Rally without the political signs

A call to gather hit the inbox.

Friends,

This coming Sunday, October 3 (can you believe that it is October already?) we will be meetingat 11:30 AM in a show of support for the men and women in the military.

The rally will be held at Fort Duquesne in Point State Park -- Pittsburgh's oldest military facility. The temperatures are expected to be in the 70s with the possibility of some rain, so dress appropriately. However bad it might be, it will still be quite a bit more comfortable than conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is little or no chance at all of sandstorms, bombings, or firefights.

This rally is for the men and women serving this country. Not the politicians and not the government. This is for our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our husbands and wives, our neighbors and friends who are risking their lives for our security, our safety, and our well being.

Since that horrible day three years ago, there have been no more attacks here on our soil. One reason is that many of the would be bombers and attackers are engaged in a struggle against our troops in Iraq. They have made themselves the target so that we wouldn't be. We are able to go about our lives in relative security because of their service and their sacrifice. Come say thank you to these brave men and women.

Please forward this to everyone in your local email list and ask that they send it on to everyone in their's. I hope to see you all there.

Go here for full details:

www.nikkiusa.com/FreedomRallyII-Pittsburgh

Remember -- THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL RALLY. BRING YOUR FLAG, BUT PLEASE LEAVE THE CAMPAIGN SIGNS AT HOME.

Oversight board postpones on Pittsburgh budget

AP: "A state panel overseeing Pittsburgh's financial recovery has delayed a vote on the city's $433 million budget proposal, which includes a 34 percent property tax increase that the mayor, city council and the state oversight board do not intend to implement.

The Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority delayed a meeting set for Wednesday until Oct. 18 to study the proposed 2005 budget, said David O'Laughlin, an oversight board member.

Given the phony budget, these folks choose to not hold a meeting to talk about it in open. Perhaps the typical, backroom, closed-door deal-making isn't done. Perhaps this is why people are so skeptical. Perhaps this is why people choose to vote with their feet and leave the city and region.