Monica :: election results I'm pleased that the Libertarian candidate for controller got 10% of the vote. While there's still a long way to go and Pittsburgh might be degenerate, I think the best path for third parties given the official biases against them is to win smaller races and work up from there. I'd love to see a libertarian on city council. (No, not enough to run.) Remember, until yesterday our mayor hadn't been elected as mayor.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Monica :: election results
Concerning Schenley and our Schools: Trust has gone out the window
Steve Hirtle reported to me via email, with some edits:It was quite a charged meeting at Schenley tonight as parents voiced frustration with the announced closing of one of the most unique and popular schools in the city. Pgh Public Schools makes this seem like Bizzaro World. Schenley High School has a national reputation for its outstanding IB program. The state basketball champions and its high school musical production (consistent with Kelly Awards and sold out performances every spring) makes this a great urban high school, yet the administrations intentions are to slice and dice it.
Numerous testimonies to the working status of the school poured to the recent Pittsburgh transplant holding the microphone in the front of the room. The diversity of the student body and its pride was clear, again. If the main problem in schools is the lack of parental involvement, you certainly did not hear any parental apathy with the Schenley supporters.
Perhaps the most scathing comment was 'If you need money, sell the administration building in heart of Oakland, but don't close our school.'
There have been lots of school closings, both in the city and throughout the region. Most closings come with the wrath of angry parents and taxpayers. But it seems clear that the magic at Schenley is unique and will be impossible to recreate in any other setting.
Darn tootin. Sure, there were outbursts. He was spreading falsehoods faster than falling plaster. Anything worse than a clueless leader is one that talks too much about stuff he knows little about.
Schenley backers loud, clear, in opposition to closing Pittsburgh Schenley High School supporters last night interrupted, shouted down and ridiculed a Pittsburgh Public Schools' executive as he tried to explain the district's plan to close the building and disperse its students to three other locations.There was one meeting six weeks ago that changed this guys whole set of objectives. There was one meeting that yanked the districts high school reform agenda way out of bounds. Well, this meeting just put it back in place.
My comments were simple. Trust is gone. Lies like the Pittsburgh Promise won't wash. Remember South Vo Tech? Well, my suggestions: Patch Schenley. Open up a Pittsburgh Vo Tech as was promised Then come back and we'll talk again. Re-set those priorities.
Perhaps a lot of those kids that are flunking out of the other five Drop-Out Factories would have been A+ Students at South Vo Tech.
Saturday's Save Schenley Meeting!
Get together to save our school.
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2007
Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: University of Pittsburgh - Cathedral of Learning room 326
We are holding a meeting to get Schenley lovers together - current students, teachers, parents, and alums. We are going to discuss the issues at hand with closing the school, and alternatives to closing. We will work on creating an action plan to keep Schenley in Oakland - where it belongs!
We need to have a strong action plan, so that when November 27th rolls around, we will be prepared to face the Board of Education.
Come prepared to discuss the following:
- Reasons for closing & moving Schenley
- Why keep Schenley open?
- Alternatives to closing
- Asbestos removal
- Schenley's status as a Historical Landmark
- The Numbers: What contractors gave quotes on fixing Schenley? Was it competitive bidding? Did multiple contractors give quotes?
Please invite your friends, family members, teachers, fellow students, and fellow alums! We need all of the support we can get.
Let's show Pittsburgh what some Spartan Spirit can do.
Updated 4 times.
Ethics Hearing Board of Pittsburgh meets. Everything they do should be turned on its head.
Once again I punished myself and went down to another Pittsburgh Ethics Hearing Baord meeting at 10 am today (Friday, Nov 9, 2007). This little blog of mine, I'm going to let it shine.
In the bible, we learn that it is a stupid -- if not a sin -- to put a candle under a basket. Praise the Lord. We learned that next year's meetings of the Ethics Hearing Board will NOT be made closed to the public on an every other month basis as they talked about last month.
I suggested to them that we need more ethics in the city, not less. The Ethics Hearing Board should meet every week -- not every month.
In other developments, I told them that they need to set their record straight. The Ethics Hearing Board was not formed one year ago, as one of the members spoke about in the meeting. Sophie was the Mayor of Pittsburgh when the Ethics Hearing Board came into being. That was about 15 years ago.
