If Mitch McConnell's posture on this wasn't so pompous, this story would be laughable.
The blogosphere has grown to far greater power than mainstream media will ever hold again. In the conservative blogger world, there are a few kingmakers. Erick Erickson is one. His blogging platform with 'diary' ability is not only one of the largest communities out there, it is populated by both conservative and democratic politicians of national caliber.
Anyone who brushes aside the power of avatars in commentary, social media and the blogosphere is locked in the past. And probably should stay away from running for public office as they do not stand a chance in this day and age if they are not participating or at minimum, keeping their finger on the pulse.
This response to McConnell's very poorly thought out statement that Erickson has 'no audience' is beautifully responded to by Erick today.
Out there in Red State:
"....I grew up thinking Mitch McConnell was a right wing warrior. It turns out he’s just a typical Washingtonian appropriator who has presided over a massive expansion of the welfare state doing not much more than issuing bold platitudes as he cuts deals to expand government spending and along the way made some major tactical and strategic blunders that groups like ACORN were able to thrive.
Let’s review the record.
In the 1990′s Mitch McConnell, then the Republican manager against the Motor Voter bill, made the brilliant tactical decision to not filibuster the motion to take up the bill. Consequently it passed. ACORN and other left-wing groups were emboldened to do what they’ve done over the past two decades. Yes, people forget that it was Mitch McConnell’s tactical decision to let Motor Voter get to the floor of the Senate despite the warnings of what would happen. Passage of that law made it ever easier to engage in voter registration fraud. McConnell had the votes to stop it from being considered, but once it got to the floor of the Senate everyone knew there were enough wobbly Republicans who would not dare go on record actually opposing it on passage.
In the early 2000′s when McCain-Feingold went through the Senate, McConnell yet again cut out the legs of its opponents telling them not to worry because he’d let the Supreme Court do their dirty work for them and kill it. McConnell lost in the Supreme Court.
Mitch McConnell’s more recent record makes clear he is more interested in being Majority Leader than advancing any sort of conservative principles. It’s all about McConnell.
He is an appropriations cardinal in the Senate who has routinely stymied fiscal conservative efforts to rein in spending by Senators Coburn, DeMint, and even John McCain.
Recall, if you will, Senator McConnell didn’t just vote for the Wall Street bailouts, he rescued it from near defeat by adding earmarks to TARP after it failed in the House.
As I mentioned, in 2010 Mitch McConnell backed Arlen Specter against Pat Toomey, Charlie Crist against Marco Rubio, Robert Bennett against Mike Lee, and Trey Grayson against Rand Paul.
After House GOP made a stand on payroll tax this past winter, McConnell pulled the rug out and cut a deal with Harry Reid that paid for a payroll tax cut with increases to home mortgages. Allen West said he felt betrayed over this.
McConnell personally recruited Senator Roy Blunt to stop conservative Ron Johnson from winning a key leadership spot.
McConnell vowed to block conservatives from forcing votes on full repeal of Obamacare this year, then flipped and said he’d force votes in March when RepealIt.org threatened to run ads for him to resign, He has yet to keep his promise to force votes. McConnell’s loyal lieutenants in the Senate, at the time, explained that forcing full repeal votes on the Democrats would undermine their ability to cut deals with Harry Reid.
Senator McConnell just last week voted with Senate Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee against Paul Ryan’s budget spending levels. Last year McConnell refused to whip support for Ryan’s budget when it came up for a vote in the Senate.
Senator McConnell and his allies frequently say he has to do what he does because they must keep the moderates to be in the majority. Except 2010 gives the lie away. In races conservatives absolutely could win, McConnell sided with the moderates. Behind the scenes, on issues like Obamacare that remain hugely unpopular with the American people, McConnell cuts deals with the Democrats instead of forcing votes.
McConnell is emblematic of all that is wrong with Washington, D.C. He covets power relentlessly and only acts when it is threatened, then only doing so much as to stop the threat without actually leading. Along the way, he has been deeply complicit in putting our Republican in a position of bankruptcy.
I may be a nobody with no audience, but Mitch McConnell is a leader with no spine to lead."
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
April 26, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times/Melanie Sturm "Sex, lies and videotaped government scandals"
There are some great 'blogosphere' catch phrases that have risen to the top over this election cycle:
'fauxtrage' (fake rage or fake outrage)
'manufactured outrage' (good old fashioned yellow journalism ratcheted up to viral speeds)
FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Disinformation)
FUDD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt and Disinformation)
YAACA (Yet Another Attempted Character Assassination)
Psycho Op (preferred methods of a power abuser)
EPAE (Executive Power Abuse Extravaganza)
I think the latter about sums up the HookerGate scandal down in Columbia.
Terrific take on the story. From Melanie Sturm. Up on the Aspen Times.
Melanie Sturm:
"In other words, the onus is on us. Politicians will concern themselves with our interests only if they think we care. If we don't care that they've violated the law by refusing to adopt a budget, and that they've spent us $16 trillion into debt, what do we care about?
