I'm voting Judge Randy Koschnick on April 7th

Do you want a Supreme Court Justice to apply the law, not make it? To in effect umpire the baseball game by calling the balls, strikes, outs, and plays, not make up new rules as the game progresses?

Making up the rules as you go along in a game isn't fair. If we are talking about a judge ruling on a case, it is dangerous. Unfortunately, legislating from the bench is the trend with many judges these days. I'm looking for judges who simply carry out the rule of law. That is why I am voting for Judge Randy Koschnick in April's election.

Judge Koschnick's pledge says it well: “The role of a justice is to apply the law; not make it. I pledge to not legislate from the bench."

Most people are pretty unaware there even is a Wisconsin Supreme Court race on the April ballot. There has not been all that much in the news about this contest. It will be up to conservatives and those voters who care enough to look at the ballot races to ferret out any information about the candidates.

Our current sitting Wisconsin Supreme Court Judge, Shirley Abrahamson, has a much larger campaign war chest--with over $30,000 of it coming from attorneys who have cases pending before her! Think that is right?

According to "a recent survey of 600 Wisconsin residents show[ing] that 78% of those polled believe that [campaign] contributions have a 'great deal' or 'some' influence on Wisconsin judges' decisions."

You can keep up with Koschnick's campaign though on his website, koschnickforjustice.com There is a convenient link to news stories there as well as video of his interviews and debate. His list of endorsements includes familiar names such as former Waukesha County D.A. Paul Bucher, our current D.A. Brad Schimel, and Sheriff Daniel Trawicki.

Blogger Randy Melchert has been following his campaign too at randallmelchert.com, filed under Randy Koschnick - Supreme Court.

I heard Judge Randy Koschnick speak at the Defending the American Dream Summit on March 7th. As a staunch supporter of the Constitution, he emphasized that judges should respect the Constitution and apply it as written.

Judge Koschnick told the audience an interesting bit about his opponent, Shirley Abrahamson (appointed by Governor Lucy in 1976). When President Clinton was contemplating a pick for the United States Supreme Court, he considered Judge Abrahamson but decided she was TOO LIBERAL. Clinton picked Ruth Bader Ginsburg INSTEAD! You can catch Judge Koschnick's speech by clicking here, thanks to Badger Blogger.

Respecting the Constitution means respecting all of it, including 2nd Amendment rights; Koschnick is endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund.

One of Shirley Abrahamson's more famous cases was the 2005 lead paint liability case. The plaintiff,

"Steven Thomas, had suffered lead paint* injury from living in two houses built, respectively, in 1900 and 1905, that had lead paint on their walls. ...he sued a variety of companies...known collectively as the Pigment Manufacturers. Thomas wanted financial damages from the manufacturers on the grounds that one of them had produced a product that caused his injury. The plaintiff had already successfully sued his landlords, obtaining a financial settlement from them..."

The ruling, written by Louis Butler (who Wisconsin voters ousted last year) prevailed in a 4-2 vote. Shirley Abrahamson was one of the 4 in favor of this absurd ruling. According to Justice Wilcox, a dissenter: (My emphasis)

"The end result of the majority opinion is that the defendants, lead pigment manufacturers, can be held liable for a product they may or may not have produced, which may or may not have caused the plaintiff's injuries, based on conduct that may have occurred over 100 years ago when some of the defendants were not even part of the relevant market."

For me, the choice is easy; the differences are stark. Don't let Shirley's TV ads fool you into thinking she is a conservative. Obviously she is not.

As always, research the candidates for yourself and be an informed voter. If you agree Judge Randy Koschnick is the better choice, spread the word.

*I have lived in many houses with lead paint on the walls and woodwork. Practically every house in Wisconsin built before 1978 has been painted with lead based paint at some time in its life.

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, RandyMelchert, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

Midwest Gaming Classic weekend, play pinball, arcade games & more!

It's that time of year again, The Midwest Gaming Classic comes to Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc this Saturday, March 21st, 10am to 8pm, and Sunday, March 22nd, 10am to 5pm. This year attendees have a chance to win a PLAYSTATION 3 or tickets to Six Flags Great America. Check out Midwest's website for details on the Gaming Classic weekend.

Pay one admission price and play all day: $15 on Saturday, $10 on Sunday, kids under 12 with a paying adult are FREE.

There are special events, tournaments, vendors, seminars & speakers. Some of the seminars are geared to helping the hobbyist restore and learn about caring for their video and pinball machines.

