Tea Party Caucus Press Release

Monday, February 7 was the organizational meeting for the House of Delegates Tea Party Caucus. Elected at that meeting were Delegate Mike Smigiel, Chairman, Delegate Curt Anderson, 1^st Vice Chair, Delegate Justin Ready, 2^nd Vice Chair, Delegate Mike McDermott, Secretary.

Tuesday, February 8, Mr. Charles Lollar, a US Marine Veteran ,was named to head the Maryland chapter of American’s For Prosperity. Lollar, a black Republican Activist and Tea Party supporter is taking over the bipartisan organization that has organized many of the Tea Parties across Maryland and the US.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Del. Cheryl Glenn referred to the tea party as “the anti-Christ to the Democratic party.” She rebuked Anderson for violating “the philosophy of the Democratic party” in being a member of the Tea Party Caucus

Today, the recently elected Delegate Curt Anderson abruptly resigned from the Tea Party Caucus. "It's almost like I joined the Ku Klux Klan” he said.

 “It seems there are many in the ruling party that share a phobia when it comes to lower taxes and smaller government” said Delegate McDermott. “Delegate Anderson is a victim of intolerance by a party that’s out of touch with the American people”

Chairman Delegate Smigiel stated “It’s pathetic that they would play the race card on fiscal issues and attempt to squash the freedom of expression of Delegate Anderson. Shame on them!”

Delegate Michael Hough, a member of the Caucus agreed “It’s sad that the Democrats won’t allow a member to openly support lower taxes and limited government.”

The mission of the House of Delegates Tea Party Caucus is as follows:

“The Maryland House of Delegates Tea Party Caucus is a non-partisan caucus that values and will seek to establish fiscal responsibility, to enhance free markets, to follow the US and Maryland Constitution models of limited government, and to lower taxes.  The caucus will support and sponsor legislation promoting these values and will stand united against legislation that violates these values in Maryland, the Free State.”

Deputies to Vote Friday on Collective Bargaining

Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., and Wicomico Sheriff Michael A. Lewis announced that Full-Time Certified Sheriff’s Deputies below the rank of Lieutenant will cast ballots this Friday to determine if the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #111, will be their exclusive collective bargaining agent. Balloting is set for 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M. and from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. at Sheriff’s headquarters. Executive Pollitt and Sheriff Lewis will be present for the vote tally which will begin as soon as the polls close. Results will be announced immediately.

“This is a great day for the deputies and the citizens of Wicomico County.” said Pollitt. “In the election of 2006, voters overwhelmingly adopted a Charter Amendment allowing the deputies to seek a collective bargaining agreement with the county that included binding arbitration. I backed that referendum then and I back the election that is about to take place.” Sheriff Lewis added, “I strongly believe that the citizens of Wicomico County want our brave deputies to have every tool available to them to seek just compensation for the often dangerous work they perform for the common good and safety of every man, woman and child in our county.”

Inspired by the 2006 referendum, Executive Pollitt submitted Bill Number 2007-3 known as the “Collective Bargaining Bill.” The legislation would have established a labor code for Wicomico County but the County Council returned an amended version that would bind the Executive but not the Council, to arbitration. Mr. Pollitt stated that he could not, in the best interests of the deputies, agree with that and vetoed the bill on January 9, 2008. Subsequently, the Council overrode Pollitt’s veto and adopted Bill 2007-3 as amended. The Fraternal Order of Police then filed suit against the county. On February 1, 2010, the courts declared the Charter Amendment unconstitutional and the legislation void.

On September 7, 2010, following the adoption of State legislation, the “Collective Bargaining” bill was again introduced and a public hearing concerning it was held on October 5th. The County Council unanimously adopted the measure and the Executive approved it on October 11th. It became law on December 10th. On December 17th, the Fraternal Order of Police filed a “Petition for Certification of a Union as a Bargaining Agent for Wicomico County Deputy Sheriffs holding the ranks below that of Lieutenant.” The petition was accepted and the date for election was set as February 11th.

Delegate Mike McDermott Press Release

Republicans and Democrats alike have come together in the Maryland House of Delegates to form a new Tea Party Caucus and their message is clear. They want fiscal responsibility to return to State government in Maryland, and they are pledging to work in a bipartisan manner to fight out of control spending and higher taxes.

In the spirit of unity, the Caucus is being chaired by Delegate Mike Smigiel (R-Eastern Shore) and the Vice Chairman is Delegate Curt Anderson (D-Baltimore City). The group has had two meetings so far, and their numbers continue to grow.

“This caucus is focused on one thing”, said Delegate Mike McDermott (R-Eastern Shore), “and that is fiscal restraint”. Delegate Steve Hershey (R-Eastern Shore) agreed, “Our people are struggling and they need relief”. This is something the House Tea Party Caucus will work on as the Governor’s budget makes its way through the General Assembly.

The following delegates are currently members of the caucus:
Del. Mike Smigiel, Chairman
Del. Curt Anderson, Vice Chairman
Del. Justin Ready, 2nd Vice Chairman
Del. Mike McDermott,
Del. Jay Jacobs
Del. Charles Otto
Del. Warren Miller
Del. Susan McComas
Del. Cathy Vitale
Del. Nic Kipke
Del. Gail Bates
Del. Pat McDonough
Del. Neal Parrott
Del. Mike Hough
Del. Steven Hershey
Del. Bill Frank
Del. Don Dwyer

Curt Anderson's Cup Of Tea? Baltimore Democrat Joins Tea Party

The first meeting of the Tea Party Caucus of the House of Delegates was just wrapping up in the House lounge Wednesday, when they snagged their first Democrat.

