ALG Blasts “Gutless” Wisconsin Lawmakers for Fleeing State, Urges State Senate to Pass Right to Work Law

February 23rd, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement condemning 14 Wisconsin State Senators for fleeing the state to avoid a vote on Governor Scott Walker’s proposal to end collective bargaining for public pension and health care benefits:

“The 14 Senate Democrats have engaged in a gutless move to flee their state rather than vote up or down on Governor Walker’s proposals to balance the budget. At a bare minimum, they shouldn’t be paid. But if a quorum cannot be reached to work on budget matters, which requires 20 members be present, then Senate Republicans will have to consider other options.

“The Wisconsin Senate, of course, could move forward with a quorum of 17 to pursue legislation minus any budget items. They should put a straight right-to-work law on the table, which would give all workers in the state the option of whether they want to join a union or not. They could move it to the floor and have it on the calendar, and then adjourn for a day. The delinquent 14 Senate Democrats would probably come scurrying back rather quickly to try to defeat the measure.

“But if they did not, Senate Republicans could be even more aggressive with more legislation: lower Medicaid eligibility requirements, saving the state tens of millions of dollars, roll back authorizations for entire departments, enact a sunset rule on all regulations issued by the state government, and require that all regulations that affect more than 50 people be approved by the state legislature. These are all items Senate Democrat would want to be there to try to stop.

“Ultimately, these 14 faithless senators need to get back to work on the budget. If Senate Republicans move aggressively, the ‘Delinquent 14’ can be made to meet their obligations.”

Permalink here.

How the Left Thinks

By Rick Manning
When faced with actual real cuts in their budgets, managers in either the private or public sector have some basic priority decisions to make.
Do you use these cuts as an opportunity to cut the average employees from your staff with the idea that when times are less lean, you can replace them with employees with a higher upside?

Do you evaluate programs and eliminate those that are not meeting expectations, contributing to the bottom line, or are simply “vanity” projects that fall into the want rather than need category?

Do you cut salaries and benefits across the board in an attempt to keep your staff intact, knowing that you might lose key personnel who leave because they have better offers or prospects for growth?

Do you lay off staff for a couple of weeks of unpaid furlough?

One option that few would consider would be shutting down your entire operation for almost two months, and then trying to restart from scratch after that length of time.
Get full story here.

Like Third Graders

ALG Editor's Note: William Warren's award-winning cartoons published at GetLiberty.org are a free service of ALG News Bureau. They may be reused and redistributed free of charge.

Get permalink here.

Public Union Crowd Gathers In Maryland's State Capital For Their Wisconsin Friends

Video by Frank McCaffrey

Get permalink here.

Environmentalist fraud and manslaughter

Environmentalist fraud and manslaughter

In the name of banning DDT, GEF bureaucrats are consigning millions to death from malaria
By Paul Driessen


Many chemotherapy drugs for treating cancer have highly unpleasant side effects — hair loss, vomiting, intense joint pain, liver damage and fetal defects, to name just a few. But anyone trying to ban the drugs would be tarred, feathered and run out of town. And rightly so.

The drugs’ benefits vastly outweigh their risks. They save lives. We need to use chemo drugs carefully, but we need to use them.

The same commonsense reasoning should apply to the Third World equivalent of chemotherapy drugs: DDT and other insecticides to combat malaria. Up to half a billion people are infected annually by this vicious disease, nearly a million die, countless survivors are left with permanent brain damage, and 90 percent of this carnage is in sub-Saharan Africa, the most impoverished region on Earth.

These chemicals don’t cure malaria — they prevent it. Used properly, they are effective, and safe. DDT is particularly important. Sprayed once or twice a year on the inside walls of homes, DDT keeps 80 percent of mosquitoes from entering, irritates those that do enter, so they leave without biting, and kills any that land. No other chemical, at any price, can do this.
Get full story here.

Dwayne McDuffie, Comic Book Legend, Passes Away

Sad news hitting the comic book ‘verse today. Dwayne McDuffie, best known as co-founder of Milestone Comics and creator of Static Shock passed away today from complications from a surgical procedure performed Monday night, Comic Book Resources is reporting. It’s especially sad to note that today is the North American release of the animated All-Star Superman for which McDuffie wrote the script.

