The Right Side of The River

2006-08-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

I will be resuming the responsibility of this blog as of now.

Ther will be a change in that I will be posting a lot more opinions of other than the worthless, hopeless entity known as the shitty of Eugene

I have been away due to a number of reasons that frankly don’t mean a thing to anyone but me.

Keep checking in because I will be back with pointed tongue fully in tact. Sorry to drop the rhetoric without explanation, but stuff happens and may again. But the plan is to keep this wounded horse alive.

Thanks,

Rich

RG REsponse Fee Editorial

2006-02-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

Kudos to the Register Guard for it’s editorial on the charging of fees to Springfield residents for emergency fire department response.

They hit the nail on the head when they mention the caution the Springfield City council should use in approaching this issue. Residents have agreed to fund building the jail, to man fire station three and they have stood behind the council (for the most part) concerning Peace Health. I think that raising response fees or instituting new ones may be pushing residents just a bit too far. It feels like we are being punished for our support, the way they do it in Eugene!

Though I can’t stand the thought of admitting it, I think the RG’s editor, is speaking for Springfield residents this time.

Kitty Hosts Liberal Orgy...

2006-02-18T15:01:00.000-08:00

Well, Miss Kitty and her entourage tainted the halls of L.C.C. Friday in another liberal orgy.  The pivot man was none other than Michael Moore’s shadow, Al Franken, and special guest towel boy Peter Defazio.

According to the Red Rag, it was a who’s who of Eugene’s progressive community.  Only in Eugene would a political talk show end with a special massage moment!  I’ll bet Don St.Clair will never wash his hands again, after laying them on the flesh of the liberal deity!

Franken asked Kitty whether she’d accidentally shot anyone, her response should have been “No I meant to shoot down all those businesses!”  Of course the head puss touted Eugene as being oh so concerned with “sustainable development” instead.  Yeah, right Kitty.

I’d like to see the Rag’s story if the likes of Ann Coulter, Mary Matlin, Newt, Liddy or any other prominent conservative came to town.  Hell if Rush did a show here, the whole damn U of Zero would show up to protest.

I have to quit now before the smell of liberal love-festing overcomes my gag reflex!

Leiken will not run for county commissioner

2006-02-05T20:47:00.000-08:00

I just received an email from Mayor Leiken of Springfield stating that he will not be running for the County Commissioner seat currently held by Roy Dwyer.

He is an except from that email:

“Ritchie

I am not going to run for commissioner afterall. I heard from too many folks, including yourself, that the commissioner's position is a position that is step down and not up for me.  Right now the Springfield Mayor's position is the most high profile elected position in Lane County. Maybe one day Bob Avery will realize that too.”

I can’t stress enough how I believe that this is the best possible decision Sid could have made.

Mayor Leiken has been instrumental in creating an atmosphere that is pro business in Springfield.  As Lane County and the city of Eugene continue to battle business using red tape, multiple permits and idiotic building requirements (just to name a few), Springfield has laid out the business welcome mat.

Thanks in large part to Mayor Leiken, the citizens of Springfield have greater trust and confidence in our local government.

We now have the major medical facility south of Portland in Springfield.

With voter support we are building a jail to do the tough job that Lane County can’t seem to handle.

The long neglected area of Glenwood is now under our jurisdiction.  And Glenwood will flourish.  Changes are already taking place in Glenwood, and Mayor Leiken is enthusiastically attempting to draw new business to the Glenwood area.

Mayor Leiken has refused to just accept what Eugene says as gospel.  He does not accept that Springfield is just the red headed stepchild of Eugene and Lane County.  I truly believe that as Mayor Leiken says, at this time, the position of Mayor of Springfield is the most important positions in Lane County.  He has been instrumental in changing Springfield’s reputation from that of ‘backward’ to ‘forward’!

