Salisbury Police Department Press Release

On January 30, 2011 at approximately 1:47 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Gully’s Nightclub in the Goliath Shopping Center for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival the officers could not locate a victim of a shooting but did observe multiple altercations occurring in the parking lot area. The officers responded to the altercations and located an adult male victim of a physical assault suffering from multiple facial injuries. Witnesses advised the officers that the altercation involving the victim had begun inside of the night club which resulted in Gully’s security removing the victim and a friend from the business.

Once outside of the business the victim was assaulted by a group of suspects who punched and kicked the victim before fleeing in a vehicle. The witnesses gave the officers a description of the vehicle, which was ultimately located by other Salisbury officers. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle and witnesses positively identified the below listed suspect as one (1) of the subjects involved in the assault of the victim.

The victim, identified as Deitrick Drummon, was transported to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center for treatment. Physicians advised the officers that due to the extensive facial injuries suffered by Drummond, the victim would be transferred to Maryland Shock Trauma in Baltimore for further treatment. The victim is described as in stable condition at this time. The investigation to identify the additional assailants is continuing.

ARRESTED: Deroin N. Campbell, 24 years of age

Millsboro, Delaware

CHARGES: First degree assault
Second degree assault (2 counts)
Reckless endangerment
Disorderly conduct
DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking

CC # 201100003601

If anyone has any information concerning this assault, they are asked to contact the Salisbury Police Department at 410-548-3165 or to contact Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776. Information may be left anonymously.

Review: By Delegate Mike McDermott

Field Notes

Observations and Reflections on Legislative Activities

By  Delegate  Mike  McDermott

January 17^th-23^rd

• The session opened on Monday evening with a presentation by Delegate Shawn Tarrant reflecting on the life and legacy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The delegate offered some interesting insights reflecting on many struggles and triumphs by African-American Marylanders.
• On Tuesday, the committee heard from the Chief Judge Ben Clyburn of Maryland’s District Court system concerning the digitalization of court records. He first reviewed the success of implementing the E-Ticket system (computer generated traffic tickets) which is now utilized on over 50% of all tickets issued. Concerning the coming consolidations and changes, there were many questions regarding some of the operational details which they were not prepared to answer, but the dialogue was helpful. It was suggested that the working committee overseeing the changes for the district courts should include representation from the Judiciary Committee. This was resisted by the Chief Judge as a separation of powers issue. The problem is the District Court is spending money and making decisions about future expenses without input from legislators who will be the ones deciding on funding. Without legislative approval, a lot of tax dollars are at risk of being wasted by a committee preparing for change that may not be fully funded. It was a good example of a failure to partner by government entities which could create significant problems in the future.
• On Wednesday, I met with a representative of the License Beverage Holders to discuss their recommended changes to the wholesale operations of the Worcester County Liquor Control Board. They had made a presentation to the Worcester County Commissioners on Tuesday. I am waiting to hear back from the commissioners regarding their thoughts on the operations of the LCB before crafting any legislation.
• On Thursday, the Judiciary Committee received a report from the Chairman of the Parole Commission, David Blumburg, regarding their activities in the past year. Also present in the audience for the review were several wardens and other local correctional service staff from across Maryland. There was much debate over the effectiveness of the Parole Commission in meeting the needs of the local correctional facilities. In fact, at times, members of the Committee had to referee between those speaking to the Committee and those in the audience.

1. Two discussion items stood out: first, it was reported to us that inmates receiving “Good Time” Credits had a higher recidivism rate that than those who served out more of their sentence. I found this interesting considering that we are rewarding inmates for behaving by letting them go early, only to have them offend again. I was not the only delegate thinking that perhaps we should consider eliminating these credits.
2. The second issue was the cost of parole monitoring. This cost is suppose to be paid in full by the inmate during his parole/probation time. I was surprised to learn that the Commission Chairman provides a waiver of these fees whenever he is asked to do so; and, further, if the inmate does not pay the fees (Rule 10 of their parole/probation requirements), the Commission does not violate them nor does it require them to make the payments. I found this outrageous and I advised the Chairman that I expected him to fully collect all monies owed to the State of Maryland by any inmate being given the privilege of parole/probation.  It is interesting to note that the Governor’s Budget for this year includes a 4 million dollar increase in the fees charged for Parole and Probation Supervision by the state. Sounds like the governor may want to have a sit down with his Parole Commission Chairman before he counts on any money from these guys!

• In my comments for this past week, I would be remiss if I did not mention an incident which occurred on the floor of the House during the Thursday morning session. One of our Baltimore County Delegates stood and gave a somber tribute to a Baltimore County Fireman, Mark Falkenhan, killed in the line of duty the previous day. The two were very good friends and it was a very heavy, emotional moment in the House. I had stood up to introduce my family and was recognized by the Speaker immediately after this somber moment. I felt compelled to ask the Speaker for permission to pray for the Firefighters family and our colleague who was in mourning. This request was denied based upon some bizarre sense of House protocols that made even less sense once they were explained. I then requested a simple moment of silence. This too was rejected. It seems in the peoples House, a prayer can be said to start the meeting, but we will not do so at any other time. Fortunately, several delegates came over after the session was adjourned and we prayed together for the Firefighters family and our colleague. I received many comments from veteran and freshman delegates alike later in the day indicating that they thought I had done the right thing and they thought it quite strange that my request was not allowed.

