Spaceport Tax Mascot

SPACEPORT AMERICA COULD COST COUNTY JOBS

RUMOR MILL:  I was talking with a friend today who gave me some disturbing information.  He had visited with a man who had recently retired from White Sands Missile Range.  My friend related to me what his retired friend had told him. The retiree said  that contractors and customers who come to WSMR to test their products spend millions of dollars on a one day test of a missile or missile related project.  Any time delays on the project day, not associated with weather and attributable to military personnel at WSMR are charged to the military.  Delay costs can range as high as a million dollars a minute.  He went on to reveal an ongoing disagreement WSMR and Holloman AFB are having with the New Mexico Spaceport Authority.  According to my friend, who prefers to remain anonymous; the New Mexico Spaceport authority refuses to cooperate with scheduling of missile testing, F-22 Raptor training, and testing of a new Predator drone craft at Holloman and WSMR.  Preliminary discussions of use of limited air space, military priority and national security with the New Mexico Space Authority have resulted in a stalemate.  NMSA arrogantly claims they will launch the Virgin Galatic Mothership whenever they want and in an easterly direction. The logic of the Spaceport America people on the NMSA board is, customers are paying $200,000 for a ride in the Virgin Galatic craft.  Customers will be treated to first class accommodations and be treated like royalty.  This will be New Mexico's premier tourist attraction with world reknown praise and publicity.  Spaceport America essentially is saying they will not make the 'uber-rich' wait on military testing at WSMR or on Holloman AFB.  

Both WSMR and Holloman have rigid restrictions on airspace in the Tularosa Basin.  If the Virgin Galatic Mothership strays into WSMR airspace, or even worse into Holloman and F-22 airspace; missile tests and training flights will have to be postponed or interrupted.  This is where the possibility of the military paying a million dollars a minute 'fine' for delays in contractor testing of new military programs.

My friend told me that if military contractors feel their testing capacity at WSMR is threatened by an oppulent commercial 'space joy ride', they would take their products and business elsewhere.  This would translate into lost jobs for civilian workers at WSMR.  He also told me there is a real feeling of resentment agaisnt the Spaceport America radio and prints ads for claiming to be  part of the history of NASA and WSMR and the contributions of the space program to American culture and technology.  ORF did not call WSMR to try to confirm this information.  As we have posted at the beginning of this post, this qualifies for RUMOR MILL status.  But, it sound plausible considering the misinformation and the source of the conception of Spaceport America and the three counties asked to fund the project.

2001 AUDIO OF OBAMA'S REDISTRBUTION OF WEALTH

From the MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER: 2001 clip and attempt to discredit Obama on Chicago Public Radio advocating for re-distribution of wealth.

" YouTube postings over the weekend divulged a 2001 radio interview in 

which Barack Obama regretted that "the Supreme Court never ventured into 
the issues of redistribution of wealth, and sort of more basic issues of 
political and economic justice in this society," but though John McCain on 
Monday cited this new evidence of Obama's long-standing advocacy of 
redistributing wealth, the CBS Evening News offered nothing more than a 
McCain soundbite surrounded by reporter Chip Reid discrediting the 
criticism as he relayed the Obama campaign's charge McCain had made a 
"false, desperate attack" and Reid bemoaned: "If the events of today are 
any guide, this is a campaign that is taking an increasingly negative tone 
in the last week." In contrast, the NBC Nightly News at least ran a short 
audio clip of Obama from 2001: "The Supreme Court never ventured into the 
issues of redistribution of wealth." ABC's World News, in a piece by Ron 
Claiborne, aired a much longer audio soundbite from Obama."

http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2007/cyb20081028.asp

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2008/10/27/cbs-evening-news-
 http://www.eyeblast.tv/Public/video.aspx?v=e46UkUuz8z

"Spending the Economy Into Oblivion"

Posted by karan berry on 10/28/08

Dr. Paul's latest Texas Straight Talk:

With news this week that Congress is poised to consider a new stimulus package, I am forced to again ask a question that seems silly in Washington: How will we pay for this?

While a few Members of Congress have raised the issue, it certainly was not the primary concern of the House Budget Committee when they interviewed Ben Bernanke on Monday. And, when they did direct this question to the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, his answer was the standard rhetoric about how Congress needed to make tough choices. Needless to say, not many specifics were discussed.

One of the most liberal members of the House, Barney Frank, has at least volunteered something of a suggestion: “We can let Iraq take care of itself.” This, of course, goes in the right direction, but hardly far enough.

We need to declare the facts and their obvious consequences. The deficit of the United States is now spiraling out of control, and the recent bailout package has only made it worse. Our crushing federal debt is one key reason behind our current economic turbulence.

