"By Nicholas Contompasis
John Wheeler's employment with The Mitre Corporation and their connection to the CIA is No Secret. John Wheeler was an important man in the intelligence community with many secrets. His assassination is a much bigger deal than the media is reporting. Was he tortured before being murdered to find out information or was he rubbed out because he was a threat to someone big? Was John Wheeler to testify at the upcoming congressional hearings against the Obama Administration? Time will tell."
Update - 2/22/11
New Details on the Wheeler Murder
For the better part of two days before his body was found, Jack Wheeler had fallen out of contact with his world.
Usually tied to his cellphone and e-mail, he went silent. He somehow got from his home to Wilmington — about 8 miles away — where video cameras at various locations showed him wandering about, disheveled and seemingly confused. In the last of the grainy videos, taken hours after Dill found Wheeler's house in disarray, he's seen walking down the street toward one of the city's rougher neighborhoods, pulling up the hood of a sweatshirt.
Less than 12 hours later, his body was spotted at the landfill. It was in one of the 10 Dumpsters picked up that morning by a trash truck in Newark, Del., a city nearly 15 miles from where Wheeler was last seen. The coroner concluded that Wheeler had been killed. Cause of death: blunt force trauma, likely the result of a beating.
Today, seven weeks after Wheeler's body was discovered, the killing has become a confounding nightmare for Wheeler's friends and family, and a whodunit for police.
Neither the intense publicity surrounding the case nor the $25,000 reward offered by Wheeler's family has yielded a viable suspect. Though police returned to the Wheeler house last week and have removed the part of the kitchen floor where Dill saw the footprint, they concede they have no idea where Wheeler was killed, or why.
"There are a lot of things we still don't know," says Lt. Mark Farrall, spokesman for the Newark Police Department.
Police offer few particulars, but in interviews with Wheeler's neighbors, USA TODAY learned previously undisclosed details about the state of Wheeler's house on the day he disappeared, and about a man who appeared to be trying to burn down a house across from the Wheelers' two nights before.
The details might offer new insights into Wheeler's disappearance and death. Or, like many of the other bits of information from Wheeler's final days, they may deepen what seems an intractable mystery. A range of Internet conspiracy theories have surfaced, many linking the killing to Wheeler's stint as a senior Pentagon official with access to secret information during the Bush administration.
As far-fetched as those theories might seem — one has government agents killing Wheeler because he was going to blow the whistle on secret tests of chemical weapons slated for use in Afghanistan — Wheeler's wife wonders whether someone may have been hired to kill her husband.
"I think perhaps no one has been on the reward because they've already been paid," Klyce told the online magazine Slate. She pointed to where authorities found his body — in a landfill. "The way they disposed of his body, it's a miracle anybody ever found it. That just sounds like a pro to me."
Klyce would not talk with USA TODAY, but the lawyer hired to represent the family during the investigation says her feelings are more nuanced than what she told Slate. "Ms. Klyce is distraught and frustrated that she doesn't know what happened to her husband," lawyer Colm Connolly says. "At times, she speculates it was a random act; at times, she speculates it was a targeted killing."
As police work to reconstruct what happened in the days leading up to his death, the questions they face are daunting. Perhaps most important: trying to make sense of a series of disparate and perplexing events.
Does a critical clue lie somewhere in Wheeler's last days?
Emotional and forgetful
John Parsons Wheeler III — Jack to those who knew him — graduated near the top of the famed West Point Class of '66 and was a key figure in The Long Gray Line, a seminal book that followed that class through Vietnam. There, the class suffered the highest casualty rate of any at the academy. Fitting, then, that Wheeler later would be a driving force in getting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial built on the National Mall.
He was similarly accomplished in the civilian world — an MBA from Harvard, a law degree from Yale, an appointment as secretary of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He held notable positions at the Pentagon, including a stint as a top assistant to the secretary of the Air Force from 2005 through 2008.
He also devoted himself to causes outside government: four years as chairman and CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and another four as president of the Deafness Research Foundation.
In recent months, he'd been spending a few days a week in the capital, where MITRE had hired him as a part-time consultant. His job: to facilitate discussions among government, industry and academia on cybersecurity, an issue in which Wheeler had immersed himself for years.
At times, colleagues found him moody and emotional. He sometimes got worked up almost to the point of tears at Pentagon senior staff meetings. More than once, he was barred from an online Class of '66 forum for posting personal or abusive attacks when he was upset with someone's position on an issue important to him.
"He could exhibit a high level of frustration and got agitated at colleagues who opposed him, but he was always compassionate," says former Air Force secretary Michael Wynne, Wheeler's ex-boss and a West Point classmate. "His determination was just bulldozer-like and always for the little guy."
Wheeler struggled with depression and bipolar disorder, taking medication to help control the problems. Friends and family suspect he had a touch of Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism that can affect a person's ability to handle social contacts properly. Often, he was absent-minded. He occasionally left his car at the Wilmington train station, forgetting it was there and taking a cab home.
Wheeler spent Christmas in New York at a condo he and his wife owned — a ninth-floor unit on 124th Street in the heart of Harlem. The two had been married for more than 13 years, and they each had two children — now grown — from previous marriages. She worked in New York, and the couple split time between the condo and the house in New Castle.
Wheeler had arrived on Christmas Eve and stayed several days. He seemed like his normal self, Connolly says. He posted some messages on the West Point class forum, including a reflective piece on Christmas Day that talked at length about memories from the academy and classmates lost in Vietnam. The next day, Dec. 26, a blizzard hammered the city, and Wheeler posted a photo of the snow from his condo window. On Dec. 27, he made more posts.
One of his last messages was a critique of the government's preparedness for cyberattacks.
"In cyberspace and on power grid, U.S. is standing around in boxer shorts," he wrote.
That night, Dec. 27, Wheeler had dinner in the city with friends.
Earlier in the day, he had told his wife that he had to leave the next morning for Washington to take care of a few things; Klyce wanted him to stay longer and felt annoyed, Connolly says. The week from Christmas to New Year's was one of her favorites, a chance to relax, spend some downtime together, maybe go out for dinner. But Wheeler's mind was set, and as was often the case, there would be no changing it.
Wheeler left before dawn the next morning, Dec. 28, to catch an early train for Washington.
His family had seen him alive for the last time.
Dec. 28: 'It was a guy'
Around 11:30 that night, B. Scott Morris, one of Wheeler's neighbors, was in bed watching TV when he heard a loud thud from outside.
It's got to be kids messing around in thathouse being built across the street, he thought.
Morris, 44, went to the window and peered out at the house, a stark silhouette perched alone on the edge of a stretch of parkland along the Delaware River. A glow shone from inside, out the unfinished windows.
Morris heard another thud and the glow grew brighter.
Had a homeless man gone inside? Maybe lit a fire in a trash can to keep warm? Morris went downstairs to get a better look from his living room.
That's when he saw him: a man, thick and average height, wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt and dark sweat pants. Morris watched as he tossed what looked like a ball of fire through the opening of a first-floor window. Thud. Then another. Thud. His motion was easy, like a pitcher in softball, and licks of flame clung to his gloved hand after each toss. To Morris, it seemed that some sort of accelerant was sticking to him.
Morris opened the front door and flicked on the light. The man turned and walked calmly into the open parkland next to the house, heading toward the riverbank. Morris hurried to his phone and dialed 911. He never got a look at the man's face.
Firetrucks were dispatched at 11:36 p.m., and by the time they got there a few minutes later, it looked to Morris like the flames had gone out by themselves. The police came, too, and Morris told them about the man he had seen at the house.
A short time later, the police returned to the house and said they'd found a couple of teenagers in the park with unlit roman candles. Morris was adamant. It wasn't them. "No, it was a guy," Morris said. "He walked down towards the river path."
The teenage boys also told police they had seen a man. Morris, speaking publicly about that night for the first time, recalls that the police seemed unconvinced.
Investigators with the state fire marshal's office found smoke bombs in the house — the sort of devices commonly used in pest control to flush rodents from their burrows. The damage was limited to some scorched plywood flooring. The boys were cleared almost immediately, and no other suspects have been identified publicly by investigators.
Was it Wheeler?
Wheeler and his wife had been fighting to stop construction of the house, which blocked the sweeping river view from their front porch. Standing on the edge of the open riverfront parkland, it sticks out as a big, new building in a quaint historic district filled with smaller, antique row houses and colonial-style homes, some dating to the early 1700s.
In a series of legal challenges, the Wheelers argued that the project violated regulations aimed at preserving the area's historic character. They were among dozens of neighbors who signed a petition opposing it.
Wheeler spoke fiercely against it, calling it an affront to the historic character of an area where William Penn first set foot on American soil in 1682. His emotions ran so high that he once lit into Dill for not being outraged enough.
"Would William Penn have wanted that house on this historic piece of land?" he demanded, his voice rising.
Beginning the night of the fire — Dec. 28 — Wheeler's whereabouts are largely a mystery, punctuated only by a few puzzling sightings and the snippets of footage from the surveillance cameras he happened to pass.
He had spent much of that day, a Tuesday, in Washington, but if anyone knows where he was or what he was doing, they haven't said so publicly.
Wheeler posted a couple of messages to the Class of '66 forum that afternoon. The last, sent at 5:10 p.m., seems an unremarkable comment about his gripes with what he saw as corruption in the NCAA's management of college sports.
At the end of that day, he was scheduled to ride the train to Wilmington, about an hour and a half by Amtrak. Police say he made it back, though they're not sure he was on the train he had planned to take.
Locals at a bar and bistro up the street argue about whether Wheeler was the man Morris saw tossing the fire balls late that night. A Philadelphia TV station reported after his slaying that investigators had found his iPhone in the fire-bombed house. Police have not confirmed the report and haven't identified Wheeler as a suspect in the fire. Fire investigators never got a chance to talk to him. Whether Wheeler was home when the firetrucks pulled up remains unclear. If he was, he didn't come outside.
Could the man tossing the fire bombs have been Wheeler? Morris says he doesn't think so.
"He was built like Wheeler, but to me, I just don't think it was him," Morris says. "I know smart people do stupid things, but it just doesn't make sense. And the guy didn't even try to run away. He was really calm. It still puts a chill down my spine."
Morris and others wonder: If the man wasn't Wheeler, who was he? And could he be connected to the Wheeler killing?
Dec. 29: Wheeler's last e-mail?
The next public sighting of Wheeler came at 8:45 the following morning — Wednesday, Dec. 29.
Wheeler was back at the Wilmington train station, about 6 miles from his house. His car was in a garage nearby (after he was killed, police found it in the spot where he left it before his stop home on Christmas Eve, and garage records indicated it had not been moved). Instead of picking up the car, he grabbed a cab that morning. It's unclear how he got to the train station or whether he came from home.
"Hotel du Pont."
Roland Spence glanced back at the man who'd hopped into his cab.
Wheeler wore a sport coat and slacks. No suit, no coat. No luggage. Not even a briefcase. Not the usual businessman type, Spence thought.
The ride was short, less than a mile, and Wheeler was chatty and relaxed, Spence recalls. They talked about the hotel, a grand old building with luxury suites that has hosted everyone from Charles Lindbergh to President Kennedy.
"I wouldn't stay there," Wheeler told Spence. "Not worth the money."
Must be meeting someone, Spence thought.
At the hotel, Wheeler hopped out of the cab, handing Spence $12 for a $9 fare.
Less than an hour later, Wheeler sent an e-mail to his daughter Kate — nothing alarming, just benign chatter. The family can tell from the e-mail that it did not come from Wheeler's iPhone, says Connolly, a former U.S. attorney now with the Morgan Lewis law firm.
"We have asked the authorities to track down the IP address for the computer that was used to send the e-mail," he says.
For the next eight hours, the man who was always in touch went dark.
Then, around 6 p.m., Wheeler walked into the Happy Harry's drug store several blocks from his house in New Castle. He headed toward the prescription area in back and approached Murali Gouro at the counter. The pharmacist knew him. He considered Wheeler a regular. Tonight, something seemed odd. Gouro thought Wheeler looked a little upset.
"Can you give me a ride to Wilmington?" Wheeler asked.
Gouro couldn't but offered to call Wheeler a cab. Wheeler declined and left.
'I've been robbed'
Forty minutes later, Wheeler was back in downtown Wilmington. There, surveillance cameras show him in the parking garage at the New Castle County Courthouse. In the video, Wheeler appears slightly disheveled and maybe a bit confused.
He carries his right shoe in his left hand, his gait slightly lopsided, perhaps because he is wearing one shoe. He had changed at some point in the day — in the video he wears a black suit with a white shirt, a different outfit from what he had on when he took the cab to the Hotel du Pont that morning. In the video at the parking garage, Wheeler walks past the attendant's window, then backtracks to say a few words to the person behind the glass. He jabs his finger for emphasis before turning again and walking out.
The attendant called security, suspecting Wheeler may have been homeless.