Area vendors, collectors and hobbyists bring their games to the show for play and for sale. Some of them are quite old and unusual--fun to just look at.

This year my son is bringing his Simpsons Bowling video game, which I heard will be part of the tournament.

Maybe not as glamorous as when gaming champ Billy Mitchel (pictured right)

set the world record on my son's Donkey Kong machine, (pictured left) but fun, none the less.

There is also a Computing Museum section, where you can see and PLAY old computer game systems. Everything from A to Z: Apple II, Atari, Commodore, Sega, Tandy, to Zodiac/2!

So if you are looking for something fun this weekend, go out and play at the Midwest Gaming Classic.

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, RandyMelchert, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

The Red Envelope Project: Mail to Pres. Obama, March 31st

Several people have sent me emails about this, The Red Envelope Project.

If you care about the sanctity of life issue, you may wish to participate. All you have to do is mail a red envelope to President Obama on March 31st.

The goal is to have the President receive an empty red envelope symbolizing a child lost to abortion. There are over 700,000 pledged red envelopes so far.

This is how the idea came about (from the above website):

Below is a letter that has been circulating with a great idea. The message began in silent prayer from a faithful follower who was spending quiet time with God.

This afternoon I was praying about a number of things, and my mind began to wander. I was deeply distressed at the symbolic actions that President Obama took as he began his presidency. Namely, that he signed executive orders releasing funds to pay for abortions, permission to fund human stem cell research, and federal funding for contraception.

I have been involved in the pro-life movement for nearly 20 years, and it pained my heart to see a man and a political party committed to the shedding of innocent blood. This man, and this party lead our country, but they do not represent me or the 54% of Americans who believe that abortion is wrong and should no longer be legal.

As I was praying, I believe that God gave me an interesting idea. Out in the garage I have a box of red envelopes. Like the powerful image of the red LIFE tape, an empty red envelope will send a message to Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue. It will be quiet, but clear.

Since President Obama just reversed President Bush's ban on Federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and approved Federal funding for the destruction of Human Embryos for stem cell research, this project is very timely. Remember, during the campaign? Obama also pledged to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which would reinstate Partial Birth Abortion as one of his top priorities.

This is how Red Envelope works:

Here is what I would like you to do:

Get a red envelope. ...On the front, address it to:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington , D.C. 20500

On the back, write the following message.

This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception.

Put it in the mail on March 31st, and send it. Then send this [Red Envelope's] website to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president.

Warmly, Christ Otto

If you decide to participate, the Red Envelope Project would like you to register with them on that same webpage, so they can have a count of how many were mailed.

I'm using some left-over red envelopes from Christmas and Valentine's Day. Look in your card stash, hopefully you will find one. You can usually get them at office supply stores too, like Kinkos. I would recommend using a Sharpie type marker for the writing, so it shows up well.

If you are still having problems finding a RED envelope, you could use a sheet of red paper and cut, fold and glue into an envelope shape. (Use an existing envelope for a pattern.) Remember, it doesn't have to hold anything, it just has to go through the mail.

Then mark your calendar for Tuesday, March 31, 2009 with a reminder to drop it in the mail that day.

And now for the most important part: Pray for a change of heart for President Obama.

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, RandyMelchert, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

It's St. Patrick's Day

~Happy Saint Patrick's Day*~

Top O' the Morning to You!

Poor Saint Patrick. Almost everything we associate with the holiday today has little to do with the real Saint Patrick.

Saint Patrick's Day decorations and themes often consist of leprechauns, 4-leaf clovers for luck, pots of gold, green snakes, and of course, green beer. Did I mention green beer?

None of these things have anything to do with Saint Patrick, who was a real man born in the 4th century.

Patrick was born in the area of Britain we now call Wales, somewhere around 372-397 AD. Although he was raised in a Christian home, he himself was not yet a Christian. Kidnapped by Irish raiders as a teen, he was taken to Ireland as a slave for 6 years.*

"Patrick worked as a herdsman, remaining a captive for six years. He writes that his faith grew in captivity [through teachings and scripture he memorized as a child], and that he prayed daily. After six years he heard a voice telling him that he would soon go home, and then that his ship was ready. Fleeing his master, he traveled to a port, two hundred miles away he says, where he found a ship and, after various adventures, returned home to his family, now in his early twenties.^[11] "

Feeling the call to return to Ireland to convert the Druids, Patrick studied the Bible. It is said however that he was not formally educated*--at least not in the traditional way of priests. He did not let this stop him from returning to Ireland.

"Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time."

"They baptized many thousands, probably tens of thousands. Patrick's mission planted about 700 churches. Within his lifetime, 30 to 40 (or more) of Ireland's 150 tribes became substantially Christian." (The Celtic Way of Evangelism, page 23)

He preached salvation through faith in Christ and "fought against the start of Pelagianism, the denial of original sin and affirmation of man's ability to be righteous by the exercise of free will."*

"He died in Ireland in approximately 461 AD."* on March 17th.

See, not a green beer in the whole story!

As for the other symbols:

...He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Of course, no snakes were ever native to Ireland, and some people think this is a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.

One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.

The shamrock representing the trinity always made sense to me. Not too surprisingly, even that got hijacked into a 4-leaf clover symbolizing LUCK. (Luck is not a Christian symbol in that it bypasses God's providence.)

It is rather sad that a day honoring a great Christian missionary like Saint Patrick, who preached the Gospel of Christ so faithfully, has evolved into a day of drunkenness. But now at least you now know a little more about the real St. Patrick.

*Originally posted in 2008 on Practically Speaking

* Taken from a pamphlet, Saint Patrick, by Dr. Gary M. Gulan, 1993 (Rev. 1999).

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, RandyMelchert, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

"Teach the Controversy, Creation & Evolution" Tuesday, March 24, 7:30pm

The Creation Science Society of Milwaukee is featuring a presentation by Dr. Gary Locklair, Ph.D. of Concordia University, Wisconsin on Tuesday night from 7:30 - 9:00pm, entitled "Teach the Controversy, Creation and Evolution".

According to the flier from CSSM,

In origins, teaching and learning both sides of the controversy is necessary. Doing so helps you to understand the issues better and allows you to hone your reasoning skills. In order to understand and appreciate your own view of origins, you must understand the other, competing view also. This is especially important for school-aged children. Often times students from a Christian school background will "panic" when they first encounter serious evolutionary ideas at the university. While presenting "teach the controversy," two other important topics will be discussed. The first concerns the role of Origin science and its unique characteristics compared to Operational science. The second relates to the role of worldviews in the study of origins.

Dr. Locklair will present a model for how to approach teaching both ideas (creation and evolution) of origins. He has used this approach for a number of years as he teaches Science 303 - Cosmogony at Concordia University Wisconsin.

Creation Science is a subject I am very interested in and believe to be true. It is a shame public education has pretty much shunned it and Intelligent Design completely, choosing instead to teach the theory of evolution exclusively. (More often than not, evolution is taught as fact instead of as a theory.) I am interested in Dr. Locklair's approach to teaching both.

Unfortunately, many children, young adults from Christian homes, and adult Christians lose their faith (or confidence in their faith) when they hear evolution taught as factual instead of as a theory. Because it is taught as fact, they start to doubt the Biblical accounts of creation.

Ken Ham [Answers in Genesis] reports that a Christian University professor had the following to say:

After 30 years of ministry on a secular campus I have concluded the number one reason Christians lose their faith is the teaching of evolution as an inarguable fact. The same professors invariably attack the reliability of the Bible - Number One Reason Christians Lose Their Faith at Around the World with AiG’s Ken Ham

Kitty Foth-Regner, a Waukesha County resident and author, who spoke at a CSSM meeting last year, "From feminist Atheism to Biblical truth" stated the teaching of evolution was the reason she embraced atheism in high school. She later became a Christian primarily because she started studying the evidence of Creation Science.

The Teach the Controversy lecture will take place at Concordia University at the Lakeshore Room. Concordia is not difficult to find. It is north of the Mequon Road and Port Washington Road intersection. Continue north on Port Road to Highland Rd. and head east on Highland. "Follow the campus road toward Lake Michigan to the Administration Building. Once inside, follow the corridor turning next right following windowed hall to the Lakeshore Room."

See you there?


Want to know more about Creation Science? Subscribe to Acts & Facts for free!


POST SCRIPT: Dr. John Whitcomb, author of several books on Creation Science, told the audience today at the Prophecy Conference that he was an atheist in his Princeton days 64 years ago. (Atheists do not believe in creation.) A fellow student shared the gospel with him, and he became a Christian and went on to become a proponent of Creation Science.