As Congress begins to consider the third “stimulus package” of the year, we need to realize it is time to start setting priorities. Priority number one should be cutting spending in foreign countries. This does not simply mean Iraq, but everywhere.

The next stimulus package is likely to include money for infrastructure. While these investments are, constitutionally speaking, supposed to be made by state and local governments, it is not likely that Congress will suddenly begin to pay heed to the document we are all sworn to uphold. Still, we need to acknowledge the fact that the current Congress and Administration are rushing the nation toward bankruptcy.

This being the case, we could hope they would at least come to their senses regarding our debt and foreign spending sprees. Our nation’s foreign-held debt is at record highs and moving ever higher. Continuing to borrow money from Red China and others in order to pay “dues” to the United Nations and run “Plan Colombia” makes no sense at all.

Our whole carrot-and-stick approach to foreign policy makes no sense. The US government simultaneously gives money to Israel, and to Egypt. We send AIDS money to Africa while AIDS clinics in America shut down. “Millennium challenge” funding goes to countries which enact “market based reforms” as we push our own country further and further into a centrally planned economy.

Economic recovery will only come through financial prudence, savings and getting back to producing things of value again. But it seems to be a foregone conclusion that we are about to enact another government initiative to “stimulate the economy.” Instead, there should be some serious talk about cutting all of these foreign giveaway programs. But, alas and again, we should not hold our breath. Congress is still not close to being serious about ending its addiction to debt and spending, and is again faced with the deadly temptation to attempt to spend us out of a recession. We should not forget that in the 1930’s those types of efforts gave us the Great Depression. http://www.house.gov/paul/

Spaceport Tax Opposition - Correction

"Date: Monday, October 20, 2008, 6:43 PM

COMMISSIONER WANTS CORRECTION

Hola Mike:

County Commissioner Clarissa McGinn has pointed to a big error in my report on opponents to the spaceport tax (Sun. 19 Oct. 08) and has asked for a correction, "...with all the right info in it."

In the item I erroneously said she voted to put the tax on the Nov. 4 ballot so voters could decide for themselves. She actually voted against it going on the Nov. 4 ballot, and pointed to the minutes of the regular commission meeting of 8-21-08, pages 13-18, from which I submit the following exactly as it appears in the minutes without correcting the punctuation or grammar:

___

Commissioner McGinn stated that there are certain basic reasons for taxes. Those reasons include fire protection, public safety and public infrastructure. She made a pledge when she came into office to keep taxes low and to work within the confines of our current tax base. So tonight, what the Commission is being asked to do is to vote in a resolution and ordinance in support of placing a tax on the ballot. Therefore, I cannot support placing the tax on the ballot via the resolution. The residents of Otero County are being asked to spend more of their income in the form of taxes, on what some call an investment and what I call a speculation. The reason I call it speculating, is because there is still so much that is unclear, so much that has yet to be done for the Spaceport to become operational. I think as an elected official, I have the responsibility given the state statute, House Bill 473, that allows any New Mexico County, any City or Village to place this on the ballot if they see a benefit for their community. As an elected official, based upon the information I have heard and what's still not certain, I think I have the responsibility to be cautious when it comes to spending tax payers money on such a venture. That's why her vote will continue to be no through this process.

___

In compliance with her request, I would appreciate a correction as you may find editorially appropriate within your policy. Please feel free to contact Commissioner McGinn. Saturn "

JOHN SENT THIS IN TO ORF/REF: SPACEPORT

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/alamogordo-daily-news/T9P42QAB40Q7IALJK#lastPost

Thanks to John for sending ORF this link  to a Topix thread in the ADN.

Spaceport Supporters - Follow the Money, Honey!

I often hear "why is so-and-so supporting the spaceport"? Click on the title and you will open a site for campaign contributions made in Otero County. There are probably other sources but serendipity brought me to this one.

I picked one Republican and one Democrat and tabulated their contributions according to this site. Can you tell which is which? Nope, that is the point. It is called hedging your bets. If you contribute to both parties or even opposing candidates, you are sure to win. That is how the game is played.

There are even more blatant examples of this win-win strategy and even some chuckles to be found here. You will see who is generous and who are tightwads or not as well off as they pretend. Have fun.

