West Burlington IA News-Sports-Opinion

Revised estimates come in much worse

The Commerce Department, Friday, estimates the economy shrank 2.6 percent last year -- the steepest drop since 1946.

The unemployment rate also surged to 10.1 percent in October, a 26-year high.

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Photo by Sherry Kaestner

Des Moines County Fair Queen is Natalie DeBerg, daughter of Kyle and Nola DeBerg, from Burlington.

Falcon,

We can only hope that the Mexican Government will follow through with this action. This could be the first step to reverse the flow of illegal immigrants and companies crossing the border. This maybe the end of NAFTA and the new highway that is to be built(already done) that runs from the Mexico to Canada. Sounds good, but who's pocket is it benefiting?
http://www.nascocorridor.com/membersList.asp?page=1&od=&search=

El Diario (Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua) 7/27/10
Large Mexican union calls for boycott of U.S. products and breaking of diplomatic relations

Just prior to Arizona Law SB1070 going into effect, Mexico’s National Confederation of Social, Field Workers and Communal Farms Organizations announced a boycott of U.S. origin products. At a press conference, Sergio de Alba Avila, the organization’s president, stated that he will demand the Mexican government to break diplomatic relations with the United States if that anti-immigrant law goes into effect.

After defining his confederation as a center-left group, he added that its members will distribute lists in self service and department stores identifying U.S. products so that customers will not buy them. He also stated that they intend to mount a cybernetic protest by having internet users flood the state of Arizona’s web pages with messages against the law in question. They will also be sending electronic messages to the governor of the state of Arizona, as well as congressmen, senators and to the U.S. president.

He added that they will ask the Mexican Chancellor (Sec. of State,) Patricia Espinosa, to harden the Mexican government’s policy against the referenced law and, if necessary, to break relations with the United States if that law is applied against fellow nationals. Further, that they might join protest actions being called for by other groups of migrants, such as the blockage of international crossing points, among others.

-Alfredo the Brain

China's perspective on Obama

Falcon,

We have people in our country who are out of work and all we can do is continue unemployment benefits. The President and his stimulus bill was to create jobs and to save jobs. If you stop and think about what he said he was telling the truth and he has created jobs for millions of people.

As we have watched from the sidelines in the United States looking for new jobs we have (To Quote Obama) acted stupidly. We are only looking in our backyards, towns, cities, and states. Even though some look in other areas they are willing to move to find work. Most people are not getting the big picture. The United States sends billions of dollars out of the country to help create jobs and to support other countries. We talk about imports from other countries yet we send them billions to help send those goods to the United States.

We sent large numbers of our jobs to other countries with NAFTA, aid to other 3rd world countries and the unions screamed foul. What I have not been able to put together is why they continue to support political canidates who send them out of the country.

Obama is getting to finish off the textile industy that has not yet been sent to Southeast Asia.

El Nuevo Diario (Managua, Nicaragua) 7-27-10
The Secretary of Labor of the United States visits to talk of social justice

Managua – The Secretary of labor of the United States, Hilda Solis, arrived in Managua today to speak about a program to improve labor relations and competition in the supply chain, especially in the textile industry.
Solis, the first Latina presidential cabinet member in the history of the United States was born in the United States from a Mexican father and a Nicaraguan mother. She will be interviewed during her three day stay concerning her Nicaraguan blood.
The ambassador of the United States in Nicaragua, Robert Callahan, recently announced that Hilda Solis will visit the Provence of Jinotega, whence her mother originated and where family members still reside. The diplomat announced that Solis will participate in a march to eradicate juvenile labor and that Nicaragua can count on help from Washington.

-Alfredo the brain

Des Moines County Sheriff
Press Release

On Monday, 07-26-10, at approximately 2:15 PM,

Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a tug boat operator had located a body floating in the Mississippi River on the Iowa side of the channel across from Oquawka, Illinois.

Deputies responded and recovered the body of a male subject floating by the Casey Barrow boat landing. Investigators are following leads of the possible identity. Through initial investigation it appears the body had been in the water for approximately two to three weeks. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday morning, 07-28-10.

Big Brother Strikes Again

Iowa motorists will increasingly face radar-enabled cameras as they motor along Iowa's interstate highways.

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Falcon,

Obama's new, Attorney General, Eric Holder, has already said this is one of his major issues. He does not believe the 2nd Amendment gives individuals the right to bear arms. This takes literally 2 clicks to complete. Please vote on this gun issue question with USA Today. It will only take a few seconds of your time. Then pass the link on to all the pro gun folks you know. Hopefully these results will be published later this month. This upcoming year will become critical for gun owners with the Supreme Court's accepting the District of Columbia case against the right for individuals to bear arms.

Here's what you need to do:

First - vote on this one.

Second - send it to other folks and have THEM vote - then we will see if the results get published.

The Question is:

"Does the Second Amendment give individuals the right to bear arms?"

Click on the link below and PLEASE vote Yes!

USATODAY.com - Quick Question

-Bill of Rights Man

Falcon,

I'm Glad to see that our 51st state has taken a stand on Arizona's Governor Brewer and SB1070. I feel since so many states want to simulate the law and enforce the laws regarding illegal border crossings that the 51st state should weigh in as well.

We are a nation of laws unto ourselves. As Americans we have a right to stand for or against an issue that directly affects our freedoms and liberties. If another country can not control the illegal activity of its citizens it is the responsibility of their leaders to make things better.

So many countries blame the United States of America for their problems and complain how they want us out of their lives. This seems like the simplest solution to just. Sometimes leaving people to their own demise will eventually see that they need others to aid their society and economy.

