Remember That "Honey-Do List"?

The "Honey-Do List" I received was actually to take my Family away. Away from the Blog. Away from Politics. While we silently make several trips away during the summer months, most of the time we stay fairly local. While some may consider a trip to Kings Dominion local, I haven't been there in 32 years and quite frankly, we had a blast!

We pulled out the Motor Coach and hit the road for a much needed break over the past few days. I'll try to get into more details tomorrow but I just wanted to thank everyone for their patience these past few days. A lot of time and effort goes into Salisbury News and while I don't take enough breaks, this is just what I/We needed.

Tomorrow you can expect a TON of Posts. We have a lot of catching up to do. I hope everyone enjoyed this Holiday Weekend and we'll see you tomorrow morning.

Condoleezza Rice Reveals Chaos Following 9/11 Attacks

Former US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said that she had to yell at then President George Bush not to return to the White House, a potential terrorist target, following the 9/11 attacks, The Daily Mirror reported on Monday. Rice's comments came in a documentary film entitled 9/11: State of Emergency, which is scheduled to air on British television on Saturday, the nine year anniversary of the deadly attacks.

According to Rice, Bush insisted on returning to Washington from Florida following the attacks, prompting her to order him away from the White House.

"I said, 'You cannot come back here. The United States of America is under attack, you have to go to safety. We don't know what is going on here.' He said, 'I'm coming back.' I said in a raised voice, and I had never raised my voice to the President before, I said, 'You cannot come back here.' I hung up."

More here

MD Primary – House, District 38-B

Republican Primary -

Four Republicans are vying for the two slots to emerge from the GOP primary.  Our choices – A. Kaye Kenney and Mike McDermott.

Kenney, a Wicomico farmer and small business owner, has served Wicomico County as a member of the Liquor Licensing Commission and on the Charter Review Committee.  She has also been actively involved in making sure that the Wicomico County Liquor Control Board ceased using taxpayer funds for illegitimate purposes.

McDermott is a career law enforcement officer serving with the Worcester County Sheriff’s office.  He also serves as the mayor of Pocomoke.  Prior to becoming mayor, McDermott also managed his family’s poultry farm.

While both Kenney and McDermott may be slightly more moderate than those of us here at SbyNEWS, this is not necessarily a bad thing.  Both will be strong fiscal conservatives if sent to Annapolis.  Both will look out for the best interests of the citizens of District 38-B.  Both share the common sense values we need in our legislators.

Democratic Primary -

Three Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination to represent 38-B.  Incumbent delegate Norm Conway and Berlin mayor Gee Williams are the clear choices for 38-B Democrats.

Conway is the current House Appropriations Committee chairman.   As such, he is in a position to deliver funding for projects here on the Lower Shore.  Conway has a long record of service to the people of Salisbury, Wicomico County, and District 38.

Williams has served the people of Berlin and possesses above average name ID in Worcester County.  This is needed if the Democrats are to retain both seats.

Both are staunch supporters of the O’Malley administration and have been able to dance on fine line between supporting left of center policies while not appearing too out of touch with constituents back home.  This trait is key for Democrats who wish to succeed in Annapolis while being able to gain election in a district that is right-of-center.

Body Discovered In The Ocean 16 Miles Out Of OC

A body was discovered about 16 miles off O/C this afternoon. It was discovered by a Fishing Boat and recovered by the Coast Guard. No identification has been made.

MD Primary – House, District 38-A

Republican Primary -

The race to succeed the late Page Elmore has become the most exciting on the Eastern Shore, if not in Maryland.  FOUR strong Republican candidates have lined up to challenge for the GOP nod.  Two – Crisfield attorney John Phoebus and Princess Anne farmer Charles Otto lead the pack.  Phoebus has proven to be the best organized candidate with the most specific proposals.

Jobs have proven to be the number one issue in this race (along with most others).  While all four candidates call for lower state spending, lower taxes, a pull back from excessive state regulation, and for the state to get out of local land use policy, these are generalities to be expected from all GOP candidates and even Democrats on the Maryland shore.

Phoebus has been the only candidate to discuss specific measures which will protect our farmers and watermen, as well as help to bring jobs to the Eastern Shore and Maryland.

