Oprah Scoops Trump's Flush

The White House website released Obama's "original" birth certificate and within hours, Oprah Winfrey recorded an exclusive interview with the president. According to CNN White House Producer Shawna Shepherd, the president told Oprah, "We do not have time for this kind of silliness."

There seemed to be plenty of time and money for silliness in the years since the question became an issue.

Not unexpectedly, doubters are examining the evidence. Michael Rivero, editor/publisher of What Really Happened (number 18 according to DBKP ratings) has advanced the "love child" theory. This suggests that Obama is actually the product of his mother's affair with Frank Marshall Davis. Rivero doesn't want to talk about this 'birther' foolishness anymore he tells his readers today. Apparently he got tired of seeing his own entries on the topic, because a previous article he had posted and commented on and which I read yesterday, is gone.

Obama told Oprah: "We are living in a very serious time". That certainly explains why The Oprah Winfrey Show was the chosen vehicle for the president's disclosure.

A Piece Of God's Work: Ted Haggard

"I did not have a homosexual relationship with a man in Denver".

With these words on 1 November 2006, Ted Haggard - presidential adviser, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, and Christian pastor - began his journey into the wilderness, with pay:

"Over a 14-month period ending Dec. 31, 2007, New Life Church paid the Haggard family $309,020 in salary and benefits, according to a church document obtained by The Associated Press.

The payout included $152,360 in salary for Ted Haggard, $62,177 in salary for his wife, Gayle, $26,426 for counseling, $11,168 for legal fees and $26,000 to help care for the couple’s special-needs son, who is in his early 20s."

Plus, it should be noted: A pickup truck, health insurance, and moving expenses, and he got to keep his ranch. Surely Moses and Jesus would agree that the wilderness ain't what it used to be.

Haggard hails from Yorktown, Indiana. His father was a veterinarian as well as (reportedly) the founder of a church and an international charismatic ministry. Young Haggard's born-again epiphany occurred at age 16 under the spell of Bill Bright. One can only imagine the enchantments added by age 22 when he graduated from Oral Roberts' University. Six years later came the vision of Colorado Springs and the birth of his now scandalized New Life Church.

Haggard's new church describes his ministry career thusly:

"For thirty years Ted Haggard has effectively equipped strong leaders in the body of Christ and this he continues to do at Saint James Church."

Saint James is a church incorporation, and Haggard's new holy pulpit ordained by God. Saint James seems an odd name choice for an evangelical's home-ranch-church establishment, given that Protestants do not worship saints. No matter the name, as a church it excavates non-profit revenue from the smallest of purses to the largest of investments. Saint James' encourages donations in the form of offerings ("Blessing Others") and tithes ("The Storehouse"). Haggard also has a 'random acts of kindness' gimmick that he perfected early in his career. He calls needy people to stand before the congregation so that church members can put money at their feet.

(As one who occasioned herself of church 'gifts' to supplement a secretary's income that was supporting two children, I say that this practice (and any variation on the theme) is humiliating and degrading for the recipient. Quite the opposite of course for the good Samaritans secure in the knowledge and glances of their fellows that it is more blessed to give than to receive. As for the good shepherd-choreographers, who's to guess their rewards?)

Sans the "Saint" title, one can understand Haggard's inspiration for his church's name. The opening statement in The General Epistle of James:

My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations.

Haggard has plenty of joy behind him and plenty ahead - now that he has admitted he is a bisexual who is old enough (age 54) to "exclusively have sex with my wife and be perfectly satisfied". The bisexual aspect of his nature is a recent revelation. In February 2007, after initial evaluation and therapy for his confession, Haggard was reported to be completely heterosexual. In December 2008, he said that he never claimed to be heterosexual. His latest assessment of himself as a bisexual-under-heterosexual-commitment is not discussed at Saint James' website. Presented instead are "Crisis Facts" (It wasn't that bad) and a "Healing Overview" (He was tricked out of his empire). The difference in tone and content between his website disclosures and his press pronouncements bears witness to the fact that he can, somewhat capably, talk out of both sides of his mouth.

