Central Florida Politics » Uncategorized

SunRail funding shortchanges county

admin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:23:33 +0000

Special to Central Florida Politics by the Seminole Chronicle

Viewpoint

By Doug Guetzloe

The recent announcement by the Florida Department of Transportation that it is pulling the plug on over $300 million in anticipated road projects slated for Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties should be a major concern for taxpayers.

This announcement is an outrage and affront to the taxpayers of Central Florida.

The recent approval by Governor Rick Scott for the proposed SunRail system has resulted in moving much-needed road funds from long-awaited repairs and expansions to the incredibly worthless rail project.

The local projects that are now on hold include much needed double lane expansion of a off Highway 17/92 in Seminole County and repairs to State Road 50 in Orange County, US Highway 192 in Osceola County and many other long-scheduled repairs and improvements.

Taxpayers have stated their opposition to the embattled SunRail project and commuter rail in general for over fifteen years. Ax the Tax has led six successful anti-tax battles where taxpayers have voted down rail proposals going back to the first attempt to pass a tax for rail in 1986. That vote, a tri-county vote including Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, named the “Metropolitan Transportation Authority” was voted down by a vote of 81 to 19 percent.

The most recent attempt to pass a tax for rail was the ill-fated Crotty “Mobility 2020″ Transportation plan in Orange County and voters voted it down 55-45 percent in 2003.

In 2010, Ax the Tax was the catalyst behind the vote against rail that occurred in Hillsborough County, leading the opposition to a landslide 58 percent vote against rail.

In another controversial move for taxpayers, FDOT and the beleaguered Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority just announced that they had reached a tentative deal to split the cost of the highly controversial $1.8 billion Wekiva Parkway project in Seminole County.

The Expressway Authority, which includes Seminole County roadways, has been a target of a recent grand jury report that found Crotty and the expressway board and some staff members involved in a “culture of corruption” that provided a seemingly never-ending source of campaign money for Crotty and his political endeavors.

Even though FDOT has not come up with a plan or the resources to fund their commitment of $500 million for the controversial toll-road extension, amazingly the expressway is moving ahead with an additional toll increase ostensibly to fund the remaining $1.3 billion deficit in the funding for the 25-mile extension through the scenic Wekiva park area.

Citizens should be outraged at the arbitrary moves by un-elected boards like the expressway authority and unresponsive bureaucracies like the FDOT.

Hard-earned tax dollars should go toward proven transportation alternatives – not rail – and for much-needed repairs to our road systems. The effort by new-urbanists to bury the car and hop on board rail is planned obsolescence and a worthless expenditure of our tax dollars.

Libertarian to challenge Young for Congress

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:40:09 +0000

CLEAWATER – In what could be billed as challenge to the establishment from the young liberty movement, Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R – 10th Dist.) will be facing a libertarian challenger for the congressional seat that he’s held for over four decades. Michael Hull, 36, has tossed his hat in the ring, and says it’s time that our politicians represent the people. Hull is no stranger to a good fight. He’s a retired professional boxer, a former semi-pro hockey player, and an Air Force veteran, where he served honorably as a Farsi linguist. And Hull is not all brawn, either. He speaks five languages and has a degree in International Studies and Political Science from Baylor University. He tells us his platform is simple: The United States Constitution. “If it’s not specifically enumerated in the Constitution, then Congress doesn’t have the power to do it,” said Hull. “We’ve drifted too far away from government by the people, and it is our duty to take it back.” Hull, known by his friends as “Prince” for his professional boxing nickname, says he will be ramping up his campaign in the coming weeks. “Rep. Young has held that seat for 20 terms, so he has plenty of political favors to call in for his 2012 campaign,” said Hull. But he says that the current political climate, along with grass roots support, will help him offset Young’s financial advantage.

Pinellas County Libertarian Party Chairman Greg Bowen says local libertarians are ready for the task. “We have a small army of volunteers ready to make phone calls and go door-to-door in a true, grass-roots initiative,” said Bowen. Hull says he will be campaigning the old fashioned way, by attending events and presenting his ideas to potential constituents face-to-face. By contrast, 80-year-old Rep. Young will not likely attend many campaign events, and will rely more on name recognition and large-donor GOP support. “Congressman Young, whose primary residence is in Virginia, has been considerably more reclusive and inaccessible to his constituents in recent years,”said Adrian Wyllie, Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Florida. “This should be a revolutionary race for the people of District 10, who finally have a candidate that will truly represent their economic and individual liberties,” said Bowen. If the current dissatisfaction with Congress and the rise of the libertarian movement are any indication, this could be a very interesting race in Pinellas County.

