Suspicious Packages Cause Evacuation of 1500 From Peterson AFB

Around 09:45 MST, five suspicious packages were found on Peterson Air Force Base, in Colorado Springs.

All of the packages were found in the headquarters of US Northern Command.

Fifteen hundred people were evacuated from the building.

Bomb techs have been called in, to investigate the packages.

The buildings for Air Force Space Command and Army Space and Missile Defense Command were both put on lock down, as a precaution.

Military police closed the base's north gate, for a time, but eventually reopened it.

No information has been released as to why the packages are considered suspicious.

At 16:00, the all clear was given as the packages had been safely removed and taken to a secure location.

8,000 March in Support of Gun Rights in Chicago

At least eight thousand people took part in a gun rights march, in Chicago, on Wednesday.

They were there as part of Gun Owners Lobby Day, an annual event for Illinois.

After the march, they packed the Prairie Capital Convention Center.

Speakers focused on talking about getting concealed carry passed and blocking further weapons bans from being voted through.

Marchers talked of the necessity of guns for self defense and defense of their loved ones.

Organizers blame snow from keeping another fifteen hundred from joining their march.

How Long Til Paul Joins The Longest Filibusters?

Currently Senator Rand Paul in now into five straight hours of his filibuster of the vote of John Brennan's nomination to be the new head of the CIA.

In US history, there have been several filibusters in the senate.

Some of them have gone for quite some time, much longer than Paul's has, so far.

Here's a look at the five longest filibusters of the Senate.

• In 1957, Storm Thrumond of South Carolina, Democrat, filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for twenty-four hours and eighteen minutes.
• In 1986, Alfonse D'Amato of New York, Republican, filibustered an amendment to a defense for twenty-three hours and thirty minutes.
• In 1953, Wayne Morse of Oregon, Democrat, filibustered a bill to give states control over oil leases for twenty-two hours and twenty-six minutes.
• In 1908, Robert LaFollette of Wisconsin, Republican, filibustered a bill that would have allowed the US Treasury to lend money to banks for eighteen hours and twenty-three minutes.
• In 1981, William Proxmire of Wisconsin, Democrat, filibustered against raising the nation's debt limit for sixteen hours and twelve minutes.

New Direction for the GOP Begins at the Local Precinct Level – Conservatives Needed to Run for Office, Volunteer

Anger and frustration continue to mount as Americans express alarm at the direction in which the country is headed. In order to turn the tide and boost mid term and general election results, conservatives must significantly increase political activity at the local level, the precinct. As the precinct leader, the committee person (or captain) is the only party official directly elected by voters.  

An individual serving in this capacity is the primary contact between voters, candidates and elected officials; the precinct committee person votes directly for the leadership of the party.

What are the responsibilities of a committee person? The following is a general checklist which may vary depending on the precinct:

• Elect a precinct captain to assume overall precinct leadership.
• Divide your precinct into geographical areas and assign portions of the precinct to each precinct committeeman.
• Recruit precinct volunteers and assign specific blocks (or areas) to them for door to door and telephone work.
• Have registration forms available in your precinct. Regularly check for newly moved in Republicans and also for families who will have members turning eighteen years of age before the next election.
• Maintain up to date records of the current Republican residents of your precinct.
• Attend precinct meetings. These are called for updating records, planning strategy and other organizational purposes.
• Attend district and or county Republican meetings. These will be great places to share information and ideas.
• Assist your precinct captain in recruiting election board workers.
• Assist your precinct captain in establishing election day GET Out The Vote (GOTV) committees and a Precinct Election Headquarters.
• Distribute election information and candidate literature to the voters in your precinct.

How effective is this strategy? Well, Obama utilized it successfully against Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primaries. According to The Precinct Project, Obama and his backers “came out of nowhere to defeat the complacent ‘powers that be’” in the Democrat Party.

Many of the Republican Party precinct committee person slots, across the nation, are unfilled. Of the four hundred thousand slots nationwide approximately two hundred thousand are vacant. This represents a huge opportunity for conservatives.

So, in summary, a precinct committee person is tasked with helping to grow the party and with delivering the maximum number of votes from their precinct, on Election Day. If you would like to volunteer at your neighborhood precinct or run for office, visit the following website for local information:

American Hometowns – Cities, Counties, and Towns

You can also visit the following website (parts of which are under construction) to learn more about becoming a committee person, grass roots activism, how government works, pending legislation and more:

Winds of Liberty

Arkansas Overrules Governor's Veto on Pro Life Act

Governor Mike Beebe, of Arkansas, had vetoed the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act.

However, Tuesday saw the Senate decide to over rule the veto, with a vote of twenty to fourteen.

On Wednesday, the House joined them with a vote of fifty-five to thirty-three.

It was mostly bipartisan, but several Democrats did come over to the Republican side.

The Act will be challenged in the courts, as it has an earlier recognition of life, than federal laws do.

