Vote-by-Vote on ACORN

Vote-by-Vote on ACORN

From Jeff Schreiber, excellent blog America's right

Jeff is a reformed liberal democrat with nearly a decade on the wagon, Jeff established America's Right in January 2008 in hopes to advance the conservative message and articulate the merits of conservatism to any who would listen.

The first vote came on Tuesday, when the Senate voted 83-7 to suspend funding to ACORN in Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Transportation appropriations bill. Seven senators voted in favor of continuing to fund ACORN, an organization already being investigated in more than a dozen states for voter fraud, and an organization which obviously should be investigated for tax fraud and much, much more. Those seven senators?

* Dick Durbin (D-IL)
* Roland Burris (D-IL)
* Robert Casey (D-PA)
* Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
* Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
* Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
* Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

One of them is mine. How positively lovely. Another is named "Whitehouse." How appropriate.

The second vote came yesterday in the House, which by a vote of 345-75 passed an amendment to the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act that would deny all federal funds to ACORN. The amendment, if I'm correct, was brought forth by House Minority Leader John Boehner. (Actually, it was Daniel Issa.) Here are the 75 who voted against it:

* Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
* Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
* Bob Filner (D-CA)
* Mike Honda (D-CA)
* Barbara Lee (D-CA)
* Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
* Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
* Brad Sherman (D-CA)
* Pete Stark (D-CA)
* Maxine Waters (D-CA)
* Diane Watson (D-CA)
* Henry Waxman (D-CA)
* Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
* Diana DeGette (D-CO)
* Jared Polis (D-CO)
* Corrine Brown (D-FL)
* Kathy Anne Castor (D-FL)
* Robert Wexler (D-FL)
* John Lewis (D-GA)
* David Scott (D-GA)
* Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
* Danny Davis (D-IL)
* Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
* Bobby Rush (D-IL)
* Janice Schakowsky (D-IL)
* Andre Carson (D-IN)
* Elijah Cummings (D-MD)
* Donna Edwards (D-MD)
* Michael Capuano (D-MA)
* Bill Delahunt (D-MA)
* Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
* Ed Markey (D-MA)
* Jim McGovern (D-MA)
* Richard Neal (D-MA)
* John Olver (D-MA)
* Niki Tsongas (D-MA)
* Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI)
* Ralph Ellison (D-MN)
* Betty McCollum (D-MN)
* Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
* Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)
* Rush Holt (D-NJ)
* Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
* Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ)
* Donald Payne (D-NJ)
* Albio Sires (D-NJ)
* Joseph Crowley (D-NY)
* Eliot Engel (D-NY)
* Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
* Gregory Meeks (D-NY)
* Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
* Charlie Rangel (D-NY)
* Jose Serrano (D-NY)
* Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
* Edolphus Towns (D-NY)
* Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)
* G.K. Butterfield, Jr. (D-NC)
* David Price (D-NC)
* Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
* Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
* Bob Brady (D-PA)
* Mike Doyle (D-PA)
* Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
* Jim Clyburn (D-SC)
* Al Green (D-TX)
* Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX)
* E.B. Johnson (D-TX)
* Jim Moran (D-VA)
* Bobby Scott (D-VA)
* Rick Larsen (D-WA)
* Jim McDermott (D-WA)
* Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
* Nick Rahall (D-WV)
* Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
* Gwen Moore (D-WI)

A few things to point out: First, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not vote by tradition; Second, take a gander at the first letter after these 75 names, and consider which party tolerates--if not endorses--corruption and lawlessness in the name of social justice; Third, keep in mind that the ACORN-related measure was an amendment on a much bigger bill, so many of these people could be otherwise committed to a vote on the Student Loan legislation.

Of course, that shouldn't be too much consolation. Unfortunately, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 also essentially nationalized the student loan industry -- but that's a matter for another time and place.

Conyers Sees No Point in Reading 1,000-Page Bill

Yup the husband of soon to be jailbird Monica Conyers of the Synagro scandal.

That's right you heard him...why read it when you need two lawyers and two days?

So then Rep. Conyers using your logic, why vote on it either???

D.C. is more and more like a Fellini movie or Twilight Zone or Dawn of the Living Dead...Lord help us!

