Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Torture and the 'Truth Commission'
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.) wants a commission that will get to the "truth" about torture. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) says she wants a truth commission too. And so does Rep. John Conyers (D., Mich.).
On CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Mr. Leahy said a truth commission would help get to the heart of how the recently released memos on CIA interrogation techniques were drafted. "I want to know why they did that," he said. "What kind of pressures brought them to write things that are so off the wall and to make sure it never happens again. That's why I want [a Truth Commission]."
Mr. Leahy overlooks a small point here: Under our Constitution, the truth commission is supposed to be Congress.
Our Founders didn't look to outsource our most controversial public issues to appointees. They established institutions and arrangements that would hold those who have power accountable to the American people. And when the people's lawmakers believed the people's president was misinterpreting the law, the Founders expected the former to stand up and do something about it.
Today the Democrats have an even larger majority -- plus a president who would sign such legislation. So why the call for a truth commission instead? The answer is a nasty one: If Congress made waterboarding illegal now, they would be making clear that it was not illegal before.
Andrew McCarthy is the former assistant U.S. attorney who put Omar Abdel-Rahman (the blind sheik) behind bars for the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. Mr. McCarthy explained it this way to me: "When Senate Democrats didn't have the votes, they voted to make waterboarding illegal. Now they have the votes, but there's no effort to ban waterboarding. And the reason is that they are more interested in setting off a partisan witch hunt than passing a principled ban on something they say is torture."
(read entire article at link)
On CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Mr. Leahy said a truth commission would help get to the heart of how the recently released memos on CIA interrogation techniques were drafted. "I want to know why they did that," he said. "What kind of pressures brought them to write things that are so off the wall and to make sure it never happens again. That's why I want [a Truth Commission]."
Mr. Leahy overlooks a small point here: Under our Constitution, the truth commission is supposed to be Congress.
Our Founders didn't look to outsource our most controversial public issues to appointees. They established institutions and arrangements that would hold those who have power accountable to the American people. And when the people's lawmakers believed the people's president was misinterpreting the law, the Founders expected the former to stand up and do something about it.
Today the Democrats have an even larger majority -- plus a president who would sign such legislation. So why the call for a truth commission instead? The answer is a nasty one: If Congress made waterboarding illegal now, they would be making clear that it was not illegal before.
Andrew McCarthy is the former assistant U.S. attorney who put Omar Abdel-Rahman (the blind sheik) behind bars for the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. Mr. McCarthy explained it this way to me: "When Senate Democrats didn't have the votes, they voted to make waterboarding illegal. Now they have the votes, but there's no effort to ban waterboarding. And the reason is that they are more interested in setting off a partisan witch hunt than passing a principled ban on something they say is torture."
(read entire article at link)
Monday, April 27, 2009
Aiken's Tea Party
The Aiken Standard on Sunday carried an objective report of the Tea Party held in the Alley on Saturday. I was not able to attend but I understand it was a successful event. I am sorry I missed it. The event was organized by Colin Lindell who is a student at USCA. I was curious to know how the blogger class responded to the article so I went on the Aiken Standard website to read any comments There were quite a few but many were the usual silly comments that lend nothing to responsible political discourse. Go here to read them.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Obama cooking up something, can you feel the heat?
The latest email delivered this:
Quote
This writer says it so well.
The Morning Journal Serving Northern Ohio
Opinion
THE EDITOR'S COLUMN: Obama cooking up something, can you feel the heat?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Think about the cautionary tale of the frog that is enjoying a warm soak in a pan of water while it slowly heats over a fire. Before the unwary frog realizes it is in danger, it is cooked.
More and more, I'm thinking we ordinary Americans are the frog.
While going blissfully about in our daily lives, we're in danger of being slow-cooked, along with the free life and prosperity that we enjoy and want for our children and grandchildren.
The chef who is cooking America is our smiling, charismatic President Barack Obama.
I'm not sure yet whether Obama is just an ego-driven fool or a calculated participant following a sinister recipe. Obama can be spellbinding as he reads lofty speeches off of a TelePrompTer. But without a script, he can't find his tongue to swiftly condemn piracy against Americans.
He can't stand up for Americans in danger, and he bows to the king of Saudi Arabia where women are oppressed. Then his flunkies deny that he bowed.
At the Summit of the Americas, Obama allowed himself and our country to be savaged in an hour-long socialist tirade by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. Obama strolled through a happy handshake session with evil clown Hugo Chavez, the socialist president of Venezuela, accepting Chavez's gift of a book condemning our treatment of South America. By taking abuse and failing to defend the United States, Obama weakens himself and does our nation a grave disservice.
Notice that when Ortega bashed the United States for the anti-Castro 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, Obama merely joked that he's glad he wasn't blamed for an event that happened when he was 3 months old. Sadly, and dangerously, Obama fails to distinguish himself personally from his elected job as the one entrusted with the Office of the President of the United States, under oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" history's greatest blueprint for liberty.
Closer to home, Obama's debt-laden, business-stifling, tax-happy policies threaten to suck the life out of the nation's economy. Obama's disastrous vision of the presidency and America is so apparent it can be seen clear across the Atlantic. On Friday, British author and commentator Gerald Warner noted on Telegraph.co.uk, "Never in the history of the United States has a president worked so actively against the interests of his own people - not even Jimmy Carter." Warner concluded, "President Pantywaist's recent world tour, cozying up to all the bad guys, excited the ambitions of America's enemies. Here, they realized is a sucker they can really take to the cleaners. His only enemies are fellow Americans. Which prompts the question: Why does President Pantywaist hate Americans so badly?"
Why, indeed. And what are Americans going to do about it?
Tom Skoch is editor of The Morning Journal.
Quote
This writer says it so well.
The Morning Journal Serving Northern Ohio
Opinion
THE EDITOR'S COLUMN: Obama cooking up something, can you feel the heat?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Think about the cautionary tale of the frog that is enjoying a warm soak in a pan of water while it slowly heats over a fire. Before the unwary frog realizes it is in danger, it is cooked.
More and more, I'm thinking we ordinary Americans are the frog.
While going blissfully about in our daily lives, we're in danger of being slow-cooked, along with the free life and prosperity that we enjoy and want for our children and grandchildren.
The chef who is cooking America is our smiling, charismatic President Barack Obama.
I'm not sure yet whether Obama is just an ego-driven fool or a calculated participant following a sinister recipe. Obama can be spellbinding as he reads lofty speeches off of a TelePrompTer. But without a script, he can't find his tongue to swiftly condemn piracy against Americans.
He can't stand up for Americans in danger, and he bows to the king of Saudi Arabia where women are oppressed. Then his flunkies deny that he bowed.
At the Summit of the Americas, Obama allowed himself and our country to be savaged in an hour-long socialist tirade by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. Obama strolled through a happy handshake session with evil clown Hugo Chavez, the socialist president of Venezuela, accepting Chavez's gift of a book condemning our treatment of South America. By taking abuse and failing to defend the United States, Obama weakens himself and does our nation a grave disservice.
Notice that when Ortega bashed the United States for the anti-Castro 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, Obama merely joked that he's glad he wasn't blamed for an event that happened when he was 3 months old. Sadly, and dangerously, Obama fails to distinguish himself personally from his elected job as the one entrusted with the Office of the President of the United States, under oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" history's greatest blueprint for liberty.
Closer to home, Obama's debt-laden, business-stifling, tax-happy policies threaten to suck the life out of the nation's economy. Obama's disastrous vision of the presidency and America is so apparent it can be seen clear across the Atlantic. On Friday, British author and commentator Gerald Warner noted on Telegraph.co.uk, "Never in the history of the United States has a president worked so actively against the interests of his own people - not even Jimmy Carter." Warner concluded, "President Pantywaist's recent world tour, cozying up to all the bad guys, excited the ambitions of America's enemies. Here, they realized is a sucker they can really take to the cleaners. His only enemies are fellow Americans. Which prompts the question: Why does President Pantywaist hate Americans so badly?"
Why, indeed. And what are Americans going to do about it?
Tom Skoch is editor of The Morning Journal.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Pia Varma Speaks and we should Listen
This is a fascinating video by Pia Varma and the Tea Party anthem by Lloyd Marcus must also be heard.We must band together!
Council Update - April 27, 2009
AIKEN CORPORATION WORK SESSION – My last two emails mentioned a work session between the Council and the Aiken Corporation. Minutes of that session are now available and can be viewed at the City’s web site. http://www.cityofaikensc.gov/weblink7/docview.aspx?id=101878.
WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS 2009-2010 BUDGET AND FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY – Our work session, which begins at 5:00 P.M., will focus on next year’s budget which begins on July 1, 2009. It should come at no surprise that city revenues have decreased significantly. While some programs will be reduced or delayed, we think we can structure a budget with no tax increase for the year. There might, however, be an increase in water rates, but that decision will be made later during the fiscal year.
I had previously asked to City Manager to investigate the possibility of putting more financial data on the City’s web site. This would include revenues we collect and money we spend. It appears we can post our Accounts Payable Check Register and the Electronic Funds Transfer Register for public scrutiny. At the work session, the City Manager will advise Council on the status of these plans and ask for Council approval.
FINANCIAL REPORTING AWARD – The Government Finance Officers Association has again awarded our Finance Department its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. It is the highest recognition of sound governmental accounting practices. Our Finance Department is receiving this award for the 17th year in a row. There are many cities and towns in South Carolina which have never received this award.
SUMMER WATER USEAGE - Engineering and Public Works Director Larry Morris sent a letter to the Woodside Property Owners Association Manager Melanie Brock. In order to best meet water demands, Larry has suggested that residents voluntarily water their lawns on an odd/even basis. Even-numbered property addresses water on even-numbered days while odd-numbered property addresses water on odd-numbered days under this system. This approach allows the City to best meet demands for city water.
CITY EMS PROGRAM SUSPENSION – Public Safety Department Director Pete Frommer has recommended suspension of our city EMT operations. At one time, Aiken County experienced a shortage in staffing its EMS stations. That situation has improved and Director Frommer recommends this suspension as a result. In addition, the City never received medical authorization for its EMT personnel, not access to County medical supplies. We will, however, continue to monitor response times for EMS calls to make sure past problems do not happen again and will continue with our First Responder Program.
AIKEN PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY/HORSE CREEK FEES – The business manager for the Horse Creek Sewer Treatment Facility has indicated that the usage fees the City must pay will be increased in Fiscal Year 2009-2010. Effective July 1, 2009 the City will have to pay $1.30 per 1,000 gallons, up from the present rate of $1.20 per 1,000 gallons. This will be an additional $150,000 cost to the City of Aiken.
