IT WAS THE BATTLE-CRY - "REMEMBER THE ALAMO" THAT SPURRED ON THE FORCES OF SAM HOUSTON - EASTERNSHORE ITS TIME TO GET IT ON!

I posted this article as a reminder to all our breathren. If ANY of the incumbents and/or political candidates were around and holding office when all of the below listed businesses decided to exodus our area - then maybe this is your time to 'stand up to the plate'. Remember - you've got just one shot every four years to make a difference.

Area Business Closings

Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset, & Dorchester Counties

Unemployed

1. Sealy Upholstery Co. Unknown – (Best Estimate 150+)
2. Field Container Corp. Unknown – (Best Estimate 150+)
3. Dresser Industries 500 – 600 -(Facility moved to Austin, Texas - at height of business it employed over 1000 employees.
4. Shawnee Homes Unknown – (Best guestimate 150+)
5. Salisbury Engineering - moved entire operation to State of Delaware
6. Heinemann Electric Unknown, Northwood Industrial Park.
7. Moore Business Forms 148 – Shutdown 07-27-94, Snowhill, Maryland
8. Campbell Soup – Salisbury, MD - 604 Employees in Salisbury
9. Campbell Soup – Swanson Division - Pocomoke, MD 245 Employees
10. Campbell Soup – Mrs. Paul’s Kitchen - Crisfield, MD 200 Employees
11. Montgomery Wards 110 Employees - Salisbury, MD
12. Gant Shirt Factory 250 Employees
13. Jodi Shirt Co. 100 Employees
14. Delmar Sportswear 90 Employees
15. Ford Laboratory 70 Employees - Salisbury, MD
16. Grumman Corp. -Salisbury, MD 401 – Employed 523 at Height of production.
17. Peninsula Press - Salisbury, MD 45 - Employees
18. Preston Trucking Co., - Preston, MD Unknown, filed for bankruptcy protection
19. Chesapeake Bay Plywood Corp. 500 Employees – Pocomoke City, MD. Plant shutdown
20. Ruddy Duck 100 Employees - Cambridge, Maryand
21. Airpax Industries 500 – (Best guestimate) Cambridge, Maryland at height of production it employed almost 1500 workers. Moved lighting division to Matamoras, Mexico.
22. Service Merchandise 75 Employees - Mt. Hermon Road, Salisbury, MD
23. Purity Bacon - unknown, South Division St. - Salisbury, MD.
24. E.S. Adkins & Co. unknown, North Salisbury Blvd. - Salisbury Maryland
25. Masten Home Center unknown, Rt. 13, South Salisbury Blvd. - Salisbury, Maryland
26. IMS (MVP.com) 40-50 Employees – WBOC reporting - (Old Campbell’s Soup Bldg at Lake Street - Salisbury, MD.
27. Powellville Garment Factory Closure announced 02/01 100 – (Best guestimate)-located in Powellville, MD.
28. Food Depot - Old Salisbury Mall, Salisbury, MD Unknown – Old Salisbury Mall building.
29. Crown, Cork & Seal - unknown, Announced plant Fruitland, MD closure 01-14-02
30. Central Tractor Rt.13 - Fruitland, MD Unknown, Announced closure 01-14-02
31. Ames - unknown, Announced Rt. 50 & Tilghman Road Closure 11-14-01 -Salisbury, Maryland 32. Nanticoke Homes, Greewood, DE Unknown, Announced closure 07-02
32. Stoney Point Decoy Factory 35-40 Employees at peak, Crisfield, MD. Daily Times reporting J. Cording – Announced closure 04-19-03.
33. Tyson Foods, Berlin, MD. Facility 600 Employees - Announced closure 04-21-03
34. Black & Decker, Easton, MD 1400 Employees - Announced closure 04-29-03. Moving plant to Brazil & Mexico - (Daily Times reporter John Vandiver 04-29-03)
35. Pine Country Corp., Pocomoke, MD 35 Employees (Daily Times reported 10-26-03) Operations ceased 09/03.
36. Chesapeake Hardwood Mill Operations ceased spring Peggy Neck Road, Princess Anne, MD. 2002, 40 Employees Alan Parker, Plant Manager
37. Salisbury Steel Products Inc. 909 Boundary St., Salisbury MD. Operations ceased 08-03. 35 Employees Per C.J. Townsend
38. US Air Salisbury Airport, filed for Bankruptcy protection; Reorganization in process; Abandoned flights to BWI- constantly in-and-out of financial trouble
39. True Value Hardware Announced closure of Isabella Street location, Salisbury, MD. 03-04. No. Employees Unknown
40. Office Max Salisbury, MD. announced closure February 2004
41. Helovet Pharma Northwood Industrial Park No. Employees Unknown announced closure Salisbury, MD location March 2005
42. Giant Food, N. Salisbury Blvd. 75 Displaced workers, Salisbury, MD. Announced closure 10-22-06 - Rt. 13 North, Salisbury, MD
43. Super Deep Discount Drugs Located across from Giant’s South Salisbury Blvd. location, announced shutdown 10-22-06, No. displaced employees unknown
44. JV Wells, Inc., Sharptown, MD. Employed over 100 - largest Maryland Timber Company.
45. Nanticoke Seafood - it was owned by Booth Fisheries, Rich Sea Pak and most recently by Cape May Canners who moved it to New Jersey
46. Islandic Seafood, Cambridge Md. Dorchester’s largest remaining employer. The Daily Times reported 300 layoffs March 30, 2007, and an additional 122 that are to be laid off by end of 2007.
47. Brunswick – Bayliner/Maxum One of Wicomico’s largest remaining employers announced closure on 07/2/07 - The Daily Times reported 180 layoffs July 4, 2007. Spurred by tax incentives from North Carolina contributed to decision to move plant.
48. Americhem Inc. Marvel Road facility, Northwood Industrial Park, announced closure on 10-23-07. The Daily Times reported 30 layoffs possibly 45 displacements
49. Powerwave Technology Inc. Formerly Filtronic Comtek, Rt. 50 & Walston Switch Rd., announced closure of facility late August, 2008. The Co. announced it currently employs 100 workers and at one point it employed 300 workers.
50. Oddi Atlantic Owned by Iceland Based Co. that bought Atlantic And Hastings Printing Co. in 2006. 70 Workers laid off on 09-26-08 – (Reported by The Daily Times reporter Gwenn Garland).
51. Invista Plant - subsidiary of Kansas based Koch Industries – (former Dupont Nylon plant) – announced the layoff of 400 workers or 80% of its Seaford,DE workforce. Announcement was made 10-16-08 per The Associated Press - Randal Chase.
52. Circuit City Rt. 13 North - Salisbury, MD - announced closure on 01-12-09 30 employees to be displaced.
53. Saturn of Salisbury Rt. 13 North – Delmar, MD - announced closure on 05-01-09 15 displaced workers per Saturn spokesperson.
54. Waterman’s Restaurant Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD. closed doors on 04-29-09.
55. Bob Smith Automotive, Easton MD - announced closure 03-09 - GM Dealer
Also owned GMC Dealership in Federalsburg, MD
56. Schaefer & Strohminger, Cambridge, MD - announced closure 04-30-09 - GM, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Dealer
57. Boaters World, Salisbury, MD - announced closure 04-09 - 15 employees & 75 employees in Denton, MD distribution center.
58. Burke Equipment, Salisbury, MD - closed on or about 01-2010. Number of employees unknown.
62. Jacks Religious Gift Shop - closed on or about 01-2010. Number of displaced employees unknown.

