The Senate, free from any pressing issues, had sufficient time on its hands to condemn MoveOn.Org for its ad in the New York Times that asked "General Petraeus Or General Betray Us?"
The Uncle has no problem with piling on. And so, rather than point out the mix of hypocrisy, stupidity, cowardice and out-right political posturing of the Senate’s latest game of "Let’s Change The Subject," we will toss in our own little snipe at the ad.
MoveOn succumbed to one of the greatest weaknesses that writers have. They were seduced by their own cleverness.
Someone came up with the oh so cute little pun of "Petraeus" and "Betray Us" and, instead of giving the word play a quick smirk and then following their own name’s advice, they built an ad around it.
They took their eyes off the prize and chose preening over effectiveness.
During the years in my presidential palace (perhaps not so very many years, but long enough for me to forget that I was a renter, not an owner) I learned that a short, pithy speech that got me what I wanted was of far greater value than a long masterfully written one that got me applause from a few sycophantic literary types and yawns
from the general public.
Glance st one of the hours-long orations from Castro or Chavez and what you are seeing is the triumph of the ego.
One of the most painful things for a writer to do is to throw away a good line. But when you are at war - and political writers had better realize that they are always at war - winning the battle is what matters, not displaying elegance while achieving defeat.
And so, MoveOn’s sin wasn’t in slandering a general (whose use by Bush as a political pawn made him fair game) but in going for applause when they should have been going for converts.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Uncle Pinhead
OK,
So the Uncle is a Pinhead.
Here he sat, feeling lost and unloved, stroking the poor kitty cat into near baldness for solace, wondering why no one was posting.
IT'S BECAUSE YOU SOMEHOW TURNED OFF THE COMMENTS FEATURE YOU MORON!!!!
Oops, sorry.
If you care, you can go back to the August 23 post (Wheels Within Wheels) and catch up on what your fellow anonymi have had to say.
Anybody got any Alzheimer meds?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Congratulations Ralph!
A week ago, Ralph Caruso's hold on the Woodbury Republican Committee was tenuous at best.
He risked not only losing a bare-bones majority, but even his own seat.
But worry no longer, Ralph's hold on the party is now secure.
Thanks to the willingness of his supporters to go out and vote and the near total disinterest of eveyone else, Ralph emerges victorious.
And that's what democracy is all about. To the least apathetic go the spoils.
Good going Ralph!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
What Will They Screw Up This Tine?
Road plan for Orange to be aired
Highway projects, timetables detailed
By Judy Rife
September 18, 2007
Times Herald-Record
Goshen — The Orange County Transportation Council will hold a public hearing tomorrow on the county's five-year highway improvement program.
The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. in Room 301 of the Orange County Government Center in Goshen.
A copy of the draft program can be viewed at www.co.orange.ny.us/planning/octc.
The hearing will also address the program's impact on two air-quality measures; ozone and fine particulate matter.
The 2008-2012 transportation improvement program contains $556 million worth of projects — $482 million of which supports highway work.
The remainder is allocated to mass transit, such as bus, ferry and train service.
The federal government requires the council to update its transportation improvement program every two years to provide a comprehensive overview of capital and operating projects. The program details when projects will be done, what they will include and how much they will cost.
Schedule is adjustable
Major projects cannot proceed without approval from the council, but inclusion in the program doesn't necessarily mean they will be advance as scheduled. Some projects listed in the five-year program are more than 10 years old.
Delays are almost always because of money — shortfalls in anticipated funding and/or escalation of costs.
The 2008-2012 program, for example, estimates $415 million in federal funding and $141 million in local and state funding.
Federal law also requires the county to evaluate whether the projects in the program will cause existing air quality determinations to deteriorate or create new violations of the Clean Air Act. The county has concluded that the program will have no impact in this regard.
Friday, September 14, 2007
44 Noninterruptus
PHOTO NEWS
Compromised reach on County Route 44 easement
(Is that like "Compromise Reached'?)
By Tony Houston
Goshen - Back in 2004, the Village of Kiryas Joel requested that Orange County allow the village to take possession of part of County Route 44. The segment at issue was the 1,800 feet (one-third mile) that runs through the northwest knob of Kiryas Joel.
