Schmitz Tax Fails

Well folks the tax and spender Todd Schmitz and his Democrat friends have failed again to add a ½% sales tax to Fond du Lac County. Below is the story from The Reporter. Notice Schmitz proposed the tax then voted against it. Sound like some one else from the Democratic Party (John Kerry, “I voted for the 87 billion before I voted against it.”)

Here's some advice folks, "Never Allow Todd Schmitz TO Be Elected To Anything Again!"

These types will tax us to death and beyond if possible.


County Board turns down sales tax
The Reporter Staff

A half-percent countywide sales tax received little support Tuesday from the Fond du Lac County Board of Supervisors.

The proposed sales tax was voted down, 33-3, with County Board supervisors Jerry Keifenheim, Jenna Saul and Paul Levandowski voting for it.

County Board Supervisor Todd Schmitz, who proposed the sales tax, asked other County Board supervisors to vote against it. He said he wanted the County Board to discuss the issue but would vote against it himself.

Schmitz originally proposed the sales tax to help fund Rolling Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 1155 S. Military Road, but the County Board voted 27-9 earlier in the meeting to close the doors of Rolling Meadows and to create a new 24-bed nursing home facility inside a wing of the Health Care Center, 459 E. First St.

County Executive Allen Buechel said he would not veto a sales tax if the County Board passed it.

The half-percent sales tax, if approved, would have raised an estimated $6.1 million per year.

Just wanted to share this picture of my daughter Holly. Taken in 2004 in Appleton at the airport.

Holly is the current Chair of The Fond du Lac County Republican Party and Co-chair with myself of the Fond du Lac County Mark Green for Governor campaign.

Vote Mark Green for Governor 2006

Daddy why are we at war?

For all the liberal press, I have never heard a better analogy of U.S. aggression.

Nobody wants to see our troops have to go to war but someone has to do it. The other day, my nine year old son wanted to know why we were at war... My husband looked at our son and then looked at me. My husband and I werein the Army during the Gulf War and we would be honored to serve and defend our country again today. I knew that my husband would give him a good explanation.

My husband thought for a few minutes and then told my son to go stand in our front living room window.

He said, "Son, stand there and tell me what you see?" "I see trees and cars and our neighbors' houses," he replied.

"OK, now I want you to pretend that our house and our yard is theUnited States of America and you are President Bush.

" Our son giggled and said, "OK." "Now, son, I want you to look out the window and pretend that every house and yard on this block is a different country," my husband said. "!

OK Dad, I'm pretending." "Now I want you to stand there and look out the window and pretend you see Saddam come out of his house with his wife, he has her by the hair and is hitting her. You see her bleeding and crying. He hits her in the face,he throws her on the ground, then he starts to kick her to death. Their children run out and are afraid to stop him, they are screaming and crying, they are watching this but do nothing because they are kids and they are afraid of their father.

You see all of this, son.... what do you do?" "Dad?" "What do you do, son?" "I'd call the police, Dad."

"OK. Pretend that the police are the United Nations. They take your call. They listen to what you know and saw but they refuse to help. What do you do then, son?"

"Dad....... but the police are supposed to help!" My son starts . "They don't want to, son, because they say that it is not their place or your place to get involved and that you should stay out of it," my husband says.

"But, Dad... he killed her!!" My son exclaims. "I know he did... but the police tell you to stay out of it. Now I want you to look out that window and pretend you see our neighbor who you're pretending is Saddam turn around and do the same thing to his children."

"Daddy... he kills them?" "Yes, son, he does. What do you do?"

"Well, if the police don't want to help, I will go and ask my next door neighbor to help me stop him," our son says.

"Son, our next door neighbor sees what is happening and refuses to get involved as well. He refuses to open the door and help you stop him," my husband says. "But Dad, I NEED help!!! I can't stop him by myself!!"

"WHAT DO YOU DO, SON?" Our sons starts to cry. "OK, no one wants to help you. The man across the street saw you ask for help and saw that no one would help you stop him. He stands taller andpuffs out his chest.

Guess what he does next, son?"

"What, Daddy?"

"He walks across the street to the old lady's house and breaks down her door and drags her out, steals all her stuff and sets her house on fire andthen... he kills her. He turns around and sees you standing in the window and laughs at you .

