The Staffers You Don't Elect

There are a bunch of people that are elected to Congress every 2 or 6 years , we pay them $174,000 to represent their own district or state. They need help to run their offices so they hire people to help them. These are the people that quite frankly scare me. The reason they scare me is, they are from a group of people that have no concern at all what happens to the people of Colorado. They are in it for themselves. To make themselves look good they they have to make their Representative look good. There is little to no incentive to help the people of Colorado. If the Senator or Representative does not get re-elected, then they go to work for some other Senator or Representative, in some other state.

I know, I know that there are some honest hardworking staffers that are trying to do the right thing. My point is that once you get caught up in the system that is the Washington cesspool you are "corruptible". I would love to see a Representative that actually selects his or her own people from their own district or state. Not career staffers.

These are the people that actually write and research the laws, make the Representatives schedule, relay information to and from the Representative. They should be people that actually have a stake in the outcome of the decisions that are made and the laws that are written.

This part is fun (for us political junkies):
Below is the list of jobs titles that work in Colorado's Michael Bennet's Senate office. The amounts listed are how much they were paid the last six months. The smaller amounts were people who just started work recently. Take note of the titles, they are very interesting (ie: Northwest Regional Representative or Director of New Media/Systems Administrator).

Legislative Correspondent $5,155.54
Legislative Aide $5,599.98
Northwest Regional Representative $5,599.99
Staff Assistant $6,650.00
Regional Representative $10,483.28
Regional Representative $11,340.71
Special Assistant for Constituent Services $12,266.63
Communications Assistant $13,066.63
Assistant Scheduler/Assistant to Chief of Staff $13,688.85
Staff Assistant $13,999.98
Regional Representative $14,076.41
Legislative Aide $15,486.62
Regional Director $15,658.30
Legislative Aide $17,124.96
Research Director $17,250.00
Special Assistant for Constituent Services $17,333.28
Regional Representative $17,499.96
Legislative Aide $17,599.92
Regional Representative $17,749.95
Legislative Assistant $17,874.97
Legislative Aide $17,899.95
Regional Director $18,799.97
Legislative Aide $20,499.96
Community Liaison $20,595.93
Community Liaison $20,595.93
Regional Director-High Plains Region $21,363.82
Regional Representative $22,968.96
Regional Director $23,605.98
Community Liaison $24,750.46
Regional Director $27,499.98
Regional Director $27,499.98
Regional Director $27,499.98
Director of New Media/Systems Administrator $29,591.75
Community Liaison $29,834.28
Deputy Press Secretary $29,857.09
Legislative Counsel $30,433.30
Legislative Assistant $31,500.00
Legislative Assistant $31,999.98
Legislative Assistant $33,000.00
Legislative Assistant $33,999.96
Legislative Counsel $33,999.96
Scheduler $35,326.46
Communications Director $36,999.83
Statewide Director-Constituent Services $39,374.94
Director of Scheduling $41,499.96
Deputy Chief of Staff $50,312.43
Legislative Director $54,000.00
State Director $55,500.00
Administrative Director $60,000.00
Chief of Staff $78,367.44

Ray Stevens - We the People

A good friend of mine sent me this video I think it is great (It helps that I love Ray Stevens)....

Merry Christmas 2009

This is my Christmas post for 2009. If you were expecting a card, well this is the only Christmas card I distribute. Oh, it's not because I'm lazy or I forgot. It's because I really hate greeting cards. I am a pretty conservative man (OK, Pam says I'm cheap) and it just seems like a waste of time and money to me. One place I worked as a Supervisor, I had to sign birthday, get well, condolence, and of course Christmas cards for for all my employees and often for other employees at the facility. I had 30 employees and there were about 300 to 500 other employees at the facility where I worked. My name was on a lot of Christmas cards of people I didn't even know. So I guess greetings cards just lost their meaning.

I do love Christmas; even though I am a Christmas card Scrooge. I like the music, I like to see all the decoration and lights. I like the general festive mood people on the street have, as they give it one last try to make it to the "nice list" before Santa comes.

I like to remember the real reason for Christmas. Of course, I remember what Jesus has done for us and celebrate his arrival during this season. There is another Biblical person I really think a lot about this time of year....The worlds most famous step-dad; Joseph.

