New English?

Reacting to another of Representative Steve King's attempts to make English the official language of the United States, Christie Vilsack told the Ames Tribune that there is no need to make English the official language.

Odd, since her Governor husband, Tom Vilsack (The Pickle), signed a bill making English the state's official language over twelve years ago and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The Tribune also discussed with Candidate Vilsack a 1994 newspaper column she wrote -- Hablas Ingles? Czy Pani Mowi Powi Po Angielsku?

Vilsack denies she said that English should be the official language of the United States.

Christie claims her opening sentence “The time has come to make English the official language of this country” was completely taken out of context.

In fairness, she did write "of the United States" and not "this country".

Much more troubling in the column is the fact the Mrs. Vilsack, the English teacher, would be sad if I never heard another Iowan say, “Where’s it at?” and the fact that she is fascinated at the way some African-Americans speak to each other in an English I struggle to understand, then switch to standard English when the situation requires.

In what context is that to be taken?

The New Christy Minstrels?

Timing is everything in politics, comedy and real estate.

Christie Vilsack to move to Ames in bid for office

My in-laws have moved out of Ames, but don't have their house on the market yet thereby missing a chance to sell it to these suckers (and the scientific community is united in that fact).

Another first round draft pick of the Iowa Dummycrats will go down in flames, as their hatred of Representative Steve King burns so intense they can't think straight.

Literasly

This move is about fiberals wanting more power, it's not about Iowa.

Iowa's merely a stepping stone.

The Pickle's relish has an even thinner resume than Barack Obama and that's working out so well.

Iowa Dummycrat Party Chair Sue Dvorsky says Vilsack “has many, many resources and experiences behind her that make her not really a first-time candidate.”

Please explain.

Not only has Christie Vilsack campaigned widely and acted as a visible surrogate for her husband during two successful runs for governor, but she helped him during his brief run for president in 2008, then worked on New York Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.









Those aren't strengths, especially in northwest Iowa.

Politico reported that Vilsack also been huddling with several Democratic operatives to plot a potential campaign, including veteran media consultant John Lapp and Teresa Vilmain, who headed up Hillary Clinton’s 2008 primary campaign in the state.

Again, not a strength as Hellary finished third, behind Obama and Joanie Phony.

Tom Vilsack said this about the race, “it will be a holy war.”
















King will be locked and loaded for this war.

Playing The Blame Game

Partaking in the official sport of Washington D.C., Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is blaming Congress for the furloughs of meat inspectors expected later this year.

It is believed about a third of USDA’s 100,000 employees may be affected by the furloughs.

The Pickle claims he has no flexibility and furloughs are the only way I can get to $52 million in savings.

Vilsack doesn't mention that One hundred and fifteen jobs have been posted since sequestration began for the Agriculture Department.

Now that's government efficiency for you and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Iowa's Senior Senator, Chuck Grassley, schooled Vilsack on the facts -- The president proposed the sequester more than 18 months ago. That’s a long time for the executive branch to get its ducks in a row to avoid furloughs that impact life, health or safety

As for the $52 million in savings, it isn't quite the pickle Vilsack thinks, he could root out waste and fraud the Agriculture Department Inspector general recommends and save $5.6 billion.

That's no small ball and paints a pretty picture. 

Makes Me Wonder

With The Pickle spending so much time in Iowa recently, I couldn't help but wonder why the press didn't press him on some issues.

Federal officials said they turned up a dangerous form of salmonella at a Cargill Inc. turkey plant last year, and then four times this year at stores selling the Cargill turkey, but didn't move for a recall until an outbreak killed one person and sickened 77 others.

In May 2010, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA will be issuing new performance standards designed to reduce the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in poultry.

At the Fair, Vilsack bragged about spending cuts he's made in the Department of Agriculture, like streamlining cell phone contracts and e-mail processes.

Vilsack says it's saved millions. “Now we can make them and we can make this USDA more efficient, more effective, more customer focused more focused on our core competencies."

