Gwen Ifill admits she didn't inform the Presidential Debate Commission that she authored a book about Blacks in politics subtitled "The Age of Obama."
As one Houston Chronicle reporter said: this is outrageous. It would not be allowed in a high school debate.
Let's get real...Ifill needs to get the boot. We know she is a liberal. She has much to gain from an Obama victory. No way she can be objective.
Let's hope when the candidates take the stage to debate tomorrow night, Ifell won't be moderating.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Just hand over the money and shut up
Is it patriotic to pay higher taxes?
If so, the Texas Municipal League, the Texas Association of Counties and most Texas school districts are indeed encouraging “patriotism”.
VP Candidate Sen. Joe Biden recently said in an interview with Good Morning America that it was patriotic for Americans to pay higher taxes (oh, the top rate taxpayers like him.) AFP is calling for him to pay the IRS the $18,036 that he got in income tax deductions last year. It’s time to be patriotic, to be part of the deal, to jump in, right, Joe?
If it is patriotic to pay higher taxes, then local government organizations like the Texas Municipal League, the Texas Association of Counties and the Texas Association of School Boards are singing “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and the national anthem all the way to the bank.
These groups oppose taxpayer protections which allow taxpayers to vote when government entities increase their spending or revenue above the increase in population and inflation. These organizations oppose elected officials having to "make their case" to the public before digging deeper into taxpayers' pockets. And these groups oppose taxpayer protections using YOUR money.
So these groups promote YOUR patriotism (pay more in taxes) but don't want you to have a voice in how much government you want and are willing to pay for.
If so, the Texas Municipal League, the Texas Association of Counties and most Texas school districts are indeed encouraging “patriotism”.
VP Candidate Sen. Joe Biden recently said in an interview with Good Morning America that it was patriotic for Americans to pay higher taxes (oh, the top rate taxpayers like him.) AFP is calling for him to pay the IRS the $18,036 that he got in income tax deductions last year. It’s time to be patriotic, to be part of the deal, to jump in, right, Joe?
If it is patriotic to pay higher taxes, then local government organizations like the Texas Municipal League, the Texas Association of Counties and the Texas Association of School Boards are singing “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and the national anthem all the way to the bank.
These groups oppose taxpayer protections which allow taxpayers to vote when government entities increase their spending or revenue above the increase in population and inflation. These organizations oppose elected officials having to "make their case" to the public before digging deeper into taxpayers' pockets. And these groups oppose taxpayer protections using YOUR money.
So these groups promote YOUR patriotism (pay more in taxes) but don't want you to have a voice in how much government you want and are willing to pay for.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Print Your Own Vote No! Signs
Ellis County's Taxpayers Alliance for Good Government has posted a link on their Web site for irate taxpayers to download and print their own 11x17 Vote No! yard signs.
They're generic enough to be used for any election, too.
"By doing this, regular taxpayers can bypass the political action committees and just do it themselves," said TAGG chair Joey Dauben, who publishes The Ellis County Observer. "It's like the We The People Starter Kit. It costs nothing to produce .pdf yard signs, though our recommendation would be that people print out 100 of them. It still costs less than $10-$20 and we encourage taxpayers to assemble them like we show in our example below..."
They're generic enough to be used for any election, too.
"By doing this, regular taxpayers can bypass the political action committees and just do it themselves," said TAGG chair Joey Dauben, who publishes The Ellis County Observer. "It's like the We The People Starter Kit. It costs nothing to produce .pdf yard signs, though our recommendation would be that people print out 100 of them. It still costs less than $10-$20 and we encourage taxpayers to assemble them like we show in our example below..."
