2012 PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS...

Everyone that is connected with Freedom Of Speech lives in Floyd County. We are a diverse group of ethnicity, gender, age, education and politics. All of our children  and grand children attend or attended private/or public school.


We spend our days, for better or worse, commenting on and studying the issues that affect and shape our Country, Indiana, Floyd County and the City of New Albany.

We are taxpayers and city employees who are not insulated from bad decisions, mismanagement and the wasteful spending of our hard earned tax dollars that does affect our daily lives in a very negative way.


We care about the many issues facing our country, state, county and city.


The point is, our issues are your issues!


We consider ourselves fairly informed observers, so why not tell our readers who WE think is most qualified to tackle those issues.

Some are incumbents, unopposed or first time candidates for that office.

Our 2012 Freedom Of Speech Primary~Endorsements goes to the following candidates:


President:
No Endorsement


Governor:
* Mike Pence (R)


Senator:
* Joe Donnelley (D)


Congress, 9th District:
* Todd Young (R)


State Rep, District 72:
* Ed Clere (R)


State Rep. District 70:
No Endorsement


County Commissioner District 2:
* Bill Fender (R)


County Commissioner District 3:
* Dennis Roudenbush (D)


School Board District At Large:
* Rebecca Gardenour


County Council At Large:
* Larry Clemons (D)
* Carol Shope (D)
* Brad Striegel (D)


County Recorder:
* Lois Endris (R)


County Treasurer:
* Linda Berger (R)


County Surveyor:
No Endorsement


County Coroner:
No Endorsement

We wish you all the best of possible outcomes in your campaigns.

Freedom Of Speech Staff Members

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN....

Hundreds of thousands of locals and folks from all over make plans to attend this years Thunder Over Louisville.

Who's ready for da party?

If you haven't made a hotel reservation. It's to late!

The best place to see the fireworks on the Indiana side is:

* Kingfish
* Buckhead's
* Rocky's

Pack your rain gear and your warm hoodies it's suppose to be cool and wet.

Have a great weekend from all of our staff here at Freedom Of Speech.

WHAT A CROCK....

Have you read your local  News & Tribune today?
We have never read such crap in our lives. Just in case you haven't gone to your mailbox yet, check this out:

 City Wrap

* "When I ran for this office, I made a promise to the people of New Albany to make our city physically cleaner, financially stronger and fundamentally better," Gahan said in a news release. "I am doing everything that I can to live up to that promise."

Oh really, Jeff?


How about all the other campaign promises you lied to us voters about?


Would you like for us to list them all?


* "City Controller Mary Ann Prestigiacomo said she's been working closely with department heads to ensure spending stays on track. We want to be responsible stewards of our taxpayers' dollars, she said."

Mrs. Prestigiacomo, don't you feel it's more important as controller for you to work closely with our council president and the eight other council members to have the financials so that they can appropriate monies for certain request?


BTW, great news folks, Mrs. Kay Garry returned yesterday part-time in the controllers office. We guess she found out it cost way more to carry Plan B Healthcare in the real world.


What a crock!

IT'S TAX DAY....

Tax Day is normally April 15th, but because the 15th was Sunday April 17th becomes the day we all dread.

Yeah, we get that the government needs some serious cash so the GSA can go back to Hawaii or Vegas for some ribbon cuttings and all, but it still smarts having to write that tax check today April 17th.

Fear not, we have a plan to take the sting out of yours and ours Tax Day.

First, we were originally going to offer to pay every ones taxes, but we never received our "bail out money" Obama promised.

We sure are glad the Senate voted down Buffett's Law. We still can't understand how "Mr. Buffett" has still not paid the $300,000 million he owed in back taxes from 2010."

But then again we're NOT friends of Obama either.

So, we would like to invite all of our friends to Pastimes Bar & Grill on Market Street today for free beer starting at 4:30pm. Tell Grant (the owner) that Freedom Of Speech gave him a special plug on this Tax Day and remind him that you/we support his lawsuit against the Historical Association!

Freedom Of Speech Staff

WAR ON STAY AT HOME MOMS....

Republicans and Democrats have been bickering for days about which side is actually waging a war on women in the run up to the election.

Bushfire's like the one Rosen set off are the sort of things that will convince "women" who make up the other third of America that the "war on women" they've been hearing so much about is actually on the traditional gender roles they believe in.

Sorry, there's nothing faux about this mean-spirited attack the whole dilemma is all to real for every mother in the United States Of America.

And that is NOT good for Barack Obama!

Btw, Mr. Axelrod which political playbook did you pull that one out of?

PLAYING CATCH UP....FLORIDA

What happen in Florida was a tragedy and that is something every American can understand.

The emotions at play are understandable on all sides. But what we must remember is that our nation depends on a system of law in order to function.

So what Obama should have said was this:

I ask all Americans to remain patient while this matter is handled by the courts in Florida and that those who are so inclined pray that those investigating and adjudicating this matter be empowered to find justice. They will. And as Americans it is important that we accept that outcome whatever it may be.

He could have said something like that and appeared Presidential.

Instead, he gives us a bizarre discourse of "if I had a son he'd look like Treyvon" the rhetorical equivalent of splashing gasoline near glowing hot coals.

The death of anyone, particularly a young man, is tragic.

The sad part in all of this is the president has a bad habit of wading uninformed into local controversies.

The President only tends to wade in when the press is screaming about a perceived injustice to a black person (remember Professor Gates?).

