FC Councilman Perplexed Over $581,000 Repayment
by Jonathan Weaver and David Croyle
Ford City has been served notice it has to come up with $581,000 to repay the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for a grant that was used for site improvements on the former PPG Shop building - then lost in a foreclosure to Nextier Bank.
According to the terms of the grant, Ford City’s loss of the property made them liable for repayment of the grant.
In a letter received at the Borough Office last Friday morning , Economic Development Administration (EDA) Interim Regional Director Tonia Williams wrote that a submitted Request for Reconsideration by Ford City in June “did not provide any new facts or information” and “no compromise offer has been made to facilitate a resolution.”
“Therefore, EDA has no alternative but to disallow all EDA project costs and establish a debt with the United States Treasury against the Borough for the full amount owed,” Williams wrote in the August 13 letter.
The news hit council members hard. They now have ten days to respond with a maximum three-year payment plan.
Ford City Borough Council Vice-President Jerry Miklos was perplexed over the series of events surrounding the decision by the EDA on repayment of $581,000.
In an exclusive interview, Borough Vice-President Jerry Miklos said he first found out about the details about the letter Saturday morning.
“It made front-page news of several newspapers before all of Council even knew - how does that happen?” he questioned.
Miklos said that the EDA indicated there would be a meeting prior to the ruling when he spoke to them.
“When I talked with Mrs Williams, she told me our application was denied because it was not done in time,” Miklos said. “I respectfully asked her to double check that because I felt very confident that our appeal was timely.”
Miklos said he was awaiting a meeting or phone conference with Williams on the update and didn’t expect to receive final notification of the EDA decision yet.
At the end of August 2014, a Ford City ad-hoc action committee submitted eight proposals to the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) to satisfy the defaulted grant on the former PPG property and, in documents obtained in April, then-EDA Regional Director Willie Taylor offered Council President Kathy Bartuccio a lower payment due to the Borough’s economic hardship.
“Based upon the original grant award of $581,000, and taking into consideration the number of years that the Borough of Ford City maintained compliance with the grant award, EDA will agree to accept the sum of ($116,200) sufficient and adequate consideration to extinguish the grant obligation,” Taylor wrote in an October 2014 letter.
If Ford City Borough Council made the first of three annual payments of less than $39,000 annually by the end of the day April 15, a full release from the terms and conditions of the initial grant award would have be applicable, Taylor wrote.
EDA Philadelphia Region Interim Director Paul Matyskiela wrote further on the subject with Senator Pat Toomey in March.
“EDA extended every opportunity to the Borough to resolve their obligation in a fashion that is fair to it and to the American taxpayers. However…they failed to act to accept EDA’s offer to accept a reduced sum…,” Mayskiela wrote in a letter.
Miklos said Taylor was “most emphatic” about understanding the Borough’s financial condition and did not want to jeopardize further hardship - asking for the creative alternatives.
“We need to see what transpired here - how did we get from creative ideas to now it being all about money?” Miklos questioned.
Miklos said he expects an executive session will be called by Bartuccio this week and include Solicitor Anthony Vigilante.
Ford City, Local News | jweaver August 17, 2015
By sean spring, August 17, 2015 @ 8:23 AM
As a Ford City resident, I’m perplexed as to WHY this council didn’t JUMP on the REDUCED amount of a $116,000 settlement from the EDA…thanks Jerry and the rest of council….who is running this town?????? Nothing but a circus with inflated ego’s….
By Just sayin, August 17, 2015 @ 8:32 AM
Go get ’em, Jerry!
By jorn jensen, August 17, 2015 @ 10:32 AM
This is so sad for the good people of Ford City. A city that once had thriving factories and people working.
How did the newspapers get ‘the story’ before Jerry Miklos? Obviously, someone received and opened the letter and then contacted people other than the mayor or council.
Perhaps Jeff Pyle can step up and help his town. Perhaps Armstrong County will have to bail out Ford City. Perhaps bankruptcy is the only solution.
Where are the leaders when you need them?
By Rat_Smeller, August 17, 2015 @ 12:08 PM
What is so perplexing? The Borough defaulted on the grant. The feds now want their money back per the grant agreement. The feds tried to play nice and offered a settlement for pennies on the dollar. Borough Council pretty much blew off the feds’ settlement offer. Now the feds want all of the money they are owed back.