Breached Borders

2006-02-02T22:33:00.000-08:00

I know I’m not the only one in this country concerned with our border policy right now.  Everyone is talking about Illegal aliens and what they cost the citizens of this country.  Now I am hearing from CNN of all places that our borders are being breached by Mexican army regulars, on a ‘regular’ basis.

This pushes me beyond incensed.  Why, for shit’s sake are we not stopping this?  With bullets!  Is it not bad enough that the normal illegals and the druggie illegals are making a mockery of the Border Patrol?  Now we allow a foreign army, whom we have defeated and been defeated by, just wander as they please back and forth across our border.  Where are the apache helicopters?  How bout some special forces, a Bradley Fighting vehicle, an A-10 Warthog?  This situation makes a mockery of our sovereignty, as well as our military.

The citizens of this country take greater pains to protect their houses and homes than our government is taking to protect this country’s borders.  And with good cause, so much of the crime in our cities is directly related to the flow of the drug illegals crossing our borders.  As good citizens must, if need be, FORCE our government to protect our borders.

150,000 illegals, in Oregon alone.  If we can come up with that figure, we can track them down and deport them.  And if Mr. Milk toast McCain would still like to know how to remove all those illegal aliens, I have an idea for him.  ONE BUS AT A TIME!!!!!!!!  He can use some of the money we save in services the illegals steal, to pay their bus fare to Tijuana.  Just the money saved from bunk driver licenses would pay for one or two!

Write to worthless Wyden, and silent Smith (DeFazio is a lost cause).  Write to the RNC, even George W., just make your voice heard!  We must secure our borders, period.

Lars and the the candidates three!

2006-02-02T21:49:00.000-08:00

After hearing the exchange on the Lars Larson show today, and reading the hot blogs, I’ve decided to throw in my two cents worth!

The final result of today’s exchange for me was the confirmation that all three of our republican candidates, have serious issues.

Issues that may well lead to the voting public to deciding that Sleepy Ted's re-election is the lesser of two evils.

I think Jason chose the stance that's not necessarily wrong, but it opposed Lars's.  As stated by Gullyborg and Coyote comments in their blogs, if Lars smells blood on the water, he goes into a feeding frenzy.   I think that's one of his faults.  He goes at everything like he's killing snakes.  In other words, he needs to think sometimes before he starts shooting!

As for Kevin Mannix, I met him a few years ago, and was impressed with him in our one on one conversation.  But as for his public side, he comes across as a career politician, negative toward his opposition (fellow republicans), arrogant and a bit condescending. I don’t support that kind of politicking.

It all boils down to this for me;

Jason’s was an unfortunate incident, it was on the air live, and no one who heard it will forget it.

Springfield Jail Plans Released

2006-01-19T21:44:00.000-08:00

Springfield Jail Plans Released

Springfield’s Citizen Advisory Committee released four sets of plans for the new Springfield Jail.   I caught a brief story on one of the local T.V. stations yesterday about it.  But today I came home from my weekly business trip, and tried to find more information on the story.  I was going to do a report on the planning in this blog.

So far I have searched the local TV web site, the red rag’s website and the Springfield news website.   On none of these, have I yet to find a story on it.  I don’t pay for the red rag, and after reading the Springfield News editorial on Sam Alito, I may stop buying that too!

I wanted to, and still will encourage all Springfield residents to support the hard work of the Citizen Advisory Committee, by looking seriously at their recommendations.  We need to fund this jail, we have shown our support for the building, now let’s staff it, and fund its operation.

This will cost us all a few bucks a year, and I hate the idea of more taxation, but this is of paramount importance to Springfield’s future.  We are investing in a better, safer more self sufficient Springfield.  One that is not dependant on Berkeley North, or Lane County. One that works in cooperation with them for Springfield’s benefit.

The proposals incorporate new quarters for SPD and Springfield Fire and Life Safety.  I believe this is a good use of the available space, and we all know that they both need improved quarters.  And if you don’t think they need improved offices, just go to the SPD office sometime.  It’s a joke.  Maybe it worked 35 years ago, but its crap by today’s standards.

