Forwarded to me by a friend. I wouldn't walk accross the street to see those over paid, mostly non-voting, jocks play.
The owner of the Phoenix Suns basketball team, Robert Sarver, opposes AZ's new immigration laws. Arizona's Governor, Jan Brewer, released the following statement in response to Sarver's criticism of the new law:
"What if the owners of the Suns discovered that hordes of people were sneaking into games without paying? What if they had a good idea who the gate-crashers are, but the ushers and security personnel were not allowed to ask these folks to produce their ticket stubs, thus non-paying attendees couldn't be ejected. Furthermore, what if Suns' ownership was expected to provide those who sneaked in with complimentary eats and drink? And what if, on those days when a gate-crasher became ill or injured, the Suns had to provide free medical care and shelter?" -Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
News Media Sources - Three of the Best
Wall Street Journal - my top source of information
Fox news medias
Newsmax.com
All conservative to offset the liberal and left-wing press.
Fox news medias
Newsmax.com
All conservative to offset the liberal and left-wing press.
An Educators Attack on Our American Capitalistic System
As of 2004, there were over 7,000,000, that’s seven million corporations in the U.S.A. and if they were all run like the public school system, they would all be bankrupt. I allow this letter on my blog site to show how well educated people like Jerry Becker have empathy for the populist bent that is destroying a large part of the educational system in this country. Or maybe Dr. Becker is just publishing another teacher's opinion.
Yes, I agree, that many large Corporations had and have boards made up of "good old boys and girls" but what would one expect out of 7 millions corporate businesses? Most anyone also realizes that many school boards make decisions that are detrimental to our system. But many of these board members are elected because better qualified people do not want to put their established reputations attacked by unqualified journalists and liberal editorial boards. Unfortunately, people are elected who are not qualified to run large school systems. Especially in non-community based schools like School District #150 in Peoria.
This 28 year union member teacher, tries to defend the promotion by seniority that seldom works in more than 7 million corporations in this country, many of these corporations being small businesses and not at all like the few large corporations that sometimes abuse the system. He tries to defend the ugly, lengthy and costly legal process to fire teachers. A system that allows many teachers who should not be teaching others to make more money every year and accumulate more retirement and health care benefits.
He is absolutely opposed to incentives which are the backbone of the private sector. The private sector overall does not support tenure nor promote on tenure. They do support performance and loyalty as long as economic conditions permit. That some large corporations with "tort" CEO's went bankrupt for failing to perform. Hand picked boards failed to ask the right questions yet picked up their "tort" pay. But to brand the more than 7 million corporations and their boards; most of them do not have boards, as incompetent is extreme populism and ignorance. This man taught kids for 28 years. No wonder this country IS on a downward slant to socialism.
Since much of the problems in society, both public and private, are the result of incompetent but well meaning Board of Directors. The question here is how to correct the public school system, the foremost priority of all communities. Here is an idea that I've pointed out in numerous blogs:
Elected school boards should be small, maybe as few as three. If three was the number decided by a volunteer committee, redistricting would be necessary to allow all of the citizens to be represented. The positions should be full time and and elected board members must be well paid. They should each have a small office and share a common secretary. Elected terms should be 3 years with a 9 year limit of consecutive service. Three years after the first election, one board member must leave the board; I suggest that member be the one who drew the least number of votes. This would leave two experienced members on the board. In the sixth year or 2nd election; possibly by lottery or least number of votes, a six year or 2nd term member must leave the board and a new member elected. This process would then continue with 2 experienced board member serving at election time. This system would allow new talent to come aboard. Any board member could re-run for office three years after completion of their elected term.
Under no circumstances should this board hire an educator to administrate systems the size of Peoria with a budget over $150 million. Look what education administrators have done to Peoria Public School District #150 financial system and business administration. Superintendents must have a background based on business administration, marketing and finance. Educators would be hired as Associate Administrators.
The current system in Peoria School District #150 elects school board members to 5 year terms with no pay, no office, and with little secretarial help. The new system would allow a member to serve as long as nine years but that member could be removed as could any elected official in the public sector who fails to perform as per contract. Public officials in say, Peoria County or City, can be voted out of office so admittedly there is only job security for the term for which they were elected.
These high paying positions would attract a better quality of board members. This is no insult to current board members or superintendents. The current system in place for a couple of centurys must be changed similar to the change made in D.C This system established a couple of years ago appears to be working as best it can under extremely difficult conditions.
A volunteer committee appointed by the Mayor would oversee the whole system and would appoint someone to fill the unexpired term of any board member leaving their elected position before their term of office was completed. This committee would also be composed of rotating members to here again bring fresh ideas to the system.
Sounds impossible to change laws and systems because resistance to change? Sure, but better to try some well thought out and planned changes than to continue on our path to mediocrity. Change has to start with new ideas. Has this country run out of innovation in our public sector as some intellects believe?
Here is the widely circulated letter.
Merle
----- Original Message -----
From: Jerry Becker
To: JERRY-P-BECKER-USA-L@listserv.siu.edu
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 12:59 PM
Subject: Corporate Criticism of Teacher Pay Is Sheer Hypocrisy
*************************
From Education Week [American Education's Newspaper of Record], Monday, July 19, 2010. See http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/walt_gardners_reality_check/2010/07/corporate_criticism_of_teacher_pay_is_hypocrisy.html
*************************
Corporate Criticism of Teacher Pay Is Sheer Hypocrisy
By Walt Gardner
Corporate leaders have repeatedly demanded that teachers be paid strictly on the basis of the performance of their students because that's how the "real world" works. Yet even when they miss their goals, top executives continue to receive fat paychecks, including generous bonuses. Curiously, this double standard is given short shrift in the debate over school reform.
In the summer and fall of 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission sent letters to 350 corporations to gather information about how executive pay is determined. The SEC expected full cooperation in light of of public anger over the issue. But instead, it had to send second letters to a majority of the same companies because of the unsatisfactory replies it received. Their lackadaisical response raised some eyebrows at the time, but nothing much beyond that reaction. What has emerged since then, however, is a three-part pattern of hypocrisy about corporate remuneration that can no longer be ignored.
First, corporate leaders reluctantly admit there are unquantifiable elements that determine their individual compensation packages. This, of course, is precisely what teachers have maintained all along about teaching. But teachers are accused of making excuses when they argue that non-cognitive outcomes, for example, are not as easily measured as numeracy and literacy.
Second, the same corporate leaders claim that linking their remuneration to earnings and stock prices would force them to excessively focus on short-term results, which are bad for stockholders. But when teachers say that judging their effectiveness disproportionately on standardized test scores would be bad for students because this metric narrows the curriculum and turns classrooms into test preparation factories, their claim is met with utter disdain.
Third, corporate leaders finally play their trump card. They huff that they can be ultimately fired when they don't deliver, whereas public school teachers cannot because of union rules. What they don't admit, however, is that in the boardroom, symbiosis exists on a scale rarely seen elsewhere. As a result, it's the exception, rather than the rule, that ineffectiveness leads to dismissal.
Here's why: the pay of the CEO is set by the board of directors - usually the compensation committee. Although the directors are elected by the stockholders via proxies, most are not returned. Therefore, the board is chosen essentially by the CEO. Once directors are on the board, they don't leave. Why should they? They get handsome pay for sitting in meetings, generous insurance, and a comfortable pension. Moreover, they fly on private jets to luxury resorts to attend conferences. Even if a CEO is finally fired by the board, he/she can walk away in one year with more money than 50 teachers earn in a lifetime. It's not called a golden parachute for nothing. As Mel Brooks quipped in The History of the World, "It's good to be the king."
Stockholders, of course, are free to turn to the courts for a remedy, but the odds are stacked against them. Big business has deep pockets and wears down plaintiffs. Yet the same coddled executives are quick to attack teachers unions for trying to protect their members' right of due process. It's enough to make any fair-minded person sick.
---------------------------
PHOTO SIDEBAR: Walt Gardner taught for 28 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District and was a lecturer in the UCLA Graduate School of Education.
*******************************************
--
Yes, I agree, that many large Corporations had and have boards made up of "good old boys and girls" but what would one expect out of 7 millions corporate businesses? Most anyone also realizes that many school boards make decisions that are detrimental to our system. But many of these board members are elected because better qualified people do not want to put their established reputations attacked by unqualified journalists and liberal editorial boards. Unfortunately, people are elected who are not qualified to run large school systems. Especially in non-community based schools like School District #150 in Peoria.
This 28 year union member teacher, tries to defend the promotion by seniority that seldom works in more than 7 million corporations in this country, many of these corporations being small businesses and not at all like the few large corporations that sometimes abuse the system. He tries to defend the ugly, lengthy and costly legal process to fire teachers. A system that allows many teachers who should not be teaching others to make more money every year and accumulate more retirement and health care benefits.
He is absolutely opposed to incentives which are the backbone of the private sector. The private sector overall does not support tenure nor promote on tenure. They do support performance and loyalty as long as economic conditions permit. That some large corporations with "tort" CEO's went bankrupt for failing to perform. Hand picked boards failed to ask the right questions yet picked up their "tort" pay. But to brand the more than 7 million corporations and their boards; most of them do not have boards, as incompetent is extreme populism and ignorance. This man taught kids for 28 years. No wonder this country IS on a downward slant to socialism.
Since much of the problems in society, both public and private, are the result of incompetent but well meaning Board of Directors. The question here is how to correct the public school system, the foremost priority of all communities. Here is an idea that I've pointed out in numerous blogs:
Elected school boards should be small, maybe as few as three. If three was the number decided by a volunteer committee, redistricting would be necessary to allow all of the citizens to be represented. The positions should be full time and and elected board members must be well paid. They should each have a small office and share a common secretary. Elected terms should be 3 years with a 9 year limit of consecutive service. Three years after the first election, one board member must leave the board; I suggest that member be the one who drew the least number of votes. This would leave two experienced members on the board. In the sixth year or 2nd election; possibly by lottery or least number of votes, a six year or 2nd term member must leave the board and a new member elected. This process would then continue with 2 experienced board member serving at election time. This system would allow new talent to come aboard. Any board member could re-run for office three years after completion of their elected term.
Under no circumstances should this board hire an educator to administrate systems the size of Peoria with a budget over $150 million. Look what education administrators have done to Peoria Public School District #150 financial system and business administration. Superintendents must have a background based on business administration, marketing and finance. Educators would be hired as Associate Administrators.
The current system in Peoria School District #150 elects school board members to 5 year terms with no pay, no office, and with little secretarial help. The new system would allow a member to serve as long as nine years but that member could be removed as could any elected official in the public sector who fails to perform as per contract. Public officials in say, Peoria County or City, can be voted out of office so admittedly there is only job security for the term for which they were elected.
These high paying positions would attract a better quality of board members. This is no insult to current board members or superintendents. The current system in place for a couple of centurys must be changed similar to the change made in D.C This system established a couple of years ago appears to be working as best it can under extremely difficult conditions.
A volunteer committee appointed by the Mayor would oversee the whole system and would appoint someone to fill the unexpired term of any board member leaving their elected position before their term of office was completed. This committee would also be composed of rotating members to here again bring fresh ideas to the system.
Sounds impossible to change laws and systems because resistance to change? Sure, but better to try some well thought out and planned changes than to continue on our path to mediocrity. Change has to start with new ideas. Has this country run out of innovation in our public sector as some intellects believe?
Here is the widely circulated letter.
Merle
----- Original Message -----
From: Jerry Becker
To: JERRY-P-BECKER-USA-L@listserv.siu.edu
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 12:59 PM
Subject: Corporate Criticism of Teacher Pay Is Sheer Hypocrisy
*************************
From Education Week [American Education's Newspaper of Record], Monday, July 19, 2010. See http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/walt_gardners_reality_check/2010/07/corporate_criticism_of_teacher_pay_is_hypocrisy.html
*************************
Corporate Criticism of Teacher Pay Is Sheer Hypocrisy
By Walt Gardner
Corporate leaders have repeatedly demanded that teachers be paid strictly on the basis of the performance of their students because that's how the "real world" works. Yet even when they miss their goals, top executives continue to receive fat paychecks, including generous bonuses. Curiously, this double standard is given short shrift in the debate over school reform.
In the summer and fall of 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission sent letters to 350 corporations to gather information about how executive pay is determined. The SEC expected full cooperation in light of of public anger over the issue. But instead, it had to send second letters to a majority of the same companies because of the unsatisfactory replies it received. Their lackadaisical response raised some eyebrows at the time, but nothing much beyond that reaction. What has emerged since then, however, is a three-part pattern of hypocrisy about corporate remuneration that can no longer be ignored.
First, corporate leaders reluctantly admit there are unquantifiable elements that determine their individual compensation packages. This, of course, is precisely what teachers have maintained all along about teaching. But teachers are accused of making excuses when they argue that non-cognitive outcomes, for example, are not as easily measured as numeracy and literacy.
Second, the same corporate leaders claim that linking their remuneration to earnings and stock prices would force them to excessively focus on short-term results, which are bad for stockholders. But when teachers say that judging their effectiveness disproportionately on standardized test scores would be bad for students because this metric narrows the curriculum and turns classrooms into test preparation factories, their claim is met with utter disdain.
Third, corporate leaders finally play their trump card. They huff that they can be ultimately fired when they don't deliver, whereas public school teachers cannot because of union rules. What they don't admit, however, is that in the boardroom, symbiosis exists on a scale rarely seen elsewhere. As a result, it's the exception, rather than the rule, that ineffectiveness leads to dismissal.
Here's why: the pay of the CEO is set by the board of directors - usually the compensation committee. Although the directors are elected by the stockholders via proxies, most are not returned. Therefore, the board is chosen essentially by the CEO. Once directors are on the board, they don't leave. Why should they? They get handsome pay for sitting in meetings, generous insurance, and a comfortable pension. Moreover, they fly on private jets to luxury resorts to attend conferences. Even if a CEO is finally fired by the board, he/she can walk away in one year with more money than 50 teachers earn in a lifetime. It's not called a golden parachute for nothing. As Mel Brooks quipped in The History of the World, "It's good to be the king."
Stockholders, of course, are free to turn to the courts for a remedy, but the odds are stacked against them. Big business has deep pockets and wears down plaintiffs. Yet the same coddled executives are quick to attack teachers unions for trying to protect their members' right of due process. It's enough to make any fair-minded person sick.
---------------------------
PHOTO SIDEBAR: Walt Gardner taught for 28 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District and was a lecturer in the UCLA Graduate School of Education.
*******************************************
--
Yes, May God Bless Our Troops
Forwarded to me by a friend.
Merle
*When the Music Stopped...*
When the Music Stopped...
(For those who are unaware: At all military base theaters, the National Anthem is played before the movie begins.)
This is written from a Chaplain in Iraq :
I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3' here at
LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom at all military bases, we stood to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going well until three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem, the music stopped.
Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22
year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be
hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.
Here in Iraq, 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention,
eyes fixed forward. The music started again and the Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. But again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect 1000 Soldiers standing at attention to do?? Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.
But No!!... You could have heard a pin drop, while every
Soldier continued to stand at attention.
Suddenly,there was a lone voice from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off: *"And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave."*
It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq and I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you.
Remember them as they fight for us!
Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad. Many have already paid the ultimate price.
Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins.
LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq , north of Baghdad.
Please share only if you are so inclined.
God Bless America and all of our troops serving through out the world.
--
Merle
*When the Music Stopped...*
When the Music Stopped...
(For those who are unaware: At all military base theaters, the National Anthem is played before the movie begins.)
This is written from a Chaplain in Iraq :
I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3' here at
LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom at all military bases, we stood to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going well until three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem, the music stopped.
Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22
year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be
hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.
Here in Iraq, 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention,
eyes fixed forward. The music started again and the Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. But again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect 1000 Soldiers standing at attention to do?? Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.
But No!!... You could have heard a pin drop, while every
Soldier continued to stand at attention.
Suddenly,there was a lone voice from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off: *"And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave."*
It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq and I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you.
Remember them as they fight for us!
Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad. Many have already paid the ultimate price.
Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins.
LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq , north of Baghdad.
Please share only if you are so inclined.
God Bless America and all of our troops serving through out the world.
--
Monday, July 19, 2010
Bill Spears is Right On
Councilman Bill Spears, in citing a constituents email to him suggesting elected officials eliminate Department heads from the city budget said, "They (the emailer) have at least come up with an alternate of keeping $1 million." Spears made his comments while Public Works Director David Barber was at the podium. "Maybe we should look at that instead." (Been paying attention to the sorry condition of so many city streets or are you so worried about the economy and a job or your job that he bumps are just another series of bad bounces for us in these times of Obama's 'Change'?)
Evidently the Sharp of the JS, did not completely cover the City Council meeting as Sharp said "he didn't return a phone call for comment".
