RANDOM SHOTS - Gas Highest In History, Obama Getting Foreign Money, Layoffs Due To Chevy Volt Sales, Miss Dash, and More!

FIRST SHOT!

Under Obama, Fill Your 5 Gallon Gas Can For $25.00 

That's right! That's what I paid this morning. Twenty-five dollars to fill a five gallon gas can at a local station here in Jackson , California.

It this insane? Yes it is! Why? Because this doesn't have to be the way it is.

We are sitting on 1/4 of all of the oil in the world, and our Federal Government under Obama is doing nothing about allowing more permits on Federal lands to harness this and subsequently bring the price at the pumps down. 

Also, there are so many different seasonal and regional blends for gas, the the EPA and Energy Departments are stopping refinery production by forcing these on the public.

It's not like just flipping a switch from summer to winter blends. It takes a turn over in working operational equipment, process, and manpower.

No new Oil Refineries since the 1970s, when Gerald Ford was President. Yes, over 35 years ago!

That's right! Under President Ford, back in 1975, he proposed a program that would have built "200 major nuclear power plants; 250 major new coal mines; 150 major coal-fired power plants; 30 major new [oil] refineries; 20 major new synthetic fuel plants; the drilling of many thousands of new oil wells; the insulation of 18 million homes; and the manufacturing and the sale of millions of new automobiles, trucks, and buses that use much less fuel."

As soon as Republican Gerald Ford left office, Democrat Jimmy Carter took over and all energy modernization in the United States stopped.

Today, the process of refining crude oil into useful products finds itself under constant attack from environmental groups as well as regulatory agencies such as the EPA and Energy Department.

The last time a new oil refinery was constructed in this country was during the administration of Gerald Ford in the mid 1970s. But even before then, Congress had already made it more difficult for domestic refiners.

Beginning with the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act, the government has made it extremely difficult for anyone to complete the process of building new refineries. Because of federal regulations and private lawsuits, most companies simply are reluctant to invest in what historically have been low-margin ventures. When one adds the huge environmental costs to the mix, it is not difficult to understand why oil executives have taken a pass.

Because of this, new refineries are not being built and old refineries are being held together in an attempt to modernize from within. But friends, for a business to modernize while still trying to operate at peak performance is like trying to do a tune-up on your car while trying to speed down the highway at 65 miles per hour.

It can't be done efficiently for maximum results. One or the other will suffer. You either pull over and get the needed tune up, or you try running on a poorly operating vehicle.

I believe that oil refineries are one key factor in getting oil to market and meeting a growing demand. Even though no new refineries have been built since the 1970s, it is true that oil industry advancements have boosted refining capacity - but not to the levels that we need in a 2013 population or economy.

It is not enough, and it is taxing old existing refineries.

And yes, none of this information helps us when we're at the gas pumps putting out $5 a gallon of gas. It doesn't help me or get my anger down.

Where it does help is during this election. It helps us when we are in that voting booth and about to mark our ballot.

We can either choose someone like Barack Obama who has acted against our best interests by imposing more energy regulations - and has increased America's reliance on his foreign oil campaign donors.

Or we can choose Mitt Romney, who in fact wants to roll back restrictive regulations and build new refineries to modernize American energy needs.

My recommendation is the get pissed, but target those responsible for putting us in this mess in the first place! Environmentalist and Democrats!

SECOND SHOT!

Obama Getting Foreign Money For Campaign

How much money of the millions of dollars that the Obama Campaign has gotten is illegal from those Foreign Oil donors who have a vested interest in making sure that Obama remains president? 

It is well known that ultra-left Environmental extremist groups are funded by Foreign Oil, but how much is being funneled to the Obama Campaign to ensure that we stay dependant on their oil?

And please don't kid yourself, it is in the best interest of Foreign Oil that Obama stays in office. Romney will ramp up domestic production as soon as being elected, and that's something the filthy rich in the Middle-East don't want to see happen.

It would turn their golden palaces into nothing over night. It would stop their financing the building of Mosques all over Europe and the United States. It would shut funding for Muslim terrorist who want us dead.

For them, it would be a total catastrophe if we didn't need their oil. So yes, they have a lot at stake in this election.

Now The Daily Caller is reporting that the Obama campaign "illegally solicited" Foreign donations through a social media site. Here's the report:

President Barack Obama's re-election campaign has been soliciting foreigners for donations, an explosive report from the conservative Government Accountability Institute (GAI) shows.

Those foreign donors are allegedly visiting the Obama campaign's donation solicitation Web pages through a social media website the campaign controls, and through an outside website that serves mostly Internet users from outside the United States.

About 20 percent of visitors to the "my.barackobama.com" social media website "originated from foreign locations," the report found. That Web address is owned and controlled by the Obama re-election campaign.

"At no point during the [website's] subscription process is a visitor asked whether he or she can legally donate to a U.S. election," GAI notes.

"Once a visitor signs up, he or she immediately begins receiving solicitations for donations. In fact, numerous foreign nationals report receiving solicitation letters and thank you emails from the campaign for their support. Some of these emails have been reposted on blog sites to encourage friends to click on the donate link or get their names on the email list."

The "primary purpose of my.barackobama.com is to create a highly personalized vehicle for individuals to 'get involved' and to invite others to do the same," GAI explains. But Obama's campaign "employs various techniques to gather email and other data on the friends and associations of [the site's] members to further the campaign's fundraising efforts."

Washington Examiner writer Paul Bedard reported last week that a fundraising scandal would soon hit the Obama campaign, and may have been one reason why the president bumbled his way to failure during Wednesday's debate against Mitt Romney.

Federal law prohibits "a foreign national, directly or indirectly," from making "a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value ... in connection with a Federal, State, or local election."

The same section of law makes it a federal crime to "solicit, accept, or receive" such campaign contributions.

And yes, if you recall this taking place before - you're right!

In fact, the Obama campaign was accused of doing the very same thing back in 2008. This time though, there appears to be a conscious and concerted effort to solicit funds from overseas on the part of the Obama campaign.

And if you want to know why we the American people don't have a lot of faith in our watchdog agencies, here's the perfect example: the FEC will not act before the election - and of course will be subject to political pressure to sweep it under the rug if Obama is re-elected.

The FEC excuse is that an investigation will take months. But perhaps Romney and the Super Pacs can bring this to the voter's attention and ask the question: Who is Obama working for?

After all, he's certainly not working for us!  

 THIRD SHOT!

Plant Got $150 Million In Taxpayer Dollars To Make Chevy Volt Batteries Now Laysoff Workers

While Americans at the battery makers are being laid off here, batteries for the Chevy Volt are being built in LG's South Korean plant for now. 

Does that seem as odd to you as it does me? I mean, why Koreans? Since of course, GM said that taxpayer bailout dollars would go to making sure American workers keep their jobs - why can't we make them here! 

This really doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Sure low sales have plagued the Chevy Volt, but if they still need batteries than why not make them here?

I think someone in the liberal media needs to talk to GM Chairman Barack Obama and get to the bottom of this. I'm sure with his vast business experience that Obama can tell us what's going on with his company. 

The Holland, Mich., GM plant was built with a $150 Million government grant from the Department of Energy.