WHAT DO YOU DO?"

"Daddy...." "WHAT DO YOU DO?" Our son is crying and he looks down and he whispers, "I'd close the blinds, Daddy."

My husband looks at our son with tears in his eyes and asks him.

"Why?"

"Because, Daddy... the police are supposed to help people who need them... and they won't help... You always said neighbors are supposed to HELP neighbors, but they won't help either... they won't help me stop him... I'm afraid.... I can't do it by myself, Daddy ...... I can't look out my window and just watch him do all these terrible things and do nothing ... so ..... ! I'm just going to close the blinds ... so I can't see what he's doing . And I'm going to pretend that it is not happening.

" I start to cry. My husband looks at our nine year old son standing in the window, looking pitiful and ashamed at his answers to my husband's questions. He says.... "Son....."

"Yes, Daddy?"

"Open the blinds, because that man...... he's at your front door... "WHAT DO YOU DO?"

My son looks at his father, anger and defiance in his eyes. He balls up his tiny fists and looks his father square in the eyes, and withouthesitation he says, "I DEFEND MY FAMILY DAD!!! I'M NOT GONNA LET HIM HURT MOMMY OR MY SISTER, DAD!!!

I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM, DAD, I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM!!!!!"

I see a tear roll down my husband's cheek and he grabs our son to his chest and hugs him tight, an says.... "It's too late to fight him, he's too strong, and he's already at YOUR front door, son... you should have stopped him BEFORE he killed his wife, and his children, and the old lady across the way.

You have to do what's right, even if you have to do it alone, before it's too late," my husband whispers.

"THAT scenario I just gave you is WHY we are at war with Iraq When good men stand by and let evil happen, son, THAT isthe greatest mistake, believing that the atrocities in the world won't affect them. "YOU MUST NEVER BE AFRAID TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT!

EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO DO IT ALONE! BE PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!
BE PROUD OF OUR TROOPS!

SUPPORT THEM!!! SUPPORT AMERICA SO THAT IN THE FUTURE OUR CHILDREN WILL NEVER HAVE TO CLOSE THEIR BLINDS...

" If your blinds are closed, do nothing with this email.

If they are open I do not need to tell you what to do.

Respectfully,
SFC JASON G. TALCOTTOPERATIONS SGT144TH ASMCALI AIRBASE, LSA ADDERDSN:318-833-1561

"Courage, Commitment, Compassion"

All I want to say is thank you SFC JASON G. TALCOTTOPERATIONS you are a hero.

The picture above could be a picture of County Supervisor Todd (tax & spend) Schmitz digging in to your pocket for cash to fund "The Todd Schmitz sales tax." We will never allow that to happen in Fond du Lac County!

Good job Peter

While reading this editorial keep this number in mind, $1,500,000.00, because this is the amount Rolling Meadows will lose over the next year if we keep it open.

Another number to keep in mind is $.00. That's the current county sales tax you pay in Fond du Lac County.

County Supervisor Todd Schmitz wants to impose a 1/2% county tax (The Todd Schmitz Tax) to offset this loss and use the $4,500,000.00 left over for other county projects.

Tax and spend thats all they know. Say no to new taxes and yes to closing a money pit called Rolling Meadows.

Posted July 14, 2006Letters: Rolling Meadows

Reader 'can no longer sit by silently'

Over the past several weeks, I have silently read the articles and letters to the editor regarding Rolling Meadows.

However, after reading some of the vitriolic recent letters to the editor, I can no longer sit by silently.

Like most residents, I neither know any current residents or employees of Rolling Meadows, but I have an interest in caring for those in need, balanced by a concern about the fiscal priorities of Fond du Lac County to maintain a competitive tax structure. I appreciate that we have County Executive Allen Buechel willing to make difficult, and sometimes politically unpopular recommendations that also balance these factors. To accuse him of "playing God" and asking "how do you sleep at night" is a shameful and pathetic way to treat a dedicated public servant attempting to do what is right for the long-term greater good of Fond du Lac County.

What suggestions have the opponents of closing Rolling Meadows come up with? Raising the sales tax 1%, moving mental health prisoners in, and, my personal favorite, selling the golf course for $20 million dollars and giving the money to Rolling Meadows.

