Ground Zero: In the Cross of Christ I Glory -- Towering O'er the Wrecks of Time

New Hanover tempest: “Brian you are a commissioner, not der fuhrer,” says Jason Thompson in explosive email to courageous GOP outsider Brian Berger.

Source of story headline:  http://www.wwaytv3.com/2011/09/01/berger-reacts-to-controversy 

Bigoted remark by combative Thompson is sign of boiling resentment New Hanover commissioners feel toward first-term colleague Brian Berger. 

By Verne Strickland / September 10, 2011

WHAT KIND OF MADMAN IS THIS?

Brian Berger statement on his philosophy in his run for office in 2008.

 

As a candidate for the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners in 2008, Brian Berger received approximately 20,000 votes, advocating policies to prevent future tax increases, spur private sector job growth, protect property rights and the environment, and strengthen ethical standards, accountability and openness in local government. He has been a consistent advocate for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and ending the "culture of corruption" in Southeastern North Carolina. 

Berger has spent years advocating for limited government, accountability, transparency and ethics. He has pushed innovative and time-tested solutions for long-term job creation, lower taxes and fighting the growing problems of crime in our community. 

Berger has stood up against the unethical behavior of local elected officials, Republicans and Democrats, by opposing "business as usual," the corruption and wasteful spending that takes money out of your wallet and squeezes families trying to stay afloat in today's economy.

 ***********

Forgive me, but there’s something about the spectacle of this feisty little leprechaun Brian Berger driving his brutish, brash “colleagues” nuts that just flat tickles the hell out of me. 

Bravo. I know that this will irritate some no end, but I’ve been successfully irritating types I don’t like for years – radical left-wing Democrats, Muslim jihadists, communists, socialists, atheists, cynical anti-American Europeans, over-zealous unionists, illegal aliens, drug traffickers, career welfare leeches, Mormons with more than six wives, and Barack Obama. 

But let’s bring it back closer to home – our beloved Cape Fear region. Just a few heartfelt observations: 

The three stooges of the New Hanover Board of Commissioners may be big, and they may be bold, but they are bringing dishonor to themselves, and to the county where they claim residency, in their crusade to bring down Brian Berger.

If the level of embarrassment visited on our citizens is a reason for retiring from the field of battle, then the stooges should be the first to clear out.

Let’s face it – this Berger dude is tough. He stands his ground, and he has ground to stand on. They can grouse all they like, but they can’t throw him out, and he’s made it clear that he’s not going to knuckle under. Stalemate.

Brian has friends. He has enemies. He has admirers. He has detractors – vicious, hurtful detractors. He’s on a lonely quest. But I think there’s a lot to love with this guy. He shows courage, he doesn’t quit.

Under similar circumstances I would’ve hidden under a rock. But not Commissioner Berger. Folks, this dude is a rock!

Now, look --  I know that Jonathan Barfield hasn’t cut himself with a razor (you seen that lush growth on his face? He doesn’t even own a razor!), and that Ted Davis hasn’t ripped the handle off somebody’s car (he can’t open a beer bottle with a twist-off top) and that Jason Thompson hasn’t spent a night in the slammer, and that Rick Catlin is not taking unemployment pay-outs from the feds. At least that’s what they claim.

But, fellas – how about cutting the guy a little slack?

The picture of a big, burly phalanx of stern brutes standing should-to-shoulder, albeit very uneasily, for the cameras, tells it all. Three Goliaths glowering down at one David.

From the outset of his tenure, Berger was a marked man. He said in advance that he would not be a member of the NH Good Ole Boys’ Club. And boy was he ever right.

He criticized the tactics and ethics of the incumbents, who evidence no clue that they have ever read Robert’s Rules of Order – or even seen the movie. Berger called them on that.

The newcomer to the hallowed halls of the county power machine berated his brethren for fiscal irresponsibility and lack of transparency, among other things.

What’s not to like?

While Berger pleads guilty to a penchant for being late – which can justly be categorized as rude and unprofessional – if you put a stopwatch on these meetings – I think you might be impressed by the lulls in the action, and the cute, frivolous banter, that waste time and taxpayer dollars.

