As usual, you have to go all the way to the bottom of the story to find the really good stuff:
Among business groups, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and the Wisconsin Restaurant Association have lobbied for a guest worker program and against the House bill's stiff penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants.
The restaurant group also supports a "path to citizenship" for illegal immigrants, said group CEO Ed Lump.
"We're a growth industry," Lump said. "We need labor. You can't run a restaurant without workers. It gets more and more difficult to hire them."
...The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation also has expressed its opposition to parts of the House bill, chiefly the employer sanctions. Wisconsin is 12th in the nation in the number of hired farm laborers, said Tom Thieding, the federation's public relations director.
"We weren't real successful in him understanding the issues farmers were facing," he said of Sensenbrenner.
That's a hoot. "...the issues farmers are facing..." include what? The "farmer" has no telephone? Can't call the Feds to verify a SSAN?
And just for fun, maybe Thieding would like to show us how many of his members run real family farms--not the "corporate farms" run by tax-scamming investor-class types.
In a meeting with him last year on immigration reform, Sensenbrenner was "just going on about how this was going to be his legacy," Thieding said.
And YOUR legacy, Mr. Thieding? Garbage-strewn border ranches, dead bodies, and drug-runners? I suppose you can claim that, if you like.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Department of Homeland Stupidity, Chapter 1,655
Yah, that Chertoff--whadda guy!
Fire departments are using Homeland Security grants to buy gym equipment, sponsor puppet and clown shows, and turn first responders into fitness trainers.
The spending choices are allowable under the guidelines of the Assistance to Firefighters grant administered by the Homeland Security Department, which has awarded nearly 250 grants since February totaling more than $25 million out of the current spending pot of $545 million.
In fairness, Chertoff tells us that 'it's Congress who directs the spending...'
But as we've noted earlier, that's not quite true. Most likely, Chertoff could simply ignore the 'earmarks' and not spend the money.
Meanwhile, some Firefighters' Union, somewhere, is enjoying a $69,000.00 "clown show." All this time you thought they just fight fires and do CPR, eh?
Fire departments are using Homeland Security grants to buy gym equipment, sponsor puppet and clown shows, and turn first responders into fitness trainers.
The spending choices are allowable under the guidelines of the Assistance to Firefighters grant administered by the Homeland Security Department, which has awarded nearly 250 grants since February totaling more than $25 million out of the current spending pot of $545 million.
In fairness, Chertoff tells us that 'it's Congress who directs the spending...'
But as we've noted earlier, that's not quite true. Most likely, Chertoff could simply ignore the 'earmarks' and not spend the money.
Meanwhile, some Firefighters' Union, somewhere, is enjoying a $69,000.00 "clown show." All this time you thought they just fight fires and do CPR, eh?
UW-Mad Just Doesn't Get It
Once again we see that the Trustees of the UW System let Wiley make an idiot of himself:
Wiley is not happy tht some of the UW students' segregated fees go to the UW Roman Catholic Foundation.
Mark Green thinks it's blatant discrimination.
Wiley comes up with the usual bureaucratic BS, forgetting that other beneficiaries of the seg-fees have the same deficiencies:
"Wiley added in his letter that UWRCF was ineligible for funding since it was not a registered student organization...
"Well, if you check the Student Org. Office list of current Registered Student Orgs, neither is the LGBT Campus Center or the Tenant Resource Center, two groups that have received and will continue to receive seg. fees.
"and [UWRCF] could not receive funding for its maintenance and utilities because it was located at a “non-university” facility."
Alright, then JCC, Multicultural Student Coalition, Sex Out Loud, and CFACT, among others, who rent space in "non-university" facilities should not be funded either.
Wiley's simply clueless.
HT: Letters in Bottles.
Wiley is not happy tht some of the UW students' segregated fees go to the UW Roman Catholic Foundation.
Mark Green thinks it's blatant discrimination.
Wiley comes up with the usual bureaucratic BS, forgetting that other beneficiaries of the seg-fees have the same deficiencies:
"Wiley added in his letter that UWRCF was ineligible for funding since it was not a registered student organization...
"Well, if you check the Student Org. Office list of current Registered Student Orgs, neither is the LGBT Campus Center or the Tenant Resource Center, two groups that have received and will continue to receive seg. fees.
"and [UWRCF] could not receive funding for its maintenance and utilities because it was located at a “non-university” facility."
Alright, then JCC, Multicultural Student Coalition, Sex Out Loud, and CFACT, among others, who rent space in "non-university" facilities should not be funded either.
Wiley's simply clueless.
HT: Letters in Bottles.
A Leaker AND Stupid?
Ms McCarthy, formerly of the CIA, may have bitten on a rubber worm:
Rick Moran at Right Wing Nuthouse wonders if the story on CIA detention centers might not have been a sting operation to unmask leakers at Langley. The possibility comes up because on the same day that the CIA terminated Mary McCarthy for her communications to the press, the New York Times reports that European investigators cannot find any evidence that the detention centers ever existed.
...How do intel agencies find leakers and spies? They pass around carefully designed misinformation to selected individuals considered likely suspects, and see what winds up exposed as a result. It's possible that after Porter Goss took over as DCI when George Tenet left, he began mole hunting in a big way. It's certain that the administration would have demanded some action on leaks, and Goss would have been of a similar mind. It appears that the story she gave Dana Priest has a lot less substance than first thought. Two separate investigations by Europe turned up nothing. They have reported on both occasions that no evidence exists to substantiate the story, either of the detention centers or of European cooperation.