Fraternal Order Of Police Lodge 50 Press Release

Members of the Worcester County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 50 read the article written in the Coast Dispatch regarding Joel Todd, Beau Oglesby, and the endorsement made by the Lodge. It should be noted that Mr. Todd wrote a letter to the FOP Lodge 50 asking for their endorsement of his candidacy for the office of State’s Attorney of Worcester County. He also asked members of the Lodge to encourage the other lodge members to endorse him. After much time and discussion, a decision was made to endorse Beau Oglesby for the Office of State’s Attorney. A quorum was present at that meeting for that vote. That vote
resulted in a unanimous decision to endorse Beau Oglesby.

For Mr. Todd to dismiss the endorsement as meaningless is concerning to many in law enforcement because Mr. Todd sought the endorsement with vigor. Mr. Todd seems to overlook that all three Fraternal Order of Police lodges in Worcester County have endorsed Beau Oglesby for States Attorney. That is a very large
representation of Worcester County Law Enforcement who no longer wishes to see Mr. Todd continue as Worcester County State’s Attorney.

Respectfully,

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 50 members

An Open Letter From Beau Oglesby

Dear Neighbors and Friends,

            As we approach Election Day with growing excitement, I am once again reminded why this County is in such desperate need of new ideas, fresh perspectives, and tempered patience from its State’s Attorney. This year the voters have been plagued with endless negative advertising, vicious attacks, and attempts at outright deception. While I have been deeply saddened and disappointed by the candidates and elected officials who have chosen to engage in this type of distasteful politics, I am delighted and proud of both our campaign and its supporters for remaining true to our commitment to raise the level of genuine discussion in Worcester County.

