Thursday, August 23, 2012

10 Poorest Cities in the United States of America




This information forwarded to me by a friend is true. Except I can't verify the part credited to Lincoln but the wording is correct and it is true.

Merle

10 Poorest Cities in America
Guess why

VERY INTERESTING E-MAIL ALL THE WAY TO THE END....

10 Poorest Cities in America and how did it happen?

City, State, % of People Below the Poverty Level:

1. Detroit , MI 32.5%
2. Buffalo , NY 29.9%
3. Cincinnati , OH 27.8%
4. Cleveland , OH 27.0%
5. Miami , FL 26.9%
5. St. Louis , MO 26.8%
7. El Paso , TX 26.4%
8. Milwaukee , WI 26.2%
9. Philadelphia , PA 25.1%
10. Newark , NJ 24.2%

-- U.S.Census Bureau,
2006 American Community Survey, August 2007


What do the top ten cities (over 250,000) with the highest poverty rate all have in common?

Detroit, MI
(1ston the poverty rate list)
hasn't elected a Republican mayor
since 1961

Buffalo, NY (2nd)
hasn't elected one since 1954

Cincinnati, OH- (3rd)...
since 1984

Cleveland, OH- (4th)...
since 1989

Miami, FL - (5th)
has never had a Republican mayor

St. Louis, MO - (6th)...
since 1949

El Paso, TX- (7th)
has never had a Republican mayor

Milwaukee, WI- (8th)...
since 1908

Philadelphia, PA- (9th)...
since 1952

Newark, NJ- (10th)...
since 1907.


Einstein once said,
'The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different
results."

MAYBE THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD LISTEN TO WHAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID BELOW:

It is the poor who habitually elect Democrats ....
yet they are still POOR.


"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."

-- Abraham Lincoln



Printing money to avoid fiscal disaster, is like trying to pick up the bucket you are standing in…!!!



Home Depot Uses Stockholders Dollars to Support Gay Marriage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I've said before on this blog site, I do not support gay marriage. I personally do not participate in boycotts; howeverI would not condemn this action in this instance. This is a reprint of an email from AFA:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Merle

AFA was recently contacted by a Home Depot employee who says the boycott of Home Depot is being effective. "We have customers who come into our store and confront our store managers over the HD's support of Gay pride. The AFA is having an effect on HD."

She also shared that many employees disagree with the company's pro-gay-marriage stand. In June, a "Gay Pride Month" poster (photo right) was put up in her breakroom. "HD is as committed as ever to the changing of laws in favor of same sex marriage.They had absolutely no empathy for those employees who voiced offense with the display. This was mandated by corporate directive. Therefore the display was torn down at least 2 times."

In June, Home Depot sponsored and participated in three events pushing for the legalization of homosexual marriage. Home Depot refuses to remain and neutral spends corporate money to help promote the gay agenda.

Philadelphia, PA - June 10, 2012
Home Depot sponsored a "Kids' Workshop" in the midst of lewd activities, including nudity and homosexual activities.

St. Petersburg, FL - June 30, 2012
Home Depot set up two booths along the gay pride parade route. Male employees cheered passing floats full of nearly-nude male dancers, encouraging them to toss "love beads" to them.

Baltimore, MD - June 16, 2012
Parade organizers heavily promoted the Home Depot "Kids' Workshop" at "a special Family Zone catering to proud families with kids." Transvestites and cross-dressers canvassed the area in front of children.



545 Politicians by Charlie Reese



545 vs. 300,000,000 People
-By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason.

They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash.

The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.

The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House?

John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.

When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan ...

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.

Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

What you do with this article now that you have read it... is up to you.

This might be funny if it weren't so true.

Be sure to read all the way to the end:

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid...

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me
to my doom...'

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax


STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the heck happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'

I hope this goes around THE USA at least 545 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!!

GO AHEAD. . . BE AN AMERICAN!!!




Supreme Court's Ruling Lets us Continue to Bring Men Value to Our Patients - Bill Leaver, President and CEO, Iowa Health System and Debbie Simon

Debbie Simon is President/CEO Methodist Medical Center.

Sent to me by a doctor who read the article in the August edition of The Community Word asking that we move on with with ObamaCare, stating "Let's support our leaders in moving health care reform forward rather than backward."

QUOTE

Hi Merle.

I read this article and I think it is ok, but not outstanding. The problem is we as Republicans want to repeal Obama Care. We we need to have a cohesive policy to counter that. I outlined in previous articles in PJS:

1) Have a goal to have all people insured in 5-7 years.

2) Give states a "block Grant" to cover those who are not insured, poor, handicapped. This grant should be proportional to each state.

3) Make all forms of insurance "Portable".

4) Have a legitimate Federal Tort Reform. No country that has socialised medicine has a legal system as ours.

I think the key thing in this election is the Senate. If we do not get it and Obama gets a narrow victory, USA as we know it will be gone.

Romney and Ryan have to get down and dirty!

Why can't Romney say Mr. President you want my tax records, let the American people see your College records. What are you hiding from the American people? I bet you that will stop the demand for taxis of Romney in a hurry.

At any rate have a good time at the convention.

END QUOTE

Sick Senior Solution - Medicare Part G

Forwarded to me by a friend.

Merle

NEW SENIOR PROGRAM....
New Medicare Program


You're a sick senior citizen and the government says there is no nursing home available for you. So what do you do?

Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets. You are allowed to shoot four Politicians.