McCarthy would have been a classic candidate for this kind of mole hunt. A favorite of the previous administration, having reached the National Security Council, her loss of influence in the new administration could have prompted bitterness and antagonism.
She was a close pal of Sandy Berger. Maybe she stuffed the "evidence" in her undies before giving it to the Washington Post.
Rick Moran at Right Wing Nuthouse wonders if the story on CIA detention centers might not have been a sting operation to unmask leakers at Langley. The possibility comes up because on the same day that the CIA terminated Mary McCarthy for her communications to the press, the New York Times reports that European investigators cannot find any evidence that the detention centers ever existed.
...How do intel agencies find leakers and spies? They pass around carefully designed misinformation to selected individuals considered likely suspects, and see what winds up exposed as a result. It's possible that after Porter Goss took over as DCI when George Tenet left, he began mole hunting in a big way. It's certain that the administration would have demanded some action on leaks, and Goss would have been of a similar mind. It appears that the story she gave Dana Priest has a lot less substance than first thought. Two separate investigations by Europe turned up nothing. They have reported on both occasions that no evidence exists to substantiate the story, either of the detention centers or of European cooperation.
McCarthy would have been a classic candidate for this kind of mole hunt. A favorite of the previous administration, having reached the National Security Council, her loss of influence in the new administration could have prompted bitterness and antagonism.
She was a close pal of Sandy Berger. Maybe she stuffed the "evidence" in her undies before giving it to the Washington Post.
Missing from This Story
The JSOnline story about Gonzales' appearance here consists of 9 grafs. The first is straightforward:
U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales was in Milwaukee on Friday to announce a $2.5 million grant to fight gangs, and was also briefed about the Frank Jude Jr. beating case and a jury's acquittal of three former Milwaukee police officers tried in the crime.
As was the last:
The $2.5 million grant will provide $1 million for prevention programs, $1 million for law enforcement and $500,000 for prisoner re-entry, drug treatment and job training programs, he said. Milwaukee is one of six cities to get the grants.
The rest had to do with Frank Jude and Gonzales' personal history as he related it to a number of students from the South Side of Milwaukee.
But somewhere along the line (TV or radio news) there was a LOT more about the reason for the Gang Grant--having to do with the gravity of the gang problem in Milwaukee...you know, stuff the Mayor and Cop Shop should be concerned about...
But hey! Milwaukee's Mayor will be in the Big Apple this weekend, discussing "Gun Problems" with illuminati such as the Mayors of NYC and Boston.
S'pose they'll mention the gangs=guns connection?
U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales was in Milwaukee on Friday to announce a $2.5 million grant to fight gangs, and was also briefed about the Frank Jude Jr. beating case and a jury's acquittal of three former Milwaukee police officers tried in the crime.
As was the last:
The $2.5 million grant will provide $1 million for prevention programs, $1 million for law enforcement and $500,000 for prisoner re-entry, drug treatment and job training programs, he said. Milwaukee is one of six cities to get the grants.
The rest had to do with Frank Jude and Gonzales' personal history as he related it to a number of students from the South Side of Milwaukee.
But somewhere along the line (TV or radio news) there was a LOT more about the reason for the Gang Grant--having to do with the gravity of the gang problem in Milwaukee...you know, stuff the Mayor and Cop Shop should be concerned about...
But hey! Milwaukee's Mayor will be in the Big Apple this weekend, discussing "Gun Problems" with illuminati such as the Mayors of NYC and Boston.
S'pose they'll mention the gangs=guns connection?
"Protectionism"--Does It Work?
For those BushBots who insist that "protectionism" is a path to economic doom, a minor bump in the road:
The economic growth of 10 percent recorded by China in 2005 would seem to contradict a tenet of faith of all good democratic capitalists.
China's performance tells us that, contrary to the teachings of free-trade liberals, dictatorship and protectionism do not necessarily ensure stagnation. For China is a one-party state and the most protectionist great nation on earth. Yet, her growth has been unequaled by any free-market rival nation for 15 years.
A few years ago, some White House-ensconced jackass openly disparaged those who are concerned about the loss of industry in the USA as 'yahoos' or some such term, and eschewed "protectionism" as the way to certain doom.
I'd take 10+%/annum growth "doom."
The economic growth of 10 percent recorded by China in 2005 would seem to contradict a tenet of faith of all good democratic capitalists.
China's performance tells us that, contrary to the teachings of free-trade liberals, dictatorship and protectionism do not necessarily ensure stagnation. For China is a one-party state and the most protectionist great nation on earth. Yet, her growth has been unequaled by any free-market rival nation for 15 years.
A few years ago, some White House-ensconced jackass openly disparaged those who are concerned about the loss of industry in the USA as 'yahoos' or some such term, and eschewed "protectionism" as the way to certain doom.
I'd take 10+%/annum growth "doom."
Cardinal Martini (Pal of Rembert) Seeks Friends in MSM
UPDATED: This from LifeSite News:
In the largest and most obvious break with Church teaching, the Cardinal refers to legal abortion as "positive" so far as it has "contributed to reducing and eliminating illegal abortions".
This makes the discussion below almost frivolous.