Did Obama make one peep about that poor 13 year old white boy in Kansas City who was chased by two black youths, doused with gasoline and set on fire? They were screaming, "This is what you deserve. You get what you deserve, white boy."

The boy suffered from first degree burns on his face. He did not know the perpetrators.

Did Obama go on television and say anything? You bet he didn't. Why? Because it serves NO political purpose for him to do so. His goal is to divide the country - pit the haves against the have nots, reignite racial division, etc. It's the only way he stands at re-election - getting his base all riled up.

All we can say to the President for his silence on this more obvious racially motivated hate crime - Shame On You!

You are supposed to be President for ALL Americans.

DO THE MATH.....

What the City of New Albany needs is jobs. Jobs generate revenue, revenue increases our yearly General Fund.

Over the next few weeks Freedom Of Speech will show you what is wrong with the City of New Albany and how to fix it.

Question Number 1: Do Tax Abatements help or hurt New Albany?

Tax Abatement:

The deduction is 100% in the first year and declines by a specified percentage every year thereafter. Tax Abatement is available for a one to ten year for real property, new manufacturing equipment, new research, new development equipment and JOBS!

We at Freedom Of Speech wonder why it's necessary for New Albany council members to approve so many tax abatements and do they produce as many jobs as they claim.

Thanks to our friends working in the City County Building we have something interesting to share with our readers.

The following company's re-applied for their 10 year Tax Abatements and look at what we found.

Number of Jobs created after the first year:

Kotter Development, Inc........N/A
Kotter Development, Inc........N/A
Kotter Development, Inc.........-40 Jobs

Lee Supply Corporation...........-2 Jobs

Sunnyview LLC........................-19 Jobs

Hitachi Cable Automotive.........-147 Jobs
Hitachi Cable Automotive.........-147 Jobs
Hitachi Cable Automotive.........-137 Jobs
Hitachi Cable Automotive.........-137 Jobs

L & D Mail Masters, Inc..............-9 Jobs

M & V Investments, Inc...............0 Jobs

Lumley Enterprises, Inc.............-2 Jobs

Rite-Way Industries, Inc............-24 Jobs

Samtec, Inc................................-78 Jobs

Ideal Door Division.....................0 Jobs

Uhl Properties,LLC.....................0 Jobs

The Grand..................................0 Jobs
Larry & Brenda Sharlow

St. Edwards Court, LP................0 Jobs

United Investment Group/
Insulated Roofing Contractors...N/A

Retailers Supply Co. Inc.............0 Jobs

Source: Carl Malysz

Freedom Of Speech would like to say:

Tax Abatements reduce the amount that should go into our General Fund that supports our city. If they don't pay their fair share of taxes, then we the taxpayers have to make up the difference out of our pockets.

If the County Council only gives 1 Tax Abatement a year why did the City of New Albany give the above list abatements?

Our final thoughts: After having a lengthily conversation last week with the head of the State Board of Accounts this is the answer he gave us:

"What is killing our City General Fund is Tax Abatements, TIF's, Police and Fire salaries and their contracts. When the City of New Albany goes into bankruptcy this will be why."

Source: Charlie Pride, State Board of Accounts @ 317-232-2521

HAPPY EASTER...

As we gather with family and friends to enjoy this Easter weekend.

Easter should be a feeling in our hearts of hope, faith and trust.
it is a day of miracles;
a day when our dreams seem a little closer;
a time of retrospection
for what has been an anticipation of all that will be.

Easter is a time of faith, and hope.
It is a time when we say a quiet thanks
for all that we have and for all that
the future holds.

And it is a time for remembering and appreciation
the people in our lives who make a difference...

Happy Easter,
~Freedom Of Speech Staff

WHEN IS ENOUGH....ENOUGH?

Parents at a Massachusetts elementary school are furious after educators first removed the word "God" from the popular Lee Greenwood song, "God Bless the U.S.A." and then pulled the song all together from an upcoming concert.

Greenwood release this statement:

"The most important word in the whole piece of music is the word God, which is also in the title "God Bless the U.S.A." maybe the school should have asked the parents their thoughts before changing the lyrics to the song. They could have ask me since I am the writer of the song, which of course, I would have said you CAN'T change the lyrics at all or any part of the song!"

Are you believing that school?

Here we go again, more war on Christianity. You can remove God all you want, but the good news there is still a loving God and He lives.

This is one of the reasons our country is going to hell in a hand basket. Is it us, or has anyone else noticed that the more we take GOD out of things, the worse off our country gets. OUR country was founded on GOD.

When we hear the song "God Bless the U.S.A." We hear faith, pride and love for our great country.

Our final thoughts:

First, maybe Lee Greenwood should sue the school board for ruining his song. What is wrong with this country, do they HATE God?

When we were in grade school several years ago, we sang songs like "God Bless America" and "God Bless the USA" and how did we turn out? We're all far from perfect but we'd like to believe that we are responsible, kind, and compassionate.

It seems ever since the liberals and the atheists have been stripping God from everything, how are the kids turning out now a days? Violence has gone up in the public school system, teenage pregnancy has gone up, grades have dropped drastically, so is their plan working?

Kids are NOT getting a MORAL education, which IS a part of the education process.

This is Holy Week, the week that changed the world. If you choose not to believe in God, that is your choice. But don't force the majority who do believe in God, to remove his name or stop speaking his name just to please you.

Funny thing is, one day, God won't be ignored.

May God Bless America...

THE BIG BLUE NATION.....

Congratulations to Coach Calipari and the UK WILDCATS on a fantastic season. You are the NEW NCAA Champions.

We just love March Madness!