Sound familiar? Only this time it happened in Germany and no local law enforcement officials were present……..

By Michael Sheridan
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Armed robbers raided a poker competition taking place in the Grand Hyatt Hotel and made off with an undisclosed amount of money.

A poker tournament in Germany became a real high stakes game when several armed robbers stormed the event.

According to reports, four to six men, allegedly brandishing guns, machetes and possibly grenades, broke into the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin demanding money.

The gang terrorized the crowds, who then fled, causing several injuries, police said.

Video captured the madness as players at the tables and those watching quickly ran for the exits. A security guard is seen taking on one of the masked robbers, but he escaped with help from another masked-man.

The initial moments of the robbery were caught on live television, but coverage quickly cut away as people ran from the tables.

“Several masked, armed individuals entered the Grand Hyatt Hotel and fled with a haul of money,” police spokeswoman Heidi Vogt told the BBC.

The thieves may have made off with as much as $1.1 million, the BBC reported. A bag was left behind after the scuffle, and police would not confirm exactly how much was actually stolen.

The incident took place on the fourth day of the five-day tournament. According to the tournament’s website, “Nobody was seriously injured and the Main Event, High Roller tournament and Ladies Event all managed to resume within a few hours.”

The tournament is expected to end today.

shearin-news-press-insert1

Recently, St. Joseph’s Mayor Kenny placed an insert in the St. Joseph News Press to “clarify” his defense of frivolous spending on two downtown projects.  The merits of the projects, the effectiveness of his defense, and the clarity of the insert piece can be debated.  What can’t be debated is that this is a violation of Missouri Ethics laws.

If the advertisement was paid for by the City of St. Joseph, Mayor Kenny needs to fully reimburse the city for the expense of advertising his business.  This is a gross misappropriation of funds and severe lapse in judgment by the Mayor and the city staff.

If this piece was paid for by Mayor Kenny’s campaign committee, it needs to state so on the document.  Failure to state who paid for a political piece is a blatant violation of Missouri Ethics laws.

If this was paid for by Mayor Kenny from his own pocket, it is misleading and illegal.  This is a political piece to defend his position on funding for city projects and therefore should be under the jurisdiction of the Missouri Ethic Commission.

We hope Mayor Kenny will clarify who actually paid for this advertisement in the coming days.  We would hate for the MEC to have to clarify things for him.

Drivers headed south on I-29 will notice the above billboard located near the Dearborn exit.  The sign is rather curious in that it lists no specific individual, no sponsoring group, and therefore no real indication of intent.

Perhaps the St. Joseph News-Press could treat this sign with as much interest as the did a previous case of a “mysterious” sign: http://www.missourivalues.org/index.php?id=3

MCV-PAC has learned that Galen Higdon, a retired deputy sheriff and 2008 Republican candidate for Buchanan County Sheriff, will soon announce his candidacy for 29th Legislative District Representative. Higdon, a life-long, Southside St. Joseph resident, is expected to make a formal announcement on Saturday, January 30th in south St.JOseph for the Republican candidacy.
MCV-PAC predicts that his entry into this race will put the long-time, Democratic seat of the 29th district in play for Republicans. Higdon’s strong performance against an incumbent sheriff in southside precincts, and strong personal relationships in southern Buchanan and northwest Platte counties will finally give residents of this district a voice in Jefferson City. MCV-PAC will keep on top of developments in what is now expected to be a very competitive race.

This week the Healthcare Transformation Committee of the Missouri House, chaired by Rep. Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph), voted out a bill that would require applicants and recipients of benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program to undergo drug testing if a screen revealed a reasonable cause to suspect illegal drug use.

“We need to put strong incentives into public policy for people to not use drugs,” Dr. Schaaf, a family physician in St. Joseph, said. “We need to put the interests of the taxpayers who are footing the bill above those of people who abuse the system and let taxpayers support them while they spend their own money on drugs.”

