Shortly after news broke of the attempted murder of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., the left-leaning blog Daily Kos was swift to scrub its post from a Tucson writer explaining how the congresswoman was now "dead to me."
One of the blog's diary writers, identifying himself as BoyBlue, had written a post only two days before the shooting titled "My CongressWOMAN voted against Nancy Pelosi! And is now DEAD to me!"
"I am from the Tucson area and live in Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' district," BoyBlue wrote. "Today, just a little while ago, I saw on Andrea Mitchell Reports that Giffords voted against Nancy Pelosi as our minority leader. … Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is dead to me now."
Several news sources and commentators have sought to analyze yesterday's mass shooting in Tucson that left six dead and Giffords in critical condition, while many blogs and columns have blamed the nation's heated political "rhetoric" for inspiring people toward violence against their elected officials.
Sarah Palin in particular has been singled out for criticism by CBS News, the Guardian and others for publishing a "target map" on her website using images of gun sights to identify the districts of 20 House Democrats up for election in last year's mid-terms, including Giffords.
Daily Kos joined in the criticism, and the blog's founder, Markos Moulitsas, tweeted early yesterday, "Mission accomplished, Sarah Palin," with a link to Palin's map.
Moulitsas, however, had also posted what he called a "target list" identifying Giffords. In a 2008 Daily Kos post, Moulitsas listed Giffords as one of dozens of representatives with "a bull's-eye on their district" for being a "bad apple" Democrat.
The "dead to me" diary has since been deleted from Daily Kos, while Moulitsas' "target list" is still viewable.
Read more
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Sunday, January 09, 2011
2 Dead, 4 Hurt In Baltimore Club Shooting
BALTIMORE – A fight at a Baltimore nightclub spilled onto the street early Sunday and led to an eruption of gunfire that killed a police officer and another man and left four people hurt, police said.
One of those wounded also was a police officer, who was shot in the leg, said police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. Investigators were trying to determine if officers may have fired on a fellow officer whose badge and other identifying markings came off his uniform during the scuffle, he said.
No arrests have been made, but dozens of people were being questioned, Guglielmi said.
"This is an absolutely horrible incident ... I prayed we would never lose another officer, but here we are again," Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said. An off-duty Baltimore detective was killed in October when he was hit in the head during an argument over a parking space.
Authorities said officers arrived at the Select Lounge to find a large fight and called for backup. Investigators still weren't sure if anyone besides officers had fired their weapons.
GO HERE to read more.
SPD Shooting Arrest
On January 5, 2011 at approximately 12:08 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the four hundred (400) block of Newton Terrace and to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center for the report of a shooting. Officers met with the victim of the shooting, 49 year old Donald Hall of Salisbury who advised that he had been shot in the side by two (2) suspects while operating a taxi cab. The victim was admitted to the hospital in stable condition with non life threatening injuries.
On the same date, Detectives of the Salisbury Police were able to positively identify the two (2) suspects and obtain arrest warrants charging them with the assault and attempted murder of the victim.
Members of the Maryland State Apprehension Team located the first suspect, 20 year old Shamale Dontae Goslee of Salisbury, and took him into custody.
On January 8, 2011, Members of the Maryland State Apprehension Team located the second suspect, listed below, and took this suspect into custody.
ARRESTED #2: Lamar Pierre Jones, 20 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES:
Attempted first degree murder
Attempted second degree murder
First degree assault
Second degree assault
Handgun use in a violent crime
Reckless endangerment
Handgun in a vehicle
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Bookin
CC # 201100000471
On the same date, Detectives of the Salisbury Police were able to positively identify the two (2) suspects and obtain arrest warrants charging them with the assault and attempted murder of the victim.
Members of the Maryland State Apprehension Team located the first suspect, 20 year old Shamale Dontae Goslee of Salisbury, and took him into custody.
On January 8, 2011, Members of the Maryland State Apprehension Team located the second suspect, listed below, and took this suspect into custody.
ARRESTED #2: Lamar Pierre Jones, 20 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
CHARGES:
Attempted first degree murder
Attempted second degree murder
First degree assault
Second degree assault
Handgun use in a violent crime
Reckless endangerment
Handgun in a vehicle
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Bookin
CC # 201100000471
Marylander's Beware, Liberals Will Attempt To Get Rid Of The Death Penalty Very Soon!
