Obama, Sestak, and the centuries old Chicago Machine

Michael Ramirez summarizes it pretty well in IBD:

Once in the family, always in the family...

As an updated footnote, one only needs to add that the White House didn't try to bribe Sestak; they only sent Bill Clinton to explore if he would be open to a bribe, I mean, an unpaid advisory position.

Really? That's a big difference, no?

And let's not even go to Colorado's version of My Big, Corrupt, Chicago Wedding!

Now, back to regular programming...

Where were we? Ah!, Sí... the most transparent administration ever, in this new era of hopeandchange. We have nothing to worry about; after all, it's Bush's fault!

Are you ready to bend over to Uncle Sam?

Never before with such a high level of unwillingness.

But I am.

Today is Tax's Day. But more importantly, it's Tea Party Protest Day!

By now, most common sense Americans know about the smears, slurs, and efforts to discredit the Tea Party movement, all over the MSM and the liberal minds that are taking our country towards the path to this crazy light-socialism.

So first, let’s lighten up the day:

(H/T Michelle Malkin)



Then, let’s get moving. Two big Tea Party protest will be taking place in Colorado.

The first one, happening right now in the steps of the state’s capital building, is being live streamed at People’s Press Collective. You can also follow the live conversation in Twitter at #coteaparty.

The second one will start at 5 pm in Fort Collins – Washington Park, 301 Maple Street, behind City Hall.

The key this year is that the Tea Party smear movement is in panic mode, and they have publicly announced they will sabotage the protests.

Get yourself ready to stop the smear merchants with this quick guide:

How to spot a Tea Party infiltrator.

Progressive Tea Party infiltrators...

Happy Tea Party Protest Day!

Sen. Jim DeMint backs Ken Buck’s race for US Senate

Late last night, a friend forwarded me the email from Ken Buck’s campaign with the news: Sen. Jim DeMint, Republican from South Carolina, announced his endorsement of Buck’s race for the US Senate.

This morning, The Greeley Tribune and The Denver Post were on it.

Needless to say, the underdog of this race – who happens to be my District’s Attorney in Weld County – got a huge boost.

The money quote?
“I haven't seen anything like what's happening in Colorado since Marco Rubio in Florida.”

(Do I have to mention that this Cubanita over here is twice as proud?)

I remember I was briefly introduced to Ken Buck a few years ago, when I was the reporter and copy editor for the local weekly newspaper – in Spanish. Those were the days when the paper’s launching was met with a lot of resistance from the community. And a lot of rude and senseless anonymous comments in The Greeley Tribune’s website. I remember of even being accused of wanting to bring communism to the town… Duh?! I left Cuba to escape FROM communism!

Anyway, maybe because of this or maybe because of deep rooted stereotypes against Republican politicians in newsrooms, I was left with the impression he didn’t like us that much.

Despite that, since he launched his campaign for the US Senate, I liked it.

I’ve seen his work as DA pursuing not-so-popular cases in the name of the rule of law and the safety of our community (local gangs, ID theft by undocumented immigrants linked to tax returns, the ICE raids in the Swift meatpacking plant, and the murder of a Latina transgender girl). So far, he has proven to be a commonsense conservative, which is what we need in this country now. And I happen to agree with most of his stands on issues.

Buck has gotten the support of the local Tea Party activists and I’m glad he has been bumped to the national scene with DeMint support. He would be a great option to go green, and recycle Michael “Miguelito” Bennet.

Who knows? Maybe we’ll have a chance to redo the introductions… after all, if you go back to stereotypes, nobody would even either imagine that I was not your typical liberal Latina working in a newsroom.

[But... wait... the media - and in overall American's impression - doesn't see us, Cuban Americans, as Hispanic or Latinos, you know, we are some sort of white sugar-enriched dudes, despite the lack of real basis for that, I was born and raised under Castro's communist dictatorship... never mind. I'm babbling over here...]

Go Buck!
 ;-)

CO Dems kills transparency & want me to pay more?

Yeah, sure.
Today, Colorado Democrats killed a bill aimed at transparency: nothing more and nothing less than requiring school districts to post their expenses online for voters to see them.