Monday, September 29, 2008
Taxpayers Spend A Quarter Million Dollars for Superintendent NOT to work 3 months a year
Round Rock taxpayers, take note. The Round Rock ISD Superintendent accrues 2 vacation days each month. I may not be an educator, but I figure that to be 24 days a year – that’s almost 5 weeks. Now, that vacation time is on top of the regular school holidays. How many holidays do they get a year? Hum…according to the website, Round Rock ISD Holidays- 08/09 School Year include:
July 2008: 5 days
August 2008: 0 days
September 2008: 1 day
October 2008: 2 days
November 2008: 3 days
December 2008: 8 days
January 2009: 4 days
February 2009: 1 day
March 2009: 5 days
April 2009: 2 days
May 2009: 1 day
June 2009: 0 days
Total School Days Off: 32 days
So if you take the 24 days the Superintendent gets (per his contract), and add the 32 days all school employees get (including the Superintendent, per his contract), that figures to 56 days a year.
So Diana Maldonado, then RRISD School Board President, signed a contract that actually pays the Superintendent a quarter million dollars a year NOT to work 56 days.
That equates to 11 weeks…almost three months.
So while taxpayers are working hard, earning a living, paying their school property taxes, those same taxpayers are paying a Superintendent $250,000 to NOT work three months a year.
A quarter million dollars a year to take 56 days off each year. Good work if you can get it!
July 2008: 5 days
August 2008: 0 days
September 2008: 1 day
October 2008: 2 days
November 2008: 3 days
December 2008: 8 days
January 2009: 4 days
February 2009: 1 day
March 2009: 5 days
April 2009: 2 days
May 2009: 1 day
June 2009: 0 days
Total School Days Off: 32 days
So if you take the 24 days the Superintendent gets (per his contract), and add the 32 days all school employees get (including the Superintendent, per his contract), that figures to 56 days a year.
So Diana Maldonado, then RRISD School Board President, signed a contract that actually pays the Superintendent a quarter million dollars a year NOT to work 56 days.
That equates to 11 weeks…almost three months.
So while taxpayers are working hard, earning a living, paying their school property taxes, those same taxpayers are paying a Superintendent $250,000 to NOT work three months a year.
A quarter million dollars a year to take 56 days off each year. Good work if you can get it!
Edinburg officials can't count on their legislators
The City and Edinburg Economic Development Council don’t trust their legislators. That’s right, Sen. Juan Hinojosa and Rep. Aaron Pena have gotten a vote of “no confidence” by local officials and leaders. Edinburg leaders, in “preparing for legislative session” have hired a lobbyist who they credit with past legislative victories. That’s right – they don’t praise their legislative representatives, but the lobbyist for “establishing a known presence at the State Capitol in Austin,” according to City Manager J.J. Rodriquez. So much for Sen. Hinojosa and Rep. Pena...
Edinburg taxpayers, you are paying for a lobbyist who may very well lobby against taxpayer interests. Most city and county lobbyists oppose taxpayer protections. It is up to taxpayers to review the legislative agenda for the City and chamber of commerce. Make sure the legislative priorities are YOUR TAXPAYER priorities to keep more of your hard-earned money. After all, tax dollars are being used to pay your lobbyist.
Read about the lobbyist hire here:
http://www.edinburgpolitics.com/2008/09/14/edinburg-prepares-for-legislative-session-eedc-city-government-to-split-lobbyists-60000-annual-fee/
Edinburg taxpayers, you are paying for a lobbyist who may very well lobby against taxpayer interests. Most city and county lobbyists oppose taxpayer protections. It is up to taxpayers to review the legislative agenda for the City and chamber of commerce. Make sure the legislative priorities are YOUR TAXPAYER priorities to keep more of your hard-earned money. After all, tax dollars are being used to pay your lobbyist.
Read about the lobbyist hire here:
http://www.edinburgpolitics.com/2008/09/14/edinburg-prepares-for-legislative-session-eedc-city-government-to-split-lobbyists-60000-annual-fee/
Hero of the Taxpayer: Jeb Hensarlin
Congressman Jeb Hensarling, R-TX, gave an impassioned speech against the bailout on the House floor today. He calls the bill a "slippery slope towards socialism." Great job, Jeb! I am proud of you!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Explaining the financial melt-down
This is the best video I've seen explaining how we got to the Wall Street Meltdown situation. It is a "must-view" for all voters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5tZc8oH--o
You will likely be surprised by some of what you learn in this video!
