Obama puts IAFF ahead of Stimulus, smacks down Dem gay Mayor ... The U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting starting today had been built around mayors having face-to-face access to federal officials, but with President Obama’s team abruptly pulling out last Friday because of likely union protests against Mayor David N. Cicilline, the focus of the conference has changed. Thomas Cochran, executive director of the organization, says that the revised convention agenda will reflect a focus on the economy and how it is affecting urban budgets. It will take a critical eye toward the implementation of Obama’s stimulus plan, and mayors will also be frank in their discussion about the administration’s “boycott” of the conference, according to Cochran. (projo.com)
Financially troubled SEIU brings $$ millions to advertise for tax hikes ... The state’s biggest labor union is launching a $1-million TV advertising campaign promoting new taxes on the oil, tobacco and liquor industries in hopes of dissuading lawmakers from adopting the deep social services cuts proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Republican lawmakers and Schwarzenegger have vowed not to raise taxes to bridge the state’s projected $24-billion deficit, but officials with the Service Employees International Union hope the 30-second TV ad being aired around the state will drum up support for higher levies on certain industries. (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
SEIU protects criminal incompetence, malicious neglect ... Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato fired seven workers at the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center yesterday as part of an investigation into the suicide attempt of an inmate last month. Mr. Onorato said the investigation continues. He threatened to close down the facility if another incident like last month's suicide attempt occurs. "If this type of negligence continues, I will not hesitate to close the facility," Mr. Onorato said, adding that he has notified state officials of his actions. Officials of the Local 668 of the Service Employees International Union, which represents Shuman workers, expressed concern about the terminations in a news release last night. "The fact that Chief Executive Onorato has threatened to close and privatize the facility may be a violation of state labor laws, and the union will be reviewing the statements released to the media. It also appears that the county may have violated workers rights to union representation during the investigation," the union said. (post-gazette.com)
Local ACORN probe urged ... A Delaware County lawmaker is asking his colleagues to co-sponsor a House resolution urging the state attorney general to investigate ACORN, an organization whose members are charged with voter registration fraud in Allegheny County and elsewhere. "I believe the activities of this organization have raised significant questions, and my resolution asks that ACORN be investigated by the attorney general to determine whether they are in compliance with the law," Rep. Stephen Barrar, a Republican, wrote in a June 3 memo made public Wednesday. (pittsburghlive.com)
Understanding Alinsky, Obama ... Allow me to highlight three more problems with Alinsky’s religion: entitlement theology, Orwellian language tools, and tricknology. Entitlement theology: Bob’s school is better than Harry’s. Harry’s park is better than Sue’s. Sue’s house is better than Sally’s. The entitlement theologian first tells his subjects that the grass is always greener on the other side. Europe’s socialistic healthcare is better than America’s (if we ignore filthy hospital floors and beds). Therefore, we’re entitled to a European-style system (and the taxpayer worker ants must pay for it). Or: the Catholic school up the road is better than my public school. Therefore, the middle classes must pay to fatten public school bureaucrats. Entitlement theologians sell envy, or psychological hunger. Obama’s children, however, are entitled to a private school education. Orwellian language tools: Of course, entitlement theology relies on words and symbols. But Obama’s Orwellian toolbox is his greatest strength and weakness. Emotional trigger words abound: change, hope, unity, fairness, equality, peace, justice. But what happens when you’re single, unemployed and find your “hope” in a bottle? Or, what happens when you’re literally looking for “change” to eat? Obama’s “wise Latina” Supreme Court pick is pure Alinskyism. Tricknology: Saul Alinsky said: "I don't consider revolution a nasty word. Changes are caused by a series of revolutions. There is no evolution without revolutions. And there have been no revolutions without conflict.” However, in crafting his philosophy, Alinsky highlighted minority rights as opposed to responsibilities. In his worldview, certain groups were children. Dress them up. Tell them to do silly things and fire them up. Meanwhile, the community organizer lives in relative comfort. Anger is channeled in only one direction. (familysecuritymatters.org)Bonus links:
• Summary of Saul Alinsky's 'Rules for Radicals'
• More Saul Alinsky stories: here
• 'Rules for Radicals' at amazon.com
Investigators scratch the surface of P2P pension corruption ... A private equity firm caught up in the ongoing state pension fund scandal has agreed to repay the state pension fund $30 million. Riverstone Holdings LLC also agreed to enact a "code of conduct" pushed by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. It bans the use of paid middlemen to help win public pension fund business and restricts campaign donations. Cuomo said Riverstone was a joint venture partner with the Carlyle Group, which last month agreed to a $20 million settlement. After having little success getting state pension fund deals, in 2003 Riverstone and Carlyle retained a company tied to then Controller Alan Hevesi's chief political consultant, Hank Morris, Cuomo said. After retaining the firm, Searle & Co., the firms won $530 million in total investment commitments from the pension fund. In exchange, Carlyle paid Searle & Co. more than $10.6 million, 95% of which went to Morris. (nydailynews.com)
