Marathon Pundit

Monday, September 02, 2013

(Photo) Raccoon in Morton Grove on Labor Day

This raccoon might be ill. I photographed on this Labor Day evening in Morton Grove's St. Paul Woods--it was sitting on the driveway.

Take a good look on the left--you get a perfect view of the sole of the raccoon's paw.

Related post:

Morton Grove raccoon family

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illinois

nature

ILL-inois: Suburban fire board bumped up chiefs' pensions before their departure, promoted civil partner

More Illinois illness.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Three weeks after announcing plans to retire as chief of a west suburban fire department in 2004, James Eggert got a going-away present from his bosses: a $7,380 pay raise.

That boosted the salary of the Tri-State Fire Protection District chief from $105,420 to $112,800.

Three months later — with two months to go till Eggert's retirement — the board overseeing the department, which serves parts of Darien, Burr Ridge, Willowbrook and unincorporated DuPage County, handed him another raise. This one was for more than $11,000. That boosted his pay to $124,079 — in all, more than $18,000 in raises in his final months on the job.

Around the same time, the tax-supported Tri-State fire district board agreed to a separation agreement with Assistant Fire Chief James Krohse, giving him a pay raise of more than $10,000 shortly before Krohse resigned.

These salary increases allowed a "pension bump," which fattened the pensions for both men.

And the way was also cleared the way for the promotion of a battalion chief who is now in a civil union with a Tri-State trustee.

Graft is not just a Chicago problem.

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law

Sunday, September 01, 2013

AP: Obama credibility on the line in Syria flip-flop

Take Vienna--or shut up about it

"When you set out to take Vienna--you take Vienna." Napoleon.

And when you set out to attack Syria--you attack Syria. No need to dither. But Obama is not Napoleon. And even his worshippers in the mainstream media our finally wising up about him.

From an AP analysis piece by Julie Pace:

For more than a week, the White House had been barreling toward imminent military action against Syria. But President Barack Obama's abrupt decision to instead ask Congress for permission left him with a high-risk gamble that could devastate his credibility if no action is ultimately taken in response to a deadly chemical weapons attack that crossed his own "red line."

The stunning reversal also raises questions about the president's decisiveness and could embolden leaders in Syria, Iran, North Korea and elsewhere, leaving them with the impression of a U.S. president unwilling to back up his words with actions.

The president, in a hastily announced statement Saturday in the White House Rose Garden, argued that he did in fact have the power to act on his own. But faced with the prospect of taking action opposed by many Americans, the commander in chief tried to shift the burden and instead round up partners on Capitol Hill to share in that responsibility.

"While I believe I have the authority to carry out this military action without specific congressional authorization, I know that the country will be stronger if we take this course, and our actions will be even more effective," Obama said. "We should have this debate."

Obama didn't care about that debate three days ago.

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ILL-inois: Two rural school superintendents retire, go back to old jobs and still collect pensions

Whiteside County soybean farm, Tampico, IL

Saukvalley.com reports on more cases of Illinois double-dipping--government employees who "retire" with a pension then stay on the public payroll.

These two cases from the county where Ronald Reagan was born are particularly egregious.

In November, Montmorency Superintendent John Rosenberry announced his retirement. His last day was June 30.

He did retire. And he started collecting his $6,300-a-month pension.

But the nameplate for the superintendent never changed.

Rosenberry is now one of two school superintendents in Whiteside County who officially retired but returned to their old jobs.

The other "retired" superintendent collects a $7,000 annual pension while working at his "former" gig.

Contributors to ILL-inois' Teacher Retirement System can work 100 days a year and still cash their pension checks. Sadly, public-sector pensions have turned into a method to pad a comfortable income rather than be source of funds when contributors are too old or sick too work.

Related post:

Report from Tampico, Illinois on Reagan's 100th birthday

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law

Labor Day: Rasmussen finds that 44% support unions, 45% oppose them

May Day Occupy rally, 2012

Tomorrow is Labor Day, the holiday created to celebrate unions. Fittingly, this non-union blogger will report to his real job on Monday morning.

How do folks view unions? Rasmussen Reports asked:

Americans continue to have closely divided views of organized labor, but there's a much clearer difference of opinion between Republicans and Democrats.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of American Adults have at least a somewhat favorable impression of labor unions, but that includes just 14% with a Very Favorable opinion. Forty-five percent (45%) view labor unions unfavorably, with 24% who have a Very Unfavorable impression of them. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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gop

It has been 500 days since Quinn said he was "put on earth" to fix Illinois' pensions

On April 20, 2012, Illinois' hapless governor, Chicago Democrat Pat Quinn, launched this verbal dud about the state's pension system, which is underfunded by at least $100 billion:

I didn't create the problem, but I'm here to solve it. I know that I was put on earth to get this done.

That was 500 days ago.

Not much has happened since the 400-day millstone passed. The General Assembly ended its spring session without agreeing on a pension reform bill. Quinn called a special legislative session in June--which led to a bipartisan committee being formed to ascertain a pension cure. They have yet to do so--largely because of fierce opposition of the public-sector unions--who of course have the Democratic legislators in their pocket.

But in July Quinn suspended the pay of the members of the General Assembly--which is probably unconstitutional--until they passed a pension bill. Oh, Rod Blagojevich's old running mate suspended his own pay too, but Quinn maintains the trappings of his office--including the ability to travel gratis all over the state. Compared to President Obama, he still moves around like a peasant, but Quinn still enjoys a comfortable gig. Except for speaking at Chicago Blackhawk rallies.

There is a bit of good news for taxpayers. Quinn is finally getting paid what he's worth.

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