Being a step-father myself, I see Joseph's faith and strength amazing. I mean this is a guy, that has to believe that somehow his girlfriend got pregnant from God. I can imagine the ridicule at the time, from the people in town talking about Joseph and his pregnant girlfriend. I am sure Joe had some difficulty defending his and Mary's honor during that time. I don't think everybody would have believed that Mary was a pregnant virgin. Pretty tough pill to swallow. It took an angel to tell Joseph that it was real, before he believed.

So during this time of dealing with the fact that he was going to be the step-father to God, getting ridiculed by his peers, taking care of his pregnant girlfriend, and normal every day stresses of the day (not an easy time to live in). The government thought they needed a census. Instead of some guy coming to your door to count you, they decided to have everybody in the area travel to Bethlehem to be counted.

So now Joseph is forced to travel to Bethlehem with his wife, who is near time to deliver a child. Of course since everybody is in Bethlehem to be counted, there is no accommodations. Joe had to scrounge for a place to sleep and as a last resort they found a barn. This is where Mary gives birth to Jesus. Then the family (mainly Jesus) is visited by all these people. Now, to add to Joe's stress level, he gets to have royal company, in a barn of all places. He has no way to host these Kings, nothing to give, not even a comfortable place to sleep.

Think of what was going through Joseph's head as he raised Jesus. He had quite a chore, I mean how do you raise the Son of God? Talk about stress. Can you ground him if he does something wrong? Or spank him? Talk about intimidation. I guess my point to all this is, Please don't forget what this season is really all about, the birth of our Lord.

Another birthday (much less significant) occurs on the 31st of December. Plumb and Square will be turning 1 year old. I would like to thank all my readers for taking the time to visit my little blog, I have enjoyed writing it and all the comments that you have made over the last year.

Merry Christmas from Plumb and Square. T²

Rock the Vote Ad and Sen Whitehouse

Here are a couple of videos that have surfaced in the last few days, the first one is an ad by Rock the Vote, the second is Sen. Whitehouse (D-R.I.) on the floor of the Senate. These are both prime examples of the mentality of the pro-health care bill people.

Let me start with the Rock the Vote ad. Essentially it tells our youth to withhold sex from a partner who does not support the health care bill. I've got a better idea children, why don't you withhold sex until your married. That might just help solve one of the biggest issues in the health care bill right now...abortions.

I think that this commercial is pretty sad, in general. It teaches our younger generation that bribery is a good thing and that under "normal" conditions that being promiscuous is OK. What a terrible example to set for our children. One of the actors is Eva Amurri, I looked her up on the Internet, and it appears her most noted achievements are stripping in public and being the offspring of Susan Sarandon. Zach Gilford is from "Friday Night Lights" and according to Wikipedia is a role model for children, pretty scary role model.



This second video is of Sen. Whitehouse on the floor of the Senate, telling us that if you support the health care bill, you are a racist. Evidently if you disagree with the trampling of our Constitution you are a fanatic in a right wing militia or an Aryan support group that wants to kill Barrack Obama.

What in the hell is this guy talking about? I think you folks in Rhode Island need to look at getting your Senator some medical attention (might start now before they enact this health care bill or he will have to wait a couple of years to get treated....oh I forgot the bill doesn't count Senators, so I guess you have time.)



On one side of the health care debate you have a majority of people who believe the this health care bill is wrong for our country, and disagree that the best option is to allow the government to control our health care system. On the other side, you have a Senator that resorts to calling the opposition crazy Nazi's, and a group of children that were brainwashed into allowing only "selective breeding" with members of it's own "type" of people.

Which one sounds like 1939 Germany to you?

Nebraska People It's Your Turn to Shine

The Senate is now debating the health care bill and it seems to be that the one deciding vote will be from Ben Nelson, Senator from Nebraska. So I am pleading to my friends and family that live in Nebraska, Please contact Ben Nelson's office and tell him to NOT support this bill. THIS IS URGENT! They are voting on this bill Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. He might be more inclined to listen to his own constituents, than the general public. For everybody else, it wouldn't hurt to give your own Senator a call either, this bill must be stopped.

Here are the numbers to reach Ben Nelson....

