Fw: The Prop 14 Disaster: The End of Free Speech, Independence, Choice and Dissent

From: wayne@rootforamerica.com

Subject: The Prop 14 Disaster: The End of Free Speech,Independence, Choice and Dissent
Is Schwarzenegger A Fool or a Traitor to Tea Parties and Limited Government/Fiscally Conservative Causes?
This coming Tuesday June 8th, California voters will be voting on Proposition 14, aka "Top Two." It is a disaster for anyone interested in free speech, choice and dissent. As often happens in politics, Prop 14 is the exact opposite of what it appears to be. The proponents of Prop 14 claim it will eliminate the current party primary system in favor of an "open primary." So instead of Republicans, Democrats and independents (third parties) each freely choosing their own candidates in a primary, then meeting on the November ballot to determine who will be elected to represent the people, with "Top Two" every candidate runs in a non-partisan free-for-all (aka "open primary") and only the top two vote-getters appear on the November ballot.

Prop 14 supporters claim this new "Top Two" system would take away power from the 2 big parties because of the non-partisan "open primary" nature of the system. In reality Prop 14 eliminates choice on the ballot in November. Independent candidates and third parties (with less money to spend to reach voters) will literally cease to exist. Independent candidates (Libertarian, Conservative, Tea Party, Green, etc) could not survive the open primary system, thereby guaranteeing only candidates from the 2 major parties on the ballot each November. Do you want your free speech and choice violated or eliminated? If so, you'll love Prop 14. But is this the American way?

National polls prove that more voters now call themselves "Independent" than at any time in modern political history. More voters call themselves "Independent" than either Republican or Democrat. More voters respect "the Tea Party" than either the Republican or Democrat parties. More voters desire a third party Presidential choice than at any time in modern history. Do all these poll results indicate that now is the time to eliminate choice?

To eliminate dissent?

You would think that now would be the time to expand choice and dissent. But that's not what the backers of Prop 14 think. According to the backers of Prop 14, what you want is meaningless.

But the problem with Prop 14 actually goes much deeper. If you want to see smaller government, lower spending, and lower taxes, you're plum out of luck with Prop 14. This deal was cut in the smoky backrooms of Sacramento to insure that the 2 major parties can operate in the future without dissent, opposition, or pesky "citizen politician" gadflies pointing out their corruption, waste, and fraud. Who is behind it? Prop 14 guarantees that the same corruption and cozy relationship between big unions, big corporations and big government will go on forever- but this time without even the hint of dissent, or the remote chance of an upset. Even "remote" isn't good enough for these groups...they want zero chance that any independent candidate can ever upset their stranglehold on government and unchecked power over the people.

Want proof? Look no further than the 2 states that have already used Prop 14 political systems- Louisiana and Washington. Third parties have been silenced- they no longer have a reason to exist. Corruption runs wild- Louisiana has been the worst governed state for 35 years and counting. Incumbents literally NEVER lose in these states. If you want to guarantee career politicians can last a lifetime in office screwing the voters and taxpayers, then Prop 14 is for you.

But my final plea is to fiscal conservatives and Tea Party activists in California. You, my friends, are being targeted for extinction by big government proponents. Your Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has sold you down the river. He is either a fool or a traitor. Common sense tells anyone that Republicans will be badly damaged by Prop 14 in a deep blue liberal state like California. The non-biased and scholarly Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles now predicts that Democrats will most certainly gain the most from Prop 14. They predict that up to one third of Congressional and legislative districts in California will be reduced to 2 Democrats in the November elections by "Top Two." The dissent being silenced forever will be Conservative and Tea Party dissent in a liberal big government state like California.

If you are a California Republican, your own Governor Schwarzenegger has signed your death warrant. It isn't just independents, but rather Republicans, conservatives, and Tea Parties who are the victims of Prop 14. Or did you think big unions, big corporations and big government proponents are friends of fiscal conservatives? This deal stinks to high heaven. Your only choice is to strongly and LOUDLY vote "NO on Prop 14.

Good Bye Wizard.