Demand accountability and restraint, and don't allow the word “trillion” to be normalized; after all, a trillion hours ago, dinosaurs roamed the earth! Don't wait for the right people to get elected; remember, Bluto became a U.S. senator despite his 0.0 GPA. It's a basic rule of life — If we tolerate out-of-control “Animal House” behavior and indifferent “Animal Farm” attitudes, we'll just get more of it.
Think Again. It's not only a fiscal imperative — it's a moral one...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
'fauxtrage' (fake rage or fake outrage)
'manufactured outrage' (good old fashioned yellow journalism ratcheted up to viral speeds)
FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Disinformation)
FUDD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt and Disinformation)
YAACA (Yet Another Attempted Character Assassination)
Psycho Op (preferred methods of a power abuser)
EPAE (Executive Power Abuse Extravaganza)
I think the latter about sums up the HookerGate scandal down in Columbia.
Terrific take on the story. From Melanie Sturm. Up on the Aspen Times.
Melanie Sturm:
"In other words, the onus is on us. Politicians will concern themselves with our interests only if they think we care. If we don't care that they've violated the law by refusing to adopt a budget, and that they've spent us $16 trillion into debt, what do we care about?
Demand accountability and restraint, and don't allow the word “trillion” to be normalized; after all, a trillion hours ago, dinosaurs roamed the earth! Don't wait for the right people to get elected; remember, Bluto became a U.S. senator despite his 0.0 GPA. It's a basic rule of life — If we tolerate out-of-control “Animal House” behavior and indifferent “Animal Farm” attitudes, we'll just get more of it.
Think Again. It's not only a fiscal imperative — it's a moral one...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: SkyHi Daily/William Hamilton "Hookergate, blame Bush"
William Hamilton:
"Apparently, President Obama's job-stimulus plan extended all the way to Cartegena where your tax dollars created temporary employment for 21 Colombian women. Some of the Secret Service agents said they did not realize the women for whom they were providing temporary employment were prostitutes. They must have skipped the class on facial- and body-language recognition.
Eleven Secret Service agents and 11 military personnel are under investigation, some dismissed already. Everyone lost their security clearance. The alleged military miscreants include: five Green Berets, two bomb experts, two dog handlers, one sailor, and one airman.
Military apologists suggest the troops were under stress. Hello. Bomb disposers are always under stress. Maybe the dog handlers worried because President Obama says he used to eat dogs. Probably least stressed were the crafty, savior-faire Green Berets who typically have: a divorce, a Randall Knife, a Rolex, a Kimber .45, a star-sapphire ring, and are skilled at working “undercover.” As for Hookergate, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Martin Dempsey, said he was embarrassed because military personnel took the spotlight off of President Obama's trip to Cartegena.
When the demand by Cartegena entrepreneur, Dania Suarez, for $800 was negotiated down to $225, late-night TV comedians suggested the Secret Service agent in question should be put in charge of our trade deficit. Coming on top of the $823,000 party thrown by GSA officials in Las Vegas, Hookergate prompted The Financial Times to editorialize: “The daily parade of details of incompetence and impropriety among Washington agencies accentuates the findings of a Gallup poll last year which found an alarming loss of public faith in U.S. government institutions.”
Recently, Peggy Noonan, writing in The Wall Street Journal, noted a decline in the American character. For sure, things have changed. During the Reagan administration, Wonder Wife and I had three occasions to work closely with the Secret Service and the Reagan-Bush White House when then Vice President Bush twice visited Lincoln, Neb., and once when President Reagan made a speech in Omaha.
The Secret Service agents and the political Advance Men we worked with were serious, sober-minded individuals who were all-business. The Secret Service agents were no fun at all. For one thing, they don't have to be buddies with everyone...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Apparently, President Obama's job-stimulus plan extended all the way to Cartegena where your tax dollars created temporary employment for 21 Colombian women. Some of the Secret Service agents said they did not realize the women for whom they were providing temporary employment were prostitutes. They must have skipped the class on facial- and body-language recognition.
Eleven Secret Service agents and 11 military personnel are under investigation, some dismissed already. Everyone lost their security clearance. The alleged military miscreants include: five Green Berets, two bomb experts, two dog handlers, one sailor, and one airman.
Military apologists suggest the troops were under stress. Hello. Bomb disposers are always under stress. Maybe the dog handlers worried because President Obama says he used to eat dogs. Probably least stressed were the crafty, savior-faire Green Berets who typically have: a divorce, a Randall Knife, a Rolex, a Kimber .45, a star-sapphire ring, and are skilled at working “undercover.” As for Hookergate, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Martin Dempsey, said he was embarrassed because military personnel took the spotlight off of President Obama's trip to Cartegena.
When the demand by Cartegena entrepreneur, Dania Suarez, for $800 was negotiated down to $225, late-night TV comedians suggested the Secret Service agent in question should be put in charge of our trade deficit. Coming on top of the $823,000 party thrown by GSA officials in Las Vegas, Hookergate prompted The Financial Times to editorialize: “The daily parade of details of incompetence and impropriety among Washington agencies accentuates the findings of a Gallup poll last year which found an alarming loss of public faith in U.S. government institutions.”