Omaha
Tel: (402) 391-3411
Fax: (402) 391-4725
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Lincoln
Tel: (402) 441-4600
Fax: (402) 476-8753
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Washington, D.C.
Tel: 1-202-224-6551
Fax: 1-202-228-0012
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Scottsbluff
Tel: (308) 631-7614
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Kearney
Tel: (308) 293-5818
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South Sioux City
Tel: (402) 209-3595

Cash for Caulkers

I read the President's speech about "Cash for caulkers" (I never watch him, I read his speeches online, it's less irritating). I thought that this was a speech that needed "squaring up".

He made a point that we lose 40% of our energy from our houses and we should be adding caulking and insulating everything better. That is all I agreed with from the speech. Quite frankly, I don't know who would disagree with the logic: if you seal your home you can save money.

What I disagree with is; the government should be passing out money to do these projects. A tube of caulking costs between 5 and 10 bucks but after the government adds it's overhead of "money redistribution" you know the same tube will cost us 5 or 10 thousand dollars. Here's a couple of examples: Cash for Clunkers ended up costing about $24,000 to give away 3 to 5 thousand dollars. The stimulus cost about $200,000 per job created.

The President says that this policy is a win-win situation. We win by saving the planet from global warming and keeping energy costs down. I've got a better win-win situation for you Mr. President: How about building nuclear power plants? The waste they create is minimal, pollution is non-existent, and they help the security of the United States, because we are not depending so much on middle eastern oil. This seems to be more in line with what the President should be addressing, not the caulking in my windows.

Here's a thought, maybe we can get a check from the government to put caulking and insulation on our cardboard boxes we live in, after this President is done destroying the economy with his reckless spending.

P.S. Mr. President, insulation is not sexy, but feel free to cuddle with it anytime you want.

Shame on you President Obama

Recently President Obama was scolding banks for receiving bonuses even though the country is in a recession. We now have a "Pay Czar" who chief job is to punish people for succeeding, and make sure they do not make "too much money".

I've got an idea, why doesn't the President put his money where his mouth is (or should I say put our money where his mouth is)? At a time where most businesses are cutting pay, cutting positions, or simply failing, the federal government has been passing out raises.

Here is some key statistics I found on a USA Today story (This is the link) :

Increase of federal workers who makes more than $100,000 (from 12/07 to 6/09): 46%
Increase of federal employment 6.6% (Rest of country is facing 10% unemployment)
Average salary of federal worker $71,206 (Private sector $40,331)

Government does not earn any money, we earn money for the government. Why when we in the private sector, are earning less (and paying more) doesn't the federal government clip it's wings? Smaller governments (ie: Colorado, Mesa County, and even the City of Grand Junction) are making cuts to attempt to balance their budgets. But the Obama administration does nothing. Actually they do worse than nothing, if their checkbook is in the red they just spend more money (and print more money).

Mr. President before you open your mouth and tell the bankers that they are at fault for everything and that they make too much money, why don't you make a budget cut and attempt to balance a budget? Oh that's right you've never managed anything before I forgot. I guess you fulfilled your campaign mantras of Hope and Change. I HOPE I have CHANGE after the next three years of this President.

How do you become Plumb and Square?

Most people become Plumb and Square with a level and plumb bob. Not me, I got there by just using a T-Square let me explain....

I was working at a warehouse in Sidney, Nebraska as a Supervisor. One of the duties we had to do was to check the employee's work. Once we checked the work we would initial the work. There were two supervisors with the initials T.T. and when signed everybody makes the two T's look the same (How creative can you be, huh?). So I started using a moniker of T². That is the birth of Teesquare.

The initials stuck and when I decided to start a blog ,the theme I chose was kinda in my area of work (Maintenance/repairs). So I went with Plumb and Square: Actions Taken to Make Right Angles (Me, being right on the political spectrum).

If you have been a reader for a while you might notice some slight changes to the page, I am trying to make the page fit more into the theme of Plumb and Square. Let me know what you think of the changes. I am going to be adding and trying different things as time goes by, so keep coming back. Thanks again for reading, Teesquare

Guest Blogger - Jesse Holland

Below is a blog written by Jesse Holland a canidate for the Nevada Senate seat being held by Harry Reid. Click here to go to Jesse Hollands web page.

If the constitution of the United States of America is the supreme law of the land, we must consume its words and introduce change, reduction or growth, within its allowances. Our constitution was written collectively by the hands of men that loved freedom and founded a country upon independence; the states united.

