Inside Nevada County Politics

My First Political Rally - September 26, 1993 - Moscow

2012-02-29T17:07:00.006-08:00

With affairs in Russia again in turmoil and people taking to the streets (a recent article is here), I am lately reminded of the turbulent weeks in Moscow in the fall of 1993.

Mstislav Rostropovich and his wife (I think)

On September 26, 1993, Mstislav Rostropovich conducted a concert - the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovasky - on Red Square. The pictures on the left hand side were taken by me that morning.

Early in the morning, my roommate and I took the metro to Red Square in order to be sure not to miss any of the festivities. It was a crisp, cold fall morning in Moscow. Cold, but beautiful. Lots of sun with large clouds throughout the sky. The concert was wonderful, and we did get to see Rostropovich up close before the concert while he was being interviewed by countless media.

I found out later that night that my sister, who at the time was living with my mother in Cincinnati, saw me on CNN. When my mother asked if my sister was sure that it was me, my sister responded, "How many people in Moscow have that West Virginia Mountaineers hat?" It was a hat that I had worn every winter since I was ten years old.

Boris Yeltsin was also at the concert. Yeltsin was seated near the front of the crowd, and we could see him from a distance. I was struck by the lack of security surrounding Yeltsin. While we were moving towards him, I was thinking that there would be no way that the president of the USA would be in a crowd like that sitting among the people without a substantial secret service presence. I am sure that there was security for Yeltsin there, but I just never saw them. We were able to worm our way through the crowd to get within fifty yards from him. I have a picture somewhere, but I just cannot find it.

St. Basil's Cathedral from Red Square

While we were navigating through the crowd, the cannons which were part of the concert (1812 Overture) were fired. I was so focused on getting closer to Yeltsin that when the cannons were fired, it scared me half to death.

While we enjoyed a festive and inspiring concert on Red Square, we forgot that Russia was on the verge of imploding and Yeltsin was fighting to keep control of the government.

"The power is out, there's no water and the toilets don't flush. The people claiming to be the legitimate rulers of Russia spend their days shivering in dimly-lit rooms and their nights curled up on tables or the floor."

"Inside Russia's cavernous parliament building, where Boris Yeltsin's increasingly desperate opponents have been hunkered down for five days, the mood was decidedly grim on Saturday, and conditions were growing more unbearable."

"The dwindling crowd of anti-Yeltsin protesters outside continued to fret about an armed assault by security forces aimed at clearing out the parliament building, where hundreds of die-hard legislators and their supporters are defying the president's order to disperse."

The concert with the Kremlin in the background

The rest of this contemporaneous article from the Chicago Tribune is here. Some more background on the 1993 Russian Constitutional Crisis is here.

After the concert, we heard people discussing a political rally in support of Yeltsin. People were gathering just north of Red Square, and they were going to march from Red Square to the mayor's office. So, out of curiosity, we gathered with the hundreds (maybe one-thousand) of Moscovites and marched to the mayor's office.

While we marched down Tverskaya people waved Russian flags. People shouted from the crowd and from the windows above, "Yeltsin, we are with you!" After a while, some of our fellow marchers marked me as an American, and I was very nervous about how they would react. To my surprise and relief, they were excited to have Americans in their presence. I could sense the pride in the Russian people with whom I was marching that they could finally speak out loud without fear. My roommate, in particular who is an American of Russian descent, voiced his pride in his heritage. When we arrived at the mayor's office, the speeches started.

The sound system was horrible and my Russian skills were not yet up to speed, so I really do not know about that which the speakers lectured, but it was exciting nevertheless to sit under the statue of Yuri Dolgoruky and watch history happen right before my eyes. It was a great and joyful moment for me to participate with and be welcomed by the Russian citizens as they exercised their God-given rights.

As we would see a few hours later, the scene on the other side of town around the Russian parliament building was completely different.

Fired federal adviser files whistle-blower complaint over Klamath dam removal

2012-02-29T10:23:00.000-08:00

"Professor says information was manipulated to support removal."

"A federal agency's former scientific integrity adviser has filed a whistle-blower complaint saying he was fired from his job after he began questioning top officials about 'spinning' evidence to tout the removal of Klamath River dams."

"'The bottom line is they need to be honest about the science and the decision making,' Paul R. Houser, an associate hydrology professor at George Mason University, told the Record Searchlight on Tuesday, in his first remarks to the media about his whistle-blower complaint."

"He says there have been a number of scientific studies that showed dam removal comes with some risks or wouldn't be nearly as beneficial to threatened coho salmon habitat as Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's staff made it seem."

"In a lengthy whistle-blower report posted on his website, Houser said he was especially concerned because removing the dams and associated environmental work would cost more than $1 billion, 'so a misinformed or premeditated decision could be a gross waste of funds.'"

The rest of the Record Searchlight article is here.

Another Perspective on LaMalfa's $4.7 Million in Farm Subsidies

2012-02-23T10:16:00.000-08:00

"Doug LaMalfa, Republican state senator and would-be congressman, will spend the better part of 2012 talking about the need to slow runaway federal spending and our government's nauseating deficits. And he'll be right."

"But bring up the awkward subject of his own family farm's federal crop subsidies — which have averaged more than $300,000 annually over the past 15 years, a sum every small-business owner would envy — and suddenly there's a reasonable explanation for the importance of multibillion-dollar government giveaways."

"We don't for a moment fault the man for participating in the programs that help support his family's Butte County rice farm. Whatever you think of farm subsidies, LaMalfa didn't invent them. He's not in Congress yet. And simply running a business according to the rules you find in place is no sin."

"But we will say this about LaMalfa. He's one of those conservatives whose rhetoric has hit an increasingly bitter anti-government note of late. He recently touted his congressional candidacy on the Republican website FlashReport in part by saying, 'I see it as my job to stand between the bureaucrat thugs and the people.' Are those the same 'thugs' who send his family business six-figure subsidies each year?"

The rest of The Record Searchlight editorial is here.

Personally, I would rather send someone to Congress that does not have the obvious conflict of interests.

UPDATE: Sierra Business Council and Lobbying Activities against Proposition 23

2012-02-22T15:53:00.002-08:00

On August 9, 2010, we discussed at length the lobbying activity of Sierra Business Council ("SBC") against Proposition 23 and urging voters to vote against such proposition.

Just yesterday, I reviewed SBC's IRS Form 990 for 2010 online. On Part IV, Question 4, of such form, SBC informs the public and the IRS that SBC did not "engage in any lobbying activities, or have a 501(h) election in effect during the tax year."

Lobbying is defined by the IRS as follows:

In general, no organization may qualify for section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying). A 501(c)(3) organization may engage in some lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status.

Legislation includes action by Congress, any state legislature, any local council, or similar governing body, with respect to acts, bills, resolutions, or similar items (such as legislative confirmation of appointive office), or by the public in referendum, ballot initiative [emphasis supplied], constitutional amendment, or similar procedure. It does not include actions by executive, judicial, or administrative bodies.

An organization will be regarded as attempting to influence legislation if it contacts, or urges the public to contact, members or employees of a legislative body for the purpose of proposing, supporting, or opposing legislation, or if the organization advocates the adoption or rejection of legislation [emphasis supplied].

Organizations may, however, involve themselves in issues of public policy without the activity being considered as lobbying. For example, organizations may conduct educational meetings, prepare and distribute educational materials, or otherwise consider public policy issues in an educational manner without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.

Again, the key to determining whether a 501(c)(3) organization is lobbying or not is the "call to action." Education of the public is expressly permitted, but the urging of the public to vote against a ballot initiative is where an organization crosses the line from education to direct lobbying.

In 2010, Steve Frisch, President and CEO of SBC, published articles on behalf of and under the letterhead of SBC, in opposition to Proposition 23.

One article titled, Why you should vote No on Proposition 23, is found here on SBC's website.

More articles are found here and here.

Frisch also criss-crossed California in 2010 debating and lecturing against Proposition 23 while urging voters to vote against such proposition.

An audio debate on KVMR is here.

The articles by SBC and IRS lobbying rules are discussed in detail here.

SBC's article and lecturing was what is called Grassroots Lobbying Activities when done to oppose or support legislation and direct lobbying when done to oppose or support ballot initiatives.

The evidence is clear that SBC was directly lobbying against Proposition 23.

While some lobbying is permitted by the IRS, all 501(c)(3) organizations have to inform the the public and the IRS the extent of such lobbying activities each year by answering IRS Form 990, Part IV, Question 4, and if lobbying ocurred, completing Schedule C.

President's Day Message from Knights of Columbus

2012-02-20T19:11:00.001-08:00

Nevada County Gold Raises Money for Nevada City Chamber of Commerce

2012-02-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

"IMS, publishers of Nevada County Gold Magazine, recently presented a check for $2,989.11 to the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce. This amount represents the commission generated on advertising sales in the 2011-12 Nevada County Gold Magazine."

"Nevada County Gold and its online companion, NevadaCountyGold.com, have been designated by the Nevada County Regional Chambers of Commerce as the 'Official Guides to Nevada County.' Both provide valuable information about Nevada County, including a yearly calendar of events, maps, dining guide, recreation, real estate and lodging."

"Celebrating 25+ years of publication, 'The Gold' has raised more than $200,000 for the Nevada County Regional Chambers of Commerce."

"With a yearly distribution of 80,000, Nevada County Gold is a free publication that is available at more than 500 Nevada County locations. Additionally, The Gold is featured at the Old Sacramento Visitor Center, San Francisco Visitors & Convention Center, throughout the Bay Area, Truckee Visitor Center, Reno, Sierra County, Auburn, and Lake Tahoe."

This story came from the Nevada City Chamber website here.

This is what real collaboration looks like. I think that the Nevada County Board of Supervisors should take note.

LaMalfa's $4.7 million in farm subsidies draw attacks; Critics chide LaMalfa on aid for family's farm

2012-02-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

"It didn't take long after Doug LaMalfa announced he was running for Congress last month before a supporter of his Republican opponents went on the attack, zeroing in on just less than $4.7 million of federal subsidies paid to his family rice farm over the last 15 years."

"In an interview, [Aaron] Park says he believes it's important to point out LaMalfa's family rice farm in Richvale has received millions of dollars of federal subsidies over the years, something he feels will be one of the biggest issues in the congressional race."

"'It's an issue about honesty and integrity,' Park said. 'It's about presenting yourself as one thing, when you're not. He really isn't a fiscal conservative. He's a liberal conservative.'"

"LaMalfa bristled at the attack." LaMalfa continued saying that the subsidies "keep struggling farmers of rice, corn and other crops 'on life support.'"

The rest of the article is here.

Life support? Five million dollars of life support?

Two of LaMalfa's opponents had the following to say:

Pete Stiglich said the it's "hypocritical for a fellow Republican to receive federal farm aid, especially because LaMalfa has billed himself as a leader in the fight against expensive government entitlement programs."

"'When it meets [LaMalfa's] personal interest, it's not a big entitlement,' Stiglich said."

"Gregory Cheadle, a Happy Valley Republican, agreed."

"'You can't condemn welfare recipients on one end then get welfare on the other end,' Cheadle said. 'I mean 5 million bucks? Come on.'"

Exit Question: How can LaMalfa be serious about government entitlement reform when the government has provided him with almost $5 million?

Aanestad Reportedly Running for Herger's Congressional Seat

2012-02-07T10:04:00.000-08:00

"Less than a week after announcing he was creating a committee to explore a run for Congress, Sam Aanestad reportedly announced today he will run for the seat being vacated Rep. Wally Herger, R-Chico."

The rest of the article is here.

Congressman Tom McClintock is a co-chair for Aanestad's campaign. Senator Aanestad has also hired Tim Clark as his consultant. Tim is one of the best around.

Stay tuned as more information comes out the rest of the day.

Obama's Solution - Hard to Challenge the Numbers

2012-01-31T09:25:00.000-08:00

Saw this on Facebook today, and it reinforces what has been said here before. These numbers are a little old, but the point remains!

US Tax Revenue - $2,170,000,000,000
Federal Budget - $3,820,000,000,000
New Debt - $1,650,000,000,000
National Debt - $14,271,000,000,000
Recent Budget Cut - $38,500,000,000
Increase income from taxing the "Rich" - $45,000,000,000

It is important to remember that our local and national liberals and Obama decried the budget cuts as "draconian." It is also important to note that Obama is playing class-warfare with the "taxing the rich" mantra.

Now, let's remove eight zeros so that the numbers make sense and pretend it is a very small business. Does Obama's "tax the rich" solve our nation's woes or is it just re-election rhetoric?

Business income - $21,700
Money spent by business - $38,200
New Business Debt - $16,500
Outstanding Debt from previous years - $142,710
Total Budget Cuts? - $385
Increase in Revenue? - $450

This example is the model for success that Obama and Democrats want to implement. Wow...these guys are brilliant.

BREAKING - Doug LaMalfa to Draw Sam Aanestad as an Opponent? [Updated at 4:54pm]

2012-01-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

Right on Daily is reporting that Sam Aanestad is seriously considering a run for the congressional seat from which Wally Herger recently retired.

[Update from 3:21pm] FlashReport is also reporting via Twitter - "*Breaking* Just off phone w Sen. Sam Aanestad (Retd). He's exploring a bid for Congress. Would set table for showdown w Sen. LaMalfa."

Right on Daily states, "[T]here is no truer friend to Conservatives in Northern California than Sam Aanestad. Sam supported his mentor, Tom McClintock for Congress when Doug LaMalfa and 100 local electeds chose the establishment Moderate over now Congressman McClintock."

"Sam Aanestad was rated the most Conservative Senator in California the year before he retired from the State Senate in 2010."

The rest of the Right on Daily article is here.

[Update from 4:54pm] "'It's an exciting year politically, there's an opportunity for change,' [Aanestad] said. 'And to serve with like-minded people in control and to see that carry over to the Senate and (White House) and work on revamping the economy.'"

"'[Aanestad] said that he wasn't surprised Herger decided not to run, but was surprised by the decision to endorse Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa so quickly.'"

"'He usually doesn't endorse people in very many races so it did surprise me that he so immediately endorsed someone without knowing who was all in,' he said. 'I may give him an opportunity to change his mind.'"

The rest of this Chico Enterprise Recorder article is here.

Samuel Mark Aanestad (born July 16, 1946, in Bismarck, North Dakota) is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who was elected to the California State Assembly in 1998 to represent the 3rd District. In 2002, Aanestad was elected to the California State Senate. He is a Republican. Dr. Aanestad and his wife, Susan, live in Penn Valley and have three adult children.

Dr. Aanestad has practiced oral and maxillofacial surgery full-time in Grass Valley, and has served as the Vice-Chief of Surgery at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital. He served three terms on the California Dental Association Council on Legislation, including three years as chairman, and he served two terms as president of the Butte-Sierra District Dental Society. He is also a member of the California and American Dental Association.

Dr. Aanestad served 11 years on the Grass Valley School District Board of Trustees, where he fought for greater local control and smaller class sizes. He has been very involved within his community as a member of the Rotary Club of Grass Valley, a youth soccer, football, and baseball coach, and as a member of the KNCO radio broadcast team for Nevada Union High School football.

Senator Aanestad received both his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees from UCLA. Dr. Aanestad received a Master in Public Administration degree from Golden Gate University in 1991. He was honored by the UCLA School of Dentistry as their "Alumnus of the Year" in November 1998.

In California's State Senate, Dr. Aanestad's top priorities were preserving rural health care, protecting North State water, and serving the needs of the citizens of the 4th Senate District, which includes Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity and Yuba counties.

A successful campaign by Sam Aanestad in this race will have long lasting conservative repercussions through the north state. There is no doubt that our local Sam Aanestad is a statesman. With the Obamacare debate still raging nationwide, there is no doubt that Dr. Aanestad would be an experienced voice in such debate.

Dr. Aanestad's entrance into this congressional race is a good thing. Every national candidate needs to be adequately vetted...only a contested national congressional race will provide the required vetting of all of our choices.

I say the more the merrier.

Gingrich Surges Past Romney in South Carolina only Two Days before the Primary

2012-01-19T09:16:00.000-08:00

"Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has now surged ahead of Mitt Romney in the final Rasmussen Reports survey of the South Carolina Republican Primary race with the vote just two days away."

"The latest telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary Voters in the state finds Gingrich with 33% support to Romney’s 31%. Two days ago, before the last debate, it was Romney by 14 percentage points."

"Texas Congressman Ron Paul now runs third with 15% of the vote, followed by former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum at 11%. Paul's support is steady while Santorum's support has dropped five points since Monday. At the beginning of the month, just after Santorum’s strong showing in the Iowa caucuses, he ran second to Romney with 24% of the vote."

"Texas Governor Rick Perry continues to run last with two percent (2%) support. He has dropped out of the race today and endorsed Gingrich."

The rest of the article is here.

Many commentators have complained about the number of Republican debates during this election cycle. Clearly, supporters of Gingrich are not complaining. Gingrich is the candidate with bold ideas. Gingrich is the candidate who positively and understandably articulates conservative positions. Gingrich will be Obama's worst nightmare in a debate. Without the teleprompter and having to speak on his toes, Obama is no match for Gingirch. This assessment is especially true if the candidates debate without a moderator - like the debates should be conducted.

This race is starting to get good now.

Dahle Announces Bid for First Assembly Seat

2012-01-18T21:39:00.000-08:00

"One of Lassen County’s own has thrown his hat into the race for the state assembly.

"Lassen County District 4 Supervisor Brian Dahle announced at Tuesday’s board of supervisors’ meeting he would not seek another term on the board of supervisors and had decided to for the California First Assembly District seat instead.

"'I could not stand idly by and let Sacramento continue down the path of self-destruction,' said Dahle."

"According to a release from Dahle’s campaign, he promises to sponsor a balanced budget amendment, reduce the size of state government and remove state regulations that stifle economic freedom."

