Local Catholic Schools to Close...

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, of which my parish is a part, has been investigating a number of ways to consolidate Catholic elementary school operations. Their criteria for doing so is based upon projections of students now through 2013, projected school surplus/deficits through 2011 as well as regional demographics and other miscellaneous criteria. The Diocese made it's draft proposals available on Monday, January 11. Here is their press release (which is never a good idea with draft proposals)...

Diocese Announces 29 Regional School Reconfiguration Proposals

As president of each parish corporation, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has asked that a diocesan wide strategic planning process, that would ensure the long term stability of
Catholic schools in the diocese, be undertaken. The Diocesan Reconfiguration Committee (DRC) submitted its twenty-nine (29) regional proposals to ensure the
long term vitality and strength of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn. The process entitled “Preserving the Vision” was initiated by the (DRC) in the beginning of September. It has involved the unprecedented collaboration and input of parents, teachers, principals, Parish and community leaders, pastors and Diocesan employees.
The twenty-nine (29) regional proposals, which will become the roadmap, is to be implemented over the course of five years and will impact every school in the Diocese. “I am committed to ensuring that our Catholic Schools are accessible geographically and financially to the people of our Diocese. When we determined that our schools are operating at only 85% of capacity it became clear that we had to consider why this was happening and how we might reverse the trend” said Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Bishop Frank Caggiano, Vicar General and Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, Superintendent of Catholic School Support Services, lead the effort to undertake a study of each Catholic school in Brooklyn and Queens. “The DRC has also proposed a model for revenue sharing. The willingness of the pastors of our Diocese and their cooperation on the proposed new tax that will raise $3 million in new revenues for our schools is a sign of the Churches continued commitment to Catholic education.” said Bishop Frank Caggiano. He continued, “…at the outset we believed that this process had to be comprehensive and inclusive. Over the course of several months we compiled the best possible data from many different sources. We were determined to engage all parties with an interest in Catholic Schools to share that data and our analysis.”

The proposal moves all schools towards the adoption of a two-tiered governance model. Under this model, pastors of parishes aligned with an Academy are members of the Corporation with particular responsibility for the spiritual care of faculty, students and families. A Board of Directors composed of lay-leaders with specific competence is responsible for the fiscal oversight and governance of the new school.

It is initially proposed that eleven (11) schools in the Diocese close at the conclusion of the 2008-2009 school year. Schools recommended for closure are: Flatbush Catholic Academy (Bk), St. Vincent Ferrer (Bk), Most Precious Blood (Bk), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Bk), Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Bk), Our Lady of Angels (Bk), St. Anthony of Padua (Qns), St. Benedict Joseph Labre (Qns), St. Catherine of Sienna (Qns), St. Aloysius (Qns) and Blessed Sacrament (Qns).

It is initially proposed that nine (9) schools merge and three (3) new schools be created. In the Windsor Terrace section of Brooklyn, it is proposed that Immaculate Heart of Mary (Bk) and Holy Name (Bk) merge and form one school with a single campus to be located at Prospect Park West. In Flushing, it is recommended that three (3) schools, St. Michael, St Ann, Mary’s Nativity merge to form one (1) school with one (1) campus. The school will be located at the St. Mary Nativity site. The four (4) Williamsburg schools are recommended to merge in 2010-2011. The number of sites is to be determined by the Board of Directors following a consultation process. These schools are Northside Academy, St. Stanislaus Kostka Ss. Joseph and Dominic Academy, St. Nicholas.

Mary, Gate of Heaven (Qns) is invited to adopt academy status prior to the 2009-2010 academic year. It is the conviction of the committee that this will strengthen and ensure continued vitality for the school.

It is initially proposed that the three (3) schools close, and then reopen at their same site as an Academy. It is our hope that they will be able to achieve academy status prior to the opening of the 2009 – 2010 academic year. Each of the schools in this category faces unique challenges. These schools are: Our Lady of Grace (Qns), St. Anastasia (Qns), Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Qns).

A special task force has been created to explore the creation of a new academy at St. John the Baptist, (Bk).

In offering these twenty-nine regional proposals Bishop Caggiano remarked “We are confident that as a result of this process our schools will have more resources to insure that children have greater access to Catholic education. Our schools will be better able to meet the diverse and changing needs of students and parents and, we will provide thriving Catholic schools that are better able to offer teachers and staff
competitive compensation and benefits while remaining vibrant institutions for generations to come.”

