No Journalistic Integrity at the Omaha World-Herald

We just can't get over the editorial audacity and irresponsible journalism that we are seeing daily in the Douglas Street Rag, aka, the Omaha World-Herald when it comes to the recall.

This poor excuse for a local daily has done everything within its power to prevent the recall of Mayor Suttle, apparently forgetting that it was the same paper that supported the recall of Mayor Boyle some 23 years ago.

Not only has its editorial page consistently 'warned' its readers of the dangers of a recall, but its publisher, Terry Kroeger, even wrote his own editorial on the opposite page, nothing we remember happening in our past readings of a once respected daily.

The paper's editorial page has been consistently supported by the light-weight, intellectually less than curious reporters on the subject who seem to frame everything in the eyes of Mr. Kroeger and those who pay their salaries. So much for journalistic integrity.

Even the paper's so-called columnists Mike Kelly and Robert Nelson can find nothing to write of the recall or Mr. Suttle that doesn't fully reflect the views of the editorial page. In one of his most recent opines on the subject, Kelly noted that, "At an Omaha Nighthawks football game this fall, I'm told , some boos could be heard when Suttle was introduced. It happens with people whose jobs are in the public eye." If any one else had written such a poorly supported statement, Kelly would have railed against it in a heartbeat, but since he was writing about it all he had to say is that, "I'm told." Well, he wasn't there, and if he had been he would have recognized that Suttle received more than just 'some boos', but he's free to write whatever unsupported facts he wants in his column. Sadly, he must think people believe what he writes.

Kelly's associate, the wacky Robert Nelson, is no better.

Probably the most egregious over-step was the virtual publishing of names of signers of the petitions. While we believe in freedom of the press and believe that the daily had the right to do so we also believe that by doing so they intimidated signers, left them to ridicule and retribution and more importantly probably did more to curtail any future petition efforts than any legislator in Lincoln could have possibly done. One can only wonder whether this paper will do the same on issues they support in the future. Journalistic integrity and the right to free speech should also take into consideration journalistic responsibility which for example is why the paper doesn't publish names of rape victims and juveniles despite the availability of those names on police reports.

Now the paper is encouraging its ever-declining readership to worry about Omaha's reputation because a Wall Street Journal reporter is coming to town to cover the recall effort next week.

And of course, twice in one week the editorial page has reminded, if not demanded, that all voters in Omaha mark January 25th as a date on which they must do their civic duty and vote. The real reason they want everyone to turn out is because that is the only possible, the only possible way that Suttle can avoid a recall. The fact is that they know a low voter turnout will result in Suttle's ouster. What the local daily can't do, however, is create passion among folks who have no passion to support Suttle even if they have no passion to remove him. Upon Suttle's removal the editorial page will once again share it's disappointment at the lower voter turn-out while failing to admit that its exhortations failed to increase the number.

The Omaha World-Herald has become a much diminished and much less respectable newspaper by its totally tilted drive to keep a failed, incompetent, arrogant, tone-deaf tax-and-spender in office. It has mobilized all of its resources from the editorial page to its columnists and so-called reporters of the news to abet its publisher's desires. In so doing it has displayed a total lack of journalistic integrity. It should be ashamed of itself. Sadly, this once bastion of reporting and integrity is now best used to line one's bird cage.

States Looking for Federal Bailouts

We thought the following column from Americans for Limited Government's daily blog was worth sharing. While Nebraska legislators will go to work next week to shave nearly a billion dollars of spending over the next two years, other states won't. They are looking for more 'help', more 'stimulus' from Washington, D.C. to abet their continued unwillingness to face financial reality. With that said, we thought the following column from Americans for Limited Government might be of interest:

The Real Financial Crisis

By Adam Bitely

The establishment in Washington, D.C. rose up from the murky swamp to renew their call for expanded, out-of-control government spending via the New York Times editorial page on Christmas. In their typical fashion, they call for more "stimulus" to fix state budgets that refuse to cut even the slightest amount of spending.

Too many people will lose government services if spending is cut, the New York Times and the D.C. establishment argue. How quickly they forget that this was the exact formula that Obama tried and failed miserably in 2009. Not to mention that it was government's out of control spending that created the whole mess in the first place.

At some point in the late 90's, politicians on all levels began to operate under an assumption that the prosperity would never end. Spending shot through the ceiling, and the services offered from the government expanded along with it. But now that the bills are coming due and the money has been spent, the very people that caused the mess are begging to be the ones to fix it.

This cannot be allowed.

