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Great Blogs,
housekeeping
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Hillary Clinton,
Moonbat Adventures
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Heroes,
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So Al Franken makes a "mistake," and shouldn't be held accountable for the same "mistakes" for which others have done jail time. I suppose that Mr. Franken is no doubt a devotee to the late Leona Helmsley, who made famous the saying, "Only little people pay taxes."Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken, front-runner in the race to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, said on Tuesday that he has paid $70,000 in back taxes and penalties owed in 17 states going back to 2003.
Franken, who delivers speeches across the country and still receives residuals from television shows, movies and books, blamed his accountant of 18 years for what he said was a mistake.
The accountant, Allen Chanzis of New York, "just made a basic kind of error that had a lot of ramifications," Franken said.
Flaming liberal senate wanabees get a pass.
Labels:
Al Franken,
limousine liberals
Lori Peterson finally came clean today, and is trying to make things right:COLD SPRING, Minn. — Police and the Better Business Bureau are investigating the closure of a bridal shop in Cold Spring after several brides-to-be said they'd been stiffed.
A sign on the door of Lori's Bridal & Formal Wear says, "This business has closed due to the economy."
An Associated Press call to a home phone number listed for owner Lori Parsons went unanswered Tuesday. A phone number listed on the shop's door says brides can leave contact information, but the number has a full mailbox.Angela Doty says she's angry and frustrated by the closing. Doty is set to be married May 10, and she's missing a pair of shoes that the shop was supposed to dye ivory.
Police in Cold Spring say the office was "bombarded" with calls on Monday.
The woman who owns a bridal shop in Minnesota that closed recently said she's sorry and never meant to hurt anyone.If I had dozens of brides angry with me, I'd probably move to another state, too...
Lori Parsons talked with WCCO-TV over the phone late Tuesday afternoon from another state. She explained the whole situation and what led up to her making the difficult decision to close her shop, Lori's Bridal and Formal Wear in Cold Spring, Minn.
"I could not win," said Parsons. "And I knew that many people got hurt, but there was no way out of it."
She said she's going through a bitter divorce right now. Her ex-husband, she said, hasn't been paying the mortgage on their home, so it's now in foreclosure.
Parson said her business has been going through tough economic times too. And because of the foreclosure on her home and divorce, she said, she can't refinance her business loan.
Last Friday morning, Parson saw an attorney who immediately told her to lock up her business after 17 years.
"And I didn't want to hurt anybody," said Parsons. "This has been the most painful thing that anybody could ever experience. This was the most painful decision of my entire life."
She's now working with one of her former employees and Phil Jones, the Cold Spring Police Chief, to get 37 wedding dresses to brides-to-be.
"I've gotten a crash-course in wedding 101," said Jones. He and his staff have gotten 150 phone calls from women wanting their dresses.
"Occasionally, we're been able to tell someone we do have their dress. And in a split-second, it's all worth it," said Jones. "They're happy."
Labels:
weird stuff
(click on pic for full size)Thank God for Steve Gottwalt for blocking what could have been yet another liberal "good intentioned" paving stone on society's road to hell. Whether it's global cooling, global warming, bio-fuels, government-run health care, or any other trendy cause du jour in which the cure is inevitably exponentially worse than that the ill, one can be certain to find a "good-intentioned" liberal chicken-little nannystater at the bottom of it all.
ST. PAUL — Parental control and child safety concerns clashed Monday in the House of Representatives in a debate about infant child care.A requirement for child care providers to lay infants on their backs unless parents get a written note from a doctor fell by the wayside. Rep. Steve Gottwalt, R-St. Cloud, successfully argued it represented too much government intrusion.
The requirement was aimed at reducing the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in child care facilities.
Gottwalt got an amendment passed to HF 3376, a bill dealing with welfare and chilcare assistance, taking out the proposed requirement on a 88-42 vote.
“Instead of a parent having to go get a doctor’s permission and the extra cost involved with that, a parent can write a letter to the day care provider themselves that they don’t want their child placed on its back,” he said. “The requirement adds complexity and cost and does not, in itself, protect infants.”
Gottwalt’s amendment won unanimous support from St. Cloud-area lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, but was decried by Twin Cities DFLers who argued that the state licenses child care providers and therefore must ensure it sets the best safety standards for them.
King was scheduled to have his gall bladder out at 8:15 a.m. (Tuesday) but is currently experience a high fever and heart palpitations.He did not want me in the room, such was his pain.We appreciate your prayers and concern and will keep you updated,
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Great Blogs,
Great Conservatives,
MOB Business
The following is what I wrote:...File Comments with the FCC
Click here to read FCC's Proposed Rule Making.
Click here to see the comments the FCC has received on this issue.
Proceeding: 04-233 Report on Broadcast Localism and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
The FCC is considering a return to 1970s-style media regulation that could significantly impact how broadcasters air local programming. They have determined that local broadcasters are out of touch with their local communities, and that Washington mandates are needed to fix the problem. The FCC needs to hear from you. Tell the FCC how broadcasters serve their local communities – with relevant local news, public service announcements, weather and emergency information, public affairs programming, political programming, community outreach and more. Washington-based media critics have had their say. Now it’s time for broadcasters and their supporters to have theirs.
With the advent of talk radio, as well as with the proliferation of Christian radio, our local radio stations are more in touch with their community than has been the case in any of the nearly 50 years that I have been alive in this great nation.Again, this is being posted at 10:12pm, and there is less than two hours left of the day until public comment is closed. Please visit now and make your voices heard!
More than ever before, talk radio allows community voices to be heard. The proliferation of and free market of voices has led to an informed electorate unlike we have ever seen in this nation, not only on national issues, but on local issues as well.
Prior to the advent of talk radio, "public service" programming was in such a dry format that it was nearly unlistenable, with an hour or so on Sunday morning and another hour or so on Sunday evening. And the rest of the week was music, and spates of news at the top of the hour. There was no engaging of the public, and the public was not informed to nearly the degree that it is today.
Talk radio is what the Founding Fathers envisioned a democracy to be: A free market of ideas, with ideas being able to stand up to the market (or fall) based on their own merits, not what a central governing authority thinks that it should be.
To mess with what we have is to certainly mess with the First Amendment; and to do a disservice to Americans now and forever forward.
Do not rob Americans nor their progeny of the intellectual freedom that continues to make America even more so the beacon of freedom and citizen rule that it was meant to be.
"There is a class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs."
The spate of drowning of college-aged men along the I-94 corridor has spawned renewed interest, and has left many wondering if the occurrences are merely coincidences:Chris Jenkins was a popular student at the University of Minnesota who disappeared one night in 2003.The belief that the deaths have been something more than coincidence is nothing new, with speculation being raised as early as 2002 with the disappearance of Josh Guimond from St. John's University in nearby Collegeville, and later on with the disappearance and subsequent drowning of 21-year old Scott Radel.