Continue Reading...

Originally Posted on February 3, 2011

BREAKING NEWS ON LEGGS CASE

Special States Attorney Davis Ruark announced in court today that based on DNA evidence they did find Thomas Leggs semen in Sarah Foxwell's stomach.

Additionally, they also found Sarah Foxwell's DNA on Thomas Leggs boxer shorts.

So far this morning the Judge has once again rejected every motion to remove cell phone and DNA evidence from this trial.

Much more to come later.

Obama May End Fannie And Freddie

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The Obama administration will issue a proposal later this week recommending the gradual elimination of government-sponsored mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a White House official said Wednesday.

The highly-anticipated "white paper," which is expected to be released Friday, will include three different options, the official said.

GO HERE to read more.

Today's Survey Question

In the past, what was the best Valentine's Day gift you received?

Salvation Army Sells Wedding Ring Left By Couple

ATLANTA (AP) - A couple's unusual move to donate the bride's wedding ring _ believed to be worth several thousand dollars _ during the Salvation Army's annual kettle drive will help food banks and other programs after it is auctioned off.

The couple, who are trying to guard their identity, walked up to a bell ringer on Dec. 22 and handed her a package with the ring and a note on the back that said although the two were still deeply in love that the Salvation Army could make better use of the diamond ring than they could. The brief note closed with the words "All for Jesus."

"She wanted to make it count," said Maj. Henry Hunter of the Dalton Corps of the Salvation Army. "A lot of lives will be touched through her generosity."

GO HERE to read more.

Editors Notes: I recently learned that the TOTAL brought in for 2010 for the Salisbury Salvation Army was $195,000.00. This number is just remarkable, THANKS TO YOU! The goal for the past two years was to reach $200,000.00 and I'd say, CLOSE ENOUGH!

Hundreds Crowd Senate For Hearing On Same-Sex Marriage

Hundreds of activists on both sides of the same-sex marriage divide swarmed the Maryland Senate office buildings Tuesday, with advocates sharing personal anecdotes and opponents issuing warnings as lawmakers considered legislation that would allow gay couples to marry.

The majority of senators on the 11-member Judicial Proceedings Committee have co-sponsored the bill, and opponents acknowledged that their efforts would probably not change any minds. It's the first year that the measure has received such support on the panel, a development that has sparked momentum for it.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, who opposes gay marriage, assessed the legislation's chance of clearing the full Senate as better than 50-50. Advocates are optimistic that it will pass in the House of Delegates; Gov. Martin O'Malley has said he would sign such a bill.

GO HERE to read more.

Detroit Mayor Offers $1,000 Homes To Cops, Firemen

In a bold offer that speaks volumes about Detroit's housing market as well as its state of public safety, the city's mayor has offered to provide homes for as little as $1,000 to police and firefighters.

More »

IRS Offers Amnesty To Tax-Evaders With Offshore Accounts

If you are, or if you know, a person who is avoiding paying their taxes by stashing their cash in an offshore account, the IRS has announced a new amnesty program for just that sort of rich d-bag.

More »

Contractors Bill Old Man $4,800 For Snow-Clearing

A group of contractors is traveling around targeting the elderly and overcharging them for snow removal. Last week they charged a 78-year-old man $4,800 for clearing the snow off his roof. Cops intervened after his daughter reported the ripoff and made them return the money and charge a more reasonable rate, $250.

More »

Yes, There Are Ways To Reduce Unemployment And Revive The Economy

As President Obama begins the second half of his term with a campaign for "jobs and competitiveness," we would do well to consider how he might achieve these worthy goals. It is jobs that matter most to the vast majority of Americans, and unemployment remains at 9.4 percent – about double its pre-recession level. This is a terrible punishment to inflict on millions of Americans who did nothing to deserve it. It will cause long-term and even permanent damage to many of the unemployed and their children.

What can the government do to relieve this suffering? One relatively simple measure is to subsidize employers who are willing to reduce hours rather than lay people off. Germany has demonstrated the success of this approach in the last couple of years. Unemployment in Germany was 7.4 percent just before their recession began in the third quarter of 2008. Today it is 6.7 percent. And Germany had a much steeper decline in output than we did.

The idea is straightforward: employers who are faced with reduced demand can either lay off workers or reduce hours. If they reduce hours for any worker, the government in Germany puts up 60 percent of the lost pay for these reduced hours. The worker keeps her job, with reduced hours but the pay is not reduced nearly as much.

GO HERE to read more.

House Democrats Fight GOP's "No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act"

House Judiciary Democrats held a meeting Tuesday to fight the Republican-backed "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act," a bill that seeks to ban federal coverage of abortion in certain cases of rape or incest.

Ranking member John Conyers Jr. (D-Michigan) joined Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-New York) and several other House Judiciary Democrats to fight the bill they call "an unacceptable attack on a woman's right to choose and a distraction from the economic relief that Americans expect from Congress," according to a statement from Nadler's office. California Democrat Reps. Maxine Waters, Judy Chu and Linda Sanchez also took part in the meeting, along with Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Mike Quigley (D-Illinois) and Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-Florida).

GO HERE to read more.

Can We Please Stop Blaming Immigrants?

Hostility in the United States toward immigrants has risen sharply in recent years. The strongest sign of this was the law signed last April by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, which gave the police broad powers to detain anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant. Two U.S. Senators, Jon Kyl of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, have gone so far as to propose repealing the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which grants automatic citizen- ship to all babies born on U.S. soil, regardless of the citizenship status of the baby’s parents. Of course, these actions are primarily a response to the economic wreckage caused by the 2008-2009 Wall Street collapse. But they fly in the face of evidence, which shows that immigrants are by no means responsible for mass unemployment or the cutbacks in social benefits that U.S. residents are now experiencing.

