Daily Times Begins Campaign to Re-Elect Ireton

The Daily Times has officially kicked off its campaign to re-elect Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton and to replace incumbent councilwoman Debbie Campbell.  The DT and its "reporter" Jeremy Cox have shown in recent days that Ireton and his political ally Jacob Day (who is running for Campbell's seat) can say or do anything while be guaranteed positive coverage.  Albero can expect, at a minimum, that every wart will be exposed and his statements will be twisted to portray Albero in a negative light.  Simply look at the articles covering the three candidates' respective announcements.

Jim Ireton -

Ireton is portrayed as a "man on a mission".  According to the DT, Ireton can "tout a number of those accomplishments" but "he (Ireton) believes there’s still much left to do."

Ireton takes credit for a 40% reduction in crime along with several other accomplishments which have occurred during the last four years:

Some of the things that have taken place since Ireton’s entry into the Mayor’s Office include the creation of a tenant’s bill of rights, the demolitions of the Thrift Travel Inn and Linens of the Week buildings, a 40 percent reduction of violent crime rates over four years and a $16 million surplus in city funds.

 Of course, if the DT cared about accurate reporting rather than using its front page to pimp its own political agenda they would have INFORMED its readers of the following:

• The idea to participate in the state's "Safe Streets" program (credited with having a major impact on the city's crime rate) came from council president Terry Cohen ... NOT Jim Ireton.

• Ireton refused to take up improved police pay until AFTER the council took up the issue and Ireton risked political embarrassment.

• Ireton wanted taxpayers to pick up the tab for the Thrift Travel Inn demolition.  It was the council, led by Debbie Campbell, which insisted that the bank which owned the property pay for the demolition.

• The "Tenant's Bill of Rights" was, again, a council initiative ... NOT Ireton's.

What the Daily Times chose to OMIT is even more damning.

During his announcement Ireton made the outrageous statement that he had fulfilled all of his promised from his 2009 run for mayor:

When was the last time a politician could look you in the eye and tell you he did exactly what he promised when he ran for office? Well, I can and I’m proud of it.

If you simply look at Ireton's 2009 announcement (from November, 2008), it's a laundry list of promises made but not kept.  My personal favorite is his promise to engage in "civil debate".  I guess standing on street corner and calling council members "racists" is Jimmy's version of civility.

However, Ireton's current claim that he has not raised property taxes is possibly the most disturbing statement he has made recently.  The only reason property taxes are not higher is because the COUNCIL refused to raise property taxes.  Despite the fact that council gave Ireton almost every spending item he requested, he threatened to VETO the FY 2013 because he didn't get his tax hike.

Jacob Day -

A nice guy who supports Ireton's left-wing politics and simply wants to rubber stamp Ireton's every whim and folly, Jacob Day can count on full throttled support from Jeremy Cox and his employers in his quest to unseat Debbie Campbell:

One of the problems is the council majority, which includes Campbell, and its lack of vision for the city, Day said.

“I think we have a great example with the mayor, but he doesn’t have a partner on the City Council,” he said.

Either Day, who Cox attempts to portray as a cross between Superman and Cincinnatus, is grossly misinformed about city issues (at least I hope it is mere ignorance).  Time and again, the council has attempted to provide every one of Ireton's proposals a fair hearing.  How many times has Ireton CHOSE to hold a press conference and ATTACK members of council rather than simply sitting down with them and providing honest answers to honest questions.

As for "vision", Day should look at Campbell's work on the crime issue and her recent accomplishment regarding the former River's Edge condo project.  I have to assume that Day views Ireton's plan to turn valuable riverfront property into a subsidized housing project as "VISIONARY".

Joe Albero -

If you are Joe Albero, legitimate criticism of an opponent's public statements and public record is an "ATTACK".  If you are Joe Albero, a promise to sit down and work with the city council - NO MATTER WHO SITS IN THOSE FIVE CHAIRS - to move the city forward is being a "close ally".  If you are Joe Albero, being a successful serial entrepreneur who wants to make the city more business-friendly is being a "former owner of a light bulb manufacturing firm".  If you are Joe Albero, recognizing that a life-long government employee is ill-prepared to persuade businesses to invest in Salisbury's future is blaming a "part-time elementary school teacher".

If you are really interested what Joe Albero is running on, I would suggest that you read his announcement address.  I don't think that you'll find a balanced, accurate portrayal from Cox or his paper.

I am sure that Cox would claim that he is accurate in his reporting.  Well, if you ever saw the movie "Absence of Malice" you would know that there is a big difference between accuracy and truth.  There is also a little thing called "context".  If you compare the Albero piece to the articles on Ireton and Day you see a huge difference in tone.  If you are relatively well informed about Salisbury politics and policy, you would know that there are inaccuracies in all three articles.  When it comes to Ireton and Day, the Daily Times reverts to the "he said, she said" journalism it is best known for - wrap a statement, true or not in quotes and claim that you have no responsibility to research or or ask follow questions.  In the case of Albero, take even the most positive statements and shade them as negatively as possible.

