Herbert Hoover (no stars). A superb individual but as president, awful. Totally failed to confront the Great Depression; worsened it with Smoot Hawley tariff from which a global trade war ensued. London Naval Treaty gave impetus to Japan to increase its navy, which started a naval arms race ending in World War II.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (**). Jaunty salesmanship, rhetorical spins instilled confidence that was important for the nation after Hoover, with Social Security and other social legislation needed; but higher taxes (a jump from 3.5 percent in 1933 to 6.9 percent in 1940) worsened things. Even with workfare, joblessness never dipped below 14 percent until WW II. Failure to anticipate Pearl Harbor despite our goading Japan to war was a grave error; gullible belief in "Uncle Joe" Stalin produced a Cold War legacy that lasted almost two generations.

Harry Truman (**). Better than expected but despite myth-makers, not great. Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NATO saved Europe but bungling that produced the loss of China to communism stays with us yet. Korean War "police action" unnecessary, caused by Dean Acheson's well-publicized failure to include South Korea in our defense perimeter. Unparalleled domestic scandals, internal revenue fixes, red infiltration certified by Venona papers documentation; unconstitutional seizure of steel mills mar his record.

Dwight Eisenhower (***). Bringing peace to Korea, working with John Foster Dulles to keep the peace via Eisenhower Doctrine by walking the brink, yet avoiding dangerous excursions. Early civil rights effort at Little Rock a needed step. Bad Supreme Court appointments of Earl Warren and William J. Brennan led to runaway activist court, a problem that bedevils us today.

John F. Kennedy (*). Charisma aside, the Bay of Pigs with JFK shrinking from use of air cover was the most reckless gaffe in foreign policy history, which his exemplary Cuban Missile Crisis negotiation didn't erase, leading to humiliation with Khrushchev, face-saving Vietnam buildup to show "manhood." But tax cut of $10 billion, puny by today's standards, spurred prosperity and is cited today by GOP supply-siders (but some Republicans opposed it then as "the biggest gamble in history").

Lyndon B. Johnson. (no stars). Disastrous Vietnam expedition and ineffective "war on poverty" helped the poor marginally, spurred unrealistic expectations, prompting widespread urban discontent.

Richard Nixon (*). Ineffective handling of economy, implementing of more intrusive government and the Watergate scandal. Only saving grace: the "journey of peace" to China.

Gerald Ford (**). A brave but politically disastrous pardoning of Nixon; Helsinki agreement eased East-West tensions; Mayaguez Incident where U.S. forces rescued vessel and all 39 crewmen from Cambodian pirates. His "Whip Inflation Now" plan fizzled.

Jimmy Carter (no stars). Well-meaning ineptitude: no saving grace.

Ronald Reagan (****). Stunning economic success: taxes cut by 25 percent across the board; top marginal tax rate slashed from 70 to 50 percent, while Fed tight-money approach stifled inflation. Joblessness grew at first, then 5 million new businesses and 20 million new jobs were created, unleashing prosperity. He ignored deficits to grant defense buildup by more than 50 percent. His SDI wins the Cold War in estimate of Alexander Bessmertnykh, former USSR foreign minister; bold strategy leading to overthrow of USSR.

George H.W. Bush (*). Nicaragua victory with fall of Sandinistas. Some good Supreme Court appointments. Broken pledge on tax hikes a disaster. Economy dipped, started to pick up, but he gets no credit for it.

Bill Clinton (no stars). Good economy a Bush legacy but overshadowed by weak foreign policy, vacillating defense, impeachment.

George W. Bush. (**, incomplete). Superb leadership qualities; anti-terrorism program guts, but Iraq remains to be seen. Tax cuts starting to work, producing beginnings of prosperity.

SUMMARY AS OF:
7/9/2003--Introduced.
Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2003 or the CLEAR Act of 2003 - States that: (1) State and local law enforcement personnel are fully authorized to investigate, apprehend, or remove aliens in the United States (including interstate transportation of such aliens to detention centers) in the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws; and (2) a State that does not have a statute permitting enforcement of Federal immigration laws within two years of enactment of this Act shall not receive certain Federal incarceration assistance.

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to illegal aliens to: (1) establish criminal penalties and forfeiture for aliens unlawfully present in the United States; (2) increase specified criminal and civil penalties for illegal entry and failure to depart violations; and (3) provide for payment of funds from certain civil penalties to State and local law enforcement agencies for apprehension of such aliens.

Provides for the listing of immigration violators in the National Crime Information Center database.

