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Turn off NBC and tell them why

February 4, 2009 By 5 Comments

Many of you know that NBC refused to air and incredibly positive pro-life commercial during the Super Bowl. The ad, promoted by Catholicvote.org can be seen on Youtube and is below.

So what to do?

Here is a modest suggestion. Call the local NBC affiliate and politely tell them that you will no longer be watching any NBC programming. Tell them that you are going to pass the word to everyone you know. Then explain that if the local affiliate will pick up the ad and run it for a week or two during the NBC Nightly News, you will consider that the local folks should not suffer for what the Corporate heads did.

Then follow up with an email to the NBC folks in New York and tell them how bigoted and prejudiced they are against African Americans who face terrible odds just to be born.

Remind them that if they are afraid to show the truth, they are not worth watching.

Then call a few advertisers and tell them that you a re no longer going to watch NBC.

Will it take a little effort? Yes.

And the reason that the effort will be worth it, is because you are speaking out in defense of life.

ACTION: Send your complaints about the rejection of the ad to Victoria Morgan, Vice President, Advertising Standards, NBC Universal, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 1825 E. New York, NY 10112. Call (212) 664-4267 or fax (212) 664-6366 or email victoria.morgan@nbc.com

From Jakubczyk on Life

Filed Under: Media, Political Correctness, Sanctity of Life

Gilbert Elections Just Around the Corner

February 2, 2009 By 10 Comments

I’m privileged enough to get to help out a wonderful candidate running for town council in Gilbert. Two seats are up for election as Don Skousen attempts to move to the mayor’s seat against Steve Berman and current council member, Joan Krueger, defends her seat. Altogether, there are seven candidates including the incumbent.

Tonight, the East Valley Tribune sponsored a forum which lasted only an hour. Truthfully, the Trib should have asked for 90 minutes but we all understand that budget cuts affect everything including debate time.

All the candidate for council were present: Jenn Daniels, John Sentz, Erin Scroggins, Lonnie Stradling, Joan Krueger, James Hazel and William Jefferson. For 60 minutes each candidate made the case why they should be the one elected to sit in one of the two seats.

I’m not going to get into details about the debate but suffice it to say that only four candidates really stuck out as being credible. Of course, “my candidate” was one of them.

As a resident in Mesa, I like to stay up to speed on what’s happening in my “neck of the valley” so I frequently read Mesa Issues and Thoughts on Mesa. My question to our readers is, other than the Tribune and Republic, who is covering politics in Gilbert?

Finally, I’d like to hear your thoughts on the council candidate forum this evening.

Filed Under: Campaigns & Elections

Arizona Legislators, Sign The Pledge!

February 2, 2009 By 11 Comments

I’ve been posting on the need for Arizona legislators and the Governor to stand firm in the need to cut the budget and NOT raise taxes. This is one of those historical moments where Republicans have a golden opportunity to take advantage of the crisis here in Arizona, recalibrate the budget to reality, establish priorities and do the right thing for Arizona. As I’ve already posted, they have a clear shot at doing this with majorities in both houses, a liberal media on the financial ropes and an overwhelming community consensus for sacrifice and belt-tightening.

One of the starting points for legislators to do this is to sign the pledge that they won’t raise OUR taxes. Our friends at the Arizona Free Enterprise Club have made this all the much easier. Here is a press release they issued in December. Now that the legislature is in full swing, I thought it would be a good idea to revisit this:

Do Taxpayers Want Higher Taxes to Balance the Budget?

Arizona Free Enterprise Club launches No New Taxes Petition

Phoenix, AZ – The Arizona Free Enterprise Club, a pro-growth advocacy group, today launched a No New Taxes petition in response to a growing discussion about a possible tax increase to balance the budget.

“If incoming lawmakers are going to hear from professors and pundits that the state’s budget woes were caused by tax cuts and can be solved by tax hikes, then they ought to hear what actual taxpayers have to say about it as well,” said Steve Voeller, president of the Club.

Professors at Arizona State University released a study that blames the state’s $1.7 billion budget deficit on income and property tax cuts from the 1990′s and 2006. The study also states that a $1 billion tax increase would be preferable to budget cuts of the same size. Citing the ASU study, the Tucson Citizen argued that there is a case to be made to increase taxes. Finally, although she said it’s “not something she’d like to see,” soon-to-be-Governor Jan Brewer didn’t rule out a tax increase.

As a percentage of the general fund, Arizona has the largest budget deficit in the country. The Free Enterprise Club has argued that the deficit was caused by state spending that far surpassed reasonable measuring sticks for budget growth.

The Arizona budget grew from $6.5 billion in 2004 to $10.6 billion in 2008, a 63 percent increase. Over that same time period, personal income growth was 37 percent and population plus inflation growth was about 30 percent.

“You can’t grow government faster than the ability of taxpayers to pay for it,” Voeller said.

The petition can be found at: www.azfec.org/NoNewTaxes.

Filed Under: Press Release, Spending, State Budget, State Economy, State Government, Taxation

What does a leftist, east coast professor know about handling terrorists?

