Incumbent Reps Mariani and Pappas did not show up for the Capitol City Business
Council Debate last night Oct 12 at the Lao Family Center, 320 University Ave.
I recommend this space for any event - Suggested donation $100. One drawback -
no large kitchen. But plenty of space and a nice stage. Formerly a Union Hall.
We had a great debate with Rick Karschnia SD65 R, Paul Holmgren 65A R, Rena
Moran 65A D, Jamie Delton 65B R, and Amy Smith SD65 I.
Jamie Delton
Candidate, House Rep, West Side/downtown/Fort Road,
and a portion of Summit University
www.JamieforStateRep.com
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Central Corridor
Please vote for me November 2 for your West Side/downtown/Fort Road House Rep.
I will represent your views on Central Corridor and help end this potential
nightmare which will congest, pollute, and eventually bring more crime as yet
more retail flees, just as the progressive agenda and big downtown employers
expect.
Here is some background info which most of you already know.
http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=3881
http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=3430
[corrected links from http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/5Z3AgTuU7QvAPBi8xyHd4U]
History of Met Council.
Started as regional Waste Water planning and management entity in late 60's or
early 70's.
The 2008 Transportation Finance Bill created the Counties Transit Improvement
Board (as a Joint Powers Agreement entity, defined in Minnesota statute with
questionable tax authority) and the Grant Evaluation and Ranking System (GEARS)
committee under the Met Council.
Voluntary members of the Met Council's CTIB: Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey
and Washington Counties.
Carver County and Scott County, chose not to join CTIB.
Generally a county board resolution is needed to join.
[corrected from http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/5Z3AgTuU7QvAPBi8xyHd4U]
Among the Counties Transit Improvement Board members:
Ramsey County
Commissioner Jan Parker
Commissioner Jim McDonough
Commissioner
Victoria Reinhardt
For membership, the people you represent get to share the cost of transit.
The Met Council's Counties Transit Improvement Board involves city
"representatives" like St. Paul City Council member Russ Stark as members of
GEARS - whose city interests are opposite of those interests of the 5 county
regional board.
Grant Evaluation and Ranking System (GEARS) committee in Anoka, Dakota,
Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington Counties. The 2008 Transportation Finance.
Voluntary members of the Met Council's GEARS:
Council member Russ Stark
City of Saint Paul
Ramsey County Commissioner
Toni Carter
Commissioner
Victoria Reinhardt
The council members should be protecting St. Paul residents from the Met
Council and it's Counties Transit Improvement Board, instead city council
member Stark is applying for membership in the Met Council's
GEARS, and submitting to screening at the League of MN Cities on University
Avenue.
http://www.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2010/mandated/100155.pdf
Jamie Delton
Candidate, House Rep, West Side/downtown/Fort Road,
and a portion of Summit University
http://www.jamieforstaterep.com/
I will represent your views on Central Corridor and help end this potential
nightmare which will congest, pollute, and eventually bring more crime as yet
more retail flees, just as the progressive agenda and big downtown employers
expect.
Here is some background info which most of you already know.
http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=3881
http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=3430
[corrected links from http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/5Z3AgTuU7QvAPBi8xyHd4U]
History of Met Council.
Started as regional Waste Water planning and management entity in late 60's or
early 70's.
The 2008 Transportation Finance Bill created the Counties Transit Improvement
Board (as a Joint Powers Agreement entity, defined in Minnesota statute with
questionable tax authority) and the Grant Evaluation and Ranking System (GEARS)
committee under the Met Council.
Voluntary members of the Met Council's CTIB: Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey
and Washington Counties.
Carver County and Scott County, chose not to join CTIB.
Generally a county board resolution is needed to join.
[corrected from http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/post/5Z3AgTuU7QvAPBi8xyHd4U]
Among the Counties Transit Improvement Board members:
Ramsey County
Commissioner Jan Parker
Commissioner Jim McDonough
Commissioner
Victoria Reinhardt
For membership, the people you represent get to share the cost of transit.
The Met Council's Counties Transit Improvement Board involves city
"representatives" like St. Paul City Council member Russ Stark as members of
GEARS - whose city interests are opposite of those interests of the 5 county
regional board.
Grant Evaluation and Ranking System (GEARS) committee in Anoka, Dakota,
Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington Counties. The 2008 Transportation Finance.
Voluntary members of the Met Council's GEARS:
Council member Russ Stark
City of Saint Paul
Ramsey County Commissioner
Toni Carter
Commissioner
Victoria Reinhardt
The council members should be protecting St. Paul residents from the Met
Council and it's Counties Transit Improvement Board, instead city council
member Stark is applying for membership in the Met Council's
GEARS, and submitting to screening at the League of MN Cities on University
Avenue.
http://www.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2010/mandated/100155.pdf
Jamie Delton
Candidate, House Rep, West Side/downtown/Fort Road,
and a portion of Summit University
http://www.jamieforstaterep.com/
Monday, September 20, 2010
Minnesota not inspiration for Obamacare
Minnesota had nothing to do with Obamacare. If someone can argue otherwise comment below. I got this doorknocking - a sort of pride in Obamacare. Minnesota has a unique and worthy healthcare system but it is not like the federally proposed healthcare system which we must repeal. For starters there isn't a built-in, unaddressed, growing deficit in the Minnesota healthcare system that there is in the federal system. And Minnesota works closer with large companies to reduce cost for employees than the federal proposal. So when I read about democrat New Jersey US Rep Frank Pallone taking credit for Obamacare, I had to post it.
