February 16, 2007
Feb 16 03:13 It's Time To Push Back Feb 16 04:47 Ellison Continuing Campaign Corruption Feb 16 17:27 We're Paying Them For This, Part I Feb 16 18:00 We're Paying Them For This, Part II Feb 16 21:13 Following Weak Rebuke, Dems' White Flag Goes Up Feb 16 21:55 The Definition of Hero Feb 16 23:25 A-Klo the Tax Cutter?
Prior Months: Jan
Prior Years: 2006
It's Time To Push Back
Based on this Reuters article, Democrats definitely think that they've won the debate on Iraq. Therefore, it's time to get in their face over the surge.
Murtha hopes to choke off the 4-year-old war in Iraq by placing four conditions on combat funds through September 30. "We're trying to force a redeployment not by taking money away, by redirecting money," the Pennsylvania Democrat said.It's time that true patriots got in Murtha's grill and told him to shut up. Ever since he abandoned the military and cozied up to Code Pink, he's been waving the white flag of defeat. He used to have a decent reputation but that disappeared long ago. He's a hateful old man who's in the process of single-handedly humiliating our military while handing victory to the terrorists.
The Pentagon would have to certify that troops being sent to Iraq are "fully combat ready" with training and equipment; troops must have at least one year at home between combat deployments; combat assignments could not be extended beyond one year, and a "stop-loss" program forcing soldiers to extend their enlistment periods would be prohibited.
"They won't be able to continue. They won't be able to do the deployment. They won't have the equipment, they don't have the training and they won't be able to do the work," Murtha said.
What's worse is that he's on this push while ignoring the dramatically changing facts on the ground. Murtha is still waving the red flag even though Muqtada al-Sadr, the man inciting the sectarian violence has fled to Iran, Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri has reportedly been captured and al-Masri's top assistant has been killed. That isn't even counting the fact that over a dozen of Sadr's assistants have been rounded up.
Despite the growing pile of evidence that the surge is working, Defeatocrat-in-Chief Murtha is waving his white flag proudly.
If that isn't bad enough, Harry Reid has suddenly developed enough spine to call for a vote this Saturday:
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid scheduled a new vote to confront Bush over Iraq.Dingy Harry is against anything that President Bush is for and for anything that President Bush is opposed to. In fact, his opinion is so flexible that it's whatever the Democrats' anti-war special interest groups tell him it is. Reid is a gutless wonder just like Murtha. Pelosi is just as wrong-headed as Reid and Murtha but she's at least got a spine. The only thing missing from the Three Stooges is a brain.
Posted Friday, February 16, 2007 3:15 AM
Comment 1 by PoliticalCritic at 16-Feb-07 08:30 AM
The GOP is losing this non-debate issue in the public by a heavy margin of 51-19%. Reid calling for a Saturday vote of a weaker resolution might get him the votes he needs to debate.
Ellison Continuing Campaign Corruption
Keith Ellison missed another deadline, proving yet again that once you're a lawbreaker, you're always a lawbreaker.
U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison has missed another reporting deadline with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board for his state House of Representatives fundraising committee.It didn't take long for the Ellison camp to dispute the report:
The board sent certified letters Tuesday to all who had missed deadlines. The politicians have 10 days to file the 2006 year-end reports or face fines of $5 a day. Ellison was among those who received letters because he failed to file a timely report for his state House committee, said Jeff Sigurdson, the board's assistant director.
Ellison spokesman Rick Jauert said the state paperwork was filed Wednesday. But Sigurdson said he was unaware of that filing. Reports are scanned and appear on the board's website the day they are received, he said.I wouldn't trust Ellison as far as I could throw him if I had two broken arms & a broken back. I'd trust his account about as much as I'd trust a guy with bad credit telling me that "the check is in the mail." Here's why I don't trust Ellison:
Ellison's problems with past filings were a prominent topic in last fall's election. In May 2006 he became the first candidate to be fined for a "willful failure to amend" reports.What Ellison is asking us to believe is that, contrary to past history, he's changed his ways & that he's running a tight operation now. Forgive me if I'm unpersuaded with his response.
