IS IT TRUE that the Central Committee of the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party fundraising machine has just announced a “Keeping the Majority” fundraiser to help its chosen ones to add to their war chests in an attempt to keep the so called “good democrats” in the majority on the Evansville City Council?…that this selective fundraiser is being hosted by outgoing Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel and retiring City Councilman Curt John?…that this event will be held at the Maingate in downtown Evansville that Councilman John is a part owner of?…that the “Keeping the Majority” fundraiser specifically states that it is for the benefit of candidates Missy Mosby, Stephanie Riley, Connie Robinson, John Friend, Jonathan Weaver, and Conor O’Daniel?…that Democratic candidates Dr. H. Dan Adams and Al Lindsey are not benefitting from the “Keep the Majority” party and that the elected Democratic candidate for Mayor Rick Davis is not invited?…that of course this shindig is authorized by The Vanderburgh County Democratic Party, Mark R. Owen, Chairman?

IS IT TRUE that if one ever needed proof that the Vanderburgh County Democratic Party is fractured and that Mayor Weinzapfel is substantially responsible for fracturing it one needs to look no further than this fund raiser?…that the real root of the party fracture is the entitlement mentality exhibited by Mark Owen on behalf of and maybe with the approval of Mayor Weinzapfel over Rick Davis’s decision to announce his candidacy prior to the Mayor’s announcement of his own intentions?…that the Party Central has tried to squash Rick Davis before by backing Troy Tornatta in the primary?…that Mr. Tornatta’s campaign was a love fest for Mayor Weinzapfel?…that running as the second coming of Mayor Weinzapfel did not work out too well for Tornatta as he lost the primary by nearly 20 percent?…that the Democrats of Evansville have spoken at the ballot box and that it really seems manipulative of the Party Central to exclude some of their own members that dared to challenge Mayor Weinzapfel in any way?…that it is very likely that if these six loyalists run as second comings of Mayor Weinzapfel that they may just get some money and lose some votes?…that this will not impress the voters that are undecided?

IS IT TRUE that one of the sponsors of this event, Councilman Curt John is now visibly supporting Republican Lloyd Winnecke for Mayor of Evansville?…that financially supporting candidate Winnecke and hosting a fundraiser to keep Winnecke from having a Republican majority on City Council makes one wonder about motives for support?…that this is shaping up to be one of the most interesting and quirky city council elections ever?…that it seems as though we officially have three parties running candidates for the city offices?…that these parties are Republicans, old boy machine Democrats, and Kennedy Club Democrats?…that given this situation it is possible that there will be no majority party in the Evansville City Council next year?…that having a makeup like 3 Republicans, 4 old boy machine Democrats, and 2 Kennedy Club Democrats is a very distinct possibility?…that would at least break up the puppet show that Evansville has been treated to and kept down by for many years?

IS IT TRUE that we are quite curious about just how strongly candidate Winnecke will embrace the old boy Democrats that seem to be sniffing around his campaign and offering olive branches of support?…that more support has been extended to Winnecke by the old boy Democrats than just a couple of people at a golf match?…that hedging their bets may be what is going on?

IS IT TRUE that this is a link to the invitation sent out and authorized by the Democratic Central Committee?

http://city-countyobserver.com/2011/06/01/invitation-to-fundraiser/

IS IT TRUE that Mole #3 tells us that there is a quiet campaign going on to accelerate the demolition of Roberts Stadium so that it will never ever be in a position to compete against the new Arena for so much as a Monster Truck show or a Bar-B-Q grill show?…that if one goes to ticket sales sites like Ticketmaster that routinely are used to sell tickets to events at Roberts Stadium that there are no events listed and no tickets for sale?…that the website for SMG Evansville lists only one more event after the Jehovah Witness convention is over tomorrow?…that the only event listed for Roberts Stadium period is the ordination of the new Bishop of the Evansville Diocese?…that is on June 29, 2011 and that there is nothing scheduled afterward that is posted publically?…that the Centre on the other hand has many events listed well into 2012?…that the “powers that be” will try to get the wrecking ball swinging at Roberts Stadium in stealth mode so as not to raise the ire of the many citizens of Evansville that oppose preemptively demolishing Roberts Stadium?

