You want to know why prescription drugs cost so much?
This could be part of the problem.
Eli Lilly wins ok for dog separation anxiety drug
Drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. said on Wednesday that it won U.S. regulatory approval for its drug to treat separation anxiety in dogs.
The drug, Reconcile, is one of a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which are also used to treat human depression.
Perhaps Eli Lilly could spend a little less money researching drugs for dogs and more for humans.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Gas tax? Use your head, Governor Doyle!
You do not have to be a financial guru to figure this out.
State's proposed profits levy likely to be passed along
If Governor Doyle charges oil companies an excessive tax for doing business in the state of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin consumer will absorb the cost.
We all studied "supply and demand" in junior high school.
A typical junior high school student can grasp this concept.
Why our governor cannot grasp this concept is beyond me.
If an oil company sells a gallon of gasoline to the state of Illinois for a .10 profit and they sell a gallon of gasoline to the state of Wisconsin and only make a .09 profit- why would they sell gas to Wisconsin? Common sense tells us that the oil companies would prefer to sell to Illinois and not to Wisconsin.
The supply of gasoline sent to Wisconsin would then be shorted. If there is not enough supply to meet the demand of Wisconsin drivers, the cost of gas would go up in Wisconsin.
It is just that simple.
Speaking of common sense...
Since we now know that oil companies made record profits off of Wisconsin consumers, doesn't it stand to reason that the Wisconsin government also charged record gas taxes?
As it is, for every gallon of gasoline we purchase in Wisconsin, the state receives almost $.33 per gallon(oil companies only make about $.22 profit per gallon). Only 6 states charge more in gas taxes than the state of Wisconsin.
If oil companies are selling record amounts of gas, that means the Wisconsin government is collecting record amounts in gas taxes. At least, a little common sense leads us to believe this.
Anyone with a little common sense also recognizes that when Governor Doyle swiped nearly $1 billion out of the transportation fund to pay for other expenses, this means that we can no longer afford all of the roadwork that was planned.
We already paid our taxes to cover necessary roadwork. Now the money is gone from the transportation fund.
Governor Doyle would like us to pay these taxes again.
Governor Doyle can stamp his foot and throw a hissy fit, but common sense will prevail.
Use your head, Governor Doyle!
If you charge the companies more to do business in Wisconsin, then the companies charge the Wisconsin consumer more for goods and services.
State's proposed profits levy likely to be passed along
If Governor Doyle charges oil companies an excessive tax for doing business in the state of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin consumer will absorb the cost.
We all studied "supply and demand" in junior high school.
A typical junior high school student can grasp this concept.
Why our governor cannot grasp this concept is beyond me.
If an oil company sells a gallon of gasoline to the state of Illinois for a .10 profit and they sell a gallon of gasoline to the state of Wisconsin and only make a .09 profit- why would they sell gas to Wisconsin? Common sense tells us that the oil companies would prefer to sell to Illinois and not to Wisconsin.
The supply of gasoline sent to Wisconsin would then be shorted. If there is not enough supply to meet the demand of Wisconsin drivers, the cost of gas would go up in Wisconsin.
It is just that simple.
Speaking of common sense...
Since we now know that oil companies made record profits off of Wisconsin consumers, doesn't it stand to reason that the Wisconsin government also charged record gas taxes?
As it is, for every gallon of gasoline we purchase in Wisconsin, the state receives almost $.33 per gallon(oil companies only make about $.22 profit per gallon). Only 6 states charge more in gas taxes than the state of Wisconsin.
If oil companies are selling record amounts of gas, that means the Wisconsin government is collecting record amounts in gas taxes. At least, a little common sense leads us to believe this.
Anyone with a little common sense also recognizes that when Governor Doyle swiped nearly $1 billion out of the transportation fund to pay for other expenses, this means that we can no longer afford all of the roadwork that was planned.
We already paid our taxes to cover necessary roadwork. Now the money is gone from the transportation fund.
Governor Doyle would like us to pay these taxes again.
Governor Doyle can stamp his foot and throw a hissy fit, but common sense will prevail.
Use your head, Governor Doyle!
If you charge the companies more to do business in Wisconsin, then the companies charge the Wisconsin consumer more for goods and services.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Right on!
Currently- the Wisconsin Research Policy Institute is running a series of articles asking the question "Is Conservatism out of Gas?".
Yesterday, Congressman Paul Ryan was the first to answer the question-
Conservative Principles That America Needs
excerpt-
Contrary to the views of some pundits, sweeping Republican losses at the polls last November did not signify a repudiation of conservatism. “Republican” is not always synonymous with “conservative” and the divergence between the two has been spotlighted in recent years for American voters to see.
continued
Today's response to the question is from Charlie Sykes and it is very good-
Not Dead Yet
excerpt-
The left needs massive tax hikes, in part, because they are also intent on bringing back the push for national health care. Both sides should remember that the last time the issue was raised, it resulted in a conservative electoral landslide. The public hates health insurance companies, but they fear government bureaucracy more. They’ve been to the Division of Motor Vehicles and they don’t want to turn over their health care to the same people.
continued
Yesterday, Congressman Paul Ryan was the first to answer the question-
Conservative Principles That America Needs
excerpt-
Contrary to the views of some pundits, sweeping Republican losses at the polls last November did not signify a repudiation of conservatism. “Republican” is not always synonymous with “conservative” and the divergence between the two has been spotlighted in recent years for American voters to see.
continued
Today's response to the question is from Charlie Sykes and it is very good-
Not Dead Yet
excerpt-
The left needs massive tax hikes, in part, because they are also intent on bringing back the push for national health care. Both sides should remember that the last time the issue was raised, it resulted in a conservative electoral landslide. The public hates health insurance companies, but they fear government bureaucracy more. They’ve been to the Division of Motor Vehicles and they don’t want to turn over their health care to the same people.
continued
Monday, April 23, 2007
658 citations issued
I am not sure why the police in Milwaukee waited so long to do this, but it is about time!
658 citations issued in weekend cruising
More than 650 traffic citations were issued over the weekend in connection with cruising in the city of Milwaukee. Police also said there were 86 arrests and 33 cars towed.
Milwaukee Police Chief Nannette Hegerty and District Attorney John Chisholm have scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. at the Citgo gas station at the corner of N. 27th St. and W. Capitol Drive, an area known for its cruising activity, to discuss the crackdown they hope will quell cruising this summer.
We must be able to defend ourselves
Here is the article I wrote for Saturday's Kenosha News-
My original plan for this article was to write about the tax increases. However, due to the events of this past week, I felt it was important to send out my heartfelt sympathies to all of the families and friends who lost their loved ones this past week.
After witnessing the mass murder of 32 innocent people, we begin questioning ourselves to find out what we could or should have done better.
The liberals were demanding to know why murderer Cho Seung-Hui was able to easily purchase the weapons needed to commit mass murder. Conservatives, like me, were demanding to know why those sitting in the classrooms were denied the right to defend themselves. Any of us could find statistics to support or counter each side of the argument.
However, the reality is, the evil people in our society ignore the gun laws and are determined to kill anyway.
Would they all have died if one of the professors or one of the students in the classroom carried a personal weapon?
Would Cho have even attempted something like this, knowing that perhaps someone in that building might be carrying a weapon?
We can ask “what if” questions until we are blue in the face. What we know is that our own US Constitution gives every single American the right to “keep and bears arms”.
The Second Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1791. Since then, the debate on gun ownership has rambled on.
Why would our forefathers give us the right to keep and bear arms?
I am certain our forefathers realized that we would need this right so we can defend our freedoms.
In fact, Thomas Jefferson went so far as to say that Americans need to be able to protect themselves from a out of control government. Jefferson said, “No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
Thomas Jefferson also recognized that the only people that were protected by laws against weapons were the criminals, not law abiding citizens. Thomas Jefferson quoted Cesare Beccaria in his Commonplace book “False is the idea of utility that sacrifices a thousand real advantages for one imaginary or trifling inconvenience; that would take fire from men because it burns, and water because one may drown in it; that has no remedy for evils except destruction. The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.”
We, as citizens, must have the right to keep and bear arms so we can protect ourselves.
It is time for our state legislators to once again pass a “conceal and carry” law for Wisconsin residents. Moreover, when Governor Doyle vetoes it again, our legislators need to override the governor's veto.
My original plan for this article was to write about the tax increases. However, due to the events of this past week, I felt it was important to send out my heartfelt sympathies to all of the families and friends who lost their loved ones this past week.
After witnessing the mass murder of 32 innocent people, we begin questioning ourselves to find out what we could or should have done better.
The liberals were demanding to know why murderer Cho Seung-Hui was able to easily purchase the weapons needed to commit mass murder. Conservatives, like me, were demanding to know why those sitting in the classrooms were denied the right to defend themselves. Any of us could find statistics to support or counter each side of the argument.
However, the reality is, the evil people in our society ignore the gun laws and are determined to kill anyway.
Would they all have died if one of the professors or one of the students in the classroom carried a personal weapon?
Would Cho have even attempted something like this, knowing that perhaps someone in that building might be carrying a weapon?
We can ask “what if” questions until we are blue in the face. What we know is that our own US Constitution gives every single American the right to “keep and bears arms”.
The Second Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1791. Since then, the debate on gun ownership has rambled on.
Why would our forefathers give us the right to keep and bear arms?
I am certain our forefathers realized that we would need this right so we can defend our freedoms.
In fact, Thomas Jefferson went so far as to say that Americans need to be able to protect themselves from a out of control government. Jefferson said, “No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
Thomas Jefferson also recognized that the only people that were protected by laws against weapons were the criminals, not law abiding citizens. Thomas Jefferson quoted Cesare Beccaria in his Commonplace book “False is the idea of utility that sacrifices a thousand real advantages for one imaginary or trifling inconvenience; that would take fire from men because it burns, and water because one may drown in it; that has no remedy for evils except destruction. The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.”
We, as citizens, must have the right to keep and bear arms so we can protect ourselves.
It is time for our state legislators to once again pass a “conceal and carry” law for Wisconsin residents. Moreover, when Governor Doyle vetoes it again, our legislators need to override the governor's veto.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Thanks Kevin
Thank you, goodbye and best wishes to Kevin @ Lakeshore Laments.
The thing I most admire about Kevin is that he not only blogged about politics, but he went a step further and actually works in politics. Kevin not only talks the talk, but he is walking the walk.
Good luck in Washington DC, Kevin.
The thing I most admire about Kevin is that he not only blogged about politics, but he went a step further and actually works in politics. Kevin not only talks the talk, but he is walking the walk.
Good luck in Washington DC, Kevin.
Friday, April 20, 2007
A day of mourning
There are so many things to mourn today-
April 16, 2007- Virginia Tech massacre 32 victims died, 15 more injured
April 19, 1995- Oklahoma City Bombings 168 people died, over 800 were injured
April 20, 1999- Columbine School Shooting 13 victims died, 24 were injured
Say a prayer for all the family and friends of all of these victims.
April 16, 2007- Virginia Tech massacre 32 victims died, 15 more injured
April 19, 1995- Oklahoma City Bombings 168 people died, over 800 were injured
April 20, 1999- Columbine School Shooting 13 victims died, 24 were injured
Say a prayer for all the family and friends of all of these victims.
Edwards & the Arrogance of the Entitled
The other day, when I posted about John Edwards $400 haircut, I did not realize the blowback that Edwards' would receive. There are some folks that are very mad at John Edwards. Namely, those folks who believed John Edwards' "two Americas" message.
Richard Reeves is a big time lefty, check out his article-
NEW YORK -- Three weeks after I wrote that I thought John Edwards might be going someplace in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, I found out where he was heading: to the barber shop.
The candidate, who has been looking pretty and pretty impressive in defining "Two Americas" -- one for the rich and privileged, a lesser place for everyone else -- came up with a wonderful device to show us all what he meant. His campaign spending reports, required by the Federal Election Commission, revealed that he has been paying $400 for haircuts by a Beverly Hills cutter named Joseph Torrenueva. The guy must be good, because Edwards' hair sure looks good. So does the rest of him, helped along by a $250 shaping at the Designworks Salon in Dubuque, Iowa, and $225 at the Pink Sapphire spa in Manchester, N.H.
Well, the man has great hair. My barber tells me I do, too, and he only charges 20 bucks.
That's $20 of my own money. Edwards, who has a couple of thousand times as much money as I do, pays for his tonsorial needs from campaign funds. He travels the country asking concerned citizens for money so he can get haircuts and body polishing. Where I come from that is called a real sense of entitlement.
Edwards says that he and America are angry about wretched excess, things like corporate chief executive officers giving themselves huge bonuses to buy new yachts and new wives. Well, a lot of people are mad, and they should be. I grieve for Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey, who is going to spend months in hospitals and physical rehabilitation because of the injuries he suffered in a tragic accident on the Garden State Parkway last week. He is a nice and effective man, but what the hell was he doing in a state car going 91 mph in the rain?
continued...
I think John Edwards' message of "two Americas" is dead.
Richard Reeves is a big time lefty, check out his article-
NEW YORK -- Three weeks after I wrote that I thought John Edwards might be going someplace in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, I found out where he was heading: to the barber shop.
The candidate, who has been looking pretty and pretty impressive in defining "Two Americas" -- one for the rich and privileged, a lesser place for everyone else -- came up with a wonderful device to show us all what he meant. His campaign spending reports, required by the Federal Election Commission, revealed that he has been paying $400 for haircuts by a Beverly Hills cutter named Joseph Torrenueva. The guy must be good, because Edwards' hair sure looks good. So does the rest of him, helped along by a $250 shaping at the Designworks Salon in Dubuque, Iowa, and $225 at the Pink Sapphire spa in Manchester, N.H.
Well, the man has great hair. My barber tells me I do, too, and he only charges 20 bucks.
That's $20 of my own money. Edwards, who has a couple of thousand times as much money as I do, pays for his tonsorial needs from campaign funds. He travels the country asking concerned citizens for money so he can get haircuts and body polishing. Where I come from that is called a real sense of entitlement.
Edwards says that he and America are angry about wretched excess, things like corporate chief executive officers giving themselves huge bonuses to buy new yachts and new wives. Well, a lot of people are mad, and they should be. I grieve for Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey, who is going to spend months in hospitals and physical rehabilitation because of the injuries he suffered in a tragic accident on the Garden State Parkway last week. He is a nice and effective man, but what the hell was he doing in a state car going 91 mph in the rain?
continued...