Cdl. Martini, S.J., who got up to (what, 10?? 15??) votes in the last Papal conclave, definitely misses the spotlight after retirement from his post at Milan. So he emulates X42, mutatis mutandis, and mis-characterizes moral theology. If nothing else, he'll have press lapdogs following him around when Rembert Weakland, OSB, is not visiting.
The key to understanding the Cardinal's mis-understanding is near the end of the story:
However, he acknowledged that in abortion, there were cases when the life of the mother was at risk where abortion might be considered the "lesser evil."
"In such cases, it seems that moral theology has always supported the principle of the legitimate defense and the lesser evil, even if it concerns a reality that shows the dramatic and fragility of the human condition," he said.
Assuming that the quotations are accurate and complete, Martini clearly avoided the Thomistic language of "double effect," and instead chose language which utilizes "proportionalism," condemned by John Paul II.
The Church's teaching on "life-of-the-mother" abortions (utilized for tubal pregnancies, e.g.) has always been phrased using the principle of double effect--where the action and the intention of acting has the effect of defending the mother's life; and a secondary, but un-intended effect is the loss of the life of the unborn child.
This formulation places the moral onus exactly where it belongs: on the actor.
In contrast, utilizing "lesser evil" language moves the emphasis away from the actor and instead places the emphasis on the act, allowing for a "proportional" assessment of the act, which can easily become subjective, rather than objective judgment.
It should also be mentioned that the Cardinal (or the reporter) has deliberately chosen a "hard case:"
"There's also the unique situation of a married couple, one of whom is afflicted with AIDS. That one is obliged to protect the other, and the other must be able to protect him or herself," the cardinal said.
...and has avoided discussion of the clinical reality; it is clear from the evidence that chastity DOES work in those African countries where it has been tried.
Martini went on:
In the wide-ranging interview, Martini also suggested that even single women could be implanted with frozen embryos if the alternative is letting the embryos die. Church teaching holds that all procreation must take place within marriage; the Vatican also opposes many assisted fertility procedures.
Perhaps it is just co-incidence that this followed Benedict XVI's condemnation of the West's increasingly clear desire to destroy the family (delivered at the Stations of the Cross a week ago Friday,) but we doubt it.
What Martini suggests here is that one can remedy an immoral act (the creation of a human being outside of marriage) by another act which is morally questionable and which is inherently opposed to right order: single parenthood. His solution "feels good." But it's not right.
The Cardinal has chosen his friends.
In the largest and most obvious break with Church teaching, the Cardinal refers to legal abortion as "positive" so far as it has "contributed to reducing and eliminating illegal abortions".
This makes the discussion below almost frivolous.
Cdl. Martini, S.J., who got up to (what, 10?? 15??) votes in the last Papal conclave, definitely misses the spotlight after retirement from his post at Milan. So he emulates X42, mutatis mutandis, and mis-characterizes moral theology. If nothing else, he'll have press lapdogs following him around when Rembert Weakland, OSB, is not visiting.
The key to understanding the Cardinal's mis-understanding is near the end of the story:
However, he acknowledged that in abortion, there were cases when the life of the mother was at risk where abortion might be considered the "lesser evil."
"In such cases, it seems that moral theology has always supported the principle of the legitimate defense and the lesser evil, even if it concerns a reality that shows the dramatic and fragility of the human condition," he said.
Assuming that the quotations are accurate and complete, Martini clearly avoided the Thomistic language of "double effect," and instead chose language which utilizes "proportionalism," condemned by John Paul II.
The Church's teaching on "life-of-the-mother" abortions (utilized for tubal pregnancies, e.g.) has always been phrased using the principle of double effect--where the action and the intention of acting has the effect of defending the mother's life; and a secondary, but un-intended effect is the loss of the life of the unborn child.
This formulation places the moral onus exactly where it belongs: on the actor.
In contrast, utilizing "lesser evil" language moves the emphasis away from the actor and instead places the emphasis on the act, allowing for a "proportional" assessment of the act, which can easily become subjective, rather than objective judgment.
It should also be mentioned that the Cardinal (or the reporter) has deliberately chosen a "hard case:"
"There's also the unique situation of a married couple, one of whom is afflicted with AIDS. That one is obliged to protect the other, and the other must be able to protect him or herself," the cardinal said.
...and has avoided discussion of the clinical reality; it is clear from the evidence that chastity DOES work in those African countries where it has been tried.
Martini went on:
In the wide-ranging interview, Martini also suggested that even single women could be implanted with frozen embryos if the alternative is letting the embryos die. Church teaching holds that all procreation must take place within marriage; the Vatican also opposes many assisted fertility procedures.
Perhaps it is just co-incidence that this followed Benedict XVI's condemnation of the West's increasingly clear desire to destroy the family (delivered at the Stations of the Cross a week ago Friday,) but we doubt it.
What Martini suggests here is that one can remedy an immoral act (the creation of a human being outside of marriage) by another act which is morally questionable and which is inherently opposed to right order: single parenthood. His solution "feels good." But it's not right.
The Cardinal has chosen his friends.
Woman Charged; Butcher Escapes
Tales of Alice in Wonderland, Part Two:
A heckler from the Falun Gong spiritual movement who disrupted a White House appearance by Chinese President Hu Jintao was charged in federal court on Friday with harassing, intimidating or threatening a foreign official.
One notices that there is a great deal of blogger-land interest in this woman's fate.
Maybe the occupants of the White House noticed the same...
