32 Inches Of Snow Falls In Driest Place On Earth!, beforeitsnews, July 7, 2011]</ref>

====Indian Subcontinent and Asia====

Delhi has been hit by thick fog during the winter of 2011 which disrupted flights, [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12125207 closed schools] and killed [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8438879.stm dozens of people], proving that even the Indian subcontinent is [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12106386 not immune to the cold wave sweeping over the globe for 2011].

Even the BBC, a liberal media bastion, is [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8439136.stm showing the pictures for all to see]. Is even the mainstream media abandoning "global warming", or is the evidence too much for them to sweep under the rug any more?

Meanwhile, the communist and atheist nation of North Korea (known as The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) is [http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/korea/2011/02/02/289892/N-Korea.htm freezing their little Atheist toes off]. The cold is so bad that the river that bisects Pyongyang has frozen over.

The cold appears to be universal, among industrial and non-industrial nations alike. Is it really ''carbon'' causing these events? And why are there no answers from the "global warming" community about the obvious inconsistencies in their theories?

====Central America====

In Mexico the unseasonably cold weather has caused [http://geo-mexico.com/?p=3766 significant destruction of crops] in early February 2011. If it's so cold that corn can't survive, why do people keep claiming the planet is warming up?

====Russian Landmass====

A severe cold [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/02/15/russian-winter-severe-cold-to-invade-moscow-and-eastern-europe/ was expected by Dr. Ryan N. Maue to hit Russia in February 2011].

The famous Russian cold defeated Napoleon's armies, perhaps it will defeat the armies of Al Gore too?

====China====

Chaos in China as a cold snap there [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-01/05/c_13677854.htm freezes over the highways, raises food price and causes Atheistic toes to curl]. Is there any part of the world actually affected by global warming? Going simply by the law of averages, at least *somewhere* must be getting warmer.

==Warm Weather Patterns ==

Warm weather patterns are fully expected in the absence of [[global warming]]. With global warming we wouldn't expect cold weather patterns, because the earth would be warmer.

The [[lamestream media]] publicize reports of hot weather, but that is utterly ineffective in trying to prove the existence of [[global warming]]. Warm weather does not change the fact that record cold weather disproves global warming. All the following record-breaking high temperatures would still be expected without [[global warming]]:

* [http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/34756/moscow-breaks-alltime-high-tem.asp?partner=accuweather Moscow]

* [http://www2.tricities.com/news/2011/feb/18/tri-cities-area-ties-all-time-record-high-thursday-ar-851560/ Tennessee]

* [http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/syracuses_temperature_sets_his.html Syracuse]

* [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-30/high-temperatures-hit-records-for-towns-in-oklahoma-arkansas.html Oklahoma]

* [http://www.kwes.com/story/14931869/record-high-temperatures West Texas], [http://capitalclimate.blogspot.com/2011/06/texas-toasted-20-all-time-record-high.html including the all-time record high in Amarillo, TX]

* [http://www.lsureveille.com/news/baton-rouge-facing-record-high-temperatures-1.2601916 Louisiana]

* [http://www.wctv.tv/weather/headlines/105_DEGREES_Tallahassee_Sets_New_All-Time_Record_High_123943144.html Tallahassee]

* [http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/06/28/52485345.html Western Europe]

* [http://english.sina.com/china/p/2011/0517/373689.html China]

* [http://lubbockonline.com/sports/2011-06-26/record-temperatures-dont-stop-competitors-ironman South Africa]

* [http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KICT/2011/6/9/WeeklyHistory.html Wichita, Kansas (temperature rose above 100 F around midnight)]

* [http://mapcenter.hamweather.com/records/7day/us.html?c=maxtemp,highmin| In one week in July 2011, approx 700 high temperature and 2000 high minimum temperature records are shattered] in a [http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2011/07/22/extreme-heat-smothers-large-part-us/?test=latestnews heatwave that blankets the entire MidWest and East Coast].

:* However, this also happened alongside a massive cold streak during the winter, so it is not a legitimate sign of Global Warming, and the heat wave is relatively short in duration.

* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44019419/ns/weather/#.Tj3h8GakLUg Little Rock, Arkansas, and 14 other cities and towns break their all-time record high temperature records], and Texas temperature records look set to be shattered in a summer heatwave that is sitting over the South in the summer of 2011. "I can't remember any year with the magnitude and length of this heat wave," Jack Hayes, director of the National Weather Service said.

* [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/11/us-drought-idUSTRE77A3P120110811 Texas drought is worst in a century, and extending to other Mid-Western States].

* As of July 6, 2012, 23,283 daily high temperature records have been set in 2012, up 71% compared to the same period in 2011.<ref>Memmott, Mark. "How Hot Is It? All You Need To See Are These Two Maps." July 6, 2012. NPR. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/07/06/156369399/how-hot-is-it-all-you-need-to-see-are-these-two-maps</ref>

* In spite of record cold and snowfall in the U.S., January 2014 was still [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2014/1 globally one of the warmest Januaries in history].

Random temperature fluctuations, including those above, would occur in the absence of [[global warming]].

== General Climate Patterns ==

*Although Global warming should be causing massive droughts,<ref>http://www.naturalnews.com/020649.html</ref> massive flooding along the Mississippi river in 2011 has resulted in many deaths as well as billions in property damage.

== The Gore Effect ==
Often, when a climate conference is held, a new record low temperature is set for that location. Maybe [[God]] is trying to send the alarmists a message? In light of the global cold snap all around the world, perhaps the message extends beyond Al Gore?

