5/10/2012
LiveScience.com – Nevermind The Apocalypse: Earliest Mayan Calendar Found – 10 May 2012
The oldest-known version of the ancient Maya calendar has been discovered adorning a lavishly painted wall in the ruins of a city deep in the Guatemalan rainforest.
The hieroglyphs, painted in black and red, along with a colorful mural of a king and his mysterious attendants, seem to have been a sort of handy reference chart for court scribes in A.D. 800 — the astronomers and mathematicians of their day. Contrary to popular myth, this calendar isn’t a countdown to the end of the world in December 2012, the study researchers said.
(Read the whole story at www.livescience.com link to original article)
The Daily Bell – Italian Voters Reject Austerity, Too – 10 May 2012
Italians reject Monti’s austerity in local vote … A maverick comic who wants Italy to quit the euro made big gains in local elections on Monday while former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi‘s party lost heavily as voters joined a wave of anti-austerity anger across Europe and punished incumbent parties. The results, following the victory of French Socialist Francois Hollande and major losses for traditional big parties in Greece on Sunday, will add to pressure for European leaders to ease measures adopted to counter the financial crisis. Prime Minister Mario Monti was not in the race but for the two main parties that support his technocrat government in parliament, the centre-right People of Freedom (PDL) and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), the vote was the biggest barometer of support ahead of national elections next year. The 5 Star Movement led by Beppe Grillo, a shaggy-haired comedian whose caustic invective against the established parties has gained increasing resonance in the wake of a spate of corruption scandals, made some spectacular advances. – Reuters
(Read the whole story at www.thedailybell.com link to original article)
Ashtar ~ Ascension Preparation with Freedom, Peace and Love
I am Rakhealle. I come through now with information regarding the coming earth changes. There is much speculation amongst you regarding what is about to unfold. Many of you are waiting for the mass arrests to be televised. I would like to take the opportunity to inform you all that this event, as magnificent as you all perceive it to be, will be dwarfed by the many splendours about to be revealed. The focus on the mass arrests, although valid, is a focus upon the old paradigm and in some cases is driven by the desire for revenge.
10 May 2012 
Ashtar ~ Ascension Preparation with Freedom, Peace and Love
Ashtar ~ Ascension Preparation with Freedom, Peace and Love
Ashtar on the Road Teleconference ~ May 8, 2012
"Well, Good Evening, Family! We are so delighted to be here! We are absolutely bursting with Joy at the wondrous news.* Yes, you heard the grand headline, did you not? And there’s a lot more going on. And now if you have any little concerns or thoughts that perhaps it’s never going to happen, we hope that you are in a much higher state by now. And you know it is all unfolding.
"Details are coming about in such rapidity, and such quantities, that it is almost impossible to keep up with the events. But that is why we are here – so that we can be partners in creating these various, wondrous events. And yes, we know there are some places where there is still some violence going on. We shall be addressing that with Mother Sekhmet’s Exercise when we join together in Communion, in order to add yet more high level, High Dimensional healing to the process that is going on now, because, of course, all of these are happening and it’s time to dance, it’s time to celebrate!!!
"And yet, of course, there is a lot of disinformation going around, and this disinformation is designed to keep everybody down and afraid. Now, we know that you are not in that group, but you know yourselves, Beloved Ones, and we’re with you all the time, and we can assure you that there are many, many wondrous beings in human bodies who are afraid. They may be family members, they may be neighbors, friends, co-workers, even strangers. You’re starting to get so high with all of these energies coming in that you are more easily able to discern the energies in the marketplace around you!
"We know that it is very, very much a sticking-out kind of a thing when somebody is afraid. You’re starting to read that. And so it is, again that we remind you to be the compassionate observer, the beamer of light, with compassionate Love. In other words, and this is a true statement: It is not that the dark has so much empowerment to be contagious to you, Beloved Ones - it is that the Light that you beam has the empowerment to help others who are not quite as high on life and all that is happening as you are!!!
"And so we bring this observation to you so that you can be assured that you have only more Light upon your paths, because you, yourselves, are welcoming it. You’re bringing it in and you are helping to share it with the entirety of Planet Earth and beyond. And thus it is that you are literally dispelling the fears that are in the minds, and yes, sometimes the Hearts, of those around you. Fear can travel, you know, throughout the energy fields of a person. Extreme fear or stress can even create disharmonies and imbalances so severe that they even are contagious to the human body.