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, RandyMelchert, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

Madoff: Ponzi scheme=jail, U.S.: Ultimate Ponzi scheme=biz as usual

Bernard Madoff headed to jail, on March 12, for his Ponzi scheme (think pyramid scheme) of taking investors money, not investing it, and using it for whatever he pleased. People were outraged, and rightly so.

Yet the United States government does the same thing every day. Just look at your paycheck statement. They take a deduction for Social Security (a.k.a. FICA) and Medicare every working day but don't invest it into your Social Security or Medicare fund. They use it for whatever they please. They not only take it from you, but they take it from your employer too.

Madoff went to jail for doing it, but when the U.S. government does it, it is OK?

I recently met with a banker and we talked about retirement. (That is seeming more and more like a fantasy.) I mentioned that Social Security was the ultimate Ponzi scheme: dependent on an ever increasing pool of contributors to make it work. He thought a moment and then said, you are right, it is!

Our working population will be shrinking in proportion to retired persons. Pretty soon, Social Security will be bankrupt--it is facing "a $4.6 Trillion deficit over the next 75 years ([that equals]... 1/3 the size of the entire US economy)". Bet Uncle Sam isn't going to go to jail over it though.

From time to time some brave Republican tries to sound the alarm over Social Security business as usual. Privatizing a tiny portion of S.S. was one idea. Personally, I would prefer that there be no Social Security, but that some sort of mandatory personal investment be required instead. Workers could retire as millionaires if that were the case.

Think that isn't true? Just look at your payroll deduction for Social Security. (Ours was around $5,000 for last year. Add the employer's matching portion and that makes $10,000.) Imagine your portfolio if you had your and your employer's SS contribution money compounding interest ever since you got your first W2?

Author Richard Maybury* gives a glimpse of that portfolio. If a worker, starting at age 19 contributed $4,000 a year for their first 10 years, and their account earned 8% interest, they would not need to contribute anything more to retire with $1,079,285 at age 65! And that is just with an investment of $40,000. How much have you and your employer put into Social Security over the years? Think you will get those millions back?

Congressman Paul Ryan has the guts to say we have to change our ways! Look at his solutions and his Roadmap for America's Future. If you like Paul Ryan's ideas, let him know: CongressmanPaul.Ryan@mail.house.gov

Uncle Sam cannot continue his business as usual Ponzi scheme!

* Taken from A Bluestocking Guide: Economics, by Jane Williams, a book based on Richard Maybury's book, Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?, pp69-71, The value of a head start.

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, RandyMelchert, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

Pepsi promotes homosexual lifestyle, prompts boycott

This one nearly slipped by me. It is a boycott of Pepsi and Pepsico products because of Pepsico's sponsorship of the homosexual lifestyle.

"Pepsi produces another TV ad promoting gay lifestyle, Company combines promotion of Pepsi and homosexual lifestyle":

"Pepsi has produced another TV ad not only promoting Pepsi but also promoting the gay lifestyle. Click here to see the new ad.

"Pepsi had released a similar ad before. The ads serve two purposes for Pepsi: to sell Pepsi and to promote the homosexual lifestyle. AFA asked Pepsi to remain neutral in the culture war, but the company refused - choosing to support the homosexual activists.

"Pepsi has made no effort to hide their support for the homosexual agenda:

• Pepsi gave a total of $1,000,000 to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) to promote the homosexual lifestyle in the workplace.
  

• Both HRC and PFLAG supported efforts in California to defeat Proposition 8 which defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. HRC, which received $500,000 from Pepsi, gave $2.3 million to defeat Proposition 8.

• Pepsi forces employees to attend sexual orientation and gender diversity training where the employees are taught to accept homosexuality.

• Pepsi is a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
  

True to form, American Family Association makes it VERY EASY to "Take Action" if you do not agree with promoting homosexuality:

"Sign the Boycott Pepsi Pledge. After signing the pledge, please call Pepsi (914-253-2000 or 1-800-433-2652) and tell the company you will boycott their products until they stop promoting the homosexual agenda.

They also urge that you call your local distributor and call other Pepsico companies and ask that they stop supporting the homosexual agenda. "Pepsi’s products include Pepsi soft drinks, Frito-Lay chips and snacks (800-352-4477), Quaker Oats (800-367-6287), Tropicana (800-237-7799) and Gatorade (800-884-2867)."

To be honest, a boycott of Pepsi products is easy for me. We are staunch Coca-Cola fans at our house.