I understand protocol, and I respect the Speaker, but I think this unwritten rule is not in the best interest of the House or the people of Maryland. If anything, we need more prayer on the floor of the people’s House.

Single Car Accident Closes Bypass

A single car accident just occurred on the Bypass near Rt. 50. The vehicle overturned and is sitting on its roof. The Bypass is closed at this time.

Police Need Help Finding A Wanted DC Fugitive

Police Need Help Finding a Wanted DC Fugitive: MyFoxDC.com

Deandre Kelly considered armed and dangerous

He's considered armed and dangerous and tonight police need your help finding one of DC’s most wanted fugitives.

Deandre Kelly escaped from the Garrett County Maryland Detention Center Sunday night, while holding a gun to a jail deputy's head.

Fox 5’s Maureen Umeh talked to a US Marshal who is hot on the trail of the wanted man.

Source

In Future, Cars Might Decide If Driver Is Drunk

WALTHAM, Mass. -- An alcohol-detection prototype that uses automatic sensors to instantly gauge a driver's fitness to be on the road has the potential to save thousands of lives, but could be as long as a decade away from everyday use in cars, federal officials and researchers said Friday.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood visited QinetiQ North America, a Waltham, Mass.-based research and development facility, for the first public demonstration of systems that could measure whether a motorist has a blood alcohol content at or above the legal limit of .08 and -- if so -- prevent the vehicle from starting.

The technology is being designed as unobtrusive, unlike current alcohol ignition interlock systems often mandated by judges for convicted drunken drivers. Those require operators to blow into a breath-testing device before the car can operate.

GO HERE to read more.

Martin Luther King's Son Has A Dream To Buy The New York Mets

Martin Luther King III has a dream: To buy the Mets

.

The son of the late civil-rights leader is uniting with some heavy hitters, including Mets legend Ed Kranepool; entrepreneur Donn Clendenon Jr., son of the 1969 Mets World Series MVP; TV executive Larry Meli; and a number of unnamed deep-pocketed investors, The Post has learned.

"It's fitting with the legacy of Jackie Robinson essentially transferring to the Mets; what better place to have African-American ownership than with the Mets," Meli said, noting that Major League Baseball has no African-American owners.

"The time and place are right for it. It just seems to be the right mix of people."

GO HERE to read more.

Shooting At IBEW Union Hall, New Castle

Location:  IBEW Union Hall Local 313, 814 West Basin Road, New Castle, DE

 

Date of Occurrence:   Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 1:30 a.m.

 

Victim: 20 year old Philadelphia Man

 

Suspect:   Black Male, 18-21 years of age, 5’08”-6’0” tall, wearing all black clothing, armed with handgun (No further description)

 

Resume:

New Castle-   Delaware State Police Detectives are investigating a shooting that occurred early this morning in the parking lot of the IBEW Union Hall, New Castle.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. this morning as a 20 year old Philadelphia man was leaving a party at the IBEW Union Hall.  An altercation ensued in the parking lot between the victim and a group of male subjects when shots were fired.  The victim sustained a gunshot wound to his leg.  The victim was transported to Christiana Hospital by friends and was listed in stable condition.

 

If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact Major Crimes Unit at Troop 2 at 302-834-2630 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.  Information may also be provided via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com 

Bank Robber Takes Hostage, Slips And Falls On Ice, Then Shot And Killed By Police

Bank Robber Takes Hostage, Slips and Falls on Ice, then Shot and Killed by Police: MyFoxDC.com

WARNING - GRAPHIC VIDEO


TAKOMA PARK, Md. - Police shot and killed a suspected bank robber trying to flee a suburban Washington bank with a female hostage Friday after he stumbled in a pile of snow from this week's storm and the woman broke free, authorities said.

Montgomery County Police Assistant Chief Drew Tracy said the suspect had pistol-whipped a customer who saw him take a handgun from his pocket while standing in line at a Capital One Bank and then tried to stop him. The bank is at New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard.

Police said the suspect then placed a 4-inch by 5-inch hoax bomb -- a sponge wrapped in foil and duct tape with copper wires sticking out of it -- by a teller station and walked behind the counter. Police arrived a minute later and he went behind bulletproof glass, where he kept hostages at gunpoint, Tracy said.

GO HERE to read more.

Today's Survey Question

Which Federal Government Department Or Agency Would You Cut?

16th Homicide In Prince George's County

Prince George's County, Md., recorded its 16th homicide of the year early Saturday morning.

