A new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) gives fresh ammunition to supporters and opponents of the tax cuts enacted by President George W. Bush.
The CBO document released Thursday said a short-term extension of the Bush-era tax breaks would boost GDP and cut unemployment, but warned that continuing them for too long would wreak havoc on the economy.
All of the Bush-era tax cuts are slated to expire in December, setting up a showdown this fall in Congress over which tax breaks should be extended.
According to the CBO, continuing the Bush tax cuts would help boost the gross domestic product 0.6 to 1.7 percentage points in 2011 and shave the national unemployment rate by 0.3 to 0.8 percent.
Democratic leaders have long argued that extending the tax cuts would add to the federal deficit and depress the economy.
On the other side of the debate, Republicans, and more than a few Democrats, argue the tax cuts should be kept in place to help the economy recover.
Shortly after the CBO released its report, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) blasted Republicans for proposing to extend Bush policies that he claims failed to rescue the economy from a historically tough recession.
“As Democrats fight for fiscal discipline and a strong economy, Republicans are advocating for a return to the exact same agenda that created enormous deficits and drove our economy into the deepest recession in a generation,” he said in prepared remarks.
“Going back to the failed Bush policies of the past is not the right direction for our country,” Hoyer added.
[Note to Uncle Steny: This year's deficit under the Democrats is the largest in US history. Bush was out riding fences on his ranch. --Editor]
Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) on Wednesday said extending all of the Bush tax breaks is crucial to job creation.
“By extending current tax rates, Congress could go a long way toward accomplishing what the administration has been trying to do for almost two years: create jobs,” he said in prepared remarks. “So far, the Obama administration has tried to create jobs by spending money on initiatives packaged as economic ‘stimulus.’ But that approach has not worked.”
Here is more
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Sunday, August 22, 2010
NY Candidate: Prison Dorms For Welfare Recipients
NEW YORK — Republican candidate for governor Carl Paladino said he would transform some New York prisons into dormitories for welfare recipients, where they could work in state-sponsored jobs, get employment training and take lessons in "personal hygiene."
Paladino, a wealthy Buffalo real estate developer popular with many tea party activists, isn't saying the state should jail poor people: The program would be voluntary.
But the suggestion that poor families would be better off in remote institutions, rather than among friends and family in their own neighborhoods, struck some anti-poverty activists as insulting.
Paladino is competing for the Republican nomination with former U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio. The primary is Sept. 14.
GO HERE to read more.
Paladino, a wealthy Buffalo real estate developer popular with many tea party activists, isn't saying the state should jail poor people: The program would be voluntary.
But the suggestion that poor families would be better off in remote institutions, rather than among friends and family in their own neighborhoods, struck some anti-poverty activists as insulting.
Paladino is competing for the Republican nomination with former U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio. The primary is Sept. 14.
GO HERE to read more.
A Year After Claiming The Economy As His Own, Obama Blames Bush
President Obama this summer has repeatedly blamed George W. Bush for the nation’s economic woes, a year after he took ownership of the economy and criticized those who “carp and gripe.”
The White House’s effort to tie congressional Republicans to Obama’s predecessor comes less than three months before the midterm elections. But the president’s campaign speeches this summer contrast to a speech he delivered in Michigan last year when his approval ratings were 17 points higher.
During a July 14, 2009, address in Warren, Mich., Obama said, “Now, my administration has a job to do, as well, and that job is to get this economy back on its feet. That's my job. And it’s a job I gladly accept. I love these folks who helped get us in this mess and then suddenly say, ‘Well, this is Obama’s economy.’ That’s fine. Give it to me. My job is to solve problems, not to stand on the sidelines and carp and gripe.”
At the time, the AP wrote, “With four simple words -- ‘Give it to me’ – President Barack Obama took possession of the economy.”
Throughout this year, though, Obama has continued to blame Bush and the criticism has intensified this month.
As Obama’s approval ratings have fallen though the year, more voters blame him for the state of the economy. A Rasmussen poll of 1,000 likely voters found that 48 percent blame Obama for the nation’s economic problems while 47 percent fault Bush.
For months, Obama has said Republicans drove the economy into a ditch.
He recently said, “We’re slipping and sliding and sweating, and the other side, the Republicans, they’re standing with their Slurpees watching us.”
[Isn't that precious? The folks who locked the Republicans out of the conferences while they 'slipped and slid' writing 2000-page mega-bills full of secret deals now say the Republicans did nothing to help. --Editor]
He added, “Finally we get this car to level ground…and what happens? [Republicans] want the keys back. Well, you can’t have the keys back…You got us in the ditch.”
During his speech in Seattle, Obama said, “The truth is it’s going to take a few years to fully dig ourselves out of this recession. It’s going to take time to bring back 8 million jobs. Anybody who tells you otherwise is just looking for your vote. But here’s what I can tell you: After 18 months, I have never been more confident that our nation is headed in the right direction.”