Countries who did not want or need our help. Vietnam, Philippines, Turkey, Egypt, Columbia, Russia, China, Argentina, etc;. These are all countries that the United States had broken ties with and no longer dealt with them. Over Time we are approached by these counties to mend ties and open trade to our country.

My point is to stop trade with Mexico, stop vacationing, reverse NAFTA and stop Government Motors being made in Mexico.
Below is the feeling of the political stance on the United States.

La Cronica de Hoy (Mexico City) 7/22/10
An accolade for Mexico’s senate president

In its opinion page, this paper gave the “Thumbs Up” of the day to Carlos Navarrete, president of Mexico’s senate, for having had the presidents of the parliaments of 11 other countries join him in a protest against the AZ Law SB1070, deeming it to be racist and xenophobic. The senator made a call on Americans to bring about a reform that may permit migrants to regularize their status with full rights and obligations.

http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=m3report.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cronica.com.mx%2Fopinion.php&sref=http%3A%2F%2Fm3report.wordpress.com%2F

-Alfredo the Brain

The Chairman of the Federal Reserve went before Congress last week, set aside his rose-colored glasses, dispensed with most of his sugar-coated platitudes and made some hard-hitting statements about the U.S. economy.

Bernanke on jobs:

“This is the worst labor market since the Great Depression.”

Bernanke on housing:

“The market remains weak, with the overhang of vacant or foreclosed houses weighing on home prices and construction.”

Bernanke on fears about the future:

“Most … viewed uncertainty about the outlook for growth and unemployment as greater than normal, and the majority saw the risks to growth as weighted to the downside.”

Bernanke on tight credit for small businesses:

“Bank loans outstanding have continued to contract. Small businesses, which depend importantly on bank credit, have been particularly hard hit.”

And never forget: All this is coming from a man whose job invariably makes him extremely reluctant to admit to negative trends in any sector at any time — if Bernanke is saying things are bad, you can bet your bottom dollar they’re actually far worse.

Read more here

Check out photos of a low altitude CF-18 jet crashing in Alberta, Canada. Pilot ejected and survived the crash.

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Walmart plans on attaching electronic ID tags to track individual pairs of jeans and underwear, the first step in a system some say raises privacy concerns.

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Check out the photos.

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Obama said Secretary Tom Vilsack rushed to judgment when he dismissed Shirley Sherrod from the Department of Agriculture amid charges of racism.

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As of midnight Dec. 31, the death tax returns — at a rate of 55% on estates of $1 million or more.

The lowest bracket for the personal income tax moves up 50% — to 15% from 10%. The next lowest bracket — 25% — will rise to 28%, and the old 28% bracket will be 31%. At the higher end, the 33% bracket is pushed to 36% and the 35% bracket becomes 39.6%.

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Northern border:

The Pacific Northwest has one of the largest concentrations of Southeast Asian population in the United States of America. We are currently looking at all of the illegal immigrants that are crossing our southern border. We have great concern about the mass amounts of weapons, gangs, and other nationalities with possible terrorist ties.

We have increased our security along our northern border but is it ready for the threats.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/migrant-ship-may-be-headed-for-bc/article1644307/?cmpid=rss1

The southern border:

Mexico has announced that it cannot handle the problem on its own and maybe thinking of just letting the United States deal with it. Does this change their thinking on Arizona’s new immigration Law?

El Diario de Juarez (Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua) 7/19/10
Mexico cannot stop narcotics on its own

Geneva, Switzerland – The President of the Mexican Senate, Carlos Navarrete, confirmed today that his country cannot stop drugs exiting into the United States and the problem needs to be confronted jointly with the United States.

“Mexico needs to quickly make a crucial decision to suspend the bloody confrontations that are happening now and to initiate a bi-lateral agreement with the United States in which the United States completely assumes its responsibilities,” (in the war on drugs), Navarrete said before the Third World Conference of the Heads of Parliaments that commenced on Monday in Geneva.

“Mexico confronts a serious situation like no other in history since the 1910 Mexican Revolution. In just the last three and a half years we have had 25,000 people killed in the struggle against narcotrafficking,” explained Navarrete.

The violence brought by the drug cartels has unleashed a battle for control of the drug routes into the United States that has left 7,000 dead just in 2010, and since 2006, has risen to 24,800 dead despite the deployment of more than 50,000 members of the military in the federal operation against narcotics traffickers.

“It is a struggle that has exhausted the Government and the Armed Forces but has shown no reduction of the consumption of drugs or the availability of drugs to the North American society,” stated Navarrete.

“It is a problem that must be addressed in unison between the United States and Mexico and the drug producing countries. We do not have the means of resolving this problem. The incremental increase in violence weighs heavily upon our nation,” said Navarrete.

http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=m3report.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diario.com.mx%2Fnota.php%3Fnotaid%3Dd336425d83849b47ab43ac98da543a41&sref=http%3A%2F%2Fm3report.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F20%2Fvessel-with-two-hundred-plus-asians-spotted-off-guatemala%2F

-Alfredo The Brain

Paved roads, historical emblems of American achievement, are being torn up across rural America and replaced with gravel or other rough surfaces as counties struggle with tight budgets and dwindling state and federal revenue. State money for local roads was cut in many places amid budget shortfalls.

In Michigan, at least 38 of the 83 counties have converted some asphalt roads to gravel in recent years. Last year, South Dakota turned at least 100 miles of asphalt road surfaces to gravel. Counties in Alabama and Pennsylvania have begun downgrading asphalt roads to cheaper chip-and-seal road, also known as “poor man’s pavement.” Some counties in Ohio are simply letting roads erode to gravel.

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Hundreds of residents of one of the poorest municipalities in Los Angeles County shouted in protest last night as tensions rose over a report that the city’s manager earns an annual salary of almost $800,000.

