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WISSUP - WISCONSIN SPEAKS UP


Copyright (c) 2009 Ginny Maziarka. All rights reserved.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Sensenbrenner TOWN HALL Mtg slated for September 20 in WEST BEND

Official: Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner
Topic: Town Hall
When: 09/20/2009 (Sunday)
Starts: 04:00 PM
Where:
West Bend City Hall, Council Chambers,
1115 S. Main Street, West Bend, WI

Pro-Gun, Pro-2nd Amendment, Crowder dishes it

My thoughts exactly...and while we're on the subject, I thought THIS lent some great insight, as well.



Thursday, August 27, 2009

Protect your kids - Good Sense for Parents of Kids in Public Schools

Just dropped in on Irate, Tireless Minority and read this blog post. It's worth passing on. See her full post on the American Federalist Blog.


"I received a back to school reminder from the folks at Wisconsin Family Action that contained a useful link to a list of back to school resources for Christian families from Wisconsin Family Council. Among those resources is a video on student's rights to live their faith at school. As I was looking at that link, I was recalling my own experiences with the public school system. I think there is another resource parents desperately need if, for some reason, they cannot homeschool their children.

I have written a post at the AFB on this issue and I encourage you to read the post and the discussion which follows -if you have not already done so. If you don't have time, the short version is that school officials, acting "in loco parentis" are able to interrogate your child at school, without notifying you, for the entirety of the school day, if your child is implicated in any way to have been even contemplating a crime or any activity for which charges could be brought against your child. They do not have to notify you. They may lie to your child in order to coerce a confession and they are not required to tell your child what his/her rights are in this situation.

...........

All that is necessary for this sort of interrogation to occur is one child telling a teacher or principle they heard your child saying something that could be perceived as a threat to the school or another student. A frustrated statement of " They make me so mad, I could just kill them." about another student would be sufficient, in some situations, to lead to such questioning. Once such an interrogation session has been initiated, it is my feeling that the school official feels an obligation to obtain a confession of some sort to justify their actions in questioning your child.

Are you an outspoken parent who opposes the plans of the local school board? While I would prefer to think such tactics would be beneath most school administrators, it is possible that such an interrogation could be used to shut you up.

...........

You owe your child this duty of protection if you are sending them to a public school. And if your child is the type of kid who would do such things? He/She needs your protection too. We all are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and we all have a Constitutional right to have an attorney present during questioning. That includes your child, innocent or guilty. (If you child is guilty, there is a place in the process for confessions, but that place is not under the interrogation of school officials.)

Your school administration will undoubtedly argue that their questioning cannot be used in a court, but the judge can certainly ask the arresting officer why they arrested and charged your child. The answer "school officials told me the child had confessed to this crime" is permissible.

Send the school a letter rescinding their authority to act "in loco parentis" in the event that your child is being questioned about anything for which they could be criminally charged. Hopefully, you will never need it, but just in case you do, you'll be glad you did.

Below is a generic form of the letter that I used.

............

(By the way, this rocked~ Way to go, ITM! Every parent of a public school child should copy, paste, sign and send to school administration.)

"This letter is to rescind the school district’s right to act “in loco parentis” to my child in the event that he is being questioned about any matter that could involve criminal charges being brought against him. Just as I would not expect you to act as a doctor in the event of a serious injury, I do not expect you to act as legal counsel in this situation.

Whether you recognize it formally or not, when you question a student about a crime, you are acting as an agent of the state and that is a direct conflict of interest with your status of acting “in loco parentis” to my child when he is a student in your school. I recognize that this is a challenge for you and that you feel duty bound to act in the best interests of the school at large.

With that in mind, I cannot in good conscience put my child or you in such a position. Therefore, I must insist, that in the extremely unlikely event that my child should be in such a situation, I require immediate notification. I also forbid any questioning of my child unless he has a parent or a lawyer who is acting on his behalf present at the time of such questioning.

I would also encourage the school board to recognize the serious consequences of such questioning in today’s world. There are many ways for students to be brought to the attention of school administrators for such questioning, ranging from actual criminal actions to the malice of other students or adults. Should students be questioned about a crime without even having a parent present? Is that really in the best interests of our students? What does that teach them about their Constitutional rights? I encourage the school board to review current policy and make appropriate changes."

West Bend Mayor member of "Mayors Against Illegal Guns"

Mayor Kristine Deiss proudly wears the badge.

FROM
NRA-ILA:

Friday, August 21, 2009

Since its creation, Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) has signed up a large number of committed anti-gun politicians to its ranks. It has also signed up some politicians who failed to realize the true anti-gun nature of MAIG. A number of those mayors have resigned their membership when they learned the truth.

This past week, yet another mayor, Village of Walton Hills, Ohio Mayor Marlene Anielski (R), has resigned her membership. Mayor Anielski informed the Buckeye Firearms Association of her decision, reporting that she had not realized the real agenda of MAIG. In fact, she reported, she and her husband are NRA life members!

With the ongoing effort by MAIG to mislead the public and even its own members on its true agenda, it is no surprise that some mayors are choosing to leave the group. How many more mayors don't know what MAIG is really all about?

All NRA members should ask: Is my mayor a member of MAIG? If you do not know, check the list here.