Since the board began, we've come to discover that there have been four complaints filed to the Ethics Hearing Board from citizens. I filed three in September. Those matters were hinted at in the October meeting. And, as of now, still, after the November meeting, there is no progress on those matters. They have not been put on an agenda. They have not been talked about by the board. Nothing.
When a citizen files a complaint to the Ethics Hearing Board -- if they are doing their jobs -- you'd expect a reply of some sort. I do. I did. I am waiting. I have gotten nothing.
http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/ethics/
In no uncertain terms, the gag order that goes upon citizens who file a complaint undermines the entire process. And, it is unconstitutional. Rights of a citizen to free speech should never be taken away.
There is a larger book, not the bible, in this case, but the Constitution, that rules.
i want the Ethics Hearing Board to stand tall and ask that city council and the mayor change the code so as to strike down all elements of confidentiality plus the powers of the board to dish out liabilities and punishments.
In other matters, the head of the Ethics Hearing Board, Sister Patrice, is going to meet with City Council President Doug Shields today at 1 pm. After the meeting I ran to Doug's office to try to give him a head's up. He wasn't in -- and all the staffers were busy.
I'll send him an email next, as an open letter.
The Ethics Hearing Board is putting in a request to City Council for an annual budget of $40,000.
I didn't have the heart to tell them that the 2008 budget had already been approved by the OVERLORDS and that the city was broke.
The Ethics Hearing Board is trying to expand government and spend more taxpayer money. I object.
The members of the Ethics Hearing Board would like to go to the Local Government Academy. Fine. They should go. It is a great program. But, they each can pay for their own admission. And, don't go asking for a foundation or the church / temple to pay -- as we'll encounter another goofy situation with admission fees being covered by outside sources. This time it is not golf, but a class.
It seems that the Ethics Hearing Board members are convinced that they need to bring in experts on Ethics to give them training to do their jobs. They are hungry for insights. They want a training budget.
They are in over their head! If the members of the Ethics Hearing Board can't do the job because they are unaware of what it entails, they should resign. They are not up to the tasks. The Ethics Hearing Board is not a place for on the job training at taxpayer expense. Do the job.
The Ethics Hearing Board might need secretarial assistance to make phone calls. They might need webmasters to build web pages. They might need a stenographer. They might need to hire their own attorney. The might need to pay for outside speakers. They might need to educate the employees and hold seminars.
The Ethics Hearing Board is now forming a new sub-committee to look at a part of the ethics code, section 1.97.07. This concerns the golf outing from the summer. Today they put a deadline on this resolution from the sub-committee to the Ethics Hearing Board of April 2008.
So, when I posted here, or elsewhere, that Luke's golf outing problem from the summer of 2007 would have final resolution around the first of the year -- I was wrong. Looks like it won't be resolved until the sub-committee does its work, makes a report in April, and then it goes back to the Ethics Hearing Board to chew it over. Perhaps something will be to City Council in the middle of next summer's golf season.
That's some round, or two, of golf.
The Ethics Hearing Board is forming a sub-committee to focus in upon 1.97.07 and the gift matters from charities. So they thought it was a good idea to invite in the nonprofits to join the task force. They debated if one or two slots should go to the foundation types, as there are social service providers on one hand and foundation folks on the others. Those folks, after all, are the ones where the impact of the golf fees resides.
OMG.
Not a peep about taxpayers, citizens, voters, nor everyday people. These members of the Ethics Hearing Board, a nun, a rabi, a member of the Alcoa Foundation and a minister (I think) are worried about what the foundation folks might think. They don't want to have an "unyielding body" in that task force. Or was is "un-wheeling" body?
The Ethics Hearing Board wanted to add to the weight of the recommendations of golf outings for their consideration so they can forward them to city council so that votes might be proposed for the eventual change in the city ethics code.
If we are looking for people to replace the deck chairs on the Titanic, I know just who to turn to, Pittsburgh's Ethics Hearing Board.
If anyone has a hand-me-down 8-ball fortune teller toy -- could they please pass that on to the Ethics Hearing Board. They are looking for a tech upgrade and need some direction.
Ethics Hearing Board -- have you ever heard of "Do it yourself?"
Re-write the code. And, do it yourself.
Get educated. And, do it yourself.