Yet, The U.S. Department of Agriculture is paying $112 million in tax money to farmers and ranchers in 11 Western states to restore the habitat of the Sage Grouse, a bird that has not been listed as either threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species law because the government says there are too many of them.

That sounds like a core incompetency and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Keep in Mind that Vilsack's Ag Department is spending money on a “cultural transformation” that includes a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Special Emphasis Program.

Finally, What about Food Stamps as economic stimulus?

Traveling Wilbury(s)

The Ragister put perspective(?) to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's consolidation and cutbacks at the USDA.

Vilsack adds color to USDA office closing announcement

The Pickle said it is part of an overall USDA cost reduction, “We picked the low-hanging fruit savings, such as cutting travel and cell phone expenses, and that saved $90 million”.

Vilsack's comments, the Ragister reported, came during a stopover in Des Moines on his return from Hawaii, where he had addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation.

D.C. to Hawaii to Des Moines and back to D.C. is not cutting travel and the scientific community is united in that fact.

I'm guessing red was the color Vilsack added.

Pickle anyone? Anyone?

David Yepsen touched lightly on this, but the Hotline (hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com) gives some analysis of Tuesday's Iowa Dummycrat primary.

The larger story to come out of Iowa though, may be what this contest says about Gov. Tom Vilsack's political muscle. Though Vilsack remained studiously neutral, Blouin came from his cabinet and was widely believed to have Vilsack's quiet support. Indeed, Blouin's top campaign aide came direct from the Vilsack office.

What's worse for the '08 hopeful is that in the one statewide race where he did actively play (for Agriculture Secretary), his candidate, a top aide going back to his first GOV race in '98, was trounced by 14%.

So the PICKLE has no pull and therefore has put a dent in his 2008 Presidential ambitions. I would have thought the picture at left would have done that a long time ago!

The Pilgrim

Keeping his options(?) open, Tom Vilsack (The Pickle) is not going to run for the U.S. Senate in 2014.

But the current U.S. Agriculture secretary and former Iowa governor did not rule out a future run for elective office.

If he does, this will be one of many decisions Vilsack would have to explain to Iowa voters -- $200,000 USDA training: 'Pilgrims were illegal aliens'

That ranks right up there with the USDA's training, approved by Vilsack, that compares “heterosexism” — believing marriage can only can be between one man and one woman — to racism.

Training?

More like indoctrination and the scientific community is united in that fact. 

Those dollars spent are paleface in comparison to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)  spending $2 million on an internship program that had one intern.

It Could Be Worse

Jennifer Jacobs, of the Ragister, referred to comments about Tom Vilsack's "holy war" quote as sometimes snide.

We prefer snark to snide and the scientific community is united in that fact, but we're o.k. with slyly disparaging.

The Liter nailed it when we slipped the Vilsack "V" into yesterday's post (The New Christy Minstrels?) .








Christie is using the logo, from The Pickle's failed 2008 Presidential campaign, on her website.

They'll probably tout the recycling aspect, but the reality is they have a lot of left over material to unload.

What's next?











I'm thinking the "V" would work perfectly there.

First Round Draft Pick(le)?

My guess is that Michael Kiernan was referring to Tom Vilsack when he proclaimed, "Maybe it’s time to get a first-round draft pick" to take on Senator Charles Grassley.

I think the Dummycrats feel they may be royally screwed by the floundering Big Lug Nut and they need someone at the top of the ticket to help him out and the downstream ballot Ds.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

It wouldn't be unusual to have turnover that quickly in the Cabinet and I'm sure the White House would be very supportive of their onetime Agriculture Secretary by having the President here campaigning.

Although it may not be smart to combine the CIETC scandal with I DED:The Motion Picture.


What other big name is there?

Culver's daddy?

Oh Pooh























Although, he broke them up at Teddy's wake.

