Proposal In Congress Puts Feds In Middle Of Catastrophe Claims

The federal government, in its efforts to take over health care, auto companies, Wall Street interests, student loans and talk about plans for imposing new mandates on talk radio, the Internet and oil companies, isn't ignoring the insurance industry.

There's now an advancing new plan to put more taxpayer dollars into claims coming out of catastrophes like Hurricane Katrina. And a wide-ranging coalition of interest groups from the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies to the Reinsurance Association of America are in league with the Environmental Defense Fund and the Sierra Club to oppose it.

The plan, H.R. 2555 by Rep. Ron Klein, D-Fla., has been reported out of the House Committee on Financial Services. It is expected to be up for its next vote soon.

But a letter to members of Congress by members of SmarterSafer.org, dispatched just days ago, said the plan would "displace the private insurance market, and require American taxpayers to pay billions of dollars to support beach front homes and development in environmentally sensitive areas."

"The 'Homeowners' Defense Act,' H.R. 2555, dubbed the 'Beach House Bailout,' requires taxpayers across the country, and in your district, to subsidize insurance for wealthy homeowners along the Florida coastline," the letter to members of Congress said. "The bill is structured to assist the state of Florida (and to a much smaller extent, California) through federal assistance."

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Environmentalists Give Obama A Pass On Oil Spill

Last week, it seemed, environmentalists were finally ready to let loose on President Barack Obama over the Gulf oil spill-- called by some America's worst-ever environmental catastrophe.

Actress Q’orianka Kilcher chained herself to the White House fence while her mother slathered the “Pocahontas” star in black paint meant to look like oozing crude.

Kilcher’s cause? Not the Gulf spill at all but oil-related abuses of indigenous people in Peru, whose president was visiting Obama that day.

As the greatest environmental catastrophe in U.S. history has played out on Obama’s watch, the environmental movement has essentially given him a pass — all but refusing to unleash any vocal criticism against the president even as the public has grown more frustrated by Obama’s performance.

About a dozen environmental groups took out a full page ad in the Washington Post Tuesday — not to fault Obama over the ecological catastrophe but to thank him for putting on hold an Alaska drilling project. “We deeply appreciate your decision. ...” the ad says to Obama.

President Obama is the best environmental president we’ve had since Teddy Roosevelt,” Sierra Club chairman Carl Pope told the Bangor Daily News last week. “He obviously did not take the crisis in the Minerals Management Service adequately seriously, that’s clear. But his agencies have done a phenomenally good job.

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The 'LITTLE' Things

As you might remember, the head of a company survived
9/11 because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was
His turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her
Alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike
Because of an auto accident.

One of them
Missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take
Time to change.

One's
Car wouldn't start.

One couldn't
Get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man
Who put on a new pair of shoes that morning,
Took the various means to get to work
But before he got there, he developed
a blister on his foot.

He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
That is why he is alive today..

Now when I am
Stuck in traffic ,
Miss an elevator,
Turn back to answer a ringing telephone ...

All the little things that annoy me.
I think to myself,
This is exactly where
God wants me to be
At this very moment..

Next time your morning seems to be
Going wrong ,
You can't seem to find the car keys,
You hit every traffic light,
Don't get mad or frustrated;
It may be just that
God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you
With all those annoying little things
And may you remember their possible purpose.

A M E N

Caption This Photo

EU To Israel: End Gaza Blockade

European leaders urged Israel over the weekend to lift its blockade of Gaza, as they drafted plans to revive and expand the European Union’s role in monitoring goods heading into the area.

On Monday, the EU Foreign Affairs Council plans to debate the matter.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said at a joint press conference with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday that his country wants to “forge a strong common position” with EU countries in the face of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Zapatero said that at Monday’s Council meeting, Spain’s foreign minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, would propose that the EU deploy “all its political and diplomatic capability” to end the Gaza blockade.

On Friday, the foreign ministers from France, Italy and Spain wrote an op-ed in the International Herald Tribune in which they joined in the call. They were careful to insist that captive IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, held by Hamas in Gaza since June 2006, be released.

The ministers also acknowledged Israel’s security concerns: “Lifting the blockade,” they said, “must not go hand-in-hand with a resurgence in arms trafficking and an influx of terrorist groups in Gaza.”

The quantity and variety of goods entering Gaza must increase, they said, offering as one possibility a proposal by Quartet Middle East envoy Tony Blair. Blair has “suggested a shift from a logic of denial of supplies to Gaza, with some exceptions, to a logic based on general authorization, with the exception of banned products.”

