Daniel's political musings

Cry me a river

2011-11-12T17:38:00.001-08:00

From Causa:

Among the issues they have been touched by in their personal lives includes the difficulty for people to obtain citizenship through the current broken immigration system, having their families torn apart by programs like Secure Communities, the need for passage of the DREAM Act so children of immigrants can realize their full potential and the need for restoration of driver's licenses so that familes can take their children to the doctor and drive to work so they can support their familes.

Let's parse that paragraph.

1. It's difficult (read: impossible) for illegal aliens to get amnesty for their illegal behavior.

2. Families get "torn apart" when people are arrested for breaking the law. This isn't exclusive to the illegal alien community. If you want to stay with your wife and kids then don't break the law.

3. "Children of immigrants" can already get in-state tuition if they are Oregonians. Even the children of illegal aliens can get this. You just can't get in-state tuition if you are yourself an illegal alien.

4. Illegal aliens want drivers licenses. Not so they can drive to the liquor store but so they can "drive their children to the doctor." With what health insurance? Does the job that American's won't do provide health insurance? Either it does, which sounds like a job that most people would take, or they are expecting us to pay for their health care.

Also they want to drive to their work that they aren't legally able to have so they can support their families. I wonder if they used YOUR social security number to get that job...

I'm on the Cain train

2011-11-08T17:46:00.001-08:00

The more I hear from this guy the more I like him. That is all.

News flash: Amazon already did this

2011-10-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

Report: Multnomah County should privatize library system

A report, “Checking Out the Options,” by Cascade research associate Christopher Robinson, comes as county commissioners are contemplating placement of a library district authorization measure on the May 2012 primary ballot. If approved, the district would provide permanent tax-raising authority for the library system in place of a series of temporary five-year tax levies and support from the county general fund.

County property taxes would rise as a result of the measure, which also would free some funds for the county to spend elsewhere.

Cascade, a pro-corporate, libertarian research and advocacy group in Portland, argues in the report that Multnomah County library operations are more expensive than those in Seattle and Denver. It pins the blame largely on high pension and health insurance benefits for county employees.

If you aren't reading this because you are currently downloading $1 books on your kindle I will understand. As I've stated many times here in the past I am in favor of closing down the taxpayer funded DVD rental stores. And unless you are really into looking at porn on public computers you should agree with me.

And for those of you who don't agree with me just know that my current plan is to become head of my local library and stock the shelves with nothing but Ann Coulter books. It's not like I need to respond to market demands or anything, you pay for the books whether you want them or not.

Is this a US agency?

2011-10-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

Has anyone looked at the DEA Most Wanted list lately?

I got all excited when there was a "James Cameron" because I thought that I found an American on the list but nope, he's from Canada. Other than that it's Mexico, Mexico, Mexico.

Does Fritz think that the constitution trumps in this case?

2011-10-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

Officers arrest armed man at Occupy Portland encampment
Police arrested a man they said flashed a handgun during an argument at the Occupy Portland encampment Wednesday afternoon.

Parker was taking video at the camp when several demonstrators "verbally challenged" him, police said. During the argument, one of the demonstrators used a racial slur at Parker, who then showed a gun he had tucked in his waistband.

Parker is a concealed handgun license owner, police said.

The irony of a non-participant being arrested for disorderly conduct during an occupy event is just too much for me.

There is no law (or city ordinance) against video taping people. There is no law (or city ordinance) against openly displaying a firearm if you have a concealed handgun license. There are however laws (or city ordinances) against camping in the parks, blocking traffic, etc.

But people who carry firearms aren't politically popular with the Portland Commissars so this guy gets arrested. And it doesn't fit the media template to tell us that this guy was black and what racial slur was used.

There are laws against pointing a firearm at another person (ORS 166.190) but the same cops who for days ignored alcohol and drug use downtown arrest the guy on disorderly conduct.

Disorderly conduct is everything that these protestors have done:

166.025Disorderly conduct in the second degree. (1) A person commits the crime ofdisorderly conduct in the second degree if, with intent to cause publicinconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, theperson:

(a)Engages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior;

(b)Makes unreasonable noise;

(c)Disturbs any lawful assembly of persons without lawful authority;

(d)Obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic on a public way;

(e)Congregates with other persons in a public place and refuses to comply with alawful order of the police to disperse;

(f)Initiates or circulates a report, knowing it to be false, concerning an allegedor impending fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe or other emergency; or

(g)Creates a hazardous or physically offensive condition by any act which theperson is not licensed or privileged to do.

(2)Disorderly conduct in the second degree is a Class B misdemeanor.

How does displaying a firearm to these hippies fall into this statute?

They will check your skin color at the door

2011-10-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

Public invited to Beaverton High School Latino College Night, Oct. 19
Students and families are invited to the Beaverton High School Latino College Night, Wednesday, October 19, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium, 13000 SW 2nd St., Beaverton. The event will be conducted entirely in Spanish and will include information on topics such as the benefits of higher education, how to prepare and plan for college and paying for college.

The evening will begin with a Resource Fair featuring representatives from the Northwest Education Loan Association (NELA), the National Hispanic Scholarship Commission, Oregon TRIO, Healthy Kids and Western Oregon Latino Student Ambassadors.

Light refreshments and child care will be provided. For more information, please contact Polly Ramirez at 503-259-4915.

Is there a high school in America that will give you a diploma if you don't speak English? Is there a college that will accept you if you don't speak English? Is there a job that requires a college degree but doesn't require that you speak English?

I can understand a Spanish only seminar on "please don't drive drunk" (that video will be uploaded later, seriously) or "please don't sell drugs" (also in the same video) but do we really need a class for High School graduates in a language other than English?

Equality assembly Part Tres

2011-10-08T20:23:00.000-07:00

Third in a series of posts.

Your "representative" Mary Nolan is "fighting against workplace raids." One can only assume then that she opposes labor laws. I could probably go a bit further and assume that she supports ID theft, perjury and tax fraud.

This is an Oregon lawmaker standing in front of a bunch of admitted lawbreakers and she is claiming to represent them. If lawmakers don't respect the law then clearly they should pick a different profession.

Equality Assembly Part Dos

2011-10-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

Second post in a series

Another video where the speakers starts by apologizing for not being able to speak Spanish. Imagine, not speaking Spanish in Portland, Oregon.

This is Oregon state Representative Lew Frederik. Towards the end of the video he acknowledges that many in the room are "undocumented" and then asks "how many are registered to vote." He ends with "I want you voting."

Equality Assembly Part Uno

2011-10-05T22:35:00.000-07:00

I just came back from the Equality Assembly that I blogged about in a previous post. I have so much material (pictures and video) that this is going to span the next several days.

We went because I knew that no mainstream journalist would document that illegal aliens would get up on a stage, tell the crowd that they were lawbreakers and a Portland police officer would be sitting four feet behind them. No one would document elected officials asking illegal aliens for their political participation. No one would document an attorney giving a lecture to the crowd on how to properly break the law and avoid detection. A lecture that at one point caused the police officer to take off his translator headphones.

We sat there quietly and didn't disturb anyone. I even clapped politely after the speakers finished. (assuming my camera wasn't in my hand) We weren't there to protest or stop anything, this is just my "observe and report."

Let's start with the basic narrative:

My wife and I arrived and met with fellow OFIR member Rick. Rick got a translating device with headphones, I had my wife. The speakers lined up on stage. There were several state legislators or their assistants and a Portland police officer. (Lt. Derek Rodrigues)

The only one I recognized was Mary Nolan. (I will forever kick myself for not catching this on video but she told the crowd that her daughter married an illegal alien!)

I did get excited when a guy wearing a shirt that said "undocumented, unafraid, unashamed" got on the stage.

But wait, who is this admitted criminal alien talking to?

A member of the Portland law enforcement community! Here are his statements:

Tomorrow I have videos of legislators asking a room for illegal aliens for their votes!

Guns don't kill people, the ATF kills people

2011-10-04T18:55:00.000-07:00

ATF Fast and Furious: New documents show Attorney General Eric Holder was briefed in July 2010
New documents obtained by CBS News show Attorney General Eric Holder was sent briefings on the controversial Fast and Furious operation as far back as July 2010. That directly contradicts his statement to Congress.

In Fast and Furious, ATF agents allegedly allowed thousands of weapons to cross the border and fall into the hands of Mexican drug cartels.

This gets more and more interesting. The real scandal is that if you ask the average man on the street they know nothing about this. Talk about this to your neighbors, your coworkers and your friends.

Eric Holder lied and border patrol agent Brian Terry died.

I won't settle

2011-09-30T22:08:00.001-07:00

You can't have a round square

2011-09-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Governor Perry,

You can't be small government and pro-illegal alien. I couldn't begin to calculate how many PERS recipients we have in Oregon because of illegal immigration.

How many translators, migrant coordinators, migrant health officials, head start ~~teachers~~ babysitters, and on and on.

How much time does government at every level spend worrying about and catering to the criminal aliens who have broken our immigration laws?

How many programs at the state level have been created to accommodate or respond to illegal immigration?

You are not a small government conservative if you believe that we should provide the additional magnet of in-state tuition costs to illegal aliens.

Some animals are more equal than others

2011-09-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

Equality Assembly to take place on October 5th in Portland
This event is part of a campaign to speak to local leaders and raise awareness about issues important to the ~~Latino Community~~ illegal alien community.

What: Portland Equality Assembly
When: Wednesday, October 5th from 6-8 p.m.
Where: Rigler School, 5401 NE Prescott St, Portland Oregon

Local elected leaders will be present to hear testimony from community members in support of:

Stopping local law enforcement collaboration with ICE
Passing Tuition Equity, so all Oregon students can afford higher education, regardless of immigration status
Supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members of our community
Restoring driver’s license access to all Oregonians, regardless of immigration status

So local politicians will hear about a bunch of stuff that affects certain privileged members of our community. (criminal aliens) Or will they? This event is being held at a public school which means anyone can attend. (although I can't guarantee that English translation will be provided)

It may be a good idea for other interested members of the community to show up to offer their own opinions. Or at least document what goes on here. Si se puede.

