America's Democrat Mayors Ruining the Country for Decades

"In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous." —Tacitus

Forbes.com's  Kurt Badenhausen detailed America's Most Miserable Cities, 2012 last week.  In formulating his thesis, Badenhausen writes,

 We looked at the 200 largest metropolitan statistical areas and divisions in the U.S. to determine America’s Most Miserable Cities. The minimum population to be eligible was 256,000. We ranked each area on 10 factors, including average unemployment rate between 2009 and 2011; median commute times to work for 2010 based on U.S. Census data; violent crimes per capita from the FBI’s 2010 Uniform Crime Report; and how pro sports teams fared in the area over the past three completed seasons. We included three housing metrics: the change in median home prices between 2008 and 2011; foreclosure rates in 2011, as compiled by RealtyTrac; and property tax rates based on median real estate taxes paid and median home values in 2010 per the U.S. Census. We also considered corruption based on convictions of public officials over the past decade in each region, as tracked by the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice. Lastly, we factored in income tax rates and the weather in each metro on factors relating to temperature, precipitation and humidity.

While Badenhausen clearly articulates his methodology, I decided to take this story a step further.  After all, nothing ever happens in a bubble. Because Badenhausen made a factor the corruption of public officials based on conviction, I am curious which cities have had longstanding Democratic/Leftist administrations in the driver seat. 

So here is my supplemental list to Badenhausen's list:

10. Warren Michigan
Democratic, 1995-2007 (12 years) Republican James R. Fouts assumed the helm in 2007 leading the fight end members of Warren's many commissions and boards receiving of gifts from people with interests in decisions the boards have made or will make. To no avail.  The status quo lives on, fought by the Democratic majority that composes its council.

9. Rockford, Illinois
Democratic, for Decades Despite the election of an "Independent" for Mayor, the machinery still in place enables a tax-and-spend mentality and protection of the status quo.

 8. Toledo, Ohio
Democratic, As expected with any municipality run by a corrupt or crazy Democrat, Toledo scores poorly in income and property tax rates.  Democrat Mayor "Crazy-Carty" S. Finkbeiner was at the helm until 2010 when finally ousted by the Independent Michael Bell.

 7. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Democratic, James T. Naugle, a Democrat "Real Estate Developer" was at the helm as Mayor since 1991..and replaced in 2009 with another big-spender Democrat named Jack Seiler.

6. Chicago, Illinois
Democratic since the Kennedy Years. Under the tutelage of Mayor Richard Daley, Chicago politics is the poster child for back room deals, king making and  corruption.

 5. Sacramento, California
Democratic. Home to the Sacramento’s Kings who are threatening a move to Anaheim if  the city does not pony up the dollars a new arena. Democrat Kevin Maurice Johnson who enjoys a first in being Sacramento's first African American mayor, elected in 2008. He replaced Democrat Heather Fargo. And what did Mr. Johnson bring with him to Sacramento? Scandal. When Johnson, a former NBA star was under investigation for financial misdeeds and inappropriate behavior with young female students, he had an support of Michelle Rhee, the nationally known education reformer who heads Washington, D.C., public schools.

 4. West Palm Beach, Florida
Democratic. Democrats have been at the helm in West Palm Beach for a long time, the latest of which is Jeri Muoio who replaced Lois Frankel. Three county commissioners went to Jail in 2009 for selling the favors of their offices.

3. Flint, Michigan
Democratic. Ah yes, the home of the infamous Charlatan of dishonest documentary film, Michael Francis Moore, Flint Mayor Dayne Walling razed 775 abandoned homes in the year ending October 2011, to try and change the city landscape. The state of Michigan appointed an emergency manager last year to take over Flint's budget and operations. Crime remains a severe problem with the violent crime rate the third worst in the U.S.  Thanks Democrats!