Union workers need not worry about their jobs, if they are competent, as the private sector has to use union or at least prevailing wages on all public works. They might have to work a little harder, more efficient and a little quicker in the for-profit private sector.
After serving most of my life in the private sector and then moving into the slow and OPM public sector, I say Bill is right on. We could do the same in the County and never miss a beat. After all, Peoria County offered voluntary early retirement with other incentives to County employees and 73 accepted. As far as I have heard, the public continued to be served. (that's what we are supposed to be there to do)
How can that be? Did we have more employees than we needed? Do we have more elected officials and department heads then we need. Probably so. Is our job as elected officials to hire and guarantee public jobs no matter what indignities the private sector is suffering? If not, explain how we are still functioning without myself as an elected County Board Member never receiving a complaint? Sorry, we did. Bobby Spears indicated he was short but we rewarded his department combined with others $6+ million of more in new software, etc.
Anyway the WSJ ran an article today about how cities are turning to the privatize some of their activities. All I can say, is way to go and that may even come to pass in heavily unionized Peoria.
Evidently the Sharp of the JS, did not completely cover the City Council meeting as Sharp said "he didn't return a phone call for comment".
Union workers need not worry about their jobs, if they are competent, as the private sector has to use union or at least prevailing wages on all public works. They might have to work a little harder, more efficient and a little quicker in the for-profit private sector.
After serving most of my life in the private sector and then moving into the slow and OPM public sector, I say Bill is right on. We could do the same in the County and never miss a beat. After all, Peoria County offered voluntary early retirement with other incentives to County employees and 73 accepted. As far as I have heard, the public continued to be served. (that's what we are supposed to be there to do)
How can that be? Did we have more employees than we needed? Do we have more elected officials and department heads then we need. Probably so. Is our job as elected officials to hire and guarantee public jobs no matter what indignities the private sector is suffering? If not, explain how we are still functioning without myself as an elected County Board Member never receiving a complaint? Sorry, we did. Bobby Spears indicated he was short but we rewarded his department combined with others $6+ million of more in new software, etc.
Anyway the WSJ ran an article today about how cities are turning to the privatize some of their activities. All I can say, is way to go and that may even come to pass in heavily unionized Peoria.
Coffee Filters - Lots of Creative Minds Out There
Forwarded to me by a new friend. We need to elect these innovative thinkers to public office.
Merle
Better than paper towels, and a lot less expensive...
COFFEE FILTERS
Coffee filters .... Who knew?!? And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing; even the large ones.
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome.... Coffee filters are lint-free, so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5.. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies .... saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.
25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.
Merle
Better than paper towels, and a lot less expensive...
COFFEE FILTERS
Coffee filters .... Who knew?!? And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing; even the large ones.
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome.... Coffee filters are lint-free, so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5.. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies .... saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.
25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.
Obama's "Audacity of Bull Crap"
He came, he saw, he spent
By Henry Payne / The Michigan View
In the latest stop on his “Recovery Summer” tour, rock star President Barack Obama landed in Holland, Michigan Thursday, insulted its congressman, handed American stimulus dollars to a Korean corporation, and proclaimed Obamanomics a success even as Michigan has lost 94,000 jobs since his Recovery Act was enacted.
All in all, another day in the life of an increasingly unpopular president who seems to be living in an alternative universe.
That universe insists that government is the source of jobs, and so Obama was in Western Michigan to declare another victory in Washington’s mission to create a new green economy.
But the green economy looks like a lot of green for the well-connected. The president handed $150 million in stimulus money over to Korean CEO Peter Bahnsuk Kim of LG Chem. LG Chem is an $11 billion Korean conglomerate that hardly seems a candidate for the American Recovery Act. No wonder the program is so unpopular.
Accompanying Obama was Governor Jennifer Granholm - Obama praised her as “one of the best governors in America” even as she presides over the nation’s second highest unemployment rate – who has been complaining that Washington Republicans are denying her the $500 million in stimulus money she needs to plug Michigan’s Medicaid budget hole. So here she was in West Michigan celebrating $150 million for Corporate Korea. Huh?
Obama said his benevolence would create 300 jobs in Holland – but that’s $500,000 per job. At least it’s a bargain compared to the $ $1.25 million per job Obama spent on two solar companies in Arizona over the July 4 weekend.
The president cheered that LG Chem batteries will go into GM’s electric plug-in Chevy Volt "so when you buy one of these vehicles, it will be stamped 'Made in America.’” But precious few Americans will buy the $40,000 Volt (that’s BMW 3-series sticker territory) as they are targeted at well-healed consumers making over $100,00 a year in places Silicon Valley.
West Michigan is suffering 12 percent unemployment yet President “Audacity of Hope” had the audacity to suggest that the stimulus “efforts we took we are no longer bleeding jobs." In fact, since his $1 trillion Recovery Act was passed a year ago, Michigan has lost nearly 100,000 jobs.
Obama couldn’t even get his manners right. Ever the partisan, he took a shot at his host, Holland Congressional representative Pete Hoekstra who was in the audience. Despite opposing the Recovery Act, Hoekstra attended the ground-breaking ceremony, he told The View, “out of respect for the office of president.”
The respect was not returned. "Some made the political calculation that it's better to obstruct than to lend a hand,” sneered Obama at the end of his remarks. “Now that doesn't stop them from being at ribbon cuttings, but that's OK."
And then the president jumped in his 10 mpg Caddy limo and headed to the next stop on his tour to transform what Americans drive.
Henry Payne is editor of The Michigan View
By Henry Payne / The Michigan View
In the latest stop on his “Recovery Summer” tour, rock star President Barack Obama landed in Holland, Michigan Thursday, insulted its congressman, handed American stimulus dollars to a Korean corporation, and proclaimed Obamanomics a success even as Michigan has lost 94,000 jobs since his Recovery Act was enacted.
All in all, another day in the life of an increasingly unpopular president who seems to be living in an alternative universe.
That universe insists that government is the source of jobs, and so Obama was in Western Michigan to declare another victory in Washington’s mission to create a new green economy.
But the green economy looks like a lot of green for the well-connected. The president handed $150 million in stimulus money over to Korean CEO Peter Bahnsuk Kim of LG Chem. LG Chem is an $11 billion Korean conglomerate that hardly seems a candidate for the American Recovery Act. No wonder the program is so unpopular.
Accompanying Obama was Governor Jennifer Granholm - Obama praised her as “one of the best governors in America” even as she presides over the nation’s second highest unemployment rate – who has been complaining that Washington Republicans are denying her the $500 million in stimulus money she needs to plug Michigan’s Medicaid budget hole. So here she was in West Michigan celebrating $150 million for Corporate Korea. Huh?
Obama said his benevolence would create 300 jobs in Holland – but that’s $500,000 per job. At least it’s a bargain compared to the $ $1.25 million per job Obama spent on two solar companies in Arizona over the July 4 weekend.
The president cheered that LG Chem batteries will go into GM’s electric plug-in Chevy Volt "so when you buy one of these vehicles, it will be stamped 'Made in America.’” But precious few Americans will buy the $40,000 Volt (that’s BMW 3-series sticker territory) as they are targeted at well-healed consumers making over $100,00 a year in places Silicon Valley.
West Michigan is suffering 12 percent unemployment yet President “Audacity of Hope” had the audacity to suggest that the stimulus “efforts we took we are no longer bleeding jobs." In fact, since his $1 trillion Recovery Act was passed a year ago, Michigan has lost nearly 100,000 jobs.
Obama couldn’t even get his manners right. Ever the partisan, he took a shot at his host, Holland Congressional representative Pete Hoekstra who was in the audience. Despite opposing the Recovery Act, Hoekstra attended the ground-breaking ceremony, he told The View, “out of respect for the office of president.”
The respect was not returned. "Some made the political calculation that it's better to obstruct than to lend a hand,” sneered Obama at the end of his remarks. “Now that doesn't stop them from being at ribbon cuttings, but that's OK."
And then the president jumped in his 10 mpg Caddy limo and headed to the next stop on his tour to transform what Americans drive.
Henry Payne is editor of The Michigan View
Friday, July 16, 2010
GoGo Arizona
Copied from a friend's email to me.
Merle
I'm a legal American citizen and I must show my ID when:
1. Pulled over by the police.
2. Making purchases on my department store credit card.
3. When I show up for a doctor's appointment.
4. When filling out a credit card or loan application.
5. When applying for or renewing a driver's license or passport.
6. When applying for any kind of insurance.
7. When filling out college applications.
8. When donating blood.
9. When obtaining certain prescription drugs.
10. When making some debit purchases, especially
if I'm out of state.
11. When collecting a boarding pass for airline or train travel.
I am sure there are more instances, but the point is that we citizens of the USA are required to prove who we are nearly every day. Why should people in this country illegally, be exempt?
Why shouldn't we guard our borders as closely as every other country in the world does?
Widmer says, of course most of us know why. Low pay, unattractive jobs need USA citizens workers who will work; we have them in this country but they don't want to do labor, and the other major reason is the Democrats need more uneducated voters.
Merle
I'm a legal American citizen and I must show my ID when:
1. Pulled over by the police.
2. Making purchases on my department store credit card.
3. When I show up for a doctor's appointment.
4. When filling out a credit card or loan application.
5. When applying for or renewing a driver's license or passport.
6. When applying for any kind of insurance.
7. When filling out college applications.
8. When donating blood.
9. When obtaining certain prescription drugs.
10. When making some debit purchases, especially
if I'm out of state.
11. When collecting a boarding pass for airline or train travel.
I am sure there are more instances, but the point is that we citizens of the USA are required to prove who we are nearly every day. Why should people in this country illegally, be exempt?
Why shouldn't we guard our borders as closely as every other country in the world does?
Widmer says, of course most of us know why. Low pay, unattractive jobs need USA citizens workers who will work; we have them in this country but they don't want to do labor, and the other major reason is the Democrats need more uneducated voters.
Peoria Area Unemployment Problem
Peoria Progress, a local magazine indicates that 16,683 workers were unemployed in the area as of May, 2010. Those are people of counted by some type of recordings. Unreported are the thousands who are no longer recorded because they are no longer drawing benefits. Many have stopped looking for jobs as the job market is very slow and limited to specialty trained workers.
Average unemployment in the Peoria area for 2009 was 10.1%, not counting those who have stopped looking or have fallen of the record keeping system. One reason housing prices are considered low in Peoria. Home owners should look closely at their property tax bills as many may be paying as public bodies struggle for ways to raise more revenue.
Like higher fines and more stringent enforcement of laws such as speeding despite accidents are occurring less frequently meaning less lives lost in motor vehicle accidents.
Housing sales figures show a slowdown through May. Many homes originally on the market have been removed by the owners because of a lack of buyers. Expect property taxes to show sizable jumps in upcoming years as new non-profit bond supported projects start coming due such as School District #150 new $70 some million. Area schools already collect 61% of all property taxes. (Peoria County collected $25,360,460 last year, all cities, villages and incorporated villages collected $36,516,965 and the Peoria Park District collected a growing $14,954,512 last year).
While the magazine praised the growth in this area, close reading will indicate that most of this growth will not pay taxes. (Massive non-profit OSF only pays $1.1 million in property taxes) such as libraries, park districts, County and City, museums, etc. Plus some of the new businesses opening will take considerable business away from older local businesses such as hotels, grocery stores, restaurants. Yet, some of these projects that are partially funded by taxpayer dollars help take business away from non-taxpayer supported established firms.
Prime upcoming examples are the taxpayer funded East Peoria Bass Pro and the Marriott Hotel.
Peoria Progress paints a rosy picture and much of it is good growth. The magazine does not mention the darker side of Peoria so often pointed out in the Journal Star. Never the less, there is plenty to worry about in the lack of funds for greater growth in both the private and public sector. The magazine does not mention the sorry state of funding for the PRM, District #150 shortcomings and crime.
Average unemployment in the Peoria area for 2009 was 10.1%, not counting those who have stopped looking or have fallen of the record keeping system. One reason housing prices are considered low in Peoria. Home owners should look closely at their property tax bills as many may be paying as public bodies struggle for ways to raise more revenue.
Like higher fines and more stringent enforcement of laws such as speeding despite accidents are occurring less frequently meaning less lives lost in motor vehicle accidents.
Housing sales figures show a slowdown through May. Many homes originally on the market have been removed by the owners because of a lack of buyers. Expect property taxes to show sizable jumps in upcoming years as new non-profit bond supported projects start coming due such as School District #150 new $70 some million. Area schools already collect 61% of all property taxes. (Peoria County collected $25,360,460 last year, all cities, villages and incorporated villages collected $36,516,965 and the Peoria Park District collected a growing $14,954,512 last year).
While the magazine praised the growth in this area, close reading will indicate that most of this growth will not pay taxes. (Massive non-profit OSF only pays $1.1 million in property taxes) such as libraries, park districts, County and City, museums, etc. Plus some of the new businesses opening will take considerable business away from older local businesses such as hotels, grocery stores, restaurants. Yet, some of these projects that are partially funded by taxpayer dollars help take business away from non-taxpayer supported established firms.
Prime upcoming examples are the taxpayer funded East Peoria Bass Pro and the Marriott Hotel.
Peoria Progress paints a rosy picture and much of it is good growth. The magazine does not mention the darker side of Peoria so often pointed out in the Journal Star. Never the less, there is plenty to worry about in the lack of funds for greater growth in both the private and public sector. The magazine does not mention the sorry state of funding for the PRM, District #150 shortcomings and crime.
BP Embarrassing Ad
BP ran another full page ad in the Wall Street Journal showing their empathy to the victims of the disaster created by BP and our government regulators and those "leaders" above them. The ad is an embarrassment to BP as the picture in the ad illustrates the apparent disorganization of the the cleanup crews. Twenty five people "working" a slightly polluted approximate 200 feet of beach with 8 "workers" looking like they were doing some work, 5 were actually holding bags and the other 20standing around or milling around.
"County News", a newspaper for County Officials printed a photo with the caption "Workers clean oil from a Pensacola beach...." with one person actually putting polluted sand in a bag being held buy another person while another dozen or so were milling around with no apparent supervision. Some of these "workers" must have been recruited from some of our highway departments.
From all I've read and seen, this cleanup efforts on the beaches appears pretty disorganized. Since the beaches will continue to be polluted for months (or years) to come, cleanup costs will probably double estimates as the same areas will need reworking over and over.
"County News", a newspaper for County Officials printed a photo with the caption "Workers clean oil from a Pensacola beach...." with one person actually putting polluted sand in a bag being held buy another person while another dozen or so were milling around with no apparent supervision. Some of these "workers" must have been recruited from some of our highway departments.
From all I've read and seen, this cleanup efforts on the beaches appears pretty disorganized. Since the beaches will continue to be polluted for months (or years) to come, cleanup costs will probably double estimates as the same areas will need reworking over and over.
"Joys of Muslim Women" By Nonie Darwish
Forwarded to me by a friend. Read it all as it is true and frightening. We should know that not all Germans were followers of the Hitler either, but he came close to ruling much of the world.
Merle
When you finish reading the e-mail go to this site and read more about who Nonie Darwish really is. (I did and I plan to read her writings)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonie_Darwish
This was written by a woman born in Egypt as a Muslim.
This is not hearsay, and it will scare the life out of you. Make sure you read the paragraph (in red) towards the end.
The rise of Islam Fundamentalism in Europe, Africa and the United State of America has been generally unreported in the liberal media and under-played by pacifists, the Obamanites and multicultural tolerance. I've blogged on this subject several times. Locals seem to have forgotten we had a convicted Muslim terrorist living in Peoria attending school at Bradley.
Are we naive enough that he did not or still has friends who may not be Muslims by birth but have similar beliefs living in or traveling to and from Peoria?
Merle
Joys of Muslim Women
by Nonie Darwish
In the Muslim faith a Muslim man can marry a child as young as 1 year old and have sexual intimacy with this child.
Consummating the marriage by 9. The dowry is given to the family in exchange for the woman (who becomes his slave)
and for the purchase of the private parts of the woman, to use her as a toy.
Even though a woman is abused she can not obtain a divorce. To prove rape, the woman must have (4) male witnesses.
Often after a woman has been raped, she is returned to her family and the family must return the dowry. The family
has the right to execute her (an honor killing) to restore the honor of the family. Husbands can beat their wives 'at will'
and he does not have to say why he has beaten her.
The husband is permitted to have (4 wives) and a temporary wife for an hour (prostitute) at his discretion.
The Shariah Muslim law controls the private as well as the public life of the woman.