I think the voters of Salisbury deserve better.  I wish our local paper should step up to the plate.  Call me Pollyanna.

G. A. Harrison is a guest contributor to SBYNews.

Teacher Stomps on American Flag inside Classroom

A South Carolina school district has launched an investigation into a high school teacher who allegedly threw an American flag on the floor and stomped on it as a classroom full of students watched.

Mark Bounds, a spokesman for the Lexington –Richland5 School District, confirmed to Fox News that an English teacher at Chapin High School was placed on leave as they investigate the incident.

“There were allegations that at a teacher took a flag down from the post in the classroom and stepped on that flag as part of the lesson,” Bounds said, indicating the act was repeated in several other classes. “It was not a spontaneous act, but one he worked into the lesson.”
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The Magician's Con: Renewing FISA And The NDAA Under Cover Of The Fiscal Cliff Debates

“If the broad light of day could be let in upon men’s actions, it would purify them as the sun disinfects.”~ Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis

What characterizes American government today is not so much dysfunctional politics as it is ruthlessly contrived governance carried out behind the entertaining, distracting and disingenuous curtain of political theater. And what political theater it is, diabolically Shakespearean at times, full of sound and fury, yet in the end, signifying nothing.

Played out on the national stage and eagerly broadcast to a captive audience by media sponsors, this farcical exercise in political theater can, at times, seem riveting, life-changing and suspenseful, even for those who know better. Week after week, the script changes – the presidential election, the budget crisis, the fiscal cliff, the Benghazi hearings, the gun control debate – each new script following on the heels of the last, never any let-up, never any relief from the constant melodrama.

The players come and go, the protagonists and antagonists trade places, and the audience members are forgiving to a fault, quick to forget past mistakes and move on to the next spectacle. All the while, a different kind of drama is unfolding in the dark backstage, hidden from view by the heavy curtain, the elaborate stage sets, colored lights and parading actors.

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CURRENT TV STAFFERS NOT HAPPY ABOUT BEING SOLD TO AL JAZEERA

Al Gore may have gotten a multi-million dollar payday from his new friends at Al Jazeera, but his Current TV employees don't seem very excited about being sold to the Qatar-based network.

Current TV employees were called to an early staff meeting in San Francisco and via teleconference at the New York and Los Angeles offices in order to be introduced to their new Al Jazeera bosses.

Ehab Al Shihabi, executive director of Al Jazeera's international operations, and Muftah Al Suwaidan, general manager of the London bureau, were in attendance; so was Al Gore's partner, Joel Hyatt. But Al Gore, Current TV's global warming-pushing star, was nowhere to be seen.
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Ben Cardin In Crisfield Tomorrow

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin will be in Crisfield tomorrow (Thursday).

From 2:15 to 2:45 he is going to be doing a driving tour of the town.

From 2:45 to 3:15, he is going to do a tour of the Disaster Recovery Center, and at 3:15 he will make some remarks.

His staff have told me that he would particularly like to meet and thank you guys, the volunteer leaders, who have helped in so many ways. If any of you are available tomorrow, I would suggest coming to the DRC at the Ambulance squad around 2:45 p.m. to meet our Senator.

15 Worst Companies For Customer Service

Some of the industries that Americans depend on most are plagued by bad customer service.
Utilities, airlines, and cable companies are among the worst lead, according to the latest results from the American Consumer Satisfaction Index.

Limited competition and the fact that many customer interactions occur after problems like service interruptions help push those industry's ratings down.

By far the biggest ratings drop was for Northeast Utilities, which left customers fuming due to long storm power outages.

The bottom tier also includes LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, which were only recently included in the survey.

Click here to see the worst-rated companies >

BULLIES: OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SUMMONS NRA TO WHITE HOUSE

Vice President Joe Biden, who is heading up the President’s task force on gun control proposals,announced Tuesday that he would be meeting this week with the National Rifle Association, among other groups.

And his timing is just a bit suspect; the day before meeting with the NRA, Biden will be meeting with gun control organizations and shooting victims. Presumably, his welcome for the NRA will be somewhat less hearty.

The NRA, under heavy public pressure thanks to the White House’s bully tactics after the Sandy Hook massacre, said it would visit the White House to “hear what they have to say.”
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Rep. Harris Press Release

Rep. Harris Announced as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee

WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Andy Harris (MD-1) released the following statement regarding the official announcement of his Chairmanship to the Subcommittee on Environment by Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (TX-21):

“I am honored to continue my Chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Environment of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. I look forward to working with Chairman Lamar Smith and the other members of the Committee to ensure we have a productive session that encourages scientific development and promotes economic growth.