Police received a call about shots fired in the 4300 block of St. Barnabus Road at about 3:30 a.m.

Officers found a person suffering trauma to the body. Not other information is available.

Source

Yaalon: Hizbullah Operating In Gaza

Hizbullah agents have infiltrated Gaza and are teaching local terrorist groups more advanced tactics, Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Yaalon warned Thursday. The Lebanon-based terrorist group even has a special unit that deals with terrorists in Gaza, Judea and Samaria, he said.

Yaalon, a former IDF Chief of Staff, said Hizbullah agents could enter Gaza “like the Iranian rockets are coming to Gaza.” Rockets are smuggled into Gaza from Egypt via a system of tunnels under the border.

Terrorists can move from Lebanon to Sudan, then to Egypt, and from there to Gaza, he said.

Hamas denied Hizbullah involvement in Gaza. “All the factions in Gaza are Palestinians,” said spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.

More from INN

Bedouin Terrorists Attempt Takeover Of Northern Sinai, 12 Dead

Twelve Bedouin terrorists and Egyptian security forces were killed south of Gaza where Bedouin tried to take control Saturday of territory that serves for smuggling. Egypt has sent more forces into the region and has closed the Rafiah border.

Armed terrorists attacked Egyptian police in Rafiah, which straddles the border between Gaza and Egypt, and they torched at least one police station, according to the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency.

Part of the barrier was destroyed, but Hamas reportedly repaired the breach to prevent a mass exodus of Gaza Arabs.

Bedouin tribes had taken advantage of a pullback of Egyptian police and army forces, which the Mubarak government brought closer to Cairo and the Suez areas to suppress rallies calling for the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Rocket-propelled grenades and rifle shots accompanied the attempted takeover.

The northern Sinai Peninsula is the center of smuggling of drugs, terrorists, weapons into Gaza, and is also a passage area for Africans seeking better economic conditions in Israel. Egypt has failed to stop the smuggling operations, despite a promise by the United States to install monitoring devices as an inducement for Israel to agree to a ceasefire in the three-week Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign two years ago.

More here

Exodus In Egypt: US Suggests Fleeing As Soon As Possible

The U.S. embassy in Cairo has told its citizens to consider leaving the country as soon as possible and has warned against traveling in the country.

Approximately 90,000 Americans are estimated to live, work and study in Egypt, and several companies have told their employees’ families to leave.

The warning is more severe than the previous statement to citizens to avoid non-essential travel in Egypt. 

Dozens of wealthy Egyptians beat the rush Saturday night and fled on private planes as the flames of rebellion continued to burn. Relative quiet has returned to the streets, but thousands of protesters continued to appear Sunday morning to call for the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan also are organizing flights to evacuate their citizens, while Israel was the first to do so. Relatives of diplomats and dozens of tourists were flown home, but senior diplomats remain in Cairo, although their offices are closed.

In the United States, sympathizers with the opposition movement rallied Saturday outside the United Nations and in Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The protesters also turned their wrath on U.S. President Barack Obama, whom they accused of being too mild in his comments Saturday night that President Mubarak should guarantee freedom of expression to opposition activists and to halt the violence that has claimed more than 100 deaths.

“You cannot be neutral between right and wrong,” Mahmoud Hamad, an assistant professor of politics at Drake University in Des Moines, told the Chicago newspaper. “You cannot be neutral between a dictatorship and freedom.” 

More from INN

Why Hawaii Now Wants To Sell 'Birth Certificate'

Despite national press reports to the contrary, the Hawaii state legislature has no intention of releasing Barack Obama's long-form, hospital-generated birth certificate – not even for $100.

By introducing HB1116 into the Hawaii legislature last week, five Democrats are giving the impression they are willing to make Obama's long-form, hospital-generated birth certificate available to the public for a fee.

Instead, the plan is for the state of Hawaii to create a completely new document that will be carefully designed to carry the seal of the state of Hawaii without ever having to certify details of parentage and birthplace.

Hawaii's Revised Statute HRS338 restricts making public birth certificates and other vital records available only to those who have a "direct and tangible interest"-- namely the person applying for the certified birth certificate copy, a member of the immediate family, or others with a legal interest such as an adoptive parent or a legal guardian.

Now, the language of HB1116 attempts to skirt these restrictions by modifying Hawaii law such that for a fee of $100, the Hawaii Department of Health will release "a copy of a birth record" for those HB1116 defines as "persons of prominence."

In a separate development, it is now confirmed Dr. Neal Palafox did not withdraw his nomination as the new director of Hawaii's Department of Health, as was initially reported from Hawaii.

Instead, the governor's staff has now revealed that Gov. Neil Abercrombie asked Palafox to withdraw.

"While the governor's staff would not discuss the reasons or circumstances surrounding the sudden departure, Donalyn Dela Cruz, the governor's spokeswoman, confirmed last night that it was the governor and not Palafox who asked for the withdrawal," Derrick DePledge reported in the Honolulu Star Advertiser Friday.

