Aug 03, 2008 | 05:24 PM PST
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"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." George Washington
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves." William Pitt in the House of Commons November 18, 1783
"We must all hang together, or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately." Benjamin Franklin at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicity. Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address.
"We, the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution." Abraham Lincoln
"The Constitution of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed and that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of press." Thomas Jefferson
"Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and show the world that a free man, contending for his liberty on his own ground, is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth." George Washington, July 2, 1776
"A generous parent would have said, 'if there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." Thomas Paine, Common Sense
"Posterity, you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that ever I took half the pains to preserve it." John Adams
"The way to have safe government is not to trust it all to the one, but to divide it among the many, distributing to everyone exactly the functions in which he is competent....To let the National Government be entrusted with the defense of the nation, and it's foreign and federal relations..... The State Governments with the Civil Rights, Laws, Police and administration of what concerns the State generally. The Counties with the local concerns, and each ward direct the interests within itself. It is by dividing and subdividing these Republics from the great national one down through all it's subordinations until it ends in the administration of everyman's farm by himself, by placing under everyone what his own eye may superintend, that all will be done for the best." Thomas Jefferson
"We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our selection between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debts as that we must be taxed in our meat in our drink, in our necessities and comforts, in our labors and in our amusements, for our callings and our creeds...our people.. must come to labor sixteen hours in the twenty-four, give earnings of fifteen of these to the government for their debts and daily expenses; and the sixteenth being insufficient to afford us bread, we must live.. We have not time to think, no means of calling the mis-managers to account, but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow suffers. Our landholders, too...retaining indeed the title and stewardship of estates called theirs, but held really in trust for the treasury, must...be contented with penury, obscurity and exile.. private fortunes are destroyed by public as well as by private extravagance.
This is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle becomes a precedent for a second; that second for a third; and so on, till the bulk of society is reduced to mere automatons of misery, to have no sensibilities left but for sinning and suffering... And the fore horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in it's train wretchedness and oppression." Thomas Jefferson
PATRICK HENRY
"The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun."
"Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?"
March 23, 1775:
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
www.poedpatriot.blogspot.com
Jun 09, 2008 | 02:24 AM PST
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So here's the new city council - Leonard, Beane, Martin, Klein, Gilbreath, Price, DeLeon.
I put them in that order for that reason. They're together...Leonard, Beane and Martin, but they didn't get the gang of four they needed. I am very glad Armando Gonzales didn't get in.
I'm hoping for the best with Martin. Klein does some dumb stuff, like the baggy pants, but I don't think he'll walk step for step with Leonard, Beane and Martin. I know Gilbreath is good. Good to see Price won. I can't stand DeLeon, but she doesn't matter now with her buds gone.
I didn't like the previous gang of four, but they'll be nothing compared to if Gonzales won. Then again, aren't we just waiting for the indictments to come next? I don't think it'll be two years until the next city election!
I also doubt my life will really change much at all from one mayor to another. I'm glad the city employees have an association. I don't like unions, though this one looks like it is one, but I heard working under Martin, at least from a few years ago, was pure hell. I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt, but I think we've got ourselves some smart city employees. Please don't let any city attorneys join.
May 12, 2008 | 08:13 PM PST
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It is hard to believe that a candidate for Mayor that is under investigation by the FBI can get elected into office...handlely! Wake up Lubbock! I hope everyone enjoys the next two years of Uncle Tom's way of doing business...there goes the neighborhood!
Considering Moving to Tahoka,
cdhguns
Apr 28, 2008 | 02:48 PM PST
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I was talking with my neighbor the other day about how easily a third-party candidate could win the mayor's race. A real third-party. Nothing against those other two guys, but they're not going to win.
I do think Roger Settler and the other guy could force a runoff which would get even uglier.
All of Martin's baggage makes me want to not vote for him. Take Martin out of that sentence and replace it with Miller and it means the exact same.