“As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, my primary responsibility will be oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make sure they use sound science and are transparent during the regulatory process. The approaching vacancy of the EPA Administrator is an opportunity to find someone who shares these objectives. I will be working closely with Rep. Chris Stewart (UT-2) who will serve as Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment. I know he will be a worthy colleague who shares these values and understands the need to work toward free market solutions for environmental protection and job creation.”

Established in 1958, the Science, Space, and Technology Committee has jurisdiction over all non-defense federal scientific research and development. Specifically, the Committee has partial or complete jurisdiction over the following federal agencies: NASA, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, FEMA, the U.S. Fire Administration, and United States Geological Survey, among others.

District Toughens Up Requirements For Welfare Recipients

City will suspend payments to those who defy requirements

District lawmakers on Tuesday voted to withhold benefits from welfare recipients who deliberately ignore programs designed to help them improve their lives, capping a rancorous debate but irking legislators who had hoped the city would impose tougher sanctions.

The council's 11-2 vote will allow the District to implement "full-family sanctions" against participants in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program who repeatedly defy program requirements like completing job training programs.

Under a compromise agreement, the city will withhold welfare payments for up to one month. Mayor Vincent Gray's original plan called for the District to block compensation for up to three months before requiring the recipient to reapply for aid.
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SVEN & OLE

Sven and Ole, Two Minnesota engineers were standing at the base of a flagpole, lookingup. A woman walks by asks what they were doing.
"Ve're supposed to find da height of dis flagpole, "said Sven, "but vedon't haff a ladder."

The woman took a wrench from her purse, loosened a couple of bolts, andlaid the pole down on the ground. Then she took a tape measure from her pocketbook, took a measurement, announced, "Twenty one feet,six inches,"
and walked away.

Ole shook his head and laughed. "Ain't dat just like a voman! Ve ask ferda height and she gives us da length!"

Sven and Ole have since quit their engineering jobs and are currently serving in the United States Senate.

FIND OUT HOW POLICE USED PROVISION IN HEALTHCARE LAW TO CONFISCATE MAN’S CAMERA AND CHARGE HIM WITH CRIMES

As a bloody-faced man was frisked by sheriff’s deputies and loaded into an ambulance, 28-year-old Andrew Henderson was recording the scene with his video camera — as he regularly does with law enforcement.

But as he recorded outside his apartment building in Little Canada, Minn., Henderson was approached by one of the deputies, Jacqueline Muellner, who then ripped the camera out of his grip.

“We’ll just take this for evidence,” Muellner said, the voices of the officers captured on Henderson’s cellphone. “If I end up on YouTube, I’m gonna be upset.” A copy of the cellphone audio was provided to the Pioneer Press.
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Bingomania Returns To The Wicomico Youth & Civic Center On Saturday, February 9th

(Salisbury, MD) Bingomania, the Eastern Shore’s largest bingo cash prize event, returns to the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Saturday, February 9th. Doors open at 5:00pm for early bird games and regular games begin at 7:30pm.
Admission to Bingomania includes all regular and special games, including the Jumbo Jackpot Game. Regular game payouts are $500 while special games will pay out $1000. The Jumbo Jackpot Game pays a maximum of $10,000 depending upon attendance.

Increase your chances of winning and help a local food bank at the same time by bringing three non-perishable food items to the game. Those that do will receive three additional cards for the first early bird game.

Tickets are $45 per person in advance and $55 per person at the door (fees may apply to ticket prices). Tickets are on sale now at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (500 Glen Ave., Salisbury, MD; M-F, 8am-6pm), online at www.WicomicoCivicCenter.org and by phone at 410-548-4911.

All proceeds benefit the Mardela Middle and High School Bands. For more information contact the Mardela Band-Aides at 410-677-5170.

Biden: Obama Prepared To Take Executive Action On Gun Control

President Obama will likely take executive action in an effort to tamp down the recent rash of gun violence, Vice President Biden said Wednesday.

“The president is going go act,” said Biden, who is conducting meetings all week on gun control. “There are executive orders, executive action that can be taken. We haven't decided what that is yet, but we're compiling it all.”

He said last month's Newtown, Conn., tragedy — which took the lives of 20 elementary school children — “touched the heart of the American people so profoundly” and “requires immediate, urgent action.” 
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Redskins' RG3 To Undergo Surgery On LCL This Week

Operation will reveal whether he tore ACL

Robert Griffin III will undergo surgery to repair his torn lateral collateral ligament. And that's when the real issues might begin.

