State Budget

I've been reading about the budget - both from the right and the left. As a conservative I believe in less government involvement (including taxes) and more freedom for individuals. This ain't happening in Wisconsin.

Kan. abortion doc killed in church; suspect held

It's the headline from Yahoo - it's all over the net. Will be a major story for days to come and a thorn in the side of pro-life activists for quite a while. This is totally wrong. There's no excuse and should be condemned by all.

Don't Eat There

The group who does nothing to feed or house homeless is looking to protect them from prayer before a free meal. According the the Wisconsin State Journal

"The group [Americans United for Separation of Church and State] said it has received complaints “the Army regularly presents prayers and sermons at meals, and holds religious services” at the shelter."

This is one of the problems with the freebie society. Not only do people want something for free, they don't any strings attached.

I've got an idea for those that complained - go somewhere else then. It's the Salvation Army's food and benevolence - play by their rules or find someone else to feed you.

I do wonder how often the AUSCS feed and houses people?

Tit for Tat or Gimme Some o Dat

The Green Bay Press Gazette pleads for a dignified hearing for Sonya Sotomayor, President Obama's choice for the U.S. Supreme Court. Well I have to agree with them. In fact I believe that every person who comes in front of any governmental group deserves to be treated with respect.

What got me interested in politics were the Iran-Contra Hearings and Bork hearings. The treatment of the Democrats toward Oliver North and Judge Bork were less than dignified or respectful. On one side of the desks we had blow hards and mumblers and stumblers like Sen Ted Kennedy spitting outrages statements at Olive North and he, looking them straight in the eye answering them without being intimidated was a turning point for me.

Then the newly quafed Joe Biden was an absolute putz. His running of the hearings, his righteous blow-hard-ness, and demeanor were striking. Those hearings, by many accounts, were the beginnings of the current state of ugliness in the confirmation process. I think the advent of cable TV and CSPAN also helped.

What I'd also hope would happen is that tough legal question will not be touted by the media as personal bashing, and this is probably the larger potential problem in this process.

State Supreme Court says judges will give up pay raises

Even that 2% is a step in the right direction. Now legislators do your thing.

Doyle’s liability law proposal is nowhere near fair

This editorial in the Racine Journal Times is spot on. Really like the last paragraph and this view in particular

"This piece of legislation has nothing to do with the state budget, either, and should be summarily removed from the budget bill"

this needs to somehow become a mandate.

Let Federalism sort through it

Super Opinion piece in the Beloit Daily News.

Here's a couple of quotes:

"That’s how the federalism process is supposed to work. The people have a voice, where they live. Each of the 50 states can make its own decision."

"There’s another point in play, though. Liberal advocates of sweeping societal change clearly do not like the democratic process. They want to override people’s voices. They prefer orders from the courts, bypassing the people’s representatives and the ballot box, to impose their demands on the unwilling.

That is an assault on the American system. Federalism has served America well for 220 years. The principle deserves the unwavering support of the people."

A short quick and easy on civics lesson every citizen should read.

Obama's green guru calls for white roofs

Headline from the Telegraph in the UK. Now if Professor Steven Chu, the US Energy Secretary, really believed this would help, he'd not only suggest this for private homes, but for government buildings.

Global Climax um Climate

The global climate challenge may have been on the daytime agenda during the recent World Business Summit climate conference in Copenhagen, but in the evenings many businessmen, politicians and civil servants are reported to have availed themselves of the capital’s prostitutes.

Who knew that getting hot & sweaty was a way to combat global warming.

Humble Memorial

Memorial Day is easily the most humbling of all National Holidays.

I humbly thank every vet for your service to this country. May we never forget.

Not a Good Impression

Asking for more money for the "students" is a bit tough when you're planning on blowing 1/2 million dollars on a search for someone to be a steward of taxpayers money. Tell me again how the voucher schools are ripping off Milwaukee taxpayers.

Retro non Idol

Decided to do some computer cleanup tonight and clicked on the TV and saw a One Hit Wonders of the 80's. I'm a sucker for those, mostly because in general I like songs more than full albums and artists. But I wonder who are these jamook's that talk between the songs. Why do they choose no hit wonders to talk about one hit wonders?

Also flicked on the lava lamp tonight. Why are those so addictive?

Needed to step away from the politics. It's nuts.

Support for Choice Schools

State Reps Coggs, Fields, Grigsby, Toles, Williams and Young along with Sen Taylor have actually stood up for Choice Schools. I wonder where the other Milwaukee area legislators are (Rep Kessler)?