I am close to the situation at one of the schools marked to close and reopen as an Academy. I can tell you that the present proposal is very confusing to staff and administrators.

While I do agree that some work has to be done to ensure that Catholic Elementary education remains a priority, one has to wonder if the Church will remain viable if young people are not strongly educated in the faith. More to come on this topic...

Back After a Break

Well, I am back after a self imposed break from the blogosphere. Things are heating up domestically as the start of The Great Error is just days away... Israel is getting their revenge against the Hamassoles in Gaza and, as always, is getting beat up by the media and the United Nations for their actions. With the inauguration days away, Israel knows it is now or never.

As for the economy, it still blows. President-Elect O is readying another pork-laden, stimulus-palooza bill which the Congressional deadheads are going to pass with much fanfare. We have Conservatism in Exile, with Congressional GOP members acting like frightened 6 year olds after hearing the story of the boogeyman.

And so it goes... But I am back and will be once again, posting regularly...

Israel's Assault on Gaza

In my opinion, Israel should never have pulled their homesteads out of the Gaza Strip back in 2006. Since then, on a daily basis, Hamas has fired rockets from positions in the Gaza into Israel, killing Israelis and Arabs together. Well, we have waited and waited and finally, the Olmert government has decided enough is enough and have begun airstrikes against Gaza.

My question is whether Israel has done this at this point in time before Obama takes over? It angers me that we urge 'restraint' on behalf of Israel. If San Diego were under missile attack from Tijuana, would we really not do anything? Didn't think so...

Here is hoping Israel does what they need to do to prevent any further terrorist actions from Gaza.

Sarah Palin Will Not Accept Raise

Well, as I wrote earlier about the failure of the do-nothing Congress to curb spending, including their own pay raises for their most excellent work (sarcasm...), Governor Sarah Palin will not accept her pay raise.

She is a real person who understands these times are real bad. She was vilified on the campaign trail because of that. People who put her down continually for her lack of experience are now ready to embrace Caroline Kennedy for Senate in NY, despite nothing in Ms. Kennedy's background except being the daughter of a President and niece of a raging alcoholic Senator.

Good for Sarah...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would not accept a pay raise recommended by a state compensation commission, according to a spokesman.
The State Officers Compensation Commission, appointed by the former GOP vice-presidential candidate, recommended boosting the governor's pay from $125,000 to $150,000. It also suggested raises for the lieutenant governor, department heads and legislators.

If the commission follows through with the pay raise, Palin will not accept the money, spokesman Bill McAllister said. "Her view is, it's just not appropriate to accept a pay raise in the middle of the term," McAllister said.

The Failure of Congress... The Voted Themselves a Pay Raise!

As the US Congress muddles themselves with inefficiency and single-digit approval ratings, what do they do? They voted themselves a pay raise! Way to make yourselves look even more useless...

A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year, and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay. Instead, they will get a $4,700 pay increase, amounting to an additional $2.5 million that taxpayers will spend on congressional salaries, and watchdog groups are not happy about it.

Nothing should surprise us anymore but this is a bit excessive. At the same time when they are throwing our money out the window to bail out private corporations, they also want to make sure their own coffers are taken care of.

A$$holes.

BREAKING: Bailout Maina Continues...

Via the Wall Street Journal...

The White House on Friday unveiled a $17.4 billion rescue package for the
troubled Detroit auto makers that avoids bankruptcy. "Allowing the auto
companies to collapse is not a responsible course of action," President George
W. Bush said.

Speaking from the White House, he said that a bankruptcy was unlikely to work for the auto industry at this time and would deal "an unacceptably painful blow to hard-working Americans" across the economy.

The deal would extend $13.4 billion in loans to General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC in December and January, with another $4 billion likely available in February. The deal is contingent on the companies' showing that they are financially viable by March.

My analysis... The autos will not be financially viable by March. They will come crawling to Chairman Obama for more money. Obama is beholden to the UAW and Unions in general and will give them more money...

Just keep printing that money... Then watch the value of the dollar fall flatter than a pancake...

Caught in a Lie?

Well, well, well... It sure seems like perhaps The Anointed One did not necessarily escape the corruption of Illinois...

It seems that The One's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, had numerous discussions with Gov. Rod Blagojevich...

From today's Chicago Sun-Times...

President-elect Barack Obama's incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel had a deeper involvement in pressing for a U.S. Senate seat appointment than previously reported, the Sun-Times has learned. Emanuel had direct discussions about the seat with Gov. Blagojevich, who is is accused of trying to auction it to the highest bidder.