Cathleen Boyer, one of the courthouse guards, got the call just before 7 p.m. She and a couple of state workers ran into Wheeler as he left the garage's lower level. Boyer looked him over. She says she noticed some dirt on his right pants leg but he didn't smell of liquor.
His eyes ... they were red. Like he's been crying or something, Boyer thought.
"I've been robbed," Wheeler told them. His briefcase, he said, had been stolen. Boyer and the workers asked whether he was OK. They offered him money. Wheeler wouldn't take it. "I have plenty of money," he said.
He told them he was staying at a nearby hotel, Boyer recalls, and then mentioned something about his brother and mother before walking off.
From there, Wheeler's movements became even more mystifying. He wasn't registered at the Hotel du Pont, and police, despite canvassing nearby hotels and shelters, haven't figured out where he spent the night.
Dec. 30: The last sightings
The next day — Dec. 30, the day his neighbor Gill discovered Wheeler's home in disarray — Wheeler was spotted in downtown Wilmington again.
He was at the Nemours Building, a historical, 14-story landmark with shops and a cafe in the lobby, apartments and business suites on the upper floors.
In the midafternoon, police say, several people saw him wandering around the lobby, looking disoriented. They asked whether he needed help. Wheeler declined. He went to the 10th-floor offices of the Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz law firm and asked to speak to a managing partner. The firm has no connection to the newly hired Wheeler family lawyer Connolly, and it's unclear why Wheeler stopped there.
Wheeler didn't stay long. He left before speaking to the partner, stopping to ask for train fare on the way out. The request seems especially strange given that the night before, after saying he had been robbed, Wheeler told the courthouse guard that he still had "plenty of money."
At around 8:30 p.m., surveillance cameras show him leaving the building. By then, he was wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt, clothing that friends and family say they had never seen on him. As he walked out, he pulled the hood over his head.
A few minutes later, a camera around the corner at the Hotel du Pont valet station shows him walking down the street. He disappeared from view at 8:42 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 30, headed toward the city's rough East side.
To date, few tips
The trash truck that picked up Wheeler's body had emptied 10 Dumpsters before it dropped its load at the landfill Dec. 31. All of the Dumpsters were in Newark, about a half-hour away by car from the part of Wilmington where Wheeler was last seen.
Some of the Dumpsters where his body could have been left are in plain view — outside a McDonald's and a bank. Others are more remote — behind a Goodwill store, in an alley behind the library. Although video cameras are trained on some of them, none appears to have captured clues to solve the case.
For the family, the weeks since Wheeler's death have been trying. "They're frustrated by the apparent lack of progress in the investigation and the unwillingness of authorities to share information with them," lawyer Connolly says. When the medical examiner announced the cause of death, the family learned the findings through the news media, Connolly says.
At the end of January, a month after Wheeler's death, the family offered the $25,000 reward. Police set up a tip line but say they've been disappointed by what has come in.
Newcastle County Parking Authority via AP
Surveillance video shows Jack Wheeler inside a garage in Wilmington, Del.
Residents of New Castle talk about whether Wheeler simply suffered a breakdown, losing his grip on reality and wandering into the wrong neighborhood. Maybe he antagonized the wrong person; maybe a robbery became a homicide.
Others, including some neighbors and friends, say that theory leaves too many unanswered questions. Did dumping a body 15 miles from where Wheeler was last seen indicate that he was killed by a professional, as Wheeler's wife has speculated? And what about the man who fire-bombed the house across from Wheeler's?
Friends who watched the surveillance video taken in Wheeler's final hours found it disturbing to see a man known for his sharp intellect in such a bewildered state.
Jeff Rogers was close to Wheeler for six decades, since grade school. They double-dated together as teens, attended West Point together, and when Rogers married, Wheeler was his best man. When he saw the tape, some of the physical mannerisms rang true — the arm outstretched during a moment of thought. But the man in the video wasn't the Jack Wheeler he knew.
"The physical disorientation, the lack of control, walking around with one shoe, none of that was Jack," Rogers says. "It was completely unlike him. I don't know what happened, but something happened to him."
In April, Rogers will be among scores of family, friends and admirers who are likely to attend a memorial service for Wheeler in the chapel at Arlington National Cemetery. They'll remember a life of achievement, a life well lived. By then, they hope these questions might have answers: What happened to Jack Wheeler? Who killed him? And why?
C.I.A. - John P. Wheeler III Murder Update: Dead End So Far - Big Surprise
Borrowed from the Examiner.Com - Thank you
You know how it is when you are driving in a winter snow storm and get to the point you are unable to see the car in front of you - or even the road? If you are careening down a mountain that's a serious danger; same thing for a homicide investigation like John P. Wheeler III.
Newark Police Department can't go willy nilly off into their own little personal crusade when considering suspects or preparing to arrest someone. They need the cold hard facts to support their actions in the light of day. They need to traverse their investigation as slowly and diligently as you would down that mountain.
In fact, just as you might have to stop in your tracks on a dangerous snowy road to get your bearings - or to wait until it clears a bit, so you can see better - law enforcement has to do the same thing too, at times, in a murder investigation.
Will Newark PD solve Wheeler case?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
How to Repeal ObamaCare in the Senate
Borrowed from the Heritage Foundation - Thank you
This week the House will pass a bill to repeal Obamacare. Congressional experts will argue that the Senate won’t pass a full repeal. They are correct to argue that full repeal will not be passed by both the House and Senate in the next few months, but they may be wrong that a full repeal bill will not pass in this Congress within the next two years. If Senators don’t take two procedural steps this week, they will make it virtually impossible to ever get a vote on the House-passed full repeal bill this Congress.
The House will pass H.R. 2 this week. Once that bill is passed, it will be sent to the Senate for consideration. Once the Senate receives the bill, any Senator can use Rule 14 to object to the second reading of the bill. This procedural objection will “hold at the desk” the House-passed bill and allow the Senate to act on the full repeal measure.
This week the House will pass a bill to repeal Obamacare. Congressional experts will argue that the Senate won’t pass a full repeal. They are correct to argue that full repeal will not be passed by both the House and Senate in the next few months, but they may be wrong that a full repeal bill will not pass in this Congress within the next two years. If Senators don’t take two procedural steps this week, they will make it virtually impossible to ever get a vote on the House-passed full repeal bill this Congress.
The House will pass H.R. 2 this week. Once that bill is passed, it will be sent to the Senate for consideration. Once the Senate receives the bill, any Senator can use Rule 14 to object to the second reading of the bill. This procedural objection will “hold at the desk” the House-passed bill and allow the Senate to act on the full repeal measure.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Obama Issues New Executive Order - Launches Rule Review, Pledging to Spur Jobs, Growth - You're Two Years To Late - Schmucko
By Nicholas Contompasis
"It appears that President Obama will try and preempt the Tea Party's attempt to attack the thousands of new regulations that are meant to disable the effectiveness of not only the private sector but also our government.
By issuing an executive order his real intent is to simply appear to be concerned with the nightmare of entangling job killing nanny-state regulations.
America will not survive as we once knew it if he persists on strangling our multinational corporations who at this time are looking overseas for greener pastures."
By ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON
Borrowed from the Wall Street Journal - Thank you
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama plans a government-wide review of federal regulations, aiming to eliminate rules that stymie economic growth.
President Obama talks on the phone with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R, Va.) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D, Calif.) on January 5.
In an article published in the opinion pages of The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Obama said he intends to issue an executive order initiating a review to "make sure we avoid excessive, inconsistent and redundant regulation," focusing on rules that "stifle job creation and make our economy less competitive." He also suggested future regulations must do their job "while promoting economic growth."
The move is the latest effort by the White House to repair relations with corporate America, hoping to spur investment by the nation's largest multinationals and reduce unemployment.
"It appears that President Obama will try and preempt the Tea Party's attempt to attack the thousands of new regulations that are meant to disable the effectiveness of not only the private sector but also our government.
By issuing an executive order his real intent is to simply appear to be concerned with the nightmare of entangling job killing nanny-state regulations.
America will not survive as we once knew it if he persists on strangling our multinational corporations who at this time are looking overseas for greener pastures."
By ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON
Borrowed from the Wall Street Journal - Thank you
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama plans a government-wide review of federal regulations, aiming to eliminate rules that stymie economic growth.
President Obama talks on the phone with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R, Va.) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D, Calif.) on January 5.
In an article published in the opinion pages of The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Obama said he intends to issue an executive order initiating a review to "make sure we avoid excessive, inconsistent and redundant regulation," focusing on rules that "stifle job creation and make our economy less competitive." He also suggested future regulations must do their job "while promoting economic growth."
The move is the latest effort by the White House to repair relations with corporate America, hoping to spur investment by the nation's largest multinationals and reduce unemployment.
Jihadists Promote Theft From Anyone From the West - To Fund Terror
By Catherine Herridge
Borrowed from AP - Thank you
Followers of one of the fastest-growing radical Muslim terror groups are being told to steal, embezzle and seize property – especially from Americans – in order to finance their jihad.
While Muslim teaching generally forbids theft, the new edition of Inspire magazine -- launched by the group behind the air cargo printer bombs in October, the underwear bomb plot in December 2009 and the most recent pre-Christmas alert -- is now telling followers that such crimes are justifiable, especially if the U.S. government and U.S. citizens are targets.
In the fourth edition of the magazine, launched by Al Qaeda in Yemen in July, American-born radical cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki encourages his disciples to fund more attacks through crime. The Middle East Media Research Institute provided Fox News with its copy of the magazine.
Borrowed from AP - Thank you
Followers of one of the fastest-growing radical Muslim terror groups are being told to steal, embezzle and seize property – especially from Americans – in order to finance their jihad.
While Muslim teaching generally forbids theft, the new edition of Inspire magazine -- launched by the group behind the air cargo printer bombs in October, the underwear bomb plot in December 2009 and the most recent pre-Christmas alert -- is now telling followers that such crimes are justifiable, especially if the U.S. government and U.S. citizens are targets.
In the fourth edition of the magazine, launched by Al Qaeda in Yemen in July, American-born radical cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki encourages his disciples to fund more attacks through crime. The Middle East Media Research Institute provided Fox News with its copy of the magazine.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
JORDAN: Thousands of Demonstrators Protest Food Prices, Denounce Government
Borrowed from the L.A. Times - Thank you
In an unprecedented development in Jordan, protests similar to those that have rocked Tunisia and Algeria in recent weeks erupted in the Arab kingdom Friday.
Thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, Amman, and several other cities to protest rising food prices and unemployment, media reports say.
Aside from complaints, they also pointed rare and stinging criticism toward the Jordanian government, headed by Prime Minister Samir Rifai.
"Down with Rifai's government," protestors chanted as they marched through Amman's city center, according to Agence France-Presse. "Unify yourselves because the government wants to eat your flesh. Raise fuel prices to fill their pockets with millions."
In an unprecedented development in Jordan, protests similar to those that have rocked Tunisia and Algeria in recent weeks erupted in the Arab kingdom Friday.
Thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, Amman, and several other cities to protest rising food prices and unemployment, media reports say.
Aside from complaints, they also pointed rare and stinging criticism toward the Jordanian government, headed by Prime Minister Samir Rifai.
"Down with Rifai's government," protestors chanted as they marched through Amman's city center, according to Agence France-Presse. "Unify yourselves because the government wants to eat your flesh. Raise fuel prices to fill their pockets with millions."
Arab Dictators Are Shaking On Their Thrones – Tunisia – Why You Should Watch This Story
By Nicholas Contompasis
"Today Tunisia’s head of security, Ali Seriati was arrested while the former President, Ben Ali is in exile in Saudi Arabia. The country is now attempting to put itself together and should announce on Monday who will be running the place and what direction it will take, Democracy or Police State.
People around the world should watch this transition and the way the world courts handle it. Human rights violations were a way of life in Tunisia under Ali and his henchmen. I’m sure after the dust settles evidence will emerge that will condemn many that ran the government for over twenty years.
This could be the first Muslim nation that would be put to the international test of human rights violations, but will it happen?
If the international community is so concerned with these violations, they now have their first test case of Muslim led rights violations. The ramifications are massive to countries like Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Algeria.
If the people of these Muslim countries know, all they have to do is take to the streets to overthrow their tyrant dictators, it will spread like wildfire and the failed leaders of these failed lands will hang by their balls in the noonday sun."
Tunisia: All Arab Dictators Are Shaking on Their Thrones – Left and Arab Voices on the Insurrection
By Dyab Abou Jahjah
Borrowed from Links – a socialist rag that usually gets it wrong but this time may have something important to say – Thank you
January 16, 2011 -- Abou Jahjah commentsتعليقات أبو -- The Tunisian revolution continues to dictate its own logic on all levels. After attempts by regime leftovers to spread chaos by several techniques (cars driving through the streets shooting at people and houses, randomly destroying infrastructure, etc.), the Tunisian people have organised themselves in committees that have spread all across the country in every neighbourhood and in every city and started patrolling the streets and protecting the people. Popular committees even chased the militias of the old regime and in one case in a shoot out a martyr fell and two militiamen were executed by the people.