In the West World ( America ) Muslim men are starting to demand Shariah Law so the wife can not obtain a
divorce and he can have full and complete control of her. It is amazing and alarming how many of our sisters
and daughters attending American Universities are now marrying Muslim men and submitting themselves and
their children unsuspectingly to the Shariah law.
By passing this on, enlightened American women may avoid becoming a slave under Shariah Law.
Ripping the West in Two. Author and lecturer Nonie Darwish says the goal of radical Islamists is to impose
Shariah law on the world, ripping Western law and liberty in two.
She recently authored the book, Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Islamic Law.
Darwish was born in Cairo and spent her childhood in Egypt and Gaza before immigrating to America in 1978,
when she was eight years old. Her father died while leading covert attacks on Israel . He was a high-ranking
Egyptian military officer stationed with his family in Gaza .
When he died, he was considered a "shahid," a martyr for jihad. His posthumous status earned Nonie and her family
an elevated position in Muslim society.
But Darwish developed a skeptical eye at an early age. She questioned her own Muslim culture and upbringing.
She converted to Christianity after hearing a Christian preacher on television.
In her latest book, Darwish warns about creeping sharia law - what it is, what it means, and how it is manifested in Islamic countries.
For the West, she says radical Islamists are working to impose sharia on the world. If that happens, Western civilization
will be destroyed. Westerners generally assume all religions encourage a respect for the dignity of each individual. Islamic
law (Sharia) teaches that non-Muslims should be subjugated or killed in this world.
Peace and prosperity for one's children is not as important as assuring that Islamic law rules everywhere in the Middle East
and eventually in the world.
While Westerners tend to think that all religions encourage some form of the golden rule, Sharia teaches two systems of ethics -
one for Muslims and another for non-Muslims. Building on tribal practices of the seventh century, Sharia encourages the side
of humanity that wants to take from and subjugate others.
While Westerners tend to think in terms of religious people developing a personal understanding of and relationship with God,
Sharia advocates executing people who ask difficult questions that could be interpreted as criticism.
It's hard to imagine, that in this day and age, Islamic scholars agree that those who criticize Islam or choose to stop being
Muslim should be executed. Sadly, while talk of an Islamic reformation is common and even assumed by many in the West,
such murmurings in the Middle East are silenced through intimidation.
While Westerners are accustomed to an increase in religious tolerance over time, Darwish explains how petro dollars are
being used to grow an extremely intolerant form of political Islam in her native Egypt and elsewhere.
(In twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in the U.S. to elect the President by themselves!
Rest assured they will do so. You can look at how they have taken over several towns in the USA: Dearborn
Michigan is one... and there are others...)
I think everyone in the U.S. should be required to read this, but with the ACLU, there is no way this will be widely publicized,
unless each of us sends it on!
It is too bad that so many are disillusioned with life and Christianity to accept Muslims as peaceful.. some may be but they
have an army that is willing to shed blood in the name of Islam.. the peaceful support the warriors with their finances and
own kind of patriotism to their religion. While America is getting rid of Christianity from all public sites and erasing God from
the lives of children the Muslims are planning a great jihad on America ..
This is your chance to make a difference...! Pass it on to your email list or at least those you think will listen..
Merle
When you finish reading the e-mail go to this site and read more about who Nonie Darwish really is. (I did and I plan to read her writings)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonie_Darwish
This was written by a woman born in Egypt as a Muslim.
This is not hearsay, and it will scare the life out of you. Make sure you read the paragraph (in red) towards the end.
The rise of Islam Fundamentalism in Europe, Africa and the United State of America has been generally unreported in the liberal media and under-played by pacifists, the Obamanites and multicultural tolerance. I've blogged on this subject several times. Locals seem to have forgotten we had a convicted Muslim terrorist living in Peoria attending school at Bradley.
Are we naive enough that he did not or still has friends who may not be Muslims by birth but have similar beliefs living in or traveling to and from Peoria?
Merle
Joys of Muslim Women
by Nonie Darwish
In the Muslim faith a Muslim man can marry a child as young as 1 year old and have sexual intimacy with this child.
Consummating the marriage by 9. The dowry is given to the family in exchange for the woman (who becomes his slave)
and for the purchase of the private parts of the woman, to use her as a toy.
Even though a woman is abused she can not obtain a divorce. To prove rape, the woman must have (4) male witnesses.
Often after a woman has been raped, she is returned to her family and the family must return the dowry. The family
has the right to execute her (an honor killing) to restore the honor of the family. Husbands can beat their wives 'at will'
and he does not have to say why he has beaten her.
The husband is permitted to have (4 wives) and a temporary wife for an hour (prostitute) at his discretion.
The Shariah Muslim law controls the private as well as the public life of the woman.
In the West World ( America ) Muslim men are starting to demand Shariah Law so the wife can not obtain a
divorce and he can have full and complete control of her. It is amazing and alarming how many of our sisters
and daughters attending American Universities are now marrying Muslim men and submitting themselves and
their children unsuspectingly to the Shariah law.
By passing this on, enlightened American women may avoid becoming a slave under Shariah Law.
Ripping the West in Two. Author and lecturer Nonie Darwish says the goal of radical Islamists is to impose
Shariah law on the world, ripping Western law and liberty in two.
She recently authored the book, Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Islamic Law.
Darwish was born in Cairo and spent her childhood in Egypt and Gaza before immigrating to America in 1978,
when she was eight years old. Her father died while leading covert attacks on Israel . He was a high-ranking
Egyptian military officer stationed with his family in Gaza .
When he died, he was considered a "shahid," a martyr for jihad. His posthumous status earned Nonie and her family
an elevated position in Muslim society.
But Darwish developed a skeptical eye at an early age. She questioned her own Muslim culture and upbringing.
She converted to Christianity after hearing a Christian preacher on television.
In her latest book, Darwish warns about creeping sharia law - what it is, what it means, and how it is manifested in Islamic countries.
For the West, she says radical Islamists are working to impose sharia on the world. If that happens, Western civilization
will be destroyed. Westerners generally assume all religions encourage a respect for the dignity of each individual. Islamic
law (Sharia) teaches that non-Muslims should be subjugated or killed in this world.
Peace and prosperity for one's children is not as important as assuring that Islamic law rules everywhere in the Middle East
and eventually in the world.
While Westerners tend to think that all religions encourage some form of the golden rule, Sharia teaches two systems of ethics -
one for Muslims and another for non-Muslims. Building on tribal practices of the seventh century, Sharia encourages the side
of humanity that wants to take from and subjugate others.
While Westerners tend to think in terms of religious people developing a personal understanding of and relationship with God,
Sharia advocates executing people who ask difficult questions that could be interpreted as criticism.
It's hard to imagine, that in this day and age, Islamic scholars agree that those who criticize Islam or choose to stop being
Muslim should be executed. Sadly, while talk of an Islamic reformation is common and even assumed by many in the West,
such murmurings in the Middle East are silenced through intimidation.
While Westerners are accustomed to an increase in religious tolerance over time, Darwish explains how petro dollars are
being used to grow an extremely intolerant form of political Islam in her native Egypt and elsewhere.
(In twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in the U.S. to elect the President by themselves!
Rest assured they will do so. You can look at how they have taken over several towns in the USA: Dearborn
Michigan is one... and there are others...)
I think everyone in the U.S. should be required to read this, but with the ACLU, there is no way this will be widely publicized,
unless each of us sends it on!
It is too bad that so many are disillusioned with life and Christianity to accept Muslims as peaceful.. some may be but they
have an army that is willing to shed blood in the name of Islam.. the peaceful support the warriors with their finances and
own kind of patriotism to their religion. While America is getting rid of Christianity from all public sites and erasing God from
the lives of children the Muslims are planning a great jihad on America ..
This is your chance to make a difference...! Pass it on to your email list or at least those you think will listen..
Comments on This Site
As I've blogged previously, no anonymous comments will be printed on this site. They are all deleted. You should have guts enough to say who you are.
Evidently you "anonymous" don't.
Evidently you "anonymous" don't.
The Crooked Line to the White House
Passed on me by a friend but I had learned of this dirty deal at least a year ago. Two products I would never knowingly buy. Chrysler and GM. The "line" from the White House in 2012 should be straight out. And all the Democrats and a few Republicans like Snowe straight out this November.
Merle
Sooner or later it will all come to light!
Chrysler's Railroad
This could be a scandal of epic proportions and one that makes Nixon's Watergate or Clinton 's Monica Lewinsky affair pale by comparison. Why was there neither rhyme nor reason as to which dealerships of the Chrysler Corporation were to be closed?
Roll the clock back to the weeks just before Chrysler declared bankruptcy. Chrysler, like GM, was in dire financial straits and federal government "graciously" offered to "buy the company" and keep them out of bankruptcy and "save jobs."
Chrysler was, in the words of Obama and his administration, "Too big to fail," same story with GM.
The feds organized their "Automotive Task Force" to fix Chrysler and GM. Obama, in an act that is 100% unconstitutional, appointed a guy named Steve Rattner to be the White House's official Car Czar - literally, that's what his title is.
Rattner is the liaison between Obama, Chrysler, and GM.
Initially, the national media reported that Chrysler 'had made this
list of dealerships'. Not true!
The Washington Examiner, Newsmax, Fox News and a host of other news agencies discovered that the list of dealerships was put together by the "Automotive Task Force" headed by no one other than Mr. Steve Rattner.
Now the plot thickens.
Remember earlier we said that there was neither rhyme nor reason why
certain dealerships were closed?
Actually there's a very interesting pattern as to who was closed down.
Again, on May 27, 2009, The Washington Examiner and Newsmax exposed
the connection.
Amazingly, of the 789 dealerships closed by the federal government,
788 had donated money, exclusively to Republican political causes,
while contributing nothing to Democratic political causes. The only
"Democratic" dealership on the list was found to have donated $7,700
to Hillary's campaign, and a bit over $2,000 to John Edwards. This
same dealership, reportedly, also gave $200.00 to Obama's campaign.
Does that seem a little odd to you?
Steve Rattner is the guy who put the list together. Well, he happens
to be married to a Maureen White. Maureen happens to be the former
national finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee. As
such, she has access to campaign donation records from everyone in the
nation- Republican or Democrat. But of course, this is just a wacky
"coincidence," we're certain.
Then comes another really wacky "coincidence."
On that list of dealerships being closed down, a weird thing happened
in Arkansas , North Louisiana, and Southern Missouri . It seems that
Bill Clinton's former White House Chief of Staff, Mack McClarty, owns
a chain of dealership in that region, partnered with a fellow by the
name of Robert Johnson.
Johnson happens to be founder of Black Entertainment Television and
was a huge Obama supporter and financier.
These guys own a half dozen Chrysler stores under the company title of
RLJ-McClarty-Landers. Interestingly, none of their dealerships were
ordered closed - not one!
While all of their competing Chrysler/Dodge and Jeep dealership were!
Eight dealerships located near the dealerships owned by McClarty and
Johnson were ordered shut down. Thus by pure luck, these two major
Obama supporters now have virtual monopoly on Chrysler sales in their
zone.
Isn't that amazing?
Go look in The Washington Examiner, the story's there, and it's in a
dozen or so other web-based news organizations; this isn't being made
up.
Now if you thought Chrysler was owned by Fiat, you are mistaken. Under
the federal court ruling, 65% of Chrysler is now owned by the federal
government and the United Auto Workers union!
Fiat owns 20%.
The other 15% is still privately owned and presumably will be traded on the stock market. Obama smiles and says he doesn't want to run the auto industry.
As horrifying as this is to comprehend, and being as how this used to be the United States of America , it would appear that the president has the power to destroy private businesses and eliminate upwards of 100,000 jobs just because they don't agree with his political agenda.
This is Nazi Germany stuff, and it's happening right here, right now,
in our back yard.
There are voices in Washington demanding an explanation, but the
"Automotive Task Force" has released no information to the public or to any of the senators demanding answers for what has been done.
Keep your ear to the ground for more on this story. If you've ever
wanted to make a difference about anything in your life, get on the
phone to your national senator or representative in the House and
demand an investigation into this.
Benjamin Franklin had it right when he said, "All that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
Car Czar No More
An amazing thing happened as this story was going to press. Obama's Car Czar, Steve Rattner, resigned on July 13 and was promptly replaced by former steel workers union boss Ron Bloom.
According to CBS News, Rattner left "to return to private life and
spend time with his family."
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said, "I hope that he takes another opportunity to bring his unique skills to government service in the future."
By the way, Rattner is under investigation for a multi-million dollar
pay-to-play investment bank scandal in New York ....
Uh-oh!
But, we're certain that had nothing to do with his resignation.
And, according to several news sources out there, there are rumors he's being investigated for what could be pay-to-play scandal involving the closing of Chrysler and GM dealerships. Really? Again, that couldn't have anything to with his resignation-that's ridiculous! Like CBS said, this guy just wants to "spend more quality time with his family."
Obama has 32 personally appointed "czars" who answer to no one but him, all of whom are acting without any Constitutional authority.
But hey, we're sure they all have "unique skills,"......as Tim
Geithner likes to say!
SOOOOO.HOWS THE CHANGE WORKING FOR YOU?..
Check it out at the following websites.....
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Furor-grows-over-partisan-car-dealer-closings-46261447.html
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Obamas-auto-policy-All-in-the-Democratic-family-44414452.html
This goes beyond corruption in high places - to gross criminal actions on the part of our government! I hope you will spread this far and wide, and hopefully the taxpaying public will demand some of that transparency we were promised......followed by criminal prosecution of the perpetrators!
What a crooked government, we have!!!!! Vote 'em all out ... November, 2010!
Merle
Sooner or later it will all come to light!
Chrysler's Railroad
This could be a scandal of epic proportions and one that makes Nixon's Watergate or Clinton 's Monica Lewinsky affair pale by comparison. Why was there neither rhyme nor reason as to which dealerships of the Chrysler Corporation were to be closed?
Roll the clock back to the weeks just before Chrysler declared bankruptcy. Chrysler, like GM, was in dire financial straits and federal government "graciously" offered to "buy the company" and keep them out of bankruptcy and "save jobs."
Chrysler was, in the words of Obama and his administration, "Too big to fail," same story with GM.
The feds organized their "Automotive Task Force" to fix Chrysler and GM. Obama, in an act that is 100% unconstitutional, appointed a guy named Steve Rattner to be the White House's official Car Czar - literally, that's what his title is.
Rattner is the liaison between Obama, Chrysler, and GM.
Initially, the national media reported that Chrysler 'had made this
list of dealerships'. Not true!
The Washington Examiner, Newsmax, Fox News and a host of other news agencies discovered that the list of dealerships was put together by the "Automotive Task Force" headed by no one other than Mr. Steve Rattner.
Now the plot thickens.
Remember earlier we said that there was neither rhyme nor reason why
certain dealerships were closed?
Actually there's a very interesting pattern as to who was closed down.
Again, on May 27, 2009, The Washington Examiner and Newsmax exposed
the connection.
Amazingly, of the 789 dealerships closed by the federal government,
788 had donated money, exclusively to Republican political causes,
while contributing nothing to Democratic political causes. The only
"Democratic" dealership on the list was found to have donated $7,700
to Hillary's campaign, and a bit over $2,000 to John Edwards. This
same dealership, reportedly, also gave $200.00 to Obama's campaign.
Does that seem a little odd to you?
Steve Rattner is the guy who put the list together. Well, he happens
to be married to a Maureen White. Maureen happens to be the former
national finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee. As
such, she has access to campaign donation records from everyone in the
nation- Republican or Democrat. But of course, this is just a wacky
"coincidence," we're certain.
Then comes another really wacky "coincidence."
On that list of dealerships being closed down, a weird thing happened
in Arkansas , North Louisiana, and Southern Missouri . It seems that
Bill Clinton's former White House Chief of Staff, Mack McClarty, owns
a chain of dealership in that region, partnered with a fellow by the
name of Robert Johnson.
Johnson happens to be founder of Black Entertainment Television and
was a huge Obama supporter and financier.
These guys own a half dozen Chrysler stores under the company title of
RLJ-McClarty-Landers. Interestingly, none of their dealerships were
ordered closed - not one!
While all of their competing Chrysler/Dodge and Jeep dealership were!
Eight dealerships located near the dealerships owned by McClarty and
Johnson were ordered shut down. Thus by pure luck, these two major
Obama supporters now have virtual monopoly on Chrysler sales in their
zone.
Isn't that amazing?
Go look in The Washington Examiner, the story's there, and it's in a
dozen or so other web-based news organizations; this isn't being made
up.
Now if you thought Chrysler was owned by Fiat, you are mistaken. Under
the federal court ruling, 65% of Chrysler is now owned by the federal
government and the United Auto Workers union!
Fiat owns 20%.
The other 15% is still privately owned and presumably will be traded on the stock market. Obama smiles and says he doesn't want to run the auto industry.