Obama praised it in 2010 as evidence "manufacturing jobs are coming back to the United States,” but two years later, a Michigan hybrid battery plant built with $150 million in taxpayer funds is putting workers on furlough before a single battery has been produced.

A furlough is a temporary unpaid leave. But honestly, I hate the term "furlough" because it reminds me of soldiers in the Army who were off duty having fun "on furlough." Applied to jobs and time off not getting paid, it sounds like they are on vacation or something.

Call it what it is, more layoffs.

“Had it been private investors rather than government bureaucrats making the decision, there either would have been a reality check about the industry" said Paul Chesser, National Legal and Policy Center

Workers at the Compact Power manufacturing facilities in Holland, Mich., run by LG Chem, have been placed on rotating furloughs, working only three weeks per month based on lack of demand for lithium-ion cells.

The facility, which was opened in July 2010 with a groundbreaking attended by Obama, has yet to produce a single battery for the Chevrolet Volt, the troubled electric car from General Motors. The plant's batteries also were intended to be used in Ford's electric Focus.

Production of the taxpayer-subsidized Volt has been plagued by work stoppages, and the effect has trickled down to companies and plants that build parts for it -- including the batteries.

“Considering the lack of demand for electric vehicles, despite billions of dollars from the Obama administration that were supposed to stimulate it, it’s not surprising what has happened with LG Chem. Just because a ton of money is poured into a product does not mean that people will buy it,” Paul Chesser, an associate fellow with the National Legal and Policy Center, told Fox News.

The 650,000-square-foot, $300 million facility was slated to produce 15,000 batteries per year, while creating hundreds of new jobs.

But to date, only 200 workers are employed at the plant by the South Korean company LG. Batteries for the Chevy Volts that have been produced have been made by an LG plant in South Korea.

The factory was partly funded by a $150 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. LG also received sizable tax breaks from the local government, saving nearly $50 million in property taxes over 15 years and another $2.5 million annually in business taxes. Landing the factory was hailed as a coup when shovels first hit the ground.

“You are leading the way in showing how manufacturing jobs are coming right back here to the United States of America,” Obama told workers at the ground-breaking ceremony. “Our goal has never been to create a government program, but rather to unleash private-sector growth. And we're seeing results.”

Randy Boileau, a spokesperson for LG Chem in Holland, Mich., told Fox News that battery production is expected to pick up once Volt assembly lines in Detroit resume production on Oct. 15. He said the facility has spent the past two years building infrastructure and conducting pre-production “test runs.”

“The market conditions haven’t been as favorable, but this hasn’t slowed down plans one bit,” Boileau said. “LG Chem has repeatedly said that this facility is a critical component for them globally.”

Boileau pointed out the workers who are being laid-off one week a month are eligible to collect unemployment for that week, and he said the company covers the contributions to their individual benefits during the period.

The Volt has been plagued by low sales since it first rolled off the line three years ago. Orders have picked up for 2012 but are still well below projections.

Chesser said no amount of government subsidies can counter the practical problems posed by plug-in cars.

“Electric car batteries do not perform much better than they did 100 years ago," he said. "Research has not conquered the battery storage issue, and therefore the electric transportation ‘stimulus’ did not boost the ‘technology of the future,’ but instead a century-old technology as far as performance and capability goes.”

He added that the LG Chem plant's problems show that the unpopularity of electric cars despite heavy taxpayer subsidies has had more widespread negative effects than most realize.

“Billions of dollars were put into Volt research, and Ford received $5.9 billion in stimulus loans to retrofit plants to produce [electric vehicles]," Chesser said. "The battery companies like LG Chem that were supposed to service them have no customers to speak of. Their existence was solely based on access to taxpayer money.

“Had it been private investors rather than government bureaucrats making the decision, there either would have been a reality check about the industry, or only those who made individual decisions to invest would have lost their money, not taxpayers.”

GM, Government Motors, run with government bureaucrats making the decision. In other words, those with no idea as to how to make a profit are in charge of making profits and creating jobs.

I have this image of GM Chairman Barack Obama sitting at the head of the boardroom table asking if anyone working for him has ever even ran a lemonade stand  - and no hands go up.

And yes, he wants 4 more years to get his head out of his ass!

FOURTH SHOT!

Actress Stacey Dash hit with racially-charged attacks after endorsing Mitt Romney

"Clueless" star Stacey Dash recently tweeted her support for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, accompanied by a patriotic swimsuit picture of herself.

But now her political viewpoint has become the subject of online attacks, with many expressing crude distaste that she isn’t endorsing President Obama. 

And yes, her race has become a key motivator behind the digital abuse as she has had to hear all sorts of racial slurs.

“You’re an unemployed black woman endorsing Mitt Romney. You’re voting against yourself thrice. You poor beautiful idiot,” one Twitter user wrote, while @Black Voice wrote, “Stacey Dash had a perm since birth. I knew I couldn’t trust her.. ”

Others accused the actress of “voting for white supremacy,” claiming she “is white with a dark tan,” and calling Dash a slur of offensive names.

Several other Obama supporters even went as far as to encourage “the old hag” to “kill herself.”

One suicide encourager is listed as a doctor and politically active Democrat in Washington D.C., and although he reportedly has deleted the inflammatory “kill yourself” tweet, it was captured by social media news site, Twitchy.com

But Dash seems to be taking the backlash in stride.

“My humble opinion… EVERYONE is entitled to one,” she tweeted in response.

Indignant and determined, Dash added insult to injury when she tweeted a Romney campaign message in the face of their offensive remarks. That message read: “Women have had enough of @BarackObama’s disappointment. We need new leadership to get our economy growing again…”

But the 46 year old's tweet for Romney attracted plenty of applause as well. Her Twitter supporters rushed to her defense against racial slurs.

The firestorm of support gave birth to a new Twitter hashtag, #ISupportStaceyDash; and quickly the positive tweets began to push back at those who were playing the race card.


Especially effective were the tweets from conservative blacks who rallied to her cause.

Some of the original tweets, which may be seen in the photo provided, have now been shared hundreds of times.

Conservatives are applauding Stacey, whose Romney endorsement caused her to come under the kind of vicious liberal attacks often experienced by Sarah Palin.

Stacey once said, "I want to make a difference and inspire. I would like to show that celebrities are not different than anyone else, as it is often assumed. We experience the same basic need for survival and the pressures every day can bring."

It appears that the statement was prophetic.

Stacey has stood up against all of those who would deny anyone the "basic right" to endorse the candidate of their choice. All fair-minded observers can bear witness that Stacey Dash's commitment to her personal ideals has been tested by fire -  and, many on both sides of the political divide have found her courage to be genuinely inspiring.

“Thank you for being willing to think for yourself despite what your haters have to say,” tweeted one user, while another noted, “You can NEVER, EVER (did I say never?) NEVER leave the Dem party if you r Black. Once you do, the name calling begins.”

To me, this lady is extremely brave for standing up and saying she endorses a candidate knowing full well she is in the minority in Hollywood. It took a lot of guts and I respect her more than she will ever know.

Racial slurs, threats, people telling her to go kill herself, all coming from Obama supporters who are supposedly morally above that sort of thing. I really wish this surprised me - but shamefully it doesn't.