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/09/19/in-the-reality-tv-show-called-politics-there-should-be-a-show-called-the-next-best-political-upset/
"If Pallone wants to take credit for a massive overreach of government, lets help him get that message out to the voters so they make make a real and informed choice to reject candidates like Pallone who are trying to put big government in the drivers seat of our lives."
http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/bills/111/hr3590
H.R.3590: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The bill neither protects the patient nor makes healthcare inexpensive. We've seen before government efforts to control cost and reimburse doctors and hospitals fractionally for the care the doctors give to Medicare patients and Medicaid just induces doctors to charge more to those not in a federal or state program. Very few legislators read it and those who may have read it, could not have known it's final form.Pelosi admitted we would not know what's in it until it is implemented. Yet some Minnesotans, like Carlos Mariani, endorsed it before it became law (http://representativedelton.blogspot.com/2010/03/mariani-signs-internet-pledge-stating.html), and now act like Minnesota's healthcare was the inspiration in some way. I doubt this very much.
http://deltondigest.blogspot.com/2009/08/healthcare.html
I wrote this last April:
There are four (4) forces in healthcare – insurers, hospitals, doctors and government.
The patient is not being looked out for.
Non-profit healthcare providers and insurers may be thought of as private sector for-profit organizations.
People say this person I know in healthcare insurance makes over 100k, or the doctor I know built an expensive addition. The price of my healthcare is rising like inflation or the cost of education. Why?
The rise in healthcare cost is not like the increased cost to taxpayers of education or an economic
inflation.
Increased healthcare cost is caused by many things though. Increased healthcare cost is partly caused by Medicare low-ball reimbursements and doctors, hospitals or insurers increasing bills of non-Medicare patients in response.
Increased healthcare cost is partly caused by doctors' increasing insurance cost due to needed tort reform that is blocked by the trial lawyer lobby and their political allies. The cost increase is passed along to patients and insurers.
Increased healthcare cost is partly caused by accountability that is lost in the process between doctors and hospitals and insurers that can be fixed with real transparency (not phony sunshine provisions http://www.prescriptionproject.org/tools/sunshine_docs/files/Sunshine_Leg_Language.pdf) and the patient knowing all costs. Patient-centric transparency is not in HR3590. See the 10th paragraph here:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/print/articles/repeal
In the politics of envy, everyone in healthcare might look bad and it's not the case really - most have good intentions. Doctors, insurers, and hospitals are in a complicated free market which is driven by a $37 trillion Medicare deficit and a system that perpetuates the deficit.
In particular the healthcare insurance industry is not lucrative or high-margin - the healthcare industry is ranked 86th in profitability.
http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2009/08/health-insurance-industry-ranks-86-by.html
The government take-over of healthcare initiated by HR3950 on March 21 2010 and the reconciliation legislation is a new and important phenomena. We must identify and vote out this pernicious, destructive policy making.
Never before has the government assumed an interest in "revenue streams" like student loans or the auto industry. Never before has a sector of the economy been targeted by government for bankruptcy like private insurance.
Never before has massive debt and needless subsidies been accumulated by government on this scale with the promise of confiscatory tax of citizens and business or brutal national default.
Never before has private competition been so completely locked out of healthcare industry because of regulation or government favoritism.
Never before have the principles of free enterprise been so lost on a president and the will of the people and constitution ignored so callously.
Medicare is being destroyed by Obama and the Democrats in congress. Medicare is raided for $500 billion to pay for additional entitlements for households making $88K. Meanwhile everyone who needs healthcare is not insured.
The states are being burdened with increased federal Medicaid mandates that are federally unfunded.
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/04/03/the-principle-of-repeal/
http://deltondigest.blogspot.com/2009/08/healthcare.html
1 Preserve existing Healthcare
2 Reduce the $37T Medicare deficit without distracting budget triggers and in so doing making Medicare sustainable and free from hidden dependence on future generations.
3 Allow private specialty and doctor owned hospitals.
4 Tort reform
5 Removal of mandates to make coverage affordable.
6 Nationwide cafeteria choice in insurance and HMO's to make coverage affordable.
7 Transform the employer's healthcare tax-break into an individual consumer tax-break
http://www.heritage.org/research/healthcare/bg1895.cfm
8 Market-based health care including Minute-Clinics
9 Reject Democrats' socialist policy and their idea of public insurance, public option, co-ops, HR676 single payer, etc. Possibly compromise on a heavily regulated insurance industry.
10 Reject and repeal all reform involving distracting government take-overs, reductions in Medicare, and cost-shifting to Medicaid until sustainability is addressed.
