The Smarmy Carny

Before this year's elections, Buffalo and Erie County taxpayers finally got tired of all the wastefulness in government and organized the "Taxpayer Revolt." This resulted in Primary Challenge 2005, where two of seven candidates gained a spot on the ballot. Many people ran for office who were not lifetime politicians and who were interested in cutting spending and other fat in the county government.

After this year's elections, however, the results showed contrasting results. The Democrats not only gained seats in the county legislature, but they garnered enough seats to overturn any vetos made by the Republican county executive.

This basically results in what I consider an ideological "Taxpayer Retreat." No matter how upset taxpayers become over taxation in this area, the masses still remain mindless drones, voting for whatever their union or race dictates.

As things worsen, the people continue to flee the region. Here are some sunny statistics from a Buffalo Business First article:

The exodus from Buffalo is accelerating. The city's population declined by 2,600 between mid-2003 and mid-2004, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. That's its sharpest year-to-year drop since the beginning of the current decade. . . .
The new report pegs Buffalo's population at 282,864 as of July 1, 2004, its lowest level since the late 1800s. The city is now at less than half its peak of 580,132, set back in April 1950.
Buffalo, as a result, continues to sink in the nation's population standings. It now ranks as the 63rd-largest city in America, directly behind Aurora, Colo., and Riverside and Bakersfield, Calif.
That contrasts sharply with its position a century ago. Buffalo had 352,387 residents when the 1900 census was conducted — nearly 70,000 more than it does now — making it the nation's eighth most-populous city.

Is it any wonder that the masses are fleeing the region? Businesses and jobs languish as a result of the government continues to tax businesses and individuals more and more each year. Just when it seems as though the region cannot become any less business-friendly, the city and county governments pull through . . . and the voters continue to reward them with their votes.

I suggest that the Taxpayer Retreat continue on as a physical manifestation as well. Expect no changes in the population trends for Buffalo in the next few years. The situation will only worsen as fiscally mindful people leave the area for greener pastures, resulting in an even higher percentage of people who enjoy high taxation and bloated budgets. Perhaps the slogan should be changed to "Buffalo: A great place for your great-great-grandparents."

President George W. Bush issued the following statement on the passing of Chief Justice William Rehnquist:

Our nation is saddened today by the news that Chief Justice William Rehnquist passed away last night.

Laura and I send our respect and deepest sympathy to this good man's children, Jim, Janet and Nancy. We send our respect to all the members of the Rehnquist family.

William H. Rehnquist was born and raised in Wisconsin. He was the grandson of Swedish immigrants. Like so many of his generation, he served in the Army during World War II. He went on to college with the help of the G.I. Bill.

He studied law at Stanford University. He graduated first in his class. That included his future colleague Sandra Day O'Connor.

Judge Rehnquist and his late wife, Nan, raised their family in Phoenix, where he built a career as one of Arizona's leading attorneys.

He went on to even greater distinction in public service: as an assistant U.S. attorney general, associate justice of the Supreme Court and, for the past 19 years, chief justice of the United States.

He was extremely well-respected for his powerful intellect. He was respected for his deep commitment to the rule of law and his profound devotion to duty.

He provided superb leadership for the federal court system, improving the delivery of justice for the American people and earning the admiration of his colleagues throughout the judiciary.

Even during a period of illness, Chief Justice Rehnquist stayed on the job to complete the work of his final Supreme Court term.

I was honored and I was deeply touched when he came to the Capitol for the swearing-in last January.

He was a man of character and dedication. His departure represents a great loss for the court and for our country.

There are now two vacancies on the Supreme Court. And it will serve the best interests of the nation to fill those vacancies promptly. I will choose in a timely manner a highly qualified nominee to succeed Chief Justice Rehnquist.

As we look to the future of the Supreme Court, citizens of this nation can also look with pride and appreciation on the career of our late chief justice. More than half a century has passed since William H. Rehnquist first came to the Supreme Court as a young law clerk.

All of those years, William Rehnquist revered the Constitution and the laws of the United States. He led the judicial branch of government with tremendous wisdom and skill.

He honored America with a lifetime of service, and America will honor his memory.

May God bless the Rehnquist family.

Thank you all very much.

Windmills

As I was driving around through farmland and hilly landscape today, I noticed a strip of about a mile with several yellow "No Wind Turbines" signs posted in some lawns. The signs also had a web address for "Save Upstate New York," a self-described "concerned citizens' group."

Personally, I enjoy windmills of all sorts. Granted, the power-generating windmills are more practical than aesthetic, but it still seems visually pleasing to me.

The only people who I could imagine disliking wind power are corporations providing alternate sources of power and Don Quixote.

Oh, and lest we forget the typical NIMBYs ("Not In My BackYard"-ers) that crop up over any such issues. The reason that this issue has become so overblown is because one of the NIMBYs down in the Chautauqua Lake area happens to be ever-unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Thomas Golisano. He has more than enough money to throw around, giving lousy signs to hapless folks so that he doesn't have to have windmills in his area.