Four months later, he was found dead in the Mississippi River. At first police thought Jenkins was just a drunk college kid who accidentally fell into the river and drowned after a night on the town.But for two retired New York City Police detectives, Jenkins' death became the link that connected the drowning deaths of 40 young men — usually high-achieving college students — in 25 cities in 11 different states.
Chilling Discovery
Detectives Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte have been tracking the suspicious drowning deaths of young men across the country ever since they investigated the death of college student Patrick McNeill, who drowned in New York City in 1997. Gannon made a promise to McNeill's parents that he would never give up on his case.
When the detectives took a look at Jenkins' death, they discovered that the position of his body and other physical evidence proved that the college student didn't drown accidentally. The cause of death on Jenkins' death certificate was changed to "homicide."
The suspicious deaths attracted the attention of St. Cloud State criminology professor Douglas Gilbertson, who assisted Detectives Gannon and Duarte in their investigation, and the parents of some missing kids have hired private investigators to look into their sons' untimely deaths:"Because there's such a wide range of states the killings are through," Gannon said today in an exclusive interview on "Good Morning America." "Besides the fact that we have multiple victims on the same night."
At the crime scene of a drowning in Michigan, Gannon and Duarte discovered grafitti that they believed was written by the killers, but were puzzled by a word they hadn't seen before.
"We found 'sinsiniwa,' which was very suspicious at the time," said Gannon.
Then the detectives found the strange word in Iowa, where they were investigating the drowning death of 24-year-old Matt Kruziki.
Bloodhounds tracked Kruziki's scent to an intersection near the Mississippi River. The detectives believe that is the location where the killers slid Kruziki's body in the water — it was at Sinsiniwa Avenue.
"We believe they were specifically leaving a clue for us or anyone who was paying attention to these drownings, that the cases were ultimately linked," Gannon said.
The Jenkinses said if they have to, they'll have the evidence tested themselves. They're stepping up their investigation and offering a $175,000 reward for answers."We are doing this because there's enough significant evidence pointing to foul play, pointing to murder, and if the MPD is not helping us," Chris' father, Steve Jenkins, said.More here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
So the Jenkinses hired private investigator Chuck Loesch. He's been on the case since Jenkins disappeared. Loesch said two different sets of bloodhounds made a remarkable discovery -- both traced Chris' scent from the Lone Tree bar where he was last seen to a deserted underground garage nearby.
"The dog took us into the parking area," Loesch said. "The dog took us down to these stalls here," Both dogs did. One was within five days of Chris missing, six days. The second was about three to four weeks later," Loesch said."Two totally different dogs took you to the same parking space?" 12 News investigative reporter Colleen Henry asked."Right," Loesch said.
Minneapolis police believe Jenkins jumped or fell off a bridge over the Mississippi as he walked home, but the bloodhound indicated Jenkins got into a car, which headed west on Interstate 94.
"I think Chris was either abducted or walked into a position where he was murdered," Loesch said.
Loesch's investigation expanded when two other college students disappeared in the next nine days. Three days after Jenkins, 80 miles east on I-94, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire senior Michael Noll disappeared after leaving a college bar.
Six days after that, 50 miles northwest of Minneapolis, St. John's University junior Josh Guimond vanished after leaving a card party on campus.
In the next two months, from South Bend to Sheboygan, three other college-aged men disappeared under similar circumstances. All eventually turned up in nearby lakes or rivers, all but Guimond, who's still missing a year later.
In each case, police ruled out foul play. They called the deaths accidents or suicide.
Labels:
Josh Guimond,
law and order,
Scott Radel
In what way, "Rev." Sharpton? To shed more innocent blood? To loot innocent store owners? To destroy property? WTF is that going to solve, Mr. Race Pimp?Photo from My Way News
NEW YORK (AP) - Hundreds of angry people marched through Harlem on Saturday after the Rev. Al Sharpton promised to "close this city down" to protest the acquittals of three police detectives in the 50-shot barrage that killed a groom on his wedding day and wounded two friends."We strategically know how to stop the city so people stand still and realize that you do not have the right to shoot down unarmed, innocent civilians," Sharpton told an overflow crowd of several hundred people at his National Action Network office in the historically black Manhattan neighborhood. "This city is going to deal with the blood of Sean Bell."
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Al Sharpton,
limousine liberals
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Great Blogs,
Great Conservatives,
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enviro-whackism,
global warming
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John McCain,
Michelle Obama,
Obama Watch
The Minnesota Taxpayer Association's annual 50-State Property Tax Comparison study, released Thursday, shows that outstate Minnesota has the third-highest commercial property taxes of any rural area in the country, based on 2007 taxes payable for a typical $25 million property.I think we need to commission a study as to why elected officials in Minnesota, namely the DFL, are so hell-bent on literally taxing us out of house and home.
Charlie Weaver, executive director of the Minneapolis-based Minnesota Business Partnership, said the numbers are “brutal” for rural Minnesota businesses.
“The rural business property tax continues to be a significant problem, especially since that is where we are having the hardest time finding jobs,” Weaver said. “Rural Minnesota is trying to maintain that job base. It doesn’t help when their businesses are being taxed out of the state.”
Labels:
Stupid DFL Tricks,
tax n spending,
taxpayers as ATMs
And, in turning the attention to where it needs to be, Mayor Richard Daley took a courageous step:Chicago working to prevent repeat of deadly weekend
CHICAGO (AP) -- Police planned to increase patrols and put SWAT officers and specialized units on the streets over the weekend, a show of force aimed at deterring violence like the three dozen shootings that left nine people dead last weekend.
"Weather permitting, we will have our helicopter up," said police spokeswoman Monique Bond, who said Thursday night was relatively quiet, with only four shootings, none fatal.
Meanwhile, religious leaders said they had persuaded some churches to open their doors in the afternoons and evenings to protect people from gunfire.
"We just picked up about four more churches in Austin (a neighborhood on the city's West Side) that's going to open their doors as a safe haven," said Ira Acree, an activist and pastor of the Greater St. John Bible Church.
On Friday, Mayor Richard Daley took the unusual step of calling together more than two dozen officials from the police department, schools, social service agencies and religious groups for a City Hall summit on the violence. Afterward, he said it was just the start of a continuing dialogue about how to combat violent crime.
A fired-up Daley blasted the gun industry and called on parents and adults to do their part by intervening to help troubled youth and by working to keep others on the right path.Way to go, Dick. Way to stick it to those guns. We all know that they all sprouted legs and pulled their own triggers.
Thank you, Captain Obvious.And Tio Hardiman, executive director of CeaseFire, an anti-violence group, said young people need help finding alternatives to the streets.
"We need to go right to the corners and find out what some of these young people want to do, identify some employers that are willing to hire maybe 30 from this neighborhood, 30 from another neighborhood and try to get them hired somewhere so then we can get them off the corners."
But Daley said joblessness does not justify violence.
"When the killing is done, you still don't have a job, in fact, it greatly decreases the chances that you ever ... will have a job," he said.