Do the job. And, do it yourself.
While you are doing things, begin by sending a letter to the new controller. Tell him you think that confilcts of interest are a big deal and they should be avoided at all costs. So, he should resign from the board of A+ Schools, right away.
Michael Lamb, the new controller, said in the media, that he would seek the opinion of the Ethics Hearing Board as to his board position for a booster group for the Superintendents and Foundation's agenda for schools. In so many words, Lamb said he was clueless as to the ethics of the matter at hand and he would be looking for guidance from you. Give it to him -- in a letter -- for all to see.
This little blog of mine, I'm going to let is shine. Let is shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Update: Coverage in the P-G the next day:
In the bible, we learn that it is a stupid -- if not a sin -- to put a candle under a basket. Praise the Lord. We learned that next year's meetings of the Ethics Hearing Board will NOT be made closed to the public on an every other month basis as they talked about last month.
I suggested to them that we need more ethics in the city, not less. The Ethics Hearing Board should meet every week -- not every month.
In other developments, I told them that they need to set their record straight. The Ethics Hearing Board was not formed one year ago, as one of the members spoke about in the meeting. Sophie was the Mayor of Pittsburgh when the Ethics Hearing Board came into being. That was about 15 years ago.
Since the board began, we've come to discover that there have been four complaints filed to the Ethics Hearing Board from citizens. I filed three in September. Those matters were hinted at in the October meeting. And, as of now, still, after the November meeting, there is no progress on those matters. They have not been put on an agenda. They have not been talked about by the board. Nothing.
When a citizen files a complaint to the Ethics Hearing Board -- if they are doing their jobs -- you'd expect a reply of some sort. I do. I did. I am waiting. I have gotten nothing.
http://Elect.Rauterkus.com/ethics/
In no uncertain terms, the gag order that goes upon citizens who file a complaint undermines the entire process. And, it is unconstitutional. Rights of a citizen to free speech should never be taken away.
There is a larger book, not the bible, in this case, but the Constitution, that rules.
i want the Ethics Hearing Board to stand tall and ask that city council and the mayor change the code so as to strike down all elements of confidentiality plus the powers of the board to dish out liabilities and punishments.
In other matters, the head of the Ethics Hearing Board, Sister Patrice, is going to meet with City Council President Doug Shields today at 1 pm. After the meeting I ran to Doug's office to try to give him a head's up. He wasn't in -- and all the staffers were busy.
I'll send him an email next, as an open letter.
The Ethics Hearing Board is putting in a request to City Council for an annual budget of $40,000.
I didn't have the heart to tell them that the 2008 budget had already been approved by the OVERLORDS and that the city was broke.
The Ethics Hearing Board is trying to expand government and spend more taxpayer money. I object.
The members of the Ethics Hearing Board would like to go to the Local Government Academy. Fine. They should go. It is a great program. But, they each can pay for their own admission. And, don't go asking for a foundation or the church / temple to pay -- as we'll encounter another goofy situation with admission fees being covered by outside sources. This time it is not golf, but a class.
It seems that the Ethics Hearing Board members are convinced that they need to bring in experts on Ethics to give them training to do their jobs. They are hungry for insights. They want a training budget.
They are in over their head! If the members of the Ethics Hearing Board can't do the job because they are unaware of what it entails, they should resign. They are not up to the tasks. The Ethics Hearing Board is not a place for on the job training at taxpayer expense. Do the job.
The Ethics Hearing Board might need secretarial assistance to make phone calls. They might need webmasters to build web pages. They might need a stenographer. They might need to hire their own attorney. The might need to pay for outside speakers. They might need to educate the employees and hold seminars.
The Ethics Hearing Board is now forming a new sub-committee to look at a part of the ethics code, section 1.97.07. This concerns the golf outing from the summer. Today they put a deadline on this resolution from the sub-committee to the Ethics Hearing Board of April 2008.
So, when I posted here, or elsewhere, that Luke's golf outing problem from the summer of 2007 would have final resolution around the first of the year -- I was wrong. Looks like it won't be resolved until the sub-committee does its work, makes a report in April, and then it goes back to the Ethics Hearing Board to chew it over. Perhaps something will be to City Council in the middle of next summer's golf season.
That's some round, or two, of golf.