One of my heros passed, John Wooden, the Wizard of Westwood.

Sorta sad.

He had a book that was the best seller at an all sports bookstore in Long Beach, Adventures Unlimited. I was connected into those efforts in a few different dealings. Coach would go there often for book events and was always himself, -- a gentleman, clever, insightful.

DePaul School -- a Pittsburgh Treasure

In case you missed it last night, here’s a link to the feature story about DePaul School and the cochlear implant that aired on WTAE-TV (Ch 4) here in Pittsburgh.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video/23786901/index.html

Preservationists want more time to study reuse of Mellon Arena

Go Rob Go. No, wait. It should NOT be a go-go-go cheer. Rather a "hold that line" cheer. How about, "Push em back, push em back, wayyyy back!

Preservationists want more time to study reuse of Mellon Arena The SEA is in the middle of a process to consider alternatives to demolishing the arena but could be prepared to recommend a course of action to its board by October or November. Reuse the Igloo officials say they need at least 60 days to complete the $15,000 study, which is being funded in part by actor David Conrad, who attended the press conference.
Mr. Pfaffmann said arenas have been reused successfully in Portland and Montreal.

Blast from past: Elections - Two-Fisted Voting Action

From Pittsburgh City Paper, March 22, 2006

The March 14, 2006, special election of a new city councilor from District 3 didn't lack for passion: Two candidates nearly got into a fistfight on Election Day.

But voters apparently felt less strongly about the contest to replace former council member Gene Ricciardi, whose district includes the South Side, adjoining hilltop communities, and portions of Oakland. According to unofficial returns, 3,349 votes were cast -- a turnout of under 14 percent. There were few surprises. The endorsed Democrat, Arlington resident and public-works employee Jeffrey Kock, trumped the eight-man field with 1,449 votes. That edged out South Side businessman, Bruce Kraus, who polled 1,271 votes.

"I was surprised by how close Kraus got," says Koch. "But I just knew more people."

And as Kraus backers had feared, Bruce Krane, another South Side businessman, drew critical votes away. Krane won 215 votes, roughly three dozen more than Kraus would have needed to win.

An altercation between Krane and Kraus was, in fact, narrowly averted on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Witnesses say the dispute, in which the candidates argued over last-minute efforts to appeal to voters, nearly came to blows.

Krane confirms a confrontation took place, and acknowledges warning Kraus to leave "before your teeth end up on the ground." Kraus declined comment on the fracas.

"Votes got split," says Khari Mosley, the local head of the League of Young Voters. All along, grassroots progressives worried that Koch was too close to the Democratic old guard. But they didn't rally behind Kraus until a Feb 12 candidates' forum held by Progress Pittsburgh and other groups. By then, "The race had gotten personal," Mosley says. "By the time people started talking about narrowing the field, it was too late."

Krane says that Kraus supporters claimed "I was put in the race by (Mayor Bob) O'Connor. ... No one who knows me has ever questioned my independence." But, he adds, "Call me a spoiler if you like; it's OK with me."

Kraus declines to do so. "Krane took some votes," he says, "but we had everything working against us. We lost the (Democratic) endorsement; we were the last name on the ballot. God knows there were enough other candidates on the ballot. ... But as a first-time candidate, we did well.

There had been hopes that Pitt students, who live on the district's Oakland outskirts, might play a decisive role. But despite a get-out-the-vote effort Mosley's organization targeted at students, only 93 votere were cast at Pitt's Posvar Hall polling place.

The League of Young Voters sought to register 1,000 students for the election; Mosely hoped 300 would vote. "It was an ambitious goal," Mosley says. But I'm disappointed we didn't reach it."

Still, Mosley observes, "Many districts had fewer votes than Pitt did." And even that, organizers contend, is a step forward.

"Students showed up in suprising numbers, given the extent to which they were ignored," says Andrea Boykowicz, an Oakland resident and member of Progress Pittsburgh. The candidates focused on issues such as litter and graffiti, which she says didn't resonate with students.