*During the Cancun climate conference, record low temperatures in the low 50s were set on three consecutive days. <ref>http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/12/08/gore-effect-strikes-cancun-climate-conference-3-days-in-a-row/</ref>

[[File:GoreFireBreathing.jpg]]

== See also ==

*[[Counterexamples to the Bible]] (none)
*[[Counterexamples to Evolution]] (48 and growing)
*[[Counterexamples to Relativity]] (48 and growing)
*[[Counterexamples to an Old Earth]] (45 and growing)
*[[Biblical Scientific Foreknowledge]]
*[[ClimateGate]]
*[http://www.accuweather.com/ Find the temperature in almost any city]
*[http://climate.rutgers.edu/stateclim_v1/norms/daily/index.html Daily Station Normals (extensive historical temperature data at NJ weather stations)]
*[http://www.surfacestations.org/ Surface Stations]
*[http://wattsupwiththat.com/ Watts Up With That]
*[http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/Climsum.html Western U.S. Climate Historical Summaries (find climate statistics for thousands of locations in the western United States)]
*[http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/ Science and Public Policy Institute]
*[http://www.JunkScience.org JunkScience.org] [[JunkScience|(Our wiki entry on JunkScience.org)]]
*[http://www.globalclimatescam.com/ Global Warming Scam]
*[http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html NOAA Satellite & Information Service]
*[http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1871503 PDF: The Tragedy of the Risk-Perception Commons: Culture Conflict, Rationality Conflict, and Climate Change]

== References ==

<references/>

{{Counterexamples}}

[[Category:Counterexamples]]
[[Category:Global Warming]]
[[Category:Environmentalism]]

User:DerekE

2016-02-20T01:25:28Z

DerekE: Cruz to victory

{{welcome|sig=--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 22:41, 5 October 2009 (EDT)}}
Thanks for the hat-tip earlier TCOT Report. --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 22:41, 5 October 2009 (EDT)

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{{userboxtop
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{{User American}}
{{User USMC}}
{{User TEA Partier}}
{{User limited govt}}
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{{User Republican}}
{{User patriot}}
{{User UFC}}
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</div>

[[File:Rwn.jpg|right|thumb|300px| '''Conservapedia: Ranked #37 out of the 50 most popular [[Conservative]] websites in 2009 [http://www.rightwingnews.com/mt331/2009/03/the_50_most_popular_websites_o.php] ]]
 '''I support [[Ted Cruz]] for [[2016 presidential election|President, 2016]], but if I have to, I would also vote for [[Donald Trump]].''' 
 
'''''Question: ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOg3HM5jzKo&NR=1 Who is the worst president ever?]'''''''
 
 
'''''Answer:''''' ''The'' [http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/06/the_agitatorinchief.html Agitator and Chief], also known as [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2012/01/05/the_lawless_obama_regime The Lawless One]: [[Barack Hussein Obama]].''
 
 
 

 
[[File:Gopcon.jpg|150px|center]]

Gun control

2016-02-20T01:21:54Z

DerekE: Civil right

'''Gun control''' attempts to restrict the lawful purchase, ownership, or carrying of guns, including those acquired for defensive or sporting purposes. Studies show that increasing lawful access to guns results in less crime,<ref>''Shall issue: the new wave of concealed handgun permit laws'', Cramer C and Kopel D. Golden CO: Independence Institute Issue Paper. October 17, 1994</ref> but, despite the fact that gun ownership is a [[civil right]], leftists and [[liberals]] alike push gun control because it increases the dependency of voters on government for protection while disarming citizens capable of fighting back against [[tyranny]]. The political effect of gun control is to shift voters leftward, and hence the primary supporters of gun control are the [[liberal media]] and [[leftist]] politicians.<ref>[http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/wew/quotes/repeal.html Quotes of Leftists Demanding Gun Control]</ref> In the [[United Kingdom]], which already has the strictest gun control in Europe, [[leftists]] demand control over 120,000 ''deactivated'' guns, although their activation and use constitute only 0.04% of all gun offenses there. But leftists want gun control because fewer guns means greater dependency on government.<ref>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3168607.ece</ref>

Gun control is a denial or limitation by [[government]]s of the right to armed [[self-defense]],<ref name="Washington University Law Quarterly"> "In contrast to most other weaponry, firearms are preeminently defensive in effect." [http://www.constitution.org/2ll/2ndschol/76holo.htm Washington University Law Quarterly]</ref> as promised by the [[Second Amendment]] of the Constitution of the [[United States of America]]. Genocide has occurred only after gun control first disarmed the citizenry.<ref name="Washington University Law Quarterly"/>

Proponents use the discredited - but superficially appealing - claim that fewer lawfully-owned guns lead to less crime, although guns are primarily defensive weapons<ref>People who support gun control claim that gun control laws significantly reduce violent crime. [http://home.sprynet.com/~owl1/irrationality.htm Why People Are Irrational about Politics]</ref><ref>Gun control primarily restricts the lawful acquisition and use of guns. Over 99% of the guns restricted by most gun control regulation are used in a lawful manner.</ref> (see [[Concealed carry]]).