By savvynewshound, August 17, 2015 @ 1:03 PM
At the last council meeting Jerry and crew were touting all the great things they have done in the last few years. I believe this SNAFU supersedes any good they think they have done. No wonder Jeff Pyle called them the “gang that couldn’t shoot straight”.
Nice job Jerry., Now start blaming it on someone else…
By suzkin33, August 17, 2015 @ 1:37 PM
I find it a bit funny that Miklos is mad that he didn’y know before everyone else, so he could try to spin the consequences that occur when you think you run a town, not represent the people of your town. I can’t wait for the criminal charges, and restitution orders to be handed out to that sad Council. Of the people, by the people, for the people only works when you follow the code of conduct and think about others, not play I have a secret letter. I pray for Ford City. Remove them all!
By jorn jensen, August 17, 2015 @ 2:12 PM
Perplexed applies to many things in FC. Why didn’t they take the reduced settlement? Why didn’t they take the $900k gas lease offer? Why didn’t they take the $180k later gas lease offer? Why did PPG leave? Why did Eljer leave? Perplexed, alright.
By blutoblutarsky, August 17, 2015 @ 2:18 PM
How can this guy be “perplexed” by what transpired? I thought I read an article a while back that said he was one of the first people to read the settlement offer?
By mad-2010, August 17, 2015 @ 8:33 PM
Why did Eljer leave:
“Piscataway, N.J.-based American Standard cited the collapse of the home construction market, excess housing inventory, a drop in consumer spending and financial market problems as the reason for the potential closings.” The Year was 2008.
“The consolidation of the Eljer, Crane and American Standard brands earlier this year, the company can manufacture and ship its products from facilities with lower operating costs.” “Jim Kutsch, vice president of operations, said in a statement.” Sometime in the Year 2008..
Why didn’t they take the $180k later gas lease offer? Because it was a $150,000 offer to buy the mineral rights on polluted property it owns near Cadogan with no royalties included and was not a lease.
By mad-2010, August 17, 2015 @ 8:45 PM
What Criminal charges could there be???
By mad-2010, August 17, 2015 @ 9:01 PM
P.S. There is nothing at all perplexing about PPG or Eljers business decisions. PPG wanted to use a float-glass system and it was more cost effective to have this kind of system at other plants and the Ford City plant was past it’s Prime, to say the least. It was a sound business decision.
By mad-2010, August 17, 2015 @ 9:15 PM
I agree with you, Rat…. Perplexing my foot!
By sbmworker, August 18, 2015 @ 7:07 AM
Perplexed…really? Huh? Everything was such a secret. They should have jumped on the $116,000 but no Eden, Jerry and Vicki were ‘working on something’ that no one could know about. Well Eden needs to lose his high paying job and I sure hope the people see what losers we have on council. Jerry and Vicki both need to go ASAP!
By jorn jensen, August 18, 2015 @ 7:56 AM
mad, I mostly do not read your stuff anymore, but I did read this group above since I didn’t see my name in any of it. You tell the truth - it was a business decision. But, do you really believe that the unions had nothing to do with them leaving? If you think about it, the unions were a part of the business decision to leave.
You did avoid the $900,000 question.
By suzkin33, August 18, 2015 @ 9:19 AM
@mad-2010
There are codes that Councils for Boroughs must adhere to. I’ve been waiting for them to realize that they are not above the law. http://home.ptd.net/~kurtiz96/PDFJTPA/borough_council.pdf (Happy Reading)
By Just sayin, August 18, 2015 @ 9:42 AM
I don’t know what really is happening, but this council SEEMS to have there hearts in the right place. I’m guessing that they thought they were doing the right thing at the moment. What do you think they had in mind, instead?
“Oh, we think we’ll screw up on purpose so that thousands of people will be angry and spew their bitterness hither and thither, and we’ll be known as the infamous borough council of the century.”
They had SOME reason for doing what they did. I hope they don’t get into trouble for everyone’s sake.
I am GLAD they refused to lease to the gas companies.
The gas companies rape the earth and leave behind pollution. They are the cause of the earthquakes that have been happening more frequently in areas that don’t normally have earthquakes (they have admitted that to the government)!