"We want to assure you, each and everyone of you, that you are all equipped, that you have all opened your Hearts sufficiently, and indeed, the entirety of your energy fields, that you have your Guides with you, that you have this wondrous Family, this Ohana, Family, with you, and that you are all on the path of Light. Of course, we are speaking of that Light frequency, if you want to get a little bit scientific, called Love. It’s what you are made from and it’s what is the highest, most powerful energy on the Planet!
"More and more Love is speaking forth, and there are more and more examples of Love-empowered courage coming to light - that beloved man, for instance, who opened himself up, opened up his DNA just enough to get the inspirations to build the technologically advanced machine to help the children walk; the man who said 'STOP' to an entire government of a very large, large place in this world called China and said, 'You cannot, you must not, be treating women and children as you have been doing!'**
"You know, there is plenty of land in China that is not occupied, and even though it might seem barren, or desert, or whatever, and there are neighbors to China who are different countries – well, they are pretty well influenced by China - but they have a lot of land, and there is land in other parts of the world, and it is that this land shall bloom, and everyone shall thrive with abundance. And when we have, shall we say, the full and open Announcements of our presence among you, just watch how fast we bring our technologies to all for the healing that the Planet, and every member of Mother Gaia’s kingdoms!!!
"But first things must come first, and so with all of these events that are happening, there are the unleashings of some of the last remnants, shall we say, of programs -programs devised by, let us just say, the ancestors of one such as Hillary, designed to spread the fear, perpetuate the lies, and keep it all going. Because this is a Planet of free will, these ones have been enjoying a lot of Freedom, and even as we are rounding them up, so to speak, we are curtailing their Freedoms, and yes, retrieving all the monies which they have stolen – not just in this lifetime, Beloveds, but in many others. They go way back, these ones, who wanted to have all of the gold and all of the riches for themselves, they have been enjoying Freedom to run their programs.
"Now, these energies coming in are supporting the Freedoms of everyone to live their passions and to express whatever it is that they choose to express, so long as it follows the Great Rule as spoken by Sananda in our last gathering, which is called the Golden Rule. In other words, the way we can say it also is: 'Do whatever it is you choose to do, so long as you do not intentionally or unintentionally harm anyone else.' In other words, do so – express yourselves with discernment and a certain amount of attention to what you are creating with your thoughts words and deeds - preferably, before you express them! That is always the best way to go.
"We are very happy to say - and this is a little bit of a Family report here - we’re very happy to say that you are all doing so well with your clearings and cleansings, and yes, your acceptance. Actually, more than acceptance, you’re welcoming with open arms and open Hearts all of the energies which are coming to help so much with upliftment. When you are uplifted, you really don’t have a lot of room for programs, you know, the 3D programs that have been running so long.
"So it is to enjoy this Freedom in a joyful manner, and to be in celebration mode. As always, we stand on what we said about dates: 'No dates!' However, we can tell you things are coming real close. So even if you are not feeling in celebration, yes, like that Beloved One we spoke with who is temporarily out of a J-O-B, and our advice was, 'Start thinking about what you have passion to do and creating your visions as though you are living in it at this moment, because the moment is at hand!
“Nevertheless, we do have to acknowledge that there are some Freedoms which are like unleashed energies of low vibration – fear-based, that is, which are being exposed and emphasized. And we are speaking primarily of violence, we are speaking about war, and we are speaking about the kinds of wars that take place even within an individual. In very young ones they are often called temper tantrums; they are expressions or outbursts of anger. As young ones reach into teenage and young adulthood they are sometimes called rebellious. As people get even older they are considered to be criminally dangerous, and those kinds of labels are put on them, which only serves to emphasize all the more, the behavior.
"What we are here to do is to bring Peace to the very Hearts of those who are, in some manner or other, engaged in fear-based programs which in turn motivate them to express fearful ways. Because all war is over! It is scheduled, it is ordained, that’s it! It’s over. As often happens, all that is left is what is taking place in the physical world, the environment. This idea that somebody is going to pick somebody out and say, ‘That one is to blame for all of your problems’ – that’s over. The concept that it is some kind of righteous thing to go to war, to cause even nations to go to war – excuse us, In the name of God? – how preposterous is that?
"Mother/Father God loves all who have been created, and that includes you, Beloved Ones, and it includes I, Ashtar, and all dwellers of all dimensionalities. And that Love is what was the material of creation and that Love is who everyone is! It’s just that there are some that have turned so far away from it in their zeal to create the opposite of Love, that we still have these programs showing themselves. And of course, it is the 'last hurrah' for those who would control the news media because you cannot turn on your computers, or pick up a newspaper, or turn on your television sets without some new violence greeting you. Of course, this is a part of a plan.
