August 30, 2008

FEDERAL

 

I well the Republican Vice Presidential candidate is in – Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin.  She is young, attractive, a true conservative, and to steal a quote Biden said about Obama when describing him “clean”.

 

Good choice?  I believe so – but lets get a week of the biased liberal media under our belts to see if they can did anything up on her unlike the ability the biased liberal media was un able to find anything on Obama’s relationship with Bill Ayers and Reverend Wright.

 

Here is the site for John McCain and the Hall County GOP. 

August 26, 2008

LOCAL

 

I hope everybody affected by the severe storms today are okay.  Although we need the rain desperately, we do not need any injuries or property damage getting the lake filled up.

 

FEDERAL

 

I had a hard time falling asleep last night.  I guess after hearing about how boring last night’s Democratic Convention was, I may watch it tonight to fall asleep faster.

August 23, 2008

 

FEDERAL

 

The wait is over and Obama has proven he is an idiot.  Biden?  Even I could defeat this duo!

 

We will have fun with this.

 

Watch the video in this at a presidential debate where George Stephanopoulos asked Biden about Obama. 

 

You can also see on this video Biden says he does not want either of those two jobs (Vice President or Secretary of State) – oopps.

 

I LOVE DEMOCRATS!!!!!

August 21, 2008

LOCAL

 

Yesterday we had another productive council meeting along with another 3-2 split.

 

There was the first reading of Ordinance 379 – Hotel Motel Tax was approved 5 – 0 as well as Ordinance 380 – Municipal Court Penalties, which we increased some of them, Ordinance 348–8 – Text Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance, and we gave out a couple of beer and liquor licensees, approved some of the changes to the comprehensive plan, and changed the water/sewer reconnection fees and security deposit.

 

The two things that stood out were how we are going to handle those people who did not pay their utility bills and have left the burden to the rest of the tax payers to pay by, in a round about way, funding the delinquency from the general fund.

 

The main topic was Ordinance 376 – Creation of Local Historic Historic Boundaries.  The vote was 3 – 2 and you can read about all this in this article and this article.

 

My argument is simple:

 

As I have already stated, I think most actions by a legislative body, such as the creation of ordinances, resolutions, codes, bills and acts, that become law, which people must follow, start of with the best intentions and through time become translated and twisted to fit the needs of government.

 

I have read The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Georgia Historic Preservation Act of

1980 and it always talks about preservation.

 

At both public hearings there were a number of citizens, property owners, and business owners who spoke on ordinance 376.  There was overwhelming opposition on the issue of the creation of this historic district as well as no where in the National or Georgia Preservation Acts could I find any support to allow a government to create a historic district based on the premise of this historic district.  After reading our current and proposed chapters 8, 9, 10, and 11 it appears Ordinance 376 is a redevelopment ordinance.

 

I fully support the current projects coming to downtown and have heard people from both parties that the city planning department has been wonderful to work with during the planning stages of the project.

 

We already have an extensive zoning code, Ordinance 348, which has already had a number of amendments, which shows our ability to work with citizens, businesses, and developers to build aesthetically beautiful buildings.  Stonebridge Village is an example of our planning department controlling the aesthetics of new developments and shows how the planning department is willing to work with developers.

 

I have said before and I will say again, Ordinance 376 is a clear case of government gone wild. The National Historic Preservation and Georgia Historic Preservation Acts started with good intensions and, through the years, have become property rights issues. 

 

And as every other community in this great nation, they all have a great history, but not everything is historic.

August 17, 2008

LOCAL

 

Today’s Gainesville Times article on Lake Lanier hopefully will quiet our neighbors to our west and south, Alabama and Florida, about Lake Lanier.  As slow as the government moves, this may never get resolved, and until then – Alabama and Florida – build your own dams and quit complaining about ours.

 

NATIONAL

 

I guess Nancy Pelosi finally gets that the people are her boss – not the other way around.  The pressure is on for more oil drilling and she has been trying to stop it and now she is bending.  I guess she is like most politicians who make decisions based on popularity not conviction.  I have been a supporter of drilling for oil offshore for a long time as well as oil shale and drilling in ANWR.

August 16, 2008

LOCAL

 

Thursday and Friday I attended the first two days of an economic development course spread out over five days in four months.  The next three days of class are the second Thursday of the month in September, October, and November.

 

This class is an extensive class on how to properly grow a community.  This session was about having a good mixture of residential, commercial, and agriculture to ensure there is a balance to ensure proper growth in a community.

 

In Flowery Branch we are about 70% residential and that is a high number.  We desperately need more commercial, such as what is at Stonebrook Village to increase our tax base and, if I get my way, lower the citizens tax burden.

 

I met some great elected officials and local leaders involved in our community in Northeast Georgia. I look forward to the next classes.

August 12, 2008

LOCAL/STATE

Here we go with Lake Lanier.  U.S. District Court Judge Paul A. Magnuson is set to rule on the tri-state wars dealing with Lake Lanier.  Florida and Alabama say Lake Lanier was established by congress to provide three things: to control floods, float barges down stream, and generate power, and a secondary use would be supplying drinking water for Atlanta.  The judge is going to rule on whether Atlanta has a legal right to depend on Lake Lanier for its drinking water. I have a few problems with this.

 

First, when is the last time anyone saw a barge floating down stream or on Lake Lanier.

 

Second, more that Atlanta uses the water for drinking water.

 

Third, I do not see where the lake was established to keep muscles alive in Florida.

 

Come on stupid politicians – get your head out of your sphincters.  Where would Atlanta get its drinking water from – Tennessee and South Carolina and then more tri-state wars.

 

FEDERAL

There is a serious conflict in Georgia – a former satellite of the collapsed Soviet Union.  Who would you like in the White House at 3:00 AM?

 

WORLD

China is not upfront with the world, during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics – what else would they do to fool the world?

August 10, 2008

FEDERAL

Here is the a great site to see all the articles and a news report on the liar John Edwards – who has ran for President of the United States twice and was the running mate with John Kerry.

 

The funny thing is the National Enquirer broke the story in October of 2007, and yes they also broke the Monica Lewinsky story years ago.

August 9, 2008

FEDERAL

Here is the Barack Obama energy plan. 

August 8, 2008

LOCAL

Tonight I went to the play ‘The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood’ that was put on by the Fifth Row Center at Sterling on the Lake.  It was an outside production and I was pleased to see an extremely large crowd.  There was a great article in the Gainesville Times.

 

Also, I have been trying to help the Fifth Row Center a permanent home in Flowery Branch.  I hope I will be able to help get them into one of the building Flowery Branch owns so they can have a place to give lessons and practice for future productions. 

 

FEDERAL

How many of you have heard of the wonderful mayor of Detroit.  Well if you have not, here is an article for you to read.

 

This is a piece of, well lets say work, a typical politician who thinks they are above the law.  Here is an excerpt from the article “if the mayor resigns or is forced from office.”.  What, if!  How about when!  That’s right I guess he will be another Marion Barry from D.C. who broke the law and will probably be re-elected.