McCain - Political Answer or Liberal Senator?

I understand that the past is the past and when you put people on the spot, you get modified answers at times. This type of questioning encourages possible different answers that what normally would be spoken when asked the question elsewhere. Although, if your opinions and morality are the standard you live by then your answers are ALWAYS consistent. Anyway here is part of the transcript from February 20, 2005 in Baghdad with Senator Clinton and Senator McCain.

KATHLEEN: THE TAX AND SPEND MACHINE : Democrats Select Tax Hiking, Big Spending Governor To Respond To State Of The Union

Things to think about the Governor responding to The State of the Union Address tonight. 1/28/2008.

KATHLEEN: THE TAX AND SPEND MACHINE


Last Year, Kansas' Economy Ranked Poorly:

Forbes Ranks Kansas 49th In Its Economic Climate, Which "Reflects Job, Income And Gross State Product Growth As Well As Unemployment And Presence Of Big Companies." ("Table: The Best States For Business," www.forbes.com, 7/10/07)

Under Gov. Sebelius' Leadership, Job Growth Well Below National Rate:

From January 2003 Until December 2007, Jobs Grew Nationally By 6.3 Percent. From January 2003 until December 2007, jobs grew 8,239,000 nationally from 130,256,000 to 138,495,000, or 6.3 percent. (The Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, www.bls.gov, Accessed 1/22/08)

From January 2003 Until December 2007, Jobs Grew In Kansas By 4.6 Percent. From January 2003 until December 2007, jobs grew 61,200 in Kansas from 1,322,500 to 1,383,700, or 4.6 percent. (The Bureau Of Labor Statistics Website, www.bls.gov, Accessed 1/22/08)
GOV. SEBELIUS' LEADERSHIP HAS LED TO BIG GOVERNMENT SPENDING

Under Gov. Sebelius, Government Spending Has Increased 37 Percent:

Since Gov. Sebelius Took Office, Kansas State Spending Has Increased 37 Percent. State spending rose from $9,200,100,000 in 2002 to an approved $12,624,851,725 in 2008, or 37.2 percent. (Kansas Division Of The Budget Website, budget.ks.gov, Accessed 1/23/08)

While Job Growth Lags, Government Employment Thrives In Kansas:

Kansas Has The 3rd Highest Rate Of Public Employees. The American Legislative Exchange Council ranks Kansas 48th among states' public employees per 10,000 residents, with 1st being the lowest, and 50th being the highest. (Arthur B. Laffer and Stephen Moore, "Rich States Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index," American Legislative Exchange Council, www.alec.org, 2007, p.71)

GOV. SEBELIUS' SOLUTION TO HIGH TAXES? "TWISTING ARMS" TO MAKE THEM HIGHER

Kansas Has One Of The Highest Tax Burdens In The Nation:

Kansas Has 15th Highest State-Local Tax Burden In The Nation, Which Has Increased 6 Percent Since Sebelius Took Office. The State-Local tax burden has risen from 10.6 percent in 2002 to 11.2 percent in 2007, or 5.6 percent. According to the Tax Foundation, this places Kansas at 15th highest in the nation. ("Kansas State-Local Tax Burden Compared To U.S. Average," The Tax Foundation, www.taxfoundation.org, Accessed 1/22/08)

Kansas Has The 13th Highest Property Tax Burden. The American Legislative Exchange Council ranks Kansas 38th among states' property tax burdens, with 1st being the lowest, and 50th being the highest. (Arthur B. Laffer and Stephen Moore, "Rich States Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index," American Legislative Exchange Council, www.alec.org, 2007, p.71)

Kansas Has The 15th Highest Sales Tax Burden. The American Legislative Exchange Council ranks Kansas 36th among states' sales tax burdens, with 1st being the lowest, and 50th being the highest. (Arthur B. Laffer and Stephen Moore, "Rich States Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index," American Legislative Exchange Council, www.alec.org, 2007, p.71)
Kansas Ranks 38th In Competitive Corporate Taxes. The Tax Foundation ranks Kansas 38th in its Corporate Tax Index ranks, with 1st being the most competitive, and 50th being the least competitive. (Curtis S. Dubay, Economist and Chris Atkins, "2007 State Business Tax Climate Index," Tax Foundation, www.taxfoundation.org, 10/06)
But Gov. Sebelius' Solution Is To Raise More Taxes:

Gov. Sebelius Has Called For Hiking The State Sales Tax 8 Percent, The Income Tax By 5 Percent, And Property Tax 10 Percent. "The governor proposes to: Increase the state's sales tax rate from 5.3 to 5.5 percent on July 1, to 5.6 percent in 2005 and to 5.7 percent in 2006. Impose a 5 percent surcharge on personal income taxes, with no expiration date specified. Raise the state's 20-mill property tax levy for schools to 21 mills in 2005 and to 22 mills in 2007." (Chris Moon, "Governor's Plan Would Raise Three Kinds Of Taxes," Topeka [KS] Capital-Journal, 2/26/04)

Her Plan Would Have Increased Taxes By $600 Million. "[G]ov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, would raise income, sales and property taxes and spend $663 million more on public schools over the next three years." (Jim Sullinger and John L. Petterson, "It's GOP's Turn At School Finance," The Kansas City Star, 3/13/04)
Already This Year, Gov. Sebelius Has Come Out In Favor Of A $0.50 Per Pack Cigarette Tax Increase, Saying She'd Be "Twisting Arms" To Help Pass It. "Gov. Kathleen Sebelius [advocated] proposals that include a 50-cent per pack increase in the state cigarette tax. 'I will be campaigning for this, urging people to do it, twisting arms to do it,' Sebelius said." (Scott Rothschild, "Sebelius, Barnett Join Forces On Tobacco Tax," Lawrence [KS] Journal-World, 1/10/08)


GOV. SEBELIUS VETOED EFFORTS TO STOP EXCESSIVE LITIGATION FROM HARMING BUSINESSES AND HEALTH CARE

Litigation Is A Growing Problem For Kansas Businesses:

A 2005 Poll Found That 72 Percent Of Kansas Business Leaders Believe Frivolous Lawsuits Drive Up Business Costs. "A recent Kansas Chamber of Commerce poll of the state's business owners and executives indicated that 72% of business leaders strongly believe that frivolous lawsuits drives up their costs of doing business." (The Attorney General Of Kansas, "Attorney General Kline, Insurance Commissioner Praeger Work To Ensure No 'Medical Liability Crisis,'" Press Release, 3/4/05)

According To The U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Institute For Legal Reform, Kansas' Lawsuit Climate Has Dropped Nine Places Since Gov. Sebelius Took Office. Since 2002, Kansas has dropped from rank four to rank 13, or nine places, in The U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Institute For Legal Reform rankings, which judge "fairness of [states'] litigation environment[s]." (Kansas Chamber Of Commerce, "Kansas Chamber Legal Institute," www.kansaschamber.org, 8/9/04; U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Institute For Legal Reform Website, www.instituteforlegalreform.com, Acces sed 1/23/08)

Gov. Sebelius Vetoed Efforts To Reduce Medical Liability Insurance Costs In A State Which Is "Showing Problem Signs":

Kansas Is Given A "D" By The American College Of Emergency Physicians On The Medical Liability. ("The National Report Card On The State Of Emergency Medicine," The American College Of Emergency Physicians, my.acep.org, 1/06)

The American Medical Association States Kansas Is "Showing Problem Signs," Due To Rising Medical Liability Rates. (Sherman Joyce, "Election Should Lead To Strong Legal Reform," The Wichita [KS] Eagle, 11/16/04)

But In 2007, Gov. Sebelius Vetoed Legislation, Making It Easier To Sue Physicians In Consumer Protection Cases. "Gov. Kathleen Sebelius ... vetoed a bill that she said would have exempted health care providers, including doctors, from the Kansas Consumer Protection Act. ... The Kansas Medical Society issued a statement saying it was 'very disappointed' in Sebelius' veto. ... Without the bill, they said, more litigation will occur and that would lead to higher malpractice premiums for health care providers, which will be passed on to consumers." (Scott Rothschild, "Sebelius Vetoes Bill Sought By Doctors," Lawrence [KS] Journal-World, 4/21/07)

GOV. SEBELIUS SUPPORTS BIG LABOR AND TRIAL LAWYERS OVER KANSAS WORKERS AND BUSINESSES
Gov. Sebelius: In Pocket Of Trial Lawyers:

Gov. Sebelius Was Executive Director Of Kansas Trial Lawyers Association From 1978-1986. ("Gubernatorial Candidates On Tuesday's Primary Ballot," The Associated Press, 8/2/02)

Gov. Sebelius Has Received At Least $898,707 From Lawyers & Lobbyists. (The Institute For Money In Politics, www.followthemoney.org, Accessed 1/22/08)

In Gov. Sebelius' 2006 And 2002 Races For Governor, Lawyers And Lobbyists Were The Top Economic Sector Contributing To Her Campaign. (The Institute For Money In Politics, www.followthemoney.org, Accessed 1/22/08)
Gov. Sebelius: In Pocket Of Big Labor:

Gov. Sebelius Has Received At Least $564,495 From Big Labor. (The Institute For Money In Politics, www.followthemoney.org, Accessed 1/22/08)

WOW !!! This is scary

What Doctors can do --

A Japanese doctor says,
"Medicine in my country is so advanced that we can take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him out looking for work in six weeks."

A German doctor says,
"That is nothing. We can take a lung out of one person, put it in another, and have him out looking for work in four weeks."

A British doctor says,
"In my country medicine is so advanced that we can take half a heart out of one person, put it in another, and have both of them out looking for work in two weeks."

The American doctor, not to be outdone, interjected,
"You guys are way behind. We are about to take a woman with no brains, put her in the White House, and then half the country will be out looking for work in one week.

RNC chairman provides numbers, strategy to defeat top Democrats

RNC chairman provides numbers, strategy to defeat top Democrats
By Sam Youngman
Posted: 01/24/08 12:01 AM [ET]
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Mike Duncan believes Republicans can beat either of the two top Democrats racing for their party’s nomination.
For Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), Duncan says it comes down to trust. Sen. Barack Obama’s (Ill.) weakness, on the other hand, is his experience, according to Duncan.
Duncan continually brought up Clinton and Obama during a Wednesday morning breakfast with reporters sponsored by The Christian Science Monitor. Pointing to internal poll numbers, the RNC chairman repeatedly insisted that no matter who Republicans nominate, the Democratic candidate can be defeated in November.
Internal RNC polls show Clinton has significant trust issues with voters, who also worry Obama has too little experience to be president.
“With Sen. Clinton, it comes down to trust,” Duncan said. “She’s a lifelong liberal politician with some political baggage.”
The RNC’s polling on Clinton found that less than 50 percent of respondents see her as “honest and trustworthy.”
Sixty-five percent say she “will say or do anything to get elected” and 68 percent “agree that Sen. Clinton will raise their taxes.”
The polling on Obama is not quite as damaging on its face. Only 40 percent of respondents to the RNC’s survey agree that Obama “has the experience necessary to be Commander-in-Chief.” Forty-nine percent said Obama has a “record of accomplishment,” but only 19 percent say they are “very familiar” with the senator’s positions. Forty-four percent of respondents in the RNC poll view Obama as a uniter of Democrats and Republicans.
“His rhetoric is very good. He’s a great speaker. But at the end of the speech, people go, ‘Where’s the beef?’ ” Duncan said.
Previewing potential GOP attacks, Duncan referenced criticisms of Obama’s “present” votes during his time in the Illinois state Senate, something the Clinton campaign has also raised. Duncan also made an indirect reference to what he called Obama’s questionable ties to indicted businessman Antoin Rezko, who has contributed to Obama campaigns.
The chairman repeatedly mentioned that his communications and opposition research teams are building up strong cases against the candidacies of both Obama and Clinton.
Asked about Clinton’s claims that she is the only candidate who has been thoroughly “vetted,” Duncan smiled before complaining that his opposition research team’s efforts have been thwarted because the Clinton Library has not released certain documents related to Bill Clinton’s presidency.
“I’m not sure that anyone at this point has been thoroughly vetted,” Duncan said.
Duncan said the RNC’s “first level” of attacks mirror those the Democratic candidates have made on one another.
“Are there more arguments to come? Yes,” he said.
Duncan seemed to have trouble concealing his joy when asked whether the intense back-and-forth between Obama and Clinton meant the Republican nominee would eventually face a divided Democratic Party.
Duncan said he knew all along the Democrats were more divided than was being written, and the committee was preparing all along for any of the top-tier candidates as the nominee.
“I’m watching with great interest what they’re doing on the other side,” he said.
Duncan was careful not to comment specifically on his own party’s field. The GOP race remains cloudy, as several candidates have split the opening primaries and caucuses.
As the referee, Duncan said it’s not his place to comment on the individual campaigns. He did say the GOP nominee’s strategy for winning the general election would depend on the nominee.
For example, he said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani would have different strategies, although he sought to portray both as candidates the GOP could rally around.
“It’s a different emphasis. It’s not a different coalition,” he said. The GOP has “a lot of great choices” in its presidential field, Duncan added.
Those hoping for a brokered convention this summer are likely to be disappointed, Duncan said. He said he is convinced there will be a consensus nominee before the RNC convention.
That said, the chairman did say he is reading up on the nomination battles of 1944 and 1952, both years that saw the GOP nomination fight decided at the Republican National Convention.
“My job is not to be surprised,” Duncan said.
The chairman said the committee’s voter file and 72-hour program are both better than they have ever been, and the RNC will continue to enjoy a technological advantage over its Democratic counterpart.

