John Boehner, the man expected to be the next speaker of the House, tells Fox News he expects to go toe-to-toe with the president over taxes and health care.
GO HERE to read more.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Did The Tea Party Cost Republicans A Tie In The Senate?
The Tea Party is being blamed for nominating weaker Republicans in Colorado, Nevada, and Delaware. But you can never prove a counterfactual.
As soon as Colorado's Senate race was called for Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet on Wednesday, the potential implication was apparent: Republicans had lost two Senate races they looked likely to win—Colorado and Nevada—in addition to the race they were expected to lose in Delaware. What do they have in common? In each case the Republican nominee was a Tea Party-affiliated insurgent, bolstered in the primary by national Tea Party enthusiasm over the establishment's preferred candidate. Does that mean the Tea Party cost the Republicans as many as three Senate seats?
AOL's Michael Cohen thinks so: "The harsh klieg lights of public scrutiny badly hurt Tea Party candidates. In Delaware and Nevada, Tea Party insurgents Christine O'Donnell and Sharron Angle cost the Republicans two seats that should have been easy pick-ups."
GO HERE to read more.
Fruitland City Manager, Attorney & Council To Repeal Sign Ordinance
Let me assure you Folks, I have never seen more dance moves without music than tonight's meeting. The excuses were just flying everywhere, I didn't know it was as bad as it was. I didn't understand it all UNTIL we saw how much the bills came to.
NO, you've just never been on the receiving end of Salisbury News exposing the TRUTH. Business Owners just weren't taking this crap and in fact one of the business owners wanted to know, one by one, I want to know where you stood on this to know how I'll be voting the next go around.
My hat is tipped to WMDT for taking the time to come to this meeting. I tried contacting the VP of WBOC as well to let them know how serious this matter was but they never returned my call. I must say, the new Council Members clearly wanted nothing to do with this legislation and it was very clear on their behalf, it needs to go through the motions until the final reading where they'll simply vote it down.
All too often in our past we always heard, "You cannot fight City Hall." NOT TRUE AT ALL. I will have more on this tomorrow but I wanted to brief you on it tonight to let those who were not there, (it couldn't be many because there was 70 people there tonight) how things went.
More to come.....
Hall Of Fame Manager Sparky Anderson Dies
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Sparky Anderson, the white-haired Hall of Fame manager who directed Cincinnati's Big Red Machine to back-to-back World Series championships and won another one in Detroit, died Thursday. He was 76.
Anderson died from complications from dementia, family spokesman Dan Ewald said. A day earlier, Anderson's family said he had been placed in hospice care.
Anderson was the first manager to win World Series titles in both leagues and the only manager to lead two franchises in career wins.
Source
Detectives Investigate Bank Robbery
Location: Wachovia Bank, 3215 Old Capital Trail, Wilmington, DE
Date of Occurrence: Wednesday, November 03, 2010 at 2:25 p.m.
Victim: 33 year old Wilmington female
Suspect: White male, 30-39 years of age, 5’08”-5’11” tall, with an average build. He was last seen wearing a white tyvek suit, a fake wig, a fake mustache, and a fake beard. He was also wearing white gloves with blue coloring in the palm.
Resume: Delaware State Police detectives are probing the robbery of the Wachovia Bank Branch located on Capital Trail in Wilmington that occurred this afternoon.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:25 p.m. today as a male suspect entered the bank branch located at 3215 Old Capital Trail. The suspect then approached a teller and placed a small box with wires coming from it on the counter. He then advised the 33 year old female teller that the item was a bomb and that he would detonate it if she did not turn over money from her drawer to him. The teller complied and turned over an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspect. The suspect then fled from the bank with the “bomb” in an unknown direction. There were no injuries.
If anyone has any information in reference to this incident, they are asked to contact robbery detectives at Troop 2 at 302-834-2630. The may also make anonymous tips through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Tips may also be submitted online at http://www.tipsubmit.com/.
Nevada Voters Don't Want Harry Reid, Re-Elect Him Anyway
At polling places across Nevada Tuesday, researchers conducting exit polls asked voters one fundamental question about Harry Reid: Do you approve or disapprove of the way he has handled his job as senator?
The results were terrible for the Senate Majority Leader.