Koch will hold office only for 18 months, to fill out the rest of Ricciardi's term. His top legislative priority? "The same thing I said all along: trying to get Warrington Avenue repaved." As for the majority of voters who picked someone else, "I need to convince them that they made the wrong choice."

Neither Krane nor Kraus will say whether they plan to run again. But Boykowicz will be watching.

"Kraus made a respectable showing," she says. "He could run again, and I'll be intereted to see if he makes his platform more meaningful. If not, there are other people we can run."

-- by Chris Potter

Go get OpenOffice, recently upgraded to 3.2.1

The OpenOffice.org Community today announces the availability of OpenOffice.org 3.2.1, the newest version of the world's major free and open productivity suite.

OpenOffice.org 3.2.1 is a so-called micro release that comes with bugfixes and improvements, with no new features being introduced. This release also fixes security issues, so we recommend everyone to upgrade to the new version as soon as possible.

This version is also the first one to be released with the project's new main sponsor, Oracle, and comes with a refreshed logo and splash screen.

"The OpenOffice.org Community is in the year of its 10th anniversary. We look forward to working together with joint efforts of a worldwide community, on one of the world's largest open source projects, delivering free software based on true open standards", says Florian Effenberger, Marketing Project Lead of OpenOffice.org. He adds: "With the start of the Branding Initiative [2], the ongoing Project Renaissance [3] and with the recently-announced Summer Internship Programme [4], the OpenOffice.org community invites everyone to contribute to our efforts of improving the digital future."

According to OpenOffice.org's usual release cycle, the next feature release of OpenOffice.org will be version 3.3, and is expected for autumn 2010.

The Community celebrates its 10th anniversary this year at the annual OOoCon [5], to be held in Budapest, Hungary, from August 31 to September 3. The Community invites all to join us in this lovely and dynamic capital city, which was chosen by the popular vote among many global contenders.

OpenOffice.org 3.2.1 is available in many languages for all major platforms at http://download.openoffice.org/

The BP Blues

Thanks to FB friend, Maryellen Hayden for the pointer.

Fw: Nomination Papers

From: lpchair <chair@lppa.org>
CALL FOR LIBERTARIAN VOLUNTEERS!

We need your help to get Libertarian candidates' names on the ballot in November!

If you have not already done so, please volunteer to gather signatures on nomination papers for Libertarian Party candidates.  In Pennsylvania, these nomination papers are used to put our nominees on the November ballot.  Papers will be compiled for submittal beginning in mid July.

To volunteer to circulate nomination papers, please email election@lppa.org and we will send you nomination forms and instructions.

If Libertarian candidates do not get their names on the ballot this November, the Libertarian Party may lose its legal status as a "Minor Political Party" in Pennsylvania.

 - If that happens, new voters will have a choice between Democrat, Republican and "Other" on their voter registration forms.  The Libertarian Party will not be listed as a political party.

 - If that happens, Pennsylvanians may have no third-party candidates to select when Republican and Democratic elected officials continue to increase taxation.
You can look at the basic guide here:
http://www.lppa.org/documents/election/2010/nomination_paper_guide_2010.pdf
Please mail any notarized papers by July 15, 2010 to:

LPPA Chairman Michael Robertson
614 Canoe Ripple Road
Sligo, PA 16255

Thank you for your support!
Michael J. "Mik" Robertson, Chair, Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania
and Susan Haythornthwaite, Chair, Election Committee
Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania

Call from Detroit

From Larry:

My son Ducky called me from that detroit game last nite after witnessing that blown call! .....he was steamin and I told him I'd get back after consulting with some of my fellow officiato wizards...like you guys.

I assured Duck that the umpire has to feel like dogcrap - the pressure obviously got to him and he probably made the classic mistake of envisioning the outcome because the play was unfolding too slow (the double pump from the firstbaseman probably threw him off). The Ump jumped to the conclusion that he thought would happen rather than what he saw...lesson one for all umpires - never think - thinking allows you to confuse your imagination with your information - it is not your job to even know the score much less care about the outcome.