“Why not adopt this idea?” they asked. “To guarantee full security of supplies, we propose that inspections supported and funded by the European Union should be put in place [at land crossings] in conditions acceptable by all in order to ensure that consignments bound for Gaza contain neither weapons nor explosives,” they said.

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'Tea Party' Struggles For Lack Of A Leader

'We like it being a collective group of voices,' says member

The polls hadn't even closed Tuesday when "tea party" activists in Nevada started sniping at one another over whether Sharron Angle, the soon-to-be Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, was the best candidate to bring down Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid.

In Virginia, tea partiers vented on blogs and to reporters about the movement's inability to coalesce around a single, strong candidate in two House races, resulting in the nomination of establishment candidates instead.

The national tea party movement has never had a central organization or single leader; in fact, it has boasted the opposite.

GO HERE to read more.

Youtube Pulls "We Con The World" Parody

After it got over 3 million hits in barely a week, Youtube has removed the Latma parody video, “We Con the World,” a satirical musical portrayal of the true intentions of the Turkish-Hamas 'love boat' captain, crew and passengers.

Beginning Friday night, viewers who tried to watch the video at its original link were greeted by a message stating that “This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Warner/ Chappell Music, Inc.”

The removal was first discovered by journalist Caroline Glick, who edits the Hebrew language Latma website, which originated the video. According to Youtube, the video violated the copyright of the companies that own the rights to the “We Are the World” video, produced in the 1980s to raise money for hunger in Africa.

While it's true that the copyright to “We Are the World” is owned by Warner/Chappell, says Glick, “Copyright experts we advised with before posting the song told us in no uncertain terms that we were within our rights to use the song because we did so in accordance with the Fair Use Doctrine. The Fair Use Doctrine stipulates that it is legal and permissible to use copyrighted material under the fair use doctrine for purposes of parody,” she wrote.

Youtube has not yet commented on the video's removal, but there were numerous campaigns on social media sites, like Facebook, to force the site to remove the video. There is no record of Youtube's removing the numerous anti-Israel videos put up by Arab groups.

Meanwhile, as word has gotten out about the removal of the video, dozens of sites on the internet have been reposting it, and in fact, doing a search of “We Con the World” at Youtube will yield dozens of links posted by other people that still work at this point.

One site where the video can still be seen is the WeJew site. Glick says that the video's removal has not dampened Latma's attempts to get Israel's truth out to the world. “Despite these obstacles, we at Latma have no intention of crying Uncle. By tomorrow, we will repost our song on blogs throughout the world.”

Meanwhile, she wrote, “stay tuned for our next video next Thursday night.”

Here's more at INN

Saudis Deny Report They Will Allow Israeli Planes Over Country

Saudi Arabia on Saturday denied a report in the London Times that it had given Israel “clear skies” to attack Iran. According to the report, Saudi Arabia was testing its radar and defense equipment in order to partially disable defenses, in order to allow Israeli planes to fly over Saudi airspace in the event of an attack against Iranian nuclear facilities.

The report quotes a U.S. security official as saying that "The Saudis have given their permission for the Israelis to pass over and they will look the other way. They have already done tests to make sure their own jets aren't scrambled and no one gets shot down. This has all been done with the agreement of the [US] State Department." It further quoted sources in the Saudi government as saying that officials in the country “all know” about the plan, and that they “will let them [the Israelis] through and
see nothing.”

Riyadh denied the report later Saturday, saying it was “slanderous. Saudi Arabia rejects violating its sovereignty or the use of its airspace or territories by anyone to attack any country,” an official said in a statement.

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Catalina Island Lands In Storm Of Immigration Debate

An island off the Los Angeles coast reluctantly finds itself in the middle of an international tussle over illegal immigration, and some leaders are blaming their own congressman for putting them there.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher flew by helicopter here earlier this month to confront a Mexican official who was handing out identity cards that nationals use in the U.S. to open bank accounts and cash checks. The GOP congressman said the IDs only help illegal immigrants establish a foothold in the U.S.

Many island residents saw his visit as grandstanding, portraying their community as a haven for illegal immigrants and unnecessarily drawing them into a raging immigration debate that could harm their tourist-dependent economy.

"Are there illegals on Catalina? Yes, there are illegals everywhere in the country. I don't think we're different than any other community," said Wayne Griffin, president of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

"Don't grandstand on our island and somehow make us part of the problem," he said.

Business leaders say they've received e-mails since the visit from people upset about the IDs and threatening to take their business elsewhere because the Mexican consulate event was held on the island 22 miles from the mainland.

The controversy erupted as the island's businesses hoped to draw attention to a $13 million facelift, with new attractions including a zip line that carries riders from 600 feet above sea level to the beach.