Fifty-five percent of voters disapproved of the job he has done, while 44 percent approved. Such numbers might seem a sure indicator of defeat, and yet by Tuesday night, Reid was leading his supporters in a victory celebration.
The exit pollsters also asked whether Reid, running for a fifth term in the Senate, has been in Washington too long. Fifty-five percent of voters said yes, while 41 percent said no.
And still Reid won.
It's long been common knowledge here that many, many Nevadans don't like their senior senator. What Tuesday's exit polls showed was that their feelings go well beyond simple dislike. And yet, if the exit polls are correct, a significant number of people voted to re-elect a man they think isn't doing a good job and who has stayed too long in the Senate. In the end, Reid won 50.2 percent of the vote to Republican challenger Sharron Angle's 44.6 percent.
It would be hard to find a more telling measure of Angle's deficiencies as a candidate or the devastating effectiveness of Reid's scorched-earth negative campaign against her. Funded by millions of dollars from public-sector unions, Reid relentlessly attacked Angle from the moment she won the GOP nomination. Many of the earliest attacks went unanswered, forming impressions of Angle so negative that they outweighed the voters' negative opinion of Reid.
And then there was Reid's organizational strength. Both Reid and Angle held their election-night parties in Las Vegas casinos, Reid in the new Aria complex and Angle at the Venetian. That's nothing out of the ordinary in Nevada, but the difference between them was that Reid was entirely at home, with the enormous financial power and organizing muscle of the gambling industry and its union allies in his corner, while Angle was relying on votes from people who live far from Las Vegas. Republicans across the country who were hoping for a miracle in this race discovered that raw power wins the day.
And bending the rules, too. On election day there were reports that casino giant Harrah's had worked with the Reid campaign and the unions, particularly the Culinary Workers Union, to herd virtually all unionized employees to early voting stations to vote for Reid.
According to a report in National Review Online, one Reid staffer told Harrah's officials that he would do anything -- for emphasis, he wrote it ANYTHING -- to get those workers to the polls.
By mid-day Tuesday, the Nevada Republican Party had filed a complaint with the Secretary of State's office. "Employees' votes were being tracked and supervisors were instructed by top management to personally confront employees to find out why they had not voted," the complaint said.
"Further, the evidence shows that Harrah's management has continually communicated to employees their concern with electing Harry Reid and not just to ensure that the employees voted for the candidates of their choice." Such conduct, the complaint argued, violates Nevada law.
Democrats denied any such violations. And the fact is, Reid won by about 40,000 votes, a margin difficult to explain by charges of fraud. Also, squabbling over alleged irregularities tended to obscure the enormous advantage that open union support gave Reid.
Nationally, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees spent $91 million trying to elect Democrats. A good chunk of that went to Reid, mostly for get-out-the-vote operations.
Read more at the Washington Examiner
The results were terrible for the Senate Majority Leader.
Fifty-five percent of voters disapproved of the job he has done, while 44 percent approved. Such numbers might seem a sure indicator of defeat, and yet by Tuesday night, Reid was leading his supporters in a victory celebration.
The exit pollsters also asked whether Reid, running for a fifth term in the Senate, has been in Washington too long. Fifty-five percent of voters said yes, while 41 percent said no.
And still Reid won.
It's long been common knowledge here that many, many Nevadans don't like their senior senator. What Tuesday's exit polls showed was that their feelings go well beyond simple dislike. And yet, if the exit polls are correct, a significant number of people voted to re-elect a man they think isn't doing a good job and who has stayed too long in the Senate. In the end, Reid won 50.2 percent of the vote to Republican challenger Sharron Angle's 44.6 percent.
It would be hard to find a more telling measure of Angle's deficiencies as a candidate or the devastating effectiveness of Reid's scorched-earth negative campaign against her. Funded by millions of dollars from public-sector unions, Reid relentlessly attacked Angle from the moment she won the GOP nomination. Many of the earliest attacks went unanswered, forming impressions of Angle so negative that they outweighed the voters' negative opinion of Reid.
And then there was Reid's organizational strength. Both Reid and Angle held their election-night parties in Las Vegas casinos, Reid in the new Aria complex and Angle at the Venetian. That's nothing out of the ordinary in Nevada, but the difference between them was that Reid was entirely at home, with the enormous financial power and organizing muscle of the gambling industry and its union allies in his corner, while Angle was relying on votes from people who live far from Las Vegas. Republicans across the country who were hoping for a miracle in this race discovered that raw power wins the day.
