I read the press release regarding Minarik's departure and some of the comments issued by community and political leaders.
I was particularly struck by the idea that the GOP has to "collaborate" with the Democrats in order to get things done and that Steve had to go because he was too "confrontational".
Well, its true that he was confrontational. I happen to think that one of the problems with the GOP at all levels is their failure to be confrontational. For the Democrats and their liberal media allies, "compromise" and "bi-partisanship" simply mean "give in to what the Democrats want".
Lets look at some examples, like David Gantt, Susan John, David Koon; can you give me any instances of them "compromising"? How about their leader in Albany, Sheldon Silver; he's a regular Henry Clay, isn't he? Or, maybe they're thinking of the Dems in Washington, guys like Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, and Nancy Pelosi. They've held out the olive branch to the GOP, no?
If the Republicans in Monroe County think they can hold on to power by trying to emulate the Democrats, they should think again. Parties and politicians need to stand for things. Sure, they need to work together, but compromise cannot be a one-way street. Was Steve Minrik strident? Yes, he was, but you knew where he stood.
Quite frankly, I cannot imagine who would want the job of Monroe GOP Party Chair today. Its clear that the "Chairman" will have little independent power. The GOP is headed for very difficult times at all levels.
Maggie Brooks is a great leader and politician and I like and respect her. I think, however, that she is making a mistake if she believes the GOP can maintain power by "collaborating" with the Democrats. Their only goal is retaking the County Legislature and ousting her from her job. Removing Steve Minarik made their job easier.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Minarik Resignation
I was in Canada enjoying the final day of a family vacation when I learned of Steve Minarik's resignation from the post of County GOP Chairman. The news came as quite a shock.
I have always strongly supported Steve. While some criticised his tactics, the simple fact is that he was great at his job. His job was, after all, to elect Republicans. He did that very well.
Steve was a great friend to me and to the GOP organization in Gates. I am very sorry to see him go. He will be missed.
I have always strongly supported Steve. While some criticised his tactics, the simple fact is that he was great at his job. His job was, after all, to elect Republicans. He did that very well.
Steve was a great friend to me and to the GOP organization in Gates. I am very sorry to see him go. He will be missed.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
More From Obama
As I noted in my previous post, Obama's speech on Tuesday was full of references to the type of government we'll have if he becomes President.
Here's an excerpt (with Obama discussing what John McCain would see if he toured America):
"Maybe if he went to Iowa and met the student who works the night shift after a full day of class and still can't pay the medical bills for a sister who's ill, he'd understand that she can't afford four more years of a health care plan that only takes care of the healthy and wealthy. She needs us to pass a health care plan that guarantees insurance to every American who wants it and brings down premiums for every family who needs it. That's the change we need."
"Maybe if he went to Pennsylvania and met the man who lost his job but can't even afford the gas to drive around and look for a new one, he'd understand that we can't afford four more years of our addiction to oil from dictators. That man needs us to pass an energy policy that works with automakers to raise fuel standards, and makes corporations pay for their pollution, and oil companies invest their record profits in a clean energy future—an energy policy that will create millions of new jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced. That's the change we need."
Look, something for everyone! No pain, no worries, the government will take care of everything!
Obama loves victims, doesn't he? He is sure playing to the modern American audience. Nothing is our responsibility. We are "owed" and entitled to our jobs, our leisure, our health. If something goes wrong, its not our job to fix it, somebody (read: government) should step in.
HT to PowerLine.
Here's an excerpt (with Obama discussing what John McCain would see if he toured America):
"Maybe if he went to Iowa and met the student who works the night shift after a full day of class and still can't pay the medical bills for a sister who's ill, he'd understand that she can't afford four more years of a health care plan that only takes care of the healthy and wealthy. She needs us to pass a health care plan that guarantees insurance to every American who wants it and brings down premiums for every family who needs it. That's the change we need."
