Contact info for Wisconsin Republican State Senators

◼ If you are so inclined - Call or email Wisconsin Republican State Senators, to voice your support. They're paying a heavy price for standing firm in the budget battle, facing death threats and recall efforts and intense criticism. Doing what they did saved 1,500 people their jobs.

◼ Robert Cowles - (608) 266-0484 Or (800) 334-1465
--- Email: Sen.Cowles@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Alberta Darling - (608) 266-5830
--- Email: Sen.Darling@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Michael Ellis - (608) 266-0718
--- Email: Sen.Ellis@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Scott Fitzgerald - (608) 266-5660
--- Email: Sen.Fitzgerald@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Pam Galloway - (608) 266-2502
--- Email: Sen.Galloway@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Glenn Grothman - (608) 266-7513 Or (800) 662-1227
--- Email: Sen.Grothman@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Sheila Harsdorf - (608) 266-7745
--- Email: Sen.Harsdorf@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Randy Hopper - (608) 266-5300
--- Email: Sen.Hopper@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Dan Kapanke - (608) 266-5490 Or (800) 385-3385
--- Email: Sen.Kapanke@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Neal Kedzie - (608) 266-2635
--- Email: Sen.Kedzie@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Frank Lasee - (608) 266-3512
--- Email: Sen.Lasee@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Mary Lazich - (608) 266-5400 Or (800) 334-1442
--- Email: Sen.Lazich@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Joseph Leibham - (608) 266-2056 Or (888) 295-8750
--- Email: Sen.Leibham@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Terry Moulton - (608) 266-7511
--- Email: Sen.Moulton@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Luther Olsen - (608) 266-0751
--- Email: Sen.Olsen@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Dale Schultz - (608) 266-0703 Or (800) 978-8008
--- Email: Sen.Schultz@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Leah Vukmir - (608) 266-2512
--- Email: Sen.Vukmir@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Van Wanggaard - (608) 266-1832 Or (866) 615-7510
--- Email: Sen.Wanggaard@legis.wisconsin.gov
◼ Rich Zipperer - (608) 266-9174
--- Email: Sen.Zipperer@legis.wisconsin.gov

CRA Introduces Resolution To GOP Convention To Censure GOP Legislators That Vote To Put Tax Increase On June '11 Ballot

◼ Two resolutions

Jon Fleischman at The Flash Report received an email from Celeste Greig, President of the California Republican Assembly (dubbed the conscience of the GOP) -- who informed me that on behalf of the CRA, she has introduced two resolutions for consideration at next weekend's California Republican Party Convention.

a second resolution, to praise Republican legislators, for standing together against putting taxes on the ballot...

Meg Whitman rules out 2012 Senate bid

◼ Meg Whitman rules out 2012 Senate bid

Ms. Whitman, who was CEO of the online-auction company for a decade until 2008, said that she likely will campaign for Republican Mitt Romney in the next presidential race. She also said she will continue to serve on the boards of several organizations, including the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, which hosted a conference Friday where she moderated a panel discussion on the nation’s long-term fiscal outlook.

During that panel, Ms. Whitman said that she thinks the country’s fiscal situation is going to get worse before it gets better. She predicted there won’t be enough political will to make structural change until Americans more acutely feel the negative consequences of the country’s fiscal woes.

How You Can Help the Victims of the Devastating Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

◼ links at FOX
◼ Japan Earthquake and Tsunami - Includes list of Charities providing relief. (see below)
◼ The American Red Cross International Relief Fund is stationed in the affected areas. Text REDCROSS to 90999 from your cell phone to donate $10.00 to the Red Cross. Click here to donate.

◼ The Salvation Army has been in Japan since 1895 and is currently providing emergency assistance to those in need. To contribute, text 'JAPAN' or 'QUAKE' to 80888 to make a $10 donation. Click here to donate.

◼ Global Giving is taking donations that go toward several charities that have sent emergency relief workers to the pacific area. You can go to www.globalgiving.org and click on 'Japan Earthquake' and Tsunami Relief Fund. Choose from an amount of $25, $50 or $75 dollars and click "give now. " Click here to donate.

◼ The International Medical Corps are putting together relief teams that will bring supplies to those most in need. You can text MED to 80888 from any mobile phone to give $10 or go to their website. Click here to donate.

