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Private Citizens Perform $4 Million Road Repair Job For Free in 8 Days
This is what happens when you really leave the government, and the unions, out of fixing roads. Something that all states, cities, counties, towns, should look at closely?
Note to all, after doing some checking, I found out this actually happened a bit over 3 years ago.
Anyone who thinks we need government to build and maintain roads may want to consider Kauai residents don’t wait for state to repair road:
Their livelihood was being threatened, and they were tired of waiting for government help, so business owners and residents on Hawaii’s Kauai island pulled together and completed a $4 million repair job to a state park — for free.
Polihale State Park has been closed since severe flooding destroyed an access road to the park and damaged facilities in December.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources had estimated that the damage would cost $4 million to fix, money the agency doesn’t have, according to a news release from department Chairwoman Laura Thielen.
“It would not have been open this summer, and it probably wouldn’t be open next summer,” said Bruce Pleas, a local surfer who helped organize the volunteers. “They said it would probably take two years. And with the way they are cutting funds, we felt like they’d never get the money to fix it.”
And if the repairs weren’t made, some business owners faced the possibility of having to shut down.
Ivan Slack, co-owner of Napali Kayak, said his company relies solely on revenue from kayak tours and needs the state park to be open to operate. The company jumped in and donated resources because it knew that without the repairs, Napali Kayak would be in financial trouble.
“If the park is not open, it would be extreme for us, to say the least,” he said. “Bankruptcy would be imminent. How many years can you be expected to continue operating, owning 15-passenger vans, $2 million in insurance and a staff? For us, it was crucial, and our survival was dependent on it. That park is the key to the sheer survival of the business.”
So Slack, other business owners and residents made the decision not to sit on their hands and wait for state money that many expected would never come. Instead, they pulled together machinery and manpower and hit the ground running March 23. Watch the volunteers repairing the road »
And after only eight days, all of the repairs were done, Pleas said. It was a shockingly quick fix to a problem that may have taken much longer if they waited for state money to funnel in.
“We can wait around for the state or federal government to make this move, or we can go out and do our part,” Slack said. “Just like everyone’s sitting around waiting for a stimulus check, we were waiting for this but decided we couldn’t wait anymore.”
Thielen has been waiting, too. She wants the legislature to approve her Recreation Renaissance project, a $240 million booster shot to help fix parks across the state. Without it, at least five state parks may be forced to close, and there would be no emergency repair money to fix Polihale State Park.
“We shouldn’t have to do this, but when it gets to a state level, it just gets so bureaucratic, something that took us eight days would have taken them years,” said Troy Martin of Martin Steel, who donated machinery and steel for the repairs. “So we got together — the community — and we got it done.” See photos of the volunteers working to repair the road »
The park is a fixture on the west side of the island and a favorite spot for many in the area, but it’s also a hub for tourists.
“Tourism is our lifeblood. It’s what pays all of our bills,” Slack said. “The money that pours in comes from tourism is really an important factor for everyone here in Hawaii, and it’s such an important time to encourage tourism.”
And it’s an important time to keep jobs, which were threatened if the park had to remain closed. In February, Kauai’s unemployment rate was at 9.1 percent, up from 2.8 percent during the same time in 2008, according to Hawaii’s Department of Labor.
“I think it’s crucial to say the doors are open, everyone is ready,” Slack said. “So when one of the most important parks in Hawaii is closed, it really changes things.”
Now, because of their hard work, volunteers hope they’ll be ready to send that positive message — right in time for the tourist season.
Slack said he likes to have business up and running by April 15, and the season gets busy around May 1.
The business owners and residents are hopeful that their generous contributions in time and resources mean the park should officially open soon. Pleas says they have only to get the new bridge certified and do minor cleanup.
“A lot of people are quietly sitting by, waiting for it to open,” Slack said. “This really this is one of the nicest parks in the state and in all of Hawaii, in the entire state parks department. Now, hopefully, those people get their wish.”
It is a complete myth to believe we need government to manage roads. Throughout history, it has been common for private merchant associations to take care of municipal infrastructure. They did so not for altruistic reasons, but simple to maximize their own profit by maximizing traffic.
Anyone still wondering how their tax dollars are going to be wasted, here is your answer: $4 million for a job that private business can do for free in 8 days. Government contractors are already drooling after the insane profits they will be making off of overpriced stimulus deals.
From HERE.
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Your standard hateful lefties!
Falsely Accused Tea Party Member Now Receiving Threats
ABC’s Brian Ross may have apologized for linking Colorado Tea Party member James Holmes to the alleged violent “Batman” shooter who killed 12 and wounded 59 others in the early morning hours today, but that hasn’t stopped threats against Holmes from rolling in.
