Obama Cranks Up Currency Heat On China As Gold, Oil Prices Soar

On a day when the price of gold soared past $1,400 an ounce and oil hit high for the year, President Obama found himself in India Monday on the defensive over the Federal Reserve's decision last week to print more money so it can buy up $600 billion in government bonds -- a move Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke insists will stimulate an economy stuck in neutral.

While the White House traditionally steers clear of commenting directly on Fed actions, Obama insisted that "the Fed's mandate -- my mandate -- is to grow our economy. And that's not just good for the United States, that's good for the world as a whole."

Obama's comments came in the face of stepped up criticism from China, Russia and Germany over the Fed's decision and just days ahead of the all-important G-20 meeting of the world's leading economic powers. The summit has been pitched as a chance for leaders of the countries that account for 85 percent of world output to prevent a currency fight that could endanger the global economic recovery.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble lashed out at U.S. pressure on Berlin to rein in the country's surging exports, accusing Washington of hypocrisy and telling Der Spiegel magazine in an interview that ran over the weekend, "the American growth model … is stuck in a deep crisis," Reuters reported.

"It doesn't add up when the Americans accuse the Chinese of currency manipulation and then, with the help of their central bank's printing presses, artificially lower the value of the dollar," he told Reuters.

GO HERE to read more.

Gold Sets Record High Amid Economic Fears

Investors looking for safer places to stow their assets pushed gold to a record price above $1,400 an ounce Monday as they become more worried about the global economy.

A combination of issues have created fresh worry among investors: Ireland's debt difficulties and two key global summits where leaders of major industrial and developing nations are discussing currencies, free trade and ways to help the world economy.

Also in the back of investors' minds is the prospect of inflation stemming the Federal Reserve's multi-billion bond-buying program.

"People are really concerned again and so I think we're seeing safe-haven buying," IG Markets Inc. CEO Dan Cook said.

"Whether you're holding dollars or euros or whatever you're holding, gold is that one kind of go-to product, a commodity as well as a currency type of trade," he said. "Nobody seems to be that willing to sell out of it."

Gold for December delivery added $5.50 to settle at a record high of $1,403.20 an ounce. Some analysts believe gold could go climb as high as $1,500 an ounce by year end.

GO HERE to read more.

BREAKING NEWS

Killer of mom, 2 daughters gets death sentence

Jury doesn't buy defense that he was just drug addict thief and that  partner was to blame

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Connecticut man was condemned to death Monday for a night of terror inside a suburban home in which a woman was strangled and her two daughters tied to their beds, doused in gasoline and left to die in a fire.

Jurors in New Haven Superior Court voted unanimously to send Steven Hayes to death row after deliberating over the span of four days. The judge will impose the sentence.

GO HERE to read more.

Matt Maciarello Sworn In To The States Attorney's Office This Morning EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS

At 8:30 AM this morning Matt Maciarello was sworn in as a part time Deputy States Attorney by the honorable Judge Beckstead. 

Matt Maciarello and Davis Ruark want to tackle things head on, right away. Many do not understand just how complicated this position is, especially during a transition such as this.

One way they can help each other is by making this move so one can concentrate on the cases at hand and the other can work on managing the finances and case load.

Davis Ruark has proven to be a complete gentleman in the election process and now in the transition process. Most others would leave the office in spite but Davis is a class act and wants to make sure, (especially for his Staff) that all goes well and Matt knows what he's up against.

Matt stated at this moment the most important thing he needs to do is to concentrate on his partnership in his Law Firm for this transition. He will work nights and weekends for the States Attorneys Office.

The Court Room was completely filled with Law Enforcement Officers, Lawyers, friends and family as well as concerned citizens. Tommy & Jennifer Foxwell were also in attendance to congratulate Matt. It was a very pleasant event.

Stolen Bobcats / Skid-Steers & Trailers

Worcester County Bureau of Investigation
13070 St. Martins Neck Road     Post Office Box 199         Bishopville, Maryland 21813
Office: 410-352-3476                  
Fax: 410-352-3053         
Out of Area Toll Free: 1-800-811-8396

NEWS RELEASE
Date & Time:  Mid-Late October    Late Night/Early Morning           Case
#:10-0232
Location Occurred:  Berlin and West Ocean City, Worcester County, Maryland
Crime or Violation:  Theft of Construction Equipment
Victim:  N/A
Accused:  Unknown
Narrative:   
During the final two weeks of October, investigators with the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation have been investigating numerous thefts of bobcats, skid-steers, and trailers from the Berlin and West Ocean City area. 
The unknown suspects have been removing the trailers containing the construction equipment from small storage lots in the late night/early morning hours. 
Investigators are asking the public’s assistance in helping identify the suspects and/or the vehicle involved.   If anyone has information regarding the theft or has seen anything suspicious with this type of equipment, contact the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation at 410-352-3476 or Trooper First Class
Clark at 443-783-0444.

No Bull, Cows Love Pumpkins

If you've ever wondered what Farmers do with their pumpkins once the season is over, now you know. I, (for one) have never seen such a scene before but it is what it is. Welcome to the Eastern Shore.