I think of David I'm not going to raise your taxes Miller from two years ago. Then I think of Tom I'll keep changing my take on the insurance debacle every few days Martin.
Frankly, I think Miller is at least a little safer bet, since he seems to have wised up lately. Even Martin said he can't guarantee no tax hike. I wonder if anything will come out of the whole FBI Investigation.
I just know if Gary Boren really just violated city charter on some minor offense, he wouldn't have left the council. I didn't pay much attention to politics then, but any political person resigning is big and caught my attention. I wonder, and that's all just wonder, if Tom Martin was just close enough to Boren to also need to be on the way out.
I really wish we had another option. Right now, it's a lose-lose situation.
Apr 11, 2008 | 07:19 AM PST
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Looks like this mayor race is getting very interesting. Miller says the
FBI has investigated former council members. He didn't say who, but I'm
guessing Martin is who he's aluding to.
Martin says Miller's telling a lie. I remember when Miller said he
wouldn't raise our taxes before he ran. I think both are telling a fib at some time.
There's no other option out there. I know working-class people at city
hall who hated having Tom Martin there. But though they didn't pass any
real tax hikes, what happens if we keep this council.
Things sound kind of bad for some previous members. I don't know which
way to go for the next council. Paul Beane on 950 right now sounded
good,but now he's throwing out some crazy accusations. Sounds like of
like his old newscasts in the 70s.
Mar 21, 2008 | 04:39 PM PST
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I wonder why anyone in their right mind would want a seat on Lubbock's City Council. I want to hear just one admit, it's all about power and satisfying the ego. It has to be. It certainly isn't the pay - $25 bucks a month, a little more for mayor. I never have a problem finding a parking space at city hall so that reserved spot isn't a draw. No, it's power and ego - under the guise that they're giving back to their neighbors. Let me tell you, the neighbors could care less. They sign recall petitions, nod their heads while listening to some radio blowhard go on and on, bellyache about taxes and don't vote. In the past few months, I have asked David Miller, Tom Martin, Linda Deleon, Jim Gilbreath and Gary Boren - why do it? All gave a politically correct response. No, no, not one said this satisfies my ego. I didn't ask Phyllis Jones why she decided after four years that enough is enough. She took plenty of grief from those in the peanut gallery and behind the big chairs and the brass nameplates on the dais. I bet it wasn't fun anymore. Her ego has been stroked and pummeled enough. Thanks Phyllis - sorry if we kicked you around. I do appreciate your service because, ego aside, you made sacrifices - for $25 bucks a month. As for those of you running for election or re-election - you're nuts.
Mar 17, 2008 | 11:41 AM PST
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I'm surprised I haven't seen more talk about this problem with the democratic party nationally. There's this huge hoopla about what to do with Florida and Michigan.
First, there's people who still talk about this being a scam by the government. These people still don't realize primaries aren't government elections. These are private votes.
But if this party can't run a simple private election, why should we trust them with much more important issues? If they're incompetent to run a vote, I know Obama and Clinton aren't the solid choices.
I'm slowly warming to McCain.
Jan 24, 2008 | 05:09 PM PST
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Every election there's somebody or something that truly amazes me. This
year I've been pretty impressed with all the supposed conservatives
who've jumped on the Huckabee bandwagon. This guy's raised taxes like a
tax-and-spend liberal. He's also big on limiting freedom.
But back here to Lubbock, how dumb is Ysidiro Gutierrez? The guy calls
out his opponent for his signage. Maybe it is against the state laws.
I'm not sure. That could be a violation. Is it something that he'll be
kicked out of the race for? No.
So what do I need to do to beat my opponent if I'm Ysidiro? Probably
the last thing is plaster my opponent's signs over every single news
outlet. What's a good thing for a politician? Experience. This whole
thing lets Ysidiro show the voters his opponent has a history in the
position, obviously experienced.