These ideas only reinforce County Executive Buechel's original recommendation to close as the correct decision and he should be commended for his willingness to weather such a difficult storm from a vocal group that is attempting to shame and silence its opponents.

I appreciate the difficulty this presents for the remaining residents of Rolling Meadows and I urge the County Board to provide sufficient resources to handle their relocation to other homes with maximum care and dignity. However, I also urge the County Board to make the best decision for the long-term benefit of Fond du Lac County and not just listen to a vocal minority.

Peter Kujawa

Fond du Lac

Photo of the Green Team working the Campbellsport parade on the 4th of July.

Mark Green for Governor '06

Paul, Judy, Calvin, Jim, Kylie, Holly and Cary

Kevin Barrett should be fired!

The Journal Sentinel is right on the money with today's editorial

Editorial: Fiction and fact at UW From the Journal Sentinel

Posted: July 12, 2006

Kevin Barrett should not be allowed to teach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison - and it's not because a large swath of the population finds his contention on who authored the 9-11 terrorist attacks odious.

He should be barred because academic freedom doesn't mean teachers get to teach fiction as fact - even in a university.

For that, please see the blogosphere or subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Monthly. In a classroom, particularly one funded with tax dollars, the public should have a reasonable expectation that what's taught has fact and truth as foundation.

Barrett is the part-time professor who will be allowed to teach a course this fall called "Islam: Religion and Culture." This appointment sparked controversy because Barrett, who co-founded the Muslim-Jewish-Christian Alliance, has espoused the view that the Bush administration orchestrated the 9-11 attacks.

Reacting to the controversy, the university reviewed Barrett's past teachings and the course. Provost Patrick Farrell concluded on Monday that Barrett and his theory are fit for the classroom.

It was the wrong decision.

It's about that word: "theory." We don't for a second believe that Barrett views it as such.

Barrett said on Monday that students in his class would spend one week studying a variety of viewpoints on the 9-11 attacks, including that they were "probably an American operation to launch a war on Islam countries." His "probably" here doesn't do much to assuage.

The view that Americans - or Israel, for that matter - perpetrated the 9-11 attacks is very real in the Muslim world. A Pew Global Attitudes Project survey this year found Muslims believe that Arabs didn't carry out the attacks. Knowing this has value.

What doesn't have value is teaching something as patently false as the idea that the Bush administration purposely killed the 9-11 victims - even if it is taught with the word "probably" acting as convenient caveat. This is tantamount to teaching gravity probably doesn't exist or that up probably is down.

Farrell said, "We cannot allow political pressure from critics of unpopular ideas to inhibit the free exchange of ideas."

Agreed. But Farrell apparently failed to recognize the fundamental issue: standards - for what's taught and who's teaching.

Wacky ideas at universities abound. If they are taught in the context of theories among many and that some are demonstrably false, they might have some utility. We aren't convinced by anyone's assurances to date - Barrett's or the university's - that this will be the context in which this 9-11-as-American-plot will be taught.

Not only should Barrett, after review, have not been allowed to teach this course, he shouldn't have been hired to do it in the first place. No freedom, including academic freedom, is absolute. There are limits.

We have many problems with how President Bush led this nation to war in Iraq, but making the leap that his administration murdered on 9-11 crosses a line.

And the nutty professor from Madison, Wisconsin will teach that this was done by Americans. Never forget who did this to America.

They were terrorists.

September 11, 200113 photos from the horrifying day that changed the world*Warning* - some of these images are disturbing.Even seeing them, it's still hard to believe it happened.

[9:06AM Hijacked United flight 175 bears down on #2 WTC]

[9:06AM Hijacked United flight 175 about to slam into #2 WTC]

[9:06AM Hijacked United flight 175 approaches & hits #2 WTC]

[9:06AM Hijacked United flight 175 approaches & hits #2 WTC]

[9:06AM Hijacked United flight 175 impacts #2 WTC]

[Chief of Staff Andrew Card whispers the news to President Bush in Sarasota, Florida]

[President Bush's reaction to the news]

[People leap from burning WTC]

[A person watches someone below leap to their certain death from the burning WTC]

[The Pentagon, hit by hijacked American flight 77 from Dulles at 9:38AM]
[10:29AM #1 WTC begins to collapse]

[10:29AM #1 WTC crumbles]

[New York City - The aftermath]

[World reaction (Ars)] (9 pages of images, better have a hanky handy)Firsthand accounts posted [here] (Firehouse.com)
*
[Contact]

[Radified Home]

Well again the Assembly misses a chance to do the right thing.

