All Posts Tagged With: "will"
WILL THERE BE A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN?
I’m not long on the antics of most law enforcement officers and I’m certainly not impressed with their acrimonious, truculent and intimidating methods. However, one grit and guts lawman has not only grabbed my attention, but has enamored me with his tactics. Can he win his fifth election to be one of history’s longest reigning sheriffs? Is his methods inhumane or unnecessary? All I know is this. If I were a resident of Maricopa County, Sheriff Joe Arpaio would get my vote.
Liberal democrats have coerced, bought and garnered votes of minorities and criminals for as long as I can remember. I am happy to see one lawman treat a criminal like a criminal. He takes no guff and apologizes for nothing. From my research he has done nothing but enforce local, state and federal law to the letter. He is controversial and has come under attack for many of his programs and various issues, but let’s face it, if he were doing something illegal or illicit wouldn’t he be prosecuted? Or at least get booted out of office?
Sheriff Joe has reduced recidivism with his tough, sometimes draconian, and often educational methods. He is known for erecting and managing one of the nation’s largest “tent city” jails, chain gangs, banning smoking, pornographic magazines, movies, unrestricted television and a host of other luxuries so many felons enjoy across the country. Yes, he has even banned coffee. It was designed to reduce “coffee attacks” on correctional officers, and in conjunction with banning salt and pepper, it amounted to a taxpayer savings of $20,000 a year.
He has also instituted study and drug recovery programs for inmates. His school, “Hard Knocks High”, claims to be the only high school program approved in American jails. He mandated two-week English classes for non-English speaking inmates. The course covers the three branches of government, the process of bills becoming law, state government and law enforcement. To his critics he said this. “These inmates happen to be incarcerated in the United States of America and in Maricopa County where I run the jails. We speak English here, not foreign languages.”
In 2007, Sheriff Joe inaugurated a jailhouse radio station called KJOE. The station broadcasts four hours a day, five days a week, playing only classical music, opera, Frank Sinatra and educational programming.
He instituted chain gangs, not for punishment, but for what he calls “rehabilitation”. Male inmates wear black and white striped uniforms, work eight hours a day, six days a week and perform tasks such as creating fire breaks, removing trash and burying the deceased in the county cemetery. The female chain gang, that’s right, female chain gangs, work seven hours a day, six days a week. To his critics he responded. “I don’t believe in discrimination in my jail system. Crime knows no gender and neither should punishment.” Damn! I love this guy.
There have been a myriad of complaints and controversy. In “tent city” where the inmates live in tents that get up to 138° indoors and 116° outdoors, one resident, James Zanzo’t, recounted the experience like this. “It feels like you are in a furnace. It’s inhumane.” Of which, Sheriff Joe replied. “It’s 120° in Iraq and the soldiers are living in tents and they didn’t commit any crimes, so shut your mouths.” Did I mention I love this guy?
I could go on eternally with his accomplishments and criticisms, but let me share the last, my favorite.
In 1995 the controversial sheriff used canteen funds to buy Newt Gingrich’s ten-part video lectures with the intention of playing them in the inmates’ cells. When he was queried as to whether or not he would provide his astute viewers a lecture series by a Democrat he replied. “For one thing I don’t know of any, and some people might say these guys already got enough of those ideas.” Amen brother!
Lawman Joe Arpaio has enjoyed a lengthy tenure as sheriff of Maricopa County and with the upcoming election on September 2, 2008 I believe his good deeds shall afford him another term. Although controversial and often sardonically excoriated, he has won four elections with as much as 83% of the popular vote. Sheriff Joe is the type of lawman America needs, after all, he is known as “America’s Toughest Sheriff”.
Drinkable Water Will be Oil of 21st Century
A 1982 paper predicted lack of potable water will be fighting words in 21st Century. Vancourver BC and its 117 inches of annual rainfall is one of largest fresh water sources on Earth. But, Canadian law forbids pipeline into U. S.
Los Angeles in a bid to cut down on water use by residents and businesses will quadruple fines for businesses and double them for residents and put 16 water police on patrol who will first hand out warnings, then cite people don’t listen and respond. Among other restrictions, lawns may not be watered between nine a.m. and four p.m., and restaurants won’t be offering free water anymore.
