Caption Needed

Let's have a couple of laughs. Try your hand at writing a caption for this picture and send it via comments. Here's mine:

Donkey Party Loses Traction

Because of Excessive Tax Load

Added Caption

Hey Rudolph!
Quit trying to play Santa Claus with my money!

Press Release for the Reagan Day Dinner

The press release below was sent to several local papers. Both the Chisago County Press and Post Review published it with slight modifications.

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Reagan Day Dinner a huge success

President Ronald Reagan once said, "To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last - but eat you he will." Chisago County Republicans gathered at Wild Mountain on Sept. 14 for the first annual Reagan Day Dinner, to begin the effort of taking back state government from tax and spend Democrats who never seem to get enough to eat.


The sold out crowd was treated to an inspiring speech from keynote speaker and KTLK talk show host Jason Lewis. And who better to talk about government spending and the economy? Lewis has a Masters degree in political science and a Bachelors degree in business. An editorial writer who has been published in newspapers from coast to coast, Lewis is an advocate of small, efficient government, and is the founder of Minnesota's Tax Cut Coalition.

Lewis described attempts to raise taxes in the last legislative session as some of the most brazen in memory. A $2 billion surplus apparently wasn't enough, and the Democrat majority supported another $5 billion in tax increases.

State spending over the long haul has resulted in Minnesota being one of the highest taxed states in the country, with one of the worst small business climates anywhere. In 2008 voters have a chance to turn the tide on wasteful spending and high taxes, and begin the process of making their state government responsible and accountable.

Also present were State Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey, Representative Rob Eastlund, House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, representatives of both Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and Senator Norm Coleman. Having attended similar events around the state lately, Carey was greatly impressed by the Chisago County turnout. He told those in attendance that their presence was an inspirational message he would spread around the state. Likewise, Seifert and Eastlund were also overwhelmed with the enthusiasm of the large crowd.


Former Representative Pete Nelson emceed the sold out event, which was hosted by the Taylors Falls Republicans. Jim Stein had the honor of presenting Pastor George Cable of Lindstrom with the Distinguished Service Award, which was a very touching moment.

Another very important topic of discussion was the need to replace the tax and spend liberal Representative Jeremy Kalin, who, in his short tenure has voted in support of the public funding of abortion, in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, as well as income tax and gas tax increases.

The Reagan Day Dinner marks the kick off of the 2008 campaign for Chisago County Republicans. Not only was enthusiasm high by the end of the program, Chisago County GOP coffers were well replenished for the upcoming campaign.

To find out more about the event, the Chisago County GOP, or Representative Jeremy Kalin's voting record, go to http://www.chisagogop.blogspot.com/. Local authors will keep you apprised of what is going on in state government and provide you with the facts you need to know heading into 2008.

It's time to stop feeding the crocodile.

More Democrat Rhetoric

Molnau should leave MnDOT post, legislator urges governor

Pawlenty says he won't fire MnDOT commissioner Carol Molnau in response to charges by the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee that she is incompetent.
Article by Mark Brunswick

"In an escalating war of words, the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday said Gov. Tim Pawlenty should fire Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau -- who is also lieutenant governor -- for what he said were numerous examples of incompetence.

A Pawlenty spokesman said the governor's office would not fire Molnau, who has faced criticism and renewed calls for her ouster since the collapse of the Interstate-35W bridge in Minneapolis on Aug. 1.

While he did not directly blame Molnau's stewardship for the collapse of the bridge, Sen. Steve Murphy, D-Red Wing, criticized Molnau and other MnDOT leaders for their actions following the collapse. He pointed to MnDOT's choice of the highest bidder for the replacement bridge, lawsuits and complaints filed by losing bidders, and the agency's emergency manager failing to return from a business trip to the East Coast for 10 days after the collapse as evidence of a need for change.

"The public has completely lost confidence in the leadership at MnDOT and so has the Legislature," Murphy said, standing near the LaFayette Bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Paul. The bridge is one of about 100 in the state with nonredundant, fracture-critical components like the I-35W bridge, and which are rated "structurally deficient."We have a serious problem in the state of Minnesota and we need serious people with serious answers. We need someone in there who is a professional, that knows engineering, that knows transportation and that is not Carol Molnau," said Murphy, with several other legislators standing nearby.

Murphy said the full Senate would likely consider refusing to confirm Molnau as transportation commissioner as one of its first duties when the legislature convenes in February and that the Senate has the votes to reject her confirmation. A commissioner may serve without confirmation, but if rejected, Molnau could be forced from the MnDOT post but she would retain her elected position as lieutenant governor.