Gun control laws cause enormous hardships. In May 2012, a gun control law resulted in a 20-year prison sentence against an [[African American]] woman for merely firing warning shots against her husband, and there was widespread outrage in [[Florida]] against this unconscionable sentence.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/11/justice/florida-stand-ground-sentencing/index.html?hpt=hp_t3</ref>

In the United States the three primary [[federal]] gun control laws are:
* [[National Firearms Act]] (1934)
* [[Gun Control Act]] (1968)
* [[Brady Bill]] (1993)

These laws have further been amended by other laws such as the Firearms Owners Protection Act (1986) and the Omnibus Crime Bill (1994).

Fed up with federal gun control, in 2009 States began considering (Utah) or passing (Montana) laws "making guns that are made and kept within state boundaries exempt from federal regulations" including "background checks, licensing and registration."<ref>http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6367553</ref>

== The Fallacy and Motivation for Gun Control ==
[[Image:No Weapons Allowed.gif|right]]
Gun control potentially causes an increase in crime by restricting its main deterrent: [[self-defense]]. A study by Professor Gary Kleck, initially a liberal critic of gun control, caused him to change his mind on this issue when the evidence showed that crime was predominantly ''prevented'' when people could carry guns. ''See Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America''.<ref>http://www.largo.org/effects.html</ref> In the United States, law-abiding uses of guns outnumber criminal uses by about a factor of 1000 to 1,<ref>http://www.americanselfdefense.com/gunfacts3.0.pdf (p. 60)</ref> and the removal of guns from everyone eliminates the lawful use of self-defense and its deterrent effect. "[[Americans]] use firearms to defend themselves from criminals at least 764,000 times a year."<ref name="Gallup_LAT">"This figure is the lowest among a group of 9 nationwide surveys done by organizations including Gallup and the Los Angeles Times." (Just Facts - [http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp Gun Control])</ref> Specific examples of guns being used successfully in [[self-defense]] are easy to find.<ref>Two 70-ish store owners stopped armed robberies of their stores by shooting at the bandits. "The person came in and pointed the gun at him and my father shot him. I'm proud of him." [http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/253849.html Buffalo News]</ref><ref>[http://sittingduckpolicy.com/ Sitting Duck Policy: True Stories of Self-Defense]</ref> "In 1982, a survey of imprisoned criminals found that 34% of them had been "scared off, shot at, wounded or captured by an armed victim."<ref name="Gallup_LAT"/> When [[Florida]] began allowing its citizens to carry a concealed weapon, [[Florida]]'s firearm homicide rate fell by 37% while the national average ''increased'' by 15%.<ref name="Gallup_LAT"/> As explained below, the political effect of gun control is to cause voters to become more dependent emotionally on government and more supportive of bigger government.

Studies by [[John Lott]] and others indicate that gun control causes higher crime rates.<ref>[http://www.johnrlott.com/ John Lott's Website]</ref> [[Washington, D.C.]] has one of the highest crime rates in [[America]] even though it completely bans private handguns.<ref>[http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/dccrime.htm District of Columbia Crime Rates 1960 - 2006]</ref> "Switzerland, Israel, Denmark and Finland, all of whom have a higher gun ownership rate than America, all have lower crime rates than America, in fact, their crime rates are among the lowest in the Western World."<ref>Slashdoc - [http://www.slashdoc.com/documents/71244 gun control]</ref> Lott demonstrates that in [[Britain]], [[Australia]] and [[Canada]], increased gun control in the late 1990s led to increased crime, the exact opposite of what the proponents of the gun control promised.<ref>John R. Lott Jr. and Eli Lehrer - [http://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/IBDGunConFailure.html Add Gun Control To Litany Of Misbegotten Gov't Plans]</ref> States in the [[U.S.]] that have enacted concealed-carry laws enjoy lower crime rates.<ref>[http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=4706 Cato report]</ref>

[[image:Robbery victims per 100K.png|300px|thumb|Source data: Australian Bureau of Statistics]]
[[image:Robbery victims.png|300px|thumb|Source data: Australian Bureau of Statistics]]

In [[Australia]], where gun ownership was less widespread and the gun control measures were less strict, there was an immediate increase in robbery and armed robbery after the gun control went into effect in 1996 (see chart at right).<ref>

Gun control passed in Australia because "public was immediately whipped into a gun control frenzy by the press" after the "Port Arthur massacre" in Tasmania on April 28, 1996, in which 32 were shot dead and 19 injured. "Although polls done prior to the massacre indicated that the public was satisfied with the amount of 'gun control' they already had, a major newspaper did a poll just a few days after the massacre (while all minds were "clear") and, not surprisingly, found high levels of support for extreme gun control measures. This poll would be used forever by the commonwealth government and other gun controllers to claim that Australians supported the new gun laws to come." - [http://www.gunsandcrime.org/aussiegc.html Gun Control in Australia] (by gunsandcrime.org)</ref>

There is no clear evidence supporting a decrease in crime from gun control.<ref name="Results">[http://www.gunsandcrime.org/auresult.html Results of the Australian Gun "Buyback" & New Gun Laws], October 2001</ref><ref>[http://bjc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/azl084v1 Study showing lack of promised benefits from gun control]</ref> Although from 1979 to 1996, 11,110 Australians died by gunshot representing an annual average of 617. In the seven years after new gun laws were announced (1997 to 2003), the yearly average almost halved, to 331. In the decade up to and including Port Arthur There have been 11 mass shootings where 100 people were shot dead and another 52 wounded, while in In the 10 years since 1996 and the new gun laws, not one mass shooting (more than five victims) has occurred in Australia (although in 2002 a gunman killed two and wounded four at Monash University) <ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04/27/1145861484114.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1</ref>

