MICRO-MANAGE...WHAT A BIG WORD, MR. MAYOR

After reading our June 24, 2009 edition of the Tribune, we had to laugh.

"England doesn't want New Albany City Council looking over his shoulder on paving plan."

This is not the 1990's Mr. Mayor.

Has his ego gotten in the way, or can he not handle: Checks and balances?

"Paving was ordered by the New Albany City Council earlier this month when it approved spending up to $2 million of Economic Development Income Tax dollars for resurfacing."

Benedetti question the plan that was handed to the council and doesn't understand why the plan isn't ready.

Mrs. Benedetti, have you ever heard of: bait and switch or smoke and mirrors?

Welcome to New Albany Politics and Campaign Promises 101!

Mrs. Benedetti should ask herself two question:

* How can this be a rough draft, if tax dollars were used to pay Jacobi, Toombs and Lanz?

* How could Jacobi, Toombs and Lanz provide cost estimates if there were NO plans available?

Mayor England should realize that he is spending EDIT tax dollars out of our pockets. The Council representing taxpayer districts have a responsibility to listen to the taxpayers and share their needs with the Mayor.

Mayor England states: "We're going to pave the streets that people use the most-get the major thoroughfares.

We smell another campaign promise "street" to be paved.

We elected the mayor into office and we expect him to listen to us.

Arrogance is NOT acceptable in this case!

Who is really trying to micro-manage who?

NEWS FLASH:

Silver Street Elementary will NOT be closing.

Thanks to all of the Resources for Results Committee members. Maybe now, the Mayor and other local blogs will stop misleading the people of New Albany.

This was never the intention, to close Silver Street Elementary. The goal was to make a decision in the best interest of the people.

CAP-AND-TRADE VOTE TODAY...

Cap-and-trade is a tax on coal, oil, and natural gas but instead of being a specific tax rate, the total level of use is capped and companies are forced to pay the government for emissions permits. They bid against each other to stay in business, and no body knows how much the tax will be until they hold the auctions.

It's a crazy unpredictable tax.

With gas prices climbing, the last thing we need is a new energy tax that will drive them even higher, nearly doubling the cost of electricity, and destroy millions of jobs every year for the next 25 years.

Don't buy Obama's BS, that it will only cost us about 44 cents a day.

The bill also contains renewable energy mandates.

These big government directives are not aimed at helping consumers; they are subsidies to environmental special interest groups who have a political stranglehold on Obama, Pelosi and Reid.

These mandates would require that a certain portion of everyone's energy use come from renewable sources.

While this may sound good, the technologies to produce renewable energy are expensive and untested.

Before Congress shoves higher energy costs down everyone's throat, these products should have to compete in the marketplace like everything else.

Using climate change to grow government and centralize control of our economy is unacceptable.

This cap-and-trade plan aims to limit gas emissions, but we've read that even with the 83 percent reduction in such emissions envisioned by 2050, we will achieve just two years of avoided global warming.

What this plan really will do is place severe regulatory burdens on domestic industry that will ultimately drive up the prices you and us pay for electricity, gasoline, natural gas, and virtually every product we purchase that uses fossil fuels in it's manufacture or transportation.

This cap-and-trade tax could increase your family's energy bill by $1,500 annually!

What's more, the Waxman-Markey bill will hit us not only as a consumer, but as a taxpayer, as it significantly grows the size and cost of government.

This cap-and-trade scheme empowers bureaucrats to dictate virtually every aspect of commercial and individual energy use.

It also opens the door to the potential for political manipulation and corruption.

["Lord knows, we have enough corruption here in New Albany, to last us all a life time!"]

We see very little environmental pay-off for the enormous costs this bill will impose on our family's, American businesses, and our economy.

OBAMA'S SUPREME COURT CHOICE:

Now that we have elected a black President and on the surface, supposedly are gravitating away from racial bias, but in reality, everything these days is about race.

Now it seems important to have the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.
Whatever happened to Martin Luther King's idea of having a person judged by the content of their character and not their race?

It is no longer about having the most qualified person for the job, it now has become about "making history" with a first of this or that race in a particular job or office.

This doesn't serve "we the people", it serves a liberal agenda!

How could Obama nominate someone who has had 4 decisions made by said nominee overturned by the constitution.

Clearly this proves the President and said nominee is either:

A constitutionally ignorant or

B constitutionally stupid.

Both of these facts should automatically remove any chance of said nominee being approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

If the Senate Judiciary Committee majority approve said nominee, then A: and B: stated above also applies to each Senator who votes in favor.

There have been NO Supreme court justices appointed to the bench that have had any of their rulings overturned by the constitution, let alone 4.

Instead of what people call an Hispanic for the Supreme Court, how about Obama nominate an American.

Oh, I forgot he's NOT an American either!

Silly me, I almost forgot...

Contributor: Legal Beagle

UPDATE: SECRETARY OF STATE

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is canceling plans to attend international meeting in Italy and Greece this week as she recovers from surgery.

