The World According to Hans Blix and Barack Obama

The Heat Is On...

And Jihad Jack Murtha is feeling a bit hot under the collar:

NEW – National media draws Murtha's ire

The Tribune-Democrat
A visibly angry Rep. John Murtha cut his Showcase for Commerce press conference short this morning after a reporters’ questions about Kuchera Defense Systems of Windber, which is under investigation by the federal government.

Kuchera offices were raided in January and the company was suspended from new Navy contracts last month. The Kuchera family and related companies are major campaign contributors for Murtha.

“What’s that got to do with me?” Murtha shot back to a reporter’s question about the investigation. “What do you think? Do you think I oversee these companies? That’s the Defense Department’s job. That’s not my job. You guys write these stories: You don’t have a clue what this is all about.”

But that's exactly what's bothering you, isn't it, Jack Murtha. The media are actually starting to get a clue, the same clue that we at Murtha Must Go!! have had since we started the blog in May of 2006. That you are a self-serving, self-indulgent, arrogant sorry excuse for a public official who thinks he can do whatever he wants to meet his ends, even going so far as to deny Constitutional rights to those who laid their lives on the line to defend them.

But now it isn't so easy, is it Jack. With two Republican challengers, and even a democrat primary challenger, the power you wielded so recklessly is now slipping through your greasy fingers like sands through an hourglass.

When you were giving your party cover as you declared the Iraq war unwinnable in November of 2005, Jack, you were the toast of the town. The darling of every antiwar moonbat, your eyes set greedily upon the majority leader post in Congress, you thought you were untouchable.

And now your plans are unraveling like a cheap $15 suit from the Goodwill, as you finally receive your comeuppance:

Murtha would not answer a question if he would distance himself from Kuchera, and cut the session off when asked if he had hired a lawyer.

“What kind of question is that?” Murtha fumed, leaving the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center, 201 Napoleon St.

The right kind of question, Jack. The kind of question the media should have asked you long ago.

Better late than never, I guess.

More Hopenchange on the Horizon?

I thought this news may have come out of Communist China. Perhaps Cuba. But from San Diego?

Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary have been told that they cannot invite friends to their San Diego, Calif. home for a Bible study — unless they are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to San Diego County.

"On Good Friday we had an employee from San Diego County come to our house, and inform us that the Bible study that we were having was a religious assembly, and in violation of the code in the county." David Jones told FOX News.

"We told them this is not really a religious assembly — this is just a Bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.

A few days later, the couple received a written warning that cited "unlawful use of land," ordering them to either "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit," the couple's attorney Dean Broyles told San Diego news station 10News.

But the major use permit could cost the Jones' thousands of dollars just to have a few friends over.

For David and Mary Jones, it's about more than a question of money.

"The government may not prohibit the free exercise of religion," Broyles told FOX News. "I believe that our Founding Fathers would roll over in their grave if they saw that here in the year 2009, a pastor and his wife are being told that they cannot hold a simple Bible study in their own home."

This, dear readers, cannot stand. This wholesale ignorance of the U.S. Constitution by government agencies must stop, or there will be an uprising the likes of which haven't been seen since Bunker Hill.

Just sayin.

**UPDATE***

The Steady Drip has more of what I'm Just sayin'

Larry Haws--Aren't you a little old to be throwing tantrums?

In Larry Haws' latest email to his constituents:

..as a supporter of the New Minnesota Miracle this session, I was disappointed that a framework for moving in that direction was not part of the final budget bill. This education funding reform would provide schools with stable, adequate and more equitable funding, with $600 million in net property tax relief. It would also have fully funded the state share of special education costs. Nevertheless, the legislation that we passed this year represented the best-case scenario for Minnesota’s schools and students in these challenging economic times.

[SNIP]

Of course, as I’m sure you know, the session ended with the Governor signing all of the appropriations bills, but vetoing the revenue to pay for them—leaving a significant budget deficit, despite having been presented with a balanced budget by the Legislature. As a result, he has announced an unprecedented plan to engage in massive unallotment. I’m concerned these proposed unallotments will have serious and lasting ramifications for our schools.

Absolute. Hogwash.

Far from being the "Minnesota Miracle" that Mr. Haws touts, the proposed DFL budget actually would have cut K-12 funding by nearly $1 Billion, while, via smart prioritizing, each of Minnesota Governor Pawlenty's budgets presented this session INCREASED funding for K-12 schools.

Unfortunately, despite numerous offers throughout the session, the Governor refused to publicly meet with legislative leaders to reach a compromise
with the Legislature.