SILVER BLUFF ROAD REZONING – We will have Second Reading of the proposal to rezone property from Residential Multi-Family Low Density to General Business. In exchange for rezoning one lot fronting on Silver Bluff Road, the developer would donate the green space behind the homes on Oriole and the commercial properties fronting on Silver Bluff Road. He would retain his property on Oriole along with a small portion of the other area to square off the back property line. Affected property owners have spent a great deal of time in recent months and years at Council meetings and Planning Commission meetings to fight what they consider a danger to their property values. At recent meetings, many residents seem to approve of this current plan. There is still some concern on the part of other residents who prefer to leave things as they are. This is the Second Reading of this issue.
APPROVAL OF ELECTION SCHEDULE – Last week several members of the Council met with a representative of the Aiken County School System to discuss their concerns about safety at schools on City election voting day. They agreed that for this year, Chukker Creek School would be used as the voting location for Precinct 53. We are very grateful for the efforts Mr. David Caver, Assistant Superintendent for the School District for his efforts to resolve this issue. By the time the next city election is held in 2011, the census will be completed and new voting locations will be identified to resolve school safety concerns. As currently proposed the opening date for filing is Aug 3 and closing date is Aug 10. The Primary election would be held on September 8 with September 22 selected as a run-off date. Election Day would be on November 3.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO REVISE CONCEPT PLAN TO ALLOW TRAILERS AT 1310 EAST PINE LOG ROAD – The Boot, Bridles, and Britches store would like to revise their Concept Plan drawing to allow storage of up to three trailers behind their building. The trailers would be used to store hay and wood chips and would be parked no closer than 20 feet from the building.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CONCEPT PLAN FOR UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES, INC. – University Health Services is asking for approval to build one 17,000 one-story building on their property on Silver Bluff Road. The building would be located close to Silver Bluff road. Since they are asking to build only one building, most of the traffic concerns discussed during their prior application have been significantly reduced.
APPROVAL OF WATER FOR AIKEN ESTATES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION – The City has an established policy to provide a water tap and meter and pay for water at an entrance into recognized subdivisions. Mr. Phil Lockhard, President of the Greater Aiken Estates Neighborhood Association has asked the City to provide a meter and tap and pay for the water to irrigate two additional entrances to Aiken Estates.
AIKEN JOURNAL WEB SITE – A reminder to check the Aiken Journal web site, if you are interested in keeping abreast of current local, state, and national political issues. With the current serious economic and social issues facing our state and national government and the changes being proposed in Columbia and Washington, it is more important than ever for citizens to know how these changes will affect them.
MISCELLANEOUS – If you know someone who would like to receive this email, please ask them to send their email address to me at fastwalk1@gforcecable.com.
CITY WEB SITE LINK FOR MONDAY’S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA CAN BE FOUND AT http://www.cityofaikensc.gov/weblink7/docview.aspx?id=103858.
WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS 2009-2010 BUDGET AND FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY – Our work session, which begins at 5:00 P.M., will focus on next year’s budget which begins on July 1, 2009. It should come at no surprise that city revenues have decreased significantly. While some programs will be reduced or delayed, we think we can structure a budget with no tax increase for the year. There might, however, be an increase in water rates, but that decision will be made later during the fiscal year.
I had previously asked to City Manager to investigate the possibility of putting more financial data on the City’s web site. This would include revenues we collect and money we spend. It appears we can post our Accounts Payable Check Register and the Electronic Funds Transfer Register for public scrutiny. At the work session, the City Manager will advise Council on the status of these plans and ask for Council approval.
FINANCIAL REPORTING AWARD – The Government Finance Officers Association has again awarded our Finance Department its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. It is the highest recognition of sound governmental accounting practices. Our Finance Department is receiving this award for the 17th year in a row. There are many cities and towns in South Carolina which have never received this award.
SUMMER WATER USEAGE - Engineering and Public Works Director Larry Morris sent a letter to the Woodside Property Owners Association Manager Melanie Brock. In order to best meet water demands, Larry has suggested that residents voluntarily water their lawns on an odd/even basis. Even-numbered property addresses water on even-numbered days while odd-numbered property addresses water on odd-numbered days under this system. This approach allows the City to best meet demands for city water.
CITY EMS PROGRAM SUSPENSION – Public Safety Department Director Pete Frommer has recommended suspension of our city EMT operations. At one time, Aiken County experienced a shortage in staffing its EMS stations. That situation has improved and Director Frommer recommends this suspension as a result. In addition, the City never received medical authorization for its EMT personnel, not access to County medical supplies. We will, however, continue to monitor response times for EMS calls to make sure past problems do not happen again and will continue with our First Responder Program.
AIKEN PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY/HORSE CREEK FEES – The business manager for the Horse Creek Sewer Treatment Facility has indicated that the usage fees the City must pay will be increased in Fiscal Year 2009-2010. Effective July 1, 2009 the City will have to pay $1.30 per 1,000 gallons, up from the present rate of $1.20 per 1,000 gallons. This will be an additional $150,000 cost to the City of Aiken.
SILVER BLUFF ROAD REZONING – We will have Second Reading of the proposal to rezone property from Residential Multi-Family Low Density to General Business. In exchange for rezoning one lot fronting on Silver Bluff Road, the developer would donate the green space behind the homes on Oriole and the commercial properties fronting on Silver Bluff Road. He would retain his property on Oriole along with a small portion of the other area to square off the back property line. Affected property owners have spent a great deal of time in recent months and years at Council meetings and Planning Commission meetings to fight what they consider a danger to their property values. At recent meetings, many residents seem to approve of this current plan. There is still some concern on the part of other residents who prefer to leave things as they are. This is the Second Reading of this issue.
APPROVAL OF ELECTION SCHEDULE – Last week several members of the Council met with a representative of the Aiken County School System to discuss their concerns about safety at schools on City election voting day. They agreed that for this year, Chukker Creek School would be used as the voting location for Precinct 53. We are very grateful for the efforts Mr. David Caver, Assistant Superintendent for the School District for his efforts to resolve this issue. By the time the next city election is held in 2011, the census will be completed and new voting locations will be identified to resolve school safety concerns. As currently proposed the opening date for filing is Aug 3 and closing date is Aug 10. The Primary election would be held on September 8 with September 22 selected as a run-off date. Election Day would be on November 3.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO REVISE CONCEPT PLAN TO ALLOW TRAILERS AT 1310 EAST PINE LOG ROAD – The Boot, Bridles, and Britches store would like to revise their Concept Plan drawing to allow storage of up to three trailers behind their building. The trailers would be used to store hay and wood chips and would be parked no closer than 20 feet from the building.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CONCEPT PLAN FOR UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES, INC. – University Health Services is asking for approval to build one 17,000 one-story building on their property on Silver Bluff Road. The building would be located close to Silver Bluff road. Since they are asking to build only one building, most of the traffic concerns discussed during their prior application have been significantly reduced.
APPROVAL OF WATER FOR AIKEN ESTATES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION – The City has an established policy to provide a water tap and meter and pay for water at an entrance into recognized subdivisions. Mr. Phil Lockhard, President of the Greater Aiken Estates Neighborhood Association has asked the City to provide a meter and tap and pay for the water to irrigate two additional entrances to Aiken Estates.
AIKEN JOURNAL WEB SITE – A reminder to check the Aiken Journal web site, if you are interested in keeping abreast of current local, state, and national political issues. With the current serious economic and social issues facing our state and national government and the changes being proposed in Columbia and Washington, it is more important than ever for citizens to know how these changes will affect them.
MISCELLANEOUS – If you know someone who would like to receive this email, please ask them to send their email address to me at fastwalk1@gforcecable.com.
CITY WEB SITE LINK FOR MONDAY’S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA CAN BE FOUND AT http://www.cityofaikensc.gov/weblink7/docview.aspx?id=103858.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
I thought I was a good American
Peter Seaha wrote this and asked me to post it here:
I have always viewed myself as a person who loves his country, abides by its laws, pays his taxes and serves his community. I give to charities, attend church services and have high moral standards. I love my family, have a sense of fair play and have always worked hard and asked for nothing from my government.
I have certain beliefs. Among them is the right to bear arms, freedom of speech and the protection of the unborn. I want our borders secured, illegal immigration stopped and those illegal's living here returned to their homeland and, above all, I want America to be safe and prosperous for the generations that follow. I fear for the direction my country is headed in and I don't want government interjecting itself into the private sectors of this country or the private lives of its citizens. In short, I believe that I am a typical, law abiding citizen who wants what's best for his country.
Imagine my surprise when I recently read a newly unclassified Department of Homeland Security report warning against the possibility of violence by unnamed "right-wing extremists" concerned about illegal immigration, increasing federal power, restrictions of firearms, abortions and the loss of U.S. sovereignty and singles out returning war veterans as particular threats.
According to the Obama administration, I am not the person I thought I was. My government now believes me to be a "right-wing extremist". This report warns law enforcement to watch out for individuals with "radical" ideologies based on Christian views, such as opposing illegal immigration, abortion, higher federal taxes and "suspicious" individuals who may have bumper stickers for third-party political candidates such as Ron Paul, Bob Barr or Chuck Baldwin.
The Obama administration refuses to use the word terrorism, particularly in conjunction with jihadists and now calls terrorist attacks "man made disasters". While refusing to define terrorist killers for what and who they are, Obama warns America's law enforcement officials to be watchful for Americans who disagree with his policies. Despite promising bipartisanship, he profiles based on political ideology and labels nearly half of our citizens as "right-wing extremists." Apparently Americans who recently attended a "tea party" in this country are viewed by this administration as a "right-wing extremist" as well.
There was a time when I was proud to be an American, but those days are now gone. Today, the Obama administration makes me sad and embarrassed to be an American. It also makes fear for my freedom and safety.
I have always viewed myself as a person who loves his country, abides by its laws, pays his taxes and serves his community. I give to charities, attend church services and have high moral standards. I love my family, have a sense of fair play and have always worked hard and asked for nothing from my government.
I have certain beliefs. Among them is the right to bear arms, freedom of speech and the protection of the unborn. I want our borders secured, illegal immigration stopped and those illegal's living here returned to their homeland and, above all, I want America to be safe and prosperous for the generations that follow. I fear for the direction my country is headed in and I don't want government interjecting itself into the private sectors of this country or the private lives of its citizens. In short, I believe that I am a typical, law abiding citizen who wants what's best for his country.
Imagine my surprise when I recently read a newly unclassified Department of Homeland Security report warning against the possibility of violence by unnamed "right-wing extremists" concerned about illegal immigration, increasing federal power, restrictions of firearms, abortions and the loss of U.S. sovereignty and singles out returning war veterans as particular threats.