America Needs A Leader Like This! (thanks AFL)

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/pms-muslim-comments-offensive/2006/02/20/1140283978611.html

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/australia.asp

Prime Minister John Howard - AustraliaMuslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: 'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in p atriotism by the majority of Australians.''This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'.'We speak mainly ENGLISH; not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!' 'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.' 'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.' 'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.''If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.

The reason I am sending my daughter/children to private school

I am very happy my wife is becoming a teacher, would love to have my kids home-schooled. For over a decade now I have been against public schools mainly because of the NEA and their socialist/revisionist teachings. I noticed this when helping my ex's son finish his history/social studies homework. Any way this is why I can't allow my daughter to fall subject to these teachings...

Textbook: Islamic 'jihad' means doing good works
Also includes Muslims fighting 'to protect themselves from harm'

From Mark Costello: 22 Ways to be a good Democrat

22 WAYS TO BE A GOOD DEMOCRAT
1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.
2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.
3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law- abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.
4. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.
5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by documented cyclical changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer mom s driving SUV's.
6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.
7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.
8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach fourth graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.
9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.
10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.
11. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make "The Passion of the Christ" for financial gain only.
12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.
13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.
14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and A.G. Bell.
15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.
16. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and is a very nice person.
17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.
18. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.
19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.
20. You have to believe that illegal Democrat Party funding by the Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest to the United States .
21. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right wing conspiracy.
22. You have to believe that it's okay to give Federal workers the day off on Christmas Day but it's not okay to say "Merry Christmas."

Diamond Rio - Here in America

History Question

I find myself last weekend watching a PBS special of our 7th president Old Hickory. Now, in this program I repeatedly declares Andrew Jackson as the founder of the Democratic Party. This makes completes sense, but, what baffles me is why the Democrats today have posted on their website that Thomas Jefferson is the founder of their party our 3rd president.
I am personally a Jefferson fan and admire the man's intellect and foresight of our nation, c'mon he wrote the Declaration of Independence and brought forth the Louisiana Purchase. President Jefferson was actually the founder of the short lived party the Democratic-Republicans, from what I understand they were more in line with the Republican Party of today even though there is no real connection between them and the Republicans of Abraham Lincoln. The Democratic-Republicans were in opposition of the Federalist Party and eventually became a part of the Whig party when the Jacksonians (Democrats) were formed. I guess it ticks me off to see posted lies about a party's founding father, to me it seems as if they are trying to claim a portion of history that is not theirs. Must be political envy, I guess, it is hard to compete with a party that provided the nation with the start of Racial Equality with the Emancipation Proclamation, and 18 of the last 28 presidents since the formation of the Republican Party.

I guess my question is why do they re-write history of our nation so much and often edit the past?

Political Change? Why?

Why do most of the candidates in the presidential elections want change? Seems to me the country is headed the in RIGHT direction. We have the best private health care system without waiting in line for months to receive a simple MRI or elective surgery. The GNP is growing at a good pace, the jobless rate is well in control. Some tax cuts will keep inflation in check. Why change? To what, bigger government? All that will do is take money from the people that have and give it to those who refuse to achieve better lives for themselves. BIGGER GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE ANSWER!