One of Berger’s early complaints was that he was culled out of the action -- the vital flow of official information by the excessively incumbent serving commissioners. He has been ignored and made to feel irrelevant. Fair and reasonable accusations, I submit.

In board meetings, Berger has been for the most part quiet and respectful. Outside the board room, his behavior has not been quite so circumspect. And this has been amply and even excessively covered by shock jock attack-style journalists.

 "This stonewalling and secrecy and attempt to filter information is NOT ACCEPTABLE," Berger wrote. "THE ACTIONS OF STAFF AND CERTAIN COMMISSIONERS HAS BEEN AN AFFRONT TO OPENNESS AND ACCOUNTABLILITY."

County Commissioner Jason Thompson wrote to Brian, "This is ridiculous. Brian you are a commissioner not der fuhrer. Your email shows you do not understand a manager/commissioner form o govt (sic)."

Berger responded via email stating that he found Thompson's comments "offensive and inappropriate".
 
One online expression I thought quite relevant was this:

When the Titan Project was getting incentives and being approved by the county commission, Catlin was nowhere to be seen or heard. Only recently did this become an issue he took a stand on. Lately, on non-attainment he has been doing more grandstanding, so I think Berger is correct to point out this is an issue for all of us. 

Berger may not be as slick as Catlin but he is far more correct on asking these questions and not allowing Catlin to ignore his concerns or those of others in NHC with these non-responsive answers. Catlin is handling this matter poorly and Berger is right to ask questions and demand answers in a timely fashion. Maybe if we had fewer Catlins we would not have issues like the CFPUA and R3. Given Barfield's trying to take over schools, when it comes to unprofessional who is he kidding?

***********

The landscape is littered with instances of tabloid “journalism” sensationalizing Berger’s plight. This is deplorable. But local television anchor Bob Townsend did the right thing. Surely you know all about that. A tabloid muckraker on the Star-News took care of that by releasing text of a private email exchange between Townsend and Berger.

And Townsend didn’t intend to gather any attaboys for his compassion toward Berger. Very noble, I thought, in these callous times. It may cost him. But it shouldn’t.

In closing, this is Brian Berger’s personal statement as he conducted his campaign for office as a New Hanover County Commissioner: 

Actions matter. Accountability matters. In this election, you have a choice to continue with an agenda of high taxes, wasteful spending and misguided priorities represented by these four gentlemen. We're overtaxed, but these gentlemen don't think we're taxed enough, they need more of our money to spend. The environment and education have been disregarded, but these concerns only matter to our local officials when its election time.

I am asking you to join me in reforming New Hanover County government. That means low taxation, fighting wasteful spending, prioritizing public safety, education, infrastructure and the environment.

Actions matter. Withdrawing the $4.2 million giveaway to Titan Cement. Fighting Forced Annexation and Eminent Domain with the same energy these gentlemen put into lobbying for the homebuilders and billboard owners. Putting resources into fighting crime, gangs and planning for infrastructure and education that these gentlemen have a record of neglecting. Those are my priorities, and if they are yours too, send a powerful message by voting for Brian Berger and taking back YOUR government.

VS: SO I ASK YOU AGAIN – WHO IS THIS MADMAN? WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF HIM!

Wilmington's Ilario Pantano to participate in 10th Anniversary 9/11 commemorations at Ground Zero.

Verne Strickland Blogmaster /  September 9, 2011

Pantano Will Be A Featured Speaker at 9/11 Freedom Rally

Wilmington, NC:  Ilario Pantano, Conservative Republican Candidate for North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District, announced today that he will be participating in National September 11th commemorations at Ground Zero this weekend including the American Freedom Defense Initiative’s 2nd annual Freedom Rally in Raleigh on Sunday afternoon.

“It is a real honor to be able to take part in these commemorations, to honor the memories of those who perished on 9/11 and those who survived but whose lives were forever changed, and to give my reflections on the impact of 9/11 on my life and on our nation,” Pantano said.

“I look forward to personally meeting the 9/11 first responders who will be attending this rally.  It is shameful that they along with clergy members and family members of 9/11 victims have been barred from the official ceremonies on Sunday morning. As we commemorate the 10th anniversary of that horrific day we must never forget what happened and we must remain vigilant and do our very best to make sure an attack of this magnitude never occurs again.”