Battle over Palestine erupts in Florida US Senate race.

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 01:29:35 +0000

(Palm Beach, Florida) – A Jewish – Republican candidate for the United States Senate is accusing one of the frontrunners for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination of using the word “Palestine” in a grammatical way that indicates support for a permanent Palestinian state.
Adam Hasner, the former Republican leader of the Florida House of Representatives, has been a vocal opponent of Palestinians and others who he feels oppose the Jewish state. While in the legislature, Hasner was outspoken in his opposition to any matter, bill or speaker who he felt did not support the Jewish state.
A quick review of the LeMieux record in the United States Senate however shows a different story than portrayed by Hasner a fact that was pointed out by LeMieux campaign aide, Ana Nix.
Nix said that the “syntax error committed by a staff member”, was quickly corrected and should not be taken as a change in Senator LeMieux’s consistent support of Israel.
The actual paragraph from the LeMieux campaign was a long way away from Hasner’s implications. “So long as Palestine continues to sanction actions of terror against Israel, our staunchest ally in the Middle East, the United Nations should not recognize Palestine as a member state. Palestinian leaders admit their motivation for recognition is to pursue claims against Israel in the International Criminal Court. Until Palestinian leadership commits to a serious peace process and severs ties with Hezbollah, it should not be granted United Nations’ recognition.”
Hasner eventually acknowledged that while LeMieux was “pro-Israel,” but Hasner believed that “Palestine” statement implied “an existing, independent Palestinian state.”
Nix concluded her remarks concerning the bogus Hasner claim by stating; “Senator LeMieux has always stood with Israel and always will.”
In a series of straw ballots and polls taken throughout the state, LeMieux appears to be in a tight race with former Army Colonel Mike McCalister and successful entrepreneur Craig Miller for the status of “frontrunner” with Hasner running well behind the top three.
All the GOP candidates will be on hand for several events this week in Orlando leading off with the Faith & Freedom Rally being held at the Rosen Centre Hotel on International Drive on Thursday from 3:30 – 6:00 pm and will participate in a debate sponsored by Faith & Freedom on Friday at noon.The Phoenix Network and Central Florida Politics will be reporting live from the GOP events this week.

SPECIAL REPORT TO THE PHOENIX NEWS NETWORK FROM TV 10 NEWS

admin — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:02:15 +0000

Depositions show Florida Republican leaders lied about agreement with ex-Chairman Jim Greer

Orlando, Florida — New information is out in the case involving one of the biggest political scandals in state politics. 10 News has obtained depositions in the criminal case of former Republican Party Chair Jim Greer.

Greer says the top party leaders lied and conspired to frame him is talking to only one media outlet in the state and that’s 10 News.

Before Greer was arrested in June of 2010 on charges he bilked the party, Republican leaders had public amnesia about signing an agreement, saying everything he did as chairman was appropriate, necessary, and legal.

According to Greer, “They proposed a huge severance agreement and they had multiple drafts going back and forth. The one I ultimately signed, they ultimately signed, and then they denied it existed after they signed it.”

Under deposition, State Senator John Thrasher, who succeeded Greer as chairman, is asked how his signature got on the agreement and he says,” I don’t recall it.”

Thrasher also can’t recall ever saying there was no agreement which he and the party attorney did it at the GOP executive meeting the same day Thrasher was elected chair.

Jim Stelling, a former member of the GOP executive committee, was at the meeting and says his jaw dropped. Stelling says he knew an agreement existed, because he saw it.

Under further questioning, Thrasher admits party leaders agreed to hold Greer harmless for any expenditure during his term.

Meanwhile, the speaker of the Florida House, Dean Cannon, admits he might have also denied the agreement existed, but under oath Cannon says he was surprised and upset the party didn’t want to honor the agreement. Cannon claims he said it would be in the best interest of the Republican Party to pay Greer and honor the agreement, but there was a problem.

Greer says, “If the Republican Party wrote me a check, it would become public record on the finance reports and then the grassroots would know this bunch had been lying to them.”

When the party decided it didn’t want to honor the agreement, Greer says the leaders became concerned that he would blow the whistle on the lavish spending party leaders were doing with the GOP American Express card.

