Harmon Brody is one of the most profound and outspoken political writers on Facebook today. In this thread, Mr. Brody gives you his perspective of the political climate in the United States today. Please feel free to respond whether you agree or disagree with the opinions contained herein.

Scott Walker was born on November 2, 1967 in Colorado prings Colorado. He was elected governor of Wisconsin on November 2, 2010 by defeating Tom Barrett by a margin of 52 to 47%. Walker is a Republican and assumed the office on January 3, 2011.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who despite substantial concessions by the unions, continues his effort to legislatively negate their ability to bargain in good future. Here is an individual who could not complete college and cost Milwaukee County millions of dollars through mismanagement as the County Executive Officer. As governor, he is on a mission to financially ruin the middle class.

Important facts Regarding Scott Walker

Employment history-Walker left college before graduating, noting that he obtained a job and supporting his family was the highest priority. However, one should question his family values when you consider he ran for public office within a year of leaving Marquette University.

Walker claims that busting the public unions was part of his campaign agenda. Quite simply stated, it was not and many sources note his statement as a substantial flaw in his personality. Not being truthful.  Not True. According to PolitiFact.com, Walker has no problem stating that union busting was a major campaign issue while looking the press and the public straight in the face. So much for the honesty of the Wisconsin governor.

Another Walker tactic reeks of cronyism and Republicans and Democrats alike should rebel in unison for this callow action. Apparently, Walker wanted to ensure he has political control over the state of Wisconsin assembly in the future.  And therefore indebted both the leader of the Senate and Speaker of the Wisconsin House to him. Scott Fitzgerald is the leader of the Senate and his brother Jeff Fitzgerald is the Speaker of the House.  In February, an opening occurred for the position of chief of the Wisconsin State troopers. And by sheer coincidence, the job was given to Stephen Fitzgerald, the 68 year old father of the leaders of the Wisconsin General Assembly. Shockingly, he is paid $107,000 annually. Conscientious? Concerned that the state government be administered properly? Not Scott Walker. One of the basic initiating principles that established unions was the elimination of cronyism and nepotism in government employment. It seems that Scott Walker wants to return to the old days. I’m sure all of his followers and signature required loyalists will find rational logic for his decision in this case.

More Later

Scott Walker links

usnews

The daily beast

ScottWalkerWatch

Update: March 19, 2011- According to Green Bay progressive, a Dane County judge issued a temporary restraining order that delays implementation of Governor Walker’s bill undermining workers’ rights until the underlying lawsuit filed by AFSCME and other concerned parties is resolved. Link Restraining Order

Update: March 28, 2011-findings from the latest approval/disapproval poll on Gov. Scott Walker.     March 27, 2011 poll It appears his approval rating is remaining somewhat constant but the disapproval rating is fluid.

Hope this gives most teachers a laugh in the wake of Scott Walker. Just click on the link.

www.cmrji.com

We feel you Michele

We have the most comprehensive resources, links and information on Michele Bachmann, on the Internet.

Bachmann was born Michele Amble on April 6, 1956, and grew up in Apoka, Minnesota.  She graduated from Anoka High School in 1974, and attended Winona State College and graduated in 1978 with a degree in Political Science and English. she met her husband Marcus Bachmann while attending college and they married in 1978. That same year they moved to Tulsa Oklahoma where Michelle enrolled at the Bible-based Colburn school of law, an affiliate of Oral Roberts University. She earned a juris doctorate at Colburn in 1986 a post-doctorate degree from William and Mary Law school in Virginia in 1988.

From 1988 to 1993, Bachmann was a US Treasury Department attorney in St. Paul Minnesota, representing the IRS against people who underpaid or fail to pay their taxes. In 1993, she left her job to become a full-time mother and eventually took over twenty foster children under her care.

Minnesota Elected Offices:

In 1999, Bachmann ran as one of a slate of GOP candidates for the Stillwater, Minnesota school board, normally a non-partisan election. She and the other GOP-endorsed candidates did not win.

