Capitol Hill Compromises-Also Known As Bribery Everywhere Else

There are some serious issues happening on Capitol Hill that require being addressed. The acts of this Congress are hypocritical at best, and can be construed to be criminal in a number of different circumstances if they were not happening in the scope of the public office. If that is not enough, we have a president flying off to Hawaii for Christmas at the expense of the American taxpayer while the rest of us get ugotz, which is the Italian slang for nothing.

Bribery, overt and blatant, has occurred in the Senate recently. Senator Ben Nelson, Democratic Senator for Nebraska, was given 100% funding for the Medicaid expansion in his state. The other 49 states are going to have to fit the bill for Nebraska for the “indefinite future”. No other state received such assistance, just Nebraska for a YES vote on the healthcare legislation.

So let us define what a bribe is, for those of you not from Youngstown or those who are just curious on the legal definition.

Bribery: noun. “Something, such as money or a favor, offered or given to a person in a position of trust to influence that person's views or conduct.”

Used in a sentence: “When Senator Harry Reid bribed Senator Ben Nelson with taxpayer dollars to pass healthcare reform in the Senate, he was not found guilty of bribery like everyone else under state and federal statute.”

How this situation is legal and how practically every other situation involving the exchange of money to influence someone else is illegal does not really make a lot of sense. Is this to say it is okay to bribe someone else as long as the money IS NOT YOURS???

According to Harry Reid, “You’ll find a number of states are treated differently than other states,” Reid said after he unveiled the bill. “That’s what legislation is all about. It’s compromise.”

Well Senator Reid, how about we define what a compromise is?

Compromise: noun. “A settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions”.

So, the compromise made in the Senate was to give Senator Ben Nelson a complete exemption from paying costs associated with the implementation of this new healthcare plan in certain aspects in return for his support of the legislation itself. In simpler terms, I will pay you money if you concede your vote.

That seems more in line with the definition of a bribe rather than a compromise. Compromise can occur with the language of the legislation. Such as, “If you will include the language for limiting funds for abortion in the new system, I will support the inclusion of the public option language”. Perhaps very general and broad, but you get the idea. No money or costs are exchanged with a compromise, because compromises are based on concessions, not payouts.

The same thinking can go with Senator Mary Landrieu from Louisiana who sold her support for a $300 million buyout for Medicaid cost reductions. There was no compromise in that situation, just a payoff for support of the legislation.

This kind of behavior is disturbing, and 97 other Senators should be beating the war drum right now. With the exception of the Harry Reid who was integral in making the two bribes happen, and Senators Nelson and Landrieu who received the bribes, everyone else in the Senate got ugotz, just like the American people.

Maybe in the future, people who are on trial can use the behavior in the Senate as precedent that all bribes can now be construed as compromises and hence are perfectly legal.

The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown

Goodbye or Good Riddance? 2009 At a Glance

Another year has come and gone. It is really hard to believe that it is almost 2010. Now that the holiday revelry is over, it is about that time to start the New Year (which means more reveling)! Hopefully it will be better than last year, because last year was a disaster in many respects. In the spirit of the New Year, I would like to take a little time to highlight some of the good, the bad, and the weird that has happened this year.

The Good

It was interesting trying to compile this list, because it was extraordinarily hard finding good things that have happened this year. As a result, this is a very short list.

-The Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XLIV, Lakers win the NBA Championship.
-U.S. Airways pilots landed a plane miraculously in the Hudson River saving lives.
-President Obama becomes the first African American president of the U.S.
-The Vatican has welcomed Anglicans into the Catholic Church

Yes, that is about the best I could find for good news this year. I went out there and tried to search for good events or milestones, but this was about all I could find. Pathetic, is it not? Shall we move on to the bad?

The Bad

Well, where should we begin?

-H1N1 outbreak
-President Obama’s policies have not lived up to the hype
-Congress—this probably deserves its own article of 2009 mishaps
-Ft. Hood massacre
-Deaths of many political and cultural icons, too numerous to list here.
-Unemployment hovering around 10%
-Any number of hijackings, plane crashes, shootings, and kidnappings that have occurred almost on a monthly basis.
-Indictments on both sides of the political aisle prevalent through the year. Rod Blagojevich most recognized.
-Embarrassing moments of politicians. Mark Sanford of South Carolina most recognized for his extramarital affairs in Argentina.
-Nuclear issues in North Korea and Iran taken to new levels

I am going to stop here, because I could go on for about ten more pages of political upheaval (both domestic and international), pop culture embarrassments, and events that are just plain ridiculous that shows the bad side of human nature. We get it, 2009 sucked as a year.