Dr. Schaaf co-sponsored the bill, HB1377, which would require every TANF recipient and applicant to be screened, but only those suspected of illegal drug use, based upon the screen, would be tested for drug use. Under the bill, those who tested positive would be given a reasonable time to complete a drug treatment program, but those who failed, or tested positive a second time, would be ineligible for benefits for a year. Other members of the household who remain eligible would still receive benefits, but they would be administered through a third party.

“The federal law makes it difficult for us to test every applicant,” Dr. Schaaf noted. “This bill is the toughest approach we could take and avoid a successful Constitutional challenge.”

The TANF program provides cash payments only to poor families with children. “We need to take steps to protect these children from exposure to drug use and make sure that taxpayer funds are not enabling drug behavior,” Dr. Schaaf said. “These poor parents need a reason not to waste precious dollars on drugs, dollars that should be spent on their kids. This bill gives them a good reason.”

The text of the bill can be found online at http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills101/biltxt/intro/HB1377I.htm

President Obama has taken us another step closer to losing our national sovereignty! Amid reckless spending and expansionist social programs, the nationalization of US corporations and industries, threats to our constitution by junk-science treaties, support of open-borders and legalization of illegal immigrants, and the granting of constitutional protection to international spies/terrorists, US citizens have now lost their constitutional protections from abuses by an external police force.

When the international police/investigative agency INTERPOL was given limited access to the US by President Reagan 27 years ago, they had to adhere to US laws just as the FBI, ATF, CIA, etc. are required. HOWEVER, on Dec. 17th President Obama issued a new Executive Order granting full DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY to the international police organization. This is another step by Barack Obama toward making the US subject to an international court and its prosecution of US citizens, politicians, and corporations for laws and treaties that we are not subject to, taking us further towards a one-world government.

MCV PAC brings this to our readers’ attention so that our combined outcry can hopefully motivate the media and our elected officials to force a return to common-sense protection of US citizens from an out-of-control President and Congress who place more importance on international approval than protecting its own citizens.

The Treasury Department said on Wednesday it would give $3.8 billion more to GMAC Financial Services and become the majority owner of the auto lender. This is the third round of government bailouts for GMAC bringing the total amount of taxpayer money given to GMAC to $16.3 billion.

This is happening while other lenders rescued by the Treasury have begun to repay their taxpayer bailouts. GMAC appointed Michael A. Carpenter as chief executive just over a month ago. Carpenter is a former Citigroup executive and current director. Good to know that he has experience running failed companies.

MCV-PAC wonders why the government feels the need to attempt to take over failed businesses with taxpayer money instead of allowing taxpayers to keep their money and letting failed businesses fail.

Until last year GMAC was an auto and home lender, last year it was converted to a bank holding company in order to qualify for bailout financing. GMAC is the only bank of the 19 that were subjected to stress tests that were unable to raise sufficient capital from private investors.

MCV-PAC sees this as yet another example of the Obama administration picking the winners and losers instead of giving everyone equal opportunity and letting the market decide who wins and loses.

Barack Obama needs to realize that he is not a hedge fund manager, his job is not to try and find which companies to use taxpayers money to take over, instead he should be working to protect taxpayers money.

MCV PAC has learned that Jason Brown, current State Representative (Dist 30), and presumed Republican Senate primary contender against Rob Schaaf will be announcing his withdrawal from the Senate race. MCV PAC will keep a watch on this major development in the brewing Republican primary battle to replace Senator Charlie Shields as the Senator for Platte and Buchanan Counties.