"Maybe if he went to Pennsylvania and met the man who lost his job but can't even afford the gas to drive around and look for a new one, he'd understand that we can't afford four more years of our addiction to oil from dictators. That man needs us to pass an energy policy that works with automakers to raise fuel standards, and makes corporations pay for their pollution, and oil companies invest their record profits in a clean energy future—an energy policy that will create millions of new jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced. That's the change we need."
Look, something for everyone! No pain, no worries, the government will take care of everything!
Obama loves victims, doesn't he? He is sure playing to the modern American audience. Nothing is our responsibility. We are "owed" and entitled to our jobs, our leisure, our health. If something goes wrong, its not our job to fix it, somebody (read: government) should step in.
HT to PowerLine.
Obama Locks It Up
Obama has the delegates he needs and Hillary has all but conceded.
I listed to Obama's victory speech on Tuesday night. I saw the crowd of wildly cheering supporters. I still don't get it.
Obama's speech was nothing but platitudes, talking points and pablum. Everyone gets a college education as a birthright. Free health care for everyone from the government. An energy policy that will lower gasoline prices, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and be good for the environment. Improvements in education which (of course) require better pay for teachers. There was, however, no mention of how he would do these things or pay for them.
Obama is a European-style socialist, who will be unrestrained by a liberal Democrat Congress. I fear all of the costly social experiments that are coming our way. It could be a bitter four years.
Wednesday night my daughter got a President's Award for having maintained a 90+ average for all three years of Middle School. The award was signed by George Bush. I told my son that his award will likely be signed by Barak Obama. Unless, of course, that in an Obama Administration, educators are freed from meeting those pesky standards in Bush's No Child Left Behind Law.
I don't like John McCain that much. But right now, I think he's the only thing standing between us and a really bad situation.
I listed to Obama's victory speech on Tuesday night. I saw the crowd of wildly cheering supporters. I still don't get it.
Obama's speech was nothing but platitudes, talking points and pablum. Everyone gets a college education as a birthright. Free health care for everyone from the government. An energy policy that will lower gasoline prices, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and be good for the environment. Improvements in education which (of course) require better pay for teachers. There was, however, no mention of how he would do these things or pay for them.
Obama is a European-style socialist, who will be unrestrained by a liberal Democrat Congress. I fear all of the costly social experiments that are coming our way. It could be a bitter four years.
Wednesday night my daughter got a President's Award for having maintained a 90+ average for all three years of Middle School. The award was signed by George Bush. I told my son that his award will likely be signed by Barak Obama. Unless, of course, that in an Obama Administration, educators are freed from meeting those pesky standards in Bush's No Child Left Behind Law.
I don't like John McCain that much. But right now, I think he's the only thing standing between us and a really bad situation.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Congressional Snake Oil
Yesterday, we saw another round of Congress playing at its updated version of "Bread and Circuses" with its hearing with US "Big Oil" companies.
Senators, Durbin and Schumer were in particularly good form. Durbin plaintively asked how these oil tycoons could live with themselves while causing damage to the American economy. Schumer lectured the executives and asked them how they could work with the regime in Burma.
Two things strike me here. First, it is pathetic that our Congress is reduced to these "spectacles" where political "leaders" try to outdo each other in showing the American people how much they care. There hasn't been a sincere comment coming out of Washington in decades. At least Bill Clinton was able to make us believe he could "feel our pain".
More important, the sheer lunacy of our energy (non) policy is mind boggling. These idiotic Senators berate oil executives for causing the price of gas to go up. This, while our government has become captive of environmental interests that have caused us to lose sight of the appropriate balance between good economic policy and good environmental policy.
We obviously need to protect our physical environment. But there has to be some middle ground between the rape of our natural world and eschewing all attempts to increase our domestic production of oil. This PowerLine post is quite telling in that regard. The PowerLine story is like many others I have read from commentators who wonder how long we will keep subsidizing our enemies while refusing to access our own resources.