In addition to calling for a repeal of the O’Malley sales tax increase, Phoebus has called for a reduction or elimination of the state’s corporate income tax.  Since this tax is one factor which makes Maryland highly uncompetitive in attracting employers, this single proposal could steer the Shore’s economy back towards the private sector and away from dependence on the largesse of the taxpayer.

Phoebus has also called for a new regulatory scheme where the western shore should bear it’s fair share of the burden for polluting the Chesapeake Bay.  Some may scoff, but District 38 needs someone who will fight for the lower Shore’s interests rather than go along to get a few scraps of pork.

While District 38-A Republicans should be gratified by having four candidates run for this seat, John Phoebus is the clear choice.

Democratic Primary -

Somerset County Commissioner Mike McCready is unchallenged in the Democratic primary.

MD Primary – Senate, District 38

Republican Primary -

Four years ago, Michael James almost unseated House Appropriations chair Norm Conway (D-38B).  This year his is running to replace retiring Maryland senator J. Lowell Stoltzfus (R-38).  James has no primary opponent.

Democratic Primary -

Incumbent delegate Jim Mathias (D-38B) is seeking to bring the Distict 38 senate back to the Democrats.  Mathias faces a weak primary opponent and his left of center record in the House should allow him to coast through the Democratic primary.

Major Motorcycle Accident On Rt 50

There is a major motorcycle accident on Route 50 westbound just past Naylor Mill Rd. A citizen was administering CPR on the driver of the motorcycle. Emergency personnel were not on the scene yet.


Update to Follow...



Also-- Traffic Alert-- Westbound Route 50 is backup from the east side of Easton to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

UPDATE DEATH INVESTIGATION #2 (Monday September 6, 2010)

Resume:
Rehoboth Beach-The Office of Chief Medical Examiner Sunday September 5, 2010 around 10:10 a.m. completed an autopsy on the body located in a car found in the parking lot of the Kmart located at 19563 Coastal Highway Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

The victim has been identified by the Medical Examiner’s office as Alex Xavier Arroyo-Flores-21 of Salisbury, Maryland. Flores was reported as a missing person by his family and it was investigated by Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office. All questions related to the missing person investigation should be directed to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office 410-548-4891.

Delaware State Police is still waiting results of a toxicology report which will possibly the manner and cause of death. Once the toxicology report is completed the results can be ascertained through the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

Delaware State Police does not suspect foul play in this death investigation. The case is currently remains active until final results of the toxicology report have been analyzed


UPDATE DEATH INVESTIGATION
Resume:
Rehoboth Beach-Delaware State Police has cleared the scene and the found body has been turned over to the Office of Chief Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy.

An autopsy has been scheduled for tomorrow afternoon Sunday September 5, 2010. Presently the Delaware State Police is not able to positively identify the male victim in this complaint. The victim’s body was found in poor condition and an autopsy will assist in the identification. As of right now this is being handled as a death investigation only.

Additional information about this case will be disseminated as soon as it becomes available.


DSP News Release: State Police on Scene Conducting Death Investigation

Location:
19563 Coastal Highway (Kmart Department Store) Rehoboth Beach, De

DATE and TIME:
Saturday September 4, 2010 2:16 p.m.

Victim(s):
Found Body believed to be a male NFD

Vehicle(s):
2007 Silver Toyota Corolla Maryland registration

Resume:
Rehoboth Beach-Delaware State Police is currently on scene conducting a death investigation in the parking lot of the Rehoboth Beach Kmart located at 19563 Coastal Highway.

State Police investigators responded to the scene after being notified by the Sussex County Paramedic crews. State Troopers were advised that a body of a male was located inside of a 2007 silver Toyota Corolla displaying Maryland registration.

The deceased male was found in the rear seat of the Toyota and preliminary indications suggest he has been there for more then a few hours.

A more detailed released will be disseminated as soon as additional details are made available. Anyone who may have information pertaining to this case is asked to contact authorities. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips may also be forwarded to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-333 3 or on line at www.tipsubmit.com.

A Look At John Boehner, Speaker In Waiting

House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, could walk down most American streets without turning a head.

