Blog @ MoreWhat.com

From the Guardian UK via the Drudge Report comes a story which is a curious coincidence given the airing of a documentary on some PBS stations about national parks.

Governor Dave Freudenthal is threatening to sell off a chunk of one of America’s most beautiful national parks unless the Obama administration comes up with more money to pay for education in the financially beleaguered state.

He says he will auction land valued at $125m (£80m) in the Grand Teton national park, one of the country’s most stunning wildernesses. Part of the park was donated by John Rockefeller Jr.

Other parts belong to the state government including two parcels of land of about 550 hectares (1,360 acres) designated as school trust lands to be “managed for maximum profit” to generate funds for education in Wyoming.

From PBS….

Fifty-year-old George Bucknam Dorr was another “cottager” on the island, living alone in the grand house he had inherited from his family. Dorr had blazed many of the island’s trails and he now became the organization’s most dedicated worker, slowly buying up scenic parcels of the land. Once the trustees had acquired a significant part of the island, they began looking for a way to protect it forever by making it a national park.

Not to difficult to understand. Some with the power and influence to do a good thing like protect magnificent portions of the planet are subject to the whims of idiot POLS years later.

Granted, this governor is making a threat with ’state owned’ lands. However, the principle and legacy of some forward thinking individuals may be at risk.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

image source

Brewer Backs McCain for Senate

“It’s interesting. Sen. McCain, of course, has represented the state of Arizona for a long time. And J.D. Hayworth has served in Congress for eight years,” the governor said.

“I believe philosophically, they’re different breeds of politicians. And people will just have to make that decision. I’ve known Sen. McCain for a long time, and I think he’s served Arizona well.”

McCain along with Bush, Kennedy and others tried to pass shamnesty in 2007 yet Jan Brewer as well as some others support McCain. It is situations like this that make it hard to believe people are serious about opposing illegal immigration and shamnesty. In this case, perhaps Brewer does it because McCain is establishment GOP and she will need them to survive politically. She gets to do the dirty work on illegal immigration and in return for allowing the GOP to side step the issue gets their support for her career.

Obama says he made a mistake on immigration when he took Napolitano for Homeland Security. It opened the door for then Secretary of State Jan Brewer to become governor of Arizona. Napolitano had opposed any legislation like SB 1070 and Brewer signed it into law.

Brewer first threw her support to McCain in February. SB 1070 was passed and signed in April.

As suspected, the Obama/Brewer sit down appears to have accomplished little. They may whithhold significant details but there is nothing to suggest either person blinked or that anything substantial is in the works.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

A recent post on this blog expressed disdain for the two US Senators from the state of Arizona. The primary reason for the post AND the expression of discontent for John Kyl and John McCain was none other than the issue of illegal immigration. Their call for 3000 troops to Arizona to deal with the result of ignoring the enforcement of US immigration law highlights their pathetic records on the issue.

Now Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer have become targets of liberals for doing what Kyl, McCain and so many others in Washington including George Walker Bush and Barack Hussein Obama have failed to do. That is of course to respond appropriately to illegal immigration.

What many fail to understand is in fact a very simple concept. There are laws. Laws are necessary to assist the orderly flow of human interaction within a society. To ignore the laws places the society at risk of failure e.g., anarchy. Immigration law is no exception.

Rather than criticize the state of Arizona for its passage of SB 1070 to address illegal immigration President Obama and others would do well to follow their lead. In her remarks about the passage of the law Governor Jan Brewer stated repeated attempts (five or more) to get the federal government to act on illegal immigration. She further states they had no choice but to do what ‘leaders’ at the national level refuse to do. Enforce the rule of law.

Reports indicate Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce is the ‘prime sponsor’ and the ‘most ardent supporter’ of SB 1070. What the reports do not tell you is he is his family’s fifth generation in Arizona. His resume’ includes law enforcement in Maricopa County that is the home of another controversial figure, Sherriff Joe Arpaio. One of Pearce’s sons was critically wounded by an illegal while performing his duties in law enforcement in 2004. Some media accounts portray Russell Pearce as a villain when it is more likely he is a patriotic American merely trying to protect the nation as well as Arizona.

Governor Jan Brewer has done what few other government executives have done. Signed a bill designed to address illegal immigration. Given immigration enforcement and national security are tasks for federal entities it should not have been necessary for her to do so. Yet here we are. A state doing what the federal government refuses to do….. its job. And leaders in that state being criticized by some for the courage to act.

This blog supports the actions of Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer regarding illegal immigration and SB 1070. That extends to all those who contributed and will continue to support the effort. It’s about time.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Cleaning up our trashed border

Since Obama pledged a zero tolerance policy toward invasive species in the Great Lakes, Cox said the president has left the door to the lakes wide open, potentially hurting Michigan jobs and the economy. “His indifference is stunning,” Cox said.

