DON'T BLAME ME

Remember back a few years when the Pentagon created a deck of cards named for the bad guys in Iraq. Sadaam was the Ace of Spades. The idea was that as they were killed or captured that named card was removed from the deck and was no longer important in the scheme of things. Well now we have another deck of cards, this one beget by the nation’s highest-ranking officer, a Mr. Obama. Each card represents an appointed Czar who oversees a department of government and is responsible for its actions. There appears to be no ranking of Czars, just plenty of them, and they answer only to the very top card, Obama. We used to have a President of this country but the responsibilities, using Czars as pawns, are now spread so thin we don’t need one. Mr. Obama’s job is merely keeping track of the Czars, they are listed on his teleprompter, and deciding what each has done wrong so they can be fired. This creates the impression that he is the leader of this country.

JUST THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW

The ACLU has filed a suit to have all military cross-shaped headstones removed, and another suit to end prayer from the military completely. They're making great progress. The Navy Chaplains can no longer mention Jesus' name in prayer thanks to the wretched ACLU and our new administration. So I am told.

HALF THE YEAR IS SHOT

June 30, 2009 marked half way through a very uneventful year. The passing of Michael Jackson enlivened the papers and television but barely got my attention. At my age I’m more hip about health care and the value of our retirement securities. We did witness the problem solving of SPSA that was easily accomplished by moving their debts down the road. CenterPoint is a non-problem due to inactivity (no movement at the ports). I did wake up when Sarah Palin walked off the job but few of us know why. It is quite obvious that businesses downtown and most everywhere else are hurting. When the SNH fills its electronic edition with ads about belly flatness and credit scores it means lean times are here. And you must be wondering who will be the next publisher; Lindsey headed home to Tennessee. At the national level the liberals own the ballpark and that assures more debt for all of us. As bad as it is our assessments are holding fast and the city has taken over who gets the charity goodies, you know, our taxes. Obviously they’ve decided we the citizens can’t decide fairly how much of our money the Peanut Fest gets so another of those useless committees will figure it out.

Even here at Inside Suffolk we have been lulled to sleep so if you have something worth us writing about tell us right here. If it makes sense we will get back to work.

THIS JUST IN FOR A LAUGH

A man had purchased a big bag of Kirkland Nutra Nuggets dog chow for his German Shepard and the lady behind him in the checkout line asked if he had a dog. On an impulse he said, “No, I’ve decided to try that Purina Diet again. I probably shouldn’t because the last time I lost fifty pounds and ended up in intensive care with tubes coming out of every orifice of my body.” The lady then asked if the dog food had been poisoned. “No,” he said, “I stepped off the curb to sniff an Irish Setter and a car hit me.”

CHUCKATUCK HISTORICAL FOUNDATION MEETS JULY 21

The next public meeting will be held at Wesley Chapel July 21 at 7 pm. This history desired will include Chuckatuck, Oakland, Everets Reid’s Ferry, Sandy Bottom/Cotton Farm Lane, Longview, Wills Corner/Cherry Grove Road North, and Milner’s Town. According to Lynn Rose their purpose is to compile photographs and information of our communities’ history and publish a book.

Any questions call Kitty Martin 377 6552 or Dwight Bradshaw 238 3489

SAY IT ISN'T SO

First they said government health care would cost $1 trillion. Then they upped overnight to
$1.6-trillion. No one really comprehends these numbers. Washington's spending spree is lulling everyone to sleep. The price tag for last fall's bailouts approached a trillion dollars. And so did this spring's stimulus spending. Now comes health care and eyes glaze over at such numbers because nobody really understands what even one trillion is. It's true that people ignore what they don't understand.

If you took a trillion one-dollar bills and laid them end-to-end, they would reach from the Earth to the sun. (98,000,000 miles) But you can't do that because there isn't that much money; the total of all the cash in the United States is less than $900-billion. The interest on a trillion dollars, at 6%, requires paying $166 million in interest EACH AND EVERY DAY, and that’s just the interest. What's frightening about spending new trillions is that it's happening. It happened in the last year and is happening again right now. And who will be asked to pay it back? Well just you, your children and your grandchildren. Hell, I'm 84; not to worry.

