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Saturday, November 06, 2010

Maryland Election Results

Sorry folks, Still have Steny, Still have Babs, and Still have O'Malley.

Conservative Republican Latina Wins N. M. Governor’s Office With Strict Stand On Illegal Immigration

Republican Susana Martinez, who won New Mexico’s gubernatorial race by running as a conservative, vowed to boost security along the Southwest border during her campaign.

In a state that is more than 40 percent Hispanic, Martinez took 54 percent of the vote on Tuesday, beating her Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, by eight points.  She was endorsed by Sarah Palin.

Martinez will replace Democrat Governor Bill Richardson, who is nearing the end of his two-term limit. She will be the first female Hispanic governor in U.S. history.

Martinez, a prosecutor in a county that borders Mexico, made her stance against illegal immigration one of the most visible parts of her platform. New Mexico shares 180 miles of border with America’s southern neighbor.

“While it is critical to preserve the rule of law and take reasonable steps to secure our border, we must also never forget that we are a nation of immigrants,” Martinez’ campaign Web site said.

“We must enhance our security systems along the border and prosecute those who violate our laws, but we must do so while recognizing that legal immigrants who follow the rules and come to America seeking to improve their lives, and the lives of their family, strengthen our nation.”
More here

Give Young People Option To Get Out of Social Security, Says Former BB&T CEO

John Allison, the former chairman and CEO of BB&T, the nation’s 10th largest bank, told CNSNews.com that one of the solutions to the long-term fiscal problem facing the U.S. government is to let younger people opt out of the Social Security system.

"What we need to do is get rid of the long-term program,” Allison said of Social Security in an “Online With Terry Jeffrey” interview. "And the way to do that, even though it may create some short-term funding problems, would be to offer people privatized programs for retirement and effectively offer people under a certain age the option to get out of Social Security.”

Allison said he believed Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R.-Wis.) proposal to allow workers to put part of their payroll tax in a personal retirement account that they would convert into an annuity when they reached retirement age was a good practical solution for Congress to pursue on Social Security, but that personally he would like to see people entirely liberated from the entitlement program, letting them plan and save for their retirement free of government compulsion.

"You know, if you look at what killed democracies in the end, it’s always lack of personal responsibility,” said Allison. “And it’s when 51 percent of the people find out they can vote a free lunch from 49 percent, and then 60 percent want a free lunch from 40 percent, and then 70 percent want a free lunch from 30 percent, and that’s the end of the party.

"All of this dependency on the federal government ends up attacking and almost punishing personal responsibility,” said Allison. “And America was built on the idea of individuals that are personally responsible and, therefore, have a personal right to control their own lives. And that’s what’s been under attack.”

Allison became president of BB&T in 1987 and was elected chairman in 1989. He remained CEO through 2008. He is now distinguished professor of practice at the Wake Forest University Schools of Business.
Read the interview here

Bankruptcy Of U.S. Is ‘Mathematical Certainty’

John Allison, who for two decades served as chairman and CEO of BB&T, the nation's 10th largest bank, told CNSNews.com it is a “mathematical certainty” that the United States government will go bankrupt unless it dramatically changes its fiscal direction.

Allison likened what he sees as the predictable future bankruptcy of the United States to the problems at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, whose insolvency he also said was foreseeable to those who studied their business practices and financial situation.

“I think the first thing we have to realize is where we’re going and to face it objectively,” Allison told CNSNews.com, when asked about the trillion-dollar-plus deficits the federal government has run for three straight years, the more than $13 trillion in federal debt, and the $61.9 trillion long-term shortfall the government faces (according to the analysis of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation) if the government is to pay all the benefits it has promised through entitlement programs.

“If you run the numbers, on all those numbers that you just talked about, which I think are accurate, very accurate, in 20 or 25 years, the United States goes bankrupt,” said Allison. “It’s a mathematical certainty.

“It reminds me very much of that story I told you about Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae,” said Allison. “We were running the numbers, and Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae went bankrupt, and we got there. In 20 or 25 years, the United States goes bankrupt.

“Now, countries don’t go bankrupt the way companies do,” said Allison. “They don’t file bankruptcy. They usually hyper-inflate. They print a bunch of paper money, or they become Third World economies like Argentina--unless we change direction.
More here

Republicans Spar For Leadership Posts

Campaign season isn't over for everyone on Capitol Hill, as House Republicans — fresh off their historic takeover of the chamber in Tuesday's midterm elections — now turn their attention to electing leaders within their caucus.