Our health care policies, energy policies and foreign relation policies should be constructed within the framework of the constitution and not upon propaganda, fictional gibberish or self interested agendas whether it is international or national.

To bring forward a program, hidden under the guise of goodwill, is unashamedly foolish. The proposed healthcare bill is a dishonorable waste of quality paper. It candidly penalizes the bandwagon of supporters, those without insurance (according to our government or media) by imposing fines and jail terms. It seems easier for me to believe it is possible to hand a sour apple to a starving soul if it appears shiny and pleasing, than to release the truth of its internal and dreadfully bitter qualities. The sour apple from our inflating government will be scarfed down quickly, followed by digestive upset, intensive discomfort and depletion of happiness, if the health care were made law without the general public knowing the truth behind the 2074 page bill. As the story goes, we are only able to prematurely pay through taxes for the sour trophy apples for a few years before we are able to be infected by its poison.

Just saying ‘enough is enough’ is not a cliché to raise the eyebrows of the voter. Something must be done. We, as a country, are speed boating our way down a rafting river to the falls just around the corner. Let us step away from the life preservers (the façade of safety by merely doing nothing) and give our best to stop the madness promoted by our government.

We are a country of debt and are continuing to run this country without fiscal responsibility. Representatives speak of stopping money splurging, but create gaping holes to toss bundles of cash through. We have the largest debt in the world. I repeat; we have the largest debt in the world. We have the largest deficit in our history, approved this year. Simply put, we are spending more money than we receive. Honestly, we are not only spending more, but spending oodles more than we could possibly ever collect. We are a country of broken promises by representatives and broken bank accounts. If you, as an individual, stretch your money accounts thin to hopefully purchase a Cadillac, but finance a Lamborghini, then you are irresponsible. Our government not only purchases the Lamborghini with money it does not have, but purchases its companion cars from the ship along with the ship it was transported on.

We cannot afford the programs we have because of deliberate robbery by our governing bodies as the fox watches the hen house. We cannot afford new programs without accounting shuffles and make-believe money and balances. Without representation doing what is again best for each individual State and the Country, we are disaster-prone. Shiny apples and shiny trophies of future agendas are simply carrots leading us astray. The reliability of our country depends upon you. Please don’t drink from the colored fruitful waters, Kool-Aid of catastrophe, but stand firm in placing your will again in Washington by voting responsibly for your will and not political factions.

Yes, the Democrats blame the Republicans and the Republicans blame the Democrats. Would it not be easier to call them “Republicrats?” Our broken party system is adding fuel to the already overloaded tank of our racing ship wreck. Government Healthcare is a bill we cannot afford and is outside our Constitution. The healthcare bill should not be negotiated by either party but removed from the records with apology. The ‘Cap and Trade’ is approving added federal taxation, encouraging energy price increases and is plainly a bill we cannot afford. The ‘Cap and Trade’ bill should not be negotiated by either party but removed from the records with apology. We are being sold a bill of goods we cannot afford, either economically, socially or morally as a free nation. When did the United States of America become a country that willingly, with bells and whistles of cheer from our representatives, hand over our sovereignty to the world leaders and world debt collectors?

Vote for what is right and eliminate the self directing representation we have become accustomed to. Do not allow your will to be driven into a party system that has failed to support your state, our nation or your individual rights written in a supreme law of the United States of America, the Constitution of the United States of America.

Al Gore

As I was shoveling nearly a foot of "global warming" off of 6 acres of motel property this week, I got to thinking about Al Gore. Al made some recent comments of: "It's [global warming] like gravity, it exists."

I don't understand people that have such a bold opinion on something that they never even give another option a second thought. What I mean is, if Mr. Gore believes that global warming is a real threat to the world, why doesn't he want to investigate the other options? If he is correct, then wouldn't checking out the alternatives just strengthen his case?

He reminds me of the pre-Columbus Europe thinking that the world is flat and that is that! There is no other choices, nothing to be learned. I know that knowledge is not in limited quantity, there is plenty to go around. If you limit yourself to what you consider as "the facts" and look for no other reason or even question your own beliefs, what have you learned?

I hire people as part of my job. Here's a little secret for anybody that is looking for a job from me (and no I'm not hiring now): I don't hire on all your experience, no matter how well you pad your resume. I hire if I think you can learn, if you are willing to teach, and willing to change your mind. So Mr. Gore you wouldn't have a chance if you applied as a maintenance technician at West Gate Inn.