In other words, I will look at each proposal thoroughly, and vote yes on one of them.  I encourage all the residents of Springfield to do the same!

2006-01-17T07:15:00.000-08:00

Supreme Court Upholds Oregon Law

Finally a win for the voters of Oregon, the supreme court has upheld physician assisted suicide. Stating that state law trumps federal ability to punish doctors who prescribe the letal dose of drugs. This according to a news report on MSNBC moments ago.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10891536/

It's about damn time the voters of Oregon recieved a little support. I have to admit, I had a bad feeling about this one going in, kudos to the high court. For now!

2006-01-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

Under The Weather...

Pardon my lack of verbal assault lately on the freak show across the river, I've been blessed with this lovely cold/flu/infection thing that is going around. My other excuse is even better, WORK! Business has been good these days, take that liberals!!!

If I had been less time stressed by work, and less illness plagued, I would have commented on the 'Altered State' of the city address by Mess Kitty, the lovely weather that we all are literally under or the B-S speeches by Eugene's "Progressives". Which by the way, bother me because they take on issues that should really be county issues. That is if Eugene's progressives respected the opinions of anyone outside the city limits. The 2050 plan, and the "West Lane Parkway" as I prefer to call it, for just two examples.

Enough of this I have to blow my nose and take more asprin... THIS COLD SUCKS!

2005-12-26T17:53:00.000-08:00

Miss Kitty Saves Eugene!!

The Eugene Register rag is again showing Springfield residents good cause being thankful this year! The year Kitty Piercy saved Eugene.

According to today's Red Rag, Kitty has solved all of Eugene's problems. And it only took her a year!

She's made Eugene business friendly, "tackled homelessness and racism" and re-vitalized the downtown area. She's taken a whip and chair to the other citizens of Lane County by putting them/us in our places regarding the West Eugene Parkway (which I will from this time on call the West Lane Parkway), and she stood up to her "base" by siding with lobbyists and supporting corporate tax breaks! Now there are some things to be proud and howling about!

The fact that she supported the corporate tax breaks was no great accomplishment. It was either that or lose corporations already established in Eugene. If the support structure for present corporations in Eugene couldn't get the breaks , they wouldn't commit to building in Eugene. In turn increasing the chances of losing the established corporate queen bee. So she caves. Woo Hooo, big deal! By the way, I am personally for some tax breaks if it brings in new business to the area.

She figuratively thumbed her pussycat nose by defeating Nancy Nathanson, (a more qualified candidate) and did the old flip tail turn around to Jim Torrey by disrespecting his experience as , the only REAL Mayor Eugene has had since I can remember. By saying she is a "Mayor for Eugene" I think she really means she is a mayor for liberal Eugene.

The article also says;
"Observers said Piercy is skilled at bringing sides together to talk out a problem."

You know, it's not too tough to bring folks together, when they are getting together to plan attack strategy, defend their positions, in the case of the parkway, to stand up for the voter's wishes.

I'm not even going to give the homeless and racism statement the dignity of a long rant here. It is so obviously absurd to say that she has done ANYTHING at all to help either issue, let alone that she has "tackled" them both. Anyone driving 6th or 7th streets can see that homelessness is STILL rampant.

Sadly, racism exists and always will in some form or another in this world, and that goes for Eugene too. The great Nelson Mandela can't stop it in South Africa, Dr. King couldn't stop it in our south, and Miss Kitty can't stop it in Eugene. I wish they all could have.

No, from THIS side of the river, it looks like she is a standard issue lefty, liberal only when it comes to those who agree with her opinions, plans and politics. I see this article as a definite pep rally for Miss Kitty, and to me, that says she may be losing a bit of ground with her "base". It would be nice to see Eugene wake up to the damage her and her litter mates are doing to Eugene as a whole.

2005-12-16T22:40:00.000-08:00

Lars and Cross

Ok, time for my two cents worth on the subject of the cross Lars Larson planned for Pioneer Square in Portland.