◼ You can access other organizations and charities that are providing assistance through Network for Good. Click here to go to the Networkforgood.org site.

◼ Providing Relief to Japan Without Getting Scammed

Scammers often create charities that don’t exist, or have similar names to other charities that are reputable to dupe donors into contributing, he said. First and foremost, donors should never give money over the phone—even if a charity sounds promising.
“Go online first, and make sure it is a registered charity, or 501c3 organization,” Berger said. “The same rules apply when it comes to emails—be wary of email solicitations. The bottom line is to do a bit of research, don’t immediately give....”

While many may believe that texting in their donations is the fastest way to give, donating online is even quicker. Text-to-give campaigns often take up to 90 days to process payment and get it into the charity’s hands, he said.

As for choosing the right charity, Berger said that giving to long-established charities is always a good place to start. In the case of donating for Japanese relief, going with a charity that has been working on the ground in that country for a long time, like the American Red Cross, is also important. For a list of organizations doing relief work in Japan, click here.

Finally, Berger said that donors should remember that in disaster situations cash is king. It may feel good to donate food, supplies and clothing, but these items can’t always get quickly into the hands of those most in need, and can get stuck in the states or on a runway for long periods of time before being delivered.

“Cash gives a charity the flexibility to purchase things on the ground,” he said.

Charities Providing Relief: (ratings at link)
◼ Action Against Hunger | ACF-USA ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ AmeriCares ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ Architecture for Humanity ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ Catholic Medical Mission Board ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ Convoy of Hope ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ Direct Relief International ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ Doctors Without Borders, USA ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ Food for the Hungry ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ International Rescue Committee ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ Relief International ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ Save the Children ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ Stop Hunger Now ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ World Vision ★ ★ ★ ★
◼ American Red Cross ★ ★ ★
◼ GlobalGiving ★ ★ ★
◼ International Medical Corps ★ ★ ★
◼ Mercy Corps ★ ★ ★
◼ Operation USA ★ ★ ★
◼ Oxfam America ★ ★ ★
◼ Samaritan's Purse ★ ★ ★
◼ ShelterBox USA ★ ★ ★

Iowa House passes collective bargaining bill

◼ Iowa House passes collective bargaining bill - Breitbart
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Iowa House has approved a bill that overhauls the state's collective bargaining law and reduces workers' negotiating rights.
The bill now goes to the Senate, where it is not expected to pass. Republicans who support the bill control the House, while Democrats have a majority in the Senate.

The measure would force state workers to pay at least $100 a month toward the cost of their health care and would not allow them to negotiate layoff procedures.

Senate Democrats say they have no intention of allowing debate on it.

Huge blast at Japan nuclear power plant - "If there were any meltdown in those reactors, it would be largely, if not entirely, contained,"

◼ Huge blast at Japan nuclear power plant - bbc
◼ Japan: Tremor Follows Blast At Nuclear Plant - sky.com

The 6.4 magnitude tremor occurred close to the site of dual Fukushima nuclear power plants, where the walls and a roof of a single reactor were destroyed in a blast.

The nearby Daini power station also suffered a loss of control of pressure in one containment vessel but a spokesman said the reactor pressure remained stable.

The Japanese government doubled the Daiichi evacuation radius to 12 miles and urged residents of the region to stay indoors, turn off air conditioning units and not to drink tap water

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that the evacuation zone at the Daini nuclear site was extended to six miles from the previous radius of 1.8 miles.

Radioactivity of 1,000 times the normal level in the control room at the Daiichi plant and eight times the normal level in the area immediately outside the site have since fallen.

Ian Hore-Lacey, of the World Nuclear Association (WNA), said he believed the blast had been caused by a hydrogen build-up. "If the hydrogen has ignited, then it is gone, it doesn't pose any further threat," he said. "If there were any meltdown in those reactors, it would be largely, if not entirely, contained," he said

"Any western reactor is built inside a containment structure, which is normally about 1.2 metres (3ft 11in) thick of reinforced concrete. They are designed to contain the worst conceivable accident.

"You can't get a nuclear explosion at a nuclear power plant. That's quite impossible, because they're run with fuel that's only enriched to about 5% at the most."

If power is lost, the options to cool the core are limited.