More. Hogwash.

The DFL refused to entertain Pawlenty's notions of not saddling hard working Minnesotans with even more taxes during one of the toughest economic times in decades. Pawlenty presented the Minnesota DFL with two balanced budgets, and the DFL dragged their knuckles and refused to work on solutions and instead spent their entire time in the legislative session (not to mention the meetings held during the summer months) engaged in exercises in mental masturbation and political posturing; chained to their certitude that, as per their usual behavior, they could milk the Minnesota taxpaying public into funding millions more dollars in special session costs and per diems.

You see, Larry Haws and his DFL cohorts thought it was going to be business as usual. Little did they know nor count on the fact that they were dealing with a governor who had enough of engaging in their petty adolescent games. Little did the teenagers with credit cards, a/k/a Minnesota DFLers know that their modus operandi of passive aggressive gamesmanship would no longer be tolerated by a governor who was not above being the parent.

And now, like youngsters who had to be spanked by their father, Larry Haws & his Minnesota DFL cohorts, caught literally with their pants down, are running around and whining and doing everything except taking responsibility that it was they, not the governor, who got themselves into this mess.

Dick Cheney's Day in Court

Click here for Cheney's speech.

He has more gravitas in his little finger than Obama has or ever will have in his lifetime.

Toyota Prius--Menace to Society?

Amidst all the hoopla about SUVs being the ruination of mother earth, causing all kinds of environmental mayhem that will kill us all, I would like to turn your attention to an even larger menace to society: The Toyota Prius:

Eight-year-old, Owen Erickson, was hit by a Toyota Prius while biking with a friend that he supposedly didn’t hear passing by. Although little Owen wasn’t injured, he did end up on the hood of the car.

Proof positive that hybrid cars are a menace, and target young children and the handicapped for their evil misdeeds.

I call on Congress to pass a law banning all hybrid vehicles.

After all, it's for the chiiildrennn.

Henry "Nostrilitis" Waxman: "Don't Bother Me With Details"

So let the envirowhackos write the bill fairytale and just rubberstamp it.

Yeah. That's sound policy decisionmaking.

A Twitter Conversation with Mariel Hemingway...

Marielhemingway

RT @TwilightEarth: From @nature_org: Is a slow economy good for the planet? U.S. carbon emissions fell 2.8% LY http://short.to/au20

0 more result since you started searching. Refresh to see them.

1. Leo_Pusateri @Marielhemingway A slow economy is great for you, dear. You have a job. You have money. Let the "little people" eat cake.
   
   
   
2. Marielhemingway@Leo_Pusateri i promise you ..u don't know my situation AT ALL..my attitude is never thinking about"little" people unless I am one of them. [still trying to figure out what that means--ed]
3. @Marielhemingway My point was, looking at the present economic situation as + is shortsighted. Mother Earth will take care of herself.
4. @Marielhemingway Trying vainly to "save a planet" that doesn't require "saving" is part & parcel of what got our economy in this mess...

To be continued?....

Don't get me wrong, I think that Mariel Hemingway is a great person.

But education needs to start somewhere.

****UPDATE****

Just got this message..

Marielhemingway i agree with you the planet doesn't need saving..i absolutely agree..just didn't want u to think i was being righteous.

I knew Mariel was a great person :-)

DFL Pandemonium in the Senate..

One would think that the Keystone cops were in charge of the Minnesota Senate. Actually, the DFL is. But I repeat myself.

Coming to a Minnesota city near you...

Having been scorned by "The Parent," Governor Tim Pawlenty, the dejected DFLers (a/k/a spoiled teenagers with credit cards) in the Minnesota Legislature will embark on a "Cry Me A River" tour around Minnesota today. While you're reading the story, as a public service, the Ice Palace has provided you with some relevant music:
First, the official DFL tour song:


Next, I present, "96 Tears" by Question Mark & The Mysterians..

And finally, this one's for Margaret Kelliher and Tarryl Clark:

Proud. Dad.

My son Doug is graduating today from Law Enforcement training. Go, Doug!

Pawlenty Plays the Parent

In an effort to fend off the inevitable "special session" that would have cost the taxpaying citizens millions of dollars (on top of the tax increases the Minnesota DFL was already planning to stick to us), Governor Tim Pawlenty today again played the adult in stopping the foolishness. Steve Gottwalt, in a letter to constituents, writes:

Dear Neighbor:

This afternoon, Governor Tim Pawlenty announced there will be no special session and no government shutdown. The 2009 session will definitely end Monday night at midnight. The governor has decided to take the bills the DFL majority has put on his desk, line-item veto in some places, and sign them. The DFL bills irresponsibly leave a gap of $3 billion, and the governor is in a position to unallot to cover the gap, although he said he would prefer a negotiated solution with the DFL leadership. They now have a few days to do that.