As horrifying as this is to comprehend, and being as how this used to be the United States of America , it would appear that the president has the power to destroy private businesses and eliminate upwards of 100,000 jobs just because they don't agree with his political agenda.
This is Nazi Germany stuff, and it's happening right here, right now,
in our back yard.
There are voices in Washington demanding an explanation, but the
"Automotive Task Force" has released no information to the public or to any of the senators demanding answers for what has been done.
Keep your ear to the ground for more on this story. If you've ever
wanted to make a difference about anything in your life, get on the
phone to your national senator or representative in the House and
demand an investigation into this.
Benjamin Franklin had it right when he said, "All that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
Car Czar No More
An amazing thing happened as this story was going to press. Obama's Car Czar, Steve Rattner, resigned on July 13 and was promptly replaced by former steel workers union boss Ron Bloom.
According to CBS News, Rattner left "to return to private life and
spend time with his family."
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said, "I hope that he takes another opportunity to bring his unique skills to government service in the future."
By the way, Rattner is under investigation for a multi-million dollar
pay-to-play investment bank scandal in New York ....
Uh-oh!
But, we're certain that had nothing to do with his resignation.
And, according to several news sources out there, there are rumors he's being investigated for what could be pay-to-play scandal involving the closing of Chrysler and GM dealerships. Really? Again, that couldn't have anything to with his resignation-that's ridiculous! Like CBS said, this guy just wants to "spend more quality time with his family."
Obama has 32 personally appointed "czars" who answer to no one but him, all of whom are acting without any Constitutional authority.
But hey, we're sure they all have "unique skills,"......as Tim
Geithner likes to say!
SOOOOO.HOWS THE CHANGE WORKING FOR YOU?..
Check it out at the following websites.....
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Furor-grows-over-partisan-car-dealer-closings-46261447.html
This goes beyond corruption in high places - to gross criminal actions on the part of our government! I hope you will spread this far and wide, and hopefully the taxpaying public will demand some of that transparency we were promised......followed by criminal prosecution of the perpetrators!
What a crooked government, we have!!!!! Vote 'em all out ... November, 2010!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Arizona Immigration New Law and Ann Coulter
No, Ann Coulter is not a nut as many Democrats politicians and Blago and Obama supporters, describe her. Too many Democrats politicians and bureaucrats are nuts starting at the top.
One major wish, too late now, that I was younger and lived in Arizona and was active in politics as a conservative, common sense, independent Republican.
Merle
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So I guess all that hysteria about the Arizona immigration law was much ado about nothing. After months of telling us that the Nazis had seized Arizona, when the Obama administration finally got around to suing, its only objection was that the law was "pre-empted" by federal immigration law.
With the vast majority of Americans supporting Arizona's inoffensive little law, the fact that Obama is suing at all suggests that he consulted exclusively with the craziest people in America before filing this complaint. (Which is to say, Eric Holder's Justice Department.)
But apparently even they could find nothing discriminatory about Arizona's law. It's reassuring to know that, contrary to earlier indications, government lawyers can at least read English.
Instead, the administration argues, federal laws on immigration pre-empt Arizona's law under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.
State laws are pre-empted by federal law in two circumstances: When there is a conflict -- such as "sanctuary cities" for illegals or California's medical marijuana law -- or when Congress has so thoroughly regulated a field that there is no room for even congruent state laws.
If Obama thinks there's a conflict, I believe he's made a damning admission. There's a conflict only if the official policy of the federal government is to ignore its own immigration laws.
Only slightly less preposterous is the argument that although Arizona's law agrees with federal law, Congress has engaged in "field pre-emption" by occupying the entire field of immigration, thus prohibiting even harmonious state laws.
Field pre-emption may arise, for example, in the case of federal health and safety laws, so that manufacturers of cars, medical devices and drugs aren't forced to comply with the laws of 50 different states to sell their products nationally.
And yet, just over a year ago, the Supreme Court held that there was no "field pre-emption" even in the case of an FDA-approved anti-nausea drug because Congress had not explicitly stated that state regulation was pre-empted.
The drug, Phenergan, came with the warning that, if administered improperly (so that it enters an artery), catastrophe could ensue.
In April 2000, Phenergan was administered improperly to Diana Levine -- by a clinician ignoring six separate warnings on Phenergan's label. Catastrophe ensued; Levine developed gangrene and had to have her lower arm amputated.
Levine sued the health center and clinician for malpractice and won.
One major wish, too late now, that I was younger and lived in Arizona and was active in politics as a conservative, common sense, independent Republican.
Merle
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So I guess all that hysteria about the Arizona immigration law was much ado about nothing. After months of telling us that the Nazis had seized Arizona, when the Obama administration finally got around to suing, its only objection was that the law was "pre-empted" by federal immigration law.
With the vast majority of Americans supporting Arizona's inoffensive little law, the fact that Obama is suing at all suggests that he consulted exclusively with the craziest people in America before filing this complaint. (Which is to say, Eric Holder's Justice Department.)
But apparently even they could find nothing discriminatory about Arizona's law. It's reassuring to know that, contrary to earlier indications, government lawyers can at least read English.
Instead, the administration argues, federal laws on immigration pre-empt Arizona's law under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.
State laws are pre-empted by federal law in two circumstances: When there is a conflict -- such as "sanctuary cities" for illegals or California's medical marijuana law -- or when Congress has so thoroughly regulated a field that there is no room for even congruent state laws.
If Obama thinks there's a conflict, I believe he's made a damning admission. There's a conflict only if the official policy of the federal government is to ignore its own immigration laws.
Only slightly less preposterous is the argument that although Arizona's law agrees with federal law, Congress has engaged in "field pre-emption" by occupying the entire field of immigration, thus prohibiting even harmonious state laws.
Field pre-emption may arise, for example, in the case of federal health and safety laws, so that manufacturers of cars, medical devices and drugs aren't forced to comply with the laws of 50 different states to sell their products nationally.
And yet, just over a year ago, the Supreme Court held that there was no "field pre-emption" even in the case of an FDA-approved anti-nausea drug because Congress had not explicitly stated that state regulation was pre-empted.
The drug, Phenergan, came with the warning that, if administered improperly (so that it enters an artery), catastrophe could ensue.
In April 2000, Phenergan was administered improperly to Diana Levine -- by a clinician ignoring six separate warnings on Phenergan's label. Catastrophe ensued; Levine developed gangrene and had to have her lower arm amputated.
Levine sued the health center and clinician for malpractice and won.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Peoria Police Profiling
I've blogged twice on this subject; "Profiling", 8/13/06 and "Profiling; is More Better Than Less?", 8/17/06. Even liberal Columnist Leonard Pitts wrote on 8/13/06 that Inconvenience OK for tighter Security and Columnist Kathleen in a column in the JS on 8/17,06 wrote that "Profiling simply makes sense", plus a WSJ article 8/17/06, Profiles in Terror, a Detailed Look at al Quaeda's Founders and the U.S. Agents Who Saw the Threat".
Even renowned writer black Thomas Sowell wrote back in March 2005 wrote, "Too many lives are at risk today from people already INSIDE this country to be paralyzed by the politically correct rhetoric of those who decry 'racial profiling'".
Also, highly respected black writer and political activist, Michell Malkin wrote in 2005, "It is entirely appropriate to take into account nationality when deciding which foreigners present the highest risk."
Most of these people bent on destroying each other in Peoria are "foreign" to our culture. Poverty, it has been proven over and over, is no excuse for these acts of violence. Education is free. So are food and clothing. And shelter. The court system, our security systems, our jails and prisons are not. Counseling is basically free.
Color and demeanor, location and suspicions matter. Take all appropriate action to protect the bulk of the peace loving society, profiling or not.
Even renowned writer black Thomas Sowell wrote back in March 2005 wrote, "Too many lives are at risk today from people already INSIDE this country to be paralyzed by the politically correct rhetoric of those who decry 'racial profiling'".
Also, highly respected black writer and political activist, Michell Malkin wrote in 2005, "It is entirely appropriate to take into account nationality when deciding which foreigners present the highest risk."
Most of these people bent on destroying each other in Peoria are "foreign" to our culture. Poverty, it has been proven over and over, is no excuse for these acts of violence. Education is free. So are food and clothing. And shelter. The court system, our security systems, our jails and prisons are not. Counseling is basically free.
Color and demeanor, location and suspicions matter. Take all appropriate action to protect the bulk of the peace loving society, profiling or not.
NAACP - Anti-Tea Party?
First, let me state that I stand firmly behind what the tea Party people are accomplishing. Of course there are always some radicals involved in any movement. To name a few; the NAACP, ACORN, ACLU, CAIR, all unions, environmentally concerned groups, who have more than their share of nuts, all political parties especially the Democrats and their "leadership" starting at the top in D.C. and spreading through out the party; all have nutty radicals involved.
Many, like the ones specifically mentioned above, have more than their fair share.
At the point of being more than radical and nutty, some such as I've blogged on before are AN EXTREME DANGER TO OUR COUNTRY.
November should bring change. If not???
Many, like the ones specifically mentioned above, have more than their fair share.
At the point of being more than radical and nutty, some such as I've blogged on before are AN EXTREME DANGER TO OUR COUNTRY.
November should bring change. If not???
Dr. Seuss Book - A New Correct Version
Forwarded to me by a dear friend.
Merle
A new, updated, Dr. Seuss book.
I do not like this Uncle Sam,
I do not like his health care scam.
I do not like these dirty crooks,
or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals,
I do not like their secret deals.
I do not like this speaker, Nan ,
I do not like this 'YES WE CAN.'
I do not like this spending spree,
I'm smart, I know that nothing's free.
I do not like your smug replies,
when I complain about your lies.
I do not like this kind of hope.
I do not like it, nope, nope, nope!
Merle
A new, updated, Dr. Seuss book.
I do not like this Uncle Sam,
I do not like his health care scam.
I do not like these dirty crooks,
or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals,
I do not like their secret deals.
I do not like this speaker, Nan ,
I do not like this 'YES WE CAN.'
I do not like this spending spree,
I'm smart, I know that nothing's free.
I do not like your smug replies,
when I complain about your lies.
I do not like this kind of hope.
I do not like it, nope, nope, nope!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Rhode Island and Immigration Law
I believe this to be true. If so, why not????
Merle
Something Very interesting on Immigration = United States v. Rhode Island
United States v. Arizona — How 'Bout United States v. Rhode Island? (my Home State. Bob Langevin - Thanks Bob.)
Well whaddya know? It turns out that Rhode Island has long been carrying out the procedures at issue in the Arizona immigration statute: As a matter of routine, RI state police check immigration status at traffic stops whenever there is reasonable suspicion to do so, and they report all illegal's to the feds for deportation. Besides the usual profiling blather, critics have trotted out the now familiar saw that such procedures hamstring police because they make immigrants afraid to cooperate. But it turns out that it’s the Rhode Island police who insist on enforcing the law. As Cornell law professor William Jacobson details at Legal Insurrection, Colonel Brendan P. Doherty, the state police commander, “refuses to hide from the issue,” explaining, ”I would feel that I'm derelict in my duties to look the other way.”
If, as President Obama and Attorney General Holder claim, there is a federal preemption issue, why hasn't the administration sued Rhode Island already? After all, Rhode Island is actually enforcing these procedures, while the Arizona law hasn't even gone into effect yet.
Could it be because — as we've discussed here before — the Supreme Court in Muehler v. Mena has already held that police do not need any reason (not probable cause, not reasonable suspicion) to ask a person about his immigration status?
I belive this to be true. If so, why????
Merle
Could it be that just this past February, in Estrada v. Rhode Island, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld the Rhode Island procedures, reasoning that, in Muehler v. Mena, the Supreme Court “held that a police officer does not need independent reasonable suspicion to question an individual about her immigration status…”?
So, we have a Justice Department that drops a case it already won against New Black Panthers who are on tape intimidating voters in blatant violation of federal law, but that sues a sovereign state for enacting a statute in support of immigration enforcement practices that have already been upheld by two of the nation’s highest courts. Perfect.
Merle
Something Very interesting on Immigration = United States v. Rhode Island
United States v. Arizona — How 'Bout United States v. Rhode Island? (my Home State. Bob Langevin - Thanks Bob.)
Well whaddya know? It turns out that Rhode Island has long been carrying out the procedures at issue in the Arizona immigration statute: As a matter of routine, RI state police check immigration status at traffic stops whenever there is reasonable suspicion to do so, and they report all illegal's to the feds for deportation. Besides the usual profiling blather, critics have trotted out the now familiar saw that such procedures hamstring police because they make immigrants afraid to cooperate. But it turns out that it’s the Rhode Island police who insist on enforcing the law. As Cornell law professor William Jacobson details at Legal Insurrection, Colonel Brendan P. Doherty, the state police commander, “refuses to hide from the issue,” explaining, ”I would feel that I'm derelict in my duties to look the other way.”
If, as President Obama and Attorney General Holder claim, there is a federal preemption issue, why hasn't the administration sued Rhode Island already? After all, Rhode Island is actually enforcing these procedures, while the Arizona law hasn't even gone into effect yet.
Could it be because — as we've discussed here before — the Supreme Court in Muehler v. Mena has already held that police do not need any reason (not probable cause, not reasonable suspicion) to ask a person about his immigration status?
I belive this to be true. If so, why????
Merle
Could it be that just this past February, in Estrada v. Rhode Island, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld the Rhode Island procedures, reasoning that, in Muehler v. Mena, the Supreme Court “held that a police officer does not need independent reasonable suspicion to question an individual about her immigration status…”?
So, we have a Justice Department that drops a case it already won against New Black Panthers who are on tape intimidating voters in blatant violation of federal law, but that sues a sovereign state for enacting a statute in support of immigration enforcement practices that have already been upheld by two of the nation’s highest courts. Perfect.
Friday, July 09, 2010
Welfare State Expansion - Good Grief
Did you ever wonder why the the Federal government(or any government for that matter)can never control its spending? Here, another one in a million "feel good" ideas, is why-somebody sees a need to fix a problem that should be entirely the responsibility of the parents, that is, a good lunch provided at school. So, naturally, the Federal government must step in and use the taxpayers money to provide the lunch to impoverished children who otherwise would starve to death at school. And guess what, not only will the program never end, despite the huge obesity problem being suffered by our children today, but the program will expand exponentially to cover all children, will soon include breakfast and mid-afternoon snacks, take home sacks in case there is not enough truly nutritional food at home, the age limit will steadily increase until 28 year olds qualify for free lunches, etc. I still have yet to see a single article that suggests, let alone supports the notion that children are starving in the US and that the taxpayers have no recourse except to fund another multi billion dollar welfare program. And, of course, an unelected government official gets to decide to spend the money. Will it never end?
