I'm A Member Of The Party Of No!

I belong to the party of no. No, I'm not a right wing fanatic, nor a extremist libertarian. Just a little right of center. I believe in the following:

No, to federal courts legislating social justice from the bench. First of all, one must define social justice. None of us have the right to anything other than the right of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Pursuit, not the realization as defined by the welfare state Obama is trying to bring about. Realization is when one fights and wins in the economic battle to succeed. That is referred to as ambition. I am a member of the party of no. I do not believe in supporting those that have no desire to further their economic future, but rely on people like Rangel and his ilk to do it for them.

No, to legislators and the executive trying to convince us that the constitution is out of date and that we need to liberally interpret it's meaning to fit the 21st century. I hear every day on line from young ignorant University Students, that having just been weaned, think that we need to fix what is broken in our governmental bible. This, the constitution that enabled a country just barely past puberty, to become the most powerful, productive and yes, progressive country in the world. Notice I used the word progressive in a positive way. The left has hijacked that word to suggest that every far left thought is progress. No it's not. What it is, is revisionist. Progress in this country, less the last five or six years, is rampant in a free economy.

What stopped progress, was the union movement in which politicians kowtowed to them. This over a period of time, caused the cost of manufacturing to be priced out of the market. This in turn, caused companies to go off shore for cheaper labor, since our products were no longer competitive. This condition still exists and will for a few years. Actually, many years if we don't reajust our priorities. We are not living in the 20'as anymore and don't have sweatshops employing children for 12 hours a day. That day is long gone and we need to adjust to a modern reality. We are not world leaders anymore. We ship raw materials off shore to the orient where steel beams are manufactured and shipped back to us to be sold cheaper that we can produce them ourselves. Folks, that makes us a third world country. A simple truth in politics is that there are more have nots than haves. Ergo, if you can get the have nots to vote for the party of giveth, they win the sad contest. Pride. Pride in ones self and in one's country is the principle that counts.

In situations where beyond ones ability to survive without help, obviously an advance society has to step forward and assist. When "progressive" politicians decide that cradle to the grave support for multiple generations of families used to being supported have no incentive to improve their own lives, you then have a liberal majority. You also have the beginning of the end of our republic as we know it.

No, to the corruption of the institution of marriage, by allowing those of the same sex to marry. Since they cannot produce children naturally from these unions, perhaps just the civil rights of contractual consent to share, to inherit, etc. is warrented. There is not any need to overturn centuries of tradition, not just Christian, but also every other recognized religion. Civilization is a delicate institution. It must be protected and nurtured. Suddenly, after centuries of tradition, the ultra liberals want to overturn everything in sight. Actually, rather than liberal, perhaps the term, anti-social or anti-family or anti-society should apply.

Gays and lesbians should not be shunned, nor should they be subjected to humiliation. They are what they are, and have no control over that. Having said that, they also do not have any right that any other American doesn't have. Hate crimes are an over reaction to the Gay issue and the race issue. You punch someone in the nose, you are guilty of third degree assault. To preface the attack by calling that person a name related to ethnic, racial or sexual persuasion, you are guilty of a felony. That is wrong. Every state in the union has laws against assault. There is no need to create a special category for those whose feeling were hurt just prior to having their nose punched.

No, to shutting down our public lands to harvesting a renewable resource, trees. Trees that are a part of every Eco-nazi's home. We need more care in protecting our air, water and earth. We do not, however need a bunch of fanatics shutting down our economy for the sake of returning the earth to a state that existed before man. We got rid the wolves a century ago. Why? because we couldn't co-exist with them. They were reintroduced by the grandchildren of those that pruned the predators. Now, we are having to spend time thinning out the packs because of the ill-advised laws protecting everything but us.

Yes, I belong to the party of no. No more prostituting our country for weird new rules redefining our very successful republic. We are no longer "On nation indivisible." We are a country of cranks and misfits trying to redesign society to fit their immature needs.

Vicious Cycles

Law enforcement is stymied these days. I can only speak for my local area, Kootenai County, Idaho. Currently, Sheriff Rocky Watson is suing the County for additional funding to support an ever growing crime rate. Fines that accrue from arrests, both criminal and traffic, go to the state, not the county that collects them. This gives responsibility without the funding to go with it. Sounds like government, doesn't it?

