Quick Hit - Michael McGee Jr.

It’s official…..one of the biggest shakedown artists in Milwaukee government has been CONVICTED on corruption and extortion.  http://www.wisn.com/news/16701618/detail.html?rss=mil&psp=news Not that this is the end of the McGee’s, I’m sure we’ll see and hear more from that “prolific” Milwaukee family.  For now though, I can feel a little relief that he’s going to jail (more than likely not enough for me) and that the citizens in his district, and the city as a whole will not have to deal with this embarrasment of a political figure for awhile.  Good Riddance!! 

“Thug” Mike = Jailbird Mike

I’m categorizing this post as “Milwaukee Politics”, but I probably should start a new catergory….”STUPID PEOPLE”.  Who’s stupid you ask?  Well, without going into a long diatribe of the politics of Milwaukee, one person stands out, and that person is Michael McGee (or Jackson - as one of his birth certificates says) Jr.  His case for extortion, bribery, and failure to file forms on a $15,000 wire transfer, by the Federal government, pretty much came to a close this afternoon.  The only thing left is closing arguments and instructions to the jury.  This after the government trotted out over two dozens witnesses and 19 wire taps.  http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=765181  The defense?  Three witnesses, one being Marvin Pratt, as a “character” witness.  All I can say is, you don’t have to worry about finding $1500/month for the living arrangements you’re going to…..

As for his “leadership” as a whole, there are so many things wrong with this whole debacle, the first and one of the most disturbing is the people of his district voted him in to represent them, protect them, and try and make that district inhabitable, and all he did was look out for #1 - Mike McGee…..ABHORRENT.  The second thing that bothers me about this, is that there are going to be a decent amount of people that will continue to defend him.  Why, is anybody’s guess, but what it is going to do is perpetuate the same problems that face that district, and absolutely nothing will be fixed, especially if people like McGee Jr., and his old man keep getting put into power….which leads me to my last complaint.  Why, when everyone IN City Hall knew McGee was a shakedown artist (much less the rest of us outside of City Hall), did Willie Hines put him as the head of one of the most powerful positions an alderman can have as a committee chair?  The answer is, because he’s another example of poor leadership in the Milwaukee Common Council and an embarrassment to his district.  Thanks Willie, and thank you McGee’s for making Milwaukee look like 1930’s Chicago, we’re so proud!

Quick Hit - Milwaukee Flooding

This last weekends flooding was bad…..what I’m waiting for are the liberals in this area, to start blaming Scott Walker for people’s basements flooding.  If it’s not being written, you know for sure it’s being said.  At the very least I’m sure there’s rumblings that George Bush was to blame somehow. 

 

If They Hate It, It Must Be Good II

Wow, another follow up to something I posted last month.  http://finnegansright.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/if-they-hate-it-it-must-be-good/  Back in May, the two hard line Iranian newspapers indicated that they did not like the proposed U.S. agreement with Iraq, to stay in the country for protection and have a presence in that country for a decent amount of time.  Now the “Supreme Leader” (if that doesn’t sound a bit haughty) of Iran is against it. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080609/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_iraq GREAT, now he has solidified my opinion on this proposal.  Actually it’s changed a bit.  Not only do I think the U.S. should have a presence, they should push to have several military bases in Iraq. 

By the way, if you’re a betting man and you’re at a loss for direction on American foreign policy, always remember, if Iranian leaders, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jong Il, or any other goofy leftist leader dislikes it, embrace it as if it were the best policy ever put down on paper.  You’ll most likely never be wrong.

Communist China = Liberal America Part Deux

A couple of days ago I commented on one of the tragedies that befell some children in the Chinese earthquake.  http://finnegansright.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/communist-chinaliberal-america/ Well, now the government has, in their estimation, “helped” the parents of those who lost their children because of government corruption and unethical construction practices http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080609/ts_nm/quake_schools_dc.  The Chinese government figures giving the equivalent of $5,000 to each of the families (along with a letter of condolence) is “taking care” of these poor people, when in actuality all they’re attempting to do is hush them up prior to the Olympics. 