There are reports of Israeli activity in Tunisia in support of the counter revolution, also of infiltrators sent in from Libya to sabotage. It is not clear yet if this is a pattern or independent isolated cases.
"Today Tunisia’s head of security, Ali Seriati was arrested while the former President, Ben Ali is in exile in Saudi Arabia. The country is now attempting to put itself together and should announce on Monday who will be running the place and what direction it will take, Democracy or Police State.
People around the world should watch this transition and the way the world courts handle it. Human rights violations were a way of life in Tunisia under Ali and his henchmen. I’m sure after the dust settles evidence will emerge that will condemn many that ran the government for over twenty years.
This could be the first Muslim nation that would be put to the international test of human rights violations, but will it happen?
If the international community is so concerned with these violations, they now have their first test case of Muslim led rights violations. The ramifications are massive to countries like Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Algeria.
If the people of these Muslim countries know, all they have to do is take to the streets to overthrow their tyrant dictators, it will spread like wildfire and the failed leaders of these failed lands will hang by their balls in the noonday sun."
Tunisia: All Arab Dictators Are Shaking on Their Thrones – Left and Arab Voices on the Insurrection
By Dyab Abou Jahjah
Borrowed from Links – a socialist rag that usually gets it wrong but this time may have something important to say – Thank you
January 16, 2011 -- Abou Jahjah commentsتعليقات أبو -- The Tunisian revolution continues to dictate its own logic on all levels. After attempts by regime leftovers to spread chaos by several techniques (cars driving through the streets shooting at people and houses, randomly destroying infrastructure, etc.), the Tunisian people have organised themselves in committees that have spread all across the country in every neighbourhood and in every city and started patrolling the streets and protecting the people. Popular committees even chased the militias of the old regime and in one case in a shoot out a martyr fell and two militiamen were executed by the people.
There are reports of Israeli activity in Tunisia in support of the counter revolution, also of infiltrators sent in from Libya to sabotage. It is not clear yet if this is a pattern or independent isolated cases.
Top 10 Obama Administration Investigation Targets
"If the Republicans have the guts too."
By Nicholas Contompasis
by Human Events - Thank you
Rep. Darrell Issa (R.-Calif.), the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has signaled he will conduct numerous oversight investigations of the Obama Administration. Here are the Top 10 areas ripe for investigation for Issa and other congressional Republicans:
(1) ObamaCare: Any measure that restructures one-sixth of the U.S. economy bears scrutiny particularly when passage of the bill required legislative bribes such as the Louisiana Purchase and Cornhusker Kickback. To paraphrase Nancy Pelosi, now that ObamaCare has passed, let’s see exactly what is in it — and how it got there.
(2) Stimulus: The American people deserve to know what they got for the $787 billion stimulus package that Obama signed in February 2009, including how much money was spent frivolously to publicize the legislation. And where exactly are all those jobs that the administration claims were “created or saved?”
(3) Freddie and Fannie: Previous attempts by congressional Democrats to get to the bottom of the 2008 financial meltdown conveniently overlooked the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. How much of the housing crisis was due to financial donations going to Democratic officials, who overlooked financial transgressions at the agencies so long as mortgages flowed to unworthy credit risks?
By Nicholas Contompasis
by Human Events - Thank you
Rep. Darrell Issa (R.-Calif.), the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has signaled he will conduct numerous oversight investigations of the Obama Administration. Here are the Top 10 areas ripe for investigation for Issa and other congressional Republicans:
(1) ObamaCare: Any measure that restructures one-sixth of the U.S. economy bears scrutiny particularly when passage of the bill required legislative bribes such as the Louisiana Purchase and Cornhusker Kickback. To paraphrase Nancy Pelosi, now that ObamaCare has passed, let’s see exactly what is in it — and how it got there.
(2) Stimulus: The American people deserve to know what they got for the $787 billion stimulus package that Obama signed in February 2009, including how much money was spent frivolously to publicize the legislation. And where exactly are all those jobs that the administration claims were “created or saved?”
(3) Freddie and Fannie: Previous attempts by congressional Democrats to get to the bottom of the 2008 financial meltdown conveniently overlooked the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. How much of the housing crisis was due to financial donations going to Democratic officials, who overlooked financial transgressions at the agencies so long as mortgages flowed to unworthy credit risks?
Update - Russia Warns of "Iranian Chernobyl"
"Since Russia is helping Iran build it's nuclear program, they are the real eyes and ears on the ground in Iran. Yes, Russia is helping Iran acquire nuclear technology so that they can build a bomb, but are they really? One must ask, do they, the Russians, really need or want a radical religious Iran just to the south of them with nuclear bombs and missiles that can deliver them to downtown Moscow? I think the answer is obvious. You would have thought the leaders of Iran who hired them would have asked the very same question. Who's playing stupid here, the Russians or Iran or both? Time will tell as this high stakes chess game plays out.
My Take - Russia is about to teach the Ayatollah a lesson he'll never forget, well at least in a half life of Radioactive decay. So yea wanna play with the big boys huh?"
Nicholas Contompasis
Borrowed from The Telegraph - Thank you
By Con Coughlin
Russian nuclear officials have warned of another Chernobyl-style nuclear disaster at Iran's controversial Bushehr reactor because of the damage caused by the Stuxnet virus, according to the latest Western intelligence reports.
Russian nuclear scientists have raised serious concerns about the extensive damage caused to Bushehr's computer systems by the mysterious Stuxnet virus.
Russian nuclear scientists are providing technical assistance to Iran's attempts activate the country's first nuclear power plant at the Gulf port.
But they have raised serious concerns about the extensive damage caused to the plant's computer systems by the mysterious Stuxnet virus, which was discovered last year and is widely believed to have been the result of a sophisticated joint US-Israeli cyber attack. According to Western intelligence reports, Russian scientists warned the Kremlin that they could be facing "another Chernobyl" if they were forced to comply with Iran's tight deadline to activate the complex this summer.
After decades of delays over the plant, which was first commissioned by the Shah in the 1970s, Iran's leaders are demanding that scientists stick to the schedule set last year. They argue that any delay would be a blow to Iran's international prestige.
Bushehr is due to produce its first electricity for Iran's national grid this summer after Russian technicians started loading the first nuclear rods into the reactor last October.
Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran's foreign minister who also serves as head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization, rejected suggestions earlier this month that the Bushehr opening schedule should be postponed. "All the rumors related to the Westerners' claims that Stuxnet had caused damage to the nuclear plants are rejected," he said.
However, Russian scientists working at the plant have become so concerned by Iran's apparent disregard for nuclear safety issues that they have lobbied the Kremlin directly to postpone activation until at least the end of the year, so that a proper assessment can be made of the damage caused to its computer operations by Stuxnet.
The Iranian government is bitterly opposed to any further delay, which it would regard as another blow to national pride on a project that is more than a decade behind schedule. While Western intelligence officials believe Iran's nuclear program is aimed at producing nuclear weapons, Iran insists the project's goals are peaceful.
The Russian scientists' report to the Kremlin, a copy of which has been seen by The Daily Telegraph, concludes that, despite "performing simple, basic tests" on the Bushehr reactor, the Russian team "cannot guarantee safe activation of the reactor".
It also accuses the Iranian management team, which is under intense political pressure to stick to the deadline, of "not exhibiting the professional and moral responsibility" that is normally required. They accuse the Iranians of having "disregard for human life" and warn that Russia could find itself blamed for "another Chernobyl" if it allows Bushehr to go ahead.
Yesterday, the New York Times reported that the Stuxnet virus had been developed as a joint project by US and Israeli intelligence officials at Israel's top-secret Dimona project in the Negev desert.
The virus was developed at Dimona over a period of two years before it was planted into Iran's nuclear programme, an operation now widely regarded as the world's most successful cyber attack.
Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, recently declared that the Stuxnet virus had set Iran's nuclear program back by several years.
My Take - Russia is about to teach the Ayatollah a lesson he'll never forget, well at least in a half life of Radioactive decay. So yea wanna play with the big boys huh?"
Nicholas Contompasis
Borrowed from The Telegraph - Thank you
By Con Coughlin
Russian nuclear officials have warned of another Chernobyl-style nuclear disaster at Iran's controversial Bushehr reactor because of the damage caused by the Stuxnet virus, according to the latest Western intelligence reports.
Russian nuclear scientists have raised serious concerns about the extensive damage caused to Bushehr's computer systems by the mysterious Stuxnet virus.
Russian nuclear scientists are providing technical assistance to Iran's attempts activate the country's first nuclear power plant at the Gulf port.
But they have raised serious concerns about the extensive damage caused to the plant's computer systems by the mysterious Stuxnet virus, which was discovered last year and is widely believed to have been the result of a sophisticated joint US-Israeli cyber attack. According to Western intelligence reports, Russian scientists warned the Kremlin that they could be facing "another Chernobyl" if they were forced to comply with Iran's tight deadline to activate the complex this summer.
After decades of delays over the plant, which was first commissioned by the Shah in the 1970s, Iran's leaders are demanding that scientists stick to the schedule set last year. They argue that any delay would be a blow to Iran's international prestige.
Bushehr is due to produce its first electricity for Iran's national grid this summer after Russian technicians started loading the first nuclear rods into the reactor last October.
Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran's foreign minister who also serves as head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization, rejected suggestions earlier this month that the Bushehr opening schedule should be postponed. "All the rumors related to the Westerners' claims that Stuxnet had caused damage to the nuclear plants are rejected," he said.
However, Russian scientists working at the plant have become so concerned by Iran's apparent disregard for nuclear safety issues that they have lobbied the Kremlin directly to postpone activation until at least the end of the year, so that a proper assessment can be made of the damage caused to its computer operations by Stuxnet.
The Iranian government is bitterly opposed to any further delay, which it would regard as another blow to national pride on a project that is more than a decade behind schedule. While Western intelligence officials believe Iran's nuclear program is aimed at producing nuclear weapons, Iran insists the project's goals are peaceful.
The Russian scientists' report to the Kremlin, a copy of which has been seen by The Daily Telegraph, concludes that, despite "performing simple, basic tests" on the Bushehr reactor, the Russian team "cannot guarantee safe activation of the reactor".
It also accuses the Iranian management team, which is under intense political pressure to stick to the deadline, of "not exhibiting the professional and moral responsibility" that is normally required. They accuse the Iranians of having "disregard for human life" and warn that Russia could find itself blamed for "another Chernobyl" if it allows Bushehr to go ahead.
Yesterday, the New York Times reported that the Stuxnet virus had been developed as a joint project by US and Israeli intelligence officials at Israel's top-secret Dimona project in the Negev desert.
The virus was developed at Dimona over a period of two years before it was planted into Iran's nuclear programme, an operation now widely regarded as the world's most successful cyber attack.
Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, recently declared that the Stuxnet virus had set Iran's nuclear program back by several years.
Iran and the Bomb - Update - Iran Nuke Program Weakened
Borrowed from The New York Times - Thank you
Mum's the word. Military experts and anonymous sources have revealed a link between the U.S. and Israel—and possibly the British and Germans as well—in creating the computer virus credited with delaying Iran’s nuclear program. The Dimona facility, located in Israel's Negev Desert, is well-known as a heavily guarded, but never publicly acknowledged, nuclear arms program. It also allegedly came to contain the same 1970s model centrifuges used by Iran. Experts say that in the past two years, the U.S. and Israel worked to create the Stuxnet cyberworm, a virus designed cause centrifuges to spin so fast they self-destruct, testing them in Dimona. Stuxnet, regarded as the most sophisticated cyberweapon ever deployed, was referred to by both Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and retiring chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Meir Dagan, as the reason for a delay in Tehran's nuclear strength. Dagan said in recent days that the country won't have a bomb until at least 2015.
Mum's the word. Military experts and anonymous sources have revealed a link between the U.S. and Israel—and possibly the British and Germans as well—in creating the computer virus credited with delaying Iran’s nuclear program. The Dimona facility, located in Israel's Negev Desert, is well-known as a heavily guarded, but never publicly acknowledged, nuclear arms program. It also allegedly came to contain the same 1970s model centrifuges used by Iran. Experts say that in the past two years, the U.S. and Israel worked to create the Stuxnet cyberworm, a virus designed cause centrifuges to spin so fast they self-destruct, testing them in Dimona. Stuxnet, regarded as the most sophisticated cyberweapon ever deployed, was referred to by both Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and retiring chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Meir Dagan, as the reason for a delay in Tehran's nuclear strength. Dagan said in recent days that the country won't have a bomb until at least 2015.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Liberal Arrested in Arizona for Death Threat on National TV at Tea Party Pro Gun Advocate
Reporters: Forrest Carr and Sheryl Kornman
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Two things are clear from Saturday's ABC News town hall meeting in Tucson. One: Tucsonans are eager to move forward and recover from last week's horrible shooting rampage. And two: that process is going to be slow and painful.