Immigration into the U.S. has been rising steadily since the 1970s, after having fallen for sixty years from its peak level around 1910. At present, immigrant arrivals—running at about 1.25 million people per year—account for 40 percent of population growth nationally, and a much larger share in some regions. Something like 35-40 percent of new arrivals are undocumented immigrants from Mexico and Central America with low education and limited English skills.

According to polling data, large majorities of native U.S. residents hold much more favorable attitudes toward immigrants, including undocumented workers, than Governor Brewer and Senators Kyl and Graham. Still, politicians do not make a habit of taking actions that lack popular support. The anti-immigration sentiment is real, even if among only a minority of the population, including those supporting the right-wing Tea Party insurgency.

Nobody should be surprised by this development. Due to the 2008-2009 Wall Street collapse and ensuing recession, the official unemployment rate averaged 9.7 percent for the first eight months of 2010, although a more accurate figure would be close to 20 percent. State and local governments throughout the country are sharply cutting education, health, and social safety net programs. This is all after the recession ended in mid-2009, at least according to the official declaration of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

GO HERE to read more.

George Bush Cuts And Runs From Torture Case In Switzerland

Apparently, former president George W. Bush does "cut and run." On February 7, 2011, two torture victims were to have filed criminal complaints for torture against Bush in Geneva. Bush was due to speak there at a charity gala on February 12. On the eve of the case filing, Bush abruptly canceled his trip, choosing instead to attend the Super Bowl in Dallas. Why would he rather be in Dallas than in Geneva? For one thing, Swiss authorities are under a legal obligation to start a preliminary criminal investigation if a torturer is on Swiss soil. But, thanks to Attorney General Eric Holder's refusal to apply US law to investigate torture, Bush isn't even breaking a sweat in Dallas - or anywhere in the US, for that matter.

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), along with the Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, prepared the detailed case in Switzerland, with support from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). Swiss law requires the presence of an alleged torturer on Swiss soil before a preliminary investigation can be opened. Because Bush cancelled, the complaints could not be filed, as the basis for legal jurisdiction no longer existed. However, the fact that Bush authorized torture remains, and it is harder than ever to hide now, on the ninth anniversary of his decision that the Geneva Conventions did not apply to the conflict with al-Qaeda or to so-called "unlawful combatants."

GO HERE to read more.

Marching Band Stick Figure

20 Minutes For Police To Respond

Joe-

On Saturday as we came down 13 in front of the Mall, we saw a vehicle drift out of the right lane to the left and nearly hit another vehicle.

As the driver entered the ramp to the Bypass, she continued to drift from lane to lane, and it seemed apparent that she was very drunk.

As the vehicle proceeded onto the southbound bypass and wandered from lane to lane, going only 30-35 mph,  we had no doubt there was going to be an accident.

Just after we got onto the bypass, we dialed 911 to report the vehicle, and I turned on our emergency flashers to warn the drivers behind us who were going much faster, and stayed behind her.

Another vehicle behind us came alongside, and the driver looked over to see if I had called 911. When he saw I was on the phone, he went up ahead of the vehicle and also turned on his flashers, and we began to work as a team to try to prevent her from hitting anyone.

The 911 dispatcher transferred us to the State Police dispatcher, who told me they didn't have any units available at that moment. We saw 2 MSP units about that same time alongside the road with their lights on at an accident scene.

We continued to 'escort' this vehicle and beg the dispatcher to get us some help as the vehicle exited onto eastbound 50, nearly hitting 3 or 4 vehicles, drifting onto the rumble strips numerous times, and even going off the road onto the grass. The dispatcher was apparently trying to get the Sheriff's department to respond at that point, but they, too, were maxed out with nobody available.

The vehicle turned left onto northbound Sixty Foot Rd, crossed the westbound lanes of 50 (!!), and drove toward Pittsville, going left-of-center at least 3 times with oncoming traffic.

When we got to the stop sign at Old Ocean City Rd, we boxed her in with our vehicles and finally stopped her. We both got out of our vehicles, and as I approached the driver, my heart stopped.

There was a small boy in the passenger seat, unrestrained.

We asked her to pull off to the right into a parking lot and kept her there while waiting for police to respond.

Finally,  two Wicomico County deputies arrived..

From the time I dailed 911 till we finally got help was 19 minutes-- from the Mall, all the way to Pittsville.

Whose fault is that? MSP? The Sheriff's Department?

Absolutely not. They can only do so much with the funding they have. And that's the point.

What in the world is more BASIC in local and state government than public safety?

The State Police and the Sheriff have to cover the whole county, and when they're only given enough money to have a few units on duty on weekends, it doesn't take much to max them out.

I see today that some of our local state delegates are sponsoring legislation to build a fake lighthouse in Cambridge.

Isn't that special? $300,000 for a fake lighthouse, when you can't even get POLICE help when you need it.

And I wonder what could be done with the Sheriff's budget if we weren't blowing so much money on overpriced parking lots for the civic center, and the like. Or buying overpriced PARK land!

Our priorities are completely whacked. And they aren't going to change till some people look some other people right in the eye and DEMAND change.

We need to remember the purpose of government, and its core functions, and make sure the basic categories are properly covered.

Right now, we're not even close-- and a little boy could have died in a fiery accident.

Let's get our stuff squared away.

