Thursday, November 16, 2006
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Liberal Confusion
I know the Patriot Act is not exactly big in the news these days. But for some reason it was on my mind yesterday afternoon. And once again, it has left me confused by our Liberal brethren.
Basic liberal ideology insists that more government is better. That individual Americans are best served by having more and more of their lives managed by public servants such as myself. Medical Care. Personal Savings. Entitlement programs of every shape, size and color. The ideology is grounded in the belief that government should be an active force within the lives of individuals.
But when it comes to national security and the War on Terror, specifically to the Patriot Act, the liberal arguments insist that the powers granted in that document can and will be abused...by public servants. Cops. DA's. Fed's and so on. Liberals and Democrats suggest that the government should not have that power.
Yet they want the government (these same public servants) in charge of my retirement, my medical records, my charitable giving...
I know a number of you friends are such liberals. So please understand, I'm not looking to start a fight here. I just don't understand the conflict. I don't get how you resolve that within yourself. Is it that you trust all public servants, but hate cops? Is it that you simply have such hatred for Republicans that you'll immediately oppose anything Republicans stand for? What is it? What drives you to such conflicting beliefs? I'd love to hear from you on this.
Basic liberal ideology insists that more government is better. That individual Americans are best served by having more and more of their lives managed by public servants such as myself. Medical Care. Personal Savings. Entitlement programs of every shape, size and color. The ideology is grounded in the belief that government should be an active force within the lives of individuals.
But when it comes to national security and the War on Terror, specifically to the Patriot Act, the liberal arguments insist that the powers granted in that document can and will be abused...by public servants. Cops. DA's. Fed's and so on. Liberals and Democrats suggest that the government should not have that power.
Yet they want the government (these same public servants) in charge of my retirement, my medical records, my charitable giving...
I know a number of you friends are such liberals. So please understand, I'm not looking to start a fight here. I just don't understand the conflict. I don't get how you resolve that within yourself. Is it that you trust all public servants, but hate cops? Is it that you simply have such hatred for Republicans that you'll immediately oppose anything Republicans stand for? What is it? What drives you to such conflicting beliefs? I'd love to hear from you on this.
Signs it will be a LONG day. #1
You get up for a nice, hard night's sleep. Let the dog out. Dog won't go. Start the coffee. Eat your Cheerios. Take the dog out again. Dog still won't go. Ask your wife to take the dog out while you shower. Dog goes for wife. Get dressed. Fill the thermos. Kiss the wife. Drive to work. Get to the office. Office is cold. Chair is cold. Fire up computer. Throw on coat you keep at the office. As you launch your e-mail, lean back and open thermos to pour a nice, hot cup of... hot water?
You forgot to put coffee in the coffee maker.
It's going to be a LONG day.
You forgot to put coffee in the coffee maker.
It's going to be a LONG day.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Sunrise, Gameday, Traffic, Moving, and Dogster...
I'm in the mood to ramble. Consider yourself warn-ed.
So I was going to post yesterday morning. It was a great morning. I woke up in a good mood, feeling great. The doctor has me doing a new series of exercises for my back (apparently my overly tight hamstrings have something to do with my back pain) and it really seems to be helping. Add to that a cool morning, good coffee, my lovely wife, and a gorgeous morning sky as I drove to work and I was brimming with joy I couldn't wait to share here in the Bell Tower.
Of course, I couldn't remember my password and didn't seem to be receiving the emails that would allow me to reset that password and you got nothing. BUT I'm back, BABY!!! Now that I've discovered what email address I actually created this account with...
Oops.
Moving right along...
Not all of yesterday was pleasant. Many of you will remember how this past January/February involved moving my office off campus. All in all, this was a great thing. Our old building on campus is old, poorly designed, and really just needs a wrecking ball renovation. The new office is great. Clean, free parking, easy access, sturdy... oh, and is not owned but rather leased by the university.
So, yep, you guessed it, we are moving again, this time to a building owned fully by the school. Still off campus, but we get to pay for parking again all the same. Woo-ha.
So Friday a group of us went to assess our new digs and begin planning for the move. But the building was certainly not designed for a bunch of media folks like us. In a former life it housed a bank, since then its been slightly renovated to best accommodate folks who answer email and push paper... and nothing else (read: cubicle hell). On whole, this isn't something we are unable to work with... except the University doesn't want us getting rid of any of there furniture, and in fact we are supposed to PAY to move anything of theirs we don't want out. Can you believe that? WE pay THEM to remove THEIR stuff or just accept all that doesn't work for us and surplus all of the furniture and equipment that does already work for us... Let's just say that negotiations have begun, and the opening offer was NOT impressive...
Did I mention they want us to pay for off-campus parking?
So today was game day. Aggies v. Tech. And the YR's along with the CR's tailgated for Van Taylor and our local candidates. I wasn't sure what to think. I'd never been anywhere near Kyle Field on game day. Add to that how my wife's ankle was sprained a few days ago in disastrous dog-walking incident...
But the day was great. We parked 362 miles from the field and hobbled our way there. Got things set up, waited for the food to arrive, then we all waited another hour for plastic forks and cups to arrive. But it was a great time. The CR's are a fun bunch and the food (C&J's) was worth waiting for. We were expecting the Gov to arrive about 1:30, but I can't say if he did.
Poor Mel, hobbled there with me, but her real pain was in the arriving. That's when I stuck her in a chair with some ice for her ankle and pretty much made her stay there. So, by 12:30, I'd fed her lunch, and force some cake (Tori's and it was yummy) down her throat. I figured it was time to get her home and take proper care of her. Besides, I've met the Gov before. Nice guy. Fairly standard political-type. He has my vote... though I would have liked to ask him about his conditioning regimen. We don't call him Governor Good Hair for nothing.