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Falcon:

There is probably so much government waste at Ft. Madison Prison the general public would be shocked should they get the dollar figures.

State government is known for waste upon waste where people earn gross salaries for doing nothing but sitting on their butt’s day in and day out. I heard in the social services department there were so many middle management personnel it was to the point of ridicules; how much money is actually being wasted in the DHS?

The DNR is about as wasteful as any one department could be with one agent getting stopped for drunk driving and then having a driver appointed to haul his or her butt around when he or she lost their drivers license. Again, if the public knew what was going on within Iowa government I would think heads would roll? However; being government everything is shoved under the rug lest the public find out just what goes on behind their backs with the press hiding the facts as reinforcement for their wrong doing.

Our local rag has hidden the facts of what goes on around Burlington with public servants for years now as though these law breakers were some sort of sacred cows. Had the local rag done their job of reporting the local news we probably wouldn’t have such a den of losers running the city as is now the case. By hiding the facts the local paper is just as guilty as the person committing the crime.
Between Burlington and West Burlington we probably have the worst public servants in Iowa along with the most censored newspaper in Iowa. Our paper may be the oldest paper in Iowa but it’s also the most censored and restrictive in Iowa.

-Concerned

Thanks Mediacom. You let us see and hear parts of one of the greatest high school football movies ever. Fortunately most of us can remember " Remember the Titans."

-PC

Proud Wife

I applaud you and your support for your husband. It sounds as if your spouse takes pride in his work and acutely gets up of his duff and does some work.

It’s sad to say that there are many workers who sit in an office and do no more than they have to. I am sure that your husband can tell you who those correctional officers are by name. How many times has he witnessed staff abuse an inmate or break items which belong to inmates just for fun. Which staff state I get paid for what I might have to do and then do nothing to prevent problems. Staff who are crying because they think they are being picked on by other staff. Then an investigation has to tie up and waste time because they didn’t want to do a job. What about staff that slow walk to the time clock to get overtime, but yet will not work it when called. Waste in ISP I think so.

Now you have management who are just as bad. You have some who think they are gods and some of them hold that same value at home.

There are those who want to control every move that staff make and make staff feel small because they can. Some who do no more than they have to and push the blame to someone else when things go wrong. These are the same people who are currently trying to gain favor with the new warden. (Political butt kissing) All they can do is find fault with everyone else and yet most of them never worked as a correctional officer or walked in their shoes.

Then there are the bullies. There is staff on both sides which need to be cleaned out. The only problem with this you cannot complain locally or in Des Moines because it will come back to bite you.

The union states they have the governor in their pocket and they do and they are one of the bullies.

Then you have staff who are there to do a job that they were hired to do. They do an excellent job and carry the load for many staff. If you could rid the garbage out of the staff things would run smoother and you could get by with less staff. These are the true staff of ISP and get no recognition for what they do.

To answer your question: Are they over paid? Yes! The union continues to reach and receive dollars that they have not earned. The more your husband makes the more the union takes. They have no concern for your husband. If they did they would put up of their money to help protect staff and provide their own life insurance policies for members without cost.

When you have staff that work at ISP and make more than most police chiefs in small towns across Iowa this is a problem. Police officers have to maintain a higher standard of training and professionalism than a correctional officer yet who receives the higher pay.

-25+years

The Treasury Department failed to consider the economic fallout when it told General Motors and Chrysler to quickly shutter many dealerships as part of government-led bankruptcies, a federal watchdog found.

A report released Sunday by the special inspector general for the government's bailout program raised questions about whether the Obama administration's auto task force considered the job losses from the closings while pressuring the companies to reduce costs.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Obama closed dealership for political reasons not economic reasons. Obama was quick to close dealerships owned by republicans. Five times as many republicans lost their dealerships, compared to those owned by democrats.

-Falcon

Falcon:

Statistics are not always 100% because there are always those that fall through the cracks but on average State of Iowa employees earn 45% more than do private sector employees when performing the same job. On the same token it is well publicized that Iowa is the number one state when it comes to government employees. Iowa has the largest spread between its private sector employees and government employees out of all 50 states.

No one indicated Proud’s husband did not earn his money or faced abuse while at work but I do believe he is well compensated based on his work hazards otherwise he wouldn’t have stayed at the prison. Many people have jobs they dislike but the money they earn is probably more than they could get doing something else and that keeps them on the job.

The average pay for a correctional officer in Ft. Madison is $61,000 now if Proud’s husband has a college degree and after 20 years is only earning $60k he probably should have moved on years ago because a person without a degree working in industry here in Burlington probably is not earning anywhere near $61k dollars per year. A production worker making antenna’s here in Burlington, without overtime would be lucky to earn $30k a year.

Hell, we have two clerks here in Burlington that work for the city or possibly the county that have a total combined income of about $140k per year not counting benefits. Is this government or private? Needless to say its government and I doubt a private executive secretary in Burlington makes $45k tops.

I bet there are plenty of people that would like the job Proud’s husband has and earn his average salary. Proud should check around and see what other people earn around town that is not a government employee. I can’t believe how anyone can live the good life in Burlington when Iowa is known as a low paying private sector state but on the same token the highest paid government workers reside in Iowa when compared to Iowa’s private sector.

One thing I forgot to mention is that usually the higher salaries involve more education, responsibility, accountability and possible risk. Maybe that’s why the average pay for a correctional officer is more than an antenna assembler or a housecleaning person at the hospital.

-Disgusted

Falcon,

I have been out of town for the last two weeks on vacation with my family in Colorado. Cell phones and Internet connections can be described as “iffy” when you are enjoying life at tree line.

Imagine my surprise when I first logged on to my WB City Council mailbox and noticed that I had 85 new messages in the last 4 days.

