meddling in mediocrity

reflections of an election gone by

2009-04-19T22:53:00.002Z

For those of you that felt it important that I write this, here you go. Recently the Springfield voters cast there ballots(all <9% of them)for the individuals they would like to direct the direction of the city.
It appears for all intended purposes that money and name recognition has much to do with who wins these political races. I've only been a resident of this city for 5 years but in those five years I have done more to stem the tide of big government then my opponent has as a lifelong resident. It is a shame that with all the candidate forums held less then 100 people came out to any of them and the 100 is a combined total. My campaign did not do much in the form of fund raising as I have limited amount of people I know here and those that I do know did donate what they could afford.
It has been said that had Fred Ellison and myself knocked on a few more doors that we could have changed the direction of this very liberal minded city. Perhaps this is true however had we done that we would have neglected watching what was on city council agendas, an not been able to formulate solutions to some of the pressing problems of the city.
Our pension fund is 190 MILLION in the red and neither my opponent or Fred's offered any solutions except to allow the soon to be created pension task force to come up with a solution. The mindset of current council was to pass a 38% tax increase onto the people, this was also the solution endorsed by Stephens, O'Neal, Whayne, & Rush, along with all the power players behind the scenes pulling some of the strings. Luckily OUR side won this debate and left the big government types scrabbling for a solution, even though a solution to this problem had been presented to them month earlier at numerous council meetings. It is unlikely that any government employee, political appointee, or novice politician is going to endorse an effort of reallocating existing taxes. The mindset of those people just don't function in that manner.

I did receive the endorsement of the Springfield News Leader, and probably would have recieved the endorsement of the fire fighters and police officers union as well had it not been for an e-mail which was forwarded by our city manager, which had been bcc'd to him regarding a brain storming session on how to solve this issue. The brain storming that took place in e-mail form was only part of numerous conversations and meetings that had taken place before during and after the e-mail account. The local paper endorsement did help me out quite a bit as people were able to see my opponent for what he really is a follower of the poplar voice.

My opponent to his benefit tried to paint me into a CA politics corner even though most of my life had been spent in rural PA. He tried to paint me into an unknowledgable corner on the issues even though I was the one with the answers and his positions were like trying to nail Jell-o to a wall. I have managed multi million dollar construction sites with various jobs being done on different projects concurrently, and I was on a daily basis able to job cost every project in terms of manpower, hours, material, completion schedule. This is something that even out Public Works Department cannot do as trying to figure out what has been spent on completed projects takes weeks of research.
I also had a mailer sent out about me the Friday before the election on how I have been a do-nothing johnny come lately to the scene which was paid for by all the big time money players behind the scenes of this city. people such as the O'Reilly's, Mark Gardner(partner of EX Mayor Tom Carlson) current Mayor Jim O'Neal, various members of the Home Builder's Assoc, and others to numerous to mention. In political terms I was the DAVID going up against the goliath, which had goliath just told the truth instead of playing politics as usual he would have been slain.

I'm a moral person with principles and if it requires me to sacrifise my principles in order to win something, then I'll come out on the losing end everytime. I'm a firm believer in self responsibility and as such the only person who lost the election of me was ME.

To those that donated hard earned money I appreciate you with every fibre of my body, I apologise I did not win.
For those that gave up endless hours of personal time to hang literature and knock on doors I can only repay you with my gratitude and hopefully someday I can return the time you have lost in some way.
To my family that watched as I eroded over a period of 3 months from lack of sleep, energy, and watched our business start to crumble to almost nothing I owe you the most. It will take some time to replace what has been taken from you both mentally and spiritually. Although you were not mention by name in any campaign literature I know you took the insults personal as you have seen firsthand how much time I give to my neighbors and community, this deed of misrepresentation of others does not only affect the candidate it affects the family as well.

In closing Mr. Stephens it is a shame that you could not run a campaign that was based on any factual claim you may have to doing something in the community, instead your path was trying to make others out to be the villian because they dare point out the problems we have in this city. Problems I might add that occured while you were living, working, playing, and sleeping in this very city. You haven't done anything constructive in terms of government here for the 55 years you have been around, I certainly hope for the peoples sake you take the next four years to educate yourself on the issues and represent not only the 52% that voted for you, but also the 48% that did not.

more regulations on personal behavior

2009-02-21T01:04:00.002Z

Just as a thought insert church or religious service everywhere you see the term sexual used and the fundamentalist would be screaming bloody murder. I don't frequent adult video stores nor do they possess some power over me that has me walking in the front door of the establishment. This is a personal issue and it is not the job of government to legislate morality.

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 321

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES EMERY (Sponsor), NIEVES, NANCE, BIVINS, RUESTMAN, DIXON, SCHOELLER, BURLISON, WOOD, WRIGHT, WILSON (130), RICHARD, FLANIGAN, ERVIN, FRANZ, STEVENSON, JONES (89), COOPER, DAVIS, FUNDERBURK, FAITH, SATER, JONES (117), SANDER, THOMSON, STREAM, ICET AND LARGENT (Co-sponsors).

0840L.02I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 573, RSMo, by adding thereto six new sections relating to sexually oriented businesses, with penalty provisions.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Chapter 573, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto six new sections, to be known as sections 573.525, 573.528, 573.531, 573.534, 573.537, and 573.540, to read as follows:

573.525. 1. It is the purpose of sections 573.525 to 573.537 to regulate sexually oriented businesses in order to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of this state, and to establish reasonable and uniform regulations to prevent the deleterious secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses within the state. The provisions of sections 573.525 to 573.537 have neither the purpose nor effect of imposing a limitation or restriction on the content or reasonable access to any communicative materials, including sexually oriented materials. Similarly, it is neither the intent nor effect of sections 573.525 to 573.537 to restrict or deny access by adults to sexually oriented materials protected by the First Amendment, or to deny access by the distributors and exhibitors of sexually oriented entertainment to their intended market. Neither is it the intent nor effect of sections 573.525 to 573.537 to condone or legitimize the distribution of obscene material.

2. The general assembly finds that:

(1) Sexually oriented businesses, as a category of commercial enterprises, are associated with a wide variety of adverse secondary effects, including but not limited to personal and property crimes, prostitution, potential spread of disease, lewdness, public indecency, obscenity, illicit drug use and drug trafficking, negative impacts on surrounding properties, urban blight, litter, and sexual assault and exploitation;

(2) Sexually oriented businesses should be separated from sensitive land uses to minimize the impact of their secondary effects upon such uses, and should be separated from other sexually oriented businesses, to minimize the secondary effects associated with such uses and to prevent an unnecessary concentration of sexually oriented businesses in one area;

(3) Each of the foregoing negative secondary effects constitutes a harm which the state has a substantial interest in preventing and/or abating. Such substantial government interest in preventing secondary effects, which is the state's rationale for sections 573.525 to 573.537, exists independent of any comparative analysis between sexually oriented and nonsexually oriented businesses. Additionally, the state's interest in regulating sexually oriented businesses extends to preventing future secondary effects of current or future sexually oriented businesses that may locate in the state.

573.528. For purposes of sections 573.525 to 573.537, the following terms shall mean:

(1) "Adult bookstore" or "adult video store", a commercial establishment which, as one of its principal business activities, offers for sale or rental for any form of consideration any one or more of the following: books, magazines, periodicals, or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, compact discs, digital video discs, slides, or other visual representations which are characterized by their emphasis upon the display of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas. A "principal business activity" exists where the commercial establishment:

(a) Has a substantial portion of its displayed merchandise which consists of such items; or

(b) Has a substantial portion of the wholesale value of its displayed merchandise which consists of such items; or

(d) Derives a substantial portion of its revenues from the sale or rental, for any form of consideration of such items; or

(e) Maintains a substantial section of its interior business space for the sale or rental of such items; or

(f) Maintains an adult arcade. "Adult arcade" means any place to which the public is permitted or invited wherein coin-operated or slug-operated or electronically, electrically, or mechanically controlled still or motion picture machines, projectors, or other image-producing devices are regularly maintained to show images to five or fewer persons per machine at any one time, and where the images so displayed are characterized by their emphasis upon matter exhibiting specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas;

(2) "Adult cabaret", a nightclub, bar, juice bar, restaurant, bottle club, or other commercial establishment, regardless of whether alcoholic beverages are served, which regularly features persons who appear semi-nude;

(3) "Adult motion picture theater", a commercial establishment where films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or similar photographic reproductions which are characterized by their emphasis upon the display of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas are regularly shown to more than five persons for any form of consideration;

(4) "Characterized by", describing the essential character or dominant theme of an item. As applied in sections 573.525 to 573.537, no business shall be classified as a sexually oriented business by virtue of showing, selling, or renting materials rated NC-17 or R by the Motion Picture Association of America;

(5) "Employ", "employee" or "employment", describe and pertain to any person who performs any service on the premises of a sexually oriented business, on a full-time, part-time, or contract basis, whether or not the person is denominated an employee, independent contractor, agent, or otherwise. Employee does not include a person exclusively on the premises for repair or maintenance of the premises or for the delivery of goods to the premises;

(6) "Establish" or "establishment", any of the following:

(a) The opening or commencement of any sexually oriented business as a new business;

(b) The conversion of an existing business, whether or not a sexually oriented business, to any sexually oriented business; or

(7) "Influential interest", any of the following:

(a) The actual power to operate the sexually oriented business or control the operation, management, or policies of the sexually oriented business or legal entity which operates the sexually oriented business;

(b) Ownership of a financial interest of thirty percent or more of a business or of any class of voting securities of a business; or

(c) Holding an office, such as president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, managing member, or managing director, in a legal entity which operates the sexually oriented business;

(8) "Nudity" or "state of nudity", the showing of the human male or female genitals, pubic area, vulva, anus, anal cleft or cleavage with less than a fully opaque covering, or the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering of any part of the nipple or areola;

(9) "Operator", any person on the premises of a sexually oriented business who causes the business to function or who puts or keeps in operation the business or who is authorized to manage the business or exercise overall operational control of the business premises. A person may be found to be operating or causing to be operated a sexually oriented business whether or not such person is an owner, part owner, or licensee of the business;

(10) "Premises", the real property upon which the sexually oriented business is located, and all appurtenances thereto and buildings thereon, including but not limited to the sexually oriented business, the grounds, private walkways, and parking lots and/or parking garages adjacent thereto, under the ownership, control, or supervision of the licensee, as described in the application for a sexually oriented business license;

(11) "Regularly", the consistent and repeated doing of the act so described;

(12) "Semi-nude" or "state of semi-nudity", the showing of the female breast below a horizontal line across the top of the areola and extending across the width of the breast at such point, or the showing of the male or female buttocks. Such definition includes the lower portion of the human female breast, but shall not include any portion of the cleavage of the human female breasts exhibited by a bikini, dress, blouse, shirt, leotard, or similar wearing apparel provided the areola is not exposed in whole or in part;

(13) "Semi-nude model studio", a place where persons regularly appear in a state of semi-nudity for money or any form of consideration in order to be observed, sketched, drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by other persons. Such definition does not apply to any place where persons appearing in a state of semi-nudity did so in a modeling class operated:

(a) By a college, junior college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation;

(b) By a private college or university which maintains and operates educational programs in which credits are transferable to a college, junior college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation; or

a. Which has no sign visible from the exterior of the structure and no other advertising that indicates a semi-nude person is available for viewing; and

b. Where, in order to participate in a class, a student must enroll at least three days in advance of the class;

(14) "Sexual encounter center", a business or commercial enterprise that, as one of its principal purposes, purports to offer for any form of consideration, physical contact in the form of wrestling or tumbling between persons of the opposite sex when one or more of the persons is semi-nude;

(15) "Sexually oriented business", an adult bookstore or adult video store, an adult cabaret, an adult motion picture theater, a semi-nude model studio, or a sexual encounter center;

(16) "Specified anatomical areas":

(a) Less than completely and opaquely covered: human genitals, pubic region, buttock, and female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola; and

(b) Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered;

(17) "Specified criminal act", any of the following specified offenses for which less than eight years has elapsed since the date of conviction or the date of release from confinement for the conviction, whichever is later:

(a) Rape and sexual assault offenses;

(b) Sexual offenses involving minors;

(d) Obscenity offenses;

(e) Offenses involving money laundering;

(f) Offenses involving tax evasion;

(g) Any attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit one of the offenses listed in paragraphs (a) to (f) of this subdivision; or

(h) Any offense committed in another jurisdiction which if committed in this state would have constituted an offense listed in paragraphs (a) to (g) of this subdivision;

(18) "Specified sexual activity", any of the following:

(a) Intercourse, oral copulation, masturbation, or sodomy; or

(b) Excretory functions as a part of or in connection with any of the activities described in paragraph (a) of this subdivision;

(19) "Substantial", at least thirty percent of the item or items so modified;

(20) "Viewing room", the room, booth, or area where a patron of a sexually oriented business would ordinarily be positioned while watching a film, video cassette, digital video disc, or other video reproduction.

573.531. 1. No person shall establish a sexually oriented business within one thousand feet of any preexisting primary or secondary school, house of worship, state-licensed day care facility, public library, public park, residence, or other sexually oriented business. This subsection shall not apply to any sexually oriented business lawfully established prior to the effective date of sections 573.525 to 573.537. For purposes of this subsection, measurements shall be made in a straight line, without regard to intervening structures or objects, from the closest portion of the parcel containing the sexually oriented business to the closest portion of the parcel containing the preexisting primary or secondary school, house of worship, state-licensed day care facility, public library, public park, residence, or other sexually oriented business.

2. No person shall establish a sexually oriented business if a person with an influential interest in the sexually oriented business has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a specified criminal act.

3. No person shall knowingly or intentionally, in a sexually oriented business, appear in a state of nudity.

4. No employee shall knowingly or intentionally, in a sexually oriented business, appear in a semi-nude condition unless the employee, while semi-nude, shall be and remain on a fixed stage at least six feet from all patrons and at least eighteen inches from the floor in a room of at least six hundred square feet.

5. No employee who appears in a semi-nude condition in a sexually oriented business shall knowingly or intentionally touch a patron or the clothing of a patron in a sexually oriented business.

6. A sexually oriented business which exhibits on the premises, through any mechanical or electronic image-producing device, a film, video cassette, digital video disc, or other video reproduction characterized by an emphasis on the display of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas shall comply with the following requirements:

(1) The interior of the premises shall be configured in such a manner that there is an unobstructed view from an operator's station of every area of the premises, including the interior of each viewing room but excluding restrooms, to which any patron is permitted access for any purpose;

(2) An operator's station shall not exceed thirty-two square feet of floor area;

(3) If the premises has two or more operator's stations designated, the interior of the premises shall be configured in such a manner that there is an unobstructed view of each area of the premises to which any patron is permitted access for any purpose from at least one of the operator's stations;

(4) The view required under this subsection shall be by direct line of sight from the operator's station;

(5) It is the duty of the operator to ensure that at least one employee is on duty and situated in an operator's station at all times that any patron is on the portion of the premises monitored by such operator station; and

(6) It shall be the duty of the operator and of any employees present on the premises to ensure that the view area specified in this subsection remains unobstructed by any doors, curtains, walls, merchandise, display racks, or other materials or enclosures at all times that any patron is present on the premises.

7. Sexually oriented businesses that do not have stages or interior configurations which meet at least the minimum requirements of sections 573.525 to 573.537 shall be given one hundred eighty days after the effective date of sections 573.525 to 573.537 to comply with the stage and building requirements of sections 573.525 to 573.537. During such one-hundred-eighty-day period, any employee who appears within view of any patron in a semi-nude condition shall remain, while semi-nude, at least six feet from all patrons.

8. No operator shall allow or permit a sexually oriented business to be or remain open between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. on any day.

9. No person shall knowingly or intentionally sell, use, or consume alcoholic beverages on the premises of a sexually oriented business.

10. No person shall knowingly allow a person under the age of eighteen years on the premises of a sexually oriented business.

573.534. Sections 573.525 to 573.537 do not impose strict liability. Unless a culpable mental state is otherwise specified herein, a showing of a knowing or reckless mental state is necessary to establish a violation of sections 573.525 to 573.537. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, for purposes of sections 573.525 to 573.537, an act by an employee shall be imputed to the sexually oriented business for purposes of finding a violation of sections 573.525 to 573.537 only if an officer, director, or general partner, or a person who managed, supervised, or controlled the operation of the business premises knowingly or recklessly allowed such act to occur on the premises. It shall be a defense to liability that the person to whom liability is imputed was powerless to prevent the act.

573.537. 1. Any person, business, or entity violating or refusing to comply with any provision of sections 573.525 to 573.537 shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by imposition of a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed ninety days, or both. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist or occur, and each separate occurrence shall constitute a separate offense.

2. Any premises, building, dwelling, or other structure in which a sexually oriented business is repeatedly operated or maintained in violation of sections 573.525 to 573.537 shall constitute a public nuisance and shall be subject to civil abatement proceedings initiated by the state in a court of competent jurisdiction. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist or occur shall constitute a separate operation or maintenance of the violation.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the state may employ any remedy available at law or in equity to prevent or remedy a violation of any provision of sections 573.525 to 573.537.

573.540. Nothing in sections 573.525 to 573.537 shall preempt or prevent any political subdivision in this state from maintaining, enacting, or enforcing any local ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, or similar law concerning the regulation of sexually oriented businesses or similar adult oriented businesses.

You threw the first rock

2009-01-17T21:15:00.002Z

I received a mailer from my competitor over the weekend and some people have received NUMEROUS mailers from Robert Stephens. How much money should one spend to sit on a volunteer board ? I think the voters perhaps should ask that question. We know the current mayor spent close to $10,000 last election to obtain the seat which has benefited him in oh so many ways, could perhaps Bob be able to benefit from sitting on council, or perhaps someone in his family.
I didn't mind getting the card since it allowed me to see his mindset as he proceeded to try to convince voters that Lyle Foster and myself are either Johnny come lately's or people with personal agendas.
If creating a smaller more limited government that doesn't require more money out of my wallet is a personal agenda then I proclaim to be guilty. If not being from this area allows someone to be called Johnny come lately's then guilty as charged.
If not caring which direction the city continues off in then Mr. Stephens is guilty on both accounts, I mean after all where was he when the police and fire pension system was bleeding cash ? Where was he the night that the U.D.A. was trying to close the square from the people who pay the bills ?
Where was he in trying to come up with solutions to fund the police and fire budgets and pension plan ? Where has he been while the people of the West Central Neighborhood Association battle a crime rate along with a police problem ? Where was he while the restaurant owners were being ASSESSED a FEE for a service that is mandated for government to perform by government ?
The man clearly has no regard to what has been transpiring in the city and he is a LOCAL. Come to think of it so is everyone sitting on council currently and so was the previous council. If electing locals gets you a pension fund which is under funded by 198 MILLION DOLLARS isn't it about time for a REAL change ?

I'm Tom Martz candidate for General Seat "A", man with a personal agenda, a johnny come lately and I approve this message.

Article in question

2009-01-16T20:24:00.004Z

Recently much has been made of an article that the Community Free Press printed and that article is posted below. The uproar has been raised by one of my challengers Robert Stephen's who seems to believe that the CFP is being biased because they printed an article penned by me on the police and fire pension shortfall and the wording of what would transpire if indeed this tax passed. If Mr Stephens was as concerned for this community as he lets on he is, he would have been speaking out on the obvious ploy on words which would have had the city possibly once more short funding the obligation of the police and fire pension system. Added to this complaint is that KSGF broadcast live from our other challengers place of business Big Momma's Coffeehouse on Commercial Street.

Never does Mr Stephens point out that KSGF was broadcasting from Big Momma's long before Lyle Foster was even a candidate, and the article written below was penned by me before I even turned in my signatures. Not once do I mention that I was thinking about being a candidate during this article so Mr Stephens is way off base on his assessment of favoritism.

Much has been made lately of the 45 minute presentation to solve the police and fire pension system given by City Manager Greg Burris. I have had the opportunity to sit through a couple of these presentations along with viewing the one on the internet and I believe there is much room for improvement.