"'The state of California has placed shackles that have restrained you and your family’s ability to prosper. I want to change that and give hope and prosperity to all Californians,' Dahle said."

The rest of the article is here.

The word on the street is that widespread support is already coalescing around Dahle - both districtwide and locally. Dahle is the most popular and the most funded potential candidate. His popularity and support are definitely keeping others from getting into the race.

Ballot Measure - Nevada County Consolidated Fire District Staff Report

2012-01-17T06:24:00.000-08:00

Last week, Fire Chief Tim Fike spoke to the Rotary Club of Nevada County South. I offered to Chief Fike to post information about the Special Tax in support of NCCFD on this blog and Facebook. Good luck Chief Fike!

With the decline in property tax and other revenue including AB-1600, totaling nearly $350,000, and increasing costs of $155,000 for Workers Comp, the District is currently operating at a significant deficit in excess of half a million dollars. After careful consideration of future known cost increases, and continued declining revenues, Staff recommends immediate action be taken to stabilize the budget.

We recommend this action be in the form of a Special Tax that will allow the voters an opportunity to maintain our existing level of service. Further, Staff recommends a rate of:

* $52.00 annually for a single family dwelling
* $39.00 annually for 2nd dwelling units and mobile homes
* $26.00 annually for unimproved vacant/timber/ag
* $0.04 annually per square foot commercial/office/industrial
* $0.02 annually per square food commercial/office/industrial with sprinklers

For more information, click here.

To see a video presentation, click here.

January 15th - Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-01-15T09:20:00.001-08:00

Being that our youngest daughter shares her birthday with Martin Luther King, Jr., we always talk about him on January 15th. While today is our daughter's 10th birthday, today would be MLK's 83rd birthday.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."

Our prayer is that such day will occur during our daughter's lifetime.

Happy Birthday Martin Luther King, Jr. and Maggie!

Humpty Dumpty Fundraiser for Displaced Employees

2012-01-13T13:31:00.000-08:00

As is our general practice on Fridays, Kim and I went to lunch in Grass Valley. During our lunch, Jamie Marchetti told me that she is organizing a fundraiser for the employees of "The Dump" who were left jobless as a result of the fire.

On Tuesday, January 17th, the staff at Kane's Restaurant and Maria's Mexican Restaurant in Grass Valley will be donating all of their tips to the unemployed staff of "The Dump." My understanding is that the owners of Kane's Restaurant and Maria's Mexican Restaurant will match what the staff brings in tips.

When people are in need, this community is absolutely incredible and comes to the rescue! So, go to Kane's Restaurant and Maria's Mexican Restaurant on January 17th...support the displaces employees from "The Dump" with big tips!

The Crazy Political Dance Benefits Rick Bosetti

2012-01-10T20:08:00.000-08:00

Who benefits from Dan Logue's decision to run election in assembly district three? Rick Bosetti.

"Rick Bosetti is a life-long resident of Shasta County, and after graduating from Anderson High in 1971 and completing one and one-half years at Shasta College, he was drafted to play professional baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies in January 1973. Rick’s baseball career ended in 1983 after having completed portions of seven seasons in the major leagues."

Now, he is the last man standing as the political fallout of Wally Herger's retirement begins to settle.

"In 2006, he was elected to the Redding City Council, and Bosetti has also served as mayor of Redding. He coaches the Simpson University baseball team and is currently running for the California State Assembly, District 1.

"Elected to the Redding City Council on November 7, 2006, and selected to serve as Mayor in December 2008, Rick’s involvement in the Redding community has been extensive. He served ten years as a Redding Planning Commissioner, eight years on the Mercy Hospital Advisory Board, nine years on the St. Joseph School Board and also chaired the Community Development Advisory Board for three years. Rick currently serves on the Advisory Board for the College of Engineering at CSU Chico. In December 2011, Rick was appointed to a one-year term as Vice Mayor."

I must also note that Rick Bosetti is a fellow Rotarian.

This year will be intersting in the district.

LaMalfa, Logue, Neilsen Set Plans after Herger Retirement

2012-01-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

"U.S. Rep. Wally Herger’s announcement of retirement from the House of Representatives set off a flurry of political moves Tuesday, including state Sen. Doug LaMalfa announcing he’d run for Herger’s seat, Assemblyman Jim Nielsen saying he’d run for LaMalfa’s seat in two years and wouldn’t seek re-election this year, and Assemblyman Dan Logue announcing he’d run for a final two-year term in Nielsen’s district."

"A game of musical chairs was still on as of Tuesday afternoon, with endorsements for other seats flying almost as fast as announcements of new plans."

The rest of the article is here.

These moves leaves our assembly seat open...

Scoop: Herger Retiring and Endorses LaMalfa (Updated)

2012-01-09T23:52:00.000-08:00

I got an inside tip today that Wally Herger, who has represented the north part of California in Congress for almost 30 years will retiring. He is endorsing Doug LaMalfa to replace him. There will be a mad dash of filers to compete for the newly vacated Congressional seat.

There will likely be some stories on the internet tomorrow.

Updated: "After a quarter century representing the north state, U.S. Rep. Wally Herger will announce tomorrow he is planning to retire at the end of his current term and state Sen. Doug LaMalfa will be running for his seat."

"LaMalfa is expected to make his announcement Tuesday morning."

For more information, click here and here.

Jim Reed, an attorney from Fall River Mills, will likely continue his quest. Go here to read about Jim Reed's crowd of 20 people when he announced his candidacy.

The newly revised congressional District 1, which includes Butte, Shasta, Nevada, Siskiyou, Tehama, Lassen, Plumas, Modoc and Sierra counties, and parts of Placer and Glenn counties.

Gold Country Citation in Lonely Planet Viewed as Validation of Collaborative Efforts

2012-01-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

"Nevada City earned a mention in a leading travel guide that calls out the Gold Country as one of the top 10 must-see destinations in the United States for 2012."

"The Lonely Planet Guide creates the list of destinations that are 'new, interesting, up-and-coming or likely to be missed in the following year,' said Mary Ann McAlea, president of the Gold Country Visitors Association, which markets the Gold Country region under the auspices of the California Travel and Tourism Commission."

"The Gold Country made No. 6 on the list, behind the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Hudson River Valley in New York, Cincinnati, Ohio (which has 'quietly transformed itself,' the guide says), the Four Corners region in the Southwest, and Culebra, an island off the coast of Puerto Rico."

"'This is very big news for our area,' said Gold Miners Inn-Holiday Inn Express managing owner Nick Hayhurst, in Grass Valley."

"While Nevada County is lumped anonymously into the region that spans several foothills counties, local people see it as a validation of several years of collaborative efforts to promote the area."

"Nevada County and Grass Valley together spent roughly $260,000 on efforts to draw visitors to the western county in 2011."

"'The funds [the Regional Chambers] receive from Nevada County are leveraged through our affiliation with [Gold Country Visitors Association], making possible our participation in tourism promotion projects that would not be possible on our own,' Regional Chambers President Susan George said. "

"The county board of Supervisors awarded $50,000 to the Regional Chambers in October to promote the county."

The rest of this wonderful, must-read article in The Union is here.

As recently recognized by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors, it is clear that our regional chambers have certainly turned the corner and are at the forefront of generating tourism in Nevada County. Congratulations to the Regional Chambers! Keep up the great work for our community!

Obama Blatantly Violates Constitution

2012-01-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce may sue the Obama administration over President Obama's controversial appointment of Richard Cordray to head a controversial consumer financial board, officials from the business group told Fox News on Wednesday after an unprecedented display of executive power that is sure to poison already-strained relations with the GOP."

"Chamber spokeswoman Blair Latoff and colleague Bryan Goettel both told Fox News that their understanding is that 'we are not ruling it out.' However, they said they still 'need to understand the specifics of the appointment to determine if a legal challenge is even possible.'"

Today, Obama also illegally appointed three members to the NLRB.

The rest of the article is here.

Let's take a look at the document which dictates how how federal government is to work - the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. Constitution (art. II, sec. 2, cl. 2) states that the President has the power to nominate officers of the United States, "by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate."

The U.S. Constitution (art. II, sec. 2, cl. 3) states that the President has the power to fill up vacancies "that may happen" during the recess of the Senate.

Why did our founding fathers allow for presidential appointments while the Senate is not in session?

Directly after the founding, Congress was very much a part-time legislature. With the limited availability of Senators for confirmations, there was an obvious need to allow the President to appoint officers to posts that might become vacant while the Senate was not in session.

So, Obama is permitted to nominate people for various offices and such nominees must be confirmed by the Senate. If the Senate is not is session, Obama may make the appointments without Senate confirmation.

Based on the plain language of the Constitution, it is clear that Obama violated the Constitution, because the Senate is in session.

In fact, both Obama and Joe Biden agree with this evaluation. Democrats in 2008 held the Senate in session to block recess appointments by President George W. Bush. At the time, Obama and Biden, while serving in the Senate, strenuously argued against such an exercise of presidential power. But now with an election on the line and Obama trying to demonize Republicans instead of leading, he chose to violate the Constitution in order to play partisan games.

"The president should stop allowing his Chicago political campaign to make his Washington policy decisions," Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C.

Amen to that brother...amen.

Romney Narrowly Defeats Late Surging Santorum

2012-01-04T06:30:00.000-08:00

"The Republican presidential candidates propelled out of the Iowa caucuses Wednesday with the race looking dramatically different than it did just one week ago."

"Mitt Romney won the night, but only by one of the slimmest margins in Iowa election history."

"Rick Santorum landed a second-place finish just eight votes behind Romney, turning a stunning performance out of his long-shot bid for the nomination and ending up toe-to-toe with the presumed frontrunner of the national campaign."

"Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn reported the official vote count at 30,015 for Romney and 30,007 for Santorum. Each candidate pulled in about 25 percent."

"The results allow each candidate to reasonably claim momentum going into the next race."

The rest of the article is here.

The big story this week will be Gingrich telling the truth about Romney. Telling the truth about the other candidate is not negative campaigning. Gingrich will be running ads and comparing himself to Romney.

On the other hand, the fact of the matter is that Romney has been highly misleading and dishonest with the public. A super PAC run by Romney's supporters leveled TV spots in Iowa that were highly misleading about Gingrich. For Romney to tell the public that he is innocent is a ridiculous falsehood. If you believe that story, I have a mine to sell you.

For Gingrich, I think that it is personal now, and if Gingrich is going down, he is going to take Romney with him.

While the number of Republicans in the country increased by a percentage point in December and the number of Democrats fell back two points to the lowest level ever recorded by Rasmussen Reports, it is clear that the general public knows that any one of these candidates will be a vast improvement in the office.

Nothing to hide, everything to fear - Igor Birman

2012-01-03T09:29:00.000-08:00

"One of the most haunting impressions of my Soviet childhood was stories my grandparents told about the Black Raven. As a small boy I was terrified of this polished and poised creature of the night, usually sighted as it crouched to swoop upon an unsuspecting victim and carry him away, never to be seen again."

"The Black Raven, however, was no avian figment of the human mind. Rather, this secret-police sedan — named for the Russian symbol of death — was a very real fixture of life in the Soviet Union of 1930s."

"Those who saw the Raven stop outside their building of communal flats contemplated last words to families as they waited tensely for the dreaded knock. Its reverberations from another door brought a macabre sense of relief, lasting only until the Raven's next appearance. Such was the abject terror of living in the claws of despotism. Unsurprisingly, it wasn't tempered by that infamous platitude: 'If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.'"

"How very different from a life in America, secured from fear by the assurances of individual liberty."

"But in the 17 years since I became an American, we've been averting our gaze as these sacred assurances slowly waned. With passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, we look away again as Congress exposes Americans to the specter of prison without charge or trial and smothers that basic right of free citizens to invoke the law against their government."

The rest of the article is here.

Igor and I have discussed the former Soviet Union on many occasions. As a matter of fact and though we did not meet until 2009, we lived very near to each other in Moscow in 1993. Americans are lulled into a false sense of security in connection with personal freedoms and liberty. Without a vigilant electorate, an all-powerful government can take these God-given rights. "Benevolence is fleeting."

Founder and Nevada County native Todd Juvinall has been named the new Executive Director of CABPRO

2012-01-01T07:38:00.000-08:00

California Association of Business, Property, and Resource Owners ("CABPRO") announces that Martin Light is retiring as Executive Director of CABPRO. After spending the past four years doing outstanding work including taking the organization’s tiny newsletter to magazine format, Light departs to devote more time to his family, business and other interests. He will continue to write for CABPRO NEWS on a regular basis. CABPRO Chairman, Kim Janousek, said “We thank Martin for taking CABPRO to the next level and wish him the very best. He has really put CABPRO on the map and has received high praise from our members, subscribers and conservative lawmakers.”

CABPRO Founder and Nevada County native Todd Juvinall has been named the new Executive Director.

Juvinall, a former Nevada County Supervisor, founded CABPRO in 1993. He has been a General Building Contractor since 1977 and has done radio and television programs dealing with politics. “Todd was the logical choice to succeed Martin. He joins us again 19 years after founding the organization and is excited to be coming full circle as Executive Director once again,” said Kim Janousek.

Looking Forward to 2012!

2011-12-31T07:44:00.000-08:00

We are very thankful for the blessings we received in 2011...now it is time to look ahead to 2012.

The two most discussed things in our household are sports and politics - in that order. So, 2012 provides us a wonderful year!

I always pray for a Cubs World Series, but the good Lord, for over 100 years, has not granted that pray to anyone, but there is one sure thing. The 2012 Olympics start on July 27, 2012, in London, England. I am still working on a possible trip there...that would be a dream come true. In any event, the gymnastics Olympic Trials are being held in San Jose, California, in June of 2012, which is slightly closer than England.

Also, the presidential election will be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November which is November 6, 2012. Our nation must choose a path on which we will remain. Do we continue to borrow trillions of dollars and bankrupt nation for generations to come, or do we finally decide to make the tough choices and balance our federal budget? It is not a partisan thing - it is common sense. The choice is clear - we cannot stay on the same financial path.

In any event, we are off to the Wagontrain in Truckee for breakfast and grabbing our skates out of the garage to ice skate at Northstar!

Happy New Year!

Truckee Donner Land Trust Receives $5 million on the Same Day Gov. Brown Proposes Sales Tax Increase for All Californians

2011-12-29T08:01:00.000-08:00

I found these two articles very telling about California politics and the lack of common sense.

"Brown intends to bypass the Legislature next year and go directly to the November ballot with an initiative to raise income taxes on the rich and sales taxes on everyone. In drafting the proposal, his goal was to keep it simple."

"'Simple is good. Complexity gives fodder to the opposition.'"

"Without the nearly $7 billion annually his tax hike would generate, Brown warned, the necessary spending cuts 'will be very, very drastic." Even with the tax increases 'it's going to be unpleasant.'"

"If voters reject his tax proposal, what will be their message? 'The skepticism about public service is very deep...If people vote it down, they will have concluded that the common institution that we call government is not something they want to invest in." The rest of this article is here.

In other news...

"The Truckee Donner Land Trust (Land Trust) recently received $5 million from the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) to acquire approximately 2,995 acres of land for the protection of significant alpine and wet-meadow habitat, protection of the upper Little Truckee River watershed, and allow for continued conservation-based management and public use of the property." The rest of the article is here.

So last year, because Gov. Jerry Brown was unable to put a budget-balancing tax hike on the ballot, he slashed deeply into higher education and social services...instead of say...shutting the money tap of to non-profits who seek to cut off public access to lands.

Instead of making the difficult choices, Governor Jerry Brown would rather raise the sales tax in California. It is not the proper role of government to support non-profits. That role is the role of the citizens.

Gov. Brown said, "If people vote it down, they will have concluded that the common institution that we call government is not something they want to invest in."

Amen, brother.

Red Square and Mstislav Rostropovich

2011-12-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

After I graduated from Miami University in 1993, like every other graduate, it was time to get a job. Having two majors - Russian Langauge & Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs - it seemed appropriate that I looked to do something in connection with Russia.

In mid May of that year, I called the US Department of Commerce and requested a list of every American company doing business in Russia. After receiving the list, I sent my resume to every company with an office in the USA (over 120 companies). Over the next few weeks, I received only two responses - one from a company in Stamford, Connecticut, and one from a New York businessman who had an import warehouse in Moscow, Russia. So for the first time in my life, I left the USA and went to work in the former Soviet Union.

I arrived in July of 1993, but I was so busy working, I never had time to visit the sights. Eventhough I lived in downtown Moscow and only minutes from Red Square, I did not walk across Red Square until Septmeber 25, 1993, and that was by accident! I was out that evening with a few friends (including my roommate Paul Moser) and we turned left and bang, there I was, standing on the most iconic symbol of the former Soviet Union.

Being on Red Square was a strange feeling for me. The only time that I had seen Red Square was on television as the tanks and missiles were paraded across the square during the annual Soviet May Day parades. Now, I was standing there, looking at the Kremlin and Lenin's Mausoleum. I knew that at that time not a whole lot of Americans had been to Red Square, as the Cold War had only ended a few years before. I had the wonderful feeling that it was a new world with a new beginning. The early 90's was a very interesting time to be in Russia.

That evening, a stage was being erected on Red Square for a concert to be held the following day. On September 26, 1993, Mstislav Rostropovich was going to conduct a concert - the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovasky - on Red Square. For most of his life, Rostropovich fought the Soviets for freedom of speech and democratic values and was punished by the Soviets for such views. Rostropovich left the Soviet Union in 1974 and settled in the United States. In 1978 and because of his public opposition to the Soviet Union's restriction of cultural freedom, his Soviet citizenship was revoked. Rostropovich did not return to the Soviet Union until 1990, and his return was a symbol of the new beginning for Russia and for the post-Cold War world.

A contemporary background video about Rostropovich's 1993 concert is below.