A heckler from the Falun Gong spiritual movement who disrupted a White House appearance by Chinese President Hu Jintao was charged in federal court on Friday with harassing, intimidating or threatening a foreign official.
One notices that there is a great deal of blogger-land interest in this woman's fate.
Maybe the occupants of the White House noticed the same...
Friday, April 21, 2006
Generals VS the President
Some have commented on this--suffice it to say that the Constitution provides for the election of the Commander-in-Chief every four years. The Pentagon is not eligible for election to that position.
That said, the endorsement of GWB by Genl R. Meyers cuts no baloney in this corner: GWB appointed Meyers' utterly clueless daughter-in-law to a very important Dept of Homeland Security Stupidity post--in charge of INS.
Most Conservatives think that was a move ALMOST as dumb as signing the McPain/Feinie Act To Demolish the First Amendment.
It's debatable, I know...
That said, the endorsement of GWB by Genl R. Meyers cuts no baloney in this corner: GWB appointed Meyers' utterly clueless daughter-in-law to a very important Dept of Homeland
Most Conservatives think that was a move ALMOST as dumb as signing the McPain/Feinie Act To Demolish the First Amendment.
It's debatable, I know...
LawDog on the NOLA Thieves
...we refer, of course, to the LEO's of New Orleans:
You know, when I first heard the rumors of gun confiscations in NOLA during the aftermath of Katrina, I figured it had to be part of the hysteria.
I mean, who the hell would take guns away from citizens during a full-blown, full-on collapse of society? In the middle of Deepinahearta the Southern States?
And given the number of reporters, and the wide availability of digital video recording devices, the lack of published video seemed to back up my thoughts.
Then the Patricia Konie video surfaced. That was bad, but I figured there had to be more to that savage little scene than what was readily apparent.
Boy, was I naive.
After a lawsuit by the NRA and the SAF, plus contempt of court citations, NOLA jackasses reluctantly admitted that they were in possession of a thousand-plus confiscated firearms.
Thousand. Not 'tens', not 'hundreds'. Thousand.
ARE YOU BLOODY WELL ****ING ME?!
Those knuckle-dragging, nit-witted, mouse-dicked, pea-brained, lard-arsed, desk-driving, cork-screwed little dacoits with delusions of adequacy must have been running around stealing guns at warp speed!Did they bloody well organize shifts for this?
"You , you and you: loot Wal-Mart. You, you , and you: steal guns from any citizen who'll let you get by with it."
That's ... that's ... I really don't have words to express how I feel towards public servants (who are sworn to protect the citizens) stealing from those citizens their only means of protection. WHILE, I might add, LOOTING EVERY FECKING WAL-MART IN SIGHT. ON CAMERA.
Sweet evil Loki, y'all blotted your Eternal Copybook something fierce, I'm here to tell you.
And now, I find, it gets better.
After being forced -- let me repeat that -- after being FORCED to admit to taking lawfully-owned property (we call that 'Stealing' here in Texas), NOLA officials are reluctantly arranging to return said property.
As long as the owners are willing to jump through intricate and complicated hoops.Want your lawfully-owned firearm back? Bring a bill of sale.Bill of sale???!!! I don't fecking well keep the receipts of the guns I've purchased, you sodding ignorati! My grand-father and great-grandfather didn't keep the bills of sale to the guns they passed down to me!
And even if they did, you rat bastard sonsabitches, y'all just went through a BLOODY FLOOD! How in the name of all that is holy are the citizens supposed to find a bill of sale in a house that was UNDER 14 GODS-BE-DAMNED FEET OF WATER??!!
You buggered this whole thing into a cocked hat, YOU FIX IT. Don't dump that responsibility on the citizens who were merely in possession of LEGAL SODDING PROPERTY.
Yes, Gentle Readers, as you might have guessed the track record of Biblical level, pure, grade-A, arse-covering, institutionalized incompetence demonstrated by the officals of NOLA in the past is holding true: it looks as though 25 people showed up to retrieve their lawfully-possessed property -- and 8 received that property. 17 people did NOT get their lawful property returned to them.
What's the difference between a pack of Rover Scouts and New Orleans?
Adult bloody leadership, that's what.
8 people had their legal property returned. Well, hell, that only leaves a thousand or so stolen guns to be returned, doesn't it? Sodding incompetent muckwaddles.
I swear to God, if I worked for NOLA, I'd tell my mama that I was the mop man at an adult theatre and spare her the shame of knowing one of her off-spring had fallen far enough to actually accept employment from the likes of NOLA.
Where the hell is the ATF during all this? Why the hell isn't the ATF six feet up Nagin's butt with a microscope like they are with gun-dealers who mislay guns?
NOLA officials should be horsewhipped around the courthouse square for this.Shame on you. Shame on you all.
LawDog
And now you know why The LawDog Files are blogrolled here.
You know, when I first heard the rumors of gun confiscations in NOLA during the aftermath of Katrina, I figured it had to be part of the hysteria.
I mean, who the hell would take guns away from citizens during a full-blown, full-on collapse of society? In the middle of Deepinahearta the Southern States?
And given the number of reporters, and the wide availability of digital video recording devices, the lack of published video seemed to back up my thoughts.
Then the Patricia Konie video surfaced. That was bad, but I figured there had to be more to that savage little scene than what was readily apparent.
Boy, was I naive.
