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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Cop's Murderous Son Gunned Down by Police

By Vince Lattanzio
NBCPhiladelphia.com


The son of a Chester police officer is a murderer says the Delaware County D.A. after the man used his father's duty pistol to shoot his ex-girlfriend Monday night. Investigators also believe he may be to blame for the deaths of his two children.

Aaron Michael, 29, disregarded a protection of abuse order when he showed up at Andrea Arrington's Ridley Township door, Delco district attorney G. Michael Green said Tuesday. This was the second time Michael rebuked the order since it was filed against him on July 2.

As the two argued, Michael pulled the stolen 40-caliber semi-automatic pistol and shot Arrington up to 10 times in the chest, arms and legs, police said. He fled the scene to his home on the 100 block of W. 23rd Street in Chester, Pa.

GO HERE to read more from MSNBC.

Is This Your Dog


Joe,

A friend of mine just called and wanted me to post this for her. This dog has been hanging around her house for a few hours. She is wearing a zap collar and is located off of Jackson Rd in Salisbury in the Elk Creek development. Maybe this will help her find her way home.

Thanks
Tammy

dperdue_tperdue@yahoo.com

Two Arrested for Promoting Prison Contraband


Location of Incident: Sussex Correctional Institution, US 113, Georgetown, Sussex County, DE

Date and Time of Occurrence: December 2008 to July 20, 2009

Defendant(s):
Leonard S. Whitman, 38, Dagsboro, DE
Carly Weedon, 28, Rehoboth Beach, DE

Delaware State Police and the Department of Correction have arrested a pair in connection with introducing contraband into a correctional facility.

Troopers arrested Leonard S. Whitman, 38, of Dagsboro and Carly Weedon, 28, of Rehoboth Beach after troopers and members of the Department of Correction Internal Affairs Unit after a month long investigation. Whitman who was a Department of Correction Officer was taken into custody last evening after officials implicated him with bringing contraband into the Sussex Correctional Institution and dispersing the items to inmates. Investigators surmise Whitman engaged in this type of behavior since December 2008.

Weedon was implicated as a co-conspirator for her role in bringing contraband to the prison facility and turning the items over to Whitman. Weedon is the daughter of an inmate who is incarcerated at the facility.

The investigation started when Department of Correction Officials discovered evidence inside the facility indicating that unauthorized items were brought into the facility. After the discovery of the items correctional officials and state police began an investigation.

Troopers executed three search warrants. The first search warrant was executed at East Atlantic Apartments in Rehoboth Beach, Beaver Dam Road in Lewes and Whitman’s house in Dagsboro.

Both individuals were charged with Introducing Prison Contraband, Promoting Prison Contraband and Conspiracy. Whitman was also charged with official misconduct. Whitman was released after posting $7,000 bail. Weedon was committed on $5,000 cash bail.

The investigation is still ongoing

Palin Implicated In Ethics Probe


ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An independent investigator has found evidence that Gov. Sarah Palin may have violated ethics laws by accepting private donations to pay her legal debts, in the latest legal distraction for the former vice presidential candidate as she prepares to leave office this week.


The report obtained by The Associated Press says Palin is securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust, set up by supporters.


An investigator for the state Personnel Board says in his July 14 report that there is probable cause to believe Palin used or attempted to use her official position for personal gain because she authorized the creation of the trust as the "official" legal defense fund.
GO HERE to read more.

Ray Lewis Is Headed Back To Jail!

While Ray Lewis was back in Court today, the Judge sentenced him to serve an additional 60 Days in Jail, we believe for violation of probation. More details will follow very soon. However, here's the kicker. Once Ray was hit up with the additional 60 days after only recently being released from prison, HE PASSED OUT right then and there and is now in the Hospital.
Salisbury News will soon follow up with more information as it comes in.
UPDATE: OK, here's the deal. While Ray was on Work Release I think you'll recall we did an article about how he returned with far more CASH than he was supposed to. They snagged him smuggling the CASH into the Jail. Today he went into Court facing those charges but the State had allegedly agreed to a deal in which he'd get 60 days already served.
Well it went in front of the Judge and the Judge flat out denied the States request and sentenced Ray Lewis to an additional 60 Days in Jail and he passed out right then and there.
The PRISONER is now at PRMC being evaluated. The agreement with the States Attorneys Office was non binding, therefore the Judge chose to slap him into Jail once again. Word has it Ray is still in shock but recovering. Just before he fainted he was allegedly heard mumbling something about Bubbette.
Salisbury News will request a copy of the Court Video in memory of the Wicomico County Taxpayers. We were also informed that Judge Davis fined Ray Lewis additional money, (we don't have the numbers at this time) for what he had done.

Man Dies Saving Brother From Gunman

A Bronx man died Sunday while protecting his older brother from an armed robber.

Sydney Michael Baxter was preparing for bed Sunday night when he heard his brother, Eric Baxter, cry for help from the street outside their home, the New York Daily News reported.

GO HERE to read more.

A Comment Worthy Of A Post

Great post, Joe, great post! The Times is playing a game with Campbell, Cohen and Ireton. I read Terry Cohen's press statement during the last round. She TOLD the reporter EXACTLY what she had submitted without telling the confidential details. But the Rag didn't report that.

The Times played a game of entrapment for their precious buddies.

I give them an award as:

MOST DISHONORABLE NEWSPAPER IN THE COUNTRY!

Salisbury News Is Rocking Today!!!

I just popped onto Site Meter to see how we're doing today and my God, the numbers are extremely impressive for a Tuesday!

I would guess the MSM is checking/linking to our EXCLUSIVE on the Presidential Candidate for 2012 because we are absolutely Rocking Today!

Welcome to Salisbury News Folks!

Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club

Dog Training Classes At Salisbury Kennel Club's Training Center


The Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club’s next eight week session of training classes will begin on Monday, August 3rd, at SMKC’s state of the art, newly air conditioned Training Center at 31663 Winterplace Parkway, Salisbury. There are a variety of offerings throughout the week of different levels of obedience, rally, agility, and dancing with dogs, plus the ever popular Puppy Kindergarten and Canine Good Citizen (CGC) classes. For more information, visit the club’s website at www.salisburymarylandkennelclub.org or call 410-548-2110.

Upcoming Event

SEE AGILITY IN ACTION

If you want to observe one of the fastest growing dog sports, here’s your opportunity. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 21, 22 and 23, 2009, the Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club (SMKC) is holding American Kennel Club (AKC) Agility Trials at the Crown Center in Fruitland, MD. Admission is free. Some really great teams of dog and handler will skillfully navigate different levels of obstacle courses as they race against the clock. From tiny Chihuahuas to giant Great Danes, the dogs negotiate the same course with adjustments in the expected time and jump height.