The Ethics Hearing Board is forming a sub-committee to focus in upon 1.97.07 and the gift matters from charities. So they thought it was a good idea to invite in the nonprofits to join the task force. They debated if one or two slots should go to the foundation types, as there are social service providers on one hand and foundation folks on the others. Those folks, after all, are the ones where the impact of the golf fees resides.
OMG.
Not a peep about taxpayers, citizens, voters, nor everyday people. These members of the Ethics Hearing Board, a nun, a rabi, a member of the Alcoa Foundation and a minister (I think) are worried about what the foundation folks might think. They don't want to have an "unyielding body" in that task force. Or was is "un-wheeling" body?
The Ethics Hearing Board wanted to add to the weight of the recommendations of golf outings for their consideration so they can forward them to city council so that votes might be proposed for the eventual change in the city ethics code.
If we are looking for people to replace the deck chairs on the Titanic, I know just who to turn to, Pittsburgh's Ethics Hearing Board.
If anyone has a hand-me-down 8-ball fortune teller toy -- could they please pass that on to the Ethics Hearing Board. They are looking for a tech upgrade and need some direction.
Ethics Hearing Board -- have you ever heard of "Do it yourself?"
Re-write the code. And, do it yourself.
Get educated. And, do it yourself.
Do the job. And, do it yourself.
While you are doing things, begin by sending a letter to the new controller. Tell him you think that confilcts of interest are a big deal and they should be avoided at all costs. So, he should resign from the board of A+ Schools, right away.
Michael Lamb, the new controller, said in the media, that he would seek the opinion of the Ethics Hearing Board as to his board position for a booster group for the Superintendents and Foundation's agenda for schools. In so many words, Lamb said he was clueless as to the ethics of the matter at hand and he would be looking for guidance from you. Give it to him -- in a letter -- for all to see.
This little blog of mine, I'm going to let is shine. Let is shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Update: Coverage in the P-G the next day:
Task force considers charitable event changes
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The city of Pittsburgh's Ethics Hearing Board voted yesterday on the composition of a task force that will recommend changes to rules on public officials' attendance at charitable events.
The task force will be chaired by ethics board Vice Chair Kathy Buechel, and members will include fellow board member Rabbi Danny Schiff, one member appointed by the mayor, one or two members appointed by City Council, and one member each from the foundation and the corporate world.
The ethics board has opined that officials should only be allowed to attend charitable functions as guests of the charity, rather than under sponsorships from third parties. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has opposed restrictions on official attendance at charitable events, proposing instead a requirement that any gift of an event ticket worth more than $500 should be reported on annual disclosure forms.
The board also intends to ask for a $40,000 budget line from the city to pay for ethics training, clerical help and an independent investigator when needed.
They blew me off last month. Should I waste another day with the Ethics Hearing Board
The Pgh Ethics Hearing Board is to meet today. I should go. But, I've already given them my time. It is nothing but a sink.
In September, I filed three complaints with the Ethics Hearing Board. In the October meeting, I came to discover, that my complaints didn't even get sent to the Ethics Hearing Board. The Law Department sat on them. The Law Department didn't do anything.
I guess my complaints were handled the same way the Administration handles toxic dirt rich with lead in a popular playground -- do little and say nothing. It might just go away and we'll all be the poorer for it.
Duhh!
It is a month later. Time might tell.
However, we learned that the golf outing from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl that happened in the summer might be resolved by the first of the year. Go figure.
Furthermore, today it the day when the Ethics Hearing Board is going to discuss the idea that half of next years meetings should be closed to the public. They would only meet every other month with the door open. The Ethics Hearing Board wants to have confabs without the public being able to witness it. And these are for 'educational reasons.' They'll invite experts to the table to talk to them -- and the public won't be included.
My only problem. I already used the word "suck" in this blog this year. I want to use it again. I don't know who is worse, the Pgh Ethics Hearing Board or Mr. Roosevelt's plans to destroy schools that work and do nothing for what really needs to happen.
Meanwhile, Michael Lamb needs to resign for the board of the super booster group, "A+ Schools."
In September, I filed three complaints with the Ethics Hearing Board. In the October meeting, I came to discover, that my complaints didn't even get sent to the Ethics Hearing Board. The Law Department sat on them. The Law Department didn't do anything.