After passage of this tax increase the plan will generate up to 40 million dollars annually in revenue for the pension system, depending on shopping habits and tourism. Based on the current verbiage of the bill this tax increase will sunset in five years, or when the pension is 100% funded. Milliman, the company tasked with finding the solution to the funding shortfall, is one of the country's largest investment consulting firms in terms of assets under advisement. Included in the initial findings of Milliman was a statement that it would require six or more years to fund the pension plan fully. In his presentation, City Manager Greg Burris has PROMISED that the city will contribute 29.88% funding into the pension plan during the five year timeframe. This means that approximately 40 to 50 million dollars will be placed in the pension system by the end of the first year of this tax. The reason for all this was so every player on the field has "skin in the game.” This should put us well on the way to solvency you’re thinking; NOT so fast!! The devil is in the details.

Here in lies the problem with this bailout plan of our city manager. Once We The People have voted YES to increase our taxes, absolutely NOTHING prevents the city council from spending the 29.88% else where in the confines of the city; just as occurred earlier when the city failed to fund the plan for four straight years. The skin that the city has in the game can be overlooked because the sales tax will be generating the required actuarial amount, thus allowing the city to meet the guidelines of state statute. There have been numerous requests that an ordinance be passed forcing city council to fund this 29.88%; however road blocks keep getting thrown in the way under the heading of, binding future city councils. According to City Attorney, Dan Wichmer, binding future city councils is defined as:

Budget is year to year. It is only good for 1 year. That is why we can't bind future councils. We cannot make fiscal commitments beyond 1 year. Even bonds are subject to annual appropriation.

In short one council cannot oblige another council with commitments, which in hindsight is exactly what has been done with the short funding. Past city councils obligated present and future city councils for this debt.

A cursory research project was started to define what "binding a future city council” meant and how it pertains to our situation and the response we found came directly out of the California constitution. The following is a basic rule for municipal law;

*The Power and Limitations of a City*

*Binding Future Councils* One city council cannot forever tie the hands of future city council with respect to legislative enactments; no ordinance passed by one city council may remain beyond the repeal or amendment of a future city council. Each council is elected by the people to serve the needs and desires of the people at that time, and cannot be restricted, from a legislative standpoint, by prior council action. A council may however enter into certain long-term contracts such as leases, cable television franchises, or rubbish contracts, provided there are not antitrust (anti competitiveness) problems.

By the definition of binding future city councils anyone can see nothing prevents city council from passing an ordinance requiring that the guaranteed amount promised by City Manager Greg Burris of 29.88% gets funded. The argument being used by our city attorney is disingenuous and has people asking, why won't our elected leaders put "skin in the game" and pass an ordinance requiring the city to fund the portion for which they are responsible?

The city leaders have earned the distrust of the citizens of Springfield and closing this obvious loophole with a proactive approach will benefit the city, city management and city council.

A slippery slope indeed

2009-01-12T20:10:00.003Z

it was not that long ago that Travis Maddox was requested to leave the employ of his city job under the very provision of which I have posted below. This section is taken directly from SPFG city charter.

Recently a committee was formed to help the effort of voting YES on the proposed police/fire pension tax which will be on the ballot on FEB 3rd. In this committee are various police and fire officials(employees)which have not yet been asked to resign the positions within this committee or lose there employ. Personally I think 6.11 needs to be rewritten in a manner which allows city employees to be able to voice there 1st amendment rights while they are not on duty even if it means they put candidate signs in there front yards or issue signs. However the city can not have it both ways in this issue and I believe the highlighted section in the charter language is quite possibly where police and fire personnel could get into trouble. Are we seeing two different issues on this or has the meaning been implied to mean something completely different.

I'd be the first one to want to see anyone get fired or relieved of duty over issues regarding politics in or out of office, but until changes can be made to certain sections of the charter I would like to see it used equally. The sheer fact that police and fire personnel have and are part of this formation committee will bring in donations to help convince the voters to vote YES on this issue. The highlighted section below is thus being broken by the members with the spirit of how this charter issue is written.

Section 6.11. Prohibitions

No person in a classified service or seeking admission thereto, shall be appointed, promoted, reduced, removed, advanced, or retarded on any basis for any reason other than qualifications, merit, and fitness for the service or lack thereof. Any such actions shall be taken wholly without favoritism or discrimination and on no basis other than provided herein. No person shall willingly or corruptly make any false statement, certificate, mark, rating, or report in regard to any test, certification, or appointment held or made under the personnel provisions of this Charter, or in any manner commit or attempt to commit any fraud preventing the impartial execution of such personnel provisions or other rules and regulations made thereunder. No appointive salaried officer or employee of the city shall continue in his position after becoming a candidate for nomination or election to any public office. No person seeking appointment to, or promotion in, the classified service shall either directly or indirectly give, promise, render, or pay any money, service, or other valuable thing to any person for, or on account of, or in connection with, his test, appointment, proposed appointment, promotion, or proposed promotion. No appointive salaried officer or employee of the city shall make any monetary contribution to the campaign of any candidate for city office. No appointive salaried officer or employee of the city shall during the hours when he is on duty engage in any form of political activity calculated to favor or improve the chances of any political party or any person seeking or attempting to hold political office, nor shall he engage in any political activity when not on duty to such an extent that his efficiency during working hours will be impaired or that he will be tardy or absent from his work. No appointive salaried officer or employee of the city shall directly or indirectly solicit or receive subscriptions or contributions of money for any candidate for city office, a campaign committee for any such candidate or on behalf of any person or committee when there is an election issue which involves an election to be held by the city or by the county clerk on behalf of the city. However, the prohibition against the receipt of contributions shall not apply to any such employee who holds an office in a political organization and receives money in the course of his duties in said office. No appointive salaried officer of employee of the city shall solicit any monetary contributions to the campaign funds of any candidate for office or to the campaign funds of any political organization when such funds are to be used to support candidates directly or indirectly. No appointive salaried officer or employee of the city shall use his official title or job designation in the form of any political activity calculated to favor or improve the chances of any political candidate or any person seeking or attempting to hold political office. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the exercise of the rights of the appointive salaried officers or employees as citizens to express their opinions and to cast their votes.

Approved by vote of the people April 4, 1978.

politics

2009-01-03T16:07:00.003Z

As you may be aware of, I transposed a letter(rough draft)of things that are going on in this current city council race and asked in a public forum area if someone would be willing to take my letter and its ideas and run with it and see if it might get published in either of our news outlets.

Larry Melton, husband of Jackie Melton(a contributor of the Community Free Press) replied back that he would run it by Breck Langsford(owner of CFP) and his wife to get it published. I have known Larry for longer than I have known Jackie. Larry and I are active in the FairTax movement and Larry helped me some on a campaign that I was involved in a couple of years ago. Larry is also active in our local taxpayer advocacy group and he seems to volunteer for quite a lot, I do not hold this against him. There are involvements that Larry volunteers for that our local taxpayer advocacy group will not use him for because of the possiblity of a preconceived idea that might occur because of his wife's position with the CFP. I believe a person can maintain a business relationship and a personal one without the two becoming intertwined but we will avoid anything that might bring to light any improprierity real or not.

Back to my point. Mrs Melton has taken exception that I would rough draft a letter and ask someone else to sign there name to it for the letter to get published, somehow I guess she sees this as being dishonest or something. Many candidates have positions within their own political platform that has been read and reread and changed by various people to make it sound much more coherent and yet I don't see anywhere that gives credit to those who have shaped and molded the wording of these positions.
I have a position paper on the issues which was quite a rough draft until I shared it with others for there input, according to the some in this community I should take those sections not authored by me and give credit to the individual(s) who actually made it sound correct.

I don't know if my letter is going to get printed or not or even if it is in the same context of how I transposed it, if it does great if it doesn't who cares, but it some instances it is best to have someone other then the writer attribute there name on the documentation so the actual writer does not get slammed for expressing a concern in a manner of which it wasn't meant.

Will this cost me the election, I'm not odds on favorite anyhow and I don't have the deep pockets of my competition which puts me behind the 8 ball. What I do have is a compassion to speak up when the city is heading off in the wrong direction, to voice my opinions in front of city council whether they agree with it or not, and a penchant to call people out when they are not what they profess to be.
Every one of these current crop of candidates can make excuses on why they weren't active during the timeframe of the pension collaspe, West Central Neighborhood crime problem, the container issue, and currently issues which are too numerous to mention but all of the excuses don't wash. This is your government people and if you do not get involved then do not complain when they do something to take away your piece of the American Dream whatever that might be to you.
I'm involved locally, others are invovled on state issues while many others are involved on the federal level, meanwhile many on the ballot in FEB are only involved because of an upcoming election.

It was worse then 14 points

2009-01-02T18:50:00.003Z

As a Penn State fan I have to be honest I did bet against them as I just knew USC would ring them up much more than the 10 point line. For all the hoopla of the Rose Bowl this one should have been a good one and at the end it was, but there is a first half of every football game.

Much to the surprise of everyone when USC scored first the Nittany Lions marched right down the field and answered that score with there own. With the score tied 7-7 what I watched happened next reminded me of a Super Bow XXIIl between the Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos. In the XXII Denver fell apart after an early second quarter turnover and watched as Washington rung up 35 points in that one quarter. No matter what Washington did it went well during that quarter. The result was the AFC got drubbed in the big game again.

Fast forward to the '09 Rose Bowl. USC has the ball on there side of the field and what looks to be a QB sack and turnover into Penn States hands was called back due to an offside penalty. Completely unacceptable since the lineman actually lined up offsides he didn't anticipate the snap count and get caught.
From that point on in the second quarter USC could do nothing wrong and Penn State could do nothing right. Halftime score of 31-7 said it all. Penn State only had to play for pride in the second half and hopefully prevent this from being an epic blow out.

Penn State won the second half and actually wrung up more point in the second half on USC then all the teams combined that played USC this year. USC was known for shutting down teams in the second half, this didn't happen yesterday. Minus the second quarter the game belonged to Penn State even with the interceptions in the fourth quarter, but a game has four quarters and two halves and PSU didn't show up in one of those quarters.

Now the homers are proclaiming that USC is the best team in the nation to which I doubt seriously. I believe OU is and I have another week to see if they are. I believe USC and OU would be a game for the ages it is too bad that USC faltered to Oregon State and this game will NOT take place. OU lost to Texas when Texas was ranked near the top, USC lost to Oregon State when they(USC) were on top and Oregon State was a middle of the raod ranked team.

For this Americans gave up their lives

2008-12-28T02:10:00.003Z

In land scarred by violence, dogfighting makes a comeback

By Kirk Semple

Published: December 27, 2008

KABUL, Afghanistan: In a dingy butcher's shop reeking of slaughter, a half-dozen sheep's carcasses dangled from hooks, and two men spoke of dogs.

"My dog is younger than his dog, I have the advantage," said one of the men, known as Abdul Sabour, 49. "And my dog is more energetic than his dog."

"He's lying," grumbled the other man, Kefayatullah, 50. "His dog is old. He's just here wasting his time. How many dogs has my dog beaten? Sixty! My dog has been a champion for three years!"

The men were arranging a dogfight, largely in the international language of trash-talking. They represented two groups of bettors. The purse, they said, was $50,000, a fortune in this impoverished country and one of the biggest prizes here in recent memory.

Afghans like to fight. They will boast about this. They will say that fighting is in their blood. And for all the horrors of three decades of war, they still find room to fight for fun, most often through proxies: cocks, rams, goats, camels, kites.

The sport has even experienced a resurgence in the south, where the influence of the Taliban is strongest, though the crowds have thinned somewhat since February, when a suicide bomber detonated himself at a dogfighting match. About 80 people were killed and more were wounded.

Here in the capital, there are two tournaments every week, both on Friday, the day of prayer. The bigger one unfolds in the morning in a natural dirt amphitheater at the bottom of a craggy slope on the city's outskirts. It draws thousands of men and boys as spectators — like most sports and sporting events in Afghanistan, it is almost exclusively a male pursuit.

"It's something from our ancestors," said Ghulam Yahya Amirzadah, 21, whose family owns 17 dogs in Kabul and in their hometown in the northwest province of Badghis.

Amirzadah, who is known in dogfighting circles as Lala Herati, said he inherited the pastime from his father, who ran fighting dogs in his youth.

"It's not about money," Amirzadah said. "If my dog beats another dog, it makes me feel like I've won $100,000. I can survive just from the happiness."

On a recent Friday, Amirzadah was at the dogfighting amphitheater, though without his dogs. He was watching the fights and arranging future matches for his stable.

More than 2,000 people were there — poor men who had arrived on foot as well as former warlords in sport utility vehicles accompanied by Kalashnikov-toting guards. And there were dozens of dogs — hulking, big-headed mastiff breeds that, in the right light and the wrong setting, might be mistaken for small bears. Some were so big that they had to be restrained by two men. A few owners, their arms tired, had lashed their dogs to the wheels of cars.

An informal committee of arbiters, including Kefayatullah and Abdul Sabour, was selecting the fights and matching up the dogs. Some fights had been organized days in advance, with hundreds of dollars, sometimes thousands, riding on each.

The event was presided over by a ringmaster, a toothless old man with a turban and a limp. He carried a wooden staff that he used to beat spectators who crowded the pitch and members of the dogfighters' entourages who blocked the spectators' view.

Though dogfighting is again popular here, it is far from universally embraced. The country's elite disparage it as the domain of the uncultured and the criminal.

"In my personal view, it's not a good thing," said Ghulam Nabi Farahi, deputy minister of information and culture. "In today's world, these animals should be treated well. But unfortunately, there's a lot of fighting."

But dogfighters generally shrug at these sorts of remarks. In modern Afghan society, there are not many sources of entertainment, they argue. In addition, they say, the dogs are well fed and well treated.

"The interest of the people is increasing day by day," said Sher Mohammad Sheywaki, 50, who was standing on the edge of the fighting pitch. "Even if people are starving, they'll still keep dogfighting."

A fight was about to begin. Two dogs were brought close by their owners, then released. They lunged at each other, thrusting upward on hind legs and clamping their jaws onto each other's face. They tugged and twisted each other, looking for leverage, each trying to knock the other off balance.

Their handlers pressed in, shouting encouragement and slapping the dogs on their haunches, as a jockey would a racehorse. A cameraman crouched nearby, recording the fight for collectors' DVDs. A large cloud of dust enveloped the scrum.

This fight, like most others, was over in a few minutes when one dog had pinned the other to the ground and held him there. They were pulled apart and hauled out of the ring.

In some countries, dogfighters will fight their dogs to the death. But Afghan dogfighting is more akin to Greco-Roman wrestling. A dog is declared the victor when he clearly establishes his dominance over the other, or when the weaker dog displays one of the telltale signs of submission, including backing off from the fight or putting its tail between its legs. They are usually pulled apart before they can inflict serious damage on each other.

The stakes for dogfighters are too high to risk their charges any further. Dogs may be a costly investment for the average Afghan, but they can also make their owners money.

On the eve of the fight between Kefayatullah's dog, Palang (meaning tiger), and Abdul Sabour's dog, Zambur (bee), the planned $50,000 purse dropped to $10,000, according to Kefayatullah.

The fight took place on a sunny and chilly Friday morning this month. It was heavily anticipated, and the crowd was large. For more than 10 minutes, Palang and Zambur tore against each other, drawing blood. Kefayatullah, Abdul Sabour and others with money riding on the fight stayed close and yelled encouragement, according to Amirzadah, who attended.

Eventually, Zambur, Abdul Sabour's dog, ran out of steam and Palang overwhelmed him, prompting the men to call a halt to the fight. In celebration, friends of Kefayatullah swarmed Palang, whose fur was wet with blood, and showered him with Afghani bills.

Except for deep wounds on a leg and an ear, Palang was O.K. But his owner was not. Minutes after the fight, Kefayatullah collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. He had suffered a heart attack.

"It was a stroke of joy and happiness!" he joked a week later, as he lay in a ward in the Wazir Akhbar Khan Hospital in Kabul. His wife and daughter sat at his bedside. "I'll be up in no time," he said, "and everything will be back to normal, like before."

His wife's face visibly tensed. "No you won't!" she said, glaring. She was serious. He was smiling. The daughter looked embarrassed.

"It's over," Kefayatullah's wife continued. "I will kill the dogs! I will give them some pills."

Kefayatullah shrugged and smiled again, trying to defuse the situation. "She says a lot, but I don't listen," he said, and he vowed to be back at the Friday dogfights — with his champion dogs — soon enough.

Abdul Waheed Wafa contributed reporting.

The hype of Jay Nixon !!!

2008-12-27T02:23:00.003Z

Mr Nixon,

The best thing you could do is have the state legislature to pass a law which requires much tighter restrictions on malpractice suits. Doctors are scared of being sued and you also have people who want everything under the sun covered and if it isn't then we will have pending litigation. Insurance companies try there best on coverages but at some point people need to be responsible for their own actions as well.

Jay Nixon believes that every Missourian should have access to quality health care.

Every Missourian and every individual in this country has ACCESS to quality health care, please point to me where they don't.

Unfortunately, that is not the case today.

Once more the people have been led astray by hyperbole, of course Hulshof was not any better.

Because of Governor Matt Blunt's massive health care cuts in 2005, nearly 700,000 Missourians, including 121,000 children, do not have health insurance.

What does this have to do with access to quality health care

Businesses are struggling to provide health care for their employees,

Open up the market place so more companies can come into the state and be competitive in the marketplace. The I.C. has maintained the same insurance companies for years, where is the competition ?

seniors are paying too much for prescription drugs,

There also over medicated just like much of the population of this country

and our medical research facilities aren't getting the resources they need to move forward.

Stem-cell research an amendment 2 will take care of this.

As Governor, Jay will make it a priority to fix our broken health care system so Missourians can live longer, healthier lives and so that our state can lead the nation in medical research.

By living longer we can lead the nation in medical research ?? Living longer creates a draw on the social security funds, the nonexistent funds.

While Governors in other states are making smart investments by expanding health coverage for their citizens, Matt Blunt is doing the opposite here in Missouri. Since taking office, Blunt has slashed or eliminated the health care coverage of more than 400,000 Missourians, including 73,000 children.

Taking people off the roles of government is some how bad ?? Sometimes people need a little motivation to get motivated to better themselves.

Because the number of uninsured has increased so dramatically, Missourians with health care are being forced to pay higher premiums.

My rates haven't increased and I haven't noticed increased cost because of this issue in billing either.

The Governor unexplainably turned down over $1 billion federal dollars that would have helped provide the neediest Missourians with health insurance. When it comes to investing in a healthy Missouri, Matt Blunt is clearly taking us in the wrong direction.

Would this be the same federal government that is 10 trillion in debt and currently is printing bill faster to devalue the dollar even more.

As Attorney General, Jay has a record of finding creative ways to improve Missouri's health care system. He helped create the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH), a foundation dedicated to strengthening Missouri's health care system and to promoting prevention and healthy lifestyles.

Perhaps requiring people to pay something into the system would be quite beneficial, we just can't keep requiring the middle class and wealthy to continue to pay for the poor.

The Foundation formulates public policy proposals to advance efforts to increase access to high-quality health care, particularly for the insured, throughout Missouri.

Jay understands that many small business owners who want to provide health care for their employees are simply unable to afford it.

I'm not buying this statement !! If Jay truly understands that many small businesses want to be able to have health insurance why then are small businesses restricted from forming co-ops to make insurance more affordable and why then are there 27 state mandates on what is REQUIRED to be covered.

In fact, more than 50 percent of uninsured workers in Missouri either work for small businesses or are self-employed. As Governor, Jay will be committed to working with small business owners to help them provide health care to their employees.

Then get government out of the insurance industry and get government out of the insurance policy industry.

Just exactly who are they talking about

2008-12-24T01:00:00.002Z

I have found some interesting quotes from some talk show host on both sides of the aisle and I thought it quite interseting how you can use the quote for either political party president.

“Is the president purposefully using propaganda and hyperbole to garner the American public for support?” Are we talking about Bush the elder, Bush the younger, Clinton, or perhaps (PEBO) President Elect Barack Obama

“Why should one U.S. airman give up his life when our national security is not in imminent danger?” Good question are we talking about Iraq or Somilia?

“trying to get every tax dollar for every pork barrel project.” republican or democrat?