On Sunday afternoon, Pantano will address AFDI’s Freedom Rally, organized by Pamela Geller.  The rally begins at 3pm at the corner of Park and Broadway and Pantano will speak at approximately 4:15pm. While they are barred and/or not invited to the official 9/11 ceremonies clergy members, 9/11 first responders, and 9/11 family members will be welcome at the Freedom Rally and they are encouraged to attend.

Members of the clergy will be delivering the invocation at the rally, and first responders will be addressing the rally attendees.  Pantano addressed the inaugural Freedom Rally on 9/11/ 2010.  Between 30,000 and 40,000 people attended the inaugural rally and an even larger crowd is expected to attend this year.

Pantano has a very unique and personal 9/11 story.  At the time of the attacks, Pantano had recently started a media consulting business in New York. On his way to a meeting in Manhattan, he witnessed the Twin Towers burning in the attacks of September 11, 2001. Friends and colleagues of Pantano’s were killed in the attacks. A building where Pantano had worked, 4 World Trade Center, was destroyed. 

Pantano rushed to a recruiter’s office and began the lengthy process of returning to service in the Marines, this time as an officer (Pantano had previously served as an enlisted Marine during the Gulf War). Upon graduation of Infantry Officer’s Course, 2nd Lt Pantano and his family were assigned to Camp Lejeune North Carolina, where he took command of an Infantry Platoon with the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Marine Regiment, the WARLORDS.

Pantano would later deploy to Iraq where he would lead his men into combat in Fallujah (2004) during some of the toughest fighting of the war. During combat operations, Pantano was charged with murder for killing terrorists, but was later exonerated of all charges.

Pantano later became a Sheriff’s Deputy in North Carolina and wrote a book about his Experiences, “Warlord”, published by Threshold Editions of Simon & Schuster.  Threshold recently published Vice President Dick Cheney’s book, “In my Time” and is re-releasing Pantano’s book this fall.

                                                                          ###

Video of Pantano’s speech can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr3VBH-6K-Y&feature=player_embedded.

Our mailing address is:
Ilario Pantano

PO Box 11280

Wilmington, NC 28404

NC Democrats claim gay marriage ban could hurt business recruitment. (Oh, I really don't think so.)

Verne Strickland Blogmaster / September 7, 2011

By Barry Smith M2Mpolitics.com

Posted September 6, 2011 - 6:48 PM

 RALEIGH – House Democratic leaders and a couple of business representatives decried the potential effects of a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

They said that now is not the time, given the current economic climate, to be considering such a ban, adding that it could have a detrimental effect on luring business to North Carolina.

“We have in North Carolina at the president time many problems – the economy exacerbated by a terrible hurricane that has hit our coast, in particular the Northeast and flooding among areas in the East,” said Rep. Joe Hackney, D-Orange, the House minority leader. “We have a sluggish economy which we ought to be focused on reviving.”

The N.C. General Assembly is scheduled to return to Raleigh next week, primarily to consider proposed amendments to the N.C. Constitution. The most contentious amendment is one that would define marriage between a man and a woman as the only domestic union recognized in the state.

Andrew Spainhour, an attorney for Replacements Limited in Guilford County, said the proposed amendment could end up affecting domestic partner benefits that Replacement Limited and many Fortune 500 companies offer their employees.

“To those who say this won’t hurt business, we say put yourselves in the shoes of someone trying to entice an LGBT professional or business leader or educator or some other member of a creative class to come to North Carolina, a state considering an anti-gay amendment in the year 2011,” Spainhour said. “We’re incredulous frankly that we can’t all agree that that’s a tough sell.” LGBT refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

 He said that such a constitutional amendment could have unintended consequences.

“I am not in a position to take on faith that domestic partner benefits will not be impacted,” Spainhour said. “Doing no harm is generally the right answer and that is certainly the case here.”

Anthony Pugliese, senior vice president of the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants said that finding a welcoming, accommodating environment for their work force was a major factor in his organization deciding to relocate from the New York tri-state area to Durham.

“Our decision would have been significantly altered, been swayed, it would have been reconsidered had this amendment been in place at the time we were making the decision,” Pugliese said.

Rep. Grier Martin, D-Wake, said the amendment could send the wrong message to people in the military who are stationed in North Carolina.