The request for Molnau's termination comes in the midst of a larger debate over transportation funding and questions about a cash flow problem in the department, with the possibility raised of postponed projects to fund the I-35W bridge reconstruction.

Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung dismissed Murphy's remarks as personal name calling and said the governor is interested in moving ahead on a comprehensive transportation plan when the Legislature convenes in February. McClung said Molnau has been working through significant issues in a department that has historically generated controversy.

"From our perspective, Senator Murphy has been holding out this confirmation issue. We hope that legislators are going to take a fair approach to looking at her confirmation. We believe she should be confirmed," McClung said.

McClung said Pawlenty continues to express support for Molnau and that Pawlenty has had no reservations about Molnau serving a dual role as lieutenant governor and transportation commissioner."

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Senator Murphy’s call for Molnau’s termination is obviously the voice that Rep. Kalin (17B) wants. Kalin’s press releases (links previously noted) demonstrate the itch to be rid of her.

Rather than pull together to overcome the crisis caused by the bridge collapse, the Dems play political games. Someone must be blamed. That is especially convenient when the other party is in administration. You can bet your last dollar that the libs would not be making this call if they were holding administrative power.

Why is the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee now faulting Molnau for "...about 100 [bridges] in the state with nonredundant, fracture-critical components like the I-35W bridge..." when that is his jurisdiction as well? How is it that the sudden collapse of one bridge brings all these other bridges on his radar screen? Doesn’t he read Mn/DOT reports? Isn’t it his specific job to keep tabs on the condition of bridges and the schedule for repair or replacement? The very fact that he can identify bridges with "...nonredundant, fracture-critical components..." implies he has read reports. Did he just now read the reports? If he read them earlier, where was his and his committee’s plan for repair or replacement? After all, the average citizen has known for years that the backlog of bridge repair/replacement has been growing. It doesn’t require being a senator to know this. And the Dems could have been in power when this bridge collapsed. Oh wait! He is in power.

While pointing out Molnau’s failures, he points out his own. If Molnau should go, then so should he. If there can be no confidence in Molnau, then how can we have confidence in Chair Murphy? He must accept responsibility for all bridges in Minnesota as part of the Transportation Committee.

Blaming is a childish game that the Dems have mastered. It diverts attention from one’s own failures to another. It appears to address the problem, satisfying the party base, but does little or nothing to correct the problem. It disheartens the very team that must solve the problem, while the jackals gnaw their political bones and the hyenas laugh with glee over the sacked teammate. Blamers don’t remember that what goes around, comes around.

Suddenly all the backlog of potential calamity is hyped because of one crisis. Dems make a crisis of a crisis in order to dig deeper into the taxpayer’s pockets. The next months will be filled with Democrats moaning about the need for billions in transportation dollars to get voters convinced to open their pocketbooks. Talk about creating a culture of fear!

We voters get disgusted that so many of our elected leaders are so childish and such fear-mongers. Quit pointing fingers. Get back to work. Do the job. Solve the problems and get the bridge replaced as a team. The new bridge will not be a Democrat bridge if it falls down. You can be sure of that!

Oh the Liberal Finger-pointing!
Another Kalin Press Release

Rep. Jeremy Kalin (D-17B) has posted his latest accusatory piece.

"OP/ED COLUMN
LEADERSHIP AND HONESTY ARE SORELY NEEDED

When the 35W bridge collapsed, taking 13 lives with it, Governor Pawlenty sounded like the leader we all wanted him to be. He assured us that he would do what it takes to ensure that all of Minnesota's roads and bridges are safe, even it if meant raising taxes.

When legislators questioned Lt. Gov. Molnau and her staff on August 15 and 22, MnDOT assured us that they would have no cash problems. Other projects would not suffer, the Lt. Gov. reassured us.

Since then, we've learned of excessive bonuses going to the losing bidders of the 35W bridge contract – to the tune of $600,000 total. We've learned that MnDOT's director of Emergency Management, Sonia Morphew Pitt, couldn't be bothered to come home for 10 days after the bridge collapsed, and that up to $26,000 of her taxpayer-paid travel was for personal pleasure. And, we've learned that MnDOT management, when made aware of Ms. Pitt's excesses, failed to alert the Legislative Auditor as required by law.

To top it all off, Lt. Gov. Molnau has since admitted that she didn't tell the legislature the truth. She has asked the legislature to give her an unprecedented cash advance of almost $200 million. If she doesn't get her way, projects in the works will be delayed or halted altogether.