A decade ago “Water Police” roamed Santa Barbara streets tagging leaky water bibs, threatening residents with the temerity to wash their car in their own driveway, and a man names “Doctor Dirt” painted lawns green with vegetable dye. The Santa Barbara City Council spent $35 million on a reverse osmosis desalination plant that was immediately mothballed and now may spend $200,000 to “study” whether it can be brought back on line.
San Diego wants to build a $300 million desalination plant. Environmental Science and Technology on line points out desalination’s very high costs. Electricity. It says, accounts for 44% of the typical costs of producing drinking water with plants that use reverse osmosis. An energy rate hike of 25% pushes up water prices. Also, desalination can have environmental consequences. The discharge of the highly salty waste brine-often laced with chemicals and metals-can harm fish populations and accumulate in the food chain, the report points out.
Water will return as a planning issue. In Cambria, near San Simeon’s Hearst Castle, water meter’s were granted on a lottery system when the tiny tourist town opted out of the Colorado River water pipeline. All over water became and will again become a tool to limit growth and restrict development.
Governor Schwarzenegger is using the drought to promote a $12 billion bond issue that would fund new dam projects. The scheme is opposed by Democrats, who predictably argue that conservation is more important.
California has suffered drought-like conditions for several years, this winter was one of the driest on record. Rainfall in the Golden State during the winter months was 1.2 inches, or 22 per cent of the average for the 114 years since records began.
California and the West experienced periodic drought in 1987-89, 1976-1979, 1934 that created the fabled dust bowl as well as lesser droughts in the 1950s, and the devastation of the 1880s. What many people don’t recognize, however, is that over the past 400 years droughts have occurred several times per century (Priest et al., 1993; NOAA Paleoclimatological Program, 2000).
The politically correct explanation is this drought, the recent wildfires are a consequence of anthropomorphically induced climate change. What is certain is Californians are running out of potable water, nothing was done since the last drought and all sorts of harebrained schemes will be reintroduced. Then it will rain.
Hypocritical Congress Ignores Will Of People
Its Unanamous Americans In Every State Support Offshore Oil Drilling - But Congress Goes On Vacation.
At the same moment oil companies announced the biggest profit in world history - exceeding the gross domestic product of Canada — Californians who have been the lone holdouts to allowing oil drilling off its shore for the first time favor it. According to a new Public Policy Institute of California a statewide survey finds 51-46% demanding it be allowed. That makes it unanimous from coast-to-coast that Americans want more offshore drilling.
But, Congress remains out of touch, and deadlocked in petty partisan bickering. A Democratic proposal to counter oil market speculation fell victim to the drilling dispute, failing 276-151 — nine votes short of the two-thirds needed for approval because the measure had been offered under expedited rules imposed by the Democrats to avoid GOP attempts to attach an offshore drilling provision.
A Senate bill, also aimed at curbing abuses in the oil markets, has been stalled for two weeks as Republicans have insisted it be opened to votes on a variety of other energy issues, principally offshore oil and gas drilling in areas long under development bans because of environmental concerns.
“This is no substitute for a real bill on drilling,” declared House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio, who accused Democrats of using the oil market speculation measure to “divert attention” from their refusal to allow a vote on offshore oil drilling.
The House bill would have given new authorities to the Commodities Futures Trading Commission to oversee oil markets, increase the agency’s staff and set new requirements on certain trading. Market critics have argued that excessive speculation has contributed to the soaring oil prices.
At the White House, President Bush for the second time in two days called for lifting the offshore drilling bans, saying the Democratic-run Congress was letting down the American people by refusing to allow votes on the matter which the consensus is that the ban on offshore oil drilling would be lifted.
Instead of acting on oil independence Congress hypocritically voted to go on vacation leaving Americans to twist slowly in the wind and suffering from extortion at the hands of our enemies, exploited by oil companies, and ignored by their “representatives.”
The identity of Israel’s post-Olmert prime minister will determine its war options on Iran
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
DEBKAfile is usually viewed as an authoritative and well informed source.
