My opinion of Sir Paul's comments

Recently, Sir James Paul McCartney, member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), who lives in New York City, felt it prudent to weigh in on the performance of the President of the United States, by insulting a past President, "After the last eight years, it's great to have a president who knows what a library is." (Paul McCartney Makes Fun Of George W. Bush, Praises Obama At White). Ironically, as the Gulf Coast is awash in oil, our President “Rocked the night away"; at least Nero played an instrument. Did Sir Paul forget that Obama shipped a bust of Winston Churchill back to the English, gave copies of his speeches to the Prime Minister, gave the Queen an i-Pod, and failed to invite her to D-day remembrances? That is audacity.

When will Sir Paul comment about Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II?

Never; such behavior is considered blasphemous to the citizens of the Empire. Elizabeth's personal fortune has been the subject of speculation for many years. Forbes magazine estimated her net worth at around US$450 million in 2009 (von Zeppelin, Christina (19 August 2009), The 100 Most Powerful Women #42 Queen Elizabeth II, Forbes, , retrieved 11 March 2010). Has he forgotten that as a MBE that he is part of this Constitutional monarchy, in which a king or queen acts as Head of State but the ability to make and pass legislation resides with the elected Parliament, not with the Monarch (What is constitutional monarchy).

What a lesson in government waste we can tell about this outdated form of government that remains steeped in the practices of the past - can you say change? Consider the budgetary waste involved in keeping this sham afloat. Then again, it is “their choice” it is the "British way". They alone can change it; perhaps that is why in 1776, we decided to free ourselves of the “Throne of England” and their orthodoxy.

Has, Sir Paul participated in our form of government? He has not voted in our elections since he is NOT a citizen; that act is how we as citizens make a difference in our form of government. Although his two past wives and his current “partner” are or were American citizens, he has and never will not likely become a citizen of the United States - he would have to renounce his title, as did Anthony HOPKINS (Hopkins `Loses' His Title Of `sir' To Become U.s. Citizen). He pays property and sales taxes but is not required to pay income taxes. To be fair, he likely pays a hefty amount in taxes in the city and state of New York.

Others have been more harsh in their commentary of this event using expletives that are normally deleted in press accounts. I will only say, when Sir Paul, becomes an American citizen and renounces his fancy title, only then will I give credence to his commentary on our country and it’s form of government. He can say what he wants but I’ll not listen. Sir Paul wants to reap the benefits of being an American citizen, including those of the First Amendment, but wants none of the title of being an American citizen. Has anyone noticed the current debate over immigration? There are plenty of folks, literally dying, to get into this country; they envy his Permanent Resident Visa. He needs to have both feet on one side of the fence or in this case the pond; otherwise he’ll likely suffer permanent injury (from the fence) or drown (in the pond.)

Update on shooting

James Grooms III
GROOMS, James III, departed this life July 15, 2009. He is survived by his four children, Shilique, Anquanne, Jaya and Makayla; parents, Peggy Harris and James Grooms (Goldie); siblings, Tisha Grooms, Tracy Harris, Demetra McLauren (Timothy), Shawn Sheppard (Richard), Brittany Grooms and Kadeem Grooms; grandmother, Lillian Goode; five nieces, two nephews, two aunts, four uncles; special friend, Shanelle Whitaker; two best friends, Jason and Michael James; other relatives and friends. Remains rest at Mimms Funeral Home, 1827 Hull Street Rd., where the family will receive friends Monday, 6 to 7:30 p.m., and where funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 21, at 11 a.m. Rev. Ronald C. Taylor officiating. Interment Oakwood Cemetery.

The Gun Owners version

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1. Exclusive: I met with the gun owner who saved lives in the Richmond Golden Market shooting last week
****************************************************************************

On Friday I received a surprise call from the gun owner who has been in the press this week for saving lives at a Richmond store. The gun owner used a replica 1875 Remington Army .45 Long Colt with a 7 1/2 inch barrel to stop a criminal who had shot the store's owner.

He wanted to remain anonymous, but called so that the story could be set straight, as much of what was in the press wasn't accurate.

Board member Dennis O'Connor and I ended up meeting with him today (Saturday) at the Golden Market store, where the shooting had taken place one week earlier.

Besides being able to actually see the layout of the store, Dennis and I got to see the security videos of the shooting!

We also got to meet the store owner who had been shot twice during the hold up, but is now back at his store. More on this great man later.