Requires States and localities to provide the Department of Homeland Security with specified information about apprehended illegal aliens. Eliminates certain Federal incarceration assistance for noncompliance.

Directs the Attorney General to make grants to local police agencies for equipment and facilities related to housing and processing illegal aliens.

Amends the Act to provide for Federal custody and State or local compensation of State or locally apprehended illegal aliens.

Establishes a process for State and local claims against the Federal Government for failure to cooperate in enforcing immigration laws.

Directs the Secretary or the Attorney General to establish immigration-related training for State and local personnel.

Provides: (1) personal liability immunity for Federal, State, or local personnel enforcing immigration laws within the scope of their duties; and (2) civil rights money damage immunity for Federal, State, or local agencies enforcing immigration laws unless their personnel violated criminal law in such enforcement.

States that the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security shall continue to operate the Institutional Removal Program, which shall be expanded to all States.

To read the bill go to Thomas.gov and put in the bill #HR2671

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speech to Congress – Dec. 8, 1941

Sixty-two years ago today the Japanese attacked the American naval fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii with devastating accuracy. The attack left the American fleet crippled at best.

The attack started with the attempt to infiltrate the harbor with two man submarines at around 6 AM. The U.S.S. Ward spotted a conning tower with periscope of a submarine and took action to destroy the attacking craft while sending a message to warn the fleet. Thanks to the fast action of the crew this submarine did not aid in the attack on our Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor.

The attack, from the air started around 07:50 with the aircrews attacking the American ships anchored in Pearl Harbor and the American installations on Oahu. Of the 90 ships anchored at Pearl, the battlewagons were the main targets for the torpedo and dive-bombers of the Imperial fleet. They also attacked and destroyed the airplanes and airfields to stop the Americans from defending the fleet.

The ships attacked included the battleships Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Tennessee, West Virginia and the Utah with all taking heavy damage and or sinking. Also hit were 3 Cruisers, 3 destroyers and numerous other auxiliary vessels including rescue vessels trying to save the men in the water and on the burning and sinking vessels.

The Arizona was just getting into the battle when she took a 2,000 lb amour-piercing bomb in the forward magazine and put her out of commission. Few people survived the explosion while at their defensive positions but the few that did showed valor in rescuing the few that they. Many were severely burned but still directed and led the rescue action to save their crewmates. Even though the valiant rescue measures 1,177 crewmen were killed on board the Arizona.

On the U.S.S. Tennessee, the defensive positions were manned within 5 minutes of the General Quarters alarm and they started to defend their ship from the attack. She took two bombs on her turrets placing them out of action but the sailors continued to defend the ship with her smaller guns and machine guns even though the enemy planes were strafing them. “An Ensign, Donald M. Kable, was directing the fire of his gun, a .50 caliber machine gun, while being strafed by enemy planes until he was so seriously wounded that he was carried below.”

On the U.S.S. California, the bravery continued with the heroic action of her crew. A radio operator was forced to abandon the Main Radio and assist the gunners in getting ammunition from the ammo bunkers and to the guns to defend the ship. He died in a smoke filled and fire filled hallway attempting to get ammo to the gunners on deck. A Pay Clerk H. A. Appelgate and B. F. Pavlin risked their lives by taking a boat and obtaining ammunition from other ships while they were under heavy fire.

The U.S.S. Nevada was the only Battleship to be able to get under way because of the bravery and cool heads of their fine crew. Chief Boatswain E. J. Hill was killed leading the crew to cast off the lines holding the ship to the pier and raising the anchor. Lieutenant Commander Francis J. Thomas ordered the boilers started and within 45 minutes they were under way even though they had received numerous torpedo and bomb hits He then directed the ship into the channel to try to get to open water where they could maneuver. When the second way of bombers hit they concentrated on the Nevada, in hopes of sinking her in the small channel. This was averted by the fast action of the Commander in his beaching of the Nevada to keep her from sinking in the channel.

These are just a few of the heroic actions taken by our brave fighting men and women during the attack on the American Territory of Hawaii. This action by the Japanese cost the American people 2300 lives lost and our military force in the Pacific crippled, but with the American spirit and will power the Americans overcame the devastating attack upon Pearl Harbor by a nation wishing to conquer the Pacific Ocean Area.

Remember Pearl Harbor and all of the brave men and women that died in this sneak attack of the United States!
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Bill is a member of the Republican Assembly of Illinois from Mercer county.

==>Barry Goldwater-June 16, 1964