If your mayor is on the list, contact his or her office and politely let him or her know you are opposed to his or her membership in Mayor Bloomberg's radical anti-gun organization.


Copyright 2009, National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action.
This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.
11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 800-392-8683
Contact Us Privacy & Security Policy

HERE ARE SOME MORE ANTI-GUN MAYORS IN WISCONSIN:

Mayor Edward Monroe - Ashland, WI
Mayor Tom Kennedy - Beaver Dam, WI
Mayor Jeff R. Speaker - Brookfield, WI
Mayor Thomas M. Taylor - Franklin, WI
Mayor James Schmitt - Green Bay, WI
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz - Madison, WI
Mayor Tom Barrett - Milwaukee, WI
Mayor Thomas Ratzlaff - Park Falls, WI
Mayor Richard Johns - Rhinelander, WI (WAH?!?!?)
Mayor Al Richards - Saint Francis, WI
Mayor Andrew Halverson - Stevens Point, WI
Mayor Dave Ross - Superior, WI
Mayor Ronald J. Kruegerm - Watertown, WI
Mayor Larry Nelson - Waukesha, WI
Mayor Kristine M. Deiss - West Bend, WI

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Now, now....everybody breathe...and read...

Comment Rules (adopted from Rachel Lucas and modified for this blog)

If it weren’t for comments, my blog would bore me. I deeply appreciate the intelligent, civil, and spirited debates we have here and I’ll do what it takes to protect that. 99% of the commenters here do not need to read this page because they’re adults who know how to act on someone else’s property.

But there have to be rules for newbies and confused people, and they’re pretty simple. If you read these and break any of them, don’t cry about getting your garbage deleted and yourself banned.

I own this site and am responsible for all content herein. If a comment violates any of the following rules, there’s not a darn thing wrong with me rectifying the situation.
1. Funny is the only acceptable excuse for straying from the perimeter of good taste. The further outside that line you go, the funnier it had darned well better be.
2. No personal insults aimed at me or at any other commenter, UNLESS that commenter has just violated this rule and I haven’t had a chance to delete it yet. Example: “Ginny, you’re a disgusting little crapper.” Feel free to tell that commenter he’s a crapper, too. Just keep in mind, your rebuttal may make no sense shortly thereafter because as soon as I see Crapper’s comment, I am going to delete it, and depending on how egregious Crapper’s comment was, I might delete your reference to it as well.
3. Trolls will be deleted and banned. Trolling is defined as making comments intended to induce an angry response or disrupt the flow of discussion. Trolls know when they’re trolling and so do I. Example: “I don’t care about your family member in a coma, you’re a bigot for saying there are no atheists in foxholes.” Sorry, that’s not discussion, it’s trolling.
4. Extremely long, rambling, or off-topic comments will be edited down to an acceptable size if not deleted outright. This includes pasting entire news articles or sharing your entire life’s philosophy about anything. If you have THAT much to say, you need to get your own blog and say it there.
5. This blog is my property. It is not a news site or a public square. It is not my obligation or my duty IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER to protect your First Amendment rights, because they don’t apply here. Look at it this way: this blog is a restaurant that is open to the public. Since comments are open, you are free to walk in. But since it is still PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT BELONGS TO ME, I am equally as free to refuse service to you and kick you out if you behave in a way that I don’t like. Do you expect to be able to walk into a pizza joint and wipe boogers on the walls, without the owner kicking you out and cleaning your boogers off the walls? I didn’t think so.
6. Do not comment as “Anonymous.” You can still BE anonymous, but at least make up a fake name; otherwise, we would have ten different people posting as “Anonymous,” which makes it impossible to carry on a discussion with rebuttals and responses. Any comments using the name “Anonymous” that I actually choose to publish, I’ll edit it to give you a name. And you might not like it.
7. If you are so daft and so bored in your mom’s basement that you simply cannot RESIST leaving a harassing, hateful, threatening, or otherwise offensive comment, do yourself a favor and keep in mind that every comment left on this blog records your IP address. Which I can use to determine your ISP, which I can then use to lodge a hara ssment complaint and you just might get your internet access canceled. Anything even remotely resembling a physical threat will compel me to report you, your email address, and your IP address to the police.
8. All comments will be moderated. There is no subjective human presence behind this phenomenon; it is a plug-in. THUS, DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY. Do not send me an email 10 seconds after seeing your comment go to moderation to ask me why I moderated you. I did not moderate you. The filter did, and it has no emotions or motives. I don’t sit in front of my computer 24 hours a day, and thus sometimes it takes many hours for me to approve the moderated comments. Don’t get upset about this because doing so will only prove that you take this blog more seriously than I do. Rarely, a comment that goes to moderation will NOT be approved and will never see the light of day on my bandwidth. The reasons for this have already been covered above; maybe you violated a rule. Or, maybe I just didn’t like the way you said what you said. Maybe you had a decent point somewhere in there, but you were also rude about it, so no approval for you. I have no obligation t o justify this, either, so don’t ask for it.

Have a nice day.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Honest Scrap Award



THANK YOU to Irate, Tireless Minority for bestowing the Honest Scrap Award on me on July 21,2009.

THE RULES

In accepting this award, I need to do the following:
1) Say thanks and give a link to the presenter of the award.
2) Share "ten honest things" about myself.
3) Present this award to 7 others whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged me.
4) Tell those 7 people that they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving it.

