Humpday Happenings...
Middle of the week again...and time to take a look at what's been going on so far in this last week in August.
** As you probably already know, Senator Ted Kennedy has passed away at the age of 77.
End of an era?
Perhaps.
End of a dynasty?
Definitely.
There are some out there (Obama) who believe (and has said that) Ted was the "greatest senator of our time".
Greatest senator? Not so much.
I would never go so far as to say that. But consider the source.
He was a typical senator from the left...a career politician, following no doubt in his brothers' footsteps (and living in their shadows as well). And then there was always Chappaquiddick.
I never considered him anywhere near as astute or adept in politics as either Bobby or Jack Kennedy, but that's just my opinion.
I will say that time for a change in Massachusetts was long overdue.
** Public hearings...for what they're worth.
The people had a chance to weigh in on the Renaissance Square purchase downtown in Fort Wayne before the city council voted on it, and the outcomes was pretty much what I was expecting. Council HEARD the people (while refusing to LISTEN to them like they always seem to do), and went ahead and voted 6-3 IN FAVOR of buying the building to house city offices and the FWPD.
So much for the peoples' voice.
Let's hope this "deal" isn't another "Costaplenty Square".
One man who addressed the council told them "Remember...YOU work for US". Now THAT was entertaining (and very true).
Of course, six of the council members didn't give a rat's ass what anyone thought (I personally commend the three that DID vote against it)...these public hearings are there for "show" only, as are most of them across our nation.
So the city gets to blow some MORE money....and then there's always that "casino deal" lurking in the shadows, ready to rear it's ugly head again like some rabid carnivore. Luckily, the COUNTY council doesn't think a casino in Fort Wayne is such a good idea, due to costs and the crime associated with them (gee...sounds like something I said about casino cities I've been to and posted about here a while back).
Cripes, the city can barely handle the crime it already HAS...and it wants to invite even MORE?
Now what's wrong with THAT picture, kids?
And speaking of crime...
** That pizza place that I spoke about recently (and a few other times in the near past) was targeted yet AGAIN by local thugs wanting some quick cash.
Fort Wayne police investigated an armed robbery at Tasty Pizza on Fairfield Avenue late Monday.
Officers were called to the eatery at 4302 Fairfield Ave. on the city’s south side just after 10:30 p.m. Monday. Two men entered the building and one fired a gunshot, the store’s manager told police.
The manager said he heard one of the men say "Give me all the money!" and the manager then ran out of the building to call 911, the report said.
Complete descriptions of the robbers were not available, and the report did not say whether anything was taken from the business.
This is the same business where that clerk was killed almost 2 Christmases ago.
I give the owner credit for staying (as I have), but it makes you wonder why, year after year, there never seems to be ANY change for the better? I mean this guy gets robbed close to TWICE a year (if not more), and nothing is done to stem the tide of crime?
I think the city leaders need to stop "writing off" certain parts of the city, whether it's for a tax dodge, federal grant money, or whatever.
As I always LOVE to say:
"A city is ONLY AS GOOD as it's WORST AREA".
I found this story particularly disturbing:
** WASHINGTON –
Conservatives and liberals alike reacted critically, though for different reasons, to Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to appoint a federal prosecutor to investigate possible abuses by CIA interrogators in using harsh tactics on terror detainees.
Conservatives, led by former Vice President Dick Cheney, said the probe wrongly targeted those who helped keep the nation safe after the Sept. 11 attacks and would diminish the government’s ability to protect Americans.
Civil liberties groups were unhappy that officials from the administration of President George W. Bush were not targeted in the probe.
Holder on Monday appointed federal prosecutor John Durham to look into abuse allegations after the release of an internal CIA inspector general’s report that revealed agency interrogators once threatened to kill a Sept. 11 suspect’s children and suggested another would be forced to watch his mother be sexually assaulted.
President Obama has said interrogators would not face charges if they followed legal guidelines. but the report said some CIA interrogators went beyond Bush administration restrictions that gave them wide latitude to use severe tactics such as waterboarding, a simulated drowning technique. Three suspects underwent waterboarding scores of times.