#1 is important. HR3590 begins to destroy Medicare in at least two ways - by taking away $500 billion and giving it to a new redundant entitlement, and by tying the hands of those doctors who might want to serve Medicare patients by setting the fee-for-service rates those doctors will be reimbursed by the federal Medicare program too low. In the same way, private insurance is crowded out of the industry by a promised government option. Private insurance faces regulation designed to bankrupt it by setting requirements and price caps under which profitability cannot be maintained. Democrats had planned to set up a government "public option" insurance entity with the confiscatory tax power of the federal government to handle the expected failed insurers' clients. The public option was removed by Democrats. What we are left with is a hobbled private insurance industry absorbing millions of people at federal Medicare or state-funded Medicaid rates, which, under a constitutional system, would inevitably file for bankruptcy, but which will
instead, probably solicit congress for endless taxpayer subsidies.
#2 should be the focus. Once it is accomplished modestly expand Medicare to include the 12 million or so (not 30 million) that cannot afford insurance and need it.
#4 Tort reform -caps on lawsuits - will reduce doctors' insurance costs.
#5 Mandates are items such as port wine stains, mental health service, or HIV, that the state requires (or mandates) insurance companies in MN cover include in their insurance plans. These mandates should not exist. The insurance companies should create the plans for the market.
#6 This will lower premium costs and not burden current federal or state regulators.
#7 Employer-based insurance is a remnant of the WWII era when labor was scarce and companies wanted to attract the best employees. Employer-based insurance tends to lock out smart competitors unsavvy in collective healthcare plans.
#8 Many innovations are market based.
#9 Remember Jason Lewis' ideal capitalist system - subsidies of any kind are unfair government interference and tend to lock out the recipient's competitors. Regulations also tend to discourage competitors.
#10 Repeal!!
Jamie Delton
St. Paul MN April 2010
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/09/19/in-the-reality-tv-show-called-politics-there-should-be-a-show-called-the-next-best-political-upset/
"If Pallone wants to take credit for a massive overreach of government, lets help him get that message out to the voters so they make make a real and informed choice to reject candidates like Pallone who are trying to put big government in the drivers seat of our lives."
http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/bills/111/hr3590
H.R.3590: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The bill neither protects the patient nor makes healthcare inexpensive. We've seen before government efforts to control cost and reimburse doctors and hospitals fractionally for the care the doctors give to Medicare patients and Medicaid just induces doctors to charge more to those not in a federal or state program. Very few legislators read it and those who may have read it, could not have known it's final form.Pelosi admitted we would not know what's in it until it is implemented. Yet some Minnesotans, like Carlos Mariani, endorsed it before it became law (http://representativedelton.blogspot.com/2010/03/mariani-signs-internet-pledge-stating.html), and now act like Minnesota's healthcare was the inspiration in some way. I doubt this very much.
http://deltondigest.blogspot.com/2009/08/healthcare.html
I wrote this last April:
There are four (4) forces in healthcare – insurers, hospitals, doctors and government.
The patient is not being looked out for.
Non-profit healthcare providers and insurers may be thought of as private sector for-profit organizations.
People say this person I know in healthcare insurance makes over 100k, or the doctor I know built an expensive addition. The price of my healthcare is rising like inflation or the cost of education. Why?
The rise in healthcare cost is not like the increased cost to taxpayers of education or an economic
inflation.
Increased healthcare cost is caused by many things though. Increased healthcare cost is partly caused by Medicare low-ball reimbursements and doctors, hospitals or insurers increasing bills of non-Medicare patients in response.
Increased healthcare cost is partly caused by doctors' increasing insurance cost due to needed tort reform that is blocked by the trial lawyer lobby and their political allies. The cost increase is passed along to patients and insurers.
Increased healthcare cost is partly caused by accountability that is lost in the process between doctors and hospitals and insurers that can be fixed with real transparency (not phony sunshine provisions http://www.prescriptionproject.org/tools/sunshine_docs/files/Sunshine_Leg_Language.pdf) and the patient knowing all costs. Patient-centric transparency is not in HR3590. See the 10th paragraph here:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/print/articles/repeal
In the politics of envy, everyone in healthcare might look bad and it's not the case really - most have good intentions. Doctors, insurers, and hospitals are in a complicated free market which is driven by a $37 trillion Medicare deficit and a system that perpetuates the deficit.
In particular the healthcare insurance industry is not lucrative or high-margin - the healthcare industry is ranked 86th in profitability.
http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2009/08/health-insurance-industry-ranks-86-by.html
The government take-over of healthcare initiated by HR3950 on March 21 2010 and the reconciliation legislation is a new and important phenomena. We must identify and vote out this pernicious, destructive policy making.
Never before has the government assumed an interest in "revenue streams" like student loans or the auto industry. Never before has a sector of the economy been targeted by government for bankruptcy like private insurance.
Never before has massive debt and needless subsidies been accumulated by government on this scale with the promise of confiscatory tax of citizens and business or brutal national default.
Never before has private competition been so completely locked out of healthcare industry because of regulation or government favoritism.
Never before have the principles of free enterprise been so lost on a president and the will of the people and constitution ignored so callously.
Medicare is being destroyed by Obama and the Democrats in congress. Medicare is raided for $500 billion to pay for additional entitlements for households making $88K. Meanwhile everyone who needs healthcare is not insured.
The states are being burdened with increased federal Medicaid mandates that are federally unfunded.