But the perpetually tanned, chain-smoking Mr. Boehner might be the next House speaker and a huge force in national politics, trying to manage an increasingly libertarian-leaning Republican caucus while leading the opposition to President Obama's policies.

For those who know Mr. Boehner, the question is which version of the House Republican leader will emerge as speaker if the GOP takes at least 40 seats from Democrats in November.

Will it be the policy-minded lawmaker who sometimes shows bipartisan tendencies, such as when he worked with the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, on major education bills?

Or will it be the fiery partisan of recent months who shouted "hell no" to Mr. Obama's health care bill and who threw the Democrats' massive economic stimulus bill to the House floor in a theatrical rebuke?

Mr. Boehner left little doubt that the president and other Democrats will face fierce resistance in the House if he is speaker, starting with a push to dismantle Mr. Obama's hard-fought health care law.

"We're going to do everything we can to prevent this law from being implemented, and I mean everything," Mr. Boehner said in a recent interview. "I think it will ruin health care and bankrupt the country."

In truth, Mr. Obama's veto powers will make it virtually impossible to repeal the law. Still, Mr. Boehner said, he would use every parliamentary and appropriations trick available, including making sure "they don't get the funds to hire employees to implement the law."

Mr. Boehner, 60, has been raising his profile in recent days, giving well-publicized speeches in Cleveland and Milwaukee criticizing Mr. Obama's economic and military policies.

Still, he knows he won't become a household name overnight. His ramped-up schedule is mainly a signal to GOP colleagues and political insiders that he's ready to assume leadership of the House — and in some respects, the entire party — if voters end four years of Democratic House control and Rep. Nancy Pelosi's speakership.

For Mr. Boehner, leading a full-throated Republican opposition to Mr. Obama and congressional Democrats might be the easy part. His bigger challenge looms on his right. Restless and uncompromisingly conservative Republicans probably will expand their ranks after "tea party" loyalists win some races Nov. 2.

Mr. Boehner already has a somewhat wary alliance with several younger and more dogmatic GOP members. They include Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the party's second-ranking House leader.

Mr. Cantor and two colleagues — Reps. Kevin McCarthy of California and Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin — are publishing a Republican manifesto, "Young Guns: A New Generation of Conservative Leaders," which is promoted in a flashy video.

There's one glaring omission in the hoopla over the book: any reference to Mr. Boehner.

Here is more

Obama 'Ends' The War, US Troops Still Fighting

Days after the U.S. officially ended combat operations and touted Iraq's ability to defend itself, American troops found themselves battling heavily armed militants assaulting an Iraqi military headquarters in the center of Baghdad on Sunday. The fighting killed 12 people and wounded dozens.

It was the first exchange of fire involving U.S. troops in Baghdad since the Aug. 31 deadline for formally ending the combat mission, and it showed that American troops remaining in the country are still being drawn into the fighting.

The attack also made plain the kind of lapses in security that have left Iraqis wary of the U.S. drawdown and distrustful of the ability of Iraqi forces now taking up ultimate responsibility for protecting the country.

Sunday's hour-long assault was the second in as many weeks on the facility, the headquarters for the Iraqi Army's 11th Division, pointing to the failure of Iraqi forces to plug even the most obvious holes in their security.

Two of the four attackers even managed to fight their way inside the compound and were only killed after running out of ammunition and detonating explosives belts they were wearing.

The American troops who joined the fight and provided cover fire for Iraqi soldiers pursuing the attackers were based at the compound to train Iraqi forces, said U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Eric Bloom. Iraqi forces also requested help from U.S. helicopters, drones and explosives experts, he said. No American troops were hurt, Bloom said.

Under an agreement between the two countries, Iraq can still call on American forces to assist in combat and U.S. troops can defend themselves if attacked.

More

Globalist Soros Launches Frontal Assault Against Tea Party

Soros and the foundation left have launched a website designed to go after the growing Tea Party movement. Teapartytracker.org will post video interviews and blog entries gathered by folks on the false left who never grow weary of demonstrating their outrage over the very idea of a grassroots political effort overthrowing establishment Democrats and Republicans in the district of corporate criminals.