McDuffie was  the creator of Damage Control for Marvel,  an honest look at how we’d react to superheroes in a “real” world as well as the comic book, Icon, which spun an interesting twist on the hero/sidekick dynamic. He also played an important role in the lives of many young super hero fans, myself included, with his work as writer for the animated Justice League series and story editor on Justice League Unlimited. The popular blog, DC Woman Kicking Ass sums up his impact nicely,

I’ve told this story before, but I will tell it again. When the Hostess cupcakes promotion happened last fall featuring Batman, Superman, Flash and Green Lantern, my friend showed her son the box. He took one look at it and said, “that’s not the Green Lantern, the Green Lantern is black.”

And he is black, if the incarnation of the Green Lantern you’re most familiar with is John Stewart, the featured Green Lantern on JLU. A generation of fans have grown up with comic books and comic adaptions that owe something to Dwayne McDuffie. His understanding of fans needing to hear about characters of all races and genders was an important voice in comic books.

I mentioned earlier McDuffie wrote the script for All-Star Superman (review coming tonight!) but he also penned another DC Animated film, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. Along with those movies he was also a writer for the Static Shock animated series, Teen Titans and writer/producer for Ben 10.

In comics, besides his co-founding of Milestone Comics he also had impressive runs on both the Fantastic Four and Justice League of America. Basically, any comic book fan and particularly fans of cape and cowl stories have a lot to thank Dwayne McDuffie for. Today marks a sad day but also a day to go back and review a great career in comics. I’ll leave you with these words from Dan Didio, co-publisher of DC Comics, but if you have any comments about the life and career of Dwayne McDuffie please share them at the end of this post.

Dwayne McDuffie left a lasting legacy on the world of comics that many writers can only aspire to. He will not only be remembered as the extremely gifted writer whose scripts have been realized as comic books, in television shows and on the silver screen, but as the creator or co-creator of so many of the much-loved Milestone characters, including Static Shock. The industry has lost a true talent.
Our sincerest condolences go out to the family and many friends he leaves behind.

source: CBR via io9

Cam Newton: “I See Myself Not Only as a Football Player, but as an Icon”

Whoa Chief, before you start talking about Icon status how about playing your first game?
I don’t want anyone to fail, that is a common misconception that some journalists are overly negative and pray for athletes downfall.  When I am critical of an athlete I am hoping they prove me wrong.

I want Cam Newton to succeed, but there are signs that the glamorous life might be more important than the NFL life.  Doesn’t matter how talented you are if your priorities are mixed up, you are destine to fail.

SI.com’s Peter King spoke with Auburn quarterback Cam Newton via phone this week and then tweeted a memorable quote:
“I see myself not only as a football player, but an entertainer and icon,” Newton told King.

Everybody wants to be Lebron James, but here is the thing about Lebron, regardless of what you think of him personally he is a once in a generation player.

Even with Lebron, you wonder if he was a little less worried about his icon status would that even make him greater than he already is.

Winning the BCS Title and Heisman Trophy doesn’t make automatically make you an Icon.  It is a good start but winning Super Bowls and consistently being one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL makes you an Icon.
How is Newton going to be an entertainer?  Is he going to drop a single with Drake or date Rihanna?

One underrated trait of all great quarterbacks is while they are supremely confident they also have humility, that is something Cameron is sorely lacking, maybe he thinks because he and his pops got away with some things at Auburn he is untouchable.  Might want to talk to Michael Vick or Plaxico Burress about what happens when you think you can’t be touch.

Cameron seems like a nice kid and physically is extremely talented, but if I am GM or head coach and my job was on the line, I am not handing the keys to my Kia to Cameron, because he might be upset it isn’t a Maybach.

By Robert Littal.

How Does the Carmelo Trade Affect Fantasy NBA?

Carmelo Anthony’s Blockbuster Trade Impact

With the Carmelo Anthony trade finally going through, ending one of the most annoying ongoing stories since the Brett Farve will he/won’t he retirement talk, it is finally time to see how the trade will impact those involved. Some will gain value. Some won’t.

Winners
The biggest winner is Carmelo Anthony. Not only will he finally be able to focus without having to answer questions regarding his future, he will go to a more wide open offense. And with Amare Stoudamire underneath, opposing defenses will no longer be able to key in on Anthony. Carmelo could be the best pure scorer in the NBA, with Amare on the court with him it could get scary.