In 2000, Bachmann won election to the state Senate, unseating a fellow Republican, Gary Laidig who had been in office for 28 years. Bachman managed to obtain the GOP endorsement and beat Laidig in the primary election.

In 2002, Bachmann faced a 10-year incumbent, DFL state senator Jane Krentz, after district lines were redrawn following the 2000 census. Bachmann won the election by 9 percentage points.

Congressional Career:

Bachmann defeated Democrat Patty Wetterling 50% to 42% in the 2006 congressional elections to replace Rep. Mark Kennedy, who vacated the seat to run for the U.S. Senate.

We would kindly add this lost soul to the Hit List, but we have to dedicate several pages. Quite frankly, it would be a waste of effort because this person walks to a different tune. A tune that has never been written and never will. It is amazing why some people get elected and you wonder about those who voted for them.

Links

Michele Bachmann official congressional site:

God sanctioned her bid to run for congressional office 10-18-2006

Below is a direct quote of  Bachmann explaining the message she received from the Almighty.

“And in the midst of that calling, God then called me to run for the United States Congress. And I thought, what in the world would that be for? And my husband said “You need to do this.” And I wasn’t so sure. And we took three days, and we fasted and we prayed. And we said “Lord, is this what you want? Is this Your will?” And after — along about the afternoon of day two — He made that calling sure. And it’s been now 22 months that I’ve been running for United States Congress. Who in their right mind would spend two years to run for a job that lasts for two years? You’d have to be absolutely a fool to do that. You are now looking at a fool for Christ. This is a fool for Christ.”

A humorous history of Bachmann

The doctorate of science, Michele Bachmann attempts to educate the Congress that carbon dioxide is not really harmful to human beings. Do you ever wonder about people of the utterly embarrassed themselves, especially when the entire nation in the United States Congress is watching, and it simply has no effect on them. Minnesota, what are you doing?

1. Michele Bachmann embarrasses herself before Congress, stating carbon dioxide is a natural non-harmful gas. 4-23-2009 Video

2. Michele Bachmann teaches Congress the science of carbon dioxide 4-24 2009 Video

On a recent testing the waters to run for the presidency, Michele Bachmann gives the people of Manchester New Hampshire a history lesson on where the first shot was fired of the Revolutionary War. On the YouTube video, when told of her mistakes, her only response is that New Hampshire should be proud too. Someone help this woman. I don’t think her district in Minnesota has anybody alive.

5-27-1011-Bachman feels a “calling” to seek the Republican nomination

1.Michele Bachmann educates the people of Manchester New Hampshire on the shot heard around the world. 3-12-2011

2.A video of the Bachmann disaster in Manchester New Hampshire 3-14-2011

3.Another video of the Manchester disaster 3-14-2011

4-2009–Was Backmann ever dealt a full deck? When the Swine flu emerged at the beginning of the Obama presidency, she alluded to the fact that the last time it occurred was also during a Democratic presidency. Actually, the last outbreak was during the presidency of Gerald Ford. below is an excerpt and a link to the March 24, 2011 Daily Beast.

Then there was that “interesting coincidence” she professed to discover during the swine flu scare at the beginning of Obama’s term–“that it was back in the 1970s that the swine flu broke out then under another Democrat president, Jimmy Carter.” 4-28-2009

Bachmann rather generously insisted that she’s “not blaming this on President Obama” or the Democrats. It was just sort of you know, “interesting.” Thing is, the last outbreak had taken place not under Carter, but under Republican Gerald Ford. (To be fair to Bachmann, you need to be in about ninth grade to have gotten that far in American history.)

The Daily Beast 3-24-2011

Bachman on Abortion: Are her statistics correct? In this link, the misuse of facts and figures is displayed by Michele Bachman on the topic of abortion.

Bachman on Abortion: 3-26-2011

Bachmann a hit In Iowa: So They Say

On the trail to the 2012 presidential campaign, Bachmann is a big hit before the Iowa Teabag Party.