According to Greer, “Someone said, ‘We need to circle the wagons’ and they as a group orchestrated the biggest pack of lies I’ve ever seen.

“The number one rule in politics is you have to discredit the person who knows the dirt on us, and that’s what they went about doing with me.”

But now that the party has abandoned Greer and the case is proceeding to trial, the former party chairman says he knows the dirt and has nothing to lose in shoveling it onto those who tried to throw him under the bus.

Doug Guetzloe, Host of the Guetzloe Report as guest Commentator on the Reagan Library GOP Presidential Debate – Voice of Russia – International radio show – 9/8/2011 – Listen here:

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:46:21 +0000

http://www.carmenrussell.net/vor/Panel-Guetzloe_GOPDebates090811.mp3

Florida Tea Party Statement on Obama Speech

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:35:00 +0000

America is at a crucial point.The President seems to think a pretty speech will make it all better.The country is hurting.The President seems to think class warfare, unequal taxation, attack the evil oil companies, obscene spending and protecting chronically, dependent unions will fix it.

Anywhere and everywhere, people are jobless, losing their savings, and their homes, suffering a myriad of hardships due to government mismanagement. The crisis facing America is not the fault of the vast majority of Americans. It is the fault of a confrontational, self centered, self indulgent and corrupt government, that puts politics ahead of decency, more often than junkies put their next fix ahead of a good meal.

Americans do not need another government program. America doesn’t the dozens f new government programs eluded to, tonight. We need fewer programs, less restriction and regulation, fewer retardants to prosperity and more access to opportunity, which the President’s proposals do not and can not address. Like any addict, the Federal Government must go cold turkey, on their spending habit and suffer through their own version of withdrawal.

We cannot afford a president writing checks the treasury cannot cover. We can no longer borrow our way past whatever silly spending catches the President’s eye, today. He has to be reigned in, forced through the constitutional process, to help congress and the senate balance our books, and begin the process of retiring debt, instead of creating more.

President Obama demanded 22 times, the congress “pass the bill, right now.” At least twenty-two times President Obama reminded us of how often he demands congressmen and women pass things without understanding what is in them. America can’t afford this type of electioneering. The Florida Tea Party calls upon President Obama to turn from the spending orgies of his first two and a half years in office, get the government out of our lives and return economic decisions to Americans so we can return America to a prosperous, growing, and thriving country once again.

Dr. John Long is the spokesman for the Florida Tea Party (TEA) – the Official Tea Party of Florida – www.FloridaTeaParty.US

(END)

TEA Party Headquarters
545 Delaney Avenue, Building Two
Orlando, FL 32801
info@FloridaTEAParty.US
www.FloridaTEAParty.US

Political Advertisement Paid for approved by the TEA Party
“Florida’s Official TEA Party”
Fred O’Neal, Chairman Emeritus

Conservative Legislators reject former leader Hasner and endorse George LeMieux for the US Senate

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:12:40 +0000

(Tallahassee, Florida) – Former GOP House leader Adam Hasner suffered a stunning setback yesterday when five fellow Republican state legislators endorsed former US Senator George LeMieux for the GOP nomination to oppose longtime incumbent US Senator Bill Nelson in the 2012 general election.

Leading the endorsement blitz for LeMieux was popular local GOP State Representative Jason Brodeur of Seminole
County, a former President of the Seminole County Young Republicans; Panhandle conservative Matt Gaetz, whose father is slated to be the next Senate President, longtime conservative GOP activist George Moraitis of Broward County and John Tobia of Brevard and the state Representatives were joined by GOP State Senator Stephen Wise of Jacksonville. Wise, a longtime confidant of US Congressman Dan Webster is also the leader of the so-called “God-Squad,” the group of Christian GOP legislators who meet for Bible study on a regular basis while the Legislature is in session.

LeMieux responded to the endorsements by stating, “It is a great honor to be endorsed by conservative leaders throughout the state. These legislators spend their time in Tallahassee fighting for conservative values and fiscal responsibility and they know I will represent their priorities in Washington. I am proud to have their support to fight Bill Nelson’s job-killing, fiscally irresponsible agenda.”

The endorsements of the conservative legislators caught the Hanser campaign by surprise. When contacted, Hasner refused to respond to our inquiries about this event.

This is the second major setback for the Hasner campaign in less than a week. Last week’s straw ballot by a local tea party group showed Hasner running in the back of the pack with former US Army Colonel Mike McCalister and local businessman Craig Miller splitting the first place honors, far distancing Hasner.