I guess my complaints were handled the same way the Administration handles toxic dirt rich with lead in a popular playground -- do little and say nothing. It might just go away and we'll all be the poorer for it.
Duhh!
It is a month later. Time might tell.
However, we learned that the golf outing from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl that happened in the summer might be resolved by the first of the year. Go figure.
Furthermore, today it the day when the Ethics Hearing Board is going to discuss the idea that half of next years meetings should be closed to the public. They would only meet every other month with the door open. The Ethics Hearing Board wants to have confabs without the public being able to witness it. And these are for 'educational reasons.' They'll invite experts to the table to talk to them -- and the public won't be included.
My only problem. I already used the word "suck" in this blog this year. I want to use it again. I don't know who is worse, the Pgh Ethics Hearing Board or Mr. Roosevelt's plans to destroy schools that work and do nothing for what really needs to happen.
Meanwhile, Michael Lamb needs to resign for the board of the super booster group, "A+ Schools."
Worst move ever for PPS and City of Pittsburgh was revealed in this letter
Closing Schenley High School. Oh My God.
Proof that being a political activist in Pgh makes your teeth whiter!
The Collected Notes of Secret Agent Ska: Um Whao This week has been kind of insane.I'm not certain if this is true only for Pittsburgh, or if it works the same in other areas too????
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Save Schenley High School -- the new guy got an ear full
Mark Roosevelt's plans for Pittsburgh Public Schools suck.
The new guy showed up to a meeting and couldn't shut up. He talked and talked and talked -- right out of respect and into the footnotes of life in the city. They might need someone in the Virgin Islands.
More later.
I'm angry. (hint)
Patrick Dowd.... you had better resign from the Pgh Public Schools board today.
Don't let this flame your career before you get your first big full paycheck.
Heather -- where in the heck do you stand on this?
Sherry? Call me.
Get to the meeting at 3 pm on Saturday at the Cathedral of Learning.
The new guy showed up to a meeting and couldn't shut up. He talked and talked and talked -- right out of respect and into the footnotes of life in the city. They might need someone in the Virgin Islands.
More later.
I'm angry. (hint)
Patrick Dowd.... you had better resign from the Pgh Public Schools board today.
Don't let this flame your career before you get your first big full paycheck.
Heather -- where in the heck do you stand on this?
Sherry? Call me.
Get to the meeting at 3 pm on Saturday at the Cathedral of Learning.
The American Entrepreneur article on the election defeat of DeSantis
The American Entrepreneur - Newsletter Articles “Fact #2” – “Eighty-one percent of all vote-elegible city residents did NOT EVEN CAST A BALLOT.” Or, “Fact #3” – “The average time-spent-voting (that is, standing behind a machine, contemplating your vote) was about 25 seconds in the city and over three minutes in the suburbs. This is a very easy statistic to collect. After all, voting is no longer done “behind a curtain.” Today it’s all out in the open!
NH Could Turn GOP Race Upside Down -- GOPUSA
NH Could Turn GOP Race Upside Down -- GOPUSA: "Paul, a libertarian-leaning long-shot Texas congressman, could emerge as a serious contender in the ''Live Free or Die'' state. The state's recent history is rife with Republican primary voters giving non-establishment candidates a boost, and rocking the race."
Save Schenley High School -- meeting tonight and Saturday
The meeting tonight at 6 pm is more informational. It is being held at the high school in Oakland.
This meeting is on Saturday.
This meeting is on Saturday.
Save Schenley Meeting!
Get together to save our school.
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2007
Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: University of Pittsburgh - Cathedral of Learning room 326
We are holding a meeting to get Schenley lovers together - current students, teachers, parents, and alums. We are going to discuss the issues at hand with closing the school, and alternatives to closing. We will work on creating an action plan to keep Schenley in Oakland - where it belongs!
We need to have a strong action plan, so that when November 27th rolls around, we will be prepared to face the Board of Education.
Come prepared to discuss the following:
- Reasons for closing & moving Schenley
- Why keep Schenley open?
- Alternatives to closing
- Asbestos removal
- Schenley's status as a Historical Landmark
- The Numbers: What contractors gave quotes on fixing Schenley? Was it competitive bidding? Did multiple contractors give quotes?