July 1, 2008, 4:23 PM (GMT+02:00)
According to DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources, the overriding considerations that will determine if and when Israel attacks Iran are these: whether to strike before George W. Bush’s exit, whether Iran’s strategic ties with Syria and the Palestinian Hamas can be severed in advance and what Israeli prime minister is chosen to manage the war, and who is elected U. S. President.
These are the determinants, rather than “the red lines” cited by senior Pentagon officials to ABC News Monday as triggers for an Israeli offensive, namely when Natanz nuclear facility produces enough weapons-grade uranium - some time in 2009 or this year - and when Iran acquires SA-20 air defense systems from Russia
DEBKAfile quotes intelligence sources as negating those triggers:
1. Contrary to most reports, including those put out by Teheran, Iran is lagging behind its target date for producing a sufficiency of weapons-grade uranium. It is held up by the technical hitches dogging the smooth, continuous activation of its high-grade centrifuges.
2. Moscow has suspended all sales of sophisticated air defense systems to Iran and Syria alike - so that Israel has no cause for haste on that score. Sources other than DEBKAfile say Russia’s decision was an accomodation to President Bush’s plea not to be the provocation for war.
3. That Iran is heading for a nuclear weapon is no longer in doubt. What Israel must decide very soon is whether to strike Iran’s production facilities before Bush leaves the White House or wait for his successor to move in, in 2009. Most observers say if Obama is elected Israel feels it must attack but, think a McCain win would lessen the urgency.
There is a preference in Jerusalem for a date straight after the America’s November 4 presidential election - except that military experts warn that weather and lunar conditions at that time of the year are unfavorable.
If Israel does opt for an attack, August and September would be better, they say - or else hold off until March-April 2009.
Non-DEBKAfile sources speculate that the discussion about timing is a ruse.
Israel’s political volatility is another major factor in the uncertainty surrounding an attack. Towards the end of September, the ruling Kadima party is committed to a leadership primary. The party’s choice of prime minister and the factors that determine how he (or she) reaches a decision on attacking Iran can only be guessed at.
4. A final consideration must be Israel’s ability to prevent Syria and Hamas opening war fronts at the time of Israel’s attack on Iran. In other words, the IDF needs to know it must contend with two fronts, Iran and the Lebanese Hizballah, not four.
Notwithstanding these major deterrents, the weight of opinion in Israel’s decision-making community at this time is in favor of an early military strike. There is an international consensus that Iran cannot be allowed to attain a nuclear bomb, but no sanctions or incentives are proving effective as preventatives. Therefore, it is felt, the sooner Israel pre-empts a nuclear-armed Iran, the better, because the longer it delays, the more dangerous the Islamic Republic’s retaliatory capabilities will become.
Thanks to god-like environmentalists: Exxon will not make money drilling offshore. Cuba and China will.
We have a defacto suicidal oil avoidance policy which makes Bush’s shortsighted oil focus look like a misdemeanor in a world of capital crimes.
Bush once declared he was never part of “big oil,” rather he once was part of “little oil”. Bad, bad man. So punish the entire US population.
Well, I say to you, Cuba and China working together to drill for oil in our neighborhood is about Big Oil, but not what ignorant shortsighted politically motivated environmentalists usually think of. Such Stinging hypocrisy. I am an environmentalist, but do not think we have to commit suicide.
They have their heads in the wrong place and deserve any peculiar awards they get. Any ideas?
Suicide. Oil. Policy. Not by Bush. Get it? Iraq WAS about oil, not our appropriating it, but specifically about keeping oil lanes and supplies open to all of the world including poor countries who are dependent on oil and cannot assure it’s availability in a world where volatile countries own and control a lot of oil. It is important to keep the shipping lanes open and half of our military expenditures may be directed to that end for the BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE FREE AND OTHER WORLDS WHO USE OIL.
Do you know any country that does not use oil?
Do these Energy Brilliants know that while Brazil may be independent of oil thanks to massive forest destroying cultivation of sugar cane and it’s wide use throughout the country they still search for oil? No matter, damn those Exxon profiteers! Boycott their gas stations until they reduce their gas prices. Again, no matter, just fly me in a private jet to the next conference without delay, my limousine and award is waiting.