Here is what we know from talking to the gun owner and watching the videos:

The gun owner (GO) was in the store waiting in line to pay for an item when the bad guy (BG) came in wearing dark sunglasses and trying to coverup his face while brandishing a revolver. The BG yelled for everyone to get down and before anybody could react, immediately walked over to the store owner and in a cold-blooded fashion shot him twice. The owner then dropped down behind the counter. It wasn't more than 2 seconds after the BG first walked in the doors that he shot the store owner.

Those shots at the store owner missed a teenage boy's head by inches.

The GO yelled for the BG to drop his gun as the GO drew his gun. The BG opened fire on the GO. The GO returned fire, hitting the BG as the GO dove hard for the floor behind some barrels full of ice and drinks.

The BG ran towards the back of the store, aiming his gun at an innocent man laying prone on the floor. Luckily the BG was too distracted by the GO to shoot the man. There is no doubt in my mind that the man would have been shot in cold blood that day if it weren't for that GO returning fire.

The BG kept trying to get to the front of the store by walking up various aisles and firing shots at the GO as he did so. At one point cans of tinned meat exploded on a shelf as the BG took a shot at the GO.

What was bizarre was that the BG actually was strutting around like he owned the place while under fire! As he approached the front of one aisle, he again pointed a gun at a person on the ground and was about to execute him, when he was again distracted by the GO.

Finally the GO spotted the BG at the front of an aisle standing in the open.

Much to his surprise, the GO discovered that when he dove hard for the floor he had somehow broken the trigger on his gun!

But the gun was a single action, so the GO pushing himself up with one arm, aimed the gun, pulled the hammer back and let it fly forward - twice.

Although seriously wounded three times, the BG came at the GO. The BG tried to grab the GO's gun since the BG's gun was out of ammunition. A life-and-death struggle began. The GO got a grip on the BG's gun and the GO hit the BG twice hard on the temple with the 7 1/2" barrel on his rather heavy gun.

The BG finally broke off the engagement, tried to run out the front door, but collapsed at the door.

The GO secured the BG's gun and keeping an eye on the now unconscious bad guy, called 9-1-1.

The BG has now died (he was in critical condition since the shooting).

The police showed up a minute or so after the 9-1-1 call and initially had everyone in the store at gun point and handcuffed some until they could figure out who was who.

What really impressed me was that on the surveillance video, the owner, while shot twice by the BG, was walking around making sure that all of his customers were OK after the shooting had ended. He only let himself collapse after he was sure they were OK! Words fail me on this. I am so glad that he made it. What a dichotomy - a BG who shoots an innocent person without provocation, almost killing a teenager while doing so - caring for no one but himself. And then the store owner who, while seriously wounded, making sure his customers were OK. Evil exists and so does Good. Both were on display in those two minutes of terror. Luckily only the bad guy was killed. The owner was walking with a limp, clearly in some pain. :-(

A lot of people owe their lives to that GO. However, he is having none of it, saying that he simply did what he had to do.

--

The GO wanted me to share the following points:

* Buy a quality gun - don't use some cheap $90 gun to protect your life. He considered his gun to be a good one and even then the trigger broke under the extreme stress of a life-and-death battle.

* Practice with your gun, get training, and be good with that gun.

* More and more BGs are choosing to kill in cold blood to get what they want. If they can't live the "good life, " then they don't care if their crimes send them to jail.

* He also noted that fewer and fewer BGs are getting any jail time.

--

Here are my thoughts from watching that tape:

* Talk about a cold-blooded, fast attack where an innocent was shot without warning! Unbelievable. Situational awareness is really important. Luck doesn't hurt, either.

* Open carry was an advantage in this case because in the video I saw just how fast the GO managed to draw his gun and begin to return fire. You always hear about how open carry is so bad tactically - you'll be the first one shot, etc. Oh, yeah? The GO had a HUGE gun in plain sight and he was NOT shot. Who got shot first? An unarmed store owner.

* I am betting that the BG was on drugs, big time. He was hit with THREE 45-CALIBER BULLETS, with at least two of those hits causing grievous injury, and he continued the fight as if he had not even been hit at all! In fact he was strutting like a peacock who owned the place as he was walking up and down the aisles trying to get to a position where he could shoot the GO. As a gun owner, you need to be prepared for that eventuality and keep shooting the BG in his center of mass until he stops his attack. Don't think one shot, or even two shots, are going to do it. And a head shot might well be what it takes to stop such an attack quickly.