Recently, Peggy Noonan, writing in The Wall Street Journal, noted a decline in the American character. For sure, things have changed. During the Reagan administration, Wonder Wife and I had three occasions to work closely with the Secret Service and the Reagan-Bush White House when then Vice President Bush twice visited Lincoln, Neb., and once when President Reagan made a speech in Omaha.
The Secret Service agents and the political Advance Men we worked with were serious, sober-minded individuals who were all-business. The Secret Service agents were no fun at all. For one thing, they don't have to be buddies with everyone...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Bloomberg "High Court Skeptical of Obama’s Use of Power as Campaign Starts"
Greg Stohr:
"President Barack Obama faces the specter of twin setbacks at the U.S. Supreme Court in the middle of his re-election campaign with justices questioning his assertion of federal power on both health care and immigration.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"President Barack Obama faces the specter of twin setbacks at the U.S. Supreme Court in the middle of his re-election campaign with justices questioning his assertion of federal power on both health care and immigration.
U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, the president’s top courtroom lawyer, met resistance across ideological lines yesterday as he called on the court to strike down Arizona’s crackdown on illegal immigrants. Even Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court’s only Hispanic and an Obama appointee, told Verrilli his argument is “not selling very well.” ...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxBlogs: Fort Morgan Times "EMS Symposium offers education to locals"
Dan Barker:
"Crone warned the participants that they might face some new situations with the designer drugs that are out on the streets now.
For example, there is a form of synthetic marijuana often called spice or K-2 that causes agitation or aggression instead of the relative calm of true marijuana, although it looks and smells similar to marijuana, he said.
Also, there are designer drugs disguised as bath salts but intended for consumption. It is a stimulant meant to give a similar effect to cocaine or methamphetamine, Crone said.
EMS workers could run into young people who have used these substances. If they are showing altered mental status, emergency responders may want to consider whether they have consumed these products, he said.
They can do damage to internal organs, Crone warned.
In the decontamination drill, a simulated zone was set aside as a place where hazardous waste had spilled. Part of the process is to separate all non-essential items such as backpacks, notebooks or technology and put them in a special container for disposal. People will never get those things back....."
(Read more? Click title)
SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "CBP officers Nab 14-Year-Old with 14.9 Pounds of Marijuana"
"Columbus, New Mexico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Columbus port of entry seized 14.9 pounds of marijuana Wednesday. The drugs were concealed in a school backpack being carried by a 14-year-old boy.
P
P“Forty percent of the marijuana seizures made at the Columbus port of entry this year have involved smugglers age 17 or younger,” said CBP Columbus port director Robert Reza. “This number should be alarming to the parents of area teens because the consequences of this illegal activity can be severe and life altering.”
The most recent case occurred at approximately 6:30 Wednesday morning when a 14-year-old boy from Palomas, Mexico, entered the facility as a pedestrian. A CBP officer at the primary inspection booth conducted an exam of the boy’s backpack and spotted bundles commonly associated with drug smuggling.
A total of 14 marijuana-filled bundles weighing 14.96 pounds were removed from the backpack. The teen and drugs were turned over to the Border Area Task Force for prosecution. In addition to the Wednesday bust CBP has recorded five additional juvenile drug smuggling cases at Columbus.
On March 26, CBP officers at the Columbus port seized 7.5 pounds of marijuana from a 16-year-old Palomas girl. The drugs were found in her backpack.
On March 22, CBP officers at the Columbus port seized 1 pound of marijuana from a 17-year-old Palomas boy. The drugs were taped to his leg.
On February 22, CBP officers at the Columbus port seized 14.9 pounds of marijuana from a 16-year-old Palomas girl. The drugs were found hidden in the seats of a car she was driving.
On February 7, CBP officers at the Columbus port seized 2.2 pounds of marijuana from a 14-year-old Palomas boy. The drugs were found in his backpack.
On January 29, CBP officers at the Columbus port seized 482.6 pounds of marijuana from a 16-year-old Deming boy. The drugs were found in the floor of a vehicle the boy was driving.
“We encourage parents to talk to their kids about the dangers associated with drug smuggling so they won’t be tempted to join the ranks of those we’ve already arrested,” said Reza.
While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws."
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Second teenager in alleged kidnapping plot is arrested"
Chad Abraham:
"A 17-year-old Basalt resident was arrested Wednesday for his alleged role in a plot to kidnap, tie up and leave for dead another Basalt teenager.
The 17-year-old, described by Basalt police as the main accomplice to the 15-year-old boy who allegedly admitted last week to planning the attack, was arrested on felony charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree kidnapping.
Mark Hurlbert, head prosecutor in the 5th Judicial District, said Wednesday that no decision had been made yet as to what charges will be formally filed against the youths. Only the 17-year-old could potentially be charged as an adult, another decision that is pending, Hurlbert said. His office is handling the case because the alleged plot occurred in the Eagle County portion of the midvalley.