In Iowa March 2011 3-31-2011

Bachmann’s 2012 passion play.

Michele Bachmann hires former Mike Huckabee political director for Iowa  4-4-2011

Republican presidential debate — June 13, 2011:   When Will Michele Bachman get it right? During the Republican the Bates on Monday, June 13, Michele Bachman stated that because of the health care plan, 800,000 Americans would lose their job. According to fact check.org, her statement is factually incorrect. Because of the health care bill, 800,000 people will either quit working or work less because health insurance coverage would be more affordable. In reality, it actually will free up jobs for those currently unemployed. How can anybody vote for someone it constantly misrepresents the facts and in this case most likely had no idea what she was talking about.

Think progress .org states that the health-care bill will reduce the labor supply by 800,000 and and the jobs.

Bachman on 800,000 lost jobsThinkProgress

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www.cmrji.com

You can come straight here for information on hotels and related travel issues between Atlanta Georgia and Miami Florida. Let us hear from you about the good and the bad.

Now for the bad: some friends of ours came into town over the weekend of November 19 2010 and booked a room at the Quality Inn in Kennesaw Georgia. Let me state from the beginning that you should avoid staying at this hotel at all cost. Highly overpriced, the facility offers few amenities, is dirty, and it’s been reported that bedbugs manage the place by committee. However, the doors do not automatically close, so when my friends went to get coffee, their purse and wallet was stolen. Ripped off. Left with nothing, no license, no credit card, no cash. What did the Quality Inn offer? Nothing. Save for an apology, the hotel offered no reimbursements for the nights they stayed there. What kind of people manage this facility? To reiterate, boycott and avoid this hotel at all cost. And remember, the word Quality as in Quality Inn, is simply a play on words when it comes to the Kennesaw facility.

http://www.cmrji.com/Corruption.html

Be careful when: upon the geek squad, part of the I don’t care, “Best Buy,” conglomerate. First, they will charge you an arm and a leg and try to change all of your equipment. We were having trouble with our wireless network and after paying $500 for them to upgrade the system into ensure it would operate at a higher level, we are left two weeks later with a system that is less effective than prior to their work. My advice, stay away from this organization. They are money grabbers and did not back up their work.

http://cmrji.com/Booksandpublications.html

http://electricread.net/

You can utilize this thread to post your comments relative to problems with governments, businesses and other organizations that do provide the services for which they were originally intended. Also, post your comments relative to products and problems with companies that don’t honor the quality service they promise.

I cannot explain how many people I have known that had construction problems with homes built by D.R. Horton. On the third day I moved into my new home, it rained and guess what happened next. There was a roof leak in the master bedroom closet. It took several hours for us to remove the clothes and other items we had just unpacked to a safe location which disrupted us from fully unpacking other items. They did not fix the leak until the fifth day at which time, they had to replace the carpet. Over the course of the next few years, there would be for four additional weeks in the vicinity of the closet in the master bedroom which constantly disrupted or alive. DR Horton not only lacked sympathy in response but was actually indignant concerning our problem. These people are poison and I caution anyone from buying a home from this company.

http://www.electricread.net

http://cmrji.com/

The Hallandale Beach Papers

Edition—1

E-mail to Hallandale Beach City Commission

Had I been told in advance that four commissioners would not even consider my proposal, I would have been greatly disappointed. However, dragging me through your miry sham altered my mood to somewhat contentious. The rationale provided by four commissioners was devoid of any comments relative to the proposal content. In that regard, the proposal and presentation had no significance as you had preconceived opinions. You asked no substantive questions or comments. Three of you stated it was due to my perceived inability to be impartial and one noted it was because of the potential comments within the blogs. Ironically, I was always considered impartial during my tenure and performance as city manager. Now that I am more distant from the organization, a climate of partiality suddenly permeates the air.

