Post Scripts

Submitted by Peggy in comments

Tina, Abuse of power exhibited by this administration has to be unprecedented in scope and depth. Here are the ones I could think of. Go ahead and add those I forgot.

1.) Gulf oil spill: Contempt of court for refusing to comply with judge’s order to lift drilling moratorium:

The Examiner

2.) Fast and Furious: Contempt of Congress for refusing to provide requested documents:

Fox News

3.) Extortion 17 Cover-up: Twenty-two SEALs Team Six members killed three months after Joe Biden identified the team for killing Bin Laden:

Insider – Fox News

Special Operations Speaks

4.) Benghazi Cover-up: Has refused to provide unclassified and classified requested documents to Congress for over 8 months. Politically driven before, during and after the attack to get Obama reelected.

5.) IRS act of tyranny against a select group/s; conservatives, religious and disabled veterans.

Freedom Outpost

6.) AP “slap-down” for not letting the WH be out front of the story:

“According to The Post’s timeline of the frantic back and forth between the CIA, the White House, and the AP, the AP had their big scoop about a thwarted terror attack ready to go on May 2 of last year. However, the organization sat on the story for five days, at the request of the CIA. The reporters and editors who were working on the story were told that there were serious “national security concerns” at stake. That happens a lot, particularly when the story is about an ongoing operation.

However, on Monday, May 7, those same CIA officials told the AP that those concerns were longer an issue. Presumably, that meant the operation had been completed, the agents involved were safe, and no one was in danger. Yet, the CIA still wanted to them to hold off for one more day, because the government was planning its own announcement, and offered the AP a one-hour long exclusive on the scoop. Then the White House shortened that exclusivity window to five minutes. The AP understandably balked, since the grounds for not publishing had switched from national security concerns to public relations timing, and ran their that afternoon.”

The Atlantic Wire

What do you say guys…any more you can recall that you’de like to add to the list?

Posted by Tina

What is Americanism and how can we better live up to this great discipline and tradition? That’s what I’ve been thinking about as I watched our nation fall from grace in the eyes of the world, as scandal after scandal hit. In light of the many horrifying headlines it seemed a good idea to seriously consider our heritage and to give some thought to what we gave up as we caved time and again to progressivism’s lure. For it isn’t just the scandals that bother me, though they are horrible. It is the pervasive ugliness of socilaism that grates and scrapes at the beauty of liberty that bothers me. It is the fact that too many of our children have no idea that anything of value has been nearly lost. We must bravely face this enemy of freedom and the virtues required to secure it. But we must also know what we are fighting for so we can better determine how best to restore it. Americanism is a better idea; an idea whose time must come again!

The one thing that continues to repeat in this dark time for our country, the single thing that has kept me from going into deep depression, is that I love the idea we call America. And I very much want to see her restored to her founding ideals in the minds of her citizens.

I came across a quote in my reading today which helps to explain what Americanism is not. It expresses how we let darkness push out the light in our country. It reveals the indulgences that moved us gradually toward a destructive perch. We would be wise to learn to recognize this enemy of Americanism and to learn from our previous mistakes. Consider the words of Jeffrey T. Brown at The American Thinker:

Progressivism as played out in the last fifty years in America is the belief system of deeply unserious people. It exists to indulge a complete and utter lack of maturity and responsibility in large enough numbers that it is assured of getting its way. It celebrates vices. It must be imposed coercively. Overt fraud and deceit are admired skills. Its practitioners wallow in behaviors and beliefs that prior generations recognized as embarrassing character flaws. It is the belief system of spoiled, antisocial children and misguided enablers, rather than responsible grownups.

Reading that I felt I was transported back to the sixties and the radicals that most certainly fit that description. They have grown but not grown up; they have attained high positions but they have not acquired the wisdom that should come with maturity. And now in many ways they are running our country. I hope you will read Mr. Browns entire article and let it’s wisdom percolate, for there is much work to be done to sweep clean this dirt from our house. The loss we experience today is great and the lesson bitter given that we were bequeathed the most precious gifts of freedom and equality within a system of protected, God given rights. If only we had taken the responsibilities of liberty more seriously!

The problem we face goes well beyond the current administration. Progressivism’s tentacles reach into every institution in our great land. It taints the very fabric of our society. So…how do we go about restoring our honor and the spirit of Americanism that once made our country strong and that made it a beacon of hope in a weary and oppressed world? There are as many solutions as there are Americans but one thing is certain: a people that lacks basic knowledge and a heartfelt embrace of our heritage and founding will have a difficult time passing Americanism along for future generations. Moving away from the socialist tenets of Marx and Lenin and back toward the ideals of Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, and Adams will take a great sustained effort. It won’t be easy but it may be the most important calling since our nations founding. Effort we must, and on many fronts, if we are to overturn the practices, policies, belief systems, and indoctrination of progressivism in America.