Instead of pointing the bony finger of indignation at the gun industry, why not look at yourself and other liberals in the mirror, Mayor Daley? Ever since the dawning of the Great Society, the State thought that they would be more fit to parent kids via taxpayer money than would their biological fathers.
Now the State may be good at plowing streets, picking up garbage, and repairing highways, but by now you should know that it sucks at fatherhood.
Labels:
Hillary Watch,
Moonbat Adventures,
Obama Watch
I am a GOP alternate delegate from the Great State of Minnesota, and I'm asking you to NOT PULL THE OBAMA AD!!!
Someone needs to develop some cajones to tell the truth about our democrat POTUS candidates, and the national party is too lilly-livered to do anything (except, of course, attack our own President).
Screw the "new tone." The American people need (and deserve) the unblemished truth.
Press on!
-Leo Pusateri-
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Labels:
Obama Watch,
Rev. Wright,
RINOs
jobs could be lost and that consumers and businesses could be hurt. Some questioned the human contribution to global warming and whether global warming should be considered a crisis. Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, read 30-year-old headlines that warned about global cooling.Aah, but the oh-so-wise and informed Kate Knuth, the author of the bill, stated,
"Cap-and-trade will change the jobs that we have in Minnesota -- I think it will change the jobs for the better," "It will bring clean-energy jobs."Well, Kate, thanks so much for those witty words of comfort as you sell ours and our children's economic futures down the river to shoo away a bogeyman THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
Labels:
global warming,
Liberal Lies,
Stupid DFL Tricks
NEW ORLEANS, April 24 (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain sharply criticized on Thursday what he called the Bush administration's disgraceful handling of Hurricane Katrina and vowed, "Never again."And the party faithful again scratch their heads...
Labels:
John McCain,
RINOs
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is fond of quoting a particular passage of Scripture. The quote, however, does not appear in the Bible and is "fictional," according to biblical scholars.Perhaps the quote came from Pastor Algore?
In her April 22 Earth Day news release, Pelosi said, "The Bible tells us in the Old Testament, 'To minister to the needs of God's creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.' On this Earth Day, and every day, let us pledge to our children, and our children's children, that they will have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and the opportunity to experience the wonders of nature."
Cybercast News Service repeatedly queried the speaker's office for two days to determine where the alleged Bible quote is found. Thus far, no one has responded.
Distinguished biblical scholars, however, cast doubt on the existence of the passage.
John J. Collins, the Holmes professor of Old Testament criticism and interpretation at Yale Divinity School, said he is totally unfamiliar with Pelosi's quotation.
"(It's) not one that I recognize," Collins told Cybercast News Service. "I assume that she means this is a paraphrase. But it wouldn't be a close paraphrase to anything I know of."
Claude Mariottini, a professor of Old Testament at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, told Cybercast News Service the passage not only doesn't exist - it's "fictional."
"It is not in the Bible," Mariottini said. "There is nothing that even approximates that."
Other scholars agree that nothing remotely resembling it can be found in any version of the Scriptures - Old Testament or New Testament.
"The quote does not exist in the Old Testament, neither in the New Testament," said the Rev. Andreas Hock, a doctor of Scripture who teaches in the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Denver's St. John Vianney Seminary.
Heh... I wonder if Newt got the memo...
Labels:
Al Gore,
enviro-whackism,
liberal lunacy
Labels:
Heroes,
Wednesday Hero
I had to look twice in order to confirm authorship of this piece. I could've sworn it was written by Algore himself:
‘A cause greater than self-interest'
By Maria Cino Posted: 04/21/08 04:09 PM [ET] With Minnesota’s spring thaw and Earth Day upon us, Republican National Convention planners are making great progress in preparing for the convention. For months now, the GOP’s Committee on Arrangements (COA) has been hard at work to ensure that our party’s 39th presidential nominating convention is the “greenest” ever. Come Sept. 1, an anticipated 45,000 convention guests and volunteers — joined by millions watching from around the world — will gather in Minneapolis-St. Paul for a historic event: the nomination of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.)
From transportation choices to venue selection to staff workspace, the GOP, the MSP2008 Host Committee and the host cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are working together to implement the best environmental practices in all aspects of planning. We are reviewing all aspects of convention preparations to reduce waste and encourage reuse and recycling. We currently use paperless, online systems for internal communications, as well as our delegate travel reservation system, thanks to our partnership with Travel Technology Group, the convention’s Official Housing Bureau.
Coupled with our convention team’s commitment to cutting-edge technology, the decision to go green is also being embraced by the convention’s local Host Committee. MSP2008 and its partners have developed an online system to recruit and register more than 8,000 official volunteers. Accessible through the convention website — www.GOPconvention2008.com— the online registration is easy and eco-friendly.
In addition, the convention website itself is an enormous online resource for delegates, members of the news media, and all interested parties looking for the latest convention news. Visitors with questions can get in touch with a member of our team via an interactive online feature, CONVENTION iNSIDER. We’ve answered more than 500 CONVENTION iNSIDER questions to date!
PR Newswire, our official wire service provider, will provide simultaneous, electronic distribution of news releases, media advisories and convention materials to the estimated 15,000 members of the news media expected onsite at the Xcel Energy Center and to news outlets around the world.
COA and Host Committee staff members are working with convention venues, including the Xcel Energy Center and St. Paul RiverCentre, on ways to improve energy efficiency. Everything from power sources to lighting fixtures to recycling programs are being reviewed, and we are making recommendations on how to implement environmentally friendly solutions.
In terms of getting from point A to point B in the host cities, convention guests will ride in a fleet of eco-friendly vehicles. As the official vehicle provider, General Motors will provide the 2008 Republican National Convention with more than 300 cars and light trucks representing a mix of highly fuel-efficient vehicles that include E85 ethanol flex-fuel and hybrid technology.
COA offices have been outfitted with recycled furnishings and recycled office supplies are used whenever possible. Our office climate control automatically shuts off at 5 p.m. each day, so energy is not wasted during off-hours (even though our “off” hours are quickly dwindling). Staff offices use power strips for electronic equipment, which can be turned off to prevent drawing power during periods when the equipment is not in use. Additionally, most convention staffers live within walking distance of headquarters and carpool to do their shopping or take in the local entertainment.
Minnesotans’ deep appreciation for their state’s natural wonders hasn’t gone unnoticed — and the Republican Party joins them in embracing these precious resources. To mark Earth Day, convention staff participated in a park cleanup as part of the COA’s ongoing American Neighbor volunteer program, a service initiative aimed at giving back to the host cities. It was a positive experience and what Sen. McCain might call “serving a cause greater than self-interest.”
The 2008 Republican National Convention will use fewer resources and leave a smaller footprint; showcase Minneapolis and St. Paul as the leaders they are in environmental preservation and sustainable development; and, underscore the Republican Party’s commitment to responsible stewardship of our environment.
Now there are those who say that the RNC's relatively recent two-fisted embracing of the jug of global warming kool-aid is small potatoes; that there are bigger fish to fry.