And bending the rules, too. On election day there were reports that casino giant Harrah's had worked with the Reid campaign and the unions, particularly the Culinary Workers Union, to herd virtually all unionized employees to early voting stations to vote for Reid.
According to a report in National Review Online, one Reid staffer told Harrah's officials that he would do anything -- for emphasis, he wrote it ANYTHING -- to get those workers to the polls.
By mid-day Tuesday, the Nevada Republican Party had filed a complaint with the Secretary of State's office. "Employees' votes were being tracked and supervisors were instructed by top management to personally confront employees to find out why they had not voted," the complaint said.
"Further, the evidence shows that Harrah's management has continually communicated to employees their concern with electing Harry Reid and not just to ensure that the employees voted for the candidates of their choice." Such conduct, the complaint argued, violates Nevada law.
Democrats denied any such violations. And the fact is, Reid won by about 40,000 votes, a margin difficult to explain by charges of fraud. Also, squabbling over alleged irregularities tended to obscure the enormous advantage that open union support gave Reid.
Nationally, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees spent $91 million trying to elect Democrats. A good chunk of that went to Reid, mostly for get-out-the-vote operations.
Read more at the Washington Examiner
Wicomico States Attorney Official Press Release
Davis Ruark, State's Attorney for Wicomico County, has appointed Matt Maciarello to serve as Deputy State's Attorney. Mr. Maciarello will be sworn in as Deputy State's Attorney on Monday, November 8th at 8:30 AM in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County. Mr Ruark anticipates that The Honorable Judge Kathleen L. Beckstead will administer the oath of office.
The appointment of Mr. Maciarello will facilitate the full exchange of information regarding the internal operation of the office as well as confidential and sensitive information regarding pending cases as well as ongoing criminal investigations in Wicomico County. As a result of this appointment, Mr. Maciarello will have the opportunity to start and then expand his administrative, managerial and litigation roles within the office prior Mr. Ruark's departure as State's Attorney.
The purpose for this action is to assure the citizens, the judiciary. the law enforcement personnel and, of course, the State's Attorney's personnel that there will be a most professional and extremely smooth transition as the office progresses into a new era.
By Mr. Ruark: "Matt Maciarello is a highly intelligent, dedicated, talented attorney. It will be of great help to the current State's Attorney and State's Attorney's staff to have Matt on board. He will undertake many of the different roles that the State's Attorney must handle on a daily basis. Commencing the transition now will allow for a seamless change of the top administration of the Office of the State's Attorney on January 3,
2011. This will benefit all of the people to whom we are committed to serve."
Any further questions should be directed to either for Mr. Maciarello or Mr. Ruark.
DRR
State Senator Legislative District 38
Party Total Votes %
Jim Mathias Democratic 21679 50.26%
Michael James Republican 21432 49.69%
Charles Mickey Lehrer (Write In) Democratic 0 0%
Other Write-Ins 20
Editors Notes: These results only include Somerset County, (first run for absentee). This does not include ANY Worcester or Wicomico numbers. They're not in yet.
Jim Mathias Democratic 21679 50.26%
Michael James Republican 21432 49.69%
Charles Mickey Lehrer (Write In) Democratic 0 0%
Other Write-Ins 20
Editors Notes: These results only include Somerset County, (first run for absentee). This does not include ANY Worcester or Wicomico numbers. They're not in yet.
City Of Fruitland Out Of Control
I just did the research on the City of Fruitland charging businesses at least $50.00 per sign, per year in the City Limits and they're completely out of line. Leave it to the Mitchell Family of Lawyers to support legislation that is, well, illegal.
I challenge Mr. Mitchell to show Salisbury News where there is ANY law in the State of Maryland that supports ANY, (not just Fruitland) such charges allowed for signs. THERE IS NONE!
There would have to be "state enabled legislation" and there's NOT. This is why Gary Comegys and the MML are trying to create legislation/law that would allow the state to tax anything and everything that they want and that wet pants liberal needs to get shut down immediately.
SBYNews has been providing information about Comegys games for weeks now and quite frankly many of you have been ignoring just how dangerous this crap can and will be on business owners throughout the state.