"If Thomas Jefferson thought taxation without representation was bad, he should see how it is with representation." Which political party controlled congress at this point

"If you commit a crime, you're guilty." perhaps one should be careful on what becomes a crime

"There's a simple way to solve the crime problem: obey the law; punish those who do not. see above

“Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.” Words to live by

“He'd be natural liberal Senator. Nobody listens to him.”

"And yet, if we don't, first and foremost, act responsibly with the national tax dollars that we have, we can't properly address those regional priorities that we would like to." which side of the political aisle does this one come from?

"By overhauling current rules and speeding the entry of competitors in the market, we encourage competition and provide our constituents with new choices and cheaper bills." see the same question above

I found this exercise quite enlightening as both sides of the political spectrum use the same language to keep their voters coming back for more.

Laissez-Faire Capitalism Should Be as Dead as Soviet Communism

2008-12-23T12:56:00.003Z

By this read Ms Huffington hasn't the slightest clue of how capitalism or the free market is supposed to work. Arianna seems to believe that the market place can successfully be over regulated and be considered the free market at the same time. Sorry but the two are NOT conducive to one another. A free market would allow the consumer to determine which cars manufacturered are the ones they want to purchase, but government long ago took that option from Detriot. Remember the muscle car era ?? It was under Carter that the stripping of horsepower occured, the EPA brought in the cataylic convertor which once more stripped a motor of even more horsepower. I could continu this list but a free market economy as we know it has too many governmental guidelines.

You'll notice in the article how she tries to tie the Bush Administration to the failure in the housing market, however she ignores the portion from Carter onward where government regulators convinced the lenders to move loans into a sector of the economy where they had not gone before. People were allowed to borrow money when they clearly had not the capacity to pay it back. It was all done in pursuit of the American Dream and home ownership. Once more government was allowed to reek havoc in a sector where it should have stayed out of.

December 23, 2008

Laissez-Faire Capitalism Should Be as Dead as Soviet Communism

By Arianna Huffington

The collapse of Communism as a political system sounded the death knell for Marxism as an ideology. But while laissez-faire capitalism has been a monumental failure in practice, and soundly defeated at the polls, the ideology is still alive and kicking.

The only place you can find an American Marxist these days is teaching a college linguistic theory class. But you can find all manner of free market fundamentalists still on the Senate floor or in Governor's mansions or showing up on TV trying to peddle the deregulation snake oil.

Take Sen. John Ensign, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who went on Face the Nation and, with a straight face, said of the economic meltdown: "Unfortunately, it was allowed to be portrayed that this was a result of deregulation, when in fact it was a result of overregulation."

Or Gov. Mark Sanford, who told Joe Scarborough he was against bailing out the auto industry because it would "threaten the very market-based system that has created the wealth that this country has enjoyed."

If a politician announced he was running on a platform of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need" he would be laughed off the stage. That is also the correct response to anyone who continues to make the case that markets do best when left alone.

It's time to drive the final nail into the coffin of laissez-faire capitalism by treating it like the discredited ideology it inarguably is. If not, the Dr. Frankensteins of the right will surely try to revive the monster and send it marauding through our economy once again.

We've only just begun to bury the financially dead, and the free market fundamentalists are already looking to deflect the blame.

In a comprehensive piece on what led to the mortgage crisis and the subsequent financial meltdown, the New York Times shows how the Bush administration's devotion to unregulated markets was a primary cause of our economy to ruin. But the otherwise fascinating piece puts too much focus on the "mistakes" the Bush team made by not paying attention to the warning signs popping up all around them.

"There is no question we did not recognize the severity of the problems," claimed Al Hubbard, Bush's former chief economic adviser. "Had we, we would have attacked them."

But the mistake wasn't in not recognizing the "severity of the problems" -- the mistake was the ideology that led to the problems. Communism didn't fail because Soviet leaders didn't execute it well enough. Same with free market fundamentalism. In fact, Bush and his team did a bang-up job executing a defective theory. The problem wasn't just the bathwater; the baby itself is rotten to the core.

William Seidman, the longtime GOP economic advisor who oversaw the S&L bailout in 1991, cuts to the chase: "This administration made decisions that allowed the free market to operate as a barroom brawl instead of a prize fight. To make the market work well, you have to have a lot of rules."

Even Alan Greenspan, whose owl-eyed visage would adorn a Mount Rushmore of unregulated capitalists, has begun to see the light, telling a House committee in October that he "made a mistake in presuming that the self-interests of organizations, specifically banks and others, were such that they were best capable of protecting their own shareholders and their equity in the firms."

But most Republicans are still refusing to see what's right in front of them. Especially Bush, our CEO president, who lays the blame not on the failures of the marketplace but on past administrations and corporate greed. "Wall Street got drunk," he says. Maybe so, but who made the last 8 years Happy Hour, and kept serving up the drinks?

Last week, Ben Smith reported that the GOP was launching "a new, in-house think tank aimed at reviving the party's policy heft." In a private memo explaining the think tank, RNC chairman Mike Duncan wrote: "We must show how our ideology can be applied to solve problems." But, of course, it's that very ideology that's causing the problems. It's like the old horror movie cliché: "We've traced the call -- it's coming from inside the house!"

We've got to do everything we can to make sure there will be no sequels to this political horror. The blame shifters cannot be allowed to make their case without the truth being pointed out at every turn. It's time to relegate free market fundamentalists to the same standing as Marxist ideologues: intellectual curiosities occasionally trotted out as relics of a failed philosophy.

Arianna Huffington is co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post.

23 in the books

2008-12-22T03:35:00.002Z

Today was the 23rd anniversary of my wedding vowels to Janine O'Dell Marion, she is the mother of my two children, the drive behind my desire to achieve unmitigated success, and the reason for my being. If ever there was a time that GOD was truly looking out for me it was definitely the day that I met the women who has been my faithful companion since march of 85 and marriage in December of 85.

It can only be said with these words...

I love you dearly.

animal control meeting

2008-12-20T00:45:00.003Z

It was not apparent at the onset of the meeting that there was an agenda, however since this meeting was being conducted by council members one should have figured the AGENDA was going to be forthcoming.
In attendance were people from animal rescue agencies, a local breeder, some people from a local vets office and a veterinarian that I had met the night before at the Young Conservatives meeting, a mayoral candidate, concerned citizens from Springfield and quite a few from Fordland and me. It appeared the meeting was on how we can grow the abusive force of government and require everyone to come under the same governmental umbrella. In terms of a level playing field I felt sorry for one Jenny Thrasher as she tried to explain the HUGE difference between a "breeder" and a reputable breeder.
The wife and I have owned quite a few "papered" dogs, A Norwegian Elkhound, which had won quite a few first place ribbons however she had a flaw which prevented her from showing any further. She was too big for her gender to continue showing but made a GREAT family pet. She also wouldn't have been of breeding stock for show dogs so we agreed to have her spayed. The breeder from which we got her researched our backgrounds through our references and came by the house to make sure that we would be suitable owners for her dog.
On the flip side of this coin we purchased a schipperke from an AKC registered breeder and we made sure we got the papers for this dog but I would classify the individuals we bought it from as being a backyard breeder. The dog had a terrible skin condition which we eventually overcame with treatment and "processed water" baths. The differences between the individual dog owners/breeders was quite immense which allows me to form my opinions on this subject. Reputable breeders don't just have litters in order to make a few dollars. In many instances breeders are asked by a friend or business acquaintance for an animal to complete there family and in that regard they will have some animals to sell. A reputable breeder will show there animals, they become much like family and as such they just aren't given to anyone nor are they just breed like rabbits. Are there abuses in this system YES!!!, but these are the individuals which city ordinances are designed for not those who are abiding by all the laws of common sense.
All of these organizations need to come together and find the areas of commonality and from that direct the city council in the manner of which common sense legislation is drawn up and passed.

Detriot's FAILURE

2008-12-10T15:12:00.002Z

We as a nation are on the verge of bailing out (when you click on this link LOOK very carefully at the flags the workers are holding) General Motors, Chrysler, & Ford. Are we really bailing out the auto manufacturers or are we bailing out the United Auto Workers union ? I believe we are purchasing out the unions and not the manufacturer of the vehicles. The UAW much like our very own fire fighters & police pension system it is UNDERFUNDED !!!!!!!!! How did this happen you might ask, management wrote out checks post dated to the future without the knowledge of whether the future was going to be able to pay the bills.

I also have a theory as to why the manufacturers are having a hard time selling cars, it has nothing to do with the economy because personally our economy isn't in that bad of shape as compared to the same time frame before 9/11. Remember Bill Clinton got rid of the WORST economy in 50 years by defeating Bush 1.0. Once he was term limited his VP took the Democrat nomination for President and LOST (yes all you democrats I said LOST not stole) the election to Bush 2.0. Up until 9/11 we were in the economy which was created by President Bill Clinton and we all know it was better than the roaring 20's.

NASCAR unofficially got started when deep in the back woods, farmers around the depression era made moonshine to earn money to support their families. Money for the bare necessities was hard to come by. They learned to outrun the law by making their cars faster than what the lawmen had. One famous moonshine runner is Junior Johnson from Ingle Hollow, he was never caught while running moonshine.

As this sport has gained popularity so have the vehicles which have toured the track. In any given era the cars which dominate the highways and byways of America are the counterparts to their racing cousins. There are exceptions to this rule as well since Plymouth Superbirds and Dodge Charger Daytonas were designed strictly for the track with a limited production for purchase just in order to beat Ford and the racing Torino.
The long list of cars that have been on the track resemble a who's who of auto manufacturers nameplates. During anytime in NASCAR history the car which dominates the track also dominates the sales. This list includes such fantastic vehicles as:

General Motors

Buick Regal
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Chevrolet Lumina/Monte Carlo
Chevrolet Malibu
Pontiac Grand Prix & the current model the Chevrolet Impala

Ford Motor Company

Mercury Montego
Mercury Cougar
Ford Torino
Ford Thunderbird
Ford Taurus & the current model the Ford Fusion

Chrylser Corporation

Dodge Intrepid
Dodge Charger & Charger Daytona
Plymouth Valiant
Plymouth Superbird

There are others that I'm missing but as you look through this list think about the cars you have seen in your lifetime. Ford Thunderbird dominated the track in the 80's and it sold up until the Ford Taurus took over NASCAR duties. The Thunderbird got a redesign and the sales hit the tiolet while the Taurus started to perform quite well on the track it also started performing well on the showroom floor. Same can be said for the Lumina, Monte Carlo, and the Dodge Intrepid.

What we have now is considered the car of tomorrow which has no defining body style and realistically has no defining front or rear tail clip. It is not by mistake that sales have dropped of the current models of NASCAR vehicles since they have NO definition on the highways and byways of America. NASCAR and cars sales work best when we have cars that LOOK like there race track counterparts.

FOR THE RECORD

2008-12-08T15:43:00.002Z

Using the logic of Ms Noonan can we then say that every administration before Clinton protected our interest since we were not attacked on our soil ?? Actions that we have taken as a nation from the very beginning led up to at some point our shores being attacked.

We blockaded Japan during there time of war with China, this led to the attack on Pearl Harbor, many say our intervention into Europe was the reasoning behind 9/11, along with our meddling in the Middle east. I don't know for sure but then again I don't blame Bush for 9/11, I don't blame Carter for the Shaw of Iran, Reagan for the marine barracks bombing in Lebanon and the list can grow. However at the end of the day can we really say our troops in Iraq are keeping us safe ?? Was Iraq ever a threat to our shores or just there neighbors borders ?? I believe someone in government was over zealous and chose to make Iraq a focal point of this so called War on Terrorism. Don't forget that 14 out of 19 hijackers were Saudi Arabian, this is NOT by accident. The first bomber loaded up should have been scrambled for that nation.

In the coming elections we will need a strong President one that will state that any act of aggression on an American is an act of aggression on American soil, this will result in a swift but calculated payback.

If we are not attacked in the next coming four years I wonder will Barack Obama get the credit or will they once again pat the back of George W. Bush even though he will be long gone at that point. Once Obama is inaugurated we will still have boots on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq, along with every other nation that had them before 9/11. If Bush deserves the credit for no attacks since 9/11 then doesn't the Clinton administration deserve the blame for allowing them to fester in this manner //

"In the seven years since 9/11, there were no further attacks on American soil. This is an argument that's been around for a while but is newly re-emerging as the final argument for [President] Bush: the one big thing he had to do after 9/11, the single thing he absolutely had to do, was keep it from happening again. And so far he has. It is unknown, and perhaps can't be known, whether this was fully due to the government's efforts, or the luck of the draw, or a combination of luck and effort. And it not only can't be fully known by the public, it can hardly be fully known by the players at all levels of government. They can't know, for instance, of a potential terrorist cell that didn't come together because of their efforts. But the meme will likely linger. There's a rough justice with the American people. If a president presides over prosperity, whether he had anything to do with it or not, he gets the credit. If he has a recession, he gets the blame. The same with war, and terrorist attacks. We have not been attacked since 9/11. Someone -- someones -- did something right." --columnist Peggy Noonan

Who gets this vote

2008-12-05T19:47:00.001Z

I say if you aren't smart enough to ask for a new ballot because you made a mistake then NO one should get the vote.

http://www.newser.com/story/43251/who-gets-this-vote-you-decide.html

Georgia voters decisively rejected Obama at the polls yesterday ??

2008-12-03T21:42:00.003Z

This is sooooooooo comedy laden I had to post it as a blog. Chambliss winning in GA had nothing to do with a statement to Obama but rather a political race where only two candidates were on the ballot and a larger percentage of the black population stayed at home. The blacks were motivated to get Obama elected not to get Martin elected.

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The Media Won't Tell You This:
Obama Lost Big Time in Georgia

Dear Newsmax Reader:

Republican Saxby Chambliss won an incredible victory in Georgia, beating Barack Obama's candidate 57 to 43 percent.

This was nothing short of a landslide.

The results are a terrible disaster for Barack Obama.

The media won't tell you this, but I will.

Remember, Obama lost Georgia to McCain by a margin of 52 to 47 percent just a month ago.

And in the November Senate race Chambliss just barely nosed ahead of Democrat Martin, forcing the special run-off election.

Almost a month after Barack Obama's presidential win and the media's "honeymoon" with him, Georgia voters decisively rejected Obama at the polls yesterday.

The media won't admit this in any coverage today, but the Georgia election was simply a referendum on Barack Obama.

We at the National Republican Trust spent over $1.2 million to defeat Obama in Georgia thanks to donors like yourself.

In our TV ads, we made it crystal clear a vote for the Democrat would give Barack Obama a filibuster-proof Senate.

Obama would be able to pass his radical agenda of more taxes, left-wing judges even citizenship for 12 million illegals.

This was the only issue for Georgia: should Barack Obama be given a blank check.

Georgia voters voted overwhelmingly "NO" to Obama.

Consider Chambliss' victory Tuesday was almost three times McCain's victory over Obama on election day.

Despite the media's love affair with Obama, the American people are simply not buying it.

Despite Obama's radio ads backing Democrat Martin, millions in Democratic money and thousands of Obama volunteers in the state, Georgia still said "NO" to Obama.

Since Obama was elected, he has already proposed the largest federal public works program in history -- a $700 billion program to put 2.5 million people basically on the public's payroll. This means you the taxpayer will have to pay for all these new workers!

Obama promised a socialist agenda. He is now delivering one.

We at the National Republican Trust fought during the presidential election campaign to expose Obama.

We lost, but with our small budget of just $10 million we had an incredible effect.

Tennessee's Chattanooga Times Free Press described our role in the presidential election this way:

"On Election Day, virtually every undecided voter went to McCain, and Obama's final vote share was no more and no less than the 52 to 53 percent the surveys had predicted. This unanimity among undecided voters is attributable to the end game of such groups such as GOPtrust.com (the National Republican Trust) . . . "

Indeed, we know our strategy had an effect.

And it certainly worked in Georgia Tuesday.

Obama Still Must Be Stopped

We need to prepare for many battles ahead.

Barack Obama has the almost total support of the media.

He has large majorities in the House and Senate.

He even has some liberal Republicans who have signalled they may join with him and Pelosi in pushing through liberal legislation.

I hope you can join with us in fighting Obama, Pelosi and these forces for liberalism in Washington.

The stronger we are, the more we can do to stop Obama.

We need your help to do.

You can donate to us today Go Here Now

You may feel tired after a long election period.

I can assure you that Obama and his allies don't feel tired. They are anxious to ram through Congress their radical agenda.

We need to raise more money. Here's why. The larger our war chest the more worried Congressional Democrats and Republicans will be about us.

We will make it crystal clear to our Congressman and Senators that we at the National Republican Trust will target them for defeat if they sign on to radical legislation.

The more you can help us today will make our job that much easier tomorrow.

You can still make a difference Go Here Now

Thank you for all of your support in these challenging times.

We won't let you down!

Yours for America,

Scott Wheeler
Executive Director

P.S. It was the National Republican Trust that Michael Reagan used to make his endorsement to put the full "Reagan legacy" behind Saxby Chambliss. We at the National Republican Trust are the guardians of the Reagan legacy in Washington. Become a guardian of that legacy with us today Go Here Now

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Who or what do T.I.F. districts benefit

2008-12-02T23:39:00.003Z

TIF is a tool to use future gains in taxes to finance the current improvements that will create those gains. When a public project such as a road, school, or hazardous waste cleanup is carried out, there is often an increase in the value of surrounding real estate, and perhaps new investment (new or rehabilitated buildings, for example). This increased site value and investment generates increased tax revenues. The increased tax revenues are the "tax increment." Tax Increment Financing dedicates tax increments within a certain defined district to finance debt issued to pay for the project. TIF is designed to channel funding toward improvements in distressed or underdeveloped areas where development would not otherwise occur. TIF creates funding for public projects that may otherwise be unaffordable to localities.

I highlighted the above section in red to make a point, exactly who sets the values of this property ?? GOVERNMENT !! Is my house worth more because I'm close to a park ? or a school ? how about a landfill ?
The answer to the above is quite simple IT DEPENDS ON WHO IS LOOKING !! A family with children under the age of twelve might find my house more desirable because of closeness to an elementary school, however a retired couple may not want to move into an area where the kids are screaming nine months out of the year walking home from school. The simple equation that my property is worth more because of close proximity of various emergency services, grocery stores, and the like is a HUGE FALLACY generated by the real estate industry.

Instead of inflated revenues based on some government generated assumption and manipulation of the going rate in an area, why doesn't government take the existing revenues being generated in that area and convince developers to move in by creating a tax haven to move into distressed areas. Dilapidated buildings occur when industry vacates an area to move to a better location because of tax structure, infrastructure, ease of employee generations, a host of reasons. This causes the infrastructure in an area to start to deteriorate, and instead of the city working towards rejuvenation of the area they abandon it.
This creates a need for government to create a solution to wit they were the problem to begin with.

A simple solution to this problem would be to create blocks of revenue districts of which a percentage of the collected tax created by these areas are rolled back into the infrastructure of the area.

Eventually TiF's do create a stream of occupied buildings but in the mean time the city gave up a greater percentage of the tax base in this area to benefit NOT the many in the area but the few. Government should NOT use money from one business or individual to benefit some other individual or business when they are in direct competition with one another.
Generally TiF's create Community Improvement Districts which would be beneficial if the consumer was made aware that they are walking into an area that has a higher percentage sales tax to pay for the enhancements.

People complained when banks did not notify them of withdrawal fees from ATM machines, people should be made aware that the area they are in has a higher sales tax thus allowing the consumer to determine if they really want to spend there hard earned money in that area.

Free speech is a two way street

2008-12-02T03:16:00.004Z

this is why some should consider there actions and be able to see the end results. the types of actions here were led to by years of the religious telling people of *no* religion there opinion and thoughts aren't welcomed on the square during the holiday season. I guess as a religious person I'm an anomaly since I can see and do look for both sides of these types of issues.