IS IT TRUE that there is also a whisper campaign being orchestrated to get out the message that the new Arena is nearly booked up for 2012?…that if true that is good news?…that if the new Arena is really fully booked like the whisper puppets of the “powers that be” have been whispering that there should be no urgency at all to hurry up and tear down Roberts Stadium?…that mixed messages are so common nowadays that they don’t even surprise anyone?…that a search of the same event site Ticketmaster has no listing of any event or ticket for sale for anything at all at the new Arena?…that we assume that the UE Purple Aces will have about 35 basketball games in the new Arena next year?…that we suspect that the last minute nibbling between the Icemen and the Arena management will somehow come to an agreement that will bring 30 or so hockey games to the Arena?…that there is not yet a final agreement in place for VenuWorks to manage the Arena?…that fall touring entertainment is being booked right now and that dilly-dallying around will lessen the options available for an opening act and for other fall entertainment?

IS IT TRUE that CCO Moles have been all over the riverfront this weekend keeping tabs on the attendees of the ShrinersFest?…that many candidates for office have been strolling around overdressed with pageant smiles glued on their faces shaking every hand that is extended to them?…that there are even some candidates calling and messaging (no twittering please) to tell on their opponents for quaffing a beer or talking to some “wrong” person?…that reminds us of small children that compete for attention by being loyal and visible tattletales for mommy and daddy?…that tattling and pageantry aside that all reports are that the ShrinersFest is a well run event with the only complaints being registered aimed at mother nature for the 90 degree plus heat?…that if the rain stops today that tonight with its cooler temperatures should be a very good night to be at the ShrinersFest?

IS IT TRUE that amid all of the fuss, the hubbub, and the heat that Republican Mayoral candidate Lloyd Winnecke held a golf outing as a fund raiser?…that it is reported that every foursome was sold out and that some prominent democratic members of the Evansville City Council were in attendance?…that golf and politics make for strange foursomes?…that Democratic candidate for Mayor Rick Davis has taken up residence on the riverfront with his own booth and taking a personal campaign to as many attendees at the ShrinersFest as he possibly can?…that we are very interested to see which strategy reels in the most independent or other party votes for the respective candidates?

Humans need love

Human beings are naturally prone to seek love, nurturing and self-determination. They are born into love, are surrounded with loving entourages, and continually seek throughout their lives that dose of comfort and serenity that stems from the realization that they’re loved, or more simply, admired. Humans need love, and love, as a social epiphenomenon, needs them. Love is, in this case, an epiphenomenon because it is a byproduct of other forms of human interaction, conciliation and reconciliation.

In seeking that utopian comfort of being permanently idolized, people are poised to act on their impulses and react instinctively to protect or maintain that status quo. At all stages of the human adventure, that need for particular attention is preeminent. Think about babies seeking frenetically their parents’ attention or adults engaging in extraordinary expressions of feeling to show their jealousy.

Given that the need to be loved is natural, we are ready to accept the assertion that love can – and must be – eternal. Religions and other constructs of faith, beliefs and dogma fulfill that ethos in the sense that they permit us to start believing in an everlasting love, one that will smoothly transition from this terrestrial episode into an after-life occurrence.

Love and politics

Politicians, like most of us, have that intense striving for love and admiration. As any other human, they’re willing to resort to arguably reprehensible means to get that admiration. The need for love, that is, the need for approval is peculiarly crucial for politicians because it conditions their electoral existence and survival. They must win votes, that is, they must be lovable enough for citizens to love them and grant them their votes.

Interestingly, those who have a heightened need of admiration are bold enough to utilize any means necessary to reach their goals. They need to manipulate. Politicians are in that category. Social scientists have long argued that politicians need to seduce the electorate continuously to safeguard their political capital. Politics is the science of managing the general good, and in handling that societal responsibility, people in power use various tools to provide law and order, which are pragmatic, down-to-earth, day-to-day necessities, but also idealism, and dreaming, which belong to the realm of imagination but are nonetheless critical.

Politicians mainly use their electoral clout as a catalyst or an advantage in seeking ways to satisfy their basic carnal drives. Sexual harassment procedures are not alien to that category of ways and means; other, less coercive initiatives, may include job promises and business deal preferences.

History shows us that there exists an eerily long panoply of infidelity cases involving politicians, and to a larger extent, people in power – the elite. Romans and Greeks were known to have very ‘flexible’ matrimonial laws, and historical accounts of European or African social evolutions indicate a propensity for aristocracy to engage in infidelity. Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, is believed to have had an extramarital relationship with a slave at Monticello named Sally Hemings.

Careless cheating

Cheating politicians are not a scarce commodity; news commentators and journalists argue that the list of people in power and celebrities guilty of infidelity is longer than currently unveiled. In other words, the cheaters that have gotten caught are just an infinitesimal minority of the entire universe of elected officials.

Communication specialists and celebrity agents are always flabbergasted at the lack of care that some elected officials showcase in handling their affairs and dealing afterwards with infidelity matters, because that behavior is so diametrically opposed to the high sophistication these authorities maintain in managing their public image. Put simply, some politicians are willing to spend millions of dollars on PR campaigns just to get caught later like a teenager in their faithless proceedings.