Unfortunately we probably won't ever get umpire judgment calls reviewable via instant replay mainly because there is no whistle to end that kind of play like in football. What if that Tiger pitcher had tossed the ball up in the air thinking he had the out and the runner sped home in the confusion? Although, as a former youth leagues umpire, I will argue that a pitcher should be able to go to the rubber, step off and appeal just like they do when a runner leaves a base too soon on a tag-up. The other umpire/s should also have a chance to pipe in - esp the plate ump or umpire-crew-chief...and review footage and GET IT RIGHT!

Maybe there should be a third call an umpire could make in this kind of situation...instead of only the "safe" or "out" - how about just a shoulder shrug meaning "don't know?" That should wreak some interesting havoc...

A parting tale: I was once umpiring a championship game in the steel community of Sparrows Point in balto full of roudy, tailgating fans (this was way back in the day when drinking at kids games was not at all taboo) and the last play of the day was my worst nightmare - a winning run collision at home where a runner dove horizontally over a lunging catcher with the ball. Being a former catcher myself, I figured no way that runner's prone body never was at least grazed by that catchers outstretched mit's rawhide strings, so I righteously throw my thumb up in the air...but then to my horror, no-one noticed my call from all the noise and the judas catcher bounced up and tried to tag the runner as both kicked up a dust storm scrambling to the plate. The runner won that race and everybody was celebrating and then all eyes were suddenly on me and my premature thumb still stuck up in the air instead of where the sun don't shine....A cop had to escort me (on my motorcycle getting pelted) outta town...kinda like that ump last nite...

what say you brilliant and murky minds?

I think the guy who was called safe on first base should just walk to the dugout. Take himself off the field and out of the game.

City schools, teachers union reach tentative contract

City schools, teachers union reach tentative contract The contract, which members of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers will vote to ratify in the next two weeks, would create new positions with the opportunity for higher pay and maintain the same health care coverage for current employees and retirees.

Much of what is wrong with sports in Pittsburgh Public Schools spews from that former contract. Time will tell if this got fixed -- or not.

I have no faith in changes with the union contract for the good of sports.

Study: Anti-violence group has no effect

No effect for our citycouncilman -- and our anti-violence group too.

Study: Anti-violence group has no effect: "One of Allegheny County's foremost anti-violence groups has had no impact on homicide rates and, in fact, gun crimes and aggravated assaults increased in neighborhoods where the group focused its efforts, according to a report released Wednesday.
The nonprofit RAND Corp. found that the efforts of the group, One Vision One Life, might also shift crime and violence from neighborhoods where the group operates to those where it does not.
Researchers focused on the program's impact on the crime-plagued North Side, South Side and Hill District. Starting in 2006, they studied a decade's worth of crime statistics and spent hundreds of hours observing the organization's outreach workers in the field."

I've been at odds with the philosophy of weed and seed. We can't just weed and seed and weed and seed. When do we harvest? When do we flourish? When do we soar to new heights?

However, if they are making heroic efforts in the lives of people -- then what.

The researchers partly blame "the lack of a systematic, coordinated strategy" between police and One Vision, whose work includes behind-the-scenes intervention in brewing street conflicts, programs for at-risk youth and more visible "rapid response" rallies, during which workers take to the streets in the wake of shootings to voice their message of nonviolence.

So, where does blame get pinned? Should it be on the nonprofit that is making a heroic effort or else the police who are missing the systematic and coordinated strategy.

More Kraus -- well -- more folly

The drinking game for Kruas begins with the word, "mix."

"Mr. Kraus said one of the things he hopes to accomplish is to 'remove himself from the mix' and to have the experts explain how a proactive approach can be good for everyone. He says he often hears that all the problems in South Side could be solved with more police.

'Once we’ve had a police officer introduced into the mix, it’s already too late,' the councilman says. He believes by incorporating the RHI principles it will greatly reduce the number of incidents in the neighborhood. 'It’s not about punishment or enforcement, it’s about behavior.'"

