How do you define FLUFF? You decide.

Fluff as in propaganda. As in all style, no substance. As I in I really want to be smart, rich and beautiful but I have no real plan or expectation of ever getting there. In an attempt to disguise my inertia I offer the following.

Personally, I thought Ran$burg's Vision 20/20 Plan (or as I lovingly refer to it, Hallucination 20/20) was a pathetic re-election ploy. Basically, it was as if Davie was saying, "I know I haven't done anything in the last four years, but I'm gonna. See?!"

PeoriaDad disagrees. So go to the link and decide. I stand corrected - twice in one day no less. The Hallucination 20/20 booklet was funded by the Peoria Civic Federation (BTW: Does that sound communist to anyone else or is it just moi?) not The City. Of course, where exactly does The Federation get its funds?

Gary? A little help here?

Bill Dennis caught playing with his thingy again.

Thank goodness, because I must say, his last blog format did not thrill me. The Peoria Pundit is back to it's old self, except with a swank new picture that is quite refreshing. Good job! Now will you leave the dang thing alone?! I swear you are going to go blind one these days young man!

Bill also writes about not writing much lately. Dr. Polly thinks Bill might be a little depressed. Holidays got you down, Bud? I know you've had a tough year with the job situation and all. It happens to the best of us. Just remember you have lots of folks who adore you, even when you are really, really, really wrong (ahem). Not a lot of people can say that, you know.

You have a blogger family that loves you, and wishes only for your happiness. If I could do it anonymously, I'd drop by and give you a big hug. As a feeble substitute I will make a commitment to post more Scarlet in as little clothing as possible until the prozac kicks in.

I took this pic last night at the Sorority panty raid. Hope it helps.

Go ahead. Let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Might knock some sense into you.

Big surprise. Not. The Federal Judge didn't think Chase had a case either. According to this morning's Journal Star, the Grandview Hotel will close Monday unless Judge Barra thinks hotel residents have a right to be heard. Guess what, and I'm purty damn sure greater legal minds are going to agree with me on this one, THEY DON'T. This is clearly another feeble attempt to delay the impending closure, annoy City Hall, and piss off the Judge.

Chase, you have lost at EVERY turn, EVERY level, and you will continue to. Ya know why?! IMHO, from the very beginning you didn't act in good faith. You knew what you were buying. You exploited the closure for a cheap price. Now you are playing the whiny victim. Any judge can see through that. Judges tend not to appreciate those who think they are moronic. Had you played nice, the property would have only been closed for a month instead of three.

From the article in yesterday's paper it appears "the gentleman's agreement" between lawyers involved in the Grandview Hotel Psychodrama agreed to a delay in order to give enough time for the Homeless Coalition to prepare to clean up Ingersoll's mess.

It is Christmas though, and to prove I don't hate you Chase, I did some research and I found a judge who might be sympathetic.

It isn't a horseshoe anymore, it's a flip flop!

Kerry isn't the only one. It happens in local politics too. Ambition breeds dishonesty.

Gary Sandberg left a really interesting comment on my last post. The fluff piece City Hall sent to every Peoria household (and some in East and West Peoria too) cost taxpayers $80,000.00. Yeah, I know, sick eh?

I'm not a big proponent of term limits for politicians. I'll impose my own term limit by voting, thank you very much. However, what I would like to see from the next group of City Council candidates is a sworn, signed, notarized statement that they have no other political agenda/goal than to represent the constituents they are currently trying to sway.

Peoria City Council has just passed another crappy budget, one that does nothing to restore the basic services cut by the previous "progressive" pigs. Nor does it eliminate the double tax on garbage collection. I wonder, however, if Gulley, Spears, Nichting, and Morris didn't have higher political aspirations if the story and budget would be much different.

Spears used to do what was best for the Fourth District. In the past, Spears seemed truly concerned about Peoria's disintegrating storm sewer system (think New Orleans)and adamant that monies be used from the upcoming budget to begin solving the problem. Spears previously favored buying the water company. Restoring Station 11 was a priority. Guess what? Wanna see a politician flip flop? Take a look at Spears since announcing he is running for Schock's 92nd District seat. He isn't fighting for the Fourth District anymore, he is running a campaign from the Council floor. What is good for the 92nd District isn't what is right for the Fourth District. Residents in Rolling Acres would probably more than willing to cough up a little more money at tax time to prevent their basements flooding once again come spring thaw.

Morris, who I swear thinks he is a Kennedy, has always been about pleasing Republican conservatives. That is, Peoria's far North. Would someone from Republican H.Q. please sit down Johnny for a heart to heart and let him know that he has gone as far as he is going to go. IMHO, no at-large seat is more up for grabs than Morris'. The guy is condescending as hell and typically doesn't know what the frick he is talking about. Yet, he continues to talk and talk and talk and talk about it. Frankly, Morris doesn't have the I.Q. to go farther. It was pretty obvious to me who Bob Manning was referring to on "Around the Horseshoe" last week when he revealed that some of his colleagues hadn't even read the budget and therefore couldn't cast an educated vote for or against it. My guess: Morris still reads Dick and Jane books at home.