I think John Edwards' message of "two Americas" is dead.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Governmentium (Gv)
Someone sent this to me via email-
A major research institution recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named Governmentium (Gv) has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second to take over four days to complete.
Governmentium has a normal half-life of 4 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's Mass will actually increase over time, since each re-organization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.
When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.
Funny stuff.
A major research institution recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named Governmentium (Gv) has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second to take over four days to complete.
Governmentium has a normal half-life of 4 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's Mass will actually increase over time, since each re-organization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.
When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes administratium, an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.
Funny stuff.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
US Supreme court upholds ban on partial birth abortions
This is great news.
The Supreme Court upheld the nationwide ban on a controversial abortion procedure Wednesday, handing abortion opponents the long-awaited victory they expected from a more conservative bench.
The 5-4 ruling said the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act that Congress passed and President Bush signed into law in 2003 does not violate a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion.
Anyone not understanding what partial birth abortion is, here is a description-
The procedure at issue involves partially removing the fetus intact from a woman’s uterus, then crushing or cutting its skull to complete the abortion.
Abortion opponents say the law will not reduce the number of abortions performed because an alternate method — dismembering the fetus in the uterus — is available and, indeed, much more common.
The Supreme Court upheld the nationwide ban on a controversial abortion procedure Wednesday, handing abortion opponents the long-awaited victory they expected from a more conservative bench.
The 5-4 ruling said the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act that Congress passed and President Bush signed into law in 2003 does not violate a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion.
Anyone not understanding what partial birth abortion is, here is a description-
The procedure at issue involves partially removing the fetus intact from a woman’s uterus, then crushing or cutting its skull to complete the abortion.
Abortion opponents say the law will not reduce the number of abortions performed because an alternate method — dismembering the fetus in the uterus — is available and, indeed, much more common.
Edwards $400 haircut
I am a pretty staunch believer that most of the mainstream media are quietly supporting the Hillary camp for President.
So I was not the least bit surprised when I read this article from the Associated Press-
Looking pretty is costing John Edwards' presidential campaign a lot of pennies. The Democrat's campaign committee picked up the tab for two haircuts at $400 each by celebrity stylist Joseph Torrenueva of Beverly Hills, Calif., according to a financial report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
FEC records show Edwards also availed himself of $250 in services from a trendy salon and spa in Dubuque, Iowa, and $225 in services from the Pink Sapphire in Manchester, N.H., which is described on its Web site as 'a unique boutique for the mind, body and face' that caters mostly to women.
A spokeswoman for Edwards' campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Torrenueva _ who specializes in men's haircuts _ confirmed in an interview with The Associated Press that Edwards is a longtime client and friend.
'I do cut his hair and I have cut it for quite a while,' Torrenueva said. 'We've been friends a long time."
continued...
I find this paragragh especially telling-
Edwards, 53, who has made alleviating poverty the central theme of candidacy, has been criticized for building a 28,000-square-foot house for $5.3 million near Chapel Hill, N.C. The complex of several buildings on 102 acres includes an indoor basketball court, an indoor pool and a handball court.
I am a little curious why the Edwards campaign would be paying for these things. The Edwards campaign is then forced to report these costs publicly.
So I was not the least bit surprised when I read this article from the Associated Press-
Looking pretty is costing John Edwards' presidential campaign a lot of pennies. The Democrat's campaign committee picked up the tab for two haircuts at $400 each by celebrity stylist Joseph Torrenueva of Beverly Hills, Calif., according to a financial report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
FEC records show Edwards also availed himself of $250 in services from a trendy salon and spa in Dubuque, Iowa, and $225 in services from the Pink Sapphire in Manchester, N.H., which is described on its Web site as 'a unique boutique for the mind, body and face' that caters mostly to women.
A spokeswoman for Edwards' campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
Torrenueva _ who specializes in men's haircuts _ confirmed in an interview with The Associated Press that Edwards is a longtime client and friend.
'I do cut his hair and I have cut it for quite a while,' Torrenueva said. 'We've been friends a long time."
continued...
I find this paragragh especially telling-
Edwards, 53, who has made alleviating poverty the central theme of candidacy, has been criticized for building a 28,000-square-foot house for $5.3 million near Chapel Hill, N.C. The complex of several buildings on 102 acres includes an indoor basketball court, an indoor pool and a handball court.
I am a little curious why the Edwards campaign would be paying for these things. The Edwards campaign is then forced to report these costs publicly.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
A New Era
Yes- the rumors are true. Brad Courtney will be stepping down as the RPW chair.
As always, the standard reason for Brad stepping down is for “family reasons”. Anyone who has carried on a conversation with Brad Courtney realizes that his family is very important to him. Clearly, his daughters are so important to him and his really enjoys being part of their lives.
Before Brad rides off into the sunset, I would like to thank him for stepping in and taking over during a very difficult election cycle. Even better, Brad stood up for the local grassroots volunteers several weeks ago and told the RNC that Wisconsin’s volunteers would be making no more phone calls this year. The grassroots folks are worn out from these phone calls.
Thanks for taking a stand, Brad!
So what is next for the RPW?
Reince Priebus is the next logical choice.
I did talk to Reince briefly this morning about this and things do seem to be moving towards him. Currently Reince in the 1st Vice Chair of the RPW.
I am truly excited about the changes taking place in the RPW.
After the punishment that Republicans took in 2006, it is great to see that we have some stronger leadership stepping up to the plate.
Reince recognizes that for many years, Republican legislatures in Wisconsin have promised tax protections, and they have not delivered.
This I am sure of, Reince Priebus will work with our Republican state legislators and push them back to the basics of Republican values.
Our Republican state legislators need to get back to fighting to keep our taxes down, reduce the reach of government in our lives and protecting our basic constitutional rights.
What happens if Reince decides to run for office again?
I think it would be great. Here is a person who is willing to not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk.
It is great to see the Republican Party of Wisconsin willing to make the positive changes in order to move the party forward.
As Reince said- we are entering a new era. For years, Tommy Thompson has been the leader or figurehead of the RPW. Those days are over.
Now the time has come for the RPW to show some strong leadership and unity in order to move the party to the next level.
Thanks again, Brad.
Good Luck, Reince.
As always, the standard reason for Brad stepping down is for “family reasons”. Anyone who has carried on a conversation with Brad Courtney realizes that his family is very important to him. Clearly, his daughters are so important to him and his really enjoys being part of their lives.
Before Brad rides off into the sunset, I would like to thank him for stepping in and taking over during a very difficult election cycle. Even better, Brad stood up for the local grassroots volunteers several weeks ago and told the RNC that Wisconsin’s volunteers would be making no more phone calls this year. The grassroots folks are worn out from these phone calls.
Thanks for taking a stand, Brad!
So what is next for the RPW?
Reince Priebus is the next logical choice.
I did talk to Reince briefly this morning about this and things do seem to be moving towards him. Currently Reince in the 1st Vice Chair of the RPW.
I am truly excited about the changes taking place in the RPW.
After the punishment that Republicans took in 2006, it is great to see that we have some stronger leadership stepping up to the plate.
Reince recognizes that for many years, Republican legislatures in Wisconsin have promised tax protections, and they have not delivered.
This I am sure of, Reince Priebus will work with our Republican state legislators and push them back to the basics of Republican values.
Our Republican state legislators need to get back to fighting to keep our taxes down, reduce the reach of government in our lives and protecting our basic constitutional rights.
What happens if Reince decides to run for office again?
I think it would be great. Here is a person who is willing to not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk.
It is great to see the Republican Party of Wisconsin willing to make the positive changes in order to move the party forward.
As Reince said- we are entering a new era. For years, Tommy Thompson has been the leader or figurehead of the RPW. Those days are over.
Now the time has come for the RPW to show some strong leadership and unity in order to move the party to the next level.
Thanks again, Brad.
Good Luck, Reince.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Gunman kills 21 on Virginia Tech campus
Words just cannot describe the heartbreak...
BLACKSBURG, Va. - A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech on Monday, killing 21 people in the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history. The gunman was killed but it was unclear if he was shot by police or took his own life.
continued...
BLACKSBURG, Va. - A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech on Monday, killing 21 people in the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history. The gunman was killed but it was unclear if he was shot by police or took his own life.
continued...
What is reasonable?
So, what does it take in order to fire a schoolteacher these days?
It certainly appears that once you have a job as a teacher, here in Wisconsin, that it is impossible to get fired.
According to the timeline posted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, it was three years from the time that the schoolteacher became very ill to the time they were official removed from the payrolls.
September 2002: Diane Wagner, a Spanish teacher with the Richfield School District since 1990, becomes ill with viral meningitis and viral encephalitis.
June 2004: Craig Baker takes over as the School District's administrator.December 2004: Wagner, who had not returned to her teaching job, returns to her part-time job as a bartender at Michael's House of Prime near Pewaukee.
April 1, 2005: Baker, having learned that Wagner was working at Michael's, goes to the restaurant and finds Wagner serving drinks, carrying trays and using the cash register. Baker had never met Wagner and did not identify himself to her.
April 29, 2005: Baker again visits Michael's and sees Wagner tending bar.
Aug. 25, 2005: Baker tells Wagner in a letter he no longer considers her a School District employee and discloses that he knew she was bartending at Michael's. The next day, Wagner files a grievance.
Aug. 8, 2006: Baker goes on medical leave. Three months later, the School Board determines he cannot perform the duties of his job and terminates his contract.
Dec. 19, 2006: A state arbitrator orders the district to reinstate Wagner and give her back pay.
No doubt about it, Diane Wagner, the schoolteacher was awful sick. Viral meningitis is nothing to mess with and the recovery takes a while.
Diane Wagner was so sick that she could not work at all for at least two years. That is understandable. However, she managed to go back to work at the bar.
All of this is perfectly fine.
Yes- people get sick and, no, they should not lose their jobs because of it.
What is not fine is that fact that the taxpayers are once again hoofing the bill because after the teacher filed a grievance the arbitrator has demanded the teacher be given back pay.
Is it reasonable to ask the taxpayers to pay for a schoolteacher that managed to go back to her part time job at a bar, but was still too sick to go back to teaching?
What portion of the time off with the taxpayers be forced to pay this teacher for?
What are taxpayers reasonable allowed to expect out of their schoolteachers?
What is the line between being reasonable and flat out ripping the taxpayers off?
It certainly appears that once you have a job as a teacher, here in Wisconsin, that it is impossible to get fired.
According to the timeline posted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, it was three years from the time that the schoolteacher became very ill to the time they were official removed from the payrolls.
September 2002: Diane Wagner, a Spanish teacher with the Richfield School District since 1990, becomes ill with viral meningitis and viral encephalitis.
June 2004: Craig Baker takes over as the School District's administrator.December 2004: Wagner, who had not returned to her teaching job, returns to her part-time job as a bartender at Michael's House of Prime near Pewaukee.
April 1, 2005: Baker, having learned that Wagner was working at Michael's, goes to the restaurant and finds Wagner serving drinks, carrying trays and using the cash register. Baker had never met Wagner and did not identify himself to her.
April 29, 2005: Baker again visits Michael's and sees Wagner tending bar.
Aug. 25, 2005: Baker tells Wagner in a letter he no longer considers her a School District employee and discloses that he knew she was bartending at Michael's. The next day, Wagner files a grievance.
Aug. 8, 2006: Baker goes on medical leave. Three months later, the School Board determines he cannot perform the duties of his job and terminates his contract.
Dec. 19, 2006: A state arbitrator orders the district to reinstate Wagner and give her back pay.
No doubt about it, Diane Wagner, the schoolteacher was awful sick. Viral meningitis is nothing to mess with and the recovery takes a while.
Diane Wagner was so sick that she could not work at all for at least two years. That is understandable. However, she managed to go back to work at the bar.
All of this is perfectly fine.
Yes- people get sick and, no, they should not lose their jobs because of it.
What is not fine is that fact that the taxpayers are once again hoofing the bill because after the teacher filed a grievance the arbitrator has demanded the teacher be given back pay.
Is it reasonable to ask the taxpayers to pay for a schoolteacher that managed to go back to her part time job at a bar, but was still too sick to go back to teaching?
What portion of the time off with the taxpayers be forced to pay this teacher for?
What are taxpayers reasonable allowed to expect out of their schoolteachers?
What is the line between being reasonable and flat out ripping the taxpayers off?
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Real Debate Wisconsin: And so it begins....
Real Debate Wisconsin: And so it begins....
Nice piece from Fred.
As pointed out by Fred, I am especially concerned with "Media Matters" mission statement:
Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.
Why is it okay for these guys to be listed as a charity, when their sole purpose is to slam conservatives in the media?
Certainly these folks have every right to their freedom of speech like everyone else.
But to not have to pay taxes, just like a charity organization...?
Nice piece from Fred.
As pointed out by Fred, I am especially concerned with "Media Matters" mission statement:
Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.
Why is it okay for these guys to be listed as a charity, when their sole purpose is to slam conservatives in the media?
Certainly these folks have every right to their freedom of speech like everyone else.
But to not have to pay taxes, just like a charity organization...?
Friday, April 13, 2007
You tell 'em, Congressman Ryan
In case you missed it- the Democrats, in Congress, passed a budget that would increase taxes by $400 billion dollars. In fact, it is the largest tax increase in history.
The media has been virtually silent on this issue.
Congressman Ryan points out the fallacies in the Democrat's tax increase plan-
The most outrageous claim House Democrats made about the budget they passed last month is that it doesn't raise taxes. Numbers don't lie, and by the numbers in their budget, Democrats would impose the largest tax increase in American history - nearly $400 billion over the next five years.
While they keep denying it, the Democrats' budget relies on higher tax brackets, cutting the child tax credit in half, significantly increasing capital gains and investment taxes, eliminating marriage penalty and death tax relief, and a host of other tax increases.
continued...
The media has been virtually silent on this issue.
Congressman Ryan points out the fallacies in the Democrat's tax increase plan-
The most outrageous claim House Democrats made about the budget they passed last month is that it doesn't raise taxes. Numbers don't lie, and by the numbers in their budget, Democrats would impose the largest tax increase in American history - nearly $400 billion over the next five years.
While they keep denying it, the Democrats' budget relies on higher tax brackets, cutting the child tax credit in half, significantly increasing capital gains and investment taxes, eliminating marriage penalty and death tax relief, and a host of other tax increases.
continued...
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Where is the improvement?
For years, WEAC and school administrators have fought comparisons between schools in other states and Wisconsin schools.