* If you are out of ammunition, a gun does make a great weapon with which to bludgeon someone in hand-to-hand combat.

* This shooting bolstered both sides of the argument about how much ammunition one should carry. The good guy got off only four shots (of course his gun had a broken trigger and that didn't help). The bad guy got off six shots and ran out of ammunition (thankfully). But in my mind, and having had some advanced training, I think an extra magazine for a semi-auto, or a reloader for a revolver, is a good idea. WIth someone like the BG above, if you run out of ammunition before he does, he will execute you. Period.

http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum66/28633.html

Richmond Store owner grateful for man who shot robber

By REED WILLIAMS

Published: July 15, 2009

Three days after Mustapha Kassou was shot in an attempted robbery in his store in South Richmond, he said that he owed his life to the man who ended the ordeal by shooting the robber.

Yesterday, Kassou returned to Golden Food Market on Jefferson Davis Highway for the first time since he was shot there Saturday afternoon.

Kassou said the masked robber walked into the store shortly after 1 p.m. and seemed startled to see about eight people inside. The robber told everyone to get on the floor, and then he fired at Kassou and hit him twice, he said.

"When the guy shot me, I was waiting for him to finish me," Kassou said. "I was knocked down behind the cash register."

The other armed man pulled a six-shot revolver from his holster and told the robber to drop his weapon, Kassou said. When he didn't, authorities say, the man shot the robber once in the torso, took the robber's gun and called police.

Witnesses told police it appeared the robber ran out of bullets and tried to reload. Some people in the store told the man to finish off the robber, witnesses reported.

"Everyone was telling him to kill him," Kassou said, "but he said, 'I can't do it.'"

Saturday's incident was the second such shooting at the store in a month.

The two shootings at Golden Food and the fatal shooting of a shopkeeper last month in another store just blocks away have alarmed some nearby residents, although police say the number of violent crimes along the Jefferson Davis corridor has been declining since May.

Councilwoman Reva Trammell, whose 8th District includes the corridor, and police Cmdr. Steve Drew will hold a public safety meeting for Jeff Davis-area business owners tonight from 6 to 8 at the Satellite Restaurant, 4000 Jefferson Davis Highway.

Kassou was released from the hospital Sunday, but he was limping and in obvious pain yesterday. He sat inside his store with family members, but he kept the front door locked. He said the shootings have made him scared of almost everyone.

He said he was struggling with whether he should reopen the store. He does not know how he would support his wife and two children if he chooses to keep the store closed.

Kassou said he is considering returning to his native Morocco. He said he is an American citizen and has lived here about 20 years and loves this country.

"It's not worth it anymore," he said, adding that he will arm himself if he reopens the store.

Kassou said he still is alive because of God -- and because of the man who drew a .45-caliber Western-style revolver and ended Saturday's robbery by shooting the gunman.

"He saved a lot of lives," Kassou said. "He was like an angel who came to save everybody."

Authorities say the robber was wounded after he shot Kassou and fired on customers.

Neither Kassou nor the police would identify the man who shot the robber. Authorities said an initial investigation indicates the man acted lawfully when he shot the robber.

Police have charged James Grooms III, 30, of South Richmond with attempted robbery, use of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon.

He remained in critical condition last night at VCU Medical Center.

A woman who said she is one of Grooms' relatives declined to comment when reached by phone yesterday.

---

Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or rwilliams@timesdispatch.com .

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/ROBB15_20090714-222605/280016/

Armed Citizen Prevents Bloodbath

Two Shot in South Richmond Store

By REED WILLIAMS
July 12, 2009

A gunman who had wounded a shopkeeper and opened fire on several customers was stopped yesterday when another man shot him at the store in South Richmond, authorities said.

The violent attempted robbery took place shortly after 1 p.m. at the Golden Food Market at 2701 Jefferson Davis Highway, the same store where another man was shot last month–and only three blocks from the scene of another robbery in June that left a shopkeeper dead.

Owners of as many as a dozen Jefferson Davis-area businesses flocked to the scene of the shooting, and many were rattled by such a brazen daylight attack, said Councilwoman Reva Trammell, whose 8th District includes the Jefferson Davis corridor.

Trammell, who arrived outside the store shortly after yesterday’s shootings, described a frenzied scene. One man told Trammell that the man who had shot the robber was a guardian angel.

“Whoever did it probably saved their lives in there,” Trammell said of the shooter.

