Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The City of Bell takes it's Toll

Click on the link below for the story of how Bell when broke:

 How Much Do Your City Officials Make?



I take great pride in keeping up with current events but somehow, someway this story got past my radar last week. I heard about it on Mark Levin's radio show on my iPhone at work yesterday. Mark wasn't even hosting his own show on Monday; Inga Barker a Conservative from a California Central Valley talk show was filling in. She explained all the insanely preposterous details.

The amount of steam coming out of my ears as I listened to this story was almost cartoon like. The absolute gall of the morons of this city is unbelievable, it's the greatest breech of public trust I've heard of in my lifetime. Every City official involved in this crime should be thrown in jail and ALL their personal assets auctioned off so the taxpayers can recoup some of their money.    

If this story doesn't wake the remaining dead and the apathetic on the sidelines who have avoided getting involved in politics in November nothing will. I just can't imagine how anyone who has heard of this story not being as totally outraged as I was when I heard about it.

Another painful side effect of this story is it gives California (D) Gubernatorial Candidate Jerry Brown who's the current Attorney General in the state, a platform to get more media coverage for his campaign. He's railing against this, what reasonable State AG wouldn't? But for him it's more about the free national news coverage he's getting and how it helps him look like a tough law enforcement official who's on top of it. Ha! Ha! Spare me the outrage Brown! 

Funny, it wouldn't have surprised me at all if Brown wouldn't be the attorney who was the architect of this fraud, when he was Governor back in the 70's he was one of the many Democrats responsible for allowing collective bargaining for unions in California. Look where that has finally led the State. Right to the wonderful yellow brick road in the City of Bell California or more accurately the Highway to Hell.  

My friends please register to vote in November and support fiscally Conservative candidates. It's the only way we can reverse course and turn back this Socialist tide that has nearly finished off this great country. Please get involved, putting your head in the sand doesn't cut it anymore, we must preserve some sort of a free society for our kids and grand kids by taking back a responsible form o
f government who serves us and not themselves. Please take action NOW!!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tebow Hype Overshawdoed By Poor Line Play

All the fears I had coming into the season about the Offensive and Defensive Line of the Broncos reared its ugly head all be it the first preseason game. These 2 units but more so the offensive line will make or break the Broncos this season.

O'Dear the O'Line is not Fine

When Kyle Orton played in the first half the OL protected him well when he was in the shotgun formation but in the running game they were horrible. The story line from the sports media was Orton is head and shoulders above Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow. Why shouldn't he be? He has an entire season in McDaniels offensive system he should look better.

This game gave no indication of how well he'll play once they count. All it proved was he could complete some short dink and dunk passes out of the shotgun in a meaningless preseason game, big deal. He could do that last year, where he failed was scrambling out the pocket or getting the ball deep or looking for other WR's not named Brandon Marshall.

With the Broncos 2 best OL Tackles Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris still out with injuries they started Tyler Polumus and D'Anthony Batiste. Never heard of them? There's a reason for it, Polumus is now in his 3 season only has 8 starts and Batiste who was with the Redskins only has 12 going into his 4th season.

At the Guard position it gets no better for the Broncos. Starter Chris Kuper has been fighting an ankle injury in camp so Rookie Eric Olsen saw playing time and at the other Guard position Rookies Zane Beadles and Seth Olsen fight for that spot with Beadles getting the nod for now.

At Center Russ Hochstein a back up for Patriots last year was signed and he competes for a job against Rookie J.D. Walton. Hmmm...

The short is the Broncos are very inexperienced on the OL. It's very possible if Clady and Harris aren't ready by opening day the Broncos could start an all Rookie OL. Not good guys, not good at all.

In the first preseason game the lack of experience showed in pass protection for both Quinn and Tebow and performed even worse in the running game producing a measly 36 total yards rushing. Even if Knowshon Moreno were healthy enough to play in this one he certainly wouldn't have been able to do much better than Lance Ball who had 6 carries for 27 yards or Bruce Hall 5 carries for -3 yards. Why you ask? Moreno actually had a better line to run behind last year and he was relatively ineffective, one can only imagine what he'd do behind this line.

For all the Big Time Free Agents on the DL, No sacks

As I said before camp started the Broncos have tried and tried again with free agents to improve the D, year after year for 10 years without much success.  This year they went after DL. Jamal Williams, Ronald Fields nor Justin Bannan recorded a sack against the Bengals. Without the Broncos best Defensive player Elvis Dumervil on the field no pass rush or pressure came in the game.

The big wad they spent on these guys has got to produce better results and by the time preseason breaks they must get better because the Broncos LB's are the weakest link on the D. Without any help from the DL even the Broncos secondary which may be the best part of the unit could put up way worse stats than last year.

Champ Bailey had a nice game; he broke up 2 passes to the Prima D
onna Terrell Owens. It was fun seeing TO drop 2 passes too, no matter where he goes or who the QB is for all is bloated stats he still drops way too many balls.