Their reason-
Comparisons in the report from the Council of the Great City Schools, an organization that advocates for 66 large school districts, are tentative because of the different definitions of proficient used by states and school systems across the country. In other words, what it means to be proficient in reading in Milwaukee may or may not be comparable to what it means in any of the other school districts.
For sake of argument, let's toss out comparing Milwaukee schools to schools in other states.
The new report shows that Milwaukee is doing worse at educating kids than they were four years ago.
Here is the chart-
This is a very disturbing trend.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
You know you are having a bad day when...
You know you are having a bad day when you are sitting in a Florida jail cell for criminal content charges and at the same time you are indicted in by a federal grand jury in Nevada for tax evasion.
Girls Gone Wild creator Joseph Francis was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on charges that his companies which sell videos of topless young women claimed millions of dollars in false business expenses.
The indictment came one day after Francis was jailed on criminal contempt charges in Florida.
Don't feel too sorry for him. Since the guy is a millionare, he should have just paid his taxes and settled the financial dispute with the seven women, as he was ordered to do by the judge.
Girls Gone Wild creator Joseph Francis was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on charges that his companies which sell videos of topless young women claimed millions of dollars in false business expenses.
The indictment came one day after Francis was jailed on criminal contempt charges in Florida.
Don't feel too sorry for him. Since the guy is a millionare, he should have just paid his taxes and settled the financial dispute with the seven women, as he was ordered to do by the judge.
A little bitter, perhaps?
33,500 pennies-
A penny saved is a penny earned, but one man believes 33,500 pennies won are best donated to a worthy cause.
Bob Wilson, who won a small claims court case last month, will donate the pennies to the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency, which has helped him with heating bills.
Wilson was given the pennies by Karl Stepen, owner of NSK Motorsports in Fowlerville, after a judge ruled in Wilson's favor and awarded him $335.
Stepen said he paid Wilson in pennies to show his contempt for Wilson. 'We paid him in legal U.S. currency,' Stepen said.
Wilson said he bought a dirt bike for his 13-year-old son and took it NSK in May to get it running. He didn't get the bike back until October, and he said it stopped working almost immediately.
He took the bike back to NSK and it sat unfixed for a few more months. He picked it up and took it to another shop, which charged him $900, he said.
Stepen said he had the bike 'for some time,' but he's a one-man operation with as many as 70 motorcycles waiting to be repaired. He said he did everything he could to help Wilson with the 30-year-old bike and offered to fix a second problem for free.
District Judge Theresa Brennan, who handled the appeal for Wilson's claim, said she's never heard of someone paying the court in pennies in her 22 years of practicing law.
Still, she said, it's legal: 'We don't dictate the form of payment.'
A penny saved is a penny earned, but one man believes 33,500 pennies won are best donated to a worthy cause.
Bob Wilson, who won a small claims court case last month, will donate the pennies to the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency, which has helped him with heating bills.
Wilson was given the pennies by Karl Stepen, owner of NSK Motorsports in Fowlerville, after a judge ruled in Wilson's favor and awarded him $335.
Stepen said he paid Wilson in pennies to show his contempt for Wilson. 'We paid him in legal U.S. currency,' Stepen said.
Wilson said he bought a dirt bike for his 13-year-old son and took it NSK in May to get it running. He didn't get the bike back until October, and he said it stopped working almost immediately.
He took the bike back to NSK and it sat unfixed for a few more months. He picked it up and took it to another shop, which charged him $900, he said.
Stepen said he had the bike 'for some time,' but he's a one-man operation with as many as 70 motorcycles waiting to be repaired. He said he did everything he could to help Wilson with the 30-year-old bike and offered to fix a second problem for free.
District Judge Theresa Brennan, who handled the appeal for Wilson's claim, said she's never heard of someone paying the court in pennies in her 22 years of practicing law.
Still, she said, it's legal: 'We don't dictate the form of payment.'
Oh good grief
Let me get this straight-
First Congress is really, really offended by the notion that President Bush may have fired 8 prosecutors for political reasons.
Now Congress is demanding an answer as to why Wisconsin Federal Prosecutor Steve Biscupic was NOT fired for political reasons.
I am not kidding folks- check it out-
If Gonzales is asked about Biskupic, it would be the first time the embattled attorney general would be asked why a specific U.S. attorney kept his or her job. U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president.
First Congress is really, really offended by the notion that President Bush may have fired 8 prosecutors for political reasons.
Now Congress is demanding an answer as to why Wisconsin Federal Prosecutor Steve Biscupic was NOT fired for political reasons.
I am not kidding folks- check it out-
If Gonzales is asked about Biskupic, it would be the first time the embattled attorney general would be asked why a specific U.S. attorney kept his or her job. U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
This is good news?
The AP is pumping a story out about how Congress' approval numbers have gone up to 40%.
Public approval for Congress is at its highest level in a year as Democrats mark 100 days in power and step up their confrontation with President Bush over his handling of the Iraq War, the issue that overshadows all others.
Bad news for the AP- they are not the only folks conducting polling right now. Gallup also released a poll yesterday showing Congress' appoval rating at 33%.
I couldn't help but giggle when I checked out the poll averages for both Congress and the President.
Poll averages show Congress at 35%
Poll averages show the President at 36.5%
Of course, I nearly fell off my chair when I read that Nancy Pelosi has the gall to say this before leaving for her road trip-
"In the first 100 hours, as you know, we passed legislation to make our economy fairer, to make our country safer, to make college more accessible, health care more affordable, promoted energy independence, and to do so in a fiscally sound way, upholding the highest ethical standard with great openness and transparency in government."
Uh? Hello? They still have not passed a minimum wage bill or any of their other promised legislation.
In fact, the only thing the Democrats have managed to pass is a war bill, packed with their favorite pork spending, that breaks the promises made during last year's election cycle.
Wisconsin Congressman David Obey promised a "moritorium" on pork projects. He broke that promise when he personally packed the emergency bill that would finance our troops with more than $22 BILLION in pork spending.
Democrats promised reform and instituted "a moratorium" on all earmarks until the system was cleaned up. Now the appropriations committees are privately accepting pork-barrel requests again. But curiously, the scorekeeper on earmarks, the Library of Congress's Congressional Research Service (CRS)--a publicly funded, nonpartisan federal agency--has suddenly announced it will no longer respond to requests from members of Congress on the size, number or background of earmarks. "They claim it'll be transparent, but they're taking away the very data that lets us know what's really happening," says Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn. "I'm convinced the appropriations committees are flexing their muscles with CRS."
The media and the Democrats may be patting themselves on the back, however the rest of us know the truth.
All the Democrats have succeeded in doing, as of this moment, is to break their promises to the American people.
Public approval for Congress is at its highest level in a year as Democrats mark 100 days in power and step up their confrontation with President Bush over his handling of the Iraq War, the issue that overshadows all others.
Bad news for the AP- they are not the only folks conducting polling right now. Gallup also released a poll yesterday showing Congress' appoval rating at 33%.
I couldn't help but giggle when I checked out the poll averages for both Congress and the President.
Poll averages show Congress at 35%
Poll averages show the President at 36.5%
Of course, I nearly fell off my chair when I read that Nancy Pelosi has the gall to say this before leaving for her road trip-
"In the first 100 hours, as you know, we passed legislation to make our economy fairer, to make our country safer, to make college more accessible, health care more affordable, promoted energy independence, and to do so in a fiscally sound way, upholding the highest ethical standard with great openness and transparency in government."
Uh? Hello? They still have not passed a minimum wage bill or any of their other promised legislation.
In fact, the only thing the Democrats have managed to pass is a war bill, packed with their favorite pork spending, that breaks the promises made during last year's election cycle.
Wisconsin Congressman David Obey promised a "moritorium" on pork projects. He broke that promise when he personally packed the emergency bill that would finance our troops with more than $22 BILLION in pork spending.
Democrats promised reform and instituted "a moratorium" on all earmarks until the system was cleaned up. Now the appropriations committees are privately accepting pork-barrel requests again. But curiously, the scorekeeper on earmarks, the Library of Congress's Congressional Research Service (CRS)--a publicly funded, nonpartisan federal agency--has suddenly announced it will no longer respond to requests from members of Congress on the size, number or background of earmarks. "They claim it'll be transparent, but they're taking away the very data that lets us know what's really happening," says Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn. "I'm convinced the appropriations committees are flexing their muscles with CRS."
The media and the Democrats may be patting themselves on the back, however the rest of us know the truth.
All the Democrats have succeeded in doing, as of this moment, is to break their promises to the American people.
Monday, April 09, 2007
King of the Hill
This is a great article written by WLIP's Lenny Palmer-
One of the greatest games we played as kids was “King of the Hill.” Not only was it an absolute blast, it also taught schoolchildren an important life’s lesson: that not only did you do everything you could to get to the top of the hill, you also did everything you could to hold onto your position as "King." Games like this are now being outlawed across the nation; “too violent,” say some adults, “children can’t compete fairly,” say educators, and “we’re going to sue,” say many attorneys. So “King of the Hill” is dead, as is “Musical Chairs,” “Dodge Ball,” “Bombardment,” and even games as benign as “Tag.” Children are being robbed not only of great fat-burning play time, they are also being denied access to games that teach them what life is really about: if you want something bad enough, you have to go after it. In the past this philosophy created generations of young Americans willing to go the extra mile to achieve not only for themselves, but for their country as well.
continued...
One of the greatest games we played as kids was “King of the Hill.” Not only was it an absolute blast, it also taught schoolchildren an important life’s lesson: that not only did you do everything you could to get to the top of the hill, you also did everything you could to hold onto your position as "King." Games like this are now being outlawed across the nation; “too violent,” say some adults, “children can’t compete fairly,” say educators, and “we’re going to sue,” say many attorneys. So “King of the Hill” is dead, as is “Musical Chairs,” “Dodge Ball,” “Bombardment,” and even games as benign as “Tag.” Children are being robbed not only of great fat-burning play time, they are also being denied access to games that teach them what life is really about: if you want something bad enough, you have to go after it. In the past this philosophy created generations of young Americans willing to go the extra mile to achieve not only for themselves, but for their country as well.
continued...
Interesting article
An interesting article from George Will today. Perhaps a second look at Fred Thompson is needed before encouraging him to run for the presidency-
In 1996, Thompson worked successfully, unfortunately, to preserve the (currently collapsing) system of public financing of presidential campaigns. His arguments were replete with all the rhetoric standard among advocates of government regulation of political speech: Government regulation of politics is necessary to dispel "cynicism" about government (has that worked?), to create a "level playing field" and to prevent politics from being "awash with money" (Congressional Record, May 20, 1996).
In a news release that day he warned of money from "special interests" and asserted that the checkoff system "flat out worked" because in 1994, 24 million taxpayers checked the "yes" box on their Form 1040, thereby directing that $3 of their income tax bill go to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. He asserted that "on average, 20 percent of Americans participate in the checkoff." Well.
In 1994, according to the IRS, the checkoff was used on 16.3 million, or 14 percent, of the 114.8 million individual tax returns, so a landslide of 86 percent of forms were filed by taxpayers who rejected participation. Today, use of the checkoff has sunk to just 9.6 percent. Its unpopularity is unsurprising, given that it has allowed a small minority to divert, in a bookkeeping dodge, $1.3 billion of federal revenue to fund the dissemination of political views that many taxpayers disapprove of as much as they disapprove of public funding of politics.
Back then, Thompson believed, implausibly, that voters are "deeply concerned" about campaign finance reform. Today, many likely voters in Republican primaries are deeply concerned about what Thompson and others have done to free speech in the name of "reform," as John McCain is unhappily learning.
I know some folks don't want to hear this, but perhaps Fred Thompson is not as conservative as some people are telling us he is.
In 1996, Thompson worked successfully, unfortunately, to preserve the (currently collapsing) system of public financing of presidential campaigns. His arguments were replete with all the rhetoric standard among advocates of government regulation of political speech: Government regulation of politics is necessary to dispel "cynicism" about government (has that worked?), to create a "level playing field" and to prevent politics from being "awash with money" (Congressional Record, May 20, 1996).
In a news release that day he warned of money from "special interests" and asserted that the checkoff system "flat out worked" because in 1994, 24 million taxpayers checked the "yes" box on their Form 1040, thereby directing that $3 of their income tax bill go to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. He asserted that "on average, 20 percent of Americans participate in the checkoff." Well.
In 1994, according to the IRS, the checkoff was used on 16.3 million, or 14 percent, of the 114.8 million individual tax returns, so a landslide of 86 percent of forms were filed by taxpayers who rejected participation. Today, use of the checkoff has sunk to just 9.6 percent. Its unpopularity is unsurprising, given that it has allowed a small minority to divert, in a bookkeeping dodge, $1.3 billion of federal revenue to fund the dissemination of political views that many taxpayers disapprove of as much as they disapprove of public funding of politics.
Back then, Thompson believed, implausibly, that voters are "deeply concerned" about campaign finance reform. Today, many likely voters in Republican primaries are deeply concerned about what Thompson and others have done to free speech in the name of "reform," as John McCain is unhappily learning.
I know some folks don't want to hear this, but perhaps Fred Thompson is not as conservative as some people are telling us he is.
After all the fuss and muss...
The President wins this round with Congress-
Two leading Senate Democrats said their party will not cut off funding for U.S. troops in Iraq, distancing themselves from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, who now says he supports doing so.
"We're not going to vote to cut funding, period," said Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat and Armed Services Committee chairman.
Mr. Levin said he and other Democrats would continue to pressure President Bush on enforcing benchmarks for progress in Iraq, but ultimately most of his colleagues will support funding because they do not have the votes to override Mr. Bush's veto.
"What we're going to try to do, a majority, I believe, of Democrats and most of the Republicans, is to vote for a bill that funds the troops, period," he said during an appearance on ABC's "This Week." "We're going to fund the troops. We always have."
President Bush has said he will veto either the House-passed or Senate-passed supplemental war-spending bills, which both call for a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq by next year. In addition to opposing any timeline for withdrawal or redeployment, Mr. Bush and other Republicans have criticized the billions of pork-barrel spending included in both the House and Senate bills.
Mr. Reid announced his own legislation, which would cut off funding for the troops next March. Democratic Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin agreed to co-sponsor the bill, which Mr. Reid says he plans to put forward if Mr. Bush vetoes the current war supplemental-funding bill. But Mr. Levin said the majority leader spoke only for himself, not the party as a whole.