Ellison said at the time that he took full responsibility. He also pledged that if he won his congressional campaign, he would run a "tight" office. Past efforts to get Ellison to comply with the law involved the state attorney general's office, a collection agency and Hennepin and Ramsey county attorneys.In other words, Ellison isn't as trustworthy as a used car salesman. It's difficult imagining a person that's less qualified to handle the responsibilities of elected office.
Posted Friday, February 16, 2007 4:47 AM
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We're Paying Them For This, Part I
Last weekend, King & Michael spent the first 90 minutes of their Final Word program talking about the frivolous legislation that the DFL had already proposed. This Monday night, Representative Steve Gottwalt handed out a list of 37 such proposals. Here's a copy of that list of proposals:
37 OF THE DFL BILLS FROM FEBRUARY 01-08This is scary. As you can tell by the House File numbers, these listed items listed are actual proposed legislation.
CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF KETCHUP: Rep. Andy Welti (DFL-Plainview) has introduced a bill to impose severe criminal penalties if you "carry, use, or possess" a glass container on a watercraft or along Minnesota's public waters. You could get 270 days in jail if you have a picnic on the lake and bring glass bottles of ketchup, mustard, and relish. If you have a six-pack of Buddy's Cola from New Ulm on your pontoon boat, you would face 540 days behind bars, because each bottle would be a separate offense under the precise language of the bill. If you bring a jar of cold cream when you go sunbathing, you could do 90 days for that misdemeanor. Rep. Welti said he introduced the bill as an anti-littering proposal, but his bill outlaws mere "possession" of the deadly glass containers. (House File 522)
ILLEGAL ALIENS WELCOME; BADGERS GO HOME!: Rep. Debra Hilstrom (DFL-Brooklyn Center) has proposed giving in-state college tuition to illegal aliens who file a paper saying there are applying to legalize their immigration status. The same bill would scrap reciprocity agreements for students from Wisconsin or other states that give students a lower tuition rate. (House File 682)
YOU CANNOT DRIVE BY YOURSELF, BUT YOU CAN VOTE: Rep. Phyllis Kahn wants to expand her earlier efforts and amend the constitution to allow 16-year-olds to vote in all state and local elections. (House File 630).
NO NEED FOR I.D. TO VOTE, BUT MUST SHOW I.D. TO USE CREDIT CARD: Rep. Scott Kranz (DFL-Blaine) would require firms to see a photo I.D. before accepting a credit card. The bill would also allow the Attorney General to go after any business that may have accepted a credit card without I.D., and collect the full cost of the investigation and attorneys fees. (House File 628).
A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HEALTH INSURANCE: Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) has proposed a constitutional amendment. It would state: "Every Minnesota resident has the right to health care. It is the responsibility of the governor and the legislature to implement all necessary legislation to ensure affordable health care." (House File 683)
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO A CLEAVER: Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) would create a statute to define the rights of employees of meatpackers to include the right to written job descriptions, descriptions of salaries, and "adequate time for necessary bathroom breaks." The bill would also create a state bureaucracy to guarantee these rights. (House File 643).
ZEE MOOSEN DOY-CHA SPREKKEN, KLEINAH KINDAH!: Rep. Loren Solberg (DFL-Grand Rapids) would require six weeks of summer school for students in grades 1-4 to learn a foreign language. (House File 623).
CHILD PROTECTION IN SHOPPING CARTS: Rep. Mike Jaros (DFL-Duluth) has proposed a requirement that every shopping cart in Minnesota must be equipped with "a strap, device, or piece of equipment designed, using reasonable engineering standards, to prevent a child from falling out of a shipping cart." This meaningful bill does not include penalties for failure to provide helmets and fire-proof suits for riders. (House File 620).
