Patrick Kennedy Won't Run For Re-Election

Rhode Island Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy will retire after eight terms in office, bringing an end to his House career just months after his father, legendary Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, passed away.

"My father instilled in me a deep commitment to public service," Kennedy said in a video announcing his retirement. "Now having spent two decades in politics, my life has taken a new direction and I will not be a candidate for re-election this year."

Kennedy has easily held Rhode Island's 1st district since 1994 despite the occasional attempt by Republicans to knock him off.

Kennedy's time in Congress was decidedly uneven. He was rumored to be planning a Senate bid in 2000 but decided against running. He was tasked with chairing the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in that same cycle with expectations within the party that they would seize back control of the House. It didn't happen.

After his stint at the DCCC, Kennedy took on a far less high-profile role in Congress -- emerging only infrequently and not always in the best light. In the spring of 2006 Kennedy crashed his car into a police barricade near Capitol Hill; he entered rehab for addiction and depression days later. Over the summer, Kennedy admitted himself to a rehabilitation facility again.

Patrick Kennedy's retirement means that for the first time in nearly five decades there will not be a member of the Kennedy family in Congress. His father, who served Massachusetts in the Senate for more than four decades, died on August 25.

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Troopers Continue Search for Missing Selbyville Man

Location: South Carolina Ave, Fenwick Island, DE

Date of Occurrence: Last seen Tuesday February 9, 2010 at 11:30 p.m.

Missing Person:
Gregory R. Forte, 29, Selbyville, DE
w-m 5’11” 155 lbs black hair brown eyes

Our Top Anti-Terrorism Advisor Must Go

Partisanship, Then and Now

One of the stranger behaviors of the ever-stranger Obama administration is its sudden adoption of the "wounded fawn" posture.

No opposition was more stridently critical of a sitting president than was the anti-Bush Left. Barack Obama, as candidate and president, could not start a speech without saying "Bush did it." And have we forgotten the 2006–08 canonization of Michael Moore, the silence about the Nazi slurs, the award-winning assassination docudramas, the Knopf novel about killing George Bush, the "General Betray Us" ad, Al Gore's vein-bulging "brownshirts" outburst, and on and on?

But suddenly, pundits and politicians have embraced a new gospel about conciliation and the need to restrain harsh discourse — which is fine, but many of these advocates for a gentler, kinder dialogue were bomb-throwers just a few years ago.

And now we hear from none other than John Brennan, the Obama-administration counterterrorism expert, who soberly sermonizes on the lamentable politicization of the war on terror, and particularly the popular derision of the decision to treat the Christmas-day airliner plot as a normal criminal-justice matter.

But isn't Brennan the same official who used to give loud political speeches, heralding not only the superior new Obama anti-terrorism methodology but also the failings of the Bush approach (which kept us safe for seven consecutive years)?

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Army Discharging Single Mom Who Refused Deployment

By RUSS BYNUM, AP Military Writer Russ Bynum, AP Military Writer

SAVANNAH, Ga. – A single-mom soldier who says she refused to deploy to Afghanistan because she had no family able to care for her young son will be discharged from the military instead of facing a court-martial, the Army said Thursday.

Spc. Alexis Hutchinson, an Army cook stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, was arrested in November after skipping her unit's deployment flight. Hutchinson, 21, said she couldn't leave her son because her mother had backed out of plans to keep the child a few days before the soldier's scheduled departure.

The Army filed criminal charges last month against Hutchinson of Oakland, Calif., but a general at neighboring Fort Stewart chose to settle the case by granting her an administrative discharge rather than try her in a military court.

"She's excited that she's no longer facing jail and can still be with her son, which is the most important thing," said Rai Sue Sussman, Hutchinson's civilian attorney. "We're very happy about it right now."

The decision still carries consequences for Hutchinson. She is being demoted in rank to private and will lose benefits afforded to military service members and veterans, Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said.

Larson said the Army had evidence that Hutchinson, regardless of her family situation, would have resisted deploying "by any means." He said commanders decided a court-martial would be too disruptive to the Army, requiring soldiers now in Afghanistan to return to the U.S. to testify.