REP. JOHN CONYERS’ (D-MI) WIFE Monica Conyers may be going to jail for corruption

June 16, 2009
REP. JOHN CONYERS’ (D-MI) WIFE, Monica Conyers may be going to jail for corruption.


Rep John Conyers is the sponser of HR 676 the "cradle to grave" government universal health care bill Conyers

A Chicago-Style Census

A Chicago-Style Census
Ken Blackwell
Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The census is one of the most important functions performed by the federal government because the integrity our representative democracy depends on it. Because both parties understand its importance, the census has always been insulated from political corruption

That is why news of the Obama Administration’s plan to take the 2010 census away from the Commerce Department and run it out of the White House is disturbing. This action will have enormous implications on the balance of political power in the country.

When I was co-chairman of the U.S. Census Monitoring Board, the left fought unsuccessfully to introduce “statistical sampling” into the census count. Had they gotten their way, it would have adjusted the numbers.
Statistical sampling is inherently unreliable and carries the potential for corruption and fraud. There are competing theories on which model or formula to use to adjust the numbers. If you pick the wrong formula, everyone would be deprived of having an equal vote and equal representation.

Some say that statistical sampling cannot be used in congressional districting. That is only half-true. First, the Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that sampling cannot be used to reapportion seats from one state to another. However, the Court did not address whether sampling could be used to redraw district lines within each state.

Look at how Texas’s redistricting plan last decade flipped several Democrat seats to Republican seats, and it is clear how much of an impact redrawing lines can have. Second, there are ways clever lawyers can figure out how to push the envelope with sampling to manipulate reapportionment without blatantly violating the Court’s order. The Obama Administration is overflowing with clever lawyers.

Beyond that, sampling can be used to “adjust” the numbers for receiving federal money. With the trillion-dollar spending monstrosity that just squeaked through Congress, allocating those funds could easily target districts to help vulnerable Democrats, and pick off vulnerable Republicans.

Finally, some say not to be overly concerned because it’s too late to impact the 2010 census. Don’t believe that for a moment.

While it is true that some aspects have been in the planning for years, there are tremendous changes that could be done at the last minute. This is a partisan power grab, and Republicans need to stand up against it.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel would most likely be supervising the census. This is the man who, for the past few years, was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). As such, his mission was to elect as many Democrats as possible to Congress.

No person in America is better-versed than Mr. Emanuel on exactly what redistricting and reapportionment plan would give Democrats a super-majority in Congress for the next decade.

Further, the White House can keep its census deliberations secret. This adds a dangerous dimension to the process. The Commerce Department is subject to the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), which requires public hearings and input for making rules and regulations, and requires agencies to explain how they account for all the evidence presented. But the White House is not an agency, and is exempt for the APA.

If the White House takes over the census, they could incorporate suggestions from organizations such as ACORN and MoveOn.org on how to conduct the census, and all such meetings and consultations would be secret. So much for President Obama’s promise of transparency.

It is exactly this sort of Chicago-style politics that must be kept out of the census. The administration’s power grabbing scheme will allow for the worst sort of political dealing in smoke-filled backrooms.

Republicans should immediately introduce legislation to keep the census out of the White House. Nothing should be more independent of rank partisan politics than the process that determines the integrity of our representative democracy.

President Obama got elected talking about the audacity of hope. It is truly audacious for his administration to hope that Chicago-style politics could carry the day on this important issue.

Can Someone do an Intervention?

Well the circus just goes on....not only is Kwame Kilpatrick being investigated Story Here on a deputy accompanying an investigator for the Wayne County prosecutor Thursday at the home of the mayor's sister.

Now it appears that city workers have siphoned gas from city pumps Story Here and there is a "total lack of control" over the city's nearly $7 million a year gas supply...
since May 2005 and auditors say upper management is not monitoring their gas use at city-owned stations, even though they have the tracking system to do so, according to a report from the Office of the Auditor General.... one city police officer who used the same gas card to get gas seven times in one day for a total of nearly 85 gallons. Some of the fill ups were just minutes apart. "

And what do we hear from Governor Granholm?
Silent as the grave...meanwhile the Kilpatrick Circus plays on

FBI Has Evidence Against Conyers

WXYZ News

Our reporting partners at the Detroit News are reporting that the FBI has electronic surveillance that links Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers to the Synagro scandal.