My first thought was that the citizens of West Burlington so enjoyed our July 4th celebration that they were heaping me with praises and gratitude for my small part.

It was either that, or, our mayor had been misquoted yet again.

Turns out it was the latter…damnit!

Most all the e-mails I received started out like this…

Dear Councilman (fill in name here),

“I am writing to you today to express my concern and disappointment about West Burlington's ordinance banning firearms…”

An obvious form letter, created by an NRA staff member, with specific instructions on how to reach myself, the four other WB City Council Members, and of course our long serving mayor, Hans Trousil.

I had to do some research from high in the Rockies to even learn that we had a “municipal building gun restriction”. Turns out our city adopted one, without much fuss, back in 2002. The council chambers is a public forum where opinions are expressed, tempers sometimes flare and I for one, don’t want anyone there to be packing (except Police Chief Oblein or his appointee). I wasn’t at all aware that this policy was indeed in place, but I am glad that it is. If someone enters with a weapon, I want our police personnel to know what course of action to take without deliberation or inaction. If someone enters council chambers with malice and a handgun I want them stopped immediately, thank you!

Anyhow, a Des Moines Register reporter misquoted Hans (shocker) and had him kind of calling gun rights supporters “nut jobs”. Hans never did that, but the NRA sounded the alarm anyone and filled my mailbox!

The “official” NRA letter talks about their members’ concern over the definition of so called municipal buildings in the “Weapon Free Ordinance”. Specifically the NRA doesn’t think WB should ban weapons from such crucial spaces in town as “public bathrooms, parking garages, bus stop overhangs, public rest stops…etc”

As soon as I locate these areas of concern I will report back.
Until then, I must go unpack.

-Dan West

Dan,

-Falcon

Dear Falcon,

I have to respond to Disgusted.

My husband has worked for the State of Iowa for 25 years in Ft Madison as a correctional Officer. During that time, he has been physically attacked (alot,) Blood and feces thrown at him, verbally attacked, sued, broken up lots of fights, works all holidays including Christmas , works weekends and denied vacations. Working at the prison he had heard and seen more than Disgusted could imagine. Does "Disgusted" get his weekends and holidays off? My husband guards the murders, rapists, child molesters.....you get the idea.

Perhaps Disgusted could go and work at the prisons, and do my husband's job with his co workers so my husband can go on vacation with his family as he is denied alot. (not enough employees). The state employees at the prisons and other facility's work their butt off to protect the civilians outside the walls. Or better yet, let's have the inmates released when my husband and his co workers would to take vacations and spend the holidays with their families.

Does my husband make that much money? No, there is private sector jobs in this county that pays more than he makes. Why does he put up with the abuse from the inmates? Its called a job, which pays our bills, supports his family, puts food on the table.

We pay taxes, pay medical insurance, utilities, and all other bills like the private sector. It's called a JOB! Someone has to do it.

Do not LUMP all state employees together if you have a gripe with certain departments. Oh I almost forgot to tell you, my husband and co workers also had to take unpaid days this year to balance the budget. Also state employees lost their job just like it happens in the private sector!

And one more thing, has Disgusted ever applied for a state employee job? If not, perhaps he should so he can put up with the crap the state employees do.

Signed
Proud Wife

Falcon:

Your viewers should read the following report issued by the Public Interest Institute of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa

This report is more than enough to make most Iowans sick to their stomachs to say the least. Just another reason Iowa taxes are extreme and places most Iowans in need of help to survive.

We have the population being robbed by state employees who earn far more than the average Iowan will ever earn while doing less. Iowa state employees are nothing more than wards of the taxpayer living the good life at taxpayer expense.

It just sickening to realize how government employees steal from the private sector in order to live the good life without the accountability or responsibility of private sector employees.

http://www.limitedgovernment.org/publications/pubs/studies/ps-09-9.pdf

-Disgusted

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IOWANS HONOR THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Iowa ADA Planning Committee and the VISTA Civil Rights Project of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission would like to announce four exciting events taking place in July. Parallel to other celebrations across the state, these events are part of a yearlong ADA recognition campaign by the Iowa ADA Planning Committee, which is composed of AmeriCorps VISTAs, government agencies, disability organizations, and other private and public sector groups. Working with state government, businesses, minor league baseball parks, and disability advocates, this partnership is facilitating efforts to celebrate what the ADA has accomplished and to generate dialogue concerning what is has yet to achieve.

On Wednesday, July 21st, the Iowa Cubs will host an ADA Night at the Ballpark. Beginning at 4:30pm, there will be a pre-game reception and a performance by the New Visions Dance Troupe on the grassy area in front of Gate D. Disability organizations will have tables at each gate, handing out information and ADA temporary tattoos. VSA Iowa will provide face painting and spin-art. Minor league ballparks in Cedar Rapids, the Quad Cities, Sioux City, and Waterloo will be holding similar ADA celebrations.

On Saturday, July 24th, VSA Iowa and the Iowa Civil Rights Commission will team up for a booth at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. Visitors will be able to decorate free bags, sponsored by the Prader-Willi Association of Iowa, filled with information about services offered for people with disabilities and their families.

Also on July 24th, from 10:00AM - 2:00PM, the ADA Planning Committee and the VISTA Civil Rights Project of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission are holding an anniversary celebration on the West Terrace of the Capitol. Federal and state elected officials, advocates, and Iowans who were present at the actual signing of the ADA will be speaking. This will be a free, family-friendly event open to the public. Attendees may pick up information about disability organizations and engage in interactive, educational activities for all ability levels. VSA Iowa artists will be providing art and entertainment. The Olmstead Consumer Taskforce, Principal Financial Group, the Iowa Department of Human Services, and Relay Iowa will serve as sponsors for this event. The rain location for this event will be the State Historical Building.