Anti-Tea Party Correspondent's Contract Not Renewed By CNN

By Noel Sheppard


The last time we saw CNN correspondent Susan Roesgen, she was arguing with folks at the April 15 Tea Party in Chicago claiming the event was "anti-government, anti-CNN [and] highly promoted by the right-wing conservative network Fox."


Although CNN officials won't blame the decision specifically on this event, the network has decided not to renew her contract.


All together now: Aaaaaawwww.


As reported by TVNewser Thursday:
TVNewser has learned CNN correspondent Susan Roesgen's contract will not be renewed and she will be leaving the network. [...]


Roesgen took a break for a few weeks after that reporting and returned to the air in May covering the Drew Peterson arrest. Most recently, she covered Michael Jackson's death from Los Angeles. Roesgen joined CNN in 2005.


When TVNewser asked whether Roesgen's comments at the Chicago tea party rally had anything to do with her not being renewed, a CNN spokesperson said, "I can't comment on personnel matters."


So is it actually possible that doing a poor job really can have some consequences in the news industry today?


Who'd have thought it?

EXCLUSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT: My Friend Tom Miller Is Running For President In 2012





While Tom and I have been going back and forth with e-mail messages for many months now, Tom finally has his new Website up and running and we can finally announce his candidacy for President of the United States in 2012.

Oh, some of you might challenge him one way or the other but what makes me so proud of Tom is the FACT that he has registered and he truly plans on giving this a go. Unlike many of you who sit on the Fire Escape watching the world go by.

GO HERE to visit Tom's new Site and we truly wish his Grass Roots Run the most success Americans can offer.

Keep in touch Tom, we'll give you as much Press as needed.

Freddie Mac Names New Top Executive

WASHINGTON - Freddie Mac says Charles Haldeman Jr. will be the company's top executive, effective next month.

Earlier this month, Haldeman, 60, stepped down as chairman of mutual fund giant Putnam Investment Management, where he had previously served as chief executive. He replaces John Koskinen, who has been serving as Freddie Mac's interim CEO since the March resignation of David Moffett.

The government seized control of Freddie Mac last September, and the mortgage finance

GO HERE to read more from MSNBC.

Daily Times Removes Comments, How Convenient!

How well does it work when an individual puts up their real name, posts a comment and then allows others to have it removed?

No curse words, just opinion. Well, the Daily Times, (so all of you know) has a system where you put up a comment. Then it only takes THREE people with different IP Addresses to complain and it automatically removes your comment.

I have always used my name and take FULL responsibility for what I put out there, unlike 98% of the rest of you. The system is wrong, unless you want comments like mine, (THE TRUTH) removed.

I contacted Greg Bassett the other day in reference to this matter and he assured me it would be researched but they don't have the time to look at ALL of the comments.

With ALL due respect Greg, you get 25 to 50 comments a day, MAX. We get 600 to 800 a day, we read each and every one of them and yet we still post more local articles than you do with a full staff.

This morning I have had to re post my comment twice because they keep taking it down and I'm sure I'll have to do it over and over again all day. So are they serving their readers? I say, if ANYONE uses their real name, post it no matter what. I have to LOG IN to assure they know exactly who I am, they should allow it as they have no responsibility from that point forward with what I have to say.

The Daily Times is becoming a Communist Newspaper, only allowing what they want you to hear. Hey Chiefy, go back to work and stop hitting the complaint button.

UPDATE: Here's what I posted on the Daily Times but they continue to remove. It will get more view here than there anyway.

More manufactured news by the former Tilghman Administration. Remember Webster and Tilghman's involvement on the Drill Academy, out of their jourisdiction? Webster knows he's burnt toast, so he's trying to trick everyone into a lawsuit by exposing personell matters, which is against the law. Nice try Chiefy. As for the photo, leave it to the Daily Times to stir the pot even more. Well, they got all of us to comment here so far, I guess it worked. Finally, YOU, (the Daily Times) falsely reported their was a REPORT authored by Cohen AND Campbell. Now you've re-worded your article to still make it look as if they mislead YOU. You produced an article that was a LIE. You asked them if they together had authored a REPORT and they said no, they told the TRUTH. It is their JOB to inform the Mayor and Council ANY and ALL complaints by constituents. Chiefy is acting like a BABY, how dare anyone challenge him. He doesn't belong sitting next to the honorable Sheriff Lewis. Spit, spit!

Salisbury Police Department Press Releases


On July 19, 2009 at approximately 12:23 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the area of West Isabella Street and Cypress Street for the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival the officers observed a male victim located on the six hundred (600) block of West Isabella Street. The victim was identified as eighteen (18) year old Garry Mosley. The victim had sustained a laceration to the abdomen and a puncture wound to the right upper chest. Mosley was transported to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center for treatment and was listed in critical condition. Salisbury detectives believe that the assault may be related to a party that the victim attended earlier in the evening. This investigation is continuing.

If anyone has any information concerning this assault, they are asked to contact the Salisbury Police Department at 410-548-3165 or contact Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776. Information may be left anonymously. CC # 200900025251

On July 14, 2009 at approximately 2:45 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department Community Action Team executed a search and seizure warrant at a residence on the eight hundred (800) block of South Division Street in Salisbury. As a result of the search warrant, the officers located and seized a quantity of suspected marijuana, suspected marijuana smoking devices, and suspected marijuana paraphernalia.

ARRESTED # 1: John Stanley Cappell, Jr., 28 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

ARRESTED # 2: Michael Allen Truitt, 33 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

ARRESTED # 3: Sharon Lynn Brittingham, 29 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES (All):
Possession of marijuana
Possession of CDS/paraphernalia

DISPOSITION: All released to Central Booking CC # 200900024654

On July 17, 2008 at approximately 5:28 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Walmart Store on North Salisbury Boulevard for the report of a theft. Upon arrival, the officers were advised by Store Security that the below listed suspects had been observed attempting to take food, cosmetics and clothing items from the store without making payment. The stolen items were recovered and returned to the store.

ARRESTED #1: Jennifer Lynn Hearn, 19 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

ARRESTED #2: Juvenile, 15 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

ARRESTED #3: Juvenile, 11 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES (#1):
Theft (under $ 500)
Contributing to delinquency of a minor (2 cts)

CHARGES (#2,#3):
Theft (under $ 500)
Theft scheme

DISPOSITION:
Suspect # 1 released to Central Booking
Suspects # 2, #3 Released to parent
CC # 200900025097

On July 18, 2009 at approximately 5:02 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police were in the area of the Brew River Restaurant and observed the below listed suspect acting disorderly in the parking lot area. The officers attempted to calm the suspect and have the suspect leave the area but were unsuccessful.