With that, I have to respectfully, though strongly disagree.
On the contrary, I would say that the current noose around our economy resultant of runaway energy prices can be directly linked to the environmental movement. "Environmentally friendly" is one thing. Basing policy on failed science at the expense of the economy is quite a different matter-- For example, did you see the part of the piece where Cino extols the virtues of utilizing E-85 vehicles for the convention? Again, promoting a failed science and a failed technology that only serves to drive the price of food higher. All for the purposes of pleasing the Sierra Club.
Meanwhile, the cost of gas to fuel our vehicles is above $3.50 per gallon; with the cost of diesel to ship our goods well over $4.00 per gallon, with no end it sight to energy's meteoric rise and its deleterious effect on our economy.
Yet, we have not been able to harvest our own oil and natural gas resources for decades now. Why? Because our elected officials (now including Republicans) have been buying into the enviro-nutter movement.
We have not been able to build a new refinery in this country since the 1970s. Why? Same reason.
Staple food crops have been abandoned in favor of cashing in on the taxpayer-financed ethanol bonanza. And now we have FOOD RATIONING IN CALIFORNIA. FOOD RATIONING. IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
By "drinking the kool-aid" the RNC is not only necessarily doing what amounts to humoring a child's incorrect though oh-so-cute fantasy; but more insidiously giving credence to a false premise that has the potential to do great damage when carried to its (il)logical conclusion. What we have already seen is only the beginning.
When you look at the agenda, it is clear that MMWG and other enviro-hysterics are being used as bogeymen by the left as a means to rationalize an exponential increase in the size and scope of government and resultant control over our lives; and in the process moving us ever closer to their vision of a socialist utopia; the "New Europe," rather than the beacon of prosperity and freedom that we have been up to this point.
THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES!!
It's high time that someone stood on the soapbox and put an end to the absolute madness. A madness that is causing totally un-necessary economic pain to our citizens who are trying their damndest to make ends meet in the first place.
Yes, I know that there are those who think that drinking the enviro-kool aid to get a few lefty votes is no big deal.
On this we will have to agree to disagree.
I, for one, refuse to budge.
Labels:
enviro-whackism,
global warming,
RINOs
ST. PAUL — Think of Minnesota as suffering from a vitamin deficiency, growing weaker and still resisting a balanced diet. And think of taxes as spinach, broccoli and peas — not exactly everybody’s first choice on the table, but the stuff we need to reinvigorate our state.I thank God that we have the likes of Steve Gottwalt representing us:
One month from legislative adjournment, all indications are that election-year pressures will deny Minnesota the state revenue “vegetables” and the responsible, long-term budget solutions it needs.
Time is running out in the face of projected chronic shortfalls — as much as $1.7 billion in the red a year from now — and so are the accounting gimmicks and the reserves. So voters choosing leaders this fall for 2009 and beyond need to ask them to face up to a glaring fiscal reality: We can’t go on like this. Our experiment with tax cuts and short-changing vital public-sector investment is not working.
More than a decade of tax rebates and tax cuts during good times, and the no-new-(state)-taxes straitjacket of the past six years, have left our communities and our economy in worse shape than they have been in decades. (The 2008 Legislature deserves credit for overriding a veto and pushing through a modest gas-tax increase, but that’s a dedicated tax that only begins to address two decades of deterioration in our transportation infrastructure.)
That’s because this disinvestment has been accomplished by a gradual slide into economic mediocrity in the private sector. The scrimping and corner-cutting, the idea that draining our common pool of resources will benefit everybody, is most assuredly not producing the general prosperity that was promised when tax cuts were enacted.
Ellen:
Think of taxes as the food on working people's tables. Think of it as their hard earned cash. Think of it as their means of providing for themselves. Think of it as THEIR money; not the government's! Now consider what an insatiable hunger for those taxes does to prosperity and opportunity in Minnesota.
We remain among the highest taxed, most generous social services states in the entire nation. We cannot afford more of your "better living through more taxes." Just ask your neighbors and those who work to pay taxes. They're struggling to make ends meet in some of the toughest economic times we've seen -- and the last thing they need is more taxes. On behalf of my constituents: Please stop raising our taxes! We're already doing more than we can afford in terms of government services!
Let's try a balanced "diet" of setting real, sound priorities, and living within our means instead of raising taxes -- no second helpings, junk food or "super-sizing" on our government "meals." Thanks!
-Rep. Steve Gottwalt
Labels:
liberal lunacy,
Steve Gottwalt,
tax n spending
GOVERNOR PAWLENTY APPOINTS TOM SOREL TO HEAD MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Sorel is civil engineer with 30 years of transportation experience
Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today appointed Tom Sorel as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT).
Mr. Sorel currently heads the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) division office in Minnesota. The FHWA is a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and provides financial and technical support to state and local governments for constructing and preserving America's highway system. He starts at Mn/DOT on Monday, April 28.
Mr. Sorel, 51, has held various positions with the FHWA since 1978 including Major Project Team Leader at the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Director of Planning and Program Development and Chief of Technology Services in Albany, New York. During the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Mr. Sorel was the USDOT liaison for federal transportation issues and led the effort to build the infrastructure for the event.
"With 30 years of transportation experience and a civil engineering background, Tom Sorel is the right person to lead Mn/DOT," Governor Pawlenty said. "Minnesota has invested more in roads over the last five years than ever before. Tom Sorel will provide the leadership as we continue to build a modern and efficient transportation system for Minnesota."
Mr. Sorel received his degree in civil engineering from State University of New York in Buffalo and his Master of Business Administration from Thomas College in Maine. He has also received a Certificate of Conflict Management from Cornell School of Industrial/Labor Relations and an Associate Certificate Project Management from George Washington University.
In addition to many FHWA performance awards, he received the Presidential Honor for leading the federal transportation response, recovery, and rebuilding efforts in Minnesota in the aftermath of the I-35W Bridge Collapse. He currently serves on the boards of the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Guide Star, and the Transportation Engineering and Road Research Alliance.
Mn/DOT, with approximately 4,400 employees, develops and implements policies, plans and programs for highways, railroads, commercial waterways, aeronautics, public transit and motor carriers in the state. Minnesota has the fifth largest highway system in the United States.
Earlier this month, Mn/DOT announced the state's 2008 construction season that included135 new highway and bridge projects valued at $441 million. Highlights include the completion of major projects originally advanced by the Pawlenty bonding program in 2003. These include the Highway 10 realignment in Detroit Lakes, the Highway 34 reconstruction in Park Rapids, the I-694/I-35E Unweave the Weave reconstruction north of St. Paul and the new Highway 212 project in the southwest Metro. There are also some 20 additional carryover projects begun in previous years like the I-35W/Highway 62 Crosstown reconstruction in the Twin Cities.
Entire story here.A newspaper that defied the Kremlin by reporting that President Vladimir Putin was planning to marry an Olympic gold medal-winning rhythmic gymnast half his age was shut down Saturday.