Here’s the problem, outside of the obvious; governments rarely have the answers, they rarely make things better, and they certainly should not be looked to for guidance or advice.  I realize private business is not the only answer, (they certainly have their problems), but the government when given more authority and more power, is scarier than any Exxon, Haliburton, and Walmart put together.  Why do I bring this up????  Simple.  We are voting for a new president in November, and there is a man on the ballot that wants to do exactly what I am railing against.  I understand that government is necessary, it’s a tool to help oversight, help in maintaining the will and representation of the people, and provides necessary services that the private sector cannot or will not take on.  What it is not, is a parent, and/or the answer to your prayers.  The moment we start thinking the government is going to cure your ills, or make your life better, is the day we start moving towards our government officials sounding like The Juyuan Town Communist Party Committee and the Chinese government’s quote;“But it also reminds parents to heed government wishes.

“We sincerely ask parents of deceased children to believe that the Party and government will certainly appropriately handle everyone’s demands. Don’t believe or spread rumors and conscientiously devote yourselves to post-disaster rebuilding.”" 

Milwaukee County and Private Business, Partners?????

 HEY…..HEYYYYYYY!!!!  You anti-Scott Walker (he hasn’t done enough for the parks) bloggers, and “pundits”, how come I haven’t heard you bring up this county park tidbit?  http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=757637 Wait, let me guess…you didn’t want to 1) say ANYTHING good about your version of the “anti-Christ” and/or 2) support it because it has private business associated with it?!?!?

 

When I was younger, Bradford Beach was the place to go if you wanted to kick back on the lakefront and enjoy our greatest resource – Lake Michigan.  Over the years it has become a joke (crime, MMSD scents, etc).  Now, with the help of G-1 Inc, a private business, there’s a potential for a real resurgence.  Fancy that, county government partnering up with local, private businesses to better serve the community…what a novel concept.  Hopefully, for both my arguments and more importantly the citizens of the greater Milwaukee area, this will be a screaming success.  If so, I may actually take my family down there and not feel like I’m walking near the Love Canal.

 

Suggestion to Milwaukee county politicians and you anti-private business types…if you want to help Milwaukee county parks, make money for the county, AND reduce the tax burden on the county residents, start thinking of ideas to expand this wonderful collaboration, or at the very least admit that this particular partnership is a good thing, PLEASE!!!!!

Communist China=Liberal America

If you read the following article http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_re_as/china_earthquake you’ll probably notice two things: 1) the fact that police, in any country, would forcefully remove grieving parents from a demolished building, compliments of an earthquake, and 2) that the building contractors cut corners in the building of those schools to the detriment of hundreds of young people.   Admittedly those are terrible, atrocious things, although par for the course in communist China.  What I find interesting is a quote, by Zao Ming – Chinese Foreign Affair Officer, and how it sounds eerily similar to quotes made by a certain U.S. political party…

What is it you say?  Well if you look half way down the article you see the following quote, “This wasn’t a riot!” Zao Ming, an official from the foreign affairs office of the local government, said after the protest. “These people were just disrupting society. … The government will solve their problems.”  Oh really?  The government will solve their problems?!?!?  I’m sure they will.  Where else have WE heard that before????

 

 

Quick Hit

Is thought provoking commentary intelligent?  At first thought you might say “Yes, as long as it is carefully thought out and supported by facts (or the allusion thereof).”  Which leads me to a blog post I ran across – see attached – http://blogs.wauwatosanow.com/alienated_blogology/archive/2008/05/25/sunday-morning-magic-show.aspx  (those that are easily offended by anti-Christian/Catholic posts don’t open the attachment).  All I can say is “progressives”, as Mr. Kroll like to call himself, seem to be more about condescension than actually trying to educate or “move things forward”.  The worst part of people like Kroll is they believe they’re smarter, and more……oh, how do I put it….”enlightened” than the rest of us.  Uh Huh, right!  I can sum up in three words the type of person he is (and those of like mind) – small minded, bigots.

Edward Moore Kennedy

On May 20, 2008 it was reported that Ted Kennedy, senior Senator from Massachusetts, was diagnosed with a  malignant tumor in his left parietal lobe, and that he would have to go in for a biopsy.  That procedure is complete and it has yet to be determined what his prognosis will be, but there is a decent chance that he will in fact die from this cancer.  When I first heard the news I was somewhat surprised and really wasn’t sure how I “felt”.  On one side I truly despise almost everything he fights for and believes in, and on the other side I take the quote “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy” very seriously. 