Also cast in doubt as a possible "cover story" was the initial allegation Palafox had withdrawn his nomination because he was involved in a fraud investigation.

"He did not volunteer it on his own,” Brook Hart, Palafox's attorney, told the Star Advertiser. "He had no idea why the governor asked him to resign. But he did because the governor asked him to do so."

Hart also told the newspaper that Palafox has no information about any fraud investigation.

Read more here

WHO LOST EGYPT?

 By DICK MORRIS

 Published on DickMorris.com <http://reports.dickmorris.com/t/2020179/7305257/9873/0/>  on January 29, 2011
  In the 1950s, the accusation "who lost China" resonated throughout American politics and led to the defeat of the Democratic Party in the presidential elections of 1952.   Unless President Obama reverses field and strongly opposes letting the Muslim brotherhood take over Egypt, he will be hit with the modern equivalent of the 1952 question: Who Lost Egypt?
    
 The Iranian government is waiting for Egypt to fall into its lap.  The Muslim Brotherhood, dominated by Iranian Islamic fundamentalism, will doubtless emerge as the winner should the government of Egypt fall.  The Obama Administration, in failing to throw its weight against an Islamic takeover, is guilty of the same mistake that led President Carter to fail to support the Shah, opening the door for the Ayatollah Khomeini to take over Iran.
    
 The United States has enormous leverage in Egypt - far more than it had in Iran.  We provide Egypt with upwards of $2 billion a year in foreign aid under the provisos of the Camp David Accords orchestrated by Carter.  The Egyptian military, in particular, receives $1.3 billion of this money.  The United States, as the pay master, needs to send a signal to the military that it will be supportive of its efforts to keep Egypt out of the hands of the Islamic fundamentalists.  Instead, Obama has put our military aid to Egypt "under review" to pressure Mubarak to mute his response to the demonstrators and has given top priority to "preventing the loss of human life." 
    
 President Obama should say that Egypt has always been a friend of the United States.  He should point out that it was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel.  He should recall that President Sadat, who signed the peace accords, paid for doing so with his life and that President Mubarak has carried on in his footsteps.  He should condemn the efforts of the Muslim Brotherhood extremists to take over the country and indicate that America stands by her longtime ally.  He should address the need for reform and urge Mubarak to enact needed changes.  But his emphasis should be on standing with our ally.
    
 The return of Nobel laureate Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has to Egypt as the presumptive heir to Mubarak tells us where this revolution is headed.  Carolyn Glick, a columnist for the Jerusalem Post, explains how dangerous ElBaradei is.  "As IAEA head," she writes, "Elbaradei shielded Iran's nuclear weapons program from the Security Council.  He [has] continued to lobby against significant UN Security Council sanctions or other actions against Iran...Last week, he dismissed the threat of a nuclear armed Iran [saying] 'there is a lot of hype in this debate'."
    
 As for the Muslim Brotherhood, Glick notes that "it forms the largest and best organized opposition to the Mubarak regime and [is] the progenitor of Hamas and al Qaidi.  It seeks Egypt's transformation into an Islamic regime that will stand at the forefront of the global jihad."
    
 Now is the time for Republicans and conservatives to start asking the question: Who is losing Egypt?  We need to debunk the starry eyed idealistic yearning for reform and the fantasy that a liberal democracy will come from these demonstrations.  It won't.  Iranian domination will.
    
 Egypt, with 80 million people, is the largest country in the Middle East or North Africa.  Combined with Iran's 75 million (the second largest) they have 155 million people.  By contrast the entire rest of the region -- Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Tunisia, Jordan, UAE, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar combined-- have only 200 million.
    
 We must not let the two most populous and powerful nations in the region fall under the sway of Muslim extremism, the one through the weakness of Jimmy Carter and the other through the weakness of Barack Obama.

Muir Boda Campaign Message

Crime is down, calls for service up

 

As Mayor Ireton has pointed out, Part One crime is down in Salisbury and that is a good thing. Especially given the fact we had an interim Police Chief for most of the year in Ivan Barkley, who did an excellent job stepping up to the plate. What is interesting is the fact that calls for service were up 9.8% in 2010.

So far in January of 2011 SPD has over 3,500 calls for service and that is trending down from last January, which saw 4,600 calls for service. There are several things to take into consideration when crunching all these numbers. It does not include when someone files charges at the commissioners office. It does not include arrests made by other agencies in the city, including Salisbury University Police, whose 2010 statistics are not yet available.

When analyzing the gradual rise in crime over the past 10 years, we must not be satisfied until we can make drastic reductions. The current level of criminal activity is unacceptable and looking at SPD’s 10 year comparison will tell that story. 

What we must understand is that we are talking about people's lives, not numbers. Many are living in fear from what they see, hear and experience and that lingers much longer than the drop in crime rates. It will take time to change those perceptions and feelings. Working together, not against each other is the key. 