The Weird

-Barack Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize
-Flying saucer boy turns out to be a fraud
-Tiger Woods commits adultery with over ten women
-Michael Jackson’s death ruled a homicide
-Kanye West—enough said
-Octomom
-David Letterman affair and extortion
-Alex Mangie runs for Canfield Trustee

Mang’s Final Word on 2009: Goodbye or Good Riddance?

2009 sucked—period. It was a terrible year folks. It has been one big letdown politically, culturally, and socially. What else can be said? Good riddance. We can only hope the New Year gets here fast, because I do not think we as a nation can stand any more bad news in the next couple of days.

The Mang

Conservative Capo of Youngstown ready for a New Year that is Decent

The Many Shoppers of Christmas! Are You One?

Today was the first significant snow that we’ve had in Northeast Ohio for the season. Today is also the last weekend before Christmas, meaning two things: everyone is out shopping and everyone is driving extremely poorly. It is snowing outside, so naturally everyone now is into the Christmas spirit, and now everyone feels the desire to get out and do stuff.

Given the season, there are a variety of different shoppers out now. Each breed of shopper is unique and can be spotted at your local mall or shopping outlet. Some can be seen at your local state liquor agency as well, but more on that later.

“Holy shit, it is the last weekend before Christmas and I haven’t started shopping” shopper.
“Holy shit, it is December 24th and I haven’t started shopping” shopper.
“I’m at the mall having coffee, but not shopping and proud of it” shopper.
“How does this work and is this a suitable gift in your opinion?” shopper
“Clerk conversationalist” shopper.
“I’m dreaming of a White Russian” shopper.

The “Holy shit, it is the last weekend before Christmas and I haven’t started shopping” shopper. This is the kind of shopper you see out now en masse, because for whatever the reason, they have failed to make any prior effort to get any shopping done until today. Sure, there are plenty of legitimate reasons: work, family affairs, extramarital affairs, and so forth. This is the guy that looks quite nervous looking around at every store window trying to figure out what to get his wife and kids. Not that he is a bad person, but certainly because he has been too busy.

The “Holy shit, it is December 24th and I haven’t started shopping” shopper. You will not see this person until next week, but beware. This is the guy with the road rage that is frantically trying to get to the different stores amidst the backup of traffic. He is also the one that is walking quite briskly (if not at a jog or a run) when in the mall, and is the guy that is constantly looking at his watch and shifting on his feet while standing in line. No one really knows the reason why this person does not shop until December 24th, as these people tend to be repeaters. I have family that qualifies as this kind of shopper, and though they are busy people, they are not so busy that they would have to wait until Christmas Eve. An explanation is still being sought.

The “I’m at the mall having coffee, but not shopping and proud of it” shopper. These are the people that have finished their shopping and are all laughs and smiles at the coffee shop. They were smart enough to get their shopping done early or through an online store weeks in advance. They really have no reason to be at the mall, but often can be seen in groups of other like minded individuals observing the two aforementioned individuals running around aimlessly. While it has been rumored they take pleasure in the misery of those people who have not finished their shopping, no evidence can support that theory.

The “How does this work and is this a suitable gift in your opinion?” shopper. This is the shopper that gets to the top of the line and then proceeds to ask twenty questions about the product being purchased instead of asking someone working the floor. Upon receiving those answers, they then ask the clerk if they believe the gift they are buying is appropriate for whoever is receiving the gift. A good salesman, the answer is usually “yes”, though there are the occasional clerks that do go out of their way to answer that question in depth. By this time, there are twenty people backed up in the line, and upon the departure of this person, it is accompanied by many apologies from the clerk. The usual response is “well, it is the season”.

The “Clerk conversationalist”. This is not to be confused with the “How does this work and is this a suitable gift in your opinion?” shopper though the effects tend to be the same. These are the people that insist on having a conversation with the clerk, completely oblivious to the fact that there are twenty other people waiting in line. It is always nice to speak with the clerks and share a few words. That is not the problem here. Some, however, can go on for five or ten minutes after making their purchase while the rest of the line sits there waiting.

