Coralville Courier

Vindictive Obama kicks reporters off his plane

It's his plane, he can do what he wants to right?  And the Democrat party is the party of tolerance, advocating the right to dissent and supposedly works to reach across the isle in bi-partisan fashion right?

Barack Obama kicked three reporters off the campaign plane, with a fake claim that there was no room on the aircraft.  Never mind that these reporters all had seats on the plane for approximately a year each. 

All three of the reporters work for papers that very recently endorsed Republican Presidential hopeful John McCain.  Coincidence? 

Reporters from the New York Post, the Washington Times, and the Dallas Morning News were kicked off.  What the Obama campaign is NOT telling folks is that those reporters have apparently been replaced by representatives from monthly magazines JET and Essence.

In a related story, a Florida TV station has been banned by the Obama campaign, penalized for asking VP candidate Joe Biden some tough questions about Obama's history and stances.

Editor's Note:  Remember, the editorial staff of a newspaper hands out the endorsement of a candidate, not reporters.  There were no complaints about the reporters' work for the time they were *allowed* on the plane and on the Obama campaign trail.  By the Obama campaign's own admission the Washington Times reporter has done a fair job.  It's clear that Obama is being vindictive against the papers.  And how dare a TV reporter ask tough questions huh? The Obama is acting rather brown-shirtish, don't you think?

Johnson County Republicans to host BBQ

The Johnson County Republican Central Committee is having a Bar-B-Q!
 
The annual fall event will be held this Sunday, November 2 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds.

Delicious beef catered by The Pit is on the menu this year.  Serving hours are 11 AM to 2 PM.  You'll find great food and a slate of candidates ready to meet you and answer questions in Building 'C' at the Fairgrounds.  The address is 3149 Old Hwy 218 S, Iowa City. Please RSVP at: 339-8381.  

McCain slams Obama's moving tax target

Remarks by John McCain while campaigning in Hershey, PA:

EXCERPT: “Senator Obama has made a lot of promises. First he said people making less than 250,000 dollars would benefit from his plan, then this weekend he announced in an ad that if you're a family making less than 200,000 dollars you'll benefit -- but yesterday, right here in Pennsylvania , Senator Biden said tax relief should only go to "middle class people -- people making under 150,000 dollars a year." It's interesting how their definition of rich has a way of creeping down. At this rate, it won't be long before Senator Obama is right back to his vote that Americans making just 42,000 dollars a year should get a tax increase. We can't let that happen.”

Editor's Note:  Voters need to seriously question the Obama's tax stance and his moving target of what defines rich and/or middle class.  We're talking about the Obama, a man who was exposed for his "spread the wealth" concept and punishing achievement.

Obama’s words, “spread the wealth around.”

Dear Friends,

 

Two weeks ago on the campaign trail in Ohio, a plumber named Joe Wurzelbacher was able to accomplish what so many in the news media are unable to do; he got Barack Obama to honestly answer a question.

 

From that day on, the Obama campaign has been trying to spin the Senator’s statement that his campaign is built on a platform that would, in Obama’s words, “spread the wealth around.” 

 

Senator John McCain took note of Joe the Plumber, he referenced his story at the third Presidential debate and has continued to champion his cause at campaign stops across the country.

 

Joe the Plumber’s story is the story of most Iowans.  He wakes up and puts in long days, sometimes six or seven a week, he provides for his family and he has dreams of one day being his own boss. He understands that hard work is the best way to truly achieve the American Dream. 

 

Yet, Democrat politicians like Barack Obama feel that Joe’s hard work should be rewarded with higher taxes, so while he strives to do more, his earnings can go to those who do less.  Joe himself said that sounds like socialism to him; what does it sound like to you?

 

The Republican Party of Iowa is now looking for the next Joe or Jane the plumber and we want to hear your story.  How hard do you work?  What are you working for?  How would you feel if Barack Obama is elected and his plans for higher taxes are enacted, making the American Dream that much harder to achieve?

 

Please call, write, email, or send us a video telling us how your story mirrors that of ‘Joe the Plumber.’  You can email RPI at iowagop@iowagop.org or call us at 515-282-8105.  We’ll be sharing stories with others like you throughout the state while we continue to fight and win Iowa for John McCain.

 

Sincerely,

 

Stewart Iverson

Chairman

Republican Party of Iowa

621 E 9^th St

Des Moines, IA 50309

Runaway Train: The Eternal Stream

MOUNT PLEASANT, IA – In 1513, Juan Ponce de León embarked on an expedition in the Bahamas to discover the legendary Fountain of Youth.  Today, modern explorers are in quest of a different current, one whose waters promise endless days of carefree bliss.  Unlike de León, whose tongue never tasted from the elusive Fountain, some have successfully tapped into this treasured flow.  It is known as the Eternal Stream of Somebody Else’s Money. 