ARRESTED: Brandi Elizabeth Riley, 28 years of age Wilmington, Delaware

CHARGES:
Disorderly conduct
Failure to obey a lawful order
Resisting arrest
Obstructing and hindering an investigation

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200900025148

Rare Tour de France


Continuity

St. Francis of Assisi, Fr. Zakaria Botros, and Islam

by Raymond Ibrahim Jihad Watch



While not formally connected, two books I recently finished reading — St. Francis of Assisi and the Conversion of Muslims and Defying Death: Zakaria Botross, Apostle to Islam — complement each other very well, specifically by establishing continuity between medieval and modern Islam, and, in so doing, demonstrating that Islamic intolerance has a long pedigree.



For instance, after St. Francis and his companions challenged the sultan’s ulema to a theological disputation in order to show the superiority of Christianity to Islam, the latter refused and “instead insisted that they be killed [by beheading], in accordance with Islamic law.” (p. 60)



Medieval Muslims appear to have also had the same soft spots of today’s Muslims. A contemporary notes, “The Saracens treated with great cruelty those Christians who spoke ill of the law of Mahomet.” (p. 90) Other anecdotes reveal that Muslims could tolerate Christians — except whenever the latter questioned Muhammad. Reminiscent of how today’s non-Muslims often get themselves in trouble, or worse, killed, whenever they allude to the prophet of Islam — whether by quoting history, publishing cartoons, or naming teddy bears “Muhammad.”



After St. Francis asked the sultan to convert to Christianity, the latter confessed: “I could not do that. My people would stone me.” (p. 65) Indeed, the sultan was eventually attacked “for his tolerant attitude towards Christians and was accused of failing to be a ‘fervent Muslim.’” (p. 75) These two points are a reminder that today’s Muslim apostate, no less than his medieval counterpart, must be executed — as we see in daily headlines — and that Muslims who are too “friendly” with infidels, in direct contravention to Koran 3:28, can be denounced of apostasy.



If the reader still thinks the above is aberrant or “outdated” behavior for Muslims, another book — Defying Death: Zakaria Botross, Apostle to Islam (2007) — makes clear how tenacious such reactions are. A Coptic priest who has spent his life proselytizing Muslims, Botross’ experiences with the former mirror those of St. Francis. According to his biography, when the priest began preaching to Muslims in Egypt, he was imprisoned, tortured, and eventually deported; when Muslims actually began converting, his life, according to Islamic law — which condemns both the convert and converter — was forfeit.



Undeterred and now in his mid 70s, he currently hosts a very popular Arabic satellite program dedicated to examining Islam vis-à-vis Christianity, especially through their scriptures, in an effort to debunk the former. And just like St. Francis, he constantly invites the ulema to debate him — only to receive death threats, including a multi-million dollar bounty on his head.



Botross often explores arcane Arabo-Islamic texts, many which contain unflattering material concerning the Prophet — he recently ran a series dedicated to documenting the “perverse sexual habits of the Prophet.” As with St. Francis’ experiences, the Muslim response, including live callers hysterically promising to cut Botross’ head off, confirms that Muhammad, then and now, is a soft spot for Muslims.



Finally, as with the sultan who, reflecting upon the possibility of his conversion to Christianity, concluded that “I could not do that. My people would stone me,” the many Muslim converts appearing on his show and calling in, reveal that their apostasy from Islam has made them outcasts, many in hiding, others on the run for their lives, often from their families.


Raymond Ibrahim is the associate director of the Middle East Forum and the author of The Al Qaeda Reader, translations of religious texts and propaganda.

Obama Care

http://redistributingknowledge.blogspot.com/2009/07/health-care-battle-post-to-end-all.html

To all my Obamaphyle friends, read the aforementioned and learn what survival of the fittest means when it come to Obama care.

According to the Health Care Advisor (brother of the Attorney General), at 69, I guess I get thrown on the ash heap as too old to save. Nice to know. Now, how many Seniors that voted for B.O. feel good about that??

Vendetta Or Just Mean Spirited, Vandals Cause $100,000 In Damage To Area School

Location of Incident: Heritage Elementary School, 2815 Highlands Lane, Wilmington, Delaware, New Castle County

Date of Occurrence: Monday, July 20th, 2009, at approximately 8:46 p.m.

Suspect(s): None at this time

Resume: Angry? Puzzled? Saddened? All of the above? These were certainly the range of emotions for school officials who responded to the Heritage Elementary School late last night.

At approximately 8:46 p.m., DSP dispatch center RECOM, received a call about an alarm activation at the school. Troopers arrived on the scene within minutes and proceeded to check the interior. The building was cleared and no suspects were located.

Troopers and school officials then went back room by room and began to inventory the damage which has been estimated at about $100.000.00. A brand new computer lab was demolished, windows smashed out and floors ruined with bleach and other cleaning supplies. The list goes on.

There is no suspect information at this time. Anyone who may have information pertaining to this case is asked to call 302-834-2630 ext. 211 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.

Yes We Can Make A Difference

This month, after a long an arduous struggle, all the People of Harford County Maryland prevailed. We broke precedent and REDUCED our property taxes.

This did not happen automatically. This event was the direct result of few dedicated citizens working hard and long for themselves and their neighbors. Had they listened to the "Nay Sayers" and the excuse makers saying "The System is against you and you can not change it", or the perpetual prognosticators "I am too busy this week with whatever to be involved in any civic activity" then nothing, absolutely nothing would have happened.

Once again the heavy lifting has been left to a dedicated few. Thank God for the few, otherwise the Property Taxes in Harford County would have risen again.

If you are one of the "few", God Bless you. If you were one of the "nay saying", "prognosticating", "excuse making", "do nothings", shame on you for letting the few work so hard alone. When will the rest of you get up off your collective bottoms and do something for your self??? When will you join our ranks and help us take America back?? When will you earn the right to be Citizens of this wonderful nation??

Per Winston Churchill "Never have so many owed so much to so few"

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED. Make an effort, become involved and be one of the few.

Tony Passaro
Bel Air Tea Party Coalition

Shanie Shields Finally Gets Laid Off

Councilwoman Shanie Shields was one of the victims of the most recent layoffs from Gannett Publications and the Daily Times. Shanie said she's going back to school so she can teach.

YOU WILL NOT SEE THIS ON THE MSM!!!!!!

THIS IS A MUST SEE VIDEO! Ladies & Gentlemen, this is a very brief video and well worth watching. This is YOUR President representing YOU all around the World. Take 5 seconds of your life and watch it and see how well respected our own President is by other Countries. This is a disgrace. Mind you, the pea brain leaders are completely disrespecting Obama. The MSM is hiding this like there's no tomorrow.