Nevertheless, Fruitland CANNOT bill business owners for signs and again we challenge Mr. Mitchell to provide the legislation in which he is allowing the City to send out such billing. It looks to be illegal.
I challenge Mr. Mitchell to show Salisbury News where there is ANY law in the State of Maryland that supports ANY, (not just Fruitland) such charges allowed for signs. THERE IS NONE!
There would have to be "state enabled legislation" and there's NOT. This is why Gary Comegys and the MML are trying to create legislation/law that would allow the state to tax anything and everything that they want and that wet pants liberal needs to get shut down immediately.
SBYNews has been providing information about Comegys games for weeks now and quite frankly many of you have been ignoring just how dangerous this crap can and will be on business owners throughout the state.
Nevertheless, Fruitland CANNOT bill business owners for signs and again we challenge Mr. Mitchell to provide the legislation in which he is allowing the City to send out such billing. It looks to be illegal.
"THANKS"
Dear Friends and Supporters,
The Wargotz family offers our sincere thanks for all of your help, support, and best wishes. It has been a fantastic 18 months of visiting across the State and we are richer individuals because of your fellowship.
Although our campaign was not victorious, "we the people" prevailed with the restoration of an all important "check and balance" through the change in the majority party of the House of Representatives. May God Bless you and keep you, may God Bless Maryland, and may God Bless America.
Eric
City Of Fruitland Information Update
2010.07.13 – Minutes from City Council Meeting
Sign Ordnance = Ordnance first proposed:
2010.08.10 – Minutes from City Council Meeting
Sign Ordnance = first reading and preliminary vote:
2010.09.14 – Minutes from City Council Meeting
Sign Ordnance = 2nd reading and FINAL vote:
Actual copy of ordnance #248:
2010.11.04 - Revised Agenda for City Council Special Meeting on Nov 4th (Revised):
City Council Members in Office at Time of Ordnance Approval:
Member Term Expires
Gregory J. Olinde, President October 2010
Gloria J. Ortiz, Treasurer October 2012
Raymond D. Carey October 2012
Theodore O. Lokey October 2010
Richard F. Tull October 2010
City Council Members in Office Currently:
Member Term Expires
Richard Lee Outen, Jr. Pres. October 2014
Darlene Kerr, Treasurer October 2014
Raymond D. Carey October 2012
Edwin A. Cowell October 2014
Gloria J. Ortiz October 2012
City Dump Truck Saga Ends
Mayor James Ireton Jr. is pleased to inform residents the 14 month saga of the City Dump Truck has now ended. The Attorney General’s office emailed the City Attorney on October 28, 2010 and in its opinion states the following in regards to the lease purchase of the Dump Truck that:
1) No budget amendment was necessary under Article 23A, Section 2(b)2 because sufficient funds for the lease payment were appropriated to meet the City’s obligation in FY 2010 and were expended for the purpose for which they were appropriated, namely to pay the amount due under the terms of the lease purchase agreement.
2) Because the contracts’ signatories with binding authority were not within the class of persons to whom Article 31, Section 3 applies, no violation of this State law occurred.
3) In commenting on this opinion, the City Solicitor stated that both he and the Attorney General are of the opinion that internal services department and the City Council properly handled the lease purchase of the 3-ton dump truck in compliance with City Charter and Code and State law. The dump truck can be placed in service by Public Works.
“The saga of the City Dump Truck has ended. The staff time lost and legal cost to the citizens is unfortunate. While I appreciate that the Attorney General’s office ruled that we did nothing wrong, I was always of that opinion myself. The council has not finished “Linens of the Week,” the towing ordinance, “The Bricks,” the fireboat, and above all Safe Streets Legislation – while our work session list grows longer and longer, and our city council meetings shorter and shorter. Again, all this work left undone is unfortunate. I will attend a ceremony tomorrow to dedicate the truck “The Howard Landon.” We will put the truck into service for the citizens of Salisbury,” said Mayor Ireton.
Below please find a timeline of events related to the purchase of the 3-ton dump truck.
Contract 106-10 originally opened on Sept 29, 2009.
Recommendation for award from the Public Works Department, received October 7, 2009.
On October 16, 2009, Pam Oland sent a memo to John Pick explaining the need for two 3-ton dump trucks. She detailed the existing lease funds available.