A crisis the Obama administration is letting go to waste much to the chagrin of other liberals like Governor Granholm in the third world state of Michigan.  Maybe Rahmbo ‘deadfish’ Emanuel should be the point man on the carp crisis. Invasive species are a problem but they may also be an example of larger problems in the US.  POLS and public officials appear to be clueless on how to handle problem solving.  The recurring theme is the nanny state mantra demanding someone else make the problem go away.

Yo, Governor Granholm, besides destroying your state’s economy was there no way you could solve your fish problem before this?  What did you do to address the problem before this news item put it out there for all to read?

Gee, maybe anthropogenic global warming is not the biggest eco problem for liberals.  Perhaps it comes in the form of a big fish that eats a lot.  The growth of government, spending and deficits does not appear to have been the great problem solving tool liberals suggest.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The land of fruits and nuts is a well-deserved moniker for the state of Schwarzenegger. Some call it America’s failed state. And now California’s First Lady is taking some heat off her husband by operating while under the influence of a cellphone. Will Arnold terminate her? Is Maria Shrivering? A report suggests this is the third time she has offended.

The only reason for this post is to point out stupid things in politics. Certainly the Shriver story fits. A report about other stupid things related to this story features a list of ‘idiotic laws’ recently signed by the Governator.

Here’s an excerpt……

The non-haha part of the story, aside from how it provides yet another example that nuisance laws are made to be followed primarily by people who look like criminals, is that Schwarzenegger this week, in the midst of his state’s ongoing financial free-fall, signed still another round of largely idiotic laws. A surface-scratching list: [follow the link for the list]

Let’s not forget to add the cellphone laws. Sure, we have to do something. Too many idiots are jeopardizing safety by texting or other use of wireless devices while driving. The problem is you cannot make life idiot-proof by passing laws to control idiots. You only look like an idiot for doing so.

From childbirth, assuming the new human has not been aborted, parents have a set of responsibilities regarding the child. Not the least of which is teaching it how to behave and act in a manner compatible with intelligent living. It is obvious and there are many examples of how this process has been a failure. Based on all the idiot laws on the books it would be reasonable to suggest failures in raising children require we outlaw having sex.

Don’t laugh. It could happen.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

For those who are awaiting the crumbling of Illinois politics, the Chicago political machine, President-elect Barack Obama and anyone else connected to Governor Blagojevich it is suggested you withhold your excitement. The entities or groups listed above have survived for a long, long time. What are the odds that the arrest of an Illinois governor on corruption charges will inflict any permanent damage on anyone but Blagojevich?

But we can all make an exception here and invoke the liberal mantra of hope. We can all hope this event will flush a number of political careers down the….. drain.

An interesting note on the topic was featured on Sean Hannity’s radio program today. Axelrod had said Obama was in touch with the governor regarding a replacement for his Senate seat. Obama has stated he had no contact. Hmmmm. Can they both be right?

The only disappointing item in this story today is that Blagojevich was released on his own recognizance. Does anyone seriously believe that he has the integrity to receive this benefit from the courts? Right, wrong, honest or corrupt, being well-known has its perks.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Illinois Governor Arrested in Corruption Scandal 

A fitting report to help usher in the New Year and give us something to remember about the old one.  Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is so good she can gaff her campaign without doing anything.  Maybe Governor Strickland is really working for the Obama or Edwards’ campaign.  Right before the Iowa caucus is not a good time to suggest it makes no sense and should be eliminated.

Whether you have a problem with who goes first or not, everyone should be able to tip their hat to the fine folks in Iowa who are as personally invested in the process as any candidate.  All the time and effort they spend on selecting their picks for public office stands in stark contrast to so many who complain about voting or do not even make the effort.

Perhaps Gov Strickland should study the Giuliani campaign this year.  It will be interesting to see the results for Giuliani in all the states he snubs for the big electoral prizes.  But aside from that it is nice to see the campaign of the one most say will win the election try to crash and burn 3 days before the first contest.

Clinton Surrogate Veers Off Script

December 31, 2007
By Jeff Zeleny

The Clinton campaign was quick to distance itself from his remarks, issuing a statement declaring “Hillary and Governor Strickland strongly disagree.”

Mr Hewitt makes a point. Nothing beats winning and you can’t win a nomination losing elections. All year long there has been talk of particular primaries or caucuses losing their significance. It may be those making the statements have lost their significance. If any of the early states are not important, why all the moves by other states to move up dates?

Two things on earlier withdrawals from Iowa by Giuliani and McCain and Thompson delaying his announcement. Which by the way, if memory serves, should be today July 11th. Giuliani is focusing on later battlegrounds like Florida. He could be conceding Romney’s lead in Iowa. McCain followed suit but probably to lessen stress on limited funds and buy time to regroup without being notices as much. And Thompson’s strategy could backfire although that may be the minority opinion.