On Monday, July 26th at the State Capitol, there will be a series of workshops and trainings on various disability topics for employers on working with people with disabilities. In addition, the Iowa Department of Human Services will hold a workshop and public forum on a new mental health plan for Iowa. "As someone who has lived her whole life with a disability, it is important for us to remember these last 20 years, and use these celebrations to educate the public," comments Nancy Witt, from Reinbeck and a commissioner with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. To learn more about these exciting events, activities planned in other parts of Iowa, and the entire ADA recognition campaign, please visit http://www.adaiowa.webs.com .

Crystal Schrader, VISTA
Iowa Civil Rights Commission
Grimes State Office Building
400 E. 14th St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
www.state.ia.us/government/crc
(515) 281-3041
crystal.schrader@iowa.gov

Falcon:

The only “Nut Job” crawling out of his den is the mayor of West Burlington. He was made a laughing stock by talk radio in the Quad Cities yesterday on WOC Radio.

West Burlington citizens should be ashamed of their mayor who puts his foot in his mouth on a daily basis. I think he tries to emulate Obama which just doesn’t cut it in this hell hole of Southeastern Iowa.

-Sickofhim

The financial reform bill expected to clear Congress this week is chock-full of provisions that have little to do with the financial crisis but cater to the long-standing agendas of labor unions and other Democratic interest groups.

Principal among them is a measure to make it easier for unions, environmental groups and other activist organizations that hold shares to put their representatives on the boards of directors of every corporation in the United States.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon,

Americans are lead to believe that the only people crossing our borders are of Hispanic descent and are only coming to the United States for a better life. For some this may be true do to the 28% unemployment in the Central American Countries. There is a larger percentage that is engaged in an illegal activity that uses the poorer population to do their work so they can keep the blood from their hands.

I make this point for the fact that more than Hispanic people are crossing the southern borders that should give you even more concern than those looking for work. I believe we should seal our boarders and allow those who want come and work legally or to become an American citizen.

My concerns come from the actions of the cowardly actions of a terrorist group in Uganda. Below are some quotes from stories that will make you think deeper about our borders.

“A Somali terrorist group tied to Al Qaeda reveled in the tears and blood they spilled in Uganda as they claimed responsibility for simultaneous bombings that tore through World Cup parties in the country's capital Monday night, killing 74 people.” http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/07/11/uganda-bombs-explode-sites-deaths-feared-somali-militia-blamed/

El Mundo (San Salvador, El Salvador) 7/12/10

Ten Africans detained in El Salvador
A Salvadorian was detained yesterday when he was caught guiding a group of 10 Africans on the Pan American Highway near the town of Verapaz.

David Reyes Larios, 35, was charged with the crime of Human Trafficking.
The National Civil Police confirmed that Reyes Larios was apprehended at a police checkpoint.

The Africans were traveling in a microbus. Among them were four from Somalia, five from Eritrea and one from Nigeria. The Police said all of them presented personal identification.

Police Investigators determined that Reyes is part of an international human trafficking operation.

The Africans were destined to the United States.

http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=m3report.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elmundo.com.sv%2Fnacionales-%2F1026-la-policia-captura-a-diez-africanos-indocumentados.html&sref=http%3A%2F%2Fm3report.wordpress.com%2Fpage%2F2%2F

-Alfredo the Brian

Falcon:

Our federal government has no excuse for not enforcing our immigration laws already on the books.

The real problem is not legal immigration but illegal crossing of our border into California, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. It so happens most of the illegal traffic is Mexican and that’s just the way it is regardless of profiling or whatever, they are plain as day illegal, period.

There is no such thing as comprehensive immigration reform. Illegal aliens are not considered immigrates in my book but criminals in our country by default and nothing more than cheap slaves let in to be exploited by greedy corporations and others who contribute money to the crooks in Washington who in turn are destroying our country and lining their pockets.

Anyone regardless of nationality should be thrown out of America and stay out until they can enter legally.

It’s not only the border states anymore but the entire country is being overrun with uneducated people from Mexico along with those from Central and South America. That’s fine for the democrats who are dependent on uneducated people to enhance their voter base regardless of how it destroys our entire country through the dummying down process it creates.

Just who does Washington represent, do you think it’s you?

-Disgusted

The Obama administration's rapid release of 10 Russian intelligence officers removed the prospect of a public trial revealing embarrassing facts about Russian influence operations, like the targeting of a key Democratic Party financier close to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon:

Here’s a list of Bilderberger people in the Nobama Regime back in 2009:

The Obama Administration

National Security Advisor
Gen. James L. Jones
Bilderberg Group
Council on Foreign Relations
Trilateral Commission

Deputy National Security Advisor
Thomas Donilon
Council on Foreign Relations

Director of National Intelligence
Admiral Dennis C. Blair
Bilderberg Group
Trilateral Commission
Council on Foreign Relations

Secretary of Defense
Robert Gates
Bilderberg Group
Trilateral Commission
Council on Foreign Relations

Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton
Bilderberg Group
Council on Foreign Relations
Married to Trilateral Commission member, Bill Clinton

Deputy Secretary of State
James Steinberg
Bilderberg Group
Trilateral Commission
Council on Foreign Relations

State Department Special Envoy
Richard M. Haass
Bilderberg Group
Trilateral Commission
President, Council on Foreign Relations

State Department Special Envoy
Richard C. Holbrooke
Bilderberg Group
Trilateral Commission
Council on Foreign Relations

Secretary of Treasury
Timothy Geithner
Bilderberg Group
Trilateral Commission

Chairman, Economic Recovery Committee
Paul Volcker
Bilderberg Group
Trilateral Commission
Council on Foreign Relations

