An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Morning Coffee 12/10/08
Illinois Gov. Blagojevich knew Feds were after him
Illinois’ chief executive had known for at least three years that he was under federal investigation for alleged hiring fraud, and a campaign fundraiser caught in prosecutors’ net was talking.
But authorities say that when a coveted political prize fell in his lap, the Democrat could not resist the urge to brazenly exploit it with an eye on reviving his career.
That right there tells me all I need to know about the Chicago type politicians. Arrogance! Complete arrogance! Although, to anyone in the upper midwest, this comes as no surprise. I question whether or not anything will change. Answer: NO. They’ll continue doing what the do because no one is willing to stand up against them and the people of Illinois keep right on electing criminals, and don’t seem to have a problem with it. Tells me a lot about Illinois voters too.
State officials submit $6.2 billion list of road projects
Texas transportation officials have sent the state’s congressional delegation a $6.2 billion list of ready-to-go road projects on the chance a stimulus package is approved, including nearly $677 million for the Houston area.
Critics, however, are questioning whether the list, which is heavy on routine maintenance, would be the best use of an infusion of money, while experts debate how much government should do.
For 30 plus years, Houston has been working on the roads, mostly in the same areas. Now, if they can’t get it done right the first time, why on earth should that much money be allocated them again? Tear up road, put down road, tear up same road, put down same road, rinse and repeat, and repeat, and repeat. Is it any wonder the traffic in Houston sucks?
Milwaukee snow total passes last season’s pace as classes, blood drives and flights are canceled
A quick glance at the snow gauge shows this season has just edged past last year. Not that this will be a harbinger of things to come, but Yogi Berra might say it’s déjà vu all over again – but with an arctic twist.
As much as 11 inches of snow accumulated in southern Wisconsin on Monday night and Tuesday courtesy of a low-pressure system that sucked up warm moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and collided with cold temperatures.
HEY! Boracle!!!! Global warming, eh? Pretty soon, Milwaukee is gonna have polar bears running the roads!
Middle Tennessee sales tax revenues fall short
Fewer cars rolling off the lots and fewer flat-screen TVs coming off the shelves mean fewer dollars to spend this year for some local governments and school districts.
Metro schools are looking at pay cuts, if not layoffs, to bridge a projected $11 million gap in sales tax revenues. Williamson County’s mayor has asked department heads to save 10 percent of the non-personnel dollars they expected to spend in the fiscal year that started July 1; Metro government has done the same to the tune of 3 percent. Wilson County is holding off on building a new high school.
Logically, when times get tough, you tighten the belt. Get rid of everything that is not essential to keeping things running, can the rest. It’s not always necessary to go with the ‘best’, sometimes, you just have to deal with the functional. If the county seriously needs a new school, perhaps the other one is too small, add modular building for the overflow. Make adjustments. If we, our here in the real world can learn to adapt, and I’m really hoping we can, then the bloomin’ governments can too! And Tennessee might want to look to lowering the sales tax a percentage or two. Folks driving to other states would be more inclined to shop at home. 
Just a thought.
White House, Dems Reach Tentative Auto Bailout Deal
The White House and Democratic congressional leaders reached a tentative deal on an emergency loan program for the auto industry, FOX News learned on Tuesday.
Both the White House and congressional Democrats were putting the finishing touches on the $15 billion bill late in the evening, but the bill could still face obstacles from congressional Republicans, who have not given their seal of approval.
It’s obvious D.C. doesn’t listen to their bosses. NO MORE BAILOUT BS! I don’t care what name you slap on it, it’s our flippin’ money, and we are telling you that if a business can’t compete, then they have no business being in business! If they are serious about getting it right, they can file Chapter 11, restructure, get rid of the ridiculous contract with the union, and start from scratch. I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but there are still cars on the car lots that can be sold while this is all going on. And, if anyone is old enough to remember, during WWII, they didn’t even make cars. People made do with what they had, or did without. Was it 48 or 49 when the first new ones rolled off the line. You had to be on a waiting list. My dad got a ’49 Mercury. Dang! I loved that car! Sherman tank! Push button start, 3 on the column, that always got stuck. It was soooooo much fun!
Nobel Peace Prize winner urges Obama: Focus on Mideast peace
In his acceptance speech in Oslo, the Finnish diplomat and mediator also warned that the global financial crisis would strike hard at the developing world, and called on governments to not cut back on foreign aid.
Insisting that “all conflicts can be settled,” Ahtisaari said he did not share the view that the decades-long violence between Israel and Palestinians would rage indefinitely.
“We cannot go on, year after year, simply pretending to do something to help the situation in the Middle East. We must also get results,” Ahtisaari said in prepared remarks released before his speech.
Decades? How ’bout CENTURIES! Centuries of persecution, harassment, murder. If anyone was really serious about ‘helping the situation’, they might want to shut down the machine that is churning out the terrorists. You know the ones….screaming Allah hu akbar while blowing themselves, and innocents into pieces. Ain’t the Jews doing that.
Stringing obscenities together like holiday lights on the Thompson Center Christmas tree, Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich participated in backroom calls with her husband on how to leverage his political position into a high-paying job for her, the federal complaint against her husband says.
Patti Blagojevich — who publicly used her first lady platform to promote food allergy awareness, treatment of lazy eye and a children’s book club — secretly was recorded directing a deputy governor speaking with her husband “to hold up that f- – - – - – Cubs s- – - . . . . f- – - them,” according to the complaint.
You can tell a great deal about a person by the language he/she uses.
Global money crisis a threat to military
America’s fighting forces are not immune from the global financial crisis and that means more belt-tightening is ahead, the nation’s top military officer told airmen at Langley Air Force Base on Monday.
“Our budget has been going up for a long time,” said Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “These things go in cycles. They always have.”
Mullen addressed about 500 airmen in a town hall-style meeting, staying past his allotted time to answer questions on topics that ranged from counter-insurgency efforts to concerns over military housing.
Remember all that money that was giving to the feckless weasels who started this whole mess? Well, there’s a little left. And that very large chunk of change Congress wants to toss the the UAW? GIVE IT TO THE MILITARY! Every single dime! We need them a whole lot more than we need ANYTHING else, including news cars!
Charity donation decline gives rise to innovation
As the housing market crashed, credit markets froze and stock prices fell, the District-based charity SOS Children’s Villages watched its donations dwindle.
“We haven’t come to a screeching halt, but we are in a slowdown,” said Heather Paul, president of the charity, which runs villages for orphaned and abandoned children in the United States and 169 other countries.
Do you really need to buy that brand new X-Box, or whatever the latest gaming gadget might be? Is your old computer working just fine, but a little out of date? Does your wife really NEED those diamond earrings? Do I need anything? Nope. We’ve become so accustomed to satisfying our wants, we’ve pretty much forgotten about the actual NEEDS of others. That’s why I’ve put a screeching halt to all my normal big spending this year, and giving it to those who need a WHOLE lot more than my family, and myself, wants. There are kids, right here in the U.S. of A. that need shoes, a warm coat, a hot meal. Don’t you think the Spirit of Christmas is more about giving to them, that need, rather than to those that want?
S.S. D.D.