Please invite your friends, family members, teachers, fellow students, and fellow alums! We need all of the support we can get.
Let's show Pittsburgh what some Spartan Spirit can do.
Sportscasting Ethics About ESPN
STAA’s Sportscasting Watercooler Blog Archive I'm REALLY Trying to Say Nice Things About ESPN, But . . . The opening of the game featured a fictitious “Welcome to Pittsburgh” sign with a smaller sign beneath it reading “Mayor Luke Ravenstahl- 2007.Does anyone have the tape or YouTube of this?
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
When Mike Tomlin took over the Steelers, how much time did he cry about prior seasons?
Mike Tomlin, the new Steelers coach, gets offered and takes the job in the off season. How long, do you think, he spent on the past performance of the team?
Mike Lamb -- you're crazy for asking for an audit, just as Tomlin would NOT have run to the NFL to ask for a review of instant replay on games from years past. The NFL isn't going to re-do the 2004 players draft either.
Mike Lamb -- you're crazy for asking for an audit, just as Tomlin would NOT have run to the NFL to ask for a review of instant replay on games from years past. The NFL isn't going to re-do the 2004 players draft either.
City's acting controller rejects call for audit
City's acting controller rejects call for audit Mr. Pokora, who lost to Mr. Lamb in the May Democratic primary, said he has invited his erstwhile rival to visit the office several times since then. Mr. Lamb, he said, hasn't taken him up on it.What a joke.
Libertarians Win 17% of Their Races in Elections Across the U.S.
Positions include mayoral, city council and judgeship positions, among others
Quick Quotes:
Shane Cory, Executive Director, Libertarian Party
* "Last night's election once again proved that the Libertarian Party offers a viable third option that many Americans take advantage of when selecting the leaders of their government."
* "The saying goes that all politics are local, and that's exactly where the Libertarian Party has its greatest influence."
Andrew Davis, Media Coordinator, Libertarian Party
*"We want people to see that the Libertarian Party has been a viable third option in American politics for the last 35 years."
* "This is democracy at work. It doesn't get any clearer than a Libertarian getting elected to office."
Washington, D.C. – In an exciting conclusion to the 2007 off-year election, Libertarian Party candidates won an impressive 17 percent of all known races in the United States that included the Libertarian Party. Additionally, all Libertarian incumbents won re-election. The Libertarian National Committee counted 81 known races for the Nov. 6, 2007 elections and had 14 victories spread across seven states. "Last night's election once again proved that the Libertarian Party offers a viable third option that many Americans take advantage of when selecting the leaders of their government," says Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory.
Libertarians were elected in Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania—54 percent of the states in which Libertarians ran. Libertarians in Michigan won four of the five known races in that state where Libertarians were involved—a stunning 80 percent rate of victory.
"The saying goes that all politics are local, and that's exactly where the Libertarian Party has its greatest influence," says Cory. "Decisions made by leaders at the local level are often the ones that have the most impact over people's lives, and the Libertarian Party wants to make sure that it's there when these decisions are made. The Libertarian Party's call for less government, lower taxes and more freedom doesn't change depending on what level of government it's made from. Liberty is liberty no matter what public office you hold."
While the Libertarian Party does not have any elected officials at the national level, the party does have Libertarians elected to local offices across the nation.
"The idea we want people to take from this election is about more than numbers and elected positions," says Andrew Davis, media coordinator for the Libertarian Party. "We want people to see that the Libertarian Party has been a viable third option in American politics for the last 35 years. The Libertarian Party exists as a real choice for voters who have long grown tired of picking from only Republicans and Democrats. This is democracy at work. It doesn't get any clearer than a Libertarian getting elected to office."
For elections of all the Libertarian Party's 81 races, please visit www.lp.org.
The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.lp.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.
Quick Facts:
* Libertarians ran in 81 races in 13 different states.
* Libertarian candidates won in 14 (17%) of those races, in seven states (54%).
* Libertarians won four out of the five (80%) Michigan elections in which they participated.
* Libertarians were elected in: Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
* Libertarian incumbents were all re-elected.
Gay Candidates Victorious Across the U.S.
Gay Candidates Victorious Across the U.S. WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dozens of openly gay and lesbian candidates running in municipal and state legislative races across the country won their elections Tuesday, according to the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Of the record 71 candidates endorsed by the group in 2007, at least 31 won their races on Tuesday, while 10 were elected earlier this year. At least three more endorsed candidates received enough votes to advance to runoff elections.
