For openers, we'll grant that the goings-on at the CIA are somewhat shrouded in secrecy (Duhhh)--and as a result, what emerges into the news is not necessarily "complete", or entirely accurate.
That said, Ken Timmerman is no slouch in reporting events in the Beltway; he's assembled a sterling track record going back to his days at the American Spectator reporting on the oh-so-cozy relations between X42, his SecDef, and the PRChina dictators. So when Timmerman writes something, it's usually well-founded.
In an article for Human Events, Timmerman is highly critical of the appointment of Stephen Kappes as DD/CIA proposed by the new Director, Gen. Hayden. "...to many intelligence insiders, the Kappes nomination sends a clear message that the Bush has abandoned its efforts to reform a dysfunctional agency. And that is the most troubling part of this appointment.
"The CIA has been at war with the Bush administration since the beginning," says Richard Perle, the former chair of the Defense Policy board. "What is astounding is the CIA campaign to discredit this administration."
Kappes is clearly a part of the "old guard" at CIA:
Just two months after Porter Goss took over as CIA Director in 2004, he ordered Kappes to fire his deputy, Michael Sulick, for gross insubordination. Kappes refused, and offered his resignation instead -- telling colleagues that Goss would never dare to accept it. He did.
To some intelligence insiders, that made Kappes a hero.
Sulick and others referred to Goss’s aides dismissively as "the Goslings" and refused to take orders from them, claiming they were "political hacks" because they had worked for Goss in Congress. Many in the media jumped in, accusing Goss and his staff of conducting a "witch hunt" for firing Sulick.
But every director of central intelligence has brought his closest aides with him from earlier jobs. This was true with Bill Casey in the 1980s, and with George Tenet in the 1990s. And it will undoubtedly be true of Hayden as well.
Obviously--and in this case, a "close aide" will be Kappes.
Rep. Curt Weldon (R.-Pa.) believes Kappes was a disaster as head of the CIA's directorate of operations, and called him "the ringleader of an internal CIA rebellion" against Goss. "He was one of many in the CIA resistant to needed reforms."
House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra (R.-Mich.) said Kappes was guilty of "gross insubordination" for his behavior at the agency under Goss and complained that the administration never consulted Congress before choosing him.
There's little question that Curt Weldon is exercised over this appointment. You will recall that Weldon was the Congressmen who blew the whistle on the 9/11 Commission's whitewash of the Able Danger intelligence.
Timmerman goes on to raise a few provocative questions:
Did Kappes encourage former Paris chief of station Bill Murray to compromise the identity of Weldon's Iranian source in Paris? Weldon had gone to great lengths to protect his source's identity, only to have his name appear in a left-wing publication that interviewed Murray. A Kappes protégé, Murray said he was "outraged" that Weldon had attacked the CIA, and called his information "garbage." Outing Weldon’s source put the man’s life at risk.
Was Kappes involved in the decision not to act on information provided by an Iranian defector in late July 2001 during debriefings in Baku, Azerbaijan, that could have helped to prevent the September 11 attacks? The defector not only gave the method of the attack -- hijacked civilian airliners. He identified the perpetrators (al Qaeda operatives trained in Iran and gave the exact date, which the CIA's man in Baku mistranslated as September 10.
What role did Kappes play in the compromise of the CIA's last network of sources in Iran? According to my information Stephen Richer, who was in charge of Middle East operations and who followed Kappes out the door in 2004, doubled the reporting requirements of the network in order to advance his own evaluation. But Richer neglected to double the channels used to communicate with the Iranians. As a result, Iranian intelligence discovered the network of agents and shut them down.
Interesting questions, indeed. Perhaps Our President should ask Hayden and Kappen these questions, personally.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
SpiceBoyzzz' Myopic Obsession
After reading the 192nd (289th? 654th?) SpiceBoyzz column complaining about Jim Sensenbrenner's travel, something became apparent. Simply go to the very bottom of the column and what do you see?
Sensenbrenner 6/11
Reynolds 6/7
Reynolds 6/4
Green 6/2
Sensenbrenner 5/28
Jensen 5/25
Thompson 5/24
Myopic obsession disease.
But even if it's curable, who cares?
Sensenbrenner 6/11
Reynolds 6/7
Reynolds 6/4
Green 6/2
Sensenbrenner 5/28
Jensen 5/25
Thompson 5/24
Myopic obsession disease.
But even if it's curable, who cares?
They Left Him Alive; He's Ungrateful
A man who was beaten by employees of a store he was trying to rob is now suing.
Police say Dana Buckman entered the AutoZone in Rochester, New York, last July, brandished a semi-automatic pistol and demanded cash.
That's when employees Eli Crespo and Jerry Vega beat him with a pipe and held Buckman at bay with his own gun.
Buckman escaped when they retreated into the store to call 911, but he was arrested a week later. He pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and was sentenced to 18 years in prison as a repeat violent felon.
Now Buckman is suing the auto parts store and the two employees who beat him, claiming they committed assault and battery and intentionally inflicted emotional distress.
In Wisconsin, Screechin'Shirley, the Queen of Hearts, would award this perp a lot of damages.
Police say Dana Buckman entered the AutoZone in Rochester, New York, last July, brandished a semi-automatic pistol and demanded cash.
That's when employees Eli Crespo and Jerry Vega beat him with a pipe and held Buckman at bay with his own gun.
Buckman escaped when they retreated into the store to call 911, but he was arrested a week later. He pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and was sentenced to 18 years in prison as a repeat violent felon.
Now Buckman is suing the auto parts store and the two employees who beat him, claiming they committed assault and battery and intentionally inflicted emotional distress.
In Wisconsin, Screechin'Shirley, the Queen of Hearts, would award this perp a lot of damages.
PRChina's New Spyplane Went Ka-Boom
These characters will try, try, again.
A DULL boom shook the misty bamboo forests of Guangde county, 125 miles southwest of Shanghai, last Sunday, and a plume of smoke rose in the sky, causing Chinese villagers to look up in alarm from their tasks.
Within 24 hours China officially admitted that a “military aircraft” had crashed...
[PRChina news reports] indicated that it was a Russian Ilyushin four-engined cargo jet, rebuilt to house a conspicuous array of radars and codenamed KJ-2000. The doomed flight, they implied, had been a test mission.
The disaster robbed China of 35 of its best electronic warfare technicians, according to sources in Hong Kong. There were also five crew members on board
In 2003 aviation specialists photographed two IL-76 Awacs prototypes, by then codenamed KJ-2000, on test flights over Nanjing. One was #762, the other was coded B-4040.
Late last year the local aviation authorities — which in China are controlled by the military — bought sophisticated Monopulse secondary surveillance radars from Telephonics Corp, a New York-based subsidiary of the Griffon Corporation, which supplies the US Awacs fleet.
The radars were due for delivery early in 2006. Their purpose was stated to be civil aviation, but critics in Congress say the Chinese buy such items for “dual use” in military systems.
According to specifications published by the Federation of American Scientists, such radars can be closely integrated with an Awacs plane to enhance targets. There is now speculation among military and aviation attachés in the region that the ill-fated KJ-2000 may have been testing a hitherto unproven technical capability of precisely this nature when it crashed.
As a reminder: PRChina is NOT our friend.
A DULL boom shook the misty bamboo forests of Guangde county, 125 miles southwest of Shanghai, last Sunday, and a plume of smoke rose in the sky, causing Chinese villagers to look up in alarm from their tasks.
Within 24 hours China officially admitted that a “military aircraft” had crashed...
[PRChina news reports] indicated that it was a Russian Ilyushin four-engined cargo jet, rebuilt to house a conspicuous array of radars and codenamed KJ-2000. The doomed flight, they implied, had been a test mission.
The disaster robbed China of 35 of its best electronic warfare technicians, according to sources in Hong Kong. There were also five crew members on board
In 2003 aviation specialists photographed two IL-76 Awacs prototypes, by then codenamed KJ-2000, on test flights over Nanjing. One was #762, the other was coded B-4040.
Late last year the local aviation authorities — which in China are controlled by the military — bought sophisticated Monopulse secondary surveillance radars from Telephonics Corp, a New York-based subsidiary of the Griffon Corporation, which supplies the US Awacs fleet.
The radars were due for delivery early in 2006. Their purpose was stated to be civil aviation, but critics in Congress say the Chinese buy such items for “dual use” in military systems.
According to specifications published by the Federation of American Scientists, such radars can be closely integrated with an Awacs plane to enhance targets. There is now speculation among military and aviation attachés in the region that the ill-fated KJ-2000 may have been testing a hitherto unproven technical capability of precisely this nature when it crashed.
As a reminder: PRChina is NOT our friend.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Plenty of Jobs--in India
Yah. The Bush Administration is not likely to be talking about this:
Bank of America has been steadily moving thousands of tech jobs toIndia. The latest to go are about 100 positions that handle BofA'sinternal tech support.
While many of the bank's Bay Area techies accept the inevitability of
their jobs heading abroad, what rankles them is the fact that, in
many cases, they're being told they have to first train the Indians
who are getting their gigs.
"If people want their severance packages, they have to train their
replacements," a senior engineer at one of BofA's Bay Area facilities
told me. "There's nothing in writing that says this -- the bank's
been careful about that. But it's made clear at meetings what we're
supposed to do."
The "train your replacements or no severance" trick has been done before--in Florida, by Siemens Corp., by the way. Exquisite, no?
Worse, the BofA has been lying about the offshoring program since 1997, when it was initiated--telling the press and its employees that 'if the program is successful, no Bank employees will be laid off.' The Bank cut 900 US employees in 2002.
The program was successful, and the balance of BoA's techies will be cut during this year.
And there's more to come:
Hidden in the bill on illegal immigration passed recently by the Senate are provisions which would comprise the most aggressive expansion of the H-1B program in its history. (The bill is now awaiting conference with the House, but even if that large bill fails, a separate bill with the same provisions regarding H-1B has already been introduced.) The industry lobbyists have always threatened,"Either Congress gives us more H-1Bs or we'll have to move the workoffshore," when in fact the H-1B program is used to FACILITATE movingthe work offshore.
There's no contradiction. H1-B presence on shore is required (about 1 here for every 2 overseas) to make "offshoring" work. The fact is that the H1-B's are cheaper labor. Congressional legislation calling for "prevailing wage" is written so broadly that it is legal (and common) to pay an H1-B about 60% of comparable US workers' wages.
Don't believe it?
The fact is that starting salaries for new computer science graduates have been flat since 1999, obviously belying the industry's claim of a shortage. (See the data on the Bachelor's level in the BusinessWeek column at http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/Archive/StartingSalaryErosionBach.txt and see my CIS article for the Master's level, at http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/CIS.pdf) (Private newsletter from Norm Matloff.)
Congress is unified on this--the 2000 H1-B increase pased the Senate 97-1.
Campaign contributions come from "high-tech" executives and companies, not from laid-off techies.
Bank of America has been steadily moving thousands of tech jobs toIndia. The latest to go are about 100 positions that handle BofA'sinternal tech support.
While many of the bank's Bay Area techies accept the inevitability of
their jobs heading abroad, what rankles them is the fact that, in
many cases, they're being told they have to first train the Indians
who are getting their gigs.
"If people want their severance packages, they have to train their
replacements," a senior engineer at one of BofA's Bay Area facilities
told me. "There's nothing in writing that says this -- the bank's
been careful about that. But it's made clear at meetings what we're
supposed to do."
The "train your replacements or no severance" trick has been done before--in Florida, by Siemens Corp., by the way. Exquisite, no?
Worse, the BofA has been lying about the offshoring program since 1997, when it was initiated--telling the press and its employees that 'if the program is successful, no Bank employees will be laid off.' The Bank cut 900 US employees in 2002.
The program was successful, and the balance of BoA's techies will be cut during this year.
And there's more to come:
Hidden in the bill on illegal immigration passed recently by the Senate are provisions which would comprise the most aggressive expansion of the H-1B program in its history. (The bill is now awaiting conference with the House, but even if that large bill fails, a separate bill with the same provisions regarding H-1B has already been introduced.) The industry lobbyists have always threatened,"Either Congress gives us more H-1Bs or we'll have to move the workoffshore," when in fact the H-1B program is used to FACILITATE movingthe work offshore.
There's no contradiction. H1-B presence on shore is required (about 1 here for every 2 overseas) to make "offshoring" work. The fact is that the H1-B's are cheaper labor. Congressional legislation calling for "prevailing wage" is written so broadly that it is legal (and common) to pay an H1-B about 60% of comparable US workers' wages.
Don't believe it?
The fact is that starting salaries for new computer science graduates have been flat since 1999, obviously belying the industry's claim of a shortage. (See the data on the Bachelor's level in the BusinessWeek column at http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/Archive/StartingSalaryErosionBach.txt and see my CIS article for the Master's level, at http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/CIS.pdf) (Private newsletter from Norm Matloff.)
Congress is unified on this--the 2000 H1-B increase pased the Senate 97-1.
Campaign contributions come from "high-tech" executives and companies, not from laid-off techies.
Another Highly Intellectual Offering from the Xoff Crowd
The more you think about it, the more it's clear: Rush is Right.
Y'know his well-worn line to self-describe (and by extension, to describe his audience) always delivered with the necessary Ironic Sarcasm--
"Racist-Bigot-Homophobe-Conservative"....
Yah. That's the level of discourse endorsed by no less than Xoff.
"Morally-Superior-Misdirecting-Manipulative-Twit" comes to mind...
Y'know his well-worn line to self-describe (and by extension, to describe his audience) always delivered with the necessary Ironic Sarcasm--
"Racist-Bigot-Homophobe-Conservative"....
Yah. That's the level of discourse endorsed by no less than Xoff.
"Morally-Superior-Misdirecting-Manipulative-Twit" comes to mind...
Tom DeLay's Valedictory Speech
An excerpt which deserves wide reading:
“ It is not the principled partisan, however obnoxious he may seem to his opponents, who degrades our public debate, but the preening, self-styled statesman who elevates compromise to a first-principle. For true statesmen, Mr. Speaker, are not defined by what they compromise, but what they don’t.
Conservatives, especially, less enamored of government’s lust for growth, must remember that our principles must always drive our agenda, and not the other way around. For us conservatives, there are two such principles that can never be honorably compromised: human freedom and human dignity.
Conservatism is often unfairly accused of being insensitive and mean-spirited… sometimes, unfortunately, even by other conservatives. As a result, conservatives often attempt to "soften" that stereotype by over-funding broken programs or glossing over ruinous policies. But conservatism isn’t about feeling people’s pain… it’s about curing it. ”
“ It is not the principled partisan, however obnoxious he may seem to his opponents, who degrades our public debate, but the preening, self-styled statesman who elevates compromise to a first-principle. For true statesmen, Mr. Speaker, are not defined by what they compromise, but what they don’t.