WINNER TAKES ALL, UNLESS THE DFL IS UNHAPPY: Rep. Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley) has proposed a constitutional amendment to allow the Legislature to decide who is the winner in a race for state-wide offices, judgeships, and the Legislature if the leading candidate gets less than 50% of the vote. (House File 600)
KNOCK, KNOCK! THE BABY INSPECTORS ARE HERE: Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL-Columbia Heights) would require government investigators to visit every new mother in the hospital or at home to inquire whether they new about all the requirements of a new mother and all the programs that government offers on such topics as WIC, child abuse, and immunizations. (House File 595)
FREE EDUCATION TO TREAT CULTURAL MINORITIES: Rep. Neva Walker (DFL-Minneapolis) wants taxpayers to forgive college costs for people who provide mental health services to clients from cultural or ethnic minorities through a non-profit organization for three years. (House File 575)
KEEPING GOVERNMENT GOING ON AUTO-PILOT: Rep. Bernie Lieder (DFL-Crookston) wants to take the pressure off the Legislature to get its work done by allowing all state agencies to keep going even if the Legislature does not approve funding for them. (House File 534)
RAISING YOUR INSURANCE COSTS FOR WHAT?: Rep. Cy Thao (DFL-St. Paul) wants to raise everyone's health insurance costs by requiring every insurance policy to cover amino-based coverage for maple syrup urine disease, milk intolerance, reflux disease, and other conditions. (House File 529)
MOVING CONVICTED PERVERTS TO THE SUBURBS: Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul) wants to draw stay-away zones in such a way that large concentrations of convicted Level II and Level III sex offenders in Minneapolis and St. Paul will have to move to the suburbs. (House File 476)
TWO DAYS OF PAID LEAVE FOR BOYFRIENDS: Rep. Joe Mullery wants to give up to two days of paid leave each year for "significant others" who live in a household with a child to attend school meetings or deal with student-related meetings. (House File 744)
SCHOOLS MAY GIVE NATURO-PATHIC MEDICINE: Rep. Larry Hosch (DFL-St. Joseph) would allow schools to administer physician-prescribed "naturo-pathic medicine." the treatment of disease through the stimulation, enhancement, and support of the inherent healing capacity of the person. Methods of treatments are chosen to work with the patient's vital force, respecting the intelligence of the natural healing process. (House File 748)
FREE GED FEES FOR THE "PRECARIOUSLY HOUSED": Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis) would waive the test fee for GED tests for persons who are "precariously housed," without defining the term. (House File 751)
MOVING SLUMS TO THE SUBURBS AND SMALL TOWNS: "For the purpose of promoting economic diversity throughout Minnesota and to alleviate the concentration of low-income households in high poverty areas," Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul) would create a tax incentive to provide more low-income housing in working-family suburbs and rural communities. (House File 777)
WILL THERE BE BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THIS?: Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) wants to create grants for "family, friends, and neighbors" to gather pre-school children together to read them books. (House File 796)
YOUR GOVERNMENT DOES NOT KNOW "MANURE": Rep. Al Juhnke (DFL-Willmar) wants to create a Fertilizer Research and Education Council, a Fertilizer Education Program, and a set of grants programs about fertilizers. (House File 652). *
SHOOT YOUR CAR: Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) wants to make it the state's transportation policy to have "the least possible adverse impact on the environment." That means, no cars for you. (House File 639). *
SEX ED FOR KINDERGARTEN: Rep. Neva Walker (DFL-Minneapolis) would authorize school districts to provide Students in K-12 with "age-appropriate materials that address varied societal views on sexuality, sexual behaviors, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, in an age-appropriate manner." The bill would require such instruction for grades 7-12. (House File 615). *
SEAWEED CONTROL ACT: Rep. Bev Scalze (DFL-Little Canada) would require all anglers and waterfowl hunters to check a box and promise to remove all aquatic plant material from boats and trailers. There is no enforcement mechanism in the bill. (House File 755) *
LET'S GO TO PERKINS: Rep. Al Doty (DFL-Royalton) wants $500,000 to build a regional community center in Upsala. An alternative would be to give $1,200 to each of the 413 residents of Upsala for pancakes at Perkins. (House File 757) *