They argue that all they need to do is have Washington, D.C. send ever more "stimulus" down to the states in order to balance the budgets that they didn't deal with last year due to congressional handouts. Don't cut spending, they say, because so many poor people would be affected.
But what will happen the following year when the budgets are again running a deficit? The federal government cannot simply send fresh "stimulus" to cover state government spending malfeasance year after year.
To do what the establishment wants, and what the New York Times suggests, is to kick the can down the street yet again. With so many states on the verge of bankruptcy, simply giving them yet another year to figure out how to get their spending habits under control will not solve anything. State legislatures have already had a considerable amount of time to figure this out, and seem to have sat on their hands instead, waiting on monetary gifts from Washington. They should making immediate cuts, and prove that they have kicked the spending habit that voters have been trying to cure.

Here we are heading in to 2011, the world is still in economic chaos, and the establishment still believes that state and local government bailouts under the guise of "stimulus" spending is the way out of our problems. It has been attempted, and it has failed.

California has received over $27 billion in "stimulus" monies, and still it cannot get its financial house in order. Illinois currently faces a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall and has received over $10 billion in "stimulus", yet there are still folks that think "stimulus" is the only way for the State to recover. Time and again, the "stimulus" experiment is tested, and it is a proven failure.

However, the dirty little secret that the left won't tell you is that the public employee unions, who collect dues from all those bureaucrats who remain employed, are the direct beneficiaries of state and local bailouts. You won't hear about the $87 million that public employee union AFSCME spent on contributions to Democrats in the last election as those same Democrats now work to bail out state and local governments to prevent layoffs of AFSCME members.

AFSCME and other public employee unions went "all in" for the Democrats in 2010, and they expect the membership dues that they receive to be politically protected. Believe it or not, AFSCME, was not only the largest union political contributor in the 2010 election, but the largest overall contributor.

And now this special interest is demanding to be paid.

The "stimulus" arguments in favor of allowing state and local governments to avoid necessary budget cuts are nothing more than political cover for the age-old corrupt practice of sending taxpayer money to your friends.

Let's be clear, government spending must be cut on all levels. The spending is unsustainable, and the bills are coming due. Adding more to the national debt just to balance state budgets for a year is the last thing we need if we ever want to climb out of the economic pit that government overspending has put us in to.

It is time for Congress to do what is right for our nation, and stand up to the public employee unions who only care about their own treasuries. With an almost $14 trillion national debt, failure is not an option.

Adam Bitely is the Editor-in-Chief of NetRightDaily.com.

http://blog.getliberty.org/default.asp?Display=2938

2012: Pennsylvania and Nebraska and their Senators

An interesting article n Roll Call today, 'Anti-Abortion Groups Targeting Casey's Re-Election bid', by Steve Peoples (http://www.rollcall.com/news/-201970-1.html?ET=rollcall:e9552:80105784a:&st=email&pos=epol) on U.S. Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania which could very well have been written of Judas Ben Nelson of Nebraska had the names and states been changed. Of course, in Judas' case the article would have been lacking the infamous 'Cornhusker Kickback."

Among the comments:

• Sen. Bob Casey stands among a disappearing breed of Congressional Democrats.


• Pennsylvania’s senior Senator, up for re-election in 2012, is now one of just three anti-abortion Democrats in the Senate.


• It might seem counter intuitive, therefore, that the Keystone State’s anti-abortion community is fiercely opposed to Casey’s re-election bid. “To really call himself pro-life is not quite right,” said Helen Gohsler, president of the Scranton chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human Life, based in Casey’s hometown. “He betrayed us."


• The betrayal, according to Gohsler and other Pennsylvania anti-abortion activists, was Casey’s vote for President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. The final version of the legislation included a compromise to win over anti-abortion Members, but abortion opponents such as Gohsler are convinced that the bill allows taxpayer-funded abortion.


• Roll Call Politics rates this race as Leans Democratic. The Senate’s other anti-abortion Democrats, Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Ben Nelson of Nebraska, also are up for re-election in 2012, giving anti-abortion groups a potential national platform to try to oust them.


• But Pennsylvania’s anti-abortion leaders say Casey’s ultimate vote to support the overhaul is unforgivable. The key question is whether the passionate opposition of the anti-abortion groups will complicate Casey’s re-election bid.


• Exit interviews from his 2006 victory suggest that Casey drew considerable support from self-proclaimed moderates and abortion opponents. In a close race, any such erosion could make a difference.


• “Pro-lifers in Pennsylvania are terribly disappointed with Sen. Casey’s vote in favor of President Obama’s health care reform law,” said Michael Ciccocioppo, executive director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. He added that he believes the legislation would federally subsidize abortion and deny care to the elderly through “the rationing of medically necessary treatments.”


• “We know that Casey’s office was flooded with constituents urging him to vote ‘No.’ In the end, on the biggest vote of his career, he didn’t listen to the voters. Pro-life Pennsylvanians have long memories,” Ciccocioppo said.