The closure of Moskovski Korrespondent, whose editor Grigori Nekhoroshev was forced to resign, was a sharp reminder of the perils of invoking Kremlin displeasure.
Labels:
damn commies
“We judge people on their ability, not their age, race or gender. We don’t agree with Chairman Murtha’s assessment any more than we would agree if someone accused the Chairman of being too old to control the federal funding of our armed forces at a time when our nation is at war - certainly no slouch job, either.
This election has thrown out all the traditional stereotypes. Voters don’t seem to care about race, age or gender, but about voting for the candidate that will address health care and financial security issues.”
– Drew Nannis, Spokesperson, AARP
Heh... How does your foot taste, Jihad Jack?
Labels:
John McCain,
John Murtha,
liberal hypocrisy
Comparing what amounts to tilting at windmills (literally) to the threat once posed by imperial Japan and Nazi Germany shows a blatant level of ignorance.
Labels:
limousine liberals,
The Fifth Column
Labels:
John Murtha,
The Fifth Column,
TRAITORS
has less intelligence than a 
or a 
(at least a knows when to keep quiet, and unlike , at least a knows which way to spin); and given the fact that hangs with known terrorists and racists, he probably has less patriotism for America than does 
.
has less ability to tell the truth than 
(And unlike , at least learned his lesson).
Labels:
Hillary Clinton,
John McCain,
Moonbat Adventures,
Obama Watch
There is something fundamentally wrong here. If DNA is no longer legally personal property, and is in effect subject to seizure without due process of law, then what is personal property?Minneapolis/Saint Paul – Today, in a shocking decision, the Minnesota House voted unanimously to eliminate the genetic privacy rights of citizens, starting at birth. The legislation will exempt warehousing, use, and analysis of newborn blood and DNA from the informed consent requirements of the 2006 Minnesota Genetic Privacy Law.
Twila Brase, president of Citizens' Council on Health Care, makes the following statements:"Citizen DNA is citizen property. The government should be required to ask, not allowed to take."
"If this bill becomes law, each year 73,000 newborn citizens will not be protected by the state genetic privacy law. The Department will take their DNA and unless the parents figure it out, the government will keep it.
"Children grow up. Eventually, every citizen will have their DNA owned by state government and available for government to engage in genetic research, experimentation, manipulation, and profiling.
"What good is the state genetic privacy law if government warehousing and analysis of every child's DNA from birth is exempt from its informed consent protections?"
"The Health Department came to the legislature this year to get out from under the March 2007 administrative law judge's ruling that informed parent consent was required by the state genetic privacy law. They appealed the ruling and lost. Now the legislature is going to let them win."
Conference Committee?
The House voted on the Senate bill. If the Senate accepts the minor amendments adopted by the House without a conference committee, the bill could be sent directly to Governor Pawlenty for his signature.
"Whatever happens, by the looks of it, it'll be up to the Governor to protect the genetic privacy of the people," states Brase.
Twila Brase is president of Citizens' Council on Health Care. She can be reached at 651-646-8935 office or 612-619-1889 cell.
Labels:
Big Government,
Minnesota
As most of you know, Euphoric Reality (http://euphoricreality.com) was hacked last night by someone claiming to be an Islamic hacker based in Jordan. They wiped out two years' of posts, scrubbed my site clean of any mention of the Pendleton 8, destroyed my user database tables, deleted or
altered most of my layout CSS/PHP/HTML files, left anti-military and anti-American BS everywhere, and just generally trashed the place. I spent a few hours last night in contact with my hosting provider, who was helpful but clueless. They passed me on to the abuse department, who has yet to get back to me. I put the layout back up and swept up some of the filth left on the site before finally going to bed.
This morning I awoke to find they had done it again, and this time they took another month of posts. They also added more of their propaganda to the front page of my site.
I am at a loss how to stop them, but am working to find a way. I do believe, based on the site logs and other circumstances at the time, that this was not actually some random Islamo-whacko with a script. The Pendleton 8 case is reaching a fever pitch, and last night I was scheduled to release some of the most shocking documents in the case yet, documents that show not only government incompetence, but outright, knowing and willful misconduct on the part of prosecutors and NCIS agents in the case--with the full knowledge and tacit approval of Congress. All of the factors combine to make a railroad job for seven Marines and a NavyCorpsman.
Some of you have expressed a desire to help by running the P8 story on your
blogs as a mirror. I do appreciate this, and will be sending the series in
zip form for you to post if you are so inclined.
The more people who talk about this and post about it and release the documents, the better off we are. It's harder to silence 10,000 than 3.
I will keep you posted.
Best,
Kit
Labels:
Great Blogs,
Pendleton 8
Fly Out-- 2 away!!!
Crawford at the plate. 2- strikes.
10:00 Strike THREE--Twins win 6-5.
My perfect record remains, and this live blog is over!
Labels:
live blogging,
Twins
C'mon, Harris--
YAY- Harris hits a bloop infield hitm Young advances to 3rd. Time for the squeeze!
Lamb hits a sac fly, Young scores,Twins lead 6-5!
Nathan comes in for the save in the 9th!
Labels:
live blogging,
Twins
Labels:
live blogging,
Twins
I've NEVER gone to a Twins home game when they've lost. I certainly hope tonight won't be a first in that category.
Labels:
fun stuff,
live blogging,
Twins
Young makes it to first on a throwing error; Morneau and Mauer score to give the Twinkiess a 5-3 lead!!
Labels:
live blogging,
Twins
Labels:
live blogging,
Twins
Labels:
live blogging,
Twins
Labels:
live blogging,
Twins
More to come later....
Oops- the Rays just scored another solo home run... 2-0 now. Rats.
Labels:
live blogging,
Twins
Labels:
live blogging,
Twins
Labels:
health care,
liberal road to hell,
Pawlenty
Labels:
fun stuff
George Bush has drunk the Gore-Aid....
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush, stepping into the debate over global warming, plans to announce on Wednesday a national goal for stopping the growth of greenhouse gas emissions over the next few decades.
In a speech in the Rose Garden, Bush will lay out a strategy rather than a specific proposal for curbing emissions, White House press secretary Dana Perino said Tuesday. She did not disclose details of his announcement and would not say whether the president would propose any kind of mandatory cap on greenhouse gas emissions.
The president wants every major economy, including fast-growing nations like China and India, to establish a national goal for cutting the emissions believed responsible for global warming.
Granted that Bush's plan doesn't seem as extreme as Algore's or other enviro-nutters, but what bothers me most in the first place is the perceived need among so-called conservative politicians to even humor the demonstrably false notion that human activities actually have an impact on something as global as climate; all for the purpose of being able to beat your chest at election time and say that you care.
Yet more onerous is the fact that the man-made global warming (MMWG) fairy tale, when translated into public and fiscal policy, it is nothing less than devastating to our economic and strategic well-being. A fairy tale, that when followed to its logical conclusion, inflicts very real yet very-unnecessary suffering and hardship on all of us.