The 15-year-old, a Basalt High sophomore who was taken into custody Friday for an unrelated probation issue, and others planned to lure the potential victim to Arbaney Park. The main suspect said he had a beef with the other youth related to drug dealing and a girl, Basalt police Sgt. Stu Curry said last week.
At the park, they allegedly intended to beat the teen with baseball bats until he was incapacitated, tie him up with duct tape and drive up to Ruedi Reservoir.
There, according to the alleged confession, they would “take him out into the woods and let him starve to death,” says a police press release. “The juvenile suspect admitted he wanted the victim to suffer [and] admitted to planning this for the last four weeks.”
“I’ve never seen this level of planning for any crime, whether it’s an adult or a juvenile,” Curry said Friday. “This is very unique to our valley.”
Early last week, parents of some of those allegedly involved found a diagram of the assault plan drawn by the 15-year-old. They contacted police, thinking it involved a drug deal....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"A 17-year-old Basalt resident was arrested Wednesday for his alleged role in a plot to kidnap, tie up and leave for dead another Basalt teenager.
The 17-year-old, described by Basalt police as the main accomplice to the 15-year-old boy who allegedly admitted last week to planning the attack, was arrested on felony charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree kidnapping.
Mark Hurlbert, head prosecutor in the 5th Judicial District, said Wednesday that no decision had been made yet as to what charges will be formally filed against the youths. Only the 17-year-old could potentially be charged as an adult, another decision that is pending, Hurlbert said. His office is handling the case because the alleged plot occurred in the Eagle County portion of the midvalley.
The 15-year-old, a Basalt High sophomore who was taken into custody Friday for an unrelated probation issue, and others planned to lure the potential victim to Arbaney Park. The main suspect said he had a beef with the other youth related to drug dealing and a girl, Basalt police Sgt. Stu Curry said last week.
At the park, they allegedly intended to beat the teen with baseball bats until he was incapacitated, tie him up with duct tape and drive up to Ruedi Reservoir.
There, according to the alleged confession, they would “take him out into the woods and let him starve to death,” says a police press release. “The juvenile suspect admitted he wanted the victim to suffer [and] admitted to planning this for the last four weeks.”
“I’ve never seen this level of planning for any crime, whether it’s an adult or a juvenile,” Curry said Friday. “This is very unique to our valley.”
Early last week, parents of some of those allegedly involved found a diagram of the assault plan drawn by the 15-year-old. They contacted police, thinking it involved a drug deal....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Ariz. migrant case could lead to sweeping changes"
What is this (mostly conservative based) concept of "humane immigration reform"?
Are you aware of the high fatality rates there are in the cess pool that is human trafficking and smuggling? Do some research, set up regular bulletin notifications from ICE, Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and DEA. Get informed.
Are you aware of the estimated crime that is committed, yet unreported and failed to prosecute against illegal foreign nationals, especially children, because they cannot come in from the shadows for fear of deportation? Do some digging for your locale and surrounding area. Get informed.
Are you aware that the vast majority of conservative politicians, conservative voters, various stages of law enforcement and homeland military are not "evil monsters who want no immigration and want only closed borders"? If you're not, you are not paying close enough attention to direct source information and listening to media that wishes to drown out the facts.
One of the very best GOP debate exchanges was made by Texas Governor Rick Perry up against the determined liberal heart of Diane Sawyer.
He absolutely refused to engage with her repeated baiting and taunting of him to give her a firm answer on exactly "how" he would reform immigration policies.
His point (which clearly won the exchange) was that it was a pointless, fruitless and damaging to all parties conversation until the borders are secured. First, secure the borders. Then reform. It is the only way for humane immigration reform to have a chance.
Think about the concept.
Stop the horrific cost to human life by stopping the human smuggling. Secure the border so that everyone can be accounted for on both sides. Amnesty is not an option, but consideration for individual circumstances is. But first, everyone must come in from the shadows and be accounted for.
How 'humane' is the belief that a porous, highly dangerous to human life border is the best option for illegals?
This news over the past few days that SCOTUS is showing strong favor to upholding Arizona's original immigration law that would allow for law enforcement to prove legal citizenship is one of the most humane efforts toward illegal immigrants to date.
Congratulations to the State of Arizona for staying the course and at least getting to this point. We'll keep our fingers crossed on this end.
JACQUES BILLEAUD
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Are you aware of the high fatality rates there are in the cess pool that is human trafficking and smuggling? Do some research, set up regular bulletin notifications from ICE, Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and DEA. Get informed.
Are you aware of the estimated crime that is committed, yet unreported and failed to prosecute against illegal foreign nationals, especially children, because they cannot come in from the shadows for fear of deportation? Do some digging for your locale and surrounding area. Get informed.
Are you aware that the vast majority of conservative politicians, conservative voters, various stages of law enforcement and homeland military are not "evil monsters who want no immigration and want only closed borders"? If you're not, you are not paying close enough attention to direct source information and listening to media that wishes to drown out the facts.