The press and entertainment corporations were more than happy to enable Haggard in his God delusion (curtsy to Dawkins). If faith-based initiatives are what government wants, well then that is what shall be, using the most shareholder-profitable methods of system delivery available. Fortuitously, Haggard was camera-ready to chronicle his slip into exile, from the moment his agent of enlightenment, Michael Jones, tossed the banana peel at him.

The media blessed Haggard and sent him forth into print and film.

Haggard's access to the press was obvious eight months into his wilderness journey when he issued a public appeal for support of his indulgences scheme. This was the beginning of the Haggard restoration period, an era of self-promotional junkets on the celebrity circuit (GMA, Oprah, Larry King et al.). Ted Haggard peddled Ted Haggard projects. His wife, Gayle, had a Ted Haggard book to sell. Alexandra Pelosi had a Ted-Haggard-in-exile movie to plug (starring Ted & Gayle, natch). (This effort is not to be confused with Pelosi's 2006 production which featured Haggard as a Friend of God during his secret sinning days.) The Learning Channel had a RelativelyReal Ted Haggard projection to promote. Even the Wall Street Journal opened its pages to Ted Haggard.

Media blessings were not the only ones Haggard received. One year after his public confession, God blessed Haggard with a Voice-to-heart communication. God "called" Haggard back to his home in Colorado Springs; to the $700,000 ranch with the barn that now serves as Saint James Church.

Whose exile blessings have been the greater portion according to Ted Haggard - man's or God's? Guess no more.

British Prince Secures British Wife

The Royal Wedding of the 21st Century is afoot. His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales, Knight of the Garter (a/k/a Flight Lieutenant William Wales, a/k/a Prince William) shall marry Miss Catherine Middleton (a/k/a Kate to her fans) on the 29th of April, the Friday after this Easter Sunday.

As the press would say, the young couple are under epic pressures as the big day approacheth. Their royal calendars overfloweth with appointments and last-minute details. Royal guards braceth for security threats of every kind.

These two very privileged young folks are confirmed to take stage for the benefit of the monarchy, the crown, and most importantly, Grandma. This despite the watchdog press discovery that the among the wedding planners "no one had the sense" to check the date.

Father of the groom-to-be, Prince Charles, and his wife, a tattooed Camilla, have relaxed into their roles as hosts of the affair. The parents of the bride, Carole and Michael Middleton, have submitted their very sweet contribution. Best man Prince Harry is struggling while maid of honor Pippa Middleton shed her qualms.

Predictably and as per cue, Kate has the jitters and William has knocking knees. Neither condition will halt the production at Westminster Abbey or prevent the issuance of official merchandise and currency.

Will the marriage last? The gurus and professionals aren't asking.

Donald Trump In 2012?

La Donald:

Business magnate, socialite, author and television celebrity;
Partner in the Miss Universe Organization;
Apostle of Chapter 11; and
Double Billionaire.

Trump ignited headlines using the issue of Obama's birth certificate. Funny that he ignores evidence compiled and political initiatives undertaken by fellow New Yorker Pastor James David Manning, who conducted a Tenth Amendment trial on the matter.

No signs that Trump's been tapped for a Bilderberg meeting, so the answer is probably not.

Exopolitics

"Exopolitics is the study of the key individuals, political institutions and processes associated with extraterrestrial life."

"The concept of Exopolitics was formulated by Michael Salla."

Many years ago I became acquainted with a woman who believed herself to be an alien contactee. She was bright, earnest, kind, and honest. Her story was sincere but (I later realized) typical. On numerous occasions she was transported to a ship where she engaged in conversations and tours with alien beings. Her trips were by instant invitation only. After a few excursions, she was able to begin channeling thoughts from the aliens which she dutifully wrote down. These aliens claimed to be stationed in the solar system on a humanitarian mission to remind earthlings of our divinity and assure us that their support is at the ready. This was my first introduction to the concept of alien presence on (or near) Earth.

Recently another individual's other-worldly story struck me as a sincere account, that of Jesse Marcel, Jr.. Marcel examined exotic materials as a youngster that were discovered by his father. His story concerns Roswell and that is where the UFO fun really began. War of the Worlds was a pre-game warm-up.