I have personally spoken to members of the Maryland State Delegation who have advised me that Democrats have introduced legislation to completely eliminate the death penalty and many believe they'll have enough votes to get it passed.
Now, get this. It could actually happen as early as February! So why haven't you seen anything in the Main Stream Media? Because Maryland is a liberal state and most newspapers in Maryland are liberal as well.
Imagine this. IF they were to pass this legislation, this means the Thomas Leggs case where the State is seeking the death penalty would have been a complete waste of time and money. It means, should Thomas Leggs get convicted and receive the death penalty, he'd never see death row.
Salisbury News will deliver the exact legislative proposal this coming week but I will tell you that I have seen a physical copy of the document and couldn't believe what I was seeing with my own eyes. We've been told that even if Governor O'Malley sits back on this legislation and doesn't sign it, it could still pass into law and he would walk away as if he never had anything to do with it.
We'll keep you posted.
Today's Survey Question
Never Waste A Crisis
On November 5, 2009, Maj. Nidal Hasan opened fire at a troop readiness center in Ft. Hood, Texas, killing 13 people. Within hours of the killings, the world knew that Hasan reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar!" before he began shooting, visited websites associated with Islamist violence, wrote Internet postings justifying Muslim suicide bombings, considered U.S. forces his enemy, opposed American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan as wars on Islam, and told a neighbor shortly before the shootings that he was going "to do good work for God."
There was ample evidence, in other words, that the Ft. Hood attack was an act of Islamist violence.
Nevertheless, public officials, journalists, and commentators were quick to caution that the public should not "jump to conclusions" about Hasan's motive. CNN, in particular, became a forum for repeated warnings that the subject should be discussed with particular care.
"The important thing is for everyone not to jump to conclusions," said retired Gen. Wesley Clark on CNN the night of the shootings.
"We cannot jump to conclusions," said CNN's Jane Velez-Mitchell that same evening. "We have to make sure that we do not jump to any conclusions whatsoever."
Fast forward a little more than a year, to January 8, 2011. In Tucson, Arizona, a 22 year-old man named Jared Lee Loughner opened fire at a political event, gravely wounding Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, killing a federal judge and five others, and wounding 18. In the hours after the attack, little was known about Loughner beyond some bizarre and largely incomprehensible YouTube postings that, if anything, suggested he was mentally ill.
Yet the network that had shown such caution in discussing the Ft. Hood shootings openly discussed the possibility that Loughner was inspired to violence by…Sarah Palin. Although there is no evidence that Loughner was in any way influenced by Palin, CNN was filled with speculation about the former Alaska governor.
[But they're still not jumping to any conclusions about Ft. Hood-- Editor]
More here
Editors Notes: This comment came in from Thomas J. Miller 2012 Presidential Candidate.
"Just for the record, there were 14 lives lost at Fort Hood. One of the victims was a pregnant woman, her unborn child was the one person the media does not acknowledge."
Thomas J. Miller
There was ample evidence, in other words, that the Ft. Hood attack was an act of Islamist violence.
Nevertheless, public officials, journalists, and commentators were quick to caution that the public should not "jump to conclusions" about Hasan's motive. CNN, in particular, became a forum for repeated warnings that the subject should be discussed with particular care.
"The important thing is for everyone not to jump to conclusions," said retired Gen. Wesley Clark on CNN the night of the shootings.
"We cannot jump to conclusions," said CNN's Jane Velez-Mitchell that same evening. "We have to make sure that we do not jump to any conclusions whatsoever."
Fast forward a little more than a year, to January 8, 2011. In Tucson, Arizona, a 22 year-old man named Jared Lee Loughner opened fire at a political event, gravely wounding Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, killing a federal judge and five others, and wounding 18. In the hours after the attack, little was known about Loughner beyond some bizarre and largely incomprehensible YouTube postings that, if anything, suggested he was mentally ill.
Yet the network that had shown such caution in discussing the Ft. Hood shootings openly discussed the possibility that Loughner was inspired to violence by…Sarah Palin. Although there is no evidence that Loughner was in any way influenced by Palin, CNN was filled with speculation about the former Alaska governor.
[But they're still not jumping to any conclusions about Ft. Hood-- Editor]
More here
Editors Notes: This comment came in from Thomas J. Miller 2012 Presidential Candidate.