"This case wasn't about a soldier having to choose between her duty to the nation and her family," Larson said. "There is evidence both from Pvt. Hutchinson and her fellow soldiers to indicate she had no intentions of deploying."

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Yet Another Delmar Farmer Story

Joe,

I just have to write you since I've been reading the other uplifting stories of neighbors helping neighbors. This gentleman (Delmar farmer) was out helping others and as he rode by our house he saw my husband trying to clear our driveway w/a snow blower, unfortunately, during the height of the storm yesterday, he got stuck in a snow drift at the end of our driveway. Long story short, this farmer stopped - he not only pulled our truck out of the drift but went on to clear our mailbox and driveway so that we could get out! God bless him and Delmar neighbors!!

Loving Delmar,
Lynn

Snow Wave Picture

Hello SBYNEWS!

I found this cool snow wave next to my cars today...thought I would share :-)

Karen Weeg Thomas
Delmar, DE

Feds Push For Warrantless Tracking Of Cell Phones

Even though police are tapping into the locations of mobile phones thousands of times a year, the legal ground rules remain unclear, and federal privacy laws written a generation ago are ambiguous at best. On Friday, the first federal appeals court to consider the topic will hear oral arguments in a case that could establish new standards for locating wireless devices.

In that case, the Obama administration has argued that warrantless tracking is permitted because Americans enjoy no "reasonable expectation of privacy" in their--or at least their cell phones'--whereabouts. U.S. Department of Justice lawyers say that "a customer's Fourth Amendment rights are not violated when the phone company reveals to the government its own records" that show where a mobile device placed and received calls.

Those claims have alarmed the ACLU and other civil liberties groups, which have opposed the Justice Department's request and plan to tell the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia that Americans' privacy deserves more protection and judicial oversight than what the administration has proposed.

"This is a critical question for privacy in the 21st century," says Kevin Bankston, an attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation who will be arguing on Friday. "If the courts do side with the government, that means that everywhere we go, in the real world and online, will be an open book to the government unprotected by the Fourth Amendment."

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A Letter To The Editor

Joe,

On WBOC's 6:00 broadcast they showed pictures viewers had been sending in. One of them I had seen before, on your blog last week. They said the pictures were from the recent snow and for this particular pic they said "Two deer up to their necks in Sussexc County".

Here's your original post with the same pic.

http://sbynews.blogspot.com/2010/02/caption-this-photo_05.html

Snow Diary

December 8
6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9
We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.

December 12
The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14
Snow lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life!

The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way.

December 15
20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer.

The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16
Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like heck. The wife laughed for one hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17
Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere.

Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20
Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Darn snowplow came by twice.

Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.

December 22
Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white crap fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to poop. By the time I got undressed, pooped and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the jerk is lying.

December 23
Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.

December 24
6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the man who drives that snowplow I'll drag him through the snow by his nose and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been!

Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the snowplow.

December 25
Merry -bleeping- Christmas! 20 more inches of the slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.

December 26
Still snowed in. Why the heck did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

December 27
Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze, plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1400 to replace all my pipes.

December 28
Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. THE WITCH is driving me crazy!!!

December 29
10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30
Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver he is now suing me for a million dollars not only the beating I gave him but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up where the sun don't shine. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.

December 31
I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8
Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

Sex With An Illegal Immigrant

An illegal immigrant picks up a hooker. "Hey, how much you charge for da hour, sister?" he asks. "$100," she replies.

In broken English, he says, "Do you do immigrant style?"

"No" she says.

"I pay you $200 to do immigrant style."

"No," she says, not knowing what immigrant style is.

"I pay you $300."

"No," she says.

"I pay you $400."

"No," she says.

So finally he says, "OK, I pay $1,000 to do immigrant style."

She thinks, "Well, I've been in the game for over 10 years now. I've had every kind of request from weirdoes from every part of the world. How bad could immigrant style be?"