Like the horse and carriage, you can't have UFOs without aliens. However, 'they say' it is metaphysically possible for aliens to travel without ships. Therefore we'll set the ships aside and zoom in on the aliens and their earthly associates. Here's a look at some of the human spokespersons for the intergalactic hide-and-seek jet-set:

The reluctant Alex Collier - Andromedans
The late Edgar Cayce - Arcturians
Laura Jadzyck - Cassiopaeans
Barbara Hand-Clow, Barbara Marciniak, and Michael Horn for Billy Meier - Pleiadians
Sheldon Nidle - Sirians
Nancy Leider - Zeta Reticulans

The Annunaki are the latest group of aliens making the scene as revived and re-animated by the late Zechariah Sitchin. Sitchin did well in introducing the old Sumerian stories to the public because he at least gave us a few references. Michael Heiser's Sitchin is Wrong campaign furthered our education just a tad more with alternate interpretations for some of Sitchin's translations. Both men kept their bouys anchored close to the podium; however both indicated - at least a time or two - that scholarly research is available regarding the Sumerians and their tablets. Sitchin eventually sidelined his research in favor of storytelling. Heiser is headed in that direction but first is demonstrating his prowess in evangelical-jesuit-jewish argument. (An irreverent quirk of mine - refusing to capitalize words I consider common rather than proper.)

Thanks to Sitchin, the Annunaki have as much publicity as all the others combined. The History Channel has "green lighted" a third season of Ancient Aliens. The series presents a mishmash of theories, myths and legends wrapped with tiny ribbons of fact. Folks such as Robert Bauval, Graham Hancock and Erich von Daniken offer coherent thoughts, albeit one sentence at time after editing. Examples such as George Noory and David Wilcock toss cow patties in the air like surfers on a mushroom hunt in southern Florida.

Sitchin's theory is spelled out nicely in the episode "Genesis Revisited" of the television series Phenomenon: The Lost Archives.

Musician Paul Christopher did an interesting study of UFO history and alien contact, the findings of which he presented at a Prophecy Club talk. His conclusion was not unexpected given the venue; he posited that demons may be disguised as aliens. Graham Hancock's post-ayahuasca theory of aliens and angels is an unorthodox proposal along the same lines.

Press releases have been issued by the Vatican, the Royal Astronomer and Stephen Hawking elaborating on their respective firm convictions about vague notions of alien existence. Steven Greer lobbies for retired and ex-military members with unexplained encounters to relate. His efforts are rated hmmmm.... but any publicity is better than no publicity.

Given that there is publicity on the topic of aliens and their crafts, we are -- whether conscious of it or not -- being entertainingly compelled to develop 'my opinion' on aliens. Opinions based on the pontifications of key individuals under the influence of key institutions and processes.

How Many Soldiers Will Die?

The geniuses of motivational science modified the 'support the troops' model for use in the media's role-playing skit, loosely titled as the 2011 government shutdown threat. The Army Times front page report (yesterday) howled:

No death benefits for military during shutdown.

So many questions pop to mind. How many soldiers are expected to die during the next days, weeks, or months of shutdown? Where are the numbers? Why was this dreadful threat scenario introduced to the military families? Are we to believe that soldiers will not receive proper burial due to lack of insurance money?

Where are the Not One More spokespersons?

To buttress the shocking news of being unable to bury fallen heroes, the following headline was also broadcast:

Government shutdown would delay military paychecks.

Now there's news to get the rank and file up in arms. Enlisted military often have financial obligations in the form of allotments which, if not timely met, will result in hefty charges per account and for some, repossession of their vehicles and other high-ticket goods. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates feels the pain and can relate -- as we see from a CBS news report.

Over at USA Today, foghorn leghorns of Congress pimp their measures, bills, calls, and efforts, carelessly shattering the illusion of equality between those who fight and those who order the fighting. John Boehner and friends vowed to return their pay to the Treasury, while others vowed they will donate their salaries to charity. The latter shouldn't be too much of a paperwork problem because by necessity those with a $174,000++ salary maintain charity relationships.

As to the question of how many soldiers will die, we can only estimate based on the Department of Defense's official press releases, which require us to do our own tallying. Based on these under-reported casualties, congressional salary donations would more than cover the funeral expenses of soldiers killed during government shutdown.