I listen to Lars, I contribute and converse with him via email from time to time. He has some valid points, he goes overboard sometimes. He's in the entertainment business, he'll be a bit of a shit stirrer sometimes. It gets peoples attention. BUT...

Follow the links on his web site to:

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/12/329839.shtml

Read some of the posts. These are not rational people. These are lunatics, at the very least. They would, and probably still will go to the square and cause problems.

I can not understand the lack of tolerance in the hearts of these people. They refuse to allow anyone to express a view other than that which is in alignment with their own views.

For the life of me, I can't think of a way to argue any point with them. They don't understand civil rights, free speech or religious freedom. They are blind to their own close mindedness. I am a conservative, though very liberal, still a conservative. I would die to protect their right to their opinion, and their right to express it. So long as their expression does not infringe on my similar rights. Fair is fair...right?? The people posting on that site would never do the same. And they would live on, blissfully ignorant.

The supreme beings on that site seem to pride themselves on being intellectually perfect. They profess to know all, and to have the only answer to every question. Only the question, and the thing they profess to know, is not in their own hearts or minds. It is in the hearts and minds of others. You will see things their way, for there is no other way. And if you don't see things their way, they WILL call you names and become violent, striking out at the things YOU hold dear. They are angry for the sake of being angry. How can they profess to be liberal:

Definition of liberal on the Web:

broad: showing or characterized by broad-mindedness; "a broad political stance"; "generous and broad sympathies"; "a liberal newspaper"; "tolerant of his opponent's opinions"

When they make it so painfully obvious that they are NOT, as stated above!

2005-12-12T21:29:00.000-08:00

In Springfield, it's called Christmas!

Tonight I was entertained by the combined bands of Springfield High School.

The stage was adorned with seasonal trappings that included two "Christmas Trees".

The band directors announced the music, not as "Holiday Carols", but as "Christmas Carols".

Thanks to Mr. Demant, and Mr. Holt for all they do for our kids, and for helping to keep it the Christmas Season!

It was an awesome concert, these talented kids did a great job in their first concert of the year. The playing of music during the set changes was a welcome change!

The night also included the mention of a food drive by all the area high schools for "Food For Lane County". The Springfield High kids collected over 4,000 lbs of food. More than all the other schools combined was the un-official result.

The kids at SHS also provided funding for 70 plus kids via a tree of joy this year!

Money was collected after the concert to help the folks at Brattain house that give aid to the school district's homeless students.

I am damn proud to be the parent of one of these great students, but I am also proud of each and every one of the other students as well. These kids are showing everyone that good things happen in Springfield. Positive things, like all places, we have our problems, but everyone hears about those. I just wanted to take this opportunity to praise these kids, and rant on a good thing for a change!

Way to go Springfield High,

Here's to MILLER PRIDE!!!

2005-12-10T09:56:00.000-08:00

Clueless in Eugene, again.

Eugene's leadership has once again given the rest of the county, proof of their arrogance and blindness. During Thursday's Metro Policy Committee meeting in Springfield. Miss Kitty, and her yes man David Kelly, can't seem to get it through heads that the "West Eugene Parkway" is Eugenes only in name! There are other cities, a county and a state involved too. They were dumbfounded, by the "astonishingly hostile" (to quote Mr. Kelly and the red rag ) resistance to their obviously superior line of thinking! How dare we resist them. Don't we know that they and the Eugene way are the only way.

Eugene's denial of the traffic issues in this area is mind-numbing. From the suggestions in years past that the Ferry Street bridge be bicycle only, to Miss Kitty's statement on KPNW that a hospital in the on the EWEB site would not significantly effect traffic in that area! Now the recent canning of a project that was approved by voters twice (no matter what the percentage), and that effects every one in this county. Why is there not a tool that can be used to overide the decision of Eugene's nine blind mice.

