Tuesday, 5 May 2015
Revenge Of The Swine
Two years ago, Linn County Auditor Joel Miller managed the equivalent of 52 full-time employees.
He may be down to 13 if the latest move by the Board of Supervisors strips four employees who handle the county’s payroll and accounts payable functions from Miller’s purview and transfers the duties to the county’s human resources or budget and finance offices instead.
Miller said Monday the supervisors are bent on his “destruction.”
Point out Pork and they WILL retaliate
Auditor Joel Miller had 52 in 2013, down to 17
“If we can’t control you, we’ll destroy you,” he said, summing up what he said is the supervisors’ attitude after yet another back-and-forth at Monday’s informal supervisors’ meeting.
There is an analysis of this informatin via Iowa Live a link is at the ICU Fan Page
UNACCEPTABLE LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' PERFORMANCE
In Search Of Unity
I understand that some members of the LCRCC have made visits to other Central Committees and been AMAZED at the Unity and Harmony they have found there.
And ask the Question
Why is this not the case in Linn County???
Went to Clayton County Iowa Republicans last night
and
what a difference
between them and Linn County GOP! It appeared to
me
that a central
committee can be more then civil to each other.
Short meeting where Roberts rules was used in a
very
informal manner.
Someone said "this needs to be corrected in the
minutes"
and then they
accepted them as to be corrected.
They had a short discussion regarding where to
meet and
the Chair
essentially made a executive decision and no one
argued
it.
How I'd love to be a member of a central committee
where
the body worked
with each other or just did not show up if they had a
personal beef.
Sounds like Paradise
I wonder, while all this harmony and unity was ensuing could it have been possible
That their Exectutive Board was ADHERING
To their Constitution and ByLaws?
Instead of VIOLATING them????
I mean when we had that under Steve Armstrong as I recall we ALSO had Unity and Harmony
Along with attendence at meetings 2 to 3 times our present level
And events where the attendeces was 5 to 6 times our recent levels
And where we did NOT have to ask people buying tickets to make their checks out to the Vender
Because the BODY was never given the opportunity to VOTE on the event and the amount the Treasurer was going to have to make out was more than the Legal Limit without the Approval of the Full Body,
But at LEAST they did not ILLEGALLY fill out a check anyway as they have done in the Past
You Know? It is issues like the above that MIGHT contribute to a Lack of Unity Harmony and
Trust
Monday, 4 May 2015
Nous Ne Sommes Pas Charlie
We are not Charlie We shoot back.
Hot Issues takes a pause in the discussion of Local issues to pass on the News of the First Attack on US Soil to be claimed by ISIS
However unlike the Paris attack on Charlie Hebdo where the terrorist killed 12 people
THIS attack was in Texas an unarmed security guard was shot in the ankle and the terrorists lasted about 20 seconds.
SHOTS FIRED AT MOHAMMED ART CONTEST: OFFICER DOWN, TWO SUSPECTS DEAD, REPORTS CLAIMS EXPLOSIVES IN AREA
Friday, 1 May 2015
The Central Committee Wars
We are experiencing the resurgence of a very old Conflict
That between Centralized Control by an Elite Minority and giving a Voice and Choice to the Masses
I believe this local resugence stems from a night in the Spring of '14 when the Chair stated that they could make a decision but thought it would be better if the Body did it.
And was told
Not according to the Constitution
Whereupon there ensued a great gnashing of teeth and rending of hair by the Chair and the Webmaster to the psychic sound as if a thousand pigs were being stuck
And in the fullness of time shortly there after the E Board discovered that
GASP
None of our Sub-committees had Charters,
So it an ad hoc committee was called to remedy this grevious failing
And they presented their findings.
Which were that the Committees should report to the E Board and another Committee controled by the Chair
And the Body said
Nope
We will have the Comittees report to US
Done deal
The E Board thought about this a long time and when they had thought long enough and hard enough
They called out CRISIS!
We MUST Organize NOW by April 1!!!!