Sure I have said that I don't support liberal Hollywood types, and really don't want to put a dollar in their pocket by going to their movies. And yes, I've known other conservatives who have said the same and also boycott Obama supporters. But it is because I disagree with their support of his policies.

And yes, I've known conservatives who have called liberals Tom Hanks and Bill Maher both jackasses.

But I've never heard any conservative ever say that they wanted someone like say staunch Obama supporter Tom Hanks, or say Eva Longoria who once claims that the Tea Party is an "extremist dangerous movement," to go out and kill themselves.

Even though I have problems with Chis Matthews over is objectivity - especially after his famous tingle-up-my-leg comment which to me indicated an apparent latent homosexual attraction for Obama - or with Morgan Freeman over his statement saying the Tea Party and opposition to Obama "is racist," I don't wish them harm at all.

I just see them as being misguided and hypocritical since they found it OK to attack Bush mercilessly while he was in office.

Anyone who would attack Ms Dash and actually wish her ill over her endorsing a candidate because she has observed a lack of leadership from the present administration is nothing but sorry and classless.

LAST SHOT!

Bear Attack, Well Not Quite!

Reported today, October 8th, 2012, on Fox News

 

On October 4th, a Sonoita, Arizona, couple got quite a surprise when they discovered a bear cub eating its way through their house.

Phil Volk heard something in the kitchen of his Sonoita home early Thursday morning and thought it was his grandchildren.

He was shocked to find it was a bear cub who had helped itself to chocolate cake left on the counter, and the contents of the trash, The Arizona Daily Star reported.

Now just for the record, I can really understand the little bear helping itself to a chocolate cake. It was there, the bear was there, and nature simply needed to take its course.

At least that's how I see chocolate cake, but let's get back to the story of how a small bear cub enjoyed a few minutes of an eating binge after breaking into the Volk's Arizona home.

Volk described the break-in as a "feeding frenzy," as the bear made its way into the pantry for chips and bread, and topped its meal off with some jelly beans. Yes, sugar!

The cub - who apparently broke through a kitchen window - was focused on food and didn't attempt to hurt anyone in the house during its eating binge.

When Volk approached, the 30-pound cub hissed and ran into a bedroom. So much for a great bear story!

The Volks called 911, the paper reported, and the operator put them in touch with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. A wildlife department manager came to the house, tranquilized the bear, and removed it, according to Karen Klima, a department spokeswoman.

Klima said the cub, probably less than a year old, was too young to be returned to the wild on its own. It's possible the bear was abandoned by its mother as there were no sightings of her.

Wildlife officials took the intrepid cub to the Heritage Park Zoo in Prescott, where it will live.

All's well that ends well!

Story by Tom Correa



My New Pistol -
Ruger Vaquero Birdshead .45 ACP

Democrats Welcome Muslims, Yet Prohibit Christian Hospitality At Democrat Convention In Charlotte

This was sent to me in an email. I checked and found that this was written by Rev. Austin Miles.

It is interesting information as to what was going on at the Democrat National Convention that didn't make the news - or was withheld from the news.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Dems Welcome Muslims, Prohibit Christian Hospitality in Charlotte!

by Rev. Austin Miles

CHARLOTTE,North Carolina (9/11/12) When the DNC [Democrat National Convention] came to Charlotte, area churches, 100 of them, offered hospitality, not knowing now much the Dems hate God and would actually boo God at the convention. They had no idea how that hatred would be directed at them and their churches.

The Sunday before the DNC, over 9000 people had come together to pray for the convention. Then, wanting to extend hospitality to the visitors to their city, 56 of the churches set out to “Adopt-a-Delegation.”

They put together gift baskets featuring Carolina Pralines and a letter welcoming them to the city and offering assistance in transportation, childcare or spiritual matters.

According to writer, Todd Starnes, The DNC banned the churches from distributing the gift baskets to delegates because, DNC said, the congregations hold values that are contrary to the party platform. Read that carefully.

David Benham, one of the organizers of the outreach said, “We were just trying to display Southern hospitality.” DNC officials, however, conveyed to city leaders that the Christians would not be allowed to present their gift baskets.

Even the Charlotte Mayor’s office jumped in to tell the churches not to participate, saying that their views on women’s rights are contrary to the platform. That’s right….the same platform that booed God later.

Benham then asked if they could send welcome letters to the delegates. Again, the DNC refused, because, they said, “The churches hold pro-life values.”

The baskets did not contain a single political or pro-life message. They just wanted to give them regional candles and a welcome letter. The DNC refused to return numerous phone calls seeking comment.

But it gets worse. When a gathering of 200 Muslims showed up to pray for the convention, the Dems welcomed them with open arms and the liberal media gave extensive national coverage.

It is ironic that this day, in the shadow of that Islamic prayer event, we commemorate the greatest tragedy in American History, when Muslims attacked America on September 11, 2001, brutally killing thousands.of innocent people.

Muslims who publicly state their hatred of our country with fierce determination to kill us all and put America under Sharia Law, are welcomed by the Democratic Party while Christians are pushed out of sight like criminals because they respect life and hold family values.
These are the same democrats who want you to vote them into office to direct the United States of America and every life from beginning to end. It is obvious that we must not let this happen.

Our thanks to Rev. Ed Berkey (retired) who alerted us to this story.

-- end of story.

As I said, this was sent to me by a close friend who wanted me to hear about some of what was going on at the Democrat National Convention behind the scenes. It is enlightening, but I'm sorry to say not very surprising.

That was a group who wanted any mention of God taken out of their party's platform.
A party platform is the list of the actions which a political party, individual candidate, or other organization supports so that they can appeal to the general public for the purpose of having thier candidates voted into political office.

It is the list of policies and beliefs. It usually takes the form of a list of things that they support, or are opposition to. It's too bad the many Democrats who came up with their platform didn't want to observe God in the smallest way.

While I'm sure the Democrats want as many Christian votes as they can get, it appears that Christians are not welcome in their party. From what they tell us, we seem to believe in things that they don't believe in or stand for.

And yes, that's really too bad.

Tom Correa

Calaveras County Politics Reflect National Issues

People have written asking me why I don't write more about local politics. My answer is that what's happening across the country is what's happening here locally. Our local politics reflect national problems and trends. We all face the same problems.

Back in 1982, the former U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill coined the phrase "All politics is local."

Today, the phrase is commonly used in U.S. politics to describe the principle that a politician's success is directly tied to his ability to understand and influence the issues of his constituents.

We would hope that politicians would try to appeal to the simple everyday concerns of those who elect them into office. Those personal issues, rather than big intangible ideas, are often what voters care most about. And yes, that's just a fact of life.

Some say the concept is contrary to the notion that most people, who vote in local elections are casting votes to "send a message" to the highest levels. That isn't the case.

While it is true that "all politics is local," local elections are about local problems that we all share nationally. Usually these are problems such as high unemployment, high gas prices, increase in taxes, rising medical costs, and so on. They might be different in their severity locally, but we are all in the same boat across the nation.

National election are about the bigger picture that effects us locally. Policies on the national level by way of the EPA, the USDA, the Commerce Department, and so on, all effect us locally in that it may have everything to do with why we face the problems that we do.