CASH BONUSES FOR LOW-INCOME ALIENS: Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-St. Louis Park) wants to give cash bonuses to illegal aliens. The bill would create a tax credit for English classes, citizenship classes, and application fees. If an alien's tax bill is lower than the cost of these expenses, the bill would give the balance of the credit to the aliens in cash. (House File 747). *
KEEPING THE NEST FULL FOR SIX MORE YEARS: Rep. Diane Loeffler (DFL-Minneapolis) wants to raise everyone's insurance costs by requiring all insurance policies to cover all "dependent children" until age 25 on their parents' policies. The current law requires coverage only until age 19, unless the "child" up to age 25 is a full-time student. (House File 475) *
UNCLE RALPH IS TOO FAT, BRING IN THE HOIST: Rep. Patti Fritz (DFL-Faribault) would require every hospital, clinic, nursing home and medical facility to ban employees from lifting or assisting patients to their feet. Instead they would have to purchase hoists, "engineering controls, lifting and transfer aids, or mechanical assistive devices." Employees could lift patients in an emergency." (House File 712) *
EVEN EASIER TREATMENT FOR ILLEGAL STUDENTS: Rep. Carlos Mariani is proposing an even easier route for illegal aliens to get in-state tuition than under Rep. Hilstrom's House File 682. Under Rep. Mariani's version, illegal aliens would get discount tuition if they spent three years in a Minnesota high school, earned a GED, and promised to file to become resident aliens at their earliest possible opportunity. (House File 722) *
LENIN IS DEAD, BUT HE IS MAKING A COMEBACK: Rep. Joe Mullery wants judges to decide what is an "unconscionable" price for any good or service during an "abnormal market disruption" and impose fines of up to $35,000 for each sale at this "unconscionable" price. (House File 740) *
CYBER-BULLYING: Rep. Debra Hilstrom (DFL-Brooklyn Center) wants to require all school districts to adopt written policies against all bullying or intimidation of any students, including all forms of "intimidation and bullying in all forms, including, but not limited to, electronic forms and forms involving Internet use." (House File 504) *
WHAT PART OF "VOLUNTEER" IS UNCLEAR?: Rep. Tom Tillberry (DFL-Fridley) wants a $2,400 tax break for parents who volunteer at their children's schools. (House File 477) *
AT THREE YEARS OLD, TEST FOR KINDERGARTEN: Rep. David Bly (DFL-Northfield) wants to test parents of children from birth to age three to see that their three-year-old children will be ready for kindergarten. (House File 585) *
NO VOTING FOR "AMERICAN IDOL" ON A CELL PHONE: Rep. Sandy Masin (DFL-Eagan) wants to ban cell phone companies from charging users for payments to third parties called by the user. The bill would also require the cell company to explain its contracts in writing. (House File 635). *
$4 MILLION FOR A VOLLEYBALL COURT: Rep. Kim Norton (DFL-Rochester wants $4 million of bonds for a volleyball facility in Rochester. (House File 624). *
BE A MARIJUANA FARMER: Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) has the marijuana bill. If you convince your doctor that you have severe or chronic pain, you could get a license to grow 12 marijuana plants while holding 2.5 ounces of marijuana leaves and any amount of stems and other parts or prior plants. If the police seize your plants, the state will reimburse you for the fair market value of the seized materials, even if your costs were lower than street value. (House File 655). *
I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE LEGISLATURE'S JOB: Rep. David Bly (DFL-Northfield) wants to create a study by bureaucrats to identify all the legislation necessary to "develop a strategy to obtain the maximum economic benefit for the state and its citizens from the renewable energy activities." (House File 660). *
DON'T HAVE A COW, MAN. JUST HALF A COW!: Rep. Andy Welti (DFL-Plainview) would give limited interest loans to pay for half of a cattle herd. The loans would be up to $100,000 to farmers who buy up to 200 cows, and would not require any repayments in the first year and no payments of interest in the second year. The seven-year loans would be covered by the personal notes of the borrowers. (House File 666). *
A few weeks ago, I attended a townhall meeting hosted by Tarryl Clark, Larry Haws & Steve Gottwalt. After the meeting, I asked Ms. Clark if they planned any serious oversight into existing government waste. Ms. Clark said that that's definitely on the agenda.