Because Obama hates loopholes

2011-09-21T20:35:00.000-07:00

Bill Blocks Billions in Child Tax Credits to Illegal Immigrants
New legislation sponsored by Rep. Sam Johnson (R.-Tex.) would block illegal immigrants from cashing in on the refundable child tax credit and save the federal government tens of billions of dollars.

The Refundable Child Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Reform Act (HR 1956), would amend the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code to require that taxpayers provide their Social Security number on their tax return in order to claim the refund.

The refunds claimed by illegal immigrants have grown over the years at an alarming rate: $924 million in 2005 to $4.2 billion in 2010.

Not one penny should be taken from corporate jet owners while illegal aliens are using the tax code to bilk us out of billions of dollars.

If politicians were serious about getting out of the way of job creations they would stop aiding criminal behavior that sends money out of our country to prop up the economy of Mexico.

Those hated lobbyists

2011-09-20T06:23:00.000-07:00

Oregon public and private sectors see dramatic rise in congressional lobbying
In the last decade, spending on federal congressional lobbying by Oregon government bodies and businesses has increased five-fold, from $2 million in 2000 to over $10 million in 2010, according to an
analysis of federal lobbyist data by Oregon Capitol News (OCN).

To all those who want to "get money out of politics" and hate the lobbyists and specials interests, the quickest way to stop this is to get rid of crony capitalism. If the government has less power they wouldn't need to be lobbied.

But when numerous agencies have the power to either shut you down or loan you half a billion dollars it's only prudent that you spend a lot of time buying drinks and rounds of golf for our politicians.

I'll sell you this watch for $20

2011-09-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

If I offered to sell you a $17.5K car for $2,600 you would assume that there was theft involved. The same is true when ~~solar companies~~ the government tries to sell you their products. With claims of "up to 85% off" you know that someone is getting robbed. That someone is the taxpayers, both current and future.

One of the things I look forward to most in life is the end of the green fad. That very special time in the future where we will look back and laugh at how gullible some people were.

I can't wait until the DMV takes credit/debit cards so I can find out how much extra they will charge us

2011-09-11T16:25:00.000-07:00

Online Licensing
You may purchase your new or renewal dog license online through our secure site.

Note: Our secure site accepts Visa and MasterCard. There is a convenience fee of $2.49 that is charged to you for using the online service. There is no fee for a payment by check or cash made in our office or by mail. Using this online system is voluntary.

I should drive my V8 truck down to the animal shelter and pay by paper check. The entire private sector is pushing "paperless billing" and online payment, not because it is "green" but because it is so much cheaper, easier and efficient to take electronic payments.

But government has decided that since something is more convenient for the consumer there is money to be made. How much does it cost the county to have me hand a check to a PERS recipient, get a paper receipt and then have the same PERS recipient make record of the transaction and then put the check in a pouch so that another PERS recipient can take it to the bank?

I'm guessing that it's slightly more than having a website record a few 1's and 0's to have money direct deposited into their account. But since it's more convenient for me I guess I have to pay extra.

If only there weren't crimes we wouldn't have criminals

2011-09-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

Immigration Offenses Make Latinos New Majority in Federal Prisons, Report Says

For the first time - Latinos make up more than half of all federal felony offenders sentenced so far this year, a major demographic shift swollen by immigration offenses, according to a new government report.

"Statistics like this have to start drawing attention to this country's immigration policies and what we're doing, if this is one of the results," said Fordham University Law School professor Deborah Denno, an expert on racial disparities in the criminal justice system. "The implications for Latinos are huge when you think of the number of families affected by having their breadwinners put away for what in some cases would be considered a non-violent offense."

I love the crocodile tears of families being "torn apart" when one family member CHOOSES TO BREAK THE LAW. The implications for "Latinos" here is not the issue. The federal government isn't rounding up Latinos. The people who are affected by our criminal justice system are... wait for it... criminals!

While I don't wish harm on anyone I would find it ironic if professor Deborah Denno has her ID stolen (non violent crime) and her house broken into (non violent crime). We would quickly find out how worried she was about the family of the perpetrator being broken up.

Final back to school special before we have to drive 20 mph again

2011-09-05T21:11:00.000-07:00

For ALL Students Regardless of Immigration Status

If our schools would spend as much time teaching kids to read as they do trying to help illegal aliens our students might have better test scores. I'm just saying...

Ugh, this new design is killing me

2011-08-31T20:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Blogger,

I hate your new design.

Sincerely,
Daniel

Petty cash for distribution?

2011-08-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

From the "expenditures" spreadsheet:
AGENCY_TITLE

HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

COMPT_OBJ_TITLE
DISTRIBUTION TO INDIVIDUALS

CASH_EXPENSE

$38,238.76

VENDOR_NAME

MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY SERVICES

Can anyone tell me what this means?

Back to escuela especial

2011-08-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

CENTENNIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 28JT
2011-2012
EXTRA DUTY VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

This position is open until filled.

Position: Mecha Club Advisor
Start Date: 8/29/2011

Flush with cash, our local public schools are now hiring racial supremacy group advisers. They need our kicker check or important positions like this might not happen.

NOTE: I'm not positive but I believe that for "extra duty" positions a teacher gets paid time and a half.

Back to school special

2011-08-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

It's that very special time of year when I focus on our over-funded government indoctrination centers that act as day care centers for thousands of illegal alien children.

Today's post: Tigard-Tualatin school district job titles

The following people do not teach kids reading/writing/arithmetic:

ELL Secretary
First Step to Success Coordinator
Administrative Specialist / Community Relations
Associate Director of Federal Programs
Free and Reduced Application Specialist
Executive Assistant to HR/ Licensed
Administrative Specialist
Administrative Assistant
Director of Coordinated Education Services
Director of Community Relations
Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant to Director of Curriculum and Instruction

There must have been some huge budget cuts because I don't see an Administrative Executive Assistant Specialist to the ELL Coordinator. How our schools will manage without one of those is beyond me.

Excecutive amnesty

2011-08-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

New DHS rules cancel deportations
The Homeland Security Department said Thursday it will halt deportation proceedings on a case-by-case basis against illegal immigrants who meet certain criteria such as attending school, having family in the military or are primarily responsible for other family members’ care.

The chief beneficiaries of the new guidance are likely to be illegal immigrant students who would have been eligible for legal status under the Dream Act, which stalled in Congress last year.

If you look at the "policy reform" timeline for ICE since Obama became president it has been one small amnesty after another.

2009-04-30 ICE issued a revised worksite enforcement strategy to focus on prosecuting employers, not simply arresting and removing workers. This policy steps away from the large raids resulting in significant numbers of arrested workers.
Don't arrest illegal aliens

2009-07 ICE revised the standard memorandum of agreement to restrict the immigration authority delegated to our state and local partners. The new agreements prohibit street officers from arresting aliens solely for civil immigration violations and convey clearly that officers must act in a manner consistent with ICE’s highest priority—the arrest of aliens convicted of crimes, with a particular focus on level one offenders.
Don't arrest illegal aliens

2009-09-24 ICE issued a directive to ICE attorneys to move to dismiss cases against aliens who are prima facie eligible for U-visas as the victims of crime. The same document directs that the aliens be granted a stay of removal pending the adjudication of their application for a U-visa.
Don't deport illegal aliens

2009-12-08 To address concern that more “collateral” aliens were arrested during fugitive operations than fugitive aliens, ICE issued new guidance that prioritizes criminal fugitives over non-criminal fugitives. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the policy also prohibits the detention of aliens who are seriously ill, disabled, pregnant, nursing, or the sole caretakers of children or the infirm.
Don't arrest illegal aliens that may happen to be around the illegal alien that you were looking for. This is like cops refusing to arrest fugitives that are passengers during a traffic stop because they were only after the driver.

2011-06-17 ICE issued a new policy to guide officers, agents and attorneys in their exercise of prosecutorial discretion.
Don't deport illegal aliens.

Laws on the book are being ignored by executive branch. The union for the border patrol agents issued a Vote of No Confidence in their leadership in 2010. And now in August of 2011 the Obama administration continues to steamroll over the legislative branch by ignoring the laws written by our elected representatives.

If I am a student, have a member of my family in the military or are primarily responsible for the care of another family member does this mean that I can't be sent to prison?

Make phone calls, write letters. Make sure that your neighbors know that during this extended time of 9%+ unemployment we have a president who wants to keep illegal workers on the job.

I can only hope that Warren Buffett's tax dollars paid for this program

2011-08-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

Seattle's 'green jobs' program a bust
Last year, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn announced the city had won a coveted $20 million federal grant to invest in weatherization. The unglamorous work of insulating crawl spaces and attics had emerged as a silver bullet in a bleak economy – able to create jobs and shrink carbon footprint – and the announcement came with great fanfare.

But more than a year later, Seattle's numbers are lackluster. As of last week, only three homes had been retrofitted and just 14 new jobs have emerged from the program. Many of the jobs are administrative, and not the entry-level pathways once dreamed of for low-income workers.

The city had applied for the grant at a time of eco-giddiness, when former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels was out-greening all other politicians except for Al Gore.

Woo, of Got Green, thinks the city needs to throw more money on incentives.

It was only a few days ago when I talked about politicians trying to out-green each other and now $20 million dollars has gone towards administration and putting insulation in three homes. (hint: you can buy insulation at Lowes or Home Depot and it is much much less expensive)

But even if we pretend that this had created thousands of jobs it's still just government make-work. They could pay half the country to dig holes and the other half to dig ditches but that doesn't make us an economic powerhouse.