On October 21, 2009, SunTrust Equipment Finance & Leasing confirmed authorization to use remaining lease-purchase funds for purchase of the dump truck.
Award Recommendation approved by the City Council on October 26, 2009.
On October 28, 2009, Contracts for the trucks were mailed to the vendor for budgeted and replacement vehicles.
On November 6, 2009, all signatures were obtained on these contracts. Signed Contracts and Purchase Orders 2100194 & 2100195 were sent to vendor. Estimated delivery time is 90 days.
City Council was to have been briefed at a November30, 2009 work session on proposed budget amendment. Meeting was cancelled for unrelated reasons.
Council was briefed at a work session held on December 21, 2009 on the proposed budget amendment.
The budget amendment was presented to the Council for first reading on January 11, 2010. It was defeated.
On February 12, 2010, the dump truck was delivered to the City. Four days later it was titled.
On February 24, 2010, the City explored the possibility of returning the truck to Barr International. The vendor indicated that he was not willing to accept the return of the vehicle because it was a “Unique special order” and because it was already titled to the City with City logos installed.
Ms. Cohen asked the Mayor to request an opinion from Maryland’s Attorney General as to whether § 7-29 of the Salisbury Charter or Article 31, § 3 of the Maryland Code had been violated.
The City Solicitor spoke with the head of the Attorney General’s Opinion Division who indicated his office would not issue an opinion unless it was preceded by an opinion from the Solicitor’s Office.
On April 15, 2010, the City Solicitor forwarded his opinion to the Attorney General. In his opinion, he concluded that there was not an over-expenditure of funds connected with the purchase of the dump truck.
On October 28, 2010, the City received the Attorney General’s Opinion.
November 4, 2010 the truck is put into service for the citizens of Salisbury.
1) No budget amendment was necessary under Article 23A, Section 2(b)2 because sufficient funds for the lease payment were appropriated to meet the City’s obligation in FY 2010 and were expended for the purpose for which they were appropriated, namely to pay the amount due under the terms of the lease purchase agreement.
2) Because the contracts’ signatories with binding authority were not within the class of persons to whom Article 31, Section 3 applies, no violation of this State law occurred.
3) In commenting on this opinion, the City Solicitor stated that both he and the Attorney General are of the opinion that internal services department and the City Council properly handled the lease purchase of the 3-ton dump truck in compliance with City Charter and Code and State law. The dump truck can be placed in service by Public Works.
“The saga of the City Dump Truck has ended. The staff time lost and legal cost to the citizens is unfortunate. While I appreciate that the Attorney General’s office ruled that we did nothing wrong, I was always of that opinion myself. The council has not finished “Linens of the Week,” the towing ordinance, “The Bricks,” the fireboat, and above all Safe Streets Legislation – while our work session list grows longer and longer, and our city council meetings shorter and shorter. Again, all this work left undone is unfortunate. I will attend a ceremony tomorrow to dedicate the truck “The Howard Landon.” We will put the truck into service for the citizens of Salisbury,” said Mayor Ireton.
Below please find a timeline of events related to the purchase of the 3-ton dump truck.
Contract 106-10 originally opened on Sept 29, 2009.
Recommendation for award from the Public Works Department, received October 7, 2009.
On October 16, 2009, Pam Oland sent a memo to John Pick explaining the need for two 3-ton dump trucks. She detailed the existing lease funds available.
On October 21, 2009, SunTrust Equipment Finance & Leasing confirmed authorization to use remaining lease-purchase funds for purchase of the dump truck.
Award Recommendation approved by the City Council on October 26, 2009.
On October 28, 2009, Contracts for the trucks were mailed to the vendor for budgeted and replacement vehicles.
On November 6, 2009, all signatures were obtained on these contracts. Signed Contracts and Purchase Orders 2100194 & 2100195 were sent to vendor. Estimated delivery time is 90 days.
City Council was to have been briefed at a November30, 2009 work session on proposed budget amendment. Meeting was cancelled for unrelated reasons.
Council was briefed at a work session held on December 21, 2009 on the proposed budget amendment.
The budget amendment was presented to the Council for first reading on January 11, 2010. It was defeated.
On February 12, 2010, the dump truck was delivered to the City. Four days later it was titled.