It is unclear if the quake has undermined the containment building, which might allow radioactivity to leak out.

◼ Explosion did not occur at reactor, new cooling operation begins - kyodonews

◼ SIXTH NUKE REACTOR FAILS

Some video of wave hitting Crescent City Harbor

8.9 (9.1) Earthquake and Tsunami (Updated)

A massive earthquake... 8.9... strongest quake in the area in nearly 1,200 years.... ruptured a patch of the earth's crust 150 miles long and 50 miles across.... spawned a massive tsunami that hit Japan before racing across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States
◼ more video

Massive 8.9-magnitude quake hits Japan - Raw Video Tsunami


Whirlpool


Wave model: ◼ here

Record quake unleashes tsunami on Japan
Slideshow ◼ here
Photo Gallery: ◼ here - The Atlantic

◼ Waves sweep 4 out to sea in Crescent City as tsunami surges reach west coast
◼ Tsunami Swamps Hawaii Shores, Damages Calif. Bays
Updated:
◼ Tsunami warning center raises magnitude of Japan quake to 9.1

Governor Scott Walker rescinds Wisconsin public sector employee layoff notices

◼ Gov Scott Walker rescinds WI public sector employee layoff notices - Protein Wisdom

Walker’s statement: - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Legislature helped us save 1,500 middle-class jobs by moving forward this week with the budget repair. The state will now be able to realize $30 million in savings to balance the budget and allow 1,500 state employees to keep their jobs. The reforms contained in this legislation, which require modest health care and pension contributions from all public employees, will help put Wisconsin on a path to fiscal sustainability.
While tough budget choices certainly still lie ahead, both state and local units of government will not have to do any mass layoffs or direct service reductions because of the reforms contained in the budget repair bill. Moving forward the hard-working, professional public sector employees who show up to work every day and do an excellent job will help ensure Wisconsin has a business climate that allows the private sector to create 250,000 new jobs.

Jesse Jackson responds: “Keeping jobs at the expense of losing union power is unconscionable, unsustainable, unpalatable, irretrievable....

TSUNAMI WARNING

◼ Officials strongly advising evacuation in low lying areas
The Eureka Police Department dispatch reported at 5:30 a.m. that police had already suggested residents evacuate Jacobs Avenue, Murray Field, and the Samoa Marina waterfront and police were contacting residents in King Salmon, Samoa and Woodley Island, and those areas are currently being evacuated.
Arcata Police Chief Tom Chapman said law enforcement officials are strongly advising residents in areas south of Samoa Boulevard that are adjacent or near the marsh area, including parts of South Villa Way. The Greenview area of Arcata is not in an inundation zone, but residents can take precautions for evacuation, he said.
◼ Some schools closed during tsunami alert
All schools in the immediate area of Humboldt Bay have been closed in response to the tsunami alert.
School districts Pacific Union, Peninsula Union, Freshwater, Garfield and Eureka City Schools are all closed, according to the Humboldt County Office of Education. All McKinleyville schools have also closed, along with Arcata Elementary.
Academy of the Redwoods and College of the Redwoods have closed today, according to Twitter pages associated with the college. Trinidad School District will be open today, but is advising parents to not drive along U.S. Highway 101 along Clam Beach, according to the district.

McKinleyville Schools are closed - there are evacuations in Orick, highway checkpoints around Crescent City... List of schools closed at the North Coast Journal Blogthing.

◼ Waves destroy Crescent City Harbor docks - Times-Standard
◼ Tsunami waves hit Ore. coast after sweeping Hawaii

What the Unions Fear

◼ What the Unions Fear - Peter Hannaford at The American Spectator
Demonstrators at the Wisconsin capitol, union representatives and absent Democratic state senators concede in interviews that they don't object to a bill requiring teachers and other public employees to pay 12.5 percent of their health insurance (up from five percent), or up to half of their pension deposits. It is the curbing of collective bargaining that has brought on near hysteria and a fierce campaign to discredit Governor Scott Walker's legislation.

For the union leaders the consequences of passage of the legislation could be devastating to their sinecures. Amid all the shouting, placards and banging on pots and pans in the capitol, two elements of the bill have received only passing attention. One would stop state collection of union dues. The other would require the unions to be recertified, by vote of all members, every year.