School districts like the failed School District 6 that last november pushed really hard a measure to increase our property taxes in order to receive more funding.

That measure was defeated by voters, but we're talking about the same school district that have huge administrative expenses and higher-ups perks, while teachers and students are barely scrapping by. The district spends 87% of its budget in personnel costs, for Christ's sake!

We also have to say that recently, the school district 6 put its expenses online, but so out of context that anyone will need to file FOIA's request in order to learn the details. What was posted, however, is scary nonetheless.

And this is just the local example I use because it is the one that affects me the most. What about the rest of the districts in the state? Who knows what's happening in those checkbooks?

In issues of common sense, like this one, I have to resort to my (Cuban) mother simple logic:
If they don't want the school districts budgets open to the public, what on earth are they trying to hide?

Quick backyard round-up

What's up, Colorado, after The Massachussets Miracle?!

We, The People, - of Colorado - also had our modest take in Scot Brown's victory in Mass. From small donations, to volunteers going to Boston to countless grassroot activists working online, Coloradans joined Americans from all over the country to send a message to the current administration: we are up against corruption, and we're gonna take our country back.

Michael "Miguelito" Bennet, you are next. There is not enough amount of back-and-forth, flip-flopping and fake hara-kiri that could make you look better in our eyes.

Besides, I personally dislike your mass emails trying to convince me that the goverment power grab of our health care is the 8th wonder of the world, when I have personally emailed you that I DON'T LIKE THAT IDEA!

In our own governor's race, Dan Maes, the Republican candidate endorsed by The Tea Party Movement and the 9/12 project, is leading Republican Scott McInnis in the polls.

Maes was also endorsed by the non partisan Independence Caucus (iCaucus), while McInnis declined to participate in the organization's vetting process.

PPC has a balanced pros & cons on Maes, which to my eyes, makes him looks a lot like Scott Brown - I know, the unavoidable comparison: a commonsense guy, conservative on fiscal issues and moderate on social issues. I'd have to say that I echo the doubts and need to learn more about him. Or we could choose the easy way, and just pick the guy that has the best six-pack ;-)

In real life, however, anything would be better that the band of radical left and socialistoids Democrats and Obama's sycophants we currently have in office.

In this case, I personally side with the indies in Colorado: I also “want the Democrats out of (my) pockets and the Republicans out of (my) bedrooms.” Which takes me to remember the happiness I felt the days news broke up about Gov. Ritter quitting the gubernatorial race. Good bye, Mr.Car-Registration-Fee, and good riddance...

And going full circle with Brown's election, while most of the country was following the results, Coloradoans didn't waited and, as other 29 states have done, joined the 10th Amendment Revolt: in the steps of the capital in Denver, a ballot measure to protect Coloradoans from the health care federal mandate was announced by Jon Caldara, from the Independence Institute. How's that for taking issues in our own hand?

Oh, boy, this year 2010 is gonna be... interesting.

CA smoke is getting here

Yesterday I noticed the unusual cloudy and gray sky on NoCo, but it wasn't until this morning that I heard in the radio - during my morning commute with KCOL - that the smoke from California wildfires is getting here.

And the Denver Post is confirming it, with info from the weather station in Grand Junction. It looks like the highest peaks are lost in the horizon, due to the blanket of smoke. And a smoke health advisory alert has been issued for some areas of Colorado - where we have our very own share of wild fires too.

Gosh, I can not even imagine what Californians living in those areas are going through now... I hope my blogging friends are nowhere near the fires.

A little bit north though, a fiery red sun was calmingly going to bed last night, when I took these two pics on my way out of classes.

We're still able to see the front range hills, but the sky looks strangely gray and plain over here, where no matter how cold or how hot, the bright blue skies can always pump life out of you.

The real elephant in District 6's living room

Bad first time.
Very bad first time – to paraphrase the The Greeley Tribune reporter’s lead.

The school board of School District 6 Greeley-Evans voted last night to add a question in November ballot to increase property taxes to funnel their empty coffers. Really? But I mean, really? (Whatever these people are on, must be really good!)

Coloradoans are facing, one way or another, an economy in shambles, the rising unemployment and our lovely federal government racing to grab as much as they can from our lives.