One of the very best GOP debate exchanges was made by Texas Governor Rick Perry up against the determined liberal heart of Diane Sawyer.
He absolutely refused to engage with her repeated baiting and taunting of him to give her a firm answer on exactly "how" he would reform immigration policies.
His point (which clearly won the exchange) was that it was a pointless, fruitless and damaging to all parties conversation until the borders are secured. First, secure the borders. Then reform. It is the only way for humane immigration reform to have a chance.
Think about the concept.
Stop the horrific cost to human life by stopping the human smuggling. Secure the border so that everyone can be accounted for on both sides. Amnesty is not an option, but consideration for individual circumstances is. But first, everyone must come in from the shadows and be accounted for.
How 'humane' is the belief that a porous, highly dangerous to human life border is the best option for illegals?
This news over the past few days that SCOTUS is showing strong favor to upholding Arizona's original immigration law that would allow for law enforcement to prove legal citizenship is one of the most humane efforts toward illegal immigrants to date.
Congratulations to the State of Arizona for staying the course and at least getting to this point. We'll keep our fingers crossed on this end.
JACQUES BILLEAUD
"PHOENIX (AP) — The United States could see an official about-face in the coming months in how it confronts illegal immigration if the Supreme Court follows through on its suggestion that it would let local police enforce the most controversial part of Arizona's immigration law.
Over the last several years, states frustrated with America's porous borders, have rejected the long held notion that Washington is responsible for confronting illegal immigration and have passed a flurry of laws to let local police confront illegal immigration. The Supreme Court is poised in the coming months to let the states know whether they haven't crossed the line.
The justices strongly suggested Wednesday that they are ready to let Arizona enforce the most controversial part of its law, a requirement that police officers check the immigration status of people they suspect are in the country illegally. Such a ruling could codify the type of local enforcement that some local authorities in Arizona have carried out over the last six years and open the door to such enforcement in states with similar laws, such as Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah.
"I think you'll see more involvement by local police in immigration enforcement, an involvement that hadn't previously been seen," Kevin Johnson, law school dean at the University of California-Davis and an expert in immigration law, said of the possibility of Arizona's law being upheld.
The most controversial parts of the Arizona law were put on hold by a federal judge shortly before they were to take effect in late July 2010, but the statute has encouraged other states to take up similar legislation and — combined with other state immigration laws and an ailing economy — played a part in 170,000 illegal immigrants leaving Arizona since 2007....." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxBlogs: KJCT News 8 "Local Cops See Crime Rates Fall After Gas Bust"
Don Coleman:
"PARACHUTE, Colo. -- A smaller police force is a sign of the times in Parachute after a boom and bust in oil and gas production in the area, but so is much less of a crime rate.
Since peaking at around 8,000 calls to service in 2006, the number has been cut in half with fewer industry workers in town.
"We've seen a lot of people move out," Chief Cary Parmenter with the Parachute Police Department said.
"We've got a large apartment complex in town that is half empty now."
Last year, Parmenter says the town saw 4,257 calls which is close to the pre-development numbers of about 3,000 calls each year. He recalled struggling to meet the demand when crime was much more of a problem.
"Before oil shale, we had three officers on staff. It took us a while to hire and train more, but we ended up with a staff of eight," Parmenter explained.
Even though the number of crimes had increased, Parmenter says the severity of those crimes did not necessarily go in the same direction although the industry brought with it the town's first and only murder...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"PARACHUTE, Colo. -- A smaller police force is a sign of the times in Parachute after a boom and bust in oil and gas production in the area, but so is much less of a crime rate.
Since peaking at around 8,000 calls to service in 2006, the number has been cut in half with fewer industry workers in town.
"We've seen a lot of people move out," Chief Cary Parmenter with the Parachute Police Department said.
"We've got a large apartment complex in town that is half empty now."
Last year, Parmenter says the town saw 4,257 calls which is close to the pre-development numbers of about 3,000 calls each year. He recalled struggling to meet the demand when crime was much more of a problem.
"Before oil shale, we had three officers on staff. It took us a while to hire and train more, but we ended up with a staff of eight," Parmenter explained.
Even though the number of crimes had increased, Parmenter says the severity of those crimes did not necessarily go in the same direction although the industry brought with it the town's first and only murder...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Eagle Valley Enterprise "Where did the money come from?"
Still yet another monster-size real estate development that has questionable activity behind it.
When, are elected officials and investigative reporters going to educate themselves on these large-scale projects and stop trying to either pin or look for the major financial, business and personal losses to the folks by obsessively focusing on only the latest red-flag details?
Stop and think about what it would take just to paint 500,000 sq. ft. of wide-ranging types of buildings. What it would take to dig the holes, pour the concrete, how many door knobs it will take, how many times architects, designers, engineers and every professional involved have to be consulted over details. What it takes, through something called 'procurement', to get these monster size projects to the end bidding and approvals process.