69 Child Prostitutes, 99 Pimps Caught In Major Bust, FBI Says

WASHINGTON -- The FBI says it has found 69 child prostitutes across the country during a crackdown on the sexual exploitation of children over the last three days.

Federal, state and local authorities in 40 cities also arrested 884 people, including 99 suspected pimps, on a variety of charges.

The children were found during Operation Cross Country V, a three-day roundup targeting child traffickers and pimps.

GO HERE to read more.

Vendors Catch A Break On Sunday

If you happened to be a vendor yesterday at the Park & Flea in Salisbury you got an unusual break. It was windy and cold so Michael Day decided it was too cold to charge anyone for setting up a booth.

If you're looking for a way to unload those items clogging up you home, garage or building you can set up a booth for only $10.00 on Saturday and $5.00 on Sunday.

Fruitland Police Department Press Releases

Incident: Possession of CDS
Date & Time: November 5, 2010 @ 5:14 p.m.
Location: Fruitland, Maryland
Accused: DERELL LAMONT COTTMAN B/M dob: 2/19/1989
Fruitland, Maryland
Charges: Possession of CDS

Resume: On the above date and time at Poplar Street and Elizabeth Avenue, Fruitland,
Md., officers initiated a traffic stop on a 1997 Honda Accord. Upon approaching the vehicle officers detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana eminating from the vehicle. A subsequent search of the operator identified as Derell Lemont Cottman and the vehicle revealed the presence of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance believed to be Oxycodone Hydrochloride for which the accused did not a prescription for. The accused was arrested and transported to WCDC where he was remanded to the custody of Central Booking.

Incident: Driving under the influence
Date & Time: November 7, 2010 @ 1:58 a.m.
Location: S/B Rt. 13 and Broadway
Accused: Wilson Sain-Vilus B/M dob: 11/8/1977
Salisbury, Maryland
Charges: Driving M/V on highway without required license
Negligent driving – contributed to accident
Driving M/V under the influence of alcohol – conbtributed to accident
Driving M/V while impaired by alcohol – contributed to accident
Driving M/V impaired by drugs or drugs and alcohol –contributed to accident
Unsafe backing of M/V – contrubuted to accident

Resume: On the above date and time S/B on Rt. 13, officers observed a 2003 Mazda weave from the travel portion of the roadway onto the right shoulder several times. The vehicle was also traveling 20 to 25 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. Upon officers activating emergency equipment, the operator of the Mazda initially stopped the vehicle in the travel portion of the roadway, then continued s/b onto the right shoulder, narrowly avoiding running completely off the shoulder into the adjacent ditch. Officers ordered the operator to place the vehicle in park at which time the Mazda began traveling backward and collided with the officers’ patrol vehicle. When contact was made with the operator who was consequently identified as Wilson Sain Vilus, his appearance and behaviour was observed to be consistant with one who was under the influence of alcohol and or drugs.

He was unable to perform field sobriety tests. The accused was arrested and transported to WCDC where he was released to the custody of Central Booking

House GOP Vows Open Vote On Raising Debt Ceiling

For the first time in years, House lawmakers will soon have the chance to vote on a standalone measure to increase the federal debt limit next year under the new Republican majority — a vote that's shaping up as the first early test of the GOP's commitment to spending restraint.

The House Republican leader, Rep. John A. Boehner of Ohio, will give lawmakers a chance for a direct vote on raising the debt limit, spokesman Michael Steel told the Washington Times.

That would be a break with the recent tactic of burying the debt limit increase in parliamentary maneuvers — a way to shield vulnerable lawmakers from having to take the unpopular vote — and would instantly give leverage to those in Congress hoping to impose immediate spending cuts.

Sen. Jim DeMint, South Carolina Republican, was asked Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" whether he would vote to raise the debt ceiling, and said, "No, I won't."

"Not unless this debt ceiling is combined with some path to balancing our budget, returning to 2008 spending levels, repealing Obamacare. We have got to demonstrate that we have the resolve to cut spending … we cannot allow that to go through the Congress without showing the American people that we are going to balance the budget, and we're not going to continue to raise the debt in America," he said.     

More here

Lobbyist Paid $15K To Rep. Waters' Husband

A lobbyist known as one of California's most successful power brokers while serving as a legislative leader in that state paid Rep. Maxine Waters' husband $15,000 in consulting fees at a time she was co-sponsoring legislation that would help save the real-estate finance business of one of the lobbyist's best-paying clients, records show.

Ms. Waters' husband, Sidney Williams, a former pro football player and ambassador to the Bahamas, was a paid consultant on a Los Angeles lobbying project for Mike Roos, who served with Ms. Waters in the California State Assembly. During Mr. Roos' 14-year tenure, he held the posts of majority floor leader and speaker pro tempore.

In 2007, Mr. Roos expanded his successful California lobbying business to Washington, D.C., after Democrats took control of the House and Ms. Waters became chairman of the House Financial Services housing and community opportunity subcommittee, where she played a key role in housing legislation.