The "Judicial Activism" Ploy

Now that two different federal courts have declared ObamaCare unconstitutional, the administration's answer is to call the courts guilty of "judicial activism."

Barack Obama has a rhetorical solution for every problem. Remember the repeated claims of "shovel-ready" projects that needed only federal stimulus money to get started? Last year the President quietly admitted that there were not many "shovel-ready" projects, after all.

But the phrase served its political purpose at the time-- and that was obviously all that mattered. Now, in the wake of rulings by two different courts that ObamaCare is unconstitutional, rhetoric is being mobilized again, without any fussy worries about facts.

"Judicial activism" is a term coined years ago by critics of judges who make rulings based on their own beliefs and preferences, rather than on the law as written. It is not a very complicated notion, but political rhetoric can confuse and distort anything.

In recent years, a brand-new definition of "judicial activism" has been created by the political left, so that they can turn the tables on critics of judicial activism.

The new definition of "judicial activism" defines it as declaring laws unconstitutional.

It is a simpler, easily quantifiable definition. You don't need to ask whether Congress exceeded its authority under the Constitution. That key question can be sidestepped by simply calling the judge a "judicial activist."

A judge who lets politicians do whatever they want to, whether or not it violates the Constitution, never has to worry about being called a judicial activist by the left or by most of the media. But the rest of us have to worry about what is going to happen to this country if politicians can get away with ignoring the Constitution.

The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution says that the federal government can do only what it has been specifically authorized to do by the Constitution. Everything else is left to the states or to the people themselves.

Nevertheless, back in 1942, the Supreme Court said that because the federal government has the right to regulate interstate commerce, the Department of Agriculture could tell a farmer how much wheat he could grow, even if the wheat never left his farm and was consumed there by his family and their farm animals.

That case was a landmark, whose implications reached far beyond farming. If the meaning of "interstate commerce" could be stretched and twisted to cover things that never entered any commerce, then "interstate commerce" became just a magic phrase that could make the Tenth Amendment disappear into thin air.

More from Dr. Thomas Sowell

Egyptian Journalist: U.S. Is Next Target

An Egyptian journalist interviewed on the nation's Al-Rahma TV outlined a plan for increasing Muslim influence over America, boldly declaring, "The U.S. will be transformed into an Islamic republic."

Shortly before massive riots backed by the Muslim Brotherhood broke out in Egypt, journalist 'Ata Abd Al-Aal told his interviewer in a video translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute that he had even heard a sheik in America declare that "the most important place for the future of Islam, after Mecca and Medina, was the U.S."

The presence of Islam in America, Abd Al-Aal insisted, has grown so rapidly that it has become "of great alarm to the Zionist circles in the U.S."

The journalist explained a three-step plan for increasing Islam's influence on the U.S. The first step is through conversion:

"The rate of converts to Islam in the U.S. is very high … rising on a daily basis," Abd Al-Aal insisted. "These converts adhere to Islam with total conviction."

The second step is to turn those converts into "preachers" who "convince others to convert to Islam."

The third step is to reverse many Muslim's avoidance of ballot box and instead encourage those faithful to Allah to take up the vote:

More from WND

Reagan: Morning After In America

Why the Gipper's tax-cut guru is aghast at today's GOP.

Moments before the new Republican House was to be sworn in, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), the head of the House Republican Policy Committee and the chamber's fifth-ranking GOPer, was standing in the ornate Speaker's Lobby of the Capitol, near a roaring fire. In the celebratory hustle and bustle—new members rushing to pick up lapel pins and license plates, their kids noisily exploring the building—a reporter approached Price with a question: How could he reconcile the GOP's pledge to tame the deficit with its decision to dodge budget calculations about the costs of tax cuts and repealing health care reform? Without missing a beat, Price replied, "It doesn't cost the government money to decrease taxes. When you decrease taxes, as President Kennedy proved, as Reagan proved, you increase revenue to the federal government."

David Stockman, Reagan's first budget director in the 1980s and the godfather of the Gipper's supply-side tax cuts, was watching the proceedings from his home in Colorado and shaking his head. Republicans like Price were, in Stockman's view, misreading history—even perverting the Reagan message. As he saw it, they were guiding the nation toward financial ruin by pushing for tax cuts without having the guts to seriously slash spending—and dishonestly justifying their "flimflam" by citing his work.

When I spoke to Stockman that day, he was still laughing about a tidbit he had read earlier that morning: The owner of a specialty food store on Manhattan's Upper East Side—Maureen's Passion—was touting the top-income tax cuts the GOP had shoved into Obama's compromise. "It all turned around when the tax bill passed," he'd told a financial news website. "Caviar! It's jumping off the shelf."

"So there you go," Stockman scoffed. "That's a real economic recovery."

GO HERE to read more.

MARTIN O'MALLEY -- NOW HEAR THIS:

Last spring, outgoing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed a landmark bill into law requiring septic tanks to undergo once-every-five-year inspections. After the liberty wing of the GOP won a bevy of seats in the Legislature last November, the body's incoming leadership held a special session and passed a new bill that would halt the septic-tank inspections. Now Gov. Scott has signed.

Message: The state's taxpayers don't want Big Government all up in their butts.

Long In The Tooth: When Old Farts Fight Back

When someone calls you “Long in the tooth," they’re not referring to your dental condition. It’s usually an insult, a disparaging remark meant to make you feel old and useless. At the age of 53, I’m being kind when I refer to myself as “a mite long in the tooth”. This figure of speech actually originated in the animal kingdom. Unlike humans, the teeth of many animals, such as horses, grow longer each year. In addition, horses' gum-lines recede as well, making their teeth appear even longer.