But, apparently, this people from the District’s "leadership", their endless blue ribbon commissions and the school board are living in a parallel reality.

It seems they land in the area only on payday to collect their tax-funded fat checks… if not, what could be the explanation for this?

As one commenter posted in The Tribune site, raising property owner taxes to give that money to the school district is like “dumping a truck load of cocaine in the front yard of a livelong addict.”

And, don’t get me wrong. I am all for education because it is the only guarantee to a better future – what type of education our public school system provides is somewhat questionable, but that it is not important right now ;-)

But there are many things that need to happen before this Cubanita over here approves with her vote another tax increase to fund the most inept school district that I have encounter since I came the US.

First, to that historical “leadership” that is making the money of their lifetimes with out hard-earned tax dollars and delivering really shameful results: get out of our district, stat. You need to wire deeply in your brains that you work for us, that we do not work for you.

Same message goes for the school board and their money-wasting blue ribbon panels: let me see your resignation letter and then, we can sit and talk about property tax increases. Show me you how will put the money where the real value is; the teachers, and only then I would consider giving you another penny.

Actually, go and get a retreat – or at least a morning coffee – with Greeley police officers and firefighters and their union representatives. Learn from them.

Side with your struggling constituents because, at the end of the day, they are the ones you work for. Or, do you really believe you’re untouchable and above us, simple mortal taxpayers?

And please, do not try to sugar coat me with a bullet list of things you want to do with that money, for the children. That won’t cut it. Post your detailed expenses online and give me a bullet list of the things that you will cut from your budget before asking for me for more money. Didn’t we enter on transparency-mode in January or you didn’t get the WH memo?

Also, I want to see the money allocated to charter schools and school-voucher. I know the truth is hard to embrace, District 6, but you have to face it: private schools, charter schools and even home-schooling programs do WAY better than you do, with less money.

It would be good for you to look around the community you serve. The city has been on a downwards race for quite a few years now, with high paying jobs leaving the area, more empty houses, more small business closing… you know, there is only so much you can pay working in Swift or the local farms.

Do your math.
Wait a minute, maybe I am the one that needs to do the math! Nationwide, the new fashion is to engage in a spending spree like there is not tomorrow, with any accountability whatsoever. I got it! Our local “leadership” is just following the cues of the current administration! I mean, from such masters, such students…

Even if that’s the case, sorry guys, but won’t happen.

I have come to terms with the fact that my adopted homeland, in they way it was conceived many years ago, is in the brink of extinction.

But I have also realized that many Americans are waking up. And we can always take our country back, even if that means one school district at a time.

The Denver Post, Colorado businesses and the Cuban embargo

(Warning: rant ahead)

Not that I am a big fan, but searching for news on Cuba today I stomped with this Denver Post editorial where they - yet as another member of the useful idiots crowd - support the lifting of the economic embargo against Cuba. [Actually, with the only two provisions that are left of it, they should have added.]

Getting over the nauseated feeling of repeating the same story over and over, the former reporter inside me refuses to let the go the chance charge back with facts, yet one more time.

"Nearly five decades ago, at the height of the Cold War, the U.S. imposed a trade embargo on Cuba, hoping to push Fidel Castro and his communist government from power," says the Post.

History books, please. [ Or Google, at least?]

The embargo was a legislation approved by the US Congress in the early sixties, when Castro expropriated countless American industries and properties without proper payment compensation to their lawful owners, as required by international laws. [FYI, he started with the Americans and every single Cuban business or property owner followed through...]

Nowadays, the embargo is, in a nutshell, a cosmetic measure. Over time, its restrictions have been loosened and the only two in place are:

1- Americans are forbidden to travel directly to Cuba. And I emphasize directly because many, many, many Americans travel to the island every year, using the loopholes of different types of special authorizations issued by the State Department or through a third country.

2- The Cuban government has to pay its transactions in cash to the American buyers. US financial institutions can not issue soft credit to the castros to buy its products in the US.

Analyzing #1, from a Libertarian point of view, it is true that no government should deny its citizens the right to travel freely wherever they want.