Christie Vilsack has been mentioned
























What a croc that would be... Literasly.

Oh Pooh!

As a lawyer, The Pickle makes an excellent Winnie the Pooh.





















Per the Ragister...

Vilsack: Immigration raids were unconstitutional

Former Goober Tom Vilsack, speaking against a 2006 federal raid at Swift in Marshalltown...alleged that federal officials violated Fourth Amendment Constitutional rights, which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures.

"We’re here today because it is clear that our constitutional rights have been violated during raids conducted by our government.”

Your rights weren't violated Goober and neither were any illegals.

That argument holds as much as one of your Presidential thongs and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Junior's Farm?

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who the Liter lovingly refers to as The Pickle, told farmers facing flooding not to expect more financial help from Washington.

"I'm having my department budget cut by 13 percent today, and after talking with members of Congress just yesterday I would say chances are slim that more money will be made available for disaster or insurance programs."

Maybe the Ag Sec needs to re-prioritize his budget, and the scientific community is united in that fact, because he can find funds to impose the USDA's intense brand of homosexual sensitivity training government-wide.

Included in the USDA's training is discussion that compares “heterosexism” — believing marriage can only can be between one man and one woman — to racism.

The push for the training is coming from Vilsack, he has launched a department-wide “Cultural Transformation” that includes the “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender [LGBT] Special Emphasis Program.”

The USDA's senior training coordinator developed the extensive sensitivity program that is considered “groundbreaking [and a] model for other agencies,” because it delves more into gay issues and terminology. It also justifies pro-homosexual political positions.

Is this the type of groundbreaking you want out of the U.S. Department of Agriculture?

Poor Poor Pitiful Me

The Pickle pouts on IPTV's "Iowa Press", airing tomorrow and Sunday.

"I don't want to sound like sour grapes, but you should not pay attention to early polls."

Oh poor poor me, oh poor pitiful me!

"Iowa polls are not accurate in terms of caucus support."

Woe is me!

"We were absolutely convinced, and I remain convinced and will as long as I live, that I would have won the Iowa caucuses based on the information that we had that is legitimate."

Des Moines pollster Ann Selzer said...."not all polls are bad."

"I've seen several polls in Iowa with decent sampling, and not one says Tom Vilsack had a good shot to take Iowa on caucus night."

Vilsack lied, the Iowa caucuses could have died!
The Pickle's problem was money related alright.

He'd been in government so long that he spent like a drunken sailor, allegedly burning though $500,000 a month.

7 campaign offices in his "home" state!

Campaign swings to New Hampshire, Pittsburgh, Nevada and South Carolina.

If he had a decent strategery, and more than 1,159 supporters at home, he could have ridden "BIG MO" to New Hampshire and beyond...HYAH!

Consider the Source

Dummycrat Polk County Auditor/Commissioner of Elections Michael Mauro was really reaching when he chose the Editorial Board of the Ragister to defend his reputation from his Republican opponent for Secretary of State, Mary Ann Hanusa.

Here's what Hanusa said..."I have a record of public service. ... My record of public service is marked by honesty, integrity and credibility. Yes, Mr. Mauro has experience as Polk County auditor, but I also think his experience has been marred by a series of investigations and ethical questions, which should trouble any Iowans, especially for someone who is trying to secure the top position for shepherding Iowa's elections."

Ms. Hanusa was referring to a 1998 investigation the U.S. Attorneys Office opened regarding voter fraud in Michael's brother John's primary defeat of Gene Phillips. Phillips then ran as an Independent and defeated the incumbent, John Mauro, in the general election for County Supervisor.

Michael Mauro's rebuttal to Hanusa was..."While I was running what The Des Moines Register Editorial Board referred to as a 'pristine office,' my opponent was working for an administration mired in scandals."

HA! There's the CHUCKLE! The Ragister likes me. They really, really like me! Find me a Dummycrat they don't love.