Suggestion: Those protected by a generous interpretation of the Twenty-Seventh Amendment donate their salaries to enlisted military personnel and their families who require assistance with burial expenses, or for other emergency funds to float them in case their salaries are interrupted by government incompetence.

So, dear Congress members: Pick up a crowbar and use it on your money boxes. Start a fund for just such a purpose as assisting the enlisted personnel who fight and die for you but do not get paid when you fail to do your job in a timely manner. There's always room for slush and it will look good on your bios.

Kerry & Bill and Bob

Kerry Cassidy and Bill Ryan, founders of Project Camelot, released a reunion video with their old pal, Bob Dean. Everyone looked the same; Bob still has his ponytail, Bill had his hat on and Kerry remains fond of military fashion.

Since the parting of the ways between Kerry & Bill, he went on to work as Project Avalon and she called her new enterprise Project Camelot Productions. Kerry's individual work continued with gusto, while Bill seemed to dawdle on his own. At the start of the new year, Bill unleashed the Rulers of the World interview which he followed up by creating the Charles/BMW/Atticus forum star. The repercussions of that adventure were disastrous. One good thing did come from Bill's having gained the confidence of Charles the confidence man. Bill was able to assemble some hows and whys of the deliberately engineered rift between he and Kerry.

Lately Kerry & Bill have been appearing side-by-side for conferences and interviews. Clearly the healing has begun and seems evidenced by the interview with Bob Dean. However, Bill still uses the 'viewers out there' (and other abstracts) for cover. Kerry does not take cover. Furthermore, she did not fall for old tricks. This does not bode well for the future of joint interviews.

Bob Dean had the best advantage in the situation, he being the elder statesman and delightful weaver of tales. Bill was content with the stories however Kerry pursued information. When Bob declared that humanity wasn't ready for disclosure of alien presence on earth, Kerry argued for the right-to-know. Bob had a story for that, the one about the kid from the jungle who was taken to the big city, after which he suffered psychic trauma and died. Kerry pressed on until sidelined by the next story while Bill attempted to play Mr. Nice Guy. Kerry's second-most request of Bob (after the right-to-know) was did he have any secrets to tell. Of course he did - and maybe, just maybe - if they would serve up some Jack Daniels next time he might let one or two out.

For one hour, Bob philosophized about nothing new. His biography was recounted; well-connected retired military with experience in alien interaction and exposure to alien and reverse-engineered technology, subsequent personal alien encounters, past life remembrance as a follower of Yeshua, and leader and beloved speaker on the UFO business class circuit. Bob assured us that he could tell his secrets if he wanted to because he is not afraid. Unfortunately, despite Kerry's arguments to the contrary, he maintained that humanity is not ready.

All in all the interview was flat. The former partners may have reached an understanding between them but the interview with Bob Dean suggests that a future as co-interviewers may not be in the cards.

John Labruzzo Wants

Michael Luke of WWLTV, Eyewitness News, New Orleans reports:

LaBruzzo wants drug tests for welfare recipients

The Louisiana House of Representatives is the current employer of John F. LaBruzzo, Jr. and it has in the past been regaled by his knowledge of the welfare program and recipients' needs. The poverty rate in his parish is 10.8%.

Jefferson Parish is considered part of the Greater New Orleans area and is home to three state senators, four former state representatives, one former congressman and governor, the chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, and Steven Seagal, Reserve Chief Deputy of Jefferson Parish (yes, the actor, and disciple of the Dalai Lama). Jefferson Parish is also home to the juvenile correctional facility for boys known as Bridge City Center for Youth. (This must be the only business in town because it is the only item listed under the Wiki "Government and Infrastructure" entry.)

Jefferson Parish was treated kindly by Hurricane Katrina, however there was controversy in its aftermath.

The forty-one-year old LaBruzzo has been the parish representative since 2003. He serves as member of four House committees; Civil Law and Procedure, Health and Welfare, Labor and Industrial Relations, and the Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. His official website presents a handsome fellow engaged in serious business. As with most politicians' websites, it offers lots of information packets as well as 'submit request/download form here' depots. According to the website, LaBruzzo's former profession was "Medical Equipment Representative". This must be a new description because other biographical references state "Salesman, Medical (Surgical) Devices".

Exactly who it was that employed LaBruzzo as a medical device salesman remains a mystery.