Of course, this means you will be sent to prison where you will get three meals a day, a roof over your head, central heating, air conditioning and all the health care you need!
Need new teeth? No problem. Need glasses? That’s great. Need a new hip, knees, kidney, lungs or heart? They’re all covered.

As an added bonus, your kids can come and visit you as often as they do now.

And who will be paying for all of this? It’s the same government that just told you that you they cannot afford for you to go into a home.

And you can get rid of 4 useless politicians while you are at it.
Plus, you might not have to pay income taxes anymore.

Is this a great country or what?






NOTICE: This e-mail is confidential, may be legally privileged, and is for the intended recipient(s) only. Any disclosure, copying, distribution, or reliance on any of it by anyone else is strictly prohibited and may

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Peoria Journal Star Cartoon by Horsey in Poor Taste

Horsey, whose usual bad taste cartoons are foisted on the JS reader on a too frequent basis. He is a far left leaning liberal and most likely a Democrat; he sure isn't a Republican but is apparently a favorite of the Democrat leaning Editorial Board of the Journal Star (JSEB)

I don't mind political cartoons but when cartoonists like horse's-ass Horsey deliberately maligns the truth, it nearly causes me to cancel my subscription. In talking to my friends, I found many of them have already cancelled and with good reasons; another one being that there isn't much news in the paper written by skilled local reporters. Most of the content, other than a preponderance of advertising and a decent sports page, comes from the news wires in a minimized form. So much that I have stopped reading the ads including the blatant ones by the hearing aid distributors who must make a fortune on the Asian made devices they sell.

In truth, cartoonists like Horsey are the evil minded people from another century and would go over big in Egypt, Iran and Russia. In America, they appeal to the less read, less informed who perhaps make up the majority of the JS readership today.

So sad.

Peoria County Board Chairman to Seek Third Term

Democrat Tom O'Neill, County Board peer elected Chairman told me today that he will seek a third term in November. Prior to Dave Williams, former Democrat County Board Chairman being elected to a third term in 2004, it was generally understood that the County Board Chairman would step down after two terms so someone else could run for the position.

The new chair will receive $25,000 a year, up from $16,000 a year, as recently voted by the full County Board. The current chair is employed by the City of Peoria and will be eligible for 2 pensions and perhaps 3 if he retires at 55.

Democrat Mike Phelan, one of 5 who voted against a third 2 year term for Williams, has long felt confident that he would make a good chairman. I agree but Phelan has not as yet been able to garner the 10 votes that would elect him.

Meanwhile, the somewhat divided Republicans, will probably remain a minority in the upcoming election

Chicago Cubs Do Not Plan to Renew Their Contract With the Peoria Chiefs



A reported today by three reputable sources.


Merle;

The Peoria Chiefs will lose the Chicago Cubs as their parent club after this season, according to a report Tuesday in the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Cubs, it was reported, are close to signing a Player Development Contract with the Kane County Cougars, also in the Midwest League.

Both the Chiefs and Cougars have PDCs that expire at the end of this season, but until the report there was no sign that the Cubs were entertaining leaving Peoria.

“It definitely caught us off guard,” Chiefs president Rocky Vonachen said. “It’s the first we’ve heard anything like that.”

The Cubs returned to Peoria in 2005. They were previously associated with the Chiefs in from 1985 though 1994.



The Peoria Chiefs will lose the Chicago Cubs as their parent club after this season, according to a report Tuesday in the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Cubs, it was reported, are close to signing a Player Development Contract with the Kane County Cougars, also in the Midwest League.

Both the Chiefs and Cougars have PDCs that expire at the end of this season, but until the report there was no sign that the Cubs were entertaining leaving Peoria.

“It definitely caught us off guard,” Chiefs president Rocky Vonachen said. “It’s the first we’ve heard anything like that.”

The Cubs returned to Peoria in 2005. They were previously associated with the Chiefs in from 1985 though 1994.



Monday, August 20, 2012

Housing Agency Closes Amid Mystery

This is a JS headline today. And a poor headline at that. There should have been no mystery to the alleged fraudulent actions of Pioneer Civic Services. I discovered this secretive operation in the late 1990's when raising money for Phoenix House. I made an innocent inquiry as the housing situation I was told to talk to Steven Clark, who when reached by phone, asked what concern it was to me. When I told him I was making inquiry as a tax-paying citizen, he refused to continue talking to me.

As I left, I encountered a crying young girl sitting on the ground outside this building. She at first refused to talk to me but finally told me that she had been told to leave the building despite having no place to go. I went back in the building and reported her story and was told it was none of my concern.

I hope HUD does a thorough investigation as to where the money went and why it wasn't spent on its intended purpose. HUD should also have kept a better eye on their Section 8 program where cronyism was rampart in many parts of the country.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Not Like Obama and His Presidency - Please Help Vote Him Out in November

Subject: Re: Obama The Narcissist





Why I Do Not Like The Obamas
Mychal Massie

The other evening on my twitter, a person asked me why I didn't like the Obama's? Specifically I was asked: "I have to ask, why do you hate the Obama's? It seems personal, not policy related. You even dissed their Christmas family pic."

The truth is I do not like the Obamas, what they represent, their ideology, and I certainly do not like his policies and legislation.
I've made no secret of my contempt for the Obamas. As I responded to the person who asked me the aforementioned question, I don't like them because they are committed to the fundamental change of my/our country into what can only be regarded as a Communist state.