We face a $6.4 billion budget deficit and the Constitution states we must balance our bottom line by July 1. But the legislative majority has failed to get the job done, so the governor's announcement today says he will do the hard work of erasing the deficit with or without DFL cooperation.

The following is Governor Pawlenty's news release. I will continue to provide updates as we close out the 2009 State Legislative Session.

Sincerely in service,

Rep. Steve Gottwalt
House District 15A
St. Cloud, Waite Park, St. Augusta and Rockville


NO SPECIAL SESSION, NO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN -- GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SAYS HE WILL BALANCE STATE BUDGET

-Governor outlines plan to use executive action to balance budget, says
his preference is to sign into law a negotiated budget agreement --

Saint Paul - At the State Capitol this afternoon, Governor Tim Pawlenty said, “Politics as usual around this place is over. The people of Minnesota expect and deserve timely and decisive action. I will not let the legislature’s work spill over into a special session. We are notgoing to waste taxpayer money with a costly overtime or have a state government shutdown, especially in this economy. My preference would be for DFL legislators to work with me on a reasonable budget solution, but if they can’t get that done I will take executive action to balance the budget.”

“A key principle is that the DFL-controlled legislature shouldn’t spend more money than the state has available,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Unfortunately, they have done just that and now I’ll fix it.”

Over the past week, DFL majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate passed budget bills that leave a $3 billion shortfall between spending and revenues.

Governor Pawlenty announced today that he would use line-item vetoes during the upcoming period and his unallotment authority in July 2009 to bring the state budget into balance.

“Passing a balanced budget is the legislature’s most fundamental job. Unfortunately, so far this year the DFL majority has failed to get the job done,” Governor Pawlenty said. “In January, I outlined a balanced budget that prioritized important areas like public safety, military and veterans, and K-12 education. Now we’re in the final days of this legislative session and it’s time to let the people of Minnesota know that this will be resolved. It should get done on time and I’m saying it will get done on time.

“If the DFL cannot balance this budget without reaching into Minnesotans’ pockets and increasing our already uncompetitive taxes in ways that will kill job growth, I’m prepared to make the tough decisions they’ve avoided and take action to balance the budget.”

The Governor said final decisions have not been made regarding possible impacts to state programs, but areas could include subsidized health care programs, welfare, and other social services; K-12 and highereducation; and local government aid. In addition, state employee layoffs could be used to save additional funds. In Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle has said approximately 1,100 state employees could be laid off as
part of their budget cutting measures, along with 16 furlough days over the next two years.

A compromise offer from Governor Pawlenty to DFL legislative leaders earlier this week incorporated a House DFL position (a larger K-12 education shift than proposed by the Governor), a Senate DFL position (no funds included for the budget reserve, the Governor proposed $250 million for the budget reserve) and a reduction in a proposal that the DFL indicated they didn’t support (agreeing to use only half of the
tobacco appropriation bond funds). Even though the Governor was willing to move in their direction in all three areas, DFL leaders rejected the offer.

Governor Pawlenty has also compromised during this legislative session by showing a willingness to work with DFL legislators regarding their proposed fee increases for the courts system, their lower levels of funding for K-12 education and their lack of interest in the Governor’s proposals to reduce business taxes to grow jobs and spur investment.

The Governor stated that he is unwilling to raise taxes on Minnesotans, especially as the state looks to grow jobs and recover from the economic recession. DFL legislators have proposed numerous tax increases this session, including:

● New top income tax rate of 9 percent, which would befourth-highest in the nation, including:
● New top income tax rate of 9.25 percent
● Across-the-board income tax increases
● New sales tax on Internet downloads, including music
● Elimination of the local property tax cap, enacted just last year
● Higher taxes on beer, wine and alcohol
● Higher taxes on cigarettes
● Allowing counties to increase the sales tax by 0.5 percent
● Eliminating home mortgage interest deduction
● Eliminating deduction when a person donates an organ
● Eliminating elderly or disabled income subtraction
● Eliminating child and dependent care credit
● Eliminating exemption for Minnesota state and municipal bonds interest income
● Eliminating long-term care credit

“I’m willing to work with the DFL on a reasonable plan, but I’m not willing to let them squeeze more money out of taxpayers and further burden job creators and employers in the midst of the toughest economy in more than 60 years,” Governor Pawlenty said. “One way or another, we will get the budget situation resolved, keeping taxpayers and families first in our minds.”

