In a classic Harry Reid moment, the U.S. Senate voted on the “food safety” bill (also known as the United States Anti-Farming Bill).

The vote was 73-25 in favor of restricting your right to purchase food from local vendors, restricting your right to choose where your food comes from, and ultimately restricting your right to even grow your own food.

Although it looked bad when this passed the Senate, it turns out things may not be as bad as we thought. It turns out Harry Reid screwed up again.

A food safety bill that has burned up precious days of the Senate’s lame-duck session appears headed back to the chamber because Democrats violated a constitutional provision requiring that tax provisions originate in the House.

Yup. Scary Harry pulled a fast one and tried to push through a bill which is unconstitutional… again.

Section 107 of the bill includes a set of fees that are classified as revenue raisers, which are technically taxes under the Constitution. According to a House GOP leadership aide, that section has ruffled the feathers of Ways and Means Committee Democrats, who are expected to use the blue slip process to block completion of the bill.

I’ll believe it when I see it. Nothing Nanny State Nancy Pelosi or Scary Harry Reid have done (in more than four years) has led me to believe they will do the right thing.

Unfortunately, Senate Bill 510, The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, passed cloture with a vote of 74-25 with Lisa Murkowski being the only Senator not voting.

74 to 25. Wow. Three-quarters of our U.S. Senators believe that squashing the efforts of the small, local, farmer are more important than not, and I find that very appalling.

This bill is one of the most dangerous bills in the history of our country because it places new government authority over your rights to grow vegetables and trade (or sell) them to your neighbors.

In essence, all food production (even that food grown in your own garden at home) will fall under the authority of the federal government. For instance, if you grow some veggies in your own garden and then offer them to your neighbors at your local farmers market you can be charged with smuggling, yes smuggling.

Corporate monopolies (like Monsanto) will be allowed unfettered reign over our nation’s produce because it will be nearly impossible for everyday citizens like you and I to harvest, sort, or store seeds of any kind because of the required “standards” by which it must be done. Don’t believe me? Read it for yourself.

(c) Regulations – Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and representatives of State departments of agriculture, shall promulgate regulations to establish science-based minimum standards for the safe production of food by food production facilities. Such regulations shall–

(1) consider all relevant hazards, including those occurring naturally,and those that may be unintentionally or intentionally introduced;

(2) require each food production facility to have a written food safety plan that describes the likely hazards and preventive controls implemented to address those hazards;

(3) include with respect to growing, harvesting, sorting,and storage operations, minimum standards related to fertilizer use, nutrients, hygiene, packaging, temperature controls, animal encroachment… and water;

If you’re still not convinced that SB510 is bad, take a look at this video and decide for yourself.

Georgia’s own Senators, Chambliss and Isakson, not only voted for cloture but they both co-sponsored the bill. When they voted for TARP I thought I would never be more disgusted with them. Boy was I wrong.

The results of the mid-term election were pretty definitive. People are fed up with the status quo and we need real change to save our great country. As a result of the vote, Republicans in Washington D.C are vowing to put an end to earmarks (aka reckless spending) in legislation.

Georgia’s very own (just re-elected) Senator, Johnny Isakson (R-GA) has stated he will support the moratorium on earmarks. Well, unless the earmarks are for funding projects within the state of Georgia.

“I supported a temporary, two-year moratorium on congressional earmarks today because I agree we should not be funding projects that are frivolous or non-essential functions of the federal government.

“The oath I swore to uphold when I was elected by the people of Georgia was to the U.S. Constitution, which directs the Congress to appropriate federal tax dollars. I will never abandon my oath, and I will continue to fight for funding for projects such as the expansion of the Savannah port that is critical to my state and to U.S. trade, the settlement of the tri-state water compact involving Georgia, funding for our troops and the best interests of the people in the state of Georgia.