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/04/03/the-principle-of-repeal/
http://deltondigest.blogspot.com/2009/08/healthcare.html
1 Preserve existing Healthcare
2 Reduce the $37T Medicare deficit without distracting budget triggers and in so doing making Medicare sustainable and free from hidden dependence on future generations.
3 Allow private specialty and doctor owned hospitals.
4 Tort reform
5 Removal of mandates to make coverage affordable.
6 Nationwide cafeteria choice in insurance and HMO's to make coverage affordable.
7 Transform the employer's healthcare tax-break into an individual consumer tax-break
http://www.heritage.org/research/healthcare/bg1895.cfm
8 Market-based health care including Minute-Clinics
9 Reject Democrats' socialist policy and their idea of public insurance, public option, co-ops, HR676 single payer, etc. Possibly compromise on a heavily regulated insurance industry.
10 Reject and repeal all reform involving distracting government take-overs, reductions in Medicare, and cost-shifting to Medicaid until sustainability is addressed.
#1 is important. HR3590 begins to destroy Medicare in at least two ways - by taking away $500 billion and giving it to a new redundant entitlement, and by tying the hands of those doctors who might want to serve Medicare patients by setting the fee-for-service rates those doctors will be reimbursed by the federal Medicare program too low. In the same way, private insurance is crowded out of the industry by a promised government option. Private insurance faces regulation designed to bankrupt it by setting requirements and price caps under which profitability cannot be maintained. Democrats had planned to set up a government "public option" insurance entity with the confiscatory tax power of the federal government to handle the expected failed insurers' clients. The public option was removed by Democrats. What we are left with is a hobbled private insurance industry absorbing millions of people at federal Medicare or state-funded Medicaid rates, which, under a constitutional system, would inevitably file for bankruptcy, but which will
instead, probably solicit congress for endless taxpayer subsidies.
#2 should be the focus. Once it is accomplished modestly expand Medicare to include the 12 million or so (not 30 million) that cannot afford insurance and need it.
#4 Tort reform -caps on lawsuits - will reduce doctors' insurance costs.
#5 Mandates are items such as port wine stains, mental health service, or HIV, that the state requires (or mandates) insurance companies in MN cover include in their insurance plans. These mandates should not exist. The insurance companies should create the plans for the market.
#6 This will lower premium costs and not burden current federal or state regulators.
#7 Employer-based insurance is a remnant of the WWII era when labor was scarce and companies wanted to attract the best employees. Employer-based insurance tends to lock out smart competitors unsavvy in collective healthcare plans.
#8 Many innovations are market based.
#9 Remember Jason Lewis' ideal capitalist system - subsidies of any kind are unfair government interference and tend to lock out the recipient's competitors. Regulations also tend to discourage competitors.
#10 Repeal!!
Jamie Delton
St. Paul MN April 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
No Mosque at Ground Zero
Let's demand equal building rights from Saudi Arabia, others.
I want a federal moratorium on building new mosques until we verify Saudi Arabia and other arab countries allow Christians and jews to build in their lands. There seems to be a hostile placement plan, insensitive to 9/11 and confrontational with opponents, Christians and jews.
Some of my concerns are illustrated in a Facebook exchange with a local lefty (http://www.facebook.com/Jamie.Delton).
Visit http://www.facebook.com/JamieforStateRep for my current positions. Visit http://www.deltondigest.com/, and http://www.jamieforstaterep.blogspot.com/ for past positions.
Read about the GZ Mosque Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf in this interview with Walid Shoebat :
http://www.fireandreamitchell.com/2010/08/14/video-ground-zero-mosque-imam-faisal-
abdul-rauf-seeks-shariah-law-in-america
Charles Krauthammer reminds us why we must follow through on the immediate issue at hand. Very simply - the developer's intransigence is sacrilege.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/12/AR2010081204996.html
Sacrilege at Ground Zero
By Charles Krauthammer
Friday, August 13, 2010
A place is made sacred by a widespread belief that it was visited by the miraculous
or the transcendent (Lourdes, the Temple Mount), by the presence there once of
great nobility and sacrifice (Gettysburg), or by the blood of martyrs and the
indescribable suffering of the innocent (Auschwitz).
When we speak of Ground Zero as hallowed ground, what we mean is that it belongs to
those who suffered and died there -- and that such ownership obliges us, the
living, to preserve the dignity and memory of the place, never allowing it to be
forgotten, trivialized or misappropriated.
That's why Disney's 1993 proposal to build an American history theme park near
Manassas Battlefield was defeated by a broad coalition that feared vulgarization of
the Civil War (and that was wiser than me; at the time I obtusely saw little harm
in the venture). It's why the commercial viewing tower built right on the border of
Gettysburg was taken down by the Park Service. It's why, while no one objects to
Japanese cultural centers, the idea of putting one up at Pearl Harbor would be
offensive.
And why Pope John Paul II ordered the Carmelite nuns to leave the convent they had
established at Auschwitz. He was in no way devaluing their heartfelt mission to
pray for the souls of the dead. He was teaching them a lesson in respect: This is
not your place; it belongs to others. However pure your voice, better to let
silence reign.
Even New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who denounced opponents of the proposed 15-
story mosque and Islamic center near Ground Zero as tramplers on religious freedom,
asked the mosque organizers "to show some special sensitivity to the situation."