When we are prevented from harvesting our own proven domestic sources of energy for fear of offending the nature-nutters, to the point where not only does the cost of energy skyrocket exponentially, to the point where we are not only beholden to third world thugs to meet our energy needs, but also to the point where the cost of the very food on which we survive becomes less and less affordable, I have a bit more than a problem with that.
And to add insult to injury, we have supposedly conservative folks like our front-runner for president, our governor, and even our mayor wantonly perpetuating the MMWG myth for nothing else than for purposes of political correctness. I spoke with Governor Pawlenty about a month ago regarding his stances on the Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, and he in effect had the attitude that it "wasn't hurting anybody" and that he would only go along with the initiatives if they don't have a deleterious effect on the economy.
Memo to Pawlenty: It has.
There are those, even in the conservative blogosphere, who say that there is a need for conservative candidates to pay homage to the MMGW gods in order to be elected.
To that, I politely say, "POPPYCOCK!"
The heretofore widespread public belief in the MMGW scam has hit its watermark; and the impending backlash is very apparent to anyone who lives and does business outside the beltway and outside the Capitol grounds in St. Paul. Anyone with an IQ above room temperature and a bleeding wallet to match has seen, is starting to see, or soon will see the ruse; and the first politician to have the presence of mind and the cajones to call this hoax for what it is will rightly go miles in the current and future political landscape.
And just for telling the truth.
Feature that.
(click for full size)If the Maoists do gain a substantial share of power, I hope the United States will recognize and do business with the government," Carter said at a news conference in Katmandu.Maoists... running a democratic republic? (Okay, democrat party, perhaps)
Carter described the election as one of the "most profoundly important" of the 70 he has witnessed because it marked the end of a decade of political violence and the probable transformation of Nepal from a Hindu kingdom to a democratic republic.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Former President Carter angered Israel's government Tuesday by embracing a Hamas politician during a visit to the West Bank, ignoring Israeli and U.S. designation of the Islamic militants as a terror group.Hugs and kisses for folks who drug up their own and send them into crowded markets to blow up innocent bystanders.. now isn't that special, Dhimmi!
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, defending a contentious plan to meet Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, said yesterday that he hoped to become a conduit between the militant group, Washington and even Israel.
Carter also called on the Bush administration to embark on direct talks with the Iranian regime in order to resolve the issue of Tehran's nuclear program.
[SNIP]
"I can't say that they will be amenable to any suggestions, but at least after I meet with them I can go back and relay what they say, as just a communicator, to the leaders of the United States," he said.I believe that they've made their intentions quite clear, Dhimmi.
Labels:
Stupid DFL Tricks,
tax n spending
(click for full size)To enhance your multimedia experience, before playing the video, set the tone with this midi of Can you Feel the Love Tonight"“Our challenge is to get people persuaded that we can make progress when there’s not evidence of that in their daily lives,” he said. “You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are going to regenerate and they have not.
“And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
"That dere Obama campaign blowed up real good, din'it?"
Labels:
John McCain,
Michelle Obama,
Obama Watch
Labels:
Blogs for Darfur
Health Care Reform Bill:
Thursday was a long day/night; for 14 hours, we debated and discussed one of the most important priorities for our state: health care reform. We considered HF 3391, Rep. Tom Huntley's bill that mandates major changes including some crafted by the Governor's Health Care Transformation Task Force.
Although we agree on the need for improvements in our health care system that focus on wellness and prevention and offer consumers more transparency about cost and quality of care, the bill takes us down the wrong road, too far and too fast.
On the whole, the package represents a massive shift toward socialized health care, based on a broad assumption that government must save us from ourselves. It leavesserious concerns and many more important questions unanswered.
What's more, we literally can't afford it! The state estimates the price tag at more than $1.23 billion -- even as our state faces a $1 billion budget deficit. The bill puts more people on taxpayer funded programs, but uses up all of the state's Health Care Access Fund, and runs out of money in 2012, at which time state law requires us to dis-enroll people from state programs. There is no plan for funding beyond 2012. That's making promises we can't keep, and that's why I voted against the bill.
CentraCare Health System wrote me a letter which I shared with lawmakers Thursday, and I'm sharing it with you because it illustrates why this bill is the wrong approach for health care reform:
"We are writing to . . . ask you not to support the bill when it is considered later this week. We do not make this request lightly. . . .We do understand that significant effort has gone into crafting this legislation, but it is our belief that the underlying process was flawed because it specifically failed to include individuals with actual experience in health care from Greater Minnesota. In addition, it has been moved through the legislative process without adequate time to
fully study the implications of many of the initiatives included in the bill. There are parts of the bill that do have merit . . . There are, however, many parts of the bill that are problematic, and we fear will destabilize health care delivery in rural Minnesota. We urge you to work to eliminate the potentially harmful aspects of the bill or, failing that, oppose adoption of the entire bill until such time as these issues can be addressed. HF 3391 includes many initiatives which we believe have been poorly designed. Many of these issues could have been addressed if health care providers, especially those from Greater Minnesota, had been allowed to participate in the design of meaningful health care reform legislation.
After careful analysis of HF 3391, we have identified the following concerns:
* Budget neutrality – which is simply not reasonable when attempting to increase the number of persons covered under MinnesotaCare.
* Creation of numerous new state commissions to collect data, design benefits sets, monitor quality and restrict access to new technologies. These commissions (and the staff that will serve them in the legislature) will add additional cost/administrative burdens to the health care system as well as the state.
* Implementation timelines that are far too short to allow thoughtful design and implementation of initiatives.
* This bill fails to address the rising cost of health care insurance in Minnesota.
* The bill requires transparency of health care providers but fails to require similar transparency from medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment manufacturers and suppliers or insurance companies. All of these are major cost drivers for providers.
Most importantly, this bill fails to address the importance of the ever increasing consumer demand for health care services as a driver of escalating health care costs. In fact, the increasing utilization of medical services is, along with cost shifting due to inadequate compensation for Medicare & Medicaid services, among the most
significant drivers of increasing health care costs for government, businesses and consumers. . . . The cost of providing Medicaid services does not go away. When the state cuts reimbursement, those costs must simply be shifted.
Minnesotans are already served by some of the most innovative, lowest cost and highest quality health care providers in the nation. Minnesota providers are recognized collectively and individually across the nation for the value they provide for Minnesotans in health care. We must not jeopardize those successes."
-[signed by the presidents of CentraCare Health System]
As a member of both Health Care and Human Services policy and finance committees in the House, the Legislative Health Care Access Commission, and Minnesota’s Rural Health Advisory Committee, I’ve been pushing for common sense, market-based reforms that preserve consumer freedom and choice, protect patient data privacy and security, and prevent a government takeover of our health system. Those are the best and most
sustainable ways to address quality, cost and access for our families and businesses.