If this were Springfield, Junction City or Veneta trying to stop this project, the building would have begun years ago. Eugene's squeaking wheel minority once again trumps the will of the people. One day, I would love to see the real people of Eugene stand up and call "Bull Stuff"on these jokers and clean house. Make them start working with the other local governments, and listening to the residents, and not just the ones in the counter culture core of the city. Even Eugene's role models of Berkeley and Portland have realized that denial of increased traffic in the future doesn't make it so. As long as the areas west of Eugene continue to grow, so will the traffic flow.

Simply put, Eugene's leaders need to pull their collective head out, and do this one for the team.

Build the damn Parkway!

2005-12-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

LTD Immunity

The Lane Transit District does a great service to many members of our community. They provide great assistance to to the handicapped. I've seen drivers go way above the call to help disabled folks get on and off the bus, an awesome driver helped me at age 12 find my way home. I really have no beef with why they exist, and for the most part the way they go about their daily routes.

I do have a small problem or two with some things I've seen lately.

First and the most irritating! Today as with many Fridays, I dropped my daughter off at school. After doing so, I made my way to the corner of 5th and 'G' in Springfield. While at the stop sign, I noticed an LTD bus, dropping school kids off across the street, at the corner. I should mention, that at this intersection there are no large white cross walk lines crossing 5th street. The driver stopped, and about a dozen kids got off the bus and started to cross the street. Two of the six or so that were IN the street, IN FRONT OF THE BUS, actually made it out of the path of the bus (#310) before the driver ( sneer on face) started to drive off. The remainder of the kids, jumped out of the way, back onto the curb, as the bus drove off.

Now we already have rules for cars, regarding the requirement to yield to these big vehicles. But I draw the line at our children having to yield to the damn things when they are crossing the street. Legally crossing it. They started across while the bus was stopped. That driver had no right to pull out and endanger those kids. If one child had tripped and/or fallen and gotten run over, this fat guy would have gone to to the pen for beating the driver senseless!! Well maybe not, he obviously doesn't have any sense! If that had been me in my big ol' Chevy, I'd have to get a second mortgage to pay the tickets.

I must admit, I did call LTD and complain, I should have called SPD. I asked the route supervisor if that was proper behavior, and he assured me it was NOT. He said he would call the driver immediately, and question him about it.

Here is another issue I have with LTD. Those bend in the middle, giant white snakes that they are using now. Just count how many people are in those behemoths on other than game days! Especially the ones on rural routes!

And another favorite beef of mine is the whatchamacallit in front of the new downtown Springfield station. I guess they had to out ugly the Rhino/Ballerina statue at city hall! That thing actually ruins the look of that bus terminal! Incredible.

And I can't talk about LTD without mentioning the way they acquired the Eugene Drive-in property. They stole it, in the name of progress, paying only a fraction of what it was worth, under threats of condemnation and imminent domain.

There are more, but they are related to my admitted road rage problem, and not wort mentioning at this point!

My final word, buses need to yield to pedestirans, period (my mother in-law has been hit twice by buses in her town).

2005-12-08T18:27:00.000-08:00

Bi-Polar, Bi-Polar, BI-FREAKIN'POLAR!!!!

First off, I'd like to thank the "FAMs" that did their job with great accuracy, care and concern during the Miami airport incident Wednesday. There was a threat, they dispatched the threat. They did their job. If I freak out on a plane, I'd expect the same, medication or not. If they hadn't shot, and a bomb had gone off, many innocent lives would most certainly have been lost. Not to mention that the Bush administration would have become the Bush castration.

Great job guys and/or gals. I for one am more comfortable flying just knowing you are there!

Now to the rant!

Since no-one can immediately find fault with the actions of the air marshals, the media has chosen to mention this poor mans bi-polar disorder ad-nauseum. The first thing out of the big mouth of Katie Couric was that the air marshals shot a man with bi-polar disorder, that had happened to say he had a bomb! It was the same with all the usual left leaners. I lost count after the 15th time NBC's morning losers said 'bi-polar' between the 7:00 am and 8:00 slot on the today show.