The following day, Paul and I happily returned to Red Square in order to watch Rostropovich's concert and enjoy a beautiful, cool fall day in Moscow.

The Scariest Day of my Life - 1993 Russian Constitutional Crisis

2011-12-26T09:51:00.000-08:00

If you have not been following the current events in Russia, the people in mass numbers are protesting the allegedly fraudulent Duma elections which occurred recently.

"The holiday mood, winter chill and end-of-the-year fatigue failed to dampen the country’s newfound political activism, with a protest on Moscow's Prospekt Akademika Sakharova on Saturday garnering more people than its Dec. 10 predecessor on Bolotnaya Ploshchad."

"Attendance estimates ranged from 30,000 to 120,000. Several Moscow Times reporters at the event put the figure at about 80,000, which is well above the 30,000 to 60,000 at the previous event."

"The roster of speakers was more diverse and impressive than on Dec. 10, with whistleblower Alexei Navalny, socialite Ksenia Sobchak and even former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin taking turns at the microphone, to various reactions from the crowd."

"The purpose of the rally was to protest the widely disputed outcome of Dec. 4 State Duma elections and the Kremlin's overall stifling of the country's politics. But for some newcomers, it had also become personal."

The rest of the article in connection with the recent protests in Moscow is here.

Over the past few days while following the enormous demonstrations in Moscow, I have not been able to keep my mind off of the fateful events in the fall of 1993 in Russia, as I was there...watching it live right before my eyes...dodging bullets.

By way of background, I have reprinted below a brief explanation from Wikipedia in connection with the 1993 Constitutional Crisis in Russia.

"The constitutional crisis of 1993 was a political stand-off between the Russian president and the Russian parliament that was resolved by using military force. The relations between the president and the parliament had been deteriorating for some time. The constitutional crisis reached a tipping point on September 21, 1993, when President Boris Yeltsin purported to dissolve the country's legislature (the Congress of People's Deputies and its Supreme Soviet), although the president did not have the power to dissolve the parliament according to the then-current constitution. Yeltsin used the results of the referendum of April 1993 to justify his actions. In response, the parliament declared that the president's decision was null and void, impeached Yeltsin and proclaimed vice president Aleksandr Rutskoy to be acting president."

"The situation deteriorated at the beginning of October. On October 3rd, demonstrators removed police cordons around the parliament and, urged by their leaders, took over the Mayor's offices and tried to storm the Ostankino television centre. The army, which had initially declared its neutrality, by Yeltsin's orders stormed the Supreme Soviet building in the early morning hours of October 4th, and arrested the leaders of the resistance."

"The ten-day conflict became the deadliest single event of street fighting in Moscow's history since the October Revolution of 1917. According to government estimates, 187 people were killed and 437 wounded, while sources close to Russian communists put the death toll at as high as 2,000."

The reason that I cannot keep my mind off of the events from 1993 is that it scared me to death. On October 4, 1993, across the street from the American Embassy, I watched men shooting AK-47s all around me. From under the bridge on top of which the Russian tanks rested, I watched the Tanks of the Taman Division shell the Russian White House. Later that same day, I was likely one of only two Americans who was actually in the Russian White House while the shooting and shelling was occurring.

My excuse for being in the center of the events that day is simple - when you are young for some reason you think you are immortal.

October 4, 1993, was the scariest day of my life.

At the urging of my wife and to memorialize the events for my kids, I will spend the next week trying to recount the events starting on September 25, 1993 - the first time that I was on Red Square - and finishing on October 7, 1993 - the day I came back to the USA for a three week vacation.

Despite all that transpired that day, I did go back to Moscow shortly thereafter and lived there for another eight months.

Merry Christmas - Catholics Come Home

2011-12-25T08:44:00.000-08:00

A heartwarming outreach to lapsed Catholics and those interested in learning more about the Church.

For more information, please go here.

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T16:35:00.000-08:00

Nevada County Superior Court Judge Julie McManus Retires

2011-12-22T14:58:00.000-08:00

"Nevada County Superior Court Judge Julie McManus filed for disability retirement with the Commission on Judicial Performance on December 15, 2011."

"McManus was appointed to the Nevada County Superior Court in December 2005. She ran unopposed in June, 2008. Her term expires in 2014."

"Judge McManus has been on medical leave since March, 2011, and was subsequently found to have sustained a traumatic brain injury in a fall. McManus will require further treatment, the duration of which is unknown at this time."

The rest of the press release from the Nevada County Court is here.

Wait until terms expire to boot them from the bench - Jeff Ackerman

2011-12-20T04:12:00.000-08:00

"I've never been a fan of recalls. Every election year we get to go inside a private booth and vote for the man or woman we think will best represent our values and beliefs. We base our decisions on promises made during speeches, television commercials, radio sound bites, or newspaper articles and advertisements."

"Sometimes we just like their hair, which is why we rarely see bald governors and presidents (there is a reason our country is in the toilet ... not enough bald leaders)."

"Every once in awhile we actually elect someone who does what he promised to do, but, no matter what, we always get the government we deserve."

"That's why I don't support the proposed recall of Nevada County Judges Candace Heidelberger and Julie McManus. We heard last week that there are plans to file paperwork to start a recall petition against the two jurists."

The rest of the article is here.

Two local judges face possible recall petition drive

2011-12-17T07:52:00.000-08:00

"A coalition of county residents is gearing up to mount a recall petition against two Nevada County Superior Court judges — Julie McManus and Candace Heidelberger."

"The proposed recall of McManus stems from her continued absence from the bench. She has been on medical leave since March 3. Heidelberger has been widely criticized over what many perceived as too-lenient sentencing of a child molester last week."

"The recall is not targeting Presiding Judge Thomas Anderson, although his sentencing in a separate child molestation case last week was also the subject of similar criticism. State elections law bars the recall of an elected official within six months of the end of the official's term; Anderson is up for re-election in 2012."

"The supporters of the petition are not yet ready to go public, but said they planned to have the necessary signatures to file a notice of intention to circulate a recall petition by next week."

"'Several people have said this quote to me, an Edmund Burke quote, that All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing, said a local attorney who is working with the recall coalition. 'Evil people are getting lenient sentences and people in Nevada County have had enough.'"

"The attorney confirmed the group was working to gather 20 to 40 signatures of 'proponents' who will begin the recall process."

The rest of the article is here.

Bail for Child Molestation in Nevada County versus other California counties

2011-12-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

"A Penn Valley man pleaded not guilty to multiple counts after being arrested last month on suspicion of child molestation.

"Kirk Iven Goodman, 36, was arrested Nov. 2 after Nevada County Sheriff's deputies served a search warrant at his home and seized a number of items for evidence, including computers.

"Goodman pleaded not guilty in Nevada County Superior Court to sexual intercourse with a child aged 10 or younger, oral copulation with a child aged 10 or younger, continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than 14, and witness intimidation.

The rest of the article from The Union is here.

This article led me to wonder what the bail is for child molesters in Nevada County versus other California counties. I looked at Sacramento, San Francisco, and Nevada County, picked three random pedophile laws, and compared the felony bail schedules. Below are the results.

Oral Copulation – Victim Under 14 (or forcible) [Penal Code 288a(c)]
Nevada County - $50,000
Sacramento County - $150,000
San Francisco County - $200,000

Sodomy (force) victim under 14 and more than 10 years younger than defendant [Penal Code 286(c)]
Nevada County - $50,000
Sacramento County - $150,000
San Francisco County - $200,000

Kidnapping a Victim Under 14 for Sexual Assault [Penal Code 207(b)]
Nevada County - $100,000
Sacramento County - $1,000,000
San Francisco County - $300,000

We have a problem in Nevada County. Bail is unbelievably low for these offenses, and pedophiles are getting unreasonably lenient sentences.

The message that our county is sending to pedophiles in the greater community is that they should come to Nevada County. It is the wrong message to be sending.

Sex Offender Sentences Frustrate Victim Advocates

2011-12-14T09:15:00.000-08:00

"Victims advocates say some judges in Nevada County have been too lenient in recent sentencing of sex offenders. According to the advocates, two convicted child molesters have received sentences of probation and no prison time."

"Kenneth Alan Byrnes, 64, was sentenced Friday to 12 years supervised probation and no additional jail after pleading no contest to continual sexual abuse of a child. His plea agreement called for as much as 16 years in prison. Three days earlier, Robert Benjamin DeMatteis, 63, was sentenced to one year in county jail after pleading guilty to child sex abuse and possession of child pornography. Prosecutors had asked for a six-year prison sentence."

"Niko Johnson, executive director of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition, told KCRA 3 she attended both sentencing hearings. 'I was upset. I feel that there needs to be a harsher consequence for the crimes they've committed, particularly against young children,' said Johnson.

"Johnson said these two cases seem to be part of a recent trend of leniency for sexual offenders in Nevada County. She said the issue was not related to the state's prison realignment program, which aims to reduce prison overcrowding."

"Johnson said her group planned to monitor future cases, attend sentencing hearings and plead for tougher sentences. She said she would also be involved in searching out candidates to run against judges who impose such sentences."

"'And that's what we're hearing from liberal, conservative. Politically speaking, everyone feels the same way,' said Johnson."

The entire article is here.

Child molesters catch a break in Nevada County - Jeff Ackerman

2011-12-13T15:09:00.000-08:00

"The victim wasn't an opossum. Just a little girl who probably wanted to be a little girl for as long as she could."

"Unfortunately ... no ... tragically, someone who should have been her protector became her predator. By his own admission, this predator 'taught' this little girl things no little girl should know about."

"Last week our elected District Attorney Cliff Newell wondered why our elected Judge Candace Heidelberger sentenced this predator to a just year in the county jail and probation instead of the six years in prison he could have gotten. I point out that they are elected to remind you that if you don't like what they are doing you have the power to 'un-elect' them."

"In a strongly worded and graphic press release, Newell vented his frustration that has probably been building from what he has perceived as a pattern of liberal and inconsistent local court decisions."

"In his press release, Newell pointed out that the sexual abuse began when the victim was just 13 years old. 'It started with the defendant touching the victim's breasts and progressed to oral copulation and digital penetration of the child,' he wrote. 'Later he taught (the victim) how to masturbate him until he ejaculated. The last incident of abuse was when she was 14 years old and about to start high school.'"

The rest of the article is here.

The local community is outraged. There will be more to come in the near future.

Going to the Olympic Training Center (Updated December 2nd)

2011-11-29T21:41:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, Jeff Jenkins and I are leaving for the Olympic Training Center ("OTC") in Colorado Springs. One of our gymnasts, Jeremy Hunt (11 years old), qualified for the Future Stars national championship meet at the OTC this weekend. If he places in the top 18 in his age group, Jeremy will be the first gymnast from Nevada County to make a junior national team.

It is truly amazing the talent and skill of the gymnasts and gymnastics coaches in sleepy, rural Grass Valley. At one point in the last two years, Gold Country Gymnastics had five coaches who competed gymnastics in college. Over the past thirteen years, Grass Valley has had no less than ten gymnasts qualify to a junior national championship.

I am really proud to be part of such a fantastic program for our kids here in town.

I have not been to the OTC since 2007 when I judged still rings at this very same competition. Going to the OTC - especially right before the Olympics - is amazing. The atmosphere at the training center is crazy. Everything that you see relates motivationally to winning gold medals at the Olympics. You cannot leave without being inspired by the athletes who dedicate their lives to a sport in order to achieve the ultimate goal...and the food is healthy and crazy good.

I hope to update during the trip...and I hope that I get to tell everyone that Grass Valley has a national team member! Please wish young Jeremy the best of luck!

Jeff Jenkins, Jeremy Hunt, and Barry Pruett

UPDATE: Well, Jeremy is the ranked 38th in the nation for all eleven year old male gymnasts! Only 18 gymnasts made the national team, but the experience of training and competing at the Olympic Training Center will no doubt follow him to Grass Valley and further motivate the young man in advancing his Olympic dreams. All day tomorrow, Jeff and I will be in clinics ranging from nutrition supplements, elite strength and agility training, and gymnastics-specific drills, while Jeremy will train with the national staff. So, today was a great day!

Gingrich Gets Big New Hampshire Endorsement

2011-11-27T09:57:00.000-08:00

"Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has received the coveted endorsement of the highly influential Manchester Union Leader in New Hampshire, a boost for the 2012 Republican presidential candidate and a blow to rival Mitt Romney."

"'Newt Gingrich is by no means the perfect candidate. But Republican primary voters too often make the mistake of preferring an unattainable ideal to the best candidate who is actually running. In this incredibly important election, that candidate is Newt Gingrich,' the editorial board wrote in Sunday's edition."

"The Leader added in a banner headline across the front page that the former Georgia lawmaker has something the rest of the candidates don't -- a track record of success in Washington."

"'America is at a crucial crossroads. It is not going to be enough to merely replace Barack Obama next year. We are in critical need of the innovative, forward-looking strategy and positive leadership that Gingrich has shown he is capable of providing,' the endorsement reads."

"'He did so with the Contract with America. He did it in bringing in the first Republican House in 40 years and by forging balanced budgets and even a surplus despite the political challenge of dealing with a Democratic president. A lot of candidates say they're going to improve Washington. Newt Gingrich has actually done that,' it continues."

The rest of the article is here.

While Obama campaigned as a "uniter," as President, he has proven to be the "chief divider." On the other hand, Gingrich has a proven record of bringing both sides of the aisle in Washington together and achieving measureable and identifiable results with tough issues. Look for Gingrich to continue to surge.

Ohio State versus Michigan

2011-11-26T07:23:00.000-08:00

As always, the Holidays in our house are filled with athletics. On Wednesday, my father (in town from Crown Point, Indiana), my daughter, and I went golfing. It was the first time that my 14 year old daughter beat me. She even drove a ball 233 yards onto the green of a par four. She missed the eagle putt, but left an eight inch putt for birdie. Very cool!

On Thanksgiving until this year I played flag football. After a night in the hospital a few years ago with a lacerated kidney and a torn rotator cuff last year playing football, we decided to try something different so that Dad does not get killed on the Holiday. So, we lost a ton of calories by running five kilometers in the Turkey Trot, and then promptly put them back on eating a wonderful dinner with our family.

But today is reserved for our favorite football game of the year - Ohio State versus Michigan! Michigan has been great this year, and after losing a significant amount of great players and their coach to stupid mistakes, Ohio State has struggled mightily. In any event and as always, you can throw the records out the window today. Game starts at 9am PST...in the meantime...here are some pictures and videos for your viewing pleasure! Right now it is 7:28am...and Michigan still sucks.

Spain’s conservatives earn resounding election victory as voters oust Socialists

2011-11-21T08:15:00.000-08:00

Emilio Morenatti/AP

"MADRID — Spanish conservatives won a resounding mandate at the polls Sunday, freeing them to make deep austerity cuts as they struggle to pull the country’s economy out of a tailspin."
"In an election marked by bitter disappointment and desperation over the euro zone’s highest unemployment rate, the Socialists who have led the country since 2004 were cast from office in their worst showing in the modern era of Spain’s democracy."

"Conservatives won 186 of the 350 seats in parliament; the Socialists won 110."

"Sunday’s vote gives Europe another leader closely aligned with the austerity-based consensus that the continent’s strongest economies say is the solution to what plagues the weaker ones. In recent weeks, leaders in Italy and Greece have been forced from their perches."

The rest of this article is here.

While the local leftists are crowing about the socialist tendencies of the Occupy Wall Street movement, the rest of the world is realizing that government cannot continue to spend money that it does not have. That being said, on the isolated issue of corporate bailouts, I think that there is widespread agreement that corporations should succeed or fail on their own accord without government intervention.

Here in the United States, we just passed the $15 trillion national debt thresh hold. Neither Obama nor Congress has the political will to slash government spending and close tax loopholes in an effort to get a balanced budget.

On the other hand, Congressman McClintock supports a balanced budget amendment, yet the leftwing, former editor of The Union is playing liberal politics and omits this fact while he continually portrays McClintock in a false light. This political gamesmanship is nothing new for our local left as can be seen here and here.

We do not need political game playing. We need people in charge who are serious about our nation's problems. We need fearless people in charge, like Congressman McClintock who is overwhelmingly financially supported by private contributors, who have the political will to make the tough choices and who will not be intimidated. No more bailouts, no more government intervention into private affairs, and balance a damn budget.

The solutions to the problems that ail us are simple. The unions, the corporations, the politicians who are supported by the unions and the corporation, and spin doctors who care more about their personal ideology than the country are making the simple solutions far less likely to be attained.

In any event, I will get off my soapbox and congratulate Spain for making a bold move to the right. Now, the new Spanish leaders need to lead and fix the spending problems which ail them.

Rotary Foundation Dinner

2011-11-17T20:54:00.000-08:00

On November 15, 2011, the Miner's Foundry in Nevada City hosted the District 5190 - Area 4 - Rotary Foundation Dinner. The dinner was organized by Stephanie Ortiz and was virtually flawless. She did an amazing job!

With attendance a little over 200, the turnout was amazing and the contingent from Nevada County South was extraordinary. I am very proud to be a member of such a fantastic and enthusiastic group and humbled to be the president this year!

Credit: Marcel Verdooner

The guest speaker was Deepa Willingham (pictured to the left in the middle of the first row with some of the newest Paul Harris Fellows). Over the past eight years, a great deal of Deepa’s time and personal resources have been dedicated to the founding and developing of the Piyali Learning Center (PLC) outside of Calcutta, and spreading the message of the value of girls’ education throughout the world. Her dedicated work at PLC, which she developed through her non-profit organization PACE Universal and in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Calcutta Metropolitan, resulting in the creation of a sustainable village rehabilitation model was recognized by the Trustees of Rotary International with a $330,000 3-H Grant in May of 2009. This grant, which is being co-sponsored by 7 clubs in District 5240, will completely rehabilitate the village of Piyali Junction by bringing literacy (to children and adults), health and dental care, clean water, sanitation, vocational training, banking/micro-lending to help the change the face of poverty in that corner of the world. PACE Universal will serve as the cooperative organization for this grant.