Colonel McCalister served his country honorably

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:28:53 +0000

Special to CENTRAL FLORIDA POLITICS by

Geoff Ross, Senior Chief Petty Officer USN (Ret.)

Dear Patriots,

In October 2010 Colonel Mike McCalister US Senate candidate asked me to help set up and run his US Senate campaign. He asked me to get things moving forward for him as we arm the front lines to defend our Republic from this weak inefficient Communist style, tax and spend leadership of the Obama Administration. Lets not forget the misinformed lost and confused RINO’s (who are actually Dems in elephants clothing) who are also running around the Republican party creating chaos and supporting the Obama agenda.

I worked unpaid as a volunteer Campaign Manager and we put together one hell of a team across the State of Florida. I am not the most politically correct person in the world so I did what I could and kept my mouth shut as best as I could. That is quite a feat as we encountered the liberal Commie’s in the left and the whining cry me a river wimp RINO’s of the Republican party on the right in our travels.

I took 4 months off from my day job and we got things done. After the campaign was up running, the Colonel then hired himself a professional Campaign Manager. So after a total of 7 months I resigned from the campaign in order to go back to fund raising for our wounded veterans to remain in compliance with 501 (c) rules.

I am a subordinate fund raiser for Wounded Wear, Freedom Alliance and the Navy SEAL Foundation. These are non profit groups. To prevent a conflict of interest I stepped way from the campaign. Like I said previously, I am not politically correct, so the Colonel was probably relieved anyway when I went back to fund raising for the kids and families of our fallen heroes.

Then I get E mails and questions from Tea Party folks across Florida about whether the Colonel had padded his resume or exaggerated his duties, lied about whether he went to Congress to offer testimony on national security issues and whether he wore his uniform to a Republican fund raiser. Folks, Colonel McCalister never once said he served in combat. I was asked by the political action committee, Combat Veterans for Congress if he had a combat action ribbon or served in combat. I asked the Colonel this question and he said no, but he said he was damn proud of the work he did to aid the special warfare community.

What we have are people trying to hurt a strong candidate that is an outsider from the Republican party. Most of the people trying to hurt the Colonel are Hasner supporters. In fact one critic stated he trashed the Colonel (and me) in a blog then gave Hasner $100.00 donation. I was even called the bastard son of the grim reaper by a so called retired Naval Officer. Get real. My parents were married. What a sorry excuse for a Naval Officer to call a retired Senior Chief names lol. Thank God his ass is retired and not in charge of anything.

Let me tell you something folks, these liberal left wing communist, ass kissing Obama brown nose reporters at the Tampa Tribune and the Saint Petersburg Times and the like are scared of Colonel McCalister. They fear that he has the ability to toss Senator Nelson out on his ear and start returning this nation back to a Republic form of government. This is the plan ladies and gentleman. Take a look at the alternatives who are running. Tree hugging RINO’s or a Communist named Nelson who supported Obama Care.

Did Colonel McCalister wear his uniform to a Republican fund raiser ? Hell yes he did, I asked him to wear it. I was going to wear my uniform too but it was too small for me to get into. Too many damn steaks I guess from Pandora’s. I asked the Colonel to show his colors and his medals out of respect for two decent Presidents we went to celebrate, Reagan and Lincoln. He paid for his ticket from his own pocket, he did not give a political speech, he did not ask for any money for his campaign, he did not run around the event saying he was a Senate candidate. He was guest and damn skippy he wore his uniform. This is a man who has actually served in our military unlike some who are currently running for office. So I take full responsibility for that mistake and the Colonel stands corrected too and will not do that again.

Did Colonel McCalister testify before Congress ? Nope, but he damn sure led the team that did. This will be proven when his campaign releases his military OER’s in the next week or so. Did he lie ? Nope, Colonel McCalister served as the subject matter expert for congressional testimony and he led the team that spoke before congress. Technically he did not speak but his words were heard by the Congress. This was also documented in his fitness reports or OER. So lets get the facts out here about Colonel McCalister.

FACT: Mike McCalister served honorably in the Army National Guard, Army Reserves, and on Active Duty for a total of 33 years between October 4, 1971 and September 30, 2005, when he retired. This does not include one year of Inactive National Guard service, which occurred from March 1981 to March 1982.