• Ciccocioppo’s interpretation of the bill, of course, is the subject of intense debate. Casey’s office said the Senator fundamentally believes that the health care bill does not fund abortions and ultimately provides quality health care to tens of millions of uninsured people, thereby further working to protect human life.

A lot like Ben Nelson who we believe is frankly in even worse shape given he will definitely face a pro-life endorsed Republican in 2012 and given he sold out for his 30 pieces of silver and was the 60th vote a year ago Christmas Eve despite the fact that 70% of his constituents said they opposed his sellout.

With two more years of his contrived reinventions of the reasons for his vote, with Harry Reid still leading the senate, with Nelson's continued support for earmarks Nelson is dead meat. Like Casey he will no doubt run. Nebraskans will get an early indication on November 6, 2012 by watching the Pennsylvania election.

The Terminator Wants to Help His President

Somehow failed politicians continue to believe there is a place for themselves in the Obama administration which will come to an end 761 days. Of course, we have failed and un-re-electable former Nebraska resident and U.S. Senator Chuckie Hagel who would do anything to become Secretary of Defense or would accept any other meaningful title just to be relevant in his beltway home.

And now we have failed California Republican Governor Schwarzenegger who told the Los Angles Times that he has the wherewithal to go to Washington and help the Obama administration on public policy issues. Seems he thinks he can help on environmental and energy issues because, "people are very receptive when I talk about these things because I'm a Hummer driver … not a tree hugger."

Never mind that California is about to fall into the ocean not because of its faults and earthquakes but because of its debt burden which this Rino did nothing about.

Given the quality of governance displayed by the Prince of Peace Nobel Laureate President of the World of Equal Nations Commissar Barack Barry Soetoro Hussein Obama, maybe there are places for these two failures along side of him in his administration......

The Only Real Hope at Christmas is Christ - Doug Patton

December 20, 2010

The politically correct gestures of salutation (Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays, etc.), which for too long have served as substitutes for the real thing, have become hollow, stale and boring. This season, I sense a desire on the part of many to return to the tradition greeting, "Merry Christmas." Perhaps this has to do with the disillusionment of Americans with the false hope proffered by those who told us that redemption lies in government.

Barack Obama is not the Messiah. No man or woman currently walking this earth — nor any other who has ever done so — is the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He is the Savior. Not Buddha. Not Mohammed. Not Krishna. Not Joseph Smith, L. Ron Hubbard, or the Pope. Jesus of Nazareth was born in the humblest of settings to become the Savior of all — and it was by design, for at the time of His birth, even King Herod’s men did not think to look in a stable for a king. Kings are born in palaces, among opulence and luxury. Jesus did not fit the template.

For two thousand years the human race has continued to look for something more, something flashier, something more glorious, something greater. For those of us who passionately believe in the story of the Nativity, it is a clear reminder of why our faith is a life to be lived in the Spirit the Living God. What could be greater than that?

That is the difference between Christianity and every other religion in the world. Scripture tells us what Christ had to say about himself. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me.” If that is not true, then He was either a liar or a lunatic, and no one believes that. In fact, virtually every other faith speaks of Jesus Christ as a wise prophet, a great teacher, or a good man, and other religions are willing to acknowledge that following Jesus is one of the ways to heaven. But Christ says He is the only way to heaven. No wonder He was crucified.

Christianity also is unique in that it proclaims that its central figure is still alive. Hindus think their leaders have been reincarnated. Buddha and his followers are thought to be part of some vast cosmos of energy. Mohammed, fiercely and violently defended though he may be, is still dead, and adherents of Islam know it. Even the bodies of Abraham and Moses have long ago turned to dust. Jesus Christ alone is believed by his followers to be physically alive, despite having faced the worst death imaginable.

Far too many in our society reject the simple gospel presented by Christ and his disciples in favor of alternative religions that teach vague notions of piety through good works. The social gospel of using government to create an earthly utopia will disappoint us every time. False prophets and self-serving politicians have always been at the forefront of man’s disenchantment. They offer hope but dispense hopelessness. They promise freedom but deliver bondage — to an ideology, an idol or a doctrine. There is only one infallible answer. Discontented seekers of new age solutions to age-old problems need only look to the truth of the Christmas story.

This week, as we celebrate the miracle birth of a baby who would grow up to be both man and God, who would lay down His life as a sacrifice for the sins of those who would believe, we also should remember that He is still with us. Like Christmas itself, the reality of Christ persists and grows stronger. He was born, lived, died, and rose again. He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of His Father, to make intercession for us, and He sent His Holy Spirit to live within those who would receive Him. What a story. To millions of us, it is still the only one that makes sense, and He is our only source of true hope.
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© 2010 by Doug Patton

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Doug Patton describes himself as a recovering political speechwriter who agrees with himself much more often than not. Now working as a freelance writer, his weekly columns of sage political analysis are published the world over by legions of discerning bloggers, courageous webmasters and open-minded newspaper editors. Astute supporters and inane detractors alike are encouraged to e-mail him with their pithy comments at dougpatton@cox.net.