Nowadays, that question of adulterous carelessness remains open while puzzling political science students. Many social science specialists have contributed their expertise to a body of knowledge that may begin to explain the causal relationship of politician spousal disloyalty. One reason put forward is the intrinsic human instinct: lust. Just as any other human, a politician is driven to carnal desires outside his conjugal realm simply because he or she cannot hold these desires at bay. Simple as that.

Another factor explaining why an elected official is willing to risk all their career in return for a few minutes of romantic episode lies in the quintessential trait of all people in power: the sense of omnipotence. In other words, that feeling of invulnerability, irrespective of the sin committed. This can be seen in recent episodes with former US president’s escapades in the White House Oval Office with intern Monica Lewinsky or former New York State governor Elliot Spitzer’s interest in prostitute services even though he had been best known for his stern prosecution of those prostitution rings when he served as the state’s Attorney General. Even strange was the revelation later that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who was pushing for Clinton’s impeachment because of infidelity was also living an adulterous life at the same time!

Some specialists have also suggested that politicians are also prone to infidelity because either they are unhappy in their current relationship or they encounter a high number of solicitations by virtue of their office and the fact that some of these demands can be at times highly pressing. Even though that explanation seeks to discharge politicians from their guilt, it does not provide an explanation as to why they’re willing to cede to something that risks destroying in a few minutes or hours an entire career built over decades.

In a modern world dominated by ubiquitous journalism and populated by a diverse cohort of players – bloggers, paparazzi, journalists, “cell-phone camera enabled citizens” – it remains puzzling to try to understand such degree of careless infidelity from these officials.

Cultural differences around the world

Contrary to the United States, England, and a few other countries, infidelity matters involving politicians are not “career-killers”. The underlying factor of such a dichotomy is based on the social premise that different cultures view adultery as a private matter which does not necessarily fall into the political realm. Another cultural element also is the fact that some societies ingrained in polygamist or polyandrous traditions view infidelity as a lesser sin. An illustration of this trend is the saga surrounding current Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi’s private affairs and the indifference voters continuously show thereto in polls.

Do women also cheat?

Political commentators and historians agree that public infidelity of an elected official is mostly undertaken by men. Yet, they posit that women also have their fair share of adulterous affairs but are less likely to be exposed because of their minority in the political universe, the ambient social circumspection regarding female infidelity and the general discretion women are accustomed to in dealing with non-conjugal paramours. The recent case of former Ireland’s prime minister’s wife – Iris Robinson – involvement in an out-of-wedlock romance may start to debunk that myth.

Marquis Codjia is an MBA-degreed finance professional with a solid, varied risk management experience in the banking and capital markets arena. His areas of interest are geopolitics, the economy and social issues.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4051805

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, will resume all previously scheduled performances for the 2011 season beginning with Quad City Air Show in Davenport, Iowa, June 18-19.

During the past two weeks, the Blue Angels completed rigorous training and air show demonstration practice to integrate Capt. Greg McWherter, the new commanding officer and flight leader, back into the flight demonstration team. Capt. McWherter last served with the Blue Angels as their commanding officer during the 2010 season.

The Blue Angels look forward to continuing to represent the Navy and Marine
Corps service members around the world.

For more information, call: Lt. Katie Kelly, Public Affairs Officer for the Blue Angels, at: (850) 452-3955.
–
Source: Blue Angels

BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING
KEVIN WINTERNHEIMER CHAMBERS
ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2011
12:00 NOON

REVISED AGENDA

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. MINUTES N/A

3. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Request Re: Permission to Seek Quotes for Various Improvements for Fendrich, Helfrich
and McDonald Golf Courses. – Schall
b. Request Re: Approve and Execute Contract with VPS Architecture for Feasibility Study of
Education Building and Administration Offices at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. –
Morris*
c. Request Re: Approve and Execute Advertising Agreement with Comcast/Media Mix for
Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. – Morris*
d. Request Re: Approve Closing Zoo Entry Gate at 3:00 pm and Grounds at 4:00 pm for
Preparations for June Brew on June 11, 2011. – Morris*
e. Request Re: Permission to Hold Safe Kids Vanderburgh/Warrick County Car Seat Clinic
at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden on August 20, 2011. – Morris*

*Recommendation from Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden Advisory Board.