Senator Paul's Filibuster

Senator Rand Paul

On Wednesday, Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, began a filibuster of the vote on John Brennan's nomination to be the new head of the CIA.

Senator Paul began at 11:47 EST and went for three hours before he started to be joined by others. He was then joined by Mike Lee of Utah, Ted Cruz of Texas, and Jerry Moran of Kansas, all Republicans. Discussions between the Senators have focused upon whether or not drones should be used on American soil.

In the fourth hour, Ron Wyden of Oregon, a Democrat joined them, to be followed by Marco Rubio of Florida and Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Republicans. Near the end of the fourth hour Harry Reid of Nevada, Democrat, attempted to see an end to the filibuster, but did not see his goal accomplished.

As the fifth hour began, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Republican, began his addition to the filibuster, and was later followed by John Cornyn of Texas. Jerry Moran of Kansas, Republican, returned near the end of the sixth hour.

About seven and a quarter hours in, Paul offered the Democrats a resolution, which would require the President to answer the question of whether drones will ever be used against the American people. In the form of Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Democrats rejected the unanimous consent request.

Ted Cruz returned at about seven and three quarter hours in, and read a list of Tweets, supporting Senator Paul. As the ninth hour began Mike Lee made his own return. Nine and a half hours in John Barrasso of Wyoming, Republican, joined in the filibuster and called for the Democrats to reconsider the unanimous consent request of Paul's. Barrasso's question into a mini filibuster, in itself.

Cruz returned again about ten and a third hours in, with more tweets and then proceeded into a mini filibuster of his own. He held the floor for a hour and seven minutes, quoting Ayn Rand, Shakespeare, Patton, and Reagan. After he was done, Marco Rubio returned. With his speech he brought out quotes from Wiz Khalifa, The Godfather, and Jay Z. He in turn was followed by John Thune of South Dakota, Republican.

Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Republican, joined in as the time approached twelve hours. He was quickly followed by the return of Pat Toomey. Minutes after it became twelve hours of filibuster, Dick Durbin returned to ask a question of Paul. Durbin's questions were quickly responded to by Paul, who had earlier answered them in his statements. He was followed by Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Tim Scott of South Carolina, and Jeff Flake of Arizona, all Republicans. At twelve and a half hours, Mike Lee made another return, as did Durbin and Cruz.

Then it all came to a close with less than five minutes til it hit thirteen hours. Rand Paul yielded the floor. He was quickly followed by a move for adjournment, from Dick Durbin. The filibuster officially ended, with a time of twelve hours and fifty-four minutes.

Arab League Authorizes Weapons to Syrian Rebels

On Wednesday, the Arab League officially offered Syria's seat to the Syrian National Coalition, which represents the rebel forces.

They will have until the League's next meeting, March 26-27, to select someone to fill the seat.

Algeria, Lebanon, and Iraq all refused to acknowledge them as official.

The League also authorized members to send weapons to the Syrian rebels.

As a body the League will not be sending anything beyond medical aid and food supplies, but now individual countries officially can send weapons.

UN Peacekeepers Seized by Syrian Rebels

Twenty-one members of a UN peacekeeping force have been taken at gunpoint.

They are part of the UN force which monitors the cease fire between Israel and Syria, just east of the Golan Heights.

While they were on a routine supply mission, at least thirty armed people came at them and forced their surrender.

There are no reports of shots being fired.

The UN quickly condemned the actions against their soldiers.

It is believed that their captors are Syrian rebels.

Hugo Chavez Has Died

Hugo Chavez, fifty-eight, has died.

The new came just hours after Venezuela admitted that he was gravely ill.

Chavez ruled the country for fourteen years.

Under Venezuelan law a new election must now take place, within thirty days.

Til that time the Vice President takes over the country.

The election will likely put Vice President Nicolas Maduro against Henrique Capriles Radonski, who ran against Chavez in last year's election.

Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee Passes 7 Gun Control Laws

On Monday, seven gun control bills passed the Colorado Senate judiciary committee.

The bills will now be have to be put through another committee, and then put to vote before the full Senate, where they are expected to pass.

Four of the seven have already passed the House, while the other three will be sent to the House, if they pass the Senate.

Almost all of the voting has been on party lines, with Democrats voting for them and Republicans voting against.

• House Bill 1224 limits gun ammunition magazines to fifteen rounds.
• House Bill 1226 ends Colorado's law which keeps public college campuses from banning concealed weapons.
• House Bill 1228 revives fees for gun purchasers who need background checks.
• House Bill 1229 adds a background check requirement for guns sold in private transactions.
• Senate Bill 195 requires people seeking concealed carry permits to take gun training courses in person, not online.
• Senate Bill 196 adds legal liability for gun sellers and owners.
• Senate Bill 197 expands a ban on gun ownership for people convicted of certain domestic violence offenses.