On June 11, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives diverted more of the Eternal Stream to Amtrak by appropriating $14.9 billion to the rail company over the next five years, adding to the $30 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies since 1970.  The House did this despite the fact that in fiscal year 2007, Amtrak’s total revenue fell short of its total expenses by over $1 billion.

Think about that.  A grossly inefficient company finds itself another billion dollars in the red and Congress rewards it with fifteen billion more! 

Unlike Amtrak, the private sector lives by the laws of supply and demand.  A business providing a service at a price higher than consumers are willing to pay is unable to generate enough revenue to continue providing the service.  This business must either increase efficiency to keep costs down and lower its prices or be forced out of the market.  

For some lucky companies such as Amtrak, however, the federal government offers a third option:  keep prices artificially low in order to retain customers, and make up the loss in revenue through government bailouts.  

The charge that Amtrak is inefficient or ineffective is technically inaccurate, since the company has achieved a remarkable amount of success in convincing Congress to share the wealth of the American taxpayer.  If Amtrak put half as much innovation into driving quality up and prices down as it does into fundraising, it might not be facing a billion dollar shortfall.

Companies like Amtrak which are fortunate enough to gain access to the Eternal Stream of Somebody Else’s Money are free from the obligation to ration their own well water for survival. Unfortunately, while cool and refreshing to the tongue, the water from the Eternal Stream is contaminated with a strain of bacteria known to induce inefficiency, waste, and an unquenchable thirst for more.

“Runaway Train,” from Public Interest Institute’s FACTS & OPINIONS, is available at www.limitedgovernment.org.

Redistributing wealth, Obama style

Received in an email:

In a local restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08" tie. I laughed as he had given away his political preference--just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient needed the money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

Supervisor Rod Sullivan: Has he abused his power and violated the public trust?

FACT 1:  Rod Sullivan is the Chairman of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.  He has the power to establish and set agendas.

FACT 2:  Rod Sullivan is a member of the Johnson County Heritage Trust (JCHT), a special interest group that buys up land in the name of conservation.

FACT 3:  Rod Sullivan helped put a JCHT like agenda on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors agenda, to be funded at taxpayer expense.

Here's the dirty little secret folks.....

The $20 million Conservation Bond issue that Rod Sullivan helped to shove down our throats was NOT something that folks like you and me, Joe-Johnson-County-Resident petitioned for. Average Joe Resident was NOT out knocking on doors saying, "Hey, we need more green space," asking you to sign a petition asking for the county to buy up unspecified lands for unspecified uses. Let me be perfectly clear, this was NOT a mass resident driven petition drive.  It was NOT an issue on the minds of Joe Average Johnson County resident.  No, the County Supervisors themselves along with Conservation Board Director Harry Graves put this on their self-serving agenda and on the November general election ballot.  This was a desire of a select few, not of the good people of Johnson County.

According to Iowa Code, since the Supervisors themselves put this on the ballot, they also had the power to take it off the ballot and table the issue if residents asked. The Supervisors were indeed asked to just that.  Sullivan and company arrogantly refused.

In June, Sullivan and the Supervisors were asked to consider the flood of 2008, the immense damage, the displacement, the recovery and relief efforts needed, the resulting negative economic impact and the resources needed to address all those related issues.  In light of all that and DESPITE IT ALL, Chairman Rod Sullivan and the Supervisors STILL chose to keep the Conservation Bond issue on the ballot.  Despite the obvious financial and resource absorbing issues related to the flood, despite the fact that Joe Johnson County Resident didn't petition the people for more bike trails and parks - Rod Sullivan and the Supervisors pushed forth with their self-serving agenda. 

Has Sullivan abused his power?  Has he violated the public trust?

FACT 4:  Terrance Neuzil is a Johnson County Supervisor and Co-Chair.  He too has the power to establish and set the agenda for the board.  

FACT 5:  Terrance Neuzil is also a member of the Johnson County Heritage Trust, a special interest group that buys up land in the name of conservation.

FACT 6:  Terrance Neuzil helped put a JCHT like agenda on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors agenda, at taxpayer expense.

FACT 7:  Sally Stutsman is a Johnson County Supervisor. 

FACT 8:  Sally Stutsman is also a member of the Johnson County Heritage Trust, a special interest group that buys up land in the name of conservation.

FACT 9:  Sally Stutsman helped put a JCHT like agenda on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors agenda, at taxpayer expense.

FACT 10:  Conservation Board Director Harry Graves is a member of the Johnson County Heritage Trust, a special interest group that buys up land in the name of conservation.

FACT 11:  Director Harry Graves helped put a JCHT like agenda on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors agenda, at taxpayer expense.

Collusion?