February 1, 2009 By 14 Comments

Professor Mark DenbeauxIt’s disappointing seeing ASU law school turned into a leftist propaganda machine. ON Friday, ASU hosted Professor Denbeaux from Seton Hall to speak about closing GITMO, “759 Named Unknown Detainees.” We should ask Prof Denbeaux to assure us in Arizona that none of these GITMO terrorists that Obama is so concerned with protecting will be sent here. And what could this leftist, east coast law professor possibly know about handling terrorists? NOTHING. A look at his curriculum vitae reveals that he’s been at Seton Hall law school since ’72, and spent four years at community legal services organizations prior to that–that’s the extent of his professional background. No military background, no CIA background, nothing. And yet it says that “He has been an advisor to the Obama administration on handling national security detainees, if and when the prison camp at GITMO is closed.” It’s bad that Obama caved in to the apologists for terrorism and closed GITMO, it’s downright frightening that this guy is telling Obama what to do with the terrorists who will be leaving GITMO for greener pastures.

Filed Under: Constitutional Law, Foreign Policy, National Security, Special Event

THE NEW GOP RIGHT NOW- Embrace Global Conservatives

February 1, 2009 By 11 Comments

By Gayle Plato-Besley

In our Global World Politic, and President Obama’s Brave New World, all eyes look to POTUS for The Word. Just as candidate John McCain’s political ad told us, Obama is the biggest celebrity in the world. If only Mr. McCain had been as savvy and as hip as his great ads; we would have had a different President to be angry with about his compromising liberalism. But then, while McCain’s staffers were somewhat hip with an ear on a track of the times, candidate Obama’s team saw their guy in a totally different light. Barack Obama is the deus ex machina in the story. Obama is the surprising and unexpected event that drops in from nowhere to resolve the unresolvable. He’s the Greek God from above to save the twisted characters from death or worse—damnation.

Yet, any good writer will tell you that gods dropping in from on high just won’t cut it. It’s Bobby Ewing coming back to life in TV cliffhanger Dallas, or the dreamstate that let’s us wake up and not be in the Hell we were a few minutes ago. It’s a parallel universe where Spock has a beard.

But our POTUS is not a run of the mill liberal ‘God from the Machine’. Obama’s people and the ultra-radical shift to socialism come with the early frost. The globe may be quite hot for Barack, as he sings “Kumbaya” on Arab television. Yet, what will happen when the cameras go off, the campaign promises blow up, and the President is not invited over for tea and crumpets? Will he and his Secretary, Ms. Hillary, become Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand, singing “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers?”

Barack Obama Is KUMBAYA

“Kumbaya” has controversial roots, with stories of some African spiritual as its origin. But truth be known, the song comes more from the 1920’s and 30’s American folk church-based spirituals– much like the radical socialism of America came from the union movements of the early 20th century. Joan Baez resurrected and recorded it in 1962. It became an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement. Yet the song is more about being poor and wanting God to come to the lowly; it has been mishandled as a symbolic olive branch from some phony African root. Either way though, Barack Obama’s handlers can use the theme deftly. Right now, he is the God from the Machine.

Brave New World?

I’ve noticed the fervor amongst Republicans for the RNC chairmanship- our choice of Michael Steele. The story of his election was a top headline: conservatives are looking for our God to fall in from Heaven. I think this is dangerous as we are modeling our attractions after the Obama machine. As Obama comes across as not only naïve regarding international relations, he seems a tool of the past. His team is Clintonized, including his chief of staff chatting up the likes of Paul Begala and George Stephanopoulos every day. It literally sends a tingly feeling down one’s leg, no?

We also see with this first round on Capitol Hill, how his precious jewels of the crown are securely in the palms of Nancy Pelosi. He isn’t even running his own show. Obama’s historical perspectives of American policy regarding Arab interests are just false. He sounds like a pseudo-intellectual who talks in cocktail party-lite, informational sound bites. He has a 30-second twitter, a text message-like working definition of a lot of issues. Beyond that, he’ll have to get back to ya.

Michael Steele is a great choice for the party coach, but he is not a savior quarterback with a Hail Mary pass. Get off the celebrity bandwagon, and let’s see the GOP be a team again with a strong offense and killer defense.

But at this moment in time, with Globally Organized Politics, not the Grand Ol Party, the true push, who is the conservative quarterback? It’s Likud Party leader and soon-to-be Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu. Now, I know, I’ve gushed before; I am on the record for him. But he is a winner and soon a reality, and a force to be reckoned with. Why am I on this kick again? What does an Israeli have to do with the American Conservative Movement anyway?

Benjamin Netanyahu (nicknamed BiBi by many Israelis) is the ONLY true conservative with the global relevance, clear conviction, excellent communication skills, military experience, extreme smarts with an Ivy league education, and compelling character to bring the world wide conservative agenda to the front page again. He is the quarterback, waiting to play. On February 10, 2009, Israel will elect a new leader and he’s the one.