What's the Governor's response to Minnesotans? Don't worry. Be happy.

It's a cute slogan. But it doesn't exactly inspire confidence in MnDOT, or in Minnesota's infrastructure. The Governor and the Lieutenant Governor need to come clean regarding MnDOT's ongoing financial troubles. Only then can the legislature, and every Minnesotan, be confident that increased investment will be responsibly managed by the Pawlenty/Molnau administration. And only then will we be certain that our state is on the responsible path to better roads, safer bridges, and adequate transit options.

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It’s all Lt. Governor Molnau’s fault according to Kalin, and Pawlenty’s. He does not acknowledge that the financial crunch Mn/DOT is experiencing is due to a potential veto of the transportation bill by President Bush. The bill provides $195 million to the state for the start of the I-35 bridge. But President Bush has threatened to veto it because of the “irresponsible and excessive level of spending” in it.

Because the $195 million federal money may not arrive in time, Mn/DOT may need to delay some other projects, for example see here and here to free up money for starting the construction of the I-35 bridge.

Mn/DOT has asked the Legislative Advisory Commission (LAC) for the possible approval of $195 million of state money to start the project.

The LAC is reluctant to approve this large sum because the commission deals with smaller figures. And if this would be approved, there are concerns that the federal money may not come through.

This is indeed a problem for state officials, but it would not exist if the federal dollars were there, something Kalin does not acknowledge.

Of course the Dems blame Pawlenty for not allowing transportation funding in the special session. Governor Pawlenty wisely prevented a feeding frenzy by the Dems who saw the bridge tragedy as an opportunity to spend money like drunken sailors.

Ironically, a similar feeding frenzy is occurring at the federal level as Congress (Dems and Republicans) loaded up the transportation bill with excessive pork which the President has threatened to veto.

Kalin wants leadership out of Minnesota Republicans. When will he demand leadership out of his fellow liberals who gorge at the public trough? The porkers get so greedy that they are willing to jeopardize the funding of a collapsed bridge. If the federal transportation bill were fair, Bush would sign it and Minnesota’s bridge funding problem would be solved. But liberals sense they can take advantage of a tragedy and federal funding failure to open the state floodgates for even more funding. The Governor alone holds back that flood. Keep it up Governor. You have our support.

Kalin wants honesty from the Governor. How about a wee bit of honesty from Kalin? Liberal greed at the federal level is creating a funding problem here. We’re sick of the dishonesty of liberal politicians.

It’s time for our local Representative to demonstrate leadership by actually working harmoniously toward a solution together with Republicans. “People before politics” is only a slogan; now let’s see you put it into action.

Kalin Press Release

After Rep. Jeremy Kalin (D-17B) pandered to the media about the bridge stipends, he followed with a letter to Lt. Governor and Commissioner of Transportation, Carol Molnau, on September 20, 2007. His press release can be viewed here.

In it, he adds six more issues to the petty one above. (See our previous post.) He should be given a 15 yard penalty for "piling on." This is unsportsmanlike conduct. Molnau is trying to restore Minnesota to normality after the collapse of the most used bridge in the state. She’s as busy as a cat on a hot tin roof with work, but Kalin has to badger her. Kalin is more interested in politicizing a tragedy than creating a climate for the Transportation Department to get the job done timely and properly.

Ignoring the fact that he had already admitted that as a legislator he knew of the $300k stipend for each of the three losing bridge bidders, now he condemns the $1.5 million in stipends as frivolous spending. He ratchets up his rhetoric from the $900,000 expected stipend to $1.5 million. He should have expected the extra $600,000 in stipends when liberals pushed for light rail in the bridge design.

Whatever waste is discovered after investigating the "absence" of a Mn/DOT employee during the bridge collapse will not go very far toward repairing one of the "...endangered bridges..." he is so concerned about. The employee review will tell if discipline is needed, but any potentially wasted dollars are less than minuscule compared to the cost of repairing one deficient bridge. Where is his sense of proportion? Political opportunists make voters cynical.

Why does a liberal suddenly become concerned about frivolous spending when he voted for frivolous tax increases a few months ago? What is $600,000 compared to $5,000,000,000 proposed in bills by the Dems? It’s frivolous when he says it’s frivolous and he ignores the fact that light rail was included in the bridge design by a Republican administration on the insistence of libs.