Otero Campaign Contributor Number One:

$2300 to RICHARDSON FOR PRESIDENT INC. on 02/06/07
$500 to PEARCE FOR CONGRESS on 07/19/07
$500 to A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT JEFF BINGAMAN on 06/27/07



Otero Campaign Contributor Number Two:

$500 to PEARCE FOR CONGRESS on 07/20/07
$2300 to RICHARDSON FOR PRESIDENT INC. on 07/31/07
$500 to PEOPLE FOR PEARCE on 12/28/07
$2300 to AUBREY DUNN FOR CONGRESS on 01/21/08


Don't forget to tell your contacts:

1 spaceport tax
4 general obligation bonds
1 city tax
1 county tax
__________

7 new taxes for Otero County this year alone


See you at the polls on November 4. Where possible we are voting on Election Day. Too much can happen between now and then.

SPACEPORT AMERICA TO CREATE INSTITUTE

Title click to read this story in KIVA.com

LET'S SEE WHAT PALLVAVA BAGLA SAYS ABOUT INDIA'S SPACEPORT

I was reading about India's space program.  India is going to launch a gantry launched multi-stage rocket on Oct. 22.  We have a link on the blog about glorious space entrepreneur, Richard Branson, and his spaceport in India.  I sent an email to Pallava Bagla, an Indian science journalist, who takes inquires about India's space program on the  NDTV website.  NDTV is an English version website following the Indian space program with the latest news and links.  Let's see if Mr. Bagla responds to my inquiry about Space Branson in India.  

"Spaceport Bill" Richardson, Secretary of Energy 1998-2001

Saturday morning quiz. Think about it while you are getting ready to attend the 2:00 p.m. rally starring Spaceport Bill at the Zoo for the "Community Covenant Signing Ceremony", too.

Now, does anybody out there have any memory of the reason given for the establishment of the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ?

Bottom line.....we have spent several hundreds of billion dollars in support of an agency the reason which not one person can remember.

Ready? Very simple, and at the time everybody thought it was a terrific idea.

The Department of Energy (DOE) located at 1000 Independence Ave was instituted on 8-4-77 TO LESSEN OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL!!!! PRETTY EFFICIENT HUH? NOW 31 YEARS LATER THE DOE HAS A BUDGET OF $24.2 BILLION A YEAR, THEY HAVE 16,000 EMPLOYEES AND OVER 100,000 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES!! WHAT A GREAT JOB THEY HAVE DONE!!

HOW ABOUT THAT FOR A SLAP IN THE TAXPAYERS FACE? THEY REALLY DO THINK WE ARE ALL STUPID. THINK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WASTE OUR TAX $$$ BEFORE YOU VOTE.

Those who do not know history...

New Mexico Economic Development Department - Those Folks Who Bring You Spaceport America

"Fall Far East Trade Trips

Seeking to expand global business opportunities, the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Office of International Trade (OIT) is planning a joint venture with the Office of Mexican Affairs (OMA) to explore trade options in China and Taiwan. The “Access China” recruitment mission is scheduled to take place the week of November 10th. Representatives from both Offices will travel with to meet with Chinese manufacturers looking to access North American markets, with a special eye on the New Mexico/Mexico border.

OIT director Mathew Woodlee says, “New Mexico is poised to be a premiere destination in the United States for foreign investment.” He also notes that, “China is New Mexico’s number one Asian trading partner, and we are looking forward to finding more opportunities to attract investment from China into our state.”

The mission will be split into two groups. One group will visit 3 cities in southern China, including a stop in Taiwan. Taiwan’s FoxCon electronics manufacturer has already established business in San Jeronimo, Mexico, across from New Mexico’s Santa Teresa point of entry. Simultaneously, a separate group of New Mexico companies will be travelling to Tokyo and Beijing seeking sales and distribution partners."

It is for the children.

ACORN REGISTERS DEAD PEOPLE AS VOTERS

Title click to read this article regarding voter registration fraud and Obama's early link to ACORN.

MEXICAN MARIJUANA GROWERS DESTROYING US FORESTS

Title click this post to read this article in the Rocky Mountain News.  Compare the damage the Mexican marijuana cartels are doing to America's forests to the damage being done by 'environmental' agendas in those same forests.  

Spaceport Photo Album - Where Space Meets the Wild West

The tax aspect is bad enough. It turns out that it is more than a tax issue.

Don't forget this is a power play to give control to the state by finding two spaceport district members who will vote to give the state seats at the table.

Otero County has been targeted as weak and compromised. Now where would NM Economic Development and the govenor get that idea?

New Mexico Spaceport Authority Meeting (Corrected 10/10/08)

Just for openers someone please give this group a copy of Robert's Rules of Order. For awhile there it was a regular "Who's On First".

Chair: Daniela Glick, the spelling may not be correct as she had a magic marker, hand written name plate.

Members:

Eric Vasquez, Lt. govenor's office

Brad Westmoreland, Las Cruces contractor, former legislator

Jim Manett, Roswell real estate developer/oil man

Bill Loomis, Road contractor and he wants you to know he retired 4 years ago so there is no conflict of interest (Added to the list after first submission.)