We don't consume Frito-Lay snacks, Quaker Oats, Tropicana, or Gatorade either.

If you are an avid Pepsi fan but feel a boycott is important, you might try RC Cola as an acceptable alternative.

(Hopefully, Pepsi, like McDonald's will see the light and end their sponsorship of the homosexual agenda, and then you can switch back to your favorite.)

If the new logo of Pepsi reminds you of something else (Obama's logo), you are not alone. Pepsi insists this is not the case, but both the logo and new company slogans seem similar: Yes You Can, Optimism, Choose Change!

Can't say I ever remember a commercial company doing that before. But why not? Obama also supports the homosexual lifestyle.

More reading: Obama Backs Health Benefits for Same-Sex Partners of Federal Employees

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, RandyMelchert, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

Public Hearing on Doyle's Budget, March 25th, State Fair Park

Want to weigh in on Governor Doyle's budget? You can.

My State Representative Leah Vukmir sent me the following notice:

The Joint Committee on Finance will hold a public hearing on Governor Doyle's Executive Budget
March 25, 2009, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

State Fair Park, Banquet Room #2, 640 S. 84th Street, West Allis, WI 53214

For those who cannot attend but wish to register their opinion with the committee, we have set up a form where citizens can register their position. The information will be submitted at the hearing and will included in the official committee record.

You don’t have to live in the 14^th Assembly District to use the form. Comment Form

If you have not been following the budget, fellow blogger Randy Melchert highlighted some of the problems with the budget as being:

• Anti-Taxpayer - Over $2.5 billion in new taxes including $95 million in capital gains taxes.


• Anti-Life - No prohibitions against government facilities such as the Madison Surgery Center being used to directly provide 2nd trimester abortion


• Anti-Gun - Thousands of convicted felons will be released and citizens will be unable to carry concealed weapons to protect themselves


• Anti-School Choice - New regulations will further restrict choice schools and open the door to homeschool regulation


• Anti-Family - The bill will create an unconstitutional domestic partner registry and mandate benefits

There are many other areas that Doyle funds that go against my grain: the unionization of home care workers comes to mind, as does funding rail. (I'll save those for a later post.)

But I am thinking about the spending right now. Doyle wants to increase the budget by $2.5 billion dollars! (That is $2,500 million dollars or $2,500,000,000.) His total budget is well over $62 billion dollars for a 2 year plan.

There are just a little over 5.6 million people in Wisconsin, living in about 2.25 million households. So Doyle is proposing increasing spending in our state by how much per household? Over $1,000.

The total per household cost to fund Doyle's budget is almost $27,900/household for 2 years or $13,950/year. Now, not all of that pool of money is funded through our state income tax, property tax, user fees, sales tax, gas tax revenues etc. Corporations and businesses pay in to fund the state budget too.

These figures should at least give you an idea of how out of control our state spending has become in proportion to the households in our state. If we further break down the spending by population, Doyle spends around $11,200 for every man, woman and child in our state in his budget or $5,600/person/year. I think that is a lot of money!

Be sure to come to the public hearing at State Fair Park or at least submit a comment form.

2009-2011 Executive Budget

Remember, The Wisconsin Tea Party Tax Rally is April 15th, 11:30 am on the steps of the Capitol in Madison. Register with mblock@afphq.org

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, RandyMelchert, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

To Dream the 'possible Dream @ Defending American Dream Summit

Last Saturday, I attended the Americans for Prosperity Defending the American Dream Summit. (Thanks for the invitation, John Block--AFP State Director.)

It was a great opportunity to hear a message all Americans need to hear. We are constantly bombarded with, "They are telling us the principles of Free Markets and Capitalism have failed,*" but the speakers at the AFP Defending the Dream summit encouraged us To Dream the ImPossible Dream!

It is possible to take back our country from the clutches of high taxes and socialism. But it will take effort.

I had a prior commitment Saturday morning, so unfortunately, I missed Joe the Plumber and a few others early in the lineup.

(Joe was popular. The line out in the hall to purchase books was l-o-n-g. all day!)

But I did hear most of the speakers and stayed until closing. I will try to post a few photos and comments from each speaker I heard later in the week.

For now, it is just a quick look at the day.

The room at the Midwest Airlines Center was PACKED! Literally, standing room only. When I finally managed to get into the room, they were playing a clip of every conservative's favorite, Ronald Reagan.