The top two spots likely will go without challenge, with House Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio in line to be speaker and Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia the new House majority leader.

But beyond those two spots, intraparty battles already are brewing for positions of influence in the House GOP hierarchy.

In one already-declared battle of conservative heavyweights, Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas and Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a favorite of the "tea party" movement, are vying for the chairmanship of the House Republican Conference, the primary forum for communicating the party's message to its members. Indiana Rep. Mike Pence announced this week he was stepping down from the leadership post.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy is the front-runner for majority whip - considered the No. 3 post in the hierarchy — after announcing his candidacy Wednesday. The Californian, who serves as vice chairman of recruitment for the National Republican Congressional Committee, the fundraising and recruiting arm of House Republicans, says he would lead with "conservative principles to advance job-creating policies, cut spending and reform Washington."

"Americans have rejected the toxic policies of the Pelosi Majority, and have now entrusted Republicans with the responsibility of recharting the direction of our nation," Mr. McCarthy said in a Wednesday letter to his House GOP colleagues. "If we fail in this effort, we will find ourselves in the Minority once again, unworthy of redemption."

Among House Republicans, there is speculation that NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions, who helped orchestrate Tuesday's landslide midterm House election victories for the GOP, may challenge Mr. McCarthy for whip.

More from the Washington Times

Stock Up: Food Sellers Grit Teeth, Raise Prices

An inflationary tide is beginning to ripple through America's supermarkets and restaurants, threatening to end the tamest year of food pricing in nearly two decades.

Prices of staples including milk, beef, coffee, cocoa and sugar have risen sharply in recent months. And food makers and retailers including McDonald's Corp., Kellogg Co. and Kroger Co. have begun to signal that they'll try to make consumers shoulder more of the higher costs for ingredients.

For food executives, how quickly to pass along higher costs presents difficult choices. Missteps could be costly when the economy remains weak. Many Americans, nervous about high unemployment, have pledged allegiance to their pennies and are willing to trade down on brands, switch supermarkets, opt for Burger King over Applebee's, or stop dining out altogether to save money.

"The big challenge will be, how much can we swallow and how much can we pass along?" said Jack Brown, chief executive of Stater Bros. Markets, a 167-store grocery chain in southern California.

Stater Bros. has seen the prices it pays for cereal rise 5% in recent months. The chain has passed about half the increase on to consumers while making up for the rest by trimming other expenses, such as what it spends on cell phones and delivery truck tires.

Kraft Foods Inc., Sara Lee Corp. and General Mills Inc. already have said they'll raise prices on certain items. Starbucks Corp. backtracked on an August announcement that it would hold coffee prices steady, saying in September it would boost prices of larger and hard-to-make drinks. This week, cereal maker Kellogg hinted that it will be raising prices, without disclosing specifics.

Grocery chains Safeway Inc. and Kroger have said they'll pass supplier increases along to consumers.
More

Salisbury Police Department Press Releases

On November 5, 2010 at approximately 7:26 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police were in the area of Decatur Avenue and Pyle Street on an unrelated call and heard gunshots in the area of E. Church St. As the officers responded to the area, they observed two (2) subjects in the rear yard of 923 E. Church St. and observed one (1) of the subjects firing a weapon at the residence. Officers located the suspect, who removed the weapon from his waistband and began to point it toward the officers. As the officers took cover, the suspect began to flee on foot running north on Priscilla Street. The officers chased the suspect, and after a substantial foot chase apprehended the suspect on the railroad tracks at Pyle Street. At the conclusion of the chase the suspect was still in possession of the weapon, and dropped it at the command of the officers. The weapon was found to be a 9mm machine type handgun.

During this chase, additional officers responded to the residence on E. Church St. for the report of a victim suffering from gunshot wounds. Upon arrival the officers located 30 year old of Snow Hill, who had several gunshot wounds to her lower and middle body. Fields advised the officers that she had been located in her vehicle at the rear of the residence when two (2) suspects approached the residence and began firing at the residence, then her vehicle. She advised that one of the suspects was firing a "machine gun" style weapon. She attempted to flee the vehicle however was hit by several of the shots. She was transported to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center where she is listed in serious condition.
The investigation is continuing as to the identity of the second suspect
.
ARRESTED: Cory Jamaul Jones, 25 years of age
Eden, Maryland
CHARGES: Attempted first degree murder
Attempted second degree murder
First degree assault
Second degree assault
Possession of a handgun
Use of a handgun in a violent crime

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201000044099

On November 5, 2010 at approximately 5:04 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police were in the area of E. Church St. due to the officers receiving information regarding a subject armed with a gun. Officers were on Records St. and observed a subject matching the description given earlier. As the officers attempted to make contact with the suspect the suspect fled on foot. During the foot chase the suspect repeatedly kept holding and grabbing an object in his rear waist band. After a substantial foot chase the suspect was apprehended behind a residence on Isabella Street. During the foot chase the suspect attempted to discard the handgun, which was recovered and found to be a revolver type handgun. A search of the suspect, incident to arrest, revealed a quantity of suspected marijuana. Due to the handgun charges, the suspect was charged as an adult.