That Gulley was toying around with running against Aaron Schock was the comic joke that keeps on giving. A snowflake has a better chance in hell. Will someone at Democrat H.Q. clue Clyde in that he, too, has reach the pinnacle of his political career? If the vote hadn't been split by five pissed off candidates fed up with Gulley's stupidity, Clyde would be looking for an unemployment check in the mail about now.

One only need to look at who funds Nichting to know who he is trying to please. Take a look at his campaign disclosure financials and then take a gander at his votes. Pat loves developers and developers love Pat. In all honesty, I believe District Five residents are paying more than their fair share of taxes (and, no, I don't live in the Fifth). Remember, there are folks in Weaver Ridge forking out $15,000 grand a year in property tax and still don't have public schools that are worth a damn. Nichting's No New Taxes votes don't bother me. However, Nichting did vote to support the Heart of Peoria Plan and yet no one has done more to undermine the plan and encourage suburban sprawl than Nichting. There will be no "smart growth" while he sits around the horseshoe. Under his continue reign, look for the Fifth District to go from cornfields to a sea of strip malls and asphalt. Remember, this guy supported a taxpayer funded parking garage for Dunlap Doctors and Enterprise Zone status for Menards on Pioneer Parkway. Nichting wails of weeping could be heard throughout town when LaHood decided not to run for Governor. Nichting was panting for Dave Leitch's seat (who wants LaHood's).

If you have higher political aspirations and want to start at a local level, fine. As a voter, I would just like to know about it. Signing a pledge saying that you don't have any desire for a bigger title wouldn't be a binding contract, but it would let us know where your heart really lies. Just might make for a few more honest politicians. Imagine that!

Was that so frickin hard, Mr. President?

It grew chilly in Hell today when Bush admitted that he alone was responsible for the decision to invade Iraq. Like we didn't know. It's good to know that he knows that we know. I think the "faulty intelligence" he relied on was his own.

I was even more amazed yesterday when Bush conceded that 30,000 Iraqis had died since the U.S. invaded. Didn't know anyone in the Bush administration could count that high. Lets see, we left Vietnam after we lost 50,000? So when does Iraq have the right to decide it has had enough?

Oh! And to all those enemies out there in the Axis of Evil reading this, well, Stop It! Stop It! Stop It! Go back to your cave Osama, we're going to get you any day now you, you, you crusty little maggot.

So, Mr. Mayor, how much did this cost me?!

Has everyone received and read their copy of the River City Review? The Review eight pages of fluff printed on swank, slick, full glorious color, glossy paper stock mailed at - I assume- tax payer expense to every household in Peoria. My highly anticipated booklet arrived yesterday. Very nice. Informative too! Please, take the time to read it and you too will learn the following:

"Peoria is Winning the Battle Against Crime." Nice photo of Chief Settingsgaard at a podium. Very official. Chief looks good in suit and tie. Sarcasm aside and in attempt to be fair, some impressive accomplishments are cited. "There has been a 93% increase in number of nuisance violations handed out in the month of September alone. Drug arrests are up 17% from last year, and miscellaneous arrests were also on the rise."

Next, we have a pic of CAT equipment performing demo on the Sears Block. Didn't Ran$burg rename that Museum Square? Ooooh! The next headline is a doozy. "NEAT Improves Peoria Neighborhoods." Now I find this hard to believe. "The team inspected 11,350 properties in 2004 - 3,818 had no violations, and 7,532 had violations and enforcement taken." (Looking at the East Bluff, I'm thinking those violations must have been for stray gum wrappers, because it is looking as foul around here as ever.) Also, you gotta love this nugget of info... "The NEAT concept is a popular one with Peoria residents and has received accolades from cities throughout the United States." Who knew?! I bet Hawaii is jealous as hell.

Next we learn "Census Generates Dollars for the City," followed by, "Peoria Directs City Growth" and then, "City Is Dedicated to Neighborhood Improvement." Whoo hoo!
Turn the page, and look at the purty a half page photo of snow plow trucks under the caption, "City is Tough on Snow Removal." Wow. Good to know.

And for the three of you who were lying awake at night wondering... Yes, "Wisconsin Avenue Improvements Are Completed." Got to admit, I have serious sidewalk envy.
Flip to the next page, and we learn gosh goodness golly, there is an "Ordinance to Protect Against Stream Erosion."

C.J. Summers will be relieved to discover "Bike/Walk Trail for Growth Cells One, Two and Three" is underway. "Over 28 miles of trail are planned, with approximately 1.8 miles completed to date." I shiver at the progress.

Next we learn, "How Your Dollars Are Spent." Cute graphic of a checkbook register and everything! "An owner of a $100,000 home only pays $273.75 for City Services." 'Only' huh?