After a lawsuit by the NRA and the SAF, plus contempt of court citations, NOLA jackasses reluctantly admitted that they were in possession of a thousand-plus confiscated firearms.
Thousand. Not 'tens', not 'hundreds'. Thousand.
ARE YOU BLOODY WELL ****ING ME?!
Those knuckle-dragging, nit-witted, mouse-dicked, pea-brained, lard-arsed, desk-driving, cork-screwed little dacoits with delusions of adequacy must have been running around stealing guns at warp speed!Did they bloody well organize shifts for this?
"You , you and you: loot Wal-Mart. You, you , and you: steal guns from any citizen who'll let you get by with it."
That's ... that's ... I really don't have words to express how I feel towards public servants (who are sworn to protect the citizens) stealing from those citizens their only means of protection. WHILE, I might add, LOOTING EVERY FECKING WAL-MART IN SIGHT. ON CAMERA.
Sweet evil Loki, y'all blotted your Eternal Copybook something fierce, I'm here to tell you.
And now, I find, it gets better.
After being forced -- let me repeat that -- after being FORCED to admit to taking lawfully-owned property (we call that 'Stealing' here in Texas), NOLA officials are reluctantly arranging to return said property.
As long as the owners are willing to jump through intricate and complicated hoops.Want your lawfully-owned firearm back? Bring a bill of sale.Bill of sale???!!! I don't fecking well keep the receipts of the guns I've purchased, you sodding ignorati! My grand-father and great-grandfather didn't keep the bills of sale to the guns they passed down to me!
And even if they did, you rat bastard sonsabitches, y'all just went through a BLOODY FLOOD! How in the name of all that is holy are the citizens supposed to find a bill of sale in a house that was UNDER 14 GODS-BE-DAMNED FEET OF WATER??!!
You buggered this whole thing into a cocked hat, YOU FIX IT. Don't dump that responsibility on the citizens who were merely in possession of LEGAL SODDING PROPERTY.
Yes, Gentle Readers, as you might have guessed the track record of Biblical level, pure, grade-A, arse-covering, institutionalized incompetence demonstrated by the officals of NOLA in the past is holding true: it looks as though 25 people showed up to retrieve their lawfully-possessed property -- and 8 received that property. 17 people did NOT get their lawful property returned to them.
What's the difference between a pack of Rover Scouts and New Orleans?
Adult bloody leadership, that's what.
8 people had their legal property returned. Well, hell, that only leaves a thousand or so stolen guns to be returned, doesn't it? Sodding incompetent muckwaddles.
I swear to God, if I worked for NOLA, I'd tell my mama that I was the mop man at an adult theatre and spare her the shame of knowing one of her off-spring had fallen far enough to actually accept employment from the likes of NOLA.
Where the hell is the ATF during all this? Why the hell isn't the ATF six feet up Nagin's butt with a microscope like they are with gun-dealers who mislay guns?
NOLA officials should be horsewhipped around the courthouse square for this.Shame on you. Shame on you all.
LawDog
And now you know why The LawDog Files are blogrolled here.
Late-Night Radio with Real Action
For those of you who are able to stay awake AFTER Jessica finishes off the leftybonzos, it will be just as exciting--Mark Levin's show begins on WISN radio May 1st.
Who's Mark Levin?
Landmark Legal Foundation today asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate numerous activities by the National Education Association's Wisconsin affiliate, the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) that may have violated federal tax law.
The WEAC made a total of $430,000 in contributions to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) that weren't reported on WEAC's tax returns. The DLCC is a political organization formed by the Democratic National Committee to provide funding and logistical assistance to state legislative campaigns around the country. The WEAC contributions, which were reported by the DLCC on its tax filings, were made in 2000 and 2002, and were apparently used by the DLCC to underwrite state legislative campaigns in California and elsewhere.
WEAC is a 501(c)(5) tax-exempt union under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). As a 501(c)(5), WEAC is required to report and pay federal income tax on almost any general revenue funds used for political purposes, including contributions made by the union to political organizations like the DLCC (called 527s, for the section of the IRC under which they areformed.) WEAC's own 527, the Wisconsin Education Association Council -- Political Action Committee (WEAC-PAC), also did not report the DLCC contributions in question on their tax filings.
In addition to both the WEAC and DLCC tax filings, and the tax returns of WEAC-PAC, Landmark's complaint includes media reports and other information detailing the use of apparently tax-exempt revenues by the union to fund overtly political contributions.
"Wisconsin's teachers should be outraged that their union is apparently using their dues money to fund political contributions to California state legislative campaigns," explained Landmark President Mark R. Levin. "And they should be furious that their leaders appear to be thumbing their noses at legal reporting requirements to advance their own political agendas without their members' knowledge or consent."
S'pose Folkbum will be a regular caller on Levin's show?
Who's Mark Levin?
Landmark Legal Foundation today asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate numerous activities by the National Education Association's Wisconsin affiliate, the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) that may have violated federal tax law.
The WEAC made a total of $430,000 in contributions to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) that weren't reported on WEAC's tax returns. The DLCC is a political organization formed by the Democratic National Committee to provide funding and logistical assistance to state legislative campaigns around the country. The WEAC contributions, which were reported by the DLCC on its tax filings, were made in 2000 and 2002, and were apparently used by the DLCC to underwrite state legislative campaigns in California and elsewhere.