FACT: Mike McCalister is a recipient of the Valley Forge Cross for Heroism. According to the National Guard Association of the United States website, the Valley Forge Cross for Heroism “is presented to members of the National Guard who have distinguished themselves by performing acts of heroism that otherwise might not be recognized due to the National Guard’s peacetime status.” Colonel McCalister’s award certificate states, “On April 4, 1989, [then] Major McCalister placed his life in jeopardy to save the life of a woman who had flipped her car off a steep embankment into a muddy creek with zero visibility. Diving into the water, it became difficult to find the individual because of the fast current and underwater obstacles. After recovering the body, which was unconscious and blue from hypothermia, Major McCalister immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the person was revived. Major McCalister’s act of heroism exemplifies the highest tradition of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the Missouri National Guard and the United States Army.” The Valley Forge Cross was numbered 179, engraved on the back of the Medal.

FACT: Mike McCalister served at the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) from September 1998 to September 2005. From September 1998 to September 1999, McCalister served as a Special Operations Action Officer, from September 1999 to September 2000, McCalister served as Research and Analysis Officer, and from September 2000 to September 2005, McCalister served as Assistant/Deputy Chief, Training, Doctrine, and Education Division, Center for Operations, Plans, and Policy. As stated in the “significant duties and responsibilities” section of the September 1999 Officer Evaluation Report (OER), McCalister was a “Special Operations Actions Officer for several classified and mission essential projects being conducted by this Unified Command. Actions and assignments included development, analysis, evaluation, implementation, and managing key aspects of national and worldwide special operation missions and supporting tasks. Mission requirements and directives of Command’s projects were often from DA and JCS, as well as dictated by NCA. Assignments included projects critical to the command’s ability to perform special operations missions as required.”

FACT: Mike McCalister was recommended for promotion to Brigadier General by his Raters and Senior Raters. As stated in his September 2002 Officer Evaluation Report (OER), as McCalister’s Rater, Army Major General (MG) Eldon Bargewell, Director of Operations, Plans, and Policy, USSOCOM, stated McCalister is “a must select for promotion to Brigadier General and Command immediately.” In the same OER, as McCalister’s Senior Rater, Army Lieutenant General (LTG) William Tangney, Deputy Commander, USSOCOM, stated McCalister is a “must select for Brigadier General and command.” As stated in his May 2003 OER, as McCalister’s Rater, MG Bargewell stated McCalister is a “must select for immediate promotion to Brigadier General.” In the same OER, as McCalister’s Senior Rater, Army LTG Bryan D. Brown, Deputy Commander, USSOCOM, stated McCalister is “an absolute must for promotion to Brigadier General now!” As stated in his May 2004 OER, as McCalister’s Rater, Marine Brigadier General Dennis Jejlik, Director of Policy and Readiness USSOCOM, stated McCalister is a “definitely select for immediate selection and promotion to Brigadier General!” In the same OER, as McCalister’s Senior Rater, Navy Vice Admiral (VADM) Eric Olson, Deputy Commander, USSOCOM, stated McCalister “definitely must be selected for promotion to Brigadier General!” (Brown and Olson later pinned on their fourth stars and became Commanders of USSOCOM.)

FACT: According to his May 2003 OER, Colonel McCalister represented “USSOCOM to the Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) as executive and voting member on the T2 Senior Advisory Group [SAG] for the Secretary of Defense (3-star level board) and Executive Steering Group [ESG] (4-star level board).” Further, his Senior Rater on this OER, LTG Bryan D. Brown, Deputy Commander of USSOCOM, stated that Colonel McCalister “received accolades from the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) for his involvement in the SAG and ESG. He is the only voting member of either group that is not at least rank of Major General…He is an absolute must for promotion to Brigadier General now!” According to the May 2004 OER, then Deputy Commander of USSOCOM, VADM Eric Olson, stated, “McCalister continues to perform in General Officer capacities in outstanding form in critical assignments…McCalister definitely must be selected for promotion to Brigadier General!”

FACT: Colonel McCalister evaluated classified programs and activities conducted by Special Operations Forces globally. According to the “significant duties and responsibilities” section of his May 2004 OER, “In this senior management position, [McCalister] conducts critical role in budgeting, forecasting, risk management/resource utilization priorities for global overt/covert operations. [McCalister] conducts briefings and advises the Commander USSOCOM on issues with national security and global focus.” Colonel McCalister has never claimed to be a combat “Special Forces officer,” as accused by his opponents.