            At a time when our County deserves effective, honest, and trustworthy leadership from its State’s Attorney, Joel Todd continues to focus his attention on why you should not vote for me instead of why you should vote for him. The sixteen year incumbent has gone to great lengths, and spent a lot of money to mischaracterize the truth; yet despite his actions to the contrary, I remain resolved to running a positive campaign because I believe the voters of Worcester County deserve honest discussion – not desperation. I refuse to participate in betrayals of public trust through the use of deceptive mailers, scare tactics, fraudulent endorsements, and shameless lies.

            As Election Day draws nearer, some will resort to “gutter” politics. However, people can see beyond such transparent tactics. Tempered silence is the true measure of a person’s dignity. Let’s show Joel Todd and the “would be” leaders of this County that the days of broken promises, misdirection, and insincerity are over.  Help bring the better angels of our consciences to the forefronts of our ballots. Show through your vote that the High Road is the ONLY road. On Nov. 2^nd a vote for me is a vote for civility - one that loudly rejects the politics of yesterday.

Beau Oglesby

Beau4sa@msn.com

The Daily Times Does It Again!

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20101030/OPINION01/10300358/1014/OPINION/Times-Endorsements--Mathies-could-be-first-African-American-member

MY Response: Daily Times you make me sick with your Racist comment about Mr. Mathies. If you want to endorse someone that is fine with me. BUT to say you endorse someone because he is black and would better serve the "Minority" district is a JOKE! Van Muir has poured his heart and soul into Somerset County living their all his life. Maybe you haven't done your job right and knowing who Van Muir is. Ask any minority in the community or even Mr. Kirkland Hall about Van Muir. Maybe it's because you have never been behind the scenes years ago and even now on how Mr. Muir has been there and helped the "Minority" community. He as help the kids in little league, helped those who didn't have a meal, helped those who needed health care, and given his time in other ways you do not know about. Mr. Muir has supported the kids in the Greenwood and Princess Anne area all his life. He cares about all kids no matter of their race, religion or creed. That goes for adults as well. 

I challenge NAACP President Mr. Hall to say a bad thing about Mr. Muir. I have grown up with Mr. Hall and he too has been good to me and my family. I have seen first hand Mr. Hall and Mr. Muir work together with the "Minority" community. To tell everyone to vote for Mr. Mathies because he will make a difference because he will be the first "BLACK"/"Minority" man to me is totally a racial statement and I hope Mr. Muir will contact his lawyer and challenge you. But knowing Mr. Muir that will never happen. It's crap statements that you all write that makes you all look so stupid and ignorant. Comments like that continues to show that "RACE" is the issue and it should not be. Mr. Hall can attest to that. Isn't that what the NAACP fights for. If the citizens what to vote for Mr. Mathies then do so because he has the experience and knowledge to lead Somerset County in the right direction. I say Mr. Van Muir has more experience, knowledge and has been proven to help the "Minority" community.

Mr. Muir is a full time citizen of Somerset County all his life and has been married to the same wonderful lady for over 40 years. He has given to Somerset County all his entire life and wants to continue to pour his sincere offerings to the citizens NO MATTER WHAT Color, religion, or creed. That is what is needed in Somerset County. If a Purple, Blue, or Green person has the experience then vote them in..But not because of their race and the daily times thinks "Now is the Time". That is a load of crap and any person should realize that who has a heart and is tired of the Race Card to being played." I expect the Daily Times apologize to to Van Muir for their comments!!" It was totally wrong!!!

Rush Limbaugh: Vote Fraud Essential To Democrats

Rush Limbaugh put some sunlight on yet another scheme to interfere in America's ability to self-govern by left-wing billionaire George Soros.  Rush points out that even a small influx of cash into your state Secretary of State race can make a huge difference.  Something to ponder.

RUSH LIMBAUGH, HOST:  Let me illustrate for you just how essential vote fraud is to the Democrat Party.  George Soros sank a lot of money into a project called the Secretary of State Project, starting in 2006.  Have you ever heard of the Secretary of State Project?  The Secretary of State Project had a goal, and the goal was to put as many Democrats into the offices of secretary of state in the states as possible because they're the ones who adjudicate all of the vote fraud cases.  They are the ones who count the votes.  The secretary of state.  The secretary of state, in all of the states, is the guy or the woman who decide on claims of voter fraud.