In its entirety, County Route 44 connects state Route 208 in the west in Blooming Grove north of the village of Monroe to state Route 32 in the east in Woodbury north of the hamlet of Highland Mills.
The County Legislature took up the matter earlier this year. The transfer of ownership was approved by the Physical Services Committee and the Rules Committee—then placed before the full legislature this summer.
“There wasn’t much activity on the issue going into that meeting,” said Orange County Legislator Jeff Berkman, D-Middletown, in a telephone interview. “Other legislators were telling me it was a routine matter and it looked like Kiryas Joel was about to take over that section of Route 44. In general, turning over a county road to a municipality would reduce county expenditures.”
Several members of the public addressed the Legislature on the subject of transfer of ownership of part of Route 44—all in opposition. Among those was Jonathan Swiller, Chairman of Orange County: Equity Among Neighbors (OCEAN).
Swiller said OCEAN had done legal research and made drawings of Route 44 and he presented the findings and proposed a compromise that would enable Kiryas Joel to have the desired crosswalks, sidewalks/walkways and signal lights—the County could grant an easement to Kiryas Joel. The village would then make the improvements—provided that they are funded by the municipality and reviewed by the county commissioner of public works.
“Before the public comments it was sailing through as a transfer of ownership, but I was concerned with public safety,” said Berkman. “Swiller expressed opposition to an outright transfer, but he was open minded and urged doing this by way of an easement.
“Jonathan Swiller has a lot to say regarding his neighborhood near Kiryas Joel,” said Berkman. “He is very involved and tries to be objective in providing information to the Legislature.”
Berkman referred to a law stating that projects within 500 feet of a county road need to be reviewed by the Orange County Planning Department. “Giving up control of a road gives up a degree of control over any projects within 500 feet of that road,” said Berkman.
With a change in form from “transfer of ownership” to “granting of easement,” the Route 44 issue went around the legislative horn again in August. This time, however, 1,080 feet (one-fifth mile) of Route 44 in the Town of Monroe was added. The Physical Services Committee and the Rules Committee approved the new “easement” form.
“Many contributed to the compromise—including Jonathan Swiller,” said County Legislator Frank Fornario, R-Blooming Grove—chairman of the Physical Services Committee. Berkman said he was—“glad the item went back to committee(s) where County Legislator Roxanne Donnery, D-Highland Falls, Swiller and others urged that the County maintain ownership of the entire Route 44.”
The new-and-improved version of Route 44 improvements showed up on the agenda of the full legislature on Sept. 6 as resolution numbers 14 and 15—one for the segment in Kiryas Joel and one for the smaller section in the Town of Monroe.
In each case, the County assumed lead-agency status under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and issued a negative declaration. Such a declaration is a determination that the action (resolution) will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment.
Each resolution passed by a vote of 20-1 The single vote of “no” in each case was cast by Greg Townsend, R-Monroe. Townsend is the only member of the Legislature up for re-election this November.
Compromised reach on County Route 44 easement
(Is that like "Compromise Reached'?)
By Tony Houston
Goshen - Back in 2004, the Village of Kiryas Joel requested that Orange County allow the village to take possession of part of County Route 44. The segment at issue was the 1,800 feet (one-third mile) that runs through the northwest knob of Kiryas Joel.
In its entirety, County Route 44 connects state Route 208 in the west in Blooming Grove north of the village of Monroe to state Route 32 in the east in Woodbury north of the hamlet of Highland Mills.
The County Legislature took up the matter earlier this year. The transfer of ownership was approved by the Physical Services Committee and the Rules Committee—then placed before the full legislature this summer.
“There wasn’t much activity on the issue going into that meeting,” said Orange County Legislator Jeff Berkman, D-Middletown, in a telephone interview. “Other legislators were telling me it was a routine matter and it looked like Kiryas Joel was about to take over that section of Route 44. In general, turning over a county road to a municipality would reduce county expenditures.”