FACT: Colonel McCalister was ordered to Active Duty by USSOCOM. In his May 2003 OER, McCalister’s Rater, MG Bargewell, stated, “Due to his representation of USSOCOM as lead on high-level priority missions, superior credentials (which include a Ph.D. in Business Management and post-doctoral work at Harvard University in Senior Executive Leadership), political savvy, superior leadership and strategic vision, Colonel McCalister was ordered to active duty by this Command in order to best utilize these tremendous assets to upgrade and enhance critical global missions and the War on Terrorism.”

FACT: In the “duties and responsibilities” section of the May 2003 OER, it states Colonel McCalister serves as “USSOCOM’s subject matter expert for congressional testimonies and Government Accounting Office inquiries concerning all special operations forces range issues on military readiness/national security.” In this capacity,he accompanied General W. P. Tangney, Deputy Commander, USSOCOMM, as the Subject Matter Expert on national security and military readiness of all U.S. Special Operations Forces worldwide, when the General testified to Congress.

FACT: Colonel McCalister is a recipient of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (5 JUNE 2003, Permanent Orders Number 156-01). The award citation says, “Colonel Michael E. McCalister…distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious achievement as the Deputy Chief of the Training, Doctrine, and Education Division…from 28 March 2002 to 27 March 2003. During this period, while being mobilized in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Colonel McCalister’s personal guidance, as the Assessment Chief for the Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff-directed multi-national special operations forces exercise COBRA GOLD, in Southwest Asia ensured USSOCOM’s ability to respond effectively and professionally to overseas contingency operations…” As the Assessment Chief, Colonel McCalister led a team of officers from USSOCOM headquarters to Southwest Asia in support of overseas contingency operations.

FACT: Colonel McCalister is a recipient of the Legion of Merit Medal (30 November 2005, Permanent Orders 334-03). The award citation states, “Colonel Michael E. McCalister…distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service as Deputy Chief, Training, Doctrine, and Education Division…A superbly capable senior officer, Colonel McCalister exhibited unparalleled professional skills, decisive leadership, and unrivaled planning and operational expertise. Colonel McCalister spearheaded numerous initiatives that ensured USSOCOM’s present and future capability to conduct sensitive mission essential air, ground, and sea based special operations worldwide. Colonel McCalister quickly became highly recognized as one of USSOCOM’s top experts in developing, planning, and conducting the initiatives, programs, and infrastructure investment requirements critical to the execution of compartmented, sensitive operations of national security objectives…”

FACT: Mike McCalister served on Active Duty during the following periods:

APRIL 2002 TO MARCH 2003: Assistant/Deputy Chief of the Training, Doctrine, and Education Division, Center for Operations, Plans, and Policy, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base (AFB), Tampa, FL

AUGUST 1990 TO JULY 1992: Executive Officer and Assistant Professor of Military Science, Army ROTC Battalion, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

FEBRUARY 1972 to JUNE 1972: Private E1, Fort Jackson, SC – Basic Combat Training; Private E2 Advanced Individual Training, Fort Dix, NJ

The above is independent of any of the Active Duty For Training that is conducted annually for all Guard and Reserve Units, State Emergency Duty as the Company Commander of Company B, 1140^th Engineer Battalion, Missouri National Guard, Florida National Guard, Army Reserves, or Active Duty Special Work time. Technically, if included, that would add well over another year of Active Duty service.

FACT: Mike McCalister’s military service includes the following periods and assignments:

SEPTEMBER 2000 TO SEPTEMBER 2005: Colonel, Assistant/Deputy Chief, Training, Doctrine, and Education Division, Center for Operations, Plans, and Policy, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL

SEPTEMBER 1999 TO SEPTEMBER 2000: Lt. Colonel, Research and Analysis Officer, Headquarters, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL

SEPTEMBER 1998 TO SEPTEMBER 1999: Lt. Colonel, Special Operations Action Officer, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL

APRIL 1998 to AUGUST 1998: Lt. Colonel, RC Readiness Project Officer for Plans and Force Integration, Attached to United States Specials Operations Command for Active Duty Special Work, MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL

JANUARY 1997 to MARCH 1998: Major/Lt. Colonel, Assigned to Army Personnel Command (Administrative transfer from Army National Guard to Army Reserves, and promotion to Lieutenant Colonel; good retirement year)