2. Detroit, Michigan
Democratic. When I think of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick is the first name that come to the fore. At the helm of Detroit for six years. Kilpatrick was alleged to have fulfilled a bad boy's bucket list detailing every conceivable major crime, indiscretion and unethical act while in the Mayoral post.

 1. Miami, Florida
Democratic. Another city that had a liberal democrat in charge for eight years, tops the list as one of the most miserable cities.  Miami is another such place where political dishonesty prevails. Mayor Manny Diaz lists himself as an independent, yet spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2008, endorsing Barack Obama. Democrats have always been bastions of "all things to all people." 

Based on results, hows' that workin' for ya?

SUPPORTING ABORTION THROUGH ARBITRARY USE OF FEDERAL POWER

"The most merciful thing that a family does to one of its infant members is to kill it." ~Margaret Sanger, founder, Planned Parenthood

How corrupt is a private organization that will literally stop at nothing to get its own way? Such is the case with Planned Parenthood of New England. When PPNNE failed to prevail on the New Hampshire Executive Council, they lobbied other sources. But not private sources that nobody would have a problem with or otherwise object to, They lobbied a bunch of hacks in the Federal government.  

So, the Obama Administration has unilaterally decided to directly fund Planned Parenthood clinics in the Granite state in direct response to the Executive Council's June vote.  And as expected Planned Parent, thereafter, acting as the proverbial spoiled child sent out their surrogates to demagogue, harass, decry and with all means, shout down the council vote.  Planned Parenthood pressed the council a re-vote on the matter all to no avail.

I have always maintained that Planned Parenthood, aside from being the rank abortionists they are, is...plainly put, a "corrupt organization." In an August of 2009 essay, I pointed out that Planned Parenthood has been asked multiple times to open its books. They have refused.

I also pointed out that IRS filings indicate revenues upwards of $1.1 billion in 2009, while a third of revenues came at taxpayer expense. Planned Parenthood National President Cecile Richards draws $385,000 salary in both pay and benefits. 

When Planned Parenthood of Northern New England CEO Steve Trombley, with his $250,000 annual salary responded to the council vote,  Trombley implied that PPNNE may cut services as a result.

In a Union Leader report, Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser said, "President Obama has proven time and again that he will do whatever it takes to ensure that Planned Parenthood continues to receive taxpayer subsidies, even if that means going around a state's elected representatives." Dannenfelser added "Obama is the most pro-abortion President in our country's history and his allegiance to Planned Parenthood is unwavering."

So the American taxpayer is validated in the notion that no matter what objection, there is nothing they can do to stop such corrupt organizations from fleecing us of our tax dollars.

Our Executive Council voted on funding of PPNNE, for better or worse. Now comes the Federal Government, having no problem to undermine that local action. This rank abuse of federal power encroachment onto the Granite State is shoving the funding down taxpayer throats. That aspect alone should be unacceptable.

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KRISTIN RUGGIERO ATTORNEY ACCUSED OF ALTERING DOCUMENT

“A witch and a bitch always dress up for each other, because otherwise the witch would upstage the bitch, or the bitch would upstage the witch, and the result would be havoc” ~Tennessee Wiliams, American Playwright

The Union Leader's James A. Kimble reports this morning that convicted liar Kristin Ruggiero's divorce attorney, Linda Theroux, is being brought before the State Attorney Discipline Office charging that Theroux changed a military release form violating state ethics rules. Theroux, who represented Kristin Ruggiero in the divorce case, stands accused of misconduct during the course of her representation.

Theroux allegedly altered a military records release form Jeffrey Ruggiero signed and handed over to her, wrote James Kruse, an attorney for the Attorney Discipline Office.

Attorney James Kruse for the Discipline Office charges that Theroux altered a Military Records release given her by Jeffrey Ruggiero. After receiving the release Theroux's alteration expanded the scope of inquiry in adding that Ruggiero assented to disclosing his “entire military file" notwithstanding documents classified as ‘Secret’ or ‘Top Secret’ or for National Defense Purposes,” Theroux never subsequently submitted the records release for judicial review by the family court, Kruse’s complaint further charges.