This is how we got Al Franken as a Senator from Minnesota.  A Democrat secretary of state determined the vote count, how it was going to happen, when it was gonna stop, what votes were valid and what votes weren't.  You know where they got the idea for this?  They got the idea for the Secretary of State Project shortly after the 2004 election when a bunch of Democrats thought they lost Ohio, thought that John Kerry lost Ohio because of Ken Blackwell, who was the Republican secretary of state in Ohio.  Now, the haughty Kerry (who once served in Vietnam) lost Ohio by 55,000 votes, and they're running around saying, "Man, if he'd-a had those 55,000 votes, why, we'd-a won! We'd-a won! We'd-a won the election in 2004."

Keep reading-- he's on the right track.

(An interesting article from Thursday, 10/28:  Nevada Secretary Of State Says No Evidence Of Vote Fraud )

Caption This Photo

Only 2 Days Left

My Friends,

We have spent the last 18 months traveling this district and talking to Marylanders of all stripes.  It has been an amazing experience, and I am honored that you are willing to support me in this drive.

Early voting has now ended and we are only days away from Election Day – all of our hard work is about to pay off.

The media is seeing our momentum, and we have received a lot of very favorable press coverage lately – you can view it on my website.  Also, Larry Sabato, a nationally renowned political handicapper, has predicted that we will win this race.  You can view his analysis here.

While I am confident that we will be celebrating victory on Election Night, we are taking nothing for granted and there is still a lot of work to be done.   Your support of this campaign has never been more crucial than it is right now.  Please do the three things below to support this campaign:

VOTE - Early voting has now ended.  If you didn’t vote early, please click here to find your polling location.

TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN - This campaign has always been about the people of this district, and I need you to talk to your friends and neighbors about why you support me.    Please make the time to talk to your friends and loved ones about why it is vitally important for them to support our campaign.

MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION - We are still in the process of buying radio and TV ads, and every extra dollar will go directly towards reaching every voter we can with our message of commonsense conservative principles in Washington DC.
Your donation of $50, $100, $500 or even $1,000 will go directly to keeping our ads on the air through Election Day.

We have come a long way, but the final home stretch is the most important – and we cannot let up in these final days.

Thank you for all you have done for this campaign and for this country.
 
Andy Harris, M.D.

Halloween Light Show 2010 HD - Thriller

Pusey Receives Endorsement From The Dispatch

Snow Hill, MD – Yesterday, House of Delegates Candidate, Marty Pusey, was endorsed by the Ocean City Dispatch! In their endorsement of Marty the Dispatch stated, "It’s been decades since this district has elected a Republican to this seat, and we think Pusey should be it." Marty’s supporters agree! You can view the endorsement from the Dispatch at www.mdcoastdispatch.com/article.php?cid=35&id=9895".

Pusey said today, "I am honored to be endorsed by the Dispatch. I have been working hard to show the voters that I am serious about bringing Maryland and the Eastern Shore to the front of the line. I have put out three pointed plans – one about the economy, one about farming and one about jobs – and I urge every voter to take a few minutes to review these plans. I am the only candidate who has come up with real solutions to the real problems that we all are facing in Maryland and on the Eastern Shore."

Marty believes the voters have a right to see what she plans to do in Annapolis before they send her there.  She wants them making their decision based on her plans and ideas not just glossy pictures and catchy phrases and that's why she has created Real Solutions for Real Problems.

 Marty encourages all voters to read and study her Real Solutions for Real Problems regarding jobs on the Lower Shore, which can be viewed at http://www.electmartypusey.com/. Marty encourages all voters to get in touch with her directly at 410-603-0855 to discuss her Real Solutions for the Real Problems facing Maryland. 

Washington Times Endorses Andy Harris

SEVERNA PARK, Md. – Andy Harris was endorsed Friday by the Washington Times.

“While Mr. Kratovil has been careful to avoid being linked to the liberal agenda of President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, it's a tough sell,” said the Washington Times endorsement. “Mr. Kratovil voted for the so-called stimulus package, which wasted $814 billion in taxpayer funds to create a handful of make-work jobs. He voted for the "cap-and-trade" bill that would raise taxes on the cost of energy. Although he voted against Obamacare, Mr. Kratovil refuses to commit to its repeal. Dr. Harris understands that the Obama-Pelosi-Hoyer agenda threatens to pull the plug on America's long-term health.”

“The Washington Times knows this country is on the wrong track and I am honored the Times trusts me to bring fiscal responsibility back to Congress,” said Andy Harris. “In Washington I will never vote to raise taxes, I will fight to repeal healthcare reform, and I will work to balance the budget.”

Election Of November 2, 2010?

Let's take a stand!!!!

November 2, 2010

Borders:  Closed...

Language:  English only!

Culture:  Constitution, Bill of Rights

and the BIBLE!