Subsequent to gun control in England:<ref>http://www.reason.com/news/show/28582.html</ref>
[[File:Send_a_gun_to_a_British_home.jpg|thumb|right|[[Second Amendment]]-supporting [[American]] [[citizen]]s gifted their [[firearm]]s to [[gun free zone]]-[[gun control]] supporting [[British]] citizens during [[World War II]] via [[The American Committee for the Defense of British Homes]]]]

:"from 1997 to 2001, the rate of violent crime more than doubled. Your chances of being mugged in London are now [as of 2002] six times greater than in New York. England's rates of assault, robbery, and burglary are far higher than America's, and 53 percent of English burglaries occur while occupants are at home, compared with 13 percent in the U.S., where burglars admit to fearing armed homeowners more than the police. In a United Nations study of crime in 18 developed nations published in July, England and Wales led the Western world's crime league, with nearly 55 crimes per 100 people."<ref>However this increase in recorded violent crime between 1997 and 2001 is explained by the Home Office as a result of changes in the definition of violent crime and new counting rules introduced in 1998. [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/rdsolr1804.pdf Violent Crime in England and Wales] According to the British Crime Survey, which is considered a more reliable guide to trends in crime[http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/crime-statistics-independent-review-06.pdf], violent crime fell 24% between 1997 and 2001/02, and burglary fell 40% over the same period.[http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb1105tab201.xls Trends in BCS incidents of crime]</ref>

Gun control in [[Britain]] and [[Australia]] has been followed by a predictable shift to the left politically by voters as they lost their instrument of self-defense and became more emotionally dependent on government. Contrast that with the [[United States]], where an effort to push gun control after the [[Columbine massacre]] failed in 2000 and the government has remained as [[conservative]] -- if not more so -- ever since.

The emasculation of the citizenry by gun control also arguably reduces the resistance of a society to intimidation, and exacerbates fear of consequences from causing offense. Subsequent to the passage of strict gun control in [[England]] some teachers have avoided teaching controversial subjects such as the [[Holocaust]], the Arab-Israeli conflict and the [[Crusades]] during history classes.<ref>http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RW100.pdf</ref>
Teaching Emotive and Controversial History 3-19] (p.15) The anti-self-defense attitude of British authorities has also turned criminals into "victims" and victims who fight back into "criminals." One particularly egregious case involved a farmer being sentenced to life imprisonment for defending himself in his home after the home was repeatedly burglarized <ref>http://www.theinternetparty.org/commentary/c_s.php?td=200107200000&section_type=com</ref>

== Trends ==
After decades of increasing gun control laws, the current trend in the [[United States]] is in the direction of more gun rights. The 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill included a ban on certain new rifles labeled assault rifles solely because of features of their appearance, and on new high-capacity magazines. This law recently expired and was not renewed by [[Congress]]. Also, Washington D.C.'s gun ban was struck down as unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals on March 9, 2007.<ref>The New York Times - [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/09/washington/09cnd-gun.html?hp Appeals Court Says Gun Ban Violates 2nd Amendment]</ref><ref>The Washington Post - [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/09/AR2007030902416.html D.C.'s Ban On Handguns In Homes Is Thrown Out]</ref>

By removing the deterrent effect of guns, gun control causes dramatic increases in crimes committed with other weapons:<ref name="bbc">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2656875.stm</ref>

:You are now six times more likely to be mugged in [[London]] than [[New York]]. Why? Because as common law appreciated, not only does an armed individual have the ability to protect himself or herself but criminals are less likely to attack them. They help keep the peace. A study found American burglars fear armed home-owners more than the police. As a result burglaries are much rarer and only 13% occur when people are at home, in contrast to 53% in England.

Supporters of gun control argue that homicide with guns is much less in [[England]] than in the [[United States]],<ref>In 2005/06, the total number of victims of homicide by shooting (including crossbows) in England and Wales was 50 and there were 212 victims of homicide by sharp instruments. [Home Office Statistical Bulletin - [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb0207.pdf Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2005/2006][http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb0104.pdf] The data for gun deaths in the United States include guns used in self-defense, as in fending off an assault, robbery or rape, and there were a total of 11,350 gun deaths (including deaths of criminals) in 2005.[US Department of Justice, FBI - [http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_01.html Crime in the United States by Volume and Rate per 100,000 Inhabitants, 1986 - 2005]</ref> but that was true even before gun control and is likely due to cultural reasons. "A study comparing New York and London over 200 years found the New York homicide rate consistently five times the London rate, although for most of that period residents of both cities had unrestricted access to firearms. When guns were available in England they were seldom used in crime. A government study for 1890-1892 found an average of one handgun homicide a year in a population of 30 million."<ref name="bbc" />

Gun control laws are often seen to conflict with the [[Second Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], which recognizes the right to bear arms. The Second Amendment reads: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a [[Free States Movement|free State]], the [[unalienable rights|right]] of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

The "right to keep and bear arms" is a right guaranteed to the American citizen by the Bill of Rights through the virtue of a selective reading of said Bill. The phrase "a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state" precedes the statement, and most federal Courts of Appeals have held that this phrase requires that the "right to bear arms" relates to the collective rights of state militias, as opposed to the individual's rights to have any weapon desired. Just recently, the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit went against nine other circuits in holding that the Second Amendment constitutes an individual right.<ref>The New York Times - [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/washington/10gun.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Court Rejects Strict Gun Law as Unconstitutional]</ref><ref>FOX News - [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258067,00.html Appeals Court Strikes Down Washington, D.C. Handgun Ban]</ref> However, according to the judge writing for the majority in this case, its decision does still allow for "reasonable restrictions" on gun ownership and use, such as carrying of guns by intoxicated individuals, or in churches.