OPINION PIECE IN SNH WORTH A READ

Rather than retype Pamela King”s admonishment of our Mayor Johnson we suggest you read it by clicking, free of cost, on the SNH website and read "Mayor shouldn't beg" in the opinion section.

Mayor shouldn't beg

NEVER GIVE UP THE SHIP

With studies proving that nearly one in five Suffolk students will end up dropping out of high school, the city’s public school administration has high hopes for the steps it has taken this year to increase Suffolk’s graduation rate. School board member, Enoch Copeland said, “I can’t believe we’re this high, we’re only a little bit better than Portsmouth.” Since when did Portsmouth become our measuring stick? According to Assistant Superintendent Kevin Alston, Suffolk had an 18.6 percent overall dropout rate for the class of 2008. Male students in the school system had a 21.6 percent dropout rate, and black students had a 20.8 percent rate. He also said the school system is working to bring this trend to a halt. I wouldn’t call it a trend, more of a fixture, not much has changed in the last several years.

The old school try now is creating a committee to address the dropout rate. The committee will include Superintendent Milton R. Liverman, two assistant superintendents, high school principals, middle and high school coordinators, middle- and high-school parents, representatives from the Suffolk Police Department and Department of Social Services and Judge Robert Brewbaker from the juvenile court system. I can visualize the kids trembling. What is needed is a way to scare hell out of the parents, the real guilty party. Send Police and Social Service representatives to the homes of “bubbles,” the kids showing obvious signs of failure. Worth a try?

Can you say conflict of interest?

The city manager sits on the Board of Peanut Fest. She also sits on the newly-created team that listens to the presentations of nonprofits seeking funding from the city. Of the five people on the team, one is also a city director who reports to the city manager and is also on the Board of Peanut Fest. Hmmmm. Two members on the Board of Peanut Fest who also have a HUGE say in whether or not Peanut Fest has funding with citizen dollars. By the way, a conflict of interest is a softer way of saying that something is NOT ETHICAL.

In the bigger picture, let’s remember that our citizen dollars are NOT theirs to give in the first place. By having a process in place to dole out money, our city leaders are not showing an understanding of the Constitution, and if the documents that guide us are to mean anything, they must be observed by everyone who has sworn to uphold them. Consider reading the piece, Not yours to give as a gentle reminder of the role of government in our lives.

Let’s keep asking questions. Why is a non-elected official giving away money? Why does our City Council think it can take money from us and give it to whom they think should have it instead? Why will the city fund Peanut Fest but won’t haul our trash away? Why do we have a new PROCESS in place to take citizen dollars and give them to whomever the city deems should have those dollars? Why can’t citizens just support whichever causes they choose since we certainly are capable of doing so? Why do so many of our city leaders think that nonprofits can’t make a profit? Why don’t our city leaders understand that the role of organizations such as the Rotary Club and Suffolk 60 Care is how things are supposed to work? (It’s a terrific mission of theirs to better the community by raising significant dollars to contribute to community causes.) Why can’t we rally around these groups and allow our city leaders to focus on only the things they should be focused on?

Virginian Pilot Ledger Star – Dave Forster
In funding fights, Peanut Fest has seats at table

Suffolk News Herald - Letter to the Editor by Roger Leonard
How to stop the food fight

WORTH A LOOK

THIS COMMENT JUST CAME IN.

Just in case no one knows there is one more prominant position being forced out of the city of suffolk. Tom Patrick, the director of Information Technology for 26 years was demoted to asst. director last year to "streamline upper management" This year his position is not in the budget at all. Come July 1st a new position of Chief Information Officer which is open to the public will be running the department. While Tom may apply for the position he is not assurred of getting it. Tom now has 27 years of dedicated service to the city and is near qualifying for full retirement. It seems that the city is not going to allow that to happen though as he will not have a job at the end of the month. Quite a shame once again.
June 7, 2009 3:50 PM

THE FACTS CONDENSED

Never in a million years would anyone have dreamed what is happening in America. American capitalism is gone without a whimper. Like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of passive, hapless citizens who appear not to have a clue about what is going on around them. The population has been dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather than the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas than the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonald’s burger than for their constitutional rights.