More
The White House’s effort to tie congressional Republicans to Obama’s predecessor comes less than three months before the midterm elections. But the president’s campaign speeches this summer contrast to a speech he delivered in Michigan last year when his approval ratings were 17 points higher.
During a July 14, 2009, address in Warren, Mich., Obama said, “Now, my administration has a job to do, as well, and that job is to get this economy back on its feet. That's my job. And it’s a job I gladly accept. I love these folks who helped get us in this mess and then suddenly say, ‘Well, this is Obama’s economy.’ That’s fine. Give it to me. My job is to solve problems, not to stand on the sidelines and carp and gripe.”
At the time, the AP wrote, “With four simple words -- ‘Give it to me’ – President Barack Obama took possession of the economy.”
Throughout this year, though, Obama has continued to blame Bush and the criticism has intensified this month.
As Obama’s approval ratings have fallen though the year, more voters blame him for the state of the economy. A Rasmussen poll of 1,000 likely voters found that 48 percent blame Obama for the nation’s economic problems while 47 percent fault Bush.
For months, Obama has said Republicans drove the economy into a ditch.
He recently said, “We’re slipping and sliding and sweating, and the other side, the Republicans, they’re standing with their Slurpees watching us.”
[Isn't that precious? The folks who locked the Republicans out of the conferences while they 'slipped and slid' writing 2000-page mega-bills full of secret deals now say the Republicans did nothing to help. --Editor]
He added, “Finally we get this car to level ground…and what happens? [Republicans] want the keys back. Well, you can’t have the keys back…You got us in the ditch.”
During his speech in Seattle, Obama said, “The truth is it’s going to take a few years to fully dig ourselves out of this recession. It’s going to take time to bring back 8 million jobs. Anybody who tells you otherwise is just looking for your vote. But here’s what I can tell you: After 18 months, I have never been more confident that our nation is headed in the right direction.”
More
Teachers Asked To 'Unfriend' Students On Facebook
Florida school district says teacher-student 'friending' is 'inappropriate'
A school district in Florida is advising teachers not to "friend" students on social networking sites, claiming that teacher-student communication through this medium is "inappropriate."
Earlier this week, Lee County school officials issued a list of guidelines to teachers suggesting they don’t correspond with students through sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. The guidelines for the 2010-2011 academic year also warned teachers to be careful when using communication to prevent legal or workplace issues that could surface.
"It is inappropriate for employees to communicate, regardless of the reason, with current students enrolled in the district on any public social networking website," the guidelines said.
"This includes becoming 'friends' or allowing students access to personal web pages for communication reasons."
This is the first school district in the state of Florida, possibly even the country, to issue teacher-protocol guidelines for social media.
GO HERE to read more.
A school district in Florida is advising teachers not to "friend" students on social networking sites, claiming that teacher-student communication through this medium is "inappropriate."
Earlier this week, Lee County school officials issued a list of guidelines to teachers suggesting they don’t correspond with students through sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. The guidelines for the 2010-2011 academic year also warned teachers to be careful when using communication to prevent legal or workplace issues that could surface.
"It is inappropriate for employees to communicate, regardless of the reason, with current students enrolled in the district on any public social networking website," the guidelines said.
"This includes becoming 'friends' or allowing students access to personal web pages for communication reasons."
This is the first school district in the state of Florida, possibly even the country, to issue teacher-protocol guidelines for social media.
GO HERE to read more.
NYT: Small Investors Flee Market
With renewed economic uncertainty, American investors have withdrawn a staggering $33.12 billion from stock market mutual funds so far this year.
GO HERE to read more.
GO HERE to read more.
Prison Fight Breaks Out In Jessup
Eleven inmates at Brockbridge Correctional Facility required medical attention after a fight broke out at the prison.
The Jessup, Md., prison was placed on lockdown last night after a brawl in which several inmates suffered stab wounds. None of the inmates suffered life-threatening injuries, though seven inmates required outside medical care. Four inmates were treated by medical personnel onsite.
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is investigating the cause of a brawl at the Jessup, Md., prison. Visits have been canceled for the remainder of the week, and some inmates have been transferred to other facilities.
Source
The Jessup, Md., prison was placed on lockdown last night after a brawl in which several inmates suffered stab wounds. None of the inmates suffered life-threatening injuries, though seven inmates required outside medical care. Four inmates were treated by medical personnel onsite.
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is investigating the cause of a brawl at the Jessup, Md., prison. Visits have been canceled for the remainder of the week, and some inmates have been transferred to other facilities.
Source
Salisbury News Breaks Former Record Day
While everyone was busy enjoying a beautiful Saturday, (or so I thought) Salisbury News had a record day yesterday. Go figure!
I apologize for not posting news as it was breaking Friday evening and Saturday. I was out at numerous events. While I have your attention, I want to thank ALL of you for showing your support at the Wicomico Farm and Home Show. I have been attending this event for the past couple of years and while I'm not privy to the actual volume of people who attended, I can tell you I thought it was the busiest I've ever seen it. We'll touch more on that tomorrow but I just wanted to thank everyone for coming.