I don't hate them per definition, but I condemn them because they are the worst kind of racialists, they are elitist Leninists with contempt for traditional America. They display disrespect for the sanctity of the office he holds, and for those who are willing to admit same, Michelle Obama's raw contempt for white America is transpicuous.

I don't like them because they comport themselves as emperor and empress. I expect, no I demand respect, for the Office of President and a love of our country and her citizenry from the leader entrusted with the governance of same. President and Mrs. Reagan displayed an unparalleled love for the country and her people. The Reagans made Americans feel good about themselves and about what we could accomplish. Could you envision President Reagan instructing his Justice Department to act like jack-booted thugs?

Presidents are politicians and all politicians are known and pretty muchexpected to manipulate the truth, if not outright lie, but even using that low standard, the Obama's have taken lies, dishonesty, deceit, mendacity, subterfuge and obfuscation to new depths. They are verbally abusive to the citizenry and they display an animus for civility.

I do not like them, because they both display bigotry overtly, as in the case of Harvard Professor Louis Gates, when he accused the Cambridge Police of acting stupidly, and her code speak pursuant to now being able too be proud of America. I view that statement and that mindset as an insult to those who died to provide a country where a Kenyan, his illegal alien relatives, and his alleged progeny, could come and not only live freely, but rise to the highest, most powerful, position in the world.Michelle Obama is free to hate and disparage whites, because Americans of every description paid with their blood to ensure her right to do same.

I have a saying, that "the only reason a person hides things, is because they have something to hide." No president in history has spent over a million dollars to keep his records and his past sealed.

And what the two of them have shared has been proved to be lies. He lied about when and how they met, he lied about his mother's death and problems with insurance, Michelle lied to a crowd pursuant to nearly $500,000 bank stocks they inherited from his family. He has lied about his father's military service, about the civil rights movement, ad nausea.He lied to the world about the Supreme Court in a State of the Union address. He berated and publicly insulted a sitting Congressman. He has surrounded himself with the most rabidly, radical, socialist academicians today. He has fought for abortion procedures and opposed rulings that protected women and children, that even Planned Parenthood did not seek to support. He is openly hostile to business and aggressively hostile to Israel. His wife treats being the First Lady, as her personal American Express Black Card (arguably the most prestigious credit card in the world). I condemn them because, as people are suffering, losing their homes, their jobs, their retirements, he and his family are arrogantly showing off their life of entitlement - as he goes about creating and fomenting class warfare.

I don't like them, and I neither apologize nor retreat from my public condemnation of them and of his policies. We should condemn them for the disrespect they show our people, for his willful and unconstitutional actions pursuant to obeying the Constitutional parameters he is bound by, and his willful disregard for Congressional authority.

Dislike for them has nothing to do with the color of their skin, it has everything to do with their behavior, attitudes, and policies. And I have open scorn for their playing the race card.

It is my intention to do all within my ability to ensure their reign is one term. I could go on, but let me conclude with this. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the media for refusing to investigate them, as they did President Bush and President Clinton, and for refusing to label them for what they truly are. There is no scenario known to man, whereby a white president and his wife could ignore laws, flaunt their position, and lord over the people, as these two are permitted out of fear for their color.

As I wrote in a syndicated column titled "Nero In The White House" - "Never in my life, inside or outside of politics, have I witnessed such dishonesty in a political leader. He is the most mendacious political figure I have ever witnessed. Even by the low standards of his presidential predecessors, his narcissistic, contumacious arrogance is unequalled.Using Obama as the bar, Nero would have to be elevated to sainthood ...Many in America wanted to be proud when the first person of color was elected president, but instead, they have been witness to a congenital liar, a woman who has been ashamed of America her entire life, failed policies, intimidation, and a commonality hitherto not witnessed in political leaders. He and his wife view their life at our expense as an entitlement - while America's people go homeless, hungry and unemployed."


Mychal Massie is a respected writer and talk show host in Los Angeles .





O'Bama's 2nd Term? A Mirror of California?

Written by Roger Hedgecock - Former Mayor of San Diego. He left out Trans Sec Rsy LaHood, Obama's "gofer" and the hi-speed rail that Californians don't want once they found out they would pay 80% of it. Neither the feds or the state has the money nor does California have the need to connect somewhere with someplace.

Sure, later on it would connect to higher density population probably using Chinese steel and Chinese bonds.

Merle

California's Not Dreamin': This Is the Nightmare of an Obama Second Term
I live in California. If you were wondering what living in Obama's second term would be like, wonder no longer. We in California are living there now.

California is a one-party state dominated by a virulent Democratic Left enabled by a complicit media where every agency of local, county, and state government is run by and for the public employee unions. The unemployment rate is 12%.

California has more folks on food stamps than any other state, has added so many benefits and higher rates to Medicaid that we call it "Medi-Cal." Our K-12 schools have more administrators than teachers, and smaller classes but lower test scores and higher dropout rates with twice the per-student budget of 15 years ago. Good job, Brownie.

This week, the once and current Gov. Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown had to confess that the "balanced" state budget adopted five months ago was billions in the red because actual tax revenues were billions lower than the airy-fairy revenue estimates on which the balance was predicated.

After trimming legislators' perks and reducing the number of cell phones provided to state civil servants, the governor intoned that drastic budget reductions had already hollowed out state programs for the needy, law enforcement and our schoolchildren. California government needed more money.