According to the Obama administration, I am not the person I thought I was. My government now believes me to be a "right-wing extremist". This report warns law enforcement to watch out for individuals with "radical" ideologies based on Christian views, such as opposing illegal immigration, abortion, higher federal taxes and "suspicious" individuals who may have bumper stickers for third-party political candidates such as Ron Paul, Bob Barr or Chuck Baldwin.
The Obama administration refuses to use the word terrorism, particularly in conjunction with jihadists and now calls terrorist attacks "man made disasters". While refusing to define terrorist killers for what and who they are, Obama warns America's law enforcement officials to be watchful for Americans who disagree with his policies. Despite promising bipartisanship, he profiles based on political ideology and labels nearly half of our citizens as "right-wing extremists." Apparently Americans who recently attended a "tea party" in this country are viewed by this administration as a "right-wing extremist" as well.
There was a time when I was proud to be an American, but those days are now gone. Today, the Obama administration makes me sad and embarrassed to be an American. It also makes fear for my freedom and safety.
Gun Owners Alert!
Another email received today is very upsetting. I have edited the link information to make it easier for readers to find the bill.
Quote
HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009
Please send this to everybody on your list... this is Obama's gun control by secrecy.
Very Important for you to be aware of a new bill HR 45 introduced into the House.
This is the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sale Act of 2009.
We just learned yesterday about this on the Peter Boyles radio program.
Even gun shop owners didn't know about this because it is flying under the radar.
Basically this would make it illegal to own a firearm - Any rifle with a clip or ANY pistol unless:
- It is registered
- You are fingerprinted
- You supply a current Driver's License
- You supply your Social Security #
- You will submit to a physical & mental evaluation at any time of their choosing
- Each update - change or ownership through private or public sale must be reported and costs $25- Failure to do so you automatically lose the right to own a firearm and are subject up to a year in jail.
There is a child provision clause on page 16 section 305 stating a child-access provision. Gun must be locked and inaccessible to any child under 18. The Government would have the right to come and inspect that you are storing your gun safely away from accessibility to children and fine is punishable for up to 5 years in prison.
If you think this is a joke - go to the website here...
It is long and lengthy. But, more and more people are becoming aware of this. Pass the word along.
FAILURE TO DO SO AT YOUR PERIL!
Any hunters in your family - pass this along.
Peter Boyles is on this and having guests. Listen to him on KHOW 630 a.m. in the morning.
He suggests the best way to fight this is to tell all your friends about it and "spring into action".
Also he suggests we all join a pro-gun group like the Colorado Rifle Association, hunting associations, gun clubs and especially the NRA.
This is just a "termite" approach to complete confiscation of guns and disarming of our society to the point we have no defense - chip away a little here and there until the goal is accomplished before anyone realizes it.
This is one to act on whether you own a gun or not.
The Second Amendment America's original homeland security.
Letter to the White House
The following letter arrived in my email this morning. I don't agree with the name calling and insults to intelligence but I think the letter captures the feelings of very many concerned patriotic Americans of most political persuasions. Our country as we knew it may never recover from the unrelenting lurch towards socialism being forced upon us by the Obama administration with the help of an amazingly compliant Democrat dominated congress.
The demonstration of weakness abroad is also a cause for great concern. Tyrants are very good at exploiting perceived weakness and Joe Biden may well have been correct when he suggested that President Obama would be be tested early on. North Korea and Iran are serious threats but Pakistan requires decisive action immediately.The options are limited but we cannot allow Pakistan to be over-run by fundamentalist backers of terrorism. There is a world wide Jihad and we are the enemy! There is no compromise and making nice will not work ; it only encourages the enemies of freedom. .
Quote
I am convinced that you and the members of your administration have the historical and intellectual depth of a mud puddle and should be ashamed of yourselves, all of you.
The demonstration of weakness abroad is also a cause for great concern. Tyrants are very good at exploiting perceived weakness and Joe Biden may well have been correct when he suggested that President Obama would be be tested early on. North Korea and Iran are serious threats but Pakistan requires decisive action immediately.The options are limited but we cannot allow Pakistan to be over-run by fundamentalist backers of terrorism. There is a world wide Jihad and we are the enemy! There is no compromise and making nice will not work ; it only encourages the enemies of freedom. .
Quote
April 17, 2009
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington , DC 20500
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington , DC 20500
Mr. Obama:
I have had it with you and your administration, sir. Your conduct on your recent trip overseas has convinced me that you are not an adequate representative of the United States of America collectively or of me personally.
You are so obsessed with appeasing the Europeans and the Muslim world that you have abdicated the responsibilities of the President of the United States of America . You are responsible to the citizens of the United States . You are not responsible to the peoples of any other country on earth.
I personally resent that you go around the world apologizing for the United States telling Europeans that we are arrogant and do not care about their status in the world. Sir, what do you think the First World War and the Second World War were all about if not the consideration of the peoples of Europe ? Are you brain dead? What do you think the Marshall Plan was all about? Do you not understand or know the history of the 20thcentury?
Where do you get off telling a Muslim country that the United States does not consider itself a Christian country? Have you not read the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United State s ? This country was founded on Judeo-Christian ethics and the principles governing this country, at least until you came along, come directly from this heri tage. Do you not understand this?
Your bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia is an affront to all Americans. Our President does not bow down to anyone, let alone the king of Saudi Arabia . You don’t show Great Britain, our best and one of our oldest allies, the respect they deserve yet you bow down to the king of Saudi Arabia . How dare you, sir! How dare you!
You can’t find the time to visit the graves of our greatest generation because you don’t want to offend the Germans but make time to visit a mosque in Turkey . You offended our dead and every veteran when you give the Germans more respect than the people who saved the German people from themselves. What’s the matter with you?
You are so self-righteously offended by the big bankers and the American automobile manufacturers yet do nothing about the real thieves in this situation, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Frank, Franklin Raines, Jamie Gorelic, the Fannie Mae bonuses, and the Freddie Mac bonuses. What do you intend to do about them? Anything? I seriously doubt it.
What about the U.S. House members passing out $9.1 million in bonuses to their staff members – on top of the $2.5 million in automatic pay raises that lawmakers gave themselves? I understand the average House aide got a 17% bonus. I took a 5% cut in my pay to save jobs with my employer. You haven’t said anything about that. Who authorized that? I surely didn’t!
Executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be receiving $ 210 million in bonuses over an eighteen-month period, that's $45 million more than the AIG bonuses. In fact, Fannie and Freddie executives have already been awarded $51 million – not a bad take. Who authorized that and why haven’t you expressed your outrage at this group who are largely responsible for the economic mess we have right now.
I resent that you take me and my fellow citizens as brain-dead and not caring about what you idiots do. We are watching what you are doing and we are getting increasingly fed up with all of you. I also want you to know that I personally find just about everything you do and say to be offensive to every one of my sensibilities. I promise you that I will work tirelessly to see that you do not get a chance to spend two terms destroying my beautiful country.
Sincerely,
Every Real American
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
John Kerry to the Rescue
Senator John Kerry has called for Senate hearings on the death of newspapers. The possible closiing of the very liberal Boston Globe which reportedly is losing a Million dollars a day has raised his concern. The Boston Globe is owned by the extremely biased New York Times which is also going broke. The NEWSMAX article reporting on this subject contains some good information. There has been talk in congress of saving papers by giving them tax free status.This would be ridiculous. The taxpayers have been supporting the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio for many years and their liberal bias is painfully obvious. When President Bush tried to cut funding for these "non-partisan" organizations who came to the rescue? more info
Aiken will have its own Tea Party Saturday April 25
Aiken Tea Party |
Press Release
The grass roots citizen gatherings event that has sparked a political firestorm around the country is coming to Aiken.
Downtown Aiken will be the scene this weekend when citizens from all across the area come together to make a statement against runaway government taxing and spending
Aiken, South Carolina, April 25, 2009: This Saturday, in the “Alley” in downtown Aiken, ordinary citizens will take the spotlight as part of a nationwide movement that continues to gather momentum. Hundreds of “Tea Parties” were held across the country back on Tax Day on April 15th. On that day, the state house in Columbia was ground zero for thousands who came from far and wide to make their voices heard. Another Tea Party drew a large crowd to downtown Augusta. The Tea Party this Saturday in Aiken may be somewhat smaller but is expected to be no less enthusiastic coming on the heels of the other events. Those who attend the event will hear remarks from South Carolina’s Comptroller, Richard Eckstrom, several State senators and Representatives, County and city council members, and various community leaders. A live band will provide patriotic music and there will be awards handed out for the most creative signs displayed during the gathering. The festivities get underway at 1 pm this Saturday, April 25th in the “Alley” in downtown Aiken. Like the other events held around the country, the Aiken Tea Party is a nonpartisan event open to folks across all political party lines. For more information, call event coordinator, Colen Lindell, at (803) 640-9547.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Obama open to Hill probe of harsh interrogations
The following appears in the Aiken Standard. It is disheartening and in fact frightening to see how far the Obama administration will go to carry on it's unrelenting hate campaign against President Bush in order to keep its base happy.In typical Chicago style politics the White House had ordered the release of the CIA interogation techniques that were used to extract vital information from terrorists.that saved countless American lives. We must insist that the CIA top secret memos cataloging the many lives saved by these "harsh tactics." also be released. Thus far the White House doesn't sound eager to do it..
To read the entire article go here.
Quote
Obama open to Hill probe of harsh interrogations
4/21/2009 12:11 PM
By JENNIFER LOVEN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Barack Obama is leaving the door to open to possible prosecution of Bush administration officials who devised harsh terrorism-era interrogation tactics.
He also said Tuesday that he worries about the impact of high-intensity hearings on how detainees were treated under former President George W. Bush. But Obama did say, nevertheless, he could support a Hill investigation if it were conducted in a bipartisan way. more
To read the entire article go here.
Quote
Obama open to Hill probe of harsh interrogations
4/21/2009 12:11 PM
By JENNIFER LOVEN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Barack Obama is leaving the door to open to possible prosecution of Bush administration officials who devised harsh terrorism-era interrogation tactics.
He also said Tuesday that he worries about the impact of high-intensity hearings on how detainees were treated under former President George W. Bush. But Obama did say, nevertheless, he could support a Hill investigation if it were conducted in a bipartisan way. more
Monday, April 20, 2009
SPIN METER: Saving federal money the easy way
SPIN METER: Obama's latest budget-tightening effort hardly makes a dime's worth of difference
* Andrew Taylor and Calvin Woodward, Associated Press Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Cut a latte or two out of your annual budget and you've just done as much belt-tightening as President Barack Obama asked of his Cabinet on Monday.