Tomorrow, on Friday, April 27, 2012; District Judge Fred Gannett rules on the 'Four Seasons/Layton Construction' lawsuit. At stake are tens of millions of dollars. Already lost are years of full financial solvency for 95% of those involved. On both sides. The devil is in the details and the details, as all large-scale qualified construction industry folk know; are decided long, long, long before the General Contractor becomes involved.
It is that remaining 5% of financially solvent individuals involved, after all the builders, trades, professionals, etc. etc. etc. are all stripped away; that should be the focus of "Where the money came from", "Where did the money go?" and "Why do we have project build issues?".
A regional avatar in commentary gave out a very good anonymous tip the other day, on a very valuable and future developing chunk of real estate called Spring Valley, just outside of Glenwood Springs.
He pointed out two bidding procurement engines that pump out the vast majority, at one time or another, of all major projects such as Eagle River Station and future developments like Spring Valley. Eagle River Station is the topic of this story today, over on the Eagle Valley Enterprise.
Bid Clerk and Dodge Reports.
There are many others, but those two are easy to navigate and among the largest for our area.
What is not readily understood, is that these projects take years, literally years, before they hit public awareness where reporters can find them. Unless, of course, said reporters educate themselves on where the true beginnings of these projects are.
They also are required, dependent on what type of project they are, to publicly post the pertinents of who is involved. It is required by law. That does not mean that the big power players are not going to toss up some obscure LLC, but they do have to give the LLC right from the onset of diligence and due process.
On projects the size of Four Seasons, Eagle River Station, Base Village and original Cordillera; the pertinents, including players, will alter and change for sometimes up to years before they even get to the bid process looking for a General Contractor.
The development doesn't even see the desktop of a councilman, commissioner or Trustee until long after the GC is signed and on deck. Most of the time not until long after the building and planning departments and boards the elected officials sit in oversight on; have already signed off.
Procurement processes are where all the data lies, that our commissioners, councils and trustees should be intimately familar with if they truly have the public best interests at heart. All of it detailed data that they never even see. Yet, when the devil shows up in those details down the road, the first place he sets up camp is on the desktop of commissioners, councilman and trustees.
It will not be until the oversight at the end, educates themselves as to the dynamic that plays out in large-scale and custom construction from the beginning, that the shuck and jive of the shell games that are these major projects; are brought under fair and just controls on behalf of the workers who actually do the work and the end consumer.
Wonder what would happen if officials and authorities just started trusting that nagging sense impression that something..is wrong somewhere and it's best to look deeper?
Pam Boyd:
"A month after the former Eagle Town Board voted 6-1 to approve the plan for Eagle River Station and set a May 22 citizen referendum regarding the proposed development, the issue is still generating heated discussion for the newly elected board.
Eagle River Station is a commercial/residential project proposed by Trinity RED Development on the eastern end of town, south of Interstate 70 and north of U.S. Highway 6. The 88-acre property would include 582,000 square feet of commercial space and 250 rental units in the first phase. The second phase calls for up to 150,000 square feet of commercial space and another 300 rental units. This is the second incarnation of ERS. In January 2010, voters rejected the initial ERS plan and Trinity RED Development retooled its proposal and resubmitted the plan to the town last year.
During public comment at Tuesday's town board meeting, a cadre of citizens spoke in favor of the ERS proposal and took newly elected trustee Brandi Resa to task for her role in defeating the previous ERS proposal.
Resident Mitch Hayne questioned the whether it is appropriate for Resa to write a Valley Voices column, presenting “her version of a meeting without the approval of the whole board.” He reintroduced a question that was poised two weeks ago — Where did the money come from for the anti-ERS campaign in 2010?
“It is critical for the community to know where that money came from,” said Hayne. He said because of her involvement in the anti-ERS effort, Resa should know who donated the campaign money and said the town deserved an answer to the question.
Mayor Yuri Kostick noted there was a financial report submitted to the town regarding the anti-ERS campaign and that the report did not list Resa as chairman.
“The question is not whether she was the chairperson. It was does she know where the money came from?” said town board member Scott Turnipseed. “If the money was from out-of-town, people have the right to know where it came from.....” (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
When, are elected officials and investigative reporters going to educate themselves on these large-scale projects and stop trying to either pin or look for the major financial, business and personal losses to the folks by obsessively focusing on only the latest red-flag details?
Stop and think about what it would take just to paint 500,000 sq. ft. of wide-ranging types of buildings. What it would take to dig the holes, pour the concrete, how many door knobs it will take, how many times architects, designers, engineers and every professional involved have to be consulted over details. What it takes, through something called 'procurement', to get these monster size projects to the end bidding and approvals process.
Tomorrow, on Friday, April 27, 2012; District Judge Fred Gannett rules on the 'Four Seasons/Layton Construction' lawsuit. At stake are tens of millions of dollars. Already lost are years of full financial solvency for 95% of those involved. On both sides. The devil is in the details and the details, as all large-scale qualified construction industry folk know; are decided long, long, long before the General Contractor becomes involved.