If Obama's rich friends insist that taxes need to be raised I would hope that they will just start cutting checks for this kind of stuff.

I [heart] outsourcing!

2011-08-15T17:54:00.000-07:00

I consider myself somewhere between the WSJ editorial page and Pat Buchanan when it comes to free trade but listening to the "no China" crowd on Lars today was just too much.

The reality is that all those callers are fans of outsourcing and unless they are farmers they outsource their most basic need: food production.

The average Joe has realized that it makes more sense for them to work 40 hours a week for a salary that allows them to buy inexpensive food from the grocery store rather than work 80 hours a week to grow their own food.

They trade their particular labor skills for money to exchange for goods/services from other people's particular labor skills. This only makes sense.

Rather than spend your time farming you can be a lawyer/mechanic/doctor/etc and buy food with money left over for housing, clothing and internet!

But I see these same people who are happy to "outsource" their internet connectivity to Comcast crying just because I don't mind buying an inexpensive toaster made in China.

I must be a fool for thinking that my time is better spent earning a wage that allows me to buy the toaster rather than spend my time building a fire and toasting the bread myself.

Who is this guy?

2011-08-10T19:28:00.001-07:00

Does anyone know this guy, Dow Jones, who lives in New York and apparently isn't too happy with bloated government spending? Is he a member of the Tea Party or something?

On a serious note I think my head is going to explode the next time someone suggests that congress get called back into session to "do something." They are the problem, not the solution. If they would just promise to stay home for the next 3 years the markets would come roaring back.

Save money by spending it!

2011-08-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

Oregon's Public Universities Plan To Go Solar
An ambitious solar project rolling out across Oregon college campuses next week would set one university on a path toward energy independence.

The five megawatts planned for Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, and Eastern Oregon would create a bigger solar project than any currently operating in Oregon.

"It's really a big deal. It's exciting. It's terrific for the people of Oregon, and it's really going to save us money in the long run," says OIT's President Christopher Maples.

State energy department records list the total estimated cost at more than $26 million. State and federal tax credits could cover much of that.

You know how I know this is a huge money saver: everyone is doing it! Oh wait...

I'm glad that these university presidents get to participate in the latest fad using taxpayer dollars but can they at least acknowledge that it's a money loser and not a money saver? Man up and just tell us that you want to be cooler than those kids in San Fransisco.

Government agencies trying to "out green" each other will be the death of us.

You know the permit process is too strict when...

2011-08-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

'Pedalounge' party bike stalled due to insurance, permit issues
Portland Pedalounge owner John Boblett is frustrated because he cannot get insurance due to what he feels is a problem with the City of Portland's permit requirements. The City says it's just protecting taxpayers from liability if anything goes wrong.

In short, the City of Portland requires that all for-profit business operating in the public right-of-way have insurance that puts all liability for accidents on the business owner. Boblett says his carrier has declined to issue him insurance specifically because his agent feels the City's language is too broad. According to Boblett's agent, the language includes a stipulation that Boblett would be liable in an accident even if failing City infrastructure was the cause.

Stop. I can't imagine anyone saying that the city of Portland fails to maintain it's road infrastructure. That comment just blew my mind.

Butler confirmed that they've gotten three requests for party-bike operator permits recently. Because of this interest and the fact that the vehicles are new to Portland, the Revenue Bureau has assembled a working group with representatives from the Police Bureau and Liquor Control to learn more about them.

How many different government bureaus does it take to let someone ride a big bike down the street? I actually find this hilarious because the same people who would normally cheer for the endless bureaucracy are now getting a taste of their own medicine.

It turns out that "bike friendly" takes a back seat to "government friendly" in the city of Portland!

Metro: the culturally insensitive puppet masters

2011-07-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

In the lower left corner of this billboard is the logo for our regional government, Metro. Since your tax dollars paid for this ad let me translate: We are Oregonians and we recycle.

What really bothers me is how culturally insensitive this billboard is. On the road where this billboard is placed there are a lot of businesses that cater to Spanish speakers but I notice that the advertisements done by these companies are much different. These ads almost exclusively have a picture of a woman in a bikini on them.

This was taken by me just down the street during a 2008 day labor protest

For Metro to try to advertise to the illegal alien community using pictures of fully clothed women just shows that all the diversity training done so far has been a waste of time.

I'm convinced that the only way for Metro to make up for this multicultural faux pas is for them to make sure that their new employee, the puppeteer, can speak Spanish. Yes, Metro is currently hiring a puppeteer for $14.77 an hour.

The position will be represented by AFSCME Local 3850. You blue collar union boys must be proud.

It's time for a compromise so that we can move forward

2011-07-24T09:13:00.001-07:00

Both sides need to give a little in this situation. It is absolutely unthinkable to me that we would go into August without some sort of deal worked out. It's been a long debate but the deadline to act before it negatively impacts us is rapidly approaching. Get it done this coming week guys. We need to move forward.

I am, of coarse, talking about the NFL lockout.

How long is this nutjob going to be my representative?

2011-07-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

Wu at center of sex allegation
Rep. David Wu has been accused of an “unwanted sexual encounter” with the teenage daughter of a longtime friend, the latest scandal to engulf the troubled Oregon Democrat.

The Oregonian reported that the 56-year-old Wu “acknowledged a sexual encounter to his senior aides but insisted it was consensual,” according to sources aware of the incident.

Calling the episode “very serious,” Wu did not specifically address allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances toward the young woman who is the daughter of a donor.

After it became public that he tried to rape someone in college the voters of my district still returned this guy to office. Now I have to put on my really really really really surprised face when I hear news that he did something similar again.

Clean up the neighborhood

2011-07-19T06:11:00.000-07:00

Report: Some illegal immigrants prepare to flee Alabama ahead of new law
Illegal immigrants in Alabama are selling off household items such as microwaves and sofas in preparation to leave the state if a tough new law goes into effect Sept. 1.

The Birmingham News' David White collects anecdotal evidence that some of the estimated 120,000 unauthorized immigrants in the state are considering leaving or have already left because they worry they would be arrested and deported under the new law.

Can you imagine any mayor/governor not holding a press conference if criminals left their jurisdiction in droves? If there was evidence that sex offenders were fleeing the state the headlines would be crying victory. If meth users wanted outside of city limits due to tough new laws there would be cheers at city hall.

But because these are politically popular criminals we get sob stories from the media.

Getting criminal aliens to self deport at no cost to the taxpayer is so easy even a politician can do it.

As long as they rape in a culturally competent way

2011-07-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

Oregon to close youth sex offender cottages at MacLaren
State officials plan to close the three closely guarded cottages that house sex offenders at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, The Oregonian has learned.

Plans call for transferring about 75 convicted sex offenders into other "close custody" units elsewhere in Oregon or, potentially, into less secure halfway houses run by private nonprofits.

The closures, set to occur by Oct. 1, are the result of state budget cuts approved by the Legislature.

Of coarse the ONLY solution is to release sex offenders on the public. There is NOTHING else that the Youth Authority could do. It's not like they have ever made a claim like this:

OYA is the only juvenile justice agency in the nation with an Office of Minority Services.

Sometimes being the "only one" to do something means that you are doing it wrong. But hey, if someone needs to get raped so that the OYA can keep Lily E. Caceres, Minority Services Hispanic Coordinator on the job then so be it.

But these are great priorities, it's not as if their class on Cultural Competencies & Overview of OMS services is 4 hours long while the class on Contraband is a measly hour.

You know what else is more important than locking up rapists? Providing no charge tattoo removal! And of coarse you can't have a tattoo removal program without a Tattoo Removal
Coordinator!

This is just me spending 10 minutes on the OYA website. A public records request for the working job titles of everyone in this department and then doing a search for the terms "diversity" and "multicultural" would only show how much more of this nonsense exists.

Go Rick Perry!

2011-07-07T18:39:00.000-07:00

Texas executes Mexican after court stay rejected
Texas executed a Mexican citizen Thursday for the rape-slaying of a teenager after he and the White House pleaded in vain for a Supreme Court stay, saying he was denied help from his home country that could have helped him avoid the death penalty.

"One more thing," he said as the drugs began taking effect. Then he shouted twice, "Viva Mexico!"

After his execution, relatives of Leal who had gathered in Guadalupe, Mexico, burned a T-shirt with an image of the American flag in protest. Leal's uncle Alberto Leal criticized the U.S. justice system and the Mexican government and said, "There is a God who makes us all pay."

Uncle Alberto talks about God making someone pay but he's not referring to his nephew who raped and murdered a girl, he's talking about the justice system that held his nephew accountable.

So the rapist/murderer shouts "viva Mexico," the Mexicans burn the American flag and the whole time Obama was worried that we would offend our great neighbors to the south.

Because I would hate to see a criminal enterprise crumble

2011-07-06T06:21:00.000-07:00

Oregon businesses join with unusual allies to press for comprehensive immigration reform
With Congress edging back into the battle over immigration reform, the leading House proposal is drawing opposition from a surprising place - Oregon businesses.

One of the leaders, Jeff Stone, executive director of the Oregon Association of Nurseries, calls the legislation introduced by House Judiciary Committee chairman Lamar Smith, R-Tex., "a recipe for disaster, not only for agriculture but for the national economy."

"In the worst case," he says, "you could see some Oregon operations crumble."

Smith's proposal would require all employers to use a federal database known as E-Verify to confirm that a prospective worker is legal. Currently, 250,000 businesses use E-Verify on a voluntary basis. That number would jump to 6 million if it became mandatory.

In unrelated news several local area bars and liquor stores are protesting a law requiring them to ask for ID when a patron looks under the age of 21. "This will cost us money" said the owner of one tavern.