And Romney winning the Young Republican’s Straw Poll at 46% followed by Thompson at 28% and Giuliani at 10% is another indicator that actually campaigning also matters. BTW, three of the last four Presidents were former Governors and all three served two terms.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Romney Rising

Posted by: Hugh Hewitt at 11:08 AM
Monday, July 09, 2007
But nothing beats winning, and no matter all the spin, Iowa is a key test of the ability to organize and win in a purple state crucial to ‘08. The GOPers skipping Ames made one mistake. Underestimating the importance of the January caucuses would be a second huge mistake. You can’t win a nomination by losing elections.

New Grant Opportunities

Notices inviting applications have been issued recently under ED programs that include the American Overseas Research Centers Program, Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program, Voluntary Public School Choice Program, Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRC), and a New PIRC Award to Serve Guam.

Like we’re not spending enough on programs described as education. Make sure you hurry and get your share of the Dept of Education treasure chest. Wouldn’t want you to miss out on a grant opportunity. You in the back of the class, how do American students compare to those in other countries? What’s that? The PISA reports show that American students place at or below average? You’re kidding.

C. Harris
MOR3WHAT.COM

Romney To Formally Enter Presidential Race

Mitt Romney’s campaign aides say the former Massachusetts governor will formally announce his candidacy for president next week in Michigan, his native state and an important early test for the GOP nomination.

Probably the GOP’s current strongest candidate.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Can Mike Huckabee Compete In ‘08?

Mike Huckabee may be best known for his work against obesity. But the former Arkansas governor is taking on a different challenge. Huckabee faces a trio of well-known competitors standing in his path to the GOP nomination for president in 2008.

Why limit the question to just one candidate?

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Potential Republican 2008 Presidential Candidates

McCain, Romney, Allen, Brownback and Cox

Gingrich, Giuliani, Hagel, Huckabee and Hunter

Pataki, Tancredo and Thompson

Potential Democratic 2008 Presidential Candidates

Clinton, Kerry, Obama, Biden and Gore

Vilsack, Bayh, Clark, Dodd and Edwards

Richardson and Daschle

The MoreWhat.com 2008 Potential Presidential Candidates List

This is our best attempt to put together a list of 2008 Potential Presidential Candidates. We will see as the months go by how many of these people are left on this list.

Bush, Mexico’s Calderon to work on immigration
Reuters -
… W. Bush and Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon
pledged on Thursday to work together for a comprehensive
solution to curb illegal immigration from Mexico …

If it was not a plot by both Houses of Congress to introduce
HR4437 knowing it would never get through the Senate, then
the fine new Senate of the 110th Congress should be able to
finish strong reform starting in January 2007. Similar to the
fact that Immigration Reform of 1986 was never enforced, in
their grand wisdom, politicians have improved on their deceit
by creating a better strategy. Work together just long enough
to satisfy mutual goals and fool the public in believing you really
give a damn. Like Democrats conceding Presidential 2004
elections by nominating John Kerry when John Edwards wsa a
much more viable candidate. Kerry was a sacrificial lamb and
the only one who did not know it was Kerry. He still doesn’t.

We hope all you smiling Democrats are enjoying your victories.
We hope all you Republicans are understanding your arrogance
that led to this. And we hope you both as well as all of America
is prepared for a continuation of porous borders, unrestricted
immigration and a complete breakdown of national security.

If you haven’t noticed, the resignation of Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld and previously mentioned items absolutely elated the
Muslim world. Al-Jazeera and the rest have been celebrating
since November 7th, 2006. Thank you one and all. NOT!

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Senator Obama for President, along with Hillary, Sen. Kerry and
whoever else the Dems can enlist. Saying the Dems don’t have a
clue or have no direction or strategy or plan makes some kind of
sense now. These announcements appear to be their way of testing
the water on who they should have for their next sacraficial lamb.
C. Harris
MoreWhat.com staff

Sen. Obama mulls bid for White House in 2008

Reuters
Sunday, October 22, 2006; 1:27 PM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. Barack Obama on
Sunday said he has thought about running for president in
2008 and will give it more serious consideration after the
mid-term congressional elections on November 7.

And it would seem the Republicans only have one choice thus far
who has not made an announcement and does not give any indication
one is forthcoming. The traditional two choice presidential race may
be another “who cares” proposition for anyone not tied to either party.

Romney’s 2008 Bid Faces Issue of Faith

Massachusetts’ GOP governor has political promise,but voters may
not embrace a Mormon.

DES MOINES — In seeking a presidential candidate for 2008, why
would Republicans look further than the governor of Massachusetts?

Tall and urbane, Mitt Romney has a prime political pedigree, an
unblemished personal life and the cool confidence of a CEO. He
is a conservative Republican who won easy election in a fiercely
liberal state — then streamlined Massachusetts’ government and
enacted the country’s most sweeping healthcare overhaul.