I won't believe Ms. Clark on that until I see how the Senate DFL votes on their per diem increase:
Vote no and you don't get the dough.TRANSLATION: Legislators voting for that big of a per diem increase are telling Minnesota's taxpayers that they're for wasteful spending, starting with themselves.
That's the proposal heading to the Minnesota Senate floor next week. Any senator who votes to ratify the Senate's daily $96 expense payments would get the money. Any senator who votes against the measure wouldn't.
"That way, we have full transparency and honesty about who's for what," said Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, who sponsored the expense, or per diem, measure. If a member votes (yes) on this resolution, they're accountable. And if a member votes no and does not accept per diem, so be it," he said.
The resolution passed Thursday on a bipartisan voice vote in the Senate Rules Committee.
Here's more of the details on what legislators are paid:
Senators are paid $31,140 a year in salary. On top of that, they receive a per diem payment, and outstate Minnesota members also receive a housing allowance and mileage reimbursements. The per diem payment became particularly controversial this year after the Senate Rules Committee voted last month to increase it from $66 to $96. The House rules committee voted to increase its daily payments from $66 to $77.Since these are technically classified as rule changes, they aren't subject to a governor's veto. It's worth noting that the Senate voted itself a 46% per diem increase. Forgive me if I don't think of that as being proof of them being fiscally responsible. That certainly wouldn't qualify as being a taxpayer's watchdog.
Posted Friday, February 16, 2007 6:02 PM
Comment 1 by djflatrock74.zoofer.com at 17-Feb-07 04:05 AM
Barack Obama is the "we "candidate. the county is fractured and his view of us makes the U.S. the "we" that is spoken of in our preamble
The forefathers spoke of it as a requirement for us to remain united. And so shall "we" ahere to it to remain United and Strong.
We're Paying Them For This, Part II
Here's more frivolous legislation courtesy of the DFL:
I'LL BUY THAT CAR FOR $40 MILLION: Rep. Frank Hornstein (D-Minneapolis) would give you a tax credit for buying an "alternative fuel" car. If you don't owe any Minnesota income taxes, the state will pay you the 10% as a cash refund. The bill has no limit on the 10% credit, the refund, the price of the car, or how long you own it. You could buy a $40,000 car for $40 million, sell the car back to the dealer for $38 million, and keep $2 million. What a country! (House File 1002)Thank God Minnesotans put Democrats in charge last November. If not for their 'leadership', MOBsters wouldn't have nearly the material to write about that we currently 'enjoy'. In that limited sense, MOBsters should consider the DFL majority as a gift from Heaven.