G.O.P. Changes

Lots of changes in staffing, primarily at the GOP and various campaigns:

• David Bywater, loyal supporter and worker for Congressman Lee Terry is no longer on the payroll. It appears Rebecca Weber, former finance director for the Nebraska Republican Party has moved into Dave's position.


• Taylor Gage, Kay Orr's grandson and employee of the Nebraska State Republican Party has left the party employment and appears to be going to work for a state senator.


• A non-GOP change, Brad Stevens with Americans for Prosperity is apparently leaving for greener pastures elsewhere.


• Nancy McCabe, Douglas County G.O.P. Chairman has decided not to seek a second term. It appears a race is developing between Jay Turco and Scott Petersen to take over that position.


• At the state level, Mark Fahleson will seek a second term as Nebraska G.O.P. State Chairman.

Name a Street, Stop a Crime

One of the most outrageous leaps of faith we've ever heard is the argument from Omaha City Council Members Ben Gray and Franklin Thompson that by renaming the North Freeway as the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway would aid in halting gang/gun violence. According to the Douglas Street Rag:

"Thompson said it would serve as a reminder of King's nonviolent approach to solving problems. Symbolism is important, he said, along with tougher laws, intervention and prevention.

"It may not be a magic pill, but what we're trying to put attention on is what Martin Luther King was about", Thompson said.""

We also find Gray's comments interesting. Again, according to the Douglas Street Rag:

"Gray said several Omaha organizations support the naming, and he has been assured that Omaha-area elected boards would provide resolutions of support."

Well, of course they will. Otherwise you can bet Ben will resort to his normal tact of calling anyone or any group that disagrees with him RACIST!

Must have got by A.C.L.U.

One of our roving contributors was driving through Ralston last week and took note of the Nativity display at the Ralston City Hall. We're not quite sure how it has escaped the attention of the A.C.L.U. but we applaud it's placement and the fact that Ralston continues to be a religion friendly environment.

Clinton is the New "President Czar" - Doug Patton

December 13, 2010

"Now I get it! Clinton is the new president czar!"
— Errol Phillips

I was as dumbfounded as most Americans must have been last week when the sitting President of the United States called upon one of his predecessors to help him explain one of his decisions to a formerly fawning media that doesn't seem quite as adoring of late as it was back when that thrill ran up its collective leg two years ago.

Concerning the job he sought with barely minimal qualifications, Barack Obama apparently has concluded, in the words of Stephen Colbert during his tongue-in-cheek testimony earlier this year before a stunned congressional committee, "This is really hard!" What other explanation could there be for his complete abdication of responsibility in turning the White House press briefing over to that old professional publicity hound, Bill Clinton?

In case you've been vacationing on the moon for the last several days, here's the scoop: the most surreal incident in this political junkie's memory happened in the White House briefing room on Friday. Unable or unwilling to explain his recent compromise with Republicans over an extension of the Bush era tax cuts, Obama called on Bubba to drop by and help sell it to an increasingly restless press corps, many of whom were a solid part of Obama's leftist base during his Hope & Change Tour of 2008.

Of course, these elitist media types don't particularly like the idea of anyone getting a tax break, but they are absolutely apoplectic over the prospect of allowing millions of small business owners and other entrepreneurs (they call them "the rich") to keep more of their own money instead of forking it over to the IRS for the government to "invest."

After relinquishing the podium to Der Shlickmeister for a few minutes, Obama looked at his watch and said, "I gotta go. The First Lady is waiting for me to show up at the White House Christmas party."

And he walked out!

It was the most bizarre thing I've ever seen at a White House presser, and I've been watching these things since I was old enough to turn on the old black and white. It was strange. It was weird. It was arrogant. And it was embarrassing. The current, elected, sitting President of these United States had just introduced a former President of these United States (who, though he is a discredited, impeached old horn dog, has more credibility and higher poll ratings than the present occupant of that office), only to tell the stunned group of reporters that he was outa here!
Of course, Clinton was in his element. His response when Obama announced that he couldn't keep Michelle waiting: Go ahead and go! We don't wanna make her mad! (Clinton knows about such things from experience.)

I tried to let this sink in. Is Obama really that out of his depth? Is he really that arrogant? Is he really that tone deaf? Is he just bored? Yes, yes, yes and probably.

What we are witnessing is nothing short of the meltdown of the presidency. Barack Hussein Obama Junior, the least qualified man for the position he holds in any room he enters, has dishonored the office he holds, first through abuse and now, through neglect. He was in pol heaven when he took office. Everything was going his way. He had both Houses of Congress, an executive branch staffed with academic eggheads, an approving press, a 70 percent approval rating, and an admiring worldwide leftist fan base.