Update with new link and photo:
The Bay Area Reporter Online | Political Notebook: Gays grab seats across U.S.: "Political Notebook: Gays grab seats across U.S."
Results of GOPUSA's Grassroots Survey -- GOPUSA
Results of GOPUSA's Grassroots Survey -- GOPUSAHumm. Might be a good time to mount a campaign for the US House.
Question 3 -- How satisfied are you with the job the U.S. House is doing?
* Very satisfied -- 0%
* Somewhat satisfied -- 6%
* Somewhat unsatisfied -- 19%
* Very unsatisfied -- 75%
I wonder if the Dems are as unsatisfied?
Post Gazette reporter writes another story that didn't get into print
Today I talked to Rich Lord, reporter for the Post-Gazette. I pointed out to him that the article he wrote about the city council and city controller race did NOT get put into the print edition of the P-G.
Go figure. He wrote an article last night. It didn't run, except on the web.
Go figure. He wrote an article last night. It didn't run, except on the web.
Two more points from the election
Some people don't seem to understand one simple fact:
You win elections by addition.
Campaigns that leverage subtraction do not win.
Furthermore, the 5 to 1 voter registration advantage for the Dems makes a mountain for any Republican to climb.
Meanwhile, what is the voter registration advantage for Dems over a Libertarian?
If DeSantis had to climb a mountain to win, then I would have needed to climb the Rocky Mountain Range to edge out my D-Party opponent.
A 50-to-1 ratio, not 5-to-1, fits the struggle in the L-to-D race. The results were 10-to-1.
Now let's talk about a 'landslide.'
You win elections by addition.
Campaigns that leverage subtraction do not win.
Furthermore, the 5 to 1 voter registration advantage for the Dems makes a mountain for any Republican to climb.
Meanwhile, what is the voter registration advantage for Dems over a Libertarian?
If DeSantis had to climb a mountain to win, then I would have needed to climb the Rocky Mountain Range to edge out my D-Party opponent.
A 50-to-1 ratio, not 5-to-1, fits the struggle in the L-to-D race. The results were 10-to-1.
Now let's talk about a 'landslide.'
Democrats cruise, of course. And first breath from Lamb is "AUDIT" from outside consultants
Of course the Ds won. But look at the telling statement from Michael Lamb. He wants an 'audit.' That is his pet word, as he said audit 412 times in our 30-minute debate. See the video at Rauterkus.blip.tv.
From today's P-G:
Furthermore, Lamb wants an audit of the auditors. These auditors that Lamb wants to audit are meaningless. The controller's office isn't worth an audit from outside auditors. The controller's office is redundant in this period of Pittsburgh's public government. The controller's office has been marginalized because of decades of miss-management and one-party rule.
I have said that the controller's office is like the fourth fiddle in a string quartet. Sitting in the first and second chairs are the overlords. Then comes city council. Then, finally, comes the controller. The controller's financial watchdog status is in the toilet. Calling for audits of those who should be doing audits is not the way to battle back to make the controller's office meaningful again.
Pittsburgh needs accountability from elected officials who are willing to do the hard work themselves. Accountability does not come from passing the buck to others who are not elected.
Within Michael Lamb's telling statement, there is more. Lamb wants to spend government money on a new study. Lamb wants to hire some foundation, accounting firm, or outside consultants. Lamb wants to pay them, with taxpayer money. Of course it is going to cost us -- the taxpayers. And, of course the payment is going to go to 'pay to play' benefactors.
Do you think Lamb intends to be putting up a public bid process for the outside audit of the inside auditors (controller's office)? Do you think that this will be a "minority contract?" Lamb really wants to look at how the city lets its contracts -- yeah right.
But here is the worst part. Michael Lamb is begging to the OVERLORDS. He just got elected with fricking 89.xxx percent of the vote, and his first statement within minutes to the press amounts to a puckering of his lips to kiss ass to the OVERLORDS.
Get off your knees.
Do it yourself.
Grow an audit on your own.
Spend less, not more.
Lamb might want to clean house -- but -- he knows he can't do it himself. If Lamb knew that he couldn't do the job himself, perhaps he should not have run for the position.