You have to think about the future generations. You can’t dismiss these negative consequences. Just because it may not effect you, you still have to care. They bring TEMPORARY jobs and money, then leave to rape Mother Earth elsewhere.
My aunt used to ask me, “Do you want one candy bar today or two tomorrow?” Of course, as a child, I took the one candy bar right away since I was immediately gratified.
Compare this with the greed of the gas companies and the workers. They want their satisfaction NOW, and who cares about what the Earth will be like in the future? Who cares to leave our beautiful lands intact for the future (a positive choice— the two candy bars).
Sounds like the FEDS reneged on their agreement with the council, to me.
I’m comparing this council with President Obama’s presidency. When the President first started his position, he was walking into a bees’ nest that others caused. He had to try and remedy the impossible situation and then got bashed for it. Anyone who became the president at that time would have had a tough go at it.
Same with this council, it seems.
I wouldn’t want the job. Please, anyone who thinks they can do better, run for president and run for council. Help them instead of bashing them. Give suggestions instead of hell. Work with them instead of against them.The mayor is trying to do this now.
So we have this situation. Will complaining make it better?
By Marc, August 18, 2015 @ 9:48 AM
Nice photo. Was he purposely holding up the paper pretending to look “perplexed” for it?
By jd718, August 18, 2015 @ 2:25 PM
@ Jensen, Why are you trying to make the Eljer and PPG business moves or closings more than what they were?
About the 900k lease deal, it was not uncommon at that time for citizens to have environmental concerns about fracking, many towns across the state also had citizens with the same concern.
By jerry6, August 18, 2015 @ 5:33 PM
This is a new topic but didn’t have anywhere to put it. I just finished reading a book by Mike
Kelly and Gabby Gifford who
is the senator who was shot in the face by a mentally unstable guy. They are both gun owners and believe in the 2nd amendment and do not want to take anyones guns away. This book will open your eyes to the NRA. If you don’t go along with them, you not get re-elected and if a gun shop disagrees with them, they will force you into closing your shop. I see now why Jack Bennett was ranting about Toomey. Toomey was very moved by the Newton shooting that him and Manchin tried to pass a law to have background checks. They are both NRA members with an A rating. They just want better background checks is all and 97% of Americans want this. If you aren’t mentally unstable or have a domestic abuse issue or are a felon, why do you object to this. It isn’t taking away your gun rights or your guns. I know now where these people are afraid your guns are going to be taken away. The NRA says background checks will lead to a national registry with agents going to your house and taking away 300 million guns. This is nonsense and comes straight from the NRA handbook. Gabby after being shot had to learn to shoot with her left hand. Her and her husband go to shooting ranges and shoot their guns. Lets hear it from the NRA members who don’t believe any of this.How many of you have had your guns taken away? I still have my guns.I am thankful if someone is unstable and is denied a gun.
By sbmworker, August 18, 2015 @ 9:41 PM
Just sayin…Really? They know exactly what they are doing. Jerry has been out to destroy the town from the start. If not, he is a complete idiot. He always blames someone else and tries to make himself look better. He is a real joke and needs to go. He is ruining Ford City and this says it all. BTW..there hearts should be their hearts! Get real!
By sbmworker, August 18, 2015 @ 9:43 PM
Jorn…I see you a lot like Trump, you say what you feel and that is that! If people don’t like it, too bad! I did vote for you! I don’t care what people say. They are all afraid of the truth and being straightforward! It is simple, say what you feel and mean it. Trump 2016!
By mad-2010, August 18, 2015 @ 11:20 PM
Jensen… I mostly don’t read your comments anymore. So, refer to jd718 for the 900k answer.
Big business doesn’t let unions make their business decisions nor do unions change big company decisions. How silly of you to think that!
By Just sayin, August 18, 2015 @ 11:29 PM
sbmworker: BTW… (3 dots) “Jorn… I see you a lot like Trump…”
Okay, I was the grammar police when someone called me stupid and made LAZY mistakes. There, their, and they’re, so there. Even editors make mistakes.
I don’t know how many times I have ignored people writing , “your” instead of “you’re.”
Jorn: I wouldn’t take it as a compliment that you are like Trump. Two-year-olds tell it like it is without regard to people’s feelings. Grown men should not act this way. As I wrote before, it’s called diplomacy. You can get your point across without acting like an a_ _.