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/07/federal_government_eying_free.html
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/07/federal_government_eying_free.html
Comparison - Obama vs. McChrystal
--- On Thu, 7/8/10, Gary Kersteen wrote:
From: Gary Kersteen
Subject: FW: Biography comparisons
To: haroldcavallaro@cavco-mp.com, "JOHN J SHEEHAN", "charlie munroe"
Date: Thursday, July 8, 2010, 7:05 PM
General McChrystal Biography
Commander, International Security Assistance Force/
Commander, United States Forces Afghanistan
United States Army
SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE: USMA EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
United States Military Academy - BS - No Major
United States Naval War College - MA - National Security and Strategic Studies
Salve Regina University - MS - International Relations
MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED:
Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses
United States Naval Command and Staff College
Senior Service College Fellowship Harvard University
FOREIGN LANGUAGES:
Spanish
PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT:
2LT 2 Jun 76
1LT 2 Jun 78
CPT 1 Aug 80
MAJ 1 Jul 87
LTC 1 Sep 92
COL 1 Sep 96
BG 1 Jan 01
MG 1 May 04
LTG 16 Feb 06
GEN 11 Jun 09
FROM TO ASSIGNMENT:
Nov 76 Feb 78 Weapons Platoon Leader, C Company, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg , North Carolina
Feb 78 Jul 78 Rifle Platoon Leader, C Company, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg , North Carolina
Jul 78 Nov 78 Executive Officer, C Company, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg , North Carolina
Nov 78 Apr 79 Student, Special Forces Officer Course, Special Forces School, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Apr 79 Jun 80 Commander, Detachment A, A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Jun 80 Feb 81 Student, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia
Feb 81 Mar 82 S2/S3 (Intelligence/Operations), United Nations Command Support Group Joint Security Area, Korea
Mar 82 Nov 82 Training Officer, Directorate of Plans and Training, A Company, Headquarters Command, Fort Stewart, Georgia
Nov 82 Sep 84 Commander, A Company, 3d Battalion, 19th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart , Georgia
Sep 84 Sep 85 S3 (Operations), 3d Battalion, 19th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia
Sep 85 Jan 86 Liaison Officer, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia
Jan 86 May 87 Commander, A Company, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia
May 87 Apr 88 Liaison Officer, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia
Apr 88 Jun 89 S3 (Operations), 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia
Jun 89 Jun 90 Student, Command and Staff Course, United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island
Jun 90 Apr 93 Army Special Operations Action Officer, J3, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/STORM, Saudi Arabia
Apr 93 Nov 94 Commander, 2d Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg , North Carolina
Nov 94 Jun 96 Commander, 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis , Washington
Jun 96 Jun 97 Senior Service College Fellowship, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University , Cambridge , Massachusetts
Jun 97 Aug 99 Commander, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia
Aug 99 Jun 00 Military Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, New York
Jun 00 Jun 01 Assistant Division Commander (Operations), 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina to include duty as Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Kuwait, Camp Doha, Kuwait
Jun 01 Jul 02 Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, Fort Bragg, North Carolina to include duty as Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force180, OPERATION ENDURING
FREEDOM, Afghanistan
Jul 02 Sep 03 Vice Director for Operations, J3, The Joint Staff, Washington, DC
Sep 03 Feb 06 Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Feb 06 Jun 08 Commander, Joint Special Operations Command/Commander, Joint Special Operations Command Forward, United States Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Aug 08 Jun 09 Director, The Joint Staff, Washington , DC
Jun 09 Present Commander, International Security Assistance Force/Commander, United States Forces Afghanistan , OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS:
S2/S3 (Intelligence/Operations), United Nations Command Support Group Joint Security Area , Korea (Feb 81-Mar 82, Captain)
Army Special Operations Action Officer, J3, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/STORM, Saudi Arabia Jun 90-Apr 93 Major/Lieutenant Colonel)
Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, Fort Bragg, North Carolina to include duty as Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force180, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan (Jun 01-Jul 02, Brigadier General)
Vice Director for Operations, J3, The Joint Staff, Washington , DC (Jul 02-Sep 03, Brigadier General)
Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg , North Carolina (Sep 03-Feb 06, Brigadier General/Major General)
Commander, Joint Special Operations Command/Commander, Joint Special Operations
Command Forward, United States Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (Feb 06-Jun 08, Major General/Lieutenant General)
Director, The Joint Staff, Washington, DC (Aug 08-Jun 09, Lieutenant General)
Commander, International Security Assistance Force/Commander, United States Forces Afghanistan, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan (Jun 09-Present, General)
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
Army Special Operations Action Officer, J3, Joint Special Operations Command, OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/STORM, Saudi Arabia (Jun 90-Mar 91, Major)
Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Kuwait, Camp Doha, Kuwait (Apr 01-Jun 01, Brigadier General)
Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force180, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan (May 02-Jul 02, Brigadier General)
Commander, International Security Assistance Force/Commander, United States Forces Afghanistan , OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan (Jun 09- Present, General)
US DECORATIONS AND BADGES:
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Legion of Merit (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Expert Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Ranger Tab
Special Forces Tab
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
_________________________________________________________________
Obama Biography:
Birthplace: Location remains questionable. Proof of United States Citizenship hasn't been provided.
Education: Columbia University , Harvard Law School . Records never produced, attendance remains questionable.
Military Career: None
Business Career: None
Political Career: community organizer, Chicago, 1983-86; civil rights attorney, Chicago, 1991-96; University of Chicago, assistant lecturer, early 1990s-2004; State Senator, 1996-2005; U.S. Senator, 2005-2008; President 2008-.
____________________________________________________________________
It looks like the wrong guy resigned...
From: Gary Kersteen
Subject: FW: Biography comparisons
To: haroldcavallaro@cavco-mp.com, "JOHN J SHEEHAN"
Date: Thursday, July 8, 2010, 7:05 PM
General McChrystal Biography
Commander, International Security Assistance Force/
Commander, United States Forces Afghanistan
United States Army
SOURCE OF COMMISSIONED SERVICE: USMA EDUCATIONAL DEGREES
United States Military Academy - BS - No Major
United States Naval War College - MA - National Security and Strategic Studies
Salve Regina University - MS - International Relations
MILITARY SCHOOLS ATTENDED:
Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses
United States Naval Command and Staff College
Senior Service College Fellowship Harvard University
FOREIGN LANGUAGES:
Spanish
PROMOTIONS DATE OF APPOINTMENT:
2LT 2 Jun 76
1LT 2 Jun 78
CPT 1 Aug 80
MAJ 1 Jul 87
LTC 1 Sep 92
COL 1 Sep 96
BG 1 Jan 01
MG 1 May 04
LTG 16 Feb 06
GEN 11 Jun 09
FROM TO ASSIGNMENT:
Nov 76 Feb 78 Weapons Platoon Leader, C Company, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg , North Carolina
Feb 78 Jul 78 Rifle Platoon Leader, C Company, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg , North Carolina
Jul 78 Nov 78 Executive Officer, C Company, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg , North Carolina
Nov 78 Apr 79 Student, Special Forces Officer Course, Special Forces School, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Apr 79 Jun 80 Commander, Detachment A, A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Jun 80 Feb 81 Student, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, United States Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia
Feb 81 Mar 82 S2/S3 (Intelligence/Operations), United Nations Command Support Group Joint Security Area, Korea
Mar 82 Nov 82 Training Officer, Directorate of Plans and Training, A Company, Headquarters Command, Fort Stewart, Georgia
Nov 82 Sep 84 Commander, A Company, 3d Battalion, 19th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart , Georgia
Sep 84 Sep 85 S3 (Operations), 3d Battalion, 19th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia
Sep 85 Jan 86 Liaison Officer, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia
Jan 86 May 87 Commander, A Company, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia
May 87 Apr 88 Liaison Officer, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia
Apr 88 Jun 89 S3 (Operations), 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia
Jun 89 Jun 90 Student, Command and Staff Course, United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island
Jun 90 Apr 93 Army Special Operations Action Officer, J3, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/STORM, Saudi Arabia
Apr 93 Nov 94 Commander, 2d Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg , North Carolina
Nov 94 Jun 96 Commander, 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis , Washington
Jun 96 Jun 97 Senior Service College Fellowship, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University , Cambridge , Massachusetts
Jun 97 Aug 99 Commander, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia
Aug 99 Jun 00 Military Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, New York
Jun 00 Jun 01 Assistant Division Commander (Operations), 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina to include duty as Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Kuwait, Camp Doha, Kuwait
Jun 01 Jul 02 Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, Fort Bragg, North Carolina to include duty as Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force180, OPERATION ENDURING
FREEDOM, Afghanistan
Jul 02 Sep 03 Vice Director for Operations, J3, The Joint Staff, Washington, DC
Sep 03 Feb 06 Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Feb 06 Jun 08 Commander, Joint Special Operations Command/Commander, Joint Special Operations Command Forward, United States Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Aug 08 Jun 09 Director, The Joint Staff, Washington , DC
Jun 09 Present Commander, International Security Assistance Force/Commander, United States Forces Afghanistan , OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS:
S2/S3 (Intelligence/Operations), United Nations Command Support Group Joint Security Area , Korea (Feb 81-Mar 82, Captain)
Army Special Operations Action Officer, J3, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/STORM, Saudi Arabia Jun 90-Apr 93 Major/Lieutenant Colonel)
Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, Fort Bragg, North Carolina to include duty as Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force180, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan (Jun 01-Jul 02, Brigadier General)
Vice Director for Operations, J3, The Joint Staff, Washington , DC (Jul 02-Sep 03, Brigadier General)
Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg , North Carolina (Sep 03-Feb 06, Brigadier General/Major General)
Commander, Joint Special Operations Command/Commander, Joint Special Operations
Command Forward, United States Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (Feb 06-Jun 08, Major General/Lieutenant General)
Director, The Joint Staff, Washington, DC (Aug 08-Jun 09, Lieutenant General)
Commander, International Security Assistance Force/Commander, United States Forces Afghanistan, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan (Jun 09-Present, General)
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNMENTS DATE GRADE
Army Special Operations Action Officer, J3, Joint Special Operations Command, OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/STORM, Saudi Arabia (Jun 90-Mar 91, Major)
Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Kuwait, Camp Doha, Kuwait (Apr 01-Jun 01, Brigadier General)
Chief of Staff, Combined Joint Task Force180, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan (May 02-Jul 02, Brigadier General)
Commander, International Security Assistance Force/Commander, United States Forces Afghanistan , OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan (Jun 09- Present, General)
US DECORATIONS AND BADGES:
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Legion of Merit (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Expert Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Ranger Tab
Special Forces Tab
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
_________________________________________________________________
Obama Biography:
Birthplace: Location remains questionable. Proof of United States Citizenship hasn't been provided.
Education: Columbia University , Harvard Law School . Records never produced, attendance remains questionable.
Military Career: None
Business Career: None
Political Career: community organizer, Chicago, 1983-86; civil rights attorney, Chicago, 1991-96; University of Chicago, assistant lecturer, early 1990s-2004; State Senator, 1996-2005; U.S. Senator, 2005-2008; President 2008-.
____________________________________________________________________
It looks like the wrong guy resigned...
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Admit it, You Obama Lovers, the Man Lied and Lies
Americans may be slammed by shocking tax hike
By Andrew Conte
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
After nearly a decade of federal tax cuts, Americans could awaken New Year's Day with a whopper of a hangover.
Breaks covering everything from child tax credits to the death tax are set to expire that day, less than six months from now, bringing higher payments for nearly every American who pays taxes.
"We've never in history seen anything quite like this, where such a major portion of the tax code is set to expire on a single date and affect so many Americans all at once," said Scott Hodge, president of The Tax Foundation, a Washington nonprofit that tracks tax policies.
Enacted in 2001 and 2003, the cuts run out unless Congress votes to extend them. President Obama proposed extending some tax breaks, for couples earning less than $250,000 a year, but lawmakers could let them all expire.
If that happens, according to The Tax Foundation's analysis, everyone would pay more from bottom to top: Taxes for a couple with two children and a $50,000 income would more than triple to $2,825 a year, while a couple with no children earning $1 million would pay $44,000 a year more in taxes, for a total bill of $298,510.
"In that first paycheck in 2011, everyone will see a chunk missing. There will be a significant impact," said Curtis Dubay, senior tax policy analyst for The Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington policy group.
Congress might choose to extend some benefits and let those for top earners expire, said Ryan Ellis, tax policy director of Americans for Tax Reform, a Washington tax policy nonprofit group.
But if lawmakers choose to do nothing, the changes would include:
• Across-the-board income tax increases of 3 percent to 5 percent for every bracket;
• The so-called death tax on estates would return after a one-year hiatus, at 55 percent on estates over $1 million;
• Capital gains tax would rise to 20 percent from 15 percent, and dividends tax would rise to 39.6 percent from 15 percent;
• The child tax credit would be cut in half to $500 per child.
Rob Malone, 32, of Beechview didn't expect this.
"I'm surprised," Malone said. "Obama's plan was not to raise taxes. He's said many things and done the opposite."
Lee Heckman, 51, who owns Custom Framing & Gallery on Beverly Road in Mt. Lebanon, said he's worried about tax increases for small businesses. Two-thirds of small businesses are taxed at the top rate, which would increase to 39.6 percent from 35 percent, Americans for Tax Reform said.
"We're already overwhelmingly overtaxed," Heckman said.
Many of those concerned about higher taxes worry about the government's deficit spending. The government plans to spend $1 trillion more than it brings in this year.
Tax breaks are not the problem and should be frozen in place, said Glen Meakem, managing director of Meakem Becker Venture Capital in Sewickley.
"The rate of spending today is out of control," he said. "It's unsustainable and ... it's going to bankrupt the country."
One problem is that Americans don't know how much they will have to pay -- even if the news is bad, said Allan Meltzer, a political economist at Carnegie Mellon University.
Without knowing whether they'll pay higher taxes in 2011, businesses and investors are uncertain about how to spend their money, he said.
"Someone needs to announce where we're going and how we're going to get there," Meltzer said. "People won't like to hear it, but they're better off hearing it rather than speculating."
By Andrew Conte
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
After nearly a decade of federal tax cuts, Americans could awaken New Year's Day with a whopper of a hangover.
Breaks covering everything from child tax credits to the death tax are set to expire that day, less than six months from now, bringing higher payments for nearly every American who pays taxes.
"We've never in history seen anything quite like this, where such a major portion of the tax code is set to expire on a single date and affect so many Americans all at once," said Scott Hodge, president of The Tax Foundation, a Washington nonprofit that tracks tax policies.
Enacted in 2001 and 2003, the cuts run out unless Congress votes to extend them. President Obama proposed extending some tax breaks, for couples earning less than $250,000 a year, but lawmakers could let them all expire.
If that happens, according to The Tax Foundation's analysis, everyone would pay more from bottom to top: Taxes for a couple with two children and a $50,000 income would more than triple to $2,825 a year, while a couple with no children earning $1 million would pay $44,000 a year more in taxes, for a total bill of $298,510.
"In that first paycheck in 2011, everyone will see a chunk missing. There will be a significant impact," said Curtis Dubay, senior tax policy analyst for The Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington policy group.
Congress might choose to extend some benefits and let those for top earners expire, said Ryan Ellis, tax policy director of Americans for Tax Reform, a Washington tax policy nonprofit group.
But if lawmakers choose to do nothing, the changes would include:
• Across-the-board income tax increases of 3 percent to 5 percent for every bracket;
• The so-called death tax on estates would return after a one-year hiatus, at 55 percent on estates over $1 million;
• Capital gains tax would rise to 20 percent from 15 percent, and dividends tax would rise to 39.6 percent from 15 percent;
• The child tax credit would be cut in half to $500 per child.
Rob Malone, 32, of Beechview didn't expect this.
"I'm surprised," Malone said. "Obama's plan was not to raise taxes. He's said many things and done the opposite."
Lee Heckman, 51, who owns Custom Framing & Gallery on Beverly Road in Mt. Lebanon, said he's worried about tax increases for small businesses. Two-thirds of small businesses are taxed at the top rate, which would increase to 39.6 percent from 35 percent, Americans for Tax Reform said.
"We're already overwhelmingly overtaxed," Heckman said.
Many of those concerned about higher taxes worry about the government's deficit spending. The government plans to spend $1 trillion more than it brings in this year.
Tax breaks are not the problem and should be frozen in place, said Glen Meakem, managing director of Meakem Becker Venture Capital in Sewickley.
"The rate of spending today is out of control," he said. "It's unsustainable and ... it's going to bankrupt the country."
One problem is that Americans don't know how much they will have to pay -- even if the news is bad, said Allan Meltzer, a political economist at Carnegie Mellon University.
Without knowing whether they'll pay higher taxes in 2011, businesses and investors are uncertain about how to spend their money, he said.
"Someone needs to announce where we're going and how we're going to get there," Meltzer said. "People won't like to hear it, but they're better off hearing it rather than speculating."
Educational Concept Worthy of Study
**************************
Since not all teachers want to be "principals", each school will need a few teachers who do want to lead other teachers else chaos will eventually reign. Expectations of not having these types of leaders emerging may take longer than three years or never. The Concept is worth a hard try.
Merle
From the Detroit Free Press, Thursday, July 8, 2010. See http://www.freep.com/article/20100708/NEWS01/7080367/Detroit-Public-Schools-tries-something-new-A-school-run-by-teachers
**************************
Detroit Public Schools tries something new: A school run by teachers
By Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki
Detroit Public Schools is set to open its first school without a principal -- teachers will be running the day-to-day operations and making all pertinent decisions.
They won't have to wait for the central office's OK to purchase needed items or increase their emphasis on fractions or writing, for instance.
Founded on the belief that those within the building know best what their students need, Barbara Jordan Elementary will be the district's first teacher-led school, open only to students whose parents agree to be involved. State officials know of no teacher-led schools in Michigan.
The Detroit school, for students in kindergarten through fourth grade, is modeled after teacher-led schools in Boston, Milwaukee, Denver and Los Angeles.
It's too early to know test results, said Michael McLaughlin of the Boston Teachers Union School. But he can name one indicator of the Boston school's success: "The families in the area, they're clamoring to get into this school."
In Detroit, the high-profile experiment in school reform could have long-reaching implications, said Keith Johnson, president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers.
"It's an unprecedented opportunity," Johnson said. "We cannot fail."
Less bureaucracy at school could make it easier to educate students
Summer has barely begun, but Ann Crowley can't wait for school to open in the fall.
The 22-year veteran teacher and administrator is part of a new experiment in Detroit Public Schools -- a school run by the teachers.
Her enthusiasm is obvious and contagious.