"As we have said, it is the Light which is contagious, not the dark. It is the Light which will literally flood the dark, and it is the Love that is carried in that Light, and is carried within each and everyone of you, Beloved Family, and beyond in each and every being who has ever been created by Father/Mother God! Everyone has a choice, and the choice is that the consensus of consciousness of Planet Earth is even stronger now, even more the majority, and it says 'Peace everywhere, within every being and between beings, and countries, and so on - there shall be Peace on Earth now!!!
"When there is Peace, there is Joy, and when there is Peace, the 3D programs get turned off because their credibility is gone. When there is Peace there is Love, and all of the expressions of Love - there is no room for the fear-based expressions. And this, Beloved Ones, is a major, major, major part of Ascension preparation. So you see, we remain true to our mission as Ashtar family, which is to prepare for Ascension in all of our teachings!
"Yes, you have heard, we have been celebrating a bit. We have an anniversary*** coming up - but every day is an anniversary for the Joy that was yesterday, to be brought forward into the new day, as you measure time, and we join you in that. It is the Light of Love which is the highest energy of the Universe and which is prevailing to such an extent that even though, yes we know, you are tired of hearing, 'no dates,' but we can tell you – 'Alrighty, no dates, but fasten your seatbelts or strap on your parachutes, or whatever you want to do, because we’re about to take off into a higher realm of dimensionality!'
"In other words, whereas Planet Earth was seen to be in the loooooow portions of 3D, until your harmonic convergence - and that’s a fairly recent date if you want to look it up - now, Planet Earth is aiming higher, higher, higher! And all of these energies that are coming in, which are so beautifully received and paid forward by you, Beloved Family, the whole energy of Planet Earth is evolving rapidly - after all, it must. We’re talking about Ascension preparation, and you don’t go from the very lowest divisions or portions of 3D and just go zooming right on up into 5D, you’ve got to have some preparation! And that’s what we are here for.
"That’s why we ask you to join with us, that’s why we do these Exercises, and most of all, that’s why we come to you with such Love, and such appreciation, because you are with us, Beloved Ones, and yes indeed, One We Are! We ask that you feel this Love, this great Love that brings us together. And by all means enjoy the events which are tumbling fast and with great intensity, rolling out all over the Planet to bring the Planet to Ascension readiness. You do not need to have any fears about whether you are going to make it – of course you’re going to make it - as long as you have passion, as long as you have intention, you are already committed to Ascension!
"You are committed to being here in this Ashtar on the Road family to further assist all the kingdoms of Mother Gaia to prepare for Ascension. And yes, we know, there is always something to do, something more to do, something to clear out, something to heal, or whatever, but we can assure you that you are doing it. We can assure you that we have even more closeness with you now than we did – let’s pick a random date – on the last year of our anniversary!
"Just look at how far we have come together, Beloved Ones, look into the mirror and greet the Divine Being You Are and say, ‘I Am. I Am ascending, I Am evolving, I Am becoming more and more my light body, I Am and always have been Divine!' How’s that? Think about that – 'always have been' – no matter what kind of hat you’ve worn, no matter whether the majority of you has been in the vibrations of fear or Love, you’ve always been Divine, you’ve always had Freedom of choice, you’ve always had Divine Will. And even those of you who may have worn a dark hat, a violent hat, once or more times in your lifetimes, you are honored for living the experience in order to know what it was, so that you could come into this lifetime and discern.
"Make your choices, because you’ve always had the Freedom to do so. Even if you’ve worn a dark hat in this lifetime – we’ve spent hours and days of your time, and it is a mission of Joy to show up at these meetings of the dark hats, and to assure them that they, too, are loved, but they are so into their programs, in advertising lingo you would say, 'It’s a real hard sell!' And they are not all in belief of us, but we are happy to report that even some of the darkest hats are listening and they are acknowledging the Light, and this is huge, Beloved Ones, this is huge!!!
"We welcome all to the Light. We have only Love and honor for all experiences lived; experience teaches wisdom. Some people still don’t have required wisdom, or you might say, they have not learned their lessons fully. They are not ready to graduate into Ascension, or Ascendee status. Love them. Show them the Light, give them your compassionate - not sympathetic, not ‘Hey, I’ll get down in the dumpies with you, because I’m sure that will make you better’ - kind of Love, compassionate Love.