Emanuel talked with the governor in the days following the Nov. 4 election and pressed early on for the appointment of Valerie Jarrett to the post, sources with knowledge of the conversations told the Sun-Times. There was no indication from sources that Emanuel brokered a deal, however.

A source with the Obama camp strongly denied Emanuel spoke with the governor
directly about the seat, saying Emanuel only spoke with Blagojevich once recently to say he was taking the chief of staff post.

Someone is lying... Color me surprised it might be Obama's camp...

Michael J. Totten: On the Hunt in Baghdad

Michael J. Totten is a citizen journalist and blogger who has been chronicling the events on the ground in Iraq. With our troops. Not sitting cozy in Baghdad's hotels.

This new dispatch from him is very real and quite gripping. It evokes a place that is filed with uncertainty and danger. It also shows that we are winning the war in Iraq, contrary to what the mainstream media would portray.

Michael J. Totten: On The Hunt in Baghdad

BREAKING NEWS: MTA Approves Doomsday Budget

This plays nicely into the story below. The MTA is poorly run, the system is poorly maintained. Employees are wasteful and take no pride in their work.

NEW YORK (AP) -- The board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has passed a 2009 budget that ultimately would raise subway and bus fares in New York while cutting service.

The agency says it needs to raise fare and toll revenues by 23 percent in order to plug a budget gap worsened by the global financial crisis. Board members say they still hope for a bailout from Albany or Washington that might allow them to avoid the
increases. Details of the hikes and cuts won't be finalized until early next year. Under the worst-case scenario, a single bus or subway ride could rise to $2.50, and a monthly pass could cost around $100. Service cuts would include the elimination of bus and subway lines in areas where there is either low ridership or a duplication of services.

Taxation Up The A**

It's getting harder and harder to live in New York State... The level of taxation here is tremendous. The burden is placed on all of us. That, in addition to the higher prices overall, higher rents, and huge cost of living, this place is certainly not a place to consider long-term.

That said, Gov. David Patterson discussed his plans for the budget for FY 2010. Included in his proposals are CUTS (that's a good thing...) in hospital and school subsidies and the elimination of more than $1 billion in aid that City Hall hoped would help it weather the worst economic downturn in at least a generation. However, spending would still increase by 1% overall.

Here is the list of taxes...
* An "iTunes tax" of 4 percent on videos, music or pictures downloaded from the Internet.

* A 4 percent tax on taxi, limo and bus rides. That means a $10 cab ride would cost 40 cents more.

* A 4 percent entertainment tax on tickets to movies, concerts and sporting events. That would add nearly 50 cents to a $12 movie ticket or $1.80 to the cheapest $44.50 seat at a Knicks game.
* The tax on beer increases 24 cents per gallon, or more than double the current rate, which means about 30 cents a case.

* An 18 percent tax on nondiet soft drinks, which aims to reduce child obesity. A $1.50 can of Pepsi would then cost at least 25 cents more.

* A 4 percent tax on cable TV and satellite services, raising a $100 bill by $4.

* Hiking the cost of "personal" services - including haircuts, manicures, pedicures, massages and gym memberships - by 4 percent.

* A 4 percent sales tax on clothing and shoes under $500, except for two weeks out of the year.

* Elimination of the law that caps the state sales tax on gasoline at 8 cents per gallon.

* Boosting the average vehicle registration fee for drivers by $11, from $44 to $55. Fees for new or renewed licenses also would increase 25 percent, or increase from $50 to about $62 to renew a license over eight years.

In addition, all drivers would have to get new, "reflectorized" license plates at a fee of $25 each.

The plan also calls for the state to allow wine to be sold in grocery stores.

It would introduce video slot machines at Belmont Park.

New York could also join other states in their lottery games.

INSANITY... I'm sure the final budget will NOT include many of these but it's the ultimate in Nanny-Stateism... There is less and less of a reason to live here..

The Plot Thickens...

Check out this interesting piece from The Wall Street Journal...

Conventional wisdom holds that U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald ordered the FBI to arrest Rod Blagojevich before sunrise Tuesday in order to stop a crime from being committed. That would have been the sale of the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

But the opposite is true: Members of Fitzgerald’s team are livid the scheme didn’t advance, at least for a little longer, according to some people close to Fitzgerald’s office. Why? Because had the plot unfolded, they might have had an opportunity most feds can only dream of: A chance to catch the sale of a Senate seat on tape, including the sellers and the buyers.