Also, gun shops and sporting goods stores have now decided to treat form 4473 as a mere formality. "Sure we have someone fill it out, but we can't actually be bothered to verify if the information is accurate" was the response of most gun stores. An industry advocate said "Our business model requires that we sell firearms to felons and those prohibited by law, when we ignore the rules we make more money."

In news related to the economy it seems that local business have taken to pirating software on a mass scale. "I would estimate that 70% of our business software is undocumented" said one local office who wished to remain anonymous. It seems that companies have figured out that if they break the law it can only strengthen the bottom line.

Happy Independence Day

2011-07-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

Go drive drunk on their roads

2011-07-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

An Illegal Alien's Guide to the Top Five Best Places to Live In America
When “relocating” to the United States, it’s best to avoid states that have selfishly put the interests of their legal residents ahead of yours with laws that hinder your access to jobs and benefits. But many attractive destinations remain, endorsed by millions of illegal aliens already living in each.

1. California
2. Montgomery Country, Maryland
3. Washington State
4. Chicago - All of Illinois too!
5. New Haven, Connecticut

Final Tip

Given that the citizens of these destinations keep voting for politicians who enact policies that welcome illegal immigration, we’re certain they’ll be pleased by your arrival.

Valid reasons for the top five selection are spelled out in the article. We can only hope that somewhere a Spanish version of this list exists so that maybe Oregon will experience fewer drug crimes, have fewer jobs stolen and fewer wastes of taxpayer money.

First they came for the jet owners...

2011-06-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

Raise your hand if you own something that you don't "need." I'm always amazed when various people ask questions like "why does someone 'need' a 30 round magazine" or "why does someone 'need' a yacht."

The correct answer is that you don't "need" any of these things, but it's none of your business if I want them. You don't need a DVD player. You don't need shoes. You don't need a microwave.

Instead of talking about whether or not a business can depreciate the value of their private jet we should be asking why government gets to tax that asset to begin with.

If a company wants to buy a jet/forklift/CNC machine/etc why does the government demand a piece of the action?

Instead of asking if raising taxes in a down economy will "help create jobs" we should ask why government deserves to take more of what people earn.

Some lawbreakers are more equal than others

2011-06-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

Dems Push Ahead With DREAM Act, as ICE Offers New Guidelines for Illegal Immigrant Cases
Sen. Dick Durbin plans to make a full-court press Tuesday to revive the debate over a controversial proposal to give illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children a path to legal status, as the Obama administration moves on a separate track to grant what some describe as "amnesty" to the same group.

The hearing and a recent memo from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement suggest officials are moving on two fronts to give illegal immigrant students a chance at staying.

The memo issued June 17 from ICE Director John Morton instructs staff to consider 19 factors when exercising "prosecutorial discretion" -- or the discretion an ICE attorney has in deciding whether and how to pursue or dismiss an immigration case.

What if there was a memo that suggested "discretion" could be used when prosecuting white drug dealers? Would that be equal justice under the law?

When those in the executive branch issue memos instructing people to refuse to enforce the laws written by the legislative branch we have a serious problem.

Again I ask, which laws can the rest of us ignore?

The new Americans

2011-06-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

In Gold Cup final, it's red, white and boo again
On a balmy early Saturday summer evening, the U.S soccer team played for a prestigious championship in a U.S. stadium … and was smothered in boos.

Its fans were vastly outnumbered. Its goalkeeper was bathed in a chanted obscenity. Even its national anthem was filled with the blowing of air horns and bouncing of beach balls.

Welcome to another unveiling of that social portrait known as a U.S.-Mexico soccer match, streaked as always in deep colors of red, white, blue, green … and gray.

"Obviously … the support that Mexico has on the night like tonight makes it a home game for them," said U.S. Coach Bob Bradley, choosing his words carefully. "It's part of something we have to deal with on the night."

Multiculturalism rears it's ugly head again. Our illegal alien friends obviously have no loyalty to the United States. They come here to steal. But also disturbing is how their anchor babies grow up to feel loyalty to a country other than the U.S.

Kids who have never seen Mexico still consider themselves "Mexicans." The consequences of this are going to be worse than just our soccer team losing on our home soil.

I know that I'm proud

2011-06-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

In the "nothing better to do" category we have Governor Kitzhaber declaring June to be "pride month."

PROCLAMATION

I know that the genderqueer provide me with endless inspiration! Join Dr. K in this observance!

Another "biggest ever" moment for Oregon

2011-06-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

Oregon Marijuana Grow – Marijuana Growers in Wallowa County Arrested
Oregon state police and other states agencies recently found a marijuana plantation in Wallowa County, Oregon. The marijuana grow was found in a very remote part of the county. So far, it is believed to be the largest outdoor marijuana plantation ever found in the state.

The amount of land that the marijuana grow covered was unprecedented, and more than a mile of land was devoted to the plantation.

La Grande Police Sergeant, John Shaul expressed amazement at the amount of marijuana being grown, calling it “staggering.” Shaul stated in the press release, “Many people would be outraged at the damage to our public lands caused by illegal marijuana growers.”

As noted in the press release, the following people were arrested and taken into custody: Arturo Barrera, 26, Federico Carrasco, 24, Christian Gonzalez, 28, Fredy Montes, 32, Jesus Sanchez, 21 and Audel Soto, 29.

Since these fine gentleman haven't yet shown up on the inmate roster (NOTE: use Umatilla County list for Wallowa) we don't know for sure but I'm willing to go out on a limb here and say that at least some of them are here illegaly.

It's always exciting to see another "biggest" drug bust perpetrated by folks who shouldn't be here in the first place.

Summer is here, let the government feed your kids!

2011-06-13T18:42:00.000-07:00

It's the end of another school year, time for my annual summer lunch program roundup!

Free summer lunch program
Lunches will be served Monday-Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the following sites: Bridgeport, Metzger and Templeton elementary schools and Bonita Villa, Greenburg Oaks, Oleson Woods and The Colonies apartment complexes.

Tigard-Tualatin school district will come to your apartment complex and feed you. It's free!*

*Free lunch means that you are not a taxpayer. If you are not a taxpayer you will pay for both the food and the government employees to hand out the food.

Summer food service program
Join us for Nutritious Summer Meals at No Charge

This flyer, including trademarked Power Panther, is also available in Spanish.

Free Summer Lunch Program Begins June 20
For some students, summer can mean 10 weeks of hunger, but summer nutrition programs offered by local school districts help to ensure that children can continue to have healthy lunches even after school's out!

Are there really parents that don't feed their children for 10 weeks because school is out?

The bottom line is that every school district now provides this service. Parents are absolved of any responsibility for feeding their children. They will literally come to the apartments where you live. You don't even need to get off the sofa or put your cigarette down. Just send the kids outside and the government will feed them and send the rest of us the bill.

In-state tuition for illegal aliens will not happen this time

2011-06-07T18:14:00.000-07:00

SB 742 is now in the dustbin of this legislative session. The illegal alien proponents gave this everything they had and they still lost.

The sob stories. The poster children. The rallies. It didn't work.

You know why? Because legislators want to keep their jobs and a LAWMAKER who rewards LAWBREAKERS at the expense of voting taxpayers is likely to get voted out of office.

Tell us that it will create jobs

2011-06-01T19:26:00.000-07:00

New Terms in Crack Debate
Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday that new reduced penalties for federal crack-cocaine offenses should be applied retroactively, setting up a clash over the potential release of thousands of drug offenders currently in prison.

Speaking at a hearing of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the body that crafts guidelines used by federal judges, Mr. Holder said the Obama administration believed those sentenced under the older, stricter rules, "who are not considered dangerous drug offenders," should get the benefit of the new standards.

If there is one thing the American people are clamoring for right now it's the urgent release of felons convicted of crack related charges. I personally send a weekly email to my congressman (see example below) to demand this very thing.

And of course I don't consider people convicted of felony drug offenses to be "dangerous drug offenders" because that would just be silly. When I think of crackheads I think of the more "positively contributing to society drug offenders." And let's not forget the dealers! How many jobs does one dealer create?

At this point I think that crack related crimes should not be punished by prison at all but instead the offender could be issued a sternly worded letter. That would teach them!

The only downside to this is that these non drug offending drug offenders may no longer have access to taxpayer funded:

Aerobics
Yoga
Stationary bicycles
Bingo
Karaoke
Numerous board games and other indoor activities (cards, chess, etc.)
Current-run movies are shown nightly
SEE LINK

Example letter to my Congressman David Wu:

Dear Congressman Wu,

I am writing to ask you to support the urgent release of drug users. As we both know drugs don't cause bizarre behavior at all. Drug users never have erratic behavior which causes concerns for their employees and those around them. They never act desperate or claim that characters from fictional tv shows, such as Star Trek, are in the highest levels of our government. Please consider my request.

Sincerely,
Daniel

If druggies can get food stamps why can't I get an OMHS grant?

2011-05-31T18:19:00.000-07:00

OMHS Sponsorships (.DOC)
Sponsorship Request Review
Sponsorship Requests will be reviewed on the fourth Wednesday of each month by OMHS staff.

Requests will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

Racial/ethnic diversity of organizations requesting sponsorship

Geographic location (within Oregon), representation of urban/rural organizations

Alignment with equity and/or diversity concepts

Prior awards to the same organization within the last 12 months

Amount of request in relations to activity sponsored (reasonable cost for activity)

They literally make you break down by percentage the number of each racial group that you serve, that you have on staff, that you have in management and that you have on your board of directors.

Then, assuming that you are aligned with the diversity concepts prescribed by the state, you will be awarded taxpayer money to do race-based programs!

Government marketing: selling what you are already buying

2011-05-31T06:28:00.000-07:00

Oregon freshman Rep. Mike McLane challenges $2 million carpooling campaign and veteran lobbyist
With gas pushing $4 a gallon, does the state of Oregon really need to spend $2 million on a marketing campaign aimed at getting people to drive less?