"Allow them their Freedom to choose, counsel them if you will, and communicate to them that the World is coming to Peace and that Peace is for them as well, because it is the kind of Peace that is created out of Love. It’s not enslavement, as in – 'don’t you dare open your mouth or I’ll step on you' – kind of Peace, it is the Peace that goes with Freedom, it is the Peace of Love and it is for each and every being to feel that Peace and to follow their passions for whatever it is they are here to do.
"You have your Guides and you have the overviews that we give, the reports, if you will. And so it is that you are well-equipped to make your decisions in the Joy of the Freedom and in the High Integrity that we invite you to live in – the Ascension Lifestyle, but a little bit early!
"So that is what we are here to focus on because, as you know, there is a lot of turmoil in the world right now - we have said that there would be. There is a lot of chaos yet to come, we have said that as well. Is it something to fear? No! It’s time to rejoice and celebrate and to help others along the way, and that is what we mean when we say we have mission together. We are finally able to participate one hundred percent with the white knights, the Lightworkers, and with you, Beloved Family. This is reason for celebration, is it not?
"We are able to participate in the preparations which are centering primarily on the financial aspects of life on Planet Earth, so that complete Freedom can be enjoyed by all, along with abundance. Of course, the next step is going to be our presence among you, openly acknowledged. Call us forth, invite us to fill up your television screens or to broadcast on the airwaves. These will be happening every time that you give permission, which is a way of saying, issue an invitation or roll out your red carpets! It simply empowers us to do more.
"That’s not so simple, really, if you take into consideration all of the various areas that we are actively engaging in at this time. However, as we have said, the main news, that is, the news of the changes and of the Ascension preparation have to do with financial matters. And this is as it must be because, as the Beloved news reporters* have said, when they don’t have their money they become disempowered - they don’t have the money to pay the hired soldiers to go and wage war; they don’t have the money to pay the drug companies to wage war on the people with their legal and illegal drugs - there’s really not much difference in most of them; they don’t have the money to poison the air with their chemtrails, and poison the waters, and poison the very soils of Mother Earth; they do not have the money to drill into Mother Earth and suck out her life’s blood, and so on.
"We’re working on that real hard. We’ve got a lot of great helpers among the white knights and the support of all of you. Lightworkers all over the world are sending out visions of how the World is to be when the changes are made. All we ask that you do, as far as directing any kind of focus toward those who have been wearing the dark hats, is just send them your Compassionate Love, Forgiveness, and yes, Gratitude, for showing the difference. You can see so clearly the difference between dark and Light, and it is for every human on the planet to be able to see the difference as clearly as you!
"Light also provides clarity, yes? So send them the Light of Love, send it all over the Planet and invite people to really open their Hearts and see and understand, and to be forgiving, and to be thankful for the Freedom with which they can now live their lives!
"Beloved Ones, there is such Joy in the Universe, such attention upon Planet Earth, and such uplifting celebrations going on even now, because this mission is accomplished. Ascension is for real, it’s a 'happening thing,' as you like to say. So just get in the highest vibrations of celebration and welcome the Peace that passeth all understanding into your own Hearts. And then we’ll be sharing it everywhere so that everyone can enjoy the new Freedoms from the Highest Dimensional Perspective, Attitude, and Lifestyle, so that these changes which we are telling you about - which we are celebrating even now - become everyone’s reality as we move, literally, move into the Higher Dimensional, shall we say, permanent residence for all of those who are ascending!!!
"I, Ashtar, shall be there, even as I am here with you, to welcome you, along with my brothers Sananda, Saint Germain, and all of the Company that is so excited and so joyful, and so much in Love with each and every one of you, Beloved Ones! Our hearts overflow. We invite you to be in celebration of this great Freedom and the great Peace that it shall bring to each and every one of all of the kingdoms of Mother Gaia, on Planet Earth and beyond!
"It’s party time! And thank you for joining with us in celebration and service. And so it is! Salut."
* Referring to Tara and Rama's report.** The Chinese government has been forcing women to be sterilized, and taking children away from families who have more than one child.***Our first official Ashtar On The Road gathering was on May 23, 2004.Ashtar's talk was followed by Simple Song Of Freedom sung by Bobby Darin
Transcription by Brian CoeGiven through Susan Leland, May 8, 2012. www.AshtarontheRoad.com © Ashtar On The Road Publications 2004-2012.All rights reserved; however, this is a gift to all of us and it may be distributed freely on condition that all accreditation is acknowledged and that no part is altered or deleted.
Luz My Account Account Settings Private Messages My blog Create content Log out Facebook Join the GFP group on Facebook Donate Via PayPal: Categories Galactic Free Press Daily Updates Earth Allies Report
This article was very funny! I enjoyed it. I second the notion of choosing freedom for all.