Are you with me? Good!

One strong virtue I appreciate in the American experience is the concept that a man’s word is his bond. The ideal for mature American men and women must be persons who can be trusted. Though it may seem naive to believe in such things as honesty and forthrightness it is also perilous to lower expectations. John Adams:

“Statesmen my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand. … The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great Measure, than they have it now, They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty.”

And another:

“It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, and virtue. If we suffer their minds to grovel and creep in infancy, they will grovel all their lives.”

Tell me, what virtue or strength stands out in America’s history and heritage for you? What virtues have been missing most in our society of late? And where will your passions lead when it comes to passing down the concepts that will ensure and secure liberty for future generations?

This current administration will pass away; the scandals will be resolved. The bigger question is how do we put its legacy, and the dank destructive legacy of progressivism far behind us. Americanism is and always will be, a better idea.

by Jack Lee

I don’t know about you, but with all the bad news in the headlines lately I need a break!  Well, looks like we’re all in luck, because the Silver Dollar Fair opens May 23rd and runs thru Sunday, May 27th.   Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online.    The bands Gloriana will open followed by the Blue Oyster Cult on Friday night.  Concert tickets are just $10…can’t beat the price.  

The fair has expanded their horticulture and art exhibits over last year’s entrees and that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.  

Linda Christiansen (left) a local artist from Paradise is this year’s Silver Dollar Fair Art Exhibits Supervisor.  Linda and her staff have been busy hanging paintings since 10 am this morning and will continue to receive entries through till tomorrows deadline.   If you didn’t sign up previously to now,  it’s too late to enter this year, sorry.  Mark your calendar for 2014 and check for the sign up time to be posted about a month before the Fair.    

This year over 300 original works of art by some very talented folks that include seniors and  juniors, professionals and amateurs, all will be on display for just the price of the fair’s general admission ticket.   Hey, what a deal, and I can’t think of a better bang for the family buck than the Silver Dollar Fair! 

Entering one of her paintings is Patricia Mills (purple tank top) of Oroville.  Patricia is holding a snow covered scene, titled Midnight Stroll.   It’s really a knockout, gotta see this one in person!  Next we have Caroline Hernandez of Chico holding her entry titled, Obama Wants You!  (Mmmm..glad I’m not the only one who thinks he’s after us!  Hey, just kidding…sort of)   This is a charcoal drawing and shows the word Chico reflected in the sunglasses.   Pretty cool, but you’ll have to see it up close to really appreciate what this artist has done.  The detail is impressive. 

There are abstracts, portraits, still life, landscapes, even some aviation art.   They’re done in all kinds of mediums from oils, acrylics, pencil to water colors.    This might sound corny, but it’s still true, there’s something here for everyone of all ages to enjoy.  

I know that art is in the eye of the beholder, but if you don’t spend at least a half hour touring the Art building you’re really missing out.    These paintings and drawings reflect a lot of thought and of course… talent.   So, please allow yourself enough time to see them.   This is the only way you can fully appreciate what went into making this art exhibit a winner.    And hey, who knows, but you may be looking a future famous work of art and you can say you saw it when you could have bought it on your kid’s allowance.  lol   But, seriously, the quality of art this year is the best I’ve seen and I’ve been attending for over 20 years.   So, here’s my suggestion:  Skip that trip to Crocker Art Museum this month (save the gas) and instead visit Chico’s best art exhibit of the year.  And while you’re there, throw in a few carnival rides with the kids just for good measure. 

Okay, times up, but before I leave you I have just one more painting.  This one is called, Covered Bridge.  If you are a PS regular you may recognize it as being posted on here weeks earlier.   It’s by me and it’s an acrylic (similar to oil, but dries in fraction of the time).   Since I’m a starving artist I had to scrounge up some used canvas, then I sanded down what I could, painted over the old picture (it was junk, trust me) and later I found the frame (not shown) at the Goodwill for $5.   It was a fun (cheap) project to learn by.      

This painting is one of several I recently completed as part of my Chico State art class.  I’m a first year student just learning the basics…which just goes to show you that you’re never to old to start something new.   Prior to this I was busy learning the art of horology (self taught).  Don’t ask me why, I dunno, just seemed like something fun and it definately tested my mechanical abilities, if not my patience.    Too bad they don’t have an exhibit for horology (pocket watch collecting and repair), well, that’s an idea for next year. 