Why do all the Democrats always run on the same platform? Health Care and Social Security.
Can't the Dems ever fix what they want? The answer is NO, They have no solutions they just want to take more money from you. Look at Colorado for an example, elect a democrat in the governors office within a few months, Colorado State employees receive an extra day off at our expense, employees are unionized, raises taxes on Personal property, all without the legislature, He did is all with his pen. Amazing!

Who Is To Say There Is No Hope?

I do not think this nation is prepared for even 4 more years of Clintonesque operations of our White House, thank God! And Amen!. I hope this spiral continues and then fades away forever.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080107/pl_nm/usa_politics_dc&printer=1;_ylt=AlbRHE6bEPf8cjbG6YvUHeUb.3QA

furley e-mail

what is your e-mail so i can invite you to the bosnian skinhead site...

Black Hole/White Hole skinheads blog..

Button Monkey

man this is weird! there was a term/sentence that i used once in an e-mail at a prior company to express my frustration with the gumbas who just did not get it....

is this furley furley? you're not a democrat arrrrhhh yaa....! :)

Landscape Licensure

You will love this....Ritter signed it into law and it took affect 1-1-08..

I guess it takes much more brain to plant than I thought?

http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/olls/sl2007a/sl_334.htm

http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/olls/digest2007a/PROFESSIONSANDOCCUPATIONS.htm

Common Sense

You did a great job! The blog looks tons better than the last one! It would be even BETTER if you destroyed all references to the BIG red N :)

I am jealous! You will have to tell me if you earn anything on the AdSense...lmao.. Hey maybe we can each help each other out! Force your family! lmao..

Colorado Taxpayers get soaked again

Colo. Gov. gives state workers a day off
By: John Ingold, The Denver Post12/27/2007
DENVER
It wasn't a sweater or a fruitcake or a gift card.
This year, Gov. Bill Ritter gave about 30,000 state employees the nicest holiday present of all: an extra day off.
In November, Ritter and Rich Gonzales, executive director of the state's Department of Personnel and Administration, decided to re-institute a year-end administrative-leave day for employees, or what is sometimes called the "governor's holiday." It allows state employees to take off either New Year's Eve day, Christmas Eve day, or the day after Thanksgiving.
"It's a morale-booster for the workforce," said Evan Dreyer, Ritter's spokesman.
The day had been a long-standing tradition in Colorado until Gov. Bill Owens discontinued it during his administration, said Julie Postlethwait, a spokeswoman for the Department of Personnel and Administration.
Dreyer said the day off allows state government to function more efficiently at a time that's usually pretty slow.
Both Dreyer and Postlethwait didn't call the day off a holiday, though, because state offices remain open those days.

Lets say the average State employee makes $150 /day ($39000/yr). 30,000 employees received this "present".

30000 * $150 = $4,500,000

Tax payers just got stuck for $4.5 million dollars.

Disappearing Car Door - by Jatech

Check what this company is doing with their approach to the auto car door! This is really cool!

http://www.disappearing-car-door.com/

Global Cooling

Check out the article by David Deming. He points out more facts disputing the Global Warming Hoax. It seems the tide is starting to turn against Al Gore and the Drive by Media.

Open Letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Written by 100 Prominent Scientists

See the open letter written the United Nations reguarding Global Warming. Great letter, bet you will not hear about it in the Drive By Media!!

http://www.mediamax.com/huskerfancf/Hosted/UN_open_letter.pdf

Bo Pelini Talks to Reporters in Lincoln

A few tidbits:

-- Pelini said junior running back Marlon Lucky is considering skipping his senior season to declare for the NFL Draft.

Pelini said he'll help Lucky submit paperwork to the NFL College Advisory Committee, a group that helps underclassmen gauge their draft status. Pelini said he'll advise Lucky during the process, but that the final decision is Lucky's.

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is Jan. 15.

Pelini's opinion?

"That's between me and him," Pelini said. "But I do know this: Unless you are a first-round draft pick, you should come back."

-- Pelini said his coaching staff is "one phone call" from being complete.

"It fell right into place," he said. "I knew what I was looking for. I had a lot of certain things in mind, certain people in mind, in some instances. I was able to accomplish exactly what I wanted to get. The guys I targeted, I got."

