tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30564659.post6248350763485470003..comments2023-10-25T05:50:54.547-04:00Comments on Fort Wayne Left: My Encounter with Mark Souder at the Kelty Press ConferenceJohn Goodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05362896971987049810noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30564659.post-9003630573078847542007-07-23T22:10:00.000-04:002007-07-23T22:10:00.000-04:00Otto:You should READ Jeff Pruitt's posts before yo...Otto:<BR/><BR/>You should READ Jeff Pruitt's posts before you say things that make absolutely no sense.<BR/><BR/>Mike SylvesterLP Mike Sylvesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06918776704117318033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30564659.post-44608789269518754322007-07-22T13:03:00.000-04:002007-07-22T13:03:00.000-04:00Otto - slow down partner. I'll try to address thes...Otto - slow down partner. I'll try to address these one at a time. <BR/><BR/><I>What exactly makes you a "liberal"?</I><BR/><BR/>I do not believe I have ever labeled myself a liberal. If I were to choose a label it would be populist Democrat. John Good runs the site and he chose to subtitle it "a liberal perspective on local politics". If John no longer thinks I'm liberal enough to represent this blog then he's free to remove me as an author. But I'm not going to change my positions due to the title of a blog.<BR/><BR/><I>Your opposition to the school building program was completely misguided</I><BR/><BR/>You did see the results? Were we all simply misguided? And how dare we not rubberstamp whatever the out-of-touch school board demands. Nevermind they could've had $300 Million w/o a remonstrance - but <B>we're</B> to blame? Give me a break.<BR/><BR/><I>but your asskissing in regards to Aboite getting special dispensation is pathetic. What is the deal in giving Kelty a pass on 'cutting spending"? Tell me what Republican hasn't run on that old saw?</I><BR/><BR/>I've never said Aboite should get anything special and I challenge you to provide an example of that. Second, I have specifically stated that Kelty's approach to cutting the budget by 10% or zero-growth budgeting is not based in reality. You could've read that <A HREF="http://fortwayneindiana.blogspot.com/2007/07/matt-kelty-reneges-on-his-pledge-to-cut.html" REL="nofollow">here</A> had you taken the time to actually read my positions but just to save you the trouble I'll post the relevant portion:<BR/>"Back in May, Matt Kelty made a pledge that he was going to cut property taxes by 10%. Many, including myself, thought this was simply not going to be possible. Now, after Kelty appears to have come to the same realization, he has changed his tune and simply says that he will call for zero-growth in the city budget. <BR/><BR/>Well, guess what? That ain't gonna cut your taxes by 10%. And does Kelty offer up any actual plan to level spending? Of course not, it's all smoke and mirrors. Making matters worse he doesn't seem to understand the options available to local government as he thinks House Bill 1478 will some how lower the tax burden"<BR/><BR/><I>Why not call a spade a spade on this issue? Is it just coincidence that Aboite is being considered for dealing with this problem? As a responsible journalist that should be your first question!</I><BR/><BR/>I've already done that in previous posts and this particular post was not about property taxes as I specifically went to the press conference to ask Mark Souder questions on Iraq. I have my own ideas about the property tax issue and it has nothing to do w/ Aboite - I have absolutely no idea where you're getting this from. And for the record I am not a "responsible journalist" anymore than you are a "politician". I'm simply a blogger giving my opinion on mostly local issues.<BR/><BR/><I>What is most disippointing is that the people they thought who would raise a stink do more ass kissing. Shame.</I><BR/><BR/>I find it outright laughable that someone would actually accuse me of being a Kelty ass-kisser - now I've heard it all. This ranks up there with being labeled a closeted Souder supporter. You obviously haven't read hardly anything I've written but I would encourage you to do so.<BR/><BR/>For what it's worth I appreciate you taking the time to comment. I plan on continuing to conduct interviews and attend press conferences so if there's something in particular that you would like to see addressed then feel free to let me know...Jeff Pruitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01996970649630375507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30564659.post-39461358948550337892007-07-22T01:32:00.000-04:002007-07-22T01:32:00.000-04:00I gotta say, I like this Otto guy. Jeff - Your reb...I gotta say, I like this Otto guy. <BR/><BR/>Jeff - Your rebuttal?John Goodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05362896971987049810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30564659.post-26460716921689447982007-07-22T01:26:00.000-04:002007-07-22T01:26:00.000-04:00What exactly makes you a "liberal"? In a county t...What exactly makes you a "liberal"? In a county that has been controlled by Republicans for 80 years it is hard to tell what is "oppositional". In other words it doesn't take much intelligence or guts to be "left" of center in this town.<BR/><BR/> Your opposition to the school building program was completely misguided, but your asskissing in regards to Aboite getting special dispensation is pathetic. What is the deal in giving Kelty a pass on 'cutting spending"? Tell me what Republican hasn't run on that old saw? It is complete BS. He isn't gonna come out with some other plan that nobody else hasn't or couldn't propose, or else they would have. <BR/><BR/> Why not call a spade a spade on this issue? Is it just coincidence that Aboite is being considered for dealing with this problem? As a responsible journalist that should be your first question! Yea, we all hate taxes...that is a no brainer. <BR/><BR/>I worked as a tax assesor for a couple of years in Dekalb county. I will give Kruse etc credit in that they used their political power to get individual house valuations reduced. They realized that making a political pitch for an area of rich people wouldn't fly because people would ask questions. Unfortunately they were wrong. What is most disippointing is that the people they thought who would raise a stink do more ass kissing. Shame.sigmund5https://www.blogger.com/profile/17361664065145724848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30564659.post-68969982570580823362007-07-21T08:43:00.000-04:002007-07-21T08:43:00.000-04:00Souder can sure talk in circles. He seems to be b...Souder can sure talk in circles. He seems to be backing keeping 30,000 to 40,000 troops in the region indefinitely. However, he also says "<BR/><BR/>We have to look out for our long term interests in the Middle East. That includes Iran, that includes Israel, that includes not having radical Islamic groups take over Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Yemen – if the radical groups take over there we’re going to have to put five or six hundred thousand troops in the region."<BR/><BR/>I hope no politician in his or her right mind would support sending 500,000 to 600,000 troops to the Middle East - especially since our actions triggered this whole nightmare. And now, because the region is even more chaotic than it was before, we will be ensnared indefinitley. <BR/><BR/>The sheer magnitude of the number he is proposing also raises a question in my mind - how do we provide and supply a force that large. Reinstate the draft? We haven't even been able to supply our own troops with the proper equipment at the present levels, let alone increase the size 3 to 4 times.<BR/><BR/>Souder is still sitting on the fence. Don't look for him to jump off any time soon.Charlotte A. Weybrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01996968988068581522noreply@blogger.com