So don’t forget…Fair opens next Thursday, see you there.

by Jack

I was going to do a story on this, but our fellow blogger and current councilman, Mark Sorensen, did it for us  (See the article below this one).   I can add that tomorrow there will be a breaking news story on the front page of the ER telling us how the City engaged in bad fiscal management for a long time and now we’re basically now broke. 

Dems control State - State goes broke.  Dems control City – City goes broke.   Any questions?

By: Mark Sorensen

In what will be of little to no surprise to people who have been closely watching City of Chico finances for the past few years, the news is out that the City has been burning through cash the past several years.

Not little bits of cash, but big piles of cash.

Chico has been burning through more than $20 million in cash in the past 5 fiscal years alone, perhaps earning a distinguished medal of dishonor for achieving a cash burn rate average of $4.1 million per year.

All while saying that everything was just Honky Dory. It wasn’t. It wasn’t even close.

It has been a long known fact, and frequently stated fact that the City of Chico has been spending more than it has been taking in for many years.

To accomplish this feat of financial non-genius the City has been driving down various reserve funds and racking up negative fund balances to maintain the financial charade rather than deal with the current economic reality.

After the November 1st, 2011 Financial update I was so nauseated with the lack of honest and complete disclosure that I spent the entire following weekend writing a 22 page letter (with more than 200 pages of attachments) to the Grand Jury in hope of bringing in some help. Yes, I got an interview, but It didn’t bring in the review that I had hoped. This stuff is just too difficult and time consuming to follow, it seemed, and there was not time in the Grand Jury schedule that year. This year’s Grand Jury seems to have spent more time looking into the situation. We’ll find out in late June when their report is published.

Meanwhile new City Manager Brian Nakamura, Assistant City Manager Mark Orme and new Finance Director Chris Constantin have evaluated the situation in a 4 page summary which chronicles the wake of deficit spending, negative fund balances and cash flow concerns.

Negative city fund balances represent dollars that were spent that the city simply did not have. The city is now nearing a point where those negative fund balances have accumulated into a cash flow problem.

Reckoning day has arrived.

Over the course of the coming weeks some of the techniques that were employed will be chronicled and explained. I dearly hope that it wakes up the voting public. But I remember back to the 2006 election when 3 Council Candidates campaigned on the alarm of the coming city fiscal time-bomb, and 3 who campaigned on the notion that the financial illusion could be sustained. The later won the election.

Even last year a few Council candidates dared to attempt to draw attention to the long time pattern of deficit spending and negative fund balances, but to no avail. Even the CNR wrote this in the edition before election day:

            “…..you’d think the council and city staff had driven the city to the brink of bankruptcy in recent years …. That’s simply not true, and Evans knows it. ….”

Bombastically wrong. And I knew it then.

In a typical progressive thought process, the best that the CN&R could muster was to suggest that we the taxpayers should throw more money into the money fire. Wrong again CN&R. It is time for a reasonable level of fiscal management.

The story today is just beginning of a long and complex tale of woe. Much more will be coming. I just hope that folks will follow the details. You should be shocked and vow to follow local government in the future to a greater degree.

The following 4 page presentation deserves an award on several levels, but one is that it is the most straightforward, honest presentation on City Finances that this city has seen in many years. Please read it.

by John Salyer
One of the fundamental principles underlying much of what today’s small government advocates have to say is the idea, attributed to John Stuart Mill, that people have no right to take over other people’s decisions about their own lives. Yet today, as government expands its reach and more and more citizens give up their freedoms, government bureaucrats begin to think of themselves as shepherds and the citizens as their sheep. As one economist notes, “Tragically, too many of us are apparently willing to be sheep, in exchange for being taken care of, being relieved of the burdens of adult responsibility and being supplied with ‘free’ stuff paid for by others.” In ways large and small, if government does more, many people end up doing less.

Yes, we all make mistakes. But do governments not make bigger and more catastrophic mistakes?

One of the key differences between mistakes that we make in our own lives and mistakes made by governments is that bad consequences force us to correct our own mistakes. But government officials usually cannot admit to making a mistake without jeopardizing their whole careers.

Let’s take the example of Chico being $50 Million+- in debt. How many of you even knew that? I certainly didn’t until I made the mistake of actually starting to pay attention to what is going on with Chico’s bureaucrats.

Search “Townhall Shepherds and Sheep” on the internet for more on this interesting but unfortunately true subject.

Posted by Jack

A white family was beaten while attempting to buy gas at a Chevron station located in a mostly black neighborhood. It began with mocking and threats and ended with the white couple being beaten nearly to death by three blacks. Police said it was not a race crime.

“The defendant (Dickerson shown on left) approached the white male victim (Henderson),” the police report stated.