Conservatives, especially, less enamored of government’s lust for growth, must remember that our principles must always drive our agenda, and not the other way around. For us conservatives, there are two such principles that can never be honorably compromised: human freedom and human dignity.
Conservatism is often unfairly accused of being insensitive and mean-spirited… sometimes, unfortunately, even by other conservatives. As a result, conservatives often attempt to "soften" that stereotype by over-funding broken programs or glossing over ruinous policies. But conservatism isn’t about feeling people’s pain… it’s about curing it. ”
Haditha: A Hoax?
There's more to the story than what the MSM tells you:
On November 20, 2005, Reuters reported that on the previous day an IED killed a US Marine and 15 civilians in Haditha, a town known to be a center of the insurgency, a town as hostile to our forces as the better known Fallujah was. Reuters reported that “immediately after the blast, gunmen opened fire on the convoy” and US and Iraqi forces returned fire, killing 8 insurgents and wounding another in the fight. The paper further reported that “A cameraman working for Reuters in Haditha says bodies had been left lying in the street for hours after the attack.” (Most of us know that "Reuters" is not particularly reliable..)
Tim McGirk of Time wrote about the incident at Haditha for the March 27 issue of the magazine. He unsuccessfully lobbied his editors to use the term “massacre” in the story.
A key source for McGirk’s report that US Marines in Haditha had deliberately attacked civilians was Thaer al-Hadithi. whom McGirk inexplicably described as “a budding journalism student”. He is a middle-aged man, and was subsequently described by the AP as an “Iraqi investigator.”
McGirk also failed to note that Hadithi is “a member and spokesman for the Hammurabi.” The chairman of Hammurabi Organization and Hadithi’s partner in publicizing the “massacre” is Abdul–Rahman al-Mashhadani. It is unknown if he is related to Ali al-Mashhadani [the photographer] but their names suggest a possible relationship, and it beggars belief that as Sweetness& Light notes,
“Abdel Rahman al-Mashhadani just happened to be given a video by and unnamed local. And that he then turned it over to Ali al-Mashhadani who just happens to make videos for Reuters.”
On December 15, 2005 Mashhadani was interviewed by the Institute for War and Peace which described him as “an election monitor.” In that interview he expressed great satisfaction with the election turnout (which in fact was terribly low in Haditha). Why did he not mention to this apparently sympathetic group one word about the supposed “atrocity” which he claimed had occurred three months earlier?
On March 21, 2006 Reuters reported that Hadithi and Mashhadani’s organization, the Hammurabi Organization, had provided the organization was a copy of a videotape showing corpses lined up in the Haditha morgue, claiming these were the bodies of civilians deliberately killed by the Marines. Aside from the suspiciously-timed release of the video and the fact that chairman al-Mashhadani had never mentioned the incident or the tape in December when he was interviewed, the video shows people removing bodies from a home, a report at odds with the Reuters report the day after the incident which spoke of bodies lying in the street.
There's more at the American Thinker's site.
Oh, yes--George Soros is involved, too...
HT: Powerline
On November 20, 2005, Reuters reported that on the previous day an IED killed a US Marine and 15 civilians in Haditha, a town known to be a center of the insurgency, a town as hostile to our forces as the better known Fallujah was. Reuters reported that “immediately after the blast, gunmen opened fire on the convoy” and US and Iraqi forces returned fire, killing 8 insurgents and wounding another in the fight. The paper further reported that “A cameraman working for Reuters in Haditha says bodies had been left lying in the street for hours after the attack.” (Most of us know that "Reuters" is not particularly reliable..)
Tim McGirk of Time wrote about the incident at Haditha for the March 27 issue of the magazine. He unsuccessfully lobbied his editors to use the term “massacre” in the story.
A key source for McGirk’s report that US Marines in Haditha had deliberately attacked civilians was Thaer al-Hadithi. whom McGirk inexplicably described as “a budding journalism student”. He is a middle-aged man, and was subsequently described by the AP as an “Iraqi investigator.”
McGirk also failed to note that Hadithi is “a member and spokesman for the Hammurabi.” The chairman of Hammurabi Organization and Hadithi’s partner in publicizing the “massacre” is Abdul–Rahman al-Mashhadani. It is unknown if he is related to Ali al-Mashhadani [the photographer] but their names suggest a possible relationship, and it beggars belief that as Sweetness& Light notes,
“Abdel Rahman al-Mashhadani just happened to be given a video by and unnamed local. And that he then turned it over to Ali al-Mashhadani who just happens to make videos for Reuters.”
On December 15, 2005 Mashhadani was interviewed by the Institute for War and Peace which described him as “an election monitor.” In that interview he expressed great satisfaction with the election turnout (which in fact was terribly low in Haditha). Why did he not mention to this apparently sympathetic group one word about the supposed “atrocity” which he claimed had occurred three months earlier?
On March 21, 2006 Reuters reported that Hadithi and Mashhadani’s organization, the Hammurabi Organization, had provided the organization was a copy of a videotape showing corpses lined up in the Haditha morgue, claiming these were the bodies of civilians deliberately killed by the Marines. Aside from the suspiciously-timed release of the video and the fact that chairman al-Mashhadani had never mentioned the incident or the tape in December when he was interviewed, the video shows people removing bodies from a home, a report at odds with the Reuters report the day after the incident which spoke of bodies lying in the street.
There's more at the American Thinker's site.
Oh, yes--George Soros is involved, too...
HT: Powerline
Kevin Fisher--Frustrated by Morons
Kevin Fisher, a legislative aide and TV personality, occasionally fills in for Belling. He's a fun-loving guy, whose taste in music is decidedly better than his taste in neckwear.
Regardless, yesterday's show put Kevin into a head-banging mode. I certainly hope he doesn't own a dog because the dog may have been victimized post-show.
Fisher read results of a study which we referenced here--in general terms, the study determined that there are about 240,000 sex-offender illegal aliens in the USA, and those 240,000 sex offenders commited about 1,000,000 sexual crimes while in-country.
So Fisher popped the question: "Are you concerned about these numbers?"
He didn't get exactly what he expected. One caller tried to convince Kevin that 'since we have native-born sex-offenders, what's the big deal about another quarter-million or so who are illegals?' This attitude seemed to be very common. Another, (the infamous "Mike" from 'Tosa, who evidently dropped WAY too much acid on his last visit to Haight-Ashbury) tried to express similar sentiments, but his phone didn't work well. It's likely that the phone connection was disturbed by the NSA tap.
A few callers whose heads were screwed on straight at birth did express concern--and it was not MILD concern, either.
Perhaps what Kevin was looking for was this:
1) The unsecured border is an abysmal failure.
2) Illegals who are convicted of crimes in the US should serve their time and be deported immediately on release from prison, with prejudice. They should never be allowed to return.
3) INS/ICE is run by idiots.
4) Sensenbrenner should add provisions to the Immigration Bill which mandate #2 above.
As to the que sera, sera crowd: let's hope that your mother, wife, sister, or daughter(s) are NOT victimized by one of the 240,000 illegal-immigrant criminals.
And let's also hope that those women in your life have ignored Screechin'Shirley's (the Queen of Hearts) diktat on carrying a concealed weapon.
Regardless, yesterday's show put Kevin into a head-banging mode. I certainly hope he doesn't own a dog because the dog may have been victimized post-show.
Fisher read results of a study which we referenced here--in general terms, the study determined that there are about 240,000 sex-offender illegal aliens in the USA, and those 240,000 sex offenders commited about 1,000,000 sexual crimes while in-country.
So Fisher popped the question: "Are you concerned about these numbers?"
He didn't get exactly what he expected. One caller tried to convince Kevin that 'since we have native-born sex-offenders, what's the big deal about another quarter-million or so who are illegals?' This attitude seemed to be very common. Another, (the infamous "Mike" from 'Tosa, who evidently dropped WAY too much acid on his last visit to Haight-Ashbury) tried to express similar sentiments, but his phone didn't work well. It's likely that the phone connection was disturbed by the NSA tap.
A few callers whose heads were screwed on straight at birth did express concern--and it was not MILD concern, either.
Perhaps what Kevin was looking for was this:
1) The unsecured border is an abysmal failure.
2) Illegals who are convicted of crimes in the US should serve their time and be deported immediately on release from prison, with prejudice. They should never be allowed to return.
3) INS/ICE is run by idiots.
4) Sensenbrenner should add provisions to the Immigration Bill which mandate #2 above.
As to the que sera, sera crowd: let's hope that your mother, wife, sister, or daughter(s) are NOT victimized by one of the 240,000 illegal-immigrant criminals.
And let's also hope that those women in your life have ignored Screechin'Shirley's (the Queen of Hearts) diktat on carrying a concealed weapon.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Abp. Dolan Sends a Few Messages
From Mike, an excerpt from a lengthy email sent to ALL Diocesan priests by Abp. Dolan:
10. May I speak to you about a couple delicate issues? The first would be guidelines about hosting a speaker or a group in the parish or under Church auspices. Some bishops, as you know, have drawn up very detailed rules about this. I have not gone that route, and hope I do not have to. Canon Law, diocesan policy already in place, common sense, and love that all of us have for the Church, should guide us. I have trust in your prudential judgment, and in your ecclesial wisdom that you would never invite or host a speaker or a group that has publicly taken stands blatantly at odds with clear Church teaching. There are speakers or groups who certainly may not be "my cup of tea," but who still stay "within the boundaries," and I trust your judgment about invitations to them. We need dialogue, we are not afraid of respectful probing and earnest examination of Church teaching; but there has to be a limit. One speaker whom I would ask you not to have is Dr. Daniel McGuire. He should never be given an invitation or provided a platform at any parish in the archdiocese. He has recently publicly stated that both Archbishop Weakland and I have welcomed him to any parish in the archdiocese, which necessitates this corrective. His position on abortion - - and on a number of other areas - - is so radically outside Church teaching that his appearance at any parish would be a grave scandal and a cause of disunity in the Church. Dialogue about Church teaching and pressing pastoral challenges is always welcome. But the above speaker is not into dialogue but into clear and purposeful dissent from Church teaching: He gets enough attention without us giving him another platform.
11. The second sensitive area is intercommunion. Recently, two priests approached me very upset because each had lately been at funerals where the celebrant had announced, "All are welcome to receive Holy Communion." I don't blame them for being upset. Such a statement is untrue and unjust. While there are indeed situations where the reception of Holy Communion by a non-Catholic Christian under special circumstances is licit, and while I trust your prudence in following Church discipline to determine such circumstances, it is never pastorally wise or theologically sound to publicly announce that, "All are invited to receive the Eucharist." Please do not do it! The bishops' conference, as you know, has issued a very respectful and sensitive set of guidelines http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/intercom.shtml that should be adhered to, and which can easily be re-printed in missallettes and Worship Booklets at liturgies such as funerals, weddings, or other big occasions when non-Catholics are welcome.
Mike also relays that the Archbishop has requested that the LitWonks do not assume control of Masses, resulting in lengthy (and self-absorbed) displays of the usual tripe--which obscures the Mass. After all, the music, while pars integrans of the Liturgy, is just that, rather than the reverse, where Mass is pars integrans of the music.
Things are looking up!!
10. May I speak to you about a couple delicate issues? The first would be guidelines about hosting a speaker or a group in the parish or under Church auspices. Some bishops, as you know, have drawn up very detailed rules about this. I have not gone that route, and hope I do not have to. Canon Law, diocesan policy already in place, common sense, and love that all of us have for the Church, should guide us. I have trust in your prudential judgment, and in your ecclesial wisdom that you would never invite or host a speaker or a group that has publicly taken stands blatantly at odds with clear Church teaching. There are speakers or groups who certainly may not be "my cup of tea," but who still stay "within the boundaries," and I trust your judgment about invitations to them. We need dialogue, we are not afraid of respectful probing and earnest examination of Church teaching; but there has to be a limit. One speaker whom I would ask you not to have is Dr. Daniel McGuire. He should never be given an invitation or provided a platform at any parish in the archdiocese. He has recently publicly stated that both Archbishop Weakland and I have welcomed him to any parish in the archdiocese, which necessitates this corrective. His position on abortion - - and on a number of other areas - - is so radically outside Church teaching that his appearance at any parish would be a grave scandal and a cause of disunity in the Church. Dialogue about Church teaching and pressing pastoral challenges is always welcome. But the above speaker is not into dialogue but into clear and purposeful dissent from Church teaching: He gets enough attention without us giving him another platform.
11. The second sensitive area is intercommunion. Recently, two priests approached me very upset because each had lately been at funerals where the celebrant had announced, "All are welcome to receive Holy Communion." I don't blame them for being upset. Such a statement is untrue and unjust. While there are indeed situations where the reception of Holy Communion by a non-Catholic Christian under special circumstances is licit, and while I trust your prudence in following Church discipline to determine such circumstances, it is never pastorally wise or theologically sound to publicly announce that, "All are invited to receive the Eucharist." Please do not do it! The bishops' conference, as you know, has issued a very respectful and sensitive set of guidelines http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/intercom.shtml that should be adhered to, and which can easily be re-printed in missallettes and Worship Booklets at liturgies such as funerals, weddings, or other big occasions when non-Catholics are welcome.
Mike also relays that the Archbishop has requested that the LitWonks do not assume control of Masses, resulting in lengthy (and self-absorbed) displays of the usual tripe--which obscures the Mass. After all, the music, while pars integrans of the Liturgy, is just that, rather than the reverse, where Mass is pars integrans of the music.
Things are looking up!!
On Authority, Ecclesial and Other
David Alexander on the nature of authority:
When an authority gives an order, he takes responsibility for the consequences of that order. It is true in military law (lest senior officers go around “pulling rank” on other officers’ subordinates at will), and it is true in the natural law, as well as in natural justice. More to our point, it applies in canon law. Conversely, when a superior is not empowered to give a particular order, and yet persists in doing so, or when he cannot otherwise take responsibility for the outcome even of a legitimate order, his subjects cannot be held accountable for his loss of credibility over the long haul. Such an authority has done this to himself. That is what is happening in Orange County. It is happening elsewhere in the Church.
This applied to Abp. R. Weakland, OSB, and it applies to the twit-priest-'rebels' in this Archdiocese.
Authority is transitive, in a way. And those who undercut or detract from authorities above them can expect little comfort from the Faithful.