Not only freedom from the upper levels of oppression but also freedom on the smaller, more individual levels. Freedom to contemplate, question, and dis-cover truths for ourselves, while also respecting other people's choices to contemplate for themselves as well.
Yes, Obama must have a higher self ( just as we all do). I'm just over waiting for him to act on it. I'm open to him acting on it some day but after seeing the horrible things he's done so far, I can't help but regret voting for him and believing in him in the first place.
In the meantime, I've chosen to find my answers inwardly from meditation, contemplation, working with my own ego, and from beings who have shown themselves to be compassionate in their actions.
I certainly will not lull myself into a state of complacency and disempowerment by waiting for Obama, or any other external savior to solve the sufferings of the world (WHICH HAVE NOT magically disappeared as this article seems to suggest). That would be silly to do such a thing.
Due to my freedom of choice, I believe that we as a human collective are the only one's who can save ourselves. This requires much more than the oligarchic efforts of one individual, regardless of whether this individual is named Obama, Zeal, or any other fantastically dazzling name.
I do apologize if I offended, angered, or dashed anyone's higher-OBAMA hopes, and I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings. I'm just being honest and exercising my freedoms of speech, because if such freedoms don't get exercised, they'll cease to exist.
Peace.
Luz My Account Account Settings Private Messages My blog Create content Log out Facebook Join the GFP group on Facebook Donate Via PayPal: Categories Galactic Free Press Daily Updates Earth Allies Report
This article was very funny! I enjoyed it. I second the notion of choosing freedom for all.
Not only freedom from the upper levels of oppression but also freedom on the smaller, more individual levels. Freedom to contemplate, question, and dis-cover truths for ourselves, while also respecting other people's choices to contemplate for themselves as well.
Yes, Obama must have a higher self ( just as we all do). I'm just over waiting for him to act on it. I'm open to him acting on it some day but after seeing the horrible things he's done so far, I can't help but regret voting for him and believing in him in the first place.
In the meantime, I've chosen to find my answers inwardly from meditation, contemplation, working with my own ego, and from beings who have shown themselves to be compassionate in their actions.
I certainly will not lull myself into a state of complacency and disempowerment by waiting for Obama, or any other external savior to solve the sufferings of the world (WHICH HAVE NOT magically disappeared as this article seems to suggest). That would be silly to do such a thing.
Due to my freedom of choice, I believe that we as a human collective are the only one's who can save ourselves. This requires much more than the oligarchic efforts of one individual, regardless of whether this individual is named Obama, Zeal, or any other fantastically dazzling name.
I do apologize if I offended, angered, or dashed anyone's higher-OBAMA hopes, and I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings. I'm just being honest and exercising my freedoms of speech, because if such freedoms don't get exercised, they'll cease to exist.
Peace.
Counterparties: Today's Best Links A general view of the North Lawn of the White House in Washington January 24, 2012. U.S. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) Dem presidents create more jobs? Nearly two-thirds of private sector job c
U.S. sues Arizona sheriff for discrimination
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By Tim Gaynor
PHOENIX | Thu May 10, 2012 1:44pm EDT
(Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department sued an Arizona sheriff on Thursday for civil rights violations, alleging he and his office intentionally engaged in racial profiling and unlawful arrests of Latinos in violation of their constitutional rights.PHOENIX
The lawsuit cited systemic profiling, sloppy and indifferent police work and a disregard for minority rights by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a conservative Republican who styles himself as "America's toughest sheriff," and county officials.
"Leadership starts at the top and all of the alleged violations that are outlined in the complaint are the product of a culture of disregard for basic rights... that starts at the top and pervades the organization," Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas Perez told reporters.
Perez said the Justice Department sued Maricopa County, the sheriff's office and Arpaio in U.S. District Court in Arizona after trying unsuccessfully for three and a half months to get Arpaio to comply with federal civil rights law.
Arpaio faces re-election in November in the county that includes the Phoenix metropolitan area. He has become the face of hardline local efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, placing him on a collision course with the federal government.
Maricopa County has created inadequately trained special units that are used to target Latinos for unlawful and unjustified arrests; has willfully denied Latino prisoners their civil rights in jail; and under Arpaio's direction has arrested political opponents for no valid reason, the DOJ suit contends.
"At its core, this is an abuse of power case involving Sheriff Arpaio and a sheriff's office that disregarded the Constitution, ignored sound police practices and did not hesitate to retaliate against perceived critics in a variety of unlawful ways," said Perez.