The thrifty measures Obama ordered for federal agencies are the equivalent of asking a family that spends $60,000 in a year to save $6.
Obama made his push for frugality the subject of his first Cabinet meeting, ensuring it would command the capital's attention. It also set off outbursts of mental math and scribbled calculations as political friend and foe tried to figure out its impact.
The bottom line: Not much.
The president gave his Cabinet 90 days to find $100 million in savings to achieve over time.
For all the trumpeting, the effort raised questions about why Obama set the bar so low, considering that $100 million amounts to:
--Less than one-quarter of the budget increase that Congress awarded to itself.
--4 percent of the military aid the United States sends to Israel.
--Less than half the cost of one F-22 fighter plane.
--7 percent of the federal subsidy for the money-losing Amtrak passenger rail system.
--1/10,000th of the government's operating budgets for Cabinet agencies, excluding the Iraq and Afghan wars and the stimulus bill.
THE SPIN:
"He will challenge his Cabinet to cut a collective $100 million in the next 90 days," said a White House news release. "Agencies will be required to report back with their savings at the end of 90 days."
"I'm asking for all of them to identify at least $100 million in additional cuts to their administrative budgets," Obama told reporters afterward. "None of these things alone are going to make a difference, but cumulatively, they would make an extraordinary difference because they start setting a tone."
THE FULLER STORY:
Obama's marching orders to the Cabinet on Monday were less than meets the eye. Many of the savings he asked them to achieve are already under way and are included in the calculation.
To be sure, this is an extra effort, on top of an agency-by-agency review of programs and proposed multibillion-dollar cuts in weapons programs. But it is decidedly marginal.
"It's always a good sign when the president is talking about savings," said Marc Goldwein, policy director of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan group that advocates fiscal discipline.
"It's valuable as a symbol," he said, "but $100 million is just not going to cut it."
Republicans were quick to point out that borrowing costs for February's stimulus package will on average cost almost $100 million a day over the next decade.
In large measure, the examples of economizing given by the White House were of the painless, seemingly commonsensical variety. They were not the program cuts that people feel and that budget-watchers say are essential to make a meaningful difference in the exploding deficit.
Some of them will take many years to play out.
The Agriculture Department, for one, will move 1,500 employees from seven leased locations into one place in early 2011, saving $62 million over 15 years.
Some are hard to quantify.
Will buying multipurpose office equipment, such as a combined copier, printer, fax and scanner all in a single unit instead of separate units, really save the Homeland Security Department $2 million a year over five years?
Some are microscopic. The White House estimates savings of tens of thousands of dollars from freeing up warehouse space stashed with obsolete equipment that had been used by a federal entity few people have heard of, the Bureau of Information Resource Management.
And some raise eyebrows at wasteful practices of the former administration.
The White House says Homeland Security, the third largest federal department, has not been buying most of its $100 million a year in office supplies in bulk.
The administration thinks it can save $52 million over five years with bulk-buying bargains at the department.
* Andrew Taylor and Calvin Woodward, Associated Press Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Cut a latte or two out of your annual budget and you've just done as much belt-tightening as President Barack Obama asked of his Cabinet on Monday.
The thrifty measures Obama ordered for federal agencies are the equivalent of asking a family that spends $60,000 in a year to save $6.
Obama made his push for frugality the subject of his first Cabinet meeting, ensuring it would command the capital's attention. It also set off outbursts of mental math and scribbled calculations as political friend and foe tried to figure out its impact.
The bottom line: Not much.
The president gave his Cabinet 90 days to find $100 million in savings to achieve over time.
For all the trumpeting, the effort raised questions about why Obama set the bar so low, considering that $100 million amounts to:
--Less than one-quarter of the budget increase that Congress awarded to itself.
--4 percent of the military aid the United States sends to Israel.
--Less than half the cost of one F-22 fighter plane.
--7 percent of the federal subsidy for the money-losing Amtrak passenger rail system.
--1/10,000th of the government's operating budgets for Cabinet agencies, excluding the Iraq and Afghan wars and the stimulus bill.
THE SPIN:
"He will challenge his Cabinet to cut a collective $100 million in the next 90 days," said a White House news release. "Agencies will be required to report back with their savings at the end of 90 days."
"I'm asking for all of them to identify at least $100 million in additional cuts to their administrative budgets," Obama told reporters afterward. "None of these things alone are going to make a difference, but cumulatively, they would make an extraordinary difference because they start setting a tone."
THE FULLER STORY:
Obama's marching orders to the Cabinet on Monday were less than meets the eye. Many of the savings he asked them to achieve are already under way and are included in the calculation.
To be sure, this is an extra effort, on top of an agency-by-agency review of programs and proposed multibillion-dollar cuts in weapons programs. But it is decidedly marginal.
"It's always a good sign when the president is talking about savings," said Marc Goldwein, policy director of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan group that advocates fiscal discipline.
"It's valuable as a symbol," he said, "but $100 million is just not going to cut it."
Republicans were quick to point out that borrowing costs for February's stimulus package will on average cost almost $100 million a day over the next decade.
In large measure, the examples of economizing given by the White House were of the painless, seemingly commonsensical variety. They were not the program cuts that people feel and that budget-watchers say are essential to make a meaningful difference in the exploding deficit.
Some of them will take many years to play out.
The Agriculture Department, for one, will move 1,500 employees from seven leased locations into one place in early 2011, saving $62 million over 15 years.
Some are hard to quantify.
Will buying multipurpose office equipment, such as a combined copier, printer, fax and scanner all in a single unit instead of separate units, really save the Homeland Security Department $2 million a year over five years?
Some are microscopic. The White House estimates savings of tens of thousands of dollars from freeing up warehouse space stashed with obsolete equipment that had been used by a federal entity few people have heard of, the Bureau of Information Resource Management.
And some raise eyebrows at wasteful practices of the former administration.
The White House says Homeland Security, the third largest federal department, has not been buying most of its $100 million a year in office supplies in bulk.
The administration thinks it can save $52 million over five years with bulk-buying bargains at the department.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Viva CNN
Sorry about this. Most readers will have seen part or all of this but I want it to be seen again and again. Our country is in real trouble when such bias can be aired as news. Where is the Fairness Doctrine when we need it?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Not One penny More
Here is the Video from Governor Sanford"s appearance at the tea party in Columbia today. To read his email go hereUPDATE Also watch the video from Jim DeMint's remarks at the tea party
Obama's Unreal Agenda on Nuclear Disarmament
On April 14 The Washington Times carried an excellent article by Frank Gaffney concerning President Obama's unrealistic goal of ridding the world of nukes. It can't be done and we are endangering ourselves by indulging in idealistic daydreams. To read Gaffney's very excellent article go here
Jim DeMint comments on Tax Day
April 15, 2009
Dear Friend,
Today is the deadline to file your tax returns and its a good time to remember that its our people and our freedoms that make America great, not the bloated federal government in Washington. I wrote an article for the Greenville News that I wanted to share with you, here's an excerpt:
Today, the first tax day of Barack Obama's administration, it is time for conservatives to remember the one thing we most want to conserve: freedom.
Everything wrong with our economy is attributable to some misguided effort in Washington that infringed on our freedom: some tax or regulation or new, "compassionate" spending program. These things don't work.
Every time politicians grow government to solve a problem, they create three new ones. Then government must grow again to solve those three, and on and on the cycle goes. But every time Congress sets its mind to "do something," it has to take a little bit more of our money, and a little bit more of our personal and economic freedom to do it.
And before you know it, every baby in America is born with a $34,000 share in the national debt. That is simply immoral. It is a crime, a $20 trillion theft perpetrated by politicians against our children, and if we allow it continue, we will deserve history's condemnation.
History's lessons could not be clearer: everywhere socialism has been tried, it has failed. Inevitably, jobs are lost, opportunities stifled, businesses shuttered, economies stagnated, health care rationed; government increases and freedom decreases.
We cannot spend our way out of a deficit, tax our way out of a recession, or borrow our way out of debt. The only economic system that works is one based on free people making free decisions. It was 200 years of economic freedom that made America the world's greatest superpower, not Washington control.
Read the full aerticle here
Sincerely,
/s/ Jim
Charleston
112 Custom House
200 East Bay St.
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: 843-727-4525
Fax: 843-722-4923 Columbia
1901 Main St.
Suite 1475
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-771-6112
Fax: 803-771-6455 Greenville
105 North Spring St.
Suite 109
Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: 864-233-5366
Fax: 864-271-8901 Washington, D.C.
340 Russell
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-6121
Fax: 202-228-5143
To E-mail Jim, CLICK HERE
Please note: correspondence sent via mail is delayed several weeks due to security screening.
For time-sensitive matters, please call or e-mail my office.
Governor Sanford Issues Statement on Tax Day
From: Joel Sawyer
To: Joel Sawyer
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 8:41 AM
Subject: E-Release - Governor Sanford Issues Statement on Tax Day
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
MARK SANFORD, GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joel Sawyer
803-734-2100
jsawyer@gov.sc.gov
Governor Sanford Issues Statement on Tax Day
Columbia, S.C. - April 15, 2009 - Governor Mark Sanford today issued the following statement on Tax Day:
"Today it's worth noting the fact that we are at a truly frightening tipping point with regard to federal spending, and the consequences it will have for every current -and especially future - taxpayer here in South Carolina," Gov. Sanford said. "This year, government spending will account for more than a quarter of the entire economy, a level not seen since our country was fighting for its survival against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Federal debt is nearly the size of our yearly economy, and is about four times the size of the economy when you add in other government promises like Social Security and Medicare.
"That's why this stimulus debate we're having inSouth Carolina
Today, Gov. Sanford will attend tax day "Tea Party" rallies being held inColumbia and Charleston Charleston event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Old Customs House building in downtown Charleston
-#####-
Joel Sawyer
Communications Director
Office of Gov. Mark Sanford
(803) 734-5254 - work
(803) 446-6713 - cell
(803) 734-6447 - fax
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
MARK SANFORD, GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joel Sawyer
803-734-2100
jsawyer@gov.sc.gov
Governor Sanford Issues Statement on Tax Day
Columbia, S.C. - April 15, 2009 - Governor Mark Sanford today issued the following statement on Tax Day:
"Today it's worth noting the fact that we are at a truly frightening tipping point with regard to federal spending, and the consequences it will have for every current -and especially future - taxpayer here in South Carolina," Gov. Sanford said. "This year, government spending will account for more than a quarter of the entire economy, a level not seen since our country was fighting for its survival against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Federal debt is nearly the size of our yearly economy, and is about four times the size of the economy when you add in other government promises like Social Security and Medicare.