Former President Clinton told us Saturday, that Hillary is recovering, but is not up to making the trip.

Deputy Secretary of State Steinburg will lead the U.S. delegation of meetings in Greece and William Burns, the under secretary of state , will head the U.S. delegation to separate talks in Italy.

Freedom Of Speech wishes, Mrs. Clinton a speedy recovery!

FAMOUS LAST WORDS:

* Mr. Haub: Vote against, and "blood is on your hands too."

* Council President Coffey: I'm not worried about the budget!

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

'These TWO comments, are going to come back and bite both Haub's and Coffey right in their ass!

Watch and see...

"BAD FALL... FOR HILLARY"

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton fractured her right elbow during a fall. Clinton was on her way to her White House office, when she fell and shattered her elbow.

She will undergo surgery to repair her elbow in the coming week.

Anyone that would like to send their best wishes to the Secretary can do so through the State Department web site: us.state.gov

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

A fractured elbow won't keep Hillary down. Nothing ever has and nothing ever will.

We know that the healthcare that she received, is what she wants for all Americans!

Get well soon Madam Secretary!

Our final thought:

"Has anyone told you to slow down, Mrs. Hillary? Or is this the pot calling the kettle black ;)."

"CASH FOR CLUNKERS'

Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, slammed the House bill offering cash incentives for traded-in autos, claiming that Detroit auto industry lobbyists have jacked the proposal and turned it into "another big bailout" for gas guzzlers.

Another Obama scam...

60% of the cars that are currently donated to charity will now be eligible for a $3,5000 or $4,500 voucher under the cash for clunkers program. Since the tax deduction for donating a car is only $500 or what the car sells charities won't be able to compete with the program and charitable car donations will end.

A better idea is to change the amount a person can deduct for donating their car back to the book value. That way every car is eligible, the government doesn't have to spend $4 million of our dollars giving away vouchers and trying to administer a program that is way too convoluted!

This new scam "requires consumers to trade up for more fuel-efficient cars and trucks to qualify."

Trade up?

That's a stretch...

My BMW for a tuna can?

Sorry Charlie, I'll keep my import!

ENGLAND'S STIMULUS ~WISH LIST... PART 1

* Municipal Water Park - $3,500,000

* M Fine Building Rehabilitation - $10,000,000

* Hausfeldt Lane
CSX Railroad Crossing - $400,000

* Support Development of
New Industrial Park - $2,500,000

* Grantline Road Firehouse
Rehabilitation - $500,000

* East Spring St. Bridge
Deck Replacement - $400,000

East Spring Street
Rehabilitation Project - $3,000,000

* State Street Reconstruction - $2,000,000

* Downtown Street Grid Rehab - $2,000,000
Conversation of East Spring,
East Market, East Elm, Pearl,
and Bank Streets from one-way
to two way, installation of bike
Lanes, sidewalks and Traffic
devices and landscaping.

* Charlestown Road curb and - $2,500,000
sidewalk improvements including
bicycle lanes

* State Street Traffic Signalization - $1,000,000
Improvements

* Historic Main Street Corridor - $1,000,000
Improvement Project

* Unsafe Buildings - $200,000

* Multi - Model Transit Center/ - $8,000,000
Garage/Plaza

* Police Cruiser Project purchase - $375,000
15 new Police Cruisers

* Police Department - 3 new - $132,000
Police cars, equipment, Guns,
and repairs to Building

* Public Works equipment, - $1,024,000
purchase Garbage truck,
Dump truck, 2 Utility trucks,
Jetter/Vac truck, Ditch
digger, Wood chipper, Fork Lift,
Loader with attachments, Tools

* Daisy Lane Reconstruction - $2,000,000

* Street Cleaning Equipment - $465,000

* Street Pavement Replacement - $5,500,000

* Streets - resurface - $750,000
________________________________

Total Projects: Stimulus = England = enrich pockets of friends, political paybacks and campaign promises.

Source: http://www.invest.in.gov/

Freedom of Speech would like to say:

First of all, Mayor England is going to make Rod Blagojevich look like a rank amateur.

Some of these ideas are just a waste of money.

Why the hell does the city need all that money for downtown?

This is typical England. The arrogance of this man is appalling, and an embarrassment to the citizens of New Albany.

We the people, need money. and not the city!

Why not help out the middle class, poor or senior citizens in some type of way. Or try to create more jobs in New Albany so that you can raise your OWN tax money Mayor England.

This list looks and smells of:

"I will scratch your back, if you can scratch my back!"

We think it's called politics as usual in New Albany.

BTW, you know where the feds got their money? Look in your back pocket or your check book for the answer!

JUST A JOKE... YELL RIGHT!

Letterman's joke about Sarah and Todd Palin's daughter is completely tasteless and unacceptable.

He showed complete disrespect towards all women, regardless of their age.

And, it is sad that he considers his statement an apology.

A man of his age should be ashamed of himself!

Also, we wonder what Alex Rodriguez feels about Letterman making false accusations about him?

Letterman would never have made such comments about President Obama's daughters, would he?