Only six cities in the [[United States]] ban handguns: [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Chicago]], and four of its suburbs.<ref>David Kopel, "The Democrats and Gun Control," Wall St.J., Page A19, April 17, 2008 [http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB120839466717921537-lMyQjAxMDI4MDE4NzMxOTc0Wj.html]</ref>

==Overview==
"Gun control" can include:

* Restricting which persons can own firearms.
* Restrictions on the number of firearms a person may own, or purchase during a given time period
* Requirements that privately owned firearms be registered with the government.
* Bans on certain types of firearms; for example, "handguns" or assault rifles
* Restrictions on where firearms may be carried, for example into restaurants or post offices
* Requiring a "background check" and/or a "waiting period" to purchase a firearm
* Restricting when and where firearms may be bought and sold, for example banning their sale through the mail
* Requiring licenses or some other form of permission from the government to buy and/or sell a firearm
* Requiring some form of permission from the government to carry a firearm in public, either concealed or openly
* Laws granting special gun rights for some people, for example retired law enforcement officers, which are denied the rest of the public, which was used in several southern states.
* Outright bans on carrying firearms in public
* Outright bans on private possession of firearms, though this has never occurred in the United States

===Arguments in favor===
"The only purpose of a gun is to kill people."

Another oft overlooked argument is that of suicide prevention. Guns are highly effective tools for committing suicide with a reported success rate of over 95%, whereas other common methods such as overdoses and cutting have a less than 10% success rate. People who attempt and fail to commit suicide do not usually try again.

===Arguments against===
{{coulter-armed-self-defense}}

[[Emily Miller]] wrote,
"New York City Mayor [[Michael R. Bloomberg]] has spent tens of millions of his billions trying to get his gun bans instituted in the rest of America, even though these laws have never stopped criminals from getting guns."<ref> [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/26/miller-bloomberg-loses-stop-and-frisk-and-nra-gets/ Bloomberg loses stop and frisk, and NRA gets blamed: The mayor’s default disgust for gun owners tarnishes his life-saving program] - [[Emily Miller]]</ref>

==Constitutional Debate==
The [[Second Amendment]] reads:

"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Most constitutional scholars agree that since the amendment refers to "the right of the People" instead of the right of the militia, it protects an individual right to own guns. The reason for this was the fact that the supplying of guns for the military and militas was already provided for in Article I Section 8 as a power of Congress. The extent of that right was something hotly debated for decades, until the Supreme Court ruling of 26 June, 2008, Heller v District of Columbia.

The majority opinion, written by Justice [[Antonin Scalia]], held for the first time that the Constitution provides an individual right to bear arms, such as for self-defense, rather than a right that applies only to a state militia.

The decision upheld an appellate court ruling striking down Washington, D.C.'s 1976 handgun ban. The case marked the first time in more than 70 years that the Supreme Court had addressed the Second Amendment ''and the first time it spoke directly about the implication of an individual right''. The court struck down two of the District of Columbia's gun control laws: its handgun ban and its requirement that other firearms kept at home have a trigger lock or be disassembled.

Relying on the broader historical record, Justice Scalia wrote:
{{cquote|'''putting all of these textual elements together, we find that they guarantee the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation.'''}}

Scalia noted that the ruling should not be interpreted to "cast doubt on long-standing prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons or the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings." <ref>[http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf Supreme Court Opinion, District of Columbia v Heller]</ref>

==Racism of gun control==
In the [[United States of America]], gun control has a strong racist origin and reasoning. Before the Civil War ended, State "Slave Codes" prohibited slaves from owning guns. After President [[Abraham Lincoln]] issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and after the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishing slavery was adopted and the Civil War ended in 1865, States persisted in prohibiting blacks, now freemen, from owning guns under laws renamed "Black Codes." They did so on the basis that blacks were not citizens, and thus did not have the same rights, including the right to keep and bear arms protected in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as whites. This view was specifically articulated by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in its infamous 1857 decision in ''[[Dred Scott v. Sandford]]'' to uphold slavery.

The United States Congress overrode most portions of the Black Codes by passing the Civil Rights Act of 1866. The legislative histories of both the Civil Rights Act and the Fourteenth Amendment, as well as The Special Report of the Anti-Slavery Conference of 1867, are replete with denunciations of those particular statutes that denied blacks equal access to firearms. [Kates, "Handgun Prohibition and the Original Meaning of the Second Amendment," 82 Mich. L. Rev. 204, 256 (1983)] However, facially neutral disarming through economic means laws remain in effect.

After the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1878, most States turned to "facially neutral" business or transaction taxes on handgun purchases. However, the intention of these laws was not neutral. An article in Virginia's official university law review called for a "prohibitive tax...on the privilege" of selling handguns as a way of disarming "the son of Ham," whose "cowardly practice of 'toting' guns has been one of the most fruitful sources of crime.... Let a negro board a railroad train with a quart of mean whiskey and a pistol in his grip and the chances are that there will be a murder, or at least a row, before he alights."<ref>Comment, Carrying Concealed Weapons, 15 Va L. Reg. 391, 391-92 (1909); George Mason University Civil Rights Law Journal (GMU CR LJ), Vol. 2, No. 1, "Gun Control and Racism," Stefan Tahmassebi, 1991, p. 75.</ref> Thus, many Southern States imposed high taxes or banned inexpensive guns so as to price blacks and poor whites out of the gun market.