I will provide several Posts tomorrow with a ton of photos. It's going to be very difficult to pick and choose just what images I'll put up as I took several hundred pictures and there are even more events today.
More importantly, Thank You for visiting Salisbury News. We truly appreciate it.
Senators Line Up To Tell U.N. To Leave Kids Alone
Thirty-one Republican senators have agreed to oppose the United Nations' "Convention on the Rights of the Child" treaty, and critics of the international plan to vest children with a long list of rights – such as a right to seek government review of parental decisions – are looking for three more names.
The campaign by supporters of ParentalRights.org opposes an effort to put the U.N. advocacy plan into operation in the United States.
So far, the senators who have joined to oppose what critics have described as a usurpation of parents' rights by international bureaucrats are: Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain of Arizona, Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Sens. Mike Crapo and James Risch of Idaho, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts of Kansas, Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky, Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Sen. Christopher Bond of Missouri, Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska, Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Sens. Tom Coburn and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, Sens. Robert Bennett and Orrin Hatch of Utah and Sens. John Barrasso and Michael Enzi of Wyoming.
Senator Barbara Boxer and others have been pressuring the Senate leadership to quickly ratify the treaty.
The resolution states the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child should not even be presented to the Senate for a vote, which would require two-thirds approval for ratification, because it "is contrary to the principles of self-government and federalism, and ... because the United Nations Convention on the Rights of theChild undermines traditional principles of law in the United States regarding parents and children."The 1990s-era plan was pushed through the U.N. and ratified quickly by 193 nations worldwide, but not the U.S. or Somalia. In Somalia, there was no recognized government to do the formal recognition, and in the United States there's been opposition to its power.When ratified, nations then are bound to follow the international document as law.
FERNANDO AND ALEX GUERRERO WILL APPEAR AT PHOEBUS CRAB FEAST TODAY
John K. Phoebus, candidate for House of Delegates, announced that Fernando and Alex Guerrero, will appear at a crab feast for his campaign to be held on Sunday, August 22, 2010 at Somers Cove Marina.
Fernando Guerrero is .the current NABO middleweight title holder and has an undefeated 18-0 record. He and his brother Alex Guerrro train under Hal Chernoff at the Main Street Gym, which will host its grand re-opening at its new location at 310 Bowl Drive on Saturday, August 21.
The "Phoebus Fighting for the Shore" crab feast will be held at Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 22, 2010, and will all-you-can-eat steamed crabs donated by local seafood processors and watermen, along with corn on the cob, hamburgers, beer and soda. A DJay and a live auction will be held.
Tickets are $35 and may be purchased by contacting Leslie Wilson at 410-430-0856 or leslie@electjohnphoebus.com. Checks should be made payable to Citizens for John K. Phoebus.
More information about the event can be obtained by visiting http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103621052106&s=160&e=001hMQXKfrrlz8AYGYuglyfvNf6hVn0EfkWQHulyy-RN_nxc0uIcMQ-ur0kqiCG1IPYfG1gCe2BNPfK4OtB8Z77Uh1u4Zp9rIV3tlpOtYRMlzsrkjC13NvDiut_F1w82sRqM8AxUV_hnVk= or http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103621052106&s=160&e=001hMQXKfrrlz91okGkJD3AytAP0sl5-FlNR8X04R8fWr5f35l6PmaGof2c3NhNlnfJc06KPuRDl8i3F0pGAZcpveuU0uo-1InmsaJol-xs8MaqJutgUGz1-KsJZzgZCNwG..
John K. Phoebus is a candidate for the House of Delegates for District 38A, representing Somerset and southern Wicomico Counties.
Farmers Bank of Willards Robbed In West Ocean City
Crime or Violation: Bank Robbery
Suspect: Unknown white male, medium build, 5’7” to 5’10”tall, wearing a longed
sleeve 3 tone gray, light gray, hooded jacket, blue jean shorts slightly longer
than knee length, white tennis shoes, armed with a dark in color semi-automatic
handgun
Narrative:
Shortly after 10 am on (Saturday) 8-21-10, Troopers from the Maryland State
Police Berlin Barracks, responded to The Farmer’s Bank of Willards,
located at 12641 Ocean Gateway, West Ocean City, MD for a reported Bank
Robbery.
Investigation revealed the above suspect entered the bank, and demanded money
from the teller.
The teller complied, and the suspect fled the bank on foot with an undetermined
amount of U.S. Currency.
No one was injured during this incident. An Investigation is continuing. If
anyone might of seen anything prior to or after the robbery, we are asking them
to please contact either The Worcester County Bureau of Investigations (410)
352- 3476 or call The Maryland State POlice Berlin, Md AT (410) 641-3101
The Bank of Wilards if offering a reward for information leading to the arrest
and conviction of the subject(s) involved.