Drug free:  Make a drug screening mandatory

for anyone on welfare and/or food stamps!

Mandatory political term limits!

The people vote on politicians pay raises!

NOVEMBER 2, 2010 IS COMING  

 """CHANGE"""

We THE PEOPLE are coming...

A Statement From Wicomico County States Attorney Davis Ruark

It is with deepest sorrow that I believe that I must make a statement regarding the political campaigns for the Office of State's Attorney for Wicomico County. During my primary (and general if I had been successful in the primary) campaign, I had vowed to maintain high standards of professionalism regarding the legitimate issues to address and to refrain from any personal attacks upon any opponent. I stressed these parameters to those who participated in my campaign as well. I am proud that we were able to maintain those high standards of conduct in spite of both hidden and blatent attacks upon my office, the administration of my office, my attorneys and my character.

I am deeply disturbed by those who have chosen to bring the Vincent family, and most particularly Jill Vincent, into a political campaign and to use Sam's death as a political tool. Over the past several weeks I have had several personal conversations with Jill and well as multiple e-mail exchanges. I will not share the e nature of our communications, which were very open and helpful to both of us, but I can unequivocally state that at no time did Jill give any indication whatsoever that she had in the past or ever would in the future support Seth Mitchel for State's Attorney. Jill wants nothing more than to grieve and to heal. I find it appalling that anyone would attempt in any fashion to use Jill Vincent as a pawn in a political game.

During the forty years that Sam Vincet and I knew each other and further over twenty-five years that we worked together, there was never a time when Sam or I even remotely considered that Seth Mitchell would be able to handle the position of State's Attorney for Wicomico County.

Please let Jill Vincent heal and pursue the pathway to a normal life. She is not a political tool.

Davis R. Ruark

Carl And Tina Vincent Respond To Daily Times Letter By Kathy Wieland

We are writing in response to the letter in the Daily Times by Kathy Wieland. As the family of Sam Vincent, we know, without a doubt, that Sam did not respect or admire Seth Mitchell and would never have supported Seth's candidacy. This is well known by his family and his co-workers. Kathy asked Jill to endorse Seth before she moved from the area and she declined. Seth Mitchell said to Carl in a recent phone conversation that he had heard from Kathy Wieland that Jill had voted for Seth in the primary. We contacted Jill and she confirmed that it was untrue. We contacted Seth back and told him that he needed to stop saying that Jill voted for him as it was untrue and that she was not endorsing him or Matt as she continues to mourn for her husband. We told Seth that Jill wanted her name left out of the elections and asked Seth to share this with Kathy. The fact that Kathy wrote this letter shows the poor choice of ethics by Kathy and Seth Mitchell along with an attitude of doing whatever it takes to get elected. We are greatly saddened by the lies and that this is being played out in the public forum as we know it was not Jill’s wish. Unfortunately, Seth’s campaign and supporters are being untruthful for their own personal gain. We can not stand by as the good name and reputation of Sam and Jill Vincent is used in support of Seth Mitchell which is contrary to both of their wishes.

Both Sam’s co-workers in law enforcement and the State’s Attorney’s office along with the Vincent family without hesitation support Matt Maciarello for State’s Attorney.

Carl and Tina Vincent

The Difference Between Seth Mitchell And Davis Ruark

Seth Mitchell said... "Neither could you Davis, now go somewhere where people care what you think."

Joe Albero says... At least Davis doesn't have to walk around with a name tag on his lapel because no one knows who he is. Trust me Seth, if they cared about you, you wouldn't have to promote who you are. If your button said DUNCE instead people in the room would go, Oh, Yeah, I Know Who You Are.

By the way Seth, even I don't have to wear a name tag for people to know who I am.

Lost Dog UPDATE

Hi Joe,

Our dog is missing, and we know that you have had great success reuniting families with their pets. 

Our dog, Yoda, escaped from the yard late afternoon yesterday the 29th.   He is a miniature pit bull mix who is white and will be easy to spot because he only has one eye (he lost his eye when he was a puppy and used in a dog fighting ring - we adopted him when he was a little guy) We live in the South Kaywood neighborhood on Crawford Drive and can be reached at 410-251-5195 and appreciate any news about Yoda.

Thanks so much!
Heather Collins

The Daily Times Endorsement Process

Yeah, Joel, it will be so funny-I'll pretend to be fair and objective and then I'll endorse you. Just have Anita send me the article.

The Daily Times Fails To Offer And Educated/Informed Endorsement Once Again

You would think in order to deliver YOU an informative and educated endorsement of a candidate, one would believe the Editors at the Daily Times would have at least INTERVIEWED the candidate, right?