Then their faith in God was questioned until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more than Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. The final collapse has come with the election of Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been record setting, not just in America's short history but also in the world. If this keeps up for more than another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the old Russia.
These past two weeks have been the most breath taking of all. First came the announcement of a planned redesign of the American Byzantine tax system, by the very thieves who used it to bankroll their thefts, losses, and swindles of hundreds of billions of dollars. These men, of course, are not an elected panel but made up of appointees picked from the very financial oligarchs and their henchmen who are now gorging themselves on trillions of American dollars, in one bailout after another. They are also usurping the rights, duties and powers of the American congress and it has put up little more then a whimper to their masters.
Then came Barack Obama's command that GM's (General Motor) president step down from leadership of his company. The American president now has the power, the self-given power, to fire CEOs and we can assume other employees of private companies, at will. So it should be no surprise that the American president has followed this up with a "bold" move of declaring that he and another group of unelected, chosen stooges will now redesign the entire automotive industry. Again not a whimper.
The Liberal-controlled Congress of America is working on passing a new regulation that would give the American Treasury department the power to set "fair" maximum salaries, evaluate performance and control how private companies give out pay raises and bonuses. The proud American will go down into his slavery without a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker.

THINKING TOO SMALL

The SNH has an idea and call it "Look, Live, Love Suffolk." On June 20 they suggest each citizen buy $20 worth of something at any retail outlet downtown. (Where exactly is that?) I wish I hadn’t been so impetus…just yesterday I took SNH advice and filled 6 five-gallon tanks of gasoline in preparation for hurricane season, you just can’t be without a generator when those winds howl. My spouse did her usual shopping at the big “W” (maybe that's not in downtown) plus she stocked up the old freezer in case, you know, flooding conditions and/or power outages. Unfortunately it added up to well over three hundred dollars. We should have waited. But then there has never been a case of “driving downtown” when we spent less than a hundred if you also count lunch, a stop at Lowes, a few bargains at Belk, and a “poke around” at Big Lots. If SNH wants to accomplish a difference with LLL, make it at least fifty bucks person. Lets see, 82,000 people times $50, now that’s a good number.

Council to go "live" on July 1

If all goes as planned, citizens will have the chance to watch Council meetings online. If you’ve ever had to endure the HARD benches in Council Chambers, you’ll now be able to keep up with what is going on while sitting in a nice comfortable chair in your home or office. Kudos to staff for doing the research and the footwork to bring this service to citizens; this is a piece of an open and transparent government.

The cities of Virginia Beach and Portsmouth have their own systems for providing this service. Chesapeake, Newport News, and Hampton use Granicus – as do other city and county governments throughout the state including Alexandria, Fairfax, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Chesterfield. We’re in good company.

Granicus
http://www.granicus.com/Streaming-Media-Government.aspx

Suffolk News Herald
http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2009/jun/05/council-meetings-stream-web

WTFC A WORKING GREAT IDEA

Four Rotary clubs got together to make a generous gift of $25,000 to the Western Tidewater Free Clinic (WTFC Partnership. Through this project Rotary Club members advocate, promote volunteerism, and actively support the work of the clinic. Western Tidewater Free Clinic’s mission is to provide high-quality, non-emergency health care to residents of Western Tidewater who cannot otherwise afford it. It has been open since June 2007. Currently WTFC is improving the health and giving hope to over 760 patients. To volunteer or learn about the clinic’s work, please call (757) 923-1060 or to make a contribution, send your check to 3000 Godwin Blvd, Suffolk, VA 23434.