-- Pelini clearly is eager to ask Tom Osborne's advice on a variety of matters. "I mean, I ask his advice in a lot of different decisions," Pelini said. "Some things that you may think are very small and trivial, I ask him, 'What do you think here?' Just day-to-day things."

Pelini didn't want to get too specific about the type of things he asks Osborne.

"If anything, I probably drive him crazy sometimes," Pelini said.

-- It's not as if Osborne is trying to run the show, Pelini said. "At no point has he ever said, 'I want you to do this, I want you to do that.' He says, 'You need to do what you see as best.'

"But he makes it clear he's always there to offer his suggestions. I appreciate that."

-- Did Osborne suggest that Pelini hire certain guys on the staff?

"No. He just gave me information. And I asked him for information. I said, 'How do you see it? What is your evaluation?' There's not one person he told me to hire. I'm sure he wouldn't have hired some of the guys I did.

"What he does is provide you with information. And obviously, he has good information."

Helping Cory Voorhis

Check out the story of Cory Voorhis! The ICE agent who is a victim of political revenge by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter for exposing his support of illegal immigration while DA in Denver, Colorado. Truly amazing story!


The Political Prosecution of Immigration Enforcement Agent Cory Voorhis
A federal grand jury is needed to get at the truth beneath the corruption and cover-up
Who is Cory Voorhis and why should you care?
Cory Voorhis is a former Border Patrol officer and 15-year veteran of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). He was charged in federal district court in Denver on Oct. 25, 2007 with three misdemeanor counts of "unauthorized access"' of a federal criminal database and now faces the possibility of three years in prison, heavy fines, loss of his job, and horrendous legal bills. He has also been notified he will be placed on leave-without-pay by ICE, which is an unprecedented action against a law enforcement officer who has only been accused, not convicted. Voorhis and his wife and two children now face Christmas and the New Year with mounting legal bills and no paycheck.
Cory Voorhis has a distinguished record as a Special Investigator for ICE. He was the lead investigator for the interagency task force that broke up the largest document fraud ring in United States history, a Guadalajara-based operation working in Colorado and 14 other states producing millions of drivers' licenses, green cards, and Social Security cards. Most of the customers were illegal aliens.
In September of 2006, Voorhis read Denver newspaper accounts of statements by Bill Ritter, then a candidate for Governor of Colorado and now the incumbent in that office, claiming to have been a strong prosecutor of illegal alien criminals when he was Denver's District Attorney from 1994 to 2004. Voorhis knew from his personal experience with the Denver police and courts that this was not the case, that hundreds of illegal alien criminals had been released and avoided deportation through dangerous plea bargaining agreements and other subterfuges. Such practices are consistent with Denver's "sanctuary city" status, inaugurated by Mayor Wellington Webb in the mid-1990s.
Seeking to have the truth of the matter discussed in the public domain, Voorhis offered information to Congressman Bob Beauprez, who was also a candidate for Governor, regarding the plea bargaining practices of the Denver DA office and the subsequent criminal activity by some of the persons who were released and not deported. Voorhis told the Beauprez staff where to look in public records for additional information and cases.
ICE agent Voorhis had legitimate professional reasons for accessing the federal and state crime databases on Denver criminal alien cases, and all of his actions in accessing the ICE database and the federal NCIC database were fully consistent with written ICE policies and guidelines. It was part of his job. Voorhis shared only such information with the staff of Congressman Beauprez that he could release to any public official, employer or citizen who asked for it. The criminal "rap sheets" and identities of illegal aliens are not protected by the Federal Privacy Act.
Nevertheless, when information became public about a specific illegal alien who had committed additonal crimes after being released through a plea bargain his office had engineered, gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter asked the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to open an investigation into ICE agent Voorhis. Ritter charged that Voorhis had committed a crime by accessing the NCIC database. Ritter made this charge one day after someone in the Denver District Attorney's office accessed the same federal database to identify agent Voorhis. No one disputed the accuracy of the information revealed about the criminal alien in question, but the allegations of wrongdoing by Voorhis was successful in shifting the public focus away from Ritter's record when he was Denver DA. The only illegal alien case discussed in the press was the one revealed by the Beauprez campaign, the case of Walter Noel Ramo, who had originally been charged with the sale of heroin but allowed to plead guilty to "agricultural trespass," a low level felony that does not generally result in deportation. Ramo, while living in California under an alias, was subsequently charged with a sex-related crime against a minor. After Ritter asked for a CBI investigation of Voorhis, the Denver media stopped investigating Ritter's record in this area and instead focused on Voorhis.
