Tax man Coming For All.

According to the latest from Joe Biden it looks like the rich in America has gone from $250,000 to $150,000.  Some could call this a slippery slope to hedge all bets on increased taxation.  Now, that it has inched a little closer to you are you concerned?  No?  Oh, because you don’t make the $150,000.  I get it.  What happens when it moves to a hundred, or seventy five thousand or less?  Can’t happen?  It’s the government and her politicians so anything and everything is possible. 

Meanwhile, Barack Obama is now hinting that minimum wage should shoot up by at least another 2 bucks an hour—to over nine and a quarter—per hour.  “Excellent” some say, that means more money for people who need it.  Nope.  It means employers fire employees and leave those remaining to do twice the work.  Regardless of your political affiliations can we please agree on one thing—we’ve got a broken system in need of a fundamental overhaul and no one is offering the new ideas to fix it.

Ankarlo’s Take is written for broadcast.  You can hear it during Arizona’s Morning News at 7:20 on News/Talk 92.3 KTAR.

Sexists everywhere.

Racism is wrong.  Period.  We all get it, or at least most of us do.  Why?  Because racism is wrapped up in the belief that one person, or groups of people, is better than another.  How is it that we will scream bloody murder over this issue but allow an equally terrible sickness like sexism to exist?  There are new sightings of “Sarah Palin is a ‘c’” T-shirts proudly adorning the bodies of idiots and now, in California, a mannequin dressed as Mrs Palin is hanging in effigy and people are driving by, laughing and taking pictures. 

If that was a likeness of Barack Obama you and I can only imagine how the press, politicians and racial industrialists would be acting but since it’s just the little missy—ain’t no big deal.  It is a huge deal on several fronts—one, it’s sexism at its worst and two, it’s open season on anything Republican.  The fact that either is tolerated in America—like they are—in 2008 speaks volumes about every single one of us.

Ankarlo’s Take is written for broadcast.  You can hear it every weekday during Arizona’s Morning News at 7:20 on News/Talk 92.3 KTAR.

$150,000 blunder.

I was surprised by the number of callers and e-mailers who believe the Republican’s $150,000 clothing spree for Sarah Palin was a wise and prudent decision.  Look, I like the lady—I like so many things she says she stands for but I didn’t lose my brain in the process, wrong is wrong.  People argued that she has to change clothes, be fresh, and be a trendsetter and the list goes on.  No matter how you shape the argument, $150,000, for 90 days in the spotlight shows out-of-whack thinking.  One writer explained that the dresses would be auctioned at charity for three times the amount—which is a good point and another example of why the cash outlay was bad.  The lady is wearing more than I paid for my first two houses—combined and when we make excuses for it—it proves it’s not just the politicians who are messed up.  It proves we are too.Ankarlo’s Take is written for broadcast.  You can hear it during Arizona’s Morning News at 7:20 on News/Talk 92.3 KTAR.

Socialism is black?

A writer for the Kansas City Star is upset with John McCain and Sarah Palin for daring to use the word “socialist” when describing Barack Obama.  “Shame on you both,” he wrote in this major newspaper for what he says is their use of the negative code word for “black.”  Nope, I’m not kidding apparently everyone, but me, knows that socialists are always black and the use of the word is a racial epithet.  Maddening. 

Where do these idiots come from?  Socialism is a political and economic ideology that crosses all colors and borders and it is a sick disease that destroys from within.  If some of McCain’s promises are bathed in socialism, and they are, and I’ve called him on it.  Barack’s “Spread the Wealth Around” is the slogan for the very concept.  To use race in this manner is a blatant attempt to make people shut up on the issue because—no one wants the stigma of being called a racist attached to them.   And while we stick our heads in the sand, due to such manipulation, the experiment called America slips further away.  Ankarlo’s Take is written for broadcast.  You can hear it during Arizona’s Morning News at 7:20 on News/Talk 92.3 KTAR.

What happened in jail?

Robert Cotton is dead, this much we know.  He was murdered in the Maricopa County Jail, allegedly by Pete Van Winkle.  What role did the jail and its deputies play in his death and that’s the question.  Channel 5 showed surveillance video from the fateful day in May when the twenty minute beating took place—including Van Winkle allegedly dragging the lifeless body of Cotton out to the main floor so he could proudly declare what he had done.   The television report made it look like the MCSO jail was responsible while representatives from the Sheriff’s office told me there story was a vendetta by the station because they want Joe Arpaio to lose in the upcoming election.  A $2 million lawsuit by the victim’s family only adds more fuel to the fire.  Meanwhile, a guy is dead, politics rolls on and the very violent video is making the rounds.  Two things worth noting:  1) These criminals and their behavior are to be found everywhere in the valley and 2) I went to the jail and detailed what I saw on Friday’s show.

Ankarlo’s Take is written for broadcast.  You can hear it during Arizona’s Morning News at 7:20 on News/Talk 92.3 KTAR.

A Glimmer of Hope.

On Wednesday’s show I discovered a positive result from the morass that is this struggling economy and the misery left behind by the housing crisis.  My question to the audience had to do with your neighbors—the ones you’ve had bar-b-qs and parties with—and whether or not they were still good neighbors if they just left the house behind instead of occasionally returning to do a little yard maintenance so blight and home devaluations wouldn’t continue in the area where they once lived. 

