Aug 30, 2008

Citizen Government

Here comes the Minneapolis Shadow’s national tie to the local political scene. Being a FORMER Republican and now a non-partisan agenda driver I like the pick of Sarah Palin as Vice President of the United States of America. Here we have a person that is a real slice of America. She embodies everything that is good about our country. She is a fighter, a rugged frontier individualist, a family valued person, without deep dark scandal riddled background, and someone that seems like you could sit down and enjoy a cold one with. She doesn’t seem to come from a rich background and seems very genuine. She has been a business person, a mayor, and a Governor. She faces down big interest folks and isn’t afraid to do what she thinks is the right thing to do. Now for the local link……
The Minneapolis political establishment is made up of a bunch of people that came from the ranks of the politician want-a-bes that seem to only answer to a political special interest bent. None of them seem to be interested in doing what is best for the city, but what is best for their own special interest bent and political career. No one with any guts or motivation to do things for the right reason. No one to stand up for anything important. No one that is willing to stick their neck out and be counted. We have gone too far down the trail of career politician regardless of what party you are from. Who can dare say that what we get from the Minneapolis-politcalpoparotzi is working? Just look at the non-specifics we keep getting from Obama, and what he does give us is either misled or not feasible.
In the coming weeks we will find out what Sarah Palin stands for (I like what I’ve heard so far), and see if her ideas she brings to the table reflect good old American meat and potatoes values and common sense. We will see if this hockey mother of five, mother of a soldier, mayor, governor, and hunter; has the handle on the major issues of the day enough to be a beat away from the President’s office. After all, it seems to me that she is just what the founders had in mind for the position and just what is needed to give us a governmental renaissance.

Aug 29, 2008

Mama Minneapolis micro-managing our lives

It’s illegal to leave keys in your car and you can’t even leave your car running. http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/airquality/AntiIdling_home.aspWhat is next? I can see the headlines now… Population in Minneapolis growing too large, couples only allowed to have two children. Sound familiar? Communist China perhaps. Sound silly? Well only a few short years ago most people would have thought laws against idling cars and leaving keys in a car would be silly also. This is a slippery slope we are falling down, and if it’s not stopped here and now we will find ourselves with very unthinkable laws. We continue to allow these types of crimes (and it is a crime to pass laws like this) to be committed by the government against the citizens, then it is all over for us. We should just pack it in now and turn all of our lives over to the government. Maybe we should change our currency slogan to “In Rybak We Trust”, or “In Pawlenty We Trust”, or “In Obama We Trust” since he is already trying that, or “In McCain We Trust”. The very thought of any of these scares the HELL OUT OF ME, some more than others! I’ve got a better idea … “In The Minneapolis Shadow We Trust”.

Aug 27, 2008

Serial Rapist spree in North Minneapolis… and they brag about crime being down

Five women are attacked over a 10 day span, so how can you say crime is down in Minneapolis. From June to July rapes went up 15%. Over the previous month they increase 29%. Of course this is the same gang that support a candidate for US Senate, Al Franken, who thinks abuse against woman and children makes for good satire.

You have an arsonist repeatedly attacking the Cardinal Bar in South Minneapolis and Arson is up 5% from June to July. Compare June 07 to June 08 and Arson had increased 21%. Compare May 08 to April 08 and you have an increase of 33%.

Homicides have doubled from July 07 compared to July 08 and from May 08 to June 08 doubled. Compare April 07 and April 08 and you’ll find an increase of 40%.
These numbers don’t represent a decrease in crime! Keep dreaming “Silly Council” and Mayor Socks!

Aug 25, 2008

Even the Mayor agrees that Minneapolis officials haven’t been focusing on their responsibilities

The Mayor has stated in delivering his budget proposal that the infrastructure in Minneapolis has been neglected and is in disrepair. He announced his 27.5 million package to repave or repair more than 1/3 of the city’s heavily traveled streets and parkways maintained by the city. Of course he blames the state and federal government for the problem. Let’s take an accounting of the facts here. This is the same gang (Mayor and City Council) whom most are in at least in their second four-year term. Roll call please:
Rybak : 2001
Ostrow : 1997
Gordon : 2005
Hofstede : 2005
Johnson : 1997
Samuels: 2003
Lilligren: 2001
Goodman 1997
Glidden : 2005
Schiff : 2001
Remmington : 2005
Benson : 2001
Colvin Roy : 1997
Hodges : 2005

You mean to tell me this group hasn’t had the ability to address the problem until now. It is the responsibility of the city officials to take care of these things, it’s what they are elected to do. They have to look no further than a mirror in front of them to find someone to blame for the crumbling infrastructure. Here is a short list of things they have been focusing on.
Green roof tops
Water fountains
Bike path projects
Payoffs of lawsuits for bad policy
New Community Engagement Department
Redesigning perfectly good streets for no good reason (example: Hennepin)
Making the city more “walkable”
Global warming handouts

Whew…this is just the tip of the iceberg. None of these things are going to catapult the city into the annals of Better Homes and Infrastructure. Isn’t about time these folks get to the business of conducting city business, or maybe it’s time to give them the business.