So all was good until we got the bright idea to go to Target. The game was still on, after all, so the roads would be ideal.... Dumbass. It was the start of the fourth quarter when we left. I was in the back of the store, surveying the newest good t-shirts ("Jack Bauer for President" is my favorite) when I overheard a store employee's walkie-talkie. It was the manager stating in a frightened voice, "Its over. We lost. They are coming." So I grabbed Mel as fast as I could, but I knew it was too late. Long story short, what should have been a 10-minute drive instead took well over 45 minutes. We did see our share of hilarity. Road rage. Brave Tortilla Tech fans dancing and flashing the Raider guns as they drove through miles and miles of angry Aggies, and one young woman who I swear to you had her cell phone surgically grafted to her face. That young woman elicited a few choice words from me of the sort that I don't use EVER.
Okay, safe and sound and that is all. Really, nothing exciting at all to share here. Just felt like rambling for a while. I appreciate you taking the time to listen, or at least skim. Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.
Oh, one last note. Something I can't really explain. You'll just have to go and look for yourself:
www.dogster.com
The Internet scares me.
So I was going to post yesterday morning. It was a great morning. I woke up in a good mood, feeling great. The doctor has me doing a new series of exercises for my back (apparently my overly tight hamstrings have something to do with my back pain) and it really seems to be helping. Add to that a cool morning, good coffee, my lovely wife, and a gorgeous morning sky as I drove to work and I was brimming with joy I couldn't wait to share here in the Bell Tower.
Of course, I couldn't remember my password and didn't seem to be receiving the emails that would allow me to reset that password and you got nothing. BUT I'm back, BABY!!! Now that I've discovered what email address I actually created this account with...
Oops.
Moving right along...
Not all of yesterday was pleasant. Many of you will remember how this past January/February involved moving my office off campus. All in all, this was a great thing. Our old building on campus is old, poorly designed, and really just needs a wrecking ball renovation. The new office is great. Clean, free parking, easy access, sturdy... oh, and is not owned but rather leased by the university.
So, yep, you guessed it, we are moving again, this time to a building owned fully by the school. Still off campus, but we get to pay for parking again all the same. Woo-ha.
So Friday a group of us went to assess our new digs and begin planning for the move. But the building was certainly not designed for a bunch of media folks like us. In a former life it housed a bank, since then its been slightly renovated to best accommodate folks who answer email and push paper... and nothing else (read: cubicle hell). On whole, this isn't something we are unable to work with... except the University doesn't want us getting rid of any of there furniture, and in fact we are supposed to PAY to move anything of theirs we don't want out. Can you believe that? WE pay THEM to remove THEIR stuff or just accept all that doesn't work for us and surplus all of the furniture and equipment that does already work for us... Let's just say that negotiations have begun, and the opening offer was NOT impressive...
Did I mention they want us to pay for off-campus parking?
So today was game day. Aggies v. Tech. And the YR's along with the CR's tailgated for Van Taylor and our local candidates. I wasn't sure what to think. I'd never been anywhere near Kyle Field on game day. Add to that how my wife's ankle was sprained a few days ago in disastrous dog-walking incident...
But the day was great. We parked 362 miles from the field and hobbled our way there. Got things set up, waited for the food to arrive, then we all waited another hour for plastic forks and cups to arrive. But it was a great time. The CR's are a fun bunch and the food (C&J's) was worth waiting for. We were expecting the Gov to arrive about 1:30, but I can't say if he did.
Poor Mel, hobbled there with me, but her real pain was in the arriving. That's when I stuck her in a chair with some ice for her ankle and pretty much made her stay there. So, by 12:30, I'd fed her lunch, and force some cake (Tori's and it was yummy) down her throat. I figured it was time to get her home and take proper care of her. Besides, I've met the Gov before. Nice guy. Fairly standard political-type. He has my vote... though I would have liked to ask him about his conditioning regimen. We don't call him Governor Good Hair for nothing.
So all was good until we got the bright idea to go to Target. The game was still on, after all, so the roads would be ideal.... Dumbass. It was the start of the fourth quarter when we left. I was in the back of the store, surveying the newest good t-shirts ("Jack Bauer for President" is my favorite) when I overheard a store employee's walkie-talkie. It was the manager stating in a frightened voice, "Its over. We lost. They are coming." So I grabbed Mel as fast as I could, but I knew it was too late. Long story short, what should have been a 10-minute drive instead took well over 45 minutes. We did see our share of hilarity. Road rage. Brave Tortilla Tech fans dancing and flashing the Raider guns as they drove through miles and miles of angry Aggies, and one young woman who I swear to you had her cell phone surgically grafted to her face. That young woman elicited a few choice words from me of the sort that I don't use EVER.
Okay, safe and sound and that is all. Really, nothing exciting at all to share here. Just felt like rambling for a while. I appreciate you taking the time to listen, or at least skim. Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.
Oh, one last note. Something I can't really explain. You'll just have to go and look for yourself:
www.dogster.com
The Internet scares me.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Long weeks row to hoe down at the club over the head....
Yes, that's how long this week has been. All of my metaphors are running together like a man rollerskating on one leg through a buffalo herd of cats... See what I mean.
Spent the week traveling through North Texas taking agency ID photos as this is 2006 and it seems everyone needs a agency ID...nevermind that most of us already have three... Still. It was nice work and I was able to see lots of old friends and make many new ones. Overton, Dallas, Vernon, and Stephenville. In 4 days. All the staffs were great and wonderfully helpful, but Janet in Vernon gets a gold star for being the best of the best. And that has nothing to do with the fact that she lives on a golf course and invited me to play there next time I'm out. :D
But I'm home now and looking forward to a weekend of nothing but football, napping, and maybe I'll even get lucky if a treat my wife nice. Cross your fingers for me kids.
Oh, and yes, when I'm this exhausted, my "TMI Filter" is worthless.
We are going to have some fun this weekend. For her birthday last year, I got Mel a Easy Bake Oven. She'd never been so fortunate as a child to have one. Well, neither has our other friend Mel ever had one. So this weekend the girls are going to have an Easy Bake party. Fun for them. Football without guilt for me. LOVE IT!!!