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- An atheistic sign is included in the state Capitol's holiday display that includes a holiday tree and a Christian nativity scene.The sign, a new addition this year, is sponsored by the Freedom from Religion Foundation. The sign reads, "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."Annie Laurie Gaylor, foundation co-president, said in a prepared statement that the sign is a reminder of the "real reason for the season, the winter solstice." The solstice, on Dec. 21 this year, is the shortest day of the year.The Capitol has had a holiday tree, provided by the Association of Washington Business, for 19 years.In 2006, it was joined by a menorah sponsored by a Seattle Jewish group. A menorah is a candelabrum that recognizes Hanukkah.That prompted a lawmaker from Spokane to stage a protest at the Capitol, demanding the holiday tree be called a "Christmas tree." It also led a local real estate agent to sue the state to allow the nativity display depicting the birth of Jesus.There have been no requests for a menorah display this year.The tree -- officially called the "Capitol Holiday Kids Tree" -- is part of a charity drive for rural fire departments.A lighting ceremony for the tree -- up to 30 feet tall -- is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday.

on a side note were there such things as Christmas trees during the birth of Christ. Based on where he was born I doubt it, however my buddy Kevin will weigh in if I'm incorrect.

Disney corrupting the minds of children

2008-12-01T20:39:00.002Z

An to what of the gluttony of the Catholic Church ? Hmmmmm. I don't doubt the cleric one bit but what he speaks of is a personal choice and many within the realm of religion are the ones doing as he suggest. Perhaps a stronger sermon next Sunday will have the masses looking in the mirror

Christopher Jamison, the Abbot of Worth in West Sussex, has accused the corporation of "exploiting spirituality" to sell its products and of turning Disneyland into a modern day pilgrimage site.

He argues that it pretends to provide stories with a moral message, but has actually helped to create a more materialistic culture.

In a guide to helping people find happiness, the abbot, who starred in the hit-BBC series The Monastery, warns that society is in danger of losing its soul because of growing consumerism and the decline of religion.

He suggests that many people have become obsessed with work, sex and eating in an attempt to ignore their underlying unhappiness, and criticises corporations and industries that have benefited from promoting false notions of fulfilment.

read article

BLACK Friday

2008-11-29T22:27:00.003Z

So just what is the allure of this day anyway? people get up early or stay out all night just to be first in line at the front of the store and for what ?
products which have been sitting on the store shelves all year long, products which are going out of fashion, and even technology devises which in a month will be obsolete by the next generation gizmo. on top of this you get to sit in traffic and get irritated by those individuals which act like they don't know where they are going just to get you to let them in line so they wouldn't have to wait as long. you could get the joy of being trampled when the doors open to the store.
there are numerous reason just to sit at home on Friday after Thanksgiving and I chose to obey everyone of them.
buying an overpriced gizmo, or clothes even after the markdown is NOT a reason for me to venture outside the house on a day where the masses are idiots.

Dad raped daughters for 27 years

2008-11-29T06:20:00.002Z

I can think of numerous things to do to dad, none of them kind

(CNN) -- A British man was jailed Tuesday for raping two of his daughters and fathering nine children over 27 years, a case with echoes of Austria's Josef Fritzl.

The two daughters were made pregnant 19 times; there were nine births, five miscarriages and five terminations. Seven of the children are alive but suffer genetic deformities.

The father, who cannot be named for legal reasons banning the identification of his victims and the surviving children, pleaded guilty Tuesday at Sheffield Crown Court, northern England, and was sentenced to serve 25 life sentences to run concurrently.

The judge said the minimum term the 56-year-old rapist should serve in jail should be 19½ years.

South Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent Simon Torr said, "The victims of these terrible crimes have asked me to state the following: 'His detention in prison brings us only the knowledge that he cannot physically touch us again. The suffering he has caused will continue for many years, and we must now concentrate our thoughts on finding the strength to rebuild our lives.' "

Speaking for the police, Torr added, "The main concern ... is for those who have been so badly affected: the victims who have suffered a terrible ordeal. We will continue to offer them our full support to try and help them get on with their lives.

"As far as the sentence goes, we are satisfied that this offender has received the strongest possible punishment for his heinous crimes. Now we need to ensure continuing support for those who have suffered as a result of his actions."

The daughters first told police about their ordeal in June, but the abuse dated to 1981.

It emerged that in 1998 one daughter rang Childline, a charity to help abused kids, and asked for assurances about being able to keep her children if she came forward. When Childline could not make that guarantee, the daughter did nothing more to raise her plight.

The UK's Press Association reported that the rapes began in 1981 with daily attacks and that for long periods, they would be raped up to three times a week, and the assaults would continue through pregnancies. Their only reprieve came after they had just given birth or when they were ill because of the abuse.

If either daughter tried to refuse their father's attacks, they would be punched, kicked and or held to the flames of a gas fire, burning their eyes and arms, PA reported.

Despite visiting hospitals and meeting with social workers over the 27 years of abuse, no investigation was launched into the family.

The case comes in the wake of the death of a baby, known only as Baby P, which has dominated headlines in Britain. The baby endured horrendous torture and died despite being on the local authority's child protection register.

In Austria this year, Josef Fritzl was arrested, accused of keeping his daughter in a basement dungeon and fathering seven children through the rapes

The games that destroyed a GREAT season

2008-11-24T01:43:00.002Z

The game that destroyed the season was the very first one played. You can't expect to play teams of the caliber of Coastal Carolina, Syracuse and Temple and yet be taken seriously for the national championship.

A Rose Bowl victory will more than make up for playing three opponents who shouldn't even be on the same field as the Nittany Lions.

8/30	Coastal Carolina	1-0 (0-0)	W 66-10
9/06	Oregon State	2-0 (0-0)	W 45-14
9/13	@ Syracuse	3-0 (0-0)	W 55-13
9/20	Temple	4-0 (0-0)	W 45-3
9/27	No. 22 Illinois	5-0 (1-0)	W 38-24
10/04	@ Purdue	6-0 (2-0)	W 20-6
10/11	@ Wisconsin	7-0 (3-0)	W 48-7
10/18	Michigan	8-0 (4-0)	W 46-17
10/25	@ No. 9 Ohio State	9-0 (5-0)	W 13-6
11/08	@ Iowa	9-1 (5-1)	L 24-23
11/15	Indiana	10-1 (6-1)	W 34-7
11/22	No. 15 Michigan State	11-1 (7-1)	W 49-18

NEW BCS standings

2008-11-24T01:39:00.001Z

1	Alabama	.9872	1	1	2839	.9961	1	1518	.9954
2	Texas	.9209	3	4	2577	.9042	4	1370	.8984
3	Oklahoma	.9125	5	3	2598	.9116	2	1412	.9259
4	Florida	.8755	4	2	2644	.9277	3	1401	.9187
5	USC	.7974	6	5	2387	.8375	5	1288	.8446
6	Utah	.7858	7	8	2113	.7414	7	1153	.7561
7	Texas Tech	.7789	2	7	2118	.7432	8	1073	.7036
8	Penn State	.7520	8	6	2187	.7674	6	1157	.7587
9	Boise State	.6581	9	9	1901	.6670	9	1033	.6774
10	Ohio State	.6210	10	10	1827	.6411	10	994	.6518

shameless plug

2008-11-15T01:36:00.003Z

Recently while my wife was driving home the transmission in her Suburban locked in what is referred to as "limp home gear". This allows for a vehicle still to be driven just at a second gear ratio. 16 months and 15,000 miles ago before leaving on a CA vacation we had ACE Transmission out on W. Kearney put a transmission in the suburban since it was beginning to slip.
My first instinct was to jump up and down and cuss out the people at ACE since I knew this transmission was just barely out of warranty, which is 12 months and 12,000 miles.
The very next day I went down to ACE explained my situation and informed the gentlemen behind the counter I would be a rather upset customer if the need was another transmission. ACE also replaced the transmission on my company truck just this past summer so I was quite worried that in another year I would have another transmission meltdown.
After having my wife's vehicle down there for the day they called to inform me it was done and I asked my son to drop his mother off at ACE to pick it up. I was quite surprised when she got home and informed me that a wiring problem was the cause of the problem an that there was NO charge for the repair work. Wiring is NOT under warranty in any manner so ACE went above and beyond the call of duty to fix our vehicle and there customer service was outstanding.

Needing information

2008-11-10T23:17:00.004Z

A person gets hit who isn't actually standing on the road and the police agency is looking for clues as to his whereabouts before he was hit ?? How about searching for the vehicle that hit the pedestrian.

One other question would be how did three cars other than the original hitter get damaged ? I can understand one, but 3 ?? law enforcement needs to cut down on people tailgating since the vast majority of accident damage occurs in that manner

November 10, 2008

News Release

For Immediate Release

Police Seek Witnesses to Saturday's Fatality Crash

The Springfield Police Department is investigating a crash that took the life of a 30-year-old Springfield pedestrian.

Initial investigation has revealed Aaron Chavez of Springfield (DOB: 06/13/1978) was standing on the east edge of 3444 S Campbell Road when the passenger-side mirror of a northbound vehicle struck him. Immediately afterwards, he fell into the path of additional northbound traffic. In all, damage was caused to three vehicles involved in the crash.

The crash occurred at approximately 9:30PM. Chavez was killed immediately as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

Investigation into the incident is ongoing. At this time, police are asking any other possible witnesses to come forward and make a report. Primarily, they are interested in learning Chavez’s whereabouts and movements prior to the crash.

A report can be made by calling 864-1810 or, anonymously, at 869-TIPS (Crime Stoppers).

SPD Case Number: 08-52480

Media Contact: Public Information Officer Grant Story, phone: 417-864-1702; Release authorized by: Lt Barksdale

FAQ's on the pension syste,

2008-11-08T06:47:00.004Z

Pension Fund FAQs

We know many of you have questions about the Police/Fire pension fund shortall, and the 1-cent sales tax that City Manager Greg Burris has proposed to City Council to address the problem. Here's a list of frequently-asked questions we believe are important, or have heard from citizens and even City employees. Have more questions? Send them to us and we'll post the answers here.

Why is the pension underfunded?

The current underfunding has a number of causes and occurred over a long period of time. The main reasons can be boiled down to the following issues:

The adjustment of actuarial assumptions several years ago created a more realistic assessment of lifespan predictions, anticipated years of retirement, market returns and other variables. As a result of those actuarial changes, the future funding liability increased significantly.
Poor investment returns. As a relatively small, self-funded plan, the City's self-funded pension plan had less flexibility to weather the market downturn following the technology bubble burst and the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy.
During four fiscal years in this decade, the City did not contribute its full recommended level of funding. This equates to about $10 million in today’s dollars for the total of those four years.
The fund was operating with a relatively conservative investment strategy and, therefore, didn’t fully capitalize on the boom times in the stock market in the 1990s.

Actuarial readjustment caused about a 50 million dollar shortfall. Pension is currently over $167
MILLION in the RED. Much of this can be directly attributed to past city manager Tom Finnie.

How big is the problem?

As of June 30, 2008, the fund had $128 million in assets. The future funding liability is estimated at $295 million, leaving a shortfall of $167 million. The fund itself has lost about $10 million more in value since June 30 during the recent period of turmoil in world financial markets.

Although this is true I would like to point out that the issue wasn't an issue until the audit brought to lite exactly how bad it was. Current council members now plead ignorance to the issue.

Why a sales tax?

The actuarial firm hired by the Pension Board, Milliman, Inc., an international consulting and actuarial firm, told the Pension Board that the best way to address the shortfall would be to infuse the Pension Fund with as much revenue as possible, as quickly as possible. The proposed 1-cent sales tax could generate about $40 million a year, based on past performance of our sales tax revenue in Springfield. If the system takes in this amount of revenue for several years, along with the ongoing contributions by employees and the City, it is in a better position to sustain itself over the long term by generating investment returns to maintain a healthy funding level.

A sales tax is always the easiest and fastest means to infuse cash into anything, just like robbing a bank and not getting caught is the fastest way to infuse money into your own pocket, both are quite similar in design.

Why now?

Everyone working on this issue realizes the challenges that the current economic climate poses for this issue. We believe that is offset, however, by the necessity of addressing the issue because the pension fund is, in effect, losing the equivalent of $33,000 a day. That represents the amount of investment returns that the fund would generate if fully funded rather than the current funded level.

The underfunding before this year was costing Springfield $26K a day, it was deemed important enough I guess then.

When does the tax go into effect, if approved?

If approved in February 2009, the tax would go into effect as of July 1, 2009.

IF ?? One only need to threaten closure of a fire department building or cutting staff at the police department to get the required results.

What do the police and firefighters think about this?

Officers for the Police and Fire employee groups have been involved in developing the proposal presented on Oct. 23. The Springfield Firefighters association has endorsed this proposal. The Springfield Police Officers Association has not yet held a full membership meeting to consider it.

They want what is owed them just as anyone reading this would, I would be very careful of how this gets worded because currrently the suggested wording needs to be changed.

What if this tax doesn’t get approved?

City staff will begin working before the end of 2008 to develop several scenarios for the 2009-10 annual budget. Budget scenarios will include passage or failure of the sales tax referendum. That outcome also will affect the contribution rate recommended by the actuary firm. All of that information will be used to determine the level of budget cuts that will be necessary to make. In the 2008-09 budget, the City cut an additional $5.2 million from the budget to make the full, recommended contribution to the Police/Fire Pension Fund. City Manager Greg Burris has stated that he does not believe these cuts are sustainable over multiple years without initiating programmatic cuts.

One of these cuts were NOT to hire for positions within our emergency services which were vacant. I wonder if the money for these vacant positions was actually allotted in the budget or just made up out of nothing.

Why wasn’t this problem tackled five or 10 years ago?

The worst period for the pension fund has been since 2002. After it became clear through the post 9/11 market drop and the technology stocks drop that market returns were not achieving expectations, the Pension Board and the City began addressing the issues. A number of changes were made, including the Tier II pension plan for new employees hired after July 1, 2006. Other changes that have been made include revising the actuarial assumptions; reducing investment fees by 30 percent; and changing the investment allocation policy. So, actually there have been a number of changes made through the years. It became obvious fairly quickly, however, that those changes would not be enough by themselves to turn the fund around and restore it to a healthy funding level.

The level of incompetence was not fully brought to light and worked on until the state audit was made public. Allowing people to bankroll vacation, sick leave, holiday pay, and raises is something that does not occur in the private sector nor should it have been allowed to occur in the government sector.

Where did the money go in the years the City’s portion wasn’t fully funded?

The City has not made the contribution recommended by the actuary for the four years prior to the current fiscal year. The total difference between the recommended contribution and the actual amount the City did contribute to the Plan is about $10 million in today's dollars over those four fiscal years. During this period, this General Fund revenue was used to fund other important needs in the City. For example, six new positions were funded to staff new Fire Station No. 12 and new positions were funded for Emergency Communications prior to the passage of a dedicated sales tax for 911. Money also was put toward pay-plan improvements for City employees.

"During this period, this General Fund revenue was used to fund other important needs in the City" Since the city had nothing FORCING them to make this payment, and they still don't but once every five years, this money could have gone anywhere. Trying to prove the allocation of these funds is quite difficult with the accounting of the city.

Why is the City still spending money on things like the Square?

There is some City match funding in it that was allocated from the ¼-cent sales tax for capital improvements. The Park Central Square renovation is funded primarily by federal grant money. This is NOT General Fund money that could be used for the Pension Fund. Capital Improvements Sales Tax revenue cannot legally be moved into the General Fund for the Police/Fire Pension Fund or any other use other than what voters approved.

In the General Fund, there were no budget priorities approved for the 2008-09 budget year.

"The Park Central Square renovation is funded primarily by federal grant money." So in other words instead of it being taxation on the local level that gets used Uncle Roy Blunt appropriates funds from EVERY taxpaying citizen to fund the building of Park Central Square

What about the buildings the City sold at a loss downtown?

The City believes the long-term return on the development of those properties by Missouri State University will more than offset the difference between the City’s purchase price for those properties and the sales price to Missouri State. Development of the Jordan Valley Innovation Center/Brick City/IDEA Commons center is creating new jobs, investment by new companies in our community and entrepreneurial opportunities for businesses and services serving the additional population.

From a practical standpoint, the costs the City would have incurred to either raze portions of those properties or secure the facilities to prevent further decay would likely have cost about the difference in the purchase and selling prices.

The sales proceeds do not go into the General Fund, so the revenue could not be applied toward the Police/Fire pension fund.

Before this happens again I believe cost projections of this should be made public so the people can see that YES selling property at a loss will be made up with incoming tax revenue.

What about this Commercial Street tax? Are you asking for two taxes?

The proposed Commercial Street Community Improvement District is for a self-imposed sales tax that property and business owners will vote on whether to levy within a specified area on Commercial Street. This will not be on a public election ballot and will only affect a specified area to pay for improvements within that area.

NOT entirely TRUE. Building owners have the say and NO one is allowed to opt out if it is approved. Once more it is NOT the building owners paying the tax but the unaware consumer that shops in that district.

Will there be a legal obligation going forward to keep the fund solvent?

The City has a legal obligation to pay all benefits earned by employees. Under the City Charter, City Council cannot bind future City Councils; however, the pension obligation has traditionally been treated as a debt obligation by the City and therefore receives funding priority similar to other debt obligations.

Every time a new ordinance or tax is passed you collectively bind a new city council to that ruling until at such time they have time to pass new legislation or override previous legislation. Once this pension system was approved it binded future councils to fund at a level to maintain the fund. The actions of council binded this council to fund the shortfalls.

Can’t the City sell some properties, like the Ice Park, to pay for this?

If the City chose to sell assets to raise revenue for the Police/Fire Pension Fund, any debt remaining on those assets would have to be paid before any net revenue would be realized. In the case of Mediacom Ice Park, that facility is only seven years old, so it still has a debt obligation and wouldn’t realize much net revenue from a sale. That would be presuming that there are interested buyers. We also believe that the Ice Park is an important community recreation asset and like other community amenities, it is publically owned so that prices can remain reasonable enough for everyone to participate. If a private investor bought it to operate at a profit, prices to participate in Ice Park activities would likely increase.

The City Council recently approved offering a City-owned parcel of property in southwest Springfield for sale because it has potential development interest and is no longer needed for a public purpose. This property, however, is an asset of the Sanitary Services Enterprise Fund so any sales proceeds will stay with this fund.

The City is in the process of reviewing its overall inventory of City properties. If there were others with similar potential, the City Council could consider additional sales. But there are certainly not enough of those types of assets available to sell to make any significant dent in the Police/Fire pension underfunding. The General Fund does not hold very many property parcels that could be sold with revenue returning to the General Fund.

In short the Ice park has been deemed a core essential city services. Vision 20/20 is pounding you all over the head once more.

What about selling City Utilities to private investors?

This is another area where we believe it is not in the long-term best interests of our citizens to privatize our municipal utility to solve this problem. A private owner would likely have to raise rates in order to make a profit after paying the operating costs of the utility and repaying the investment. Over the long term that would be much more costly to citizens than a temporary sales tax increase that is proposed to sunset after five years.

Since C.U. collects more than its outlays I would deem that a profit for a not-for-profit entity, perhaps keeping the ledger book even should be something that C.U. should look into.

The following questions were posted earlier, but we are adding them again in an effort to keep a complete, rolling FAQ.

What is the formula to calculate the pensions?

The calculation for a normal service retirement is equal to the years of service times the multiplier times the average final salary. The current multiplier is 2.8 percent per year of service. The final average salary is the highest three years out of the last 10. The maximum amount the retiree can recieve is 70 percent of his or her final average salary. This is for the Tier 1 part of the system that covers the majority of the current employees and the retirees.

Are any current employees allowed to use sick days or vacation days in the calculation for their pensions?

Sick leave is not used in any pension calculations. Vacation time is included due to a court case the Pension System lost in 1978 (Fraker, et al, vs. City of Springfield, et al).

Is a paid actuary involved in determining the future returns and solvency of the pension plan?

Yes, the City currently uses Milliman, Inc., an international actuarial and consulting firm based in Seattle, as the actuary for the Police/Fire Pension System. You can learn more about the firm at www.milliman.com.

Why try a 1 percent increase now, when all pensions, 401(k)s, IRA's are down due to the market, as opposed to a 1/4 or 1/2 percent increase that was mentioned previously? Based upon the fluctuations of the market, there will be a surplus or deficit at different times.