When you have a bunch of spoiled teenagers, a/k/a the DFL in control of the State legislature, whining for Daddy's credit card, what's a parent to do?

Gene Pelowski: A DFLer Who Gets It.

DFLer Gene Pelowski has guts. He's one of the few with the balls (and the honor) to tell it like it is:

In the Middle Ages, a serf could petition the lord to stop paying taxes. The lord would come to the serf’s home and pour a quantity of wine on the serf’s roof. If the wine ran down the serf paid his taxes. If the wine ran up the serf did not have to pay.

The Minnesota Legislature is sending tax bills to Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s roof in the hope that he will sign them. Much as the medieval serf hoped the wine would run up, the Minnesota Legislature hopes that Pawlenty will sign a tax bill. The medieval serfs had an excuse — they had no education and had never heard of gravity. The Minnesota Legislature and Pawlenty only have the excuse of playing politics.
The economic crisis in this country and in Minnesota demands that a politician become a statesperson and do what is best for Minnesota and the country. Whatever is done this session will only be the beginning of a process that will take years to resolve Minnesota’s economic woes. The $6.4 billion crisis can only be addressed by the Minnesota Constitution and its requirement to balance the budget that can be accomplished with a combination of revenue increases and cuts or just cuts, but the budget has to be balanced.

Pawlenty has repeatedly stated that he will not sign a revenue increase. There are not enough Republican votes in the House for an override of his veto of a tax bill, so the entire $6.4 billion shortfall will have to be addressed with cuts. Since the session ended in May 2008, I have met with local units of government and constituent groups asking them to prepare for what was then predicted to be a $2 billion to $4 billion shortfall (and is now a $6.4 billion shortfall) and to prepare their budgets accordingly.

Cuts this deep will transform Minnesota’s relationships with local units of government, K-12 education, higher education, and state agencies. Services once taken for granted will no longer be part of Minnesota’s quality of life. The impact the cuts will have on every aspect of life in Minnesota should have been the discussion all during session.

Instead we are pouring wine on Gov. Pawlenty’s roof and hoping it will run up. The gravity of this crisis requires that we at least tell Minnesota the truth and do the best with the resources that we have, with or without a tax bill.

DFLer Gene Pelowski represents District 31A in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Minnesota DFL has a collective hissy fit...

Uncontent until they can tax everything and everyone under the sun, the Minnesota Democrats (DFLers) in the Minnesota House and Senate are throwing a collective tantrum, because Governor Pawlenty doesn't want them to have their way on tax increases.

So, instead of setting priorities, instead of looking at substantially trimming their own budget before asking Minnesota taxpayers to trim theirs, the DFL-run Minnesota Legislature has passed a "Lights On" bill that would have the effect of forcing a government shutdown, in an attempt to force Governor Pawlenty to sign on to what amounts to onerous tax increases.

This "Lights on" bill would mean that government would essentially go on as is, without any reforms or downsizing, nor setting of spending priorities, until the government literally runs out of money. This, of course, is unsustainable.

This proves that the DFL cares nothing for Minnesota's taxpayers, and only cares about paying off their cronies in the unions and other teat suckers of the government's taxpayer-funded largesse.

There is still ample time for the Minnesota DFL to come to the bargaining table. Governor Pawlenty has presented no fewer than two balanced budget options. The Governor was even willing to compromise with DFLers on some budget targets. What he won't compromise on is to burden Minnesota taxpayers with even more taxes in what is a demonstrably shaky economy, that will become even more shaky as wealthier taxpayers register their disapproval with higher taxes by moving out of state.

But it is clear that the Minnesota DFL would opt for a scorched-earth policy than even fathom the thought of setting priorities and budgeting without tax increases. Governor Pawlenty showed them how to do it.

But like self-indulgent teenagers with taxpayer-funded credit cards, the Minnesota DFL, including Larry Haws, Larry Hosch, and Tarryl Clark will have none of it.

The Official Barack Obama 2012 Campaign Song

St. Cloud Superman Sighting...

.I was passing by the Dairy Queen today, and the St. Cloud Superman had his very own version of "Mini-Me,"donning a "V for Vendetta" mask.