When an authority gives an order, he takes responsibility for the consequences of that order. It is true in military law (lest senior officers go around “pulling rank” on other officers’ subordinates at will), and it is true in the natural law, as well as in natural justice. More to our point, it applies in canon law. Conversely, when a superior is not empowered to give a particular order, and yet persists in doing so, or when he cannot otherwise take responsibility for the outcome even of a legitimate order, his subjects cannot be held accountable for his loss of credibility over the long haul. Such an authority has done this to himself. That is what is happening in Orange County. It is happening elsewhere in the Church.
This applied to Abp. R. Weakland, OSB, and it applies to the twit-priest-'rebels' in this Archdiocese.
Authority is transitive, in a way. And those who undercut or detract from authorities above them can expect little comfort from the Faithful.
Fortney Stark (Candy Heir from Pewaukee) on Zarqawi Killing
You can't make this stuff up:
"This is just to cover Bush's [rear] so he doesn't have to answer" for Iraqi civilians being killed by the U.S. military and his own sagging poll numbers, said Rep. Pete Stark, California Democrat. "Iraq is still a mess -- get out."
HT: John Lott
"This is just to cover Bush's [rear] so he doesn't have to answer" for Iraqi civilians being killed by the U.S. military and his own sagging poll numbers, said Rep. Pete Stark, California Democrat. "Iraq is still a mess -- get out."
HT: John Lott
Is Marc Marotta A Clinton Disciple?
Parse. Parse. Parse.
Marotta, who headed the Department of Administration when the contract was awarded in March 2005, told the Journal Sentinel in October that he had not had any contact with the company [Adelman Travel] after the bid process officially started in December 2004.
Records introduced in the trial show phone calls were exchanged between Marotta's office and Adelman Travel when the state decided to use a "best and final" process to decide whether to go with Adelman or Omega World Travel, a company that had narrowly beaten Adelman in the initial bid considerations.
It's entirely possible, of course, that Marotta did not PERSONALLY speak with Adelman Travel "after the bid process officially started."
OK, Marc.
Marotta, who headed the Department of Administration when the contract was awarded in March 2005, told the Journal Sentinel in October that he had not had any contact with the company [Adelman Travel] after the bid process officially started in December 2004.
Records introduced in the trial show phone calls were exchanged between Marotta's office and Adelman Travel when the state decided to use a "best and final" process to decide whether to go with Adelman or Omega World Travel, a company that had narrowly beaten Adelman in the initial bid considerations.
It's entirely possible, of course, that Marotta did not PERSONALLY speak with Adelman Travel "after the bid process officially started."
OK, Marc.
Homosex "Marriage," Jersey Girls, and Mis-Direction
As the Ann Coulter vs. "Jersey Girls" controversy has proven, the Left is very adroit at manipulation of opinion. Cindy Sheehan and Jack Murtha are examples of similar smokescreens.
The idea is very simple: mis-direction. Murtha, Sheehan, and the Jersey Girls rarely, if ever, argue the merits of stamping out terrorism or "democratizing" Iraq. Rather, they argue that "war has some bad consequences."
Any damn fool KNOWS that "War Has Some Bad Consequences." It's almost insulting to have to listen to these people yap about that. But we HAVE to listen with some respect, because, after all, the "Jersey Girls" et.al. have suffered personally as a result of war.
As long as the Left can get away with the Mis-Direction Manipulation ploy (aka the Liberal Moral Superiority Play), they seem to have the high ground.
Same game is played on the question of Homosex "Marriage." Rather than addressing the real question of whether Western Society will accord homosex couplings the sacred status granted heterosexual marriage, (thereby derogating real marriage and attempting a positive-law repeal of the Natural Law,) the Left runs the Mis-Direction Manipulation.
One of their favorite irrelevant arguments: "Divorce is bad." (Sounds a bit like "War Has Some Bad Consequences," eh?)
NO KIDDING!! Divorce is bad. We don't need homosex propagandists to tell us that...
Their point, of course, is that "stable marriage" is good--and the implication is that homosex "marriages" are the ones depicted in the fairy tales: 'happily ever after.'
Well, homosex "happy-ever-after" is a fairy tale, alright:
According to a study by the Amsterdam Municipal Health Service, the lifespan of a gay union averages one and a half years. Similar stats on heterosexual marriage found the average for heterosexual marriage to be about 10 years. So society and government do not reap the benefits of stability and permanence from gay marriage (and divorce) that we reap from heterosexual unions. ...The Amsterdam study found that after five years, none of the male homosexual unions were monogamous.
What we have here is, ah, Flaming Hypocrisy.
The Mis-Direction Manipulation is a good one--been around since Eve swallowed that apple. But it hasn't ever produced good results.
The idea is very simple: mis-direction. Murtha, Sheehan, and the Jersey Girls rarely, if ever, argue the merits of stamping out terrorism or "democratizing" Iraq. Rather, they argue that "war has some bad consequences."
Any damn fool KNOWS that "War Has Some Bad Consequences." It's almost insulting to have to listen to these people yap about that. But we HAVE to listen with some respect, because, after all, the "Jersey Girls" et.al. have suffered personally as a result of war.
As long as the Left can get away with the Mis-Direction Manipulation ploy (aka the Liberal Moral Superiority Play), they seem to have the high ground.
Same game is played on the question of Homosex "Marriage." Rather than addressing the real question of whether Western Society will accord homosex couplings the sacred status granted heterosexual marriage, (thereby derogating real marriage and attempting a positive-law repeal of the Natural Law,) the Left runs the Mis-Direction Manipulation.
One of their favorite irrelevant arguments: "Divorce is bad." (Sounds a bit like "War Has Some Bad Consequences," eh?)
NO KIDDING!! Divorce is bad. We don't need homosex propagandists to tell us that...
Their point, of course, is that "stable marriage" is good--and the implication is that homosex "marriages" are the ones depicted in the fairy tales: 'happily ever after.'
Well, homosex "happy-ever-after" is a fairy tale, alright:
According to a study by the Amsterdam Municipal Health Service, the lifespan of a gay union averages one and a half years. Similar stats on heterosexual marriage found the average for heterosexual marriage to be about 10 years. So society and government do not reap the benefits of stability and permanence from gay marriage (and divorce) that we reap from heterosexual unions. ...The Amsterdam study found that after five years, none of the male homosexual unions were monogamous.
What we have here is, ah, Flaming Hypocrisy.
The Mis-Direction Manipulation is a good one--been around since Eve swallowed that apple. But it hasn't ever produced good results.
WI. Dept of Public Instruction In Spotlight
Yah, sometime in the next 12 months or so, Wisconsin's DPI and its wonzo-Lefty Superintendent, Ms. Burmeister, will get to make a very interesting decision:
The national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will decide June 29 whether to endorse routine vaccination with Gardasil. That endorsement is critical if a vaccine is to become a standard of care.
It then will be up to individual states to decide whether to add the vaccine to the list of others required before students may attend public schools.
The controversy arises because the vaccine is recommended for girls ages 9-26.
Yup. 9-year-olds.
Gardasil, manufactured by Merck & Co. Inc., protects against the two types of HPV responsible for about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases. The vaccine also blocks infection by two other strains responsible for 90 percent of genital wart cases.
Any aspirin (or cold tablet), held tightly between the knees, will have even better effects.
The national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will decide June 29 whether to endorse routine vaccination with Gardasil. That endorsement is critical if a vaccine is to become a standard of care.
It then will be up to individual states to decide whether to add the vaccine to the list of others required before students may attend public schools.
The controversy arises because the vaccine is recommended for girls ages 9-26.
Yup. 9-year-olds.
Gardasil, manufactured by Merck & Co. Inc., protects against the two types of HPV responsible for about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases. The vaccine also blocks infection by two other strains responsible for 90 percent of genital wart cases.
Any aspirin (or cold tablet), held tightly between the knees, will have even better effects.
Bolton to Irrelevant UN Twit: Eat Your Remarks
John Bolton's picturesque language:
“Maybe it is fashionable in some circles to look down on Middle America, to say they don’t get the complexities of the world and they don’t have the benefit of continental education and they are deficient in so many ways,” Mr Bolton added. “It is illegitimate for an international civil servant to criticise what he thinks are the inadequacies of citizens of a member government.”
...He also hinted that the US Congress... might reconsider US funding to the UN, which accounts for 22 per cent of the organisation’s annual budget. “Congress has the power of the purse and they feel quite strongly on a bipartisan basis that America has a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent, even people from Middle America,” he said, with a note of sarcasm.
Before Mr Bolton arrived in London, Kofi Annan, the UN chief, tried to play down the controversy. “I think the message that was intended is that the US needs the UN, and the UN needs the US, and we need to support each other,” Mr Annan said. “I think the speech by my deputy should be read in the right spirit and let’s put it behind us and move on.”
This blog doesn't often discuss the UN; but it's perfectly apparent that the UN is plagued with the same Bureaucratic Superiority Complex that can be found in Washington DC, or Madison, WI.
And Bolton has a very good solution: cut off the money. Works the same everywhere.
“Maybe it is fashionable in some circles to look down on Middle America, to say they don’t get the complexities of the world and they don’t have the benefit of continental education and they are deficient in so many ways,” Mr Bolton added. “It is illegitimate for an international civil servant to criticise what he thinks are the inadequacies of citizens of a member government.”
...He also hinted that the US Congress... might reconsider US funding to the UN, which accounts for 22 per cent of the organisation’s annual budget. “Congress has the power of the purse and they feel quite strongly on a bipartisan basis that America has a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent, even people from Middle America,” he said, with a note of sarcasm.
Before Mr Bolton arrived in London, Kofi Annan, the UN chief, tried to play down the controversy. “I think the message that was intended is that the US needs the UN, and the UN needs the US, and we need to support each other,” Mr Annan said. “I think the speech by my deputy should be read in the right spirit and let’s put it behind us and move on.”
This blog doesn't often discuss the UN; but it's perfectly apparent that the UN is plagued with the same Bureaucratic Superiority Complex that can be found in Washington DC, or Madison, WI.
And Bolton has a very good solution: cut off the money. Works the same everywhere.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Zarquawi Spike
This is the USA's Internet response time chart. Notice the time/date of the spike (it's Mountain Time Zone)--approx 6:35AM on 6/8. Must be about when the news services got the announcement about the execution--the 'net got REAL slow from traffic....
ATTN: Rep. Green Campaign Gurus
An interesting little tidbit from Levin:
Don't be fooled. Brian Bilbray won yesterday because that election was another referendum on illegal immigration. Two significant events occurred within days of the vote: 1. John McCain withdrew from a fundraiser for Bilbray over his disagreement with Bilbray's pro-enforcement position; and 2. Bilbray's opponent was caught encouraging illegal aliens to vote. The pattern is clear: The electorate, and certainly Republicans, oppose the open-borders crowd. And every time the issue is before the voters, enforcement wins. This is another loss for McCain and his 2008 prospects.
The Sitting Slimeball in the WI. Governor's mansion has made his positions on illegals clear: he doesn't give a damn.
Seems to me there's an opportunity here, particularly since AG candidate Bucher has made some practical and useful proposals on the topic.
Don't be fooled. Brian Bilbray won yesterday because that election was another referendum on illegal immigration. Two significant events occurred within days of the vote: 1. John McCain withdrew from a fundraiser for Bilbray over his disagreement with Bilbray's pro-enforcement position; and 2. Bilbray's opponent was caught encouraging illegal aliens to vote. The pattern is clear: The electorate, and certainly Republicans, oppose the open-borders crowd. And every time the issue is before the voters, enforcement wins. This is another loss for McCain and his 2008 prospects.
The Sitting Slimeball in the WI. Governor's mansion has made his positions on illegals clear: he doesn't give a damn.
Seems to me there's an opportunity here, particularly since AG candidate Bucher has made some practical and useful proposals on the topic.
Homage to Owen's Map Game
Go to the yellow "KaBoom"--that's the magic spot. It was (most likely) Task Force 145 which pinpointed the (now-dead) scumbag. Other spots TF 145 hit while on the hunt appear in red.
Coulter's "Godless"--Reviewed (Sarcasm Alert)
From BlameBush:
Right-wing hatemonger and purveyor of hate, Ann "Nazi Bitch" Coulter, has upchucked another one of her hateful hatemongering tomes of hate and, as expected, it is packed with her typical hate-filled rhetoric, lies, half truths, and lies. Indeed, there are so many things wrong with this book that I don’t know where to begin. Let’s start, then, with the entire premise.
...she completely ignores the fact that it is we, the enlightened Progressives of America, who more closely adhere to the altruistic teachings of Christ. Was it not Jesus and his Mary Chain who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor? Was it not Christ himself who stood upon the Mound of Avocados and proclaimed, “Merrily I say unto you, give unto others what belongs unto someone else?” If He didn’t, He should have, and Coulter would do well to remember it the next time Republicans cut taxes, stealing food from the very mouths of the poor and putting it right into the pockets of the wealthy.
...Coulter and her evangelical ilk have hijacked Christ’s message of love and acquiescence to parasites, twisting it into a hate-filled instrument of self-righteous intolerance. Let us not forget that this is the same Ann Coulter who, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, turned the blame away from Bush and rushed to accuse Middle Eastern Muslim males with smoking trousers, demanding we “invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity”. I doubt Christ would approve of such an attitude
Read it all. This guy is really, really GOOD...
Right-wing hatemonger and purveyor of hate, Ann "Nazi Bitch" Coulter, has upchucked another one of her hateful hatemongering tomes of hate and, as expected, it is packed with her typical hate-filled rhetoric, lies, half truths, and lies. Indeed, there are so many things wrong with this book that I don’t know where to begin. Let’s start, then, with the entire premise.
...she completely ignores the fact that it is we, the enlightened Progressives of America, who more closely adhere to the altruistic teachings of Christ. Was it not Jesus and his Mary Chain who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor? Was it not Christ himself who stood upon the Mound of Avocados and proclaimed, “Merrily I say unto you, give unto others what belongs unto someone else?” If He didn’t, He should have, and Coulter would do well to remember it the next time Republicans cut taxes, stealing food from the very mouths of the poor and putting it right into the pockets of the wealthy.
...Coulter and her evangelical ilk have hijacked Christ’s message of love and acquiescence to parasites, twisting it into a hate-filled instrument of self-righteous intolerance. Let us not forget that this is the same Ann Coulter who, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, turned the blame away from Bush and rushed to accuse Middle Eastern Muslim males with smoking trousers, demanding we “invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity”. I doubt Christ would approve of such an attitude
Read it all. This guy is really, really GOOD...
Read the WHOLE Story on Labor Shortage
The reported "labor shortage" in Wisconsin has some folks in a tizzy; but one can be justifiably skeptical of the reports.
The Milwaukee JS coverage today includes an interview with the President of Badger Meter:
Why build new facilities in Mexico rather than near its Brown Deer headquarters?