Have the rest of you just about gotten to the end of your rope with this bunch?

I hope the Assembly members enjoy their vacation while this nut teaches this crap to our young people and tries to turn them into traitors and nuts like this wacko.

Where is the leadership? Are they all cowards?

Don't mess with the UW system?

Boy, do we need Mark Green and we need him soon!
I know he can lead us where our so-called leadership will not.

This poor-soul above made the heartbreaking decision to jump from one of the twin towers because of the nut-case terrorist, and now another nut-case from Madison wants to give them a pass and blame it on Americans. Sounds like the nut-job from Madison wants a book deal or a movie deal. It is up to us to stop this foolishness now. Make some noise and let our voices be heard.

WEDNESDAY, July 12, 2006, 2:46 p.m.
By Stacy Forster

Assembly doesn't take up Barrett issue

Madison - Members of the state Assembly did not take up a resolution denouncing the teachings of a University of Wisconsin-Madison lecturer who argues that the U.S. government
orchestrated the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and demanding his dismissal.

Rep. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) had wanted a vote on the resolution condemning Kevin Barrett's theories about 9-11 and criticizing UW-Madison Provost Patrick Farrell's decision to allow Barrett to teach a course on Islam at the university this fall.

Farrell said Monday that after a review of Barrett's records and course materials, he should be allowed to teach.Members of the Legislature didn't want to delve into a hot political issue on a day when it was supposed to be in session on limited business, said Majority Leader Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem).

said they didn't think the resolution had enough support to be brought to the floor; a two-thirds vote would have been required.Nass said he would continue to circulate the resolution and also send it to Barrett, members of the Board of Regents, UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley and University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly.

He said he will continue to press the issue."This is a no-brainer among the public . . . and the university is simply hoping this whole thing will blow away," Nass said.

Barrett said he understands the politics behind Nass' efforts but doesn't think that lawmakers have a place in dictating teaching decisions at the university.

"It's ridiculous to put so much pressure on the University of Wisconsin over an $8,000-a-year lecturer teaching one class with a tiny, small part of the class being about the war on terror," Barrett said

What is more ridiculous is making up something as stupid as Barrett has and teaching it as fact! Or even dumber is this University allowing it. They should all be fired by the taxpayers who support their wages.

Appleton's 5 year old water system in trouble.

This is an example of just how wrong thing could have been if the citizens group in Fond du Lac would not have taken on the city staff on this issue. Again thanks to all who worked on this and thanks again Concilman Thiesfeldt for taking the lead for the citizens. The whole City of Fond du Lac is the winner.

Courtesy of The Daily Reporter (http://www.dailyreporter.com).

Appleton (AP) - Taxpayers and water customers may be forced to handle expensive repair costs at a water-filtration plant that has not produced at its promised capacity five years after being built.

Safety of Appleton’s drinking water isn’t at issue, but city officials are considering spending millions on improvements, increasing water rates and taking legal action against companies involved in the $54 million project.

“The bottom line is litigation is the avenue of last resort,” said Mayor Tim Hanna.
The water plant was designed to filter 24 million gallons of water each day during summer and 18 million gallons a day in winter from Lake Winnebago when it began in 2001.

Last winter, capacity was measured at less than 10 million gallons a day. Now, capacity is close to 24 million gallons, according to Utilities Director Mike Buettner, but algae and sediment have added to the problems.

“Lake Winnebago water really changes, and those changes can be very extreme,” Buettner said. “You need to have a facility capable of treating water on the worst days.”

Former alderwoman Jo Egelhoff said Appleton officials have “failed the community” by not thoroughly scrutinizing the technology plans while the plant was being built.

“It’s leadership’s responsibility to ask the right questions, especially in response to large red flags,” said Egelhoff, who served on the Common Council from 1993 to 2003.

