A storm that has dumped more than a foot of snow in the Rocky Mountains was causing problems for travelers as it spread across the Plains on Wednesday.
The main east-west route across Colorado, Interstate 70, closed for several hours from east of Denver to the Kansas line because of poor visibility due to blowing snow. Eastbound lanes remained closed Wednesday night. Smaller highways were also closed for hours in eastern Colorado.
Drivers in Iowa and Nebraska are being warned to be careful or stop driving altogether starting Wednesday evening as the Plains gets its first major winter storm of the season.
Light snow is also expected at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Thursday and strong winds could make visibility poor. That, combined with low clouds, could cause delays at the nation's second-busiest airport. National Weather Service forecaster Jamie Enderlen said.
...The storm is also expected to hit Wisconsin and Michigan, where up to a foot of snow was forecast in the north by Friday.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. calls for placing armed tactical officers or security officers "in every school and public place in America," in a commentary piece posted on a tea party website.
"[T]ea party website" - Give me a break!
Clearly, that's an attempt to marginalize his remarks.
Clarke also condemns calls for gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook School mass killings in Newtown, Ct., and says, "We have to resist with the ferociousness of a junk yard dog any attempt by liberals to make us less free by chipping away at our constitutional freedoms."
He berates "liberals for exploiting tragedy once again in our country and try(ing) to use tragedy as a reason to take our rights away."
Suggestions of gun control "are the mind-set of sheep," Clarke says.
"Sure run and hide from a sociopathic killer. See how far that gets you. You know where that'll get you - 26 dead at Sandy Hook School," says Clarke's article posted on the website "Tea Party Perspective." It was posted on the website by Nik Clark, president of Wisconsin Carry, Inc., a gun rights group.
The sheriff suggests armed guards in schools, malls, theaters and other public places could be paid for with public money now spent on "green" environmental projects and "other waste-of-money social service spending."
He also suggested that businesses should remove signs saying guns are prohibited. That only tips off a sociopathic killer that no one there would be able to stop them, Clarke says.
If Obama and his fellow Leftists are serious about the safety of our children and taking immediate steps to protect them, a solution is providing armed security for them while at school.
Obama doesn't go anywhere without armed guards. If it's good enough for him, it should be good enough for our kids at school.
If you don't like the idea of such security for our children, then expect another mass shooting.
Killers will kill until they're stopped. The uncertainty of which person is about to snap and go on a killing spree is unsettling. The randomness is frightening.
We can stop them before they carry out their deadly missions on a massive scale by employing trained professionals to guard our children.
It's not as if Clarke is suggesting that each kid be given a gun. This is no condom giveaway sort of program.
Clarke is offering a solution that is immediate and effective. To suggest that he's a nut is clearly political posturing.
As it is right now, schools, and other "gun-free zones," are unintentionally inviting the deranged to carry out a slaughter there.
While the politicians and special interest groups bicker, implementing Clarke's suggestion now could save lives.
I haven't heard anything about subscriber fees. I know no details, but there seem to be hints that the full site won't be accessible for free. Hope I'm wrong. Don't think I am.
His death was the result of an accidental drug overdose, along with coronary atherosclerosis. It was the result of a lifestyle of celebrity excess, although one certainly can choose a life of substance abuse and excess without being rich and famous.
There are plenty of stories of Farley's recklessness and how he lived life on the edge. His abuse of drugs and alcohol is well-documented.
But there still was a certain sweetness about him. He projected that Midwestern unpretentiousness. He was so likable; make that lovable.
He was a Wisconsin boy, grew up in a Catholic family, and was a Marquette graduate. He was a Packers fan.
There were traces of Farley's Wisconsin background in his work. He named one of his characters, motivational speaker Matt Foley, after his Marquette rugby teammate, now a Catholic priest. (I'm quite sure that the real Matt Foley doesn't live in a van down by the river.) He wore his Marquette rugby jacket in his movie Tommy Boy.
Even after Farley achieved success, he went to Mass regularly. In many ways, he lived his faith.
I couldn't relate to the excess, but I could relate to him. I knew where he came from. He was one of us.
It's so hard to believe it's been fifteen years. ___________________
Chris Farley had his faults and weaknesses, but he was a good person. He showed great compassion for those less fortunate.
A story in Tom Farley's book about his brother, The Chris Farley Show, illustrates the care and kindness displayed by Chris.
The New York story [Tom Farley] hadn't heard before is one of the book's most moving: an account by a nun, Sister Peggy McGirl, of Chris' friendship with a 70-year-old homeless man named Willie.