TEN HONEST THINGS
1. My faith in Jesus Christ is my priority in this life.
2. My husband is the love of my life.
3. My kids are crazy and fun and I love them beyond words!
4. My grandchildren are the best therapy this world has to offer...
5. My heart breaks when I read about child abuse, abortion, or the harm or death of a child for any reason whatsoever.
6. I love old people.
7. I do not like carnival rides.
8. I am, unashamedly, a Star Trek fan.
9. I love the sound of rain on a tent roof.
10. Bargain shopping is a hobby.

7 OTHER BLOGS (not in any particular order of preference)
1. Boots and Sabers
2. Shark and Shepherd
3. SafeLibraries
4. GOP3.com - The Triumvirate
5. Annoyed Librarian
6. The Black Sphere
7. From Where I Sit

Monday, August 24, 2009

Appling vs. Doyle - Today's interview with Pat Snyder/Tom King

Julaine Appling's lengthy interview with Pat Snyder from WSAU concerning the lawsuit against DOYLE regarding statewide domestic partnership registry.

LISTEN HERE!


_________________________________________

"The domestic partnership registry is substantially similar to marriage", Appling stated in her interview.

As a state, "we passed that amendment (one man/one woman) to our state constitution."

She further said, "Here's the governer putting a provision in the budget that is essentially an end-run around the will of the people and the constitution."

"It creates a new legal status for couples of the same sex..."

Registration provisions are exactly the same legal requirements as marriage requirements, so the reason for the suit is justified as unconstitutional.

"This isn't about equal protation. This is about preserving the institution of marriage."

I applaud Appling's fine interview today and her firm and knowledgeable platform for this interview.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Angry mobs at Town Hall meetings revealed by Crowder

Sensenbrenner opinion of health care reform bill = "bad medicine"

Today's WB News opinion section:

Legislation is bad medicine

I’m in favor of health care reform, but the legislation the House Democrats are proposing is a complete upheaval, with the long-term costs and consequences being a huge cause for concern. This is why I, along with so many of my colleagues, will not be supporting it in its current form.

......

...I believe any legislation should meet four key principles:

1) No bureaucrat should get between you and your doctor.
2) Any new program must not create a delay in you receiving care.
3) You should be allowed to keep and maintain your current benefits.
4) We need to know how much we’re spending and how to pay for it.

......

Why don’t Republicans offer a health care plan?

After Republicans were shut out of the health care discussion, we developed our own plan and submitted it, however, since the agenda is controlled by Democrats, it is unlikely the plan will make it on the legislative agenda. Republicans agree that health care is too expensive and needs to be more affordable, which is why the Republican plan expands access to affordable health care and gives families the freedom to choose the health care that fits their needs – without imposing a tax hike on small businesses and working families.

The bottom line is that this legislation is just bad medicine that will make our health care system sicker – and if it becomes law, it will be nearly impossible for us to recover.


Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner
5th Congressional District

Friday, August 21, 2009

Van Hollen declares same-sex registry unconstitutional; refuses to defend state

And so it goes.

Today Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced he will not be defending the state against Wisconsin Family Action’s (WFA) legal challenge to the statewide, same-sex domestic partnership registry in Appling v. Doyle. Van Hollen’s statement leaves no question as to his opinion of the constitutionality of the domestic partnership registry.

"In November 2006, Wisconsin voters amended our State Constitution to declare that marriage was between one man and one woman. The amendment prohibits our government from recognizing any other legal status substantially similar to marriage. But the general domestic partnership provisions contained in Act 28 do just that recognize a legal status that is substantially similar to the legal status of marriage…My oath isn’t to the legislature or the governor. My duty is to the people of the State of Wisconsin and the highest expression of their will — the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin. When the people have spoken by amending our Constitution, I will abide by their command. When policymakers have ignored their words, I will not."

Here, here.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Kewaskum Librarian turns back on ALA, “censors” books? Movies?

It seems the West Bend Library Board was wrong. The ALA was wrong, too. Unless, of course, Kewaskum Public Library’s director, Steev Baker, is the one who is wrong.

According to a recent open records request, Baker posted (July 30, 2009) to the Midwest Federated Library Share message board these quotes from a recently rewritten American Library Association (ALA) Bill of Rights:

“The adoption, enforcement, or endorsement of any of these rating systems by a library violates the Library Bill of Rights."

And

“In addition, the inclusion of ratings on bibliographic records in library catalogs is a violation of the Library Bill of Rights."


_______________

Baker goes on to comment, “The above quotes are from a recently released ALA “interpretation” of the Library Bill of Rights. How seriously do we, as institutions, take this “Library Bill of Rights?” During the famous West Bend Fiasco of ’09, local media and bloggers made much of the power of the ALA and its Library Bill of Rights. The Fiasco was framed as a fight between community standards and the standards of a national, liberal-biased group; David vs. Goliath (in more ways than one). With these new interpretations by the ALA about game and film ratings, it appears that the bloggers weren’t far off. Who is the ALA to tell us how our local policies should address media content ratings? What is the power of this “Library Bill of Rights” that it can control even our bibliographic records? What does it mean to “violate” this bill of rights and who enforces it?"