Today, "gun control" laws continue to be enacted so as to have a racist effect if not intent:

* Police-issued license and permit laws, unless drafted to require issuance to those not prohibited by law from owning guns, are routinely used to prevent lawful gun ownership among "unpopular" populations.
* Public housing residents, approximately 3 million Americans, are singled out for gun bans.
* "Gun sweeps" by police in "high crime neighborhoods" whereby vehicles and "pedestrians who meet a specific profile that might indicate they are carrying a weapon" are searched are becoming popular, and are being studied by the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] as "Operation Ceasefire."
* Some U.S. cities with high minority populations, such as Washington, D.C., are singled out for gun bans.
* "Project Exile" began in the U.S. city of Richmond, Virginia and mandated that people arrested for technical firearms violations (note: not for violent crimes committed with a firearm, but for technical violations of the law) be tried in federal court where they would be subject to lengthy mandatory minimum sentences rather than in state court under the more lenient Virginia laws. As with many other restrictions this was aimed primarily at the city's Black residents. It has since been copied in many other cities.

The [[Ku Klux Klan]] began also as a gun-control organization.<ref>http://www.examiner.com/article/kkk-began-as-gun-control-organization-confirms-racist-roots-of-gun-control</ref>

== Sexism of gun control ==

Firearms, especially lower recoiling ones such as many handguns, allow any person to wield enough power to stop another person from attacking them.<ref name="genderDiscrimination1">http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2008/03/19/firearms-rights-are-a-gender-equality-issue-too/ </ref> Many women (quite reasonably) fear the threat of attack by a physically stronger man, and a firearm could prevent many of these attacks, but gun bans leave these women vulnerable. Take the case of the “North Side Rapist” in Chicago, a city where hand guns are banned, as an example: The rapist broke in to the womens homes, and at least one of the women heard him break in and then climb the stairs. Had this woman had a handgun, she almost certainly could have stopped the rapist before it was too late. This would have prevented her from enduring such a horrific crime, as well as preventing the rapist’s future victims from experiencing the same thing. Instead, Chicago law prevented her from being able to defend herself, and gave the advantage to the rapist/home-invader. This is not an isolated incident, and similar events happen every day across the county.

== Elitism of gun control ==

Many of the most ardent American anti-gun politicians, such as Chicago’s Mayor Daley, are protected by taxpayer-sponsored armed body guards, but deny law abiding citizens the right to defend themselves with a gun. <ref name="classDiscrimination1">http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2008/04/16/a-double-standard-anti-gun-politicians-and-their-gun-toting-bodyguards/ </ref> These politicians seemingly believe themselves to be part of an elite group who deserve to be protected against violent criminals, while ordinary law-abiding citizens are left with less-effective means to defend themselves, and must instead rely on the police arriving in time.

== Gun control outside the United States ==

Gun control advocates cite foreign countries to argue that gun control can reduce crime, but such comparison can be difficult due to the presence of other factors. For example, they cite [[Singapore]] as having gun control and a lower crime rate than the [[United States]], but Singapore has less than 5 million persons and one of the highest literacy and average wealth in the world. It lacks many of the freedoms found in the [[United States]] and strictly imposes harsh physical punishment, such as caning and the [[death penalty]], for crimes that are not punished so harshly in the [[United States]]. The real issue of the security in Singapore is its tight criminal control, not the gun control itself.

Gun control supporters also cite [[Gun Control in Japan|Japan's gun control laws]], which severely restrict gun ownership and crime rates are relatively low. But [[Japan]] also lacks many freedoms and diversity which exist in the [[United States]], and [[Japan]] has strong cultural deterrents to crime. Ironically, [[Japan]] is home to [[Tokyo Marui]], the world's largest airsoft gun manufacturer, which designs airsoft guns that are made to the same scale and with the same materials as the real counterpart and which have been mistaken by police for real guns.

In the [[European Union]], gun control is more strict than in the United States, but gun ownership differs widely between member states, from 36 per 100 people in [[Cyprus]] to one per 100 in [[Poland]]." In [[Switzerland]], on the other hand, gun ownership is quite widespread, which no doubt contributes to its reputation as a peaceful and neutral country.<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/09/27/switzerland.shooting Gun control in Switzerland]</ref> In November 2007, the [[European Parliament]] passed legislation to tighten and harmonize gun control across the EU, and oblige each member state to set up a computerized database of firearms, as it "hoped to prevent Europe from becoming a gun-friendly culture like the United States". Parliament wanted to limit cross-border trade from states with less control to those with tougher laws, such as from [[Lithuania]], where replica guns can cost as little as [[Euro|€]]100 (US$150), to the [[United Kingdom]], where most replicas are outlawed.