Be sure to check out the previous post. I remember once back in high school when Nicole Parker had to give me a ride home to the ranch. My father was Farm Manager on the Turley ranch. David Parker was General Manager at that time. Which made his three daughters (Erin, Nicole, and Shannon) like family to me. Now Erin, who is a year older, and I got along well enough but weren't exactly close. Shannon (a few years younger) and I have been pretty tight over the years. But Nicole... Nicole and I are the same age, graduated in the same class. And because of our situation on the ranch, often got far more of each other than either cared for. It got ugly at times.
Now about this day and this ride home. I think this was after my accident, so I was without a car still, and had no option but to load up in the tiny Parker girl's CRX. Nice tight quarters when you can't stand the person next to you. And this was a 30 minute drive, and that day I'd been a particular pain in Nicole's side. No telling what exactly I'd done, but I'm sure her feelings were justified.
Well, resentful as she was, she dared not leave me behind and face the wrath of her mother. So, we loaded up and headed out. But to make it particularly clear how much Nicole despised me, she put in the cassette single of "Everything About You" by Ugly Kid Joe, played it loudly and played it over and over. But now, I was in a good mood and did I mention how much I love this song? Well, I love it so much I HAVE to sing along, and I did. And she played it louder. And I sang along LOUDER... the whole way home this process repeated. She sped handily, so we made it home fast, but I'm guessing we still had time to hear the song 7 or 8 times. Each time louder than beffore, and all with me singing horribly at the top of my lungs. Still can't believe we aren't both deaf.
God bless Nicole. Since those days we've found a peace and certain respect between us. I really like the person she's grown into, and I hope she likes the man I've become as well. I do consider her a friend now. But lord, how I survived those years and that day in particular without her actually, literally turning me into a bloody, beaten, tragic headline in the Daily Oklahoman...
Well, thank you, Nicole. I'm glad you didn't kill me as I may well have deserved.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Austin
Spent the week traveling through North Texas taking agency ID photos as this is 2006 and it seems everyone needs a agency ID...nevermind that most of us already have three... Still. It was nice work and I was able to see lots of old friends and make many new ones. Overton, Dallas, Vernon, and Stephenville. In 4 days. All the staffs were great and wonderfully helpful, but Janet in Vernon gets a gold star for being the best of the best. And that has nothing to do with the fact that she lives on a golf course and invited me to play there next time I'm out. :D
But I'm home now and looking forward to a weekend of nothing but football, napping, and maybe I'll even get lucky if a treat my wife nice. Cross your fingers for me kids.
Oh, and yes, when I'm this exhausted, my "TMI Filter" is worthless.
We are going to have some fun this weekend. For her birthday last year, I got Mel a Easy Bake Oven. She'd never been so fortunate as a child to have one. Well, neither has our other friend Mel ever had one. So this weekend the girls are going to have an Easy Bake party. Fun for them. Football without guilt for me. LOVE IT!!!
Be sure to check out the previous post. I remember once back in high school when Nicole Parker had to give me a ride home to the ranch. My father was Farm Manager on the Turley ranch. David Parker was General Manager at that time. Which made his three daughters (Erin, Nicole, and Shannon) like family to me. Now Erin, who is a year older, and I got along well enough but weren't exactly close. Shannon (a few years younger) and I have been pretty tight over the years. But Nicole... Nicole and I are the same age, graduated in the same class. And because of our situation on the ranch, often got far more of each other than either cared for. It got ugly at times.
Now about this day and this ride home. I think this was after my accident, so I was without a car still, and had no option but to load up in the tiny Parker girl's CRX. Nice tight quarters when you can't stand the person next to you. And this was a 30 minute drive, and that day I'd been a particular pain in Nicole's side. No telling what exactly I'd done, but I'm sure her feelings were justified.
Well, resentful as she was, she dared not leave me behind and face the wrath of her mother. So, we loaded up and headed out. But to make it particularly clear how much Nicole despised me, she put in the cassette single of "Everything About You" by Ugly Kid Joe, played it loudly and played it over and over. But now, I was in a good mood and did I mention how much I love this song? Well, I love it so much I HAVE to sing along, and I did. And she played it louder. And I sang along LOUDER... the whole way home this process repeated. She sped handily, so we made it home fast, but I'm guessing we still had time to hear the song 7 or 8 times. Each time louder than beffore, and all with me singing horribly at the top of my lungs. Still can't believe we aren't both deaf.
God bless Nicole. Since those days we've found a peace and certain respect between us. I really like the person she's grown into, and I hope she likes the man I've become as well. I do consider her a friend now. But lord, how I survived those years and that day in particular without her actually, literally turning me into a bloody, beaten, tragic headline in the Daily Oklahoman...
Well, thank you, Nicole. I'm glad you didn't kill me as I may well have deserved.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Austin
Ugly Kid Joe - Everything About You
Here's Ugly Kid Joe's "Everything about you". To be clear, this is NOT how I feel about you, whoever you are. It is however a wonderful flashback for me. So everyone enjoy. Sing along. Headbang til your head throbs. Raise your glass and drink with me to the good old days. Happy Friday all.
Here's Ugly Kid Joe's "Everything about you". To be clear, this is NOT how I feel about you, whoever you are. It is however a wonderful flashback for me. So everyone enjoy. Sing along. Headbang til your head throbs. Raise your glass and drink with me to the good old days. Happy Friday all.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Update on everything I can think of...
Well, as usual, I've been horrible about posting. And I'll do what I can to get back in the groove. But for the moment, just a few notes on all that's been going on.
We've held new elections for the Brazos County Young Republicans. So, at last, I'm no longer an officer, however, I'm still on the board. Mel and I, especially Mel, are hoping this will mean less of my free time spent working for hte club. But I'm now the "old man" of the group and expect to still stay plenty busy and involved. So we'll see. We have great new leadership with lots off energy. Really, I hate that I need to step back but my young marriage needs and deserves more of my attention. I'm sure in a few years mel will grow tired of me being around so much and I'll be back in the swing full force.