Dwight Foster Public reference librarian Amy Lutzke responds:
“Excellent questions. Doesn’t the omission of information about a particular item in the library’s holdings constitute censorship or, at the very least, crappy cataloging? Why would a library want to censor the ratings listed on their visual materials? Wouldn’t identifying an audio book as “abridged” be a violation of the ALA’s Bill of Rights? After all, some of us have very strong feelings about abridgement!”
Amy

The day before this posting, Baker warned other librarians about purchasing the HBO series “True Blood.” He states,“Before you go rushing out to purchase it, however, you should know that it is “not rated.” Despite what the bib record says (“TV-MA”), since it is a cable show it does not fall under the same ratings as network shows. There is a lot of very explicit sex and very, very strong language. Not a ton of violence….but what killings there are are very gory…….it is definitely for mature audiences only.”

Baker’s solution?

He tells West Bend Library’s assistant director, Sue Cantrell, “I actually made “TV-MA” stickers to put on the spine and also a description of what “TV-MA” means on the back cover. Just so people know. Most “R” rated films list what the rating is for, but since True Blood is not rated, there is not any indication that parents of teenagers will contact the local newspaper about the content if they see their kids watching it…. Steev

Steev Baker is doing what library directors can, and SHOULD do – meeting his community’s standards, without bowing to the pressure of the almighty ALA. Baker is right.

Added note:
If one takes a wander through the Kewaskum Public Library, they would notice that YA graphic novels are stored on the highest shelf in the YA section, accessible with a step stool. One librarian, and subsequently Baker himself, confirmed that, indeed, this is being done to keep them out of the hands of younger children.


Perhaps like THIS community, and THIS ONE, and THIS ONE, Baker actually is doing the RIGHT THING.

Thanks to organizations such as SafeLibraries, PABBIS and Family Friendly Libraries, we have resources that empower parents to see through the ALA propaganda on a local level, whether in the public library OR in the public school system.

From PABBIS:
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) recognizes that parents have a right to choose what their children will read. The NCTE also states, on their web site, that a book rationale should be done prior to book selection and that special emphasis should be placed on controversial material so that parents know when to select an alternate book. PABBIS favors this and believes the information should be objective and quantitative so parents may decide for themselves and their child.

We do agree, indeed.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Vacationing


Checking in from time to time.


Talk amongst yourselves.


West Bend East High School teacher receives award from GSAFE for creating gay club at high school

"He regularly incorporates LGBT history into his U.S. History and Government/Law curriculum." - HUH?

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK.

Teacher of the year

West Bend East High School teacher Scott Lone has been selected the 2009 Educator of the Year by the Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools (GSAFE).

Lone was presented the Celebration of Leadership Award during a May 16 banquet in Madison where he was recognized along with six students for “creating real change for lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT) and ally students across Wisconsin.”

According to the GSAFE Web site, Lone created East’s GSA in 2003 and has worked to ensure a safe place for LGBTQ students and their allies ever since. As club advisor, he has created an environment to support LGBTQ students and discuss the harassment that many of them deal with at school, according to the Web site.

Lone helped organize teams to participate in AIDS Walk and, for the past six years, spear-headed efforts to observe a Day of Silence, the Web site said.

_________________

GSAFE = Read.

HERE IS HOW HE PORTRAYS THE WEST BEND SCHOOL DISTRICT:

Scott Lone has been the target of conservative opposition and public scrutiny as an out history teacher at West Bend East High School, the fourth largest high school in Wisconsin. He created his school’s GSA in 2003 and has worked to ensure a safe place for LGBTQ students and their allies ever since. As club advisor he has created an environment to support LGBTQ students and discuss the harassment that many of them deal with at school. He helped organize teams to participate in AIDS Walk and for the past six years spear-headed efforts to observe Day of Silence. Scott also co-facilitated a support group for LGBT students. He regularly incorporates LGBT history into his U.S. History and Government/Law curriculum. He is consistent and fair when addressing all harassment issues amongst students and staff. In the summer and fall of 2008 Scott faced intense public persecution in the form of accusations, innuendos, letters to the school board, school administration, and the State Attorney General because of his strong stance against one groups’ efforts to repeal the school’s non-discrimination policy. Despite these attacks, Scott has continued to be a resource and strong support to LGBT students at his school. (Scott teaches at West Bend East High School)
_________________________________________________

Interesting. Lone's name was never brought up (to the best of my knowledge) at any school board meetings. An objection was made via email to the creation of a GLBTQ support group funded with taxpayer dollars, which was subsequently disbanded. No other references, other than this one, were directed towards Lone. Who is fooling who? And might I add, if one tries to do an ORR for materials to confirm any of this using Lone's name, you will be denied by the city attorney (as we were). Harassment, you know. Our point exactly.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Knepel trying to convince WB to give him another shot at school board

Is this the same kid that trash-talked parents (though he did apologize later, just to be fair) at a school board meeting? The same RINO that wholeheartedly supported a school district harassment policy that favored some kids according to who they have sex with? Yep. I believe it is.

SIDE NOTE ADDED 08/23/09: Knepel also supports sexually-explicit books for minors in the local public library.

West Bend News/08/13/09:

A former high school student has declared his candidacy for the West Bend School Board.

Carl Knepel, a 2009 West Bend West graduate, turned in papers recently to run in the April 2010 election.