"It is easier to hire people," said Richard Meeusen, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "It has been getting harder to hire skilled people" in Wisconsin.
"Skilled people" in Mexico vs. Wisconsin? Kinda depends on precisely what skills. It's certainly not machining, nor CNC/automated machinery programming.
We suspect that it's a total compensation issue. And sure enough, here are the magic words:
Among the challenges of employing more people in Wisconsin is the cost of health care, the WMC report found. On a per-employee basis, almost half the firms said that health care costs have gone up between 11% and 20% in the past year, while only 3% said they did not increase.
Not to mention two other oppressive features of doing business in Wisconsin:
Reducing taxes was the most important thing Wisconsin's government could do to help the business climate, followed by reducing regulation, the respondents said
But there's more. Over the last 10 years or so, but particularly in the period between 9/11 and mid-2005, Wisconsin's manufacturing job base has been decimated. A lot of factories closed. When that happens, it has an effect: perspicacious youth look to other career fields, as do their suddenly-unemployed parents.
Therefore, besides the general shortage of younger people in the job market, there is a specific shortage of younger people who are entering technical schools in "industrial arts" curricula.
So yes, there is a "shortage." But there IS an economic component (wages/benefits are not attractive) AND a 'historical' component (plants and jobs come and go--is THIS a career?); both of these components have an impact.
The Milwaukee JS coverage today includes an interview with the President of Badger Meter:
Why build new facilities in Mexico rather than near its Brown Deer headquarters?
"It is easier to hire people," said Richard Meeusen, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "It has been getting harder to hire skilled people" in Wisconsin.
"Skilled people" in Mexico vs. Wisconsin? Kinda depends on precisely what skills. It's certainly not machining, nor CNC/automated machinery programming.
We suspect that it's a total compensation issue. And sure enough, here are the magic words:
Among the challenges of employing more people in Wisconsin is the cost of health care, the WMC report found. On a per-employee basis, almost half the firms said that health care costs have gone up between 11% and 20% in the past year, while only 3% said they did not increase.
Not to mention two other oppressive features of doing business in Wisconsin:
Reducing taxes was the most important thing Wisconsin's government could do to help the business climate, followed by reducing regulation, the respondents said
But there's more. Over the last 10 years or so, but particularly in the period between 9/11 and mid-2005, Wisconsin's manufacturing job base has been decimated. A lot of factories closed. When that happens, it has an effect: perspicacious youth look to other career fields, as do their suddenly-unemployed parents.
Therefore, besides the general shortage of younger people in the job market, there is a specific shortage of younger people who are entering technical schools in "industrial arts" curricula.
So yes, there is a "shortage." But there IS an economic component (wages/benefits are not attractive) AND a 'historical' component (plants and jobs come and go--is THIS a career?); both of these components have an impact.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
More Problems for Abp. Dolan
It's been demonstrated that the Archbishop of Milwaukee has a lot of problems on his plate, and they just keep coming.
An Archdiocesan priest who left the priesthood now intends to attempt marriage--at Trinity Episcopal church in Wauwatosa. It is reported that "a number of [Catholic] priests and other ministers" will participate as readers, musicians, etc., etc.
Won't that be just... special?
But that's not all. This ex-priest intends to marry a woman who is currently in charge of an "evangelization" program at a Milwaukee parish (or at least, that's what the Parish website says.)
We DO know that this will be the second trip 'down the aisle' for the bride, as well.
"Evangelism" has sure changed since I was a kid.
An Archdiocesan priest who left the priesthood now intends to attempt marriage--at Trinity Episcopal church in Wauwatosa. It is reported that "a number of [Catholic] priests and other ministers" will participate as readers, musicians, etc., etc.
Won't that be just... special?
But that's not all. This ex-priest intends to marry a woman who is currently in charge of an "evangelization" program at a Milwaukee parish (or at least, that's what the Parish website says.)
We DO know that this will be the second trip 'down the aisle' for the bride, as well.
"Evangelism" has sure changed since I was a kid.
The Left's #1 Tactic
This observation from LawDog--a fellow who lives in Texas--but who is fed up with the crap of the Left:
Tactic #232: When you're losing, accuse the other side of racism.*sigh*
Used to be this was an effective tactic. You find yourself in the middle of a losing streak, just point your finger and yell, "Racism!" and the other guy would start crawfishing, yelping denials and looking guilty as hell.
Dirty pool, but it worked a treat.
I sincerely hope that the over-use of this tactic has rendered it useless, particularly in this debate.
Securing our borders is too important of a topic to be sidetracked by one side jumping up on the table and shrieking, "Oh my God, Racism!" when they notice that they aren't winning the debate.
Tactic #232: When you're losing, accuse the other side of racism.*sigh*
Used to be this was an effective tactic. You find yourself in the middle of a losing streak, just point your finger and yell, "Racism!" and the other guy would start crawfishing, yelping denials and looking guilty as hell.
Dirty pool, but it worked a treat.
I sincerely hope that the over-use of this tactic has rendered it useless, particularly in this debate.
Securing our borders is too important of a topic to be sidetracked by one side jumping up on the table and shrieking, "Oh my God, Racism!" when they notice that they aren't winning the debate.
Compensation Rants: Folkbum vs. Reality
Heh. Jay wants to pick a fight with McIlheran.
Ol' Jay uses the usual argument--that teachers take Lamborghini bennies to compensate for their low, low salaries.
But how "low" ARE the salaries?
US Dept. of Labor publishes a handy-dandy series of charts which are useful.
Average high-school teacher in Wisconsin earns $45, 460.
Average middle-school teacher in Wisconsin earns $44,380.
Average grade-school teacher in Wisconsin earns $45,030.
Average of ALL OCCUPATIONS in Wisconsin: $35,660. (In 2002, it was $32,464.) Of course, this number includes (presumably) a large percentage of people who have not earned a 4-year degree in Liberal Arts as opposed to engineering or sciences. So let's look at some of the 'degree-required' or at least 'professional,' non-management categories.
Claims Adjusters: $45,470.
Employment/Recruitment: $46,130.
Credit Analysts: $49, 130.
Chemists: $50, 690.
Market Research Analysts: $62,460.
Dieticians/Nutritionists: $46,780.
Registered Nurses: $55,060.
Mailmen: $42,360.
Production SUPERVISORS: $49, 890. (Generally degree-required, responsible for 7-8 people.)
It is noteworthy that the "Average of All" number has increased by 9.8% since 2002--or by 3.28%/year (2002-2005.)
But to Jay's point--the teachers are not really "sacrificing" current income, at least in comparison to others with similar educational requirements. The cost of health for most Wisconsin workers has increased--deductibles and co-pays are now running (usually) a total of $3,000/year/family, or $1,500/year/single. IN ADDITION, health and dental premium payments are typically running between $100-$300/month. IN ADDITION, retirement plans now consist of 401(k) contributions, usually 3% of annual wage/salary.
And all those other folks work 12 months a year...
C'mon Jay, get a life.
Ol' Jay uses the usual argument--that teachers take Lamborghini bennies to compensate for their low, low salaries.
But how "low" ARE the salaries?
US Dept. of Labor publishes a handy-dandy series of charts which are useful.
Average high-school teacher in Wisconsin earns $45, 460.
Average middle-school teacher in Wisconsin earns $44,380.
Average grade-school teacher in Wisconsin earns $45,030.
Average of ALL OCCUPATIONS in Wisconsin: $35,660. (In 2002, it was $32,464.) Of course, this number includes (presumably) a large percentage of people who have not earned a 4-year degree in Liberal Arts as opposed to engineering or sciences. So let's look at some of the 'degree-required' or at least 'professional,' non-management categories.
Claims Adjusters: $45,470.
Employment/Recruitment: $46,130.
Credit Analysts: $49, 130.
Chemists: $50, 690.
Market Research Analysts: $62,460.
Dieticians/Nutritionists: $46,780.
Registered Nurses: $55,060.
Mailmen: $42,360.
Production SUPERVISORS: $49, 890. (Generally degree-required, responsible for 7-8 people.)
It is noteworthy that the "Average of All" number has increased by 9.8% since 2002--or by 3.28%/year (2002-2005.)
But to Jay's point--the teachers are not really "sacrificing" current income, at least in comparison to others with similar educational requirements. The cost of health for most Wisconsin workers has increased--deductibles and co-pays are now running (usually) a total of $3,000/year/family, or $1,500/year/single. IN ADDITION, health and dental premium payments are typically running between $100-$300/month. IN ADDITION, retirement plans now consist of 401(k) contributions, usually 3% of annual wage/salary.
And all those other folks work 12 months a year...
C'mon Jay, get a life.
Homosex "Marriage" Loses in Alabama; Tactics Update
Buried at the very end of the MS-NBC report on elections around the country is the following line:
Also in Alabama, voters passed a ban on gay marriage by a 4-to-1 margin.
Of interest is the "comments" section in yesterday's post on the Federal Homosex "marriage" amendment, found here. Mr. Drury is a pleasant interlocutor, and what he has to say is interesting, but not all that pleasant.
The homosex lobby evidently intends to utilize a somewhat sleazy approach in their VERY active lobbying effort at the Federal level. As mentioned in the post, it is very important to that group that the Federal amendment fails, which means that they will use whatever means are available to defeat it. So far, their effort has been successful.
THAT tells us that sometime downstream they expect a SCOTUS ruling which will overturn the Alabama results--as well as the similar results in other States, like Wisconsin.
So: on the one hand, the Homosex Lobby argues that SCOTUS will accede to a "States' Rights" argument--on the OTHER hand, the Homosex Lobby anticipates that the Court will trample States' rights, as Levin pointed out (see my linked post.)
Who says propaganda doesn't work?
Hmmmmm.
Also in Alabama, voters passed a ban on gay marriage by a 4-to-1 margin.
Of interest is the "comments" section in yesterday's post on the Federal Homosex "marriage" amendment, found here. Mr. Drury is a pleasant interlocutor, and what he has to say is interesting, but not all that pleasant.
The homosex lobby evidently intends to utilize a somewhat sleazy approach in their VERY active lobbying effort at the Federal level. As mentioned in the post, it is very important to that group that the Federal amendment fails, which means that they will use whatever means are available to defeat it. So far, their effort has been successful.
THAT tells us that sometime downstream they expect a SCOTUS ruling which will overturn the Alabama results--as well as the similar results in other States, like Wisconsin.
So: on the one hand, the Homosex Lobby argues that SCOTUS will accede to a "States' Rights" argument--on the OTHER hand, the Homosex Lobby anticipates that the Court will trample States' rights, as Levin pointed out (see my linked post.)
Who says propaganda doesn't work?
Hmmmmm.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Illegal Preferences
At a political event last night, a prominent Congressman reminded me of certain provisions in the Senate-passed Immigration bill.
One of them is highlighted by Texas Hold'Em:
Illegal aliens will be guaranteed in-state tuition rates in all 50 states. Your kid will have to pay out-of-state tuition if he or she crosses the state line, but not the alien who entered the United States illegally.
What the Congressman said (not mentioned in the quote above) is that this particular provision will cause REAL trouble for Wisconsin citizens' children who want to go to a UW-System school.
The Regents have a rule providing that 'no more than 75% of UW system students can be Wisconsin-native (resident) students.'
So when illegal aliens become de facto "in-state" tuition-payers, THEY occupy "Wisconsin-native (resident)" places--and YOUR children may not be able to secure a place in a UW-school.
And you thought that only the UW-administration hates Wisconsin-resident children, eh?
One of them is highlighted by Texas Hold'Em:
Illegal aliens will be guaranteed in-state tuition rates in all 50 states. Your kid will have to pay out-of-state tuition if he or she crosses the state line, but not the alien who entered the United States illegally.
What the Congressman said (not mentioned in the quote above) is that this particular provision will cause REAL trouble for Wisconsin citizens' children who want to go to a UW-System school.
The Regents have a rule providing that 'no more than 75% of UW system students can be Wisconsin-native (resident) students.'
So when illegal aliens become de facto "in-state" tuition-payers, THEY occupy "Wisconsin-native (resident)" places--and YOUR children may not be able to secure a place in a UW-school.
And you thought that only the UW-administration hates Wisconsin-resident children, eh?
"Cheap" Ethanol?
At one of the bazillion graduation parties over the weekend, a friend confidently assured me that 'ethanol is cheaper than gas.'
I told him to get acquainted with the CBOE, which would tell him otherwise in hard, cold prices.
Beyond that, thanks to Jib, we learn that the GWB Ethanol Plan has an interesting feature:
Mitchell says the ACGA calculates that the other part of the administration’s plan – paying the 51-cent per gallon blenders’ tax credit to gasoline distributors on the imported ethanol – would cost taxpayers $1.7 billion for every billion gallons of imported ethanol
That's $1.70 a gallon in tax credits.
Cheap, my fourth-point-of-contact...
I told him to get acquainted with the CBOE, which would tell him otherwise in hard, cold prices.
Beyond that, thanks to Jib, we learn that the GWB Ethanol Plan has an interesting feature:
Mitchell says the ACGA calculates that the other part of the administration’s plan – paying the 51-cent per gallon blenders’ tax credit to gasoline distributors on the imported ethanol – would cost taxpayers $1.7 billion for every billion gallons of imported ethanol
That's $1.70 a gallon in tax credits.
Cheap, my fourth-point-of-contact...
Gay Marriage? Just Say "No"
As one might expect, Althouse has joined others (Ted Kennedy, D-Alcohol Interests) and Russ Feingold (D-Self-Glorification) in not-too-subtle disparagement of the proposed Federal Amendment to bar homosex "marriage."
The most telling argument they all make, because they cannot make an argument on the merits, is that Federalizing marriage regulations is an affront to States' Rights.
There's a good deal of irony in that argument, since States' rights have never, NEVER, been near and dear to the Left. (Think Lawrence v. Texas...)
As usual, Levin provides the applicable retort:
Let's take a step back. Who started this battle? The so-called gay-rights groups, who developed a litigation strategy of cherry-picking states where they thought activist judges would impose their definition of marriage on the public. And they succeeded in Massachusetts...
...the amendment process is a reaction to judicial activists who seek to crush the public will...
Some have argued that marriage is a state issue. But that hasn't always been the case. Indeed, polygamy was outlawed by federal statute in the 1860's. More importantly, federalism is about the sharing of power between the federal and state governments. The amendment process is the means by which the states get to participate in power-sharing decisions. After all, it takes three-fourths of the states (38) to adopt an amendment. Therefore, if 38 states believe they need protection from judicial activists, they will support the amendment. Our understanding of constitutional government has been so degraded that when a court, in effect, amends the Constitution it's accepted as almost commonplace. But if there's an attempt to trigger the legitimate, formal amendment process, the effort is disparaged.