"Even Harry Reid acknowledged that that's not going to happen," Mr. Levin said in reference to cutting off funding. "He has a personal position, which he said was not the caucus position."
Meanwhile, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, echoed Mr. Levin's comments on troop funding, telling "Fox News Sunday" that "We are not going to leave the troops high and dry, plain and simple. Senator Reid has said that. I've said that. Every leader of the Democratic Party has said that."
Sen. Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican, said he would continue to oppose a Democratic supplemental bill that removed a timetable but contained specific benchmarks, calling it unfair to Iraqis.
"First of all, it's premised on the notion that the Iraqis aren't listening to us," he said. "They are cooperating with us. So that's old news that they're not cooperating. That's one of the reasons this new surge strategy is working."
Although Mr. Reid recently changed his position to favor a withdrawal timetable, some Senate moderates said they continue to oppose what Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, called "micromanaging" the president and generals.
"I'm not prepared to withdraw funding at this time. But my patience, like many others, is growing very thin," Mr. Specter told CNN's "Late Edition."
Mr. Kyl also said withholding money to send a message to Iraqis would send other messages.
"You're also sending a message to our troops and to our enemies, who know that all they have to do is wait the conflict out. This is not the way to try to micromanage a war from the U.S. Senate," he said.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut independent, also disagreed with timelines during an appearance on CNN.
"Putting a timeline on is always a mistake in war because it says that a bunch of political people in Washington know better than the generals in the field what's going to be happening four months, six months, a year from now," he said, "unless you are prepared to say we have lost in Iraq, we have no chance and we're prepared to accept the consequences of withdrawal, which I think would be terrible for American security."
Two leading Senate Democrats said their party will not cut off funding for U.S. troops in Iraq, distancing themselves from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, who now says he supports doing so.
"We're not going to vote to cut funding, period," said Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat and Armed Services Committee chairman.
Mr. Levin said he and other Democrats would continue to pressure President Bush on enforcing benchmarks for progress in Iraq, but ultimately most of his colleagues will support funding because they do not have the votes to override Mr. Bush's veto.
"What we're going to try to do, a majority, I believe, of Democrats and most of the Republicans, is to vote for a bill that funds the troops, period," he said during an appearance on ABC's "This Week." "We're going to fund the troops. We always have."
President Bush has said he will veto either the House-passed or Senate-passed supplemental war-spending bills, which both call for a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq by next year. In addition to opposing any timeline for withdrawal or redeployment, Mr. Bush and other Republicans have criticized the billions of pork-barrel spending included in both the House and Senate bills.
Mr. Reid announced his own legislation, which would cut off funding for the troops next March. Democratic Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin agreed to co-sponsor the bill, which Mr. Reid says he plans to put forward if Mr. Bush vetoes the current war supplemental-funding bill. But Mr. Levin said the majority leader spoke only for himself, not the party as a whole.
"Even Harry Reid acknowledged that that's not going to happen," Mr. Levin said in reference to cutting off funding. "He has a personal position, which he said was not the caucus position."
Meanwhile, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, echoed Mr. Levin's comments on troop funding, telling "Fox News Sunday" that "We are not going to leave the troops high and dry, plain and simple. Senator Reid has said that. I've said that. Every leader of the Democratic Party has said that."
Sen. Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican, said he would continue to oppose a Democratic supplemental bill that removed a timetable but contained specific benchmarks, calling it unfair to Iraqis.
"First of all, it's premised on the notion that the Iraqis aren't listening to us," he said. "They are cooperating with us. So that's old news that they're not cooperating. That's one of the reasons this new surge strategy is working."
Although Mr. Reid recently changed his position to favor a withdrawal timetable, some Senate moderates said they continue to oppose what Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, called "micromanaging" the president and generals.
"I'm not prepared to withdraw funding at this time. But my patience, like many others, is growing very thin," Mr. Specter told CNN's "Late Edition."
Mr. Kyl also said withholding money to send a message to Iraqis would send other messages.
"You're also sending a message to our troops and to our enemies, who know that all they have to do is wait the conflict out. This is not the way to try to micromanage a war from the U.S. Senate," he said.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut independent, also disagreed with timelines during an appearance on CNN.
"Putting a timeline on is always a mistake in war because it says that a bunch of political people in Washington know better than the generals in the field what's going to be happening four months, six months, a year from now," he said, "unless you are prepared to say we have lost in Iraq, we have no chance and we're prepared to accept the consequences of withdrawal, which I think would be terrible for American security."
This is good to see.
The banks are attempting to protect their customers from fraud.
The good news is that as frustrating as it sometimes is for banks to protect consumers from Internet and telephone predators, they are achieving some success at keeping them out of consumers' online bank accounts.
The smartest thing you need to remember is written in the last couple of lines in this article-
There's another thing people who bank online always should remember, said West Bend Savings Bank's Larson: A bank would never ask for a customer's account information over the Internet or telephone.
"They are the ones who issued you your account number, so why would they ask you for it?" he said.
The banks are attempting to protect their customers from fraud.
The good news is that as frustrating as it sometimes is for banks to protect consumers from Internet and telephone predators, they are achieving some success at keeping them out of consumers' online bank accounts.
The smartest thing you need to remember is written in the last couple of lines in this article-
There's another thing people who bank online always should remember, said West Bend Savings Bank's Larson: A bank would never ask for a customer's account information over the Internet or telephone.
"They are the ones who issued you your account number, so why would they ask you for it?" he said.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Just tired, folks
I have gotten several emails and a phone call- checking to see why I have not posted in a few days. The answer is simple.
I am just tired.
Since becoming the chair of the Republican Party of Kenosha County(Feb. 07), I have taken on a whole new role when it comes to elections.
My work load has quadrupled.
I am not complaining- I am just tired.
I took yesterday off of work and will not have to go back until Monday. I am beginning to recover.
Thanks for the concern.
I will be back on my game soon.
I am just tired.
Since becoming the chair of the Republican Party of Kenosha County(Feb. 07), I have taken on a whole new role when it comes to elections.
My work load has quadrupled.
I am not complaining- I am just tired.
I took yesterday off of work and will not have to go back until Monday. I am beginning to recover.
Thanks for the concern.
I will be back on my game soon.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Sigh of relief here
I will talk more about the election results tomorrow.
However, tonight- Annette Ziegler wins!
She won handily in Kenosha-
Annette K. Ziegler 9072 56.49%
Linda M. Clifford 6946 43.25%
Write-in 40 40 0.24%
I wonder who the write-ins were for????
However, tonight- Annette Ziegler wins!
She won handily in Kenosha-
Annette K. Ziegler 9072 56.49%
Linda M. Clifford 6946 43.25%
Write-in 40 40 0.24%
I wonder who the write-ins were for????
****Vote Today****
Today is the day, get out and vote.
We also have several friends running in various races-
Fred Dooley for Alderman, Racine District 7
Jeff Albrecht for Silver Lake Village President.
Alex Tiahnybok for Pleasant Prairie Village President.
Jeff Lauer for Pleasant Prairie Village Trustee #3
Larry Matson for Pleasant Prairie Village Trustee #1
Annette Ziegler for Wisconsin State Supreme Court
Howard Skinner for Twin Lakes Village President
Sharon Bower for Twin Lakes Village Trustee
Aaron Karow for Twin Lakes Village Trustee
Win or Lose- there is a party tonight in Pleasant Prairie. EVERYONE IS INVITED!
Alex Tiahnybok will be hosting a party at Ray Radigan's, located at 11712 Sheridan Rd, Pleasant Prairie.
Right next door to Ray Radigan's is Ruffalo's. There is another party going on for Jeff Lauer and Larry Matson.
Parties start at 8:00pm
Obviously we will be running back and forth between the two parties.
So get out and vote, then join the party!
We also have several friends running in various races-
Fred Dooley for Alderman, Racine District 7
Jeff Albrecht for Silver Lake Village President.
Alex Tiahnybok for Pleasant Prairie Village President.
Jeff Lauer for Pleasant Prairie Village Trustee #3
Larry Matson for Pleasant Prairie Village Trustee #1
Annette Ziegler for Wisconsin State Supreme Court
Howard Skinner for Twin Lakes Village President
Sharon Bower for Twin Lakes Village Trustee
Aaron Karow for Twin Lakes Village Trustee
Win or Lose- there is a party tonight in Pleasant Prairie. EVERYONE IS INVITED!
Alex Tiahnybok will be hosting a party at Ray Radigan's, located at 11712 Sheridan Rd, Pleasant Prairie.
Right next door to Ray Radigan's is Ruffalo's. There is another party going on for Jeff Lauer and Larry Matson.
Parties start at 8:00pm
Obviously we will be running back and forth between the two parties.
So get out and vote, then join the party!
Monday, April 02, 2007
Of course it is America's fault
There was never a doubt in my mind that somehow the US would be blamed for the British hostage crisis-
A failed American attempt to abduct two senior Iranian security officers on an official visit to northern Iraq was the starting pistol for a crisis that 10 weeks later led to Iranians seizing 15 British sailors and Marines.
sigh...
A failed American attempt to abduct two senior Iranian security officers on an official visit to northern Iraq was the starting pistol for a crisis that 10 weeks later led to Iranians seizing 15 British sailors and Marines.
sigh...
It's super official now
Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson is running for President.
Link.
Tommy Thompson formally entered the presidential race Sunday with an assertion that he fills two voids in the Republican field: He is "the reliable conservative" and he has creative ideas.
"All that people have to do is look at my record, and I am the one individual that they can count on," the former member of President Bush's Cabinet and four-term Wisconsin governor said on ABC's This Week.
"People feel Republicans lost their way in Washington," particularly by spending too much money, Thompson said. He added that Republicans are not coming up with "original new ideas."
Continued...
Link.
Tommy Thompson formally entered the presidential race Sunday with an assertion that he fills two voids in the Republican field: He is "the reliable conservative" and he has creative ideas.
"All that people have to do is look at my record, and I am the one individual that they can count on," the former member of President Bush's Cabinet and four-term Wisconsin governor said on ABC's This Week.
"People feel Republicans lost their way in Washington," particularly by spending too much money, Thompson said. He added that Republicans are not coming up with "original new ideas."
Continued...
Friday, March 30, 2007
Catching up with John Doe
Someone asked last night on what this "John Doe" stuff was about. This is an incredibly important story that the media is not telling.
Nobody can explain it better than Michelle Malkin in The John Doe Manifesto-
( Note: Earlier this month, six publicity-seeking imams filed a federal lawsuit against US Airways and the Metropolitan Airports Commission in Minneapolis/St. Paul. The Muslim clerics were removed from their flight last November and questioned for several hours after their suspicious behavior alarmed both passengers and crew members. Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten reported last week that the imams, advised by the grievance-mongers at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also plan to sue "John Does" -- innocent bystanders who alerted the authorities about their security concerns. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., has introduced legislation to protect John Does who report suspicious behavior from legal liability. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty; talk show host Michael Reagan; Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, who heads the American Islamic Forum for Democracy; and Minnesota lawyer Gerry Nolting have all stepped forward to offer free representation to the imams' targets. )
Dear Muslim Terrorist Plotter/Planner/Funder/Enabler/Apologist,
You do not know me. But I am on the lookout for you. You are my enemy. And I am yours.
I am John Doe.
I am traveling on your plane. I am riding on your train. I am at your bus stop. I am on your street. I am in your subway car. I am on your lift.
I am your neighbor. I am your customer. I am your classmate. I am your boss.
I am John Doe.
I will never forget the example of the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 who refused to sit back on 9/11 and let themselves be murdered in the name of Islam without a fight.
I will never forget the passengers and crew members who tackled al Qaeda shoe-bomber Richard Reid on American Airlines Flight 63 before he had a chance to blow up the plane over the Atlantic Ocean.
I will never forget the alertness of actor James Woods, who notified a stewardess that several Arab men sitting in his first-class cabin on an August 2001 flight were behaving strangely. The men turned out to be 9/11 hijackers on a test run.
I will act when homeland security officials ask me to "report suspicious activity."
I will embrace my local police department's admonition: "If you see something, say something."
I am John Doe.
I will protest your Jew-hating, America-bashing "scholars."
I will petition against your hate-mongering mosque leaders.
I will raise my voice against your subjugation of women and religious minorities.
I will challenge your attempts to indoctrinate my children in our schools.
I will combat your violent propaganda on the Internet.
I am John Doe.
I will support law enforcement initiatives to spy on your operatives, cut off your funding and disrupt your murderous conspiracies.
I will oppose all attempts to undermine our borders and immigration laws.
I will resist the imposition of sharia principles and sharia law in my taxi cab, my restaurant, my community pool, the halls of Congress, our national monuments, the radio and television airwaves, and all public spaces.
I will not be censored in the name of tolerance.
I will not be cowed by your Beltway lobbying groups in moderates' clothing. I will not cringe when you shriek about "profiling" or "Islamophobia."
I will put my family's safety above sensitivity. I will put my country above multiculturalism.
I will not submit to your will. I will not be intimidated.
I am John Doe.
Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore voted against the bill that would protect Americans against these John Doe law suits.
H/T Charlie Sykes
Nobody can explain it better than Michelle Malkin in The John Doe Manifesto-
( Note: Earlier this month, six publicity-seeking imams filed a federal lawsuit against US Airways and the Metropolitan Airports Commission in Minneapolis/St. Paul. The Muslim clerics were removed from their flight last November and questioned for several hours after their suspicious behavior alarmed both passengers and crew members. Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten reported last week that the imams, advised by the grievance-mongers at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also plan to sue "John Does" -- innocent bystanders who alerted the authorities about their security concerns. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., has introduced legislation to protect John Does who report suspicious behavior from legal liability. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty; talk show host Michael Reagan; Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, who heads the American Islamic Forum for Democracy; and Minnesota lawyer Gerry Nolting have all stepped forward to offer free representation to the imams' targets. )
Dear Muslim Terrorist Plotter/Planner/Funder/Enabler/Apologist,
You do not know me. But I am on the lookout for you. You are my enemy. And I am yours.
I am John Doe.
I am traveling on your plane. I am riding on your train. I am at your bus stop. I am on your street. I am in your subway car. I am on your lift.
I am your neighbor. I am your customer. I am your classmate. I am your boss.
I am John Doe.
I will never forget the example of the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 who refused to sit back on 9/11 and let themselves be murdered in the name of Islam without a fight.
I will never forget the passengers and crew members who tackled al Qaeda shoe-bomber Richard Reid on American Airlines Flight 63 before he had a chance to blow up the plane over the Atlantic Ocean.
