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Liberal grip ‘precarious,’ Tory’s MacKay says
Read what Deputy Conservative Leader Peter MacKay had to say today regarding the failure of his party to topple the Liberal Party’s government yesterday:
Deputy Conservative Leader Peter MacKay said Friday it’s unlikely the Opposition will try again to topple the government right away, but a razor-thin confidence vote victory this week suggests the Liberals’ grip on Parliament is “very, very precarious.”
“We’ll likely get through this session and we’ll be back in the fall,” Mr. MacKay said in an early morning interview with CTV News.
Well, Paul Martin out-politicked Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.
The Conservatives will probably dump Harper and hope that the Gomery Inquiry findings in the Fall stir up a moribund Canadian electorate.
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Star Wars III: Biggest Cinema Opening in History
Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” scored $50 million in first-day receipts at 3,661 theaters across the nation on Thursday, box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations said Friday. The take handily beats the one-day record of $44.8 million set last year by “Shrek 2.” “Sith” is distributed by News Corp.’s (NWS) 20th Century Fox film unit.
YUP!
May the Force Be With You!
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Mexicans Go to Arizona for Medical Help
Read the story about how poor Mexican Nationals get free medical care in the USA.
Yet, my poor American citizen patients here in California have to beg to get a government subsidized denture – after having paid taxes here their entire life.
Mr. President and Congress….. the system is broken.
Reform the immigration laws and ENFORCE the existing ones.
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U.S. Supreme Court: Short List Begins
A short list of possible Bush nominees to the United States Supreme Court is being reported in the Washington Times here:
Judge Michael W. McConnell on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Judge Edith Hollan Jones, who practiced law in Texas and now sits on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.
Samuel Alito, a 3rd U.S. Circuit judge from Philadelphia.
J. Michael Luttig of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, considered one of the most conservative judges on the federal bench.
J. Harvie Wilkinson III, also on the 4th Circuit, who is considered more moderate than Judge Luttig but could be opposed by liberals over his opposition of affirmative action.
Emilio Garza of the 5th Circuit, who would give Mr. Bush the chance to name the first Hispanic justice, but whose conservative views on abortion could prompt liberal outcry.
Flap’s bet is for at least two appointments this summer to replace Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
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Will FLAP at PepsiCo’s Middle Finger Speech Blow Over?
Flap reported on this moronic speech by the President of PepsiCo yesterday. Read it here.
Hugh Hewitt now thinks that the MSM and the PR hacks at PepsiCo corporate have dismissed the outrage and will allow it to blow over:
The Yahoo message board for Pepsico is not happy with the company’s ineffective response to consumer anger with COO’s Nooyi’s “America is the middle finger” speech. Michelle Malkin brands Pepsi the “new Eason,” and provides a round-up of links. No mention of the consumer anger at Pepsi for its COO’s analogy or displeasure with the non-apology apology in MSM, so the story may seem to PR types at Pepsico to be passing. So it seemed to Eason Jordan. Those Pr types might want to have a look at this, and at this.
Powerline’s Scott Johnson urges Pepsico to read an earlier speech by Ms. Nooyi and take her advice. But my guess is they will stay in the bunker, hoping against all evidence that no one will change their consumption patterns because of a silly speech by the previously unknown COO. Another day will be lost, and then the impression will be firmly fixed that Pepsico is indifferent to the outrage generated by Nooyi’s “middle finger” speech and non-apology apology.
Somehow I don’t think this will blow over quite so easily and as quickly as the folks in the PepsiCo board room think.
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Retired City of Thousand Oaks City Manager Phil Gatch Cashes In
Why is Phil Gatch (the former City Manager of the City of Thousand Oaks) smiling?
Read about his perks of retirement here:
When Thousand Oaks City Manager Phil Gatch officially leaves his position in June, he will depart the city with a lump sum of money that includes more than $306,000 in sick leave and other annual leave.
In all, the city will pay the 38-year city employee $504,570.51, which includes the value of a 2004 GMC Yukon Denali for which he will give the city nearly $10,000.
The council members last month announced they accepted the resignation of the city employee credited with helping to form the look and feel of Thousand Oaks. The departure sparked controversy after Gatch told the mayor he was being pressured to leave by Councilman Andy Fox. The council voted 3-2 to accept his resignation. Mayor Claudia Bill-de la Pena and Councilman Ed Masry dissented.
Gatch also received, as stipulated in his contract with the city, nine months of pay totaling $158,948.08.
He will also receive $24,453.55, the amount he would have earned in accrued leave had he worked nine more months.
Part of severance package
The vacation and sick leave that will be paid to Gatch would have been owed to him no matter what time he retired, said City Attorney Amy Albano.
“It didn’t matter when he was leaving. That was part of the severance package. He was entitled to that whether he left next week or a year from now,” Albano said.
Finance Director Candice Hong called Gatch’s situation an unusual one because of his long tenure with the city.
Damn, I would be smiling too!
The Ventura County Grand Juty should look into all cities and Ventura County’s employee leave policies.
It seems further reform will be necessary.