Currently, the State of Wisconsin automatically deducts union dues from public employee paychecks and it goes to the unions. The unions then use as much of the money as the leaders wish to give to candidates who will look favorably on their demands (almost always Democrats). Thus, the taxpayers are subsidizing partisan election donations.

This "closed shop" arrangement would change under the new law. Once it passed the state would no longer deduct union dues from paychecks. Employees would only pay dues voluntarily by signing a union card. The unions would have to go through the process of collecting the dues. This would increase their administrative costs and thus reduce the amount of money available for campaign donations. And, the union leaders would have to persuade employees of the value of joining. That's a lot more work than sitting back and staring at the ceiling while a trove of dues comes pouring in from the state.

The legislation would require each public employee union to hold an annual election to see if a majority of the members want to continue to be represented by it. If they do, it continues; if not, it's pffft to the union leaders and their comfy incomes.

Some of the demonstrators at the capitol in Madison have hollered about collective bargaining as a "basic right." Not really. Not only is it not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, but also nearly half the states have "open shops" with no collective bargaining (or permit it only for first responders).

The governor's reasoning for restricting collective bargain for public employee unions only to wages rests on two elements: (1) to balance its budget, the state must reduce funds sent to counties and cities; and (2) restricted collective bargaining means that these local governments can adjust their own pension and health care contracts and thus help close their own budget gaps.

Those AWOL Democratic state senators say they will return soon. This means the bill will pass.

They have been reading polls (led by the New York Times, with its skewed sampling) and think the Democrats' campaign has made the governor and the Republican legislative majorities sufficiently unpopular that recall and referendum petitions will succeed and they can overturn the legislation in November.

Anyone who reads a poll in the heat of battle in March and thinks the results will be unchanged eight months later, needs a course in Politics 1A.
_________________________________________________
Peter Hannaford was closely associated with the late President Ronald Reagan for a number of years.

8.8 (8.9) Quake/Tsunami hits Japan

◼ Monster earthquake off of Japanese coast: 8.9, Tsunami strikes, massive damage
(AP) – JAPAN’S METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY NOW WARNS THAT A TSUNAMI AS HIGH AS 20 FEET (6 METERS) COULD STRIKE THE COAST NEAR MIYAGI PREFECTURE, CLOSEST TO THE EPICENTER.
◼ Massive Earthquake Off Japan Coast; 8.8 on Richter Scale
CNN’s Lateef Mungin tweets, “There have been only 5 other earthquakes larger than this one since 1906.”
◼ Details
◼ Major tsunami damage in N Japan after 8.9 quake

TOKYO – Japan was struck by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that washed away cars and tore away buildings along the coast near the epicenter. There were reports of injuries in Tokyo.
In various locations along Japan's coast, TV footage showed massive damage from the tsunami, with dozens of cars, boats and even buildings being carried along by waters. A large ship swept away by the tsunami rammed directly into a breakwater in Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture, according to footage on public broadcaster NHK.

Sen. Rand Paul on Consumer Choice in Energy Committee Hearing

Death Threats Against Republicans

◼ Wisconsin Capitol Chaos: Lawmakers Get Death Threats - 620wtmj.com
◼ ‘New Civility’ Update: Wisconsin DoJ Investigating Several Death Threats - Michelle Malkin
◼ Why doesn't President Obama say anything about the Wisconsin protests? - Althouse
◼ The Left’s New Tone? “…you will be killed and your familes will also be killed…” - redstate

◼ TIMELINE w video links: VIDEO: Democrat staff engineered mob’s unlawful invasion of Wisconsin Capitol Building - thebadger14
◼ 18 Republican senators from Wisconsin report getting death threats after passing bill to end collective bargaining for most public workers - wausaudailyherald

Make us your HOME PAGE

◼ http://www.hrwf-ca.org/

Indiana House Republicans Sing About Missing Democratic Lawmakers

From the good folks at HoosierAccess.com, Indiana House Republicans have discovered an innovative tactic to get their Democratic House counterparts to return to their home state: Singing to them... Lyrics at the link: ◼ Indiana House Republicans Sing About Missing Democratic Lawmakers

The March Issue of The Redwood Alert

HRWF March 2011 Redwood Alert

If you are interested in the Fair Tax... Click to try the Fair Tax Calculator

Breaking: Wisconsin Senate GOP Votes to Strip State Workers of Collective Bargaining Rights

◼ Wisconsin Senate GOP Votes to Strip State Workers of Collective Bargaining Rights

Bypassing Democrats hiding out in Illinois, Wisconsin Senate Republicans voted Wednesday night to strip state workers of their collective bargaining rights.