Rohrabacher acknowledged their concerns, agreeing that immigration was a federal responsibility, not theirs.

His visit was the latest episode in a long-running debate over the IDs. Mexico has issued more than 7.2 million cards in the U.S. since 2002 through a network of 50 consulates that includes outposts in Boise, Idaho, Juneau, Alaska and Little Rock, Ark.

Mexican officials say the IDs, valid for five years, are also used by Mexicans who are in the U.S. legally.

"The main objective is to provide our citizens with an ID card here, whatever they need it for," said Ricardo Alday, spokesman for the Mexican Embassy in Washington. "It's better for everyone to know who they are and where they live."

The Orange County congressman, who is seeking a 12th term in a safely Republican district, said the IDs made it easier for illegal immigrants to live in the U.S. and the program contradicted long-term strategy to combat illegal immigration.

"The idea that we are making it more comfortable for illegals to be here ... it's wrong," he said.

Rohrabacher said he learned about the Los Angeles consulate's June 3 visit a day or two before from constituents.

Flyers posted in Avalon, a town of about 4,000 people, advertised the consular event scheduled to be held at the Catalina Visitors Country Club, where the consulate held the same event in 2008 without controversy.

Brad Wilson, chief marketing officer for Santa Catalina Island Co., owner of the country club, got a call from a Rohrabacher aide the day before the event asking if he knew he was aiding and abetting illegal immigrants.

The congressman then sent a letter that suggested Mexico needed State Department clearance and that the city and country club were "unwitting participants" in a program to help illegal immigrants.

Taken aback, Wilson withdrew the invitation just as consular officials were unloading computers and printers from a ferry boat. The city's Catholic church offered a room to rescue the event.

Rohrabacher later conceded that State Department approval was unnecessary, saying his staff didn't have time to research the question before the event.

After his helicopter landed, he expounded on illegal immigration over breakfast with city officials and then walked a few blocks to church to confront Juan Carlos Mendoza, Mexico's deputy consul general in Los Angeles, face to face.

"We agreed that this would be decided between Mexico City and Washington," Mendoza said.

Consular officials said they issued 44 ID cards and 60 passports before they left.

More here

What Is Missing At Obama's Press Conferences?

No it is not the teleprompters. See the other president’s pics for a clue.

What is missing at Barack Hussein Obama's press conference?

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA (aka BARRY SOETORO)

GEORGE WALKER BUSH

WILLIAM JEFFERSON BLYTHE CLINTON

GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH

RONALD WILSON REAGAN

That's right... no American flags!!!

And I don't believe it was just an accident! It is intentional. So I ask, why is it intentional?

He told you he would change America, didn't he? This man, whoever he really is, is not an American. He and his ilk want to end the American Free Enterprise System. And we have let them go a pretty good way into doing just that. Will you vote in November?

I hope you’ll vote in November like your way of life depended on it! Change HAS to come!

BP Official Admits To Damage BENEATH THE SEA FLOOR

As I noted Tuesday, there is growing evidence that BP’s oil well – technically called the “well casing” or “well bore” – has suffered damage beneath the level of the sea floor.

The evidence is growing stronger and stronger that there is substantial damage beneath the sea floor. Indeed, it appears that BP officials themselves have admitted to such damage. This has enormous impacts on both the amount of oil leaking into the Gulf, and the prospects for quickly stopping the leak this summer.

On May 31st, the Washington Post noted:

Sources at two companies involved with the well said that BP also discovered new damage inside the well below the seafloor and that, as a result, some of the drilling mud that was successfully forced into the well was going off to the side into rock formations.

“We discovered things that were broken in the sub-surface,” said a BP official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. He said that mud was making it “out to the side, into the formation.”

GO HERE to read more.

SHOREBIRDS GAME NOTES: 6/12 @ Lexington

PREVIEW: The Shorebirds have dropped back-to-back games heading into the series finale. Miguel Arrendell hit the second pitch of the game from Matt Hobgood over the left field wall last to set the tone for Lexington. Legends starter Luis Cruz earned the win while Matt Hobgood was pinned with the loss.

FIRST SWEEP?: Although the Shorebirds are ten games below .500, they have not been swept in a series this season. Lexington will try and become the first time to sweep the Shorebirds. The ‘Birds’ longest losing streak this season is four, which has happened twice (5/9-5/13 and 5/19-5/21).

ERROR PRONE: The Shorebirds made four errors last to up their season total to a league high 111. The Shorebirds have committed three or more errors in 21 of their 62 games.

5 DAYS: The Lexington Legends come to Perdue Stadium in five days from now to open a four-game series against the Shorebirds. The Shorebirds return to Applebee’s Park on July 29 to begin a four-game series.