There is no doubt that some accountability changes need to be made and if there is financial glitch it needs to be fixed also. But if one is honest they no doubt will see how beneficial the school choice program is to Wisconsin education.

2 out of 3 ain't bad

...it's not my batting average either. Happiness Is .... Being Old, Male and Republican.

Could be a selling point on the campaign trail.

I am not related to a monkey

I don't care how far back you go in my ancestry you will not find a monkey. A horse thief, a king, a fair maiden, an ark builder - yes to all those. But a monkey? Ain't no way Jose.

I was made in the Image of the God the Father. Monkeys weren't.

My problem with evolution is that not only are we expected to believe that something came from nothing, a blob became a non blob and it grew into a human, but this happened simultaneously and in conjunction with another blob to non blob so they could mate.

What are the odds? You have a better chance of winning the lottery.

Just a Thought

Where is it written that the government must spend our money in order to protect us. Or that they must fine us in order to protect us from laws they make.
Why aren't there more bills proposed to stop spending money?

No to Tomah (journal)

Steve Rondio, the Perspective Page editor of Tomah Newspapers, has a wrong opinion piece in the Tomah Journal which basically blasts Republicans and our free enterprise system. A point that Mr. Rondio seems to miss is that the money being spent, used or in his opinion misused is corporate money, not tax dollars. Government bureaucrats are to be stewards of our money to provide services for us.

Some of his selling points on how wrong the Republican Party is to put faith in individuals rather than government bureaucracy.

"It’s a private-sector executive, not a government bureaucrat, who’s more likely to spend $1.2 million renovating an office."

May I point out the Murtha Airport - $200 million over 10 years for six flights a day.

"It’s a private-sector bureaucrat, not a government bureaucrat, who’s more likely to stand between a patient and the health care he or she needs."

Tell that to my friend who's without insurance and is in a whirlpool of government paperwork to try to get a potentially life threatening problem taken care of.

"It’s a private-sector executive, not a government bureaucrat, who can leverage an eight-figure golden parachute for running a failed enterprise."

Have you heard of Milwaukee County or looked at retirement benefits of government employees?

I'm not a Republican - yet, but this type of hogwash is truly sad.

Milwaukee Priorities

Ald. Bob Donovan has sent a little note thanking the Mayor of Milwaukee for sorta supporting the smoking ban and leading the city in this time of financial crises. Take a peak here.

Do Lemmings Smoke

I watched the Assembly hearings on the proposed and soon to be anti smoking law (thank you WiEye & DVR).

Lemmings.

I'm absolutely blown away that virtually none of the Republican amendments to the bill were voted for by any Democrats. Exemptions for hotels, the VA, separate rooms, not one idea moved any Dems.

It was what is totally wrong with politics today. Even smokers in the Assembly showed no empathy. I'm seeing some changes being made. Smokers are only willing to take so much and kicking them off the bus may be the last straw.

Give Blood but ...

Did you know you need to have a photo ID to give blood. At least you do if you're on jury duty.

Top 10 - not in height

Looking at Badger Blogger today, they had a picture of Milwaukee's Top 10 Most Wanted. I noticed that the tallest person was 5'9". It was one of the 2 women. I'm thinking Napoleon complex.

Today is

Happy Mother's Day

Now I'm fully aware that it takes more than birthing a child to be it's mother and this picture isn't meant to insinuate that it is. I just thought it nice. No matter how your family came together I wish all mom's the best of days.

Progressive slant

From The Capitol Times, concerning the political shift in Maple Grove, a suburb of Madison.

"Communism isn't so bad," I explained to the sons and daughters of bank presidents and real estate developers in my third-grade class. "It just means you share."

This from Mike Ivey the articles author. I don't know what to say.

Presidential Day of Non Prayer

By no means do I claim any job of the Holy Spirit, but the Bible does say "you will know them by their fruit." Supporting or attending the National Day of Prayer doesn't make one a Christian, giving their life over to Jesus does. For this reason I do not stand in judgment (the eternal kind) of Barack Obama.

I can and in fact I have Biblical authority to make some decisions by the spiritual fruit he produces. The Bible also has this nugget that I use as fruit inspection. Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."

To celebrate a National Day of Prayer by sitting in the back room and signing a proclamation is very telling.

County Trial / Republicans

I have to admit that I'm looking forward to the upcoming trial about the county pensions. A couple of years ago former County Exec Ament stopped in the bookstore where I work. I recognized him and we chatted up a couple of times. He was quite proud of his political prowess and in reality they were quite enjoyable conversations.

It seems the Republicans are stoked and that is good news. Despite the media's suggestion, they seem to be on the offensive rather than the party of no.