In local elections, the idea that most people are somehow casting their votes to "send a message" to Washington is absurd. Most separate local elections from national and state elections.

Though maybe they should, most people will not vote for local politicians simply as a means to act on feelings about higher politicians such as concerns about our currents about getting Obama out of office.

Fact is that most people who vote, or debate issues, are focused on resolving their local problems. But there's the problem that many voters face, because in many cases the problems overlap. Local politics in many cases reflect national problems.

I live in Glencoe here in Calaveras County, California. As a matter of reference, it should be noted that Mark Twain set his story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" here in this county.

The upcoming election for Calaveras County District 2 supervisor is as important as they come. This election reflects the choices that we have on a national level in so far as that we have a businessman versus a non-profit organization manager running for the position.

We also face the problems that face the nation. We have high unemployment, high gas prices, increased taxes, rising medical costs, and government intrusion into our lives, to name a few problems that we all share.

We are set to select between two people who are at opposite ends of the political spectrum. It is important for Calaveras County that the right man be chosen.

For me, the right man is Bryce Randall.

Last Monday night, our District 2 supervisor candidates Bryce Randall and Chris Wright went head to head in an effort to talk directly to voters in a Question and Answer session.

A packed Mokelumne Hill Town Hall saw the pair debating the issues. Their approach to problems was noticeably different.

Of course, as in many counties, the number one issue is jobs and the economic development of our area.

The debate was hosted by the Calaveras County Chamber of Commerce.

The differences were very apparent, but never more apparent than when one person in the audience asked a question about a proposed 4% increase in the Transient Occupancy Tax. It is a measure that could make a ballot appearance as early as next year.

The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) is collected from hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and other lodging businesses on each room they rent.

Wright threw his wholehearted support for the TOT measure, which he said would give a revenue boost to budget-strained programs like the Calaveras County Library and the Humane Society.

Seemingly unconcerned about the burden that an additional tax would have on the business that has to pass along the tax increase, Wright said, "There’s been no record of (TOT increases) deterring tourists coming into your county. It’s a no-brainer, as far as I’m concerned, and I hope everybody supports it.”

Randall urged a different approach, and explained that equal revenue gains could be had through cutting taxes and streamlining the county’s permitting process.

"It’s another tax," he said. "If we’re going to tax the hotels and stuff, let’s give the money back to them."

Here are most of the questions put to the two very different men. Notice the different answers. I can't help but question Wright's sincerity.

Question: What is the single most serious fiscal issue Calaveras County government will face in the next four years and how will you deal with it?

Bryce Randall:  "I believe the single most serious fiscal issue is local jobs. Not only is it the most serious issue for the next four years but it has been the issue for Calaveras County for at least the past decade. We need to adapt with our changing economy and take advantage of our strengths. We have to do more than say we are open for business, we have to prove it. Government should not be in the business of creating jobs but there to facilitate and encourage new business entrepreneurship."

Chris Wright:  "We must bring back jobs and build an economic base to serve the needs of our community. This can be done in a number of ways, from local food production to developing local industries. The CHIPS program provides a great example of how supervisorial and community efforts can lead to solid, lasting jobs and general economic growth. CHIPS is a program centered around West Point that provides forest jobs and promotes healthy public and private forests by clearing brush and harvesting smaller trees, then turning the harvested materials into commercial forest products. It was initially funded by a federal grant and is now being greatly supported by private contracts. In the future, CHIPS will produce more finished products in a plant that will be powered by a clean chips-burning generator. CHIPS is just one example of how we can build our own local economies."

Question: The 2011-2012 Grand Jury chastised some supervisors for “shouting at other board members and the public, refusing to abide structure … and making sarcastic, inappropriate remarks.” What should be done about this?

Bryce Randall: "The board members should act in a professional manner. Some of the board meetings I have attended over the past 10 months have been embarrassing. I believe in the ability of the public to censor board members on issues that affect them and our county. The board works for the citizens of the county and needs to be held accountable for their actions. They need to not respond in a negative manner but try to learn from the criticism."

Chris Wright: "Every supervisor should have the ability to separate emotion from logic and reason. If they can't do that, then they should not hold the title. Hostility has no place in this venue. Yes, we have problems and conflicts. These should be handled in a professional manner, focusing on the problems and the solutions. If we let hostility and emotion take hold, the whole system breaks down. Also, this is supposed to be a non-partisan position, yet we have influences in this county that want to bring partisan politics into the county chambers."

Question: The Grand Jury also said county employees complained of “hostile conditions as a result of being frequently pressured by current and former supervisors.” What should be done about this?

Bryce Randall:  "Board members should work through department heads and not put pressure on individual staff employees. They should strive to have a working relationship with staff and have a common goal of serving the county."

Chris Wright:  "Again, we all need to work with each other. That means we must all have the ability to separate emotion from logic and reason. We must all remember that our county employees make our county work. Pressure from current and former county supervisors is unacceptable. Our employees are providing public services while supporting themselves and their families. They are entitled to a workplace that does not give them undue pressure."

Question: If you could reform one aspect of county government, what would you change?

Bryce Randall:  "I would like to see a permanent agenda item where the board would talk about the economic and business climate of the county. Each member could discuss things going on in their district and ways the board as a whole could help to encourage and facilitate job creation. We have seen how a stagnant economy affects our crime rates, property values, school budgets and much more."

Chris Wright:  "I would work to make county government more efficient while growing revenue through economic development. If we create more jobs that will employ current residents and attract more employed residents to the county, we will be more able to fund essential services like public safety and road maintenance. We have many challenges, and we need to focus on long-term solutions to our local economy."

Question: Calaveras County taxpayers have a major investment in a new jail that because of staffing issues and costs will accommodate only half of its inmate capacity. Can supervisors do anything to improve this situation?

Bryce Randall:  "Let's take the approach any business would take and try to find ways to use the extra capacity to generate income. Some jails with extra capacity rent out extra space to jails that are over populated. Some of those jails rent the space to privatized inmate-handling companies in order to eliminate increasing the load on their own departments. We can find solutions if we are willing to be innovative."

Chris Wright:  "Dynamic economic development and a general economic recovery eventually will provide resources for such essential activities as jail staffing. As we have seen in the past, a jail that is too small leads to extra costs of housing prisoners elsewhere and criminals being released prematurely. We need to be tough on crime. At the same time, we need to look at the root of crime in our county and implement solutions through sound education and outreach programs."

Question: What are the top three needs in the district you hope to serve?

Bryce Randall:  "Jobs, education and crime. I believe they are all tied back into the creation of jobs. Without jobs our young families move out of the area in search of income which in turn has an effect on our local school’s enrollment and the ability of the school board to justify keeping them open. With the loss of jobs, property values decline taking with it the property tax revenue that in part is used to fund our schools and the Sheriff’s Department."

Chris Wright:  "The top three needs in District 2 are increasing jobs, keeping our schools open and fighting crime. We need to rebuild a strong, solid, self-sufficient local economy through added jobs and new local industries (including cottage industries); we must attract new residents to our communities to help grow our local economies and keep our rural schools open; and we must reduce crime so that residents never feel uneasy about what might be lurking out there."

Question: What can supervisors do to create more and better job opportunities in Calaveras?