A House-Senate conference committee, in conversation with Governor Pawlenty, will now work to develop a final bill on which we will vote in about a week. At a bare minimum, the bill must have high confidence of decreasing health care costs, and must be fiscally balanced so we can follow through on what we commit to.
Minnesota is the healthiest state in the nation, our costs are 15 percent below the national average, and our outcomes are second to none. We also have the highest percentage of population with health care coverage in the nation – nearly 94 percent. The vast majority of those without coverage are eligible for existing state programs, or have simply refused private coverage options available to them.
As I’ve pointed out before, Minnesota is in a “first-and-goal on the five yard line” situation. We need carefully planned and executed plays that move us toward the goal line, not aggressive and risky measures that threaten to get us sacked back at mid-field. I sincerely hope that is what I will be able to vote on when the bill comes back from conference committee.
Labels:
health care,
liberal road to hell
Last night the House passed their version of the health care reform bill. While less bad than the Senate’s version (which carries with it a $40 million tax increase to pay for all kinds of programs designed to save us from ourselves), the House bill doesn’t bring us any closer to the kinds of free market reforms our health care system needs. Aside from the tax increase, the other reason why the House bill could be considered an improvement over the Senate’s version is the Senate’s creation of a politburo-style Health Care Transformation Commission. In the Senate’s bill, the HCTC would be responsible for passing judgment on and implementing new rules and regulations for hospitals and health care plans. At least the House decided not to abrogate their oversightAll is coming together according to plan, dear Komrades...Note that we needed to start small, as in MinnCare; for we must boil frog slowly, dear komrades, lest it notice that it is being boiled. Then we get public used to more and more government run health care, and package it as "free!"
responsibility and require that all new rules must get legislative approval. But what the hey, right? Why not give a small, unelected body control over 1/6 of our state’s economy? What could possibly go wrong with that?
So it’s off to the conference committee for the two bills. And what comes out nobody knows.
Labels:
health care,
liberal road to hell,
socialism
Labels:
Great Blogs,
Great Reads,
Minnesota,
Pawlenty,
Stupid DFL Tricks
"AB 2943 would label good, loving parents -- who occasionally use a little paddle, a ruler, a little stick, or a brush to correct their youngster's misbehavior -- as official "child abusers" in the eyes of the law," said Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families.In that, Ms. Lieber may actually have a point.
The bill is a repeat of legislation introduced last year by Democratic Assemblywoman Sally Lieber. "The vast majority of child abuse victims and fatalities are young children," Lieber said when she first introduced her Child Abuse And Infant/Toddler Protection Bill. "Too often the abuse begins as some form of 'discipline.' Existing law is clearly not doing enough to protect the youngest, smallest, most vulnerable members of our society."
Labels:
liberal lunacy
Gotta take out the snowblower. On April 11th. Schools are closed.
Feh, again.
Where the hell is my global warming?
(click on image for full size)
Labels:
energy madness
Swanson's office has been beset by high turnover amid discontent about her management and directives. The discord, including a controversial union-organizing effort in the office, has put DFL legislators in the middle of a fight between one of their party's top officeholders and one of its biggest constituencies, organized labor.Not only one of the DFL's largest constituencies, but also one of its biggest cash cows, which after being dissed by Lori Swanson, may just move on to greener pastures.
Labels:
Moonbat Adventures,
Stupid DFL Tricks
Silver Introduces “Courtesy” Pricing Bill, Wants a Millionaire TaxHeh. Live by liberalism, die by liberalism, I say.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver introduced a congestion pricing bill yesterday, but was quoted as saying "we have a long way to go" before it clears his chamber.
The Times reports that Silver, introducing the plan "as a courtesy to the new governor," agreed not to "block" it "in exchange for some version of the new tax on anyone making more than $1 million." But some Republican lawmakers who might otherwise support congestion pricing are opposed to the "millionaire tax" (as is Mayor Bloomberg).
Labels:
RINOs,
tax n spending
Feh.
Labels:
Heroes,
Wednesday Hero
This is illustrative of what the "multicultural" "kumbaya" lib crowd will never get-- Islam is not nor has it ever been interested in religious tolerance.
THE HAGUE, 09/04/08 - A primary school in Amsterdam wished to provide its pupils with an understanding for other cultures. But during a visit to a mosque, the children were told they were dogs.
With a view to developing understanding and respect for other cultures among children, primary school De Horizon regularly organises outings to various religious organisations. The chairman of the El Mouchidine mosque told the children from group 7 (aged 10) and their chaperones however that non-Muslims are dogs.
In a letter to the children's parents, the school expresses its regret at the incident: "We are shocked that during the guided tour, the mosque's chairman told the children and chaperoning parents that non believers were dogs. We consider this statement as unacceptable since we allow our children to partake in this project to develop respect for freedom of religious choice".
Labels:
dhimmis in the news,
Jihad Watch,
Religion of Peace
Somehow, I don't find this a bit surprising:
A conversation between "Governor Turnbuckle" and Glenn Beck:
And pretty soon just silence, maybe 10 seconds and he (Ventura) says, "You know what I've been doing? You know where I am?" I didn't even open my eyes. I said, "Nope." Said, "I've been surfing." "Great." "Yeah, I've been down surfing where there's a lot of brown people." I said, "Really?" Still I didn't even open my eyes. Just, I'm having that conversation. "Really?" "Yep. All the spooky brown people. You know, all those people we're all supposed to be so afraid of." So I opened up my eyes and I said, "You are really an angry man, aren't you?" "I'm not angry. I'm just sick and tired of our country being ripped apart." I said, "Well, then we have something in common." "I'm just trying to stand up and do the right thing." I said, "Well, again there's a second thing we have in common. We should talk sometime. It's been fun." Closed my eyes. "Can I ask you something?" I said, "I don't think so." He said, "No, just one thing. I just want to ask you one thing. Come on, I just want to ask you" -- come on. He was so stunned that I didn't say yes. "Come on, just one thing." "All right." "Why is it that nobody like you will ever talk about 9/11?" "Is that your question?" "Every time somebody like me who just has a few questions we want to be answered, how come we'll never get those questions answered?" That's why when in my head I went, "Oh, jeez, he's one of these guys. Of course he's crazy." I said, "What's the question you can't get answered?" "How can that building fall faster than gravity?" What? "You know, I know a few things about explosive because I" -- I said, "I know, you used to be a Navy SEAL. I've heard the story." "Yeah. Well, steel doesn't melt at that temperature." Really? That's weird because I think steel melts at the same temperature consistently. So all you have to do is get it to be hot enough. "It doesn't burn that hot, does it? Jet fuel doesn't burn that hot, does it?" I said, "As a matter of fact, everything in the World Trade Center can be explained if you'd like to talk to the people at Popular Mechanics who did a very long extensive study with some of the greatest scientists known to man. You know, I can put you in touch with them because I had all of these questions and I had them all answered. So if you'd like me, I could put you in touch with them if you really want to know." "Oh, really?" I said yes. "And who owns Popular Mechanics?" I said I don't know. Bye-bye. There's just no way. I don't know who owns Popular Mechanics. I don't know. Who owns Popular Mechanics? Is it Time-Warner?