Our Government Is Broken

The main response to Dutch Ruppersberger and his 534 cohorts should be "why
is our dependence on oil, domestic or foreign, continuing to rise?"

Congress can mandate that cars get 40-50 mpg, and
electricity must be generated with less cost and emission discharge. It
can be done . We have the technology. Unfortunately we lack the will or guts to
fight the lobbyists.

Ford stopped making the Taurus that delivered 32 mpg. The replacement is the Ford Crossover with 20 mpg, the exact same mileage a 1908 Ford delivered!!! Why are We going the wrong way??

Would somebody ask Mr. Ruppersberger what in the name of God is the Department of Energy doing? It was specifically created by Jimmy Carter over 20 years ago to decrease our dependence on oil.

They now have 16,000 employees with a $24 BILLION budget AND NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT!!!!

Our Government is BROKEN.

Tony Passaro
Bel Air Tea Party Coalition

Wake Up America

A Council Meeting Beyond Any Other


It was very clear to me last night, citizens of Salisbury are just too busy, just too broke and just too tired to show up for Council Work Sessions any more. I sat alone in the audience for most of the meeting fighting and frustrated.

The meeting started out with John Pick stating "the government is trying to spend a lot of money." Homeland Security's matching funds for Fire Station II would help them move up the chain if the Council agreed to their proposal. They asked the City for $340,000.00 while they will get $2,500,000.00 from the federal government as stimulus money.

Gary Comegys said, if they came to me and said if you put down 20% on a brand new pickup truck and they'll pay the rest, would you turn it down? Mayor Ireton chimed in expressing how the City might not ever get the chance again to get this kind of money and how the Council should strongly consider it.

Now get this. With all due respect, ever since the election Louise Smith has been changing her tune on almost every issue. The woman who was all about funding the $14,000,000.00 Fir Palace has all of a sudden had a visit with the Lord and claims to realize she is now concerned about all this spending. HOWEVER, it is very scripted and very well planned out. As long as she sees certain topics going a certain way she starts playing "Good Cop, Bad Cop" with Gary Comegys, acting as if she's really concerned. The next thing you know she's compromising. Allow me to better explain.

Earlier in the meeting Deputy Chief Gordy stated that the Volunteers would pony up $140,000.00 of this money, SHOULD THEY HAVE THE FUNDING AT THE TIME. As the meeting went on, the $140k disappeared for a while until the very end where Louise Smith all of a sudden said, well, I'm against this unless the Fire Department comes up with let's say $150,000.00, then I'd feel better about it. She then got some resistance, (Shanie and Gary shaking their heads no) and Louise then said, well didn't you say the Volunteers were going to give up $140,000.00 Mr. Gordy? NO, he said. All of a sudden Gordy changed his tune and I don't care what anyone says, I have my notes and today I'll ask for last nights recording because I know for a fact he did.

All that being said, isn't that convenient how Louise was against it unless the Firefighters ponied up $150,000.00. You see Folks, nothing is getting stimulated while the President and Congress are running the presses 24/7 printing new money that continues to drop in value. They, (Mayor Ireton and some Council Members) think that because this will create 140 jobs for locals that this is stimulating the economy. No it's not, it's stimulating those same companies that seem to be SECURE from recession and depression because they're powerful enough locally to control ANY of the big jobs. While you have a guy like Billy Hill Construction who could probably build any structure better and more efficiently than any other big company around here, he doesn't have the bonding and background these contracts require. So the little guy gets boned and the big guys just keep getting bigger.

Here we have CRIME through the roof and the Police Chief wants 12 new Officers and they give him something like 4 or 6, that's it. They Fire Department, (last night) wanted funding for $880,000.00 for additional career Firefighters, yet they can't take care of the Police Department. At one point Chief Hoppes replied to Terry Cohen stating the Fire Department had never been on a call where they didn't have two men in, two men out. He admitted right then and there they had plenty of Firefighters, NOT including volunteers, mind you.

The Salisbury Police Department doesn't have volunteers and they need help. Louise Smith stated in this particular meeting that she wanted more Police Officers but the funding just wasn't there. No Louise, that's just not true. You wanted to cut out Debbie & Terry's health insurance to pay for other Officers but other than that you showed absolutely no support.

I guess what I'm trying to say here but I'm doing a poor job is, ALL of this is scripted. If you look at the Daily Times article today it becomes even more evident. I'll tell you why. The Reporter wasn't even in the room long enough to get the QUOTES she claimed in her article, she wasn't there!!!!! All of it is well prepared so that it all comes out perfectly scripted in the Daily Times the following day.

Be Afraid Americans, Be Very Afraid!!!!! Let me assure you that there will SOON come a time when Blogs will become a thing of the past because we tell you the truth and we tell you just how things really happened. If our Government can't control us the way they are doing so with the MSM, we're going to get crushed sooner than later. Our government, (even locally) is staging everything perfectly scripted so YOU only get to hear what they want you to hear.

Louise can't change her stripes, no way, no how. Some nay sayers will claim I'm being paranoid. Well, that's an easy charge to place on me. However, I've been doing this long enough to know for a fact, I smell a skunk and I'm very rarely wrong.

The taxpayers cannot afford this new Fire Station II. Have YOU received your new Tax Bill in the mail? How's it working for you Folks!!!!!!!!! My Father in Law just received his and it went up like $1,000.00 a year! There isn't a person I have spoken to that isn't freaking out over their new tax bill. Well, you tell me Folks, can YOU afford another increase on your taxes? When YOU voted for a new Council, didn't YOU vote for people YOU felt would fairly represent what YOU would do if YOU were on Council? How's THAT working for you! If these Council Members vote FOR the new Fire Station II, YOUR taxes WILL go up, it has to. YOU have to pay for it!

It's time the new Mayor put a freeze on ALL spending and if they can't get by, START LAYING PEOPLE OFF LIKE THE DAILY TIMES/GANNETT DID. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Comegys stated that we already borrowed $90,000.00 for an engineering study for this project, we might as well move forward with it and get it done. OK Dee, Dee, Deeee, the Salisbury Zoo wants $30,000,000.00 to build out a brand new Zoo, do you see them coming to the City Council almost every two weeks begging for that money? Let me also add, the Zoo has had numerous Master Plans designed for their facility, spending almost the same $90,000.00 in plans and drawings and next to nothing has been done. They are getting a new Animal Services Building but they have waited 50 years to get what they needed and they're scaling back quite a bit to make it more affordable.