You in effect, completely wasted six days of my valuable time. Four days were expended to prepare the proposal and two for travel. I deferred a four-day project and therefore lost income for those days. Your “Joy Cooper rush rush without proper due diligence modus operandi,” to solicit proposals did not permit staff time to vet the consultants. Normally, request for proposals are fifteen to twenty days or longer and actual presentations may occur up to six weeks later, permitting the staff an opportunity to seek references and investigate. That is most likely the rationale the third consultant did not appearing for the presentation.

I checked with six cities and found two worthy of contact regarding the consultant who selected. These include, South Miami and Pompano Beach Florida.

Auditing

City auditors don’t enhance transparency. The legislative body and city manager create an air of transparency within the organization and to the public. Both are essential for openness. While the City of Pembroke Pines is contemplating the installation of an internal auditor that would report to the city commission, other cities such as Fort Lauderdale have very successful audit programs that report to the city manager. Joy Cooper thinks she is a strong mayor and wants to continue her controlling methodology and the resulting revelation; was the invention of a referendum under the guise of transparency and protecting the public interest. Do you sincerely think an auditor who reports to the commission will be permitted to actually present information detrimental to the city’s image?

Additionally, the cost of $150,000 to fund the office is unrealistic. First, the auditor will need an additional employee to type reports and answer the phone. Although simply a guess, this figure could easily be approximately $80,000. Throw in an additional $20,000 for office supplies, computers and other equipment and the program could easily reach and cost the taxpayers a quarter of million dollars each year.

While city manager, I conducted numerous audits which were typically led by Mark Antonio. We frequently audited cell phone bills, certain types of expenditures, travel, and conducted numerous types of analyses of various categories of expenditures. This may be possibly an assumption on my part, but I would gather that Mark Antonio or another manager will also conduct his own audits. Therefore, a question arises with the Joy Cooper concept of the auditor reporting to the commission; will this preclude the city manager from conducting their own audits even if they compete with the commission auditor or if the manager believes the commission is spinning the wheels in the wrong direction?

Furthermore, positions that are employed under sunset provisions are effected by numerous adverse conditions. I will only allude to one herein which is the most serious. Creating a sunset provision will reduce the number and quality of applicants. Professional applicants are typically not seeking short-term employment that has a definitive ending date. Should an applicant accept the position under a sunset provision, they would undoubtedly seek other employment before the sun sets. For the sake of discussion, let’s say an applicant remains employed for a year and seven months, and then leaves the organization. Can you imagine the applicant pool for a position that will essentially lose funding in less than a year and a half? If the commission is desirous of extending the sunset provision, then a second referendum will be required. Logistically, the path you are currently traveling, will end in a nightmare.

Lastly, auditors that investigate financial operating matters are typically specialists. A city employed auditor will not be capable of conducting an operations audit of the department of public works, unless the individual has experience within the functions and operations of the department. In other words, one has to understand the operations and functions before they can logically conduct an audit. You cannot send anyone in to conduct an analysis of sanitation routes without prior routing experience.

Instead, the more diligent approach would be to hire an external auditor who specializes and has prior experience for the projects of commission interest. These fees may range, as I’m sure you are aware, from $40,000-$200,000 per audit, but the commission can spread the projects over a multi-year program. Utilizing this methodology- will not require a quarter million dollar annual expenditure and the program can be aborted, reduced or intensified based on time related need. Consider long-range flexibility instead of solving what may be a short range (term) problem.

The commission may first determine a list of audit projects for an external auditor. You should next prioritize the list then seek proposals. The auditors should submit a comprehensive proposal and the cost for all projects and for each one separately. This way, the commission can pick and choose based on costs and need. Each auditor must be required to provide a list of references where they have performed similar categorical audits in the past. Make sure you have a commitment for specific individuals that will perform the audit and that the proposals include resumes. They often include resumes of certain staff that meliorates the quality of the proposal with no real intention of actually providing the noted staff.

The not so final other suggestions and comments:

1. Consolidate the department of public works and utilities under the leadership of one director. There is a potential saving herein of over $150,000.