Ambassador to the United Nations
Susan Rice
Trilateral Commission

State Department Special Envoy
Henry Kissinger
Bilderberg Group
Trilateral Commission
Council on Foreign Relations

Presidential Advisor
Alan Greenspan
Bilderberg Group
Trilateral Commission
Council on Foreign Relations

-Concerned

Falcon,

This past week, in response to an NRA letter opposing the City of West Burlington’s “firearm ban” ordinance, Mayor Trousil said: “That’s too bad… they need to sit in our chairs and worry about these nut jobs that go around with guns.” Mayor Trousil thinks that Iowans, who decide to exercise their rights and lawfully carry or possess a firearm to defend themselves and their family, are “nut jobs”

Des Moines Register - West Burlington gun ban violates State Law

-Law abiding citizen

Falcon:

Fifty-one percent of Americans polled agree with the Arizona Immigration law while only 35 percent are for the government lawsuit against Arizona.

Again the Nobama Regime goes against American wishes and pursues a lawsuit against reason and the American people. Nobama has an agenda that is really nothing more than a voter registration scheme having nothing to do with immigration.

What Arizona has is an illegal immigration problem and not a legal immigration problem. Arizona has a problem because the government just has no stomach for enforcing our legal immigration laws already on the books,

It’s as simple at that. All Nobama looks at is the voting potential of making all these criminals citizens even though probably 90 percent of them have no education at all which is a requirement for forming a democratic voting block.

Just why does the United States need all these uneducated tax supported illegal criminals in our country, how about answering that Nobama. Iowa alone squandered in the area of $350 million of our tax dollars on them last year and I would suggest Iowa institute an Arizona law before we’re over run with these non-American people.

Apparently the government wants these people here to be tax supported slaves even though the American public doesn’t want them here. So; just who does Nobama and the democrats represent in this country the American citizen or the illegal wetback slaves? I think most American citizens know the answer to that question.

VOTE THEM OUT IN NOVEMBER

Dissatisfied

Falcon,

Strange how the border issues of the United States has all fallen on a governor of the state of Arizona. Governor Brewer along with the majority of its citizens firmly believe they have to take a stand that the U.S. Government has failed to do regardless who the president has been for these past many years. There have been many polls taken on what people think of the issue across the United States of America and they all have ended the same 95% stand with Arizona.

We hear on the news how we will be racial profiling and that we are being unfair to those who cross our borders without permission.

The Mexico Senate chastises us in the country of Germany. Our Secretary of State announces in Peru the lawsuit has been filed by the DOJ. Mexico takes a harder stance with illegal entrance to their country

Sunday 7/11/10

El Heraldo (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) and El Diario de Hoy (San Salvador, El Salvador) 7/10/10

Hondurans resume tough trip toward the US
Arriaga, Chiapas, Mexico – With fear and uncertainty, a little more than 800 migrants board the train to continue their trip to the US. They have been delayed by the torrential rains in the area that have suspended operations of the rail lines. To avoid the abuses and humiliations against such migrants, their trip has been monitored by a group of agencies that includes the Salvadoran Consulate, who will observe their trip up to the state line of Oaxaca. Before leaving Chiapas, the governor ordered water, food and medicine for the stranded travelers. Central Americans’ trip through Mexico is fraught with dangers of kidnappings, robberies, beatings and other abuses, noted a local priest in charge of their temporary shelter.

http://www.elheraldo.hn/Sucesos/Ediciones/2010/07/10/Noticias/Hondurenos-reanudan-viaje-de-dolor-hacia-EUA

This is just the latest group to head towards the United States, but they have to travel the torrid country of Mexico in fear of their lives.

Not only do we fight the illegal immigrants crossing the borders but also all of the drugs that head towards the United States.

Monday 7/12/10

El Diario de Hoy (San Salvador, El Salvador) and Prensa Libre (Guatemala) 7/11/10

Narco-submarine intercepted off Guatemalan coast

The Guatemalan Navy intercepted a narco-submarine off the Pacific coast carrying a cargo of at least five tons of cocaine en route to the US. The Navy, in conjunction with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) intercepted the boat, measuring 17 meters in length, and arrested the four-man crew. A spokesman for the Guatemalan military said the boat had a sleeping compartment, an engine room and cargo space. It was similar to another boat located in October 2009 about 110 miles off the Guatemalan coast loaded with 10 tons of cocaine.

http://www.prensalibre.com/noticias/droga-narcosubmarino_0_296370476.html
-Alfredo The Brain

Falcon:

I see where there’s a movement on to up the Social Security age to 70 which is okay and at the same time congressional pensions should also be raised to 70. This crap of having laws for the public and then another set for government is wrong and any law affecting the public should also cover congress and all employees of the federal government. People elected to office including the president should not get lifetime pensions either and should only receive what they’ve earned in government. If a congressman servers only one term he or she receives no pension and on up the line. Maybe after three terms they get a pension but not their full salary or anything near that amount. Government should not be making people wards of the taxpayer just because they worked for the government.

Absolutely no one should receive retirement benefits until age 70 period, no matter what, except for those having private retirement funds. No government pensions until 70 and no SS until 70 sounds good to me. As the death age grows so should the SS benefit age.

-Agreeable

When Iowa landlords walk away, taxpayers get the bill.

Government regulation, property taxes and mortgage payments killing rentals in Iowa.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon,

I THINK IT IS REMARKABLE THAT WITHIN A WEEK OF TIGER WOODS CRASHING HIS ESCALADE, THE PRESS FOUND EVERY WOMAN WITH WHOM TIGER HAS HAD AN AFFAIR IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WITH PHOTOS, TEXT MESSAGES, RECORDED PHONE CALLS, ETC. AND, THEY NOT ONLY KNEW THE CAUSE OF THE FAMILY FIGHT, BUT THEY EVEN KNEW IT WAS A WEDGE FROM HIS GOLF BAG THAT HIS WIFE USED TO BREAK OUT THE WINDOWS IN THE ESCALADE. NOT ONLY THAT, THEY KNEW WHICH WEDGE!