Bryce Randall:  "We have to create a focus within the county on job creation. Each new business will have different circumstances and needs that should take precedence when the need arises. We can talk all we want about inviting in new business, but until we prove it through our hard work and innovation no one will listen. Let's get the general plan done and let construction get started.

Chris Wright:  "A dynamic, resourceful and innovative supervisor can play a key role in bringing employers and Calaveras employees together for everyone's benefit. For instance, Supervisor Steve Wilensky is facilitating negotiations between local machinists and a major aerospace company for contracts to produce maintenance tools for worldwide commercial airlines and government defense contractors. As supervisor, I shall capitalize on the strengths and skills of our local residents to attract other such businesses."

Question: What current county supervisor’s views do you most admire and why?

Bryce Randall:  "They each have qualities and views that I admire. I have great respect for Supervisor Wilensky for how hard he works for District 2 and his ability to bring people together; Supervisor Callaway for her strong defense of her district priorities; Supervisor Tofanelli for his current leadership of the board and desire to make it work; Supervisor Tryon for his length of service to our county, his record thus far has been enough to keep him in office for 28 years; and Supervisor Spellman for his desire to protect constitutional rights and for taking a stance on budget issues."

Chris Wright:  "I am running because Steve Wilensky is not running for re-election and his legacy must be preserved and built upon. Steve Wilensky has poured immeasurable time and energy into District 2 and Calaveras County as a whole. Calaveras County is a much better place today than it was eight years ago. Much of this is due to Steve's unrelenting focus, effort and commitment to making this county a better place for residents and visitors. Steve has never taken a partisan approach to anything he has done. He has always had the residents' needs in mind, first and foremost, above any political or personal ambitions. This is the philosophy I intend to carry forward in my time as supervisor. I am proud to be endorsed by Steve Wilensky."

Though Steve Wilensky is a very personable guy, that last item may get Chris Wright in trouble with conservative voters who have not seen eye to eye with Steve Wilensky in the past.

So who are they, and what makes them different?

Chris Wright, 40 years of age, is a non-profit manager. He is a former community planner and now executive director at the Foothill Conservancy which is a Environmentalist Group with a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization status.

Chris and his wife Ellen Davison and their 2 children live in Rail Road Flat.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Rail Road Flat, California. Chris has a BA in Natural Resource Communication from Humboldt State University.

He has worked for government and non-profit organization in that his professional and volunteer activities include being a Mendocino County planner, member of Resource Advisory Council in Amador County, board member of Calaveras Healthy Impact Product Solutions (CHIPS), executive director for Foothill Conservancy, and as a member of Calaveras Planning Coalition.

In contrast:

Bryce Randall, 54 years of age, is a former computer software engineer and a small business owner.

Bryce and his wife Karin, and their 4 children, live in West Point. They own the West Point Trading Post, a local convenience store.

Randall says, "I decided to run (for supervisor) after seeing so many of my customers struggling to find work and feed their families".

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, he was raised in Rupert, Idaho. Bryce has a BS in Design Engineering Technology from BYU.

He worked in the Computer Chip industry for 27 years as a Mask Design Engineer doing the physical design of computer chips.

He says, "As a contributing Manager, I helped build two start-up companies into successful world leaders. While at these companies, I assembled and managed two world class design teams. At Nvidia, I contributed to the graphic processor physical designs for both the Xbox and Play Station 3."

Why I support Bryce Randall.

The reasons that I support Bryce Randall are simple really. I like the idea of putting business people in positions of bringing businesses to our area and making private sector jobs. They have the experience to do what they say they want to do.

I don't like the idea of asking a plumber with no experience as an electrician to wire my home for me and make sure it doesn't burn down when I flip a switch.

I admire anyone who can work as hard as Bryce has to make himself a success. In an area hard hit by unemployment, we need people who know how to built businesses that produce something and employ people in the process.

We do not need someone with the mentality of running a non-profit organization in the job of helping to make private sector jobs. They just don't understand how its done.

Another factor why I'm voting for Bryce Randall is that Chris Wright works for the same sort of organization that is believed to have caused much of the unemployment here. Many here blame Environmentalist Groups for attacking logging, agriculture, mining, and subsequently losing needed jobs.

Why I will not vote for Chris Wright.

First, I said that I can't help but question Wright's sincerity. To me, his answers seem misleading and rehearsed rather than sincere.

Second, to my knowledge he has never held a job in the private sector. He has been employed by non-profit organizations only. And yes, besides not being a people friendly organization, he is in fact the Executive Director of the Environmentalist Group Foothill Conservancy - which is a non-profit organization.

And yes, this association with that extremist Environmentalist Group goes to the heart of why I'm not voting for him.

Since his organization works against the rights of property owners in Calaveras and our neighbor Amador County, his association with them tells me that his agenda might be their agenda. And yes, I can't help but question his motives to run for county supervisor.

His in-depth involvement with that group goes to the heart of why I will not vote for Chris Wright. 

Property rights are an important issue here. And yes, the organization that Chris Wright and some of his friends support want to take over our property and regulate it through usage legislation and ordinances.

His organization, after all he manages it as its executive director, wants to regulate how we use our own property in excess of zoning restrictions. They want to impose their agenda into our county's general plan for zoning and such, they will try to tell property owners what they can and can't do on our own property.

The county general plan is the constitution of a county that defines how and where it will develop, and not develop, over the next 20 years.

This group is working to impose their radical environmentalist ideals on both Calaveras and our neighbor Amador County. Take a look at their agenda as put forth in the Foothill Conservancy's publication Tools for Protecting Open Space in Amador County.

In the section on Zoning, on page 9 of 20, there is a sub-section entitled "Clustering"

It states "Clustering is a term used for grouping homes and other permitted development in close proximity rather than scattered across a piece of property, usually to retain open space. There is no overall density increase.

For example, rather than creating four 5-acre lots on a 20-acre parcel, the four homes would be clustered together on the least environmentally sensitive portion of the property. Each home could include a 5-acre lot with building permitted only in the defined cluster area or alternately, a small lot with a remaining commonly owned open space.

Mandatory clustering of development in environmentally sensitive areas is a common tool. Most zoning ordinances allow clustering of farm homes on agricultural lands so that farmers and ranching families are not required to scatter family homes based on the minimum parcel size (often 40- to 160+-acre minimums). However, clustering can also be required of residential, commercial, and recreational developments. Development on certain parcel sizes can be required to cluster or specific areas can be selected and a zoning map, planned development-type overlay used. Examples of good clustering ordinances are numerous.

Amador County does not require clustering in any residential zones, though it would be allowed if requested. It would be appropriate to encourage or require clustering in any locations with sensitive features which are zoned for residential or other suburban or urban uses."

That is an extremist agenda, pure and simple. And yes, that is why I will not support nor vote for Chris Wright. He works for this group!

He is their Executive Director. As such, I would think he has to approve their organizational philosophy, content, and language expressed in their publications.

This stinks of big government intrusion that we don't want nor need in Calaveras County.

Our property is our property and we don't need a handful of environmentalist telling us what we can and can't do on our own property. We understand the law and zoning restrictions. We do not need an Environmentalist Group injecting their ideology into our county through legislation or agent.