Echoing the Occupy movement, the governor proclaimed the rich must pay their fair share. Fair share? The top 1% of California income earners currently pays 50% of the state's income tax.

California has seven income tax brackets. The top income tax rate is 9.3%, which is slapped on the greedy rich earning at least $47,056 a year. Income of more than $1 million pays the "millionaires' and billionaires'" surcharge tax rate of 10.3%.

Brown's proposal would add 2% for income over $250,000. A million-dollar income would then be taxed at 12.3%. And that's just for the state.

Brown also proposed a one-half-cent sales tax increase, which would bring sales taxes (which vary by county) to 7.75% to 10%. Both tax increases would be on the ballot in 2012.

The sales tax increase proposal immediately brought howls of protest from the Left (of Brown!). Charlie Eaton, a sociology grad student at UC Berkeley​ and leader of the UC Student-Workers Union, said, "We've paid enough. It's time for millionaires to pay."

At least five other ballot measures to raise taxes are circulating for signatures to get on the 2012 ballot in California. The governor's proposals are the most conservative.

The Obama way doesn't end with taxes.

The governor and the state legislature continue to applaud the efforts of the California High Speed Rail Authority​ to build a train connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco. Even though the budget is three times the voter-approved amount, and the first segment will only connect two small towns in the agricultural Central Valley. But hey, if we build it, they will ride.

And we don't want to turn down the Obama bullet-train bucks Florida and other states rejected because the operating costs would bankrupt them. Can't happen here—we're already insolvent.

If we get into real trouble with the train, we'll just bring in the Chinese. It worked with the Bay Bridge reconstruction. After the 1989 earthquake, the bridge connecting Oakland and San Francisco was rebuilt with steel made in China. Workers from China too. Paid for with money borrowed from China. Makes perfect sense.

In California​, we hate the evil, greedy rich (except the rich in Hollywood and in sports, and in drug dealing). But we love people who have broken into California to eat the bounty created by the productive rich.

Illegals get benefits from various generous welfare programs, free medical care, free schools for their kids, including meals, and of course, instate tuition rates and scholarships too. Governor Perry​, California has a heart. Nothing's too good for our guests.

To erase even a hint of criticism of illegal immigration, the California Legislature is considering a unilateral state amnesty. Democrat State Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes has proposed an initiative that would bar deportation of illegals from California.

Interesting dilemma for Obama there. If immigration is exclusively a federal matter, and Obama has sued four states for trying to enforce federal immigration laws he won't enforce, what will the President do to a California law that exempts California from federal immigration law?

California is also near fulfilling the environmentalist dream of deindustrialization.

After driving out the old industrial base (auto and airplane assembly, for example), air and water regulators and tax policies are now driving out the high-tech, biotech and even Internet-based companies that were supposed to be California's future.

The California cap-and-trade tax on business in the name of reducing CO2 makes our state the leader in wacky environmentalism and guarantees a further job exodus from the state.

Even green energy companies can't do business in California. Solyndra went under, taking its taxpayer loan guarantee with it.

No job is too small to escape the regulators. The state has even banned weekend amateur gold miners from the historic gold mining streams in the Sierra Nevada Mountains​.

In fact, more and more of California's public land is off-limits to recreation by the people who paid for that land. Unless you're illegal. Then you can clear the land, set up marijuana plantations at will, bring in fertilizers that legal farmers can no longer use, exploit illegal farm workers who live in hovels with no running water or sanitation, and protect your investment with armed illegals carrying guns no California citizen is allowed to own.

The rest of us only found out about these plantations when the workers' open campfire started one of those devastating fires that have killed hundreds of people and burned out thousands of homes in California over the last decade.

It was said after California's Proposition 13 in 1978 cut property tax rates and was copied in other states, that whatever happened in California would soon happen in your state.

You'd better hope that's wrong.

"Darkhorse" 3rd Battalion 5th Marines And Their Families - A Prayer


Forwarded to me by my nephew, Richard Widmer.


Merle:

To my Marine veteran friends. Please be praying for our Marines, and all our troops in harm's way defending our freedom.

We are asking everyone to say a prayer for "Darkhorse" 3rd Battalion 5th Marines and their families.

They are fighting it out in Afghanistan & they have lost 12 marines in 4 days.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE the message spread if more people could pass it on.

Nothing has been in the media about these guys because no one seems to care.

They are: Justin Allen, 23; Brett Linley, 29; Matthew Weikert, 29; Justus Bartett, 27; Dave Santos, 21; Chase Stanley, 21; Jesse Reed, 26; Matthew Johnson, 21; Zachary Fisher, 24; Brandon King, 23; Christopher Goeke, 23; Sheldon Tate, 27.

All are Marines that gave their lives for YOU this week.

Please Honor THEM by forwarding this. I just did.

From B. Burt

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Peoria Civic Center Boasts Positive Financial News

So says the JS on 7/27/12, continuing that the facility has a surplus for 2012 and expects another.

Now read beyond the headlines: "Hotel, restaurant and amusement tax continues to be a major revenue source, with $1,400,000.00 projected during fiscal year 2013.

With depreciation, fiscal year 2013 losses are estimated at $4,400,000.00."

Hm.