Knepel, 18, has past experience as West’s representative on the School Board and the Citizen Facilities Advisory Committee.

.....

He ran unsuccessfully in the spring election for one of two open spots on the board and wasn’t appointed to fill out a oneyear term fo l l ow i n g the resignation of board member John Duwell.

....

Knepel says increasing cocurricular opportunities and advancing infrastructure are two of his key platforms.

Unsuccessfully, indeed.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Meteor showers - TONIGHT


We've been sitting outside watching the northern sky. Saw about 15 at last count. Nice, cool evening. Get out the chaise lounge and blanket. Grab some coffee and enjoy the show!

Curtain goes down at 4 a.m.


Scarycare

West Bend/Washington County FREECYCLE website


Great place to unload what you don't want, and get what you need - FREE! (You need a Yahoo email address to subscribe to this group.)


West Bend / Washington County, Wisconsin Freecycle(TM) is open to all who want to "recycle" that special something rather than throw it away.




Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Town Hall meetings are all "the rage" - or are they?

Well said.

"What has been most unsettling is not the congressmen's surprise [at the passions of the protesters] but a hard new tone that emerged this week. The leftosphere and the liberal commentariat charged that the town hall meetings weren't authentic, the crowds were ginned up by insurance companies, lobbyists and the Republican National Committee. But you can't get people to leave their homes and go to a meeting with a congressman (of all people) unless they are engaged to the point of passion. And what tends to agitate people most is the idea of loss -- loss of money hard earned, loss of autonomy, loss of the few things that work in a great sweeping away of those that don't.

People are not automatons. They show up only if they care.

What the town-hall meetings represent is a feeling of rebellion, an uprising against change they do not believe in. And the Democratic response has been stunningly crude and aggressive. It has been to attack. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, accused the people at the meetings of 'carrying swastikas and symbols like that.' (Apparently one protester held a hand-lettered sign with a 'no' slash over a swastika.) But they are not Nazis, they're Americans. Some of them looked like they'd actually spent some time fighting Nazis.

Then came the Democratic Party charge that the people at the meetings were suspiciously well-dressed, in jackets and ties from Brooks Brothers. They must be Republican rent-a-mobs. Sen. Barbara Boxer said on MSNBC's 'Hardball' that people are 'storming these town hall meetings,' that they were 'well dressed', that 'this is all organized,' 'all planned,' to 'hurt our president.' Here she was projecting. For normal people, it's not all about Barack Obama." --columnist Peggy Noonan

Monday, August 10, 2009

Benson receives 30 years

Mark Benson received 30 years today. He will be eligible for parole on his 87th birthday.

He received 9 years with 10 years of extended supervision for each of the three lives that were lost.

He received 2.5 years and 6 months for the lesser 4th and 5th charges.

All to be served consecutively.

Permanent revocation of license.

Synopsis of Health Care - The Easy Version

I have had a number of emails asking for a brief synopsis of what we can expect with Obamacare. Some just don't feel like reading through all the bureaucratic red tape.

Here ya go.

Curtsy to FightBackWisconsin.

The health care plan text can be found at HERE.

FACTS:
• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!
• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you
get.
• Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for
you.
• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare
services.
• Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.
• Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all
individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer
health plans (read: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)
• Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to
participate in a Healthcare Exchange.
• Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare
Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)
• Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services;
translation: illegal aliens
• Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up
individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.
• Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have
no choice in the matter
• Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial
review" is permitted against the government monopoly.
• Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.
• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run
public plan. No alternatives.
• Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND
their families.
• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer
the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll
• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not
offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll
• Page 167: Any individual who doesn’t' have acceptable healthcare (according to
the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.
• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes
• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will
have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
• Page 203: "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax."
• Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor
most affected."
• Page 241: Doctors: no matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the
same.
• Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional judgment,
etc.
• Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private
healthcare industries.
• Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven
wheelchairs.
• Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!
• Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems
preventable re-admissions.
• Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results
in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.
• Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in
healthcare companies!
• Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without
government approval.
• Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on "community" input.
• Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures:
i.e., rationing.
• Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans,
HMOs, etc.
• Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by
phone).
• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens,
assisted suicide, euthanasia?
• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable
powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory.
• Page 425: Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding
you in death.
• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment;
government dictates how your life ends.
• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as
patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans.
• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at
end-of-life.
• Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy.
• Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and
rationing those services.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

American Family News covers West Bend Library

LISTEN to the interview by clicking on "Hear Report" at the upper right-hand side of the page.


"....many community members are outraged over the situation. "We all have always thought the library is this wonderful safe place and, unfortunately, the American Library Association has instilled in the librarians today that the policy of all materials for all ages is the right thing to do, and we don't agree with that," she adds."

The American Library Association and the West Bend Community Memorial Library have opened the doors to sexualizing YOUR children and grandchildren.


Is YOUR library a SAFE PLACE?


?

Does Mark Benson deserve life sentence?

I read Jessica McBride's take on this hot topic. I must admit, I am not in the shoes of the family that lost the precious lives in this tragic accident, so I am on the outside looking "in."

McBride states:
"On the other hand, the judge will also have to weigh the defendant’s life as well. Benson is 56. He faces a total of 53 years. There’s no question that Benson should, and will, get a severe sentence. The last remaining question for the judge is: Should Benson now forfeit the rest of his life? Yes, I say he should..."