Suspect: Unknown white male, medium build, 5’7” to 5’10”tall, wearing a longed
sleeve 3 tone gray, light gray, hooded jacket, blue jean shorts slightly longer
than knee length, white tennis shoes, armed with a dark in color semi-automatic
handgun
Narrative:
Shortly after 10 am on (Saturday) 8-21-10, Troopers from the Maryland State
Police Berlin Barracks, responded to The Farmer’s Bank of Willards,
located at 12641 Ocean Gateway, West Ocean City, MD for a reported Bank
Robbery.
Investigation revealed the above suspect entered the bank, and demanded money
from the teller.
The teller complied, and the suspect fled the bank on foot with an undetermined
amount of U.S. Currency.
No one was injured during this incident. An Investigation is continuing. If
anyone might of seen anything prior to or after the robbery, we are asking them
to please contact either The Worcester County Bureau of Investigations (410)
352- 3476 or call The Maryland State POlice Berlin, Md AT (410) 641-3101
The Bank of Wilards if offering a reward for information leading to the arrest
and conviction of the subject(s) involved.
The area was search by MSP Helicopter and ploice K-9 units.
Crosswell Locked Up Two Times In One Day
INCIDENT: Burglary/Theft DATE: August 21, 2010 LOCATION: 33000 Block Bob Smith Road, Parsonsburg, MD 21849
NARRATIVE: Pursuant to ongoing investigations by the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation, a second arrest warrant was issued for the below listed suspect. On 08/21/2010 at 1340 hrs. Tfc. Peters of WBI, with the assistance of Dfc. Pecoraro, arrested the suspect at his residence and released him to the custody of the Wicomico County Detention Center. Anyone with additional information pertaining to this or any other investigation is asked to contact the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation at 410-548-4898 or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776
SUSPECTS: Willard Hope Croswell
White Male, 44 years of age
Bob Smith Road, Parsonsburg, MD.
White Male, 44 years of age
Bob Smith Road, Parsonsburg, MD.
CHARGES: Burglary 1st, 3rd, 4th and 4th degree/theft.
Theft, and Theft –Scheme (2 counts each)
DISPOSITION: Released to Wicomico County Detention Center, Central Booking. INVESTIGATING DETECTIVE Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation.
Theft, and Theft –Scheme (2 counts each)
DISPOSITION: Released to Wicomico County Detention Center, Central Booking. INVESTIGATING DETECTIVE Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation.
Obama Administration Blocks Release Of Pivotal HHS Abstinence Study
The Obama administration is, once again, entangled in controversy over sex education.
Yet this time, it is not about what the administration is trying to implement, but about what it is withholding – and apparently for political reasons.
A taxpayer-funded study that indicates parental and adolescent support of abstinence education is not being released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as it does not support the administration’s objective – or that of vocal “safe sex” activists – of eliminating all abstinence-education funding.
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of HHS, funded a survey of 1,000 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 and their parents, in order to measure parent-adolescent communication and adolescent attitudes toward sex and abstinence.
The American Public Health Association’s (APHA) website reveals the results of the survey:
“Adjusting for all other factors in the model, parent and peer factors are more consistently associated with differences in adolescent attitudes about sex and abstinence than are measures of adolescent exposure to sex and abstinence topics in a class or program.
Additionally, parent attitudes are more important in influencing adolescent views than the level of parent communication with their adolescent.”
The executive summary revealed that:
* 70 percent of parents agreed with the statement: “It is against your values for your adolescents to have sexual intercourse before marriage.
* 70 percent of parents agreed with the statement: “Having sexual intercourse is something only married people should do.”
* Adolescents had similar responses for the two questions.
During an APHA conference, researcher Lisa Rue, Ph.D., who specializes in adolescent behavior, was intrigued by the study and requested the full report. She was summarily denied access.
Rue then resorted to submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which was also denied because it was “pre-decisional and deliberative” – even though it was presented in public twice.
Yet this time, it is not about what the administration is trying to implement, but about what it is withholding – and apparently for political reasons.
A taxpayer-funded study that indicates parental and adolescent support of abstinence education is not being released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as it does not support the administration’s objective – or that of vocal “safe sex” activists – of eliminating all abstinence-education funding.
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of HHS, funded a survey of 1,000 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 and their parents, in order to measure parent-adolescent communication and adolescent attitudes toward sex and abstinence.
The American Public Health Association’s (APHA) website reveals the results of the survey:
“Adjusting for all other factors in the model, parent and peer factors are more consistently associated with differences in adolescent attitudes about sex and abstinence than are measures of adolescent exposure to sex and abstinence topics in a class or program.
Additionally, parent attitudes are more important in influencing adolescent views than the level of parent communication with their adolescent.”
The executive summary revealed that:
* 70 percent of parents agreed with the statement: “It is against your values for your adolescents to have sexual intercourse before marriage.