We think it 's time for Letterman to go.

They were not this easy on Imus!

JUST RELEASED:

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

CDBG Formula Allocation Amounts.

Indiana's share:

Anderson - $251,845

Bloomington - $224,578

Carmel - $49,740

Columbus - $49,740

East Chicago - $365,575

Elkhart - $197,918

Evansville - $795,964

Fort Wayne - $571,495

Gary - $980,167

Goshen - $74,612

Hamilton County - $165,013

Hammond - $619,891

Indianapolis - $2,575,447

Kokomo - $265,707

La Porte - $132,958

Lafayette - $175,480

Lake County - $360,114

Michigan City - $193,547

Mishawaka - $147,277

Muncie - $385,809

New Albany - $195,513

South Bend - $750,873

Terra Haute - $496,821

West Lafayette - $117,571

Source: Governor Daniels Office

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

What happen to that $10,000,000 million Mayor England said our city would receive?

Just another photo op, and another way to deceive the citizens of New Albany.

STOP ACORN - NOW!

Since 1994, ACORN has received more than $53 million in direct federal funding. And over the years, ACORN and it's employees have also been the subject of investigations, indictments, and consent decrees in states all across the nation for election-related activities that run afoul of the law.

This isn't a political witch hunt, as many democrats claim.

The prosecutors who have brought the charges against ACORN and it's employees are both Republican and Democrat. They're doing their jobs, enforcing the law and protecting the integrity of the voting process.

Yet even as fresh charges were being filed against ACORN and it's employees in Nevada and Pennsylvania, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives worked to protect the stream of tax dollars to this organization.

They strip down language that was put in a mortgage reform bill [HR 1728] - language that would have ensured that Congress sets a high bar for who has access to your tax dollars.

Our Congress and the Administration have been on a spending spree with your money, racking up trillion dollar deficits for years down the road.

If Congress can't draw the line here - if they can't say that an organization repeatedly charged with violating the law and public trust should not have access to federal funds - where will they draw the line?

Speaker Pelosi, we think that Congress has a duty to the taxpayers to keep our hard-earned money out of the hands of those who play fast and loose with the law.

We urge our readers to contact Representative Baron Hill to bring Congresswoman Michele Bachmann's Taxpayer Protection and Anti-Fraud Act to the floor and to support it's passage.

We want to know if you are on the taxpayer's side ... or ACORN's.

Contact: Congressman Baron Hill
Jeffersonville Office
Phone: 812-288-3999
Toll free: 1-866-440-1321

Washington office:
Phone: 202-225-5315
Fax: 202-226-6866

JUSTICE GINSBURG'S DECISION:

"Upon consideration of the application of counsel for the applicants, and the responses filed thereto, IT IS ORDERED that the orders of the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, case no. 09-50002, dated May 31 and June 1, 2009 are stayed pending further order of the undersigned or of the court."

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

Imagine that - someone in Gov't actually considering the LAW. We bet Obama hadn't even considered that one!

For secured creditors to get the short end of the stick to satisfy the UAW debt that the President of the United States owes them for more than $33,000,000 million in political contributions, is a most egregious act on the part of this administration.

It's readily apparent that Obama and the Democrats were given the union a "sweetheart deal".

Hopefully, the court will protect the bond holders and the Indiana pension funds!

TAXPAYER MARCH ON WASHINGTON, D.C.

With just over three months to go until patriotic Americans from all 50 states convene in Washington, DC to protest wasteful government spending.

Come join Freedom Of Speech for the:

"Taxpayers March on DC "

When: Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM (ET)

Where: United States Capital, West Front
1st St. NW & Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC

It's time to take the tea party movement directly to Washington, DC. Come join Freedom Of Speech and thousands of state organizers and grassroots Americans from across the country as we gather in our nationls capital to deliver a message to the politicians: Enough!

We've had enough of the out of control spending, the bailouts, the growth of big government and the soaring deficits. And we reject the future tax increases to pay for all of this spending and debt down the road.

We are gathering on 9-12-2009 to deliver our message in person that we've had enough!

"We the People ~ Will Take Our Country Back!"

CODENAME: OPERATION OVERLOAD

You will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed people of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle.

We will accept nothing less than victory, Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower

"NO THANK YOU..."

Hosted by Mayor & Mrs. Doug England
June 3, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

$60.00 would buy our family groceries for an entire week. That's the real difference between a WANT and a NEED!

The Little People of New Albany

GOVERNMENT MOTORS

The tens of billions of tax dollars pumped into the auto industry have served their purpose alright!

1. They're paying for all the legal fees required to file that massive bankruptcy

2. They've insured millions of tax dollars worth of severance to the execs

3. They have made assured all the employees are screwed out of their benefits, severance pay, retirement, and

4. Last but most importantly: they have crippled and nearly disbanded the UAW, the last of the unions and the last bastion of hope for American workers!

So, remember that when you speak of the auto makers not having succeeded, your not putting yourself in the rich man's Bruno Magli shoes.

Boy, am I glad I drive a new BMW!