Obama’s caveat has not satisfied Cheney, who claimed this year that the Obama administration is making the nation less secure by dismantling Bush-era initiatives aimed at disrupting terrorist plans.
"The activities of the CIA in carrying out the policies of the Bush administration were directly responsible for defeating all efforts by al-Qaida to launch further mass casualty attacks against the United States," Cheney said.
Cheney contended that the inspector general’s report showed that the severe techniques resulted in "the bulk of intelligence we gained about al-Qaida" and "saved lives and prevented terrorist attacks."
Although the report somewhat buttressed Cheney’s contention by saying the interrogations yielded some information that identified terrorists and plots, the inspector general also raised broad concerns about the legality and effectiveness of the tactics, saying that measuring their success is "a more subjective process and not without some concern."
Cheney and others have warned that opening investigations into incidents outlined by the CIA report will destroy morale at the agency and discourage its staff from aggressive intelligence work on terror cases.
Several key Democrats and officials with Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union said Tuesday that the potential prosecutions are a start, but they said the probe does nothing to investigate the actions of officials who sanctioned the brutal
interrogation program.
That makes PERFECT sense...why bother to use STRICT methods of interrogation when you can just POLITELY ASK these terrorists what their plans are, right?
Let's get them to eat some cookies, sing some songs while we're at it, and maybe crack open a cold one...oh wait, they don't drink.
God forbid you blow some smoke in their faces while interrogating...that nasty 2nd hand smoke thing, 'ya know...
I think Holder really crossed the line on this one.
Which also makes me think WHO (exactly) in the White House has taken the FBI off of the vetting process for cabinet appointees, anyway? WHO is doing the background checks on these newly-appointed people with COMMUNIST leanings?
I hear stories that there is a "panel" (from the White House) in place, that is now doing the vetting...imagine that. We have a bunch of neophytes that (obviously) have a LOT MORE expertise than the frigging FBI when it comes to background checks.
You can also find stories from numerous sources that point to the fact that Obama himself wasn't vetted by the FBI.
And if he WAS, why isn't THAT all over the Internet or newspapers?
It's still all about DECEPTION and MISDIRECTION, people.
Make NO mistake about that.
lastly, I heard this the other day and just had to share it.
Remember all those people (about 800,000 at last tally) who went for the "bait" in that Ca$h for clunkers deal?
And remember that $3500-$4500 they were supposed to get for their "clunkers"?
Well, you can add the word SUCKER to the deal...!
There are TAXES TO PAY on that $3500-$4500, folks!
Wanna know why?
(sure 'ya do)
It's because it was a GOVERNMENT CHECK that sealed those deals...and it wasn't like disability or Social Security.
It was considered "income" by the FEDS (read IRS - my former handlers)...ergo, it is ELIGIBLE TO BE TAXED.
ANY check you receive from the government is INCOME, but when you don't meet the minimum standard for INCOME LEVELS...you don't have to file a tax form and, as a result, don't have to pay taxes...simple, huh?
One exception is your refund check as you OVERPAID the taxes for that year.
(That must be why all the lazy-ass welfare frauders in MY part of town do okay...LOL!)
SO who is REALLY making out on this after THAT dust settles, hmm?
Just thought you should know that.
If you didn't trade in that "clunker" for a rice-burning, eco-friendly pregnant rollerskate...good for you.
Surely, these are interesting times...perilous times we are living in.
We should stay the course and be paying attention to those "people behind the curtain"...AND be carefully watching BOTH of their hands, as they attempt to mislead us down a path we dare not tread, lest we lose what WE have always believed to be OUR AMERICA.
We must weigh the words being spoken to us, and weigh our words in response.
We must analyze and dissect that which we read and hear.
We must not be afraid to ask the tough questions...and expect truthful answers.
This nation will stand or fall depending on what WE, as a people DO...or do NOT do.
It's still OUR choice..let's make the best choice we can.
Stay safe out there, America.