The Hayseeds blog, No. 260 for the week starting June 8, 2008.
May 25, 2008
Hayseeds No. 259
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Hayseeds No. 260
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Hayseeds No. 260
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That's how Paul Krugman is describing our country as we proceed into the general election.
He says government must rethink how they regulate credit default swaps and other derivatives in the market.
Apparently she's trying to get more contracts from the state, and by buying the house at a market up, has helped line the pockets of Boss Bruno and his son.
Apparently David Soares promised several top Spitzer administration officials that in exchange for their testimony, that none of the information would become public, despite Soares' claims to the contrary.
While the legislature has passed the must-do budget bills and contract bills, it seems little more has gotten done when it comes to Paterson's agenda for the state.
We knew the Presidential campaign was just about to get very dirty.
After fighting it, he claims that his office was just doing due dillegence before complying with the law.
He feels that the current law in the City of Albany requiring to people to be 18 years of age to buy spray paint, broad tip markers, and other instruments used in graffiti should be expanded county-wide and that there should also include a permanent registry of all those purchasing markers or spray paint.
The concern prompting this legislation is that kids are traveling outside of the city to buy spray paint in Colonie, and then bringing it back to the city to deface city property. This law would not kids from traveling to Schenectady or Rensselear to buy spray paint to deface buildings, if they wanted to do as such.
Then again, sometimes people under age-18 have legitimate reasons for buying spray paint. They might need to use rustoleum for example to stop rust on their truck. They might have a classroom project they are working on, or a something else they need to paint quickly.
The idea of making people register to buy spray paint or markers is just creepy. We don't need the government compiling more information on people. Spray paint isn't that destructive, and if we are concerned about vandalism, then we need more police and cameras to ensure troubled neighborhoods don't just avoid graffiti but also violence.
They will be discussing pros-and-cons of various methods of capping property taxes.
Rural areas in the south clearly went for Clinton, while cities approved more of Obama. Some interesting insights on why the primaries worked out the way they did.
They have the ability to bring out moderate and new groups of voters that both parties have not been able to reach in the past.
There is a new book about traveling US Route 20 from coast to coast:
Many Americans have long dreamed of driving from one side of the country to the other to experience what the nation really has to offer. And while there are many possible roads to travel, a new book published by a local professor focuses on one particularly historic cross-country route.
“Twenty West: The Great Road Across America” was written by Mac Nelson, a professor of English at the state University College at Fredonia, who visited The Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza Saturday to sign copies of his book and talk about its nature to travel enthusiasts.
Nelson explained that he has lived and taught on the road for more than 25 years and was always interested in it because of its history of being a great American road.
“If you follow it, you see some fascinating things and go by places where some really good stuff happened — like Emily Dickinson’s poetry — along with some really bad stuff — like the murder of Crazy Horse,” said Nelson, who noted that the route also traveled through what he considered to be the best part of America, Yellowstone National Park.
The Syracuse Post-Standard looks at the energy conservation favors Paul Tonko got for farms in his district.
Power Authority's David Weiss is FOILing emails from his previous boss as he investigates his own firing and looks for legal remedy.
While advocates have so far successfully kept from Walmart from coming to Tupper Lake, they've found an old industrial site that Walmart is suppostly eyeing.
They want all their tenants to help their communities out per federal law or leave their subsidized housing.
It looks like Bill Powers' office has been raided.
It seems that more oil wealth be used to buy another portion of the American economy.
The Assembly and Senate are continuing to work on solutions to the housing crisis.
The disgraced Congressman might have steered business to campaign donors.
Apparently, the big Hillary fundraisers have moved over to support the dem nominee.
The NY Sun is reporting the rade of Bill Powers may be part of a wider investigation of the NYGOP.
NYC had some minor problems with the past week's hot weather.
It seems last night's t-storms knocked out power to a lot of people.
This would hopefully save lives by ensuring adequate nurse staff is available, and is not overly tired and overworked.