Of course, none of this prevented him from blaming his failures on everyone else. He blamed the rich. He blamed the Republicans. But mostly, he blamed George Bush. Well, in the words of old Harry Truman, the buck stops here, Mr. President. If you think it's been hard so far, just wait until you face a GOP House filled with newly-elected Tea Party members. You'd better keep Bubba close by. You're going to need a President Czar.
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© 2010 by Doug Patton
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Doug Patton describes himself as a recovering political speechwriter who agrees with himself much more often than not. Now working as a freelance writer, his weekly columns of sage political analysis are published the world over by legions of discerning bloggers, courageous webmasters and open-minded newspaper editors. Astute supporters and inane detractors alike are encouraged to e-mail him with their pithy comments at dougpatton@cox.net.
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Chuck Hagel Still Delusional

We somehow missed the November 17 edition of The Reader, one of Omaha's weeklies. Admittedly, it's not the first freebie we rush out to get every week. With that mea culpa we see that one of our favorite subjects, oops targets, the former failed out-of-touch, egotistical and delusional Chuck Hagel was the topic of one of the paper's interviews. How could we have missed that?

In the article by Brandon Vogel, 'Finding Middle Ground', Chuckie tells them and us that he sees a new era in American politics--apparently his own. We might suggest that it is time for cataract exam for the has-been.

According to the article:

• Hagel believes America is headed away from party rhetoric and the future is focusing on the middle. (We're not sure he really understands the results of November 2)


• "The America he sees today isn’t as polarized as TV talking heads make it seem. (But for years he was happy to be one every one possible to loft his bombs against George W. Bush)


• “Registered Independents are, and have been the past few years, the plurality of registered voters in America, what’s that tell you? We’re not going out toward more partisanship in the populace — just the opposite. People are going more inward, toward the center.” (Again, it appears he failed to notice where those independents went on November 2. Lower taxes, less government, the center?)


• The center isn’t where Hagel sees his party headed. He says the emergence of far-right groups like the Tea Party could make things difficult for the GOP. ...now the Republican Party is really controlled by the extreme,” he says. “Republicans are fighting Republicans. Conservatives are fighting conservatives." (Only if Republicans fail to return to their values of less government and fiscal responsibility)


• Of his political future Hagel says, “I’m not looking for work. I’m not looking for government work. (Good, because not even Obama is stupid enough to give him more responsibility or work)


• On the military Hagel told folks at a Veteran's Day ceremony that, “We are unfortunately evolving into a country — not unlike Rome and some of the other great republics — where you’ve got a warrior class and then the rest of society. “You just buy the services.”
  He says our all-volunteer service “means, for example, that 99 percent of America is not connected either directly or indirectly to any kind of service. (His Washington beltway mentality continues to show. Apparently he hasn't seen the tributes to our fallen soldiers on television and media, he hasn't seen the motorcycle riders or the folks on the roadway sides waving flags here in middle America. Maybe his Vietnam post traumatic syndrome is once again rearing its ugly head in this guy's egotistical mind)


• Inheriting those two wars is a major reason Hagel says he’s still bullish on Obama, despite the president’s approval rating falling to its lowest point 10 days before the midterms. (Once again Hagel, the Obama lover, the 'I'll do or say anything for a cabinet post Hagel, has no conception of reality)


• Hagel and the Reader continue, "Add it all up — the wars, the recession, the Republican-controlled House — and Hagel sees a country searching for a new “center of gravity.”
  “Politics reflects society. It doesn’t lead society, it doesn’t change society. Politicians reflect who they represent. If they’re not responding, then there’s going to be something happening. We are seeing a new governing coalition being built in this country — that’s what’s going on right now.” (Despite this convoluted diatribe, Hagel is right that something happens when politicians don't respond. That's why the House is in Republican hands. But Hagel's vision of a new center of gravity just shows his true lack of ability to read what's happening in this country and much of it is about his hero, Barack Obama.)

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? Governor Heineman does it right.

With the Christmas season upon us, there is normally talk about the use of the term and who uses it rather than the term 'Holiday'. Folks will get Christmas and greeting cards from lots of politicians and it is always interesting to see which politicians are brave enough to wish their constituents a Merry Christmas and/or even quote a verse from the Bible.

As in the past, we have received our annual Christmas card from Governor Heineman and First Lady Sally Ganem and, of course, this year Snickers Heineman. They wish us (and we suspect about 12,000 others) the following:

Wishing you a
Joyous Christmas Season
and a New Year
filled with
Peace and Happiness

Like some brave elected officials, the message could have ended there having risked offending those non-believers and others who don't celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. But true to past displays of belief and commitment, the Christmas card goes on to quote scripture:

For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the LORD.
---Luke 2:11

We think that says something about the Governor's character and we approve.