I will never forget the alertness of actor James Woods, who notified a stewardess that several Arab men sitting in his first-class cabin on an August 2001 flight were behaving strangely. The men turned out to be 9/11 hijackers on a test run.
I will act when homeland security officials ask me to "report suspicious activity."
I will embrace my local police department's admonition: "If you see something, say something."
I am John Doe.
I will protest your Jew-hating, America-bashing "scholars."
I will petition against your hate-mongering mosque leaders.
I will raise my voice against your subjugation of women and religious minorities.
I will challenge your attempts to indoctrinate my children in our schools.
I will combat your violent propaganda on the Internet.
I am John Doe.
I will support law enforcement initiatives to spy on your operatives, cut off your funding and disrupt your murderous conspiracies.
I will oppose all attempts to undermine our borders and immigration laws.
I will resist the imposition of sharia principles and sharia law in my taxi cab, my restaurant, my community pool, the halls of Congress, our national monuments, the radio and television airwaves, and all public spaces.
I will not be censored in the name of tolerance.
I will not be cowed by your Beltway lobbying groups in moderates' clothing. I will not cringe when you shriek about "profiling" or "Islamophobia."
I will put my family's safety above sensitivity. I will put my country above multiculturalism.
I will not submit to your will. I will not be intimidated.
I am John Doe.
Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore voted against the bill that would protect Americans against these John Doe law suits.
H/T Charlie Sykes
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Just keep doing your job, Congressman Ryan
I have been watching with amusement over the last several weeks as Daniel Bice from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has taken to beating up on Congressman Paul Ryan.
Mr. Bice is certainly within his rights, as a journalist, to beat up on Congressman Ryan. In fact, Mr. Bice has come up with several juicy tidbits about Congressman Ryan.
Congressman Ryan is a big boy and he can handle this stuff.
It was when I read this comment in Sunday’s paper that I finally decided it was time to write something-
Ryan then leaned on fellow congressmen and federal officials in support of this measure.
That is a pretty dramatic statement.
Really, Ryan “leaned” on his fellow congressman? Sounds like something the mafia would do to collect a debt. I get back to addressing this later.
Unfortunately, now Mr. Bice has taken to leaving out important information when reporting. Of course leaving out these important facts only makes Mr. Bice’s job of spinning the WHOLE truth a little easier.
Let us start with a few basic facts.
Paul Ryan is a Congressman. As a congressman, Paul Ryan is paid to represent every single person in Wisconsin’s first district. Yes, Dennis Troha lives and owns businesses in Wisconsin’s first district. It is Congressman Ryan’s job to represent Dennis Troha.
Of course, Mr. Bice and others will make the claim-“but, but, but…. Troha financially gained in this transaction”.”
Guess what? Many, many thousands of Paul Ryan’s constituents have financially gained from his support.
Personally, I have gained financially because of my congressman. What is funny is that Mr. Bice himself has financially gained because of Congressman Ryan’s actions.
Let me explain with a few more facts.
Paul Ryan has been a champion for tax cuts. Everything from increasing the child tax credit to individual tax cuts for every single American. Every single taxpayer in the US received a federal tax cut of 2% or higher in 2003. Literally millions upon millions of dollars were kept in pockets of Americans because of these tax cuts.
Even Mr. Bice pocketed a few dollars because of the tax cuts he received that year.
Those folks that do not support Congressman Ryan also benefit from the hard work that the congressman does.
For instance, in 2005, the UAW and thousands of autoworkers financially benefited because Congressman Ryan fought for their pension benefits. Without the fix, which Congressman Ryan personally added to H.R. 2830, the autoworkers’ pension plans were at risk.
Therefore, as you can see, whether or not his constituents are conservative or liberal, Congressman Ryan has a duty and a responsibility to do whatever he can to protect us all.
We are back to the point where Mr. Bice accused Congressman Ryan of leaning on his fellow congressman.
Really, the final vote for the bill that Mr. Bice was speaking about, HR 3-The Transportation Equity Act passed the House by a whopping 412 to 8 vote.
Honestly, how much leaning did Congressman Ryan have to do to get HR 3 to pass? With a vote of 412-8- not much, I guess.
What seems to be overlooked by Daniel Bice is the amount of transportation aid given to Wisconsin’s congressional first district, with the passage of this bill. The state of Wisconsin received more than $700 million of federal money for repair of I-94, I-43 and many other transportation projects.
I am certain Mr. Bice will continue with his gossip column filled with innuendo. That’s okay. Mr. Bice can play around in the gutter for as long as he wants to.
In the meantime, Congressman Ryan, those of us in the first district are counting on you to protect us. We need your continued protection from our over-regulating government. We are counting on you to continue to protect the tax cuts, protect our jobs, and protect our security. It is also your responsibility to make sure that Wisconsin’s first congressional district gets a fair return on our federal taxes.
In other words, Congressman Ryan, just keep doing your job and we will continue to support you.
You “lean” on whomever you have to in order to continue to protect us.
Mr. Bice is certainly within his rights, as a journalist, to beat up on Congressman Ryan. In fact, Mr. Bice has come up with several juicy tidbits about Congressman Ryan.
Congressman Ryan is a big boy and he can handle this stuff.
It was when I read this comment in Sunday’s paper that I finally decided it was time to write something-
Ryan then leaned on fellow congressmen and federal officials in support of this measure.
That is a pretty dramatic statement.
Really, Ryan “leaned” on his fellow congressman? Sounds like something the mafia would do to collect a debt. I get back to addressing this later.
Unfortunately, now Mr. Bice has taken to leaving out important information when reporting. Of course leaving out these important facts only makes Mr. Bice’s job of spinning the WHOLE truth a little easier.
Let us start with a few basic facts.
Paul Ryan is a Congressman. As a congressman, Paul Ryan is paid to represent every single person in Wisconsin’s first district. Yes, Dennis Troha lives and owns businesses in Wisconsin’s first district. It is Congressman Ryan’s job to represent Dennis Troha.
Of course, Mr. Bice and others will make the claim-“but, but, but…. Troha financially gained in this transaction”.”
Guess what? Many, many thousands of Paul Ryan’s constituents have financially gained from his support.
Personally, I have gained financially because of my congressman. What is funny is that Mr. Bice himself has financially gained because of Congressman Ryan’s actions.
Let me explain with a few more facts.
Paul Ryan has been a champion for tax cuts. Everything from increasing the child tax credit to individual tax cuts for every single American. Every single taxpayer in the US received a federal tax cut of 2% or higher in 2003. Literally millions upon millions of dollars were kept in pockets of Americans because of these tax cuts.
Even Mr. Bice pocketed a few dollars because of the tax cuts he received that year.
Those folks that do not support Congressman Ryan also benefit from the hard work that the congressman does.
For instance, in 2005, the UAW and thousands of autoworkers financially benefited because Congressman Ryan fought for their pension benefits. Without the fix, which Congressman Ryan personally added to H.R. 2830, the autoworkers’ pension plans were at risk.
Therefore, as you can see, whether or not his constituents are conservative or liberal, Congressman Ryan has a duty and a responsibility to do whatever he can to protect us all.
We are back to the point where Mr. Bice accused Congressman Ryan of leaning on his fellow congressman.
Really, the final vote for the bill that Mr. Bice was speaking about, HR 3-The Transportation Equity Act passed the House by a whopping 412 to 8 vote.
Honestly, how much leaning did Congressman Ryan have to do to get HR 3 to pass? With a vote of 412-8- not much, I guess.
What seems to be overlooked by Daniel Bice is the amount of transportation aid given to Wisconsin’s congressional first district, with the passage of this bill. The state of Wisconsin received more than $700 million of federal money for repair of I-94, I-43 and many other transportation projects.
I am certain Mr. Bice will continue with his gossip column filled with innuendo. That’s okay. Mr. Bice can play around in the gutter for as long as he wants to.
In the meantime, Congressman Ryan, those of us in the first district are counting on you to protect us. We need your continued protection from our over-regulating government. We are counting on you to continue to protect the tax cuts, protect our jobs, and protect our security. It is also your responsibility to make sure that Wisconsin’s first congressional district gets a fair return on our federal taxes.
In other words, Congressman Ryan, just keep doing your job and we will continue to support you.
You “lean” on whomever you have to in order to continue to protect us.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Interesting
Yes- We have known for a while that Troha and his wife gave $50,000 to Governor Doyle's inauguration.
What is interesting is the other groups that have also given money-
A review of state Ethics Board records shows that 34 of the roughly 75 companies and trade groups that gave to the governor's inaugural pay lobbyists or employees to influence Capitol decisions. By law, those companies cannot contribute directly to Wisconsin political campaigns.
Several of the companies and trade groups that underwrote costs of the inaugural have major issues pending in the Capitol, or were the subject of controversy in the governor's first four years in office.
For example:
• Two years ago, Doyle criticized Wal-Mart for policies that forced thousands of its Wisconsin workers to get their health care through state government. The company gave $25,000 to help pay for his inaugural.
Canter said Doyle still supports legislation preventing companies from "dumping" employees into state health care programs.
• AT&T, which has hired 15 lobbyists to push a bill through the Legislature to Doyle's desk that would require the state - rather than local governments - to issue cable and data franchises, donated $25,000 to the inaugural committee.
Canter said donations to the inaugural did "absolutely not" present any potential conflicts for Doyle, and some donors oppose initiatives Doyle has proposed.
What is interesting is the other groups that have also given money-
A review of state Ethics Board records shows that 34 of the roughly 75 companies and trade groups that gave to the governor's inaugural pay lobbyists or employees to influence Capitol decisions. By law, those companies cannot contribute directly to Wisconsin political campaigns.
Several of the companies and trade groups that underwrote costs of the inaugural have major issues pending in the Capitol, or were the subject of controversy in the governor's first four years in office.
For example:
• Two years ago, Doyle criticized Wal-Mart for policies that forced thousands of its Wisconsin workers to get their health care through state government. The company gave $25,000 to help pay for his inaugural.
Canter said Doyle still supports legislation preventing companies from "dumping" employees into state health care programs.
• AT&T, which has hired 15 lobbyists to push a bill through the Legislature to Doyle's desk that would require the state - rather than local governments - to issue cable and data franchises, donated $25,000 to the inaugural committee.
Canter said donations to the inaugural did "absolutely not" present any potential conflicts for Doyle, and some donors oppose initiatives Doyle has proposed.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
You first- Eugene Kane
In today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Eugene Kane asks the question-
Where's anger when victim is black?
Eugene Kane wants to know why nobody cared about a murder that took place a few weeks ago involving a black man. Instead, when a white man is murdered in the inner city, then people become outraged.
That is a good question.
Unfortunately, Mr. Kane needs to be looking in the mirror when he asks the question.
I read the previous story that Mr. Kane had written about Prentice Barnes. Here is Eugene Kane’s entire reflection about Prentice Barnes-
Last week, another shocking murder happened in broad daylight. Police say Prentice Barnes, 55, the driver of a medical van, was shot in a crossfire while stopped at N. 39th and W. Center streets.
More than likely, it started out as a typical morning for Barnes. Who expects to die at 11 a.m.?
That is it, folks. Nothing else. This is all Eugene Kane had to say about Prentice Barnes.
In fact, Mr. Kane spent more time talking about his own drive thru the inner city than he did anything else.
Why is that, Mr. Kane? Why is it you spent more time talking about yourself than you did Prentice Barnes?
Did Eugene Kane or anyone else from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel every bother visiting Prentice Barnes’ family? Did anyone bother to check on what kind of life Prentice Barnes might have lead?
We know nothing about Prentice Barnes because Eugene Kane or anyone else ever bothered to tell us.
Eugene Kane has the incredible opportunity to be a reflection of Milwaukee’s inner city. He could be writing about the hopes, dreams, fears and anxieties facing today’s inner city families.
Instead, what we continue to hear from Eugene Kane is how outraged he is at the Milwaukee Police Department.
We even hear about how outraged Eugene Kane is about all of the fuss and muss over the beating of a white man on a city bus.
However- what we did not really hear about is Prentice Barnes.
Eugene Kane wants us to be outraged over the daytime murder of Prentice Barnes. Okay- we can do that.
However, we need inner city leaders in Milwaukee, like Eugene Kane, to start telling us what is going on in Milwaukee.
Look in the mirror, Eugene Kane. You need to become outraged first. Then tell us about the people like Prentice Barnes and we will become outraged with you.
Eugene Kane- you need to stop talking about yourself and introduce us to people like Prentice Barnes.
Maybe then, all of us as a community can start dealing with the culture of death that has gripped Milwaukee’s inner city.
Until that day comes, the rest of us are left wondering what in the world is going on in Milwaukee.
Where's anger when victim is black?
Eugene Kane wants to know why nobody cared about a murder that took place a few weeks ago involving a black man. Instead, when a white man is murdered in the inner city, then people become outraged.
That is a good question.
Unfortunately, Mr. Kane needs to be looking in the mirror when he asks the question.
I read the previous story that Mr. Kane had written about Prentice Barnes. Here is Eugene Kane’s entire reflection about Prentice Barnes-
Last week, another shocking murder happened in broad daylight. Police say Prentice Barnes, 55, the driver of a medical van, was shot in a crossfire while stopped at N. 39th and W. Center streets.
More than likely, it started out as a typical morning for Barnes. Who expects to die at 11 a.m.?
That is it, folks. Nothing else. This is all Eugene Kane had to say about Prentice Barnes.
In fact, Mr. Kane spent more time talking about his own drive thru the inner city than he did anything else.
Why is that, Mr. Kane? Why is it you spent more time talking about yourself than you did Prentice Barnes?
Did Eugene Kane or anyone else from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel every bother visiting Prentice Barnes’ family? Did anyone bother to check on what kind of life Prentice Barnes might have lead?
We know nothing about Prentice Barnes because Eugene Kane or anyone else ever bothered to tell us.
Eugene Kane has the incredible opportunity to be a reflection of Milwaukee’s inner city. He could be writing about the hopes, dreams, fears and anxieties facing today’s inner city families.
Instead, what we continue to hear from Eugene Kane is how outraged he is at the Milwaukee Police Department.
We even hear about how outraged Eugene Kane is about all of the fuss and muss over the beating of a white man on a city bus.
However- what we did not really hear about is Prentice Barnes.
Eugene Kane wants us to be outraged over the daytime murder of Prentice Barnes. Okay- we can do that.