Even though my gums are still intact, I started feeling my age about ten years back. Gravity is indeed an unstoppable force, and this was proven when my body tissue migrated from my chest and shoulders to my midsection. I don’t like losing muscle mass. It has a relentless foreboding to it. But muscle isn’t the only thing I’m losing. Oh, how I yearn for the days when my barber would say those precious words. “Your hair’s getting too thick again, and I’m going to have to thin it out.” Having one’s hair thinned is a wonderful nuisance.

Of course, I’m being unfair to myself, because my hair is still there, it’s just moving around. I now have a venerable jungle of hair in my ears and nose and on my back. I’m starting to feel like “The Fly” more and more these days.

There are other things I’m losing too, but I don’t recall what they are just now. (Yes, that’s a joke.) I find it extremely frustrating every time I walk from the second floor down into the kitchen. Sometimes I’ll stop, look around, and wonder, “Why did I come down here?” Then I have to go back upstairs, sit down at my desk and just think about it for a while until it comes back to me.

Because of my worsening “condition”, I’ve had to make some changes in the way I go about my day-to-day life. The way I handle my personal protection is a prime example. I shoot a smaller handgun now, and I’ve changed from the Weaver stance to the Chapman. I’m more alert when I’m out and about, knowing that I’m less likely to prevail in a physical confrontation, and that I no longer have the ability to outrun most attackers. I also avoid high-crime areas. I have become a staunch believer that old farts should all carry guns, just to keep the young wolves honest. As a concealed carry instructor, I teach my retirees that flight is usually not an option. When you’re faced with a life-threatening attack, you have to bring the gun into play in order to survive.

But the one ray of sunshine I have for them is this:  The young, bad guy doesn’t expect you to fight back, and that’s your greatest advantage. All of us old military geezers know that if you have the element of surprise, you can overcome superior numbers and superior firepower. I love that youtube video of the 72-year-old Marine Corps veteran who was standing at the check-out of a local stop-and-rob, when the young man behind him tried to pick his pocket. You can view it here. I laughed out loud and cheered when the old man turned around, without a moment’s hesitation, and began beating the crap out of the guy. The old man’s name is Bill Barnes and he is my hero. You can view the whole story here.

Try doing an internet search on “old man beats up robber” and you won’t be disappointed. I can only hope that at 72 I’ll be as feisty as Bill.

So, despite the hair in my ears and the flab around my middle, the fire in my gut is still raging and I’m still a Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine. So don’t be messing with us old farts. It’s true that we were once young warriors, but now we’re too tired to run away, so chances are we’ll just shoot you. It saves us time and energy, and we have very little of both remaining.

More at HumanEvents

Report Calls For Restraints In Space Activity

The Obama administration is working on setting up international rules for space launches and satellite operations that critics say will limit the Pentagon‘s ability to deploy military systems to protect satellites from space weapons being developed by nations such as China.

According to a strategy report produced jointly by U.S. intelligence agencies and the Defense Department, the administration is seeking “responsible” rules for space operations.

The National Security Space Strategy (NSSS), made public Friday, states that “the United States will support development of data standards, best practices, transparency and confidence-building measures, and norms of behavior for responsible space operations.”

“We believe setting pragmatic guidelines for safe activity in space can help avoid collisions and other debris-producing events, reduce radio frequency interference, and promote security and stability in the space domain — all of which are in the interests of all nations,” the 14-page report states.

The administration has signaled that it is preparing to accept the European Union‘s draft Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities with minimal changes to the document. An administration interagency review concluded last month that the code of conduct — aimed at reducing the amount of space debris that could collide into satellites — would not damage U.S. national interests in space or limit research and development into classified programs.

Peter Marquez, who served as National Security Council director of space policy for President George W. Bush and for President Obama until Sept. 29, raised concerns about the U.S. strategy. He said it could lead other states to set limits on U.S. defenses in space.

“Implementation of the space strategy is going to be key. International norms could unintentionally limit U.S. deployment and development of satellites that track orbital debris and other satellites in space,” he said.

“It leaves open the door also for the United States to be forced to disclose the nature of its intelligence collection activities and capabilities from orbit.”

Rick Fisher, a senior fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, said the strategy fails because it does not adequately account for the Chinese threat to U.S. satellites.

More on this

Edit Draft Rep. King Won't Let 'Political Correctness' Derail Probe Of Muslims

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said Tuesday he would “not allow political correctness” to prevent him from holding a hearing on the radicalization of American Muslims.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) began receiving criticism from the American-Muslim community and some colleagues after announcing plans last month to look into al Qaeda’s efforts to radicalize Muslims in the U.S. King also wants to examine the role American Muslims play in assisting law enforcement and counter-terrorism experts in fighting terrorism.

The ranking Democrat on the panel, Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.), wrote to King last week asking that he broaden the scope of the hearings to examine extremist groups such as neo-Nazis and white supremacist groups.

But King on Tuesday wrote Thompson to say “the committee will continue to examine the threat of Islamic radicalization, and I will not allow political correctness to obscure a real and dangerous threat to the safety and security of the citizens of the United States.”

King cited the terrorist attacks carried out by al Qaeda on Sept. 11, 2001, as a reason for how serious and different the threat posed by radicalized Muslims is, compared to that of other extremist groups.

“The homeland has become a major front in the war with Islamic terrorism and it is our responsibility to fully examine this significant change in al Qaeda tactics and strategy,” said King in his letter.