ABC News Anchor Christiane Amanpour hosted a remarkable gathering of victims, heroes, witnesses and first responders. It was the first time most of them had been together since Jared Lee Loughner opened fire in a Safeway parking lot, killing 6, and wounding or injuring 14 others -- a rampage that happened one week earlier almost to the hour.
On the platform with Amanpour were Col. Bill Badger, who helped tackle gunman Jared Lee Loughner; Daniel Hernandez, who ran to help wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords while most people were ducking for cover, Patricia Maisch, who grabbed a magazine away from Loughner; Bill Hileman, whose wife, Susan, is still recovering from gunshot wounds.
Vanguard Axes Plans as Muni Bonds Fall Again and Why You Should Know
"The union controlled states of California, Illinois, New Jersey and New York are jeopardizing the U.S. economy by not taking the necessary steps to cut state costs. When funds like Vanguard cancel municipal bond funds, it's because they know by promoting a cruise on the Titanic they are inviting financial calamity on their own group. The contraction of the American economy will not end until the people of these states realize they are being controlled by socialist unions who have no concern for basic economic principles. This country will not survive economically if they are allowed to continue their massive spending programs coupled with decreasing state revenues. It just won't work."
Nicholas Contompasis
By Romy Varghese and Jane J. Kim
In the latest fallout from the municipal-bond rout, mutual-fund giant Vanguard Group on Thursday pulled plans for three funds dedicated to muni bonds, citing the extreme volatility in the market.
Vanguard on Thursday told regulators it was withdrawing its request to launch the index and exchange-traded funds.
"We believe that this delay is prudent given the high level of volatility in the municipal bond market," says spokeswoman Rebecca Katz. "This volatility could impede the funds' abilities to tightly track their respective benchmarks, deliver on the funds' objectives, and meet shareholders' expectations."
Muni bonds have been tumbling for weeks amid worries about growing debt burdens of state and municipalities, the likelihood of rising supply and an exodus of investors out of municipal bond funds. The outflows force the funds to sell more, creating a vicious cycle. ETFs have also felt the brunt of the decline and have become high-profile victims of the slide.
Nicholas Contompasis
By Romy Varghese and Jane J. Kim
In the latest fallout from the municipal-bond rout, mutual-fund giant Vanguard Group on Thursday pulled plans for three funds dedicated to muni bonds, citing the extreme volatility in the market.
Vanguard on Thursday told regulators it was withdrawing its request to launch the index and exchange-traded funds.
"We believe that this delay is prudent given the high level of volatility in the municipal bond market," says spokeswoman Rebecca Katz. "This volatility could impede the funds' abilities to tightly track their respective benchmarks, deliver on the funds' objectives, and meet shareholders' expectations."
Muni bonds have been tumbling for weeks amid worries about growing debt burdens of state and municipalities, the likelihood of rising supply and an exodus of investors out of municipal bond funds. The outflows force the funds to sell more, creating a vicious cycle. ETFs have also felt the brunt of the decline and have become high-profile victims of the slide.
America's "Monolithic Dictatorship" - America Heal Thyself
By Nicholas Contompasis
A "Congressional Reform Act" must be part of the 2012 election dialog.
The American people did not give Congressmen the benefits they now have. Congressmen made all these contracts with themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
The American people must break up the iron grip of career politicians how serve no one but themselves. America, you are being led by a "monolithic dictatorship" that keeps electing themselves and fleecing the American taxpayer.
Change can happen if the following measures are enacted.
1. Term Limits with 12 years only, one of the possible options below.
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
A "Congressional Reform Act" must be part of the 2012 election dialog.
The American people did not give Congressmen the benefits they now have. Congressmen made all these contracts with themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
The American people must break up the iron grip of career politicians how serve no one but themselves. America, you are being led by a "monolithic dictatorship" that keeps electing themselves and fleecing the American taxpayer.
Change can happen if the following measures are enacted.
1. Term Limits with 12 years only, one of the possible options below.
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
WikiLeaks Support Rallies to be Held January 15, 2011 Around the World
By Nicholas Contompasis
WikiLeaks has just released a list of cities around the world that will be experiencing mass support rallies for the organization. Of course this blog doesn't support WikiLeaks in any way but I thought you would be interested in knowing of their activities that may be held in your city.
Global WikiLeaks support rallies: Jan 15:
Global,
Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Belfast, Sydney, Hobart, Brisbane, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Lyon, Paris, München, Athens, Athina, Dublin, Rotterdam, Łódź, Piła, Belfast, Bucharest,Edinburgh, Glasgow, Barcelona, Geneva, Zurich, Ankara, Istanbul, Liverpool, London, Peterborough, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Göteborg, Lisbon, Vitoria Gasteiz, Málaga, Bilbao, Valencia,
USA
Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Dover, Denver, Elkton, Eugene, Key Biscayne, Los Angeles, Miami, Missoula, New Haven, New York, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Ortonville, Saint Louis, Saint Paul, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Sanford, Seattle, Raleigh, Tampa, Washington DC |
USA - Global - Other Dates
Jan 19: Rock Island | Jan 20: Ann Arbor| Jan 22: Chicago | Jan 22: Pasadena | Jan 24: Columbia | Jan 25: New Orleans | Jan 29: Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne | Jan 30: New York City | Feb 5: Global | Feb 7/8: London | Feb 16: Houston | May 14: Bristol
WikiLeaks has just released a list of cities around the world that will be experiencing mass support rallies for the organization. Of course this blog doesn't support WikiLeaks in any way but I thought you would be interested in knowing of their activities that may be held in your city.
Global WikiLeaks support rallies: Jan 15:
Global,
Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Belfast, Sydney, Hobart, Brisbane, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Lyon, Paris, München, Athens, Athina, Dublin, Rotterdam, Łódź, Piła, Belfast, Bucharest,Edinburgh, Glasgow, Barcelona, Geneva, Zurich, Ankara, Istanbul, Liverpool, London, Peterborough, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Göteborg, Lisbon, Vitoria Gasteiz, Málaga, Bilbao, Valencia,
USA
Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Dover, Denver, Elkton, Eugene, Key Biscayne, Los Angeles, Miami, Missoula, New Haven, New York, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Ortonville, Saint Louis, Saint Paul, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Sanford, Seattle, Raleigh, Tampa, Washington DC |
USA - Global - Other Dates
Jan 19: Rock Island | Jan 20: Ann Arbor| Jan 22: Chicago | Jan 22: Pasadena | Jan 24: Columbia | Jan 25: New Orleans | Jan 29: Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne | Jan 30: New York City | Feb 5: Global | Feb 7/8: London | Feb 16: Houston | May 14: Bristol
A Black Man, The Progressive’s Perfect Trojan Horse
By Lloyd Marcus - Thank you
As millions of my fellow Americans, I am outraged, devastated and extremely angry by the democrat’s unbelievable arrogance and disdain for We The People. Despite our screaming “no” from the rooftops, they forced Obamacare down our throats. Please forgive me for using the following crude saying, but it is very appropriate to describe what has happened. “Don’t urinate on me and tell me it’s raining.” Democrats say their mission is to give all Americans health care. The democrats are lying. Signing Obamacare into law against our will and the Constitution is tyranny and step one of their hideous goal of having as many Americans as possible dependent on government, thus controlling our lives and fulfilling Obama’s promise to fundamentally transform America.
As millions of my fellow Americans, I am outraged, devastated and extremely angry by the democrat’s unbelievable arrogance and disdain for We The People. Despite our screaming “no” from the rooftops, they forced Obamacare down our throats. Please forgive me for using the following crude saying, but it is very appropriate to describe what has happened. “Don’t urinate on me and tell me it’s raining.” Democrats say their mission is to give all Americans health care. The democrats are lying. Signing Obamacare into law against our will and the Constitution is tyranny and step one of their hideous goal of having as many Americans as possible dependent on government, thus controlling our lives and fulfilling Obama’s promise to fundamentally transform America.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Obama’s Shameful Arizona Pep Rally That Honored His Administration Not the Dead and Wounded
The word must have gone out to every high school and middle school in Arizona to attend the memorial service in Tucson tonight. The President's 2012 campaign committee quickly draped new blue t-shirts over every seat for maximum effect when being worn and photographed while cheering.
With screaming childish remarks coming at every turn when anyone took to the podium, it showed nothing but disrespect for the dead and wounded that are lying in morgues and hospitals throughout Tucson.
Tonight was about politics not a memorial ceremony. It was disgusting to listen to Napolitano, Holder and even Obama quote the bible, the book they probably had never read before this evening.
The screams from the peanut gallery of “I love you Obama” echoed between yells and whistles. No matter what was said the air of a high school pep rally destroyed anything the President and his henchmen tried to accomplish in trying to reconnect with the American people.
The President’s attempt to connect again with America, while spewing his double talk, was lost in the juvenile antics of not only his contrived audience but his never-ending campaigning.
Dignity and respect should have been offered, but instead the President kicked off his run for President of the United States 2012.
“Blood Libel” Sarah Palin’s Stake in the Heart of the Liberal Jewish Community
I woke up this morning to a new term “blood libel.” Sarah Palin used this ancient biblical term in her response to the Left’s attacks on her after Saturday’s Arizona massacre that killed a federal judge, five bystanders and nearly killed a liberal Jewish female member of the House of Representatives. After listening to talk radio, TV and reading articles relating to the term, I think most in media missed the thrust of Sarah Palin’s stake in the heart of America’s liberal Jewish community. They, the liberal Jewish community, shamelessly, over the years have supported Barack Obama and his Progressive led congress against the will of most Americans and have shown disdain for even their own homeland, Israel. Where most conservatives support Israel, liberal Progressive Jews run far and fast away from the issue.
“Blood Libel” originally was used to describe an anti-Semitic slur that Jews kill gentile babies and use the blood in matzah (un-leavened bread). Of course over the years the term’s definition changed to describe that a slur was being used rather than the original meaning.
But make no mistake about it, Sarah Palin and her handlers went way out of their way to come up with this word. Ten other words could have been used to describe what she was trying to say, but the use of blood-libel was what they settled on.
Double meanings to words for years have been used to confuse and to send messages to specific groups with direct meaning. Just a few months ago even President Obama used this technique to attack white Americans by saying that they would have to get “back of the bus” which was black payback to white America for segregation that lasted way too long in the South. Ironically, it was his own party, the Democrats, that promoted this practice.
There is no doubt in my mind that Sarah used this word to attack the liberal Jewish community that has a stranglehold on most of Hollywood, television, print news and Internet media outlets. These same outlets are the same people and organizations that have been outright accusing her of the slaughter that occurred on Saturday.
So, was it anti-Semitic for her to use the term? No, but it was a damn good way of slamming the liberal Jewish media community that have been attacking her and her children over the past three years.
I say good job, Sarah, and keep pounding that stake into the heart of the liberal Jewish community.
Zeitgeist - The Movie of Choice for Mass Murders - Not Rush Limbaugh or Fox News
By Nicholas Contompasis
This is the first of five videos on Youtube that the Arizona shooter got hopped up on, not conservative news and talk radio. This information was revealed today on Good Morning America from a friend of the shooter. Are your kids worked up by this load of crap from ZEITGEIST? If they are, you better sleep with one eye open......
This is the first of five videos on Youtube that the Arizona shooter got hopped up on, not conservative news and talk radio. This information was revealed today on Good Morning America from a friend of the shooter. Are your kids worked up by this load of crap from ZEITGEIST? If they are, you better sleep with one eye open......
"Blood Libel" - For Your Information
Borrowed from the American Spectator - Thank you
By John Tabin
The blood libel is, as I'd sort of assumed everyone knew, the anti-Semitic slur that Jews kill gentile babies and use their blood in matzah. (I realized after a back-and-forth this morning with goyishe friends on Twitter that this assumption was wrong.) But not every use of "blood libel" means the blood libel, any more than every use of the word "crusade" denotes The Crusades. It is quite common to read pro-Israel writers speak of blood libel, because it's quite common for the wicked Zionist Entity to be falsely accused of various atrocities. Extending the metaphor further, Glenn Reynolds had an excellent Wall Street Journal op-ed this weekend on those accusing Sarah Palin of being responsible for the shooting on Saturday under the title "The Arizona Tragedy and the Politics of Blood Libel." This was hardly the first time that the phrase "blood libel" has been disconnected from a Jewish context; Jim Geraghty is amassing quite a collection of examples.
Today Sarah Palin released a video echoing Reynolds's usage, and all hell broke loose, with Palin critics accusing her of, as the American Prospect's Adam Serwer put it, "equating criticism of her with genocide."
Okay, let's take a deep breath. I get it -- as Ben Smith articulated in a pair of tweets, there's something a little dissonant about drawing a parallel between the blood libel, which has historically been a pretext for violence against Jews, and the smears of Palin in the wake of the shooting of a Jewish congresswoman. But at the very worst, Palin's phrasing should cause discomfort. The desk-pounding outrage is purely a function of the evidently very large number of people who enjoy being outraged at Sarah Palin. Forgive me if I have trouble taking it very seriously.