Here we have three out of five members of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, a majority, getting their way in placing an item on the agenda, and the ballot.  Is this an abuse of power?  This wasn't a want let alone a need identified by the people.  It was a self-interest want put on the agenda and the ballot by a very small select few.

They want YOU to buy the land THEY want.

Shocking 1995 Obama Audio Found - It's alarming

This very eye-opening video is what Barack Obama thinks about America:

Obama tactics puts U.S. at risk

The ACORN voter registration scandal just keeps growing. Scandals are opening up all across the country. In related news, it's now being reported that Obama STAFFERS are voting illegally.

Johnson County Supervisors failed to properly budget our money

As a result of the national housing slump, County Assessor Bill Greazel and County Treasurer Tom Kriz informed County Supervisors and other officials Thursday that residential and commercial property valuations are expected to stay flat.

One has to wonder how the valuations will remain flat and not drop, especially considering the national average is at a decline of about 9 percent according to most reports.  New construction in the area is also slowing down, further complicating the financial picture.

So what does this mean?  In a time when County Supervisor and Chairman Rod Sullivan and Co-Chair Terrance Neuzil have approved a $20 million Conservation Bond issue for some bike trails to go on the November ballot, they should have been considering how they're going to pay for projects already on the books.  When assessments are determined early next year, the revenue won't be what Sullivan and Neuzil had hoped for.  It's going to logically mean tough budget decisions for our county leaders.

"We may be saying to taxpayers, there is a lower level of service," supervisor Sally Stutsman said at the Thursday briefing. Sally Stutsman also approved putting the Conservation Bond issue - which vaguely proposes things like bike trails - on the general election ballot.

Something to keep in mind, the Conservation Bond issue was NOT something that Joe Johnson County Resident petitioned for.  Nobody was out knocking on doors asking you to sign a petition asking for the county to buy up unspecified lands for unspecified uses.  No, the County Supervisors themselves put this on their agenda and on the ballot.  And according to Iowa Code, they had to power to take it off the table if residents asked.  Given the floods and economic conditions, the Supervisors were asked to take the bond issue off the table in June, they arrogantly refused.

So given current conditions, how prudent was it for Supervisors Rod Sullivan and Terrance Neuzil (Chair and Co-Chair), to propose and/or approve project after project after project, taking millions and millions of dollars out of resident's pockets.  Did Supervisors Sullivan and Neuzil care to ask the common sense question, "What if things get bad?"

Sullivan has been a huge advocate for a new Health and Human Services Building - projected price tag:  $12.1 million.  To be fair some funds were set aside for this project.  What?  It was actually budgeted for?  My goodness that makes too much sense!  Government did that?  But the project isn't complete yet and PLEASE NOTE that this was budgeted for prior to Mr. Sullivan's time on the board.  County Treasurer Kriz has stated however that we would continue to pay for this facility for about five more years.

Sullivan and Neuzil approved a new Joint Communications Center - Projected price tag:  $22 million.  These costs have already exceeded the original estimate of $17 million.  Property taxes have been raised as a result of this project and County Supervisors are now looking to sell bonds to make up the balance.  Yep, another tax hike.  This cost does NOT include additional operational expenses taxpayers will have to cough up to run the place once the building is complete.

A new Conservation Headquarters/Maintenance Facility - Projected price tag: $1 million taxpayer dollars.  County Supervisors approved the issuance of General Obligation Bonds not to exceed $1.2 million.  This facility was needed, but why wasn't it planned for then in the budget?  Are County Supervisors mortgaging our future?

New SEATS Facility - The estimated total cost of the Johnson County SEATS and Secondary Roads Office Building is $1,980,300 and the estimated total cost of the Garage Structure is $1,056,300.  That's your money.  The question is, was this facility needed this year? 

County Jail - Projected price tag:  An estimated $61.2 million to $76.5 million, which includes a combined facility with courtrooms.  Who is paying for it?  You are.

County Courthouse - Projected price tag:  See 'County Jail' above, but if the combo doesn't work, how much?  It's your money being bantered about.

And in spite of the Flood of 2008, Johnson County Supervisors put the Conservation Bond Issue on the November ballot - Price tag: $20 million Johnson County taxpayer dollars.  This does NOT include additional costs for development of lands purchased, such as bike trails or parks (we don't know, they won't tell us the intended uses, there are no details, no business plan to speak of).  This does NOT include unforseen/additional costs for maintaining the lands purchased.   What land?  Where and how much?  How is it to be used?  They won't tell us.

So, in light of all these expenditures that County Supervisors want YOU to pay for, did the Supervisors arrogantly think Johnson County would always enjoy economic growth as long as they were in charge?  AS IF Mother Nature doesn't happen?  AS IF economic conditions don't change?

It seems our leaders have the *wisdom* of grasshoppers, not ants.

"I'm Michael D. Thayer, and I approve the removal of Rod Sullivan from office."