Quinn's Nightmare

The first series Quinn looked horrible. Then on the second he fumbled a snap and overthrew a wide open WR. Then the worst was he threw a pick that went for a TD in his third series. He looked horrible out there but in his defense the Broncos gave up trying to run the ball and he didn't get good pass protection so the criticism while deserved seems overblown considering.   

Tebow made plays, teammates didn't


For the hype surrounding his first game I thought he played as well as could be expected since it was garbage time with poor pass protection in the 4th quarter of a preseason game. Matt Willis dropped what would have been Tebow's first TD pass which was a beautiful throw.

I see now what the scouts mean by Tebow's delivery, it is a weird motion and on the fumble play called a forward pass that funny cocking motion nearly caused a turnover. Still, despite the cockeyed delivery he does get the ball there and does make plays.

I know he was a running QB in college but I hope he doesn't run to many times straight up like when he ran in for the TD. He's a warrior through and through but the big tough guys that play in the NFL will murder him if he makes many more running attempts like that. Hit the turf Tebow, live to play another day.

The Lions at home next week

The Broncos should be able to have a better performance against the lowly Lions next week. I'll be watching the line play on both sides of the ball again. Without improvement, I'm sorry I tell it like it is the offensive line is going to be the single most important ingredient of any improvement the Broncos make this year. Without it, as I mentioned, I see the Broncos winning 3 to 5 games, despite the weak AFC West Division.

It was fun writing my first game blog of the season, as always comments are welcome.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Costs of Illegal Immigration to Oregon Taxpayers

The Federation for American Immigration released a report, The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on United States Taxpayers, which included information specific to each of the 50 states, including Oregon.

The report estimated the annual costs of illegal immigration at the federal, state and local level, combined, to be about $113 billion, nearly $29 billion at the federal level and $84.2 billion at the state and local level.

The cost to Oregon's state and local taxpayers is estimated to be $705 million annually.

On a per family basis, this amounts to between $751 and $1,000 annually per native-headed household.  The figure for Washington State is the same.  In Idaho, it was less, in the $501to $750 range, and more in California, over $1501 per annum per native-headed household. 

Among the areas of expense measured, education is the most costly in dollars.  The annual state outlay for K-12 public schooling for children of illegal aliens in Oregon is estimated to be $425.4 million.  The figure is based on 33,652 K-12 students (children of illegal aliens) @ $10,526 each, totaling $354.2 million. In addition, the cost of LEP (Limited English Proficiency) students is estimated:  27,069 students (children of illegal aliens) @ $2,631, totaling  $71.2 million.  The two figures, 354.2 million per student cost plus the extra amount for LEP programs for a portion of the children of illegal aliens, $71.2 million, equal the sum of $425.4 million per annum.

Administration of justice outlays are the next most costly in dollars, amounting to $111 million annually. This includes extra costs for police, $31.7 million; judicial/legal expenses, $12.5 million; corrections (incarceration and related expenses) , $73.4 million.

The Federal program called SCAAP (State Criminal Alien Assistance Program)  provides federal payments to states and localities that incurred correctional officer salary costs for incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens with at least one felony or two misdemeanor convictions for violations of state or local law, and incarcerated for at least 4 consecutive days during the reporting period.  According to the FAIR report, SCAAP reimburses Oregon in the amount of $6.7 million of the $73.4 million spent on incarceration and related costs.

A third major area of expense is medical care for illegal aliens. Oregon spends an estimated total of $79.7 million annually for medical care to illegal aliens.  This includes Emergency Medicaid for births, $7.1 million, and $53.6 million for other Emergency Medicaid. Also, the cost of medical insurance for U.S.-born is figured at $15.7 million. Requirements under the federal SCHIP program (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) cost Oregon another $3.2 million.

Child care outlays are in addition to medical care.

The Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) is a federal program that assists low-income families, families receiving temporary public assistance, and those transitioning from public assistance in obtaining childcare so they can work, attend training, or continue education.

The purpose of CCDF is to increase the availability, affordability, and quality of childcare.

Oregon participates in the program, and FAIR estimates that Oregon spends annually $22.1 million on this program, covering 10,650 children of illegal aliens @ $2,073 each.

The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program is another federal program that Oregon participates in. Oregon spends $9.8 million on this program annually to cover 7,768 children in families without eligible parents.

Summing Up

Oregon’s Outlays on Illegal Aliens - $705 million annually.

Includes K-12, $354.2 million; LEP,$ 71.2 million; Medicaid, $60.7 million; SCHIP+ $19.0 million; Justice, $110.8 million; Welfare+, $ 31.9 million;  General, $57.1 million.

How much of this expense is funded by taxes paid by illegal aliens? The FAIR study estimates that illegal aliens pay $17.7 million to Oregon from property taxes and income taxes -- $13.2 million in property taxes, and $4.4 million in income taxes. 

Thus the net fiscal cost to Oregon is $687.2 million annually, figured by subtracting $17.7 million in taxes paid by illegal aliens from the $704.9 million outlay by the state. 