WE WILL GIVE IT MORE TIME

We could write a post on several subjects concerning Suffolk citizens but until there are answers all we could do is speculate, which accomplishes nothing. We all know that city leaders do not listen to everyone and we hope they are not listening to only those to whom they are somehow beholden. We know there is great interest in restoring Obici House and history buffs have charged into the battle, perhaps suspecting the City has no interest except ridding itself of the golf course. Then there is the SPSA mess that will not go away, gets larger in scope, and there may not be any solution. Gardy has one. And we hesitate to speak of the incoming Police Chief…how long before he might suffer the “Cave” syndrome and be ushered out the door because he wasn’t a good fit. A Post on our website would surely elicit comments on all these matters but, again, who listens?

Harris Teeter opens an upscale grocery store in the right and wrong place. Would it have been better for Suffolk if it were located downtown or would no parking space and shortage of customers be a problem. Seems like the high-end retail outlets are going up where there are folks making more money. If you see a new courthouse being built in North Suffolk, moving City Hall will not be far behind. One last item…they tore down the Birdsong Recreation so drive-bys could see the SCCA from Main. Keep you eye on that spot and see what happens there.

Bob's Corner

I always enjoy Bob's comments and thoughts. I often wish I could be the prolific writer that he is. I continue to be proud to be a part of this public service blog - envisioned and started by Bob.

We've just started Bob's Corner on our website. The first of his articles is posted - and I've already emailed it several people, including my father-in-law, who is about the same age as Bob. Our stories span generations and Bob's first article has reminded me that I want to write some of my stories - maybe not just yet - but at some point. I'm thrilled and honored to have such a wonderful mentor to show the way. I hope you'll dig in to Bob's stories as he writes them and maybe you'll be reminded - as I was - of something important that you might like to do.

Go to Bob's Corner and visit it often!

IT CAN'T BE THAT

Are we Americans as dumb as we often appear or is it that we just don't think? While the Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets, the media wrings its hands and criticizes the Bush Administration for perceived errors. Seventy percent of Americans believe the trading with the Chinese should be suspended. If you are part of this group don’t wait for the government to suspend trading privileges? DO IT YOURSELF!! Look at every product you buy…if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' Peoples Republic of China put it back. You will be surprised at how dependent you have become on Chinese products, just shake your head and put it back. The store and China will get the message. If you do not care one whit, that's another story.

THEY CALLED IT "OPERATION WETBACK"

This might be of interest to you. Back during The Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover ordered the deportation of ALL illegal aliens in order to make jobs available to American citizens that desperately needed work. Harry Truman deported over two million Illegal's after WWII to create jobs for returning veterans. And then again in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower deported 13 million Mexican Nationals! The program was called 'Operation Wetback'. It was done so WWII and Korean Veterans would have a better chance at jobs. It took 2 Years, but they deported them! Now...if they could deport the illegal's back then - they could sure do it today? Who is against it? You guessed right. If you have doubts about this information, enter Operation Wetback into your favorite search engine and confirm it for yourself. We hope you didn't forget to pay your taxes...12 million Illegal Aliens are depending on you!

Cynthia Cave Resignation

Before the election, our mayor declared that we do not have a revolving door for administrators in our city. The candidates running against her disagreed. And time and time again, we see good people come and go with the latest being Cynthia Cave from Economic Development. We’re left again wondering why.

Questions that will likely go unanswered:

1. Why wouldn’t the mayor know of any issues with a senior-level staff member?
2. Is our mayor missing yet another opportunity to be open and transparent with citizens?
3. Why would the EDA be surprised at this firing/resignation?
4. Were any members of the EDA unhappy with Ms. Cave’s performance?
5. Were any Council members unhappy with Ms. Cave’s performance?
6. If a staff member does indeed have an issue, is there a process for correcting the issue before being fired or forced to resign? Was this process used?
7. Which staff members were downsized and/or demoted? It seems that bragging rights of the city indicated that no positions were lost as a result of this year’s budget process. Is that accurate?
8. Is it a fact that the economic development budget was cut by 37% after Ms. Cave reduced the budget by the requested 10%? If so, who made the reduction decisions? Someone other than Ms. Cave? If Ms. Cave made the reduction decisions, was she instructed to cut to the 37% level? If so, by whom?
9. Should we be applauding a department head who is trying to be more fiscally responsible by significant cutting of the budget?
10. Why wouldn’t Councilman Parr not want to know why his top Economic Development person was fired/resigned, especially when he is the liaison to the EDA?
11. If Sparta staff shared that the project is still on its timeline, then what is the issue? Is the issue with the signing of ProLogis?
12. What is the connection between the mayor’s State of the City address and touting the Spartan deal (which was not yet a done deal) and Ms. Cave’s firing/resignation? Were citizens, businesses, and other community members told something that was not true?
13. Is there a process in place for staff to receive feedback related to the city’s planning processes? If not, why not? Is there a turf war here?
14. When Councilman Parr ran for the Suffolk borough, he indicated that he wanted to see many improvements in the planning process. What specific changes has he helped make? Since this is something he told people at community gatherings, why wouldn’t he be concerned about feedback related to the planning process?
15. Kudos again to Mr. Barclay for picking up the phone and asking questions. Why aren’t other council members doing the same?
16. What the heck is going on here?

From the Virginian Pilot Ledger Star – Dave Forster
Suffolk economic development director quits
Suffolk economic development director’s resignation letter
Ex-Suffolk development official says she was forced out

From Suffolk News Herald – Tracey Agnew
Cave leaves economic post
Cave given choice: “Resign or be terminated”

WHAT DO YOU THINK

Do we dare suspect that Suffolk's home appraisal process reflects any of this? NO CHANCE! While the real world tells us that home prices are now where they were in the Fall of 2002, Suffolk clings to the absurd philosophy that home prices remain at their peak and never suffered a loss--at least when it comes to taxing those properties. And so Suffolk continues to defy gravity, economics, reality and common sense if only to provide cover for continued municipal spending beyond the city's means! Click on the following.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124334273595354315.html#mod=djemalertNEWS

Live Streaming of Graduation Ceremonies

I know first-hand the value of live streaming for events such as this. Last year, my husband's mother was in the hospital the day of his daughter's college graduation ceremony. We were able to enjoy the graduation with a better-than-a-front-row-seat view (in her hospital room) thanks to the college's live streaming of the event on the Internet. I also know people who have had their wedding ceremonies streamed so that family members and friends could enjoy the ceremony even when distance was an issue.

So kudos to the school district for making the graduation ceremonies available to any family or friend who has internet access. This is about using technology to improve the relationship between the local government and the citizens it serves.

I've said it before but it's a good time to say this again. How about if our Council and School Board stream each of its meetings, thus reaching out to a wider net of citizens? The cost? Actually nothing with some of the services that are available to use. Let's do this as one way to show we really do care about keeping up with technology and using it to promote positive relationships with citizens. Remember, right now if you don't have cable, you don't have live access to City Council or School Board meetings - something that is so easy to address and change.

Again, to Ms. Bradshaw with the school district - kudos!

http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2009/may/21/graduation-ceremonies-stream-live-web/

Suffolk's Front Door Bus Service

Suffolk’s bus service was outsourced as a cost-saving measure. As repeatedly shown, the local government is not usually the best entity to provide products and services that should be handled by businesses. I am glad to see a review of the bus service and only wish for a more thorough analyses of all the operations in our city.

I am also surprised at the findings but through them I am gently reminded about the reasons why citizens must continue to speak toward pursuing excellence, accountability, and transparency in our local government. We should never have had a bus service that picks people up at their front doors, escapes ADA requirements, regularly runs late, continues to use routes that aren’t used by citizens, and more.

Vice-Mayor Milteer shows concern related to people no longer having front-door service. Because the City Council has allowed these practices for years, it will be inconvenient for some.

HRT: Suffolk routes among riskiest, most delayed in region

City of Suffolk 2008-2009 Operating Budget This is the source document that indicates the bus service being handed over as a cost-savings measure.