The player who should see the most signicifant boost in his numbers is Corey Brewer. He will go from being a secondary player with a weak supporting class to the sixth man in an up-tempo style of play. With virtually no other player in front of Brewer left on the Knick’s bench, his minutes should rise dramatically, making him a solid fantasy contributor. Brewer might finally fulfill some of his potential.

Another player who should gain some fantasy value is Timofey Mozgov, who potentially could be a solid starting center in the NBA. An increase in minutes, which should come with Nene’s inevitable departure, should allow him the chance to put up double digit points and close to double digit rebounds each night. The question of course with Mozgov is whether that will happen this season or the next.

Losers
The biggest loser is Raymon Felton, who finally seemed to have found his niche in Mike D’Antoni’s offense. His numbers should drop considerably without Amare Stoudemire. The Nuggets will rely on him to score more than the Knicks did and he will be forced to do so without a primary scorer to take the pressure off of him a bit. To expect Felton to continue his high assists and point totals in his new setting would be a mistake on your part. I would sell Felton now, before his value plummets.

Ty Lawson may not have been traded, but his stock also took a hit. With Chauncey Billups’ departure being guaranteed in almost every Carmelo offer, Lawson looked to finally get a chance to be the Nuggets’ starting point guard. But, with the Nuggets trading for Felton, he once again will be forced to start the game on the bench.

Other players who could take a hit involve Arron Afflalo, Danillo Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler as these three all will battle for Carmelo’s minutes. One of three should see their minute totals drop as Denver figures out which player will produce the most. It would seem like Gallinari should be the safest pick as he should be slotted into Carmelo Anthony’s starting spot. But, with so many possibilities fantasy owners are forced to wait to see what George Karl does.

Waiver Wire
PG - Jose Juan Barea (DAL) 13.4 PTS 5.0 AST 1.4 3PM .534 FG% in Last 15 days
With San Antonio pretty much already locking up the first spot, Dallas is in a prime spot to take hold of either the second or third seed in the West. With this being the case, Rick Carlisle has started to rest Jason Kidd more and given Barea more time on the court. His increase in minutes has allowed him to up his points, three pointers made, and most importantly his assists. He should see an increased minutes total from here on out as Dallas will continue to give Kidd fewer and fewer minutes so he is as fresh as possible come playoff time. With all the options Barea has to throw the ball to his assists total should stay pretty high, although his shooting percentage may drop as it seems unconceivable for a guy who relies considerably on his jump shot to continue to shoot over 50 percent from the field. Either way, picking up Barea should give you a point guard whose value should increase as the season progresses.

SG - Rudy Fernandez (POR) 15.3 PTS 2.6 REB 1.7 STL 2.6 3PM Last 15 days
Rudy Fernandez is known for two things, slam dunks and 3 pointers. Usually these don’t go together, but we will forget that for now. Fernandez is once again finally getting some solid minutes on the court and is giving fantasy owners a solid amount of points, steals, and threes. The only real problem with grabbing Fernandez is that Nate McMillan seems to fall in love one minute and then never play him the next. He lacks a consistency in his minutes. But. if you are in desperate need of 3 pointers you could not find a better person to put in your lineup then Fernandez.

SF - Sam Young (MEM) 14.1 PTS 3.9 REB 1.4 AST 1.4 STL 36.3 MIN Last 15 Days
With Rudy Gay being out for the next month, Sam Young’s minutes as a starter are all but guaranteed. This means his point production and rebounds should continue to rise. If you look at the his last couple of games, his rebound total has risen to about 6-7 a game, while his steals has risen to closer to 2 a game. He has virtually gone unnoticed by most fantasy owners, which is a huge mistake. Finding a guy who is playing 36.3 minutes game this late in the season is almost impossible.

PF - Brandon Bass (ORL) 10.5 PTS 9.5 REB .5 BLK 1.0 STL Last 15 Days
The Orlando Magic continue to play musical chairs at the four-spot. Bass is finally healthy again and has retaken his spot as Dwight Howard’s sidekick in the paint. This guarantees that he should get a fair amount of rebound chances with opposing teams trying to keep Howard off of the glass. His minutes total should rise back to over 30 minutes a game, virtually making him a guaranteed double-double machine. If you need help in your rebound totals, Bass is the man.