Well, that's just not the case with Beau Oglesby. It should be clearly understood, Beau was never asked to do an interview either. They never did a video interview with Beau and the Editors never called him to ask him about his platform in any way, shape or form.

Now I'd like to think that the Daily Times doesn't have an agenda and I'd like to be fair but after a few of these endorsements I think its only fair that YOU the public get to know that while the Daily Times is SHORT STAFFED, the screw ups continue and it could be at the expense of numerous candidates.

Now you're more than welcome to go HERE or HERE to watch Beau's interviews on Salisbury News. Unfortunately his opponent Joel Todd refused to do an interview with the scary Salisbury News.

Everybody and their Brother has endorsed Beau Oglesby. Every FOP, heck, if that doesn't tell you alone the position of Law Enforcement and the Court System and how disgusted they are with Joel Todd, I just don't know what else to tell you. No disrespect towards Mr. Todd, it is what it is and the people in his industry have clearly spoken.

For the Daily Times to take the position they have is just beyond me. They are slipping faster than we had thought. This is NOT about the DT's having a difference of opinion over Salisbury News. Come on Folks, Todd was caught sending out multiple mailers stating certain people supported or endorsed him when they absolutely did not. Then he went and threw his Wife under the bus over the whole thing. This is about influencing your readers on how the masses/citizens feel or support certain candidates. Its about delivering facts, platforms, experience and intent.

Just look at Seth Mitchell's campaign, hence the letter from the Vincent Family above this post. If these two people can't be straight up as States Attorneys, how can the DT's endorse them? Oh, that's right, this is the Eastern Shore where people are supposed to be so stupid, they pay for a newspaper that misleads them because their cult followers will do what they say. I DON'T THINK SO, NOT ANY MORE, ANYWAY.

With Salisbury News on the prowl, the Good Old Boy System is disappearing very quickly. We have provided candidate interviews on video to allow you the opportunity to make your own educated choices. When we respectfully offered our endorsements we did so with YOUR best interests in mind, NOT special interests instead.

I think it's a shame how the DT's has handled themselves and I certainly hope the voters show them that the Eastern Shore people are much smarter these days because they are better informed and they're not going to follow the cult way of thinking any more. Vote Beau Oglesby for Worcester States Attorney and Matt Maciarello for Wicomico County States Attorney. THEY DON'T LIE!

By the way, it didn't cost you $ .75 cents to read the TRUTH again today.

Hedgecock: Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas

Midnight robo-calls, “free food” at Harry Reid “voter turnout events,” unions offering “gift cards” to Reid voters, touch-screen voting machines refusing to register votes cast for Sharron Angle—it’s election season in Nevada!

We are witnessing the desperate end of a campaign to save a Senator so out of touch that his reaction to unemployment rise from 4.4% to 15% during his “leadership” as Majority Leader of the Senate was to say, “But for me, there would have been a worldwide depression.”

Reid spent millions in a tsunami of TV and radio ads over the last five months depicting Republican challenger Sharron Angle as a nut not to be trusted with the important work of the U.S. Senate. 

Reid’s loathsome negative campaign failed because the real Sharron Angle proved to be an experienced, capable former teacher and state legislator who happened to still believe in a Constitutional federal government and a free-market economy.  Angle dared to question the trillions in new debt, the failed stimulus package, and the lies surrounding Obamacare.

Reid’s union allies then began a force-fed campaign to get unionized workers to vote for Reid. Postal workers’ union leaders took “time off” (at full pay) to work in Reid’s campaign. SEIU (Service Employees International Union) members filled the halls when unpopular President Obama came to town to raise money for Harry.  (Note that White House political director Patrick Gaspard is a former lobbyist for SEIU.)

A “Republicans for Reid” committee sprang up, consisting of “Republicans” who hated Angle for her steadfast refusal as a state legislator to vote for tax increases.  These “Republicans” simply increased support for Angle by reminding Nevada voters and taxpayers that her no tax-increase-pledge in this campaign wasn’t just rhetoric; it was her record.

Then the machines started voting for Reid.  Early Nevada voter Joyce Ferrara in Boulder City (Clark County) found that her touch-screen voting machine had come up snake eyes: The machine had already voted for Harry Reid.  Her husband and several other voters experienced the same thing at the same time in their polling places.

Other early voters complained that every time they selected Sharron Angle, the machine showed Harry Reid as their selection.

Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said there was no fraud, but that the machines were sensitive to touch and that the voters must have misvoted inadvertently.

Could there be another explanation?