There’s a difference between writing what you “feel” is the truth and being straightforward about those feelings and writing bluntly and rudely about what you “feel” is the truth and being tactless in your straightforwardness.
By Just sayin, August 18, 2015 @ 11:35 PM
Jorn “I see you a lot like Trump…” That would make a good hip hop song.
I like the song, “Money Can’t Buy You Class,” better.
By jd718, August 18, 2015 @ 11:49 PM
“Scrapping the estate tax ($14 billion) and the corporation tax ($240 billion) as well would have resulted in a $900 billion collapse in federal revenues.” The Trump way! (Trump for 2016!)
“Scrapping the 40% inheritance tax will save his family a lot of money on what he leaves them. Indeed if he leaves them that $5.5 billion, it would save them about $2.2 billion in taxes.” Go Donald T. just like the rest of the politicians!
By mad-2010, August 19, 2015 @ 6:29 AM
Your boy has told more lies on the KP than all posters combined over the last 4 years, That’s a Truth. Jerry is not alone when it comes to who’s at fault with this matter! There maybe little hope for this group of councilmen, doesn’t look good.
By mad-2010, August 19, 2015 @ 7:04 AM
Just sayin… What reason could this council have for not taking a sweet-heart deal like this one from the Feds? The town could have had a festival once a year to help defray the 39K payment. I’d like to hear why they didn’t take this deal, really, one heck of a blunder!
By blutoblutarsky, August 19, 2015 @ 7:38 AM
So the union caused PPG to leave? Their other manufacturing locations are union as well and they’re still in production. lol
sbm- Just because someone is loud, doesn’t make them right. Perfect example, the guy who is “perplexed” in this article.
By jorn jensen, August 19, 2015 @ 7:49 AM
sbmworker - you get it. The people attacking me are all the usual liberals on the KP - they enjoy attacking me because I enjoy swatting their nest and getting them a-buzz. They’re easy.
I take the Trump comment as a compliment, and, since you initiated a Trump comment under this thread, it is fair game for me to respond.
Trump continues to climb in the polls and socialist kook Bernie Sanders keeps chipping away at Hillary. Hillary currently has 47% and Bernie 29%. And Hillary has the email skeletons and the Benghazi skeletons in her closet (as if the liberals care). No one on the republican side is anywhere near Trump in the polls.
The press hates Trump, the democrats hate Trump, the republicans hate Trump, FOX News hates Trump, Megyn Kelley hates Trump, Rosie O’Donnell hates Trump. That all being the case, Trump must be doing something right. I’ve sent for my ‘Make America Great Again’ hat.
The republicans better wake up and get behind a winner or they’ll hand it over to another liberal.
I care about Ford City, Kittanning, and this entire area. The mismanagement needs to end - we need decisive leaders. There is no excuse, in the world, to pass up a $900.000 ‘gift’, for a ‘broke’ town, just because 6 anti-fracking whiners show up at a meeting. These people are elected to represent the entire population of the town, not just bow to some special interests.
I’ll continue to attend public county meetings and I’ll continue to express my opinions - hate me or like me - I’ll continue.
By jd718, August 19, 2015 @ 8:13 AM
The Republicans don’t have the Demograhics to win a Presidential Election and most people know this! With Trump rapidly turning off the Latino voters he’ll end up like Mitt Romney!
Hey, anybody get’s it that agrees with Jensen, it has to be lonely at the bottom, Jensen!
“I’ll continue to attend public county meetings and I’ll continue to express my opinions – hate me or like me – I’ll continue.”
Spoken like a true Politician! I’ll be there when YOU LOSE… LOL
By jd718, August 19, 2015 @ 8:17 AM
Just in case you missed it, Jensen.
“Scrapping the estate tax ($14 billion) and the corporation tax ($240 billion) as well would have resulted in a $900 billion collapse in federal revenues.” The Trump way! (Trump for 2016!)
By Just sayin, August 19, 2015 @ 8:33 AM
mad-2010: I’m not saying what they did is wrong or right. I wasn’t there. I don’t know the facts. Therefore, I’m not going to judge.