In Australia, gun violence has always been significantly lower than other types of violence.<ref>http://www.gunsandcrime.org/aussiegc.html</ref>. Australia has not experienced considerable violence problems with legally purchased guns. It has always had a much lower homicide rate than the more violent culture in the [[United States]].<ref>In Australia the gun related homicide rate is 0.44 per 100,000 of population. In the US it is about 8 times as high at 3.72 per 100,000 of population.</ref> From 1979 to 1996, 11,110 Australians died by gunshot representing an annual average of 617. In the seven years after new gun laws were announced (1997 to 2003), the yearly average almost halved, to 331. In the decade up to and including Port Arthur There have been 11 mass shootings where 100 people were shot dead and another 52 wounded, while in In the 10 years since 1996 and the new gun laws, not one mass shooting (more than five victims) has occurred in Australia (although in 2002 a gunman killed two and wounded four at Monash University).<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04/27/1145861484114.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1</ref>

Gun control began in Australia in response to fears that guns would be used by home-grown Communist Revolutionaries.<ref>http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1083528 This study discusses the parallel policies of early-mid 20th century Britain and Australia.</ref> The most restrictive reforms were made in 1996 and 2002, following highly publicized shootings.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04/27/1145861484114.html</ref>

Both sets of reforms (1996 and 2002) were lead by Prime Minister [[John Howard]] of the Coalition(Australia’s conservative government). Howard was well known as an anti-gun advocate.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/anger-lingers-among-those-who-lost-their-firearms/2006/04/27/1145861489398.html</ref> The move offended gun supporters, many of whom had traditionally supported the Coalition.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/anger-lingers-among-those-who-lost-their-firearms/2006/04/27/1145861489398.html</ref> Despite the loss of this voting group, Howard won elections following both reforms (in 1998 and 2004).

There is controversy over the success of Australia’s gun restrictions. Studies suggest overall gun violence has decreased since the 1996 and 2002 bans.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04/27/1145861484114.html</ref> However, Australia’s bike and drug gangs, the main perpetrators of gun violence, still easily access illegal firearms.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/a-disarming-cause/2006/04/27/1145861489519.html</ref> Further, the overall homicide rate remains constant.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04
/27/1145861484114.html?page=2</ref>

== Gun Control and Genocide ==

Gun control "contributes to the probability of its government engaging" in [[genocide]], including the three worst instances in the 20th century:<ref>"[A] society's weapons policy might be one of the institutional arrangements that contributes to the probability of its government engaging in some of the more extreme varieties of outrage. ... [I]t is [] an arresting reality that not one of the principal genocides of the twentieth century, and there have been dozens, has been inflicted on a population that was armed." [http://ls.wustl.edu/WULQ/75-3/753-4.html Washington University Law Quarterly]</ref>

*In 1911, [[Turkey]] imposed gun control and then, from 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million defenseless Armenians were killed.

*In 1929, the [[Soviet Union]] imposed gun control and over the next 24 years about 20 million defenseless dissidents were killed.

*In 1935, [[China]] established gun control from 1948-1952 20 million political dissidents were killed.

*In 1938, [[Germany]] imposed gun control and then over the next seven years 13 million defenseless Jews and other victims were exterminated. <ref>[http://www.thegunzone.com/rkba/rkba-12.html The True Face of Gun Control], Dean Speir, The Gun Zone RKBA, Accessed December 26, 2007</ref>

*In 1956, [[Cambodia]] established gun control and between 1975 and 1977 one million oppositionals were exterminated.

*In 1970, [[Uganda]] imposed gun control. Between 1971 and 1979 300,000 Christians and political oppositionals were killed.<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/66751/gun-control-amin/dave-kopel#</ref>

"The Nazis made only two important changes to the Weapons Law that was in place when they came to power. First, they forbade Jews from owning guns or any other weapon. Second, they exempted members of the Sturmabteilung (SA) and many Nazi party officials from the law's strictures."<ref name="Washington University Law Quarterly"/> The German Firearms Act of 1937 stated "No civilian is to have a firearm without a permit and permits shall not be issued to persons suspected of acting against the state. ''For Jews, this permission will not be granted.'' Those people who do not require permission to carry weapons include the whole of the SS, and the SA - including the Deaths Head group, and the officers of the Hitler youth." <ref name="Volokh">[http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a38d04d5c7c40.htm The Journalist's Guide to Gun Policy Scholars and Second Amendment Scholars], Professor Eugene Volokh, FreeRepublic.com, March 15, 2000</ref>

Adolf Hitler said, "The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so." <ref name="Volokh" />

[[Josef Stalin]], former dictator of the [[USSR]] and murderer of over 20 million people, infamously supported gun control in the fear that his evil regime might be torn down and so only soldiers could have firearms.

== Gun Control and young mass murderers ==

''Main article: [[Young mass murderers]]''

Strict gun control failed and still fails to prevent mass murderers from starting killing sprees while the victims are unable to defend themselves.

Compare the cases of Pekka-Eric Auvinen ([[Finland]]) and Robert Steinhäuser ([[Germany]]) with the case of Matthew Murray. The latter was stopped by an armed citizen before he could harm more victims; Auvinen killed 8 people and Steinhäuser killed 16. Both Finland and Germany have gun control laws.