Police did not identify anyone involved in yesterday’s shootings.

The man who shot the robber is a friend of the store owner, and he was wearing a holster with a Western-style revolver, said Managing Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Tracy Thorne-Begland.

After the suspect shot the store owner and opened fire on patrons, the owner’s friend shot the suspect once in the torso, took his gun and called police, Thorne-Begland said.

Thorne-Begland said it appeared that the shooting of the suspect was justified, although he emphasized that the investigation was in the early stages.

Police said they expect to file charges against the suspect.

The store owner’s injuries did not appear life-threatening, authorities said, but the gunman’s injuries were said to be life-threatening. No one else was hurt.

Anthony Gregory, who lives near Golden Food, said he was in the store about 15 minutes before the shootings, and that while he was there, he saw a man with a baby making a purchase.

Gregory said the owner told the baby, “Welcome to the world. This is a dangerous world, so be careful. But don’t worry, God will protect you.”

Police Cmdr. Steve Drew said officers had been patrolling up and down Jefferson Davis yesterday and recently have bolstered their presence in the area. He said it was unusual for a commercial robbery to happen so early in the day.

The previous shooting at Golden Food took place late the night of June 12. And three nights earlier, a co-owner of the Come and Go Food Market, which is about three blocks north of Golden Food on Jefferson Davis, was shot and killed in a robbery.

Authorities said it was too early to know whether any of the three shootings on Jefferson Davis are connected.

A few hours after yesterday’s shootings, Said “Sam” Messaf, the man who was shot June 12 at Golden Food, was at the store to help another man shut down the market.

Messaf described how he had been helping out at the store June 12 when two robbers came inside. One man opened fire, reaching over the counter and shooting as Messaf cowered behind it, he said. Messaf was shot six times in his legs.

He said he suffered nerve damage in his left leg and has trouble sleeping.

Trammell said residents and business owners were scared by the recent violence but have faith that police are doing their best to stop it.

“I’m still shook up,” Trammell said. “I’m not afraid, but we’ve worked so hard on Jefferson Davis — so hard in that area to bring crime down.”

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/SHOT121_20090711-230802/279571/

In the wake of the "stimulus," unemployment grows

In the wake of the "stimulus," unemployment grows

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Courtesy of the House Ways and Means Committee GOP Press Shop:

"Today’s unemployment insurance benefit claims data from the U.S. Department of Labor reveals another record number of Americans collecting unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. The almost 9 million currently collecting UI benefits is an increase of 1 million from the level before the so-called stimulus bill. This counts the 6 million receiving State UI benefits (payable for up to six months) and the almost 3 million collecting Federal UI benefits (payable for up to another 12 months). The current total of 8.9 million unemployed workers collecting UI benefits in the week ending June 20, 2009 – the most recent week of complete data – is triple the number (2.9 million) who collected UI benefits just one year ago."

What cap and trade means to homeowners - it's not pretty

The cap and trade bill was over a thousand pages when it reached the floor of the House for a vote. At 3:00am the night before debate, Democrats filed a manager's amendment to the bill that contained hundreds of pages of technical changes with virtually no time to read and digest what those changes would mean for the average American consumer. Now that the dust has settled from the House vote, information is beginning to leak out on what is actually in the cap and trade bill as passed by the House. With each passing day, it becomes even more clear why Congressman Shuster voted no on cap and trade.

One of the arguments made by House Republicans during the debate on cap and trade was that it stamped a one-size fits all mandate for home energy efficiency standards with a load of unfunded mandates on the states. Essentially, it would take California's building code and apply it to all 50 states, from Maine to Alaska and Pennsylvania. A post on the American Issues Project's blog goes into more detail on what this actually means to homeowners. If you own a home, or are in the market for a home, read this post.

Hat tip: American Issues Project

Do Police Have a Duty to Protect You?

Legally, NO.

Countless court cases attest to this fact.  The police have a duty to investigate the crime but not to protect the victim.  Ironically, once they take a suspect into custody, they do have a duty to protect him or her even from themselves.

The first case which established the general rule that police have no duty under federal law to protect citizens is DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services.   In this case, Petitioner is a child who was subjected to a series of beatings by his father, with whom he lived.   Respondents, a county department of social services and several of its social workers, received complaints that petitioner was being abused by his father and took various steps to protect him;  they did not, however, act to remove petitioner from his father's custody.  Petitioner's father finally beat him so severely that he suffered permanent brain damage and was rendered profoundly retarded.   The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed this case with this statement: There is no merit to petitioner's contention that the State's knowledge of his danger and expressions of willingness to protect him against that danger established a "special relationship" giving rise to an affirmative constitutional duty to protect.  