“I also will push for Congress to address the biggest concerns of my Georgia constituents – skyrocketing federal spending and debt. I will continue to push my proposal for Congress to switch to biennial budgeting so that we can give federal spending the scrutiny and oversight that has been sorely lacking. In addition, I supported several other proposals today to reduce discretionary spending, balance the budget, freeze federal hiring, stop unfunded mandates to the states and impose a moratorium on new entitlement spending.”

This is what happens when we elect people who speak out of both sides of their mouths and don’t know the difference between truth and fiction.

Thanks Johnny, it took you just two weeks to re-affirm one of the many reasons I didn’t vote for you this time around. The good news is, we’re on to you. The bad news is we’re stuck with you for six more years.

Do you enjoy shopping at your local farmer’s market? Did you know that the Senate is getting ready to hold a cloture vote on Wednesday that will severely impact the local producers of that delicious food you want to purchase?

If Senate Bill 510 (the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act) is allowed to pass, family farms as we know them will disappear.

At the very minimum, SB 510 will criminalize seed saving and create a paperwork burden that will literally bury small local producers.

Call your Senator today and tell them to vote against cloture on SB 510.

The Failed One® traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia today, and once again, he failed.

While standing in Jakarta, President Barack Obama denounced Israel for building apartments for her growing population in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. He voiced his opposition to the government of Israel, which like ours, is elected by the people. He made these statements to show his displeasure with the Israeli state.

He proved once again that he is the most anti-Israel President in U.S. History.

Indonesia is one of the, if not the, largest Muslim country in the world and Israeli’s are not allowed to enter the country. Could he have picked a more symbolic location to take his stance?

In going to Jakarta, Indonesia, to launch his latest attack, he literally went to the ends of the earth to give voice to his displeasure. He emphasized his opposition to the policies of the elected government of Israel.

He used his Jakarta platform to complain about Israel building apartments for her growing population. Where? In Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.

To make matters even worse, Jakarta is a city no Israeli is allowed to enter! The symbolism of saying what he said in the country and city where he said it is simply atrocious.

He was in Indonesia less than 24 hours. If he had to make such a one-sided and unfair pronouncement, couldn’t he at least have waited until he got to South Korea? Touting Indonesia’s great tolerance is offensive. We love everyone here in Indonesia, except the Israelis, of course, and except Catholic school girls who get beheaded on their way to school.

Disgusting. He finally proves he is good at something, and it ends up being hate.

Today was election day. It looks like we’ve succeeded in removing Nanny State Nancy Pelosi from the Speaker’s chair in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Republicans have gained control of the House, with a 60+ seat gain. While that sounds like good news to some people, I am still wary. The Republicans have been in control before, and they’ve screwed up before. One thing for sure, is that we had to get Pelosi out of the position of Speaker of the House, and we succeeded.

The people of Nevada have seriously let the rest of the country down. It was pretty obvious that the Republicans would not take control of the Senate, but the people of Nevada could have replaced Scary Harry Reid to help true change come to our country.

I heard many arguments that people didn’t trust Sharron Angle. But they trust Harry Reid? Seriously? Harry Reid is as corrupt as they come, and anyone, and I mean anyone, would have been better to represent the people of Nevada than Harry Reid.

Now, we can only pray that those who have been newly elected will discern the correct course for our country and move us in the right direction once again.

During the next few days, leading up to Tuesday, you are going to hear a lot of things from a lot of people about a lot of candidates. No matter what they say, or what you hear, make sure you do one thing on election day.

Vote your conscience.

Too many times people think they have no choice but to vote for the lesser of two evils when they could, in fact, vote for the best candidate, if they just take the time to review each candidates record and then make an informed decision.

To function properly, conscience requires formation and information. Conscience is not just a “gut feeling.” Formation of conscience involves the following for all people:

1. understanding basic norms that distinguish right from wrong
2. having sufficient factual knowledge of the issues at hand
3. prudently and deliberately considering our actions
4. recognizing that a good end never justifies morally unacceptable means

Take a few moments this weekend to research the candidates on your ballot and don’t just show up to vote because you have to, show up to vote so you can make a difference.