Now that it’s been a few days since the announcement, I can honestly say that I am truly sorry, and wish nothing but a full recovery for him.  He is a loved father, grandfather, and surrogate father to his murdered brothers children as well.  Is he a “beloved” person?  Probably not (ask Mary Jo’s family), but now is not the time to bask in some sort of “death glow”.

Now I didn’t post this to expound on the virtues, or lack thereof, of Kennedy.  I instead want to look at the distinct difference between the compassion, understanding and tolerance of one party versus another.  I highly suggest reading the following post from Donald Douglas and his “take” on this issue.  http://americanpowerblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-death-and-decency-absence-of-divine.html.  I’ve been told, for years, that the left are the compassionate one’s, and that because I am a conservative that somehow I am “evil, mean, racist, misogynistic”, etc, etc.  They’re supposed to be the party that is all about tolerance and understanding.  Now I realized, very quickly, that was a bunch of propaganda.  They are in fact the least tolerant of people’s views, have no concept of free speech http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/g/a/2005/02/24/cstillwell.DTL and all in all are a mean, elitist group that can’t discuss politics in a civil, adult fashion.  I will say that is an exaggeration, as I am friends with many people that have liberal beliefs, and they are by no means mean, but I am speaking of the party (or group) as a whole.  The bottom line is Conservatives champion free speech as a whole, not just when the speech is in line with their beliefs.  They are the group that gives more money than liberals…..oh wait before you say that “they make more money” (because of capitalism….blah, blah, blah), they also give more money, as it relates to percent of their income, as well. 

Lastly, the blog link I referenced above regarding Ted Kennedy, has several links in it and I suggest you click on them to get a good idea who and what is really out there and what their feelings are in relation to freedom, tolerance, and love.  Remember that, among other things, when voting in November.  Contrary to Mr. Obama’s “unity” speeches, he is in fact the quintessential liberal elitist, but that’s for another post(s).

If THEY Hate It, It Must Be Good

Read this article last week, and before I could even get to the second paragraph, I thought, “if two Hard Line Iranian newspapers don’t like it” it must be good….so I read on.  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080512/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_iraq_us  I have, for awhile, thought our presence in Iraq was not only NOT a bad thing, but over time, a good strategic PLUS for the United States.  It’s the same policy we had in the cold war, and it WORKED.  What if we didn’t have military bases in Europe, and other places?  How concerned would the Soviets have really been?  I’ll answer both with - DISASTROUS and NOT AT ALL.  Bottom line is, and this is the theme of our war in Iraq and Afghanistan, we MUST bring the fight TO the enemy.  Let them concentrate on us in their backyard instead of ours. 

We have not had a SINGLE terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11.  Why is that, luck?  Or could it be, just maybe, that our policy against terrorism and our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan is actually working?  I realize I’m in the minority with that opinion, but it is undeniable that we have not had an attack on the US (not saying it won’t happen in the future) since that day.  We allowed, for decades, the terrorist camps to go unchecked.  We ignored the obvious signs that Islamic Fascists were poised to attack the US, and did nothing.  It wasn’t until 9/11 that we woke up and realized we’re a target.  What George Bush did was take the fight to them.  Did Reagan do that?  No, he was too busy with a larger threat at the time - the Soviets.  Did Bush the First do anything????  Sort of, but didn’t go far enough.  Did Clinton change anything????  Well, sort of.  He allowed the bombing of the USS Cole to go unpunished….I guess that’s “something”. 

As for the Jomhuri-e-Eslami’s of the world, I have this to say….GOOD.  I hope you disagree with this policy, because, for me, it emboldens my opinion that not only do we have to stay in Iraq, we need to challenge those in that region to capitulate.  What I find most intriguing is the quote “The U.S.-cooked agreement turns Iraq into a full-fledged colony, so that Iraqi officials will be totally powerless but American military officials will have full powers to commit any action they want,”….only side note is, I don’t agree with Iraqi officials being totally powerless.  On the contrary, the fact that the Iraqi government and the US can be “allies” is even more of a testament to this agreement.  I guess THAT’S what really scares the Iranians…..and it should!