I believe the consequence should fit the crime. My initial reaction is "a life for a life." Lives were taken; a life must be sacrificed as restitution. The consequence should fit the crime. Let's read on, though.

"Benson was not drunk on alcohol that day. Still, as a recently sentenced repeat OWI offender, his case does raise the question of why he was on the streets to begin with on the day he killed."

Here is a key element to this case. Benson was not drunk. He had been a repeat OWI offender, but was proven sober at the scene. Why he was on the street at any given time is not an issue. He could have been going to the store for toilet paper for all we know.

"I doubt that Benson intended to kill that day; however, his conduct was exceptionally dangerous and had fatal consequences. He was driving on a cocktail of prescription medication and possibly was talking on a cell phone. As a doctor, he knew better than most how dangerous it is to drive on prescription medications."

This was Benson's first mistake. He took pain medication and drove. All who has ever done this, raise your hand.

Here was Benson's second mistake. He talked on his cell phone while driving. All who have ever done this, raise your hand.


What, then, is the crime?

The crime is this.

The crime is that Benson did not go to jail after his FIRST OWI. The crime is that he did not get forced into rehab after that FIRST OWI. The crime is that the second OWI should have opened judicial eyes and taken blinders off. The crime is that these people died because Benson was not ALREADY in jail, safe and sound.

I am not discounting Benson's actions or responsibility in this case. I am simply saying that it never should have happened.

Shame on the state of Wisconsin for wet-noodle OWI laws. Both Benson and the State of Wisconsin are at fault.
When will Wisconsin WAKE UP and deal with the troubling OWI law that lends FIVE CHANCES to drunks to kill someone?

The State Bar of Wisconsin states (bold emphasis mine):

"In Wisconsin, a first OWI is a civil offense with no jail time, subject to a forfeiture of $150 to $300, and a $355 surcharge. Subsequent offenses, second through fourth, are criminal misdemeanor offenses while fifth offenses and above are felony offenses. Fines for subsequent offenses range from $350 to $10,000. A felony conviction subjects the person to imprisonment from six months to six years. Misdemeanor OWI sentences are served in the county jail and will range from five days to one year."

Binkery being sold - Giant Head in window gets new home


For those of you who may be scratching their heads about the title to this post, here is the scoop. The Binkery is/was a local establishment that served up grub and potations, occupying a century-old house on the main drag of Washington Street in West Bend. The business is now closed and the house is up for sale. I was always amused by the whimsical artsy look to the place as the house was a cornflower blue and, of all things, had the most enormous face wedged into a small window on the top floor/attic that overlooked the parking lot and Wash. Street area. If you click on the link below and scroll down, you can see a picture of the actual head, which was auctioned off and won by a local resident for $10! Quite honestly, I found the giant paper-mache-style head in the window to be a bit disquieting. The house, itself, is strikingly gorgeous. The mascot, however, will not be missed by me. :-)

Curtsy to WB News.

"The head originally belonged to The Muffler Man, but some locals called it Billy because it looks just like the popular TV pitchman Billy Mays who loudly sold things like cleaning products, food choppers and Mighty Putty."


Saturday, August 8, 2009

September TOWN HALL MEETINGS w/ Jim Sensenbrenner

Info provided by Traditional Values Coalition.

Official: Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner
Topic: Town Hall



When: 09/12/2009
Starts: 09:00 AM
Where: Port Washington Police Department, 365 N. Wisconsin Street, Port Washington, WI

When: 09/19/2009
Starts: 01:00 PM
Where: West Allis Public Library, Constitution Room, 7421 W. National Avenue, West Allis, WI

When: 09/20/2009
Starts: 04:00 PM
Where: West Bend City Hall, Council Chambers, 1115 S. Main Street, West Bend, WI


When: 09/27/2009
Starts: 07:00 PM
Where: Richfield Village Hall, 4128 Hubertus Road, Richfield, WI

When: 09/28/2009
Starts: 07:00 PM
Where: New Berlin City Hall, 3805 S. Casper Drive, New Berlin, WI

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin doc speaks out on Obamacare

Curtsy to Silent E Speaks via Da Bubbler via Politico.


By Dr. Tim Westlake (Emergency medicine Doctor in Oconomowoc)

I am not a very political person, but I feel called to send this out and obligated to fight what is going on in our country right under our noses. I cannot sit by and simply live my life and practice clinical Emergency Medicine while the very fabric of our healthcare system is being attacked/assaulted/and dismantled. I have found that most people have no idea about what is proposed in the healthcare legislation. We need to make ourselves aware and informed. This is not a democrat or republican issue--- this is an issue of freedom and personal choice for all Americans.