“I’m dreaming of a White Russian”. This is the shopper that has conceded the season and has in turn gone to the bar to forget the madness that is Christmas. You may hear some grumbling about the holiday rush and/or in-laws that are causing problems. On one occasion, there was a Santa Claus who was hanging outside the state liquor agency drinking a bottle of vodka from a brown paper bag a few days before Christmas. I kid you not, this happened when I was about seven years old when we stopped at the liquor store on South Avenue to pick up some wine for a Christmas party. I quickly realized that even Santa Claus needed a break from the holidays, though it often had plagued my mind how he could fly a sleigh and reindeer if he could barely stand up.

These are only a handful of the many varieties of shoppers out there, but these are the most obvious to even the most novice of observers. If you are out and about the next week, observe the people around you. You might spot some of these individuals, or you may be one yourself like I am. I am usually the “Holy shit, it is a week before Christmas and I haven’t started shopping” variety myself, though it has been the occasion where I’d be out on the 24th.

Merry Christmas, but there is more to come,

The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown, local Grinch, and pain in the ass shopper.

Big 10 Expansion in the Works and Speculation on Additions

The inevitable has finally occurred in the NCAA. The Big 10 Conference has announced plans to expand to 12 teams within the next few years. It was bound to happen eventually, but it seems that plans are now underway to seek out another addition to the conference. Undeniably such an expansion will have an impact on the Big 10 as a conference, and certainly the conference that loses a team, supposing that one team is not a non-conference team.

Notre Dame would be the most logical choice of any team out there currently. Unfortunately, what is most logical is not always the most practical. Even though Notre Dame plays a Big 10 schedule for the most part (Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Penn State, and occasionally Ohio State once in a blue moon), a fundamental problem is the contract with NBC. Word has it NBC will not let the Irish out of their contract, though many people believe NBC should jump at this chance now since the Irish have had a number of bad seasons.

Looking to the Big East, you have potential candidates in Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and Cincinnati. Pittsburgh would be the natural choice, though commentators are saying Rutgers would open up the eastern media market. Geographically it does not make a whole lot of sense for Rutgers to join, though I personally do not have a problem with their program. Pittsburgh would be a good addition and geographically makes sense. Also it provides a great rivalry with Penn State, and academically Pittsburgh fits well with the Big 10. Cincinnati I am not thrilled about as a pick, but there has been talk about them joining. West Virginia also would be an interesting pick.

Big 12 conference brings the rumors of Missouri, Iowa State, Nebraska, and a very long shot University of Texas. Texas would be a hell of an addition for a number of different reasons, though I do not foresee such a transition. Iowa State would certainly be a good choice, and Missouri brings a lot to the table as well. While I think Nebraska is not a bad choice, I question how realistic that move would be.

I cannot see Texas anywhere but the Big 12, and the same with Nebraska. The Pac-10 has been eyeing Texas for awhile, but they stand about as much of a chance as the Big 10 has. Geographically, it makes as much sense for the Big 10 as it does for the Pac 10: no sense at all. Academically it is very attractive, as well as athletically, but in either the case of Nebraska or Texas, I just cannot see a situation where they would leave the Big 12 conference.

Ideally, if the decision were up to me, these would be my top choices. Granted, the more realistic choices are in the second tier and below, but there is always an outside chance of getting ND or Texas.

1st Tier Choice: Notre Dame or Texas
2nd Tier Choice: Pittsburgh, Iowa State, or Missouri
3rd Tier Choice: Rutgers or West Virginia
4th Tier Choice: Nebraska or Cincinnati

While all of this is merely speculation, we will know eventually who the lucky team will be to join the ranks of the Big 10. I am very excited to see the Big 10 openly talking about an expansion and it gives us a lot to look forward to in the next year.

The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown, local Grinch, and Football Enthusiast.

Traficant Press Conference Evaluated

Jim Traficant recently had his press conference at the Hampton Inn this morning. While there was no announcement of a Congressional run, it is apparent that something is going to happen on that front sometime in the near future. The former Congressman made the announcement that he was looking to run in one of three districts, which likely will be either the 17th, the 6th, or the 16th. There was indication that a former staffer, Linda Kovachik, would be in charge of taking out and circulating the petitions, though it was not announced which party he would run for or if he would remain an independent.

The primary reason for the conference was the announcement that Traficant would be supporting the creation of an Indian casino in the Mahoning Valley, via the Etanna Tribe which is in the process of officially becoming a recognized tribe (*I believe that is the correct spelling).