Benjamin Woods, NMSU senior v.p.

Toots Green, Alamogordo self described "dabbler", retired credit union manager/legislator

Richard Holdridge, retired A.F., candidate for Luna County Commission

The members eventually voted to approve the language creating the Spaceport District. See previous posting. This is different from the Spaceport Authority. More later.

Mr. Landeene discussed State Legislation needed for Spaceport America:

(1) Name change from Southwest Regional Spaceport to Spaceport America. Spaceport America needs to register this name. So, is the name, Spaceport America, still up for grabs until then?

(2) Liability limitation legislation. Mr. Landeene claims VA and FL already have this and we need it. (Even though we do not have FAA approval at this point, why is this necessary if we get FAA approval?)

(3) Confidentiality legislation similar to Economic Development Department's confidentiality law. You know, proprietary info, etc.

(4) Appropriation - $$$$$$.

Mr. Landeene then launched into his selling points AGAIN. Once the start button is pushed you are in for the whole spiel and the three times that I have heard it he has yet to stay within the time limits, hint, hint.

Progress Report or Lack Thereof Report:

Mr. Landeene says he was gifted with a bunch of Loki rockets by the Missle Range and he doesn't know what to do with them but he is working on it, think "for the children". Think Liability Legislation.

No signed contract with multibillionaire (8 billion net) Richard Branson, yet. Working on it.

No Record of Decision for the Environment Impact Statement yet. "Expected in December" after the November 4th vote.

No FAA approval yet, no guestimation of date offered.

But, Elon Musk (plenty of info on the internet about him and it is my understanding he is not asking for taxpayer assistance) is full steam ahead with recent successes. Unfortunately, he is in competition with Richard Branson as I understand it.

Mr. Landeene doesn't show confidence in Spaceport America when he continues to reside in Arizona and has not put his house on the market. He has told many that he is moving to New Mexico. But, he also claims to be a tax hating Republican.........Spaceport TAX, hmmm.

The ADN reporter, Kandra Wells, requested copies of contracts, redacted if necessary. We will see if her request is honored in a timely manner.

Part Two of this post will include names of attendees, "public comment" and other observations.

JTW

NEW MEXICO SPACEPORT AUTHORITY MEETING: 10-09-08

Janet and I attended the New Mexico Spaceport Authority meeting at the Space Hall of Fall, on Thursday, Oct. 9Th.  I had to leave early (had to meet with my probation officer), but Janet endured the whole thing.  The high lights of the meeting for me were:

Toots Green putting a motion before the NMSA Commissioners (that's what the people who sit on this commission are called) to remove language in a declaration to approve the Regional Spaceport District.  Daniela Glick, the Chair, called the NMSA attorney and was told the language Toots wanted to remove from the declaration text was in the NM Statute 516.1.  The Otero County NMSA could not vote to remove language that was voted on by the NM legislature in the statute.

oh....  The motion died on the floor without a 2nd...or anyone calling for the motion to die.   

Steve Landeen's presentation brought up some interesting points.  The New Mexico Space Authority is now a political sub-division, without any elected members or one elected official in some capacity.  We should have the opportunity to vote these guys on or off this commission.

The NMSA has no power of eminent domain.  

Since the airplanes the NMSA are marketing are a new technology; passengers will be required to sign an 'implied consent' form.  The reason passengers are asked to sign this release of liability form is to protect NMSA against lawsuits, should an accident occur.  The NMSA is not licensed by the FAA...yet.

Janet has more information about the meeting.   She might post it here...or she may not.

OCTOBER SURPISE

Interesting stuff on Peter Boyles this morning. Philip Berg, the Pennsylvania lawyer who filed a lawsuit against the DNC and Obama, on the grounds Obama was actually born in Indonesia, laid out his case why he believes Obama is not a legal U.S. citizen. Obama's Hawaii Certificate of Live Birth or the other document, Registration of Live Birth are not legal Birth Certificates. There is a difference between the legal standing of these documents. According to Barry Suturo (Barak Obama's name at birth), Obama's mother was denied boarding on a passenger jet in August of 1961, because she was due to give birth. If I got the story right, she had a baby on the day she was denied boarding on a passenger jet leaving Indonesia headed for Hawaii. Four days later she flew to Hawaii and applied for a Certificate of Live birth for baby Barry. At this time he was renamed Barak Obama. According to Berg, the documents displayed today are forgeries. In addition to this part of the story, there is the return of Obama to Indonesia as a child, I believe at age 6. At the time in Indonesia, only natural born citizens of Indonesia could attend schools funded by the Indonesian government. Obama was able to attend school with no questions asked. Interesting stuff. Berg believes that the Republicans are going to drop this bomb as the October surprise.
Berg says Rush, Hannity and others have this information and are orchestrating the October surprise a week before the election. Which leads us to the Hillary component of this election. Hillary and Bill have been quiet. Republican strategists are quietly preparing for a Hillary onslaught very late in the campaign in a couple of weeks. McCain has been criticized for not being aggressive in the last debate. Possibly McCain was laying low so not to be associated with the rumor of the October surprise. What this shows is the level of corruption that probably exists and the total lack of respect and enforcement of Constitutional Law in the United States today. To date, Obama has not released his original birth certificate, his health records or his Columbia University records.