"Constitutional policing and effective policing go hand in hand. The complaint outlines how Sheriff Arpaio's actions were neither constitutional nor effective," he said.
"VOLUNTEER POSSE"
The lawsuit cited the use of a "volunteer posse" or group of untrained civilians that carry out Arpaio's anti-Latino policies in a county of 4 million people that is 30 percent Latino.
Latino drivers in one part of the county are nine times more likely to be stopped than non-Latino drivers engaged in similar conduct, the suit said.
In one case, a sheriff's officer stopped a Latina - a U.S. citizen who was five months pregnant - as she pulled into her driveway and insisted that she sit on the hood of her car.
"When she refused, the officer grabbed her arms, pulled them behind her back, and slammed her, stomach first, into the vehicle three times," the suit said.
Arpaio's combative style and defiance of federal threats have made him a hero to nativists and conservatives who advocate strict border enforcement. Meanwhile he is a pariah to liberals and immigrant rights advocates.
In March, he drew headlines with an assertion that his office had found that President Barack Obama's birth certificate was a forgery. Most Republican critics of Obama have given up pursuing such widely discredited "birther" allegations.
On the eve of the lawsuit alleging racial-profiling, Arpaio released a 17-page document entitled "Integrity, Accountability, Community - The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office 2012," pledging to overhaul his office.
"I do not tolerate racist attitudes or behaviors. We at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office do not foster a 'culture of cruelty,'" Arpaio said in a statement.
"With that in mind, I required my staff to consider how we can engage in more community outreach, to enhance our law enforcement and detention services and to build public trust. And I asked that this process be undertaken with our critics in mind. Their voices should be heard," he said.
ARIZONA VS WASHINGTON
His pledge was too late to avoid a lawsuit, which comes amid a broader battle between the state and the Obama administration over who has the right to implement immigration law.
The U.S. Supreme Court is currently weighing Arizona's defense of its crackdown on illegal immigrants, signed into law by Republican Governor Jan Brewer in 2010.
The law requires police to check the immigration status of people they stop and suspect of being in the country illegally. The measure is among several blocked by a federal judge.
Brewer and backers of the law said it was needed because Washington had failed to secure the porous Mexico border. But Obama and other critics filed suit arguing that it pre-empted federal authority on immigration and made Hispanics the target of racial profiling.
A Supreme Court decision upholding Arizona's law - known as SB 1070 - would be a legal and political setback for Obama as he seeks re-election in November. A ruling striking down the law would be a defeat for Brewer and a setback for Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney, who supports it.
The case will be closely watched by Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah, which followed Arizona in passing immigration crackdowns. A ruling is not expected until June or July.
(Additional reporting by Edith Honan and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Anthony Boadle)
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We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/Comments (2)usa.wi.vet.4q wrote:May 10, 2012 1:36pm EDT -- Report as abuseBuckeyeNick wrote:The federal government cannot seal the AZ boarder, so they distract people by suing Arpaio. Typical Holder BS. This also is a great political move by Obama to try to stop the erosion of his bleeding heart liberal base. Let’s make sure illegal immigrants can get in and get all their U.S. rights per Pelosi and make doubly sure we don’t hurt anybody’s feelings.
May 10, 2012 1:40pm EDT -- Report as abuse
Bernanke: Even worthy borrowers can't get mortgages
Bernanke: Even worthy borrowers can't get mortgages
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U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke smiles as he concludes a news conference following the monthly two-day meeting at the Federal Reserve in Washington, April 25, 2012.
Credit: Reuters/Jason Reed
Thu May 10, 2012 1:27pm EDT
(Reuters) - Banks have become so restrictive in making mortgages that many worthy homebuyers are being frozen out of the U.S. housing market, and lending practices are not likely to loosen any time soon, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday.
Speaking via satellite to a banking conference in Chicago, Bernanke highlighted ongoing problems in mortgage finance availability, even though banks are much healthier now as the 2007-2009 financial crisis has receded.
"To be sure, a return to pre-crisis lending standards wouldn't be appropriate," Bernanke said. "However, current standards may be limiting or preventing lending to many creditworthy borrowers."
Lax lending practices, including "liars' loans" handed out to borrowers who provided little or no documentation for jobs and incomes, have been cited as a key contributing factor in precipitating the severe financial crisis.
Bernanke implied the backlash by banks against criticism of their lending practices, which now are far tighter, might be overdone and will be extremely hard to reverse.
