By stlo7 ( April 30, 2009 at 10:47 pm) · Filed under News
via the D&C
This is simply sad on multiple levels.
Vandals destroyed 15 trees at the Brighton High School. Trees that were probably a gift from some graduating class or something. This kind of stuff just makes me shake my head. Brighton Police are investigating.
Vandals have destroyed $8,000 worth of trees at Brighton High School.
Maintenance crews arrived at school this morning to discover that a row of 15 pear trees on the school campus had been cut down. The trees lined a sidewalk that leads to the school pool.
By ladkiddo ( April 30, 2009 at 12:22 pm) · Filed under News, ladkiddo
You can re-brand the old, swaybacked nag, but she’s still an old swaybacked nag, not a Thoroughbred . You can paint your double wide-brown, but it’s still a double-wide, not a cabin in the woods.
Obama refers to the Republican party as the party of “No”. So, the Republicans have started up an initiative, led by John McCain and Jeb Bush (sorry, this is a little late for Wingnut Wednesday) to try to convince the American people that they really care what the American people think:
“However, this is not a Republican-only forum,” reads the letter announcing the new effort, a copy of which was obtained by CNN from Republican sources involved in the effort. “While we will be guided by our principles of freedom and security, we will seek to include more than just our ideas.
“This forum will include a wide open policy debate that every American can feel free to participate in,” the announcement letter reads. “We do this not just to offer an alternative point of view or to be disagreeable. Instead, we want to ask the American people what their hopes and dreams are. Since January, the President and the Democratic Majority in Congress have - rightfully so - put forward their plan for the future, now we must listen, learn and lead through an honest, open conversation with the American people that will result in building policy proposals that will yield the best results for our nation’s long-term success.”
(As Stephanie Miller would say, “I think I just threw up in my mouth.”)
It’s so pervasive, locally to nationally, this fall of the once mighty Republican machine. They have, for so long, ignored the voice of the people, this self-righteous, flag waving, gun toting, hubris filled, family values, torture’s ok, keep the government out of my business unless it’s to deny abortion rights and gay rights, oppose any move that Obama makes because he’s a Democrat party. It’s going to take a lot more than a re-brand to right this. Maybe party wide ECT is in order.
James Tedisco, until recently the Republican Assembly leader, who lost the close NY-20 congressional race to Murphy, has been accused of steering campaign funds to an aide. Tedisco gave $32,500 from the RACC (Republican Assembly Campaign Fund) housekeeping account to aide William Sherman, to pay legal costs in a local lawsuit related to Sherman’s unsuccessful county legislature race in Schenectady. RACC funds are intended for Assembly races, not local races, and Tedsico now claims the money is a loan which Sherman will repay.
Some GOP members say privately that they were outraged at Tedisco’s actions. The state Board of Elections said the account from which Sherman received his confidential payment should not have been used for legal bills.
Minority Leader Brian Kolb said Sherman’s job is unchanged, although he has called for an audit of RACC books. The minority office did, however, eliminate the job of Dan Bazile, a press officer hired by Tedisco.
It’s the familiar timeline: Powerful pol, facing defeat, steps down. Audit and bloodletting follows. Former hero becomes future criminal… Next!
The Greece GOP met last night (at town hall) for their monthly meeting.
A letter was read by Chairman Ed Marianetti announcing the resignation of town leader, Jim Smith.
Auberger explained the decision to hire an “independent” investigator relating to the police department probe. He was about to take his seat when Ed Riley (brother of Donald Riley) questioned how Mr. Loszynski was recommended to the town. Auberger answered that high praise was recieved from many in law enforcement and then read Mr. Loszynski’s resume (again). Not satisfied, Riley questioned Auberger again, as to who recommended Loszynski to Auberger. The supervisor answered that several high ranking state police officials recommended him (after he studdered several times).
Smith is the second GOP town leader to leave his post in recent months. Gates leader (and fellow Robutrad participant?) Robert Morone quit after he was charged in the county corruption scandal.
The marriage bill is moving forward in the assembly, according to PolitickerNY and may even have enough votes to pass in the senate as well. Just last week we wrote that it would be a tough row to hoe, but a week has gone by and all of the sudden, we seem to have votes to spare:
There is more movement on same-sex marriage in the Assembly. That chamber’s judiciary committee today voted 14-5 to advance the bill to the floor. When it will be taken up is not immediately clear, but Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell, its sponsor, says he is confident it will pass by a wider margin than it did 2007. Some members who voted against it then, he said, have switched positions.
[snip]
The bill’s passage in the Senate is, not surprisingly, less certain, but State Senator Tom Duane said he believes it will pass this year.
“We’ll have enough votes to pass it, and I’ll get a few extra to spare,” Duane told me after a rally this morning. He did not name names.