"That's why this stimulus debate we're having in
Today, Gov. Sanford will attend tax day "Tea Party" rallies being held in
-#####-
Joel Sawyer
Communications Director
Office of Gov. Mark Sanford
(803) 734-5254 - work
(803) 446-6713 - cell
(803) 734-6447 - fax
Monday, April 13, 2009
Aiken Equine Charities Cup
Aiken Equine Charities Cup
30 Goal Polo Match
Kentucky Derby Party
Organized by:
To Benefit
New Bridge Polo & Country Club
862 New Bridge Road, Aiken SC
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Game time at 3:00 pm
Gates open at 2:00 pm
Tailgate Parking Passes include wristbands for up to six vehicle passengers.
Additional Wristbands $10 (available in advance and at the gate.)
Wristband admissions include:
Kentucky Derby Party at the Clubhouse
Immediately following the trophy presentation
With complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, and soft drinks
Make Your Own Party!
Hitchcock Woods Foundation will present two prizes:
1- Best Turned Out Tailgating Party
2- Most Spirited Tailgaters
Parking Pass Levels
Front Row Clubhouse $150
Front Row Southside $100
Back Row Clubhouse $50
Back Row Southside $50
General Admission Parking $10
(does not include admission to Kentucky Derby Party)
Three ways to purchase:
1. Visit 302polo.com
2. Call 803-642-0528 with your credit card information
3. Send a check specifying location to:
Hitchcock Woods Foundation
P.O. Box 1702
Aiken, SC 29802
www.hitchcockwoods.org | Subscription Preferences
Hitchcock Woods Foundation
P.O. Box 1702
Aiken, SC 29802
(803) 642-0528
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Parallel Universe of Clinton and Obama
Quote
April 12, 2009
The Parallel Universe of Clinton and Obama
By Alicia ColonIn 1993, many of the citizens who voted for Obama last year were probably still in grade school. They can be forgiven for not remembering the early years '93-‘94 of the Clinton administration. Their parents, however, have either lapsed memories or are simply simple-minded.
I well recall the euphoria at the Clinton inauguration. So many young people excited about having a youngish president who played the saxophone on the Arsenio Hall Show and bravely told the MTV audience whether he wore boxers or briefs. American voters had no particular beef with George H. W. Bush other than he "lied" when he said "read my lips, no new taxes." One of my Democratic sisters admitted that she voted for Clinton because Bush was too old.
I tried to empathize with the same political passion of the Clintonites by comparing it with my teenage exhilaration with JFK's election. But that scenario didn't wash because JFK had a background that lent credence to my infatuation. He was a military hero, a Pulitzer Prize winning author (we did not know at the time it was ghost-written), a U.S. Senator with a storybook albeit falsified family life. Clinton on the other hand was the governor of a state that ranked 49th out of 50 states in many important measures. He was a draft dodger who had protested in Russia when he was supposed to be studying in Oxford. The Rhodes Scholar's educational record there was never disclosed and Clinton also had a personal history that sparked rumors of sexual misadventures with various women. End quote
In Defense of Republicans
In two recent letters to the Editor, Mr. Moses Mims attacks the Republican Party on a variety of issues. It is a vast improvement from his letters during the Bush Administration usually accusing President Bush of lying about one thing or the other. Now he focuses on our motives and roles as the party in opposition.
In one letter the Republican Party was accused of not providing a budget in opposition to the Obama budget. Not true. The Republican Party did provide a budget that Mims admits he did not read. Let me point out some important parts of the Republican budget. It spends $4.8 trillion less than the Democrats budget over ten years. It brings debt under control borrowing $3.6 trillion less that the Obama budget over ten years. It does not raise taxes. It creates 2.1 million more jobs than the Democrats budget. It suspends capital gains taxes through 2010. It reforms the tax code and it reduces the corporate tax rate to 25% from 35% which is the second highest in the industrialized world. Perhaps if Mims had read the budget, he would have been more impressed.
These conflicting budgets expose the primary difference between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans believe that the government is part of the problem while Democrats believe that government is the solution. Neither is criminal as Mims has frequently suggested in the past. It is simply a difference in philosophy.
Perhaps in his next letter, Mr. Mims could answer a few questions for me.
During the campaign, the President promised no tax increases for anyone making less than $250 thousand. He also promised transparency and vowed to put all bills on line for 48 hours before signing. However, he signed his first two bills without putting them on line for review and one of those bills imposed a tax of $.61 cents per pack on cigarettes. Can I assume that all smokers make more than $250 thousand or was the President less than truthful during his campaign?
During the campaign, the President vowed to work with Republicans to move the country in a new direction. Yet despite his words to the contrary, Republicans have not been permitted to work with Democrats to solve some of the most severe economic problems this country has faced since the Great Depression. Was the President less than truthful during his campaign?
The world is concerned with nuclear weapon proliferation by Iran and North Korea, yet the Obama administration has announced plans to eliminate missile defense, cancel plans for a new bomber, and not proceed with development of a new nuclear warhead. The Air Force has pilots flying the same B-52 as their grandfather (women did not then fly bombers in the 1960s). Did the President promise a defense worthy of a third-rate nation? Was he less than truthful during his campaign about his plans for our defense?
I agree as does the Republican Party that more temporary spending is needed to get us through the economic difficulty we now face. However, we need to be careful where and how much we spend. Signing a bill with 8,000 earmarks (some of them Republican) is not a good start for someone who specifically stated during his campaign that he would eliminate earmarks.
With regard to spending at SRP. I hope the projections about 3000 new jobs at the site are correct, but I have seen this game before. I do not believe the government figures are anything but wild guesses. This administration has set the pattern of promising whatever people want to hear.
I defend Governor Sanford in his efforts to control spending in South Carolina. Many in this community, including the Aiken Standard, want the Governor to accept and spend the $700 million stimulus on education and not address where we will get another $350 million in two years to continue those programs funded by the stimulus on an annual basis.
Many do not realize that even in this economy, our State Legislator proposed to spend more in 2009 than 2008. Don’t they get it! Why aren’t you angry at the Legislators who promised to properly fund education after changing the sales tax rates last year and are now breaking the deal?
In one letter the Republican Party was accused of not providing a budget in opposition to the Obama budget. Not true. The Republican Party did provide a budget that Mims admits he did not read. Let me point out some important parts of the Republican budget. It spends $4.8 trillion less than the Democrats budget over ten years. It brings debt under control borrowing $3.6 trillion less that the Obama budget over ten years. It does not raise taxes. It creates 2.1 million more jobs than the Democrats budget. It suspends capital gains taxes through 2010. It reforms the tax code and it reduces the corporate tax rate to 25% from 35% which is the second highest in the industrialized world. Perhaps if Mims had read the budget, he would have been more impressed.
These conflicting budgets expose the primary difference between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans believe that the government is part of the problem while Democrats believe that government is the solution. Neither is criminal as Mims has frequently suggested in the past. It is simply a difference in philosophy.
Perhaps in his next letter, Mr. Mims could answer a few questions for me.
During the campaign, the President promised no tax increases for anyone making less than $250 thousand. He also promised transparency and vowed to put all bills on line for 48 hours before signing. However, he signed his first two bills without putting them on line for review and one of those bills imposed a tax of $.61 cents per pack on cigarettes. Can I assume that all smokers make more than $250 thousand or was the President less than truthful during his campaign?
During the campaign, the President vowed to work with Republicans to move the country in a new direction. Yet despite his words to the contrary, Republicans have not been permitted to work with Democrats to solve some of the most severe economic problems this country has faced since the Great Depression. Was the President less than truthful during his campaign?
The world is concerned with nuclear weapon proliferation by Iran and North Korea, yet the Obama administration has announced plans to eliminate missile defense, cancel plans for a new bomber, and not proceed with development of a new nuclear warhead. The Air Force has pilots flying the same B-52 as their grandfather (women did not then fly bombers in the 1960s). Did the President promise a defense worthy of a third-rate nation? Was he less than truthful during his campaign about his plans for our defense?
I agree as does the Republican Party that more temporary spending is needed to get us through the economic difficulty we now face. However, we need to be careful where and how much we spend. Signing a bill with 8,000 earmarks (some of them Republican) is not a good start for someone who specifically stated during his campaign that he would eliminate earmarks.
With regard to spending at SRP. I hope the projections about 3000 new jobs at the site are correct, but I have seen this game before. I do not believe the government figures are anything but wild guesses. This administration has set the pattern of promising whatever people want to hear.
I defend Governor Sanford in his efforts to control spending in South Carolina. Many in this community, including the Aiken Standard, want the Governor to accept and spend the $700 million stimulus on education and not address where we will get another $350 million in two years to continue those programs funded by the stimulus on an annual basis.
Many do not realize that even in this economy, our State Legislator proposed to spend more in 2009 than 2008. Don’t they get it! Why aren’t you angry at the Legislators who promised to properly fund education after changing the sales tax rates last year and are now breaking the deal?
Accepting $$ is about Ideology
The debate over the so-called stimulus money seems to be a difference in ideology. Recently I read an article bashing Gov. Sanford for being too ideological. There is a group of people in this debate that resents the governor for forming a plan for this state based on his ideas as to what our government's responsibilities to its citizens should be.
Mr. Editor you fall into this group, by your statement "Gov. Sanford doesn't realize today's needs." What you are really saying, "Sir", is that your ideology for government differs from that of Gov. Sanford.
Let me point out that difference in ideas is the reason we are Americans, thanks to our great forefathers. They were very ideological. First they had the idea that freedom was more important than security, so they told the King of England they were not for sale after he offered a very attractive "stimulus package."
They also had the radical idea to limit self-government by drawing up a Constitution that guaranteed these freedoms could not be changed by a popular president with too big of an ego. You see Mr. Editor our founding fathers would not agree with your ideas that the so-called "needs of the people" trump the freedoms that we enjoy and its not the government's responsibility to meet anybody's needs, however it is mandatory for government to protect the rights of individuals to have the freedom to succeed or fail; to meet their own needs or not meet them as they see fit to do so.
Unfortunately for the last 40 years an ideology has emerged in this country that is threatening the foundation laid by our forefathers. These are the ideas that public schools should educate children at all costs. The idea that government is to be parents, God and savior. This ideology has created a
Gov. Sanford is not against education. I share his ideology on things wrong with education in this state. First, for the last 20 years the number of students in
The loudest out cry for taking the stimulus comes from embedded bureaucrats looking after their self-interest or politicians looking to buy voters.
I salute Governor Sanford.
Jet Beckum
Aiken
Saturday, April 11, 2009
City Council Update
AIKEN CORPORATION WORK SESSION – My last two emails mentioned a work session between the Council and the Aiken Corporation. Minutes of that session are now available and can be viewed at the City’s web site. That portion of the web site, however, is temporarily off-line for maintenance. I will post the link on the next Council Update.