Robert's Rules and one of the Foremost Parliamentarians in Iowa
DEMAND IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Except that the TRUTH was when they asked the Robert's Rules Forum they were told NO and their claim that one of the Foremost Parliamentarians in Iows had given them a Ruling that they HAD to do it?
Was equally True.
But then Truth, Constitutions and Rules of Law are Inconsequential to Getting Republicans Elected and clearing obsticles to that goal
So all the Sub-Committees got replaced with Teams
Which did the same things
But
They had only 5 voting members the rest of the Team could work but have no Say.
And all the initial Team Leaders were
Chosen by them
And all the initial members of the Teams were
Chosen by them
And any additions to the Teams?
Would be decided by their Chosen Few
They did try to replace one of the Team Leaders
The Body said
Nope we like him there
Now that is a good start
The pesky little part of the Constitution is still around
The one that says the E Board is under the Orders of the Central Commitee
We COULD
Give everyone in the teams the VOTE
Just like it was a REAL Democracy
And we could Order that People can chose the Team that THEY wish to work on
Just like it was a Real Democracy
And everything can go back to the way it was before things got "improved"
Thursday, 30 April 2015
Crouch Down And Lick The Hand
We had a power grab that didn't at our recent LCRCC meeting
After the meeting something happened that reminded me of a quote of Samuel Adams.
A position was made by the E Board and rejected by the Body to replace the Team Leader of the Membership & Meeting Setup Team.
After the meeting the Full Committees choice for Team Leader was accosted by one of the the E Board and in a foaming at the mouth confrontation
told
You cannot be a Team Leader if you don't work with us!!!
I guess he did not crouch down and lick their hands?
Besides I want the people on that Team to WORK at seeing that the people who vote are ENTITLED to Vote.
I am not certain I want them "Working With" people who do not seem to place any importance on whether or not someone who is voting has a Right to Vote
Or at least they do not seem to be as much rushing to repond to an attempt to Vote Illegally as they seem to be excusing it.
In past times we REMOVED Committee members who violated Voting rules.
We did not claim that they did it accidently.
How DO you accidently vote anyway?
I mean it is not like this was their first LCRCC meeting or even their first LCRCC Election.
The Election before the one in question they were not allowed to engage in debate because they were not Credentialed to Vote.
You would think they would remember the Chair of that meeting explaining their position to them.
You would think they would have noticed sometime that those who ARE credentialed to Vote have a Bright Lime Green Credential Card
And you would THINK they might have noticed that they did NOT.
Also I wonder HOW do you ACCIDENTLY hide a ballot under the table and WHY?
Our Current Team Leader noticed the above action and detailed someone to watch and make certain they did not Vote Illegally.
We were chastised for embarrassing the Undocumented Voter by catching him in the act loudly.
Shoot all he had to do was actually follow the Rules
So considering that the E Boards replacement for our Current Team Leader was someone who voted against enforcing the Constitution sometime back by removing someone who violated it and humphed at the time
What does this have to do with Getting Republicans Elected ?
I am happy that we voted to keep someone as the Team Leader who will enforce the Voting Rules
Rather than someone who might be considered "more dependable"
ie willing to crouch down and lick the hands that feed them.
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
What Does This Have To Do With Getting Republicans Elected?
What does THIS have to do with getting Republicans elected?
I recall hearing that one night at a LCRCC Meeting.
It comes back to me from time to time.
I think what causes it to stick was the smug air of confidence in the voice, that they had said something profound rather than something increidbly stupid.
That, and the feeling that anyone who could ask that question concerning what had just transpired , would not understand the answer.
You see we had just had the distasteful task of removing someone from the Committee due to a flagrant violation of the Constitution.
And the answer to their question was that it had everything to do with getting Republicans elected.
Because if we do not maintain an attitude promoting adherence to Consitituions, ALL Constitutions and upholding the Rule of Law
The Day may come when we may not need to worry about electing Republicans because there may not BE any elections.
Might not be any Republicans either, Outside Re-education Camps that is.
I can just hear someone saying. Oh that would NEVER happen HERE.