More from Twitchy
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A pair of grape scissors in their case. Victorian dining etiquette dictated that it was incredibly rude for diners to touch food with their fingers. Grapes were a popular dessert item and were only allowed to be touched once they had been properly cut with a pair of scissors. The trendsetting book ‘The Manners and Tone of Good Society’ stated that ‘When eating grapes, the half closed hand should be placed to the lips and the stones and skins adroitly allowed to fall into the fingers and quickly placed on the side of the plate, the back of the hand concealing the manoeuvre from view.’
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Now I like this as a nice nod to the killings in Colorado. I hope you also like it.
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What do you say when a horrific murder spree takes place and you have a chance to speak to millions of people on CNN only hours after the act occurred? Well, if you’re a so-called Reverend you’d think the answer would be clear, that is, unless the man of the cloth Left is Jesse Jackson.
Here is marble mouth Jackson teaming up with fellow gun control activists Mayor Bloomberg and CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Kate Bolduan. In the other corner: Newt. Guess who wins handedly? What’s your solution if not gun control? they ask Newt: “It starts by focusing on the criminal.”
Watch the battle:
Above found HERE.
(makes me wonder, who puts these clips up on youtube, and then how do some sites find them? must find the answer to that)
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Arguing with Liberals: Another MSNBC Showdown…
Regular readers may recall my tangle on MSNBC’s “The Ed Show” back in June, which featured a spirited 3-on-1 political throwdown. Round two came last night, as I joined guest host Michael Eric Dyson, “political comedian” John Fugelsang, and in-house political analyst Jimmy Williams for a conversation about President Obama’s “you didn’t build that” comments. The discussion rapidly degenerated into a fevered stew of “racist dogwhistles” and Nazi comparisons. Here’s the video — two segments — with additional commentary to follow:
A few ironies and assorted notes:
(1) Reminder: Conservatives are not taking Obama out of context on his comments about business and success. Charles Krauthammer’s epic column today reinforces this point magnificently.
(2) Williams began by angrily stating that Republican attacks on Obama amount to racial and religious “code,” designed to tickle the ears of their bigoted supporters. He inveighed against birthers and people who say (or imply) that the president “unAmerican” as evidence of this phenomenon. Fugelsang then ponderously asserted that “the use of the word unAmerican is unAmerican in itself,” adding that only “fascist” societies use that sort of language. Dyson nodded in enthusiastic agreement. In the very next segment, Dyson called Michele Bachmann “unAmerican” without a hint of shame or reluctance.
Finish reading everything HERE.
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Here is your standard liberal bullshit from a liberal site run by the worst damn liberal there is, george soros!
Dear MoveOn member,
We all woke up to the tragic news of the killing of at least 12 people and the wounding of many more at a late-night screening of the new Batman movie in Colorado.
Reports indicate that the disturbed individual who committed this horrifying act had a bulletproof vest, used some kind of gas canister, and had multiple guns when he opened fire in the crowded theater. A three-month-old is among the injured.
We are immeasurably sad for those who lost their lives, those wounded, and their families—and for all those who experienced the horror of those terrible moments. Let our thoughts and prayers go out to them today.
We’re also so angry. From children’s lives lost in school shootings, to Trayvon Martin, the Representative Gabrielle Giffords attack, and this latest slaughter of innocents, we are not safe from gun violence.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns has been campaigning to put a stop to senseless gun violence like this with commonsense measures, like fixing gun checks to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. They’ve started a petition in SignOn.org to demand action on ending gun violence.
Sadly, it often takes moments like these to bring politicians to their senses about guns. And while signing a petition seems so inadequate in the face of what happened last night, it’s important to do what we can. Today that means taking a small step toward preventing this kind of tragedy from happening again.
Sign the Mayors Against Illegal Guns petition to our leaders: “Join me in standing with the victims and families of the Aurora, Colorado shooting and pledge to end gun violence.”
The people who died at the Colorado theater last night are only 12 of the 34 people statistics tell us will die from gun violence today—and among 190,000 murdered with guns since the attack on Representative Giffords in Tuscon.
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Why we have to clean out our government of all, and I do mean All, liberals and commies and lefties and democrats.
Mohamed Elibiary was reported to have accessed classified information after the DHS provided him a secret security clearance and Gohmert asked Napolitano to investigate it in 2011.
Today Gohmert is asking for the results of that investigation and when he begins asking the tough questions of Napolitano, making a connection between Elibiary and the Muslim Brotherhood, she goes all Islamophobe and refuses to directly answer the question. But Gohmert isn’t settling for an answer from Napolitano on the insinuation that she believes Gohmert is making that Eliebiary is a terrorist, he just wants a yes or no answer and continues to interrupt her, yelling at times, until the time runs out.