Likewise, Warren v. District of Columbia is one of the leading cases of where police were absolved from protecting the victims, who called the police and reported a crime in progress.  They phoned the police several times and were assured that officers were on the way.  When after 30 minutes they went to check on their friend who was assaulted, they became the next victims.  The facts before the court were: For the next fourteen hours the women were held captive, raped, robbed, beaten, forced to commit sexual acts upon each other, and made to submit to the sexual demands of their attackers.  See: The Police: No Duty To Protect Individuals

The three women sued the District of Columbia for failing to protect them, but D.C.'s highest court exonerated the District and its police, saying that it is a "fundamental principle of American law that a government and its agents are under no general duty to provide public services, such as police protection, to any individual citizen."Warren v. District of Columbia, 444 A.2d 1 (D.C. Ct. of Ap., 1981).

It gets worse in Freeman v. Ferguson a police chief directed his officers not to enforce a restraining order against a woman's estranged husband because the man was a friend of the chief's. The man subsequently killed the woman and her daughter.  

In Riss v City of New York, 22 N.Y. 2d 579, 293 NYS2d 897, 240 N.E. 2d 860 (N.Y. Ct. of Ap. 1968), the judge acknowledged that the city's gun laws prevented her from arming herself but the case was still dismissed.  

Peter Kasler states, "Because the police have no general duty to protect individuals, judicial remedies are not available for their failure to protect. In other words, if someone is injured because they expected but did not receive police protection, they cannot recover damages by suing ... Despite a long history of such failed attempts, however, many, people persist in believing the police are obligated to protect them, attempt to recover when no protection was forthcoming, and are emotionally demoralized when the recovery fails. Legal annals abound with such cases. "Police Have No Duty To Protect Individuals

Related Cases: 
Calogrides v City of Mobile, 475 So. 2d 560 (S.Ct. Ala. 1985), 

Morris v Musser, 478 A.2d 937 (1984), 

Morgan v District of Columbia, 468 A.2d 1306 (D.C. Ct. of Ap. 1983), 

Davidson v City of Westminster, 32 C.3d 197, 185 Cal. Rptr. 252, 649 P.2d 894 (S. Ct. Cal. 1982), 

Chapman v City of Philadelphia, 434 A.2d 753 (Sup. Ct. Penn. 1981), 

Sapp v City of Tallahassee, 348 So.2d 363 (Ct. of Ap. Fla. 1977), 

Simpson's Food Fair v Evansville, 272 N.E. 2d 871 (Ct. of Ap., Ind.), 

Silver v City of Minneapolis, 170 N.W.2d 206 (S.Ct. Minn. 1969), 

Keane v City of Chicago, 98 Ill. App.2d 460, 240 N.E.2d 321 (1968). 

Bowers v DeVito, 686 F.2d 61 (7 Cir. 1982),  

Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Department 901 F.2d 696 (9th Cir. 1990). 

McKee v. City of Rockwall, Texas, 877 F.2d409 (5th Cir. 1989), cert. denied, 110 S.Ct.727 (1990). 

Thurman v. City of Torrington, 595 F.Supp.1521 (D.Conn. 1984).

U.S. Tax System explained in Beer

U.S. Tax System explained in Beer

 

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this: The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. The fifth would pay $1. The sixth would pay $3. The seventh would pay $7. The eighth would pay $12. The ninth would pay $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

 

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. 'Drinks for the ten now cost just $80. The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay. And so the fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings). The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings). The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28% savings). The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings). The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 ( 22% savings). The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

 

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. 'I only got a dollar out of the $20,' declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10! ''Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too.. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I! ''That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks! ''Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor! 'The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man (the richest) didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

 

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

 

Thank you, from Jimmy Greene.

 

 

 

"If the Democrats can't even run a primary without bankrupting themselves, how can they run the country?"  Nick PISHVANOV

 

Joe's Maxim:

That which is taxed is reduced, while that which is subsidized is increased.

Tags: taxes

Michelle's let's talk about the little people and convince them we care speech.