“To include other groups such as neo-Nazis and extreme environmentalists in this hearing would be extraneous and diffuse its efficacy. It would also send the false message that our Committee believes there is any threat equivalency between these disparate groups and Islamist terrorism.”

More here

Jailing Illegal Aliens For ID Theft A “Travesty,” Judge Says

Sending dozens of illegal immigrants to jail for using stolen identities to work is a “travesty,” according to the Clinton-appointed federal judge who reluctantly approved the plea agreements of Mexican and Guatemalan employees arrested during a raid at an Iowa meatpacking plant.

The 2008 case received national media coverage because hundreds of suspected illegal aliens were apprehended during a massive federal raid at the nation’s largest kosher meatpacking plant, Agriprocessing Co. Many used fake identities and stolen Social Security numbers to work at the facility in the northeast Iowa community of Postville and dozens were criminally charged.

Now the judge who presided over the case, Mark Bennett, is publicly chastising prosecutors for pressuring the illegal immigrants into agreeing to five-month prison sentences by pleading guilty to misdemeanors. Appearing in the documentary (Abused: The Postville Raid) of a leftwing Guatemalan “filmmaker,” Bennett calls the legal proceedings a “travesty” that made him “embarrassed” to be a United States District Court judge.

More here

Republicans Seek Ban On Public Pension Fund Bailouts

Republicans in the U.S. Congress Wednesday will introduce legislation to get tough on public pensions as worries grow that chronic underfunding will drive states, cities and counties to demand help from the federal government and drag it into a financial mess.

Republican Reps. Paul Ryan, Darrell Issa, and Devin Nunes, along with Sens. Richard Burr and John Thune, plan to unveil a bill for "enhanced transparency for state and local pensions," and prohibit the federal government "on any future public pension bailouts."

Ryan, Issa, and Nunes introduced similar legislation in the last session of Congress, but that was before Republicans took control of the House.

Issa now chairs the powerful Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Ryan chairs the House Budget Committee, easing the way for the bill to pass.

Of the longer-term problems in state and local governments' budgets, none looms as large as underfunded pensions for public-sector employees. Estimates for state pension underfunding range from $700 billion to $3 trillion because of disparities in calculating future returns on investments.

The funds' investments took a bad turn during the financial crisis, and many struggling states cut their contributions to pensions during the economic recession to save money and avoided cutting vital programs when their tax revenue collapsed.

As they seek to reduce a projected $1.5 trillion federal budget deficit, congressional lawmakers are concerned that states will turn to them for help in keeping pension promises.

Some conservative leaders are going so far as to suggest states be allowed to declare bankruptcy, which they cannot do currently because the U.S. Constitution recognizes them as sovereign governments, so they can renege on pension agreements.

More

Florida's Scott Sends Shockwaves With $5B In Budget Cuts

Florida's tea party-backed Gov. Rick Scott proposed cutting more than $5 billion from state spending Monday while also slashing taxes as he laid out his first budget proposal aimed at closing a deficit of nearly $4 billion.

The Republican, a former healthcare executive, proposed saving nearly $4 billion over two years by reforming Medicaid, the health insurance program for poor people.

He also saw savings of $2.8 billion over two years through an overhaul of Florida's relatively healthy state pension system. Scott also proposed cutting taxes by more than $4 billion over two years. This would include a roll-back of corporate income taxes from 5 percent to 3.5 percent and reductions in property taxes.

Seeking to remain true to the tea party movement that advocates smaller government, Scott unveiled his budget to about 1,000 tea party activists in Eustis, about 200 miles outside the state capital, Tallahassee, where the state legislature will have to approve his proposed budget.

The event took on a carnival atmosphere as hawkers sold T-shirts, buttons and hats with themes such as "Don't Tread on Me" and "Friends Don't Let Friends Vote Democrat."

Scott said he can squeeze $600 million from reviewing and renegotiating contracts while trimming $400 million by shifting more Medicaid patients to managed care and $500 million by making changes to juvenile justice and state prison programs.

Read more

Obama Lays A Trap for Eventual GOP Nominee

Next year’s election is shaping up as another ideological struggle between right and left, a situation President Obama is working overtime to avoid.

Some of the president’s supporters are disappointed that he has not laid out a big and bold agenda for the second half of his term and is instead focused on advancing and implementing the work he has already begun. After two years of towering ambitions, Obama is offering a 25-year plan for high-speed rail and some tax-code simplifications. Audacity has given way to incrementalism.

Part of this is practical. The Democratic supermajorities of his first two years have been replaced by arguably the most conservative House since the Coolidge Republicans and the Senate is more evenly divided.

But another part is political calculation. Obama is not looking for 2012 to be an ideological clash but rather a debate over details.

Democrats did so poorly in 2010 because the election was a national referendum on Obama’s agenda in the first two years. It was all bold strokes and black and white choices – “Repeal and replace” versus Obamacare, small government versus big government; Tea Party versus Washington.

GO HERE to read more.

Obama's No New Taxes Claim 'Pre-Meditated Lie'

It seems the Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t the only ones having a bad day Sunday: Tax watchdogs are flagging President Barack Obama for lecturing Fox News host Bill O’Reilly that he’s never raised taxes.

One anti-tax expert even called Obama’s assertion a "pre-meditated lie.”

The “no new taxes” pledge from Obama came during his exclusive pre-Super Bowl interview with O’Reilly, the denizen of no-spin television.

O’Reilly asked the president to comment on a recent Wall Street Journal editorial charging that Obama aims to redistribute Americans’ wealth.

A bristling Obama insistent he “absolutely” denies that charge — and went on to insist that he’d never raised taxes.