ChiChi is doing great. We discovered that she has a low thyroid condition and with treatment her energy is up and she's no longer gnawing at her paw. We really like the new vet. Really, Chi's too cute. Always cuddling with me and doesn't beg as loudly for food now, unless we are eating steak. We did have a vomit incident last week involving hot sausage and Daddy being left alone to clean things up. That did not go too well. But in all, life goes on.
Work has been insane. We are smack in the middle of shooting mug shots for ID photos for all of Extension. And I mean ALL. Specialists, Agents, Support Staff and all. Something like 1,200 folks. Campus is this week and next, and then in September I have several long road trips heading out to our district meetings. But today is nice. Its hot, but I'm in the office...editting footage of horse evaluations... and yes, this does involve a vet, a thermometer, annd a horse's patootey. However you spell that... Yea me!
Well, that's most of it. Still haven't won the dang lottery. so I'd best get back to work.
Auz
We've held new elections for the Brazos County Young Republicans. So, at last, I'm no longer an officer, however, I'm still on the board. Mel and I, especially Mel, are hoping this will mean less of my free time spent working for hte club. But I'm now the "old man" of the group and expect to still stay plenty busy and involved. So we'll see. We have great new leadership with lots off energy. Really, I hate that I need to step back but my young marriage needs and deserves more of my attention. I'm sure in a few years mel will grow tired of me being around so much and I'll be back in the swing full force.
ChiChi is doing great. We discovered that she has a low thyroid condition and with treatment her energy is up and she's no longer gnawing at her paw. We really like the new vet. Really, Chi's too cute. Always cuddling with me and doesn't beg as loudly for food now, unless we are eating steak. We did have a vomit incident last week involving hot sausage and Daddy being left alone to clean things up. That did not go too well. But in all, life goes on.
Work has been insane. We are smack in the middle of shooting mug shots for ID photos for all of Extension. And I mean ALL. Specialists, Agents, Support Staff and all. Something like 1,200 folks. Campus is this week and next, and then in September I have several long road trips heading out to our district meetings. But today is nice. Its hot, but I'm in the office...editting footage of horse evaluations... and yes, this does involve a vet, a thermometer, annd a horse's patootey. However you spell that... Yea me!
Well, that's most of it. Still haven't won the dang lottery. so I'd best get back to work.
Auz
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Joke of the Year...
Sorry I'm still behind in posting. Things are just still so busy after the wedding.
I know this isn't so good as a real post. However, this is the funniest forward I've received in well over a year. Heck, maybe several years. Thanks to Cave for sending me this one.
Austin
-------
A cowboy was herding his cows in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand new BMW appeared out of no where and drove up to him.
The driver, young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses, and a YSL tie, leaned out the window and asked the Cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, will you give me a calf?"
The Cowboy looked at the man, obviously a Yuppie, then looked at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answered "Sure, why not?"
The Yuppie parked his car, whipped out his DELL NOTEBOOK computer, connected it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone, surfed to a NASA page on the Internet, where called up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on
his location which he then fed to another NASA Satellite that scanned the area in an ultra-high resolution photo. He then opened the digital photo in ADOBE PHOTO SHOP and exported it to an imaging processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he received an email on his PALM PILOT that the image had been processed and the data stored. He hen accessed a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected EXCEL spreadsheet with Email on his a BLACKBERRY and, after a few minutes, received a response. He then printed out a full-color, 150 page report on his high-tech miniaturized HP LASERJET printer and turned to the cowboy and said "You have 1,586 cows and calves."
The Cowboy responded that the figure was correct, so he could take one of the calves. The Cowboy watched as the yuppie selected one of the animals, acting amused as he loaded it into his trunk.
The Cowboy then said to the yuppie, " If I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?"
The Yuppie thought for a minute and replied "Okay, why not?"
"You are a United States Congressman", he retorted.
"Wow!!! That's correct, but, how did you guess that?"
"It's simple "replied the Cowboy, "No guessing involved."
"You showed up here even though nobody called you. You wanted to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question that I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don't know a damn thing about cows......!
Now give me back my dog.
I know this isn't so good as a real post. However, this is the funniest forward I've received in well over a year. Heck, maybe several years. Thanks to Cave for sending me this one.
Austin
-------
A cowboy was herding his cows in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand new BMW appeared out of no where and drove up to him.
The driver, young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses, and a YSL tie, leaned out the window and asked the Cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, will you give me a calf?"
The Cowboy looked at the man, obviously a Yuppie, then looked at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answered "Sure, why not?"
The Yuppie parked his car, whipped out his DELL NOTEBOOK computer, connected it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone, surfed to a NASA page on the Internet, where called up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on
his location which he then fed to another NASA Satellite that scanned the area in an ultra-high resolution photo. He then opened the digital photo in ADOBE PHOTO SHOP and exported it to an imaging processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he received an email on his PALM PILOT that the image had been processed and the data stored. He hen accessed a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected EXCEL spreadsheet with Email on his a BLACKBERRY and, after a few minutes, received a response. He then printed out a full-color, 150 page report on his high-tech miniaturized HP LASERJET printer and turned to the cowboy and said "You have 1,586 cows and calves."
The Cowboy responded that the figure was correct, so he could take one of the calves. The Cowboy watched as the yuppie selected one of the animals, acting amused as he loaded it into his trunk.
The Cowboy then said to the yuppie, " If I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?"
The Yuppie thought for a minute and replied "Okay, why not?"
"You are a United States Congressman", he retorted.
"Wow!!! That's correct, but, how did you guess that?"
"It's simple "replied the Cowboy, "No guessing involved."
"You showed up here even though nobody called you. You wanted to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question that I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don't know a damn thing about cows......!
Now give me back my dog.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Busy as a bee...
So I haven't posted much. I apologize for that. Certainly I've had plenty to talk about. Unfortunately, just not much time of late. Planning a wedding, three receptions, a honeymoon, locating a new residence, and prepping for a garage sale has been plenty to keep me off of here.