Just last week, in her speech to the Democratic Convention, Saint Michelle OBAMA claims she left behind a lucrative law practice to work for the "people."  Translated into "liberalspeak" Low pay but  emotionally rewarding.   This is her statement:

And in my own life, in my own small way, I’ve tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That’s why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities.

The truth she failed to mention is that she was paid quite handsomely (her annual salary increased from $121,910 to $316,962) to be a Vice President at University of Chicago Hospital.  I quess that is Michelle OBAMA's version of public service. 

Tags: Michelle OBAMA, Election 2008, Public Service, OBAMA

When will Vincent FUMO of Pennsylvania pay?

On February 6, 2007, a Federal grand jury named him in a 139-count indictment, alleging mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and filing a false tax return. Charges include his use of state workers to oversee construction of his mansion.  They also charge the he used state workers to work on his farm and to spy on his ex-wife . Notwithstanding those charges, the indictment also accuses him of misusing $1 million of state funds and $1 million from his charity for his personal and campaign use as well as commandeering yachts from the Philadelphia Seaport Museum for personal travel.

 

Immediately before the indictment was handed down, Fumo resigned from his position as the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee.  He vowed to fight the charges.

 

On March 12, 2008, at a press conference at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Fumo announced he was dropping his bid for reelection citing the charges against him leave "a cloud hanging over [his] head."  However, at the insistence of Governor Ed Rendell, who was present at the press conference, "Vinny from Philly" will be completing his current term which does not end until after the November election.  If you missed it, Governor Ed would have still endorsed this guy for re-election, "All he has to do is ask."  Do birds of a feather truely flock together? 

Tags: corruption, Pennsylvania Politics, Fumo, Rendell

Baqubah Surge

On July 15, 2008, there was a suicide bombing here at FOB Gabe.  I was not here for the event, but two bombers infiltrated into a group of Iraqi Army recruits at the Entry Control Point to FOB Lion (Saad) the Iraqi side, and blew themselves up about a minute apart.  According to news reports “two bombers blew themselves up minutes apart among recruits at a U.S.-Iraqi army base in the eastern suburbs of Baqubah, killing 27 people and injuring 68, Iraqi security officials said….  A member of the Diyala province security operations command said Sunni and Shiite Muslim tribal leaders had been asked to send recruits to join a new offensive against insurgents who have terrorized the eastern Iraqi province….  Iraqi officers were organizing the recruits outside the main entrance to the Saad base when the explosions went off in quick succession, a familiar tactic of Sunni insurgents. No U.S. casualties were reported.”  (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq16-2008jul16,0,7370032.story )

Days later, al Jazeera announced the Iraqi’s surge in Baqubah to root out the AQI elements that have reportedly moved back into the area. They are sick and tired of these zealots killing their brothers.

Now, for some good news, it would seem that these bombers had the same effect as the German bombers of London did in WW2; their resolve was strengthened.  Iraqis are doing the heavy lifting for this surge in Baqubah. 

They are flying their own Air Force helicopters and they are professional.  They fly UH1's that I suspect have been around since we used to like “So Damn Insane” but I must admit, I did not do a tail number search to verify.  The pilots are mission ready and rated on Night Vision Goggles (NVG’s).   I do not worry about getting out of their way as they ferry in and out of our LZ.  One of the pilots flew with the “Night Stalkers” at Ft. Campbell and was rated in a Kiowa on NVG’s. 

The Iraqi Special Forces are well disciplined and trained troops -- not like the previous bullet sponges we saw with the police and the Iraqi Army of the past.  The Iraqis are getting their hands dirty and taking some initiative.  They take their wounded to their hospitals and don’t expect us to Medevac them in our UH-60’s.  It takes time. 

They are rounding up the insurgents and taking them in and out of their base to do the interrogations needed to root out this plague. 

Tags: Iraq, Baqubah, Iraqi Air Force

Man Accidentally Shoots Himself while Robbing a "Would-Be" Robber

Turn about:
	Roland Scott, while staring down a shotgun in West Baltimore, decided to fight back. Scott, brandishing a fake replica handgun, wrestled the shotgun away from the would be robber. Then while standing in the middle of Laurens Street, ordered the robber to strip. Scott then relieved him of $800, demanded a cell phone and more money.  Then began to beat him with the same shotgun he just took off the "robber." In the ensuing "pistol whipping" with the shotgun, the shotgun accidentally discharged, hitting Scott in the stomach and killing him. The "robber" then fled and was later arrested at the hospital. Charges of murder were not filed after a witness corroborated the events but it remains undetermined if the "robber" will face charges for armed robbery.  As an aside, the "robber" said he needed money for "his rent and for pharmacy school."  Who teaches this class, another "street pharmacist?"  Is that why he needed to be packing a shotgun at 0400 hours?
	Source: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-md.ci.shooting28mar28,0,5234060.story

Tags: Crime,

Update on some previous blog entries

Can you believe it? 