Union Leader's Kimble reports that, "Jeffrey Ruggiero’s divorce lawyers at the time, Phil DesFossess and Celeste Christo, found out about the altered document when they were contacted by a U.S. Coast Guard commander."

Kristin Ruggiero is a story that won't go away for a long time to come. It is the quintessential epic saga of  of lying, manipulation, skullduggery...a plot found only on scripts of daytime soaps, but with all the trappings of a Shakespearian tragedy, sans dark humor.

Kristin Ruggiero is one of the most remarkable women ever. Seriously! Had it not been for her ego and boastfulness she may never have been caught;  Jeffrey Ruggiero would be rotting in jail for crimes he never committed and the public at large would be going about the business of their daily lives, many perhaps never contemplating the widespread magnitude of personal destruction she has sewn.

Despite being sent to Prison for her lies and subsequent convictions in Massachusetts after she was in jail; Despite her subsequent indictments after her trial; Despite the indictments of her boyfriend and family members who aided, enabled and assisted her; despite her Supreme Court appeal, her legacy lives on in Rockingham Family Court as the Star-chamber-like family court drags its heels on deciding the custodial arrangement of the minor child of this relationship.

Kristin can take some solace in having an ally like the family court. In the face of her lies, convictions and wake of others brought down by her scheme, the court wastes away mired down in the inexcusable muck of the lawless family court system. Kristin was convicted of her crimes 15 months ago and the court has still yet to rule on pending petitions of Jeffrey Ruggiero. It would seem that there is no case more ripe than this one for a bill of address to be brought on the presiding justice.

Some research bears doing to find out any legal exposure for a Federal charge exists for Ms. Theroux for altering Jeff Ruggiero's records release. But, be assured that if such exposure exists, confidence is equal that charges may be brought, as no charges may be brought. Perhaps Mr. Kacavas's office may being looking at that.

The final and last most epic fail is the utter and deafening silence of the victim-witness advocacy system in the Granite State. Their lack of condemnation of Ruggiero and those who aided her points to the ugly suggestion of a misandrous agenda where gender advocacy and power are king and justice and truth are trampled under foot, you bunch of bitter hateful people. Your silence is so deafening, I can hear grass growing in the midst.

Kristin is in jail. She deserves to be in jail. But only take some comfort in the length of her sentence. Because there will be a release date. And when she is released, be afraid...be very afraid as she shows no signs of remorse and has deluded herself that all is a massive conspiracy concocted by the Coast Guard, the County, the Police and Jeff Ruggiero. All of these people have nothing more important to do than to exhaust valuable time, energy and resources...To scheme and conspire on how to "get Kristin and her family." Just like Uncle Peter says. If nothing else, Kristin shows herself to be the master at the proverbial "Snow job"

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ATF's Project Gun Runner: An Object Lesson In Corruption, Lies And Cover-ups

"I don't believe gun owners have rights..."-Sarah Brady, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, October, 1997; "Handguns in America"

What is Project Gun Runner? Project Gun Runner is a program implemented by the ATF for the express purpose of interdicting weapons used by the Mexican drug cartels into Mexico. Mexican drug cartels have emerged as the leading illegal gun traffickers in the U.S. First implemented in 2005 as a pilot project in Laredo Texas, the ATF went national with the program in 2006 with the objective of reducing or eliminating cross-border firearms and drug trafficking, as well as the high level of associative violence occurring on both sides of the border.

Project Gun Runner segued an expansion of the ATF's eTrace firearm tracing software system to thirty-two nations, a number of which have a demonstrative track record of police corruption anti-gun biases and overt fraud.  eTrace results provides these nations complete and unfettered access to American gun owner's identities, names, addresses and personal information. Now, why would some government hack in Guyana have some need to access Rick Olson's ATF purchase trace data? Most likely, none. But having such infrastructure in place would certainly interface well with the machinations of the future U.N. Treaty on Small Arms.