It is that remaining 5% of financially solvent individuals involved, after all the builders, trades, professionals, etc. etc. etc. are all stripped away; that should be the focus of "Where the money came from", "Where did the money go?" and "Why do we have project build issues?".
A regional avatar in commentary gave out a very good anonymous tip the other day, on a very valuable and future developing chunk of real estate called Spring Valley, just outside of Glenwood Springs.
He pointed out two bidding procurement engines that pump out the vast majority, at one time or another, of all major projects such as Eagle River Station and future developments like Spring Valley. Eagle River Station is the topic of this story today, over on the Eagle Valley Enterprise.
Bid Clerk and Dodge Reports.
There are many others, but those two are easy to navigate and among the largest for our area.
What is not readily understood, is that these projects take years, literally years, before they hit public awareness where reporters can find them. Unless, of course, said reporters educate themselves on where the true beginnings of these projects are.
They also are required, dependent on what type of project they are, to publicly post the pertinents of who is involved. It is required by law. That does not mean that the big power players are not going to toss up some obscure LLC, but they do have to give the LLC right from the onset of diligence and due process.
On projects the size of Four Seasons, Eagle River Station, Base Village and original Cordillera; the pertinents, including players, will alter and change for sometimes up to years before they even get to the bid process looking for a General Contractor.
The development doesn't even see the desktop of a councilman, commissioner or Trustee until long after the GC is signed and on deck. Most of the time not until long after the building and planning departments and boards the elected officials sit in oversight on; have already signed off.
Procurement processes are where all the data lies, that our commissioners, councils and trustees should be intimately familar with if they truly have the public best interests at heart. All of it detailed data that they never even see. Yet, when the devil shows up in those details down the road, the first place he sets up camp is on the desktop of commissioners, councilman and trustees.
It will not be until the oversight at the end, educates themselves as to the dynamic that plays out in large-scale and custom construction from the beginning, that the shuck and jive of the shell games that are these major projects; are brought under fair and just controls on behalf of the workers who actually do the work and the end consumer.
Wonder what would happen if officials and authorities just started trusting that nagging sense impression that something..is wrong somewhere and it's best to look deeper?
Pam Boyd:
"A month after the former Eagle Town Board voted 6-1 to approve the plan for Eagle River Station and set a May 22 citizen referendum regarding the proposed development, the issue is still generating heated discussion for the newly elected board.
Eagle River Station is a commercial/residential project proposed by Trinity RED Development on the eastern end of town, south of Interstate 70 and north of U.S. Highway 6. The 88-acre property would include 582,000 square feet of commercial space and 250 rental units in the first phase. The second phase calls for up to 150,000 square feet of commercial space and another 300 rental units. This is the second incarnation of ERS. In January 2010, voters rejected the initial ERS plan and Trinity RED Development retooled its proposal and resubmitted the plan to the town last year.
During public comment at Tuesday's town board meeting, a cadre of citizens spoke in favor of the ERS proposal and took newly elected trustee Brandi Resa to task for her role in defeating the previous ERS proposal.
Resident Mitch Hayne questioned the whether it is appropriate for Resa to write a Valley Voices column, presenting “her version of a meeting without the approval of the whole board.” He reintroduced a question that was poised two weeks ago — Where did the money come from for the anti-ERS campaign in 2010?
“It is critical for the community to know where that money came from,” said Hayne. He said because of her involvement in the anti-ERS effort, Resa should know who donated the campaign money and said the town deserved an answer to the question.
Mayor Yuri Kostick noted there was a financial report submitted to the town regarding the anti-ERS campaign and that the report did not list Resa as chairman.
“The question is not whether she was the chairperson. It was does she know where the money came from?” said town board member Scott Turnipseed. “If the money was from out-of-town, people have the right to know where it came from.....” (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "More redevelopment projects submitted for downtown Aspen"
Curtis Wackerle:
"There is no on-site parking planned with the Victorian Square development, and affordable housing requirements are proposed to be satisfied through the purchase of affordable housing credit certificates. The applicant is Victorian Square LLC, and Garfield, the attorney, is listed as the contact on the application on file in City Hall....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"There is no on-site parking planned with the Victorian Square development, and affordable housing requirements are proposed to be satisfied through the purchase of affordable housing credit certificates. The applicant is Victorian Square LLC, and Garfield, the attorney, is listed as the contact on the application on file in City Hall....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Palisade trustees youngest to serve in decades"
Mike Wiggins:
"The election of the two women infuses with youth a predominantly salt-and-pepper Town Board, providing constituents a mixture of seasoned leaders who boast plenty of life experience and first-time office holders who are passionate about Palisade and want to be at the center of what happens there.
“I think there’s a large population in our age range who live in Palisade and who haven’t been represented,” Rich said. “I think it was important for Cody and I to do this.”
Butters said she thinks the voters’ selection is indicative of a larger-scale transition the town is experiencing...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"The election of the two women infuses with youth a predominantly salt-and-pepper Town Board, providing constituents a mixture of seasoned leaders who boast plenty of life experience and first-time office holders who are passionate about Palisade and want to be at the center of what happens there.