Cory Voorhis had nothing to gain personally or financially by revealing information about the problem of non-prosecution of criminal aliens in the Denver District Attorney's office, past and present. He had not been active in the Beauprez campaign and had never made a financial contribution to that campaign. His actions were motivated solely by the desire to raise the level of the public discussion of this important issue, an issue that was being swept under the rug by both the Ritter campaign and the office of the incumbent Denver District Attorney, Mitch Morrissey. One of Denver DA Morrissey's staff attorneys was in fact working in the Ritter campaign on a leave of absence, and that person, Stephanie Villafuerte, now serves as a senior aide to Governor Ritter. A Morrissey spokesman denies any wrongdoing on the part of the Morrissey staff, yet it is remarkable that the individuals involved in accessing the NCIC database in October of 2006 were never questioned by the CBI or FBI as part of the investigation.
Any reasonable person will conclude that there can be only one reason for the prosecution of this courageous law enforcement officer: political retaliation. The prosecution of Cory Voorhis is a case of selective prosecution for political purposes, while similar actions by other public employees are neither investigated nor prosecuted. Two other individuals accessed the same NCIC database on Walter Noel Ramo in the same time period, one in Harris County, Texas (Houston) and one in the Denver District Attorney (Morrissey's) office. Neither one has been investigated or charged with a crime. Only Cory Voorhis has been charged.
The only conclusion to be reached is that it was not the "unauthorized access" to the information on this criminal alien that upset candidate Ritter, it was making it public, and that is why Cory Voorhis was targeted for prosecution. The success of the Ritter campaign was more important to Bill Ritter than the public's right to know the facts about the crimes of a man he had allowed to escape a serious felony prosecution and likely deportation.
ICE agent Cory Voorhis is being prosecuted for actions that were not only not criminal in nature, but were a public service to the people of Colorado. Voorhis' actions not only did no harm to any public entity or contemporary criminal case or defendant, they contributed to an elevated public debate on the treatment of aliens charged with criminal activity. "No harm, no foul."
Like Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean, who are now serving prison terms for shooting a drug smuggler, Cory Voorhis is being prosecuted for doing his job. He was helping to educate a sitting US Congressman and his staff about the huge but invisible world of criminal aliens released from jail by the Denver District Attorney under laughable "agricultural trespass" plea deals. Such practices in Denver and other Colorado counties have allowed hundreds and probably thousands of illegal aliens to avoid serious felony convictions that can lead to deportation.
Colorado citizens and all Americans who value the work of dedicated ICE agents need to support the Cory Voorhis Legal Defense Fund. We cannot let this good man and dedicated public servant fight this battle alone. Cory Voorhis is a hero, not a criminal.
NOTE: Cory Voorhis's attorney is William Taylor, a former Assistant US Attorney, who is on staff with the Denver law firm of Holland and Hart. Voorhis' legal expenses to fight the charges will likely exceed $100,000.

MLB Mitchell Report released

The report is released. See the entire report here:

http://www.mediamax.com/huskerfancf/Hosted/mitchell_report.pdf

Democrats Bow to Bush's Demands in House Spending Bill

Once again GWB shows who is in charge in Washington! The liberals are nothing but a bunch of losers! Talk talk talk, no action. Typical.

http://thehill.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70300&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=70

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/12/AR2007121202837_pf.html

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/12/our-view-on-war.html

Bandimere Speedway now sports an all-concrete racing surface

Bandimere Speedway has made great improvements to the track.
This should help them dry the track quicker when it rains, it NEVER rains during the race weekend.

I can't wait until summer!

Al Gore-illa Climate Change

Despite the facts Al Gore and the drive by media claim global warming. But things are changing. Check out the following artilcles.

http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/monckton/goreerrors.html

http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/originals/kansas_climate_profile.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=500586&in_page_id=1766&ito=1490

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/southern_hemisphere_ice_cover_remains_well_above_normal