Now is the time to stand up for what we believe in. While we are working nose to the grindstone providing the best healthcare to our patients, the Government is attempting to fundamentally and irrevocably alter the healthcare system. I'm not an alarmist, but the laws that are being considered in HR 3200 are unbelievably scary. I can't even comprehend the changes that are being rammed through. The U.S. healthcare system is under attack. What is being proposed is nothing short of the complete takeover of healthcare by the Government. There is no mention in all 1000 pages of any mention of tort reform/malpractice reform which is probably one of the costliest aspects of practicing medicine--defensive test ordering. There is no personal accountability--the problem now is that patients don't directly know or usually care about the cost of their healthcare--this bill takes accountability even further away by creating a nanny state of cradle to grave entitlements. The proposed changes truly will constitute socialized medicine and take control of healthcare away from doctors/patients and families and put the control in government beurocracy. This is not true healthcare reform--this is the elitist government of Nancy Pelosi taking making a grab for 1/7th of the nations economy. The media is not covering it. We have to act now. We have an obligation to our patients/ourselves/our families and our fellow Americans to get our voices out. We have to get our opinion out to our legislators and government. I know we all think "What can I do?" But we cannot sit back while the best healthcare system in the world is damaged beyond repair, while we stick our heads in the sand.

Here are a few examples of the things they are proposing to turn into law:

1)There will be rationing of healthcare--there is an "annual limit" on healthcare expenses (sec122 pg.29 lines 4-16, and sec203 pg.85 line 7).

2)There will be a Government committee and a Health Choices Commissioner deciding what treatments and benefits you will receive--(sec123 pg. 30, sec142 pg. 42).

3)Healthcare will be provided to all illegal aliens and non U.S. citizens (sec152 pg.50-51), and they will not pay (sec59B pg.170 line1).

4)Govt will gain control of all private plans by creating an exchange that all private plans must join, and then the Govt. will control/define all the coverage and benefits (sec 201 pg. 72, and sec203 pg. 84-85).

5)Govt will force all new employees into public option (sec 312 pg 145).

6)Govt will control physician salary and reimbursement (sec225 pg.127), and what conditions will be paid for (sec1751 pg.800)

7)Govt. will control all aspects of medical training programs (Sec1501 and 1503).

8)Govt will have real-time access to all Americans bank accounts/healthcare records, and be able to use them for electronic fund transfer to withdraw money they see as owed for services (sec163 pg.58-59).

I can't go into all the details, but in the webpage below there are literally 7 pages of the worst examples of what this bill entails. It just makes me sick. Take 15 minutes and read all seven pages of the Overview. I wanted to vomit when I read it.

We can do a few things to stand up and be heard. We have to make ourselves heard. We are the only one's who can look after the safety of our patients.

This is what we can easily do--

1)Be informed--attached is a webpage that concisely translates the bill, and has a link to the actual bill. The site is www.lc.org/index.cfm?PID=19319 . Please look and read through it.

2)Call our Senators and Congressmen-- both Senators express public support for this bill--even though they won't discuss any details. Here are the web pages Russ Feingold www.feingold.senate.gov/contact.html and for Herb Kohl www.kohl.senate.gov/contact.cfm/ which has the phone #'s for all of their offices. Congressmen are by district and can be found by www.writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome/shtml/. Just call and leave a message of who you are--including that you are a physician (or what your profession is), where you live, that you don't want them to pass this bill. I've called all the offices and left messages with the staffers at each one. It will only take a few minutes. God forbid what if this bill passes and we look back and didn't even take 10 minutes to try and stop this?

3)Tell our friends, pass along the information to everyone--neighbors/friends in our address books etc...

4)Tell our patients--they need to know what is truly at stake.

5)Donate to organizations that are getting the word out---check out www.Dickmorris.com/.
Remember, if we say nothing- then our silence will be interpreted and used as tacit agreement.
This is not a single battle, this is a war. If we stop this this month, they will not go away. We have to wake up and protect our profession before it is taken from us.

Please forward this to as many people as you can. This may get voted on in September. Democrats are considering using Reconciliation--a special way to pass budget bills by using only 51 votes in the Senate instead of 60 to ram this pig of a bill through against the will of the people.

We cannot stand by idly while our freedoms and liberties are being stripped away.

Tim Westlake

And on a side note, listen closely. Perhaps Barry spoke some healthcare truth in this message. :-)




Didn't catch it? Read HERE.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Ma'am? or Senator? Boxer boxes ears of General

At a Capitol Hill hearing a few weeks ago, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) laid the smack down on Brigadier General Michael Walsh. As I see it, when in the military, you are trained to say "sir" and "ma'am" as a matter of formal military respect. General Walsh was simply doing what military people do, and it is blatantly obvious he meant no DISrespect. Boxer was out of line, and rude. (Just a fact, Ma'am.) What do YOU think?


Health Care Town Hall Meetings - Stay Tuned

Traditional Values Coalition is working overtime to keep the public informed on town hall meetings concerning Obamacare. The town hall meetings provide citizens an arena to become informed and ask questions. The screaming White House libs erroneously portray conservatives as irrational and loud. Irrational? No. Loud? You betcha. And getting louder.

TVC,
Andrea Lafferty says, "People are saying 'no' and they've pushed the president back on his heels," she contends. "It took President Obama six months to pick a dog for the White House; it should take more than a few weeks to address a healthcare system that many believe is the best in the world."

SIGN UP
HERE to find out where elected officials are holding town hall meetings in YOUR area across the nation.

Koenig Race Track moved to Badger Middle School this Saturday

This is a yearly event. Lots of fun!

Go-Kart races held by West Bend Noon Kiwanis.

BADGER MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK (formerly held at WalMart parking lot)
Practice begins at 9 a.m.
Racing begins at 11 a.m.