This is NOT the time to move forward with yet another Fire Department project. We're in what the government calls a recession and I call a depression. Taking more stimulus money is only adding to our Country's problems. Our leaders in Salisbury are flat out being fiscally irresponsible, period.

Points To Ponder

I have noted that many elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, called upon America to unite behind Obama.

Well, I want to make it clear to all who will listen that I AM NOT uniting behind Obama!
I promise to give our country the devoted loyalty of a patriot.

I will respect the Office which he holds, and I will acknowledge his abilities as an orator and wordsmith and pray for him, BUT that is it.

I have begun today to see what I can do to make sure that He is a one-term President!

Why am I doing this?

It is because I do not share Obama's vision or value system for America.

I do not share his Abortion beliefs.

I do not share his radical Marxist's concept of re-distributing wealth.

I do not share his stated views on raising taxes on those who make $150,000+ (the ceiling has been changed three times since August).

I do not share his view that America is Arrogrant.

I do not share his view that America is not a Christian Nation.

I do not share his view that the military should be reduced by 25%.

I do not share his view of amnesty and giving more to illegals than American Citizens who need help.

I do not share his views on homosexuality and his definition of marriage.

I do not share his views that Radical Islam is our friend and Israel is our enemy who should give up any land.

I do not share his spiritual beliefs (at least the ones he has made public).

I do not share his beliefs on how to re-work the healthcare system in America.

I do not share his Strategic views of the Middle East, and certainly do not share his plan to sit down with terrorist regimes such as Iran.

Bottom line, my America is vastly different from Obama's, and I have a higher obligation to my Country and my God to do what is Right!

For eight (8) years, the Liberals in our Society, led by numerous entertainers who would have no platform and no real credibility but for their celebrity status, have attacked President Bush, his family, and his spiritual beliefs!

They have not moved toward the center in their beliefs and their philosophies, and they never came together nor compromised their personal beliefs for the betterment of our Country!

They have portrayed my America as a land where everything is tolerated except being intolerant!

They have been a vocal and irreverent minority for years; they have mocked and attacked the very core values so important to the founding and growth of our Country!

They have made every effort to remove the name of God or Jesus Christ from our Society!

They have challenged capital punishment, the right to bear firearms, and the most basic principles of our criminal code; they have attacked one of the most fundamental of all Freedoms, the right of free speech!

Unite behind Obama? Never!

I am sure many of you who read this think that I am going overboard, but I refuse to retreat one more inch in favor of those whom I believe are the embodiment of Evil!

PRESIDENT BUSH made many mistakes during his Presidency, and I am not sure how history will judge him. However, I believe that he weighed his decisions in light of the long established Judeo-Christian principles of our Founding Fathers!!!

Majority rules in America , and I will honor the concept; however, I will fight with all of my power to be a voice in opposition to Obama and "his goals for America."

I am going to be a thorn in the side of those who, if left unchecked, will destroy our Country! Any more compromise is more defeat!

I pray that the results of this election will wake up many who have sat on the sidelines and allowed the Socialist-Marxist anti-God crowd to slowly change so much of what has been good in America !

"Error of Opinion may be tolerated where Reason is left free to combat it." ( Thomas Jefferson)

God bless you and God bless our Country!!!

Welcome To Salisbury, Maryland

On a flight getting ready to depart for Salisbury, Maryland Jack was sitting on the plane when a guy took the seat beside him. The guy was an emotional wreck, pale, hands shaking, moaning in fear. "What's the matter?" Jack asked.

"I've been transferred to Salisbury, there's crazy people there. They've got lots of shootings, gangs, race riots, drugs, poor public schools and the 10th highest crime rate in the country."

Jack replied, "I've lived in Salisbury all my life. It's not as bad as the media says. Find a nice home, install security cameras and alarm system, put bars on the windows and doors, buy your self a nice 9MM glock, go to work, mind your own business, enroll your kids in a nice private school. It's as safe a place as anywhere in the world."

The guy relaxed and stopped shaking and said, "Oh, thank you. I've been worried to death. But if you live there and say it's OK, I'll take your word for it. What do you do for a living?"

"Me?" said Jack. "I'm a tail gunner on a Budweiser truck."


Obama's Citizenship - The Story Keeps Growing

WASHINGTON D.C. - In a move certain to fuel the debate over Obamas qualifications for the presidency, the group Americans for Freedom of Information has Released copies of President Obamas college transcripts from Occidental College .Released today, the transcript indicates that Obama, under the name Barry Soetoro, received financial aid as a foreign student from Indonesia as an undergraduate at the school. The transcript was released by Occidental College in compliance with a court order in a suit brought by the group in the Superior Court of California . The transcript shows that Obama (Soetoro) applied for financial aid and was awarded a fellowship for foreign students from the Fulbright Foundation Scholarship program. To qualify, for the scholarship, a student must claim foreign citizenship. This document would seem to provide the smoking gun that many of Obamas detractors have been seeking. WASHINGTON D.C.

Along with the evidence that he was first born in Kenya and there is no record of him ever applying for US citizenship, this is looking pretty grim. The news has created a firestorm at the White House as the release casts increasing doubt about Obamas legitimacy and qualification to serve as president. When reached for comment in London , where he has been in meetings with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Obama smiled but refused comment on the issue.

Britain 's Daily Mail has also carried the story in a front-page article titled, Obama Eligibility Questioned leading some to speculate that the story may overshadow economic issues on Obamas first official visit to the U.K.

In a related matter, under growing pressure from several groups, Justice Antonin Scalia announced that the Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to hear arguments concerning Obamas legal eligibility to serve as President in a case brought by Leo Donofrio of New Jersey .. This lawsuit claims Obama's dual citizenship disqualified him from serving as president. Donofrios case is just one of 18 suits brought by citizens demanding proof of Obamas citizenship or qualification to serve as president.

Gary Kreep of the United States Justice Foundation has released the results of their investigation of Obamas campaign spending. This study estimates that Obama has spent upwards of $950,000 in campaign funds in the past year with eleven law firms in 12 states for legal resources to block disclosure of any of his personal records. Mr. Kreep indicated that the investigation is still ongoing but that the final report will be provided to the U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder. Mr. Holder has refused to comment on the matter.

The Sad State Of Local Crabs

Fat Boys Crabs in Salisburry Md calls these barely legal crabs large.


A friend of mine wrote me and said he spent close to $250.00 for a bushel and a half of crabs last weekend for a Party and this is what he got.

Now I for one would have never paid anywhere near that kind of money for crabs, but it is what it is, right? However, this is the Eastern Shore and your input is valuable to others, so let it rip.

Read This Again Folks

It's Not An Option
Health Care Bill Page 16

Congress: It didn't take long to run into an "uh-oh" moment when reading the House's "health care for all Americans" bill. Right there on Page 16 is a provision making individual private medical insurance illegal.