Mr. Roos sought her assistance for a California client that specialized in homeownership and asset development.

According to federal lobbying records, Mr. Roos was paid $430,000 by the Nehemiah Corp. of America, a Sacramento, Calif.-based nonprofit that acted as a middleman to help sellers finance down payments for homebuyers to qualify for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). He lobbied members of Congress and federal agencies on behalf of the firm.

One of those lobbied was Ms. Waters, a California Democrat and key Nehemiah ally, who held a hearing on down-payment assistance in June 2007 and persuaded federal housing officials to delay for 30 days efforts to impose a ban on the program. She also co-sponsored legislation in 2008 and 2009 that would have kept Nehemiah's assistance program viable.     

More

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY ON FEDERAL CROP DISASTER DESIGNATION

ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 8, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley issued this statement following U.S. Department of Agriculture designation of 22 counties in Maryland as natural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought and excessive heat that occurred June 1 through Aug. 31, 2010. The counties are Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worchester.  Harford County and Baltimore City were issued contiguous designations.

"Late last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved our request for a disaster designation for crop losses suffered by Maryland farmers due to drought and excessive heat during the 2010 growing season.  I want to thank Secretary Vilsack for granting our request.  This designation recognizes crop losses of 30 percent or more in 22 counties.  It is our hope that the designation will provide relief to the farmers who need it and help them prepare for the upcoming growing season. 

“This designation makes farm operators in all Maryland counties and Baltimore City eligible for assistance from USDA Farm Service Agency.  This assistance includes Farm Service Agency emergency loans and other assistance.  Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers and ranchers with additional information.  The O'Malley-Brown Administration is doing all we can to help keep agriculture profitable and preserve open, productive farmland in our state."

Finally, Some Honesty In Big Buck Hunting Stories...

Here's a picture of the new world record whitetail.

It was taken by the cousin of a co-worker's sister's, uncle's, best friend's, son-in-law's, niece's hairdresser's, neighbor's ex-boyfriend's oldest nephew. Reportedly it will score 2603-1/8 by B&C standard and was shot in West Texas on a really windy day, 85 degrees downhill, around a curve at 900 yards with a .22 cal. rifle.

Supposedly, this deer had killed a Brahma bull, two Land Rovers and six Jehovah's Witnesses in the last two weeks alone. They said it was winning a fight with Bigfoot when it was shot. It had also been confirmed that the buck had been seen drinking discharge water from a nuclear power plant.

This has been checked on Snopes who confirmed it.

Honest!!!

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

Corn Maze For Blondes

Found on Rt 30 between Hellam & Wrightsville PA

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES MAJOR STEPS FORWARD IN OFFSHORE WIND EFFORTS

Potential one gigawatt wind farm could generate thousands of jobs

ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 8, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley and the Maryland Energy Administration today joined the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) in announcing a significant step forward in bringing offshore wind power generation to Maryland’s coast. The federal government, which controls the Outer Continental Shelf, has accepted the planning recommendations of the Maryland Offshore Wind Task Force and today issued both a Request for Interest (RFI) and a map of an offshore wind leasing area in federal waters adjacent to Maryland's Atlantic Coast.  Today’s announcement makes Maryland only the second state in the nation to reach this point in the process.

“Today's announcement marks another step forward for Maryland's new economy,” said Governor Martin O'Malley. “By harnessing the outstanding wind resources off of Maryland's coast, we can create thousands of green collar jobs, reduce harmful air pollution, and bring much needed, additional clean energy to Maryland.”

Governor O'Malley has made offshore wind a priority in Maryland's efforts generate 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2022, citing the potential for job creation and the abundant wind resources available. A one gigawatt offshore wind farm off of the Maryland coast could create as many as 4,000 jobs in manufacturing and construction during the five year development period, with an additional 800 permanent jobs once the turbines are spinning.

This announcement represents the culmination of nearly two years of planning. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources worked with the Maryland Energy Administration, the Maryland Offshore Wind Task Force, and other outside partners like the University of Maryland's Center for Integrative and Environmental Research, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the various environmental and stakeholder concerns that would impact any proposed offshore wind development. The result was a draft marine spatial planning area that represented the collective input of federal, state, and local stakeholders and formed the basis for the map released today by BOEMRE.

The western edge of the RFI area for proposed wind generation is located approximately 10 nautical miles from the Ocean Citycoast and the eastern edge is approximately 27 nautical miles from the Ocean City coast.  A map of the area of interest as well as the electronic copy of the RFI can be found here.

By becoming only the second state in the nation to navigate this initial planning process with the U.S. Department of the Interior's BOEMRE, Maryland has cemented its position as a leader in the emerging clean energy economy. Due to its proximity to planned wind farms in the Mid-Atlantic, as well as the deep water port and manufacturing infrastructure in Baltimore, Maryland is well positioned to be a leader not only in offshore wind energy generation, but also in ongoing construction and maintenance.