Martin noted that the military’s controversial Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy is set to expire soon. “You’re going to have many, many openly gay serving members of the military in North Carolina,” Martin said.

Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake, said that an unintended consequence of such an amendment could affect North Carolina’s domestic violence laws. She said that in Ohio, some domestic violence laws related to unmarried heterosexual couples were affected once that state adopted a similar amendment.

http://www.m2mpolitics.com/news/hurt-1943-marriage-ban.html

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The Ground Zero Mosque: Moving forward at 51 Park Place in New York City.

Verne Strickland Blogmaster / August 30, 2011

ILARIO PANTANO WILL SPEAK AT 9/11 PROTEST AGAINST GROUND ZERO MOSQUE

By Joe Klein / FrontPage Magazine / August 30, 2011

Plans for the Ground Zero Mosque are moving forward, but are proceeding more under the radar these days in order to avoid the kind of media spotlight that it received last year.

According to a New York Times puff piece about the project published on August 1, 2011, Sharif El-Gamal, the lead developer and Chairman and CEO of the Manhattan real estate firm Soho Properties, who controls the property at 45-51 Park Place, “has spent the past year trying to regroup.” He is said to be reaching out to the community to receive input into the project’s final design.

There will no longer be any imams as the public religious face of the project, such as Feisal Abdul Rauf or his successor Imam Abdallah Adhami, both of whom stepped down after their past controversial statements and radical Islamist associations were exposed.

Park51, as the so-called community center portion of the project is called, launched a new website in January 2011.  It included a link to PrayerSpace, a separate non-profit entity from Park51, whose function is to house a mosque, located at 51 Park Place, that has come to be known as the Ground Zero Mosque. PrayerSpace’s landlord is Soho Properties.

The idea is that Park51 will be the community center open to all with an interfaith space, and PrayerSpace will be the mosque for Muslim prayer services and religious programming. While fund-raising is being done separately for the mosque and the community center, according to the Times article, the same people will oversee both efforts.

Fundraising for Park51 and PrayerSpace is in the beginning stages. The current estimated cost of the project is $120 million. The sponsors have applied for a $5 million federal grant from a fund designed to rebuild lower Manhattan after 9/11, under a “community and cultural enhancement” grant program administered by the Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Corporation.

The Park51 community center portion of the project is being described as inclusive and inter-faith, which is how the sponsors intend to wiggle around the restriction that limits the grant to non-religious activities or uses.

However, when one looks under the facade of the community center, it turns out to be a tightly run Muslim-centric extension of the mosque.  The Board of Park51 consists of Sharif El-Gamal (the Chairman and  CEO of Soho Properties), Nour Mousa (a partner in Soho Properties) and Sammy El-Gamal (Sharif El-Gamal’s brother). Sharif El-Gamal’s plan is for the Board to eventually consist of 23 members, with 51% Muslims, thereby ensuring that it will be run in accordance with sharia law.

Moreover, buried in the fine print is an idea of how big the PrayerSpace (Ground Zero) mosque will be.
PrayerSpace will accommodate “over 2000 people” according to the PrayerSpace website. To put this in perspective, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in midtown New York can accommodate in the range of 2200 to 2500 people. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York and is the largest decorated gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the United States.

One way to manifest Islamic supremacy over all other religions, especially Christianity, is by ensuring that its leading mosque in a neighborhood is larger and taller than any churches in the vicinity. Not only will the PrayerSpace mosque dwarf any churches or synagogues in lower Manhattan. It will rival the Catholic Church’s pre-eminent symbol in the United States.

The pitchmen for the mega-mosque complex are trying to transform the narrative regarding their wisdom and sensitivity in putting up their mega-mosque complex in this particular location to what they like to call a “teachable moment” on religious freedom and non-discrimination.

For example, a package for use in schools prepared by the Morningside Center for Social Responsibility, entitled “Controversy over the NYC Muslim Community Center  & the 9/11 experience,” provides “public announcement” videos for students to watch that were produced by the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR).

One such video is called “We Have More in Common Than You Think.” It uses the Golden Rule as an example of what Islam, Christianity and Judaism purportedly have in common, and it solemnly declares that “If we don’t have our rights, you don’t have your rights.” This is dishonest in two respects.