The actuary did projections based on a number of models, including the 1/4- and ½-cent sales tax rates. Either of those would take the fund significantly longer to reach a healthy funding level. The ½-cent model could take up to 20 years, for instance. That length of time creates an additional level of uncertainty, particularly regarding the stock market’s performance. That, in turn, makes it more difficult to project the fund’s performance and ability to get to a level that is both healthy and sustainable. He said the quickest way to improve the fund would be to infuse it with as much revenue as possible over the shortest time possible so that it would be in a better position to reach a sustainable, healthy funding level. We also believed that a sunset provision would be a very important factor for voters in considering the ballot measure. With the 1-cent rate, we have more confidence that the healthy funding level can be achieved in 5 years, rather than trying to project an accurate sunset period for a lesser amount of sales tax with a range of 10 to 20 years for a ½-cent level and even higher for a ¼-cent level.

The city obligated us (the taxpayers) to fund all shortfalls in the system. The plan should have always been paid for via a sales tax and in that manner a constant stream of revenue would have been going into the system that city management couldn't stop or withhold. Hind sight being 20/20 government at any level wants to make sure the dollar goes through there fingers first before being appropriate elsewhere. Just look to your social security money that has been taken out of your check since starting in the workforce. The money isn't there and as a nation were 10 TRILLION in debt.

posted by Mike Brothers, Public Information

NASCAR helps its own

2008-11-04T01:44:00.002Z

Normally people want an industry that has benefited from their hard work to anti up into a retirement account as they view what they have done as being the pioneers of the industry. Nascar and early teams and ownership is no different, many believe they are owed a living for creating something which is reaping in the profits. This my friends is why drivers and owners along with team members should have a collective bargaining agreement with NASCAR with terms tied to profit revenue. Sorry to say but the teams are allowing NASCAR to get rich off of their blood, sweat, and tears and they(NASCAR) set the venues to what will transpire in the sport. This is the epitimy of hypocracy on the part of NASCAR and the France family. You just don't do this to long term people who have helped you reap profits which would have been unseen without them

Ards can't put price on Busch $100,000 donation

By The Associated Press
November 3, 2008
07:12 PM EST

type size: + -

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Sam Ard was unsettled late Saturday night, unable to sleep as he peppered his wife about things he couldn't remember.

Were his parents still alive when he married Jo nearly 50 years ago? Were they doing a good job raising their children?

“

I asked him what he wanted to do with Kyle's money, and he said for me to do whatever I wanted. He just wanted a couple hundred dollars to put in his wallet.

”

-- JO ARD

"He asked me 'What if I go back racing?' " Jo Ard said Monday. "I said 'If you go back racing, I'm going to hand you divorce papers. Nobody is going to let you go racing.' "

Ard's racing days are indeed long over.

He's 69 years old and suffering from both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. He's not permitted to drive anywhere anymore, and no one is exactly sure how much Ard understands about the latest push to help his crumbling finances and mounting medical bills.

Kevin Harvick, a champion of Ard's plight, donated a 2007 Chevrolet van last month to Ard's family that solved the transportation woes that plagued the couple since Jo's car died five months ago. Then the NASCAR Foundation and Motor Racing Outreach teamed for an online auction to benefit the Sam Ard Fund.

The largest gesture, though, came Saturday afternoon when Kyle Busch committed $100,000 to Ard moments after winning the Nationwide Series race. The win at Texas Motor Speedway tied Ard's mark of 10 series victories in a season.

"Sam Ard is one of the pioneers of this [series], and to be tied with him at 10 wins is something that's pretty spectacular and really, really special to me," Busch said. "I'm going to try to help him out and see what I can do. It's not much, but it's something that can try to help."

But to the Ard's, the gesture was enormous.

Ard didn't have a particularly long NASCAR career, but his three seasons netted him two championships in the second-tier series now sponsored by Nationwide. He never got rich from racing, and collected roughly 25 percent of the $378,765 he made in winnings before suffering severe head trauma in a 1984 accident.

Unable to secure a consistent income after the accident, the Ards blew through their children's college funds to cover everyday expenses. Unlike every other major professional league, NASCAR does not provide a pension to its participants and has not been on the hook for Ard or any other former driver facing financial difficulties.

The NASCAR community has occasionally stepped in to help, and a 2006 plea to their peers by Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. led to a significant donation to Ard's care fund. That gesture and Ard's fight were the centerpiece of a 2007 Associated Press examination of NASCAR's indifference toward financially supporting its veterans.

Jo used the money to pay off the mortgage on their doublewide trailer in Pamplico, S.C., repay debts and collect the two championship rings that Ard was forced to turn over as collateral on a loan. Then Ard was seriously injured in an April 2007, accident on an all-terrain vehicle that gobbled up the last of the money.

When the balance in the fund dipped below $200 earlier this year, Jo Ard had to close the account before Wachovia's $35 monthly maintenance fee gobbled what remained. Social Security, Ard's veterans benefits and the little bit Jo brings home from cleaning houses and taking care of some hunting dogs is the only money currently coming in.

So when Busch pledged his assistance, Jo Ard said the 23-year-old racer had no idea the magnitude of his gesture. She said she'll use a chunk of the money to make their bathroom handicap accessible so Ard can use it alone.

"Kyle doesn't know what he's done. He really, truly does not know what he's done to take the load and the pressure off of me," Jo Ard said by telephone Monday. "We can do the bathroom. I can maybe get someone to come to the house and help me if I need them, because we're here day in and day out because Sammy can't be left alone. He falls. He can't drive. He'll tell you he feels fine, but every day is different."

Ard watched Saturday's race at Texas with his grandson, aware that Busch was chasing his 1983 mark for wins in a season. Jo was with her sister for a rare dinner out when son, Robert, called her.

"Mama, are you sitting down?" Robert told her. "Well, Kyle tied Daddy's record, and I had someone call me and tell me that Kyle is going to give Daddy $100,000."

Hours later, when a fidgety Ard kept Jo up talking until 2:30 a.m., she sensed he understood Busch's contribution.

"I guess his mind was just thinking because he said 'I've been praying that something could come along that we could pay the bills and you can get a car,' " Jo said. "So he's aware of what's going. I asked him what he wanted to do with Kyle's money, and he said for me to do whatever I wanted. He just wanted a couple hundred dollars to put in his wallet."

Many view the Ard's predicament as NASCAR turning a blind eye toward its pioneers with its refusal to pay a pension plan to its athletes. NASCAR's direct employees are eligible for both a pension and retirement fund, but drivers and crew members are viewed as "independent contractors" and aren't covered for any sort of assistance.

The Ards have gone through stages where they've been angry at NASCAR and its antiquated policies. But Jo Ard isn't bitter right now, instead so grateful to the community help they've received. Although the sanctioning body does not specifically contribute anything, individual high-ranking officials have made personal financial donations for his care.

"There's been some good boys," Jo said, "and we're just so thankful for their help."

Celebration City closes for good

2008-11-03T23:46:00.002Z

I doubt if the economy had much to do with this, probably more like cost and managements lack of being able to understand what the tourist were looking for in terms of amusement.

Dear Friends of Silver Dollar City Attractions,

Thanks for your interest in Celebration City! Please know that Celebration City has closed and will not reopen for the 2009 season.

We eagerly await your visit and are committed to offering quality family entertainment at Silver Dollar City, White Water, and the Showboat Branson Belle in 2009 and beyond. Branson is an exciting world-class destination filled with fun for families of all ages, and has been our hometown for 49 years! We are honored you are thinking of visiting our town and visiting our properties!

Silver Dollar City, is an internationally acclaimed theme park set in the 1880’s, with world class festivals and events. White Water will fill your summer days with tropical adventures, from the 5 story-Kalani towers, to the surf-tacular wave pool. The Showboat Branson Belle provides visitors the opportunity to cruise, dine and be entertained aboard the spectacular vessel that glides across the beautiful waters of Table Rock Lake.

You can spend a day, a vacation or multiple weekend trips enjoying our unique and fun family attractions. A season pass is always your best entertainment value, giving you admission everyday for the season plus providing you exclusive offers which more than pay for the price of a season pass.

For the latest information regarding Silver Dollar City Attractions, please sign up for our e-newsletter and continue to visit SilverDollarCity.com.

Thank you for your loyalty and support.

How to stop political sign stealers

2008-10-31T01:43:00.000Z

Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com

Boy shocked after man powers up campaign sign


Oct 30 04:01 PM US/Eastern

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Shawn Turschak of Chapel Hill was tired of someone stealing McCain-Palin campaign signs from his yard. Turschak, with a degree in electrical engineering, hooked up a third sign to a power source for an electric pet fence Monday and also put up a surveillance camera.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported that a 9-year-old boy with an Obama-Biden sign grabbed the McCain-Palin sign and got a jolt on Tuesday.

The boy's father, Andrew Noble, upset that his son had been shocked, showed up at Turschak's door. Soon an Orange County sheriff's deputy also showed up at the Turschak's home.

Noble said his son just wanted to see how the sign was put together. Turschak said the boy intended to swap out the signs.

Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass said he doesn't plan to file charges.

A complex issue

2008-10-31T00:04:00.002Z

Recently I posted a blog about five time loser in marriage "Lorrie" Morgan. Although I didn't really make any comments except she has the worst time picking the right guy, I had a couple people privately e-mail me an tell me I should mind my own business in the marriage realm because after all divorce is just a standard in today's modern life. I won't publish these e-mails however I will take the time to answer the criticism as what has been implied.

I am married and have been so for going on 23 years, to the very same woman I said YES to the FIRST time. I first met my lovely wife while on leave from Osan AB, Korea. My roommate(Randy) was from CA and he talked me into taking leave with him during the month of October of 1982 to meet people who he described as his fill in parents. Being that I grew up in the foster system for quite some time I could relate so I scheduled time to visit his family instead of my own.

It was at this time after arriving at the home of where we would be staying that I met the woman who is my wife. She was drop dead beautiful and dating some dork wannabe cop, and yet I thought she was a stuck up individual by first impression. Her first impression of me was even worse so it was NOT romance at first site. During the 30 days of vacation we visited Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farms, Six Flags Magic Mtn(my first visit too all of these)without her boyfriend but with my overseas roommate. Randy's real dad lived in southern CA so while we were down there he looked him up and decided to stay for a few days.

At this point it was just Janine and I for the long drive back to the Bay Area. I must say we had a good drive back telling each other a little about our past and she seemed to lose that edge that I imagined was there. I had a decent time while in CA but the 30 days of leave went by quite quickly and back to Korea we went. I decided to stay in touch with what I decided to call my second family, we sent letters back and forth quite frequently and even exchanged Christmas presents via the mail during the holidays. Janine's mom and dad stayed in touch even after I left Korea for FL as did Janine. During my tenure in FL Janine's letters started to sound as if she was reaching out for help in trying to releive herself from a bad relationship so I invited her to take a vacation to FL.

She never did make it and her letters came less frequently, I found out later that her boyfriend intercepted the letter saying she should visit FL and her letters were ending up in the trash. She was in a deadend relationship with a domineering male counterpart.

After the service I went back to PA but stayed in touch with my second family. After about nine months PA just did not have anything for me and my second family invited me back to CA so back out to CA I went. Janine was still dating the same guy although you could tell she wasn't happy, however her parents and friends had been quite persistent to get her to marry the guy.
After about a month her boyfriend decided that her and I had no romantic affliations so he befriended me and we did much together from bike tours, triathalons and numerous other events throughout the state. Although I knew Janine was unhappy I hadn't a clue as to why because when she was around she put on a good face.

The boyfriend(I'll call him Bob)decided I was trustworthy after all I had NO interest in her anyhow. Bob ask me to watch over her, take her out so she wasn't stuck at home all the time while he was at work so I complied with his request. That was probably a large mistake on his part now that I look back since we were able to compare notes on why it was that she stopped writing and never answered my invite to FL.

We hit it off from some reason since we don't have many like interest. I'm a sports nut and she hates sports. She likes the theater as in plays, I dispice them. I like restoring muscle cars and 50ish pick up trucks, she thinks a vehicle is how you get from point A to B.

I don't know what magic has transpired between us but I swore an oath to her and GOD for the rest of my life, without her the world does not revovle on the correct axis. She was then and still is the best thing that has ever transpired in my life and for that I am eternally grateful.

This December will be 23 years and I wouldn't trade the last 23 years for any other that I can imagine. We've had ups and quite a few downs the "D" word even got mentioned a couple times between kids however through it all the trials and tribulations have made our relationship stronger.

I believe in this day and age "divorce" is the easiest solution instead of taking a long look in the mirror to determine why it is that you got married in the first place and what it is that brought about the demise of the relationship. It is called communication, something of which lacks in many a relationship.

How SWEET it is !!!!

2008-10-30T02:33:00.002Z

The suspense is over. The Phils waited two days to beat the Rays 4-3 in an extended Game 5 for their first World Series title since 1980.

Since the trifecta of the Yankees(98-00) the baseball pundits have proclaimed the superiority of the American League over the National League.

2007	Boston Red Sox	Colorado Rockies	4-0
2006	St. Louis Cardinals	Detroit Tigers	4-1
2005	Chicago White Sox	Houston Astros	4-0
2004	Boston Red Sox	St. Louis Cardinals	4-0
2003	Florida Marlins	New York Yankees	4-2
2002	Anaheim Angels	San Francisco Giants	4-3
2001	Arizona Diamondbacks	New York Yankees	4-3

The screams of this bogus info grew much louder after the 04-05 sweeps. In 06 after the Cardinals beat the Tigers I even heard the pundits on the four letter network try to explain that the Yankees were truly the best team in baseball but they didn't play to expectations which is why the Detroit Tigers were the representatives of the American League.
What are they going to say this year that the BoSox were the superior team but playing down to the level of the competition allowed tampa Bay to get to the World Series ??

Sorry pundits the two best teams went to the World Series and the best team was left with the trophy.

number five

2008-10-29T21:12:00.003Z

Back in the 80's one could hardly miss Lorrie Morgan on videos or on a jukebox. The lady has a hauntingly beautiful voice, a better than average body but the worst of luck with men.

Two of her greatest hits were Something In Red & A Picture of Me Without You

Lorrie Morgan files for divorce from Sammy Kershaw

Country singer Loretta Lynn "Lorrie" Morgan has filed for divorce from Sammy Kershaw.

Country star Lorrie Morgan has filed for divorce from husband singer Sammy Kershaw, citing irreconcilable differences. Lorrie also asked the court to enforce the prenuptial agreement the couple had in place before the marriage. Lorrie Morgan and Sammy Kershaw have been married for over six years, but about two months ago the relationship came to a holt and the two separated, Morgan filing for divorce on Thursday. Sammy Kershaw was husband number five for the country singer and Lorrie Morgan was Kershaw's fourth wife.

Sammy Kershaw recently launched a bid for lieutenant governor of Louisiana as a Republican, which he lost. During his campaign Kershaw was often under fire for his recent bankruptcy, stemming from a failed restaurant business he launched with Lorrie, which was shut down last year. Before Kershaw, Lorrie Morgan was reportedly involved with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, she was also married to country singers Keith Whitley and Jon Randall, and was linked romantically with the 2008 GOP presidential candidate Fred Thomson in 1994-96.

WASTEFUL spending

2008-10-28T15:10:00.006Z

updated 10/29/08 chip and seal or overlayments are used to protect the original surface of the asphalt. THX to Mark Thornsberry and google for answering my questions.

Recently the city of Springfield resurfaced a section of Grant Street although I don't remember if this was done via the city or private contractor(a call has been placed for the answer). The area of these repairs were from Division Street south concluding at Chestnut Expressway. This stretch of road was not the best in town and it certainly was not the worse, however you would think that grinding the road then a chip and seal surface would at least smooth out the road some.

I travel this section everyday of the week to get to the office and the cost of repairs on this section might as well been flushed down the toilet it would have been just as beneficial. The same ruts and dips still exist as well as the roughness by the storm drains. I can understand how a road gets rough over time but come on Public Works department this road should be somewhat nice to travel on for at least a year or so. Before signing off on these types of things travel the section of road yourself and if it has not been improved then it was money that was WASTED !!!!!

If you grind down a section of highway and you do nothing to level out the subsurface or to correct the cracking then the new surface is going to resemble the old surface very shortly after the traffic pattern resumes. At this point what was the purpose in wasting the money in the first place.

There are other parts of the city such as Division Street from Glenstone east over to Barnes(I believe) which recently was worked on and that street of road is as smooth as a newborn babies behind so I know it can be done and perhaps we should excel to this standard instead of excepting shoddy work practices.

Woman admits making up McCain sticker attack, police say

2008-10-25T00:13:00.000Z

Has politics really come to this ??

(CNN) -- A Republican campaign worker who told police she was assaulted by a man angered by a John McCain sticker on her car admitted she made up the report, the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, assistant police chief said Friday.

Police say Ashley Todd, 20, admitted making up the report she was attacked because of a McCain sticker.

1 of 2

Ashley Todd, 20, of College Park, Texas, has been charged with filing a false police report, a misdemeanor, and may face more charges, said Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Diane Richard at a news conference.

Todd is incarcerated at the Allegheny County Jail but had not been arraigned Friday night.

Todd was a volunteer for a John McCain phone bank in Pittsburgh, the campaign said.

"This has wasted so much time. ... It's just a lot of wasted man hours," Assistant Police Chief Maurita Bryant said at the same briefing.

The woman told investigators a man approached her Wednesday night at an ATM in Pittsburgh's East End, put a blade to her neck and demanded money, Richard said.

Police said they found "several inconsistencies" in Todd's statement and she was not seen in surveillance videos taken at the ATM. She was asked to take a polygraph test Friday morning, Richard said. The results were not made public.

Later, Todd came to the police station to help work on a composite sketch of the alleged attacker. When she arrived, Todd "told them she just wanted to tell the truth" -- that she was not robbed, and there was no attacker, Bryant said.

Todd originally told police a man "punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground, and he continued to punch and kick her while threatening to teach her a lesson for being a McCain supporter," according to a police statement.

The woman also told police her attacker "called her a lot of names and stated that 'You are going to be a Barack supporter,' at which time she states he sat on her chest, pinning both her hands down with his knees, and scratched into her face a backward letter 'B' on the right side of her face using what she believed to be a very dull knife."

Bryant described Todd as "very cordial, polite, cooperating," and said the woman was surprised by all the media attention. Asked whether the false report was politically motivated, Bryant replied, "It's difficult to say."

"She is stating that she was in her vehicle driving around, and she came up with this idea," she said. "She said she has prior mental problems and doesn't know how the backward letter 'B' got on her face."

However, Todd was the only one in the vehicle, and "when she saw the 'B' she thought she must have been the one who did it," Bryant said.

"We're talking with the district attorney's office and conferring on just how we're going to handle it," she said. "It's been different stories through the night and this morning."

She said there was no indication that anyone else was involved.

Richard said the woman had described her alleged attacker as an African-American, 6 feet 4 inches tall with a medium build and short dark hair, wearing dark clothing and shiny shoes.

Before the revelation that the report was false, McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said that McCain and running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin "spoke to the victim and her family after learning about the incident."

The Obama campaign also had issued a statement wishing the woman a "speedy recovery."

What are they smoking

2008-10-22T19:47:00.002Z

A big THANK YOU to the Community Free Press for there election coverage in the latest edition of the newspaper, clearly a none slanted perspective on the candidates. This is written in the perspective of make up your own mind. I'll link these articles as you can clearly go to the paper to finish reading the links.

Republicans believe
that government
should do for the people
what the people cannot
do for themselves. Spend
only what is necessary,
and tax only to
raise revenue
for essential
government
functions.

This statement was uttered by Danette Proctor the Chairman of the Greene County Republican Central Committee.

Although I personally know Mrs Proctor, since when we first moved to this area we rented a duplex from her and her husband Darrell and she is the treasurer of Shane Schoeller's campaign, I won't speak ill of her except she hasn't been paying attention to voting records. Parroting the party line is what she is supposed to do in her position but please don't think the (M)asses are ill informed with what the party truly stands for. A government that abuses the rights of the citizens in terms of fiscal policy, and bastardizes the Constitution. Don't laugh you democrats your next on my list.