Wow. You just gotta see this:
Found HERE.
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Installed: A pregnancy test dispenser, in a Minnesota bar, by a nonprofit
Onion-Like Headlines In Real Life
How to make sangrita – Mexico’s version of the Bloody Mary.
NBA jerseys are likely to feature ads, starting in 2013.
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Damn! Atheists will take any opportunity to press for their cause! But the liberal media will pass on this story.
“May the Lord bring them comfort and healing in hard days to come,” President Obama said at the end of his speech today, referring to the victims of the Batman shooting in Colorado and their families. By doing so, he “ben[t] the rules” against government establishing a religion, according to the Center for Secular Humanism.
“I think it’s a little unfortunate,” CSH director Tom Flynn told The Washington Examiner. “Even in a situation like this, [when] he leads a public prayer to a deity that it pretty recognizably the Christian God, much as you can understand the emotional context of it, he’s still sending to some degree a message of exclusion to other religions who don’t call their god “Lord” and to non-religious Americans.”
“By the very act of praying, that’s a message of exclusion,” he continued. “If I’m a public official, I think I’m going to look around in the morning and conclude that, ‘hey, this religion thing is just too hot to handle, I should stay away from it in my official capacity.’”
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Boycott Those Gay Hating Bastards At Chick-Fil-A!
Have you eaten at White Castle recently? Or caught a movie at Regal Cinemas?
If so, you may be unwittingly helping finance right-wing attack ads.
That’s because many of the country’s most common brands are run by rich conservatives who are using their personal wealth to bankroll outside spending groups that are running attack ads smearing progressives.
From Marriott Hotels to Brawny paper towels, and from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Coachella music festival, corporate executives at these organizations have given millions of dollars to groups like Mitt Romney’s Super PAC Restore Our Future.
Some corporations, like Waffle House, give direct donations to conservative attack ad groups like Karl Rove’s American Crossroads.
And? And nothing else! The article simply lists the top 25 consumer brands that bankroll right-wing attack ads according to Think Progress. Though, I strongly suspect we’re supposed to boycott them!
That’s how things work now, extortion. It’s the Chicago way…err…the Obama way.
Disagree with us and you’ll be punished!
Well, not all of you. Isn’t Regal Cinemas is a major distributor of George Clooney’s films?
Ok, all must be punished except Regal. There must be some explanation for their contributions to that Super Pac.
Oh, and don’t forget to spare the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s one of the few pleasures Jack Nicholson has left.
But, everyone else better beware. Punishment will be swift!
Read it all HERE
(I would love to see some conservative come out publicly that all those who are not haters, to go and support Chick-Fil-A….)
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Our narcissist president can not give a speech without ever mentioning himself, to draw attention to himself!
From the official White House transcript:
THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me, first of all, say how grateful I am for all of you being here, and how much we appreciate everything that you’ve done. I know that there are a lot of people here who have been so engaged in the campaign, have sacrificed so much, people who’ve been involved back since 2007. (Applause.) And so I want all of you to know how appreciative I am.
And I know many of you came here today for a campaign event. I was looking forward to having a fun conversation with you about some really important matters that we face as a country and the differences between myself and my opponent in this election. But this morning, we woke up to news of a tragedy that reminds us of all the ways that we are united as one American family.
By now, many of you know, many of you have heard that a few miles outside of Denver in a town call Aurora, at least 12 people were killed when a gunman opened fire in a movie theater, and dozens more are being treated for injuries at a local hospital. Some of the victims are being treated at a children’s hospital.
We’re still gathering all the facts about what happened in Aurora, but what we do know is that the police have one suspect in custody. And the federal government stands ready to do whatever is necessary to bring whoever is responsible for this heinous crime to justice. (Applause.) And we will take every step possible to ensure the safety of all of our people.
We’re going to stand by our neighbors in Colorado during this extraordinarily difficult time. And I had a chance to speak with the Mayor of Aurora as well as the Governor of Colorado to express, not just on behalf of Michelle and myself, but the entire American family, how heartbroken we are.
Now, even as we learn how this happened and who’s responsible, we may never understand what leads anybody to terrorize their fellow human beings like this. Such violence, such evil is senseless. It’s beyond reason. But while we will never know fully what causes somebody to take the life of another, we do know what makes life worth living. The people we lost in Aurora loved and they were loved. They were mothers and fathers; they were husbands and wives; sisters and brothers; sons and daughters, friends and neighbors. They had hopes for the future and they had dreams that were not yet fulfilled.