There are still those opposing the bill, but it appears that those numbers are dwindling. Why any legislators feel that it is in the best interest of some of their constituents to deny rights to other constituents is beyond my understanding. (Unless you look at it from commenter, Publius’ perspective- “if we give gay people equal rights, pretty soon everyone will want them! “)
As advocates of the measure demonstrated outside, I spoke to Jason McGuire of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, and State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. in the Senate lobby.Both are outspoken opponents of the legislation. Diaz urged me to accompany him to Puerto Rico this weekend, where he insisted he’s a big man. Then he talked to me about the advocacy.
“It’s their right to do,” Diaz Sr. said. “And I hope they respect mine when my time comes—soon.”
Read my lips: No New Texas. Republican Governor Rick Perry of Texas made a splash two weeks ago by joining hands with the 10th ammendment and, by extension, the Texas secession crowd. By doing so, the governor energized the existing wingnut movement of Texans who favor secession.
Nations exist for the good of their people. This gets complicated because they have to choose between what is good for their people as a group, and what pleases most people as individuals. Nations that serve the group stay together, and those that treat individuals as customers fall apart because they are pulled in too many directions.
The United States was once a good thing for Texas, but now it is falling apart because it is trying to please every single person instead of doing what is right and letting those who don’t like it leave. It is being pulled in too many directions.
Over the past century-and-a-half the United States government has awarded itself ever more power (but not the lawful authority) to meddle with the lives, liberty, and property of the People of Texas (as well as those of the other States).
Sapping Texans’ wealth into a myriad of bureaucratic, socialist schemes both in the U.S. and abroad, the bipartisan despots in Washington persist in expanding the federal debt and budget deficits every year. Texans would indeed gain much by reclaiming control of their State, their property, their liberty, and their very lives, by refusing to participate further in the fraud perpetrated by the Washington politicians and bureaucrats.
By restoring Texas to an independent republic, Texans would truly reclaim a treasure for themselves and their progeny.
Does the discontent seem familiar… vague and unfocused, yet passionate? Yes it’s the same rebel-against-everything temper tantrum reaction we saw from the tea baggers two weeks ago.
We waterboarded just two prisoners. Both of them were at the very center of Al Qaeda attacks against the United States. One was waterboarded more than 50 times, the other more than 150 times.
What does that tell you?
That waterboarding isn’t dangerous.
It may well be unpleasant, but if you can do it to a guy 163 times in a month, it must not be too bad for his health.
Bob goes on to explain that waterboarding is good, and much better than cutting off their heads.
In the first months after 9-11, we were dealing with people who handled prisoners by cutting off their heads. We dealt with prisoners by making them stay awake for a long time, and by subjecting them to the same waterboarding that our Special Forces troops go through as part of their training.
Their prisoners get cut up into pieces and dumped by the side of the road. Our prisoners live to go to trial.
To keep things straight, and to draw a dividing line in a shades-of-gray world, government lawyers wrote memos that said interrogators could go this far, but no further. They defined as best they could the right and wrong of a war that was forced upon us.
If you come across any choice wingnuttery, pass it along! sbr (at) rochesterturning.com
Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter will switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and announced today that he will run in 2010 as a Democrat, according to a statement he released this morning.
Specter’s decision would give Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority in the Senate assuming Democrat Al Franken is eventually sworn in as the next senator from Minnesota. (Former senator Norm Coleman is appealing Franken’s victory in the state Supreme Court.)
The puzzle over Rudy, and whether anybody really wants him as Governor, and the possible scheming, laid out this week in New York magazine.
Giuliani is back on the attack, making the sorts of clamorous policy declarations that have him sounding an awful lot like a candidate. Yet he isn’t a candidate, and won’t even say if he’s seriously considering a run. Nobody has ever doubted Giuliani’s need for attention, but some Republican insiders say that there’s a strategy behind the coy indecisiveness. He has to lull the Democrats into thinking he’s not going to run, so they don’t dump Paterson and put Andrew Cuomo up instead, who would be a lot harder to beat.
I thought we’d seen the last of this guy. Maybe this time we can put him out to pasture permanently.
Doctor Anne Kress will become MCC’s fifth president on July 6th. She’s the first woman to head the Rochester-area’s community college. Nearly the entire MCC board of trustees rushed to second her nomination by MCC Board Chairman Kenneth Goode. The announcement of Doctor Kress’s name produced a standing ovation from a large crowd of MCC faculty, students and local officials.
There were no cheers a year ago when faculty and students at the college were organizing to protest against a search process they believed was influenced by politics. That search was suspended, and a new one started with two new search committees. This time, there was heavy involvement from faculty, college employees and students.
