I grew up reading comic books wanting to be a superhero. Comics taught me that those who speak the truth are heroes, all the rest are liars.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Hello? I'd Rather Be Robbed Than Murdered!

- Good news! er, sorta... violent crimes like rape and robbery are down in Minneapolis...but not so much murder! And the media is all over this one...sigh..'oh look a bright shiny violent crime down'...let's not talk about murder!

- Odd even for Minnesotans....Who would have thought we'd live to see the words Michelle Bachmann and Intelligence in the same sentence let alone on a House committee. Another sign that the Apocalypse is nearing for Minnesotans. So we seat batshit crazy Bachmann who still can't intellectually understand the cost savings of compact fluorescent light bulbs over conventional bulbs just to prove to the world we still have a sense of humor?...I guess we should be thankful we're off of cooper candle lanterns.

- Move along nothing to see. Remember the non stop coverage of possible voter fraud in Crow County, Minnesota? Well here' s the non-coverage of it's outcome! Another urban voter fraud legend screamed all over the blogs, websites, newspapers and tv...only to die a quiet lonely death. Ssshush, or the truth just may get out!

- Get out of here...no really just leave! If you don't want to follow the constitution regardless if the majority of your good ole boys vote against it...You should not be part of the union and any federal dollars should be sent elsewhere...you know, ah where they actually follow the constitution.

Legislative leaders in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas and Utah, as well as Virginia, who are backing the repeal amendment shouldn't be in office...if they don't believe in the United States...they should be in jail for treason or living somewhere else.

- "The good people are in jail"...Peace Now... Several Minnesotans were among those jailed this weekend demonstrating with Vets for Peace on the White House lawn...how much longer will this illegal war be allowed to go on?

Thursday, December 16, 2010

A Cup of Racism in the Morning

Usually I don't listen to radio during my morning commute but my disc player wasn't working so I had a new experience...I'd liken it to smelling the aroma a skunk leaves for the first time...unique not very pleasant, downright foul and somewhat painful. Yes, it was just that bad.

What I'm talking about is listening for about ten minutes on the ride into work to KQRS in the morning...After ten minutes I would have bet my last dollar the KKK runs the morning show or at least a closely veiled group with similar views, but surprise, it's owned by Walt Disney Corporation.

The radio announcers commented on the latest census data showing Minnesota has a large and growing Somali population (true) but then went on to peppered comments like "it's because Minnesota offers the best welfare" but if that was true why is Minnesota ranked 17th ? And assorted other comments regarding the typical jackboot comments against minorities like...a lack of work ethics, being Muslim, having terrorist supporters and if the census data say it, then it's double the number of 'them' in Minnesota...it was like a coffee clatch of Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen, and Michael Richards. They presented it as acceptable 'down home' racism...

On and redneck lie on the show went on...but the gist couldn't be missed... THEY ARE OPENLY SUPPORTING RACIST behavior and stereotyping of a entire group of people and promoting it via radio...

When I went to google them, it was no surprise at the numbers of complaints, or the various groups that they have attacked under the guise of 'entertainment'. In lieu of the type of morning show they run, I'd like to make a couple of recommendations to really improve KQRS format:

  • Change the call numbers from KQRS to KKKs, that way we all know what to expect and move them to 66.6 on the radio.

  • Hold KQRS accountable for anyone that has ever listen to them and then commits a 'hate crime' of any kind. I'm sure they believe strongly in accountability!

  • Talk about the immense welfare state for the wealthy. The wealth of Minnesota millionaires has doubled under the Pawlenty administration, as their state and local tax rates have decreased by 4 percent but our taxes has gone up...

  • Require that talking heads of any type be able to provide the 'facts' not just blow smoke up our arses to support their views or allow equal time for those that do, and fine them if they don't or others prove they are blowing smoke!

  • Just as TV must label itself every 15minutes as being for a mature audience, have KQRS label itself every 15 minutes as being a mature and racist radio program.

  • KQRS is owned by the Walt Disney Corporation, so have Mickey as the hate DJ...let's really show the young the Disney Corp. world view they are supporting.

Do they have a right to freedom of speech even if that speech is intolerant, ignorant, and inflammatory? Sure, I guess so, I can always turn them off, but like all shock jocks, when they openly pander to the hate crowded, they should take some responsibility and accountability by sharing in the costs to society and individuals by hate crimes.



Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Dining on Minnesota Politics

Seems like I live on a diet of politics...maybe I need to adjust this for my New Year resolution, but during this holiday season there seems to be more than enough baked goods to go around.

Apéritif
The dynamic duo of DFLers Ken Martin and Marge Hoffa are running for Chair/Associate Chair of the DFL. Will they pull it? Possibly. I actually haven't heard of anyone else running against them, and certainly many of the bread and butter DFLers are lined up behind them given their extensive time and experience in the party. Do I support them? Possibly. Think I'll wait and see if anyone else throws their champagne glass down...I was really hoping Howard Dean would move here but I guess I need to put that fantasy away.

Entree
Minnesotan Norm Coleman would like a turn at the RNC buffet, but was politely waiting for Michael Steele to finish up and step away...unfortunately... Steele surprised most by announcing he's seeking a second term as Chair of the RNC...apparently, the fried chicken and potato salad is too good to pass up a second helping...

Coleman, feeling the bangs of hunger, changed his mind again (something Minnesotans have grown accustom to Norm repeatedly doing if it's self serving), and is still considering a run for RNC Chair. Other than lutefish, not sure Norm brings much of anything else to the table.

Dessert
I like a small sample of a rich dessert, but instead will offer up a big sample of a sour lemon cream pie in the face...Out of a field of GOP failures, Bachman leads in the polling to run against Senator Amy Klobuchar (D). Even MN. Governor Tim Pawlenty is left with flour smeared on his face...this is just so bittersweet...probably not the best way to end a meal...

I will be blogging infrequently (about once a week) during the holiday season while I dine on butter cookies, chocolates, russian tea cakes and variously other holiday treats...It's not that I don't have a lot to say, but my fingers get too sticky to type during this time of year...be of good cheer around your soulful xmas tree!


Thursday, December 09, 2010

This Is Friday's Rant

Hmm...I see that several local blogs are turning the 'great eye sauron' on to Brian Melendez and his future (or not) as the DFL Chair. Overall Brian has performed well during his tenure. He took the DFL from a basically 'oshucks non-communication folksy good boy operation' and moved it up into this century. Under his tutelage the DFL is more open and wired (website and calendar with lower DFL units linkage). He installed a communication department and continues maintaining the bones of the DFL through fundraising and making tweets and changes that have organized and improved operations. Simply stated, Brian Melendez was the right person to lead...at that time.

Are there complaints, sure... things can always be improved, but given where the DFL was when Brian started, he's made a real impact during his time in office...

The question everyone is asking, Is he the right person now? I've heard (as has others) that Brian won't run again which eliminates the need for the question. But we all know how very grueling and tiring anyone in leadership can be coming out of campaign season. Factor in the recount, and this becomes doubly so. A quick decision made coming out of this can always be changed...but for the sake of brevity, lets say Brian isn't running...

There are plenty of rumours as to who is...and some I see as strong candidates while others I don't view as being viable...but I wouldn't want to start posting on what isn't confirmed yet...waste of my time and yours...however I would be remiss if I didn't point out that while money/fundraising is an important factor, one rich donor doesn't equate, nor should it, into what's best for the DFL or who should be the DFL Chair...we're a big tent with plenty of ideology of which fundraising is just one important area!

DFLers are diverse, but we all have the community at heart. I've no doubt that whoever is elected the 2011 Chair, they will want to continue to expanding the role of the DFL as Brian has in supporting communities, help those less fortunate, advocate for civil rights and play a major role in Minnesota state policy. That is what brings us all together.

I'm shortening my week until we're through the holidays, so today is my Friday..cya next week...




Say What?!

I hear Obama called me...'sanctimonious'...je? Well, I've had enough, call the attorneys, where's that taxi, I'm going to my mothers....wait, you want me to compromise again?...no, I can't do it, no more chances, I'm through, I'm leaving now...where's my jacket?

I have a firm policy of not dealing with hostage takers and a long memory to go along with the history of what happens when you do...so make your unreasonable, unjustifiable, unbelieveably bad deal Mr. Obama, but don't look for me to stand by your side...the honeymoon is over...

"With the pain in my chest, I still wish you the best, but forget you"...


Wednesday, December 08, 2010

The Fat Lady Sings For A Better Minnesota!

It's official, the Honorable Mark Dayton is Minnesota's new Governor by roughly 9000 votes. Mark will assume office January 3, with the Legislature to convene the next day. Dayton will be also be facing a GOP Legislature and a $6.2 billion Minnesota State budget deficit.