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IBD Exclusive Series: Government-Run Healthcare: A Prescription For Failure

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When we first saw the paragraph Tuesday, just after the 1,018-page document was released, we thought we surely must be misreading it. So we sought help from the House Ways and Means Committee.

It turns out we were right: The provision would indeed outlaw individual private coverage. Under the Orwellian header of "Protecting The Choice To Keep Current Coverage," the "Limitation On New Enrollment" section of the bill clearly states:

"Except as provided in this paragraph, the individual health insurance issuer offering such coverage does not enroll any individual in such coverage if the first effective date of coverage is on or after the first day" of the year the legislation becomes law.

So we can all keep our coverage, just as promised — with, of course, exceptions: Those who currently have private individual coverage won't be able to change it. Nor will those who leave a company to work for themselves be free to buy individual plans from private carriers.

From the beginning, opponents of the public option plan have warned that if the government gets into the business of offering subsidized health insurance coverage, the private insurance market will wither. Drawn by a public option that will be 30% to 40% cheaper than their current premiums because taxpayers will be funding it, employers will gladly scrap their private plans and go with Washington's coverage.

The nonpartisan Lewin Group estimated in April that 120 million or more Americans could lose their group coverage at work and end up in such a program. That would leave private carriers with 50 million or fewer customers. This could cause the market to, as Lewin Vice President John Sheils put it, "fizzle out altogether."

What wasn't known until now is that the bill itself will kill the market for private individual coverage by not letting any new policies be written after the public option becomes law.

The legislation is also likely to finish off health savings accounts, a goal that Democrats have had for years. They want to crush that alternative because nothing gives individuals more control over their medical care, and the government less, than HSAs.

With HSAs out of the way, a key obstacle to the left's expansion of the welfare state will be removed.

The public option won't be an option for many, but rather a mandate for buying government care. A free people should be outraged at this advance of soft tyranny.

Washington does not have the constitutional or moral authority to outlaw private markets in which parties voluntarily participate. It shouldn't be killing business opportunities, or limiting choices, or legislating major changes in Americans' lives.

It took just 16 pages of reading to find this naked attempt by the political powers to increase their reach. It's scary to think how many more breaches of liberty we'll come across in the final 1,002.

The Obama Economy Is Great…For Washington D.C.

Last week, Michigan’s Bureau of Labor Market Information announced that their state’s unemployment rate spiked in June, hitting 15.2%, the highest rate since mid-1983. Five other states, Rhode Island (12.4%), Oregon (12.2%), South Carolina (12.1%), Nevada (12%), and California (11.6%) all have either matched or surpassed their all time unemployment highs. Nationwide, a total of fifteen states are now suffering from 10% unemployment. The Federal Reserve predicts that double digit unemployment will envelope most of the country later this year.

But despite the weakness of the economy nationwide, one region in the country is doing much better. Compared to the nation 9.5% unemployment average, at 6.2%, the unemployment rate in the Washington D.C. metro region is lower than any other major metropolitan area in the country. And there is no secret about the source of D.C.’s economic strength: the rest of the country’s tax dollars siphoned through the rapidly expanding federal government. Fifteen cents of every dollar the federal government doles out throughout the world is spent in the Washington area. Last year alone, the federal government poured $133 billion into the area making the federal government the source for about one-third of Washington’s $401 billion economy.

And, of course, the size of the federal government is exploding under President Barack Obama. According to the Partnership for Public Service, the federal workforce, currently at 1.9 million, is expected to grow to about 2.1 million during the Obama administration. That is comparable to the staffing level during the Johnson administration’s Great Society programs of the 1960s. And that does not even include the boon in industries that feed off of the trillions of dollars pumping through the federal government. Lawyers, lobbyists, and accountants have all been huge winners in the Obama economy.

The fundamental problem with all of President Obama’s policies: his wasted $787 stimulus bill, his trillion dollar cap and tax energy plan, his trillion dollar health plan, etc., is that none of them work to grow the economy, only redistribute it. So what does make the economy grow?

Importantly, economic growth is not the consequence of government policies or of some master economic plan. It results from millions of people individually seeking what is in their own interests by providing what is in the interests of others, and the collective consequence of their actions is to increase the number of jobs in the economy, the wages earned by workers, and the income and wealth of the nation.

In a free economy, an engineer in California identifies a new technology that increases energy efficiency, brings it to market, and makes millions. In the Obama economy, lobbyists in Washington carve out financial rewards for their corporate clients. In a free economy, a geologist in Houston identifies new energy resources that lower energy costs for everyone and creates thousands of jobs. In the Obama economy, lawyers in Washington find loopholes in thousand page-energy legislation that saves their clients millions. In a free economy, doctors work with patients to choose what medical procedures are best them. In the Obama economy, a single unelected board of bureaucrats decides which procedures will be paid for, and which will not.

President Obama has promised the American people there will be 138.6 million jobs by the end of 2010. He’s currently 4.2 million jobs short. As long as he keeps trying to control the economy by increasing Washington’s power, and wealth, the Obama jobs gap will only grow wider.

A new Washington Post poll shows President Obama’s approval rating on health care has dropped below the 50 percent, and, for the first time in his presidency, more Americans strongly disapprove of his performance on the economy than strongly approve. Is America waking up??? Have they realized, at last, we have an empty suit, that is as glib as a snake oil salesman setting policy for America for generations to come????

An Obama administration official refused Sunday to rule out the possibility that federal tax money might be used to pay for abortions under proposed health care legislation. More secret tricks buried in our legislation.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke (He works for Obama) told the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai that Americans should be required to “pay” for China’s carbon emissions. What the heck????

Addressing Obama administration efforts to cap their carbon emissions, India’s environment and forests minister, Jairam Ramesh told Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “India’s position, let me be clear, is that we are simply not in the position to take legally binding emissions targets.” Smarter than our leaders.

The nation’s governors, Democrats as well as Republicans, fear that Obamacare will hand them expensive new Medicaid obligations without money to pay for them. So what else is new???

I SAY IT IS TIME FOR A REAL CHANGE.

TAKE AWAY HIS MAJORITY IN 2010, shut down his legislation, reverse what we can and then throw him out with all his minions, czars, Liberal Left Wingers, and his ACORN in 2012.....

LITTLE KNOWN NAVAL HISTORY

The U.S.S. Constitution, (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers!).

However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum."

Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."

Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum. Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.

On 18 November, she set sail for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.

By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.

The U.S.S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February, 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water!

GO NAVY!!!