Several members of the public addressed the Legislature on the subject of transfer of ownership of part of Route 44—all in opposition. Among those was Jonathan Swiller, Chairman of Orange County: Equity Among Neighbors (OCEAN).
Swiller said OCEAN had done legal research and made drawings of Route 44 and he presented the findings and proposed a compromise that would enable Kiryas Joel to have the desired crosswalks, sidewalks/walkways and signal lights—the County could grant an easement to Kiryas Joel. The village would then make the improvements—provided that they are funded by the municipality and reviewed by the county commissioner of public works.
“Before the public comments it was sailing through as a transfer of ownership, but I was concerned with public safety,” said Berkman. “Swiller expressed opposition to an outright transfer, but he was open minded and urged doing this by way of an easement.
“Jonathan Swiller has a lot to say regarding his neighborhood near Kiryas Joel,” said Berkman. “He is very involved and tries to be objective in providing information to the Legislature.”
Berkman referred to a law stating that projects within 500 feet of a county road need to be reviewed by the Orange County Planning Department. “Giving up control of a road gives up a degree of control over any projects within 500 feet of that road,” said Berkman.
With a change in form from “transfer of ownership” to “granting of easement,” the Route 44 issue went around the legislative horn again in August. This time, however, 1,080 feet (one-fifth mile) of Route 44 in the Town of Monroe was added. The Physical Services Committee and the Rules Committee approved the new “easement” form.
“Many contributed to the compromise—including Jonathan Swiller,” said County Legislator Frank Fornario, R-Blooming Grove—chairman of the Physical Services Committee. Berkman said he was—“glad the item went back to committee(s) where County Legislator Roxanne Donnery, D-Highland Falls, Swiller and others urged that the County maintain ownership of the entire Route 44.”
The new-and-improved version of Route 44 improvements showed up on the agenda of the full legislature on Sept. 6 as resolution numbers 14 and 15—one for the segment in Kiryas Joel and one for the smaller section in the Town of Monroe.
In each case, the County assumed lead-agency status under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and issued a negative declaration. Such a declaration is a determination that the action (resolution) will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment.
Each resolution passed by a vote of 20-1 The single vote of “no” in each case was cast by Greg Townsend, R-Monroe. Townsend is the only member of the Legislature up for re-election this November.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Friday, September 07, 2007
As Predicted
Pieman Photos
OK, so Woodbury Town Councilwoman Lorraine McNeil, Woodbury Village Trustee Mike Kling, Woodbury Village Attorney Rick Golden and our neighborhood Pieman go to KJ this morning to attend the public hearing on the non-existent power of KJ to take over part of county route 44 by eminent domain.
Not surprisingly, no hearing. Szegedin's assistant tells McNeil and Kling that the hearing is to be rescheduled. Don't hold your breath.
Above, a photo sent on by the Pieman.
Not surprisingly, no hearing. Szegedin's assistant tells McNeil and Kling that the hearing is to be rescheduled. Don't hold your breath.
Above, a photo sent on by the Pieman.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
The Undead Pipeline
Remember the KJ Pipeline?
Thought it was a dead issue?
Nope, it's just been tunneling unseen through the court system:
KJ tells court it did enough for pipeline
By Oliver Mackson
September 05, 2007 Times Herald-Record
White Plains — The Village of Kiryas Joel is the victim either of a judge who made a bad call or its own failure to abide by state environmental rules, lawyers argued yesterday in a state appeals court.
Kiryas Joel, a 30-year-old village of Satmar Hasidic Jews, wants the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court to overturn a 2005 lower-court decision that stalled construction of a 13-mile, $22.1 million water pipeline from Kiryas Joel to a hookup with New York City's Catskill aqueduct in New Windsor.
Yesterday's arguments were another procedural chapter in one of Orange County's most heated disputes, pitting officials of the fast-growing, politically potent village against people in neighboring towns and county officials who fear the pipeline could cause Kiryas Joel's growth to overwhelm its neighbors.