Tom knew that Chris, a devout Catholic, had quietly visited and entertained elderly people served by his Manhattan church, St. Malachy's. What he learned from McGirl was that his brother's relationship with Willie transcended mere volunteer work.
"Chris took Willie out to dinner every week," McGirl says in the book. "Chris treated him as an equal, always. He would take him to Broadway shows, take him out to ball games.
"Whenever he had to go away for work, he'd send Willie postcards, and whenever he came back he always brought Willie a souvenir. They were friends for over five years (until Farley died)."
In some ways, Chris Farley was a terrible role model.
The Green Bay Packers had the best comeback for all that trash-talk from the Chicago Bears.
Another NFC North title.
The Packers clinched their second straight division crown with a 21-13 victory over their archrivals Sunday — at Soldier Field, no less.
Aaron Rodgers connected with James Jones on all three touchdowns, Clay Matthews hounded Jay Cutler with two sacks and the Packers limited the Bears to just 190 yards, their third-lowest total of the season. Rodgers finished 23 of 36 for 291 yards as Green Bay won its sixth straight against Chicago.
What a sweet way to secure the division title!
Congratulations, Packers!
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) reacts to the crowd as he walks off the field after Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. The Packers defeated the Bears 21-13 to clinch the NFC North Division title. (Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette Media)
Kohl is one of those liberal multi-millionaires who could afford to buy a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Wait. Rich Democrats don't do that. Kohl didn't buy his way into the Senate. Only rich Republicans are vilified for doing that. Only rich Republicans are criticized for their financial success. Never Dems.
How many times have you heard the media refer to Kohl as Wisconsin's multi-millionaire senator?
I wonder if Kohl will take his pension. That wouldn't seem right. He doesn't need it. He shouldn't have been accepting a salary from the taxpayers for all these years. He should be spreading his wealth around. Write me a check, Herb. Please?
It's weird the way legislators like Kohl, capitalists, vote against capitalism.
He always managed to wake up from his naps to cast a vote for big government. What a guy!
Well, so long, Herb.
Your seat will be filled by a Leftist that makes you seem like a member of the John Birch Society.
Given the prospect of six years of Tammy Baldwin, I can honestly say you will be missed.
Read Kohl's farewell statement:
Today I delivered my farewell remarks to the United States Senate, and I want to share them with you too. Thank you.
Mr. President, I rise today for one final time to address the Senate. My remarks will be brief. Actually, I just want to say one thing -- thank you.
I wish I could say it with the eloquence of one of my first friends in the Senate, Senator Dale Bumpers, who told his stories and always made his case pacing these aisles like a lion, tethered to his specially-made, extra-long microphone cord -- or with the breadth of vision of the late Senator Robert C. Byrd, who sprinkled his classic Mother’s Day or Fourth of July speeches with memorized poetry and his vast command of history – or with the fire of my dear friend, the late Senator Ted Kennedy, who would bellow to the rafters his passion for the America that could be and call on the Senate to make it so.
What a privilege to serve with such men – and so many other men and women who have made up this body over the last 24 years. You have been friends, advisors, sometimes adversaries – always worthy -- and inspirations. Thank you.
My colleagues in this body are, to a man or woman, thoughtful, hard-working patriots. We don’t always agree -- understandably. But every Senator I have met is pursuing a course that he or she believes is best for the nation and advocating policies that he or she believes are best for their state. And when I have come to any of you with my ideas about what’s best for the nation or for my state, you have listened respectfully, counseled wisely, and helped when you could. Thank you.
The Senate is often referred to as a family, and that is certainly how I feel about my staff, many of whom are gathering today to say our good-byes. Perhaps what I will miss most on leaving the Senate is coming to work every day in Washington and in Wisconsin with such a bright, creative, and dedicated group of people – constantly focused on what’s best for our nation and Wisconsin, challenging and pushing me to be the best Senator I could be. You cannot be a cynic about the future of this country when you work in an office like mine and have the privilege to interact with generations of intelligent, civic-minded, and loyal staffers. So I thank them all – for making a hard job, not just easy, but enjoyable and for serving the people of Wisconsin tirelessly and exceedingly well.
My final thanks go to the extraordinary people of Wisconsin. Thank you for letting me pay back in part the great debt my family owes to the state that took in my immigrant mother and father and allowed our family -- including my brothers Sidney and Allen and our sister Dolores -- to grow and thrive. Thank you for taking a chance on me in that first election 24 years ago and renewing my contract three more times. Thank you for trusting me with your problems and concerns, your hopes and dreams.