Bruce Kraus is a member of Pittsburgh City Council. He wants to be in charge of everyone's behavior. It is about behavior so he thinks. His behavior?

It is NOT about behavior Mr. Kraus. Not for you. Never.

As a member of city council, keep your nose out of the behavior of everyone else.

Council has a job to do. Mr. Kraus is clueless as to that job. That's why they have to buy thinking from consultants for $250,000 for PARKING.

The job of city council is to uphold the constitution. When and if behaviors are clashing with the rights of others, then it is time to act.

Kraus and City Council want to spend $250,000 on a parking study

They want to spend $250,000 on a parking study. Golly.

My councilman, Bruce Kraus, Mr. Folly himself, was quoted on the air on KDKA radio saying, "This is the most important decision city council is going to make all year." Furthermore, he said he wants to be sure that council does all its homework.

WTF?

No. That isn't true. City council wants to pay others to do its homework. I would have no problem if city council did the homework. The heavy lifting of what to do and why and how is NOT being done with city council as they are buying it from consultants -- at the price of $250,000.

Do it yourself.

We hired those on city council -- or more to the point -- we elected them. We want them to do the job. They should be the consultants. They should roll up their sleves and put on their thinking caps. They should burn the midnight oil and figure it out -- without burning big bucks on a consultant.

Where is the bid for that job, by the way?

Is this pay for play too?

Here is what city council and the mayor should do with the parking garages. Sell them. Sell them over the course of a few years so the value does not crash out of them by flooding the market.

Don't lease the garages -- sell them. Get the cash and make the cash as much as possible.

British Olympic Association criticises British Swimming for Youth Games omission - Telegraph

British Olympic Association criticises British Swimming for Youth Games omission - Telegraph: "Andy Hunt, the BOA chief executive, said: 'While we understand that occasionally the circumstances or timing of an Olympic event may prove difficult for a sport to fulfil, it is of course disappointing for Team GB if athletes from a particular sport are not able to participate.'
A British Swimming spokesman blamed the decision on the packed international calendar, with the European Championships in Budapest in August and the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October.
'We have to look at our resources both in terms of coaches and athletes,' said the spokesman."

Up and down the court. He shoots. Scores, Blocked. Rebounds. Fast break, Too many dribbles. Benched.

Shar out again as W. Mifflin girls basketball coach

Wednesday, June 02, 2010
By Mary Niederberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Phil Shar, the West Mifflin Area High School girls basketball coach who was fired a year ago after publicly criticizing the district's former superintendent, then rehired two weeks ago, is now off the job again.

Mr. Shar was removed from his coaching position yesterday by Superintendent Janet Sardon, whose action was based on a grievance filed by the teachers union and on two legal opinions she received on the issue -- one from district solicitor Jack Cambest and the other from Stuart Knade, chief counsel for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

The West Mifflin School Board voted to give Mr. Shar his head coaching job back at its May 20 meeting, but even before the vote was taken there were questions about whether it was legal for Mr. Shar, who is now a school board member, to serve as coach.

Mr. Shar had planned to serve as a volunteer and take no stipend.

After he was removed from his coaching position in June 2009 after several nasty public disagreements with former superintendent Patrick Risha, Mr. Shar ran a write-in campaign for the school board and won, beating out incumbent Diana Olasz. He took office in December and several weeks later filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the district, alleging that his right to free speech was violated. The suit demanded damages and a return to his coaching position,

Last month, the suit was settled for $30,000. Shortly after the settlement, the board majority voted to return him to the coaching position. It's unclear if that vote was also part of the settlement, as there was a confidentiality clause in the settlement that prevents either side from discussing it.

However, at the time Mr. Shar filed his suit, Mr. Knade of the school boards association said it violated the school code for Mr. Shar to serve as both school director and coach.

Mr. Knade said Section 324 of the state school code stipulates that "you cannot be employed by the school district in any capacity until after the expiration of your term in office regardless of if you resign."

Mr. Knade said that meant that Mr. Shar could not return to coaching, even on a volunteer basis, until the expiration of his four -- year term, even if he resigned.

