The hemisphere’s idiot, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, has been in the news lately. First, as exclusive oil supplier to U.S. Navy bases in the United States. Then, as an amateur mob boss offering money to neighboring political leaders. And most recently, as a supporter of the drug trade and terrorists in his support of the terrorist group FARC.
related link: Inside the FARC camps in Ecuador
It’s been awhile since we’ve had a NewsBusted Conservative Comedy video. In this one
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRQe4nn04E8[/youtube]
For all those who still think that ‘Bush lied’ about Iraq’s WMD threat, this video shows a whole plethora of liers. Otherwise, the video is an illustration of Democrat Hypocrisy on parade.
It wasn’t that long ago that Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was portraying the United Nation’s IAEA, and the New York Times, as confirming that Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program. Remember, it was reported to have stopped about the time we entered Iraq militarily, 2003?
It doesn’t jibe with today’s headlines on the subject.
U.N. council imposes new sanctions on defiant Iran
Iran defiant over new UN nuke sanctions
ElBaradei urges Iran to clarify atom arms allegations
In U.N, diplospeak, it’s blah blah blah blah
There were 14 votes in favor, none against and one country, Indonesia, abstained. Previous sanctions resolutions were adopted unanimously in December 2006 and March 2007, but council envoys said Monday’s message to Iran was a strong one.
That and, it depends on what the meaning of ‘strong’ is.
Iran denounced the current and previous resolutions as violations of international law and said they only harmed the 15-nation Security Council’s standing.
You can see where this is going.
Governor Charlie Crist has run out of money. So, as part of his proposed 2008-09 fiscal budget, Crist called for the transfer of more than $740 million from various trust funds to the state’s general revenue fund. This includes $5 million of the $7 million Crimestoppers Trust Fund in Manatee County. Both the Manatee Crimestoppers and Manatee County Sheriff are against Crist’s plans to take that funding for the state’s general revenue fund saying it ‘will hurt its ability to curb crime through anonymous informants.’
About the program in Manatee County, Steve Rowland, president of Crimestoppers in both Manatee County and statewide said this about the governor’s plans.
‘It really hurt us to see that the governor would come after our program,’ said Steve Rowland, president of Crimestoppers in both Manatee County and statewide. ‘A program that is proven to improve our safety and security by getting criminals and drugs off the street.’
Since the 1970s, Crimestoppers has provided an avenue for citizens to call in anonymous tips to law enforcement to report criminal activity, Rowland said.
Any tip that generates an arrest can lead to a reward of as much as $1,000.
Over the years, Rowland said, tips coming in through Crimestoppers have led to $44 million in drugs seized, $16 million in property recovered and 24,000 arrests.
A compelling reason not to cut the program, which is the way Crimestoppers and the sheriff portray the consequences of the governor’s request. However, the governor’s office says
taking the $5 million would still leave $2 million in the trust fund, allowing Crimestoppers to continue to operate at its current funding level.
If the governor’s response is correct, then Manatee ought to be able to continue to do well the ‘same as last year’ funding. If crime goes out of control, then maybe they need the National Guard instead. If we are to believe Sheriff Brad Steube and Crimestoppers, that it will be like removing a tool to fight crime, and will hurt their ability to fight it ‘through anonymous informants,’ then it seems the governor has his crime fighting priorities upside down.
And if this doesn’t work, how long before Governor Crist looks for more and higher taxes?
related link: Bradenton Herald