I said before that I like SOME of Jerry’s views, but he should be more diplomatic (as Jorn should). I don’t like how Jerry comes across, at times.
Did you ever see the movie Twelve Angry Men? It was on TV the other night. You should get ALL the facts before you judge.
Again, it seems the Feds reneged on the agreement.
By Just sayin, August 19, 2015 @ 8:38 AM
You’re fired, Jorn.
Just because someone is popular, doesn’t mean it is for good reasons.
All Trump is doing is making it easier for Hilary to win. They are friends.
By jorn jensen, August 19, 2015 @ 8:58 AM
No, the union did not cause PPG to leave. It was a business decision as Mad states. Included in that business decision is the union.
Nice spin. Nice try. You gotta get up before breakfast.
By Marc, August 19, 2015 @ 9:26 AM
“I care about Ford City, Kittanning, and this entire area.”
You say you care about the area, yet you try to provoke arguments on an article where a local person was murdered, purely for your enjoyment?
Your actions don’t fall in line with your claims.
By Rat_Smeller, August 19, 2015 @ 10:02 AM
JD718 - Do you really think the rich pay inheritance tax? They have financial planners, trusts and attorneys to make sure they don’t. When is the last time that a Rockefeller, Kennedy, Vanderbilt, Bush or any of the ultra rich paid an inheritance tax?
Just Sayin’ - Earthquakes happen in established fault zones. They happen because the earth’s tectonic plates push against each other causing shear and resulting in the movement of the earth’s crust above. The epicenters of most earthquakes are miles (not 10,000 ft.) below the surface of the earth.
By jd718, August 19, 2015 @ 10:22 AM
Jensen, “There is no excuse, in the world, to pass up a $900.000 ‘gift’, for a ‘broke’ town.”
Here is the definition for gift: A gift or a present is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment. I know you are thick and redundant, but, the 900K was not a gift and Ford City is not Broke, you don’t get it do you?
By mad-2010, August 19, 2015 @ 12:48 PM
Eden Ratliff earns around 40k a year, not exactly what I would call a high paying salary! People I knew @ work made 40K in 1979, it was real money for a single person at that time starting out.
By mad-2010, August 19, 2015 @ 3:22 PM
One more reason why you would be a Poor Public Official: “just because 6 anti-fracking whiners show up at a meeting.”
These 6 citizens have a right to their concerns just like anyone else with a concern, yet, you call them whiners because their concerns don’t jive with your personal view-points. No Vote For You!
By mad-2010, August 19, 2015 @ 3:33 PM
I’ll continue the fight against people like you and I’ll continue to express my opinions – hate me or like me – I’ll continue. MAD-2010 LOL
By Flamingo1, August 19, 2015 @ 4:28 PM
@Jorn
Of course you are supporting Trump. He has so many simple solutions to complex problems. He can barely construct a simple sentence and he insults people with abandon.
His level of braggart narcism is monumental.
Even responsible conservatives are amused by his tactics and statements.
By mad-2010, August 19, 2015 @ 5:53 PM
Rat… Do really think that the example (inheritance tax?) was more than a Hypothetical example to make a point?
By mad-2010, August 19, 2015 @ 6:00 PM
Rat… Do you really think that the example (inheritance tax?) was more than a Hypothetical example to make a point?
Sorry for the typo.
By mad-2010, August 19, 2015 @ 6:08 PM
just sayin… Did you ever see the movie Twelve Angry Men? Yes, I have watched that movie Henry Fonda and a good cast. I’d just like to know from them, why would you seemingly play with the Feds with this kind of chance to get from under such large debit?
By worthingtonman, August 19, 2015 @ 8:04 PM
I actually agree with folks on the Trump thing. What a buffoon. It would be a total embarrassment he would be as a president. Although I like his views on Illegal immigration. But is Hillarybreally the best the dem’s can do? Scandal after scandal after scandal. From her days whitewater, to her miraculous fortune in cattle futures and many more up to this latest debacle with her emails. She won’t survive this one. Nor should she.! Look how Petraeous was crucified for nearly the same thing. I think the dem’s could do better. I really don’t know how any one can look at her and say what a good honest person. Let’s make her president! I think the next president has still not surfaced. A true hero of the people. I am not sure who it is or who I would support but I can tell you it is neither Trump not Clinton.