Several factors are creating this logjam. First and most obviously, we are in a deep recession, perhaps even a depression. The idea that the fed fears a double dip is ludicrous. There was never a recovery from the first one. Just an artificial period whereby the federal government threw billions of dollars into the economy. They called it "Stimulus." It worked. It artificially stimulated the economy for a while, then the money was all used up and employment was still high.

Here and now, in the second phase of financial breakdown, we find ourselves fighting increasing crime brought on by people being broke. Many people are shop lifting, burglarizing homes and businesses and then there are the hard drug users that can't keep up financially with their addictions. Sheriff Watson is faced with increasing need for enforcement, while his budget is being reduced. There are only two untouchables in government funding. Law enforcement and fire protection. Everything after that is luxury, with the possible exception of education. The problem with education is once a two or three year reduction in educational productivity happens, those students going through the pipeline at that time will never get the missed wisdom back.

For starters, it is time for the state of Idaho to return the bulk of fines to the counties earmarked specifically for law enforcement and jail maintenance. This will take legislation that should have been presented many years ago. It is understandable to an extent that direct retention of fines tend to mirror the legendary cagle sheriffs in the deep South with their speed traps and other revenue producing scams.

These can be regulated by one, not returning all of the monies, and two, by carefully watching cause and effect. The other proactive thing the state legislators could do is to modify misdemeanor penalties that do not need incarceration. Arrests for driving without a valid drivers licence is not a violent crime and the perpetrators need not be separated from the general populous. Other such crimes are; arrests for small portions of Marijuana and or the paraphernalia that goes with it. Suspending drivers licences for those driving without a licence perpetuates the crime, since in our rural area, if you want to work and still have the opportunity to do so, you have to drive. Closer enforcement at the source of drunk driving starts at the bar that is overserving their obviously drunk clientele. Start fining bartenders and bar owners. People that drink at home don't get caught driving under the influence, nor do they go out and kill other, innocent motorists.

We need to tie serving the public to those at the fringes of society that most need help staying out of trouble. Our judges are not accomplishing that. Perhaps because of unfunded mandates from the legislature, but never the less, Idaho public records show a continuous list of 180 day sentences for failure to purchase a drivers license. The term of imprisonment for that is overkill and cruel and unusual punishment.

There are men that beat their wives that don't get six months.This whole scenario needs to be revisited, and soon. I don't believe we are coming out of this recession any time soon and when we do, inflation from the money thrown at the economy will be rampant, causing another downturn. This next decade is not looking good and we will have to either fund law enforcement or barricade ourselves in our homes, triple locked much like New York City.

Off The Wall

If you are a drinker and feel adventuresome, then head for the Buttonhook Sunday after noon. Heidi, the Sunday bartender has issued a challenge. An invent your own drink bash. This is kind of off the wall, but then so is Heidi. Patrons are reminded that they should at all times be conscious of driving while intoxicated. If you should feel the tug of this challenge, we suggest you either walk to the 'Hook or get a designated driver.

We at Rusty's Buttonhook realize that past management has featured expensive food at the expense of the locals. Not true anymore. We are an any person restaurant that strives to serve a broad spectrum of guests. Come on down for either the great chow, or ... Heidi's party, Sunday.

Montana Plane Crash

I was saddened by news that the Piper Cherokee Arrow crashed after being observed at altitudes below 500 feet. I have many hours in a Cherokee Arrow 200, which I assume is the accurate description of the plane. I once rented such a plane at the Kalispell airport to fly some friends to Westport for a fishing expedition. It was in 1971 or 2 and could well have been that same plane.

I have two important points to make that non-flying reporters might have missed. One, there isn't much more dangerous than a pilot with one year's experience. At that point, they and I back when, think they have all of the knowledge and experience to navigate anywhere. Unfortunately, many flight instructors nowadays don't have much more maturity than their students. I was fortunate, since my instruction occurred in the late 50's. My primary instructor flew the hump between India and China during WW11.

That brings me to the second point. Well actually a second and third point. One, you never fly low and slow in mountainous terrain. The up and down drafts can kill even experienced pilots. I won't get you involved in the variables. Those of you that are pilots know exactly what I'm talking about. Those that aren't ... well you probably wouldn't understand. Suffice it to say that if you are near the wrong side of a steep slope when hot air is flowing down slope, and at a low altitude, you are dead. Mountain flying is not for the inexperienced. These down drafts can thrust you down many hundreds of feet under the wrong circumstances. At three hundred feet he and those that trusted him were doomed.