I wonder how long the American people will continue to be misled by the diversions from Washington? The hearings excoriating oil execs. The false piety of the environmentalists. How about some more government programs like the rush to subsidize ethanol production?
I wonder if there are any leaders left in America?
Senators, Durbin and Schumer were in particularly good form. Durbin plaintively asked how these oil tycoons could live with themselves while causing damage to the American economy. Schumer lectured the executives and asked them how they could work with the regime in Burma.
Two things strike me here. First, it is pathetic that our Congress is reduced to these "spectacles" where political "leaders" try to outdo each other in showing the American people how much they care. There hasn't been a sincere comment coming out of Washington in decades. At least Bill Clinton was able to make us believe he could "feel our pain".
More important, the sheer lunacy of our energy (non) policy is mind boggling. These idiotic Senators berate oil executives for causing the price of gas to go up. This, while our government has become captive of environmental interests that have caused us to lose sight of the appropriate balance between good economic policy and good environmental policy.
We obviously need to protect our physical environment. But there has to be some middle ground between the rape of our natural world and eschewing all attempts to increase our domestic production of oil. This PowerLine post is quite telling in that regard. The PowerLine story is like many others I have read from commentators who wonder how long we will keep subsidizing our enemies while refusing to access our own resources.
I wonder how long the American people will continue to be misled by the diversions from Washington? The hearings excoriating oil execs. The false piety of the environmentalists. How about some more government programs like the rush to subsidize ethanol production?
I wonder if there are any leaders left in America?
Blood In The Water
Hillary Clinton is finished.
The media sharks are circling in for the kill in the aftermath of her reference to Bobby Kennedy's assassination.
And, its more of the same baloney from the usual Obamistas like Jonathan Alter and Keith Olberman.
Hillary was obviously pointing out that previous Democratic nomination processes ran into June. To allege that she was implying that Obama could be killed is lunatic, except for the pro-Obama media forces who want Hillary out.
Unfortunately for Hillary, she gave them the pretext. Unfortunately for the country, this is what now passes for journalism in the U.S.
Jefferson is turning in his grave!
The media sharks are circling in for the kill in the aftermath of her reference to Bobby Kennedy's assassination.
And, its more of the same baloney from the usual Obamistas like Jonathan Alter and Keith Olberman.
Hillary was obviously pointing out that previous Democratic nomination processes ran into June. To allege that she was implying that Obama could be killed is lunatic, except for the pro-Obama media forces who want Hillary out.
Unfortunately for Hillary, she gave them the pretext. Unfortunately for the country, this is what now passes for journalism in the U.S.
Jefferson is turning in his grave!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Would You Buy A Used Ferry From This Man?
Former Rochester Mayor, William A. "Bill" Johnson, has appeared as a guest essayist this past week in both the Democrat & Chronicle and the Messenger Post Newspapers. Mr. Johnson is a member of former Lt. Governor Stan Lundine's Commission on Local Government Consolidation. Johnson has been a long-time proponent of metro government in the Rochester area. Apparently he was chosen to be the local "salesman" for the Commission's recommendations.
Is it just me, or do others find it incredibly ironic that the man most responsible for the Fast Ferry and High Falls fiascoes is lecturing us on ways to cut local government spending and taxes? Bill Johnson is going to convince us that he has a plan to bring efficient, business-like, and rational government to the area? And the way to do that is to abolish the mostly prosperous and efficient Town governments and replace them with a super-sized City (metro) government, run by the people (like him) who ran the City to the brink of bankruptcy?
I still vote no.
Is it just me, or do others find it incredibly ironic that the man most responsible for the Fast Ferry and High Falls fiascoes is lecturing us on ways to cut local government spending and taxes? Bill Johnson is going to convince us that he has a plan to bring efficient, business-like, and rational government to the area? And the way to do that is to abolish the mostly prosperous and efficient Town governments and replace them with a super-sized City (metro) government, run by the people (like him) who ran the City to the brink of bankruptcy?
I still vote no.
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