Not being one to pass up an opportunity for some blog-fodder on a light news day, I stopped and asked John if I could take his picture (to which he happily consented).

I remarked about his "V for Vendetta" mask on his protege, to which he commented, "There's a line in the movie, where the character says, "People shouldn't be afraid of its government; government should be afraid of the people. I thought it a fitting symbol for this day and age."

Can't say that I disagree.

Just Sayin...

"Hope Rush Limbaugh's kidneys' fail"

"Freaking hillarious!"

"Hope Obama's Kidneys fail!"

"Hate mongering racist!"

Just sayin...

Obama's Mentor?

I was wondering why gas prices have gone up nearly a quarter and why oil prices have spiked just within the last week (check out the oil price banner in the sidebar).. and then I found out. It was, of course Obama's main man, his fellow traveller, who was busy in Venezuela showing Obama the ropes.

Take careful notes, Barack; this is how socialism is done:

A fresh round of expropriations in Venezuela has raised fears that the Opec producer’s already declining oil output could sink to its lowest level in the past 20 years.

Troops were mobilised over the weekend to assist Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, in seizing the assets of some 60 oil service companies, after a law was approved last week that paves the way for the state to take increasing control over its all-important oil industry.

“To God what is God’s, and to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” said Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez, as he presided over the expropriation of at least a dozen rigs, more than 30 oil terminals and some 300 boats.

“Today we also say: to the people what is the people’s,” the socialist leader said to roars of approval from red-clad supporters on the shores of Lake Maracaibo, the heartland of the nation’s oil production.

This move forms part of a broader assault against the private sector, which Mr Chávez has increasingly blamed as Venezuela slides into recession. Simultaneously he is engaging in what opposition leaders say is a campaign of persecution of his political foes.

I'm sure our socialist in chief is watching the proceedings, admiring from afar:

"Way to go, mah main man!~"

Megalomaniacal Murtha

First he declared the Iraq War all but lost, and more than once called for an immediate withdrawal. Seeing as how the Left just loved him, invited him to all the right parties, and even gave him awards befitting Benedict Arnold, Murtha felt even more brazen in his lust for power, when he declared Marines at Haditha guilty of murder, without any official briefing, again, to further his drive for power.

Then, in 2008, came William Trower Russell. A retired Army Colonel, who still knows the meaning of honor and practices it, Russell had Murtha running scared for the first time in his checkered, scandal-laden political career. So scared was he that he had to call in Bill Clinton to wag his finger at PA-12 constituents in a last-ditch effort to save his sorry, fat, political backside.

Having won re-election, now Murtha is again usurping his power in another nefarious way:

Russell, a retired Army man who plans another run against Murtha next year, now contends that the congressman’s chief of staff used coarse language while threatening to have the GOP candidate “recalled” to active military duty.

Russell further claims that Murtha’s office has contacted his former commanding officer, also to inquire about a potential recall.

“This is a brazen abuse of power and a threat to the integrity of both the Department of Defense and the Congress of the United States,” Russell wrote in a recent fundraising letter to local voters.

Russell, who last year lost by about 15 percentage points to the veteran congressman, said the encounter with Murtha Chief of Staff John Hugya happened at a March banquet benefitting the National Rifle Association in Washington County.

“To my face, (Hugya) said, ‘What are you going to do when we get the new Secretary of the Army seated and have your (expletive) recalled to active duty,’ ” Russell wrote.

Murtha’s office is not denying that the exchange took place.

But spokesman Matt Mazonkey also claims that Russell’s letter leaves out an important part of the conversation.

“Mr. Hugya, who is a retired Marine Colonel, was reminding Mr. Russell that his conduct while in uniform during the last campaign was in violation of sections of the uniform code of military justice” and a Department of Defense directive, Mazonkey said in a written statement.

That directive forbids those on active military duty from campaigning for federal office.

The contention, apparently, is that Russell should be recalled so that he can face charges for allegedly campaigning while he was on a 90-day, active-duty Army assignment last year.

Those allegations have been brewing since last summer. But Russell still contends they are “absolutely false.”

While he was on duty from April 30 through the end of July, Russell said, “the campaign committee operated independently of me.”

And that, my friends, is absolutely TRUE. William Russell did not personally begin campaigning until his discharge from the Army. But don't let a little thing like the truth get in the way of Jihad Jack Murtha holding on to power like a hooker grasps her last 5 dollar bill.

Bottom line is, to Jack Murtha, the Constitution and the rights it extends may as well be a roll of toilet paper. He will crumple it, trample it, and do anything he can to extend his reach on his power.