Mauro, pictured small because he comes across as small & petty, mentioned that everyone involved in the voting fraud investigation was cleared in the probe.

Just because a Grand Jury declined to indict anyone doesn't mean you were cleared, or you're innocent O.J.!

Oh, The administration mired in scandals? Ms. Hanusa was Director of President Bush's personal correspondence and resigned to run against Mauro.

Still not sure what "scandals" he's citing, but if anyone knows scandalous behavior it's Mauro....

Mauro's brother John was on the Board of Director's of CIETC.

Ramona Cunningham, former CIETC Head Skank, contributed $300 to Michael Mauro's campaign for Secretary of State.

Cunningham's daughter, Ruth Shepard, is employed in Michael Mauro's Polk County Election Office.

Michael Mauro's son, Steve, works for CIETC and received a $10,000 bonus.

Victor Scaglione used to work in Michael Mauro's Polk County Election office, but left to work for CIETC where he received a $5,000 bonus.

Talk about Muck & Mire for hire!

That's a guy I want running elections in Iowa! Tom Vilsack and the Dummycrats do.

They have three political action committees, one of which is Vilsack's Heartland Pac, spotlighting secretary of state candidates in Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada and Ohio.

Secretaries of State control most voting regulations and influence state purchases of voting machines and the Dummycrats want the White House in 2008.

Mr. Farmer

Recent statements made by Ag Secretary Tom "The Pickle" Vilsack definitely are a head scratcher and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Vilsack addressed immigration while at the National Farmers Union.

According to Vilsack, finding a solution in the immigration debate isn't the problem.

“The problem is people want to play politics with this issue”.

“Take it out of politics. Get it solved”, Vilsack said before pronouncing “Congress has the capacity and the power to do it. They just need the political courage to do it”.

It takes political courage to solve a problem you take out of politics?

The former Iowa Governor shows he hasn't learned much while in Washington, as he attacked “all 530 members of the House”.

BUZZ--WRONG!

The number we were looking for was 435.

His wife wants to be one of those 435 too!

Polls--Those too lazy to report news make it up

I hear the Ragister shares the results of their Poll regarding 2008 Presidential candidates. John Edwards, college picture left, beats Hillary Clinton (they should have used Hillary Rodham Clinton because she polls better using that name). Edwards captured 30% of the 399 registered voters who said they are likely caucus participants. Clinton scored 26%, followed by John Kerry's 12% and Tom Vilsack's 10% (probably because his neighbors know him). The remainder of the field had; Tom Daschle 3%, Russ Feingold 3%, Mark Warner 3%, Evan Bayh 2% and Wesley Clark 2%. 9% were unsure or wanted someone else. It just goes to show you that John Edwards was right about there being two America's. There's intelligent people and then there's DUMMYCRATS!

High And Dry

On Monday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Mason City.

As you can see from the picture, The Pickle is holding a map of the United States.

Mostly red, it could be a map of Mitt Romney's November election win and the scientific community is united in that fact, but it purports to be a map of areas affected by drought this summer.

To paraphrase George Carlin, as Al Sleet your Hippy Dippy Weatherman, The United States' ON FIRE man.

Maybe it's just the reaction to Meatless Mondays at the USDA.

I do find it interesting the distinct lack of red between The Pickles drought map and the one put out Tuesday from the US Drought Monitor.

Magic Bus

The Multi-Millionaire Trial Lawyer , who was chauffeured around Iowa and New Hampshire in a bus, tells Americans to give up their SUVs...

"Joanie" Edwards told the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers that Americans should be asked to drive more fuel-efficient vehicles.

As usual, "Joanie" Phony is two faced and the scientific community is united in that fact.

When Edwards made his Presidential announcement in Iowa he was driven in a Cadillac SRX Crossover.

Just like rich fiberals, "Joanie" Phony salves his conscious by buying carbon offsets for his personal vehicles.