Most of the problems stem from the advanced filtration system, which has been prone to break down. The ultrafiltration technology was not included in initial plans for the plant, which aldermen approved in August 1997 as a two-phase project.

Price increase
But the project’s price tag grew from an original estimate of $54.3 million to $62.7 million after engineers determined more filtering was needed.

Soon after, then-Utilities Director Duane Leaf recommended the project be done in a single phase, at the original lower cost of $54.3 million and that ultrafiltration be used.

“It was presented as an innovative system,” Alderman Walter Kalata said. “The city spent a lot of money on studies, the reason being to get the brain work to help us make the right decision.”
Egelhoff said her vote for approval was based on the less-costly option.

“The issue was presented having nothing to do with the ultrafiltration technology but rather with the efficiencies of a one-phase versus two-phase approach,” she said.

The first mention of trouble to the Utilities Committee came in April 2002, according to meeting minutes.

Leaf told the panel the straws in the ultrafiltration system were breaking but that Koch Membrane Systems was providing free replacements. Later meeting records indicate the breaks peaked at more than 2,000 per month.

“We are very committed to the city and have never stopped working with them,” said Nicholas Powell, vice president for municipal business at Koch, which provide the technology. “Eventually, this plant will be just what it is supposed to be.”

Higher rates
Hanna said the city is working diligently to fix the problems.
“We are committed to continue optimizing operations to produce what we paid for at the plant,” he said.

City Finance Director Lisa Maertz said the lower capacity has prevented the city from selling water to neighboring communities to help offset costs.
Maertz said if water capacity could be improved so the city could sell water to neighboring communities as originally hoped “financially that would help us tremendously.”
Regardless of the long-term outcome, Appleton water plant customers are likely to foot the bill for added expenses to date.

A recent draft of water rates proposes overall increases of 33 percent, including 25 percent for typical households. That would amount to about an extra $80 a year, according to Maertz.
Alderman Jeff Jirschele, head of the Utilities Committee since April, said it’s important to act quickly.

“We have a challenge to meet that doesn’t leave a lot of time for casting blame and pointing fingers,” he said.

© 2006 Daily Reporter Publishing Co., All Rights Reserved.

Aren't you glad Fond du Lac will only be using well water?







Ahh the taste of fresh clean blue water free of lake sludge. Thank you Concilman Thiesfeldt and all who worked so hard to stop this project. I only wish former Concilman Mike Schmal could enjoy the taste difference.

Posted July 11, 2006 online Fond du Lac Reporter and Appleton Post-Crescent

Lake Winnebago presents problems for Appleton water plant
Algae, stirred sediment crimp capacity of filtration facility
By Steve Wideman Post-Crescent staff writer

APPLETON — Lake Winnebago, which provides a comfortable home for the state’s lake sturgeon, isn’t quite so welcoming to the latest in drinking-water filtration technology.

The water, drawn through a large pipe, has proven difficult for the city’s five-year-old water plant to treat. The result has been a $54 million plant that's not producing to the full capacity for which it was designed, presenting possible higher water rates for customers and additional investment in the plant by taxpayers.

Utilities Director Mike Buettner points to two particular challenges: algae in late summer and dirt in winter.

Both can wreak havoc on the filtration system, resulting in the breaking of thin straws used in the plant’s final treatment process, called membrane filtration.

“You have to have the power in these processes to settle out all those solids,” Buettner said.

The dirt is stirred up around Thanksgiving each year and again in the spring, Buettner said, “when the bottom of the lake literally turns over to become the top” due to changes in water temperature.

“It happens like clockwork when the water gets to be 38 degrees Fahrenheit,” he said.

The dirt-filled water combines with a third membrane filtration challenge — cold water — to create further problems. Buettner said cold reduces the water’s viscosity, or ability to flow through the straws.

The result leaves the water plant’s capacity at about 9 million gallons a day in winter versus the promised 18 million gallon capacity.

Since the plant went on line in 2001, operators have changed the various processes that pre-treat the water before it makes it to the straws. The actions, of course, depend on the fickle lake.

“In Lake Winnebago, the water quality changes seasonably and is not the same from year to year,” said Nicholas Powell, vice president for municipal business at Koch Membrane Systems, Wilmington, Mass., the firm that supplied the technology.