"I returned to the classroom to better meet the needs of the children, right at the ground level," said Crowley, who expects to teach at Barbara Jordan Elementary. "That's what this school is all about."
She's part of a DPS group called Detroit Children First, which is made up mostly of teachers. It has been asking for a teacher-led school for years.
With the backing of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, it convinced the district's emergency financial manager, Robert Bobb, to let it run a school that bypasses layers of bureaucracy that can often slow decision-making. It is a school where the staff makes all the decisions, from lessons to hiring to building repairs.
It is believed to be the first teacher-led school in the state.
The hope is to "cut out the middle man," said Kim Kyff, a teacher with more than 20 years' experience who also hopes to teach at the school.
Without bureaucracy, "there's more direct communication," Kyff said. "You are able to more readily implement and make changes, without having to go through multiple layers."
Increased responsibility will come with that increased autonomy. The school's success will rest on teachers' shoulders.
"Teachers here do not fear accountability," Crowley said. In fact, some had offered to surrender tenure in exchange for a teacher-led school -- a sacrifice the district didn't ask them to make in the end.
DFT President Keith Johnson knows the importance of the school's success and the price that could be paid for failure.
"I'm excited about it, but I'm also cautiously optimistic, because we've got to make sure that we do it right," Johnson said. "We cannot let the school crash and burn. I think the perception of teachers as effective educational leaders would be severely damaged if we can't make this school a success."
Detroit's teacher-led school initially will be for students in kindergarten through fourth grade, with a middle school operating in an adjacent building. Eventually, the entire K-8 campus will be part of the teacher-led school.
The school, which will be funded like any other DPS school, will have an extended day, with enrichment programs such as music or art after lesson hours, and a longer school year.
This first year, the DFT will hire the teachers, but Barbara Jordan teachers will eventually take over that task. There will be no principal. There will be a building administrator, probably with experience as a principal, to handle the administrative duties that teachers aren't familiar with. That position is expected to be phased out in about three years, with teachers taking over those duties, as well.
School governance will come from teacher committees. Teachers will meet in small groups to make decisions for their students. Each small group will choose a point person to represent the group at meetings of point people from the rest of the building. Teachers will rotate the point-person position.
"The teachers just did not have a lot of leverage in meeting the needs of the children that were sitting in front of them," Crowley said, explaining the desire for the school.
They hope to change that. The school is envisioned as a model of democracy, with every employee having a say in how it's run and parents as important participants. In fact, parents will have to sign a contract promising to be involved in their child's education and the school.
Admission will be based on the parent's willingness to participate.
DPS officials said it's up to the teachers to make this school a success.
The federal No Child Left Behind law "requires that failing schools face sanctions, up to and including closure. We have shown that we will close failing schools," said Barbara Byrd Bennett, Bobb's chief academic adviser.
"That said, nobody intends for this school to fail. Everyone is committed to making it a success, and interventions will be put in place to ensure it succeeds."
--------------------------
Contact PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI: mmwalsh@freepress.com
***************************************
--
Since not all teachers want to be "principals", each school will need a few teachers who do want to lead other teachers else chaos will eventually reign. Expectations of not having these types of leaders emerging may take longer than three years or never. The Concept is worth a hard try.
Merle
From the Detroit Free Press, Thursday, July 8, 2010. See http://www.freep.com/article/20100708/NEWS01/7080367/Detroit-Public-Schools-tries-something-new-A-school-run-by-teachers
**************************
Detroit Public Schools tries something new: A school run by teachers
By Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki
Detroit Public Schools is set to open its first school without a principal -- teachers will be running the day-to-day operations and making all pertinent decisions.
They won't have to wait for the central office's OK to purchase needed items or increase their emphasis on fractions or writing, for instance.
Founded on the belief that those within the building know best what their students need, Barbara Jordan Elementary will be the district's first teacher-led school, open only to students whose parents agree to be involved. State officials know of no teacher-led schools in Michigan.
The Detroit school, for students in kindergarten through fourth grade, is modeled after teacher-led schools in Boston, Milwaukee, Denver and Los Angeles.
It's too early to know test results, said Michael McLaughlin of the Boston Teachers Union School. But he can name one indicator of the Boston school's success: "The families in the area, they're clamoring to get into this school."
In Detroit, the high-profile experiment in school reform could have long-reaching implications, said Keith Johnson, president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers.
"It's an unprecedented opportunity," Johnson said. "We cannot fail."
Less bureaucracy at school could make it easier to educate students
Summer has barely begun, but Ann Crowley can't wait for school to open in the fall.
The 22-year veteran teacher and administrator is part of a new experiment in Detroit Public Schools -- a school run by the teachers.
Her enthusiasm is obvious and contagious.
"I returned to the classroom to better meet the needs of the children, right at the ground level," said Crowley, who expects to teach at Barbara Jordan Elementary. "That's what this school is all about."
She's part of a DPS group called Detroit Children First, which is made up mostly of teachers. It has been asking for a teacher-led school for years.
With the backing of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, it convinced the district's emergency financial manager, Robert Bobb, to let it run a school that bypasses layers of bureaucracy that can often slow decision-making. It is a school where the staff makes all the decisions, from lessons to hiring to building repairs.
It is believed to be the first teacher-led school in the state.
The hope is to "cut out the middle man," said Kim Kyff, a teacher with more than 20 years' experience who also hopes to teach at the school.
Without bureaucracy, "there's more direct communication," Kyff said. "You are able to more readily implement and make changes, without having to go through multiple layers."
Increased responsibility will come with that increased autonomy. The school's success will rest on teachers' shoulders.
"Teachers here do not fear accountability," Crowley said. In fact, some had offered to surrender tenure in exchange for a teacher-led school -- a sacrifice the district didn't ask them to make in the end.
DFT President Keith Johnson knows the importance of the school's success and the price that could be paid for failure.
"I'm excited about it, but I'm also cautiously optimistic, because we've got to make sure that we do it right," Johnson said. "We cannot let the school crash and burn. I think the perception of teachers as effective educational leaders would be severely damaged if we can't make this school a success."
Detroit's teacher-led school initially will be for students in kindergarten through fourth grade, with a middle school operating in an adjacent building. Eventually, the entire K-8 campus will be part of the teacher-led school.
The school, which will be funded like any other DPS school, will have an extended day, with enrichment programs such as music or art after lesson hours, and a longer school year.
This first year, the DFT will hire the teachers, but Barbara Jordan teachers will eventually take over that task. There will be no principal. There will be a building administrator, probably with experience as a principal, to handle the administrative duties that teachers aren't familiar with. That position is expected to be phased out in about three years, with teachers taking over those duties, as well.
School governance will come from teacher committees. Teachers will meet in small groups to make decisions for their students. Each small group will choose a point person to represent the group at meetings of point people from the rest of the building. Teachers will rotate the point-person position.
"The teachers just did not have a lot of leverage in meeting the needs of the children that were sitting in front of them," Crowley said, explaining the desire for the school.
They hope to change that. The school is envisioned as a model of democracy, with every employee having a say in how it's run and parents as important participants. In fact, parents will have to sign a contract promising to be involved in their child's education and the school.
Admission will be based on the parent's willingness to participate.
DPS officials said it's up to the teachers to make this school a success.
The federal No Child Left Behind law "requires that failing schools face sanctions, up to and including closure. We have shown that we will close failing schools," said Barbara Byrd Bennett, Bobb's chief academic adviser.
"That said, nobody intends for this school to fail. Everyone is committed to making it a success, and interventions will be put in place to ensure it succeeds."
--------------------------
Contact PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI: mmwalsh@freepress.com
***************************************
--
Tea Party - Best Sign
Recession - when your neighbor loses his or her job
Depression - When you lose your own job
Recovery - When Obama loses his job
Evidently most politicians believe they can spend their way our of recessions and their supporters, usually unions, union workers, public employees, certain financial institutions and some businesses agree, especially if the spending helps them keep their jobs, benefits, and subsidies. After all, aren't politicians elected to benefit the voter? If these politicians support a minority of the electorate and this minority is the financial donater that pays to get them elected and then reelected, that's Democracy, isn't it?
No it isn't but it is. Expect a long recovery, more homes lost, more businesses closing, no increase in employment in the private sector but increases in the non-tax paying public sector, more enhancements like zoo's, trails and museums, being built (high priorities, you know) plus more temporary union jobs. With the intended or unintended higher taxes of all kinds.
I support the concept of Tea Parties but question the ability of the leaders to find the right people to run for office and their ability and resources to get these people elected. Slogans like, "throw the bums out" is not alone a solution.
Depression - When you lose your own job
Recovery - When Obama loses his job
Evidently most politicians believe they can spend their way our of recessions and their supporters, usually unions, union workers, public employees, certain financial institutions and some businesses agree, especially if the spending helps them keep their jobs, benefits, and subsidies. After all, aren't politicians elected to benefit the voter? If these politicians support a minority of the electorate and this minority is the financial donater that pays to get them elected and then reelected, that's Democracy, isn't it?
No it isn't but it is. Expect a long recovery, more homes lost, more businesses closing, no increase in employment in the private sector but increases in the non-tax paying public sector, more enhancements like zoo's, trails and museums, being built (high priorities, you know) plus more temporary union jobs. With the intended or unintended higher taxes of all kinds.
I support the concept of Tea Parties but question the ability of the leaders to find the right people to run for office and their ability and resources to get these people elected. Slogans like, "throw the bums out" is not alone a solution.
Ann Coulter on Bill Kristol
Townhall Columnists Ann Coulter-Bill Kristol Must Resign
EMAIL ANN COULTER | COLUMNIST'S ARCHIVE Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele was absolutely right. Afghanistan is Obama's war and, judging by other recent Democratic ventures in military affairs, isn't likely to turn out well.
It has been idiotically claimed that Steele's statement about Afghanistan being Obama's war is "inaccurate" -- as if Steele is unaware Bush invaded Afghanistan soon after 9/11. (No one can forget that -- even liberals pretended to support that war for three whole weeks.)
SHARE THIS: Share81 0 10diggsdiggSign-Up Yes, Bush invaded Afghanistan soon after 9/11. Within the first few months we had toppled the Taliban, killed or captured hundreds of al-Qaida fighters and arranged for democratic elections, resulting in an American-friendly government.
Then Bush declared success and turned his attention to Iraq, leaving minimal troops behind in Afghanistan to prevent Osama bin Laden from regrouping, swat down al-Qaida fighters and gather intelligence.
Having some vague concept of America's national interest -- unlike liberals -- the Bush administration could see that a country of illiterate peasants living in caves ruled by "warlords" was not a primo target for "nation-building."
By contrast, Iraq had a young, educated, pro-Western populace that was ideal for regime change.
If Saddam Hussein had been a peach, it would still be a major victory in the war on terrorism to have a Muslim Israel in that part of the globe, and it sure wasn't going to be Afghanistan (literacy rate, 19 percent; life expectancy, 44 years; working toilets, 7).
But Iraq also was a state sponsor of terrorism; was attempting to build nuclear weapons (according to endless bipartisan investigations in this country and in Britain -- thanks, liberals!); nurtured and gave refuge to Islamic terrorists -- including the 1993 World Trade Center bombers; was led by a mass murderer who had used weapons of mass destruction; paid bonuses to the families of suicide bombers; had vast oil reserves; and is situated at the heart of a critical region.
Having absolutely no interest in America's national security, the entire Democratic Party (save Joe Lieberman) wailed about the war in Iraq for five years, pretending they really wanted to go great-guns in Afghanistan. What the heck: They had already voted for the war in Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11 when they would have been hanged as traitors had they objected.
The obsession with Afghanistan was pure rhetoric. Democrats have no interest in fighting any war that would serve America's interests. (They're too jammed with their wars against Evangelicals, Wal-Mart, the Pledge of Allegiance, SUVs and the middle class.) Absent Iraq, they'd have been bad-mouthing Afghanistan, too.
1 2 | Full Article |
EMAIL ANN COULTER | COLUMNIST'S ARCHIVE Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele was absolutely right. Afghanistan is Obama's war and, judging by other recent Democratic ventures in military affairs, isn't likely to turn out well.
It has been idiotically claimed that Steele's statement about Afghanistan being Obama's war is "inaccurate" -- as if Steele is unaware Bush invaded Afghanistan soon after 9/11. (No one can forget that -- even liberals pretended to support that war for three whole weeks.)
SHARE THIS: Share81 0 10diggsdiggSign-Up Yes, Bush invaded Afghanistan soon after 9/11. Within the first few months we had toppled the Taliban, killed or captured hundreds of al-Qaida fighters and arranged for democratic elections, resulting in an American-friendly government.
Then Bush declared success and turned his attention to Iraq, leaving minimal troops behind in Afghanistan to prevent Osama bin Laden from regrouping, swat down al-Qaida fighters and gather intelligence.
Having some vague concept of America's national interest -- unlike liberals -- the Bush administration could see that a country of illiterate peasants living in caves ruled by "warlords" was not a primo target for "nation-building."
By contrast, Iraq had a young, educated, pro-Western populace that was ideal for regime change.
If Saddam Hussein had been a peach, it would still be a major victory in the war on terrorism to have a Muslim Israel in that part of the globe, and it sure wasn't going to be Afghanistan (literacy rate, 19 percent; life expectancy, 44 years; working toilets, 7).
But Iraq also was a state sponsor of terrorism; was attempting to build nuclear weapons (according to endless bipartisan investigations in this country and in Britain -- thanks, liberals!); nurtured and gave refuge to Islamic terrorists -- including the 1993 World Trade Center bombers; was led by a mass murderer who had used weapons of mass destruction; paid bonuses to the families of suicide bombers; had vast oil reserves; and is situated at the heart of a critical region.
Having absolutely no interest in America's national security, the entire Democratic Party (save Joe Lieberman) wailed about the war in Iraq for five years, pretending they really wanted to go great-guns in Afghanistan. What the heck: They had already voted for the war in Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11 when they would have been hanged as traitors had they objected.
The obsession with Afghanistan was pure rhetoric. Democrats have no interest in fighting any war that would serve America's interests. (They're too jammed with their wars against Evangelicals, Wal-Mart, the Pledge of Allegiance, SUVs and the middle class.) Absent Iraq, they'd have been bad-mouthing Afghanistan, too.
1 2 | Full Article |
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Elected Federal Bureacracy Entitlements
Forwarded to me by a friend. I agree.
Subject: Governors of 35 states filed suit against Fed Government...
Governors of 35 states have already filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (= of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on. An idea whose time has come For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.
Have each person contact a minimum of twenty people on their Address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."
You are one of my 20.
Subject: Governors of 35 states filed suit against Fed Government...
Governors of 35 states have already filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (= of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on. An idea whose time has come For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.
Have each person contact a minimum of twenty people on their Address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."
You are one of my 20.
America's Corrupt Big Cities, Start With Chicago
Forwarded to me by a friend: I'll believe that Kennedy and Jefferson said these words. Even if they didn't these statements are basically correct. However, both Kennedy and Jefferson had their share of detractors.
Merle
John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the
brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement:
"This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to
gather at one time in the White House with the exception of
when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe,
we shall become as corrupt as Europe .
Thomas Jefferson
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those
who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.
A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
Thomas Jefferson
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government
from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Thomas Jefferson
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
Thomas Jefferson
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms
is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of
patriots and tyrants.
Thomas Jefferson
To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to
our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow
private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'
I WISH WE COULD GET THIS OUT TO EVERYONE!!!
Merle
John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the
brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement:
"This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to
gather at one time in the White House with the exception of
when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe,
we shall become as corrupt as Europe .
Thomas Jefferson
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those
who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson
It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.
A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
Thomas Jefferson
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government
from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson
My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Thomas Jefferson
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
Thomas Jefferson
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms
is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of
patriots and tyrants.
Thomas Jefferson
To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to
our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow
private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'
I WISH WE COULD GET THIS OUT TO EVERYONE!!!
Peoria Park Board Seeks Trail Grants
PPD is seeking a grant for $122,500 for a parallel separated bike trail along Radnor Road to the new Peoria Public Library while the PPD has also put put bids for the Kellar Branch Trail. Some say Radnor Road is in bad shape. It appears to be a County Rd. so I'll find out and get in touch with our highway super.
Out State may grow broke while millions can't find jobs but the public sector continues to request money for such "priorities" as bike trails and walking paths??
Are we a world gone nuts or what do we have too many nuts making the world go nuts.
The PPD didn't have the money to do the ball diamonds they have been promising since 2002, build a decent skateboard park for kids ACTIVITY, it appears they have not properly used the $200,000+ plus stimulus grant to spend on Proctor Center, go see for yourself.