With that said, however, it would be unfair not to mention some of the other cards received thus far. One of course is lacking, as we will not be receiving one from President Obama, having not exactly measured up to the requirements to be on his list of a couple of hundred thousand. We did get one from the next Nebraska U.S. Senator, John Bruning and his family Deonne, Lauren and Jack. It greets us with, "Merry Christmas from the Brunings." It's a nice card that apparently was designed by the kids, somewhat along the line of past cards from former Senator Hagel. But no religious verse.

We also got a card from Lt. Governor Rick Sheely, wife Connie, Maggie & Joel. The greeting; "May your holiday season be blessed with the true meaning of Christmas." On the religious scale a little braver than the Bruning card but no verse--not that such is required.

Bottom line is that once again we are impressed with Governor Heineman's strength in sending his values in his family's Christmas greeting. Not seeking further elected office, he could have demurred, but didn't. We think it says something about Dave.

Wish The ACLU a Blessed Christmas

Want to speak-up for your religion this CHRISTMAS?

Send the ACLU a CHRISTMAS CARD this year.

As they are working so very hard to get rid of the CHRISTMAS part of this holiday, we should all send them a nice, card to brighten up their dark, sad, little world. Make sure it says "Merry Christmas" on it.

Here's the address:
ACLU125 Broad Street

18th Floor, New York, NY 10004

Two tons of Christmas cards would freeze their operations because they wouldn't know if any were regular mail containing contributions. So spend 44 cents and tell the ACLU to leave Christmas alone. Also tell them that there is no such thing as a "Holiday Tree.” It's always been called a CHRISTMAS TREE!

Pass this on to your email lists. We really want to communicate with the ACLU! For those of you who aren't aware of them, the ACLU, (the American Civil Liberties Union) is the one suing the U.S. Government to take God, Christmas or anything religious away from us. They represent the atheists and others in this war.

Help put Christ back in Christmas!

Perhaps WikiLeaks Has Done Us a Favor - Doug Patton

December 6, 2010

The more that dribbles out of the whole WikiLeaks fiasco, the more I'm beginning to wonder if that little Tinkerbell character, Julian Assange, and his slimy "leakers" may have not done us all a favor.

First, it was revealed that the traitor who gave Assange most of the highly classified materials he has been spewing out for the last few months was a gay Army private named Bradley Manning. It seems that Manning was unhappy about the U.S. military's policy of "don't make us deal with your sexual preferences," (otherwise known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"), so he betrayed his country.

This fact was exposed by my all-time favorite snarky author/columnist, Ann Coulter, who also contends that the document dump of thousands of pages of secret information has done untold damage to our national security interests. She's right, of course, but as I said, there may be a silver lining to this otherwise dark cloud.

First, the fact is that the sordid tale of Bradley Manning shows us the lengths to which some disturbed people will go to alter a policy they think is "unfair." What Manning did is as illogical as murdering an abortionist in order to save lives. Committing treason against one's own country is at least as heinous as cold-blooded murder.

PFC Bradley Manning should be tried and, if found guilty, executed for his crimes. But he probably will not be, because the United States of America has no stomach for such things anymore. (Technically, our "leaders" have no stomach for it; the public would sanction it in a New York minute.)

The second layer of that silver lining is the most recent revelation. It seems that WikiLeaks has dumped a whole boatload of documents on the web that expose the sham of global warming. "WikiLeaks Cables Reveal How U.S. Manipulated Climate Accord" reads the headline. The story continues: "Embassy dispatches show America used spying, threats and promises of aid to get support for Copenhagen accord."

As reported in The Guardian, the U.S. diplomatic "cables" published by Assange and his merry band of cyber-terrorists reveal how the U.S. (under Obama) sought dirt on nations opposed to its approach to tackling global warming. It also tells how financial aid was used to gain political backing, and how the U.S. carried out a secret global diplomatic offensive to overwhelm opposition to the controversial Copenhagen accord, the unofficial document that emerged from the ruins of the disastrous Copenhagen climate change summit in 2009.

What does a country have to do these days to sell Al Gore's lie all around the world, anyway? Quite a bit, it turns out. Has anyone seen Al lately? Does anyone care?

Then there is the specter Assange and his ilk turning against Barack Obama. What we are witnessing is the worldwide Left doing what it does best: hating America. It really is irrelevant to them who is running this country. They still hate it. It matters little to them that Obama is basically one of them. Any vestige of capitalism, any shred of human freedom, any representation of the decency that is the United States, incurs their hatred. They cannot help themselves. We exist, therefore they hate us.

Finally, this whole ugly mess may give our shackled government goobers the guts they need to repeal the ridiculous law that says the CIA can't put a bullet in the head of someone like Julian Assange.