“It’s been a case of gradually optimizing all the (water treatment) processes together to make sure the plant works better,” Powell said.

Buettner said the problems are truly unique. “You won’t find the same water conditions anywhere else.”

Steve Wideman can be reached at 920-993-1000, ext. 302, or by e-mail at swideman@postcrescent.com.

Folks it is time for these Senators to go!

THESE ARE THE SENATORS WHO VOTED TO GIVE ILLEGAL ALIENS SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY, THESE POLITICIANS NEED TO BE DEFEATED IN 2006, 2008 OR 2010 WHENEVER THEY COME UP FOR OFFICE.

SEND THIS TO ANYONE YOU KNOW IN ANY OF THE STATES LISTED. THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES NEED TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION. THAT IS UNLESS THEY DO NOT MIND SHARING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY WITH FOREIGN WORKERS WHEN AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE BEING LEFT OUT.

Grouped by Home State the Senators who voted for giving illegals Social Security

Alabama:


Alaska:

Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Arizona:

McCain (R-AZ), Yea
Arkansas:
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
California:
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Colorado:

Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Connecticut:
Dodd (D-CT), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Delaware:
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Florida:
Martinez (R-FL), Yea

Georgia:


Hawaii:
Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Idaho:


Illinois:
Durbin (D-IL), Yea
Obama (D-IL), Yea
Indiana:
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Iowa:

Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Kansas:
Brownback (R-KS), Yea

Kentucky:


Louisiana:
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea

Maine:


Maryland:
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea
Massachusetts:
Kennedy (D-MA), Yea
Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Michigan:
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Minnesota:


Mississippi:


Missouri:


Montana:
Baucus (D-MT), Yea

Nebraska:
Hagel (R-NE), Yea

Nevada:

Reid (D-NV), Yea
New Hampshire:


New Jersey:
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
New Mexico:
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea

New York:
Clinton (D-NY), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
North Carolina:


North Dakota:

Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Ohio:
DeWine (R-OH), Yea
Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Oklahoma:


Oregon:

Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Pennsylvania:

Specter (R-PA), Yea
Rhode Island:
Chafee (R-RI), Yea
Reed (D-RI), Yea
South Carolina:

Graham (R-SC), Yea
South Dakota:
Johnson (D-SD), Yea

Tennessee:


Texas:


Utah:


Vermont:
Jeffords (I-VT), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Virginia:


Washington:
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia:

Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting
Wisconsin:
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming:

Support for FDL-GOP from one of our fine soldiers in Afghanistan.
Below are from an email I received from BU2 Mitchell J Musack~US Navy stationed in Afghanistan and I finish with the words I sent back as a reply to him.

Hello, below is my response to the Fond du Lac Reporter in regards to their attack against your right to be in the memorial day parade. I'm currently serving in Afghanistan and I would like to throw my support for your ability to be seen and heard. Please know I don't affiliate to either party, but I look forward to VETOING governor Doyle out!

Thank You BU2 Musack~US Navy

I would like to comment about Jim Kisers response to Mr. Mentzers editorial about the republican party being in the memorial day parade. First off I do recall the democrats having slanderous posters about my president during the labor day parade in 2004. Of course no editorial was made by the great Mike Mentzer. Secondly, I'm one of many soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan that defend such rights like freedom of speech. So who are you to judge Mr. Mentzer? I may disagree with some ideas and views of the republican party, but it is their right and I'm deeply offended that the Fond du Lac reporter feels it has a mandate to criticize such views. But then again, your bias political overtones are well known in this community and that's maybe why your ability to sell papers continuous to dwindle. So here's an idea, just come out and say you hate republicans and maybe, just maybe, you will truly see how popular your ideology is Mike. Frankly I think it's sad you have to play this editorial game and I believe it would only be fair to disclose what party you voted for in the last election. So please, do us all a favor and be honest with what readers you still have left. But I'm willing to bet you feel by publishing Mr. Kisers response this exonerates your political views, and it shows you really are not bias. No Mike, it still shows because there will be an editorial of Mike supporting Governor Doyle this fall. Am I Right?Mitchell J Musack

My Reply.

Hi Mitchell and thank you for your service to our great country.