From the Tea Party Net

Find at teaparty.net or teapartypatriots.netr

Dear Patriot,

Below please find a special message from one of our sponsors, Newsmax.com. They have important information to share with you. Thank you

Please note that the following message reflects the opinion and representations of our sponsor alone, and not necessarily the opinion of TheTeaParty.net.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Reader,

Both former Vice President Dick Cheney and Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch are urging citizens to read Ed Klein's blockbuster book on President Barack Obama called "The Amateur: Barack Obama in the White House."

Recently Murdoch recently tweeted that "every voter" must read this book.

And Dick Cheney told Fox News' Sean Hannity that this is a must read, proving that Obama has provided dangerous leadership and that he has not led a typical Democratic administration.

"It's way over to the left," Cheney told Hannity bluntly.

Cheney said: "One of the things that's been most enlightening for me is to read this new book that's out that deals with this whole question of competence, written by Ed Klein, who used to be with The New York Times.

"It's called The Amateur. And it goes into great detail in a whole number of different areas in terms of his philosophy, and why he believes what he did, and how he got there, and how he's managed or failed to manage in the White House."

Cheney also warned that Obama offers a dangerous path for America.

"He thinks everything that happens that's good in the country comes from the government. And he's just dead wrong," Cheney concluded.

Cheney and Murdoch are only the latest political power players to give a glowing endorsement to Klein's scathing exposè on Obama, including his shocking betrayal of the Rev. Wright, Oprah, even the Kennedy family!

Billionaire entrepreneur Donald Trump says The Amateur is "the best book I've read on how Barack Obama is wrecking our country."

And Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity calls the book a "must-read" for every American.

Cover to cover, The Amateur is stuffed with shocking revelations about the Obama administration.

Once you start reading, you won't stop shaking your head in disbelief.

Newsmax has an incredible offer — get The Amateur for ONLY $4.95 as part of a special offer.

That's $23 off the cover price and $11.82 cheaper than Amazon!

Go Here Now for $4.95 Offer!

The book clearly hit a nerve with the American people.

It has exploded onto the New York Times best-seller list — and was #1 for six weeks in a row!

The Amateur, which reviewers have hailed as the most important political book of the year, has already sold hundreds of thousands of copies and continues to fly off shelves.

As Rupert Murdoch said, ALL voters should read The Amateur — and that includes you.





Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Grassroot Nation - Support Groups Working to Oust Barack

The buzz surrounding MItt Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate is quickly growing to a roar!

I felt it on Saturday morning when I stood with a large crowd in Norfolk, Virginia, as Romney first introduced Ryan as his running mate.

For the first time in many years....


...The energy and enthusiasm of the presidential election is on the side of the GOP.

...Crowds for Romney and Ryan are dwarfing the turnout for Obama and Biden.

...The GOP is now the party of youth and ideas!

+ + Liberals Attacking Ryan

Of course, the radical left is already on the attack. LIberal pundits are doing everything to paint Ryan as a Medicare Monster. And now they are resorting to intentionally disrupting Ryan events and even tried to storm the stage in Iowa this week.

+ + Show Your Support!

You can show your support for the GOP ticket with Grassfire's exclusive Romney/Ryan ReStickers and all-weather yard signs.

Grassfire's ReStickers are revolutionizing the bumper sticker market with a special adhesive material that allows you to stick -- and re-stick -- our ReStickers to just about anything. And tens of thousands of patriots have utilized our yard signs to get their message out.

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To see and order our exclusive Romney/Ryan ReStickers and Yard Signs, go here:

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ReStickers and yard signs are still among the best ways for you to let others know where you stand in this election.

Order your Romney/Ryan Restickers and Yard Signs today!

Steve Elliott
Grassfire Nation


+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
(Note: Please do not "reply" directly to this e-mail message. This e-mail address is not designed to receive your personal messages. To contact Grassfire Nation with comments, questions or to change your status, see link at the end.)

+ + + + +
Grassfire Nation, a division of Grassroots Action, Inc., is a million-strong network of grassroots conservatives that is dedicated to equipping you with the tools that give you a real impact on the key issues of our day. Copyright 2012 Grassroots Action.



http://www.grassfire.com/techemail.asp?ind=15


Grassroots Action
PO Box 277
Maxwell,IA 50161











"Don't Shoot" Author David Kennedy Visiting Peoria

If you recall I blogged on the importance of reading this book some time back. If you go to this meeting and you should, please read the book first. Unfortunately, I will be at the Republican Convention and will miss the opportunity to meet and hear the successes and failures of this program.

You might also read "How to Return New York City to the Street Gangs" by Heather McDonald published in the WSJ on 8/11/12. "A chorus of protests led by the liberal new York Times, charging that the NYPD policy of 'stop and frisk' is racist because because the majority of those stopped are black and Hispanic. This, despite that 63% of those murdered are blacks while blacks make up only 23% of the population.

Whites, by contrast, commit only 1% of all shootings, less than 5% of all robberies and 5% of all violent crime in 2011 in NYC. (Please read the whole article in the WSJ)

The program started in 1993 dropped crime to the lowest levels in the country. While the "Don't Shoot" plan takes a different approach than the successful program previously run by NYC, both approaches has greatly reduced shootings and all crimes in areas where the program has the full support of all involved.

I am pleased to the SA Brady, Mayor Ardis, Sheriff McCoy and Chief Settingard among many others involved in making this community a safer community. Do not let a few liberals and 'bleeding hearts' stop Peoria from reducing shootings and crime in general as these minorities are now trying to stop New York City police from continuing a successful program..