The precise timing of Tuesday’s dramatic, pre-dawn arrest was not dictated by Fitzgerald, nor was it dictated by the pace of Blagojevich’s alleged “crime spree.” It was dictated by the Chicago Tribune, according to people close to the investigation and a careful reading of the FBI’s affidavit in the case.

At Fitzgerald’s request, the paper had been holding back a story since October detailing how a confidante of Blagojevich was cooperating with his office.

Gerould Kern, the Tribune’s editor, said in a statement last week that these requests are granted in what he called isolated instances. “In each case, we strive to make the right decision as reporters and as citizens,” he said.

But editors decided to publish the story on Friday, Dec. 5, ending the Tribune’s own cooperation deal with the prosecutor.

Wow. So the Chicago Tribune had enough and decided that it was time to go public with this bombshell... The questions becomes, were they blowing the lid on the Federal wiretap to protect a very big fish? Someone much, much bigger and more powerful than little ol' Gov. Blago?

Stay tuned...

The Church Of Global Warming is in Session...

The Associated Press published a story yesterday from Seth Borenstein that shows why the cult of Global Warming is very dangerous. Mr. Borenstein writes the following:

WASHINGTON – When Bill Clinton took office in 1993, global warming was a slow-moving environmental problem that was easy to ignore. Now it is a ticking time bomb that President-elect Barack Obama can't avoid.

Since Clinton's inauguration, summer Arctic sea ice has lost the equivalent of Alaska, California and Texas. The 10 hottest years on record have occurred since Clinton's second inauguration. Global warming is accelerating. Time is close to running out, and Obama knows it.

Talk about hyperbole. Now, while summer Arctic sea ice may have lost that equivalent, the Antarctic ice shelf is actually growing at a rate not seen in decades. And then, there is this parting shot at the end of the story:

Mother Nature, of course, is oblivious to the federal government's machinations. Ironically, 2008 is on pace to be a slightly cooler year in a steadily rising temperature trend line. Experts say it's thanks to a La Nina weather variation. While skeptics are already using it as evidence of some kind of cooling trend, it actually illustrates how fast the world is warming.

OK, so the fact that this year will be cooler than last, is 'PROOF' of how fast the World is warming? Of course, the author gives no facts to backup this irrefutable proof. I've email Mr. Borenstein and hope that he will respond, as I remain very curious how this is proof.

All the while, stricter environmental regulations under the guise of slowing 'Global Warming' will push us further off the economic cliff and really hurt American business.

Preisdent Bush's Last Trip to Iraq and Afghanistan

So, President Bush made what will likely be his final visit to Iraq and Afghanistan as Commander-in-Chief. Of course, the big news is not that he actually made another visit to these countries (which takes some guts, Mr. Obama) but what happened during his media session in Baghdad with Iraq PM Maliki...

Zaidi jumped up as Bush was holding a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday, shouted "It is the farewell kiss, you dog" and threw two shoes at the US leader. The shoes missed after Bush ducked and Zaidi was immediately wrestled to the ground by security guards and frogmarched from the room. It is not known where Zaidi is currently being held.

So, this clown hurls his shoes at the President, who ducks them with great dexterity. I hope this idiot realizes if he did this to Saddam, he and his family would have ended up hung and quartered.

My question is what happened to the Secret Service? They certainly did not leap right in to protect the President. Isn't that their job? Mr. Obama, best of luck to you...

News from the Church of Global Warming

Via Reuters...

POZNAN, Poland (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will let President-elect Barack Obama
sign up to a U.N. pact to fight global warming in late 2009 even if U.S. climate
laws are not yet in place, U.S. Senator John Kerry predicted on Thursday.

But Kerry, designated head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said
on the sidelines of U.N. climate talks in Poland that China, India and Russia
would also have to promise to cut greenhouse gas emissions to win Senate
blessing of any pact.

"It will be like the difference between night and day," Kerry, of
Massachusetts, said of Obama's enthusiasm for action against climate change
after what he said were eight years of inaction under President George W.
Bush.

So exciting! Wow, let's further hamper industry by agreeing to 'global' terms of an agreement which will be impossible to reach without overwhelming expense... While it's important to preserve the Earth, I continue to say, in the grand scheme of things, we're just not that significant... Of course, we always expected Obama to worship at the Altar of the Church of Global Warming, or Climate Change, or whatever the heck it's called now...

Auto Bailout Fails in Senate

A nice dose of realism as Senate Republicans refused to back Federal aid for the auto industry... Good...