However, we need inner city leaders in Milwaukee, like Eugene Kane, to start telling us what is going on in Milwaukee.
Look in the mirror, Eugene Kane. You need to become outraged first. Then tell us about the people like Prentice Barnes and we will become outraged with you.
Eugene Kane- you need to stop talking about yourself and introduce us to people like Prentice Barnes.
Maybe then, all of us as a community can start dealing with the culture of death that has gripped Milwaukee’s inner city.
Until that day comes, the rest of us are left wondering what in the world is going on in Milwaukee.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Thanks
I just wanted to send out a great big thank you to everyone involved with the Republican Party of Kenosha's Lincoln Day Dinner.
The night was a great success.
The speakers included Congressman Paul Ryan, former Congressman Mark Neumann, State Rep. Samantha Kerkman, Milwaukee County Exec. Scott Walker and State Supreme Court candidate Annette Ziegler.
There were many other elected local officials in attendance and we thank you all.
It was great night with a full house.
Thanks to everyone who donated auction items and all those that purchased auction items.
I am looking forward to a great year.
The night was a great success.
The speakers included Congressman Paul Ryan, former Congressman Mark Neumann, State Rep. Samantha Kerkman, Milwaukee County Exec. Scott Walker and State Supreme Court candidate Annette Ziegler.
There were many other elected local officials in attendance and we thank you all.
It was great night with a full house.
Thanks to everyone who donated auction items and all those that purchased auction items.
I am looking forward to a great year.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Real Debate Wisconsin: Happy Anniversary.
Real Debate Wisconsin: Happy Anniversary.
Just for my friend RDW- check out this website-
Virtual Bubble-wrap that you can pop-
http://www.virtual-bubblewrap.com/popnow.shtml
Just for my friend RDW- check out this website-
Virtual Bubble-wrap that you can pop-
http://www.virtual-bubblewrap.com/popnow.shtml
"Shame on Pelosi"
These days, I am busier than a one armed paper hanger. However, I had to take time to post the following.
This is an editorial from the San-Diego Union Tribune.
It is doubtful you will ever see an editorial like this in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Shame on Pelosi
Buying war-policy votes with pork is pathetic
March 23, 2007
Democrats wasted no time after their takeover of Congress in November in declaring a new era of responsible government. Party leaders said earmarks and massive, blithe pork-barrel spending would be a thing of the past. “We promise the most honest, most open, most ethical Congress in history,” declared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Initially, Democrats seemed to live up to their grand talk. To the amazement of many, incoming Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd – the West Virginia Democrat who may be the biggest pork abuser of all – joined with incoming House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey to vow there would be no new earmarks until the next fiscal year began on Oct. 1.
This was all wonderful, welcome and overdue. Federal spending has been out of control since the final years of the Clinton administration. While earmarks and pork are only a relatively small part of the reason why, controlling them would be a welcome sign of a newly sober, adult attitude on Congress' part.
Too bad it was all a charade. What's going on this week in the House is as appalling an exercise in pork-politics vote-buying as anything seen when Republicans Dennis Hastert and Tom DeLay were in control – especially because the vote-buying involves an issue of the utmost gravity.
Weeks ago, Pelosi proposed attaching a requirement that U.S. troops come home from Iraq before September 2008 to an emergency $100 billion military appropriations bill. When it became apparent she didn't have enough votes, she responded by adding $24 billion in pork, often in the form of agricultural subsidies used to win over rural Democratic lawmakers who tend to be more deferential on war policy.
This is disgusting. That Pelosi insists this extra spending doesn't qualify as pork is bad enough. But the idea that taxpayer funds are being doled out by the multibillion for unrelated domestic programs to influence a profoundly important vote on Iraq should offend everyone. What does it say for the dozens of House members that this tactic apparently swayed? That on any issue, there is a price at which their convictions are for sale?
“A great nation deserves better,” Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, said yesterday as the House debated the $124 billion spending measure. He's absolutely right. In 2004, a unanimous House ethics committee voted to rebuke then-Majority Leader DeLay for his tactics in attempting to persuade Rep. Nick Smith, R-Mich., to support a 2003 bill adding prescription-drug benefits to Medicare. DeLay's offense, according to the official panel report: “DeLay offered to endorse Rep. Smith's son [to replace him after he retired] in exchange for Rep. Smith's vote in favor of the Medicare bill.”
If that merits a formal rebuke, trying to use $24 billion in taxpayer money to sway a vote on war policy deserves a prison term.
A final House vote on the bill is likely today. If Pelosi gets her way, it will be national disgrace. Her tactics could not be less honest, less open or less ethical.
Well, as we all know- Pelosi got her way and it is a national disgrace!
This is an editorial from the San-Diego Union Tribune.
It is doubtful you will ever see an editorial like this in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Shame on Pelosi
Buying war-policy votes with pork is pathetic
March 23, 2007
Democrats wasted no time after their takeover of Congress in November in declaring a new era of responsible government. Party leaders said earmarks and massive, blithe pork-barrel spending would be a thing of the past. “We promise the most honest, most open, most ethical Congress in history,” declared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Initially, Democrats seemed to live up to their grand talk. To the amazement of many, incoming Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd – the West Virginia Democrat who may be the biggest pork abuser of all – joined with incoming House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey to vow there would be no new earmarks until the next fiscal year began on Oct. 1.
This was all wonderful, welcome and overdue. Federal spending has been out of control since the final years of the Clinton administration. While earmarks and pork are only a relatively small part of the reason why, controlling them would be a welcome sign of a newly sober, adult attitude on Congress' part.
Too bad it was all a charade. What's going on this week in the House is as appalling an exercise in pork-politics vote-buying as anything seen when Republicans Dennis Hastert and Tom DeLay were in control – especially because the vote-buying involves an issue of the utmost gravity.
Weeks ago, Pelosi proposed attaching a requirement that U.S. troops come home from Iraq before September 2008 to an emergency $100 billion military appropriations bill. When it became apparent she didn't have enough votes, she responded by adding $24 billion in pork, often in the form of agricultural subsidies used to win over rural Democratic lawmakers who tend to be more deferential on war policy.
This is disgusting. That Pelosi insists this extra spending doesn't qualify as pork is bad enough. But the idea that taxpayer funds are being doled out by the multibillion for unrelated domestic programs to influence a profoundly important vote on Iraq should offend everyone. What does it say for the dozens of House members that this tactic apparently swayed? That on any issue, there is a price at which their convictions are for sale?
“A great nation deserves better,” Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, said yesterday as the House debated the $124 billion spending measure. He's absolutely right. In 2004, a unanimous House ethics committee voted to rebuke then-Majority Leader DeLay for his tactics in attempting to persuade Rep. Nick Smith, R-Mich., to support a 2003 bill adding prescription-drug benefits to Medicare. DeLay's offense, according to the official panel report: “DeLay offered to endorse Rep. Smith's son [to replace him after he retired] in exchange for Rep. Smith's vote in favor of the Medicare bill.”
If that merits a formal rebuke, trying to use $24 billion in taxpayer money to sway a vote on war policy deserves a prison term.
A final House vote on the bill is likely today. If Pelosi gets her way, it will be national disgrace. Her tactics could not be less honest, less open or less ethical.
Well, as we all know- Pelosi got her way and it is a national disgrace!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Bribing votes
In a few short hours we will find out whether or not Nancy Pelosi was able to bribe enough votes to set a time line for withdrawing troops from Iraq.
Since Pelosi cannot get the votes legitimately- they loaded the bill with pork projects to bribe congressman.
We will see if it will work.
It certainly does not matter either way. The bill will not make it thru the Senate very easily.
If even it makes it thru- the President will veto.
Since Pelosi cannot get the votes legitimately- they loaded the bill with pork projects to bribe congressman.
We will see if it will work.
It certainly does not matter either way. The bill will not make it thru the Senate very easily.
If even it makes it thru- the President will veto.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Prayers up for Elizabeth Edwards
I will be quite honest- I do not like John Edward's politics.
However, politics is one thing- cancer is another thing all together.
Wow- prayers for the entire Edwards family. Cancer is frightening and they both seem to be handling this with a positive attitude.
God bless the Edwards family as they challenge this disease head on.
However, politics is one thing- cancer is another thing all together.
Wow- prayers for the entire Edwards family. Cancer is frightening and they both seem to be handling this with a positive attitude.
God bless the Edwards family as they challenge this disease head on.
Insurgents and Democrats are on the same page
Now this is interesting-
Insurgents and Democrats are on the same page
From USA Today-
Speaking to The Associated Press in a telephone interview Thursday, al-Muttalibi said the negotiations were deadlocked over the insurgent groups' insistence that they would lay down their arms only when a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition troops in Iraq is announced.
From Yahoo-
In the Senate, the Appropriations Committee bill would require troops to start coming home in four months. Unlike the House bill, which sets a firm deadline for combat operations to cease, the $122 billion Senate bill identifies a nonbinding goal of getting troops out by March 31, 2008
The Democrats must feel awful proud that they are calling for the same timetable that the terrorists are calling for.
The terrorists want America out of Iraq, so do the Democrats
Insurgents and Democrats are on the same page
From USA Today-
Speaking to The Associated Press in a telephone interview Thursday, al-Muttalibi said the negotiations were deadlocked over the insurgent groups' insistence that they would lay down their arms only when a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition troops in Iraq is announced.
From Yahoo-
In the Senate, the Appropriations Committee bill would require troops to start coming home in four months. Unlike the House bill, which sets a firm deadline for combat operations to cease, the $122 billion Senate bill identifies a nonbinding goal of getting troops out by March 31, 2008
The Democrats must feel awful proud that they are calling for the same timetable that the terrorists are calling for.
The terrorists want America out of Iraq, so do the Democrats
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
How convenient
How convenient-
Calendar entries for state Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi and his top assistant have been erased, making it impossible to know where they were for their first two years in office.
The Journal Sentinel recently requested Busalacchi's calendar going back to January 2003, but the Department of Transportation said his calendars for 2003 and 2004 were accidentally destroyed because of a problem with a computer server. Deputy Secretary Ruben Anthony Jr.'s calendars also are missing for those years.
Busalacchi has said he never talked to now-indicted Kenosha businessman Dennis Troha about tax troubles faced by companies Troha owned at the time. Busalacchi was to meet with Troha on the issue in April 2004, but Busalacchi said Troha - a major contributor to Gov. Jim Doyle - did not show up for the meeting.
The Journal Sentinel asked for Busalacchi's schedule to see how involved he was in the tax cases affecting Troha's firms. But the Department of Transportation said this week that it did not have the calendars for 2003 and 2004.
continued...
A cynical person might actually start to think that the DOT was trying to cover something up.
Calendar entries for state Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi and his top assistant have been erased, making it impossible to know where they were for their first two years in office.
The Journal Sentinel recently requested Busalacchi's calendar going back to January 2003, but the Department of Transportation said his calendars for 2003 and 2004 were accidentally destroyed because of a problem with a computer server. Deputy Secretary Ruben Anthony Jr.'s calendars also are missing for those years.
Busalacchi has said he never talked to now-indicted Kenosha businessman Dennis Troha about tax troubles faced by companies Troha owned at the time. Busalacchi was to meet with Troha on the issue in April 2004, but Busalacchi said Troha - a major contributor to Gov. Jim Doyle - did not show up for the meeting.
The Journal Sentinel asked for Busalacchi's schedule to see how involved he was in the tax cases affecting Troha's firms. But the Department of Transportation said this week that it did not have the calendars for 2003 and 2004.
continued...
A cynical person might actually start to think that the DOT was trying to cover something up.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Why the shock?
After reading today's article on Dennis Troha, I don't understand why so many people are shocked about the Troha indictment.
"I just was really surprised and shocked," Kenosha Ald. Kenneth Polzin Jr., a casino opponent, said of the formal accusations earlier this month that Troha engineered illegal contributions to Doyle and lied about it to the FBI. " . . . It's totally out of character, out of his public persona."
It is a well know fact in Kenosha, if you opposed the casino, you met with trouble. You were up against big money and you did not stand a chance.
Still- 44% of Kenosha voted against the casino in 2004.
Not everyone wanted a casino or the corruption it would bring.
"I just was really surprised and shocked," Kenosha Ald. Kenneth Polzin Jr., a casino opponent, said of the formal accusations earlier this month that Troha engineered illegal contributions to Doyle and lied about it to the FBI. " . . . It's totally out of character, out of his public persona."
It is a well know fact in Kenosha, if you opposed the casino, you met with trouble. You were up against big money and you did not stand a chance.
Still- 44% of Kenosha voted against the casino in 2004.
Not everyone wanted a casino or the corruption it would bring.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Mark Green did NOT break the law!
Boy, this is infuriating. Several months after the fact, the State Elections Board now admits they gave Mark Green bad advice.
Mark Green DID not break the law!
WisPolitics: Green, SEB Reach Deal on Money Dispute
3/16/2007
By WisPolitics Staff
Mark Green and the state Elections Board reached an agreement today that stipulates the Republican was following precedence and advice he received from board staff when he converted money from his congressional account to his gubernatorial fund.
But the deal also states the board was following its interpretation of the law when it ordered the Republican to dump some $468,000 money from out-of-state PACs that was included in the conversion.
The deal also puts limits on how Green can use the money. The agreement also calls for the end of the lawsuit Green filed over the board's action. That case is pending before the state Supreme Court.
Mark Green DID not break the law!
WisPolitics: Green, SEB Reach Deal on Money Dispute
3/16/2007
By WisPolitics Staff
Mark Green and the state Elections Board reached an agreement today that stipulates the Republican was following precedence and advice he received from board staff when he converted money from his congressional account to his gubernatorial fund.
But the deal also states the board was following its interpretation of the law when it ordered the Republican to dump some $468,000 money from out-of-state PACs that was included in the conversion.
The deal also puts limits on how Green can use the money. The agreement also calls for the end of the lawsuit Green filed over the board's action. That case is pending before the state Supreme Court.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
I am surprised
After all the trash talk for weeks about the Democrats forcing the President to pull troops out of Iraq- the Senate Democrats could not even muster a simple majority.
In the Senate, after weeks of skirmishing, Republicans easily turned back Democratic legislation requiring a troop withdrawal to begin within 120 days. The measure set no fixed deadline for completion of the redeployment, but set a goal of March 31, 2008. The vote was 50-48 against the measure, 12 short of the 60 needed for passage.
In order for the bill to pass- they would have needed a super majority.