Deepa is certainly a model for all of us to emulate!

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. Supporting The Rotary Foundation is one of the four pillars of an effective club in the Club Leadership Plan. Rotary of Nevada County South (along with Penn Valley) was awarded the Every Rotarian Every Year Award and the 100% Sustaining Membership Award for its annual contributions to the Rotary Foundation!

Credit: Marcel Verdooner

I was proud to be selected to deliver Rotary's Four Way test at the end of the meeting (pictured to the right).

Being the president of the Rotary Club of Nevada County South this year has been one of the most fulfilling things that I have ever done. It is the best international public service organization, and Nevada County South, in particular, is filled with the most wonderful, kind, and generous people that I know.

Thank you to all of my fellow Rotarians for being the wonderful people that you are. You change our local community for the better through Rotary and through all of the other public services that you serve!

Local Politics Summary

2011-11-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

Election season in Nevada County is starting up again. Let's take a look at the local races and see how things are shaping up.

Congress
With Tom McClintock, who won this congressional district by a huge margin in 2008, running in the newly created district just south of here, Wally Herger is a possibility to be our congressman again. This race is proving to be very interesting. As of September 30, 2011, Herger only has a little over $200,000 on hand. There has been a long-standing rumor that Herger will not run again, and Democrat candidates, sensing an opportunity, are lining up to run for the seat. Should Herger decide not to run, we will likely see a Republican scrum for the congressional seat in this very conservative and very Republican district. Stay tuned on this one!

California Assembly
Dan Logue is our current assemblyman. Logue is a Nevada County resident and works tirelessly to preserve and protect our north state conservative values. The National Federation of Independent Business has awarded Logue a perfect score based on his voting record and support of small business. His widespread efforts have also drawn the attention of media outlets across the nation, including the New York Times, FOX News, and the Los Angeles Times. He is being challenged, but none of the challengers are serious contenders.

Nevada County Supervisor
In District One thus far, we have lifelong resident Sue McGuire running against Nate Beason. It is pretty clear that the local hard-left will also run a leftwing environmentalist candidate. Sue McGuire is a lifelong Nevada County resident, and Beason is running for an unprecedented third term (I think that the last three term supervisor was Eric Rood). As a former supervisor told me recently, two terms are plenty for anyone as, over the terms, a supervisor starts to become less a representative of the people and more an employee of the county. While I have my own opinions, I will leave it up to the reader and the District One voter to decide whether two terms are enough for Beason.

Ted Owens, who is likely running for an unprecedented third term, would have a challenger from the very far-left in the name of Michael Rogers. He is an relatively unknown in Truckee, as lifelong residents do not even know who he is. Should he declare a third run at supervisor, the widely popular Owens will likely have a fairly easy race.

Newt Gingrich is Peaking at Just the Right Time

2011-11-12T07:24:00.000-08:00

CBS News Poll (November 6-10)

Cain 18%
Gingirch 15%
Romney 15%
Perry 8%

Veterans Day - 11/11/11

2011-11-11T07:20:00.000-08:00

The United States of America is a unique experiment in freedom started in the late 18th Century. If not for our brave veterans, this great experiment would not have continued. Thank you to all who have served and protected our most sacred, God-given rights and freedoms.

Thank you Grandpa Art, Grandpa Bob, and Grandpa Chuck - you are the greatest generation and we are proud of you.

Historic Republican Presidential Primary Debate

2011-11-10T06:19:00.000-08:00

Last night's Republican Presidential Primary debate was historic - sadly it was historic at the expense of Rick Perry. His gaffe in connection with forgetting which federal agencies that he would shut down was monumental and will be replayed for decades. It was so bad that, as a fellow human being, I genuinely felt sorry for him. Without piling on anymore, I think that it is far to say that he will be out of the race after Iowa. In the words of White Sox broadcaster Hawk Harrelson, "He Gone!"

Clearly, Gingrich and Romney were the winners last night. Gingrich again demonstrated his extraordinary depth of history and knowledge about the federal government. Romney demonstrated poise and gave effective answers. Gingrich again was the overall winner.

On a side note, I hate this type of debate format. When voters tune into watch a "Republican Presidential Primary debate," they watch to see the candidates debate. What we saw last night was "journalists" debating the candidates. One of the "journalists" even asked for 30 seconds to respond?! Really?! This morning on CNBC a "journalist" even bragged that one of the moderators went for Perry's jugular.

In light, of last night demonstration by the media that they deeply desire to be part of the story, it is abundantly clear that the presidential debate format must change. Gingrich nailed it in the debate below.

Gingrich commented:
"To say in 30 seconds what you would do with 18% of the economy, life and death for the American people, a topic I've worked on since 1974, about which I wrote about called "Saving Lives and Saving Money" in 2002, and for which I founded the Center for Health Transformation, is the perfect case of why I'm going to challenge the president to seven Lincoln- Douglas style three-hour debates with a timekeeper and no moderator, at least two of which ought to be on health care so you can have a serious discussion over a several-hour period that affects the lives of every person in this country."

Amen. Get the faux-journalists who deeply crave the limelight to run for President themselves or get the heck out of the way and let the candidates ask the questions of each other.

The American people deserve a real discussion of the issues and not 30 second bites with little or no depth with questions asked by "limelight seeking journalists." We deserve nothing less from our presidential candidates...expecting more from journalists that rank as lower than lawyers in public opinion is absurd.
I look forward to Gingrich and Obama historically debating the economic and social issues of this nation.

Much the same as the historic elections in 1860, we are at a crossroads. The American people need this debate. The American people deserve this debate. In this election, we will decide the fate and future of this great nation.

Newt Gingrich Climbing in the Polls

2011-11-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

While Cain and Romney are leading most state and national polls, Newt Gingrich is quietly rising and is the only other candidate in double digits. Cain is being rocked by a malicious story by Politico, and Romney's numbers are completely stagnant. Romney consistently polls at around 25% - which tells me that 75% are classified as "anyone but Romney."

Then we have Newt Gingrich winning every single debate, steadily rising in the polls, and sitting in third place with around 15%. In 2008 at this time of the year, who was in third place with about 15% behind Huckabee and Guilliani? John McCain.

I am going to go out on a limb here before Thanksgiving and predict that Newt Gingrich will win the 2012 Republican nomination...and the debates between the two candidates will be historic. We need to have this great debate in our great nation which will decide on which economic path that we will head.

Last night, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich promised on Friday evening in Iowa that if he wins his party's nomination, he will follow President Obama around the country until Obama accepts a challenge to participate in Lincoln-Douglas style debates.

"'I promise you, if you will help me on January 3, if I end up as the nominee, in my acceptance speech, if the president has not yet agreed, I will announce from that day forward for the rest of the campaign, the White House will be my scheduler,' Gingrich said. 'And wherever the president appears, I will appear four hours later.'"

"Gingrich said he would challenge Obama to seven Lincoln-Douglas style debates lasting three hours each with no moderator and only a timekeeper. 'I will concede that he can use a teleprompter,'" Gingrich said.

"According to Gingrich, his plan to follow Obama around the country is based on Abraham Lincoln’s strategy of giving a rebuttal speech to Stephen Douglas in the same place that Douglas had given a speech one day earlier during the 1858 Illinois Senate campaign."

"'After about three weeks, Douglas figured out that the newspaper coverage was always Lincoln's answer and not Douglas’s speech,' Gingrich said."

"Gingrich predicted Obama would accept the debate challenge, in part because of wanting to preserve media coverage, but also out of ego."

"'How can a Harvard Law Review editor, the greatest orator in the modern Democratic party, admit to being afraid to be on the same platform as a West Georgia college professor?' he asked."

Being a great speaker, does not necessarily make one a great thinker. While Obama can deliver an amazing teleprompter speech, I am convinced that Obama is not a "deep thoughts" kind of guy.

Obama should be very afraid.

Nevada County Clerk-Recorder To No Longer Accept Passport Applications

2011-11-01T05:28:00.000-07:00

"Nevada County Clerk-Recorder Gregory J. Diaz announced today a regulation from the United States Department of State will halt the Nevada County Clerk-Recorder from being a passport acceptance facility. The Nevada County Clerk-Recorder will no longer accept passport applications on November 30, 2011."

"Diaz said the regulation, as part of the Federal Passport Acceptance Program, prohibits facilities that issue birth records from being an approved passport acceptance facility- a location where residents apply for passports. After residents fill out their applications, the paperwork is sent on to the United States Passport Services, who ultimately issues the passports."

"Regrettably and as a practical matter, since we are required by state law to continue to process birth certificates, the Nevada County Clerk-Recorder will cease operating as a passport acceptance agency on November 30th, 2011. The closest passport acceptance agency is at the Auburn Post Office located at 371 Nevada Street, Auburn California."

A copy of the press release dated October 28, 2011, from Diaz is on Yubanet and can be found here.

Actually and what Diaz does not want the public to know is that the closest passport acceptance facilities to Nevada City are the Grass Valley Post Office and then Placer County Recorder's office.

We need real leaders in this County that will work together and collaborate to find solutions to problems. Greg Diaz is not one of those people. Much like Nate Beason, who mightily supported Greg Diaz in last year's election, Diaz is a "my way or the highway" kind of person.

While we will continue to dig deeper into the passport issue, a collaborative solution is readily available, if Diaz was remotely competent and collaborated with others.

First and according to the folks at the Placer County Recorder, the Placer County Recorder's office change operations significantly to satisfy the new regulations, but they did it to continue to provide the passport service. Greg Diaz -lazy? Probably.

Second and has been done in Minnesota and Iowa, instead of forcing folks to drive the Placer County Recorder's office, the County could have requested the Auditor's office or maybe Nevada City to become a passport acceptance facility.

Third and another solution that would be great for the community, the Helling Library could become a passport acceptance facility. A passport facility gets paid $25 per application and would provide much needed revenue for the library. Given the revenue to the library would not be a lot, but this solution does provide some revenue to the library and folks would not have to drive to the Placer County Recorder's office.

We need smart and competent government. We need community-minded elected officials that will find solutions through collaboration with the public before making rash decisions.

This is yet another example of the failure of government to think out of the box.

Economic Inequality Provides Incentives for All

2011-10-31T06:17:00.000-07:00

America must maintain its principles of freedom for all

2011-10-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

The following is an excerpt from a speech delivered recently by Russian immigrant Igor Birman, chief of staff for Congressman Tom McClintock.

"I have to confess a little bit of envy. I find myself in the company of the very fortunate, for you have known freedom all of your lives. Upon further reflection though, I must admit that fortune has been very kind to me as well, seeing how I've come to know freedom against all odds — thousands of miles away from the United States as a small boy in the heart of the Soviet Union.

"I remember vividly the week before my parents, my brother, my grandmother and I left Moscow for the United States. As we went to say good-bye to my uncle in St. Petersburg, Russian authorities ransacked our little apartment full of boxes and bags packed with our meager belongings, looking for any cursory reason to rescind our exit visas.

"Over the years that my parents sought to leave, we became accustomed to an occasional search: coming home to find an open drawer in the kitchen, bookshelves tinkered with, or the doormat muddied by strange feet.

"But that week, we returned from St. Petersburg to a scene of utter chaos with toppled furniture and torn-up boxes, their once neatly-folded contents now punctuating the dull gray carpet with specks of color. My mom and especially my dad, whose doctorate in physics had subjected him to decades of surveillance, were stoic. In this insult they saw yet another manifestation of an increasingly desperate tyranny.

"My brother, however, was only 6 years old at the time and he was apoplectic, clinging to my mother and sobbing hysterically. And then she said these words to Eugene, which are forever etched in my memory: 'Don't cry sweetie,' she told him in a soft yet confident voice. 'Don't be upset. In just two days we are leaving for America. This won't ever happen there.'"

To read the rest of this article which begs us not to stray from our rpinciples, and gives the pearl of an example of the result, click here.

Board of Supervisors Funds Regional Chamber of Commerce - $50,000

2011-10-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

Today was one of the best board of supervisors meetings which I have attended. Most of the Board of Supervisors listened to the concerns of the constituents in connection with the long-term vision for tourism in Nevada County, and they (along with Alison Lehman who was wonderful too) really appeared to make decisions based on the collaboration with the remonstrators.

The meeting proved that Ed Scofield, the chairman of the board who ran the meeting, is a stand up guys who listens to the constituents and allows as much constituent participation as possible. I think that the way Ed ran the meeting is important, because this meeting could have gone sideways rather quickly.

While I would not have awarded the contract for the website to anyone without a long-term strategic plan for Nevada County tourism (except the Chamber), the supervisors assured the constituents that adequate controls regarding content and collaboration requirements will be put on Sierra Wine Food Art ("SWFA"). In the end and in addition to collaboration requirements on SWFA, the BOS funded the Chambers the amount of $50,000 and will be coordinating a tourism committee as suggested by Switchback PR. Such tourism committee will be formulating a long-term tourism strategy for the County. The end result was great for our community.

Today was a great day for democracy in Nevada County.

My intended comments are in italics below (ran out of time)...

For over 100 years, the Nevada County Chamber has actively promoted the economic development of businesses and our community. The Chamber of Commerce has historically provided local businesses with an added measure of security by hosting opportunities for sharing business advice, political representation, and customer introductions. Chamber Mission Statement is “to represent and provide the business community with leadership and resources in order to enhance the quality of and the economic health of our community.” In other words, the mission of the Chamber of Commerce is to create jobs, something that Nevada County needs and should be encouraging in tough economic times.

According to the Strategic Tourism Plan from Switchback for which the County paid $90,000, the mission for the County is to “market the county effectively by positioning the Area as a year-round destination (emphasizing local history, small town experience, recreation, arts & culture and special events) for the economic benefit of the community.”

That being said, Sierra Vintners’ mission is to promote a single element of tourism - wine.

The Arts Collaborative’s mission is to promote a single element of tourism - the arts.

SWFA’s mission, as a for profit company, is to promote its magazine.

The chamber of commerce is uniquely positioned to promote (without bias) all of the areas of tourism within Nevada County and thereby create jobs in Nevada County.

Switchback also told us that with limited resources we need to work together - supervisors, staff, and interested persons. Wayne Schell of CALED spoke in the county last week and told us that we need to work with the chambers to implement a long-term plan geared towards economic development.

Instead today, we are sending money down a “cul de sac” with no clear long term plan and no vision.
With no long-term plan formulated by the interested parties, there is no collaborative plan or vision for creating jobs in Nevada County.

As for these bids for the web maintenance for gonevadacounty.com, when evaluating bids, it is the responsibility of the supervisors to satisfy two elements as guardians of our tax dollars.

Select the lowest responsible bid. Having evaluated the bid of SFWA and the Chambers, they are virtually identical with the exception of two areas.

First, the Price of Bids...
Regional Chamber of Commerce bid was $17,400
SFWA bid was over $20,000

Second, Responsibility...Both Bids Call for Collaboration with a print Visitors Guide
The regional chamber seeks to collaborate with Nevada County Gold ("NCG") magazine. NCG is a free magazine that is in its 26th year of publication and distributes 80,000 copies to more than 500 locations – 47% of which are in the Bay Area. NCG contributes a share of its advertising revenue to the joint Chambers of Commerce in Nevada County furthering sustainability of the Chambers. In 26 years of publication, Nevada County Gold has raised more than $180,000 for the five Nevada County Chambers of Commerce. The Chambers of Commerce of Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley & Truckee, along with the Nevada County Fair, The Grass Valley Downtown Assn. and the Nevada City Classic Bicycle Race, among others, have designated Nevada County Gold Online their official area guide on the net. Nevada County Gold is a true collaborative print medium.

SWFA is a nice magazine and it is tastefully done; however, it really is a niche magazine. SWFA seeks to collaborate only with its own magazine with no mention of The Union or Nevada County Gold both far more established publications with far wider distribution. SWFA distributes only 12,000 copies to more than 300 locations each quarter in Placer County, Nevada County, Sacramento County, Yuba County, Butte County, and Washoe County – and according to both its bid and its website SWFA does not distribute in the Bay Area.

So today by contracting with SWFA, the board of supervisors will in essence be paying more for less.

Switchback and CALED stresses and demands a long-term plan formulated by collaborating with all of the interested parties (like the chambers) – yet there no long-term plan involving the chambers of commerce - an organization who has stood the test of time for over 100 years.

We need jobs in Nevada County.
We need a vision for creating the jobs, and
We need to support the chambers' mission to create these jobs.
We need efficient use of tax dollars.

My desire for today is that the BOS table this contract and formulate and implement a long-term strategy through the Chambers or in the alternative award the contract to the chamber as the lowest responsible bidder.

Thank you.

Occupy Wall Street movement reflects values that are dangerously out of touch with the broad mass of the American people

2011-10-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

While our local leftist and former Union editor proclaims that the Occupy Wall Street ("OWS") crowd is a representative sample of mainstream America, Democratic polling and the actual demands of OWS group itself detail a distinctively socialist movement.

Doug Schoen, who served as a pollster for President Bill Clinton, discovered that "President Obama and the Democratic leadership are making a critical error in embracing the Occupy Wall Street movement—and it may cost them the 2012 election."

"[The] Occupy Wall Street movement reflects values that are dangerously out of touch with the broad mass of the American people — and particularly with swing voters who are largely independent and have been trending away from the president since the debate over health-care reform."

"The protesters have a distinct ideology and are bound by a deep commitment to radical left-wing policies. On Oct. 10 and 11, Arielle Alter Confino, a senior researcher at my polling firm, interviewed nearly 200 protesters in New York's Zuccotti Park. Our findings probably represent the first systematic random sample of Occupy Wall Street opinion."