C – Chuck Hayes (HOU) 9.5 PTS 8.3 REB 2.2 AST 1.8 STL 0.7 BLK Last 15 Days
For some weird reason fantasy owners have yet to add Hayes to their lineup. This is plenty peculiar as Hayes has managed to put up good numbers, night-in and night-out, for about a month now. I find it hard to believe that a center that gives you close to 8 rebounds, 2 assists, close to 2 steals, and almost 1 block a game is still sitting in the waiver wire. The bevy of stats that the former Wildcat gives you should provide your fantasy squad with a very nice boost. He is a much better option than almost any center you could add.

By Big John

Gold,Silver,Crude Oil sharply higher as violence in Libya climbs..Dow tumbles 178 points

http://blogs.forbes.com/robertlenzner/2011/02/21/gold-silvercrude-oil-sharply-higher-as-violence-in-libya-climbs/
The violent stand-off in Libya and elsewhere in the Middle East has triggered renewed speculation in precious metals and crude oil prices.

The price of gold jumped $17.60 an ounce today to $1406 an ounce– much nearer its previous peak over $1420. Silver, as well, jumped over $2.00 an ounce to $33.91, precisely the scenario to make silver traders ecstatic. Meanwhile, crude oil, the commodity most directly affected by the intense political unrest, ran up over 5% in price in London to $107.60 a barrel.  The last time oil sold at this level was in 2008, just on the eve of an approaching bubble  at the $148 a barrel level.

No doubt the pressure on oil prices was impacted by  an oil workers strike in the Libyan oil fields, the cessation in exploration by BP,  one of the major oil field operators there.
There were reports that  some European oil producing companies like Italy’s ENI, long a fixture in Libya, are thinking of  evacuating their expatriate oil workers.

Libya has the 9th largest amount of oil reserves in the world and is one of the lowest cost producing areas. A continuation of the shutdown in Libyan oil fields would mean a further spike in oil prices, and a threat to the rate of economic growth in Europe if not the US.

In other words, political unrest is a boon to speculators like hedge funds and wealthy investors betting the commodity prices are going higher. But, it is on the other hand, damaging to middle class Americans who will hurt by higher gasoline costs this summer.

———–

oil gold and silver all made huge rises on the back of libyan tension..the difference this time with oil is that it has so much further it can go in relation to gold..i think we can see the market falls will be blamed on the oil price which will be blamed on the middle east protests..dow down heavily last night..we have called for this fall last week..something has to trigger a fall..manipulated or not..just like there must be a trigger to go up..

Berlusconi won't 'disturb' Gaddafi amid bloodshed - Berlusconi roasted over Gaddafi silence

Opposition lawmakers have criticised Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi for failing to condemn violence in Libya.

Mr Berlusconi's government, which has aggressively courted Libyan petrodollars and rolled out the red carpet during Mr Gaddafi's multiple visits to Italy, has said little on Libya's crackdown on protesters that has reportedly killed more than 200 people.


Gadhafi, has the right pocket of his uniform jacket deliberately installed an old picture. The photo from 1931 shows the arrest of the guerrilla leader Omar al Mukhtar by Italian forces.

Muammar Qaddafi still in Tripoli as uprising in Libya escalates

By Andrew Zarowny
Yesterday, Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi made a brief, 14-second, appearance on Libya national TV station to prove he was still in Tripoli, and in control. The uprising in Libya has become more violent as forces loyal to Qaddafi have become even more brutal. Two Libyan jet fighters defected to Malta with the pilots claiming they were ordered to drop bombs on protesters in Benghazi, the second largest city in the country. Protesters appear to have control of Benghazi and more fighting has erupted in the national capitol of Tripoli where witnesses report dead bodies in the streets.

Muammar Qaddafi went on TV to let Libya know he’s still in Tripoli, and in power.

Rumors of Qaddafi fleeing Libya to Venezuela were dispelled after his TV appearance late last night. But while he may still be in control, his grip on power is slipping. In the past 24 hours, a number of Libyan diplomats have either resigned or have gone public calling for Qaddafi to step down. Some defections to the protesters also include officers and troops of the Libyan Army.

While two pilots refused to bomb civilians and defected to Malta, there are reports of other jets and helicopters firing upon crowds in Benghazi and Tripoli. Eyewitness reports from Tripoli tell of how the streets have dead and wounded bodies and how ambulances cannot retrieve them due to gunfire. Video showing foreign mercenaries employed by Qaddafi are exercising a reign of terror.

