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Social Security advocates are planning to protest Thursday at Social Security offices around the county. Thousands of American Federation of Government Employees Social Security employees, along with the Alliance for Retired Americans, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and the Strengthen Social Security Campaign are protesting recent proposals from Congress that would cut the Social Security Administration's operational budget.

I came across the most recent summary report for the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) and I thought its pared-down tables and graphs nicely encapsulated the pension situation in the state. First note that the average annual salary in 2010 for active working educators enrolled in the system was $64,156. The next table states that the average retirement benefit paid out in 2010 was $4,256 per month. That’s $51,072 annually. In other words, the average retired teacher in California made more than the average working teacher in 28 states, according to the salary rankings published by NEA. The final...

Inquiry: By chance, I was wondering if you chaps might be innocently wondering, as I have, as to the decrease, and/or otherwise, of the activity on personal blogs or websites, etc. that y'all may operate as a hobby in your spare time relating to any of a number of topics. If so, perhaps y'all may care to comment on this--if you get chance--I realize y'all may be quite busy....??? That would be nice. Semper Fidelis Gunny G aka: Dick Gaines ***** *****

Greeting my fellow FReepers... After much thought and consideration as of this data 31 JULY 2009, I am publicly supporting the candidicy of Sarah Palin to be President Of The United States in 2012. I would like to gather a list of FReepers who are on board in order to help organize the online campaign. If you are supporting Sarah Palin in 2012 please FReepmail me. In addition please post any/all PRO Sarah Palin threads under the keywords palin2012 and sarahpalin2012 to indexing and reference. v/r David C. Osborne Tallahassee, Florida P.S. If you on Sarah Palin's Staff (officialy or...

For those of you who are covered by TFL you will want to pay attention to what BG Bob Clements has surfaced about the future of TFL. If you know of anyone who is Retired Military, please forward this on to them. I don't know how many of you partake of the Tri Care for Life program but here is a very interesting note on the subject. Seems as though our President Elect has placed a priority on cutting it out of the budget as a means to provide funding for those things he promised during the campaign. In any...

What would you say if tomorrow Medicare changed it's rules and told you that they would only pay 20% of your doctor's bills? You would be responsible to pay the doctor the remaining 80% of the bill. And what if Medicare also said that you must pay a co-pay of 25% of the 20% that Medicare will pay? And all of this was being done without the express consent of Congress. You would be rightly angry and probably would immediately call your Senators and Congressman or Congresswoman to insist they take action to stop this injustice. Well, this is exactly...

BAGHDAD - Iraq's elusive Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr has decided to drop out of politics for the time being because his disillusionment with the political scene in Iraq has left him sick and anxious, he said in an unusually personal letter to his followers released Friday. In a written response to a query from a group of followers asking why he hadn't been seen in public for so long, Sadr said he had decided to devote himself to a period of study, reflection and prayer after failing in his core mission to rid Iraq of the U.S. occupation or to...

The Dixie Chicks are partners in name only - the multi-platinum- selling trio is all but broken up, according to a source close to the group.Natalie Maines and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison made just a handful of appearances together in 2007 - and now they rarely even talk, the source reveals. "The girls have gone their separate ways," the source close to the Texas-raised country musicians told The ENQUIRER. "They were not getting along when they toured together during 2006, but they managed to stay civil. Now when they're not forced to be together, the girls don't even...

NEW YORK, June 26 (Reuters) - Boeing Co. (BA.N: Quote, Profile , Research) on Tuesday named retired Marine Corps Gen. James Jones, the former head of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, to its board. The appointment is the latest in a line of retired senior armed forces and Pentagon leaders joining defense contractors, underscoring the tight relationship between U.S. arms makers and buyers. Boeing, which is the No. 2 U.S. defense contractor behind Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT.N: Quote, Profile , Research), said Jones' appointment was effective immediately. Jones, 63, is a decorated Vietnam War veteran with a 40-year military...

CONCORD, N.H. - Three retired generals challenged a dozen members of Congress in a new ad campaign Wednesday, saying the politicians can't expect to win re-election if they support President Bush's policies in Iraq. "I am outraged, as are the majority of Americans. I'm a lifelong Republican, but it's past time for change," retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste told reporters. "Our strategy in Iraq today is more of the same, a slow grind to nowhere which totally ignores the reality of Iraq and the lessons of history," Batiste said. "Our president ignores sound military advice and surrounds himself with like-minded...