You follow in a non private plane to take my picture. And don’t be late. And do not us oil products made in the US, be sure to get them off the next boat from half way around the world. Hope any leaks are not on our shores.
Who cares that Venezuela, the country controlled by a mad man who “cares about the people”, owns Citgo. Why bother boycotting them? Well, because they are not Exxon, the Great Satan, who produces, what? Only a small percentage of world wide oil production? How can that be?
No matter. They only give 40% of their political donations to liberals, Democrats or progressive interests so they are bad.
Despite not being dependent on oil, Brazil and it’s sovereign Oil Firm has recently announced that they looked for and found new massive oil reserves in offshore fields. A second one just recently. But only because they looked for it, found it and will drilled it without the permission of god-like US environmentalists. Big Oil again. Taxem, taxem I say.
It is good news for these politically motivated liberal environmentalists because they will get to rejoice that Exxon is not going to make those profits, let along those made off our very own shores. After all if they did, we would have to penalize them and tax the “windfall” for making maybe an 8 to 10% return on equity on a large investment base. That is not a windfall even if measured in billions. Goldman Sachs just announced a poor financial result for the last quarter, just a little over 2 Billion. Where are the cries for a windfall profit on a company that probably makes 60% of their political donations to liberals, Democrats and progressives.
Many industries make a far greater return, but no matter, penalize them. Union pensions own a lot of stock in such companies but that is just hypocrisy, not worthy or mention.
Such shortsighted folks, including those sympathizers in government, do not know what a windfall is. Their extraordinary pensions, health care and other perks and fine china are windfalls and should be taxed at 90%.
Actors or actresses getting 1 to 20 million for a single movie taking 4 months to film, is a windfall requiring poor people to pay $8 to $12 per person for a movie.
An athlete getting similar egregious salaries so that poor people have to pay through the nose to see a single game, is a windfall. Oh and do not forget the 4 dollar popcorn. Unhealthy oil included at no extra charge.
Bill O’Reilly and Larry King’s salary and benefits are egregious and true windfalls.
Al Gore makes windfall profits by scaring us but has no solutions his own worshipful constituency would pay for. Hugh fees for speeches by former Presidents like Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton are windfalls.
Which US legislator is going to introduce the Windfall Profits Tax on Brazil? Or Reagan’s estate or Clinton’s ventures?
Or Cuba or China or Russia?
Hey, how about this, let’s tax Iran for their windfall profits!
Why didn’t we think about this sooner? Notice something here? Those are countries, not stockholder profiteers owned by our pension funds and universities. All conduct foreign policy and build and buy weapons and train and pay for armies. No conflicts of interest there, is there?
Kind of like several much bigger Exxons, some with nuclear weapons, others wimply with nuclear ambitions like Iraq under Saddam. Where will they get the money for those kinds of programs? Not from Profits but from the entire asset base of the company/country. Wake up.
Money Bundlers will Tell Hillary it is Over Per Fineman
On Charlier Rose, when asked, Howard Fineman talked about the conventional wisdom that a 6%, margin in Pennsylvania, which he is a part of creating in his Cable TV roles behind the big desks, is the tipping point for a win or a lose for Hillary against the Politician Formerly known as Barry.
He said Gov Rendell and Vernon Jordan may be among those who personally will tell Hillary it is time to call it a done deal, but that more importantly it will be the funders and their bundlers who will make it clear that the race is over. He further said Hillary is already broke and will not want to spend the next few years at fundraisers to pay off accumulating debts and even if she wins by more than 10% in Penn, that convincing win will be undone by future primaries, the numbers and the proportional system works against her and for so many reasons time is too short and she is unlikely to win the nomination.
While referring to current Clinton loyalist Harold Ickes, who carried Ted Kennedy’s water at a previous long past Democratic Convention in a last ditch effort to dislodge Jimmy Carter as the incumbent nominee, in the race he lost to Ronald Reagan, Fineman indicated that if that occurred in Denver in Aug 08 at the Democratic National Convention, a lot of damage will be done and by inference would increase John McCain’s less than likely chance to beat either Democrat in November.
So when will the money guys send the message?
And if they do, will Hillary et al be willing and try to find a way to nontheless joust with the politician formerly known as Barry in Denver this August?