SEIU donated over $44 Million to Democrats in this election cycle.  It is committed to the re-election of Harry Reid.  SEIU also gave over $500,000 to “Patriot Majority PAC” which has spent over $1.3 Million in ads slamming Sharron Angle.

SEIU represents certain employees of Clark County government under a labor contract that Harry’s son, Rory (a Clark County Commissioner), voted to approve.  Page 75 (Appendix A) of the labor contract lists “voting machine technicians” as represented by SEIU.  Will anyone “watch the watchers?” Probably the Department of Justice won’t: After Holder’s DOJ dismissed the New Black Panther Party voting rights violation case, a containment signaling that only Republicans could commit such crimes, the DOJ is silent on voter-fraud cases that seem to favor only Democrat candidates, and that are springing up like weeds as we get closer to the election.

Here’s another problem.  Last weekend, armed with voter lists provided by the Orange County (CA) Registrar of Voters, I walked through a neighborhood in Fullerton, California for challenger Van Tran, who is seeking to replace incumbent Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.

At one door, a Hispanic man said he could not vote because he was “not a citizen.”  When asked about two other residents at the same address listed as voters, he confirmed that they also were not citizens.

California, Nevada, and scores of other states do not require identification to vote.  Most states do not even require identification to register to vote.

By contrast, voters in Mexico must prove they are citizens to register to vote.  Mexican voters are issued a special voter I.D. with picture and fingerprint.  At the polls, Mexican voters are required to show the card; they are fingerprinted on the spot, and the fingerprints must match before they can vote.More from Human Events

[Roger Hedgecock is a nationally-syndicated radio talk host.]

How America Can Stand By Arizona

(By AZ State Sen. Russell Pearce)

I knew Arizona’s SB 1070 would be controversial when I introduced it, but I did not expect the national immigration debate to revolve around a state law.

While the anti-American open-borders Left attack me and the law as “racist,” “nativist” and their other empty smear words, the vast majority of the people of Arizona and America support the law.

Naturally, politicians of both parties on the state and local level are trying to jump on the bandwagon as the election approaches.


On the state level, dozens of gubernatorial and attorney general candidates are campaigning to enact SB 1070-style legislation. Even Democrats like Georgia’s Roy Barnes say they’d sign such a bill. Of course a politician’s promise isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.

Even if they would in fact sign the bill, they must also pledge to fight the Obama Administration and its far-left buddies like the ACLU and Mexican American Legal Defense Fund who are sure to file lawsuits and do whatever they can to block implementation of the law.

On the federal level, just saying “I support SB 1070” is even emptier without any commitment to fight the open-borders agenda of the Obama Administration and the courts.

Any Senate candidate who supports SB 1070 needs to guarantee that they will vote against any activist judge. Any RINO who voted for a board member of “Latino Justice” (which filed an amicus brief against SB 1070) like Sonia Sotomayor knew how she would vote on immigration cases.

Additionally there is legislation that can affect the legal challenges against SB 1070.

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez’s Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2010 would try to nullify every single state and local law that fights illegal immigration.  Illinois Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez’s CIR ASAP Act with over 100 Democratic co-sponsors does the same thing.

Menendez’s bill also restricts the 287(g) program to allow state and local law enforcement to enter into formal agreements with federal immigration authorities to fight illegal immigration. Gutierrez’s bill completely repeals it.

287(g) is a useful program, but it is unfortunately viewed by many as a permission slip that must be granted by the federal government to allow states and localities to enforce immigration law. Former INS Commissioners Doris Meissner and James W. Ziglar wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post claiming that SB 1070 is unconstitutional because it goes beyond what is permitted by 287(g).

Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano restricted the agreement so that it can only be used to enforce the law against illegal aliens who also commit other crimes, and unfortunately many local law enforcement agencies stopped pursuing the law.

When Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio cracked down on illegal immigration without getting permission from Obama, they threatened to revoke his 287(g) status. When Sheriff Joe refused to balk, they filed suit against him with a frivolous civil rights claim.

The truth is that Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act explicitly acknowledges that states have the inherit authority to enforce immigration law stating:

"Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require an agreement … in order for any officer of a state … to communicate with the [secretary of Homeland Security] regarding the immigration status of any individual … or otherwise to cooperate with the [secretary] in the identification, apprehension, detention, or removal of aliens not lawfully present in the United States."

Tennessee Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal [CLEAR] Act further clarifies the states’ rights over immigration by “reaffirming the existing inherent authority of states … to investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain, or transfer to federal custody aliens in the United States … for the purposes of assisting in the enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States in the course of carrying out routine duties. This state authority has never been displaced or preempted by Congress.”