"Many factors suggest this situation will be difficult to turn around quickly, including the slow recovery of the economy and housing market, continued uncertainty surrounding the future of the government-sponsored enterprises, the lack of a healthy private-label securitization market, and cautious attitudes by lenders," Bernanke said.
Overall, Bernanke said, home mortgage credit outstanding at banks has contracted about 13 percent from its peak.
The government-sponsored enterprises - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - previously were key vehicles in home-mortgage finance because they bought mortgages originated by banks and packaged them into securities that were then resold to investors. The practice freed up funds for banks to make new mortgages.
But Fannie and Freddie had to be bailed out by the government and were taken over at the height of the crisis. The government is considering options that include possibly winding them down, leaving it unclear what type of housing-finance system eventually will emerge in future.
Bernanke said Fed surveys show that even when homebuyers can make a 20 percent down payment, banks are often reluctant to offer mortgage money to any but the best qualified.
"Most banks indicated that their reluctance to accept mortgage applications from borrowers with less-than-perfect records is related to 'putback risk' - the risk that a bank might be forced to buy back a defaulted loan if the underwriting or documentation was judged deficient in some way," he said.
Recent Fed surveys on credit conditions have found that, years after the crisis, banks remain worried about hangover from the bursting of the housing bubble and now also fear strains from the ongoing European debt crisis.
Loan officers said they were less willing now than they were five years ago to lend to anyone except those with stellar credit.
On the positive side, Bernanke said the banking system generally is in much stronger condition, with more capital on hand and ample liquidity, so that as recovery gains traction and generates more credit demand it will be in good shape to expand lending that is necessary for stronger growth.
(Reporting By Glenn Somerville; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/Comments (2)USA4 wrote:is it really any surprise that government regulators, looking in the rearview mirror have damaged another market in their attempts to follow a populist path rather than an appropriate one? another sad and expensive journey that politicians will ultimately blame on someone else- maybe banks? “rich people”? the only certainty is that this type of mistake will repeat itself…
May 10, 2012 1:22pm EDT -- Report as abusejimfin wrote:I bailed you out so you didn’t have to pay
I let you keep the money. Now it’s ruining my day.
You’re gettin it overnight at little more than 10.
But you’re investing in 10s yielding 200. Laughing then.
Lend I say! Today! Forget I ever said nay.
I’ve pumped and I’ve primed. Equities are the new cash.
The faux bourgeoisie I’ve created I will not let crash.
So go forth my minions of money. My disciples of debt
Your qualified. Your blessed. My 30 year sect.
Soon it will end. My usury will rise.
My highwire act. That balance sheet size.
To those undeserving, left at debts’ door
You deadbeats. My servants.
For you, I never planned to do more.May 10, 2012 1:25pm EDT -- Report as abuse
FREEDOM PROJECT: Whistleblower John Cruz: HSBC is a “Criminal Enterprise”. Laundered Billions. Amex and Paypal Involved...
Whistleblower John Cruz: HSBC is a “Criminal Enterprise”. Laundered Billions. Amex and Paypal Involved.
Posted by Stephen CookWhistleblower John Cruz: HSBC is a “Criminal Enterprise”. Laundered Billions. Amex and Paypal Involved.
Thanks to Gene.
This video is from a special series of stories on WND.com by Jerome R. Corsi. John Cruz is a former vice president and relationship manager at HSBC. He turned over more than 1,000 pages of documents to WND earlier this year, including customer account ledgers for dozens of companies through which, he charges, HSBC was laundering money each month. Billions all up.
WND has now run several explosive stories featuring Cruz’s information. The first, in early February, was titled: “Banking Giant Accused of Laundering Billions”. Next, Cruz talked about American Express and Paypal’s involvement in this money laundering. Now comes this video interview, where he says HSBC is a “criminal enterprise”.
I have included sections from – and the links to – all three stories below:
(Sorry, I couldn’t remove the ad before the video)
These are excerpts from the story posted this week:Banking Giant HSBC is a “Criminal Enterprise”By Jerome R. Corsi – May 8, 2012
http://www.wnd.com/2012/05/banking-giant-hsbc-a-criminal-enterprise/
1. Cruz told WND that as a relationship manager, it was his responsibility to look up various accounts in the HSBC computer system and visit the account holders in person to offer additional banking products and services.
“I pulled these documents because I thought they were evidence of suspicious activity taking place,” Cruz affirmed when presented by WND with various HSBC computer ledgers of customer accounts. “These same documents I brought to bank security and my managers in the bank.”