By John Tabin
The blood libel is, as I'd sort of assumed everyone knew, the anti-Semitic slur that Jews kill gentile babies and use their blood in matzah. (I realized after a back-and-forth this morning with goyishe friends on Twitter that this assumption was wrong.) But not every use of "blood libel" means the blood libel, any more than every use of the word "crusade" denotes The Crusades. It is quite common to read pro-Israel writers speak of blood libel, because it's quite common for the wicked Zionist Entity to be falsely accused of various atrocities. Extending the metaphor further, Glenn Reynolds had an excellent Wall Street Journal op-ed this weekend on those accusing Sarah Palin of being responsible for the shooting on Saturday under the title "The Arizona Tragedy and the Politics of Blood Libel." This was hardly the first time that the phrase "blood libel" has been disconnected from a Jewish context; Jim Geraghty is amassing quite a collection of examples.
Today Sarah Palin released a video echoing Reynolds's usage, and all hell broke loose, with Palin critics accusing her of, as the American Prospect's Adam Serwer put it, "equating criticism of her with genocide."
Okay, let's take a deep breath. I get it -- as Ben Smith articulated in a pair of tweets, there's something a little dissonant about drawing a parallel between the blood libel, which has historically been a pretext for violence against Jews, and the smears of Palin in the wake of the shooting of a Jewish congresswoman. But at the very worst, Palin's phrasing should cause discomfort. The desk-pounding outrage is purely a function of the evidently very large number of people who enjoy being outraged at Sarah Palin. Forgive me if I have trouble taking it very seriously.
The Gun Is Civilization - The Answer to Gun Control
by Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret)- Thank you
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force.
If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force.
Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it.
In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion.
Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force.
You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force.
The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.
There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations.
These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a [armed] mugger to do his job.
That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed.
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force.
If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force.
Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it.
In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion.
Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force.
You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force.
The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.
There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations.
These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a [armed] mugger to do his job.
That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Muslims Have Conquered Europe Without Firing A Shot - Read How
BY HERB DENENBERG
Borrowed from THE BULLETIN - Thank you
Take a little quiz to see if you fully understand the state of the world:
Question 1
True or False: In Brussels, Belgium, the capital of the European Union and Belgium, the Socialist mayor presides over a caucus that has a majority made up of Muslims.
Question 2
True or False: In a few years, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Rotterdam and many other European cities will reach majority Muslim status.
Question 3
True or False: The Muslim population of the United Kingdom is increasing 10 times faster than the general population.
Question 4
True or False: British banks have abolished piggy banks, as they might offend Muslims and police in Brussels are enjoined from eating doughnuts during Ramadan.
Question 5
True or False: Ken Livingstone, the former mayor of London, believes it is perfectly acceptable to blow up buses in Tel Aviv, but objects to those blowing up buses in England.
Question 6
True or False: The British lean over backward to grant freedom of speech to Muslim groups, even as they slander returning war heroes; but they also lean over backward to silence any critics of Islam.
Borrowed from THE BULLETIN - Thank you
Take a little quiz to see if you fully understand the state of the world:
Question 1
True or False: In Brussels, Belgium, the capital of the European Union and Belgium, the Socialist mayor presides over a caucus that has a majority made up of Muslims.
Question 2
True or False: In a few years, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Rotterdam and many other European cities will reach majority Muslim status.
Question 3
True or False: The Muslim population of the United Kingdom is increasing 10 times faster than the general population.
Question 4
True or False: British banks have abolished piggy banks, as they might offend Muslims and police in Brussels are enjoined from eating doughnuts during Ramadan.
Question 5
True or False: Ken Livingstone, the former mayor of London, believes it is perfectly acceptable to blow up buses in Tel Aviv, but objects to those blowing up buses in England.
Question 6
True or False: The British lean over backward to grant freedom of speech to Muslim groups, even as they slander returning war heroes; but they also lean over backward to silence any critics of Islam.
The 20 Most Annoying Liberals of 2010 - Did We Miss anyone?
Borrowed from townhall.com by John Hawkins
The 20 Most Annoying Liberals of 2010
Honorable Mentions: Al Franken, Al Gore, Al Sharpton, Anthony Weiner, Arianna Huffington, Bill Clinton, Bob Beckel, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Dylan Ratigan, Eric Holder, Ezra Klein, Geraldo, Hillary Clinton, James Cameron, James Clyburn, John Edwards, Jesse Jackson, Jimmy Carter, John Conyers, John Kerry, John Lewis, Kathy Griffin, Lawrence O'Donnell, Markos Moulitsas Zúñiga, Matthew Ygliesias, Maxine Waters, Michael Moore, Mike Malloy, Rachel Maddow, Roger Ebert, Roseanne Barr
20) Joe Biden: Everybody knows how goofy Ol’ Say Anything, Do Anything Joe is! He might tell a dirty joke to a roomful of school children! He might stick a squirrel down his pants! Oh, by the way: He's Vice-President and he's supposed to be the "gravitas" who helps keep President Empty Suit from getting too far out of whack. Yeah, that worked out great, didn't it?
Defining quote: As you probably know, some American politicians and American journalists refer to Washington, DC as the “capital of the free world. But it seems to me that this great city (Brussels), which boasts 1,000 years of history and which serves as the capital of Belgium, the home of the European Union, and the headquarters for NATO, this city has its own legitimate claim to that title. -- Joe Biden
19) Andrew Sullivan: Sully's still a good writer, but he's becoming an increasingly unhinged joke. Over time, he's become less of a "serious person" and more of a jokey "I hope he gets the help he needs" wackadoodle -- particularly, when it comes to Sarah Palin.
Defining quote: The medical term for Down Syndrome is Trisomy-21 or Trisomy-g. It is often shortened in medical slang to Tri-g. Is it not perfectly possible that the very name given to this poor child, being reared by Bristol, is another form of mockery of his condition, along with the "retarded baby" tag? And does the way in which this poor child was hauled around the country on a book tour, being dragged out in front of flash photographs in the middle of the night, barely clothed, suggest someone who actually cares for children with special needs, or rather sees them as a way to keep the spotlight on her? -- Andrew Sullivan
18) Michael Bloomberg: New York's chief nanny spent $100 million of his own money so he could continue to systematically ruin the greatest city in the world with his mismanagement a little longer. Whether it's trampling on the graves of the people who died on 9/11 by supporting the Ground Zero Mosque, micromanaging what everyone eats, or driving the wealthy out of the city with exorbitant taxes, Bloomberg will do whatever it takes to run New York right into the ground.
Defining quote: If I had to guess 25 cents, this would be exactly that. Homegrown, or maybe a mentally deranged person, or somebody with a political agenda that doesn’t like the health care bill or something. It could be anything. -- Michael Bloomberg on Faisal Shahzad's carbombing attempt in New York
The 20 Most Annoying Liberals of 2010
Honorable Mentions: Al Franken, Al Gore, Al Sharpton, Anthony Weiner, Arianna Huffington, Bill Clinton, Bob Beckel, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Dylan Ratigan, Eric Holder, Ezra Klein, Geraldo, Hillary Clinton, James Cameron, James Clyburn, John Edwards, Jesse Jackson, Jimmy Carter, John Conyers, John Kerry, John Lewis, Kathy Griffin, Lawrence O'Donnell, Markos Moulitsas Zúñiga, Matthew Ygliesias, Maxine Waters, Michael Moore, Mike Malloy, Rachel Maddow, Roger Ebert, Roseanne Barr
20) Joe Biden: Everybody knows how goofy Ol’ Say Anything, Do Anything Joe is! He might tell a dirty joke to a roomful of school children! He might stick a squirrel down his pants! Oh, by the way: He's Vice-President and he's supposed to be the "gravitas" who helps keep President Empty Suit from getting too far out of whack. Yeah, that worked out great, didn't it?
Defining quote: As you probably know, some American politicians and American journalists refer to Washington, DC as the “capital of the free world. But it seems to me that this great city (Brussels), which boasts 1,000 years of history and which serves as the capital of Belgium, the home of the European Union, and the headquarters for NATO, this city has its own legitimate claim to that title. -- Joe Biden
19) Andrew Sullivan: Sully's still a good writer, but he's becoming an increasingly unhinged joke. Over time, he's become less of a "serious person" and more of a jokey "I hope he gets the help he needs" wackadoodle -- particularly, when it comes to Sarah Palin.
Defining quote: The medical term for Down Syndrome is Trisomy-21 or Trisomy-g. It is often shortened in medical slang to Tri-g. Is it not perfectly possible that the very name given to this poor child, being reared by Bristol, is another form of mockery of his condition, along with the "retarded baby" tag? And does the way in which this poor child was hauled around the country on a book tour, being dragged out in front of flash photographs in the middle of the night, barely clothed, suggest someone who actually cares for children with special needs, or rather sees them as a way to keep the spotlight on her? -- Andrew Sullivan
18) Michael Bloomberg: New York's chief nanny spent $100 million of his own money so he could continue to systematically ruin the greatest city in the world with his mismanagement a little longer. Whether it's trampling on the graves of the people who died on 9/11 by supporting the Ground Zero Mosque, micromanaging what everyone eats, or driving the wealthy out of the city with exorbitant taxes, Bloomberg will do whatever it takes to run New York right into the ground.
Defining quote: If I had to guess 25 cents, this would be exactly that. Homegrown, or maybe a mentally deranged person, or somebody with a political agenda that doesn’t like the health care bill or something. It could be anything. -- Michael Bloomberg on Faisal Shahzad's carbombing attempt in New York
Monday, January 10, 2011
Who Killed Obama's Key White House Aid's Wife Today - Ashley Turton?
Ashley Turton, former Hill aide, dead in burning car
By Paul Duggan - Thank you
The wife of a key White House aide was found dead early Monday in a sport-utility vehicle that was heavily damaged by fire in the garage of the couple's Capitol Hill home, sources familiar with the incident said. The cause of her death is uncertain.
Ashley W. Turton, 37, an energy company lobbyist and former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), was found dead shortly before 5 a.m. in a burning BMW, the back end of which was partly out of the garage, as if the vehicle had been entering or leaving when the fire started, authorities said.
Authorities said her death appears to have resulted from a low-speed crash, an unknown medical condition, the fire, or some combination of the three.
"We have no evidence of any obvious malfeasance in her death at this time," said Capt. Michael Farish, of the D.C. police homicide unit. The department's major crash unit is handling most of the investigation for the police department.
Turton was the wife of Daniel A. Turton, 43, the White House's deputy director of legislative affairs for the U.S. House. As such, he is President Obama's point man on legislation moving through the House.
He and Ashley Turton, who have three children, were a Washington power couple well known in Democratic circles. She was a lobbyist for North Carolina-based Progress Energy, which announced a merger Monday with Duke Energy.
"Ashley was a valued employee whose insight and hard work had been critical on so many of our legislative and regulatory issues," Bill Johnson, president and chief executive of the company, said in a statement. "She was also a dear friend to many of us and this news is very hard to take."
Pete Piringer, a D.C. fire department spokesman, said neighbors near the couple's two-story brick house at 800 A Street SE called for help about 4:50 a.m. after they saw flames spewing from the garage, which faces Eighth Street SE at the rear of the house. He said firefighters found a burning vehicle facing into the garage with a dead body in it.
Real estate records show Daniel Turton purchased the house for $826,000 in 2003.
As of noon Monday, authorities had not publicly identified the victim.
A source familiar with the incident, speaking on the condition of anonymity because it is still under investigation, said the SUV was "about seven-eighths of the way" into the garage and was stopped "at a weird angle." He said the vehicle was heavily damaged by fire, but said he could not discuss the condition of the body.
Most of the smoke and fire damage was contained to the garage, according to Piringer, who said an adult male and several children in the house were unharmed. He said no 911 call came from the house and it is possible that the man and children were unaware of what had happened until firefighters arrived.
The cause of the fire and the woman's death are under investigation by D.C. police, the medical examiner's office and fire department investigators, Piringer said.
By Paul Duggan - Thank you
The wife of a key White House aide was found dead early Monday in a sport-utility vehicle that was heavily damaged by fire in the garage of the couple's Capitol Hill home, sources familiar with the incident said. The cause of her death is uncertain.
Ashley W. Turton, 37, an energy company lobbyist and former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), was found dead shortly before 5 a.m. in a burning BMW, the back end of which was partly out of the garage, as if the vehicle had been entering or leaving when the fire started, authorities said.
Authorities said her death appears to have resulted from a low-speed crash, an unknown medical condition, the fire, or some combination of the three.
"We have no evidence of any obvious malfeasance in her death at this time," said Capt. Michael Farish, of the D.C. police homicide unit. The department's major crash unit is handling most of the investigation for the police department.
Turton was the wife of Daniel A. Turton, 43, the White House's deputy director of legislative affairs for the U.S. House. As such, he is President Obama's point man on legislation moving through the House.