It has also been found that Project Gun Runner has netted an inverse result to its' original stated purpose.  Senator Charles Grassley, (R) Iowa, initiated an investigation after he received credible evidence that the ATF had facilitated and allowed for the  sale of over 2,500 firearms, consisting of AK-47 rifles, FN 5.7mm pistols, AK-47 pistols, and .50 caliber rifles in 'straw purchases. Also determined was the destiny of these guns were Mexico. The Phoenix Field Division of the ATF now only allowed but facilitated the sales, despite objections and discomfort of law-abiding Federally Licensed Firearms dealers enlisted to participate following their reports of suspicious purchases.

On December 14, 2010, Customs and Border Protection Agent Brian Terry was on patrol along a smuggling route in Arizona when a firefight erupted and Agent Terry was killed. In the immediate aftermath, assault rifles were recovered at the scene, one of which was traced back to a gun Shop in Arizona. on February 23^rd of this year, Insiders told CBS's Scott Pelley, "(This incident) surpasses the shoot-out at Ruby Ridge and the deadly siege at Waco."

Special Agent John Dodson accuses the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allegedly let gun runners walk off with weapons - thousands of them - to see if they'd end up in the hands of the cartels, in an ABC News interview. The Justice Department and ATF have denied it ever happened and Senator Grassley went on to further investigate allegations of Retribution against Dodson as a "whistle-blower."

It was not so long ago that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton got in front of the public media and decried the flow of illegal guns crossing into Mexico from the U.S. And the anti-second amendment ilk was sure to follow, calling for their usual stricter gun control measures. The Obama administration places the blame squarely on the shoulders of gun shop owners in border towns for the crimes committed by Mexican drug cartels, with the weapons purchased in the U.S. And despite the Obama administration's full informed knowledge that their assertions were patently false, They ran with the accusation right to the drive-by media.

Fox News' William LaJeunesse's May 31, 2011 story, America's Third War: Is the U.S. Arming Mexican Cartels? tells us, "According to State Department documents, in 2009 Mexico bought nearly $177 million worth of American-made weapons, exceeding sales to Iraq and Afghanistan. That number includes $20 million in semi- and fully automatic weapons." An unknown number of M16 rifles sold legally by the U.S. Government to the Mexican government are not accounted for and U.S. Law Enforcement is gravely concerned about the disappearance of these weapons, according to State Department cables made public by Wikileaks.

The Obama administration is corrupt. Their anti-gun, anti-second amendment policy is crystal clear: Blame the law-abiding gun shop owners in Border States for the hemorrhaging of guns to the drug cartels while selling military weapons to a Mexican Government that tolerates and facilitates systemic corruption at all levels; Use Federal law enforcement sources to implement programs like Project Gun Runner where the ATF not only permits, but facilitates straw purchases to traffickers, allowing guns to end up in Mexico; Silence anybody within the government who attempts to expose this policy; and, Sandbag, stonewall and otherwise not cooperate with Senate or Congressional oversight Inquiries. Eric Holder should not only be fired, but he should be called to account for this whole messy scandal. Somebody in this Administration needs to go to jail.

Jan 27, 2011 Grassley Letter to ATF Director Melson

Jan 31, 2011 Grassley Letter to ATF Director Melson

Feb   4, 2011  Response to 1/27, 31 Letters from DOJ Weich

Feb   9, 2011 Grassley Letter to Eric Holder

Feb 16, 2011  Second Grassley Letter to Eric Holder

Mar  3,  2011  Grassley Letter to Holder and Melson

Mar  4, 2011   Grassley Letter to Melson

Mar  4, 2011   Grassley Letter to Secretary Clinton

Mar  4, 2011   Grassley Letter to CBP Director Bursin

Mar  8, 2011   Grassley Letter to Kevin Perkins, Chair, Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency

Mar  8, 2011   DOJ Weich letter to Grassley

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