2. Change the city code of ordinances so, as in the past, the purchase or sale of real property must be approved by the city commission. No city manager should have this authority. Expediency to make deals is not a rationale to avoid commission approval and public notification. I would have never accepted this authority. Public notification protects not only the city and commission, but also the manager.

3. Consider not opening a public facility on North Beach and instead seeking proposals to establish a restaurant wherein the city can gain revenues. We are in a recession and new facilities require additional staffing, supplies and equipment and the cost of utilities. At one time, the current owners of the Diplomat inquired about constructing a tiki bar on Hallandale Beach. Possibly they would still be interested and, if I recall correctly, the projected revenues to the city were substantial. The current owners of the Hallandale concession facilities may also be interested. Whatever route you undertake, first understand the cost when entering into a new project or program. In other words, has anyone determined the cost of opening and maintaining the North Beach facility? After all, the building has been sitting there for over three years.

If you intend on not staffing the facility but simply earning rental income, I would still conduct a cost analysis to determine cost-benefit.

4. Eliminate, or at the least, reduce the weekly mayoral propaganda report in the Sun Times. This cost the taxpayers approximately $50,000 a year and is unnecessary. Additionally, why does the city not receive reduced rates for multiple submissions? Check the rates of any newspaper or magazine and you will determine substantial savings for multiple submissions. As a matter of information, the Hallandale Digest permitted the city to include articles at no cost. Lastly, why are other commission members not taking turns writing city updates in the paper? In the past, all commissioners took a turn but now it appears we have turned into a strong mayor form of government. If you are going to continue, then I suggest all commissioners be permitted to participate. The council-manager form of government is predicated upon the “unity of powers theory”. The power is vested within the entire commission, and not a single member. When commissioners act independently, they create “checks and balances”.

As a matter of record, funds budgeted for the weekly mayoral propaganda report are funded within three separate account categories, including–advertising, miscellaneous services, and contingencies. Budgeting funds in three separate categories for a single purpose–creates the illusion of deception. I suggest you choose “advertising” and budget all of the funds into that account code.

And remember; don’t let Joy Cooper bully the commission. The mayor has no more power than any other Commissioner.

Thanks to City Manager Mark Antonio for giving the city a major boost in transparency, by producing the monthly invoice report. In October, 2002, Joy Cooper made a motion to eliminate this and other monthly reports.  “An open government is a more respected government.” R.J. Intindola

Respectfully Submitted: RJ Intindola

I can be contacted at: http://cmrji.com/

Or email:OnePublicManagement@cmrji.com

August 6, 2010

Another Joy Cooper lie: this time as it relates to red light cameras.   Lies-Lies-Lies

Today, our site and blog received the following e-mail concerning some of our best public servants in this country. Teachers.  It appears they care more about the future of our country than the governor and the Georgia Department of Education. This is not asking for additional monies, but is simply asking for monies already owed to  the Cherokee County School Board. We urge everyone, not only from Cherokee County, but from the entire country to support this initiative. Don’t let states divert monies for education simply because it’s an easy political out for them. Let them know, education has a strong constituency.

If we do not act now, the possibility of increased class size, discontinuing art and music classes, loss of bus services, charging for the ability to play in school sports programs, loss of technology, a freeze on refreshing text books, ½ day Kindergarten, and the list goes on and on, will be rapidly approaching!  This will affect the quality of your child’s education.  Please don’t think it won’t or can’t happen.  The economy did not cause this issue – Cherokee County is holding a rolling IOU totaling over $43M that the State has not paid with monies dating back to 2005! TAKE ACTION NOW! 

Join us! We are asking each Local Unit to participate in an eraser campaign –

“Don’t Erase the Future of Education”.

Take part in our eraser campaign and advocate for our children! Forward the following message to all the families and staff at your school (with your principal’s permission) and ask them to help us with this simple task immediately! 

The Eraser Campaign will run from now until to Friday, March 26, 2010. 

Please copy the attached letter and send it home immediately or via email!  

Thank you for your support! Together we CAN make a difference!!!