All 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois nearly three weeks ago, preventing the chamber from having enough members present to consider Gov. Scott Walker's so-called "budget repair bill" -- a proposal introduced to plug a $137 million budget shortfall..

The Senate requires a quorum to take up any measures that spend money. But Republicans on Wednesday split from the legislation the proposal to curtail union rights, and a special conference committee of state lawmakers approved that bill a short time later.

◼ GOP Senators Out Fox AWOL Dems in Bitter Badger State Budget Battle - New Zeal
◼ Meade on the scene at the Capitol says hundreds of protesters have gotten into the building, and security is vastly outnumbered. - Althouse
◼ Eradicating Collective Bargaining Isn't the Endgame - Doug Ross
◼ The Wisconsin Senate votes without the fleebaggers… - neoneocon
◼ Wisconsin Republicans Finally Decide to Win - Patterico
◼ Wisconsin GOP Finds Way Around Fleebaggers; Senate Votes - Michelle Malkin

Woody Allen once said that 80 percent of success is just showing up. And if you’re in the Wisconsin Senate, the other 20 percent is having a firm grasp on the rules in order to work around those who don’t show up.

PETITION: No New Taxes!

Dear Governor Brown and Members of the California Legislature:

Californians are burdened with over 61,000 different taxes and fees. Our state’s budget deficit isn’t caused by a lack of tax dollars, it’s caused by irresponsible, wasteful overspending in Sacramento.

I strongly oppose any tax and fee increases to address the budget deficit. California taxpayers have already faced the largest tax increase in our state’s history. Any additional burden to families and businesses at this time will be devastating. Tax increases are unnecessary and don’t address Sacramento’s spending addiction.

California has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

I urge you to live within your means and stop overtaxing hardworking Californians.

◼ Sign the petition HERE. - Americans for Prosperity!

Business support for Jerry Brown’s taxes? Not So Fast.

◼ Business support for Jerry Brown’s taxes? Not So Fast. - flashreport, Jon Fleischman

We have to wonder why these business groups would go through all this trouble to show lukewarm support. Are they being threatened? What type of pressure is the Governor and his friends applying?

Sources tell me that Jerry Brown and his Democrat allies are actively threatening businesses and business groups. Their message is simple: Show support and help us get these taxes passed, or you’re next. If we can’t increase the sales tax, income tax and car tax to fuel our bottomless appetite to grow the size of government, your business is next.

Governor Jerry Brown, one of the most masterful politicians of the last two generations, has spent the last few weeks trumpeting the momentum behind his five year, multi-billion dollar tax increase. He’s personally traveled to Los Angeles and the Bay Area to meet with and collect the alleged support of various “pro-business” groups.

In recent days, the Brown Administration has announced the “support” of the LA Chamber of commerce, the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) and the Bay Area Council. Just yesterday, he added the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce to the list.

But there are two problems with this view.

First, a close examination will reveal that no business groups support Jerry Brown’s proposed tax and spend budget as it is currently written.

The Los Angeles Times has done a great job of piercing Jerry Brown’s Sacramento reality distortion field. They have revealed that support for Brown’s taxes are “lukewarm” and with added “caveats....”

◼ Business groups place conditions on backing Jerry Brown's special election

...the L.A. chamber leaders took care to add caveats: They said they want the taxes Brown seeks –- billions in vehicle, income and sales taxes –- extended for just three years instead of the five that Brown has proposed. And they want regulatory changes and an overhaul of the public pension system as part of the deal.

Another local group, the Valley Industry & Commerce Assn., backed Brown’s call for a special election but stopped short of actually supporting the tax hike extensions that he seeks.

Republican hardliners who oppose extending the tax hikes are "being obstructionist," said VICA President Stuart Waldman. Yet Waldman added that it was still “about 50-50” whether his organization would ultimately endorse the tax policies Brown is advocating....