* 70 percent of parents agreed with the statement: “Having sexual intercourse is something only married people should do.”
* Adolescents had similar responses for the two questions.
During an APHA conference, researcher Lisa Rue, Ph.D., who specializes in adolescent behavior, was intrigued by the study and requested the full report. She was summarily denied access.
Rue then resorted to submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which was also denied because it was “pre-decisional and deliberative” – even though it was presented in public twice.
Clinton Administration's Chickens Come Home To Roost
On August 16, 2010 the U.S. Department of Defense released a congressionally mandated report entitled "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2010."
The release of the report created worldwide headlines and has been taken seriously by military analysts.
One of the best and most direct headlines was written in introducing a story by Washington Times National Security Reporter Bill Gertz, who described what the DOD Report said:
"China is pursuing a variety of air, sea, undersea, space and counterspace, and information warfare systems and operational concepts to achieve this capability, moving toward an array of overlapping, multilayered offensive capabilities extending from China's coast into the western Pacific," the report said of the anti-access arms.
This report captures in some detail a very real clear and present danger to America and our Pacific Rim allies by the ongoing modernization of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). "PLA" is a term that can be accepted generically to include all PRC military forces.
However, this very dangerous PLA trend should come as no surprise because the U.S. Congress officially predicted it with great detail over a decade ago.
On January 3, 1999, a Select Committee in the House of Representatives issued a bipartisan report from the "Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China."
The three-volume unclassified report is know as the "Cox/Dicks Report."
The three volumes identify in great detail all the military technologies stolen by the PLA that are now operational or in the very near-term PLA modernization pipeline. It is very fair to say all U.S. state-of-the-art military technology stolen in the late 20th century is now flowing into various PLA forces -- ground, sea, air, space, and cyber.
Essentially, a decade after the Clinton administration sold out national security to Chinese military intelligence agents, the U.S. is in the proverbial "hurt locker."
Men and women in uniform may eventually pay a huge price for these illegal campaign contributions.
State-sponsored "criminality" by the PRC is just another dimension of warfare for them. It is the linkage of PRC business and the PLA with criminality. The melding of the PLA with PRC business and foreign policy objectives while cheating and bribing is a real and growing military problem, and this trend is as much a national security issue as law enforcement issue.
For example, First Lady Hillary Clinton had her Chief of Staff Maggie Williams accept a check for $50,000 in the White House from Johnny Chung. Mr. Chung, who legitimately expressed remorse as he was facing charges, fingered a Chinese General in PLA intelligence as a source of the funds for the White House check. The $50,000 was presented on behalf of known PRC citizens for their access to President Clinton's Saturday morning national radio address.
Any foreign money into the American political process is illegal. But this was an especially egregious instance, since Clinton is now Secretary of State and is rumored to be in consideration for the position of Secretary of Defense.
The release of the report created worldwide headlines and has been taken seriously by military analysts.
One of the best and most direct headlines was written in introducing a story by Washington Times National Security Reporter Bill Gertz, who described what the DOD Report said:
"China is pursuing a variety of air, sea, undersea, space and counterspace, and information warfare systems and operational concepts to achieve this capability, moving toward an array of overlapping, multilayered offensive capabilities extending from China's coast into the western Pacific," the report said of the anti-access arms.
This report captures in some detail a very real clear and present danger to America and our Pacific Rim allies by the ongoing modernization of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). "PLA" is a term that can be accepted generically to include all PRC military forces.
However, this very dangerous PLA trend should come as no surprise because the U.S. Congress officially predicted it with great detail over a decade ago.
On January 3, 1999, a Select Committee in the House of Representatives issued a bipartisan report from the "Select Committee on U.S. National Security and Military/Commercial Concerns with the People's Republic of China."
The three-volume unclassified report is know as the "Cox/Dicks Report."
The three volumes identify in great detail all the military technologies stolen by the PLA that are now operational or in the very near-term PLA modernization pipeline. It is very fair to say all U.S. state-of-the-art military technology stolen in the late 20th century is now flowing into various PLA forces -- ground, sea, air, space, and cyber.
Essentially, a decade after the Clinton administration sold out national security to Chinese military intelligence agents, the U.S. is in the proverbial "hurt locker."
Men and women in uniform may eventually pay a huge price for these illegal campaign contributions.
State-sponsored "criminality" by the PRC is just another dimension of warfare for them. It is the linkage of PRC business and the PLA with criminality. The melding of the PLA with PRC business and foreign policy objectives while cheating and bribing is a real and growing military problem, and this trend is as much a national security issue as law enforcement issue.
For example, First Lady Hillary Clinton had her Chief of Staff Maggie Williams accept a check for $50,000 in the White House from Johnny Chung. Mr. Chung, who legitimately expressed remorse as he was facing charges, fingered a Chinese General in PLA intelligence as a source of the funds for the White House check. The $50,000 was presented on behalf of known PRC citizens for their access to President Clinton's Saturday morning national radio address.