"Just for the record, there were 14 lives lost at Fort Hood. One of the victims was a pregnant woman, her unborn child was the one person the media does not acknowledge."
Thomas J. Miller
CECIL CO. MAN FATALLY WOUNDED AFTER THREATENING TROOPERS WITH A SWORD
(ELKTON, MD) – A Cecil County man was fatally wounded last night after he called troopers to his apartment for a dispute with a neighbor and then confronted them with swords and what appeared to be a rifle and a handgun.
The deceased is identified as Jason E. Honaker, 25, of the 700-block of West Pulaski Highway, Elkton, Md. He was pronounced dead at Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.
Shortly after 9:00 p.m. yesterday, a call was received at the Maryland State Police North East Barrack from a man who identified himself has Jason Honaker. He told the duty officer that police needed to respond to his location or he was going to kill his neighbor.
Trooper First Class Matthew Telep and Trooper Brian Schweers were dispatched and responded to Honaker’s apartment. Honaker’s girlfriend met troopers at the door and told them Honaker was armed with ‘swords and guns’ and he was intoxicated. She directed troopers to a back bedroom where she said Honaker was located.
The troopers immediately began giving verbal orders to Honaker and telling him to come out of the bedroom. When he emerged, Honaker was carrying a sword that was about two feet long and what appeared to be a rifle. Troopers also saw that Honaker was wearing another sword and had what appeared to be a handgun tucked into his waistband.
Troopers ordered Honaker to drop the weapons he was carrying and put his hands in the air. The preliminary investigation indicates Honaker threw the sword and what appeared to be the rifle he was carrying down toward the troopers, who were less than ten feet from him. Troopers continued to tell Honaker to put his hands in the air and not to touch the other weapons.
Honaker ignored those commands and pulled the shorter sword, described as a curved, martial arts-type sword, about 18 inches long. In fear for his life and the life of his fellow trooper, TFC Telep fired his State Police issued .40 caliber Beretta pistol, striking Honaker.
Troopers immediately summoned emergency medical assistance to the scene. Honaker was transported by ambulance to Christiana hospital where he underwent surgery, but later died.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the North East Barrack Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene to conduct an investigation that included the service of a search warrant at the apartment for the collection of evidence. Investigators and crime scene technicians recovered the two swords, and several other edged-weapons. The guns that appeared to be a rifle and handgun were determined to be an air rifle and a BB pistol that closely resembled a real handgun.
Honaker’s girlfriend, who is more than eight months pregnant, told investigators Honaker began drinking vodka late that afternoon and had consumed a pint. Investigators also learned Honaker had been arrested on December 23, 2010, for assaulting his girlfriend and she had obtained an interim protective order against him. She failed to appear for a hearing on the protective order and the case was dismissed.
The neighbor in the apartment next to Honaker’s told investigators he had gone to Honaker’s apartment and asked him to turn down his loud music. Honaker then came to his apartment and told him if he called the police, it would ‘take seven officers to take him down.’ The neighbor told Honaker he wasn’t calling the police, he just wanted him to turn his music down. He described Honaker as ‘extremely intoxicated’ and said he had to assist him in standing upright when he was talking to him.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Unit also responded to the scene and will conduct an administrative investigation, as they do in every police-involved shooting. When the investigation by the State Police Homicide Unit is complete, it will be presented to the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office for review, which is also procedure.
TFC Telep is a four year veteran of the Maryland State Police and Trooper Schweers has been a trooper for two and one-half years. Both are assigned to uniform road patrol duties at the North East Barrack. Per procedure, both troopers have been placed on routine administrative leave as the investigation continues.
The deceased is identified as Jason E. Honaker, 25, of the 700-block of West Pulaski Highway, Elkton, Md. He was pronounced dead at Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.
Shortly after 9:00 p.m. yesterday, a call was received at the Maryland State Police North East Barrack from a man who identified himself has Jason Honaker. He told the duty officer that police needed to respond to his location or he was going to kill his neighbor.
Trooper First Class Matthew Telep and Trooper Brian Schweers were dispatched and responded to Honaker’s apartment. Honaker’s girlfriend met troopers at the door and told them Honaker was armed with ‘swords and guns’ and he was intoxicated. She directed troopers to a back bedroom where she said Honaker was located.
