The Go Along Get Along Gang In Action

Ever wonder why main street Republicans and conservatives are thoroughly fed up with the Inside-the-Beltway Republicans in Washington, D.C.?

Look no further than the linguini-spined GOP reaction to the nomination of an admitted tax cheat to be Secretary of the Treasury, the department which happens to oversee the IRS.

WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (al-Reuters) – The top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said on Thursday he was not aware of any Republicans who planned to vote against Timothy Geithner to head the Treasury Department because of his failure to pay taxes.

“From talking to my colleagues on the Republican side, and I haven’t talked to all of them … I have not found people who are going to vote against him based upon just the income tax issue,” Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa told National Public Radio in an interview.

He said there was bipartisan agreement on Geithner’s qualifications for the job and the need for someone of his caliber “at a time when we have all the economic problems we have.”

Imagine if you will the following scenario: in December 2000, President-elect George W. Bush nominates a prominent Republican who hadn’t paid his federal income taxes in five years. Can you imagine the squawking from the Democrats on Capitol Hill? The poor guy would have been DOA. It would have been 24/7 news coverage on how anyone can get away without paying a lick of federal taxes — income, Social Security or Medicare — yet expects to run a department that oversees the very agency that serves as the nation’s tax collector.

That’s what Geithner is accused of doing. He paid nary a lick of federal taxes while working at the World Bank/IMF, yet he somehow managed to be reimbursed for those unpaid taxes.

From Byron York at NRO:

Documents released by the Senate Finance Committee strongly suggest that Geithner knew, or should have known, what he was doing when he did not pay self-employment taxes in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. After his failure to pay was discovered, first by the IRS and later during the vetting process, Geithner paid the federal government a total of $42,702 in taxes and interest.

The IMF did not withhold state and federal income taxes or self-employment taxes — Social Security and Medicare — from its employees’ paychecks. But the IMF took great care to explain to those employees, in detail and frequently, what their tax responsibilities were. First, each employee was given the IMF Employee Tax Manual. Then, employees were given quarterly wage statements for the specific purpose of calculating taxes. Then, they were given year-end wage statements. And then, each IMF employee was required to file what was known as an Annual Tax Allowance Request. Geithner received all those documents.

The tax allowance has turned out to be a key part of the Geithner situation. This is how it worked. IMF employees were expected to pay their taxes out of their own money. But the IMF then gave them an extra allowance, known as a “gross-up,” to cover those tax payments. This was done in the Annual Tax Allowance Request, in which the employee filled out some basic information — marital status, dependent children, etc. — and the IMF then estimated the amount of taxes the employee would owe and gave the employee a corresponding allowance.

At the end of the tax allowance form were the words, “I hereby certify that all the information contained herein is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and that I will pay the taxes for which I have received tax allowance payments from the Fund.” Geithner signed the form. He accepted the allowance payment. He didn’t pay the tax. For several years in a row.

It’s bend over and grab your ankles time, folks.

I’m already sick and tired — was the night of the election already — of people on my side of the political spectrum lecturing us as to how we needed to wish The Messiah well, get behind Him, hope He succeeds. Support Him when He is right, oppose Him when He is wrong. Blah, blah, blah. Yada, yada, yada.

Folks, He … is … a … socialist. A socialist. I don’t want a socialist to succeed. I hope He fails. Miserably.

I’m with Rush Limbaugh here. On his show today, El Rushbo told the story of how some publication asked him to submit in 400 words what his hopes were for Our Savior’s Thousand Year Reign in light of His Anointment to the Throne. Rush said it in four words:

I hope He fails.

I couldn’t have said it better myself. I hope He fails, and goddamn any Republican or faux conservative who helps advance His goal and that of the other socialists Democrats of making America a socialist nation.

IT Knew Of Becker, Kiddie Porn In 2007

A City of Racine IT employee located child pornography images on the personal computer of Mayor Gary Becker back in 2007 but simply advised the mayor to remove it, choosing not to turn the images over to law enforcement.

Police Chief Kurt Wahlen says he didn’t see the images until a different IT technician turned them over to the Racine Police Department after Becker requested city technicians perform service on his personal computer once again.

RACINE — Police Chief Kurt Wahlen did not receive the contents of Mayor Gary Becker’s personal computerin 2007.

“I didn’t know anything about it,” Wahlen said, referring to the child pornography that was allegedly found on copies of Becker’s files from 2007.

Wahlen said he received a disk containing the files, including some pornographic material, last week.

Becker was charged in Racine County Circuit Court Thursday with attempted second-degree sexual assault, possession of child pornography and other related charges.