The answers were varied, as I expected, but the gem came when “Kathy” called to explain how she and the other folks on the block made a pact to go out as teams to keep the foreclosed properties cleaned and trimmed.   Soon, others called to say they were doing the same thing and the emails poured in with even more stories.   Then it dawned on me, as Americans, we’ve been hit—hard–but the core of who we are came shining through.  Instead of throwing their hands in the air while complaining about the blight, people started reaching out to one another to make an impact.  And, until that light goes out, I’ll have a glimmer of hope that this great nation can still stand tall.Ankarlo’s Take is written for broadcast.  You can hear it during Arizona’s Morning News at 7:20 on News/Talk 92.3 KTAR.

Obama’s Tax Welfare.

Senator Barack Obama has been up by 11 national points over Senator John McCain though in the past few days the sometimes Republican’s numbers are within striking distance.  So, tonight, if McCain has any hope for the White House he needs to dismantle Obama’s flaws—especially the ones that give him a huge lead where it’s not warranted—on the economy.  Obama’s plan sounds great, “when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” No doubt it will attract votes, but it is unworkable. 

34 to 46 percent of Americans don’t pay taxes so for 95% to get a tax cut means 1) the math is tragic and 2) a whole bunch of people, mostly small business owners, will be carrying more of the weight—and a lot of freeloaders will get yearly checks just for being American.  “I want to provide a tax cut for 95% of Americans.”  Yep, that’s Obama clearly explaining his plan—spread the wealth around.  Would someone please explain how the government ever has the right to get into my checkbook and give my money to other people.  Mr. McCain, if you want a fighting chance—would you please make this point?Ankarlo’s Take is written for broadcast.  You can hear it each morning at 7:20 during Arizona’s  Morning News on News/Talk 92.3 KTAR.

ASU cuddles up to Ayers.

By now we have all heard that terrorist Bill Ayers is linked directly to Senator Barack Obama but how about ASU and, more specifically, your kids?  Yep, it seems this un-repentant Weather Underground bomber has written a textbook that is required reading for ASU Education students while his video is a major source in the classes too. 

This man is a terrorist.  Period.  His group threw gasoline bombs at police cars, planned attacks on Washington buildings including the Pentagon and held up a Brinks truck where two employees and two policemen were killed.  Would you allow your student’s mind to be handled by one of the suicide killers on September 11^th?  How about the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan?  Yet, somehow, from the pool of all educators in the world, terrorist Ayers is the selected professor at ASU?  Buses on campus are required to remain radio silent because students can’t handle controversy but Ayers’ book is sold and his curriculum is taught without question.  Ah, the value of a public education…

Ankarlo’s Take is written for Broadcast.  You can hear it every weekday morning at 7:20 during Arizona’s Morning News on News/Talk 92.3 KTAR.

Bi-Partisan Blame.

The economy in America has officially crashed, followed by similar problems in countries around the world.  And, with every dip in the DOW John McCain sees an identical drop in his approval ratings because, somehow, the guy who has never taken an earmark dollar is synonymous with a bad economy.  This economy is in trouble because of greedy American citizens, conniving American businesses and both American political parties.  Both of them. 

Former HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo said, in 1998 creating the mechanism for subprime loans, “with the 2.1 billion lending that amount in mortgage which will be a higher risk and I’m sure there will be a higher default rate on those mortgages than the rest of the porlfolio.”   And, here’s Barack Obama touting his influence in this low-income world, “I’ve represented affordable housing organizations to build affordable housing, something that’s a major issue in the district.”  They’re all democrats.  Meanwhile, the republicans took off oversights and spent like crazy.  As I said, both parties caused this.  So, when it comes to blame—I’ve found something truly bi-partisan.Ankarlo’s Take is written for broadcast.  You can hear it each weekday morning during Arizona’s Morning News at 7:20 on News/Talk 92.3 KTAR.

No More Charity?

On September 16^th, Phoenix police officer Barry Scott died.  It was from complications he suffered from a blow to the head in his boxing match with a Chandler firefighter.  The charity event known as guns and hoses is a staple in cities across America because of all the good it does for the community not to mention the camaraderie and competition.   Now, Chandler is reviewing whether to allow its public-safety employees to even take part in charity athletic events from here on out which, seems to me to be a big helping of insult to injury.  It’s a tragedy that the 22 year old officer died but come one Chandler—with all of your attorneys and risk management people you are actually thinking of putting an end to such great civic involvement?   We recognize this is all about lawsuits but folks—in the end this was an accident, a fluke. 

Officer Scott was so proud to participate and he trained—hard– oh, and he died.  Instead of letting his death be in vain why not honor him and so many of his fellow cops and firefighters by scheduling next year’s event to coincide with the day he joined the force—and invite everyone to participate?  Knee jerk reactions, coupled with lawyers, never lead to good decisions. Ankarlo’s Take is written for broadcast.  You can hear it every day during Arizona Morning News at 7:20 on News/Talk 92-3 KTAR.

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