He and Ashley Turton, who have three children, were a Washington power couple well known in Democratic circles. She was a lobbyist for North Carolina-based Progress Energy, which announced a merger Monday with Duke Energy.
"Ashley was a valued employee whose insight and hard work had been critical on so many of our legislative and regulatory issues," Bill Johnson, president and chief executive of the company, said in a statement. "She was also a dear friend to many of us and this news is very hard to take."
Pete Piringer, a D.C. fire department spokesman, said neighbors near the couple's two-story brick house at 800 A Street SE called for help about 4:50 a.m. after they saw flames spewing from the garage, which faces Eighth Street SE at the rear of the house. He said firefighters found a burning vehicle facing into the garage with a dead body in it.
Real estate records show Daniel Turton purchased the house for $826,000 in 2003.
As of noon Monday, authorities had not publicly identified the victim.
A source familiar with the incident, speaking on the condition of anonymity because it is still under investigation, said the SUV was "about seven-eighths of the way" into the garage and was stopped "at a weird angle." He said the vehicle was heavily damaged by fire, but said he could not discuss the condition of the body.
Most of the smoke and fire damage was contained to the garage, according to Piringer, who said an adult male and several children in the house were unharmed. He said no 911 call came from the house and it is possible that the man and children were unaware of what had happened until firefighters arrived.
The cause of the fire and the woman's death are under investigation by D.C. police, the medical examiner's office and fire department investigators, Piringer said.
Presto! 9.4% Unemployment! How The Government Lies
By Silver Shield - Thank you
Hooray…Happy days are here again!
That is exactly what the elite would have us believe with the 9.4% unemployment number in this huge CONfidence game otherwise known as the USEconomy.
“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act” -George Orwell
We were having dinner at my in-law’s house and I had overheard the TV playing in the back ground. At one point, I thought I had heard the squealing of teenagers who were fawning over Justin Beiber. Instead, it turned out that it was someone on the news reporting the new, much lower 9.4% unemployment rate. I could hear the panting of excitement spoken by the breathless reporters who were interviewing very serious economists about this new 9.4% rate. The news aired their personal interest piece about a girl who was just hired at an internet company. She commented with the utmost confidence that the economy was getting better!! You have all heard that saying, “it is a recession when your neighbor loses a job, but when you lose a job it is a depression.” Well, according to her, we are out of her depression.
Hooray…Happy days are here again!
That is exactly what the elite would have us believe with the 9.4% unemployment number in this huge CONfidence game otherwise known as the USEconomy.
“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act” -George Orwell
We were having dinner at my in-law’s house and I had overheard the TV playing in the back ground. At one point, I thought I had heard the squealing of teenagers who were fawning over Justin Beiber. Instead, it turned out that it was someone on the news reporting the new, much lower 9.4% unemployment rate. I could hear the panting of excitement spoken by the breathless reporters who were interviewing very serious economists about this new 9.4% rate. The news aired their personal interest piece about a girl who was just hired at an internet company. She commented with the utmost confidence that the economy was getting better!! You have all heard that saying, “it is a recession when your neighbor loses a job, but when you lose a job it is a depression.” Well, according to her, we are out of her depression.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
WikiLeaks Damage to Hillary Clinton Deep - Fatal
By Joby Warrick
Borrowed from the Washington Post - Thank you
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in the Middle East for meetings with Persian Gulf leaders, acknowledged Sunday that it would take years to undo the damage caused by the WikiLeaks revelations, likening her recent travels to an extended "apology tour" to reassure allies who suffered embarrassment or worse because of the disclosures.
"I think I will be answering concerns about WikiLeaks for the rest of my life, not just the rest of my tenure as secretary of State," Clinton told reporters as she embarked on a five-day visit of Arab countries, many of which were stung by revelations about private talks between American diplomats and regional leaders.
Clinton, who is on her second Middle East trip in less than a month, said she has sought to "affirmatively raise" the WikiLeaks issue in meetings with Arab officials to address the problems head-on. Some of Iran's Arab neighbors were particularly aggrieved by leaked State Department cables that showed them privately urging the Obama administration to take a harder line against Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Clinton said she had quipped to one of her aides that she needed a tour jacket, similar to the ones used by rock bands, that would have a "big picture of the world and would say 'The Apology Tour' " on it. Although the intensity has abated somewhat, the fallout from the WikiLeaks affair "is still in the atmosphere," she said.
Separately, Clinton appeared to downplay recent statements by Israeli officials that seemed to suggest that Iran may not be as close to a nuclear-weapons breakthrough as had been widely feared. Noting Iran's recent technical stumbles in attempting to enrich uranium, a prominent Israeli intelligence official suggested it would take Iran at least three more years to build the bomb, compared with earlier estimates of one or two years.
"The timeline is not so important as the international effort to try to ensure that, whatever the timeline, Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons," Clinton said. "I don't know that it gives much comfort to someone who is living in the Gulf - or living in a country that Iran has vowed to destroy - that it is one year or three years."
Clinton said the Obama administration remained committed to an "intensive international effort . . . highlighted by sanctions" to persuade Iran to change its course.
Borrowed from the Washington Post - Thank you
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in the Middle East for meetings with Persian Gulf leaders, acknowledged Sunday that it would take years to undo the damage caused by the WikiLeaks revelations, likening her recent travels to an extended "apology tour" to reassure allies who suffered embarrassment or worse because of the disclosures.
"I think I will be answering concerns about WikiLeaks for the rest of my life, not just the rest of my tenure as secretary of State," Clinton told reporters as she embarked on a five-day visit of Arab countries, many of which were stung by revelations about private talks between American diplomats and regional leaders.
Clinton, who is on her second Middle East trip in less than a month, said she has sought to "affirmatively raise" the WikiLeaks issue in meetings with Arab officials to address the problems head-on. Some of Iran's Arab neighbors were particularly aggrieved by leaked State Department cables that showed them privately urging the Obama administration to take a harder line against Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Clinton said she had quipped to one of her aides that she needed a tour jacket, similar to the ones used by rock bands, that would have a "big picture of the world and would say 'The Apology Tour' " on it. Although the intensity has abated somewhat, the fallout from the WikiLeaks affair "is still in the atmosphere," she said.
Separately, Clinton appeared to downplay recent statements by Israeli officials that seemed to suggest that Iran may not be as close to a nuclear-weapons breakthrough as had been widely feared. Noting Iran's recent technical stumbles in attempting to enrich uranium, a prominent Israeli intelligence official suggested it would take Iran at least three more years to build the bomb, compared with earlier estimates of one or two years.
"The timeline is not so important as the international effort to try to ensure that, whatever the timeline, Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons," Clinton said. "I don't know that it gives much comfort to someone who is living in the Gulf - or living in a country that Iran has vowed to destroy - that it is one year or three years."
Clinton said the Obama administration remained committed to an "intensive international effort . . . highlighted by sanctions" to persuade Iran to change its course.
Arizona Shootings: 'It Was a Colossal Failure of Journalism'
Borrowed from The American Spectator - Thank you
By Robert Stacy McCain
That quote, from a commenter at my personal blog, described the effort of several news organizations to fabricate a connection between Jared Loughner's murderous rampage and the Tea Party and/or Sarah Palin.
Less than four hours transpired between the time the shootings occurred in the parking lot of a Tucson grocery store and the time the Associated Press identified 22-year-old Loughner as the suspect. The first AP bulletin to identify him misspelled his name "Laughner," and another couple of hours passed while reporters, bloggers and amateur newshounds corrected the spelling and began to assemble enough background on Loughner to get some idea of what inspired this crime.
Jared Loughner is crazy.
By Robert Stacy McCain
That quote, from a commenter at my personal blog, described the effort of several news organizations to fabricate a connection between Jared Loughner's murderous rampage and the Tea Party and/or Sarah Palin.
Less than four hours transpired between the time the shootings occurred in the parking lot of a Tucson grocery store and the time the Associated Press identified 22-year-old Loughner as the suspect. The first AP bulletin to identify him misspelled his name "Laughner," and another couple of hours passed while reporters, bloggers and amateur newshounds corrected the spelling and began to assemble enough background on Loughner to get some idea of what inspired this crime.
Jared Loughner is crazy.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Are You Paying Attention America?
By Nicholas Contompasis
Thursday - letter bombs sent to Maryland state offices
Friday - letter bomb sent to Homeland Security Head Janet Napolitano
Saturday - Congresswomen Giffords almost assassinated
Saturday - Federal Judge assassinated along with congressional aids and others.
Sunday - We got lucky today - no killings or bombings
Monday - Ashley Turton, former Hill aide, dead in burning car, wife of Obama Congressional Aid
Tuesday - Who will be next?
Thursday - letter bombs sent to Maryland state offices
Friday - letter bomb sent to Homeland Security Head Janet Napolitano
Saturday - Congresswomen Giffords almost assassinated
Saturday - Federal Judge assassinated along with congressional aids and others.
Sunday - We got lucky today - no killings or bombings
Monday - Ashley Turton, former Hill aide, dead in burning car, wife of Obama Congressional Aid
Tuesday - Who will be next?
U.S. Subpoenas Twitter Account, WikiLeaks Says
Borrowed from THE ASSOCIATED PRESS - Thank you
Filed at 9:10 a.m. EST on January 08, 2011
DOCUMENT: Federal Court Order Sent to Twitter, Inc. (pdf, via Salon.com)
LONDON (AP) — U.S. officials have issued a subpoena to demand details about WikiLeaks' Twitter account, the group announced Saturday, adding that it suspected other American Internet companies were also being ordered to hand over information about its activities.
In a statement, WikiLeaks said U.S. investigators had gone to the San Francisco-based Twitter Inc. to demand the private messages, contact information and other personal details of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and other supporters, including the U.S. Army intelligence analyst suspected of handing classified information to the site and a high-profile Icelandic parliamentarian.
WikiLeaks blasted the court order, saying it amounted to harassment.
Filed at 9:10 a.m. EST on January 08, 2011
DOCUMENT: Federal Court Order Sent to Twitter, Inc. (pdf, via Salon.com)
LONDON (AP) — U.S. officials have issued a subpoena to demand details about WikiLeaks' Twitter account, the group announced Saturday, adding that it suspected other American Internet companies were also being ordered to hand over information about its activities.
In a statement, WikiLeaks said U.S. investigators had gone to the San Francisco-based Twitter Inc. to demand the private messages, contact information and other personal details of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and other supporters, including the U.S. Army intelligence analyst suspected of handing classified information to the site and a high-profile Icelandic parliamentarian.
WikiLeaks blasted the court order, saying it amounted to harassment.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Bomb Blows - Sent to U.S. Homeland Security Chief Napolitano
By Jeremy Pelofsky
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A package addressed to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano ignited on Friday at a postal facility in Washington, D.C. but was quickly extinguished and no one was injured, authorities said.
A postal worker was tossing mail into a bin when the package was discovered "popping, smoking and with a brief flash of fire," Cathy Lanier, chief of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, said during a news conference.
The package was addressed to Napolitano and was believed to be similar to others found in two incidents involving packages delivered to Maryland state offices on Thursday, a Department of Homeland Security official said. No one was seriously injured in those incidents.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A package addressed to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano ignited on Friday at a postal facility in Washington, D.C. but was quickly extinguished and no one was injured, authorities said.
A postal worker was tossing mail into a bin when the package was discovered "popping, smoking and with a brief flash of fire," Cathy Lanier, chief of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, said during a news conference.
The package was addressed to Napolitano and was believed to be similar to others found in two incidents involving packages delivered to Maryland state offices on Thursday, a Department of Homeland Security official said. No one was seriously injured in those incidents.
The Democrat Party is Dead
"The Democrat Party now consists of liberal non Christian blacks, gays, socialists, liberal Jews, atheists and narcissistic self-centered opportunists. Now do you see yourself anywhere in this group of nut-jobs? Reasonable has left the Democrat Party! It's time to write off the Democrat Party as a viable political party in the U.S. Democrats don't represent America anymore"
Nicholas Contompasis
Nicholas Contompasis
Repeal ObamaCare - George Soros Attacks John Boehner Using MoveOn.org
"As the new congress moves to remind the President of his horrible Health Care Law that the majority of Americans don't want and can't afford, George Soros is using his organization MoveOn.org to twist the minds of Americans. I have included an email from them released this morning attempting to influence teachers across the country on the repeal of ObamaCare."
Nicholas Contompasis
Subject: URGENT: Vote to Repeal Health Reform Scheduled on January 12th!
The vote to repeal health reform is scheduled for January 12th!
Sign on to our letter to tell Congress to keep America moving forward on health care reform!
Take Action
Dear ,
Faster than a speeding bullet, John Boehner, the new Speaker of the House, announced that the House will vote on January 12th to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform bill.
Not so fast, partner.
Send a strong message to Congress that moms and dads are standing up for our kids and families by signing on to this short letter demanding that Congress move America forward on implementing health care reform!