On February 24, 2010, the City explored the possibility of returning the truck to Barr International. The vendor indicated that he was not willing to accept the return of the vehicle because it was a “Unique special order” and because it was already titled to the City with City logos installed.
Ms. Cohen asked the Mayor to request an opinion from Maryland’s Attorney General as to whether § 7-29 of the Salisbury Charter or Article 31, § 3 of the Maryland Code had been violated.
The City Solicitor spoke with the head of the Attorney General’s Opinion Division who indicated his office would not issue an opinion unless it was preceded by an opinion from the Solicitor’s Office.
On April 15, 2010, the City Solicitor forwarded his opinion to the Attorney General. In his opinion, he concluded that there was not an over-expenditure of funds connected with the purchase of the dump truck.
On October 28, 2010, the City received the Attorney General’s Opinion.
November 4, 2010 the truck is put into service for the citizens of Salisbury.
What Lies Ahead For Social Skills In Our Children?
When 8 or 9 pm hit, you were in bed, period. Very few of us had any kind of luxury with a cordless phone, (not invented yet) in our bedroom or any other phone. When it was time for bed, we went to bed.
Today, many children have the use of a cell phone. Everyone has come up with some stupid excuse to allow our children to have access to a cell phone and text messaging is now a way of life. Back when we were kids we had the Six Million Dollar Man with bionics. Today, every child from 9-up now have bionic fingers where they can text without even looking.
I have spoken to several parents who have told me their kids, (at times) have been up the whole night texting their friends. When they're supposed to be in bed at 8, they're sneaking their cell phone into bed with them and texting away. Many parents now make their kids put their phone on top of the frig at night so they can get some sleep. Most parents just don't care.
Yeah, we had some video games when we were kids but it didn't stop us from what we thought was normal socializing. Social skills in the next 10 years is going to be very scary! Are we simply not looking into the future. Are we becoming so lazy, (thought wise) that we're not paying attention to how things might become down the road. Do we live in a world now that is becoming instant gratification at all costs?
There's no doubt that those parents raising children through sports and after school activities and very strict phone rules will be much better off in the future. I believe many parents are failing to take any responsibility in properly raising their children any more and quite frankly, (in most cases) who can blame them. We're now subjected to working two jobs just to pay the bills. The cost of a college education is going through the roof, yet the economy is dropping and most families are now losing their homes to foreclosure. TIME FOR KIDS, WHEN?
I just want you to think about how this will affect kids down the road because you and I didn't grow up in that world and it's our responsibility to manage their future. Our Grandson is turning 10 years old soon and you can believe one thing, he's not getting a cell phone any time soon. Although he chose not to play baseball this past year, after putting more thought into it I can assure you, like it or not, he's playing ball again next season.
I can see it now, World Championship Texting Contests with kids so pale white they rarely ever see the sun.
Rep. Mike Pence Steps Down As Republican Conference Chair
“Now that we have restored a Republican majority to the House of Representatives and I have fulfilled my commitment to the Republican Conference, my family and I have begun to look to the future,” Pence wrote to his fellow Republicans on Wednesday.
“As we consider new opportunities to serve Indiana and our nation in the years ahead, I have come to realize that it may not be possible to complete an entire term as Conference Chairman. As such, I think it would be more appropriate for me to step aside now, especially since there are other talented men and women in our Conference who could do the job just as well or better.”
The House Republican Conference is the organizational body for all Republican House Members. It is responsible for electing the House Republican leadership, approving Republicans’ committee assignments, managing Republican-driven floor debates, and executing a unified Republican communications strategy.
Pence said he doesn’t know what the future holds for his family, so he will “wait on the Lord and follow where He leads.” In the meantime, Pence said he is not “leaving the fight” as Republicans – given a “second chance” by voters -- confront the challenges before them.
“While we should always seek areas of genuine common ground with the opposition, we must avoid the temptation to embrace agreement for agreement’s sake,” Pence said.
“We must never compromise on our commitment to end this era of runaway federal spending, borrowing, bailouts, deficits and debt. We must never shrink from our stand for a strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, and traditional moral values.