Merle

Dear Citizens,

You will be seeing an increasing story line unfolding in the next few weeks that will outline a very important community initiative titled "Don't Shoot". Our community focus is to drastically reduce gun crimes in our city. With the U. S. Attorney's Office, the State's Attorney and our law enforcement community, we are placing a laser-like focus on those who commit crimes with guns in Peoria and its impact on all of us.

Please take time to visit the website, www.dontshootpeoria.com. Get the message out on your Facebook page. Take time to read the overview of the initiative. Read David Kennedy's book, "Don't Shoot". Plan to be at Riverside Community Church on Aug. 29th to hear David Kennedy speak in person. Listen to the Peoria Reads/Don't Shoot discussion on WCBU radio, 89.9 FM. Everyone has a role to play in this effort. I hope you'll get involved in making our community more safe. Look for more information from your favorite news channel in the coming weeks.

Please forward this email on to everyone you know and help us spread the word!

Sincerely,

Mayor Ardis

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Belleville News-Democrat Says Governor Quinn Trades on Tragedy

I prefer this editorial over the JSEB editorial as printed on the Editorial page of the JS today. The New-Democrat talks about the Quinn's action forcing Illinois sportsmen and collectors to buy ammunition out-of-state causing a loss of revenue to Illinois business.

The JSEB compares a collector owning a modified assault gun, "There are all sorts of sophisticated weaponry that are off limits to the general public. No one, after all, would say that it is okay for an individual to own a nuclear warhead simply because it's a weapon."

Trying not to redundant, the Colorado killer could have killed more with a bomb; the makings of a bomb readily available as witnessed in the Oklahoma bombing massacre of many years ago.

The JSEB doesn't get it that anyone bent on killing can do so in many ways. They can get their hands on weaponry to do so as witness the "Fast and Furious" debacle that has not been thoroughly discussed in the liberal medias. Nor have as many heads rolled as happen in Mexico on an almost daily basis due to failed drug eradication programs.

Nor do they understand that authorized collectors do not plan to use any of the guns they collect to kill humans unless someday, the United States turns into a Syria. Or they have forgotten about the Norway massacre that included the killer setting off a car bomb that started the whole fiasco. (See WSJ report today, "Panel faults response to Norway Massacre.") Gunman goes on hour long shooting spree, killing 77 unarmed innocents, July 22, 2011.

Oh well, the JSEB said both sides would come out with statistics to support their point of view. Sure, compare guns to nuclear warheads?? Come on out but stop the exaggeration by liberal media, please

Tony Hillerman Fans

If you haven't read Anne Hillerman's, "Tony Hillerman's Landscapes, on the road with Chee and Leaphorn, you are missing a captivating and memory jogging read.

Highly recommended to take your mind off the daily grind.

Ralph de Toledano - Author of "The Municipal Doomsday Machine"

This present and futuristic writer (he died at age of 90 in February,2012) asked in this 1975 book, 'Will public employee unions become our political masters?'

I quote from page 119 the following, " The battle, however, will be a long and bitter one. With unlimited power almost in their grasp, and with it hegemony over all of Big Labor, the sachems of public-employee unionism will not give up easily. They have demonstrated in the past their ability to ride heedlessly over the public and over the nations basic laws, and they are certain they can do it again. If they succeed and, then these United States will succumb to a government. of, by, and for a Big Labor oligarchy."

Also quoting author Slyvester Petro, in his incisive essay on sovereignty and public unionism, concludes with these word: "We have been dealing, I believe, with the most serious issues that can confront a people who wish to live in a civilized social order, one in which life has a chance to be reasonably prosperous, reasonably happy, and reasonably secure. The ends, mankind has learned through the bitterest experience over the centuries, are unachievable in the absence of government endowed with those attributes to which we have given the name 'sovereign'. I have tried to demonstrate that compulsory public-sector bargaining laws are INCOMPATIBLE with government sovereignty and that they will constitute a fatal threat to popular sovereignty as well. They can make no contribution to peace and productivity of society. They point in the direction of anarchy, and all the dread consequences of anarchy and disorder."

Since these writings of 37 years ago, many changes forecast by writer like Mr. Toledano have come to fruition like the stacked deck NLRB, the election to office of politicians willing to bend to the dollars of Big Labor and these politicians retention of power and a president the likes of Obama who masks his determination to become "supreme ruler" with a charismatic personality.

(Slyvester Petro, who died in 2007, was a professor of law and author of several books on unions and the dangers of Big Labor)

Most socialistic society have not succeeded except by brute force such as Cuba, Argentina, Venezuela, etc. Let the voter beware of Obama's close association with Big Labor, tort corporations and radicals like Bill Ayers and the Chicago reverend who did much of Obama's tutoring while he attended his church for 20 years.

Several generations have been asking and receiving, "what can I get that secures me financially from government" flies in the face of President John Kennedy who famously stated, "ask not what..........

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Joe Biden Form Letter - What a Bunch of Hypocrites


Merle --

Starting now, we can expect even more wealthy, right-wing ideologues lining up to support the Romney-Ryan ticket.

The people on the other side who are trying to buy this election are putting nasty, deceptive TV ads on the air right this very minute. They're not going away. They're getting worse.

If we don't do what we can to keep this close, right now at this crucial moment, we risk letting the other side run away with it.

If you're thinking about making a donation to the campaign, please don't wait -- donate $5 or more today, and let's win this together.

Every single day from now until Election Day matters. At the end of it, we'll all ask ourselves if we did everything we could to make sure that we are able to keep fighting for change.