"Our research shows clearly that the movement doesn't represent unemployed America and is not ideologically diverse. Rather, it comprises an unrepresentative segment of the electorate that believes in radical redistribution of wealth, civil disobedience and, in some instances, violence. Half (52%) have participated in a political movement before, virtually all (98%) say they would support civil disobedience to achieve their goals, and nearly one-third (31%) would support violence to advance their agenda."

"The vast majority of demonstrators are actually employed, and the proportion of protesters unemployed (15%) is within single digits of the national unemployment rate (9.1%)."

"What binds a large majority of the protesters together—regardless of age, socioeconomic status or education—is a deep commitment to left-wing policies: opposition to free-market capitalism and support for radical redistribution of wealth, intense regulation of the private sector, and protectionist policies to keep American jobs from going overseas."

The rest of the Wall Street Journal article is here.

Since Mr. Schoen, a Democratic pollster, wrote his op-ed article in the Wall Street Journal the left has attacked him relentlessly, as usual.

"To be sure, a senior researcher in the firm, Arielle Confino, did the surveying using a random selection technique, and a carefully crafted survey instrument. But the left being the left, the attacks were personal, ideological, methodological, and almost entirely fallacious."

"But right now, a validation of the survey has come from Occupy Wall Street itself. Their Demands Group has put forward their agenda, subsequent to the publication of my poll. And their demands closely mirror what my survey showed they want."

"The core essence of their proposals involve $1.5 trillion in new revenue to create 25 million public sector jobs paying union wages, free public transportation, free university education, a single payer health care system and other initiatives. They also favor 'reappropriating our business structures and culture, putting people and the earth before profit.'"

"Further, they want to end free trade, spend a trillion additional dollars on environmental programs, and forgive all debt."

The rest of this article is here.

Both Mr. Schoen's poll and the demands of the OWS group itself clearly and unequivocally demonstrate that OWS is no tea party and it is most certainly not mainstream. They are liberal activists seeking to redistribute wealth and give the government control of the private sector by any means possible, including violence.

That being said, We the People need to have this debate. Much like the 1860 election decided down which path the United States would head, this 2012 election will decide our future - socialism (OWS) or capitalism (TPP). Being that the United States is, and always has been, a center-right country and a free-market is the engine which made this country great, I am certain that capitalism will succeed.

Sue McGuire announces candidacy for First District Supervisor

2011-10-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

"Nevada County Attorney Sue McGuire this morning announced that she is seeking the office of First District Supervisor for Nevada County. She believes her deep roots in the community and two decades as an attorney in Nevada County have provided her with the love of the lifestyle here, and the experience that makes her perfect for the job. Sue’s family has been actively involved in the county for six generations.

"Sue’s first goal as county supervisor will be to ensure that Nevada County retains existing businesses and encourages new businesses that will provide jobs for Nevada County residents. Given the economy and resulting job attrition in government, it is critical to provide an atmosphere that encourages private sector business. Sue will review all regulations that may be a hindrance to this goal to determine what is working and alternatively, what needs to be changed.

"McGuire was born and raised in Nevada County, as were her parents, Mel and Bonnie McGuire. Mel was a self-employed trucker, hauling logs in the warmer months and refrigerated trailers cross-country in the winter. Her mother was a homemaker and is an artist and writer. Sue’s grandparents, Tom and Marie McGuire, moved to the area in the 1920s and owned apartments in Nevada City while Tom hauled equipment for the mines and local construction companies. That included equipment and supplies for construction of the annex to the Nevada County Courthouse and for Nevada City Elementary School.

"Sue’s maternal grandparents, Val and Lilly Belle Baima, began operating a local organic farm in the 1940s, long before anyone else pursued organic farming. They received numerous local and state awards for excellence in agriculture.

"Sue graduated from Nevada Union High School and immediately began working in local law offices, while eventually completing law school at night and opening her private practice in Nevada County in 1991. She worked in the Nevada County District Attorney’s Office from 2003 to 2008, when she decided to return to her current private practice handling civil and criminal cases.

"Sue has volunteered with the American Red Cross, including assisting in Louisiana during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and helped out at the San Francisco Rescue Mission. She also served as an election official for three elections during the past decade and volunteered with Veteran’s Stand Down. McGuire is a past local Board Member for Project Jump Start, Anew Day, and the Nevada County Tea Party Patriots. She currently serves as a regular volunteer at Twin Cities Church and is a mentor attorney with the Nevada County Peer Court.

"McGuire vows to meet with her constituents during her campaign and will continue that practice upon assuming duties as the First District Supervisor. She plans meeting with community organizations, county staff, and city, state, and federal officials on a frequent and regular basis.

"McGuire feels it is her patriotic privilege and duty to be a public servant in the community that she calls home.

Washington Tops List of Richest Areas in the Nation

2011-10-21T05:22:00.000-07:00

"With anti-Wall Street protests spreading across the globe and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid claiming 'private sector jobs have been doing just fine,' recent Census data shows that federal wages have helped make Washington the nation’s wealthiest metropolitan region last year."

"Washington edged out San Jose, home to Silicon Valley, with a median household income of $84,523 last year -- well above the national median income of $50,046 and slightly more than San Jose’s median household income of $83,944."

"Other regions in the top five were New York’s Connecticut bedroom communities of Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk at No. 3 with a median household income of $74,831 and the San Francisco Bay Area at No. 4 with a median household income of $73,027."

"According to Bloomberg News, Washington was propelled into the top spot by federal workers, whose total compensation, including benefits, averaged $126,369 last year – up from $122,697 in 2009. Washington also benefited from its large number of lawyers, lobbyists and contractors who draw bigger salaries than their counterparts in the public sector."

"'There's a gap that's isolating Washington from the reality of the rest of the country,' Kevin Zeese, head of Prosperity Agenda, an advocacy group for the poor, told Bloomberg. 'They just get more and more out of touch.'"

"Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that the report shows that federal workers are doing pretty well compared to their counterparts in the private sector."

"'They're weathering this economic downturn pretty well,' he said on the Senate floor. 'Not only are they making big salaries relative to the private sector. They're also holding onto their jobs.'"

"'The unemployment rate for the country as a whole is 9.1 percent. For government workers it's almost half that, at 4.7 percent,' he noted. 'So with all due respect on the other side, it's the private sector that's been begging for mercy. It's the private sector that's being crushed by regulators in Washington.'"

"The Washington Times said in an editorial Wednesday that the ranking is 'nothing to be proud of.'"

"'Figures like this feed the perception that government personnel are no longer public servants but a self-serving, privileged class,' the newspaper said."

The rest of the article is here.

Occupy Wall Street is no tea party - Mark Mecler

2011-10-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

The media chorus is singing a new song this week in its anti-tea party echo chamber. It goes something like this: The law-breaking anarchists who want to tear America down are somehow just like law-abiding tea partiers — who are working tirelessly to build America back up.

This boneheaded comparison reminds me of what has now become an oft-repeated political euphemism. In 1988, during a vice presidential debate, Democratic candidate Sen. Lloyd Bentsen said to his Republican opponent, Sen. Dan Quayle, “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy; Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.”

So despite the risk of sounding cliché here, I say to the small band of misfits and anarchists now occupying Wall Street: I was one of tens of thousands of patriotic Americans who were there at the beginning of the tea party movement. I stood shoulder to shoulder with tea partiers all across this country. And you, who are occupying Wall Street and trying to tear America down, are no tea partiers.

The tea party movement started spontaneously from the rant of CNBC’s Rick Santelli on Feb. 19, 2009. His words resonated with millions across the country, and his spontaneous call for a “tea party” spurred tens of thousands to action.

Within a week, in close to 50 locations across the country, almost 40,000 people turned out to protest the U.S. government’s fiscal irresponsibility. By Tax Day in April 2009, the movement had grown to millions — and there were more than 850 peaceful, lawful protests across the nation attended by more than a million people.

The movement was organic, fast moving and had a cogent message: It’s time for fiscal responsibility in government.

Tea party rallies have always felt like “parties” — and safe and clean ones at that. Unlike protesters in New York, I can find no reports of tea partiers being arrested, individually or en masse, at the thousands of tea parties across the country with millions of attendees that have taken place for years now.

We are not lawbreakers, we don’t hate the police, we don’t even litter. A quick glance at the TV reveals the sharp contrast to the Wall Street occupiers.

In recent days, I’ve been repeatedly asked by reporters, “Does the comparison now being made in the media between the tea party and the Wall Street protesters bother you?”

My answer is an unequivocal: “Hell yes, it bothers me.”

It bothers me because it groups millions of patriotic tea partiers, who want to build America back up, together with a bunch of criminals who want to tear America down.

For two years now, tea partiers have stood firmly on principle and helped shape the political debate. They believe in time-honored American values, principles and systems — including the freedom to innovate and employ people to implement and distribute your ideas to the public.

Consider the career of the late Steve Jobs. The freedom from government allowed him to try new things, see what worked and discard what didn’t. Tea partiers agree, not believing corporations like Apple are inherently evil or that bankers should be beheaded. They do not believe this country should be divided by class but united in a return to the principles that undergird success.

In fact — we want more of what made America great. More constitutional restraint on government, so the people have more freedom to achieve the good things the country offers.

In contrast, those occupying Wall Street want less of what made America great — and more of what is damaging America. They want a bigger, more powerful government to come in and take care of them, redistributing the wealth of those who innovate and create something, so they don’t have to work like the rest of us who pay their bills.

When tea partiers first took to the streets, we were ignored and then mocked by the media and those threatened by our principles. Then we were attacked with labels like “AstroTurf,” “racists,” “fringe,” “radical,” “terrorists,” “jihadis,” “hostage takers” and “Nazis.”

In just the past few weeks, we have been told by Democratic elected officials to “go to Hell,” called “the real enemy” and accused of wanting to see fellow citizens “hanging from trees.”

Meanwhile, some of the media continues to cheer for a group of law-breaking miscreants who occupied a park in New York, blocked the Brooklyn Bridge, were arrested by the hundreds and treated law enforcement with disrespect and disdain — all while trying to tear down the foundations of the greatest nation on earth.

We expect that kind of idiocy from the media. But when you compare these people with tea partiers, now you’ve got a problem with We the People.

Mark Meckler is a co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots, the nation’s largest tea party organization, with more than 3,500 affiliated local groups.

Newt Gingrich Challenges President Obama To Series Of Lincoln Douglas Style Debates

2011-10-19T07:38:00.000-07:00

While the other Republicans bicker over petty issues, Gingrich is rising to the top as a man of substance. He has more experience then any other candidate. He has reformed by working with Democrats. He worked with Bill Clinton to balance a budget.

I love the idea of getting rid of the "media-driven" debates which provide only one-minute answers. You cannot get any substance in a one-minute answer. The idea of letting Obama and Gingrich (should he be fortunate enough to be the Republican nominee) debate for three hours without a moderator is a great idea. Substance, substance, substance...

Unfortunately, Obama would never go for it; Gingrich would clobber him.

2012 Presidential Matchups - Cain 43%, Obama 41%

2011-10-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

"Whether Herman Cain’s surge in the polls is temporary or has staying power, he’s enjoying a big enough bounce to take a very slight lead over President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 matchup. At the moment, the Georgia businessman is the only Republican with a lead of any kind over Obama, although former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has held a similar advantage several times and is currently trailing the president by just two points."

"The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters shows Cain attracting 43% support, while Obama earns 41%. Given such a matchup, eight percent (8%) prefer some other candidate, and another eight percent (8%) are undecided.

The entire article is here.

Equality of Opportunity - Aaron Klein

2011-10-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

Aaron Klein writes a wonderful and thoughtful article about the "Occupy Wall Street" crew. His website can be found here, and the article is printed below in its entirety.

I’ve been engaged in a bit of a debate this weekend about the “Occupy Wall Street” crowd, which has been protesting the “inequality” that is afflicting poor and middle class Americans.

Having stood in a mud hut in the tiny village in Ethiopia where my daughter was born, it’s always difficult for me to relate to this. Speaking relatively, every one of those protesters is in the top 10% economically, and I know a lot of Ethiopians who would trade anything to have the opportunities that every American has at their disposal.

But getting past that, I kept hearing the rhetoric about inequality and I had to ask myself: what kind of equality do these protestors seek?

Equal outcomes are impossible. We proved that with the Soviet Union. And trying to ensure equality of outcome drives mediocrity and stagnation in an economy, because not everyone wants to work as hard as everyone else, as is their right.

Equal resources are also impossible. I kept hearing this weekend that Harvard, Princeton and Stanford admit 40% of applicants whose parents were alumni, and 5% who weren’t. So what’s the utopian solution to that? Should we admit everyone to Harvard, or should we admit no one to Harvard?

But I do believe that America is the land of equal opportunity.

At Sierra College, we give students who lack resources free counseling, free assessment, free tutoring, free writing lab, free reading lab, free tuition, free child care and in many cases, free books.

After giving all of that to them, they still don’t quite have “equal resources” to those who drive up in their Mustang convertibles as fifth generation college students.

But they sure do have equal opportunity. They have every chance in the world to succeed if they want to take it.

America is the land of equal opportunity for all. (We can do better, but we’re already better than most.) Not equal resources. Not equal outcomes. Not even equal “ease of the journey.” But yes, an equal chance to make it if you want to work for it.

And now, I’ve got to stop writing and go seize some opportunity. Have a great Monday.

Tea Party versus Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

I thought that an analysis of the polls in connection with the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street would be interesting. I researched the polls which show the favorability of the Tea Party movement and the Occupy Wall Street movement when they began.

When the Tea Party movement began in earnest in April of 2010 and despite the best efforts of the "mainstream" media and demonizers in government, Rasmussen found that 58% of mainstream voters had a favorable opinion of the Tea Party movement.

Today, only 33% have a favorable opinion of the Occupy Wall Street crew.

Now, if the "mainstream" media and demonizers in government, portray honestly the Occupy Wall Street crew, I would suspect that number to go down even farther.

Starting at 33% when nobody knows anything about you is not a good place to start. As the American public comes around to the fact that Occupy Wall Street is primarily composed of socialists and wealth redistributionists, the numbers will tank.

Democrats should be wary of hitching their wagon to the Occupy Wall Street crew.

Nevada County Republicans Unanimously Endorse Dan Logue

2011-10-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

On October 12th, the Nevada County Republcian Central Committee unanimously endorsed Dan Logue for the California Assembly from the newly formed District One.

In reality, the endorsement of Dan Logue is a "no brainer." He is a true conservative voice in a sea of misguided liberals in the California Assembly. In essence, Dan is the tip of the spear and the last line of defense for our conservative county.

We are glad to have Dan in Nevada County and representing our conservative principles in Sacramento.

Homecoming king: a special needs success story - The Union

2011-10-13T05:39:00.000-07:00

"Colin Peirce's parents didn't think it was possible that their son could be elected Nevada Union High School's homecoming king."

"Denis and Nancy Peirce were just thankful when their son, a 17-year-old with Down syndrome, was named one of the three finalists."

"To see him riding in a convertible and waving in a parade-like procession at the Sept. 23 homecoming game, in front of the whole school and thousands more on hand, was something the couple never dreamed they would see.

"'What the student body did for Colin speaks volumes for what our school stands for,' said Jennifer Victor, a special needs aide who has worked with Colin for four years. '(The special needs staff) didn't have anything to do with that.'"

"Denis Peirce, for one, begs to differ."

"'The special needs teachers and aides have been trying for years and years to get those kids out into the mainstream,' he said. 'This is a big success in that respect.'"

"The Peirce family attributes Colin's popularity to two things: His magnetic personality and the work of the special needs staff, aides and helpers who have been by their son's side since he entered kindergarten."

The rest of this heart-warming article from The Union is here.

I coach a lot of the girls on the NU cheer squad at the gymnastics gym. Really good quality kids...obviously.

Congratulations Colin!

Occupy Brunswick Road?

2011-10-12T17:24:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the "Occupy Brunswick Road" crew. To be fair to the group, there were more people than this picture tends to show - maybe 150 occupying the four corners. My daughter did her best with her iPod, as we waited for the light to change at the corner of Brunswick and Sutton.

I think that I saw every member of the Nevada County Democratic Central Committee.

If I were them, I would be careful about aligning with the Occupy anything group. I know that they will not take my advice from the right-side of the aisle, but maybe they would listen to one of their own.

"'I think Democrats are tempted to reproduce the same dynamic that occurred with the Tea Party on the right,' said Julian Epstein, a Democratic consultant with long experience on Capitol Hill. 'They need to figure out what [Bill] Clinton figured out masterfully, which is: How do you motivate the kind of activist, leftist base without offending the independents and the centrists?'"

"Epstein called it a 'mistake' for the Obama White House and Democratic congressional leaders to align themselves too closely with the Wall Street protests, however, because he predicted that members of the movement will inevitably say 'stupid things' that leading Democrats will be forced to repudiate."

Like "long live socialism" which can be seen here.

"He also pointed out that the protesters are implacably opposed to three initiatives – the TARP and auto industry bailouts, and the continuation of the Bush-era tax cuts – that Obama has supported."

"Pete Wehner, a former official in the Reagan administration and both Bush White Houses, predicted the Republicans will have a field day tying the president and Democratic congressional candidates to the Wall Street protests, which Wehner called a 'fringe' movement that plays to the Democratic Party's 'worst stereotypes.'"

"'I suspect what you're going to see in the coming days and weeks is the Republican Party try to attach the Democratic Party at the hip to OWS,' Wehner said. 'That's exactly what Nixon did with the counterculture...and that had a tremendous appeal to the center of the country, and it helped explain his election in 1968, and his re-election, by a huge margin, 49 states to one, in 1972.'"

The entire article is here.

With Obama polling in the low-40's and OWS being tied to the Democrats, we can likely see a Republican-controlled Congress and President starting 2013. If Republicans can pull off a filibuster-proof Senate, we will see a transformation of government back to the founding principles like never seen in our lifetimes.