That my friends is what historically has been said by Societies just before IT happened there.
At the turn of the 19th/20th Century the best places in Europe to be a Jew were Germany and Austria. A little over a generation later they were being herded into Death Camps.
That is how quick Humans can change and the best way to LOSE Freedom and Liberty is to act like they are entitlements rather than treasures to be protected and fought for.
I hear some members of the LCRCC were at a meeting in another County recently and brought back reports by golly that THEY had no discord.
You know WE had no discord at one time.
I can recall a time when meeting sizes were 2 to 3 times and more what we have now.
When our events had attendences 4 to 5 times what we have had lately.
When the treasury Grew rather than shrinking.
When we had an Executive Committee and Chair who did NOT violate our Constitution and By Laws.
The comments about that other Committee included the usual snide BS about Robert's Ruies.
The truth is Robert's Rules are of minor consequence when you have a Chair who signs checks in VIOLATION of the Requirements laid out in the ByLaws
Who decides thay do not FEEL like paying debts mandated by a VOTE of the Whole Committee.
They said one of the problem is the Malcontents in the Body
Count me as Malcontented.
Dan and Mary Lou Kauffman's boy was raised to BE malcontented when Authority steps over the line of Legality
I was TAUGHT that it was my duty to speak out at those time,
So count me as a PROUD Malcontent,.
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
I Have A Watch
I have a watch
If I want to know the time, I can look at it.
I would hazard a guess that most of the Central Committee have watches, or smart phones.
The younger ones don't need watches their phones tell them the time,
In fact watches may end up going the way of fountain pens.
But the point is.
I don't need the Chair interrupting the flow of business to inform me what time it is.
I can find out that all by myself,
Though that may come as a surprise to her.
What I would like is to be able to FINISH the business on the agenda for a change,
This calling for adjournment just piles things up.
As a matter of fact according to Robert's Rules of Order Unfinished Business caused by an adjournment.
Should be attended to at the next meeting BEFORE any other business can be addressed.
The Effect upon Unfinished Business of an adjournment, unless the assembly has adopted rules to the contrary, is as follows:
(a) When the adjournment does not close the session [63], the business interrupted by it is the first in order after the reading of the minutes at the next meeting, and is treated the same as if there had been no adjournment, an adjourned meeting being legally the continuation of the meeting of which it is an adjournment.
(b) When the adjournment closes a session1 in an assembly having regular sessions as often as quarterly, the unfinished business should be taken up, just where it was interrupted at the next succeeding session previous to new business; provided that, in a body elected, either wholly or in part, for a definite time (as a board of directors one-third of whom are elected annually), unfinished business falls to the ground with the expiration of the term for which the board, or any part of it, was elected.
(c) When the adjournment closes a session in an assembly which does not meet as often as quarterly, or when the assembly is an elective body, and this session ends the term of a portion of the members, the adjournment puts an end to all business unfinished at the close of the session. The business may be introduced at the next session, the same as if it had never been before the assembly.
Monday, 27 April 2015
Article VIII
Article VIII pf the Contitution of the Republican Party of Linn County, Iowa
States:
VIII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Co-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of the Linn County Central Committee. The Executive Committee shall transact the routine business of the Linn County Central Committee during the interim of the meetings of the Linn County Central Committee.
Any business transacted or action taken shall be reported to the Linn County Central Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
The Executive Committee is subject to the orders of the Linn County Central Committee, and none of its acts shall conflict with actions of the Linn County Central Committee.
I suggest everyone reads that last sentence carefully it will become of importance in a bit
Whispers on the Wind have brought to your humble chronicler a disturbing rumor.
"The LCRCC office will be moving to a more affordable suite on May 1st."
Now I am certain that we can all applaud the Executive Committee's desire to be more fiscally responsible. A more affordable office if it fits our needs would always be welcome
BUT
Should not this have been brought before the body for discussion, debate and decision?
I seem to recall this office location was established by a Vote of the Central Committee.
And according to Section VIII of the Linn County GOP Constitution.