House freshman Mike McLane doesn't think so. New to the budget-writing committee, the Republican from Powell Butte was struck by the state's ongoing investment in the "Drive Less. Save More." campaign launched in the Portland Metro region in 2006.

With his questions, McLane, 46, is learning just how hard it is to kill a government program once it gains traction. And by picking on "Drive Less. Save More." McLane has taken on one of the Capitol's most powerful lobbyists whose company holds the five-year, $7.5 million contract for the campaign and whose clients contributed hundreds of thousands to state lawmakers' elections last year.

First, I would argue that the state has no business spending money on this marketing campaign regardless of gas prices.

But I guess when the Bike Less Save More campaign has important tweets to send out like "Got an errand close by? Try walking it! When planning your route, try to use paths that have the most sidewalks so you won't end up walking in the street" we can see how important this really is. I never knew that I could walk to a close destination until government told me so.

Every agency becomes a policy arm

2011-05-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL ON THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORm HOSTED BY TOM VILSACK, SECRETARY, USDA AND BOB STALLMAN, PRESIDENT, AFBF
MR. STALLMAN: Well, thank you, Mr. Secretary. The Secretary and I did have a good conversation about this issue a couple of weeks ago and we do agree on the importance of fixing the nation's broken immigration system. To do that, we're going to need comprehensive immigration reform. It's something we've been working on for a lot of years and the need is even greater now than it was when we started.

At every level of government they are clamoring for amnesty. The only thing that holds them back is we the people. The elites want it, we don't. Make sure that we keep our opinions known and the pressure on. They are relentless.

I want to know who let them out of the kitchen

2011-05-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

Female graduates face pay discrimination
It’s better times for those entering the workforce. But despite the year’s increase in job prospects and starting salaries for newly-minted college graduates, the news is not so promising for matriculating females.

According to a report issued by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, women fresh out of college are offered starting salaries that are, on average, 17 percent less than their male counterparts.

It’s a largely inexplicable phenomenon, explained NACE researcher Ed Koc, except that men might be placing more emphasis on a higher starting salary than women.

Koc said. “It’s a prima facie case for discrimination towards women on the part of employers.

For Koc, the most realistic explanation for this discrepancy is supply and demand.

I can tell this article was written by a women because of the back and forth reasoning that contradicted itself. Arguments rooted in logic are not the forte of the fairer sex.

"Men place more emphasis" then "it's discrimination" and back to "supply and demand" as explanations for this inexplicable phenomenon.

I would argue that people are paid what their labor is worth. You are in a mutually beneficial employer/employee relationship. If one side decides that it is no longer beneficial to them then the relationship can be terminated. Womanly crying about it won't change the situation.

If there is a company out there that doesn't pay women what their talent is worth then they limit their available talent pool. Their competitor who doesn't limit themselves this way will hire better people, have less turnover, be more successful and possibly the other company will go out of business.

Note to the trolls: The wife and I will get a kick out of your comments I'm sure.

Portland commies get a lesson in economics

2011-05-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

Black Rose Threatened with Extinction
[A] call out for support that emphasizes our immediate need for funds.

The long, chilly, rainy seasons are finally departing, leaving the Black Rose far behind in our finances. We have until June 5th to catch up, otherwise the Blackrose will be evicted.

As always no one turned away for lack of funds but, we really encourage folks to pitch in and donate in this time of need.

The Black Rose doesn't have it's own website (what successful business does?) but they do have a Myspace page. If you want to "friend" them please note: We will not add anyone whose profile has oppressive content.

Black Rose is a non-profit, all volunteer, consensus-based, collectively run infoshop in Portland, Oregon. In addition to our bookstore and lending library, we also have a freestore with clothes, books, small household items, and more - all for free! We strive to be an anti-oppressive, anti-authoritarian, safer, sober community space.

So a store run on socialist principles is about to fail and they blame it on the rainy weather. It has nothing to do with the fact that they don't charge for products but instead rely on the kindness of their fellow hippies.

Free is not fair. You achieve fairness when a willing seller and a willing buyer reach a mutual agreement that they both believe will benefit themselves. This is true for labor, for books and everything else.

Good riddance Black Rose, I look forward to seeing your old "customers" at Wal-Mart!

The map reveals all

2011-05-24T20:27:00.001-07:00

Did anyone else notice that Netanyahu sounds a whole lot more gung ho on America than Obama does?

Homeowners open their arms to burglars

2011-05-23T18:24:00.000-07:00

NOTE: This was a guest piece from BlueOregon. They hate black people, I keep saying it so it must be true.
Why Tuition Equity Matters
By Lupita Maurer of Aloha, Oregon. Lupita Maurer was born in Mexico City. She became a U.S. citizen and a Democrat in 1995. She was a member of the Oregon Council for Civil Rights from 2009-2011 and was recently appointed to the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs by Governor Kitzhaber. She is a member of the Democratic National Committee.

After seeing most Mexican women in my family divorced, abandoned, and without a solid career to support themselves, I decided my ticket to a secure economic future would be an education.
Democrat women have done such a bang up job convincing men that they can be cads.

I was visiting my mother when I decided not to return to the university in Mexico. She was living here legally in the United States, but not doing so well economically. So I remained, and started working with her cleaning houses. It was honest work, but our life here was vulnerable and scary, because I overstayed my tourist visa.
You are now "vulnerable" if you are a criminal. If you have a warrant out for your arrest are you also vulnerable?

Then, the California Supreme Court and the Cal State University system gave me my big break. The Court decided that undocumented immigrants are eligible for in-state tuition rates at the state's colleges and universities rather than pay the higher rates charged to those who live out of state.

This country gave me the opportunity to get ahead, opened its arms to me.

No one opened their arms to you. You took what you wanted without permission. This whole piece is one big example of selfishness. Millions of people wait in line for what you got and you decided to just take it.

This also puts to bed the notion of the poor 2 year old brought to this country unwillingly. This person CHOSE to come here, CHOSE to stay illegally and then benefited from taxpayer subsidized college tuition.

City of Portland: currently they are bigots but they have a plan!

2011-05-18T18:39:00.000-07:00

Equity Office Concept and Creation
A Community Forum will be held May 18, 2011, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., to share information and discuss the proposal.

Equity is when everyone has full and equal access to opportunities necessary to meet their essential needs, advance their well-being, and achieve their full potential.
This is equal opportunity which I agree with.

Neither the City of Portland government nor the city of Portland’s community structure and functions currently lead to equitable outcomes
This is the city of Portland saying that the local government doesn't currently offer equal opportunity.

This of course means that they want to do things such as:

Lead a city-wide Race and Social Justice effort
Translation: equal outcomes and less liberty

Equitable budgeting
Translation: budget based on race/gender/etc

Enter into partnerships with community organizations
Translation: liberal organizations will now get more taxpayer funding. Think CAUSA.

Judging on their need for endless amounts of diversity, cultural and sensitivity training I have to assume that government workers are the biggest hatemongers around. They are constantly creating offices, departments and agencies for fairness but their goal is never achieved.

Can you imagine the social setting where someone comes out and says "I'm not fair to people based on their race/gender/etc"? That's what Portland just did.

I am anxiously awaiting the resignation of everyone on the City Diversity Committee. I mean, is everyone at the Affirmative Action/Diversity Development Office and Citywide Diversity Development Coordinating Committee not want equal opportunity? There needs to be a new office because the old office just isn't good enough?

Bunch of hatemongers.

And good riddance

2011-05-16T06:14:00.000-07:00

Immigrant tuition bill faces fight
A key Republican lawmaker is adamant that a bill that would allow the non-U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at Oregon’s public universities will die this year.

Rep. Andy Olson, R-Albany, said Friday that he won’t allow Senate Bill 742 — passed by the Oregon Senate on a 18-11 vote in late March — to get out of the House Rules Committee, which he co-chairs.

Olson said the e-mails and letters he has received from constituents opposed to the bill far outweigh those from proponents of the proposal. He added that he has reservations about starting down a slippery slope of legislation favoring people who have entered the U.S. illegally.

“What other laws should they be allowed to break?” he said.

This bill spits in the face of Americans who play by the rules. It is satisfying to see the Republicans standing strong against it.

Portland priorities

2011-05-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

Highlights of the Mayor’s Proposed Budget

$65,000 for the Outside In needle exchange harm reduction program (page 4)

Seriously. Using tax dollars to give new needles to junkies is a highlight. Assisting people with their shooting up of illegal drugs is a highlight. This is not a shameful secret that if brought to light the Portland politicians would run away from it. This is what they brag about. Needles for druggies.

What about regardless of political orientation?

2011-05-09T18:13:00.000-07:00

The City of Salem values all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, domestic partnership, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity and source of income.

At what point do these "inclusive statements" become so long that anyone not specifically mentioned is de facto excluded?

I think that this is also a good "check your premise" moment as well. Do we REALLY value all persons? (sheeple nodding heads) What about an unrepentant serial rapist? What about Mao? (I mean outside the Obama administration) What about Hitler?

If some government office doesn't have a signature line detailing exactly how many people it values should I assume that they hate some folks?

For a little bit of fun

2011-05-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

The Oregon Global Warming Commission has an online survey where you can tell them exactly what you think...

Survey

Have some fun with it!

(note: illegal aliens have affected my outdoor activities rather than "hotter summers")

Your OFIR dollars at work

2011-05-06T19:22:00.001-07:00

You can help keep our billboards up by donating HERE.

You filthy rat

2011-05-05T06:29:00.001-07:00

Wait, if you have money sewn into your clothes then how can you wash them...

Must be our oil and beautiful coastline...

2011-05-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

From Salem on May Day 2011

Don't forget who these people are, criminal aliens making demands. People who have allegiance not to the United States but to the country of Mexico.