Many of us are looking forward to what Mayor Ireton will put forth in the next phase of Safe Streets. If elected, I pledge to work with Mayor Ireton on his initiatives. We may not always agree on the details but we do agree that we want our Police Department to have the tools and direction they require as they combat crime in our city.

In the end, we all want Salisbury to be a better place to live, work and play for our family, friends and our future generations.

Muir W. Boda

Candidate for Salisbury City Council

http://www.boda4salisbury.com/

(410)603-3347

Authority Muir Boda for Salisbury, Deborah Anderson Treasurer

Congressional Review Sought Of 'Forced Unionization'

A report to be published next month by the Capital Research Center in Washington will call on Congress to investigate what it describes as the "forced unionization" of workers in the United States, and how "Big Brother" government is playing a role.

The report was assembled by Barbara Comstock, a former counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and founder of Comstock Strategies, which deals with labor union issues.

A copy was provided to WND in advance of publication by the CRC.

"In November 2010, Delta Air Lines Flight Attendants voted against unionization. This was the third time that the employees have defeated the Association of Flight Attendants in the past decade," the report says. "Yet the union continues to challenge the votes and the will of the Delta employees and insists on holding up the integration of the merged company (Delta Air Lines and Northwest merged in 2008)."

It continues, "If they can't get a union by the voting process, the unions are demonstrating that they will use their political muscle to push for unionization by regulation and bureaucratic fiat."

The report cites the votes in 2002 and 2008 that defeated union efforts to sign up 13,000 dues-paying members.

"In 2010 they tried again, and there was much more at stake. By this time, non-union Delta Airlines had merged with union Northwest Airlines. By calling for the election, AFA stood not only to gain those 13,000 new members, but if the union lost, it would have to relinquish 7,000 pre-merger Northwest flight attendants that it had represented," the report said.

Voters, again, handed the union a defeat.

But, Comstock writes, all was not lost even yet for organizers.

"The union now seeks back door help from the Obama administration to force unionization on the flight attendants by using an obscure government board to overturn the votes and the will of the employees and order a new election," the report said. "We are essentially living in a world where the unions are saying, 'It's not over until we say it's over.'

More

Thousands In Jordan Protest, Demand PM Step Down

Thousands of Jordanian opposition supporters took to the streets Friday in the country's capital demanding the prime minister step down and venting their anger at rising prices, inflation and unemployment.

It was the third consecutive Friday of protests following Muslim prayers in Jordan, inspired by the unrest in Tunisia and rallies in Egypt demanding the downfall of the country's longtime president.

About 3,500 opposition activists from Jordan's main Islamist opposition group, trade unions and leftist organizations gathered in Amman's downtown, waving colorful banners reading: "Send the corrupt guys to court."

The crowd denounced Jordanian Prime Minister Samir Rifai's unpopular policies. Many shouted: "Rifai go away, prices are on fire and so are the Jordanians."

Another 2,500 people also took to the streets in six other cities across the country after the noon prayers. Those protests also called for Rifai's ouster.

King Abdullah II has promised some reforms, particularly on a controversial election law. But many believe it's unlikely he will bow to demands for popular election of the prime minister and Cabinet officials, traditionally appointed by the king.

Rifai also announced a $550 million package of new subsidies in the last two weeks for fuel and staple products like rice, sugar, livestock and liquefied gas used for heating and cooking. It also includes a raise for civil servants and security personnel.

Still, Jordan's economy struggles, weighed down by a record deficit of $2 billion this year. Inflation has also risen by 1.5 percent to 6.1 percent just last month, unemployment and poverty are rampant — estimated at 12 and 25 percent respectively.

Members of the Islamic Action Front, the political wing of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood and Jordan's largest opposition party, swelled the ranks of the demonstrators, massing outside the al-Husseini mosque in Amman and filling the downtown streets with their prayer lines.

As they broke into a procession, the demonstrators chanted, "In the name of God, the government must change" and the Muslim holy book "Koran is our constitution, jihad is our path."

More from JPost

Islamists Advancing On Russian Territory

Reports out of Russia appear to be confirming that the suicide bomber in Monday's attack at Domodedovo airport, which killed 35 and injured nearly 200, may have been a convert to Islam on jihad, according to a Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

Authorities haven't revealed all details of the attacker, but analysts now are raising concerns that the explosion may have been an opening shot by al-Qaida in a war over central Asian territory, including parts of Russia, it wants as its own.

Militants in the northern part of Afghanistan and central Asia appear to be trying to convince Russia that they should be in control of its predominantly Islamic southern tier provinces of Chechnya, Ingushetica, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria.

Analysts even wonder if the goal is for those regions to become "separate" from Russia.

Read more at WND

With Pence Out, Republican Presidential Field Open

Conservative insiders were not surprised by Indiana Republican Mike Pence’s decision not to run for president in 2012, but all agree his bowing out leaves the GOP nomination — in the phrase used again and again — “wide open.”