Yet, as columnist Rich Lowry pointedly noted, the government has no business
telling churches how to conduct their business, shape their message or show
"special sensitivity" to anyone about anything. Bloomberg was thereby inadvertently
conceding the claim of those he excoriates for opposing the mosque, namely that
Ground Zero is indeed unlike any other place and therefore unique criteria govern
what can be done there.
Bloomberg's implication is clear: If the proposed mosque were controlled by
"insensitive" Islamist radicals either excusing or celebrating 9/11, he would not
support its construction.
But then, why not? By the mayor's own expansive view of religious freedom, by what
right do we dictate the message of any mosque? Moreover, as a practical matter,
there's no guarantee that this couldn't happen in the future. Religious
institutions in this country are autonomous. Who is to say that the mosque won't
one day hire an Anwar al-Aulaqi -- spiritual mentor to the Fort Hood shooter and
the Christmas Day bomber, and onetime imam at the Virginia mosque attended by two
of the 9/11 terrorists?
An Aulaqi preaching in Virginia is a security problem. An Aulaqi preaching at
Ground Zero is a sacrilege. Or would the mayor then step in -- violating the same
First Amendment he grandiosely pretends to protect from mosque opponents -- and
exercise a veto over the mosque's clergy?
Location matters. Especially this location. Ground Zero is the site of the
greatest mass murder in American history -- perpetrated by Muslims of a particular
Islamist orthodoxy in whose cause they died and in whose name they killed.
Of course that strain represents only a minority of Muslims. Islam is no more
intrinsically Islamist than present-day Germany is Nazi -- yet despite contemporary
Germany's innocence, no German of goodwill would even think of proposing a German
cultural center at, say, Treblinka.
Which makes you wonder about the goodwill behind Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's proposal.
This is a man who has called U.S. policy "an accessory to the crime" of 9/11 and,
when recently asked whether Hamas is a terrorist organization, replied, "I'm not a
politician. . . . The issue of terrorism is a very complex question."
America is a free country where you can build whatever you want -- but not
anywhere. That's why we have zoning laws. No liquor store near a school, no strip
malls where they offend local sensibilities, and, if your house doesn't meet
community architectural codes, you cannot build at all.
These restrictions are for reasons of aesthetics. Others are for more profound
reasons of common decency and respect for the sacred. No commercial tower over
Gettysburg, no convent at Auschwitz -- and no mosque at Ground Zero.
Build it anywhere but there.
The governor of New York offered to help find land to build the mosque elsewhere. A
mosque really seeking to build bridges, Rauf's ostensible hope for the structure,
would accept the offer.
letters@charleskrauthammer.com
I want a federal moratorium on building new mosques until we verify Saudi Arabia and other arab countries allow Christians and jews to build in their lands. There seems to be a hostile placement plan, insensitive to 9/11 and confrontational with opponents, Christians and jews.
Some of my concerns are illustrated in a Facebook exchange with a local lefty (http://www.facebook.com/Jamie.Delton).
Visit http://www.facebook.com/JamieforStateRep for my current positions. Visit http://www.deltondigest.com/, and http://www.jamieforstaterep.blogspot.com/ for past positions.
Read about the GZ Mosque Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf in this interview with Walid Shoebat :
http://www.fireandreamitchell.com/2010/08/14/video-ground-zero-mosque-imam-faisal-
abdul-rauf-seeks-shariah-law-in-america
Charles Krauthammer reminds us why we must follow through on the immediate issue at hand. Very simply - the developer's intransigence is sacrilege.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/12/AR2010081204996.html
Sacrilege at Ground Zero
By Charles Krauthammer
Friday, August 13, 2010
A place is made sacred by a widespread belief that it was visited by the miraculous
or the transcendent (Lourdes, the Temple Mount), by the presence there once of
great nobility and sacrifice (Gettysburg), or by the blood of martyrs and the
indescribable suffering of the innocent (Auschwitz).
When we speak of Ground Zero as hallowed ground, what we mean is that it belongs to
those who suffered and died there -- and that such ownership obliges us, the
living, to preserve the dignity and memory of the place, never allowing it to be
forgotten, trivialized or misappropriated.
That's why Disney's 1993 proposal to build an American history theme park near
Manassas Battlefield was defeated by a broad coalition that feared vulgarization of
the Civil War (and that was wiser than me; at the time I obtusely saw little harm
in the venture). It's why the commercial viewing tower built right on the border of
Gettysburg was taken down by the Park Service. It's why, while no one objects to
Japanese cultural centers, the idea of putting one up at Pearl Harbor would be
offensive.
And why Pope John Paul II ordered the Carmelite nuns to leave the convent they had
established at Auschwitz. He was in no way devaluing their heartfelt mission to
pray for the souls of the dead. He was teaching them a lesson in respect: This is
not your place; it belongs to others. However pure your voice, better to let
silence reign.
Even New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who denounced opponents of the proposed 15-
story mosque and Islamic center near Ground Zero as tramplers on religious freedom,
asked the mosque organizers "to show some special sensitivity to the situation."
Yet, as columnist Rich Lowry pointedly noted, the government has no business
telling churches how to conduct their business, shape their message or show
"special sensitivity" to anyone about anything. Bloomberg was thereby inadvertently
conceding the claim of those he excoriates for opposing the mosque, namely that
Ground Zero is indeed unlike any other place and therefore unique criteria govern
what can be done there.
