Watch for the Obama logo T-shirt on the big fat hick. It’s interesting AND he is NOT a Obama supporter. I also like all the old mean people in the video. It’s like a Tourette’s syndrome convention for seniors.

Troopergate unfolds today.

Proponents of Initiated Measure 11 would rather see these decisions made by big Government than by the women and families ofSouth Dakota, said Jan Nicolay, Co-Chair of the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families. The abortion ban would intervene between families and doctors and give the Government access to the medical records ofSouth Dakotans. It would criminalize doctors and put the Government in charge of determining appropriate medical care, said Nicolay.

The Campaign for Healthy Families is opposing the abortion ban becauseSouth Dakotansshould be able to make their own medical decisions without Government meddling.Though neutral in 2006, the South Dakota State Medical Association is also speaking out against Measure 11 as undue Government interference in the practice of medicine that would threaten doctors and patients.

The Campaigns new ad is entitled Government and may be viewed at the following link:

http://www.SDHealthyFamilies.org/blog/entry/new_tv_ad_government/

More here on the objection.

Mayor Munson seems to be up in arms over the sales tax decrease initiative (Argus Leader), which is no surprise, well it kinda is. It will have NO EFFECT on his budget and will have to be dealt with by the next mayor and council. By the time this takes effect, there will be at least 3 to 5 new councilors and a new mayor. Secondly Munson seems to be spinning the story,

Munson bristled at accusations that he hasn’t overseen responsible growth during his time at the helm, pointing to major street construction projects on 57th and 26th streets as recent examples.

“We planned Lewis & Clark for growth,” he said, referring to the water project. “Maybe under their scenario we don’t need Lewis & Clark. I think that’s crazy.”

First off, this decrease won’t take ANY money away from street construction (I’ll get to that later) and secondly Lewis & Clark is being paid by a loan the city took out that is being paid off from increased water rates, not sales tax. We also may receive money from the Federal Government (don’t hold your breath though, it seems neither presidential candidate is too interested in that). Like Rudy Guilliani and 9/11 everytime someone wants to cut the budget, Dave brings up Lewis & Clark. Cut the bull Dave.

As for street construction money being taken away, this is also a myth;

Officials warn that Sioux Falls will continue to lag on new road construction if the tax doesn’t go to a full cent. That, in turn, would hurt economic growth at a time when the national economy already is in precarious shape.Officials warn that Sioux Falls will continue to lag on new road construction if the tax doesn’t go to a full cent. That, in turn, would hurt economic growth at a time when the national economy already is in precarious shape.

It is merely $5 million dollars that will have to be cut from the Capital Improvement Budget (Basically a slush fund that pays for all the goodies (wants) in our city). In fact Munson mentions a great cut in the article.

Munson pointed out that McKennan Park next year is budgeted to receive $615,800 for upgrades.

Huh?! They just received upgrades this year already. Another example of wasteful spending.

And it seems councilor Costello went over to the dark side,

“They are fully within their rights to do what they are doing,” Costello added. “I personally would not sign that petition.”

Why wouldn’t you sign it Pat? I sign petitions all the time with stuff I don’t agree with. I signed the Initiative 11 petition, I signed Nader’s and Bob Barr’s petition to be on the ballot in South Dakota. I think it’s good to let the citizens decide. This is what a democracy is about. Do we want to let citizens decide on what they want to spend $5 million dollars on, or do we want 4 councilors, developers, special interests and a mayor decide?

I think we know the answer to that question.

OBAMA: Well, I am surprised that, you know, we’ve been seeing some pretty over-the-top attacks coming out of the McCain campaign over the last several days that he wasn’t willing to say it to my face.

Pallin’ around with domestic terrorists? Huh Sarah?

That Gov. Palin, when a Wasilla city council member, formed an alliance with some of the more radical far-right citizens in Wasilla and vicinity, particularly members of the secessionist Alaskan Independence Party who were allied with local John Birch Society activists. These activists played an important role in her election as Wasilla mayor in 1996.

Once mayor, one of Mrs. Palin’s first acts was to attempt to appoint one of these extremists (a man named Steve Stoll) to her own seat on the city council. This was a man with a history of disrupting city council meetings with intimidating behavior. She was blocked by a single city council member.

Afterward, Mrs. Palin fired the city’s museum director at the behest of this faction.

She fomented an ultimately successful effort to derail a piece of local gun-control legislation which would simply have prohibited the open carry of firearms into schools, liquor stores, libraries, courthouses and the like. The people recruited to shout this ordinance down included these same figures, notably the local AIP representative (who became the AIP’s chairman that same year).

She remained associated politically with the local AIP/Birch faction throughout her tenure as mayor on other issues, particularly a successful effort to amend the Alaska Constitution to prohibit local governments from issuing any local gun-control ordinances.

Will Obama be immune to the Bradley Effect?

This was on Rachel Maddow’s show last night and on her radio program. Interestingly they are saying the Bradley Effect worked in reverse on Obama in the primaries.

To be quite honest with you, I pretty much stopped listening to Pearl Jam after this album. Ten was so good that I was really surprised that VS. was better, but after that they kinda went downhill.

I think this review sums it up pretty good;

By E. Callaway

Pearl Jam has taken some pretty firm stances throughout their career on several social issues. Abortion, race relations, poverty, and the environment are just a few they have tackled throughout their time in the spotlight. You can get overtones of this social conscience in all other music. The concept of the broken home is also rather recurrent throughout their body of work.

“Vs.” is an extension of the aforementioned concepts. It is filled with amazing, and profoundly powerful, rock anthems. Songs like “Go,” “Dissident,” and “Leash” are great. “Dissident” did make its way to rock radio for some time. “Leash,” already mentioned above, is straight rock `n’ roll. The first single “Animal,” was a rather interesting choice for a single. Though I like the song, it isn’t exactly radio friendly.

Contrasting the rock anthems on the record was some very good melodic rock songs. The big single off of this record was “Daughter.” I never quite did get this song. But, nonetheless, it is pretty good. I think there are much better songs on the records than the ones that were released singles. “Indifference” a slow, bass laden slow song, has this “Twin Peaks” kind of feel to it. It is very cool. The song with the longest title I have ever heard in my life is one of the best songs: “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.”

This record is one of the most prolific works of its time. It held the record for the “most records sold in the first week of availability” for several years. Before the concept of internet presale, this record went platinum in just over a week. It is amazing and a must have for any Pearl Jam fan.

FYI. This year, it’s about number two. This year, it’s about number two. It’s about number two. It’s about number two.

I did this toon in response to an Amendment that councilor Staggers proposed on changing the language in a budget appropriation. He wanted it to state that raising property taxes is a ‘tax increase’ (which technically it is). The council was split, which surprised me, and Munson voted against the proposed (transparent) language. Very dissapointing.

Here it is from the minutes;

A motion to amend was made by Council Member Staggers and seconded by Council Member Anderson Jr. to amend the title of the ordinance to comply with City Ordinance 2-22 (d), to read “An Ordinance of the City of Sioux Falls, SD providing appropriations and the means of financing them which includes a property tax increase of 2.9% or $1,101,930 of tax levies for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2009″.

 

Vote to amend:  Roll Call:  Yeses, Litz, Staggers, Anderson, Jr., Beninga, 4.  Noes, Brown, Costello, Jamison, Knudson, 4.  Mayor Munson broke the tie with a no vote.  Motion Failed.