2007 United States Military Handbook The United States Military Handbook is designed to help all active duty U.S. Military personnel by giving them the most accurate and complete information available anywhere on pay, allowances, taxes, health care and TRICARE benefits, Veterans and Social Security Benefits, travel, transportation, SBP, retirement, Spac-A, installation listings, statistical data, and much, much more! Click here to request your Handbook. 2007 U.S. Military Retired Handbook The United States Military Retired Handbook is designed to help all U.S. Military personnel who have retired - or who are planning to retire. This unique guide covers everything from...

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — An American senior citizen killed an alleged mugger with his bare hands, and his traveling companions aboard a tour bus fended of two other assailants in the Atlantic coast city of Limon, police said. A retired member of the U.S. military aged about 70 put suspect Warner Segura in a head lock and broke his clavicle after the 20-year-old and two other men armed with a knife and gun held up their tour bus, Luis Hernandez, the police chief of Limon, 80 miles east of San Jose, said Thursday. Segura was later declared dead, apparently...

WASHINGTON — The federal government is targeting millions of retiring to replace the estimated one-half of their colleagues eligible to retire from federal service in the next few years, according to the Partnership for Public Service, an advocacy organization for federal careers. Maryland retirees, in particular, are prime candidates for the second career push because of their proximity to the many federal agencies with homes in both Washington and Maryland.

Divorce and lost earning time could put living standards in a free fall late in life. We traveled where we wanted," she said. "He bought me furs and jewelry. We stayed at the best hotels." Then the marriage fell apart. Now 51, Tucker Emerson scrambles to pay the bills and wonders how she will get by in retirement. ...I don't know anyone who can afford to retire, and they're all people my age," said Leslie Clark, 64, a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines Inc. who lives in El Segundo. "Most of the people I know will have to find...

12/17/2006 - LOS ANGELES (AFPN) -- Retired Lt. Col. Roy White picked up the phone and on the other end was an opportunity to contribute to the military again. The phone call was from Michael Kerr, the founder of Snowball Express, and he wanted to get every military family who had a lost a loved one in the war on terror to California for a magical weekend. To make that possible he needed a lot of airplane tickets. Colonel White, now a captain with Southwest Airlines, was in a position to help. The colonel said he found gathering support for...

Do you think control of Congress will change hands after the 2006 elections? No, Republicans will keep both the House and Senate Yes, the House will go to the Democrats, but not the Senate Yes, the Senate will go to the Democrats, but not the House Yes, both the House and Senate will go to the Democrats

SAN DIEGO - A former military intelligence officer was sentenced Monday to a year in federal prison for helping a convicted arms trafficker export parts for jet fighters and other aircraft that were ultimately destined for Iran. George Charles Budenz II, a retired Navy commander, pleaded guilty in November to three counts of illegally exporting engine parts for F-5 fighters, T-38 military trainers and Chinook helicopters to Malaysia and Belgium on behalf of Pakistani arms dealer Arif Ali Durrani. In court, Budenz called Durrani a "lying snake" who took advantage of him at a time of personal and financial distress....

TORONTO (CP) - It could take half a century or more for someone infected with prions - the cause of mad cow-like diseases - to start showing symptoms, say researchers, who drew that conclusion after studying a similar illness among Papua New Guinean people who once feasted on their dead. Their findings suggest that the number of human cases of variant Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (vCJD) could end up being much larger than originally suspected, say the researchers, whose study is published in Friday's edition of The Lancet. With 160 cases, the United Kingdom has the highest number of recorded cases in...

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2006 – Most military members end their careers by the time they are half his age, but one Army doctor says he would rather come out of retirement to help the troops than watch from the sidelines. Col. William Bernhard, an Army surgeon, stands in front of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on Forward Operating Base Lima, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2005. Bernhard, 75, is about to deploy to Kabul, Afghanistan, reportedly as the oldest deployed member of America's armed forces. Courtesy photo   Tomorrow, retired Army Reserve Col. William Bernhard, a 75-year-old surgeon, will start a journey...

President Bush says he’ll send the National Guard to the southern border, 24 hours after the announcement the Border Patrol has yet to comment, but News 4 tracked down a former Tucson Sector chief for his opinion of the President’s plan. In a move to reform America ’s current immigration system, President Bush announced the deployment of up to 6,000 National Guard Troops to the U.S. Mexico Border. Bush stated, “The United States is not going to militarize the southern border.” Bush said that the Border Patrol will remain in the lead using support from the troops in roles like...