The evidence reportedly proves that Conyers received either a payment or payments in connection with the city-approved sludge contract.Conyers was a vocal opponent of the $47 million a year Synagro contract, but changed her position and eventually voted for the deal when it passed by 5-4 vote in November.

The FBI is also looking into the involvement of, and possible payments to several other people in connection with the Synagro deal. Another, unnamed member of Council is also reportedly the focus of the investigation.

The investigation has also touched Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Council President Ken Cockrel, Jr. Cockrel's former chief of staff John Clark resigned after it was reported that he had been videotaped taking a bribe.

Mayor Kilpatrick's father Bernard Kilpatrick (regular family affair!)name has surfaced in the investigation, as has that of Michael Tardif, a member of the Democratic National Committee, and adviser to the mayor. Cockrel has said he is not a target of the investigation, Kilpatrick says he had no involvement in the Synagro deal.

Other names that have surfaced in connection with the scandal include Grand Rapids businessman James Rosendall, who represented Synagro in the deal, and Rayford Jackson, a local business man who was involved in the deal. Since the scandal broke, Rosendall has been suspended by Synagro, which also stopped all payments to Jackson.

Sam Riddle, an ex-aide to Councilwoman Conyers says he has also been investigated by the FBI, but told reporters that he had refused a request to wear a wire. Riddle also says he does not think he has billed Conyers for any work since September or October.

The FBI investigation into the Synagro deal is part of a larger investigation into City hall which is examining contracts that were issued over several year, including contract related to Cobo Hall.


Is there any shady/illegal deal that Kwame and his posse isn't involved in?
Evidently not

And Governor Granholm just watches from the wings while Michigan's largest city disintegrates and becomes fodder for late night talk shows and signs pointing to Indiana become even more inticing!

How about some leadership Governor Granholm?!!

Stay tuned as this "Felliniesque" side show continues...

DO THE RIGHT THING

Taking a break from painting my ENTIRE finished basement (What was I thinking ?!!)

I wonder;

Will the Detroit City Council, meeting now to vote on calling for the mayor's resignation, do the right thing and rid the city of one of most corrupt and scandal ridden administration in the nation?

We will find out later today. The sad tale of corruption and scandals started almost as soon as Kwame Kilpatrick took office. Related articles can be found on the Detroit Free Press site here http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080304/NEWS01/80304028

The scandal and corruption has even cost the city of Detroit needed revenue as others by pass the city.

"About 2,500 mayors and staff members who were to converge on Detroit in April -- bringing an economic boost and national exposure to a beleaguered city -- are rerouting to New Orleans.

Asked if the decision to move the annual convention was tied to the text message scandal, Vanessa Williams, executive director of the National Conference of Black Mayors, told the Free Press, "I think anyone can look around and see what's going on." http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080301/NEWS05/803010339/0/NEWS01

Shameful that our Governor can't bring herself to even suggest that Kilpatrick step down. Evidently everyone besides our Governor, can "look around and see what going on"

"Granholm declined to say whether she believed the mayor should resign, but noted that the scandal has invited potentially damaging national exposure." http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080229/NEWS06/802290422/1003/NEWS01

Too bad Jennifer Granholm is playing politics instead of doing the right thing and encouraging Kilpatrick to step down for the good of a major Michigan city


UPDATE
Updated at 12:58 p.m.

The Detroit City Council has decided to postpone a vote asking for Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to resign until March 18.

In a tense council chamber, and after substantial comment from the public urging the council to approve the resolution, the council decided to wait on a 6-3 vote.
Voting to delay action were Council President Ken Cockrel Jr., Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers and Councilmembers Sheila Cockrel, Barbara-Rose Collins, Martha Reeves and Alberta Tinsley-Talabi. Councilmembers JoAnn Watson, Brenda Jones and Kwame Kenyatta opposed a delay.

Kilpatrick had derided the vote as meaningless, but Kilpatrick spokesman James Canning said the mayor's office is pleased the council voted to delay a vote.

What can I say?

Mayor's office is pleased = citizens of Detroit being sold down the river