==Other terms==
Other terms sometimes used by those who are opposed to gun control include:
* "Gun grabbing"
* [[Unalienable rights|Rights]] restriction
* Victim disarmament

==See Also==
* [[Gun control quotes]]
* [[Gun free zone]]s: [[Essay:France Pays Dearly - Liberal Gun Control Laws and Gun Free Zones that Welcome Terrorists]]
* [[Essay:The Politically Corrected Firearms and Second Amendment Glossary]]
* [[Essay:US Armed Citizens and Crime Control]]
* [[National Rifle Association]] - [[Gun Owners of America]] - [[Second Amendment Foundation]]
* [[John Lott]]
* [[Second Amendment]]: [[Self-defense]], [[Home security]], and [[Defense]] against [[Tyranny]]
* [[Gun Control in Nazi Germany]]
* [[Ammunition control]]
* [[1994 National Defense Authorization Act]]
* [[Fourth generation warfare]]
** [[Essay:World War III has already started]]
** [[Essay:The coming Islamic Tet Offensive in Europe]]

==External Links==

=== Opposed to gun control ===
*[http://www.2asisters.org/ Second Amendment Sisters]
*[http://www.nra.org/ The National Rifle Association]
*[http://www.nrapublications.org/AC/index.asp Armed citizens defending themselves.]
*[http://www.a-human-right.com/ A Human Right] Discussion of the human right to self defense with a firearm.
*[http://www.learnaboutguns.com/ Learn About Guns] Firearm information and politics.
*[http://www.gunowners.org/ Gun Owners of America] A no-compromise pro-gun lobby in Washington, D.C.
*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/gun-control/ What Liberals Say - Category: Gun Control]
*[http://www.guncite.com/ GunCite: Gun Control and Second Amendment Issues]
*[http://jpfo.org/ Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership]
*[http://nssf.org/ National Shooting Sports Foundation]
*[http://concealedcampus.org/ Students for Concealed Carry]
*[http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/the-long-racist-history-of-gun-control-in-america/ The Long, Racist History of Gun Control in America]

=== In favor of gun control ===
*[http://www.guninformation.org/ Gun Control and the Second Amendment]
*[http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-switzerland.htm Myth: Switzerland proves that high gun-ownership doesn't increase murder]
*[http://www.bradycampaign.org/ Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence]
*[http://www.vpc.org/ Violence Policy Center]
*[http://www.lwv.org/ League of Women Voters]

==Bibliography - Further Reading==
* [[Boston T. Party|Party, Boston T.]], [[Boston's Gun Bible]]. [[Wyoming]] [[American Redoubt]] [[Javelin Press]], 2008. Contains several chapters related to gun control
* [[Boston T. Party|Party, Boston T.]], [[Molon Labe!]]. [[Wyoming]] [[American Redoubt]] [[Javelin Press]], 30 January 2004, 454 pp (first edition, paperback), ISBN 1-888766-07-7 - Conservative [[Christian]] [[Libertarian]] [[dystopian]] fiction novel entirely based around the issue of [[States' rights]] and the [[Tenth Amendment]]'s connection with the [[Second Amendment]] right to [[firearms|armed]] [[citizen]] defense against federal [[tyranny]]. Contains several chapters related to the gun control.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Template:Second Amendment topics}}

[[Category : Gun Free Zones]]
[[Category : Gun control]]
[[Category : Anti Second Amendment]]
[[Category : United States Political Terms]]
[[category : Second Amendment]]
[[Category : Oppression]]
[[Category : Politics]]
[[Category : Liberalism]]
[[Category : Communism]]
[[Category : Communists]]
[[Category : Socialism]]
[[Category : Socialists]]
[[Category : Marxism]]
[[Category : Police State]]
[[Category : Welfare State]]
[[Category : Professor Values]]
[[Category : Threats]]
[[Category : Man-made Disasters]]
[[Category : ObamaCare]]
[[Category : Fourth Generation Warfare]]

Anti-virus software

2016-02-20T01:13:11Z

DerekE: /* Popular Options */

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*Kaspersky (Paid).<ref name="pcmag">http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372364,00.asp</ref><ref name="about.com">http://freebies.about.com/od/computerfreebies/tp/best-free-antivirus.htm</ref><ref name="consumersearch.com">http://www.consumersearch.com/antivirus-software</ref>
*Amiti (Free)<ref name="pcmag">http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372364,00.asp</ref><ref name="about.com">http://freebies.about.com/od/computerfreebies/tp/best-free-antivirus.htm</ref>
*Baidu<ref name="about.com">http://freebies.about.com/od/computerfreebies/tp/best-free-antivirus.htm</ref>
*Comodo Antivirus (Paid)<ref name="about.com">http://freebies.about.com/od/computerfreebies/tp/best-free-antivirus.htm</ref>
*FortiClient<ref name="about.com">http://freebies.about.com/od/computerfreebies/tp/best-free-antivirus.htm</ref>
*Panda Antivirus (Paid)<ref>http://www.techradar.com/us/news/software/applications/best-free-antivirus-9-reviewed-and-rated-1057786</ref>
*McAfee (Paid)<ref name="pcmag">http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372364,00.asp</ref>
*F-Secure (Paid)<ref name="pcmag">http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372364,00.asp</ref>
*Trend Micro Antivirus+<ref name="pcmag">http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372364,00.asp</ref>
*BullGuard
*Sophos(Paid)<ref name="consumersearch.com">http://www.consumersearch.com/antivirus-software</ref>
*Norton<ref>http://www.all-internet-security.com/best-antivirus-2015</ref>
*[[Windows Defender]] (Free, but less trusted by some)

==See Also==
* [[Tails (operating system)]] ([[Linux]]-based) and [[Tor (anonymity network)]] [[Firefox]] [[browser]] [[encryption]] for [[Internet]] [[anonymity]] to protect [[unalienable rights]]

==References==
<references/>

[[category:computers]]
[[Category:Software]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Anti-Malware]]