March 1: Benton County ‘Riparian and Wetlands’ Meeting in Alsea

ALSEA VALLEY VOICE, Last Updated 02/20/2011 - ATTENTION! IMPORTANT MEETING MARCH 1st FOR RIPARIAN AND WETLAND OWNERS - "On Oct 27th Benton County held a meeting to present to the community the results of the county’s project to identify and protect riparian and wetlands. At this meeting it was learned that the county was considering requiring a 50 foot setback from any river, creek, ditch, pond and wetland to be kept in natural vegetation. The county personnel held this meeting and several like it in other parts of the county in order to explain the water project and the resulting inventory to the residents. They also wanted to get the ideas and opinions of the local people before actually writing the regulations. Because only a very few people from Alsea attended this meeting and because possible regulations could affect landowners property rights, the Alsea Citizens Advisory Committee requested that another meeting be held in Alsea. As a result there will be a meeting to explain this project and answer questions and listen to ideas and concerns. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 1st at 7 pm at the Alsea Grange. (MORE MEETINGS Feb. 5 and 7)

In order to give Alsea people more opportunity to give their input an OSU graduate student, Julie Ryden, is going to come to Alsea and meet one on one with people in the ACE office in the library on Saturday, March 5th and Monday, March 7th. She will record people’s concerns and present them to the county’s Riparian and Wetlands Advisory Group (RWAG). To sign up for a time slot to talk with her call Mimi Stout at 541- 487-5444 or e-mail. or signup at the March 1st meeting.

Want to learn more? Check the Benton County Riparian and Wetlands Project Inventory draft report in the Alsea Library and/or attend the presentation and meeting that Benton County is holding on Monday, March 1st in the Alsea Library Community Room. More information can be found on the internet at www.co.benton.or.us/cd/riparian." Read More......

Maryland County Abolishes Agenda 21

CAMPAIGN FOR LIBERTY, 2/23/2011 dljholt posts article by James Simpson (Hat tip: Steve) - "The November elections marked a sea change in the political landscape at every level of government nationwide. Right now, all eyes are focused on the Wisconsin standoff between Governor Scott Walker and the public employee unions. But under the radar, completely overlooked by the mass media, is the unprecedented move recently taken by newly-elected Carroll County, Maryland Commissioners Richard Rothschild, Robin Frazier, Haven Shoemaker, Dave Roush and Doug Howard, who abolished the County’s Office of Sustainability. They then voted unanimously to drop out of the UN’s International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). They are the first governmental organization to do so." Read more and learn more about Agenda 21...

Note: Corvallis is one of 600 cities that has signed on. WE need to learn as much as possible about ICLEI and Agenda 21. --bc Read More......

MoveOn.org is holding a 50 State speak-out against Republicans

To MoveOn.org email subscribers (Hat tip: Jan W. @ Oregon Conservative):

Say no to Republican budget cuts
Tomorrow in Portland
Host: <>, MoveOn member
Where: Senator Wyden's Portland Office (in Portland)
When: Thursday, Feb. 24, at 11:45 AM
What: In dozens of state legislatures and in Congress, Republicans are proposing massive cuts to education, police, emergency responders, and vital human services—instead of asking big corporations and millionaires to pay their fair share. This is a moment for national action, so we're holding Invest in America speak-outs tomorrow (Thursday) and will follow them up with rallies in all 50 state capitals on Saturday.

Here's the new SEIU fight song...

[The music group] Dropkick Murphys release new song in support of Wisconsin workers!

"Take 'Em Down"
He'll put us down
You've gotta stand your ground
When the boss comes calling
Don't believe their lies
When the boss comes calling
He'll take his toll
When the boss comes calling
Don't you sell your soul
When the boss comes calling
We gotta organize

Let them know
We've gotta take the bastards down
let them know
We've gotta smash 'em to the ground
Let them know
We've got to take the bastards down

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Mitch Daniels, thinking like a president

WASHINGTON POST, 2/18/2011 by Michael Gerson (Hat tip: John H. Detweiler) - President Obama's 2012 budget is the numerical embodiment of his State of the Union address - both being systematic distractions from the main, current tasks of governing. His plan includes, according to Yuval Levin, editor of National Affairs, "no entitlement reform, no tax reform, no significant spending reform, indeed no meaningful change of direction of any sort." Read more at the Washington Post... Read More......