4. OLD BUSINESS
a. Request Re: Open Bids for Turf Fertilizers and Chemicals. – Debbie Spalding/Mark Peters
b. Request Re: Approve and Execute LPA/INDOT Agreements for Arts, Glenwood, Hi Rail
Enterprise Corridor; Mid Levee Corridor; and Garvin/Governor/Stringtown Bike Lane
Corridor for the Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage. – Boberg
c. Request Re: Review and Approve Evansville Community Tennis Association Proposal. –
Terry Clements

5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Request Re: EPD – Law Enforcement in City Parks. – Chief Hill
b. Request Re: Approve the Addition of Curb Cuts for ADA Accessibility on South Wabash
Avenue. – Schall
c. Request Re: Approve Budget Transfers and CIP Reprioritizations. – Schall/Morris
d. Request Re: Any Other Business the Board Wishes to Consider and Public Comments.

6. REPORTS
a. Fendrich Golf Course, Dave English
b. Helfrich Golf Course, Dave McAtee
c. McDonald Golf Course & Wesselman Par 3, Mike Wassmer
d. Dan Schall, Executive Director

7. ACCEPTANCE OF PAYROLL AND VENDOR CLAIMS

8. ADJOURN

Pessimism Growing Toward Economy and President Obama’s Policies

Here is a link to the entire poll.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/06/08/june.8.pdf

Did the planning of the Executive Inn and the McCurdy projects look like this?

Take That: June 10, 2011

IN RESPONSE TO: Executive Inn Delays

“It’s obvious that these clowns do not have the ability to pull this project off. Should they miraculously start this project, it is certain they will not be able to complete it adequately or lease it to capacity.” Buzzard

“It would be helpful if the Project Manager for the hotel project is identified. According to John Kish, the Arena Project Manager, it is not him: Kish stated in the May 9, 2011 City Council meeting that the scope of his work (and thus his budget) was for the ‘Design/Build’ of the Arena, and hotel/parking expenditures were not in his scope. Is there a Project Manager for the Hotel ? If there is not a Project Manager for the Hotel, are we left with a 3 Stooges “who’s on first”, “what’s on second”, “I don’t know’s on third” situation?” Beerguy

“The shell game continues with Weinzapfel and his gang of cronies.” RK812

“The City’s handling of the Executive Inn makes Rep. Weiner look really smart by comparison. The way the City has bungled this, we’ll be lucky to have a few surplus FEMA trailers for rent on a dirt lot next to the shiny new Arena.” JoeBiden

“The Emperor has No Clothes, and there is No Joy in Muddville, as the Citizens endure the spectacle created by the Weinzapfel administration, and they mutter,–”When is this bad dream going to end?”. Crash Larue

“kinda reminds me of Berlin after WWII” Henry

IN RESPONSE TO: ALEXA Internet Traffic Reports that CCO dominates two categories locally

“My fear? That the obviously talented contributors to this great media outlet, will be coaxed away by something more, . . .lucrative and promising.” Bubbageek

“The Courier should buy the CCO out before they get their head handed to them worse than they already have. The advertising base and the writing skills at the CCO have more value than the local coverage of the Courier and the TV stations combined.” TheDonald

IN RESPONSE TO: Quality Control Plan for the Parks

“I’m currently in New York City. I’ve visited several parks in Manhattan and the Bronx and driven/riden by many more in the other boroughs. Every park that I’ve been to or seen has been heavily used by the public. Day and night there are people walking, jogging, excercising their pets, sitting on benches and blankets with loved ones enjoying the scenery. All of the parks that I’ve been to has been cared for many times better than the parks in Evansville.” Big Pappa

“Save your breath! They know! The problem is the budget cuts that have been made to redirect funds to other worthless projects (Like the arena).” Corpus Dilecti

IS IT TRUE that the “Last Tango in Evansville” for the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and the Evansville City Council to put a spit shine on the document known as the consolidation proposal concluded last night with little possibility that any tangible financial benefit will be a part of whatever box full of words that they agree on?…that now there will be one last opportunity for the citizens to stand at the lectern and have their say but that with the sacred cows that have been sequestered away from the hand of economic improvement sitting idly by there is not really much that any citizen could say that will be capable of getting this consolidation proposal into shape to show everyone a real identified benefit?…that it will all come down to how well the forthcoming spin machine called marketing the theory of consolidation will work?…that if the people of Evansville and Vanderburgh County are receptive to having the wool pulled over their eyes in 2012 the forthcoming proposal may pass by a narrow margin?…that if the people of Evansville and Vanderburgh County have their Tom Terrific thinking caps on that this will fail by a wide margin?…that the theory of consolidation is sound but that the forthcoming rendition is will not be?