NONE of the Acts of the Executive Committee shall conflict with actions of the Linn County Central Committee
But maybe I dosed off during a meeting and missed it.
Do any of YOU, my readers recall the Exective Committee or the Office Sub-Committee bringing this before the body?
Oh wait. I forgot. Since the St Patrick's Day Massacre we no longer HAVE and Office Sub-Committe, as a matter of fact we don't seem to even have a TEAM that is responsible for the Office.
How did that happen? We go from having an Office Sub-Committee which is tasked with the smooth running and up keep of the Office to
NO ONE is now responsible for the Office?
It is run by unknown persons in Limbo?
THIS is called Responsible and Efficient Leadership?
They Wiped out the Office Sub-Committee and just forgot to task any team with it's duties?
Or maybe they just decided that Constitutions ByLaw Rules of Order no longer matter
That THEY run everything and occasionally they MAY deign to let us know about what is to be done AFTER they get it done.
If we indeed are informed that the Office has moved AFTER it has done so without the permission of the Body?
The Executive Board will be in
Material Breach of the Constitution
and if the Body does not ACT upon this?
We might as well run our Constitution through a Shredder.
Saturday, 25 April 2015
Would You Like Fries With That?
I went and saw Governmor Walker Friday noon. Good Crowd. Good Speech
Then he mentioned when he was young he worked at McDonalds flipping hamburgers.
Sometimes when I am watching a movie or a TV show I will think, What would I have written next.
I can occasionally get close to the dialogue
Friday when I heard him speak of McDonalds and flipping hamburgers I thought
Now if I were his speechwriter I would have him say
When I was younger Flipping Hamburgers at McDonald I would aks you
Would you Like Fries with that
Today I am a lot older standing here talking to you about our shared vision of America and I am asking you
Would you like Freedom with that.
This is a VERY important question,
Politicians and the State will promise the public the Moon
But before you pull that lever on election day
Add up all their promises and ask yourself
Do You want Freedom with That?
Friday, 24 April 2015
Some People
It is Spring.
That seems to be when "Some People" come out of hibernation and ask tfhe Executive Committee if we could Please move the LCRCC monthly meeting ot the downtown Library.
This has happened the last two years.
One wonders if it will become an annual event.
The Swallows return to Capistrano,
The Buzzards return to Hinckley Hollow
And the "Some People" try to move the LCRCC meeting to the CR Library
The E Board has a big proffesional production.
A list of alternate sites a break down of expenses slanted to convince us there was only one conclusion
And the Conclusion was the same as Last Year
An overwhelming number want to stay at the Long Branch.
Now the Chair stated in a FB page
there was a discussion brought to the body by
requeat of
members of the body to
discuss alternative locations in light of the cost
increase
for the current venue. To ignore
the request would have been wrong so we shared
our
research, asked for input
Why the need for the E Board to do Research.
I have a idea that if "I" came to them and wanted the meeting moved it would go something like
Well then Mr Kauffman, put a case together and present it to the Body,
I don't expect them to drop everything and rush out to do research for me.,
Which is why I wonder WHO these "Some people" are?
And are they the SAME "Some People" that wanted the Communications Sub-Committee Meeting when we had a Communications Sub-Committee
Moved from Saturday Night at the Starlite
As I recall the At that Time Chair of the Communications Sub-Committee got berated over this by County Chair.
Back then it was as it is now and was last Spring, "Some People" have come to us and want this.
I asked tghe Communications Sub-Committee Chair at the time
Were you given the names and contact information of these "Some People"?
Turns out the answer was NO
So at the time I said let me get this straight, we are asked to move the meeting because "Some People" want it. but we don't know who they are how many they are and when they would prefer the meeting to be?
While we have about 14 members who are just fine with the way things are?
Yes was the answer I got then.
SO despite the fact that this motion was soundly defeated.
I would like to know
Who these people are
How many of them there are that want this
Oh and is the rumour True that someone on the behalf of the LCRCC has reserved a room in the CR Library for the next year?
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