Megalomania? You bet.

PA-12-- are you starting to get buyer's remorse yet?

Gads I love spring..

And a happy Mother's Day!

Something to think about while you chuckle...

You may want to get your reading glasses on for this one:



(h/t Pro Patria)

My Redeemer Lives!

A touching tribute to Father-Son team Dick & Rick Hoyt; and to the power of FAITH!

Hey Mr. Obama--you say you want to keep our country SAFE?!?

(h/t Warner Todd Huston)

US : 1 - Polar Bears: 0 - Hippies -1

The Department of the Interior is standing by the Bush era policy that kept the government from using the polar bear population as an excuse to push Global Warming policies, Upsetting these folks

Pictured, Obama space hippies.

I've never gotten why these people want to save this animal.. Sure it looks cute and cuddly, I admit, when I see a kiddie polar bear I wanna hug it, but the difference is that I know this:



Turns into this:

Pictured: a stupid stupid hippie.


The Hippies have promised to sue: "Right after the drum circles, your ass is toast!" [citation needed]

I propose to fight the hippie threat, we follow Maddox's Plan to deal with these "people". Sponsor a Vegetarian
Simply state that for every animal they don't eat, you will eat three,

What does it mean to sponsor a vegetarian? It means that you have to find someone in your life who's a really big pain in everyone's ass every time you want to go out to eat, and then you commit yourself to eating THREE times the amount of meat you'd normally consume to make up for all the meat that your vegetarian buddy isn't eating. It's that simple! That way, you can reverse the guilt trip that they've been laying on us for years by not only neutralizing their cause, but making it actually worse by eating more animals than would have ever been eaten had they not chosen to become vegetarians!

Its pure genius, for more of Maddox, simply check out http://maddox.xmission.com/

Pelosi--liar, liar, pants on fire?

Ed Morrissey has more evidence that Pelosi lied.

Another day, another DFL tax increase in Minnesota

Just as sure as the sun rises in the East...

Once again, the Minnesota Democrats (DFL) have turned to tax increases to balance the budget.

Surprise, surprise.

This tax increase, passed under cover of darkness, provides for yet another billion dollars that they expect will be foisted on the backs of Minnesota taxpayers. No reform. No reductions of waste. Just tax 'em to death.

This tax increase:

● Imposes a new income tax rate of 9 percent for single filers earning more than $141,250 and joint filers earning more than $250,000 that will take $516 million out of Minnesota’s economy and give it to the government.

●The new income tax would be tied for the fourth-highest in the country (quite an accomplishment, if you're an avowed socialist. No doubt the Tarryl Clark, Larry Haws, and Larry Hosch look at that statistic as a badge of honor--ED)

● This is an absolute job killer: 61.6% of all returns in the $250,000 tier report income from a business

● Here is how Minnesota would compare with surrounding states on
the Democrats’ new 4th-tier income tax:
o Wisconsin: 6.75%
o Iowa: 8.98 %
o North Dakota: 5.54%
o South Dakota: 0%

●This would allegedly “blink off” in 2014 if there is a surplus. [Yeah... like any tax "blinks off." I've got some primo swampland in the Sahara desert to sell you if you believe that--Ed].

● Raises alcohol taxes by $240.9 million, including increases of 275 percent on 3.2 beer and 143 percent on strong beer [That does it. Now they've gone and taxed my beer. I'm sure you know that this means war--Ed]

● Puts a new tax on high interest rate loans that would give the government another $216.3 million.

And again, in their zeal to get even with the "evil rich," the DFL thinks they can fleece the 'rich' with impunity, in the mistaken belief that like some kind of docile cow, the 'rich' will stick around to get fleeced again and again and again:

Experts have long warned that Minnesota start-ups would flee to Wisconsin. Despite an early push from Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the DFL-controlled Legislature, a proposal to create angel investment tax credits now remains bogged down in contentious budget negotiations. The Senate tax bill includes the tax credits but the House version does not.

So Tarryl Clark, Larry Haws and Larry Hosch continue to fiddle while the Minnesota economy burns.

How...quaint.

***Update*** 9:06pm : This just in from a blackberry from a local legislator: The DFL didn't get their way on the tax hike

Their billion dollar tax increase did not get the required 90 votes, and
therefore did not pass. To punish us for that, they're bringing us back in
tomorrow during the Gov's Fishing Opener.

Poor babies.

If the track record of the infantile behavior of these teenagers with credit cards is any indication, with any luck the DFL will take their ball and go home.