John McCain was attacked by the NY Times for something that occurred many years ago and for which they had prior knowledge well ahead of their endorsement of him for POTUS.  The best part is that McCAIN's staff had this potential fire put out before it started to smolder. 

Amazingly, Vince FUMO, aka "Vinny from Philly," has thrown in the towel and withdrew from the Pennsylvania Senate race to focus on his upcoming trial.  139 counts of corruption would be enough for me to not consider him for the Pennsylvania Senate but not for Ed RENDELL (EdRonDell) who said, "all he has to do is ask," when queried about supporting the beleaguered politico.

Tags: Election 2008, FUMO, McCain, NY Times

When did Audacity steal Hope?

When did Audacity steal Hope?

Perhaps it started, when Michelle OBAMA had the audacity to say, "Work for the community. Be social workers. Be a nurse. Those are the careers that we need, and we're encouraging our young people to do that. But if you make that choice, as we did, to move out of the moneymaking industry into the helping industry, then your salaries respond."   If that were true then why did she not refuse The University of Chicago Medical Center center’s salary of more than $300,000 a year for her services as "vice president of community and external affairs" while no longer possessing a valid license to practice law.   How audacious is it to have a position because your husband is a US Senator and to not practice what you preach.    

Then again, it could have robbed it when Michelle OBAMA had the audacity to say, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country," and then have Barack OBAMA clean up her “Freudian slip” claiming it was simply pride in the success of his political campaign.  A careful read of the title of her senior thesis would argue differently. 

Maybe hope waivered a little when we learned that Barack’s “spiritual advisor”, the Reverend WRIGHT, has the audacity to say from the pulpit, among other things, “God damn America!”  How audacious is it for Barack OBAMA to then claim, "I did not hear such incendiary language myself, personally either in conversations with him or when I was in the pew,” and “If I had been in church those days, I would have objected fiercely to them and I would have told him personally."  Could it also be when his pleas of ignorance contributed to hope sliding away a little bit more?  Were he truly outraged; he would have distanced himself from these haters a long time ago.

Ultimately, it happened when Obama had the audacity to rationalize "the history of racial injustice in this country" fuels Rev. Jeremiah WRIGHT's racist rants.  By that statement alone we understand where Barack OBAMA’s hope rests, with the camp followers of Jessie JACKSON, Al SHARPTON, Louis FARRAKHAN, and Jeremiah WRIGHT, reverends all.

Realistically, he has lacked the audacity to be candid enough with the voters that he would have us believe that he wants change but has never told us his brand of change is steeped in racism.  The stealth candidate was “outed” by his closest allies and himself and “hope will not ride again.”   

Tags: OBAMA, racism, election 2008

John McCAIN the RINO

John McCAIN is a RINO just like Arlen SPECTER of the magic bullet theory fame, and Rudy JULIANI. 

Does Ann COULTER make any sense when she states, "If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans."? If McCain is elected president then she is wrong.  None of them have any brains and it is time to start over. 

Now that the NY Times has endorsed McCAIN for the Republican nomination.  If he becomes the Republican nominee, watch how fast the very same MSM reminds us of John McCAIN's involvement with "The Keating 5". They will sound just like Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar when in "Heaven On Their Minds" he laments:

And remember, I've been your right hand man all along.
You have set them all on fire.
They think they've found the new Messiah.
And they'll hurt you when they find they're wrong.

Tags: Election 2008, Politics, John McCain

On Pennsylvania's First Senate District race

As long as there is not a criminal in the Pennsylvania First Senate District seat I'll be happy.  “Vinnie” FUMO had decided that he was untouchable.  How, after an indictment on 141 counts, can he claim, in good faith, to be representing Pennsylvanians, let alone those from the "City of Brotherly Love?"  Perhaps he started out that way but it is clear he is representing his own self interest now.  Power may corrupt but it does not have to corrupt. 