JULY 1995 to DECEMBER 1996: Major, Engineer Officer, Headquarters State Area Command, Florida Army National Guard, St. Augustine, FL

SEPTEMBER 1994 to JULY 1995: Major, Environmental Officer, Headquarters State Area Command, Missouri Army National Guard, Jefferson City, MO

AUGUST 1992 to AUGUST 1994: Major, Communications-Electronics Officer, Headquarters, 35^th Engineer Brigade (Corps), Jefferson Barracks and Ft. Leonard Wood, MO

AUGUST 1990 to JULY 1992: Major, Executive Officer and Assistant Professor of Military Science, Army ROTC Battalion, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

SEPTEMBER 1988 to AUGUST 1990: Major, Communications-Electronics Officer, 135th Combat Engineer Group, Cape Girardeau, MO

SEPTEMBER 1987 to AUGUST 1988: Captain, Civil Engineer, 135th Combat Engineer Group, Cape Girardeau, MO

SEPTEMBER 1985 to AUGUST 1987: Captain, Battalion S-4 Logistics Officer, Headquarters, 1140^th Combat Engineer Battalion, Cape Girardeau, MO

NOVEMBER 1982 to AUGUST 1985: Captain, Company Commander, Company B, 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion, Perryville, MO

MARCH 1982 to NOVEMBER 1982: Communications-Electronics Staff Officer, Headquarters, 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion, Cape Girardeau, MO

MARCH 1981 to MARCH 1982: Captain, Inactive National Guard

DECEMBER 1980 to MARCH 1981: Captain, S-1 Personnel Officer, Headquarters, 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion, Cape Girardeau, MO

OCTOBER 1979 to DECEMBER 1980: 1^st Lieutenant, Company Executive Officer, Company A, 1140^th Combat Engineer Battalion, Jackson, MO

FEBRUARY 1978 to OCTOBER 1979: 1^st Lieutenant, AIDE-de-Camp to the Commanding General, 35th Engineer Brigade (Corps), Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, MO

SEPTEMBER 1976 to FEBRUARY 1978: 1^st Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, Heavy Equipment, Headquarters, 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion, Cape Girardeau, MO

NOVEMBER 1975 to SEPTEMBER 1976: 2^nd Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, Detachment 1, Company A, 1140^th Combat Engineer Battalion, Charleston, MO (Reorganization)

JANUARY 1975 to NOVEMBER 1975: 2^nd Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, 202^ND Engineer Company, Charleston, MO

SEPTEMBER 1974 to JANUARY 1975: 2^nd Lieutenant, Temporarily Assigned back to Headquarters, 135^th Combat Engineer Group. Cape Girardeau, MO (awaiting Platoon Leader Assignment)

JUNE 1973 to AUGUST 1974: Sergeant E-5, National Guard Officer Candidate School, Missouri (Commissioned 2nd Lt. in August 1974)

JUNE 1972 to JUNE 1973: Field Wiremen, Private 1st Class, HHC 135^th Combat Engineer Group, Cape Girardeau, MO

FEBRUARY 1972 to JUNE 1972: Private E1, Fort Jackson, SC – Basic Combat Training; Private E2 Advanced Individual Training, Fort Dix, NJ

OCTOBER 1971 to JANUARY 1972: Awaiting initial Active Duty Basic Training, 135^th Combat Engineer Group, Cape Girardeau, MO

Copies of the Legion of Merit and Defense Meritorious Service Medal award citations can be found here.

Colonel McCalister has served this nation with honor and dignity. His work with the Navy SEALs in Thailand was exemplary and I am proud to call Mike a friend of mine. So to all you liberal left wing RINO dipsticks out there trying to hurt this candidate for the US Senate. Give it your best shot.

Colonel McCalister is welcome to speak at any event I host including the fund raiser I am holding in March with the Navy SEALs. He can talk about his time serving in Central Command Headquarters not as a US Senate candidate. The Navy SEALs look forward to shaking his hand. So if you want to start spreading the horse manure around best watch out for the fan that will blow it back in your face Mr. liberal reporters and RINO’s.

Copy to:

LT Mike Thornton USN (Ret.) (SEAL) Medal of Honor

Colonel Bud Day USAF (Ret.) Medal of Honor

LT Jay Redman USN soon to be retired (SEAL)

Geoff Ross

Senior Chief Petty Officer USN (Ret.)