According to the criminal complaint against Becker, in December of 2008, a technician contracted by the city was asked by the mayor to repair his personal computer. That technician called police on Dec. 23 to tell them that while he was performing the repairs he discovered what he thought was child pornography on the computer.

When he went to police, the technician told Wahlen that another technician – who still works for the city but not as an IT tech – had fixed a problem on Becker’s personal computer in 2007.

Wahlen said he spoke with that man and asked if he had a copy of the contents of Becker’s computer from the 2007 repair. The man turned that information over to police last week, the chief said.

The technician had seen the pornographic images, according to department spokesman Sgt. Bernie Kupper. Back in 2007, he copied the material, labeled it and stored the disk.

When the technician gave the computer back to Becker he advised him to remove that type of material from his computer, Kupper said. By law, he said, the technician was not obligated to turn over the files.

Just what is Becker, a public servant whose salary is paid by taxpayers, doing taking his personal computer to technicians who are also being paid by taxpayers to have repairs done? When my computer goes on the fritz, I either have to take it in to be repaired and pay for it or have a technician come here and pay for it. Why did Becker think he was entitled to have taxpayers pay for the repairs to his personal computer?

The other issue is with the initial IT employee, who felt it wasn’t his business to turn images of child pornography to law enforcement. Bad call, to paraphrase the Miller Lite commercials. How many kids were put at risk by his decision simply to ignore child pornography because it wasn’t his business?

Check out the actual transcripts of Becker’s conversation with the 14 year old girl, which turned out to be a state DCI agent. One word: disgusting. But at least he made sure he praised Dear Leader to what he thought was a 14 year old girl.

Circuit City Goes Under

Circuit City will be liquidating all remaining stores and closing operations after failing to locate financing or a buyer. Currently, Circuit City has 567 stores, including the one on Green Bay Road in Racine.

“This is the only possible path for our company,” James A. Marcum, acting chief executive, said in a statement. “We are extremely disappointed by this outcome.”

The company had been seeking a buyer or a deal to refinance its debt, but the hobbled credit market and consumer worries proved insurmountable. And bleak holiday sales results further weakened even the stronger retailers.

Circuit City said in court papers it has appointed Great American Group LLC, Hudson Capital Partners LLC, SB Capital Group LLC and Tiger Capital Group LLC as liquidators.

“Regrettably for the more than 30,000 employees of Circuit City and our loyal customers, we were unable to reach an agreement with our creditors and lenders,” Marcum said.

Shareholders are likely to receive nothing, as is typical in bankruptcy cases. It was unclear what would happen to the company’s 765 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada.

Circuit City filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November as vendors started to restrict the flow of merchandise ahead of the busy holiday shopping season.

Circuit City will join the ranks of Steve & Barry’s, Linens N Things, K B Toys and others who are shutting down operations across the United States. All of those closing isn’t good news to the real estate market, either.

The liquidation is the latest big blow to the nation’s malls, which have suffered from a rise in vacancies as a slew of chains from Mervyns LLC to Linens ‘N Things have liquidated. But analysts say that the demise of Circuit City, whose stores range in size from 20,000 to 25,000 square feet, will hurt the fortunes of mall operators even more.

“It will bring to market a glut of big box spaces across the country,” said John Bemis, head of Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.’s retail leasing team. “It will have one of the largest impacts on big box real estate across the country.”

Wonder if Regency Mall regrets terminating leases and/or relocating tenants to accommodate not one but two retai8lers who promptly went out of business — Linens N Things and Steve & Barry’s. The JC Penney wing of Regency Mall is empty except for JC Penney.

Of course, they could do what two other prominent retailers, Montgomery Ward and Builders Square, have done: become strictly online retailers.

Airstrike Kills Terrorist Leader

An Israeli airstrike has sent yet another terrorist leader to meet his 72 virgins … or is it a 72-year-old virgin?

Hamas interior minister Said Siam was killed in an Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip, Hamas and U.S. Intelligence officials confirmed to FOX News Thursday.

Siam was in charge of 13,000 Hamas police and security officials, many of whom are involved in the Gaza conflict with Israel, Hamas-run television reported.

And I am sure our friends on the Left will mourn for the piece of human excrement. After all his death will no doubt inspire 10 more jihadists. Kill ‘em all; let God sort ‘em out.

Once again, dedicated to the dead jihadist leader:

More good news: Israeli tanks are keeping up the heat on the bad guys:

Also Thursday, Israeli tanks shelled downtown Gaza City and ground troops thrust deep into a crowded neighborhood for the first time, sending terrified residents fleeing for cover and increasing pressure on Hamas to accept a proposed cease-fire to end Israel’s offensive.