No sense of irony

2011-04-30T10:40:00.001-07:00

Illegal aliens want government issued drivers licenses. To achieve this they throw temper tantrums with the following signs:

"I need to drive to work"
Working is unlawful for illegal aliens. He's asking for help to break the law.

"Don't force me to break the law let me have a license"
You are already breaking multiple laws and willingly admit that if we don't give you what you want you will break another law.

You win the bad parent award. You have put your children in a position where you can't legally work to provide for them, let alone drive. Your unlawful presence means that you could be detained at any time. Your children are the victims of your selfish behavior.

Go USA

2011-04-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

I mean sure I'm currently switching between the NFL draft and the NBA playoffs but what I'm really really really waiting for is the royal wedding. I've already ordered the commemorative plates.

A chicken in every pot and a bike for every bum?

2011-04-26T20:29:00.000-07:00

How bike-sharing could spur revamp of transit fares in Portland
The current Central City Bike Share plan would place kiosks and rental bikes across an area that's the same as the new streetcar loop, which is being extended to the east side from the Lloyd District south to OMSI. In many ways, bike-sharing is similar to public transit. Successful systems are inexpensive (free if used less than 30 minutes), widely available to everyone, and in most cases at least partly subsidized by the government.

[Rick Gustafson, Director of Operations for the Portland streetcar loop]
"One of the things you could do is get rid of Free Rail Zone, but replace it with a readily available bike [share] program so people could still circulate for 30 minutes at no cost." Or, put another way, "Reshape the fareless zone to put a greater emphasis on carbon-free circulation; and the best free circulation in the Central City probably ought to be on bikes."

So the smarter than the rest of us urban planners now want to "rent" government subsidized bikes to anyone to ride downtown. For free. What could go wrong?

Are the same people who think it violates civil rights to require ID to vote going to require ID to rent a bike?

Will requiring a credit card swipe to leave a deposit be discriminatory against the poor who don't have good credit?

Will the transgender folks be able to choose between a girls bike or a boys bike?

I really feel like showing up to some hearing on this idea and throwing out all these liberal arguments to ensure that every homeless bum in Portland has the opportunity to steal a taxpayer paid for bike.

Please make this ad mainstream

2011-04-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

This is the communist day "ad" put together by CAUSA. I sure wish they would put something like this on mainstream television. I'm sure that Oregonians would respond appropriately.

UPDATE: Surprise, illegal alien supporters aren't worried about following the law to get amnesty

What is the world coming to when our homeless don't have a website

2011-04-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

http://www.dignityvillage.org/
We have been having technical difficulties with the Village website, largely related to problems with our former web hosting company. We have now moved to new web hosting and we are in the process of building an all-new, even better website. We ask for your patience over the next few weeks as we work to get this site up and running.

We have several goals in mind for the new website. First and foremost is to update the design and layout of the site, along with providing more regularly updated content. Just as important, we want to make more use of modern interactive 'Web 2.0' technologies that will enable us to have more interaction with our partners, friends, and supporters, along with members of the Portland community and anyone else interested in social justice, homelessnes, and poverty.

We wish to extend a warm thanks to HostGator for approving a grant for Dignity Village that pays for hosting this site.

I for one can't imagine the homeless not having Web 2.0 technology. Obviously the poor people in other countries have this technology. If the Portland poor DIDN'T have this they would be the laughing stock of the world.

I can picture myself walking up to some starving kid in the Sudan and telling him how the poverty stricken folks in Portland didn't have Web 2.0 as recently as April 2011. This kid would point and laugh!

The embarrassment that the Portland homeless must suffer knowing that the villages of Rwanda all have Web 2.0 technology and our own village does not.

I could crack these jokes for hours or you could just go read What's so great about America by Dinesh D'Souza. Poverty in America means crying about not having Web 2.0...

But no Easter eggs

2011-04-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

Isn't 3:00pm still the middle of the work day? Praise Allah!

Because some animals are more equal than others

2011-04-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

Clackamas County CMHP

Sensitivity to GLBTI and cross cultural needs are prioritized. (page 6)

Increase services to indigent and multicultural groups. (page 2)

Clackamas county does not have a formal cultural competency plan at this time. With the continued changing demographics of Clackamas County, it is recognized that development of a formal plan is required in the future. Responsibility for development of a plan will live with the County's human resources department, specifically with the County's Diversity Manager. Over the past four or five years, the county has provided mandatory diversity training titled 'Building Connections' for each employee. This training is delivered by the County's human resources department, based on material purchased from an outside vendor. (page 3) I'd love to know how much this outside vendor gets to charge for the training material.

I realize that a portion of my income goes to pay for this nonsense. We need a diversity manager to prioritize the gays and make sure that multicultural groups come first. Fine. But when I find out that my beer and wine taxes go to this I become irate.

28. List how the beer and wine tax money is allocated. $243,932.00 (page 11)

Is nothing sacred? A man can't enjoy an adult beverage without supporting the liberal agenda these days? Is there any activity I can do that won't be taxed to support diversity?

Classic Portland

2011-04-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

From Friday

More videos from the rally posted on The Blaze.

How about just shut up

2011-04-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

Portland Public Schools
The Day of Silence, an annual event sponsored by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network), is Friday, April 15. Students at many of our schools have participated in the last several years. Administrative Directive, 4.40.060-AD states that students are allowed to engage in political activities as long as they are not disruptive to the school's program. Generally, students participating in Day of Silence activities do so in a non-disruptive manner. The only question that has arisen in past years is whether participating students are exempt from speaking in class. The answer is no: where class participation is part of a class' requirements, students must participate in class or be held accountable for the work for that day.
This is listed under "Required Reading" on the "Information for school and central administrators " website.

Oregon City High School
The Day of Silence, founded in 1996 by students at the University of Virginia, is a day where students from across America take a vow of silence to call attention to anti-LGBT remarks and harassment. LGBT is widely recognized as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender. This year, the Day of Silence is April 15.

Franklin High School
The Day of Silence is Friday, April 15th. Come and get your t-shirt in the main hall and sign up to participate. Be silent for one day to commemorate all of those who have been silenced and bullied for their sexual orientation. Questions? See Adrian Smith or Ms. Hall. Sponsored by the Franklin GSA.
Get your t-shirt? Who supplied these? And are they fashionably gay?

Bethel School District
DAY OF SILENCE:
The National Day of Silence is today! Today, thousands of students across the country will respect a vow of silence to draw attention to the silencing effects of all forms of bullying and harassment in our schools. If you’ve signed up to participate, you can still go to room 34 to pick up your silence placard or ribbon of support. The silence will be broken in a ceremony held today; students who are participating will be dismissed at 3:00 pm.

Fact: A 2009 survey found that nearly two-thirds of LGBT students felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation. -Thommen & Case (Apr. 15)
Support our political cause and get an early dismissal!

I was going to make a lot of double entendre gay jokes but Portland just had it's first "professional" soccer game tonight which is all the gay I can handle in a single day.

The bottom line is that our taxpayer funded institutions of indoctrination will be spending instructional time telling your kids how much more important they would be if only they were gay.

Monday night missmash

2011-04-11T18:10:00.000-07:00

But you should see them screw in a lightbulb!

How many ODOT workers does it take to set up a 10 foot piece of guardrail? Count them with me now! (picture sent to me today)

"Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me"
Over at BlueOregon (where they hate black people, I keep saying it so it must be true) there is a post decrying government shutting down... smoking establishments!

But they don't argue that people have a right to smoke, that property owners should be able to freely decide whether or not their patrons can smoke, but rather they complain like this:

Even if the bill did only target hookah lounges, it would be unfair to shut them down. It's hard to imagine any health justification for allowing cigar bars (with smoke and liquor!) while banning hookah lounges; the proposal reeks of class bias against a hobby associated with the young and Middle Eastern.

Whatever the merits of the 2009 smoking ban, it has at least segregated smoking into a small number of businesses that non-smokers need never enter.

Having given in to the idea that government can tell some property owners they can't allow smoking it now shocks these liberals that the "young and Middle Eastern" folks might not be able to freely enjoy themselves along with people who want to have a drink in a bar.

I guess it doesn't occur to BlueOregon writers that non-smokers need never enter a bar or restaurant that allows smoking. Only the heavy hand of government could prevent this in their eyes.

But now their hookah ox is the one getting gored and all of a sudden there is talk of "consenting adults" from the left.

Sorry hookah lovers, either you are with freedom or you are with big government. You can't have it both ways.

Barb wire, tents and pink underwear sound like a good solution

2011-04-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

Inmate program fails to meet expectations, will end
Last year, then-Gov.Ted Kulongoski quietly commuted the sentences of 44 illegal-resident inmates, clearing the way for them to be turned over to federal authorities so they could be deported faster.

Forty-two of the 44 came to this country illegally from Mexico, records show.

Kulongoski cut short their prison sentences as part of a state program aimed at pruning incarceration costs by turning over for early deportation some nonviolent illegal immigrant criminals — all within six months of their release dates.

Now, the underachieving, short-lived program is headed for extinction.

Gov. John Kitzhaber, who took office in January, plans to let it "sunset" July 1.

Oregon's prisons currently hold 14,026 inmates; 1,289 of them are in the country illegally, according to the Corrections Department.

The daily cost of incarceration for an Oregon inmate is $84. By extension, the yearly cost for housing 1,289 illegal immigrant inmates would total about $39.5 million.

That's $39.5 million a year to feed and house criminal aliens in the department of corrections. That doesn't include the inmates in the county jails, that doesn't include the cost to prosecute them, that doesn't include the cost to provide them with lawyers and that doesn't include the human cost of the victims.

The Statesman Journal could do some real investigative reporting by taking the names of illegal aliens in DOC custody and checking to see if they have drivers licenses, are registered to vote, have an Oregon Trail card, check their employment history, etc.