AND EACH AND EVERY DAY, THEY GAVE AMERICA MORE UPDATES ON HIS SEX-REHAB STAY, HIS WIFE'S PLANS FOR DIVORCE, AND THE DATES AND TOURNAMENTS HE WILL PLAY IN.

OBAMA HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, AND THIS SAME PRESS:

STILL CANNOT FIND ANY OF HIS CHILDHOOD FRIENDS OR NEIGHBORS,

OR LOCATE ANY OF OBAMA'S COLLEGE PAPERS OR GRADES,

OR HOW HE PAID FOR A HARVARD EDUCATION,

OR WHICH COUNTRY ISSUED HIS VISA TO TRAVEL TO PAKISTAN IN THE 1980'S,

OR BARRY SORETORO OR EVEN MICHELLE OBAMA'S PRINCETON THESIS ON RACISM.

THEY JUST CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THEM.

YET THE PUBLIC STILL TRUSTS THAT SAME PRESS TO GIVE THEM THE WHOLE TRUTH !

TRULY REMARKABLE !!!

-Tired of it

Editor's note: Thanks for sending us your emails. But please don't send anymore emails written entirely in CAPS. It makes your message hard to read.

Source for the unemployment figures: a spreadsheet taken yesterday from the Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Republican period: January 1995-December 2006. Democrat period: January 2007-June 2010.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon,

It was noted that the City of West Burlington may be having another business locating within its city limits. The location will be across from the Wal Mart store on land owned by Charles Walsh. The statement was stated that it would create up to 30 jobs with a pay range from $25,000 to $100,000 per year. The city would also look into tax abatement up to $ 300,000 for 3 years to help bring in the business to the community.

Some in the community will claim how it will hurt the schools since they will not be getting the tax money. Well they are not getting that money know. When was the last time the school lowered their tax needs? But that is not even the current issue.

I have heard some people in the community already complaining about how all of that concrete will add to the community flooding problem. Less than 24 hours after the news broke people are complaining about an issue that does not even have an answer to what caused the problem.

Members of the community may be in for a surprise when they find out that their home was adding to the problem. Some residents who are aware that they should not pump storm and ground water into the sanitary storm sewer still are doing so. It was already noted that some of the newer homes (last 40 years) have their foundation drain tile tied into the storm sewer.

But do not chastise a new business wanting to locate with in our community before you know the plan they have in place to help control this issue.

-Alfredo The Brain

Falcon:

Lately there has been a blitz of auto insurance ads on TV by State Farm, Allstate, Progressive and Geico to name a few.

Your viewers should take a look at the following web page to try and sort out the lies perpetuated in the ads:

Auto insurance ads not all they seem to be on clarkhoward.com

Be sure to read the real life comments by scrolling down through the article.

-Wondering

Falcon,

A thought about death & taxes: Taxes keep going up but death never gets any worse.

-Taxed too much

"[I]n this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
--Benjamin Franklin

Falcon:

Did the Hawk Eye even mention the Freedom Rally in Dankwardt Park on Saturday? I imagine the Hawk Eye celebrates May Day before it would a non-liberal, real American event honoring the 4th of July.

We’ll see what they print coming in November after the election cycle is over and the Democrats leave Washington with their tails between their legs.

-Dissatisfiedwiththem

Watch the video

Dow Repeats Great Depression Pattern

Investors fear rising risk of US regional defaults

Barack Obama: The great jobs killer
It's time to call Obama what he is: The Great Jobs Killer. With his massive spending and tax hikes -- rewarding big government and big unions, while punishing taxpayers and business owners -- Obama has killed jobs, he has killed motivation to create new jobs, he has killed the motivation to invest in new businesses, or expand old ones. With all this killing, Obama should be given the top spot on the FBI's Most Wanted List.

Obama Approval 46.7%, Disapprove 46.4%

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

The Burlington Tea Party patriots are having a rally at the Dankwardt Park shelter house, off Madison Avenue, at 10AM Saturday.

Music, speeches, Michael Ernst portraying John Adams. Fun and a good cause.

The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division improperly spent tens of thousands of dollars on artwork, leather chairs, bicycles, a camper, high-definition televisions and other products during the past four years, according to state auditors. The agency also spent millions to renovate its offices without going through the proper bidding process.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon,

What happen to the sports columns and pictures?

-Sports gal

Our sports photographer/writer is terribly busy on the homefront this summer. Hopefully he will have more free time this fall. We miss him.

-Falcon

In just six months, the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect. They will hit families and small businesses in three great waves on January 1, 2011:

Personal income tax rates will rise.
Higher taxes on marriage and family.
The return of the Death Tax.
Higher tax rates on savers and investors.

Second Wave: Obamacare

There are over twenty new or higher taxes in Obamacare. Several will first go into effect on January 1, 2011. They include:

The “Medicine Cabinet Tax”
The “Special Needs Kids Tax”
The HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike.

Third Wave: The Alternative Minimum Tax and Employer Tax Hikes

When Americans prepare to file their tax returns in January of 2011, they’ll be in for a nasty surprise—the AMT won’t be held harmless, and many tax relief provisions will have expired. The major items include:

The AMT will ensnare over 28 million families, up from 4 million last year.

Small business expensing will be slashed and 50% expensing will disappear.

Taxes will be raised on all types of businesses.

Tax Benefits for Education and Teaching Reduced.