This summer, Governor O’Malley and Delaware Governor Jack Markell wrote to President Obama proposing a federal-state partnership for the development of a power purchase agreement for offshore wind energy. The development of one gigawatt of wind energy in the mid-Atlantic region could lead to the creation of thousands of clean energy jobs.

Also this summer, Governor O’Malley formally entered Maryland into a formal partnership in the newly formed Atlantic Offshore Wind Consortium. The group, comprised of states along the Atlantic coastline and the United States Department of the Interior, will work to coordinate regionally prominent issues surrounding the development of off shore wind along the Atlantic outer continental shelf.

"Thanks to Governor O'Malley's leadership Maryland is exceptionally well positioned to become leader in the emerging offshore wind industry, which has the potential to create or secure thousands of jobs and keep Maryland Smart, Green, and Growing," said Malcolm Woolf, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration.

The Request for Interest will be published in the November 9, 2010 Federal Register. A map of the area of interest as well as the electronic copy of the RFI can be found here.

For more information, visit the Maryland Energy Administration.

Microsoft CEO Sells $1.3 Billion Of Company Stock

Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer sold $1.3 billion worth of shares in the company, cutting his stake by about 12 percent, but said his first stock sale in seven years should not be taken as a lack of confidence in the world's largest software firm.

Ballmer said he will sell more shares by the end of the year, in a move to diversify his investments and plan for taxes, but the company sought to allay talk that the 54-year old executive, who has been CEO since 2000, may be preparing an exit from the company.

"Even though this is a personal financial matter, I want to be clear about this to avoid any confusion," Ballmer said in a statement on the company's Website. "I am excited about our new products and the potential for our technology to change people's lives, and I remain fully committed to Microsoft and its success."

Ballmer, who was the first business manager at Microsoft when he joined in 1980, has not shown any interest in stepping down or leaving the company, despite some criticism from Wall Street over the company's lagging shares, which are trading at the same level as 2002.

According to a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Friday, Ballmer sold 49.3 million Microsoft shares in the last three days, at prices just above and below $27 per share.

Ballmer said he plans to sell up to 75 million shares by the end of this year. If he does sell that many shares, that would mean a 18 percent cut in Ballmer's stake, based on the 408 million shares he held before the sales in the last few days.

As of Friday, Ballmer still holds about 359 million Microsoft shares, or 4.2 percent of the company, worth about $9.6 billion. That makes him the second largest shareholder behind Chairman and co-founder Bill Gates, according to Thomson Reuters data.

More

Robbers Steal New 'Call of Duty' Video Game In Md.

BEL AIR, Md. –  Authorities in northeast Maryland say robbers have stolen more than 100 copies of the highly anticipated "Call of Duty: Black Ops" video game, which doesn't go on sale until Tuesday.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office says at least two men were involved in the robbery, which was timed for when the GameStop in Bel Air was about to close Saturday night.

The men, who were armed with guns, stole four cases full of the "Black Ops" game, which is the latest in the popular "Call of Duty" series. Cash and video game systems were also taken.

Sheriff's office spokeswoman Monica Worrell says anyone who has the game before Tuesday shouldn't have it and asked residents to call authorities if they're offered copies of the game before it's released.

Source

GOP To Use Debt Cap To Push Spending Cuts

Republicans are planning to demand major spending cuts next year before they would agree to raise the amount of federal debt that can be issued, setting up a clash between the Obama administration and a Congress stocked with lawmakers who campaigned as deficit hawks.

The U.S. can't accrue debt above a certain ceiling set by lawmakers. In the most extreme scenario, the government would default on certain debts if the cap doesn't move.

Republican lawmakers, including South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, and congressional aides have said major spending cuts are the primary demand they will make going into the discussions over whether to raise the limit.

It isn't clear whether the White House would agree to significant cuts so quickly, though, and Obama administration officials could try to portray the GOP as playing political games with the country's ability to borrow.

The U.S. currently has $13.7 trillion of debt outstanding, just shy of the $14.3 trillion limit Congress set in February. Barring big changes in federal spending, taxes or the economy, the government is expected to hit the ceiling by May, and administration officials have already said it will have to be raised by then.More here

The Progressive Mouse Trap

During his post-election press conference last week, the President was asked if he was concerned about exit polls showing 50% support for repeal of his health-care legislation.  He replied:

“Well, it also means one out of two voters think it was the right thing to do. And obviously this is an issue that has been contentious. But as I said, I think what's going to be useful is for us to go through the issues that Republicans have issues on—not sort of talking generally, but let’s talk specifics. Does this particular provision—when it comes to preexisting conditions, is this something you’re for or you’re against? Helping seniors get their prescription drugs—does that make sense or not?  And if we take that approach—which is different from campaigning—I mean, this is now governing—then I think that we can continue to make some progress and find some common ground. ...”

