California Democrats Threaten to Reduce Services to GOP Districts

California State Senate President Darrell has lost his mind (IMHO)by threatening to cut services in Republican controlled districts. From Contra Costa Times:

Voicing an idea that has been quietly bandied about in Democratic circles for months, Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg on Wednesday threatened to roll back services in Republican districts if they continue to resist the call for taxes to close the state’s gaping deficit.

“You get the government you pay for,” the Sacramento Democrat told reporters after he addressed the Sacramento Press Club. “It’s basic fairness. You don’t want to pay for government, well, then you get less of it.”

Steinberg wouldn’t specify the kinds of cuts he’s considering other than “convenient services to adults,” though he would exempt services for vulnerable children. He did not make it clear how he’d be able to target individual districts, but past leaders such as former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown have punished certain lawmakers by holding back funding for specific programs.

Gallup Poll Americans say US is in Recession

A new Gallup pol finds the Most Americans say the US is in a recession. From Reuters on Thursday:

The April 20-23 Gallup survey of 1,013 U.S. adults found that only 27 percent said the economy is growing. Twenty-nine percent said the economy is in a depression and 26 percent said it is in a recession, with another 16 percent saying it is “slowing down,” Gallup said.

The poll findings have a 4 percentage point margin of error, according to Gallup.

The health of the U.S. economy is expected to be a major issue as President Barack Obama, a Democrat, seeks re-election in 2012.

The government reported on Thursday that U.S. economic growth slowed more than expected to 1.8 percent in the first quarter of the year, as soaring food and gasoline prices drained consumer spending power.

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The Southeast US Smashed by Tornadoes Killing 70

The South was hard hit on Wednesday after a powerhouse storm embedded tornadic thunderstorms tore through Mississippi Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia. The hardest hit was Alabama where 61 people confirmed dead. Hundreds injured. Tuscaloosa and Birmingham suffered widespread destruction. From WBRC-TV/HD “FOX 6 News“:

An especially violent spring storm tore through the state of Alabama on Wednesday, tearing a path of destruction across the state and killing at least 53 people.

In Tuscaloosa, a mile-wide tornado killed 15 people and injured hundreds, tossing boats from a store into an apartment complex, ripping holes in rooftops, and destroying a swath of retail establishments along a busy street.

Hundreds of buildings and homes were leveled by the tornado, and Wednesday night there were fears more victims could be buried beneath the rubble.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walter Maddox says he expects the numbers of casualties to rise. Maddox planned to meet with members of the City Council to pass emergency powers, including a curfew, if necessary.

In a news conference, Maddox said the recovery of the city would be seen in the spirit of the people.

“Throughout Tuscaloosa, citizens are reaching out to each other and demonstrating that our faith will overcome all, even in this dark hour,” he said.

According to WBMA-TV “ABC 33/40 News”: Alabama Governor  Gov. Robert Bentley activated the Alabama National Guard. 1400 men and women will help with rescue and cleanup throughout the state:

Gov. Robert Bentley is deploying about 1,400 Alabama National Guardsmen to provide assistance to the Alabama counties impacted by the severe weather.

The troops will be on the ground early Thursday to help with search and rescue operations, debris removal and provide security assistance to local law enforcement agencies.

University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa the flagship of the University System closed on Wednesday and Thursday  because of the storms. Again ABC 33/40:

The University of Alabama has canceled classes for Thursday and suspended normal operations on campus after a deadly storm swept through the city.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said there were 15 confirmed deaths Wednesday.

University officials say power outages at the school are widespread, but they have no reports of structural damage to buildings on campus.

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Follow up with:

WVTM-TV/HD “News 13”

WIAT-TV/HD “CBS 42 News”

Democrats in Massachusetts House Representatives Limits Collective Barganining for Public Employees

Massachusetts legislators voted to restrict collective bargaining agreements on Health Care to Public Employees. From the Boston Globe:

House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly last night to strip police officers, teachers, and other municipal employees of most of their rights to bargain over health care, saying the change would save millions of dollars for financially strapped cities and towns.

The 111-to-42 vote followed tougher measures to broadly eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees in Ohio, Wisconsin, and other states. But unlike those efforts, the push in Massachusetts was led by Democrats who have traditionally stood with labor to oppose any reduction in workers’ rights.