The Piper Cherokee Arrow 200 is my favorite airplane. It cruises at around 143 or so in level flight and is a dream to fly. Unfortunately, with a full load of four, It climbs like a pig.You just can't ask it to do something that it hasn't the ability to do. I once came close to killing myself and passengers when I took off on a hot day in Omak from a short runway. I had 1200 plus hours and used bad judgement. We survived. This young man, indubitably more impressed with his ability and that of the aircraft than deserved, died. It is unfortunate that he took three other fine young people with him.

Every student pilot learns early in his or her training one simple rule. "There are old pilots and bold pilots, but damn few old, bold pilots."

Right-Left Wing-Nuts

There are two issues in regards to Phil Hart. One is political philosophy, the other integrity. I have been a conservative, that has moved toward the middle in the last few years. (The mellowing with age thing) I remember my time working with Ronald Reagan and his family back in the mid-sixties. He was never about turning hard right forsaking those that were somewhere between Dems and republicans. Some even crossed the line (if there is one) each direction. In Ronnie's case, no way would he have respected a scofflaw on the basis of philosophy. He was an Honorable man and expected his people to be, likewise. He established the 11Th commandment for a reason. Up until his time the Republican party self destructed every election year due to shooting themselves in the foot. We are back to that in both parties.

In the last 30 years, I have seen the left move further to the left and the right likewise. Our political parties are ignoring the center like they don't matter. In my opinion that is why so many people have dropped out and don't vote. They know that the extremists control their parties in the primaries, giving no where to go for thoughtful people that don't do knee-jerk.

I charge the Democrats with the same sins as the Republicans. Philosophical purity will win primaries, but not general elections. Patting yourself on the back because you stayed true to your personal convictions is all fine and good, but at the end of the day the incumbent Republican is still in office.

I truly believe a Democrat could win in Kootenai county. One he or she would have to be widely respected as a person. Two following Minnick's example of hewing to conservative principles helps. The reward at the end of the rainbow is getting rid of “wing-nuts” of both persuasions. Ronnie Reagan was widely quoted with his philosophy. He constantly referred to Lord Acton with his famous quote," Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." The same situation exists in Western Washington as a mirror image, as King and Pierce Counties remain firmly in the left wing. Both extremes without a modicum of balance are dangers to democracy.

From AOL-The Supreme Court

"I don't think that there's anything in the water or in the air that's causing this, but it's really notable," Jason Mazzone, a professor at Brooklyn Law School, told AOL News. "You would never find at any prior point in history four justices from the same city."

The fact that the Supreme Court is so stacked may not be a complete coincidence, say some legal experts, who point to the city's tremendous diversity as helping to create empathy and mutual understanding.

"In one sense New York's parochial and in another sense it's very diverse," Martin Flaherty, a professor at Fordham Law School in New York and a friend of Kagan's from Princeton University, told AOL News. "So when you grow up in New York, you've got an immediate exposure to all sorts of people, all sorts of classes."

Turns out, that diversity is evident even in the sampling of New Yorkers on the bench.

Scalia, who joined the court in 1986, was born in New Jersey but grew up in working-class Queens in the '40s and '50s, a time when the neighborhood was both diverse in its makeup and conservative in its views, and the pugnacious New York attitude was alive and well. "It was a really mishmash, sort of a New York-New York cosmopolitan neighborhood," he told "60 Minutes" in 2008.

Scalia's story is classically American: His father was an Italian immigrant who became a professor of romance languages at Brooklyn College, while his mother was a first-generation Italian-American who worked as a schoolteacher. Their only child got straight A's in school, leading him to Georgetown for college and then Harvard Law School.

Ginsburg, who joined the court in 1993, grew up in a Jewish family in a poor, immigrant neighborhood of Brooklyn in the '30s and '40s. By the time she graduated from high school, both her older sister and her mother had died. She went to Cornell University and Harvard Law, transferring to Columbia Law School when her husband got a job in New York.