WHEN YOU GOTTA GO...: Rep. Erin Murphy (D-St. Paul) wants to fine firms and employees $100 if they do not let a customer use the firms' non-public restroom if the customer has any "medical condition that requires immediate access to a toilet facility." This has been called the "irritable bowel syndrome bill," but it could apply to more common conditions of urgency. (House File 1015)
THESE TAXES COULD DRIVE YOU TO DRINK: Rep. Michael Paymar (D-St. Paul) wants to increase excise taxes by up to more than eight times current tax rates for most alcoholic beverages. (House File 1050)
THE ANTS AND THE GRASSHOPPERS: Rep. Scott Kranz (D-Blaine) wants to raise taxes on homeowners' deeds by 66%. He would then take that money to subsidize the rents of non-homeowners and to build houses or rental units for other people. (House File 939) *
I REMEMBER 10th GRADE AS THE BEST SIX YEARS OF MY LIFE: Rep. Jim Davnie (D-Minneapolis) wants to raise the age of eligibility to 23 for students to continue in the "graduation incentives program" to finish high school. (House File 987)
RE-ARRANGING THE DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC: Rep. Paul Thissen (D-Minneapolis) wants to define how "licensed interior designers" apply "design theories of human behavior and aesthetics." Sadly, the bill defines "human behavior" solely as "the characteristics and behaviors of individuals and groups that relate to the physical environments in which they function, and to the processes of environmental modification and change." (House File 991)
SUCH A DEAL! HE CAN GET IT FOR US AT RETAIL: Rep. Frank Hornstein (D-Minneapolis) wants to block road contractors to lose bids unless they are least 10% below the cost of having the work done by DOT employees. Under the bill, DOT would keep its estimate secret until after private firms had submitted their estimates. So if a private contractor submitted a bid of $900,001 for a contract where the secret DOT bid is $1 million, the Hornstein bill would deny taxpayers a savings of $99,999. (House File 546)
THIS WILL BE SOME VERY EFFECTIVE WRITING: Rep. Tina Norton (D-Rochester) wants school boards to write a policy that "ensures" that "parents and caregivers play an integral role in assisting student learning." (House File 990)
ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF FIREWOOD: In the Big North Woods, you would not be allowed to possess firewood unless it was a kind approved by State Commissioners, under a bill offered by Rep. Rick Hansen (D-South St. Paul). (House File 1016) *
CELEBRATE YOUR KIESTER: Rep. Rick Hansen (D-South St. Paul) wants to create tax check-offs for individuals or corporations to dedicate unlimited portions of their refunds or increase their taxes to pay for the upcoming sesquicentennial parties in Minnesota towns, such as Kiester. (House File 1009)
RICH OR POOR, STUDENTS CAN BILL TAXPAYERS FOR TESTS: Rep. Tina Norton (D-Rochester) wants to stick taxpayers with the bill when students take the SAT or ACT tests for college admission. (House File 984) *
IS THIS A "MAXIMUM EFFORT" FOR A SCHOOL?: Rep. Melissa Hortman (D-Brooklyn Park) wants to divert $240,000 from the "maximum effort school loan fund" to "develop and restore wetland and native prairie habitat on the land" at an elementary school. (House File 978)
BEAUTIFY MINNESOTA, THEN PAY THE TAXES: Rep. Phyllis Kahn (D-Minneapolis) wants to apply the sales tax to services involving cosmetic surgery "which does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease." This includes, but is not limited to: 1) cosmetic surgery; 2) hair transplants; 3) cosmetic injections; 4) cosmetic soft tissue fillers; 5) dermabrasion and chemical peel; 6) laser hair removal; 7) laser skin resurfacing; 8) laser treatment of leg veins; 9) sclerotherapy; and 10) cosmetic dentistry. (House File 1027)
NO IN-STATE INCENTIVES FOR MINNESOTA COLLEGE STUDENTS: Rep. Diane Loeffler (D-Minneapolis) wants to eliminate in-state tuition advantages for Minnesota citizens at MnSCU colleges and universities. (House File 1032) *
THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET-TOGETHER AND GAMBLING: Rep. Phyllis Kahn (D-Minneapolis) wants to require the State Fair to allow lottery tickets to be sold on the grounds. (House File 1055) *
"ROBOT COP" CAMERAS TO ENFORCE LAW: Rep. Paul Thissen (D-Minneapolis) wants to authorize "robo-cameras" to send tickets to owners of vehicles, who will be presumed to be the guilty drivers unless they can prove otherwise. (House File 1058) *
Question to fellow bloggers: Will the DFL deny that there is a surplus of frivolous legislation? If they deny it, what methodology would they use to justify their claim? Would they claim that they're "entitled to a yearly allowance of frivolous legislation"?
Coming to think of it, King & Michael should think of this as their 'full employment Act'.