Monday, August 2, 2010

Arson Anyone?

Arson Anyone?

Animal Liberation Front and extreme Tea Partiers have similar delusions “The Animal Liberation Front and kookier elements of the Tea Party movement have much in common. In the first place, neither allows the facts to get in the way of their bizarre alternative realities.
 

At least the Tea Party has not stooped to firebombing barns and forklifts. Its incendiary devices are of a rhetorical nature, often consisting of thinly veiled, racially motivated attacks on immigrants and President Obama.”
 

Apparently graduating from the same fact-checking school attended by Tea Partiers who continue claiming Obama isn't a U.S. citizen, Animal Liberation last week torched a barn and equipment in Svensen months after mink-raising operations ceased there. Activists previously twice released mink at the farm. Mink-rearing operations ended in December after the Ylipelto family concluded that it wasn't worth the hassle and worry to continue producing the animals.
 

You can waste a lot of time psychoanalyzing the individuals who gravitate to fringe groups. They are a stew of persecution complexes and obsessions, overstated with self-importance and addiction to the excitement and attention that come with extremism.
 

From the standpoint of preserving a basically healthy society, our best response is to maintain a steadfast grasp on reality. To label episodes like the Svensen arson "domestic terrorism" is to grant the perpetrators far more importance and credibility than they deserve.
 

Reality is that raising mink for their pelts is no more criminal than raising cows for cheeseburgers. If someone sincerely believes in mink rights, committing arson against someone who has already left the business is 100 percent counterproductive. This was stupid anarchy committed by narcissistic dolts.
 

It is also reality that many perfectly rational people have misgivings about raising furry little predators for no reason other than eventually skinning them for conspicuous consumption. At the same time, when you live in a place with severe winter ­- such as Russia or the northern latitudes or East Coast cities - you understand the functionality of fur in a coat or hat.
 

America provides many mechanisms for political and social change. “The Tea Party fears progress on goals like universal health care, while Animal Liberation demands immediate parity between animal and human rights.”
 

Meanwhile, all we in the middle should hold them accountable and make our own decisions.

Written by Steve Forrester PUBLISHER of The Daily Astorian


MY REACTION AND PHONE CALL TO FORRESTER ABOUT THE OP-ED 



In his op-ed Forrester compares the likes of the Animal Liberation Front who recently torched some personal property of a “former” Mink rearing operator to that of the “kooky “elements in the Tea Party.

In his partisan smear Forrester claims in essence that the Tea Parties are no better than these left wing nuts who torched a man’s personal property because in so many words they’re racists, disagree with the whole fantastic idea of Obamacare and lastly that Tea Partiers don’t believe that Obama is a U.S. Citizen.

This is the worst kind of extremist divisive journalism to publish and does nothing but demonize and marginalize a group of people whose main political objective is to have the state and federal governments abide by the US Constitution and the belief that smaller government is better for America than massive centralized government.

I was so angered by this ridiculous comparison I made a personal phone call to the Astorian and believe it or not Forrester took my call.

I immediately asked Forrester why he could make such an outrageous comparison. I asked him if he had ever heard of a single violent episode during a Tea Party demonstration anywhere in the nation or did he believe the TP’s in Astoria were capable of violence.

His answer: He didn’t answer why he made the comparison nor did he back away from it or apologize for it. He said he hadn’t heard of any violence by TP’s in Astoria but said it “could” happen back East.

I asked him if he had actually attended the Tea Party event that was held in Astoria to see who these people were and why they attended.

His answer: No, but he did know some of members like the Gannaway’s who own a jewelry store in Warrenton, OR.

I asked him why he would claim that all TP’s are Birther’s when only 1/10 of 1% of the group may actually believe that.

His answer: He didn’t answer.

I asked him why does he publish only op-eds from the New York Times when most of the people of Astoria are blue collar folks who could not identify with the Times opinions even if they were Democrats. I also said that over half of the people in Astoria strongly disagree and object to the writings of Maureen Dowd, Paul Krugman, Thomas Friedman, Bob Herbert and especially the phony David Brooks who claims to be a Conservative but is far from it.

His answer: He said he pays the NYT a yearly fee for columns and that’s why he publishes them. He didn’t acknowledge nor answer that over half of the people in Astoria may disagree with the politics of the writers from the NYT.

I asked him why he didn’t publish op-eds from the other side since there are many articulate Conservative columnists all over the country who write insightful pieces.

His answer: I have to pay for columns and I like the NYT so that’s why I don’t publish other columns because they have to be paid for. He did say he “might” start publishing George Will’s column “someday.” He also claimed that he reads the Wall Street Journal which may be true but doesn’t agree enough with their views to buy any of their columns and publish them.

The conversation came to an end and it was my impression that although he was being friendly with me on the phone he had no intention of making a public apology for the Tea Party comments in his op-ed. I'm convince that as long as he has a voice in the media Forrester will continue to be a very polarizing and divisive left wing extremist making every political situation far worse with his words.


 

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