Why can't Edwards quit putting his foot in his mouth and use them to walk across Iowa?

I'm not talking that Tom Vilsack "walk across Iowa" where he would be driven and when he neared town would get out and walk before being driven to the next town.

I'm speaking of the Dick Clark walk across Iowa that helped get him elected to the Senate in 1972.

Interestingly you'll find "Joanie" Phony's web site has a new Biofuel Buses program to help school districts replace conventional diesel with cleaner-burning biodiesel blends in 100,000 school buses nationwide. Biodiesel reduces bus-riding children's exposure to cancer and asthma-causing emissions.

"Joanie" Phony's bus, pictured, doesn't appear to be biodiesel.

I don't care how much I pay
I wanna drive my bus to my baby each day

I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it

Every day you'll see the dust
As I drive my baby in my Magic Bus

Magic Bus, Magic Bus, Magic Bus

Forgive? Forget it.

Normally the Ragister and Dummycrats would be falling all over themselves to embrace convicted felons and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Candidate for House has felony conviction

Jon Van Roekel is a Republican and there's the rub.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Pictured), a Democrat from Des Moines, said he was surprised to learn about Van Roekel's record.

"I know the Republican Party has been doing searches and looking for a different breed of legislative candidate for this fall's election, but I didn't think they'd resort to recruiting convicted felons."

RIMSHOT

Ragister reporter Jason Clayworth says...

Convicted felons are typically not allowed to vote and are, therefore, not eligible to serve in public office.

Really?

What about this from 2005?

Gov. Tom Vilsack said Friday he will sign an executive order on Independence Day restoring voting rights to thousands of felons who have completed prison, parole and probation terms.

The order will mean automatic voting rights restoration for "disqualified electors'' who finished their time in prison, on probation or on parole as of July 4.

It was in ALL the papers!

It has been upheld in court too.

The Rest of the Story

With apologies to Paul Harvey.

Yesterday I shared about John Edwards telling us What Would Jesus Think (WWJT).

Jesus would be most upset with the selfishness of Americans...

"I think that Jesus would be disappointed in our ignoring the plight of those around us who are suffering and our focus on our own selfish short-term needs. I think he would be appalled, actually."

I wrote about the over $6 Million dollar 28,000 square foot mansion that sits on 102 acres (2nd picture).

Turns out there's more excess, oops places to ponder the plight of the suffering!

He has an over $2.5 Million dollar 2,800 square foot beach mansion (1st picture).

It's situated on a gated island called Figure Eight Island near Wilmington.

John Edwards lives in a gated America? Is it guarded too?

Edwards is now bragging about the 100 Tom Vilsack supporters he's picked up.

I wonder if they'll get invited beyond the barricades to party like a Kennedy?

Mystery Date?

Speculation still runs less than rampant as to who the Dummycrats will select to give Senator Grassley "the race of his life.”

CommieTommie Harkin is clueless and he doesn't believe there's a well-known Democrat to take on Chuckles.

I've seen mention of ASSton Kutcher and as a couple of his latest projects have failed he could probably use the work.

This summer Kutcher stated he was "a fiscally conservative, socially liberal independent."

However Kutcher is big on Obama, having campaigned on Iowa campuses for him, plus he and Demi have pledged to be his servant.

Kutcher also campaigned for Kerry in '04, so someone's a punk about being "independent" and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Rozanne Conlin's name has been mentioned, but she found the idea very taxing saying in January campaign speculation was "not based in fact” and was being used as a "fundraising ploy for Grassley."

Last month I opined that the Dummycrat “first-round draft pick” was going to be Tom Vilsack.

At the time I also made light of Culver's daddy as a candidate, but I'm beginning to have second doubts.

Recently, Simpson College established the John C. Culver Fellowship Program to honor the public service of former Iowa U.S. Senator John C. Culver.

2010 could be the Culver's Squared campaign, although Culver's aren't square...they're round!