“I didn’t raise taxes once,” Obama told O’Reilly. “I lowered taxes over the last two years. I lowered taxes for the last two years.”

There’s just one small problem for that statement from the president: Everyone from tax watchdogs to newspaper editors to independent fact-checking organizations say it’s simply not true.

“He lied,” Americans for Tax Reform founder and President Grover Norquist flatly tells Newsmax.

Obama has raised taxes more than 20 times, Norquist says.

Just 16 days after taking office, for example, the president signed legislation doubling the federal tax on cigarettes — a tax economists say disproportionately affects those earning less than $250,000 a year.

There's lots more here

Woman Dies After Butt Implant Procedure At Hotel

Silicone injections were allegedly being given out of a room at a Hampton Inn

A British tourist recently died after she allegedly flew to Philadelphia to get silicone injections into her buttocks at a Hampton Inn, sources say.

Police are executing a search warrant at the Hampton Inn on Bartram Avenue Tuesday afternoon with suspicions that someone is renting rooms in which he or she performs butt implant procedures, sources say.

Suspicions of these hotel-room medical procedures came about after a woman visiting from England allegedly died after a butt enhancement procedure and was taken to a local hospital, according to court documents.

Several women from England recently traveled to Philadelphia to receive butt-implant procedures in hotel rooms, court documents say.

The Delaware County medical examiner’s autopsy is not yet complete.

Source

Isn't This Special!

Mandatory Arabic Classes Coming To Mansfield « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth
Source: dfw.cbslocal.com

Some Students at Mansfield ISD schools could soon be learning Arabic as a required language. The school district wants students at select schools to take Arabic language and culture classes as part of a federally funded grant.

Pregnant Colorado Woman Reportedly Given Abortion Drug In Error

A pregnant Colorado woman says she's outraged that a pharmacist accidentally gave her an abortion drug that could cause miscarriage and birth defects, Fox 31 reports.

Mareena Silver of Fort Lupton, Colo., said she was six weeks pregnant when a Safeway pharmacist gave her a prescription for methotrexate, a drug used to treat cancers, instead of an antibiotic. The drug is also used to end troubled pregnancies.

GO HERE to read more.

Jockey Gets 50 Years For Murder

Stalked, stabbed woman after argument at bar

A jockey from Severna Park was sentenced yesterday to 50 years in prison for following a woman home from a bar last May, stabbing her to death outside her apartment and seriously injuring her boyfriend.

The sentence was in line with a plea agreement 22-year-old Francis Eugene Adams entered into last month for the May 29 attacks on Debra Lynn Gill and Clayton Baublitz. In exchange for the state not seeking a sentence of life without parole, he pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree murder and first-degree assault.

Charges are pending against 23-year-old Danielle Swain of Severna Park, Adams' alleged accomplice. A trial is scheduled for April 5.

GO HERE to read more.

Always Worth Watching

Pilfering From Landfill To Be A Crime

As far as County Councilman John Grasso is concerned, your old newspapers, batteries and soda cans just got a little bit safer.

Stealing them is about to become a crime.

The County Council last night endorsed the freshman lawmaker's first bill, which declares recyclable materials county property as soon as they are on county land.

Under the legislation, scooping up wires, tires, glass or anything else that generates revenue for Anne Arundel County will be illegal; police will be allowed to search for and seize the stolen rubbish. The thief could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

GO HERE to read more.

Human Body Facts...

1. Scientists say the higher your I.Q. The more you dream.  (Did you dream last night?)

2.. The largest cell in the human body is the female egg. (Not surprised)

3.. The smallest is the male sperm.  (No comment)

4.. You use 200 muscles to take one step. (Wow)

5.. The average woman is 4 inches shorter than the average man. 

6.. Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three. (Why?)

7.. A pair of human feet contain 250,000 sweat glands.  (That explains the stinky feet , huh)

8.. A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball..  (humm)

9.. The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades. (yep)

10.. The human brain can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica.  (So why are there so many stupid people?)

11.. It takes food you eat 7 sec. to get from mouth to stomach.  (I know some who can beat that) 

12... The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds.  (Really?)

13.. Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair.  (check your chest ... or your mate's) 

14.. At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell.   (Wow)

15.. There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet. (Ewww, Foot rub anyone?)

16.. Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil.    (Bet in menopause that can be beat)

17.. The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body. (Good to know... I know some who have  very hard head.)

18. Your teeth start developing (in your gums) 6 months before you are born.  (OK)

19.. When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, they do the same when you are looking at someone you hate.  (We knew love and hate have similarities...)

20.. Blondes have more hair than dark-haired people.  (Is there a job for hair counting?)

21... Your thumb is the same length as your nose.

End of trivia lesson for today...

Hagerstown Judge Takes Breath Tests Before Work

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (WUSA) -- A Washington County Circuit Court Judge is taking daily breathalyzer tests to prove he is sober before going in to court.

The unusual requirement is part of a reprimand imposed on Judge W. Kennedy Boone III by Maryland's Commission on Judicial Disabilities.

The commission reprimanded the judge in January after a drunk driving conviction in March of 2010. Judge Boone was arrested after an accident in Hagerstown in November of 2009. At the time he blew a .18, more than twice the legal limit in Maryland.

GO HERE to read more.

Harford Man Charged In Rape At Salisbury University

A Jarrettsville man was charged with rape last week in connection with an alleged assault on the Salisbury University campus in 2010, university police confirmed.