This is not just a local problem, it is a national problem. And yes, this sort of thing needs to come out and looked at for what it is - government over-reaching into the lives of its citizens for no reason.

It needs to be nipped in the bud immediately!

Wright's participation in, and support for, such an organization as the Foothill Conservancy tells me that Chris Wright is not what Calaveras County needs -  now or ever.


Tom Correa

RANDOM SHOTS - Obama Brings Knife To Gunfight, We Need To Vote, And Much More!

FIRST SHOT!

Obama Brings Knife To Gunfight!

Never Bring a Knife to a Gunfight is a term that was sort of coined by Sean Connery in a movie called The Untouchables.

Connery implied that while holding a shotgun on a man who was holding a knife in his hand. One man was prepared for battle while the other clearly wasn't. This is what happened at last night's Presidential Debate.

President Obama broke the first rule of warfare: Never Bring a Knife to a Gunfight. Come prepared or stay home.

Obama stood there with talking points in hand, but little else. He was unprepared and his record as president was of absolutely no help at all. He appeared unarmed and completely ill-prepared to do battle.

Of course a few things took place last night which Obama, his campaign, the liberal media, and Hollywood hated to see. First it was a befuddled Obama not be coddled by questions from an adoring media and completely the fool; second, it was not the Mitt Romney that they have been trying to sell to the public.

The president was completely out to lunch while the smarter and better prepared Mitt Romney showed up with the poise and compassion that the liberals have been trying to say is not Romney. 

One writer this morning, reminded us that Obama told interviewers this week that his debate preparations were "a drag" because his advisers were making him do his "homework."

I whole heartily agree with that writer in that it looks like the president should have been hitting the books a little harder. But then again, his record as president is dismal at best - except of course for a great golf game and "nothing but net" on the White House basketball court.

No Teleprompters! Oh the humanity!

It was very obvious that with no teleprompters to help him, the president came off like a village idiot trying to make sense during his sometimes rambling sentences. At one point, it really appeared as though he got lost in thought and couldn't figure out what he was saying.

It was pretty sad all the way around for a man with a reputation of being cool, calm, and collective.

In contrast, while Obama was listless defensive and seemingly bored, Mitt Romney was sharp and confident completely in charge of the discussion at hand.

Before the debate, most in the biased media had their money on Obama. He was seen as this cool and confidence dude who just kicks butt when it comes to throwing down facts and policy statements.

Democrats and the liberal establishment press saw Obama as a combination of brainy policy wonk and friendly federal big daddy who was going to mop the floor with Mitt Romney who they described as awkward and stiff and "unrelateable."

Whether Obama actually spent his time preparing to face Romney or if the lure of the golf courses at the resort outside of Las Vegas where Obama was supposed to be cramming were too great for the president we may never know, but whatever he did to get ready, it didn’t work for Obama one bit.

Obama’s attitude on the debate stage was that he was stoically having to put up with this. He didn't ever seem to look at Romney when he was talking to him, in contrast Romney spoke directly to the president. Fact is the president looked as if this is all beneath him, and he looked bored and wanting to leave the stage.

Of course, Obama's smirking on camera didn't help portray the image that the liberal media and Hollywood would have you believe. Instead of cool, he looked as though his patience were exhausted - as if the issues were unimportant.

Maybe it's true that the president and his senior advisers took this debate lightly because they assume that the election is all but done and he is assured a second term?

Maybe this led to Obama underestimating his opponent and overestimate his own stature? 

Where Romney’s very best moments came when he talked about the role of government and the dysfunction of Washington, Obama’s 2008 playbook failed him.

Romney talked about the dangers of too-big banks, how good regulations are important for citizens and corporations, and how there is a genuine need to protect patients in today's world. He talked about the need for bipartisan cooperation, and how he had worked with Democrats in his own state of Massachusetts doing just that.

I don't agree with the media perception out there that says that Voters think Republicans in Congress are the problem. I believe that Voters disagree with Obama and the liberal media that the House Republicans deserve most of the blame for our troubles.

I believe most Voters are smarter than that. I say "most" because I know real well that there are those who will vote for Obama no matter how bad he is - or has been for our country.

I know real well that no matter how bad the President did last night in not being able to answer some of the most fundamental issues ahead of us, yes there will be those who will vote for him - just because!

Whether it's just because he is a Democrat, or its just because he is the first black president and would like to see him have two terms, or whether it's just because they swallow the liberal media line that all Republicans are evil, there are some who will still vote for him.

But last night, they were let down. Like it or not, they were.

And partly, I feel it had a lot to do with the president's argument that he has all the right answers for America. Although last night, he had no answers at all.

And yes, it was great to see that Romney fought back against that worn old saw that liberals have been pushing for so long now - that this economy is the best we can do given the economic and political situation of the nation.

Some say that Obama’s ego, re-enforced by a circle of yes-men Democrats and a lap dog liberal media,  led to Obama's not taking Mitt Romney as seriously as he should have.

As Romney hammered away at Obama for his “my way or the highway” approach, the dials in dozens of focus groups turned Republican red.

When Romney cut off Obama’s gusty answer to why he failed to rein in deficit spending by reminding the incumbent that he has “been president for four years” it was a lights-out moment for the already stumbling Obama.

Each candidate tried to appeal to the middle-class voters who likely will decide the election five weeks from now. It seems as though Romney did just that accusing Obama of pushing "trickle-down government," which the president could not rebuke.

The debate, which focused exclusively on domestic matters, was one of three presidential debates set for October and marked Romney's first opportunity to go toe to toe with the president.

The debate was tense at times, with the candidates standing just feet from each other and often cutting off the moderator, PBS' Jim Lehrer. Romney appeared to take a consistently more aggressive tone on stage, though the overall tenor of the debate marked a step back from what has become a bitter and nasty campaign in the closing weeks.

Romney came armed with studies and stats to bolster his respective position - but the central goal was to broaden his appeal before a national audience hurting for jobs and make the case for why their plans would boost growth. And for all intense and purposes, it appears Mitt Romney did just that.

Obama accused Romney of wanting to roll back regulations and implement tax cuts skewed toward the wealthy and reverse those gains.

But Romney, citing the millions who have gone on food stamps and hit the unemployment lines in the last four years, argued that "the status quo is not going to cut it."

"We know that the path we're taking is not working. It's time for a new path," Romney said.

As for Obama's push to raise taxes on top earners and small businesses? Romney took him to task saying, "You raise taxes and you kill jobs. I don't want to kill jobs in this environment."

On taxes, though, Romney sought to wipe away the incorrect caricature that the Obama campaign has been drawing these last two years - of Romney as an out-of-touch millionaire who's looking to make the rich richer with his tax cut plan.

Obama argued that Romney is pushing a "$5 trillion tax cut plan that would skew toward the wealthy", to which Romney corrected the president - on three different times during the debate as if educating Obama on what he really wants to do.

Romney insisted the 20 percent across-the-board rate cut he's pushing is not nearly as sweeping as the president describes.

"I don't have a $5 trillion tax cut," Romney said. Further, he pledged to hold to his promise that it would be deficit-neutral and not hurt the middle class.

"There'll be no tax cut that adds to the deficit. I want to underline that - no tax cut that adds to the deficit," Romney said. He added, "I will not under any circumstance raise taxes on middle-income families."