LINEUP INCLUDES:

Heat 1 – Thrivent Financial, West Bend Mutual Insurance, Richards Insurance, Resch-Kiel Insurance, Midwest Preferred Group, Bay Marketforce, West Bend Clinic, WBKV-WBWI, Daily News.

Heat 2 – Sen. Glenn Grothman, Rep. Pat Strachota, O’Meara Law Office, Hetzel & Nelson, LLC, Kieckhafer Dietzler Hauser, Lifestar Ambulance, Myrhum-Patten Funeral, Phillip Funeral Homes, Schmidt Funeral Homes.

Heat 3 – Westbury Bank, Horicon Bank, Harris West Bend, M&I Bank, Schuster Real Estate, Wells Fargo, Regal Ware, Sausage Plus, Progressive Implants.

Heat 4 – Jeff’s Spirits on Main, Bender’s Restaurant & Sports Pub, Januli’s Restaurant, Jalisco’s Restaurant, L. R.

Heat 5 – Bob Fish Auto, Gordie Boucher Ford, Johnson Bus, Russ Darrow, Barton Small Engine, Midcities Motorsports, Glenn Curtis Motorsports, West Bend Transit.

Heat 6 – Equipment Rental, Stocky’s Fast Track, American Metal & Paper, Port-A-John, Preventive Health Dental Products. Pick ‘n Save, Restat, Stoney Island Inc.

Heat 7 – Lakeside Service, PMF Landscape Supply, Minuteman Press Printing, Productive Products, Woodridge Chiropractic, Porter Family Dentistry, Dupli-Quik Printing, Country Inn & Suites.

Heat 8 – Consolidated Doors, Wal-Mart, The Sign Shop, Pruett’s Floor Covering, Klotz’s Piggly Wiggly, Silver Spring Collision Specialists, The YMCA, T. M. Solutions.

The Value of Human Life - Testimonies...




Unfortunately, in November of 2008, Washington State passed this act.

Little known fact:
"InWashington, it is required that physicians must falsify the death certificate to put the cause of death as the underlying disease rather than the lethal drug overdoses - in Oregon, such falsification was suggested rather than required.)"

Yep, yep, yep. Opening doors to choice. Choice to eliminate the infirm, the elderly, the mentally ill, the handicapped..... who will eventually have no choice.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

WI Medical Society ~ Resolution 14 legalizes euthanasia

The Wisconsin Medical Society is trying to slip one under the door on FRIDAY, AUGUST 14.

Resolution 14 - Introduced by James Allen, M.D.


The "Ethics Committee" of the Wisconsin Medical Society is hearing and voting on a resolution in support of physician-assisted suicide on Friday, Aug 14.

Here are some hair-raising snippets:


RESOLVED, That the Wisconsin Medical Society supports state legislation allowing physicians to prescribe life-ending medications for such patients, upon the request of a mentally competent terminally ill patient, after consultation and written confirmation by another physician; and be it further

...

RESOLVED, That our Wisconsin Medical Society delegation to the American Medical Association submit a resolution to the 2009 AMA House of Delegates Annual Meeting to encourage all the states to introduce such Death with Dignity legislation.

_______________________

Contact the Wisconsin Medical Society.

Contact Secretary Merry Earll to express your ABSOLUTE OPPOSITION to the deadly Resolution 14 to legalize euthanasia.

Toll-Free:
1- 866-442-3800
1-800-762-8975
1-866-442-3810
1-866-442-3820

Email: merry.earll@wismed.org

Fax: 608-442-3802

Write to the Ethics Committee Chair - Dr. Martha Rolli. (It is my understanding she supports Resolution 14. )

Monday, August 3, 2009

A what? A HODAG.



If you are not from Wisconsin, the legend of the Hodag is most likely unknown to you.


Some people actually believe this.





What IS a hodag?

Curtsy to hodag.info -

CHECK IT OUT HERE:
"First discovered by prominent Rhinelander resident Eugene Simeon Shepard, the Hodag has been an integral part of Northern Wisconsin history for over one hundred years.

While nobody has precisely pinpointed the first sighting of the Hodag, archived news reports from the early 1890's indicate that in 1893, an important discovery was made that would grow to define the Rhinelander area.

Gene Shepard's discovery, the Hodag, had "the head of a frog, the grinning face of a giant elephant, thick short legs set off by huge claws, the back of a dinosaur, and a long tail without spears at the end". Hearing of the fearsome beast, a ragtag band of vigilante Rhinelander area residents assembled and set out on an epic voyage to capture this menacing "Hodag". "

Saturday, August 1, 2009

B&S points out "analogy fail" of West Bend pastor

Was going to blog this, but Owen beat me to it.

By the way..never said there are not good kids in West Bend. In fact, we have AWESOME kids in West Bend. We sure would like to keep it that way, wouldn't we?


Curtsy to Boots and Sabers:

A West Bend Reverend wrote a guest article to the West Bend Daily News regarding the library issue. She’s basically arguing that the books should be left alone and that kids are good. Whatever. I just wanted to point out her analogy FAIL.

West Bend would never allow a small group of people to decide which guns to pull off the shelves. Ten-year-olds can hunt with deer rifles. Books then must be very dangerous indeed.

___________________________________________________

Here is WHY the analogy fails...

Beck exposes Cash for Clunkers - Turn your computer over to the government!







This is insane.