Peorians should be elated to know "Customer Service is One Call Away." Yup. Whoopee twang ding dong, they want you to know their number. 494-CARE.
On the back we have full color pictures of all our beloved councilfolk. Good looking group too. Hey, Sandberg, what is up with the bow tie? That isn't a clip on is it? Chuckie Grayeb looks strange, to say the least. Little Bobby Manning on the other hand, can you say cutie pie? He has those cheeks that Aunty Polly just longs to pinch!

Citizens can go to bed at night knowing the home addresses and faces of all the council members, the City Assessor, the City Clerk, and the City Treasurer. City Manager Randy Oliver, CPA, PE takes a nice picture, but interestingly enough gives City Hall as his address. Hmm... you really don't think Chase already knows where you live?

I now know from this piece of fluff that I pay Elected Officials and Commissions -on average- $4.33. That's a crapola statistic. Commissioners are volunteers, I believe. What I want to know is how much did this fluff/campaign piece cost the average property tax payer? There isn't anything particularly informative about it, most people probably threw in the garbage on site with the rest of the junk mail, and yet, it apparently qualified as a NEED. Another something our elected officials can't bare to cut. I would be willing to wager these mailings would easily pay for a block of shiny new sidewalks, easy.

I also received a copy of Peoria's Annual Report a month or so ago. It too is a very expensive, glossy, colorful booklet. It is not a report, however, but an advertising piece, aimed at some unknown entity who apparently doesn't live here. Why they sent it to me, I have no idea. It is nearly as glossy as Ran$burg's hallucination 20/20 campaign book put out during the last election at taxpayer expense. Mayor Ardis would never do such a thing. This fluff piece at least brags on Peoria, not some far fetched plan that took four years just to dream up. However, I did see that Ardis felt fit to put his campaign slogan, "A New Generation of Leadership" on the bottom of every page of Peoria's Annual "Report."

Federal Government spends $3 million on a toilet seat. State Government spends gobs of cash touting Gov. Chicagovich back and forth. Working diligently to keep up with this trend of "Waste First, Want Later" local government prints and sends material tooting its own horn that few read or want.

I hope this doesn't mean that this new generation of leadership is as wasteful as the last one.

Dorkiest Russell Crowe Picture EVER.

Thinks he's James Dean or somethin'. Well, I still wouldn't throw him out of bed for eating crackers.

Scarlett waiting patiently for Bill to call...

I know you're busy with City Council coverage and all tonight, Mr. Dennis, but give the girl a break. Besides, some of the other sorority sisters would like to use the damn phone!

Who says politics can't be entertaining?

I typically watch City Council meetings the day after when they re-run on Cable Channel 22. Therefore, I usually miss WCBU's program "Outside the Horseshoe" with Jonathan Ahl. Lucky me -and you- I just paid a visit to the WCBU web page, and guess what?! Those of us suckers with crummy work schedules can now listen to Outside the Horseshoe on-line. Can I tell you? Last week's program was a doozy! Third District Bob Manning told the whole truth and nothing but about Peoria's 2006 Budget, and some of his colleague's inability to properly prepare and make edcuated decisions as councilmen. Hey! It's one letter grade off for each day you come to class unprepared, Gentlemen. Yes, you have to actually read the budget.

Despite Manning's push to buy the water company, I'm beginning to like this guy more and more. He doesn't come off as another professional political hack, simply a guy who wants to fix what's broken and then go home. Imagine that!

Anyway, even if you don't give a rat's ass about City politics, take fifteen minutes to listen to the segment. I promise you will find it both enlightening and entertaining. At least you'll know who not to vote off the Council next time District elections come around.

BTW: You will most likely need to scroll down to the end of the WCBU News page to hear the segment. (Linking issues.)

IMHO: Chase Ingersoll is God's Joke

Like most practical jokes, it isn't very funny, just annoying.

As we wait with baited breath to see if the Grandview HOtel closes tomorrow, we get more of the same old, smelly, fermented, crap du jour from Ingersoll:

"They (HOtel residents) had no-where to go before I came along, so I don't know why you think I am all of a sudden responsible when the City Ordinance says that the DEFENDANT to the action is suppose to be paying for them to be moved. You'd think the City as the Plaintiff, if they really cared....Would actually be applying that part of the statute to Jain, but I guess the Judge doesn't give any more of a shit about the people than Jain did."

WHY DO YOU THINK I THINK YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE?! Because YOU (not Jain) assured paying guests that there would be no closure! Since Judge Barra doesn't think your legal stunts have any merit, it is certainly within the realm of possibility that Judges higher up the chain of command aren't going to think much of them either.

So, Chase, when and (BIG) if The City makes good to shut down the HOtel tomorrow, and tells the residents to pack their bags and move along, WILL YOU BE GIVING REFUNDS?

The line "they had no where to go before I came along" is bullshit. Yours is not the only low budget hotel in town. It isn't even the cheapest.

BTW: I hear there were more Grandview antics scheduled for Court today. Can anyone out there fill Polly, who is chained to her desk for the foreseeable future with a boss -who has really bad breath- continually breathing down her neck, in on what happened? My bet: Judge Barra told Chase to go stand in the corner and then sent him to bed without any dinner.