WORK SESSION TO CONSIDER REQUEST BY ST. JOHN’S METHODIST CHURCH FOR PARKWAY CUTS – The church has requested cut-throughs in the parkways on Chesterfield Street and Newberry to resolve some safety issues. The Park Commission reviewed the request and unanimously denied the two cut-throughs. It has been several decades since the City has approved any cut through. In fact, the City has closed several of them.
175th CELEBRATION UPDATE – All subcommittees have met and elected their leadership. There are many volunteers working to plan a year of celebrating the 175th birthday of Aiken. Plans are underway to announce a calendar of 2010 events this fall.
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL DOCTORS’ OFFICE BULDING – The Planning Department will consider this issue at its meeting on Tuesday, April 14.
ADPS REACCREDITED - The Aiken Department of Public Safety has been reaccredited. Over 460 professional standards had to be met for this event to occur. Congratulations to Chief Pete Frommer and his department. There are very few police departments of the size of Aiken that have been accredited. It is a very unusual award which should make us proud of our public safety department.
VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON – On Thursday, April 23, the City will hold the annual luncheon recognizing our board, commission, and committee volunteers. Including those involved with the 175th Celebration, the number of volunteers is in the hundreds. They provide valuable services at no cost to the City and represent a high level of community service to the community.
2009 DUI ENFORCEMENT AWARD – The Office of Highway Safety in Columbia recently presented the City of Aiken, the Agency of the Year Award due to our 100% reduction in fatalities from 6 to 0 from the previous year and our 100% reduction in alcohol related fatalities from 3 to 0 over the previous year. During that time the Department of Public Safety also increased their DUI arrest and conducted over 20 DUI Awareness and Traffic Safety presentations. Congratulations to Corporal Chris Carter, PSO Ronald Griffin and PSO Christopher Hammell. They will be recognized during our Council meeting on Monday night.
BUDGET WORK SESSION – On March 23 Council had the first of several sessions on next year’s budget. The proposed budget will be $1.8 million less that it was last year. It appears that we can meet our fiscal needs for next year without a tax increase, but there may be some increased in city services. Final details will be formulated as we get closer to budget approval time. Minutes of the work session are on line and are included in the Agenda for the April 13 meeting.
SILVER BLUFF ROAD REZONING – There was a work session prior to our last Council meeting at the request of the owner of property on Silver Bluff Road. This was the project to rezone property on Silver Bluff Road to permit construction of a Tae Kwan Do facility. Nearby property owners strongly objected and the project was defeated on a 4-3 vote with Mayor Cavanaugh, and Council members Smith, Vaughters and Dewar against approval. The work session was held to determine interest in approving the project if the developer donated a large portion of the land to the City as open space. Those owners, present at the work session, again objected to the project although one neighbor seemed willing to consider the project. According to Council rules the project could not be considered without a motion and two seconds by Council. When Councilman Wells made a motion to place the item on the agenda, it was seconded by Council members Price and Clyburn. Hence, the item will be on our Agenda for First Reading on Monday’s meeting. It is possible that the Developer will not have a tenant for the proposed building which means that any type of business that meets the zoning requirements can build at the site. There will be, however, a restriction as to the number of trips per day that will be allowed so that will ensure there will not be a high-volume business built.
CONVEYING LOTS TO HABITAT – We will have second reading of an Ordinance to convey lots to Habitat. They hope to build three homes each year. The first will be built cooperatively by the Aiken Rotary Club and First Baptist Church.
AMENDMENTS TO LIMITED BUSINESS (LB) ZONE - The Planning Commission has recommended that the Zoning Ordinance be amended for Limited Business zone so that other retail sales or service, which are currently permitted by right, be allowed in the future by Special Exception through the Board of Zoning Appeals. They based this decision on the premise that some retail sales or services may not be appropriate in the LB. zone. Letters were sent to property owners and no responses have been received. We will have Second Reading of this item on Monday night.
$1.5 MILLION LOAN FOR CROSLAND PARK - We will have Second Reading of an Ordinance for a $1.5 million loan for Crosland Park. The City plans on acquiring approximately twenty homes in Crosland Park and totally rehabbing those for future purchase by non-profit corporations and the CDIC. This would permit the City to get started on the Crosland Park project immediately and for certain improvements to be made that could not be made under the normal grant process. The intent is to make these homes as energy efficient as possible, completing all normal renovations that would occur in an older home, plus installing irrigation systems for new grass and shrubbery in the yards. Kim Abney, our Finance Director, and Ben Moore, our Staff Attorney, have developed a short term loan which should be paid back this fall for the $1.5 million. The loan note in our packet authorizes repayment within a five year period, however. I expect the discussion tonight will clarify the disparity.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY OF AIKEN’S COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND TO ADOPT THE 10 YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ELEMENT. – In 2007 the State Priority Investment Act required that a 10 year Capital Element be adopted as part of our Comprehensive Plan. This plan looks at potential funding for public infrastructure and facilities during the next 10 years and recommends the projects for expenditure for facilities such as water, sewer, and roads. Once this plan is adopted, it would then be coordinated with adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies.
APPROVAL OF ELECTION SCHEDULE – At last Council meeting, the City Election Commission presented a proposed schedule for the City Council election later this year. They also asked at the request of the Aiken County School System that we move the voting location for Precinct 53. Precinct 53 (Hollow Creek) currently votes at Chukker Creek Elementary School and the school has complained about voting traffic during school hours. The proposed location advocated by the City Elections Commission may not be suitable if it places too great a burden on the voter. We also discussed the law regarding the location of precincts relative to where the voters live. Our City Attorney has prepared a paper for our consideration. As currently proposed the opening date for filing is Aug 3 and closing date is Aug 10. The Primary election would be held on September 8 with September 22 selected as a run-off date. Election Day would be on November 3.
APPROVAL OF PUBLIC SAFETY GRANT – Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the City of Aiken is receiving $62,119.82 requiring no matching funds. This funding helps us purchase equipment that we cannot afford through the normal budgetary process. This money comes from the Stimulus Law Enforcement Grant from the Department of Justice.
FIRST READING OF A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR CITY RENTAL PROGRAM – Over the next several weeks, the City of Aiken will be purchasing several homes in Crosland Park that are currently occupied. We need to approve a lease agreement that we could use for renting our property.
SALE OF CONFISCATED WEAPONS – Council will discuss sale of confiscated weapons to registered gun dealers which could net the City from $15,000 to $20,000. Sale of these weapons will comply with all existing laws. Our local Solicitor has stated that we have the authority to sell such weapons.
WORK SESSION TO CONSIDER REQUEST BY ST. JOHN’S METHODIST CHURCH FOR PARKWAY CUTS – The church has requested cut-throughs in the parkways on Chesterfield Street and Newberry to resolve some safety issues. The Park Commission reviewed the request and unanimously denied the two cut-throughs. It has been several decades since the City has approved any cut through. In fact, the City has closed several of them.
175th CELEBRATION UPDATE – All subcommittees have met and elected their leadership. There are many volunteers working to plan a year of celebrating the 175th birthday of Aiken. Plans are underway to announce a calendar of 2010 events this fall.
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL DOCTORS’ OFFICE BULDING – The Planning Department will consider this issue at its meeting on Tuesday, April 14.
ADPS REACCREDITED - The Aiken Department of Public Safety has been reaccredited. Over 460 professional standards had to be met for this event to occur. Congratulations to Chief Pete Frommer and his department. There are very few police departments of the size of Aiken that have been accredited. It is a very unusual award which should make us proud of our public safety department.
VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON – On Thursday, April 23, the City will hold the annual luncheon recognizing our board, commission, and committee volunteers. Including those involved with the 175th Celebration, the number of volunteers is in the hundreds. They provide valuable services at no cost to the City and represent a high level of community service to the community.
2009 DUI ENFORCEMENT AWARD – The Office of Highway Safety in Columbia recently presented the City of Aiken, the Agency of the Year Award due to our 100% reduction in fatalities from 6 to 0 from the previous year and our 100% reduction in alcohol related fatalities from 3 to 0 over the previous year. During that time the Department of Public Safety also increased their DUI arrest and conducted over 20 DUI Awareness and Traffic Safety presentations. Congratulations to Corporal Chris Carter, PSO Ronald Griffin and PSO Christopher Hammell. They will be recognized during our Council meeting on Monday night.
BUDGET WORK SESSION – On March 23 Council had the first of several sessions on next year’s budget. The proposed budget will be $1.8 million less that it was last year. It appears that we can meet our fiscal needs for next year without a tax increase, but there may be some increased in city services. Final details will be formulated as we get closer to budget approval time. Minutes of the work session are on line and are included in the Agenda for the April 13 meeting.
SILVER BLUFF ROAD REZONING – There was a work session prior to our last Council meeting at the request of the owner of property on Silver Bluff Road. This was the project to rezone property on Silver Bluff Road to permit construction of a Tae Kwan Do facility. Nearby property owners strongly objected and the project was defeated on a 4-3 vote with Mayor Cavanaugh, and Council members Smith, Vaughters and Dewar against approval. The work session was held to determine interest in approving the project if the developer donated a large portion of the land to the City as open space. Those owners, present at the work session, again objected to the project although one neighbor seemed willing to consider the project. According to Council rules the project could not be considered without a motion and two seconds by Council. When Councilman Wells made a motion to place the item on the agenda, it was seconded by Council members Price and Clyburn. Hence, the item will be on our Agenda for First Reading on Monday’s meeting. It is possible that the Developer will not have a tenant for the proposed building which means that any type of business that meets the zoning requirements can build at the site. There will be, however, a restriction as to the number of trips per day that will be allowed so that will ensure there will not be a high-volume business built.
CONVEYING LOTS TO HABITAT – We will have second reading of an Ordinance to convey lots to Habitat. They hope to build three homes each year. The first will be built cooperatively by the Aiken Rotary Club and First Baptist Church.
AMENDMENTS TO LIMITED BUSINESS (LB) ZONE - The Planning Commission has recommended that the Zoning Ordinance be amended for Limited Business zone so that other retail sales or service, which are currently permitted by right, be allowed in the future by Special Exception through the Board of Zoning Appeals. They based this decision on the premise that some retail sales or services may not be appropriate in the LB. zone. Letters were sent to property owners and no responses have been received. We will have Second Reading of this item on Monday night.