WEAC is a 501(c)(5) tax-exempt union under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). As a 501(c)(5), WEAC is required to report and pay federal income tax on almost any general revenue funds used for political purposes, including contributions made by the union to political organizations like the DLCC (called 527s, for the section of the IRC under which they areformed.) WEAC's own 527, the Wisconsin Education Association Council -- Political Action Committee (WEAC-PAC), also did not report the DLCC contributions in question on their tax filings.
In addition to both the WEAC and DLCC tax filings, and the tax returns of WEAC-PAC, Landmark's complaint includes media reports and other information detailing the use of apparently tax-exempt revenues by the union to fund overtly political contributions.
"Wisconsin's teachers should be outraged that their union is apparently using their dues money to fund political contributions to California state legislative campaigns," explained Landmark President Mark R. Levin. "And they should be furious that their leaders appear to be thumbing their noses at legal reporting requirements to advance their own political agendas without their members' knowledge or consent."
S'pose Folkbum will be a regular caller on Levin's show?
The Pill and Abortion: More Efficacious than The Plague
The Russkis, of all people, are depopulating:
Today the Washington Times reports on a Russian Parliamentary hearing on "family policy," at which it was reported that nearly half of Russia's families have no children at all, and another 34% have only one. Russia's current birthrate is 1.34 per woman, far below the rate needed for population equilibrium. At the current rate, Russia's population will be cut in half by the year 2050.
This implies a rate of depopulation greater, on a percentage basis, than when the Black Death killed around one-third of Europe's residents. Villages, towns, and even cities will be deserted and cease to exist. Or else they will be occupied by someone other than the Russians.
Next thing you know, Planned Parenthood will be taking credit...
Today the Washington Times reports on a Russian Parliamentary hearing on "family policy," at which it was reported that nearly half of Russia's families have no children at all, and another 34% have only one. Russia's current birthrate is 1.34 per woman, far below the rate needed for population equilibrium. At the current rate, Russia's population will be cut in half by the year 2050.
This implies a rate of depopulation greater, on a percentage basis, than when the Black Death killed around one-third of Europe's residents. Villages, towns, and even cities will be deserted and cease to exist. Or else they will be occupied by someone other than the Russians.
Next thing you know, Planned Parenthood will be taking credit...
Department of Homeland Stupidity, Chapter 1,654
Yah, so Chertoff's boyzz finally did the RIGHT thing and will charge a bunch of management-types with knowingly employing around 1200 illegals. About time. And by the way, Mikie, what about that Illinois-based company which has the largest single cache of invalid SSAN numbers on its payroll?
But we digress. Captain's Quarters brings us this great story about How To Screw Up Reconstruction (not quite as bad as post-Civil War...)
After almost eight months, much of the debris left behind by the hurricane and massive flooding has still not been removed -- which must happen before rebuilding can begin. One of [Louisiana State Rep.] Steve [Scalise's] constituents hired a private contractor to get the job done at $15 per cubic foot, but was warned repeatedly by FEMA officials that they would not reimburse him for the work since it had not gone through proper channels. After debating the point with FEMA for a while, the Louisianan gave up and applied for removal through FEMA. Instead of spending $15 per cubic foot, FEMA paid the new contractor $35 per cubic foot. Given that New Orleans has millions of cubic feet of debris to remove, the extra $20/cf will explode the costs of the cleanup.
Oh, and one other point about this anecdote: the contractor FEMA hired subbed the job to the original contractor hired by the constituent -- who got the same $15/cf that the constituent negotiated.
In a related issue, much of the debris could be recycled, such as steel and other materials. However, to the extent that anything has been cleaned up, 100% of it is going into landfills, a diminishing resource in the hurricane areas. The contractors hired by FEMA do not get paid any money for material that cannot be documented as ending up in the landfill, where it can be measured. Also, any money that the contractor receives for the recyclable material has to be given to FEMA in full. Without any incentive to spend time separating recyclable material to salvage the raw materials that could be used in rebuilding, it's all going into the trashheap instead.
Tell me that isn't a government program.
I thought that only Ripley could imagine such complete and utter buffoonery. Turns out Ripley may have simply perused Gummint policy books for his material.
But we digress. Captain's Quarters brings us this great story about How To Screw Up Reconstruction (not quite as bad as post-Civil War...)
After almost eight months, much of the debris left behind by the hurricane and massive flooding has still not been removed -- which must happen before rebuilding can begin. One of [Louisiana State Rep.] Steve [Scalise's] constituents hired a private contractor to get the job done at $15 per cubic foot, but was warned repeatedly by FEMA officials that they would not reimburse him for the work since it had not gone through proper channels. After debating the point with FEMA for a while, the Louisianan gave up and applied for removal through FEMA. Instead of spending $15 per cubic foot, FEMA paid the new contractor $35 per cubic foot. Given that New Orleans has millions of cubic feet of debris to remove, the extra $20/cf will explode the costs of the cleanup.
Oh, and one other point about this anecdote: the contractor FEMA hired subbed the job to the original contractor hired by the constituent -- who got the same $15/cf that the constituent negotiated.
In a related issue, much of the debris could be recycled, such as steel and other materials. However, to the extent that anything has been cleaned up, 100% of it is going into landfills, a diminishing resource in the hurricane areas. The contractors hired by FEMA do not get paid any money for material that cannot be documented as ending up in the landfill, where it can be measured. Also, any money that the contractor receives for the recyclable material has to be given to FEMA in full. Without any incentive to spend time separating recyclable material to salvage the raw materials that could be used in rebuilding, it's all going into the trashheap instead.