Hollywood stars and business moguls alike are paying retired jurists to quietly handle their civil disputes outside the glare of public courthouses, a practice some warn is creating a secret justice system for the rich and famous. Under California law, the parties to a lawsuit can agree to hire a private judge who, unlike those paid to act as mediators or arbitrators, issue rulings that can be appealed. Such cases are still subject to the same public access requirements of trials held in court, but often many of them prove difficult to track. Proceedings are held in private offices and...

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2006 – Recent criticism voiced by a half dozen retired generals over Iraq war planning does not reflect the mainstream views of the officer corps, a senior Defense Department official told Pentagon reporters today. "There are a handful of officers that have exercised their right to speak their mind, and certainly that's their right to do that," DoD spokesman Bryan Whitman said. Brushing aside a reporter's suggestion there's widespread disagreement among senior officers over Iraq war planning, Whitman said there are thousands of active duty, reserve component and retired general officers from all of the armed services....

WASHINGTON - Never will Katrina be so little missed. Nor Dennis, Rita, Stan and Wilma - four other hurricane names from last year's devastating storms that have now been officially retired. Normally six lists of names are used in rotation for storms in the Atlantic-Caribbean-Gulf of Mexico region, but names of particularly destructive storms are retired. The decision to retire these five names was made by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization meeting in Puerto Rico, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced. They were part of a record 27 named storms and 15 hurricanes that occurred in...

Rosemary Roberts: Close book on Black History MonthFriday, March 24, 2006 From time to time, this column focuses on local topics, so herewith are some observations: Let's start with Leonard Pitts Jr., the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist whose syndicated column appears in this newspaper. I'm a huge Leonard Pitts fan because he writes well, thinks deeply and gores sacred cows. Pitts was in Greensboro this week speaking to a sold-out audience at the UNCG Friends of the Libraries Annual Dinner. His topic, "Bearing Witness," pertained to racial issues. Pitts, who is African American, made a statement that made me want to...

2/9/2006 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFPN) -- When Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast it destroyed more than just property and possessions -- it destroyed memories. Six months later, surrounded by her late son’s fellow warriors, Denise Godbolt cried and hugged Susan Jarrett as the Jarrett family presented Mrs. Godbolt with two new shadow boxes Feb. 8, replacing ones damaged during Hurricane Katrina. Retired Tech. Sgt. Mike Jarrett and his wife, Susan, decided to replace the damaged shadow boxes for Mrs. Godbolt after seeing her on a Veterans Day newscast on their local television station. “My wife...

SHREVEPORT, La. - William Lawson looked every bit the retired Marine general this summer as he stood before a crowd of 200 people, demanding that a cemetery properly dispose of the American flags placed at the graves of veterans. He had on khakis, the Marines’ summer service uniform, complete with a general’s stars and row after row of medals, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. He even wore an eyepatch. It turns out, however, that Lawson wasn’t a general at all — or even a World War II combat veteran. His 19 months in...

The FTS program provides Soldiers with a means to recognize their supporters: spouses, parents, and employers of National Guard and Reserve Soldiers. Honorably discharged veterans may likewise nominate themselves for recognition under this program. Nominees will receive an Army lapel pin, an Army decal, a certificate and letter signed by the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army thanking them for their support.

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2005 – A group based here at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here has stepped forward to help families of wounded servicemembers with expenses to stay in the area while their loved ones recover in this high-cost area. Out of concern for the overwhelming number of family members of war-wounded servicemembers showing up at the hospital's doorstep needing financial assistance, the Walter Reed command asked the Walter Reed Society to help. "So on March 19, 2004, we created the Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Family Support Fund," said retired Army Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Bullis, the society's...

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A retired FBI agent who pleaded guilty to lying about his affair with a suspected Chinese double agent was sentenced Monday to probation and fined $10,000 after apologizing for his behavior. "I have nobody but myself to blame for being here today," James J. Smith said. "I stand before you ashamed and humiliated by my actions, and all I can do is apologize." Standing before Judge Florence-Marie Cooper, Smith added, "I apologize to your honor, to the court and to the citizens of the United States." Smith, 61, at one time faced up to five years...

Former Fort Hood Officer Stabbed To Death Retired Army general John Bard, 76, who once commanded a brigade at Fort Hood, was stabbed to death in an attack at a home in an upscale Richmond, Va. neighborhood, police said. A woman, Courtney Cash Martin, 58, was seriously wounded in the attack and was in critical condition Wednesday. The woman’s 18-year-old son, who police say is suspected in the attack, was also injured. The woman was stabbed at her home Tuesday morning and a short time later Bard was attacked with a butcher knife, police said. He staggered into the street...