"Benedict Arlen"--"We don't need no stinkin' principles!"

When asked if there is a shortage of "Jewish Republicans" in the Senate, Senator "Turncoat" Benedict Arlen Specter originally had this to say,"

Asked whether he cared about a shortage of Jewish Republicans in the Senate, Specter replied: “I sure do. There’s still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner.”

Specter, seeming to forget he was now a full-fledgd card-carrying out-of-the-closet democrat, thought twice about his endorsement of Coleman:

“In the swirl of moving from one caucus to another, I have to get used to my new teammates,” he said. “I’m ordinarily pretty correct in what I say. I’ve made a career of being precise. I conclusively misspoke.”

Asked who he’s backing now in elections, Specter said, “I’m looking for more Democratic members. Nothing personal.”

Selling out to the highest bidder, are we, Arlen? If principles were gas, Mr. Specter, it seems, wouldn't be able to drive a pissant's car half-way around a bee-bee.

Mr. Specter has more in common with a Hennepin Avenue Streetwalker than with any principled Republican.

Good riddance.

I Knew There Was Something Rotten in Denmark...

I've been hearing a lot of spots lately on KTLK-FM from a coalition of groups that were pushing the passage of Senate Bill 787 (the Clean Water Restoration Act). While listening to the ad, that among other things promised that its lack of passage would leave "polluters" to have free reign in polluting Mother Nature and her forest creatures, one of the groups paying for the ad was a group called "Earth Justice."

Earth Justice?

Just the word "justice" in the name implies that someone must be punished for some kind of infraction, imagined or otherwise. In other words, "You've polluted Mother Earth--now bend over and take it like a man, you polluter!"

So, when the ad asked listeners to "Call Senator Klobuchar and ask her to support this bill," I knew immediately what to do. I called Senator Klobuchar and asked her to vote against the bill (not that it would do a helluva lot of good, anyway). I instinctively knew that any bill the enviro-whackos were supporting would be certain to 1. Take away liberties; 2. Cost a helluva lot of money or 3. Both.

Turns out my instincts were right:



So, if you live outside of Minnesota and have a U.S. Senator who will actually listen to reason, do all of us a favor and tell them to vote down this travesty of justice. I'd tell Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar that, but, well, she's a democrat, and has a 100% democrat lemming voting record, and even if the Democrats introduced a bill that would re-establish slavery, she'd vote for it, just because there was a "D" next to the sponsor's name.

This, of course, is just another in what will be a parade of bills by democrats designed to solidify governmental power and to abolish individual liberty.

Yes, elections do matter, folks.

Wednesday Hero Blogburst 5-6-2009

1st Lt. Michael A. Cerrone
24 years old from Clarksville, Tennessee
2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
November 12, 2006


Cerrone's men said in written statements of remembrance that he put their safety and welfare first. He lead from the front and all of the paratroopers would "unquestionably" follow him into battle.

His platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Ronald H. Berryhill, said Cerrone was more than a leader, but a friend and "little brother."

He remembers the first day Cerrone got to the unit. At the time, he was shy and quiet. But after a few months, he became more outspoken.

"I am truly blessed to have known him and to serve under his leadership," Berryhill wrote. "He will never be forgotten. I will carry him with me always and I will always watch over his platoon. We will make him proud of his boys."

Sgt. Cerrone was killed when a suicide bomber detonated the bomb he had strapped to himself in Samarra, Iraq. Also killed in the attack was Specialist Harry "Buck" Winkler. You can read more at BLACKFIVE.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Thought Police.

Speaking out against those who have sexual thoughts about children? Despising those who have sexual thoughts about children? According to legislation making its rounds in the U.S. Congress, you may have just committed a HATE CRIME.

Read the link.

I'm going to have a snifter of brandy, now.

Idiots. All of them.

An Excrement Sandwich By Any Other Name...

Knowing that the gig is up, and nobody's falling for the 'climate change' sham, much less the global warming sham, the enviro-whackos tried to re-adorn the same old "ram socialism down your throats whether you like it or not!" excrement sandwich with ruby red lipstick, leotards and fishnet stockings, hoping that nobody will notice.

EcoAmerica has been conducting research for the last several years to find new ways to frame environmental issues and so build public support for climate change legislation and other initiatives. A summary of the group’s latest findings and recommendations was accidentally sent by e-mail to a number of news organizations by someone who sat in this week on a briefing intended for government officials and environmental leaders.