Tell me that isn't a government program.
I thought that only Ripley could imagine such complete and utter buffoonery. Turns out Ripley may have simply perused Gummint policy books for his material.
SB 629
Kevin never sends ME any letters...
But he does send them to Patrick, the BadgerBlogger, and he mentions SB 629, which would impose a life term on the perverts who commit first-degree sexual assault on a child.
In effect, this would move the Chapter 980 predators OUT of Sand Hill ($116K/year maintenance-per-pervert) and back to prison ($26+K/year maintenance-per-person.)
Assuming, of course, that the perp survives the shower room at Waupun. Prisoners are notoriously displeased with child-rapists.
Let's see how BagMan handles this one.
But he does send them to Patrick, the BadgerBlogger, and he mentions SB 629, which would impose a life term on the perverts who commit first-degree sexual assault on a child.
In effect, this would move the Chapter 980 predators OUT of Sand Hill ($116K/year maintenance-per-pervert) and back to prison ($26+K/year maintenance-per-person.)
Assuming, of course, that the perp survives the shower room at Waupun. Prisoners are notoriously displeased with child-rapists.
Let's see how BagMan handles this one.
The White House Protester
Info not easily available:
Dr. Wang Wanyi, a medical physician, a graduate of American University, an accredited journalist with Epoch Times, a New York area resident, an American citizen, is charged by the Federals with disorderly conduct and with intimidating and disturbing a foreign official, for her bold, accurate Mandarin statement during the joint press conference at the White House by Bush and Hu, that Hu is a criminal and an evil person.
"Intimidating and disturbing a foreign official?"
Yah. Here, if you're a butcher and guest of the White House, it's really, really easy to be "intimidated."
One hopes that Our President will immediately issue a pardon, and do so in a VERY ostentatious manner.
Dr. Wang Wanyi, a medical physician, a graduate of American University, an accredited journalist with Epoch Times, a New York area resident, an American citizen, is charged by the Federals with disorderly conduct and with intimidating and disturbing a foreign official, for her bold, accurate Mandarin statement during the joint press conference at the White House by Bush and Hu, that Hu is a criminal and an evil person.
"Intimidating and disturbing a foreign official?"
Yah. Here, if you're a butcher and guest of the White House, it's really, really easy to be "intimidated."
One hopes that Our President will immediately issue a pardon, and do so in a VERY ostentatious manner.
Chernobyl and Waukesha
Althouse caught this. Seems that radiation isn't necessarily bad for "living things."
There is a distinction to be made between animals which stay in one place, such as mice, and larger animals - elks, say - which move in and out of contaminated land as they range over large areas.
The animals that wander widely end up with a lower dose of radiation than animals stuck in a radiation hotspot.
The elk population has boomed in the absence of human interferenceBut there are signs that these unfortunate creatures can adapt to their circumstances.
Sergey Gaschak has experimented on mice in the Red Forest, parts of which are slowly growing back, albeit with stunted and misshapen trees.
"We marked animals then recaptured them again much later," he says.
"And we found they lived as long as animals in relatively clean areas."
Where else but Chernobyl...
Actually, University of Pittsburgh research indicates that some radiation is actually GOOD for you. That explains the attraction of Waukesha's fabled "spring water" spas back in the early 1900's, where bathing in the (radiation-heavy) water seemed to cure a number of ills.
Silly Waukesha. If it hadn't been for the Goodness of Our Federal Government, those folks out there would STILL be drinking that water. Instead, the City of Waukesha can now pay $$bazillions to import water from Milwaukee, drill deeper wells, etc., etc.
All to avoid the fate of the critters at Chernobyl.
There is a distinction to be made between animals which stay in one place, such as mice, and larger animals - elks, say - which move in and out of contaminated land as they range over large areas.
The animals that wander widely end up with a lower dose of radiation than animals stuck in a radiation hotspot.
The elk population has boomed in the absence of human interferenceBut there are signs that these unfortunate creatures can adapt to their circumstances.
Sergey Gaschak has experimented on mice in the Red Forest, parts of which are slowly growing back, albeit with stunted and misshapen trees.
"We marked animals then recaptured them again much later," he says.
"And we found they lived as long as animals in relatively clean areas."
Where else but Chernobyl...
Actually, University of Pittsburgh research indicates that some radiation is actually GOOD for you. That explains the attraction of Waukesha's fabled "spring water" spas back in the early 1900's, where bathing in the (radiation-heavy) water seemed to cure a number of ills.
Silly Waukesha. If it hadn't been for the Goodness of Our Federal Government, those folks out there would STILL be drinking that water. Instead, the City of Waukesha can now pay $$bazillions to import water from Milwaukee, drill deeper wells, etc., etc.
All to avoid the fate of the critters at Chernobyl.
The Rain Forest and Democrat Governors' Fund
Here's a fellow whose cash is spread around:
Under an agreement approved unanimously Thursday by the museum's board, control of the 820-acre rain forest will be handed over to a new not-for-profit foundation led by philanthropist Lynde Uihlein, who helped buy the property in the mid-1990s.
He's into this deal for $350,000.
Yesterday's WISN-radio news also tells us that Lynde Uihlein contributed $100K to a Democrat Governor's Fund--the money will be used by Jim Doyle's re-election campaign.