Unions fought hard to stop the bill, launching a radio ad that assailed the plan and warning legislators that if they voted for the measure, they could lose their union backing in the next election. After the vote, labor leaders accused House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and other Democrats of turning their backs on public employees.

“It’s pretty stunning,’’ said Robert J. Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “These are the same Democrats that all these labor unions elected. The same Democrats who we contributed to in their campaigns. The same Democrats who tell us over and over again that they’re with us, that they believe in collective bargaining, that they believe in unions. . . . It’s a done deal for our relationship with the people inside that chamber.’’

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Chainging of the Guard at CIA, Defense Department and Afghanistan

The White House had a changing of the guard Wednesday as Leon Panetta move from CIA chief  to The Pentagon to head Defense Department. General David Petraeus to become CIA chief. WTOP-AM:

President Barack Obama plans to name CIA Director Leon Panetta as the next secretary of defense and move Gen. David Petraeus, now running the war in Afghanistan, into the CIA chief’s job in a major shuffle of the U.S. national security leadership, senior administration officials and other sources said Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates will retire on June 30 with Panetta taking over in July. Gates told senior staff that he recommended Panetta as his replacement six months ago.

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Finally President Obama Releases his Long Form Birth Certificate Donald Trump Takes Credit For Release

It it’s finally over President Barack Obama presented his long for birth certificate Wednesday. This comes after Donald Trump haranguing for the last three weeks. From Fox News:

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey set to air Monday, May 2nd, the daytime host asked President Obama why he released his birth certificate now. The president explained that in these serious times, “we can’t be distracted by sideshows”.

The President told the TV host that while he was dealing with the budget debate, “the biggest news was this birth certificate thing.”

And so he was prompted to release the long form of his birth certificate, to put the “silliness” to rest. President Obama released a “certificate of live birth” during his 2008 race for presidency. But the so-called “birther” movement developed when critics of the now-president questioned his citizenship.

The silliness began when Hillary Rhodham Clinton  presidential campaign was looking into then Senator Obama records and believed that he was not born in the  US.  That in-turn  launched the so-called birther movement. A conspiracy theory  which some on the far right leaped on when Obama was elected President in November 2,2008.

Many in the African-American community felt that the birther movement was racially motivated. But in truth, Democrats did the same thing to Sen. John McCain(R-AZ) saying that because McCain was born in US Canal Zone in Panama he wasn’t a citizen. The excuse by the Left was the Panama Canal was returned to Republic of Panama  in 1979 by then President Jimmy Carter.

Billionaire Donald Trump claimed a victory of sorts. From Real Clear Politics:

I’m taking great credit and you have to ask the president, ‘why didn’t he do this a long time ago? Why didn’t he do it a long time ago?’

By engaging the White House in releasing the document  this show that Trump has leadership skills that the president is sorely lacking.

Real Clear Politics has the Trump video.

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Happy Resurection Day (Easter)!

Matthew 28:1-10 (English Standard Version)

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and^(B) the other Mary went to see the tomb. ²And behold, there was a great earthquake, for^(C) an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ^3(D) His appearance was like lightning, and^(E) his clothing white as snow. ⁴And for fear of him the guards trembled and^(F) became like dead men. ⁵But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶He is not here, for he has risen,^(G) as he said. Come, see the place where he^[a] lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold,^(H) he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” ⁸So they departed quickly from the tomb^(I) with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹And behold, Jesus^(J) met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and^(K) took hold of his feet and^(L) worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid;^(M) go and tell^(N) my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

From Bible Gateway

I wish you Happy Resurrection Day! A day of joy peace and celebration of the risen Savior Jesus Christ. Without this act I would not the grace, mercy and favor that I have but do not deserve to have.

God Bless  one and all.

Tornado Rocks St. Louis’ Lambert International Airport

St. Louis suburbs were rocked severe thunderstorm and tornadoes including one that tore into Lambert/St. Louis International Airport on Friday. There’s widespread damage to the metro area. Particularly hard hit was Terminal 1 where debris strewn around the buildings concourses. Windows were blown out. People were running for their lives. Lambert Airport was closed on Friday evening and much of Saturday. The Airport began to reopen late Saturday afternoon by allow 9 incoming flights.  From CNN:

A handful of incoming flights are set to touch down Saturday night at St. Louis’ airport for the first time in about 24 hours after a powerful tornado hit.