All these disturbing revelations should give Americans pause to reflect on what it is that we have been, what we have become, and ultimately, what we will be. WikiLeaks is a tool being used in an effort to destroy America and the West, and its founder has overplayed his hand in an attempt to do so.
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© 2010 by Doug Patton
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Doug Patton describes himself as a recovering political speechwriter who agrees with himself much more often than not. Now working as a freelance writer, his weekly columns of sage political analysis are published the world over by legions of discerning bloggers, courageous webmasters and open-minded newspaper editors. Astute supporters and inane detractors alike are encouraged to e-mail him with their pithy comments at dougpatton@cox.net.

Goodbye Suttle, Hello Ashford?

With the days to Mayor Suttle's imminent demise ticking down, the talk of who will run to take his place will be escalating. One of those the local daily hasn't identified as a candidate but who we have, Senator Brad Ashford, had some interesting comments in the daily.

Here's what he told the Douglas Street Rag (aka, OWH) on Sunday:

“I realize that the numbers are there and there will most likely be an election,” Ashford said. “From my perspective, more than ever, we needed a team with a CEO in charge moving forward.”

Ashford told the local daily he wasn't going to run for mayor. Yet, the same week we confirmed he told several folks that is exactly what he would do.

Ashford would no doubt be a candidate for the local 'blue-bloods' who see him as a mediator and problem solver. To some extent he has done that in the legislature. But what Omaha needs is a responsive leader. Suttle wasn't one and Ashford isn't one either.

My House isn't burnng!

One would think that in the midst of a recession (oh, it's ended hasn't it?) that states would be doing everything possible to stimulate their economies. But not California which has been hit as hard as any state by the housing downturn.

So what is California doing? Requiring that every new home built in California have a sprinkler system installed effective January 1, 2011. That will only add $3,000 to $4,000 to the price of each new home not sold in California. Oh, and yes every home, including those now built, will be required by law to have a carbon monoxide detector by January 1, 2013.

Well intentioned laws. It is the government's duty to assume personal responsibility for those who won't.

No doubt some Nebraska Legislator, i.e., Keith Mello, Jeremy Nordquist or Brad Ashford will be close behind.

Suttle's Swan Song: The Countdown to the End of Omaha's Hostage Crisis Begins

Today marks the beginning of the end of the hostage crisis for the citizens of Omaha who for 541 days have been held hostage to the tone-deaf, arrogant, incompetent, tax-raising, fire and police union ownership of Mayor Jim Suttle. With the confirmation by the Douglas County Election Commissioner that the recall committee has gathered more than enough signatures for a recall a likely date for the recall election is January 25, about 50 days from now.

The pawns of liberal ally Richard Holland and Mayor Suttle's lawyers will look under every rock to continue their 'sky is falling', they committed fraud effort to overturn the well of some 28,000 citizens but they will fail. Their latest claim is that volunteers were paid by the signature in contravention of Nebraska law. While they pick someone who weakly provides such an allegation, they will fail to prove that petitioners were paid by the signature. The election will go on.

The mayor should now do exactly what he claimed the recall committee will do by having an election, cost the citizens some $250,000 to officially throw him out. He should resign and save the citizens those dollars. His over-paid cabinet members would also be wise to start forwarding their resumes.

Fifty days and counting.......

The Sky Is Falling! Stop the Recall!

Our headline pretty well describes the inane efforts of Nebraska Democratic Party attorney Vince Powers, Forward Omaha and all the others trying to prevent the citizens from having their right under the law to hold Mayor Suttle accountable for his incompetence.

Apparently, if you yell 'fraud' enough you think it will eventually stick somehow. On the other side of the coin if you yell fraud enough people might just get tired of you when all you have is a few empty allegations. No doubt the aforementioned parties believe in the former proposition. We think the citizens of Omaha are going to quickly tire of their rhetoric. In fact, they may just be all the more inclined to go out and remove the mayor in January after his weak attempts (and those of his cronies) to discredit the lawful process.

So keep yelling Fraud.

Manna From Heaven (Yours) Helps Homebuyers

We recently came across an article in the The Desert Sun, a California Palm Springs area newspaper. The news article was titled 'Seminar to help new homebuyers'. Actually, it was just more proof of the fact that California and the U.S. Government continue to spend themselves into oblivion under the premise that folks who can't afford a home must have one.

Seems the town of Indio (Palm Springs neighbor) has purchased 13 homes and remodeled them for sale. The article noted that the city was having a seminar for "people interested in buying their first home at an affordable price." It went on to say that "Attendees can learn how to participate in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and be eligible for up to $75,000 in mortgage assistance."