*** background ***

“Despite the fact neither is talking publicly about their intentions, multiple sources–and I do mean multiple–in a position to know are saying this: Jason Brown, term limited out as a 30th District state representative, won’t run for state senate for the seat being vacated by term limited Charlie Shields. Instead, Brown will run for presiding county commissioner. And Betty Knight, first elected in 1994, will not seek reelection to what would be a fifth term as presiding county commissioner.” as reported by Platte County Landmark

*** UPDATE ***

Jason Brown WILL NOT run for the 34th Senate District Republican nomination in 2010, instead running for the open Presiding Commissioner position, as reported in the Dec 16 edition of the Platte County Landmark. Check back with MCV PAC for upcoming information of new contenders for the Republican nomination in the 34th Senate District.

*** UPDATE UPDATE ***

Stepping in to fill the void by Jason Brown’s exit is former Platte County assistant prosecutor Rob Willard, a Kansas City attorney and resident from southern Platte County. His recruitment by Senator Shields sets up an August GOP primary match-up with current State Representative Rob Schaaf. MCV PAC will continue to watch the developments in this GOP tussle, and attempt to learn more about this newcomer to state politics and his values.

U. S. Representative Ike Skelton from Missouri’s 4th Congressional District has had the luxury of being an unopposed politician for most of his time as a public servant. Mr. Skelton has ran as a moderate Democrat since going to Congress in 1981, but some things have changed over the years.

Skelton who Represents a conservative rural area of Missouri has had to campaign as a moderate Democrat, and for awhile he was a moderate. In 1995 when Republicans had control of Congress he voted with Democrats only 65% of the time. As one of the most moderate Democrats in the house he became a pillar for other moderates to model themselves after.

But since the Democrats regained power of the House, Mr. Skelton voted with his party 95% of the time and Speaker Pelosi 99.6% of the time. As Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Mr. Skelton is one of the most influential and notable moderate Democrats in the House. He is someone that Speaker Pelosi can point to on votes from cap-and-trade to bailouts and industry crippling health care legislation.

But as Skelton now faces several valid opponents in the upcoming election he has begun to try and hide his allegiance with the Party and Speaker Pelosi. Mr. Skelton’s voting record with his party is dropping faster than the temperatures here in Missouri. Since state Sen. Bill Stouffer and former state Rep. Vicky Hartzler announced their campaigns Mr. Skelton has started returning to his moderate roots. Once hailed as a voice of his district, Mr. Skelton is once again proving to be nothing more than a career politician, appeasing whomever to get re-elected or gain influence in Washington.

Saint Joseph’s own mayor Kenny Shearin was on FOX news yesterday defending St. Joseph’s use of stimulus money on a Brazilian Steakhouse and a Martini Bar.

Here is the link http://video.foxnews.com/#/12391042/money-well-spent/?category_id=c985e69916535a2170b2b18ab0ab7eb60401f9bb

True to form, Mayor Kenny is always a good source of entertainment. MCV-PAC generally prefers his comedic antics when it is not aired on national television making Saint Joseph the butt of national jokes. Kenny started by bashing the stimulus program and went on to say that the money was given to the selected establishments with the goal of bringing life into a dying downtown area. In one memorable moment, he asked FOX news anchor, Gretchen Carlson, what she was smoking. Are you kidding me Kenny? Why would you talk down to a news anchor when she is asking for an explanation of the use of our tax dollars? The American people have a right to be irate about the way their tax dollars are being spent on the so-called “shovel-ready” projects that Mr. Obama was touting back in February when he was marketing this scam of the century.

The citizens of Saint Joseph should be mad as hell too when the city believes that an appropriate use of stimulus dollars is on a martini bar and a restaurant while at the same time, our school district was forced to shut down two elementary schools due to lack of funding and the city is facing a multi-million dollar sewer problem.

In another twist of irony, local tea party organizers Maggie Siegmund and Virginia Weigum openly supported and campaigned for Mayor Kenny. Mayor Kenny is obviously a tax and SPEND liberal, and Siegmund and company are obviously confused about their political identity. How could a tea party organizer who claims to be against the stimulus campaign for a Mayor who openly advocated spending it on wasteful projects?

It seems to MCV-PAC that Siegmund’s political views are becoming clearer.