Oh, but let's not forget. Lamb needed a new government paycheck because his is about to expire at the end of the year.
I got 'crushed' in the election yesterday. Well, it seems to me, that's par for the course. The citizens of Pittsburgh are getting crushed everyday by its city government.
Make no mistake. As Michael Lamb says that he'll be sending a letter to the ICA (Intergovernmental Cooperatiion Authority) begging them to fund an audit of the auditors -- we (the taxpayers) are screwed.
Lamb's first step out of the gate is expensive begging for additional navel gazing that has nothing to do with freedom, liberty nor keeping our kids competitive and local.
Told ya.
Who wants to call that 'good government' now?
I'm crushed. Plus, I'm correct.
And happily, I'm free to blab about the mindlessness of the one-party folly and domination that will insure that the region's downward spiral sustains itself.
I went be back, starting today. walking to city hall talking about various news elements. I'll be back at next week's council meeting. Tonight's county council meeting and Thursday's county budget meeting might go on without me.
Frist posted at 6:57 am.
From today's P-G:
Democrats cruise in other Pittsburgh City Hall contests 'Tomorrow, I'm going to be sending a letter to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority and the [City] Council asking them if they'd consider funding an audit of the controller's office,' he said. An accounting firm should pore over the controller's performance, he said.Michael Lamb is calling for the audit to be done by an outside vendor. Lamb is the elected controller. Lamb is the person who is to do the audit. But in Lamb's first breath, he trys to pass the work of audits to others.
Furthermore, Lamb wants an audit of the auditors. These auditors that Lamb wants to audit are meaningless. The controller's office isn't worth an audit from outside auditors. The controller's office is redundant in this period of Pittsburgh's public government. The controller's office has been marginalized because of decades of miss-management and one-party rule.
I have said that the controller's office is like the fourth fiddle in a string quartet. Sitting in the first and second chairs are the overlords. Then comes city council. Then, finally, comes the controller. The controller's financial watchdog status is in the toilet. Calling for audits of those who should be doing audits is not the way to battle back to make the controller's office meaningful again.
Pittsburgh needs accountability from elected officials who are willing to do the hard work themselves. Accountability does not come from passing the buck to others who are not elected.
Within Michael Lamb's telling statement, there is more. Lamb wants to spend government money on a new study. Lamb wants to hire some foundation, accounting firm, or outside consultants. Lamb wants to pay them, with taxpayer money. Of course it is going to cost us -- the taxpayers. And, of course the payment is going to go to 'pay to play' benefactors.
Do you think Lamb intends to be putting up a public bid process for the outside audit of the inside auditors (controller's office)? Do you think that this will be a "minority contract?" Lamb really wants to look at how the city lets its contracts -- yeah right.
But here is the worst part. Michael Lamb is begging to the OVERLORDS. He just got elected with fricking 89.xxx percent of the vote, and his first statement within minutes to the press amounts to a puckering of his lips to kiss ass to the OVERLORDS.
Get off your knees.
Do it yourself.
Grow an audit on your own.
Spend less, not more.
Lamb might want to clean house -- but -- he knows he can't do it himself. If Lamb knew that he couldn't do the job himself, perhaps he should not have run for the position.
Oh, but let's not forget. Lamb needed a new government paycheck because his is about to expire at the end of the year.
I got 'crushed' in the election yesterday. Well, it seems to me, that's par for the course. The citizens of Pittsburgh are getting crushed everyday by its city government.
Make no mistake. As Michael Lamb says that he'll be sending a letter to the ICA (Intergovernmental Cooperatiion Authority) begging them to fund an audit of the auditors -- we (the taxpayers) are screwed.
Lamb's first step out of the gate is expensive begging for additional navel gazing that has nothing to do with freedom, liberty nor keeping our kids competitive and local.
Told ya.
Who wants to call that 'good government' now?
I'm crushed. Plus, I'm correct.
And happily, I'm free to blab about the mindlessness of the one-party folly and domination that will insure that the region's downward spiral sustains itself.
I went be back, starting today. walking to city hall talking about various news elements. I'll be back at next week's council meeting. Tonight's county council meeting and Thursday's county budget meeting might go on without me.
Frist posted at 6:57 am.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