What's next? Is Ysidiro going to call out a council person again? Just when you thought we had at lease one normal local government. Wow
Jan 22, 2008 | 08:59 PM PST
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I see one of the advisory committees is recommending to take down the red light cameras. I'm a little bit cooler on this issue now. I'm quite certain everything is going to work itself out now.
Why?
The Council has heard enough. They just needed someone to tell them. I don't honestly expect the other advisory group to also vote this way, but it's a possibility. After all, it is the photo enforcement committee. If they vote to pull the cameras then there's no reason for the committee. I'm not sure, but I bet most people on that board like being on a committee.
Either way, the Mayor said he'd listen to the committees. We already know Leonard and Klein oppose them for two very different reasons. I bet Gilbreath also votes to take them down.
I can't wait for next month's city council meeting. This whole snafu will be done with. Now if we can only get to election day and vote a few of those people out.
Also, I see the recall people are at it again. Here's an idea: Roger Settler should get a job. For being a political activist, he sure isn't very active when it comes to getting results. Just like Armando Gonzales was doing the last recall because he wasn't personally tied to any decisions, then talked about his son owning that night club. As much as I don't like how DeLeon votes I sure don't like these recall people. They tried, it failed. Oh well. Enough ranting for one day.
Jan 10, 2008 | 09:17 PM PST
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I really wadn't ever interested much in politics. Sure, taxes always catch my eye when I pay them. But this red light camera discussion caught my ear on radio and made me want to watch the news to see what would pan out.
I thought they might be a good way to stop red light runners. I've been hit by a red light runner. It was just a fender bender (i drive a large truck). But I now see the data is clear.
It may be tough to ever admit defeat, but that's exactly just what the city council needs to do. It was John Leonard who said these were just for money. He was right. But even he was wrong, because he said they would find a way to get the money. I bet they could, but for now they're not producing money. It's time to give up on these cameras and try to get back on track.
Dec 20, 2007 | 07:12 AM PST
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The headlines show exactly what's wrong with this city. City staff and the leaders down there are worried about what art can be shown. Have you ever been to the First Friday Art Trail?? There isnt just hundreds of kids running around.
At the same time, there's people in sw Lubbock who are driving on dirt roads and want to be heard.
Waht do you think is more important...art or roads. Let the artists worry about the art and let the city handle what it should...roads.
I wonder if Lubbock's leaders can get an entire section in the Bum Steers!
Merry Christmas everybody
Dec 13, 2007 | 02:32 PM PST
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Am I the only one who thinks it's a no-brainer that we should be voting on the funding of the soccer fields in southwest Lubbock?
We can either
A-let Council decide on increasing our tax rate
B-let me and you decide on increasing our tax rate
I don't know much about soccer. I really don't care for the sport. But if there's thousands of kids playing the sport in organized leagues, seems like there is a demand. While this isn't infrastructure, I guess we could build the fields
After all, in 2004 we approved buying the land! If we've spent that money, doesn't make sense to not use the land at this point.
Either way, I don't like the way that some people hear a one-cent increase on the tax rate and just say 'no big deal.' Add just a few more projects and that's just a few more cents...where does it stop?
I don't mind if citizens approve a tax rate...much better than us having no say.
Nov 02, 2007 | 10:25 AM PST
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Let's see...they've raided a lingerie store, arrested the Chippendales and now will measure butt cracks. No wonder there is so little confidence in Lubbock's city council. The proposal by councilman Todd Klein to "crack" down on sagging pants is ludicrous at best and just ridiculous. It has Bum Steer Award written all over it. The schools can write a policy to control this because it distracts from the educational environment. But if I want to show off my underwear and all the major parts are covered, who is being hurt? I actually wear my pants hiked up just under my chin, but I'll defend this fashion trend as freedom of speech and expression out on the streets. Those who wear their pants just above the ankles look hideous and stupid...but hey...it's their right. Councilman Klein...get real...tackle something of substance.