ARRESTED: Delonte Arnez Bryant, 17 years of age
Felton, Delaware
CHARGES: Handgun on person
Possession of a handgun by a prohibited person
Possession of marijuana
Possession of Cds/paraphernalia
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201044077

HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER

The Movies

How many of us have not grown up with the movies? There probably isn’t anyone that hasn’t been affected by what they have seen on the silver screen. I grew up on black and white cowboy movies at the Ulman Theater. I can still watch an old western on TV and be immediately transported back in time to those days of my youth. I have gained a healthy respect for the movies that preceded the movies that I actually attended. The channel on TV that shows nothing but old movies gives one a nostalgic trip that can’t be found any other place. How many of you can watch an old Shirley Temple movie without getting a joyful tear in your eye? About 20 years ago, they started tampering with the old black and white movies by “colorizing” them. It seems that the majority of people felt as I did. The old movies lost something in the process. Old movies should be shown in black and white. The colorizing idea was dropped.
         
America’s love affair with the movies started in 1915. Most of the early movies were shown at arcades that were built for live entertainment. Until 1927, they were without sound. The dialogue was shown on the screen right under the picture. I have never been a big fan of silent movies, but I watch a bit of one every now and then just to remind me why. When “talkies” made the scene in 1927, movies became the main entertainment in America for the average man. During the Great Depression, movies provided a great chance to escape the drudgery of everyday life and experience adventure that would never be available to them in any other way. The movies of the 1930’s are the best. They had a good story line and no artificial props. Anyone that has seen one of the movies from the Thin Man series with William Powell and Myrna Loy has to admit that it is great entertainment.
         
I mostly prefer the movies that feature James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, or Humphrey Bogart. They are guaranteed action and a good story. Of course, you can be jaded by believing in the movies too much. In the movies, the good guy always wins, and that is not always the case in real life. I guess that is why we like the movies so much. We usually knew who the good guy was, and the excitement was in following his or her adventures to the gripping conclusion where they came out on top. The emotional roller-coaster ride made it all worthwhile when the hero triumphed in the end.
         
There were movies that the studios realized were better money-makers than others, and they produced other features with the same characters. People seemed to enjoy the familiarization with the characters and followed the sequence of films as religiously as some people follow their TV shows of today. In fact, the movie studios have made sequels of many of the more popular films. Movies have followed the many advances in technology, but I can’t imagine seeing the Thin Man in color. If you want that, try a James Bond movie.                                                                                                           

THE END

(Pictured above: top: Marion Davies, Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford bottom: Richard Bartholomew, Ronald Coleman, Arthur Lake)

Subject Arrested For Giving False Statement

DATE & TIME:  11/04/2010 @ 10:30 pm     
Case #  10-239      
LOCATION: Rt50/Rt589, Berlin, Worcester County

CRIME:  False Statement to a Police Officer
       
VICTIM:  State of Maryland
           
ACCUSED:  Thomas Patrick Stanley, 45 yoa, Reisterstown, MD
           
CHARGES:    False Statement to a Police Officer

NARRATIVE:    On 11/4/2010 at approximately 10:30 pm, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the accused claiming that he was robbed at gun point on the shoulder of Route 50 in the area of the Wal-Mart in Berlin. 
The accused further stated that he had stopped for a disabled vehicle and at that point an unidentified male approached him from the rear and displayed a handgun.  The male stole the accused wallet which contained approximately $1700.  The male accompanied by an unidentified female then fled the scene in a light colored passenger vehicle.
 
Due to the nature of the crime, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation was called to continue the investigation. 
The accused was brought to the office of The Worcester County Bureau of Investigation for an interview.
During the interview, there were conflicting accounts to his story.  When confronted, the accused admitted to losing the reported stolen money during a gambling trip prior that night in Dover, Delaware. 
He further told investigators that the crime he reported never took place and was false. 

The accused was arrested and charged with making a false report to a police officer.  He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and released pending trial.