We must regularly remind ourselves that the American people showed us the door in 2006 and 2008 not because we compromised too little, but because we compromised too much on key principles.”More
“As we consider new opportunities to serve Indiana and our nation in the years ahead, I have come to realize that it may not be possible to complete an entire term as Conference Chairman. As such, I think it would be more appropriate for me to step aside now, especially since there are other talented men and women in our Conference who could do the job just as well or better.”
The House Republican Conference is the organizational body for all Republican House Members. It is responsible for electing the House Republican leadership, approving Republicans’ committee assignments, managing Republican-driven floor debates, and executing a unified Republican communications strategy.
Pence said he doesn’t know what the future holds for his family, so he will “wait on the Lord and follow where He leads.” In the meantime, Pence said he is not “leaving the fight” as Republicans – given a “second chance” by voters -- confront the challenges before them.
“While we should always seek areas of genuine common ground with the opposition, we must avoid the temptation to embrace agreement for agreement’s sake,” Pence said.
“We must never compromise on our commitment to end this era of runaway federal spending, borrowing, bailouts, deficits and debt. We must never shrink from our stand for a strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, and traditional moral values.
We must regularly remind ourselves that the American people showed us the door in 2006 and 2008 not because we compromised too little, but because we compromised too much on key principles.”More
OPEC Looks At $100-a-Barrel Oil As US Fights Against Recession
Libya’s National Oil Corporation chairman Shokri Ghanem put fear into the hearts of commodities traders with his recent statement that $100 a barrel is a “comfortable” price.
Oil, which has been trading towards the bottom of a year-long narrow range of $72-$90 a barrel, rose to above $84 Tuesday and Wednesday.
The current price gives oil producers in the 12-member OPEC organization handsome profits without rocking the world economy into another global recession. The United States is struggling for economic growth following the financial tsunami of two years ago, accompanied by a short period of oil at $35 a barrel.
Oil at $100 a barrel would fuel inflation, already aggravated by sharply higher prices in wheat, cotton, corn and other commodities. However, the weak American dollar, which many speculators bet has a long way to sink, has dropped the “real price” of oil in local currencies by more than 10 percent the last six months.
"We would love to see $100 a barrel," said Ghanem. "We're losing real income. Libya in particular would like to see a higher oil price."
However, Kuwait’s oil minister said he wants a price ceiling of $85, and Iran, which will take over the rotating presidency of OPEC in January, has said that it does not think that the price of oil will spiral upwards.Read more here
Oil, which has been trading towards the bottom of a year-long narrow range of $72-$90 a barrel, rose to above $84 Tuesday and Wednesday.
The current price gives oil producers in the 12-member OPEC organization handsome profits without rocking the world economy into another global recession. The United States is struggling for economic growth following the financial tsunami of two years ago, accompanied by a short period of oil at $35 a barrel.
Oil at $100 a barrel would fuel inflation, already aggravated by sharply higher prices in wheat, cotton, corn and other commodities. However, the weak American dollar, which many speculators bet has a long way to sink, has dropped the “real price” of oil in local currencies by more than 10 percent the last six months.
"We would love to see $100 a barrel," said Ghanem. "We're losing real income. Libya in particular would like to see a higher oil price."
However, Kuwait’s oil minister said he wants a price ceiling of $85, and Iran, which will take over the rotating presidency of OPEC in January, has said that it does not think that the price of oil will spiral upwards.Read more here
Obama's Midterm Loss May Be Netanyahu's Win
For Benjamin Netanyahu, the view from Capitol Hill seemingly couldn't get much better.
A U.S. midterm election rout by the Republicans, widely seen in Israel as staunch allies, could give the Israeli leader even more incentive to resist pressure from a weakened U.S. President Barack Obama for concessions in Middle East peace negotiations.
Several Israeli political sources said on Wednesday members of Netanyahu's inner circle were cheered by the blow dealt to a Democratic president who is sharply at odds with the right-wing prime minister over Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank.
Palestinians, who broke off U.S.-brokered direct talks with Israel in September after Netanyahu refused to extend a limited building moratorium in West Bank settlements, said they hoped Obama would stay the course in pursuing peace.
"There is no doubt that the outcome of the election has strengthened tremendously the pro-Israeli elements in the U.S. at large, in the House of Representatives, in the Senate and throughout the political establishment," said Yoram Ettinger, a former Israeli diplomat who served in the United States.