I have had a few good months though. Mel and I are more in love every day. We are quite sickening actually.
Early in March I also served as an election judge for the primaries. It was an absolutely wonderful experience. I highly suggest this for anyone looking to serve the public. I even had wonderful Democrat counterparts to work with. It reminds you just how civil our disagreements can be. And offers hope that things can work out and solutions can be found in a positive manner.
Beyond that, March has been somewhat disappointing in terms of basketball. But if nothing else this touri has been a wild ride and a great deal of fun to watch, even if my teams do keep losing. Still, how about them Aggies. Those boys and girls did a great deal to help this community learn what a wonderful sporting world exists outside of football.
Anyhow, got more errands to run and chores to do. Hope all is well with evveryone.
'
Auz
I have had a few good months though. Mel and I are more in love every day. We are quite sickening actually.
Early in March I also served as an election judge for the primaries. It was an absolutely wonderful experience. I highly suggest this for anyone looking to serve the public. I even had wonderful Democrat counterparts to work with. It reminds you just how civil our disagreements can be. And offers hope that things can work out and solutions can be found in a positive manner.
Beyond that, March has been somewhat disappointing in terms of basketball. But if nothing else this touri has been a wild ride and a great deal of fun to watch, even if my teams do keep losing. Still, how about them Aggies. Those boys and girls did a great deal to help this community learn what a wonderful sporting world exists outside of football.
Anyhow, got more errands to run and chores to do. Hope all is well with evveryone.
'
Auz
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Candidate Meet & Greet...
This coming Monday evening, Feb. 20th, the BCYR's are hosting a primary candidate "Meet & Greet" featuring all Republican Primary candidates in Brazos County. The free, informal event is at 6:30 in the Brazos Center.
It'll be a casual evening, with a trade show-feel. Just come wihen you can, walk around shake hands, ask questions and get a personal feel for the folks running for local office.
Invite every Republican you can.
Auz
It'll be a casual evening, with a trade show-feel. Just come wihen you can, walk around shake hands, ask questions and get a personal feel for the folks running for local office.
Invite every Republican you can.
Auz
Sunday, February 05, 2006
My New World...
Friends and loved ones,
Tonight I write to you with a heart overflowing. This weekend while celebrating her birthday in San Antonio, Melissa Alexander agreed to become my wife.
I apologize that some of you have not yet had an opportunity to meet Melissa. Lord knows my love life has had its ups and downs over the years, and I guess that has made me a bit quiet in sharing such details. However, those of you who have met her I'm certain know that she is by far the best thing to ever happen to me.
To briefly go through our story, Melissa and I met Memorial weekend before my senior year at Oklahoma State. However I was moving away and foolishly refused to allow our relationship to grow serious.
In the move to Texas, I misplaced her information but always wondered what became of that sweet girl from Tulsa. Then last year, one quiet afternoon at the office, I received a email with a name that seemed strangely familiar. Long story short, she moved to College Station on Memorial weekend of 2005.
It has been the happiest time of my life. She has a heart large enough to envelop all the disjointed sides of my personality, an intellect which forces mine down new and exciting paths daily, and the courage to stare down my obstinance. She loves MASH, Willie, and Oklahoma. And she's even got me to cut back heavily on my smoking. I'll wait for the applause to die down... I'm sure she'll have me stopped altogether in short order. I look forward to a day when you may meet her and see this amazing woman for every glorious trait that makes me love her as I do.
Though still early in the decision making process, we tentatively plan to marry (when else) but Memorial weekend 2006. Because all of our friends and family lives at such distances, and frankly we feel we are too old for a frantic, tense cycle of wedding planning, we'll have a small ceremony with a Justice of the Peace, followed by receptions in College Station, Cheyenne and Tulsa. Once details are established, I'll let you know.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. May god bless you all.
Austin
p.s. Pictures of us, the ring, and our adorable child ChiChi da Dog will follow once we located that darned USB cable for the camera.
Tonight I write to you with a heart overflowing. This weekend while celebrating her birthday in San Antonio, Melissa Alexander agreed to become my wife.
I apologize that some of you have not yet had an opportunity to meet Melissa. Lord knows my love life has had its ups and downs over the years, and I guess that has made me a bit quiet in sharing such details. However, those of you who have met her I'm certain know that she is by far the best thing to ever happen to me.
To briefly go through our story, Melissa and I met Memorial weekend before my senior year at Oklahoma State. However I was moving away and foolishly refused to allow our relationship to grow serious.
In the move to Texas, I misplaced her information but always wondered what became of that sweet girl from Tulsa. Then last year, one quiet afternoon at the office, I received a email with a name that seemed strangely familiar. Long story short, she moved to College Station on Memorial weekend of 2005.
It has been the happiest time of my life. She has a heart large enough to envelop all the disjointed sides of my personality, an intellect which forces mine down new and exciting paths daily, and the courage to stare down my obstinance. She loves MASH, Willie, and Oklahoma. And she's even got me to cut back heavily on my smoking. I'll wait for the applause to die down... I'm sure she'll have me stopped altogether in short order. I look forward to a day when you may meet her and see this amazing woman for every glorious trait that makes me love her as I do.
Though still early in the decision making process, we tentatively plan to marry (when else) but Memorial weekend 2006. Because all of our friends and family lives at such distances, and frankly we feel we are too old for a frantic, tense cycle of wedding planning, we'll have a small ceremony with a Justice of the Peace, followed by receptions in College Station, Cheyenne and Tulsa. Once details are established, I'll let you know.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. May god bless you all.
Austin
p.s. Pictures of us, the ring, and our adorable child ChiChi da Dog will follow once we located that darned USB cable for the camera.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Finally, some good news...
House Vote Counters Eminent Domain Measure
- By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer
Friday, November 4, 2005
(11-04) 01:46 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --
Conservative defenders of private property and liberal protectors of the poor joined in an overwhelming House vote to prevent local and state governments from seizing homes and businesses for use in economic development projects.