These people didn't materialize the day they raped or murdered someone, they were able to live here by working and getting assistance from the state whether in the form of welfare, identification, an ITIN or just the reassurance that local law enforcement won't bother them for being here illegally.

We always get the life story about the most sympathetic illegal alien the media can find, how about tracking back the guy who stole an $18/hour job? Tell us who that employer was! Find out if he stole someone's SSN and caused chaos in the victims life due to the identity theft. Find out if he had been arrested for DUII but the courts let him go. Find out if he has three kids and the family lives in taxpayer paid housing.

I wish someone would do that story.

They should be stealing jobs that pay a living wage!

2011-04-05T17:52:00.000-07:00

New Study Finds 57% of Immigrant Households with Children Use Welfare
A new study from the Center of Immigration Studies shows that 57% of households headed by an immigrant with children under the age of 18 receive some form of welfare. Only 39% of native born households with children receive welfare services. The study included households headed by both illegal and legal immigrants.

The research conducted by Steven Camorata, the Center's Director of Research, found that immigrant households tend to use food assistance and medicaid programs at a much higher rate than native born American households. He found that the use of cash and housing programs were about the same between the two groups.

Clearly the problem here is that illegal aliens aren't stealing jobs that pay a living wage. We must eliminate the barriers that are keeping the vulnerable criminal alien communities from realizing their dreams of sending ill-gotten dollars out of our economy and propping up foreign countries like Mexico.

I know that we hear about illegal aliens paying so much in taxes, this is of coarse right after we hear that they only take low paying jobs that Americans won't do, so I'm sure that these welfare statistics are confusing to you.

Maybe this analogy will help:

Maria the drug dealer lives in Oregon where there is a 9% income tax. Maria makes $45K/year. Maria doesn't report her income because she didn't earn it legally. Maria gets pregnant out of wedlock, I'll give you guys a minute to recover from the surprise, and goes down to the WIC office and they see she has $0/year in reported income. Maria drives to the grocery store and spends your money.

Because we all fear immigration?

2011-04-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

California Epidemic of Pertussis (page 15)

There is a critical outbreak of pertussis (whooping cough) in California: it is classified now as an epidemic. Five infants, all Latino, have died. This is due to unrecognized pertussis in older children and adults which then infects babies before they’ve had a chance to get their shots. PLEASE spread the word through every mechanism you have that it is critical to get DTaP in adolescents and adults and to get children immunized properly. Providers are not recognizing pertussis and MUST keep this in mind with cough illnesses. Families must not fear immigration to get in for shots, and the public must understand that pertussis is not brought here by immigrants---it is local people passing it around to vulnerable populations. Please share any media resources you have with us so we can all work together! This is a NATIONAL problem as increases are also being seen in several other states.

We have been talking with people at CDC and have the following links for your interest. We are working on low literacy methods to assist the public.

CDC Web Feature
English - http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pertussis/
Spanish - http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/especialesCDC/TosFerina/

So whooping cough is here, the multicultural folks are worried about people being afraid of "immigration" (meaning Immigration and Customs Enforcement) but then rush to assure everyone that it isn't immigrants bringing this disease back to the United States.

I guess it's just those mean old American citizens passing it on to helpless illegal aliens. Don't worry though, we will cover the medical costs to make up for our meanness.

Some criminals are more equal than others

2011-03-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

Spanish to English translation was provided. Now allow me to provide Obama to English translation.

Obama: We have redesigned our enforcement practices...

English: We pick and choose which laws to enforce so I don't deport future democrat voters.

Obama: We can make decisions to emphasize enforcement on those who have engaged in criminal activity.

English: We pick and choose which laws to enforce so I don't deport future democrat voters.

Obama: We want to focus our resources on those folks who are destructive to the community.

English: We pick and choose which laws to enforce so I don't deport future democrat voters.

They will manage our lives for us so we don't have to

2011-03-28T06:31:00.000-07:00

State greenhouse gas goals could increase driving costs
Oregon is about to enter a new chapter in its environmental history with the adoption of state rules requiring an overall reduction in motor vehicle emissions.

The rules could result in higher fuel taxes, fees based on how miles vehicles are driven, road tolls to reduce congestion, and increased downtown parking charges.

...the rules could require Metro and local governments to take steps to reduce emissions from cars, small trucks and sport utility vehicles. The memo lays out a series of potential actions — called scenarios — in a number of transportation-related fields. They include travel demand management, land use planning, public transit and pricing.

I love that phrase, travel demand management. It sounds so innocent. A search for the term on .or.us and oregon.gov websites reveal that our government masters just want to "assist individuals in choosing alternative travel modes." They will just "encourage" us to change our behavior.

Please do not resist their assistance, it is for your own good. We need our lives to be managed by those who know better.

Bring CEO's to answer to this government official

2011-03-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

Representative Peter Buckley (D - Ashland) calls unemployment insurance "poverty level wages." He also insists that no one is milking unemployment insurance payments.

He is just shocked, shocked, that you can't "buy clothes for your kids" if you don't have a job. I would like to take a quick moment to point out that there are lots of things that you can't buy if you don't have a job. Liberals are constantly amazed that not having an income means you can't purchase goods and services. It's just so unfair that anyone should have to work for things.

But that scariest part is that this man has actual power to make laws and is insisting that CEO's should give their salaries in "public service."

Money for the teachers

2011-03-22T17:49:00.000-07:00

El Distrito Escolar de Springfield y la Alianza para la Igualdad y el Respeto de Springfield presenta:
The Springfield School District and Springfield Alliance for Equality and Respect (SAfER) present:

LA NOVENA CELEBRACIóN EN SPRINGFIELD SPRINGFIELD’S NINTH ANNUAL CELEBRATION

6:30 pm jueves/Thursday
el 31 de marzo/March 31, 2011
(doors open 6 pm/puertas abrirán a las 6)

Entrada gratis; aceptan donaciones
Admission free; donations accepted

Organized by SAfER and the Springfield School District. Co-sponsored by: City of Springfield, Springfield Public Library, SELCO, SHS Multicultural Students Association, Educacíon y Justicia para la Raza, Amigos Immigrant Rights Advocacy Program, Latin American Solidarity Committee, Migrant Education Program, Lane ESD, Neighborhood Economic Development Program (NEDCO), Downtown Languages.

Every time they ask for money for schools know that it goes to fund "free" events like this where the "whole family" can come for "free" refreshments. (read: dinner)

Most voters think that they are supporting reading, writing and arithmetic when they support the government schools but instead they go to race-based advocacy meetings.

It's like Portland but in Chicago

2011-03-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

It's like genocide and slavery man...

Job funtion: to enact socialized medicine

2011-03-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

Job Title: Program Analyst 2 - (Newborn Screening Follow-Up Coordinator)
Salary: $3,727.00 - $5,442.00 Monthly

This position works on behalf the Oregon Health Authority. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is a new state agency created by House Bill 2009 during the 2009 regular legislative session. The OHA will transform the state's system to make quality health care accessible and affordable for every Oregonian. The ultimate aim of the OHA is to ensure access to health care while making changes that will stem rising costs, improve quality and promote good health. Ultimately, OHA is charged with delivering a plan to the Legislature to ensure that all Oregonians have access to affordable health care.

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US!

The Oregon Department of Human Services/Oregon Health Authority is committed to affirmative action, equal employment opportunity and workplace diversity.

Affirmative action and equal opportunity are not compatible. Which is it? Do you affirmatively hire women and minorities or are you committed to equal opportunity?

Liberals have succeeded in creating a new state agency, the OHA, who have jobs that are taxpayer funded and whose sole purpose is to socialize medicine in Oregon.

Damned if I do, damned if I don't

2011-03-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

At the start of each trimester my children have literature sent home from school with the class syllabus and inevitably there are some fees to be sent in.

I always pay these "lab fees." This time however there is a box to check "I am unable to pay the lab fee" rather than the usual "please send me a private note if you are unable to pay the lab fee."

It's just right out there, the "I'm not going to pay" option.

I was briefly torn about this. I can afford to pay for my children and believe that it's my responsibility to do so. On the other hand I know that other parents simply choose to save their $20 and check the "I'm not paying box." Am I supposed to believe that some illegal alien family is going to give up some of their ill-gotten money voluntarily?

I also know that if the school would fire their "homeless liaison" or stop giving "free" lunches to illegal alien students then they money would already exist to cover the lab expenditures. This is just another way for them to suck out money from taxpayers.

In the end I wrote a check for $20. My feeling of personal responsibility hasn't been overtaken by my disgust with government... at least not this school year.

Like uh, stop the assault, and uh, you know, stuff

2011-03-13T21:57:00.000-07:00

Thank you Portland for providing us with more entertainment than Charlie Sheen.

Quick, give him in-state tuition subsidies!

2011-03-10T18:35:00.000-08:00

Bend Cocaine Trafficking Suspect Jailed
A suspected cocaine trafficker and illegal immigrant was arrested in a raid on his northeast Bend home Wednesday night that turned up about $1,500 worth of cocaine and other items, police said Thursday.

Jose Coca-Argueta, 27, was arrested when Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team detectives executed a search warrant around 8 p.m. Wednesday in the 400 block of NE Thurston Avenue, said Lt. Ken Mannix.

A jail officer confirmed he was being held for federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

It's never hard to find these stories, they happen every day. A traffic stop where this illegal alien can't provide a drivers license would get him out of our community sooner. But some politicians think that we should provide them with this "get out of jail free" ID so that they can continue on their crime spree.

Escaped-Americans for Equality

2011-03-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

In the name of fairness and equality it's time for us to support the Escaped-Americans Safe Driver's License and In-state Tuition Equity bill. (soon to have bi-partisan support)

This bill would make it easier for Undocumented Inmates who, trying to make better lives for themselves, find that they are in a situation where they left prison without permission.