The city's housing coordinator goes on to say, "these are move-in-ready homes. Literally, you just pack your things and move into the home." The homes range in price from $108,000 to $205,000 and in size from three to five bedrooms. One even has a pool.


We're told that to be eligible people mus meet three basic requirements

• They must be a first-time home-buyer. In government speak, that means that they must ONLY HAVE NOT OWNED A HOME FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.


• They must be employed. Dah.


• They must have Moderate to good credit scores

The article goes on to tell us, "For example, if a person is approved for $140,000 but would like to purchase a $200,000 home through the program, he or she could receive $60,000 in assistance to make up the difference." The assistance is a silent second mortgage that is forgiven after 15 years. As the coordinator states, "It's free money."

Free is wonderful, isn't it?

So how does this manna from heaven fall on these lucky folks? Well the "program money to purchase the homes, pay for the remodeling and assistance for home buyers comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant. Yep, FREE MONEY.

We're told that last year the city received $2.8 million to implement the program and this year the city was 'awarded' $8.3 million to continue its efforts to "rehabilitate neighborhoods hit hard by the foreclosure crisis." Oh well, a million here, a million there.

So while neighbors who kept their houses and paid for them even if they were underwater in their mortgages toughed it out, while some of their neighbors had their mortgages 'adjusted' so they could stay neighbors, these folks will be welcoming new neighbors who also can't afford their homes thanks to your tax dollars.

What a deal. And Washington tells us their is no place to cut. Of course not if you think that your government is simply a charity that must help everyone it perceives to have some kind of need........

December 4: The Beginning of the End for Suttle

Tomorrow will mark the beginning of the end for tone-deaf, incompetent and failed leader Mayor Jim Suttle. The Douglas County Election Commissioner will announce that sufficient signatures have been gathered to move forward with a recall election, the results which will be the inevitable removal of Suttle.

Of course, Suttle, his financial supporters, i.e., Richard Holland, and his support groups Forward Omaha and Lincoln attorney Vince Powers will do everything possible to delay and prevent the people from having their chance to vote in January. But the vote will happen.

Jim Suttle should save the taxpayers the money that he was worried about or claimed to be worried about and resign and end his fiasco mayorship. He won't because he is still as tone-deaf and arrogant as he was and has been since the first day he took office.

When it's all over the citizens of Omaha will millions ahead by spending the money now to get him out of office.

Tomorrow is the beginning of the end......THANKFULLY

9.8%: Thanks Liberals

You might have noticed our job creation chart in the previous blog entry. Somehow the grand results of the stimulus effort seem to be further evidenced by today's announcement that the unemployment rate has risen to 9.8%. Great job producing efforts, but the fact is that LIBERALS believe that the solution to every problem is simply spending more of your hard earned money. Somehow, that spending doesn't every produce and at the same time moves our country toward the president's vision of an equal among many.

Your Stimulus Dollars and Job Creation

Rather than a long diatribe about the jobs created by the $800 BILLION Stimulus program we thought we'd share this chart courtesy of our friends at the Patriot Post. We think that says plenty.

Swamp Drainer Censures Rangel (Finally)

What a photo-op---Nancy the Swamp Drainer reading the Censure Resolution of Charlie Rangel. With that said, Rangel is a crooked bum that should have been ejected from the House. Instead he becomes number 23 in a shameful history of those censured by the U.S. House of Representatives over the last two hundred plus years.

Porker Ben Nelson

No secret that Judas Ben Nelson can be bribed, i.e. the Cornhusker kickback and some $600,000 he took from the Democrat National Committee to tell Nebraskans how he really didn't do what he did. It's also no secret that Judas believes in extorting money in the form of earmarks which he tells Nebraskans are such a great deal for them although Nebraskans get a minor percentage of kickback money based on the state per capita. But if Ben says its true it must be. He simply believes we will continue to buy his revisionist history, at least for another 707 days or so.

With that said, the Nebraska Republican Party released the following e-mail yesterday declaring Judas Ben the Pork Barrel Poster Boy. We agree and share herewith:

"BEN NELSON: PORK BARREL POTER BOY

Tuesday Statement from Chairman Mark Fahleson

LINCOLN, NE - Nebraska Republican Party Chairman Mark Fahleson released the following statement today:

"Today, Ben Nelson joined Harry Reid and his partisan, big government Democrat pals in rejecting common sense legislation to protect the American Taxpayer with his vote against the 3-year moratorium on earmarks.

This vote combined with his Cornhusker Kickback, the most infamous earmark in history, makes Ben Nelson Nebraska's poster boy for pork barrel projects that add millions in new spending and continue to grow our national debt.

Ben Nelson's political legacy will forever be tainted by unconscionable votes and unexplainable decisions that have left taxpayers holding the bag. Nebraskan's have had enough and will retire and replace him in 2012 with a Republican who will do what's best for us."