Good for Dr Kress, good for the community, good for all those people and organizations who stood up to the not so subtle political patronage appointment. At some point we will do a retrospective but for me, this is an example of making the process work. It only works when people are motivated to make it work.
So again, Good for Dr Kress, Good for the community, Good for all those people and organizations who stood up to the not so subtle political patronage appointment.
Does this signal the loosening of the political grip into things that should not be political in the first place?
Earlier today a 747 with a fighter escort flew low over New York City. Here are some pictures from the ground.
Let’s just say that it was official and a decision was made not to notify residents of New York City that there was an official photo op over New York City.
I remember when I was in Chicago a while back during an airshow. Blue Angels screaming over Chicago - air brakes screeching - it isn’t normal to see military fighter jets over a city so it was a bit surreal but I knew it was an airshow. However, low flying 747s over New York aren’t normal either. Neither are testing the Ginna Nuclear plant sirens but at least they warn us or try to.
The White House released a statement.
Statement from Louis Caldera, Director White House Military Office, on Air Force One flight over New York
“Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision. While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, it’s clear that the mission created confusion and disruption. I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused.”
If you don’t want to click, let me transcribe the key part:
Also part of our “Spruce Up Greece” efforts, Certified Document Destruction & Recycling, Inc., will be available in the parking lot of Greece Town Hall to provide document-shredding services from 9:00 a.m. - Noon.
I guess with all the scandals coming out of Greece so far (with more to come?) and a strong, full slate of candidates looking to challenge the GOP-controlled town this year, it’s no wonder they’ll “just happen” to have an industrial shredder on hand this year.
If they destroy evidence in plain sight will no-one notice?
The campaign contribution list of Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks reads like a county staff directory, with 216 workers donating more than $199,000 over the last four years.
A handful of the donors are elected officials, including County Clerk Cheryl Dinolfo. But most are non-unionized employees from a wide swath of county government, from department heads to top aides, who serve at the pleasure of the county executive.
Records filed with the state Board of Elections since 2006 - the first year local elected officials were required to report their campaign finances to the state and the information was posted online - show that 25 percent of the individuals who donated to the Brooks campaign were county workers when they gave.
Maggie’s campaign manager is Brayton Connard, the county’s Director of Human Resources… hmmm. County employees received soliciations mailed to their homes. Nice work, Brayton! Naturally, construction interests and law firms were also major contributors to Maggie, but she is behind on her paperwork, an apparent violation of campaign finance law:
Donations from lawyers and prestigious local law firms account for 9 percent of the Brooks campaign coffers. But who within those firms actually gave cannot be discerned from Board of Elections records because the Brooks campaign failed to file additional required paperwork. Campaign finance rules require campaign committees that receive more than $2,500 a year from limited liability partnerships, as most law firms are designated, to list the names of partners who gave in separate paperwork, known as Schedule O.
Although state records show that the Brooks campaign has received $107,500 in such donations from partnerships, it has only accounted for $30,000 on one Schedule O.
This is good reporting. By the way, Maggie is not running for office this year. Let’s watch and see which campaigns receive money from her.
By ladkiddo ( April 27, 2009 at 11:44 am) · Filed under News, ladkiddo
As anyone who is a regular reader of RT knows, I had been following the congressional race in the NY 20th fairly closely from election night’s photo finish to Tedisco’s conceding the race this past week. To Jim Tedisco’s credit, he finally saw the writing on the wall and did not drag things out indefinitely, ad nauseoum, leaving the 20th unrepresented in congress. Yesterday at Open Left, Adam Green posited, maybe Norm Coleman will take a cue from Tedisco and allow Minnesota it’s 2nd senator representation.
Obviously, when Coleman eventually says “the time has come” that will be as much an under-statement as drinking 2-year-old milk and asserting, “This tastes a bit funny.”
Minnesotans won’t know who their second U.S. senator will be until at least June. On Friday, the state Supreme Court set June 1 as the date for oral arguments in Republican Norm Coleman’s appeal of the recent election trial that concluded with Democrat Al Franken on top by 312 votes.
…Coleman’s Republican allies in Congress have urged him to take his fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary. He hasn’t ruled out that option.
This last paragraph is precisely why the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (which I co-founded) and Howard Dean’s Democracy for America recently kicked off the “Dollar a Day to Make Norm Go Away” campaign - where people give $1 for every day Norm refuses to concede, to help progressive challengers defeat Republican members of Congress in 2010.
Norm Coleman’s obstinance in the last week has already raised $35,500 to help progressives — and the number grows by the day.
I’m happy to report on this initiative and have left the links in, in case you would like to “Just say NO to Norm” too. I, for one, will be happy when I don’t have to see Norm Coleman’s picture all over the news anymore.
