by George Dienhart
From the AJC:
“The city council held off on measures setting rules for city bank deposits and on fuel purchases for city-owned vehicles as its regular meeting descended into familiar territory. A standing room only crowd witnessed the occasional shouting match, Mayor Joyce McKibben and council members interrupting each other and even a call for the mayor's resignation.”
So much for my plea for the politicians to put their constituents first…
by George Dienhart
People often laugh when I say small town politics can get ugly. Not just because local politics tend to attract those with big egos and small ideas, but also because it is at the local levels that politics has the most impact on out lives. If you live in Lithonia, it must be tough hearing your town dragged through the dirt on the news almost every night. Fortunately, the city may be making progress.
In review, these problems started when Mayor Joyce McKibben tried to fire the Police Chief, only to have the City Council reinstate him later that evening. These actions lead to Mayor McKibben’s supporters locking themselves in city hall. In return, the city council changed the locks. See the big egos and small ideas?
There’s more. The City council will vote on 2 issues tonight: setting rules for city bank deposits and fuel purchases for city-owned vehicles. Seems like a good idea, right? Not to Councilwoman Linda Pruett, who according to the Atlanta Constitution Journal, stated, "It seems to me that overall it gives more authority to the mayor than the charter allows."
This type of Infighting takes time. Time that should be spent on renewing and issuing business licenses. City Clerk Victoria Bateman told the AJC that licenses paid for in October have yet to be issued. That’s where local politics effects regular people. If the mayor and city council of Lithonia truly wish to serve their constituents, they will start to play nice with each other, and focus on actually running the city.
by George Dienhart
I have mixed feelings on this. I have one tattoo, which I had applied – when I was in the Marines. Tattoos are a part of military tradition- it’s just one of the seedier parts. Given a do over, I probably would not have got it done- but I live with my decision.
2 weeks ago, I was coming out of the McDonalds parking lot, and noticed a tattoo parlor had moved into the shopping center. Every fiber of my being knew that this was the wrong business for
Again, I may be a hypocrite for supporting the city in this decision, but children are supposed to learn from the benefit of parent’s mistakes. I have a tattoo, and even I do not think that this business belongs in an area frequented by so many children.
By George Dienhart
Now I’m sure that there are people who think it would be wrong to blame the majority party for high gasoline prices. We hear that the prices are a combination of several “perfect storm” elements: low value of the dollar, not enough refining capability, and supply and demand constraints brought on by increased demand out of Asia. Certainly this all makes sense, and it would be just plain wrong to blame the majority party of Congress for high gas prices. Ask any Democrat, and you will hear how it is not Congress fault, and we really should not blame poor Speaker Pelosi- after all, she’s made no promises. Except for the following press release:
Monday, April 24, 2006
Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on President Bush’s, Speaker Hastert’s, and the Republican Congress’ empty rhetoric on gas prices. Key facts on the Majority's failure to address gas prices follows Pelosi’s statement.
With skyrocketing gas prices, it is clear that the American people can no longer afford the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress and its failure to stand up to Republican big oil and gas company cronies. Americans this week are paying $2.91 a gallon on average for regular gasoline – 33 cents higher than last month, and double the price than when President Bush first came to office.
“With record gas prices, record CEO pay packages, and record oil company profits, Speaker Hastert and the Majority Congress continue to give the American people empty rhetoric rather than join Democrats who are working to lower gas prices now.
“Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.”
* * *
So, it’s okay for Democrats to blame Republicans for this mess, but Democrats won’t take responsibility for growing the mess to epic proportions over the course of less than 2 years? With this in mind, I thought it might be a good time to check in with the six for 06 promises. The rather vague (unlike the Contract for America) promises were:
Apparently, the word didn’t get out to New jersey, or for that matter, New York. Or Detroit. Or California.
o John Burton (D-CA) former California Senate Pro Tempore - accused of sexual harassment by a female employee at his charity organization (2008)
o Kwame Kilpatrick (D-MI) Detroit Mayor - extramarital affair with his Chief-of-Staff, Christine Beatty. Racy text messages between them uncovered by the press contradicted their sworn denials of an affair. Also alleged to have stayed at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC with a woman named Carmen Slowsky, who was not his wife (2008)
o Eliot Spitzer (D-NY) New York Governor - went through a prostitution service called Emperors Club VIP where he allegedly met with a prostitute in a Washington, DC hotel. He was linked to the prostitution ring by a wiretap of his cell phone.(2008)
Just curious- any of you Democrats feel burned? Is this the kind of Change you are looking for? Feel free to discuss amongst yourself…
By George Dienhart
The Obama campaign has begun falsely accusing the McCain campaign of being behind the controversial ad that purchased, but yet to air, by the North Carolina GOP. This is clearly a charade, aimed at deflecting questions about Sen. Obama’s character. Has he demanded that the DNC stop attacking John McCain? The answer is no. The ad is unfair, in that it tries to link to statewide candidates in North Carolina to Rev. Wright. They are absolutely fair in linking Obama to Rev. Wright. My question is why is Obama criticizing McCain? McCain is actually demanding the NC GOP not air the ad. McCain has held himself to a standard that Obama himself is unwilling to conform to, yet the criticism continues to roll on from the Obama camp.