In an interview with The New York Times, Ginsburg shared insight into her background while commenting on Sotomayor's infamous "wise Latina" comment. "I'm sure she meant no more than what I mean when I say: 'Yes, women bring a different life experience to the table,' " Ginsburg said. "All of our differences make the [Supreme Court] conference better. That I'm a woman, that's part of it. That I'm Jewish, that's part of it. That I grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and I went to summer camp in the Adirondacks -- all these things are part of me."

Sotomayor, who was sworn in last August, grew up in the Bronx projects, the daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants. She didn't learn English until she was 9, when her father died, leaving her mother to raise her and her brother alone. Sotomayor was valedictorian of her high school, earning a spot at Princeton and then one at Yale Law School.

For her part, nominee Kagan grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a middle-class area known for its Jewish character and quiet residential life -- far from the hardscrabble neighborhoods where Scalia, Ginsburg and Sotomayor were raised. She attended the prestigious Hunter College High School in the '70s, then Princeton and Harvard Law.

"You're not talking to somebody who's gone to an elite prep school from a country club background," Flaherty said. "New York gives her that grounding in the real world that never leaves you."

Still, some see the lack of geographical diversity on the country's highest court as a troubling new development. Not only are three of the current justices from New York City alone, but five are from New York state or New Jersey, leaving only four justices -- including the soon-to-retire Stevens -- to represent the remainder of the country geographically.

This trend could be problematic if the justices find it hard to relate to a farmer in Ohio or an auto worker in Detroit -- if, in Mazzone's words, the court is "tilted towards the interests and sensibilities of people on the Eastern seaboard."

But even more troubling to some is the recurrence of Princeton, Harvard and Yale in the educational backgrounds of the justices. Of the nine justices, only one -- Stevens -- did not attend Harvard or Yale Law School. Justice Samuel Alito and Sotomayor, like Kagan, went to Princeton for their undergraduate studies.

"I think the court suffers a little bit in that everybody comes from the Ivy League, comes from Harvard and Yale," Jamal Greene, a professor at Columbia Law School, told AOL News.

Mazzone shares this concern.

"If you're thinking about a court that is representative of the nation, there are certainly some great law schools that are not on the East Coast," he said. "For the rest of the country, there may be a real question about why she's the choice, given the makeup of the court."

*My remarks

I'm not so worried about conservative vs. liberal as I am the lack of knowledge that these people have about our vast midwest food belt and the far west cattle and grain grower country. None of these justices have ridden across the prairie horseback, or discovered that steaks are not a product of the back rooms of the meat market. It isn't philosophy that I am most concerned about as it is the blindness of what happens west of the original 13 colonies. Life is vastly different in the west than east of the Mississippi.How are these justices going to understand the other 90% of our land?

Kootenai County Clerk

We have had in the last several years, a very smooth running County clerk's office. The clerk happens to be our token democrat, but wait. This guy is good. He's dedicated and the offices under the clerk are running smoother than ever. This year, for the first time, Dan English has a challenger. A good man, a republican and former Post Falls Police chief.

Now I know that Chief Hayes is a good man. Running a police department is also a place where administrative skills are needed. It would appear that the chief is more into have credibility, will travel, than a driving ambition to run the clerk's office. That is, unless he is thinking after the debacle of the Coeur d'Alene City council contest, one that rivals the last Bush election in Florida, he can swing stuff to his GOP buddies.

This of course, is surmisal on my part, not news, not fact. just a dirty little suspicion as to the motives. Lately, I've been cringing in a corner, ashamed of those in my own party that in many cases have lost their senses. In an atmosphere that doesn't seem to brook any disagreement or honest debate, the extreme right is trying to hijack our county, our city.

While I don't support many democrats, it is for the same reason I'm disenchanted with my own party. It is spelled cranks, left and right wing extremists and office seekers that wish to further polarize our political system. It isn't just here, it is endemic across our country

As I did last election, I support and endorse Dan English as the best County clerk we've had in a long while. He serves as a non-partisan office holder. I remember an occasion that a service member was shipping out to either Iraq or Afghanistan and wanted to marry his sweetheart before he left. It was a Saturday and the county offices were closed. They called English at home up on Twin Lakes with the problem. He drove down, met the lovers at the administration building and personally issued the license.

I am firmly of the belief that regardless of political affiliation, Dan English is a great County clerk. I support his without reservation. I have to apply one of my most important principles here. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."