For additional information, read the (northeastern NY paper) Press Republican's article "Wind-farm opponents step up efforts." Irreverent Buffalonian magazine The Beast also has an insightful article titled "A Mighty Wind: Wind Power Threatens Corporate Bottom Line."

If you have read my blog for any period of time, you'll know that I am categorized on the right half of the political spectrum on most issues. The articles I have read finger the Republicans for being corporate jerks and not wanting the windmills to drain any revenue from the oil companies. Oddly enough, however, most of the arguments against wind turbines are environmental and ecological in nature: Soil erosion, bird and bat collisions, noise pollution, ice throw, flashing red lights (plane warning lights), and the deadly "shadow flicker."

They argue that birds and bats have collisions with structures, turbine blades and wires causing death or injury. This is hyperbolic, but even if it weren't we really need to make sure we keep all the bats alive. They are endangered, and we need all the bats we can get!

They also use the Liberal tactic of class envy by noting that "wind power is made financially viable and–in the short term–highly profitable for wind developers through multiple tax incentives." Yeah, let's protest wind power because wind developers might make some money! No one should make money!

Another crazy item is that windmills will have a negative impact on tourism. Ever hear anyone say "My family had planned on vacationing in ______, but then we realized that they had windmills there now, and it's just not the same." Anyone?

For more wind power information, feel free to check out windpower.org

This week, Progress for America released a video highlighting Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's fair treatment during her 1993 confirmation hearings.

Watch the Ginsburg Precident video put out by PFA.

The PFA has begun a "Precedent, Not Politics" Roberts Confirmation Tour.

It looks like Howard Dean's family has taken a cue from Cindy Sheehan's relatives and issued a press release. Read it here.

Here's a nice little satirical piece regarding Guantanamo Bay, a.k.a. G'itmo. (The "G'itmo" name is derived from the Guantanamo Bay abbreviation GTMO.) I can't believe that I hadn't come across this letter before today. Thanks to According to Jim for putting it where I could find it!

Here's the set-up: A person wrote a letter to the White House complaining about the treatment of a captive taken during the Afghanistan war. Attached is a copy of a letter they received back:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C., 20016

Dear Concerned Citizen:

Thank you for your recent letter roundly criticizing our treatment of the Taliban and Al Qaeda detainees currently being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Our administration takes these matters seriously, and your opinion was heard loud and clear here in Washington. You'll be pleased to learn that, thanks to the concerns of citizens like you, we are creating a new division of the Terrorist Retraining Program, to be called the "Liberals Accept Responsibility for Killers" program, or LARK for short. In accordance with the guidelines of this new program, we have decided to place one terrorist under your personal care.

Your personal detainee has been selected and scheduled for transportation under heavily armed guard to your residence next Monday. Ali Mohammed Ahmed bin Mahmud (you can just call him Ahmed) is to be cared for pursuant to the standards you personally demanded in your letter of admonishment. It will likely be necessary for you to hire some assistant caretakers. We will conduct weekly inspections to ensure that your standards of care for Ahmed are commensurate with those you so strongly recommended in your letter.

Although Ahmed is sociopathic and extremely violent, we hope that your sensitivity to what you described as his "attitudinal problem" will help him overcome these character flaws.

Perhaps you are correct in describing these problems as mere cultural differences. He will bite you, given the chance. We understand that you plan to offer counseling and home schooling. Your adopted terrorist is extremely proficient in hand-to-hand combat and can extinguish human life with such simple items as a pencil or nail clippers. We do not suggest that you ask him to demonstrate these skills at your next yoga group. He is also expert at making a wide variety of explosive devices from common household products, so you may wish to keep those items locked up, unless (in your opinion) this might offend him.

Ahmed will not wish to interact with your wife or daughters (except sexually) since he views females as a subhuman form of property. This is a particularly sensitive subject for him, and he has been known to show violent tendencies around women who fail to comply with the new dress code that Ahmed will recommend as more appropriate attire. I'm sure they will come to enjoy the anonymity offered by the bhurka – over time. Just remind them that it is all part of "respecting his culture and his religious beliefs" – wasn't that how you put it?

Thanks again for your letter. We truly appreciate it when folks like you, who know so much, keep us informed of the proper way to do our job. You take good care of Ahmed – and remember…we'll be watching. Good luck!

Cordially . . .

Don Rumsfeld

Snopes points out a related sentiment from Jim Huber's "Politically Correct" strip.

And, of course, don't forget about your Club G'itmo t-shirt!

According to an article at MosNews, notorious Russian spammer Vardan Kushnir was found dead in his apartment.

Spamming isn't currently illegal in Russia, but apparently the citizens have their own way of preventing spam.