I’m flattered that my law has become a litmus test on immigration, but I hate to see Democrats and RINOs pretend to defend it to win votes. In Arizona a number of vulnerable Democratic congressmen including Representatives Gabrielle Giffords and Ann Kirkpatrick tried to sound tough by opposing the federal lawsuit with much fanfare. Yet these same Democrats opposed SB 1070 initially, and they refuse to defend Arizona’s right to enforce the law.

Instead, they simply demand that the federal government take action (i.e. amnesty.) Needless to say, they have not co-sponsored the CLEAR Act.

With friends like these, SB 1070 does not need enemies. Any candidate or politician on the federal level who claims to support SB 1070 needs to put their money where their mouth is. This means supporting the CLEAR Act and acknowledging a state’s inherent right to enforce the law, opposing activist judges, and demanding that the federal government enforce all laws.

Of course the federal government needs to enforce its own laws and secure the border. But until they do, the least we can ask of them is not to interfere with states that care about the rule of law.

(Source-- Human Events)

[State Senator Russell Pearce represents Arizona's 18th Legislative District. He is the author and sponsor of SB 1070.]

Union 'Card Check' Smokescreen For Lame Duck Pension Bailout

Big Labor is pouring money into two Democratic U.S. Senate races, attempting to secure a union pension bailout during a lame duck session of Congress.

As previously reported on HUMAN EVENTS, new Federal Accounting Standards Board rules set to take effect on Dec. 15 threaten to shake up unions and the businesses entangled in multi-employer union pension plans that have been mismanaged and underfunded well before the 2008 financial upheaval.  The economic downturn has only exacerbated the problem.

Recent reports show hundreds of thousands of dollars in union cash pouring into races for Democratic Senate candidates Michael Bennet and Joe Manchin.  Both have publicly backed away from their support of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), more commonly known as “card check,” which would, among other things, ban secret-ballot voting for workplace unionization.

Big Labor long ago warned it wouldn’t support any candidate who failed to toe the line. Yet the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has spent more than $1.2 million in Colorado alone attacking Bennet’s opponent Ken Buck.

Unions such as the Communications Workers of America and the United Mine Workers Union are also pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Manchin race in West Virginia.

Why the reversal?

“What the labor board is planning to do is not known publicly so you only interpret what they’re planning to do by certain comments from different board members,” said former NLRB member John Raudabaugh. 

He points to one speech in particular from NLRB member Mark Gaston Pearce on Oct. 21 at Suffolk University Law School, where Pearce admitted his desire to make the unionization voting period “as brief as possible.”

Pearce also described as “intriguing” the five- to ten-day Canadian voting system.

The current average is 38 days including the initial administrative time to process the petition and notify the employer and to hold hearings on differing issues, including eligibility.

Raudabaugh warns that the reduced voting period would allow unions to organize in secret for weeks or months and spring last-minute elections on unknowing employers, especially when no “agitated state” to spur on unionization exists.  Most of these employers run smaller businesses without a legal department of their own, so they do not necessarily know the rules.

This lends itself to a situation where employees are only hearing one side of the unionization story.

“Unlike a vote for elected office, a vote to certify a union may affect your life for the remainder of your working days,” said Brett McMahon, spokesman for the Associated Builders and Contractors, a trade organization.  “Isn’t it just logical that the decision should be made on all information available?”

The activist nature of the Obama NLRB is exemplified by former Service Employees International Union lawyer and board member Craig Becker, who has to date refused to recuse himself from two different decisions on cases he was actively involved in as a union lawyer.  This puts Becker in the absurd position of judging his own legal briefs to render a decision.

These two changes at NLRB would make card-check passage much less pressing for Big Labor,  whose priority is a bailout of underwater union pensions while they’re still able to afford to make payments to retirees.

As with all Ponzi schemes, they need a new influx of cash to prop up the system, and union leaders believe they have found a way to put these private union pensions on the backs of taxpayers.

The likelihood of passage of the bailout through the Senate depends largely on the outcome of the three special elections to fill the remainder of the terms of the late Sen. Robert Byrd and former Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden.  The victors in these three races will be seated for the lame duck session.

Legislation from Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) is all geared up and ready to go.  The Casey bill would put a new line item into the budget, creating a new government fund to perpetuate a permanent avenue for the bailout of private union pensions.

The Democrat-led lame duck session is slated to begin Nov. 15, namely after the elections but before the non-special election members are sworn in on Jan. 3 of next year.

If he wins the West Virginia special election, Manchin would offer a key vote favoring Big Labor in support of a Senate union pension bailout. Regardless of the election outcome in Colorado, Bennet would participate in the lame duck session.

More details>>