Umnnh...yeah. It's not hard to imagine that 38 States will ratify this, effectively removing the issue from the hands of the "positivists" in legal circles and the judiciary. After all, wherever a State has had the opportunity to vote on the issue, the Homosex "marriage" crowd has lost, and lost big.
The reason the Left argues so strenuously is that they KNOW they will lose when it goes to the States; and they prefer the rulings of the Unelected Blackrobes to the wisdom of the People.
The most telling argument they all make, because they cannot make an argument on the merits, is that Federalizing marriage regulations is an affront to States' Rights.
There's a good deal of irony in that argument, since States' rights have never, NEVER, been near and dear to the Left. (Think Lawrence v. Texas...)
As usual, Levin provides the applicable retort:
Let's take a step back. Who started this battle? The so-called gay-rights groups, who developed a litigation strategy of cherry-picking states where they thought activist judges would impose their definition of marriage on the public. And they succeeded in Massachusetts...
...the amendment process is a reaction to judicial activists who seek to crush the public will...
Some have argued that marriage is a state issue. But that hasn't always been the case. Indeed, polygamy was outlawed by federal statute in the 1860's. More importantly, federalism is about the sharing of power between the federal and state governments. The amendment process is the means by which the states get to participate in power-sharing decisions. After all, it takes three-fourths of the states (38) to adopt an amendment. Therefore, if 38 states believe they need protection from judicial activists, they will support the amendment. Our understanding of constitutional government has been so degraded that when a court, in effect, amends the Constitution it's accepted as almost commonplace. But if there's an attempt to trigger the legitimate, formal amendment process, the effort is disparaged.
Umnnh...yeah. It's not hard to imagine that 38 States will ratify this, effectively removing the issue from the hands of the "positivists" in legal circles and the judiciary. After all, wherever a State has had the opportunity to vote on the issue, the Homosex "marriage" crowd has lost, and lost big.
The reason the Left argues so strenuously is that they KNOW they will lose when it goes to the States; and they prefer the rulings of the Unelected Blackrobes to the wisdom of the People.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Concealed Carry Debate
On another blogsite, (Folkbum) there's a discussion of concealed carry. A second blogger, the Shark, kicked in with his own take on the issue.
Clearly, Folkbum's Jay picked a very weak argument--and Tom Sowell tells us why:
The total number of murders in the United States in 1960 was lower than in 1950, 1940, or 1930 -- even though the population was growing and two new states had been added. The murder rate, in proportion to population, in 1960 was half of what it had been in 1934.
Every one of these beneficial trends sharply reversed after liberal notions gained ascendancy during in the 1960s. By 1974, the murder rate had doubled. Even liberal icon Sargent Shriver, head of the agency directing the "war on poverty," admitted that "venereal disease has skyrocketed" even though "we have had more clinics, more pills, and more sex education than ever in history."
While Folkbum argues, in effect, that there is little to fear, thus little which actually requires concealed weapon-carrying, the statistics cited by Sowell would argue differently.
And even though MOST violent crime happens between parties who are acquainted, NOT ALL violent crime happens that way. From today's news (WISN/1130):
A few armed robberies on the east side over the weekend, and police think they are related. Three street robberies happened early Sunday at Fratney and Park Place, Farwell and Bradford, and Oakland and Kenwood. At this point, police do not have a description of the suspects.
and:
A man is in critical condition after being shot on Milwaukee's north side. It happened early Monday near 11th and North. The man was shot in the neck. Police say five or six people tried to rob the man and his friends in the McDonald's parking lot. The suspects sped off on bicycles after the shooting.
One can bet serious money that these incidents were NOT between people 'who knew each other.'
Clearly, Folkbum's Jay picked a very weak argument--and Tom Sowell tells us why:
The total number of murders in the United States in 1960 was lower than in 1950, 1940, or 1930 -- even though the population was growing and two new states had been added. The murder rate, in proportion to population, in 1960 was half of what it had been in 1934.
Every one of these beneficial trends sharply reversed after liberal notions gained ascendancy during in the 1960s. By 1974, the murder rate had doubled. Even liberal icon Sargent Shriver, head of the agency directing the "war on poverty," admitted that "venereal disease has skyrocketed" even though "we have had more clinics, more pills, and more sex education than ever in history."
While Folkbum argues, in effect, that there is little to fear, thus little which actually requires concealed weapon-carrying, the statistics cited by Sowell would argue differently.
And even though MOST violent crime happens between parties who are acquainted, NOT ALL violent crime happens that way. From today's news (WISN/1130):
A few armed robberies on the east side over the weekend, and police think they are related. Three street robberies happened early Sunday at Fratney and Park Place, Farwell and Bradford, and Oakland and Kenwood. At this point, police do not have a description of the suspects.
and:
A man is in critical condition after being shot on Milwaukee's north side. It happened early Monday near 11th and North. The man was shot in the neck. Police say five or six people tried to rob the man and his friends in the McDonald's parking lot. The suspects sped off on bicycles after the shooting.
One can bet serious money that these incidents were NOT between people 'who knew each other.'
Van Hollen and Domestic Terrorism
Republican Attorney-General candidate JB VanHollen took a beating from the Cognoscenti Class for mentioning the "T" word. (That's "Terrorism" for you young'uns who also can't spell Afghanistan..) In effect, the MSM and JB's opponents all blatted the same line:
"Here in Wisconsin, we have dairy cows, cheese, Packers, high taxes, ...but terrorists? Hell, JB, that sort of critter lives in New Yawk City, or New Jersey, or Hellholes like that. Maybe LA, or SanFran--you know, with the other fruits and nuts.
"NOT HERE. Don't even TALK that way. You'll scare the chilluns, JB, you, you...
"You smokin', JB??"
Well, JB was the US Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't blowing , or tokin' smoke.
From Counterterrorism Blog:
Steven Emerson was interviewed today on MSNBC about the Canadian jihadist plots and arrests. But his most provocative comments, about investigations underway in the U.S. of Al Qaeda plots, came near the end of the interview...
WITT: What do your sources tell you, Steve? Any kind of a similar scenario, similar plots like this being hatched in the United States or have they been?
EMERSON: I think that the public will be surprised by some of the other indictments that may be issued later this year or early next year. There are various Al Qaeda cases being worked on by the U.S. government- the F.B.I., Department of Justice, Treasury- and these cases have still not been made public, and some of them involve plots against American targets.
OK. Remember that "the Department of Justice" just happens to include U S Attorneys...
"Here in Wisconsin, we have dairy cows, cheese, Packers, high taxes, ...but terrorists? Hell, JB, that sort of critter lives in New Yawk City, or New Jersey, or Hellholes like that. Maybe LA, or SanFran--you know, with the other fruits and nuts.
"NOT HERE. Don't even TALK that way. You'll scare the chilluns, JB, you, you...
"You smokin', JB??"
Well, JB was the US Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't blowing , or tokin' smoke.
From Counterterrorism Blog:
Steven Emerson was interviewed today on MSNBC about the Canadian jihadist plots and arrests. But his most provocative comments, about investigations underway in the U.S. of Al Qaeda plots, came near the end of the interview...
WITT: What do your sources tell you, Steve? Any kind of a similar scenario, similar plots like this being hatched in the United States or have they been?
EMERSON: I think that the public will be surprised by some of the other indictments that may be issued later this year or early next year. There are various Al Qaeda cases being worked on by the U.S. government- the F.B.I., Department of Justice, Treasury- and these cases have still not been made public, and some of them involve plots against American targets.
OK. Remember that "the Department of Justice" just happens to include U S Attorneys...
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Delightful Meet/Greet
The BloggerPicnic (not to be confused with the Bunny Picnic) was nicely attended by nice people (at least the ones we met were nice) and ought to be repeated now and then.
AsianBadger, RealDebate, NeoCon-Tastic, Patrick, Jiblog, Wiggers, SteveEgg--all clumped around the table which happened to be nearest the beer...
Organizer, majordomo, host, and !!I NEED A .50CAL!! SpottedHorse with chilluns plus DerGruppenfuhrer (far and away the more delightful) and the estimable McMahon...
GreenTeam folks were bound and determined to emplace a Greensticker over my PJB logo. Sorry, guys...at my age, that sort of change is not so easy to make.
York? With a BAG? Nope. A paid actor.
Good way to pass time. Thanks, Chris!
AsianBadger, RealDebate, NeoCon-Tastic, Patrick, Jiblog, Wiggers, SteveEgg--all clumped around the table which happened to be nearest the beer...
Organizer, majordomo, host, and !!I NEED A .50CAL!! SpottedHorse with chilluns plus DerGruppenfuhrer (far and away the more delightful) and the estimable McMahon...
GreenTeam folks were bound and determined to emplace a Greensticker over my PJB logo. Sorry, guys...at my age, that sort of change is not so easy to make.
York? With a BAG? Nope. A paid actor.
Good way to pass time. Thanks, Chris!
New Orleans Fascism To Continue
Why in blazes this swampland is a "destination city" is beyond imagination:
Gun rights activists were up in arms Friday after New Orleans Police Chief Warren Riley said he would confiscate weapons should disaster strike.
In an interview with WWL Radio, Riley said his officers would seize guns from people on the streets if another storm was to hit New Orleans.
“During a circumstance like that, we cannot allow people to walk the street carrying guns…as law enforcement officers we will confiscate the weapon if a person is walking down the street and they may be arrested,” Riley said.
This assumes that 'walking the street' with a weapon demonstrates criminal intent, or is ipso facto criminal activity. What about the possibility that it's your own damn street and you're walking in front of your own house--as part of a neighborhood "block watch" effort?
The National Rifle Association sued the city and forced it to return hundreds of guns, after officers seized them during Katrina. Gun rights activists were once again outraged by Riley's comments.
(If all one reads is MSM, by the way, you might not have known about the NRA's success in this lawsuit...)
”It’s shocking, there's nothing about a police chief's opinion that gives them a super sized authority to throw the constitution out the window,” said NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne Lapierre.
During Katrina, state law gave the chief the authority to take guns during an emergency. Since then lawmakers have re-written the law, making it a crime, one they said the chief was threatening to commit.
“He does not have the right to confiscate their firearms, nobody in this country does, that's why we have a 2nd amendment to our constitution,” said Scalise.
Some folks still think that the 2nd Amendment is written to protect hunters and MAYBE for self-defense, if you have a "Mother, May-I" permission slip.
Does this NOPD Chief resemble Screechin'Shirley Abrahamson, Queen of Hearts?
HT: John Lott
Gun rights activists were up in arms Friday after New Orleans Police Chief Warren Riley said he would confiscate weapons should disaster strike.
In an interview with WWL Radio, Riley said his officers would seize guns from people on the streets if another storm was to hit New Orleans.
“During a circumstance like that, we cannot allow people to walk the street carrying guns…as law enforcement officers we will confiscate the weapon if a person is walking down the street and they may be arrested,” Riley said.
This assumes that 'walking the street' with a weapon demonstrates criminal intent, or is ipso facto criminal activity. What about the possibility that it's your own damn street and you're walking in front of your own house--as part of a neighborhood "block watch" effort?
The National Rifle Association sued the city and forced it to return hundreds of guns, after officers seized them during Katrina. Gun rights activists were once again outraged by Riley's comments.
(If all one reads is MSM, by the way, you might not have known about the NRA's success in this lawsuit...)
”It’s shocking, there's nothing about a police chief's opinion that gives them a super sized authority to throw the constitution out the window,” said NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne Lapierre.
During Katrina, state law gave the chief the authority to take guns during an emergency. Since then lawmakers have re-written the law, making it a crime, one they said the chief was threatening to commit.
“He does not have the right to confiscate their firearms, nobody in this country does, that's why we have a 2nd amendment to our constitution,” said Scalise.
Some folks still think that the 2nd Amendment is written to protect hunters and MAYBE for self-defense, if you have a "Mother, May-I" permission slip.
Does this NOPD Chief resemble Screechin'Shirley Abrahamson, Queen of Hearts?
HT: John Lott
Contrast: Spice Boyzzz v. Jessica
See, pilgrim, SOME things are news, and OTHER things are...well...NOT news.
From Jessica:
If you read mainstream media accounts, you would have no clue that the Milwaukee Police Association showed up at Gov. Doyle's press conference Friday at Milwaukee City Hall on violence. And you'd have no clue that they weren't allowed in the room.
That's right. In a public building at a press conference on giving Milwaukee police more money, reporters were let inside but the nine Milwaukee police officers who showed up were stopped at the door.
Now let us turn to the SpiceBoyzz:
Reynolds, as he had several times in the past, reserved the Firefly Room at the Wauwatosa Public Library for a town hall meeting on May 9. A handful of people showed up, and it was business as usual - until Jennifer Morgan, a former auto mechanic, walked in with her camera.
...Reynolds and Morgan continued their spat as the camera rolled, with the senator repeating that he would not allow filming in the public library and Morgan charging Reynolds didn't believe in the Constitution.
Reynolds allows those who disagree with him to enter the room--and at least speaks with them.
BagManJim? Nope. You can't come in the ROOM, much less debate.
Sounds familiar, eh?
"For the first six months of Jim Doyle's administration, I don't think he even knew the Legislature existed," said Assembly Majority Leader Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem), who is in line to become Assembly speaker next year if Republicans keep control after the November election.
"The governor really had no interest in dealing with the Legislature at all, and hearing or communicating with us at all," Huebsch said. "When there's communication, you have greater success. You don't see the confrontation as much."
Instead of negotiating with legislators, vetoes seem to be Doyle's preferred "mode of communication," Huebsch said.
Kinda makes you think of the Wizard of Oz...BagMan's Alternative Universe--where there is no opposition, largely because he simply won't allow them in his presence.
From Jessica:
If you read mainstream media accounts, you would have no clue that the Milwaukee Police Association showed up at Gov. Doyle's press conference Friday at Milwaukee City Hall on violence. And you'd have no clue that they weren't allowed in the room.
That's right. In a public building at a press conference on giving Milwaukee police more money, reporters were let inside but the nine Milwaukee police officers who showed up were stopped at the door.
Now let us turn to the SpiceBoyzz:
Reynolds, as he had several times in the past, reserved the Firefly Room at the Wauwatosa Public Library for a town hall meeting on May 9. A handful of people showed up, and it was business as usual - until Jennifer Morgan, a former auto mechanic, walked in with her camera.
...Reynolds and Morgan continued their spat as the camera rolled, with the senator repeating that he would not allow filming in the public library and Morgan charging Reynolds didn't believe in the Constitution.