First of all, CAIR believes in neither the Golden Rule nor equal rights of all religions. Its public spokesperson Ibrahim Hooper has been quoted as saying that he would like to promote the idea of a future Islamic government in the United States – not violently mind you, but “through education.”

In 2003 Hooper stated that if Muslims ever become a majority in the United States, they will likely seek to replace the U.S. Constitution with Islamic law, which they deem superior to man-made law.
Secondly, opponents of the Ground Zero Mosque are not seeking to restrict Muslim-Americans’ right to build mosques and to pray freely there, or to take away any other rights that other Americans enjoy. We believe strongly in religious pluralism, freedom of religion and freedom of speech. But we don’t believe that tolerance or accommodation is a one-way street. With rights come responsibilities.

New York City has close to 130 mosques, two of which already exist several blocks from Ground Zero. But not in the location where one of the hijacked plane’s landing-gear assembly crashed through the roof.  And not within 350 feet of where human remains were found. Yet that is where the Ground Zero Mosque or PrayerSpace will be built.

We are simply asking Sharif El-Gamal and his cohorts to empathize with the suffering of families and friends who lost loved ones on 9/11 and with the feelings of those who survived the horrors of that day.  Do the project sponsors really believe that seeking federal money meant to help rebuild lower Manhattan after 9/11 is appropriate for use on a Muslim-centric entity controlled by a Muslim-majority board and which will adjoin, and be under common control with, a mosque that is slated to match or exceed the capacity of the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York? Is there no other site in lower Manhattan that could accommodate PrayerSpace and the Park51 community center?

Instead of trying to outdo the capacity of St. Patrick’s Cathedral so near the hallowed Ground Zero site, the Ground Zero Mosque sponsors should emulate what the Catholic Church decided to do when objections were raised to the building of a convent adjacent to the walls of Auschwitz. They followed the Golden Rule and moved it.

http://frontpagemag.com/2011/08/29/the-ground-zero-mosque-moving-forward/2/

Conservative GOP congressional candidate Ilario Pantano reports on recent activity in his campaign.

 By Verne Strickland / August 29, 2011

At the recent August meeting in Wilmington of the New Hanover County Republican Party, we caught up with Ilario Pantano, conservative GOP candidate for the North Carolina Seventh District Congressional seat. Here is part of our interview:

VS:  It’s obvious that you and your volunteers are charged up and getting right to the task of winning the 2012 GOP primary and election for the Seventh District.  And there seems to be no shortage of energy this early in the election season.

I’ve been a long-distance endurance athlete for a long time. I’ve got a good perspective on this type of regimen, being a sniper, run marathons, having done Iron Man – a 140-mile race – and competing in intense physical activity for thirteen hours. It’s painful, it’s grueling, it’s relentless. 

It’s kind of like what a campaign is early in the process.  We have nine months until the primary, more than that until the general, and yet we are being recharged every day by wonderful young men and women, and you’ve seen it in this room tonight, the kind of support and energy that we get. We are fueled by grace, and we are driven by volunteers that are motivated and dedicated, and we’ve been doing neat things.

We just finished a four-part series – a class on the Constitution held in our office. It’s been really wonderful. People who have attended gained a great deal. We will be doing classes now on the theory of the origins of the Constitution, classes on faith and the founding fathers, classes on policy, Obamacare, the economy, debt. 

We had a great conference recently with former New York Congressman Joe DioGuardi, and you did a nice write-up on him, talking about debt and the pressing need for financial reform in Washington. Joe was a popular headliner at the Grand Opening of our Volunteer Office on Market Street.

We are trying to educate people, but you know, this is a long process. It’s a slog. But it’s worth it. And it’s worth it everyday, and there’s uncertainty everyday, and challenges, which we find in every enterprise, which every American knows, wondering if they will continue to have a job, and be able to pay their bills, and we go forward in faith, and good things happen. We’ve been blessed with terrific volunteers. They keep our office buzzing. It’s exciting and stimulating to everyone involved.

I’d like to mention a couple of other things. I was in Greenville a couple of weeks ago, where NC FIRE and ALIPAC were protesting the fact that the Mexican Consulate was doing a voter registration and matricular ID card drive, which means that the Mexican Consulate, a foreign government, was operating in Greenville, and they were issuing ID cards to illegals so that they could get American welfare benefits. This is on-going. 