We're standing up for two year old Violet who has a life threatening form of epilepsy and will likely hit her lifetime limits by age four if the Affordable Care Act is repealed. As her mother, a MomsRising member from California, starkly points out, "Unless a cure is found, our daughter will be admitted to the hospital throughout her lifetime and a lifetime limit on insurance would limit her lifetime on earth."
Nicholas Contompasis
Subject: URGENT: Vote to Repeal Health Reform Scheduled on January 12th!
The vote to repeal health reform is scheduled for January 12th!
Sign on to our letter to tell Congress to keep America moving forward on health care reform!
Take Action
Dear ,
Faster than a speeding bullet, John Boehner, the new Speaker of the House, announced that the House will vote on January 12th to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform bill.
Not so fast, partner.
Send a strong message to Congress that moms and dads are standing up for our kids and families by signing on to this short letter demanding that Congress move America forward on implementing health care reform!
We're standing up for two year old Violet who has a life threatening form of epilepsy and will likely hit her lifetime limits by age four if the Affordable Care Act is repealed. As her mother, a MomsRising member from California, starkly points out, "Unless a cure is found, our daughter will be admitted to the hospital throughout her lifetime and a lifetime limit on insurance would limit her lifetime on earth."
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Join the Congress in the Reading of the Constitution today at 11:00 AM EST
Today at 11:00 AM EST the congress will read the the United States Constitution. If you have the time tune in on TV and follow along with them by reading it with the congress at this link http://is.gd/keekq
Also you can follow the Speaker by filing in your information to receive emails of the progress in Congress http://is.gd/kee6j
Also you can follow the Speaker by filing in your information to receive emails of the progress in Congress http://is.gd/kee6j
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Face of Evil Has Arrived in Iraq Today - Iraq Just May Have Been One Big Waste of Time, Money and American Blood
Nicholas Contompasis
Borrowed from the Los Angeles Times
By Saad Fakhrildeen, Ned Parker and Salar Jaff
Reporting from Najaf, Iraq, and Baghdad — In the latest example of waning American influence in Iraq, anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada Sadr returned home from Iran, where he had gone in 2007 after his Shiite Muslim militia engaged in years of on-and-off battles with U.S. troops and was blamed for some of the country's worst sectarian violence.
Sadr's surprise homecoming comes months after his supporters won 40 seats in the Iraqi parliament, allowing the Iranian-backed cleric to play a decisive role in Prime Minister Nouri Maliki securing a new term late last year after a lengthy period of political deadlock. Sadr has long called for the departure of U.S. troops from Iraq and his reappearance will complicate any efforts for American forces to remain beyond the end of the year, when they are obliged to depart under a 2008 security agreement.
Who the Hell is Killing All of These Birds and Fish Around the World?
After 5,000 redwing blackbirds fell dead in Arkansas, other fish, birds, and even crabs have been dying en masse across the globe — sparking apocalyptic fears
A rash of mass bird and sea-creature deaths have given people looking for ill omens plenty of fodder in the first days of 2011
The mysterious "rain" of 5,000 dead blackbirds that filled fields near Beebe, Arkansas, on New Year's Day — and inspired doomsday speculation — was likely triggered by ear-splitting fireworks, say officials. The explosions apparently startled the birds, which have poor night vision, causing them to fly fatally into buildings and trees. Still, say gloomy prognosticators, 8 other incidences of strange animal deaths have occurred over the last few days:
1. 100,000 fish in Arkansas
A tugboat operator discovered hundreds of thousands of dead drum fish blanketing the Arkansas River on Dec. 30. While authorities say fish kills occur every year, it's odd that only one species was affected in this one. "If it was from a pollutant, it would have affected all of the fish, not just drum fish," said Keith Stephens of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Officials suspect disease is to blame.
2. 100 tons of fish in Brazil
Brazilian news site Parana-Online reported that up to 100 tons of dead fish have washed ashore in the coastal towns of South America since Dec. 30, panicking the fishing community and leaving wildlife experts puzzled. The region's coordinator of Civil Defense, suggesting that an environmental imbalance or leaked chemicals might be the culprit, has discouraged Brazilians from ingesting the fish.
A rash of mass bird and sea-creature deaths have given people looking for ill omens plenty of fodder in the first days of 2011
The mysterious "rain" of 5,000 dead blackbirds that filled fields near Beebe, Arkansas, on New Year's Day — and inspired doomsday speculation — was likely triggered by ear-splitting fireworks, say officials. The explosions apparently startled the birds, which have poor night vision, causing them to fly fatally into buildings and trees. Still, say gloomy prognosticators, 8 other incidences of strange animal deaths have occurred over the last few days:
1. 100,000 fish in Arkansas
A tugboat operator discovered hundreds of thousands of dead drum fish blanketing the Arkansas River on Dec. 30. While authorities say fish kills occur every year, it's odd that only one species was affected in this one. "If it was from a pollutant, it would have affected all of the fish, not just drum fish," said Keith Stephens of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Officials suspect disease is to blame.
2. 100 tons of fish in Brazil
Brazilian news site Parana-Online reported that up to 100 tons of dead fish have washed ashore in the coastal towns of South America since Dec. 30, panicking the fishing community and leaving wildlife experts puzzled. The region's coordinator of Civil Defense, suggesting that an environmental imbalance or leaked chemicals might be the culprit, has discouraged Brazilians from ingesting the fish.
1/5/11 UPDATE: Love Triangle Could Be the Motive for the Russell "Rusty" Sneiderman Murder
Just posted on this blog a comment that could be the motive of this horrible crime. Thank you for this information Ginger.
Ginger said...
"Nicholas,
Are you aware that Mr. Neuman was MRS. Sneiderman's boss at GE? Mr. Sneiderman was not a victim of The War on Wall Street, he was most likely the victim of a man who was obsessed with Mr. Sneiderman's wife. Whether or not Mrs. Sneiderman felt the same way remains to be seen, but probably not for long.
January 5, 2011 5:37 PM"
Borrowed from CNN - Thank you
Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- Police in Dunwoody, Georgia, have arrested a man in the killing of a father outside his 2-year-old son's day care center.
Hemy Zvi Neuman, 48, is charged with murder in the death of Russell "Rusty" Sneiderman on November 18. Sneiderman was shot multiple times in the parking lot of Dunwoody Prep after dropping off his son, in what police have described as an apparent "cold and calculated murder."
Neuman is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday in DeKalb County Magistrates Court.
Police have not given a possible motive for Neuman nor said whether he and Sneiderman knew each other. The investigation is ongoing, police said.
Witnesses to the shooting told police a man came up from behind Sneiderman, opened fire, and shot him multiple times. They said the shooter then got away in a silver minivan that didn't have a license plate.
Sneiderman's killing shocked and perplexed many in the community. The married father of two "was murdered. No one should ever have to face that," said his brother Steven Sneiderman at the time. "Our family has been devastated. My niece and nephew will never know their father. My sister-in-law has had an entire lifetime of dreams ripped from her. Our whole family has lost its brightest light, and we don't know why."
The family offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Sneiderman, 36, was a Cleveland, Ohio, native, a Harvard MBA graduate, and an active volunteer with the Georgia chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, CNN affiliate WSB reported.
A week before his death, police said, Sneiderman called police to report a suspicious person behind his house, WSB reported.
Hemy Neuman's Facebook page shows a picture of him smiling with his arms around three children who appear to be teenagers. It says he has worked at General Electric and studied at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His LinkedIn page says he is an operations and quality manager at General Electric.
Neuman has not made a public statement since the arrest.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE SUSPECT FOUND BY THIS BLOG FROM LINKEDIN
Federal Criminal Investigation of New York City Union Slowdown That Killed
Borrowed from the New York Post - Thank you
By JOSH MARGOLIN
"It's important that these unions be held accountable for their indiscretions. If they are allowed to get away with this atrocity, it would open the flood gates to mass union slowdowns that would eventually effect our new healthcare system, endangering millions of patients."
Nicholas Contompasis
The feds have launched a criminal probe into allegations — first reported by The Post — that city sanitation workers conspired to paralyze the Big Apple during last week’s blizzard with a potentially deadly job slowdown, authorities confirmed yesterday.
The feds "want to get to the bottom of the matter," said Steven Stites, spokesman for City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Queens), who has met with whistleblowers from the Sanitation and Transportation departments and huddled with a federal prosecutor yesterday.
The explosive investigation, led by the Brooklyn US Attorney's Office, is looking into whether Sanitation bosses plotted to thwart cleanup efforts in Brooklyn and Queens to protest budget and staff cuts by Mayor Bloomberg.
The probers also are looking at whether some workers defrauded taxpayers by padding their overtime pay, which could result in mail- or wire-fraud charges.
The Brooklyn and Queens district attorneys yesterday confirmed that they, too, are investigating the scandal.
Brooklyn prosecutors are specifically eyeing video posted on YouTube that appears to show sanitation crews relaxing for hours at a Dunkin' Donuts on Monday night of last week when they were supposed to be clearing streets.
The authorities must first determine whether any laws were broken, sources said. If so, they'd forward the case to an appropriate agency, which could be the FBI, the federal Department of Labor or others, the sources said.
Meanwhile, the city Medical Examiner's Office is investigating whether the blizzard was directly responsible for any deaths.
Late yesterday, a 3-month-old Queens boy was added to the list of possible snow-related victims.
By JOSH MARGOLIN
"It's important that these unions be held accountable for their indiscretions. If they are allowed to get away with this atrocity, it would open the flood gates to mass union slowdowns that would eventually effect our new healthcare system, endangering millions of patients."
Nicholas Contompasis
The feds have launched a criminal probe into allegations — first reported by The Post — that city sanitation workers conspired to paralyze the Big Apple during last week’s blizzard with a potentially deadly job slowdown, authorities confirmed yesterday.
The feds "want to get to the bottom of the matter," said Steven Stites, spokesman for City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Queens), who has met with whistleblowers from the Sanitation and Transportation departments and huddled with a federal prosecutor yesterday.
The explosive investigation, led by the Brooklyn US Attorney's Office, is looking into whether Sanitation bosses plotted to thwart cleanup efforts in Brooklyn and Queens to protest budget and staff cuts by Mayor Bloomberg.
The probers also are looking at whether some workers defrauded taxpayers by padding their overtime pay, which could result in mail- or wire-fraud charges.
The Brooklyn and Queens district attorneys yesterday confirmed that they, too, are investigating the scandal.
Brooklyn prosecutors are specifically eyeing video posted on YouTube that appears to show sanitation crews relaxing for hours at a Dunkin' Donuts on Monday night of last week when they were supposed to be clearing streets.
The authorities must first determine whether any laws were broken, sources said. If so, they'd forward the case to an appropriate agency, which could be the FBI, the federal Department of Labor or others, the sources said.
Meanwhile, the city Medical Examiner's Office is investigating whether the blizzard was directly responsible for any deaths.
Late yesterday, a 3-month-old Queens boy was added to the list of possible snow-related victims.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Who Murdered Former Iranian Prince Ali Reza Pahlavi?
By FARNAZ FASSIHI
Former Iranian Prince Ali Reza Pahlavi, the youngest son of the late Shah committed suicide on Tuesday morning at his home in Boston, according to a family statement.
Mr.Pahlavi, 44, who lived between Paris and Boston, fought a long battle with depression according to the statement by his brother Reza Pahlavi who announced the death on his personal website. The statement said friends and family were plunged in sorrow.
"Like millions of young Iranians, he too was deeply disturbed by all the ills fallen upon his beloved homeland, as well as carrying the burden of losing a father and a sister in his young life."
Mr.Pahlavi was reclusive, stayed away from politics and was not as well known as his older brother. He is the second child of the late Shah to die of suicide. In 2001, Leila Pahlavi was found dead in a hotel room in London overdosed on sleep medication.
The Shah of Iran, Mohamd Reza Pahlavi, was overthrown from throne in 1979 and his family lives in exile in the United States.
WikiLeaks - President of Iran Slapped By the Head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard - Now We Know Who's Running the Place - Surprised?
Borrowed from the New York Daily News - Thank you
"Mohammed Ali Jafari runs Iran, not President Ahmadinejad. We may need several snipers bullets to clean up this mess."
Nicholas Contompasis
The WikiLeaks document dump continues to kick up surprises.
A new diplomatic cable says the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard smacked President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the face for suggesting easing restrictions on the press.
The February 2010 cable, classified secret and puckishly headlined, "He Who Got Slapped," quotes an intelligence source recounting a contentious meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
The Iranian bigs were trying to figure out what to do in the wake of Tehran's explosive pro-democracy street protests of 2009.
"Ahmadinejad claimed that 'people feel suffocated,' and mused that to defuse the situation it may be necessary to allow more personal and social freedoms, including more freedom of the press," the cable says.
It continues, "Ahmadinejad's statements infuriated Revolutionary Guard Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali Jafari, who exclaimed 'You are wrong! \[In fact\] it is YOU who created this mess! And now you say give more freedom to the press?!'
"Source said that Jafari then slapped Ahmadinejad in the face, causing an uproar," the cable says.