I know how I want to answer that question. I hope you're with me -- because we're up against the kind of outside spending never seen before in modern politics.

And without people like you, this could get to be a pretty lopsided fight.

November 6th will be here sooner than we think. Donate $5 or more today:

[URL for donations deleted]

Thanks,

Joe

Dear Chicago Cubbie Fans,

I feel your pain as BC once said. Despite the fact that this team is one of the worst Cub teams in history, you turn up to practically fill the stadium for every game. While I only watch them on TV sporadically, I believe that Manager Sveum can never build a winner. He may have been a pretty good player but he can't handle this overpaid bunch of under performers.

This week against Cincinnati, trailing by 2 runs in the ninth, mental case Soriano lead off. The first 2 pitches were balls and he didn't swing. The next 3 pitches as shown by the replay computer were also balls. But Soriano, the worst team player with reasonable hitting talent, swung away at all three pitches striking out. I did not see him even glance at the third base coach.

This is but one example of a poorly coached team. Surely the manager talks to the team about getting a man one base when trailing in the ninth. Soriano, who always appears to have a chip on his shoulder as well as thinking he is better than he really, thought only of himself when he swung at balls 3, 4 and 5.

My advice trade him for a hitting and FIELDING outfielder. Throw in Dolis and Russell and perhaps one other middle relief pitcher on the trade.

Castro has a lot of talent but is overly stuck on himself. He needs a manager like Durocher to set him down and talk about attitude, team, and player contributions.

If Rizzo is a free agent next year, he will probably move on to a team that has a chance to make the playoffs.

Did anyone see Sveum put on a safety squeeze or even a squeeze play? I didn't. Even in a close game with speed on first and third and only out!! Never.

The team is playing down and out. They can't hit good pitching and can't figure out the strike zone..

Last week, with the Cubs leading 2-1 late in the game, Sveum let pitcher Wood hit for himself and then replaced him with Russell. No players who would love to get in the game to pinch hit? Sad. Then The first 2 batters got hits off Russell and eventually 3 runs scored off Russell. Lack of good base running by the Reds or more runs would have scored. Did the pitching coach come out to talk to him? No. Was he replaced by another pitcher from the bull pen? Was anyone ready to come in from the pen? Apparently not.

While I would never pay to watch a major or minor league game today; too many overpaid and under performing players, I feel for some die-hards like my brother-in-law who died saying "wait till next year". That swan song should be getting pretty old to Cubbie fans.

No chance of winning with this general manager, on-the-field manager, pitching and hitting coaches and some of the players who can't hit good pitching. With a lack of
team players like Johnson, you die-hards Cubbie fans are going to wait a long time for another Cub team in the playoffs.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

309 Restaurant Closes


Sad, but not surprising.

Suggestions for those who think they know the restaurant business but don't:

(1) Render faster, more polite service.

(2) Have really cool, friendly, and efficient waiters and waitresses.

(3) Get betters chefs, if you plan an upscale establishment.

(4) Get a more personable manager.

(5) Know acoustics, The acoustics were really bad.

(6) Offer customers a free dessert if there is any delay or problem with their order.

(7) Ask customers to honestly tell you how you're doing, what they like and what they don't like about your food, service, prices, and location.

(8) Don't show too much of the arrogant elite clientele, unless that type is all you plan to serve. The wine racks with arrogant elite names on their particular likes up front near the entrance was an insult to the regular diner.

(9) Have a Frequent Diner discount card, with a free meal after they purchase 8 or 10 meals.

Based on experience and visits with friends. Some similar reasons why the old Vonachens went out of business in the same area.

PREDICTION: With all the new restaurants opening in the area, look for more closings before the year ends.


Paul Ryan - Great Choice From Many Qualified

IF, and I say, "IF" Romney doesn't win in 2012, perhaps Ryan and Rubio in 2016. That is, if its possible to save this country after four more years of Obamaites.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Dominant Liberal Media Bias - Help Expose Them For What and Who they Are.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. --- Today, the Media Research Center has released a new analysis of the 21 ABC, CBS and NBC evening news stories about Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's trip to London, Israel and Poland between July 25 and July 31. The report's findings are absolutely staggering. 18 of the 21 stories emphasized Romney's perceived gaffes. That's 86%!


Please help us expose the liberal media for their outrageous bias and demand they Tell the Truth!


Our analysis also found that:


- NBC and CBS savaged Romney for an innocuous remark about London's readiness for the Games following security issues widely reported by those same networks. The comment was so unremarkable that NBC cut it out of their original taped interview with Romney.

- NBC and CBS only made Romney's Olympic comments an issue after taking their cues from British tabloids.

- When candidate Obama toured abroad during the 2008 campaign, the networks ignored that Obama falsely presented himself as a member of the Senate Banking Committee to reporters in Israel referring to "His" Committee's calls for divestment in Iran.

- Four years later, Romney's tough talk on Iran in defense of Israel was reported as an "error."

- During Romney's week-long trip, the networks committed 53 minutes of almost entirely negative coverage to the Republican candidate. During Obama's trip in 2008, they spent 92 minutes gushing over Obama.


It Shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that the media took this opportunity to thoroughly trash Obama's rival, but the near unanimous negativity of their coverage is as outrageous as it is transparent.It's impossible to look at the fawning coverage of Obama's trip in 2008 compared to the sliming Romney has taken in 2012 and not see a clear agenda on the part of the liberal media.