Kalin does not have a sense of proportion. What is the importance of starting the Rush Line Commuter Bus service compared to the replacement of the failed I-35 bridge? The commuter delay caused by the congested North Branch TH 95 bridge is nothing compared to no bridge over the Mississippi River. Like a petulant kid, Kalin has to have answers to his petty questions now. It would be good for Molnau to ignore him; answers will be forth coming after the crisis is handled.

Economic Commentary

Tax-Happy Dems Jeopardize U.S. Economy
Now is not the time for tax hikes.
By Deroy Murdock

"Now that recession-warning lights have begun to blink, Democrats should give tax hikes a rest."

Minnesota Democrats, please read more... Thank you!

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French Revolution
Sarkozy takes on the welfare state.

"Unveiling his domestic reform agenda in Paris Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy called for "a new social contract" for France. His proposed revision of French socialist tradition going back to Jean-Jacques Rousseau is nothing short of revolutionary. His ability to deliver will make or break his presidency."

Minnesota Democrats might learn something from the French. Please read more...

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Uncle Sam: Subprime Lender
An ill-conceived plan to place taxpayers atop the housing bubble.

"This week the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a plan to erase billions of dollars of subprime loan defaults in the private mortgage industry. How? By making taxpayers responsible for future losses."

Read more...

New York Times Admits Guilt

The Public Editor
Betraying Its Own Best Interests
By CLARK HOYT

FOR nearly two weeks, The New York Times has been defending a political advertisement that critics say was an unfair shot at the American commander in Iraq.

But I think the ad violated The Times’s own written standards, and the paper now says that the advertiser got a price break it was not entitled to.

Read the rest of the New York Times’s admission of guilt.

Here is a commentary on the admission by the Times.

When does a Liberal Complain

about Spending Money?

Late afternoon on Wednesday, Rep. Jeremy Kalin (D-17B) called WCCO radio (and others) to say the three companies with the losing bids for the I-35 bridge would be receiving $500,000 each instead of the $300,000 stipend he knew would be granted. WDFL Don Shelby eagerly asked pandering Kalin to inform him about his investigation into the matter so that he could report on it.

This article had reported on the $500,000 stipend on September 14 (5 days before bid award), explaining the rationale for offering stipends to the losing bidders.

Mn/DOT did not design the bridge project and put it out for bid. Rather, each bidding company used the design-build method. The stipend covers at least some of the design costs of the bidding company. An article, in which Kalin’s complaint is registered, also explained the rationale of the stipend.

A bid-losing company can choose to turn down the stipend. If it accepts the stipend, the state gets the right to use any ideas submitted in its design and bid. Thus the state may benefit from information that it can use on this or any other project in the future. Of course that benefit is not known in advance.

On September 14, the above article explained the increase from $300k to $500k:

"Department spokesman Kevin Gutknecht said the stipend increase reflects heightened expectations, including a requirement that the bridge be reinforced to accommodate a future light-rail line."

After the bidding companies had already done work on the design-build project, they were asked to modify it to accommodate light-rail. Kalin’s liberal friends pushed hard for light-rail inclusion on the bridge. In a liberal’s mind, such a demand is not the driving force for an increased stipend; a Republican administration that believes in paying for a requested product must be blamed. Kalin doesn’t live in a real world of cost and benefit. Despite his "people before politics" mantra, he lives in the mud-slinging world of jacking himself up by wacking Republicans and pandering for votes.

Kalin balked at the $600,000 extra stipend expense, but said nothing about the $50 million extra cost of the bid accepted by the state which has been protested by two losing bidders. Kalin missed the big money and choked on the small potatoes. That does not bode well for Chisago County taxpayers who will be expected to keep forking out the dough for his projects.

Illegal Immigration

A friend passed along the link to this web site which shows how extensively a trail is used for illegal entrance into the USA. The vast amount of clothes and litter that is left behind shows this.

Securing our borders is more than a Republican issue. Many Democrats know too that it is essential to our national security, among other things. A trail this well used, points to a lack of enforcement in this particular area. Where is our government? Apparently it’s too busy dishing out pork.

There are many reasons why illegal immigration must be stopped. The points below (and others) can be found in a paper located here, but several of the links in that paper have expired. I have updated them below. Use the "Find" feature to search for key words in these large files.

• Each year, $11 billion to $22 billion dollars are spent on welfare to illegal aliens.
• Billions are spent each year on food assistance programs.
• $2.5 billion dollars a year are spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.
• $17 billion dollars a year are spent educating American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.
• 30% of all federal prisoners are aliens, costing $3 million dollars a day.
• $90 billion dollars a year are spent on illegal aliens for education, welfare and social services by the American taxpayers.
• $200 billion dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by aliens, legal and illegal.
• Hispanics in the United States have a crime rate that is two and a half times that of whites.
• Billions of dollars are sent back to Mexico by illegal immigrants who work in the USA.
• Besides the millions of illegal aliens that cross our southern border, millions of pounds of cocaine, meth, heroine and marijuana come north.