One source familiar with the effort to recruit Pence tells National Review Online that while Pence “could have united the conservative movement,” his departure leaves a Republican field that “is never going to be as wide-open again.”

“In six years or ten years it’s going to be an incredibly full field: The 2012 field is the Washington Nationals. Subsequent fields will be the 1927 New York Yankees,” the source says.

“The question is: Does this cause people to rethink? Does this make Jim DeMint rethink? Does anyone who feels disappointed in the current field rethink? It’s never been easier or cheaper to communicate with millions of people.”

While ruling himself out, Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.) agreed, telling NRO that with the congressman gone as a paragon of “pro-growth, limited-government” conservatism, “there will be a lot of surprises” in terms of who jumps into the race.

According to sources close to Pence with knowledge of Indiana politics, a number of factors influenced the congressman’s decision to forgo a presidential run and instead turn his attention toward a possible gubernatorial run.

One source who met with Pence several times over the last few months tells NRO the conservative Hoosier “was extremely torn while he deliberated.” Another who met with Pence feels his heart was never completely in a bid for president.

Someone close to Pence explains that “the people closest to him, the friends and people he knew best from Indiana, wanted to see him come back to Indiana.” By contrast, “the support for him to run nationally was in large part from leaders of the national conservative movement” — who perhaps didn’t have the same sway as his longtime supporters.

Pence’s young family — he has three school-aged children — were also a factor in his decision, according to this source.

Then there was the difficult timing and the uncertainty of a presidential run. Because of his relatively low name recognition, the window for Pence to begin a blitz on early battleground states was closing rapidly. He would have had to kick into high campaign gear quickly — and without knowing whether Sarah Palin or other conservatives might jump into the race and overshadow him in his quest for the Tea Party vote.

Compared with all that, a run for governor seems simple. With the announcements that neither former senator Evan Bayh (D.) nor current lieutenant governor Becky Skillman (R.) would run to succeed Mitch Daniels, Pence, 51, became easily the most well-known, and well-liked, of potential candidates.

Indeed, the Republican Governors Association has been aggressively recruiting Pence to hold the Indiana executive mansion. RGA head Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and vice chairman Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia both put in calls to Pence urging a run.

Read more here

Israel Fears Radical Takeover In Egypt

A fundamental change of government in Egypt may lead to a “revolution in Israel’s security doctrine,” a defense official told Ynet Friday night, as protests against President Hosni Mubarak’s rule continued to intensify.

The security official made it clear that Israel’s peace treaty with Egypt constitutes an important strategic asset, “which enables the IDF to focus on other theaters.” The defense source said that the IDF would have to dedicate major resources in order to devote any attention to the Egyptian front as well.

Defense officials are closely monitoring developments in Israel’s southern neighbor, considered the “heart of the Arab world.” The immediate Israeli concern has to do with possible developments on the Egypt-Gaza border, where Egyptian forces have been working intensely as of late to curb weapons smuggling. According to security officials, the riots currently raging across Egypt may have negative implications on its Gaza border.

Another concern voiced within Israel’s defense establishment has to do with Egypt’s advanced army, which includes thousands of tanks, hundreds of fighter jets, and dozens of vessels.

“This is a Western army in every way and it enjoys US aid,” one security official said. “There is no doubt that should we see an extremist regime over there controlling such army, this will place Israel in a wholly different position.”

“There is no doubt that in the coming days, many eyes have to be monitoring Egypt. Later we’ll make all the calculations as to the implications,” the official said.

More here

ACLU, Feds Coordinated Attack On Arizona

A public interest organization that uncovers and prosecutes corruption in government said it has confirmed from Department of Justice documents that the federal agency under Barack Obama's command worked hand-in-hand with the American Civil Liberties Union to attack Arizona over its tough new immigration law.

That law, SB 1070, now is being challenged before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It created applause from secure borders advocates and a furor among a wide range of immigrant rights advocacy organizations last year when state officials adopted plans to let state law enforcement officials crack down on illegal aliens who already are violating federal law.

Judicial Watch, the corruption-fighting Washington organization, earlier had submitted a filing in the court case on behalf of Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce, the author of the state's SB 1070, asking the appeals court to reverse a preliminary injunction granted by a district court in July, just as the law was about to take effect.

That injunction has not yet been lifted.

The district court judge suspended four of SB 1070's key provisions as the Obama administration called the plan racist even though it specifically prohibits racial profiling.

Now Judicial Watch has posted online a file of nearly 100 pages of documents it obtained from the government, revealing that the DOJ "worked hand-in-hand with the American Civil Liberties Union."

The documents, obtained through the Federal Freedom of Information Act, revealed that there was an exchange of "touching base" e-mails between Lucas Guttentag, chief of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, and Edwin Kneedler, deputy solicitor general under the Obama administration's Department of Justice.

Read more here

Suicide Bomber Blown Up By Spam Text Message

A "Black Widow" suicide bomber planned a terrorist attack in central Moscow on New Year's Eve but was killed when an unexpected text message set off her bomb too early, according to Russian security sources.