Any foreign money into the American political process is illegal. But this was an especially egregious instance, since Clinton is now Secretary of State and is rumored to be in consideration for the position of Secretary of Defense.
National Education Association Selling Its Saul
The National Education Association (NEA), the U.S.'s largest labor union, is promoting communism to the millions of American public school teachers it represents.
For the past several months, the NEA website has recommended that its members read books by communist sympathizer Saul Alinsky. And, for a time, the website listed October 1 as a day for teachers and students to celebrate the anniversary of the Communist takeover of China by Mao Zedong.
Saul Alinsky, who has been described by his biographer Sanford Horwitt as a "Communist fellow-traveler," wanted to transfer power from the so-called Haves to the so-called Have-nots and transform the U.S. into a communist state.
In his book, Rules for Radicals, Alinsky states, "A Marxist begins with his prime truth that all evils are caused by the exploitation of the proletariat by the capitalists. From this he logically proceeds to the revolution to end capitalism, then into the third stage of reorganization into a new social order of the dictatorship of the proletariat, and finally the last stage-the political paradise of communism."
Alinsky's amoral attitude extended beyond communist ideology; he completely rejected the Judeo-Christian principles America was founded on. He dedicated the first edition of Rules for Radicals to Lucifer: "Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins-or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom -- Lucifer."
American children are not being taught that Alinsky's "paradise of communism" has never shown up. They are not learning that the world's greatest famines and mass murders have occurred under communist regimes.
And the NEA wants to keep it that way.
The Center for American Progress, which received $110,000 from NEA, published a report recommending the elimination of several subjects from U.S. federal education programs, including "Academies for American History and Civics," "We the People," and "Excellence in Economic Education."
American history, civic education, and economic and financial literacy are the three most important subjects for producing an educated electorate -- and yet they are the very subjects at risk of being eliminated from primary and secondary public education.
Don't expect students to learn these subjects at the tertiary level; a study conducted by the nonprofit American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) found that both public and private universities are failing to require students to learn important subjects, especially American history, American government, and economics.
For the past several months, the NEA website has recommended that its members read books by communist sympathizer Saul Alinsky. And, for a time, the website listed October 1 as a day for teachers and students to celebrate the anniversary of the Communist takeover of China by Mao Zedong.
Saul Alinsky, who has been described by his biographer Sanford Horwitt as a "Communist fellow-traveler," wanted to transfer power from the so-called Haves to the so-called Have-nots and transform the U.S. into a communist state.
In his book, Rules for Radicals, Alinsky states, "A Marxist begins with his prime truth that all evils are caused by the exploitation of the proletariat by the capitalists. From this he logically proceeds to the revolution to end capitalism, then into the third stage of reorganization into a new social order of the dictatorship of the proletariat, and finally the last stage-the political paradise of communism."
Alinsky's amoral attitude extended beyond communist ideology; he completely rejected the Judeo-Christian principles America was founded on. He dedicated the first edition of Rules for Radicals to Lucifer: "Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins-or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom -- Lucifer."
American children are not being taught that Alinsky's "paradise of communism" has never shown up. They are not learning that the world's greatest famines and mass murders have occurred under communist regimes.
And the NEA wants to keep it that way.
The Center for American Progress, which received $110,000 from NEA, published a report recommending the elimination of several subjects from U.S. federal education programs, including "Academies for American History and Civics," "We the People," and "Excellence in Economic Education."
American history, civic education, and economic and financial literacy are the three most important subjects for producing an educated electorate -- and yet they are the very subjects at risk of being eliminated from primary and secondary public education.
Don't expect students to learn these subjects at the tertiary level; a study conducted by the nonprofit American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) found that both public and private universities are failing to require students to learn important subjects, especially American history, American government, and economics.
Despite Recent Record Spending, Congress Failed To Fund Detention Space For Illegals
Even as Congress increased overall federal spending from a then-record $2.6 trillion in fiscal 2006 to $3.6 trillion in fiscal 2010, it only appropriated enough funds for the Department of Homeland Security to provide a fraction of the additional 40,000 detention spaces for illegal aliens that had been authorized by an immigration law approved in 2004.
Because it lacked adequate detention space, DHS says it was forced over the last three years to release hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens it had caught and were being processed for deportation. Among these, as CNSNews.com recently reported, were 481 illegal aliens from state sponsors of terror and other "countries of interest" that DHS caught and released in fiscal years 2007-2009 and who are now fugitives whose wherabouts is unknown.
These 481 caught-and-released fugitive illegal aliens from terror sponsors and "countries of interest" include 97 citizens of Nigeria, the country from which Northwest Flight 253 hijacker Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab hailed. They also include 8 citizens of Yemen, the country where Abdulmutallab was recruited by al Qaeda, as well as 87 Pakistanis, 34 Lebanese, 29 Iranians, 22 Somalians, 14 Sudanese, 13 Syrians, 8 Algerians, 4 Afghans, and 2 Saudia Arabians.