Teapartytracker.org will be sponsored by the NAACP, Think Progress, New Left Media and Media Matters for America. Think Progress is a George Soros operation connected to John Podesta’s Center for American Progress. Podesta is Clinton’s former chief of staff. Media Matters for America is the brainchild of a MoveOn consultant and Podesta’s Center for American Progress. Soros is a major supporter of MoveOn.

On July 13, the NAACP unanimously passed a resolution repudiating the Tea Party for alleged racism. The resolution followed accusations that the Tea Party had accosted members the Congressional Black Caucus as they traipsed the district of criminals mall on their way to vote for Obamacare, a grand larceny scam cooked up by large corporations. “Civil rights icon John Lewis was spit on, while Congressman Emanuel Cleaver was called the ‘N’ word and openly gay Congressman Barney Frank was called an ugly anti-gay slur,” a press released issued by the NAACP claims.

On April 1, Infowars.com provided evidence that protesters in fact did not spit on Missouri Democrat Emanuel Cleaver or did they hurl racial epithets at members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Cleaver later said a Tea Party protester did not spit on him intentionally. “All I’m saying is we all have to defuse it, and I think it is not in my best interest or in the best interest of this nation to stoke it,” he said on March 30 during a Fox News interview.

The NAACP and the Soros-funded anti-Tea Party operation, however, do not share Cleaver’s desire to defuse the situation. Instead, they plan to extract as much political mileage from the fictitious incident as possible.

In July, Soros’ Think Progress stitched together a video purporting to show that the Tea Party is chock full of racists.

Recall “Crash the Tea Party,” an effort exposed earlier this year, designed to portray the Tea Party as racists and reactionary throwbacks. Tea Party hating liberals “couldn’t sell the transparently nonsensical idea that Tea Partiers are just a bunch of racists, homophobes and morons, so the Crash the Party agents on the Left are infiltrating the Tea Party in order to pose as a bunch of racists, homophobes and morons,” Mark Tapscott wrote for the Washington Examiner on April 11, 2010.

Keep reading here

Higher Education Bubble Poised To Burst

Imagine that you have a product whose price tag for decades rises faster than inflation. But people keep buying it because they're told that it will make them wealthier in the long run. Then suddenly they find it doesn't. Prices fall sharply, bankruptcies ensue, great institutions disappear.

Sound like the housing market? Yes, but it also sounds like what Glenn Reynolds, creator of instapundit.com, writing in The Examiner, has called "the higher education bubble."

Government-subsidized loans have injected money into higher education, as they did into housing, causing prices to balloon. But at some point people figure out they're not getting their money's worth, and the bubble bursts.

Some think this would be a good thing. My American Enterprise Institute colleague Charles Murray has called for the abolition of college for almost all students. Save it for genuine scholars, he says, and let others qualify for jobs by standardized national tests, as accountants already do.

"Is our students learning?" George W. Bush once asked, and the evidence for colleges points to no. The National Center for Education Statistics found that most college graduates are below proficiency in verbal and quantitative literacy. University of California scholars Philip Babcock and Mindy Marks report that students these days study an average of 14 hours a week, down from 24 hours in 1961.

The American Council of Alumni and Trustees concluded, after a survey of 714 colleges and universities, "by and large, higher education has abandoned a coherent content-rich general education curriculum."

They aren't taught the basics of literature, history or science. ACTA reports that most schools don't require a foreign language, hardly any require economics, American history and government "are badly neglected" and schools "have much to do" on math and science.

ACTA's whatwilltheylearn.com Web site provides the grisly details for each school, together with the amount of tuition. Students and parents can see if they will get their money's worth.

Read more at the Washington Examiner

WORCESTER LEADER DEFENDS “GEE” WILLIAMS AND TRASHES THE DAILY TIMES

Joe Moore, a major player in Democrat dealings in Worcester County and prominent attorney there, has quickly come to the defense of Berlin’s mayor, Mr. Williams, who is the subject of a recent article in the Daily Times that discussed a significant donation to his campaign for the House of Delegates. The article reported that at almost at the same time as the Town’s commissioners voted to approve the purchase of land, a group of business firms affiliated with the seller gave $2,500 to the political campaign of Mr. Williams, who actively promoted the deal. It also discussed the fact that the purchase price being paid by Berlin is twice what the property sold for last year, pointing out that the higher value is supported by the appraisal firm of William McCain, who is a member of the Wicomico County Council.