FROM THE BRITISH PRESS

If al-Qaeda, the Taliban and the rest of the Looney Tunes brigade want to kick America to death, they had better move in quickly and grab a piece of the action before Barack Obama finishes the job himself. Never in the history of the United States has a president worked so actively against the interests of his own people. To Obama the enemy does not squat in caves in Waziristan reciting militant verses from the Koran: instead, it sits around at tea parties in Kentucky quoting from the US Constitution. Obama is not at war with terrorists, but with his Republican fellow citizens. That is why he opened Pandora's Box by publishing the Justice Department's legal opinions on waterboarding and other hardline interrogation techniques. He cynically subordinated the national interest to his partisan desire to embarrass the Republicans. Then he had to rush to Langley, Virginia to try to reassure a demoralised CIA that had just discovered the President of the United States was an even more formidable foe than al-Qaeda."Don't be discouraged by what's happened the last few weeks," he told intelligence officers. Is he kidding? Thanks to him, al-Qaeda knows the private interrogation techniques available to the US intelligence agencies and can train its operatives to withstand them - or would do so, if they had not already been outlawed. So, next time a senior al-Qaeda hood is captured, all the CIA can do is ask him nicely if he would care to reveal when a major population centre is due to be hit by a terror spectacular. President Pantywaist's recent world tour, cosying up to all the bad guys, excited the ambitions of America's enemies. Here, they realised, 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 America so badly?

A DIFFERENT SLANT

"When Barack Obama speaks at an American university, he does not provide a different perspective. He preaches to the liberal choir. And I am afraid that most of today's Catholic universities are no exception. ... Contrary to providing diversity of opinion, by inviting Barack Obama, [Notre Dame University president] Father Jenkins really just played to his audience. True leadership would have been to invite a speaker who would inspire this young audience to take seriously the values of their Catholic tradition. ... Where can a parent send their son or daughter to get educated and not be indoctrinated with liberal boilerplate? Catholic universities were supposed to serve this purpose. But it's clear that they, too, have been swept into the liberal tsunami that has engulfed America. Ironically, Father Jenkins states in his letter that Notre Dame's invitation to Obama is 'not a political statement or an endorsement of policy.' He then expresses admiration for the president's views on 'expanding health care, alleviating poverty, and building peace through diplomacy.'

From the Patriot Post

PORT TRAFFIC

Virginia port traffic continues to slow and port bonds losing some value. May affect Centerpoint if it continues.


http://www.joc.com/node/411373

WE ARE LETTING THEM DOWN...HARD

Anyone following the world news realizes Europe is now addicted to big government with its unaffordable entitlements and cradle to grave welfare. Now, thanks to liberals, this country, the last holdout, is on the way down that same road. Obama, the 44th president, has created a multi-trillion-dollar budget that will add to the national debt more than the other 43 presidents combined. Imagine a $3.600,000,000,000 budget and a debt of $1,841,000,000,000 for future generations to pay. Combined with almost total welfare is the very best way to harm the relationship between citizen and government. We have always stated we want the best for our children…sorry folks, apparently we don’t mean it.

Economists Predict Economy Will Take Years To Recover.

The Wall Street Journal (5/15, Izzo) reports, "Economists in the latest Wall Street Journal survey see an end to the recession by autumn, but say it will take years for the economy to fully recover." On average, the 52 economists who participated in the survey "project that the recession will end in August." They expect GDP "to contract 1.4% at a seasonally adjusted annualized pace in the current quarter, compared with the 6.1% drop recorded in the first quarter." The survey was conducted "before the Commerce Department's report this week that retail sales fell 0.4% in April from the previous month, which left some economists questioning whether consumer spending is ready to rebound." The depth of the downturn "means it will take years to eat up the slack created by the recession. Nearly half of the economists said it will take three to four years to close the output gap, while more than a quarter say it will take five to six years."