Bloomberg's implication is clear: If the proposed mosque were controlled by
"insensitive" Islamist radicals either excusing or celebrating 9/11, he would not
support its construction.
But then, why not? By the mayor's own expansive view of religious freedom, by what
right do we dictate the message of any mosque? Moreover, as a practical matter,
there's no guarantee that this couldn't happen in the future. Religious
institutions in this country are autonomous. Who is to say that the mosque won't
one day hire an Anwar al-Aulaqi -- spiritual mentor to the Fort Hood shooter and
the Christmas Day bomber, and onetime imam at the Virginia mosque attended by two
of the 9/11 terrorists?
An Aulaqi preaching in Virginia is a security problem. An Aulaqi preaching at
Ground Zero is a sacrilege. Or would the mayor then step in -- violating the same
First Amendment he grandiosely pretends to protect from mosque opponents -- and
exercise a veto over the mosque's clergy?
Location matters. Especially this location. Ground Zero is the site of the
greatest mass murder in American history -- perpetrated by Muslims of a particular
Islamist orthodoxy in whose cause they died and in whose name they killed.
Of course that strain represents only a minority of Muslims. Islam is no more
intrinsically Islamist than present-day Germany is Nazi -- yet despite contemporary
Germany's innocence, no German of goodwill would even think of proposing a German
cultural center at, say, Treblinka.
Which makes you wonder about the goodwill behind Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's proposal.
This is a man who has called U.S. policy "an accessory to the crime" of 9/11 and,
when recently asked whether Hamas is a terrorist organization, replied, "I'm not a
politician. . . . The issue of terrorism is a very complex question."
America is a free country where you can build whatever you want -- but not
anywhere. That's why we have zoning laws. No liquor store near a school, no strip
malls where they offend local sensibilities, and, if your house doesn't meet
community architectural codes, you cannot build at all.
These restrictions are for reasons of aesthetics. Others are for more profound
reasons of common decency and respect for the sacred. No commercial tower over
Gettysburg, no convent at Auschwitz -- and no mosque at Ground Zero.
Build it anywhere but there.
The governor of New York offered to help find land to build the mosque elsewhere. A
mosque really seeking to build bridges, Rauf's ostensible hope for the structure,
would accept the offer.
letters@charleskrauthammer.com
Saturday, July 31, 2010
A message to local metro PAC's who support Democrat pro-business candidates
I came across a metro PAC's statement on business.
http://www.saintpaulchamber.com/cwt/external/wcpages/public/get_involved.aspx
The PAC endorses and provides contributions to candidates running for elected office with a pro-business agenda. The PAC is an appointed Committee that is funded independently from the Chamber.
What is pro-business and what is Obama business?
It's the difference between a federal statutory line of credit for big business and the thousands of small businesses creating jobs and vitality but denied credit.
To boot their tax helps fund the line of credit for their government-allied competitor.
It's subsidy-chasing, Tax Increment Financed big business versus taxpaying small biz.
It's the possible expiration of the Internet Tax moratorium by federal Democrats in 2011 with Minnesota's long-ignored Use tax revived, ready and waiting ; versus supporting small local internet based businesses.
It's energy tax costs passed onto the small business owner by compliant energy companies thru Al Gore's fraudulently established cap and trade scheme; versus policy that decreases energy cost like facility expansion and competition.
It's large companies meeting rising healthcare costs versus small business that can't afford it.
And yes, it's PAC's in the Democrat metro area saying they only want to support a winner according to poll data they won't share with Republican candidates; versus fighting the Obama administration for the preservation of the system as we know it by backing republican candidates.
The administration's reports of the number of jobs created by government can't be trusted. They once said 2 million jobs would be created abolishing private healthcare insurance. Well the largest insurer at the time employed 69,000. So either the government report is bogus or they need 2 million to do the job of 69,000.
Challenge your fellow PAC's to support Republicans on principle - and not the phony pro-business Obama policy.
Please donate to
www.JamieforStateRep.com
Thank you!
Best Regards,
Jamie Delton
candidate, 65B Downtown St. Paul, Fort Road, West Side, capitol district neighborhoods
651-224-6564
http://www.saintpaulchamber.com/cwt/external/wcpages/public/get_involved.aspx
The PAC endorses and provides contributions to candidates running for elected office with a pro-business agenda. The PAC is an appointed Committee that is funded independently from the Chamber.
What is pro-business and what is Obama business?
It's the difference between a federal statutory line of credit for big business and the thousands of small businesses creating jobs and vitality but denied credit.
To boot their tax helps fund the line of credit for their government-allied competitor.
It's subsidy-chasing, Tax Increment Financed big business versus taxpaying small biz.
It's the possible expiration of the Internet Tax moratorium by federal Democrats in 2011 with Minnesota's long-ignored Use tax revived, ready and waiting ; versus supporting small local internet based businesses.
It's energy tax costs passed onto the small business owner by compliant energy companies thru Al Gore's fraudulently established cap and trade scheme; versus policy that decreases energy cost like facility expansion and competition.
It's large companies meeting rising healthcare costs versus small business that can't afford it.