So she agrees and has sex with him. Finally, after several hours, they finish. Exhausted, the hooker turns to him and says, "Hey, I was expecting something perverted and disgusting. But that was good. So, what exactly is immigrant style?"

The illegal immigrant replies, "You send bill to Government."

Celebrate Valentine's Day All Weekend At Station 7

Friday Night


Asian BBQ Glazed Salmon

Smoked Prime Rib


Saturday Night


Grilled Lollipop Lamb Chops

Asian BBQ Glazed Salmon



Sunday 1 PM to Close

Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Surf and Turf: 6 oz Filet with Chimichurri Sauce
and Sauteed Shrimp in Pesto

Tuscan Chicken: Chicken Stuffed with
Sun Dried Tomatoes, Spinach and Smoked Gouda

We are taking reservations for
any size party Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Mardi Gras 1956: Through My Father's Lens

Worcester County Sheriff's Department Press Release

On Wednesday 2-10-10 at about 1214 hrs. The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to Rt.113 Ironshire station Road for a motor vehicle collision involving several vehicles. There were blizzard conditions in that area and visibility was very limited.

Investigation revealed that a Honda had slowed due to the weather conditions and poor visibility. A van slowed behind the Honda. A tractor trailer then struck the Honda and the van injuring both of those drivers and they were transported to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. The driver of the truck was uninjured. The tractor trailer jack knifed and blocked the south bound roadway. A vehicle behind that truck slowed and was rear ended by another. That impact pushed the vehicle into a third vehicle. One of those drivers was transported to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. Another tractor trailer slowed to a stop to avoid the second crash and was rear ended by a SUV. That SUV was then rear ended by a pickup truck. The drivers of the SUV and the pickup truck were transported to the hospital for serious but not life threatening injuries. A total of 9 vehicles were involved in three separate crashes. Rt. 113 was closed for about 2 hours while the incident was cleared.

TROOPERS ARREST MAN ON DUI AND CDS CHARGES

On February 12, 2010 at 3:10 am, A Trooper from the Salisbury Barrack of the Maryland State Police stopped to assist a vehicle stuck in the snow on Rt. 13 at the entrance of the Thrift Travel Inn. Upon contacting the driver, the Trooper noted a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the driver. After further investigation the Trooper arrested the driver for DUI and a search of his person incident to his arrest revealed a baggie of suspected marihuana. Lawrence Williams Jr., 27, of Salisbury, was taken to WCDC where he was charged with DUI and possession of marihuana.

Rutledge Rips Up Old GOP Playbook And Releases Unscripted Youtube Videos

U S Senate Republican Candidate Jim Rutledge has ripped up the old GOP playbook by releasing raw, unscripted video where the candidate talks from the heart about who he is and what he believes. Rutledge declares, “The age of machine politics run according to the establishment’s playbook has come to an end in Maryland.”

FOREST HILL, Maryland — February 11, 2010

Rutledge Rips Up GOP Campaign Playbook and Releases Unscripted Youtube Video Series.

United States Senate Candidate Jim Rutledge has thrown down the gauntlet in the Maryland Republican Party Primary in 2010. Rutledge has ripped up the GOP establishment’s campaign playbook by releasing raw, unscripted video where the candidate talks from the heart about who he is and what he believes.

Rutledge declares, “The age of machine politics run according to the establishment’s playbook has come to an end in Maryland. No longer will the citizens of Maryland be told that the party-bosses know best what is good for the people. No longer will elections in Maryland be tilted in favor of party insiders and professional politicians. The Senate seat in Maryland is not for sale and will not be bought. 2010 is the year of the people, and in the 2010 Republican primary, the people will have a choice to elect a citizen, who like them, has had enough of government run by professional politicians.”