Aaron Joseph Riley, 22, of the 3300 block of Sharon Road, was charged Feb. 1 with second-degree rape, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, second-degree sex offense, fourth-degree sex offense, perverted practice and false imprisonment.

"The charges stem from a, reportedly a March 2010 incident that's alleged to have occurred in one of the Salisbury University residence halls," Associate Chief  Brian Waller of the Salisbury University Police Department said.

In November, a female student reported to the Salisbury University Police she had been sexually assaulted in March 2010 while in her room in Severn Hall, according to Waller.

The student, who is over age 18, said the alleged attacker was an acquaintance, Riley, according to Waller.

Police conducted a series of interviews, met with Wicomico County prosecutors and submitted an application for charges.

"As a result, the commissioner issued charges and arrest warrant," Waller said.
GO HERE to read more.

FUGITIVE CAPTURED IN HARFORD CO. AFTER PURSUIT

(ABERDEEN, MD) – A Maryland state trooper was forced to use his patrol car to end a multi-jurisdictional pursuit and capture a fugitive who tried to run down deputies this afternoon in Harford County.

The accused is identified as Brandon L. Pegram, 23, of Stoney Creek, Va. Prior to the pursuit this afternoon, he was wanted for robbery, felony assault, and kidnapping. He is now being charged by Maryland State Police with first and second degree assault, vehicle theft, reckless endangerment, malicious destruction of property, and numerous traffic violations.

Shortly before 3:00 p.m. today, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office received a lookout from the United State’s Marshal’s Service for a stolen silver Ford Taurus driven by Pegram, who was believed to be armed with a handgun and shotgun. Pegram reportedly held his family hostage yesterday and had allegedly threatened to harm any law enforcement officers who attempted to apprehend him.

Sheriff’s deputies spotted the vehicle at Rt. 40 and Gateway Drive and a pursuit ensued that continued into Baltimore County, where troopers from the Bel Air Barrack joined the pursuit, along with Baltimore County police officers. The pursuit continued onto Whitemarsh Blvd., then to northbound I-95.

Just before the entrance to the Maryland House on I-95, the suspect attempted to ram citizen vehicles. Two sheriff’s deputies were on foot after deploying stop sticks. Pegram nearly struck the first deputy, then lost control and traveled across I-95, nearly striking the second deputy. The suspect then appeared to deliberately drive his car directly at the second deputy, who was able to dive out of the way before being hit.

Upon observing these deliberate assaults on citizens and the deputies, a State Police sergeant used his patrol car to impact the suspect’s vehicle, using a “pit maneuver” to force the suspect’s vehicle to the side of the interstate and up against the guardrail. The sergeant then impacted the driver’s side door of the stolen vehicle to prevent the fugitive from escaping on foot.

Police officers approached Pegram and he resisted arrest. Pegram was taken into custody, after sustaining minor injuries. He was taken to an area hospital, where he remains under State Police guard.

No firearms were found in the stolen vehicle being driven by Pegram. No one else was in the vehicle with him.

No citizens or police officers were injured in the incident. The suspect is expected to be treated and released. Upon his release, he will be taken to the Harford County Central Booking Center where he will have an initial appearance before a court commissioner.

Law enforcement agencies involved in the pursuit included the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Baltimore County Police Department, both patrol and air units, the US Marshal’s Service, and state troopers from the Bel Air and JFK Memorial Highway barracks.

Questions regarding why Pegram was originally wanted should be referred to the US Marshal’s Service. The investigation is continuing.

Women’s, Coed Softball Leagues Swing Into Action This Spring

Registration Begins in March for Women’s Softball, Coed Softball in Wicomico County

(Salisbury, MD)  The Wicomico Department of Recreation, Parks & Tourism will open registration in March for the 2011 women’s softball and coed softball seasons.  Information for each program is listed below. 

Women’s Slow Pitch Softball

The Women’s League is for female players ages 15 years and older who enjoy the game of softball. The season will consist of 18 regular season games and league playoffs. Games are played on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex and other Wicomico County surrounding fields.  The registration deadline for Women’s Softball is Friday, April 15.  A pre-season informational meeting will take place at the Civic Center on Tuesday, March 8 at 6:00 pm.

Coed Softball

The Coed League is for men and women ages 16 years and older.  Regular season action includes 10 regular season games followed by league playoffs.  The league will consist of a competitive division and a non-competitive division (male players bat opposite-handed in the non-competitive division).  Games will be played on Sunday afternoons/evenings at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex and other Wicomico County fields.  The registration deadline for the Coed League is Friday, April 15. A pre-season informational meeting will take place at the Civic Center on Tuesday, March 8 at 7:00 pm.

Coed Softball Easter Invitational

The coed softball league will also feature a one-day pre-season tournament on Saturday, April 23 at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex.  The tournament is a straight double elimination event and the cost is just $40 (plus umpire fees) for teams registered in the 2011 coed summer league.  Teams not registered in the 2011 league are invited to play for a $80 team registration fee (plus umpire fees).  The deadline to register for the Coed Easter Invitational is Tuesday, April 19.

For more information contact Steve Miller at 410-548-4900 ext. 105 or email smiller@wicomicocounty.org.  If you would like to learn about other upcoming programs offered by Wicomico County Recreation, Parks and Tourism sign up for email announcements at http://www.wicomicorecandparks.org/.

Missng Dog From Delmar UPDATE

Spot:Jack Russell

Missing from White Deer Road Area( found collar) If found PLEASE call... Thanks, John

UPDATE:

 

Thanks a million Joe an hour after posted the dog was returned (found) Thanks to your site one of your readers had taken the dog in.... my brother was so thankful.....