Iran denies the slap happened. A Revolutionary Guard spokesman told the Fars News Agency that WikiLeaks' publishers "invent false stories."
The leaked State Department cables have painted Iran as a great global pariah, with even many Arab countries privately urging the U.S. to attack before Tehran can get a nuclear bomb.
"Mohammed Ali Jafari runs Iran, not President Ahmadinejad. We may need several snipers bullets to clean up this mess."
Nicholas Contompasis
The WikiLeaks document dump continues to kick up surprises.
A new diplomatic cable says the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard smacked President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the face for suggesting easing restrictions on the press.
The February 2010 cable, classified secret and puckishly headlined, "He Who Got Slapped," quotes an intelligence source recounting a contentious meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
The Iranian bigs were trying to figure out what to do in the wake of Tehran's explosive pro-democracy street protests of 2009.
"Ahmadinejad claimed that 'people feel suffocated,' and mused that to defuse the situation it may be necessary to allow more personal and social freedoms, including more freedom of the press," the cable says.
It continues, "Ahmadinejad's statements infuriated Revolutionary Guard Chief of Staff Mohammed Ali Jafari, who exclaimed 'You are wrong! \[In fact\] it is YOU who created this mess! And now you say give more freedom to the press?!'
"Source said that Jafari then slapped Ahmadinejad in the face, causing an uproar," the cable says.
Iran denies the slap happened. A Revolutionary Guard spokesman told the Fars News Agency that WikiLeaks' publishers "invent false stories."
The leaked State Department cables have painted Iran as a great global pariah, with even many Arab countries privately urging the U.S. to attack before Tehran can get a nuclear bomb.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Breaking News: Republicans Post the Bill on Line That Can Repeal ObamaCare
The new 112th Congress led by the Tea Party has just tonight posted on line the bill that can repeal ObamaCare.
You can find the bill here http://rules-republicans.house.gov/Media/PDF/112-Hres5-CP_xml.pdf
You can find a full analysis of the bill here http://rules-republicans.house.gov/Media/PDF/HRes%205%20Sec-by-Sec.pdf
You can find the bill here http://rules-republicans.house.gov/Media/PDF/112-Hres5-CP_xml.pdf
You can find a full analysis of the bill here http://rules-republicans.house.gov/Media/PDF/HRes%205%20Sec-by-Sec.pdf
Who Murdered John Wheeler III ? Aid to Both Bush Administrations
Newark police have identified the body discovered on New Year's Eve at the Cherry Island Landfill in Wilmington as 66-year-old John P. Wheeler III of New Castle.
Wheeler, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War who lived part time in Old New Castle, was a defense consultant in Washington, D.C., and had a long career in public service, working in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Wheeler was past chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which built the memorial on the National Mall in Washington.
His death has been ruled a homicide.
Newark police had a crime-scene van at Wheeler's home at 108 W. Third St. in New Castle on Sunday, with crime-scene tape roping off the prominent three-story brick home with black shutters.
Friends and neighbors were shocked to learn Wheeler had died.
"This is just not the kind of guy who gets murdered," said Bayard Marin, a Wilmington attorney who represented Wheeler in a dispute with a neighbor. "This is not the kind of guy you find in a landfill."
Wheeler was last traced riding an Amtrak train from Washington to Wilmington on Tuesday, said Newark police Lt. Mark Farrall.
"The last place they can put him is getting off the Amtrak train in Wilmington," Farrall said.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
An Open Letter to Governor Elect Rick Scott of Florida from Tom Trento
AN OPEN LETTER TO
GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT
FROM
TOM TRENTO
“Governor, they duped you sir…the Muslim Brotherhood, that is.”
As a conservative Republican, you have my support as you undertake the extremely difficult job of getting Florida back to work.
As a leader on national and state terrorism issues, you may be losing my support as a result of your decision to have Imam Enrique Rasheed participate in your solemn inauguration on January 4, 2011.
My guess is that your advisors will begin some immediate “damage control” and brand myself and others who hold you accountable for this decision as Islamophobes.
Rest assured, there are good Muslims in Florida that want nothing to do with the Muslim Brotherhood, and we stand with them.
Here is the problem in a nutshell. The Muslim Brotherhood has initiated an “influence operation,” on you and round one, goes to them.
Now, if you have to ask, “What is the Muslim Brotherhood? My point is made.
Yes, Governor, the Muslim Brotherhood is a real organization, with a seditious and treasonous agenda, operating throughout the State of Florida.
Without question, through their behind the scenes capabilities, you “discovered,” Imam Rasheed and were convinced he is the perfect holy man to help unite all faiths in Florida and make the world a better place.
Did anyone on your staff tell you that Imam Rasheed was one of the keynote speakers at a Florida Conference of Muslim Americans where the theme was “Planning, Designing and Implementing Quranic Standards for Living in Model Communities?”
Is anyone on your staff aware of what "Quranic Standards" means to authoritative shariah Islam and its relationship to the US Constitution?
Imam Rasheed also did a highly regarded presentation on, “Appreciating & Understanding the Language and Leadership of Imam W.D. Mohammed?”
Governor, if you have to ask, “Who is Imam W.D. Mohammed? Well sir, the Brotherhood duped you again.
My guess is that many in the state of Florida will not be applauding your selection of an Imam who “appreciates the leadership” of an Imam who went on record saying,
“I will never denounce him (Louis Farrakhan) as long as he says he wants to be a Muslim.”
SIMPLE QUESTIONS FOR IMAM ENRIQUE RASHEED
Has anyone asked Imam Rasheed if he repudiates the implementation of Islamic shariah law in the United States of America?
Has anyone asked Imam Rasheed if he agrees with Section 219 of the American Immigration and Nationality Act that authorizes the Secretary of State to designate HAMAS as a Foreign Terrorist Organization?
Will Imam Rasheed unequivocally condemn HAMAS?
Has anyone asked Imam Rasheed if he rejects the Islamic teaching that requires punishment, to the point of death, for those who convert from Islam to another religion?
My purpose in this short letter is not to extensively analyze the actual beliefs of Imam Rasheed or to brief you on the Muslim Brotherhood and related Islamic shariah concerns, but simply to draw your attention to this national security issue and provide a positive suggestion moving forward.
Sir, I will be the first to admit we all make mistakes. The problem is that some mistakes, left to their own, metastasize into significant security problems related to Islamic terrorism.
I HAVE TWO SUGGESTIONS
1. Please withdraw Imam Enrique Rasheed from participation in your Inauguration until he is fully vetted by recognized experts on the Muslim Brotherhood, counter-terrorism and related Islamic concerns.
2. May I respectfully suggest that you schedule a national security briefing, with counter-terrorism experts, on the Muslim Brotherhood and its operations in the State of Florida?
If you are interested, I will help facilitate this briefing.
CONSIDER THIS
Recently nineteen national security experts produced a significant Report detailing and substantiating the existence, operation and objectives of the Muslim Brotherhood in America.
Members of TEAM B 2 regularly brief elected officials, federal, state and local law enforcement officers and many of the USG three-letter intelligence agencies…so the issue of competency or qualifications…is really not an issue.
If you are interested in finding out about one of the most serious security threats to Florida, please review the material below and make the decision that you believe is best for our great State.
Respectfully,
Tom Trento
Saturday, January 1, 2011
FYI - Today New Health-care Rules Take Effect
"Dictating to corporations how much money they can make is UnAmerican and is designed to destroy 17% of our economy which is the medical industry. Some reform is necessary of course, but the willful destruction of companies that have delivered superior services over the years is just wrong. Will your industry be next?"
Nicholas Contompasis
By David A. Fahrenthold
Borrowed from the Washington Post - Thank you
The new year will bring important changes to U.S. health-insurance rules, as new provisions related to last year's massive health-care overhaul take effect.
New health-care rules to take effect
Federal judge in Va. strikes down part of health-care law
The new rules are designed to help those caught in Medicare's "doughnut hole," offer seniors more preventative care, and limit how much of their customers' money health-insurance companies can keep for overhead and profit.
They all go into effect on Saturday.
These provisions were not affected by a Dec. 13 federal court ruling in Virginia that declared another piece of the new health-care law - the requirement that all Americans buy health insurance - unconstitutional.
The judge allowed implementation of the overhaul to continue until a higher court rules on the issue.
The new rules include:
*A provision that limits what health insurers can do with the money their customers send in as premiums.
The rule requires that insurers spend at least 80 percent of this money on the customers themselves. The companies must either spend this money to pay insurance claims or use it for activities that improve customers' health.
For policies that are sold to large groups instead of small companies and individuals, the number is even higher: 85 percent. The remaining 15 or 20 percent of the money can be used for a company's salaries, marketing and overhead - or kept as profit.
Previously, there was no federal restrictions on insurance companies' spending. The federal government says some insurers kept 30 or even 50 percent.
Insurance companies say this could cause them to cut back on the services they offer, or even pull out of states where administrative costs are higher.
State officials also worry that the companies might cut the fees they pay to insurance brokers. That, they fear, would eliminate key middlemen who help individuals navigate a complicated insurance system.
*A provision that provides prescription-drug discounts for seniors in Medicare's "doughnut hole."
The doughnut hole is a controversial gap in the Medicare prescription-drug benefit passed in 2006. In 2010, for instance, Medicare paid for part of the cost of drugs - until the total cost of the drugs hit $2,830.
After that, seniors were responsible for 100 percent of the cost of their drugs, until they had spent $3,610 of their own money. That was the other side of the doughnut hole, and federal insurance kicked in again.
This provision will give Medicare recipients stuck in the doughnut hole a 50 percent discount on the price of brand-name prescription drugs. Health-care activists are worried, however, that drugmakers will jack up their prices. In that case, customers would receive 50 percent off that higher number - which might not be much less than what they were paying before.
*A rule giving seniors free screenings for cancer and other diseases.
Nearly all Medicare beneficiaries will be able to receive for free all "preventive services" screenings given an A or B rating by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. That could include mammograms, colorectal cancer screening, bone mass measurement and nutritional counseling. Medicare will also provide one free "wellness visit" per year for patients who want a checkup.
*The creation of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.
This new agency is aimed at slowing down the rapid rise of health-care costs. It is supposed to foster innovation in both caring for patients and processing their payments and claims.
Nicholas Contompasis
By David A. Fahrenthold
Borrowed from the Washington Post - Thank you
The new year will bring important changes to U.S. health-insurance rules, as new provisions related to last year's massive health-care overhaul take effect.
New health-care rules to take effect
Federal judge in Va. strikes down part of health-care law
The new rules are designed to help those caught in Medicare's "doughnut hole," offer seniors more preventative care, and limit how much of their customers' money health-insurance companies can keep for overhead and profit.
They all go into effect on Saturday.
These provisions were not affected by a Dec. 13 federal court ruling in Virginia that declared another piece of the new health-care law - the requirement that all Americans buy health insurance - unconstitutional.
The judge allowed implementation of the overhaul to continue until a higher court rules on the issue.
The new rules include:
*A provision that limits what health insurers can do with the money their customers send in as premiums.
The rule requires that insurers spend at least 80 percent of this money on the customers themselves. The companies must either spend this money to pay insurance claims or use it for activities that improve customers' health.
For policies that are sold to large groups instead of small companies and individuals, the number is even higher: 85 percent. The remaining 15 or 20 percent of the money can be used for a company's salaries, marketing and overhead - or kept as profit.
Previously, there was no federal restrictions on insurance companies' spending. The federal government says some insurers kept 30 or even 50 percent.
Insurance companies say this could cause them to cut back on the services they offer, or even pull out of states where administrative costs are higher.
State officials also worry that the companies might cut the fees they pay to insurance brokers. That, they fear, would eliminate key middlemen who help individuals navigate a complicated insurance system.
*A provision that provides prescription-drug discounts for seniors in Medicare's "doughnut hole."
The doughnut hole is a controversial gap in the Medicare prescription-drug benefit passed in 2006. In 2010, for instance, Medicare paid for part of the cost of drugs - until the total cost of the drugs hit $2,830.
After that, seniors were responsible for 100 percent of the cost of their drugs, until they had spent $3,610 of their own money. That was the other side of the doughnut hole, and federal insurance kicked in again.
This provision will give Medicare recipients stuck in the doughnut hole a 50 percent discount on the price of brand-name prescription drugs. Health-care activists are worried, however, that drugmakers will jack up their prices. In that case, customers would receive 50 percent off that higher number - which might not be much less than what they were paying before.
*A rule giving seniors free screenings for cancer and other diseases.
Nearly all Medicare beneficiaries will be able to receive for free all "preventive services" screenings given an A or B rating by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. That could include mammograms, colorectal cancer screening, bone mass measurement and nutritional counseling. Medicare will also provide one free "wellness visit" per year for patients who want a checkup.
*The creation of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.
This new agency is aimed at slowing down the rapid rise of health-care costs. It is supposed to foster innovation in both caring for patients and processing their payments and claims.
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