Jim Rutledge, a Republican and a constitutional conservative, has launched the Jim Rutledge YouTube channel. http://www.youtube.com.jimrutledge2010/

Rutledge’s frank talk on American freedoms and rights is a welcome departure from the stale and politically cautious ad campaigns of the past. Rutledge explains, “Politics as usual will not cut it. Citizen political apathy has melted away; in 2010 the informed Maryland citizen will not stand for propaganda and empty labels. There is no sugar coating the dire threats this nation and state face. We must confront clearly such grave issues as unemployment, the global economic collapse, and the continuing threat to our nation’s safety. I am committed to creative solutions that will preserve our liberty and uphold the US Constitutional constraints on government power.”

The videos take the Rutledge’s campaign for the US Senate directly to the Maryland citizens. The links to Rutledge’s Youtube channel are shared nationwide and form part of the grassroots fire spreading across America. Rutledge boldly and with deep respect for his listeners outlines his positions on the critical issues in Maryland and America in 2010. The videos include Rutledge’s policies on healthcare, economic freedom, job creation, reckless spending, 2nd Amendment rights, government bailouts, property rights, national security, education, and energy independence.

Access the videos at http://www.youtube.com.jimrutledge2010/ or http://www.rutledgeforussenate.com/

OK, This Is Really Going To Tick You Off

This video, demonstrating the corrupt politics of the powerful at the hands of taxpayers, should make all of us mad as hell. Please forward to any elected official, state or fed, that you know in addition to your e-mail list of contacts and let's get the Tea Party Movement stronger than ever to vote all of those elected officials who allow and promote/condone such conduct out of office in November.

http://www.thinkbigworksmall.com/mypage/player/tbws/23088/1428899

Harris Campaign Announces Sauerbrey As Campaign Chair

ANNAPOLIS—Andy Harris for Congress today announced that Ellen Sauerbrey has joined the campaign as Chair. Sauerbrey will help oversee the campaign and provide strategic counsel and grassroots coordination throughout Maryland’s First Congressional District for Andy Harris for Congress.

“Ellen is a long-time friend, confidante and a valuable addition to the team,” Harris said. “Her knowledge of and experience with Maryland voters, the small business and agricultural communities and the federal government will be a significant asset to our successful campaign. The addition of Ellen as Chair is more proof that by working together we can get our economy back on track, get people back to work and get a new congressman for the District that will truly represent the values of the voters.”

Sauerbrey stated, “I am pleased to serve as Chair of Senator Harris’s campaign for Congress because he believes in those traditional conservative values on which America was founded. I know I can trust him to go to Washington and fight to control the size and cost of government and to uphold the constitutional limits on government power. He understands that the best way to create jobs is to reduce the burden of taxes and regulations on small business. As a doctor he will ensure that patients and physicians control their medical decisions, not Washington bureaucrats. And as a veteran he will vigorously protect and defend our nation from terrorism. I invite Republicans, Democrats and Independents to join us in sending a strong message to Washington that enough is enough and it is time to get Congress working on what is important to us, not them.”

Ellen Sauerbrey was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration in 2006. She also served as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. She was elected Maryland House Minority Leader from 1986-1994. She was the Republican nominee for governor in 1994 and 1998. Sauerbrey lives in the First Congressional District.

Obama Report: 95,000 Jobs To Come Each Month

WASHINGTON – The United States is likely to add an average of 95,900 more jobs each month this year, while personal savings will remain high as credit remains tight, according to a White House report released Thursday.

With the public souring on Obama's handling of the economy, the White House's Council of Economic Advisers' report trumpeted the $787 billion economic stimulus package as creating or saving some 2 million jobs. Facing a tough election season for fellow Democrats, Obama's team used its annual report to blame the economy they inherited. The report is required by law within 10 days of the White House's budget proposals.

Obama called on lawmakers to pass a jobs bill to help the economy recovery — and to help incumbents from both parties keep their jobs come November.

In a message to Congress, President Barack Obama looked back at the challenges and ahead to his agenda for dragging the country out of its recession.

"I can report that over the past year, this work has begun. In the coming year, this work continues," Obama said in a letter he sent to the Capitol attached to his economic update to lawmakers. "But to understand where we must go in the next year and beyond, it is important to remember where we began one year ago."

GO HERE to read more.