By jd718, August 19, 2015 @ 8:32 PM
Rat_Smeller, You are right about the ultra rich and inheritance taxes.
“The quote is from Trumps 2011 political manifesto “Time To Get Tough,” said he wants to abolish the inheritance tax completely, even on kids inheriting billions of dollars from their Old Man.” The example is a Hypothetical I think.
By blutoblutarsky, August 20, 2015 @ 7:40 AM
jorn- Where did they take the operations to? Another PPG plant with union workers? lol Good work, Sherlock.
P.S. I told you that you read every post.
By jorn jensen, August 20, 2015 @ 8:59 AM
Well, worthingtonman, pay attention to the polls. Trump has passed Jeb Bush, the GOP establishment’s ‘choice’ and is consistently knocking on Hillary’s door. Hillary’s ‘problems’ have given Bernie Sanders a ‘door’. So, what does the republican party do now? Force Trump to an independent write-in run and hand the White House to Hillary? Stop and think.
I’m cautiously optimistic about Trump. It will be interesting to see which republican leaders ‘jump on-board’ when they realize that they need a winner to beat either the unaccomplished Hillary or the socialist kook Bernie Sanders. The gaffemaster seems to be way low in the democrat polls, as well he should be.
By Rat_Smeller, August 20, 2015 @ 9:25 AM
Mad-2010 & JD718 - It probably was hypothetical. Here is my take on the inheritance tax. Unless they are extremely lax on managing their estates the rich (ultra and moderate) do not pay inheritance tax for the reasons I stated above. The middle class pays it. And to make it worse any fortune handed down through inheritance has already had taxes paid on it. Its the government’s opportunity to take another dip from those who are already squeezed to the brink.
By Just sayin, August 20, 2015 @ 9:38 AM
Rat_Smeller: I know how an earthquake happens (the actual act). But there are CAUSES of WHY the plates move.
By Just sayin, August 20, 2015 @ 9:42 AM
“One of the strongest quakes to date in northern Oklahoma’s NEWLY AWAKENED SEISMIC ZONE rocked a wide area from the Red River to the Texas Panhandle and central Kansas.”
By Just sayin, August 20, 2015 @ 9:54 AM
“The seemingly never-ending tremors that have rattled nerves in areas of Oklahoma and Kansas where oil and gas wells have expanded in recent years convinced Oklahoma regulators to tell energy companies to sharply cut back on underground wastewater injection.
A 4.5-magnitude jolt widely across the region in late July prompted several disposal wells to shut down VOLUNTARILY or at least cut injections by half.
Wastewater accompanies oil and gas when the hydrocarbons are extracted from below the surface. It is later pumped back underground at what are known as disposal or injection wells.
Energy companies have repeatedly tried to downplay or even deny any connection between the injection wells and the new tremors.”
Keep the energy companies from coming back into our beautiful town!
By Just sayin, August 20, 2015 @ 10:03 AM
Did ANYONE feel the quake we had in Ford City (and up and down the east coast) a few years ago?
I did.
By steve, August 20, 2015 @ 4:47 PM
“I’m cautiously optimistic about Trump.”
You’ve been pimping Trump on here for a few weeks, even claiming you ordered some stupid hat. Sounds like you’ve thrown caution to the wind and you’re all in on ol’ hairpiece. What’s with the compulsive lying?
By Patzu, August 20, 2015 @ 4:51 PM
You are incorrect to a point, Jorn.
The wages paid in China were way below any non-union manufacturing job.
It was not union labor that impacted PPG operations going overseas. It was standard American wages that drove the jobs overseas.
Jorn, I am usually split 50/50 in your posts in regards to agreement and disagreement.
The union excuse for off-shoring American jobs has been proven to be a fallacy.
The second wave of off-shoring dealt with more non-union jobs than u ion jobs.
Do you advocate that American workers try and compete with the wages that workers receive in China and other Third World countries? That would be the only to keep the jobs in the U.S. The corporations punished the U.S. For their higher standard of living.
By mad-2010, August 20, 2015 @ 6:52 PM
Last I read the Republican people are planning an attack on Trump not jump on board with him, we’ll see.