The House legislation, passed 376-38, was in response to a widely criticized 5-4 ruling by the Supreme Court last June that allowed eminent domain authority to be used to obtain land for tax revenue-generating commercial purposes.
That decision, said the House's third-ranked Republican, Deborah Pryce of Ohio, "dealt a blow to the rights of property owners across the country."
The bill would withhold for two years all federal economic development funds from states and localities that use economic development as a rationale for property seizures. It also would bar the federal government from using eminent domain powers for economic development.
It now goes to the Senate, where Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has introduced similar legislation.
The ruling in Kelo v. City of New London allowed the Connecticut city to exercise state eminent domain law to require several homeowners to cede their property for commercial use.
Conservatives were in the forefront in arguing that this was a dangerous interpretation of the "takings clause" in the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution that allows the government to seize property for public use, with just compensation.
"Governments should not be able to bulldoze a person's home or business to benefit other individuals," said Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-Texas.
Liberals warned that it could make it easier to tear down poor neighborhoods. "We don't need you on this one," Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said to those arguing that eminent domain can lead to beneficial urban renewal projects. "We need you to respect the right of those minorities and those poor people to hold on to what is their own."
Opponents of the legislation argued that its exclusion of economic development was too broad and that the federal government should not be interceding in what should be a local issue. "We should not change federal law every time members of Congress disagree with the judgment of a locality when it uses eminent domain for the purpose of economic development," said Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va.
About half the states are also considering changes in their laws to prevent takings for private use.
The Bush administration, backing the House bill, said in a statement that "private property rights are the bedrock of the nation's economy and enjoy constitutionally protected status. They should also receive an appropriate level of protection by the federal government."
The House, by a voice vote, approved a proposal by Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., to bar states or localities in pursuit of more tax money from exercising eminent domain over nonprofit or tax-exempt religious organizations. Churches, he said, "should not have to fear because God does not pay enough in taxes."
Eminent domain, the right of government to take property for public use, is typically used for projects that benefit an entire community, such as highways, airports or schools.
Justice John Paul Stevens, who wrote the majority opinion in Kelo, said in an August speech that while he had concerns about the results, the ruling was legally correct because the high court has "always allowed local policymakers wide latitude in determining how best to achieve legitimate public goals."
Several lawmakers who opposed the House bill said eminent domain has long been used by local governments for economic development projects such as the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and the cleaning up of Times Square in New York. The District of Columbia is expected to use eminent domain to secure land for a new baseball stadium for the Washington Nationals.
___
On the Net:
Information on the bill, H.R. 4128, can be found at
thomas.loc.gov/
URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/11/03/national/w154446S12.DTL
- By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer
Friday, November 4, 2005
(11-04) 01:46 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --
Conservative defenders of private property and liberal protectors of the poor joined in an overwhelming House vote to prevent local and state governments from seizing homes and businesses for use in economic development projects.
The House legislation, passed 376-38, was in response to a widely criticized 5-4 ruling by the Supreme Court last June that allowed eminent domain authority to be used to obtain land for tax revenue-generating commercial purposes.
That decision, said the House's third-ranked Republican, Deborah Pryce of Ohio, "dealt a blow to the rights of property owners across the country."
The bill would withhold for two years all federal economic development funds from states and localities that use economic development as a rationale for property seizures. It also would bar the federal government from using eminent domain powers for economic development.
It now goes to the Senate, where Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has introduced similar legislation.
The ruling in Kelo v. City of New London allowed the Connecticut city to exercise state eminent domain law to require several homeowners to cede their property for commercial use.
Conservatives were in the forefront in arguing that this was a dangerous interpretation of the "takings clause" in the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution that allows the government to seize property for public use, with just compensation.
"Governments should not be able to bulldoze a person's home or business to benefit other individuals," said Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-Texas.
Liberals warned that it could make it easier to tear down poor neighborhoods. "We don't need you on this one," Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said to those arguing that eminent domain can lead to beneficial urban renewal projects. "We need you to respect the right of those minorities and those poor people to hold on to what is their own."
Opponents of the legislation argued that its exclusion of economic development was too broad and that the federal government should not be interceding in what should be a local issue. "We should not change federal law every time members of Congress disagree with the judgment of a locality when it uses eminent domain for the purpose of economic development," said Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va.
About half the states are also considering changes in their laws to prevent takings for private use.
The Bush administration, backing the House bill, said in a statement that "private property rights are the bedrock of the nation's economy and enjoy constitutionally protected status. They should also receive an appropriate level of protection by the federal government."
The House, by a voice vote, approved a proposal by Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., to bar states or localities in pursuit of more tax money from exercising eminent domain over nonprofit or tax-exempt religious organizations. Churches, he said, "should not have to fear because God does not pay enough in taxes."
Eminent domain, the right of government to take property for public use, is typically used for projects that benefit an entire community, such as highways, airports or schools.
Justice John Paul Stevens, who wrote the majority opinion in Kelo, said in an August speech that while he had concerns about the results, the ruling was legally correct because the high court has "always allowed local policymakers wide latitude in determining how best to achieve legitimate public goals."
Several lawmakers who opposed the House bill said eminent domain has long been used by local governments for economic development projects such as the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and the cleaning up of Times Square in New York. The District of Columbia is expected to use eminent domain to secure land for a new baseball stadium for the Washington Nationals.
___
On the Net:
Information on the bill, H.R. 4128, can be found at
thomas.loc.gov/
URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/11/03/national/w154446S12.DTL
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Great truths...