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2005 – A man who probably is best known as the Marine drill instructor from the movie "Full Metal Jacket" and as host of the History Channel's "Mail Call" program visited recovering troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here May 12. Marine Sgt. James King tells R. Lee Ermey, best known as the Marine drill instructor in the movie "Full Metal Jacket" that he plans to enter the Marine Corps Marathon and the New York Marathon after he recovers from the amputation of his left leg. Ermey met recovering war wounded at Walter Reed Army Medical...

Dan Rather's farewell... cartoon by FReeper IPWGOP (aka Linda Eddy) click here for really large version This is an email-able, copyright-ready graphic you can use in emails, on blogs, in flyers, on posters... anything that's noncommercial.

I seldom disagree with AARP, as I believe their advocacy for seniors is necessary because as a culture we are totally youth obsessed. Without that advocacy, God knows what would become of their interests. Having said that, however, I must say that I do not agree with their stand on Social Security. The AARP is opposed to Social Security reform because they see it as a threat to the existing program. But the existing program is already threatened in that it will be bankrupt very shortly. In 1950, the payroll taxes of 16 workers supported the Social Security of one...

On February 24, 1983, with the portrait of President Ronald Reagan behind me on the wall, and besides the flags of the United States of America and of the United States Army, I swore to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Today March 1, 2005, I transfer to the USAR Control Group (Retired). 22 years of blood, sweat and tears. Half a lifetime of physical training, weapons qualification, patrolling, land navigation, road marches, infantry tacticts, parachute jumps and rapelling from perfectly flying aircraft, 1500 flight hours on the UH-1, OH-58, UH-60 and C-12, being shot...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 22, 2005) -- Former punter Reggie Roby, a 16-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowl selection, died after being found unconscious at home by his wife. He was 43. Melissa Roby found her husband with no pulse. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him at home and in the ambulance, but he was pronounced dead in the emergency room at St. Thomas Hospital, according to a statement released by the family. The cause of death is unknown, the statement said.

To no one's surprise, the AARP has come out against the Bush administration's plan to reform Social Security. Since last Tuesday, AARP has been running full-page ads in major newspapers warning against adding personal accounts to Social Security. The most disingenuous ad (so far) appeared last Friday. It shows a thirty-something couple above words that read, "If we feel like gambling, we'll play the slots." Clearly, the AARP is betting (pun intended) that enough Americans can be fooled into believing that investing in the stock market is no different from spinning a roulette wheel. To see how wrong that is,...

  Staff Sgt. David Scott Sublett, USAF, Retired, 54 of Roanoke passed away, Sunday, December 19, 2004. He was receded in death by his parents, Charles and Bernice Sublett, and infant brother of Grundy, VA. A decorated veteran, David served his country with distinction in thirteen duty stations around the World. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Luisa, a son, US Army Specialist Jonathan Sublett serving in Afghanistan and his wife Nouthine and two sons, David and Justin of Roanoke, three Daughters, Christina Davis and her husband Ben, and three children, Cristian, Breanna, and Fallon of Salem, Maria...

Many people are asking why a 58-year-old grandfather is returning to service in the United States Army. My reason for returning to the service of our great nation can best be summed by the words of President George W. Bush's acceptance speech

Working people frequently ask retired people what they do to make their days interesting: I went to the store the other day. I was only in there for about 5 minutes. When I came out there was a city cop writing out a parking ticket. I went up to him and said, "Come on, buddy, how about giving a senior a break?" He ignored me and continued writing the ticket. I called him a name. He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn tires. So I called him a worse name. He finished the second ticket...

Dr. John Wicks figures he deserves a one-of-a-kind badge the moment he arrives in Iraq next week. That's if the Army recognizes him as the oldest soldier in the war. Though he doesn't know for certain, the odds are favorable that the 68-year-old psychiatrist has blown out more birthday candles than any other serviceman deployed in the Middle East; at least, anyone who doesn't wear a general's star. "It's really not that big a deal," he said of his age, because he stays in shape by routinely riding his bicycle and working out at a gym three days a week....

Uniformed Services Divorce Equity Act of 2003 (Introduced in House) HR 1111 IH 108th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1111 To amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the rules relating to the court-ordered apportionment of the retired pay of members of the uniformed services to former spouses, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 6, 2003 Mr. BALLENGER (for himself, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. SANDLIN, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. BEAUPREZ, Mr. GOODE, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. LAHOOD, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, and Mr. HOSTETTLER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and...