The unnamed woman, who is thought to be part of the same group that struck Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Monday, intended to detonate a suicide belt near Red Square on New Year's Eve in an attack that could have killed hundreds.

Security sources believe a message from her mobile phone operator wishing her a happy new year received just hours before the planned attack triggered her suicide belt, killing her at a safe house.

Islamist terrorists in Russia often use mobile phones as detonators. The bomber's handler, who is usually watching their charge, sends the bomber a text message in order to set off his or her explosive belt at the moment when it is thought they can inflict maximum casualties.

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White House Crisis Team Meets On Egyptian Unrest

The White House crisis response team convened for more than two hours on Saturday morning to discuss and strategize on the crisis in Egypt.

Tens of thousands continued to protest on Saturday, despite warnings from President Hosni Mubarak and a pledge to enact reforms.

Those present at the White House meeting included Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Chief of Staff William Daley, chief counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, CIA Director Leon Panetta and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

President Obama went to his daughter's basketball game on Saturday morning.

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Groundhog Day Storm May Affect More Than 100 Million People

A large winter storm forecast to unfold could adversely affect more than 100 million people next week from the Rockies to the Plains, South, Midwest and Northeast, if it develops to its full potential.

The latest indications continue to point toward a large storm forming amidst a building temperature contrast over the middle of the nation. Precipitation and strong cold air/warm air circulation around that storm will affect many millions of people from the interior West to the Atlantic Coast as next week progresses.

We are calling this system the Groundhog Day storm, and it will likely severely impact ground travel, and lead to canceled flights, school delays and closures. The storm is not only a concern for Wednesday, but for much of the week as the system moves along.

Depending on the storm's configuration as it heads to the eastern half of the nation, a zone of heavy snow and ice may form from parts of the Ohio Valley to the mid-South and mid-Atlantic.

Depending on the track of the storm and how quickly it re-forms along the Atlantic Coast, heavy snow could blast part of the Great Lakes and much of the Northeast.

Some benefits from the storm would be more needed rain in the Deep South, moisture for the southern Plains, and the stirring out of fog over parts of the interior West.

How nasty the storm gets and the primary form of precipitation for the Northeast, Midwest, interior South, and Plains depend on the exact track of the storm, still days away.

We will be watching.

Accuweather

SHOREBIRDS COACHING STAFF SET FOR 2011 SEASON

Minor, Mattes Return; Jose Hernandez added

Salisbury, Md. – In conjunction with the Baltimore Orioles, the Delmarva Shorebirds are pleased to announce the coaching staff for the 2011 season.  Ryan Minor will return for his second season as manager and his fourth season on the coaching staff.  Troy Mattes is back for his second season as the Shorebirds pitching coach and his fifth in the Orioles system.  The lone newcomer to the staff is 15-year MLB veteran Jose Hernandez, who takes over for Mike Devereaux as the field coach. 

The three coaches that will guide the Shorebirds in 2011 have a total of 20 years of Major League Baseball experience combined.  In addition, Minor (’97) and Mattes (’96) both played for the Shorebirds during the early years of the franchise.

“We are excited to have Minor and Mattes back because of how well connected they are to the history of the club and the addition of Jose Hernandez is fantastic,” said Shorebirds general manager Chris Bitters.  “The wealth of knowledge that all three provide will be a huge bonus for our players and fans this year.”

Minor, 37, is back for his second season as the manager of the Shorebirds.  He joined the Shorebirds staff in 2008 as the hitting coach and served two seasons in that role.  In 2010, Minor was promoted to manager of the Shorebirds and led the club to a 59-81 record.  Since 2008, Minor has tutored many Orioles prospects on Delmarva including: Matt Angle, Ryan Adams, Joe Mahoney, Kieron Pope and more. 

After being drafted in the 33^rd round of the 1996 draft by the Orioles, Minor played a starrring role on the Delmarva Shorebirds in 1997, who finished 77-65.  The 77 wins by Minor’s ‘97 Shorebirds team ranks fourth in franchise history.   Then 23-years old, Minor put together one of the greatest single seasons in the history of the franchise, batting .307 with 24 home runs and 97 RBIs.  He also notched 150 hits and 42 doubles. 

Minor catapulted up through the minor leagues and was on the Baltimore Orioles roster by the 1998 season.  In three seasons with the Orioles (1998-2000), Minor played in 87 games and hit three home runs.  His final season in the major leagues, 2001, was spent with the Montreal Expos.  In a single-season high 55 games, he hit two home runs and drove in 13.  Minor is best remembered for the September 20, 1998 night when he replaced Cal Ripken, Jr. and the consecutive games played streak came to a close at 2,632.