Posted Friday, February 16, 2007 6:01 PM
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Following Weak Rebuke, Dems' White Flag Goes Up
The House voted for the Democrats' anti-victory resolution today. The big news from the vote is that it can't be seen as anything but a mild rebuke of the President's surge plan.
The Democratic-controlled House issued a symbolic rejection of President Bush's decision to deploy more troops to Iraq on Friday, opening an epic confrontation between Congress and commander in chief over an unpopular war that has taken the lives of more than 3,100 U.S. troops. The vote on the nonbinding measure was 246-182.Seventeen White Flag Republicans (WFR's) voted yes on this resolution, a much smaller number than was predicted. It's being recommended that they start polishing their resumes because they'll be seeking employment once GOP primary voters get finished with them. Most predictions I read earlier this week said that up to 40 Republicans would vote for the defeatist resolution.
It's my opinion that this dramatically weakens any attempt to defund the war by Democrats. I also think that tomorrow's vote in the Senate won't have the impact that Harry Reid had hoped it would have. Had 35-40 WFR's joined with Democrats, it would've been a given that Murtha's openly defeatist legislation would've passed the House. That's much less likely now.
Though I doubt that they'll do this, I think this vote is the equivalent of Murtha's bunch waving the white flag of defeat. They'll likely press on but their movement is best described as a dead man walking. The brain just hasn't told the heart that it's finished.
Posted Friday, February 16, 2007 9:14 PM
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The Definition of Hero
I've chastised John Murtha for his repeated attempts to unilaterally defeat the U.S. military in which he once served. I've chastised him because he deserved it for his willingness to compromise his principles for a few fleeting moments of publicity. As much as I'm capable of criticizing Murtha's deplorable behavior more, I'm choosing instead to get out of the way and let Rep. Sam Johnson's words stand in contrast to John Murtha's defeatist attitude. Here's the text of Rep. Johnson's speech:
You know, I flew 62 combat missions in the Korean War and 25 missions in the Vietnam War before being shot down.Rep. Johnson, America salutes you for your heroism, courage and steadfastness in the face of such extreme adversity.
I had the privilege of serving in the United States Air Force for 29 years, attending the prestigious National War College, and commanding two air bases, among other things.
I mention these stories because I view the debate on the floor not just as a U.S. Congressman elected to serve the good people of the Third District in Texas, but also through the lens of a life-long fighter pilot, student of war, a combat warrior, a leader of men, and a Prisoner of War.
Ironically, this week marks the anniversary that I started a new life - and my freedom from prison in Hanoi.
I spent nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam, more than half of that time in solitary confinement. I flew out of Hanoi on February 12, 1973 with other long-held Prisoners of War, weighing just 140 pounds. And tomorrow, 34 years ago, I had my homecoming to Texas, a truly unspeakable blessing of freedom.
While in solitary confinement, my captors kept me in leg stocks, like the pilgrims... for 72 days....
As you can imagine, they had to carry me out of the stocks because I couldn't walk. The following day, they put me in leg irons... for 2 + years. That's when you have a tight metal cuff around each ankle, with a foot-long bar connecting the legs.
I still have little feeling in my right arm and my right hand... and my body has never been the same since my nearly 2,500 days of captivity.
But I will never let my physical wounds hold me back.
Instead, I try to see the silver lining. I say that because in some way...I'm living a dream...a hope I had for the future. "From April 16, 1966 to February 12, 1973, I prayed that I would return home to the loving embrace of my wife, Shirley, and my three kids, Bob, Gini, and Beverly...
And my fellow POWs and I clung to the hope of when, not if, we returned home.
We would spend hours tapping on the adjoining cement walls about what we would do when we got home to America.
We pledged to quit griping about the way the government was running the war in Vietnam and do something about it...We decided that we would run for office and try to make America a better place for all.
So, little did I know back in my rat-infested 3 x 8 dark and filthy cell that 34 years after my departure from Hell on Earth...I would spend the anniversary of my release pleading for a House panel to back my measure to support and fully fund the troops in harm's way....and that just days later I would be on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives surrounded by distinguished veterans urging Congress to support our troops to the hilt.