Read the report of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

The National Policy Institute "estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period." This paper can be downloaded here, but you need to enter your e-mail address.

Deporting illegal aliens and securing our southern border will be costly, however, it is costing billions to allow them to stay.

Americans are not opposed to legal immigration and assimilation. But illegal immigration will destroy our country. These links provide many hours of educational reading. Meanwhile, politicians do little or nothing.

More "Transportation" Pork

Funding for bridges served with side of pork
Senate set aside $1 billion for worn spans -- and $2.5 billion for "earmarks."
By Kevin Diaz

Bridges are aging and rusting all over the country, but if Congress has its way, Las Vegas will get a history museum out of the Senate-approved transportation and housing bill soon headed to President Bush.

North Dakota will get $450,000 for its Peace Garden on the Canadian border, while Montana will see funding for a minor-league baseball stadium in Billings. So too will Minnesota get $250,000 in the House version -- for bike trails.

The U.S. Senate bill does contain an extra $1 billion for bridge repair. But the amount set aside for pet transportation and community projects would be more than double that: In all, 843 new congressional "earmarks" totaling $2.5 billion.

Read the rest of the article.
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While federal pork continues to outpace maintenance dollars for bridge repairs, the Governor of Minnesota kept the Dems from filling the special session with pork. The Dems can’t wait for the next half year to fly by before the regular session commences so they can legislate more taxes.

Click here for information on the financial aid package passed in special session for flood relief. Some state money was appropriated to get federal funds for the I-35 bridge.

See this information for a listing of private donations for flood relief, Minnesotans helping Minnesotans. And wonder of wonders, it is voluntary!

Follow up on Chicago Abortion Clinic

The Aurora city council will review the zoning application process of a group that built an abortion clinic under disguise in its application. A judge has ordered occupancy cannot be taken until a review is made.

This is a follow up on a previous article posted here.

Excessive Spending

The Big Easy’s Billion Dollar Boondoggle
Uncle Sam has spent how much on New Orleans and the Gulf since Katrina hit?!?!!#!!
By Larry Kudlow

So, the president and Mrs. Bush went down to New Orleans to commemorate the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Who knows? Maybe over a latté with leading Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards they discussed spending even more money down there. After all, everyone seems to be saying New Orleans needs more cash.

Here’s a pop quiz: How much money has Uncle Sam spent on New Orleans and the Gulf region since Hurricane Katrina ripped the place apart?

I’ll give you the answer because you’ll never guess it. The grand total is $127 billion (including tax relief.

Read the rest of this disturbing article.

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We expect this from the Dems, but far too many of our Republican leaders have lost their way. At one time, fiscal responsibility and Democrat were incompatible terms. Now that is true of so many Republicans.

For more of the same, check out this article by Bob Woodward. Alan Greenspan "...levels unusually harsh criticism at President Bush and the Republican Party in his new book, arguing that Bush abandoned the central conservative principle of fiscal restraint."

This is very disheartening to the Republican base, but conservatives must not throw in the towel because of this. It is time for conservatives to stand up and hold our Republican leaders accountable.

Continuing the Series

'Awakening' musters Iraqi courage against al-Qaida
By Matt Sanchez

Taking a stand is not an easy thing to do for most, especially when the cost of standing out may be your life. Last week, I had the honor of meeting and interviewing Sheik Sattar. This young, vibrant leader was a rising star behind a movement that has brought peace to the area, and hope to a people.

Continue reading the next in the series by embedded reporter Sanchez.

Economic News

Bright spots in employment are in the red states while the blue states are singing the blues. Read Greg Kaza on jobs.

California lawsuit on car greenhouse gases is dismissed.

A Sextuplet on the Democrats’ Military Prowess

Jonah Goldberg on Hillary Clinton’s comments to Gen. David Petraeus.

Charles Krauthammer on the success of Gen. David Petraeus.

Craig R. Smith on the Dems’ prescience regarding Gen. Petraeus’s testimony.

Barbara Simpson on the Dems’ attack on Gen. Petraeus.

Ann Coulter on the Dems’ many excuses why we must fail in Iraq.

Gary Varvel on Congress via a cartoon.