And yes, it's PAC's in the Democrat metro area saying they only want to support a winner according to poll data they won't share with Republican candidates; versus fighting the Obama administration for the preservation of the system as we know it by backing republican candidates.
The administration's reports of the number of jobs created by government can't be trusted. They once said 2 million jobs would be created abolishing private healthcare insurance. Well the largest insurer at the time employed 69,000. So either the government report is bogus or they need 2 million to do the job of 69,000.
Challenge your fellow PAC's to support Republicans on principle - and not the phony pro-business Obama policy.
Please donate to
www.JamieforStateRep.com
Thank you!
Best Regards,
Jamie Delton
candidate, 65B Downtown St. Paul, Fort Road, West Side, capitol district neighborhoods
651-224-6564
Monday, July 19, 2010
Judicial Reform
Please visit http://www.facebook.com/JamieforStateRep for an important update to the expected 2010 ballot.
Below are my thoughts on judicial reform, which thankfully is not on the ballot this year, and the misguided federal AZ action by Eric Holder at the DOJ. Greg Wersal, who won a landmark 2002 case for the right to free association of judicial candidates, may have been a big influence on the tabling of Quie's judicial reform.
http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/stpaul-issues/messages/topic/5TArq3Jl7SFZaop71XTp2G
Contrast the two links below.
http://www.dolanmedia.com/view.cfm?recID=592187
The DFL has steadfastly declined to endorse judges on the ground that it would be inappropriate, given that such elections are supposed to be nonpartisan.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/96883114.html
Heaney [a democrat judge who passed away June 22 2010 at 92 after serving grateful Minnesotans honorably and well] helped shape political strategy for candidates, organize caucus strategies, acted as a filter on patronage jobs and got out the votes of the party faithful.
The MNGOP party contains two groups of thought on this. One group opposes party endorsement of judicial candidates out of respect for the non-partisan nature of the office, the importance of maintaining the neutrality of the office, and protecting judges from potential moral hazards; and one group supports it. As you can see there are strong arguments for each side.
We can disagree on this issue and still share and enjoy party unity - indeed it is critical to winning our races in 2010 that our party remain strong and enjoy wide support.
Below are my thoughts on judicial reform, which thankfully is not on the ballot this year, and the misguided federal AZ action by Eric Holder at the DOJ. Greg Wersal, who won a landmark 2002 case for the right to free association of judicial candidates, may have been a big influence on the tabling of Quie's judicial reform.
http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/stpaul-issues/messages/topic/5TArq3Jl7SFZaop71XTp2G
Contrast the two links below.
http://www.dolanmedia.com/view.cfm?recID=592187
The DFL has steadfastly declined to endorse judges on the ground that it would be inappropriate, given that such elections are supposed to be nonpartisan.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/96883114.html
Heaney [a democrat judge who passed away June 22 2010 at 92 after serving grateful Minnesotans honorably and well] helped shape political strategy for candidates, organize caucus strategies, acted as a filter on patronage jobs and got out the votes of the party faithful.
The MNGOP party contains two groups of thought on this. One group opposes party endorsement of judicial candidates out of respect for the non-partisan nature of the office, the importance of maintaining the neutrality of the office, and protecting judges from potential moral hazards; and one group supports it. As you can see there are strong arguments for each side.
We can disagree on this issue and still share and enjoy party unity - indeed it is critical to winning our races in 2010 that our party remain strong and enjoy wide support.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
June 12 Cambodian Address
Here is the Cambodian Address where MN GOP Chairman Tony Sutton, State Representative Mark Buesgens (on behalf of GOP-endorsed Gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer), candidates SD67 Krysia Weidell, SD65 Rick Karschnia, me, and CD4 US Rep Teresa Collett each spoke briefly before the guest of honor, Sam Rainsy, Cambodian opposition leader, spoke on June 12, 2010 at 7000 Nicollet Ave Mpls MN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcgOS2gsDLE
According to http://www.asianresearch.org/articles/2881.html China’s strongest allies in southest asia are Burma’s General Than Shwe and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hung Sen, leader of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), who is opposed by Sam Rainsy.
Prime Minister Hung Sen and his colleagues are suing political opponents, including Mr Rainsy, for defamation, when the opponents only speak the truth.
As late as 1990 Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot received chinese military assistance along the Thai border.
Vietnam threatens to take Cambodian land in a treaty supported by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Prime Minister Hun Sen entered a disturbing agreement with China called the Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation which included military aid, in 2006.
Hor Namhong, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, on May 2, reported that China offered a modest number of military trucks and uniforms to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to replace US military aid, rescinded because Cambodia deported 20 Muslim ethnic Turks, or Uygur refugees, to China in November 2009, to face government punishment for witnessing and documenting the killing of 197 Chinese in Muslim protests.
In few communities in the world, is it more clear, why the US should maintain relations with it’s allies.
Obama should continue US military aid for allies, even if it’s only 200 surplus trucks and trailers, despite brutal human rights violations by china.
Indeed you might say it is critical Obama should continue US military aid for allies because of brutal human rights violations by China and other communist powers.