By jd718, August 20, 2015 @ 7:56 PM
Did not the Donald T. want to do away with birthright citizenship? Amendments, some count, others not so much to some Republicans.
By worthingtonman, August 20, 2015 @ 9:13 PM
@Jorn
I don’t let the polls tell me how to vote. If Trump loves his country so much he would bail out. Plain and simple he is rude, crude and lewd . Bush is way to Liberal for me. I am sure the left has yet to pull out 10% of the ammo they have on the Trump. if we want the conservative to win, we need someone special to rise above. Let the left out Clinton up. She will not be hard to beat.
By Marc, August 21, 2015 @ 7:32 AM
Trump? President? We’ll be the laughingstock of the world.
By DontGiveArip, August 21, 2015 @ 7:55 AM
Don’t underestimate Trump. No one laughs at his money. In case you didn’t realize it, Marc, the rest of the world runs on wealth. That has been our whole problem in Kuwait. It’s all about wealth and who has it. No one laughs at a guy that comes into office not needing Air Force One. He flies in the Trump jet. He is escorted in the Trump mobile. If anything, his money scares people rather than makes them laugh. He is definitely rude and crude, Worthingtonman, but he doesn’t have to bow to all the interest groups that have this county by the balls!
By jorn jensen, August 21, 2015 @ 8:19 AM
Excuse me, Marc, we ARE the laughing stock of the world. That is what we need to clean up and bring the United States back to greatness again. I don’t read your stuff, but the one-liner stuck out and I couldn’t avoid it.
Worthingtonman - I’ll read your stuff and respond - don’t be over-confident on considering Hillary easily beatable. Obama was easily beatable in’12 and then, one morning, he woke up and was still president. “Oh my, did I do that?” Liberals could care less that Hillary is unaccomplished, that she failed at secretary of state, the emails, servers and all of that. She’ll get the vote of the illegals, the dead, those that want all of the free stuff, and so forth. Don’t underestimate her ability to win and her waking up one morning and saying “Oh my, did I do that?”
So, worthingtonman, who is your choice? Who can rise and take Hillary to the cleaners?
By Marc, August 21, 2015 @ 8:41 AM
dontgivearip,
“No one laughs at his money.” Nice observation. People still laugh at him and they’ll laugh at the US if he’s elected.
What exactly is the point of your message? That having money automatically means you’re qualified to be president? Rich people get laughed at just like normal folks do.
He’ll bow to the groups that interest him and his colleagues.
By mad-2010, August 21, 2015 @ 10:44 AM
The right-wing guys holding out Hope, without the Demographics! LOL
By jd718, August 21, 2015 @ 7:00 PM
That’s funny coming into office not needing Air Force One. That’s funny. I’m missing the problem in Kuwait? If it’s about Oil Kuwait comes in at number 6 last time I looked (2012.) I think Canada comes in at number 3. Wow!
By jd718, August 21, 2015 @ 7:11 PM
List of Top Ten Oil Exporters in the World
Rank Country Oil Exports (BB/Day) 1. Saudi Arabia 7,635,000 2. Russia 5,010,000 3. Iran 2,523,000 4. United Arab Emirates 2,395,000 5. Norway 2,184,000 6. Iraq 2,170,000 7. Kuwait 2,127,000 8. Nigeria 2,102,000 9. Canada 1,929,000 10. United States 1,920,000
This list should help.
By scott_starr, August 21, 2015 @ 9:04 PM
Trump has an interesting point about the 14th Amendment and the children of illegal immigrants.
The original intent was to ensure citizenship to the newly freed slaves.
It was later extended to American Indians. ( by an act of congress).
The case of United States v. Wong Kim Ark, dealt with legal chinese immigrants and their child. ( in a nutshell the kid went to china and was denied re-entry due to discrimination against chinese immigrants). It was ruled that the child was a citizen of the USA ( remember parents were here legally).
However, there has not been a Supreme Court ruling about illegal immigrant children.
It would be interesting to know if the Doctrine of Clean hands could be applied to this case. Summarizing the Doctrine says that one can not use the court system/ legal precedence in the commission of an illegal act. ( for example you can’t sue someone for breach of contract if they don’t show up to help you rob a bank). So how could on “sue” for citizenship when they are committing a crime by entering the country illegally ?