Please help us expose the liberal media for their outrageous bias and demand they Tell the Truth!

Brent

Peoria Journal Star Editorial Board Supports Gay Marriage


In an editorial in Sunday's Peoria Journal Star, the members of the editorial board (JSEB), stated that they disagreed with the owner of Chick-fil-A stance against gay marriage.

I have never had a problem with employees that I hired and worked with over 34 years who may have been gay. I am not "homophobic" as I have no fear of homosexuals and no animosity or hostility toward them.

I also never had their gayness pushed into my face. Now the militant gays want to make a big deal of it and demand their unions be legalized.

I strongly disagree.

I know I have one nephew who has lived most of his adult life with men. He is extremely talented and I am very proud of him. He and his friend are welcome. His attitude toward marriage has never been mentioned and I know it never will be a subject of conversation at any reunion, visit, etc, He is a good person. His business and feelings are his and I respect them.

But I do will never support gay marriage or gay civil unions.

And I disagree with the local JSEB on the right for gays to be united in civil ceremony. Not the first time I have disagreed with the JSEB and the City Desk as at least one older JSEB editor would still love to see a "highway from Peoria straight to Chicago" -- and that will NEVER happen.


Democrats, Lemmings and the Herd Concept

When Blago was in the process of being indicted, a believable poll indicated thar 30%of all Democrats would have voted for him if he was not sentenced to prison and ran for office again.

Sent to me by a relative

12 REASONS TO VOTE DEMOCRAT


When your family or friends cannot explain why they voted Democrat, give
them this list. Then they can then pick a reason from this "TOP 12"...


1. I voted Democrat because I love the fact that I can now marry whatever
I want. I've decided to marry my German Shepherd.

2. I voted Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a
gallon of gas are obscene, but the government taxing the same gallon of
gas at 15% isn't.

3. I voted Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job
of spending the money I earn than I would.

4. I voted Democrat because Freedom of Speech is fine as long as nobody
is offended by it.

5. I voted Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and
I know that my local police are all I need to protect me from murderers
and thieves.

6. I voted Democrat because I believe that people who can't tell us if
it will rain on Friday can tell us that the polar ice caps will melt
away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.

7. I voted Democrat because I'm not concerned about millions of babies
being aborted so long as we keep all death row inmates alive.

8. I voted Democrat because I think illegal aliens have a right to free
health care, education, and Social Security benefits, and we should take
away the social security from those who paid into it.

9. I voted Democrat because I believe that businesses should not be
allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give
the rest away to the government for redistribution as the Democrats see fit.


10. I voted Democrat because I believe liberal judges need to rewrite the
Constitution every few days to suit some fringe kooks who would never
get their agendas past the voters.

11. I voted Democrat because I think that it's better to pay billions
to people who hate us for their oil, but not drill our own because it
might upset some endangered beetle, gopher or fish.

12. I voted Democrat because my head is so firmly planted up my ass,
it's unlikely that I'll ever have another point of view.











=

Thursday, August 02, 2012

A Tribute to the Late DeWayne Bartels

While we had somewhat different views as to worldly political events, we were pretty much in agreement about our views on local political events. DeWayne wrote from his heart and did not attempt to put down people like myself who often tried to get out the truth and slow the flow of the herd.

He loved the outdoors and his article about the wonders of the Pimiteoui Trail,(which can be found on this blog site verbatim, 7/10/06 under Bartels) was particulary outstanding. It is unfortunate that the Times-Observor in Peoria, where DeWayne did some of his best writing, was closed and the building on Pioneer Parkway sits empty. It was the gain of the communities on the other side of the river and helped the Journal Star by having one less competitor, a competitor which is sorely needed in this community.

DeWayne, your down-to-earth personality will be missed by many of your friends and readers.

My condolences again to the Bartel family.

(Sorry for any mis-pelled words, but to add to the many problems I am having with this site, my spell-check is not working again),

General Electric VP Retired at Age 50 Gets $89,000 a Month NOT to Work

I was critical of GM paying laid off union workers. I am incensed that John Krenicki,a VP 50 years old, is being paid a retirement package of over $28 million which includes not joining or forming another company to compete against G.E. Anyone owning this stock, I don't and never will, the company is a major loser for stockholders and has been a loser for years for long-term stockholders. (Not to many years ago G.E. was trading at $30+. Those days are gone forever, count on it)

Krenicki is joining Clayton, Dublilier and Rice, a private equity firm where he will probably be paid another 10 million or more a year to use his insider knowledge of which the small investor will know nothing about.

I doubt that $28 million includes his G.E. paid health dn life insurance. He will surely be paid a platinum parachute when he leaves his new and the companies after that as he is only 50 YEARS OLD.

If Republicans don't win in November, it is corporate board decisions like this that turn off the little guy like me. Of course, they probably have to pay this money because of sweetheart deals they signed when they hired him and others of the same ilk.

Sure, G.E. is a private company and their CEO sucks up to Obama but be advised that the wealthy that kiss Obama's ass will always be taken care of by Obama and most Democrats.

I will never buy another G.E product. I'm not envious, just very, very sad because this is commonplace in so much of the major private sector; the wealthy ass-kisser who will support Obama in November..

Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Chick-fil-A And Free Speech

I previously supported the right of the president of Chick-fil-A to take any stand he wishes. This is still supposed to be a land of free speech. I hope when they open in Peoria I am around to attend the ribbon cutting.