I estimated there were about 600 people in there. Later I was told there were about 700 attendees.

Not everyone at the Midwest Center were happy we were there, the SEIU, Service Employees International Union, protested outside at noon. (Maybe a rainy day wasn't all that bad?)

Back inside at the summit, there were many standing ovations for the various speakers and ideas espoused.

The RECALL of Governor Doyle received huge support. Orv Seymor from Citizens for Responsible Government got the crowd fired up with the idea that we can affect change.

We recalled Tom Ament, Seymor said, then he went on to encourage us that we could recall Jim Doyle too! This won't be easy. He said, We need your help!

Seymor told us we will need around 10,000 petition circulators and must collect 500,000 signatures in a very short time. The effort might be launched by mid April. Stay tuned for that one.

A recall is a huge undertaking, but even if unsuccessful, the effort will raise awareness of the failings of Doyle's governorship and create a base of support for his challenger.

The Defending the American Dream Summit was important in that it helps us channel the anger and disappointment in our government and the direction our state and nation is going in, and put that emotion into positive action.

Yes we can take back our nation!

*Quote came from Steven Lonegan, candidate for New Jersey Governor. He spoke in the last session and told his compelling story of how this is NOT TRUE--not even in New Jersey!

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, RandyMelchert, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

Making grasshoppers out of ants

Almost every day we learn of more socialistic programs proposed or passed by our government. I just heard that the housing bill passed the House. By the way, ACORN lobbyists were involved! (H/T Vicki McKenna. Catch her podcast from 10:30 - 11am, March 6th.) Kudos to the House Republicans. They again all voted NO.

In case you have lost track, the housing bill is the latest in the bailout lineup that rewards bad behavior. It offers people who exhibited poor judgment and bought way too much house for their income a way to refinance and reduce (cram-down) their principle.

When the 92% of homeowners who made sacrifices to get where they are today and pay their mortgages on time learn about this bailout, they are outraged. I know I was. (We lived in a tiny Polish flat for 9 years, sharing the bathroom with the tenant in the back, so that we could live within our means and save for a real house of our own.)

So why is our government rewarding bad behavior? I think it is to make grasshoppers out of ants. Translate that: they are transforming people who were the workers into people who are now the takers and dependent on the government. These takers (grasshoppers) will be more apt to vote for their current legislators, who gave them their bailout. It also defeats the hard working citizens (ants) of our nation, who worked hard at their jobs in order to enjoy the fruits of their labor: a comfortable home and lifestyle.

Grasshopperification kills capitalism and promotes socialism.

Mortgage plan Is Rewarding Bad Behavior:

President Obama's massive mortgage-bailout plan is nothing more than a thinly disguised entitlement program that redistributes income from the responsible 92% of homeowning mortgage-holders who pay their bills on time to the irresponsible defaulters who bought more than they could ever afford. This is Obama's spread-the-wealth program in action.

Team Obama is rewarding bad behavior. It is enlarging moral hazard. It is expanding its welfarist approach to economic policy. And with a huge expansion of government-owned zombie lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Team Obama is taking a giant step toward nationalizing the mortgage market.

Reporting from the Chicago commodity pits, my CNBC colleague Rick Santelli unleashed a torrent of criticism over this scheme.

Santelli said: "Government is promoting bad behavior. . . . Do we really want to subsidize the losers' mortgages? This is America! How many of you people want to pay for your neighbor's mortgage? President Obama, are you listening? How about we all stop paying our mortgages! It's a moral hazard.

All this took place on the air to the cheers of traders. Santelli called for a new tea party in support of capitalism. He's right.

Dukes of Moral Hazard

...But by investing in failure, the Administration will also prolong the housing downturn and make financing a home purchase more difficult for future borrowers.

What are we workers going to do when the grasshoppers outnumber us ants?

The ants are starting to make noises like they are fighting back, uniting for The Chicago and Wisconsin Tea Parties. (Wisconsin Tea Party Tax Rally: April 15th, mblock@alphq.org )

Reorganizing takes time. In the meantime, President Obama is trying to get as many people dependent or beholding to the government as possible. Is this the way to run a country? No, but this is the way to ruin a country!

Upcoming Brookfield and Elmbrook Schools events, meetings, and deadlines

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

Upcoming Brookfield and Elmbrook Meetings, Deadlines, and Events: March - June

I almost forgot to post this update from my alderwomen Lisa Mellone and Renee' Lowerr! (It included meetings about Endicott Park from March 2nd -- see plan drawings and background info at Betterbrookfield -- and a March 4th neighborhood info meeting regarding the Glen of Brookfield Condominium project -formerly called Brookhollow.)