Shuttle retired as US heads back to Moon By Alec Russell in Washington (Filed: 15/01/2004) The United States space shuttle programme is to be closed down. The cornerstone of America's space effort for three decades will be phased out by 2010. President George W Bush called for the shuttle to be retired yesterday as he unveiled plans to send man back to the Moon by 2015. Columbia : ill-fated space shuttle Speaking at Nasa headquarters outside Washington, Mr Bush proposed to develop a new spacecraft to take Americans to the Moon, which would be used as a "stepping stone" for...

Waunakee man sinks hole-in-one, bowls perfect 300 in 24 hours (Published Friday, October 17, 2003 08:56:45 AM CDT) Associated Press MADISON, Wis. -- Paul Hughes is hot these days. The 74-year-old Waunakee man hit a hole-in-one and bowled a perfect 300 game in a 24-hour span earlier this week. Hughes, a retired heating and plumbing business owner, sank the hole-in-one on the 149-yard fifth hole at the Pleasant View golf course in Middleton Monday afternoon. He bowled the perfect game at Bowling Green lanes in Middleton Tuesday. "It's a super feeling," Hughes said. Ted Donker, director of golf operations at...

Many Hollywood stars retire in the oasis of Palm Springs, California where they while away their golden years splashing paint on canvases, taking leisurely strolls, playing the piano, and flipping through the pages of magazines. Such is the life of 71-year-old Cheeta, the chimpanzee of Tarzan fame who celebrated his birthday a month ago. "He's the world's oldest chimp and in excellent condition," said Dan Westfall, who cares for Cheeta and several other retired showbiz primates at the Cheeta Primate Foundation in Palm Springs. Cheeta's "world's oldest" title is noted in the Guinness Book of World Records. Chimpanzees in the...

Clark's ChoiceAs retired Army General Wesley Clark ponders throwing his hat into the ring for the 2004 Democratic Presidential Nomination, associates say he is being wooed by Republicans as well.They say that he is so popular within the California GOP that there is talk of starting a 'Republicans for Clark Organization.'

Call, Phone, Fax, email Speaker Hastert Contact Hastert's office in DC or Illinois and tell him to get on board with Concurrent Receipt or he'll be Speaker of the House Has_Been instead of Speaker of the House Hastert.Hastert is the biggest holdout in the house even with an overwhelming majority of bipartisan house support (93%). Hastert supports money to bail out Boeing, but not for Retired Disabled Veterans. Contact Information Web Site: www.house.gov/hastert E-mail: dhastert@mail.house.gov Washington Office: Phone: (202) 225-2976 Fax: (202) 225-0697 2369 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515-1314 Main District Office: Phone: (630) 406-1114 Fax:(630) 406-1808 27...

This article will be published 14 October 2002 (I think thats the date) in FORBES Magazine. The journalist rehashes the entire DoD line of lies, half truths, made up numbers.Three Retired Disabled Vets have replied to Mr. Carnahan and his editor Mr. Forbes about their shoddy reportingAs a side note the email server at Forbes crashed severely after this article was released. Duty, Honor, Pension Ira Carnahan, 10.14.02 Who can say no to the veterans lobbies? Certainly not Congress. Politicians are understandably eager to lavish money on the military these days. Not all of it is going into antiterrorism efforts....

Letter from LtCol Oliver North, USMC,Ret.Reprinted from TownHall.com July 26, 2002 It's about keeping promises WASHINGTON, D.C. -- It's been a lousy summer for President George W. Bush. Republican leaders are grousing that he isn't doing enough to keep GOP control of the House. Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld has his arm in a cast, and the Pentagon press corps is beating him up because we can't find Osama's body. Diplomatic correspondents are howling that the president isn't tough enough on Israel. The business press blames him for the stock market collapse and for being soft on corporate crooks. And now...

Brooks W. Outland, Concurrent Receipt Leglislation September 3, 2002 The best way to get the word out to all of the military veterans in the country is via national television coverage. The first and most difficult task is to get the attention of the TV news broadcasters. If your story is not newsworthy, it rarely gets a second look! In the thirteen years I’ve been working on the concurrent receipt issue, I’ve seen only four national TV news segments (NBC) regarding that important issue! Tom Brokaw’s NBC Nightly News considers the issue newsworthy! I have written dozens of articles for...