They are suing claiming harassment from the Troy Code Enforcement for closing down the Sanctuary for Independent Media after they displayed Virtual Jihadi.
He says we should spend more money back home.
That is why the flags are half staff.
It sure must be fun to order your own raise and have a nice conflict of interest.
Apparently the fuel cells aren't such a desirable commodity anymore.
The investigations continue left and right.
It seems that they've had more bad weather out there in Iowa.
Ken Rudin looks at the the possibilities.
Malcom Smith and his boys say it's time for a property tax cap, and suggest one that's even tougher then that of the governor.
Smith tells The Associated Press he wants a tougher cap than Paterson. Smith would limit local government and school tax increases to 2 percent a year rather than 4 percent. Smith also doesn't want to give school district voters the option of overriding the cap because notoriously low turnouts mean school elections can be easily "manipulated."
It's nice to be in the minority, when all the unions can't really threaten you, as they haven't given you anything. I wonder if Malcolm Smith will have such courage to stand up to the big school unions when he becomes the Majority Leader.
It appears that the Rual Castro reigeme will no longer be enforcing equality in wages between jobs.
He apparently is going to move the DNC Headquarters to Chicago where his presidential organization can work closely with and better control the Democratic Nation Committee, which has sometimes been at odds with their Presidential candidate.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shiver are both on different sides of the political ladder and supporting vastly different candidate.
That's what Liz Benjamin is reporting.
That's what Quinipeac Poll is reporting, something that is bound to get a lot of attention of the media, and suggests a fundamental shift in the New York electorate, regardless of where you are from.
18. As you may know, Democrats hold all statewide offices and control the Assembly, while Republicans control the State Senate. Would you like to see the State Senate stay Republican controlled or would you like to see the Democrats take control of the State Senate?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Republican 35% 76% 7% 39% 46% 25% 41% 16% Democrat 51 10 86 39 41 59 44 72 DK/NA 14 14 6 22 13 15 15 12 UpState. .... UpState Age Age Urban Othr Total NYC Sub 18-44 45+ Republican 29% 38% 37% 27% 44% 32% 37% Democrat 54 44 46 62 43 58 47 DK/NA 16 17 17 11 14 10 16
That certainly is an interesting result, suggesting a real shift is underway in New York. Of particular interest is that in rural and suburban areas of New York State support a Democratic State Senate 44%-38% (with 17% undecided). Upstate put together, including urban areas, the margin goes to 46%-37%.
That's quite fascinating. It looks bad for Senate Republicans, although remember that the districts are drawn in ways that aren't exactly favorable for Democrats. Yet, it seems there is a powerful sentiment for change in the legislature, at least for the next few years.
Our state has a new policy relating to the flying of flags that states that they they should be lowered anytime a New York State soldier is fallen in memory of the fallen solder and to create greater awareness of the great cost of the war.
A lot of people in the peace community have wanted the governor to take this step, to remind people of the real cost of war, and to keep public awareness on the war. There have been 172 New Yorkers who have died in Iraq, so it seems likely, if we continue on our current course, there will be a lot of days with the flag at half mast.
It will be sad, but will make many New Yorkers ask why the flags are all lowered, and why we must continue this war.
That's how the Daily Gazette is explaining the one-time tax on residents of Colonie. The Republicans opposed the tax hike on party line vote in the Town Board, while the Democrats supported it, leaving it 4-3 passed for the home rule message.
Right now, in it's current form it's bill A.11562 Reilly / S.8496 Breslin, but since these bills where only introduced on Thursday, the legislature has not gotten a chance to act on them. The first they can touch them would be money.
You have to wonder does the town really need to be hiking taxes mid-year, and forcing people to pay for something they haven't budgeted for, or can they not cut something first? The Republicans certainly don't seem to think the tax hike is a good idea. It seems likely the voters will punish them for their misdeeds, when it's election time for them in 2009.
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