Mitchell J. Katz, a lawyer for Orange County, argued yesterday that the appeals judges should uphold the October 2005 decision by acting state Supreme Court Justice Stewart Rosenwasser. Katz said Rosenwasser was correct to rule that Kiryas Joel didn't take a hard enough look at alternatives to the pipeline, or at the possibility of increased sewage that the pipeline might generate.
Kiryas Joel's lawyer, Kevin Plunkett, told the four justices that "the question here is, 'was enough done here,' not 'could more have been done?' This process (the State Environmental Quality Review) is not supposed to have a deterrent effect."
Hasidim tend to have large families, and Plunkett told the judges yesterday that the population is driven by the growth of families, not by people moving into the village from elsewhere.
The village's administrator, Gedalye Szegedin, said after court yesterday that recent census estimates show about 20,500 people living in Kiryas Joel. In 2000, the estimate was 13,100.
The most pointed questions for the two lawyers came from Justice Thomas Dickerson, who said of the pipeline, "This looks like a worthwhile project." But the justices aren't expected to make a ruling for at least six to eight weeks, according to lawyers who were present yesterday and are familiar with the way the Appellate Division functions.
The next stop after the Appellate Division is the state Court of Appeals, the highest court in New York. But the Court of Appeals must grant permission for an appeal to be heard.
Thought it was a dead issue?
Nope, it's just been tunneling unseen through the court system:
KJ tells court it did enough for pipeline
By Oliver Mackson
September 05, 2007 Times Herald-Record
White Plains — The Village of Kiryas Joel is the victim either of a judge who made a bad call or its own failure to abide by state environmental rules, lawyers argued yesterday in a state appeals court.
Kiryas Joel, a 30-year-old village of Satmar Hasidic Jews, wants the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court to overturn a 2005 lower-court decision that stalled construction of a 13-mile, $22.1 million water pipeline from Kiryas Joel to a hookup with New York City's Catskill aqueduct in New Windsor.
Yesterday's arguments were another procedural chapter in one of Orange County's most heated disputes, pitting officials of the fast-growing, politically potent village against people in neighboring towns and county officials who fear the pipeline could cause Kiryas Joel's growth to overwhelm its neighbors.
Mitchell J. Katz, a lawyer for Orange County, argued yesterday that the appeals judges should uphold the October 2005 decision by acting state Supreme Court Justice Stewart Rosenwasser. Katz said Rosenwasser was correct to rule that Kiryas Joel didn't take a hard enough look at alternatives to the pipeline, or at the possibility of increased sewage that the pipeline might generate.
Kiryas Joel's lawyer, Kevin Plunkett, told the four justices that "the question here is, 'was enough done here,' not 'could more have been done?' This process (the State Environmental Quality Review) is not supposed to have a deterrent effect."
Hasidim tend to have large families, and Plunkett told the judges yesterday that the population is driven by the growth of families, not by people moving into the village from elsewhere.
The village's administrator, Gedalye Szegedin, said after court yesterday that recent census estimates show about 20,500 people living in Kiryas Joel. In 2000, the estimate was 13,100.
The most pointed questions for the two lawyers came from Justice Thomas Dickerson, who said of the pipeline, "This looks like a worthwhile project." But the justices aren't expected to make a ruling for at least six to eight weeks, according to lawyers who were present yesterday and are familiar with the way the Appellate Division functions.
The next stop after the Appellate Division is the state Court of Appeals, the highest court in New York. But the Court of Appeals must grant permission for an appeal to be heard.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Dates On The Road
This Thursday, September 6th, the County Legislature will vote on the compromise allowing Kiryas Joel an easement to build a sidewalk on CR 44, but to keep the road under county control. This seems like the best course. A "yes" vote allows it to go forward. A "no" vote means that nothing at all happens. If you want to watch, be at the County Building in Goshen at 7 PM.
On Friday at 10 AM, a public hearing is scheduled to take place at KJ Village Hall - 51 Forest Road, next to the shopping center. The subject of the hearing is KJ's proposed take over, presumably by eminent domain, of the part of CR 44 within the Village and the adjoining part that falls within the Town of Monroe (see the notice posted below). The Pieman says that he was told by councel for the NYS Department of State that the whole idea is a non-starter under New York law.
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