LaBruzzo's aim to drug test welfare recipients is set to line pockets, create profits, and fill government data banks with supplemental information. Working Americans are already under legislation to provide bodily fluids to their employers (in addition to personal, financial and medical histories). Adding the non-workers' drug test results to the database will complete the picture. The penalty for testing positive will result in children denied assistance because of the actions of their parents. This looks like a handy-dandy set-up to separate children from parents unable to provide for them. Should his proposal take wings, the other side of the aisle will insist on protecting welfare recipients' right to medical care. Policies will be installed to insure that drug test failures are given opportunity for treatment and rehabilitation. This will boost profits for medical and social services providers and enrich the temporary and foster care systems.

The timing couldn't be more curious. LaBruzzo wants publicity for this now, while unemployment is at critical highs with no relief in sight.

I have a better idea, one offered back when Nancy Pelosi was being tested for her Speaker skills: Drug test our elected and appointed state, national and international officials. The U.S. Department of Interior offers a presentation which could be easily tailored to fit taxpayers' demand to drug test public servants in Congress, the White House, the Supreme Court, and all the other institutions of grandeur. (Let us not exclude employees at overseas embassies.) 'National Security' is our justification and priority. In addition we will address the need for professionalism, productivity and safety, while "capturing savings" on health care and compensations -- those benefits promised by drug-testing programs being foisted on the rest of us.

If John LaBruzzo wants drug testing, let him start with himself and his colleagues.

The Storytellers

Jeff Rense and Jordan Maxwell had a little chat recently and summarized the state of national and world affairs. The gents agreed that humanity is doomed and that resistance is futile. The reason for this deadly prognosis is that the world is controlled by dark side aliens.

Here we have one of the oldest stories in the world, as admitted by Maxwell in the clip. Said dark side aliens have been known by different names throughout the ages and so too their origins stem from different earthly and heavenly locations. Their raison d'etre has generally been consistent in the telling: To control, enslave, abuse, and otherwise instigate as much violence and destruction as possible on earth and its inhabitants.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch: Good will ultimately triumph, love is all we need and the next life will be better.

Like politics, the spirituality business has its left, right, forward and backward representatives. These are our storytellers. (Interesting insights from and about storytellers can be found in the PBS documentary, The Kingdom of David. There is also some good historical information in the film.) Spiritually-labeled male and female storytellers captivate listeners, viewers and readers using the stories of our ancestors. Unfortunately for the narrators, audiences get tired of the same old routine, so the storytellers are always in search of fresh admirers or a new angle. The search and angle requirements brought about the conversion craze witnessed over the past few decades. It began in earnest in the 1970s with a tsunami of foreign philosophical and religious gurus. Perhaps the 1960s Human Potential Movement lacked sufficient and proper historical references (not to mention followers) to support its continued existence. Dropping the baby boomers headfirst into an agnostic new age didn't quite gel according to recipe. Therefore a new -- yet old -- set of stories needed adding to the mix. One must multiply before dividing.

So it was that the Judeo-Christian United States of America welcomed the Pied Pipers of Karma. Those of us too conservative or confused by the new ways to consider such a leap of faith found ourselves recruited or re-enlisted for Christian evangelism. The various denominations began to form missionary enterprises akin to the establishments of the great giants. Some managed over the decades to tune their microenterprises to a fine pitch.

Most amusing is the fact that Christian missionaries were dispatched within America. Trinity Broadcasting Network and Christian Broadcasting Network molded holy entertainment and news to cultivate domestic conversions and donations. There's nothing like a storm-ravaged backwoods church in the Smokies to vacuum in the revenue. Collect a cool million, order an out-building from Lowe's, let the congregation assemble it, buy some flowers for the pastor's wife, order a cold buffet from Sam's, bring along a camera crew, make 'em bow and say thank you, and declare with godlike thunder: It Is Good!

As far, far away as are those hillbillies in need of a church, even farther are the little children starving to death somewhere in a jungle or a rice paddy. The stars of TBN and CBN, with tears gushing, implore us to help the hungry hopeless little ones in the photo or clip. Rarely is offered a map or a description of the country. "Everybody knows" that people come to church for their souls, not their brains. This is not a social studies lesson - It's Story Time!