It went on to read, “the defendant told him he was in the wrong neighborhood and he was not going to make it out.” The victim said that’s when he “was punched and knocked to the ground.”

At this time, his wife got out of the car and ran to help her husband. The victim said, “he continued to struggle with the defendant and was eventually knocked unconscious, which later he awoke in the hospital.”

His wife told police, “after running to help her husband, she remembers falling to the ground and (being) knocked unconscious.”

According to a close family friend, that’s when the couple’s teenage daughter got out of the car to check on her parents and, “observed a female punch her mother in the face, when her mother then fell to the concrete, hitting her head on the surface.”

The daughter was also punched in the face.

“There were only three suspects but there were multiple people in the parking lot,” said Stubbs.

Of those three, Dickerson was arrested and charged with second-degree battery. The other two suspects, Devin Bessye, 24, and Ashley Simmons, 22, were released on site after police wrote them each a summons for simple battery.

The victim suffered “a broken eye socket, broken nose, and several lacerations to the face,” and his wife was knocked unconscious.

“I feel that’s racist,” said the victim. (Kinda gotta agree with ya there m’friend)

PS Don’t expect President Obama to call for a press conference this time.  He only lectures us about racisim when the victims are black and the suspects are white.   There’s nothing to be gained here.    And you can bet Eric Holder will not be dispatching a team of investigators to look into why the other two suspects were not charged with a hate crime.

Posted by Tina

More scandal involving the IRS! We need to know who initiated this bombshell scheme and to what purpose…Human Events reports on a story from “healthcare IT News”:

The Internal Revenue Service is now facing a class action lawsuit over allegations that it improperly accessed and stole the health records of some 10 million Americans, including medical records of all California state judges.

According to a report by Courthousenews.com, an unnamed HIPAA-covered entity in California is suing the IRS, alleging that some 60 million medical records from 10 million patients were stolen by 15 IRS agents. The personal health information seized on March 11, 2011, included psychological counseling, gynecological counseling, sexual/drug treatment and other medical treatment data.

“This is an action involving the corruption and abuse of power by several Internal Revenue Service agents,” the complaint reads. “No search warrant authorized the seizure of these records; no subpoena authorized the seizure of these records; none of the 10,000,000 Americans were under any kind of known criminal or civil investigation and their medical records had no relevance whatsoever to the IRS search.

“IT personnel at the scene, a HIPPA facility warning on the building and the IT portion of the searched premises, and the company executives each warned the IRS agents of these privileged records,” it continued.

Oh boy…it’s time to simplify our tax system and rid ourselves of the excessive and corrupt IRS and it’s time to eighty-six the dysfunctional and intrusive…Obamacare!

by Jack

This is one of those times when a series of low events makes me wonder about the future or if we even have a future? Yesterday around 4 pm, I’m driving to the grocery store. As I approach the stoplight there’s some weathered plastic flowers tied to a small, white, wooden cross that’s staked into the dirt. It’s a memorial to a young man shot by a sniper last year. The shooter and the victim didn’t even know each other, it was just a stupid, savage attack for no reason. The guy just pulls up to the red light just like me and a shot rings out from the tall grass. Senseless, absolutely senseless.

The light changes.   I continue across the intersection where several years earlier two teenage brothers (good kids) were killed by a madman driving over 100 mph into a red light. Why? Because he had a fight with his girlfriend and he didn’t care what happened to him or anybody else. I’m glad he’s gone, but he took two good people with him. In a moment I’m pulling into Sky-Park Plaza. A week ago a customer like me was stabbed in the stomach because he didn’t give some bum his spare change. That stabbing set a new record for stabbings in this little college town, coincidentally we’ve also got a record number of bums on the street.

Last year Chico had 5.7 homicides per 100,000 population, and 10 years ago it was 1.5.   Rapes averaged 54.9 per 100k pop over the last 5 years, burglaries and assaults were similarly way too high.  (Note to Council:  Dear progressives….that’s not what we like to call progress) 

If there’s a bottom line here I think it has to be about the collective character of the country and what it says about us that such things happen on a regular basis.  You don’t see this in Japan or the UK, etc., so there’s something about us that’s different, something brutish.   It’s not a good sign, and when people in Washington behave no better than the thugs on the street you know we’ve got a serious problem.  Even the president is a liar and not a very good one at that.  Look at this latest mess spinning out of Benghazi, and look at the IRS abuse of power and trust.  And just today we’re reading about the government is investigating the cell phone numbers of reporters trying to find a security leak.  (More on this to follow)  This is a big story, and it has implications that go far beyond the mere crime their looking into.  So much for a free press and confidential sources.   Like I said, makes me wonder what kind of future we’ve got?