 I don't see President Obama making many of the same mistakes again when they again  face one another in two weeks.

Obama’ best trick in debates and speeches is the use of straw men. He casts two unreasonable positions – for example a government that does everything and a government that does nothing – and then puts forward his own policy as the reasonable middle ground. When Obama says, “there are some who say…” it’s usually not followed by anything anyone has ever said, but it works.

And yes, there will be more straw men on stage at Hofstra University than at a pumpkin patch. I see Obama doing better the next time they meet. But then again, Romney might do even better than he did last night.

With problems like the botched security at our consulate in Libya that got 4 Americans killed, Obama's sorry Middle-east policy, Operation Fast & Furious dominating Obama's foreign policy achievements, Obama should have another hard time explaining these things away the way he does.

I just hope that Mitt Romney can go into the next debate as well armed as he was last night. It was that good a night!

SECOND SHOT!

So What Can We Do To Help Mitt?

We have to get out the vote!

Yes, we must make sure that we get as many like minded people to show up and vote. It is vital that we don't sit on our backsides and think that after one good showing that Mitt Romney has it in the bag.

We must work to help get him elected. How? By talking to others and getting them to vote.

We are the people that the liberal media and Hollywood believe don't care enough to get involved and do the work to get Mitt in office.

They believe they are better organized and more concerned than we are. They want Obama to serve a second term to complete his job of changing America into something we are not.

And friends, only we can stop him. By voting for Mitt, we can stop the liberal agenda. And yes, we should all approve of this message!

THIRD SHOT!

Obama In Essence Says "Who Was That Masked Man?" As His Campaign Conducts Damage Control After The Debate

So the good guy Lone Ranger jumps off his horse to kicks the guy's butt, then jumps back in the saddle and rides off. The bad guy after getting his butt kicked joins in with the people who have never seen the good guy before, says, "Who was that masked man?" 

Well that's sort of what Obama and his campaign are doing today. They are saying that the Mitt Romney we all saw last night kick butt is not Mitt Romney - or at least not the Mitt Romney that "they" have been trying to get us to believe he was.

You see, they still want you and me to believe that Mitt Romney has horns and wants to push us off a cliff in a wheel-chair like in the pro-Obama ads.

Too bad people aren't buying it anymore. The public saw that Mitt Romney is not the man that the media and the Obama campaign have portrayed him as.

But wait, that fact doesn't mean that they won't try to keep selling the lie. And that, yes that lie is exactly what they are trying to sell today - the day after the debate.

President Obama and his campaign moved into damage-control mode Thursday after being battered by Mitt Romney on the debate stage the night before, arguing that Romney gained the edge by pretending to be someone he's not - and saying the campaign will "make adjustments" going forward.

Obama, at a Denver rally Thursday afternoon complete with teleprompters, ripped into Romney as he tried to brush himself off and reassure supporters.

"When I got onto the stage I met this very spirited fellow who claimed to be Mitt Romney," Obama said. "But it couldn't have been Mitt Romney, because the real Mitt Romney has been running around the country for the last year promising $5 trillion in tax cuts that favor the wealthy. The fellow on stage last night said he didn't know anything about that."

The president ticked off a string of complaints about Romney's on-stage claims before adding: "The man on stage last night, he does not want to be held accountable to the real Mitt Romney's decisions."

Obama's campaign complemented the rally with a conference call in which adviser David Axelrod said Romney was "completely untethered from the truth." Wow, who didn't see that coming!

But the Romney campaign quickly fired back, accusing Obama of doubling down on "false attacks."

"In full damage-control mode, President Obama today offered no defense of his record and no vision for the future," spokesman Ryan Williams said. "Rather than a plan to fix our economy, President Obama simply offered more false attacks and renewed his call for job-killing tax hikes."

The explanations from the Obama campaign about what went wrong came as observers from both sides of the political spectrum roundly judged Romney the winner.

The Republican nominee was quick on his feet, polished and feisty as he repeatedly cut off the moderator and challenged his opponent on the facts.

Romney was heading next to the battleground of Virginia on Thursday, while Obama headed to Wisconsin following his rally in Colorado. It's unclear whether Romney's performance will move the polls, but he was clearly looking for a race-shaking performance having slipped in recent weeks in several swing-state surveys.

The race could be given a jolt again on Friday with the release of the Labor Department's monthly unemployment numbers. On Thursday, the Commerce Department reported that factory orders dropped in August by the most in three years.

Maybe by Friday, Obama will try to make his supporters believe that layoffs and business closing are really part of his master plan to change America for the good.

I know it's twisted logic, but I wouldn't put it past him.

FOURTH SHOT!

The AARP In Obama's Pocket, But Doesn't Want You To Know It!

In a news article today, the AARP apparently objects to Obama invoking group's support during his debate with Mitt Romney last night.

The AARP fully endorsed ObamaCare, yet is now telling President Obama to keep the group out of his political talking points.

The nation's leading senior advocacy organization objected after the president during Wednesday's debate twice mentioned the AARP's support while defending his health care plan and attacking Mitt Romney's plans for Medicare.

The AARP posted a blog saying that while the group is "grateful" the candidates had a "robust" debate on health care, the organization is not aligned with either candidate.

Obama invoked the AARP during the Denver debate because the group had endorsed ObamaCare earlier in his term. He used that endorsement to challenge Romney's claims that the law's cuts to Medicare would weaken the health care system.

"And this is not my own - only my opinion. AARP thinks that the savings that we obtained from Medicare bolster the system, lengthen the Medicare trust fund by eight years. Benefits were not affected at all," Obama said.

He went on to say that Romney's plan, which he describes as a "voucher system," would put seniors "at the mercy" of insurance companies. Though it's is false, it is a lie that the AARP and the Obama campaign has been spreading for a while now.


"And this is the reason why AARP has said that your plan would weaken Medicare substantially. And that's why they were supportive of the approach that we took," Obama said.

The AARP, while fully endorsing ObamaCare without reading it, today stressed that it is trying not to take sides in the presidential race itself.

Some though have questioned the AARP's objectivity. They are pro-Obama and make no bones about it in their literature to their members. I know because they have sent me things which denounces Mitt Romney and praise Barack Obama.

Last month when Paul Ryan spoke to the AARP, he was met with jeers and boos that all but drowned him out. To say it was a hostile anti-Republican audience would be an understatement. I say the they treated him as if he were a black man at a Ku Klux Klan rally.

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., in a recent op-ed in Politico, said the group "poses as a disinterested senior advocate" while taking positions that "just happen to coincide with its financial interests."

He claimed that group's support of the health care law could yield "windfall profits" by forcing seniors off Medicare Advantage and into a separate supplemental coverage program.

"AARP knows it can protect its financial interests by aligning with Democrats, no matter what its members think," DeMint wrote.

Romney said during Wednesday's debate that his plan for overhauling Medicare would give seniors a decade from now a choice between traditional Medicare and private insurance.

"And by the way, if the government can be as efficient as the private sector and offer premiums that are as low as the private sector, people will be happy to get traditional Medicare or they'll be able to get a private plan," Romney said.

Something has to be done about funding Medicare and Social Security. We cannot allow Democrats to rob both programs to pay for other programs any longer. Something has to be done to fix the system to ensure services for our seniors and disabled.