“My managers told me I was crazy and I didn’t know what I was talking about,” he said. “They told me it was none of my business what goes on in transactions. But that’s my job.”
2. Cruz charges that the 1,000 pages of customer account records suggest HSBC relied on identity theft to capture legitimate Social Security numbers that were then used to create the bogus retail and commercial bank accounts through which employees systematically deposited and withdrew hundreds of millions of dollars on a daily basis, apparently without the knowledge of the identity theft victims.
“When an individual finds out they got a loan they never knew about, 5 percent of that loan went to the accounting firm that made up the phony tax returns, and the other 95 percent of that loan went to the manager,” he said.
“One manager was involved in the transaction, another manager was involved in notarizing the transaction, and senior management was involved where they signed off permission to give the loans even when the loans get rejected by underwriting.”
At the end, this article states:
In January, Reuters reported that the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations had begun investigating money-laundering activity at HSBC with the intention of scheduling hearings later this year.
Last week, Reuters reported the U.S. unit of the London-based HSBC Holdings Plc has been under investigation by federal law enforcement officials since 2003 for the bank’s lax attitudes toward enforcing anti-money laundering statutes.
Reuters reported that confidential documents examined from the offices of two U.S. Attorneys’ offices allege that from 2005, “the bank violated the Bank Secrecy Act and other anti-money laundering laws on a massive scale” by not adequately reviewing “hundreds of billions of dollars in transactions for any that might have links to drug trafficking, terrorist financing and other criminal activity.”
In an attempt to make his charges public, Cruz in 2011 published a book about his experiences titled “World Banking World Fraud: Using Your Identity.”
To read the rest of this story and see some of the documents Cruz handed over to WND go here:
http://www.wnd.com/2012/05/banking-giant-hsbc-a-criminal-enterprise/This is the intro to the first story WND published in February:
Banking Giant Accused of Laundering Billions
By Jerome R. Corsi – February 1, 2012
http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/banking-giant-accused-of-laundering-billions/
NEW YORK – A former employee of HSBC in New York has 1,000 pages of customer account records he claims are evidence of an international money-laundering scheme involving hundreds of billions of dollars by the global banking giant, which reportedly is under investigation by a U.S. Senate committee.
John Cruz has delivered to WND customer account records he says he pulled from the HSBC computer system before he was fired. Cruz was terminated Feb. 17, 2010, after two years at HSBC for “poor performance,” but he contends he was let go because senior management didn’t want to him to pursue his personal investigation.
Asked for comment, HSBC spokesman Rob Sherman issued a statement to WND.
“We support efforts to protect the integrity of the financial system, and our commitment to AML (anti-money laundering) includes rigorous internal processes and a close working partnership with regulators and law enforcement,” the statement said.
One of the largest banks in the world, London-based HSBC has about 7,500 offices in more than 80 countries and territories in Europe, North and South America, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa.
To read the rest of this earlier article go here:
http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/banking-giant-accused-of-laundering-billions/This is the second article WND published in February:
PayPal, American Express Implicated in Bank Fraud
By Jerome R. Corsi – February 8 , 2012
http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/paypal-american-express-implicated-in-bank-fraud/
NEW YORK – A former employee of one of the world’s largest international banks who has provided WND with more than 1,000 pages of evidence alleges the Internet giant PayPal and American Express are implicated in an international money-laundering scheme involving hundreds of billions of dollars.
The whistleblower, John Cruz, was a relationship manager in the southern New York region for the London-based global bank HSBC.
“I found many accounts where PayPal and American Express were used as conduits through which hundreds of thousands of dollars were deposited or withdrawn from HSBC customer accounts in a pattern of suspicious transactions that should have been reported to legal authorities under various banking statutes, including the Patriot Act,” Cruz told WND.
Neither PayPal nor American Express responded to WND email and telephone requests for comment.
To read the rest of this earlier article go here:
http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/paypal-american-express-implicated-in-bank-fraud
Why would the Government sue a sheriff trying to get massive numbers of criminals off our streets? Maybe the Government officials own the companies that are hiring these criminals? Everybody I know wants the Government to uphold the laws and get the criminals out. Hey if you are too crooked or inept to do your job you need to quit. Please put your effort into something useful. I suppose it may cut into your profits if you have to hire a legal worker and then really pay the taxes that are due to the Government. The working class you are screwing thru your unwillingness to do your job will remember. Keep trying to let the illegal immigrants stay and you will finally understand where you fit into our society. Your lack of effort to enforce the law is not as serious as going after the people willing to do your work.