“I think there’s a large population in our age range who live in Palisade and who haven’t been represented,” Rich said. “I think it was important for Cody and I to do this.”
Butters said she thinks the voters’ selection is indicative of a larger-scale transition the town is experiencing...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Colorado News Agency "Legislation would make it easier to exit teachers unions"
(cue sounds of crowds cheering...children laughing and playing...sighs of relief...bands playing....why?....here's one more step forward and upward in breaking one of the strangleholds that prevent public education from becoming self-sustaining...Hip, Hip Hooray!!....)
Debi Brazzale:
"A legislative panel today passed a bill that would let teachers join or leave unions or other professional organizations on their own timetable.
House Bill 1333, sponsored by Rep. Jon Becker, R-Fort Morgan, and heard in the House Education Committee, would give school districts 30 days to cancel a teacher’s payroll deductions for vunion dues after receiving written notification from the teacher.
Under collective bargaining agreements ruling many larger school districts, teachers only may cancel their membership within a two-to-three week “opt-out window” at the beginning of the school year. If they miss the window, they’re obligated to pay dues for the rest of the year....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Debi Brazzale:
"A legislative panel today passed a bill that would let teachers join or leave unions or other professional organizations on their own timetable.
House Bill 1333, sponsored by Rep. Jon Becker, R-Fort Morgan, and heard in the House Education Committee, would give school districts 30 days to cancel a teacher’s payroll deductions for vunion dues after receiving written notification from the teacher.
Under collective bargaining agreements ruling many larger school districts, teachers only may cancel their membership within a two-to-three week “opt-out window” at the beginning of the school year. If they miss the window, they’re obligated to pay dues for the rest of the year....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Coloradoan "Craft beer provides $446M boost to Fort Collins, Colorado economies"
David Young:
"Colorado's craft brewing industry injects $446 million into the state's economy, according to a study released Tuesday by Colorado Brewers Guild.
The University of Colorado Business Research Division compiled the data for the Colorado Brewers Guild, which indicates that as of March, Colorado had 139 licensed craft brewers totaling $101.8 million in income, with a $179.2 million total employment effect. The study cost the guild an estimated $10,000, according to CU.
Nine of those breweries are in Fort Collins, including New Belgium Brewing Co., the largest craft brewer in Colorado and third largest in the country, behind Sierra Nevada and Boston Beer Co.
Fort Collins' breweries contribute $83.2 million to the Larimer County payroll and support 938 direct jobs, according to a 2011 study by Colorado State University’s Regional Economics Institute and the Beverage Business Institute....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Colorado's craft brewing industry injects $446 million into the state's economy, according to a study released Tuesday by Colorado Brewers Guild.
The University of Colorado Business Research Division compiled the data for the Colorado Brewers Guild, which indicates that as of March, Colorado had 139 licensed craft brewers totaling $101.8 million in income, with a $179.2 million total employment effect. The study cost the guild an estimated $10,000, according to CU.
Nine of those breweries are in Fort Collins, including New Belgium Brewing Co., the largest craft brewer in Colorado and third largest in the country, behind Sierra Nevada and Boston Beer Co.
Fort Collins' breweries contribute $83.2 million to the Larimer County payroll and support 938 direct jobs, according to a 2011 study by Colorado State University’s Regional Economics Institute and the Beverage Business Institute....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Coloradoan "Ride the Rockies returns to Fort Collins after 19 years away"
Congratulations again, to Carbondale. Your hard work soliciting Ride the Rockies pays off in a very big way this year with the overnight on our stage happening in Carbondale.
From the sounds of things, the event is so thrilled with the stage, you are likely to become an annual stop and anchor for the race.
Best wishes to a successful event!
David Young:
"Since 1986, cyclists from around the world have been flocking to Colorado in the summer to see the state from their saddle for The Denver Post Ride The Rockies Colorado Bicycle Tour.
For the inaugural ride, more than 1,500 riders came from around the country to participate in the six day, cross-state tour. In 1987, the registration limit was raised to 2,000 cyclists, and by 1989 the lottery registration system that is now in place was implemented. Last year the tour received more than 4,000 applications.
This June, for the first time since 1993, the ride will return to the Choice City.
Odell Brewing Co. will serve as the finish line for the six-day, 442-mile ride...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
From the sounds of things, the event is so thrilled with the stage, you are likely to become an annual stop and anchor for the race.
Best wishes to a successful event!
David Young:
"Since 1986, cyclists from around the world have been flocking to Colorado in the summer to see the state from their saddle for The Denver Post Ride The Rockies Colorado Bicycle Tour.
For the inaugural ride, more than 1,500 riders came from around the country to participate in the six day, cross-state tour. In 1987, the registration limit was raised to 2,000 cyclists, and by 1989 the lottery registration system that is now in place was implemented. Last year the tour received more than 4,000 applications.
This June, for the first time since 1993, the ride will return to the Choice City.
Odell Brewing Co. will serve as the finish line for the six-day, 442-mile ride...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
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