Future prosperity may be right around the corner!

Newt Boom Next?

2011-10-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

"If Tuesday night’s Republican debate is a sign of things to come, the next campaign boom might be coming from Newt Gingrich."

"The former speaker turned in his best debate performance so far in a New Hampshire forum hosted by Bloomberg News and the Washington Post, and Gingrich might already be experiencing the kind of surge that lifted Herman Cain to the top of the polls in the weeks since the Sept. 22 FOX News/Google debate if more Republicans could have seen the show."

"It makes sense, because it was the ideal environment for him: a policy-driven discussion on fiscal and economic matters with questioners who were coming from the heart of the establishment press."

"Gingrich went hard after the premise of the very first question to him, which was a restatement of the core grievances of the Occupy Wall Street movement: 'Do you think it's right that no Wall Street executives have gone to jail for the damage they did to the economy?'"

"Gingrich stipulated that there were some legitimate protesters but then hammered 'left-wing agitators who would be happy to show up next week on any other topic' and leave trash and disruption in their wake. Gingrich then explained that, 'in both the Bush and the Obama administrations, the fix has been in. And I think it's perfectly reasonable for people to be angry. But let's be clear who put the fix in: The fix was put in by the federal government.'"

"Gingrich launched a withering attack on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and told questioner Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post: 'If you want to put people in jail -- I want to second what Michele said -- you ought to start with Barney Frank and Chris Dodd and let's look at the politicians who created the environment, the politicians who profited from the environment, and the politicians who put this country in trouble.'"

The rest of the article is here.

United States Mens' Gymnastics Team in Team Finals at World Championships in Tokyo

2011-10-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

The USA men qualified in second place of the eight teams that qualified for the team finals. In preliminaries and in a great shock to the gymnastics world, the American men individually placed second, third, and fifth.

With the 2012 Olympics in London right around the corner, it appears that the American men are poised to medal, and possibly win, at the Olympics.

Team finals will be on Universal Sports (online and on cable) at 5pm on October 12th.

Reagan Tells Us About Democrats

2011-10-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

Jeff Ackerman: Common Sense has died; no services scheduled (too few mourners)

2011-10-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

"Someone sent me a little missive out of London mourning the death of Common Sense.

"It was sad to hear, as citizens and government leaders today debate issues whose solutions would be obvious if Common Sense still had a pulse. It didn't say exactly when Common Sense kicked the bucket, or get into much detail on the cause of death. I'm guessing he died from loneliness and that his death was excruciatingly painful. We all need social interaction to help feed our spirit and nobody seemed to be paying much attention to Common Sense.

"We need look no further than Sacramento and Washington, D.C., to see evidence of neglect and abuse of Common Sense.

"In his absence, our government leaders have felt compelled to pass laws that would otherwise be obvious if Common Sense were still around. He would know without being told, for example, that you shouldn't stand on an oven door to reach for a box of cereal, or that it would be a great idea to wear a helmet if you drive a motorcycle 100 miles an hour in a forest.

"I'm guessing he'd also suggest that you shouldn't text the passenger in the back seat while driving on the Coastal Highway, or across the Bay Bridge in fog. And he'd remind us that before the invention of soy milk there were actually cows, with udders that squirted milk if you gave them a proper tug. Many people — called farmers, according to history books — actually drank that milk and grew strong enough to change a wagon wheel with their bare hands.

"Just as he probably would have questioned the wisdom of the city of Grass Valley spending $57,000 and counting with a Colorado-based consultant to build a website designed to bring tourists to Grass Valley. Despite a “Be Local, Buy Local” campaign (sounds really cool on a window sticker), the city never even considered contracting with one of several Nevada County web designers who probably would have loved to have a $57,000 contract that would have allowed them to continue to “Be Local, Buy Local.”

"Marketing people love to tell us how far a dollar circulates through the economy when it is spent here. Too bad that $57,000 of Grass Valley's money will stimulate Colorado's economy instead.

"That new website (www.gograssvalley.com) will need to generate almost a million in retail sales right off the bat to recover the $57,000 in sales taxes that flew to Colorado. And with a dozen other local websites all competing for the same tourist, good luck with that.

The rest of Jeff's article is here.

Twin Cities Church Softball Team Wins League But Falls Short in Tournament

2011-10-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

This summer, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and playing softball with members of the congregation of Twin Cities Church. While I am an extremely competitive person and while I enjoy winning as much as anyone, I play softball in western Nevada County strictly for fun and exercise. I have no desire to "relive the glory days"...I am too old for that nonsense.

That being said, this summer our Twin Cities team was a great and fun team. The comradery among the players was wonderful, and we were highly competitive. While we were only 1-2 in the tournament on Saturday (played at Litton Field), we finished the regular season with a 12-2 record and won our division.

We did play another team from Veritas Church (left). Our jerseys were almost identical which made it interesting to say the least. While it is time to hang up the cleats and put the softball bag in the garage until March, this summer ended with great times and with great friends!

Thank you to Twin Cities Church for allowing me to play with you this summer!

Newt Gingrich 2012

2011-10-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

Newt's wife (left) and Newt Gingirch (middle)
and Nancy Brost of Nevada City (right)

Gingrich on the other candidates...
"They're nice people, but they don't have the knowledge to do something like this on this scale. This is enormously complicated."

Gingrich on depth of knowledge...
"If you watch them and watch me, the difference in the depth of knowledge and the difference in the ability to debate Obama, the difference in actually having done it at the national level...I'm a pretty good mechanic who knows how to fix the car, and the other folks are good at selling it."

If it ever happens, a debate between Obama and Gingrich would be bad news for Obama. The result would be the professor (Gingrich) would be lecturing the student (Obama)...the President would look small.

Right now, I am still decidedly undecided, but I am warming up to Gingrich.

Poll: Who Should Run Against Dianne Feinstein - Sac Bee

2011-09-29T22:14:00.001-07:00

Poll Creator Progreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Tea Party Message to Morgan Freeman

2011-09-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

Ali Akbar, a 26-year-old black small business owner who is one of the original national Tea Party organizers, wrote an open letter to the Academy-Award winning performer, who is African American, inviting him to a Tea Party in Tennessee, the place of Freeman’s birth, or any location in the country, to prove his opinion is wrong.

Akbar is a Southern Baptist from Texas. His African-American mother was a college student in Texas when she met and married an Arab exchange student, who subsequently abandoned his wife and son to return to his native country.

Akbar's letter is reprinted in its entirety below and available here.

Dear Mr. Freeman,

My name is Ali Akbar. I’m a 26 year-old African-American small business owner and a tea party activist. I’m not writing to rake you over the coals in the way that many conservatives have done in the last 48 hours. Heck, I wrote a passionate open-letter refuting many of your claims already, but this is not that. This is an honest and standing invitation. I do believe that you are wrong in what you said about the tea party, but I would rather prove it to you than castigate you for your comments.

I also understand that your reflexive comments came from experience. You grew up in a different America than the one that I was blessed to be born into. We both grew up in the south, but I never saw 'White Only' signs. I’ve been called a name or two in my three decades, but racism has always been the exception in my life, not the rule, as it probably was in your youth. I understand your suspicion of conservative political movements. It is rooted in pain and fear and memory, and though I never saw the horrors of segregation that you did, we share that cultural heritage.

I’ve been a fan of yours all my life. From "Driving Miss Daisy" to "Lean on Me" to "The Shawshank Redemption," I idolized you as a boy. Growing up without a father, you were one of the strong black men in my life who gave me a model to follow. Each of the characters you played had dignity and confidence. I tried to emulate the strength you projected. While many of my friends headed down the all-too-familiar path of drugs, unwed pregnancies and crime, I’ve striven to live a life with dignity, be an example for my brothers and make my mother proud.

My favorite of your movies was "The Power of One." I must’ve watched it a hundred times, crying every time when your character Geel Piet was killed by the racist South African. Geel Piet was brave and heroic, even in the face of death, because he knew that the hate that killed him was a trifle in comparison to the love that PK’s anti-apartheid movement was spreading. It is with that spirit that I’m writing to you this morning.

I’ve attended dozens of tea party events. I’ve helped organize them, and I’ve even spoken at a few. The tea party is not what is often depicted in the news. It is people of all colors who are terribly concerned about the direction that America is heading. We don’t trust big government to make decisions for us. And we fear that the present administration’s spending is going to lead our country down a path to insolvency, much like what Greece is currently facing.

Your comments about the tea party have caused me physical pain. You’ve rekindled the old painful paradigm of Uncle Tom – that any black man who votes Republican is some kind of sellout. It’s not true. I work hard, pay my taxes, love Jesus, and I’m good to my family and community. In effect, your comments have stereotyped an entire group of people. And I know in my soul that you must regret that on some level.

There’s already plenty of groupthink among American blacks. Over 90% of us vote Democrat with religious regularity, and we have been doing so for over fifty years. For a short time, I was one of them. I realized a few years ago that the Democrats’ promises of equality bestowed by government wasn’t working and will never work. I came to believe that redistributionist policies with the goal of social justice was essentially creating a new plantation within the federal government. Scraps might be thrown our way, but dependence on the plantation would be the inevitable result.

Over half a century since we started voting for Democrat policies, blacks in America are worse off than before. Black Americans are more likely to get involved with drugs, go to prison, and die younger than our white counterparts. Over 70% of our children are born out of wedlock. Our abortion rate has never been higher. There are two explanations for these results. 1) Blacks are an inferior race and can’t take care of themselves. 2) Despite the best of intentions, the government has created and implemented “social justice” policies that promote perpetual dependence. I choose to believe the latter. Therefore, I have become a Republican.

Mr. Freeman, I’m not asking you to adopt my political views. You’re in your seventies, and a political shift is not in your future. I’m reaching out to you because I want you to think better of your fellow countrymen. Barack Obama is in the White House, and Herman Cain just won the Florida straw poll. America is the land of opportunity for black Americans like never before.

I’m hoping that you’ll come to a tea party in Tennessee — the place of your birth. Really anywhere in the country that works for you; I’ll set it up with the one of the thousands of activists I know around our great country. I’d be delighted to introduce you to good people who will welcome you with open arms, disagree with you, and then feed you some of the best barbeque you’ve ever tasted.

Racism is an ugly thing, but I assure you that it is part of our past, not our present.

It takes bravery to admit that you may have made a mistake. But, for Geel Piet, bravery is like breathing. It’s just something you do.

I hope you’ll take me up on my offer.

Sincerely,

Ali Akbar

Kim Pruett Meet Michele Bachmann

2011-09-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago in Los Angeles, my wife had the opportunity and pleasure to meet Michele Bachmann and chat with her for about five minutes. Of course, Kim was excited to meet her, but her comment to me about the encounter was remarkable. When I asked Kim what she thought about Michele Bachmann, Kim replied that she was normal. When pressed on what "normal" meant, she explained that Kim explained that she was down to earth and was a normal person without the smarminess of a typical politician. Both and Kim and I found that extraordinarily refreshing.

Kim went on to say that Michele Bachmann was glad to have Tom McClintock in Congress and that McClintock is clearly going places on the national level.

It is unfortunate that Michele is slipping in the polls, but regardless, whichever Republican nominee receives the nod to run against Obama will do a better job for the American people than that which we have had to put up with for the past three years.

At Tri Counties: ‘Business as usual'

2011-09-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

"Officers from Tri Counties Bank assisted in the opening of Citizens Bank branches Monday morning, as employees assured customers their accounts are safe and their checks will be honored."

"Tri Counties is in the process of buying Citizens after state and federal regulators determined last week Citizens could not raise enough capital to secure its loans. Tri Counties started taking over operations late Friday."

"'Everything they have done at (Citizens) Bank, it's completely the same,' said Tri Counties President and CEO Rick Smith. 'It's business as usual.'"

The rest of the article is here.

I was there no less than an hour ago making deposits. Everything was okey dokey.

Many of our friends worked at Citizens Bank, so this event cast a long shadow over our weekend. I saw a few of them around town this weekend, and we discussed the events of Friday. They confirmed what is generally known about the federal regulators. The feds come in on Friday night at closing and professionally make the change. They are very nice and create a merger atmosphere as opposed to a "take over," adversarial atmosphere.

On Saturday, one of our friends from Citizens Bank, in particular, was deeply distressed. You could just see it in this person's eyes, and I said a quick prayer for this person. Our community is truly saddened by the loss of our community bank, but Tri Counties will do a good job for us too, I am sure.

A Little D.C. Insomnia

2011-09-23T10:13:00.001-07:00

RightChange PolitiZoid - D.C. Insomnia from RightChange on Vimeo.

Buffett's Berkshire Owes $1 Billion In Back Taxes

2011-09-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

"Billionaire investor Warren Buffett triggered a major debate over taxes recently when he wrote in The New York Times that he should be paying more to the federal government. He called on Washington lawmakers to up tax rates on the rich.

"But it turns out that Buffett's own company, Berkshire Hathaway, has had every opportunity to pay more taxes over the last decade. Instead, it's been mired in a protracted legal battle with the Internal Revenue Service over a bill that one analyst estimates may total $1 billion.

"Yes, that’s right: while Warren Buffett complains that the rich aren't paying their fair share his own company has been fighting tooth and nail to avoid paying a larger share.

"The story of Berkshire's years-long tax battle, which is generally known in business circles, took on new life this week when a group called Americans for Limited Government (ALG) reported that, according to Berkshire Hathaway's own annual report, the company is embroiled in an ongoing standoff over its tax bills.

"That report, in turn, was cited in an editorial in The New York Post.

"'Obvious question: If Buffett really thinks he and his 'mega-rich friends' should pay higher taxes, why doesn’t his firm fork over what it already owes under current rates?" the Post opined.

"Likely answer: He cares more about shilling for President Obama -- who's practically made socking 'millionaires and billionaires' his re-election theme song -- than about kicking in more himself."

The rest of the article is here.

If Buffett and Obama think that people should be more giving of their money to the government, they should take the lead and write a check to the IRS before picking the back pocket of the job creators in this country.

Can you say "hypocrite" five times fast?

Among Undecided Voters, 64% Disapprove of Obama

2011-09-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

"Recent polling shows President Obama attracting between 39% and 46% of the vote against a variety of potential Republican challengers. Despite those relatively low levels of support, the president has never trailed a Republican by more than three percentage points and has enjoyed large double-digit leads in some match-ups."

"But always there are a decent number of voters who say they prefer a third option or are undecided. Currently, among those who are undecided, just 34% approve of the way the president has handled his job, while 64% disapprove. Among those who prefer a third option rather than Obama or a particular GOP candidate, the president’s numbers are even weaker: 13% approve, and 87% disapprove."

The rest of the poll is here.

If Obama is attracting 39% of the electorate and 87% of undecideds are against him, there is no way to win unless the left attempts to demonize the right.

We will not see very many local articles from the local left touting the virtues of liberalism or the wonderful record of Obama. Because Obama cannot run on his record, look for the left, both nationally and locally, to attack conservatives and Republicans relentlessly and daily.

Remember, negative campaigning is bad...unless it is coming from the left.

44% Conservative, 40% Moderate, 11% Liberal on Fiscal Issues

2011-09-18T12:33:00.000-07:00

"Twenty-nine percent (29%) of Likely U.S. Voters remain conservative on both fiscal and social issues, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

"Just 10% say they are fiscal and social liberals. Sixty-one percent (61%) are some other combination. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

"These findings are consistent with surveys back to November 2007, as is the continuing pattern that voters tend to be more fiscally conservative than socially conservative.

"Forty-four percent (44%) describe themselves as conservative on fiscal issues such as taxes, government spending and business regulation. Forty percent (40%) say they’re moderate when it comes to fiscal issues, while only 11% claim to be fiscal liberals.

"But just 35% say they’re conservative when it comes to issues like abortion, public prayer and church-state topics. Thirty percent (30%) are moderate in this area, and 31% are social liberals.

The rest of the article is here.

While the liberals, both nationally and locally, attempt to discredit the Republican nominees for President by painting them as social conservatives, the 2012 election will be a referendum on Obama's fiscal policies. Much like Maslow's theory of the hierarchy of needs which states that people need to satisfy their own needs before those of others, voters in 2012 will be voting on fiscal issues and not social issues. Too many people are out of work. Too many people are worried about federal deficit spending. Too many people, including our youthful voters, are very worried about the massive national debt.

Now, with presidential scandals developing which clearly demonstrate that the Obama administration has been playing fast and loose with the people's money for political purposes (Solyndra and LightSquared), the people are going to be looking for the real "hope and change," because what they got in 2008 is crony capitalism and extreme liberal/socialist fiscal ideology.

In the glorious words of Bill Clinton, "It's the economy, stupid."

Republican Message Resonates with California Voters

2011-09-15T07:09:00.000-07:00

"Republicans, even in deep-blue California, are winning the rhetorical war of words over how to frame the country's economic troubles, and how to get out of them."

"Although Obama has previously called for strategic government investments to stimulate the economy, only 37% of California voters said they favor such an approach. Instead, the Republican view -- that slashing government spending to restrain the deficit will better lead to prosperity -- was preferred by 49% of respondents, according to the survey sponsored by the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and The Times.

"'The argument of 'We need to cut the size of government, we need to reduce the deficit' has won, even in California," said David Kanevsky, research director for American Viewpoint, a Republican firm that co-directed the bipartisan poll. 'Stimulus is almost a four-letter word here.'"

"California Republicans and Democrats alike said they would prefer their leaders stick to their guns when it comes to core issues -- rejecting tax hikes for Republicans, avoiding cuts to Social Security and Medicare for Democrats -- even if concessions are needed to tame the federal deficit or lure the other side out of its ideological corner."

"Republicans preferred the hard-line stance, 50% to 35%, and Democrats concurred by an even larger ratio, 57% to 32%."

The article is here.