Title click to go to Phillip Berg's website: OBAMA CRIMES.COM to see Mr. Berg's evidence against Obama.

ONE MORE REASON TO BE WARY OF SPACEPORT AMERICA!

UNINVITED VISITORS FROM SPACE NASA DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT (PARODY)

Tile Click to read this disturbing and revealing article.

Spacepork, Bailouts and Financial Crisis

Aaron was right. (Title click, corrected link.)

Please share what you know

The Bailout, it's not over yet. Many just don't know enough to understand what is happening. Those that do, as with the bailout bill can only try to educate others, At present it seems a very up hill battle, but here is a good piece, explaining much about the bailout for those that do want to know. http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd400.htm Patriotism and Education are my words of the day. k.b.

Suggestion for Spaceport Tax Speaker

With factual information so lacking in the Spaceport's website, brochures, business plan, etc., why doesn't NM Economic Development hire Richard Branson to speak so we can get it from the horse's mouth? He is in fee category F which means it will cost $100,001.00 or more (click on title) but we could hear him talk on business legends, business management, customer service, green living and the environment, international audiences, leadership, retail, branding and marketing. I'll bet we could even get him to talk about virgins for an up-charge:

...Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Classics, Virgin Broadcasting, Virgin Hotels and a veritable slew of other Virginal businesses which helped make him the 236th richest man in the world (net worth nearly $8 billion). http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/03/26/richard-branson-and-wealthy-pals-meet-in-caribbean-to-plot-world-salvation/

Or if $100,001.00+ is too much how about sending Steve Landeene with a tape recorder to Branson's private paradise, Necker Island, for $46,000.00. Sorry Steve, that's for ONE night only.
http://private-islands.caribbeanway.com/home.asp?src=Google-Adwords-Content&ggkey=content_PI_NeckerIsland_US&gclid=CMKav8bDkJYCFQcCswod3iHQFA

Here is what I would ask Richard Branson: You are worth nearly $8 billion dollars, right? Congratulations, a real success story. Everyone loves a winner. Well done and nice pearly whites. Please explain how it is that the success of this spaceport is contingent on the taxing of Otero County? Oh, and how is that spaceport in Australia coming along?

See, for only $100,001 we could possibly have the answer. Now, that is what I call an investment, good information.

VOLARE BOOM-A-RANG LAUNCH SEQUENCE

Spaceport Tax - DVDs and Door to Door Salespersons

Don't throw those DVDs away! There is a market for DVDs. Progressive artists are using them in recycled objects of art ("objet d'arts" for us hayseeds in Southern New Mexico). Hey, ya'll that is probably the "economic development" part of this tax bilking scheme.

Or, it could be the $10 an hour you can make going door to door trying to portray the spaceport TAX as something other than a scam. Check the ADN Help Wanted section. Hey, the job only lasts a month but what the hey.

Send in the clowns. There ought to be clowns.

Spaceport Tax - Bipartisan "Right Randy?"

Govenor includes Randy Rabon in his bipartisan pitch of spaceport. So much for the Republican Party Platform, right Randy?

Click title to listen to it yourself. Click (listen) in Soundbyte Journalism at top of Alamogordo Times.

NM JUDGE RULES ON WOLF TRAPPING IN CATRON COUNTY

Title click to read this article in the Las Cruces Sun-Times. 

BAILOUT PASSES

Title click to read article in the Denver Post.  There is also a link to the 451 page text of the bill: 

HR 1424.

From the article:

"The masters of the universe, those brilliant Wall Street insiders who have made more money than the average American can even dream of, have brought our financial system to the brink of collapse," Sanders said, and are demanding that the middle class "pick up the pieces that they broke." Still, proponents argued that the financial sector's woes were already being felt by ordinary people in the form of unaffordable credit and underperforming retirement savings and without the bailout would soon translate into even more economic pain for working Americans, including more job losses."