"This is going to constrain immensely the maneuverability of the president, who is generally pretty critical (even) negative towards Israel. Which would require the president, in my mind, to limit his pressure on Israel," he said.
But some political sources said the U.S.-educated Netanyahu was taking a more cautious view of the impact of Tuesday's vote on Obama's foreign policy and prospects for a second term.
The sources said Netanyahu was well aware that Democrat Bill Clinton, who also tried to forge Israeli-Palestinian peace, had rebounded from a Republican sweep in a 1994 midterm ballot and won re-election as president two years later.
Under international pressure to bend, Netanyahu is also believed to be working on a possible resumption of the partial freeze of housing starts in West Bank settlements in return for a package of security-related incentives from Washington.More>>
A U.S. midterm election rout by the Republicans, widely seen in Israel as staunch allies, could give the Israeli leader even more incentive to resist pressure from a weakened U.S. President Barack Obama for concessions in Middle East peace negotiations.
Several Israeli political sources said on Wednesday members of Netanyahu's inner circle were cheered by the blow dealt to a Democratic president who is sharply at odds with the right-wing prime minister over Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank.
Palestinians, who broke off U.S.-brokered direct talks with Israel in September after Netanyahu refused to extend a limited building moratorium in West Bank settlements, said they hoped Obama would stay the course in pursuing peace.
"There is no doubt that the outcome of the election has strengthened tremendously the pro-Israeli elements in the U.S. at large, in the House of Representatives, in the Senate and throughout the political establishment," said Yoram Ettinger, a former Israeli diplomat who served in the United States.
"This is going to constrain immensely the maneuverability of the president, who is generally pretty critical (even) negative towards Israel. Which would require the president, in my mind, to limit his pressure on Israel," he said.
But some political sources said the U.S.-educated Netanyahu was taking a more cautious view of the impact of Tuesday's vote on Obama's foreign policy and prospects for a second term.
The sources said Netanyahu was well aware that Democrat Bill Clinton, who also tried to forge Israeli-Palestinian peace, had rebounded from a Republican sweep in a 1994 midterm ballot and won re-election as president two years later.
Under international pressure to bend, Netanyahu is also believed to be working on a possible resumption of the partial freeze of housing starts in West Bank settlements in return for a package of security-related incentives from Washington.More>>
Obama: Elections Don’t Indicate Rejection Of Administration’s Policies
President Barack Obama said the Republican electoral win of the House of Representatives, with a 61-seat majority over the Democrats, “feels bad.” But the president refused to say that it reflected a rejection of his policies.
“Voters are not satisfied with the outcomes,” Obama said at a Wednesday afternoon post-election news conference. "If, right now, we had 5 percent unemployment instead of 9.6 percent unemployment, then people would have more confidence in those policy choices."
"I think I've got to take direct responsibility for the fact that we have not made as much progress as we need to make," Obama said.
But when asked if he dismissed the idea that the election results were a rejection of his policies, the president said, “Yes.”
Obama said the public might have misperceived the government’s bailout of the banks and auto industries as the “agenda as opposed to a response to an emergency,” adding, “I am sympathetic to those who looked at this and saw it as a potential overreach.”
One reporter asked the president how it felt to see the Democrats lose their majority in the House.
“It feels bad,” Obama said. “The toughest thing for the last couple of days is seeing public servants not being able to serve any more.”
["Serve"? An interesting word to use in this context-- Editor]More on this
“Voters are not satisfied with the outcomes,” Obama said at a Wednesday afternoon post-election news conference. "If, right now, we had 5 percent unemployment instead of 9.6 percent unemployment, then people would have more confidence in those policy choices."
"I think I've got to take direct responsibility for the fact that we have not made as much progress as we need to make," Obama said.
But when asked if he dismissed the idea that the election results were a rejection of his policies, the president said, “Yes.”
Obama said the public might have misperceived the government’s bailout of the banks and auto industries as the “agenda as opposed to a response to an emergency,” adding, “I am sympathetic to those who looked at this and saw it as a potential overreach.”
One reporter asked the president how it felt to see the Democrats lose their majority in the House.
“It feels bad,” Obama said. “The toughest thing for the last couple of days is seeing public servants not being able to serve any more.”
["Serve"? An interesting word to use in this context-- Editor]More on this
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