No Need For Any More Words

Traffic Stop Yields Five Subjects Involved In Robbery Spree

Traffic Stop Yields Five Subjects Involved in Robbery Spree

Location of Incident:
Parking lot of the Shell Gas Station, 1622 Marsh Road, Wilmington, Delaware, New Castle County
7oo block of Montclair Drive, Naamans Apartments, Claymont, Delaware, New Castle County

Date and Time of Occurrence: Monday, July 20, 2009, at approximately 12:45 a.m. and 1:50 a.m. respectively

Suspect(s):
Devonte Carhee, 16, of West 3rd Street in Wilmington, Delaware
Jamier Davis, 18, of West 3rd Street in Wilmington, Delaware
Khali E. Garner, 16, of West 3rd Street in Wilmington, Delaware
Daimier Davis, 15, of West 3rd Street in Wilmington, Delaware
Carl W. Barbour, Jr., 18, of Plumtree Lane in Claymont, Delaware

Resume: At approximately 1:51 a.m. this morning, RECOM, the State Police Dispatch Center in New Castle County, initiated a broadcast advising all patrol units to be on the look out for a gray Dodge Neon which was involved in a robbery in Upper Chichester, Pennsylvania.

About two minutes later, RECOM initiated another broadcast advising this same suspect vehicle was involved in an armed robbery along the 700 block of Montclair Drive in the Naamans Apartment Complex. In this incident, the victim was robbed of his wallet at gunpoint. He was also assaulted in the robbery and required medical attention to stitch his wounds.

At about 2:00 a.m., a Troop 1 patrol officer observed a vehicle matching the aforementioned description in the parking lot of the Wawa located at 301 Naamans Road in Wilmington. This vehicle was occupied by five subjects and backup was summonsed. Eventually, all of the subjects were taken into custody without incident. A replica handgun and a stolen wallet were located in the vehicle.

As this investigation unfolded, it was determined that these same subjects were responsible for another robbery in the Shell Service Station on Marsh Road which occurred at 12:45 a.m. In this case, the victim just finished fueling his car when he was approached and assaulted by two male suspects. The bandits punched and kicked the victim after forcing him to the ground. He was then robbed of his wallet and cell phone.

The five suspects were transported back to the New Castle County Police Headquarters and then to DSP Troop 2 for processing. It should be noted that Jamier Davis was only implicated in the robbery at the Shell Service Station. The charges are as follows:

Devonte Carhee: two counts of Robbery 1st (felony), Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (felony), Assault 2nd (felony), and two counts of Conspiracy 2nd (felony) and Wearing a Disguise during the Commission of a Felony (felony). Court date pending and no bail information was available.

Carl W. Barbour: two counts of Robbery 1st (felony), Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (felony), Assault 2nd (felony), and two counts of Conspiracy 2nd (felony) and Wearing a Disguise during the Commission of a Felony (felony). Committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institute in lieu of $80,000.00 secured bond.

Khali E. Garner: two counts of Robbery 1st (felony), Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (felony), Assault 2nd (felony), and two counts of Conspiracy 2nd (felony) and Wearing a Disguise during the Commission of a Felony (felony). Court date pending and no bail information was available.

Daimier Davis: two counts of Robbery 1st (felony), Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (felony), Assault 2nd (felony), and two counts of Conspiracy 2nd (felony) and Wearing a Disguise during the Commission of a Felony (felony). Committed to the NCC Detention Center in lieu of $80,000.00 secured bond.
Jamier Davis: Robbery 1st (felony), Wearing a Disguise during the Commission of a Felony (felony) and Conspiracy 2nd (felony). Committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institute in lieu of $27,000.00 secured bond.

The details pertaining to the Upper Chichester Robbery were not available at the time of this release. If interested, media representatives should contact the Upper Chichester Police Department for information about their case.

Mug shots are only available for the following:

Retirement = Where To Live

You can live in Phoenix where...
1.You are willing to park 3 blocks away because you found shade.
2. You've experienced condensation on your butt from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
3. You can drive for 4 hours in one direction and never leave town.
4. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food.
5. You know that 'dry heat' is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door.
6. The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??!!


OR, you can Live in California where...
1. You make over $250,000 but still can't afford to buy a house.
2. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway.
3. You know how to eat an artichoke.
4. You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party.
5. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather than how many miles away it is.
6. The 4 seasons are: Fire, Flood, Mud and drought!


OR, you can Live in New York City where...
1. You say "The City" and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan .
2. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park, but can't find Wisconsin on a map.
3. You think Central Park is "Nature."
4. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual.
5. You've worn out a car horn (Ed note, if you even have a car!)
6. You think eye contact is an Act of Aggression.


OR, you can Live in Minnesota where...
1. You only have four spices: salt, pepper, ketchup, and Tabasco .
2. Halloween costumes all fit over parkas.
3. You have more than one recipe for moose.
4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons.
5. The four seasons are: winter, still winter, almost winter, and construction.


OR, you can live in Colorado where...
1.. You carry your $3000.00 mountain bike atop your $500 car!
2.. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home and so he stops at the day care center.
3.. A pass does not involve a football or dating.
4.. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail.


OR, you can live in Ohio where...
1. You've never met any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name.
2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
3. You have had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" on the same day.
4. You end sentences with a preposition: "Where's my coat at?"
5. When asked how your trip was to any exotic place, you say, "It was different!"


OR FINALLY, you can live in Florida where...
1. You eat "dinner" at 3:15 in the afternoon.
2. All purchases include a coupon of some kind -- even houses and cars.
3. Everyone can recommend an excellent dermatologist.
4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state.
5. Cars in front of you often appear to be driven by headless people.

Pet Adoption Event Saturday

FRUITLAND, MD – Murphy, Patches, Jenny, Stacks and Panther, all need homes. Save a life, warm your heart and make a donation during the Seaford Rommel’s ACE cat adoption and charity event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 25th, 800 Norman Eskridge Hwy Route 20 Ames Plaza.

The Seaford ACE Hardware will host a Pet Adoption Fair with representatives from the Sussex County Shelter bringing out dogs and cats seeking a home. Receive a hot dog and bottle of water for a $1 donation, which will be given to the shelter.

The organization will bring pets available for adoption and have information on dog training classes, volunteering, sponsorships, spaying and neutering, and how to adopt man’s and woman’s best friend.

Rommel’s ACE also will have a sidewalk sale during the benefit offering fantastic savings on seasonal and closeout items.

Rommel’s ACE in Seaford, is your one stop shop for all of your pet needs.

The Sussex County Shelter is part of the Delaware SPCA, a private, non-profit organization whose services it provides are only made possible with the charitable support of the community. The SPCA provides adoption and placement of dogs and cats, Low-cost spay/neuter services and dog licensing.