Here is the essence of the “progressive” mousetrap in a nutshell.  The President and his party seized a vast amount of un-Constitutional power over the private sector with the health-care bill.  The bill is an absolute disaster, destroying jobs and driving up insurance costs, as the astonished members of the AARP just learned.  Its cost projections have already been revealed as transparent frauds, pushing us closer to discovering what happens when the dying red star of our federal deficit collapses into a black hole … but all of that doesn’t matter, according to the President, as long as half the population isn’t clamoring for its repeal yet.

Note this doesn’t even mean half of voters energetically support the bill.  Energetic support  is no longer necessary.  In fact, it wasn’t necessary when the bill was passed in the first place, as polls demonstrated firm opposition from the public.  As it turned out, the only poll Democrats were interested in was the one that gave them the White House.  No one who voted for Barack Obama’s messianic promises of health-care reform would have supported the corrupt, misshapen mess that crawled from the back rooms of the Senate, devouring opportunity and leaving puddles of poverty in its wake.  But the Democrats had the power to force their agenda through, and since the people could not stop them, the people’s opinions were no longer relevant.

Asked about the sleazy payoffs and special exemptions required to pass his legislation, the President said, “I think that making sure that families had security and were on a trajectory to lower health-care costs was absolutely critical for this country. But you are absolutely right that when you are navigating through a House and a Senate in this kind of pretty partisan environment that it’s an ugly mess when it comes to process.”  The progressive relies heavily on the gullibility and short memory of his audience.  Republicans weren’t the ones getting Cornhusker Kickbacks last winter.  Much of ObamaCare’s staggering cost comes from purchasing the votes of reluctant Democrats.More

NPR, Juan Williams, And Sharia Law

NPR’s sacking of Juan Williams was more than the politically correct act du jour.  It was the latest in a series of media and political capitulations to Sharia law.

A central provision of Sharia law is its prohibition against speech that can be construed as “defaming” Islam or the prophet Mohammed.  Where Sharia is practiced and enforced, such “defamation” is a criminal offense that can be punished by death.

In other words, what we in America take for granted as free speech is a capital crime in some areas of the Muslim world.

Islamists around the world are seeking to impose Sharia’s muzzling of free speech on free societies.  The Organization of the Islamic Conference, composed of 56 Islamic states, has won passage of a United Nations resolution calling on countries to criminalize speech that “defames” religion—clearly referring to Islam.  After all, does anyone really expect countries like Saudi Arabia to criminalize speech that “defames” Judaism?

Criminalizing speech that is deemed “defamation” of Islam is tantamount to a backdoor enactment of Sharia law.  The law may have a different name or description, such as prohibiting “hate speech,” but the effect on speech is the same as if Sharia law were in place.Read more here

Von Spakovsky: E-Mail Shows Illegal Activity In Reid's Campaign

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., may have beaten back challenger Sharron Angle and retained his post as the majority leader, but his campaign and one of his biggest supporters may have violated federal law to do so.

As National Review reported earlier this week, the Reid campaign sent a desperate e-mail to the senior vice president for government relations at Harrah's Casinos asking the company to pressure its employees to get out and vote for Reid. The campaign even offered to have Reid call Harrah's executives to help give "the backing" needed to get the company working on this.

The Reid staffer involved told Harrah's it needed to "put a headlock" on its supervisors "to get them to follow through."

This plea was distributed to senior executives throughout the company by a Harrah's vice president, Marybel Batjer. Batjer demanded that those executives "do whatever we need to do to get the supervisors to know that there is NOTHING more important than to get employees out to vote. Waking up to a defeat of Harry Reid Nov 3rd will be devastating for our industry's future."

Harrah's did just that, getting headcounts and insisting that supervisors explain why their employees had not yet voted. They also coordinated with employee unions to get buses and shuttles to take the employees to the polls.

None of this should be excused as just "politics as usual." Both the Reid campaign and Harrah's may have violated federal campaign finance law that prohibits in-kind corporate and union contributions to, and coordination with, political campaigns. Corporations and unions may spend money to run ads in support of or opposing a candidate, but they are not allowed to make direct or in-kind contributions to federal candidates.

Federal criminal law also prohibits intimidation and coercion of a person exercising his or her right to vote (or not to vote).

If a corporation or union spends money to support the election of a candidate in response to a request by that federal candidate (that is, if they make a coordinated expenditure), as clearly occurred in this case, then they are making an illegal contribution to the candidate.

More at the Washington Examiner

Brace Yourself-- Bay Cleanup Could Cost Billions, Require Tax Hikes

The federal government's ambitious plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay could cost Virginia, Maryland and the District billions of dollars each and add hundreds of dollars to the annual property tax bill of local homeowners, state and local officials said.

A new study on the Environmental Protection Agency's plans to reduce pollution flowing to the Bay shows that it could cost each affected city and county between $259 million and $386 million a year for the next 15 years.

The study done by the Virginia Municipal Stormwater Association, a group of Virginia localities that operate storm sewer systems, represents the worst-case scenario for Virginia's cities and counties. But even states that are able to develop alternative cleanup plans of their own could still be forced to raise billions in tax dollars to pay the bill, officials said.