In the Senate, after weeks of skirmishing, Republicans easily turned back Democratic legislation requiring a troop withdrawal to begin within 120 days. The measure set no fixed deadline for completion of the redeployment, but set a goal of March 31, 2008. The vote was 50-48 against the measure, 12 short of the 60 needed for passage.
In order for the bill to pass- they would have needed a super majority.
9/11 mastermind confesses
The suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11 hijackings confessed at a military hearing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, that he organized those attacks plus many more, according to a transcript released Wednesday by the Pentagon.
"I am responsible for the 9/11 operation from A to Z," Khalid Sheikh Mohammed told military investigators, the transcript says.
continued...
Perhaps someone should tell Kevin Barrett and his friends that Vice President Dick Cheney was not behind the attacks on 9/11.
"I am responsible for the 9/11 operation from A to Z," Khalid Sheikh Mohammed told military investigators, the transcript says.
continued...
Perhaps someone should tell Kevin Barrett and his friends that Vice President Dick Cheney was not behind the attacks on 9/11.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Does this makes sense to you?
Okay- this is rich.
Let me see if I have this straight.
According to the Democrats, President George Bush is not allowed to fire US Attorneys that President Bush, himself, hired. In fact, they are holding hearings up on the hill for this right now.
However- currently the Democrats are putting political pressure on President Bush to fire the country’s head attorney.
Basically President Bush is in trouble for firing people for political reasons, but the Democrats are demanding that President Bush fire the Attorney General for political reasons????
Now that does not make sense to me at all.
Let me see if I have this straight.
According to the Democrats, President George Bush is not allowed to fire US Attorneys that President Bush, himself, hired. In fact, they are holding hearings up on the hill for this right now.
However- currently the Democrats are putting political pressure on President Bush to fire the country’s head attorney.
Basically President Bush is in trouble for firing people for political reasons, but the Democrats are demanding that President Bush fire the Attorney General for political reasons????
Now that does not make sense to me at all.
More hypocrisy from the Clinton's
Really- should Hillary Clinton be talking about firings for political reasons?
"I'm deeply disturbed by what we have learned thus far," Clinton said, "and I join those who are calling for a full and thorough investigation to try to get to the bottom of these very political decisions that interfere with prosecutorial responsibility by U.S. attorneys, and I think that the attorney general should resign."
This statement from Clinton is almost laughable.
Remember Travelgate?
"I'm deeply disturbed by what we have learned thus far," Clinton said, "and I join those who are calling for a full and thorough investigation to try to get to the bottom of these very political decisions that interfere with prosecutorial responsibility by U.S. attorneys, and I think that the attorney general should resign."
This statement from Clinton is almost laughable.
Remember Travelgate?
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Dems are backing off
In the battle between President Bush and the new Democrat leaders in Washington, the new Democrats are being forced to back down.
Democratic leaders are stripping from a military spending bill for the war in Iraq a requirement that President Bush gain approval from Congress before moving against Iran.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other leaders agreed to remove the requirement concerning Iran after conservative Democrats as well as other lawmakers worried about its possible impact on Israel, officials said Monday.
The Democrats are backing down. Perhaps cooler heads are beginning to prevail on the Democrats side of the aisle.
Less than two months ago- Reid and Pelosi were declaring that Bush has "no authority" to launch any military options against Iran.
As you can see, the Dems had to rethink this strategy because their are others in their own caucus that are not supporting this.
Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said in an interview that there is widespread fear in Israel about Iran, which is believed to be seeking nuclear weapons and has expressed unremitting hostility about the Jewish state.
"It would take away perhaps the most important negotiating tool that the U.S. has when it comes to Iran," she said of the now-abandoned provision.
"I didn't think it was a very wise idea to take things off the table if you're trying to get people to modify their behavior and normalize it in a civilized way," said Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y.
Several officials said there was widespread opposition to the proposal at a closed-door meeting last week of conservative and moderate Democrats, who said they feared tying the hands of the administration when dealing with an unpredictable and potentially hostile regime in Tehran.
Next on the Democrats chopping block?
It appears that the Democrats may also have to back down from their own time line they created for withdrawing troops from Iraq.
Even as the media is touting the additional provision for withdrawing troops in Iraq, we now see that this may be in danger of being removed also-
The overall bill — which requires that the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by Sept. 1, 2008, if not earlier — remained on schedule for an initial test vote Thursday in the House Appropriations Committee.
There appears to be some Democratic opposition to this plan-
"This supplemental should be about supporting the troops and providing what they need," Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla., said Monday upon returning from Iraq. Boren said he plans to oppose any legislation setting a clear deadline for troops to leave.
Let's hope that calmer, cooler and brighter minds prevail in the Democratic caucus.
As it is, all we have heard from the Democrats is constant shrieking about Iraq since they have taken over.
The MoveOn.org people have such a strangle hold on the Democrats, that the Democrats are now beginning to look foolish.
Democratic leaders are stripping from a military spending bill for the war in Iraq a requirement that President Bush gain approval from Congress before moving against Iran.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other leaders agreed to remove the requirement concerning Iran after conservative Democrats as well as other lawmakers worried about its possible impact on Israel, officials said Monday.
The Democrats are backing down. Perhaps cooler heads are beginning to prevail on the Democrats side of the aisle.
Less than two months ago- Reid and Pelosi were declaring that Bush has "no authority" to launch any military options against Iran.
As you can see, the Dems had to rethink this strategy because their are others in their own caucus that are not supporting this.
Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said in an interview that there is widespread fear in Israel about Iran, which is believed to be seeking nuclear weapons and has expressed unremitting hostility about the Jewish state.
"It would take away perhaps the most important negotiating tool that the U.S. has when it comes to Iran," she said of the now-abandoned provision.
"I didn't think it was a very wise idea to take things off the table if you're trying to get people to modify their behavior and normalize it in a civilized way," said Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y.
Several officials said there was widespread opposition to the proposal at a closed-door meeting last week of conservative and moderate Democrats, who said they feared tying the hands of the administration when dealing with an unpredictable and potentially hostile regime in Tehran.
Next on the Democrats chopping block?
It appears that the Democrats may also have to back down from their own time line they created for withdrawing troops from Iraq.
Even as the media is touting the additional provision for withdrawing troops in Iraq, we now see that this may be in danger of being removed also-
The overall bill — which requires that the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by Sept. 1, 2008, if not earlier — remained on schedule for an initial test vote Thursday in the House Appropriations Committee.
There appears to be some Democratic opposition to this plan-
"This supplemental should be about supporting the troops and providing what they need," Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla., said Monday upon returning from Iraq. Boren said he plans to oppose any legislation setting a clear deadline for troops to leave.
Let's hope that calmer, cooler and brighter minds prevail in the Democratic caucus.
As it is, all we have heard from the Democrats is constant shrieking about Iraq since they have taken over.
The MoveOn.org people have such a strangle hold on the Democrats, that the Democrats are now beginning to look foolish.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Are we just being meanies?
Apparently, according to the Democrats(some Republicans) and the ACLU, we are just being meanies.
There are currently, some bills floating around Congress that will lower the punishment for drug dealers and drug users of crack cocaine.
Momentum is building in Congress to ease crack cocaine sentencing guidelines, which the American Civil Liberties Union and other critics say have filled prisons with low-level drug dealers and addicts whose punishments were much worse than their crimes.
Federal prison sentences for possessing or selling crack have far exceeded those for powder cocaine for two decades. House Crime Subcommittee chairman Robert Scott, D-Va., a longtime critic of such sentencing policies, plans to hold hearings on crack sentences this year. In the Senate, Republican Jeff Sessions of Alabama is drawing bipartisan support for his proposal to ease crack sentences.
cont...
Here is another news flash- Crack Cocaine still kills
Now Congress and the ACLU want to make life easier on crack cocaine dealers that are selling their crack on America's streets.
Here are some statitics that Congress may want to mull on before making life easier on drug dealers.
In 2004, 34.2 million Americans aged 12 and over reported lifetime use of cocaine, and 7.8 million reported using crack. About 5.6 million reported annual use of cocaine, and 1.3 million reported using crack. An estimated 2 million Americans reported current use of cocaine, 467,000 of whom reported using crack. There were an estimated 1 million new users of cocaine in 2004 (approximately 2,700 per day), and most were aged 18 or older although the average age of first use was 20.0 years.
I guess the war on drugs is officially over for the US Congress. Apparently that war is also too hard to fight.
There are currently, some bills floating around Congress that will lower the punishment for drug dealers and drug users of crack cocaine.
Momentum is building in Congress to ease crack cocaine sentencing guidelines, which the American Civil Liberties Union and other critics say have filled prisons with low-level drug dealers and addicts whose punishments were much worse than their crimes.
Federal prison sentences for possessing or selling crack have far exceeded those for powder cocaine for two decades. House Crime Subcommittee chairman Robert Scott, D-Va., a longtime critic of such sentencing policies, plans to hold hearings on crack sentences this year. In the Senate, Republican Jeff Sessions of Alabama is drawing bipartisan support for his proposal to ease crack sentences.
cont...
Here is another news flash- Crack Cocaine still kills
Now Congress and the ACLU want to make life easier on crack cocaine dealers that are selling their crack on America's streets.
Here are some statitics that Congress may want to mull on before making life easier on drug dealers.
In 2004, 34.2 million Americans aged 12 and over reported lifetime use of cocaine, and 7.8 million reported using crack. About 5.6 million reported annual use of cocaine, and 1.3 million reported using crack. An estimated 2 million Americans reported current use of cocaine, 467,000 of whom reported using crack. There were an estimated 1 million new users of cocaine in 2004 (approximately 2,700 per day), and most were aged 18 or older although the average age of first use was 20.0 years.
I guess the war on drugs is officially over for the US Congress. Apparently that war is also too hard to fight.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Troha-Jambois Connection
There was an article in yesterday's Kenosha News written by Joe Potente. The article was choked full of well researched details about the Troha and Jambois connections.
Since I cannot link to it- I have posted the entire article.
DOT-Troha ties under microscope
Agency connections to case continue to generate debate
BY JOE POTENTE
Top Wisconsin Department of Transportation attorney Robert Jambois on Friday deflected criticism of his own connections to indicted Kenosha businessman Dennis Troha.
Jambois also continued to defend the DOT’s actions in motor fuel tax disputes involving trucking companies once controlled by Troha, a top fi - nancial contributor to Gov. Jim Doyle who was indicted last week for facilitating allegedly illegal donations to the governor.
According to campaign fi - nance reports reviewed by the News, Troha was also a major contributor to Jambois’ unsuccessful 2005 bid for a Kenosha County Circuit Court judgeship. The records indicate Troha, family members and business associates donated more than 30 percent of what Jambois raised during the entire campaign at a Jan. 24, 2005 fund-raiser Troha hosted at his Kenosha office.
The fund-raiser generated $2,500 for Jambois from Troha family members alone, each of whom donated $250. Troha company employees contributed another $1,700, while Dairyland Greyhound Park and Menominee Nation offi cials contributed $1,150. Until he withdrew from it last month, Troha was the local developer in the tribe’s effort to build an $808 million casino at Dairyland.
The total of $5,350 raised from Troha family members, business associates and casino interests was about 32 percent of Jambois’ fi nal fund-raising tally of $16,738. The limit for in- dividual donations in a circuit court judge’s race is $1,000.
Troha and Jambois are also linked by Jambois’ wife, Bev, who was paid nearly $1,700 per week to run Troha’s pro-Kenosha-casino referendum campaign from late August 2004 at least through the November election.
The fuel tax controversy erupted earlier this week in the wake of Troha’s indictment. Troha is charged with fraud and lying to the FBI in connection to an alleged scheme in which he used a business entity to illegally funnel cash to family members who in turn donated the money to Doyle and, perhaps, other politicians. Troha’s attorney has said he believes Troha will be found innocent.
At issue now is whether the DOT acted out of the ordinary in using a staff attorney to help negotiate Interstate Fuel Tax Agreement settlements between trucking fi rms Troha formerly owned and fi ve other states. At one point, Troha was said to owe a total of roughly $1 million to the states of Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.
While Jambois steadfastly maintains that the department acted appropriately, critics say the state’s involvement is unusual and suggest that state officials might have been influenced by Troha’s contributions to the governor and relationship with Jambois and his wife.
A leading legislative Republican said Friday that the fundraising link and other connections undermine Jambois’ credibility as a spokesman for the DOT and its secretary, Frank Busalacchi, who have come under fire in recent days for their handling of the Troha company-related tax cases.
“It’s almost comical at this point that this would be the guy that you would put out in front of the media, with so many direct ties, political ties, to the Troha family,” said state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau.
But Jambois said he does not believe his history with Troha compromises his position and contends he has no current or past conflicts of interest with Troha.
A former longtime Kenosha County district attorney, Jambois lost the April 2005 judge’s race to Anthony Milisauskas and was named general counsel of the DOT in August 2005.
Jambois noted that when his judicial campaign received the Troha family donations in January 2005, Troha had no cases pending before the Kenosha County Circuit Court.
When he joined the DOT later that year, Jambois said, he was not informed of Troha’s tax cases. By July 2006, Troha had pulled entirely out of the trucking business and Jambois said he remained unaware of the tax cases until last week when the news media began looking into the issue as an offshoot of Troha’s federal indictment. The FBI has since questioned DOT offi cials about the situation.
“I now would have no confl ict of interest, if in fact I was involved in these cases,” Jambois said, adding that he has only been responsible for reviewing how other DOT staff members handled the cases.
Jambois also downplayed his wife’s work for Troha’s 2004 referendum group, JOBS for Kenosha. Jambois said Troha approached Bev Jambois to lead that group because she was a renowned community organizer, known for her successful advocacy for Kenosha’s smoke-free dining ordinance.
“She agreed to do that because she supported the idea of a casino for Kenosha, and so did I,” Jambois said.
But Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, said Jambois’ connections to Troha further exemplify the close ties Doyle administration offi cials have to the Troha family and its associates.
“These are very obvious conflicts of interest,” McCabe said. “And this administration is showing itself to be absolutely insensitive to conflicts of interest.”
Meanwhile, at a late-morning news conference in Madison Friday, Jambois asserted that no one from Doyle’s offi ce contacted the DOT seeking special favors for Troha.
A spokesman for another state that negotiated a tax settlement with Troha’s former firms told the News on Friday that Wisconsin’s involvement in the talks was not unusual because Wisconsin is the collection agent in the case. But Tom Jacobs of the Nevada Department of Transportation added Nevada officials were surprised Wisconsin acted more like an advocate for the trucking company than Nevada would have had it been involved in a similar case involving a Nevadabased fi rm.