Delaware SPCA officers provide a range of animal control services to residents of the City of Wilmington and also enforce state cruelty statutes throughout New Castle and Sussex counties. Stray cats found within New Castle and Sussex counties are accepted at the Delaware SPCA's New Castle and Sussex shelters. A nominal donation is requested at intake to help provide for their care and feeding.

Sussex County Shelter, 22918 Dupont Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947. Information: Kate Hungerford at 302-856-6361 or visit http://www.delspca.org

For more information about Rommel’s ACE in Seaford, visit http://rommelsace.com or call Bryan D. Burkholder at 302-628-7890. Rommel's Ace Seaford is at 800 Norman Eskridge Hwy Route 20 Ames Plaza Seaford, DE 19973.

Dog Humor


Don’t Miss the Eastern Shore Patients First Healthcare Summit

Plan on being there this Thursday!  Join your fellow concerned citizens for the Eastern Shore Healthcare Summit.

Americans for Prosperity - a non-partisan, grassroots organization promoting ideas of limited government and fiscal responsibility – announced a “healthcare summit” to be held Thursday, July 23rd at Salisbury University.  Panelists are to include Dr. Michael Gloth of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Marc Kilmer of the Maryland Public Policy Institute.

Providing citizens an opportunity to ask questions and express their opinion, the summit will address issues not being addressed in the mainstream media.  These include the truth about President Obama’s “public option” and its probable impact on individuals’ healthcare and pocketbook.  There will also be discussion of the President’s proposal on taxes and small business – the nation’s primary job creation engine.

The “Patients First Healthcare Summit” will be held July 23, 2009 at 6PM in Carruthers Hall, Salisbury University.  For more information on the President’s proposed healthcare “reforms” and its impact on average citizens, check out JoinPatientsFirst.com and PatientsUnitedNow.com.

Today's Posts

I spent several hours Monday evening at the GOB sitting through one of the most difficult Council Work Sessions I had ever been through.

Between biting my tongue, pulling my hair out and completely frustrated that we're not allowed to speak during these meetings, well, I watched in amazement while the Mayor and Council made one wrong move after the other.

That being said, I was so frustrated that when I came home I simply decided not to commit as much time to Posting as I normally would as I know the main Post at 9:00 AM this morning would take some time to complete, if it even gets done by then.

As usual you'll see posts going up every 5 minutes from this point forward but it may slow down a bit at around 9:00 AM. Thanks for understanding.

Bailout Costs Could Reach $24 Trillion

By JIM KUHNHENN
WASHINGTON (July 20) - The federal government has devoted $4.7 trillion to help the financial sector through its crisis, a level of assistance equal to about one-third of the overall U.S. economy, a watchdog report said Monday.

Under the worst of circumstances, the report said, the government's maximum exposure could total nearly $24 trillion, or $80,000 for every American.

The figures are part of a tough new quarterly report to Congress from special inspector general Neil Barofsky, who accuses the Treasury Department of repeatedly failing to adopt recommendations aimed at making one component of the government financial rescue effort more accountable and transparent.

The $4.7 trillion commitment to the industry takes into account about 50 initiatives and programs set up since 2007 by the Bush and Obama administrations as well as by the Federal Reserve. Barofsky oversees one of the initiatives — the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Much of the government assistance is backed by collateral and Barofsky's $23.7 trillion estimate represents the gross, not net, exposure that the government could face.

Because of declining participation in short-term loan programs and because some infusions of money have been repaid, the maximum amount actually spent has declined to a current outstanding balance of $3 trillion, Barofsky said.

Treasury spokesman Andrew Williams said the actual cash outlay to date of all the programs cited by Barofsky is actually less than $2 trillion and said the maximum exposure estimate "is inflated in a number of ways."

The agencies and the programs assisting the financial sector include a newly created Federal Housing Finance Agency, increased deposit insurance initiated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and 18 support programs created by the Fed under the special powers it can deploy to address a systemwide financial crisis.

Banks have cut back on their use of the Fed's emergency lending program as well as other programs to ease credit stresses. Given that, the Fed has reduced the amount it will lend to financial institutions under two programs and it has decided to let a program to support money market mutual funds to expire as currently scheduled at the end of October.

Barofsky's $23.7 trillion estimate represents the maximum exposure that the government would face if all eligible applicants requested the maximum assistance at the same time. It does not account for the fees and other costs that some of these programs charge and for the collater al that many of the programs require that participants provide.

For instance, Barofsky assigns $6.8 trillion in potential exposure to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae , Freddie Mac and the 12 federal home loan banks. However, losses of that magnitude would require every homeowner with a Fannie or Freddie guaranteed mortgage to default and the value of the homes drop to zero. And Barofsky concedes that the finance agency and Treasury are not entirely liable for Fannie and Freddie losses.

The total also includes $3.35 trillion for a Treasury program, announced in September, to back money market mutual funds. But the Treasury has capped its liability for that program at $50 billion.

"While quantity and quality of the assets backing all of these programs vary, ignoring that side20of these programs misrepresents 'potential exposure' associated with them," Treasury's Williams said.

In his report, Barofsky says Treasury has accepted some of his recommendations for greater accountability, but says the department has not taken steps to require all TARP recipients to report on their actual use of funds. He said Treasury also should report the values of its investments in banks and other financial institutions, disclose the identity of borrowers under a nonrecourse loan program and disclose trading activity under a public-private investment fund.

Barofsky says Treasury's inaction means taxpayers have not been told what the financial institutions that have received assistance are doing with the money.
Rep. Darrell Issa, the top Republican in the House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said that by not adopting Barofsky's recommendation, Treasury is contradicting President Barack Obama's vows to increase government accountability.

"I don't know how you can justify hiding from the American people how their tax dollars are being spent," Issa said.
Barofsky's conclusion is contained in a quarterly report to Congress and in testimony he is prepared to give Tuesday to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

"The very credibility of TARP (and thus in large measure its chance of success) depends on whether Treasury will commit, in deed as in word, to operate TARP with the highest degree of transparency possible," Barofsky said.


AP Economics Writers Jeannine Aversa and Christopher S. Rugaber contributed to this report.

A Letter To The Editor


"Joe, I read your blog daily, and love your willingness to stick it to those who deserve it. You have a picture on the blog today of a bumper sticker that reads "My mother is a honor roll student at Robert E. Lee Elementary School." My 2 daughters attended Robert E. Lee Elementary is Spotsylvania County VA, and I would love to send them this pic. They could have great fun with their mother. As would I. While they are highly educated now, their mom included, I would get a hoot out of it if you could help me out. Please send to" xxxoo@comcast.net.