The troopers immediately began giving verbal orders to Honaker and telling him to come out of the bedroom. When he emerged, Honaker was carrying a sword that was about two feet long and what appeared to be a rifle. Troopers also saw that Honaker was wearing another sword and had what appeared to be a handgun tucked into his waistband.
Troopers ordered Honaker to drop the weapons he was carrying and put his hands in the air. The preliminary investigation indicates Honaker threw the sword and what appeared to be the rifle he was carrying down toward the troopers, who were less than ten feet from him. Troopers continued to tell Honaker to put his hands in the air and not to touch the other weapons.
Honaker ignored those commands and pulled the shorter sword, described as a curved, martial arts-type sword, about 18 inches long. In fear for his life and the life of his fellow trooper, TFC Telep fired his State Police issued .40 caliber Beretta pistol, striking Honaker.
Troopers immediately summoned emergency medical assistance to the scene. Honaker was transported by ambulance to Christiana hospital where he underwent surgery, but later died.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the North East Barrack Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene to conduct an investigation that included the service of a search warrant at the apartment for the collection of evidence. Investigators and crime scene technicians recovered the two swords, and several other edged-weapons. The guns that appeared to be a rifle and handgun were determined to be an air rifle and a BB pistol that closely resembled a real handgun.
Honaker’s girlfriend, who is more than eight months pregnant, told investigators Honaker began drinking vodka late that afternoon and had consumed a pint. Investigators also learned Honaker had been arrested on December 23, 2010, for assaulting his girlfriend and she had obtained an interim protective order against him. She failed to appear for a hearing on the protective order and the case was dismissed.
The neighbor in the apartment next to Honaker’s told investigators he had gone to Honaker’s apartment and asked him to turn down his loud music. Honaker then came to his apartment and told him if he called the police, it would ‘take seven officers to take him down.’ The neighbor told Honaker he wasn’t calling the police, he just wanted him to turn his music down. He described Honaker as ‘extremely intoxicated’ and said he had to assist him in standing upright when he was talking to him.
Investigators from the Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Unit also responded to the scene and will conduct an administrative investigation, as they do in every police-involved shooting. When the investigation by the State Police Homicide Unit is complete, it will be presented to the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office for review, which is also procedure.
TFC Telep is a four year veteran of the Maryland State Police and Trooper Schweers has been a trooper for two and one-half years. Both are assigned to uniform road patrol duties at the North East Barrack. Per procedure, both troopers have been placed on routine administrative leave as the investigation continues.
Congresswoman Still Sedated After Gunman's Attack
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Authorities are seeking a possible accomplice to the rampage that left six dead
TUCSON, Ariz. — Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was in critical condition Sunday as investigators attempted to understand what motivated a gunman's shooting rampage that killed six and as investigators asked for the public's help in finding a possible accomplice who was still at large.
University Medical Center spokeswoman Darci Slaten told The Associated Press that Giffords remained sedated after undergoing a two-hour surgery Saturday and has not been conscious since the shooting. She said more information will be released at a news conference in which one of the doctors who operated on Giffords plans to speak.
Outside of the hospital, candles flickered at a makeshift memorial. Signs read "Peace + love are stronger," "God bless America and "We love you, Gabrielle." People also laid down bouquets of flowers, American flags and pictures of Giffords.
GO HERE to read more.
Is Salisbury's WWT Plant Dilemna Going To Be Similar To Jefferson County Alabama?
The Multi-million dollar question for Salisbury taxpayers - Is the City of Salisbury going to end-up a financial basketcase like what happened in Jefferson County, Alabama
Sewer construction and bond swap controversy
Two extremely controversial undertakings by the county account for the majority of this debt. First was a massive overhaul of the county-owned sewer system, and second was a series of risky bond-swap agreements. Both have been scrutinized by federal prosecutors, with several former county officials convicted of bribery and corruption.[citation needed]In 1995, Jefferson County entered into a consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding sewer overflows into the Cahaba River watershed. A total of $3.2 billion of new construction was subsequently contracted, both to comply with the consent decree and to expand the system to newly-developing areas and increase the number of ratepayers financing the construction. Several engineers, building contractors and commissioners have since been tried and convicted in Federal Court. On May 12, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the convictions in large part.[citation needed]
A series of controversial interest rate swaps, initiated in 2002 and 2003 by former Commission President Larry Langford (removed as the mayor of Birmingham after his conviction[4]), were intended to lower interest payments, but have, in fact, had the opposite effect, increasing the county's indebtedness to the point that officials have issued formal statements doubting the county's ability to meet its financial obligations. The bond swaps are at the center of an investigation by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.[5]
In late February 2008 Standard & Poor's lowered their rating of Jefferson County bonds to "junk" status. The likelihood of the county filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection has been debated in the press.[6] In early March 2008, Moody's followed suit and indicated that it would also review the county's ability to meet other bond obligations.[7]
On March 7, 2008, Jefferson County failed to post $184 million collateral as required under its sewer bond agreements, thereby moving into technical default.[8]
Democrats Lash Out At Inflammatory Rhetoric Following Shooting
Following the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), some Democrats are targeting political rhetoric they say could encourage violent behavior.
Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the event was "both a personal tragedy and a tragic reminder that we cannot remain silent when political rhetoric turns violent."
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) said, "America must not tolerate violence or inflammatory rhetoric that incites political violence."
"Even though we do not have all the answers yet, we are all too familiar with the violent and polarizing climate in which we live," said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), the new chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. "Those of us in leadership must be overly cautious of fanning the flames of extremism in hopes to prevent another horrendous tragedy such as this."
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence called for a return to civil political discourse.
"We ... are deeply concerned about the heated political rhetoric that escalates debates and controversies, and sometimes makes it seem as if violence is an acceptable response to honest disagreements," said Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke in a statement.
It is not known at this time whether the shooter had political motivations.
Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips condemned the attack on Giffords, but warned backers that the Tea Party movement would have to defend itself from attacks by political opponents.
"While we need to take a moment to extend our sympathies to the families of those who died, we cannot allow the hard left to do what it tried to do in 1995 after the Oklahoma City bombing," he said.
More
Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said the event was "both a personal tragedy and a tragic reminder that we cannot remain silent when political rhetoric turns violent."
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) said, "America must not tolerate violence or inflammatory rhetoric that incites political violence."
"Even though we do not have all the answers yet, we are all too familiar with the violent and polarizing climate in which we live," said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), the new chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. "Those of us in leadership must be overly cautious of fanning the flames of extremism in hopes to prevent another horrendous tragedy such as this."
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence called for a return to civil political discourse.
"We ... are deeply concerned about the heated political rhetoric that escalates debates and controversies, and sometimes makes it seem as if violence is an acceptable response to honest disagreements," said Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke in a statement.
It is not known at this time whether the shooter had political motivations.
Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips condemned the attack on Giffords, but warned backers that the Tea Party movement would have to defend itself from attacks by political opponents.
"While we need to take a moment to extend our sympathies to the families of those who died, we cannot allow the hard left to do what it tried to do in 1995 after the Oklahoma City bombing," he said.
More
Lawmaker Protests Vietnam Attack On U.S. Diplomat
A member of the congressional caucuses on Vietnam and human rights lashed out at Hanoi for roughing up a U.S. diplomat who was attempting to visit a well-known dissident.
Christian Marchant, a political officer with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, was attempting to meet with Father Nguyen Van Ly, a democracy advocate being held under house arrest. Ly told Radio Free Asia that the diplomat was "wrestled down to the ground right in the middle of the road" in front of hundreds of witnesses.
"We are aware of and deeply concerned by the incident and have officially registered a strong protest with the Vietnamese government in Hanoi," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Wednesday.
Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement Friday that Marchant's legs were repeatedly slammed in a car door in violation of international laws protecting diplomats.
"This attack on a U.S. diplomat is beyond reprehensible," Royce said. "My staff has met with this political officer and can confirm that he is no threat to Vietnam. That, however, didn’t prevent his legs from being crushed by Vietnamese officials.
"In the past, the Vietnamese government has reserved the use of its thuggish tactics for peaceful dissidents and those deemed as threats to the government’s stranglehold on power. It’s now become clear that no one is immune from abuse," Royce added.
On the same day of the attack, Royce introduced H.R.156, the Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act, a bill that imposes sanctions on Vietnamese government officials who are complicit in human-rights abuses committed against the people of Vietnam.