KEYS AIM FOR CROWN: The Frederick Keys, made up of much of the ‘09 Shorebirds team, can wrap up the first half Northern Division title in the Carolina League with a win over the Salem Red Sox tonight at 6:00 p.m.

VS. DYDALEWICZ: Brad Dydalewicz, the starter tonight for Lexington, pitched against Delmarva at Perdue Stadium last season on July 14. He was saddled with the loss in four innings pitched. The Shorebirds plated three runs in the bottom of the first against the lefty. The Spicewood, Texas native went 8-5 in 22 starts last season for the Legends. In 11 starts in the California League for Lancaster, Dydalewicz struggled to a 1-6 record with an 11.39 ERA.

HITTING SAFELY IN RETURN: Luis Bernardo has hit safely in all three games since his return from Frederick. He is 3-for-10.

FIVE-GAMER FOR CONLEY: ‘Birds right fielder Brian Conley takes a five-game hitting streak into the finale (9-20). Conley has four runs and four RBIs during the stretch.

CLUTCH: Tyler Stampone has six two-out RBIs this season. Two of them have come over the last two nights.

BAXTER’S SIX-GAMER: T.J. Baxter has a season best six-game hitting streak. He has seven hits during the stretch. Baxter also has five runs and four RBIs during the stretch. His career long hit steak is seven, accomplished twice in 2009 for the Aberdeen Ironbirds.

Eric Wargotz Supports Free Health Care For Illegal Immigrants

Jim Rutledge Believes Marylanders Should Know The Truth About Wargotz

FOREST HILL, Maryland- Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jim Rutledge of Maryland believes election results continue to reflect America’s outrage with Washington’s career politicians. Jim Rutledge said, “State by state voters are sending a clear message that they are tired of politics as usual.” Jim Rutledge understands and shares the frustration Marylanders have with politicians who say one thing and then do another.

The Rutledge Campaign believes statements by Eric Wargotz are an affront to the values and beliefs of Marylanders. Voters deserve to know the truth about where Eric Wargotz stands on the issues. Illegal immigration is costing taxpayers billions of dollars and the Wargotz solution is to advocate free health care for all illegal immigrants. In an October 30, 2009 interview with the Jewish Times Wargotz stated that he was disappointed that President Obama was not going to pay for health care for illegal immigrants. Eric Wargotz is attempting to hide behind the conservative banner while advocating liberal positions.

Jim Rutledge is the only true conservative seeking to represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate. Eric Wargotz has a record making liberal and irresponsible decisions. Jim Rutledge provides a clear alternative to the Washington Insiders and candidates like Eric Wargotz who want to drive America farther in debt. Jim Rutledge said, “It’s time to take the gloves off because Marylanders need to know the truth about Eric Wargotz.”

The time has come for Marylanders to join the fight to restore Washington and bring the career politicians home. Jim Rutledge is leading the way by proudly holding up the conservative banner not hiding behind it.

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO HONOR MARYLAND HEROES

Governor to welcome home returning veterans at two military ceremonies Sunday
Governor will address Maryland Firefighters and Maryland Police Chiefs

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley will honor Maryland heroes next week in a series of ceremonies and public addresses. Sunday, he will participate in two welcome home ceremonies, welcoming back soldiers from the 175th Wing, Maryland National Guard, and soldiers from the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion, many of whom Governor O’Malley met with in February during his Defense Department-sponsored mission to Iraq.

The first event, held at Fort McHenry on Sunday morning, will honor 112 Army Reserve Soldiers from Alpha Company, 323rd who returned from Iraq after completing a one year deployment in support of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq and United States Forces-Iraq. Later that day, Governor O’Malley will welcome home several hundred Airmen from the Maryland National Guard, each of whom served more than 30 consecutive days for Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and other contingency operations.

Governor O’Malley will also address more than 1,500 members of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association Convention in Ocean City on Monday morning, including volunteer firefighters from across the State. On Wednesday, Governor O’Malley will address about 40 members of the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association at their Executive Board meeting. The Governor will address record reductions in overall crime, and the state and local efforts that have lead to the lowest rate of violent crime recorded in Maryland since 1975.

PROVIDENCE CENTER PARTNERS WITH FIRST LADY KATIE O’MALLEY’S “GROW IT EAT IT”

PROVIDENCE CENTER PARTNERS WITH FIRST LADY KATIE O’MALLEY’S “GROW IT EAT IT” GARDEN, PROVIDES AND PLANTS SUMMER VEGETABLE SEEDLINGS

ANNAPOLIS, MD – With summer gardening underway, the University of Maryland Master Gardeners along with individuals involved with the Providence Center, Inc.’s Horticulture Program today planted summer vegetable seedlings in First Lady Katie O’Malley’s Grow It Eat It garden. The plants were grown by clients of Providence Center through the organization’s Horticulture Program located in Anne Arundel County.