In the struggle for freedom, the transition from colonial royalty, and the healing of the country after the 1975-79 genocide, there are 3 things Cambodians might be proud of: your ancient culture, your love of the process, and your treatment of Cambodia’s natural resources
1
Cambodia has a culture they can be proud of dating back to the 9th century and preserved for posterity in stone inscriptions at the base of temples. We in Minnesota yearn for such a provenance, and even created our own in 1898 called the Kennsington Runestone.
2. Cambodians are advancing in the use of, and trust of, the party convention process to elect government leaders. Cambodians have a love of the political party convention process as indicated by the alliance between the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and the Human Rights Party (HRP)
It is noteworthy and instructive, to Minnesotans, that Cambodians are willing to die for a freedom loving party that represents their country – the SRP, and that the SRP’S ally, HRP, is adapting a political party convention system like what we have here in Minnesota (made up of BPOU's - Basic Political Organizational Units).
Some here in MN occasionally dismiss our political party convention system for creating pragmatic and influential political "operatives" and thoughtless "bots" (short for robot). This a short-sighted criticism of a basically transparent and impartial convention system which both Cambodians and Minnesotans value.
3
The 3rd thing Cambodians can be proud of is
The protected Mekong River rain forest and the giant catfish - the world's largest freshwater fish. It is a joy to look at the wonderful pictures of this great fish and it’s beautiful river. I imagine the unique Mekong tributary, Tonle Sap, flow in reverse from june to september, from the royal palace in Phnom Penh, to the site of the ancient Angkor Wat temple, 200 kilometers away.
In conclusion I hope for Cambodians' continued success in Minnesota and in business through hard work, productivity, and commerce.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Party_(Cambodia)
The Uygur refugee issue represents probably the one issue we can potentially agree on with China. China supported us against Islamic terror in the very beginning on UN resolution 1441. We should support them when 197 of their people are killed by Muslim protesters. Obama is 180 degrees wrong on this of course, punishing impartial Cambodia for returning the Uygur refugees. We must however verify that the culprits get a transparent fair trial and are treated according to international standards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcgOS2gsDLE
According to http://www.asianresearch.org/articles/2881.html China’s strongest allies in southest asia are Burma’s General Than Shwe and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hung Sen, leader of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), who is opposed by Sam Rainsy.
Prime Minister Hung Sen and his colleagues are suing political opponents, including Mr Rainsy, for defamation, when the opponents only speak the truth.
As late as 1990 Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot received chinese military assistance along the Thai border.
Vietnam threatens to take Cambodian land in a treaty supported by Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Prime Minister Hun Sen entered a disturbing agreement with China called the Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation which included military aid, in 2006.
Hor Namhong, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, on May 2, reported that China offered a modest number of military trucks and uniforms to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to replace US military aid, rescinded because Cambodia deported 20 Muslim ethnic Turks, or Uygur refugees, to China in November 2009, to face government punishment for witnessing and documenting the killing of 197 Chinese in Muslim protests.
In few communities in the world, is it more clear, why the US should maintain relations with it’s allies.
Obama should continue US military aid for allies, even if it’s only 200 surplus trucks and trailers, despite brutal human rights violations by china.
Indeed you might say it is critical Obama should continue US military aid for allies because of brutal human rights violations by China and other communist powers.
In the struggle for freedom, the transition from colonial royalty, and the healing of the country after the 1975-79 genocide, there are 3 things Cambodians might be proud of: your ancient culture, your love of the process, and your treatment of Cambodia’s natural resources
1
Cambodia has a culture they can be proud of dating back to the 9th century and preserved for posterity in stone inscriptions at the base of temples. We in Minnesota yearn for such a provenance, and even created our own in 1898 called the Kennsington Runestone.
2. Cambodians are advancing in the use of, and trust of, the party convention process to elect government leaders. Cambodians have a love of the political party convention process as indicated by the alliance between the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) and the Human Rights Party (HRP)
It is noteworthy and instructive, to Minnesotans, that Cambodians are willing to die for a freedom loving party that represents their country – the SRP, and that the SRP’S ally, HRP, is adapting a political party convention system like what we have here in Minnesota (made up of BPOU's - Basic Political Organizational Units).
Some here in MN occasionally dismiss our political party convention system for creating pragmatic and influential political "operatives" and thoughtless "bots" (short for robot). This a short-sighted criticism of a basically transparent and impartial convention system which both Cambodians and Minnesotans value.
3
The 3rd thing Cambodians can be proud of is
The protected Mekong River rain forest and the giant catfish - the world's largest freshwater fish. It is a joy to look at the wonderful pictures of this great fish and it’s beautiful river. I imagine the unique Mekong tributary, Tonle Sap, flow in reverse from june to september, from the royal palace in Phnom Penh, to the site of the ancient Angkor Wat temple, 200 kilometers away.
In conclusion I hope for Cambodians' continued success in Minnesota and in business through hard work, productivity, and commerce.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Party_(Cambodia)
The Uygur refugee issue represents probably the one issue we can potentially agree on with China. China supported us against Islamic terror in the very beginning on UN resolution 1441. We should support them when 197 of their people are killed by Muslim protesters. Obama is 180 degrees wrong on this of course, punishing impartial Cambodia for returning the Uygur refugees. We must however verify that the culprits get a transparent fair trial and are treated according to international standards.
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