The Bibi Gun

As our President is sending open love notes to Iran, Netanyahu concisely defines his plan: Israel will not allow a nuclear Iran. No questions and with total conviction, BiBi knows from where he sits. He was the Prime Minister before; he knows of military trenches and lost a brother in war. Yet he went to MIT and Harvard. He lived in the United States and likes Deniro films. He’s on Facebook and YouTube; he’s handsome and intense. He’s certain and defined with no wavering over his first job- to protect his people.

He’s conservative politically for a reason- he staunchly believes in freedom and sees the future of his people possibly disappearing. Netanyahu speculated about dire terrorism in New York, namely a suitcase nuclear bomb from Islamic extremists being set off in the World Trade Center: in his book frm 1995, Fighting Terrorism: How Democracies can Defeat Domestic and International Terrorism

But also know that there is organized Islamic hatred and Internet-based fever surrounding this man. Many project that he and some Jewish power hold concocted 9/11. There is a true desire to see him gone. American Republicans better do more than watch him. We need him to be understood, heard, and heard again. Our GOP teams need to read his books, watch him on TV, and learn from his tutelage. He’s right and he’s outspoken. BiBi doesn’t need to look for his jewels as he wants no crown. He wants the honor of his free-willed people. He knows his people are at risk and remembers how history played out for the Jews; back when “Kumbaya” was just a plea for God to come in.

The GOP needs a global conservative. Michael Steele and the republican Americans will benefit from sidestepping Barack Obama. Treat him as if he was not even in the room as he is treating all history of diplomacy and freedom in this country. Do not go to Hillary Clinton or George Mitchell for political dealings. Go beyond these bit players to the man with the true calling.

If Benjamin Netanyahu wins again, Conservatism will have an international face and the muscle to move the mount of liberal radicalism, and terrorist extremism back to the Dark Ages where it all belongs. 

Video of Netanyahu with Glenn Beck:

YouTube Preview Image

Filed Under: Foreign Policy, Political Parties Tagged With: , , , ,

Why isn’t ASU’s Michael Crowe taking a pay cut?

February 1, 2009 By 24 Comments

The universities are complaining about budget cuts, but do you see any of the top-paid administrators volunteering to cut their own overinflated salaries? President Michael Crowe makes $475,000/yr, even more than the median salary for public sector university presidents of $427,400. 100% of that salary comes from taxpayer funding. Crowe is mandating 10 days unpaid leave for all university employees, and 15 days unpaid leave for the fat cats like himself. You do the math. This is only a temporary drop in the bucket for him, he’s only going to make $447,610 this year instead without those 15 extra days. He’ll still make more money this year than the average public university president.

ASU isn’t even a top-tier public university (although University of Arizona is). It’s not in the top 50 public universities, it’s ranked #60. Not sure why Crowe deserves a salary so high.

The Arizona Republic lists the top-paid employees at ASU, UA, and NAU. ASU has 16 employees alone who make over $300,000/yr. The head of the Institute of Sustainability, whatever that is (oh yeah, it’s the new disguised term for environmentalism), makes $310,500. The Biodesign Institute Director, a position that would be better handled in the private sector, makes $456,825. Likewise, the Biomedical Informatics Director makes $330,000. The Provost/Vice-Provost – sounds like a glorified secretary – makes $385,000. The business school finance chair makes $326,482. One professor alone at the business school makes $301,001. The Senior Vice-President makes $313,857. The Exec. VP & Finance makes $320,882. Someone from the “School of Materials,” whatever that is, makes $301,790. The VP of athletics makes $325,306. You can guess who makes the most money – yep, the head football coach who tops a million coming in at $1,275,000.

This is a PUBLIC university, not the private sector. These salaries are outrageous considering they’re being paid by taxpayers, and considering the state of the budget currently. These fat cats should be offering to halve their salaries. $237,500 is plenty generous for a PUBLIC university president. If it’s not enough, there is always the option to take a job in the private sector instead, or find a private source of grants to supplement your salary, like other overpaid public university presidents do. It was reported last fall in the New York Times that salaries of presidents at public universities are climbing faster than salaries of presidents at private universities – even though there is no justification for this.

“It’s surprising that many public universities are raising their presidents’ salaries,” said Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, who has been prodding universities for more accountability in spending and greater commitment to affordability. “In these hard economic times, apparently belt-tightening is for families and students, not university presidents.”

After the report came out, some of the overpaid presidents voluntarily took a substantial decrease in their annual pay.

The president of Washington State University, Elson S. Floyd, who made $600,000 in his first year at the university and received a $125,000 raise over the summer, said he would take a voluntary $100,000 pay cut in response to budget problems.

We did not hear about any of the Arizona University presidents doing this. (If they did, please let us know and we will correct the record, but we could find nothing on the web about them taking a permanent substantial salary cut)

10 days unpaid leave to an ASU employee making $25,000/yr would be devastating. That’s almost $1000 – the equivalent of having to come up with an additional month’s rent, and when you live from paycheck to paycheck, it could easily get someone behind on a mortgage or rent.

Crowe and the other university fat cats should be ashamed of themselves, and do what other public university presidents around the nation are doing and cut their overinflated salaries if they want to save university funding. The president of UA makes $420,000. The President of NAU makes $300,000.

Filed Under: Education, Government, Spending, State Budget
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