850-313-1893

www.theroguepatriot.org

Signing off from the Bunker

Latitude: 30-22’46” N
Longitude: 086-51’44” W

Taxpayer advocate Senator Paula Dockery expresses concerns on

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:47:29 +0000

Taxpayer advocate Senator Paula Dockery expresses concerns on recent firing and effort to privatize state prisons.

TALLAHASSEE- Florida State Sen. Paula Dockery, long recognized as a taxpayer advocate, is questioning the recent firing of Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary EdBuss.

Dockery, the former chairman of the Senate committee that handles prison issues, expressed her concern about free speech and freedom that public servants have in suggesting reform.

Florida Governor Rick Scott fired Buss last week after Buss had questioned Scott’s controversial move toward privatizing Florida’s prisons. Buss, a nationally recognized corrections reformer from Indiana was recruited by Scott who appointed Buss the new DOC Secretary immediately following Scott’s inauguration as Governor in January.

In an interview with the Miami Herald, Dockery questioned Buss’ forced resignation. “The governor hired Ed Buss from Indiana because of his record as a reformer,’’ said Dockery, R-Lakeland. “I think Secretary Buss arrived with the expectation that he would have the autonomy to make changes but I think the governor – and/or his inner circle – was uncomfortable with that autonomy.”

Legislators, reportedly led by Florida State Senator J.D. Alexander, secretly tucked into the budget the requirement that all prisons in an 18-county area from Lake Okeechobee southward would be run by private companies. However, after the measure was adopted, a deputy of Buss’ told the governor’s budget staff that the effort could “cripple the agency” and cost the state $25 million in overtime, comp time, and sick leave benefits owed to the 3,800 employees who would be laid off under the plan.

Privatizing prisons “is not a priority in the Senate,’’ Dockery said. “I don’t think if you had a straight-up vote in the Senate it would pass.’’

Instead, it was tucked into the final budget language by Senate leadership, with no discussion or debate. The committee in charge of the prison budget did not include it in the bill the committee passed; instead, it was added to the budget as proviso language – a signal, Dockery said, that they needed to sidestep the regular review process.

“Everything that’s been done on privatization has been done in secrecy, in private,” Dockery said.

Among the vocal opponents to the idea have been the incoming chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, Sen. Greg Evers, R-Crestview, Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Gainesville, Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey and Dockery.

“If Secretary Buss had been able to fend off the privatization effort for a year, they’d have to battle it over again and maybe they wouldn’t have the votes,’’ she said.

Dockery said that she did not know Buss, and if she had been the governor would have preferred to find someone from Florida. “But once he was picked, and picked for his reputation as a reformer…he should have been listened to.”

Dockery said that as a newcomer to government and politics, Scott “had no knowledge of the prison system and it seems to me he would want to rely on an expert instead of cutting him off.”

She said the sudden ouster of Buss will send a message to other executives working for the governor.

“There is a bit of a chilling effect,’’ she said. “This guy was kind of bucking the system. In the past, secretaries have implemented policies they don’t think are necessarily in the best interest of the public but because they are working for the governor they do what he wants them to do.”

She would prefer to have administrators allowed to speak their minds, and defend it with facts. “The guy happened to be independent enough to question it publicly and that was the death knell,’’ Dockery concluded.

Survey Shows Demand for The Peoples Vote.com

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:19:10 +0000

LAKE MARY– A survey just released by Gravis Marketing, Inc. indicated strong support for a new voter involvement system developed here in Florida. The PeoplesVote.com system was recently outlined in an interview heard here on The Phoenix Network.

Peoples Vote. Com founder Chuck Kirkpatrick appeared on the Guetzloe Report last week to announce the establishment of this new concept in voter involvement.

To determine interest among America’s voters, Kirkpatrick commissioned the poll of 2,500 registered voters from the four largest “swing states” in the Nation. Voters from California, Florida, Illinois, Texas and Massachusetts were asked as to their level of interest and involvement in ThePeoplesVote.com and the positive results both surprised and delighted Kirkpatrick. “We wanted to know specifically if voters would join ThePeoplesVote.com and utilize our system, and also if they would pay a minimum fee to upgrade to a Premium Membership. It has been said that we have invented the ‘voter tools of the future’ . . . the time to invest in ThePeoplesVote.com is now!”

ThePeoplesVote.com is also announcing a $1.7 million public offering that will be released and distributed tomorrow to raise the capital necessary to fully activate the system nationally.