Just like they tried to re-frame 'global warming' into 'climate change' (because they can't deny the fact that the globe's been actually cooling since 1998), they're trying it again. And just like an old Scooby Doo movie, the culprits exclaimed, "And I would've gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for you meddling kids!~"

The dirty little secret of this all is that legislation and policies ostensibly crafted to combat 'global warming,' then 'climate change' and now, "moving away from the dirty fuels of the past," has never been about pollution, global warming, or anything whatsoever to do with the environment.

Rather, this charade has always been about personal power, greed, and pushing a third world existence on the plebiscite masses while lavishing existences upon themselves that would make an Egyptian Pharoah green with envy.

So, enviro-whackos, continue to dress up your little excrement sandwich of an agenda in any terms, pseudo-scientific or frilly verbiage you'd like.

Knock yourselves out.

Then proceed to eat it yourself, cause we ain't bitin'.

Davi Fitzsimmons Elected CD-6 RPM Chair

Just moments ago..

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Michael Brodkorb (MDE) is now stumping for RPM deputy chair

Teh mayer

Andy Aplikowsk, pictured here schmoozing, is running for the CD-6 position for the State Central Exec committee in his bid to be a thorn in Ron Carey's side.

Jim Knoblach just got done speaking for his running for chair of CD-6. He's got my vote

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Norm Coleman: 'We're only one vote away from nationalized health care."

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Norm Coleman is speaking now.."Michele Bachmann is fearless, because she operates on principles!"

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By the way...the kid didn't require a teleprompter.

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Still live blogging CD 6. Right now (8:59am) we're listening to a high school student speak on the diffs between a democracy & a republic. great Speech!

At the MN CD-6 RPM Convention

I'm an alternate today..just heard a great speech from Michelle Bachmann...I'm doing a bit of microblogging from my PDA.

Elections. Have. Consequences.

For all of you conservatives who sat on your thumbs up to the third knuckle during the 2008 elections, thinking that you were gonna "teach the GOP a lesson," and thinking that it'll mean we can mop up the mess in 2012, I have a few words for you...

Thanks a lot.

You mental midgets have given an avowed socialist the right, nay, the responsibility to appoint a like-minded half-wit to the highest court of the land, the sole purpose of which is to ensure that we follow the Constitution.

Well, ladies and germs, you can pretty much kiss the Constitution goodbye.

I view that quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with people's hopes and struggles as an essential ingredient for arriving as just decisions and outcomes. I will seek somebody who is dedicated to the rule of law, who honors our constitutional traditions, who respects the integrity of the judicial process and the appropriate limits of the judicial role. I will seek somebody who shares my respect for constitutional values on which this nation was founded, and who brings a thoughtful understanding of how to apply them in our time.
-Barack Hussein Obama-

A little bit about Obama's "Constitutional Values:"

In other words, Barack Obama's words today, were, in a phrase, full of shit.

His handing over Chrysler to the UAW, his spending money like there's no tomorrow, are no doubt making the Founding Fathers spin in their graves so fast that if you hooked them up to dynamos they could power lower Manhattan.

It was no accident or slip of the tongue when Obama made this infamous quip:

It was certainly no accident, given his allegiance to Bill Ayers, Bernadine Dohrn, Saul Alinsky, and Jeremiah Wright that Obama clearly expressed his beliefs that the Constitution is, in his estimation, a flawed document; and it's not just mere political rhetoric when, as recently as a couple of days ago, "the One" proclaimed

"We have begun re-making America."

Remaking America--into what? What, in Obama's estimation, is America lacking? Well, if you can't put all of the pieces together and get a good idea of what Obama wants to re-make America into, I've got a short bus for you to ride. And getting a like-minded radical SCOTUS nominee, who also thinks that the Constitution is "flawed," is a mighty big step toward re-making America into a glorified "werker's paradise."

Pishawww, you say?

“[W]e need somebody who’s got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it’s like to be a young teenage mom. The empathy to understand what it’s like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old. And that’s the criteria by which I’m going to be selecting my judges.”

-Barack Hussein Obama-

That's the criteria. Empathy. Don't know about you, but I saw nothing about knowledge of or adherence to the Constitution in that quip. Nothing. Zip. Zero. Oh, and did I mention, nada, for our south-of-the border friends?

So, to my conservative friends who stayed home on election day, or even moreso to those "oh-so-clever-by-half" so-called 'conservatives' who "oh-so-fashionably" climbed aboard the Obama bus-trip-to-a-living hell last November, thanks.

For nothing.