Reynolds allows those who disagree with him to enter the room--and at least speaks with them.
BagManJim? Nope. You can't come in the ROOM, much less debate.
Sounds familiar, eh?
"For the first six months of Jim Doyle's administration, I don't think he even knew the Legislature existed," said Assembly Majority Leader Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem), who is in line to become Assembly speaker next year if Republicans keep control after the November election.
"The governor really had no interest in dealing with the Legislature at all, and hearing or communicating with us at all," Huebsch said. "When there's communication, you have greater success. You don't see the confrontation as much."
Instead of negotiating with legislators, vetoes seem to be Doyle's preferred "mode of communication," Huebsch said.
Kinda makes you think of the Wizard of Oz...BagMan's Alternative Universe--where there is no opposition, largely because he simply won't allow them in his presence.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
No Temporizing in Cleveland
Heh.
The NewBroom Bishop Richard Lennon gets down to work in less than 2 weeks:
You may know that Archbishop Pila has been succeeded by Richard Lennon, late of the Boston Diocese. It sounds as though there is a crackdown on everything that looks progressive. The letter below is a request for badly needed help.
***
Faced with an enormous challenge, we turn to you, one of our special friends, to ask for help.
For 15 years, FutureChurch has been able to devote maximum resources to our educational and advocacy efforts because our offices have been in very low-cost parish based space.
Now, we have been asked to move out of the rectory basement that has been our home for 8 years. We must find new space by August 1st and know that we have no choice but to find commercial rental space. Doing so will have a significant impact on our operating budget.
There is no possibility of finding space in another church. Diocesan officials have made no secret of their desire to deny FutureChurch access to church property for our activities – including educational programs and prayer services.
As you know, we are hard at working at expanding our Mary of Magdala celebrations to include a post card campaign to urge that bishops welcome women as proclaimers and preachers of the Gospel. We are also collecting signatures on a letter to Bishop Wuerl, a member of committee drafting the Pope’s Post-Eucharistic Synod with the hope of encouraging the Vatican to adopt meaningful solutions to the priest shortage. We are also moving full speed ahead on our newest advocacy project, Save Our Parish Communities, designed to give Catholic parishioners tools to meet the challenges of maintaining vibrant parishes in a time of fewer priests and closing parishes.
This is the standard agenda, minus explicit reference to homosexual wish-list items.
Next: removal of the "Rainbow Flag" from Diocesan websites. Burning would be fine.
HT: ProEcclesia
The New
You may know that Archbishop Pila has been succeeded by Richard Lennon, late of the Boston Diocese. It sounds as though there is a crackdown on everything that looks progressive. The letter below is a request for badly needed help.
***
Faced with an enormous challenge, we turn to you, one of our special friends, to ask for help.
For 15 years, FutureChurch has been able to devote maximum resources to our educational and advocacy efforts because our offices have been in very low-cost parish based space.
Now, we have been asked to move out of the rectory basement that has been our home for 8 years. We must find new space by August 1st and know that we have no choice but to find commercial rental space. Doing so will have a significant impact on our operating budget.
There is no possibility of finding space in another church. Diocesan officials have made no secret of their desire to deny FutureChurch access to church property for our activities – including educational programs and prayer services.
As you know, we are hard at working at expanding our Mary of Magdala celebrations to include a post card campaign to urge that bishops welcome women as proclaimers and preachers of the Gospel. We are also collecting signatures on a letter to Bishop Wuerl, a member of committee drafting the Pope’s Post-Eucharistic Synod with the hope of encouraging the Vatican to adopt meaningful solutions to the priest shortage. We are also moving full speed ahead on our newest advocacy project, Save Our Parish Communities, designed to give Catholic parishioners tools to meet the challenges of maintaining vibrant parishes in a time of fewer priests and closing parishes.
This is the standard agenda, minus explicit reference to homosexual wish-list items.
Next: removal of the "Rainbow Flag" from Diocesan websites. Burning would be fine.
HT: ProEcclesia
Terrorism: Alive and Well in the British Empire
From Powerline:
UPDATE: Details are sketchy, but at least eight people have been arrested in the Toronto area and will be charged with plotting to set off explosives at as-yet-unspecified locations in Ontario. Preliminary reports is that those arrested are Muslims suspected of links to al Qaeda.
FURTHER UPDATE, via Power Line News: Canadian authorities say that 12 male adults and five "youths" have been taken into custody, and three tons of ammonium nitrate, triple the amount used in the Oklahoma City bombing, have been seized.
And from the Mother Country:
London police raided a house where chemical weapons of some kind were apparently being produced. Today comes the chilling news that a chemical suicide vest is believed to be missing:
British police were searching for a "suicide vest" laced with dangerous chemicals after a raid of the alleged bomb factory yielded two suspects but no vest.
Police think the vest has been made and will be set off at a busy bus or train station, or in a crowd watching a World Cup game in a local pub, The Times said.
Watchword: Semper Paratus
UPDATE: Details are sketchy, but at least eight people have been arrested in the Toronto area and will be charged with plotting to set off explosives at as-yet-unspecified locations in Ontario. Preliminary reports is that those arrested are Muslims suspected of links to al Qaeda.
FURTHER UPDATE, via Power Line News: Canadian authorities say that 12 male adults and five "youths" have been taken into custody, and three tons of ammonium nitrate, triple the amount used in the Oklahoma City bombing, have been seized.
And from the Mother Country:
London police raided a house where chemical weapons of some kind were apparently being produced. Today comes the chilling news that a chemical suicide vest is believed to be missing:
British police were searching for a "suicide vest" laced with dangerous chemicals after a raid of the alleged bomb factory yielded two suspects but no vest.
Police think the vest has been made and will be set off at a busy bus or train station, or in a crowd watching a World Cup game in a local pub, The Times said.
Watchword: Semper Paratus
Voter ID--The Real Agenda
Yah, it's PERSECUTING the POOR and ELDERLY--that's why the Right-Wing Nutbags want voter ID, yah.
That's Xoff's stand.
Here's why Voter ID may just be a good idea:
Francine Busby, the Democratic candidate in Tuesday’s CA-50 special election has been caught on tape telling a Spanish-speaking audience “You don’t need papers for voting.”
Responding to a question from a translator about how to help her campaign, Francine Busby also told non-English-speaking volunteers that they don’t need to be registered voters to help the campaign.
Even a passing acquaintance with the patois makes it clear: "papers" mean "citizenship documentation." This Democrat scum-bagette wants the Illegal Alien vote, and told them to just show up.
No problemo.
That's Xoff's stand.
Here's why Voter ID may just be a good idea:
Francine Busby, the Democratic candidate in Tuesday’s CA-50 special election has been caught on tape telling a Spanish-speaking audience “You don’t need papers for voting.”
Responding to a question from a translator about how to help her campaign, Francine Busby also told non-English-speaking volunteers that they don’t need to be registered voters to help the campaign.
Even a passing acquaintance with the patois makes it clear: "papers" mean "citizenship documentation." This Democrat scum-bagette wants the Illegal Alien vote, and told them to just show up.
No problemo.
Blanchard: The Way of the Gulag
Brian Blanchard shows his real persona in an attempt to imitate Stalin.
Blanchard has filed a brief with the Dane County Circuit Court to have convicted former Speaker of the Assembly Scott Jensen held in custody pending appeal of his conviction of campaigning with state resources.
Up to this point, I understood that Blanchard was a political tool, and not too competent in hiding his partisan-prosecution games--in other words, a typical Democrat jackass.
Now it's clear that the guy is really a vicious psychopath.
So much for the "bleeding heart" brand of Liberalism, eh? This guy should be made into The Icon of leftists and join his mentor, Josef Stalin; all that remains is to re-name his office Dzerzhinsky Square West.
Blanchard has filed a brief with the Dane County Circuit Court to have convicted former Speaker of the Assembly Scott Jensen held in custody pending appeal of his conviction of campaigning with state resources.
Up to this point, I understood that Blanchard was a political tool, and not too competent in hiding his partisan-prosecution games--in other words, a typical Democrat jackass.
Now it's clear that the guy is really a vicious psychopath.
So much for the "bleeding heart" brand of Liberalism, eh? This guy should be made into The Icon of leftists and join his mentor, Josef Stalin; all that remains is to re-name his office Dzerzhinsky Square West.
Vrakas Just Says "No"; Bets Taken at This Window
Good morning, class. Today we demonstrate how you are being slowly bent forward toward the BOHICA position required of all residents of the State of Wisconsin. This lesson: Getting Tax Support of All Arts and Many Parks. This is Level 201. Prerequisite coursework (Overtaxation Principles and Mechanics) has just ended with the death of TPA/TABOR last April. Please pay attention, maintain order, and take good notes. An exam (heh, heh) will follow within the next three years.
To begin: it is reported that Dan Vrakas joined McReynolds (Waukesha and Racine counties, respectively) in describing the Artsy-Tax as a "non-starter."
Good for them. That will be the last of this sort of talk ever reported in the local MSM, unless McReynolds' and Vrakas' names are prefaced by such adjectives as "right-wing," "conservative," or "insulated suburbanites." (Other phrases, such as "Rich Waukesha/Ozaukee/Racine County elected officials may suffice, if artfully done.)
Now, class, look at the non-denial denials emerging from the Greater Milwaukee Committtee and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce:
The group's [Greater Milwaukee Committee] president, Julia Taylor, emphasized that her organization has made no recommendation to raise a regional sales tax. This is true, of course. But the important word "yet" could be added to that quotation, as we shall see. Your class homework assignment will be to look up Julia Taylor's financial track record at the YWCA, by the way.
Taylor, of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, said the situation in Denver is different from that in Milwaukee in key ways. An acute funding crisis for cultural institutions there led to the creation of the cultural tax after a state aid cutoff...
Nicely shaped. Anybody paying attention to the "acute funding crisis" over at the Milwaukee Symphony? The Public Museum? CLASS: this is known as the "setup".
Next, Mr. Sheehy:
"I can only speak for MMAC, but we weren't proposing a seven-county tax for anything," he said. "Of all the possibilities out there, that is one of them."
So what DID MMAC propose? Does Sheehy prefer a DIFFERENT extortion?
But just to make sure the yahoos, nativists, and xenophobic Selfish Suburban Pigs get the idea, Sheehy added a couple of verses from the Apocalypse. (He knows all yahoos read the Bible...)
Sheehy said suburban communities need to determine how much they value institutions in Milwaukee County.
For an example, he said, people in Mequon and Brookfield would want to have a say if Milwaukee County decided to close or make severe financial cuts at the Milwaukee County Zoo, Mitchell Park Domes or Milwaukee Art Museum.
The End of The World Is Nigh. Would you pay $13.50 to prevent it? $22.00? (Please note, class: in the next several months, you will see pictures of CHILDREN at the Zoo, the Domes, and the Museum. Review "It's for The Children, 101" from The Economics of More Taxes.
OK, class. Let's review.
1) Over the last five years, major Milwaukee arts organizations have been having financial difficulties to one degree or another. No surprise; the Art Museum cost a LOT of money that was not budgeted, the Museum was plundered, costs for the MSO (health insurance/rent) have risen. We could go on with other organizations. There IS a problem: not enough revenue for the expenses they incur.
2) When Dan (I'm-Not-Really-a-Conservative) Finley took over the Museum, there was some noise, quickly suppressed, about a tax-based bailout. Sykes discussed it at the time, and we opined that the biggest, nastiest, scratch-spit-and-screech fight would erupt NOT over whether the tax should be imposed--but over the allocation of the money. But the fact remains that Finley brought it up. Do you REALLY suppose that Dan Finley took that job so he could lock the Museum's doors in 5-10 years? (See "Politician Survival 101" with text by Tom Ament, co-authored by Tommy Thompson.)
3) Jill Pelisek is emphatically NOT some 'fringe' crusader socialite ditz. She's a mover and shaker, and she volunteered to be the lightning-rod on this. (See Ancient History 101: and study the chapter entitled SeligStadium. Bud Selig took a lot of heat, too.)
4) The linked article has more non-denial denials than X42 on his best day. And when GMC and MMAC start non-denial denials, things are in motion.
Still making book and taking bets.
Class dismissed.
Additional homework: Begin counting MSM editorials on the topic of "Great Cities Always Have Great Arts," "Children and The Arts," and "Suburban Greed."
To begin: it is reported that Dan Vrakas joined McReynolds (Waukesha and Racine counties, respectively) in describing the Artsy-Tax as a "non-starter."
Good for them. That will be the last of this sort of talk ever reported in the local MSM, unless McReynolds' and Vrakas' names are prefaced by such adjectives as "right-wing," "conservative," or "insulated suburbanites." (Other phrases, such as "Rich Waukesha/Ozaukee/Racine County elected officials may suffice, if artfully done.)
Now, class, look at the non-denial denials emerging from the Greater Milwaukee Committtee and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce:
The group's [Greater Milwaukee Committee] president, Julia Taylor, emphasized that her organization has made no recommendation to raise a regional sales tax. This is true, of course. But the important word "yet" could be added to that quotation, as we shall see. Your class homework assignment will be to look up Julia Taylor's financial track record at the YWCA, by the way.
Taylor, of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, said the situation in Denver is different from that in Milwaukee in key ways. An acute funding crisis for cultural institutions there led to the creation of the cultural tax after a state aid cutoff...
Nicely shaped. Anybody paying attention to the "acute funding crisis" over at the Milwaukee Symphony? The Public Museum? CLASS: this is known as the "setup".
Next, Mr. Sheehy:
"I can only speak for MMAC, but we weren't proposing a seven-county tax for anything," he said. "Of all the possibilities out there, that is one of them."
So what DID MMAC propose? Does Sheehy prefer a DIFFERENT extortion?
But just to make sure the yahoos, nativists, and xenophobic Selfish Suburban Pigs get the idea, Sheehy added a couple of verses from the Apocalypse. (He knows all yahoos read the Bible...)
Sheehy said suburban communities need to determine how much they value institutions in Milwaukee County.
For an example, he said, people in Mequon and Brookfield would want to have a say if Milwaukee County decided to close or make severe financial cuts at the Milwaukee County Zoo, Mitchell Park Domes or Milwaukee Art Museum.
The End of The World Is Nigh. Would you pay $13.50 to prevent it? $22.00? (Please note, class: in the next several months, you will see pictures of CHILDREN at the Zoo, the Domes, and the Museum. Review "It's for The Children, 101" from The Economics of More Taxes.
OK, class. Let's review.
1) Over the last five years, major Milwaukee arts organizations have been having financial difficulties to one degree or another. No surprise; the Art Museum cost a LOT of money that was not budgeted, the Museum was plundered, costs for the MSO (health insurance/rent) have risen. We could go on with other organizations. There IS a problem: not enough revenue for the expenses they incur.