Roman Catholics and Jews were the first targets of the new evangelists but the ambitious lovers of Jesus did not capture as many of these as the projections had indicated. Catholics were healing in tongues in church basements before the evangelists bookmarked their bibles for touring. Jews were too well-educated in biblical history to fall easily for a new story. (For what it's worth, evangelists did manage to get Jews for Jesus up and running with a hundred offshoots of five members a piece.) Eventually the evangelists settled for rounding up a good portion of disillusioned flock from the take-the-money-and-run gurus, then went on to steal each others sheep and raise money for jumbo jets to take their leaders to view suffering souls far, far away.

After all these decades (1960-2011) of spiritual searching - nay, study and research! - we're still arguing over the cast, crew, script, and location of the oldest stories ever told. Curiously unnoticed within the museums and libraries not conveniently or easily accessible, there are innumerable writings related to those few ancient tales offered for public consumption. Humanity is dissuaded from exploring the history behind the rules inspired by God or designed in heaven, and amended on earth by a dead prophet, a living oracle, or one who has "heard the voice of God".

Indeed, voice communication seems to be God's preferred method of contact, second only to the dispatching of his angels. There is one unarguable reference in the Bible stating that God assumed physical form and that was when he wrestled with Jacob. Other recorded instances of physical appearance are debatable. God's last manifestation was at Jesus' baptism. That is 2,000 years without an audible peep from God. In those 2,000 years God changed his mind about slavery, women, sexuality, ritual and ceremonial obligations, along with a host of other minor issues. The continuing education of human beings is facilitated by the chosen few who are 'inspired by God'. The intellectually-inspired ones extract a quote or two from a scholarly source, add a few random bible verses, then build an entire presentation (or series) complete with rules of engagement. (Traditionally, the work of scholars is sequestered and subordinated to storytellers for public dissemination.) The spiritually-inspired chosen of God rely heavily on bible verses to erect their constructs. Both the intellectually-inspired and the spiritually-inspired representatives of God have been known to advance a vision, dream or voice heard to undergird their agendas.

After a half-century of Americans-gone-wild-for-a-higher-power, our double-honored rulers secured us under the arms of the ordained powers that be through faith-based initiatives. The crown and the cross reunite to refine the process of extracting pence and penance from all men. Political and religious storytellers now share (and report to their superiors) secrets to human resource attraction, securitization, and exploitation. This joint venture was not designed to solve the problem of world hunger or reduce the deaths of innocents. It will not investigate the sources or causes of inequality and injustice. It will however, come up with some stories like we've never heard before. John Hagee's CUFI platform springs to mind, as do UN initiatives.

Not to ignore the philosophical non-religious new age (and the I'm-not-new-age) storytellers, it must be said that they employ the same shepherd's tactics as their step-siblings but on a smaller budget. Several weeks ago one of the alternative storytellers was lamenting on air about the fact that he had much research material but insufficient financing to package and deliver the goods. Not only that, he was distressed at the unfairness of having to think about things like paying rent. He went on to say that if everyone who came to the website (the hits) would donate five dollars, his world would be perfect. This past week he announced an upcoming overseas trip to meet with a master storyteller. There has been no release of new research material. Apparently his five-bucks-from-every-hit routine (the cost of a restaurant tip he said) caused a spike in revenue. Either that or a benefactor slid in the back door. Whatever happened, apparently rent is no longer a problem. Now he can afford an overseas trip (with his girlfriend?) in pursuit of 'truth'. A video will be made rehashing the pet theories of both storytellers and, with a little planning and some good showmanship, buried somewhere in the story promises to be something new, must-know and mind-melting. The traveling junior storyteller will - no doubt - also do some sight-seeing for the purpose of confirming the symbolism rampant in merry ole England. (I give him 3 weeks after he gets back before he throws up a show repeat, followed by a live episode where he laments woe-is-my-bank-account and heavy-are-my-gifts-for-you.)

While our various and sundry storytellers dazzle forth, earth's human, natural and man-made resources are undergoing a final inventory down to the last electron. Claims are being staked. The super-rich are entrenched in and entranced with their play-offs. The rest of us are under orders to keep working and wait for the story at eleven, or in the Sunday sermon, or in the DVD in the mailbox.