Please know that we have listened to you carefully and fought for you always. Every Wisconsinite who wanted it – Democrat or Republican, rich or poor, farmer or city dweller – got full consideration in my office. And whether it was arranging a Capitol tour, finding a lost Social Security check, pushing for legislation to reform the federal dairy program, or reviving the shipbuilding industry in Marinette, Wisconsin -- every Wisconsinite had an ally and an advocate in us.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve these 24 years in this hallowed institution, alongside my fellow Senators and my staff, and as the voice of the people of Wisconsin. For that, I thank you all one last time, and I yield the floor.
First he was fired, then reinstated. Now, MPD Officer Richard Schoen has been permanently discharged following a contentious meeting held by Milwaukee’s Fire and Police Commission on Tuesday morning, December 11th. On Tuesday night, the woman at the center of the debate, Jeanine Tracy, thanked supporters for helping overturn the FPC’s decision.
Schoen was fired by Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn, after he was seen on dashcam video punching Tracy, then dragging her out of a squad car by her hair in an MPD garage. Schoen told the Commission panel he was afraid Tracy would bite him or spit on him. Chief Flynn told the panel Schoen lost control.
After the Commission’s unanimous decision to remove Schoen from the force on Tuesday morning, Tracy told FOX6 News she feels justice has been served. However, she said she couldn’t say whether she feels safer with Schoen off the force.
Tracy’s supporters celebrated a small victory on Tuesday night with a “Victory Vigil” near Milwaukee’s City Hall.
“This sends a big message. It’s a positive message,” organizer Tracey Dent said.
The battle that began with dashcam video showing Schoen punching Tracy in the back of a squad car, ended outside City Hall, as Tracy thanked those who fought for Schoen’s discharge.
“It seems like it made people open their eyes, their minds and their hearts to the situation that’s been taking place,” Tracy said.
Tracy said Schoen’s removal from the force doesn’t necessarily make her feel safer.
“I feel a little safer, but I don’t know if he have friends who work for him. I don’t know if I’m safe or whatever. I think it’s gonna take a little bit more for me to kinda feel better,” Tracy said.
Tracy said she’s just focused on moving forward.
Watching the FOX6 story, one gets the feeling that Tracy is a saint.
While NO CITIZEN SHOULD BE ABUSED BY A POLICE OFFICER AS TRACY WAS, let's not rewrite history. Let's be realisitc.
There seems to be an effort by the media to give Tracy an extreme makeover.
Here's a photo of Tracy celebrating the decision to remove Schoen from the Milwaukee police force:
In case you haven't watched it, watch the same woman's behavior while in police custody: spitting, kicking, swearing, screaming at the officers "Punk ass bitch! Punk ass motherf*cking white bitches!"
At one point she tells her daughter to stop cooperating with the officers. "You ain't gotta talk to them. You a minor. F*ck them!"
She repeatedly yells at the officer: "Shut up, bitch!"
"You will be hearing about this. Shut up bitch. Shut the f*ck up. You punk ass bitch."
Watch Jeanine Tracy. Listen to her. She's not a hero.
I have never spit at another person in my life. NEVER. I most definitely have been treated unjustly. I have been extremely angry, but I have never behaved like that.
Then again, I've never been arrested. Maybe I shouldn't judge.
To most people, Wednesday will just be a quirky date: Dec. 12, 2012, or 12-12-12. But to Packers fans, the number 12 carries special meaning.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers wears No. 12. So earlier this year the state Legislature designated the day Aaron Rodgers Day in honor of the Super Bowl winner and last year's MVP.
Some public and private businesses are encouraging their employees to wear Rodgers jerseys Wednesday. Others are encouraging $12 donations to the MACC Fund charity. A Green Bay mall is offering special deals, including $20 Aaron Rodgers T-shirts for $12.
Rodgers has said he prefers to deflect personal attention to his team, but he was honored by the proclamation.
Hey, Hey Aaron, my name is Blake, come join me for some birthday cake. Wait, I'm turning 12 and it's my golden, heading to GB to be close to the frozen, going to Curly's want to head that way, it's the way I spend Aaron Rodger's day. Hey, it's your day, but it's also mine, cause I'm turning 12 and I'm feelin fine. Gonna wear this jersey, cause I'm feelin' proud, gonna represent and shout it out loud...hey, hey....Aaron Rodgers Day, hey, hey ...Aaron Rodgers day, hey, hey............