More
Christian Marchant, a political officer with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, was attempting to meet with Father Nguyen Van Ly, a democracy advocate being held under house arrest. Ly told Radio Free Asia that the diplomat was "wrestled down to the ground right in the middle of the road" in front of hundreds of witnesses.
"We are aware of and deeply concerned by the incident and have officially registered a strong protest with the Vietnamese government in Hanoi," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Wednesday.
Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement Friday that Marchant's legs were repeatedly slammed in a car door in violation of international laws protecting diplomats.
"This attack on a U.S. diplomat is beyond reprehensible," Royce said. "My staff has met with this political officer and can confirm that he is no threat to Vietnam. That, however, didn’t prevent his legs from being crushed by Vietnamese officials.
"In the past, the Vietnamese government has reserved the use of its thuggish tactics for peaceful dissidents and those deemed as threats to the government’s stranglehold on power. It’s now become clear that no one is immune from abuse," Royce added.
On the same day of the attack, Royce introduced H.R.156, the Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act, a bill that imposes sanctions on Vietnamese government officials who are complicit in human-rights abuses committed against the people of Vietnam.
More
Republicans Introduce Bill To Eliminate Presidential 'Czars'
A group of House Republicans introduced a bill on Wednesday to rein in the various "czars" in the Obama administration.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and 28 other House Republicans introduced legislation to do away with the informal, paid advisers President Obama has employed over the past two years.
The legislation, which was introduced in the last Congress but was not allowed to advance under Democratic control, would do away with the 39 czars Obama has employed during his administration.
The bill defines a czar as "a head of any task force, council, policy office within the Executive Office of the President, or similar office established by or at the direction of the President" who is appointed to a position that would otherwise require Senate confirmation.
More
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and 28 other House Republicans introduced legislation to do away with the informal, paid advisers President Obama has employed over the past two years.
The legislation, which was introduced in the last Congress but was not allowed to advance under Democratic control, would do away with the 39 czars Obama has employed during his administration.
The bill defines a czar as "a head of any task force, council, policy office within the Executive Office of the President, or similar office established by or at the direction of the President" who is appointed to a position that would otherwise require Senate confirmation.
More
Assassin's Politics Lean 'Left Wing, Quite Liberal'
"The Communist Manifesto" and Hitler's "Mein Kampf" were among the favorite reading materials of Jared Lee Loughner, the suspected gunman in yesterday's fatal shooting that reportedly left six dead and gravely injured a U.S. congresswoman.
Lougher, 22, listed those tomes among his favorites on his YouTube channel, in which he wrote that "conscience dreams" were a "great study" at his college, Pima Community College.
One user on Twitter, Caitie Parker, wrote she went to high school, college and was in a band with the gunman. She said she hadn't seen him since 2007.
Parker wrote of Lougher, "As I knew him he was left wing, quite liberal and oddly obsessed with the 2012 prophecy."
She also described him as "more left."
Lougher also left a trail of bold political statements.
Read more at WND
Lougher, 22, listed those tomes among his favorites on his YouTube channel, in which he wrote that "conscience dreams" were a "great study" at his college, Pima Community College.
One user on Twitter, Caitie Parker, wrote she went to high school, college and was in a band with the gunman. She said she hadn't seen him since 2007.
Parker wrote of Lougher, "As I knew him he was left wing, quite liberal and oddly obsessed with the 2012 prophecy."
She also described him as "more left."
Lougher also left a trail of bold political statements.
Read more at WND
Have You Been To The Store Yet?
A low moving across the south and off the coast of the Carolinas will move up the coast and eventually
merge with another low coming from Kentucky/Tennessee. These two systems will interact,
putting our area in the squeeze between them.
Depending, of course, on the track of the two systems, we could get significant snow, but it is looking more
likely that we will get a mix to the south and snowier conditions to the north of our area.
The possibility of freezing rain/sleet is certainly there, and we will definitely need to be prepared. Ice frequently prunes our
trees (and cuts our power..), so you'll want to be ready.
The roads may still be a mess on Wednesday as the very cold air behind the storm arrives.
We will keep you informed.
(Accuweather)
Obama Eyeing Internet ID For Americans
President Obama is planning to hand the U.S. Commerce Department authority over a forthcoming cybersecurity effort to create an Internet ID for Americans, a White House official said here today.
It's "the absolute perfect spot in the U.S. government" to centralize efforts toward creating an "identity ecosystem" for the Internet, White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt said.