Mr. Moore does not suggest that the article is incorrect in any of the facts that it reported. He points out, also correctly, that the purchase of the property was not approved by Mayor Williams, but rather by the town’s legislative body (as the article also noted), albeit by a bare majority as two Council members disqualified themselves. He also states that James “Bud” Church, who is a member of the Worcester County Commissioners, and the current State’s Attorney, Joel Todd, spoke in support of the deal.

We have no issue with Mr. Moore, a skilled advocate, presenting a factual scenario that appears more favorable for Mayor Williams, although it seems appropriate for the latter to do so and in the process explain whether the value of the property has actually doubled since it was sold last year. Mr. Moore did not address that aspect of the situation.

Instead, he berates the Daily Times for insinuating that “the purchase and a campaign donation had some possible connection”, which he deems to be “offensive”. That’s why we must return fire. The Daily Times reported facts, not fantasy, that some folks finds very disturbing. The media should do basic reportage without concern about the political careers or the sensibilities of the pillars of the community (or as some would say, the “good old boys”).

It’s not often that we applaud the Daily Times, and this may be the first time we have defended it. Mr. Moore offered the readers his best “jury spin”, stating that the article “is unfair to the citizens of Berlin”, which is absurd. His hyperbole, however, is biased and fanciful: the facts can be very inconvenient at times like this.

American Patriot

Do you think that our 44th president, Barack Hussein Obama, is an American Patriot?

MD Primary – House, District 37-B

Republican Primary -

Incumbent delegates Addie Eckardt and Jeannie Haddaway are unopposed in the GOP primary.

Democratic Primary -

Patrice Stanley is the only Democrat running for this two person seat.

MD Primary – House, District 37-A

Republican Primary -

Wicomico County educator Dustin Mills is the only GOP candidate seeking this seat.

Democratic Primary -

Former Salisbury councilwoman Von Siggers is challenging three term incumbent Del. Rudy Cane (D-37A).  She deserves the support of Democrat voters in Distrtict 37-A.

Siggers established herself as an independent voice on the Salisbury city council (particularly in the second half of her term).  Since then she has remained involved in her community and has been willing to build bridges between groups in Salisbury and Wicomico County.

Cane, who is seeking a fourth term, is a kind, jovial fellow.  Sadly, he is too closely tied to special interests both in his district and throughout the state.

Claiming to be a champion of agriculture, Cane has refused to help Wicomico farmers while his political allies have attempted to steal their property rights.  Cane’s most infamous act may have been his running interference for the Wicomico County Liquor Control Board while they continue to sell alcohol to minors with impunity.  It doesn’t hurt that the WCLCB has been doling out the taxpayers’ money to favored constituencies of Mr. Cane.

MD Primary – Senate, District 37

Republican Primary -

Maryland Senator Richard Colburn is seeking re-election to a fifth term.  He deserves the support of Republican voters in Dorchester, Talbot, and the District 37 portions of Caroline and Wicomico.

Serving two terms in the Maryland House and four in the Maryland Senate, Colburn has proved to be a sound, prudent, and conservative voice for Distict 37, the Eastern Shore, and the state of Maryland.

 

Democratic Primary -

Three Democrats are lined up to challenge for the District 37 seat currently held by Richard Colburn.  Given the demographics of the district, Talbot County restaurateur Tim Quinn seems the logical choice.

Active in his community, Quinn is also a small businessman.  Former Maryland governor Harry Hughes (the Eastern Shore’s last governor) believes Quinn worthy for the post and has endorsed Quinn in newspapers throughout the district.

MD Primary – 1st Congressional District

Republican Primary -

Two individuals are facing off for the privilege of facing incumbent Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) – Maryland Senator Andy Harris (R-7) and Rob Fisher.  GOP voters have one clear choice – Andy Harris.

Harris toppled liberal incumbent Wayne Gilchrest in the 2008 GOP primary.  After losing to Kratovil by a hair, he is the best choice to defeat Kratovil this year.

