Return of the Skate Park

They’re baaaack.

The Bountiful City Council is apparently going to make another special interest group happy and spend everyone else’s money on a pet project.   The project, this time, is a skate park.

As expected Councilman Pitt is leading the charge.  It seems totally impossible for him (or the council) to say ‘no’ to anyone (especially if they persistently whine).  An  August 10th article states:

After a number of weeks of uncertainty — even among members of the Bountiful City Council — it looks like the council is still committed to building a skate park. Only the big question now is, “Where?”
So it looks like it is a done deal and peoples hard earned tax money will be used for another dubious “quality of life” issue which will benefit the few at the cost of the many.

In the same paper the above article was it, there was, additionally a letter to the editor from a kid (I hope) whining that the city lied and didn’t build his skate park.  After bleating for several paragraphs, Keith concludes:

I am tired of the hassle of making trips out to Park city, Sugarhouse, Layton, or Clearfield to use their excellent skate parks. I want Bountiful city to make good on their word, and build a great skate park, without waiting until I am 50 years old and am too old to use it.

Well Keith, if it is so important, why didn’t you and your group start fund raising instead of taking all that time getting the city council to blow money taken from low-income families, the elderly, the disabled and the vast majority of hard working families who will never use your precious park?

Ignoring illegal immigration

I took a look at the SL Trib today and right on the front page was a Democrat (Rep. Karen Morgan) pushing for a repeal of the Utah’s instate tuition program for illegal immigrants.  The article further states that Rep. Morgan would like to see Utah adopt Colorado’s recent reforms to curb the impact illegal immigrants have on the state.  Frankly, I’ve been told that Rep. Morgan is actually a pretty good legislator.  So, first of all, Thank you Rep. Morgan!  Second, thank you Colorado (and Gov. Bill Owens) for providing the example!

This article, however, brings to light an important issue.  Republicans (both in the State Legislature and the US Senate), better wake up.  Democrats (although not many) are getting the hint on immigration reform.  Conservative Democrats could certainly pose a serious challenge to Republicans who consider themselves safe.  At the state level, we’ve been warning Republican legislators about the immigration issue for years.  They, for the most part, have not listened and it looks like it may cost them.  For example, as I understand it, Rep. Morgan is within reach in her race.  In light of her stance on immigration, I’m pretty confident she’ll beat the Republican.  I’ll go further, as a conservative, I would be more than happy to vote for a conservative Democrat (especially one ready to take on illegal immigration) over a weak-kneed RINO, which we have plenty of in Utah.

Last year, a good piece of legislation came up.  It would require employers to verify the social security number (using free ICE and Social Sec. Admin programs) of those they employed to stop ID theft.  While I’m uncertain of the statistics, it could have help law enforcement capture fugitives or anyone else wanting to hid their identity when obtaining a job.  Sounds great, right?  Well, the program’s effect would also stop illegal immigrants from getting certain jobs (they need forged/stolen SSN’s to get the job).  The Hispanic lobby and  businesses which cater/support the illegals threw a fit.  The ‘race card’ was played and, unlike Colorado, our Republican dominated legislature turned tail and ran.

In the end, I don’t know if Rep. Morgan would have lost without taking this stance, but the Republicans can probably forget gaining this seat in next year’s legislative session.

Israel and the Hezbos

Just a quick thought today.

I wish people would quit whining about Israel defending itself.  The fact of the matter is that the Hezbos started this whole incident by killing and kidnapping Israelis.  They’ve been a vicious terrorist organization which has killed, tortured and kidnapped as SOP.  The islamofascists continue to lob missiles into civilian areas of Israel where, unlike Hezbollah doctrine, no offensive weapons exists .  Hezbollah, in the meantime, has intentionally placed and launched its weapons near civilian areas.  An editorial cartoon in a local paper is an excellent depiction of what I mean (see below).  Of course, the vast majority of the media blindly laps up the Hezbollah propaganda when Israel hits their emplacements.

Face it, Israel is doing us a favor by taking these terrorists out.  The Hezbos have already stated they plan on targeting Americans (and the west, in general).  Note, that is not a change in their policies, just a reiteration.  Lets not forget the USMC and French paratrooper barracks in Beirut in 1983.  Additionally, getting rid of Hezbollah could provide for a truly free Lebanon.

In my opinion it is critical that Israel be allowed to finish the job.  Otherwise, no matter how bloodied it is, Hezbollah will claim victory and, frankly, score a significant political and propaganda victory.  Unfortunately, Hezbollah can count on the main stream media to guaranty such a victory, should Israel pull back.  Such a victory would only increase the terror threat to the world.

“Hezbollah In Hiding”