FDR's thinking on government employees

srjim2000 (offers online conservative commentary to letter's to the editor in the Gazette-Times), today responds to Letter: Mobs clamoring for an equal share start forming in D.C. and supplies President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's thinking on government employees (public servants) and unionization. See Washington Times: FDR vs Wisconsin Teachers.
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Debt Will Surpass Total U.S. Economy

WASHINGTON TIMES - President Obama‘s budget, released Monday, was conceived as a blueprint for future spending, but it also paints the bleakest picture yet of the current fiscal year, which is on track for a record federal deficit and will see the government’s overall debt surpass the size of the total U.S. economy. Read more at the Washington Times... Read More......

USA Today: Budget sets battle over cuts

WASHINGTON — President Obama on Monday unveiled his $3.7 trillion budget plan for 2012 at a middle school in Baltimore, saying his proposals are designed "so that every American is equipped to compete with any worker anywhere in the world." Read more at USA Today...

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement Monday that Obama's budget proposal will "destroy jobs by spending too much, taxing too much and borrowing too much. ∴ The president's budget isn't winning the future, it's spending the future,"he said. Boehner cited a group of 150 American economists who signed a statement sent to the White House on Sunday that said spending needed to be cut to help create a better environment for job creation. ∴ That's why the new House majority will vote this week to cut $100 billion in discretionary spending over the next seven months – with more cuts to come – in contrast to the Obama administration, which has proposed no cuts to the current fiscal year's budget while simultaneously asking for an increase in the national debt limit,"

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Ben Stein Quote

QUOTE FROM BEN STEIN: "Fathom the odd hypocrisy that the government wants every citizen to prove they are insured, but people don't have to prove they are citizens". Read More......

Feb. 23: Benton County Stormwater Meeting

How does the rain that falls in Benton County lead to pollution in the Willamette River? The problem is not the rain, but pollutants in the ground it falls on, and the Benton County code is being updated to address this issue. ∴ The county is planning a public meeting – scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library meeting room – to focus on the updates to the county code, which are designed to improve water quality through local erosion control and some “post construction” stormwater management requirements. Read more at The Benton County Website

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Feb. 18: President Obama coming to Oregon

PORTLAND TRIBUNE, 2/11/2011 by By Jim Redden - "Governor says trip will spotlight high-tech future: President Obama will travel to Oregon and visit the Intel Corp. campus in Hillsboro on Friday, Feb. 18. ∴ Gov. John Kitzhaber welcomed the visit, saying it demonstrated the president’s interest in the state’s new strategies for job creation and ensuring long-term competitiveness."Read more at the Portland Tribune...

COMMENT: Re: Obama coming to Oregon ∴ Why am I NOT overjoyed? ∴ Others will say this far better than I, but I must say it. And I cannot say this strongly enough. ∴ This city is considered the Bluest of the Blue, only because the rest of the state and a great portion of the local electorate are totally dismissed and even worked over by Portland's local, state, and regional governments. ∴ A great many of the people I meet will open up to tell me they believe, they know and fully understand, that we live in not just a liberal, but a hostile-liberal environment. ∴ You cannot have a real "conversation with Oregon" if you lock half the people out, and meet with your own clique behind the closed doors of your echo chamber. ∴ Frankly, that is not American. It is not like really the Oregon I knew and loved. ∴ This has come a long way, and cannot be corrected by a couple of group hugs. "We" have crossed too many big rivers for that. ∴ But it is what we've had these last couple of decades. --Jerry

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Ron Paul wins presidential straw poll at CPAC 2011

Representative Ron Paul (R-14th District, TX) at CPAC 2011 (Video 21:04)
Ron Paul's Full Speech at CPAC 2011: The Brushfires of Freedom Are Burning! (2/11/2011)

LATIMES.COM, Washington Bureau, 2/12/1011 by Michael A. Memoli - Ron Paul of Texas wins CPAC presidential straw poll: Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) got 30% of the vote to win the straw poll for the second year in a row at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Mitt Romney was second with 23%. Reporting from Washington — Ron Paul again triumphed in the presidential straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference, overwhelming the support for most other potential Republican candidates at the annual gathering of conservatives in the nation's capital. ∴ Paul, a Republican congressman from Texas who ran for president in 2008, edged former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 30% to 23%. The result was barely changed from last year's, when Paul won 31% to 22%. Read More......