So, don't believe the local leftist's "rhetoric" that the Tea Party Patriots are extreme. First, even blue-state California voters are coming around to Tea Party Patriots' common sense principles of reducing the size and scope of government. Second, and as demonstrated above, it is the Democrats who are more unwilling to compromise and get out of their ideological corner.

Thankfully for the future prosperity of our country, the progressives are asleep at the wheel while the conservatives are doing a good job of rallying their troops.

Republican Wins House Race in New York, Seen as Obama Rebuke

2011-09-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

"Republicans have scored an upset victory in a New York City House race that became a referendum on President Barack Obama's economic policies.

"Retired media executive and political novice Bob Turner defeated Democratic state Assemblyman David Weprin in a special election Tuesday to succeed Rep. Anthony Weiner, a seven-term Democrat who resigned in June after a sex texting scandal.

"The heavily Democratic district spanning parts of Queens and Brooklyn had never sent a Republican to the House. But frustration with the continued weak national economy gave Republicans the edge.

The article is here.

In this congressional district, Democrats have a three-to-one registration advantage over Republicans. In 2010, Obama won this congressional district by 11 points. In the past, Chuck Schumer and Geraldine Ferraro represented this congressional district for heaven's sake.

Clearly and unequivocally, Obama and the Democrats are still in deep trouble going into the 2012 election cycle.

September 11th - A Day to Remember

2011-09-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

September 11th is always a somber day in our house, and the same story is told every year.

During the week before September 11, 2001, in Nevada City, my wife's mother was visiting from Kentucky. While I slept early that morning, Kim took her mother to the airport for a 6:00am return flight from Sacramento to Cincinnati. Kim dropped her mother at the airport at 5:00am and on her return to Nevada City listened to the radio as tragic events in New York unfolded. When Kim arrived at the house, she woke me up to tell me that planes had crashed into the World Trade Center. I mistakenly thought that she was talking about single-engine planes and stayed in bed. I heard Kim listening to the radio and understood that the planes about which she spoke were commercial airliners, and I immediately got out of bed. As the events unfolded throughout the morning and when we realized that the USA was being attacked by terrorists hijacking commercial airliners, we both looked at each other and thought..."oh no." As we spoke, Kim's mother was on a transcontinental flight.

I immediately called American Airlines, as Kim was too upset. A wonderful and amazing woman answered the telephone. I told her that my mother-in-law was on a flight from Sacramento, and we were very concerned as to what was happening with her flight. By the tone of her voice, I could tell that the employee was completely overwhelmed. The airline employee told me that they were crazy busy and that she was going to put me on hold. She informed me that I would be on hold for a long time, but she promised me that she would find out the status of the flight. While Kim cried, I was on hold for well over 20 minutes when the employee came back online to inform me that Kim's mom's flight was being redirected back to Sacramento and that everything was okay. While I do not remember the name of the American Airlines employee, she is famous in our house for bringing relief to Kim that morning on such an understandably crazy day at American Airlines.

Kim's mom's flight was the last flight to leave Sacramento on September 11th, and it was also the last flight to arrive that morning. Upon her arrival back in Sacramento, Kim's mom called us to tell us that she was okay. She stated that during her return, she felt very safe, as her flight was escorted by a military fighter on each side of the plane...

Scary.

While we all remember where we were on that day, it also important the significance of that day and how that day forever changed the USA. Please say a prayer for those we lost and for those who today are defending us.

Diaz Deposition Released

2011-09-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

George Rebane and The Union are both reporting that the deposition of Greg Diaz has been released...finally. The Union will be doing an extensive report tomorrow.

The deposition transcript is here.

What I found this interesting was on pages 38-39 of his deposition, Diaz denies knowing what "code" is in apparent effort to demonstrate that he did not know the type of access that he was giving to Aptitude Solutions.

In the video below (Diaz debate with Kathleen Smith in 2006), Diaz not only states that he knows what code is, but affirmatively states that as the VP of a national software firm he understands the significance of code and how a single line has significance.

See between 9:51-11:47

Diaz also conceded that he breached the contract twice. First, he admitted to authorizing the Aptitude access to the server housing AtPac's code. Second, he admitted to not telling AtPac of the breach. These two admissions show conclusively liability on Diaz for breach of contract. As for copyright and trade secrets, we will never know as the server to which Aptitude copied the software was scrubbed to a defense department standard. It is readily apparent, however, that the insurance carrier saw the potential for damages in excess of $1.9 million.

I look forward to The Union's in-depth coverage tomorrow.

Obama Seeks Extension of Gas Tax

2011-08-31T07:37:00.000-07:00

"President Obama wants Congress to quickly pass an unconditioned extension of the federal gasoline tax, which is set to expire at the end of the government’s fiscal year on Sept. 30."

"The federal gas tax has been 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993 and generates more than $32 billion a year that is then mostly passed out to states for road construction and repair. About 15 percent goes to other federal efforts, like subsidizing public transportation or other efforts to discourage driving. The average American motorist pays about $100 a year in the federal tax."

"Conservatives in Congress want to cut out the federal middleman and allow states to raise and spend their own road money. Not only would letting states collect the taxes directly reduce the money spent on federal behavioral engineering efforts (bike paths etc.), but would also allow states to avoid federal laws that require union workers be used on highway projects."

"House Republicans already made a big change to the way highway dollars are allocated. Before the 2010 'shellacking' the Highway Trust Fund was a slushy spot. Influential appropriators worked hard to get the first spade full of dirt turned over on decades-long projects in their districts because they knew that they could, in essence, obligate the federal government. Then when bills came due, the Trust Fund would have to get a bailout from general revenues in order to complete already authorized projects."

The rest of the article is here.

"The [gas] tax is the Obama agenda in microcosm: The program takes money from everyone to fund infrastructure projects, some environmentally friendly initiatives and treats union workers favorably. It also shows the challenge he faces in selling a broader program of tax increases for stimulus spending. Explaining to Americans why paying 18.4 cents more for a gallon of gas is no easy feat."

Good luck with this one. I am all for decreasing the size and scope of government.

"Man is not free unless government is limited." - Ronald Reagan

Polls Shows Tea Party Members Less Strident in their Positions than Non-Members

2011-08-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

"While many Democrats, journalists, and establishment Republicans have been critical of the Tea Party, most Republicans think the grass roots smaller government movement will be a plus for their party in next year’s presidential race."

"A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of Likely GOP Primary voters believe the Tea Party will help Republicans in the 2012 presidential election. Just 22% say the group will hurt the GOP in the 2012 race, while eight percent (8%) say it will have no impact. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure."

The rest of the article is here.

The most interesting part of the poll is the part that shows Tea Party members are less dogmatic than non-members.

"Interestingly, those outside the Tea Party are more committed to finding a candidate who shares their views--67% of Tea Party members take that approach compared to 75% of non-members."

That data directly contradicts a common story line (pushed by the national media and vehemently and aggressively pushed by the former editor of The Union) that Tea Party members are interested in ideological purity while others are more practical in their considerations.

Tea Party members are just regular, ordinary folks who want smaller government.

Is the state government unfairly penalizing rural counties? - Rich Ulery

2011-08-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

"In its never ending quest for more tax revenue, the state of California's Democrat-controlled legislature and Governor Brown appear to be taking direct aim against rural counties and the GOP legislators that largely represent them."

"You will remember that Republicans in both the state Assembly and Senate stood unified in opposing any attempt to place extensions of the huge tax increases passed by the legislature in 2009 on the ballot in 2011."

"Had those tax extensions passed, California's already overly burdened taxpayers would have shouldered additional taxes that approached $60 billion over five years by many estimates."

"A few budget 'trailer bills' were also passed by the same majority vote that curiously direct their impact straight at conservative counties largely represented by Republicans.

The rest of the article is here.

Governor Brown brings "Chicago-style" politics from Obama's White House to Sacramento. Much like the local leftwing chastises the Tea Party as terrorists for begging Congress and Obama to balance a checkbook, the Democrats in Sacramento are punishing voters for electing Republicans.

Until Governor Brown (and Obama for that matter) decides to get serious about spending cuts in the state, our state's fiscal problems will not be going anywhere.

Liberal Violence in Ohio

2011-08-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

"With around 25 employees, John King owns one of the largest non-union electrical contracting businesses in the Toledo, Ohio area. As a non-union contractor, his business happens to be doing well at a time when unions in the construction industry are suffering. This, it seems, has made the usual animosity unions have for him even greater, making him a prime target of union thugs. So much so, that one of them tried to kill him last week at his home."

"John King didn’t plan on being an enemy of unions. In fact, he says all he’s ever wanted to do is work at something he loves doing and be successful at it—something that most normal Americans would call ‘The American Dream.’"

"After high school and some college, Mr. King briefly worked for an IBEW contractor before being drafted into the military. Following his service in the early 70s, King became his own boss by going into business as the youngest electrical contractor in Toledo."

"Over the years, King Electrical Services had always been a small business. However, during the Great Recession, King’s business has actually improved as his union competitors have priced themselves out of work."

"Unfortunately, being a non-union electrical company, King has always been on the radar of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). In fact, in 2006, he won a significant case against the IBEW at the US Court of Appeals, after the union had improperly promised his electricians jobs on union sites if they voted the union into King’s company."

The rest of the developing story is here.

Question: Where is the outrage from the liberal mainstream media?

Answer: They are waiting to determine whether the union shooters are Tea Partiers before they go after them.

Nevada County Fair - Results of Republican Straw Poll (Updated)

2011-08-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

The Nevada County Republican Central Committee conducted a Republican Presidential Straw Poll at the Fair Booth this weekend. Over 160 people voted in the Straw Poll.

The results are as follows:

Rick Perry 41 votes (25.2%)
Michelle Bachmann 35 votes (21.5%)
Mitt Romney 26 votes (16.0%)
Herman Cain 14 votes (8.6%)
Undecided 11 votes (6.7%)
Ron Paul 10 votes (6.1%)

The remaining candidates all received less than 10 votes.

While I manned the booth on Sunday afternoon, Todd Juvinall kept control on Friday and Saturday evenings, and Doug LaMalfa dropped by on Thursday night. The conversations at the Republican Fair Booth were lively! There is certainly a more focused and concerned feeling among the populous. We even had a pro-Union, registered Democrat tell us that she and her husband were quite upset with Obama despite having voted for him in the past.

This election will clearly be about the economy and jobs...no question. That being the case, Rick Perry has the inside track with a pro-growth and history of creating jobs. I think that the next year will politically be a lot of fun!

UPDATED: I was interviewed by Paul Emery of KVMR while I was working at the Republican booth. The interview aired last night - August 15.

The interview is here and starts at 24:50.

The interview was short, but Paul Emery and I spoke for at least 20 minutes afterwards. Paul is a great guy, and we had a great conversation about Nevada County politics and our local blogs. I am looking forward to listening to Paul Emery and George Rebane on September 27th at 6:30pm at the Horsemen's Club. I have no doubt that both Paul and George will provide the audience with something about which to contemplate.

Thanks Paul!

Last Day of the Fair - Last Day of Summer

2011-08-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

Today marks the last day of the Nevada County Fair. Our family has been at the Nevada County Fair playing and working every day this year and had the opportunity to see some great friends. Last night while behind the wine pavilion before watching the band play "Another Brick in The Wall," I had the opportunity to talk to the Fair Family of the Year.

The Union background is here.

Danny and Katie Granholm have been great friends of ours for years. Our gymnastics business and their powder coating business were next door to each other. Our daughter, Lilly, would leave the gym occasionally to color "Little Mermaid" books with Katie in Katie's office. The Granholm kids were semi-permanent fixtures at the gym.

In his youth, Ben Granholm was one of my gymnasts, and in his adolescent years, he became very involved in FFA. He was the California State FFA Treasurer last year. He will be headed to Fresno State in the fall and will also be working on agriculture issues in the central valley with my wife, Kim, who is a field representative for Congressman McClintock.

I love all of the kids that I have coached in the past. I love to see how they grow up, and I love that feeling of how gymnastics has positively impacted their lives. I try not to have favorites, but it is inevitable. Two of the "favorites" are Ben and his cousin, Tahnee. We teach them more than just gymnastics...we try to give them tools that they will use the rest of their lives. Sometimes though, as the video below demonstrates, I learn something from them.

California FFA State Leadership Conference - Ben Granholm

New Vehicle for Hetty's Haven - KNCO

2011-08-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

Women of Worth now have a late model minivan thanks to Nevada County South Rotary, who spearheaded a district grant to purchase a vehicle for Women of Worth to help transport shelter families staying at Hetty's Haven Verna Mac Donell with women of worth explains the need this gift has filled.

“Sometimes we have several family members staying in Hetty’s Haven and then they have needs for transportation to medical appointments, court appointments, employment services appointments and other supportive services in the community. Having the ability to transport them in a vehicle that will accommodate any number of people is just a lot more beneficial for the organization.”

Nevada County South Rotary, together with the Nevada City, Auburn Daybreak and Gold Country Rotary Clubs, raised funds and worked with Pioneer Motors to deliver the vehicle to Women of Worth.

The link to the KNCO article is here.

Congratulations to Rod Borges for spearheading this endeavour, and good luck to Hetty's Haven in changing the lives of the people that use your wonderful services!

Defendant in assault case alleges conflict of interest by DA's office

2011-08-10T23:03:00.000-07:00

"Contractor Greg Pellerin believes his felony assault charges are due to a conspiracy by law enforcement authorities and the Nevada County District Attorney's Office to silence him."

"He's been waging a lengthy and, so far, unsuccessful uphill legal battle against charges of assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, battery with serious bodily injury, and false imprisonment; a Nevada County Superior Court judge recently denied his request to have the DA's office remove itself as prosecutor."

"Pellerin was arrested on April 20, 2010 during an altercation with a man who was serving him with eviction papers — the day he was scheduled to testify in a restitution hearing for victims of hard money loan broker Thomas Hastert. Pellerin originally had a loan with Olympic Mortgage that was sold to Hastert's Loan Sense, he claims."

"It is District Attorney Cliff Newell's ties to Olympic Mortgage that led Pellerin's attorney, Patrick Dwyer, to file motions to dismiss the case and to force Newell's office to recuse itself."

"Dwyer has claimed a 'blatant' multimillion-dollar conflict of interest for Newell and his office due to Newell's personal business relationship with Olympic. In his motion, Dwyer pointed to a 'complete and unexplained failure' of the District Attorney to investigate Olympic Mortgage or to refer the investigation to the state Attorney General's office, despite a complaint filed by Pellerin with Grass Valley Police in July 2007."

The rest of the article is here.

Wisconsin GOP's Stand Could Reverberate Elsewhere

2011-08-10T01:57:00.000-07:00

"A stand by Wisconsin Republicans against a massive effort to oust them from power could reverberate across the country as the battle over union rights and the conservative revolution heads toward the 2012 presidential race."

"Democrats succeeded in taking two Wisconsin state Senate seats away from Republican incumbents on Tuesday but fell one short of what they needed to seize majority control of the chamber."

"Republicans saw it as a big win for Gov. Scott Walker and a confirmation of his conservative agenda, the hallmark of which was a polarizing proposal taking away most collective bargaining rights from public workers."

"'Republicans are going to continue doing what we promised the people of Wisconsin — improve the economy and get Wisconsin moving back in the right direction,' Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said in a prepared statement after the victory."

The rest of the Washington Post article is here.

These recall elections are a clear repudiation of the leftwing divisive "rhetoric" which focuses on calling the Tea Party terrorists and extremists. The "middle of the roaders" in Wisconsin did not buy what the liberal Democrats were selling.

"Wayne Boland, 41, a Whitefish Bay man who works in marketing for a medical equipment maker, said he voted for the Republican Darling 'not because I entirely agree with everything the Republican Party has done or the governor' but because they’re working toward addressing the state’s problems."

Amen.

For the liberal Democrats (and our vocal local leftist), who are out of touch with the center, it is either time to retool the "rhetoric" or actually start fixing America's problems. The US Senate, who has not passed anything of consequence since 2010, should take note.

Wisconsin is about as "middle of the road" as it gets. The fact that the GOP won in Wisconsin after Obama came out with the "it's the Tea Party's fault" none sense, is very telling of the right turn this country will take in 2012. Most of us are in the middle, and instead of divisive rhetoric, we are voting to fix the problems of a nation.

"Is it 2012 yet?"

Increasing Taxes is Good for the Economy? - The Multiplier Myth

2011-08-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

"There has been an ongoing debate between two almost polar opposite schools of thought on a basic economic theory, one being Keynesian economics and the other supply-side theory. Democrats subscribe to the Keynesian theory (JFK being an exception), and their policy decisions have been guided by it. Republican policies are based on supply-side theory. The choice between the two is vital and will determine whether the country continues on the road to prosperity, or if it becomes another failed grab at a Utopian dream."

"This is the theory on which Hoover and Roosevelt based many economic decisions trying to get us out of the depression, the theory which Japan has been employing for more than 30 years, and the theory on which the current administration is basing their entire economic policy. They have been trying to spin straw into gold. It won't happen."

"Supply-side argues that government spending not only does not stimulate growth, but actually retards it. It believes that creating wealth is the engine of growth, not consumption. Consumption they say is the fruit, the consequence of wealth creation. The reason stimulus hurts the economy is because the money spent is taken from the private sector through taxes and borrowing, and thus there is less money available for wealth creation."

The rest of this informative essay is here.

Starting in 1920, Harding and Coolidge drastically reduced taxes which led to spectacular economic growth.

In the 1930's, Hoover and Roosevelt attempted to bring us out of a severe economic downturn and actually exacerbated the problems created by the 1929 stock market crash and turned a recession into a the great depression. The country mired in it for over a decade.

So, the more we tax the wealth creators, the greater the drag on the national economy.

The only cure for our current economic woes is to reduce government spending and taxes and unleash the capitalist economic engine that created this wonderful country. Balance a budget...common sense.