2) When Dan (I'm-Not-Really-a-Conservative) Finley took over the Museum, there was some noise, quickly suppressed, about a tax-based bailout. Sykes discussed it at the time, and we opined that the biggest, nastiest, scratch-spit-and-screech fight would erupt NOT over whether the tax should be imposed--but over the allocation of the money. But the fact remains that Finley brought it up. Do you REALLY suppose that Dan Finley took that job so he could lock the Museum's doors in 5-10 years? (See "Politician Survival 101" with text by Tom Ament, co-authored by Tommy Thompson.)
3) Jill Pelisek is emphatically NOT some 'fringe' crusader socialite ditz. She's a mover and shaker, and she volunteered to be the lightning-rod on this. (See Ancient History 101: and study the chapter entitled SeligStadium. Bud Selig took a lot of heat, too.)
4) The linked article has more non-denial denials than X42 on his best day. And when GMC and MMAC start non-denial denials, things are in motion.
Still making book and taking bets.
Class dismissed.
Additional homework: Begin counting MSM editorials on the topic of "Great Cities Always Have Great Arts," "Children and The Arts," and "Suburban Greed."
Friday, June 02, 2006
We Broke This News--Predator in Brookfield
Yah, we wuz fustest:
http://dad29.blogspot.com/2006/05/predator-on-prowl.html, dated May 23rd.
On June 1st, the Waukesha Freeman ran a 6-graf story about this creep, who was working the Brook Park subdivision in the Town of Brookfield. Same MO--likes young boys, stops his blue RV and asks for help...
Schools (and you) are on notice.
http://dad29.blogspot.com/2006/05/predator-on-prowl.html, dated May 23rd.
On June 1st, the Waukesha Freeman ran a 6-graf story about this creep, who was working the Brook Park subdivision in the Town of Brookfield. Same MO--likes young boys, stops his blue RV and asks for help...
Schools (and you) are on notice.
While We're Talking About Australia...
In the post below, Cdl. Pell of Australia helped Bp. Trautman understand Roman communications.
Here's an interesting excerpt about seminary life under Cdl. Pell:
Community prayer life is an important component of the seminary. In Sydney, the seminary has a daily Rule of Life. The men pray the Divine Office together in the chapel for morning, evening and night prayers, along with daily mass. A half hour of meditation is scheduled after morning prayer.
Three-quarters of an hour of Eucharistic Adoration takes place every night and an hour of Eucharistic Adoration each Sunday afternoon. Silence is required after 10:30 p.m. until after morning Mass the next day and all conversations, phone calls, and TV watching have to stop by 10:30pm.
An annual retreat is held for the whole seminary community and days of reflection are set aside during. Seminarians are expected to make a regular confession.
Academic formation is designed to nurture and inspire the personal faith of the seminarian and to presents “unambiguously the truth of the Catholic Church captured in the Scriptures and the Tradition.”It focuses on the formation of a Catholic mind, a heightened moral conscience and a deep knowledge of the Word of God as “living word.”
But the overall goal is “to produce good and holy priests.”
Archaic--almost ante-Deluvian, eh?
Check the RESULTS:
The number of seminarians in Australia has sharply increased in recent years and Church officials are attributing it to effective leadership, challenging spiritual and academic formation and a focus on shaping “good and holy priests,” says an article by Michael Gilchrist in the June issue of AD2000.
The Seminary of the Good Shepherd in Sydney, for example, has 44 seminarians, more than double the number of five years ago. Thirty of these men are in formation for the Archdiocese of Sydney. There are also 18 students at the recently established Redemptoris Mater Seminary run by the Neocatechumenate, a movement in the Church founded in 1968.
The St Charles Seminary in Perth has 20 students this year. Eight new priests were ordained for the archdiocese in December. Numbers have also increased in Melbourne, where there are now 35 seminarians at Corpus Christi. Even the small Diocese of Wagga Wagga has 12 men studying for the priesthood. Gilchrist attributes the increase in Sydney and Melbourne, in part, to Cardinal George Pell, who had served in Melbourne and continues to serve Sydney. A similar increase occurred in Melbourne a few years ago after the cardinal implemented reforms at the seminary.
This is what's called A Plan That Works.
HT: New Liturgical Movement
Here's an interesting excerpt about seminary life under Cdl. Pell:
Community prayer life is an important component of the seminary. In Sydney, the seminary has a daily Rule of Life. The men pray the Divine Office together in the chapel for morning, evening and night prayers, along with daily mass. A half hour of meditation is scheduled after morning prayer.
Three-quarters of an hour of Eucharistic Adoration takes place every night and an hour of Eucharistic Adoration each Sunday afternoon. Silence is required after 10:30 p.m. until after morning Mass the next day and all conversations, phone calls, and TV watching have to stop by 10:30pm.
An annual retreat is held for the whole seminary community and days of reflection are set aside during. Seminarians are expected to make a regular confession.
Academic formation is designed to nurture and inspire the personal faith of the seminarian and to presents “unambiguously the truth of the Catholic Church captured in the Scriptures and the Tradition.”It focuses on the formation of a Catholic mind, a heightened moral conscience and a deep knowledge of the Word of God as “living word.”
But the overall goal is “to produce good and holy priests.”
Archaic--almost ante-Deluvian, eh?
Check the RESULTS:
The number of seminarians in Australia has sharply increased in recent years and Church officials are attributing it to effective leadership, challenging spiritual and academic formation and a focus on shaping “good and holy priests,” says an article by Michael Gilchrist in the June issue of AD2000.
The Seminary of the Good Shepherd in Sydney, for example, has 44 seminarians, more than double the number of five years ago. Thirty of these men are in formation for the Archdiocese of Sydney. There are also 18 students at the recently established Redemptoris Mater Seminary run by the Neocatechumenate, a movement in the Church founded in 1968.
The St Charles Seminary in Perth has 20 students this year. Eight new priests were ordained for the archdiocese in December. Numbers have also increased in Melbourne, where there are now 35 seminarians at Corpus Christi. Even the small Diocese of Wagga Wagga has 12 men studying for the priesthood. Gilchrist attributes the increase in Sydney and Melbourne, in part, to Cardinal George Pell, who had served in Melbourne and continues to serve Sydney. A similar increase occurred in Melbourne a few years ago after the cardinal implemented reforms at the seminary.
This is what's called A Plan That Works.
HT: New Liturgical Movement
Cardinal Pell on Translations
Heh.
In an interview with John Allen of NCR, Cardinal Pell of Australia reminds the Whine-Crowd (Bp Trautman, e.g.) of reality:
Where do things stand on the new Order of the Mass?
Basically pretty healthy. It's been approved in Australia, it's been approved in England.
There's a big vote coming up in June in the United States. Do you have any sense of what you think will happen?
I think it'll get through.
If so, are the big battles over?
Experience has taught me that it's always dangerous to claim that. Nevertheless, if it gets through, that represents a significant achievement. I think the approval by Australia and England of the Order of the Mass is also significant.
When do you expect the Order of Mass will be in use?
I'm not sure. I think that we'll probably proceed together. I don't think it will be approved country-by-country piecemeal, because the ambition is to have one Roman Missal for the English-speaking world, with possibly a few local variants. I think that's a very worthy ambition.
What if the American bishops vote to request significant changes? Would the Australians and the English take another look?
I'm not exactly sure. I suspect that there would be informal consultations, and very possibly if the changes weren't too radical the Congregation for Divine Worship would either rule or suggest some compromise. But we're talking hypothetically, because I don't know.
You've seen the recent letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze to Bishop William Skylstad in the United States, warning that any text departing from the principles of Liturgiam Authenticam could not be approved. What do you make of it?
It's just stating what the situation is. It's sometimes useful to be reminded of the basic verities
.
The Vox Clara Commission believes the new text satisfies those principles?
Yes, very much so.
A cynic might suggest the cardinal's letter was intended to influence the upcoming vote of the U.S. bishops.
I'm sure he'd write it for some good purpose!
If this text is eventually approved, are the liturgy wars over?
I'm tempted to say that it would enormously change the balance of things, but I have no doubt there would be isolated and sporadic resistance. We have a big challenge to make the English [texts] powerful modern, appropriate and strong. We don't want to just achieve doctrinal fidelity but have clumsy English. We've got the doctrinal fidelity now. The ICEL translations are coming through beautifully on that score. But I think with some of them, a few of them, the quality is quite uneven.
Including the Order of the Mass?
No, I think the Order of the Mass is OK. I'm looking at other texts that are at a much earlier stage.
HT: Amy
In an interview with John Allen of NCR, Cardinal Pell of Australia reminds the Whine-Crowd (Bp Trautman, e.g.) of reality:
Where do things stand on the new Order of the Mass?
Basically pretty healthy. It's been approved in Australia, it's been approved in England.
There's a big vote coming up in June in the United States. Do you have any sense of what you think will happen?
I think it'll get through.
If so, are the big battles over?
Experience has taught me that it's always dangerous to claim that. Nevertheless, if it gets through, that represents a significant achievement. I think the approval by Australia and England of the Order of the Mass is also significant.
When do you expect the Order of Mass will be in use?
I'm not sure. I think that we'll probably proceed together. I don't think it will be approved country-by-country piecemeal, because the ambition is to have one Roman Missal for the English-speaking world, with possibly a few local variants. I think that's a very worthy ambition.
What if the American bishops vote to request significant changes? Would the Australians and the English take another look?
I'm not exactly sure. I suspect that there would be informal consultations, and very possibly if the changes weren't too radical the Congregation for Divine Worship would either rule or suggest some compromise. But we're talking hypothetically, because I don't know.
You've seen the recent letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze to Bishop William Skylstad in the United States, warning that any text departing from the principles of Liturgiam Authenticam could not be approved. What do you make of it?
It's just stating what the situation is. It's sometimes useful to be reminded of the basic verities
.
The Vox Clara Commission believes the new text satisfies those principles?
Yes, very much so.
A cynic might suggest the cardinal's letter was intended to influence the upcoming vote of the U.S. bishops.
I'm sure he'd write it for some good purpose!
If this text is eventually approved, are the liturgy wars over?
I'm tempted to say that it would enormously change the balance of things, but I have no doubt there would be isolated and sporadic resistance. We have a big challenge to make the English [texts] powerful modern, appropriate and strong. We don't want to just achieve doctrinal fidelity but have clumsy English. We've got the doctrinal fidelity now. The ICEL translations are coming through beautifully on that score. But I think with some of them, a few of them, the quality is quite uneven.
Including the Order of the Mass?
No, I think the Order of the Mass is OK. I'm looking at other texts that are at a much earlier stage.
HT: Amy
Great Texas Story
Some of you STILL haven't read the LawDogFiles.
This one is short, and a lot of fun.
We should try it up here...
I'll spoil the ending just a bit:
Mr Critter, I want to to listen very closely. I want you to consider this incident not so much as an ass-whipping, but rather as a hint from God that next time you should pay for your beer. Bond stands. Good day."
This one is short, and a lot of fun.
We should try it up here...
I'll spoil the ending just a bit:
Mr Critter, I want to to listen very closely. I want you to consider this incident not so much as an ass-whipping, but rather as a hint from God that next time you should pay for your beer. Bond stands. Good day."
...and If You Believe THIS...
The Greater Milwaukee Committee issued a presser, going sideways (not backwards.)
A GMC member and volunteer, Jill Pelisek, shared her ideas on a regional tax for cultural institutions similar to the Denver model. Jill has studied and promoted this idea for years, however it is not a recommendation of the GMC Cultural Assets Task Force, the GMC Executive Committee or the Milwaukee 7 Council. The GMC Cultural Assets Task Force is examining the issues of the County Budget and its impact on cultural institutions, transit, parks, and other key services. It will make a series of recommendations to the GMCBoard in September and is looking at many of the underlying cost issues.
Please be assured that as our work together on KRM and on the Milwaukee 7 Council has shown, we would not informally or formally make a regional recommendation without the support and vetting of our regional partners. Mayor Barrett and the other public officials involved in the Milwaukee 7 collaborative have not reviewed or endorsed any regional sales tax proposal."
Fix your eyeballs on the last line. Insert "yet" between "not...reviewed"
I'll be taking bets and establishing a line at the BloggerPicnic/BeerBlowout.
HT: Sykes
A GMC member and volunteer, Jill Pelisek, shared her ideas on a regional tax for cultural institutions similar to the Denver model. Jill has studied and promoted this idea for years, however it is not a recommendation of the GMC Cultural Assets Task Force, the GMC Executive Committee or the Milwaukee 7 Council. The GMC Cultural Assets Task Force is examining the issues of the County Budget and its impact on cultural institutions, transit, parks, and other key services. It will make a series of recommendations to the GMCBoard in September and is looking at many of the underlying cost issues.
Please be assured that as our work together on KRM and on the Milwaukee 7 Council has shown, we would not informally or formally make a regional recommendation without the support and vetting of our regional partners. Mayor Barrett and the other public officials involved in the Milwaukee 7 collaborative have not reviewed or endorsed any regional sales tax proposal."
Fix your eyeballs on the last line. Insert "yet" between "not...reviewed"
I'll be taking bets and establishing a line at the BloggerPicnic/BeerBlowout.
HT: Sykes
The Moonbat Agenda--In Print
You've always KNOWN this is true--but never had the goods. NOW you have the goods:
...the President went up to Pennsylvania to visit a nuclear plant. Well, it appears the the silly folks over at Greenpeace were ready for him, with protesters handing out a Greenpeace fact sheet. Only problem was, Greenpeace apparently forgot to proofread the "fact sheet". And so it said:
"In the twenty years since the Chernobyl tragedy, the world's worst nuclear accident, there have been nearly [FILL IN ALARMIST AND ARMAGEDDONIST FACTOID HERE]."
That's right -- the actual flyer that they handed out said, "[FILL IN ALARMIST AND ARMAGEDDONIST FACTOID HERE]."
...the President went up to Pennsylvania to visit a nuclear plant. Well, it appears the the silly folks over at Greenpeace were ready for him, with protesters handing out a Greenpeace fact sheet. Only problem was, Greenpeace apparently forgot to proofread the "fact sheet". And so it said:
"In the twenty years since the Chernobyl tragedy, the world's worst nuclear accident, there have been nearly [FILL IN ALARMIST AND ARMAGEDDONIST FACTOID HERE]."
That's right -- the actual flyer that they handed out said, "[FILL IN ALARMIST AND ARMAGEDDONIST FACTOID HERE]."