◼ Loud Message To Five GOP Senators: "The Unions Won't Allow It" - flashreport, Jon Coupal
◼ Budget Leverage - flashreport, Hon. Bill Leonard
◼ SacBee Editorial Board Members Should Read Their Own Paper - flashreport, Jon Fleischman
◼ Democrats Blame Pete Wilson for 2010 Budget Problems - flashreport, Jon Fleischman

State controller releases more local government payroll numbers

◼ Several Humboldt agencies on noncompliance list due to agency size
The state controller's office has rolled out its latest numbers from government payroll reports and named several Humboldt County agencies that the office said have not filed reports or have incomplete reports... California Controller John Chiang's office released the numbers for special districts Thursday, the second phase of his plan to make local government payroll numbers accessible to the public on his website... about a dozen small special districts on the North Coast have ended up on the noncompliance list, which means they didn't file the report by the Jan. 14 deadline or they filed an incomplete report.... Roper said there have been a number of issues with agencies -- some details include a missing cover letter, or not filling out benefits contributions -- and he encouraged agencies to call the controller's officer to sort them out.
According to the controller's office, compensation information for employees of special districts is being collected and posted on the website in four phases. The site is expected to be completed by June.... ◼ To search the Local Government Compensation Reporting site, go to www.sco.ca.gov/compensation_search.html

Majority of American students flunk civics test

◼ “Nobody got above a D+” - Barbara Hollingsworth at The Washington Examiner
A groundbreaking multi-year survey of 28,000 students attending 85 U.S. colleges and universities by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (www.isi.org) found that American institutions of higher learning are not providing students even basic instruction on American history, economics and government -- probably not even enough for them to make informed decisions at the ballot box.

Even Ivy Leaguers could not pass a multiple-choice test on America’s foundational principles. Students at Harvard scored highest nationwide, but only managed an average score of 69 percent on the 60-question test – compared to 54 percent on average for seniors and 51 percent for college freshmen.

“Nobody got above a D+,” political scientist Richard Brake, co-chair of ISI’s Civic Literacy (or more accurately, Illiteracy) Board, told The Examiner. “Less than half knew about federalism, judicial review, the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and NATO. And this was a multiple-choice test, with the answers staring them right in the face....”

“Our study clearly shows that college has absolutely zero positive influence. The Number One factor that encourages them to do more than vote is civic self education,” Dr. Brake said. “The better they did on our test, the more likely that they said ‘yes’ to writing letters to the editor, contributing to a political candidate, or volunteering.”

But Dr. Brake says he’s encouraged by Tea Party members, who have made it a point to read the U.S. Constitution. “I think it’s a great thing that Tea Party members are making it a priority to educate themselves. You can’t read the Constitution with all its ‘Congress shall nots…’ without coming to the conclusion that the Constitution limits government.”

Could you pass? ◼ Free US Citizenship Sample Tests

Some Very Bad American Habits

◼ Some Very Bad American Habits - Victor Davis Hanson
The wealthier and more leisured American society has become, the more it has developed some terrible habits that will have to end if we are going to return to fiscal sobriety and a unified culture....

we live in a medieval age of politically correct penance — as the brilliant Al Gore grasped when he made millions hawking carbon footprint offsets — in which loud abstractions can mask concrete incompetence....

A novice no more, Romney focuses on Obama, economy

◼ A novice no more, Romney focuses on Obama, economy

This time, Mitt Romney has a clear pitch: I'm the strongest Republican to challenge President Barack Obama on the country's single biggest issue — the economy.

"He created a deeper recession, and delayed the recovery," Romney said Saturday, previewing his campaign message before Republicans in this influential early nominating state.

"The consequence is soaring numbers of Americans enduring unemployment, foreclosures and bankruptcies. This is the Obama Misery Index, and it is at a record high...."

He's the closest thing to a front-runner in a GOP field that lacks one.

◼ No Apology: The Case for American Greatness - Amazon
"Here is an accomplished executive in the private and public sectors who has done his homework. If he runs again for president in 2012, most of his agenda is on the record from the start."--The Washington Times on Romney's book.

Bill Gates On States' Accounting:

◼ TED 2011 - Bill Gates: How state budgets are breaking US schools (TED)
◼ Bill Gates On States' Accounting: 'The Guys At Enron Never Would Have Done This' - Huffington Post