$1.5 MILLION LOAN FOR CROSLAND PARK - We will have Second Reading of an Ordinance for a $1.5 million loan for Crosland Park. The City plans on acquiring approximately twenty homes in Crosland Park and totally rehabbing those for future purchase by non-profit corporations and the CDIC. This would permit the City to get started on the Crosland Park project immediately and for certain improvements to be made that could not be made under the normal grant process. The intent is to make these homes as energy efficient as possible, completing all normal renovations that would occur in an older home, plus installing irrigation systems for new grass and shrubbery in the yards. Kim Abney, our Finance Director, and Ben Moore, our Staff Attorney, have developed a short term loan which should be paid back this fall for the $1.5 million. The loan note in our packet authorizes repayment within a five year period, however. I expect the discussion tonight will clarify the disparity.
SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CITY OF AIKEN’S COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND TO ADOPT THE 10 YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ELEMENT. – In 2007 the State Priority Investment Act required that a 10 year Capital Element be adopted as part of our Comprehensive Plan. This plan looks at potential funding for public infrastructure and facilities during the next 10 years and recommends the projects for expenditure for facilities such as water, sewer, and roads. Once this plan is adopted, it would then be coordinated with adjacent and relevant jurisdictions and agencies.
APPROVAL OF ELECTION SCHEDULE – At last Council meeting, the City Election Commission presented a proposed schedule for the City Council election later this year. They also asked at the request of the Aiken County School System that we move the voting location for Precinct 53. Precinct 53 (Hollow Creek) currently votes at Chukker Creek Elementary School and the school has complained about voting traffic during school hours. The proposed location advocated by the City Elections Commission may not be suitable if it places too great a burden on the voter. We also discussed the law regarding the location of precincts relative to where the voters live. Our City Attorney has prepared a paper for our consideration. As currently proposed the opening date for filing is Aug 3 and closing date is Aug 10. The Primary election would be held on September 8 with September 22 selected as a run-off date. Election Day would be on November 3.
APPROVAL OF PUBLIC SAFETY GRANT – Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the City of Aiken is receiving $62,119.82 requiring no matching funds. This funding helps us purchase equipment that we cannot afford through the normal budgetary process. This money comes from the Stimulus Law Enforcement Grant from the Department of Justice.
FIRST READING OF A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR CITY RENTAL PROGRAM – Over the next several weeks, the City of Aiken will be purchasing several homes in Crosland Park that are currently occupied. We need to approve a lease agreement that we could use for renting our property.
SALE OF CONFISCATED WEAPONS – Council will discuss sale of confiscated weapons to registered gun dealers which could net the City from $15,000 to $20,000. Sale of these weapons will comply with all existing laws. Our local Solicitor has stated that we have the authority to sell such weapons.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Economic Crisis- Let us not Forget!
And they wanted change!!!!
This video clearly shows that George Bush warned
Congress starting in 2001, that this economic crisis was
coming, if something was not done. But Congress refused to
listen, along with the arrogant Congressman, Barney Frank.
This video says it all.
This video clearly shows that George Bush warned
Congress starting in 2001, that this economic crisis was
coming, if something was not done. But Congress refused to
listen, along with the arrogant Congressman, Barney Frank.
This video says it all.
Monday, April 6, 2009
White House Declares Copyright Treaty State Secret
Downloading supports terrorism apparently
Still waiting for change you can believe in? Well, believe this: the White House just declared an intellectual property treaty a state secret and denied Freedom of Information Act requests asking that it reveal the details of an international treaty that could have huge effects on how information is disseminated online.
More at link...
Still waiting for change you can believe in? Well, believe this: the White House just declared an intellectual property treaty a state secret and denied Freedom of Information Act requests asking that it reveal the details of an international treaty that could have huge effects on how information is disseminated online.
More at link...
Sunday, April 5, 2009
A stimulus option for South Carolina by Governor Sanford
There follows part of an email from Governor Sanford concerning his guest column that appeared in the Aiken Standard yesterday.
Dear Friends,
Given the number of conflicting signals that have been sent with regard to my position on the stimulus, I wanted to share with you an op-ed I just wrote that gives a little further explanation on where I stand and why I think it reflects the overall will of most people I've talked to across this state.
If you agree with where we are coming from in pushing to pay down debt and reforming outdated government, rather than simply spending more, I'd ask for your help in talking to friends -- and urging them to contact their House or Senate member and ask them to insist on this from the South Carolina legislature this year.
+++
Op-Ed:
Though we are constitutionally guaranteed free speech, it is illegal to walk into a crowded movie theater and yell the word "fire" if there is not one. Unfortunately much has been suggested over the last few weeks -- as the Democratic National Committee ran ads and Sen. Hugh Leatherman crafted a so-called Senate Finance "chaos" budget -- meant to scare people into believing if my administration didn't walk lockstep with the Obama administration in spending all the stimulus money as Washington thinks best, I would indeed be courting disaster for South Carolinians.
I believe this is the wrong way to push for the spending they want and I understand many people are concerned -- and so I wanted to write to set a few things straight.
Although there is a great temptation to expand my rationale to include what I believe to be the disastrous long-term consequences that come to our nation in spending money we don't have -- and in issuing yet more debt to solve a problem that was created by too much debt -- I will stick with why I believe the Obama administration's package doesn't work for South Carolina as configured, and why I think it is so important to custom-fit stimulus efforts to the state in question.
A few facts first: Last year state government spent $19 billion, and this year we will spend $21 billion -- an 11 percent increase without the stimulus money we have debated over the last few weeks. Even education spending will go from $3.3 to $3.5 billion, a 4 percent increase -- and do any of these numbers strike you as the sort of numbers that fit with chaos?
Common sense dictates that when you're in a hole it's vital you stop digging. Requiring our state to spend beyond its means for the next 24 months to be eligible for all the stimulus moneys guarantees that South Carolina will dig itself a $740 million financial hole. Who helps us then? Do we raise taxes, and thereby weaken our competitiveness relative to other states and countries -- or do we just summarily end programs for some of the neediest of our state?
Or are we to plan on yet another round of stimulus windfall from Washington in two years -- again, with money we don't have? I don't know the answer to these questions, but I do know the $740 million budget hole created would be the largest such hole in South Carolina state financial history.
Our grandparents' notion of moderation in all things is especially important when one considers the financing of a state. More than $8 billion of total stimulus effort is projected to come to South Carolina. We proposed taking about 10 percent of this and applying it to paying down state debt. I don't understand how that could be considered unreasonable or the kind of effort that would create disaster. This stimulus is more than our state budget spends in an entire year. If a family won a lottery that sent them a windfall larger than their paycheck for the year, the family that actually set something aside to pay down the mortgage or the credit cards would be viewed as prudent.
Why should it be any different for a state, particularly if, as in South Carolina's case, we are fourth in the entire nation in the percentage of our budget that goes not to teachers or health care -- but debt repayment? Eleven percent of every dollar in yearly revenue goes to paying down debt, and we have $20 billion on top of that in unfunded long-term political commitments. Paying these moneys down would give us greater financial latitude in 24 months when the federal gravy train ends to indeed offer more in the way of governmental services. In our case it would pay dividends in the first 24 months alone of $162 million that would be saved in debt service that could go to government service.
Finally, spending all this money relieves the political pressure to make reforms essential to South Carolina being more competitive in the global economy -- and in turn offering more employment and "stimulus" to the national economy. Political forces rarely embrace hard changes, and they never embrace change when new money allows for the possibility of bypassing them.
The easiest of all things would be to take and simply spend all of Washington's well-intended stimulus efforts -- but in our case it would guarantee opportunities lost that I don't think our state can afford.
+++
Hope spring is treating you well, and again, if you agree that we can't just spend our way out of our current economic situation then I'd ask that you forward this to a friend or relative, or pick up the phone and ask them to join us. Also, call or email your South Carolina legislators and ask them to meet us in the middle and find a way to pay down state debt.
These are momentous times, and if enough of us make our voices heard on this front, I believe we can make a difference in shoring up our state's finances so we are better prepared for this economic storm.
Take care,
Mark Sanford
Dear Friends,
Given the number of conflicting signals that have been sent with regard to my position on the stimulus, I wanted to share with you an op-ed I just wrote that gives a little further explanation on where I stand and why I think it reflects the overall will of most people I've talked to across this state.
If you agree with where we are coming from in pushing to pay down debt and reforming outdated government, rather than simply spending more, I'd ask for your help in talking to friends -- and urging them to contact their House or Senate member and ask them to insist on this from the South Carolina legislature this year.
+++
Op-Ed:
Though we are constitutionally guaranteed free speech, it is illegal to walk into a crowded movie theater and yell the word "fire" if there is not one. Unfortunately much has been suggested over the last few weeks -- as the Democratic National Committee ran ads and Sen. Hugh Leatherman crafted a so-called Senate Finance "chaos" budget -- meant to scare people into believing if my administration didn't walk lockstep with the Obama administration in spending all the stimulus money as Washington thinks best, I would indeed be courting disaster for South Carolinians.
I believe this is the wrong way to push for the spending they want and I understand many people are concerned -- and so I wanted to write to set a few things straight.
Although there is a great temptation to expand my rationale to include what I believe to be the disastrous long-term consequences that come to our nation in spending money we don't have -- and in issuing yet more debt to solve a problem that was created by too much debt -- I will stick with why I believe the Obama administration's package doesn't work for South Carolina as configured, and why I think it is so important to custom-fit stimulus efforts to the state in question.
A few facts first: Last year state government spent $19 billion, and this year we will spend $21 billion -- an 11 percent increase without the stimulus money we have debated over the last few weeks. Even education spending will go from $3.3 to $3.5 billion, a 4 percent increase -- and do any of these numbers strike you as the sort of numbers that fit with chaos?
Common sense dictates that when you're in a hole it's vital you stop digging. Requiring our state to spend beyond its means for the next 24 months to be eligible for all the stimulus moneys guarantees that South Carolina will dig itself a $740 million financial hole. Who helps us then? Do we raise taxes, and thereby weaken our competitiveness relative to other states and countries -- or do we just summarily end programs for some of the neediest of our state?
Or are we to plan on yet another round of stimulus windfall from Washington in two years -- again, with money we don't have? I don't know the answer to these questions, but I do know the $740 million budget hole created would be the largest such hole in South Carolina state financial history.
Our grandparents' notion of moderation in all things is especially important when one considers the financing of a state. More than $8 billion of total stimulus effort is projected to come to South Carolina. We proposed taking about 10 percent of this and applying it to paying down state debt. I don't understand how that could be considered unreasonable or the kind of effort that would create disaster. This stimulus is more than our state budget spends in an entire year. If a family won a lottery that sent them a windfall larger than their paycheck for the year, the family that actually set something aside to pay down the mortgage or the credit cards would be viewed as prudent.
