GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR IS OVER!

Congrats America! The Global War on Terror is now over! Well…kinda, instead it will be called the “Overseas Contingency Operation”.  Seriously. Here’s the story: (link)

The End of the Global War on Terror
Updated 4:58 p.m. 3/24/09
By Al Kamen
The end of the Global War on Terror — or at least the use of that phrase — has been codified at the Pentagon. Reports that the phrase was being retired have been circulating for some time amongst senior administration officials, and this morning speechwriters and other staff were notified via this e-mail to use “Overseas Contingency Operation” instead.

“Recently, in a LtGen [John] Bergman, USMC, statement for the 25 March [congressional] hearing, OMB required that the following change be made before going to the Hill,” Dave Riedel, of the Office of Security Review, wrote in an e-mail.

“OMB says: ‘This Administration prefers to avoid using the term “Long War” or “Global War on Terror” [GWOT]. Please use “Overseas Contingency Operation.’”

Riedel asked recipients to “Please pass on to your speech writers and try to catch this change before the statements make it to OMB.”

An OMB spokesman took issue with the interpretation of OMB’s wishes. “There was no memo, no guidance,” said Kenneth Baer. “This is the opinion of a career civil servant.”

Referring to the phrase “global war on terror,” Baer said, “I have no reason to believe that would be stricken” from Hill testimony.

By way of history, senior Bush administration officials several years ago wanted to stop using the phrase and switch to something many felt might better reflect the realities of the fight against international terrorism.

One leading option was to change the name to GSAVE, or Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism. This was not as catchy an acronym as GWOT, but officials felt it more accurately described the battle.Then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld even used the GSAVE abbreviation publicly.

But, in a White House meeting, President Bush ruled that it was still a war for him, and Rumsfeld and everyone else went back to GWOT.

THE CITY OF LUBBOCK NEEDS TO PAY THE POLICE

The City Council said NO to the Lubbock Police and a 15% pay increase yesterday during the council meeting. Lubbock is still 60 officers short of being at full strength and some say, well most say that a pay increase will help Lubbock bring in more qualified applicants and Lubbock would be able to compete for recruits with cities like Plano, Austin, etc.

Lubbock is right around the 11th largest city in Texas, yet we rank 43rd in Police pay. Sorry, but there is something wrong with that. Yes I know it cost less to live here, but these officers are having to deal with a lot of people and a lot of space. We all know the City loves to annex so we aren’t getting any smaller.

In an earlier story about the crime rate going up in Lubbock, the police said that having more officers would absolutely cut down on crime in Lubbock. In a 2008 interview with the AJ, then Mayoral candidate, Tom Martin, said this:

Protecting the citizens of Lubbock and keeping our city as safe as possible has always been a top priority for me – it always will be. I always work to make our neighborhoods safer. Crime rates are down since we established higher levels of police staffing in 2004.

Well Mayor, since the crime rate is higher and the Police can get more applicants and better qualified applicants by offering more money, it only makes sense to pony up the cash.

Police officers put their lives on the line everyday and deal with the scum of the earth, and all they are looking for is a little more pay and better officers. I’ll take a tax increase for this. I’d rather the city use my money for Police than all of the other dumb things they spend money on.

We hear people all the time say that teachers, police, and firefighters deserve more pay. But it’s all just talk. It’s something that sounds good to say, because who could honestly be against it? Yet when it comes time to take action we do nothing. This Mayor, who likes to preach about looking into the future and blames former council’s for not looking into the future in regards to water, all of a sudden can’t see beyond his next election. It’s time for us to put our money where our mouths are. If you don’t want the Police to get a pay raise, then fine, but don’t complain next time about response times. Remember their numbers are dwindling and we can stop it.

City leaders, we are watching.

OBAMA AND THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS

So by now you’ve all heard about President Obama and his Special Olympics “joke”. Personally I wasn’t offended and really don’t care. He made a joke. Naturally some are offended, but I’m sure the fake outrage will last a while. I also think people should be more offended by what Obama and his people are doing to the Country rather than a throw away line.

This morning on the show we discussed the whole story. Rex was offended, and I wasn’t…it did make for some good radio though. If you missed it, here is the audio: LINK

2 WOMEN ATTACK A LUBBOCK POLICE OFFICER

From the AJ:

Two women assault local police officer

AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Two women assaulted a Lubbock police officer who was trying to arrest them early this morning.
The officer arrived at 36th Street and Canton Avenue for a hit and run, locating the suspects nearby shortly before 2:30 a.m.
The officer, who was alone on the call, handcuffed one of the suspects, while the other one fled the area, police said.
As the officer was trying to take the woman to the patrol car, she resisted and slipped out of the handcuff, according to a report. She struck the officer on the forehead with the handcuff and began fighting the officer.
As the officer took the suspect to the ground, the other suspect returned to the scene and began assaulting the officer, police said.
Other officers arrived on the scene to help, and police took both suspects into custody.
The women, whose names weren’t yet released, were charged with aggravated assault on a peace officer, police said.

I hope a taser was used on one or both of these women. If not…too bad.

PAM BRINK WANTS YOU TO CALL DELWIN JONES…AND SO DO I

Just got this email from Lubbock Democratic Chair Pam Brink regarding the Voter ID Bill:

People,

Please call the local office of Delwin Jones TODAY, March 18: 763-4468.

Tell him to vote AGAINST the Voter ID Bill. This bill is a concerted effort by Texas Republicans to disenfranchise all Texas citizens who do not have a driver’s license — the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and all other people who don’t or can’t drive.