“This exciting and unique partnership highlights the services the Providence Center provides and links them with the State’s backyard food gardening promotion,” said First Lady O’Malley. “We look forward to growing out the seedlings and expanding the garden offerings as an example of what all Marylanders can do whether they have a patio with planters or a larger backyard garden to improve their health and fitness and to better understand how food is grown.”

Providence Center clients, University of Maryland Extension’s Master Gardeners and Maryland Department of Agriculture staff joined together to put in a variety of vegetable plants including tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, summer squash, herbs and beans. The seedlings were grown by Providence Center clients in their four greenhouse facilities. Plants grown by the Providence Center are available for sale as part of the job training program.

First Lady O’Malley is partnering with University of Maryland Extension’s Home and Garden Information Center and Master Gardeners to promote the “Grow It Eat It, campaign” which encourages Maryland families to improve health and save money by growing fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs using sustainable practices. The campaign hopes to encourage 1 million Marylanders to produce their own affordable, healthy food. More information on the campaign and the University of Maryland’s Master Gardener program can be found at www.growit.umd.edu.

Last year, Maryland became one of the first states, if not the first state in the nation, to have a backyard food garden at the Governor’s home. The vegetable garden sets a realistic example of what Maryland families can do in their own backyards. This year, the program has expanded to include a gardening lecture series and a honey bee colony.

The Providence Center, Inc. provides services that allow individuals with disabilities to enjoy increased self-determination in leading a more independent, valuable and functioning role in society. For more information about the center’s facilities, visit www.providencecenter.com.
For more information about the First Lady’s garden and lecture series visit www.firstlady.maryland.gov.

Phone Scam

Last month and this month my phone bills showed some less than 1-minute calls from pay phones with a 75 cent charge. Calls were from California and New Jersey. Phone Co. reversed them, but I know nothing about them. Is this a new scam? Who among your readers would know enough about phone service to explain how this works?

LEGENDS COMPLETE SWEEP OF SHOREBIRDS IN WILD FINALE, 9-8

‘Birds Open Seven-Game Homestand on Monday at Perdue

Lexington, Ky. – On a chaotic final play in the ninth inning, the Legends knocked off the Shorebirds, 9-8, at Applebee’s Park on Saturday night. The Shorebirds were swept for the first time all season.

The Legends powered their way onto the scoreboard in the second. Jake Goebbert hit a lead-off single and Jonathan Meyer reached on an error by Garabez Rosa. Then, Andy Simunic hit a line drive homer to left field to give the Legends a 3-0. Two batters later, Brian Kemp reached on a sharp single into center field. Then, Jose Altuve hit a towering homer to right field to give the Legends a 5-0 advantage.

Delmarva came to life in the fifth inning. Garabez Rosa reached second on a throwing error by shortstop Miguel Arrendell. Jason Stifler and T.J. Baxter then drew back-to-back walks. With the bases loaded, Gary Helmick connected on a sacrifice fly to left-center field to plate Rosa. Then, Brian Conley walked to load the bases again. The Legends then replaced Brad Dydalewicz with Zachary Grimmett. He proceeded to plunk Kieron Pope to force jp,e Stifler. Tyler Stampone followed with a flare single to right field to score Baxter to cut the deficit to 5-3.

The Shorebirds ripped the lead away from Lexington in the sixth inning. Garabez Rosa led off with a bunt single. After two outs were recorded, Gary Helmick and Brian Conley both walked. Then, Kieron Pope blasted a bases-clearing double off the top of the center field wall to lift the ‘Birds in front 6-5.

The lead was short-lived. Altuve connected on a two-run homer to right field to give the Legends the lead back at 7-6. J.D. Martinez recorded an RBI single to plate Arrendell to give the Legends a 8-6 edge.

The ‘Birds knotted the affair with two in the eighth. Tyler Stampone had the equalizing RBI on a hard hit grounder up the right field line.

The Legends were able to squeeze out the win in the bottom of the ninth inning. Martinez hit a lead-off infield single. Two batters later, Jake Goebbert hit a hard grounder to first that skipped up the right field line to push Martinez to third. Conley retrieved the baseball and fired back to T.J. Baxter, who noticed Goebbert running to second. T.J. then fired to second but the ball sailed over Rosa and into left field allowing Martinez to come into score the winning run.

The Shorebirds return to Perdue Stadium on June 14 to take on the Kannapolis Intimidators.