“That was unusual,” Jacobs said. “All we can do is speak for Nevada, and we thought it was unusual.”
Jambois disagrees. He said all Wisconsin did was put the affected states and the trucking companies in the same room. He said the state’s responsibility is to make sure all sides are treated fairly.
“We’re not here to resolve this for the trucking company,” Jambois said. “We’re here to collect, to receive delinquent taxes. That’s what we’re here to do.”
— Kenosha News reporter Deneen Smith contributed to this report.
Also is Saturday's Kenosha News was a timeline connecting all of the dots between Troha and Jambois.
I am working on adding to the Kenosha New's timeline including the campaign donations given to Governor Jim Doyle.
I will post it later this week.
Since I cannot link to it- I have posted the entire article.
DOT-Troha ties under microscope
Agency connections to case continue to generate debate
BY JOE POTENTE
Top Wisconsin Department of Transportation attorney Robert Jambois on Friday deflected criticism of his own connections to indicted Kenosha businessman Dennis Troha.
Jambois also continued to defend the DOT’s actions in motor fuel tax disputes involving trucking companies once controlled by Troha, a top fi - nancial contributor to Gov. Jim Doyle who was indicted last week for facilitating allegedly illegal donations to the governor.
According to campaign fi - nance reports reviewed by the News, Troha was also a major contributor to Jambois’ unsuccessful 2005 bid for a Kenosha County Circuit Court judgeship. The records indicate Troha, family members and business associates donated more than 30 percent of what Jambois raised during the entire campaign at a Jan. 24, 2005 fund-raiser Troha hosted at his Kenosha office.
The fund-raiser generated $2,500 for Jambois from Troha family members alone, each of whom donated $250. Troha company employees contributed another $1,700, while Dairyland Greyhound Park and Menominee Nation offi cials contributed $1,150. Until he withdrew from it last month, Troha was the local developer in the tribe’s effort to build an $808 million casino at Dairyland.
The total of $5,350 raised from Troha family members, business associates and casino interests was about 32 percent of Jambois’ fi nal fund-raising tally of $16,738. The limit for in- dividual donations in a circuit court judge’s race is $1,000.
Troha and Jambois are also linked by Jambois’ wife, Bev, who was paid nearly $1,700 per week to run Troha’s pro-Kenosha-casino referendum campaign from late August 2004 at least through the November election.
The fuel tax controversy erupted earlier this week in the wake of Troha’s indictment. Troha is charged with fraud and lying to the FBI in connection to an alleged scheme in which he used a business entity to illegally funnel cash to family members who in turn donated the money to Doyle and, perhaps, other politicians. Troha’s attorney has said he believes Troha will be found innocent.
At issue now is whether the DOT acted out of the ordinary in using a staff attorney to help negotiate Interstate Fuel Tax Agreement settlements between trucking fi rms Troha formerly owned and fi ve other states. At one point, Troha was said to owe a total of roughly $1 million to the states of Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.
While Jambois steadfastly maintains that the department acted appropriately, critics say the state’s involvement is unusual and suggest that state officials might have been influenced by Troha’s contributions to the governor and relationship with Jambois and his wife.
A leading legislative Republican said Friday that the fundraising link and other connections undermine Jambois’ credibility as a spokesman for the DOT and its secretary, Frank Busalacchi, who have come under fire in recent days for their handling of the Troha company-related tax cases.
“It’s almost comical at this point that this would be the guy that you would put out in front of the media, with so many direct ties, political ties, to the Troha family,” said state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau.
But Jambois said he does not believe his history with Troha compromises his position and contends he has no current or past conflicts of interest with Troha.
A former longtime Kenosha County district attorney, Jambois lost the April 2005 judge’s race to Anthony Milisauskas and was named general counsel of the DOT in August 2005.
Jambois noted that when his judicial campaign received the Troha family donations in January 2005, Troha had no cases pending before the Kenosha County Circuit Court.
When he joined the DOT later that year, Jambois said, he was not informed of Troha’s tax cases. By July 2006, Troha had pulled entirely out of the trucking business and Jambois said he remained unaware of the tax cases until last week when the news media began looking into the issue as an offshoot of Troha’s federal indictment. The FBI has since questioned DOT offi cials about the situation.
“I now would have no confl ict of interest, if in fact I was involved in these cases,” Jambois said, adding that he has only been responsible for reviewing how other DOT staff members handled the cases.
Jambois also downplayed his wife’s work for Troha’s 2004 referendum group, JOBS for Kenosha. Jambois said Troha approached Bev Jambois to lead that group because she was a renowned community organizer, known for her successful advocacy for Kenosha’s smoke-free dining ordinance.
“She agreed to do that because she supported the idea of a casino for Kenosha, and so did I,” Jambois said.
But Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, said Jambois’ connections to Troha further exemplify the close ties Doyle administration offi cials have to the Troha family and its associates.
“These are very obvious conflicts of interest,” McCabe said. “And this administration is showing itself to be absolutely insensitive to conflicts of interest.”
Meanwhile, at a late-morning news conference in Madison Friday, Jambois asserted that no one from Doyle’s offi ce contacted the DOT seeking special favors for Troha.
A spokesman for another state that negotiated a tax settlement with Troha’s former firms told the News on Friday that Wisconsin’s involvement in the talks was not unusual because Wisconsin is the collection agent in the case. But Tom Jacobs of the Nevada Department of Transportation added Nevada officials were surprised Wisconsin acted more like an advocate for the trucking company than Nevada would have had it been involved in a similar case involving a Nevadabased fi rm.
“That was unusual,” Jacobs said. “All we can do is speak for Nevada, and we thought it was unusual.”
Jambois disagrees. He said all Wisconsin did was put the affected states and the trucking companies in the same room. He said the state’s responsibility is to make sure all sides are treated fairly.
“We’re not here to resolve this for the trucking company,” Jambois said. “We’re here to collect, to receive delinquent taxes. That’s what we’re here to do.”
— Kenosha News reporter Deneen Smith contributed to this report.
Also is Saturday's Kenosha News was a timeline connecting all of the dots between Troha and Jambois.
I am working on adding to the Kenosha New's timeline including the campaign donations given to Governor Jim Doyle.
I will post it later this week.
Lenny Palmer's Blog
My fellow Kenoshans- if you have not already heard, local talk show host Lenny Palmer now has a blog.
It's called "A Citizen's Voice". Check it out.
It's called "A Citizen's Voice". Check it out.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
$630 is the average amount of tax and fee increases that Governor Doyle and the Democrats are proposing, for each and every taxpayer in the state of Wisconsin. Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
This got me to thinking about the affect on a average family of four with two working parents. Since there are two taxpaying citizens in most average families, the total cost per year now doubles to $1260 per year.
Here is a list of reastic items that a family of 4 spends $1260 a year on.
$1260= 2880 glasses (16 oz.) of milk
$1260= 540 gallons of gas (today’s price of $2.50 per gallon)
540 gallons of gas = 15120 miles (30mpg)
$1260= about 3 months worth of family medical insurance payments
$1260= 1482 loaves of wheat bread (.85ea)
$1260= 560 jars of peanut butter
$1260= 42 pairs of shoes ($30 per pair)
$1260= 84 Packer T-shirts ($15 per shirt)
$1260= about 4 vacation days for a family @ Wisconsin Dells
etc...
The average family of 4 will have to decide what they plan on sacrificing in order to cover for the Democrat's tax and fee increases.
Crossposted @ Badger Blog Alliance
This got me to thinking about the affect on a average family of four with two working parents. Since there are two taxpaying citizens in most average families, the total cost per year now doubles to $1260 per year.
Here is a list of reastic items that a family of 4 spends $1260 a year on.
$1260= 2880 glasses (16 oz.) of milk
$1260= 540 gallons of gas (today’s price of $2.50 per gallon)
540 gallons of gas = 15120 miles (30mpg)
$1260= about 3 months worth of family medical insurance payments
$1260= 1482 loaves of wheat bread (.85ea)
$1260= 560 jars of peanut butter
$1260= 42 pairs of shoes ($30 per pair)
$1260= 84 Packer T-shirts ($15 per shirt)
$1260= about 4 vacation days for a family @ Wisconsin Dells
etc...
The average family of 4 will have to decide what they plan on sacrificing in order to cover for the Democrat's tax and fee increases.
Crossposted @ Badger Blog Alliance
Friday, March 09, 2007
Congressman Obey flips out
Congressman Obey caught on tape- flipping out against his own party base, calling them liberal idiots.
http://video.msn.com/v/us/fv/fv.htm??g=2836532c-d0d1-4d8a-91d5-fff6e61a51d7&f=06/
http://video.msn.com/v/us/fv/fv.htm??g=2836532c-d0d1-4d8a-91d5-fff6e61a51d7&f=06/
Governor Doyle- we just don't believe you anymore
Whom do they think they are trying to fool?
Between Jim Doyle, the AP reporters, whom do they think they are trying to fool?
How gullible does Governor Doyle think the people of Wisconsin are?
Apparently, there are still some gullible enough to give him a second term as Governor. That is a different story all together.
On the front pages of yesterday’s Kenosha News, an Associated Press story triumphantly announced:
Gov. Jim Doyle said Wednesday that donations to his campaign from indicted businessman Dennis Troha “absolutely” did not come with expectations that Doyle would look favorably upon Troha’s bid to build a casino in Kenosha.
Well, now that is a relief. Everybody can rest easy now that the Associated Press is on the case.
We certainly would not want to believe that Jim Doyle might be involved.
…Yes, I am being sarcastic.
The reality is that it does not matter what Governor Doyle says about this.
People are a lot smarter than Governor Doyle thinks they are.
Does the governor really believe that he is fooling people with these lines?
Quite honestly, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative- not a single person that I have spoken to is buying the lines that Governor Jim Doyle is selling.
Now- just to add a little gasoline to this fire, it appears that the Department of Transportation was involved in a private matter between Dennis Troha and several states whom Troha owed some fuel taxes too.
Now there is another FBI investigation into the actions of the DOT, Governor Doyle and Dennis Troha.
Also thrown into the mix is Robert Jambois, current chief council for DOT, former District Attorney in Kenosha and strong supporter of the Kenosha casino project.
On the front pages of today’s Kenosha News- Robert Jambois is defending the actions of the DOT lawyers, who were working on behalf of Dennis Troha.
Today’s Kenosha News headline states: DOT “Nothing” to Troha case
Still, even down here in Kenosha, where many folks are still pining for a casino, no one is buying the Governor’s latest defense.
Frankly, the statements made by Governor Jim Doyle and DOT Attorney Robert Jambois are just not believable.
In today’s Kenosha News- Robert Jambois has the nerve to try and shove the following types of statements down our throats:
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s top attorney defended his agency’s actions Thursday, stating there was nothing special or unusual about the way it has handled an interstate tax dispute involving indicted Kenosha businessman Dennis Troha.
Robert Jambois, the DOT’s general counsel, said the department was serving its dual responsibilities when it sent a state-paid attorney to help negotiate a settlement in a case in which trucking fi rms then owned by Troha owed motor fuel tax debts.
“This whole story is much ado about absolutely nothing,” said Jambois, a former longtime Kenosha County district attorney who was active in Doyle’s 2002 campaign and was named general counsel of the DOT in 2005.
These types of statements are not believable.
Even worse, these types of statements are insulting to our intelligence!
There have been too many coincidences to believe this stuff any longer.
There is too much money at stake to believe this stuff any longer.
There is too much power at stake to believe this stuff any more.
Enough is enough!
To Governor Doyle, Robert Jambois and Dennis Troha- we want the truth and we want it now.
Between Jim Doyle, the AP reporters, whom do they think they are trying to fool?
How gullible does Governor Doyle think the people of Wisconsin are?
Apparently, there are still some gullible enough to give him a second term as Governor. That is a different story all together.
On the front pages of yesterday’s Kenosha News, an Associated Press story triumphantly announced:
Gov. Jim Doyle said Wednesday that donations to his campaign from indicted businessman Dennis Troha “absolutely” did not come with expectations that Doyle would look favorably upon Troha’s bid to build a casino in Kenosha.
Well, now that is a relief. Everybody can rest easy now that the Associated Press is on the case.
We certainly would not want to believe that Jim Doyle might be involved.
…Yes, I am being sarcastic.
The reality is that it does not matter what Governor Doyle says about this.
People are a lot smarter than Governor Doyle thinks they are.
Does the governor really believe that he is fooling people with these lines?
Quite honestly, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative- not a single person that I have spoken to is buying the lines that Governor Jim Doyle is selling.
Now- just to add a little gasoline to this fire, it appears that the Department of Transportation was involved in a private matter between Dennis Troha and several states whom Troha owed some fuel taxes too.
Now there is another FBI investigation into the actions of the DOT, Governor Doyle and Dennis Troha.
Also thrown into the mix is Robert Jambois, current chief council for DOT, former District Attorney in Kenosha and strong supporter of the Kenosha casino project.
On the front pages of today’s Kenosha News- Robert Jambois is defending the actions of the DOT lawyers, who were working on behalf of Dennis Troha.
Today’s Kenosha News headline states: DOT “Nothing” to Troha case
Still, even down here in Kenosha, where many folks are still pining for a casino, no one is buying the Governor’s latest defense.
Frankly, the statements made by Governor Jim Doyle and DOT Attorney Robert Jambois are just not believable.
In today’s Kenosha News- Robert Jambois has the nerve to try and shove the following types of statements down our throats:
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s top attorney defended his agency’s actions Thursday, stating there was nothing special or unusual about the way it has handled an interstate tax dispute involving indicted Kenosha businessman Dennis Troha.
Robert Jambois, the DOT’s general counsel, said the department was serving its dual responsibilities when it sent a state-paid attorney to help negotiate a settlement in a case in which trucking fi rms then owned by Troha owed motor fuel tax debts.
“This whole story is much ado about absolutely nothing,” said Jambois, a former longtime Kenosha County district attorney who was active in Doyle’s 2002 campaign and was named general counsel of the DOT in 2005.
These types of statements are not believable.
Even worse, these types of statements are insulting to our intelligence!
There have been too many coincidences to believe this stuff any longer.
There is too much money at stake to believe this stuff any longer.
There is too much power at stake to believe this stuff any more.
Enough is enough!
To Governor Doyle, Robert Jambois and Dennis Troha- we want the truth and we want it now.
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