-- Peggy Venable
You will likely be surprised by some of what you learn in this video!
-- Peggy Venable
Friday, September 26, 2008
HILCO Incumbent Ousted From Office After ECP Story
Good news for those seeking information about what's really going on with HILCO, a southern Dallas-area co-op.
Incumbent Jim Perkins, who told The Ellis County Press' Megan Gray he wasn't "allowed" to speak to her about allegations listed on RescueHILCO.com, was ousted from office, according to a tally of votes in the District 1 race -- D1 includes Glenn Heights, Oak Leaf (Perkins' hometown), Lancaster, DeSoto, Ovilla and Midlothian.
Former Glenn Heights mayor Stephen Pape (pronounced "Papi") was Perkins' challenger.
(Megan will post the official tally of votes as soon as she gets them)
Click here to read the article that was posted a day before the election.
Incumbent Jim Perkins, who told The Ellis County Press' Megan Gray he wasn't "allowed" to speak to her about allegations listed on RescueHILCO.com, was ousted from office, according to a tally of votes in the District 1 race -- D1 includes Glenn Heights, Oak Leaf (Perkins' hometown), Lancaster, DeSoto, Ovilla and Midlothian.
Former Glenn Heights mayor Stephen Pape (pronounced "Papi") was Perkins' challenger.
(Megan will post the official tally of votes as soon as she gets them)
Click here to read the article that was posted a day before the election.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Send Palin to debate Obama
Since Sen. McCain is headed back to DC to do the people's work (after all, that is a Senator's full-time job and we do have a financial crisis on our hands), why not have Gov. Palin offered up to debate Sen. Obama? It's clear Obama believes he can do his Senate job and campaign full-time, cerntainly he wouldn't blink an eye at debating a Governor on foreign policy.
Bring it on!
Bring it on!
AFP: leading the drilling ban countdown
AFP is making the blogging circuit as policy director Phil Kerpen provides direction and a Congressional action (and inaction) blow-by-blow
From Phil Kerpen, Americans for Prosperity, “A Stunning Pro-Drilling Victory“:
With the clock ticking down to what some are calling “Energy Freedom Day” — October 1, 2008, when the congressional bans on offshore oil drilling and onshore oil-shale development are set to expire — anti-drilling Democrats have backed down from a high-stakes stand-off that could have caused a government shutdown and will now result in the complete demise of the drilling bans. This is a stunning victory for grassroots activists over environmental special interests and business-as-usual in Washington. If not derailed, it also will be great news for all American consumers.
Phil follows with a blow-by-blow of how opponents of the ban achieved their legislative goal.
More…
Statement from Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), House minority leader, “House Republicans Score Victory for the American People After Democrats Capitulate on Offshore, Oil Shale Energy Production Bans.”
CNN story, “House Democrats will allow offshore drilling ban to expire“
Here’s the blog: http://www.shopfloor.org/2008/09/24/an-expiring-ban-what-a-good-development/
From Phil Kerpen, Americans for Prosperity, “A Stunning Pro-Drilling Victory“:
With the clock ticking down to what some are calling “Energy Freedom Day” — October 1, 2008, when the congressional bans on offshore oil drilling and onshore oil-shale development are set to expire — anti-drilling Democrats have backed down from a high-stakes stand-off that could have caused a government shutdown and will now result in the complete demise of the drilling bans. This is a stunning victory for grassroots activists over environmental special interests and business-as-usual in Washington. If not derailed, it also will be great news for all American consumers.
Phil follows with a blow-by-blow of how opponents of the ban achieved their legislative goal.
More…
Statement from Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), House minority leader, “House Republicans Score Victory for the American People After Democrats Capitulate on Offshore, Oil Shale Energy Production Bans.”
CNN story, “House Democrats will allow offshore drilling ban to expire“
Here’s the blog: http://www.shopfloor.org/2008/09/24/an-expiring-ban-what-a-good-development/
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