Why should it be any different for a state, particularly if, as in South Carolina's case, we are fourth in the entire nation in the percentage of our budget that goes not to teachers or health care -- but debt repayment? Eleven percent of every dollar in yearly revenue goes to paying down debt, and we have $20 billion on top of that in unfunded long-term political commitments. Paying these moneys down would give us greater financial latitude in 24 months when the federal gravy train ends to indeed offer more in the way of governmental services. In our case it would pay dividends in the first 24 months alone of $162 million that would be saved in debt service that could go to government service.
Finally, spending all this money relieves the political pressure to make reforms essential to South Carolina being more competitive in the global economy -- and in turn offering more employment and "stimulus" to the national economy. Political forces rarely embrace hard changes, and they never embrace change when new money allows for the possibility of bypassing them.
The easiest of all things would be to take and simply spend all of Washington's well-intended stimulus efforts -- but in our case it would guarantee opportunities lost that I don't think our state can afford.
+++
Hope spring is treating you well, and again, if you agree that we can't just spend our way out of our current economic situation then I'd ask that you forward this to a friend or relative, or pick up the phone and ask them to join us. Also, call or email your South Carolina legislators and ask them to meet us in the middle and find a way to pay down state debt.
These are momentous times, and if enough of us make our voices heard on this front, I believe we can make a difference in shoring up our state's finances so we are better prepared for this economic storm.
Take care,
Mark Sanford
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Obama wants to control the banks (won't accept repayment of TARP funds)
Wall Street Journal
By STUART VARNEY
I must be naive. I really thought the administration would welcome the return of bank bailout money. Some $340 million in TARP cash flowed back this week from four small banks in Louisiana, New York, Indiana and California. This isn't much when we routinely talk in trillions, but clearly that money has not been wasted or otherwise sunk down Wall Street's black hole. So why no cheering as the cash comes back?
My answer: The government wants to control the banks, just as it now controls GM and Chrysler, and will surely control the health industry in the not-too-distant future. Keeping them TARP-stuffed is the key to control. And for this intensely political president, mere influence is not enough. The White House wants to tell 'em what to do. Control. Direct. Command.
It is not for nothing that rage has been turned on those wicked financiers. The banks are at the core of the administration's thrust: By managing the money, government can steer the whole economy even more firmly down the left fork in the road.
(Full article at link)
By STUART VARNEY
I must be naive. I really thought the administration would welcome the return of bank bailout money. Some $340 million in TARP cash flowed back this week from four small banks in Louisiana, New York, Indiana and California. This isn't much when we routinely talk in trillions, but clearly that money has not been wasted or otherwise sunk down Wall Street's black hole. So why no cheering as the cash comes back?
My answer: The government wants to control the banks, just as it now controls GM and Chrysler, and will surely control the health industry in the not-too-distant future. Keeping them TARP-stuffed is the key to control. And for this intensely political president, mere influence is not enough. The White House wants to tell 'em what to do. Control. Direct. Command.
It is not for nothing that rage has been turned on those wicked financiers. The banks are at the core of the administration's thrust: By managing the money, government can steer the whole economy even more firmly down the left fork in the road.
(Full article at link)
Powerline Has it right again
Powerful observations from Powerline. Please read the entire piece. Just follow the link:
Politics at the water's edge, Obama-style
Once upon a time Republican Sen. Arthur Vandenberg forcefully articulated the proposition that "politics stops at the water's edge." The year was 1952, President Truman was in office and America was at war. Daniel Henninger has observed that Vandenberg's point was, as he put it, "to unite our official voice at the water's edge so that America speaks with maximum authority against those who would divide and conquer us." In recent years, Henninger commented, we have had the opposite -- a domestic political war waged relentlessly at the water's edge.
Barack Obama's criticism of America before a French audience takes this approach to a new level. He is after all the president of the United States. Obama nevertheless passed judgment on the United States and found America wan
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Brilliant Commentary on Change by Jack DeVine
Thanks to the Aiken Standard for publishing the following brilliant comments.Those who hunger for change should especially heed the advice contained in the last paragraph. To read the column and comment on it go to Aiken Standard
Quote
What's in a word? Political rhetoric changes definitions
4/1/2009 4:23 PM
By JACK DeVINE
Guest columnist
Words are important. They are the foundation and framework of ideas, opinions, judgments, decisions and actions. There may be nothing new about politicians twisting words to make a point, but in this day of blitz communications, it seems to be becoming a fine art, one executed to great effect.
In George Orwell's nightmarish novel "1984," the government used language, called "Newspeak," with words and labels selected to evoke emotions and to prompt desired public reactions. Maybe I'm paranoid, but that seems to be exactly what's going on today.
Here's an example: Fair. During the campaign, candidate Obama patiently explained again and again that it wasn't redistribution of wealth he had in mind, but simply a matter of giving everyone his or her fair share. It's hard to argue with fair. We all like fair - fair play, fair ball, fair weather. Fair is the opposite of foul, or worse unfair, which only evil people want to be.
Many of us wondered at the time how far this could or should go. In tax space, for example, it is simple fact that 5 percent of the people (the wealthy, another touchy new word) already pay 60 percent of the nation's income taxes - and that's after President Bush's detestable "tax cuts for the rich" - while 40 percent of our citizens pay nothing at all. I'm not sure where the foul line is, and I fully support our progressive tax code that calls for people to pay in accord with their ability, but I'm hard pressed to accept the premise that the current split is unfair to the folks whose way is already being paid by others, or that fairness alone dictates that even more be taken from those who already carry most of the load.
As an entirely separate point, it is well established economic principle (and common sense) that an increase in taxes changes the spending and investment behavior of those taxed - and at some point decreases rather than increases tax revenue, which presumably was the whole idea behind raising taxes in the first place. Or maybe it was just to punish the wealthy for being unfair?
The political success of this semantic twist is catching on. Congress is now considering the so-called "Fairness Doctrine," legislation that would have the practical effect - and is intended solely for the purpose of - silencing conservative talk radio because it's just not fair. (Aside from the absurd label, I'm having a tough time sorting out how that squares with the free speech constitutionally protected by the First Amendment.)
An even more incendiary word that we now hear every day is Greed. Greed is a very ugly word. Since kindergarten we've learned to despise greedy people, the ones who take all the candy, who won't share, who hoard, who grab more than their fair share. We are told now that our economic problems are the direct consequence of greedy people, primarily Wall Street types, and that we are now emerging from an Era of Greed and are striving to move to an Era of Responsibility.
I have no doubt that there are greedy characters around who have amassed fortunes at others' expense, and I'm all for applying sensible regulation and enforcement to attack that problem, just as we do with all other brands of criminal or harmful behavior. A problem to be fixed? Certainly. An indictment of our entire economic system? Of capitalism? Of course not.
To be fair, the president's prepared speeches generally include the appropriate qualifiers, as in his inaugural address reference to the "greed and irresponsibility of some." But that constant refrain, hammered again and again by the president and his spokespersons and cheerfully amplified by the media, cements the overall impression that greed and irresponsibility have been the central characteristics, the hallmarks, of our society and that our decades of prosperity have been undeserved and unhealthy. Perhaps President Obama feels it necessary to create that impression in order to tee up the sweeping social and economic changes he wants, but that doesn't make it true.
On the contrary, I believe we are a uniquely responsible and principled nation, fair and extraordinarily generous to our citizens and to the world. That should be our starting point in choosing what to change, what to fix and what to keep.
The writer is a businessman and resident of Aiken.
Quote
What's in a word? Political rhetoric changes definitions
4/1/2009 4:23 PM
By JACK DeVINE
Guest columnist
Words are important. They are the foundation and framework of ideas, opinions, judgments, decisions and actions. There may be nothing new about politicians twisting words to make a point, but in this day of blitz communications, it seems to be becoming a fine art, one executed to great effect.
In George Orwell's nightmarish novel "1984," the government used language, called "Newspeak," with words and labels selected to evoke emotions and to prompt desired public reactions. Maybe I'm paranoid, but that seems to be exactly what's going on today.
Here's an example: Fair. During the campaign, candidate Obama patiently explained again and again that it wasn't redistribution of wealth he had in mind, but simply a matter of giving everyone his or her fair share. It's hard to argue with fair. We all like fair - fair play, fair ball, fair weather. Fair is the opposite of foul, or worse unfair, which only evil people want to be.
Many of us wondered at the time how far this could or should go. In tax space, for example, it is simple fact that 5 percent of the people (the wealthy, another touchy new word) already pay 60 percent of the nation's income taxes - and that's after President Bush's detestable "tax cuts for the rich" - while 40 percent of our citizens pay nothing at all. I'm not sure where the foul line is, and I fully support our progressive tax code that calls for people to pay in accord with their ability, but I'm hard pressed to accept the premise that the current split is unfair to the folks whose way is already being paid by others, or that fairness alone dictates that even more be taken from those who already carry most of the load.
As an entirely separate point, it is well established economic principle (and common sense) that an increase in taxes changes the spending and investment behavior of those taxed - and at some point decreases rather than increases tax revenue, which presumably was the whole idea behind raising taxes in the first place. Or maybe it was just to punish the wealthy for being unfair?
The political success of this semantic twist is catching on. Congress is now considering the so-called "Fairness Doctrine," legislation that would have the practical effect - and is intended solely for the purpose of - silencing conservative talk radio because it's just not fair. (Aside from the absurd label, I'm having a tough time sorting out how that squares with the free speech constitutionally protected by the First Amendment.)
An even more incendiary word that we now hear every day is Greed. Greed is a very ugly word. Since kindergarten we've learned to despise greedy people, the ones who take all the candy, who won't share, who hoard, who grab more than their fair share. We are told now that our economic problems are the direct consequence of greedy people, primarily Wall Street types, and that we are now emerging from an Era of Greed and are striving to move to an Era of Responsibility.
I have no doubt that there are greedy characters around who have amassed fortunes at others' expense, and I'm all for applying sensible regulation and enforcement to attack that problem, just as we do with all other brands of criminal or harmful behavior. A problem to be fixed? Certainly. An indictment of our entire economic system? Of capitalism? Of course not.
To be fair, the president's prepared speeches generally include the appropriate qualifiers, as in his inaugural address reference to the "greed and irresponsibility of some." But that constant refrain, hammered again and again by the president and his spokespersons and cheerfully amplified by the media, cements the overall impression that greed and irresponsibility have been the central characteristics, the hallmarks, of our society and that our decades of prosperity have been undeserved and unhealthy. Perhaps President Obama feels it necessary to create that impression in order to tee up the sweeping social and economic changes he wants, but that doesn't make it true.
On the contrary, I believe we are a uniquely responsible and principled nation, fair and extraordinarily generous to our citizens and to the world. That should be our starting point in choosing what to change, what to fix and what to keep.
The writer is a businessman and resident of Aiken.
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