Gov't-union strikers lack respect ... I was going to a baseball tournament for my young son and there are CUPE strikers screaming, frightening children. They were horrible, yelling in the face of a woman picking up garbage with her children. I am an educated person who is working in a professional atmosphere where I don't get post-retirement benefits. I have an idea for CUPE. Why doesn't it put its union dues toward post-retirement benefits for your new hires? And, to the woman who said that CUPE is striking for our children, I hope the career path my children choose will be respectable. (canada.com)
Trapped in the dump by strikers ... A Windsor woman and her diabetic husband say they are fed up with striking city workers after he was trapped at the public garbage depot for more than three hours on Wednesday morning. "You think they have the right to do this, to stop the people for three hours like that?" said 64-year-old Vincenza Miceli. Vincenza's husband, Domenico Miceli, set out alone from the family home around 8:45 a.m. with two bags of trash in his minivan. He'd intended to make a quick drop-off at the Central Avenue depot. Vincenza said the delay forced her husband to miss medical appointments, including one with the family doctor about a recent episode of low blood sugar. Domenico said that when he arrived at the depot, he didn't realize CUPE pickets were delaying vehicles trying to exit. (canada.com)
Rep. James Clyburn placed on Dirty Money Watch ... WHO: Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act (aka Card Check). WHAT: Clyburn received the following dirty money: Communication Workers of America (PAC) $10,000 in 2008 election cycle; $10,000 in 2006 election cycle. Boilermakers Union (PAC) $5,000 in 2008 election cycle. American Federation of Government Employees (PAC) $2,000 in 2008 election cycle; $1,500 in 2006 election cycle. The Service Employees International Union (PAC) $10,000 in 2008 election cycle; $10,000 in 2006 election cycle. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (PAC) $5,000 in 2008 election cycle; $15,000 in 2006 election cycle. WHY IT'S DIRTY: WHY IT'S DIRTY: Multiple officers and members of these unions, including division presidents, secretary-treasurers and business managers, have been convicted since 2001 of felonies ranging from embezzlement, falsifying official reports to government, mail fraud and conspiracy. The Communication Workers of America and the American Federation of Government Employees have had eight convictions, The Service Employees International Union has had nine convictions and The Boilermakers have had 10 members convicted, while the IBEW has had 14 members convicted. The amounts of embezzled funds range from over $5,000 to over $100,000. PMA Group (Paul Magliocchetti and Associates) is primarily a defense lobbying group based in Washington D.C. that was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) last year. In total, PMA Group's employees and its political action committee have given current members of Congress $3.4 million since 1989, with 79 percent of that going to Democrats, according to OpenSecrets. WILL CLYBURN GIVE IT BACK?: Rep. Clyburn did not respond to The Examiner's request for comment. THE SCORE: Number of Democrats who have given it back: 0 • Number of Republicans who have given it back: 0 • YOUR TURN: You can reach Rep. Clyburn's Washington D.C. office at 202-225- 3315 (washingtonexaminer.com)
Labor-state organizers get non-union workers to strike ... Laborers employed by a roofing company that’s working on Target Center’s green roof project went on strike Thursday, claiming they’ve been forced to work in unsafe conditions. The employees of Fridley-based Stock Roofing Co. are demanding that Stock recognize their right to unionize. They also claim Stock has forced them to work on the Target Center’s roof “without proper safety harnessing and other protective gear,” according to a statement released by the workers. Roofers and Waterproofers Union Local 96, along with the striking workers, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board regarding working conditions at the site. Stock Roofing employees are not currently affiliated with Blaine-based Local 96, said Robb Leer, a spokesman for the workers. (twincities.bizjournals.com)
Militant military machinists continue strike ... Workers on strike at Vance Air Force base said their employer is now using scare tactics to get them back to work. About 800 people walked off the job Monday after rejecting a new contract with CSC Applied Technologies. Striker Bud Lewis said he has walked a picket line in front of the base every day this week. He said that he and other union members who voted to strike said they're only asking for what's fair. "From seniority to bidding rights, the right to strike," he said. "We've been working on it for decades and all of a sudden it will be gone." Strikers said that an ad running in an Enid newspaper is advertising jobs that were left open by the walkout. A union official said the ad is immoral. (koco.com)Strike fallout spreads ... Training planes remained grounded at Vance Air Force Base on Wednesday as a strike continues between union workers and the base’s primary contractor and three subcontractors. Nearly 800 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 898 walked off the job early Monday morning as the union’s three-year contract with CSC Applied Technologies expired. Union members voted late Friday to strike against CSC, PRI/DJI, DenMar Services and M1 Support Services. The strike is now cutting into services on the base, public affairs chief 1st Lt. Angeta Murnan said. (newsok.com)Rep. Jim Costa placed on Dirty Money Watch ... WHO: WHO: Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), a co-sponsor of The Employee Free Choice Act (aka Card Check). WHAT: Costa received the following dirty money: American Federation of Government Employees (PAC) $1,000 in 2008 election cycle; $1,250 in 2006 election cycle. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (PAC) $10,000 in 2008 election cycle; $10,000 in 2006 election cycle. Service Employees International Union (PAC) $3,000 in 2008 election cycle; $1,500 in 2006 election cycle; PMA Group (PAC) $2,000 in 2008 election cycle; $3,000 in 2006 election cycle. WHY IT'S DIRTY: Multiple officers and members of these unions, including division presidents, secretary-treasurers and business managers, have been convicted since 2001 of felonies ranging from embezzlement, falsifying official reports to government, mail fraud and conspiracy. The Communication Workers of America and the American Federation of Government Employees have had eight convictions, The Service Employees International Union has had nine convictions and The Boilermakers have had 10 members convicted, while the IBEW has had 14 members convicted. The amounts of embezzled funds range from over $5,000 to over $100,000. PMA Group (Paul Magliocchetti and Associates) is primarily a defense lobbying group based in Washington D.C. that was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) last year. In total, PMA Group's employees and its political action committee have given current members of Congress $3.4 million since 1989, with 79 percent of that going to Democrats, according to OpenSecret. WILL COSTA GIVE IT BACK: Rep. Costa did not respond to The Examiner's request for comment. THE SCORE: Number of Democrats who have given it back: 0 • Number of Republicans who have given it back: 0 • YOUR TURN: You can reach Rep. Costa's Washington D.C. office at 202-225-3341. (washingtonexaminer.com)
Leftwing Tree-Killer plays News Union favoritism ... Washington Post Co. union members approved a new two-year contract today that will protect 25 percent of newspaper employees from future job cuts without taking their seniority into account. The Washington-based publisher may identify 25 percent of employees it wants to protect from job cuts without regard to length of tenure, a switch from contracts that stipulated the newest hires must be let go first, according to the union’s Web site. “It seems that the Washington Post is trying to chip away at seniority rules,” said Gary Chaison, a professor of industrial relations at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. “The newspaper could protect only the lower paid employees, for instance.” (bloomberg.com)
Top 10 Ways Hugo Chávez Is Harming America ... 1. The alliance the Venezuelan leader made with Iranian President Ahmadinejad has opened up Latin America to fundamentalist Iran. 2. Chavez’s promotion of Islamic terrorism through increasing links with Hizballah and Hamas is sending Islamic terrorists to the U.S. border. 3. Cutting off links with the U.S. drug enforcement agencies and turning Venezuela into the main drug distribution center for Andean cocaine going to the U.S. and Europe complicates U.S. anti-drug efforts in Latin America. 4. Promoting petroleum production cuts and price increases within OPEC is contributing to the global economic downturn. 5. His creation of a regional political and economic anti-U.S. bloc places increasing pressure on an already over-extended list of U.S. foreign policy priorities. 6. A $6 billion acquisition of sophisticated weapons from Russia and China has altered the balance of military power in the region, increasing the probability of a major hemispheric crisis. 7. His financial and political oxygenation of Cuba has extended the life of the Castro dictatorship. 8. His alliance with the Colombian terrorist army FARC represents a clear act of aggression against the political stability of the region. 9. Chavez’s financing of the extreme left presidential candidacies of Ollanta Humala in Peru, Andres Lopez Obrador in Mexico, the Farabundo Marti Front in El Salvador and the Sandinista Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua is part of a global anti-U.S strategy. 10. His well-financed campaign of recruiting U.S. organizations and individuals to his cause, either through material rewards or ideological seduction is undermining U.S. society. (humanevents.com)International Collectivism
Chávez collectivizes Venezuelan society ... Venezuela on Thursday completed its takeover of 52 gas compressor and electrical generator units operated by U.S. oil service company Exterran as part of a nationalization drive by President Hugo Chavez. Chavez, a fierce foe of U.S. influence who calls Cuba's Fidel Castro a mentor, has increased state control over broad swaths of Venezuela's economy including telecommunications, oil and steel assets in his drive to install a socialist model. (reuters.com)
Chávez mysterious restoration ... ON APRIL 11th 2002 nearly a million people marched on the presidential palace in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, to demand the ousting of Hugo Chávez, the elected president whom they accused of undermining democracy and causing the creeping “Cubanisation” of the country. As they neared the palace, violence broke out, 19 people were killed and over 150 wounded. Dramatic video footage aired by an opposition television station appeared to show chavista gunmen firing on the unarmed demonstrators. In confused circumstances, the army announced that Mr Chávez had resigned. The next day Pedro Carmona, the head of the private-business federation, swore himself in as “transitional” president at the head of an ultra-conservative government, and announced the scrapping of the constitution. This prompted riots by supporters of Mr Chávez. Less than 72 hours after he was ousted, the leftist president was restored to power by loyal army units commanded by General Raúl Baduel. (economist.com)