On another note, why should the rest of the Commonwealth have to subsidize public transportation for the cities?  I-80 is seldom used by folks from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh so it is no hardship for them to support paying for public transportation with OPM (other people’s money.)   According to the indictment, this was FUMO’s method of financing his projects.   The Highway Trust Fund is funded by monies that were garnished from gasoline receipts.  The states are to use these funds for the stated purpose of the legislation, to build/maintain roads and bridges.  Taking money from this fund for any other purpose is misappropriation of funds.  How can any candidate be trusted when that is their stated plan?  Why do we elect the candidate whose stated purpose is the raid the treasury for funds to enrich his or her district alone?  If lower taxes are ever to be accomplished, we must stop electing politicians who want “to bring home the pork.”

With regard to stricter gun control in Philadelphia, since when is it legal to have a handgun in Philadelphia without a permit?  Philadelphia has a law on the books regarding weapons in the city that does not apply to anywhere else in the state (PA Crimes Code 6108 - Carrying firearms on public streets or public property in Philadelphia).    Why has that not curbed gun violence?  Laws do not curb violence and an unarmed citizen is easy prey.  Let’s not forget what Ben FRANKLIN had to say about armed citizens and Democracy:

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner.  

Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.

Tags: Guns, Philadelphia, Taxes

Hillary won?

They said Obama had a huge lead in New Hampshire and then Hillary turned on the "water works."  So what happened? 

Some believe it was the voting machines: http://presscue.com/node/38170
Hillary victory tainted by vote fraud claims

But then again, maybe it is just practice for the General Election; Vote Early and Vote Often.  Typical Democratic election ploy.  Obama, say you didn't miss that trick in Chicago of all places?

Tags: Obama, election, Clinton

Hope Rides Alone

SGT Eddie Jeffers, author of the article Hope Rides Alone, died last week in Iraq. He was a great soldier and great American as are they all.

 

God bless him and his family.

 

Subject: With sadness an announcement of the death of Sgt Eddie Jeffers-- of Daleville, Ala.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Sept. 19 in Taqqadum, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related accident.
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Hope Rides Alone
USA Sgt. Eddie Jeffers, USA (Iraq) February 1, 2007
Editor's Note: This piece by Sgt. Eddie Jeffers, "Hope Rides Alone", was mentioned in a segment on Fox News Channel's O'Reilly Factor. Click here to listen to or download the segment.   I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to the ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar rubble, and I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the streets of their neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands are steady on a device that has been given to me from mygovernment for the purpose of taking the lives of others.   I sweat, and I am tired. My back aches from the loads I carry. Young American boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will someday allow them to see their families again...and yet, I too, am just a boy....my age not but a few years more than that of the ones I lead. I am stressed, I am scared, and I am paranoid...because death is everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me from around street corners and windows, and it is always there.    There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and actions that are not my own...but that are necessary for survival. I've made compromises with my humanity. And I am not alone in this. Miles from me are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same streets...who feel the same things, whether they admit to it or not. And to think, I volunteered for this... And I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or so I thought.   But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler.   I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about. It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.   People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don't realize its effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy. The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward’s war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society...and they are becoming our enemy.   Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this war to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam. Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with our war.    Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the internet...and there is no outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing their job.   It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this. Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we've done is thrown in their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq? Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or killed?  It's all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of President Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that Bush was right.   America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend what is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is that the American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing. It’s not like World War II, where people rationed food and turned in cars to be made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a servicemember, its life as usual...the war doesn't affect you.   But it affects us. And when it is over and the troops come home and they try to piece together what's left of them after their service...where will the detractors be then? Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most of which have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their friends? They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the horrors of the world can't touch them. Somewhere where they can complain about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young men and women of America have willingly taken upon their shoulders.   We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else wants in life: safety, security, somewhere to call home. They want a country that is safe to raise their children in. Not a place where their children will be abducted, raped and murdered if they do not comply with the terrorists demands. They want to live on, rebuild and prosper. And America has given them the opportunity, but only if we stay true to the cause and see it to its end. But the country must unite in this endeavor...we cannot place the burden on our military alone. We must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not. And supporting us is more than sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars. It's supporting our President, our troops and our cause.   Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, hope rides alone. But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and darkness ahead for us as a country, as a people, if it doesn't.   Let's stop all the political nonsense, let's stop all the bickering, let's stop all the bad news and let's stand and fight!   Isn't that what America is about anyway?
Sergeant Eddie Jeffers is a US Army Infantryman serving in Ramadi, Iraq.

Tags: Iraq, Democrats