The notion of spending hundreds of millions of tax dollars a year to rebuild a storm water drainage system at a time when communities, states and the federal government are facing budget deficits could prove financially crippling, officials said.

"This cuts to the head of the line," Chris Pomeroy, an attorney for the storm water association, said of the EPA's plan. "These become must-do items in the category of a legal mandate. It's not an optional funding decision."

EPA spokesman David Sternberg said the agency has no "illusions that [its plan] is the most cost-effective way to do it." The agency would prefer that states come up with cheaper alternative plans as long as they still meet EPA's pollution reduction goals, he said.Read more

Insider Confirms ACORN Will Be Back

A former member of ACORN's board of directors confirms that the radical community organizing group, which declared bankruptcy on Election Day, is planning to continue operating in a different form.

"I predicted this over a year and a half ago," said Marcel Reid, the former chair of the Washington, DC chapter of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. "It's going to be a loose federation."

Reid said ACORN's name was "besmirched" so badly by an embezzlement scandal in 2008 that it needed to be renamed even before it was further embarrassed by a video sting operation in 2009. In the stings two conservative activists posed as a pimp and a prostitute trying to set up a brothels. The pair sought and received help from ACORN officials in a series of cities.

The groups in the federation will have "a number of new names" in different parts of the country, according to Reid. She predicted the name change will "absolutely" enable ACORN to get beyond the scandals.

"Remember, ACORN was the premier political organizing group in the nation," said Reid. "To this day, even the Tea Parties can't touch ACORN's organizing model."

Reid served briefly on a committee of directors delegated by ACORN's board to reorganize the group in the wake of the devastating embezzlement revelations. She was removed after discovering extensive corruption.

"We started in June 2008 and by August we found so many irregularities it was our duty to go to the board. The minute we did that ACORN organized against us," recalled Reid.

"My mission was to restructure the organization . . . I found out it was more than 200 groups, not the five or six I was anticipating. . . . ACORN was a genius at hiding how they operated."

Reid described ACORN as an "amazing amalgam" of nonprofit and for-profit groups, supported by numerous foundations and corporations.

"The funds were commingled," she said. "Funds were never segregated."

"They didn't want us to look at those books," she added.

Keep reading here -->

"The Relationship Between The U.S. And Israel Will Not Change," He Says

U.S. Ambassador to Israel James B. Cunningham was among the featured speakers at a conference entitled "After the 2010 Congressional Elections" which was hosted Sunday by Bar-Ilan University's Begin-Sadat (BESA) Center for Strategic Studies.

 Cunningham addressed the results of last week’s midterm elections in the U.S. and said that he believes that they will not have an effect on the relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

“While there are differences to be sure, both Democrats and Republicans generally agree that the United States has both a practical and moral responsibility to provide effective global leadership during the 21st century,” said Cunningham and added that on issues of security of Israel “there is strong bipartisan agreement. Republicans and Democrats both agree that our relationship with Israel is a bond that political developments will not undercut.”

Cunningham added that the U.S.-Israel relationship is based on common values, partnership, and mutual interests, as well as on an unwavering bipartisan commitment to Israel security, pursuing peace and regional stability. “Our relationship with Israel is not an issue of partisan politics and it would be a negative development were it to become one,” he said.

Addressing the stalled peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Cunningham urged both sides to go back to the negotiating table and stressed that there are no shifts in U.S. attitude towards Israel.

The Ambassador also addressed the situation in Iran and said that he believes diplomatic efforts to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons have not run their course. “Developments in Iran almost certainly will not run in a straight line. We have quite a few cards to play in the diplomacy part of this endeavor and it’s important that we do everything we can, working together with our Israeli friends and others, to maximize the chances for the diplomatic course to succeed.”More from INN

Rubio: Republicans Also To Blame For Spending

Florida's new senator-elect says both parties have been to blame for out-of-control government spending and that lawmakers owe it to the voters to make a course correction.

In the weekly Republican radio and Internet address, Marco Rubio says the midterm elections were a "loud and clear" message from voters that "enough is enough."

Rubio says it would be a mistake for Republicans to misread the election as an embrace of the GOP. He says it's actually "a second chance for Republicans to be what we said we were going to be."More

Cantor: Obama Would Be Responsible For Shutdown

A top Republican refused Sunday to rule out the possibility of a U.S. government shutdown next year over growing U.S. federal deficits but said if there were one, President Barack Obama would bear responsibility.

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor said it's up to Obama to work with Republicans since they won the House from Obama's Democrats in last week's election, vowing to slash spending and shrink government.

Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Cantor focused on Obama when asked if Republicans could provide assurances that they wouldn't let the government shut down in any confrontation with the White House, disrupting all but the most essential services to millions of Americans.

"The president's got a responsibility as much or more so than Congress to make sure that we are continuing to function in a way that the people want," Cantor said.

"This president certainly, as in his own words, took a shellacking by the voters" in Tuesday's election that saw Republicans take the House and cut the Democratic majority in the Senate, Cantor said.