In 2006, Congress did provide a special appropriation of $3 billion to DHS to enhance border security. This included a provision for increasing the detention beds to 45,000, but those beds were not added. Currently, there are only 33,400 beds available for detaining illegal aliens--and some critics charge not all of those are being used.
More here
Because it lacked adequate detention space, DHS says it was forced over the last three years to release hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens it had caught and were being processed for deportation. Among these, as CNSNews.com recently reported, were 481 illegal aliens from state sponsors of terror and other "countries of interest" that DHS caught and released in fiscal years 2007-2009 and who are now fugitives whose wherabouts is unknown.
These 481 caught-and-released fugitive illegal aliens from terror sponsors and "countries of interest" include 97 citizens of Nigeria, the country from which Northwest Flight 253 hijacker Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab hailed. They also include 8 citizens of Yemen, the country where Abdulmutallab was recruited by al Qaeda, as well as 87 Pakistanis, 34 Lebanese, 29 Iranians, 22 Somalians, 14 Sudanese, 13 Syrians, 8 Algerians, 4 Afghans, and 2 Saudia Arabians.
In 2006, Congress did provide a special appropriation of $3 billion to DHS to enhance border security. This included a provision for increasing the detention beds to 45,000, but those beds were not added. Currently, there are only 33,400 beds available for detaining illegal aliens--and some critics charge not all of those are being used.
More here
They Won't Build It!
Hardhats vow not to work on controversial mosque near Ground Zero
A growing number of New York construction workers are vowing not to work on the mosque planned near Ground Zero.
"It's a very touchy thing because they want to do this on sacred ground," said Dave Kaiser, 38, a blaster who is working to rebuild the World Trade Center site.
"I wouldn't work there, especially after I found out about what the imam said about U.S. policy being responsible for 9/11," Kaiser said.
The grass-roots movement is gaining momentum on the Internet. One construction worker created the "Hard Hat Pledge" on his blog and asked others to vow not to work on the project if it stays on Park Place.
"Thousands of people are signing up from all over the country," said creator Andy Sullivan, a construction worker from Brooklyn. "People who sell glass, steel, lumber, insurance. They are all refusing to do work if they build there."
"Hopefully, this will be a tool to get them to move it," he said. "I got a problem with this ostentatious building looming over Ground Zero."
GO HERE to read more.
A growing number of New York construction workers are vowing not to work on the mosque planned near Ground Zero.
"It's a very touchy thing because they want to do this on sacred ground," said Dave Kaiser, 38, a blaster who is working to rebuild the World Trade Center site.
"I wouldn't work there, especially after I found out about what the imam said about U.S. policy being responsible for 9/11," Kaiser said.
The grass-roots movement is gaining momentum on the Internet. One construction worker created the "Hard Hat Pledge" on his blog and asked others to vow not to work on the project if it stays on Park Place.
"Thousands of people are signing up from all over the country," said creator Andy Sullivan, a construction worker from Brooklyn. "People who sell glass, steel, lumber, insurance. They are all refusing to do work if they build there."
"Hopefully, this will be a tool to get them to move it," he said. "I got a problem with this ostentatious building looming over Ground Zero."
GO HERE to read more.
FOUR HOME RUNS LIFT CRAWDADS TO 9-4 WIN IN GAME ONE
TJ Baxter Connects on Team High Eighth Homer
Hickory, NC – The Hickory Crawdads blasted four home runs en route to a 9-4 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds on Saturday night at L.P. Frans Stadium. The Shorebirds have dropped the series opener in seven of their last eight series.
The Shorebirds powered into the lead in the top of the first inning. On the fifth pitch of the game by Jake Brigham, TJ Baxter lifted a home run over the right-center field wall. It was his team high eighth homer of the season.
The Crawdads responded immediately in the bottom of the first inning. After Pat Kantakevich retired the first two hitters, Zach Zaneski hit a home run over the left field wall. The the next batter, Jared Bolden, hit a towering homer over the right field wall to give the Crawdads a 2-1 edge.
In the third, the Crawdads tacked on another run. Leury Garcia led off with a single and stole his 40th base of the season. Then, Jonathan Roof hit a single to left that Levi Carolus threw low back to cutoff man Garabez Rosa, allowing Garcia to score.
The Shorebirds trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the fourth. Carolus drew a one out walk. Then, Omar Casamayor hit a high chopper down the right field line to score Carolus from first.
The Crawdads tacked on two more in the fourth inning to build a 5-2 edge. With Ed Koncel aboard, Guillermo Pimentel hit his first home run of the season over the left field wall to give the ‘Dads a 5-2 lead. The Crawdads added one more in the fifth inning to build a 6-2 lead.