These Americans who just happen to be escaped convicts will need a drivers license to travel safely on our roads, get to their place of employment and possibly to avoid capture.

Without a quality education these Undocumented-Inmates will not be able to get jobs to win the future. It's time for Oregon taxpayers to subsidize these individual regardless of their "escaped from prison" status.

Please join me in urging the legislature to quickly pass this bill. Remind everyone that if they don't support these ideas it must because they are full of hate.

2012: Let's figure out the losers

2011-03-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

Gingrich launches Spanish-language web site
Gingrich lays out in Spanish general ideas about national security, less government, jobs, health, education and the environment.

His broad immigration policy statements indicate that government must maintain its promise of protecting our borders and developing a new and effective temporary workers program.

The text adds that the United States is a country of immigrants that has drawn its energy from its people, but that it is also a nation of laws and must have a legal process of immigration and must not support illegal immigration.

It concludes that any new visa workers system created to integrate illegal immigrants must use the latest technology to make violating that system impossible.

Speaking as someone with a Hispanic Republican voter in the household, we aren't looking for Spanish websites advocating "technology" enhanced amnesty. Get out of the way Gingrich, we are looking for a real conservative in 2012.

This makes complete sense

2011-03-01T19:57:00.001-08:00

By free you mean...

2011-03-01T06:36:00.000-08:00

Yoga for Black People - Free

When Thu, March 3, 4:30pm – 5:30pm

[Carla D. Danley RN, RYT] brings the gift of Yoga as an offering to Portland's Black community to assist in the healing of mind, body and spirit, and as a tool for empowerment and moksha (liberation). If you self-identify as being of African descent and you have an interest in yoga, this class is for you!

This is from the Office of Multicultural Health and Services calendar. Please remember that whenever the government tells you that something is "free" it means "free to you, someone else is paying for it."

Don't forget to bring your "preferred racial status" card to get in the door!

Portland commies in action

2011-02-28T06:40:00.000-08:00

OEA chanting video

"It's not about balancing budgets" according to these guys. Watch the signs, a lot of commie slogans floating around there.

You pay at the pump for their pensions

2011-02-23T19:28:00.000-08:00

As gas price increases hit the news don't forget the Oregon went and raised their tax by $0.06/gallon on January 1. Oregon now collects $0.30/gallon every time you fill up.

But don't worry, this isn't going to maintain or construct any roads, Kitzhaber will use this money to shore up the teacher's union by giving the gas tax money to the state police and then giving the state police money to PERS... I mean, the teachers.

Rawr, I'm a tiger!

2011-02-21T17:57:00.000-08:00

This is the guy who represents me in congress. He also tried to rape a girl in college.

If only Republican Bill Kennemer could have given him health care

2011-02-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

Madras Raid Finds Meth; Illegal Immigrant Jailed
A nearly eight-month investigation led to a raid on a Madras apartment and the arrest of a suspected illegal immigrant on several drug charges, authorities said Tuesday.

During the investigation of drug sales from the apartment, detectives identified Horacio Galan Gonzalez, 31, as involved in methamphetamine distribution throughout the region, Mannix said.

A jail booking officer confirmed Gonzalez was being held on a detainer for federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

Why was this poor immigrants personal story not told to various public officials and legislators so that us taxpayers could give him some in-state tuition, a drivers license, some health care and maybe some housing.

May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the following politicians

2011-02-15T06:35:00.000-08:00

The following legislators think that having Oregon taxpayers subsidize the college tuition of illegal aliens is a good idea:

Oregon State Senators David Nelson (R-Pendleton), Frank Morse (R-Albany) and Chip Shields (D-Portland), Oregon State Representatives Michael Dembrow (D-Portland), Mark Johnson (R-Hood River), Bob Jenson (R-Pendleton) and Chris Harker (D-Beaverton)

Feel free to contact them and ask why an American citizen from Vancouver, Washington should pay out of state tuition but someone who does not have a legal presence in Oregon should pay less. Is it so that the illegal alien can get a better paying job that they can't legally have?

It's almost like a parody but it's real in Eugene

2011-02-11T17:46:00.000-08:00

Local officials commit to pushing for passage of Tuition Equity and Drivers License Access Legislation

Those present asked local elected officials from the cities of Eugene and Springfield, and the Lane County Board of Commissioners to work with CAUSA at the Oregon State Legislature for the restoration of driver's license and tuition equity.

By the close of the assembly, Mayor of Springfield, Christine Lundberg, Mayor of Eugene, Kitty Piercy, Lane County Commissioners, Rob Handy and Pete Sorenson and City Councilor of Springfield, Sherri Moore all committed to help in the effort to pass legislation for Driver’s License Access Restoration and Tuition Equity.

But the best part was the illegal alien who got up and made a fool of himself in front of all these people. You can watch the whole video but I have... documented... the funny parts for you below:

0:56 - "respect for rule of law are one of the most valuable principles of this country"
I'm not sure how the entire auditorium didn't burst out laughing at this one. It would be like Mark McGuire talking about playing fair in sports.

1:18 - "I'm undocumented, not illegal"
You are a criminal.

2:18 - "a drivers license that has allowed me to find a job and make an honest living"
It's not an honest living when you are working illegally.

3:20 "I have been struggling to learn English for the past six years"
This was said through an interpreter, again, I started laughing.

3:55 "I've never had an issue with the law"
Yes, you haven't been caught yet. The funnier part was when the audience started clapping enthusiastically. You know you are running with a bad crowd when "never been arrested" gets you applause.

5:31 "Don't turn me into someone who violates the law... for driving without a license"
The slight pause made that statement hilarious as well.

As of right now this video has 10 views, I'm guessing because I'm the only one who actually reads CAUSA's blog, but it is worth taking a few minutes. It's funnier than any cat video you might see on YouTube.

NOTE: CAUSA won't allow comments on their videos unless they approve first.

Because they don't have enough money

2011-02-11T06:28:00.000-08:00

The new Clackamas "trolley trail"
About $4.2 million in local and grant funds have been awarded for the design and construction of the trail. This funding is from a variety of sources. The largest portion is from Federal Transportation and funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects. These funds are awarded by Metro and administered through the Oregon Department of Transportation.

It's a 6 mile long dirt path that will cost $4.2 million dollars. Why does a dirt path cost so much? Maybe because they really really need a lot of public art to go with it!

Clackamas County Arts Alliance and North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District contracted a professional planning consultant to develop the Trolley Trail Public Art and Amenities Guide, which will be integrated into the existing Trail Master Plan.

Because government can't make a path through the woods without a professional planning art consultant.

Your tax dollars at work

2011-02-06T22:23:00.000-08:00

Wait, did GM just use our taxpayer dollars to hire Eminem as a spokesperson...?

Not party animals

2011-02-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

Taxpayer groups blast school district's trip to Mexico
A local school district has caught some heat for a controversial trip to Mexico on the taxpayer's dime.

Nineteen teachers and administrators from the West Linn-Wilsonville school district took a trip to Mexico for a conference in 2007.

The conference was the Universal Forum of Cultures, held in Monterrey, Mexico, a forum sponsored by the United Nations that teaches sustainability.

According to receipts obtained by the Oregon Capitol News, a project of the conservative think tank "Cascade Policy Institute", the district spent $23,000 on airfare, hotel rooms, and meals.

"Teachers are not party animals," said superintendent Dr. Roger Woehl, of the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.

He said teachers paid for their own alcohol, with the exception of three beers they forgot to pay for themselves. Woehl denies the trip was a waste of taxpayer money.

"I could see where people would say that, but in terms of sustainability, it was a good investment."

Everything is an investment these days. Teachers taking a trip to Mexico to talk about sustainability is an investment. The taxpayers did the investing, what reasonable rate of return should we expect?

Practice what you preach?

2011-01-31T19:08:00.000-08:00

Would You Like to Donate Your Kicker Refund

If you're receiving a state kicker refund for the 2010 tax year, you can donate this refund amount to the Oregon State School Fund.

Note: Once you choose to donate your kicker refund, you cannot change your decision for the 2010 tax year.

No, I do not want to donate my kicker refund

Yes, I do want to donate my kicker refund

How many of you good tax loving liberals check the "yes" box when you file?

Despotic governments hate armed citizens

2011-01-30T13:25:00.001-08:00

I bet the citizens of Egypt wish that their God-given right to keep and bear arms was protected by their founding documents right about now...

It's hard to convince your rulers to turn the internet back on when all you can do is throw rocks.

State of the Union randoms

2011-01-25T17:39:00.001-08:00

Who would rather watch the E*Trade baby give the State of the Union speech? I know I would.

Also there have been several suggestions made to me about a drinking game to play. What words/topics/phrases would be good to drink to when Obama brings them up?

Has anyone looked at the Vegas odds for Obama being late to this speech like he is to every other media conference?

U of O alumni is disgusted

2011-01-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

Commentary: Inviting Angela Davis to campus an abomination
Can it really be so, Angela Davis on University-funded invitation, came to campus this past week, for pay to "preach" on rights abuses and moral and ethical and civil compasses?

Her publicity states: "She worked with prisoners." Here's how:

Angela Davis supplied guns to friends in 1970 that took over the Marin County, Calif., courtroom of almost retired 65-year-old Judge Harold Haley, duct-taped a cut-down, sawed-off double-barrel shotgun to his neck like a tie and terrorized him like that for several hours. When a rescue was desperately attempted, they cut short his retirement plans but ended his suffering by pulling the trigger and literally blowing his head off with both barrels.

Today, Angela Davis is now an honored guest of the University of Oregon.

How about the "prisoner work" she did do prison time for — trying to smuggle a handgun into Folsom Prison buried in her then beehive-styled hairdo?

With a resume like that I'm just shocked she wasn't there to help launch Barrack Obama's political career.

I'm glad to see University Alumni expressing outrage at the school helping a criminal profit from her crimes.