The Legislatures and bureaucrats are approving and our public bodies are spending all this money on enhancements when the State of Illinois can't even pay their bills and our Federal Government is spending and borrowing; interest on the borrowed money, much of it from foreign countries, will soon reach astronomical numbers.
Some or most of our "leaders" are out of their minds. Priorities are bike and walking trails. This appears to be the generation of I want, I want, I want.
I thught Ray LaHood knew better than to say he puts the same emphasis on trails as he does on highways. It sure shows it.
Out State may grow broke while millions can't find jobs but the public sector continues to request money for such "priorities" as bike trails and walking paths??
Are we a world gone nuts or what do we have too many nuts making the world go nuts.
The PPD didn't have the money to do the ball diamonds they have been promising since 2002, build a decent skateboard park for kids ACTIVITY, it appears they have not properly used the $200,000+ plus stimulus grant to spend on Proctor Center, go see for yourself.
The Legislatures and bureaucrats are approving and our public bodies are spending all this money on enhancements when the State of Illinois can't even pay their bills and our Federal Government is spending and borrowing; interest on the borrowed money, much of it from foreign countries, will soon reach astronomical numbers.
Some or most of our "leaders" are out of their minds. Priorities are bike and walking trails. This appears to be the generation of I want, I want, I want.
I thught Ray LaHood knew better than to say he puts the same emphasis on trails as he does on highways. It sure shows it.
Hear no Truth, Speak no Truth and See no Truth
Forwarded to me by a friend. There is a Paul R. Hollrah on the net. I don't know if Mr. Hollrah wrote this piece or not but I agree with its contents. General MCChrystal would not be the first general would was forced to retire who knew more about was was going on in the field than any politician, or a community organizer turned president.
Merle
phollrah@fairpoint.net
The General and the Community Organizer
by Paul R. Hollrah
Channel-surfing from ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN through MSNBC and Fox News, the inside-the-beltway pundits had a field day trying to get inside the heads of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, General Stanley McChrystal, and McChrystal’s top aides. The one thing common to all of the analyses, by the most famous and highly-paid talking heads in the Western World, was that they are all wrong… dead wrong. What is certain is that they all owe General McChrystal and his senior aides an apology for assuming that they are lame-brained numbskulls.
The facts of the McChrystal case are not in dispute. General McChrystal and his senior officers allowed a reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine, Michael Hastings, to have almost unprecedented access during an extended stay in Paris. The extended stay was due, in part, to an excess of atmospheric ash from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano, keeping the McChrystal party grounded for days. Hastings subsequently published a lengthy profile of General McChrystal on June 22, titled, The Runaway General.
In an interview with CNN, Hastings reported that he had a tape recorder in his hand most of the time and that McChrystal was “very aware” that his comments would find their way into print. He said, “McChrystal and his people set no ground rules for their conversations, although they did ask that some parts of their conversations were off the record.”
As Hastings wrote in his profile, McChrystal thought that Obama looked “uncomfortable and intimidated” by the roomful of military brass during their first meeting. Of their second meeting, an advisor to McChrystal quoted the general as saying that it was “a 10-minute photo op.” He went on to say, “Obama clearly didn’t know anything about (McChrystal), who he was. Here’s the guy who’s going to run his f_ _ _ing war, but he didn’t seem very engaged. The Boss was pretty disappointed.”
As General McChrystal flew from Afghanistan to Washington to face Obama in the Oval Office, the almost unanimous opinion of the talking heads was that the comments made by McChrystal and his staff were off the cuff and inadvertent. But to believe that is to totally ignore who these men are.
General McChrystal and his top officers are not simple-minded, knuckle-dragging brutes. To the contrary, they are intelligent, thoughtful, highly educated, patriots… graduates of West Point and other fine universities… who are dedicated to duty, honor, and country. To think that such men would be so careless as to speak unflatteringly of Obama, Biden, and other top administration figures, in the presence of a reporter for a notoriously left wing publication, defies logic… at the very least. To think that men who are trained to be careful and deliberate in everything they do, could do something so careless and so unguarded is simply beyond comprehension.
I would argue that McChrystal and his aides knew exactly what they were doing.
From the day that he became the handpicked “spear carrier” for Obama’s unique brand of warfare… playing at being Commander in Chief while playing to his far left constituency… McChrystal’s life had been one of constant frustration. After telling Obama exactly how many troops he needed to carry out his mission, Obama dithered for months before deciding to give him just half the troops he requested. McChrystal could not have been happy about that.
The Obama team insisted on new Rules of Engagement designed to reduce collateral damage (civilian casualties). Obama’s ROE required that U.S. troops must be able to see the enemy with weapon in hand before they were allowed to return fire. One videotape circulated on the Internet showed a platoon of Marines pinned down by enemy sniper fire. But since the enemy was firing from some distance behind the open window of a building, the Marines could not actually see the weapon being fired. Although they were taking deadly fire, they were prohibited by the ROE from putting small arms fire or an RPG through the window opening.
Under Obama’s politically correct ROE, our soldiers and Marines were required to fight with one hand tied behind their backs. McChrystal had to have been happy about that.
A strict new interrogation policy, dictated by Attorney General Eric Holder, required that prisoners must be delivered to an Interrogation Center within twenty-four hours of being captured or be released to return to the battlefield. A great deal of actionable intelligence was lost as a result and battle-hardened enemy fighters were returned to the field to kill Americans. McChrystal must have found that to be incomprehensible.
But the greatest insult to our troops in the field, and to the officers who lead them, may be a new battlefield medal designed by the Obama team. It is called the Courageous Restraint Medal and is awarded to soldiers and Marines who demonstrate uncommon restrain in combat by not firing their weapons even when they feel threatened by the enemy. Should we be surprised to learn that the preponderance these medals were awarded posthumously? McChrystal must have found that to be an insanity.
I suggest that, having his best military judgments subjected to the White House political sieve for nearly a year and a half, McChrystal decided that he’d had enough. And when he announced to his senior staff that he was prepared to retire they decided to push back… to make the most of a bad situation. It was clear that, if McChrystal were to simply take off his uniform and walk away, his retirement would be page-twenty news for a day or two before the mainstream media and the American people forgot all about him.
They had to make the most of his retirement because it provided a one-time opportunity to show the American people, as well as our enemies and our allies, that the man who claims the title of Commander in Chief of the U.S. military does not command the respect of our men and women in uniform. To make the most of that opportunity they had to choose their messenger very carefully.
They knew that, by openly showing their disrespect for Obama in front of just any newsman, they may not attract the attention they desired. Like any astute observer of the MSM, they knew that most reporters would turn on their own mothers if it meant a good story. But they could not take a chance that a mainstream media reporter might suffer a rare pang of conscience when confronted with the prospect of ruining the careers of some of the most senior officers in the War on Terror. They had to fix the odds as much as possible in their favor so they chose to use Michael Hastings and Rolling Stone Magazine.
During the long hours that General McChrystal was in the air between Kabul and Washington, Obama knew that he had just two choices… both bad. He could declare McChrystal to be an irreplaceable asset in the war effort, give him a public reprimand, and send him back to Kabul. Or he could fire McChrystal, sending a clear message that, at least in his own mind, he was the Commander in Chief.
In the former case, he was certain to appear weak and ineffectual… a man not totally in charge. In the latter case, he might at least win a few rave reviews from the Kook-Ade drinkers in the mainstream media. He chose the latter of the two options.
But what is now lost in all of the hand-wringing and speculation is the fact that McChrystal and his people have succeeded in doing exactly what they set out to do. They wanted to plant the seed in the minds of the American people that Obama is not up to the task of being Commander in Chief and that he does not command the respect of the men and women of the uniformed services… from the newest Private E-1 up to the top four-star generals and admirals.
That seed is now firmly planted and it cannot be unplanted.
From this day forward, no one will have to tell the American people that Stanley McChrystal is a true warrior, a man’s man, and that Barack Obama is nothing more than a… community organizer. Well done, General
Merle
phollrah@fairpoint.net
The General and the Community Organizer
by Paul R. Hollrah
Channel-surfing from ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN through MSNBC and Fox News, the inside-the-beltway pundits had a field day trying to get inside the heads of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, General Stanley McChrystal, and McChrystal’s top aides. The one thing common to all of the analyses, by the most famous and highly-paid talking heads in the Western World, was that they are all wrong… dead wrong. What is certain is that they all owe General McChrystal and his senior aides an apology for assuming that they are lame-brained numbskulls.
The facts of the McChrystal case are not in dispute. General McChrystal and his senior officers allowed a reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine, Michael Hastings, to have almost unprecedented access during an extended stay in Paris. The extended stay was due, in part, to an excess of atmospheric ash from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano, keeping the McChrystal party grounded for days. Hastings subsequently published a lengthy profile of General McChrystal on June 22, titled, The Runaway General.
In an interview with CNN, Hastings reported that he had a tape recorder in his hand most of the time and that McChrystal was “very aware” that his comments would find their way into print. He said, “McChrystal and his people set no ground rules for their conversations, although they did ask that some parts of their conversations were off the record.”
As Hastings wrote in his profile, McChrystal thought that Obama looked “uncomfortable and intimidated” by the roomful of military brass during their first meeting. Of their second meeting, an advisor to McChrystal quoted the general as saying that it was “a 10-minute photo op.” He went on to say, “Obama clearly didn’t know anything about (McChrystal), who he was. Here’s the guy who’s going to run his f_ _ _ing war, but he didn’t seem very engaged. The Boss was pretty disappointed.”
As General McChrystal flew from Afghanistan to Washington to face Obama in the Oval Office, the almost unanimous opinion of the talking heads was that the comments made by McChrystal and his staff were off the cuff and inadvertent. But to believe that is to totally ignore who these men are.
General McChrystal and his top officers are not simple-minded, knuckle-dragging brutes. To the contrary, they are intelligent, thoughtful, highly educated, patriots… graduates of West Point and other fine universities… who are dedicated to duty, honor, and country. To think that such men would be so careless as to speak unflatteringly of Obama, Biden, and other top administration figures, in the presence of a reporter for a notoriously left wing publication, defies logic… at the very least. To think that men who are trained to be careful and deliberate in everything they do, could do something so careless and so unguarded is simply beyond comprehension.
I would argue that McChrystal and his aides knew exactly what they were doing.
From the day that he became the handpicked “spear carrier” for Obama’s unique brand of warfare… playing at being Commander in Chief while playing to his far left constituency… McChrystal’s life had been one of constant frustration. After telling Obama exactly how many troops he needed to carry out his mission, Obama dithered for months before deciding to give him just half the troops he requested. McChrystal could not have been happy about that.
The Obama team insisted on new Rules of Engagement designed to reduce collateral damage (civilian casualties). Obama’s ROE required that U.S. troops must be able to see the enemy with weapon in hand before they were allowed to return fire. One videotape circulated on the Internet showed a platoon of Marines pinned down by enemy sniper fire. But since the enemy was firing from some distance behind the open window of a building, the Marines could not actually see the weapon being fired. Although they were taking deadly fire, they were prohibited by the ROE from putting small arms fire or an RPG through the window opening.
Under Obama’s politically correct ROE, our soldiers and Marines were required to fight with one hand tied behind their backs. McChrystal had to have been happy about that.
A strict new interrogation policy, dictated by Attorney General Eric Holder, required that prisoners must be delivered to an Interrogation Center within twenty-four hours of being captured or be released to return to the battlefield. A great deal of actionable intelligence was lost as a result and battle-hardened enemy fighters were returned to the field to kill Americans. McChrystal must have found that to be incomprehensible.
But the greatest insult to our troops in the field, and to the officers who lead them, may be a new battlefield medal designed by the Obama team. It is called the Courageous Restraint Medal and is awarded to soldiers and Marines who demonstrate uncommon restrain in combat by not firing their weapons even when they feel threatened by the enemy. Should we be surprised to learn that the preponderance these medals were awarded posthumously? McChrystal must have found that to be an insanity.
I suggest that, having his best military judgments subjected to the White House political sieve for nearly a year and a half, McChrystal decided that he’d had enough. And when he announced to his senior staff that he was prepared to retire they decided to push back… to make the most of a bad situation. It was clear that, if McChrystal were to simply take off his uniform and walk away, his retirement would be page-twenty news for a day or two before the mainstream media and the American people forgot all about him.
They had to make the most of his retirement because it provided a one-time opportunity to show the American people, as well as our enemies and our allies, that the man who claims the title of Commander in Chief of the U.S. military does not command the respect of our men and women in uniform. To make the most of that opportunity they had to choose their messenger very carefully.
They knew that, by openly showing their disrespect for Obama in front of just any newsman, they may not attract the attention they desired. Like any astute observer of the MSM, they knew that most reporters would turn on their own mothers if it meant a good story. But they could not take a chance that a mainstream media reporter might suffer a rare pang of conscience when confronted with the prospect of ruining the careers of some of the most senior officers in the War on Terror. They had to fix the odds as much as possible in their favor so they chose to use Michael Hastings and Rolling Stone Magazine.
During the long hours that General McChrystal was in the air between Kabul and Washington, Obama knew that he had just two choices… both bad. He could declare McChrystal to be an irreplaceable asset in the war effort, give him a public reprimand, and send him back to Kabul. Or he could fire McChrystal, sending a clear message that, at least in his own mind, he was the Commander in Chief.
In the former case, he was certain to appear weak and ineffectual… a man not totally in charge. In the latter case, he might at least win a few rave reviews from the Kook-Ade drinkers in the mainstream media. He chose the latter of the two options.
But what is now lost in all of the hand-wringing and speculation is the fact that McChrystal and his people have succeeded in doing exactly what they set out to do. They wanted to plant the seed in the minds of the American people that Obama is not up to the task of being Commander in Chief and that he does not command the respect of the men and women of the uniformed services… from the newest Private E-1 up to the top four-star generals and admirals.
That seed is now firmly planted and it cannot be unplanted.
From this day forward, no one will have to tell the American people that Stanley McChrystal is a true warrior, a man’s man, and that Barack Obama is nothing more than a… community organizer. Well done, General
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Lincoln Museum Ticket Prices Rising - PJS, July 4, 2010
Rising operational costs force museum to increase fees for the 2nd time. On July 1 adult admissions increased from $10 to $12. Seniors and students pay $9 instead of $7.........
"Attendance remains good", says museum spokesperson David Blanchette, "but our costs continue to go up". Attendance for the first 5 months of 2010 was 130,699. Operational costs were $10.8 million in 2009. Revenues were $2,895,535 so the state paid around $7.45 million of taxpayers dollars to make up the shortfall.
This information should give some pause to the "movers and shakers" as to what is going on with the under-funded Peoria Riverfront Museum that has already spent $12 million or more without a shovel of dirt being turned.
My predictions have long been voiced. The PRM will start losing $2 million dollars a year in its 2nd or 3rd year after opening and that loss will increase as operating costs go up for the next 75 years. Where will the money come to make up the deficit.
You get one guess only.
"Attendance remains good", says museum spokesperson David Blanchette, "but our costs continue to go up". Attendance for the first 5 months of 2010 was 130,699. Operational costs were $10.8 million in 2009. Revenues were $2,895,535 so the state paid around $7.45 million of taxpayers dollars to make up the shortfall.
This information should give some pause to the "movers and shakers" as to what is going on with the under-funded Peoria Riverfront Museum that has already spent $12 million or more without a shovel of dirt being turned.
My predictions have long been voiced. The PRM will start losing $2 million dollars a year in its 2nd or 3rd year after opening and that loss will increase as operating costs go up for the next 75 years. Where will the money come to make up the deficit.
You get one guess only.
Bel-Wood County Owned Nursing Home
At my request, the Journal Star Editorial Board printed my Letter to the Editor (LTE) on June 12 under "In the Spotlight Column" titled 'Costs too high for county to keep supporting Be-lWood Nursing home'.
Since many of my readers do not read the JS, I am reprinted on this blog exactly as the JSEB edited it. At end I will add what additional information should have been made available to the property tax payers in Peoria County who paid $3,241,000 in direct and indirect property taxes in 2009 to support Bel-Wood. A total of over $17million from 2004-2009.
Here is my reprint from the JSEB:
"Imagine the dismay", wrote the JSEB on June 7, 2010, "when one County Board member sought to hit the brakes on the entire (BW) project." No surprise, as I voiced my concern on the JSEB page on June 6, 2009 (Bel-Wood meant to be a Safety Net"), plus numerous times in Peoria County Board Meetings.
Bel-Wood is not a safety net for the poor, as Peoria County Administration estimates that room rates will be only slightly below the private sector, which does accept Medicaid clients. The estimated cost for a new Bel-Wood has risen from $37 million to $54.6 million, all borrowed except the $5 million on hand.
Nursing home censuses are down substantially, some as low as 50% occupancy in the area. Bel-Wood has a daily average of 60 empty beds per day and hasn't had a waiting list for years. More elderly are receiving government-subsidized hoe care.