President Lincoln's Press Conference

Last night, February 12th, President Abraham Lincoln held a Press Conference at the Linn & Benton County Republican's Lincoln Day Dinner in the CH2M Hill Alumni Center in Corvallis, Oregon. It was his birthday. He began the conference with his own remarks and then took questions from the Press (the guests). Due to the seriousness of his message, all present could have heard a pin drop as he spoke. The president contended that the abolition of slavery was indeed the reason for the war between the states. He felt it was biblical, that the country was unable to avoid war and that it was a punishment for the sin of slavery. He reported on the progress of the war and about his choice of disappointing generals to lead the union. One and all could see the great personal toll it took on him over the horrible loss of life as the war wore on. Yet one could see a little colour returning to his gaunt face when he spoke of eventual victories. The President talked about the ugly reception his Emancipation Proclamation received. Some called him a tyrant or worse. The Abolitionists were furious that it did not inclued all slaves. Mr. Lincoln brought out his spectacles to read the brief remarks he'd made at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The gathered press corps could hardly agree with Mr. Lincoln's assessment that his concise words would not long be remembered. Finally, the president explained why, under extreme criticism, he refused to hang the Generals and leaders of the Confederacy in an effort to heal the nation at war's end.

Mr. Steve Holgate of Portland, is the actor who so passionately and truly portrays President Lincoln. A number of guests asked about his next scheduled event. Mr. Holgate will be presenting a longer version of President Lincoln at the Coaster Theater (MAP) in Cannon Beach, Oregon on Friday and Saturday, March 11-12 at 7:30 p.m. (Whichever way you go to Cannon Beach, you'll want to come home via Newport and Corvallis, unless you want to spend the night. The tunnel on Hwy 26 will be closed during night-time hours due to roadwork.)

For the members of the Lincoln Day Dinner Committee, it was a wonderful pleasure to host Mr. Holgate and his lovely wife, Felicia. From the feedback we've received, our guests were impressed.

The Committee offers its gratitude to all the members of the press (our guests) who contributed to the success of the evening. We thank you for generously supporting the 'buy it now' tables, the silent auction and the oral auction. We hope you enjoyed the evening. Read More......

Feb. 12: President Lincoln's Birthday Celebration

PRESS RELEASE
Lincoln Day Dinner, February 12, Corvallis

If you've never heard him speak, now is your opportunity to come hear President Abraham Lincoln. ∴ What American wouldn't love to have a conversation with our first Republican President? Imagine hearing him talk and then being provided an opportunity to ask about that era and the momentous decisions he made. This year’s keynote speaker at the Linn and Benton Republicans Lincoln Day Celebration is President Abraham Lincoln. Our speaker is an actor, Steve Holgate, from Portland who strongly resembles Lincoln. He gives audiences all over Oregon, throughout the West Coast and overseas a chance to hear Lincoln (in period costume) talk about his years in the White House. Mr. Holgate has been highly praised by a member of the National Lincoln Bicentennial Commission saying that "he's the best Lincoln in America."

The evening’s events include no-host wine bar, hors d'eourves and buffet dinner catered by the popular El Sol de Mexico in Corvallis. A sampling of our live and silent auction items includes a BBQ dinner for 40 to 45 people in June 2011, gun training classes, blown glass items by an Oregon artisan, and beautifully created theme baskets with hotel, resort and restaurant certificates. Pinkerton guards will be in attendance for the President's security.

The event will be at the OSU CH2M Hill Alumni Center on Lincoln's birthday, Saturday, Feb 12, 2011 from 5:00-9:00 PM. Go to www.LincolnDayDinner.net or call Jo Rae Perkins at 541-928-6077 to get all the details and make reservations ASAP for an evening you won't want to miss.

This is a major fundraiser for Benton County - your support is greatly appreciated. Read More......

Friedman vs. Piven

"In this clip from the 1980 Free To Choose, socialist Frances Fox Piven tangles with Milton Friedman and Thomas Sowell. We thought this would be interesting in light of the recent dustup between The New York Times and Fox News (Glenn Beck) on the subject of Piven." --FreeToChooseNetwork Read More......