Upcoming events and meetings:

Saturday, March 14^th, 8 am – 4pm, Elmbrook School District Solo & Ensemble Music Festival. Hundred+ volunteers needed – community volunteers welcome. A great way to see firsthand how the schools engage their talented youth! Call Lisa Mellone for more information or to volunteer. 262-780-0805

Monday, March 16^th, 7 pm at the Brookfield Public Library: Step Back in Time lecture discussing the history of Brookfield.

City of Brookfield Community Survey - Complete on-line by March 23, 2009: View the 2035 plan page for more information. Please complete the following survey to help shape the Year 2035 Comprehensive Plan to guide the City's long-range development, preservation, and success. Click here for the survey.

Calhoun Road Construction has been delayed to begin Mid April thru August(?) of 2009.Please be patient with closed roads & allow extra travel time for this inconvenience. Any concerns please contact your alderladies.

April 1, 2009 is the deadline to have your dog license renewed without a $5 late fee. Forms available at city clerk’s office, front desk, at Police Department, or download from City's website at www.ci.brookfield.wi.us. The fee is $15 per dog or $10 for spayed/neutered.

Tuesday, April 7^th: Election Day for School Board – Go VOTE! (I would add that the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Supreme Court Judge races are on that ballot too.)

On April 22^nd, 7 pm, City Hall, a WISDot Public Information Meeting is tentatively scheduled regarding the Bluemound Rd. median reconstruction plans. Read more on the city response to this proposal at www.betterbrookfield.com.

On Thursday, April 30^th, please join your Alderpersons of District 7, Lisa Mellone and Renee Lowerr, at 1:30 pm or 7 pm at Gethsemane Lutheran Church on the corner of Elm Grove and Greenfield Roads for a District 7 Informational Meeting.

On May 2, 2009 from 9 am - Noon is the WEED OUT DAY at Mary Knoll Park. Volunteers are needed stop the spread of Garlic Mustard. Its Rain or Shine. Please call the Parks, Rec & Forestry Dept to register as a volunteer at 796-6675. Registration isn't necessary, but assists with planning.

On June 6, 2009, 8 am - Noon is Hazardous Waste Day at City Garage located at 19700 Riverview Drive. Save your CFL- spiral compact fluorescent bulbs, lacquers, degreasers, anti-freeze(used)... Lets Reduce Our Carbon Foot Print.

District 7 Alderpersons,

Lisa Mellone 780-0805 lisa@betterbrookfield.com

and

Renee Lowerr 853-9657 renee@district7brookfield.com

Elmbrook School District Information: See www.elmbrookschools.org for more info…

Financial Planning Public Listening & Feedback Sessions

Recommendations for Year 1 (2009-2010) and Year 2 (2010-2011)

March 11: 7 - 10 a.m.

March 11: 4 - 6 p.m.

March 12, 7 - 9 p.m.

Thanks Lisa and Renee'!

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

Line-item veto strange bedfellows: Feingold, Ryan, McCain

It is said that politics makes strange bedfellows. The lawmakers backing legislation to bring back the line-item veto power to the president would be an example of that phenomena.

I know John McCain has "reached across the isle" to Russ Feingold before with campaign finance reform. (They should have kept the bundling board on that one!) But this time conservative Congressman Paul Ryan is joining in. This time I think the cause is worth joining forces. Feingold, Ryan join McCain bill for line item veto:

The Wisconsin lawmakers joined Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona
on Wednesday to reintroduce the legislation. The Supreme Court struck
down previous line item veto legislation in 1998, and subsequent
efforts to pass it did not gain traction.

The president should have a line-item veto. President Ronald Reagan spoke about the need for the line-item veto power in his 1986 State of the Union address, "Tonight I ask you to give me what forty-three governors have: Give me a line-item veto this year. Give me the authority to veto waste, and I'll take the responsibility, I'll make the cuts, I'll take the heat."

President Clinton also requested it in his State of the Union address in 1995. He got it for about 2 minutes when Sen. Bob Dole and John McCain's Line-Item Veto Act of 1996 passed. The Supreme Court struck it down, however, because they said "it took away too much of the US Congress's authority over spending under the US Constitution."