On November 4, we can make real change in
Jefferson City and Washington. For eight years our
Federal debt has skyrocketed, spending has soared, gas
prices have spiked and jobs are leaving our country in
alarming numbers. The Bush Administration and the
Republican Congress allowed oil companies to draft
our energy policy, insurance and pharmaceutical companies
to draft our health plan, and deregulated our
financial industry to such an extent that the financial
crisis was inevitable.

This statement was uttered by Craig Hosmer the Chairman of the Greene County
Democratic Central Committee and treasurer of the Jay Nixon gubernatorial campaign.

I don't know Mr Hosmer but he needs to truly fact check his misleading statements. Under the eight years of George W. Bush we have seen growth in this nation at an unbelievable rate, yes spending was also out of control but once more this is why we should research our representatives before voting. Unemployment at all time lows, and an economy which was bustling along until recently. The Fannie Mae Freddie Mac deal has nothing to do with deregulation and everything to do with over regulation of an industry which was forced by government edict to give loans to people who could not afford the loans and allowed some individuals to accumulate multiple loans which exceeded their earning capacity. This is a governmental problem not one of the private sector.

The 2008 election season is
drawing to a close, and once
again we have been subjected to
more of the same from what I have
come to call the Brand X Parties.
One of them
offers us the
failed idea of
warmed-over
big-government/
high taxes
on achievers
and micromanagement
of our
daily lives. The
other spends
money like it
comes from
nowhere and also wants to micromanage
our daily lives.

This statement was uttered by Keith Rodgers and there really isn't too much I can add to it because he is RIGHT.

Vandals hit Phelps grove park area

2008-10-17T01:05:00.001Z

An the thought process is that the north end of town is crime ridden.

From the weekend, police took at least twelve reports of property damage from residents in the south-Springfield Phelps Grove neighborhood. All the vehicles damaged had been parked on the side of the road when suspects approached and punctured one or more tires. The incidents were outlined in the following police reports:

08-47277 - 636 E COZY ST - evening/morning hours
08-47427 - 1440 S ROANOKE AV - in evening hours
08-47436 - 503 E PORTLAND ST - in evening hours
08-47489 - 1213 S KIMBROUGH AV - in morning hours
08-47498 - 525 E COZY ST - in evening/morning hours
08-47550 - 1213 S KIMBROUGH AV - in evening/morning hours
08-47562 - 404 E MEADOWMERE ST - in evening hours
08-47603 - 500 E LOREN ST - in evening hours
08-47605 - 636 E COZY ST - in evening hours
08-47614 - 516 E NORMAL ST - in evening hours
08-47634 - 1428 S ROANOKE AV - in evening hours
08-47645 - 1068 S ROANOKE AV - in evening/morning hours

Department investigators have developed information leading them to three suspects they believe to be responsible for the crimes. At this time, police are planning to present charges of Felony Property Damage against Michael Routt, Robert Griffith and Jeremiah Hull. All three suspects are 17-year-old residents of Springfield.

Although it is not always possible to secure vehicles inside, Police encourage citizens of Springfield to keep some crime prevention tips in mind in the overnight hours:

Keep all doors locked and valuables out of sight
Avoid parking vehicles in dimly lit areas such as alleyways
Be alert for strange noises or dogs barking, which could indicate trouble outside
Call police if any suspicious people are noticed at strange hours, regardless of their age

SPD Case Number: Assorted, see above

Media Contact: Major Kevin Routh, phone: 864-1754; Release authorized by: Major Routh

Are the red light cameras actually causing an increase in accidents ??

2008-10-15T20:00:00.000Z

There have been 13 fatality crashes in Springfield during the first nine months of 2008, compared to four during the same period last year. Injury crashes and total crashes were down by 2 percent and 5 percent, respectively, over the same period last year. There were 5,479 total crashes from January 1 to September 30. Traffic crash statistics are tracked by the Public Works Department.

Download the September 2008 Crash Report Card (32k PDF)

OCTOBER SAFETY MESSAGE

The traffic safety theme for the month of October addresses pedestrian safety. There were 34 crashes involving a pedestrian from January through September 2008, compared to 32 pedestrian crashes in the same time period in 2007. In all but one instance, pedestrians were injured in these crashes though fortunately there have been no pedestrian fatalities. Many of these crashes have occurred at mid-block locations without a stop sign or signal. Pedestrians are urged to refrain from crossing streets at mid-block locations and are encouraged to cross streets at intersections, especially those with marked crosswalks and stop signs or traffic signals.

At traffic signals, pedestrians need to be aware that a “walk” indication does not guarantee a safe passage, and that approaching motorists may not see the pedestrian or always yield. When crossing at an intersection with a green traffic signal or a “walk” indication, pedestrians should especially watch out for vehicles making right turns across their path from the adjacent street.

Motorists need to “Drive Responsibly” and be alert to the possibility of a pedestrian entering the street. Motorists should slow at crosswalks and watch for pedestrians at all times, especially when making right or left turns, and be mindful that the pedestrian has the right-of-way, whether in a marked crosswalk or not.

Drivers should be especially alert for children walking to school when traveling on residential streets and during hours of darkness. Children are known to dart out in front of cars into the street, which is one of the many reasons Springfield is reducing the speed limit to 25 mph on neighborhood streets. We encourage all motorists to “Drive Responsibly,” so that they will not be involved in a crash and become a statistic. One of the ways residents can help make Springfield a safer community is join our “Pace Car” program. Participants place a decal in their rear car window and set a good example in their neighborhood by setting the pace of 25 mph on neighborhood streets. For more information this program call the Traffic Engineering Division office at (417) 864-1980, or sign up online at www.springfieldmo.gov/traffic. The same Web page also provides walking route maps for each Springfield elementary school, suggesting the students’ route to school based on traffic safety and pointing out possible hazards to parents.

One only need look at your last name

2008-10-11T04:07:00.001Z

Earnhardt believes Smith won Talladega

By JENNA FRYER, AP Auto Racing Writer 5 hours, 8 minutes ago

CONCORD, N.C. (AP)—Dale Earnhardt Jr. once used a questionable pass below the yellow line to beat Matt Kenseth at Talladega.

Looking back at that 2003 victory, Earnhardt can’t figure out what he did differently than Regan Smith did last week at the same track. Smith’s last-lap pass of Tony Stewart was below the out-of-bounds line and ruled illegal, which denied Smith his first victory.

“It was exactly the same. I was forced below (the yellow line) and that was declared OK,” Earnhardt Jr. said Friday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

“I know for a fact Regan didn’t go down the front straightaway with a plan to pass (Stewart) on the apron. He was under (Stewart) on the race track when Tony came down and he was forced onto the apron.”

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Earnhardt strongly believed that NASCAR wronged Smith by ruling his move Sunday was illegal.

Smith ducked below the yellow line to pass Stewart, returned to the racing surface and crossed the finish line first. But NASCAR doesn’t permit passing below the line, but occasionally makes an exception if officials believe the driver was forced onto the apron.

Officials said they did not believe Stewart forced Smith under the line, but Earnhardt disagreed.

“What is unclear is what being forced below the yellow line is,” Earnhardt said. “In my opinion, (Smith) was forced below the yellow line. The two did make contact. He was on the inside of Tony. In my opinion (Smith) wins the race. I feel like Tony did what he had to do. In the car, everyone would have done what Tony did and everyone would have done what (Smith) did.

“What’s curious is, when are you forced? Show me some video of what’s forced and what’s not.”

Earnhardt said he felt for Smith, who is essentially a free agent right now because his ride at Dale Earnhardt Inc. doesn’t have sponsorship lined up for 2009. Earnhardt is no longer affiliated with DEI, and said he doesn’t pay much attention to the sponsorship woes the team is currently battling.

As of right now, DEI has just one full sponsor lined up for four race cars next season and Earnhardt said a win by Smith could have put a positive spotlight on the slumping organization.

“It definitely would have impressed a lot of people for Regan’s sake,” Earnhardt said. “I think he’s a really, really good guy and I think he’s got a lot of talent. There’s a lot of drivers in the sport with jobs that he probably deserves. There’s also the chance that it would help DEI nail down some money for next year for that team.”

Earnhardt left DEI at the end of last season to join Hendrick Motorsports, and said he won’t be running back to his late father’s race team to rescue it.

“The way the economy is working, and the way things are looking on Wall Street … as delicate the situation is financially across the country, across the world, I think I would be best to be idle,” he said. “I haven’t pushed my nose in there and asked many questions what the situation is. It’s obviously, the team, from the outside looking in is pretty dire.”

TOUGH SELL: Marcus Smith picked a fine time to take over Lowe’s Motor Speedway, inheriting a huge race track and the responsibility of filling it during dire economic times.

But the new president of Lowe’s is tackling the challenge head-on, devising plans that will convince fans they won’t be disappointed if they choose to spend their entertainment dollars at any of the Speedway Motorsports Inc. tracks.

“My job is to be the best host of the greatest party in the world,” who will mark his first race at track president with Saturday night’s event. “My No. 1 focus, regardless of the economy or number of tickets sold, is to make sure every single fan has a great time and says `Wow, I’m glad we came.’ “

Smith, the son of SMI billionaire owner Bruton Smith, replaced Humpy Wheeler following the Coca-Cola 600 in May. Wheeler retired after 33 years running the crown jewel of Bruton Smith’s empire.

Among Marcus Smith’s fan-first trends is a 4-pack of tickets that includes four sodas and four hot dogs for $39.75, and reduced costs on souvenirs.

Concessions have been reduced, and LMS officials partnered with area hotels to reduce rates and waive minimum stay requirements.

There’s a new pass that gives fans access to pit road during pre-race and an on-track Jessica Simpson concert that will also put them front and center for driver introductions.

LMS also allowed anyone with a ticket to Saturday night’s race pit road access to the Sprint Cup Series test session last month, and introduced a van package that takes fans on a tour at both Hendrick Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing.

HALL OF FAME ADDITION: The winningest car in NASCAR Cup history will be on display at the new NASCAR Hall of Fame—without the scuff marks.

Seven-time points champion Richard Petty unveiled his blue No. 43 Plymouth in which he won 36 races in 1966-67, including a record 10 straight on the way to his 1967 championship. Petty agreed to lend the car from his own museum to the Hall of Fame, set to open in 2010 in downtown Charlotte.

“Really that was when we really built our career,” Petty said Friday as he pointed to the car outside the Charlotte Convention Center. “Even though we had done pretty good, I think that pretty much cemented us in and we were able to go from there.”

But Bobby Allison, a longtime rival of Petty, joked that the car was missing something.

“I’m so pleased to see this thing as one of the first things going in, but it’s not really authentic,” Allison said. “I put lots of wheel marks (on it), and they’re not there. Maybe I can get them on there later today.”

The Hall of Fame also announced a program where fans will able to buy commemorative bricks with their names that will be on the outside of the main entrance to the facility. Petty, Allison, Donnie Allison and Ned Jarrett were among the old drivers on hand Friday to receive their bricks.

The ceremony allowed the old-timers to swap stories of their days racing— and scuffling.

“I didn’t know if Bobby and Richard were going to get in a fight before I got down here,” joked Donnie Allison.

AP Sports Writer Mike Cranston contributed to this report.

What warrants a bailout??

2008-10-06T22:59:00.002Z

I wonder why the dot com industry didn't warrant a bailout?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/business/21qanda.html

There were millions of dollars at stake and many people lost much in the terms of retirement investments and yet the government did not see fit to spend billions of dollars trying to save the consumer from bad investments.

http://www.cnet.com/1990-11136_1-6278387-1.html

Bush, Obama, McCain Bailout

2008-10-04T18:30:00.001Z

Dear Friend,

Members of Congress are heading home...but before many were even unpacked, Wall Street special interests are already saying that $700 billion may not be enough to cure the nation's financial problems that have been discussed the last two weeks . . .

Like me, you are probably not surprised. The more you give a hungry pig, the more it wants.

While I am disappointed by the outcome of this boondoggle, which our Presidential Candidate, Bob Barr has labeled "the bailout from hell," I am not surprised. Despite upwards of 70% of Americans opposing the bailout, Congress passed it anyway. That's because many in Congress seem to be on Wall Street's payroll, not yours and mine.

High on the list of folks who owe a big debt to the Wall Street crowd are John McCain and Barack Obama. They've jointly collected millions in campaign contributions from the folks who brought us bailouts for Bear Stearns, AIG, Ford, Chrysler, General Motors and the takeovers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Bob Barr is running for President because we urgently need to change the way Washington does business. For our Republic to thrive we can't afford a national debt of $11 Trillion.

You know that as well as anyone. Please, help me spread the word that only Bob Barr has the experience, courage and commitment to bring real change to Washington. Your investment in the Barr campaign today will reap dividends for years to come.

We have made small radio ad buys in targeted states and the result has been an increase in traffic to our website and growing interest in the Barr campaign as the only alternative to the politics as usual of John McCain and Barack Obama.

Your gift of $50, $100, or just $10 will make a difference. Click here to donate. Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Russell Verney
Campaign Manager
Bob Barr for President

To donate by mail:

Barr 2008 Presidential Committee
P.O. Box 725007
Atlanta, GA 31139

To donate by phone:

Call 1-800-Bob-Barr

Signs, Signs, Everywhere A Sign

2008-10-04T16:12:00.000Z

Signs, Signs, Everywhere A Sign

Political signs are everywhere lately. While we understand they are a good way to get the name of the candidates out there for everyone to see, there are regulations for those signs in the Zoning Ordinance.

There are certain locations that signs are permitted, and there are size requirements. Signs can be placed on private property, with the owner’s permission, as long as they meet the size requirements. In a home or non-business area, the limit is 6 square feet; in a business area, the limit is 34 square feet.

City ordinance also states that they cannot be placed on the City right-of-ways, which is extremely important because doing so could block the view of oncoming traffic for drivers pulling onto a street. Sign inspectors and Public Works employees can remove and discard signs that are found on the City right-of-way. We receive a large number of calls regarding signs on the place on the right-of-way, some of which block sight lines at corners and some which are too big according to the zoning ordinance.

All political signs are required to be removed within 24 hours after the election they pertain to. As signs start filling up the areas along roadways remember they should only be here for a short time. If you have questions about the location or size of signs you may contact the City at 864-1012 or 864-1068.

posted by Claudia Crighton, Public Information

Don't punish me because I bought a house I could afford

2008-09-28T04:11:00.003Z

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/09/28/franks_fingerprints_are_all_over_the_financial_fiasco/

Much has been made about this financial crisis bailout, it stems from people purchasing houses they could not afford, people purchasing houses hoping to flip them before the principle on the loan became due, and those individuals which used NO down payment variable rate financing, and interest only loans to get what has been labeled the "American Dream".

The push for this started under Reagan as the words "American Dream" and home ownership became synonymous with each other. During the decade of the 90's financial institutions were facing many hurdles within the realm of being able to achieve this goal. Political groups all but blackmailed these institutions to start loaning to people who were borderline credit worthy, then these same organizations used there clout in government sectors to pass legislation which would require banking and financial institutions not to discriminate and just stopped short of forcing these lending associations to hand money to those who really could not qualify on their own merit. The band leader has struck up the chorus and the curtain closing act is soon going to be passed onto us, those who pay all the bills THE TAXPAYER.

Call, write or what ever it is that you do best and tell our incompetent legislature that you are NOT in favor of a TAXPAYER bailout of a problem we didn't create or cause.

http://www.businessweek.com/election/2008/blog/archives/2008/09/the_bailout_tal.html

NTUF studies the candidates

2008-09-26T02:07:00.000Z

For Immediate Release Sep 25, 2008
For Further Information, Contact:
Peter J. Sepp, Natasha Altamirano, (703) 683-5700

As Election Day Nears, Presidential Candidates Continue Out-Promising, Out-Spending Each Other

(Alexandria, Va.) -- As John McCain and Barack Obama jockeyed for position in the race to appear "leader-like" over the economy and in upcoming debates, the latest update of the National Taxpayers Union Foundation's (NTUF) candidate cost analysis project shows that despite their different styles, the major party Presidential hopefuls have one thing in common: both their agendas would add billions more to the taxpayer's tab every year.

NTUF's fourth and final round of assigning price tags to the candidates' platforms since January 29 found that Sen. McCain (R-AZ) would increase yearly federal spending by $92.4 billion, compared to Sen. Obama's (D-IL) $293.0 billion. NTUF also released a first-time analysis of Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr, who would instead cut annual federal spending by $200.9 billion. The studies include proposals through September 19.

"Both the McCain and Obama campaigns have tried to keep pace with the political issues of the day -- largely by responding with proposals for new programs and regulations that could reach deeper and deeper into taxpayers' pockets," NTUF Senior Policy Analyst Demian Brady said. "On the other side of the spectrum, Bob Barr's Libertarian philosophy is strongly reflected in a platform that is built upon cutting programs and slashing spending."

Though it appears that Obama's platform cost has dropped since NTUF's last update on June 3 ($343.6 billion), excluding a previously unavailable savings estimate for reducing troop levels in Iraq ($90.5 billion annually), Obama would actually boost annual federal outlays by $383.4 billion -- a 12 percent jump from June, Brady noted. Obama's annual spending platform has increased by about 34 percent since January 29 (when it was $287.0 billion). Likewise, McCain's spending total has jumped by 37 percent since June 3 ($68.5 billion) and by more than 13 times the amount he was backing in January ($6.9 billion).

"If eight months on the campaign trail can mean an increase of tens of billions of dollars in yearly federal outlays, imagine what four -- or potentially, eight -- years in office could bring," Brady said. "Both candidates have talked about reducing wasteful spending, but neither has been specific enough."

Obama's latest study includes 65 new proposals and updated costs for existing proposals, most notably the Iraq-related savings mentioned above and $25 billion for a second economic "stimulus" package. McCain's analysis reflects 46 new or updated proposals, including a new cost estimate for a health care program known as the Guaranteed Access Plan, which would cost $8.5 billion annually, and a new proposal to freeze non-defense, non-veterans discretionary spending for one year, which would save $15 billion. Barr's biggest cuts come from defense ($92.4 billion in annual savings from withdrawing troops from Iraq) and education ($68.0 billion in annual savings from eliminating the Department of Education).

NTUF's latest analyses include cost calculations based on hard data for hundreds of proposals that would affect the federal budget -- dozens of which have unknown fiscal effects. NTUF assumed the most conservative estimates based on a variety of sources, including the candidates' own projections; summaries from the Congressional Budget Office, Congressional Research Service, and the White House Office of Management and Budget; and results from equivalent legislation from NTUF's BillTally cost-accounting system.

NTUF is the nonpartisan research arm of the National Taxpayers Union, a citizen group founded in 1969. Note: For more on the candidate cost analysis project, visit www.ntu.org.

-30-

View the candidate cost analyses in PDF:

Bob Barr

John McCain

Barack Obama

There dropping like flies.....

2008-09-22T20:38:00.003Z

Perhaps the trials and the tribulations of being hammered over the past couple of years has worn them out, or the process of seeking another term when the writing is pretty much on the wall has made this decision easier for those NOT seeking re-election. When political leaders do the business of the people in the proper manner the job of council or any other political office should be able to be fulfilled with minimal harassment. When as a political leader you go off track and think the people work for you instead of vice versa then the bickering become more promounced which in turn makes the job so much tougher.

It is easy to see why Collette and Deaver have withdrawn from their positions as the casualties from there reign is very evident now. The police and fire pension system bleeding red ink to the tune of 140 MILLION, a container ordinance which will if passed mean even more government intrusion into the businesses in this town, the pending waste haulers agreement that will force those companies NOT using the city landfill to pay a tonnage fee for hauling the trash elsewhere, a newly instituted health inspection fee onto the food handling establishments in this town which in essence is requiring they pay for a service that is MANDATED by government. Of course ONLY government can do the inspection as well.
Perhaps I should look into having the city mandate water treatment systems at the point of use for every home, apartment, and business in this city as well that way we can truly be environmentally friendly.

What else is looming in the background that a different city council is going to have to deal with that was started under this reign of dictators ???

Springfield mayor pro tem not seeking re-election

By Wes Johnson • wjohnson@news-leader.com • September 22, 2008

City councilman and mayor pro tem Gary Deaver confirmed this morning he is not planning to run for re-election in April.