Looks like former Governor Ventura has something in common with a certain presidential candidate and many of his followers.
Again, not a bit surprising.
Labels:
Moonbat Adventures
The ever-present, ever-whining Tony Sertich added that the Republican governor singled out projects in Democrat districts, particularly in St. Paul.
Of course, they say nothing regarding the fact that the overwhelming majority of the pork in the bill was earmarked for democrat districts, and that they consequently received the lion's share of the cuts.
But like whiny, spoiled teenagers who didn't get what they wanted from Daddy, the DFL had no response, except to whine "Why do you hate us?!?"
Given the (il)logical extension of that claim, and given that the DFL just recently passed the largest tax increase in Minnesota history, it just begs the question,
"Why do the DFLers in the Minnesota legislature hate taxpayers?"
I'm waiting for an answer from Ellen Anderson on that one.
"These projects are very important to the future of St. Cloud State and Bemidji State," Pawlenty said of his decision to allow hockey-related improvements in both survive.I guess that's not surprising, given "the goalie's" affinity for hockey.
Another interesting aspect, Pawlenty's cuts went "substantially below" that which he earlier stated would be acceptable for him to approve the measure. Larry Schumacher noted,
That leaves the possibility open for another bonding bill before the session ends that might contain items he wanted, such as land on Lake Vermillion in Cook County for a new state park or a new building at the Minneapolis Veteran's HomeI guess in the end, the Vets deserve the money more than the polar bears.
Labels:
Minnesota,
tax n spending
Not to mention that her story made for a P.R. nightmare for O'Bleness Hospital.Finally, there is Trina Bachtel, the 35-year-old woman from Meigs County, Ohio, who Clinton says died of complications from a pregnancy after hospital administrators refused her treatment because she lacked health insurance.
The story of Bachtel's death has become a central part of Clinton's campaign stump speech since she heard of the tragedy while campaigning in Ohio. She has used it as a modern-day parable to symbolize the plight facing 47 million Americans without health insurance and to promote her own plan for universal care.
When she speaks about Bachtel, her voice takes on the same grief-filled tone and cadence I heard in Memphis.
"She showed up and the hospital said, ‘You know, you've got to give us $100 before we can see you.' She didn't have $100," Clinton said during one campaign stop.
"So the young woman went back home. The next time she went back, she was in an ambulance. It turned out she lost the baby ... And after heroic efforts at the [Columbus] medical centre, she died."
Clinton told a North Dakota audience last week the tragedy leaves her "aching inside." But again she got it wrong. Her campaign agreed on the weekend to stop telling Bachtel's story at the request of O'Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens, Ohio.
A review of medical records showed Bachtel had health insurance and was never denied treatment at the hospital, where she delivered her baby stillborn. Bachtel's grandmother has also denied Clinton's account.
"Trina had good insurance. She was a good girl, and she worked hard," May Mayle told the New York Post. "That story made her look like she was a welfare bum."
Labels:
energy madness,
fun stuff
Andy Aplikowski made a motion that was passed that all delegates would be bound to support thw candidate that they originally indicated that they would support, but given their deception, who could trust them?
Deception belong on the democrat side, not ours.
Labels:
CD-6
Each candidate was asked two questions:
1: Are you a Republican?
2: Will you support John McCain? (yes, no or maybe)
Those who answered 'no' or 'maybe' will still be allowed to run for delegate, but everyone will see the answer. Even elected officials must run for delegate (no 'super delegates here).
-Lamented passage of transportation bill; we need more principled conservatives in office.
All we would have needed would be 4400 votes statewide in order to have held a majority in 2006.
"In MN, 2 % is considered a landslide. Razor-thin margins can go either way."
Talked about presidential race in terms of future SCOTUS appointments. "Perfection can't be the enemy of the good."
"If we don't stay engaged in the political process, we stand to lose all the blessings we have fought for for over 200 years could be lost over a couple of decades."
"Vox popularum est vox Dei." The voice of the people is the voice of God."
- an inscription under A. Lincoln's picture in the Minnesota chamber.
12:45p Lunch...
The delegates are then free to bring up items to bring up for further debate. If the rules committee recommended a potential platform item, and someone contested the item, it would be discussed later in greater detail; if an item that was singled out for extinction but was called for by 15 percent of the delegates, it would be brought up and voted upon. It was quite confusing at first.
12:13pm: Norm Coleman is speaking. Talked about his life in MN; "Minnesota needs problem-solvers, not satirists"
"We must never entertain the notion that we should require a permission slip from the UN in order to defend ourselves."
"A leader w/o followers is just a guy taking a walk."
(more on that later).
Credited voters with his election which paved the way for Roberts & Alito.
Change: "The only change you'll see from dems is the change left in your pocket after they suck out all the dollars."
"Folks are flocking to Obama, but he's not giving them anything substantial. This 'sugar high' won't last."
"We're out there protecting the family budget."
"Talk radio's rejection of John McCain is a death- wish. This Presidential race will be about character. John McCain's character beats 0bama's & Hillary's character by a country mile."
We need to wean ourselves from dependence on foreign oil. We need to do coal, nuclear and other forms of energy. (ANWR and other domestic sources would help, too, Norm).
"America is the world's last great hope. Lincoln was right then, and he's right now"
Mike Baumann, Capt of MN vets for freedom is speaking.
Iraq is centerpiece of GWOT.
Nothing more in-American than the call for reteat and defeat.
No manner of appeasement will stop the enemy.
Those who support Iraqi conflict are not 'warmongers'.
Went in to talk about Vets for Freedom and their support for our troops and their mission.
Reminded audience of the sacrifices made by our soldiers, and we must make the sacrifices necessary to ensure that we elect those who will support our troops and their mission, and we must not waiver in the face of adversity... Great speech, standing O.
Michele went on to relate that she voted the way she promised. She related that it's easier to say 'yes' to everything, but honor and duty oftentimes compels her to say no.
She went on to say that she's not beholden to any delegate, but she is beholden to the Constitution of the US, not to the UN or to the EU.
She went on to cite the preamble and of the God-given rights of life, liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,and emphasized that they are God-given, not government-given. She ended the speech w/ a call to pray for those who servw overseas. (another standing O)
Labels:
defense of life
It's been a long time coming, especially since I don't get to Trivia night but a couple-three times a year, but it's sweet, nonetheless!
Labels:
Fun with da MOB,
housekeeping
Labels:
Larry Pogemiller watch,
limousine liberals
Labels:
Heroes,
Wednesday Hero
Glenn Reynolds says, "psycho who?"
"When you guys win, you get to keep your money. When we win, we take your money."
(MN Rep. Cy Thao, DFL 65-A)
"Teacher says, everytime a bell rings, another democrat wants to raise your taxes."
-Zuzu Bailey-
