By DR. LARRY MOSES
No one asked me but…U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, formally of the Republican Party, was re-elected to the Senate from Alaska as a write-in candidate.
While Murkowski never gave up the party, the party gave up Murkowski. In a situation similar to what happened to the Republican Party in Nevada, the Tea Party took over the Republican primary and nominated a right wing radical as the party candidate.
The moderate Republicans in Alaska did not desert their principles or their party to support the Democrat. Instead, they mounted a write-in campaign for their more moderate choice. By entering the race as a write-in candidate, Murkowski split the vote three ways and she won a majority of the vote and saved the Senate seat for a moderate Republican.
Had those infamous 200 prominent Republicans in Nevada done the same thing for our state the outcome of the election may well have been different and we would have had one more moderate voice in the Senate.
The hopes that Harry can be moved to the center have already gone the way of the do-do bird as he has announced his plans to introduce legislation to end “Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell.” While Mitch McConnell has indicated he is willing to compromise, Harry has indicated he will not budge on earmarks. Senator Reid refuses to move on the issue of extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and will insist on the passage of The Dream Act. All of these actions are in opposition to the 200. If anyone believes Harry or Pelosi are moderating, I would like to talk to him or her about some swamp land in Florida.
No one asked me but…Governor Elect Brian Sandoval has gone to Washington to talk to Harry Reid about $500 million dollars the state has borrowed from the federal government. Interest payment on the loan will be $102 million dollars over the next two years. By 2011, the state borrowing will have reached $825 million dollars. So much for the Law requiring a balanced budget.
I would have paid money to see Governor Sandoval asking Senator Harry Reid for money to help him balance the State budget. The budget was the major issue in the campaign between Sandoval and Rory Reid. I wonder if Sandoval said something like, “I just beat your son for this position. Rory was foolish enough to think he was smarter than me when it came to the budget. Look Harry, with a few hundred million I can make your kid look even worse than the landslide election did.”
Harry Reid, the most powerful Senator in America, has it within his power to postpone the interest payment or have the debt forgiven. Senator Reid can have the federal government cover the $215 million dollars of the states cost of Medicare, the free health care program for the poor, blind, disabled and some of the elderly. Michael Wilden, director of Nevada Health and Human Services Department, said he would have to make large cuts if the feds do not pick up the $215 million in Medicaid costs. Come on, Harry, we re-elected you because of your power. It may be time to prove us right.
No one asked me but…Welcome to the Clark County School District, Mr. Dwight Jones. The new superintendent will be facing $150 million dollar shortfall for the fiscal year that starts next July 1. The outgoing superintendent Walt Rulffes has left Mr. Jones with the pleasant task of cutting about 2,000 jobs to balance the budget for the 2011-12.
District officials have stated they will fight any attempt of the Governor to take funds from the District’s capital fund budget to balance the general operating fund expenses of the district. The District gave the state $25 million last year to balance the budget and they are not inclined to part with any of the $900 million left.
If the district were smart, it would allow the state to take the money with the stipulation that it be spent for the District’s general operating expenses. However, if they do this, they can kiss goodbye any attempt to pass a bond issue in the future.
No one asked me but…John Tyner, a 31-year-old software programmer was flying to Fargo, North Dakota, from the San Diego International Airport. He never made it. He opted out of a full body scan, and declined a patted down by TSA security telling the agent, “I don’t understand how a sexual assault can be made as a condition of my flying.”
The whole incident was recorded on his iPhone.
After the initial incident, he was escorted to the American Airlines ticket counter, where he received a full refund for his flight.
That’s where the matter escalated. TSA officials ordered him to return to the security inspection to complete his screening even though he now had no intention to fly. He refused. During the incident, the TSA agent explained to the passenger that he gave up certain rights when he purchased his airline ticket, adding, “This is not a sexual assault.”
Mr. Tyler replied, “It would be if you weren’t the government. I’m not comfortable having a gentleman touch my groin.”
According to a ruling by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, “Requiring that a potential passenger be allowed to revoke consent to an ongoing airport security search makes little sense in a post 9/11 world. Such a rule would afford terrorists multiple opportunities to attempt to penetrate airport security by ‘electing not to fly’ on the cusp of detection until a vulnerable portal is found.”
Tyner now faces a possible $10,000 fine.
None of this is much of a concern for me, as I do not fly. However, watching a TSA official, on the evening news, paw a three year old child in a manner that would have gotten him arrested for child molestation under any other circumstances was disturbing to say the least.
It is amazing people will pay what they pay to fly and are treated as they are. It is time to stop harassing the average passenger of the airlines and center on those people who are most likely to be involved in terrorism. Little children and old women are not likely to be looking for a plane to blow up.
The terrorists must be laughing to see the havoc they have created in the world.
Thought of the week….If you have to borrow money, borrow it from a pessimist – they don’t expect it back.