IS IT TRUE that at least there will be a referendum to make this choice?…that the referendum will be flawed and that if it happens to pass in either the City of Evansville or Vanderburgh County and fail in the other yet pass overall that there will be legal challenges and open revolt?…that having a consolidated vote was the first malignant mistake that this whole process made?…that not allowing the consent of the governed poisoned the waters for acceptance from the first day that choice was made?

IS IT TRUE that this whole effort should be aborted right now and a new pre-consolidation committee should be formed to merge the city and county budgets and then to compare our spending patterns service by service to identify tangible value that can come from consolidation?…that we are certain that if our spending is limited to even 110% of some of the best managed peer cities in America that there will be at least $100 Million that can be saved?…that Rule #1 is that there are no sacred cows?

IS IT TRUE that Councilwoman Missy Mosby went on record last night as accepting the theory that the voters can decide term limits whenever they like in general elections?…that theory is well understood but that there are two major flaws with believing this will actually work?…that those two major flaws are the Democratic Central Committee and the Republican Central Committee?…that so often in a small market like Evansville that the candidates are chosen by caucus or that the only candidate in the primary is the handpicked choice of the party central committee?…that it is the limited choices that are often available to the people that begs for codified term limits?…that fresh ideas and people who have not gotten the puppet strings attached to them are needed in local governance?…that the only way to assure enough turnover to keep fresh and puppets from running the town is to have term limits?…that unfortunately some good officials will need to be cycled out to keep complacency from becoming a way of life?…that many of Evansville’s problems can be at least partially attributed to having career politicians in control for too long?

IS IT TRUE that the Mayor’s office in particular is as guilty of recycling old ideas as a West Virginia joke?…that “13 administrations, 52 years, and only 4 last names” is an accurate description of the office of the Mayor of Evansville during most of our lifetimes?…that Evansville could almost be confused for the town of Rock Ridge in the movie Blazing Saddles where everyone who owned a business had the last name of Johnson?…that we wonder where Mongo is when he is needed to shake things up?

IS IT TRUE tonight shall be the “Last Tango in Evansville” for the Vanderburgh County Commissioners and the Evansville City Council to put a spit shine on the document known as the consolidation proposal?…that unless there have been some serious secret meetings where the entire budgets of both the County and the City have been merged, compared to other more efficient cities like Henderson and Fort Wayne, and significant financial savings have been identified that the City County Observer expects that this version of consolidation is DEAD ON ARRIVAL with the local voters?…that significant financial savings in the case of the $1,830 per person per year budget of the City of Evansville means finding savings of at least $50 Million and hopefully closer to $100 Million?…that only after a) getting our government accountable and efficient and b) showing tangible value to consolidation will any consolidation have a high probability to pass?…that we have either of those conditions yet?

IS IT TRUE that given the financial state of the City of Evansville that a good faith effort to do a bit of internal improvement needs to be shown before Vanderburgh County will accept a merger without a formidable resistance?…that for Vanderburgh County to merge with the City of Evansville makes about as much sense as using the bone marrow of a cancer patient to do a transplant on a healthy person?…that if Evansville does some self healing and some future committee shows a tangible reason to merge that we expect that consolidation will pass both the City and the County in separate votes by wide margins?

IS IT TRUE that the “Nightmare on Walnut Street” continues to drag on as we expect to see the water show continue and very few swings of the wrecking ball today down at the Executive Inn demolition site?…that the clock keeps ticking on the activities down there?…that whether there is a financing deal on the table to build a hotel or not that the lots under the old Executive Inn and its parking garage are eyesores and need to be prepared for an eventual convention hotel?…that we encourage the City of Evansville to get on with the business of getting these lots into presentable condition on their own dime and to spend the next 21 days preparing an RFP just in case it is needed?…that the motto of the Boy Scouts of America is “BE PREPARED”?…that it is obvious that the Weinzapfel Administration either is not made up of former Boy Scouts or that they missed the first lesson and never earned their Tenderfoot badge?…that many veterans of the US and British military will recognize the 7 Ps adage?…that the 7 Ps adage could be the defining statement for the Executive Inn Dilemma and the McCurdy debacle?…that the 7 Ps adage goes as follows:

Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance

IS IT TRUE that the Shriners Fest starts today and will run on the Evansville waterfront through Sunday?…that many people have worked long and hard to put this together and that the City County Observer would like to encourage all of our readers to head on down to the river and give this festival a fighting chance at success?…that the community whined and complained about button prices and that the Shriners have listened?…that mingling with your friends on the waterfront is completely FREE and that there are plenty of activities to entertain you?…that we hope that the vendors who stuck their neck out to make this happen will all have a successful festival?…that we also encourage all to spend a little money at our now FREE festival?