Mark my words, they are going to vilify the air marshals, for something regarding this incident, and I think that is the largest target for the media to aim at. They shot the poor, innocent mentally disabled, man who forgot his medicine. They were already starting in at CNN (when asking an 'expert' guest) "can't they train more so they can shoot to injure?". The lovely miss Couric called the air marshals response "shooting to kill" two or three times. Her guest (a former air marshall) finally responded, " we don't shoot to kill, we shoot to stop the threat". She gave him a "like, jeez Mister" look and crossed her muscle clenched legs for the third time! (I added that leg part for effect).

You know, I hate to see anyone get killed like this, I hate that the marshals have to live with what happened. Killing someone can't be easy to deal with mentally. I am sorry the mans wife lost her husband. But the officers can take solice in the fact that they did the right thing, what had to be done. Bi-polar dissorder on not, the illness is secondary to the facts and actions that caused the final outcome.

Lets hope I'm wrong and the media just lets it lay. But I'm not holding my breath.

2005-12-05T21:08:00.000-08:00

Uncle Teddy's "Holiday Gift"

The all knowing Eugene register rag has decided to once again show off it terminal case of 'whatever you say' when it comes to democrats holding office in Oregon. Calling the governors tougher emissions proposal "Kulongoski's holiday gift" (not Christmas gift, HOLIDAY gift).

Our Dudley do-nothing governor's feeble attempt at achieving fame and getting his name in the paper, has again become editorial fodder for the 'Red Rag'. According to the RG's editorial, "lawmakers should have led the charge to put stronger emissions controls in place."

This same editorial, expounds on the warnings of "economists" as to the horrible things that will happen to us economically if we don't adopt these standards. It warns of the environmental consequences of not adopting the "tougher" California standards. Well, I have just a couple of points to make from MY angle.

Being a person who deals daily with companys in the trucking industry, I have will speak to issues I have expertise in, regarding some of these standards as they relate to my industry.

The first major change in the truck emission standards, that took place in 2002, did great things. It decreased the fuel economy of the engines being produced by approximately 20%. Trucks that were getting seven or eight miles per gallon, saw their mileaage drop up to two miles per gallon. Raising the shipping costs associated with the goods we buy everyday, due to fuel surcharges the truckers had to impose to cover the increased expense.

Another 'positive' result of the emissions change imposed by congress and the EPA, was that the engines that get the poorer fuel economy, also run at higher temperatures. Causing them to have a higher soot content in their oil, which in turn causes pre-mature systems failures in the engine. Once again increasing operational costs to trucking companys. Costs which are then again passed on to consumers.

So now we have, trucks burning more fuel, fuel prices increasing, OH, and I forgot to mention, fewer hours truck drivers can legally operate trucks (which increases the amount of trucks on the road). Now, in the middle of all that, you have the enviro-types keeping us from using more of our own natural resources. And those same enviro folks, throwing fits over our presence in the Persian Gulf, and the protection of our oil producing allies. While they also throw a shoe over the profits made by oil companys!! And by the way, they want us to keep the freaking jobs from going over-seas!!!!!!!!

Now in 2007, the emission standards for trucks get tougher yet. Calling for changes that are goin to (albeit for a short time) increase the cost of trucks AGAIN, (mufflers for some trucks went from $55.00 in 2000, to $1200.00 in 2002). But the changes are also predicted to decrease fuel mileage by another half to one mile per gallon. Guess what, in 2010, the finale to the forseeable changes, will again, decrease fuel economy. Does anyone see a pattern here?

Not to mention, that the automobile emmisions from newer cars is already too clean for the worthless DEQ testing in the chosen land, I of course am refering to PORTLAND.

And blah, blah, blah.... I can keep going, but I feel I'm the only one listening!

Look, this whole thing comes down to Uncle Teddy, needing to make himself look like he's accomplished somthing in the last four years. Wake up Red Rag and PDX Fishwrapper. You only make yourselves look even more foolish by support this numb skull.