Dr. Sardon said Mr. Cambest held the same legal opinion and union president Tom Ruffing said the union's attorney Stephen Jordan gave the union the same opinion.

Dr. Sardon said the district will not hold open gyms for the girls team until a new coach is named. However, she said Mr. Shar could continue to coach the girls summer league program because it is not a district-sponsored program.

After his reinstatement on May 20, Mr. Shar said he had received legal opinions saying he could coach provided he received no pay. Mr. Shar could not be reached for comment today.

Mary Niederberger: mniederberger@post-gazette.com; 412-851-1512.

Read more: http://post-gazette.com/pg/10153/1062510-100.stm#ixzz0pht1eCYM

I want our kids to be involved within gangs that we control -- like basketball teams, orchestras, and other school-sponsored activities.

Visiting CMU and watching online

The Alumni Association is pleased to announce that President Barack Obama will make an address this afternoon from Carnegie Mellon's Wiegand Gymnasium. A live videostream of the event is being made available to all Carnegie Mellon alumni. For more information, please visit www.cmu.edu/multimedia/obama/.

According to the White House Press Secretary, the president "will discuss the state of our economy, the future we need to seize, and the path we choose to get there. He will talk about the progress we've made in building the New Foundation he discussed at Georgetown last year, as well as the work we have left to do."

President Obama's Address from Carnegie Mellon University
When: Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 1:35 p.m.

Live Webstream:
For more information and to view the address, visit http://www.cmu.edu/multimedia/obama/.

Free Marc Emery

He is from Canada and never came to the USA. Yet, he is in jail here. Send him home. Free Marc Emery.

Government reform a pipe dream, ALCOSAN appointment shows - Blogs - Slag Heap - Pittsburgh City Paper

Government reform a pipe dream, ALCOSAN appointment shows - Blogs - Slag Heap - Pittsburgh City Paper: "As we've written repeatedly, the members of city boards and commissions are allowed to continue serving on boards even after their terms expire ... until the mayor either moves to renominate them, or to replace them with someone else."

Chris Potter, think again.

Nope. I hate your suggestion.

As the terms of the appointment come to pass, then the member on the board is removed. Done.

Once the board is moved to the point where there are not enough members to have a quorum, then the body should evaporate. All assets are put into orphans court.

We need to liquidate these authorities, not further empower them with inaction from those who are accountable.

Of course, the Citizens Police Review Board is NOT an authority. In that case, once a membeer's term has expired, then if that seat is not filled by a qualified and confirmed member by appointment, then the position is filled by the executive director on an interim basis.

For many years I've called for all authority board positions to be held more accountable by election at the polls via RETENTION VOTES. If a person does not meet the necessary percentage of votes at the election - Should Adam R be retained as an authority board member for ALCOSAN? Yes - or No. Then so be it.

Ravenstahl calls Carnegie Library's finances into question - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The Mayor didn't sneeze. Rather, he is getting his VETO pen ready. Bruce Kraus says "God bless" to Mayor. Sign.

Ravenstahl calls Carnegie Library's finances into question - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "'God bless him,' said Councilman Bruce Kraus, who introduced the measure with six co-sponsors to ensure its veto-proof passage. 'We've heard loud and clear the importance of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for the quality of life of the residents of Pittsburgh.'
No council member said yesterday that his or her vote would change. Harris said she was not sure how she would vote if the mayor were to veto the legislation."

To Marty Griffin: If a funeral gets hijacked, then trespassing has occurred.

The rub with your feelings is with the local judge who says damages were not inflicted.

This is LESS of a constitutional issue and more of a JUDGES SUCK issue.

But if a SHOUT OUT happens in a church from an unwelcome intruder -- then damages should be paid by the one who makes a problem in a place where they are not legally permitted to be.

A funeral picket along public rights of way is in poor taste, but it is free speech that should be protected. The right to free speech does stop at the entrance to the funeral. I want free speech.

Other topic: NO damage is caused to the police officer if a citizen puts up a middle finger.