I would be OK with that as long as no useful idiot, trust-fund hippie, organic Subaru driving tree-hugger tries to convince me -from the coziness of his half million dollar house in the People's Republic of Boulder- that by doing that, they will bring freedom and democracy to Cuba.
Give. Me. A. Break.

Since the collapse of the Berlin wall, when castro had no other choice to pocket hard currency, Cuba has been inundated with tourists from all over the world.

I know that first hand because I worked as waitress in several restaurants and hotels reserved, in the most modern apartheid fashion, for foreign tourists only.

Why would be Americans different? I know the people of my adopted homeland are remarkable human beings, but they don't have any special super power that I'm aware of.

How could they be any different from the hordes that have been taking Cuba as an affordable (not necessarily cheap) Caribbean destination where is easy to find cigars, rum and sex - underage and college educated included? (The beaches are gorgeous, though.)

AmeriCorps bringing democracy to Cuba, one mojito at a time? Really?

Cuba is a island that lives on two parallel realities: the tours and destinations orchestrated by the regimen to those who want to be "guided", and the real life of your average Cuban Joe, the one that spends hours of his days without electricity, the one that survives on the rationing card the first two weeks of the months, the one that is being watched over by the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, the one that is being paid in Cuban pesos but has to buy the chicken imported from the US in the convertible pesos... ultimately, it will be up to the individual which island he or she chooses to meet.

And, how about demanding prince castro II to respect the same right to freedom of travel to the Cuban nationals? I mean, human rights apply to everyone, regardless of nationality, or not?

Going over #2, and I say this as the American citizen and law-abiding taxpayer that I am: Do I really want to end up footing the bill for one of the worst payers in the world? In this situation my adopted homeland is living and with the dark future of inflation and national debt that my children will inherit? Hell no!

A few months ago The Paris Club rated castro's regimen as one of the world's worst creditors, and you only need a quick search online to read about all the problems Spanish and other European companies are having to get their money out of castro's pockets.

Ergo, the requirement to have castro paying in cash is, itself, a safeguard to all those Colorado ag business that are drooling over the dough they could get trading with the gulag. (Good luck on that!)

Ultimately - with the current tides we're surfing, between bailouts, boondogles, porkulus bills and goverment takeovers - it is also a safeguard for my wallet, which I am really trying to keep closed.

On the other hand, vaguely, states the Post: "One issue that will remain problematic, just as it has with other U.S. trading partners, is human rights."

I have an idea! Why don't you include in your editorial the opinion of thousands of Cubans, conservatives, Republicans, Libertarians, myself, you name it, that support lifting the restrictions but not without getting something back from the dictatorship?

How about we concentrate on three: free the political prisoners (not blackmail allowed with the five spies lawfully tried and currently serving prison terms in the US), free elections and allowing Cubans to own private property?

The current US administration has a golden opportunity to make history to help the Cuban people by peaceful means. If they waste it because they are too busy trying to turn this country into socialism... wait a minute, I am not making any sense, am I?

Now, a word or two about the Post comments:

Comparing Cuba and China does not help much. US reinstated trade with China after they both reached a payment agreement on the properties the Chinese confiscated from American lawful owners. That has not happened in Cuba. Please, drop it.

To Daneel O (aka ) 5:01 PM on Tuesday Jul 28: Honorable individuals respect their elders, even if they do not agree with them. Obviously, you know nothing about honor.

FYI, I am a Cuban, born and raised under castro's communist dictatorship, and I am not elder and I VOTE. And no, my values and core principles, those that go beyond party affiliations, have not been kidnapped by the radical left and the progressives.

Credits to Dave C 9:03 PM on Tuesday Jul 28: Florida 27 electoral votes are a powerful piece of the puzzle. We, Cubans, loved our homeland and still bleed for her wounds after 50 years, but we are also Americans, endlessly grateful to our adopted homeland. We have integrated to mainstream society, we get involved, we care and again, we vote.

Finally, to lousy Jimmy (aka ) 7:24 PM on Tuesday Jul 28. Honey, you need to get a life. You're sputtering your nonsense out of ignorance. That usually happens when you have never tasted a good Cuban food and/or have never seen a Cuban woman dancing or... never mind.