The twister left behind what a National Weather Service meteorologist called “an incredible trail of devastation” — but no deaths or life-threatening injuries — across nine western Missouri communities.

Earlier Saturday, officials had said that they expected operations at Lambert-St. Louis Airport to resume Sunday, as the work continued to restart power, conduct safety checks and clean up the damage.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon(D)  toured the Gateway Metro area on Saturday  surveying the damage caused by the severe weather that hit on Friday from KDSK-TV/HD “NewsChannel 5”:

For all his years in public service Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said the trail of destruction left by Friday’s severe storms and tornados was the longest he’s ever seen.

The governor arrived at the heavily damaged Lambert-St. Louis International Airport on Saturday afternoon with plans to tour three of the most heavily hit areas: Berkeley, Bridgeton and Maryland Heights. After spending 30 minutes in Berkeley talking to area politicians and home owners, looming storms forced the governor to cut his tour short.

President Obama  contacted Gov. Nixon was assured by the President federal help is on the way:

Nixon said President Barack Obama called and pledged federal support for disaster victims and airport repairs.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay(D) and Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegger reassure visitors and travellers that the airport will be ready to re-open this week. from KMOV-TV/HD “News4 St. Louis”:

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and Hamm-Niebruegge, told reporters Saturday that the airport could be even more functional on Sunday.

The Storm which brought tornadoes to the St. Louis area cause extensive to Lambert Airport including tearing off the roof in the main terminal, water throughout the facility KMOV-TV/HD “News4 St. Louis:

At the airport, several of the main terminal’s windows had been blown out, sending glass and rain into the building. Elsewhere on the property, trees were toppled and power lines downed, limiting access even hours after the storm passed.

But the airfield itself was fully functional, Hamm-Niebruegge said, perhaps allowing some airlines to shuttle in crews.

“We will not have departures out of here today, but we expect a good number of departures out of here tomorrow,” Hamm-Niebruegge said. Slay added that it was hoped the airport would be up to full capacity by the middle of next week.

“This effort is going to take the cooperation and involvement of people of all levels of government,” Slay said. “We are confident we will make this airport as good as it’s ever been in terms of its condition.”

Hamm-Niebruegge and Charlie Dooley, St. Louis County’s executive, said they felt blessed there weren’t more injuries than the five victims who were taken to hospitals, all of them later treated and release.

“When you look at the devastation around, it really is a miracle there were no fatalities,” Hamm-Niebruegge said.

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Pres. Obama Get Testy with Dallas TV Reporter

It was bound to happen that Pres. Obama would lose his cool. His target Brad Watson a 40 year veteran TV news in Dallas. Watson who works for WFAA-TV/HD “News 8” was invited to an interview with the president at the White House on Tuesday. The President accused Watson of interrupting him.  News 8:

After the interview, Obama pointed out that he doesn’t like an interviewer challenging his comments.

“Let me finish my answers the next time we do an interview, all right?” he said.

The presidents interview was wide-ranging including the economy, jobs and the awarding of the space shuttle Endvour to New York instead of Houston’s Johnson Space Center more from News 8 :

WASHINGTON — News 8 sat down with President Barack Obama at the White House Monday afternoon to discuss the economy, immigration and his approval rating.

The president this week is talking up his deficit reduction plan with town hall meetings in Western states. He met with News 8 for a few minutes to explain why he thinks his plan is better than the deficit reduction plan pushed by Republicans in the House, and why he wants to pitch his plan hard in Texas.

The president said his mix of spending cuts and tax increases on the wealthy offer a balanced approach compared to the Republicans who want cuts in spending and taxes.

Apparently the President never heard of Sam Donaldson of ABC NEWS.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Over Judge Prosser Wins

The Wisconsin Supreme Court race  is over and the incumbent Justice David Prosser wins reelection. From WISPolitics Blog:

With the Milwaukee County canvass now in, The Associated Press has declared Justice David Prosser the winner in his race against JoAnne Kloppenburg.

The Left including Wisconsin Teachers union and SEIU hung their hopes on  JoAnne Kloppenburg. Kloppenburg  was expected to vote against Governor Scott Walker’s Collective Bargaining  Agreement  Reform Law. Now its  a victory for the GOP.

Hat Tip: Legal Insurrection Blog