Local Units Boards – what to do:

1. First log on to Capitol Watch and find out who your elected officials are for your area.  (We couldn’t do this for you as not everyone in the County have the exact same representatives.)
2. Gather all the addresses that your parents will need and put in the attached letter to parents BEFORE sending it out. Send the letter home to parents immediately!
3. Please do not send one big envelope going to each representative at the Capitol; rather send several different envelopes containing used erasers so that they don’t forget us!
4. As a Local Unit, you to can collect used erasers and enclose them in an envelope and mail them to the Legislature along with the flyer attached!
5. Send reminders to parents and teachers as much as possible.  Ask your Principal if you can add a reminder to morning or afternoon announcements.

                       Thank you for your support

                      We encourage and welcome comments: CMRJ I.com And OnePublicManagement

www.cmrji.com

According to the  Atlanta Journal-Constitution, newly elected  Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed “said he wants to create what he described as an “economic development czar” who reports directly to him. That person will work to create and retain jobs for businesses in the city as well as assisting them. The mayor said it will differ from the Atlanta Development Authority because the new position “gives speed to decision-making, speed to input and speed to what problems are out there.” (ajc.com)

My recommendation to the mayor is to first  study and learn what he perceives the problems are regarding economic development before costing the taxpayers needless expenses.   And possibly the concerns he has are issues related to the planning, zoning and permitting process.  However, since he nor his the chief operating officer have any municipal government experience, how can he define the problem issues without knowledge.

Several years ago, Tony Musto ran for the Hallandale Beach Florida City Commission.  Two of his major campaign themes were controlling the budget and economic development.   Typical generic  issues used by not previously elected candidates.  These issues sound good to the public and candidates are rarely confronted to be accountable for their comments.    When he was elected, at the first  meeting where he was sworn into office one of his first comments was the city should think out-of-the-box in regards to economic development.  As city manager, I wondered what he knew about the city’s efforts in regard to economic development because he had never discussed the matter with me, nor to the best of my knowledge with anyone else employed by the city. Furthermore,  he was an attorney and although he held a position as an Assistant County Attorney for a short period, I any knowledge he had of government  was simply from a legal standpoint.   He most certainly did not have any management experience.

It seems that many times, new commissioners and elected officials speak before they have knowledge and background considering any given subject.  Such was the case with Mr. Musto.  The city in the previous two years before his election, had increased its assessable taxable value the equivalent to the previous  eleven years.   Although economic development enhanced the city’s higher  assessable value, by no means was it the catalyst for the resurgence of development.

 The city was 95 percent built-out with relatively few recently constructed buildings.  Planning and zoning restrictions virtually eliminated any incentive to redevelop or to renew the municipality.  Economic development and redevelopment only occurred after numerous changes were made to the comprehensive plan and zoning codes.  The plan provided incentives, including in some cases monetary to redevelop or improve outdated property.

  Atlanta is facing a similar dilemma in regard to economic  development.  An extremely old housing base, and dilapidated buildings in the lower income neighborhoods.  This  also includes the coommercial structures.  The code needs to be reevaluated and updated to provide incentives for redevelopment and renewal.  No economic development czar as Atlanta Mayor Reed refers to the position, will make a positive impact  without first defining the problems  preventing development.  I realize, the mayor is beating the political drum because  he has certainly no knowledge of the problem.  Too bad for the taxpayers of Atlanta.

PS:  Within four months of my retirement from the city of Hallandale Beach, they inserted an Economic Development Coordinator into the 2002/2003  budget.  I had rejected Commissioner Musto’s suggestion for  the previous year’s budget.  During the period the individual was employed, no new economic development entered the city as a result of his efforts.  I have confirmed this with several parties.   But the taxpayers paid  nearly a quarter million  dollars over the next few years to fund the position and related expenses.  The position was eventually eliminated from the budget for the lack of progress.  How much needless money will of the taxpayers of Atlanta  dole out as a result of the mayor’s ignorance?

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