McIlheran's Good Questions
Patrick comes up with another good observation and some interesting questions:
Mexico is apparently sheltering 20 wanted killers from Milwaukee alone — and you can’t get executed for murder here. Mexico won’t turn over suspects if there’s the danger they’ll be sent to prison for life without parole. Even that’s too much for Mexico, which apparently feels some ambiguity about whether a guy who shoots people to death in a park should spend his life in prison.This is particularly amusing in that some part of our country’s been worried that solutions to our illegal immigration problem might offend our neighbor. Building walls isn’t nice, it has been said. Calling out the National Guard has gotten Mexican officials in a lather. And try to imagine what Mexico’s reaction — and that of the rest of the world — would be if the U.S. dared suggest that Mexico do something to liberalize the dirigiste Third World economy that’s leading millions of its own citizens to flee, unwelcomed, to the neighbors.
If we’re talking neighborliness, one sign of it from Mexico might be to stop serving as a convenient haven for guys who blow away people here. That wouldn’t be too much to ask, would it?
Neither the Waukesha robber/cop-shooter, nor the South Shore Park killer would have been IN the US except for the horribly flaccid border policies of the Federal Government. Perhaps officer Glover would still be alive today (certainly, the man he shot would be alive) if that man had NOT been able to walk across the border.
It's not a question of whether illegals are criminals. The question is why the Hell there are illegals in the first place.
Mexico is apparently sheltering 20 wanted killers from Milwaukee alone — and you can’t get executed for murder here. Mexico won’t turn over suspects if there’s the danger they’ll be sent to prison for life without parole. Even that’s too much for Mexico, which apparently feels some ambiguity about whether a guy who shoots people to death in a park should spend his life in prison.This is particularly amusing in that some part of our country’s been worried that solutions to our illegal immigration problem might offend our neighbor. Building walls isn’t nice, it has been said. Calling out the National Guard has gotten Mexican officials in a lather. And try to imagine what Mexico’s reaction — and that of the rest of the world — would be if the U.S. dared suggest that Mexico do something to liberalize the dirigiste Third World economy that’s leading millions of its own citizens to flee, unwelcomed, to the neighbors.
If we’re talking neighborliness, one sign of it from Mexico might be to stop serving as a convenient haven for guys who blow away people here. That wouldn’t be too much to ask, would it?
Neither the Waukesha robber/cop-shooter, nor the South Shore Park killer would have been IN the US except for the horribly flaccid border policies of the Federal Government. Perhaps officer Glover would still be alive today (certainly, the man he shot would be alive) if that man had NOT been able to walk across the border.
It's not a question of whether illegals are criminals. The question is why the Hell there are illegals in the first place.
24 Hours Later, Where's Vrakas?
Figuring that Waukesha County Executive Vrakas would issue a press release strongly denouncing the "7-County-Tax" idea, I waited until now to ask. Since nothing appeared in the JSOnline, it's time to ask:
Where's Vrakas?
A little too much Memorial Day sunshine? Perhaps he's not read the papers? Did he fall into the Fox River?
Or did Dan (not-really-a-conservative) Finley put a MasterLock on Vrakas' press-release-generating-machine?
Best speak up, Mr. Vrakas. Inquiring minds want to know...
Where's Vrakas?
A little too much Memorial Day sunshine? Perhaps he's not read the papers? Did he fall into the Fox River?
Or did Dan (not-really-a-conservative) Finley put a MasterLock on Vrakas' press-release-generating-machine?
Best speak up, Mr. Vrakas. Inquiring minds want to know...
Thursday, June 01, 2006
The Rules of Men
This is not new, but bears repeating.
Women, learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
Birthdays, Valentines, and Anniversaries are not considered by us to be opportunities to see if we can find the perfect present . . . . again!
Sometimes we are not thinking about you. Live with it.
Sunday = sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
Don't cut your hair. Ever. Long hair is always more attractive than short hair. One of the big reasons guys fear getting married is that married women always cut their hair, and by then you're stuck with her.
Ask for what you want. Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
We don't remember dates. . . .Period!!
Most guys own three pairs of shoes - tops. What makes you think we'd be any good at choosing which pair, out of thirty, would look good with your dress?
Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.
Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.
If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.
If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. We've been tricked before!!
If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
Let us ogle. We are going to look anyway; it's genetic.
You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we.
The relationship is never going to be like it was the first two months we were going out. Get over it. And quit whining to your girlfriends.
ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
We are not mind readers and we never will be. Our lack of mind-reading ability is not proof of how little we care about you.
If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.
Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as navel lint, the shotgun formation, new guns, hunting stories, idiots-we-met-at-the-office, or monster trucks.
Foreign films are best left to foreigners. (Unless it's Bruce Lee or some war flick where it doesn't really matter what they're saying anyway.)
BEER is as exciting for us as handbags are for you.
Thank you for reading this; Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight, but did you know, it's like camping.
- Howard Daughters
HT: Bonfire of the Vanities
Women, learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
Birthdays, Valentines, and Anniversaries are not considered by us to be opportunities to see if we can find the perfect present . . . . again!
Sometimes we are not thinking about you. Live with it.
Sunday = sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
Don't cut your hair. Ever. Long hair is always more attractive than short hair. One of the big reasons guys fear getting married is that married women always cut their hair, and by then you're stuck with her.
Ask for what you want. Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
We don't remember dates. . . .Period!!
Most guys own three pairs of shoes - tops. What makes you think we'd be any good at choosing which pair, out of thirty, would look good with your dress?
Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.
Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.
If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.
If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. We've been tricked before!!
If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
Let us ogle. We are going to look anyway; it's genetic.
You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we.
The relationship is never going to be like it was the first two months we were going out. Get over it. And quit whining to your girlfriends.
ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
We are not mind readers and we never will be. Our lack of mind-reading ability is not proof of how little we care about you.
If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.
Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as navel lint, the shotgun formation, new guns, hunting stories, idiots-we-met-at-the-office, or monster trucks.
Foreign films are best left to foreigners. (Unless it's Bruce Lee or some war flick where it doesn't really matter what they're saying anyway.)
BEER is as exciting for us as handbags are for you.
Thank you for reading this; Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight, but did you know, it's like camping.
- Howard Daughters
HT: Bonfire of the Vanities
The Pope, Auschwitz, and Deicide
While visiting Auschwitz, Pope Benedict made the following observation:
“Deep down, those vicious criminals [the Nazis], by wiping out this people [the Jews], wanted to kill the God who called Abraham, who spoke on Sinai and laid down principles to serve as a guide for mankind, principles that are eternally valid. If this people, by its very existence, was a witness to the God who spoke to humanity and took us to himself, then that God finally had to die and power had to belong to man alone—to those men, who thought that by force they had made themselves masters of the world. By destroying Israel, they ultimately wanted to tear up the taproot of the Christian faith and to replace it with a faith of their own invention: faith in the rule of man, the rule of the powerful."
Like many others on reading this, I thought that it was an interesting insight, but...you know, 'how could that be possible?'--after all, the implication here is that not only the Jews, but the Catholics and Lutherans would be exterminated.
Well, maybe that WAS the plan. A commenter at Bettnet's thread on the topic lays out the plan:
I invite you and your readers to consider William Shirer’s “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”, acknowledged by many as the definitive history of the Third Reich. On pages 332-333 of his book (Paperback, Fawcett Crest, 1960), Mr. Shirer tells us of the Nazis’ plan to set up the “National Reich Church”. A 30-point program for this Church was in fact prepared by Nazi-ideologist Alfred Rosenberg, who was, as Mr. Shirer tells us, an outspoken pagan. Among the more chilling items in that program are these, which are mentioned by Mr. Shirer:
1. The National Reich Church of Germany categorically claims the exclusive right and the exclusive power to control all churches within the borders of the Reich ...
5. The National Church is determined to exterminate irrevocably ... the strange and foreign Christian faiths imported into Germany in the ill-omened year 800.
7. The National Church has no scribes, pastors, chaplains or priests, but National Reich orators are to speak in them.
13. The National Church demands immediate cessation of the publishing and dissemination of the Bible in Germany ...
14. The National Church declares that to it, and therefore to the German nation, it has been decided that the Fuehrer’s Mein Kampf is the greatest of all documents. It ... not only contains the greatest but it embodies the purest and truest ethics for the present and future life of our nation.
18. The National Church will clear away from its altars all crucifixes, Bibles and pictures of saints.
19. On the altars there must be nothing but Mein Kampf (to the German nation and therefore to God the most sacred book) and to the left of the altar a sword.
30. On the day of its foundation, the Christian Cross must be removed from all churches, cathedrals and chapels ... and it must be superseded by the only unconquerable symbol, the swastika.
This plan, to wipe out the God of Israel, and replace Him and His word with the State and the scribbling of a demented Austrian, has adherents today, not only in countries still dominated by the Communists, but in the West, including the US. The removal of God from the public square and the replacement with purely secular "ideals" and "morals" is ongoing and pervasive.
Pope Benedict has made it one of his priorities to 're-evangelize' Europe, and by extension, the West as a whole; it is a logical outgrowth of JPII's role in the demolition of the USSR's Communist regime. Benedict has clearly indicated that the West is becoming "God-less," and to him, this is a very significant problem; because the State[s] will step in to fill the void.
Shirer's documentation of the Nazi program is a timely and useful reminder of the reality.
“Deep down, those vicious criminals [the Nazis], by wiping out this people [the Jews], wanted to kill the God who called Abraham, who spoke on Sinai and laid down principles to serve as a guide for mankind, principles that are eternally valid. If this people, by its very existence, was a witness to the God who spoke to humanity and took us to himself, then that God finally had to die and power had to belong to man alone—to those men, who thought that by force they had made themselves masters of the world. By destroying Israel, they ultimately wanted to tear up the taproot of the Christian faith and to replace it with a faith of their own invention: faith in the rule of man, the rule of the powerful."
Like many others on reading this, I thought that it was an interesting insight, but...you know, 'how could that be possible?'--after all, the implication here is that not only the Jews, but the Catholics and Lutherans would be exterminated.
Well, maybe that WAS the plan. A commenter at Bettnet's thread on the topic lays out the plan:
I invite you and your readers to consider William Shirer’s “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”, acknowledged by many as the definitive history of the Third Reich. On pages 332-333 of his book (Paperback, Fawcett Crest, 1960), Mr. Shirer tells us of the Nazis’ plan to set up the “National Reich Church”. A 30-point program for this Church was in fact prepared by Nazi-ideologist Alfred Rosenberg, who was, as Mr. Shirer tells us, an outspoken pagan. Among the more chilling items in that program are these, which are mentioned by Mr. Shirer:
1. The National Reich Church of Germany categorically claims the exclusive right and the exclusive power to control all churches within the borders of the Reich ...
5. The National Church is determined to exterminate irrevocably ... the strange and foreign Christian faiths imported into Germany in the ill-omened year 800.
7. The National Church has no scribes, pastors, chaplains or priests, but National Reich orators are to speak in them.
13. The National Church demands immediate cessation of the publishing and dissemination of the Bible in Germany ...
14. The National Church declares that to it, and therefore to the German nation, it has been decided that the Fuehrer’s Mein Kampf is the greatest of all documents. It ... not only contains the greatest but it embodies the purest and truest ethics for the present and future life of our nation.
18. The National Church will clear away from its altars all crucifixes, Bibles and pictures of saints.
19. On the altars there must be nothing but Mein Kampf (to the German nation and therefore to God the most sacred book) and to the left of the altar a sword.
30. On the day of its foundation, the Christian Cross must be removed from all churches, cathedrals and chapels ... and it must be superseded by the only unconquerable symbol, the swastika.
This plan, to wipe out the God of Israel, and replace Him and His word with the State and the scribbling of a demented Austrian, has adherents today, not only in countries still dominated by the Communists, but in the West, including the US. The removal of God from the public square and the replacement with purely secular "ideals" and "morals" is ongoing and pervasive.
Pope Benedict has made it one of his priorities to 're-evangelize' Europe, and by extension, the West as a whole; it is a logical outgrowth of JPII's role in the demolition of the USSR's Communist regime. Benedict has clearly indicated that the West is becoming "God-less," and to him, this is a very significant problem; because the State[s] will step in to fill the void.
Shirer's documentation of the Nazi program is a timely and useful reminder of the reality.
YOU Owe $6500.00
That's your family's share of the State of Wisconsin's debt.
Not your city's debt; not your County's debt; not your School system's debt--just the State's debt.
HT: Frank Lassee
Not your city's debt; not your County's debt; not your School system's debt--just the State's debt.
HT: Frank Lassee
Tax for Parks, Tax for Arts, Tax, Tax, Tax
Tim Sheehy, fresh from his defeat on electric choochoo trains, seeks revenge:
A small, new multicounty sales tax should be considered to support regional cultural attractions, representatives of two leading business and civic organizations said Wednesday.
...Main beneficiaries of a regional cultural tax could include the Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee Art Museum, the Mitchell Park Domes and other major institutions that draw many patrons from beyond Milwaukee County, said Jill Pelisek, chairwoman of a Greater Milwaukee Committee study group on the future of Milwaukee County parks.
...Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce President Tim Sheehy also urged a limited regional funding approach, starting with regional assets that already receive some Milwaukee County tax levy support. Those include the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, the zoo, the Milwaukee Public Museum and a variety of smaller organizations.
This is not a surprise. Dan Finley floated this concept, or one similar to it, when he came onstream at the Museum. Most likely Finley took the position with the understanding that new tax support would be forthcoming.
Given that Sheehy and Pelisek (wife of the attorney who rammed SeligStadium through) are now on the record with the proposal, we can assume that a number of other local potentates are also on board, and it's merely a matter of acquiring Legislative approval.
That will be an interesting process to watch.
A small, new multicounty sales tax should be considered to support regional cultural attractions, representatives of two leading business and civic organizations said Wednesday.
...Main beneficiaries of a regional cultural tax could include the Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee Art Museum, the Mitchell Park Domes and other major institutions that draw many patrons from beyond Milwaukee County, said Jill Pelisek, chairwoman of a Greater Milwaukee Committee study group on the future of Milwaukee County parks.
...Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce President Tim Sheehy also urged a limited regional funding approach, starting with regional assets that already receive some Milwaukee County tax levy support. Those include the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, the zoo, the Milwaukee Public Museum and a variety of smaller organizations.
This is not a surprise. Dan Finley floated this concept, or one similar to it, when he came onstream at the Museum. Most likely Finley took the position with the understanding that new tax support would be forthcoming.
Given that Sheehy and Pelisek (wife of the attorney who rammed SeligStadium through) are now on the record with the proposal, we can assume that a number of other local potentates are also on board, and it's merely a matter of acquiring Legislative approval.
That will be an interesting process to watch.
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