I am not sure President Obama really wants it though. He seems to like spending money without having to be accountable. Without a line item-veto, he can hide behind the all or nothing approach to budget bills.

President Bush is bashed for his deficits. President Obama is blaming him for the pork in the present Omnibus bill, yet is doing nothing to eliminate some of those earmarks. As for Bush's deficit spending, keep in mind that often to get his war budget passed, he had to swallow hard and sign on to the pork and Christmas treeing of added spending.

I hope this attempt at a line-item veto will pass and pass Supreme Court muster.

Feingold, Ryan and McCain say their bill was tweaked to make it constitutional.

Paul Ryan on Line-Item Veto

Want to thank Feingold, Ryan and McCain for trying? (Encouragement is as important as voicing displeasure.) Senators Russ Feingold (202) 224-5323, John McCain (202) 224-2235, and Congressman Paul Ryan (202) 225-3031 (You must call if you do not live in his district or email him directly CongressmanPaul.Ryan@mail.house.gov)

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation

Obama pushes carbon credits despite cooling evidence

A new study from 2 professors at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department on Mathematical Sciences, "found that the Earth has been cooling since 2001 and projected that due to 'global variation' the climate would continue to cool for the next 20 to 30 years."

I am going to repeat that: "the climate would continue to cool for the next 20 to 30 years."

More on the study:

“The temperature has flattened and is actually going down,” Tsonis [co-author of a UW-Madison global temperature study] told CNSNews.com. “We are seeing a new shift towards cooler temperatures that will last for probably about three decades.”

Yet that news, that the planet isn't warming, isn't cooling President Obama's ardor for Cap and Trade. He has included over $645 billion from Cap and Trade tax revenue in the Federal budget over the next 10 years!

Our government, be it via Doyle's regional state Cap and Trade plan or Cap and Trade at the federal level, is still pushing the global warming agenda. (Are those in charge really concerned with global warming or just looking for another tax/revenue source?)

In Washington, Senators Debate Global Warming Policy Despite Global Cooling Evidence,

Democratic senators told CNSNews.com on Tuesday that despite a recent study that shows global temperatures have been dropping since 2001 and that projects the globe will continue to cool for the next several decades, they think the United States should continue to push forward with aggressive action to curb climate change.

... the federal government should move quickly to implement policies because they [Dem. Senators] believe the debate over global warming is over.

Logic would tell us there is no hurry. There isn't even proof that increased CO2 causes warming, nor is there evidence that a few states or a few countries curbing CO2 emissions would have any effect on global CO2 levels or temperatures.

“If we have a cooling period before us, let's take some additional time to push ahead in studies and research,” said Lieberman [Senior policy analyst in energy at the Heritage Foundation]. “Let’s use that time to find out what is really happening instead of rushing forward with policy decisions that could damage our economy more than they help our environment.”

One of the world’s leading experts on climate change, Dr. William Gray, emeritus professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University, has lectured for several years that there has been some global warming over the last 100 years largely due to natural circulation changes in the oceans.

“But the world is not in a climate crisis as Vice President Gore would say,” Gray said a little over a year ago. “We have many other important problems in this world we have to work on. And this is a red herring item that we can’t do anything about anyways. If we vastly cut down on our fossil fuels it would be a drop in the bucket in terms of global temperature change. The Third World – India, China and so on – are going to keep burning these fossil fuels.”

It is becoming more evident that many pushing the global warming/Cap and Trade agenda are doing so for one reason: money. Money made either through the carbon credit company profits that benefit the investors espousing the global warming doctrine, or because of the revenues generated by the new carbon taxes that will flow into ailing state and federal budgets. Neither group cares that it is us, you and I, who will ultimately be paying for their expensive boondoggle.

Contact: Senators Herb Kohl (202) 224-5653 and Russ Feingold (202) 224-5323. (FYI: Feingold said he wasn't voting for the Omnibus budget bill and is urging Obama to veto it. Is there hope for Cap-and-Trade too?)

Interesting reading: Media Myth: Networks Stick to Warming Theme Despite Avalanche of Chilling News, Alarmists get snowed in for Washington, D.C. rally; networks mostly ignore signs of cooling temps, 'record' cold.

ABC Skips Opposing Views; Continues to Fret About No Ice at North Pole

Links:
Practically Speaking, Fairly Conservative, CNS News, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki McKenna, Jay Weber, The Right View Wisconsin, The Heritage Foundation