When Dr. James Andrews operates on Griffin's right knee later this week, he also will need to determine the extent of damage to Griffin's other ligaments, notably the ACL. Multiple reports stated that Griffin tore his LCL, but any damage beyond that has yet to be determined.

What the doctors find could determine whether Griffin plays in 2013 or not. Under normal circumstances, a torn ACL would sideline an athlete for seven to 12 months.
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Cupid's Love Is Raining Cats & Dogs!

A Gala Valentine's Day Cotillion for
Animal Lovers to
Benefit the Wicomico
Humane Society.
Saturday, February 16th 6pm-10pm
Wicomico Youth and Civic Center
Silent Auction, Dinner, Dancing and more!

Tickets are $35/person, to purchase, please stop by the Wicomico Humane Society or contact
Kayla Christiano at events@wicomicohumane.organd 443-366-5455
Please bring your favorite cocktail, wine or beer to celebrate with your sweetheart.Want to celebrate with a group? Reserve an 8 top table for only $250

For more information visit our websitewww.wicomicohumane.org.

Serious Accident On Ocean Highway

The Pocomoke Fire Company is on the scene at Ocean Hwy. and Brantley Road. The accident involves a tractor trailer and a motor vehicle with entrapment. 

Virginia Eyes Killing Gas Tax, Raising Sales Tax To Pay For Roads

RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell on Tuesday proposed eliminating the state gas tax drivers pay at the pump and raising the state sales tax to help raise $3.1 billion for desperately needed road work by 2018.

McDonnell's proposal would axe the 17.5 cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline, making Virginia the first state to do so. He proposed raising the statewide sales tax from 5 percent to 5.8 percent and to use the additional revenue for road maintenance and to pump up the transportation trust fund.

"If this was easy it would have been done 26 years ago," McDonnell said. "The time for action is now."

McDonnell's transportation plan would also gradually shift 0.25 percent of existing sales tax revenues to pay for road maintenance, with the first $300 million earmarked for Northern Virginia to help pay for Metro's Silver Line to Washington Dulles International Airport.
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QUOTES OF THE DAY 1-9-13

Joe Biden on culturalism: “In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7/11 or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.”

John Conyers on the Health Care Bill, which he voted for: “I love these members, they get up and say, ‘Read the bill … What good is reading the bill if it’s a thousand pages and you don’t have two days and two lawyers to find out what it means after you read the bill?’”

John Kerry on the troops: “You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”

Howard Dean: “We know that no one person can succeed unless everybody else succeeds.”

Al Gore: “During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.”

Joe Biden on the economy: “The number one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack says, a three-letter word: jobs. J-O-B-S.”

Joe Biden on History: “When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn’t just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed. He said, ‘Look, here’s what happened.”

Marion Barry, former mayor of Washington, DC: “If you take out the killings, Washington actually has a very very low crime rate.”

Senator Chris Dodd, while on the campaign trail: “Eight more days and I can start telling the truth again” Sen. Chris Dodd, on the campaign trail.

Jerry Brown, governor of California: “The conventional viewpoint says we need a jobs program and we need to cut welfare. Just the opposite! We need more welfare and fewer jobs.”

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on the newly passed health care law: “We actually have not required in this law that you carry health insurance.”

Radio personality Ed Schultz on elections: “If I lived in Massachusetts, I’d try to vote ten times … Yeah that’s right, I’d cheat to keep these bastards out. I would. Because that’s exactly what they are.”

Congresswoman Maxine Waters on socialism: “Guess what this liberal would be all about? This liberal will be about socializing…uh, um…Would be about, basically, taking over, and the government running all of your companies.”

Senator Harry Reid on Barack Obama: “…light-skinned,” and with “no negro dialect.”

Ex-Sheriff's Department Commander Pleads Guilty

WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) - The former commander of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Carroll County Sheriff's Department has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor misconduct in office.

Nicholas Plazio entered the plea Tuesday in Carroll County Circuit Court. He was sentenced to three years supervised probation, a $5,000 fine and 500 hours of community service.
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Perdue Seeks Up To $2.5M In Poultry Pollution Case

Perdue Farms is seeking up to $2.5 million in attorney fees following its victory in a poultry pollution case that had been closely watched by environmentalist and agriculture interests for its potential impact on the industry, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The poultry giant is seeking to recoup attorney fees from the New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, which sued the company and an Eastern Shore contract grower, Perdue spokeswoman Julie DeYoung said.

The poultry giant said in its filing U.S. District Court in Baltimore that the environmental group continued to litigate what it called a groundless case after learning that an uncovered pile of what was claimed to be chicken manure turned out to be harmless. The company also said the court had noted that while defendants are "not normally entitled to recover their legal fees, such an award would not be unprecedented."
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