The sleaze and lies continue to ooze from the Obama Camp. He insists that he did not know what Rev. Wright’s sermons were all about, yet he was a 20-year attendee of Wright’s church services. He even commented on them a year before the controversy began. He sees nothing wrong with socializing with accused domestic terrorists and wants to negotiate with international terrorists. All this and he criticizes war hero John McCain.
Perhaps Obama should start trying to police his own behaviors, and shoddy instincts. His selection of friends has proven to be problematic to his campaign, and has shown the American Public that he has severely impaired judgment. Sen. Obama should concentrate on his own rather ample problems before focusing on Sen. McCain’s imagined problems.
by George Dienhart
Having moved to Georgia from Illinois, I have some insight on the Obama campaign. In the coming months, I will share that insight. As a down payment on this analysis, I offer this quote from former Illinois State Senator Steve Rauschenberger:
“Barrack was one of the smartest people I ever worked with, but he was more interested in moving up, I never thought he was very engaged in the state senate, because he didn’t think that much of it.”
I know Sen. Rauschenberger- I was a paid staffer on his Illinois gubernatorial campaign. He is one of the smartest and most decent men involved in politics, in any state. If he says something about Obama, we should listen. The Obama campaign is quick to point out how much legislation Obama worked on in the Illinois Senate, but that is an illusion. Most bills in Illinois have 50 or 60 legislators “co-sponsoring” legislation. They have not worked on the bill, and do not intend to- this practice ensures that legislators can stump on issues that are important to the electorate. It spreads the wealth, enabling lawmakers to claim ownership of far more legislation than they could actually work on.
Obama has not shown anything other than a willingness to make you sacrifice for his ambitions. Don’t fall for talking points- an Obama presidency only ensures higher taxes and a more dangerous world.
UPDATE
Here's a little video:
By George Dienhart
Cross-posted at Illinois Review
What exactly was Jimmy Carter doing this week? The list is long:
Showing his anti-Semitism (again)
Undermining the U.S. Government (again)
Throwing a wrench into the Middle East peace initiative (again)
Coddling sworn enemies of the United States (again)
Anyone else see a pattern here? Jimmy Carter is the ex-presidential equivalent of a cutter. After a life of political failure, he is back on the world stage negotiating a peace accord for the Middle East. He is willing to put his own ego and need for attention above the need of his county. He was bad as a president, but he is a disgrace as an ex-president.
The interesting thing is that he is not negotiating not on the behalf of the United States, or even of U.S. ally Israel. He is not negotiating for any UN initiative. He is in Syria at his own behest, doing his best to be the center of attention. After meeting with Hamas terrorists, President Carter beamed while announcing Hamas had agreed to let Israel "live as a neighbor." Breakthrough? Not really, Hamas had played a frail and nearly broken Carter. Only hours after Carter had met with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, Mashaal vowed that he would not recognize a Jewish state. So much for Nobel Laureate Carter- he has returned to the diplomatic style that gave the world the Tehran hostage Crisis and a Soviet dominated world. In a nutshell, a miserable failure that Carter hails as a success is par for the course.
The story gets even stranger. The LA Times reports that the Tehran Times has even softened on President Carter. The Iranian English language paper published the following: “Now, finally, we have the welcome tonic of Carter saying what any independent, uncorrupted thinker should conclude: that no 'peace plan,' 'road map' or 'legacy' can succeed unless we are sitting at the negotiating table and without any preconditions.” Now that’s some team up, and I’d be willing to wager that it surprised even Carter. You know what they say, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”- what this tells us of the Iranian perception of President Carter is obvious…
Jimmy Carter's greatest hits
Stagflation- Economic stagnation with high rates of Inflation.
Iran- His refusal to properly support the Shah handed Iran to the current, even more brutal regime.
Hostage Crisis- Not only did he fail to free the hostages- he negotiated with their captors.
The Grinch- Well, not really, but he did ask people to turn off their Christmas Lights in 1979 and 1980. This was a bizarre effort to save energy. I am proud to share my childhood memories of a fully lit tree both years.
Afghanistan- Carter’s weakness was so evident that the Soviet Union tried to over run Afghanistan. This failed policy created thousands of out of work Jihadists who turned their attention to the West after the Soviet retreat.
A 21.5% prime lending rate.
Malaise- Though he never uttered the word in his most famous speech, the word sums up Carters “Crisis of Confidence” rather well.
Amnesty for draft dodgers.
At the height of the Cold War, he cut the defense budget by the then staggering amount of 6 Billion Dollars.
Carter gave away the Panama Canal.