Dayton's win also means Democrats will have a seat at the table when it comes to redrawing the state's congressional and legislative districts. Mark Dayton really cares about families, communities and doing good. I am a bit surprise that Mark's opponent, Tom Emmer. decided not to pursue a frivolous losing election battle. I underestimated his ability to do the expedient and correct thing for Minnesotans.

So a Republican majority in both the Minnesota House and Senate, a new elected MN DFL Governor, 18 disconnected GOPers, a 6.2 billion dollar deficit and redistricting...Should be an interesting time...stay tuned and make a toast tonight to our newly elected MN Governor Mark Dayton!


Tax Breaks Won't Stop The Boat From Sinking!

What good is government when it can't provide for those in need without paying a tariff to the wealthy? Wasn't that one of the reasons our country was founded?...to avoid this kind of crap!

"So this notion that somehow we are willing to compromise too much reminds me of the debate that we had during health care. This is the public option debate all over again… People will have the satisfaction of having a purist position and no victories for the American people. "

President Obama,

This isn't about compromise or purist positions or even victories. Maintaining the status quo of the last 8 years is not providing for the under employed, and it sure as hell isn't resolving any of our problems...Where's the job creation, the training or the economic stimulus? All I see is more of the same...and the massive 'piling on' of debt to enrich the few.

Two years from now, under your 'compromise', the rich will have more, while the majority of Americans slip further into the sea of poverty...This is not a win, or a compromise, or acceptable. This is what spurs revolutions. Promises and deal making of 'more of the same' is not a solution, acceptable, moral, ethical or the least bit understandable by the majority of Americans left with the fall out of debt.

Continuing to allow the wealthiest 3% of Americans to benefit, while offering an additional 900 billion to the deficit for the majority of us... is like drowning at sea... next to the luxury liner...who's rich owners are waving and taking our pictures. The boat America is sinking. Stop toasting champagne with the rich folks long enough to actually throw the rest of us a life line...or we will all be swimming in the deep end 2 years from now.
Sincerely pissed off- The TruthSurfer




People movin' out
People movin' in
Why, because of the color of their skin
Run, run, run, but you sho' can't hide
An eye for an eye
A tooth for a tooth
Vote for me, and I'll set you free
Rap on brother, rap on
Well, the only person talkin'
'Bout love thy brother is the preacher
And it seems,
Nobody is interested in learnin'
But the teacher
Segregation, determination, demonstration,
Integration, aggravation,
Humiliation, obligation to our nation
Ball of Confusion
That's what the world is today

The sale of pills are at an all time high
Young folks walk around with
Their heads in the sky
Cities aflame in the summer time
And, the beat goes on

Air pollution, revolution, gun control,
Sound of soul
Shootin' rockets to the moon
Kids growin' up too soon
Politicians say more taxes will
Solve everything
And the band played on
So round 'n' round 'n' round we go
Where the world's headed, nobody knows
Just a Ball of Confusion
Oh yea, that's what the wold is today

Fear in the air, tension everywhere
Unemployment rising fast,
The Beatles' new record's a gas
And the only safe place to live is
On an indian reservation
And the band played on
Eve of destruction, tax deduction
City inspectors, bill collectors
Mod clothes in demand,
Population out of hand
Suicide, too many bills, hippies movin'
To the hills
People all over the world, are shoutin'
End the war
And the band played on.

Monday, December 06, 2010

A Special Letter from John Kline: This Holiday Season Save The Wealthy!

An urgent special message from Minnesota Rep. John Kline (R-02)

Dear Friends-

As you probably should know by now, I am deeply concerned that "the Washington culture of taxing, borrowing and spending is doing nothing to stem the tide of lost jobs and economic uncertainty." But I am convinced that if we continue tax breaks for our millionaire and billionaire Americans, this culture can be broken.

Sure, Minnesota is in a mess, which is why you put your faith in me this past election. You realize, that after my years in Washington, if there is one thing your old buddy John Kline knows, it's how to recognize a mess when I make see one.

Now I know what you're thinking, I've been in office for a decade and still the deficit keeps getting bigger, the gap between the middle class and the wealthy looms larger than ever and after four my terms in office, things aren't improving, they are getting much worse, but this time in office much like the last four I really think helping out the wealthy among us is necessary and vital to not just economic health but also homeland security.