This is not an entirely bad move, particularly in light of the fact that the State of Ohio screwed the Mahoning Valley with the passing of this recent casino amendment. Jim Traficant has always been an advocate (however outspoken) for the people of the Mahoning Valley, and this fits in line quite well with his persona. Traficant claims he has been in talks with who he identifies as “equity bankers” and other influential investors in the area, and he is involved in leading the charge to ensure that a casino is built “somewhere” in the Mahoning Valley.

Where it is built may be entirely political, if the project does in fact go off. I would be willing to bet that wherever the casino is located will determine which Congressional district Traficant will decide to run in. That is just one person’s opinion, but I think it may very well reflect the reality of what Traficant is trying to accomplish.

The issue is whether or not Traficant has the clout to pull off something as big as this. At the end of the day, Jim Traficant is a former Congressman and a convicted felon. This is not to discount the good he has done for the area over the years, but will anyone play ball with him knowing his past? Does he have enough clout and influence to make a legitimate run at this project, no less a run at Congress?

The other question is does Jim Traficant need to succeed here? Would merely sparking interest and trying to lead the charge against what will be tremendous opposition and stonewalling be enough? Maybe Traficant knows this is not going to happen well in advance, and he is counting on failing at this so he can make his case when he decides to run. It would be the classic scenario: Traficant tried to do good only to be stopped by the man, and only because such a project was being proposed by a location in Northeast Ohio. It would strictly be an “us versus them” situation, and it could be something Traficant knows he can capitalize on.

Bottom line with this is Jim Traficant wins if he succeeds or if he fails, so this move to push for an Indian casino in the Mahoning Valley is actually a smart one.

It will be an interesting political season. Traficant running in either the 6th or the 17th bodes well for Republican candidates for a number of different reasons, and 2010 shall be an exciting year in the Mahoning Valley when you throw that wild card into the deck.

The Mang

Conservative Capo of Youngstown and Local Grinch

And Racketeer of the Year Goes to..... Al Gore

Today I am going to give praise to someone I never thought I would. This individual has pulled off a remarkable feat that would be improbable for one man to pull off on his own. I truly am impressed at what this individual has accomplished, because it was ingenious.

Al Gore has successfully created the world’s largest environmental racket and has become extremely rich because of it, all with a smile on his face. He is the biggest racketeer I can think of in known history, and I have to give the man kudos for duping an entire planet, as few others in history have accomplished this task. Bravo. But please, let me tell you why this man is a racketeer for the sake of argument.

A “racket” is defined as a business that is making money by selling a solution to a problem that the business itself created or manufactured, specifically so that the purchase of the solution is always needed. Hence the illegality of rackets in the legal sense.

What is Al Gore selling? The theory that global warming is caused by the action of man. This is a theory that has been under scrutiny long before Gore took up the torch, but has seen much more scrutiny since Gore has been publicizing and pushing the theory worldwide. What is the solution Al Gore is selling? The pushing for a reduction in carbon emissions, supporting the passage of legislation like cap and trade, and calling for the transition to “clean energy” sources and infrastructure.

Al Gore has made an obscene amount of money from movies on climate change, books on climate change, and speaking engagements that take in over $100,000 per engagement in many cases. But the holdings of Al Gore is where the real money is at, as Gore has a vested interest in seeing the theory of global warming flourish within his own company Generation Investment Management. Here is their investment philosophy:

“When we founded Generation in 2004, our intention was to show how integrating sustainability research into a long term investment strategy could strengthen fundamental investment analysis. Since then, our conviction on the importance of sustainability in delivering long term performance has only increased.”
—Al Gore and David Blood

HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If global warming was not real, I am willing to bet it would have an extremely adverse impact on this organization financially.

Al Gore has a financial stake in global warming, and that is the reality. At the end of the day, Al Gore is a capitalist. Is he really that far to the left with the environmental crowd, or is he pulling one of the biggest scams this world has ever seen? I have always been taught to never knock another man’s hustle, and this hustle has made an unbelievable financial impact on one person who has been selling a bill of goods to the world. The theory is highly controversial and unproven, and yet people keep throwing money at it, and inadvertently to the former vice president.

Al Gore is getting rich of a theory he himself has promoted without 1.) a scientific community consensus and 2.) proving beyond any kind of doubt that there is clear and convincing evidence that this theory is true. The rest of us are left holding the bag.

The Mang
Conservative Capo of Youngstown