Deaver joined the council in 2003, serving out the last two years of Councilman Gary Gibson’s term after he died in office.

Deaver said he is satisfied with the council’s accomplishments over the past six years, and said he has some personal projects he wants to undertake.

Deaver joins Councilwoman Mary Collette in deciding not to run for another term on council.

Councilman Denny Whayne said he will run for re-election. Councilman John Wylie, whose seat also is up for election, could not be reached for comment.

Earlier today, Jim O’Neal, a former Springfield city councilman and owner of O & S Trucking, said he is running for mayor of Springfield.

O’Neal picked up a petition form from the city clerk’s office this morning.

According to City Clerk Brenda Cirtin, O’Neal represented the General D city council district from 1987 until 1994, when he resigned because he moved outside the city limits.

His area later was annexed into the city, permitting him to run for city office.

He is the first person to announce a run for the mayor's office. Current Mayor Tom Carlson is not running again because he has served four two-year terms, the maximum allowed under the city charter.

Once more it's the democrats fault

2008-09-22T02:30:00.002Z

A cursory review of the facts will show that this problem started because a republican led Congress and a democrat president believed our economy and the American dream of home ownership was far more important then a sound stable dollar on the world market.While inflation was held in check everything was fine and the borderline homeowners could squeeze by on their income. Those that invested in real estate could stay afloat by using the low interest rates and the notion that property value always goes UP. That was until the price of crude oil shot through the roof and our political leaders decided we needed to invade Iraq to bring about some sort of democratic government in the region

Limbaugh: McCain Throws Cox 'Under the Bus'

Sunday, September 21, 2008 11:53 AM

Rush Limbaugh wishes John McCain's economic proposals would stop bashing Wall Street, thinks the Arizona senator is running against the wrong people, and deplores his demand that SEC Chairman Chris Cox be fired -- and he wants everybody to know it.

Speaking to Greta Van Susteren on her Fox News show On The Record Friday, Limbaugh ripped into McCain, saying he understands what he called the populist tendency to bash Wall Street because people are upset and to join the chorus that Wall Street is corrupt and full of a bunch of people, but that's not the case.

I don't think bashing Wall Street, with the Democrats already doing that, is a way for Sen. McCain to separate himself. What he ought to be doing is what he did in Green Bay this morning, which is attack the people responsible for the Fannie Mae disaster -- and that's all Democrats. It's Chris Dodd, it's Barney Frank, it is Barack Obama, it's Franklin Raines, and Jim Johnson -- people associated with the Obama campaign.

"I understand the temptation to start ripping into Wall Street, because people instinctively fall into that so-called class envy susceptibility for this. I think it's a mistake. I think he can distinguish himself better by attacking the people he's running against -- he's running against Democrats, he's running against Obama, he's running against Wall Street.

Wall Street is probably going to finish the week higher than when it started There's a lesson here to stay calm and cool."

Limbaugh addressed McCain's attack on Cox, the Securities and Exchange Commission chairman.

I also wish he hadn't thrown Chris Cox under the bus, the Securities and Exchange Commission guy, [saying] he would have fired him. Cox had nothing to do with this. This is a tendency of Sen. McCain's to look at himself as Teddy Roosevelt and take on anybody he thinks is a robber baron. I wish that he would take some of that back and just focus on who he's really running against -- the people trying to destroy him.

politics as a team sport ??

2008-09-19T22:57:00.003Z

I have often wondered why two people who are diametrically opposed but belonging to the same political party will endorse one another after one of them leaves the primary. I watched Romney, Rudy, Huckabee, Hunter, Paul, and the list goes on opposed John McCain on various issues which really set them apart during the republican primary. The same can be said about the democrat primary as well.
Once these competitors started dropping by the wayside they started to endorse the front runner as if they agreed with them during the whole campaign season, I like to call this kissing up. So far the only republican who has not endorsed McCain is Ron Paul, this will come back to bite him as the party will probably strip him of his committee seats, and he is the TRUE maverick in Congress as political party affiliation means nothing to him. HE WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE !!!
Have we gotten so entrenched in this political party system that principles are sacrificed in order to keep a political party in power ?? One ideology over the other means nothing as the individuals within those parties mean to control the rest of us and how we live our daily lives.

Granted on the state and federal elections you don't stand a chance unless you have a (d) or (r) after your last name, unless you have name recognition such as Jesse "The Body" Ventura or spend massive amounts of cash ala Ross Perot. Neither of these gentlemen would have been on the radar screen had it not been for popularity or money. This also can be a hinderance of sorts as well, as Lynn Swann discovered during the governors race in PA against Rendell. Swann had name recognition as being one of the finest receivers in football during the 70's and 80's however he was also running in a state that has two football teams, of which Swann played for the Steelers. Eagles fans hate the Steelers and Philly came through in a big way for Rendell, just as many Eagles fans came through for him as well in the other parts of the state. Now unions played a large role in this election as did government employees which spelled defeat for Swann.

The Steelers in the 70's were 4 time SuperBowl champs and since that time have gone back to two more of which they split. The Eagles in the 70's were terrible, since then they have gone to two different SuperBowls and have lost both to the AFC team. National Football League fans don't like the American Football League fans or there players although with fantasy football this attitude is changing. Something similar can be said about baseball with the two opposing leagues, the American has a designated hitter rule because they don't want the pitcher to get hurt, meanwhile the National League says a player is a player and they should play. Pitcher hits and pitches.

How did we become a nation of two political parties

The American two Party Political System Since the administration of George Washington two political parties have dominated the United States political system, but they have not always been the same two parties. The first two parties were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Federalists were those who supported a strong federal government and the Anti-Federalists were those who did not. The leaders of the Federalists were Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. Both were from the Northeast where the Federalist line of thinking was strongest. Thomas Jefferson became the leader of the Anti-Federalists. read more

How it began in the U.S.

America's first President George Washington, did not belong to a political party. He believed they did not best serve the people's interests. This made him America's only President who was elected as an independent (not affiliated with a party), though John Tyler was expelled from his party a few months after taking office. Most of America's founding fathers were opposed to political parties, and wanted none of them in the U.S. read more

In the United States, since roughly 1800, there have been two major political parties. For the last 150 years or so, these two parties have been the Democrat and Republican parties. This is in deep contrast to many other democratic nations, who often have as many as ten significant parties. Many people wonder why the United States has only two parties and why it is so difficult for a third or a fourth party to make any significant gains and become a noteworthy player on the national political scene. The reasons are many and varied. read more

The only way a nation can maintain freedom and liberty is to evict there rulers on a regular basis however with our current system this just is not going to happen as the political ideology is the driving force not the liberty of the people.

Bad business

2008-09-17T23:23:00.002Z

It is time for LARGE business to fail in this country. If the free market cannot survive on its own then they MUST be ALLOWED to go under, otherwise we have the simple that we currently have which is a government regulated and propped up economy. I believe it was Charlton Heston, while playing Moses who said "Let my people go" It is time for our public servants to say "Let these businesses fail" we'll pick up the pieces on the backside just as occured after 9/11/2001.
Why should companies be forced to get leaner through competition if government is going to prop them up if they cannot be competitive. The wages that they pay the top end of management needs to be brought under control as well since making a company look good on paper can be done quite easily, but we are now seeing the end result of something that started back in the mid 90's.

Lawmakers frustrated, sobered by AIG bailout

By ANDREW TAYLOR – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve's bailout of insurance giant American International Group reminded some of the most powerful members of Congress how little power they sometimes have. The lawmakers didn't like the decision being sprung on them with no notice, but they're also happy not having the responsibility for it.

"Republicans in the Congress feel like we could have had and should have had more information sooner," Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the party's second in command in the House, said Wednesday.

Neither party was especially pleased with the action.

Many lawmakers, especially Democrats, weren't happy about the Fed's $85 billion loan to AIG in exchange for 80 percent of the insurer's stock, but they saw no alternative given the scary alternative of a financial meltdown.

"They had very little choice," said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D. "The consequences of a failure to act could have been extraordinarily serious."

9/15/08 council meeting

2008-09-17T00:27:00.002Z

The statement that I read last night is posted below and the research that went into this statement is accredited to Greg Sokerka.

Last night city council was presented with the perfect opportunity to turn the page of wasteful government and near abuses of power into something Springfieldians could have been proud of. Last night council was presented with evidence that C.U. hasn't given them all the information as it pertains to the proposed gas rate increase and yet not one council member challenged the presentation of Mrs. Officer of City Utilities.

Mrs. Officer clearly stated during questioning from Denny Whayne that the 40% rate increase in Southern Star pipeline rates had been approved but were being challenged by various energy companies. Nothing could be further from the truth as the FERC hasn't even heard this case yet as was pointed out by Greg Sokerka, Fred Ellison and myself. This should have been a signal to at least challenge John Twitty and city utilities to present factual information showing the rate increase had been passed but was under dispute. KUDOS to Denny Whayne for having the fortitude to at least question along these lines.

Later in this very same council meeting an item on the agenda was the approval of Mr. Greg Burris' salary, to which is excessive in the manner of his experience level in how a city operates and his over all management ability. Just like NFL teams will pay someone unproven massive amounts of money in hopes they perform up to expectations, the city of Springfield has done the very same by over paying a man who has yet to show he can handle the job or work this city out of management mediocrity. His lone claim to fame since accepting the position of City Manager is telling the people he plans on placing a 1 cent tax increase on an off election ballot, and requesting that everyone except the city "put some skin in the game".

The approval of this salary structure should be a slap in the face to one Bob Cumley. Never mind what he achieved or didn't achieve at this position at least the man had EXPERIENCE and that experience was worth approximately $150K to the city and the citizens who paid his salary. Let's fast forward to yesterday when with the approval of council bill 2008-208 gave Mr. Burris a base salary of $197K with incentives and allowances that make this compensation package worth about roughly $240K on an annual basis. Granted Councilman Deaver used the excuse that this was the middle ground on a recommended salary and thereby shouldn't be questioned because this salary is in line with this position. Keep in mind however this is also the same individual that likes projects where we get federal or state matching funds so the taxpayer isn't burdened with paying the complete cost of the project. Yes you read that right.
To her credit Councilwoman Rushefsky stayed principled and once more voted NO on this salary just like she voted NO on the hiring of Mr. Burris, with that said, I guess I can say the rest of council was principled as well since NONE of them changed their vote either. The main difference is Rushefsky voted in the manner of fiscal responsibility while the rest of council voted the status quo of larger more expensive government.

If I'm wrong in my assessment of this situation I'll be more than glad to admit my mistakes but it appears that generally business as usual is the moniker of even this newly elected city council, unless the term "green" is mentioned.

Two Council Bills on the 9-15 agenda pertaining to City Utilities

Bill # 2008-263, a general ordinance to approve the City Utilities Annual Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2009; and,

Bill # 2008-264, a general ordinance to approve establishing gas rates and repealing previously established gas rates.

As set out on the Agenda, approval of the Annual Operating Budget first, would require the passage of the requested natural gas rate increase also. The Operating Budget, which was established to support the Annual Operating Plan, can not support attainment of the goals set out in the Operating Plan without the additional funds generated by the natural gas rate increase and an anticipated 2% annual growth in population. The Board of Public Utilities, in support of the General Manger, approved the Annual Operating Plan as presented without considering the fact that the natural gas rate increase request could be “tabled” again or voted down. And, without City Council’s approval of the rate increase, City Utilities would not be able to achieve everything set out in the Operating Plan, in the predetermined time frame, therefore the city would suffer as a result of the gas rate increase being denied. Of course, in addition to the rate increase being passed there would also have to be a 2% growth in population, which cannot be controlled or dictated by City Council, City Utilities, the Chamber of Commerce or the Board of Public Utilities. Consider: due to various tax and utility rate increases in the recent past, out-sourcing to the surrounding communities has occurred. In the past, there may have been a 2% population growth in Springfield, however it’s presumptuous to think that that will continue. Thereafter, transference of responsibility will occur with lots of ‘finger-pointing’ taking place. City Utilities would fault City Council, who would fault City Utility customers, who would then be cited as the reason why City Utilities was unable to accomplish what had been set out in the Annual Operating Plan that had been approved by the Board of Public Utilities; when in fact, the Operating Plan that had been approved by the Board of Public Utilities was done so in a totally irresponsible manner based on material misrepresentations made by the General Manager.

Material misrepresentation: (J. T. Memo, 9-12-08)

Rate increase adjustment is necessary beginning in Nov. 2008, in response to a rate increase for pipeline storage and transportation charges from the primary pipeline provider (Southern Star Central) to Springfield.

Fact: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approves rate increase requests, pipeline-by-pipeline, and no such rate increase has been granted to Southern Star Central. Pipelines must go through a lengthy, public process whenever they request a rate increase, and the FERC sets rates on a pipeline-by-pipeline basis, approving for each pipeline what amounts to a maximum allowable rate, or a rate cap. Pipeline customers can and often do demand discounts from these maximum rates, with the net outcome being that many pipeline customers pay less than the maximum rate a pipeline has been given permission to charge by the FERC. Further, since Southern Star Central only utilizes approximately 21% of its pipeline capacity in its’ Kansas/Missouri operations Springfield City Utilities would certainly be in a strong position to negotiate a lower rate than one that might be approved by the FERC. In the alternative, other inter-state and intra-state pipeline companies (35 total) serving the Central Region might want to meet the needs of Springfield’s natural gas customers and be more willing to negotiate.

Bottom-line: No rate increase for storage and transportation charges currently exists from Southern Star Central.

Natural gas prices have been on the decline, with the lowest year-to-date prices realized on September 3^rd and again on September 11^th, and nearly a 40% rate decease since June 6, 2008. Further, the Energy Information Administration, official energy statistics from the U. S. Gov’t. , indicate a 10% decrease in the price of natural gas in 2009. Springfield City Utilities management would have consumers believe Natural Gas prices will increase.

Natural gas production figures, as well as natural gas stocks in storage, are both UP.

Natural gas consumption, by retail customers, is DOWN. The only increase in consumption is in natural gas-generation for electricity production. City Utilities is well aware of this fact, as borne out at City Councils’ public hearing hosted in April, questioned by Councilman Whayne, and resulting in the rate increase request being “tabled”.

By purchasing natural gas on the commodity futures market, rather than the “options” market, Springfield City Utilities could lock-in a fixed rate today, ensuring a constant fixed price for natural gas through Dec. 2020, taking delivery on any quantity purchased at any time in the future. Thereby passing the savings on to the City Utility customers who use natural gas. Purchases made in the past, on the options market, have resulted in millions of dollars ($2.5 million in ’07) in losses.

Rate comparisons done between City Utilities and peer utility companies are generally performed in January, when C.U.’s rates are at their lowest. It’s not until later in the year, when gas rate adjustments are added-in, and higher electric rates are in effect that a factual comparison could be made. However, the rates that are in effect currently have absolutely no bearing on what rates “should be” in the future. It’s merely supply/demand economics based on the utility’s cost of goods, along with distribution to the customer. At this time, City Utilities is behaving like a spoiled-brat child: Bob gets a quarter, but I only get fifteen cents!

Rate increases “should be” granted only after consideration is given to other factors impacting the utilities’ customers and the utility itself. All people, not only C.U. customers, are experiencing actual – not projected – increases in rents, mortgages, utilities, insurance on homes, autos, health, and life; groceries, taxes, school tuition, and trash service. There are some CU customers that have difficulty currently paying their utility bills, then have a 10% late fee added-on and then compounded if left unpaid, who could not afford any rate increase at all, let alone what CU is requesting. In February, 2008, 24.5% (25,970) had late fees, and in June ’08 there were 15+% (15,900) customers who still had late fees being tacked-on to their bills.

With natural gas prices down, consumer usage down, production and storage figures up, continued price declines being forecasted by the U. S. Gov’t, and other economic factors taken into consideration there is no justification for City Council’s passage of, or City Utilities request for, a rate increase.

Bottom-Line: Leadership, at City Council and the municipal utility are responsible and accountable to the citizens, the Board of Public Utilities have failed in that responsibility, hopefully City Council won’t.

Full Text of John McCain's Acceptance Speech

2008-09-12T20:19:00.002Z

Thank you all very much. Tonight, I have a privilege given few Americans — the privilege of accepting our party’s nomination for President of the United States. And I accept it with gratitude, humility and confidence.

In my life, no success has come without a good fight, and this nomination wasn’t any different. That’s a tribute to the candidates who opposed me and their supporters. They’re leaders of great ability, who love our country, and wished to lead it to better days. Their support is an honor I won’t forget.

This is the point where no matter what difference you all had everyone will fall into lockstep for the good of the political party, principles mean nothing at this point.....

I’m grateful to the President for leading us in those dark days following the worst attack on American soil in our history, and keeping us safe from another attack many thought was inevitable;

Perhaps someone can enlighten me to how the "president" accomplished this feat, when in reality he swore an oath to defend our nation and he along with countless other presidents did nothing to discourage the actions of 9/11/2001

and to the First Lady, Laura Bush, a model of grace and kindness in public and in private. And I’m grateful to the 41st President and his bride of 63 years, and for their outstanding example of honorable service to our country.

As always, I’m indebted to my wife, Cindy, and my seven children. The pleasures of family life can seem like a brief holiday from the crowded calendar of our nation’s business. But I have treasured them all the more, and can’t imagine a life without the happiness you give me. Cindy said a lot of nice things about me tonight. But, in truth, she’s more my inspiration than I am hers. Her concern for those less blessed than we are - victims of land mines, children born in poverty and with birth defects - shows the measure of her humanity. I know she will make a great First Lady.

When I was growing up, my father was often at sea, and the job of raising my brother, sister and me would fall to my mother alone. Roberta McCain gave us her love of life, her deep interest in the world, her strength, and her belief we are all meant to use our opportunities to make ourselves useful to our country. I wouldn’t be here tonight but for the strength of her character.

Parents are the backbone of our decision making process, we alone however decide to abide by the principles of which we were taught.

My heartfelt thanks to all of you, who helped me win this nomination, and stood by me when the odds were long. I won’t let you down. To Americans who have yet to decide who to vote for, thank you for your consideration and the opportunity to win your trust. I intend to earn it.

I doubt you will, you have too many negatives in your principles and Constitutional duties.

Finally, a word to Senator Obama and his supporters. We’ll go at it over the next two months. That’s the nature of these contests, and there are big differences between us. But you have my respect and admiration. Despite our differences, much more unites us than divides us. We are fellow Americans, an association that means more to me than any other. We’re dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal and endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights. No country ever had a greater cause than that. And I wouldn’t be an American worthy of the name if I didn’t honor Senator Obama and his supporters for their achievement.

HERE HERE very commendable.

But let there be no doubt, my friends, we’re going to win this election. And after we’ve won, we’re going to reach out our hand to any willing patriot, make this government start working for you again, and get this country back on the road to prosperity and peace.

All those years in the Senate and now this is suddenly a priority for you, welcome to the bottom of the ninth Mr Latecomer.

These are tough times for many of you. You’re worried about keeping your job or finding a new one, and are struggling to put food on the table and stay in your home. All you ever asked of government is to stand on your side, not in your way. And that’s just what I intend to do: stand on your side and fight for your future.

Your actions in the Senate up to date decry this as being false.

And I’ve found just the right partner to help me shake up Washington, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. She has executive experience and a real record of accomplishment. She’s tackled tough problems like energy independence and corruption. She’s balanced a budget, cut taxes, and taken on the special interests. She’s reached across the aisle and asked Republicans, Democrats and Independents to serve in her administration. She’s the mother of five children. She’s helped run a small business, worked with her hands and knows what it’s like to worry about mortgage payments and health care and the cost of gasoline and groceries.

She has been offered and taken the largess of government run amok, not that those on the "right" will report any of it.

She knows where she comes from and she knows who she works for. She stands up for what’s right, and she doesn’t let anyone tell her to sit down. I’m very proud to have introduced our next Vice President to the country. But I can’t wait until I introduce her to Washington. And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming.

We will be watching for it.

I’m not in the habit of breaking promises to my country and neither is Governor Palin. And when we tell you we’re going to change Washington, and stop leaving our country’s problems for some unluckier generation to fix, you can count on it. We’ve got a record of doing just that, and the strength, experience, judgment and backbone to keep our word to you.