Just a select few quotes borrowed from Neil Boortz website: boortz.com or www.vicioussob.com
-"America's abundance was created not by public sacrifices to 'the common good,' but by the productive genius of free men who pursued their own personal interests and the making of their own private fortunes. They did not starve the people to pay for America's industrialization. They gave the people better jobs, higher wages and cheaper goods with every new machine they invented, with every scientific discovery or technological advance -- and thus the whole country was moving forward and profiting, not suffering, every step of the way." [Ayn Rand]
-"Politicians never accuse you of 'greed' for wanting other people's money --- only for wanting to keep your own money." [Joseph Sobran]
-"In general the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to the other." [Voltaire]
-"I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution or that have failed their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is "needed" before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents "interests, " I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can." [Barry Goldwater]
-"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." [Samuel Adams]
-"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to runin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation of all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities." [Teddy Roosevelt in a speech before the Knights of Columbus]
-"The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." [Ayn Rand]
-"Do we really think that a government-dominated education is going to produce citizens capable of dominating their government, as the education of a truly vigilant self-governing people requires?" [Alan Keyes]
-"America's abundance was created not by public sacrifices to 'the common good,' but by the productive genius of free men who pursued their own personal interests and the making of their own private fortunes. They did not starve the people to pay for America's industrialization. They gave the people better jobs, higher wages and cheaper goods with every new machine they invented, with every scientific discovery or technological advance -- and thus the whole country was moving forward and profiting, not suffering, every step of the way." [Ayn Rand]
-"Politicians never accuse you of 'greed' for wanting other people's money --- only for wanting to keep your own money." [Joseph Sobran]
-"In general the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to the other." [Voltaire]
-"I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution or that have failed their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is "needed" before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents "interests, " I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can." [Barry Goldwater]
-"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." [Samuel Adams]
-"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to runin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation of all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities." [Teddy Roosevelt in a speech before the Knights of Columbus]
-"The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." [Ayn Rand]
-"Do we really think that a government-dominated education is going to produce citizens capable of dominating their government, as the education of a truly vigilant self-governing people requires?" [Alan Keyes]
Friday, October 28, 2005
Media Problems: Wagging the Dog...
Well, its about time I started ranting about the
media. After all, I spent far too much money getting a
degree in the subject.
This morning I was talking to a friend about "Waggin'
the Dog." If you aren't familiar with the term, this
is when an administrations creates news events to
distract from less favorable news events. I.E. Bush
making a Supreme Court Nomination to distract from the
expected Libby indictment. Or Clinton bombing an
Asprin factory to distract from a stained dress.
Now, TO BE CLEAR, I'm not here to discuss
administrations wagging the dog. Whether you believe
that either of these examples is actually a case of
wagging the dog or not, I DON'T CARE. I gave one of
each so Dem's and Rep's can both like it or not. I
don't want or care for comments about either.
My point here is about the media. And media
susceptibility to wagging the dog.
One of the more disturbing trends in media over the
past twenty years is the tendency toward narrow run
sheets. By that I mean that the number of individual
topics discussed in any broadcast or newpaper in a
given day is decreasing. Much like commercial pop
radio where they play the same songs over and over and
over again.
How many times have you turned to the CBS/ABC/NBC
nightly news and seen the first 15-20 minutes
dedicated to a single story? Worse still are the
24-hour cable news networks (yes, even FoxNews who I
love). They'll list a few different stories at the
news breaks every half hour, and then spend the entire
rest of the hour talking about only 1 or 2 stories.
This narrow focus is begging to be wagged. Pardon the
pun, of course. Narrow news coverage and focus makes
the media FAR more susceptible to media manipulation.
When you are so dedicated to the "top story of the
day", not only do you spend far too much time in
speculation with worthless pundits (of whom I hope to
be one someday), but you leave yourself with no
peripheral vision.. Does anyone else have a clear
vision of the old cartoon where a horse with blinders
has a carrot dangled in front of his face?
The upside is that few of us get our news from the
majors anymore, and those of us addicted to cable news
usually watch such while surfing blogs and news sites
online. So maybe, just maybe there is hope for the
American people, if not for the media.
Still, how sad is it when CBS has to admit, in this
regard at least, that Yahoo has better news coverage.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Coburn tries to kill transportation projects funds
From the Tulsa World
By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau
10/26/2005
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn on Tuesday called
for killing funding for special projects approved
earlier in a massive transportation bill as he rolled
out a package to help pay for hurricane relief
efforts.
That part of the package pushed by Coburn, R-Okla.,
and several other senators, however, drew no support
from other Oklahomans, neither in Congress nor back in
the state.
Several expressed outright opposition.
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., whose major role in putting
together the transportation bill helped boost the
state's share of the money, referred to the millions
earmarked for Interstate 44 in Tulsa as one of those
special projects appropriately prioritized.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Coburn has attempted
to take the lead in finding spending offsets to pay
for storm relief.
"Congress is learning what the American people already
know," he said. "Charity requires sacrifice."
Coburn was joined in unveiling the new package by
Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona, John Ensign
of Nevada, Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Sam Brownback
of Kansas and John Sununu of New Hampshire. GOP Sen.
Lindsey Graham of South Carolina
also is a member of the group.
With offsets totaling about $125 billion, their
package also calls for a 5 percent, across-the-board
spending cut for nonsecurity programs, a freeze on pay
raises for members of Congress and federal employees,
and a delay in the new Medicare prescription drug
program for all but low-income seniors.
"Among the American people there is a growing rumble
about our unsustainable fiscal course," Coburn said.
"I believe this package will help quiet that rumble
and build a bridge to fiscal sanity and
responsibility."
While other Oklahomans sympathized with his effort to
cut federal spending, they declined to go along with
his call for killing transportation funds.
"We desperately need it in the state of Oklahoma and
around the nation," Inhofe said.
"Besides that, what they are suggesting won't work."
Even if Coburn succeeds in killing all special project
money already signed into law by President Bush, he
said, most of the money would remain in each state
because it is part of the formula used to dole out
road funds.
Inhofe said all Coburn would succeed in doing is
taking away Oklahoma's authority to decide where the
money would go.
Rep. John Sullivan, R-Okla., stood by the project
money he helped get into the bill.
"When it comes to improving the condition of
Oklahoma's roads and bridges," Sullivan said, "the
safety of travelers should not be compromised."
Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla., said the funding allocated
for Oklahoma's roads and bridges will be vital to
economic development, job growth and safety.
