en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/684030 Comments by Trailbandit http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/johnson-county-news/2010/02/19/auditor-on-target-with-election-cost-estimate#IDComment57685083 Auditor's pickled and the books are cooked? Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:41:32 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/johnson-county-news/2010/02/19/auditor-on-target-with-election-cost-estimate#IDComment57685083 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/johnson-county-news/2010/02/19/auditor-on-target-with-election-cost-estimate#IDComment57673320 Of course the numbers came back as predicted--he had to save face. It's the reason why there were three different voting precincts in the North Liberty community center, each having more workers than voters at any given time. Even during rush hour there were staff sitting around. They all could have been combined into one room, but he had to make it expensive. Common joke amongst accountants: What's 2 + 2? Answer: What do you want it to be??? In other words, the auditor fluffed the numbers to make it look like the election was expensive and unneeded. It is absolutely frightful that this man can continue in an official capacity. This close "estimate" proves the fraud. But it's part of the Johnson County Dem Machine. We would expect nothing less. Business as usual. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:56:03 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/johnson-county-news/2010/02/19/auditor-on-target-with-election-cost-estimate#IDComment57673320 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/18/maytag-may-get-6-5-million-forgivable-loan-from-state#IDComment57472928 I'd rather give handouts to businesses in Iowa that have been giving corporate taxes and employment opportunities for decades than to outside businesses planning on building here and extort taxpayer funds (think Google and Microsoft servers). The best answer would be to reduce taxes on all Iowa businesses and end the practice of handpicking which businesses receive tax breaks and resulting success. It would make it more fair to those businesses already operating here. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:00:57 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/18/maytag-may-get-6-5-million-forgivable-loan-from-state#IDComment57472928 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/17/corridor-startup-offers-another-option-to-sell-metal#IDComment57463394 I used to live by this guy. The picture makes him look like a jeweler. He's actually a chronic scam artist wanting to insert imself into another scam. It's one multi-level marketing scheme after another with this family. He probably approached a homeless guy with a pliars and $10 and convinced the guy to let him pull his tooth out. Probably took the $10 back for a "scrapbook" page of his missing tooth. Any success he has with this venture is proof that there is a sucker born every minute. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:57:35 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/17/corridor-startup-offers-another-option-to-sell-metal#IDComment57463394 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/17/iowans-should-leave-their-smiles-at-home-when-renewing-their-drivers-license#IDComment57348551 If they want me to stop smiling for reasons that might make my mug better recognized by a computer program, then they better have a plastic surgeon nearby to surgically remove it. Just tell them you can't stop smiling. What are they going to do? Shoot you? Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:04:56 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/17/iowans-should-leave-their-smiles-at-home-when-renewing-their-drivers-license#IDComment57348551 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/02/17/cedar-rapids-credit-union-robbed-3#IDComment57294443 Another CR bank refuses to let people in if they have a facemask on. Is this a difficult concept to copy? It's almost like they don't mind getting robbed. If I was a bank president, I'd have my front door lock controlled by a $50 remote door lock. Hoodie covering your face? Better pull your hoodie down for the cameras. Facemask on? Better take it off for the cameras... Is it that difficult to protect a bank from robbery? Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:41:54 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/02/17/cedar-rapids-credit-union-robbed-3#IDComment57294443 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/02/16/state-tax-credit-report-provides-partial-view#IDComment57127217 In other words, the democrats are hugely embarassed by the initial findings. They, along with their leaders Culver, Gronstal, and Murphy, would prefer that any findings be buried until after the November elections. Continue the broken system, and we'll deal with the credits after we secure our positions. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:08:57 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/02/16/state-tax-credit-report-provides-partial-view#IDComment57127217 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/02/15/culver-lobbies-for-jobless-benefit-extension-dismisses-polls#IDComment56982058 All polls agree with me. Chet's unemployed in November. Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:22:36 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/02/15/culver-lobbies-for-jobless-benefit-extension-dismisses-polls#IDComment56982058 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/02/15/culver-lobbies-for-jobless-benefit-extension-dismisses-polls#IDComment56957345 Sorry Rod. I don't have as much time on my hands as you do. Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:46:57 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/02/15/culver-lobbies-for-jobless-benefit-extension-dismisses-polls#IDComment56957345 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/02/15/culver-lobbies-for-jobless-benefit-extension-dismisses-polls#IDComment56951560 Exactly when did I discuss unemployment extensions? Culver needs to "man-up" and admit that he is much of the reason Iowa continues to struggle. Remember when Culver proclaimed that Iowa would avoid the recession? Remember when he said his budget was just fine just before needing to cut it 10% I'll remember him for being the WORST GOVERNOR EVER! I'd take Rod Blagojovich over Chet any day. Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:19:26 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/02/15/culver-lobbies-for-jobless-benefit-extension-dismisses-polls#IDComment56951560 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/15/iowa-city-business-group-proposes-downtown-cameras#IDComment56949579 I hope the footage shows people entering Leah Cohen's bar sober and leaving so drunk that she is responsible for their actions. I hope the footage shows underage drinkers entering bars and coming out falling-down drunk. I hope the cameras help lawyers create new cases against bars for serving too much alcohol. And I hope the cameras do more damage to the bar owners than to the criminals created by the bars themselves. Police should require a copy of all footage so it doesn't "get lost" when the bar owners realize how these cameras will be used against them. Ah the law of unintended consequences, Leah Cohen. Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:08:35 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/02/15/iowa-city-business-group-proposes-downtown-cameras#IDComment56949579 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/02/15/culver-lobbies-for-jobless-benefit-extension-dismisses-polls#IDComment56948971 Fire chet now. The polling is telling him we are unhappy with him, and he repeatedly says he doesn't care what Iowans think. He'll be thinking about those comments when he's looking for a new job in November. Is Culver really this out of touch? Or is he just really unintelligent? Or is it that he has poor staff? I don't really care since he's going to be gone soon. But please stop breaking things in our state before you leave! And stop begging Washington for a bailout! Stop the campaigning, go back to Des Moines, and at least pretend you still care about legislative leadership this session! Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:02:26 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/02/15/culver-lobbies-for-jobless-benefit-extension-dismisses-polls#IDComment56948971 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/02/12/dexter-attorney-to-challenge-ag-miller#IDComment56524065 She will be a fine candidate that will work with the new Republican governor. Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:08:26 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/blogs/covering-iowa-politics/2010/02/12/dexter-attorney-to-challenge-ag-miller#IDComment56524065 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/02/05/attorney-for-former-iowa-city-school-counselor-seeks-trial-delay#IDComment55531900 Chemical castration would be cheaper and fix the problem permanently. I would personally ask for it if my mind was as screwed up as these people. Fri, 5 Feb 2010 21:54:52 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/02/05/attorney-for-former-iowa-city-school-counselor-seeks-trial-delay#IDComment55531900 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/02/05/iowa-lawmakers-shoot-down-culver-trooper-plan#IDComment55531685 Culver should just resign today. It's Friday--he could go take a nice vacation down in Florida and the DNC can start drafting replacement candidates. Culver no doubt has tears in his eyes today knowing that no Democrat is going down with him. He should get used to people standing great distances from him. THE WORST GOVERNOR EVER!!! Fri, 5 Feb 2010 21:53:09 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/statewide-news/2010/02/05/iowa-lawmakers-shoot-down-culver-trooper-plan#IDComment55531685 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/02/03/linn-supervisors-put-kibosh-on-internal-auditor-again#IDComment55354492 People doing desperate things to avoid an audit need to be audited. The BOS wants the person auditing them to be relying on them for employment and salary??? This is a great reason to separate the internal audit funding and control from the BOS. Miller is right. Just think if audits were no longer independent. Does the BOS not understand this simple concept? Thu, 4 Feb 2010 17:51:20 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/02/03/linn-supervisors-put-kibosh-on-internal-auditor-again#IDComment55354492 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/02/03/legalized-sports-betting-may-be-on-its-way-to-iowa#IDComment55215622 "Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said he was willing to consider the proposed legislation if details were worked out..." Those details being how much in additional campaign donations need to come in from the gambling industry and casinos in Iowa for me to give any support to this... We understand what makes your world turn, Gronstal. COLD HARD CASH. Wed, 3 Feb 2010 18:18:45 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2010/02/03/legalized-sports-betting-may-be-on-its-way-to-iowa#IDComment55215622 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/24-hour-dorman/2010/01/29/chetchase-2010-branstad-interview#IDComment54392496 A few years ago, when asked about his largest regret during his first governorship, he stated that he regretted bringing in recreational gambling because of what it has become. How about asking him how he feels about expanded gambling after he is elected? Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:11:58 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/24-hour-dorman/2010/01/29/chetchase-2010-branstad-interview#IDComment54392496 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/01/28/figure-skaters-come-to-cedar-rapids-to-compete-in-championship#IDComment54390049 I wanted to take my wife and two small children to check this out for awhile, but cannot justify spending $46 to do so. Why so expensive??? My 2-year-old daughter wanted to see some skaters for an hour or two. Is it fair to charge that much? Should my infant have to pay as well? Both are young enough to watch hockey games for free, but each have to pay $8 for this event? Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:45:19 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/01/28/figure-skaters-come-to-cedar-rapids-to-compete-in-championship#IDComment54390049 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/01/21/cedar-rapids-hotel-robbed-at-gunpoint#IDComment53207361 Perhaps they can track him when he uses the computer? Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:21:15 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/01/21/cedar-rapids-hotel-robbed-at-gunpoint#IDComment53207361