Along with the bastardization of the Constitution put forth by you

You know, I’ve been called a maverick; someone who marches to the beat of his own drum. Sometimes it’s meant as a compliment and sometimes it’s not. What it really means is I understand who I work for. I don’t work for a party. I don’t work for a special interest. I don’t work for myself. I work for you.

This means you work for yourself since you have constituents on both the left and right side of political philosophy.

I’ve fought corruption, and it didn’t matter if the culprits were Democrats or Republicans. They violated their public trust, and had to be held accountable. I’ve fought big spenders in both parties, who waste your money on things you neither need nor want, while you struggle to buy groceries, fill your gas tank and make your mortgage payment. I’ve fought to get million dollar checks out of our elections. I’ve fought lobbyists who stole from Indian tribes. I fought crooked deals in the Pentagon. I fought tobacco companies and trial lawyers, drug companies and union bosses.

Some of these areas of your battles aren't meant for the federal government to involve themselves into.

I fought for the right strategy and more troops in Iraq, when it wasn’t a popular thing to do. And when the pundits said my campaign was finished, I said I’d rather lose an election than see my country lose a war.

Why exactly are we in Iraq when 19 out of 20 hijackers were of Sauda Arabian birth and education, the Axes of Evil stems from there not Iraq

Thanks to the leadership of a brilliant general, David Petraeus, and the brave men and women he has the honor to command, that strategy succeeded and rescued us from a defeat that would have demoralized our military, risked a wider war and threatened the security of all Americans.

Deep in the bowels of some mountain in Afghanistan another such plot is being hatched and when it occurs who are you going to blame then ??

I don’t mind a good fight. For reasons known only to God, I’ve had quite a few tough ones in my life. But I learned an important lesson along the way. In the end, it matters less that you can fight. What you fight for is the real test.

I fight for Americans. I fight for you. I fight for Bill and Sue Nebe from Farmington Hills, Michigan, who lost their real estate investments in the bad housing market. Bill got a temporary job after he was out of work for seven months. Sue works three jobs to help pay the bills.

Many of us place our money at risk yet we don't ask nor require for government to bail us out, we do ask government to get out of our way so we can accomplish much more. So far that request has gone unheeded.

I fight for Jake and Toni Wimmer of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Jake works on a loading dock; coaches Little League, and raises money for the mentally and physically disabled. Toni is a schoolteacher, working toward her Master’s Degree. They have two sons, the youngest, Luke, has been diagnosed with autism. Their lives should matter to the people they elect to office. They matter to me.

I promised I would leave this one alone.

I fight for the family of Matthew Stanley of Wolfboro, New Hampshire, who died serving our country in Iraq. I wear his bracelet and think of him every day. I intend to honor their sacrifice by making sure the country their son loved so well and never returned to, remains safe from its enemies.

I fight to restore the pride and principles of our party. We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us. We lost the trust of the American people when some Republicans gave in to the temptations of corruption. We lost their trust when rather than reform government, both parties made it bigger. We lost their trust when instead of freeing ourselves from a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, both parties and Senator Obama passed another corporate welfare bill for oil companies. We lost their trust, when we valued our power over our principles.

The party stayed the same it was just more evident when you took power of how corrupt republicans really are, before you could blame the majority party which has been the democrats ever since I was old enough to understand politics. A zebra does not change it's stripes to avoid getting eaten by the lion, it remains as it was.

We’re going to change that. We’re going to recover the people’s trust by standing up again for the values Americans admire. The party of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan is going to get back to basics.

You have not left those principles just look at the voting record of the individual party members. Lincoln was all about keeping a strong federal government so much so that a WAR was fought over it. Sound familiar ? ....

We believe everyone has something to contribute and deserves the opportunity to reach their God-given potential from the boy whose descendants arrived on the Mayflower to the Latina daughter of migrant workers. We’re all God’s children and we’re all Americans.

Only those of us that are born here and those that immigrate legally.

We believe in low taxes; spending discipline, and open markets. We believe in rewarding hard work and risk takers and letting people keep the fruits of their labor.

Is this a new perspective, because the history of the party says different. Some people actually do their research, meanwhile others can be led to believe whatever it is you want them to believe.

We believe in a strong defense, work, faith, service, a culture of life, personal responsibility, the rule of law, and judges who dispense justice impartially and don’t legislate from the bench. We believe in the values of families, neighborhoods and communities.

And every government regulation that goes along with this statement.

We believe in a government that unleashes the creativity and initiative of Americans. Government that doesn’t make your choices for you, but works to make sure you have more choices to make for yourself.

Have you even look at the laws the federal government passes onto the people ?? Is this your age or ignorance showing through ??

I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them. I will open new markets to our goods and services. My opponent will close them. I will cut government spending. He will increase it.

The jury is still out on this since neither of you have cut spending or decreased the roles of government.

My tax cuts will create jobs. His tax increases will eliminate them. My health care plan will make it easier for more Americans to find and keep good health care insurance. His plan will force small businesses to cut jobs, reduce wages, and force families into a government run health care system where a bureaucrat stands between you and your doctor.

Have you looked at the bureaucracy that has insurance companies hands tied behind there backs ??

Keeping taxes low helps small businesses grow and create new jobs. Cutting the second highest business tax rate in the world will help American companies compete and keep jobs from moving overseas. Doubling the child tax exemption from $3500 to $7000 will improve the lives of millions of American families. Reducing government spending and getting rid of failed programs will let you keep more of your own money to save, spend and invest as you see fit. Opening new markets and preparing workers to compete in the world economy is essential to our future prosperity.

Businesses do not pay taxes they collect them from the people who purchase the products or services produced by them. Although any reduction can only be a benefit to our economy Doubling the child tax exemption can create a tax revenue stream which can be harmful in the means by which some people can benefit greatly especially those that pay NO taxes at all.

I know some of you have been left behind in the changing economy and it often seems your government hasn’t even noticed. Government assistance for unemployed workers was designed for the economy of the 1950s. That’s going to change on my watch. My opponent promises to bring back old jobs by wishing away the global economy. We’re going to help workers who’ve lost a job that won’t come back, find a new one that won’t go away.

Is the government going to start guaranteeing employers never leave our shores or do you propose we all work for the government ??

We will prepare them for the jobs of today. We will use our community colleges to help train people for new opportunities in their communities. For workers in industries that have been hard hit, we'll help make up part of the difference in wages between their old job and a temporary, lower paid one while they receive retraining that will help them find secure new employment at a decent wage.

Can you please explain why this isn't for those people to do instead of thinking they have employment for life ?? These community college exist today and nothing (except perhaps cost) prevents these people from furthering their education.

Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained. But what is the value of access to a failing school? We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice, remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work.

Have you never taken the citizenship test ?? Perhaps you should and you would find out this is NOT something the federal government should be involved in.

When a public school fails to meet its obligations to students, parents deserve a choice in the education of their children. And I intend to give it to them. Some may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private one. Many will choose a charter school. But they will have that choice and their children will have that opportunity.

Read the above statement and the previous referenced blog entry.

Senator Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucracies. I want schools to answer to parents and students. And when I’m President, they will.

You have had how many years in the Senate to make this happen ??

My fellow Americans, when I’m President, we’re going to embark on the most ambitious national project in decades. We are going to stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don’t like us very much. We will attack the problem on every front. We will produce more energy at home. We will drill new wells offshore, and we’ll drill them now. We will build more nuclear power plants. We will develop clean coal technology. We will increase the use of wind, tide, solar and natural gas. We will encourage the development and use of flex fuel, hybrid and electric automobiles.

It took 30 years but welcome to the REAL world, by the way how many of your homes have solar panels or windmills ??

Senator Obama thinks we can achieve energy independence without more drilling and without more nuclear power. But Americans know better than that. We must use all resources and develop all technologies necessary to rescue our economy from the damage caused by rising oil prices and to restore the health of our planet. It’s an ambitious plan, but Americans are ambitious by nature, and we have faced greater challenges. It’s time for us to show the world again how Americans lead.

Lead on but do not expect followers to do something until they known your NOT lying.

This great national cause will create millions of new jobs, many in industries that will be the engine of our future prosperity; jobs that will be there when your children enter the workforce.

Get government out of the way and this would have already occurred.

Today, the prospect of a better world remains within our reach. But we must see the threats to peace and liberty in our time clearly and face them, as Americans before us did, with confidence, wisdom and resolve.

We have dealt a serious blow to al Qaeda in recent years. But they are not defeated, and they’ll strike us again if they can. Iran remains the chief state sponsor of terrorism and on the path to acquiring nuclear weapons. Russia’s leaders, rich with oil wealth and corrupt with power, have rejected democratic ideals and the obligations of a responsible power. They invaded a small, democratic neighbor to gain more control over the world’s oil supply, intimidate other neighbors, and further their ambitions of reassembling the Russian empire. And the brave people of Georgia need our solidarity and prayers. As President, I will work to establish good relations with Russia so we need not fear a return of the Cold War. But we can’t turn a blind eye to aggression and international lawlessness that threatens the peace and stability of the world and the security of the American people.

I reject democratic ideas as well.

We face many threats in this dangerous world, but I'm not afraid of them. I'm prepared for them. I know how the military works, what it can do, what it can do better, and what it should not do. I know how the world works. I know the good and the evil in it. I know how to work with leaders who share our dreams of a freer, safer and more prosperous world, and how to stand up to those who don't. I know how to secure the peace.

We do this by attacking countries that haven't done anything in terms of military action, we embargo countries then wonder why they retaliate, makes perfect sense.

When I was five years old, a car pulled up in front of our house. A Navy officer rolled down the window, and shouted at my father that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I rarely saw my father again for four years. My grandfather came home from that same war exhausted from the burdens he had borne, and died the next day. In Vietnam, where I formed the closest friendships of my life, some of those friends never came home with me. I hate war. It is terrible beyond imagination.

Then why do we continue along that path ??

I’m running for President to keep the country I love safe, and prevent other families from risking their loved ones in war as my family has. I will draw on all my experience with the world and its leaders, and all the tools at our disposal - diplomatic, economic, military and the power of our ideals - to build the foundations for a stable and enduring peace.

In America, we change things that need to be changed. Each generation makes its contribution to our greatness. The work that is ours to do is plainly before us. We don’t need to search for it.

We need to change the way government does almost everything: from the way we protect our security to the way we compete in the world economy; from the way we respond to disasters to the way we fuel our transportation network; from the way we train our workers to the way we educate our children. All these functions of government were designed before the rise of the global economy, the information technology revolution and the end of the Cold War. We have to catch up to history, and we have to change the way we do business in Washington.

If the feds were only to do what is Constitutional we would not be having all these problems.

The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn’t a cause, it’s a symptom. It’s what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you.

Those days were long over.

Again and again, I’ve worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That’s how I will govern as President. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not.

Instead of rejecting good ideas because we didn’t think of them first, let’s use the best ideas from both sides. Instead of fighting over who gets the credit, let’s try sharing it. This amazing country can do anything we put our minds to. I will ask Democrats and Independents to serve with me. And my administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability.

We’re going to finally start getting things done for the people who are counting on us, and I won’t care who gets the credit.

I’ve been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I have been her servant first, last and always. And I’ve never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn’t thank God for the privilege.

I doubt if God is going to thank you for the direction you have taken this country

Long ago, something unusual happened to me that taught me the most valuable lesson of my life. I was blessed by misfortune. I mean that sincerely. I was blessed because I served in the company of heroes, and I witnessed a thousand acts of courage, compassion and love.

On an October morning, in the Gulf of Tonkin, I prepared for my 23rd mission over North Vietnam. I hadn’t any worry I wouldn’t come back safe and sound. I thought I was tougher than anyone. I was pretty independent then, too. I liked to bend a few rules, and pick a few fights for the fun of it. But I did it for my own pleasure; my own pride. I didn’t think there was a cause more important than me.

Then I found myself falling toward the middle of a small lake in the city of Hanoi, with two broken arms, a broken leg, and an angry crowd waiting to greet me. I was dumped in a dark cell, and left to die. I didn’t feel so tough anymore. When they discovered my father was an admiral, they took me to a hospital. They couldn’t set my bones properly, so they just slapped a cast on me. When I didn’t get better, and was down to about a hundred pounds, they put me in a cell with two other Americans. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t even feed myself. They did it for me. I was beginning to learn the limits of my selfish independence. Those men saved my life.

I was in solitary confinement when my captors offered to release me. I knew why. If I went home, they would use it as propaganda to demoralize my fellow prisoners. Our Code said we could only go home in the order of our capture, and there were men who had been shot down before me. I thought about it, though. I wasn’t in great shape, and I missed everything about America. But I turned it down.

A lot of prisoners had it worse than I did. I’d been mistreated before, but not as badly as others. I always liked to strut a little after I’d been roughed up to show the other guys I was tough enough to take it. But after I turned down their offer, they worked me over harder than they ever had before. For a long time. And they broke me.

When they brought me back to my cell, I was hurt and ashamed, and I didn’t know how I could face my fellow prisoners. The good man in the cell next door, my friend, Bob Craner, saved me. Through taps on a wall he told me I had fought as hard as I could. No man can always stand alone. And then he told me to get back up and fight again for our country and for the men I had the honor to serve with. Because every day they fought for me.

I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn’t my own man anymore. I was my country’s.

I’m not running for president because I think I’m blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its hour of need. My country saved me. My country saved me, and I cannot forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath, so help me God.

If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you’re disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them. Enlist in our Armed Forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed. Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.

Ask the people within the Ron Paul movement how this works !! Freedom fighters of the Constitutional variety need NOT apply.

I’m going to fight for my cause every day as your President. I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me.

I sure hope you are not going to dictate that every American believe.

Fight for what’s right for our country.

I have and I am on the local level.

Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Our definition of free is almost polar opposite, you believe freedom comes from government while I believe our rights and freedoms are derived from our creator.

Fight for our children’s future.

We are instilling the best morals and value possible into our child rearing skills and we have been blessed with supremely well mannered children.

Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Many of us consider government theft of our earnings and belongings as counterproductive to this statement.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.

Once more this is a complete failure of the federal government, a task which is required of the federal government.

Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We’re Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

Thank you, and God Bless you.

sad state of affairs

2008-09-12T15:35:00.001Z

THE FOUNDATION

“This process of election affords a moral certainty that the office of President will seldom fall to the lot of any many who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.” —Alexander Hamilton

If only Mr. Hamilton were alive today to watch us elect people who promise us the MOST.

Lemming land radio

2008-09-10T23:39:00.002Z

Today while driving around listening to talk radio I had to laugh at how things are being portrayed on the right wing side on this Sarah Palin issue. It appears that the democrats dispatched people up to AK to snoop around and she what they can find on the governor.

"this makes perfect sense to do and it isn't any different then what the republicans have done already"

What really made me laugh are the callers as they find what the democrats are doing so despicable even though they won't mention that when there political party of choice does the same they are just seeking information. The person who stirred this up the most is Sean Hannity which is quite typical of the man that ruined the song Independence Day for me.

Another HOT topic issue was the phrasing of "putting lipstick on a pig still gets you a pig", of course the under lying current to this conversation was that Obama and the democrats are calling Sarah Palin a pig even though the implication of such isn't in this wording. I see this quite often on blogs where wording is implied even though the intent wasn't there and then the person doing the posting try to argue a point that NEVER even existed in the original content of the blog.

What many fail to see in this paraphrase of words actually spoken by Obama is that his words also come back on himself and Joe Biden as well. You can dress up a skunk but your still going to get a nasty odor downwind.

This is what we have in this election; Two long term Senators that have voted for funding of the government education system even though this isn't a function of the federal government as this question from the actual citizenship test proves.

	11. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. Which of the following is NOT a federal power?



		To declare war

		To print money

		To declare treaties

		To provide education

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25461301/

These very same long term Senators have ignored Art IV Sec IV of the COnstitution they swore an oath to defend, this is either a treasonous or at least impeachable offense. We can also add a freshman senator who is now the democrat presidential candidate to this list as well.

Do we really want any of these three in the top office of this nation ?? For the sake of the Constitution I would hope NOT, however the (m)asses are more inclinded to be lemmings instead of freedom fighters doing waht is the CORRECT thing for this nation.

Where does Sarah Palin fit in this ?? according to some of the research I have seen and have pulled myself from the city budget Mrs. Palin is quite famaliar with using the taxpayers dollars for inappropiate means and waste of government.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/09/eveningnews/main4433129.shtml?source=mostpop_story

http://www.unbossed.com/index.php?itemid=2247

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/09/palins_earmarks_spark_question.html?hpid=topnews

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/09/sarah_palin_sought_got_federal.html

Perhaps the lemmings should research the candidates they adore and vote for principles instead of party.

meddling in mediocrity

reflections of an election gone by

more regulations on personal behavior

You threw the first rock

Article in question

A slippery slope indeed

it was not that long ago that Travis Maddox was requested to leave the employ of his city job under the very provision of which I have posted below. This section is taken directly from SPFG city charter.

Section 6.11. Prohibitions

politics

It was worse then 14 points

For this Americans gave up their lives

In land scarred by violence, dogfighting makes a comeback

The hype of Jay Nixon !!!

Just exactly who are they talking about

Laissez-Faire Capitalism Should Be as Dead as Soviet Communism

Laissez-Faire Capitalism Should Be as Dead as Soviet Communism

23 in the books

animal control meeting

Detriot's FAILURE

FOR THE RECORD

Using the logic of Ms Noonan can we then say that every administration before Clinton protected our interest since we were not attacked on our soil ?? Actions that we have taken as a nation from the very beginning led up to at some point our shores being attacked.

Who gets this vote

Georgia voters decisively rejected Obama at the polls yesterday ??

Who or what do T.I.F. districts benefit

Free speech is a two way street

Disney corrupting the minds of children

BLACK Friday

Dad raped daughters for 27 years

The games that destroyed a GREAT season

NEW BCS standings

shameless plug

Needing information

Police Seek Witnesses to Saturday's Fatality Crash

FAQ's on the pension syste,

Pension Fund FAQs

Why is the pension underfunded?

How big is the problem?

Why a sales tax?

Why now?

When does the tax go into effect, if approved?

What do the police and firefighters think about this?

What if this tax doesn’t get approved?

Why wasn’t this problem tackled five or 10 years ago?

Where did the money go in the years the City’s portion wasn’t fully funded?

Why is the City still spending money on things like the Square?

What about the buildings the City sold at a loss downtown?

What about this Commercial Street tax? Are you asking for two taxes?

Will there be a legal obligation going forward to keep the fund solvent?

Can’t the City sell some properties, like the Ice Park, to pay for this?

What about selling City Utilities to private investors?

What is the formula to calculate the pensions?

Are any current employees allowed to use sick days or vacation days in the calculation for their pensions?

Is a paid actuary involved in determining the future returns and solvency of the pension plan?

Why try a 1 percent increase now, when all pensions, 401(k)s, IRA's are down due to the market, as opposed to a 1/4 or 1/2 percent increase that was mentioned previously? Based upon the fluctuations of the market, there will be a surplus or deficit at different times.

NASCAR helps its own

Ards can't put price on Busch $100,000 donation

I asked him what he wanted to do with Kyle's money, and he said for me to do whatever I wanted. He just wanted a couple hundred dollars to put in his wallet.

Celebration City closes for good

I doubt if the economy had much to do with this, probably more like cost and managements lack of being able to understand what the tourist were looking for in terms of amusement.

How to stop political sign stealers

A complex issue

How SWEET it is !!!!

number five

Lorrie Morgan files for divorce from Sammy Kershaw

WASTEFUL spending

Woman admits making up McCain sticker attack, police say

What are they smoking

Vandals hit Phelps grove park area

Are the red light cameras actually causing an increase in accidents ??

OCTOBER SAFETY MESSAGE

One only need look at your last name

Earnhardt believes Smith won Talladega

Buzz Up

Print

What warrants a bailout??

Bush, Obama, McCain Bailout

Signs, Signs, Everywhere A Sign

Signs, Signs, Everywhere A Sign

Don't punish me because I bought a house I could afford

NTUF studies the candidates