In 2003, an additional tax levy on property was approved to "maintain" BW Included was approximately $7 million in subsidy costs (taxpayer) dollars previously charge to Bel-wood to help cover operating expenses. The board was told this was common practice for County facilities, citing the Juvenile Center and the Care and Treatment Board. (Actually, my addition) the Juvenile Center subsidies are state mandated and the Care and Treatment Board subsidies are covered by grant money. Bel-Wood has no such mandates or grants to cover IMRF, FICA,etc.
Since the 2003 levy increase, property taxes of more than $17 million have supported Bel-Wood with these taxes paying off a previous, $4.1 debt and daily operating costs. Nothing was spent on a sprinkler system that must now be installed by the end of 2013. Nor a roof that needed to be replaced 10 years ago. In short, the building was not "maintained," as specified in the 2003 referendum.
Bel-wood has had 5 administrators in the last 10 years and has settled more than $750,000 in client claims and fines while carrying a substantial receivables deemed doubtful.
I reiterate that the county should join the 90-plus Illinois Counties that have sold or closed county nursing homes and support the private sector rather than compete against it. Peoria County spends a disproportionate amount of its resources (attorneys, union negotiations, human services, etc.) and time on problems at Bel-Wood.
Bel-Wood also supports 200 union member and the County Board seats 12 Democrats."
Here is information I could have added in my LTE but only so many words are accepted in a LTE. BW supports 161 IBEW union members and 29 non-union members. The reason the BW Fund has around $5 million available for the new building is because of tax dollars were only used to maintain Life-Safety issues, operating costs, not general maintenance such as a new roof, sprinkler system, plumbing, carpentry work, etc.
In order to avoid a new referendum to build a new Bel-Wood, administration and county board members interpreted the 2003 referendum that was worded to "maintain" Bel-Wood that easily passed as authority to replace the 42 year old facility with a new one. Not mentioned in the publicity surrounding the referendum was that BW carried a $4.1 debt but emphasized that Bel-Wood would probably close if the referendum didn't pass. Which as Mr. Monroe pointed out, was not true. Not mentioned was the poor effort that was made to collect past dues with one private pay client running up $141,000 deficit before any collection effort was made. Needless to say that Bel-Wood even today has doubtful accounts running into 6 figures.
No inventory control of drugs was in place, the filing of patient records was a disgrace and some records were destroyed for obvious reasons.
The nursing home business is specialized and Peoria County has a long list of failures including allegations that a union leader was caught in bed with a client in the building. The county should divest itself of this business to the private sector where failure at property taxpayers expense is not an option.
Since many of my readers do not read the JS, I am reprinted on this blog exactly as the JSEB edited it. At end I will add what additional information should have been made available to the property tax payers in Peoria County who paid $3,241,000 in direct and indirect property taxes in 2009 to support Bel-Wood. A total of over $17million from 2004-2009.
Here is my reprint from the JSEB:
"Imagine the dismay", wrote the JSEB on June 7, 2010, "when one County Board member sought to hit the brakes on the entire (BW) project." No surprise, as I voiced my concern on the JSEB page on June 6, 2009 (Bel-Wood meant to be a Safety Net"), plus numerous times in Peoria County Board Meetings.
Bel-Wood is not a safety net for the poor, as Peoria County Administration estimates that room rates will be only slightly below the private sector, which does accept Medicaid clients. The estimated cost for a new Bel-Wood has risen from $37 million to $54.6 million, all borrowed except the $5 million on hand.
Nursing home censuses are down substantially, some as low as 50% occupancy in the area. Bel-Wood has a daily average of 60 empty beds per day and hasn't had a waiting list for years. More elderly are receiving government-subsidized hoe care.
In 2003, an additional tax levy on property was approved to "maintain" BW Included was approximately $7 million in subsidy costs (taxpayer) dollars previously charge to Bel-wood to help cover operating expenses. The board was told this was common practice for County facilities, citing the Juvenile Center and the Care and Treatment Board. (Actually, my addition) the Juvenile Center subsidies are state mandated and the Care and Treatment Board subsidies are covered by grant money. Bel-Wood has no such mandates or grants to cover IMRF, FICA,etc.
Since the 2003 levy increase, property taxes of more than $17 million have supported Bel-Wood with these taxes paying off a previous, $4.1 debt and daily operating costs. Nothing was spent on a sprinkler system that must now be installed by the end of 2013. Nor a roof that needed to be replaced 10 years ago. In short, the building was not "maintained," as specified in the 2003 referendum.
Bel-wood has had 5 administrators in the last 10 years and has settled more than $750,000 in client claims and fines while carrying a substantial receivables deemed doubtful.
I reiterate that the county should join the 90-plus Illinois Counties that have sold or closed county nursing homes and support the private sector rather than compete against it. Peoria County spends a disproportionate amount of its resources (attorneys, union negotiations, human services, etc.) and time on problems at Bel-Wood.
Bel-Wood also supports 200 union member and the County Board seats 12 Democrats."
Here is information I could have added in my LTE but only so many words are accepted in a LTE. BW supports 161 IBEW union members and 29 non-union members. The reason the BW Fund has around $5 million available for the new building is because of tax dollars were only used to maintain Life-Safety issues, operating costs, not general maintenance such as a new roof, sprinkler system, plumbing, carpentry work, etc.
In order to avoid a new referendum to build a new Bel-Wood, administration and county board members interpreted the 2003 referendum that was worded to "maintain" Bel-Wood that easily passed as authority to replace the 42 year old facility with a new one. Not mentioned in the publicity surrounding the referendum was that BW carried a $4.1 debt but emphasized that Bel-Wood would probably close if the referendum didn't pass. Which as Mr. Monroe pointed out, was not true. Not mentioned was the poor effort that was made to collect past dues with one private pay client running up $141,000 deficit before any collection effort was made. Needless to say that Bel-Wood even today has doubtful accounts running into 6 figures.
No inventory control of drugs was in place, the filing of patient records was a disgrace and some records were destroyed for obvious reasons.
The nursing home business is specialized and Peoria County has a long list of failures including allegations that a union leader was caught in bed with a client in the building. The county should divest itself of this business to the private sector where failure at property taxpayers expense is not an option.
Monday, July 05, 2010
Roger Monroe on Bel-Wood, Peoria County Nursing Home
Here's what Roger Monroe, who writes a monthly column for the local newspaper, Community Word, wrote in the March 2003 in his column, "Straight Talk", urging voters to vote "no" on the referendum to continue to MAINTAIN Bel-Wood by raising property taxes:
"Vote 'No' on Bel-wood tax -- as well intentioned as the BW tax levy proposal is, I think voters should reject it come April 1. TOO MUCH..TOO SOON. For starters Peoria County Board Members, who approved putting the referendum on the ballot, are asking for too much money during these hard and difficult times. Currently, the Peoria County Board and Bel-Wood are gobbling up the full 2 1/2% levy to the tune of over $400,000. Now they want to triple that tax rate to 6% providing another $800,000! This means taxpayer would be paying some $1.2 million (now $3 million in direct and indirect property taxes, in 2009, my quote) annually to support a nursing home with less than 300 residents. That's too much, too soon. I ARGUED that when the large increase idea was presented to the County Board."
Monroe continues, "My 2nd reason", for opposing the large jump in the BW tax levy for (property) tax payers is based on the belief the home still suffers management problems ($700,000+ in lawsuits settled recently, my quote). It needs to prove to taxpayers administrative efficiency. I can't ignore its history of state violations, poor survey results, including loss of accreditation, and numerous complaints about resident care. If taxpayers give $1.2 million(actually $3 million in year 2009, my quotes) without demanding better management, look for the county to seek more money within 5 years." (Actually 6 years, the new taxes starting coming in in 2004, and now seeking roughly $54 million plus, approximately $49 million in borrowed money, my quotes)
End of Monroe's quotes in April 2003.
In May, 2003, Monroe wrote in the CW, "Bel-Wood Success - Congratulations are due those who worked so hard for passage of the tax increase. Readers of my column know I didn't support the increase, etc......Further, I keep hearing that BW is accepting residents who have lived outside of Peoria County, so taxpayers are subsidizing their care too. If true, (it is, about 24 residents do not live in Peoria County as of 2010, my quote) the counties where they live should share the cost. (They don't, my quote) While I congratulate the the supporters of the BW tax they were a little disingenuous in suggesting BW might have to close if the referendum didn't pass.(The wording on the Referendum said 'To Maintain BelWood'. it wasn't maintained except for life-safety issues, my quotes) Monroe continues, "Wrong, Bel-wood cannot close or even be leased without a referendum."
In April 2002 Monroe had written in the CW, "The Bel-Wood Fiasco" concluding his lengthy diatribe by concluding "here's another example of why your (BW) taxes are so high".
More Monroe quotes. "I hate to bring it up since some (JS?, my quote, nothing has changed at the JS) like to keep it out of the news, but BW lost close to $2 million last year. One Peoria County Official told me if BW can increase its current 263 census, (its 231 as of June 30, 2010), to 280, the nursing home will begin to show a profit. I don't know what he is smoking because I can remember when the home had 290 residents and it was losing $500,000 a year."
So these are Monroe's writings back in 2002 and 2003. Yet, here is what he wrote in the July 2010 Community Word just off the press:
"Widmer Oposes? (It's 2 pp's, Roger) Bel-Wood. Peoria County Board Member Merle Widmer is a nay-sayer. He was strongly opposed to the RP that continues to be one of the more successful riverfront ventures." (successful, really??? with 35% coming from across the river and in competition with the local tax-paying private sector while park services decline, my quote) Monroe continues, "He's fired off more than one salvo against BW. But he isn't the first. I remember when Gary Stella (and, also, Board Chairman Jim Christopher, my quote) who both questioned the wisdom of the county and its taxpayers subsidizing the nursing facility. Widmer's argument, though based on some erroneous statement's, deserves serious discussion by county officials." (Erroneous, I have my facts all documented, my quotes).
Nowhere in Monroe's July, 2010 column does he mention that he recommended to his readers to oppose the 2003 referendum. Interesting. Actually I strongly supported the 2003 referendum and have a Certificate of Appreciation from BW. The referendum was to "Maintain" BW.
We didn't maintain the facility.
Administration and the board allowed it to deteriorate, rather than maintain. We received grant money for a Sprinkler System in 2007 (we used it for architects, consultants, engineers, for a new building instead) and we could have installed a new roof anytime. Electrical and plumbing should have been replaced or maintained just as we did to the original Courthouse that was built about the same time as Bel-Wood. After all, BW was supported by $17 million in property taxes, both direct and indirect from 2004-2009.
Monroe continues, "I chaired the Health Services Committee and the first referendum committee seeking approval for a tax increase. It passed by a 2-1 margin." (Note Monroe doesn't mention that he urged voters to vote "No" on the 2003 referendum). Monroe continues, "Things are different today. Medicare and Medicaid make up the the vast majority of the daily census. (Actually, Medicaid patients total around 165, private pay around 50 and Medicare around 20, my quotes) Meanwhile, the County Board has approved plans for a new building. (224 beds, my quotes) People may remember the first estimated cost was $28 million, (actually $26-29 million, my quotes) yet not a shovel has been turned and now we hear quotes of $54million. Like a lot of new construction, when finished, the cost will be higher. Medical care costs are sky rocketing. Can taxpayers afford to support BelWood?"
End of his July 2010 "Straight Talk" column.
For those of you who might be interested in reading "Costs too high for county to keep supporting Bel-Wood nursing home", as I wrote 'In the Spotlight' issue of the JS on 6/13/10, I will reprint it on this site.
"Vote 'No' on Bel-wood tax -- as well intentioned as the BW tax levy proposal is, I think voters should reject it come April 1. TOO MUCH..TOO SOON. For starters Peoria County Board Members, who approved putting the referendum on the ballot, are asking for too much money during these hard and difficult times. Currently, the Peoria County Board and Bel-Wood are gobbling up the full 2 1/2% levy to the tune of over $400,000. Now they want to triple that tax rate to 6% providing another $800,000! This means taxpayer would be paying some $1.2 million (now $3 million in direct and indirect property taxes, in 2009, my quote) annually to support a nursing home with less than 300 residents. That's too much, too soon. I ARGUED that when the large increase idea was presented to the County Board."
Monroe continues, "My 2nd reason", for opposing the large jump in the BW tax levy for (property) tax payers is based on the belief the home still suffers management problems ($700,000+ in lawsuits settled recently, my quote). It needs to prove to taxpayers administrative efficiency. I can't ignore its history of state violations, poor survey results, including loss of accreditation, and numerous complaints about resident care. If taxpayers give $1.2 million(actually $3 million in year 2009, my quotes) without demanding better management, look for the county to seek more money within 5 years." (Actually 6 years, the new taxes starting coming in in 2004, and now seeking roughly $54 million plus, approximately $49 million in borrowed money, my quotes)
End of Monroe's quotes in April 2003.
In May, 2003, Monroe wrote in the CW, "Bel-Wood Success - Congratulations are due those who worked so hard for passage of the tax increase. Readers of my column know I didn't support the increase, etc......Further, I keep hearing that BW is accepting residents who have lived outside of Peoria County, so taxpayers are subsidizing their care too. If true, (it is, about 24 residents do not live in Peoria County as of 2010, my quote) the counties where they live should share the cost. (They don't, my quote) While I congratulate the the supporters of the BW tax they were a little disingenuous in suggesting BW might have to close if the referendum didn't pass.(The wording on the Referendum said 'To Maintain BelWood'. it wasn't maintained except for life-safety issues, my quotes) Monroe continues, "Wrong, Bel-wood cannot close or even be leased without a referendum."
In April 2002 Monroe had written in the CW, "The Bel-Wood Fiasco" concluding his lengthy diatribe by concluding "here's another example of why your (BW) taxes are so high".
More Monroe quotes. "I hate to bring it up since some (JS?, my quote, nothing has changed at the JS) like to keep it out of the news, but BW lost close to $2 million last year. One Peoria County Official told me if BW can increase its current 263 census, (its 231 as of June 30, 2010), to 280, the nursing home will begin to show a profit. I don't know what he is smoking because I can remember when the home had 290 residents and it was losing $500,000 a year."
So these are Monroe's writings back in 2002 and 2003. Yet, here is what he wrote in the July 2010 Community Word just off the press:
"Widmer Oposes? (It's 2 pp's, Roger) Bel-Wood. Peoria County Board Member Merle Widmer is a nay-sayer. He was strongly opposed to the RP that continues to be one of the more successful riverfront ventures." (successful, really??? with 35% coming from across the river and in competition with the local tax-paying private sector while park services decline, my quote) Monroe continues, "He's fired off more than one salvo against BW. But he isn't the first. I remember when Gary Stella (and, also, Board Chairman Jim Christopher, my quote) who both questioned the wisdom of the county and its taxpayers subsidizing the nursing facility. Widmer's argument, though based on some erroneous statement's, deserves serious discussion by county officials." (Erroneous, I have my facts all documented, my quotes).
Nowhere in Monroe's July, 2010 column does he mention that he recommended to his readers to oppose the 2003 referendum. Interesting. Actually I strongly supported the 2003 referendum and have a Certificate of Appreciation from BW. The referendum was to "Maintain" BW.
We didn't maintain the facility.
Administration and the board allowed it to deteriorate, rather than maintain. We received grant money for a Sprinkler System in 2007 (we used it for architects, consultants, engineers, for a new building instead) and we could have installed a new roof anytime. Electrical and plumbing should have been replaced or maintained just as we did to the original Courthouse that was built about the same time as Bel-Wood. After all, BW was supported by $17 million in property taxes, both direct and indirect from 2004-2009.
Monroe continues, "I chaired the Health Services Committee and the first referendum committee seeking approval for a tax increase. It passed by a 2-1 margin." (Note Monroe doesn't mention that he urged voters to vote "No" on the 2003 referendum). Monroe continues, "Things are different today. Medicare and Medicaid make up the the vast majority of the daily census. (Actually, Medicaid patients total around 165, private pay around 50 and Medicare around 20, my quotes) Meanwhile, the County Board has approved plans for a new building. (224 beds, my quotes) People may remember the first estimated cost was $28 million, (actually $26-29 million, my quotes) yet not a shovel has been turned and now we hear quotes of $54million. Like a lot of new construction, when finished, the cost will be higher. Medical care costs are sky rocketing. Can taxpayers afford to support BelWood?"
End of his July 2010 "Straight Talk" column.
For those of you who might be interested in reading "Costs too high for county to keep supporting Bel-Wood nursing home", as I wrote 'In the Spotlight' issue of the JS on 6/13/10, I will reprint it on this site.
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