The Shorebirds cut into the deficit again in the sixth inning. Ty Kelly singled to open the inning. Two batters later, Carolus doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Then, Gary Helmick hit a bouncer to second to plate Kelly. Mikey Planeta followed with an infield single off pitcher Jake Brigham’s glove to cut the deficit to 6-4.
In the eighth inning, the Crawdads put the game out of reach. With two men aboard, Ed Koncel blasted a Will Startup pitch over the left field wall to balloon the lead to 9-4.
RHP Brigham earned the win in seven innings for the Crawdads. RHP Patrick Kantakevich was pinned with the loss in 4.2 innings.
The Shorebirds and Crawdads play game two of the series on Sunday night at 5:00 p.m. RHP Bobby Bundy makes the start against RHP Braden Tullis.
Hickory, NC – The Hickory Crawdads blasted four home runs en route to a 9-4 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds on Saturday night at L.P. Frans Stadium. The Shorebirds have dropped the series opener in seven of their last eight series.
The Shorebirds powered into the lead in the top of the first inning. On the fifth pitch of the game by Jake Brigham, TJ Baxter lifted a home run over the right-center field wall. It was his team high eighth homer of the season.
The Crawdads responded immediately in the bottom of the first inning. After Pat Kantakevich retired the first two hitters, Zach Zaneski hit a home run over the left field wall. The the next batter, Jared Bolden, hit a towering homer over the right field wall to give the Crawdads a 2-1 edge.
In the third, the Crawdads tacked on another run. Leury Garcia led off with a single and stole his 40th base of the season. Then, Jonathan Roof hit a single to left that Levi Carolus threw low back to cutoff man Garabez Rosa, allowing Garcia to score.
The Shorebirds trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the fourth. Carolus drew a one out walk. Then, Omar Casamayor hit a high chopper down the right field line to score Carolus from first.
The Crawdads tacked on two more in the fourth inning to build a 5-2 edge. With Ed Koncel aboard, Guillermo Pimentel hit his first home run of the season over the left field wall to give the ‘Dads a 5-2 lead. The Crawdads added one more in the fifth inning to build a 6-2 lead.
The Shorebirds cut into the deficit again in the sixth inning. Ty Kelly singled to open the inning. Two batters later, Carolus doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Then, Gary Helmick hit a bouncer to second to plate Kelly. Mikey Planeta followed with an infield single off pitcher Jake Brigham’s glove to cut the deficit to 6-4.
In the eighth inning, the Crawdads put the game out of reach. With two men aboard, Ed Koncel blasted a Will Startup pitch over the left field wall to balloon the lead to 9-4.
RHP Brigham earned the win in seven innings for the Crawdads. RHP Patrick Kantakevich was pinned with the loss in 4.2 innings.
The Shorebirds and Crawdads play game two of the series on Sunday night at 5:00 p.m. RHP Bobby Bundy makes the start against RHP Braden Tullis.
SHOREBIRDS GAME NOTES: 8/21 @ Hickory
PREVIEW: With 16 games remaining in the 2010 season, the Shorebirds begin their final road swing of the year with game one against Hickory. The Shorebirds have made two separate trips to L.P. Frans Stadium this season. They are 2-6 in Hickory. The ‘Birds are 5-14 in the month of August and rest in last place in the Northern Division, 11.5 behind Lakewood. The Crawdads are 3-7 in his last 10 games and 7-11 in the month of August.
BRANDHORST BLOSSOMING: Including two shutout frames last night, relief pitcher James Brandhorst has not allowed a run in his last six outings (8.1 IP). His ERA has dropped from 4.09 to 3.44.
CAROLUS SCUFFLING: Levi Carolus has just one hit in his 27 at-bats (seven games). His batting average has gone from .232 to .203.
MOST SINCE 2005: Mikey Planeta leads the Shorebirds with 13 outfield assists this season. The last Shorebirds player to record more than 13 outfield assists was Arturo Rivas, who notched 17 in 2005.
AUGUST OFFENSIVE WOES: The Shorebirds are batting just .214 as a team in 19 games in August. Only two players are batting over .250 during the month: Mike Flacco (.279) and T.J. Baxter (.266). Five players are hitting below .200.
BRANDHORST BLOSSOMING: Including two shutout frames last night, relief pitcher James Brandhorst has not allowed a run in his last six outings (8.1 IP). His ERA has dropped from 4.09 to 3.44.
CAROLUS SCUFFLING: Levi Carolus has just one hit in his 27 at-bats (seven games). His batting average has gone from .232 to .203.
MOST SINCE 2005: Mikey Planeta leads the Shorebirds with 13 outfield assists this season. The last Shorebirds player to record more than 13 outfield assists was Arturo Rivas, who notched 17 in 2005.
AUGUST OFFENSIVE WOES: The Shorebirds are batting just .214 as a team in 19 games in August. Only two players are batting over .250 during the month: Mike Flacco (.279) and T.J. Baxter (.266). Five players are hitting below .200.