"It is time for him to try and come meet us and say, 'Fine, let's get back to the kind of things that Americans are about. It is living within our means,"' said Cantor, in line to become majority leader when the new Republican House convenes in January.

As majority leader, Cantor would be the Republican's No. 2, behind only John Boehner, expected to become the chamber's new speaker, replacing Democrat Nancy Pelosi.

The U.S. budget deficit for the fiscal year that ended September 30 was about $1.3 trillion, with the U.S. debt topping $13 trillion. Congress must decide next year whether to raise the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling to avoid a U.S. default.

At the same time, if the White House and Congress can't agree on new spending plans, there could be a government shutdown.Read more >>

Senator: Consider Taking Out Iran's Military

A leading US senator on defense issues said Saturday any military strike on Iran to stop its nuclear program must also strive to take out Iran's military capability.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who sits on the Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security Committee, said the US shouldn't just consider a surgical strike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

"My view of military force would be not to just neutralize their nuclear program, which are probably dispersed and hardened, but to sink their navy, destroy their air force and deliver a decisive blow to the Revolutionary Guard.

"In other words, neuter that regime," added Graham, who spoke at the Halifax International Security Forum.

Graham said he hoped that would help Iranians have a chance to take back their government. He said he still believes there is time for economic sanctions to work, but said sanctions currently in place are not "crippling."

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Netanyahu To Press US For Military Threat On Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Sunday that only a credible military threat can deter Iran from building a nuclear weapon, Israeli political sources said.

In comments signaling growing Israeli impatience with diplomacy, the sources said Netanyahu, beginning a five-day U.S. visit, argued that economic sanctions have failed to persuade Iran to stop its nuclear program.

Netanyahu and Biden met on the sidelines of an American Jewish conference in New Orleans that both are due to address, and also discussed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks suspended in a dispute over building in settlements in the West Bank.

"The only way to ensure that Iran will not go nuclear is to create a credible threat of military action against it if it doesn't cease its race for a nuclear weapon," one of the sources said Netanyahu told Biden.

"The economic sanctions are making it difficult for Iran, but there is no sign that the Ayatollah regime plans to stop its nuclear program because of them."Here is more

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Black Conservative Surge

The 2010 campaign will be remembered as a landmark in the history of black conservatism:  We are witnessing a sea change, a surge of interest in a fresh approach for the black community. The black conservative movement is now stronger than it has been in decades. Ironically, the election of America’s first black liberal president, Barack Obama, has sparked its antithesis: black conservative candidates across the nation insisting that blacks thrive best according to free market principles and traditional morality.

Welcome to a brave new world.

For decades, liberals have maintained that only big-government policies—that is, dependence on the welfare state—and permissive morals would truly set blacks free. In addition, liberals insist that blacks need affirmative action—that is, quotas to ensure they are employed in adequate numbers in a predominantly, in their view, racist and oppressive America. And, liberals have argued blacks ought to embrace a multicultural view of their nation—that is, celebrate a so-called “organic” and “authentic” black culture that is distinct from the universal doctrine of individual rights and freedoms that defines most patriotic, Constitution-loving Americans. The result has been to propagate segregation: the black community has segregated itself into the Democratic Party, remaining trapped and stifled by its failed policies.

Blacks in America vote in overwhelming numbers—consistently above 88 percent—for the Democratic Party. This means that Democratic leaders by and large take their vote for granted and Republicans by and large do not think there is much point in attempting to court a constituency that will not vote for them regardless of how hard they try to win them over. In a nutshell, black Americans have failed to dangle their vote strategically amongst the two parties, offering the price of their allegiance to those representatives who will do most for them. Instead, they have given themselves whole hog to one party, like a love-stricken, hopeless wife who cannot leave the man who constantly betrays her.

For their allegiance to this philosophy, blacks can boast a disproportionately high unemployment rate of 16 percent; a staggering abortion rate wherein 50 percent of black pregnancies are aborted; and a shocking rate of broken families—70 percent of black children do not have a father in the home. This means that in 2010, after almost five decades of liberalism, the black community is underemployed, being systematically exterminated and their families are being decimated. Any one of these statistics should convince a self-loving black American that it is time to dramatically change course. This kind of physical and social destruction is more reminiscent of colonial America when blacks were still in chains than it is of the contemporary, free, prosperous and sophisticated nation we have created since then.Keep reading >>

Race For No. 4 GOP Spot Pits Tea Party vs. Established Washington GOP

The race for GOP Conference Chair is heating up as Reps. Jeb Hensarling and Michele Bachmann attempt to paint themselves as the true conservative representative of their party.

The Minnesota Republican's decision to challenge Hensarling (R-Texas) for the conference post has left the former Republican Study Committee (RSC) chairman fighting against being labeled the “establishment” candidate in the race.

Since declaring his candidacy on Wednesday morning, Hensarling, a member of GOP Whip Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) deputy whip team, has collected a number of endorsements including Cantor, presumptive Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and outgoing GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.).

On Friday, however, Hensarling picked up a key endorsement from a lawmaker popular in the Tea Party movement.

Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn endorsed Hensarling in his bid to become the fourth-highest ranking Republican in the 112th Congress. Blackburn chose to endorse Hensarling over Bachmann, and intends to whip up support for the former Republican Study Committee chairman, her spokesman said.

"Members casting a vote for Conference Chair aren't deciding which is the true conservative candidate. We are deciding which true conservative we trust to speak for us. Michele has brought great energy to our party and I know she will continue to do so. Jeb and I came to Congress together and we have enjoyed a productive collaboration for many years. I trust Jeb's knowledge, experience, and judgment when I vote for who will speak for me,” Blackburn said in a statement to The Hill.Read more here

House GOP Budget Chief Calls Fed’s $600B Plan A 'Big Mistake'

Paul Ryan, the incoming chairman of the House Budget Committee, has called the Federal Reserve’s plan to pump $600 billion into the economy a “big mistake.”

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke moved Wednesday to pour $600 billion into the banking system in an effort to speed up what the Fed has called a “disappointingly slow” national economic recovery.

Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, panned the decision during an interview on "Fox News Sunday." He is the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee and will take over as chairman in January.

“It’s a big mistake, in my opinion,” he said. “Look, we have Congress doing tax and spend, borrow and spend. Now we have the Federal Reserve doing print and spend.”

Ryan warned “this is going to give us an inflation problem in the future” and “an interest rate problem in the future.”More>>

Report: Obama's Post-Election Agenda Calls For A Palestinian State Or Else

With the mid-term elections over, President Barack Obama is expected to resume heavy pressure on Israel, a report said.

The Center for Security Policy asserted that Obama would threaten U.S. relations with Israel after the Democrat Party's loss in congressional elections on Nov. 2. The Washington-based institute said Obama would press for the establishment of a Palestinian state over Israel's objections.

"Once the 2010 elections are behind him, it is a safe bet that President Obama will revert to form by once again exhibiting an unmistakable and ruthless determination to bend Israel to his will," the report, authored by Frank Gaffney, said.

Gaffney, a former Defense Department official, said Obama plans to increase pressure on Israel to unprecedented levels after his party's historic defeat in congressional elections. He said the president had eased pressure on Israel in response to Democrat candidates who feared a Jewish backlash.

"Unfortunately, what the president has in mind for Israel after the election will make his previous treatment of the Jewish state look like the good old days," the report, titled "Obama's Not-so-hidden Agenda," said on Oct. 26.

The report echoed previous assessments by the Israeli government and intelligence community of a crisis with the United States in the aftermath of the U.S. elections. The Israeli assessment envisioned that Obama would accelerate efforts to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank regardless of Israeli concerns.

"Worse yet, he will be able to take advantage of a vehicle for effecting the so-called 'two state solution,' no matter how strenuously Israel and its friends in Washington object," the report said. "The Palestinians will simply unilaterally declare themselves a state and ask for international recognition — and Mr. Obama will accede to that request." Read more here

Deer Mating Season Means Greater Risk Of Highway Crashes

There are deer in the woods, and now is the time of year when Frederick County drivers should worry most about hitting them.

Deer mating season started in late October and will run to mid-December, but November is the peak, said Bob Beyer, associate director for the Wildlife and Heritage Service of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

"The deer are moving a lot," he said.

Deer feed at night, so crashes are most likely to occur between 3 and 4 a.m., DNR Officer Rich Doney said.

But Beyer said his car was hit on the shoulder of the road by an 8-point buck in the middle of the day. "Off the tennis courts, down off the railroad tracks, they can explode out of anywhere simply because it's that time of year."

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Gas Prices Likely To Rise In The Coming Weeks

WASHINGTON - The price of filling up is creeping up.

With crude oil costs approaching $90 a barrel, analysts say motorists in the D.C. area and elsewhere may pay more at the pump this week.
 
According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, the average price for regular unleaded in the D.C. region is $2.82 -- just 1 cent higher than last week but 14 cents higher than one year ago.
 
The motor club says a spike in crude oil -- which posted a 6.7 percent gain this week -- typically precedes a spike in gas prices

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US Added 151,000 Jobs In October, Where's Mine?

Beating expectations, the US added 151,000 jobs in October, for the first time since May. Analysts had projected only a 60,000 gain. It wasn't enough to nudge the unemployment rate, however, which held at 9.6%.

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Most "Close Door" Buttons Don't Work, And Most Office Thermostats Are Fakes

You can stop pounding on the "Close Door" button on the elevator. They're not there for you. Turns out that most of them don't work unless you've a maintenance person or fireman with the special access key inserted. It's just one of several different "placebo buttons" placed around our world that only give us the illusion of control.

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The Best Lesson I Learned At College Was College Wasn't Worth It

With college tuition and fees rapidly increasing and hovering at an average of $7,605 a year, it's becoming easier to question whether or not it's worth putting yourself in debt for the knowledge and connections.

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Scope Out Black Friday Deals Early

With Black Friday just a few weeks away, it's already time to start thinking about which shopping spots you'll attack the morning after Thanksgiving.

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