That news, first reported by CNET, effectively pushes the department to the forefront of the issue, beating out other potential candidates including the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. The move also is likely to please privacy and civil liberties groups that have raised concerns in the past over the dual roles of police and intelligence agencies.
The announcement came at an event today at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, where U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Schmidt spoke.
The Obama administration is currently drafting what it's calling the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, which Locke said will be released by the president in the next few months. (An early version was publicly released last summer.)
"We are not talking about a national ID card," Locke said at the Stanford event. "We are not talking about a government-controlled system. What we are talking about is enhancing online security and privacy and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorize a dozen passwords, through creation and use of more trusted digital identities."
The Commerce Department will be setting up a national program office to work on this project, Locke said.
Details about the "trusted identity" project are unusually scarce. Last year's announcement referenced a possible forthcoming smart card or digital certificate that would prove that online users are who they say they are. These digital IDs would be offered to consumers by online vendors for financial transactions.
There's more details here
It's "the absolute perfect spot in the U.S. government" to centralize efforts toward creating an "identity ecosystem" for the Internet, White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt said.
That news, first reported by CNET, effectively pushes the department to the forefront of the issue, beating out other potential candidates including the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. The move also is likely to please privacy and civil liberties groups that have raised concerns in the past over the dual roles of police and intelligence agencies.
The announcement came at an event today at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, where U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Schmidt spoke.
The Obama administration is currently drafting what it's calling the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, which Locke said will be released by the president in the next few months. (An early version was publicly released last summer.)
"We are not talking about a national ID card," Locke said at the Stanford event. "We are not talking about a government-controlled system. What we are talking about is enhancing online security and privacy and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorize a dozen passwords, through creation and use of more trusted digital identities."
The Commerce Department will be setting up a national program office to work on this project, Locke said.
Details about the "trusted identity" project are unusually scarce. Last year's announcement referenced a possible forthcoming smart card or digital certificate that would prove that online users are who they say they are. These digital IDs would be offered to consumers by online vendors for financial transactions.
There's more details here
Daley: Dems 'Have To Look More Conservative'
Newly named White House chief of staff and member of Chicago's legendary political dynasty William Daley, a moderate Clinton administration veteran, is purportedly being brought in by President Barack Obama to mend fences with American business.
But the former commerce secretary once anonymously told the late political reporter extraordinaire and CNN commentator Robert Novak something that might indicate his new job is actually all about appearances.
In his lengthy autobiography, "The Prince of Darkness," Novak revealed the name of the "well-placed Democratic leader" featured in his column who in the aftermath of what Novak called the "unusually predictive" November 1993 off-year elections -- in which Republicans won the New Jersey and Virginia governorships, as well as the New York City mayoralty -- accused both President Bill Clinton and the then-Democratic-controlled Congress of rank political incompetence. It was none other than Bill Daley.
"I'm afraid the Reagan coalition is forming again after we took it apart last year because we don't know what we're doing," Daley told Novak. "Last year" refers to Clinton's defeat of incumbent President George H.W. Bush in 1992.
"Our people in Congress," Daley added, "and, I'm afraid, in the White House, don't have a clue. We have to look more conservative."
Could it be that Daley has been brought into the White House at a low point for Democrats to make Obama "look more conservative"?
Read more
But the former commerce secretary once anonymously told the late political reporter extraordinaire and CNN commentator Robert Novak something that might indicate his new job is actually all about appearances.
In his lengthy autobiography, "The Prince of Darkness," Novak revealed the name of the "well-placed Democratic leader" featured in his column who in the aftermath of what Novak called the "unusually predictive" November 1993 off-year elections -- in which Republicans won the New Jersey and Virginia governorships, as well as the New York City mayoralty -- accused both President Bill Clinton and the then-Democratic-controlled Congress of rank political incompetence. It was none other than Bill Daley.
"I'm afraid the Reagan coalition is forming again after we took it apart last year because we don't know what we're doing," Daley told Novak. "Last year" refers to Clinton's defeat of incumbent President George H.W. Bush in 1992.
"Our people in Congress," Daley added, "and, I'm afraid, in the White House, don't have a clue. We have to look more conservative."
Could it be that Daley has been brought into the White House at a low point for Democrats to make Obama "look more conservative"?
Read more