The U.N. refugee agency also said its Gaza headquarters was struck by Israeli artillery fire and the building was ablaze.

The building was hit by what was believed to be three white phosphorous shells, spokesman Chris Gunness said. The weapons burn at extremely high temperatures and easily set fires.

A senior Israeli military officer said Israeli troops shelled the complex after coming under fire from Palestinian militants.

Typical jihadist cowards: take refuge in neighborhoods and use civilians as human shields. Firing at Israeli troops using a UN refugee complex as a shield, no doubt thinking Israel wouldn’t retaliate, fearing world condemnation.

And for those of who condemn Israel, where is your condemnation for the cowardly terrorists who put the refugees in the line of fire?

Plane Crashes Into Hudson River

No word on casualties or the cause, but a US Airways jetliner has crashed into the Hudson River.

NEW YORK (See BS) — A U.S. Airways airplane has crashed into the Hudson River, CBS 2 has learned. The plane appears to be in one piece and passengers are being evacuated by rescue teams.

Officials tell CBS 2 the airplane is Flight 1549, an Airbus a320 that took off from La Guardia Aiport and headed to Charlotte, N.C. There are reports that there were about 60 people on board. The plane seats about 120 passengers. It went down around 3:30 p.m.

Passengers could be seen standing on the wing of the plane and entering rescue boats, and a rescue ferry. Passengers were being treated for hypothermia and shock, according to CBS 2′s Marcia Kramer.

Update: the FAA is investigating the possibility of a flock of birds getting caught in the engine.

Bill Moyers: Anti-Semite

Edward Olshaker does a comparison at The American Thinker of statements made by Bill Moyers — funded by my tax dollars — and those of noted anti-Semite and KKKer David Duke.

Not much difference between the two.

Take the test. See how many you get right.

Olshaker observes:

When did Moyers forget that real progressives are supposed to oppose fascists, totalitarians, and terrorists, not promote and empower them and their supporters?

Fact is, they don’t. Those who call themselves progressives love fascists, totalitarians and terrorists. See their love and support for Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hamas, Hizbollah, Al Qaeda, etc., as proof. Also the Left’s love affair with socialism and Soviet-style communism as well.

Why, I’d bet they’d have supported Hitler and the Japanese fascists in World War II.

Snowmobiler Butchers

Both of these stories are awful. Just blatant cruelty to animals.

First, a group of snowmobilers participated in a thrill killing of deer in Waupaca County.

Thrill killing is suspected in the slaughter of five deer in Waupaca County, with snowmobilers believed to have chased the animals down in a field and run them over, authorities said Monday.

By Monday afternoon, a reward fund for information leading to the killers had climbed to $9,000, fueled by local snowmobile clubs and residents outraged by the crime.

“Apparently some people using snowmobiles as a weapon ran down, dragged and did unspeakable acts of cruelty” to the deer, said state Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Laurel Steffes.

“The overwhelming majority of snowmobilers find this act despicable,” Steffes said. “Everybody is pretty shocked.”

The discovery was made about 9 a.m. Saturday by a farmer who rents the land near Denmark and Holiday roads in the Town of Lind, said Detective Sgt. John Mocadlo of the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department.

The field is along a snowmobile trail on private land, and investigators think three or four snowmobiles were involved in the attack, sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

Four deer were found dead at the scene and a fifth had to be euthanized, said Carl Mesman, a conservation warden supervisor with the DNR.

Now, a lone snowmobiler is suspected in another thrill killing, this time of 57 mallard ducks on Lake Winnebago.

Authorities are searching for a snowmobiler who apparently ran over and killed 57 mallard ducks Tuesday on the Fond du Lac River, just days after five deer were killed when snowmobilers herded them together and ran them over Friday night in Waupaca County.

The ducks were found in an area of open water and on the ice of the river near Lake Winnebago in Fond du Lac, said George Protogere, a DNR warden supervisor.

Tracks in the snow show that the snowmobiler skipped over the open water, turned around and skipped over the water again, Protogere said.

The mallards – 37 drakes and 20 hens – were killed Tuesday between 9 a.m. and early afternoon, Protogere said.

“It’s horrible,” said Bill Schumann, president of the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs. “It’s disgusting. I don’t know what’s going on out there, what people are thinking. There’s something drastic going wrong here. This is not what snowmobiling is all about.”

Fact is, authorities will not be able to arrest these butchers and bring them to justice without public help. There aren’t any witnesses to either crime and certainly those responsible aren’t likely to ‘fess up.

But someone out there knows who did this. Most likely, they’ve bragged to someone about what they did. Hopefully, that someone will do the right thing and contact the police. You may also contact the DNR at (800) 847-9367. Anonymity is guaranteed.