A true conservative, in the Reagan mold, Harris is a physician and citizen-legislator who will put principle above politics if sent to Washington.  This is precisely what the citizens of Maryland’s First Congressional District deserve.

Fisher has faced numerous problems since declaring his candidacy.  While aspiring to be the darling of the Tea Party movement, Fisher made his fortune sucking at the Federal teat (courtesy of YOU, the taxpayers).  To add insult to injury, investigations by Red Maryland’s Mark Newgent and the Baltimore Sun have turned up quite a few problems with Fisher and his candidacy.

Andy Harris is the GOP’s only choice if Republican voters are serious about replacing Frank Kratovil with someone who more closely reflects the district’s values.

Democratic Primary -

Incumbent Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) faces no primary opposition.

MD Primary – US Senate

Republican Primary -

There are 13 candidates seeking the GOP nomination to challenge incumbent US Senator Barbara Mikulski.  Only two have waged a serious campaign – Harford County attorney Jim Rutledge and Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Eric Wargotz.  Only one of these candidates is worthy of your vote – Jim Rutledge.

Rutledge has waged a serious campaign based on the conservative principles this country was founded on.  He has pledged to tow the line on taxes AND spending.  He has also pulled together a strong grassroots coalition throughout Maryland to promote not only his candidacy, but those same principles and ideas.

Rutledge’s chief opponent, Eric Wargotz, is someone who has attempted to win the primary by telling whatever group that was in the room with him whatever he thought they wanted to hear.  If you listen to Wargotz’s radio commercials you would think that he is channeling the spirit of Ronald Reagan.  To other groups he has not only advocated for ObamaCare, but criticized it because it did not include coverage for illegal aliens.

Moderate, or even left-of-center, GOP candidates may be necessary at certain times and in particular races.  That said, any candidate (such as Wargotz) who will flip-flop on nearly every issue of import, or pander whenever the mood suits, is simply not worthy of consideration.

Jim Rutledge is a candidate Maryland Republicans can be proud of and should stand behind.

 

Democratic Primary -

Incumbent US Senator Barbara Mikulski has seven opponents in this year’s primary.  None have waged a real campaign against Mikulski, nor should Maryland Democrats consider giving their vote to them.

MD Primary - Governor

Republican Primary -

Bob Ehrlich may not be the perfect candidate for Maryland conservatives; I don’t think that even Ehrlich would make that claim.  However, Bob Ehrlich is what Maryland conservatives and other Republican voters need RIGHT NOW!

While we all hope that Republicans make great strides in this year’s elections, only the optimistic fool would predict that Republicans will take control of either house of the state legislature.  Re-districting will take place in the next session.  As such, only a Republican governor (or the courts) can keep a greedy and arrogant Democrat machine from gerrymandering the state to the point that the Eastern Shore could be split among several congressional districts or that where I live (the Wicomico portion of 38-A) could wind up being in a legislative district that stretches to Caroline County (or beyond).

Maryland is in a fiscal mess.  Only by replacing incumbent Martin O’Malley will we have a chance of restoring fiscal sanity to the once Free State.

Bob Ehrlich is the only candidate that can beat O’Malley in the general election and hold back the tide of statism that Marylanders have been forced to endure.

Ehrlich’s primary opponent, Brian Murphy, could well be a rising star in Maryland politics.  There is no question that he is an outstanding candidate with some great ideas.  Murphy stepped up to the plate when no one else would carry the GOP banner without the caveat - “I’ll drop out if Bob Ehrlich runs”.  Brian should be commended by all Maryland Republicans, conservative and moderate alike.

However, supporting Bob Ehrlich is the prudent, conservative choice.  Many will cry that this is a betrayal of conservative principles.  NO!  Supporting Bob Ehrlich in 2010 is the right choice for those that adhere to a true conservative philosophy in the vein of Edmund Burke.  Those that scream “betrayal” or “tool of the GOP establishment” are merely showing themselves to be populist ideologues, not the conservatives they claim to be.

Bob Ehrlich is the best candidate for 2010.

 

Democrat Primary -

Incumbent governor Martin O’Malley is the only credible candidate running in the Democrat primary.