H/T to Face The State and Babalu Blog.

Denver's capitol needs repairs: and we're accepting donations

A couple of days ago, listening to my usual local radio station during my morning commute, they were talking about the recent reports that the golden dome of the state's Capitol is rusting from inside and needs to be repaired.

"Good idea", I thought, since the Golden dome is signature of the city and looks, indeed, very pretty. But this Cubanita over here immediately thought: "there has to be a catch".

(Photo taken from Google)

It was after the commercial break that I learn about Jim Riesberg - who happens to be the representative from my area - and his idea to collect citizens donations to fund the repairs project. See? I knew something else was coming toward us, the average Joe's - as usual.

Personally, I am for reasonable funded - transparent and accountable - conservation projects of the state's architecture. But couldn't hear in the show if Riesberg was only pinching in the idea or if he said something whether his committee would also manage or oversee those donations.

If this needs to be done in order to prevent further damage, it could be a good idea to explore private donations. But having our "financially responsible" politicians on top of those funds is a whole different story.

Sorry, nothing personal here Mr., Riesberg, but if we are talking about donations, there is absolutely no need to have politicians handling the project.

Put up the project in the table for non profit and philanthropic organizations to jump in, collect the donations and oversee the project.

Unfortunately for the American people, our representatives - whose salaries, and more - we pay with our taxes, have demonstrated that 99.9999% of them are seriously financially-challenged.

If that's the case, please, back off! First, take crash-courses on financial responsibility and learn how to balance and prioritize the public monies you already have in your hands before pretending to get even more.

My wallet is closed. Sorry!

Locked down, to be more specific.

We’re in a thought economic situation. No doubts about it when I see the drop in the value of my house or when I see local business closing down.

And while government is pushing to take over every single thing in our lives they can think of during their every morning coffee, the local school district is salivating over increasing taxes on property owners.

“The 16-mill property tax increase, which would amount to $16 million a year in extra revenue for the district, comes after six months of work by the Citizens Blue Ribbon Panel”.

Really? Did they really spent money on a Blue Ribbon Panel to “study” the need to increase taxes. And that panel raised $40,000 for signs instead of donating that money to the “troubled” District‘s budget? Unreal.

Everybody with a sane mind in the country is scaling down on expenses, tightening and going back to the basics but they can’t? Why not?

We are talking of a district with one of poorest performances in the state. A district that pays exorbitant salaries and extras to their top executives – not the teachers necessarily.

Teachers who educate our children should be well compensated, specially the good ones, but we're not even talking about teacher's salaries here.

And, in any case, when many people are choosing between having a raise or keeping their job, teachers should also pick up their part in the tab.

We're are talking about the district where I first heard of home schooling. A district that have reduced recess and play time for elementary school kids, when it is a vox populi secret that at that age, kids need playtime as much as instruction time in order to successfully develop their potentials.

And, even though I am not very familiar with the board, most people in the community thinks that the board is not working for whom they are supposed to: the taxpayers that pay for their bills, and the children.

I have known, personally, wonderful teachers, administrators and employees of this district, and I don’t think we could throw them all in the same sack.

But it is undeniable that the big picture is not attractive, especially to the eyes of the taxpayers that are footing the bill from this chronic failure.

Don’t count on me for this in the next ballot.

Sorry, but District 6 have not demonstrated they are good stewards of public monies with their wicked set of priorities for me to put more of my hard-earn money in their hands to feed their wasting spree.

On top of that, they are scared as hell of transparency – nobody knows exactly where they spend the money they currently receive, and they are not very willing to talk about it. (Could I suggest the District to take note and follow the steps taken by the county commissioners?)

Show me the checkbook first. Post your expenses online. Have all big bosses resign and bring new, responsible people – without spending another absurd fortune in a “recruiting” galore. Get rid of the current board and bring new, committed people to represent the interests the community.

Put children’s interest first and then, only then, this local wallet will be willing to take the risk to give you more money.

Actually, I have a better suggestion: go to any given small community school in another country for a month, learn about frugality and efficiency while providing a decent education and then, when you come back, we can have this conversation.