So, the question is if someone broke the law to enter the country, then does the 14th Amendment apply?
If one actually thinks,and the intent was to let anyone become a citizen ( legal immigrant or illegal) then why write the Amendment in the first place ? Why not just say anyone here now or in the future is a citizen.
An act of congress ( as was done with the American Indians) may also be used to determine if an illegal immigrant could be granted citizenship via birthright.
This could be ( will be ?) an interesting Supreme Court Case.
It’s too bad that soundbites and misinformation rule the day.
Even funnier is how when people hear Illegal Immigrant they assume Mexican or Central American, the illegal immigrants come in all nationalities.
Trump is pushing the envelope and making the conventional candidates uncomfortable… exactly what is needed. ( Isn’t this what Bernie Sanders is doing?).
It’s going to be an entertaining primary season!
By Marc, August 24, 2015 @ 7:54 AM
Scott, I agree that it will be entertaining, but that’s about the only value Trump brings to the table.
By jorn jensen, August 24, 2015 @ 8:17 AM
Excellent analysis, Scott_Starr.
Republicans have some serious deciding to do. Recall 1992, when Ross Perot took enough votes from George H. Bush to put Bill Clinton in the White House. Bush made a big mistake with “Read my lips - no new taxes.” and then along came new taxes. People didn’t forget that and Perot was able to pull their votes.
But Ross Perot did not ‘pour it on’ like Trump is doing. Trump must be surrounding himself with some sharp advisers - he’s pushing all of the hot buttons and hasn’t let off.
So, republicans - tough choice - can you choose a winning candidate from the usual group or do you go win a winner that might just not be to your liking? The 2016 election is in your hands.
The democrats would like you to choose Jeb Bush - he’s beatable.
By Rat_Smeller, August 24, 2015 @ 11:35 AM
Just Sayin’ -
Im not sure what you are saying about an earthquake that shook Ford City and much of the east coast a few years ago although I do remember one in either 2011 or 2012 that centered in Virginia (hardly a hot-bed for Fracking activties) I also remember one that centered in Northeast Ohio in the 80’s (prior to the fracking boom)
I have researched USGS’s site to see if they consider fracking to be amplifying seismic activity and for the most part that fracking in most areas does not add to the likely hood of earthquakes not happening in non-eartquake prone areas. They do mention the clusters that occured in and around Oklahoma City recently. They do mention fracking as a source to the possible problem. They have now limited fracking in that immediate area. Personally I believe its a combination of fracking and more importantly its proximity to the “New Madrid” fault zone.
By Rat_Smeller, August 24, 2015 @ 11:40 AM
My apologies for my grammar above. I quickly put that post together. I meant that the data and research does not indicate fracking adds to the likelyhood off earthquakes happening in areas that are not earthquake prone. I would also like to note that the information provided in those links is based on sound science and research and not from some lobby group’s talking points. In my post I surmised what I read. Open the links. Read for yourselves and draw your own conclusions.
By MaryPoppins, August 24, 2015 @ 1:47 PM
I’m not surprised that Jorn supports Trump for president, it just proves once again that he and people like him don’t bother to educate themselves on the candidates they choose. Let’s examine for a few minutes, Trump’s history and positions. Trump has a real consistency problem; in fact, the only thing consistent about Trump is his hair. In the last two decades, Trump has been a Republican, an Independent, a Reform party member and let’s not forget a Democrat! In 1999 he left the Republican Party saying that “the Republicans are just too crazy right”. When joining the Democrats in 2001 he stated that “it just seems the economy does better under the Democrats” One good carryover from his Democrat days is that he thinks universal health care is awesome! Let’s not forget how he loves the unions, he’s a member of the screen actors Guild and collects an annual pension and was recently quoted as saying “I have a great relationships with the unions.” He even used to be adamantly pro-choice and supported an assault weapon ban. This dude makes Mitt Romney look like a steadfast priest and if Trump wins the nomination the result will be the same.
By scott_starr, August 24, 2015 @ 2:55 PM
Back on topic of the Grant re-payment.
The solution to this issue is simple.
Produce the document which showed that Council answered in a timely manner, about accepting or refusing the State’s offer.
By Just sayin, August 24, 2015 @ 3:18 PM
Maybe we are ALL illegal immigrants to a Native American.