Here's a little video with Victoria Jackson, it's to funny...

Holland for Senate

I finally found a man which I can endorse for the United States Senate, my good friend Jesse Holland. I worked with Jesse for many years and I know him as an honest and ethical man. Jesse has the value system that my family and I strive to achieve. To my readers in the State of Nevada, I encourage you to vote for Jesse Holland for the Senate.

66th Infantry

It was Christmas Eve 1944 and the 66th Infantry was attacked by a Nazi submarine. I blogged about this event one other time (see it here). I like to remember it so I thought I'd give a try at poetry. Please be gentle, I'm new to this poetry thing....

66th Infantry

Late in 1944

The war was almost done

But for us in 66

The war had just begun

Leopoldville I was told

I was going to board

Ships and me don't get along

Ask blessings from the Lord

"Sack-time" is what I seek

Hiding from the sea

I find a bed for my stuff

I find a bed for me

Just like Christmas Eve's of past

I find it hard to sleep

The reason's are much different now

I pray my "Soul to Keep"

As we head for Cherborg

on the north French coast

I start dreaming in my sleep

of chestnuts Mom will roast

With a boom, I shook so hard

It woke me from my sleep

Not knowing what was going on

I jumped up to my feet

As my feet had left the bunk

And stepped onto the floor

Water was 6 inches there

That wasn't there before

Not knowing really what to do

My life belt I did grab

I headed up to the top

Helping several lad

My Uncle Sam had warned me

Of carnage I would see

I somehow blocked it from my mind

As more I worked to free

We finally made it to the top

Brilliant was 'long side

Some men jumped onto her deck

Others missed and died

I see the lights of Cherborg

Oh not so far away

I pray for quick relief from them

On this tragic day

Only minutes later

Boats not ment for sea

Were gathering around us

God sent them here for me

Abandon ship was called out

So when I approached the rail

I don't give a second thought

The Channel I would bail

The water was so very cold

I'm glad that I could swim

The boys at Benning taught us well

I'm thankful Lord, for them

Not much later I was on a tug

and heading for the shore

Events that happened on that night

Memories forever stored

Fighting cats, the 66th

Dished out their revenge

Raining walls of steel fell

on the Nazi pens

They fought hard for our land

As warriors it was their lot

They gave all that they could

and never fired a shot

So every Christmas Eve I pause

and take some time to pray

For the freedom given me

on that fateful day

How to Have Sex

I was looking at some videos I havn't had time to watch latley, and this one is pretty good. I got it from PJTV.com. I thought I would share it....

Santa and Soldier

You might have heard this but it is worthy of listening again....

If you were the enemy, what would you do?

I was thinking about the speech last night and how the President said that we were going to add 30,000 U.S. troops (a surge), then pull out of Afghanistan in 18 months. I am not a military leader or anything like that, I just am using a little common sense with this decision.

Let's pretend that it is November 6, 1943 (18 months before the end of World War II). What if President Roosevelt made a big speech on the radio about our troop build-up in Europe. In his speech let's say he told the world that we were going to surge into France (Like we did on June 6, 1944). Then he said we are going to train all the French people, that are in hiding, to take on the Germans the best they can, then we will leave in 18 months.

Now lets add a little information we know now that we did not know then about the Germans (our enemies) at that time. They were perfecting rocket technology, were building a jet powered aircraft, and developing the atomic bomb.

If you were Adolf Hitler and you heard your enemy state; that they were going to surge into possessions you held, then turn over the area to a new rather small French Army in 18 months. What would you do? I think I would have built up every defense I could, not trying to over reach. You would not try to take over more land, you would wait it out. You might even pull back and build up better defences of what you hold. You gain the technology of the rocket, jet, and A-bomb. You could then attack a smaller, more inexperienced army, with much better results in the end.

That is kinda how I see this action by President Obama. I do like the fact that he listened to the Generals in charge and gave them at least part of the troops they requested (eventally). But why do we telegraph our war plans with the enemy? What are they (the Taliban) developing we don't know about? We do not have a monopoly on knowledge, they can learn. It shows to me (and quite possibly the Taliban) that we have an inexperienced leader. A leader that cares more about the political consequences than winning a war. Pray for our boys as the President "stacks the deck" against them.