Under an agreement approved unanimously Thursday by the museum's board, control of the 820-acre rain forest will be handed over to a new not-for-profit foundation led by philanthropist Lynde Uihlein, who helped buy the property in the mid-1990s.
He's into this deal for $350,000.
Yesterday's WISN-radio news also tells us that Lynde Uihlein contributed $100K to a Democrat Governor's Fund--the money will be used by Jim Doyle's re-election campaign.
Jamie Gorelick--Another Stonewall
Jamie Gorelick was a Clinton Administration Justice Department lawyer. She was (and still is) an expert at stonewalling. You will recall that Ms. Gorelick not only set up the "Chinese wall" which prevented the FBI from communicating with the CIA/NSA about potential international terrorism--but that, in addition, she served on the 9/11 Commission, which whitewashed the Clinton Administration's complete failure to act on information about terrorism.
Well, Jamie Gorelick had even MORE information--this time related to the TWA 800 downing.
In the summer of 1996, Yousef, the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, was being held for trial in New York for the notorious Bojinka plot, his plan to blow up a dozen American commercial airliners over the Pacific more or less simultaneously – a plan that he was scarily capable of executing. Over time, Yousef had grown to trust the younger Scarpa, his neighbor in the next cell.
Yousef used Junior's connections to pass information to the outside world, little knowing that Scarpa was routing much of it through his own FBI handlers.
....Scarpa Jr. passed along to the FBI detailed information from Yousef, including specific threats against U.S. airlines, the identity of countries through which terrorists were entering the United States, and instructions for smuggling explosives, specifically the use of shoe bombs.
What is undeniable is that the day after TWA Flight 800 blew up off the coast of Long Island, Yousef asked for a mistrial, citing the now prejudicial environment post-explosion. He was denied. By allowing him to communicate overseas, however, the Justice Department may well have unwittingly assisted Yousef in his effort to destroy that ill-fated plane.
...Although the FBI did not initiate the TWA Flight 800 cover-up – that surely came from the White House – the Devecchio problem may have induced its key agents to cooperate. After five weeks of dogged investigation, Kallstrom and the FBI abandoned all serious inquiry following an Aug. 22 meeting with Deputy Attorney General – and future 9-11 commisssioner – Jamie Gorelick.
Another name to watch emerges, as well:
...It should be noted that the FBI's current chief counsel, Valerie Caproni, was the Clinton Justice official who oversaw Scarpa's work with Yousef. To thicken the plot, it was also Caproni who illegally ordered the FBI to take the TWA Flight 800 investigation away from the National Transportation Safety Board and who arranged the prosecution of James and Elizabeth Sanders for James Sanders' reporting on the TWA Flight 800 investigation. The absurdly compromised Caproni had any number of reasons for keeping Scarpa out of the light and the Devecchio case under wraps.
If you need some memory-refreshment on Ms. Gorelick, see Captain's Quarters and search on the term Able Danger. Briefly, Able Danger was the report that the 9/11 Commission "never saw"--but of course, that is a lie--and the report that made clear that the Clinton Gang was either asleep, OR was deliberately ignoring a real and significant threat to national security.
It's up to you to guess which...
Well, Jamie Gorelick had even MORE information--this time related to the TWA 800 downing.
In the summer of 1996, Yousef, the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, was being held for trial in New York for the notorious Bojinka plot, his plan to blow up a dozen American commercial airliners over the Pacific more or less simultaneously – a plan that he was scarily capable of executing. Over time, Yousef had grown to trust the younger Scarpa, his neighbor in the next cell.
Yousef used Junior's connections to pass information to the outside world, little knowing that Scarpa was routing much of it through his own FBI handlers.
....Scarpa Jr. passed along to the FBI detailed information from Yousef, including specific threats against U.S. airlines, the identity of countries through which terrorists were entering the United States, and instructions for smuggling explosives, specifically the use of shoe bombs.
What is undeniable is that the day after TWA Flight 800 blew up off the coast of Long Island, Yousef asked for a mistrial, citing the now prejudicial environment post-explosion. He was denied. By allowing him to communicate overseas, however, the Justice Department may well have unwittingly assisted Yousef in his effort to destroy that ill-fated plane.
...Although the FBI did not initiate the TWA Flight 800 cover-up – that surely came from the White House – the Devecchio problem may have induced its key agents to cooperate. After five weeks of dogged investigation, Kallstrom and the FBI abandoned all serious inquiry following an Aug. 22 meeting with Deputy Attorney General – and future 9-11 commisssioner – Jamie Gorelick.
Another name to watch emerges, as well:
...It should be noted that the FBI's current chief counsel, Valerie Caproni, was the Clinton Justice official who oversaw Scarpa's work with Yousef. To thicken the plot, it was also Caproni who illegally ordered the FBI to take the TWA Flight 800 investigation away from the National Transportation Safety Board and who arranged the prosecution of James and Elizabeth Sanders for James Sanders' reporting on the TWA Flight 800 investigation. The absurdly compromised Caproni had any number of reasons for keeping Scarpa out of the light and the Devecchio case under wraps.
If you need some memory-refreshment on Ms. Gorelick, see Captain's Quarters and search on the term Able Danger. Briefly, Able Danger was the report that the 9/11 Commission "never saw"--but of course, that is a lie--and the report that made clear that the Clinton Gang was either asleep, OR was deliberately ignoring a real and significant threat to national security.
It's up to you to guess which...
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