FIFTH SHOT!

Al Gore Blames Denver Altitude For Obama's Lousy Debate Performance

You know how every once in a while you read something in the news that just sounds too dumb to be true? Well, Al Gore is saying that Denver's altitude is why Obama acted so sheepishly last night.

It was the altitude. Yeah, that's it! 

Believe it or not, as liberals cried a river of tears last night Obama's debate performance, Al Gore jumped to his defense with one of the dumbest explanations short of saying it was because of Global Warming.

If Obama seemed like he had his head in the clouds, Gore reasoned that perhaps it was because he was having trouble adjusting to the Mile-High City.

"I'm going to say something controversial here," Gore said on Current TV, the channel he helped found. "Obama arrived in Denver at 2 p.m. today, just a few hours before the debate started. Romney did his debate prep in Denver. When you go to 5,000 feet, and you only have a few hours to adjust, I don't know ..."

Gore trailed off with a chuckle, but his fellow co-hosts chimed in with agreement.

"Exactly," one of them said off-screen.

Co-host Cenk Uygur noted how when he came from Los Angeles, "You know what I did? I drank two cups of coffee before coming out here."

Another guest added: "It's really different. The first time I ever did stand up in Denver I had the same exact effect. I flew in that day and when your lungs aren't acclimated to that kind of air, yeah it makes you drawn. It makes you off. The president had an off-night."

Other Obama supporters weren't quite so willing to give the president a pass.

Shocking as it might seem, even that yo-yo Obama supporter Bill Maher last night tweeted,  "I can't believe I'm saying this, but Obama looks like he DOES need a teleprompter."

The "TelePrompter-in-Chief" has a nice ring to it. Maybe that's the nicest thing history will say about Obama, that somewhere there were people behind the scenes feeding him lines like an empty headed soap star.

SIXTH SHOT!

USDA "Diversity" Training Session Include Calling Forefathers "Illegal Immigrants"

Under the Obama administration, anything crazy is possible. And yes, they have a corner on hiring Bozos.

The federal government has paid a Chicago consultant at least $200,000 to put on "diversity" training workshops that, according to one watchdog, included an exercise in which employees were told to chant "Our forefathers were illegal immigrants."

Conservative group Judicial Watch made the claim this week as it released a handful of documents pertaining to the program -- and alleged that the sessions ended up enforcing political views more than promoting tolerance.

"Instead of being diversity-oriented or tolerance-oriented, it's more about adopting a mindset," said Lisette Garcia, a senior investigator with the group. "It seemed to go so far as to encourage illegal immigration."

Judicial Watch began to investigate the sessions earlier this year after being approached by a tipster at USDA who was "offended" by them, Garcia said.

Judicial Watch claims it has identified at least $200,000 spent by the USDA over the last two years on the company Souder, Betances & Associates.

The USDA later confirmed that amount.

The tipster, Garcia said, described one session in which the speaker led workers in chanting "our forefathers were illegal immigrants" while pounding on the table and getting others in the room to join in.

"How does that fit into the USDA mission at all?" she said. "The price tag makes it more egregious."

It's unclear how much total federal money was spent on these kinds of sessions at USDA and other agencies.

We Need An Investigation And Firings!

Federal contract records show the Department of Defense has also contracted with the company, though it's unclear what that work entailed. The company's website says its clients include an array of federal departments, from Commerce to Energy and Interior, as well as USDA.

"For over a decade Souder, Betances and Associates has been a leader in the field of diversity training and consulting," the company site says.

The USDA did not confirm or dispute the anecdote from Judicial Watch about the illegal immigrant chant.

But, in a statement to Fox News, a USDA spokesperson stressed that the sessions were meant "to foster diversity" and were well-received by employees.

A representative with Souder, Betances & Associates did not return a request for comment.

Judicial Watch apparently has received little documentation from the USDA on the program, but it released an email exchange in which a USDA official discusses the "diversity intelligence advantage course" with an official from the Chicago firm.

In one email from January, the USDA official asked about when he might be able to attend the course later in the year.

Another email released by the group showed an analyst at USDA who handles record requests advising other records officers about the Judicial Watch request.

The officer said that most would probably issue a "no records denial" but said because of the group's history of lawsuits "I want to at least say a USDA wide search for material was conducted despite ... knowing that most ... agencies will have no records."

Judicial Watch later wrote in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that the email "reinforced the expectation of agency non-cooperation."

This is the reason I support Judicial Watch. They are on top of things. And yes, too bad we can't trust our federal government to spend taxpayer dollars for things that matter instead of bullshit like diversity training which to be is just another way for liberals to divide the nation.

LAST SHOT!

Dr. Barbara Bellar Sums Up ObamaCare in One Sentence

A doctor who seeking an Illinois Senate seat offers brutal diagnosis of ObamaCare, and was caught on tape in the process. Now that youtube video has gone viral - meaning millions have seen it.

She's a former nun, an Army major, a lawyer, a college professor and a physician. Now Dr. Barbara Bellar wants to be a state senator from Illinois, and she has one question about ObamaCare.

“What the blank could possibly go wrong?” Bellar asks, tongue in cheek, after delivering a one-sentence indictment of President Obama's health care law.

Doctor Bellar, a Republican candidate running for office in the state’s 18th district, gave the extended one-liner while warming up the crowd at a recent event for the Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Someone captured it on video, and now the doctor's diagnosis of the Affordable Care Act is an Internet sensation with more than 2 million views.

“I had no idea I was being videotaped,” Bellar told Fox News. “I meant it as a light opener to a more serious issue. It did take on a life of its own."

Doctor Bellar, who is running for office for the first time, has strong feelings about ObamaCare -  which she considers an “erosion” of our individual rights. She is seeking to succeed Edward Maloney, who is retiring from the district, which includes Chicago's 19th Ward, and has picked up the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune.

The title of senator would be just the latest entry on an interesting and lengthy resume. Bellar was a Benedictine nun for nearly five years, although she left before she completed her final vows. She is a major in the U.S. Army Reserves, runs a family medical practice, teaches part time at both Benedictine and DePaul universities and practices law.

“I’ve been fortunate," Bellar said. "I’m just a life-long learner and have always wanted to help serve others.”

Of the upcoming election, Bellar says that she plans to shake up the statehouse where President Obama got his start in politics.

“They will not know what hit them,” she said.

This is from a video posted on youtube that shows Dr. Barbara Bellar speaking at a Women for Romney/Ryan rally last month:

"So let me get this straight. This is a long sentence.

We are going to be gifted with a healthcare plan that we are forced to purchase, and fined if we don't, which reportedly covers ten million more people without adding a single new doctor, but provides for sixteen thousand new IRS agents,written by a committee whose chairman doesn't understand it, passed by congress, that didn't read it, but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a president who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief,who didn't pay hos taxes, for which we will be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government which has bankrupted Social Security and Medicare, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese and financed by a country that is broke.

So what the blank could possibly go wrong."

You just have to like the way she thinks! I can only pray that people will want her to represent them. If they do, then I have a feeling they won't go wrong because she seems like the kind of person who knows how to take care of business when it needs to be..


Story by Tom Correa