The uprisings in Libya have sent oil prices higher the past two days with the price of crude well over $90 a barrel. North Sea Brent topped $105 yesterday. Libya produces about 1.4 million barrels per day, about 2% of the worlds oil. Since last week when the violence erupted, Italy is reporting a wave of refugees streaming across the Mediterranean Seas.

How much longer Muammar Qaddafi can remain in power is a guess at best as the uprising in Libya continues. Reports of more violence in Tripoli, the Libyan capitol leak out as the regime clamps down on protesters. Defections from Qaddafi′s Army and other branches of the government continue as more reject his reign as dictator for 41 years. On Sunday, Qaddafi′s son told a TV audience that civil war may occur and that rivers of blood will flow.

Related Articles:
Libya′s Moammar Gadhafi Says He′s Still in Control
Gadhafi′s hold on Libya weakens in protest wave
Qaddafi deserted by Libyan diplomats amid brutal crackdown

Libyan protesters defiant after Gaddafi speech

AP
"Heavy gunfire broke out in Libya's capital today as forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi opened fire in the streets a day after the longtime leader vowed to defend his rule and called on supporters to crack down on anti-government protesters.

The fighting in Tripoli came as the opposition reportedly seized control of Misurata, with witnesses saying people were honking their horns and raising pre-Gaddafi flags from the monarchy to celebrate.

Misurata would be the first major city in the west to fall to anti-government forces, which have mainly been concentrated in the east. Faraj al-Misrati, a local doctor, said six residents had been killed and 200 injured since January 18, when protesters attacked offices and buildings affiliated with Gaddafi's regime.

He said residents had formed committees to protect the city, clean the streets and treat the injured.
"The solidarity among the people here is amazing, even the disabled are helping out," he said in a telephone interview....."

# posted by Tony : 4:38 AM

Missionaries killed by Somali Pirates

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

The Quest was the home of Jean and Scott Adam, a couple from California who had been sailing around the world since December 2004 with a yacht full of Bibles. The two other Americans on board were Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, of Seattle, Wash.

Adam, in his mid-60s, had been an associate producer in Hollywood when he turned in a spiritual direction and enrolled in the seminary a decade ago, said Robert K. Johnston, a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena and a friend of Adam's.

"He decided he could take his pension, and he wanted to serve God and humankind," he said.

Johnston and Adam worked together to start a film and theology institute. Adam also taught a class on church and media at the school.

Since 2004, the Adams lived on their yacht in Marina Del Rey for about half the year and the rest of the year they sailed around the world, often distributing Bibles in remote parts of the Fiji Islands, Alaska, New Zealand, Central America and French Polynesia, Johnston said.

Scott and Jane Adam documented their maritime missionary work on their website, S/V Quest Adventure Log.

"Great sailors, good people. They were doing what they wanted to do, but that's small comfort in the face of this," said Joe Grande of the Seattle Singles Yacht Club, where Riggle and Macay were members.

Pirates have increased attacks off the coast of East Africa in recent years despite an international flotilla of warships dedicated to protecting vessels and stopping the pirate assaults.

But the conventional wisdom in the shipping industry had been that Somali pirates are businessmen looking for a multimillion-dollar ransom payday, not insurgents looking to terrorize people.

"We have heard threats against the lives of Americans before but it strikes me as being very, very unusual why they would kill hostages outright," said Graeme Gibbon-Brooks, the head of Dryad Maritime Intelligence, adding that the pirates must realize that killing Americans would invite a military response...more

Buju Banton Found Guilty In Coke Case

Posted by Larry Mizell, Jr. on Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 2:10 PM

Buju, a Line Out favorite from way back, is looking at not a likkle time courtesy of Babylon:

Despite a triumphant concert in Miami and a Grammy win within the last few months, Buju Banton's dark days are not behind him. After an initial trial on drug charges was declared a mistrial, Banton has been found guilty of conspiring to set up a Florida cocaine deal back in 2009.

...Banton was arrested in December 2009 on charges that he tried to set up a cocaine deal in the Tampa area. Though, Banton maintained he was merely trying to impress the drug dealers because he thought they had record industry contracts.

...Banton was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and using the wires to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. He was acquitted on a fourth charge of attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

Banton could face up to 20 years in jail.