We POWs were still in Vietnam when Washington cut the funding for Vietnam. I know what it does to morale and mission success. Words can not fully describe the horrendous damage of the anti-American efforts against the war back home to the guys on the ground.
Our captors would blare nasty recordings over the loud speaker of Americans protesting back home...tales of Americans spitting on Vietnam veterans when they came home... and worse.
We must never, ever let that happen again.
The pain inflicted by your country's indifference is tenfold that inflicted by your ruthless captors.
Our troops, and their families, want, need and deserve the full support of the country, and the Congress. Moms and dads watching the news need to know that the Congress will not leave their sons and daughters in harm's way without support.
Since the President announced his new plan for Iraq last month, there has been steady progress. He changed the rules of engagement and removed political protections.
There are reports we wounded the number two of Al Qaeda and killed his deputy. Yes, Al Qaeda operates in Iraq. It's alleged that top radical jihadist Al-Sadr has fled Iraq, maybe to Iran. And Iraq's closed its borders with Iran and Syria. The President changed course and offered a new plan...we are making progress. We must seize the opportunity to move forward, not stifle future success.
Debating non-binding resolutions aimed at earning political points only destroys morale, stymies success, and emboldens the enemy.
The grim reality is that this House measure is the first step to cutting funding of the troops...Just ask John Murtha about his 'slow-bleed' plan that hamstrings our troops in harm's way.
Now it's time to stand up for my friends who did not make it home, and those who fought and died in Iraq, so I can keep my promise that when we got home we would quit griping about the war and do something positive about it...and we must not allow this Congress to leave these troops like the Congress left us.
Today, let my body serve as a brutal reminder that we must not repeat the mistakes of the past...instead learn from them.
We must not cut funding for our troops. We must stick by them. We must support them all the way...To our troops we must remain...always faithful.
God bless you and I salute you all. Thank you.
Posted Friday, February 16, 2007 9:57 PM
Comment 1 by teresa at 16-Feb-07 11:34 PM
Thank God you made it home from Viet Nam. Thank God you are in congress. But shame on the congressmen who have stabbed the current soldiers in the back, which includes 17 Republican House members. I fear for the future of our country.
Comment 2 by Gary Gross at 16-Feb-07 11:54 PM
Teresa, As long as we have living reminders like Rep. Johnson, we will never stray too far. Thank God for living portraits of heroism like Sam Johnson.
A-Klo the Tax Cutter?
Here's the Strib's analysis of tax cut proposal Amy Klobuchar is co-sponsoring:
The bill, which would provide $80 billion in tax credits over four years, would:This is a fig leaf of protection against being a tax-increasing liberal spendaholic. If these cuts are worthwhile, shouldn't they all be made permanent? Why make AMT relief only good through 2008? Why doesn't Ms. Klobuchar and the rest of her Democrat co-sponsors make the per child tax credit permanent, too?To help pay for the legislation, the Democrats proposed ending "royalties" for oil companies and possibly raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
- Double the child tax credit to $2,000 in the first year of the child's life;
- Extend the dependent care tax credit to cover 35 percent of qualified child-care expense for eligible families;
- Extend the alternative minimum tax relief through 2008;
- Consolidate three college-tuition tax deductions and credits into one up to $2,500 per student, and
- Save families taking care of elderly parents an average of $200 a month.
I'd further ask why she, like all other Democrats, feels a reflexive need to overtax "the rich"? Just once, I'd like her, or any other liberal, explain why tax cuts for the wealthy don't help create a strong economy. The only explanation I've ever heard on that issue is that "the rich" should pay their fair share. That isn't an economic reason; it's their attempt to rationalize their tax-hiking ways as the moral choice to make.
The day that I think of Democrats as tax cut advocates is the day after I witness pigs flying in V formation over my house.
Posted Friday, February 16, 2007 11:25 PM
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