Your email is one of the most important letters I have received in a long time. Your support is most humbling: to think that one of our war heroes comes to our defense from the press is overwhelming. But I am not surprised that you would do so, because you and your fellow soldiers are, after all, defending our country with your lives. I need to express my thanks to you and to tell you that anything myself or my party endure from the press is minor because I know there are more great Americans out there like you from whom we receive support and encouragement. Please express my gratitude to your fellow service men and women for their service and let them know that every one of you are in my thoughts and prayers. I thank you again.

I would like to post your letter on my blog but would like your permission to do so. Please let me know if that is agreeable to you.
Thank you and God Bless Our Troops

Jim Kiser

I'm not thrilled with the title this response was given but they did print it and I thank The Reporter for that.

Posted In The Fond du Lac Reporter July 7, 2006

Commentary: GOP leader defends using parade as campaign venue

I am writing in response to Managing Editor Mike Mentzer's column about "therapy."

You wrote that you are "angry" about Republicans being "allowed to participate" in the Memorial Day parade.

Let me understand. You are "angry" that citizens of this community want their organizations to come together to honor our war dead? You are "angry" that the very people who represent the democratic process our heroes fought to preserve might want to thank them publicly?

In your column, you attacked the Fond du Lac County Republican Party for its participation in the Memorial Day Parade. It is unfortunate that you chose this media to "unload" your anger against your ideological counterparts. The proper thing to do would have been to contact the party and express your concerns rather than spout them to a captive audience of tens of thousands of people (a whole month after the "unfortunate incident" took place).

Those of us that comprise this organization are hard-working family men and women, faithful Americans, ordinary people (not paid staff or political opportunity seekers), with a fierce love of country and a rich knowledge of America's history. Contrary to your implications, we understand what Memorial Day is all about and that is why we chose to participate in this parade.

For your own information, we followed the given rules of the parade in every way – we did not throw candy, nor did we advertise products or services. However, "playing politics" is your own therapeutic term, not to be found in our parade instructions.

We entered the parade to join our community in honoring the fallen and to show that Republicans do indeed remember the tremendous sacrifices that have been made over the years in the name of our nation. How do you think we have received the right to free speech and the right to assembly (such as in a community parade)? Isn't it only because of these same fallen heroes that we have a democratic and free election process?

We also went to the parade representing these same views held by our candidates for office who were not able to be present to show their thanks to our American heroes in person. How can Mark Green possibly be in 72 county parades at one time? How can people know his stance if we do not convey it for him? Mark Green is a tremendous lover of country and has great respect for our war dead and our veterans of war, as well.

Who are you to dictate who should be "allowed" to participate and who should not? Is it possible that you are using our deceased war heroes and Memorial Day to lash out against a party that you do not support?

I do not know if the Democrat Party had a float in the parade, though I would hope they did. I believe they should have been afforded the right to have one if they chose to do so.

If you would have contacted the Republican Party, we could have explained this to you in person, but rather, you chose to see things as you wanted to see them and then mischaracterized our intentions without even knowing what they were.

If you truly are "angry" over this, Mr. Mentzer, you are probably in need of some real therapy.

Jim Kiser is vice chair of Fond du Lac County Republicans and Fond du Lac co-chair of Green for Wisconsin.

More great thoughts by Calvin

Posted July 2, 2006 in The Fond du Lac Reporter

Perhaps Founders weren't liberals

America's founders were liberals? Let's review:

Jefferson: "You seem…to consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions; a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy." Would Jefferson appreciate activist judges forcing gay marriage and eminent domain on Americans?

Hamilton: Armies "can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their own rights and those of their fellow-citizens." Spoken like a true NRA man.

Washington: "Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness — these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens … Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice?" He opposed religion influencing America? Yeah, right.

Madison: "It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood." Sounds to me like an indictment of big-government liberalism.

Samuel Adams: "He who is void of virtuous attachments in private life is, or very soon will be, void of all regard for his country. There is seldom an instance of a man guilty of betraying his country, who had not before lost the feeling of moral obligations in his private connections." "Clinton only lied about sex," anyone?

Some "liberals" those Founding Fathers were.

Calvin Freiburger

Fond du Lac

Keep'em coming Calvin