This alarming situation where the wealthy 2 percent of Americans might be forced to pay their any fair share demands my immediate and full attention. Forget that Lockheed Martin is closing it's Eagan plant, that a forth of my constituents don't have health care, and that unemployment benefits are running out of 2.5 million Americans, saving the wealthy must take precedence over everything else. The aid desperate plight of Minnesota's millionaires demands my full attention.

Yes, I know I said 'we can't fund everything' and that there are people who are jobless and can't even give their kids one Christmas present this year let alone take them to the doctor when they get sick, but that's President Obama's fault, after all he's been in office a fourth of the length of time I've been in office!

And yes, I understand that the last 18 years have shown us that in fact, the wealthier 2 percent of Americans don't use their wealth to 'trickle down' and give us jobs, but by saving them, I help myself , I help you!

Don't concern yourselves with the poorer fools souls, especially since I've already promised to give all of our tax money to Minnesota's wealthiest. We must save the wealthy! I can always take care of feeding the poor or putting on another job fair for the homeless unemployed later...

We must take care of our millionaires first. Won't you please help me help them? A $700 million increase to the deficit is a small price for you and your children and children's children to pay for saving more wealth for the wealthiest among us.

Have a happy joyous holiday season knowing you can make a difference in increasing the gross income of the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans through deficit spending! I know it makes me laugh sleep better at night.

Friday, December 03, 2010

More GOP Much Ado About Nothing

In Shakespeare's play 'In Much Ado About Nothing', there are many examples of deception and self-deception. The games and tricks played on people often have the best intentions—to make people fall in love, to help someone get what they want, or to make someone realise their mistake. In our case, the GOP's take on the recount is an example of this deception and self delusion but for not the best of intentions...

The Fact: If every single Emmer challenge (both deemed legitimate and frivolous) were accepted, Dayton would still lead by over 5,000 votes.

Instead of accepting the lost, Tom Emmer and the GOP will drag this out costing (gasp!) government workers time and (gasp again!) at tax payer expense. Yeah I know, they ran on shrinking government, getting government out of our business, not filing frivolous lawsuits, or spending taxpayers money for stupid things but...yeah...well ya know. with .0008 percent MN voter fraud in 2008, this is important to every man, women and child...blab, blab, blab...!


What the GOP gets is rewarded for drawing out this losing battle by Pawlenty staying in office to sign off on legislation that otherwise would get veto...like the expanding government and costs legislation of every voter must produce a state ID, or marriage is one man and one women!

In the end of the play, the couples find true happiness, but taxpayers in Minnesota will just find empty wallets paying for more 'much ado about nothing' government involvement into our personal lives and already competent voter system... welcome to the new 'slash your services while we tax and spend' party of GOP.
Have a nice weekend, stay safe and warm!


Wednesday, December 01, 2010

The New MN Reps. Taxing and Spending and Growing Goverment Already?

The party of small government and no taxes in Minnesota are preparing to grow the role of government and do so at taxpayer expense...yes once again, those GOP candidates that got elected by promising to stop out-of-control government spending is working behind the scenes do do just that...

MN Voters Alliance has put out an email saying they are working closely with board member and former Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer to introduce a bill mandating a statewide photo ID as a first priority.

"...If Governor Pawlenty is still in office in January, he would undoubtedly sign it. If Dayton wins and is seated sooner rather than later, we are already preparing a campaign to urge him to sign the bill, including our PHOTO ID petition in St. Paul which we have nearly 3,000 signatures."
The question to ask is: Will our newly elected GOP allow an outer space, right wing, moon bat group that alleges widespread voter fraud but can't prove it because they pull them out of their paranoid tin foil hats, increase both taypayers costs and time while growing government bureaucracy? Well will they?

Never mind the facts...that voter fraud in Minnesota is virtually non-existent. That in 2008 only 26 people out of the entire state were convicted of voter fraud. And most of those cases would not have been prevented with a state ID...hardly worth the government involvement or cost to taxpayers...from the Minnesota County Attorneys Association...

"The report found that only 26 people had been convicted of voter fraud in the 2008 election (because the statute of limitations on voter fraud is two years, that number is not likely to change). That comes to 0.00089 percent of votes cast in 2008."

So by all means, throw taxpayer money away because a group of morons make statements that aren't based in fact...and let's grow government even larger to placate these idiots...because there will be another election in two years and there will be accountability......go ahead, you either support small government and less taxes, or you don't...time to put up or shut up. Taxing. spending and growing government over a non-issue will define you next election.