Charitable Contributions from IRAs no longer allowed.

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE

Falcon:

Someone should inform our “Stretch the Meaning” president that the Statute of Liberty has nothing to do with immigration at all and wasn’t met to have anything to do with immigration.

She is called Lady Liberty and her light shines outward to signify liberty to the rest of the world. It has no meaning for immigrants other than being the first thing they would see steaming into New York Harbor many years ago. Now they can just swim or walk the Rio Grande and bingo their here without all the paperwork or English lessons. They have no ties to America and remain Mexicans until their dying day. America is just a place where they can earn money to return to Mexico and live later on. They have no desire to be Americans with few ever becoming Americans. Don’t ever believe Mexicans love America because they don’t and never will, their loyalty is to Mexico only.

Author John T. Cunningham wrote that "The Statue of Liberty was not conceived and sculpted as a symbol of immigration, but it quickly became so as immigrant ships passed under the statue. However, it was Lazarus's poem that permanently stamped on Miss Liberty the role of unofficial greeter of incoming immigrants.

The poem was written as a donation to an auction of art and literary works [1] conducted by the "Art Loan Fund Exhibition in Aid of the Bartholdi Pedestal Fund for the Statue of Liberty", the aim of which was to raise money for the pedestal's construction [2] The contribution was solicited by fundraiser William Maxwell Evarts. Initially Lazarus refused, but Constance Cary Harrison convinced her that the statue would be of great significance to immigrants sailing into the harbor [3].

Officially the statute has nothing to do with immigration although some immigrants thought she was the unofficial greeter for them.

Also, I think someone at the White House could look up what Nobama is going to speak about so he gets his teleprompter corrected prior to the speech. Maybe it was the job of the last guy he hired who forgot about his owing taxes on $40,000 of income he so conveniently forgot about. If so many White House aids fail to remember their taxes how could they possibly forget to give Nobama the heads up about his speeches.

Our government should remember what Lincoln said so many years ago and stop the foolishness of the past 40 years. We do have immigration laws on the books; so lets obey them.

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."
-Abraham Lincoln

Falcon:

Representative Stark (D-CA) is a classic example of arrogance and stupidity of the Nobama Regime and its subjects.

This representative is the ultimate example for not having term limits. This guy has the nerve to indicate the border in Arizona is secure even though the Nobama regime has ceded part of the state to Mexican drug lords and wetback caravans by installing signs warning Americans not to enter because it’s too dangerous, and this is in Arizona. For 37 years this creep has been in congress ruining our country for current and future Americans alike.

This representative Stark exemplifies the oddball wacko’s who populate the state of California and have been instrumental in ruining that state for generations to come along with other states. Throw in the covey of witches Pelosi, Feinstein, Boxer and the cause of California’s fate and the country is plainly visible.

California is getting what it deserves but the covey of witches have also begun to ruin the entire United States with their ignorance and brain dead voting records.

Remember to vote them all out at the first reelection they run in, it’s the only hope of saving our country.

Sickofthem

Falcon:

Good read from the Washington Post: Kathleen Parker - Obama: Our first female president and it sounds good to me.

Sickofhim

Two Leading Indicators Pointing
to Another Recession

There are two well-known and important leading economic indexes for the U.S. economy:

• The Conference Board's Leading Economic Index (LEI), and
• The Weekly U.S. Leading Economic Index published by the Economic Cycle Research Institute.

I use them both in my analytical work to better understand the economy's actual position in the business cycle. And in 2007, they gave me clear, recession warning signs.

So what are they saying now?

Leading Economic Index (LEI)
Peaked in March

The LEI is published monthly. Historically its year-over-year percentage change has been one of the best recession forecasting tools available. Whenever it fell below the zero line for three months in a row, a recession followed. And it has never missed calling a recession since the 1960s.

It looks like the LEI saw the high for the current business cycle in March 2010 when the year-over-year change shot up to 11.6 percent. In April it declined to 10.4 percent. And then last Thursday the May figure was released — a drop to 9.2 percent.

These are still high readings and far from the recession warning level. But what's important is that the trend of this index has changed direction and is now heading down.

Also noteworthy is that the major positive contributors were the financial components. If you strip them out, the indicator's recent readings were much worse ...

Instead of plus 0.4 percent month-over-month in May, the reading comes in at minus 0.4 percent.

I think it makes a lot of sense to strip the financial components out since history shows that monetary policy looses much of its effects in a post-bubble economy. Hence it's probable that the LEI is actually overestimating the outlook for the economy!

This apprehension is underlined by the behavior of the second leading economic index for the U.S. economy ...

The ECRI Weekly U.S. Leading Economic
Index Is Nearing Recession Levels

Last week the Economic Cycle Research Institute's Leading Economic Index had its second negative reading when it fell to minus 5.7 percent from minus 3.5 percent. This indicator has been in a steep downtrend for many months and is now at its lowest reading in a year.

Historically, readings as low the current one have ushered in a recession 80 percent of the time. And readings below minus 8 percent have had a hit rate of 100 percent. So even though it's not there yet, it's getting dangerously close.

Lakshman Achuthan from ECRI said that it was premature to call a recession. The negative readings have "not persisted long enough." I agree. And we'll have to wait a little longer to know for sure.

Yet one thing is undeniably clear: The risk of a double-dip recession has grown considerably.

Best wishes,

Claus

This investment news is brought to you by Money and Markets. Money and Markets is a free daily investment newsletter from Martin D. Weiss and Weiss Research analysts offering the latest investing news and financial insights for the stock market, including tips and advice on investing in gold, energy and oil. Dr. Weiss is a leader in the fields of investing, interest rates, financial safety and economic forecasting. To view archives or subscribe, visit http://www.moneyandmarkets.com.