Gary Ridley, director of the Oklahoma Department of
Transportation, also defended the state's special
projects included in the bill.
Ridley said their funding should remain.
Both Gov. Brad Henry and Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla.,
who hopes to challenge Henry next year in the general
election, declined to pick a side in the debate.
Coburn's efforts to kill special project money
triggered an unusual legislative brawl on the Senate
floor last week when he tried to kill funding
earmarked for Alaska projects.
Senators overwhelmingly rejected his efforts.
When the transportation bill passed the Senate, Coburn
joined Inhofe in voting for it as he had promised to
do during his 2004 campaign.
Coburn initially said on Tuesday that he did not know
whether he was sorry he had promised to vote for the
transportation bill, which traditionally is full of
so-called pork barrel projects.
"I didn't know that it was going to be that bad," he
insisted, even though the bill's final passage had
been delayed for years and had been the focus of
numerous news stories and even veto threats from the
Bush administration.
When pressed, Coburn eventually said he was not sorry
he made the campaign pledge.
__________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page!
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
Candidate Forum Tonight - Reminder
Just a reminder.
Tonight (Thursday, Oct. 27th) at 7 pm, the Brazos
County Young Republicans will host a Candidates Forum
at the College Station Conference Center at 1300
George Bush Dr.
The forum will feature Republican candidates for
Congressional District 17, Van Taylor and Tucker
Anderson. Each will offer a 10 minute
self-introduction, then draw issue-related questions
prepared by local party leadership. Following the
event, time is scheduled for one-on-one interaction
and media interviews.
Hope to see you there.
Austin Moore
VP - Brazos County Young Republicans
__________________________________
Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click.
http://farechase.yahoo.com
Sunday, October 23, 2005
The Coburn Amendment... aka... Who's side are they on?
Not long ago, Congress let us down by passing a gross violation of public trust in the form of a pork-laden transportation bill to an extreme seldom if ever seen before. Then Katrina came along with its massive bill for rebuilding. At that point, so many of us began calling for repeal of the recent transportation bill and all pork removal as a way to pay for Katrina. To most in the House and Senate, this fell on deaf ears. After all, politicians are politicians and its far easier to buy votes than to earn them.
However, there are some true fiscal patriots in the Senate. Both Republicans and Democrats. Senator Coburn of my home state, Oklahoma, is one of these. And last Thursday, he made me truly proud. Knowing the amendment would go down to defeat, he offered it all the same, if for no other reason than to draw a line in the sand and learn just who is on the side of the American taxpayers, and who is clearly not.
"This amendment will transfer funding from the wasteful pork project, the "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska, to the repair and reconstruction of the "Twin Spans" bridge in Louisiana. According to published reports, the Alaskan pork project costs $220 million for a 5.9-mile bridge connecting Gravina Island (population 50) to the Alaskan mainland. The cost of the bridge alone would be enough to buy every island resident his own personal Lear jet."
This was but one example of ridiculous pork. These are funds that should have never been taken from our pockets or allocated to a personal pet project. Now that a genuine need exists, no public servant with even an ounce of personal integrity can honestly defend such expenditures. The wretched back room deals that defeated this amendment and all suggestions for like-minded measures to date are the great, loathsome bane of our legislative process. Those who will not stand for us, the American tax-payers, do not deserve even renomination by their own parties.
What follows are the vote details and the results. I am personally ashamed that my two CURRENT Senators, Cornyn and Hutchison, are among those who voted "nay". You may look up the details on thomas.loc.gov. I encourage you to let your voice be heard. If they are going to go out shopping for votes, we can go out shopping for candidates.
------
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress - 1st Session as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill
Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate.
Vote Summary
Question: On the Amendment (Coburn Amdt. No. 2165, As Modified )
Vote Number: 262
Vote Date: October 20, 2005, 06:03 PM
Required For Majority: 1/2
Vote Result: Amendment Rejected
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 2165 to H.R. 3058 (Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 )
Statement of Purpose: To make a perfecting amendment.
Vote Counts:
YEAs 15
NAYs 82
Not Voting 3
However, there are some true fiscal patriots in the Senate. Both Republicans and Democrats. Senator Coburn of my home state, Oklahoma, is one of these. And last Thursday, he made me truly proud. Knowing the amendment would go down to defeat, he offered it all the same, if for no other reason than to draw a line in the sand and learn just who is on the side of the American taxpayers, and who is clearly not.
"This amendment will transfer funding from the wasteful pork project, the "Bridge to Nowhere" in Alaska, to the repair and reconstruction of the "Twin Spans" bridge in Louisiana. According to published reports, the Alaskan pork project costs $220 million for a 5.9-mile bridge connecting Gravina Island (population 50) to the Alaskan mainland. The cost of the bridge alone would be enough to buy every island resident his own personal Lear jet."
This was but one example of ridiculous pork. These are funds that should have never been taken from our pockets or allocated to a personal pet project. Now that a genuine need exists, no public servant with even an ounce of personal integrity can honestly defend such expenditures. The wretched back room deals that defeated this amendment and all suggestions for like-minded measures to date are the great, loathsome bane of our legislative process. Those who will not stand for us, the American tax-payers, do not deserve even renomination by their own parties.
What follows are the vote details and the results. I am personally ashamed that my two CURRENT Senators, Cornyn and Hutchison, are among those who voted "nay". You may look up the details on thomas.loc.gov. I encourage you to let your voice be heard. If they are going to go out shopping for votes, we can go out shopping for candidates.
------
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress - 1st Session as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill
Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate.
Vote Summary
Question: On the Amendment (Coburn Amdt. No. 2165, As Modified )
Vote Number: 262
Vote Date: October 20, 2005, 06:03 PM
Required For Majority: 1/2
Vote Result: Amendment Rejected
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 2165 to H.R. 3058 (Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 )
Statement of Purpose: To make a perfecting amendment.
Vote Counts:
YEAs 15
NAYs 82
Not Voting 3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)