Update: someone snitched. Three men are under arrest for the attack on the deer.

Racine Mayoral Candidates Abound

There is no shortage of vultures circling over Mayor Gary Becker’s political corpse.

Several potential candidates have already surfaced, even though Becker has yet to resign following his arrest on charges which inculde child pornography, child enticement and attempted second degree sexual assault of a child.

Several people, including three current aldermen and one former alderman, voiced some degree of interest Wednesday in running for mayor if the post goes vacant. Becker’s arrest Tuesday on multiple felony charges raises the question of whether he will be able to finish his term.

Becker’s term was to run from 2007-2011.

State law, under Chapter 17.23, specifies that a mayoral vacancy would be filled “by appointment by the common council for the residue of the unexpired term unless a special election is ordered by the common council, in which case the person appointed shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified.”

Two current aldermen, Greg Helding and David Maack, said Wednesday they were seriously considering a run for mayor if Becker cannot serve out his term.

Hopefully, the Common Council will have the good sense to call for a special election if and when Becker resigns, so that the position of mayor can be occupied by someone chosen by the voters rather than the City Hall politicians.

The Journal Times offers a rather muddled editorial on the Becker case, essentially saying whether Becker stays or resigns he has to make that decision quickly. Of course, they never really say whether they think he should stay or go.

Our view here? Becker needs to resign. Now. He is thoroughly compromised by the arrest and pending charges and eventual trial. Like Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, he is damaged goods.

The Racine Post informs us that it was an anonymous tip to the Racine Police Department that set in motion the chain of events that led to Becker’s arrest.

Madison Jumps The Shark

The People’s Republic of Madison, 58 square miles surrounded by reality, is moving swiftly to restrict personal freedom, all to fight the hoax known as global warming.

In one of the most politically left-of-center cities east of Berkeley, Calif., ideas put forth at city hall in Madison, Wis. would dramatically limit free enterprise and personal liberty, all in the name of environmental sustainability.

According to the “Broad Strategies” section of a meeting agenda recently posted on the City of Madison Web site, an ordinance being considered would force city zoning to account for and mitigate climate change:

10. Zoning should adapt to meet the demands of climate change; use zoning to address or mitigate effects, or adapt to climate change; remove any barriers to mitigating the effects, adapting to climate change (trees, green space, mobility, renewable energy, land use).

Another item in the “Broad Strategies” section has a grim outlook for the future. It includes a proposal that spells out a doomsday scenario – allowing for the city to function should shortages in energy and food occur:

11. Write the code to allow the city to function when automobile travel will be severely limited and oil-related products, including food and heating fuel, become prohibitively expensive because of the scarcity and high-cost of fuel.

Other proposals throughout the document would push for use of alternative energies (solar, geothermal and wind), conservation, electric cars and urban agriculture. Other more Draconian regulations throughout the document would:

• Limit waterfront development in the name of water sustainability,
• Require two trees to be planted if one is removed from your property.
• Limit the “number/density of fast food outlets and drive-through windows” in the name of public health.
• Discourage individual parking options to promote public transportation usage.

This is pure centralized planning, right out of the old Soviet Union. It didn’t work there, and it won’t work here, either. The people choosing to live there, however, are too stupid and brainwashed into the Stalinist way of life to know the difference.

Adult children, waiting to be led around by their new parents, Big Government.

Mexican Stability In Jeopardy?

So says the U.S. Joint Forces Command in a report on threats to worldwide security.

The threats to Mexico’s government from from the criminal gangs such as M-13 and the drug cartels.

The command’s “Joint Operating Environment (JOE 2008)” report, which contains projections of global threats and potential next wars, puts Pakistan on the same level as Mexico. “In terms of worse-case scenarios for the Joint Force and indeed the world, two large and important states bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse: Pakistan and Mexico.

“The Mexican possibility may seem less likely, but the government, its politicians, police and judicial infrastructure are all under sustained assault and pressure by criminal gangs and drug cartels. How that internal conflict turns out over the next several years will have a major impact on the stability of the Mexican state. Any descent by Mexico into chaos would demand an American response based on the serious implications for homeland security alone.” …

The report is the latest focusing on Mexico’s security problems, which stem mostly from drug violence and corruption. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security and former U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey issued similar assessments.

Despite such reports, El Pasoan Veronica Callaghan, a border business leader, said she keeps running into people who “are in denial about what is happening in Mexico.”

I presume the only answer the newly-minted one party government in Washington will have is amnesty for illegal aliens and making our borders even more porous and less secure.