So, of course, Senate Majority Leader 'Dingy' Harry Reid says, "a loss for the country". Not really. It's a win. We're in enough debt and the American people are saying 'no more' to their elected officials.

Sen. Reid now says that President Bush should take the funds for the auto industry from the $700 Billion banking bailout bill.

Ugh. Hold on to your wallets my friends.

Interesting... And Telling...

Here is a 'Stat of the Day' from CrossingWallStreet.com and a big WOW...

In 2007, Toyota sold 9.37 million vehicles.

In 2007, General Motors sold 9.37 million vehicles.

In 2007, Toyota made $17.1 billion.

In 2007, General Motors lost $38.7 billion.

Selling Obama's Senate Seat: Did The One Know? UPDATE: The Mighty Oz Has Spoken UPDATE: Story on Post-Elex Meeting

1:30PM EST:
Ah Ha! Obama and Governor Blagojevich met on November 5... Read the article.

CHICAGO, ILL. -- Now that Barack Obama will be moving to the White House, his seat in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois will have to be filled. That's one of Obama's first priorities today.
He's meeting with Governor Rod Blagojevich this afternoon in Chicago to discuss it.

12:55 PM EST:
An official from the Barack Obama transition office says that Rod Blagojevich should resign...

ORIGINAL POST:
President-Elect Obama responded to pal Rod Blagojevich's arrest yesterday with this commanding statement of leadership...

"Obviously like the rest of the people of Illinois I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the US attorney's office today, but as this is a ongoing investigation involving the governor I don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time."

All right. No call for resignation? All right...

Then when asked if he talked with the governor about it, The One said...

"I had no contact with the governor or his office and so we were not, I was not aware of what was happening."

All right... However, appearing on Fox Chicago Sunday on November 23, Obama's chief advisor David Axelrod (a noted Blagojevich pal) said...

"I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of
which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them."

Well, something here is amiss... And always the one to cover his tracks, Axelrod released a statement on Wednesday night...

"I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy. They did not then or at any time discuss the subject."

Interesting... Are we getting our ducks in a row now? Why all of a sudden did we misspeak? Are we lying? The plot thickens.

Talk about a culture of corruption... Conservatives tried to warn America of what we'd get when we elect the Chicago Machine politics...

Joe the Plumber: "McCain Appalled Me"

Joe Wuerzelbacher, known to everyone as 'Joe the Plumber', who was able to bring the socialist identity of Barack Obama to light, is not speaking out about his feeling of uneasiness about campaigning with John McCain, specifically when talking with McCain about the bailout bill...

"When I was on the bus with him, I asked him a lot of questions about the bailout because most Americans did not want that to happen," Wurzelbacher told Glenn Beck. "I asked him some pretty direct questions. Some of the answers you guys are gonna receive they appalled me, absolutely. I was angry. In fact, I wanted to get off the bus after I talked to him."

Wurzelbacher said he stayed on the trail with McCain "honestly, because the thought of Barack Obama as president scares me even more."

I know how you feel Joe... Voting for McCain required my holding my nose... I still hold that Mitt Romney may not have defeated Barack Obama but he would have taken the fight to him. He darn well would have used Rev. Wright against him...

WH and Congressional Dems Agree on Detriot Bailout Terms

Isn't it funny that a supposedly GOP president cannot come to terms on this deal with members of his own party? Oh, that's right, House GOP leaders are against this bailout, as should any clear minded Americans...

WASHINGTON--A government "car czar" with the power to force U.S. automakers into bankruptcy would dole out $15 billion in emergency loans to the failing industry
under an emerging deal between the White House and congressional Democrats.

STOP THIS BAILOUT MANIA! NOW!

Obama to Give Major Address in Islamic Capital?

From AFP:

WASHINGTON, (AFP) – President-elect Barack Obama plans to give "a major address" in an Islamic capital soon after taking office as he seeks to mend America's
image in the Muslim world, a Chicago Tribune interview said."I think we've got a unique opportunity to reboot America's image around the world and also in the Muslim world in particular," Obama said in the interview published late Tuesday on the Tribune's website. Obama promised an "unrelenting" desire to "create a relationship of mutual respect and partnership in countries and with peoples of good will who want their citizens and ours to prosper together." The world "is ready for that message."

Oh boy... This is exactly the type of thing that makes the Islamofascists think we are a bunch of paper tigers... I'm glad that his concern is our perception around the world... Just like any true narcissist would believe...