Seems like the rosy scenarios some are discussing just might not be founded in reality. As our economy erodes further, what impact is it having on you? With more people seeing the possible horror of losing their homes due to higher taxes and in many cases scary mortgages that will reset in 2011/2012, it now looks like the pain has not ended by any means. The latest assessment situation seems to highlight the unbelievable claims made of value due to the prices assessed and seem to have little to do with the real market (as required by law). This situation may be twisted further, as the real market that includes foreclosures and short sales are not even included and that skews the assessment data that sets our taxes. This kind of "Smoke and Mirrors" defrauds the truth and shows that distrust in the process is warranted. The new claim by the assessors is that: "There just is not market data in Suffolk to support a price reduction on your home..." This is true when they exclude the short sales and foreclosures that make the market today... The assessment system is based on truth and suffers when it is manipulated, especially when you can't even sell if you wanted too............
Roger A. Leonard...

STUFF HAPPPENING FAST

HR 1388 was passed yesterday. That is the bill that supports and brings Hamas refugees to this country on our taxes. Obama will dump Israel as an ally in due time. It figures this way; he was at one time going to let Gitmo detainees free in this country and even provide money for them. Now he is reversing his stance on that but will allow Hamas refugees into the country and give them the money. Is there a difference?

MISSING INFO ABOUT OUR PRESIDENT

Occidental College records --not released. Columbia College records --not released. Columbia Thesis paper --not available. Harvard College records --not released. Selective Service Registration --not released. Medical records --not released. Illinois State Senate schedule --
not available. His Illinois State Senate records --not available. Law practice client list --not released. Certified Copy of original Birth certificate --not released. Embossed, signed paper Certification of Live Birth --not released. Record of his baptism --not available. Any articles he published as editor of the Harvard Law Review, or as a Professor at the University of Chicago.

So what do we really know about his experience prior to successfully running for President? Well, OK, he is a smooth talker.

IS COUNCIL UP TO OLD TRICKS

The city is trying to unload the Sleepy Hole golf course but will not reveal part of the deal concerning Obici House. Does it surprise you that important city officials prefer not to have ordinary citizens involved for fear they will do exactly as they are doing? A few interested people are concerned the transfer could include the destruction of the old home of Amedeo Obici and want to know now. The house has great Suffolk historical significance and may deserve to be restored where it is located or moved, at great cost, to a better city site. A serious wrangle could stall or end any ongoing discussion with a potential new owner whose interest is primarily profit. Most taxpayers want the best arrangement for the city coffers and believe what the Obici family did for Suffolk is already memorialized by the hospital. Council has been challenged by those would preserve Obici House and are waiting for answer.

http://www.suffolk.va.us/bids/files/982_sleepy_hole_RFQ.pdf

THIS SHOULD SCARE YOU

"Barack Obama's vision of America is one in which a President of the United States can fire the head of General Motors, tell banks how to bank, control the medical system and take charge of all sorts of other activities for which neither he nor other politicians have any expertise or experience. The Constitution of the United States gives no president, nor the entire federal government, the authority to do such things. But spending trillions of dollars to bail out all sorts of companies buys the power to tell them how to operate. Appointing judges to the federal courts -- including the Supreme Court -- who believe in expanding the powers of the federal government to make arbitrary decisions, choosing who will be winners and losers in the economy and in the society, is perfectly consistent with a vision of the world where self-confident and self-righteous elites rule according to their own notions, instead of merely governing under the restraints of the Constitution." --Hoover Institution economist Thomas Sowell

MAYBE ONE DAY IN AMERICA

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law in Australia were told on Wednesday to get out, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks. Separately, Prime Minister Rudd 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 patriotism 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.'

NEW SCCA DIRECTOR HUNKERS DOWN

Paul Lasakow, new boss at the Cultural Center found a way to live with a reduced budget, they had requested $600,000 and allowed $450,000, an amount many thought was inflated. There are still thousands who believe SCCA should survive with no financial help. Sadly three employees had to go and were replaced by the Director who apparently is capable of handling more responsibility than he of the purple shirt who recently moved on to better things. Lasakow calls it “organizational shifting” stating that remaining staff will be picking up duties of the people moving out.