Minor was also a gifted basketball player at the University of Oklahoma.  He ranks sixth all-time at OU in points scored with 1,946 and he was named the Big Eight Player of the Year following the 1994-95 season.  Minor was selected in the second round (32^nd pick) of the 1996 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Mattes, 36, returns for his second season as the Shorebirds pitching coach and his fifth overall as a pitching coach in the Orioles minor league system.  Under Mattes’ watch, six different Shorebirds pitchers earned promotions to Frederick last season.  Mattes helped young prospects Jesse Beal and Bobby Bundy blossom into future stars.  Beal was named a SAL All-Star and posted seven wins while Bundy flurished after the all-star break, posting a 3.45 ERA.

The Champaign, Illinois native and Sarasota, Florida resident spent his first three years in the Orioles system with the Bluefield Orioles.  In his final year in Bluefield (2009), the pitching staff’s ERA ranked fifth in the Appalachian League at 3.84.  Mattes nurtured many of the top pitching prospects in the Orioles system.  In 2007, Sean Gleason finished sixth in the Appalachian League in ERA while Colin Allen finished second in the league in ERA in 2008.

Mattes pitched for the Delmarva Shorebirds during the inaugural 1996 season.  He finished with a 10-9 record and a 2.89 ERA in 173.0 innings pitched.  Mattes recorded five complete games during the 1996 season.  The former 16^th round draft pick of the Montreal Expos spent one season in the major leagues in 2001.  In eight starts, he went 3-3 with a 6.00 ERA.

Hernandez, 41, will begin his first season as the field coach for the Shorebirds and his second season in the Orioles organization.  Last year, he served as the field coach for the Gulf Coast League Orioles.  Over his 15-year MLB career (1991-2006), Hernandez played in 1,587 career games.  The former shortstop played for nine different teams over his long career; Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.  His career totals include 168 home runs and 603 RBIs. 

Hernandez had his finest season in 2002 with the Milwaukee Brewers when he was named to the National League All-Star team. 

Will Lawhorn will serve as the Shorebirds trainer in 2011.  Lawhorn was the athletic trainer for the Gulf Coast League Orioles the last two seasons.

Minor, Mattes and Hernandez will lead the Shorebirds into the 2011 season on April 5 with a special exhibition game against Salisbury University.  The Shorebirds open the South Atlantic League portion of their schedule on April 7 against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. 

Mike Devereaux was promoted to Frederick, where he will serve in the same capacity.

For more information about the Delmarva Shorebirds, contact us by calling 410-219-3112 or by logging onto www.theshorebirds.com.

Superbowl: Green Bay Packers

First, and  foremost!!!

 

I am a Raven’s Fan, but this is worth sharing!!

Every Red Blooded American should jump in line to support theGreen Bay Packers! The Packers defeated the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon thus earning them the opportunity to go to theSuper Bowl. By doing so, they saved the Hard-Working, Red Blooded, Taxpaying Americans literally several million dollars of tax money. How you say? Simple... we were told that if the Chicago Bears had won, that President Obama (and probably his family)would be attending the Super Bowl to cheer on his hometown team. Since the Bears lost...the President won't be attending. The money saved from not using Air Force 1, the limousines, all the additional security, and let's not forget Michelle Obama's entourage, is literally several million dollars!  Therefore every American should cheer on the Green Bay Packers at the Super Bowl to show them our gratitude.

With that said...let's circulate this email to everyone we know so they can understand why they should cheer for America's  tax saving team...the Green Bay Packers!

Unbelievable

Drop In Home Values Raises Debate About Tax Notices

Lower assessments mean rates can go up without public knowing it

Harford County Executive David Craig is loathe to raise taxes, but he and other local government officials are particularly miffed about a state requirement that they publish notice of property tax increases even if rising assessments are to blame.
 
But in a new twist, plummeting real estate assessments could for the first time allow cash-strapped jurisdictions to raise tax rates without providing that notice. Most homeowners would not see a significant change to their tax bill, because the higher rate would be offset by the lower property assessment.
 
Since 1977, counties have been required to notify taxpayers and conduct a public hearing before setting a property tax rate higher than that which would render the same revenue as the year before, known as the "constant yield" rate.
 
Because property assessments typically grow in value, constant yield rates historically have been lower than the previous year's actual tax rate. Often, counties will leave their property tax rate unchanged but have to give notice that they are proposing to "raise" taxes because assessments and projected revenue have increased.
 
The requirement was written at a time "when no one contemplated that housing prices would fall dramatically," Howard County Executive Ken Ulman said.

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Liars

Municipality - Vallejo CA - May Repay It's Creditors As Little As 5% Of Claims

SBYnews has been warning its readers about an impending crisis that threatens the very fabric of this nation. Defaulting municipalities are very likely to develop over the next year as municipal government's budgets continue to erode as our nation's economy sputters.

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Our readers will want to read how the US Federal Bankruptcy Court treats municipalities as they seek bankruptcy protection to thwart off paying creditors.

Meredith Whitney has been predicting that between 50-100 municipalities will fail in the ensuing months as a result of our nations deep recession. She is the notorious person that predicted the financial system meltdown - prior to its collapse.

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