Government "High Life"

2011-08-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

Sounds like..."Ya'll lost your mind!"

Government High Life from RightChange on Vimeo.

Great Liberal Achievements!

2011-08-06T02:28:00.000-07:00

Debt Deal: "Spitting in the Ocean"

2011-08-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

"'The ink hasn't even been printed on the paper yet, let alone signed into law,' complained White House Press Secretary Jay Carney hours before the House approved a last-minute deal to raise the debt ceiling and rein in federal deficits, 'and we're already talking about how it's not substantial enough.'"

"Indeed, budget experts contacted by Fox News universally hailed the $2.5 trillion deal as a step in the right direction, and a noteworthy shift for a capital long accustomed to spending without restraint. But they also agreed the measure falls far short of the drastic action needed to address America's massive and long-term structural debt problem."

"A drop in the bucket, or even spit in the ocean," chuckled Maya MacGuineas, president of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

"In an interview with Fox News conducted after she spent Monday afternoon traversing Capitol Hill to brief senators on the terms of the deal, MacGuineas called the proposed savings -- to be enacted in at least two rounds of action between now and early next year -- 'nothing to sneeze at.'"

"'But this is nowhere close to the amount of savings we need to really get on top of this deficit and debt challenge,' she said. 'We're on course to borrow about $10 or 11 trillion over the next 10 years. ... .And $2.5 trillion in savings over 10 years is not going to fix the problem. It's not even going to set us on the right course quite yet.'"

"There was also skepticism that the deal, which culminated months of partisan bickering and anxious backroom negotiations, did not even contain real cuts to deficit spending."

The rest of the article is here.

Reality check from a good friend...everyone keeps saying "Cut" when they should be using the phrase "grow a bit less than normal."

The plan adds at least $7 trillion to our debt over the next 10 years and it NEVER BALANCES.

Spit in the Ocean.

Why the GOP is More a Two-Part 'Coalition' than a Party

2011-07-31T14:19:00.000-07:00

"The 240-seat Republican Conference delivered by the American public last November is functioning more like a two-part governing coalition than a political party. But it's not two parties -- that would imply the tea party is an actual organization, which it's not, any more than the anti-war netroots movement of the last decade was. In fact, there's hardly a hair's breadth of ideological division within the whole group. The differences lie instead in their tactical approaches and their self-identification."

"Somewhere between 100 and 150 Republican members -- a majority of the conference on a given day -- self-identify as both outsiders and conservatives. They won in 2010 by saying 'Washington's broken and both parties are to blame' just as often as they said 'Obama and Pelosi are too liberal.' This was not just campaign strategy; it was conviction. They believe both statements earnestly and equally, and in 2010, the voters did, too -- a fact conveniently ignored by too many in this town."

"As a result, it's going to be darned difficult to get unanimity among House Republicans, even behind conservative legislation."

"Don't look for a solution to this debt issue -- or any issue -- that unites half the Democrats and half the Republicans. The ideological chasm is just too great for that at this point in our history. If you want to know what can pass, look at what can unite the GOP coalition -- something that is conservative and rebukes Washington's modus operandi at the same time."

The entire CNN article is here.

While our national and local leftwingers are in denial and hate the idea, the Tea Party (which was born in our wonderful rural community) has shifted the entire national debate to the right. The Tea Party is the new hard right...and the Democrats are still the hard left. Like it or not, the rank and file Republicans in the Congress are in the "middle of the road." If something...anything...can pass in the House of Representatives, the proposed law represents a true compromise between hard right and hard left.

In 2012, I predict that we will see the national debate sliding more and more to the right, as the Tea Party demands real reforms designed to avoid a crushing national debt which has become unsustainable.

Cut, Cap, and Balance

2011-07-29T16:09:00.000-07:00

Tom McClintock on The Bee...

The Bee has worked itself into a hyperbolic snit over the House vote last week for the “Cut, Cap, and Balance” Act.

The Bee calls it “ridiculous” and “reckless” to cut $111 billion from next year’s budget. That’s less than a three percent reduction after the 28 percent increase during this administration!

The Bee calls it “ridiculous” and “reckless” to cap future spending at 20 percent of the economy. Yet it cheered every spending bill that caused the current debt crisis, driving spending from 20 to 25 percent of GDP in just three years.

S&P has warned that U.S. credit will be downgraded unless the projected ten-year deficit is immediately reduced by at least $4 trillion. The “Cut, Cap, and Balance” Act does so, granting the President his debt limit increase in return for a balanced budget amendment that 49 states already have. The Bee calls this “calamitous.”

Really?

Tom McClintock voted for Cut, Cap, and Balance.

Let's look at this most reasonable, conservative proposal.

Cut spending by 3%.
Cap spending at 20% of GDP.
Force Congress to live within its means and balance the budget.

Let's look the extreme, liberal proposal supported by Democrats and Obama.

Doing nothing and continuing down a path to national bankruptcy.

According to Gallup, only 34 percent of "middle of the road voters" approve of the job Obama is doing. That's down 7 percent from three weeks ago.

It is no wonder why Obama's numbers have hit a new low due to his failure to lead.

The Nevada County Cover-up - Stan Meckler

2011-07-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

Editor's Note: Kim and I spent all weekend in South Lake Tahoe (beautiful!), as the kids are in Chicago visiting my parents. Just caught this article in The Union which is reprinted in its entirety below.

Nevada County finally settled the AtPac lawsuit. They say it only cost the taxpayer $100,000. ONLY? This suit could have been avoided for $15,000 at the very beginning, and that's when the trouble began.

County Clerk Recorder, Greg Diaz told the Board of Supervisors that the county could handle the change of software vendors without the help of AtPac, the previous vendor. Eventually, AtPac sued Nevada County, Aptitude Solutions and Greg Diaz in Federal Court over copyright infringement that could have been prevented for $15,000.

It became very clear in the depositions that neither the Clerk/Recorder's office nor the county was qualified to do the software change-over.

The details of the case have been well reported in our local media, including the depositions of county employees. During this time, the Federal Judge ruled that “there was a willful destruction of relevant evidence” by county employees, a very serious charge.

Here's where it gets interesting. Greg Diaz was called in to give his deposition to AtPac's attorney. That deposition has never been released publicly because the county has refused to do so. Shortly after Mr. Diaz's deposition, AtPac filed for a summary judgment against the county, Aptitude Solutions and Mr. Diaz. Why? Was Mr. Diaz' deposition so damaging that AtPac felt that a summary judgment was in order? Then the county asked AtPac to enter into mediation. Again I ask, why? The timing of all this is very suspicious.

Recently, the county stated that the lawsuit was resolved to everyone's satisfaction. However, the county insisted that further documents and depositions will not be released and no further comments would be forthcoming. The county is initiating this document embargo, not AtPac. What is the county trying to hide?

Here are a couple more questions: If the county was not at fault, why did the county's insurance pay $1.9 million to AtPac to settle the suit? Also, how much will the county's insurance premium increase due to this large payout?

The county doesn't want you, the taxpayer, to know who was at fault or whether any county employee has been reprimanded or fired for their part in this legal fiasco. That is a cover-up!

You and I deserve better from our employees. How can we trust our elected officials when they refuse to tell us the truth? We have seen these types of cover-ups and lack of transparency up to the highest levels of our government for many years, but I don't think we expected it here in Nevada County.

Make no mistake about it, this is a cover-up!

We must insist that the Board of Supervisors release the Greg Diaz deposition and let the public decide who is at fault. There is no excuse for this kind of behavior on the part of the county.

So, what do we do now? We must all write letters to The Union newspaper and express our opinions. Call KNCO and tell them that you would like to see them investigate this cover-up. You can write to the Sacramento Bee and tell them about another act of corruption in our county.

Call your Supervisor and demand that all documents be released. Remind them that they work for you and you are a voter who cares about your community.

Our Constitution is built on the principle that the people are supreme and that the government does the will of the people, not the other way around. It's time for our county government to get reacquainted with that concept.

Stan Meckler lives in Nevada County.

First Settlement Offer in AtPac case $30,000 - The Union

2011-07-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

"Nevada County paid $1.9 million in a lawsuit settlement this week, nearly $1 million more than a settlement offered earlier in the case. County officials maintained Thursday that nothing had changed between the offer and the final settlement, other than the hundreds of thousands racked up in legal fees.

"In the switch from Aptitude to AtPac, county employees and Diaz, allowed Aptitude access to AtPac's trade secrets, AtPac said in the suit filed in the Eastern District of California federal court in Sacramento. County officials denied any wrongdoing in the settlement, which was announced Tuesday.

"AtPac originally offered to settle for $30,000 in fall 2009 — before it filed a lawsuit in the case, Thomas said.

"Thomas pointed out that AtPac also had offered to settle the case for $1 million last year, and called into question the county's legal strategy.

"'Instead...the county engages in months of litigation and racks up legal fees,' Thomas said. 'And then they settled. Who's the Einstein that settled on that strategy?'"

"AtPac offered the settlement in September 2010, said County Board of Supervisors Chair Ed Scofield.

"'At that time there was no indication the county had done anything wrong,' Scofield said. 'The $1 million seemed very extreme and the defense cost was minimal at that time.'"

The entire story in The Union is here.

My experience with Michael Jamison and Diaz is that they are both very dishonest and will spin facts beyond the point of truth in order to cover their wrongdoing. My experience with Ed Scofield is that he is a straight shooter who tells it like it is...whether you like it or not.

While Michael Jamison (who recently resigned) asserts that neither he, nor the County staff, nor Diaz did anything wrong, we see the honesty of Scofield in the article when he said that "at that time there was no indication the county had done anything wrong."

I would posit to the people of the County that after Diaz' deposition and after AtPac filed for summary judgment, the County (and the County's insurance) knew the writing was on the wall and it was time to pay for Diaz' wrongdoing. Insurance will only pay at settlement if, and only if, they think that they will end up paying more at trial.

The County's insurance paid a total of $2.745 million. Clearly, insurance attempts to minimize these claims...and clearly the insurance knew that if this case went to trial they would be on the hook for far greater than $3 million.

So, yes, settling was a business decision by the board of supervisors and the insurance company, but to assert that the settlement was not based on Diaz' and the County misconduct is just absurd. Diaz and the County need to give The Union a copy of Diaz' deposition and prove us all wrong.

Nevada County Settles Gregory Diaz Lawsuit for $1.9 million

2011-07-20T06:40:00.000-07:00

Nevada County officials announced Tuesday that they settled with Auburn software firm AtPac for $1.9 million in its lawsuit against the County and Gregory Diaz.

"Insurance is expected to cover all but $100,000 of the cost, according to a document filed by County CEO Rick Haffey and Assistant CEO Laura Matteson. The remaining funds will come from the county's budget."

"AtPac provided software to the county's Clerk-Recorder office through 2008, when it lost its contract to Florida-based Aptitude Solutions. In February 2010, lawyers for AtPac filed suit against Aptitude, the county and Clerk-Recorder Gregory Diaz, claiming the county infringed on AtPac's copyright in the switch over from AtPac to Aptitude and that AtPac's trade secrets were exposed to Aptitude, a competitor."

Earlier in the case and according to Mike Jamison, AtPac offered to settle the matter for $1 million.

The rest of The Union story is here.

Now, Jamison is spinning the amount of fees and played The Union. Today's article is here. Jamison (who recently resigned) released a statement stating that litigation was going to cost the County $1.75 million. Is he lying?! According to the facts he gave The Union...

Cypress total bill was $725,000 of which...
The County paid Cypress $507,500
Aptitude paid Cypress $217,500

According to Jamison, Pillsbury fees were being split by Aptitude and the County...

Where in the world does Jamison get $1.75 million in fees to the County?!

$507,500 to Cypress from the County...then Pillbury was going to get $2.5 million to go to trial ($1.25 million for the county and $1.25 million from Aptitude)???

Trial is set for December 13th.

If the total legal fees from now until trial are projected at $2.5 million - that is about 33 attorney hours per day at $500 an hour for every day (including weekends) from now until trial. That is about 6 attorneys working non-stop for five months on only this case. Yeah right.

They have been litigating this for a year and a half. Up until now they have been spending about $47,000 per month...but Jamison says that they were going to spend nearly that much every three days until December? Please...that dog don't hunt.

Now, we know why Jamison resigned and shows that The Union needs to dig a little deeper instead of taking the County's public statements as fact...

County Reimbursed for a Portion of their Attorney Fees in the AtPac case

2011-07-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

Rick Haffey, Nevada County CEO, stated in his Friday memo that CSAC-EIA reimbursed the County in an ammount equal to $618,758.10 from the County’s insurance carrier CSAC-EIA. This reimbursement is for defense costs in the Atpac litigation matter.

Insurance companies are emotionless and the stingiest companies on the planet, so for the County to get reimbursed for a portion of the fees, there must be a darn good reason. It is good for the County and its citizens to know that the County's insurance is finally involved...especially on the eve of the hearing on the motion for summary judgment which is set for August 29, 2011 (originally set for July 5, 2011).

If the federal court makes a determination of liability against the County at the summary judgment hearing, it will be very bad news for the County. As I said before, insurance companies are emotionless and the stingiest businesses on the planet. They make decisions based on risk of loss, not emotion. Hopefully, "risk of loss" will take over from "emotion."

Redistricting in Nevada County

2011-07-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

"Nevada County's relatively evenly distributed population growth during the past decade should keep the Board of Supervisors' districts static, said CEO Rick Haffey.

"At the board's regular business meeting Tuesday, Haffey said he will not recommend supervisors change the boundaries of their districts based on the results of the 2010 census. Counties must adopt district boundaries for the next decade by Nov. 1.

"The county's population grew slightly more than 7 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to a county staff report. The county's population came in at 98,766, according to the census.

"But, the county grew generally evenly in the past decade, Haffey said. A five-way split of the county's population comes out to 19,753. The current districts varied only slightly in size from that number, with Ted Owens' massive eastern county district coming in at 19,055 (3.53 percent below the split) as the biggest variation on the negative side, and Terry Lamphier's mainly Grass Valley-area district coming in at 20,316 (2.85 percent above the split) as the largest variance on the positive side.

The rest of the article is here.

The County did propose alternate maps for the supervisors, if they decide to even up the districts.

Despite the loss, Republicans Show that California Democrats are Vulnerable heading toward the 2012 Elections

2011-07-13T15:06:00.000-07:00

As the local radical left crows about Craig Huey's loss to Janice Hahn in the 36th Congressional District in Southern California, let's get some accurate facts out there.

First, Debra Bowen (California's Democrat Secretary of State) lost in the primary to Craig Huey in this race.

Second, Democrats have an 18-point registration advantage in the 36th Congressional District. Democrats are 45% of the electorate while Republicans are a mere 27%. Decline to State ("DTS") voters are 22% of the electorate.

Third, Republicans and DTS voters combine for just 50% of the voters in the 36th Congressional District. Craig Huey received 45% of the vote.

Based on simple mathematics, one can conclude that a conservative, "Tea Party" candidate, Craig Huey, received over 81% of the DTS voters!

Now, let's look at the LA Times.

"According to a Democratic official, Organizing for America's California operation organized 41 phone banks during the get-out-the-vote phase, 33 of which were run by volunteers. All told, the official estimates, volunteers worked 1,509 hours making calls on Hahn's behalf. On election day, 394 people signed up through the group to work on phone bank and canvass events.

"The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the California Democratic Party also assisted Hahn's campaign, making nearly 410,000 live voter calls along with organizing group in the last 20 days of the campaign.

Also, Jeff Pelline (our local "leftwing radical" blogger) says as follows:

Once again, social views — on gay marriage and abortion, for example — are hurting the hard right at the California polls. Many Californians are fiscally conservative but socially moderate. This could be a “bugaboo” for Gov. Rick Perry, too, in a presidential run. “When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?”

No detailed mention by either commentator of the demographics which strongly favor liberal Democrats in the 36th Congressional District and which directly controvert the opinions of both the LA Times and Pelline.

Knowing the demographics in its entirety and reading the LA Times article, it is readily apparent that Obama and his front group, Organizing for America, are ineffective.

If Obama and his front group are going to be turning 20% of independent voters with the remainder voting for Tea Party candidates, Democrats in the 2012 Election, including Obama, will be taken back behind the woodshed again. This race (in California no less) demonstrates why Obama will lose in 2012.

"Many Californians are fiscally conservative but socially moderate."

Yep...and in the 36th Congressional District, they all voted for a conservative, "Tea Party" candidate! The pendulum in California has begun to swing back to the right.

Declaration of Independence - 1776

2011-07-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

Every Fourth of July, I read the Declaration of Independence to my kids. It provides a great explanation of why our Founding Fathers sought to separate themselves from England. While Jefferson was more focused on the wrongs of England, his preamble was just an introduction on which he spent little time. That being said, focus is often put on the preamble to illustrate the principles upon which the USA stands.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Well said...but what does it mean?

1. These truths are absolute moral truths from God which are known to be true by understanding their meanings without proof.

2. We all have equal political and civil rights.

3. These political and civil rights cannot be taken away from or given away by the possessor.

4. Among these rights that cannot be taken away are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

5. We, the People, created the government to protect these rights.

What are our duties?

When the government fails to protect our God-given rights, it is our right, and it is our duty, to alter the government, laying its new foundation on such God-given principles and organizing its powers in such form "and to provide new Guards for their future security."

Our Founding Fathers were revolutionaries who changed the course of human events and created the only government in the world dedicated to protecting the rights of the individual. Today, the United States is at a crossroads. Will we continue down the path of reducing and eliminating our individual rights, or will we adhere to the path forged by our Founding Fathers and protect and secure our individual rights?

I choose the latter. It is my right and duty, and yours, to elect "new Guards" to protect our individual rights.

With that, I am going to enjoy my favorite Holiday of the Year!