I went and saw it for myself. I have copies of the forms and documentation – USDA agricultural forms that announce in Spanish: “VOTE! IT'S YOUR RIGHT” pins in Spanish, paid for by the N. C. State Board of Elections, reminding  illegals that it’s their right to vote. Well, no it is not. So let’s just be clear about that. But this whole voter drive for illegals is a travesty, and we want to stop it right in its tracks.

Also, I will be up in New York on 9/11 at Ground Zero in a protest of the mosque. I was up there last year as well, joining with a group of patriots speaking at the event.. So I am privileged to be invited back to the 2011 event, the tenth anniversary of this heinous attack on America by radical Muslim jihadists. I’ll have reports on that, and will make those available to you for your followers on USA DOT COM. So we're busy, working hard, enjoying the mission, and getting our message out there to the people.

For more information on former U.S. Congressman, author and conservative activist Joe J. DioGuardi, go to this USA DOT COM link: http://usadotcom.blogspot.com/2011/08/unaccountable-congress-author-joe.html


To visit the Pantano for Congress headquarters, go here: http://www.facebook.com/pantanoforcongress

GOP officials banned from Labor Day Parade in Wisconsin -- by union hierarchy!

Verne Strickland Blogmaster / August 29, 2011

I'VE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER AND REACT WITH INCREDULITY AND ANGER TO THE LEFTIST THUGGERY OF 'BIG LABOR' IN THE SIXTIES. IT'S ALIVE AND WELL TODAY IN WISCONSIN, AND IT'S COMING SOON TO A CITY NEAR YOU. RESIST! TURN OVER CARS AND SET THEM ON FIRE. (NO WAIT -- THAT'S FROM THEIR PLAYBOOK. HOW ABOUT JUST LIGHT A 'PEACE' CANDLE?)


First Posted: 8/29/11 08:34 AM ET Updated: 8/29/11 11:26 AM E

Amanda Terkel aterkel@huffingtonpost.com 

WASHINGTON -- A group of Wisconsin union officials has voted to ban Republican politicians from a local Labor Day parade, underscoring how partisan the state has become in the wake of this year's clashes over collective bargaining rights.

The Marathon County Central Labor Council, which sponsors the parade, includes some 30 local unions.
Council President Randy Radtke said in a statement on the group's website that politicians are only welcome at the festivities if they have demonstrated support for workers' rights.

"It should come as no surprise that organizers choose not to invite elected officials who have openly attacked worker's rights or stood idly by while their political party fought to strip public workers of their right to collectively bargain," Radtke said.

"It is a time for working families to come together to celebrate their hard work and a time where we recognize the labor movement for all they have given us -- the weekend, the 40 hour work week, child labor protection, a safe work environment."

In February, the 14 Democratic members of the Wisconsin state Senate left the state to deny their GOP colleagues a quorum and prevent them from pushing forward Gov. Scott Walker's (R) controversial budget repair bill, which stripped most of the collective bargaining rights from public employees.

Through a last-minute budgetary maneuver, Republicans were able to pass the measure. All but one GOP state senator voted for it.

On the federal level, Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) represents Wausau. In a statement to local ABC affiliate WAOW, Duffy's office decried the labor council vote. "Having walked in this parade in past years,

Congressman Duffy was hoping that for a moment, we could set our differences aside and simply have some fun in a family-friendly event," a Duffy spokesperson said.

"[The congressman] walks in a lot of parades, and staff called to register a spot last week and was informed in colorful language that no Republicans were being allowed to participate this year," added Duffy Chief of Staff Brandon Moody in an email to The Huffington Post. 

During the winter's budget fight, the congressman praised Walker but tried to keep his distance from the governor's stance on collective bargaining. In February, the editorial board of the Wausau Daily Herald called his reluctance to weigh in "just plain lame."

Radtke said the reaction to his decision has been mixed, with "some negative comments but mostly it has been overwhelmingly positive."

Other politicians who won't be welcome at the parade include state Sen. Pam Galloway (R-Wausau) and state Rep. Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/29/republicans-banned-labor-day-parade-wisconsin_n_939879.html?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl1|sec3_lnk1|90427