Jones voted against these efforts in 2007. He needs to know he has local support for voting against it this time.

Please find a minute to call TODAY (763-4468) or at least email (Delwin.jones@house.state.tx.us.) and register your protest against this very bad and politically motivated legislation.

Attorney General Abbott spent a boat-load of tax-payer money looking for voter fraud in Texas. His research uncovered virtually NONE! Voter Fraud is a Chimera! Voter Suppression is the real issue.

Thanks,

Pam

Of course Pam Brink and the rest of the libs are WRONG on this issue. However, I also encourage you to call Delwin Jones and tell him to vote FOR the Voter ID Bill. Showing a photo ID helps to prevent fraud and that is it. Just because no one has been charge for voting fraud doesn’t mean it wont happen. Why not take every step possible to have a fair election and make sure there isn’t fraud?

The argument that this is unfair to blacks and hispanics is crap too. Think about all the things that require you have a photo ID. Driving, getting money out of your bank, writing checks, buying beer, flying, entrance into some clubs, and there are more. I haven’t heard people bitch and moan about using an ID at those times.

So yes, call Delwin Jones or your own State Rep. and tell them to vote FOR the Voter ID Bill. BTW, Rep. Carl Isett will vote for it.

BRISTOL PALIN & FIANCE SPLIT…BIG SURPRISE!

Oh yeah, this is shocking news…

From FOXNews:

Report: Bristol Palin, Fiance Break Up
Source say the split occurred a few weeks ago, and that it was mutual between Bristol, 18, and Levi Johnston.

The teenage daughter of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her fiance have broken up two months after she gave birth to their child, People.com reported.

Source say the split occurred a few weeks ago, and that it was mutual between Bristol, 18, and Levi Johnston.

The young Palin told FOX News’ Greta van Susteren that they intended to get married after they both finished high school.

Click here to watch the interview between Bristol Palin and Greta.

“Eventually, we’d like to get married. We’re focusing on, like, getting through school and just getting an education and stuff, getting a career going,” Palin told Greta.

Palin also told Greta that her and Johnston didn’t find being young parents “glamorous” and they both felt having kids should wait.

Bristol Palin’s pregnancy was announced days after her mother, Alaska’s governor, was named John McCain’s running mate on the Republican presidential ticket.

Bristol Palin gave birth Dec. 27 to a boy named Tripp.

The full story is located on People.com

FLASHBACK: ALCOHOL SALES CAN BRING JOBS

Lubbock County Wins claims that alcohol sales can bring in jobs. Here is a post about this very subject from October of 2008 from the Dallas Morning News. LINK

UPDATED FUN STAT:

A community with a population of 150,000 and per-capita
income levels 20% above the Texas average generates
even larger effects on annual business activity of $134.1
million in spending, $79.7 million in output, and 1,366 jobs.
For distilled spirits, these effects are $43.2 million in
spending each year, $25.3 million in output, and 440 jobs.

(SOURCE: The Perryman Group) PDF

LUBBOCK COUNTY WINS!

UPDATE: LUBBOCK COUNTY WINS CHAIRWOMAN, MELISSA PIERCE, WILL JOIN LFN AT 8:05 THURSDAY MORNING!

Lubbock County Wins launched their campaign today to legalize alcohol sales inside the City of Lubbock. Of course I will have more on this during LFN and CHS up until election day. For more info on Lubbock County Wins go to their sites:

lubbockcountywins.com

and they even have a Facebook site located HERE

From the AJ:

Lubbock County Wins, a political action committee which is spearheading an effort to legalize alcohol sales across Lubbock County, officially launched its campaign Wednesday just 60 days before voters decide on the issue.
Melissa Pierce, chairwoman for the PAC, said the measure, if passed, would create an estimated 2,300 jobs and will generate  $5.24 million in local tax revenues for the city.

Lubbock County Wins has engaged Austin-based Texas Petition Strategies, the same organization that gathered the necessary signatures to put the measure on the May 9 ballot.
Lubbock County Wins, which has already begun fund-raising efforts, said it estimates it will have to raise $100,000 to $150,000 to conduct the campaign, which will include direct mail among other efforts. (link)

DEMOCRATS WANTED BUSH TO FAIL

Of course most people knew this already, but a FOXNews Flashback Poll from 2006 shows:

Rush Limbaugh took a lot of heat for saying he wants President Obama to fail — but a lot of Democrats felt the same way about former President George W. Bush during his second term.

An August 2006 poll conducted by FOX News/Opinion Dynamics showed 51 percent of Democrats did not want Bush to succeed. Thirty-four percent of independents also did not want Bush to succeed.

By comparison, 90 percent of Republicans said at the time that they wanted Bush to succeed, and 40 percent of Democrats said the same.

Conservative radio talk show host Limbaugh says he doesn’t want the economy to fail — just Obama’s policies. But his comments last month at the Conservative Political Action Conference drew sharp criticism from the White House.

After CPAC, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that Limbaugh’s stance was the “wrong philosophy for America.”

LINK

LUBBOCK UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES

From KCBD:

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) – The newest numbers were released today – and while we remain below the state and national average – Lubbock’s unemployment rate is on the rise.

In December – Lubbock’s rate was 3.8 percent.

It rose .09 percent in January to 4.7…. Which is about three percentage points below the national average.

Midland experienced the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.8 percent followed by Amarillo, then Lubbock.

The Texas Workforce Commission encourages job seekers to contact one of their centers to help with work search, skills training and other services.