And if there’s anything to take away from this tragedy it’s the reminder that life is very fragile. Our time here is limited and it is precious. And what matters at the end of the day is not the small things, it’s not the trivial things, which so often consume us and our daily lives. Ultimately, it’s how we choose to treat one another and how we love one another. (Applause.)
It’s what we do on a daily basis to give our lives meaning and to give our lives purpose. That’s what matters. At the end of the day, what we’ll remember will be those we loved and what we did for others. That’s why we’re here.
I’m sure that many of you who are parents here had the same reaction that I did when I heard this news. My daughters go to the movies. What if Malia and Sasha had been at the theater, as so many of our kids do every day? Michelle and I will be fortunate enough to hug our girls a little tighter tonight, and I’m sure you will do the same with your children. But for those parents who may not be so lucky, we have to embrace them and let them know we will be there for them as a nation.
So, again, I am so grateful that all of you are here. I am so moved by your support. But there are going to be other days for politics. This, I think, is a day for prayer and reflection.
So what I’d ask everybody to do, I’d like us to pause in a moment of silence for the victims of this terrible tragedy, for the people who knew them and loved them, for those who are still struggling to recover, and for all the victims of less publicized acts of violence that plague our communities every single day. So if everybody can just take a moment.
(Moment of silence.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. I hope all of you will keep the people of Aurora in your hearts and minds today. May the Lord bring them comfort and healing in hard days to come.
I am grateful to all of you, and I hope that as a consequence of today’s events, as you leave here, you spend a little time thinking about the incredible blessings that God has given us.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: We love you, Obama! (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
END
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Sorry Christianity, again you are ignored by our president! And still he supports those who KILL and TORTURE Christians worldwide!
In a statement, President Obama commemorated the Muslim holiday of Ramadan — calling it a time to “cherish family, friends, and neighbors, and to help those in need.”
“On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I extend our warmest wishes to Muslim Americans and Muslims around the world at the start of Ramadan,” Obama said.
Obama also took the opportunity to tie in the struggles of people across the Muslim world engaged in ongoing fighting related to the Arab spring uprisings that began in 2011.
“This year, Ramadan holds special meaning for those citizens in the Middle East and North Africa who are courageously achieving democracy and self-determination and for those who are still struggling to achieve their universal rights. The United States continues to stand with those who seek the chance to decide their own destiny, to live free from fear and violence, and to practice their faith freely. Here in the United States, Ramadan reminds us that Islam is part of the fabric of our Nation, and that—from public service to business, from healthcare and science to the arts—Muslim Americans help strengthen our country and enrich our lives,” Obama said.
“Even as Ramadan holds profound meaning for the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims, it is also a reminder to people of all faiths of our common humanity and the commitment to justice, equality, and compassion shared by all great faiths. In that spirit, I wish Muslims across America and around the world a blessed month, and I look forward to again hosting an iftar dinner here at the White House. Ramadan Kareem,” Obama said.
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Daily Kos Blames America First for Aurora Shooting More bullshit and lies from the ever civil liberal assholes at kossy world.
Feel-Good Vid: Two armed hoodies try to rob internet café — Run for their lives when Grandpa Justice fires his concealed weapon at them Since this is not what liberals want to hear and see, you will not know about this from the liberal media (unless they make jokes) Oh, and see the story that ends this post.
Report highlights emails from Fort Hood shooter to al-Qaeda cleric
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Here is your standard liberal who can not understand anything that is against his liberal notions.
Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert said Friday that the shooting in Aurora, Colo., made him “wonder” whether an armed moviegoer “could have stopped this guy more quickly” — a comment New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg called “one of the more nonsensical things you can say.”
“It does make me wonder, you know, with all those people in the theater, was there nobody that was carrying? That could have stopped this guy more quickly?” Gohmert said in an interview on The Heritage Foundation’s “Istook Live,” former Rep. Ernest Istook’s radio show, according to a transcript posted on his congressional website. “I mean, in Tyler, Texas, we had, in my hometown, we had a shooter come in over a domestic matter and just start shooting people, and it was a guy with a concealed carry. He got killed, but his shooting at this guy caused him to run and no doubt saved a lot of lives. He was a real hero.”
CBS News’s Bob Schieffer asked Bloomberg, in a Friday interview set to air in full on Sunday’s “Face the Nation,” to respond to Gohmert’s comments.
“You know, to arm everybody and have the Wild West all the time is one of the more nonsensical things you can say,” Bloomberg said, according to an excerpt released by CBS. “I don’t know what [Gohmert’s] motives are, I don’t know him and I’m not here to impugn him or anybody else. It just does not make any sense. The bottom line is if we had fewer guns, we would have a lot fewer murders.”
”Do you really think that you’d be safe if anyone in the audience could pull out a gun and start shooting? I don’t think so,” Bloomberg added.
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