Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Hang Time


Cured
Former Burlington Chief Administrative Officer Jonathan Leopold explained under oath last month the city’s rationale for not revealing to the state the improper use of $17 million in general city funds to keep Burlington Telecom afloat in 2008 and 2009.  He said the plan was to get new commercial financing for Burlington Telecom — money which would allow repayment of the city money — and then announce the violation of the municipally owned utility’s state license to the Department of Public Service
.
“We would address the issue of non-compliance,” Leopold said, “when we felt we had a cure.” Since the beginning of summer, both state and federal prosecutors have declared they will not prosecute city officials or Burlington Telecom managers for financial mismanagement of the city-owned telecommunications provider.  (Burlington Free Press, 8/10/2011)


This is Progressive Justice: steal $17 million and avoid prosecution.  So - to put this in terms everyone can understand - if you steal a car (non-compliance) you will not be prosecuted if you return the car (cure).  Welcome to Vermont.


Fascinator
Bill McKibben: Europe is fascinating — it shows how modern societies can prosper with much higher fuel prices. Everyone over here has been paying $8 a gallon for gas since WWII, and hence, as if by magic, nice cities and fast trains. We can't get there overnight, but a reminder not to be scared of a lower-carbon future.  (Burlington Free Press, 8/10/2011)

To all you wealthy suburban parents looking for a good college to send junior to, consider that Middlebury College actually employs enviro-Luddite McKibben.  McKibben marvels at European prosperity.  By which he is referring to what....France? Ireland? Portugal? Greece?  Which of the bankrupt European countries with $8 per gallon gasoline does McKibben think the U.S. should emulate?


Go Big Or Go Home
Mr. President, it's time to go big on the economic solutions.  It's time to propose a massive second stimulus, offset by some serious tax hikes and budget cuts once the economy regains a semblance of good health.  (Harold Myerson, Washington Post, 8/10/2011)


Apparently Myerson has been in a coma for some time, or perhaps he has been away, visiting Mars.  Note to Myerson: Google "the Tea Party."  You will learn that a patriotic uprising of common Americans has handed out-of-control spending Democrats defeat after defeat.  A second 'massive stimulus' is a non-starter.  Sorry to tell you...


The Way
The Tea Party purists - those that see no shades of gray, no need for a balanced mix of revenue increases through closing tax loopholes for the wealthy and spending cuts - should take credit for the S&P downgrade.  They got their way. (Lanny Davis, Foxnews.com, 8/10/2011)


Clinton-apologist-turned-Obama-apologist Davis apparently did not read the S&P report.  They said $4 trillion, not $2.4 trillion.  You can't blame the Tea Party if you haven't read the report, Mr. Davis.



















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